A Side of Sweet

Make a Difference :: Gifts that Give Back

A socially conscious shopping guide for gifts that give back. Remedy Road is your one stop shop for everyone on your list, and you can feel good about your purchase! Read on, because there’s a GIVEAWAY!

Do you think about social impact when you spend money? We do our best to buy food that has been produced in an environmentally sustainable way, but gifts and clothing are an entirely different story. I’ve tried to find companies that produce beautiful products in a way that supports their workers and don’t exploit human labor. It’s not always easy though! Many companies aren’t upfront about working conditions and how they treat their laborers. The easy choice isn’t always the right one.

I’m so excited to share Remedy Road with you. Remedy Road features products from companies that are making beautiful goods all over the world in a sustainable and socially responsible way. They do the hard work of identifying and vetting these companies and their missions. Their website features dozens of beautiful items, all of which are made in a way that empowers workers and changes communities…. Read More »

Where We’re Eating in April – San Francisco Restaurants

A look at where we’re eating in SF this month. Our new favorite San Francisco restaurants with photos and reviews – Fiorella, Presidio Social Club and Jane the Bakery.

I’m so exciting to share with you a new series here on A Side of Sweet! One of our favorite activities is exploring the amazing food scene here in San Francisco. Each month, I’m going to compile a few of my favorites and share them here on the blog. Want more recommendations? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.
Have a recommendation for a place we should check out? Let me know in the comments!… Read More »

Okinawa Taco Rice with Beans, Cheese & Bacon

Gluten Free Nut Free

Okinawa, Japan Taco Rice Recipe with Black Beans, Cheese, Tomatoes and BACON! Makes a great casserole, it’s easy to make and it tastes AMAZING.Let’s taco ’bout taco rice.

Despite all the incredible traditional foods that Okinawa, Japan offers, one of the prefecture’s most recognizable dishes actually has an American twist. Okinawan taco rice, or takoraisu, is a true fusion dish. It’s American Tex-mex cuisine mixed with Japanese…. Read More »

Tips for Traveling to Japan

Tips for Traveling to Japan – what to pack, etiquette, culture expectations, navigating public transportation, how to get tax-free purchases and more!

Oh Japan, you magical place. Full of heavenly meals and amazing sights, you’re a world apart from any place I’ve ever visited. You’re a place of particularities, of customs, and graciousness. Your people are polite to a fault, reserved, and rigid in their expectations. And I’m madly in love with every bit of it.

You will experience culture shock. That little anxious feeling rises up in your stomach when you can’t read the signs and don’t speak the language and are wondering what the heck you got yourself into! Don’t worry though, it will get better and it’s all worth it for the chance to explore this amazing country. Read on for some of my tips for getting the most out of your trip to Japan.

12 Things to Do in Okinawa Japan

A comprehensive guide to Okinawa Japan including travel advice, where to go, outdoors activities, family friendly things to do and more! Okinawa has so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Okinawa is an amazing place. There is something for everyone. For the nature lover, there is amazing hiking, sea kayaking, scuba diving and so much more. For the foodie, it might actually be paradise. The uniqueness and quality of the cuisine is alone worth the trip. If you’re traveling with kids, there are tons of family-friendly activities! The people are warm and welcoming, and so proud of their heritage and long lifespan. It’s a beautiful place, unspoilt by mass tourism, and a world apart from mainland Japan. Especially in Northern Okinawa, I had the sense that I was discovering a hidden secret.

Get my Okinawa Japan travel guide and watch my Okinawa video after the jump….
… Read More »

Kale Mushroom Pasta with Soft Boiled Egg

A vegetarian kale mushroom pasta recipe topped with a soft-boiled egg and grated pecorino cheese, plus the secret to cooking perfect al dente pasta.
Last weekend, Pat and I had the chance to take a seminar that included an intimate tour of San Francisco’s famous Ferry Building farmers’ market and a trip to Baia pasta factory in Oakland. Overall, I think we do a good job about being thoughtful about our shopping choices, but this experience was still a great reminder that it’s not just fruits and vegetables that matter. Throughout the day, we learned about what really goes into that box of pasta that you pull from the shelf…. Read More »