I grew up with the dining table as a place my family hanged out. I have pleasant memories of my mom and dad cooking together for the family on the weekend. My dad was the great cook before she married my mom. Mom never even knew how to cook rice when they got married. Today mom is a great cook as well

Here is a lists of my comfort food and what it brings to my being

BLUE CRABS ----- Reminds me of Papa tossing crab meat in our plates so we do not have to slow down eating while we dissect our own crab.

SOUR SOUP ------- Thanks Beth for reintroducing this back to me. This is a beef or pork soup with tamarind that makes the sour taste. This is the Filipino equivalent of the Thai " tom yum". This was my specialty in the Philippines and The first dish I learned to cook.

SUSHI --------- I never ate raw fish until my friend Roselle showed me the deliciousness of it. I can still remember our conversations over Sake about being single and Men. Roselle I still smile remembering our girl's nite out and myself as chaperone to your dates!

THAI FOOD ------- There is a place in Glendale that serves home style Thai Food. I love the crispy filet small fish dipped in vinegar with fish sauce, yum.

COCONUT JUICE ------ I love the taste of young coconut with ice as it brings memories of summers as a child and picnics on weekends as I grew up one block from the beach.

GREEN MANGO WITH ANCHOVIES -------- Pair this with Seaweed and you have a salad . While you are at it how about some satay or filipino barbeque.

JEWISH FOOD ------- Raspberry rugulah to cure my sweet tooth. Chicken soup with rice to cure my soul. Pastrami hot, sliced thin and lean on rye bread with heinz ketchup. Dill pickles on the side. White fish and chopped liver are my favourites as well.

VIETNAMESE FOOD ------ Golden Deli in San Gabriel where the best eggroll can be found. While there the beef pho is to die for.

CHICKEN CURRY SALAD ------- with tomato soup in Urth Cafe in Melrose. The best Organic food in town

JASMINE PEARL AND BLUES BUSTER -------- Sitting at the zen garden of Elixir smelling the aroma as the Jasmine pearls open up from the hot water as the sun sets for the day. Reading a good book while sitting cross legged behind the bamboo trees and drinking tonic like my favourite blues buster served cold.

DIMSUM -------- in Chinatown. Lining up and waiting for an hour if you arrive after 11:00 that is on a weekend. How fun it is to point at these small serivngs of appetizer as you are cursed by frustrated ladies navigating the food carts in these big eating hall. Warning - Do not attempt to ask if you do not what it is specially if you look Chinese and do not know that language.

THE BEST CAKE IN TOWN -------- is in Melrose and the place is called Sweet Lady Jane. I love the white chocolate mixed berry cake.

The Best Hotdog --------- is on Fairfax and 3rd st called Pink's Hotdog. I like mine with all the relishes available including jalapeno.

The Best Ice Cream ----- is on Robertson called Al Gelato. The house salad is big enough for two. I love the big meatball and the pizza is yummy. Ice cream is hand packed and I like creme brulee and pistachio. I do not get lactose intolerance from these ice cream what a miracle.

The Best Cookie ---- you can see me searching under the table at Whole foods looking for Fabe's vegan oatmeal raisin cookies. I like madelines as well and Trader Joe's has the best price for it. Baklava at the Baklava factory in Glendale is the place to get the best with so much selection.

The Best Onion Soup ------ is at the French Market in Santa Monica Bloulevard.

Fried Calamari ------ I love the combination of the breaded squid and slice up pepperocini served at Mirabelle on Sunset.

Best Steak ------ This is hard because I happen to like three places. I like Lawry's for the visual aspect of carving right at the table. I like Mateo's for great meat and I love Ruth Chris's in Beverly Hills for sentimental reasons.

FRUIT -------mulberry with organic milk , yummy! organic apples, small green fig, blueberry, champagne grapes,white peach and nectarine, mangoes from the Philippines, lansones, jackfruit, chico, star apple, rambutan and lychees.

VEGETABLES ------ spinach, asparagus, japanese eggplant and cucumber, cherokee tomamto, okra, romaine lettuce, dutch potato and sweet peppers.

MUNCHIES ------ honey mustard pretzel bits, chocolate dipped fortune cookie, dried fruit and nuts, white chocolate

INTOXICATING DRINKS ------ gin and tonic,cold sake,plum wine and samuel smith bown nut ale