https://gkonomics.shopinas.com/product/view/1511

From this website, it can be gleaned that there are other scented food candles made by GK Freedomville in Laguna like puto bumbong and local fruits.

Another shameless plug—Human Heart Nature is also opening an extended flagship store and cafe in a few weeks along the highway hell that is Commonwealth Ave [though the store itself looks like it deserves to be in Serendra]. A kiosk will be dedicated to GK Enchanted Farm and other GK social entreprise items will be showcased there. The lechon candles and others should be there too.

And when you’re not so busy, MM (impossible as that may seem), we still hope to invite you to GK Enchanted Farm pilot site in Bulacan (maybe March 3? when they launch the bamboo-grass palace there– a showcase of indigenous materials)

MP! You’re too kind to actually attempt! I’m so sorry to hear the seedlings got quarantined! Sayang!!!

Filet Minion, I am sorry I forgot to inform you that the potted olive tree cultivars (is that how you call them?) were confiscated at the Dubai airport. I wanted to give them to you so the GK farmers can try to cultivate them. I couldn’t put them inside my checked luggage because the bags were already bulging and I was concerned that they would wilt. I did check with Emirates before departing and they told me it was okay to hand carry fruits, tree barks, seeds, etc. Apparently, it is not… I will try again next time I go home (will check them in).

The lechon candle sure looks yummy! Hahaha!

MM, I am so excited to be in Cebu next week. Zubuchon, here I come!

The Goldilocks recipes were supposed to have been tested by Heny Sison under ‘residential’ conditions, i.e., a home baker should be able to easily replicate said recipes. It should be a ‘good’ (an OK) cookbook for a young child wanting to venture into baking. Having said that, with the advent of the internet and the wealth of books/instructions available (hard and soft copies), there would really be no point collating such books and putting one’s brand on it. I suppose what I am really looking for is a point of differentiation – considering that Goldilocks is a big (in the Philippines, anyway) brand, the book does not do anything to enhance or elevate the brand.

MM, I am only currently in Region 1.

I, like a lot of people, have tons of cookbooks. I enjoy reading them and doing the recipes in them. It’s a mix: I have famous chefs/cooks/authors, as well as generic ones. DK published cookbooks are quite instructive in the sense that it will give you a basic, somewhat authentic taste – a can’t go wrong cook book. I’ve had books by famous chefs whose recipes you could never replicate. And like Footloose, I have books by supposed authorities who have mutilated the recipe (these books are far and few between, thank goodness). I am fortunate that by looking over several recipes, I can pretty much tell if it’s a good instructional or not.

My next challenge is to make cakes using cake flour – not at all popular/familiar in Australia. Difficult to find and expensive. This journey has been quite educational too!

TGIF!!! Enjoy your weekend!

One bad recipe in a cookbook is one too many for me. I even bristle at chef’s restaurant’s recipes not being tested in domestic settings. There ought to be a law against publishing misleading, intentionally erroneous and untested recipes to protect cookbook consumers and amateur cooks alike and lessen their likelihood of being bilked by unscrupulous authors and publishers.