the food adventurist – Royal Origin

Old Adventures and New | Daily Life

I had an adventurous week. Here’s how it went..

That feeling when you leave work for a long week vacation.

Parked the two beauties in my little man cave.

John came over to pick up some of the new merch, which you can get at shop.royal-origin.com.

John keeps his black Corvette pretty clean.

The next day, we went on a boat for a small cruise in San Diego.

Angelo cheering to the good life. We all had our cameras out and drinks up because of this…

Vinh proposed to Rica! You may know Vinh as the guy with the crazy red STI always on Work Wheels and Rica as the girl who sells stickers at the car shows for us. They’ve been together for so long and for some reason this moment made me feel 10 years older. We’re not those kids anymore ruining the streets of SoCal anymore..

Congratulations Vinh and Rica!

We couldn’t stay the night in San Diego because of an early flight the next morning to Washington D.C. Got to catch the sunrise in the morning before the airport.

I didn’t take any photos in Washington D.C. because I was mostly in the hotel room being a sloth while Julia was working. We ended up going to New York for the last couple of days of our trip.

Julia’s first time in NYC. The lights were blinding her.

The next morning we went to go eat at Clinton’s Baking Company for salmon egg benedict and pancakes.

We also went to Sweet Moment for this watermelon shaved ice. Bomb.

We decided to go to the Metropolitan Museum for the day. It’s crazy this place is donations only and you can choose how much to pay.Afterwards we walked around Central Park and found this castle in the middle of it all.

For dinner we went to Chelsea Market for Very Fresh Noodles for the famous long noodles.

Gonna end the adventure with Julia enjoying the fuck out of the noodles we got. They were so good!

Thanks for reading and now we’re back to the daily life.

-NGUMINH

August 19, 2017

Track Day Prep with John Tran | Daily Life

Spent the day helping John get his car ready for his track day and I got to use his tools to install the grill on my SC.

Oh yeah, starting to look more complete everyday.

John added a roll bar to his car for more chassis stiffness and did an oil change before his big track day. This would be John’s first time taking his car out to the track.

Gotta floss a bit while you’re hitting those apexes.

Came home to a hungry wife and we decided that we should just go to sleep for dinner, but in the spur of the moment we ultimately drove to Cali Tacos to feed our hunger.

Carne asada fries at Cali Tacos.

We also got two asada tacos which were huge!

Definitely give Cali Tacos a try, it’s a San Diego style taco shop, so you know it’s bomb!

-NGUMINH

June 9, 2017

South Japan Visit | RO Explore

Every time I visit Japan, I always plan a day trip somewhere in South Japan. Sometimes to hang out with Ty from Hectopascal in Osaka or go see some cool shit in Kyoto. This time however, the sole purpose of going down to Osaka was to get Kobe beef! Like all day trips, we took the first train down to Kyoto from Tokyo just so we could get the maximum amount of time to do everything we planned.

Early mornings with a mix of boy band and a GAP commercial shoot poses by Anthony, Paul and Taylor.

First stop was the Arashiyama bamboo forest. I always forget to go here when I’m in Kyoto and I’ve been in Kyoto like four times.

This place looks bigger in photos than real life. It’s still a must visit when you’re in Kyoto.

The sqaud.

Amazing how we were able to hide all the people in the background.

This is a famous bridge. I don’t know why, but it is.

Soft serve ice cream for breakfast.

From Kyoto we traveled to Osaka and visited Shinsaibashi to find our Kobe beef restaurant.

Love the vibes this place gives me.

Abbitt ready to be filled with takoyaki and meat.

I love those moments where you share new experiences with friends even if it is just trying some octopus balls in Osaka.

Detective Rica was able to find the restaurant that I went to two years ago with Ross just by looking at a photo that I took of the food.

That top plate is Kobe beef! 75,000 yen or $75 USD for five pieces.

We got an assorted orders of A5 waygu steak and some beef tongue before eating the Kobe beef.

Shout out to Ryo for spending his day off with us! It was such a great experience to eat this delicious meat with close friends. Afterwards, we just took the long train back to Tokyo and then the airport.

Before we got on the plane, we decided to try out this sushi spot in the airport. Sushi Kyotatsu, was by far the best sushi I’ve ever had. A must try when you’re leaving back home and you’re in Narita Airport.

Thank you to everyone who made our time in Japan especially wonderful. Thanks for all the sticker trades and rides back to our Airbnb! We’ll see you guys again next year!

-NGUMINH

March 8, 2017

Road Trip to SF | RO Explore

Some photos from our San Francisco road trip.

Visited Big Sur on the wrong day. It was so gloomy..

Check out this Kodak picture perfect family.

It’s Julia’s world and we’re all just living in it.

Met up Vinh and Rica at The Table for breakfast.

Vinh brought Kobe along to get some mimosas.

Wild child Maui.

So much deliciousness.

Maui’s thinking “Didn’t you guys just eat? Why are you at a restaurant again?” Because we’re fat Maui.

Pretty Vietnamese boy Clinton met us up for Pepper Lunch.

We had to get Pepper Lunch and after breakfast was the only time we could do it.

Sleepy heads.

Mace recently joined Team Cozy.

The girls were trying to get turnt before we headed out to eat.

Met up Angelo and Bonnie who were coincidentally in San Francisco at the same time as us. We all decided to go eat at House of Prime Rib.

Best Prime Rib ever!!!

Pro Tip: If you don’t get full off of the prime rib, you can get another one for free!

My beautiful wife Julia.

After stuffing ourselves with gorgeous meat, we headed over to the Fine Arts Museum for some photos.

When I was testing the flash for a photo of Angelo and Bonnie, some strangers photo bombed us.

If Back Street Boys was gay and Asian.

It’s hard being a model, but it’s not hard to eat some ice cream crepes. We headed to Genki Crepes to cap the night off.

So good.

The next morning we went exploring and all the sites we wanted to see were covered in fog.

So beautiful..

Best view all weekend.

Started the food tour at Mr. Holmes.

While waiting in lines in SF, we eat.

Cup length is the penis size of their boy friends/husbands.

Food porn everywhere. Shout out to the fog for giving me great lighting.

This weekend was filled with photo bombers.

Kobe take the wheel.

Shout out to Vinh for taking us to Meadowlark Dairy even though it was out of the way.

Yota Boyz.

Thanks Abbitt and Krstina for driving! Thanks Vinh and Rica for showing us around! Let’s do it again soon!

-NGUASS

January 5, 2017

HOODRATstuff with The Track Burnaz | Video Shoots

A couple of weeks ago, Shavi and I were invited to come up to LA to shoot The Track Burnaz and check out the making of a music video for their song “Bad Tings” with DB Bantino. Which you can check out here..

https://soundcloud.com/rnbass/db-bantino-ft-the-track-burnaz-bad-tings

Sippin’ on lemonade and discussing music.

DB in our “Script” snap back and JDBT tee.

While we were here, there was another music video being shot.

HOODRATstuff in the valley.

They might have sky views, but these guys are the most down to earth people I’ve ever met.

DB doing his thing for the music video.

It’s a party when you have Squirt in the mix.

DB even jumped off the roof into a swimming pool. Anything for the gram.

Thanks DB, JB, Ruben and Briggz for having us at the shoot. Make sure you check out their new EP and buy it here..

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mia-2-lax-ep/id1131480834

We were starving after the shoot, so we decided to hit up Plan Check before heading home.

Delicious burgers and even hotter waitresses.

B Sweet for some ice cream and bread pudding.

Shavi knows how to be sweet.

Dessert is the best ending for a good day.

-NGUMINH

July 27, 2016

LA Catch Up | RO Explore

Vinh Luong was in town with Rica and we had a triple date for some good SoCal food. It’s crazy how Vinh use to live down here and I would see him almost every other day, but now that he’s done with school and moved back to Milpitas I only see him a couple of times a year. I’m glad even without the passion of cars, we’re still able to hang out like we use to and that’s when you know you have a lifetime friend.

We took them to Abbitt and Kristina’s favorite shabu spot, Mokkoji Shabu Bar in Irvine.

Get any meat and ask for it to be marinated. Life changing…

Dessert we hit up the one spot that is always open late. After’s Ice Cream for a milky bun.

The following night was an adventure to KTown in LA for the best KBBQ. Hae Jong Chae. The girls wanted us to take a group photo, but we don’t really know how to be normal for a photo.

The ladies.

Couples.

Beautiful…

Medium rare for everything.

Make sure you save room for the kimchi fried rice at the end!

Make sure you shop.royal-origin.com…

Went exploring around LA for some good photo ops. I took them to Little Tokyo to find the hot ling bling hallway.

Vinh drove us in his Tundra. This thing is so awesome.

Yota Gurlz.

That’s it for today’s food adventure. I’ll miss you Vinh and Rica! Have a safe trip back home.

-NGUMINH

July 13, 2016

Healthy to Fat in 10 Seconds | Food Adventures

Some food adventures for today, these are restaurants you must try when you’re in Orange County..

Acai Bowl at Crave Cafe in Garden Grove.

Lots of fruits and lots of flavor.

Mushroom Pizza at Jinny’s Pizzeria.

Everything at Pig Pen Delicacy.

Pho at Sit Low Pho.

After the Food Adventure we met up with the guys at 7 Leaves.

Adam’s Benz pm Rotiform IND-T.

Late night HOODRATstuff.

The next day I came into work and surprise! My 35mm 1.4 came in and this was my first test shot.

Jason planning the next steps for his Jeep.

After work I took the wife to check out Anaheim Packing District.

We got garlic fries and poke from Pokinometry down the street.

We were still hungry so we gorged ourselves into some buns at Baos Hog.

Food is everything to me…

-NGUMINH

July 12, 2016

City of Angels with Bruno Mars | RO Explore

Spent the day with Rodney, exploring LA and making ourselves extremely fat. We made the trip to try out Beer Belly since it was on one of the top ten things to eat when you’re intoxicated.

You already know what it is. shop.royal-origin.com.

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real. -2Pac.

The famous grilled cheese at Beer Belly. Bacon on the side because Rodney doesn’t eat pork. He doesn’t fuck with cops.

Chili cheese fries.

Yolk and cheese porn.

LA blues.

We got rid of the blues with Salt and Straw ice cream.

We decided to go downtown and check out Grand park.

Symmetry is life.

Eerie.

Boost vibes.

Disney concert hall.

Rodney wanted me to shoot his new album cover photo. I heard he’s calling it “Bruno Mars The Replica”.

Deep in thought or just sitting on a random chair in the middle of a circle.

Reflection Eternal.

The best part of the day is when the lights come on in the city.

Bokehlicious.

Our last stop was the hot line bling hallway in Little Tokyo.

Does it look like he’s sitting on the white wall?

Still impressed that this grandma car was able to take us around in LA without breaking down.

Thanks for the good times Rodney!

-NGUMINH

July 3, 2016

Food Unites Us | Food Adventures

The best two words you can tell me is “Let’s Eat!”. I’ve been on a food binge lately and it’s mostly because I try to eat like shit only on the weekends now. So, when the opportunity rises to go get some good food, I always say yes.

Spent my lunch with Rodney eating Mick’s Karma Bar and got a Habanero burger of course with a strawberry basil lemonade.

Afterwards, we tried this nitrogen ice cream spot near my house that puts dry ice in a bottom cup to give this smokey effects. Neat, but the ice cream wasn’t that good.

Met up Vinh at Pho 79 for their special oxtail meat. So fucking delicious.

Vinh about to fuck his whole day up with all the stuff he’s going to eat.

Afterwards, we met up at Ky’s house to check out how his GS is doing. This guy moves quick!

Later on we got tacos at Taco Factory and we were slightly disappointed with the meat quality.

This is Vinh’s disappointed sex hair look.

Swung by Abbitt’s to see how he was doing with his truck. All we do is eat and work on cars.

I got the call from Rodney to go get After’s ice cream in his area to make up for the disappointing nitrogen ice cream we had earlier in the day.

Always satisfying to eat a Milky Bun.

Food and cars.

-NGUMINH

June 30, 2016

Happy Wife, Happy Life | RO Explore

Took Julia out to the Griffith Observatory since I always said it has the best view of LA. We went right before sunset and got the best parking spot, I had to note that because finding parking is a bitch in LA.