MR. AND MRS. VALENTIN ❤️🔥
This was by far the best day of our lives that we’ll treasure forever. For so many reasons — our family and friends that made the whole weekend come together (because it truly takes a village), all of our guests that came out and celebrated with us so well, all of our vendors that ensured we had the BEST time, the little details and blessings that worked out in our favor…but most importantly, this was the best day of our lives because our love for each other was so present and powerful on this day, and we confidently know that we will choose to love each other every day moving forward, for the rest of our lives.
We’ll get into all the details of 8.4.24 (trust us — we have more to share), but for now, this one’s for us. We are husband and wife, and we are so excited for the journey ahead.
“Meeting you was a coincidence. Becoming friends was a choice. Falling in love with you was beyond my control.”
📸: @mjrpics
2nd episode is LIVE, and I’m repping the Philippines with our unofficial national dish: ADOBO 🇵🇭 I grew up eating ALL types of adobo, with each region (and Lola for that matter) having their own version. With 5 core ingredients, it accurately represents the varying culinary influences that impact our food. It’s also the first Filipino dish my mom taught me how to cook, and this version is something I adapted from my Tito, we call him ‘Do’, and cousin, Ate JoAnn. 🙌🏼
I’ve been talking a lot about dreams lately, and one of my other big desires is for all people to know and love Filipino cuisine. I want it to penetrate mainstream culture to the point where people crave our food as much as they do other popular Asian cuisines like Chinese or Japanese. I’m so thankful for this opportunity to share a small part of the beautiful culture and bring more exposure to my heritage that I cherish so much. This “Filipino Friday” is extra celebratory today. 🎉
Click the LINK IN MY BIO to watch the full video on @watchintheknow and make this for yourself at home. ❤️ #befatbehappy
P.S. I specifically made the cover photo what it is because it reminds me of when my Titas would “pssssst” me and look at me, pointing with their lips. 😂 any of my other Filipino followers relate?
P.P.S. - Peep the tagged section of the video to see some other fellow Filipinos/Filipinas in the industry whom I love and respect for all they do to uplift our shared heritage!
Your midweek reminder to #stayhungry ❤️ I think the 🔑s to a good life are straightforward. Stay hungry to:
1) Feed your appetite — we have one life, and food, enjoyed in the right way with the right people, can bring joy, togetherness and memories rather than being enslaved by it with the 'counting of calories' - which we’ve been enslaved by for too long. Calories are just numbers, count memories instead. 🤤
2) Feed your soul — learn and grow, processes of life that should never stop. Allow yourself to open up and deepen your understanding of the world we live in, striving to be the best person you can be each day. 💃🏻
3) Feed others man!! — in different ways. Just as your greatest influences have fed into your life and molded you into the person you are, it is our responsibility to feed into others’ lives. Whether it’s giving away food to someone in need or giving of your time & energy to those around you, purposefully find ways to serve others. 🙏
That’s what this script on the #befatbehappy hoodie means to me. It’s not just a saying stamped on clothing, but a calling that I hope we all can answer.
Part 4 of only featuring Asian spots in honor of AAPI Heritage Month! 🍗 I really adore all things Gracious Hospitality. High-end caviar nuggets meet bottomless diner-style coffee. @coqodaq now has brunch with their $58 Brucket List. I think I still prefer dinner here, but I LOVED the vibes at brunch, and that there are elements of classic spots just elevated.
FAT and HAPPY Scale:
8/10 for Brunch (Dinner is a 9.2/10! See my linked reel for that full review.)
* Flavor: 8/10
* Appearance: 8.5/10
* Taste: 8/10
* Hospitality: 8.5/10
* Atmosphere: 9/10
* Purpose: Fun weekend brunch with friends
* Price: $$-$$$ (depending on what you order!)
* Yearning for more: 6/10
Part 3 of only featuring Asian spots in honor of AAPI Heritage Month! 🥢 An underrated gem you need on your radar: @uponthepalace . If the $45 bottomless weekend dim sum menu wasn’t enough to convince you, their a la carte Sizzling Beef and Sichuan Crispy Chili Chicken absolutely will. Save this post for your next group outing!
Unlimited Dim Sum starts at 10:30am on Saturdays and Sundays.
FAT and HAPPY Scale: 7.8/10
* Flavor: 8/10
* Appearance: 7/10
* Taste: 8.2/10
* Hospitality: 8/10
* Atmosphere: 7/10
* Purpose: Casual date night or group meal
* Price: $$
* Yearning for more: 8.4/10
Part 2 of only featuring Asian spots in honor of AAPI Heritage Month! 🍜 Izakaya vibes, craft drinks, and a 5-miso blend charred at 572 degrees. @gogyogr is the buzzy new spot from the @ippudo team, and it certainly delivered. The 572°F charred miso broth is unlike any ramen I’ve had recently. Definitely order it and add the vinegar half way through for a lighter flavor to cut the richness. This is a fun date night spot or place to come with a group of friends and order a variety to share!
FAT and HAPPY Scale: 7.5/10
* Flavor: 7.5/10
* Appearance: 7/10
* Taste: 7.8/10
* Hospitality: 7.8/10
* Atmosphere: 8/10
* Purpose: Group dinner or date night
* Price: $$
* Yearning for more: 7/10
Happy AAPI Heritage Month, #befatbehappy fam! 🇵🇭✨ I wanted to take a second to reintroduce myself and share some of the heart behind this page. To celebrate this month, I am dedicating my feed entirely to featuring Asian restaurants & bars across NYC. Some are longtime favorites I’ve loved for years, and some are hidden gems I’ll be trying for the very first time.
Get your save buttons ready. We have a lot of eating to do. 🥢👇
An iconic pizzeria in the city for almost a century, Patsy’s is expanding and has a new flagship, full service restaurant @patsyspizzeriaflatiron in the @freehandhotels . They’re bringing both that classic coal oven, thin crust pizza AND some really solid Italian dishes that make this new restaurant complete. For me, I’d come here with a group an definitely order:
- Candele Genovese: a super tender and savory beef ragu over pasta
- Vodka Pie: impeccably thin crust that you could devour. I’d honestly maybe order 2 pies because they’re so easy to eat
- Ribeye Pizzaiola: a very well cooked steak packed with tons of flavor.
FAT and HAPPY Scale: 7.2/10
* Flavor: 7/10
* Appearance: 6.5/10
* Taste: 6.8/10
* Hospitality: 8.5/10
* Atmosphere: 8/10
* Purpose: casual dinner out
* Price: $$
* Yearning for more: 6.5/10
Times Square is getting closer and closer to becoming a food neighborhood you want to eat in, and @gui.nyc is a big reason for that! From their Korean steakhouse dinner, to fine dining concept @hwaro.nyc hidden within, to now affordable yet quality lunch sets, this restaurant is a destination in and of itself.
The menu is large, but I’d focus on their high-value Sotbaps (aka Korean rice bowls), which have the same care & quality Chef @sung.shim is known for. Pick your main, and they each come with premium Korean gyeonggi rice cooked to order in a stainless steel pot, alongside seasonal banchan, toasted gim, dipping sauce, and your choice of mu-guk or miso soup. All sets range from $19-29.
Heat, acid, salt, depth, and fat. @77alley just redesigned how we look at a menu. If you’ve been following me, you know how much I loved @mangobaynyc . So when I heard Chef London Chase was at the helm of a new concept tucked away off historic Cortlandt Alley, I had to get in immediately.
Inspired by Tribeca’s gallery culture, the art here is just as much on the plates as it is on the walls. The menu ditches traditional apps and entrees, guiding you through layered, contrast-driven dishes based on five elemental taste profiles.
BFBH Must Orders:
🥩 The Chopped Cheese: A koji-aged wagyu burger with cooper cheese and truffle. Pure umami and a beautiful mess in the best way possible.
🍆 Santa Barbara Uni: The uni is great, but the sweet, smoky burnt eggplant is the actual star of this dish.
🍖 Wagyu Ribeye: Melt in your mouth perfection
🥃 The Fat Duck: Bacon fat-washed Toki with maple and bitters. Exactly my kind of drink.
Note: Because they just opened, they are greeting guests with a complimentary opening pour of sake!
FAT & Happy Scale: 8.1/10
FAT Scale:
* Flavor: 7.7/10
* Appearance: 7.9/10
* Taste: 7.8/10
HAPPY Scale:
* Hospitality: 9.3/10
* Atmosphere: 9/10
* Purpose: Date night or group dinner
* Yearning for More: 7/10
