hungry beach bunny

Enter the mind of an obsessed foodie and traveler-wannabe

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Cinnamon Toast on Cranberry bread on an office day breakfast <3 There's just something about a personally prepared breakfast, heavy or light, that makes the morning brighter for me, even with truckloads of work to deal with right after

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Not a very big fan of rice, save for a few special exceptions. Like Sumo Sam's Japanese Fried Rice (Php 298 for a bowl good for two or three, but you can also go for a cup for half the price) This is absolutely divine, with pieces of egg, onions and spring onions, carrots, meat, shrimp and lots of good flavor. I can honestly eat this by itself. All of it. Honest.

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Sinfully delicious Baked Potato (Php 165) from Chocolate Kiss. It’s my favorite so far, massive, filling and unpretentious with its generous toppings of sour cream, butter, cheese, chives and bacon bits

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The Pasta Project: Corned Beef Macaroni

This is something my mom has been cooking for as long as I can remember, and can easily be one my childhood comfort foods.

I never usually bothered with the cooking but eventually got my chance this morning when helping mom whip this up for lunch

Ingredients:

Cooking oil * 3 large onions (red and white), chopped * 2 cloves garlic, crushed * 2 medium sized tomatoes, chopped * 2 cans corned beef * 1 can button mushrooms * regular spaghetti sauce and tomato paste * salt and pepper

(any) Macaroni pasta * salted boiling water

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package instructions

Saute garlic, onions and tomatoes in oil until onions are softened. Add corned beef, mushrooms and spaghetti sauce, and simmer for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste, although we usually prefer it just enough pepper for that spicy kick. Add tomato paste and simmer until thickened.

Add macaroni in the sauce and stir until the pasta is completely coated, and leave over very low heat for a few more minutes. The trick is to let the pasta and sauce get all toasty to give it that unique flavor and texture.

Serve (you may keep aside a portion of the sauce and ladle some over the pasta if you like it saucy)

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Something to chase the blues away (and comfort the worried) on this very rainy day- rich, warm champorado with crispy, salty tuyo. It's always been a favorite childhood breakfast, a very traditional and nostalgic meal for me and my family.

It might seem weird but the lip-smacking saltiness of the fish compliments the gooey chocolate like no other. And it truly is a comfort during these times.

Rains are still raging and the floods have yet to recede. Keep safe, everyone!

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I can always count on Amici for some good pasta.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Pepperoncino (Php 195), which is basically a slightly spicy pasta tossed in olive oil, a little bit of anchovies and LOTS of garlic. It was probably the simplest pasta dish there, perfect for those times you want something light, yet tasty. The anchovies added a subtle flavor and the garlic gave it a nice, yummy punch. I recommend an after-dinner mint, though ;)

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Spaghetti Red Vongole e Gamberitti Pasta (Php 298) from Amici. This tomato-based seafood pasta is a cousin of the Spaghetti Ai Tesori del Mare, but with a richer, more robust, taste, with the bonus addition of two plump shrimp.

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Favorite pick-me-up after a particularly rough week: Aztec Xocolat from Casa Xocolat. Thick, rich, hot cocoa with a dash of spice and a mint leaf to perk up the senses. If this doesn't give you that much-needed happy hormones rush, I don't know what will

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Some seriously crunchy Chicken Leg Bento (Php 100) from Dang Dee, a Taiwanese fast food a couple of blocks from the office. I've never had Taiwanese food before so I'm not 100% certain of its authenticity, but it definitely has a unique flavor. I especially love the little extras like the half 'century egg', two kinds of vegetables and pickled spicy somethings. All wrapped up in a neat little carton box, with chopsticks, and a pouch of fruit juice on the side.

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I never let a craving for Tex-Mex food go unanswered, hence the Beef Burrito, Quesadilla and Nacho combo from Mexicali, complete with salsa, guacamole and sour cream dips

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Chicken Charlie's Dynamite (peppers stuffed with cheese, wrapped in wonton wrappers and deep fried - Php 99) with mayo dip. It burns my tongue, but totally worth it

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Nothing quenches my craving for spicy, but light, pasta like Spaghetti Ai Tesori del Mare (Php 328), again from Amici.

Loaded with tasty shellfish (scallops!) and lots of chopped tomatoes, garlic and spices - it's great for the spicy-loving palate but not too heavy for the tummy

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Something sweet from My Thai - Klaul Tod (Crispy fried bananas and vanilla ice cream - Php 120). The sweet and mild flavors go really well together, and I love the warm banana-cold ice cream tandem going on.

Now I know I'll be having vanilla ice cream when mom makes banana fritters at home

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Must-have Satay Gai (Chicken Satay) from My Thai with that wonderful peanut sauce and cucumber relish. The flavor and sauces were surprisingly authentic, and quite a steal for 7 pieces at Php165

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Going for some Thai food this time - Yam Pla Duck Foo (crispy shredded catfish with green mango salad - Php 235) from My Thai. The perfect appetizer with the salty, crisp catfish and sweet-tangy green mango slices.

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Always a favorite - Banoffe Pie from Starbucks

Now if I could just learn to make this at home...

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Tandoori Prawns from New Bombay. Just the right amount of spiciness, and it's a refreshing change from the usual Chicken Tandoori I usually have. Taste great with chutney