A few years ago, I was working in influencer marketing at an agency in Boston’s North End. Ultimately, it was a job I both loved and hated at the same time. I loved learning all things influencer and seeing the content process start to finish but the work environment was toxic. My time there was short-lived (roughly 18 months) but in that time there were a few really great moments.
There were a lot of good times with some coworkers and it was great to be in an office with people around my age. Before that role, my coworkers were all between 40-60 — which had ups and downs in its own right. I got to explore a new neighborhood. I learned a lot about social media and influencer marketing, a passion I still hold and an industry I still work in today. But most of all, I found a lunchtime/mid-afternoon routine that brought me so much joy.
The North End is close to the waterfront in Boston and a short walk to both that and the TD Garden. Taking lunch breaks became essential to my mental health. I’d walk around the neighborhood and sometimes walk to other neighborhoods forgetting how much time had passed before rushing back to the office. I loved these moments and I’ll honestly cherish them for the rest of my life. I was in my mid-twenties, working at an ad agency with some very colorful people, and just living life — sounds like a Netflix series if you ask me. Long story short, I found a spot I really loved one day. It was called Equal Exchange Cafe but I was too overwhelmed by the coffee choices the first time I went to order any. I’m a Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Black kind of girl. So, instead, I opted for these spring rolls in the grab-and-go fridge. I had never had rice paper spring rolls before but I grabbed them and before I knew it was paying and heading out the door. I sat down on my usual bench overlooking the water and the TD Garden and I fell in love. This moment, as simple as it was, was a happy one. To break it down, you need to know a few things. 1. I love being on the water. 2. I’m not a die-hard sports fan but I love sports and have worked in sports in some capacity since college. No matter what’s going on in the world, games bring people together. Everyone has their differences and rivalries but at the end of the day, can all come together for the common good. Sitting there with a view of the water next to a building that can bring so much joy to the city felt calming to me. And then I tried the spring rolls. I realize how ridiculous this all sounds and as I’m writing it I feel like such a loser, but it really is the little things in life. They were just these veggie spring rolls with peanut sauce and I was sitting on a concrete bench people watching. Anyways, the rest of the time I worked at that job I would get those spring rolls a couple times a month and I don’t regret it. Unfortunately, they fell victim to the pandemic and closed but I still think about them now and then, so I made them!
It took a while to get here, but we made it — or maybe you scrolled. After some trial and error, I think I’ve perfected these spring rolls so give them a try if they’re your thing.
Ingredients:
🌶 Rice paper wrappers — out of the package, soak individually in warm water for 15 seconds to make them pliable. Note: They will be sticky!
🌶 Mango – thinly sliced in strips
🌶 Jalapeno – no seeds, diced
🌶 Cucumber — thinly sliced strips
🌶 Red Cabbage – shredded
🌶 Cilantro
🌶 Carrots – shredded
🌶 Red peppers — thinly sliced
🌶 Tiny bit of lime juice
🌶 Rice noodles
Serving:
Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour and serve. I like them with a Thai Peanut sauce I get from Whole Foods but you can certainly make your own or source from any other store. They don’t hold their form that well in the fridge too long so try to consume within 1-2 days.
Enjoy!