REMINDER: Explore!

Halloween. Thanksgiving. Hanukkah. Kwanzaa. Christmas. New Year's.
Happy Exploring!

Quote seen on the coolest catering van ever!

EATS: Boulangerie et Patisserie

In the world of cookery and food, smell is key. Usually before one has seen a dish, one will probably have smelled it. And that can tell you a whole lot about whether you're going to like said dish. Smells can trigger pretty powerful emotions. For example, I have never heard anyway say, "Fish sauce? Yeah, I'm okay with or without it." Nope. It's really that you're repulsed by the smell, or you like it so much that you've got to add a little bit of it to every savory dish you produce. But the one smell I think everyone loves universally is the smell of fresh baked goods. Something about the mixture and science of eggs, flour, butter, and other additives, combined in an oven, strikes a comforting chord with people. And that one reason alone, is enough to make travelling around San Francisco worthwhile (though, San Francisco is an awesome city in general). Walking around San Francisco is killer enough on its own--those hills? Way steep. And walking around San Francisco in the morning is even more difficult. But I'm telling you, if you've got the smell of breads and croissants and cakes to lure you, well, do as Toucan Sam does, and follow your nose! It's quite a treat. Unfortunately, I can't design a scratch n' sniff program for this blog, so I'll just have to settle for sharing the photos that I took of the bakeries that I visited. I will apologize in advance: this post is really image heavy!

Esther's German Bakery, Palo Alto, CA

Such a yummy resting spot in between endless trips to Target, Trader Joe's, and Costco to prepare my brother for his college life. And, to quote the barista, the split pea soup is, "off the hook." Also, the apple kuchen was very delicious too.

Boulange de Cole Valley, San Francisco, CA

This place was where I experienced my first French macaroon, and now I'm obsessed with finding them here in Seattle. Chewy, airy, light, with a tasty filling. And so many different flavors! I tried a pistachio one, and the caramel one in the first photo was gobbled up by my uncle. I'm still a little bitter.

Boudin Bakery, San Francisco, CA

Yummy, yummy sourdough makes for yummy yummy sandwiches. My favorite part of being in this bakery is that it is located in Fisherman's Wharf, which is a fun place to be in general, and the conveyor baskets of bread. Nothing like seeing fresh basketfuls of bread make their way around the store.

Enjoy!

COLOR ESSAY: roygbiv

What a beautiful summer it was in Seattle! It's a little hard to think about, especially since the past few week has been mostly gray, black, and various shades in between. When it was like this, the sun did manage to eek through to brighten up the day. And with that comes one of my favorite things ever: a rainbow. A small gift in the transition of rain to sun, and vice versa. I was lucky to catch one on my way home from a long day of work. It made my evening. Sometimes, when I am feeling especially low, the sight of something beautiful has an even more poignant effect on me. In this particular case, it inspired me to go home and work on my Photoshop skills and play with color technique. And so, as a final farewell to summer and hello to fall, the transition in between: a rainbow portfolio. Enjoy!

COLOR ESSAY: Pink

In honor of October being breast cancer awareness month, I've decided to dedicate a color essay to the color pink. Breast cancer is in the top 10 causes of death for women in the United States. It is the leading cause of cancer of women in the United States, and it is the second leading cause of death due cancer of women in the United States. As a pharmacy student, I spent two months on oncology rotations. I had the opportunity to meet and talk to several patients who had cancer. Some of these patients would become my friends, and it was both heartbreaking and inspiring to know them. It was hard knowing that my friends would have only a little time left on this earth, yet how they chose to live those few days, weeks, or months was inspiring. Cancer is a terrible disease for those who have it, and the loved ones of the patient as well. I hope you all take some time this month to remember this, even if all you can do is offer a well wish, or a dollar to to fundraiser. Truly, every little bit counts.

Sunset in San Jose, CA

Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Pink Glass Pumpkin, Palo Alto, CA

Watermelon slices, San Francisco, CA

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Pink Ribbon Cookies, Seattle, WA

This photo essay is dedicated especially to those who have been affected by the disease. Stay strong, love stronger, and never forget to hope. I hope you enjoy the photos.