July Cabin Stay & My Philly Food List
+ a few fashion favorites & best fashion things I saw this week
Happy 4th! I’m writing this week’s newsletter in bed because I’m too tired to do anything else. Things got unexpectedly busy, and I felt like I had not caught a breather. For July 4th this year, we’re skipping on going out for fireworks. No celebrations, and I’m sure you know why. I also just returned from a 2-night cabin stay in southwestern Pennsylvania. We stopped by Philly for dinner and didn’t get home until midnight, exhausted.
Zook Cabins invited me to come stay at one of their cabins in Pennsylvania.
sønderhaus Ysidra Set - top & bottoms in London Plaid *gifted
COS wired balconette bikini top (34B)
Not to sugar coat anything, but it turned out to be a much further drive than what I had anticipated, last minute. With the heavy rain and thunderstorm on Tuesday, the drive to the cabin was so tough, and we didn’t make it there much later at night. The older I get, the more I feel like my body and mind can not handle these long car rides anymore. At least, my cabin wasn’t in the flood zone, and I would have hated having to reschedule it. The team and I were in communication, and there were RVs and people in the campground (that made it less intimidating!).
Despite of its rural remote location, I actually kinda liked it because it felt like an actual getaway from the city hustle. The cabin is fully equipped with everything, and it’s so cute and cozy inside. Yes, there are ACs if you’re wondering! I had to chop woods and made the fire to heat up the water in the hot tub, but that was an experience I very much enjoyed. There’s a small patch of wildflowers lining the entire perimeter of our cabin, and it attracts all sorts of bugs, butterflies, and birds. We had wine next to the bonfire while watching the sunset, and I got so excited when I saw fireflies at night (those are so rare nowadays!).
Stay tuned for the cabin vlog this Sunday!
Thank you Zook Cabins for having me!
***BOOK YOUR STAY WITH ZOOK CABINS HERE - my cabin was at the Somerset Resort and Campground in Friedens, PA, the A-frame cabin with wood fired hot tub.
Zook Cabins are cabin builders, HQ in Gap, Pennsylvania, and they own and operate cabin rentals across the US. This link is not an affiliate link, meaning I don’t earn any commission from your booking. The brand provides creators a unique link so that they can track the traffic to their website.
My 2025 Philly (mostly Food) List
Mawn (Cambodian) - This spot is #1 on my list because the chef owner, Phila Lorn, has recently won a James beard award for Emerging Chef. I walked in around 5:30 on Thursday, and they were all booked for the night. I think you’ll have a maybe if you go at lunch, so I’d highly recommend giving it a shot!
Middle Child Clubhouse (American brunch, modern) - spacious and hip brunch spot in Fishtown, known for sandwiches!
FORÎN (coffee shop) - small coffee shop, selling records upstairs. Laptop friendly!
Phở 75 (Vietnamese) - This is a classic Philly cheap eat, and there’s only one food item in the menu - pho. I liked the ratio of noodle to meat to broth, the meat variety, and how you’re being serviced by the Viet uncles. The broth wasn’t fragrant or pho-heavy, but it was a pretty decent bowl for the price. Huge space, cash only!
Café Diem (Vietnamese) - I had their famous Bun Bo Hue, and I’d agree with other reviewers that this spot was good, on a slightly sweeter side. It wasn’t the best version I’d tried, but worth a stop if you’re carving BBH in South Philly for sure! Cash only (there’s an ATM right next door with $1/$20 cash take out).
Café Nhan (Vietnamese) - I had Bun Bo Hue here on my very trip visiting Philly, and all I remembered was that someone paid for our meal here. It’s because they were being loud and felt sorry that they were bothering us. It’s weird, and I think they could be related to the owner of the restaurant?
Pho Saigon (Vietnamese) - This was high on my list because it’s my friend’s recommendation (he and his family are a local Vietnamese in Philly!). I’ll try this spot next time!
Ba Le (Vietnamese sandwiches/deli/take-out) - This one is better than the one in Boston and Dallas. I bought a banh mi and so many other Vietnamese snacks for the road to the cabin. Highly recommend a stop!
Ba Le food haul - left: Nem chua, Bánh giầy - Vietnamese ham rice mochi sandwich, Bambu #6; right: Nem Nướng Cuốn - Vietnamese grilled pork rolls; right: Bánh Tiêu - Vietnamese hollow donut with sesame seeds
Bambū (Vietnamese desserts & drinks) - In case you don’t know, Bambū is a dessert drink chain originating in San Jose, California, which specializes in Vietnamese Chè and other Asian desserts and drinks. Not all locations are good because Chè isn’t an easy thing to make. This location in Philly isn’t the best, but I keep going back for me (my favorites are the #1 Bambu special and #6 fruit cocktails). I don’t think east coast people do it right, but Chè is the next best thing after boba. In NYC, we’re never short of great boba options, but nothing good for Chè!
Hung Vuong Supermarket (Vietnamese grocery store) - I was excited when I found out about this market a couple of years ago (before finding out that Tan Tin Hung existed in NYC!). I no longer have to wait to get my favorite Vietnamese ingredients such as spices and herbs elsewhere because we do have everything here in NYC! But if you’re in south Philly, stock it up because Vietnamese things are always cheaper at Vietnamese-dedicated grocery stores!
Pizzeria Beddia (pizza) - large thin pies with cripsy crust and creative toppins natural wine.
BOBA: I’d recommend Chicha San Chen, Molly and Teazzi in Philly because we have and love these in NYC!
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ON MY LIST: 1-900-ICE-CREAM, Friday Saturday Sunday, Kalaya, Illata, Angelo's Pizzeria, Grace & Proper, Càphê Roasters, Mi Quang at Café Mi Quang, Pho Ga Thanh Thanh, Meetinghouse, Johnny Brenda's (my friend’s #1 favorite bar), Murph's Bar, Cafe Lift, Terakawa Ramen, Ray's Cafe & Tea House, EMei 峨嵋 (EMei Restaurant), Buk Chon Korean Cuisine, Menagerie Coffee
Best fashion things I wore and saw this week
My new Janessa Leone Wavely hat (M) and Toteme one-piece swimsuit (S)
VESTIGE (2041 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA) is a curated boutique shop located in Fishtown, Pennsylvania, and I’ve been following them on IG for awhile now. I thought their clothing and accessory curation was really spot on and right up my alley, and it was so fun browsing, seeing, and discovering new things/brands.
Lastly, I’m currently obsessed with polka dot anything!
MIU MIU polka dot skirt
And some screenshots I love!
Hope you’re having a nice and relaxing long weekend. Stay safe and take care!
An :X