One cloudy Saturday, I decided to try pork wanton with pandan rice at Paotsin. I also agreed to down it with BukoJuice, a beverage I rarely drink. The next day, I wanted to eat at Paotsin again, but this time, I asked my boyfriend to choose something different, that tastes better when fried. Steamed siopao is one of the few steamed dishes I do trust-I have this feeling that anything immersed in heat and cold, is almost germ and bacteria free. Well, good luck to the Salmonella-harboring sunny side up egg of one fast food chain...
The other week, I also chose white sauce for my Ziti and white cheese pizza. And, although I was craving for a sour taste because of something hormonal, the white creamy sauce and cheese, did not disappoint me.
I then discovered, stepping out of my food comfort zone. I always order the same meal, the same dessert and even the same drink-coffee or water. Just that. I was boring myself, whereas I have this growing infatuation with food. Contrary to stereotyping horizontally challenged people as food lovers, I, a skinny wide eyed girl, loves food.
Although, there are times I get to be a very picky eater. I don't eat ginataang langka, I rarely eat pineapple and drink pineapple juice especially when I am not sure if I'm hungry, I occasionally eat ube, clams and crabs and I only eat boneless fish (well, milk fish), tuna, or fish with big bones.
This all started with my almost sheltered but not so childhood.My older sister and I had yayas telling us myths or facts such as local monsters and dwarfs and my mother too, had given me this fear of eating and drinking food and beverages when I am hungry.
Exhibit A: After the June 1990 quake, Lola , me and my sister had a snack, well to relieve us of the 'tension' of the said disaster, Lola had us drink a soda. I drank it like a tequila shot minus the salt and lemon. I decided not to finish my sandwich. I felt my tummy ached. My mother, upon learning of what I've done, made me eat rice with tinola soup and drink hot Milo. She told me I had to fart three times or else I'll vomit and die!
Just imagine how scared I must have felt at that time, an 8 year old kid, dying because she drank a soda with an empty stomach...I was supposed to be a teacher, or a nun or a writer.
I keep asking my mother what if I didn't fart and I vomited? Her eyes grew big and she said, "Don't think about that too much, finish your Milo!"
So I did and I think, I really forced myself to let out a couple of gas.
Exhibit B: After that, my mother enumerated the food and drinks I shouldn't dare eat and drink when my tummy's empty.
Sigh, kids are gullible. That is why, for almost five years, after that incident, I asked people, "Is it ok to eat this when you're hungry?" To which they would almost always reply, "Why, are you?" To which I would then say (hold on), "I don't know. I'm not sure. Am I hungry?"
FTW?!
So there I sit, enjoying Buko Juice, making sure I am stuffed in Paotsin. Their rice, aside from being tasty (it's pandan rice for those late-bloomers/good-food-discoverers like me) was enough to make me feel full.
Mother, I have conquered my fear...almost. Next conquest, is to eat this pineapple chunks while sipping my Margarita I mean, pineapple juice.
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