2020 is coming to an end…What feels like the longest, but also quickest year yet? It’s been a crazy, crazy year. I have so much to be thankful and grateful for, which includes being able to share my passion of food with all of you! So, let’s get into it!
January
Waffle House
I was luck enough to finally check out Waffle House during my trip to Massanutten, read about that trip here!
Fun fact, growing up I never really was a breakfast gal, but more recently I’ve come to really love and enjoy it. Driving up to Massanutten, we passed by Waffle House and I literally shrieked because I had never been to one before. It truly did not disappoint! Honestly, the best waffles I’ve ever had in my life and I will stand by that.
Vegan Breakfast Plate
This year I discovered Just Egg and y’all. If you’ve never had egg replacement before, this is hands down the best egg replacement ever. The flavor is really buttery like eggs and the texture is amazing. I was skeptical at first because it comes as a liquid, but it really comes together like scrambled eggs. I paired with a Morning Star breakfast patty (which I’ll admit is not my fave) and some roasted potatoes with green beans.
February
Poyoteca
Check out my original blog post here!
I had never really had Peruvian to be honest and I had never been to Chicken Rico before which is what their previous name was. However, I was lucky enough to check them out with Yelp Baltimore this year and it easily has become one of my favorite spots. The best yucca fries I’ve ever had in my life, I went back and bought two orders of just that alone. Seriously so good. The chicken paired with their yellow sauce? FIRE. The Brussels were amazing too. Honestly, everything on the menu looked so good. Highly recommend y’all check them out if you ever get the chance to!
No Bull Burger
Check them out here!
This year, I was thankfully blessed with a few partnerships! Starting off with No Bull Burger’s! I have a hard time with plant based options because sometimes they’re just not that good tbh. But No Bull truly is fantastic. Their patties are so flavorful and honestly taste pretttttty similar to meat! The mushroom ones were my absolute favorite!
March
Akira Ramen
Check out my original blog post here!
Prior to the pandemic, I was lucky enough to check out Akira Ramen’s newest location in Columbia for their preview party with Yelp Baltimore and DMV Foodie Crew! Y’all, if you’ve been around long enough then you know I’m extremely picky about my ramen. It’s got to have the right chew factor, that umami taste, and all around good toppings. Akira does not disappoint. I’ve been back a few times after and each time is as good as the first. I had never had soba noodles before and these are so refreshing (beware they have a lil wasabi in the bottom). I also love their shrimp tempura ramen!
Homemade Banana Bread
And now we’re full swing into the pandemic and thus, Tik Tok. Yes, I was sucked into the train of Tik Tok and thus I made banana bread. If y’all aren’t hip, there was a phase of the pandemic when everyone and I mean everyone, was making banana bread. I honestly am not even a huge banana bread gal, but I hopped on that trend. It was so good though and incredibly moist.
April
Homemade Vegan Grilled Cheese
Now we’re really into the pandemic and staying at home 24/7. I started using our bread machine and making bread at home (mostly because we bought a 12 lb bag of flour at Costco and what else was I gonna do). I made a vegan grilled cheese and y’all. Freaking. Fire. My favorite vegan cheese is the Field Roast Chao slices (check out my vegan cheese post here) and with Earth Balance vegan butter? *Chefs kiss*.
Goong Ob Woon Sen
And now we’re really cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I learned how to make goong ob woon sen or ginger garlic prawns with glass noodles! Check out my Youtube video here for instructions.
I love being Thai and I love learning how to cook Thai food from Papamunches. So, the pandemic wasn’t all bad for me, I got to spend time in the kitchen with my favorite person while adding recipes to my recipe trove. This dish was a total hit and I’ve been making it any occasion I can. It’s also incredibly simple!
May
Quinn’s Ice
Read about my quarantine date here where we get Quinn’s Ice!
I discovered Quinn’s Ice last 2 years ago at a food truck festival (which I’m desperately missing). Some girls are rave baes, but I think I’m a food truck kinda gal (yes, I totally just invented that). I was first drawn to Quinn’s Ice because of their dairy free options! Now we’re actually pretty good friends and it just goes to show how amazing this opportunity is.
I always get their milkshakes because I can hardly find dairy free milkshakes and they always have the best and most unique flavors! However, I was really craving ice cream, so I got a cookie dough cup! Y’all. Truly everything on their menu is phenomenal. If you ever get the chance to check them out, highly recommend!
Jjapaguri/Ramdon
I know you’ve seen Parasite (I’m eyeing you in case you didn’t feel me starring at you through the screen. JK.). But forreal, Parasite was an amazing movie. I know subtitles can be a drag, but don’t let that stop you from watching this amazing work of art. Well, if you know then you know. Jjapaguri or ramdon is the signature meal from this movie and well, I had to hop on the trend obviously. This was so good, beyond my wildest thoughts. It’s truly so simple too. Just google it and you will find the recipe!
June
Pokefresh
Check out my Yelp review here!
If you’ve been around for a while then you know I used to eat poke bowl’s on a regular basis in college. After moving home, I was so distraught because there was no poke places in sight in my hometown. Thankfully, a few towns over, a new one had just opened! This was not the first time I tried it, but clearly so good that I went back. It truly is so fresh and the workers are so friendly and helpful. I always build my own bowl and I’m pretty predictable and get the same stuff everywhere.
Salmon bowl with 1/2 rice, 1/2 salad topped with corn, cucumber, edamame, seaweed salad, crab salad, masago, wonton strips, and furikake. Phew, I think that’s it! Oh! Can’t forget the spicy mayo sauce!
Taqueria Los Primos
This meal is incredibly nostalgic to me because it was the last one I shared with one of my best friends before she moved to Scotland. She means a lot to me and has actually opened me to a lot of new foods that I have never tried before. For example, she was the one to introduce me to Indian food and now authentic tacos! We stopped by Taqueria Los Primos which is a small truck on the side of the road. Don’t be fooled though, the food is amazing. They’re also incredibly nice as my Spanish is nonexistent, however, she was able to order in Spanish and they were so kind!
My favorite tacos were the al pastor!
July
BurgerFi
Check out my Yelp review here!
I am so grateful that BurgerFi reached out to me and I was able to check them out for their grand opening! Y’all. Again. If you’ve been around, then you know burgers are my comfort meals. These are hands down, the best burgers I’ve had in forever. Their “CEO” burger has wagyu beef and it’s freaking phenomenal. Worth every penny if you can try it. Not to mention, their customer service is impeccable. We ordered the “cry+fry” which is 1/2 fries 1/2 onion rings. One of the managers stopped by to see how we were doing and when my boyfriend said he wished the onion rings were crispier, we were brought a fresh crispier onion ring. It was SO good. Highly recommend y’all ask for them to be extra crispy. You won’t regret it.
Breakfast Hash
Definitely one of my favorite meals I’ve made in 2020 is this breakfast hash (its almost vegan by the way). It has 3 hash browns chopped up, 1 veggie patty from MorningStar, bell pepper, onion, 2 eggs (sub egg replacement to make it vegan, I recommend JustEgg), and FollowYourHeart mozzarella. This combo is immaculate and the ultimate breakfast meal. So simple, so quick, but of course, so delicious.
August
Brunch Spread
It was one of my friends birthdays so we did a small (by small I mean literally 2 other people and myself who had quarantined the entire time) brunch together. We each were in charge of making a few dishes to bring. The birthday girl made omelette bake, I brought MorningStar bacon, French toast bake, and roasted potatoes, and the host made a whole brunch charcuterie board!
Here is the recipe I used:
French toast bake – check it out here!
Homemade Vegan Nachos
Check out my Instagram post here for instructions!
Another delicious thing I made during quarantine was my vegan nachos! I used Sprouts tortilla chips, MorninStar veggie grillers, refried beans, Trader Joes chipotle seasoning, Trader Joes dairy free mozzarella shreds (amazing), corn, jalapeños, tomatoes, and Trader Joe’s chili onion crunch (game changer). Y’all gotta try this, it’s super simple. Throw it all together and you have a delicious snack or meal (no judgement here).
September
K Pot
Check out my original blog post here and check out my Yelp review here!
I’ve been to K Pot twice now and it just gets better every time. This is definitely a place I recommend you go with friends so you can eat more, try more items, etc. We decided to go here for my boyfriends birthday with a few friends (safely). I love this place because you can eat Korean BBQ and hot pot! I mean just look at all of the options and there’s so much meat too. It’s really just an amazing experience that you have to try for yourself. They were also taking amazing precautions such as taking temperature, socially distanced tables, and having staff make sauce for you, etc.
Asian Charceuterie Board
I know there are mixed feelings about the new Mulan movie, but honestly, I truly enjoyed it and would watch it again. I made an Asian inspired charcuterie board filled with all of my favorite things. Sushi from my favorite sushi spot: Sake Japanese. Then shrimp tempura and shumai from Trader Joes. Gyoza from my freezer and homemade spring rolls. This was so fun to put together and my family really enjoyed it.
October
Region Ale
I had driven by this place so many times and always said I would check it out, but never did. Finally got the chance to with a friend and eat outside. I ordered their Italian Hero which was really tasty. They sell a bunch of sandwiches which all looked so good! They even make homemade chips.
French Toast with Gluten Free Toast
I’ve noticed gluten and dairy really bloat me, so during my diet I did I ate primarily gluten free which included gluten free bread! I specifically used the one from Trader Joes and to my surprise, it’s so good. Does not taste like cardboard (like I expected) and might I say, even better than regular bread. This French toast recipe is from FitOn app and it’s so tasty!
November
Umi Sushi
I ended last years year in review with Umi Sushi and that train did not end. I continued to visit Umi Sushi in 2020 and it has easily become one of my fave spots. I learned they do a salmon sushi lunch special which is really rare. Nigiri can be quite expensive so I’m so grateful they offer this option! It’s so fresh and always hits the spot. I also have fallen in love with their fresh roll appetizer (the sauce is fire).
Thanksgiving Spread
This year has been so crazy, but I was grateful to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family (just my parents and boyfriend). Although I cooked a big enough meal to feed an entire small army. I made stuffing, potatoes au grain, broccoli salad, and seafood pasta all for the first time from scratch! I made this entire meal by myself with the help of my sous chef Papamunches and it’s one Thanksgiving I will never forget.
December
Kyoto Matcha
Check out my Yelp review here!
I had heard about Kyoto Matcha for months now, but never made my way out to the Rockville area where the first location is, but thankfully, they opened one closer to my house! It’s still pretty far from my house, but it’s close enough. I tried so many things from their menu and none of it disappointed. My favorite items are the milk soft serve with mochi rice balls and sweet potato towel cake!
Papamunches Pad Thai
I have been begging Papamunches to teach me his pad thai recipe for years now. Finally, he gave in. I’m so grateful to have learned how to make one of my favorite childhood recipes and to have this recipe in my trove now to make for years to come. This brings me back to my childhood and really appreciate the love and time Papamunches put into making this for me (I asked for it a lot). I will be working to create an exact recipe for you all soon!
MichelleMunches 
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