HALLELUJAH!

This is my subject. Because. I. LOVE. FOOD. 

HEY BLOGGERS, IT'S MONDAY. AND I'M CRAZY PUMPED!

As mentioned before on my first entry, I am an amateur foodie. I love to eat and try new things. However, I made a diet change a little more than a year ago and now I don't eat meat. I decided to become vegetarian because that just seemed like a better life style choice, but I eat seafood occasionally. I guess that would make me a pescetarian? 

Living in California gives me a lot of choices and varieties of foods that I can eat. It's easy being a vegetarian when you're Asian because there are so many dishes out there that don't have meat in it and tastes wonderful. My diet mainly comprises of carbs and produce. I love starchy foods, bread being one of my favorite things in the world to eat. Breads with crusty outsides and soft springy insides are the best. 

Food is one of my biggest passions. I watch Food Network and The Travel Channel a lot and I love Anthony Bourdain. I did my senior project on haute cuisine and made Julia Child's onion quiche for my class. Mincing 2 pounds of onions was worth it, because the quiche was spectacular.

So, I'd like to recommend some of my favorite things for everyone to try, because I think these are some must-have-before-you-die. 

MACARONS (NOT MACAROONS, TOTALLY NOT THE SAME THING)

The closest thing I can compare this to would be a cookie. A cookie made out of almonds clouds and rainbow dreams.
But basically, this is a French confection, and they're selling everywhere in big cities. I highly recommend it. It might be a little pricey for a cookie, but a good macaron is worth the price. They come in crazy flavors like lavender and rosewater, and they're worth the try. You can get them shipped frozen to your house, but the fresh kind is always the best. 



FALAFELS

This is very popular in eastern Europe, in places like the Middle East and so on. I don't know if you can get them locally, but Mediterranean food is pretty loved where I live so it shouldn't be that hard to get. Falafels are balls of mashed chick peas that have been deliciously spiced and then fried. You pair it with some fresh veggies and tasty sauces like tahini or hummus, and then stuff it all in fluffy pita bread. Or at least, that is how I like it. 



DURIAN

You've heard horror stories regarding this one, and I won't lie to you, this is definitely an acquired taste. Durian brings back childhood memories, because my grandpa loved durian and he would make my parents buy it. I remember my father wielding a sharp cleaver and hacking through the spiky rind to get to the pulp inside. The smell would be slightly rancid but with a sweet after-note. My dad could easily tackle this fruit, but my mother had to pinch her nose with her fingers to get the stuff anywhere near her mouth. Needless to say, we always finished this stuff off and we would look forlornly at the fleshless seeds that were left behind. Durian is a strange fruit, and it's hard to get it fresh. We bought the whole frozen kind and that was good as well. The flesh inside is strange, almost ice cream-like with a sweet taste and smooth texture. 

SO! Seriously, if you see this stuff anywhere, I want you to try it! If you have tasted these things, but didn't like it, I understand. I always try things a couple of times to make sure if I really don't like it. I don't let one bad experience deter me, and I hope you won't too.

Tenley, I'll read you tomorrow.