take 5 with...burp and slurp

All the way from USC (that's the Trojans you Cocks!), we have Sophia from Burp and Slurp joining us for T5W this week. 

I can't really recall how I found Sophia's blog but I was hooked by her passionate posts about overcoming her past of ED (that's eating disorder not...the other thing). She also has a collection of unique and outrageous dishes on her blog - like the picture above. It's a kabocha, eggplant pancake with an egg on top. I don't know where she gets her ideas from but I guess that explains why I'm more of an executor rather than an inventor. She also writes for the Daily Trojan and you can find her Tweeting at @burp_excuzme. So without further ado...

Take 5 With... Sophia from Burp and Slurp

1. Hey Sophia! For the readers who don’t know you, would you like to introduce yourself?

- Hi, humans! I'm Sophia, and I'm a human too! As in: I make TONS of mistakes, and I struggle with a lot of issues. My blog Burp and Slurp is a food blog, but it's also a honest and real journal of my daily life and adventures and tantrums. I'm a college student majoring in Print Journalism at Los Angeles right now, but I was born in Korea, lived in Singapore for 10 years, and then moved to Virginia when I was 14. Thus I speak, write, and read three languages: Korean, Chinese, and English. AP Spanish doesn't count.

2. How did you come up with the blog name Burp and Slurp?

- Well, Sean, as a fellow Korean, you should already know that we Koreans eat like cows. We chew with our mouth open, we slurp our noodles, and we love to burp after a good meal (me: contrary to popular beliefs, I only partake in slurping noodles). Well, as disgusting as it sounds, I love the comfort and warmth behind it: the ability to just be yourself without any pretense or formality, to enjoy (or slurp) good food, and to show satisfaction (by burping). Also, I just happen to be genetically inherited with good burping skills; it runs in the family. So don't blame me, blame my father.

3. How did you start food blogging?

- I started first as an motivation factor to overcome my eating disorder, from which I suffered for about 4 years. I wanted a blog to hold myself accountable, and I envied the close-knit community that bloggers seemed to have. At that time, I was also doing nothing. I had dropped out of college, and I was basically just spending the whole day obsessed with my disordered thoughts, which was  making my disorder worse. I just needed something to 1) reorganize and reset my misconceptions and irrational fears and 2) keep my mind productive and active.

4. Your ED experience is a prevalent theme for Burp and Slurp, how are you doing as of now?

- I'm doing great, thanks for asking! When I read back to my archives, I just want to crawl into a hole; I can't believe the crazy fears and anxieties I used to obsess over! But it's a great reminder on how far I've come, and also it keeps me grounded, and empathetic towards other ED-sufferers.

5. Religion, God and your family play a pivotal role in your life as well as your battles with the past. Would you like to discuss your experience/what they mean to you?

- I would never have survived without God and my family. ED is a vicious battle, one that sucks every life and hope out of you. There were many points when I just wanted to give up everything, and to just die. But my family's prayers for me, and their constant reminder of God's love for me, kept providing me an incentive to keep on fighting. Honestly, my recovery only started when I started realizing exactly how much God loves and values my life. From then on, I started gaining fresh hope and new confidence in myself, and I received strength to work harder on my recovery from that. 

And I don't really see my faith as a religion -- It's not a belief, or a set of commandments I follow. It's a daily, continuous, living relationship with God. I'm not a perfect Christian -- I still struggle with my faith sometimes, but my relationship with God is real, and I delight in getting to know Him more and more each day.

6. What do you enjoy most about food blogging?

- The community. Remember when I said I first started blogging because I was attracted to the community? Well, now I'm proud to be a member of this amazing community. Every single blogger I've "met" are truly inspiring, unique, and amazing individuals.

7. What do you enjoy least about food blogging? 

- The money. Oh, my poor, empty bank account. I spend about 80% of my money on food: eating out, ingredients, equipment, etc. I also really, really want a DSLR, but that's never gonna happen the way my finance is heading...downwards, that is. 

Also, I get pretty anal about taking pictures. I never used to care if the restaurant was dark or not, but now, good lighting is key. I refuse to step into a restaurant that is pitch-dark. Sigh, the sacrifices of a food blogger.   

8. You’re also busy with school meeting deadlines and writing papers – where do you have time to manage the blog?

- Well, I have a 7 pm rule. After 7 pm, I stop all work to relax. And blogging is my way of relaxing and entertaining myself. In addition, because I have that 7 pm rule, I rarely procrastinate and get things done early.

9. Besides your knife…favorite kitchen tool?

- I just cut myself with my knife, so it's not my favorite tool right now. My favorite kitchen tool is my spatula, because I am cheap and there is nothing more delightful than being able to get every scrap out of the bowl...Waste not!

10. Favorite ingredient to work with. Least favorite?

- Favorite ingredient: Urgh, too many. But I'll stick to my blog theme and say kabocha. You can steam it, roast it, fry it, mash it, stew it, stuff it, braise it, stir-fry it, boil it, goodness, is there any dish that won't benefit from kabocha? 

Least favorite ingredient: Shrimp. It's tedious trying to devein and deshell those crawly things.

11. Your drink of choice is…

- Coffee. No morning coffee, and I'm a bitch.

12. Favorite curse word?

- What, me curse? No freaking hell!

13. Death row meal?

- Good, crusty baguette from France, with an assortment of gourmet cheeses, runny eggs, roasted nuts, and fresh fruit.

14. Food that evokes the greatest childhood memory?

- Durian. God, I love those stinky things.

15. Any food in particular you hate/won’t eat?

- White rice. Yes, I'm an Asian who hates rice.

16. One thing you’d ban from food blogs or would like to see changed?

- Haha, not sure about the banning, but I wish there were less food-phobias. Seriously, carbs is not the enemy, people! And neither is McNuggets (me: I don't know about these McNuggets...), or pizza, or brownies. Everything in moderation is perfectly okay, and as a food blogger I wish there were more open-minded curiosity for different foods. 

17. You have some crazy recipes on your blog. Where do you get the ideas/inspirations?

- I honestly don't know. I just get these random ideas in my head, usually from reading other recipes, or trying new dishes in a restaurant. I start thinking, "Okay, this dish tastes awesome, and that recipe sounds really good, but what if I do this and that and this?" You see, I can never ever follow a recipe, and perhaps that plays my advantage.

18. Favorite chef?

- Sandra Lee. Ha! Just kidding!

I'll say Anthony Bourdain, because he is one hilarious, witty guy who can write. Plus, I find his contradictions with vegetarians highly entertaining and refreshing.   

19. One cookbook (or food related book) that you think everyone should have at home?

- Michael Ruhlman's The Making of a Chef. Amazing book that makes you wanna give up everything and run to culinary school.

20. Any other hobbies besides food blogging?

- I'm a voracious reader. I'm also starting to recover my passion for art and running. I lost my interest in a lot of things when I developed my ED, and I'm so happy to say that I'm starting to gain them all back, and more.

21. Any big plans for Burp and Slurp for 2010?

- I think it was Mike Tyson who said, "Everybody has a plan. Until they get punched in the face." So nope, no big plans. I have no idea what's in store for B&S, but I'm excited for whatever is ahead. I just hope to have more blogger meet-ups. (Maybe we'll meet one day, Sean! Call me "noona" and I might treat you.)

22. Finally, any last words you’d like to say to your readers?

- You guys are my life saviors. Literally. Thank you, out of the bottom of my heart, for all your support, encouragement, and inspiration. I'm still amazed why anyone would want to read my babbling, but for whatever reason, I really appreciate it.

Thanks for playing along Sophia!!