Yes, this is where I’ll be gently (VOTE!!) reminding (FOR!!!) you (ME!!!)again to vote for me on the challenge 3 of Project Food blog.

I had a chat with my mother just an hour ago, and she was asking me about the Project Food Blog and why the heck I’m spending so much time and effort on it. Apparently she thinks it’s a crazy whim I’ve spun up to fuel my gluttony.

I told her that even though it can be rather stressful, and that it almost feels like college finals when I’m scrambling to finish my challenge of the week, I’m having oodles of fun.

I told her that I’m meeting many new foodies—real passionate foodies who aren’t afraid to experiment beyond their gastronomical comfort zone—and that it’s a humbling feeling to gaze at their talents and creativity.

Finally, I told her that there is a grand prize of $10,000.

And that was when she said with a sudden dawn of understanding, “Ah.”

But to be completely, sincerely, cross-my-heart honest, it’s not the money that I’m interested in. As I’ve said before, I relish tackling the challenges throw at me by this project. If not for the project, I would not have found the incentive to push myself like this. And I love, love, just absolutely love all the different inspirations available in this community.

Loved the decor, loved the food, and absolutely green with envy for the amazing company, who were all foodies of the highest order.

I’ve never had African food before, so I was mesmerized by the fascinating variety of tidbits and dishes she presented, especially the Shorba, which is a lamb puree “laced with peanut butter and lemon juice” and the Theboudienne, a tomato-based stew with cabbage, sweet potato and cod fish.

Mariko’s concept was so cute that I couldn’t not share. Who says parents of young kids can’t have fun too? Mariko challenged this notion by inviting parents and their kids to a kid-friendly foodie adventure to Japan.

I’m not a fan of kids. Let me put it out there first. But her party for “little foodies” was definitely an “aww” moment. I don’t like screaming kids, but I do adore eating kids.

I’m kicking myself for not meeting Allie when I had the chance during the summer in DC. Because between the two of us, I think we would have made a freaking kick-ass dinner party.

What I loved most about her party though, is that—ahem—she’s a complete virgin to hosting dinner parties. Yet she executed it with such brilliance and skill. She even remembered to make dinner early so she can have good photography lighting!

Another thing I loved was her story behind it—an intimate dinner between old, old friends and sharing the history of their friendship.

Oh, Joanne. Tsk, tsk.

When will you realize that you really should throw down your thick medical books and become a culinary star.

Joanne, my favorite multi-talented blogger, actually performed this amazing dinner party smack in the middle of exams. She had to bribe her friends, of course, cajoling them with the sweet, tantalizing aroma of her Molasses Coffee pork chops—and plenty of caffeine.

Kelly is so freaking sweet.

But just because she dons a pink apron doesn’t mean she can’t whoop your ass when it comes to creating mind-blowing dishes.

Her party was right up my alley, because she acted like a foodie journalist—researching on the “next big flavors” of 2010, interviewing her guests on their likes and dislikes, and then basically did her own special twists on classic dishes using the information she collected.

I think we can all agree that the best thing about these dinner parties is not the food itself, but the combination of food and friends.

I feel very fortunate to have found a foodie friend in Mimi, a friend who share the same delight I feel in trying out new places, cuisines, and recipes. Well, a couple weeks ago, I found a new foodie friend, who I literally met on the streets.

Say hello to Erica:

She’s the one on the left with the beautiful smile.

The funny thing is, I’d known her since last semester, because she sat right next to me in my History of Journalism discussion class. We just never talked (though I always thought she was the smartest one in class).

In our class, we were required to start a Twitter account and follow each other. I had a slight moment of hesitation because I already had one, and I wasn’t sure if it would be wise to blend my personal account with my school one (since I have do have an eating disorder past and all).

I went ahead and gave out my personal Twitter account, because I was too lazy to make another one, and because I was pretty confident that my classmates wouldn’t be bothered to check up on me.

Well, Erica happened to be on Twitter when my blog update tweet popped up, and she was bored enough to click on it. And that’s how she came to read my blog.

A couple weeks ago, we passed each other on the streets, and she approached me right away. And of course, I invited her to hang out with Mimi and me. You can never have too many friends.

We went to a food court at the Koreatown Plaza for our first meet-up:
I’ve been here once before. I didn’t realize that until I stepped into the plaza. But I would recognize the dingy atmosphere, reminiscent of a school cafeteria, anywhere.
This is the perfect place to go if you want to a variety. They have just about every kind of Korean food, from kimchi stews to pajeons. Look! They even sell soon dae here, too!
But my evil plan to Koreanize my new friend didn’t work. She ordered a chicken teriyaki bento from a Japanese food stall:
Teriyaki chicken:
California rolls, with imitation crabmeat, unfortunately:
Did you know that a lot of Japanese restaurants out there are owned by Koreans? Just part of our wicked plan to dominate the world.

I gave Mimi a couple options for her dish since she can get pretty indecisive. She chose the dolsot bibimbap, or mixed rice in hot stone bowl:
The egg is the best part. Together with the gochujang sauce, it makes the perfect binder for all the other ingredients.
But please. Do NOT eat bibimbap with chopsticks. I will cry, or go ballistic and start chanting Korean mambo-jambo at you.
Bibimbap is not something to pick at daintily!! It is a manly, hefty, sizzling dish that needs to be smashed and conquered with a wide metal spoon. You shatter the thin membrane holding the golden yolk in, and just mix it up with vigor.
And see that crunchy, toasted rice at the bottom? That’s only achieved in a hot stone bowl, so make sure to order your bibimbap in one. You’ll need to spend a dollar or two more, but you will not regret it.
The bibimbap came with some familiar side dishes:
I got all patriotic again and quizzed Mimi on what each of the side dishes are. The fine girl aced the quiz. I’ll leave you to guess what they are.

I ordered my favorite dish:
Steamed shrimp dumplings. Huge, fat, juicy ones shaped like cigars. So. Good.
I think I’m getting obsessed with dumplings. I wish I could invite some of my favorite blogger friends over so that we can have a big dumpling-making party. Unfortunately, distance is a pain and for the meantime, virtual hot cocoa tweetovers on Twitter will have to do.

I also ordered a pack of steamed vegetable-pork buns to go.
3 for me, 1 for Mimi.

And then we went for frozen yogurt, which I did not take a picture of because froyos are boring. Though our conversation never was. Erica is all sorts of awesome.

But she and I have very different tastes—the girl loves tofu and tabbouleh, two things that I dislike, and hates red meat and pork, which I can never give up—but I think we’ll get along well together. Between my wacky Asian cockiness, and Mimi’s passive aggressive Southern airs, it’ll be interesting to see where Erica will fit in.

Welcome to our little foodie club, Erica. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

Question of the Day: Do you have a “foodie club”? If you could form one with anyone, who would it be?

P.S. Check out this week’s column on The Sublime Art of The Sandwich.