Friday, October 09, 2009

Unseasoned Wasteland: A week in a Hospital

So for the majority of my last week, I feasted daily and was kept hydrated on salty, sustaining saline IV Fluid.

iv fluid

It was a week after I came back from Indonesia and I still hadn't been able to shake off this weird continuous cough I had. Riding in the emergency row right next to door in the long flight over--super cold--and exerting myself daily since I got back like I was Superman couldn't of had helped neither.

My cynicism along with the fear instilling worthless media was getting the best of me, making me think I caught some weird strain of Swine Flu or something worse even. After getting a fever of 103 one, I decided to give in. I went to the Hospital.

...turned out I had severe Bronchitis, which brought along other bad things, if I came any later--it could of turned into Pneumonia. Wow. My family did say they heard me coughing even before I left (almost a month!?). At least it wasn't Swine Flu...

Fortunately I still have Medical Insurance since I still go to school, even cooler was the fact that one of my many, many aunts happened to work at the hospital too, my own room with double attentive service and double portions of food? Oh yeah.

generic dressing
Straight from the Source: Generic

Not that double portions of food was always a good thing here...

peas n chicken
Peas N Chicken: Don't let that seasoned look on the chicken fool you.

Most of the food was ultra under seasoned, if not unseasoned entirely. No matter what, all the meals here shared this synonymous hospital food flavor, consisting of the plain flavor of food and probably microwaved achieved tenderness.

pretty lasagna
Lasagna: starch on starch, food here listened to no plating rules at all.

Not complaining though, food wasn't all terribly bad, still relished focusing my taste buds on the plainness of it all. There is just something to be said about a pre-portioned amount of an assortment of food prepared for you, even if its not amazing, the sheer joy of opening each container to see what's inside, tasting it, enjoying it, then moving on to the next side.

pudding!
Jell-O Pudding!: No Butterscotch Budino but hadn't had this since I was 'yay tall, totally reminisced and treasured its artificial sweet silkiness.

Ok, ok...I didn't eat all the food here. I was lucky enough to have my loved ones (mom) save me for most of the meals, bailing me out through take out food from places I craved and convinced them to bring me.

indian carry out
Saag Paneer, Daal, Aloo: Indian take out from Tandoor India near S.M.C (courtesy of my friend)

I even had a full meal of multiple Dim Sum dishes on Sunday morning!

dumplings
Green Chive & Shrimp Dumplings from Yum Cha Cafe

Almost a week in there but it was well needed, can't remember the last time I watched T.V until my eyes glazed over and ate nonchalantly all day.

Anyways...95% better y otra vez, hechandole ganas! (back at it and in full throttle).

L.A Community Hospital
4081 E Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 267-0477 ‎

Yum Cha Cafe
421 N Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754-1027
(626) 289-6287‎

Tandoor India
2622 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica,
CA 90405

12 comments:

Evelina said...

omg Gluster. FEEL BETTER!

Food, she thought. said...

Dude, so glad you are doing better...wise move to go to hospital. Lots o things worse than horsepital food.

weezermonkey said...

Oh, no!

Gastronomer said...

I'm glad you're on the up and up! I can't believe you blogged about hospital food!! That is too friggin funny.

rcakewalk said...

How do hospitals always manage to do the perfect molded sphere thing with the potatoes? That dim sum looks amazing... Hope you are back to everydayness soon!

Food, she thought. said...

Wow. I am so sorry. Hope you are out there eating with a vengeance again sometime soon.

word verification: caterade

pleasurepalate said...

Javier, glad you're feeling better. You better be. Tequila and street food with Bill this weekend. Woo-hoo! :)

Delicious Coma said...

Aw, I'm glad you're better! And I totally know that feeling of food in compartments. Maybe it's because TV dinners were a rare and special treat when I was a kid. You can't shake that magic.

We should talk about the hotpot scooter crawl as soon as you're feeling 100%!

Foodie Traveler said...

This is really funny. I give you lots of credit for having a sense of humor through your distress. I hope you feel better soon

Christine said...

DAMn. Glad to hear you went in! And I'm glad to see you brought your foodie instincts with you. =D

Heal up!

Anonymous said...

Oh no..
I hope it's not because of my tempe.. =p
Hey,I think your blogger food soul follow you everywhere , I can't believe even you're at hospital you shot the food there and blogged..
And how are you now??
-stefanie-

streetgourmetla said...

Hey man, where's the chicken broth and 8 oz. Sprite? Usually hospital food is seasoned by the death, urine, and collective sponge bathing scents wafting in the air.