Tiny adventures so far: 79
06.11.26 | Taro Balls
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Dinner with my aunt and my cousins at one of their favorite Richardson spots, First Emperor. Tonight we all tried something new - a fried taro dough treat listed among the dim sum. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was a fun surprise. The outer layer is different from most fried foods. When I looked into it, some described it as a spider-webbed or honeycomb structure. Definitely worth a try.
06.08.26 | Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza
Birthday dinner at Spin, because I can’t get enough of this place (tasty food, but even lovelier vibes). Tonight I tried the Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza. I don’t typically go for chicken on pizza, but I’m glad I did today. The chicken is okay, and you can’t go wrong with bacon, but the housemade ranch is the real hit - delicious!
Today marks the first anniversary of my mission to try something new every day. It started as a reflective birthday wish, and it has grown into a wonderful work in progress. The daily part of the challenge is hard, especially during the school year, but it has been good, fun, and growing.
04.05.26 | Paris Baguette
Finally gave Paris Baguette a try. It’s giving 85°C Bakery Cafe, but Ameri-Parisian. The drink was meh at best (I can’t even recall what I had), but these mini croissants - Strawberry Lemon Cream, and especially the garlic one - were delightful. The garlic croissants are only sold in sets of six, which is cute, but I’ll allow it.
03.17.26 | Sugar & Sage Orange Lavender Refresh
I hate driving to Sugar & Sage, but I love eating there. My sister, Kerissa, was kind enough to drive us both and treat me to breakfast. I wish my favs weren’t seasonal, and I was disappointed that I didn’t find the jalapeño cheddar sausage pastry that I was craving, but the pastries we did find were also delicious. The real showstopper today was this orange lavender drink - 10 out of 10 would recommend.
01.02.26 | Mango Sticky Rice
Dinner and a movie with my sister - we are fans of Thai food. My go-to is red curry with shrimp, plus a Thai tea. Tonight, I tried dessert too - mango sticky rice. It’s an interesting combo, and I probably won’t make a habit of it, but I’m glad I tried it.
12.30.25 | Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo León
I eat tacos (or maybe “tacos”) pretty often, but this is my first proper taqueria plate. My friend, Devra, invited me to do lunch at Taqueria & Tamaleria Nuevo León, and it was a fun, rather different taco experience. The load of onions and cilantro went mostly untouched, because that is not my jam (I did try a couple of onions on one taco, to honor the plate as it was served). I learned the difference between carne asada and barbacoa, and finally learned what the red meat is (trompo, spit-roasted shaved pork), though I’m still not sure why it’s so red.
11.27.25 | 1127 Cranberry-Cookie Butter Cheesecake
At my humble suggestion my brilliant sister made this delightful dessert (courtesy of NYT recipes) for Thanksgiving dinner. We enjoyed it, but we’d also recommend toning down the cookie butter sweetness/richness and upping the tart cranberry flavor.
07.21.25 | Local Good Coffee Co.
Local Good Coffee Co. is one of the largest coffee shops I’ve ever been to. I went there to meet a friend who has a toddler and appreciates the play area inside. I loved all the natural light and the spacious layout that includes a range of seating from cozy couches to large tables suitable for work or studying. While we opted to stay inside, I noted the lovely large patio out back. This place is Equal parts coffee shop and community center. I learned that it is part of a larger organization called The Local Good Collective, which aims to meet critical needs with dignity and make it easy for everyone to join in.
07.20.25 | Fable & Fire, Bookshop Bistro
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Brunch with my besties. We took a little joyride to this very cute bistro in Rockwall. 10/10 vibes.
07.13.25 | Latkes @ Cindi's Deli
I’ve always heard latkes described as potato pancakes. I decided to give them a try at Cindi’s Deli today. I was surprised to find that these were more pancake than potato. I think I expected something crispier - maybe closer to La Madeleine’s potato galette. I also took for granted that when the ingredients listed onions, that did not mean scallions, but yellow or white onions, which I especially do not enjoy. I did enjoy the applesauce combo, which feels strange and unexpected (for someone outside of the cultural tradition), but honestly works.
07.03.25 | Partenope Ristorante
I’ve been hearing about this restaurant for well over a year, since we got one in Richardson. Today I finally went, and I was not disappointed. I had the Penne Di Parmigiano e Funghi with chicken (an upcharge) for lunch, and the Torta Pistacchio e Ricotta for dessert. Delicious. And the ambience was perfect - quiet, cozy, aesthetic - even the bathroom (the tile floor in there is gorgeous). Partenope is officially on my Richardson Lovelist.
06.26.25 | Sushi Tacos @ Oishii
Sushi tacos are a level of food creativity I didn’t know I needed. My sister introduced me to them at a restaurant in her distant neck of the woods (Forney). Honestly, on the right day, I’d make the trip just for this delicious dish from Oishii Ramen & Bar.
06.22.25 | Medium Rare Steak
The least Texan thing I do is order my meat well done, because I want to know that the cow is all the way cooked, and that little pink streak sounds like mooing to me. Today I tried a medium-well steak - pink streak and all. And I lived. I won’t do it again, but it was not bad, and I could even understand the appeal a bit.
06.17.25 | FCG's Lobster & Shrimp Grilled Cheese
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My sister and I decided on Lobster & Shrimp Grilled Cheese at Fish City Grill. It comes with cheddar, jack, American, queso blanco, thick-cut bacon, sriracha, and green onions on grilled sourdough. Why did it take us so long to try this? Delicious. We also tried the FCG Sampler, which includes calamari, fried pickles, shrimp, and crab queso. No notes. Except maybe, please include more chips for that queso…
06.15.25 | Whiskey Cake's Fish 'N Chips
Per my sister’s recommendation, I tried this tasty fish dish, which includes beer-battered wild Atlantic haddock, dill crumble, Sazerac barrel-aged malt vinegar, hand-cut fries, and remoulade. Full disclosure: I did not try the vinegar, and though I sampled the remoulade, I did not particularly like it. The chips were a little salty, but I didn’t mind. I loved the fish, particularly the dill crumble. I only wish there were a honey mustard dip to complement it. I know that’s not common for fish, but hear me out - dill and honey mustard…
06.14.25 | Lazy Dog's PBJ Burger
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This PB&J Burger from Lazy Dog seems a little strange, but it’s worth a try. As it often is, the bacon was the best part!