LA Delights: Lil' Vegerie, Bouldering, Thunderbolt Bar, and Amber Liu's Live Concert
上週六近中午的時候，我和男友準備去朋友的家提前幫朋友慶生。經由某位朋友的推薦，我們先是去了一間位於Redondo Beach的素食餐廳 Lil’ Vegerie 取餐。朋友說這家是洛杉磯南灣這區最好吃的素食餐廳。需要注意的是這間店家只有提供戶外座椅用餐，所以如果當天天氣不佳只能外帶。
Last Saturday, around noon, my boyfriend and I prepared to celebrate a friend's birthday. Following a recommendation from another friend, we headed to Lil' Vegerie, a vegetarian restaurant in Redondo Beach, to grab some lunch. According to our friend, it's considered the best vegetarian spot in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. It's important to mention that this eatery provides only outdoor seating, so in case of unfavorable weather, takeout is the only option.
這間店的老闆人特別的友善，特別解釋了菜單上的Bowls排序是經由餐點的冷熱程度排名。雖說每個人喜歡點的餐點都不太一樣，但老闆還是特別有耐心的告訴我每個料理的特色以及客人喜歡的特點。
The owner of this restaurant is exceptionally friendly, taking the time to explain that the order of Bowls on the menu is based on the temperature of each dish, ranging from cold to hot. While everyone has different preferences when it comes to ordering, the owner patiently shared the distinctive features and popular aspects of each dish with me.
BBQ Jackfruit
我自己是點了BBQ Jackfruit，食用感想就是菜如其名，餐點本身帶有非常濃厚的燒烤味。適合喜歡帶有肉味的素食者。
I opted for the BBQ Jackfruit, and true to its name, the dish had a rich barbecue flavor, making it ideal for those who enjoy meaty textures in vegetarian cuisine.
Goddess
雖自己點的是BBQ Jackfruit，但我個人更喜歡男友點的Goddess。Goddess味道更加清爽不膩，材料也更加的多樣。只能說每樣料理都各有千秋，非常看個人偏好。我們的朋友則是點了Mushroom Carne Asada，如果喜好香菇這款會非常適合你。
Despite choosing BBQ Jackfruit for myself, I personally favored my boyfriend's selection, the Goddess. The Goddess bowl had a fresher and less overwhelming taste, with a more diverse range of ingredients. Each dish has its own merits, catering to individual preferences. Our friend went for the Mushroom Carne Asada, a perfect choice for those who appreciate the flavor of mushrooms.
用餐完畢後，我們前往了Long Beach一家室內抱石攀岩館。要不是因為朋友提議抱石這項活動來慶生，我估計會以為抱石跟攀岩是同個類型的體育項目。沒想到原來還是有些許的差異。
After our meal, we ventured to an indoor rock climbing gym in Long Beach. If it weren't for a friend suggesting bouldering as a celebration activity, I would have thought that bouldering and rock climbing were the same type of sport. I didn't realize there were some differences until then.
老實說，我其實對於攀岩抱有陰影。高中曾經因為體育課初次接觸過攀岩。當時因為沒有經驗，估計是姿勢不當而導致攀岩完的隔天手部肌肉痠痛到有一週多無法伸直和提重物。我當時被我媽笑了一陣子。
To be honest, I have reservations about rock climbing. I had my first experience with it in high school during a physical education class. Due to my lack of experience, improper posture likely led to sore muscles in my hands, making it challenging to fully extend or lift heavy objects for over a week. My mom had a good laugh at my expense back then.
Long Beach Rising
這家抱石攀岩場真的特別乾淨，單次(Day pass) 收費 $27 (額外租金: 鞋子+ $5; 粉袋+ $2)。直接到櫃台填寫個人資料並簽屬條款就可以直接開始了。令我意外的是這家抱石場的更衣室非常的大，而且所有設備都特別的新。來的時候記得攜帶儲物櫃鎖就可以把貴重物品放進它們提供的儲物櫃。
This bouldering gym is exceptionally clean, with a single-day pass priced at $27 (additional rentals: shoes + $5, chalk bag + $2). You can simply go to the counter, fill out your personal information, sign the waiver, and start bouldering. I was pleasantly surprised by the spacious changing room and the modern equipment they provide. Don't forget to bring a locker to secure your valuables in the storage they offer.
由於晚上要去Fonda Theater參加劉逸雲的巡迴演唱會，我和男友決定就近找個可以吃點小吃的酒吧。之前我在芝加哥的時候特別喜歡位於西環的Kumiko日式酒吧，男友說根據他找到的世界酒吧排名，Thunderbolt跟Kumiko不相上下。也因如此，我們打算趁此機會嘗試看看它到底有何不同。
On account of attending Amber Liu's concert at the Fonda Theater later in the evening, my boyfriend and I decided to find a nearby bar for some snacks. Having a fondness for Kumiko, a Japanese dinning bar in Chicago, I was intrigued when my boyfriend mentioned that Thunderbolt, based on his findings in the North America’s 50 best bar rankings, was comparable to Kumiko. Therefore, we seized the opportunity to explore and see what sets Thunderbolt apart.
Thunderbolt
到了這家酒吧，我們才知道它與Kumiko的理念有所不同。Thunderbolt主要是想營造鄰家酒吧的概念，訂價也相對便宜。酒吧氣氛相較下比較輕鬆友好，沒有高檔場所給予的束縛感，所以更加的平易近人。酒吧門口可以免費的街邊停車，就算是假日晚上也並沒有想像中的那麼難找車位。
Upon arriving at this bar, we realized that its concept differs from Kumiko. Thunderbolt primarily aims to create the concept of a neighborhood bar, and the pricing is relatively affordable. The atmosphere of the bar is more relaxed and friendly compared to high-end establishments, making it more approachable. You can park for free on the street in front of the bar, and even on weekend nights, it's not as challenging to find parking as I had imagined.
稍微讓人有點不適應的一點就是進入酒吧並沒有特定的接待，得特別去找調酒師拿酒單。座位可以任意挑選、隨意坐，並沒有太多的規則。
One slightly unusual aspect is that there isn't a specific reception upon entering the bar; you need to approach the bartender to get the drink menu. Seating is flexible, and there aren't many rules regarding where you can sit.
回歸到雞尾酒，個人覺得Thunderbolt的特色在於他們對於調酒技術的創新。例如，調製雞尾酒時常會使用鸡蛋清來增加酒的質地和口感。以此讓雞尾酒的表面形成一层细腻的泡沫，飲用起來更加丝滑。與此不同的是，Thunderbolt利用了各種創新的技術來製造出相似的口感。像是使用改良的植物纖維來產生穩定的泡沫、高氮氣體來產生似於啤酒的層次感、和打散的椰奶來制造絲滑感。
Returning to cocktails, I personally feel that Thunderbolt's uniqueness lies in their innovative approach to mixology techniques. For example, when crafting cocktails, some drinks often use egg whites to enhance the texture and mouthfeel of the drink. This creates a delicate foam on the surface, making the cocktail smoother to drink. In contrast, Thunderbolt employs various innovative techniques to achieve a similar mouthfeel. They use modified plant fibers to create stable foam, high nitrogen for a cascade reminiscent of beer, and broken coconut milk for a silky sensation.
#Cocktail
當天晚上我總共試了三種調酒：
That evening, I tried a total of three cocktails:
1) Koji Killer - A frozen painkiller with an umami punch
朗姆酒，菠萝，椰子，橙子，塩麴 | Rum, Pineapple, Coconut, Orange, Shio Koji
帶有水果香味的調酒冰沙。喝起來的口感很像是蔬果冰沙的口感。
A cocktail slush with a fruity aroma. The taste is reminiscent of a smoothie, with a texture similar to a regular fruit slush.
2) Lychee Daiquiri (Non-Alc)
荔枝，朗姆提取物，酸橙，鹽 | Lychee, Rum extract, Lime, Salt
此款無酒精，喝起來是帶有鹹味的荔枝飲料。老實說，我還是第一次喝過這種組合但卻意外的不會很為和。
This non-alcoholic beverage has a lychee flavor with a hint of saltiness. Honestly, it's my first time trying this combination, but surprisingly, it doesn't taste out of place.
3) La Frutera #3
龍舌蘭酒，番荔枝，煙燻菠蘿蒸餾液，南瓜子，腰果，黃瓜，酸橙 | Tequila, Guanabana, Smoked Pineapple Distillate, Pepita, Cashew, Cucumber, Lime
對這款的調酒本身不太有記憶點。本身有黃瓜的清爽感但感覺有點被酸橙蓋掉。
I don't have a strong memory of the cocktail itself. It has a refreshing quality from the cucumber, but I feel like it's somewhat overshadowed by the acidity of the lime in the mix, and it might be affecting the overall balance.
這個酒吧本身的食物還算可以，覺得調酒更值得嘗試。
The food at the bar itself is decent, but I feel that the cocktails are more worth trying.
小酌後，我們前往了洛杉磯方達劇院參加了劉逸雲的巡迴演唱 - No more sad songs。我男朋友特別的期待當晚的演唱會。因為男友剛好也是Su Lee的頭號粉絲，知道她是當晚演唱會的開場嘉賓他興奮的不得了。也因為參加這次的演唱會，我跟男友有幸拿到Su Lee的親筆簽名。
After a light drink, we headed to the Fonda Theater in Los Angeles to attend Amber Liu's No More Sad Songs tour. My boyfriend was particularly excited about the concert because he is a big fan of Su Lee, who happened to be the opening guest for the night. Thanks to attending the concert, both my boyfriend and I were fortunate enough to get Su Lee's autograph.
#SuLee #I'llJustDance
在Su Lee演唱的時候，剛好意外地捕捉到這個時機。她的動作剛好跟她簽名上畫的小人一模一樣。
During Su Lee's performance, I happened to capture a perfect moment where her gestures matched exactly with the little figure she drew on her autograph. It was a delightful and unexpected coincidence.
不得不說劉逸雲現場演唱的功力實在是太強了，完全沒有休息的時間。一首接著一首的唱，而且完全沒有喘氣聲。能有幸在洛杉磯參加到她的巡迴演唱實在是太榮幸了，在社群網站看到說她在中國的演唱會門票很快就售盡了。沒想到自己在洛杉磯能有這個機會買到她的演唱會門票。
I must say, Amber Liu's live singing prowess is truly remarkable, with no breaks in between songs. She sang one after another, and there was no sign of fatigue in her voice. It was a great honor to have the opportunity to attend her concert in Los Angeles. I've heard that tickets for her concerts in China sold out quickly, so I feel fortunate to have purchased tickets for her Los Angeles show.
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