Portugal: Part 1 - Obrigada: the only word I learned

I just wrote two papers on Portuguese culture, so why not continue my streak and tell you about my trip to Portugal?

I arrived in Lisbon for a few solo days of sightseeing before I needed to get to work. I decided to take it easy my first day since I wasn't sure how quickly I would become exhausted. That gave me enough time to take some walks around the downtown area.

First item of business: lunch! Beer and seafood were calling my name so I found my way to Cervejaria Trinidade, a 175 year old Portuguese brewery on the grounds of a 13th century convent. This is where I got my first dose of the ubiquitous azulejos (Portuguese tiles).

Then I got to wandering. Everywhere you turn there are.... 

tiled buildings with tram wires crisscrossing above, 

Neoclassical buildings and tiled sidewalks,

monuments like the Obelisk in Praca dos Restauradores, 

interesting details in the architecture like the horseshoe entryway of Rossio Station 

and statues of dudes on horses.

Two churches were also on the itinerary for the afternoon. Both looked remarkably nondescript from the exterior. One survived the earthquake of 1755 and the other lived through the earthquake and a fire but was never fully restored. I was struck by how, in such vastly different environments, believers can worship. Pretty cool, even for someone who doesn't believe. 

The first was Igreja de São Roque, the first Jesuit church in Portugal, in all of its gilded glory. 

Contrast that with Igreja de São Domingos. This is a place that has lived and you can see it in its walls.

Now, that we're done thinking...What happens to be across the street from church? Booze! I had my first of what would be many shots of ginjinha (sour cherry liquor) over the next few days.

Who drinks this stuff? Old dudes and tourists. Yes, that guy is begging for money outside.

€1.35 gets you a shot with or without cherries. With, please!

A little more wandering brought me to Elevador de Santa Justa. The line was way too long so I skipped out on going up to see the view. The elevator may remind you of another famous structure because it was designed by an apprentice of Gustav Eiffel.

Rounding out the day was a sighting of two guys making a Post-It note mural at the modern art museum, 

the Golden Gate Bridge and the Christ the Redeemer Statue.

As I closed out my afternoon, I settled for this view from Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara. Not too shabby and much more tranquil than I imagine Elevador de Santa Justa being.

   

Finally, I'll leave you with some street art from the streets of Lisboa.

I'll be venturing out of the city center to the old part of Lisbon next. 

Cervejaria Trindade

Rua Nova da Trindade 20 C

2715-311 Lisboa

Portugal

A Ginjinha

Largo Sao Domingos 8

1150 Lisboa 

Portugal

You might also like:

Portugal: Part 2 - Kicking it old school in Belem

Portugal: Part 3 - Cold and Rainy in Sintra

Portugal: Part 4 - The Rest

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Cupcake break!

Look what my honey brought for me as I have been finishing up my schoolwork all weekend. Thank you!

Visit to Los Angeles: I like noodles

Now that I'm all growns up, I realize how amazing Torrance is when it comes to Asian food. Yes, I said it. Torrance is kind of amazing. It's not easy to find a) good, b) authentic, c) nearby, and d) affordable Asian food where I currently live. Torrance has all of the above and a lot of it. 

So I pretty much went on a noodle spree when I went home to visit last month. 

There were mul naengmyeon (Korean cold buckwheat noodles) from Da Maat.  

Then there was zaru soba from I-naba. The last time I had soba was on my honeymoon in Hawaii.

I got the upgraded version that came with a tuna bowl. Yum!

Last noodles of the trip were from Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi (okay, so not in Torrance but Gardenia is close enough). This was my first time here. The staff is super exuberant. The meals are customizeable, so you can select the noodle firmness and strength of the broth. I also added corn and bamboo shoots and had mine without green onion. 

.

That's it for my oodles of noodles but I'll tell you about some of the others things I ate soon!

Da Maat
2814 Sepulveda Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90505

I-naba
20920 Hawthorne Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90510

Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi
2015 West Redondo Beach Boulevard
Gardena, CA 90247

Happy independence day!

Work, coffee, paper

It's that time again: finals!!

Lots of work to do and lots of coffee to drink. Bought myself some porkcorn while I was at it.

Scenes from Artomatic 2012

After spending over two hours at Artomatic, we had only made it about half way through. Planning another excursion to see the rest before it closes later this month. Here is a sampling of what we saw:

Lisboa from Castelo do Sao Jorge

Second day in Portugal

Back home to Los Angeles!!

After nineteen months of living in DC including four semesters of business school and a wedding (mine!), I finally made it back to Los Angeles for a short visit.

Unfortunately, some of my time was spent doing school work but I also got to see some friends, spend some time with the parents and try some new food! I can only share two of my meals with you. The first was afternoon tea at Tres by Jose Andres, located in the SLS Hotel. The interior is trendy and luxe with unique touches like nonmatching chandeliers and this lighted deer head above the fireplace.

Interior at Tres

Afternoon tea menu at Tres

Afternoon tea goodies

I particularly enjoyed the cucumber and goat cheese with tomato "cavier" and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. However, the most ridiculous part of tea was the beet macaroon with goat cheese. It melts in your mouth!

Bagel and lox cone and guacamole cone

I took a break from eating and doing schoolwork to go for a short hike. I miss being able to drive half an hour and feel le I am completely out of the city. This hike was the Los Liones trail.

View from Los Liones trail

My other meal was my special night out with my foodie friends. This restaurant is headed up by Sang Yoon, the chef from Father's Office. The meal is family style, so we got to try many different dishes.

Tea leaf salad

Deer Island scallops

Heirloom black rice

The heirloom black rice was featured on Jonathan Gold's list of best dishes and it was like nothing I have ever had.

Spicy chicken pops

Short rib rendang

Brussels sprouts

Chiangmai curry noodles

The curry noodles was the most disappointing dish. We had intended to order the dandan noodles but the server told us one of the main ingredients was stuck in customs so they weren't serving it that night. Never heard that one before!

Garlic pork belly

Complimentary desserts

I don't remember what they all were but the one in the back was Vietnamese coffee. They were refreshing and I always prefer fruit-based desserts. 

Until we meet again, Los Angeles

Tres by Jose Andres
SLS Hotel
465 South La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048

Lukshon
3239 Helms Avenue
Culver City, CA 90232