On this eve of March, allow me to deviate from writing about food to talking about something that's equally close to me heart: being GREEN.
On March 27, 2010 at 8:30pm (local time), I invite you all to join EARTH HOUR and make a stand against climate change.
By turning off our lights for one hour, we will actually DO SOMETHING for Mother Earth. Forget political preferences and choose to be GREEN this time. NOW is the time to respond to the universal call to TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
There are many things we can do to get involved, and they don't have to be extraordinary acts.
Here are 3 simple ways to TAKE ACTION:
1. Take part in Earth Hour 2010. Make a personal reminder in your calendar. 2. Visit the Earth Hour site here and learn more about this global initiative. 3. If you're active in social networking sites, spread the word. Use Earth Hour banners in your blog, or simply share videos found in YouTube.
All of us have dreams, whether kept in secrecy or flaunted to the universe. Mine are slowly revealed through my writings or whenever I talk heart to heart to people I trust. And there are times when I just want to dwell in that dream until I could almost taste it.
Today I write about my dream to become a frigging famous food writer in New York. Yeah, tough right? But who cares? As the famous writer Victor Hugo once said, “Dream no small dreams. They have no power to stir the souls of men.”
Life is too important to be taken seriously, so why spend your time doing things that rob you of your dreams? Rather, choose to invest your time in activities that bring joy to yourself and the people around you. There will be occasional tears, disappointments and empty wallets but never allow them to get the better of you.
You see, the pursuit of a dream is an awesome adventure, knowing that each step is just as important as the next one. There are no superfluous pieces to the puzzle — each person you encounter is an instrument to reach your goal, each lesson you learn becomes part of your personality. The key is to discover how each piece will fit into the puzzle. And there lies the fun part!
As I wander through the streets of Makati, I meet people who share the same vision. The same zest for life. For art. For love. Individuals who make me realize that they are part of my dream. Artists who see beyond the ordinary. Dreamers who continue to believe there is hope.
And hedonists who get a natural high out of a big bowl of freshly prepared Pasta Alfredo. With huge chunks of lean chicken meat, a sprinkling of black olives, some chiffonade of basil, and a smooth creamy sauce to bind them altogether.
Yellow Cab Pizza Co.'sChicken Alfredo Pasta (P215) is one of the latest additions to its menu. Finally, there's an alternative to all-time favorites like Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta and Spaghetti and Meatballs. Since Yellow Cab began as a single store operation in 2001, it has remained innovative in its concept as a pizza place known for its industrial feel and those cool Vespa delivery scoots. Yes, the pizzas will always be the stars, but there's always room for fancy extras like hot wings and baked potatoes.
Thank God for dreamers like Gennaro Lombardi -- the Italian immigrant who first introduced pizza to New York in 1905 -- pizzas have evolved from a poor man's dish to an international gourmet specialty. So the next time you're in Yellow Cab, try to read the history of pizza on its wall and discover how a dream became a reality.
The story of my dream is a work in progress. Here is a Pinoy Food Writer wanting to bring Filipino food culture to the world. For now, let me walk the streets of Makati and beyond.
Photos above were taken from Yellow Cab - Chinatown. The photo of yellow cabs lined in traffic is actually a poster in the store.
