Hahaha, it was hilarious seeing you guys try to guess which was the lie to the little “Seek the Lie” game on my last post. Though, a few of you made a boo-boo and guessed the truth instead. Okay, I’ll put an end to your torture and reveal the answer:
So here was my 6 truths and 1 lie (Not 6 lies and 1 truth!):
- I did Chinese dance when I was in the first and second grade in Singapore. Once, I had to dress up as a duck, complete with bright yellow feathers around my buttocks.
–>
Truth!
I even have pictures to prove it. I had a duck beak for a hat, and I wore this bright yellow leotard, and my “dance” moves were basically waddling after a mother duck, who wore a brown leotard. Until now, I have no idea what possessed me to agree to do such a humiliating act. - I can’t stand chocolate-flavored anything like chocolate ice-cream, brownies, chocolate muffins, etc.
–> Truth!
I even gave the answer away later in the post when I mentioned I don’t like chocolate in my food! I like plain chocolate by itself…but for some reason, detest it combined with anything else. I especially have a strong dislike for chocolate chip cookies. When I first came to America, I forced myself to eat them to live out the cookies-and-milk dream I had. I managed to choke them down by dipping them in lots and lots of ketchup. - I once almost drowned trying to do gymnastics in the baby pool. I did a head-stand, and got stuck with my head immersed in the water and my legs flailing in the air.
–>
Truth!
This was the second time I almost drowned. The first when I was pretending to be a pirate looking for sunken treasure. My imagination will one day kill me. - I have a strange habit of gauging the price of anything with the number of Supersize McDonald’s french fries. For example, this sweater is worth 15 Supersize McD’s french fries!
–>
Truth!
By the way, I spent 40 Supersize McD’s french fries worth of groceries today at Costco. Boo hoo. T___T;; - I did beam gymnastics in Singapore. I am uncannily flexible, and I totally rocked at the beam.
–>
Lie!
Congrats to all who guessed #5 as the lie! Beam? Are you kidding me? I’m the clumsiest person on earth, and I have the scars to prove it. I did trampoline gymnastics instead, and I was horrible, because I just did not know how to tighten my muscles. Also, I was a total slacker and only did gymnastics because I had a crush on one of the gymnasts. - There was a time when I was obsessed with bagels. I ate 6 bagels for dinner every single day. Guess which kind? Cheese, of course.
–>
Truth!
What is so impossible to believe about eating 6 bagels? Believe it. They were good bagels too: Noah’s bagels from Costco. Remember: never, ever, ever underestimate a petite Asian female’s ability to eat. - I’m a deadly deep-sleeper. I need 2 alarm clocks to wake me up, and even so I still sleep through them frequently. I once fell off the double bunk bed but still did not wake up. Maybe I fainted in my sleep?
–>
Truth!
When I’m asleep, I’m basically a corpse. Why do you think I miss so many morning classes? Because I sleep through my 2 alarm clocks. I can sleep standing up, too. I once fell asleep while walking. I almost fell off the rail.
That was so fun, I might do something like this in the near future again. Wheee! Thanks for playing, guys!
Oh, and before I forget, here’s a shot of what I had for Fried Food Thursday:
I was gonna get fries from my school dining hall, but they happened to have an Asian theme going on…and I haven’t had bastardized Chinese food for a long time, so I thought, why not? 
It’s deep-fried tofu doused in a sweet-and-sour sauce, by the way. It was okay. Not to sound arrogant, but I’ll bet I can make a meaner, leaner version of this myself. But that’s for another time.
Today, it’s not about recipes, it’s just about going out and enjoying other people’s recipes. I’ve had a lot of you ask me where I get my inspiration for recipes. Well, my inspiration is, simply, from eating other people’s food. That’s the joy of going out to eat. You get to try something you’ve never eaten before, something that introduces you to new products, ingredients, techniques, and cultures.
And no matter how cool and wacky my recipes are…how can I compete with traditional recipes that have been passed down from family to family since 1923? I can’t. So, I just sit and eat my humble pie. Or in this case, my humble enchiladas.
Awhile ago, my church friends and I hit by a famous Mexican restaurant in downtown Los Angeles called El Cholo. El Cholo is a place rich with history, and prides itself of its authentic and traditional family recipes. But what impressed me most was the warm, hospitable vibe it exuded: 
The decor is Spanish-influenced, and the interior architecture is reminiscent of an earlier century. Kind of the place you want to be in on a chilly wintry night, sharing a mug of beer with strangers by the fire. The walls were also decorated with phots of early Los Angeles history and celebrities. 
The only thing that perturbed me was the dim lighting. I guess they would rather call it “warm, intimate, soft lighting”…but what the hell. I want to be intimate with my food, too…and how can I be when I can’t even see it? 
But the fish tank was cool, I’ll give them that! Random, but totally wicked cool! 
Even the bathroom was oldie-style: 
Sorry, couldn’t resist. It was a huge group of us ladies. Church ladies who lunch! Tee hee. 
The menu choices were rather limited, but that’s a good thing I suppose since the first clue to an unauthentic restaurant is a menu the size of…say, Cheesecake Factory.
I had trouble deciding what I wanted…so I asked the waiter for help, and he promptly pointed to the most expensive item on the menu. I, like a fool, took his advice and ordered that. I got the Crabmeat Enchilada: 
Corn Tortillas wrapped around succulent crabmeat with Jalapeno-Cilantro Pesto Sauce, Sour Cream, Fresh Avocado, Black Beans and Rice. 
Here’s a secret: I did not take the picture at my table. After my waiter served me this dish, I took it and ran to a particular spot in the restaurant that had a teeny bit of natural light peeking in. That, my friend, is true dedication of an obsessed food blogger. 
Bad lighting aside, this dish…was fabulous. Holy crab! I’ve never had better enchiladas in my life! The crabmeat was utterly succulent, with that savory sweetness of good crabmeat. 
But the sauce…that Jalapeno-cilantro pesto sauce was definitely the star! It was rich and creamy, without being overly cloying or heavy. Perfecto! 
And the cheese! This was definitely a whole bucket of cheese! These people know the way to my heart! 
Most of my friends seemed to be watching their weight, and ordered the lighter Annie’s Early California Enchiladas: 
Corn Tortilla stufed with Garden Fresh Vegetables, Spinach, Sauteed Mushrooms, and Jack Cheese, Corn and Tomato Salsa. 
And none of them could finish this. 
What? I don’t understand, I’m so confused. Because I sure had no trouble polishing off mine: 
(I ate up that little portion of rice afterwards, just in case you were wondering)
You know, this reminds me…there was once an online forum with a topic asking what cuisine you dislike. I said I don’t really like Mexican food, because it’s a bit too greasy and messy…and frankly, ugly. A guy (I think he was Mexican) responded immediately, “Like your face!”
Wow. People get so sensitive about food. But I guess food is a lot more than taste. It’s got a sort of pride, a culture, a tradition, a story behind it. We all have our food memories and backgrounds and stories. There are certain food we grew up eating which stirs up nostalgia, or a flood of emotions. Food is an integral component in our lives, both physically and emotionally. I guess my “You Are What You Cook” Challenge touches on that, too.
Okay, reminder: Entries for the challenge is due…today! And so is the BSI entries. I will most likely post the winner on Tuesday, but next week’s BSI host will be announced before then so that there is plenty of time to submit your entries to the next BSI. I’m sorry this week’s BSI was posted so late; I was only notified on Tuesday late afternoon myself. But thanks to all who submitted previous posts! 
Question of the day: What is one food (or several) that instigates memories, traditions, emotions, etc. for you? And what is the most you’ve ever eaten in one seating?
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My goodness i love all the interesting facts you chose to share about yourself. It is certainly amaaazing how much a petite asian girl can fit in her belly. I am by no means petite, (5’9 and female) but I once ate 2 boxes of full sized cereal WITH a jug of milk for “dinner”. And then chased it with a bag of dumplings. It was a little ridiculous and I felt like my stomach was going to BURST. hheheh
Food is definitely a sense of pride because of what it symbolizes I guess! I don’t mind basterdized Chinese food as long as it takes good AND as long as the person who makes it acknowledges the fact taht they’re not trying to get it to be “authentic”. THAT annoys me the most. When people butcher a traditional dish and try to pass it off as the real thing. BAHUMBUG.
Darlin’, you need to come to Chicago so we can go to Rick Bayless’ restaurant. There we shall order chicken mole so we can change how you feel about chocolate combined with other foods. AND…the beauty of mexican food. hehhe
I definitely second the come to Chicago and Rick Bayless restaurant plan! Could you imagine the 3 of us eating at his place? He’d need to re-order everything b/c we’d clear out the inventory! hehehe
Haha! You girls are on! I really need to get my ass there to Chicago sometime again…in the summer when it’s not negative degrees! Oh, and with an empty stomach, of course!
I think it’s hysterical you used to eat six bagels a night for Dinner! LOL!
Oh my goodness…this post is making me derrrrrrool! Yum, yum, yum!
Doesn’t sound like you were too much of a fool to follow the waiters advice as it sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed your food. It does sound yummy by the way!
Wow girl, I totally bow to you on the 6 bagels truth! Thanx for that game, it was really fun. And can I say how hilarious you are? Luv reading your blog! I definitely agree with you that some petite Asians sure can eat. There was a time when I used to be able to eat a whole medium sized pizza on my own. I’m 5 feet and about 105 lbs by the way. Now after having 2 kids I don’t think I’m able to do that. But when the beast is hungry my hubby knows to step aside lol.
Your crabmeat enchilada looks delicious! Thanx for be such an obsessed food blogger
When I get a little drunk (like this weekend at the bachelorette party) I can eat my heart out. We had Korean BBQ, sake, philly cheesesteaks, and Mcflurry’s last night, oh…and beer. No wonder I feel like CRAP today! This is the one time a detox diet is in need (as in, eat very healthy, low sodium foods for two days, not a really DETOX lame diet).
I think you FOR SURE could make a leaner and meaner fried tofu (well, maybe not leaner…). I would eat your over anyone else’s, any day.
So I totally guessed the wrong “truth”. I thought you were lying about the headstand in the pool. How the heck did your head get stuck??? I almost drowned once because I was trying to save my friend from drowning. I swam out to “save her” and she pushed me under, trying to use me as a floating devise. It was the scariest moment, ever.
Haha, I never underestimate the amount a petite Asian gal can eat because I am one myself! I used to eat laddered bowls of cereal when I was younger, meaning I would eat all the cereal and still have a little milk, add more cereal to eat with the milk and finish the milk, add more milk to finish the cereal, continue ad nauseum (literally).
I’ll have to try your restaurant picture-taking trick, because golly my restaurant pics are doody.
I loved reading the stories behind your truths! I so couldn’t do beam gymnastics either – way too scared of heights! I’m very impressed that you did trampoline gymnastics!
Your enchiladas look SO heavenly!! I love how beautiful you wrote about the memories and personal histories of food… So true!! For me, falafel is my most nostalgic food – it always reminds me of either being in Israel and all the joy and exuberance surrounding food there, or being home with my dad as a little kid while he fried falafel and eggplant for our dinner… Wonderful memories.
So cute that you did gymnastics because you had a crush on another gymnast.
I miss gymnastics a lot sometimes. Beam was actually one of my favorite events.
Swedish coffeebread that my family makes every year holds a lot of fun memories for me.
I think I ate 20 perogies in one sitting once
I also have eaten about 8 slices of pizza at once.
Awww no I guessed wrong!
I knew the other stuff was wacky and quirky enough to be you though! 
I hate when I go out to eat with others and people are asking for boxes and I am practically licking the plate!! Pair that up with being a fast eater-no es bueno.
I think I put down 20+ plus wings, two bowls of chili, chips and dips, multiple beers and more fun in one sitting at a SuperBowl game party a few yrs ago. I could not stop eating and felt fine all not but felt so ill the next morning.
Fast food reminds me of college and hitting that up after a night of drinking (figure seven or eight beers then a value meal and I wonder why I gained weight?) and sushi reminds me of living in Phoenix where my friends and I always used to go out for sushi at least twice a wk.
yo yo yo– i did! i just need to look over my schedule to figure out which day is best!! =D
haha i am totallyw ith you on mexican food- i dont like it that much! but i must say, your meal does look delicious and yay for polishing it off
xoxoxo
shelley
What a cool door! Haha.
I’m not going to lie, that food looks really good…and I could probably eat 3x that no problem. Shameful.
Haha, I thought you were lying about the bagels one because 6 bagels a day is really no joke!
Similar to you gauging the price of anything with the number of Supersize McDonald’s french fries, I gauge with the number of 10cents/seaweed packs here in SG! Haha! (I’m not sure if you’ve seen them selling at “mama” shops though).
that food looks REALLY good! I do love mexican once in a while although it snot my FAVORITE cuisine…i LOVe how you ran to another part of the restaurant for a pic, that really is some dedication right there, sophia, thats why we LOVE you
it has to be my Grandmas cake! hope you find some lime leaves, oh that food looks so good
Your crabmeat enchilada looks awesome! It makes me think of tbe wonderful crabmeat quesadillas we once had on a vacation on a little Carribean island of Mustique.
I loved hearing more about all your truths! I shouldn’t have assumed you couldn’t eat 6 bagels in one sitting. I won’t make the same mistake again!
I always tell my boyfriend that I could totally outeat the guy on Man Vs Food. I can’t think of any particular eating sesh but I’ve definitely had my fair share of eating ALOT in one sitting!
Girl, you crack me up so much! Your blog is delightful. There are so many things to comment on–let’s see if I can remember them all. First of all–how in the world do you fall asleep while walking?! That is craziness, girl. Second, what is that mysterious glob of speckled white stuff on your plate with the sandwich and fried tofu? It must be potatoes, but seems way too white & creamy for that. LOLLOLLOL on taking your plate to an area with some natural light–I love it and wish I had the guts! I can’t even take a picture in a restaurant period. Your enchilada looks so so good. I’ve been touchy on food before as well, so I can kinda understand except that guy was really rude about it! I got mad at someone who tried a recipe I posted and hated it b/c of a texture issue (didn’t like creamy and it was a buttercream that, of course, was creamy). She couldn’t help what she liked but for some reason I took offense. It’s one of my favorite frostings and she hated it! (waaaaa!)
It’s like she called my baby ugly–lol. As for the food that instigates memories, I would have to say beans and cornbread. We ate that a lot in the winter when I was growing up and I can still feel the happiness in my chest when I think about us gathering around the table with our steaming beans and big chunks of hearty cornbread slathered with tons of butter. Also, buttermilk pancakes–I just posted a recipe for them that’s really close to the ones we had growing up and included the memories it evokes along with some old pictures, so it’s funny that you asked this question now! The most I’ve ever eaten is an entire large pepperoni pizza by myself. I thought I was gonna die. 
Hello my friend!
)
No apologies for not popping over the last few weeks…I’ve been on double shifts at the hospital! Finally I have some “me time” so here I am
Interesting fish tank Sophie! Seriously, what a great place! I favour the dim lighting, probably my age lol! and I love anything with a history attached to it….x
You are truly funny Sophia!
What a fun post, Sophie!!! Thank you for sharing personal tidbits about yourself. I don’t know where to begin:
6 bagels!!!
That fish tank, Wow!!!
Glorious food, YUMMY!!!
However, scampering away to get the perfect shot, well, that IS dedication!!!
I added my Vegan Wednesday post to Dinner at Christina’s! Thanks for the suggestions!
I love the action shot of the ooey gooey cheese
interesting title, made me smile
and i’m totally craving mexican now!! hope you had a great weekend!
Boy, I’ll never make it as an enforcement officer. My lie detector was way off. The restaurant looks wonderful and if ever I’m out your way I’ll know where to eat
. Popcorn evokes memories for me. Silly I know. I hope you are having a wonderful day…Mary
I loved finding out what was a lie.
The first time I had real Mexican food was at a party catered by El Cholo. I had the impression that Mexican food was what they served at Chi Chi’s in Michigan–which was pretty disgusting. El Cholo is so delicious and your enchiladas looked wonderful. I’m sure I would have mopped up that plate, too.
I can definitely pack it in–at Korean bbq, for example, my husband and I order enough for like 6 people and then for desert, we order more beef. As a kid I could always eat a ton–21 silver dollar pancakes for breakfast, 6 pieces of pizza for dinner…,you get the idea! Snickers bars and candy corn evoke childhood memories for sure.
“Bastardized Chinese Food” -I love that term! Cracked me up! I was fortunate to have grown up with many Chinese people in my life, most of them women and all of them incredible cooks. I was spoiled, unlike most Americans I KNOW what real Chinese food tastes like and I miss it. Every once in a while I get up the nerve to take it on – dragging out all those cooking lessons I got so long ago in trade for English lessons. One woman in particular left me in awe. She could only explain things to me in Chinese as she showed me how to make some of her amazing dishes – so my memory is filled with images of the most creative and flavorful and unique dishes accompanied by the melody of her particular dialect of which I could only understand a few words, but I could understand the heart she put into her cooking. If ever there was a Julia Child of the Chinese cooking world – she was it. Those are fond memories as are the ones where we all gathered together and made food together sometimes at one of their houses, sometimes in one my mom’s house all the time chopping and wrapping and sizzling away while they each tried to get me to pronounce the words they were trying to teach me the “correct” way, in their dialect not the other ones. Though I can’t recall more than a few Chinese words these days I can recall the memories and laughter and tastes of all that REAL Chinese food and the people that showed it to me.
I guessed wrong! Who would ever figure you nearly drowned in a baby pool?
Love the looks of the Mexican restaurant, if not the food. Sorry… I am not a fan. But my kids adore it so I have served it quite a bit. (Guess I better not stand next to that guy who got mad!)
I just followed u on twitter!!
(wackybecky)
Good mornin! its’ 6am here in Msia!
Bummed! If I had paid more attention..I would have guessed right! I agree with you on your dislike for chocolate chip cookies; to me they are so sweet, I find them nauseating sometimes. Anyway, this El Cholo place looks cool, I love Tex-Mex and have my choice of options here.
By the way, you were asking if the eggplant, bulgur and chick peas and tomatoes dish can be slow-cooked. Heck yeah! Just leave the eggplants on the side and plop them on later. Every time you cook anything from a Lebanese kitchen that is a stew it can do very well slow cooked, it might actually enhance the flavors!
Ciao bambina!
(did you know my bro and his family live in Singapour and LOVE it!)
I can so see eating 6 bagels in one sitting if they’re good. My mother is bread-obsessed, it’s the staple of most her meals. Give her bread, cheese, and a cucumber and she would be set for life..that’s how she grew up in Cyprus. I still can’t go past a bakery without wanting to get a loaf and sink into it!
I love the look of Mexican restaurant — it’s full of charm! (The only downside is low lighting…I totally agree with you about that!
) Your crab dish looks delicious!
OHHH please write up a recipe for sweet and sour tofu! I would love to make it!!! maybe I should just google it lol.
yums that mexican food looks delish!
ohhh and the most important thing….you look GORGEOUS!
1 – what sort of Chinese dance required a duck? I was literally picturing Big Bird per your description.
2 – omg… you don’t like chocolate-flavored things. I can’t read your blog anymore.
4 – hahaha, this is hilarious and somehow, very Asian.
6 – I am amazed. Like…wow. And I personally don’t dig Noah’s that much. Did you have it with cream cheese as well, or just the plain cheese bagel?
7 – Wait, I don’t understand how you can fall asleep while walking. I once fell asleep while riding on top of a horse, but that was cuz it was in Phoenix, AZ, it was super warm, and the horse was literally going .01 mile per hour.
I agree with the not liking Mexican food reason. However, after living in SoCal, I’ve come to like it a lot more now! It’s still not very pretty though…
Nostalgic food – for me, it would have to be the scent of dill. It reminds me of oyster porridge that my mom always makes (^^)
El Cholo looks like a fabulous restaurant. I miss the great Mexican food of California.
I had no idea it was number five…but now it makes sense! Haha! You are too funny!
I love restaurants with awesome bathrooms. Those sinks are AWESOME.
<3 jess
xoxo
A chocolate-chip cookie hater? That’s a first! Well, I here by volunteer to eat any that you don’t want. Hah!
Wow- love the crabmeat enchilada! It looks absolutely delicious! I gladly would have eaten that whole plate.
I have a passion for baking from scratch. It’s very important to my mother and me, so we’re pretty fierce. Boxed mixes just don’t do it for us.
And I’ve eaten so much so many times in my life that I couldn’t begin to recount them. Let’s put it this way, you don’t weigh close to 300 pounds eating moderately. Well I didn’t at least.
hahaha loved this!! 6 bagels? wowza you can put it away! That restaurant sure looks unique and tasty. I can just see you grabbing your plate and running to get the little bit of light haha gosh I hate dim-lit restaurants! grrr I didn’t have too many food traditions growing up besides the same 4 or 5 meals of hamburger helper, turkey burgers and bagged skillet meals that my mom made
now I cringe at most boxed meals lol naw, there were some pretty good food memories 
Sometimes I can put it away too, but nothing too crazy. I think when I was younger I had somewhere near 7 slices of pizza, and then in college 5 sushi rolls + 2 hand rolls . . . sushi coma!!
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