24 Sep, 2007
I only had 10 minutes to run through one or two stories of a cramped and almost claustrophoic Laoag city market. It wasn’t even clear if this was the main market, but it was a relatively large one near the center of town, also on Rizal Street, I think. I managed to…
24 Sep, 2007
After spending less than 24 hours in Vigan, we got back into the car and drove leisurely up to Laoag, which took roughly 2 hours, if I recall correctly. We passed the self-proclaimed garlic capital of the Philippines in one of the towns along the way and the roadside vendors had thousands of…
23 Sep, 2007
My wickedly overpriced mini-tarte tatin (PHP150) from Diamond Hotel Bakery a few weeks ago reminded me to make a normal sized tarte tatin at home. I have made this delicious dessert several times before, but oddly, I don’t think I have written a post about it. It is so incredibly simple to…
23 Sep, 2007
There seem to be an abundance of birds on, around and near our home in Batangas. In the adobe crevices of our walls, we have provided “apartments†for several different species and they happily leave us constant clues as to their comings and goings, and even an occasional eggshell, just to let us…
22 Sep, 2007
You would think that after my recent episode with “explosive clams,†I would shun shellfish forever. Not quite. I look at it as having to get right back on a horse after taking a nasty spill. If you don’t get the nerve back immediately, you may never try it again. …
22 Sep, 2007
That is The Kid in the photo up top, trying to mitigate the effects of the worst smell you can inhale inside a vehicle, according to her and Mrs. MM, and I have to totally agree. I kid you not, she reflexively covered her face with a Kleenex as a natural reaction to…
21 Sep, 2007
I have featured several “beauties†from my sister’s extensive collection of silver and have learned a bit from the pieces and makers that she collects. Since we entertain extensively at home, we do use our silver (mostly plated that is) fairly often. For serving pieces at a buffet, we often use sterling…
21 Sep, 2007
Calle Crisologo is one of the main tourist attractions in the city of Vigan. A fairly well-preserved cobblestone street, a few hundred meters in length, and lined with many old buildings (that are intact, restored or in disrepair), it certainly takes one back a century or more to Vigan at its peak….