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This was my first guided experience of pho. The first time I had it with my family (way back in high school), we had no idea how it was meant to be experienced. We were confused at the non-assembly of the soup, and especially the raw meat. We learned something new that night. 😅

This time around, my friend Devra invited me to join her at Saigon Block to try Vietnamese food, and I tried pho again - the right way. I also tried a few other bites as well, and it was all very enjoyable.

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My sister always finds all the good spots to enjoy a meal or treat. Today she took me to Standard Service (which I have long misheard as “Sandwich Service”) to try their Limoncello (a drink I’d never tried before). Everything we tried was delicious, and the vibes were sunny and chill. I’ll definitely return.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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…