my sad little window box is empty no more! i stopped by osh today and got myself a packet of strawberry seeds and some organic plant food. hopefully, i’ll see some fruit this summer.

The wood alpine strawberry, producing lots of quality, tasty fruit. Excellent for hanging baskets and containers. In France this variety is used for decorating pastries etc. and dropping into a glass of champagne.

champagne and french pastries. mmm. now, that’s what i’m talkin’ about.

lunch at hy in little saigon with the family. it always reminds us of room service in hue– just fancier and without the big rolly cart and the super attentive service people.

1. banh beo, 2. banh it ram, 3. salad hen, 4. com ga roti

william and went out in search of din tai fung-esque dumplings today… and found them in a tiny restaurant in one of the many many mini malls on valley. much of the menu was in chinese, and there were no pictures to help… so we took the advice of our waitress and hoped for the best. it was a good idea. we tried the juicy pork and juicy pork & crab dumpings while the cook stared at us from the kitchen– eyes glazed and mouth agape. creepy, but the food was so good! after the bill came, they brought banana leaf wrapped sticky rice and red bean desserts for us. so happy!

after a dissapointing trip to the hawaii supermarket, we walked over to fossilman’s for another taste of ice cream. it just keeps getting better. lemon custard and lychee… probably the best. ever. we may have to go again after lunch tomorrow to celebrate (or mourn) the end of our rotation.

i sat in an aisle at target and read the rest of the book that i had started reading at borders the other day. i must have looked like some strange homeless-esque person. it’s not my fault that the library has no parking! …and that i’m cheap.  …and a bit lazy.  hmm.

i’m also hungry.  when’s dinner?

red red red little cakes. the rose ones are my favorites– the others lack definition. i’ll try again with heavier cake batter (pound cake, perhaps?) and some sort of pretty colored glaze. now, i just have to find someone to eat them.

here pigeon, pigeon, pigeon….

i picked up this cutie pan from williams sonoma a couple days ago… flower shaped petit fours for all! i’ll be making the mini cakes for our upcoming dinner and board games night. but first… a test run!

shabu shabu meets frank sinatra… with boba. it’s better than “the boiling pot” on lake…. but there’s still something missing. i tried the japanese miso this time… meh. i liked the european curry one better.