Insider’s Guide to Hong Kong

Want to know where to go in Hong Kong? You’re in luck! Here’s an insider’s guide to the 10 delicious places to try: 10. Milk Tea Need some caffeine to start your day? Grab a cup of tea from Lan Fong Yuen, a little spot that claims to be the birthplace of Hong Kong milk…

chinese chicken salad

With spring officially here and warmer weather upon us, I’ve found myself eating more salads lately to help keep cool. Try out this modified version of a Chinese chicken salad recipe that my mom pulled out from the L.A. Times way back before the Internet was even around! The original recipe has a more traditional…

the korean trio

As with any new year, there’s bound to be some kind of change that happens. And 2018 just happened to start off with another move for us! While we’re still in the larger Bay Area, we’re a bit too far to eat at the East Bay places we discovered on a daily basis, so I wanted…

¡que paja!

As I was pondering what to call today’s post on the wonders of Peruvian food, I came across the saying “¡que paja!” or “what a straw!” Although the direct translation doesn’t make much sense on it’s own, the intended meaning behind it – an expression of excitement in finding something that you immediately approve of…

chicken soup for the soul

There’s nothing quite like having a bowl of chicken soup when you’re sick. With my hubby and I both catching some kind of flu, I knew what was going to be on the week’s meal plan – homemade chicken soup. Now, I grew up getting a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup whenever I was…

hugs and quiches

When my aunt and I get together, cooking is one of my favorite things to do. Not only is it a fun way to hang out and get to know one another better, but it’s a great way to pick up some cooking tips, tricks, and learn a new recipe while I’m at it! One…

blueberry oatmeal chews

So, I originally found this recipe for “Gluten Free Oatmeal Cookies with Dried Blueberries and Pecans” from The Devil Wears Parsley, and was excited by the prospect of making a healthy, and more importantly, tasty cookie. However, don’t get fooled by the word “cookie”. These “cookies” have a chewier consistency that reminds me more of…

bastille day

Yesterday was my first experience with Bastille Day, otherwise known as French National Day (or la Fête nationale in French). I have to be honest, I’d previously only heard the word “bastille” in passing, and had to look it up to see what this day was actually all about. I soon found out that this…

pizza my heart

I’ve been trying to eat healthier lately, as well as be more conscious of what goes into my body, which means cooking more in The Hippo Within’s test kitchen. I’ve also been trying out gluten-free (GF) recipes and products, or tweaking non-GF recipes, and will be sharing the hippo-approved meals I’ve enjoyed. A lot of people think…

the beginning

With all the Giants pride in and around SF, what better way to begin our adventure in NorCal than a trip to AT&T Park? Let’s start off with the ah-mazing seats we got! I felt like I was so close I could almost touch the grass. Well, maybe not that close, but I could actually…