Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me My Mind Is Flying (A Traveler’s Thoughts)
Wed, March 29th of 2006
8:15 pm
The plane door closes in one country and opens in another. New people, new places, and over here, it’s cold enough to freeze an egg in mid-flight … well, that’s an exaggeration, but this is from someone who lives in the tropics and likes it that way. How can it be so chilly here and sweltering in Manila? There should be some kind of climate balance in the world.
While traveling, the days meld together: dates don’t exist and it’s all I can do to just keep track of the new time zone I’m in. I find myself looking at my watch and counting forward “x” hours, calculating what time it is back home in Manila. Jet lag is another reality in itself. When I first got here, it felt odd to be eating lunch when my body was used to being asleep at that time.
Take offs and landings are my absolute favorite parts of an airplane ride, the bumpier the better. Heheh. Last night while waiting for my plane to take off, I saw five other planes take off and land in different directions. It reminded me of the line that’s made when one completes a row in tic-tac-toe. Watching a plane fly off is witnessing grace in flight: a beautiful silver bird ascending into the skies.
I witness the world in transit in the numerous airports I’ve been in and out of in the past 11 days. As I wait to board my plane, it’s become a game to determine the nationalities of people walking by. I wonder where they’re headed off to and marvel at the heavy Australian accent of the man who looks Indian to me. Since I’m traveling alone, my eyes automatically spot those fellow travelers who are also by themselves. Ah, we the mighty, independent ones.
I’ve always had a window seat on the plane since I started flying at 4 years old. Sometime in my mid-20′s, I got this silly idea that I had outgrown a window seat. So I started booking an aisle seat and felt oh-so-grown-up. Not. Now, I have to watch out that my foot doesn’t trip the flight attendant and that my head doesn’t get chopped off when the meal trolley passes by. I also yearn for the window seat of my youth so that I have something to lean my head on while trying to fall asleep. I don’t think the stranger beside me would take very kindly to having this stranger lean her head on his shoulder.
When it comes to airplane food, I am the only person I know who is a fan of it. I have heard others describe it with terms running from the polite (puke) to wretched (“it’s worse than s**t, I tell you!”). Whatever it is, I love it. How could I not like a meal so carefully arranged, every portion pre-measured? The portions are a bit too tiny for me granted, but I’ve never had a problem keeping my food down in flight. Throwing up doesn’t come easily to me. Food likes me too much. The feeling is mutual.
My senses are on full alert when I’m traveling. Everything is new and I do my best to immerse myself in everything that I’m taking in. Every meal is precious because there is only so much space in my stomach to accommodate what I want to take in. Sigh.
Travelling is all about getting lost and seeing things in a new light. Every act of kindness extended to me is greatly appreciated. It allows me to step back and see that the world isn’t just about the city I live in. The world is one ENORMOUS place. But most of all, traveling lets me see my life in a different light, making me aware of how awesome the one I have back home in Manila is.
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Ingats sa biyahe, Lor =) I had dinner at my boss’s house last Tuesday, and for dessert his wife served these amazing crinkles that she ordered from the office (she works for ADB), which were enormous and cookie-doughy and absolutely transcendent, my gulay. My first thought was, I miss you and I should get you some when you get back =)
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Comment by Awi — March 30, 2006 @ 11:04 am
I like airline food too.
…Well, if it’s good. I don’t know if i’d like it as much now (haven’t travelled much lately), but when i was little I too loved the carefully arranged portions. “THIS BOX HAS CAKE! THIS ONE HAS FROOOT. THIS ONE HAS…MEAT SUBSTANCE!”
Yup. What an adventure.
If only our stomachs were bottomless!
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Comment by Robyn — March 30, 2006 @ 11:47 am
Are you back? We miss you!!!
Awi, I know of what you speak! Those crinkles from the ADB commissary are very good, and hard to get. Friends there have to ration it out just so I can have one.
I love the planning of travel, getting on board, arriving all mussed up, being in the new place, and enjoying every minute I’m away. Can’t imagine what life would be like without the thrill of holding on to your passport and wondering where to go to next.
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Comment by Mila Tan — March 30, 2006 @ 12:04 pm
I LOVE airline food!! (when it’s done right, of course) I have fond memories of PAl breakfasts (sausage, scrambled eggs, rice, slice of tomato!) in their perfect plastic trays with bread roll and dessert.
And since my brother almost never ate on the plane it meant I got to have BOTH varieties of whatever they were serving at the time. Airline food rocks, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. There’s an entire website devoted to airline meals (not sure of the addy though, heh…)
I KNEW there was a reason we got along so well, Lori!
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Comment by Ian — March 30, 2006 @ 12:17 pm
so many airline food fans! im not a super fan, but i’ve found more than one meal tasty. they’re definitely very edible.
i like the mousse cakes and the hot rice meals and the weird vegetables. just not into the salad.
can even lori make airplane food look good with her camera? he he
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Comment by fabian — March 30, 2006 @ 2:41 pm
add me to the list of airline food fanatics
… and here’s the website that ian’s referring to (i guess?) …
http://www.airlinemeals.net/indexMeals.html
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Comment by Anonymous — March 30, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Finally a post!
I’m so glad. I look everyday just in case there is one. (Since there wasn’t, I just looked thru all the cakes, particularly the melting cheesecake ooooh). 
I love airplane food too. It makes up for the long cramped flight.
And I’ve tasted ADB’s huge yummy crinkles – after gazing at it fascinatedly first
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Comment by Marien — March 30, 2006 @ 6:45 pm
Hi, everyone!
I’m fascinated by those ADB crinkles. I mustbr/>I> contact my ADB contact when I get home. We shouldn’t keep a good food secret like that to ourselves now, should we?
No, I’m not back yet. Next week. It’s so good to hear from you guys. I’m delighted to read that I’m not the only one who likes airline food. Thank God. I seriously thought I was the only one.
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Comment by Lori — March 30, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
I have to agree – I love the feeling of taking off and landing, although taking off is probably the best.
I love that feeling when you’re pushed back into your seat, and you know that when you land, you’ll be somewhere completely different.
I can’t say I love all airline food, but I’ve definitely had really good airline food. I do love the little portions though.
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Comment by Fiber — March 30, 2006 @ 7:44 pm
Welcome home, Lori! I know exactly what you mean about hearing all the accents (from very surprising faces) when travelling internationally. I can’t wait to hear about the rest of your trip.
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Comment by Nic — March 30, 2006 @ 9:13 pm
I so love ADB food! =) I always remember that the food there aspired me to some day worked in that place..kahit janitor lang haha.
Travelling is a passion for me so I can very much relate to how you must be feeling right now.
I’m so sold to airline food too =) I always have this weird feel that airline food is healthy – maybe because it looked “steamed” behind the aluminum foil?!? Hehehe…
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Comment by cathy b — March 30, 2006 @ 9:50 pm
Hahaha, Im a BIG fan of plane food too, but so far SQ has the best plane food!!! Yummy!! I love their salad!! Have fun Lori!
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Comment by michie — March 31, 2006 @ 1:52 am
Can’t wait to travel again, Italy is still #1 in my dream destination list. Food & travel buffs like us must organize a trip to Italy…join ako ha. No problem re airline food either, been to that interesting airline food website…beware of the salad though, I read a news artile about an incident when a small frog jumped out from the green salad when a passenger was about to eat it…talk about fresh huh? Yikes! Yeah I agree, I also miss your mouth-watering cake & dessert photos! Looking forward to some great food pictorial from your trip. Enjoy!
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Comment by L.M. — March 31, 2006 @ 4:02 am
hi Lori would love to hear about your food adventure. Ako rin I love the airline food.
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Comment by lei — March 31, 2006 @ 11:35 am
as I said in my email to my new acquaintance lori (whose blog i adore), my friends and I will be quite happy to take you food-hopping around HK. travel and food, what could be more fun?
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Comment by ragamuffin girl — March 31, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Hi Lori!!!
I love airplane food too!!! And I sometimes wonder why! But I do!!!!!
Have fun wherever you are!!
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Comment by Ellen — March 31, 2006 @ 11:39 pm
ah so many people coming out to admit to liking airline food! kindred spirits. hahaha.
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Comment by Miguel — April 1, 2006 @ 9:23 pm
Seems like so many people like airline food! Hehehe… Maybe something’s wrong with me cause I can’t seem to bring myself to like airline food.
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Comment by Cusinero Ge — April 2, 2006 @ 12:30 am
I loooove airline food.
Check out http://www.airlinemeals.net/ and look at the vintage shots.
PAL rates high too.
You back?
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Comment by carlosceldran — April 3, 2006 @ 8:51 am
Unfortunately my experiences flying were in prop aircraft with 21 year old attendents that made flight and meal a treat- even in coach class! Sorry I do not find todays flight experinece fun- certainly not the box lunches. Paul
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Comment by Anonymous — April 3, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
maybe part of the wonder of airline food lies in the mystery and wonder of what dishes will be served, their presentation which is always a feast to the eyes, the bento-like boxes or the fine china and silverware from where the foods are served depending on your ticket class, the accoutrements and condiment packets, the comfort of knowing that you are served a most hygienic and sanitized meal, and perhaps the prospect of it being served by someone other than yourself. you take away these and voila! you are left with nothing more than cafeteria food served 20,000 feet up high in the air. i do not want to sound so crass, but hey, an airline employee can only take so much! would it have been different if one had been working for a call center where every bite is a delight as you take that 5-min break! ;<
can’t wait to have you back on ground lori.
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Comment by Anonymous — April 4, 2006 @ 4:46 am
Hi Lori, Ricky here. Congratulations, your website has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal by a writer named Katherine Meyer. I came across it accidentally while searching some news about the Philippines. Here’s the short article:
DESSERT COMES FIRST
DessertComesFirst.blogspot.com
Some of the best food blogs are those that read like a journal, rather than just a list of recipes. Maintained by Lori Baltazar, a food writer based in Manila, the Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a mixture of personal reflections, close-up cake shots and a rundown of Ms. Baltazar’s own experiences with a particular treat. (Read her account of a French meringue-and-nut dessert called sans rival.)
Though Ms. Baltazar has her priorities right — a dessert is featured in each posting — weaving in her own thoughts and family photos gives this blog a more personal flavor.
Congratulations again and keep up the good work.
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Comment by Anonymous — April 4, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
lori,
i miss your articles…
hope you’ll be back soon!
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Comment by Jasmine — April 4, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
i like airline food as well…
looking forward to your stories and photos from your travel. 
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Comment by Pie — April 6, 2006 @ 10:16 am
Hi lori! or Ms. Lori…I know someone whose working for the foods in the airline, and I should say that it’s full of hard work.=)
by the way, I love airline foods too! Back then, when I went to Bangkok and Brunei, me and my blockmates feast on the airline foods. It reminds me of having a meal in a tree house, or something close to that. I really love your blog and your style of writing. Oh, I’m a culinary student and loves to make great desserts and pastries. Hopefully, someday I can be a great pastry chef and you could take a quick bite on one of my delightful creation. Hehe I think you really had a blast on your trip! how i wish i could be your son and travel with you. Haha!
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Comment by Ernie — May 6, 2006 @ 1:35 am
And some do offer even delicious desserts
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Comment by Annika — February 17, 2010 @ 11:42 pm