About Me
Hi, I’m Denver.
I play bass, pet cats, and eat stuff. I live in San Diego. I prefer to remain somewhat anonymous. But if you do a Google search for “mediocre San Diego bassist”, I’m sure you’ll find me. And to people's amusement, I usually take a picture of my food at restaurants before I even take a bite.
I’ve always been a food-centric person. If you knew me personally, you would think I’m a food snob. Personally, I don’t see it. I would call myself a Food Connoisseur. Live to Eat vs. Eat to Live. I have my food-related quirks, which will probably eventually be revealed from time to time through this blog. I wouldn't even say I'm a complete connoissuer. From time to time, I like a Jack in the Box taco. Or even 4.
Me, in my element
I pretty much inherited the love of food from my Dad. Early in his Coast Guard career, he worked as a cook on the ship. He loved cooking and eating, and that is how I got my cooking prowess. He was such a good cook. On holidays, I would watch in amazement as he would be moving at 100mph, making several main dishes. He always took pride in his cooking, and always was very creative. Being Filipino, food is part of our culture and pride. If you've ever gone to a Filipino outing, all the Aunties and Uncles are beckoning at you "Come eat!" or "Did you eat?" or "How come you're so fat now?".
​
Food is a good communicator, a way for us to bond and to show love. How families welcome you as one of their own is to place a seat for you at the table. Some people, such as my Dad, showed love by cooking for you. It can also remind you of good times, whether it be a family member or friend making you their favorite dish, or just enjoying a certain meal together. One of the food vloggers I watched was showing how to make one of her favorite recipes, Chinese Beef Noodle Soup. To her it was comfort food that remided her of her Grandmother, and was something that she learned how to make. She ends the video saying "If I make this for you, then I must like you alot". I had a similar experience with a friend who I visited in Pennsylvania. While I was down there she made it a point to make her favorite dish. She told me she does not make it for other people often. I felt honored and blessed.
Food helps us bond, and the best conversations are done over a good meal. Some of the bands I've been in (at least the good ones I've chosen to stay with), we would try to make it a habit to find someplace to eat, or get take-out as it allowed us to bond past the practice room. Being such a food connoisseur, the bandmates would seek my approval of certain food places.
​
These knucklehead don't really get along but they do make it a point to eat together randomly
Food helps us bond, and the best conversations are done over a good meal. Some of the bands I've been in (at least the good ones I've chosen to stay with), we would try to make it a habit to find someplace to eat, or get take-out as it allowed us to bond past the practice room. Being such a food connoisseur, the bandmates would seek my approval of certain food places.
My stamp of approval for band food outings
I feel it's good to have a passport, that you can experience how live and get a taste (figuratively and literally) of their culture. You get to respect the differences we have with other people in this planet. One of the more inspiring things I've seen, and I've finally watched it in it's entirety, was Anthony Bourdain's dinner with Barack Obama (while he was President). It was at a small restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam and they were eating Bun Cha with the locals. It was nowhere near being elegant as they were hunched down on the same stools as everyone else. The whole meal (with beer) was probably less than $6 for both of them. Being it was the first time eating Bun Cha, Barack was a gracious guest and learn how to eat the dish like a local. They mentioned that everyone should have a passport and I agree. Salvation is not found in Orlando, Florida :D. They didn't say it, I'm saying it.
I actually planned to start a Food Blog a few years ago. I had been traveling a bit for work and also for vacations. Nothing excites a Foodie more than travel, especially International travel. I was planning a trip to Singapore, which had been on my bucket list for years. Singapore is pretty much Foodie Heaven. My plan was to start a blog that year and have the Singapore trip be the maiden blog entry. And, I figured that I would have a lot of upcoming travel that year for work so I would be able to generate a lot of content. But the year was 2020. In fact, the day after I came back to the US from Singapore, they were starting to scan incoming International travelers.
Due to the planets lining up, I am returning to Singapore this year, January 2024. Since travel is back and countries have opened back up for travelers, I figured it was a good time to start a blog again. If everything goes as planned, this Singapore trip will be the Maiden Blog. I’ve been doing some traveling here and there since travel started opening up back in 2021. My Instagram and Facebook is mostly food pics (as well as bass and cats). I might as well start a Food Blog.
This is pretty much how this blog started
The focus will be San Diego and travel eats, with a little home cooking/recipes sprinkled in. Not sure if I would want to venture into Vlogging (Video Blogging). If you know me at work, I can’t do presentations or talk to a crowd of people well, and doing it on video is no exception. If I eventually do vlogging, it will be one without talking.
This is my first blogging project, so not sure what I’m getting myself into, but hopefully I can keep up with the content and hopefully tantalize your taste buds. If I inspire someone to try a new place, I met my goal. I hate the goddamn term "Influencer" and I don't ever want to call myself that, nor ever consider myself one. I just have a passion for food. This blog will help force me to try new places in San Diego, new countries to discover and new recipes to try out. I hope you will join me regularly in this journey. Please pull up a seat at the table.
If you’ve eaten with me, you’ll know, my phone eats first
​
Denver
​