Bambi's Mother, Meet My Stomach!

I was born in the Philippines. During the 10 years I lived there, I ate what was put in front of me without batting an eye. Every day was like an episode of Fear Factor. Cooked salmon roe, still in the sac, straight from the mommy fish? Check. Fish eyeballs? Sucked the living daylights out of them! Beef tripe? As part of Kare-Kare, it’s one of my favourite things to eat. So then why am I feeling so squeamish about my first time eating venison tomorrow?
 

5 Things About SJ... In 5 Words Or Less!

The name's Jack. Simply Jack. Or if you would like, Simple Jack. I have been in the food-tasting industry for over 30 years, seeing as how I have eating since being born. Within those 30+ years, I have managed to travel the world, to lands which introduce great cuisine, to others which you wouldn't want to touch the silverware. I'll try any food once, though, so that maybe someday, you won't have to!

1. How would you describe yourself?

Simple, Jack, Simple Jack, SJ. (haha, ok...) Competitive, Resourceful, Hungry, Stable, Maniac
2. What is your food philosophy?
Eat now, pay later.
3. Describe your fave meal.
Steak, Potato, and Green Beans.
4. Describe your fave beverage.
Bloody Mary!
5. What was the last thing you ate today?
Protein Bar!

Finish this quote: Anything is better with _____ !
Anything is better with bacon!

The Way To A Mended Heart Is Through My Stomach

Someone I love dearly broke my heart last week, and like many others who have experienced the same before me, I got a sudden craving to munch on something sweet. I looked in my cupboard and found some Betty Crocker Warm Delights microwaveable fudge brownie mix. I thought, "Score!", until I remembered that it was he who introduced me to this snack. I promptly put the container back on the shelf and looked for something else to soak up my tears.

The DC Restaurant Week Virgin

Considering the number of years that I have lived in the DC area, one would think that I have gone through the DC Restaurant Week experience at least once or twice. Well, that’s a negative. I suppose it is partly because my previous dining partner-in-crime and I dined out all the time, so there was no reason to wait to check out a place. It is also because I am picky with the items that restaurants choose for the prix-fixe menu. I understand that because of the lower price point, they cannot offer the usual luxurious dishes, but to have lackluster, unimaginative dishes is lame! This is the time to advertise the restaurant, to entice customers, and a roast chicken or a vegetable stir fry dish ain’t gonna cut it!  At least not for moi!

eat • drink • ponder • write

Change. It goes hand-in-hand with this time of year, when people go through self-reflection and decide what they need to improve upon. After some thought, I figured I would jump on the bandwagon and make some improvements of my own with this blog. 

Liveblogging: Super Chef Battle on Iron Chef America

For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of the Japanese Iron Chef series. Naturally, when Iron Chef America started, I got into that too. Unfortunately, over the years, the challengers who have graced kitchen stadium were none whom I was too interested in, and my interest in the show waned. That is, until I saw the commercial for this episode.

One Down, Zero To Go

The other day, I was perusing my favourite website, The Frisky, and I came across an article titled "The Kiss of Death: 15 Signs Your Relationship Is Doomed". Curious, I clicked on the link. By the end of the article, I was running through all of my past relationships, trying to see if any of these signs were present. I know the writer was only being half-serious, but I think she was really on to something! At least half of what is on the list was responsible for the demise of some of my relationships. I won't say which ones exactly, but on more than one occasion, I have held myself hostage in the shower more than a few times, not wanting to come out to see what is going on outside the curtain!

A Great Dinner, No Wingman Needed!

Sometimes, you just don't get a perfect dining experience right away. On my first review for this blog, I recounted a dinner I had at Cheesetique. Although there were some technical difficulties with the wine (yuck!), I still managed to have a fantastic time thanks to my friend. She single-handedly gave me a lobotomy and made me forget about how terrible the wine was. Conversely, there have been times where the amazing food cast a spell on me and compelled me to see my blah dining companions in a more positive light.

In these instances, the food and company worked with each other, helping the less-desirable aspect seem more appealing, much like what a wingman does. However, in the case of dinner last week, both the food and company were amazing from the get-go.

"Foodie" is a Four-Letter Word

This past week, I have been doing quite a bit of shameless self-promotion for this blog. To keep my eating, writing, and reviewing skills sharp, I have been doing some research. This means flipping through my piles of Food & Wine and Wine Spectator magazines and re-reading my food books (Thanks Anthony Bourdain and Pim Techamuanvivit!). Over the course of my studies, I've come across some words that often come up in culinary journalism, but I have never liked.

Falling for Cheesetique

Ahh, the beginning of fall. As much as I love the laissez-faire way of life that comes with the summer months, I eagerly anticipate the turning over of the seasons. It's the time when you feel that slight breeze during the day, you see the leaves change to their requisite autumnal hues, and you discover all the new fall merchandise arriving at the stores!

As with the seasons, it was a natural progression that a friend and I moved our weekly powwow about life, men, clothes, and shoes from her sunny poolside to cozy Cheesetique in Alexandria. We sat down and giddily talked about getting rid of our summer clothes to make room for our freshly acquired fall wardrobe, and even had a serious discussion as to when to break out our new boots! I thought, this cheese place is perfect for us cheeseballs!