traveling around places, to periods & inside pages
Category: Travels
Explore “Travels” to read about some seriously aesthetic places to visit around the world! Beware: personal travel narratives (and even travel attempts) included.
Just four more days until Christmas! It really has felt like it for the past few weeks. With the radio blasting timeless songs and Spotify recommending playlists like “Christmas Pop” and “Merry & Bright,” it feels like Christmas is already here. And such vibes are bringing back memories of my last Christmas… when I visited Paderia Bakehouse yet again!
You may wonder, “What more could this blogger possibly have of that bakery?” I’ve got lots more to say: this time, it’s Paderia Bakehouse – the Christmas edition!
December 23, 2022
Last year, on December 23, 2022, I flew to the John Wayne Airport in Irvine, CA and stopped by Paderia. (Now, this alone should give you a hint as to how good the place is.)
I was SO excited to be back at Paderia. The feeling can only be compared to standing outside one’s close friend’s grandmother’s house, waiting to see her (and the treats she has baked for you two).
Uniquely Cute Christmas Decorations
When I entered, I was pleasantly surprised by this interesting Christmas tree:
Now, from afar, it looks like a funky pile of a tree. But close up, it’s really uniquely aesthetic:
It’s got a whole contemporary hodgepodge look!
And then at the bottom was this:
Do you see it? I mean, how cute is this little pug?
It’s got on a little scarf! 🧣
Other parts of the bakery were left as clean & modern as it usually was:
Love the touch of green here and there. 💚
The Menu (Feat. Special December Items)
The menu is on the wall next to the counter:
Or at the counter, where items are always shown inside a glass display. And the glass display was decorated with the same Christmas glam the tree had:
They had placed their ever-cute egg tart plushie (not for sale though 😕) along with little trees, cotton, reindeer and alpaca/llama plushies! The menu items were the same (delicious egg tarts, banana bread pudding, award-winning cookies, ensaymadas, and drinks) except there were some special seasonal items:
Tiramisu Cheesecake 🧀
“once-a-year seasonal favorite” White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Cookie 🍪
and a newly launched Orange Cardamom Malasada 🍊
The Food (Seasonal Items + More)
I couldn’t get the Orange Cardamom Malasada (as it was available only at the Foundation Valley store) but I did get the Tiramisu Cheesecake, White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Cookie and my usual go-tos (egg tarts and banana pudding).
Paderia treats galore! ✨
The Tiramisu Cheesecake was as delicious as the photo appears. But in my opinion, it wasn’t as mind-blowingly tasty as the egg tarts, probably because I’m an egg-tart kind of person.
Look at those layers of soft bread and creamy fillings!
The White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Cookie was good, too, as just the name of it sounds. Each bite was filled with the buttery dough, fruity cranberry, and the nutty macadamia.
Look at those bits of white chocolate, cranberry, and macadamia!
But then again, as someone who already has a Paderia go-to item, the cookie was a bit too buttery for me. Nonetheless, it was richly smooth and good .
I don’t think I’ll have to review my favorite items (i.e. banana bread pudding and egg tarts) again. So here is just a short reel to make your mouths water!
🍪 To read about my first post on Paderia Bakehouse, click HERE!
P.S. Did you know that the bakery hosts giveaway contests on Instagram? They’ve offered giveaways for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, product launches and more! Visit their IG page HERE.
P.P.S. Speaking of giveaways, I was one of the lucky winners of one of the giveaways! So I visited the Santa Monica location last week to redeem my coupon and treat myself to the ever-delicious Paderia items. And I have to say, Paderia Bakehouse in Santa Monica was looking good this Christmas!
It’s been a long time coming since I decided to write this post. After being inundated with material and ideas (as well as non-blog related matters) over the past six months or so, I had to postpone sharing my go-to coffee spots in Berkeley. Well, here they are now: the best coffee shops in Berkeley!
*Disclaimer: This list is highly subjective and based mostly on drip coffee and/or Americano. Plus, the order of the list does NOT signify.
Photo by Tim Mossholder.
☕Edmonds’ Café at International House
Nestled within the historic student housing “International House,” Edmonds’ Café is open to its residents and the public. They serve really good iced Americano and have a beautiful view of Bancroft Way. On a clear day, you can even see the Golden Gate Bridge!
View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the café!
Fun Fact: Apparently, this café used to be called by a number of different names since 1930. But now they call it Edmonds’ Cafe to honor the founder of the I-House movement, Harry Edmonds and his wife Florence.
Historical photos displayed inside the café.
ExtraPerks: free wifi, great view & lighting, buy 10 get a free drink stamp card
☕Blue Bottle Coffee
Next, we have Blue Bottle Coffee. If you live in the Bay, you would have at least heard of it.
I just searched and it looks like there are five Blue Bottle Coffee locations in the East Bay alone! No surprise considering the fact that it was founded by W. James Freeman in the Temescal District in Oakland. Now the popular chain is everywhere, including New York, Boston, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong. Too bad it’s now owned mostly by Nestlé! 😕
The Blue Bottle in Berkeley is located on University Avenue, close to where Bus 52 (the one that takes you to campus) stops.
The Philz Coffee in Berkeley is located nearby University Village.
Another Bay Area native, Philz Coffee was founded by Phil Jaber and his son Jacob in 2003 and it’s still as popular as ever. I mean, their Iced Mint Mojito is a culinary masterpiece! I will have to do a separate post just on their iced drinks!
Of Philz Coffee’s “Featured Creations,” Iced Mint Mojito is, in my opinion, one of the best iced drinks I’ve ever had.
ExtraPerks: Free wifi, baked goods from Starter Bakery, aesthetic interior & merchandise, convenient app, out-of-this-world Iced Mint Mojito
☕Peet’s Coffee
Peet’s Coffee is everywhere across the country but did you know that it was founded in Berkeley by Alfred H. Peet in 1966? I sure didn’t!
According to Peets.com, the first ever Peet’s Coffee store was in North Berkeley, “at the corner of Vine and Walnut streets.” This location even has a special “study” area which is a quiet archival space filled with historical objects and documents of Alfred Peet and his company:
There are three other Peet’s in Berkeley and you can also get Peet’s on campus at the Golden Bear Café, Goldie’s, Brown’s and more.
This little station of a coffee shop, founded by Imran and Ali in 2022, serves top-notch coffee from 1951 Coffee Company. Not only is it located on Shattuck right outside the Downtown Berkeley BART station (super convenient for commuters!), but also Imran and Ali are very friendly. 😊
ExtraPerks: Mochi donuts from Third Culture Bakery (which deserves a post of its own), buy 10 get a free drink stamp card
☕1951 Coffee Company
Located in the Telegraph Area – on Channing Way.
Moving right along, we have 1951 Coffee Company. It is “a non-profit specialty coffee organization that promotes the well-being of the refugee community in the United States by providing job training and employment to refugees, asylees, and special immigrant visa holders while educating the surrounding community about refugee life and issues” (1951coffee.com). By purchasing a delicious cup of coffee from 1951 Coffee Company, you get to support their mission of supporting refugees.
Cup of iced Americano from 1951 Coffee Company.
Visit their website HERE to read all about the socially conscious coffee store.
Extra Perks: free wifi, can support a good cause, aesthetic interior & merchandise, buy 10 get a free drink stamp card
☕The Cheese Board Bakery
The Cheese Board Collective in North Berkeley, CA.
Yes, you read that right! The Cheese Board Collective Pizzeria in North Berkeley, which serves baked goods in the daytime and pizzas in the evenings, also offers really good coffee when it’s a bakery. And the price is SO reasonable that I smile whenever I see it on the menu board. $1.75 for a small cup of coffee and $2.75 for Americano (+ 25 cents for to-go cups).
Small cup of coffee from The Cheese Board.
Drinking their coffee with their outstanding baked goods makes any mornings (except Mondays and Sundays – they’re closed those days) bearable. Rather, it makes one look forward to mornings! 😉
As you can see, the store is filled with all sorts of cheese on one side and shelves of freshly baked goods on the other.
ExtraPerks: stellar baked goods and cheese
Conclusion
There you have it: my favorite coffee spots in Berkeley! But I just found out that there are over 40 coffee spots in the city, so I’ll need to do a Part 2 after trying out more places. Stay tuned!
P.S. Most of the places mentioned in this post are unique gems of places that deserve separate posts of their own. More coming soon!
P.P.S. I did a post on another coffee shop in Berkeley called “MY Coffee Roastery” – click HERE to read about the whimsical cottage of a café!
This January, I had an opportunity to attend an art exhibit called Shades of Gray. No, it has nothing to do with the infamous novel by E.L. James. Rather, it was the “10th Anniversary Photography Exhibit” held at the Gray Loft Gallery in Oakland, CA from December 10, 2022 to January 21, 2023. Truth be told, I had never been to an art exhibit before, so I was extremely excited to attend the group photo exhibit, to say the least!
There was a banner outside the building to help first time visitors like myself find the entrance.
The Gray Loft Gallery was located inside a tall, multi-story building. You had to take several flights of stairs to get to the actual gallery with all the artworks.
As you can see in this photo, there were several artworks visitors could look at on their way upstairs. But since they weren’t part of the actual exhibit, I won’t show them in detail.
As I made my way upstairs, I came face to face with a lady and her adorable little dog that hopped down besides her.
The lady and her adorable little dog.
I presumed her to be a family member or friend of one of the artists, and fawned over her dog as I passed by. To my surprise, the lady smiled and pointed out that I would soon be seeing her dog in the exhibit. I didn’t really know what she meant at the time, so I just smiled back and moved along. Boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise!
“Room 32”
Once I reached the floor where the exhibit was taking place (which, I believe was the third floor), I was met with a small table with flyers displayed:
There were name cards and such of the artists whose works were being displayed. Taking a few with me, I stepped inside Room 32 and officially began my Shades of Gray experience.
The gallery was basically a large room with dividers with artworks hung here and there on the walls.
The photographs were mostly in shades of gray, with a few exceptions. But as its name suggested, the exhibit was mostly a collage of black, white and gray.
Pleasant Surprises
Amidst the artworks and people casually conversing amongst themselves, there was a station serving wine and treats with these pretty light decorations.
Visitors had the chance to support the gallery by tipping cash in this glass jar (shown above) or they could purchase the actual artworks displayed. If I recall correctly, most of the prices I saw were in the hundreds. I did see that some works had been claimed, as they had these red circle stickers below them.
The red stickers below the framed works meant that the artworks had been purchased.
As I was cruising around the room with my drink in hand, I almost froze because I came face to face with the aforementioned dog. There it was, staring me in the eye!
Untitled #5 by Ellen Shershow. To see more of this artist’s works, visit the official website HERE or the Instagram account HERE.
It was such a pleasant surprise to see the dog again! 😂 But I think the dog was cuter in person, hopping down the stairs next to its owner. And for some reason, it looks angry in the photograph. Well, anyways, I think I appreciated the artwork so much more after having actually met the dog beforehand.
(Some of) My Favorites
I’m not exaggerating one bit when I say that I thoroughly enjoyed viewing all the artworks at the exhibit. These photographs were not just simple photos; they were captivating images that all spoke different messages through objects and figures captured. Looking back, it’s fascinating how moving each of the still images were! But these are some of the ones that I remember vividly:
1. Rub my eyes 8 2022 by Francis Baker
This work was one of the few that were not completely in black and white. Yet, it fit the theme and the exhibit so well. For more works created by the artist behind this dreamy palette, visit the official website at francisbaker.com or on Instagram HERE.
2. Gorongosa Solitude by Mark Overgaard
This pigment inkjet print reminiscent of a page from The National Geographic caught my attention for its simplicity and beauty. But now, after discovering that “Gorongosa” means “place of danger” in the indigenous Mwani language and learning about the history of the land in Mozambique, I appreciate this work much more than meets the eye.
To learn more about the artist behind the work, visit his official website HERE and check out his “About the Artist” page. His story is fascinating as well.
3. Three Fish by Susan West
I remember looking at this work and thinking, “Shouldn’t the title be ‘Four Fish’?” Whether there are 3 fish, 3.5 fish or 4 fish (or 7 if counting the shadows), this work by Susan West is fun to look at, even now.
Another artwork that had palettes other than shades of gray, Dreams of Old Birches was memorable in that it incorporated a piece of an actual tree. And the title of the work makes you wonder what those dreams were. For more work by Anne Rabe, visit her official website www.amr-photography.com and Instagram account HERE.
5. Desert Spirit by Melina Meza
I actually had the chance to eavesdrop on what the artist was saying about this work. If I remember correctly, she said that the original colors of Desert Spirit was a conglomerate of colors found in the desert. And I actually found Desert Spirit in its colorful original HERE! Check out more of the yoga instructor/writer/teacher/photographer’s works on the official website: www.melinameza.com/fineartphotography.
6. Armenia by Candice Jacobus
This work I specifically remember because of the majestically eerie landscape accompanied by a speck of green. Back when I was at the exhibit, I assumed that it was taken in some magical place in Armenia. Upon research, I did found out that, indeed, the photograph is of basalt rock formations called the “Symphony of the Stones” and “Basalt Organ” in Garni Gorge, Armenia.
7. The beginning of hope/The hope of beginning by J.M. Golding
Not only was I blown away by the beauty of this photograph (I mean, a lake/pond of water touching the evening sky? It doesn’t get any more romantic or aesthetic than that!), but also I was taken aback by just how beautiful the title was. For more works by J.M. Golding, visit the official website at www.jmgolding.com.
8. Butterflies of My Memory by Sonia Melnikova-Raich
Butterflies of My Memory made an impression on me for a number of reasons. 1) As someone who values history and cherishes memories, I couldn’t help falling in love with the title and its dreamlike imagery. 2) The structure behind the butterfly silhouettes somehow reminded me of the Bay. As a traveler dwelling in the area, this work holds much meaning to me.
But I just found out that this photograph was taken in Mexico City during the artist’s visit to La Casa Azul where Frida Kahlo had lived in! It’s incredible how one can take any imagery and fit it to one’s own perspective and experiences regardless of what it actually portrays.
9. Adriatic Tempest IV by Laurel Anderson Malinovsky
Lastly but certainly not least, is the tempestuous photograph by the artist Laurel Anderson Malinovsky. I got to listen to the artist talk about her work, and I was told that she had taken this photograph while visiting Eastern Europe. She explained that these dark clouds suddenly filled the sky above her and she had never seen anything quite like this before:
The reflection of the glass doesn’t do the photograph justice. When you look at it in person, the contrast of the colors are quite striking. The shades of gray displayed in the clouds, to me, feel like an allegory for a turmoil of human emotions.
The artist’s photo card that I picked up on my way inside Room 32.
Though I was excited even before the event, I did not expect to have this much fun at the exhibit. And I think overall the Gray Loft Gallery did a great job providing a space for its artists to showcase their works. I especially appreciated the see-through curtains and this *mobile installation, which I believe was not an artwork but a decoration. It added a nice touch to the event:
*4/3/2023 Update: According to Gray Loft Gallery’s old Instagram post, this mobile was actually a mixed media photo based work by Mary Curtis Ratcliff! For more stunning works by the artist, visit www.marycurtisratcliff.com.
And the view out the gallery was phenomenal at sunset! To look out the window to find these splash of vibrant colors was a pleasant, artistic contrast to the shades of gray displayed inside.
All in all, it was a highly enjoyable experience. I wish they had held the exhibit longer than the 1 month and 11 days they held it for… I will have to visit the Gray Loft Gallery again for another one of its exhibits!
It just happened so that I readUrsula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea in Berkeley, the very city where the author had grown up in. And so, after finishing the wonderful fantasy novel (for the full review of A Wizard of Earthsea, click HERE), I just had to look up any place in Berkeley associated with the novel and its author. And, lo and behold, I found the address to Ursula K. Le Guin’s childhood home!
The UC Berkeley campus. Summer 2022.
The Significance of Le Guin’s Childhood Home
The author’s old house was recently listed, I believe, at around 4 million dollars. There were articles about the house, mainly from The Sacramento Bee where you can read all about it and even view a video of the house’s interiors!
Now, one may wonder – why the big fuss over an author’s childhood home? Well, besides the obvious (that it was the home of the brilliant author who wrote the Earthsea novels), it actually seems to have played a significant role in her life and literary works. So much so that she is said to have written about the very home in an essay called, “Living in a Work of Art.”
Here’s what Le Guin said about her childhood home in Berkeley:
“If I recall my childhood, I recall that house. It is where everything happened. It is where I happened. Writing this, I wonder if much of my understanding of what a novel ought to be was taught to me, ultimately, by living in that house. If so, perhaps all my life I have been trying to rebuild it around me out of words.”
Quote from SF Gate and Lit Hub.
After coming across this quote, I simply had to visit the place myself!
I mean, technically, Le Guin’s childhood home is where the magic of Earthsea began! 📷 by Diane Picchiottino.
Not to mention the fact that it was designed by Bernard Maybeck in 1907 – over 100 years ago! (116 years, to be exact.)
Getting There
Le Guin’s childhood home, aka the Albert Schneider House, is located at 1325 Arch Street, in a neighborhood in North Berkeley. It’s a bit far off from the famous UC Berkeley campus; it takes from 25 to 30 minutes from the campus to the house on foot:
Snapshot of the actual Google Map direction I used!
And I must say, that it was quite a hike! 1325 Arch St was up on the hills, overlooking Berkeley and the rest of the Bay. I do not recommend visiting on a hot day!
Journey to 1325 Arch St
Alas, I happened to visit on a very hot day, so I made my way to Le Guin’s childhood home huffing and puffing like some determined fan girl. The journey was strenuous with all that upward powerwalk, but I could not contain my excitement as I got closer and closer to my desired destination.
1325 Arch St
When I finally stood in front of the actual house Le Guin had grown up and lived in, I was completely breathless.
1325 Arch St!
The dark, wooden house was being worked on by some construction/repair workers who I think were fixing up the place for the new resident who had just purchased the place. I so wanted to enter the open entrance and explore within; yet, I checked myself to not trespass.
The entrance to the house. It was open ajar with sounds coming from within.
Instead I looked from out on the streets, marveling at the mystical structure that held Ursula Le Guin’s childhood memories. At the open windows and the (what appeared to be) pea trees hovering over the entrance, I wondered if those had been there when the Le Guins had called the place their home.
My Experience
If I hadn’t researched beforehand, I would not have known that this house was Le Guin’s childhood home! I half-expected there to be signs or something signaling its ties to the fantasy novelist. But there were none.
To stand before the actual house felt surreal. The neighborhood was peaceful and quiet, with a few cars passing by from time to time. I half-expected there to be other tourists like myself and perhaps signs signaling the house’s ties to Le Guin, but there weren’t anything like that.
One Asian lady living across from Le Guin’s childhood home looked at me with a wary eye as I was taking way too many photos of the author’s house from all angles imaginable. It looked as if she didn’t know that the house she lived across from wasn’t just any house.
Or, maybe she did but she didn’t care for Le Guin’s works. Whichever the case, she sure is lucky! From the second floor of her own house, she could probably enjoy the view that Le Guin herself enjoyed from 1325 Arch St.
The View from 1325 Arch St
View of the Bay from Berkeley, CA.
Though I haven’t had the chance to go inside, I can conjecture from the outside that the view from the top floors at 1325 Arch St would be splendid. I mean, I was able to see the Bay while walking up to the house, and despite the trees and other obstacles blocking the view, it was still delightful. I can only imagine how breathtaking the view must be from up on the second level.
View of San Francisco, CA from the North Berkeley neighborhood where 1325 Arch St is.
According to The Spaces, there are 3 bedrooms on the second floor, with the master bedroom having “views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from its windows and private balcony” (The Spaces Team). Yup, the view would be simply breathtaking!
View of the Bay from Indian Rock Park in North Berkeley, CA.
Perhaps the view inspired the lands and seas of Earthsea Le Guin crafted in her works:
Snapshot of the map of the Earthsea world drawn by the author herself.
Around 1325 Arch St
Though there wasn’t a sign that read, “Hometown of Ursula K. Le Guin,” there were little book boxes, i.e. little free libraries that I spotted here and there. It was quite befitting for the neighborhood the Earthsea author had grown up in.
Free library shaped like a train! 🚂
There was also this stairway in the neighborhood that led up to the Berkeley Rose Garden, a city-owned park with rose terraces and tennis courts. (The Berkeley Rose Garden requires a post of its own, so I won’t go in detail.)
Conclusion
If you also find Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea novels to be some of the best fantasy novels ever written, then I highly recommend visiting 1325 Arch St if you’re in the area. You won’t find any signs, pamphlets or souvenirs, but you will be visiting a special place where a remarkable author had grown up in. It’s a fun quest/rewarding workout/intensive hike to go on for Earthsea fans and history buffs alike.
P.S. Upon further research, I came across the official website for Le Guin’s childhood home! Here’s the link: https://www.maybeckarchitecture.com/
P.P.S. Check out the whimsical My Coffee Roastery if you’re in Berkeley! Click HERE for the full review.
After purchasing my $7.00 ticket for the FoodieLand Night Market back in July, I spent the following weeks excited at the prospect of attending the “foodie inspired multi-cultural food and entertainment event.” Due to the excitement, I couldn’t even sleep well the night before the event!
FoodieLand Night Market in Berkeley, CA
FoodieLand Night Market is held at multiple locations throughout California. The event I was going to was the one in Berkeley, CA held at the Golden Gate Fields.
Golden Gate Fields is a horse racing track in Albany, CA/ west Berkeley, CA. The FoodieLand Night Market is NOT held in this building. It’s held further down in an open area.
Look for these red banners! You’ll get to the entrance if you follow the arrows.
The Golden Gate Fields overlooks the Bay and San Francisco. You can even see the Golden Gate Bridge 🌉:
The Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco seen from the Golden Gate Fields parking lot.
Beautiful scenery of the Bay.
I had purchased the ticket for the 1PM entry (the first entrance period), but came early just in case – arriving at around 12:40 PM. Even though it was 20 minutes before the event, there was a long line already. (But luckily the line moved along quickly and I was able to enter a few minutes after 1PM.)
The booths being set up.
Waiting in line. The red tents were where the inspections and security screenings were taking place. (Plus where you show your tickets to the event staff.)
Restrictions
As stated on their website, you can’t bring large backpacks or bags. Clear, see-through bags under 12 x 12 inches are allowed, along with strollers and small handbags. There was a detailed bag policy on the Cal Expo State Fair website for Sacramento’s FoodieLand Night Market event HERE, so I referred to it. But even when I brought a small clutch bag exactly 5 x 8 inches, the staff inspected what was inside my bag. And they did a body inspection, too. 🙁
So be prepared to have your bags inspected even if you meet the bag requirements.
More Restrictions
Per FoodieLand Night Market’s guidelines, tickets are available only via Eventbrite, and no pets are allowed (except for service animals). To check out the official website for the FoodieLand Night Market event held in Berkeley, CA from August 5th-7th, 2022 (the one I attended), click HERE. If you’re going to attend future FoodieLand Night Markets, make sure to look up the official website for the event you’ll be attending.
And there’s no re-entry.
The Event
Upon entering, I found myself surrounded by rows of booths after booths selling all kinds of food and drinks, like tacos, chicken, boba, tea, macarons, dim sums, ramen burgers, donuts, kettle corn, corn dogs, oysters, and even frog legs!
The actual booths from the event. Booths were EVERYWHERE. It’s useful to refer to the vendor list & map they have on their official website.
I couldn’t wait to try all the food!
Cheesy waffle fries, famous garlic shrimps from Hawaii and food trucks!
Little did I know about the costs…
Delicious BUT Expensive
Having paid an entrance fee of $7.00, I thought the prices of the food/drink items would be from $5 to $10. Based on my past experiences at various events, I had NO idea that most of the items here would be about $20!
#1: Cheese Wheel Pasta (Black Truffle Cream Pasta – $28 <$30 with tax>)
My first booth – “Cheese Wheel Pasta from Italy.”
I decided to start off with “Cheese Wheel Pasta.” They sold basil pesto, bacon, garlic lobster, and black truffle cream pastas. I decided to get the black truffle cream pasta.
It was $28. With tax, it was a total of $30.
To be fair, their pasta was “imported from Italy,” “aged for 24 months,” “made with the freshest milk,” and made with “ingredients from the Provinces of Parma & Reggio Emilia.” But I did not expect the food to be this expensive at this foodie event.
Pasta being made on site.
Pasta being prepared. (Doused in sauce?)
And the thing was, they didn’t have the prices up for people to see. It was only after you get to the cashier and order the item that they tell you how much you have to pay.
But since the pasta was delicious and I had it for lunch, I thought it was worth it.
I mean, all the other booths would be much cheaper, right?
#2: Kusina ni Javen Jesel (Bone Marrow Tacos – $25)
Next, I went to the booth named “Kusina ni Javen Jesel.” They were selling Filipino infused food, including lumpia, empanada and bone marrow tacos.
The bone marrow tacos were $25.
Again, to be fair, bone marrow tacos have quite some meat to it. Plus, it tasted great.
The bone marrow tacos even had these sesame mochi ball things. It was delicious!
After two food items, I had already spent over $50. It hurt, but the food was great and I had faith that the other food & drinks were cheaper.
Boy was I wrong…
#3 – LemonTea Squeeze (Animal Jar Drinks – $25 with cash payment)
Having consumed pasta and tacos, I needed to drink something. Having read about cute animal jar drinks on the vendor list, I went over to the booth named “LemonTea Squeeze” to purchase one.
LemonTea Squeeze with free refills.
Again, the prices weren’t shown on the booth. It was only after waiting in line and reaching the cashier that I learned how much one animal drink cost.
It cost $25. Twenty-five bucks if I paid in cash, and $27 dollars (and I don’t remember the exact change) if I paid with my card.
But I was thirsty, had waited in line, and was swayed by the words “free refills.”
I purchased the $25 animal jar drink, with peach iced tea flavor.
After two items and one drink, I had spent about $80… It was too much, but since it was an “all you can drink” offer with this cute bear jar, I let it go.
This FoodieLand Night Market was until 9:30 PM. It was around 3PM when my friends and I wanted to try more food. We wanted to try the Hawaiian Honey Cones aka the J-shaped ice cream. But they were, if I remember correctly, over $20 each! I don’t remember the exact cost, as we ended up not buying the expensive ice cream. But I do remember it being as expensive as the pasta/tacos/animal jar.
So we decided to settle for some churros & churro sundae at this booth called “Churromania Bakery.” Churros couldn’t be that expensive, right?
The line at Churromania Bakery, with a Churro figure standing outside.
The churro sundae was $12 and the churros cost $5 each. It was definitely overpriced, considering the fact that regular churros cost $1.50 to $2.00 each.
But as it was one of the cheaper food items (compared to the $20 ice cream!), we got the sundae and churros. And of course, we paid the $2.14 tax that was added.
The $12 churro sundae. (Single churros not shown in the photo.)
#5 – Big Baby Bottle (Small Baby Bottle – $27.56)
It was 4PM when my friends and I were sitting around in the table area unwilling to buy more food. Everything was overpriced. Maybe not everything, as we couldn’t check out all the booths and food trucks (which were, according to the website, over 150 in total.) But the ones that looked good and the ones we did get were all overpriced. And we were running out of money about halfway into the event. (The event closed at 9:30 PM.)
But before leaving the event for good (as re-entries were NOT allowed), we decided to try the baby bottles people were drinking from. We wanted to get the really big baby bottles, but we figured they would be outrageously expensive. So we decided to go for the smaller ones.
Again, no price shown on the banners. You find out later at the cashier.
When we got to the front of the line, we were told that the small bottles cost $25 in cash, $27.56 in card payment…
And I’m ashamed to say…
We got the small baby bottles…
The famous baby bottle. The small one cost as much as the Animal Jar.
Conclusion
The FoodieLand photobooth.
Though the event had a ton of great booths, I regret attending the event. Most of the food and drink items were overpriced. I regret getting the small Baby Bottle. And I regret purchasing the Bear Jar, because the thing leaked really easily. My phone got wet with the peach iced tea that leaked out, and now I have a broken iPhone.
Other people might have had a great time at the FoodieLand Night Market. I personally regret attending it. I’m broke and phoneless after the event. (Beware: the cute animal jar leaks!)
In my opinion, FoodieLand Night Market is a great event ONLY for foodies with money to spare. It’s fun ONLY if you can afford everything without worrying about it afterwards.
Heading back home, with the expensive FoodieLand Night Market behind. We couldn’t even stay until the end – we ran out of money around 4PM.
P.S. There were also live performances and game booths. I do NOT recommend the game booths, especially this one selling giant Pokemons:
Because it’s IMPOSSIBLE to win the game. You need to throw the ball, hit this board, and have it fall into this basket. The man in charge of the booth does it well BECAUSE of where he is standing. From where you are required to stand, it’s impossible. ☹ I’ve seen everyone fail, including myself.
P.P.S. If you DO decide to attend the FoodieLand event but you are NOT a foodie with money to spare, I suggest that you eat just 1-2 food/drink items and purchase products instead.
From my experience, it’s just WAY more cost effective. Instead of spending $20 on a single food/drink item, you can purchase a plushie/keychain/succulent/K-pop merchandise or some other stuff that you can bring home as a souvenir.
There was this cute keychain shop called “Cloris Creates” that I couldn’t buy from because I ran out of money. They had key chains of different breeds of dogs, cats, bunnies, parrots and reptiles! Plus, I recommend this cute succulent shop that I THINK was called “Juliet’s Succulent Garden.” I didn’t have money left to buy anything from them, but they had really cute succulent keychains & more.
If you search “cute cafes to visit in Berkeley” in Google, chances are “MY Coffee Roastery” will pop up. And being the ever-tireless fan of cute cafes, I set my heart on visiting MY Coffee Roastery a few weeks ago. Sure enough when I got there, the café was a whimsical cottage sitting at the intersection of Addison St and Martin Luther King Jr. Way:
The café from across the street. It’s super close to Trader Joe’s on University Ave.
But when I got closer…
Closed doors. ☹
MY Coffee Roastery is CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays! I made the mistake of visiting on a Tuesday… Make sure you visit on any days EXCEPT Monday/Tuesday, from Wednesday to Sunday. And beware, this cute cottage opens and closes early as you can see from the photo below 👇:
Be aware of their business days & hours!
✨Straight Out of a Fairytale✨
Now being aware of the cafe’s hours, I successfully entered the cottage on a Thursday. It was like entering a whimsical cottage straight from a fairytale! The cafe reminded me of the little cottage in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. With its pretty iron fence, pots of plants and succulents, red flowers, cute bench cushions, parasols, blue and white mosaic tables and stony walls, MY Coffee Roastery was as lovely and unique as it could be. I mean, there were literally butterflies flying about in the outdoor seating area!
The entrance. Love the red bench and flowers! 🌹
The whimsical storefront.
Once I entered, I was immediately at the counter, where baked goods and coffee beans were displayed. I wanted to try their waffle, but as they had ran out of them, I ordered their almond croissant instead with a cup of iced Americano.
I think the cafe is owned and managed by a Chinese lady and her family – I’m not sure. But I have a hunch that she is the one behind the lovely cottage and its design. Even the interior is chic, with black chandeliers and stoned walls with wide windows that are left open.
Looking out from the inside.
The Menu
My drink and food came out quickly, as I wasn’t done marveling at the chic interior when they had finished warming up the croissant. Sitting outside in the patio area, I took a bite of my almond croissant and I must say, I like it better than other almond croissants I’ve had!
The delicious almond croissant & Americano. 🥐☕💕
It had sweet stuff inside – I don’t know what it’s called. Whatever it is, it made the croissant more flavorful and went perfectly with the iced Americano.
I personally wished there were more menu options, like sandwiches to eat for brunch or lunch, but the café is still great as is. I think their focus is on coffee, not so much the food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, MY Coffee Roastery is one of those chill cafes where you can get work done. They offer free wifi that works – they have the wifi password posted on the walls inside the cottage.
The inside seating area had the wifi banner with the password (see above). There was another wifi banner facing the front counter.
And with sufficient outdoor seating, it felt safe to eat and work there amidst the pandemic. Though cars drive by and many people frequent the cafe, it wasn’t distracting at all.
And the parasols create just the right amount of shade! ⛱
With friendly staff, good food and drinks along with aesthetic architecture and natural decor, MY Coffee Roastery is a cafe for students, professionals, and writers alike. It’s for anyone who appreciates uniquely chic spaces with chill vibes!
I can’t wait to go back to try their waffle. (And their latte, too!) 😊
P.S. To learn more about MY Coffee Roastery, visit their official website HERE. Or their IG account HERE.
P.P.S. And here are more aesthetic shots of the café:
P.P.P.S. 8/18/2022 Update: I revisited to try their waffle! But the waffles aren’t made at the cafe; they are premade waffles packed in wrapper that are unwrapped and placed on the display. Though it tasted alright, I wouldn’t deliberately come here to eat it again. Regardless, the whimsical cafe always has GREAT vibes✨ and good coffee.
You probably know about San Francisco’s Chinatown. It’s one of the oldest and most established Chinatowns in the United States, boasting the largest Chinese population outside of Asia. But did you know that there’s a Japantown as well in San Francisco?
Japantown in San Francisco, CA.
The Japantown in San Francisco, aka Nihonmaki, is THE oldest and largest Japantown in the U.S. And it’s one of the only Japantowns left in the country, along with Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo and San Jose’s Nihonmaki.
They have many restaurants, shops and businesses in and around the Japan Center. And this really cool pagoda in the middle of the Japantown Center Mall:
The San Francisco Peace Pagoda, given to San Francisco from its sister city, Osaka, in the 1960s. Designed by Japanese architect Yoshiro Taniguchi.
There is a total of 5 large mall buildings in Japantown, including AMC Kabuki 8 and Hotel Kabuki. But the three main buildings: the Kinokuniya Mall, Japan Center West (formerly called Kintetsu Mall), and Japan Center East (formerly called Miyako Mall).
The Kinokuniya Mall has Boks Kinokuniya, a two-story bookstore that sells Japanese novels, books, mangas (comic books), Studio Ghibli related products and DVDs, and cute stationery.
Japanese chain bookstore whose company headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan.
Not to mention the many restaurants, cafes and shops that offer the best of Japanese food and goods!
Maido Fine Stationery and Gifts (LEFT) sell the cutest stickers, pens, plushies, and… you name it! Matcha Cafe Maiko (RIGHT) have stellar matcha soft serve and drinks.
In the middle of the seating area surrounded by Maido shop and Maiko cafe is a Japanese castle replica. I believe the castle is the Osaka Castle. I’ll have to visit again to double check!
Now moving onto Japan Center West! You can get to Japan Center West by taking an indoor bridge from the Kinokuniya Center.
I think this center had the most restaurants, with even one on the bridge itself. There’s also this dark alley with restaurants lined up, just like how it is in Japan.
Kushi Tsuru, one of the many restaurants located in Japan Center West. I haven’t been to this restaurant yet.
Once you exit, you’ll arrive to the plaza where the San Francisco Peace Pagoda stands!
The Japantown Peace Plaza is where most community events are hosted.
The plaza is right in between Japan Center West and Japan Center East. You’ll have to pass by the pagoda and the plaza and enter the third and last building to get to Japan Center East.
From my observation, Japan Center East had the most cultural decorations, including this red bridge and beautiful wall art of Japanese fans:
The Mini Art Mart
Now, the day I visited San Francisco’s Japantown was on July 16th, the day of the Mini Art Mart. The Mini Art Mart is a monthly market held in Japantown where local artists come together to display and sell their Japanese-inspired artworks.
Official poster for the Mini Art Mart held in Japantown, San Francisco.
There were so many visitors eager to look at the works created by independent artists!
Crowds of people were by the artists’ booths on the first and second floors of the Kinokuniya Mall, with more throngs hanging out by the restaurants, cafes and stores in Japan Center West. In Japan Center East, there were more booths, but they were selling jewelry and clothes rather than artworks:
My Favorite Artists
There were a bunch of booths with countless artworks hung up everywhere. Most featured characters from anime, manga, and Studio Ghibli, but there were some that were just artworks of cats, dogs and other cute animals.
Most of the local artists seemed like independent artists who weren’t well known. A few artworks seemed to be done by beginning artists. There was also Yanchako, an artist who is already well-established, with her works being permanently sold in the Maido stationery store. She left early with her assistant, so I don’t have photos of her work. But here is her IG account!
Along with Yanchako, I had two artists whose artworks I just HAD to purchase: Starry-Droplets and Starfish.
Starry-Droplets (Sandy K.)
As I was browsing through the second floor of the Kinokuniya Mall, I was drawn to this booth by Sophie’s Crepes:
Not only did this artist draw some of my favorite anime/mangas, but also her art style was just so lovely!
Inuyasha, Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away? YES!!! 😍
Aren’t these artworks simply charming? You can recognize the different characters AND know that they’re from Sandy K.!
Fruits Basket! 🍙
Although there were postcards, keychains and stickers, too, I was completely won over by the illustrations. The 5 x 7 illustration cards were $7 each – they’re definitely not cheap! But to show my support and to keep the lovely souvenirs, I purchased two. (I’ll reveal which ones I got at the end! 😉)
The booth of Starry Droplets (Sandy K.) was definitely one of my favorites that day. Her artworks were the prettiest, in my opinion, because I adore cute, bright illustrations. 💕
Official name card of the artist!
Starfish (Single Brain Cell Club)
The other artist that made me open my wallet was Starfish. She was located on the second floor, too, close to Starry-Droplets.
Her artworks were much darker, but regardless stunning. And I loved how her artworks weren’t only about anime/manga. For instance, look at this pin with the cutest little puppy sleeping!
It’s in the shape of a heart, too! 🥰
Though all the illustrations were stunning, I couldn’t afford to spend too much more. So after purchasing the cute dog pin ($5, again not cheap!), I had to retreat, leaving these artworks behind:
But I got the artist’s QR code:
*The keychains on the left were SO cute! They were chic keychains in the shape of polaroid photos with succulents drawn on them.
I honestly can’t wait to see more illustrations done by Starfish!
Mini Art Mart + Japantown = Ultimate Outing
It was such a fun day to visit San Francisco’s Japantown on the day of the Mini Art Mart! I got to see beautiful illustrations drawn by local artists AND eat a delicious bowl of curry udon at Udon Mugizo.
Udon Mugizo. The curry udon and Nabe Yaki udon were excellent. 👌🏻
And I got these two lovely artworks! (Along with a very cute pin.)
Yes, I got the Howl’s Moving Castle illustration…💕💕 Check out my post on the Ghibli film HERE for more fanarts done by talented artists!
And this Tokyo Mew Mew illustration! The artist even included the sixth member. 🐇
I highly recommend visiting Japantown during the Min Art Mart. It was such a lively event where lovers of Japanese anime & manga got to connect with local, independent artists. If you don’t mind all the crowd, the Mini Art Mart will make your visit to Japantown even more fun.
P.S. For the full directory of stores at Japantown SF, visit their official website HERE.
For more info on the Mini Art Mart, check out their Instagram account HERE.
P.P.S. Want to learn more about the artists Sandy and Starfish? Use these links below:
I touched upon Corona Del Mar in my post about Rendez Vous French Bakery & Cafe (click HERE for the post), but it really deserves a post of its own. So here’s a post dedicated to the ever-beautiful Corona Del Mar!
Pristine Beauty of Architectural Delights
Corona Del Mar is a seaside neighborhood in Newport Beach, CA. It boasts breezy cliffside views of open beaches and tidepools.
“CdM,” as locals call it, also showcases rows of grandiose homes lined up along its cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Grand estates facing the Pacific Ocean.
With Newport Beach being one of the richest neighborhoods in the U.S., these rows of luxurious houses are no surprise. But what set these estates apart from those in other affluent neighborhoods are that not one looks alike and each has its own unique charm.
From whimsical cottages to stunning modern buildings, these homes are architectural delights to behold!
This home is straight out of a fairytale!
Beautiful modern home with geometric designs.Outright stunning!
Things To Do in CdM
There’s a plethora of things to do in Corona Del Mar. First, there is the obvious list of swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and sunbathing at the Corona Del Mar State Beach.
Park below and enjoy the sandy beach!
Visitors can even drive to the nearby Crystal Cove State Park and Laguna Beach, which are also excellent, breathtaking destinations for the aforementioned activities.
The immaculate Crystal Cove State Park. Post coming soon!
Secondly, there are chic cafes and stores to visit along the Pacific Coast Highway (California 1) in addition to the Corona Del Mar Plaza and Fashion Island Shopping Center in Newport Beach, CA. Rendez Vous French Bakery and Café, Rose Bakery Cafe, and Zinc Cafe & Market are some good cafes to check out! 😉
Rendez Vous French Bakery & Cafe.
Foamy latte from Rose Bakery Cafe.
Next, you can take the coffee or whatever drink/food you order and head over to the Lookout Point for a peaceful stroll. (I suggest doing so on a weekday when the lovely park isn’t crowded with visitors/pedestrians.) It’s a treat to look out into the wide Pacific from the cliffs of CdM with the breeze lightly touching your face as you enjoy your drink.
And when you’re done staring out into the shimmery sea, you can head towards the flower-named streets lined with vibrant flowers and the previously mentioned architectural delights:
This house features some of the most beautiful roses in the area!
If you want to enjoy even more blooms and blossoms, then head over to Sherman Library & Gardens or Roger’s Gardens!
Sherman Library & Gardens.The library/garden has cool decorations like this piano covered in moss.And flowers hanging from above!
A Gem of a Place
Like its name, Corona Del Mar is a true gem of a place. Its wide beaches and breathtaking cliffside views never fail to inspire, even on foggy or cloudy days.
CdM on a cloudy day.
It’s a gem not only because of its pristine nature, but also due to the residents who treasure it and keep it beautiful.
Residents of CdM do their part to keep this gem of a place shine.
P.S. To learn more about Corona Del Mar State Beach, visit the California Department of Parks and Recreation HERE.
Sherman Library & Gardens showcases exotic plants, flowers, and koi ponds as well as toilet, bathtub, and bed surrounded by plants! It’s truly a unique botanical paradise for all nature lovers.
As for Roger’s Gardens, I’ll have to visit there one day myself! But it looks like a lovely place to visit, especially during Halloween or Christmas. Check out their Christmas video HERE on YouTube.
Nestled in an eco-friendly retail campus surrounded by the 73, 55 and 405 highways is a glass building with a logo reminiscent of the pirate flag. It’s none other than Blackmarket Bakery!
Allow me to introduce you to the unique bakery serving scratch-made treats, fresh bread and savory sandwiches.
The CAMP at Costa Mesa
Blackmarket Bakery is a small, locally-owned business located within the CAMP, a green, eco-friendly shopping center in Costa Mesa, CA. It’s located near South Coast Plaza, LAB Anti-Mall, Mitsuwa Marketplace, and John Wayne Airport.
It really looks and feels like a camp in the middle of the city, with lots of wild plants, old trailers and camp-related decorations scattered about:
With around 25 stores that focus on healthy, active lifestyles, the shopping center hosts a bunch of events designed to bring awareness to the environment and the local community. (Plus arts & craft classes, free movie showings and drive-in concerts!) *For a full list of shops and services, visit the CAMP’s website HERE. For their calendar of events, HERE.
Now, back to Blackmarket. The bakery sits at the tip of the CAMP, right in front of the main parking lot that’s painted with feel-good messages in white:
I highly recommend choosing and parking at your favorite message! 😁
The Vibe
The first time I visited, I was taken aback by the exterior. From the outside, it didn’t look anything like a bakery with its modern glass windows and wild plants growing outside. I mean, I couldn’t see a single trace of baked goods. But the logo of a cake shaped like a skull, words “Bakery” pasted here and there plus these UFO-shaped cakes let me know that I had come to the right place.
It looks nothing like a bakery, with the only hint being the logo with the Jolly Roger cake. ☠
UFO cakes taking people away! 🛸
Though it didn’t look at all like a bakery, it was plenty chic with its unique logo and vinyl stickers. As I entered, I expected the interior to be more “normal,” with clean walls in warm colors and baked goods neatly displayed in glass countertops like other bakeries.
But the interior was as eccentric and chic as the exterior:
There’s so much to see! 👀
The bakery was like an industrial factory with metallic lights hanging from above. I honestly didn’t know where to look with all these cool merchandise and aesthetic chocolate bars lying about. They had these cool periodic table lunch boxes, cookies shaped like dragonflies, metallic trailer displays and treats that all look good.
Menu & More
After being overwhelmed by all the products and standing dumbfounded for about a minute, I was able to make my way towards the counter to order. As I stood at the very end of the line, I got to watch bakers kneading the dough by hand:
Bakers kneading behind rows of freshly made breads.
When I moved a few inches closer to the cashier, I saw this huge menu board:
Having witnessed all the tasty-looking cookies and bread at the entrance, I had confidence in all the menu items. In fact, I wanted to try everything on the menu plus all the treats displayed. But as I physically and financially couldn’t afford to do so, I narrowed down my choice to the Hot Potato Egg Sandwich, i.e. Hot Potato “Eggywich,” as called by the crew.
Along with the Berry Basque Tart and latte.
The Food
By the time I received my orders, I was too hungry to remember about blogging it. So… I devoured the Hot Potato Eggywich without taking any photos of it! 😫 But I remember and can say with confidence that it was good. The over easy eggs, bacon, and hash brown patty made it a hearty meal – an excellent breakfast. The pickled onions and garlic aioli sauce made it very savory.
Despite my overall satisfaction, I personally found the Eggywich to be a bit overwhelming. It was too much to eat the aforementioned ingredients with its butter croissant bread. I didn’t realize while I was eating it, but once I finished, I really was feeling overwhelmed.
The Berry Basque Tart was VERY good. It had a crumbly tart crust with fresh raspberries, thin almond slices, and lemony cream with powered sugar sprinkled on top. And the latte was smooth, with a good amount of foam. Both the tart and the latte were excellent. HOWEVER, I wouldn’t drive all the way to Costa Mesa just to have these again – especially with the insane gas prices these days. I would if I happened to be in the area and wanted some good tart and latte.
A few weeks later, I had another chance to visit Costa Mesa and so I went again to Blackmarket Bakery. This time, I ordered the Fresh Prince Eggywich. I liked it better than the Hot Potato Eggywich:
Healthy ingredients & savory sauce 👍
+ Update 6/18/22: I visited the bakery yet AGAIN and this time I got the Plain Jane. It wasn’t overwhelming with just cheddar cheese, eggs and brioche bun. It tasted great with fresh orange juice:
Delicious! I liked it better than the other eggywiches I tried.
A Bakery Worth Visiting
Blackmarket Bakery is definitely worth visiting – at the very least once. They’ve got good food and superb treats – made fresh every day. And equally importantly, they’ve got unique, clever decorations that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, like the metallic UFO cakes, chess boards painted on tables, and whisks hanging from above.
It’s a must-see bakery for photographers, bloggers and tourists alike who appreciate industrial chic decor with creative, artistic culinary touches.
More About Blackmarket Bakery
🏴☠️Fun Fact #1: The unique Blackmarket Bakery in Costa Mesa was founded back in 2012 by Rachel Klemek, a UCI alumni. Her first Blackmarket Bakery opened even further back in 2004 in the city of Irvine (now closed).
🏴☠️Fun Fact #3: According to the founder herself, the name “Blackmarket” comes from the fact that baking fundamentals like butter, flour, sugar and eggs were only available via black markets during World War II. She says in an interview with OC Weekly that the name for the bakery was developed during the Atkins diet craze in the early 2000s when baked goods seemed culturally outlawed (read the full interview HERE).
What brilliant way to incorporate history to one’s bakery! 🤩
Photo by Patrick Fore
🏴☠️Fun Fact #4: There are currently 2 Blackmarket Bakeries: one in Costa Mesa and one in San Diego (with another San Diego store coming soon). They offer online ordering, gift cards, and loyalty cards that you can use to get free coffee:
The chic red loyalty card from Blackmarket Bakery.
Visit these links to learn more about Blackmarket Bakery!
If someone had asked me where my favorite café was just three months ago, I would have readily answered: Rendez Vous French Bakery & Cafe in Corona Del Mar, CA! But now I can’t. Because despite their still delicious beignets and food, it saddens me to say that I’ve tasted one of the worst lattes there.
So let’s talk about Rendez Vous Cafe.
Heavenly Beginning
Rendez Vous French Bakery and Cafe is an “authentic artisan French bakery” and café where “everything is made from scratch” with the best ingredients. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner and offer catering.
The restaurant/café banner outside.
I chanced upon this café when I was driving by Corona Del Mar one day. It has an eye-catching aesthetic exterior, with a blue and white sign and outdoor seating area adorned with garlands of pink florals.
The lovely exterior of Rendez Vous.
When you walk inside, you come face to face with lovely Parisian decorations, including this beautiful wall of pink, white, red, and purple roses and a chic white cart displaying macarons and caneles:
Quelles jolies roses! 🌹🌹🌹 *Click HERE for another aesthetic café that abounds with roses.
Not to mention the tempting pastries and bread surrounding you when you stand at the cashier to order!
The first time I visited with my family, I ordered a French toast, veggie panini, cream filled beignets, and two cups of latte. And we remember it like it was yesterday: it was HEAVENLY. Everything tasted great – not too sweet, not too salty. Fluffy French toast with fresh fruits, flavorful panini packed with cooked vegetables and side salad, doughnut-like beignets packed with rich cream, and foamy, rich lattes.
I wish we had taken photos that day, but we were too busy devouring the food. Click HERE to see the official photos of their French toast and HERE for their cream beignets.
*Visit their IG page for more mouthwatering photos of their menu items💕💕
The heavenly taste continued every week we visited the café, and for the past few months, visiting Rendez Vous was our family’s little ritual. We would order, take the food and lattes, and watch the beautiful shores of Corona Del Mar:
Sunny or cloudy, the coast of CdM is always a delightful sight to behold!
The Ever-Changing Quality
But sometime around late March, things began to change. We were surprised to find our beloved Rendez Vous French toast, which had been fluffy and yellow, coming out too burnt to eat. Our lattes had become foamless and tasteless.
But we loved the cafe so much that we went back week after week, in hopes of tasting the gastronomical heaven we had experienced in the beginning. But the French toast always came out with black bits on the bottom, some weeks worse than others, while our lattes tasted different every week. *Sometimes, it would be like drinking hot water and espresso separately. Other times, it was like drinking lukewarm milk and espresso. Our lattes always came out with barely any foam, and the milk and espresso that should blend together came out tasting like they hadn’t been mixed.
*5/29 Update: Delicious foamy lattes are back!
How the latte was on 5/29/22. 👍
And at times we would come home with the cream beignets only to discover that we received plain ones. 🙁
Photo by Matthew Henry.
After weeks of giving the French toast and lattes multiple second chances, we gave up on our favorite items. So we had no choice but to find quality lattes elsewhere, which we did at Rose Bakery Café a few blocks away.
Rose Bakery Cafe’s ever delicious latte with foam. The great thing about them is that they are ALWAYS good, week after week. Review of the café is coming soon!
Food’s Still Great Though 👍
But I’m happy to share that they always have great beignets and paninis.
Their chicken panini is delicious! (Comes with side of salad or fries. Their salad is always fresh, too)The best beignets I’ve ever tasted! The bread and the pastry cream feel thick & taste real – they’re not some cheaply made pastry.
And croque madame!
I’ve also tasted some of their pastries, including the fruit tart and pear almond tart. And they’re as good as they look! 👇😉👍
And the café is as chic as ever, with pink roses and decorations reminiscent of Paris itself. They’ve got great food and lovely, friendly employees. I recommend Rendez Vous Café to anyone visiting Corona Del Mar, CA but just be aware of their French toast and latte.
⚠ The French toast might come out very burnt on the bottom, and the latte might come out tasteless & foamless. Hopefully they go back to tasting phenomenal!
To wrap up, here are more photos of the chic interior & exterior:
Here’s the exact location:
P.S. To visit the cafe’s official website, click HERE. Like their motto, they really do have real food and real people! 😉
P.P.S. During Christmas, this pretty French café becomes even more aesthetic with a pink Christmas tree!
Pink boxes, ornaments, and roses galore!
P.P.P.S. Update 5/24: I visited again and ordered a panini with cream beignets for take out. The panini was delicious as always, but I was given plain beignets again… 😔
The Time Traveler is an upcoming author who holds great appreciation for both classic literature and history. The author aspires to publish historical fictions and other written works in the near future, in hopes of creating works that entertain, inform, and inspire.
The author also appreciates all things aesthetic and enjoys traveling around the world to learn and observe.
