31 Mar, 2005
A tomato and basil salad is nearly effortless yet extremely delicious when you have the right ingredients. I can eat this salad or variations of it at least once a week. In the past few years, the variety of tomatoes in the local markets have improved dramatically. From the large beefsteak…
30 Mar, 2005
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is an uncommon vegetable in these parts… but oddly, there must be some demand for it from restaurants or hotels or consumers because it is carried by retailers who get their produce from the Mountain Province. There are several varieties of beet including the sugar beets that were popular as…
28 Mar, 2005
Pastillas de Leche are one of my favorite native delicacies or sweets. Almost certainly influenced by Spaniards who were stationed here and looking to replicate something sweet and dairy like from back home, pastillas are made of just milk and sugar. The milk and sugar are boiled together until thickened, then…
27 Mar, 2005
Easter lillies are the traditional flower during this holiday. Other typically available flowers in colder climates include daffodils, tulips and roses. I generally NEVER buy chrysantemums because I dislike their uniformity, their “never die” quality and their often atrocious colors. I associate chrysantemums with someone who has already keeled over. …
26 Mar, 2005
Filipino dishes seem to have onions in just about everything… they are a regular component for base flavorings in vegetable sautes, used in soups, on meats, as stuffing, etc. Onions are all members of the Allium family of which there are over 300 varieties around the world. They are believed to have…
25 Mar, 2005
Pineapples (Ananas comosus) for sale now are incredibly sweet and juicy and a tad bit early as I have noticed with several other summer fruit this year. Continuing on the theme of roadside stand purchases (following the Toscana Farm Stand post), pineapples roadside on the way to Tagaytay are excellent value at the…
24 Mar, 2005
The Toscana Farm Stand is a great source for produce for anyone headed up to Tagaytay or Batangas that passes through the Santa Rosa to Tagaytay Road. By the way, there is a terrific less congested exit just after the Santa Rosa exit on the South Superhighway that avoids the traffic, try it….
23 Mar, 2005
Native vinegar with fresh chillies is a sublime concoction. And with a tremendous bounty of chilli in the markets at the moment, it’s time to throw out your old stash and start anew. So simple to make and such a crowd pleaser, it is totally simple and highly economical. With…