How Blogging About Food Got Me Nominated to BCBA 2017

When I was younger, my dad used to take us to this pizza place located along Quezon Avenue. It was actually a string of restaurants that was called Italian Village. I don't know if my contemporaries would recall this place. 

I felt like I was in Italy walking on the cobblestone road and seeing brick buildings. The scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the 'streets' of that village adds to the allure. The crunchy breadsticks that are available to diners while waiting for your pizza order made one anticipate the arrival of the food.

My dad brought us there for birthdays or just for a special treat. It's a memory that I always keep. Maybe that's why I like eating pizza; when I bite into that baked dough topped with sausages, peppers, cheese --- it brings out a warm feeling.

I remembered that scene in Pixar's movie Ratatouille where Remy served restaurant critic Anton Ego a variation of that French dish that reminded him of his childhood. It also reminded him of the joy of partaking of his mother's cooking.

While I sat in front of my computer thinking of all of these things, I realized that the past year was an awakening of sorts for me. I started blogging without a clear agenda. I have a wide array of topics that I discuss and I actually was nominated last year for the Personal Blog Category for Best Cebu Blogs Awards 2016 because of it.

This year, without realizing it, I somewhat changed course. I had more blog posts about Food. And as the year progressed, I tried to dig deeper into what I was eating. I wanted my descriptions to be more definitive and beyond the usual food review.

I bought Culinary books written by Filipino Chefs to better understand how Food is intricately woven into our DNA. I researched and spent more time in writing my food posts. 

My post about Filipinos smelling like Pork was a light bulb moment for me. I got inspired while eating Zubuchon's Lechon Arroz Caldo at Mactan International Airport. 

So, it wasn't far-fetched to draw conclusions on how I got nominated for the Food category in this year's BCBA. The attention that I poured over these posts could have been the catalyst.

I'm not a huge eater and sometimes I'm a little picky about the food that I eat. Even when I'm super hungry, I have to make sure that what I would be eating would satisfy not only my hunger but also my emotions.

I appreciate food. I recognized how it invokes memories in me whenever I have a morsel of it. For some reason, the food that I tasted and savored this year imprinted impressions in my psyche.

I'll be the first to say that I am no expert. My photos might not be that sophisticated nor my words too complicated. My food knowledge might not be that comprehensive.

There is no right or wrong about food. It boils down to the person's preference. Expensive food doesn't always equate to good tasting ones. 

It can be a bowl of Ekit's Pochero or Marco Polo Plaza Hotel's Adobo or Gorliz's Paella ala Cubana or even Chicken Proven from a roadside carinderia; food is a personal experience that you have to discover on your own. 

You might be swayed by reviews and recommendation from friends or families but the ultimate decision would be yours. Comfort food weighs more to me.  

But as I traverse the complex world of food, I'm slowly unearthing the potential of learning more. It encourages me to continue writing about this topic.

I'm thankful for being part of Best Cebu Blog Awards 2017. It has triggered a renewed interest in something that we normally take for granted. 

I'm also grateful to people who have contributed to my love of food. Without them, I wouldn't be here writing about it. 

If you're curious about how my food year went, browse through it by clicking this link.

The announcement of winners of the 10th Best Cebu Blogs Awards will be on December 3rd at Parklane Hotel, Cebu City.

The following are some of the sponsors and partners of BCBA 2017: PLDT Home, Megaworld, Parklane, Oppo, Jollibee, Greenwich, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, Memoriter, Cebu Bloggers Society.