Dia Eats!

Snack 31.1.13, West London Manner Schnitten anyone? This sweet...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:24:00 +0000

Hailing from Austria, the original Manner Schnitten

Snack 31.1.13, West London

Manner Schnitten anyone? This sweet wafer snack is from Austria. Supposedly they’re Arnold Schwarzenegger’s favorite.

I like them too! It’s fun to eat them layer by layer. Bite and lick, bite and lick…I know it sounds graphic, but that’s what happens when you eat them layer by layer. I had mine with tea.

In case you were wondering why I didn’t post anything between the 29-30th of January, well, I didn’t eat those days. I had no appetite. True story.

Go work that one out….how a foodie wouldn’t want to eat for two days.

Breakfast 28.1.13, West London My favorite meal of the day is...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:11:17 +0000

My oatmeal bowl

A healthy breakfast

Breakfast 28.1.13, West London

My favorite meal of the day is breakfast. I love breakfast in every form, I love breakfast for lunch, dinner, and snacks. I love breakfast healthy and I love breakfasts that can potentially threaten you with heartburn.

This breakfast is simple and healthy. I needed it to keep me going for a long work day ahead. I opted for a bowl of Quaker Oats and a soft boiled egg.

I wish I got a picture of the gloriously drippy egg yolk. When I was little in the Philippines, we had a chicken that laid eggs, just like this egg. My grandma always fed the egg to me spoonful after drippy spoonful. I hated that, but now I love my eggs runny. I’m a softy for nostalgia. I miss my Lola J.

Dinner, Sunday, 27.1.13 Wahaca, Soho, London You can take a girl...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:06:34 +0000

Tasty taco = happy girl

Chicken tacos

Pork pibil tacos

Dinner, Sunday, 27.1.13

Wahaca, Soho, London

You can take a girl out of California, but you can’t take California out of the girl, so that means, I crave ‘Mexican’ food.

I’m sure the population of Oaxaca would roll their eyes the minute they realize that the Brits have spelled their hometown incorrectly and on top of that, are serving ‘street food’ that they probably don’t even eat in their streets.

But I gotta give Wahaca in London some credit because they’re the best tasting ‘Mexican’ food I’ve had in the UK, so I suppose that says something, and they’ve been steadily growing since they’ve opened three years ago. Now, if only they could lower the prices of their horchata, I’d be a real happy camper!

Dinner 26.1.13 West London Some days I skip meals, today is one...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:57:00 +0000

Mmm, take away for dinner

Grilled chicken with cheese ravioli

Dinner 26.1.13

West London

Some days I skip meals, today is one of those days. I don’t do it on purpose, usually I’m so ‘in the zone’ that I forget that it’s past my meal time.

Today I had Italian take away from this amazing little local restaurant. The owners are ever so sweet and they keep encouraging me to buy their cannoli. It’s pretty evil but in deliciously sugary sinful kind of way.

Lunch 25.1.13 Misato, Chinatown London Misato is actually a...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:52:00 +0000

Beef plate at Misato

Lunch 25.1.13

Misato, Chinatown London

Misato is actually a Japanese restaurant in Chinatown. I suppose Chinatown in London just means ‘Oriental town’. Yes, Brits, why do you call East Asians and Southeast Asians, Oriental!? That bothers me somehow. Anyway, you can find Vietnamese food, Filipino food, and Korean food in London’s Chinatown.

Misato is known for inexpensive cafe food. This particular dish costs 6.00 pounds, but their teriyaki chicken is a bargain, only 4.50 with rice and salad!

Breakfast 25.1.13 London Nothing special about this breakfast,...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:48:50 +0000

First breakfast in London

Cheerios

Breakfast 25.1.13

London

Nothing special about this breakfast, just whole grain Cheerios with 1% milk.

Dinner 24.1.13 Raoul’s, London I arrived London quite...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:46:14 +0000

Dinner 24.1.13

Raoul’s, London

I arrived London quite jet-lagged and by the time I was all settled in, it was already dinner time. I went to Raoul’s in West London.

I ordered lamb kofta, hummus, fried halloumi, with pita bread. I very sleepy at that point so no photos of me :/ for the simple reason that I was just too tired that I forgot. Next time…

LAX to LHR Dinner 23.1.13 Alas, I finally got to try American...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:53:00 +0000

American Airlines LAX to LHR

Warm mixed nuts with sparkling water

My place setting with bread and amuse bouche

Pancetta and melon

Garden salad with pecans

Penne pasta with fresh parmesan

Vanilla sundae with butterscotch and whipped cream

LAX to LHR Dinner 23.1.13

Alas, I finally got to try American Airlines’ international First Class product. We’re an airline family and I grew up knowing the ins and outs of airline/airport life.

I’m ever so grateful for my upgrade to First Class, which is very rare these days. American Airlines is revamping their service and I was impressed with my six-course meal…if you include the amuse bouche of ripe melon and pancetta! The curry soup was a bit too spicy for my liking and too thick. Felt more like a cheesy, gooey dip. The beef salad with asparagus was ever so tender and I chose a simple penne pasta dish for my main.

For dessert, I had a vanilla sundae with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and melted butterscotch…simply to die for.

Lunch, Parents’ House, LA, 22.1.13 Last day in LA for a...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:50:32 +0000

A selection of Filipino savory foods

Lunch, Parents’ House, LA, 22.1.13

Last day in LA for a few months. My mother loves to give us a selection of dishes to choose from. Today it was picadillo or ground pork cooked in tomatoes, salt and pepper and potatoes, egg torta, vegetables, and plantains.

I opted for the torta (egg omelette with ground pork and potatoes) with rice and banana ketchup…yes, banana ketchup!

Dinner, Parents’ House, LA, 21.1.13 My dad also wanted to...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:27:35 +0000

Dinner, Parents’ House, LA, 21.1.13

My dad also wanted to buy some take out from ‘Pinoy-Pinay’ for dinner so we bought pork belly and beef stew. The stew is called ‘caldereta’ and pork belly is ‘lechon’…and man o’ man…(<—look a palindrome!)…this was sooo tasty! It was as though a choirof angels sang inside my mouth during every bite. God Bless globalization and the growing Filipino population of Southern California. The food here is heavenly!

Snack, Parents’ House, LA, 21.1.13 This is another...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:21:25 +0000

Snack, Parents’ House, LA, 21.1.13

This is another Filipino sweet, called, ‘karioka’. It sounds like karaoke, but it’s karioka. I hope I spelled that correctly. It’s Filipino street food and one can usually eat this for merienda or snack in the afternoon.

We bought this at Pinoy-Pinay which is a Filipino fast food chain found in Southern California and in Las Vegas.

Sadly, this was too chewy! So chewy that it hurt my jaws after eating just one.

Breakfast, Inauguration Day, Parent’s House, LA 21.1.13 I...

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 21:51:06 +0000

Check out my pajamas and the chairs from the 90s. ;-)

The best silog by far to date, made by none other than the best cook I know, my mom!

Whoo! Inauguration day.

Breakfast, Inauguration Day, Parent’s House, LA 21.1.13

I woke up early for to watch Barack Obama’s inauguration. I was sitting in the kitchen in my pajamas when all of a sudden my mother (bless her!!) surprised me with a ‘silog’ for breakfast.

‘Silog’ is a Filipino dish consisting of fried rice (‘si’nangag), fried egg (it’log’), and usually a meat of your choice.

So this particular one was with fried fish and Filipino sausage called ‘longanisa’ so this dish can technically be called, ‘longsilog’. :)

God Bless America and globalization!

Dinner 20.1.13 Dinner took me to my friend’s house in Los...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:59:00 +0000

Dinner 20.1.13

Dinner took me to my friend’s house in Los Alamitos, CA. He’s a health nut and an avid wine connoisseur. This soup was made with ingredients from the local farmer’s market and I’m drinking Argentinian wine. I don’t normally drink wine (it’s an enzyme thing) but this had a very full flavour that wasn’t too sweet. Just right.

I loaded up on snacks while he was making soup, so I didn’t quite finish my meal. You can see there’s humus, carrot sticks, and organic chips.

Overall a very healthy, and dia-licious meal.

Lunch 20.1.13 Today’s lunch took me to Royal Cup Cafe in...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:51:00 +0000

Royal Cup Cafe, dad does a cameo behind me

Roast chicken pesto panini with chips

Warm brownie, with vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled in chocolate sauce

Lunch 20.1.13

Today’s lunch took me to Royal Cup Cafe in Long Beach because, as you can see in the main photo, my dad was performing at the Open Mic! Go dad!

The owner of the cafe is Raj (who I discovered is from Sri Lanka). I was going to order a very basic turkey sandwich, but Raj was able to persuade me to order the chicken pesto sandwich instead. It was definitely a better choice. My high school friend was also there to see my dad play some tunes and she shared with me her decadent brownie dessert. As they say in Sri Lanka, the food was ‘hari rasai’ or very tasty! I knew my basic Singhalese would come in handy one day.

Snack 19.1.13 Starbucks, Norwalk, CA I love cake pops and...

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:44:06 +0000

Snack 19.1.13 Starbucks, Norwalk, CA

I love cake pops and frappucinos. I actually can’t handle caffeine, so I tend to drink most of my coffees decaf. It’s a flavor thing, not a caffeine thing that I go for!

Lunch 19.1.13

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:36:00 +0000

‘ Ok, so can we say, ‘backlog’ anyone? I’m back in the UK, btw, but I...

18.1.13 Friday, Dinner, At Last Cafe, Long Beach, CA Reunions...

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:47:00 +0000

Dinner starter: At Last Cafe

Polenta with mushrooms

Shrimp gnocchi

Caramelized pear salad

Profiteroles and strawberry shortcake

18.1.13 Friday, Dinner, At Last Cafe, Long Beach, CA

Reunions with friends from high school took me to At Last Cafe in Long Beach. The chef uses vegetables from his home garden and incorporates it on his revolving menu specials.

There were eight of us dining and we tried a little bit of everything. The polenta with portobello mushroom was a light starter, the shrimp gnocchi leaned a bit on the heavy side, the caramelized pear salad was sweet with a balsamic vinaigrette bite, and for the finale, the desserts! The strawberry short cake was dolloped with house made whipped cream and the profiteroles were covered in gooey and decadent chocolate sauce. Mmmm.

The profiteroles were my favorite. Ooh, la, la!

18.1.13 Friday, Lunch, Hibachi Grill, Southern, CA I’m not...

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:32:00 +0000

Lunch at Hibachi Grill

Sushi rolls with beef wellington

Sushi roll selections

18.1.13 Friday, Lunch, Hibachi Grill, Southern, CA

I’m not a fan of buffets, but this place is actually pretty good. It’s the whole gluttony of it all that I find unflattering. Plus I’m horrible to take to a buffet, after two helpings I’m thoroughly sated.

They have a really good selection of seafood, sushi, grilled meats, and even a crepe station. Not bad for a $7.99 lunch!

17.1.13 Thursday, afternoon refreshment/snack/ merienda Dolphin...

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:22:29 +0000

Afternoon refreshment/snack

Milk tea boba

17.1.13 Thursday, afternoon refreshment/snack/ merienda

Dolphin Bay, Artesia, CA

It’s a drink! No, it’s a snack! Wait, it’s both. Milk tea boba is so refreshing. I love how it’s both a drink and a snack, especially for days when I can’t decide between the two.

I love it when the boba/bubble balls are just the right squishyness! So squishy!

I wonder why Filipinos didn’t capitalize on the sago and gulaman which existed way before boba/bubble tea.

17.1.13 Lunch My mother keeps making food, everyday there is...

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:12:30 +0000

Lunch - mmm fried plantain

Fried plantains

Nilagang baka or boiled beef!

17.1.13 Lunch

My mother keeps making food, everyday there is something new on the menu. Today’s lunch is nilagang baka or boiled beef usually accompanied by boiled cabbages and carrots. It’s a very light soup. We’ve been on a soup diet lately because my mother had been feeling the effects of California’s cold snap.

Every Filipino household also has lots of fried food. Today my mother made fried plantains to accompany the beef soup and I enjoyed it!