The tuna apple hazelnut salad sounds like an odd pairing, but it was bomb. Would go there again. Nice spot for brunch.

I have always been a foodie, but was never brave enough to film my culinary experiences. In May, I decided I wanted to pursue this dream, so I FINALLY downloaded TikTok (I was the only person I knew who didn’t already have it)! I started making small videos of local restaurants in the hope of being a “food influencer.” Though I'm still a small creator, I'm still dedicated to my craft. Here are the CliffsNotes of my most recent post (which now has over 10k views!!).

Tres Bro’s Nicaraguan Seafood Grill was AMAZING! I ordered a few dishes: Carne Asada Fritanga, the Fresh Scallop Ceviche, Salmon Chowder, and finally, the Chocolate Torte.

The ceviche was served with slightly salted chips. The bold, bright flavors of the seasoned scallops transported me to a tropical South American oasis (despite it actually being a windy Oregon day). I loved the combination of lime, mango, cilantro, and red onion. It was light yet left you feeling satisfied. The Fritanga had a couple of options for protein. You can get it with carne asada, chicken, pork, shrimp, cod, or surf and turf. I have no regrets picking carne asada! It was grilled, which left a great, charred flavor. The rice and beans were also cooked to perfection. The rice was soft, yet still had integrity, aka, just how I like it! Smoky bits of salmon and seasoned veggies were embedded in the chowder, which were a treat to pick out with my spoon. Every bite was packed with flavor. The chocolate torte totally surprised me! It was gluten-free, but was still rich and decadent. I would go back just for that!

Follow me on TikTok and watch the full review!!

I live in north Astoria and I just found a great hiking trail. Long story short, I hurt my back a while ago and I'm still recovering. I'm trying to go easy on myself and not attempt any of my usual gnarly treks. I found this trail on Google. I finally drove out and tried it this weekend. Super easy and flat. Not busy. Slightly muddy, but if you wear the right shoes should be no problem. FYI, dogs need to be LEASHED! I didn’t know that, so I was scolded by a guy for letting my dog Kai roam free.

I need to vent. I won't name names, but another family business just closed. It was quickly replaced by a multi-million-dollar chain. I heard that the landlords are desperate for national brands and are hesitant to keep leasing to smaller businesses. Isn't that just depressing? They're more concerned about making profit than they are about retaining the integrity and uniqueness of Astoria. The new storefront is also just such an eyesore. It used to be charming, but now it looks like a corporate hellhole. It would have been the perfect location for a cute restaurant or small boutique.

I was told to post it here too. ❤️

I just have to say, the Dairy Queen in Charleston does it right. Every time I drive by I SEE the pride in ownership. When I go in I FEEL it. You are doing it right and want you to know I’m proud of you all (even though I don’t know you). Thanks for giving me that sense of “awe” when I drive by. ❤️

this personal training studio is actually pretty decent. I had the vo2 max testing done. the consultation was easy. tom was chill and helpful. he had lots of equipment to use.

Lots of great underground music you can’t find anywhere else. Curated but not in a pretentious way. Even the used records are in good condition.

Here is my rant: OK, I know that being an amateur food influencer for the past few months has turned me somewhat into a food snob, but I have a serious complaint I know many people will agree with. I live in Astoria, which is obviously on one of the most beautiful coasts in the world, and yet… so many local restaurants STILL use FROZEN fish. Like dude.. we live on the COAST. The water is right THERE. There are SO many local seafood markets that they can support… yet they choose the bagged fish with freezer burn from Walmart. Sorry I had to get that off my chest 🤣

I went there for the first time last week- sooo good. I've been back a few times since then. Here are my rankings for items I've tried so far:

Caffe Mocha (10/10) literally a godsend & made it into my personal Top Ten best PNW coffees

If you're close by, give it a shot!!

RANT: Can we talk about how impossible it is to find parking downtown on a sunny Saturday? I've circled the same three blocks so many times I probably know every pothole in this town by name.