Chocolate=Love. / Chocolate=Amor.

So.
Everyone knows how food is about romance. Right? Thought I was the only one thinking about it. I am, kind of a foodie, here. I think it's because I'm a romantic at heart. I love aromatherapy candles, lying on the beach and hearing the waves crash, I love Spain, I love nostalgia, hearing the voice of an old friend, I love food, and, of course, I love chocolate. And, I love love. Who doesn't love love?

Food, after all, activates a pleasure center in your brain when you eat. Not just about survival, but about pleasure. Like a perfectly thick, juicy, slow-cooked steak. Or freshly prepared noodles made from scratch right when you ordered it. Or, the light, sweet, chocolate buttercream frosting that tops a chocolate-chocolate cupcake from a bakery near my place (www.yummycupcakes.com). I had started on the side, chewing slowly, tasting every tinge of sweetness it had to offer, closed my eyes. Piece. Of. Heaven. Love, baby!

Well, if you're into chocolate the way I am, it's damn near close.

There are a multitude of analogies to be used when it comes to food. Now I'll suspect that anyone with a sweet tooth may be a fellow romantic. Hmm. I have been thinking about love and romance lately. Why, exactly ?

I think it's because of the approaching holidays. That pervasive holiday atmosphere of love and kindness, enjoyment of life, of everyone being a little nicer to each other, the warmth you feel with the people around you shines in comparison to the cold weather that envelops you.

COTW[crush-of-the-week]

Chocolate buttercream frosting on one of the Yummy cupcakes. I am now hooked on this bakery like never before.

Guys that let women sit back and relax while they drive. (In L.A., this is a big deal.) Ah, now to find one that is my type...

Guys that order dessert. (See fourth paragraph above.)

I just remembered that only one guy has ever called me "baby." Not in the Dirty-Dancing-Jennifer-Grey's-Baby way, but in the '90s way. Only it wasn't in the '90s. He probably doesn't even remember it. But I found that I kind of liked it. But just the one time. Never again. Things are only cool in their fusion of spontaneity, rarity.

Otherwise, I hate it when guys call girls, "baby." Ugh.
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Chocolate=Amor.

Haber.
Todo el mundo sabe cómo la comida es el romance. ¿Verdad? Pensé que era el único que pensar en ello. Yo soy, una especie de Foodie, aquí. Creo que es porque soy un romántico de corazón. Me encanta las velas de aromaterapia, tumbado en la playa y escuchar las olas romper, me encanta España, me gusta la nostalgia, escuchar la voz de un viejo amigo, me encanta la comida, y, por supuesto, me encanta el chocolate. Y, me encanta el amor. ¿Quién no ama el amor?

Alimentos, después de todo, se activa un centro de placer en el cerebro cuando se come. No sólo acerca de la supervivencia, sino de placer. Al igual que un filete cocinado perfectamente gruesa, jugosa, de lento. O recién fideos preparados realizados desde cero cuando se lo ordenaron. O bien, la luz, dulce, crema de mantequilla de chocolate glaseado que encabeza un chocolate-pastelito de chocolate de una panadería cerca de mi casa (www.yummycupcakes.com). Yo había comenzado en el lateral, masticando lentamente, saboreando cada toque de dulzura que tenía que ofrecer, cerré los ojos. Pieza. De. Cielo. El amor, baby!

Bueno, si usted está en el chocolate así como soy, está cerca malditos.

Hay una multitud de analogías que se utilizará cuando se trata de alimentos. Ahora voy a pensar que cualquier persona con un diente dulce puede ser un romántico compañeros. Hmm. He estado pensando sobre el amor y el romance recientemente. ¿Por qué, exactamente?

Creo que es debido a las vacaciones se acerca. Esa atmósfera de vacaciones omnipresente de amor y bondad, el disfrute de la vida, de que todos son un poco más agradable a los demás, el calor se siente con la gente a tu alrededor brilla en comparación con el frío que te envuelve.

COTW [crush-de-la-semana]

De mantequilla de chocolate helar en uno de los bizcochos Yummy. Ahora estoy enganchado a esta panadería, como nunca antes.

Chicos que permiten a las mujeres sentarse y relajarse mientras la unidad. (En Los Angeles, esta es una gran cosa.) ¡Ah, ahora para encontrar uno que es mi tipo ...

Chicos para que el postre. (Véase el párrafo cuarto anterior).

Acabo de recordar que sólo un hombre ha llamado mi "bebé". No en el dirty-dancing-Jennifer-Grey's forma Baby, pero en los años 90 forma. Sólo que no era en los años 90. Probablemente ni siquiera recuerdo. Pero descubrí que me gustaba ella. Pero sólo el tiempo. Nunca más. Las cosas son sólo fresco en su fusión de la espontaneidad, la rareza.

De lo contrario, odio cuando chicos llamada niñas, "bebé". Uf.

It's the food.

Saturday morning. 7:30 a.m. Ah, now what will you do today?
1. Eat first!***
2. Hit the gym.
3. Take out trash/do laundry/Target run. That would bring me to 4 hours later..
4. Call several of the trusties for tonight's plans.

Yesterday's glorious Friday afternoon brought an earlier weekend. And pizza. It's the little things in life that make a world of difference. Well, maybe just the food. Yeah, it's the food.

It is then that I realized it has been over three years since I had a decent slice of pizza. Met up with fellow East Coasters Sara G. and BJG, after taking a whole freaking hour in traffic from Universal City to the BH. That Santa Monica Boulevard can be quite the biatch.

But good pizza and soda and all is well in the world. I also realized that I've become quite anti-social with juggling an online class, full-time work, hitting the gym, apartment/roommate hunting, and catching up on reading. All that and avoiding Hollywood takes an abundant chunk of your time. Switching priorities means something gets knocked down a few notches. Also, the overall ease of spirit.

Today - not sure the laundry will get done. But today, I choose to spend outside in peace. With something to eat.

Movies and TV shows that make me hungry.

Hunger for certain foods. Or specific food-and-beverage venues.
Chocolat.
Waitress. I still haven't satisfied this so House of Pies has been on the brain for days.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
It Could Happen To You.
When Harry Met Sally. We'll all have what she's having.
Before Sunset. How can any European cafe not be romantic?
Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. That footage of Julia Childs and that chocolate cake.
Out of Sight. I still haven't tried bourbon. But I still want to. And I don't drink.
Rocket Science. Sometimes, a big ol' slice of pizza is all you need.

Pushing Daisies. Visually tasty, too.
Seinfeld. Various eps. There's the one about the babka and the black-and-white cookie. Big salad. Drake's coffee cakes. Entenmann's. Junior mints. Snapple? No, thanks, I'm good. I could go on, but those are the first ones that come to mind.

And On A Completely Unrelated Note

Surprisingly, I really do like Life of Ryan. First off, it's sad that he's more articulate and has better communication skills than most guys. But all the more props to the kid - he actually TALKS to his family and friends.

And to Rob Dyrdek upon seeing him throw his furniture out of the house. You people are crazy. Honestly.

In response to seeing MTV's promos for That's Amore! This make me sick. Were there any females consulted before you cut this together? I for one, do NOT plan on tuning in to the show.