So, this wasn’t my original idea for today’s entry, but I’m feeling too jetlagged to write the article I had in mind and give it the respect it deserves.
Yes, I’m jetlagged for the first time since… 2019…? And not for the reasons I had back then, which were usually something work-related or a full-fledged vacation – likely involving booze.
Seriously though, after the lengthy, whirlwind, emotional rollercoaster trip that was our visit to long-lost family halfway around the world, I’m feeling the exhaustion (of the good kind). However, today isn’t about our SoCal adventure… I want to keep it short and light (so I could get back to that kdrama I’m marathoning, lol) and talk about the drinks I’m daydreaming about.
Why daydreaming? Well, we’re still stuck in the hotel for our Philippine government mandated 5-day quarantine, with another day to get the results of our COVID test… And unfortunately, the hotel’s food and drink options are severely limited. Much as I’d like to ring up a few of my supplier friends (yes, I use “ring up,” I can’t imagine myself saying “hit up”) to get something delivered, there’s a PHP10,000 fine and a restart of the 5-day quarantine if I did that.
#sendhelp
So after making a mental note on all the things I want to eat once we get out of here – mostly Korean and Japanese food because a) With nothing better to do I’m doing Japanese and Korean Netflix marathons, and b) Apparently some parts of the US don’t import meats that they could replicate for economic and health purposes, so we are dying for proper wagyu and Korean beef – one of my friends Nina said that they were also waiting for my mental notes on what I’d like to drink.
So, here’s a list of the drinks I’d like to have the moment we get out of here:
Beer
I’m talking about any refreshing beer I could get my hands on. I’m not trying to be a diva here, but the hotel we’re staying in (and apologies for not naming it, I don’t want to spread the BV) really messed up my beer order last night… There only two options on the menu, but the hotel managed to deliver the wrong one, only admitting to not having any of the one I actually ordered once they’ve dropped the bottles off. Plus, they had the audacity to serve it warm. After we called their attention on it, we were told that they gave us ice for us to pour the beer in. Oh, did I mention the fact that the bottles were closed, and I thanked every saint I usually pray to that I always pack a waiter’s friend with me?
Nope.
So rather than be angry, I just took a deep breath and mentally counted down the number of days until I could get my hands on… I don’t know, a sweaty can of Sapporo? Or Stella Artois? Heck, somebody give me a Paulaner. Or a San Miguel Super Dry. If it’s borderline ice cold, it’s mine… and I’m pairing it with the ramen and sisig that have been swimming in my head since LAX.
Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc
I was asked pretty recently about underrated wines I like. Most people expect winos to be incredibly highbrow – and I’m just not built that way (fine, in certain aspects of my sense of humor I can get highbrow, but I think that’s from years of listening to Eddie Izzard). I could very well enjoy drinking and intellectualizing (gosh I’m such a nerd) a glass of an el cheapo Chilean red just as much as a fancy Bordeaux Premier Cru.
But. There’s something to be said about a wine whose region and style isn’t as commercialized as their more popular counterparts. I’d very much shell out a few PHP (which isn’t that much, really) for a Root: I Sauvignon Blanc right now… Apart from the fact that it’s getting hot in here (cue early 2000s Nelly) and the style is crisp and refreshing enough to cool me down, it also goes well with a lot of the food I’ve been dreaming about, like Frankie’s Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings.
Sake
Oh yes, my obsession with sake has not diminished since our 2019 Japanese Holiday trip. On the contrary, I managed to get myself a bottle while we were in California (because California is all about sushi, and boy did that bottle hit the spot), and my favorite aunt in the universe gave me a bottle to take home (boy did it travel… Japan to the West Coast to Manila).
It’s not helping at all that I just finished watching Izakaya Bottakuri (highly recommended for the food and sake component). Now I’m craving for some serious sake, and I know just where to get some.
I’m not completely sake-dry, though… Thank goodness for my favorite aunt who supplied me with this one:
Soju
See paragraph 6. #samgyupsal
Oh look, my old soju video:
Hazelnut Creamer on Black Tea or Decaf
Being in my siblings’ houses in SoCal spoiled me by having handy-dandy Keurig (with pods readily available in every nearby supermarket) units, and Hazelnut creamer… I never thought I’d enjoy flavored creamer, but here I am hankering for some and rejoicing after finding out that it’s available in S&R. I had a bottle delivered to the house and I know it’s already waiting for us once we get out.
These Babies:
My sister and brother-in-law are the best people on earth. They have been infinitely generous in housing us for a huge chunk of our stay and giving us these. I can’t wait to open them.
Meanwhile, as I’ve said, we’ve got a few things cooking up – which I’ve willfully put in the backburner to focus on family. I’m hoping people would understand the concept and would be around for them, since it’s incredibly unorthodox and is going to touch on concepts that are close to my heart.
Cheers!
