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Cooking

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We are still stuck inside and with dine-in restaurants being closed for the foreseeable future in Oregon, now is the perfect time to pick up a cooking hobby! I am a total foodie, and while I prefer to have other people cook for me, I can also whip up a pretty tasty meal. Below are some of my favorite recipes for cooking, baking, drinking, or throwing yourself a mini dinner party! You could even have your friends cook the same meal and do a virtual dinner party via Zoom, Skype, or Google!!

Easy Meals

I’m a mom of a toddler, so easy is basically my go to these days. These recipes taste delicious, are quick, and don’t involve too much prep work!

  1. Salmon Bowls
  2. Super simple grilled salmon, tossed with healthy veggies with a Mediterranean flair. Easy and super healthy too!

Recipe

  1. Shrimp Tacos
  2. Grilled shrimp topped with simple fresh ingredients for a great punch.

Recipe

  1. Chicken and Dirty Rice
  2. Super flavorful one-pot meal with chicken thighs and andouille sausage.

Recipe

Slow Roasts

Sometimes you just need to let things simmer. I love my Dutch oven and firmly believe that everything just tastes better after it has cooked for 3 hours. These are my top slow-cooked choices!

  1. Pork Green Chile Verde
  2. Slightly spicy, super meaty, crazy tender pork, just the way a good green chili should be. Pro tip – shred up the pork after its cooked, it’s even more tender that way.

Recipe

  1. BBQ Pot Roast
  2. This pot roast came out so much better than I anticipated. It is amazing on its own or fantastic on sandwiches!

Recipe

  1. Braised Short Ribs
  2. Wolfgang Puck knows how to cook, so you can bet that this will be one of the best meals you have ever had.

Recipe

Dinner Party Ideas

It is almost my birthday, and because we are still social distancing, I plan to have a little dinner party for myself. Here are 3 multi-course meals that I have made before that turned out phenomenally! You could always practice some of these recipes and then have a celebration with friends when we can finally see each other again!

  1. Traditional NW Meal
  2. 4 course meal with pretty simple recipes to help ease you into hosting a full blown party (for yourself or your family)

  1. Mexican Inspired Meal
  2. 4 course meal with some of my favorite Mexican flavors. This is one that is simple to pull off but is sure to impress!
  1. Citrus and Seafood Meal
  2. This one is easily my favorite, but it does require some cooking skills to pull off the protiens. This can be done as the full 7 course meal, or you can take out one salad and one entree to make it 5 courses.

Baking

Maybe cooking isn’t really your thing and you would rather whip up something sweet? Here are some of my favorite things to make when I feel like spoiling myself.

  1. Lemon and Raspberry Macarons
  2. These aren’t exactly easy to make, but they are delicious and I have total faith in your baking skills.

Recipe

  1. Key Lime Cheesecake
  2. Key lime pie, and cheesecake are easily my 2 favorite desserts, so why not mash them up? Also DO NOT use regular lime juice, you will do this dessert a serious disservice.

Recipe

  1. Amaretto Apple Crisp
  2. This is so so so good, I think I have made it 6 times. Pro tip – add some Amaretti cookies to the crisp to really make the amaretto flavor shine!

Recipe

Cocktails

Lastly, if you really don’t actually want to spend a bunch of time cooking in the kitchen, we have you covered with some of our favorite drinks! If you don’t want to go and buy special things to make drinks, we also have you covered. THIS WEBSITE will send you recipes that match what you already have at home…it’s a game changer.

French 75

Literally what your dreams are made of.

  • 1.5 oz gin
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • 1 oz simple syrup
  • 1/4 C sparkling wine
  • Shake gin, lemon, and simple syrup over ice for 30 seconds, top with sparkling wine.

White Peach Sangria

It’s the perfect no fuss sunny day beverage.

  • 1 bottle pinot gris
  • 1/2 cup Peach Vodka
  • 1/2 cup Peach Schnapps
  • 1 cup soda water
  • 3 sliced peaches
  • 1 cup raspberries
  • combine all ingredients and serve over ice. If you want it to be more boozy, soak the fruit overnight in the peach vodka.

Perfect Margarita

Honestly, this one is hard to beat.

  • 2 oz white tequila
  • 1 oz cointreau
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 1/2 oz agave syrup
  • combine all ingredients and shake with ice. Strain and serve over fresh ice with a lime wedge.

Hopefully this will all keep you busy for at least a week while we put together another list of great things for you to do! If you missed the last couple weeks we did: Netflix Binges, Books to Read, and Running Playlists.

As always please stay safe and healthy and know that if there is anything we can do for you, we are definitely still here to help!

Books

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I love books. Whether I am curled up reading before bed, listening to an audiobook while working on a jigsaw puzzle, or reading books aloud with my partner, I adore exploring different perspectives and narratives through the written word. Here are my suggestions for the assorted activities above!

Books to read aloud with your partner

Watership Down

Yes, it’s about rabbits. But it’s also an amazing adventure story that has plenty of allegory and social commentary to sink your teeth into. Plus it’s really fun to come up with voices for all of the different characters and to decide who in your friend/family circles are most like each of the rabbits.

Into the Beautiful North

A young woman goes on a quest to bring the men back to her small town in Mexico after watching The Magnificent Seven. A fun and light feeling read that has some really important perspectives on issues of the US/Mexico border.

The Count of Monte Cristo

An epic tale of love, obsession, murder, and revenge. One that you will not be able to put down and will mourn once you have finished the last page.

Jim the Boy

A sweet and quaint coming-of-age Americana story about a boy growing up in North Carolina during the Great Depression. This and the sequel The Blue Star, somehow find a way to be heartfelt and poignant while avoiding going too far into kitschy, and while delving into issues of race, gender, and class.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

A timeless classic, the Hitchhiker’s Guide will keep you giggling (and stammering your way through pronunciations) together plus give you some quite handy advice. Don’t Panic!!!

Audiobooks

A Tale for the Time Being

A great story that bounces back and forth between a teenage girl in Japan and a novelist in Hawaii who finds the girls diary washed up after a tsunami. Read by the author, it examines the relationship between writer and reader, past and present, fact and fiction, quantum physics, history, and myth.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

A fun murder mystery that replays the death of a woman from the angle of everyone in the house. The premise is delightfully unique and will keep you guessing until the end.

The Cuckoo’s Calling

A totally addicting series of detective fiction by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Once I started the series, I couldn’t stop, and found myself looking for any excuse to continue. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!

Exit West

Magical realism about a couple and the journey of their relationship in a country that is devolving into a civil war. Read by the author, it has a feeling of timelessness and authenticity.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway

The first book I listened to of Ruth Ware’s, this one is an enjoyable suspense novel, about a woman who tries to pretend to be someone she’s not in order to collect on an inheritance. The narrator, Imogen Church, does a great job of making you feel the emotions of the protagonist.

Bedtime or Beach Reads

Bone Gap

A mystical mystery, a coming-of-age story, a tale that will transport you to the in-between. It’s fun, quirky, and also introspective. Has the same feeling of simultaneous reality and impossibility as your dreams.

Dark Matter

A fun and engrossing ‘sci-fi lite’ story that you will not be able to put down. The only problem with calling this a bed-time read is that it may keep you up turning those pages late into the night to find out what happens.

The Plotters

A delightful South Korean noir about a hitman who breaks the rules, and starts poking around in the underbelly of the underbelly of South Korea’s string-pullers and plotters.

My Sister, The Serial Killer

The title says it all except how darkly fun this story is. Korede wants to believe her sister when she says that she had to kill her boyfriend in self-defense, until it happens again. And again. And again.

The Serpent King

A sweet and sometimes heart-breaking tale of growing up in the Bible Belt. Three misfit friends quickly approaching graduation in their small Tennessee town try to navigate who they are, who they are becoming, and where they will go from here.

Did I miss any of the best books you have read or listened to lately? Post it in the comments so I can read it next!!

Best Netflix Binge

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We are going to switch things up for our Hot Spot of the week! Since we are all social-distancing and self-quarantining we are going to be bringing you different things each week to help keep you entertained. This week we are focusing on Netflix shows! A good Binge-a-thon can be a great way to take your mind off of things and help you relax. Here are our favorite shows that you can currently find on Netflix listed alphabetically.

If you are able to buy gift cards or do takeout to support your local businesses, please do, we really want to see them on the other side of this!

Netflix Originals

Altered Carbon

Set in a future where consciousness is digitized and stored, a prisoner returns to life in a new body and must solve a mind-bending murder to win his freedom.

Black Mirror

An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity’s greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.

Cheer

Follows the cheerleaders of Navarro College as they prepare for the biggest moment of their lives.

The Crown

Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and the events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century.

Glow

A look at the personal and professional lives of a group of women who perform for a wrestling organization in Los Angeles during the 1980s.

Love is Blind

Singles who want to be loved for who they are, rather than what they look like, have signed up for a less conventional approach to modern dating.

Ozark

A financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss.

Russian Doll

A cynical young woman in New York City keeps dying and returning to the party that’s being thrown in her honor on that same evening. She tries to find a way out of this strange time loop.

Stranger Things

When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief and his friends must confront terrifying supernatural forces in order to get him back.

Unbelievable

Based on the true story of Marie, a teenager who was charged with lying about having been raped, and the two female detectives who followed the path to the truth.

The Witcher

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

You

A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.

If you don’t want to stick to Netflix’s original series, here are some really great ones they have included in their library that originated elsewhere, they are all classics, so if you haven’t seen them yet, get started!

Breaking Bad

A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s future.

The Good Place

Four people and their otherworldly frienemy struggle in the afterlife to define what it means to be good.

Mad Men

New York’s most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm’s most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Outlander

An English combat nurse from 1945 is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743.

Peaky Blinders

A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England; centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby.

Schitt$ Creek

When rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose and his family suddenly find themselves broke, they are forced to leave their pampered lives to regroup in Schitt’s Creek.

Head over to NETFLIX to watch all of these shows. Did we leave your absolute favorite off of the list? Let us know in the comments so we can get it added. If there is anything else that we can offer during these difficult times, feel free to reach out!

Prix Fixe Menus

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Portland is a city for foodies. That is certainly no exception when it comes to fine dining. While our fine dining is served up a bit differently than you might find in New York or L.A., the food quality is just as high. In fact, we would argue that because you can show up in jeans and a t-shirt, our fine dining is even better. We have personally tried each of these restaurants, so if your favorite isn’t on the list, let us know in case we haven’t been yet! In no particular order here are our top 5 favorite prix fixe menus in the city!

Castagna

Chef Justin Woodward knows good food. He thoughtfully changes his menu with the seasons to make sure the flavors on your plate arrive at their peak freshness. His plating is also a work of art, with bright colors and thoughtful placements, he truly understands how to make the plate sing. This progressive restaurant is sure to leave you wowed.

Langbaan

Chef Earl Ninsom has created something so unique and loved here in Portland that you absolutely must try it. He turns classic Thai dishes into a stunning fine dining experience. With local and fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest mixed with traditional Thai flavors, prepare to be amazed by how he can make these ingredients shine.

Roe

Chef John Conlin provided us with the best seafood restaurant in Portland. He uses the freshest seafood you can find from all around the world and creates masterpieces using Japanese and French techniques. Tucked upstairs in a quiet mezzanine, this restaurant truly offers an unexpected experience.

  • 515 SW Broadway #100
  • Website and Sample Menu
  • $68 for the tasting menu or $138 for the chef’s menu.

Nodoguru

Chef Ryan Roadhouse brings us his take on the Japanese Omakase. He approaches each menu with creativity and innovation giving each month a different theme. He has an innate ability to make even the simplest of flavors elegantly elevated.

Farm Spirit

Chefs Aaron Adams and Scott Winegard don’t need to rely on animal products to amaze you. Their entirely plant-based menu is sure to wow, from the stunning platings to the variety of flavors and textures they employ. Prepare to have your mind changed about what vegan can be.

Did we miss your favorite prix fixe menu in Portland? Let us know in the comments so we can be sure to check it out!

Top 10 Reasons to Live in Portland

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It is no secret that we both love the city we live in. To celebrate 10 year anniversary’s for both of us, we made this great video of the top ten things we love most! Let us know your top reason for living in Portland and share the video!

Dont have time to check out the video or you just prefer to read about it? Read on below to see the top ten reasons to live here in list form!

#1: Music and arts
First Thursday in the Pearl, Portland Oregon, top ten

We have a ton of rad music venues all over town so you can check out the up-and-comers as well as the big names. Portland
is also home to First Thursday, where all of the art galleries downtown throw open their doors (and their wine cellars)
once a month to the public for free! Then there is Last Thursday in the Alberta Arts district where you can check out the
more affordable side of the arts scene, plus check out fire spinners and breakdancers to boot!

#2: The Craft Beer
Craft Beer and The Portland Oregon Sign, top ten

As of last count, there were 117 craft brewers in the Portland Metro Area!! That means, whether you are drinking
stouts, sours, or simply lagers, your tastebuds will be delighted. Also, SO MANY beer festivals!

#3: The Coffee
Coffee in Portland Oregon, top ten

Who roasts the best coffee in Portland is always a healthy debate, and we will happily keep on sampling and debating
here until the end of time. Coava, Heart, Stumptown? We could go on and on and on, and probably will with all of this
caffeine in our systems!

#4: The Outdoors
Mt. Hood, Portland Oregon, top ten

With Mt. Hood to the East and the Pacific Ocean to the West, The Colombia River Gorge to the North and Wine country
to the South, there is no shortage of amazing outdoor opportunities. To add to that, the city of Portland itself is
a great place for urban hiking. We have Mt. Tabor, Forest Park, Powell Butte and many more spots to hit the trails
within the city limits!

#5: Housing prices
Portland Bungalow

Ok, ok, it’s not as cheap as living in Ohio. But, it IS the most affordable metropolitan area on the West Coast,
where you can still find a fantastic place to live under $500k plus some pretty cool people to help you do it. We are also known for our super walkable neighborhoods,
so wherever you buy you can leave that car at home!

#6: The FOOD
Portland Dining, Oregon, top ten

Whether you want a dive bar burger or an upscale prix fixe menu, whether you are a level 5 vegan or a strict carnivore,
Portland has you COVERED. Perhaps it is because of the sheer number of James Beard award winners we have, but Portland is definitely a food destination. Did we mention there are amazing food carts EVERYWHERE??

#7: The Wine
Willamette Valley Wines, Oregon

Oregon is home to over 700 wineries with more than 1000 vineyards that grow 72 different grape varieties! You can tast wines
all over the state, from the Gorge to the Willamette Vally and beyond. Particularly if you are a fan of Pinots, your tastebuds
will be happy here!

#8: Festivals
Portland Rose Parade and Festival, top ten

There are music fests, film fests, and over 25 different beer fests throughout the year! We host board game
conventions, trivia nights, a rose parade, and cultural celebrations. In Portland, you will NEVER be bored!

#9: Public Transportation
Aerial Tram in Portland Oregon

We have great public transpotration (including a super cool aerial tram!) and we’ve been named the most
bike friendly city in the US! We just got electric scooters, and we have hands-down the best airport in the world!
Seriously. It even has a free mini-cinema!

#10: Environmentally friendly
Reusable bags, Portland Oregon

Here in Portland, we love being green! Whether that means leaving no trace while backpacking the Oregon wilderness, rocking
those re-usable bags, or our excellent city-supported composting, we are an environmentally friendly bunch of folks. We’re
actually just really friendly in general as well!

Bonus!! We Keep it Weird
Corner Chicken Musician, Portland Oregon

Home of the ‘World Naked Bike Ride’, the UniPiper, the Belmont Goats, Portland’s Adult Soapbox derby, The Big Float etc. We
have a person who plays the violin on street corners dressed up in a chicken suit! Existing out of the box is not only
accepted, but encouraged in Portland, so be your quirky self!

Do we have the same top ten reasons as you do? Let us know in the comments!

Want to check out some of the places that we love around town? Head Here to view our hot spots!

Want to see some of our ‘best of’ lists? Head Here to check them out!

If there is anything else that we can do for you, don’t hesitate to reach out and be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter!!

Valentine's Day 2020

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Valentine’s Day 2020 is fast approaching and there are so many amazing things to do to celebrate with your loved ones! You can always go the route of a special dinner out or you could perhaps take your sweetheart dancing. You could go for a walk in one of Portland’s amazing parks or you could sip a delicious cocktail in a sultry speakeasy. Check out the list below for some fun ideas to make your day or evening special!

Where to Dine

Ava Gene’s – Italian eatery serving cocktails & upscale fare, including family-style options, in a chic space.  3377 SE Division St

Blue Hour – Upscale eatery with 16-ft.-long drapes & an outdoor patio serving Mediterranean-New American dishes. 250 NW 13th Ave

Canard – Dishes take their inspiration from all over the world at this stylish venue mixing fresh cocktails. 734 E Burnside St

Davenport – A regularly changing eclectic American menu served against a warm, industrial-hip backdrop. 2215 E Burnside St

Jacqueline – Seasonal, seafood-centric New American fare is offered in an intimate setting with quirky artwork. 2039 SE Clinton St

Urdaneta – Comfortable, chic choice for creative Spanish small plates paired with craft cocktails & wine. 3033 NE Alberta St

Where to Sip

5 and Dime – Playful cocktail menu, draft wines, and yummy bar bites in a Portland-chic neighborhood space. 6535 SE Foster Rd

Box Social – Casually elegant, candlelit bar featuring creative cocktails, nibbles & light bites. 3971 N Williams Ave

Circa 33 – Prohibition-themed cocktail bar with a patio & secret back bar hidden behind a swinging bookshelf. 3348 SE Belmont St

Fireside – Striking gastropub with dual fireplaces serving New American fare, wine & cocktails. 801 NW 23rd Ave

Kask – Cool craft cocktail bar with rustic accents featuring clever, hearty small plates & a nightly punch. 1215 SW Alder St

Wonderly – Classic and creative craft cocktails in a chic, colorful space, featuring a focused but delicious bar menu. 4727 NE Fremont St

Where to be Different

Take your sweetie for a soak at one of Portland’s many soaking pools. Kennedy School, Common Ground, or Knot Springs are all good options.

Challenge your cutie to a puzzle-solving extravaganza at a fun escape room. Both Escapism Portland and Escape Games PDX are top-notch for a brain-bending good time.

Take a hike with your honey within the city limits. Forest Park, Mt. Tabor, or Tryon Creek are all beautiful spots to take in nature and each other’s unique beauty.

Dance the night away with your darling at one of the great dance parties around town. The Goodfoot, Holocene, and Dig-a-Pony all have delightful get-downs going on this weekend.

Does your baby like beer? Take them to Zwicklemania on Saturday for free tastings and brewery tours all over the city!

Where do you plan on celebrating this Valentine’s Day 2020? Let us know in the comments!

February Events

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February 2020 is here and we are excited about so many events all over Portland! Whether you are looking for a fun day with the family or a great new festival to check out, we have you covered below!

Dragons Love Tacos

Saturday February 1st-February 16th

Oregon Children’s Theatre presents a fun and dance-filled tale of a boy, his dog, and a quartet of hungry dragons. Based on the book by Adam Rubin, this show is sure to delight.

1111 SW Broadway, Sat shows at 2 pm and 5 pm, Sundays 11 am and 2pm, $15-$37.

More Info

Portland Winter Light Festival

Portland winter light festival
February 6th-8th

The Winter Light Festival is celebrating it’s 5th year and is an amazing event to attend with the whole family. There are many light installations, performers, pop-up events, and things to do. Check out the website below for all the details!

SW and SE Portland, Free

Website

Zwicklemania

zwicklemania, Portland
Saturday February 15th

More than 100 breweries across the state open their doors for tours, tastings, meet-the-brewer sessions, and of course, free samples. This free event runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.  Check out the website below for all the details about breweries that are participating and to plan your route!

Multiple locations throughout Portland, prices vary

Website

Omsi After Dark: PrOMSI

Saturday, February 15th

Tease your hair to the heavens, take an awkward photo with your date and hit the pre-spiked punch. Shoot off water rockets, concoct chemical creations, and explore the wonders of OMSI with no kids in sight! Enjoy a glass of wine while learning about robots, tornados, or fossils. Talk to a brewer about the science behind beer, or sample products from local artisans.

1945 SE Water Ave, $16

Tickets and Info

Circa 33 9th Annual Prohibition Party

Saturday, February 22nd

Dress up for a swanky night on the town with your best pearls, boas, and beaded flapper dresses- or wear your best suit, suspenders and fedora as a tribute to the mafia and muscle of the bootlegger era. Enjoy themed craft cocktails and food, available for one night only, as a tribute to the most popular 1930s libations and treats.

3348 SE Belmont St, $20

Tickets here

Portland Sinful Walking Tour: Shanghaiers, saloons, skullduggery 

Portland Walking Tour
Saturday, February 29th

It’s the monthly Portland Walking Tour! Learn about all the Sinful past of P-Town, or as we call it – Portland’s naughty bits!! Enjoy walking around Old Town, hearing about the history stuff, and help us celebrate the Leap Year! 

118 NW Couch, $18

Tickets and Info

Brewstillery Festival

Portland Brewstillery Festival
Saturday, February 29th

What better way to stay warm this winter than Breweries and Distilleries teaming up to create the perfect pairings. Each pairing will consist of a 4oz beer pour and a 1/4 oz spirit taste. Only like beer? Then just drink beer. You can pick and choose, although we strongly recommend going for the pairing. 

Stormbeaker Brewing, 832 N Beech st, $25

Tickets and Info

Which of these February events are you most excited for? Did we miss an awesome February event in Portland that you want to tell us about? Let us know in the comments!

Want to make sure you don’t miss our monthly events list? Subscribe below and we will email it to you each month!

Tea House at The Chinese Garden

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The Chinese Garden is one of the true treasures of downtown Portland. The rest of Chinatown is known more for its nightclubs, but this oasis is something you should add to your “must visit” list.

There are events most days, ranging from Tai Chi in the courtyard to artist meetings and craft events. Check out the calendar over on their website to find something fun to coincide with your visit here.

Lan Su was built by Chinese artisans from Suzhou, our sister city in China. It is considered one the most authentic Chinese gardens outside of China. After you finish walking through all of the pavilions, head over to the tea house for some superb Chinese tea.

There are many types of teas to choose from but I highly recommend doing the full tea ceremony. The ceremony allows you to choose a style of tea and observe the leaves and aroma more fully. You are also able to take in the unfolding of the aroma as you continue to add infusions of water to the leaves.

In addition, there are many lovely snacks to nibble on while you are tasting the teas. They stick to authentic Chinese fare so the snacks really complement the tea quite well. Whether you want something sweet, savory, or a small meal, the tea room has you covered.

We tried the steamed buns which were filled with sautéed seasonal vegetables. The buns were perfectly doughy and they weren’t overfilled. We also had the seasonal vegetable dumplings. They were steamed and topped with a light black bean sauce. Overall we were really happy with the food and can’t wait to visit again.

Have you been to check out the Chinese garden or the tea house yet? Let us know what you thought in the comments!