RM — Right Place, Wrong Person 2nd Solo Album Release and Promotion Schedule

(Image source: BTS Weverse)
(Image source: Official BigHit Music Twitter)

"The album falls within the alternative genre, boasting a rich sound coupled with frank, honest lyrics."

I cannot wait to hear a more experimental RM. Both Mono and Indigo were masterpieces, and I just know RPWP is going to be incredible. Already pre-ordered the album set and am waiting with bated breath for May 24 (and the whopping FIVE music videos we're gonna be getting!!!).

Dining Out: Super Smash Double Burger and Super Fries at Super Smash Burgs

My friend Ronsee suggested having burgers for our dinner meet-up this evening, so I decided to take the opportunity to finally try out Super Smash Burgs:

Super Smash Double
Super Fries

I decided on the Super Smash burger (which is the Classic Smash but with the addition of lettuce and tomato) with double patties because I was ragingly hungry and it was a most excellent choice. The beef patties were juicy and flavourful with just the right amount of seared crisp on the edges. You can't go wrong with this one if you like smash burgers in general. (And it might be the closest I can get to a Shake Shack burger here.) Ronsee got the Oklahoma Smash and said it was decent but was disappointed with the lack of onion flavour in the patty. We did share the Super Fries, though, which we both thought were incredible. (It did seem to make up for his disappointment in his burger.) Pretty pricey at $14, which is more expensive than either of our burgers, but the portion is huge and it's LOADED (with chopped beef, American cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeños, Smash sauce, and honey BBQ sauce). Will definitely visit again when the smash burger craving hits. 

Super Smash Burgs

76 Main St. Markham N.

Markham, ON L3P 1X5

(289) 554-2874

Eating at Home: A Housewarming Potluck

My co-worker friends Daniel and Minji invited me and several of our other co-workers to their new house for a little housewarming potluck:

Garlic bread
Potato salad
Chicken wings
Beef bulgogi (served with rice)

There were also some tasty jalapeño chicken sliders that I didn't photograph for some reason (even though I ate three of them) and bubble tea from Chatime for everyone as well. As I hate cooking, my contribution to this dinner was an assortment of cake slices from Butter Baker:

Pink Velvet: Vanilla chiffon cake with soft cream cheese crème and house made raspberry jam
Blueberry & Yogurt: Vanilla chiffon cake with blueberry and black currant Chantilly cream, Greek yogurt cream, and house made blueberry jam
Matchamisu: Uji matcha chiffon cake with mascarpone vanilla crème and chocolate Chantilly cream
The Earl Grey: Vanilla chiffon cake with Earl Grey Chantilly cream, Earl Grey syrup, and house made raspberry jam

After a house tour and a lot of intermittent playtime with their four cats, the night ended with six intense rounds of Scattergories (one must challenge things like whether Willy Wonka constitutes as a "thing" for "a thing you don't want in your house" or if a ferris wheel is a vehicle). Suffice it to say, the party was a success (and their house is lovely!).

Dining Out: Grilled Calamari, Fritto Misto, Penne Ricce with Beef Tenderloin, and Tiramisu at Luna Ristorante

I haven't seen my friend Chelsea and her family in ages so they invited me out for dinner at Luna Ristorante, where we had the most incredible Italian meal:

Grilled calamari with arugula, cherry tomatoes, and lemon vinaigrette
Fritto misto with lemon and aioli
Pasta special: Penne ricce with beef tenderloin, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes in a peppercorn cream sauce
Tiramisu

Okay, every dish was truly delicious this evening, but the pasta special was SPECTACULAR. It is one of the most unique pasta dishes I've ever had, and each component worked so perfectly together that I genuinely wonder why they haven't added it to their permanent menu. It's richer than a tomato sauce-based pasta, but somehow lighter than a typical cream pasta — I could easily have eaten two portions of this. To my tastebuds, this pasta was flawless. 

Luna is Il Postino's sister restaurant, so it's no wonder why their food is so goddamn delicious (and their menus are very similar as well), but one huge difference I found here is the service. Il Postino is friendly and professional, but at Luna, the servers (including the owners themselves) treat you like family. They go above and beyond to make sure your experience is simultaneously comfortable and impeccable. I cannot rave about this place enough. It's quite far from home (about 30 minutes by highway) but TOTALLY WORTH THE DRIVE.

Luna Ristorante

Nature's Emporium Plaza

16655 Yonge St., Unit 9-10

Newmarket, ON L3X 1V6

(905) 710-7833

Dining Out: Galbi Q Fried Chicken Combo, Crispy Shrimp Menbosha, and Rose Tteokbokki at bb.q Chicken

What's the perfect meal to eat after watching the Agust D Tour movie? Korean fried chicken, of course.

Galbi Q fried chicken combo
Crispy shrimp menbosha
Rose tteokbokki

I don't know if it's because I haven't had fried chicken in over half a year or because I just haven't had Korean food in months, but this meal was, like, extra satisfying? The shrimp menbosha is still revolutionary, of course, and the rose tteokbokki is reliably delicious, but as someone who usually prefers non-sauced fried chicken, I thought the Galbi Q flavour fried chicken was incredible. It's sweet like honey garlic, but it has a deeper, smokier, more savoury flavour. Would absolutely order again. (Oh, and best tip: Dip the fries into the rose sauce from the tteokbokki. It's SO FREAKING GOOD.) Bb.q Chicken, you remain my favourite Korean fried chicken restaurant. "Best of the best quality," indeed. 

bb.q Chicken

8110 Birchmount Rd., Unit 1 and 2

Markham, ON L6G 0E3

(905) 305-8110

Dining Out: Dad's Birthday Dinner at Maxim Restaurant

My mom and I took my dad out for an early birthday dinner at Maxim, our other go-to restaurant for special occasions (the other one being Congee Queen):

House salad with deep-fried shrimp
Cream of carrot soup
Prime rib with roasted potatoes and vegetables
Strawberry meringue cake

Their prime rib ain't beating The Keg anytime soon, but where else are you going to find a four-course meal (plus tea or coffee) of this quality for $46 in this economic climate? (The answer: You're not. Frankly, I don't even know how they're making profit.)

Maxim Restaurant

Village Gate Plaza

9665 Bayview Ave.

Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9V4

(905) 883-1465

Unboxing: Japan 2024 Travel Haul

You know what's great about Japan (aside from the food and high-tech toilets)? Duty free shopping for tourists! 

Sholayered Light Green 1945 Eau de Toilette
Shiro Fragrance Earl Grey Hand Serum and Eau de Parfum
House of Rose Aroma Rucette Body Wash & Bubble Bath in Pink & White Grapefruit and Mandarin & Bitter Orange
House of Rose Sakura Fufufu Milky Body Cream
House of Rose Doux Surge Moisture Body Milk and Moisture Body Cream
Isehan Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara x 2, DeJavu Lash Knockout Extra Volume Mascara, DeJavu Fiber Wig Ultra Long Mascara, and Rohto C3 Cool Eye Drops x 3
Sunstar Ora2 Stain Clear Toothpaste in Peach Leaf Mint x 3 and Fresh Kiwi Mint x 3
Asahi Mintia Breeze Sugarless Candy in Fresh Peach x 5 and Fresh Grape x 5
Souvenirs: Cosmetics pouch, hair brush, coin purse, and glasses case
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Tokyo
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Osaka
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Mug — Japan (Spring Edition)
Starbucks Been There Series: Across the Globe Collection Tote Bag — Japan (Spring Edition)
Uniqlo "Asakusa" and "Daruma Dolls" by Bog Craft UT Graphic T-Shirts
Uniqlo "Asakusa Icons" and "Kaitenzushi" UT Graphic T-Shirts

Not included in this post are the plethora of random skin ointments and lip balms I got at pharmacies and the atrocious amount of jeggings and sweatshirts I got at Uniqlo (which are HALF THE PRICE than they are here!!!!!).

Sholayered

Shibuya Scramble Square, 5/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-4221-4280

Shiro

Shibuya Scramble Square, 6/F

2 Chome-24-12

Shibuya, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0002 

+81-03-6803-8246

House of Rose

Tokyu Plaza Shibuya, 3/F

1 Chome−2−3

Dogenzaka, Shibuya City

Tokyo, Japan 〒150-0043

+81-03-6427-0709

Uniqlo Asakusa

Tokyo Rakutenchi Asakusa Building, 1-2/F

2 Chome−6−7

Asakusa, Taito City

Tokyo, Japan 〒111-0032

+81-50-3355-7798

Unboxing: Hong Kong 2024 Travel Haul

I finally got around to opening all the stuff I bought in Asia. And I think I exercised quite a bit of self-control in Hong Kong.

Innisfree x Steven Harrington: The Isle Adventure Collagen Green Tea Ceramide Bounce Cream Set and Vitamin C Green Tea Enzyme Brightening Serum Set
Innisfree x Steven Harrington: The Isle Adventure Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum Set x 2
Innisfree Green Tea Amino Hydrating Cleansing Foam, Green Tea Hyaluronic Skin Toner, and Black Tea Youth Enhancing Ampoule
Innisfree Hyaluron Moist Sunscreen SPF50+ x 2 and Perfect 9 Intensive Eye Cream
Casetify x Sanrio: My Melody "Fruit Sando" and Hello Kitty "Marketplace" iPhone 15 Pro Max MagSafe Clear Phone Cases
Casetify x Sanrio: My Melody "Fruit Sando" and Hello Kitty "Marketplace" iPhone 15 Pro Max MagSafe Clear Phone Cases
Sttoke Hong Kong x Mickco Limited Edition 12oz. Ceramic Cup in Pink
Topologie A-Frame Bag Small in Black
Topologie 10mm Rope Strap in Neon Yellow and Utility Sling Wide Strap in Black
Uniqlo Hong Kong UT "Dim Sum" Graphic T-Shirt
Uniqlo Hong Kong UT "Bubble Waffle Blanket" Graphic T-Shirt
Uniqlo Hong Kong UT "Bubble Waffle Cat" Graphic T-Shirt

I actually somewhat regret not buying more stuff now because there's no sales tax over there...

Innisfree

52 Yun Ping Rd., Shop A

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

(852) 3428-5640

Casetify Studio

K11 Musea, B1/F, Shop B122

18 Salisbury Rd.

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Sttoke 

K11 Art Ball, 2/F, Kiosk 41

18 Hanoi Rd.

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Topologie 

K11 Art Ball, G/F, Unit G05A

18 Hanoi Rd.

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

(852) 3709-7027

Uniqlo

Harbour City, 3/F, Unit 3231-2

3 - 27 Canton Rd.

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

(852) 2175-0810