Pho-king Awesome (HAHA!)

Oh man, I can't even begin to tell you guys how amazing the pho at Pho Saigon is.  If you're a fan of noodle soups, you'll leave completely and utterly satisfied.  There's literally nothing better than a piping hot bowl of pho on a cold winter day.  If you live in the DMV and need to get your fix, drive on over to Catonsville, MD stat - you seriously won't regret it!

I visit their restaurant regularly, and they're almost always (unsurprisingly) busy - I go out of my way to avoid their lunch & dinner rushes because I hate waiting.  I usually get their tai chin (steak & brisket) pho in size small - it's super filling, but if you're extra hungry, order the large! It's humongous and only a dollar or so more.  All soups come with fresh veggies (sprouts, thai basil leaves, lime, and jalapeños).  If you want more of something, simply ask!  I always order an extra side of jalapeños (free of charge, of course).  TIP: try dipping your protein in hoisin sauce + sriracha!  

Oh, and make sure you guys order rolls to start - both their fried spring rolls and summer rolls are on point! If you're looking for something a bit more refreshing, go with the latter.  If you're ok with splurging, go with the former!  You honestly can't go wrong.  I've also heard that their wings are ridiculous as well.  I haven't had a chance to try them yet, but I definitely will in the near future! Andddd if you're a fan of thai iced tea, indulge for sure.  The drink here is on the sweeter side, but it's still stupid good.

Anywho, that's all for today, folks!  I'm going back soon to try their other Vietnamese dishes so keep your eyes peeled - I'll make sure to update y'all ASAP.  Note:  they have a fun man-vs-pho (2 lbs of noodles and 2 lbs of meat) challenge for you cray eaters out there. If you can finish the meat, noodles, and 1/2 the broth in less than 30 minutes, your meal is on them AND they'll put your pic on their Wall of Fame!  If not, it'll cost you $25 for trying!

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Noms at Victoria Gastro Pub

It's time for another nom post on SS!  On Friday, I took one of my favorite peeps out aka Sung Shin for a delish birthday lunch at Victoria Gastro Pub.  It's, hands down, one of the BEST restaurants around the Arundel Mills area IMHO.  The lighting was "eh" so I didn't get to take too many photos, BUT it's all good because I'm going to be extra descriptive with my words, ha.

We started off with two apps because we were starved:  the Prince Edward Island Mussels with Grilled Bread + a ginormous bucket of duck fat fries.  Andddd both were on point as per usual.  The mussels were marinated in garlic, cilantro, orange peel, chili de arbol, and served with grilled bread (obviously).  Now, I may be biased since I'm a carbaholic (I'm totally not biased BTW), but this bread was seriously ridiculous.  I could've eaten 5 pieces...or 50 (just kidding...or am I, ha).  

The duck fat fries were tossed in sea salt and served with a roasted garlic aioli.  If you're a fan of fries - and let's be real, who isn't - you won't be able to get enough of these babies!  Other apps to try include their poutine and chicken pick up sticks - both are legit!

For entrees, I got a cobb salad ($11 without protein) because I was trying to be good, but Sung got one of my favorite sandwiches:  the American Dip.  Roasted angus rib eye, vermont cheddar, caramelized onions, and horseradish sauce served with porter beef jus? Um, so much yas going on. Other kickass dishes include their fish and chips, lobster grilled cheese, and salmon.  Anddd I've tried all of them so I can personally vouch for their deliciousness.  You're welcome in advance!

Last but not least: dessert!  We ordered a pecan pie sundae and split it between the two of us - it was scrumptious, like everything else we had.  I seriously can't wait to go back and try their chocolate cake and bread pudding.  

Anywhooo, if you're in the area, definitely hit 'em up for noms.  They also have a kickass happy hour if you're interested, and trust me when I say they don't mess around with their drinks.  I got one of their martinis a while back, and I was tipsy off of one sip, ha.  Alright guys, that's it for today! I hope you all had a great weekend.  Make sure y'all check back for a new OOTD tomorrow bright and early. OH, and btw, I'll be shooting a fun video with Hair Cuttery from 10-2 so make sure you follow along via instastories. 

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Lobsterfest 2017: So Many Noms

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.  All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateLobster #CollectiveBias.

Get ready for some serious foodporn, guys!  I can't even begin to tell you all how awesome my latest nom adventure was.  It was my parents' 30th anniversary so I decided to spoil them with a fabulous dinner at Red Lobster.  We love Lobsterfest and go every year to indulge so I thought it'd be a nice way for me to treat them...and myself, ha.  Lobsterfest has been their largest and most iconic event for over 30 years, and it's the ultimate celebration of everything lobster. 

We went to their location in Hanover, MD Saturday and had a wonderful time.  We started with cocktails and a bajillion cheddar biscuits (don't judge me, they're THAT delish).  I was excited to see that they had two new dranks on their menu: the Lobsterfest Fizz and the Island Lobster Punch.  I ordered the Fizz (vodka, sweet mango, passion fruit juices, Sprite, sour mix, and Grad Marnier), and it was super yum!  Red Lobster gets bonus points for serving these cocktails in collectible Coastal glasses that you can take home!

Anywho, for my main course, I ended up getting the Lobster Lover's Dream aka a rock lobster tail, a Maine lobster tail, creamy lobster-and-shrimp linguini alfredo, AND broccoli (!!!!!) I love that I got to try a bunch of different preparations.  Just look at that succulent goodness!  It really doesn't get much better than fresh lobster dipped in warm melted butter.

My dad ended up ordering something off their regular menu, but my mom decided to go with one of their new Lobsterfest dishes: their Surf & Turf.  She got her steak medium well, and it was cooked to perfection. Topped with shrimp in a lobster cream sauce, each bite was on point!  I know because I ate half of her dish, ha.  If you like eating your lobster with other nom proteins, this is an absolute must-try.

Too much deliciousness for one picture!

We ended our meal with their Bananas Foster Cheesecake, featuring two slices of caramel cheesecake topped with warm, freshly sliced bananas, caramel and spiced rum, served with vanilla ice cream and candied pecans.

A HUGE thanks to Red Lobster for the awesome experience!  We had a great time stuffing our faces thanks to our wonderful waiter, Michael.  He took such good care of us.  If you ever find yourself in the area, make sure you ask for him!  Celebrate your "lobsterworthy" milestones here with your loved ones for fun times all around.  Follow them on facebook, twitter, and instagram to stay in the know.

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SS Eats: Wit & Wisdom

It's time for another food post, everyone!  For today's blast, I'll be telling you all about my nomtastic lunch with Justin Schuble (aka DCFoodPorn) at Wit & Wisdom.  Located in Harbor East, this gorgeous restaurant oozes class - if you're looking for amazing food AND killer ambiance in Baltimore, you need to head on over stat.  

To start, we ordered green tea, coffee, and a Carrot Mule.  I'm not really into getting my drink on in the early afternoon, but I can definitely see myself making exceptions when lunching at W&W.  This cocktail was seriously one of THE best I've ever had, and it contained carrot-infused tito's vodka carrot-cardamom syrup, lemon, and ginger beer.  

Then, we ordered different apps to share:  House-made Charcuterie, Blue Crab Cocktail, and Maine Lobster Corndogs.  All three were delicious and beautifully presented so I honestly can't pick a favorite, but if I absolutely HAD to, I'd recommend the crab & lobster dishes, only because I feel like you can get charcuterie anywhere.  

I was blown away by the flavors of the crab and the creativity of the corndogs.  The former was marinated in flying dog orange ale vinaigrette and garnished with avocado, while the latter was served with whole grain mustard creme fraiche.  You really can't go wrong with either!  The next time I go back, I definitely want to try the Hand-cut Tagliatelle 'Carbonara' and their Acorn Squash & Apple Soup.

Moving onto entrees!  Again, we got 3 dishes and shared because sharing is caring, ha:  Crab Cake Sandwich, Maine Lobster Roll, and a Make Your Own Salad.  Man, I don't even know where to start so I'm just going to go in order.  If you're a fan of crab, you'll probably die a euphoric food death because this crab cake was ginormous in the best way possible.  

It had SO much crab - I hate it when restaurants skimp on the crabmeat, but the chefs at W&W aren't playin' around.  It was like 98% crab (!!!!) and it came with lemon aioli and baltimore french fries (aka lots and lots of old bay = heavenly).  The lobster roll was a winner, too.  Served on a toasted parker house bun, it came with breakfast radish and was garnished with jalapeños.  I'm not going to say much about the salad because that's pretty straightforward, but everything was (unsurprisingly) fresh.

Even though we were stuffed, we wanted to try their Baltimore Bar and Bread Pudding so we dug deep and made space.  Thank god we did because holy freaking crap, both of these were to die for.  I enjoyed the bar very much, but the bread pudding was stupid good.  I seriously can't get over it, like I've been dreaming of it ever since.  I'm NOT exaggerating when I say it's straight up magical.  I can't remember all the deets exactly, but I believe it's made with croissants, shortbread cookies, and served warm caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Just look at how gorgeous this dish is!

Conclusion: GO TO WIT & WISDOM.  Yes, you'll be splurging & dropping $$$, but it'll be worth it.  Trust me! Everything from interior to service is solid and as plus, you get a killer view of the harbor.  If you're looking to spoil someone or impress them hardcore, W&W's got your back.  You're welcome in advance!

A HUGE thanks to Wit & Wisdom for hosting us.

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SS Eats: Shake Shack's Limited Edition BBQ

Last week, Natalie (one of my besties) and I hit up the Shake Shack in Baltimore, MD to try their limited edition BBQ menu.  We sampled everything, which was all sorts of awesomesauce.  Here are the items we devoured: BBQ ShackMeister Burger, BBQ Chick'n Shack, BBQ Bacon Cheese Fries, and three different seasonal shakes.  

Crinkle-cut fries with bacon, cheese, and Shack BBQ sauce? Um, I think yes.  This was ridiculously tasty, but I may or may not be biased because fries can do no wrong in my book.  I mean, let's be real though.  How could that combo NOT slay? 

Our three shakes:  Mint Cookies & Cream, Mud Pie, and Salted Vanilla Toffee.  The mint flavor was by far the best in my opinion - it was refreshing and just the right amount of sweet.  Quite possibly the best shake I've had in a while!  It contained mint frozen custard and chocolate wafer cookie crumbles.  Mud Pie, marshmallow custard blended with fudge and coffee, was way too sweet for me, but Salted Vanilla Toffee was pretty good.  All three drinks were topped with whipped cream, but you can definitely get it without!

 A closer look at the Chick'n Shack - contains antibiotic-free chicken breast, BBQ sauce and pickles.

The ShackMeister burger was on point!  Made of 100% all-natural Angus beef, it was topped with cheese, crispy ale-marinated shallots and BBQ sauce.  We also got an extra 'Shroom burger for good measure.  For those of you wondering, it's a fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses topped with lettuce, tomato and ShackSauce.

The food was awesome as per usual! If you haven't tried their new menu out yet, you need to go STAT!  You really can't go wrong with anything, but like I mentioned, if you decide to get a shake, the mint is a must-try.  These noms are available at all US Shacks with the exception of airports, stadiums and ballparks.  

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Exploring R. House with DCFoodPorn

I'm SO beyond pumped to tell you guys all about my latest adventure at R. House with DCFoodPorn. Located in Remington, this space is, hands down, one of the COOLEST places I've ever been to. A few years back, Seawall assembled a group of ten BAMF chefs to launch new restaurants while transforming an old auto body shop into a 350-seat food hall.  

The decor was on point, and the food was impeccable.  Justin and I got to try dishes from several different stalls, and we were beyond impressed with it all.  We started with Hilo, a delish joint specializing in poke bowls and sushi.  Everything looked ridiculously yummy, but we decided to go with a sushi burrito with all sorts of nomtastic ingredients inside.  Unfortunately, I don't eat raw fish anymore so I passed on this, but Justin told me he really enjoyed it. 

Then we hit up White Envelope to try one of their famous arepas (crisp cornbread pockets).  I think this one was called the queen!  I don't remember everything in it exactly, but I believe it contained chicken thigh, beet, cilantro, and peas.  It came out piping hot, and each bite was a flavor explosion in my mouth.

Next, we hit up Blk // Sugar to try one of their ube croissants!  This pastry was seriously to DIE for, and the purple filling was such a fun surprise.  They also had cute cookie shots, macarons, and other nom delights!  

 Just look at that gooey goodness oozing out!

You'd think we'd be stuffed at this point, but we were still going strong.  We headed over to Stall 11 to check out their menu and ended up ordering a beautiful smoothie bowl to share!  If you're into clean eating, this is THE place for you.  They have fresh juices, locally-sourced vegetarian dishes, and lots more.

We finally ended our food adventure at Little Baby's Ice Cream where we each got two double-scoop cones.  They specialize in unique flavor combinations + non-dairy & vegan ice creams so there's something for everyone.  I got cucumber dill and chocolate salt malt; both were yum, but I really, REALLY want to go back and try earl grey sriracha, thai iced tea, and balsamic banana.  

Anywho, that's it for today.  If you're looking for a cool new place to work, hang or eat, make sure you check out R. House STAT.  It's like Union Market except homier!  Andddd I can pretty much guarantee you'll have a good time here so grab your lover or frand and head on over. Also, parking's free so that's a huge plus.

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SS Eats: Matcha Time Cafe

I'm all sorts of pumped to tell you guys about Matcha Time Cafe today on SS.  I discovered this gem on yelp and couldn't resist featuring it!  Located in Historic Ellicott City, MD, this Japanese cafe + gift shop was seriously the cutest ever, AND there was a huge free lot out front so parking was easy peasy.  A definite plus for me because my parallel parking skills = not so hot.

My bf and I came here last week to try their desserts, and we were pleasantly surprised by everything. The interior was on point, the staff was super friendly, and the food was delish!  We got a matcha latte, green tea waffle ice cream (pictured above), and homemade mochi with red bean to share. Note: make sure you check out their hanging menu w/ specials before placing your order.  I totally missed it at first so I wanted to give you guys a heads up.

Our drink was made with almond milk - you can get it with soy if you prefer - and although tasty, it was a little too sweet for me.  The green tea waffle ice cream was $5.99, and the presentation was super on point.  It was cut into four pieces and coated in dark chocolate (!!!!) It was then drizzled with chocolate sauce and garnished with strawberries and whipped cream.  The homemade mochi had a nice texture, but you MUST get it with red bean.  It makes all the difference in the world!

A shot of Japanese goodies + drinks.

Also available: a variety of award-winning teas, in-house made pastries, sushi, and ramen.

Cute origami decor!

Their gift shop featuring items from Japan along with adorable crafts made in the US by Japanese and American artisans.

Alright guys, that's it for today! I'm planning on featuring more local joints in the near future so keep your eyes peeled. I'm all about supporting small businesses so I'm extra excited for what's to come. What do you guys think of Matcha Time Cafe? Are you a fan of asian pastries and desserts?

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My First Juice Cleanse Ever

I've been wanting to try a juice cleanse for years now, but I never got around to doing so because I didn't want to be hangry at work or school.  It took some serious self-control on my part, but Jus by Julie made the whole process pretty dang easy.  I went with her 3 day juice + soup cleanse because I wasn't down to skip food entirely.  Here's a detailed breakdown of what I did:

Day 1:

Sweet Spin Juice

Split Pea Soup

Spicy Pomegranate Juice

Carrot Ginger Soup

Butternut Squash Soup

Chia Berry Juice

Day 2:

Sweet Spin Juice

Red Lentil Soup

Spicy Pomegranate Juice

Detox Broth

Pumpkin Coconut Bisque

Chia Berry Juice

Day 3:

Sweet Spin Juice

Carrot Turmeric Soup

Spicy Pomegranate Juice

Roasted Tomato Gazpacho

Hearty Potato Leek Soup

Chia Berry Juice

Her juices are blended (as opposed to cold pressed) so they have a smoothie-like consistency.  Note: if you dislike pulp, pass on this!  However, do keep in mind that their special blending process makes sure you get 100% of the whole fruits + veggies that go into their products aka all the good stuffs like antioxidants, fiber, and live enzymes.

I personally didn't have to do much prep for the cleanse because I was already eating clean, but if you're not, Julie recommends cutting out heavy foods like meat, dairy and sugar a few days beforehand.    You can eat as many fruits/veggies as you want, but go easy on rich foods like burgers.

The cleanse itself was easy because in addition to juice, I was having soup 3x a day.  Serious props to Jus by Julie because everything was on point!  I was VERY pleasantly surprised with the taste of it all.  The soups were legit good - like I would eat them for an actual meal...and enjoy it!  My favorites were the hearty potato leek, carrot ginger, and butternut squash soups.  The drinks were also really great - I could straight up drink spicy pomegranate all day, every day.  

FYI: their juices have a refrigeration shelf life of up to 4 days and a 3 week frozen shelf life.  Soups have a 2 week refrigeration shelf life and a 3 week frozen shelf life.  If you're looking to start your cleanse right when you receive your delivery, make sure you store everything in the fridge STAT and start with Jus 1.  If you want to do it all later, freeze everything!  The night before your cleanse, leave one day's worth out overnight at room temperature - they'll be ready in the morning.  Do NOT thaw in your fridge.

Anywho, I didn't find myself getting hungry throughout any of this, BUT if you want to munch on something during, you can have raw or steamed green veggies, egg whites at dinnertime, or 1-2 cups of coffee or green tea. Afterwards, you want to make sure to very SLOWLY integrate heartier foods into your diet.  

Now, would I do this again? Yes, but only a juice and soup cleanse like this.  I can't imagine cutting food out entirely.  I'll probably try a hardcore one like that at some point, but for now, this works perfectly fine!  I didn't lose a ton of weight or anything, but I'm not really surprised.  If I did, I have a feeling it would've been temporary, ha. I did, however, feel refreshed (and healthier) afterwards.  This cleanse costs $120, and if you subscribe to their mailing list you can get an extra 10% off your purchase.  Have any of you guys tried a cleanse? If yes, which one? Was it worth it?  

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SS Eats: Fyve Restaurant @ the Ritz

Pumped to share my latest nom adventure with you guys!  I'll be reviewing Fyve's lunch menu for y'all today on SS. Now, before we get into it all, here's an interesting tidbit:  the name of their restaurant was inspired by the Pentagon, which has five sides, five points, five floors above ground, five ring corridors per for, and a five-acre centre plaza.  And, like all Ritz establishments, the place oozed sophistication and class - I was beyond impressed with the decor, and the service was (unsurprisingly) impeccable.

While we looked over the menu, the bf and I were served fresh bread with a trio of spreads:  whipped butter, olive oil, and an artichoke dip that was ridiculously yum.  We started our meal with two delicious cocktails.  Both of them were on point, but I enjoyed the Puzzle Palace (the one with the flower petals) more.  Made with Bowman Brothers Bourbon, St. Germain and orange + walnut bitters, it was expertly mixed.  I definitely want to go back and sample their other drinks!

Our starters came out shortly after - we decided to share the onion soup ($11) and beet carpaccio ($13), and both dishes were perfection!  The soup came out piping hot (as expected) and was a bowl of cheesy magic.  The beet carpaccio was almost too pretty to eat.  The chef used red, gold, and candy beets for the app and garnished it with mizuna.  To enhance its flavor profile, he sprinkled pine nuts and goat cheese on top.

For entrees, we went with Ahi Tuna Sliders, Atlantic Salmon, and Shrimp & Grits.  The sliders came with wasabi mayo and pickled ginger and were accompanied by fried onion rings.  The salmon was priced at $25 and came with a yukon potato puree, yellow & green patty pan squash, sea beans, and red pepper coulis. I don't eat fish so I didn't get to sample either of these, but my bf said they were both phenomenal.  In fact, he took his leftovers home and ate everything for dinner so I'm assuming it was all delish!

Now, while my bf enjoyed his food, I destroyed my Shrimp & Grits.  I mean, just look at that plate! The photo doesn't do it justice.  They don't mess around here!  They give you five ginormous pieces that are cooked and seasoned to perfection, and the stone ground grits are to die for.  It also comes with artisan chorizo, which is a do on so many levels.  Hands down, the best shrimp & grits I've ever tasted. 

At this point, I was pretty much stuffed, but I couldn't resist trying their desserts because I'd heard so many incredible things about their pastry chef.  Everything sounded hella good, but Robby and I ended up getting the Mocha Latte Creme Brûlée and Chocolate Caramel Peanut Crunch.

The creme brûlée was topped with whipped cream and came with mini-vanilla chocolate madelines. The presentation was on point, but it tasted even better than it looked.  Like, I finished the entire dessert...by myself, ha.  Luckily, Robby preferred the cake.  If you're a fan of peanut butter, you need to indulge in this goodness STAT. The layers are as follow: Valhrona Milk & Dark Chocolate Mousses, Salted Caramel, and Peanut Feuillittine.  Then all that yum is topped with caramel sauce, VA peanut brittle and served with vanilla ice cream.

If you're looking for a fab place to dine in DC, hit up Fyve for an incredible meal.  A huge thanks to the Ritz Pentagon City for having us.

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