Food for thought

They day started rough but because of my straight forward courage it ended up the way I want it to. *me laying down in front of the computer relaxing.

let me tell you the story,

i woke up to a very cold morning had a cup of coffee and took a deep breath of relaxation, by far up to my standards.

went out with my winter clothes it was fucking -12 degrees out there. I COULD-NOT-TAKE-IT.

The tourist guide picked us up at the hotel at around 9 am went to Church then off to the city tour. (BTW I was drunk last night *I went to this pub called The Den 5 stars in my book)

I consider myself a non-practising catholic so once I got into the Church I sat nest to the nearest heater and hoodied my hoody *trademarked by me. and hunkured down for the one hour (ironically the hour from hell) and slept.

That was the only thing I appreciated during service.

so after that hellish hour in Church I once again hopped into the van and got on my merry way first stop was the Bird’s nest arena in Beijing. Packed full of Chinese tourists (I was surprised FYI that even though this was built 4 years ago and now worthless people still go here by the thousands.) we took pictures it was a bit fun.

we left the arena area about 1230 so the next stop is a Chinese restaurant in a hotel. I didn’t bother taking pictures and names of the dishes because trust me on this, as an unaccomplished and unemployed chef this place deserves it’s high stature as the best restaurant in the 9th circle of hell.

The place was swanky not at all shady the lady went up to us with the menu and all I saw was Mutton and sea cucumber. I’m not really picky on what food I eat but believe me for the first time in my life I puked out food I ate.

We got the typical Soy Fried rice, mutton dumplings, fried spada, mixed noodles and deep fried prawns (and by far the best prawns ever) oh yeah, I forgot the 8 servings of rice. 8 SERVINGS OF RICE! (one plate of rice in Beijing is for 3 people, so do the math. 8x3 = 24.) 24 cups of rice in front of us. (there we’re 8 of us) the waitress got the order wrong.

Filipino culture lesson 1:

Filipinos eat thier meals with rice and “ulam”

Chinese culture lesson 1:

Chinese eat thier food first then the rice at the last

so let’s continue, so the protein came first and all we did was look at it we were waiting for the rice.

….

…

..

.

fuck it. we ate the prawns, fish, noodles and the dumplings.

suddenly, a wild waitress appears! she serves the rice. you have to imagine my reaction.

If  I could flip the table I would. that ruined my okay day.

we left the restaurant full of food (we didn’t eat the rice BTW we took it out gave it to the tourist guide *who btw is a very sweet young woman. )

because of our very long stay in the restaurant guess what, that was our last stop. so rather than heading back to the hotel we asked the driver to drop us off at the mall to do some last minute shopping.

THE RIDE TO THE MALL WAS THE CAR RIDE FROM HELL.

I literally puked in my mouth. I’m a chef! I should be ashamed of regurgitating the food I put in my mouth.

we got off the van a little while later and walked around the mall. I still feeling ill from that car ride wanted fresh air, but who can stand that kind of weather outside. I think. none.

so I was stuck at the only starbucks I saw during my trip. I was looking for a chair in that small coffe place and guess what?  no chair. at. all. the damn Chinese hipsters took em all.

I just wanted to sit down and take a break.

I finally got my tooshies on a soft warm seat at a Burger King I sat and relaxed there the rest of the day.

just when I thought everything was a.o.k I once again puked. and I was ashamed, once again.

Finally back here at the hotel, blogging for the last time here in Beijing. I feel better.

as I leave this place I shall leave you a quotable quote. (lol)

- “I never thought that the 9th circle of hell was this cold” Matt David 2012

posting the pictures as soon as I get to Manila. :)

It’s my third day in this freezing hell hole.

-9 temp again, need to be ready for this… jacket up! 

I know this topic may be a departure from what I usually put in this blog, but I just can’t seem to shake that feeling of me.

I’ve known this woman for the longest time and I always though of her as a friend, but know I feel the total opposite, I want to be with her.

There are rules in a relationships, 

Platonic- Friends only.

Romantic- you have one significant other.

Promantic- Friends you want to have a relationship with. (that is trademarked by me) and this is what I’m going through.

Let me tell you the story.

She is shy but courageous, smart but a thrill seeker, beautiful yet down to earth, has that beautiful smile but she gets the tenacious look when angry and sweet yet dangerous. (fuck proper spacing and commas it’s LOVE we’re talking about here)

I met her a long time ago, she is an artsy girl just wanting to come out of her shell and I was a loser slacker who doesn’t give a fuck about anything, we were never really close back then, all we do is say hi to each other, not really bothering to ask how was our day going.

But something changed.

I grew up and so did her. we opened up to the different realities of life, we both fell in love (with different people FYI) and we had our hearts broken (Obviously by other people) I gave up on love, she however, is an optimist (a trait BTW I love about her) she picked herself back up and became stronger every time.

 We reconnected a couple years back, she was a college student and I was still a bit of a slacker then. we started talking to each other and hanging out but I only see her as a friend (and I’m pretty sure that’s how she sees me too)

Fast forward a few years…. to the present.

I liked her as a friend, always there when you need her, talks you up when you’re down and I could be my normal self with her. yet something is missing.

After a bunch of failed relationships I went to her, asking for advice then I had an epiphany and I asked myself “what would I be without her?” at that point I didn’t know what to do, last time I fell for a friend was 4 years ago and I never and I mean NEVER want to go through that again.

Days pass…

I see her every where now, in my dreams, people I meet and in art. maybe it’s just the serotonin in my blood or I don’t know, but it is such a high that I can’t find another word to describe it. I am high with love.

I can’t think straight. I can’t find work. I can’t work. I don’t know what to do.

around this time every wrong thing that’s happening in my life I have no idea how to solve it. I am usually the level headed one(I thought I was a good leader because of this trait.) But I guess I’m wrong.

I wanted to tell her, I want to give everything to her, I want to be with her and I want her to be mine.

But life says I can’t. so I guess that there are just some battles you should just give up on and walk away from rather than losing everything and worse, I might even lose her.

so life I give up. you win… I will face you reality, like a man and I pray that one of these days, I come up on top.

I may have everything that I need in life but that doesn’t mean that I’m happy.

I recently had a craving for polenta, so I walk to my pantry and looked for my jar. 

couldn’t find it. I cried.

“Caviar is like cocaine for the people who can afford cocaine” - Anthony Bourdain.

Food makes the world go round from the daily staple to the ones you only dream of eating.

As a chef, I learned that every little detail counts when building a dish. staring with the bed of plain steamed rice to the seared piece of salmon on top of it. (of course I’m just making things up. WHY PUT SALMON AND RICE TOGETHER?) 

lets start over, Every single component matters. From the bed of couscous to the tender beef fillet on top. (now that is better)

They say that ingredients from the Philippines is the worst of the worst and it’s hard to make a wonderful plate of food from it. (My instructor told me this and trust me, I agree) but we still cope. That is why it is really hard to be a foodie in Manila. I’d love to taste a piece of serrano ham with sliced truffles. but where can I find it?

A lot of Grade A materials are hard to find in this city (sure there are restaurants that use these ingredients, but are you willing to spend 2500 php for a plate of food? unless you snort caviar I’m pretty sure you won’t shell out that kind of amount) 

Lately however, specialty stores and even groceries like Santi’s and Rustans are selling premium items and God bless these people that they made this accessible to us.

I just hope in the years to come more establishments will follow suit and make Manila the foodie haven that it is meant to be.

It’s been awhile since I last made an entry because of work and all, now tho with all the free time I have I’ll try to concentrate with my extra-curricular activities.

back to the topic.

I ate at this crazy good restaurant the other day. *I won’t say the name, but I’m pretty sure you know what I’m talking about.

Ordered the peking duck three ways.(no photo) awesome char siu pork and a side order of spring rolls.

Driving home I was shit full. I felt like collapsing into a food coma.

Got some Chinese takeout. I wanted to take a picture of it but I was too friggin’ hungry.

Went to the Greenhills area earlier today had lunch at JT’s Manukan (always a delight) good food and wonderful ambiance. (cars parked all over the place, the smoke from the grill, kids asking for money and the “by the street” vibe)

Ate my favorites the Inasal na Pecho (BBQ’ed Chicken breast), Atay(Chicken Liver) and Isol(Chicken Ass. AKA the Pope’s nose)

While eating I remembered a conversation by two of my favorite chefs and it goes:

 Claude Tayag: This is a delicacy here in Pampanga(Chicken ass Isol) 

 Anthony Bourdain: Really?

 Claude Tayag: Yes. People love it so much the BBQ place runs out of it in the middle of the night.

 Anthony Bourdain: Well, a chicken only has one ass. (From No reservations. This is para phrased BTW)

The food was great but it took too long to serve and the service wasn’t that attentive but that meal my beloved readers is always worth the wait and shitty servers.

GO AND EAT THERE TOO!! I, (an un-accomplished food writer) recommend it! 

The branch I ate at is near Gilmore but they do have more branches all around the Metro.