15 Mar, 2005
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a member of the parsley family and it has soft, almost dill-like needle leaves. It has been cultivated in Europe for over a thousand years for its seed (a popular flavoring for breads, sausages, etc.) and for its bulb, which is used as a vegetable. There are three…
15 Mar, 2005
Suha or Pomelo (Citrus grandis) is the largest citrus fruit of all with fruits weighing up to 3.0 kilos. According to the Oxford Companion to Food authored by Alan Davidson, the Pomelo is an ancestor of the grapefruit and is believed to have originated in the Malay Peninsula or Western Indonesia. From…
14 Mar, 2005
Joey Malana has been a feature of organic or weekend markets since the mid-90′s. He first worked with another farm that was well known for its lettuces, herbs and other Tagaytay grown vegetables. Today, he manages a stall at the Saturday Salcedo Market and he carries goods from four sources: Organic Vegetables,…
13 Mar, 2005
Amaryllis or Hippeastrum are a terrific Winter and Spring (December-June) flower that are increasingly available in farmers and plant markets around the city. Grown from bulbs often imported from Holland, the flowers are large, stunning and impressive. With over 50 varieties globally, some species have adapted to local conditions and thrive in…
13 Mar, 2005
Some eggplants are ivory white, short and plump like a large hen’s egg, hence their name eggplant in the U.S. (typically referred to as Aubergine elsewhere). There are many different varieties of eggplants (Solanum melongena)and their color ranges from deep purple-black to lighter shades of purple, lavender, green, green and white, and in…
12 Mar, 2005
There are many terrific roast chicken recipes but this is one of my favorites. The chicken is infused with a tremendous scent and flavor of lemon plus all the great herbs that are massaged into the skin and added to the chicken cavity. The gravy is rich and flavorful. This dish…
11 Mar, 2005
Laing (gabi/taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) is best eaten as a side dish, not as the main event. It is absolutely delicious when done right but oozes with coconut oil, garlic and chilli. A palate shocker, its spiciness is determined by how much chilli you put and how long it sits…
09 Mar, 2005
The most memorable description in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s book Love in the Time of Cholera is the one that amusingly describes the pungent aroma of one’s urine after eating a plate of asparagus… Hmmm. Asparagus was virtually unheard of in Manila markets in the early 1990′s. The realization that it…