What's In The Box?

Inside this box are a dozen reasons NOT to go on a diet.

J.Co. has finally opened in Greenbelt.

After months hiding under a tarpaulin, that vacant storefront beside Figaro finally shed its cover and welcomed waiting souls hungry for a sugar rush.

I was intrigued, and decided to sample their wares.

So far, I am liking what I tasted, not too sweet, and the flavors are interesting.

I am especially liking the one with green tea frosting with almond flakes.

I Need a Project

One of the earliest books I recall pouring through was a cookbook.  I even had to compete with Gremlyn for the book.  Sadly, after countless moves and countless relatives moving in with us, that book, along with some other things (toys, clothes, appliances... you know the drill) have become lost.  It didn't diminish my fascination with cooking though.  Cooking shows abound, even then, and the most popular, Wok With Yan, was a weekly family affair.

We would marvel at his skill at the skillet, tossing the food into the air, flambeing, making everything seem like magic.  We would applaud at his mastery with the knife, transforming mundane vegetables into mythical beasts and food containers.  I loved his execution and envied his passion for cooking.

I love the idea of cooking, but I seldom cook.   And thus, this project.

It's not about learning how to cook, because I know how, at least in theory.  All those years of watching cooking shows and reading cookbooks and magazines have prepared me for that.  The problem lies in the execution.

I can be careless and manage to burn the simplest of foods, even friend chicken.

I'm gonna conquer  this double-burner soon.

I am quite ambitious though and I know I will never learn to cook by doing simple dishes.  If I am to learn how to cook, then my projects need to be ambitious and elaborate as myself.  My spicy tuna pasta with mushrooms in paprika wouldn't do.  I need something grander.

I am thinking of a once a month affair initially, and as my skills increase, and my budgets improve, the frequency of cooking should increase as well.

Where do I start though?  What dish is worthy of my ego?

Any suggestions?

Hindi Ako Matakaw

Masarap lang talagang kumain.

I can't write a critique to save my life, yet here I am, attempting a food blog.  Well... food and travel.  I'm that ambitious.  Heaven knows I have enough stock photos of food and restaurants galore, and those are just from this year's gourmand travels.

I will attempt to write about each one.  I just need to find my catalyst.

But for the moment, let me just inundate you with food.

Food.

Part of the secret of a success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.
Mark Twain

I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields

Oh, the tiger will love you. There is no sincerer love than the love of food.
George Bernard Shaw

So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being.
Franz Kafka

Ever since Eve started it all by offering Adam the apple, woman's punishment has been to supply a man with food then suffer the consequences when it disagrees with him.
Helen Rowland

If you go back to the Greeks and Romans, they talk about all three - wine, food, and art - as a way of enhancing life.
Robert Mondavi

If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J. R. R. Tolkien

I kept thinking, 'Somebody has to make a food show that is actually educational and entertaining at the same time... a show that got down to the 'why things happen.' Plus, I hated my job - I didn't think it was very worthwhile.
Alton Brown

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.
James A. Michener

Most people travel for fun; most people travel for experience.  I'd like to travel for food.

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