30-Falafels and a Filipina pick-up line

April 20, 2012 10 Comments

The Husband rolls his eyes whenever I say I’m going to buy my favorite cheap eat: falafels, from the store right across the street. I don’t know what is it about these Middle Eastern balls that make them so addicting.

But for 1 AED for 3 pieces of filling crispy vegetarian yet not-so-healthy, deep-fried garlicky and secret spiced chick pea balls, it ain’t bad at all for people like the meantime-housewife-me on a meager budget.

I’ve been going to this falafel joint for months ever since I’ve landed here in Dubai. Never a week passes by without my fill of this Middle Eastern street food treat, so I am obviously a loyal customer. Whenever I drop by I get the standard free 1-piece of falafel and a friendly “how are you?” plus a charming smile from the Arab staff. Regulars get freebies all the time, right?

But I didn’t think all regulars do get some serious pick-up lines until last night…

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Filed Under: My eating quirks, My Life in Food Tagged With: , , , ,

The hot cure to feverish shivering

March 7, 2012 6 Comments

Can somebody please translate the label on the instant noodle packet?

I found myself shivering under the warmth of two thick blankets early this morning. I groggily thought, “This was not good at all. I am having the chills.” The Husband, who was rushing off to work, hardly noticed my fever as he kissed me goodbye. I buried myself under the covers as I had to get more sleep for the busy day ahead, full of meetings and writing.

But then I found myself waking up two hours later than the appointed time I set my alarm. Oh no! I was supposed to meet someone in 10 minutes. How could I possibly get up, take a bath and dress up, and commute all the way to Deira, a good 45-minute ride via the Dubai Metro, in 10 minutes? But my head was throbbing like mad. I quickly drafted and sent an apology message to the person I was supposed to meet. Then pain just lulled me back to sleep.

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A day in a life of an emotional eater

March 1, 2012 4 Comments

Sadly, it wasn't as tasty as I wanted it to be.

I’m actually ashamed to tell this story of mine, but I did it again earlier this afternoon like the million (or more) times I’ve done it across this 30-year lifetime of mine. I gave in to emotional eating…

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Introducing the vegetarian eating meat-lover

February 26, 2012 12 Comments

Can't you see that those vadas (South Indian savory "doughnuts") are happy to see me?

“Want to join me for dinner on Thursday? It’s an eat-all-you-can vegetarian buffet and it will only cost you 17AED (around USD 5)” I asked one of my Filipino friends.

“Veg buffet? A…e…Hehe!”

So the answer was obviously a big “NO” to the vegetarian dinner invite. Even the dirt cheap price was not enough to lure them in. (Note: The price is actually dirt cheap for Dubai eat-all-you-can standards, which can cost as low as 30 AED and as high as sky is the limit, literally, depending on where you are eating. Hotels buffets obviously cost much more than a cafeteria’s.)

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Confessions of a Non-Chocoholic Woman

February 5, 2011 1 Comment

Will I give this piece a chance?

Women & Chocolate are like spoon & fork, Adam & Eve, Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse, spoon & fork Always together and never (or hardly ever) apart. But I think there will always be outliers. Like me. A woman who can live WITHOUT chocolate.

Filed Under: My eating quirks, My Life in Food

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