New lunar year, new me
Yesterday was Flavor Boulevard’s 3rd birthday. Today is my nth birthday. Back in 2010, a good friend of mine used to give me a ride to San Jose at least once every other month, sometimes more, when I got cravings for Vietnamese food, and especially when the Lunar New Year approached. When Flavor Boulevard was about one year old, things got complicated. Long story short, I hadn’t been back to San Jose for two years. – Why? You couldn’t rent a car? – Well… you know the stereotype that Asian girls can’t drive? It’s true for this one. It’s embarrassing. People, even those who don’t like driving, feel much more relaxed when they drive me than when I drive them. I’m also used to driving in Houston, where signs are helpful and people are friendly. Driving in California scares me. I’ve been here for 4 years, driven here twice, and both times reaffirmed my scare. So Vietnamese food cravings are satiated with the places in Oakland, where I can reach by bus. I don’t remember what I did for the 2012 Tet (Vietnamese lunar new year), and there seems to be no record of it on Flavor Boulevard.
Then one day Mom decided: “Rent a car and go with Kristen to San Jose. It’ll be good for you to drive, and I wouldn’t worry as much as if you drive alone.” I asked Kristen, she agreed to join me (brave girl). I felt nervous and excited. I reserved a car. Step 1 complete.
I signed the paperwork and got the key. I turned on the engine. Yes! Step 2 complete.
I drove from Enterprise to Kristen‘s house. Minus the two times people honked at me and one strange male voice “where are you going baby?” that came from nowhere (there was no green light to turn left, I got confused and stopped at the intersection for god knows how long), I’d say it went smoothly. I parked across the street from her place. The phone call “I’m here” to her was the most accomplishing moment I felt last week. Step 3 complete.
There is a huge difference between driving alone and driving with another person. It’s more huge than the difference between I-880 from Oakland to San Jose and US-59 in Houston. We arrived at the Lion Supermarket. Step 4 complete.
We ate.
Cold-cuts bánh mì (silk sausage and pate).
Grilled pork bánh mì (also with pate).
A wider-than-my-hand ice cream bar with frozen banana, jackfruit, coconut shavings and peanuts that sent both of us back into the car to rest. (While resting, we sipped on sugar cane juice (with a salted kumquat) and tried to figure out the flavors of two frozen treats that tasted durian one minute, passion fruit the next, and jackfruit the next next. Those were weird.)
A giganmongous plate of bánh cuốn (steamed rice roll), where the rolls (quite a few of them too) were completely buried underneath a thousand other things: an eggroll, an infinite amount of chả lụa (silk sausage), fried shrimp sausage on sugar cane stick, bánh cống (fried mung bean bread), and a shrimp wafer. (We couldn’t finish this plate. A mere $10, not the best banh cuon I’ve ever had, but the leftover was enough for my dinner.)
We bought.
Bánh chưng for Tet.
Chewy sesame candy (mè xửng) and candied coconut strips, also for Tet.
Cha lua.
Pickled mustard greens.
Banana bread pudding.
Bánh xu xê.
Some fermented tofu cookies (I haven’t tried them yet, but Kristen said she likes them, so I think I’d like them too…)
Eleven green waffles at the Century Bakery, because when you buy 10 you get 1 free.
And other food things…
We drove back.
Minus one tiny tiny incident where stupid me forgot the key inside the car, locked us out, had to call Roadside Assistance and waited 30 minutes for the rescue, I’d say Step 5 was wildly successful.
I dropped Kristen off. Refilled the tank. Drove to Enterprise. Tried to park between a gargantuan 12-seat van (or maybe 17?) and a car. Got myself halfway into the spot and literally one inch away from the van before realizing that I could either stop or crash into the van. This was 7 pm, dark enough that the pedestrians who were pointing and laughing at my ridiculous situation couldn’t really see my face (I hope). Step 6 very far from complete. I called Kristen for rescue. She and her boyfriend rushed over. It was one of those moments when your friends seem to appear with a shining halo and white wings. I felt forever indebted to them.
When that car got into the spot (Kristen‘s boyfriend moved it like nothing at all), I sighed in relief, and strangely, my fear of driving in California also evaporated. The last barrier between me and food removed. I thought about the next trip to San Jose with ease. Now I can go there any time I want. Now I can have banh chung for Tet again. Now I can go everywhere.
Step 7 complete.
Step 8: learn how to park.
Happy Lunar New Year! Happy birthday to me. 🙂
Addresses:
Kim’s Sandwiches
1816 Tully Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
(408) 270-8903
CD Bakery
1816 Tully Road, Store #198, San Jose, CA 95122
(408) 238-1484
Thien Huong Banh Cuon Trang Hoi
1818 Tully Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
(408) 238-8485
Century Bakery (inside Grand Century Mall)
1111 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95122
(408) 287-9188
P.S. Check out Kristen’s post about our adventure on her blog, she described the food in details. 😉
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is actually irritating. A good website with exciting content, that is what I need. Thank you for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.
1구미오피를 검색하며 구미 지역 일반 마사지·스파를 알아보는 분들을 위한 안내입니다. 프로그램 선택, 관리 시간과 비용, 시설·위생, 주차, 예약 전 확인사항과 자주 묻는 질문을 정리했습니다.
2As I site possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling excellent , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
3Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the final section 🙂 I maintain such info a lot. I was seeking this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
4I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post…
5Some genuinely quality articles on this site, saved to my bookmarks.
6Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
7Whoa! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
8부산여성전용마사지 부산토닥이 드디어 부산 상륙 NO.1 부산 최대 규모 관리사들 항시 대기중 24시 연중무휴
9Just wanna state that this is invaluable, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
10Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
11Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your useful info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.
12Some genuinely prime articles on this website , saved to my bookmarks.
13I’m not sure exactly why but this site is loading incredibly slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later on and see if the problem still exists.
14There are some interesting points in time on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them middle to heart. There is some validity but I will take maintain opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish extra! Added to FeedBurner as well
15Whats up very cool blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m glad to find numerous helpful information here within the post, we want develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
16We absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content available for you? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write with regards to here. Again, awesome weblog!
17naturally like your web-site however you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.
18It is appropriate time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this publish and if I may just I desire to suggest you some attention-grabbing issues or advice. Maybe you could write subsequent articles regarding this article. I want to learn more things about it!
19I’m curious to find out what blog system you’re working with? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any recommendations?
20Thankyou for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting information.
21Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
22Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
23magnificent points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you suggest about your post that you made some days ago? Any positive?
24포항오피를 검색하며 포항 지역 일반 마사지·스파를 알아보는 분들을 위한 안내입니다. 프로그램 선택, 관리 시간과 비용, 시설·위생, 주차, 예약 전 확인사항과 자주 묻는 질문을 정리했습니다.
25I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am glad to express that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I so much undoubtedly will make sure to don’t put out of your mind this site and give it a glance regularly.
26Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
27경기도 구리출장마사지 셀럽의 코스와 가격, 자택·호텔 방문 상담, 선입금 없는 예약 및 현장 결제 기준을 확인하세요. 방문 가능 여부와 예상 도착 시간은 주소와
28I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and hold checking for brand new information.
29Keep functioning ,remarkable job!
30I really appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thanks again
31I truly enjoy reading on this website , it has got excellent articles.
32I also conceive therefore, perfectly written post! .
33Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I’d like to see more posts like this.
34Utterly composed subject material, regards for entropy. “He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.” by Michel de Montaigne.
35Today, I went to the beachfront with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
36주소콘은 자주 찾는 사이트의 최신주소와 변경된 주소를 카테고리별로 정리한 주소모음·링크모음 플랫폼입니다. 실시간으로 업데이트되는 바로가기 링크로 원하는 사이트에 빠르게 접속하세요.
37This actually answered my drawback, thanks!
38I am now not sure the place you are getting your info, however great topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for great information I used to be searching for this info for my mission.
39I have not checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
40Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I had written and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any helpful hints for newbie blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
41You really make it seem really easy with your presentation but I to find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking ahead on your subsequent post, I will attempt to get the cling of it!
42Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Many thanks
43I am often to blogging and i actually appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and keep checking for brand spanking new information.
44I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
45I will immediately snatch your rss as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me realize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
46I don’t commonly comment but I gotta state appreciate it for the post on this one :D.
47I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
48Hey there, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, excellent blog!
49Good write-up, I’m normal visitor of one’s website, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
50