One thing I share with all my friends is a passion for good food. I remember telling a a friend recently that unlike many who culminate their get togethers with gimmiks, we commonly plan it around what and where to eat. So the major consideration, apart from the usual "So when are you finally free?", the usual line is "So where are we gonna eat?"
I find this quite ironic since when I was younger I was tagged a picky eater. My diet normally consisted of noodles, vienna sausage, spam, and the usual kiddie favorites such a spaghetti and burgers (Mc Donald's kid through and through here!). A rather unsual childhood staple was yogurt. In those days, I ate only food I liked and refused anything unfamiliar. Having spent a few years in the States, I actually rejected Filipino dishes.
But my foodie personality was bound to surface. I grew up with a family whose gatherings revolved around food. In fact, food marked many of our occassions. White spaghetti (my lola's version of carbonara) and embutido are Christmas staples. While New Year is marked with my other lola's famous canneloni, turkey (with cranberry sauce), and home-made ham. Birthdays, despididas and bienvenidas meant callos, kare-kare, and lengua or dining at our favorite restaurants.
My mom was also a big influence. My lolas were inclined towards Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish cuisine but my mom's "food world" was much, much wider. You could say she introduced me to "other world" cuisines. It was from her that I learned to eat pho, Vietnamese spring rolls (wrapped in lettuce with mint leaves), humus, sushi, and all sort of salads.
It's no surprise then that most of my friends are foodies as well. When meeting up, the main consideration is where we'll eat. In fact, I don't think I've met up with a friend just to hang out and talk. We have to eat and not just anywhere but somewhere that's good. I have one friend who texts (SMS) me whenever she finds a good food find. Another friend works in the food industry and makes it a point to try the newest and best food in town.
I don't even remember meeting up with a friend and not having food involved. I recently met up with one at Sugarhouse, not because it was the most convinient meeting point but because we were both craving for their marjolaine. At a lunch with another friend, it was marked special not only because we had some great catching up on chika, but also because he introduced me to some really good eclaire donuts. I also remember a time when yet another friend and I were met up to talk over some boy trouble. We were comforted not only by each other advice (and similar lovelorn states) but also by the delectable lemon walnut torte we shared. I even had a boss who conspired with me by planning our meetings based on where and what we felt like eating...of course, aside from the work agenda.
But when I think about it, it's not solely the food that made those occassions special. Pardon the psychoanalyzing BS but it's probably also my association of good times with food. This gives a new meaning to comfort food. It is not just the taste, texture, and smell of food that gives comfort but the good memories created while savoring each and every bite.
Categories: Food-loving, Musings
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