Mad Brews: The Food Huntress Notebook

I am a self- confessed food bric-a-brac collector. I am talking about those leaflets, flyers that seem to follow us everywhere. From supermarkets to train stations to malls. As long as there are pictures of food, I don’t throw them around- and I don’t know if this attitude is considered normal or not. On the brighter side, I used this method of "learning from everywhere" when I was studying for the national board exams. It helped me pass with much luck- third place from the bottom. Since then, this learning from everywhere has become a sacred rite to me.

Now these pieces of garbage find their respective places in my little existence. First, I place them in an envelope as I do with bills and letters. Then I think about them later- probably when boredom or outrageous ideas kick again - at least I have something to work on. Besides... I confess that I... I... don't watch TV. Ergo, yes I admit in all my ignorance, I don't know who the Desperate Housewives are. Anyway, Starbucks brochures are what my sisters bring- not the signature paper cups- after hanging out at the coffee shop. Then after some time these things go into our scrapbooks, or get even more bastardized as I cut the letters and put them as labels in my spice jars. Then of course, the more informative side, i.e., “How to brew the perfect coffee” goes into that compilation of food information. Where else will you learn? But from the coffee experts! I don’t know if Starbucks will sue me for this, but at least I am participating in their save- earth campaign- recycle, reuse, reduce! Peace, Mr. Schultz!

I have this little white notebook where I doodle down anything under the sun- mostly food related insanities. On the right panel is a strip from Calvin and Hobbes – my favorite comics, then on the center is a sadist hot chick – taken from a Yo Card – whose whip I replaced with a slotted spoon. There’s a mug of beer. The perfect pizza from a Pizza Hut flyer. Umberto Eco’s On Ugliness book cover picture- I haven’t read the book – but I like the picture. How to Eat Like A Hot Chick by Vincent and Lipper (I haven't read this too, but I think I'm going to like this). Tuna pasta from a tuna company scrap. The perfect blueberry cheesecake from a can of Blueberry Comstock. A cleaver – one of my favorite things in the world.

Then turn the page of this “Mad Brews” notebook and find hidden madness. From instructions on how to cut curled octopus arms, to recipes of guacamole and garlic paste, to personal resolutions, to layouts of dream restaurants, to star signs. I was born year of the Sheep. Chef Masaharu Morimoto is Sheep. Zhang Ziyi is Sheep. Beauty. Food. This puts a big smile on my face and I am still yet have to be diagnosed if this too, is considered normal.

Then from those gardening fairs, leaflets of seed companies. If I am fascinated by the colors, I shove them in my pocket. Colorful peppers. Tomatoes. Lettuces. When I watch occasional TV, Jaime Oliver’s superb pizza. On the back page, Kenny Rogers’s Philly Steak Sandwich. Reminds me of my days at a French café. A noodle bowl from Mr. Ube in Chinatown. New York Cheesecake Donut from Krispy Kreme. A colander. A bag of coffee beans (which I sometimes fantasize, how it would feel if you actually sleep on top of a coffee bean sack. Will it massage your back?). The old Little Caesar’s Pizza Pizza- a souvenir on the company’s big days in Manila...

And oh. The spine. Fresh. Hot. Now. Food Huntress. Delicious. Anytime. Anywhere. Again, back from the top, this is a compilation of food insanities and grand illusions…