Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A Dine At Herbfarm Restaurant


I went to Washington last month to visit my cousins and we ate at Herbfarm Restaurant in 14590 NE 145th St, Woodinville. We had a great time and the restaurant pleased both our eyes and mouth for the savory dinner they serve. This restaurant I can say is far different from other restaurants. First the chef and the sommelier will introduce you to all herbs present in your drinks and food and then after that to the staff. The room was very inviting with a French fairytale inspired design. Their menu is consist of nine courses and each meal has a matched wine. One of my cousin is a wine enthusiast and she said the wines blended well with the food. They also have a wide list of dessert wines so you can choose what you prefer. Our dinner lasted for 5 hours and after that we took a walk to the bocce ball. As for the staff, they were very hospitable and conversational. 


I never felt awkward dining in this expensive restaurant because the staff and environment is comfortable. If you took a lot of wine and unfit to drive, you can check their list of car services. The overall experience in this restaurant was magnificent, not only you will come back for the food but also for the people and place. The blending of herbs in each dish is superb to the taste and it outstandingly complemented with the wines poured in your glasses. My favorite meal was the "salmon nation" and everybody that goes there would go for it. I got inspired by their meal so after a few days, I ordered a bunch of herbs online and started my mini garden in the kitchen so I can experiment with the meal they serve at Herbfarm. Truly they get pretty inspirational after dining in.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Enjoying Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in New York

 

New York is one of the nicest and busiest place I've ever been, the fact that it is the busiest state in the country, what's comforting is that everything is instant wherever you go. It's a place where you can shop, eat and enjoy wherever you look. I was looking for a Japanese restaurant one time and I bumped into this restaurant called Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in 2521D South Rd, Poughkeepsie. After looking the name of the restaurant I remember my bonsai plant at home, I guess they serve petite dishes in here . The place is small which is near Barnes & Noble and IBM. When I got my first order, I never expected their sushi to be big and the best tasting ever. I tried a lot of Japanese restos before but this one incredibly blends well with my taste senses. The fresh served food they offer will keep you coming back to this place. 


This is not a 5 star restaurant considering its location but for me the service and food is excellent. You won't be having a problem with the staff since they're all attentive and friendly but you might have a little difficulty with the language barrier. They have great deals when it comes to pricing and eating in groups will charge you a cheaper price. The food came out quickly considering the amount and they serve tea while you wait, just perfect for the cold weather outside. Good thing I was just in time for their happy hour meal so I got rolls from $2.99 to $3.99 each. The sushi and mackerel sashimi are fresh and full of flavor. I took a take-out so I can bring it to my husband and he said it was by far the best tasting sushi he jumped into.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Reasons To Dine At Garden Bamboo Restaurant

Eating with pleasure is what we always wanted in a food. Our taste buds react differently when introduced to foreign dishes that are new to us. We might like or dislike it but what's important is you got the chance to taste the food to know if it suits your appetite. Good thing I discovered a restaurant few miles away from where I'm staying and it never failed to serve mouth watering Chinese food that's full of deliciousness in every meal. 



The Bamboo Garden located in 108 N Rengstorff Ave Mountain View, CA serves affordable comfort food and has been my favorite hangout because of their famous Glutinous rice with pork in bamboo shoots and my personal favorite "XLB" short term for Xiao Long Bao at only $5.75. It's a nice place to bring a companion and enjoy food the Chinese way. Other impressive dish they serve are Shanghai Style Pan Fried Buns with Pork, Sauteed Green Beans, Shanghai Baby Bok Choy and a lot more. They have over 40 delicacies from $6.95 - $7.95. 



This restaurant is a tiny and understaffed hole-in-the-wall but the food will surely bring you back again and again. Even my boss has a crave for the place, after seeing the bamboo plant on my office desk, he hurriedly ask to eat at The Bamboo Garden. It is better to go there with friends so you can have someone to talk to while waiting for your made to order food. It might take a while for them to serve you since they serve your dishes hot. As for the parking area, there's enough space in front of the restaurant. The scene is nice outside because of the mountain view, you can enjoy eating while enjoying the mountain scenery.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Visiting National Orchid Garden In Singapore

My mother and I loved the National Orchid Garden located in 1 Cluny Road Singapore. This garden is on the hills of the Singapore Botanic Gardens with a massive park full of orchids everywhere you look. It only cost $5 for the entrance and you will be surprised with the rare orchid collections they have, it's worth a try if you really like flowers. Due to the tropical rainforest climate of Singapore, the orchids grow amazingly all year round. This place is also #17 in Singapore things to do, so when you visit the "Land of the Lion " make sure to check this garden and don't forget to bring your camera for souvenirs. 


I highly recommend this place because of it's clean, organized and well manicured environment, a whole day trip is needed if you want to see the whole place. I don't know how many orchids are there in the world but it's almost like they have them all. For students, a nice educational trip on plants, flowers and trees are nice to held in this park. It's a nice place to go to in a hot day, a park full of people enjoying is a place you want to be, running, pic-nic, food and families. 


I would advice to go there early in the morning to avoid the heat of the sun, many trees will keep you cool you when you get in the garden. Also, check out the gift shop for souvenirs, they also offer seniors discount during entry.This place inspired me to create an orchid garden, first I bought orchids online and collected a few to start my garden. Having exotic orchids at home brings elegance to and it can be a perfect gift for any occasion.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Creative Gardens Out Of Cheap Plant Containers

Gardening with inexpensive containers can save you money and time since you can buy it in the market anytime. Containers made of plastic are one of the cheapest you can get and sometimes you can have it for free. I have a few tips on how to make an economical garden out of easy to find materials in your house.


Using colorful large plastic pails will help add colors to your garden. You can plant single plants on small metal buckets and different flower shades in the larger pail. Getting your old suitcases in the attic will be a big help in improving the atmosphere of your garden. It creates a neat outcome and it comes for free. Old rusty paint cans can also make an attractive focal point in the garden when it is painted with different hues. One great surprise for your dad this Father's day is making a small garden out of your dads favorite things like hats, coffee mugs, large flashlights, shoes, fishing baskets or even burger grillers. Another amazement you can give to your father is a "going fishing" themed garden made of fish baskets, bait buckets and cricket cages.



If you have old chairs of different sizes, the best way is to cut a hole in the seat and place in your pots and flower containers to create a larger image of a planter. Damaged kitchen items you can find can be a useful garden planter like pots, pans, kettle or any cookware sets you can discover in the kitchen. A farm garden is easier to make , all you need are farm-related containers like buckets, sprinklers, wooden crates, feeders and bushel baskets. You can accentuate your garden by adding decorative figurines that adds attention to details. Fun starts with our imagination so try a lot of creative thinking and make fantasy a reality.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Surprises For Your Dad


June 16 is one special day for the superhero of our life, he may not be Superman or Ironman but he did a lot of superhero stuff to make us feel secure and loved everyday. Our Dad is special in every way and surprising him on Father's day is one thing you can do to let him feel how much you love and appreciate him. Some of us have nice memories about our childhood on how our Dads fulfill our life with fun things, cool stuff and unforgettable experiences. He always surprise us with toys and play with us when our Mom is busy preparing the meal. He might be busy at work most of the time but he always make sure that weekends are filled with tickles, laughter, hugs and kisses. That's one thing our Dad is good about, to make up for the days he missed with us. So on this Father's Day, it's payback time for the happiness he brought us. Here are some tips on how to surprise your Dad.


If you have a tight budget, buying your father a nice plant will please him. Make sure to choose the kind of plants that requires less maintenance such as succulents, cacti, herbs and bamboos. Give your dad a day-off on his household chores, try to mow the lawn, wash his car, polish his shoes and save a seat in-front of the TV, it only happens once a year so make sure to let him remember that he is special on that day. Another treat is to pamper him with a ticket of his favorite game, it might be expensive but 100% his grins will show. And remember, nothing beats a day with the whole family sitting on the same table during dinnertime, preparing a surprise meal for your dad is simply superb.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Experience



Last winter, I traveled to one of the most famous vacation spots in the world, the "Bahamas". It was very cold that season so my husband decided to take a break from the snow and enjoy the sand under the sun. I am not much of a beach person nor like to travel, I just like to stay in one place and watch movies and news updates on the internet. I use to travel by airplanes but this time, we tried to cruise going to the Bahamas to make it more romantic as they say. The surprise started when I stepped inside the cruise line, I never imagined the Norwegian Breakaway ship was this huge, indeed it was a great view inside and out. Travelling in a ship is far too expensive than planes but it's worth the travel, you will never get bored. 


The rooms are extraordinary, it's a good thing they use live indoor green plants aside from fake ones to make the rooms more realistic.  The staffs are very nice and always excited to greet you in the morning. They have a variety of famous restaurants to choose from that will stimulate your appetite from breakfast to midnight snack. The bars have professional flair-bartenders that made me stand-up to cheer for the performance. You can stay up at night and wake-up in the morning with a smile in your face. Bringing the family to a  destination trip will surely be a vacation of a lifetime because of the amenities they offer. It's a place you never want to leave. The most fun part are the people you will meet during the cruise, everyone is your friend. It's nice to see people being happy because they are enjoying what they have at that moment, a vacation cruise to remember.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Congratulations Plant And Other Gift Ideas

"Congratulations" is a beautiful word to hear from people around you. Whether someone had a baby, graduated from school, found a  job or a  job promotion, just got married, won  the lottery or just admitted they're in-love, to congratulate them in a hand shake or a hug will make them feel glad that like a firework. If you are close or intimate with each other, giving a  gift will be highly appreciated by the recipient. Not everyday is a Congratulations day so for once you can buy them gifts that suits your budget. You can buy things he can remember as time passes by like congratulations plants, a pet, blanket or any decorative ornament.
When buying gifts like plants in containers, make sure to look for plants that suits the occasion and will make the recipient satisfied. Always be choosy when it comes to vases for this adds a nice scenic view to every home. If you're comfortable with the person you can give personalized gifts like plush animals with their names, a photo collage of their graduation day or first day in school, comfortable pillows or a romantic dinner date.
To receive an award is overwhelming because we did something great that people appreciates. A simple kiss, hug, smile or handshake will be remembered on that special day. Many of us is not showy but we can send our greetings through simple gifts and gestures. Expecting a baby in the family means a lot to everyone so for this occasion, a simple cake with a simple congratulations greeting will make everybody smile. A compilation of cool songs will be the most awesome gift to a friend, it will be a bonus  if you know his favorite songs. And after giving your gift, always smile and say "Congratulations".