Cheers to 🌎cultural🌏 openness ~ including to food and drink!
My spot in the lower 🏖Valley🏝 now offers 🍢boba!
🍜Pho #1🍲 in Harlingen ~ White Chocolate🍨
I also hit up my former neck of the woods for more 🍡bubble tea!
🍧Tea Rush Express🍱 ~ 🎂Red Velvet🍰 with 🍓Strawberry🍥 Jelly (which matches my 💅🏽mani🎨 dedicated to my 🌹Lola Rosa🌷 the Belated 🎈Bday🎁 Girl)
^– For your bubbly entertainment c/o fellow foodies Fung Bros –^
On our trip to EP, I had a little bit of everything …
As soon as we arrived, we hit Saigon Taste for Vietnamese ~ so I got my bubble tea fix!
Taro Tea from Saigon Taste Vietnamese Restaurant
We took in the breeze of the CHRISTmas trees at Ft. Bliss … at B-Dubs of all places!
♪Grandma got run over by a Reindeer♫
Actually, yours truly got stunned over by a Reindeer!
B-Dubs HOLYday YOLO: Spiked Apple Cider * Italian Burger (complete with Mozzarella Sticks & Pepperoni)
My AF brat bestie’s hubby’s grad party was complete with menudo and Peter Piper Pizza!
¡Menudo y más cerca de México!
Before hitting the road, I tried the *NEW* HOLYday flavor at Starbucks!
Sippy Selfie: ¡Salud a Starbucks! ¡CHEERS con Café! *GO, COWBOYS*
Peppermint Mocha Cake Pop dipped into Starbucks‘ *NEW* Chestnut Praline Latte
= CHRISTmas in a mug
As it sounds like in Taylor Swift‘s Blank Space …
♪This goes out to you *Starbucks$ ♥lovers♫
& victory (which also appeared into my B-Dubs to-go box) is sweet with this travel-friendly treat, compliments of my EP buddy!
These Special K Caramel Pretzel Bites tided me over during our trip back … + a few extra when I returned to work!
3:33 ~ make a wish!!! Happy Birthday to my sweet niece, *SYLVIA RAE* today!!!
Being just a hop, skip and swim away from the border means there’s access to …
Really delicious, not always healthy food!
Here are my favorites (aside from my in-laws’ good homecooking, o’course), that I’ll miss in this neck of the woods, or shall I say: foot of the Valley!
Bubble Tea (Tea Rush Café in Sharyland/Mission, TX) ~ during my West Valley Church Tour
Koko’s Mexican Cuisine (Uptown/McAllen, TX) ~ for my classmate, Dr. Alejandro Garza’s Birthday
Sweet & Tasty Bakery ~ also for Dr. G’s Bday, with this Banana Split Pie to die & the BEST pan de polvo
¡Salud!
Happy Asian Heritage Month!
What’s in our fortune on this fine Friday? Here I’ll feature two Asian family-owned eateries in Abilene, Texas, complete with photos. Both of them have been known to consistently earn the Reader’s Choice Award from Abilene Reporter-News voters.
AM Donuts
AM Donuts, Reader’s Choice Award winner, courtesy Elaine Dispo
AM Donuts & Croissants on Grape Street, only Abilene eatery to serve Boba Tea
Reader’s Choice Award-winning donut shop values customers, provides high quality
AM Donuts has assortment of flavors, courtesy Elaine Dispo
By Elaine Dispo
AM Donuts, the only Bubble Tea vendor in Abilene
AM Donuts & Croissants’ 1902 Grape Street location is thinking outside the bubble by being the only known public establishment in Abilene to offer boba tea. 
Also known as “bubble tea,” this beverage that traces its origin to Taiwan has tapioca pearls of various flavors, like strawberry, lychee, taro, coconut and coffee.
“It is healthy and adds more flavor,” said Sokol Kim, the wife of owner George Kim, about AM’s smoothie-like drink.
George Kim, AM Donuts & Croissants owner, shows special straws for Boba Tea, courtesy Elaine Dispo
A 16-ounce bubble tea at AM on Grape costs $3.75, which is less expensive than bubble tea in larger markets and other frozen blended drinks of the same size or smaller at other vendors.
The Kims’ business has its loyal customers, many of whom meet at AM Donuts on a daily basis, and take advantage of coffee, baklava, kolaches or other popular pastries, such as cheese sticks and cream horns.
With bubble tea in the mix, Abileneans and visitors alike can be introduced to a commodity from a different part of the world.
AM Donuts has been widely-acclaimed by the city for over a decade, as it happens to be ranked No. 1 in the Readers Choice Awards for several years running.
“We like to take care of the people,” George Kim said. “It is nice to know that the city supports our product and knows it’s good and for our business to grow.”
AM Donuts also has shops on Willis Street, its original store, as well as Treadaway Boulevard and Pine Street. What makes AM on Grape so unique are the boba tea, as well as red velvet cake donuts and chocolate cherry fritters.
Aside from classic glazed donuts, AM also offers the maple bacon bars and an array of new baked goods. George Kim, coined the “AM Delight Do-sant,” inspired by the New York-style cronuts.
“The kitchen is my department,” George Kim said. He pointed out that AM’s efforts “to be as smooth and quick as possible to maintain the quality” pays off because “people like fast service and quality.”
Since AM on Grape opens as early as 5:30 a.m. and closes as late as 5 p.m., Kim and his team “make that commitment to do it.” 
Chocolate-filled croissants recently joined their bakery selection of both savory and sweet treats. 
Sokol Kim, brought up the idea of the chocolate-filled croissants from her time in France back in 2003, after she earned her bachelor’s degree in Cambodia. Her tour of Europe also led her to Denmark, and after she completed her master’s degree, she moved to the U.S. while pregnant with their daughter.
Previously, Sokol Kim’s career was in law that involved human rights at the international level. Now she works at AM Grape while attending school to become a Registered Nurse.
“Education changes life,” said Sokol Kim, who appreciates the support of her husband’s family and her family in Cambodia in her pursuit of a health care career while still supporting her husband’s business.
Many of the AM Donuts customers can agree . After all, the Grape branch is conveniently set on the north side of Abilene near Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and Hendrick Medical Center. Therefore, Wi-Fi comes in handy for students and workers alike, and the TV provides a relaxing environment.
A visit to AM not only appeals to the taste buds, but eye candy also surrounds the space. 
The storefront has Asian-inspired pieces, such as the welcoming Buddha and a bamboo wall, in addition to classic art and recognized superheroes, including Batman, Superman and Marvel Comics characters. 
Some memorabilia have even come from the customers as gifts. 
Due to the abundant space of the building as well as generous parking, George Kim envisioned “potential” of “not only a business but also a social network to hang out: an environment for everyone to enjoy, feel comfort. I think it’s important.”
Other than the boba tea and other special menu items exclusive to AM Donuts on Grape, George Kim’s service philosophy may be another reason why AM has earned the Readers Choice Award: to have “a relationship with our customers, make them feel connected.”
China Star
Beef & Broccoli + Kung Pao Chicken in the House!
Ever since my family moved to Abilene, my parents have frequented this Chinese buffet place for lunch or dinner.
Succulent Spring Rolls
Many of our family friends have held parties there, and my parents love to pick up take-out from there.
Hot & Sour Soup Warms the Soul!
The owners still recognize us when we go there for Sunday brunch after church.
Mocha Cake is my fave!
Enjoy eating!
More Asian Persuasion up in this Noodle House!
Happy Hump Day the Healthy Pretty Fit Way!
Today, I’ll feature food, as a perk to my freelance writing.
When I visited AM Donuts, I was pleased to photograph around the storefront and bakery, as well as to try the main menu items that I intended:
AM Donuts‘ Bubble Tea & Maple Bacon Bar
The added bonus was that the owner packed his personal favorites for me to take home!
AM Donuts & Croissants Care Package, including *exclusive* Cherry Chocolate Fritter & Red Velvet Cake Donut
Then, when I covered the Claudie C. Royals Banquet on Claudie C. Royals Day, I chowed down even more!
Claudie C. Royals Banquet Main Course & Sides + Beverage: Lasagna, Fried Chicken, Corn, Salad, Sweet Tea
Claudie C. Royals Banquet Desserts: Special Strawberry Shortcake Banana Nut Pudding, Lemon & Chocolate Nut Cupcakes, Chocolate Sugar-Dusted Brownies
Today, I wrote about how I ate healthy a week ago then rewarded myself the next day in What I Ate Wednesday and Thursday.
Moral of this story:
And because I love y’all so much, here’s how I packed my sweets for the sweet from the sweet on VDay ♥
Valentine’s Day 2014 ♥ Banana LOVE Berry Much Abunch
Now that I’ve gone bananas with good grub and am armed with study food, I’ll get back to working on my dissertation…
3:33 ~ make a wish!!!
On this night before VDay, I wish to pass along these items in my Counting Blessings / Gratitude Journal:
First of all, I started Thursday with my Adoration Hour. Then, I went about my day…
Excellent Service
Perks of Journalism: Trying New Things!
Don’t these babies look yummy? Among the pastries in this package, I see AM’s exclusive chocolate cherry fritter and red velvet cake donut, so what great ways to ring in Valentine’s Day with these sweet treats from the sweet for the sweet!
11:11 ~ make a wish!!!
Happy St. Valentine’s Day/Singles Awareness Day!!!
XOXO ~ Elaine & the Double-A Team
The Elaine Dispo Journal 