Writing About Food and My Epicurean Tour

Do you eat to live or live to eat?

Eating for me had been a venerable necessity for years, maybe I was designed to love it even before I  knew how food tastes.  But one thing is for sure now and crystal as the purest of water, indulging on foods is where I draw part of my happiness, after all just like what Julia Child had spoken, "Life itself is the proper binge."

So yes, I do eat to live, but I also live to partake on the pleasures that go with cooking and dining.

My gastronomy (my term for eating philosophy) in life is my way of communicating, a way for me  to “talk” to the heart of someone else, especially to those who I share the passion of gustation with.

The year 2013 has been nothing short of breathtaking!  Looking back since I began sharing my culinary experiences and traveling with friends and family, I realized that I had accomplished more than I had hoped for.  Allow me to enumerate some of my favorite entries as I bid adieu to the year that was -2013.

Never before tried recipes:

http://www.gastronomybyjoy.com/2013/07/7-day-malunggay-challenge.html


My favorite hotel buffet:

http://www.gastronomybyjoy.com/2013/08/smitten-by-spectrum.html

Where my itchy feet took me...

Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar. Bataan 

Hacienda Isabella 

Dumaguete, Negros Occidental

Nagcarlan and Liliw, Laguna

Camiguin

Cagayan De Oro

Bukidnon

Oh yes!  That's me hanging, after an excruciating, death-defying adventure.  I really thought it would be the end of me.  

My take on Philippine Food Tour:

Dumaguete Food Tour

Cavite Food Exploits

Cagayan De Oro Food Tour

Kapitolyo, Pasig Food Tour (brought to us by Avida Land)

Tuscany in  McKinley Hill Secret Foodie Tour

A huge platter from the Awesome Secret Foodies Tour at Tuscany- B & T Mexican Kitchen Platter

New-found food faves:

General's Lechon

Hole-in-the-wall restaurant (Thai/Vietnameses Cuisine)

Kaffir

Korean Cuisine:  Bulgogi Brothers

Japanese Cuisine: Watami 

Filipino Fusion: Namnam

Yugoslavian: Balkan

Spanish: Tapeo

Bar and Party Places:   

URBN Bar and Kitchen

Buddha Bar

Coffee Shop Alert:

Magnum Opus Fine Coffee Gallery

Where ART unites with Food:

14 four Cafe

Of course, I do practice the "EAT to live" principle, where health and nutrition still is an important factor in my family's lifestyle.

Turmeric Health Facts

Benefits of Raw Honey

Lemongrass Lemonade

It all boiled down to the fact that, aside from indulging with what life had offered last year I had the privilege to write about them.  I just hope that I didn't bore you with my stories.  This blog may not be definitive enough to bring you a true-blue Foodie guide but it is my goal to bring you new restos and cafe to try to plus some of our family's all-time-fave diners with their current promos.

I won't promise you anything yet for 2014.  But I will try my best to chronicle more of my cravings and give way to new and old purveyors which promise to delight your palate with what they can offer.

So I raise my cup, spoon and glass to more of what God will show me!  Chin Chin! Cheers!