In response to this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Warmth
Katsu Curry Warmth (WPC)
Tag Archives: food
Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy Doughnuts
I went to the BOXPARK in London over the weekend and discovered this fancy little doughnut shop called Dumdum Donutterie that sells the best doughnuts I have ever tasted.
In response to this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Dreamy
Dong Hua Men Night Market, Beijing – NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED!
If you are going to Beijing and you have a free evening, you must go to the Dong Hua Men Night Market (address: Dong Hua Men Avenue, West of Wang Fu Jing Avenue, Beijing 100005, China). The stalls open from 5pm to about 11pm. The market has about a hundred food stalls that offer everything from rice and noodles to cupcakes to deep-fried starfish, grasshoppers and snakes on sticks. Locals and toursists walk around to watch other brave people devour some of the most un-imaginable food items in this market.
I went there one evening a couple of weeks ago with my parents and sister. We were all curious to see whether this place can live up to the hype built by the media and other tourists who have been here before.
I was so excited when we arrived:
We arrived just as the owners were opening their stalls so we were among the first few people they enticed to try everything. The first few items were not so bad.
Then, as we carried on walking, the items on sale became weirder…
…and weirder…
…and weirder…
But hey, some people tried them. Here’s a picture of a man who is a lot braver than I was:
We have had an amazing night people-watching. I definitely would recommend this place to anyone who comes to Beijing. If you feel brave, try any of their food, take a picture and post it on your blog and let me know!
Despite having a rather interesting and fun night, I went back to my hotel wearing this expression on my face:
An All-You-Can-Eat-For-Free Restaurant
Today’s Daily Prompt: You just inherited a dilapidated, crumbling-down grand mansion in the countryside. Assuming money is no issue, what do you do with it?
Imagine a restaurant exclusive to people who cannot afford to eat. A place where gourmet food is served for free. Not just a soup kitchen – money is not an issue, remember? This is what I want to do with a run-down grand mansion. Food will be cooked by trained and well-mannered chefs, who, along with the servers, in turn will train those who have no jobs.
There may be a shortage in money in the world, but I do not think that there is a shortage of good, well-meaning people who are willing to help the less fortunate.
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Ice Cream Personality
Today’s Daily Prompt: A local ice cream parlor invites you to create a new wacky flavour. It needs to channel the very essence of your personality. What’s in it?
I went to Rome a few years ago and visited Della Palma (Gelato di Roma), a world-famous place to buy any ice cream flavour you can think of. Just look:
Della Palma didn’t disappoint. Their gelato tasted like heaven!
My trip to Rome had me convinced that every possible ice cream flavour have been thought of, which makes answering today’s prompt very tricky. I struggled to think of flavours that would embody my personality. I have been descibed as serious, sweet yet awkward and healthy. I think I’d make a sweet potato flavoured ice cream. It’s healthy, serious (I think), sweet and very strange. I wonder what it will taste like. Has it been created yet?
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Game of Groans: Food Shopping
Think about an object, an activity, or a cultural phenomenon you really don’t like. Now write a post (tongue-in-cheek or not – your call) about why it’s the best thing ever.
Food shopping is one of the most completely boring and mind-numbing experiences that I have to do every week.
BUT…
I often forget how lucky I am to be able to afford to buy my own food. There are many different shops within a reasonable distance to my house, and I am free to choose which of them I will go to each week. I don’t have to walk for hours to get to my shops – my local supermarket is a quick 10-minute walk from my doorstep. I am also spoilt for choice when it comes to the meat, vegetables, fruits and even milk I can buy. I am able to just buy my food. I don’t have to go out and catch or harvest my food. I just have to drive or walk into any supermarket and pick out what I want. The products are carefully prepared, packed and laid out in shelves that are labelled. I am spoiled.
Despite the ever-increasing prices of goods and the boring nature of food shopping, I really should stop moaning.
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More groans:
Rome and Singapore: A Tale of Two Cities (Daily Post)
If I could split my time between two cities and two cities only, I choose…
1. ROME- Because of the food:
and the breath-taking historic sights:
and…
2. Singapore– for its beauty:
and because I want to buy everything at Bugis Street:
I have been to both Singapore and Rome before. I loved the people, the sights, food, travelling within both cities and the different atmosphere they both have.
What would I do if I can spend my time equally between these cities? A lot!
The diversity of the residents in Singapore fascinated me. I’d love to spend more time to observe them and explore the ways in which the migrants’ different cultures affects the country as a whole. In Rome, I would spend my time learning the language, eating the food and exploring the ways in which they have kept their tradition (from cuisine to language and the whole customs).
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In response to Daily Prompt: Tale of Two CIties
Here are other Tales of Two Cities:
Great food in Manchester
The people who know the real me needs no introduction to my inclination to eat out more than I should. Here are a few photos of the places I’ve visited with my partner, friends and family over the lat few months:
Simple at Tib Street, Manchester:
Simple is situated at the heart of Manchester, England, although relatively few people know it exists. Although it is known largely due to its cocktails, their food is amazing too. Pictured below are: Chicken and mushroom stuffed chicken, BBQ half-rack ribs and another pic of Chicken and mushroom chicken; Chocolate and peanut butter torte, a blurry glimpse of the bar/restaurant, and my favourite chocolate chip sundae.
Ban di bul is a Korean restaurant which is also located in Manchester city centre. It is a rather small and simple restaurant which serves up the best Korean food in the city. Pictured below are: Korean hot and spicy rice cake (ddukbokki), spicy tofu and pork with rice (?), Hite beer, and deep fried pork with Korean sauce and rice (?). I don’t know the Korean names of the two dishes but they tasted great!
Drink Tea Eat Cake is a tea and coffee place (again) located in Manchester, England. They serve homemade fairtrade teas, coffees and cakes which begs you to come back for more.
Visit all these amazing places if you can! You won’t regret it! 😉
My 2011 in pictures
I spent the first hours of 2011 with my partner, our family and friends.
A few weeks later, my partner celebrated her birthday again, with friends and family…
In April, me and my friends played a benefit gig for the people suffering Aplastic Anemia, which sadly was the cause of why one of our friends is no longer with us.
The gig was a success as it raised quite a bit of money and the people seemed to have had a good time.
We also said goodbye to two of our friends who moved to Den Haag. These guys warmed our hearts with their generosity, whilst inspiring us at the same time with their continuing success in their lives.
Dr. North is a magician on the grill
One of the prettiest moms-to-be I’ve seen:
I visited Pistyll Rhaeadr falls in North Wales during the spring. This place was breath-taking. I didn’t realise that there is such a lovely view in Wales!
A milestone has been reached by my partner in 2011. After 3 years of hard work and dedication, she graduated with flying colours!
I then went back home to the Philippines for a while with my partner. One of the first things we did was watch basketball- courtside! This game between UST and Ateneo was a really good one.
We visited Singapore, the tidiest and one of the most friendly cities I have ever visited…
Look at this for food choices:
And of course, we shopped at Bugis Street:
We then went to Boracay, Philippines, the greatest, most beautiful and relaxing beach I have ever been into…
When we got back to the UK, we moved to Manchester in preparation for the start of my Master’s Degree. Manchester is amazing. The city feels so alive and vibrant. I love how multi-cultural the city is. I also like how the buildings look.
This is a bonus: Old Trafford Stadium, the home of Manchester United Football Club:
Made new friends in uni…
Friends visited me for my birthday…
Remember our friends who moved to Den Haag? We visited them just before Christmas, and look, they have a baby! Thanks again for letting us stay at your place…
We then visited Amsterdam. Most of the pictures we took may offend people so, these are the only ones I will show you…
PS. Thanks, honey for the birthday gift!
My girlfriend and I spent Christmas at our place with our families. Our parents ended up cooking everything and doing everything for us, which was great! Family times are the best times!
Lastly, we had a meal at Wagamama on New Year’s Eve. We decided against cooking and staying in because that’s what we have always done for the past few years.
All in all, 2011 was a fantastic year for me. This is the reason why I do not have a New Year’s resolution this year. I think all I have to do is carry on what I have done. Here’s to another year of awesomeness!!!
Understanding and Embracing Diversity 