Lately the universe has been kind enough to allow me to wake up without the headaches of sleep deprivation (paying attention to your circadian rhythms changes everything!).  It was extra generous the other day waking me up with a notification that my fellow kitchen warrior Chelsey of Chelsweets nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award!  Coming from the person who pushed me over the fence and into the addictive world of blogging, this meant quite a lot!  Check out her blog (I’m serious when I say she bakes waaaayyy better than Crumbs, Baked by Melissa, and Lady M….combined).  Here we go:

The Rules:

1. Include the Sunshine Award icon in your post and/or on your blog
2. Link to the blogger who nominated you
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself
4. Nominate 10 other bloggers to receive the award
5. Link to your nominees and let them know you nominated them

Why did you start blogging?
At first it was simply a place to store and track everything I’ve been cooking.  It’s since evolved into a place for me to review the places I’ve eaten, comment on how food has changed my life, and very recently….given me an escape from the daily drudgery.

Sweet or Savoury?
Savory forever.  I think there’s so much depth in savoury and it covers far more flavor profiles.  I’ve never been much of a sweet tooth anyway  (though I’m secretly envious of people who can make bomb desserts)

If you were to go on any reality TV programme, what would it be and why?
Hmmm…I don’t really watch any unless it’s some food contest (what did you expect?) but I suppose you could put me in any of them and I’ll be the only one who’ll act remotely normal.  😛

What was the last thing you Googled?
Asset-backed Securities…….sorry….work-related.  But if I do a quick look at my History at the most recent “normal” search: Alvin Ailey House Dance Schedule.

Night In or Night Out?
Cop out answer: it depends on the mood.  But as long as there’s good conversation and the occasional libation…I’m good!

What has been your favourite blog post to write?
Food-wise: my restaurant review of a little hole-in-the-wall pizza shop back in the Philippines.  It’s gotten the most views and actually got people to go.  Writing-wise: my recollection of my Palawan trip this past winter.  It was one of my more “experimental” I suppose.

What’s the one thing you never leave home without?
The fire in my belly.

Where would you most like to travel?
Damn that’s hard seeing as I spent my formative years between Saudi Arabia, Philippines, and America.  Ummm…Italy or Thailand to study cooking.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
The ability to never need sleep……I kid (it’s the accountant speaking in me).  It’s really a toss up between mind control ($25 overdraft fee?!  We’ll see about that) or flight.  Probably the latter since most of the time I just want peace and quiet nowadays (it’s Busy Season as you can tell).

What can we expect to find from your blog in the future?
Definitely more “educational” pieces.  I really want to convince more people that cooking can, should, and is fun and easy and help them dispel a lot of the myths out there.

And so to pass on a little more sunshine to blogs I admire (some of whom are uber popular so they may have gotten multiple by now):

*In an officially Excel-randomized order:

The Old Young Ladies’ Home Journal by Kirsten Wisniewski – I used to compete against this beast of an orator back in High School so for you kindred old souls, expect damn good writing and a good amount of quirkiness.  Bonus on the mention of dozens of literary classics.

Jun-Blog by Jun Belen – one of the very first food blogs I consistently followed for its simple and approachable style.  Plus points for the gorgeous photography.  It was also where I drew a lot of kitchen inspiration from.

The Accidental Gastronomist by Anne Stuart – she happened to like one of my posts and my subsequent following of her blog lead to some pretty late night “mindblown” moments.  I mean yes…there’s sous vide recipes and molecular gastronomy in there…things I can’t quite afford just yet.  But to dream is free eh?

LeahJihaeChoi by Leah Choi – been following this since early college for those moments I need some serious design/graphic inspiration.  Some of the best eye candy you’ll find from architecture to tattoos.

Pinch of Yum by Lindsay and Bjork – this duo not only has the food and photos to put them on the top of my blog list but add on the fact that openly share blogger resources and even their income reports + …..they live in Minnesota (ie….I will find them come May) = Fanboy Level 99.

Thug Kitchen by …the Thug – laced with hilarious profanity, this is how all of us talk in our heads while we cook (only with better pictures).  His answer to the FAQ page question “where am I?” is: “THUG KITCHEN, BITCH. THAT’S WHERE THE INTERNET BUS DRIVER JUST DROPPED YOUR SORRY ASS OFF. YOU’RE IN MY HOUSE. I’M GOING TO DROP SOME KNOWLEDGE ON YOUR ASS.”  Imagine it’s Walter White and Jesse Pinkman talking and you’re gonna spend hours on this blog.

The Angry Therapist by John Kim – what started out as one therapist’s thoughts on relationships and living life to the fullest has turned into a full-blown online “practice” and community.  Well-written content that really puts a new perspective on your life and has helped me salvage one too many days of quiet desperation.

HillReeves by Hillary Reeves – the best word I can think of to describe this food blog written by a friend of a friend is “balanced”.  Descriptive but not pretentious, educational but not overwhelming, personal but not creepily so.  This is a New Yorker’s guide to real dining from the kitchen to the restaurant that doesn’t leave you feeling like you need some high tech gadget or a Wall Street wallet to eat good.

#HowShouldWeAccountForMe by Anonymous – OK…..this is more of a guilty pleasure for accountants.  A collection of memes only us depraved souls will understand.

Summer Tomato by Darya Rose – my go-to guide for healthy dining.  Written by a neuroscientist with a PhD and a published author, this has everything from comprehensive guides on how to shop healthy to the usual recipes.  Sprinkle in a healthy dose of psychological commentary and the ability to not sound like our only option is wheat grass and hand-massaged cows and this blog has me envious of whoever her husband is.