I've Got No Game

"Look around you ... you are the only one in the group without a boyfriend". I repeated this line to myself as Victor continued to type on skype, giving me his two cents on why I am still single. "You are not active enough and you have no game".

Brutal.

Ouch.

But I appreciate the honesty.

I thought about it long and hard after my late night convo with him and I don't disagree with him. The problem, he said, is I blend into to the background very easily and I am just not that memorable. He suggested showing a little bit more passion towards the things I love. Talk about it, make a story out of what I love - food. My blog. With all that said, I still think why would anyone want to hear me blab about my blog? That's just being totally self absorbed.

I pondered some more over the idea of how "I've Got No Game" and thought back to the times on how I made my exs fall for me - all of 2 exs and random dates here and there. I've been told that a girl is totally charming and irresistible when she gets really excited talking about the things that she is passionate about. The enthusiasm shines through, her eyes sparkle and that big smile on her face, my friend, is the 'hook'. You tell your stories with confidence (in my case, a glass of wine or 2 helps), throw in a little humour, and that is sexy to a man.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

I am not sure if I am supposed to take this quote metaphorically or what. But I am taking it literally. That's my game. It worked before, it should still work now.

1. Baking cookies makes me friends. Once I've given them cookies, they will have to call or email or the very least whatsapp me to thank me for the treats.

2. Talk about recent Europe foodie trip. He will be fascinated and in awe (and secretly impressed) that I went alone because it shows that I can take care of myself. Guys like girls who can do things by themselves - being independent wor.

3. No.2 will then lead to "you must let me try your cooking sometime" - if the guy is interested, the next date is secured.

4. Talk about food that men in general love to eat and drop hints that you know how to make them. Men love their meat & beer. Tell him about a time you made killer ribs for a friend's birthday and brought along 6 different kinds of beer/lager/ale as his birthday present. Your date will adore you.

5. Do not talk about the fancy meals that you know how to make or that you are planning to make for him if is only date no.2. Be humble. Guys scare easy. If they realize that you are going to put so much effort into making him a gourmet meal when is only date no.3, they wont't know how to handle it and will flee.

6. Not the perfect first date if your guy brings you to Dem Bones (a restaurant in yvr, famous for ribs and food that needs no utensils and you'll be wearing a bib. Sadly, it no longer exists). But if you can carry yourself throughout the date with grace while eating with your bare hands and licking your fingers and not complain, you've scored.

7. Eat real food. Enjoy that plate of food in front of you. Eat those strips of bacon. Don't pat the grease off your slice of pizza. Don't eat chicken wings with a knife and a fork. I find that if you eat what they eat, the guy will know that you feel comfortable around him. That's important.

How about that, I came up with 7 ideas to start with. Not a bad day after all.

Is that time of year again ...

...where almost everywhere in the world is decorated in pink, red and white in some way, with lots of hearts, teddy bears and roses on display. Is the time of year where restaurants offer you the least choices ever, which I think is the worst time to dine out, forcing everyone single one of their customers to order 'the set'. And nope, I can't go out and have a dinner with 3 friends, because 'the set' is meant for 2pax. Despite what seems to be some dissatisfaction here, Valentine's Day is still a day to be thankful that you have your 'perfect someone' with you. And guys, no matter how much a girl says she doesn't like Valentine's Day or doesn't mind if you don't get her anything ... don't listen to that. Just get her something ... anything.


Anyhooo ...since most of the sites that I've been look at is promoting Valentine's Day in some sort of ways - salon.com has 'Search for the best Valentine's Day candy: It's on!"; vanmag.com is educating girls on "Last-minute Valentine's Day Gifts for Men" - then I guess it is important enough for me to dedicate this post to Valentine's day.

I actually don't recall cooking a Valentine's Day meal for my special someone. I usually made my special someone take me out to have 'the set' (ya I know, total hypocrite). But in my defense, I've only had a few bfs and so I don't have many Valentine's Day that I get to spend with a special someone. I did, however, taught a couple of my friends to cook a Valentine's Day meal for their bfs. So I guess this post should be about, IF I have a bf on next Monday, what would I cook for him?

I will absolutely not bound myself to the stove on Valentine's Day since I want to look awesome and enjoy myself. Dripping sweats & smelling like the kitchen don't exactly say sexy. Taking the simple and express route to put a tasty and romantic meal on the table is the way to go. (I will save my herb-rubbed duck with cherry & sage sauce for another day - you have to bone the duck, make the stock ... you get the drift).

Here are my ideas:

Amuse Bouche: Serrano Chips with Quince Preserves & Manchego

To drink: Champagne / Sparkling Wine
Why it is easy: Everything is store bought and all you have to do is cut up and crisp the Serrano ham in the oven (or you can fry them in oil); Use a peeler to shave some cheese, and stack: ham --> quince -- cheese. YUM! You can do this ahead of time.

Starter: Any type of Seafood Ceviche (ex. scallops, tuna, seabass, etc)

To drink: White Wine
Why it is easy: No cooking involved. Chop up your seafood into tiny cubes, marinate them in lemon juice (or any citrus) for 30mins and you are done. The citrus 'cooks' the seafood. Since this is so easy, you should also dice up some red onions, cilantro and toss them in the mix for some colors and flavour. season to taste.

Main: Oven Roasted Lamb Chops with Roasted Garlic and Rosemary

To drink: Continue with the white wine or open a red (the lamb is mild enough to go with the white wine and the roasted garlic will be really sweet instead of pungent and in your face. You won't have garlic breath, I promise).
Why it is easy: You just shove it in the oven and let it do the job for you. You won't have any oil splatters on your LBD. And since you are using the oven, buy some baby carrots and zucchini and roast them in oven too. Veggies are important.

Dessert: Mixed Berries with Creme Anglaise and Chocolate Cigars

To drink: A pot of fragrant rose tea with some honey
Why it is easy: This can be made ahead of time and the Creme Anglaise is the ONLY thing you need to cook on the stove. Get berries of your choice and a box of those chocolate cigar cookies (the ones you see on ice cream sundaes). Prepare the creme angliase before you doll yourself up, so that you can chill it in the fridge while you get ready. When you are boiling water to make the rose tea, assemble the dessert - layer berries, creme anglaise, berries and creme anglaise in tall glasses (martini glasses would look nice). Stick 2 of the chocolate cigars in and you are done.

Last thing to do is to set the mood. DO get some candles & flowers as the center piece.

Thoughts, suggestions, comments?