Chicago Food Truck Festival 2015

First time staying back for Summer in U to the S A. Summer here is always vibrant and this means a lot of events to attend! Roy found this event and so here we are at 2nd annual Chicago Food Truck Festival. (Been watching Guy Fieri <Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives> on Food Network, which makes me want to try out food trucks badly for some reason)

• Location: 2400 S Dearborn St, Chicago IL 60616
• Time: 12pm-7pm
• Date: June 27, 2015 (Saturday)

This is a 2-day event and we chose to go on Saturday.

My first nom nom nom was this truck called the Caponies Express.

Guess what's this?

It is Arancini: layer of breadcrumbs, with rice, ground beef, peas, mozzarella and marinara filling- $5
Well, it's my first time trying arancini and I would definitely try it again.

2nd choice of the day: Tamale Spaceship

Because of the white truck, and the word spaceship.
[got to do with my recent movie watch: Interstellar. All these space, moon, gravity words are in the back of my mind.]

 No idea what to order, and seek suggestion from the man with the Mexico wrestling mask.

Yes, I do like spicy. And he gave me Urbano (green one) and Picturesque de Puerco. Two for $9.
Oh did I mention this is my first time trying Tamale? 

Urbano is roasted beef with Tomatillo-Arbol sauce
Picturesque de Puerco is Yucatecan style roasted pork with tomato habanero sauce and purple pickled onions
(No, I did not memorize the menu lol)

Wrapping is too thick for me. Urbano's roasted beef is too dry. I prefer Picturesque de Puerco's roasted pork and the spiciness coz mama I LOVE SPICY.

Hashtag CokeLounge giving out free coke. Ho Ho Ho

When Hero meets Superstar and Better Half 

View of Chicago skyline from the south loop. 

Left pic- "oh daddy your leg smells sooooo good"
The one in the bag- too adorableeeeeeee

unlimited Naked juice? YES PLEASE 

Still remember when I first knew about Naked juice back in 2012, I drink almost everyday for a good old 5 months! I miss those days.

I insist to get my tummy satisfy with some burger. This stall looks good to me:

3rd choice- Good Burger

The queue was so long, I was slowly roasting under the sun like these ribs and chicken. It was more than 30 minutes. Wonder where did I got my patience from. If they pay me, I would def help them. They got to move a little faster to retain their customers.

When it was finally my turn, I decided to have a combo jerk, rib tips, & fries - $15 instead of burger.

YESH, he's getting my combo

FINALLY, showered them with BBQ & Buffalo sauce.

A picture of me with my trophy.

I like rib tips with a hint of fatty layer and juicy. Dry? A big no no.

First jerk chicken in my life. LOL. Jerkily yummy

Crowd. 

Photobombed Royston's pic lol...

Hate it when I have to queue up for food- especially those long lines. But we all know the feeling once we've gotten the food in our hands- awesomeness.

Roy gotten Lobster roll from Da Lobsta.

Meat is cold, bread is crisp, combination of both= Perfecto!
Would like to have a roll now.

Meet KK the model for Coke

Meet Superstar & Better Half.

Chicago Food Truck Fest has improved from last year with added features as according to what they say. Still think there are space for improvement in the selections. All I can remember was cupcake trucks and trucks, burgers, tacos, hotdog, and a few selection of korean/chinese food. Was thinking if Malaysia has a food truck fest, it would be food from all over the world, you name it, I'm sure they would have it. Just saying.

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Time to rehydrate. Just 10 minutes walk from food truck fest to Chinatown's Kung Fu Tea, the only bubble tea shop that has the closest taste to Chatime I could find. Had their bubble tea twice, the first time I got hook up. The second time was a huge disappointment, the pearls weren't as fresh. They should maintain the standard. meh.

Ice blended Macha + red bean with 30% sweetness = DIABETES.
Lesson learned, going for 0% next time

Next stop: Greek Festival at Gold Coast.

I was having meat comma and couldn't fit anything down into my tum tum, hence didn't buy anything and went strolling in downtown Chicago. 

Familiar place. Been here countless times. Love the skyscrapers, and the Moon.

One of the Murals "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO" along this wall by Jeff Zimmerman

If you have not checked them out, please do. It is located at the beginning of the tunnel at Oak Street Beach.

When the men busy exchanging thoughts, the lady was busy selfie, wefie, photographie.

My Backpack Day Trip to NYC

#BlackAppleinBigApple again!

[I would suggest you to read NYC Part 1, NYC Part 2, and this post last]

But this time, I'm all by myself. A little nervous, a little scared as I'm not familiar with NYC nor the transportation system from Delaware to NYC. Did some research the night before. Times like this, I thank God for Google God, Google Map, and my friend Abby.

I got some ideas from a blog that talks about solo trip to NYC.

Following are the steps I took to form my itinerary.

1. First, jot down places that you would like to conquer in a descending order of importance.
2. Draw a map on a piece of paper and mark the places with  or whatever shapes you like.

• Places: I have chosen 8 places that I wanted to go. 
• Distance: Search the distance between them. Is it walkable or would it be more efficient to take public transportation? For me, it is walkable as long as is within 15 minutes because at the same time I get to enjoy the view + burn some calories.
• Transportation: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) runs all NYC subways and buses. So obtain a MetroCard at any subway station. Bare in mind that there is no one-day unlimited MetroCard pass, but 7-day and 30-day unlimited passes. So if you are doing a day trip, you just have to top up the card.
• Advice: from wherever you are, try to travel in a circle. Let's say you arrived at the middle of NYC, and you would like to go to Brooklyn Bridge which is located at the South, is there any places in between which you can explore? Here is my map. Starting from the STAR, I will be travelling to my first stop (light blue), then lunch at yellow, dessert at either pink or purple, then to another dessert place at red, to Brooklyn Bridge, back up North to dark blue, green stop then back to origin.

  

  If you have not noticed, most of my locations are ice-cream shops, it is my personal preference to try as much local ice-cream as possible. Ice-cream makes me happy!

Let's tour NYC with every bits and pieces that I deem interesting through the pictures below.

My Bie Bie woke up much earlier just to drop me off at Wilmington Greyhound Station before going off for work  Thank you!

Note: She's still keeping her eyes on the road.

 It takes about 2+ hours to reach NYC. The traffic always start somewhere before Lincoln Tunnel (connects New Jersey to Manhattan).

Failed to renew my passport. Apparently the system shuts down at 12pm. I don't get it, still don't get it now. This incident almost got me, but I know I got to make the best from this trip. Approximately 5 hours before departing back to Delaware. Think, Google, Search. Decided to go to post office to send some stuffs. USPS: one of my favorite places, simply because they always manage to send my stuffs to my loved ones, and going there makes me feel like I'm nearer to home.

2pm: left USPS, going for lunch.

Me? Born in Spring, never get tired of flowers. 

Subway, Tuesday afternoon. It seems to be always pack, as compare to Chicago CTA.

Tunnel of Light- 68St

On my way for nom nom nom. 

Sneakers by KEDS. Newspaper, to block the sunlight & fan myself. Mr. Sun was very hot that day. 

Find the placard campaign "Courtesy Counts, Manners Make a Better Ride" interesting, sense of humor it is.

Art pole, sexy pole.

First time in East Village, I see lots of Japanese restaurant and basements like this; which are dangerous if your eyes are always on your phone. 

No big sign. Just the restaurant name printed on the door. A little tricky to find this store- Momofuku Noodle Bar.

Momofuku Noodle Bar, as suggested by Kelvin. Watching chefs preparing a bowl of Momofuku Ramen for me :) Pork shoulder, pork belly, poached egg, including tips- $20.
How delicious it is? Watch video.

Wanted to try Momofuku Milk Bar, selections at Momofuku Noodle Bar were not as appealing. Spoke to the waiter and decided to come to Momofuku Milk Bar the store itself. Stepped into this bar, Dancing Queen was playing loudly, two ladies at the desk.

Holding Cereal Milk soft serve $6.26. LOVE IT

So, I did not follow my original map of plan. Instead, while enjoying my ice-cream, I decided to walk to Laduree, to get some top-notch macarons.

Love the interior design, the display of confections. 

The privilege of being Laduree macarons, $2.80 each. A box of 8- $28 and a box of 6-$21.

Sweetness: Just right

Flavors: Pistachio, Rose petal, Caramel with salted butter, Marie Antoinette, Chocolate, Mikimoto

Love all of the flavors. I'm surprised I actually like the caramel even though I'm not a fan of caramel. 

4pm: Brooklyn Bridge

Photographs, enjoying my view.

This way to Brooklyn Bridge

Thomas Paine Park, featuring Abraham De Peyster statue, mayor of NYC from 1691-1694.

He, made my day. Happiness is simple, ya?

"You are a clown, look here boy..."

Blue, white, orange- NYC flag.

I remember this place, 3 years ago, my sister, friends and I were hiding under the station from the pouring rain. Same place, different time, different feeling, different people, different weather, different me. 

Souvenirs for the special one.

Mr. Sun shining down on me. 

Brooklyn Bridge it is. On my right, there was slow traffic heading to Brooklyn.
On my left, Manhattan Bridge.

Stranger took this picture for me. Heart shape pose, missing my sister.

My feelings for Brooklyn Bridge = <3

Time to head back.....

Squirrels always have my attention.
I always shout "squirrel" whenever I see them  They could kept as pets, but they have rabies.

Tick Tock Tick Tock, time is running out. I'm all sticky and sweaty.
But I decided to take a seat at City Hall Park and enjoy some melted macarons. 

One thing I would miss if I ever leave U to the SA would be sitting at any park, take a nap, enjoy some drinks, food and company, just because the weather permits and the universe permits.

So I thought my bus departs at 6pm. Realized it way too late and plus it was rush hour time.
Subway wasn't helping + Uber helped + universe wasn't helping = Bus left me.

No more bus tickets, unless I stay one night in NYC. OH NO WAY! I'm leaving back to Chicago the next day. So with the help of Bie Bie, I took trains, transfer transfer transfer.

It wasn't that bad.
New Jersey --> Trenton
Trenton --> Philadelphia
Philadelphia --> Wilmington

TO SAVE SOME KACHING KACHING.

Safely reached back at around 10pm...

and welcome by Malaysian food, Nasi Lemak cooked by Bie Bie 

I made it. My solo trip to NYC. 

What I'm wearing: "Alice from the 20th century" tank top, leather leggings, sneakers by Keds, and "I can't see my haters" sunglasses 

What's in my backpack: water, phone, camera, notebook, pen, power-bank, phone charger, cash, debit/credit card, talisman, purse.

Important lesson: Be sure of the time you have, and always give yourself at least an hour to reach your boarding place, (and of course 2-3 hours for flights).