Vinyl Me Please (store, exclusives, swaps, etc)
- Thread starter Captainfog
- Start date
Diaspora Mexican food is legit. I can't speak to official Tex-Mex, but a lot of the Mexicali food I grew up with is great. The saddest I've ever been over a meal was enchiladas in South Carolina though. And in and around San Diego we could get a decent variety of regional cuisines through restaurants, pop-ups from visiting chefs, and locals.
The gall. As if they only sell to members.
LUMPIA FOREVER. That's probably what I miss most about living in San Diego. Indredible lumpia at every potluck.
Bohnjaggs
Well-Known Member
Once we discovered Lawson's chicken we were getting it practically once per day for the remainder of our trip. And for those who don't understand, Lawson's is a convenience store. Imagine going to the 7-Eleven closest to you and getting some of the best chicken you've ever had. And in Japan you're never too far away from a Lawson's, OR a 7-Eleven, OR a Family Mart.
Sorry to bring up Hanks again, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Ladykillers.
Soundtrack is great, too
Soundtrack is great, too
Tortured Diaper Baby Dept
Well-Known Member
Vegas has a HUGE filipino population. We have a bunch of by-the-pound type deli counter filipino places. I'm not a picky eater in any stretch of the imagination, but....filipino food is probably one of the last cuisines I would choose if I was choosing a place to eat. I'll give them this....they do pork and chicken bbq skewers like nobodies business and I can get goat from them, which I dig. But all-in-all not food that has never wowed me.
Funny side note: I am in a muslim country that has no pork; but where I work is U.S. property and we can buy pork from our exchange and bring it back to our apartments. We were explicitly warned against partaking in the pork black market - either by selling it ourselves or what I am told is a common occurence...filipino women getting cozy w/ U.S. men and getting their pork.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
Years ago I helped my girlfriends uncle make a load of food for a Barrio Fiesta here in London (a Filipino fair). I made HUNDREDS of lumpia and turon (think of a spring roll but with a sweet banana filling). A few weeks ago we were at her parent's place for the weekend and her mum was making some, I pulled up a chair next to her and it was like something took over, I could still make them without thinking years later.
Its crazy that it hasn't taken off like other cusine. The food they make at markets in the Philippines would be so popular in the western world but they only seem to scratch the surface. Filipinos LOVE pork without question. My mate (British born Filipino) recently bought a whole pig to celebrate his sisters pregnancy. We would regularly go to a bbq (pre-covid) at a Filipino household to see that they had cooked a whole pig for guests.
On a side note, I travelled across India a few years ago and was given a causal tour of Delhi by some students. After a few drinks at a bar they told me that although its against their religion, a lot of Indians eat beef. They said that shopkeepers will sometimes have non-labelled brown paper parcels in the fridge section and its beef. You just take it to the counter and they will just tell you the price. Kind of 'under the counter'.
thebrianjackson
New Member
USPS has been brutal recently (I think by design, unfortunately). My shipment from VMP last month came into the DC distribution center, went north to Baltimore, then just sat for 2 weeks, before going up to NY, then back to DC and finally to me in Northern VA. I ordered inner sleeves from Sleeve City and got a shipping notification on July 27th and the tracking has said "Shipping Label Created" since then. I figure between VMP delays and USPS, I probably won't see BVSC for months.
I'm part Filipino and I don't even like Filipino food all that much. It may be the prolific use of vinegar. Its got to be more than that though as I'm a big fan of vina dosh, a Portuguese vinegar dish. I don't know. Shrugs
And yes, I second almost ANY convenience store food in Japan. Over here, we'd never dream of eating an egg salad sandwich from a gas station. But in Japan? I must have eaten one every other day.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
lumpiaaaa
every Vietnamese person uses frozen lumpia wrappers for spring rolls, so we have a kinship.
We visited in 2013 and stayed with my BIL, who was stationed in Yokohama. They lived in a house about 300 feet from a 7-11, and we passed it every day on our walk to the train.
I can't believe how much I miss being able to pick up tuna onigiri for 150 yen. It spoils a person.
Trainman
New Member
Great choice, if you enjoy wines from the Valpolicella region I would highly recommend any of the various Amarone types, rich and dry it's probably my go to wine of choice.
Masi Costasera Amarone Classico is probably my favourite out of the lot but they tend to be a little bit pricier as is any Amarone in general.
Selaws
Well-Known Member
They certainly love the sourness and rich flavours. I'm pretty easy going with food and some Filipino dishes have made it into my comfort/go-to food over the years. I often find that their stew and broth type dishes (bulalo is a favourite) are fantastic in the dreary cold British weather, but in the Philippines, I struggle to go too hard on it unless we are in an air conditioned room. Stews are not made for hot weather imo.
ChristoBee
Well-Known Member
Pasteis de nata ? Man I know it's touristy as fuck, but the best I had were still from Belem from "the original bakery". I just gain a pound just thinking about it.
Those are really good!
My favorite Portuguese sweet was the travesseiro de Sintra at Piriquita.
gregathon
Active Member
Maybe you will luck out - had a cross country comic book on eBay go from “Shipping Label Created” to “Delivered”
Rip_City
Well-Known Member
Sorry to do a lot of tagging, but I was excited reading this VMP store thread for the first time in a long time thanks to you guys ❤
I am also interested in embarking on a trip to Japan (most likely staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, or another of the major cities for the entire visit) in the future. I have never been outside of the US. I took Japanese for three years in high school (now no longer offered sadly), and learned some more from a friend, and I can still speak at a conversational level. I'm mostly familiar with the culture and norms, but I'm still expecting full culture shock upon arrival at Narita Airport.
For those I've tagged, what would you say is a reasonable daily budget for an enjoyable trip, assuming that I'd have KONBINI food for 2/3 meals a day? Is it best to stick to a "time limit" for activities or is best to enjoy at one's own pace? I have plenty set aside for my first international trip, so I'm not too worried about overspending.
Thank you again for all of the valuable information presented so far, everyone!
agutierrezb
Well-Known Member
BTW, did anyone see the new Netflix "Street Food" season on Latin America? All countries had some killer things, but man, I was drooling throughout the Salvador da Bahia episode. I almost cried when the lady showed that fish stew with palm oil and coconut milk.
kvetcha
Well-Known Member
Sorry to do a lot of tagging, but I was excited reading this VMP store thread for the first time in a long time thanks to you guys ❤
I am also interested in embarking on a trip to Japan (most likely staying in Tokyo, Kyoto, or another of the major cities for the entire visit) in the future. I have never been outside of the US. I took Japanese for three years in high school (now no longer offered sadly), and learned some more from a friend, and I can still speak at a conversational level. I'm mostly familiar with the culture and norms, but I'm still expecting full culture shock upon arrival at Narita Airport.
For those I've tagged, what would you say is a reasonable daily budget for an enjoyable trip, assuming that I'd have KONBINI food for 2/3 meals a day? Is it best to stick to a "time limit" for activities or is best to enjoy at one's own pace? I have plenty set aside for my first international trip, so I'm not too worried about overspending.
Thank you again for all of the valuable information presented so far, everyone!
Hotels are expensive; food is very affordable, as Japan is a restaurant-intensive culture. I'm talking 800 yen for the best oyakodon I've ever had + a side of cold soba and some pickles. A 12 piece nigirizushi meal at Sushi Dai, easily the best sushi I've ever eaten, was ~$40. Et cetera.
I recommend making a list of things you want to do, but not rushing through them. You'll never do all of it. Kyoto alone could keep me occupied for months, not to mention Tokyo.
You'll want to check the exchange rates before going, but last time I was there, dollars had a slight advantage over yen (like 110 yen to the dollar), so aside from lodgings, everything was quite reasonable. If you're not a starving college student (like I was the first time I went), you'll get by fine.
Goddamn, I teared up on Argentina episode
McGlam
Well-Known Member
Filipino food has finally started to take off here in LA (which has a huge population, including my in-laws) and there are really good restaurants from take out to fairly high end. I know NYC has some good ones as well and Bad Saint in D.C. is supposed to be stellar.
The best food I had in the Philippines was on a 4 day boat trip which we camped on small deserted islands and the crew cooked for us. It was all so fresh, light, and delicious which was a surprise for me because most Filipino food I had tasted was pretty heavy.