My First Love--- For Real!

Funny how I always go through photo hosting sites checking out the food shots. No denying it, I am a pig-arotti-- that's the way it is and that's how it's always gonna be. One thing I've loved all my life: fried chicken. I'm sure many can relate.

During my recent hunt for the most sleep-depriving photo of fried chicken, I realized that so many kids are involved in making this trans-fat transmitter very popular. Babies were holding on to chicken nuggets, fingers, tenders--- there was even a couple of kids that gnawed the chicken legs dry!

Yeah, fried chicken is my first love. I couldn't remember loving anything so much before that, not even sleep. My five year old displays the same obsession with fried chicken now, and even if so many people are concerned about its health hazards, I still let her have some fastfood chicken though not daily. I live in the Philippines, the pediatricians here won't dare say how awful fried chicken is for kids. That day will never come in a land where people cannot survive without ample cholesterol running through their systems. Saying, "Avoid eating fried chicken as much as possible," is the same as saying avoid breathing near a running car or exhaust or a dusty place, or.... you get what I mean.

Honestly, I pity the children of vegan families. I respect their philosophies, but I feel bad that the kids are robbed of the experience to enjoy food like fried chicken. It's just not normal when a child is not familiar with the taste and texture of something that is loved by almost everybody in the world. This is a dish that answers the prayers of moms with kids who are finicky eaters. This is a dish that spells celebration. This is a dish that reminds us of home, and no matter what others say, to me, this is a dish that heals a broken heart.

Virtually all restaurants here have fried chicken or a dish resembling it. The local Chinese fastfood, Chowking, has straight-up fried chicken instead of lemon chicken, which is certainly more Chinese. There is even a streetfood variety of it, and I have tried its goodness quite a few times.

The groceries are a fantasy to be in now with all the new kinds of chicken breading available. There's the Japanese variety, or the one with cajun spices, or even the kind that has the batter, bread crumbs, and gravy mix in one package. It's such a long way from the version I was taught which is calamansi, salt, cornstarch, and then banana catsup after it is fried.

Whatever form it may come to me now, with or without that crispy breading, with or without unstable elements sure to give me a heart attack soon, my feelings for fried chicken won't change. I fell for it as a child, I am still in love with it at my age, and I don't plan to forget about it--- because that's just pointless, you don't forget you first love. It's just so arresting to see and smell, just like a dream guy should be. And you can rely on it whatever time of day, again, like a guy you want to be with the rest of your life.