Passing Afternoon

A girl with a curly hair pays a bunch for a hair rebond while a girl with a straight her gets a perm. When it's pouring rain, one wishes for sunshine but when the sun is shining so bright, one misses the cold rainy day. Life is complicated as it has already been. When I was in the Philippines, I crave for Italian dishes, Japanese bento or a greasy Chinese food in a take out box. And now that I am miles from my homeland, I am missing Filipino foods.

A nearby store sells sweet potato for a $2.99 a kilo. Sweet potato or " kamote " in Filipino. For a second, I was battling with the thought whether to fry it with melted sugar on top or just boil it. It was actually a no brainer, of course I opted for the healthier option and the easiest one.    

I cleaned it, drowned in water and brought it to boil. Easy peasy!

P.S. This is the first time I have actually made this in my entire life. Don't judge me.

Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

I'm missing the Philippines, therefore I went to an Asian store for some goodies. On the same morning of the same day, my housemates and I talked about Filipino dish and one of which is " sisig ". A popular Filipino dish made from pig's face, ears and liver seasoned with vinegar, soy sauce, calamansi, chili peppers and et cetera. Unfortunately, I never really learned how to cook "sisig" and it's one of those days that I crave for some. If I want to feel less homesick, I go to an Asian store. And so, I came, I saw and bought a canned " sisig " of Purefoods. zoom in! I'm afraid that what seem on the cover of the can does not reflect to what it really looks like inside. A clear example for " Don't judge a book by its cover" . Oh well, marketing! Whatever it takes!

Happy Pill

My housemate was in search for the perfect stocking fit for the perfect dress to wear for a perfect party. And she dragged me to come with her to the mall. While on the verge of finding that perfect thing, a chocolate shop beacons. Koko Black. We went inside Koko Black and drooled over displays of chocolates. Then I said to myself, " No way I'm giving in. This is way way sinful ". We immediately went out from the shop but after a few steps from the doorway, we went back inside. A sudden urge to give in. The shop was too tempting to refuse.





Chocolate treats made to share as gifts.





I had Chocolate Affogato ( $8.50 ), a carafe of hot chocolate poured over a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Affogato is italian for " drowned ". From the traditional Italian dessert, gelato drowned with espresso, Koko Black created a chocolate version for the chocoholics. The whole concoction of vanilla bean ice cream and hot chocolate drink is superb making it more creamy. A perfect union of ICE cream and HOT chocolate drink. You can either eat it with a spoon or drink it from the glass. I did both. The whole serving comes with a cookie treat which tastes like the traditional Filipino baked polvoron.



She had Hot Chocolate ( $6.50 ), their signature beverage freshly brewed to a traditional Belgian recipe. I got to taste her drink too. It was rich, creamy and flavourful. It was not too hot and not too cold. For her, the temperature was just right. But I prefer my hot drink to be hot, not warm. However, taste wise, it was heaven in a cup.



And we shared a traditional platter of chocolate which includes two pralines, florentines, chocolate cake, mousse and ice cream. A Belgian spoil. The mousse was divine; scooped perfectly with a little surprise inside. The pralines were of perfect crunch. I did not get to taste everything on the platter, my gut could no longer endure another bite, the chocolate affogato left me with a heavy stomach.



Service was fast and the attendant took time to explain which one is which from the dessert platter.



You can tell a chocolate parlor serves good food when the place is packed. Good thing there were two tables available so that we need not queue outside.



Find me.

" Chocolate doesn't ask silly questions, chocolate understands. "

Koko Black 

Chadstone Shopping Center

Chadstone, VIC 03148  

Hey Old Sport!

I want a man to look at me the way Gatsby looked at Daisy. And the hopeless romantic has spoken. It was just last night that I saw " The Great Gatsby " and I fell in love with it. I can watch it over and over again. It is a revealing story of what a man is capable of for love; a story of a man whose hope is high and boundless. It wowed me that there's nothing else I want to think right now but find the 1974 version of the film and look for a copy of the book. I even woke up to a dream of being born rich in the 1920's twerking with all my might in a party. No, I'm just kidding.

" So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past " - F. Fitzgerald

" I wish I had done everything on earth with you. " - Daisy

" And I like large parties. They're so intimate. At small parties there isn't any privacy." - Jordan



Not to mention, the soundtrack is simply beautiful. Listening to it, transports me to the 20's or the Prohibition period where drinking spirits gives an edge of danger and thrill that police can break up any moment. I can just imagine myself on a fancy dress and expensive fur coat in a speakeasy party walking in slow motion towards my gatsby.




A friend asked me whether the end was of a happily ever after. The way I see it, it is a happy ending yet a sad one. It is tragic yet joyful.

Sweet Chili Chicken

I have had lazy days. And by lazy days, I mean, lazy to prepare my own meals. It has been three days of eating bread, crackers, fruits, yogurt, oatmeal, dates along with coffee, tea and water. It has been three days that I have not eaten a real meal and now my mind and my stomach are hungry. As I was visiting Lili's blog, I browsed to the list of her recipes. Suddenly, I was hungry for something sweet and chili. Yes, I'm talking about her Sweet Chili Chicken. Coincidentally, I have chicken drumettes in the freezer waiting so long for its time to shine.

This should look better with a garnish.

Trust me, it's finger lickin' great. Just follow the recipe ( click here ) and you'll never go wrong. It is great paired with rice, beer or rounds of rum or brandy topped with juicy chit-chats ( as I would imagine. Missing my friends, my drunken-masters friends ). Apart from that, it would be good to munch on a movie night, a variation from the conventional bucket of popcorn or bags of junkies. Try it and drop me an ' amen ' on the comment box below.