Resolved Craving for Patupat

Posted on June 5, 2016 by heavenliner

Americans may crave for the tasty mac & cheese, Italians may hanker for an authentic margherita pizza and Japanese for a shot of sake. This is a common desire and appetite if they people have been out of their country for a considerable span of time. I for one yearned for the texture, flavor and smell of Patupat.

Being a child of a Pangasinense, I grew up chomping on the sweet molasses flavor of this glutinous rice wrapped in coconut leaves weaved into a bag. Patupat during my childhood was a usual chow readily available inside our ref every time my father’s relatives living in Pangasinan visits Manila. And because of this, my DNA was programmed to crave for such if my nutritional intake has been Patupat-deficient. I can confidently say that Patupat in a way defines me. It’s in my tradition, it’s in my subconscious, it’s in my roots.

i have to steam it! just like me... it's best consumed when sticky and hot!

i have to steam it! it’s best consumed when hot and sticky!

patupat defines me…

I could no longer recall the time when the last time I ate a bag of Patupat. I have been craving for it! That is why when I learned that Thatcher (my niece) will be arriving in Manila from Pangasinan, the foolish request I asked her is to bring me loads of this tasty, sticky and gluey delicacy.

Now my craving has been resolved because my hearty breakfast are two bags of Patupat. I guess… Patupat defines me. Patupat is tasty, hot and sticky just like me! Yummy!

Walang kaduda-duda, Pinoy nga ako!

Craved for Rice & Shopping Mall in Tel Aviv

Posted on April 4, 2016 by heavenliner

My being a Far East Asian cracked up and transcended when me and my sister were in Tel Aviv. First was when both of us were craving for rice, the staple food of Far East Asians. After a couple of days gobbling over falafels, hummus, schnitzels and loads of bread and pastry varieties, part of my sleep were dreams about munching on a bowl of hot and freshly cooked rice.

These was further amplified when both of us where hankering whether a shopping mall exists in Tel Aviv. Yeah, the biggest shopping malls on the planet are found in our part of the world! Thus, a week without going to a shopping mall for Far East Asians like me and my sister makes us intensely loony.

So as to resolve our impending bouts of madness we scrambled on googling the net so as to determine where’s the nearest mall and where rice are most likely sold. Thanks to the ever reliable google and google map we found Dizengoff Center, the first mall in Israel. Luckily, this mall was only a couple of minutes walk from our hotel. In this mall was when our rice-cravings was resolved. My theory that Filipinos loves or needs shopping malls was validated because in Dizengoff Center did we saw the most number of Filipinos in Israel.

craving for rice, we passed by dizengoff square a few steps away from the dizengoff center

having fun inside a tel aviv bus!

And after a couple of days, me and my sister bravely rode a bus and headed to the most modern and one of the biggest malls in Tel Aviv known as Azrieli Center. This complex houses three iconic modern towers of Tel Aviv simply known as the Circular, the Square and the Triangular towers. Circular Tower is the tallest building in Tel Aviv and at its top-most floor is where the breath-taking Azrieli Observatory is located.

a ceiling shot of the mall... now try to find the triangulat, square and circular towers

a ceiling shot at the center of the mall… now try to find the triangular, square and circular towers

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

spectacular view from the Azrieli Observatory. The majestic Mediterranean Sea at the far end!

beautiful!!!

pa-kyut

jackpot!

2 happy pinoys in tel aviv

I love Azrieli Observatory!!!

Discovering the malls of Tel Aviv by ourselves was one advantage of not booking a tour package for our entire stay and trip to Israel. Going and planning on our own, enables me and my sister resolve these kinds of insane issues. I’m pretty sure those expensive yet inflexible tour packages basically offers the more popular Israeli destinations which of course would not include moments inside a mall. And those who availed those rigid package tours failed to see other dimensions of what Tel Aviv or Israel as a whole got to offer.

Without rice and the absence of a shopping mall experience for the entire trip to Israel could have made me and my sister gone mad and demented at the end of the trip. Thanks to Dizengoff and Azrieli Centers for keeping the both of us sane.

‘Yun nga lang, walang Tosilog sa mol nila.

Xoho Café: A Funky Treasure in Tel Aviv

Posted on March 22, 2016 by heavenliner

One of the many beauties of travelling in a foreign land without a set and pre-arranged tour package is that you got to explore and discover treasures of the city that you visit.

Case in point was the first breakfast me and my sister had here in Tel Aviv. Armed only with a google map, a dash of courage and heaps of appetite, we walked through the city streets of Tel Aviv to get to Xoho Café, the ranked number one recommended breakfast café in Tel Aviv by Tripadvisor.

Discovering Xoho Café was a bliss. As soon as we entered the café we were barged with a laid back yet cool and hip ambiance and deco. And from the funky interiors itself, it looks like the owner is someone who is so young, vibrant and creative I stopped wondering why this establishment was ranked number one by Tripadvisor.

thank goodness we arrived early, people were queuing up when we left the cafe

nice…

lata!

a collage of the super funky toilet

My beautiful first impression of Xoho Café was even substantiated by the divine dishes that me and my sister ordered. When I asked the young server what to recommend, she simply stated that the Juanito Burrito was something not to miss in their café. My sister on the other hand settled for the delectable Sunny Side Up served with a bunch of toast, labaneh, olive oil and zaatar. The food was fantastic!

heavenly, juanito burrito!

yum!

xoho cafe experience!

Upon stepping out of Xoho Café with the smile on my face, I can simply say that this café is a perfect combination of good food and funky design. Thank goodness to Tripadvisor, google map and our heaps of appetite, we discovered a treasure called Xoho Café.

Mapapa-shalom ka sa sarap!

The Rustic Mornings in Marikina

Posted on March 5, 2016 by heavenliner

During my childhood, my perception of Marikina is that of a faraway place from metropolitan Manila. One of our neighbors in Pasay, Tita Linda and her family, were actually from this bucolic county. And every time our family is invited by Tita Linda (one Nengkoy’s ‘mejor amiga’) to go to their place in Marikina for some party or gathering, the travel and journey seem so arduous and tiring. I can still remember the exhausting hours it took for us to reach this green and tree-filled but faraway suburb.

During adulthood, the only time I got to Marikina (now a city and part of metropolitan Manila) was after the deadly flooding and wreckage brought about by the most devastating storm to hit Metro Manila known as tropical storm Ondoy in 2009. I got the chance to go to Marikina then because the company I am working for did some charitable activity. Our company prepared and distributed away hundreds of boxes of hot cooked food to the affected residents of Marikina, which was the most hardly hit area of that year’s deadly typhoon. That memory was not a good one because Marikina that time was all mud, sludge and debris.

But just last Wednesday, I had a beautiful morning in rustic Marikina. I was actually at awe because my childhood perception that it takes ages to get there has been erased. It only took us 45 minutes to get there (from Malate in Manila). And the ugly clutter brought about by the deadly Ondoy of course are all gone. What’s present is a highly urbanized zone with remarkably clean roads and civilized communities.

The reason this time why I was able to get to Marikina is because of breakfast. I and my colleagues decided to have breakfast at Rustic Mornings.

the menu

lovely interiors

outdoor dining area…

greens and shells at the patio area

This restaurant can be considered one precious gem of Marikina. The ambience is one-of-a-kind. It makes you feel like you are not in crazy, hectic and stressful metropolitan Manila. Once you entered their gate you’ll feel a sudden change in impression. It’s quiet, calm and relaxed. The restaurant is actually decorated with beautiful pieces of art and décor. You would actually feel like being in a vicinity full of stunning and charming clutter.

But what is most important for me that morning was the food. Rustic Mornings serve heartwarming and mouthwatering breakfast dishes in a suburban-like setting. And from among the breakfast dishes that we ordered, I had two personal favorites. The Crispy Waffle Churros and the Banana-flavored Pancakes. These dishes are simply bliss! The waffle churros was crispy outside yet heavenly soft inside! While the pancakes I would say would be one hell of a pancake! It was insanely delicious!

the smell and taste of heaven!

those coffee cups were like pieces of art

hearty filipino breakfast dishes

Because of Rustic Mornings, I can now say that I have a beautiful experience in Marikina. This restaurant definitely gave me a reason to return back on a rustic morning in this rustic city.

Parang ako lang yung wapol nila… masarap!

The Steak & Cheese Sandwich That Made Me a Sandwich Person

Posted on January 3, 2016 by heavenliner

Except for burgers, I have never been fascinated with a sandwich. I have always accepted the notion that I am not a sandwich person. I’d rather be the one who prepare my own sandwich and not get from a store or order it from some fancy restaurant. Because of this, I have always considered that for me to be fascinated on a sandwich served in a diner or a cafe, such must really be very good.

The supposition of me not being a non-burger sandwich person has however been changed. There has been one sandwich that has finally mesmerized my sense of taste. It is the Steak & Cheese Panini Sandwich served in Café Adriatico Express.

If my restless cravings and squirmish budget permits, I would at times order a Steak Sandwich in Café Adriatico at their Malate branch. But the one they served in their new outlet located at the ground level of The Block in SM North Edsa, Quezon City were further improved. They added loads of mozzarella cheese and used a tasty kind of Panini bread instead of the usual white bread. Moreover the new sandwich version is served with potato fries and pickled red onions, the latter is actually a genius add-on because it is great palate equalizer for the very savory flavor of the sandwich filling.

yummy!

The appetizing presentation, the perfect portioning and the toothsome taste were right on target. My taste buds were not jumping for joy, they were instead doing two and a half back-somersaults with two and a half twist on a ten meter platform dive! This sandwich is definitely very delicious!

Ansarapsarap!

The Peanut Butter That Will Tantalize Your Tastebuds

Posted on October 8, 2015 by heavenliner

nanay pacing, i was surprised that she was the one manning the store...

the lady on the label. i was surprised that she was the one manning the store…

In some recent past, Philippine society got so crazed up by a food paste known as Speculoos Cookie Butter. We were so wildly insane about it, it seem like a status symbol to own at least one jar. As if possessing one jar is to have an insane bragging right. Filipinos then would even post a photo of their cookie butter jar on their Facebook page!

Now that the hype has calmed down and that Trader Joe’s in California (where this spread is sold) are no longer infested with Filipinos lining up to buy jars of it, there has yet to have another food paste that Pinoy society would have to be crazy about.

While waiting for the re-emergence of such phenomenon, let me introduce you to a locally-made food spread that will tantalize your tastebuds. It’s the Nanay Pacing’s Peanut Butter!

Buying two jars of this spread was the best purchase I made when I recently been to Baler in Aurora Province. This peanut butter, my goodness, is evil!

one rare source of gastronomic happiness

warning! highly addictive…

glad to have discovered it in baler

In case you got hold of this creamy peanut butter and tried it for yourself, and you think you did not like it, then perhaps there must be no joy in your life and I hope things would get better soon.

There are few things in this world that deserves some great recognition, Nanay Pacing’s Peanut Butter is one of them! And because of its magical taste which emanates the secretion of happy chemical compounds in the brain, I will then submit a formal nomination of Nanay Pacing to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Chemistry and Physiology.

Maning may mantikilya o mantikilyang may mani? Basta yami!

Lorenzo’s Way Desserts

Posted on September 9, 2015 by heavenliner

Costillas De Ternera Guisada, Spanish Garlic Chicken, Paella Negra, Lengua Estofada and Prawns in Creole and Hollandaise Sauce are some of the sumptuous main dishes found in Lorenzo’s Way restaurant, one of the refined casual dining establishments in Manila.

These highfaluting and pompous sounding dishes may be the some of the best main courses for human consumption but for me the main course remain to be the last dish served in any meal. As what the common saying goes, “save the best for last”! That would simply be the dessert.

Having dessert perhaps is like all the other events and circumstances where the so called “last” is considered the highlight. Aside from sex, cases in point would be a beauty pageant, an awards night, a bingo social and even the Filipino tradition of Santacruzan in which the last part is considered the best part.

Lorenzo’s Way restaurant happens to serve my most favorite desserts!

extra-ordinarily creamy yet classic, Leche Flan

blissful with this Pecan Pie

Gigil Tart. It was immediately sliced as soon as it’s served for we could no longer wait, only to realize that we haven’t taken a photo yet!

my favorite! choco banana volcano,

Unlike responsible adults, I would rather skip the starters but never the dessert. Two reasons I guess is the enticing visual appeal as well as that of the pleasurable palatal sensation it generates.

Mapapa-klap yor hands ka sa sarap!

The Best and Most Favorite Filipino Restaurant

Posted on August 29, 2015 by heavenliner

It is a common notion and a customary aspiration that if you are in a foreign land, you would want to taste the best and most favorite that such locale or country has to offer. Meaning, if you are in France you would normally want to dine in the best or most preferred French restaurant. Or if you are in Italy you would of course aspire to eat at the best or most popular Italian restaurant. But when in the Philippines, has it been determined which would be the restaurant where to taste the best and most preferred Filipino cuisine?

The Filipino cuisine is experiencing a renaissance in the world cuisine stage. The world is now discovering that the Filipino cuisine is not just the exotic “balut”. Thus, it is essential to determine in today’s generation which Filipino restaurant in the Philippines is the best and the most favorite. Here are two trusty basis for this. One for being the best while the other for being the most favorite.

One would be based on the selection made by MBKRS which is short for Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secret award. MBKRS is a biennial awarding body considered by a lot of Filipino foodies and food establishments as the most prestigious award that recognizes excellence in city dining scene.

Two would be based on the honor given by the recently concluded Choice Awards 2015. A new food-scene recognizing body which was established and organized by popular and “powerful” food bloggers in the Philippines. This award does not recognizes the best of the country’s food and food establishments but instead honors the most commonly preferred and most favorites.

These two recognizing bodies has bestowed honors to food establishments in various categories – best or most favorite: buffet, Italian resto, Spanish resto, burger joint, coffee shop, steakhouse, Chinese resto, and a lot more. But these recognizing bodies being based in the Philippines, I would personally consider their choice or their award for being the best and most favorite Filipino Restaurant would be the most prestigious. It’s like bestowing the Best Picture award during the Oscars or the Golden Globes of Philippine dining scene!

Few people I guess knows that there is one Filipino restaurant (in the Philippines) which has received and has been awarded by both these recognizing bodies. MBKRS in 2012 awarded it as the “Best Filipino Restaurant” while the first Choice Awards held this year (2015) chose it as the “Most Favorite Filipino Restaurant”.

That restaurant is Abe.

at the trinoma branch

at the serendra branch

Award wining!

Royce Potatochip Chocolate: The Ultimate Snack for a Cheat Day

Posted on August 23, 2015 by heavenliner

Now that I am back to going to the gym after more than 6 months of hiatus, I am also back to having a cheat day. And for the initial salvo in this very important moment of calming my cravings, I will eat a snack that contains all of the elements that a fitness trainer forbids. It is a snack that will ultimately resolve my one week old wicked cravings! Carbs, salt, sugar, fat!

I will devour the outrageously delicious Royce’ Potatochip Chocolate. This unique and incredible snack is a combination of salty potato chip and rich chocolate.

japanese snacks never fail to amaze me…

What I like most about this snack is that the potato chip is not fully coated with chocolate. The uncoated side of the chip results to the brackish flavor of this snack. Perhaps, if the whole chip is choco-coated, the unique saltiness would not be achieved. Thus, for every chip that you munch you would experience the fleeting sense of saltiness but would eventually mix up to the precise sweetness of the rich Royce’ chocolate. This amazing sensation to the palate makes it a truly unique snack.

wicked ration for the next cheat day!

The only problem that I have with this snack is that it can extremely be addictive. It will take a lot of will power not to consume everything in one sitting or to save some so as to munch in the future cheat days.

Sobrang makasalanan ang chibog na ‘to! Pero grabe sa sarap!

Keeping, Serving, Enjoying The Traditional Kare-Kare

Posted on August 7, 2015 by heavenliner

kare-kare overload

The Filipino cuisine is at its renaissance in the present generation. And because of this global upwelling, it is frustrating to note that there have been lots of Filipino restaurants popping up in the metro that has gone modifying and fusing the tasty traditional Filipino dishes with the western or other Asian cuisines.

The grassroots and nature of the Filipino cuisine is about being economical. Ingredients were based on what the environment offers. Filipino dish is not about just taking, using and eating the best part of an edible fruit, plant or animal. It is about the development of dishes utilizing every edible part of an edible element present in the environment may it be a fruit, a plant or an animal. That is why western world would often perceive Filipino dishes to be bizarre and outright disgusting.

Because of this perception, to tweak Filipino dishes in terms of plating and visual presentation so as to not scare people and achieve global marketability is okay for me. But the complex taste and palatal balance of the traditional recipe that Filipinos of the past has concocted and developed must remain.

the chosen one!!! the authentic good old kare-kare

the chosen one!!! the good old traditional kare-kare (i obviously erased the labels…)

It is good to know then that the LJC Restaurant Group, a leading group of restaurants in the country continues to serve traditional Filipino dishes. Though I am not the final authority regarding the taste of traditional Filipino dishes, I have been fortunate to be chosen as one of the lucky Filipinos to taste and determine which among their Kare-Kare is the best! Aside from adopting the chosen best Kare-Kare for all their outlets, this project by the LJC Group in way ensures that the good old Kare-Kare (stewed oxtail in peanut-based sauce) is available for the present generation to enjoy.

This project only shows how the LJC Restaurant Group is serious is keeping the traditional Filipino cuisine. No wonder the LJC Restaurant Group operates the leading and best Filipino restaurants in the country, i.e. Abe (which now has 6 branches) and Bistro Remedios located in Malate, Manila.

With the rousing global interest about the Filipino cuisine nowadays, it would be sad to know and would be hard to imagine in case the best Kare-Kare would not be found in the Philippines. So, good job LJC Group! At least for now, the best Kare-Kare is still found in the Philippines!

Yami parang ako!

Nengkoy

ruminations & travesties of the favorite yet naughty son of Nengkoy

Category Archives: food