Au Pair Diary | Lansing, MI Food & Exploration Diary

Let’s dive straight into the food first—two total standouts that made the trip! 1. Royal Pot (Yudingxuan) – Chinese Cuisine Before heading over, I’d already heard they served pig brains, and I was obsessed with the idea of trying them 😋. Even though tons of people recommended other dishes, nothing could top my craving for that. When I went with my partner, he didn’t even glance at the menu—he just said, “You pick, I’ll eat whatever.” At first, I ordered cold noodles, shredded pork with fish flavor, and “Hongyun Dangtou” (a spicy, savory pork dish). But then the waiter popped over and said their new “spicy Sichuan-style pig brains” (mao nao hua) was way spicier and more authentic—so I swapped in a heartbeat! I also added cumin lamb for good measure. A few minutes later, he came back again and suggested, “Why not replace the cold noodles with fuqi feipian (spicy beef lungs)?” I’m such a pushover for recommendations, so I agreed immediately. Next thing we knew, four heaping plates of meat showed up—and we went to town, no holds barred 🤤! Whoever said their portions are small is lying?! We were so full we could barely move. The first dish we cleaned up was the spicy pig brains—pro tip: eat it piping hot! My partner’s eyes were practically sparkling as he ate it. Before the waiter placed our order, he even checked with my partner twice: “Do you know she ordered pig brains? Are you sure that’s okay? Like, really okay?” My partner just grinned and said: “I trust her—if she says it’s good, it’s good.” And sure enough, he loved every bite. When the waiter came back to check on us, he couldn’t stop raving. In the end, we finished two dishes and packed up the leftover beef lungs and fish-flavored pork—his roommate tried them that night, and everyone agreed the cold leftovers were even better (weirdly delicious!). 2. The Dairy Store – Ice Cream So many MSU students had hyped this place up, and I kept thinking, “What ice cream could be that good?” Spoiler: Even after stuffing myself with a huge meal, I still had a “dessert stomach” for a double-scoop cone 😂. My partner, though? He’s 6’2” (187cm) and nearly 200lbs, but he could only handle a mini scoop—proof that girls truly have a secret second stomach for sweets, no debate! There was a line of about 20 people when we arrived, but it moved fast—we waited less than 10 minutes. I went with coffee + brownie (rich, fudgy, perfect), and he got mint chocolate chip. The double scoop was massive—way better value than the tiny mini, so save your money and go big! Places to Explore Preuss Pets 📍 1127 N Cedar St, Lansing, MI 48906 This pet store was way more fun than I expected! There were colorful tropical fish 🐠, cute reptiles (think geckos and turtles 🐢), and even chirpy birds—you could easily spend 30-40 minutes wandering around. It’s also great for photos if you love capturing cute, quirky moments. The staff was so friendly too—they kept popping over to ask if we had questions or wanted to learn more about the animals. For parking, just use the spot across the street—it’s super convenient. Metro Retro – Thrift Store I’d been wanting to browse a vintage shop, and luck was on my side: right after leaving Preuss Pets, I walked a few steps and spotted this gem! 📍 304 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906 As soon as I walked in, I zeroed in on the blazer section and couldn’t leave 🧥—they had so many unique styles! From what I could tell, about 40% of their stock was new Amazon items, and 60% was real vintage (a solid ratio!). If you love bold colors or mixing retro and modern pieces, this place is made for you. I scored a sleek red blazer, and I picked out a denim-patchwork corduroy shirt for my partner—both are one-of-a-kind but still easy to style. (Pics are at the end, promise!) #Michigan #LansingFood #MichiganEats #LepeiAuPairAbroad #LepeiAuPair #Apia