On the Menu

My first valentine

February 14, 2026 by

For as long as I can remember, my dad has given me and my sister each a rose (and my mother a bouquet, of course) every Valentine’s Day. The roses given each year are his way of trying to show us lo...
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A love letter to ‘Tiny’

February 14, 2026 by

Food has become the main way love moves through our small Isla Vista house. It lingers in the kitchen as a pot simmers on the stove or a cutting board dries by the sink. Food is simply our love langua...
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Baked cauliflower, easy & cheesy

February 6, 2026 by

Ovens have been a point of contention throughout my culinary exploits. I shudder to bake or broil, often sticking to the Pillsbury easy-bake chocolate chip cookies or assembling the dish for others to...
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Baking and ballots: Ordinary grocery runs through a political lens

January 29, 2026 by

Friday morning, the day before my best friend’s 21st birthday, I realized I had no more flour. This is probably not a problem for someone who is celebrating their 21st, but for me, it was a pers...
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This two-ingredient Japanese cheesecake recipe is nothing to Bi-scoff at

January 29, 2026 by

When it comes to cooking, I am often a creature of simple mind: I see a viral, low-effort, low-stakes recipe, I go ahead and try it. This inclination has led me to some of the best (tanghulu, oh my) a...
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The best cookie In I.V.: Sweet Pete’s Treats

January 29, 2026 by

Pete Smith, better known as “Sweet Pete” by Isla Vista locals, opened up a cookie shop in September 2024. The shop is tucked inside one of Isla Vista’s most beloved restaurants: Sam’s To G...
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Trader Joe’s vegetable soup dumplings: easiest vegetarian snack ever

January 11, 2026 by

As a vegetarian, it’s easy to be envious of my meat-eating counterparts with the number of options available to them in every cuisine, at every restaurant. Many a time I’ve wished to indulge in Ko...
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Untraditional Thanksgiving traditions

November 27, 2025 by

My family has always treated holiday planning like a spontaneous sport. Everything eventually works out, but not before we pay double for flights we could have booked weeks earlier in advance.
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Quick & Easy Peanut Noodles

October 30, 2025 by

Peanut noodles are an obsession of mine that I continue to come back to (aka most days of the week). I’ve previously shared a recipe for fiery-peanut noodles, but sometimes I crave a more subtle pea...
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Happy Oktoberfest!

October 30, 2025 by

When October is around the corner, my feed overflows with people decked out in German-style dresses and others accessorized with suspenders and feathered hats. They’re most likely gripping onto a li...
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DoorDash at Home: Crunchwrap Supreme

October 2, 2025 by

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as when you’re opening the DoorDash app, only to find that any decent meal is going to run you around $30. We’ve all been there: hoping maybe this time you o...
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Getting zesty at the Goleta Lemon Festival 2025

October 2, 2025 by

In my opinion, the Goleta Lemon Festival (September 28-29) is the most creative response to the old adage, “When life gives you lemons.” Tracing back to the 1990s, the festival has a rich history ...
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Tanghulu: the refreshing crunch you need this summer

September 17, 2025 by

My friends and I often love to whip up some cool and cute desserts we’ve seen on the internet. We’ve tried the viral frozen Sprite gummies, frozen sour grapes and many more I can’t recall but th...
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On The Menu Digital Map

September 16, 2025 by and


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In love with Part Time Lover

September 4, 2025 by

If you ever find yourself south of Santa Barbara, wander down to Part Time Lover for a drink and some music. It’s an experience worth the four-hour drive.
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