Ted Tastes Francesca Feasts

Days 20–23 – Pool Pals, Beef Skewers & Birthday Ice Cream 🎉🏖️🍦

August 7, 2025
Hey hey, blog buddies!
Francesca here, reporting in from a very chill few days in Hoi An. We’ve been in full holiday mode, which means lots of pool time, snack time, shopping time, and maybe one too many ice creams (but who’s counting?).

We’re a little behind on our blog (oops), but it’s only because we’ve been too busy relaxing. So here’s the rundown from Days 20 to 23 — the lazy days we absolutely needed 😌.

🏖️ Poolside Living with Bo & Rocco

One of the best things that happened this week?
We made new friends at the pool — shoutout to Bo and Rocco! They’re from England, around our age, and super fun. We swam, played games, told jokes, made up pool challenges, and basically spent every daylight hour splashing around together.

Lucia joined in too — mostly floating like a boss and stealing everyone’s snacks. 🍿

🛍️ Night Markets & Shopping (Again 😅)

We headed back into the Old Town night markets a few times this week — because clearly we didn’t already own enough lanterns, fans, or designer bags.

The lights, the smells, the buzz — Hoi An at night is SO pretty, and it’s even better with friends. We had a few cheeky late-night shops, grabbed some souvenirs, and kept spotting new snacks we swore weren’t there the day before.

🎂 Birthday Dinner with the Crew

On our last night hanging out with Bo and Rocco, it was their mum’s birthday, so we all went out to dinner together to celebrate. 🎉

Here’s what we ordered:
- Ted, Rocco and I all got beef skewers (yum, tender, totally gone in 3 minutes)
- Bo had a big bowl of beef pho
- Lucia had chicken and rice, but ended up stealing most of Bo’s pho broth (Bo didn’t seem to mind — she’s a good sport!)
- I have no idea what the parents had… they were too busy chatting and laughing while we smashed our food
After dinner, we went for ice cream (of course 🍦) and did a bit more shopping, because clearly we still had some room in our suitcases (just kidding, we totally don’t).

💬 Final Thoughts from Francesca

These past few days have been simple, sweet and so much fun. Making new friends, eating good food, swimming all day — sometimes the best parts of a holiday are the ones where nothing is planned, and everything just feels easy.

Thanks Bo and Rocco for making our pool days epic. Hope we get to hang out again one day — maybe in England, maybe in Australia… or maybe just in another pool somewhere sunny.

Until next time,
Francesca (plus Ted the Skewer King, Lucia the Broth Thief, and our new honorary crew members Bo & Rocco) ☀️🫶🍢

P.S. Lucia now thinks every dinner should be followed by ice cream and shopping. Honestly, same.
Day 19 – Boats, Broth & Bánh Xèo Brilliance 🛶🍜🇻🇳

August 7, 2025
Xin chào again, fabulous foodies!
It’s Francesca, back on the blog with a report from what might just be one of my favourite days in Vietnam so far: a spinning boat ride + a Vietnamese cooking class = chaos + culinary triumph.

Let’s just say it was a day of twists, spice, laughter, and absolutely no hunger.

🌀 Coconut Boat Mayhem (Poor Dad)

We started the day in the blazing heat (again 😅), but spirits were high as we set off for our Vietnamese cooking class and coconut boat adventure.

Coconut boat first — thank goodness.
If you haven’t seen these before, they’re round bamboo boats that spin like teacups on steroids, and yes, we all got in one. And yes, Dad got spun to oblivion.

Ted and Lucia laughed their heads off.
Dad looked like he’d just stepped off a rollercoaster after eating 3 hot dogs.
I politely declined the spinning bit and focused on not throwing up from second-hand dizziness. 👍

🍴 Cooking Class: Future Masterchefs in Action

After Dad’s boat-induced wobble, we arrived at a lovely outdoor kitchen, ready to cook up a Vietnamese feast from scratch. The class was so cool — hands-on, a bit messy, and totally satisfying.

We made 4 dishes, plus all the key components like fish sauce dipping magic, rice milk, and microscopically chopped veggies (our knife skills = on point).

Here’s the menu:

🥢 1. Bánh Cuốn – Steamed Rice Rolls

We’d eaten these on our scooter food tour, so we knew what we were aiming for. But making the paper-thin rice pancakes ourselves was a total challenge!
- We poured, swirled, steamed, and peeled
- Stuffed them with delicious filling
- Then proudly ate them in about 5 seconds flat
They tasted way better because we made them ourselves. Obviously.

🥬 2. Bánh Xèo – Crispy Vietnamese Pancakes

Another food tour fave — and still 100% amazing.
- We fried them until crispy and golden
- Stuffed them full of herbs, egg and prawns
- Dunked them in our homemade spicy fish sauce
Ted tried to eat his weight in Bánh Xèo. I let him win. Just this once.

🍜 3. Beef Phở – The Soul of Vietnam

Okay. This one was a vibe.
- The broth had been simmering away for ages, and we grilled up ginger, cinnamon, and onion for extra depth
- We prepped our noodles and toppings and built our bowls
It was soupy, noodly, comforting deliciousness and honestly, I could eat it every day forever. Even Lucia liked it, despite her melting in the heat.

🥥 4. Mung Bean & Coconut Dahl – Sweet & Smooth

A new one for us, and a perfect finish.
- Creamy, coconutty, just a little sweet
- Kind of like a cross between a dessert and a palate cleanser
I wasn’t sure about it at first, but then I went back for seconds. Francesca-approved. Devoured before we could take a pic.

😎 Final Vibes: Full, Proud, Slightly Dizzy

We left the class feeling:
- Proud (we crushed it, let’s be real),
- Full (Bánh Xèo belly = happy belly),
- And with enough recipes and bragging rights to start our own restaurant.
Dad was still a little green from the boat ride, but thankfully the pool was waiting for us back at the resort. He flopped into it like a man reborn.

💬 Final Thoughts from Francesca

Today had everything I love:
- Weird boats
- Food I got to make and eat
- And the satisfaction of being officially more talented than Ted at rolling rice pancakes (sorry not sorry)
We’re definitely adding Bahn Xeo night to the family dinner menu when we get home. You just might want to hold the boat ride.

Ciao for now,
Francesca (plus Ted the Crispy Pancake King, and Dad the Dizzy Survivor) 🍳🍲🌀

P.S. Ted tried to take all the credit for the coconut Dahl. We all saw who spilled half the mung beans. Just saying.
Day 18 – Beans, Buzz & Barista Skills ☕⚡🇻🇳

August 1, 2025
Hey coffee lovers (and soon-to-be coffee lovers),
Ted here, back with a post so full of caffeine it practically writes itself.

Today was not your average sightseeing day. Nope. Today was about coffee. And not just drinking it (though we did a lot of that), but actually making it ourselves — Vietnamese style, like pros.

🤒 The Morning Drama: One Bug, One Brave Barista Crew

Poor little Lucia had a stomach bug and a rough night, so Mum stayed back with her at the hotel. That meant it was me, Francesca, and Dad heading out on a mission of beans and buzz. Mum was very jealous — coffee is kind of her thing.

☕ Welcome to the Caffeine Olympics

We joined a 2-hour Vietnamese coffee-making class with some fellow Brits & Aussies, where we got to brew, mix, shake, sip and taste our way through five different types of coffee, all made from locally grown robusta beans (which are super strong and make your brain feel like it’s running on a treadmill). The inappropriate aprons were optional, but encouraged 🙈.

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Phin Drip Black Coffee

The OG. The Strong One.
Made using a Phin filter, it drips slooooowly into your cup and smells like cocoa and burnt toffee.
- Verdict: Super strong. We only had a few sips. Dad loved it. I felt like I could see through time.
2. Condensed Milk Coffee (Cà Phê Sữa Đá)

Ahhh yes. The sweet one.
- Sweet, cold, and much more our style.
- Francesca called it “dessert in a cup,” and we both drank nearly all of it.
- Dad said it was too sweet. Dad is wrong.
3. Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng)

This one was basically coffee custard magic.
We had to:
- Separate eggs
- Whip the yolks with condensed milk
- Steam it all in a bain-marie
  It was like science class + dessert.
- Verdict: Creamy, thick, amazing, and worth the wait. Even Francesca stopped talking to enjoy it. That’s saying something.
4. Salted Coffee (Cà Phê Muối)

Already a fave of ours from previous cafés, so we were pumped to learn the recipe.
- Think salted caramel latte but with more zing
- Dad says it’s the best coffee ever made, and honestly? He might be right.
5. Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Cốt Dừa)

The Grand Finale — and my personal favourite.
- We got to shake it like bartenders in a cocktail shaker, which was awesome
- Cold, creamy, super coconutty, and went down like silk
We devoured it, caffeine or no caffeine. Even Francesca licked the cup (don’t tell Mum).

🌀 Post-Coffee Chaos

By the end, we were buzzing. Like, super buzzing. I may or may not have tried to karate kick a tree on the way home (it was fine). Francesca talked for 40 minutes straight about opening a coffee cart in our backyard. Dad looked quietly overwhelmed.

Luckily, they gave us a recipe sheet at the end because let’s be honest — my brain was moving too fast to remember anything except “shake the coconut one.”

💬 Final Thoughts from Ted

Vietnamese coffee = next level.
The class was fun, delicious, and made me feel like a tiny jittery barista-in-training. I now rate my top 3 as:
1. Coconut Coffee 🥥
2. Salted Coffee 🧂
3. Egg Coffee 🍳
We missed Mum and Lucia (thankfully she was much better by the time we got home), but we’ll definitely be making these back home — if we can find robusta beans and don’t explode from excitement.

Buzzing off for now,
Ted (plus Francesca the Foam Queen, and Dad the Salted Coffee Addict) ⚡☕🛵

P.S. I now understand why adults drink coffee. It’s basically rocket fuel in a cup.
Days 14–18 – Lanterns, Tailors & Taste Bud Parties in Hoi An & Da Nang 🌴🍜🌧️

July 29, 2025
Xin chào again, food fans!
Francesca here — finally reporting in after a little “blogging break” (a.k.a. serious pool time 🏖️). We’ve been soaking up the sun, rain, noodles and markets in Da Nang and Hoi An, and it’s been SO GOOD I almost forgot how to type.

But don’t worry — I’m back on the blog, bringing you the highlights reel from the past few days. Spoiler: there’s a lot of deliciousness, a few crafty moments, and one banana that might have changed my life.

🛫 Day 14: Da Nang Arrival & First Beach Feast

After our quick flight from Hanoi, we landed in Da Nang and headed straight for lunch at Nha Hang Viet Xua, a cute Vietnamese place right next to our hotel. We shared:
- Thai chicken curry (warm and creamy),
- Bánh xèo (Vietnamese pancakes) — crispy and stuffed with goodies,
- Fried tofu (surprisingly yum),
- And beef noodles (classic Ted move).
Then it was off to the beach for a splash, where Lucia tried to swim to the horizon and Ted buried his own legs in the sand like some kind of noodle worm. Success.

🚗 Day 15: Off to Hoi An & A Champa Dinner Gem

We made the short drive to Hoi An and checked into The Pearl Resort — fancy name, fancy vibes. That night we headed into the Old Town for dinner and found a tiny treasure called KariChampa & Gourmet Lab.

It only had four dishes, which made choosing easy:
- I had the beef noodles (yum),
- Ted, Luci & the grown-ups shared beef and goat curry with rice and potato salad (double yum).
After dinner we wandered the glowing lantern-lit streets, then grabbed dessert at Tiem Che Xiu — a five-scoop coconut ice cream tower that lasted approximately 8.3 seconds. Lucia made friends with some local toddlers and tried to join their game. I think she won.

🛍️ Day 16: Shopping & A Seriously Sensational Dinner

We hit the tailor shops and markets in the afternoon (Mum may now own half of Hoi An), then had dinner at Grandma’s Kitchen, and OH. MY. TASTE BUDS.

Check out this line-up:
- Deep-fried fish of the day with rice paper, noodles, herbs & sauce
- Grilled beef in bamboo
- Minced beef in betel leaf
- Hoi An chicken & rice
- Coconut heart salad with grilled chicken
It was beautifully presented, full of flavour explosions, and officially the best meal of the trip so far.

Dessert? Don’t mind if we do:
- Ramie leaf rice cake (“husband and wife cake” – I just like the name)
- Banana flambé with vanilla ice cream — and yes, I ate banana. And LOVED it. Who even am I?
We walked it all off with a little gift shopping. Let’s just say the suitcase situation is… tight.

🎨 Day 17: Rainy Day = Lantern Day

The sky opened up, so we went full craft mode and did a traditional lantern-making class.
- We each picked our own lantern style and fabric.
- Ted finished first (obviously — he’s a speed demon with zero chill).
- Mine is going straight in my room.
- Lucia’s… well, hers is super cute (thanks to some help from Mummy 😅)
If we can wedge them into our luggage, these babies are coming home.

🛍️ Day 18: Pancakes, Passionfruit & the Markets by Night

After a lazy pool day making new friends (shoutout to the water slide crew 👋), we hit the Old Town Night Markets for:
- Tailor pickups (Mum’s clothes = approved ✅),
- More shopping (I may have bought a new ring. And a fan. And… other things),
- And dinner at Madame Hien — another absolute gem.
On the menu:
- Exotic seasonal salad with passionfruit dressing
- Chicken with lime & honey
- Duck breast with mango & green tea sauce
- Pho Bo (beef noodle soup, because someone cough Ted cough always orders it)
We devoured everything. Ted ate a whole chilli (classic Ted 🌶️🌶️). And then, to top it off, we grabbed banana & Nutella pancakes from a street vendor for the ride home.
- Ted went full banana-Nutella combo 🍌🍫
- I kept it classic with just Nutella. Sophisticated.
🌟 Final Thoughts from Francesca

Hoi An has been colourful, tasty, rainy, lantern-lit, and kind of magical.
We’ve had so many incredible meals, made our own lanterns, and somehow still found space for ice cream every night. The food here is seriously on another level — fresh, flavour-packed and full of surprises.

Can’t wait to see what the next few days bring… but first, another dip in the pool. And maybe another pancake. Or two. 😉

Until next time,
Francesca (plus Ted, the noodle boss, and Lucia, Queen of the Pool Floaties) 🍜🏮💛

P.S. Ted says he wants to open his own food tour called “Scoot & Slurp.” I’d join.
Day 12 – Dumplings, Scooters & Dessert Missions in Hanoi 🛵🍲🍧

July 24, 2025
Yo food fam!
It’s Ted here — your food-loving, scooter-riding, always-hungry adventure guy — and today was EPIC. Like, next-level food exploration on two wheels kind of epic.

We’re still in Hanoi, and somehow (not sure how, maybe mind control?), we convinced Mum to let us do a SCOOTER FOOD TOUR around the city. Yes, scooters. Yes, FOOD. Yes, I lived my best life.

But first… let me take you back to breakfast.

🧇 Breakfast: Dumplings & Sprinkles? Don’t Mind If I Do

Buffet brekkie at the hotel = best start to the day ever. I had:
- Eggs, 2 ways
- Croissants
- Waffles with sprinkles (yes, SPRINKLES)
- And some fancy juices like watermelon, pineapple, and my fave: passionfruit juice
There were also Japanese foods, which was weird but awesome — and yep, dumplings for breakfast is officially a thing now. Lucia was double-fisting croissants and dumplings, as per usual.

🛵 Lunch (and everything else): Scooter Food Tour = Life Goals

Okay, so THIS was the highlight of the day.

Mum (bless her brave soul as she’s usally terririfed of motorbikes) booked us on a Scooter Food Tour around Hanoi. And not just looking-at-food from scooters — riding ON THE BACK of scooters like locals while eating ALL the best food. I felt like a celebrity. A very hungry celebrity. Luci thought it was epic and the scooter riders thought she was the cutest thing on two wheels.

Here’s how it went down:

1. “Breakfast” – Bánh Cuốn

Steamed rice crepes filled with beef and prawns. We watched the lady make them on a hotplate — it was like pancake magic. They were slippery and awesome.

2. “Lunch” – Bánh Xèo

Crispy crepes filled with beef, wrapped in rice paper with SIX(!) kinds of leaves. You dip it all in fish sauce and crunch your way to flavour-town, providing you got your wrap construction right – otherwise dipping disaster.
These were a massive hit. And my new favourite food is an Ambarella leaf, or as Luci calls it – umbrella leaf..

3. “Coffee” – Salted Coffee at Train Street

We popped back to Train Street (no train spotting this time, we were on a food mission) to try salted coffee — yes, SALT in your COFFEE. And condensed milk.
We all loved it but Mum & Dad drank them before we could get much of a look in. Luckily Francesca and I got whole coconuts to drink from, which was awesome. I pretended mine was a football. Lucia drank most of Francesca’s. Classic.

4. “Dinner – Phở Chiên Phồng

This was my favourite: fried pho noodles (they puff up like little pillows), plus banana leaf salad and beef curry. I could eat that beef curry forever.
Also, anything fried gets a thumbs-up from me. After dinner we were stuffed. But thankfully we all have a second stomach for dessert.

5. “Dessert” – Chè Party 🍨

The grand finale: five Vietnamese desserts in one go.
- Coconut ice cream
- Sticky rice with coconut ice cream
- Vietnamese crème caramel
- Black sticky rice with coconut milk
- And… I forgot the fifth one, because I was too busy eating the coconut ice cream but I’m sure it had cocunuts in it
By the end, we were FULL, HAPPY, and ready to roll — straight back to the hotel for some pool chilling and splash time.

💬 Final Thoughts from Ted

Today had everything:
- Scooters
- Pancakes
- Mystery leaves
- Coconut drinks
- And dessert that sounded weird but tasted awesome
Francesca says Hanoi is chaotic but delicious. I say more scooter tours, please.

Catch you on the next food ride,
Ted (plus Francesca, Lucia the Coconut Queen, and Mum the Scooter MVP) 🛵🍜😎

P.S. If I ever get a scooter, I’m naming it “Phở Speed Ahead.” Just saying.
Day 11 – Trains, Thunderstorms & a Five-Star Feast in Hanoi 🚂🌩️🍲

July 23, 2025
Xin chào, food fans! Francesca here, officially reporting in from our first full day in Vietnam — and let me just say, it did not disappoint. There was food, fun, heat, horns, trains, storms and possibly the most satisfying tree-removal operation we’ve ever watched.

Hold onto your iced chocy — this was a day to remember.

🥐 Breakfast: Buffet Bonanza

We started the day strong with a hotel breakfast buffet (our fav!), and let me tell you — we did not hold back.

There were:
- Western options (hello pancakes and eggs),
- Japanese dishes (Ted was thrilled to find miso soup and rice back on the menu),
- And enough fruit, pastries and juice to keep Lucia bouncing until lunchtime.
I think we managed about five courses between us. The goal? Fuel for the day ahead. Mission: accomplished. 🏆

🚂 Morning Tea: Coffee, Chips & A Train That Took Its Time

After breakfast, we hopped in a taxi and headed into Hanoi’s Old Quarter to soak up the local vibes (and sweat through our shirts).

We chilled at Tranquil Coffee where:
- Mum and Dad had… coffee ☕
- Ted and I had an iced chocolate (choco-lovely), and
- Lucia did her best Mini Mouse impression with a set of coasters 🐭
Then it was time for the main event: TRAIN STREET — the legendary, slightly terrifying alley where a train passes right through just inches away from the cafés lining the tracks.

Scheduled for 11:30am.
Reality? 45 minutes late. 😅
The heat? Unforgiving.
The vibe? Kind of sweaty but electric.
Meanwhile, Lucia devoured a plate of chips like a woman on a mission. 🍟

And finally… WHOOOSH! The train came thundering past — loud, close, massive. Lucia cackled like a tiny train-loving gremlin. Mum flinched. It. Was. Awesome.

Then it was back to the hotel to cool down and regroup (and dry off a little).

🥖 Lunch: Street Food and Storm Spectating

Mum took one for the team and ventured out into the steamy Hanoi chaos to hunt for food while we lazed in the aircon. Hero move. She returned with:
- A selection of bánh mì (YES PLEASE)
- And chicken & fish pho soup from a few street vendors that smelled so good we nearly clapped.
We munched our way through it and then hit the hotel pool to cool down, just in time for… a thunderstorm of epic proportions. 🌩️💨

Lightning! Wind! A tree fell onto the road, flattened a car and took out a power line. Absolute drama. But instead of panic, local crews appeared like magic, chopping the tree up while traffic just… kept going. Casual chaos. Hanoi style.

We stayed poolside and watched the whole thing like it was the best TV show we’d ever seen.

🍽️ Dinner: Five-Star Flavours at Sente

For dinner, we braved the rain and walked to Sente, a lovely Vietnamese restaurant inspired by the lotus flower.

Every dish was a piece of art — beautifully presented, full of flavour, and completely devoured.

Here’s the delicious rundown:
1. Jicama salad with grilled sous-vide chicken and lotus root 🥗
2. Grilled “fruit” salad with yoghurt and balsamic glaze
3. Grilled Angus beef flap with brown rice cakes & Vietnamese basil sauce 🥩
4. Grilled chicken with ambarella leaf sauce
5. Brown rice pad Thai with stir-fried beef shank
And then… dessert.
- A silky lotus purée crème brûlée 🔥
- And the star of the show: black sesame ice cream — nutty, rich, and totally unlike anything we’d had before.
Lucia tried to eat both, but we fended her off. Barely.

🌟 Final Thoughts from Francesca

If today was anything to go by, Vietnam is going to be wild, wonderful and very, very tasty.

We had:
- A train fly past our faces,
- A tree fall across the road,
- And a meal fit for royalty to wrap it all up.
And that was just Day 1.

Stay tuned for more flavour, fun and maybe a few more close encounters with public transport.

Love from Hanoi!
– Francesca (plus Ted, Lucia the Chip Queen, and Mum the Bánh Mì Hunter) 🇻🇳💖🥢

P.S. Ted still thinks the train was cooler than the storm. Lucia says the chips were better than both.
Day 10 – Sayonara Sushi, Xin Chào Banh Mi 🇯🇵✈️🇻🇳

July 21, 2025
Hi food fans! Francesca here, your loyal snack scout and flavour reporter, with a very special update:
Today we left Japan (sob 😭) and touched down in Vietnam (yum 😋)!

It was a day of goodbyes, hellos, and one seriously tasty baguette. Let’s go!

🇯🇵 Japan: So Long, Slurps & Sushi

As our time in Japan came to an end, we couldn’t help but reflect on all the amazing things we’d seen, done, and — of course — eaten.

From slippery octopus and eel, to new discoveries like okonomiyaki (aka Japanese pancakes of joy), and plenty of old favourites:
- Sushi 🍣
- Katsu
- Wagyu 🐮
- Yakitori (on-a-stick magic)
- Fried chicken, noodles, and rice (shoutout to Lucia, our resident rice expert)
Japan served up flavours, culture, and fun in every direction, and we’ve officially fallen in love.
We’ll be back — maybe in winter next time so we can trade fluffy pancakes for fluffy snow!

We squeezed in one last train ride (because what’s a Japan trip without a good choo-choo?) and made our way to Osaka Airport.
Not much to report food-wise today (train station sandwiches = meh), BUT we did spot a genius invention we didn’t get to try:
The Sushi Burger. 🍔🍣
Yep, you read that right — Kobe beef, fried chicken, and more, all wrapped in rice and nori.
It looked messy. It looked magical. It’s on our must-eat-next-time list.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Hello Heat, Horns & Hanoi Banh Mi

Touchdown in Hanoi! And wow — talk about a switch-up.
After Japan’s quiet order and spotless streets, arriving in Vietnam felt like jumping into the middle of a music video with scooters, street food, and a sky that looked like it had been painted for us. 🎨🌅

The taxi ride to our hotel was like a game of Scooter Tetris. We saw:
- Whole families on motorbikes
- A guy carrying 6 barrels of beer
- Another person balancing 3 bags of garbage and two chickens (probably)
Lucia loved it. Mum looked mildly terrified.

We finally reached our hotel, dropped our bags, and stared at each other with one shared thought:
We’re hungry.

Cue: Banh Mi across the street.
- Crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside bread
- Juicy chicken, fresh herbs, crunchy veggies
- Wrapped in paper, eaten in seconds
First meal in Vietnam: 10/10. Would banh mi again. 🥖🐔🌿

✨ Final Thoughts from Francesca

Japan — you were tidy, tasty and totally terrific. We’ll miss your vending machines, train station bakeries, and pancake wizardry.
Vietnam — you’re noisy, wild, and already delicious. Bring on the pho, rice paper rolls, and all the things-on-sticks we can find!

Until tomorrow’s feast,
Francesca (plus Ted, who is now rating scooters, and Lucia, who already smells like bánh mì) 💖🥢🌍

P.S. Dad says he still prefers Japan’s toilets. Everyone agrees. 🚽✅
Day 9 – Bagels, Boba & Goodbye Kyoto 🥯🍜☔

July 20, 2025
Konnichiwa, lovely readers!
It’s Francesca back for one last Kyoto feast before we trade noodles for noodles (Vietnam, here we come 🇻🇳!). Our final day in Kyoto was a rainy one, but you know what that means — comfort food, covered markets, and the ultimate excuse for a lazy movie night. Here’s how we wrapped up our week of Kyoto magic…

☔ Morning Tea: Floats, Bagels & Fried Chicken (obviously)

We woke up to rain (again) — classic Kyoto-in-July vibes. So we had a slow morning at home, listening to the rain and trying to decide if we had space left in our stomachs for one more food adventure (spoiler: we did).

Around midday, we ventured out and were lucky enough to catch part of the Gion Matsuri parade! 🎊 The huge floats rolling down the streets were like ancient parade ships sailing through the crowd — lanterns glowing, drums beating, and umbrellas bobbing everywhere.

We ducked into a tiny bagel shop called Rabbit Bagel for a snack while we watched the festivities.
- Ted and I shared a salty chocolate bagel and a coffee chocolate one (verdict: yum + yummier)
- Dad went rogue and grabbed a plain bagel stuffed with fried chicken and salad — classic Dad move 🐔🥗
🍜 Lunch: Rainy Ramen & Market Mayhem

After our bagel break and a bit of crowd-surfing through the streets, we made our way to the famous Nishiki Market for some food adventuring.

But first — ramen.

Ted had been begging to try it since Day 1, so we stopped at a ramen joint just outside the market and ordered two bowls to share:
- One with a soy-based broth 🍜
- One with wontons (a nice little dumpling surprise)
- Plus a bowl of rice for Lucia, who’s staying loyal to her one-true-carb
The noodles were slurpy and springy, and the broth was warm and comforting…
BUT (and don’t cancel us) — we all agreed: ramen is not our fave Japanese dish. Still tasty, but we’re team sushi/okonomiyaki/anything on a stick.

So we slurped up, bowed politely, and headed into the bustling market, which was absolutely heaving (rain + lunch hour = sardine city).

Inside, we saw (and sniffed) everything from eel skewers to matcha candies.
We saved space for one more mochi, and found a strawberry-flavoured beauty near the end. Squishy, sweet, and perfectly chewy.

Then we hit a little bubble tea + crepe café for a chilled boba break. Bliss.

🎥 Afternoon: Pokemon, Packing & Tom Hanks Kisses

With full bellies and soggy feet, we decided to head home for some downtime. We’re heading to Vietnam tomorrow, so we packed our bags, organised our snacks, and squeezed in a quick trip to the Pokémon Centre (Ted = overjoyed, Lucia = buried in the Pikachus).

Back home, we curled up for a movie. Ted’s been curating an ’80s/’90s movie marathon, so today’s pick was:
🎬 Big — starring Tom Hanks and very questionable romantic decisions.

Ted was not impressed with all the kissing. “Gross,” he declared. Boys. 🙄

🍣 Dinner: Supermarket Sumo Feast, Round Two

For our last dinner in Kyoto, we kept it chill and did another round of our favourite: supermarket sushi party!

Here’s what made it to the table:
- A stack of maki rolls
- Salads, kimchi, and chicken & rice
- And the best part? Bottles of Ramune soda, sealed with a marble that you pop in to open. Lucia thinks it’s magic.
We ate sitting around the little table on the floor, giggling about float parades, soggy bike rides, and whether we could live on mochi forever.

✨ Final Thoughts from Francesca

Today was the perfect way to wind down our time in Kyoto — a little slower, a little soggier, but still packed with flavour. From bagel snacks under umbrellas to ramen slurping and market munching, we squeezed every last bite of goodness out of the city (plus a few bubble teas for good measure).

Even though we got rained on (again), it just made the warm food taste even better — and honestly, ending with a supermarket sushi feast and a movie night at home was kind of the perfect goodbye.

Thanks for following along on our Kyoto foodventure!
Francesca (plus Ted, who still says the kissing scene was gross, and Lucia, now officially obsessed with Ramune bottles) 💖🍜☂️

P.S. I already miss okonomiyaki. And the bagels. And the mochi. And the deer. Basically everything. Except the rain.
Day 8 – Pedals, Pancakes & a Surprise Soaking 🚴‍♂️🌧️🥞

July 18, 2025
Hi again, fabulous food followers! It’s Francesca here, back with Day 8 of our Japan adventure. And oh boy, was this day packed — with bike rides, rain rides, and the most unexpectedly delicious dinner we’ve had yet. Also: we learned a new word (okonomiyaki) and now it lives rent-free in my brain. Let’s begin.

🥐 Breakfast: Bakeries & Banana Bread (and Bikes)

Ted and Dad were up way too early for a morning run, which I personally think is madness in this heat. But they survived, so we rewarded them with… baked goods!

Our usual bakery spots were closed, so we wandered a little further and struck gold:
- Freshly baked croissants — plain, chocolate, raisin, and a super cheesy one for Dad
- We also picked up some banana bread at a nearby café while Mum and Dad got their essential flat whites
Fueled up, Ted (a.k.a. Captain Wheels) declared we should rent bikes and explore Kyoto like locals — so we grabbed four bikes, strapped Lucia to the back of Dad’s, and off we went!

🍱 Lunch: Hidden Homestyle Perfection

After a scenic cycle (with only one near miss involving a rogue pigeon), we cruised over to Nijo Castle and searched for food. Sadly, so had everyone else.

The 500-year-old soba place? Massive line.
The trendy noodle shop? Even longer.

So we kept pedalling and stumbled across a tiny restaurant with only four dishes on the menu — YES, PLEASE.
- Ted and I went with the fried chicken set (served with rice, salad, and miso soup)
- Mum and Dad had poached chicken rice bowls with scrambled egg on top
It was so simple, so comforting, and so perfect after riding through the heat. We practically inhaled it. Ted said it was the best fried chicken of the trip — and he’s had a lot of fried chicken lately.

🍵 Afternoon Tea: Fancy Tea, Funny Sweets & a Full-On Storm

Later, after some more exploring on two wheels, we popped into a very fancy tea shop in search of mochi. Spoiler: no mochi. 😩

But they did have stunning Japanese sweets that looked like they belonged in an art gallery.
- Most of them were jellies and bean pastes, not overly sweet
- They came with a drizzle of syrup to sweeten things up
- They were… interesting (weirdly wobbly), but beautifully served and honestly kind of fun
Just as we were wrapping up, we checked the weather and saw a storm heading our way. We tried to get home in time.

Spoiler #2: We didn’t.

By the time we arrived back, we were soaked to the bone. Like, puddles-in-your-socks, water-dripping-off-your-eyelashes soaked. We all ran for hot showers — and fresh dry socks.

🥢 Dinner: Unexpected Okonomiyaki Delight

We originally planned on ramen, but festival crowds made that impossible. So we wandered until we found a cozy place called Donguri, and something about the glowing sign and delicious smell said “yes.”

We were shown to a Japanese-style booth with a griddle in the table — no shoes allowed, which Lucia loved because she’s basically anti-shoes at this point. 🧦

The menu was on a tablet and we picked a few things not entirely knowing what we were getting. What arrived?

OKONOMIYAKI. Aka:
✨ Savory Japanese pancakes with fillings like beef, prawns, cheese, corn, spring onions, and even kimchi.

Sizzling, saucy, fluffy, and fabulous.
We might have over-ordered, but did we leave a single bite behind? Absolutely not.

🚲 Final Thoughts

Day 8 gave us adventure on wheels, rain-soaked memories, and a new love for Japanese pancakes. We didn’t plan every bite — but sometimes that’s when the magic happens.

Tomorrow’s forecast? Hopefully dry… but even if it rains, we’ll find something delicious to eat. 😋

See you on the next page,
Francesca (plus Ted, the Fried Chicken King, and Lucia, the Barefoot Pancake Bandit) ☔🍴👣

P.S. Ted says okonomiyaki should be a school lunch option. I fully support this campaign.
Day 7 – Sushi Skills, Strawberry Skewers & Summer Festival Thrills 🍣🍓🎆

July 17, 2025
Konnichiwa, fabulous food fans!
It’s Francesca here, bringing you the very official and totally tasty Day 7 report from our Japan adventure. Today had everything: sushi skills, ice cream chills, and festival thrills. Honestly, I’m not sure I can fit it all into one post, but I’ll give it my best shot between bites of crème brûlée doughnut (more on that later… 😍).

🍣 Lunch: Sushi Like a Pro (Well, Almost)

This morning we ticked off a bucket list moment — a real-life sushi-making class! 🎉 We headed to Kyoto Sushi Master for our 11am lesson, and I’ve never been so excited to wear a hairnet in my life.

Our amazing teachers showed us how to make the perfect nigiri with:
- Salmon (soft and buttery)
- Tuna (Ted’s fave)
- Eel (yep, we ate eel and survived)
- Prawn, roe, crab, and even egg
I was in sushi heaven. Ted was an absolute machine and rolled out 14 pieces faster than you can say “Wasabi alert!” He even helped Dad, who was working very methodically (aka slooooooowly). 🙄

Lucia? She ate the sushi rice straight from the bowl like a mini rice monster. 🐉

We were all super proud of our creations… and then we immediately ate them. The sushi didn’t last long — but the memories (and soy sauce stains) will live forever.

🍦 Afternoon Tea: Manga + Mango = Happy Francesca

With our bellies full of fishy goodness, we waddled through the scorching heat to the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Inside it was cool and full of so. many. books. Including some very bizarre children’s stories which Ted thought were hilarious. We learned about the history of manga, saw some amazing art, and even gave it a go ourselves!

By the time we left, we were melting faster than mochi on a hotplate, so we popped into the café for ice cream.
- I had mango (fresh, fruity and fabulous)
- Ted and Lucia both had strawberry, and let’s just say Lucia’s face wore more of it than her mouth
We headed home for a rest (and a very much-needed fan nap) before heading back out into the night…

🎇 Dinner: Gion Matsuri Night Market Madness

Okay, buckle up.
Tonight we walked into what might be the coolest street party on the planet: Gion Matsuri!

What’s Gion Matsuri?
It’s Kyoto’s most famous summer festival, held every July, with parades, lanterns, floats, traditional music, and (most importantly) amazing food stalls lining the streets. Think fireworks without the fireworks — just food, colour, and vibes.

The streets were heaving with people, music, and mouth-watering smells. We ate our way through:
- Yakisoba – fried noodles, extra saucey
- Takoyaki – octopus balls, weird but yum
- Yakitori – chicken and beef skewers in sticky BBQ goodness
- Pickled cucumbers – refreshing and weirdly perfect in the heat
- Wagyu beef skewers – literal heaven on a stick
- Toffee strawberries – sweet, crunchy, and super shareable (except Ted dropped one and Lucia ate the other half)
Then… just when we thought we couldn’t fit another bite… we discovered the crème brûlée doughnut stand.
OH.
MY.
GOSH.
Crunchy sugar top. Creamy custard inside. Donut shell. Game. Over. 🍩🔥

💬 Final Thoughts

Today was officially one of my favourites so far — not just because of the sushi or the doughnut (okay, maybe a little because of the doughnut), but because we made our own lunch, explored something new, and danced through a festival under glowing lanterns.

Japan, you’re spoiling us in our final week.

Until tomorrow’s feast,
Francesca (plus Ted, Lucia, Mum, Dad… and a million lanterns) 🌸🍣🧡

P.S. Lucia now thinks sushi is finger food for toddlers. We’re not arguing. She’s terrifying with soy sauce.