burgers

Today I randomly came across a painting that I almost forgot I painted. It's from a long time ago (I don't even remember when) but I love it when I find old artwork like this, especially when it involves burgers!!

For this painting, I used acrylic paints and black sharpies to outline the characters (not a good idea by the way. the sharpies were basically rendered ineffective after being used on this canvas). I've been looking at some other paintings where artists use thick black lines in their work as well, and I realized many of them use something called India Ink. That's one medium I haven't used before but would like to try.

... and while I'm in a hungry mood (it's 12am, I'm getting ready for bed, yet my stomach is raging for McDonald's)... here are some awesome products for all you burger fanatics out there (or just for my own guilty greasy pleasure).

I would definitely wear this sweater. In fact, I would like to make a burger costume this Halloween.

found on sexy-sweaters

...and I've kind of grown out of my high school sneakers phase, but I would definitely still wear this FLABulous footwear!

found on Art and Sole

...and if I'm want to be extra creepy, I'd do my eyes like this...

found on Burgerac

...and finally, a cute e-card that sums up my feelings when I go into hungry BEAST MODE and scare everyone away with my angry mood attacks that only occur from food deprivation.

found on some ecards

artist spotlight: erin jang + food sketches

I recently stumbled upon a blog called FOOD SKETCHES, and being a food lover, I was instantly intrigued. Erin Jang, of The Indigo Bunting, is a New York graphic designer who started this site as a personal project to document some of the food she eats. Side note: (she also used to be the senior art director at Martha Stewart Living... how cool is that!?!)...

Anyway, with her permission, I'm going to share with you two of my favourite food images from her site! The first is "Parm Birthday Cake" which I particularly love because of the colourful sprinkles. Just looking at this deliciously delectable drawing makes me want to eat cake.

This second image is "Gumballs" which is such a fun, rainbow-coloured print.

To check out more tasty food pics, head over to FOOD SKETCHES here. Just looking at all her images prompted me to create my own "food sketch" with a tribute to one of my favourite foods -

the hamburger.

So here's my version, inspired by Erin's colourful images!

 

 

Actually, I've thought of creating a flat 2D burger print like this before as an acrylic painting (and probably will do a large-scale version of it on a giant canvas one day). It would probably make me very very hungry if I saw this print hanging in my living room every day. haha.

 I'd probably try to nibble at the canvas.

Nutella Mug Cake

Mmmm... NUTELLA...

...so good on toast, crepes, waffles, and now... CAKE!

 I am not a baker (but I'm definitely an EATER) so this super easy Nutella Mug Cake is perfect for kitchen klutzes like me. You literally put all the ingredients in a mug and MICROWAVE IT!!! As someone who is too lazy to wash multiple dishes and ends up eating instant noodles straight from the pot, this convenient mug-cake is just the kind of dessert I like!

Recipe for Nutella Mug Cake

(from The Family Kitchen)

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons self rising flour
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons Nutella
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

Method

1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.
2. Whisk well with a fork until smooth.
3. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3 minutes.
4. Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired.

So there you have it. Let me know if you try it out! 

life lately

It's time for another update of my life. haha. I've finally accumulated enough pictures to have a decent variety of randomness to share. Really, my life has mostly been work + work + more work, but there have been a few interesting outings here and there. So...here's what I've been up to lately.

I've been drawing cannibalistic animals...

...making tiger-esque snowflakes...

...and doodling on my fingers.

I've been eating some interesting things such as sushi with Pringles chips...

...giant chunks of pork knuckle (I felt like a caveman while eating it)...

chocolatey-sweet burger biscuits...

...transvestite Hello Kitty chips...

...unintentionally (or intentionally?) awkwardly-named seaweed "sheets"...

...and extremely shady-looking fish balls... (um, yes, they came like that).

Speaking of balls... ... ...

Moving on...

I've also seen some interesting products and displays in various Hong Kong malls... 

like googley-eyed froggy floormats...

 

...(literally) "foot-in-mouth" socks...

...giant bunnies on crack... (with equally drugged-looking girl beside it)...

...the Mona Lisa made entirely out of real pieces of toast...

...and dangerous killer ponies.

That last picture was taken at IKEA. I'm wondering who the designer is behind their stuffed toy collection, because in my opinion, their dolls really don't look that appealing. Anyway, here's another random IKEA fact - did you know that each section has a "SPECIALIST"? (basically, a worker who only patrols that particular section...) and they each have a special title - such as KITCHEN SPECIALIST - written in big letters on the back of their uniform. Anyway, it was all fine and dandy until I saw a worker with the title "BEDROOM SPECIALIST". Somehow, that's just one of those names that needs to be revised to avoid awkward conversations that go down like this:

Random Acquaintance asking generic conversation-starter: "So what do you do for a living?"

Ikea Guy: "I'm a Bedroom Specialist."

*awkward silence*

Okay, clearly I've gone off topic. What have you all been up to lately? LET ME KNOW! I miss Vancouver! Send me pictures of weird things you've seen! haha. And if they're awesome enough, I'll post them. 

=) 

Hamburger Hunting

I've been craving burgers a lot lately. So on Sunday, I actually had TRIPLE O's (with a lardy poutine to go with my mushroom burger) because I desperately wanted a taste of home. Random fact: did you know that White Spot/Triple O's is only in two places in the world - Western Canada and Hong Kong? I thought that was a bit strange, but anyway, every time I see the Triple O's logo in Hong Kong it's like a comforting reminder of Vancouver.

 Today, my burger craving still hadn't gone away. So after a tiring day at work, I went alone on my very own HAMBURGER HUNT, in search of a Japanese fast-food chain called MOS Burger. After about half an hour of wandering (and almost settling for McDonald's instead), I finally found it. I promptly ordered two burgers: a Saku Chicken burger and the original MOS burger. The one below is the Saku Chicken... that's my favourite so far and I've had it a couple times ever since I discovered this burger joint.

I got take-out and then found a quiet spot by the side of the road and ate by myself like a creeper. But it was heaven - just me and my burgers. A man who passed by gave me a really weird look - but I was too busy gorging happily to care.

After the two burgers though, I still wasn't quite satisfied. The second burger had been a bit cold which was slightly disappointing. Actually it was so disappointing that I determined to go back and get a piping hot burger. So I walked all the way back and bought a third burger. I wanted to try something new so I ordered a "Rice Burger"... which didn't turn out to be a real burger at all - it was actually a meat and vegetable filling wrapped in two giant rice patties (instead of burger buns). I have to say though that it was actually good...

And of course, a triple burger run isn't complete without DESSERT. I can never resist ice-cream!

So in the end, it was a very happy little solo adventure indeed with two of my favourite things in the world... burgers and ice-cream!!!

I just wanted to share my wonderful food escapade with you all because it made me very happy indeed. So I wanted to share that happiness... and possibly pass on my hamburger craving to you all. haha. 

Happy Hamburger Hunting!

fatty foods: the dessert edition

Here is yet another edition of FATTY FOODS that I've been eating. Don't worry, Mom and Dad, these were eaten before I got sick (*cough* possibly from eating too much McDonald's *cough*) but they were delicious and I thought I would share. I really don't know if you guys are even interested in looking at my food pictures but I shall flaunt them shamelessly anyways haha. All you fellow food lovers out there will appreciate it! 

Anyway, I love it when my food has personality. So I was especially ecstatic when my little ice-flake dish (yes that's what it was called on the menu) came as a little angry monster whose rage-face screams: "EAT ME!!! RAWR!!!"

Another super delicious dessert is this egg pudding which I only ordered because in the image it showed the pudding in an actual egg. But when it came it was in a glass eggshell. It was really good though - the only complaint I had was that it was too small. But I guess there's something called "portion control" and not being too gluttonous... something I still have yet to learn...

Later, I ordered another 6 for takeout and they came in REAL eggshells!

The last awesome dessert I wanted to show you was in this small little cafe where they served French Toast Cubes smothered in condensed milk and butter. I actually never liked french toast until I tried the type served at asian-style cafes and now I can't stop ordering it.

I happened to bring along my guitar and ended up writing a song called "Cafe", in the cafe. If I have the guts to post it sometime I might, but realistically I probably won't. haha.

Okay last food-related thing. Can you see what restaurant that is below?

Yeah... it's PIZZA HUT... I don't know what kind of Pizza Huts you have where you live but where I'm from, they're actually huts... like shady, dirty, creepy, old huts. But Pizza Hut here is actually sort of a fancy restaurant, which I thought was hilarious. All of the ones in Hong Kong are nicely-decorated, clean, and the food is decent. I was shocked and amazed. hahaha. Anyway I just thought I'd let you Canadians know what you're missing. And don't even get me started on KFC... I think it's much better here too - the first time I went, I felt like my eyes and tastebuds were opened to a whole new world of the deep-fried chicken variety. There are so many more options and flavours here that every time I see Colonel Sanders' jolly old face I am tempted to buy a bucket of spicy fried chicken, waffle fries, and portugese egg tarts. It's dangerous I tell you.

Wow, I really could talk forever about food but it's really just not the same as EATING some. So that is what I'll do. bye!

Fried chicken awaits.

fatty foods

I really need to start eating healthy. But while I'm attempting to convince myself that a deep-fried potato is not the only tasty vegetable out there, here are some fatty foods that I have been consuming lately. 

Um. Okay. Have you ever seen a giant pineapple bun THIS BIG? It's bigger than my head. And yes, I ate it for lunch one day.

 I've been trying to stop depending on McDonald's as my only food supply (I am eating a filet-o-fish and 2 hashbrowns as we speak...and I'm not even joking)... but I have not been able to resist their "Shake Shake" Fries. It's basically salty seaweed powder but the sodium dose is addicting.

Potatoes are the best vegetable ever. The only other vegetables I like are these ones from IKEA!

Ikea somehow reminds me of home. Maybe because all the displays and products look the same as the ones in Canada.

And of course since this post is about fattiness, we can't forget the classic IKEA ice-cream.

Since I've been here, I've also had Japanese takoyaki (octopus) balls... which actually weren't that great but I ordered it because it "looked good". One thing you have to be careful about in Hong Kong is that the pictures can be deceiving and you never really know what the ACTUAL meal looks like... haha!

And the last fatty food pifcture for today is this DEEP-FRIED WONTON which was basically 99% deep-friedness and 1% whatever was supposed to be inside the wonton.

In commemoration of all these delicious meals, here is (YET ANOTHER) food doodle. It makes my dollar-store notebook less boring. Are you guys tired of my food doodles yet? I actually have a couple more variations in my sketchbook that have accumulated over the years... but personally, I don't think drawing fatty foods EVER gets old. haha.