FASHIONTOLIVE + FASHIONABLEFOODIVA

Aircation: Cruise Set Chic: Tour the America's Costa Rica | Coasta Rican Cooking Class (Caribbean Fusion) post 2

2026-04-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

Lunch and dinner later that day

This was lunch from the buffet (hubs).

This is dinner from our main dining room which is where I basically had to eat every night due to having Celiac Disease.

Extra pics below from lunch

OLIVIA Tableside Parm: Vintage Replay LOTN

2026-04-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

Top: vintage

So, the tableside chicken parmesan is available in Tampa and yes, you can also get it gluten-free. You can see both the breaded chicken parmesan and the gluten-free parmesan here at Olivia. It was delicious! They do not have spaghetti noodles here that are gluten-free so you will have to get penne if you want it with noodles.

This is the gluten-free version

Lilac X Mita : Restaurant Collab | Apron Top + High Waisted Trousers + Manolo Blahnik

2026-04-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

Apron Top

High Waisted Trousers

Manolo Blahnik

Lilac

The Tampa Edition

The bread course at Lilac is not for the weak because there are several items to share. Every time I come here, they always have gluten-free options for me.

Tonight, the bread course is inspired by the menu collaboration with Mita. The tajin candy was my favorite, followed by the differed bread type medallions and the sauces and creams that accompanied it.

For one night, only two Michelin starred restaurants (chefs) came together to present a completely vegetarian multicoursed meal.

This was an exciting event for me as I am a Flexitarian (eating very little meat, but I do love seafood still) and have been for years, and I have never done a dining experience like this.

Almost all of the courses were gluten-free. A few things were changed for me that did contain gluten, and you can see the difference in the plates I have vrs. my husband.

*Real reaction to the tajin candy: I have only had tajin once in my life. I loved the candy, I didn't know what to expect, especially since the wrapper was edible. That was the most fun.

My opinion on the dinner. First and foremost, this dinner, for me, was pushing me to go outside my comfort zone. Yes, I am a Flexitarian, and that can also be compared to the Mediterranean diet. I do not eat a lot of actual meat, I probably eat less than 5 ounces of meat a week. However, I still eat eggs, I eat broths made from meat, and I eat seafood. I would say during the week I may be completely meatless two days of the week if we are counting seafood. Like I get protien from other places.

Anyhow, given the cost, and this dinner was not cheap, I knew there was a chance I would leave hungry or dissappinted. Now, for measure, I eat a lot on Indian food, and they have such a wide array of vegetarian dishes, my favorite being dhaal tadka and tomato rassam soup.

I believe that if you are both at least a bit uncomfortable or out of your comfort zone, you aren't doing it right; there is little growth. So, for me, this dinner was about a lot.

As for my opinions, I thought the courses were too small. Now, I have a lot of nerve saying that because I didn't finish all of any course. I just don't eat a lot in one sitting, but the courses were a bit on the light side for me for the price of 205.00 per person.

The first courses were my favorite. It was very consistent with the shared bread course that Lilac always serves. I thought the flavors were all popping out loud, especially the Tajin candy and the dips.

The cold soup was not my favorite. I, in general, do not like cold soups, Indo is not really like white asparagus, and I know it's in season right now, but every time I have it, I just don't care for it.

The watermelon ceviche I also knew would probably not enamored me because I just do not like watermelon in dishes. I like it alone, but not sautéed, dehydrated or marinated, etc. I never have. As far as the ceviche, it lacked the essence of ceviche, which left me wanting more...it's literally one of the things I eat weekly. The watermelon, however, was marinaded in soy sauce, and it really had the texture and chewyness of raw tuna whi h was cool. Overall, I thought this was a cool dish.

The mushroom dish is where I think my husband benefitted more from having the version that was not gluten-free. Mine was extremely plain and had little flavors other than mushroom and uncooked. His had sauces and different things that balanced the earthlings and umami out with a savory finish. This dish was a win for him.

The dessert. Talk about a flower bomb. It was nice! It literally had everything I would want in a dessert. it wasn't too sweet, it was tart, it had multiple textures and it was unique. I am not a dessert person, so the fact that I liked this probably the most is shocking. The ice cream that was with it tasted very floral and kind of like perfume. To my chagrin, when I was leaving, I saw a lot of people did not even eat this dessert. It was delicious. It kind of made me sad that they didn't like it.

The pasta dish and tamale.

Both of these dishes I thought were executed very well. With the pasta dish, I missed out a little bit because mine was substituted with gluten-free spaghetti noodles. The original dish had a stuffed anglotti with ricotta, which sounds dreamy. Mine was not really that dreamy or creamy, lol. The overall flavor for me was high acidity, but it didn't bother my husband, and I think that was because he had the ricotta stuffed anglotti, which I didn't.

The tamale was gluten-free already, like many of the courses were tonight, and so I got the same plate as my husband. This course had the most flavors and textures of all the courses other than dessert. It was fabulous by design, and rhe sautéed morrels were delectable. This dish was actually more filling singualy than all of the rest because the tamale was very filling. The accompanying sauce or oil reductions added even more flavor as well.

Although I felt the courses on average were small it was enough food for me. I did not eat anything else the rest of the night and I ate breakfast as normal the next day (same for hubs and he finished every course).

I really enjoyed the dinner and I thought it was great. I wanted to try something different and that is what I got. Is this for everyone? Probably not, but everything isn't for everybody as I have been told growing up. So, if you are interested in what it is like to eat at a Michelin starred restaurant that is collaborating with another Michelin starred Chef/restaurant OR just interested in an upscale vegetarian dining experience then this post might be for you.

I highly enjoy eating meals which contain less meat and what's great as my husband eventually adapted to this as well and he used to eat steak one to two times a week and other meats. It's important to both of us to explore different options that do not negativity impact our bodies as well as the economy and environment when it comes to meat.

This dinner delivered and as usual the service at Likac is always phenomenal. And in case I failed to mention it, both Lilac and Mita which is a popular DC restaurant with have Michelin stars. Would I do this type of dinner again?

The answer is yes.

This was a little coconut candy that they gave us when we were closing out; they usually always have a little candy or something like that at the end.

March 2026 City Life VLOG: Birthday & Rooadtrip Recap | Gluten-Free Recipes | Hauls & Shopping

2026-04-17T20:12:00.001-07:00

ROADTRIPPIN IN ST.AUGUSTINE & JACKSONVILLE:

Factor meals:

MEAL #1

Food Tour: Young & Hungry Pt Two: It's New & Maybe For You | Kurō Sushi Lakewood Ranch Date Night | Crop Poplin

2026-04-13T21:12:00.000-07:00

Cropped poplin: Uniqlo

Trousers: Coco & Lola (not recent)

Heels: Jimmy Choo Abel (not recent)

Headband: Amazon

Bag: Louis Vuitton Alma BB (vintage)

Lipstick: MAC

Tonight's dinner is at which opened last Ocotber after they had announced a July opening. I had already planned on having this restaurant in my food tour for Sarasota in 2025 and I waited to conclude it to include it.

The restaurant group owning this new restaurant also own JPAN and KORE which have also been featured. As you can see I am very much a fan of their restaurants and they do a terrific job accommodating Celiacs and they throw great events.

I visited Kurō during their soft opening in October 2025 when they had their Block Party which was a really fun celebration. During this celebration it was more of a buffet that had some items from the menu like sashimi, but mostly items I didn't not find on the menu, do I knew I would be back again.

The great thing about this restaurant is that there is a fusion of different items and it is not from one culture so you have a lot of options.

This is my favorite drink here and it is so pretty.

Next, we will have a lot of the items I ordered and these are all gluten-free.

Fried rice

Aircation: Cruise Set Chic: Tour the America's with the Lomsak's: YOGA

2026-04-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

Chef Collaboration: Birch & Vine at the Birchwood | Tropical Look of the Night Feat. Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Collection

2026-04-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

Blouse: Farm Rio

Trousers: Billy J Boutique

This is the gluten-free version

Each dish is paired with selections from Banf, guiding you through Northern and Central Italy.

The evening begins in Piemonte with a bright and celebratory Vintage Brut, then moves through Toscana with Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico Riserva, building into the depth of Brunello di Montalcino and finishing with the structure and elegance of Summus. The progression is intentional, growing in richness and complexity with each course.

The experience opens with a delicate ✨️hamachi crudo layered with citrus and heat,

✨️followed by spring asparagus with caviar and buttermilk sabayon.

✨️cured duck course brings warm spice and subtle sweetness,

✨️leading into handmade strozzapreti with wild mushroom ragù.

✨️The evening continues with a deeply savory, slow-braised wild boar

✨️before closing with a refined chocolate and blackberry dessert.

FEATURED WINES COURSED WITH OUR FOOD

This was more than a dinner. It is a rare opportunity to experience three chefs, one table, and a menu designed to unfold course by course leading into the Tampa wine and food festival.

✨️AMUSE BOUCHE- HAMACHI CRUDO:

Orange, Red Thai Chili, Garlic, Shiso Flower.

Executive Chef Andrew | KÖsen

Banfi Vintage Brut 2020- Piemonte, Italy

✨️COURSE 1- SPRING ASPARAGUS WITH CAVIAR:

Asparagus, Caviar, Buttermilk Sabayon, Nasturtium Leaf.

Executive Chef Alex | Mei

Banfi San Angelo Pinot Grigio - Toseana, Italy

✨️COURSE 2- CURED DUCK BREAST

Pink Peppercorn, Coriander, Cane Syrup (Frogsong Farms), Daikon Fondant.

Executive Chef Alex | Mei

Banfi Chianti Classice Riserva

Chianti Classico, Toscana, Italy

✨️COURSE 3- STROZZAPRITIAL RAGÙ DI FUNGHI SELVATICI

Brunelic pentper & Parmigiano Vacche Rosse.

Executive Chef Steven | Birch & Vine

Banfi Brunello di Montaleino

Montaleino, Toscana, Italy

✨️COURSE 4- RED WINE-BRAISED WILD BOAR SHANK:

Celery Root Chestnut Purée, Porcini & Cipollini, Cocoa-Ancho Gremolata, Summus Jus.

Executive Chef Steven | Birch & Vine

Banfi Summus - Toscana, Italy

✨️COURSE 5- COCOA BOMBE |

VANILLA + BLACKBERRY MACARON:

GF Chocolate Cake with Cocoa Glaze & Cacao Nibs I Vanilla Macaron filled with Blackberry Ganache.

Executive Chef Steven + Pastry Chef Leisa Johnson

Birch & Vine

Easter Brunch Date 2026: Gingham & Heels + OOTD Feat. Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Collection

2026-04-05T04:58:00.000-07:00

Dress: Abercrombie and Fitch

Headband: Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Collection

Heels: Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Collection

Arm candy: Assorted, Louis Vuitton

Wearing: Fenty Beauty Glossbomb lips gloss

Easter Brunch at our local favorite, Bar Terroir. Today they had these purple deviled eggs for Easter topped with salmon roe and trust me, an explosion of dill. The menu changes here quite frequently so we tried a bunch of new menu items as well.

✨️Escargot (favorite) with gluten-free toast points

✨️Onion soup

✨️The Cornish hen with asparagus (new)

✨️French fries

and to finish some very creamy cheese and gluten-free toast points with Amber wine.

Tuna crudo

Gluten-free

Onion soup

Escargot

Gluten-free

Easter only- Deviled eggs

Gluten-free

Cornish Hen with asparagus

Gluten-free

Dessert

A light and bright cheese paired with wine

And then I realized I also wanted French fries lol. So, yea that happened.

Birthday Brunch at Ocean Prime | Cropped Blouse + Skort + Louis Vuiton

2026-04-04T03:10:00.000-07:00

Uniqlo

Crop blouse: Uniqlo

Skirt: Uniqlo

Headband: Amazon

Heels: Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Collection

Lipstick: MAC Candy Yum Yum (this is the pencil that came out last year, not the lipstick).

Ocean Prime

"Airie In the City" & Food Tour: Young & Hungry Pt Two: It's New & Maybe For You | Yūgen Sarasota | Birthday Dinner # 6 | Polo Dress + Louis Vuitton

2026-03-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

Polo Dress: Kate Spade

Kitten heels: Louis Vuitton

Bag: Louis Vuitton Alma BB

Food Tour: Young & Hungry Pt Two: It's New & Maybe For You

I love nigiri 😘 especially with nice toppings. We are finally on to the nigiri portion of my birthday dinner.

All I can think about is nigiri today 😩 someone come save me.

So, I really loved all of these, but there was one that stood out and it was a fish that Inhave never had before and it was topped with something that was so buttery, but the fish is known for its buttery flavor.

And f.y.i. not all of these are raw; some are cooked, and some are seared, but everything I have is gluten-free because I have Celiac Disease. There is no gluten here, and I do not get an "off day." From my dietary restrictions because it's an autoimmune disease. I really appreciate any restaurant that [truely] takes the time to accommodate anyone with dietary restrictions, which include cross contamination. So much of my diet is already so restricted already, and this just means so much to me as a foodiva, always.

I hear no more than yes a lot of times when we dined out. Good thing I love seafood right ❤️🙇🏾‍♀️.

This course is served all at once on a tray.

There is corn with lobster

a fish

Mushrooms

more raw fish

raw oyster with some type of fruit grenata

and lastly more fish

Each one up close below:

Next course

This was one of my favorites

Tuna with nori and this uni sauce they paired with a few courses

Everything we are having tonight

We dined in for my birthday and had the 8 to 10 course Kaiseki. The location is easy to find it's at the same location as Zōto and you can check in at the same hostess stand. While this is a very expensive dining experience, it is well worth it. This is not the same as omakase, which should be noted. I knew going in I would be trying some things I never had before, and I was excited for that. Each course is thoughtfully curated.

They have beer, wine, and sake as well. I decided to order sake instead of doing the tasting because the sake tasting is usually 5 glasses. I felt that the sake was great to pair with the meal. Presentation and craft were there, and everyone on the staff was great. I was even given a happy birthday glass of champagne at the end of our experience, which was so sweet. Food wise, I loved the experience, and I would do it again because the menu is seasonal. You can expect something new every few months.

A5 Wagyu with Myataki mushrooms

The decor and style of the Kaiseki room are very nice and I love the nice wood and clean lines. My favorite things about the dinner would be the uni sauce (I can not remember the exact name). They paired it with several courses, and it was amazing. The wagyu course was great as well, and it was a decent amount (more than what you get in an omakase).

The nigiri course is all served at once.

Caviar was an additional $35.00

Eel

Miso soup

The dessert course was fantastic. I am so happy I got to taste the Crown Melon. That's my first time having it, and I love melons of any type, but this was such a pleasant surprise because I actually don't really care for desserts. This is not sushi, and although there usually are no rolls, we did have 2 rolls served with 4 nigiri as the nigiri course, and they were all fantastic.

Crown melon

(star of the show)

Marscapone ice cream

Aircation Beach Day: Out with the Cold, In with the New! St.Augustine Beach Silent Lime

2026-03-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

Everytime we have been to St.Augustine there was never enough time to go to the beach despite it being so close. I had one goal today and that was to go to the beach finally.It was a very nice beach, I really like the beaches that face the Atlantic, it's so different from being on the Gulf of Mexico.

I didn't get to take many photos at the hotel because it was raining and cold most of the days we were there. I wore this dress for the drive up and due to the weather I ended up wearing it for the drive home as well to get photos. It was sunny and warm this day vrs. day one which was crazy.

This hotel has a nice rooftop though and pool, I wish I had been able to show you all more, but we were limited on time.

Dress: Anthropologie

Headband: Louis Vuitton x Murakami

Wedge Espidrilles: Louis Vuitton Murakami (not recent)

Toilet bag: Louis Vuitton x Murakami

Naked Farmer

Lunch & Late dinner after the drive back to Tampa

Cooper's Hawk Tampa

Everything below is gluten free

Aircation: Cruise Set Chic: Tour the America's with the Lomsak's: COSTA RICA 🇨🇷 Counttry # 28 | Prism Crop Top + Prism Midi Skirt Z Supply

2026-03-23T22:49:00.000-07:00

Elysia Prism Crop Top + Iman Prism Midi Skirt Z Supply

Elysia Prism Crop Top + Iman Prism Midi Skirt

"Airie in the City" & Food Tour: Young & Hungry Pt Two: It's New & Maybe For You | Dinner at Isu St.Pete | Outfit Reply w/ Murakami

2026-03-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

This whole look is a replay

the headband is new from Louis Vuitton

Food Tour: Young & Hungry Pt Two: It's New & Maybe For You

We dined at Isu tonight, which is supposed to be a nikkei that blends Peruvian Cuisine with Japanese cuisine. The food errs more on the side of a Japanese than Peruvian Nikkei which barely gives homage to the Peruvian side... This new restaurant is located in the basement of the sister restaurant Fortu. Now, I have been to Fortu and I have been glutened there (I have Celiac Disease), but I was thinking this was a separate thing restaurant only to find they likely share a kitchen and also will give you the menu for Fortu when you dine in. This new restaurant " is just another off shoot of Fortu aka an overpriced experience that hardly delivers when it comes to price vrs the experience and the food and I say this as someone that does like Fortu, but it is just the truth.

So, while parking was easy this night, we did experience a small delay being seated, which was ok because it was less than 10 minutes. They knew I had Celiacs and asked me about it up to four times; so I felt pretty confident my food would be handled properly. So, I was told only three things were not gluten-free and everything else we could be adjusted by our waiter Cody. I was told the same thing when I dined at Fortu, but I believed them. So, I ordered the Classic Ceviche and the Chefs Choice 10 pc Nigiri at 72.00 for ten pieces.

They served my husband's whole meal first, which made no sense to either of us. None of my food was ready, and they brought out his whole order and ate it while they assured me mine was on the way. Well, my nigiri comes out, and the waiter says, "So this is gluten-free, and this over here is not." My husband and I were like, wait, what? I told you I could not have gluten, and he was just like "oh but it's not touching, so just eat around it." I was like, wow, this is so insulting, and you dont understand how this could make me extremely sick. And he was like, "we will just have the chef take those off the plate then."

Ok, so I am explaining that that won't work and mind you, it has been so long since I had to do this because a lot of places are prepped on cross contamination these days - Celiac Disease isnt somwthing new. Equally, we are wondering why they brought my food out after acknowledging I had Celiacs with food on it that contained gluten, knowing I couldn't eat it. I paid for 10 nigiri, so why bring me a plate with multiple I can not even eat. So, at this point, I am doubtful things will go well for me. Unfortunately, our waiter came out and blamed the chef. No manager ever came to the table to check on the new food that was ordered or to apologize or even assure me I could trust that they would get it correct the second time.

Unfortunately, I got sick. I was extremely sick for over three weeks over this mistake that they made at this restaurant, and keep in mind, the same thing has happened at Fortu. If you have Celiac Disease, I can assure you it is a risk to dine here. They did absolutely nothing to make the situation better, and service was not great - our table was an afterthought in a basement of people who were there to drink and eat and have a good time.

As far as it goes, when it comes to this fusion of cuisines...it isn't there. It's Japanese food for sure. The food is good, and that is Japanese inspired. The food that is supposed to be Peruvian and Japanese Ala, the national dish of Peru, which is the classic ceveche, was so underwhelming. It had none of the flavors... none of the acid that ceviche should have...it was lacking heart and soul.

I obviously would not plan on returning here. If I had known this was a sister restaurant to Fortu, I would have skipped it seeing that at Fortu. I was also told a steak I ordered was gluten-free and low and behold. IT WASN'T .

Cocktails were mid as well. The sparkling wine that Cody recommended to me was terrible and way too acidic. I found it to be quite odd that I asked for champagne, and he navigated me to an 8 dollar glass of sparkling wine that tasted very pedestrian.

Right now, Nikkei is popular in the Tampa Bay area, but I urge you to go to an authentic Peruvian restaurant and try their food first so you know what the fusion should taste and look like. It makes absolutely NO SENSE to place things on a plate that a person can't eat, knowing they will get sick.

I have been sick for four weeks now after eating there.

Birthday Aircation Roadtrippin' Llama St.Augustine | Birthday Dress # 3 Aparently I am "Twinning"

2026-03-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

Dress: This was the birthday gift from my mom

Heels: Louis Vuitton Denim Remix mules

And it was also my mom's birthday... and guess who bought me my birthday gift and then surprised me with photos of her in the same dress after asking if I had it on!

Thats diabolical! lol.

So, for tonights dinner I am going to introduce you all to Llama which is supposed to be an authentic Peruvian restaurant in St.Augustine. As a fan of Peruvian food (and Nikkei) I was so excited to come here. I was pretty disappointed though unfortunately, but happy I got to be out with my hubs in St.Augustine.

Classic ceviche of Peru

CEVICHE LIMA

Gluten-free

Ocean and land dancing

this refreshing citrus experience with just the right arnount of heat. Fresh catch marinated with lime juice, cilantro, and limo peppers served with Peruvian giant corn and glazed

sweet potatoes.

This dish arrives deconstructed as you can see and the juice is poured out at the table meant to cure or cook the seafood at the table. This to me was not really authentic in the taste, there just was not enough time for any of that flavor to work its way into the seafood and it came off as extremely bland with very little acid. Overall, it was a disappointment and this was my favorite thing to order when I have Peruvian food- the national dish of Peru.

We also just did not know how much time was enough time to let this raw fish sit in the juice for it to be ready to eat.

Mate

So, there are reasons why I say this dinner fell flat for my expectations. Mind you, I found this restaurant about two years ago and I planned this trip around the restaurants I went to which is a normal thing for me to do.

I am sure you all have noticed over the last 4 years of travel I have tried to broaden my scope further with foods I have never had before, and that includes Peruvian food. So, when I heard there was an authentic Peruvian restaurant in St.Augustine (and I have been wanting to go back to St.Augustine), I was so ready for a road trip.

Unfortunately, this dinner was a miss for me and I wanted to like it so badly. So, the restaurant has all the vibes you would expect for an authentic Peruvian restaurant. Unfortunately, there were some issues, so I will just list them and make this quick.

The staff was not friendly at all. They really gave off a "here, damn" vibe and I guess if you don't understand this colloquial term, it's basically like they didn't want to serve us and threw food our way with a face or affect like " damn, here is your food".

I never got any drink refills, I had one cocktail, which consisted of a wine mixed with something, and I was never asked if I wanted another bebida (and I did).

They brought a shot of brown Bourbon I think to start the dinner, but my husband doesn't drink and I don't drink brown and when we mentioned this the waitress scoffed and rolled her eyes and walked away with it while I was still talking. It's so weird to me that people will serve other people alcohol, not even asking if they drink alchohol. My husband is sober from alcohol and has been for years, and we celebrate that. I was trying to explain that he didn't drink and I was met with an attitude. What is funny is she came back with a non-alcoholic option (a tea), and it was placed in the same dish that the original drinks were in whi h the alchohol was spilled in. This may not seem like a big deal, but for someone on a sober journey, that IS a BIG DEAL.

ARROZ CON MARISCOS

Gluten-free

Creamy risotto with a mix of fruits of the ocean perfumed with Andean Peppers and Herbs, garnished with,

Parmesan and green peas.

This dish was ALL mush. The seafood appeared to have been cooked separately and it was the only edible thing on the plate.

So, the last two issues were that my food was complete mush. I ordered a seafood risotto, and while the seafood was edible, it didn't seem like the seafood was cooked with the risotto because the risotto was complete mush. It was not good. It was the end of the night, so I do not know if the risotto was made to order.

The ceviche being served deconstructed was nice for aesthetic, but it fell short on flavor as the fish never really marinated and soaked up the citrus. We also just were not sure how long we should let it sit to cure. It's a great presentation, but it lacked all the flavors I love in Peruvian ceviche. I had no flavor at all.

So lastly, this dinner took place on my birthday vacation which was noted on the reservation along with the fact that I had Celiac Disease...they brought me a complimentary dessert that was a cake that I would get extremely sick from. And it kind of just made my experience worse because all my food had already been mushy, and service was bad as well. I understand the thought, but they knew I had celiac disease from the on start of dinner.

So, some good things I can say are that while the food did not meet my expectations, I fully believe and feel it was authentic. I fully believe if we had a reservation earlier in the evening, maybe staff would have been in a better mood.

My husband had a lamb dish, and he loved it.

But unfortunately, I drove almost six hours in traffic for my birthday to eat here because I wanted to try this restaurant and I was met with a lot of disappointment and I am not going to gloss over it. Other people were in the restaurant eating and drinking without a care in the world past when the restaurant closed, but they were giving my husband and I kind of an attitude the whole time and they rarely checked on us. So yea, they gave us our food like "here damn...eat it and leave."

I left hungry, which is saying a LOT BC I AM NOT BIG AS a MINUTE, and I eat very little in one sitting.

So, this was just a huge miss.

The good thing was I love St.Augustine and the drive to anywhere usually makes me happy. This restaurant...not so much.

Hubs food:

CORDERO CUSQUEÑO

Andean-style roasted rack of lamb marinated with Andean herbs and spices. Served with: golden potatoes, Cusco corn and onions salad and finished with a garlic double cream and huacatay salsa verde.

This was a complimentary dessert that they brought me for my birthday (after knowing my dietary restrictions) and I could not even eat it because it was a cake of some type that contained gluten.

LUNA LLENA

Honey-Lavender Tres Leches cake with butterfly snow pea ground, & white-chocolate yeast ice cream.

Birthday Aircation Roadtrippin' RH Rooftop JAX | Official Birthday Dress

2026-03-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

So, I have been dying to go to an RH Rooftop. We have an RH store in Tampa with an ample and beautiful rooftop, and they do not use it to serve anything food wise it is just an area to show patio furniture (ugh).

So, I knew there was one in New York City, and while I am awaiting my NYC return as a full-grown woman one day, I just knew I had to find one in Florida.

So, it turns out I stumbled upon this information, and there are two in Florida that I know of, and one was where I was going, so I just had to go. I was so excited!!! I love RH because the furniture is so beautiful, but I love rooftops and food even more.

So, this dress was my original birthday dress, but it was raining and cold on my birthday so I wore the animal print sweater dress. I sid feel like this one was made for this brunch, and it is exactly my style (see my 26 year birthday - omg, that was when Asos was tea).

Anyway, so, I just want to say...5 out of 5 star experience. I dined here, and it gave all it had to give. Traffic is SO BAD getting into thos mall area and we were at a standstill and about to pass our allotted late window time and when I called the person who helped me just said "no problem, I will move your reservation back by 15 minutes."

When we finally got there, I was really probably blaming with excitement and the food and service dis not dissapoint. Full disclosure, this brunch was probably like $$ to $$$. I thought we kept it pretty light, but the food was great. I had a king crab salad, and my bubby had a lobster roll. We had a great seat, the sun was out, everyone was so nice. Nice in a way. I am not even used to coming from South Florida. People are not as friendly as everyone was when I was in Jacksonville full disclosure.

This was only my second time in Jacksonville, but I got to really see a lot and I am older now...the last time I was here it was 2016 I think or 2015 and I was here in JAX and St.Augustine for a totally different reason.

Anyhow...wow, I am just really happy I got to experience this. I just know the one in NYC is probably so fetching awesome.

I would highly recommend it. Just make some extra time for the mall traffic. RH is just such a beautiful space when I found out some of them served food I was floored. My hubby is amazing. He just drives me all over the country because I want to eat things lol and even all over the world.

Also, this RH Rooftop location was very gluten friendly. I got everything I asked for, including French fries (dedicated fryer). The crudo with caviar was so mouth-watering. Everything was just besos.

This is girlhood. No matter how old you are, this is literally girlhood, I dreamed of moments like this when I was a child, and I have to remind myself that these are the little moments you always wanted. Celebrating my birthday is a big deal to me, and while I couldn't leave the country, I could come back up here to a place my family once lived, and I barely know. Both times, everyone was so friendly.

I hope you all like this baby blue gingham dress and my 90s-inspired hairstyle. It was warm for a few hours today, so I figured I will get my life while I can.

And I ended this with a trip to the only stand alons Louis Vuitton I have ever been to!

The mall is way too crowded, but this area is nice. I never go shopping on vacation unless I want something special to remember my trip and there is an LV around. Everything just kind of aligned this way after a really insane drive up here.

I actually told my husband I think this was better than leaving the country at this time I felt really happy about my choice to come to St.Augustine and Jacksonville again.

These are screenshots from a video clip so they are a little low resolution, but i am going to try to take them again because this is lower quality than what I usually get from screenshots. My phone is forever fighting with me because it's full.

However...look at God he is relaxed. This is why I stress going on vacation even if it's just a little micro trip in our home state because this man just works and works and works and my anxiety just takes me away lol. Did I imagine being an adult would be like this? No, but we are here now in the throws of it all.

We grown grown now.

The sun is in my eyes so I was trying lol.

Even I have anxiety about taking photos in public and it takes a minute to center myself especially when the sun is blinding me, but I got it. I love my brown eyes.

Dress: Anthropologie

Heels: Louis Vuitton Ski collection

Toiletry bag: Louis Vuitton Ski Collection

Arm candy: Louis Vuitton Assorted bracelets

Lipstick: MAC Flat out Fabulous

RH ROOFTOP

JACKSONVILLE

Valentine's Day Aircation 2026: Lunar Cardi Re-style + Louis Vuitton | Kappo Tsan Part 2: The Mila Strapless Denim Mini Dress + Louis Vuitton

2026-03-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

This is another replay on how I styled my limitedbedition lunar cardigan.

The A&F Mila Strapless Denim Mini Dress Abercrombie & Fitch

As promised: this is part two of our Valentines Day dinner at Kappo Tsan. I can not say enough great things about rhis restaurant and Chef David. The previous post shared the Valentine's Day prefix dinner. 4 out of 6 courses were gluten-free so I opted for mybfavorite which is the Norigami Chefs selection of 10 nigiri's.

Now, I did indeed get to taste thhe other courses which Ibspoke about in part one. I did not want this getting lost in that post so it is its own post.

I have taken to enjoying a glass of sake when I have my nigiri tastings. I used to not like sake way back like 15 years ago because I was new to having it. Once I found out you can get sparkling sake or just like a Fruity light sake it changed the game for me.

One of the things I like about sake is that it does not cause any allergic reactions and autoimmune reactions for me like regular wine does.

This is the full Chef's nigiri tasting.

As usual, I gotta have my caviar bumps on the side.

Spring Break! Pass-a-Grill Beach Day: Sexy Black Bikini | Lunch TFK

2026-03-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Black bikini: Red Dress

Tiffany's Lovestruck Pendant: here

Bangles: C/O Ettika

True Food Kitchen

Kale Aid
kale, ginger, apple, celery, cucumber, lemon

Spicy Panang Curry, GF
forbidden rice, sweet potato, bok choy, heirloom carrot, snap pea, green bean, thai shellfish curry broth, herbs

Chopped Salad, VEG
medjool date, dried cranberry, jicama, organic apple, manchego, farro, marcona almond, champagne vinaigrette
- Cookies & Ice Cream, V GF
  chocolate chip cookies served with vanilla ice cream V GF

February 2026 City life VLOG: The world outside does not need to be perfect. You just need to step into it. Orlando Roadtrip Recap | Gluten-Free Cooking | Hauls

2026-03-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

makeup haul for the month!

ROADTRIP RECAP ORLANDO FOR VALENTINE'S DAY:

IN THE CITY: DATE NIGHTS & BRUNCHES

GLUTEN FREE HOME COOKED MEALS 2026:

I share my gluten-free recipes once a month under the "City Life VLOGS". I do have Celiac Disease and Diverticulitis so my recipes err more to the healthy side.

Hainanese chicken rice, Singapore Chicken and Rice

I like to challenge myself with cooking new and interesting recipes, and for years, I have wanted to make Hainanese Chicken Rice or Singapore Chicken and Rice. I finally made it, and it turned out so well! I had a great time making it. The full recipe will be on this months city life.

Chicken Ingredients:

1 whole chicken ~3 lb

Sea salt to taste (I used about 3 tablespoons

1 bunch green onions (separating the

whites from the greens)

3.5 quarts water

3 Tbsp Chicken bouillon powder

1 thumb of ginger peeled, but left whole.

6 cloves garlic peeled but, left whole.

1-2 Tbsp sesame oil

Rice Ingredients:

Fat trimmings of chicken

2 Tbsp minced garlic + ginger

2 cups rice

2 cups broth from chicken

Scallion ginger oil Ingredients:

*I messed up the sauce, but I made it this way and it turned out so great!

5 cloves of garlic

A thumb of ginger with salt and a little chicken broth.

Blend in you food processor and save to pour over your chicken and rice when finished.

Scallion ginger oil ingredients (the correct way):

Whites of the green onions

1 Tbsp minced garlic + ginger

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup neutral oil

1 Tbsp sesame oil

Chili sauce Ingredients:

2-3 Birds Eye chilis

1 Tbsp mincede garlic & ginger

1 tsp sriracha or sambal and prepare all

T tsp

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

HIGH PROTEIN CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Aircation: 2026 Birthday Celebration...A Trip to Remember, Roadtrippin in Style : JAX Norikasi | 17 Course Omakse

2026-03-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

I am not trying to be...or trying to get to...I just AM.

- Eddie Murphy

Blessed to see another year 🙏🏾 🙌🏾 ❤️

This was not my birthday dress, but I am really glad I packed it because it rained all day long and the temperature dropped rapidly and this dress is made of a thick sweater material.

I did infact...love this look. I struggled every aspect of the way (of the first oart of our road trip) washing my hair while packing and detangling my hair in the car on an almost 6 hour drive that was supposed to be 3 hours. And somehow, I managed to get my bangs to curl in less than 2 hours of them being rolled. This was in fact exactly how I wanted my hair today (minus the frizz from the rain and the fact that my hair is 100% natural).

Dress: JLUXLABEL

Heels: Jimmy Choo

Bracelets: Louis Vuitton

Lipstick: MAC Candy Yum Yum (this is the new liner not the lipstick).

So, here I am in Jacksonville again (my second time and my first time was in 2016 for my "Who Do You Think You Are?" road trip, but this time for very different reasons because its my birthday!

I was not able to do what I wanted to do for my birthday again this year and it's been a while since we had been back to St. Augustine and Jacksonville. This restaurant just opened and it's really the only reason I made this trip because I wanted to eat here as well as the other restaurantsyou will see in this trip.

Everytime I go to an Omakase or Kaiseki dinner it is not only insightful, but humbling. I know not everyone can afford to do this especially because the tickets are priced for 2 people.

For me, my world is opened up by experiencing new cultures and flavors and all kinds s of things so when I go to these dinners it definitely about more than just showing off. I know some people do think food bloggers show off.

I promise you, I didn't realize it until I married my husband, but I am such a picky eater. I won't eat a lot of things, but my love for food and culture has led me to keep trying everything as long as it's safe for me to eat.

So, yes, it's another Omakase, but I love raw seafood, cured seafood and these types of dinners overall. Everytime I visit a new restaurant that serves Omakase or Kaiseki it's different with exception to the beloved tuna trio.

Most times I get to try a new fish or a different type of shrimp that I never had before. Sometimes it's cooked and sometimes it is raw and I don't mind either. The hardest thing for me is that I am just not able to eat a lot of food in one sitting so around course 8 I am getting tapped out.

The really cool thing about Norikase is that they offered to give me less rice so I could continue and no one has ever done that before. So, I was able to do all 17 courses (just not fully if you consider that they scales back my rice).

I had a really awesome experience and I loved everything we had. The course with the cooked salmon with the marinated tomato was insane and unexpected.

Starter non alcoholic toaster tea...I think it was hibiscus tea.

Our Chef and the Sous Chef's for the night.

I also opted for the sake tasting to go with dinner. Sake has actually grown on me over the years now that I know I can have sparkling sake or sake with Fruity notes. Sake is also made from rice and it doesn't make me bloat up and have allergic reactions like regular wine does.

The first 6 courses are in this box.

This is the cooked salmon course with some kind of marinated tomato. Oh my goodness the tomato had all the flavor and it was just so unexpected.

✨️Saikyo Salmon Tomato

Zuke

Final starter course before the nigiri.

Wagyu nigiri

Handroll

Fras grois souffle

Gluten-free

Miso soup

Gluten-free

Gluten-free matcha cheesecake

Thank you gift! umami furikaki popcorn with caramel.

According to their website they first and only authentic omakase experience in Jacksonville, Florida

Happy Black History Month! Husband & Wife LOTD | Third Thursday The Tides Seafood Market

2026-02-28T03:14:00.000-08:00

Tiktok shop

Uniqlo

Jimmy Choo Abel, not recent

The Tides Seafood Market

Safety Harbor

Grouper sandwich

not gluten-free

This is my husband's favorite though hands down.

Shrimp parmesan risotto

gluten-free

I originally came here for scallops and they were out of scallops this day so I ended up getting a side of risotto and adding shrimp. I definitely wish I had the scallops.

Now, this is my favorite! The grilled fish of your choice with the peacan dirty rice.

Gluten-free

Birthday Celebration Aircation | Bouzy Birthday Brunch | The Most Adorable Plaid Spring Dress + Jimmy Choo

2026-02-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Aircation & Year of the Fire Horse Food Tour Stop # 6, Pho 2 tō | She's Tthat Girl: Lunar Cardigan + Linen Crop + Skort + Luis Vuitton

2026-02-24T14:45:00.000-08:00

Limited Edition Lunar Cardigan: Abercrombie and Fitch

Crop shirt: Uniqlo

Skort: Uniqlo

Heels: Louis Vuitton Denim Remix Mules

Bag: Louis Vuitton Alma BB, vintage

Lipstick: MAC

This is stop # 6 (and the final stop) in my latest New Year food tour which is titled "Year of the Fire Horse".

1.Kappo Tsan

2.Snowbean

3.Sushi Izuki

4. Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge

5. Nikkita Orlando

6. Pho 2 Tō

I added this restaurant to my food tour under the guise that they had this boiling pot of pho which I have been interested in for a while, but the nearest one was about the same distance as this location.

While I thought the pho was good, it wasn't amazing. I thought the broth was hearty though and it had everything I usually would want in a bowl of pho, but it wasn't presented in this boiling pot and that really was the whole reason for being there. The overall restaurant was good, but honestly, you have to enter the restaurant from the back where there is trash and rusty chairs and buckets of water, and there are a lot of things in the back that I personally wouldn't want to see as the diner.

I questioned how clean it was and why you couldn't use the front door, or why it said there were no bathrooms on the premises, but then saw bathroom signs. The most off-putting is the toxic smell of purple Fabuloso and other items that were mixed together in a spray bottle and being used to clean tables after each table was cleared.

Fabuloso has a strong, distinct smell, and it isn't something that I want being sprayed around me, especially when I am eating. Yes, this is a sign that they are at least cleaning, but that spray shouldn't be used to clean tables while people are eating.

The food was good, but those were the issues. Would I return...probably not. There are a lot of Vietnamese places and Asian fusion places that serve pho, and I have had so many so I can say I just wasnt "wowed", but I did think thr pho was very good (4/5 stars).

I was intrigued by this boiling pot, which to me seemed similar to the Mexican Molcajete, but it didn't really deliver for me. It was a cute restaurant on the inside from what I saw located in the Mills 50 District.

Aircation: VALENTINE'S DAY 2026 | "Airie in the City" & Year of the Fire Horse Food Tour Stop # 5 Nikkita Orlando | Valentine’s Day Look of the Night: Sexy & Femine

2026-02-21T20:07:00.000-08:00

My husband will and does take photos of me while I am unaware which is why I look confused. I wanted more photos, but there was just too many people, too much traffic, no time and rudeness if I am being honest.

I had planned on taking a few more photos of this outfit at the hotel, but when we got back to the hotel the lighting pretty much looked the same as what you see in these photos. Then I wanted to try to get a photo the next day in the daylight because honestly, it's so pretty, but to me, it looks messy on me.

I am only 5'3 and this looked better online on the model who was probably like 5'8 or 5'9. Anyhow, I still like it and love it regardless. It is a sexy and soft satin set which to me kind of looks like a sensual lingerie. I love the color and the design and it does look like what was advertised.

I am just a shorty and even with these heels on the dress is kind of wearing me I feel. But if you asked me...I would choose it all over again. It was in fact, everything I wanted in my official Valentine's Day dress because I wanted to go for a soft feminine sexy as well as not wear red or pink which can be cliche.

Given more time, I could have gotten a better shot and I plan to still try to get one as soon as I figure out where I put this outfit when I got home lol.

2 pc set: 12th Tribe

Heels: Sophia Webster

Liostick: MAC

Nikkita Orlando

I Drive

This is stop # 5 in my latest New Year food tour which is titled "Year of the Fire Horse".

1.Kappo Tsan

2.Snowbean

3.Sushi Izuki

4. Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge

5. Nikkita Orlando

6. Pho 2 Tō

I have not had a chance to write this full review, but trust me it is worth a read. I will have it up soon! This is one of many stops in this Aircation for my food tour for the New Year.

This is stop 5 in my latest New Year food tour, which is titled "Year of the Fire Horse."

Below are the restaurants I have already visited and posted about. This is not sponsored and everything is paid for by myself as always.

1.Kappo Tsan

2.Snowbean

3.Sushi Izuki

4. Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge

We dined in at Nikkita for Valentines Day, and I have some mixed reviews about this place.

Intro Nikkita:

The food here was good, very good, but everything else about this restaurant distracts from the food andbcuisine. It's a restaurant operating like a nightclub, and if you arenintroverted or want a regular dining experience, you may not like it. From strobe lights to dancers to streaming fireworks, this place actually is a sensory overload.

On my visit here, I knew this was already going in, but I knew the performances were not happening until later in the night, so I didn't think it would be so overwhelming.

Nikkita is located off of I- Drive and Universal Blvd. It doesn't matter which way you enter this area. You will be funneled into a long line of traffic for other restaurants and attractions, which is not made clear when you are coming here. Your map will not account for this traffic at all, and given the time of day, you will be stuck in it. The restaurant has very strict rules about dress code, payments up front, cancellation times, and cancellation fees.

So imagine my maps guide is saying my eta is one time and I enter the area via Universal only to be funneled through a long line of cars valeted, but also valeting for Charley's Steakhouse as well as other restaurants and Icon Park and other hotels all in that Plaza. Now, most restaurants give a 15-minute grace period, and if you call in that time and let them know what is going on, it's forgiven. I called them within the grace period and when I finally made it through the long line of cars valeting for other restaurants and businesses I was happy to find that Nikkita had a section of the parking lot just for their customers.

However, when I came into the restaurant, I was met with rude and pretentious employees. I was told my table had been given away. I actually said, "Well, I did call ahead, and I even had tonget further directions on how to get here because of this plaza." I was told with an attitude and a smirk..." You are still late and outside the 15-minute time." So, so graciously I was offered a seat in a back room which they called a back private room and said I would have to be seated near or around other people.

They said this oddly like it was a punishment, but I was actually fine with that given how over the top the restaurant already was. I was not keen on the attitudes of the employees especially on Valentine's Day, especially because there was no mention of this insane parking situation they have or even the fact that I spoke to them and I was literally with in a 5 minute walking distance of the restaurant and I was stuck in a valet line for another restaurant - and they STILL gave my table away and now they have a haughty attitude like I don't even belong in their restaurant.

Well, I had come there for Peruvian Nikkei and I was going to get stuck to that so we took the seats they offered us. Our waiter was so very nice and professional, it really sucks that the manager and woman at the front were so rude to me because it overshadows the great service the person gave us as well as the great food.

Yes, I thought the food was not only great, but it tasted as close to authentic as you will get in Florida. I have had so much Peruvian food, and I know... I know what some dishes in specific should be like. I really enjoyed the cevich trio as well as my craft cocktails. I ordered a starter as my main because I love ceviche. I can eat ceviche every day and all day if I could. It was more than enough food for me.

My husband's meal was exactly what he expected. The presentations for the food were on point. And then we were ready to pay and leave, and I heard another employee asking when we were leaving, and our waiter had my ceviche presentation removed from the table, and they were like "now". And this guy looks at her and is like, "That is all she ate?!"

This was not my waiter it wasn't his business, and I know he didn't know I heard and saw him. Then another group that was booked for this back room came in to be seated AS WE WERE LEAVING and they looked at us disgusted and we're like who are they...despite the fact we were at a whole other table and about to leave.

The manager says to him with equal disdain... Don't worry... this was just a "situation" we had to deal with.

So, we (I) paying customers who had a reservation and who actually arrived to point A on time and called in to ask how to get around the traffic from a whole other restaurant was reduced to a "situation".

And this is why I will never recommend this restaurant or their sister restaurants. Trying to mistreat customers and make it seem like they are not on the level of who you think should be dining there is never OK. It's never OK to dehumanize a person or customers and refer to them as such things. To stand over them and look down on them while attempting to dehumanize them and on Valentine's Day of all times.

I say this to the people who did this (and not to the person who waited on us and gave us 5 star service). Please get a damn clue. It sucks that I was there in the capacity of a food tour highlighting the cuisine of my second hometown Orlando, but if you show your behind I am not going to hold back (see Meat Market).

There is never a situation or world where it's ok to treat people like they aren't good enough to eat in your establishment. That is called discrimination!

What I ordered...you all know I love me some ceviche; I could live off of ceviche alone! So, yes, all of this was for me and naturally I could not finish all of this. It was a trio of three different types of ceviche. Naturally, the classic Peruvian ceviche is my all time favorite, but it was only a little bit more money to get the trio and I was interested in trying some new ones as well so I got this. I ended up still liking the classic the best, the shrimp one tastes almost exactly like the classic, but it seems to have some tomato or something in it which is also giving it the yellow/red tint. The shrimp were good and this one had a little spice to it unlike the classic. The octopus ceviche was my least favorite, luckily hubs is not picky and he did not mind it.

A few close ups

3 types of ceviche:

What my hubby ordered...this is actually his favorite:

"Airie in the City" & Year of the Fire Horse Food Tour Stop # 4 | Valentine's Day Soft Opening of Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge | BubbleSkirt Jumper + Louis Vuitton

2026-02-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

Bubble jumper: Abercrombie and Fitch

Teddy bear mules (not recent): Coach

Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge

This is stop # 4 in my latest New Year food tour which is titled "Year of the Fire Horse".

1.Kappo Tsan

2.Snowbean

3.Sushi Izuki

4. Moonwok Kitchen & Lounge

5. Nikkita Orlando

6. Pho 2 Tō

Some info from their website "Moon Wok Kitchen & Lounge brings modern flair to classic Chinese cuisine. From handcrafted dim sum to wok-fired favorites, we blend tradition with fresh, bold flavors."

Pork Dumplings

(Steamed/Pan Fried)

Delicate dumplings filled with seasoned ground pork, steamed or pan-fried until tender and juicy.

Served with a sweet soy- based dipping sauce.

Not gluten-free

So, today, we ventured out to Moonwok Kitchen and Lounge to try some Cantonese and American Chinese fare. Both my husband and I grew up in the same town, and we both grew up eating authentic Cantonese food weekly. It was a weekly staple in my house, and they had the best food. The restaurant did not survive the pandemic, but I really dont think they were surviving much now anyway, given it was a local spot in a small town. Anyhow, once I found out I had Celiac Disease I pretty much couldn't and have had authentic Cantonese food in over a decade. I miss my favorite dishes so much, but especially the fried rice. Every country has their own version of fried rice, and I am a fried rice lover, but I won't eat just any. My next staple dish is like the wonton soup, beef and peppers, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and sometimes that is also referred to as Chop Suey, depending on where you live. I could go on and on naming my favorites, and this also bkends into the area of American Chinese food (chicken and broccoli, beef and broccoli, Singapore noodles with the curry on them etc.

So, when I found out that Twenty Pho Hour (on the Michelin Guide and also featured in my 2023 aorlando Food Tour) was their sister restaurant, I KNEW the food would be great. I was ready to ride out and try it, and they had fried rice and beef and peppers. Well, to my chagrin, everything on the menu contained gluten except the sautéed chicken and vegetables. This was extremely disappointing, but understanble, and I expected it. I did try to contact the restaurant three times about their gluten-free options beforehand, but I got no responses.

Lucky for me, I love chicken and vegetables...it's basically the same as Chicken and Broccoli, but with different vegetables. Now, they give you a decent amount of food, and it was medium saucy. I would have preferred more of that vekvet sauce, to be honest. My rice was completely mushy, and I actually just didn't see a point in asking for more because it was probably going to come from the same rice steamer. The dish definitely made me think of my favorite meals from my local spot, but it was low on flavor, and the chicken was a tad overcooked. Overall, it was a good dish. It needed a lot more salt and flavor, but I would order it again. It was the soft opening, so I would try it again anyhow once they are up and open.

So, that was all I could try, unfortunately.

This is where it's great to have my hubby with me because he can eat anything. So, he had the hand pulled noodles with beef, which was highly recommended. The dish is called Beef Ho Fun. It looked delicious and came out steaming hot as you can see from my photos. He had had this dish before and he said it was very, very good. The noodles made it even better. It to me smelled delicious, lol. The fried balls with the meat in them were kind of a mystery to me. I heard them refer to it as mochi, but when looking at the menu, I didn't see anything by that name. They did have beef in the center. They were extremely one large and were super hot when they arrived. This is an appetizer meant to share.

Overall, the experience was great, and I love the decor of the restaurant it is so cute and chic. everyone was super friendly (Valentine's Day). I would definitely recommend this spot. The roast duck hanging in the back looked so delicious. Yall, it's torture sometimes being a Celiac, and there aren't a lot of options. I hope they add more for us Celiacs to the menu.

FORBIDDEN SIP

Vodka, Pomegranate Liqueur, Lychee, Lemon, Honey Fruity, Light, Balanced

Sautéed chicken with vegetables and steamed rice.

Gluten-free

Beef Ho Fun

House made wide, flat rice noodles stir-fried with your tender beef and fresh vegetables in a savory soy-based sauce.

Not gluten-free

January 2026 City Life VLOGS Janu-worry Triumphs | Starting the New Year w/ Factor Salads & Meals |

2026-02-16T01:26:00.000-08:00

Celebrating 14 years this year as a Blogería (a writer a foodiva) & YouTube Content Creator.

Over 11k IG posts

Over 600 YT Vids across 2 channels!

Over 100k photos.

8 Food Tours and 1 is International ❤️👀

GRASS ROOTS.

I am sharing my life to inspire others. And you know what...if I inspire 1 person then I did my job and you know what? I inspired someone I never thought I ever would - my dad. So, look at God.

SHOPPING

I have had a portable gluten tester from NIMA since the company started. For a while the company seemed to be out of business and finally NIMA Partners announced they had the technology and would be making more testers as well as an updated gluten tester that can be paired with the app (my old one never worked with the app) and it can test more than 20 parts per million of gluten. So, Trader Joe's used to sell these tator patties years ago and then they stopped. They came back again last year, but now everytime Ineat them I get sick *I think they contain gluten now). So here is how it can be tested.

NIMA is designed to detect gluten at approximately 10 parts per million (ppm). For comparison, foods labeled gluten-free in the United States must contain less than 20 ppm of gluten.

Eating healthy for the New Year with Factor!

I decided to try salads with Factor, as you know I am a huge fan of big salads (my favorite being from Sweetgreen).

If you are interested in signing up for Factor you can sign up here, you can use my coupon code below and your first month will be under 70.00 for 8 meals. They always arrive fresh and never frozen on Sundays straight to your door. These meals are usually gluten-free , allergen free, and seed free. They support GLP1 support as well. In general it looks like every meal is under 600 calories. You also have the option to order vegan meals as well.

FASHIONTOLIVEFB50

DATE NIGHTS/AIRCATION and my first stops from this year's Food Tour: Year of the Fire Horse

Kappo Tsan

Stop #1 in my food tour: Year of the Fire Horse

SNOWBEAN CAFE stop # 2

Sushi Izuki

Dr.Phillip's

Stop # 3

Traditional New Years Good Luck Dinner.

This year we smoked a whole chicken.

GLUTEN FREE HOME COOKED MEALS 2026:

This is the same clam bake just over pasta now with a white wine butter sauce on the noodles. I actually liked it this way better than eating it from the little ramekin .

Scallop Bake: very similar to the one at Olive Garden and mine is gluten-free.

Patagonian bay scallops

Kerry Gold Butter

Clam juice

fresh parsley

Gluten-free Panko

Black pepper

Sea salt

evoo

shredded parmesan cheese

paprika

METHOD: boil spaghetti noodles and place them in the baking dish.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese on the noodles.

Next,

in the baking dish combine a half a pound of Patagonian scallops, butter, clam broth (or chicken broth).

Add sea salt, black pepper, minced garlic.

Create Butter Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Pour this mixture evenly over the scallops.

Prepare Topping: In a separate small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and paprika.

Layer this on top of the cooked spaghetti noodles and then layer on parmesan cheese on top.

TO FINISH:

Sprinkle paprika and Parsley over the top and roast in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

serve hot with a lemon AFTER the baked has cooled for 5 to 10 minutes.

Optional: can serve with rice or orzo

Spinach omlette

Duck penne pasta