March 01, 2024

Ohio Capital: Columbus｜俄州首都：哥倫布

March 01, 2024/ Brandy C.

This time we briefly visited Columbus for only a few hours. Hoping to stay here and visit more places and restaurants next time.

這次在Columbus只待了幾個小時，但期待下次來這裡去更多有名景點和餐廳。

Xi Xia Chinese Cuisine｜西夏

1140 Kenny Centre Mall, Columbus, OH 43220
http://www.xixiacuisine.com/

Ordered lamb noodle soup to my mom and the girls, but the girls ate the entire bowl by themselves! Added beef noodle soup to our order, and the babies finished it too! My mom was left with mostly soup! Dapanji stirred noodle and sour pickled fish noodle are numbing and spicy, very popular picks.

原本點了羊肉麵讓寶寶們和我媽一起吃，沒想到寶寶們把羊肉麵吃光。加點牛肉麵，寶寶也吃光，阿嬤只能喝湯了！大盤雞麵和酸辣魚麵又麻又辣，很多客人都點這幾道。

Tensuke Market

1167 Old Henderson Rd, Columbus, OH 43220
https://tensukemarket.japanmarketplace.com/

All of my favorite Japanese gummies, mochis, and soy sauce are here. I lost track of how many things we bought here.

我愛的日本軟糖、麻糬、醬油，這裡都有賣。至於我們買了多少東西，完全數不清！

Belle's Bread Japanese Bakery and Café

1168 Kenny Centre Mall, Columbus, OH 43220

Come here for our cream puffs review! I regret not buying all of the cream puffs. Good thing Columbus is not far from us, next time we definitely need to buy more.

泡芙評分看這裡！我真後悔沒把全部搜光，好險Columbus離我們不遠，下次我們一定要買多點回來。

Kura Sushi｜藏壽司

8833 Lyra Dr, Columbus, OH 43240
https://kurasushi.com/locations/columbus-oh

The wait time is 300 minutes! You will get a notification on your phone after you check in, and don’t have to wait there. We checked in around lunch time, and got seated for dinner, and finally had Kura sushi! Very similar to Japan, except there’s no hot tea at the table, and you get a toy for every 15 plates you order. (I want the random surprise toys every 5 plates!) Download the Kura sushi app, and you can check in on the app.

竟然等了300分鐘！訂位後手機會收到通知，不需在場等。從午餐等到晚餐，總算吃到藏壽司。大致上和日本一樣，但桌上沒有提供熱茶和吃滿15盤一定會有扭蛋（我要隨機的啦！）下載藏壽司App，能在上面直接訂位。

Will need to come back to Columbus again to visit Columbus Museum of Art, The Book Loft of German Village, and North Market.

這次沒機會到Columbus Museum of Art、The Book Loft of German Village、和North Market，留著下次去。

December 29, 2023

Kid Free Chicago Getaway | 沒帶小孩的芝加哥行

December 29, 2023/ Brandy C.

Second time visiting Chicago, but the goal is not to hit up all of the touristy spots. To take full advantage of this kid-free vacation, our main objective is to sleep. Big thanks to my mom for taking care of the girls and letting us have this getaway. I love you mommy!

重遊芝加哥，踩點是其次，做自己想做的才是重點。沒帶小孩出遊，我們當然要睡飽飽，然後以龜速打理好自己才出門。在此，真心感謝我媽對我們這麼好，一打二在家顧小孩。我愛你媽咪！！！

Prime and Provision

http://primeandprovisions.com

$1 oysters during Happy Hour, on weekdays from 4-6. Other great bites are served as well!

週間4點到6點有生蠔一顆一塊錢的Happy Hour，還有其他小點選擇。

McDonald’s Global Menu Restaurant

http://mcdonalds.com

Can order McDonald’s items from other countries, such as the Japanese Ebi (shrimp) burger and Thai french fries! So cool!

在美國竟然能點到麥當勞在其他國家限定的食物，像是日本蝦漢堡還有泰國蕃薯薯條，超酷的啦！

Aji

http://ajiomakase.com

Sushi omakase is not something that we get to enjoy as often as we did before kids. It’s been so long since we’ve had sushi prepared for us at the counter by a sushi chef!

想說吃點小孩不宜的餐廳，決定來吃日式無菜單料理。大家坐上位後師傅就開始包壽司給大家吃，好久沒坐在壽司台前吃日本料理了。

Christkindlmarket

https://www.christkindlmarket.com/

One of the must visit Christmas market in the US!

被選為美國最有聖誕節氣息的市集之一！

September 10, 2023

Weekend in Bloomington, IN | 週末到印第安納布魯明頓

September 10, 2023/ Brandy C.

（中文翻譯請往下滑）

Over the weekend we went across the state line to Bloomington, Indiana - home of Indiana University. We didn’t realize it was move-in day that weekend, and ran into a lot of college students and their parents. One dad saw us with our babies and told us that it reminded him of when his twin daughters were that little, but now they are starting college.

Bloomington is about 3 hours drive from Cincinnati. Along the way are rows and rows of corn. We were worried about where to stop along the way if the girls acted fuzzy or needed a diaper change on the road trip, but thank God it was a smooth journey.

Accommodation

Hyatt Place Bloomington

We stayed one night here, very conveniently located in the center of town. Walkable to many restaurants and cafes. Cozy and in a very safe area.

Restaurants

Homey Hot Pot

Hot pot all you can eat is hard to find, especially in a town where the Asian population is small. Their soup base is a little bit on the saltier side, but has quite the selection of hot pot ingredients. Our babies love fish and mushrooms. A Google search showed that Bloomington actually has a higher percentage of Asian population than Cincinnati!

Soma Coffeehouse and Juice Bar

Walls are decorated with writings and drawings, very characteristic of a college town. Filled with students and very lively. As for the coffee, suitable for college students is all I can say.

Parlor Doughnuts

What?! I never knew this donut shop we frequented in California is actually from Indiana! How will I miss out on my favorite donuts?

Mother Bear’s Pizza Campus

Best pizza we’ve had recently. Our babies are fans too. We ordered two flavors, and I highly recommend Paulie Pine Nuts Pesto Pie. We love this green pesto sauce pizza.

Places to Visit

Eskenazi Museum of Art

The students of Indiana University are so lucky to have a legit art museum on campus! All kinds of arts are on display here, from Asian history, African art, modern art, and European art, they have quite the collection.

Fell in love with this beautiful college town on this Indiana trip. Not busy as a metropolitan city, and the leisurely student life makes me miss my college days!