Blog Replies

Lawrence
http://haruchikafuji.blogspot.com/2009/03/perfect-food.html

Stacey
http://lsmilel.blogspot.com/2009/04/siopao.html

Carissa
http://carissa61590.blogspot.com/2009/04/icce.html

The RECESSION MEAL

Because of the current recession, many restaurants have invented their own versions of the “recession meal.” While sitting at home, watching television, I noticed a lot of restaurant commercials advertising their own recession deals. Also, while skimming through one of my favorite blog sites, I noticed they have posted a lot of the recession meals they have eaten.
The bigger and more well-known restaurants have come up with commercials advertising their great deals. Pizza Hut, for example, advertized the “Pizza Penny Deal.” Which states, “Get a medium one-topping pizza for only a penny.” In the subtext it hides, “When you purchase a large pizza at menu price.” Although only valid with the purchase of a larger pizza, it still results into a great deal. Another restaurant advertising their deals is Cici’s buffet. Basically, they have strategically placed pennies with special stickers on the back in their parking lot. Finding one of those special pennies would ultimately result in a free buffet. These great deals are perfect for parties, and perfect for the individuals who always pick up the change left on the floor.
Even the smaller restaurants have created their versions of the recession deals. Pastagina, a small restaurant located in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, have a special meal called the “Recession meal.” I believe it was only $4.99 and included everything. It had a bowl of pasta with shrimp, bread, cheese on the side, and a drink. This recession meal is not the best but it will fill up any individual who loves pasta.
The recession has brought deals that everyone could enjoy. Because we now have to spend wisely, the cost of these meals only reassure our decision to buy them. With the many pizza, buffet, and pasta deals, one cannot complain of the effect on food presented by the recession. Also, many restaurants have incorporated the value menu. Restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Del Taco just to name a few. So the next time you are low on cash, but need to feed a lot of people or just yourself, think of the recession meals.

The ICE CREAM TRUCK is here!!

Yet another afternoon stuck at home with nothing to do, nothing to eat, and nowhere to go. So what do I do? Sleep. Suddenly a very familiar sound wakes me up. A sound I have not heard in almost a year now because I have been attending school in Long Beach. It was the music from the ice cream truck. I am sure everyone has felt the joy of hearing the music of the truck or at least have seen it in the movies. The first thing that came to my mind was, where is my money? The second was, what do I buy? My usual was either the Neapolitan ice cream sandwich or hot cheetos covered in warm nacho cheese. With my money in my hand and the sweet sound in my ear, I stand in the line and get the nacho cheese covered cheetos. With the warm bag in one hand and spoon in the other, I eat it within a few minutes and almost immediately have the craving for more.
There are ice cream trucks everywhere in Los Angeles. Every block has its own truck. Our block in particular has, from what I recall, three different trucks. Almost anything can be bought from the truck: chips, nachos, toys, and of course, ice cream. The ice cream sundaes are surprisingly good, and the toys are not the best thing to play with as a child but could entertain them for days. Toys like toy guns, laser pointers, and playing cards are just some of what I used to get as an elementary student.
While attending Cal State Long Beach, I have not seen one ice cream truck there. It would be nice to have a cone of ice cream between classes or after finishing some homework. I guess that is why Foster’s Freeze is in school and Ralphs is only a few blocks from our apartment. Although it is a good substitute, it lacks the variety of flavors and the cheap price. Plus, it lacks my personal favorites, the Neapolitan ice cream sandwich and the nacho cheese covered cheetos.

Hot Sauce

After arriving home for spring break I open the refrigerator and, as always, there is no food to be found except for a bottle of tapatio. Tapatio is a type of hot sauce and I personally believe it is the best in the world. So I call my mom and let her know I was back and ask when she would arrive home. Then I ask, “Can you buy food before coming home?” She replies, “What do you want?” I think, “What can I eat with what we already have here?” Then it hits me, pizza! I always eat pizza with either peppers or hot sauce, and the tapatio is the perfect condiment. Tabasco is another type of hot sauce which I am not a fan of. Because of its overwhelming flavor and intense heat, it does not compliment the food. Instead of providing an extra flavor, it overwhelms the taste of the actual dish. The perfect hot sauce provides the spice and flavor without overwhelming the essence of the dish.
Hot sauce is the perfect combination with any type of food. It adds a special “kick” to Asian food, adds a great taste to Hispanic food, and adds a spice to American food. Together with the hoisin sauce, it completes the Vietnamese dish called pho. With salsa, it becomes a necessity when eating tacos, burritos, pupusas, and tamales. When it comes to American food, it is just a great addition for the spice many seek. In my opinion, the best dish to combine with the hot sauce is microwaveable noodles. Cup of Noodles way sometimes taste bland, but with the addition of tapatio, it becomes a great dish. This combination helped me survive senior year and kept me full for all six periods.
Any spicy food enthusiast would agree that hot sauce gives a great “kick” and even greater flavor to any type of food imaginable. Even those who do not enjoy the spice can add a small serving and appreciate the flavor offered by the sauce. After all, tapatio’s slogan is “Es una salsa… Muy salsa,” which roughly translates to “It is sauce that is… very saucy.”