happiness in one bowl

i was out for a very important errand today.  i had to get myself a decent suit for an official function tomorrow.  i guess, the absence of really nice clothes for every event possible is the downside of working for an NGO.   my typical work wear would be jeans, shirt and flats (progressing from flipflops). trying on a suit and a skirt felt unfamiliar already.  in fact, i was thinking of just getting a nice pair of slacks and a long sleeved shirt but i knew i had to get a suit.  


i never thought suits cost so much already but because i'm too purita kalaw, mr p offered to pay for whatever i choose to wear tomorrow.  i thought of getting a dress but i'm such a balyena, and it didn't look nice when i started to fit the dresses i liked, which left me no choice but to get a suit.  buti na lang hindi ko pera --- but despite my bulk, i still look good in a suit.  mabuti naman.  otherwise, my ego is, as expected, bruised to no end.

before the quest for the perfect suit, i had an appointment with my ever reliable manicurista, Mae, from Dashing Diva.  i had my usual pedicure and promised that i'd be back next week to get a combo (mani- and pedicure) before i fly to Dhaka for an official trip.  (i told her that i'm getting my nails painted red just to give me happy thoughts when i'm in Bangladesh --- imagine, 9 hours of travel from Manila, including a KL stop-over --- then meetings and fieldwork when i get there.)

funny that Mae asked whether i was on leave because i was able to see her on a wednesday.  i told her i'm on a self-imposed holiday, and she gave me that "judgmental" laugh that made me feel guilty for about 5 seconds.  defensive me, i reasoned that i can telecommute, and i'm as productive.

because this post is supposed to be a food post ----

when i'm in trinoma, i'm in perennial dilemma on where to eat.  so while shopping for my suit, i was already trying to weigh my choices.  it is no longer an issue whether i'm eating alone or i'm on a non-existent diet.  in choosing where to eat, i make sure that i don't eat where i last ate, and time is also of the essence (from food prep to getting the bill to giving me my change).  i try to avoid those restaurants that take their sweet time in taking orders or serving, especially when i know that mr p is at home.  (he checks on me and seems to want to take his meals with me around.)  buti na lang, busy at ngarag ang lolo dahil sa bago niyang shows;  thus, i knew i have time to enjoy my (late) lunch.

taken from where i was seated. i was avoiding a diner's head.

across Handyman (where i bought our hose replacement, a favor for mr p, pang-pakitang gilas!) is the mall's food court.  just at the visible, corner side is Mongolian Rice Bowls by sweet inspiration.

i don't eat mongolian rice bowl unless i'm in sweet I in katipunan.  since i kinda miss going there, it was not difficult to eat a rice bowl for lunch.  after all, it should be good because it's by sweet I.

my bowl of goodness (Hot&Spicy and a bit of brown suger timpla)

the system is quite different though.  you have to place your order first then pay.  you will be given a bowl (depends on the size you pick).  i chose the big bowl because their mini bowl could spell b-i-t-i-n.  the first station of ingredients were rice, vermicelli noodles, then the veggies (carrots, pechay baguio, onions, tomato, singkamas, bell pepper, togue.  there was tofu also.)  i think the veggies' section was quite limited compared to what they offer in katips.  for the condiments' section, there are their usual signages "sweet/hot&spicy/sweet&spicy" to guide diners on how they want their rice bowls timplado. 

i feel such an expert preparing my rice bowl that i already knew what i wanted to eat --- a bit of rice, a bit of noodles, lots of pechay baguio (since they wilt and disintegrate), a few julienned carrots and singkamas, 4 small rings of white onion.  then there were peanuts and garlic also in the condiments' section.  i followed the right mix and proportion for a hot&spicy bowl but added half spoon of brown sugar for a bit of sweetness.  for the extra crunch, i added about a quarter of a teaspon of peanuts.  surprisingly, when i was near the meat section, i was asked for my bowl, and it was "numbered."  i was then asked what kind of meat i wanted so they can weigh it.  either i was in shock or too hungry, i didn't bother asking how much meat a big bowl is allowed to accommodate.  i simply pointed (like in a trance!) to fresh sliced squid and chicken and also requested for 4 pieces of squid balls.  (i always put 4 pcs of squid balls even when in katips.  don't ask.  i don't know myself.)  my bowl was queued to the "chef" (i should have taken a photo of their open fire/open kitchen).  i was given my drink and was asked to wait. 

steaming, hot-spicy-sweet meal of happiness

i didn't wait long though. 

like a ritual, i broke free my chopsticks and mixed my rice bowl looking for those 4 pieces of squid balls.  i ate each slowly while waiting for everything to cool a bit, just a bit.  (i still want it mainit but not nakakapaso.)

at first taste of everything --- rice, noodles, some veggies, a ring of squid, a bit of chicken --- it did not taste like the one i always have in katips.  it did not disappoint though.  i guess, that is the beauty of a mongolian rice bowl.  its taste is totally dependent on you --- how you prepare your ingredients and the timpla.  (which really means that you have only yourself to blame if it tastes weird.)

what i like in the fast food version though is the taste of tostado and burnt rice grains, squid and chicken.  it gives a smokey character to it, which actually adds to the spicy-ness and comfortable hotness that tickle your tongue but does not burn.

i finished my meal filled and happy (not the over the top, joyous happy) but happy nonetheless.  after all, it's a P210 meal --- compliant with "all food groups' requirement," did not make me feel guilty with its quantity, and yes, cheaper than McDo.

(all photos taken with my iphone)