Thursday, July 16, 2015

Share that Dessert!!

What is probably one of the most disappointing things to hear when you come back to the table? 

“You just missed ordering dessert.” my friend, Alex, says. 

Many things crossed my mind at that point, but the one thing that was evident to everyone at the table was my disappointment. It doesn’t take long for blood to drain from your face from shock. “What am I going to do?!” I think. 

“Marissa you can have some of my Boston Cream Pie because I won’t be able to finish it.” Alex says.

Blood starts to flow back through my cheeks as those were the most heroic words I heard all day.

The Boston Cream Pie was radiating when it came to the table. My eyes were glued to it after it arrived. I was thinking, “I really really want to eat that.” My friend, Harry, reluctantly switched seats with me probably because he wanted to eat some too. There is no way a guy should cross paths with a girl and dessert. 

Every savory bite of that Boston Cream Pie was a little bit of heaven. Chocolate frosting covered the cake and it wasn’t overly rich at all. It reminded me of chocolate ganache. The moist, fluffy cake was stuffed with cream. Together this “pie” was not overly sweet. It was perfection.


The saddest thing of that dessert was seeing the empty plate and not taking a picture of it before we ate it.

Source: http://bit.ly/1gCh9MQ

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Cupcakes, Cupcakes and more Cupcakes!

Everyone loves cupcakes! That guilty little pleasure. Cupcakes seem to be everywhere these days, but only the smart ones stand out. I had the pleasure of spending time in NYC a few times this past year in between my contracts on the ship. I could not resist having my try at a few cupcake places in town, Burger & Cupcakes, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and Georgetown Cupcakes.



My friend, Zack, brought me to this restaurant called Burgers & Cupcakes. (Yes there is a place called Burger & Cupcakes.) You don't have to guess what they serve there because it's in the name. Zack brought me here as we had some catching up to do and he knows my guilty little pleasures of dessert. Surprise, surprise we had a burger and a cupcake. I think this place is the best of both worlds. Don't even think about stepping foot into this place if you're going to walk out guilty. I thoroughly enjoyed every last bite of my meal. The cheeseburger I had was simply good and the cupcake was just the same. I love the idea of this place. It's simple and straight to the point. If you want a cheeseburger and a cupcake, there is a place to go.

Sprinkle's Chocolate Banana Cupcake

Another place for cupcakes is Sprinkles. I had previously visited this places in LA. This cupcake chain seems to be popping up all around and for good reason. This place not only has a Cupcake ATM, but it also has cookies and ice cream. The cupcake I had was the Chocolate Banana Cupcake. It was moist and delicious. The cupcake was smothered in frosting as some cupcake places love to do. It had the perfect amount of frosting that wasn't too sweet. The flavors meshed well together and I got to get it from their Cupcake ATM.


Are you curious about this Cupcake ATM? Sound crazy? This is pure genius! For all those late night snackers, night owls, and night shift workers, you can still enjoy a perfectly good cupcake late at night. They may not have every flavor they have during the day but it's still a good cupcake. The cupcakes at the ATM are replenished each day, so you aren't buying a day old cupcake. It's not only a genius idea, but it's cute and fun! You have to stop by at least once! They have Cupcake ATMs in multiple locations. Check out the Sprinkles website for more information and to submit your own Cupcake ATM photo for their website.

Coffee Cookies and Cream Cupcake

The last cupcake place I visited is called Georgetown Cupcakes located in SoHo. I was searching for a place to get cupcakes for our 4th of the July BBQ celebration, and I was in charge of bringing dessert. I came across this place on Yelp. What I liked about it was that it did seasonal and holiday cupcakes. I'm sure all the cupcake places do seasonal and holiday cupcakes, but I was intrigued by this place because from the pictures, their cupcakes looked unique. When I looked at their list of flavors, I was sold. I had to go. There were so many different unique flavors as well as Gluten free flavored cupcakes. I got a dozen cupcakes: Red Velvet 4th of July, Key Lim Cheesecake, Chocolate Sunday, Coffee Cookies and Cream, Salted Caramel, Lemon Blossom, Peanut Butter Fudge, Lava Fudge, Chocolate and Vanilla, Chocolate Ganache, Vanilla and Chocolate and Apple Cinnamon. I tried the Coffee Cookies and Cream cupcake. I was in heaven! I'm not big on frosting, but the frosting melted in my mouth. The cookies and cream frosting mixed perfectly with the coffee cupcake. It wasn't a strong coffee flavor, which was perfect. Just thinking about it makes me want to have another cupcake from Georgetown Cupcakes. I have to go back the next time I'm in town.


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Todd English onboard the QM2

A short summary of why I've been away from blogging for so long. I started my job onboard the Queen Mary 2 in November 2012. I have been sailing and traveling the world while enjoying the ups and downs in the print shop. Check out my travel blog to find out more. [My Travel Blog: A Walk in the Wong Shoes]

Now to the sweet stuff! (Don't be surprised if I start using British terms as I've been living on a British ship for almost a year now)

Todd English is a restaurant onboard the Queen Mary 2. It is quite a posh restaurant. I feel I have to act like a proper lady when eating there. The appetizers and entrees are quite delicious. Lets skip to the good stuff. The dessert is divine!

The most talked about dessert at Todd English is their Chocolate Fallen Cake. You definitely can't go wrong when you order chocolate. This fallen cake is baked to perfection and when you cut it open the chocolate comes trickling out slowly. It's served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which always complements any chocolate. Every bite is delightful and that is why I always take a picture so I can saver that delicious moment forever.





Friday, November 2, 2012

Mixx it up!


Let me just say that last time I came to visit my brother in Boston and this time I came to visit my brother in Boston, I went to Mixx to get some frozen yogurt.

What to do.
http://www.mixxboston.com/aboutus.html

Don't forget the toppings!
http://ashleydickson.com/?attachment_id=1706

You just have to Mixx it up when you come to Boston! Frozen Yogurt! Yummy!


Weddings and Bridal Shower

A few posts ago, I mentioned I went to a couple of weddings in August. I love being a part of wedding celebrations! I can’t help but smile when I think of white dresses, dancing, flowers, family, food, drinks, and dessert.

Lindsey & Oliver
August 11, 2012

My Aunt Lindsey got married to the lovely Oliver this year on August 11th. The ceremony was very touching with beautiful vows. I loved catching up with family and having the whole Wong family in one place. After pictures, everyone headed to the reception. My family and I sat at table twenty-one (the cool table). In between the kissing, dancing and diving for the flower bouquet, I got to eat the yummy cupcakes they served as their “wedding cake”. Before I said my good-byes and congratulations, everyone got to bring their little sacks and fill them with trail-mix. Yummy!

The cool table

Time to catch the bouquet

Trail mix it up!

Dessert! Cupcakes!

The next wedding I went to was my best friend’s, Susie’s, wedding. Susie married Eddie on August 18th, 2012. I was the maid of honor, so I set up the Bridal Shower with help from Naomi, Christine and my good friend Aya.

Susie & Eddie
August 18, 2012

I was all sorts of worried about how the Bridal Shower would turn out, but it was a successful. The decorations and favors turned out amazing. Plus the games were great and everyone loved the prizes. Don’t forget dessert! You know me, I had to have a dessert table.

From Left: Marissa (Me), Susie and Aya

Dessert Table at the Bridal Shower

Drink Station

Party favors, Firefly Christmas Lights and paper flowers made by Aya


Aya and I did a ton of hunting online when it came to decoration ideas. We both love cutesy things. Since we were planning things in different places, we collaborated on Pinterest. (Link to our board.) I think we used just one of those ideas. Go figure, right?! We did the “Firefly Christmas Lights” in the colors of the Bridal Shower. It looked amazing!

Time to dance!

Congratulations again to the lovely newlyweds: Lindsey & Oliver and Susie & Eddie.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


Yay Halloween is here! Time to get on those costumes and be someone else for a day. Since I didn’t spend money/effort on a costume this year (I know, LAME-O HERE hahaha), I went to the local Dollar Tree, Jo-Ann and Pumpkin Patch to get a few things. I got tape, curling ribbon, paper napkins, Candy Corn, Reese’s, Kisses, Starburst, glow sticks, one piece of black and orange felt and two mini pumpkins.


What did I do with all of these goodies?? I GOT CRAFTY!

Truthfully, Martha Stewart got me in the Halloween mood. I was flipping through her Halloween edition magazine at Barnes & Nobles. I always love her ideas (despite her little jail incident).


First, I cracked open that pack of Halloween napkins. What kind of craft can you do with paper napkins? I modified Martha Stewart’sHalloween Pumpkin treat bags, since I was doing most of my shopping at the Dollar Tree. Martha’s initial idea was to “Fill orange mini craft bags with candy. Twist the top of the bag up into a stem. … Wrap floral tape around stem…” When I first read this idea, I thought it was AMAZING! My Dollar Tree version of this: I opened up a napkin, put some candy in, and closed it with tape. My idea of covering the tip with curling ribbon wasn’t going too well, so I covered it with felt instead and used the curling ribbon as an accent. 


My second crafty creation was also Martha Stewart inspired. In the magazine, she had an I Scream Sundae. (The link is the closest thing I could find online.) I thought the witch hats were super adorable. Where does my Dollar Tree goodies come in? Well, I cut out pieces from the paper napkin to turn it into a witch hat for the mini pumpkins. Then I continued to decorate the pumpkins with the black felt I bought. 


I used the rest of the felt to make pumpkins, black cats, bats, spiders, witch hats, brooms, tomb stones, trick or treat bags and candy. I used the curling ribbon to accent most of my crafty creations. I was going to put the glow sticks in the pumpkin treat bags, but I forgot. Ha-Ha-Ha! I think glow sticks are just enjoyable by themselves anyway. Lastly, I used the cardboard roll that the glow sticks were in. I took some tissue and made ghost out of them. BOO!







The door decor for the bathroom




I hung the ghost from the ceiling

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you have a SPOOOoooOOooOooKY day!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

HELLO KITTY AIR!!!

http://designyoutrust.com/2012/02/hello-kitty-air-jet-by-eva-airways/
I was watching TV and it just so happened that this came on the news. HELLO KITTY AIR!!! I had so many reactions!!!

WOW!

OH MY GOODNESS!

HOT TAMALE!

WHAT IN THE WORLD!?

AMAZING?!!

I WANT TO GO!! I WANT TO GO!!!

Hello Kitty has flooded stores all over the world. This kitty icon has so many different variations: rock, nerd, tanned, etc.. I love Hello Kitty. I may not love it to the extent where I must buy everything Hello Kitty and cover my room in Hello Kitty, but I do love Hello Kitty.

I would love to experience Hello Kitty Eva Air!! One day!! From its website, it looks like it only flies out of Taiwan. Ha-ha-ha Maybe one day I will take the flight from Taiwan to Seoul. In Seoul, I will go visit the Hello Kitty Cafe!! A whole trip dedicated to Hello Kitty!



At the moment, I am in Japan! I will be heading to Kiddy Land soon! I hear they sell many Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma paraphernalia. :) I can't wait! I am such a little kid at heart!