Cloud Foqus

Somewhere between the gentle rolling hills and foggy mists of England, I fell in love with black tea. After moving to the United Kingdom for a few months, surrounded by a new culture and colorful accent, afternoon tea seemed like a very British tradition to experience. Up until this point, I had never been much […] Read More

I made this cake a year ago to share with my dear friends Tom, William, and Meghan who were returning from an expedition to the Grand Tetons. My intentions were sound as I assembled the ingredients and baked the cake. However, once I tasted it, all good intentions were thrown out of the window. I […] Read More

Two big moments quietly arrived last week—Pastry Affair‘s 4th birthday and my own 26th birthday. Pastry Affair‘s momentous occasion arrived with little to no fanfare, forgotten at first, and sheepishly remembered a few days later. It feels so natural for me to identify as a blogger now, to spend hours each week in the kitchen and […] Read More

There are a dozen or so recipes that are regarded as family recipes in my home, passed down from earlier generations. Among those held most dear are our honey cookies, which grace the dessert table when the holidays arrive, and my Grandmother Irene’s orange rolls, which are made when the snow melts and stand for the hallmark beginning of spring. As I’ve grown older, I’ve […] Read More

The romance of winter is fading as we enter the depths of the season. The novelty of the crisp, cold air has worn off; we pay no mind to the fleeting clouds materializing and dissipating in time with our breaths. The white snow has darkened, developing an industrial look to match that of the bustling […] Read More

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, so says the old proverb. I’ve been on an apple kick lately, eating my way to dozens of apple cores in the last month. I ate apples with sandwiches instead of chips. I ate apples whenever I had the inkling for a snack. I ate apples before […] Read More

Growing up, I was a picky eater, especially when it came to tree nuts. I avoided them during my childhood and teenage years simply because they looked “gross” to me. Each Christmas, my father would get a jar of mixed nuts wrapped up in a bow. He’d offer them to me to give a try […] Read More

On the coast of Oregon, there is an undiscovered restaurant resting in the small town of Oceanside. Unless you happen to stop in the town of 300 people to catch the sunset on the beach, you would never know this little corner of heaven existed. With a view of the ocean that could make your heart […] Read More