23 Jul, 2006
There is nothing in the world like a longganisa burp. Heehee. I kid you not. Not even the most expensive mouthwash can prevent those frequent, pungent mouth toots filled with the potent mix of garlic, vinegar and spices that almost any pinoy could identify in an instant, even in a darkened…
22 Jul, 2006
These are some fresh, or semi-dehydrating banana blossoms that I picked up at the market today. Not to be confused with banana blossoms/hearts that include the whole flowering unit, these blossoms are more like the individual fingers that might turn into the actual banana fruit. They are the things hidden by the…
22 Jul, 2006
If I visit the Salcedo market on a Saturday, I almost always check in at the stand of Gil Carandang… I am always intrigued at what he has on offer and even if there isn’t anything “new,†he has some of the most “honest†offerings in the market, grown on his farm or…
21 Jul, 2006
In some western markets, very good lump crab meat is sold by the pound for relatively exhorbitant prices. But when you have to steam and extract crab meat yourself, you realize the cost of pre-peeled crab meat is probably well justified… The first step to a delicious rellenong alimasag is obviously a lot…
20 Jul, 2006
I am trying out a new polling feature!!! Please participate in my inaugural poll so I can see if it is working properly. If it works, it is a nice easy way to get the pulse of readers and to pit the likes of Diet Coke vs. Diet Pepsi, tocino vs. tapa, red…
20 Jul, 2006
Sometimes, the most stunning natural colors an patterns are seen in food. A few days ago I had our cook purchase some alimasag or blue shelled crabs at the Seaside Market with the intention of making some rellenong alimasag (stuffed crabs). Once the crabs arrived at home, we decided to steam them…
20 Jul, 2006
Giving a fruit basket as a present rather than more fattening biscuits, chocolates and sweets, or a basket of flowers, is a dicey proposition in Manila. I have yet to see a commercially made or sold fruit or food basket that is either stunning or impressive. Part of the problem is…
19 Jul, 2006
I recall stuffed green peppers with some fondness. Despite having to “get over†the vegetable shell, the insides were filled with hamburger meat and tomato sauce, staples of a kid’s diet. I realize there is a traditional dish somewhere from Eastern Europe that is the basis for this mongrelized version reminiscent of…