Rayfil Wong and John Legend at Momofuku Noodle Bar

New York City 2nd Day
Highlights: John Legend @ Momofuku + Times Square + Rockefeller Center
Meals: Milk Bar + Momofuku
Timeline: 1pm till 2am

Rayfil Wong and Jamaican Azza Lulu in Times Square

“I’m from Hong Kong and would love a picture it its not too much trouble”

John Legend answers with a slight yet charming smile, “sure, for my people in Hong Kong.”

Known as one of the sexiest man alive from People Magazine, my metro sexual eyes recognized him instantly he walked through the doors of Momofuku. I like his voice and mild yet strong demeanor.

So, what can top that off on just my 2nd day in NYC?

How about a fabulous meal at Momofuku?

Back tracking, I woke up around 12pm to blog and do some work from a tiresome 1st night that ended at 5am. New York never sleeps its true. The phrase work hard play hard can never be more true.

My afternoon starts with Hong Kong Jamaican friend Azza Lulu. I love chilling with her because she always had a big smile and just vibrant happy look on life.

Jump up, life is great!

Food porn: First bite, I fell in love with Crack Pie from Milk Bar. Cookie lovers will enjoy these sweet treats with crunchy texture.

Elsye Putri and Rayfil Wong in NYC

Tourist Spots: Took a subway ride to Times Square + Naked Cowboy. Captured amazing JUMP photo with Azza Lulu.

Models: Also meet a Ford Model while taking pictures. She is 6ft from Europe. She told me she gets lots of work there. While I am signed with City Models in SF, we get very few gigs. My last audition was with Motorola.

Afternoon Tea: Walking around New York City is amazing, but wear comfortable shoes. Met up with New York local friend Elyse Putri who I met in Hong Kong last summer. With a big smile, she had a great positive vibe. So I was simply feeling it. Next, we trekked over to the amazing Apple store.

Sarah Won + Laura Andres Martin + Rayfil Wong @ Momofuku Noodle Bar

Dinner food porn marathon: For dinner, I at Momofuku noodle bar with my super multi-talented friend Kari Jensen. I met Kari at Web Wednesday, a tech event in Hong Kong this past summer. She has been so gracious helping me with Campusfork’s press release.
Dinner was a marathon, just read the Momofuku blog post.

Kari’s friend are just awesome and amazing down to earth people.
{ Ken, Yvonne, Laura, Sarah, }thanks for the good times.

Rayfil Wong and Kari Jensen

New York City 1st Day
Highlight: Witnessed Club fight + Bar Hopping + Berkeley Friends
Meals: Ippudo Ramen + Tuck Shop
Timeline: arrive at 6pm in NYC, bar hopping till 5am

A blonde hair girl in her mid twenties quickly raced down the cold slippery sidewalk. Noticeably, fresh chilly tears ran down her pale face.

Just a few steps behind, her boyfriend followed. Fresh streaks of blood raced from his forehead down to his chin reminding me of a fight on Madison Ave. In a heart beat, I said to myself, “New York City, I have arrived.”

Ippudo Ramen

Crash Pad: UC Berkeley friends Joe Yang and Jason Lee on 4th Ave. next to famed ramen house Ippudo.

UC Berkeley: Joe Yang + Jason Lee + Rayfil Wong

Dinner Food porn: Pairing well with the cold weather, a bowl of Ippudo ramen meal was utterly perfect. Savory dense broth + fried Jalapeño

Dinner Surprise: While slurping on my ramen, “Hey Rayfil!” Suddenly, I received a giant bear hug from Azza Lulu (1/2 Jamaican ½ Chinese), a friend from Hong Kong.

Drinks: Apple Restaurant, seeing childhood friend Winnie Jim and her posse of girl friends. Winnie found me on Facebook and we recalled our childhood memories in Brooklyn. Next, bar hopped around four other bars with varying themes.

Rayfil Wong + Winnie Jim Apple Restaurant

New vocab: Poppy + Shorty

Post Bar Food porn: With a buttery crust, Australian meat pie did the trick at Tuck Shop.

Gross highlight: rats running around garbage bags on the street

Reflection: The Energy in New York City is INTOXICATING. Love Manhanttan, but be prepared to pay top $$ Bling Bling. A 600 sq foot 2 bedroom around $2800 monthly.

Fog-Nami (Tsunami of Fog)

Originally uploaded by Sutanto

Dear mommy,

Recently, I have been studying a lot about happiness.
Conclusion, it is a choice.

Being frustrated at times with business + people in general, life is a long journey.

At times, a very tiresome one.

But I remind myself about F.O.G

{Forgiveness} is key to being happy. We hold on to grudges and build a pool of enemies.

At the end, we become negative people and simply feel like crap.

{Optimism} is seeing the best of each situation. If you just got laid off, see it as an opportunity to change to a career that makes your heart beat every morning.

My friend Angela Kung started being a real estate agent in Hong Kong a few years ago. Her optimistic attitude is contagious and attracts big time clients. She just sold an apartment for around $8 million USD.

{Gratitude} is key to being happy, for sure.

I complain about not getting a parking spot in San Francisco or other things that just don’t go my way. But once I volunteer as a food server in the kitchen at a homeless shelter, I am instantly grateful for so many things.

Book Club:
Elizabeth Kwo let me barrow a great book, How We Choose to Be Happy by Greg Hicks. Great read.


{Return to Philosophy Page}

Go Canes !

Originally uploaded by CromagnondePeyrignac

Dear mommy,

Recently, I had coffee with a career woman in her early 20s.
She is smart, kind, and successful in her career.

But during that brief coffee time, I affirmed something that I knew before.

Entrepreneurs and corporate 8-5 people are not on the same wave length.

As an entrepreneur, I define risk as “dashing into the future with hope.”

Entrepreneurs embrace the unknown.
We enjoy the competition and focus on the reward.
We thrive in competition.
We acknowledge failure is our best teacher.

While sharing my vision, she said
“isn’t it scary not to have a stable salary?”
“isn’t is scary to take risk?”

my lesson.

Find your cheerleaders. If you want to be the next Oscar winner, hang our with people who have been their and done it.

If you’re an entrepreneur, surround yourself with those who are like minded.

Remember, Time is our best asset.
Each day goes by too quickly.

Don’t waste your time trying to convince someone who you will be. Just Do IT!

Seize the day, seize the moment but find your cheerleaders.
These support group will destroy doubts and carry you through the hurdles.

Rayfil Wong


{Return to Philosophy page}

Puppy

Originally uploaded by Vampire Black Cat

This weekend, I caught up on my sleep.
I am now recharged.

I realized that I was not enjoying my dim sum breakfast along with my sushi happy hour with my family because I was simply tired.

Now refreshed, I am ready to go.

Also on Saturday, I was happy that my CAL Bears upset Stanford in the Big Game.

Starting today the Intel chip will be set free

Originally uploaded by Veerle Pieters

Today, I went to an Intel audition.
I was suppose to play a cool engineer guy.

Arriving at the studio, about 40 people were waiting anxiously, except me.
I don’t get nervous, but instead excited.

I think “it’s not in my control whether they pick me.”

The photography ask me to jump, look serious, and a few other animated moves.

Met a few great people from my modeling agency.

Lesson learned: persistence pays off.
In this world, there is so much talent out there.

Giving up too soon on any dream in life can be a big mistake.

Jumping into the new dimension

Originally uploaded by Shutterhack

Dear mommy,

Risk scares people.
I don’t blame them.

Uncertainty can send us into a shock.

As an entrepreneur, I learn that

“Risk is simple dashing into the future with hope”

When we take risk, I would go far and say that this develops our habit for hoping for the best.

When taking risk, I learn to plan for the best and worst case scenarios.

I also learn that people can approach risk more comfortably when they have little or nothing to lose

I have brilliant friends that would be great entrepreneurs. but they have tied themselves down, like an anchor on their feet.

They have
- a mortgage to pay
- a big car loan
- + a bunch of other liabilities

so keep your liabilities low so that you can be ready to jump on great opportunities

-Rayfil


{Return to Philosophy page}

…making bathtime lots of fun…

Originally uploaded by dan [durango99]

Dear mommy,

When I see kids, I smile.
They are so carefree and full of happiness.

They have fun.
When they try to sell a cup of lemonade, they simply smile and say

“Would you like to buy a cup!”

Uncle Fear has not been introduced.
Auntie Anxiety is far away.

Recently, I have been learning more about life.

I got it all wrong.
We don’t need the BMW
We don’t need the white picket fence

all we need is simply someone to APPRECIATE our
existence in this world.

all we need is some fun

Note: my high school sweetheart taught me to skip when I am sad. She said that no one can skip and frown at the same time.

I hate to say it, but she’s right.

Rayfil Wong

While most fifth graders would wake up Saturday morning watching cartoons, I watched an animated chef with remarkable knife skills named Martin Yan “Yan Can Cook.”

A few years later, while working for California Culinary Academy, I went to his live food demonstration at Macy’s cellar in San Francisco.

After the show, I went to his publicist Stephanie Jang.
“I want to be an entrepreneur and learn more from Martin Yan.”

Few weeks later, I was in Martin Yan’s office. The office walls are covered with numerous pictures that Martin Yan has taken with celebrities and officials.

3 Lesson I learned from Martin Yan

1. Believe. Every decision should start with believing. Arriving in America as a dish washer, Martin Yan worked his way up to celebrity chef.

2. Entertain. Martin Yan taught me that communicating effectively means entertaining. I asked him if he had a girlfriend in college. Yan answered “ Girlfriend? My station wagon smells like sesame oil.” I laughed out loud.

3. Relationships. Martin Yan took time to mentor me and gave really valuable tips. He taught me a Chinese proverb. The proverb taught me that a leader must manage a healthy relationship inside the family first, before attempting to conquer a business. I agree. Most of our happiness depends on our relationship with people.

On a chili night in San Francisco, I struggled just briefly to fit into my Bruce Lee outfit. Yellow track pants and suit combined with black sneakers resembling kung fu suits.

At the costume contest, Bruce Lee was an entertaining force along with “too” naked Tarzan and swift Manny Pacquiao.

Thanks to Julie (Jules) Vano for putting together the event at the Wedge in Daly City.

Paolo Torres + his Filipino entourage represented as well.

“How do you like my hair ladies.”