I'm Outta Here!

"Oh Memorial Day Weekend, how I have missed you! I cannot wait to reunite with you, this time in Ocean City, MD."

My bestie and I will be spending our long weekend in the OC (the East Coast version), galavanting on the boardwalk, soaking up the rays while drinking poolside. Where will you be?

May 22 - May 28: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Asian Heritage National Festival: The whole afternoon can be summed up in four words, "Chicken on a stick".

Old Dominion Brewery: Watched the Flyers clobber the Canadiens over some Hoegaarden.

P. Brennan's: Did the dessert sampler with the panna cotta and the blueberry bread pudding. Panna cotta was superb, and the bread pudding was to die for!

Ray's the Steaks: Red meat with the Riderz. Worth the hour-long wait (jeez, thanks a lot, Mark!).

Tony Cheng's: Late night eatings with Mark and Buddha. We ordered a total of eight dishes. Now that is gluttony!

Battle of The Pike's Thai Restaurants

Here's a question: when choosing a restaurant, do you decide based on the ambience or on the authenticity of the food? One would think that the food would take precedence, but after taking an informal poll of friends, it seems that the atmosphere is just as important as the food in the decision-making process.

In my neighbourhood, there are two restaurants vying for the title of "best Thai place ever!", namely Bangkok 54 and Thai Square. I have had the pleasure of dining at both, and to me the difference is as clear as black and white. Herein lies the issue: with two places being so starkly different, how can anyone possibly figure that one place is better than the other?

Commitment-Phobic? Try 20 Bites!

Friends who know me well, know that I have issues with commitment. I have a tendency to be fickle and because of this, I like options. That may be why I have been obsessed with small plates lately. Tapas at Masa 14, mezze at Komi, whatever you call it, these food bite samplers are the answer to my commitment-phobe, pseudo-ADD appetite. They really are the best of both worlds; if I like something, I can always order more plates of it, and if the food is a disaster, at least I didn't waste a whole lot of money on the little sampling.

May 15 - May 21: Top 5 Sins of The Week

ADC @ Donovan House: Drinks at the rooftop pool deck, overlooking much of the District. Clear skies, great friends, and Veuve Clicquot champagne = happy face!

Caribbean Breeze: Felt like I was back in Rincon, PR after dining on lechon, arroz con gandules, and empanadas.

Extra Virgin: The tiramisu was light, but the cannoli was a little too sweet for my liking.

P. Brennan's: Watched the Flyers come back from a 3-0 deficit to eliminate the Bruins. Guinness never tasted so sweet!

Village Bistro: Lobster ravioli with Old Bay sauce was good. Lamb sausage was over-spiced and over-cooked. That's the problem with outdoor barbecue, it's too difficult to regulate the cooking temperature.

Pimp My Pub

I was flipping through the channels the other day when I came across an old episode of the MTV classic show "Pimp My Ride". I have always loved the show's premise: Taking someone's old clunker of a car, adding some fancy accessories, throwing some fresh paint on it, and voila! Same old car with a fresh, updated look. P. Brennan's of Arlington is banking on a similar idea.
 

Dinner Date Decision-Making

I'm pretty opinionated, especially when it comes to telling people where to go for food & drinks in the District. Want an awesome Mexican place where you can dine al fresco? No problem (Lauriol Plaza)! Want imaginative plates of Greek / Mediterranean mezze? Sure (Zaytinya)! Want a place to have drinks with a view? Definitely (ADC at Donovan House Hotel)! Want me to pick a place for a date? Umm, I'd rather eat pickles, thanks!

As the designated "foodie" (still dislike that word, by the way!) within my circle, I'm occasionally called upon by friends and family to give my take on all things related to food & drinks. Sometimes, I even give them my two cents without being asked! But when it comes to choosing a dinner/drinks date venue, I break out into a cold sweat. Why is that?

May 8 - May 14: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Bangkok 54: Had an amazing duck roll, wrapped up in a buttery, flaky roti. Tender duck and cucumber inside was divine.

Cafe Citron's top floor: Apparently, if the bartender likes you, your drinks are automatically upgraded to doubles free of charge.

Midtown IV Diner: Post-Flyers game breakfast. Did not touch the scrapple.

P. Brennan's: Guinness and good food while watching Game 7 of the Flyers-Bruins series. Go Broad Street Bullies!

Silver Diner: Fresh and Local menu unveiled to local food writers. Had a gluttinous feast which included salmon burger on pumpernickel bread, gluten-free pasta made out of brown rice. Awe-some. And guess who won the $50 gift certificate?

Going AWOL on June 16

At long last, Bravo has given us an official air date for Season 7 of Top Chef! Yes, the one that was filmed right in my neck of the woods. So dear readers, I implore you: please do not call me, text me, expect me to show up anywhere that does not have a television, because I intend to plant myself in front of the 42" to do some live-blogging of the inaugural episode.

May 1 - May 7: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Atilla's: Creature of habit, especially when it comes to really, really good gyros.

Hard Times Cafe: Cincinnati Chili with chopped onions, sour cream, and cheddar. Comfort food!

Matuba: Still cannot get over the portions and the freshness of the fish.

P. Brennan's Irish Pub: Site for my very first shepherd's pie. Herd me, I'm a follower!

Restaurant 3: Very happy hour (or two!) with the DC Food Bloggers.

DC Food Bloggers Unite!

What has 40+ legs, wears a Pucci headband, eats free food, and comes out nocturnally once a month? No, not a crossbreed between a caterpillar, Ann Coulter, a tapeworm, and a bat! It is the DC Food Bloggers Happy Hour crew, and this past Wednesday I got the chance to meet some of the members.

Eater's Remorse

I will go out on a limb and say that everyone has experienced buyer's remorse at some point in life. It is the great shopping equalizer, capable of knocking a shopper down in one fell swoop! Myself, I try to avoid it by researching any purchases, going to online forums and reading reviews. Whether it's for a pair of shoes or eyeshadow, I want to know what the world has to say. But sometimes, I get lured in and I fall for the sales pitch, hook, line and sinker! 

Fever For Food Reviewing

Food review? It must be contagious! I am excited to announce that my cousin Alexis is venturing into the world of food & restaurant blogging. She's my go-to gal in the Panhandle, and will be reviewing all that Melbourne, Florida restaurants have to offer! If you're ever in the area, make sure to check her blog at SpaceMunchies.blogspot.com for any recommendations.

April 24 - April 30: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Atilla's: However you pronounce "gyro" (hee-roh, yee-roh, jai-roh, jee-roh?), the beef one was perfection.

Champps: The perfect Saturday involves sunshine, hockey and beer.

Gordon Biersch Brewery: If it has the word brewery in the name, then the attention goes to the beer, not the food, so don't expect anything spectacular from the eats.

Thai Square: Just awesome. 

Union Jack's: British pub grub while watching Game 7. Had the fish & chips and a spotted dick. Honest, that's what it was called!

Thank You!

There must be something in the air, because I have been a sentimental dork to the umpteenth degree lately. The incessant use of ♥ symbols on Facebook, the non-stop verbal affection for friends and strangers alike, I have become a walking-talking pile of mushy goo! 

Fungi Love

Sometimes, when I have had big meals for breakfast and lunch, I end up having something light for dinner. One of my standbys is mushroom soup. It's fast and easy, and is just enough to satisfy my late night hunger. I would love to say that I make the soup from scratch, but being the busy gal that I am, canned stuff it is. I do try to be more creative with it, by adding other ingredients. Usually, I just throw in chopped wild mushrooms. Tonight, I didn't have any shitakes, but I had something far better:  black truffle salt.

April 17 - April 23: Top 5 Sins of The Week

District:  Birthday party. Drinks were weak, pick-up lines were weaker. But the music? Absolutely solid!

KFC:  Yup, just had to try the Double Down Sandwich. Getting it grilled is better, right? Again, ran a couple extra miles to nix that monster.

Shawarma Spot:  The setting for a really deep discussion about Connecticut, 'roid monkeys, and the Baltimore vs. DC debate. Thanks B'more, the beef shawarma was awesome!

Union Street Public House:  Gotta love a place where the bartenders will change not one, but two television channels so you can watch the hockey playoffs from both angles! Thanks, Bruce.

Ventnor Sports Cafe:  Had to kill some time before heading out. Labatt Blue... pretzel... hockey game... Is it just me or is every other guy in the restaurant/bar industry named Scott?

It's All Greek (Yogurt) To Me

I now have a brand new food obsession, and I cannot get enough of it. Oh Greek yogurt, how is it possible that our paths never crossed before? Now that we have been introduced, I cannot imagine you not being in my life.

Hit Me With Your Best Spot!

I know I have been pouring on the hockey references lately, but what can I say? I love the sport, so just bear with me. In a way, I liken life to the playoffs: you win some, you lose some. You can do as much preparation as you can, but sometimes plans just fall apart. This past Saturday was yet another busy day for me. I had errands to run, work to do, restaurants to review, and a couple of parties to go to, so I had to put my time management skills into overtime. I started my day early but I still didn’t get home until around 5 o’clock. As soon as my head hit the pillow… zzzzz! I was planning on just a 30 minute power nap, since I planned on going to Party #1 around 7 o’clock and hanging out for about hour. I must have been pretty tired, because when I woke up, it was close to 8 o’clock already (sorry I was a no-show, Road Runner!). Party #2 wasn’t until much later, but Dibby and I wanted to hang around Adams Morgan for a little bit, so we cabbed over and walked around.

Moving On Up... To A New Weight Class

For those of you who do not know me, I am quite petite. I am about 5' 3" tall and have a three-pound fluctuation range for my weight. In fact, it's pretty difficult for me to gain any pounds, despite my ravenous appetite. Don’t hate me, blame my mom and dad, for the superb Asian genes! Because of this, I eat without holding back, without any thought, without any guilt. I have never dieted, never obsessed about clothing sizes, never even bought a scale! Over time, people told me that eventually my metabolism will slow down and I need to be mindful of my intake. After high school, I waited. After university, I waited. I've been waiting, but it never happened...

Burger Prep For Bathing Suit Season!

It's almost bathing suit season, ladies! The time of year that strikes fear and anxiety in most women is right around the corner, and already, some women have started their prep by doubling up on their gym time, going to the tanning salon for a base tan, and being meticulous about their caloric intake. Myself, I prepare by eating burgers! Not to fear, I will do this gluttonizing in complete moderation!

April 10 - April 16: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Astor Mediterranean:  Hit the spot, after some door-to-door campaigning in Adams Morgan.

Circa at Dupont:  Lunching al fresco? Divine. Mimosas at 1pm? Fabulous.

Hello Cupcake:  The Carrot and Vanilla Gorilla flavours were delish! And no, I don't mean Jesse James.

Poste Brasserie:  Still cannot stop raving about "20 Bites" (really, it was 21) because it was such an amazing meal. Will definitely be the first restaurant for the Professor.

Ray's Hell-Burger:  Ridiculous lines, but The Dogcatcher was well worth the wait.

Canvassing 101 in the District... Canadian-Style

I know the District is HQ for government, but little did I know that I would soon get myself entangled in politics. I'm from Canada, so my headquarters is the nearest bar to watch the hockey game! Yesterday though, I got recruited to pound the pavement and canvas for votes & support for Fenty's re-election this coming September. DC had called me in the afternoon, asking if I and any friends were available to help. He pleaded a good case; if I said no, he'd have to do the whole district all by himself. Oh, a sucker for a good sob story, I am! I made a few calls to friends, and while some were interested in helping, they weren't getting off work until much later. Looks like it's going to be a two-person job, and the ironic part is that this half of the team is Canadian and a Virginia resident! Oh well. After a quick tutorial on Canvassing 101, I was handed my clipboard and off we went! 

Sensational Saturday, Daytime Edition!

Bestie Dibby and I have something we like to call "Sensational Saturdays", where we pick out a new hotspot in DC to explore each Saturday night, be it a restaurant, lounge, or club. Instead of always going to the same ol' spot over and over again, this forces us to check out a new place. We tend to visit at least a couple of places, because DC just has so much to offer. It feels like there is always a new place opening each weekend! Over the past few months, we've had our crazy nights (hello, Tattoo security cam!), but we have also had our share of once-in-a-lifetime, amazingly fun times. Living each day to the fullest, we both like to say!

April 3 - April 9: Top 5 Sins of The Week

El Pollo Loco:  Craving the chicken.

Capitol City Brewery:  Just cannot stay away from their pretzels. Oh, and their beer!

Chinatown Express:  Yummy cheap eats in the heart of Chinatown. During the weekends, line-ups extend out the door. 

Funxion:  Organic, healthy eatery that becomes a club afterwards. The concept seems a little schizophrenic in concept, but fun nightlife!  Vodka and cran, a little on the strong side, but if you're paying double-digits, shouldn't it be?

Home:  Been cooking again, made Shrimp Pad Thai. I won't say I'll be opening a Thai restaurant any time soon, but at least it transported me to the Bangkok airport.

Top Chef Stalking Starts... Now! (Supposedly)

Guess what today is! Today (supposedly) is the first day of filming for Top Chef's seventh season, if you read Tom Colicchio's tweets. As metrocurean mentioned, the location has yet to be confirmed, although all signs point to DC. There is also word that the chefs (supposedly) are staying somewhere around 20th and R Streets. If Top Chef home base is Dupont Circle, I am willing to bet the chefs do their shopping at the Whole Foods Market on 14th and P Street.

If any of this (supposed) news is true, then I am packing up my bags, leaving the office, and setting up stalkerazzi cameras around the perimeter of the Whole Foods Market!

[Editor--Oh Bravo... you have the best photos! Thank you.]

March 27 - April 2: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Bob & Edith's:  Greasy diner food on a rainy day. Hits the spot.

Chipotle:  Three soft tacos, carnitas, with guac and sour cream. Always good.

Don Pablo's:  Salty shrimp tacos and bland black beans are never a good thing. And people thought that Mexican food was foolproof.

Hunan One:  Never would have imagined this place as the go-to place for Happy Hour in Clarendon. But yes, all the yuppies come in full force for the $3 giant beers. Learned all about CrossFit and the Paleo diet. Possibly found the longest name for a dish (Chicken-and-scallops-just-tell-the-tall-blonde-it's-what-Connie-orders).

Wasabi Sushi:  Sushi and shopping? Is there a better combination?

Take It With a Grain of Salt

Sensational Saturday was upon me again, and I was excited about my daytime plans. I was going to go to Annapolis to have lunch with a chef friend, but due to bad weather there, our meeting got moved to DC. I was a little disappointed because I wanted to play tourist and I also wanted to review a seafood place. But it didn’t matter. As long as Chef was buying lunch, I can gluttonize anywhere!

It seemed like everyone (tourists and locals alike) was “oot and aboot” in DC, since the weather was gorgeous and it was the peak time to see the cherry blossoms. We chose Chinatown as our food destination. With the plethora of restaurants in the area we decided to walk around for a little bit and check out menus and peek inside restaurants. After much hemming & hawwing, we finally settled on Chinatown Express.

You know something is working when a place that is the picture-perfect definition of “hole in the wall”, has a line-up that extends outside to the sidewalk. On Saturday, there were over two dozen people standing outside. This place definitely had some fans, especially those craving handmade noodles and authentic Chinese food. I myself am one, having eaten here several times before. I love the beef tendon hot pot (there’s something about the gelatinous texture), pan-fried dumplings (amazingly, not greasy), and the roast meats (what’s not to love about crispy pork skin?). Today though, was all about simple, comfort food.

Crankasaurus Rex Sighting!

So I'm a Crankasaurus Rex in the mornings, I’ll admit it. I have an early morning wake-up call for work Mondays to Fridays, which makes for one very grumpy person at the hospital. The only exception is on Thursdays, my designated “Sleep-In Day”. Yes, my boss is cool enough to acknowledge that I am not a morning person and that I need one day out of the week to catch up on sleep. On top of that, Thursday also happens to be Donut Day.

Breaking Story! DCG > WCG!

Exciting news! I have been talking to friends up in Vancouver about food writing and restaurant reviewing for a while now. Well, you know how it goes… a friend of a friend of a friend knows somebody. A close friend of mine works with one of the writers for Vancouver Courier, a city newspaper. I went ahead and sent my CV along with a few articles, and got offered a sweet job as a writer for their Arts & Entertainment section!

It looks like I’ll be going back home to Vancouver in the next couple of weeks. So, DC Gluttony will go through a slight metamorphosis to become WC Gluttony! Details to follow!


...


And if you didn't catch this already, HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!

A Case For & Against Fusion Cuisine

There is a rampant illness afflicting a lot of local chefs these days, and the cure is nowhere in sight. The illness is Fusionitis, and it has spread through the DC-area restaurants like wildfire over the past few years. Look at the description of some of the more recent restaurants in town and I will bet that a good number of them are described as having some form of fusion cuisine. Masa 14, Oya, and Zengo all have the Latin Asian cuisine down pat. Mie N Yu combines both the Far East and Middle East. Jin has both Asian and Caribbean influences in the menu.

Is this trend the way of the future for restaurant cuisine or do chefs in this area just have multiple personality disorder?

Keep. It. Simple. Silly.

Most of my friends live in Northern Virginia, and for some reason, they all seem to have an aversion to "crossing the bridge", aka going to the District. My friends in DC feel the same way; to them, Virginia and DC might as well be separated by the Atlantic! For both sets of friends, it has to be worth it to make the effort to cross the Potomac. Me, I love going into the District on a regular basis, whether to explore new places or meet up with old friends. TaylorMade is one of those friends. He and I have a kind of friendship that would hibernate for weeks or even months, but when we get together, we pick up from where we left off. The last time we saw each other was this past fall for my birthday. He said he contacted me after that and that I blew him off. I call BS and plead 99% not guilty.

I was in the mood to check out Masa 14 and TM lives but a few blocks away so to make amends (ha!), I invited him to check out this joint. There has been so much hype about Masa 14, from people (like DC) and from written publications (like Washingtonian Magazine). Plus, I have eaten at each of the chef's other restaurants before (Zengo for Sandoval, Kaz Sushi Bistro for Kaz, Viridian for Burrell) that I was curious to see how this menage a trois would turn out.

Wasabi: Conveyor Belt Sushi in the Beltway

I was roaming around Tyson's 1 yesterday afternoon, and I happened upon Wasabi. Truthfully, it was hard not to! This kaiten-concept sushi restaurant was located smack dab in the middle of the mall's ground level, between the escalators. Having gone on an insane shopping spree at the area's biggest shopping centre, I was famished! True, I just had sushi a couple days earlier, but one can never eat enough raw seafood, right?

March 20 - March 26: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Home:  No, not some new, fancy restaurant! I actually ended up cooking a superb dinner a couple times this week. Been running on sunny days, thus eating like a pig. One evening was grilled lamb chops (awesome!), the other was seared duck breast (yum!).

Masa 14:  Meh.

Matuba Japanese Restaurant:  I've been here once before. Worthy of a repeat. Some of the freshest sushi around town, yet quite inexpensive. Within walking distance from my house, to help keep the pounds down.

Rappahannock Coffee:  Ate the quiche. Not too heavy, lots of veggies. I ran an extra mile that day.

Starbucks:  I always get the Venti Green Tea Latte, extra hot. Unless I get the Tall Hazelnut Latte with Soy Milk.

Reunited: Me & Matuba on the Pike

On the way home, my phone rang, and imagine my surprise when I saw that it was an old friend from days past who was calling me! Vegas and I had not spoken with each other for a while, ever since we had a falling out early last year. Yes, it was all his fault. No, I'm not kidding. We talked for a bit, and slowly, all the animosity melted away. Apologies were doled out, and I decided to forgive Vegas. After all, second chances are deserved by most, right?

Considering that I just regained a friendship, I decided to pay homage to the situation by going to a place that is also worthy of a second chance. Truth is, I felt like taking a break, as I have cooked dinner for the past couple of days. My 'hood is really diverse, so I knew it wouldn't be difficult to find an awesome place to eat at on the Pike. I just needed to remember where I've gone before and have "blacklisted". Immediately, I thought of Matuba's.

Gone Fuzzy for Fizz

I was driving home yesterday, listening to the "Energy 5" playlist (don't make fun!) on my iPod because I needed to get out of my bad-weather funk, when the song "Everybody Dance Now" came on. Hearing it immediately brought me back to my elementary school days back in Vancouver.

March 13 - March 19: Top 5 Sins of The Week

Komi: DC and I opted for the Degustazione. Heaven! See my detailed post on this.

Moby Dick’s: Had Combo II with rice, which comes with the Kubideh (ground sirloin) and Joojeh (chicken breast).

Taqueria Poblano: St. Patrick’s Day dinner with the girls. Had the usual mainstays, chips & salsa and guacamole. Ordered the Duck Carnitas, Fish Taco, Shrimp Taco. The duck and shrimp were alright, the fish was a total fail. But then, I’ve never been a fan of breaded fish.

Tony Cheng’s: Post-ETOH dining at one of the DC Mayor’s favourite places to eat. I can’t believe someone else eats tripe!

Tryst: Had a large Chai tea. A bit on the sweet side, but the spices were on point.

Taqueria Poblano
2400 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703.548.8226

Oh. Em. Gee. Top Chef Season 7 = Washington, DC!

As some of you may already know, I have been a die-hard Top Chef fan. I have watched the show since its inception and have not missed an episode yet. Well, you can imagine how I just about pee'd my pants (TMI, I know) when I found out a few days ago that my beloved show just may be coming to town to start filming Season 7 on April 5! Are you effin' kidding me?!

D-Day: The Invasion of Komi

D-Day, aka Degustazione-Day. Just as the Allied Troops stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest invasion force in human history, I went about yesterday with the rigorous determination and systematic approach of a trained soldier. The mission was Komi, and I had a battleplan. I ate lunch at 1pm and forced myself not to snack on anything for the next 8 hours. I drank filtered water all day. I took good allergy medicine to clear up my sinuses so I can smell and taste my food. In other words, I was ready to obliterate the food.

Vodka & Cranberry + Small Loves = Food Coma

“Oh my God, what’s with the sunglasses? Are you really hungover?”
“Uh huh.”
“You drank that much?! More than last weekend at Tattoo?”
“Uh huh.”

The Quest for Volt

Oh, the price of publicity and stardom! You go on a cooking show and next thing you know, your restaurant has a 2+ month waiting list! How tragic and awful! If you are a Top Chef fan, you will immediately recognize the name Voltaggio. This past season, Top Chef took sibling rivalry to a whole new level when the show pitted one brother against the other. Michael and older brother Bryan Voltaggio volleyed back and forth throughout the whole season. Both eventually made it to the finale, where the former was named “Top Chef.”

Unicorns and Elves and Komi... Oh My!

There are certain things in life that are deemed mystical, unattainable and unreal. Unicorns, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, Santa’s elves, are just a few examples. I had placed "reservations at Komi" on this list as well, until I found out that I have been invited to go there for dinner in a couple of weeks! How lucky am I?

Komi has been on my radar for about a year and a half, since I saw an extensive article on it in the Washingtonian. In it, Todd Kliman wrote, "If Komi isn’t the best restaurant in DC, it’s easily the most intimate, the most romantic, the most personal, the most soulful." Can there be an even better endorsement? On top of that, my really good friend went there with her husband for their anniversary and said that it was a phenomenal meal. Rave reviews on a restaurant to me = honey to a bee! I really wanted to check the place out, but just making reservations to go there is not an easy feat. My friend told me that she had to call over a month in advance to get reservations. Someone else told me that he had been trying to get reservations for a couple of months now. I once attempted to go there on a whim, and was flat out told that there were no tables available. 

Team Canada Struck Gold Twice... & So Did I!

There is an old adage that says time flies when you're having fun. Well, if dinner lasts for five hours and lunch is two hours long, it is safe to surmise that all parties involved are having a great time. And if the food is good, all the better!

I was the lucky recipient of two celebratory meals this past week since Team Canada beat Team USA in both Men's and Women's Ice Hockey. That's right, Team Canada = Gold Medal x 2! It was nice to be able to go out and celebrate the two wins afterwards, since I was all but ridiculed for being the only Canadian populating the bar where I watched the hockey games. A nice young man had the gall to get me a Jager shot before the final men's game, for "good luck." Luck, schmuck... Who's buying dinner and lunch now, eh?

Where in the World is Kaye?

It's been more than a month since I joined DC Gluttony and I have yet to contribute something. I'll introduce myself later on, I'd rather just jump into it and tell you guys where and what I've eaten here in the Bay Area (Northern California) so the next time you come over and visit, you'll know where to take me *grin*. I've been to quite a few places (though not nearly enough) so I'll try to shorten this entry even though I'm very much in the mood to talk about food all day... Maybe I just need to eat lunch... Hmmm..

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!