

A Love Story (a la Taylor Swift)
We were both in Madrid when I first saw you I close my eyes and the flashback starts I’m sitting there On a veranda in summer air See the people, the tables, and all the pintxos See you stand out among the spread And I say, “Prendo tener” Little did I care That you were Tortilla Española, the one I heard about And my stomach … Continue reading A Love Story (a la Taylor Swift)

Straight Up Now Tell Me
Is it just me, or do you also tend to get everything in your life (work, personal, family, etc.) crescendo all at once (even when it’s not Mercury in Retrograde)? That was how this weekend was – I spent the weekend managing a case for work, facing my family’s collective anxiety about my nana’s upcoming surgery, sleeping less than normal, while trying to squeeze in … Continue reading Straight Up Now Tell Me

Salud!
In the year or so that I’ve been writing on this blog, I’ve focused primarily on food and the food cultures through my travels. And while I have plenty more to stay about the food in Spain, before we leave the Asturias region there’s an experience that deserves its own post: sidra (or cider). I’m not a huge cider drinker. After coming to terms with … Continue reading Salud!

In need of vitamin sea
I’m not a heat person. Don’t get me wrong – I like when the weather is warm enough that we can start spending time outdoors. But the oppressive summer heat that we can experience in Philadelphia is too much for me – unless I have access to a water source for some relief (cough, the ocean, cough). In late June, I was fortunate enough to … Continue reading In need of vitamin sea
Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.
I have mixed feelings whenever I’m back in D.C. After living there for 8 years, it is a second home to me. But after visiting this past May, it’s clear that the D.C. which I came to know and love has changed a lot. Restaurants have come and gone, neighborhoods have become more gentrified, and there’s a difference in the makeup of the city. In … Continue reading Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.
Hello? Is it me you’re looking for?
Starting to feel like I ghosted you (a la Jed and his IRL gf)? I personally cannot believe it’s taken me this long to write and my apologies for that. Prior to the start of the summer, I thought it would be great to have two international trips (so much content) back to back (again, so much content) – and then they happened. Then I … Continue reading Hello? Is it me you’re looking for?

You Do You Boo Boo
In preparing to go to China, I sought out the advice of others who had been, in order to prepare myself as I anticipated that there were going to be some significant cultural challenges. The recommendation that came up over and over again from the folks I spoke with was to bring comfort food from home (such as oatmeal if that is how you start … Continue reading You Do You Boo Boo

Ni hao China
A few years ago, I was fortunate to meet a friend of mine in Hong Kong. I remember prepping to meet her and saying that I was so excited to try legitimate, authentic Chinese food. She laughed in my face and was like “what is even Chinese food?” I think I just blinked at her, not knowing how to respond. I’m sure many of you … Continue reading Ni hao China

6 degrees of separation from Beyoncé
It always starts with a donut. Don’t ask me why – I’m generally not a sweets person (give me something savory any day of the week). But yet this past Sunday, despite the grossness that was the weather, I marched on to get that breakfast treat. Living in Ireland taught me that you can’t let a little rain stop you – if you did, you … Continue reading 6 degrees of separation from Beyoncé

Aka that time I went to New Jersey
Growing up in Philadelphia with New Jersey as your border, you knew it was always there but it was like that <insert family member here> you never really want to talk to. When I lived in D.C., I always felt the need to defend Philadelphians – especially when it came to Philly sports fans. Not all of the bad sports behavior was committed by a … Continue reading Aka that time I went to New Jersey