Reviews #5
This week, I’ve done all my classic activities. I watched new shows, started a new book, cooked, tried a new restaurant, and listened to an episode of my all-time favorite podcast. I also threw in a little tip for all my vision-impaired friends.
The ZARA jeans of the SZN were finally worn out!
I, obviously, already binge-watched “Emily in Paris” last week. I won’t discuss the show too much because I think everyone has already watched it. If you haven’t yet, please watch Emily in Paris. I loved so many things about this show. The plotline, the characters, the romance, the lighthearted humor...it was perfecto. I didn’t realize how much I needed to watch something that tapped into my nostalgia and completely transported me to a place I love so much. The show is not an accurate representation of life in Paris, but who cares. Sometimes you just need to fantasize about a different, better time (anything pre-COVID lol).
Sebastian got me HOOKED on “The Boys” last Thursday, and I already finished the first season. The second season just came out, so I figured it was the perfect time to start. I didn’t realize how much I would like it. If you’re into superheroes, violence, dark humor, and/or sci-fi, you will love this show. The show takes place in dystopian New York City, where superheroes are not as great as we think they are; they’re just people with excessive power. The “supes” are represented by Vought, a large multi-media corporation that designs and dictates their heroes’ lives. Behind the scenes, there’s a group of guys trying to take the corporation and its heroes down, but they have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. The show moves VERY fast, which is one of the reasons I liked it so much. Each season has eight episodes that are about an hour-long each. I would put this show at the top of my “Great Quarantine Shows”. You can stream it on Amazon Prime Video!
Even though I have season 2 of “The Boys” to watch, I’m going to make an effort to read the sequel of my favorite summer book, Majesty, by Katharine McGee. I was on the waitlist for this e-book for eight weeks, and I FINALLY got my hands on it. Of course, I’m already a couple of chapters in. So far, it has not been as exciting as the first book. I think half the charm of the series came from the fact that I’d never read anything like it. An American monarchy? That’s f*cking original! I’m skeptical of how many more plot twists this storyline can make. I’ll keep you posted on how the book unfolds.
If you’re struggling to pick a “How I Built This” episode to listen to because there are so many to choose from, listen to the one with Payal Kadakia, co-founder of ClassPass. It’s a pretty light listen compared to the other episodes. Payal discusses how ClassPass was born, how the name was picked, the many iterations the app had to go through, and how they’re coping with COVID. I do wish the episode had gone into more detail about ClassPass’s financial model and business operations. As an OG ClassPass user, it was still fun to reminisce on how the app used to work and understand why it has had so many changes. I thought I would never use ClassPass again after COVID, but I am seeing a future where I will go back to doing in-person classes.
Random pro tip I wanted to include in here: if you wear contacts, order them online from Walgreens. They have the best prices for contact lenses I’ve seen so far because they always offer promotions. Use the code BTS3 for 25% off. I just got a 90 day supply (1 box) for $54. You don’t even have to have a copy of your prescription. They’ll call your doctor’s office for you and figure it all out. It’s truly fabulous.
If you’re looking to try some new food tings, try my homemade ramen recipe below! Or go to Gitano’s in SoHo.
Homemade ramen recipe
Lotus Life ramen noodles
Vegetable broth
Coconut milk (optional)
Onions
Tofu (any other main would work, make sure to cook it beforehand)
Soy sauce
Any variation of these vegetables (carrots, mushrooms, squash, spinach, etc.)
Fill a medium-large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. While water comes to a boil, cut your vegetables into bite-sized pieced and sautee them in a separate pan. Once the water boils, add noodles and follow instructions on the package. Set aside veggies when done and sautee your protein of choice. Drain the noodles when done and save some of the noodle water. In the same medium/large pot, combine the leftover noodle water, veggie broth, a bit of soy sauce, and a bit of coconut milk. Bring back to a hot temperature and add in the sauteed vegetables and protein when warm. Lastly, add in noodles and season with garlic powder. Pour into a bowl and enjoy!
Gitano’s… what a cool spot. Located in the middle of SoHo in an open lot, this restaurant tricks you into thinking you’re in Mexico with its tropical decorations, sandy floors, and canopies. Sebastian and I went on Sunday night and had a lovely time. We sat in the lounge area, where the music was thumping, and the vibes were vibing. It is VERY dark in the lounge area, and the tables are small, so keep that in mind if you’re going for dinner. We realized a bit later that most people in the lounge area just had drinks and snacks. We ordered a drink each, the corn truffle tostada, the skirt steak, and the branzino wrapped in banana leaf. For dessert, we ordered the churros. The food was delicious but so expensive. Everything on the menu, including the appetizers and drinks, is over $20. Just beware before you go! They don’t have a menu online that shows prices.
I hope you liked this week’s post! Let me know if you want me to review anything else.