The Best Childhood Breakfast Ever

After a very long and stressful work week (which I started with two consecutive OTs), I was really looking forward to complete rest and relaxation over the weekend. My brain could only take so much business writing and by 4PM last Friday, my brain was already off to Lalaland.

But of course, as much as I would like to put my mind and body in hibernate mode for the rest of the weekend -- occasionally turned on to eat and/or go to the bathroom (the latter is negotiable) -- this adventurous spirit of mine proved to be unstoppable.

Last Friday night, Malen posted a short video of her giving a tour around her house. She must have had a fun time recording because the next thing I knew, she was tweeting about wanting to do a video tour.

Seeing the potential (I've been wanting to shoot some videos and short films since I got here), I suggested that we go do it the next day.

And so we did.

But before going on about the adventure, I would like to segue on to something equally (if not more) awesome done yesterday: our lunch, which was kaning lubog sa kape at dilis.

For you non-Tagalog-speakers out there, that's rice soaked in coffee paired off with fried and salted anchovies.

Yes, you've read that right. I soaked my rice in coffee as if it was soup. Don't believe me? Here's a photo.

That's rice and coffee on my bowl.
The anchovies are there on the other plate along with a couple of hashbrowns and  an omelette.

You might think that this is a very weird and somewhat disgusting combination but it isn't really. At least for me. When prepared properly -- that is, if the coffee is done with the ideal mix of coffee, sugar and creamer/milk and is in just the right temperature -- one spoonful takes you on a journey. It's a contradiction of the subtle and the not. It's the initial almost overpowering taste of sugar and milk progressing to the subtle kick and bitterness of the coffee along with the muted sweetness and texture of the rice that makes is very interesting to the palate.

And to make things even more interesting, immediately follow with a pinch of fried salted fish. The stark contrast, the crunch and the saltiness of the fish is highlighted yet at the same time, strangely complimentary to the rice and coffee combination.

Okay, that was a rather passionate description wasn't it? :)

Nonetheless, this meal is one of the things that defined my childhood, growing up in a middle-class family in the province in the 90's and raised by my grandparents. This reminded me of rainy days in Lipa, of me bundled up in my pajamas, sitting in our not-so-dirty 'dirty' kitchen, alternating between using my spoon for the rice and my fingers for the fish. Sometimes, as the rain goes on until the night and the power goes out, it becomes a candlelit dinner.

Those were the simple days.

Really. I urge you guys to try this, at least even once. Then tell me what you think.

Love and peace sign out! <3