A Starving Actor

It’s been a while since I went out for sushi with Kevin, so we decided to take the Saturday night while we could and hopped on the Red Line to Diva Sushi and Thai on the northern tip of Boystown. 

We started the night with some fresh spring rolls made of cucumber, tofu, and other veggies. 

Tra la la, sushi! We had a Spider roll, a Shrimp Tempura roll and their signature Diva Lala roll. 

Of course, we left nothing on that tray. Yeah, it was a good night for sushi :) 

Haven’t been adventurously eating recently. Been trying to keep myself on a budget. But I will keep posting, don’t you fret foodies! I’ll probably do some “filler posts” by posting Flickr pictures of food from my favorite food groups. 

I’ll be back on my feet and back eating soon, don’t you worry!

RJ the faux-food blogista (for now). 

Bananas Foster should really give me a “preferred customer” card or something, because of all the business I’ve given them recently… Haha. Kevin and I felt like a good hearty brunch.

He got himself a Ploughmann’s Omelette. I taught him the “poached-egg-on-bubble-and-squeak” trick and he loved it!

I got me Green Eggs & Ham.

This is how you start the day, people. 

I discovered Los Portales, a hidden little gem loved by everyone in Rogers Park. I came expecting authentic Mexican food, and that’s exactly what I got! We started out with a cup of freshly made guacamole that was just… Perfect…

I also got a plate of empanadas that I ended up taking home with me instead. 

Finally, the main course: Al Pastor tacos! The roasted pork is probably the best of its kind I’ve ever had (Yelp was right!). Put it in a little tiny corn tortilla, and you’ve got one of the best tacos I’ve ever had! 

I’m so glad I went here. Not only did I leave with a happy belly, the next morning I got to repeat it again by refrying those empanadas! 

Kevin has been on the Groupon fix where we pretty much go out to eat at any place we can get one. One of those places was Via Carducci—a small family-owned southern Italian restaurant. We ordered an order of flash-fried calamari with marinara sauce which I was craving for on the L ride over there.

Then, the main dishes: Carbonara pasta with pancetta.

And a Calabresa pizza with roaster red peppers, eggplant, mushrooms & salami. 

The title referred to what I said the minute we sat down, and realized 5 different dates around us. Looks like we picked a good place :)

I made a traditional Filipino breakfast recently called Tapsilog. Get this: It’s beef tapa (little fried beef tips), sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (fried egg). Add ‘em all together, and you get a delicious and well-rounded meal. 

I also made some sardines in tomato sauce & onions. This is the traditional Filipino “ulam” for me—my family eats this almost every morning. 

I really do miss waking up to eating this. Now I have to make it if I want it. Ah adulthood…

Ever since I’ve given Kevin a taste of lumpia, he’s been pressuring me to make some. After finding a super simple recipe online, I decided to give it a shot while I had the time during spring break. So, I went for it! 

Don’t they look good? I know my mama would be so proud of me.

He liked them so much, he didn’t give me any… Haha.