Table for One, Please

I have no qualms eating alone in public. I don’t mind really if I don’t have someone with me. I don’t find it uncomfortable or scary at all. It’s like watching a movie on your own.

Sometimes, after work, before going home, I spend some “me” time doing a little window-shopping at nearby Festival Mall and yes, checking out food, which is also a de-stressing activity.

Just yesterday, I had my cheat day at Sbarro, rewarding myself with a slice of cheese pizza and a large iced tea. Once, I was busily attacking my siomai (from Siomai House) when I realized that across my table at the food court was my preggy officemate, Joy, who was munching on mangga with bagoong. Yaiks, dyahe naman at buntis ang katapat ng katakawan ko LOL. At least she had a valid reason to eat as much.

My usual food trips include Hong Kong Style Noodle House (for a bowl of spicy stir-fried noodles with gulaman), Chummie Shawarma for a large shawarma, Sai-Bachi for an order of takoyaki balls (the best I’ve tried), Dr. Kwek Kwek (the Egg Specialist) for my tokneneng fix, Waffle Time (Canadian Bacon, the best, thanks for the tip, Cae), and of course, McDonald’s and KFC (snack box and Krushers). During my “rice-filled” days, I remember stopping at Ilonggo Grill for a liempo-and-mongo meal, and Chin’s Express / Inihaw Express for a chicken barbecue-and-laing combo or lechon kawali or inihaw na pusit. I have yet to try PotDog Yummy Yes Delights (would you believe, I once rode a van with a guy eating take-out PotDog, with hot sauce and all, I think that was Crab Egg or Lobster Ball. Never mind if it’s so crowded inside the vehicle). The PotDog stall is located at the 2^nd Floor near the escalator (atop National Bookstore), which is quite a busy area and I don’t want officemates to see me making tusok-tusok the squid balls LOL.

Outside Festival Mall, I also recall having coffee and a pull-apart at Krispy Kreme-SM San Lazaro, killing time before going back to UST for Cae’s Domestic Tour orientation for parents. And before that, at Chow King-Dapitan for my favorite orange chicken lauriat.

If you haven’t tried eating alone, you might want to experience it. Well, eating is a social activity I know, but it’s ok. It’s not humiliating or embarrassing, believe me. Eh ano naman kung mag-isa ka and people would think you have no husband or partner, eh di maawa sila, that’s their problem. It’s not lonely (“Lonely table just for one… In a bright and crowded room…While the music has begun…I drink to memories in the gloom…). It’s not depressing. It’s not boring. It’s a good time to observe people, especially if you’re a writer like me and you write about simply anything. It’s not an unusual or dreadful thing. It’s liberating. You don’t have to ask “O, saan ninyo gusto?” since you’re the only one making the decision - unless you are the type who talks to yourself all the time. “O, saan ko gusto?" Puwede din LOL. And that’s another story.