Foodventures: San Francisco, CA

In early February I had a week between jobs and chose to venture into one of my favorite cities: San Francisco. Fortunately, a $120 round trip ticket from Chicago to Oakland enabled my binge-eating ways and bestowed me with an opportunity to enjoy some much needed warm weather.

My first stop off the flight was Hog Island Oyster Co. in the Ferry Building in downtown SF. The location was overlooking the Pacific Ocean but because it was nighttime I was unable to enjoy the azure hues of the sea that drew me to the city in the first place.

Facade of the ferry building

Foodventures: Orlando, FL

I was fortunate enough to grow up with the Harry Potter books as they were being released, and I was more disappointed than I would like to admit when I did not get my Hogwarts acceptance letter by owl post. Though I was old enough to know better (you must be at least eleven years old to enter Hogwarts), I couldn't help but be a part of that magical world.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the closest that I, as a mere Muggle, would get to being at Hogwarts. I decided to pay a visit to the newly opened Diagon Alley and attempt a food adventure (though Orlando isn't much of a foodie city).

Foodventures: Seoul, South Korea

I don't like my hometown much.

Seriously, with North Korea right around the corner, their sky-high suicide rates, insane academic competition, socially accepted anorexia, and plastic surgery addiction, I honestly wonder how anyone makes it out of there alive (literally). The five or so years I spent there around my tweens was more than enough for me.

But even I have to admit that it's a magnificent place to visit, and I am glad I managed to spend my Thanksgiving holiday in Seoul.

Super simple peppermint brownies

The combination of chocolate and peppermint around the holidays is - to me, anyway - what I would imagine the pumpkin spice latte is to the basic white girl: a must. I've tried many methods of fusing these two flavors, including peppermint leaves and/or peppermint extract in the brownie batter, crushed peppermint candy canes sprinkled atop - but this method is by far the easiest and the most chocolate-y.

This recipe is embarrassingly easy.

But that doesn't mean it isn't any good.

WNTD: Billy Goat Tavern

This is a public service announcement.

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Billy Goat Tavern. For those of you who are not familiar with this establishment, Billy Goat Tavern is an 80-year-old burger joint famous for their "cheezborgers." Considering the history of the restaurant and the number of times I'd heard about it from various people, I figured I should try it out. And I'm glad I did.

Because now I am equipped with the knowledge that I must never go back there again.