Let's be proud of our cuisine

An interesting article about Filipino cuisine by Elizabeth Angsioco of Manila Standard Today.

Filipino food (via Wikipedia)

Elizabeth Angsioco is a women’s rights advocate and head of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP).

Here's an excerpt of her article about Filipino cuisine.

"“So, what kind of restaurant are you putting up?” was one of the common questions we faced when we were setting-up a resto. Always, the answer was, “Filipino”. And always, the next question was, “Why?”

Often, this was answered by our Executive Chef with, “Why not?” Many times, an interesting exchange on Filipino food would ensue. Indeed, why not Filipino?

...Our cuisine is inherently rich. But if we do not consume our food, our cuisine will continue to wither away. Let us rediscover Filipino food, take pride in our rich cuisine."

Read more of this story at the Manila Standard Today

The reason why Anthony Bourdain loves sisig

Anthony Bourdain: I like sisig very, very much.

Anthony Bourdain (via Wikipedia)

Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain tells ABS-CBN's Yong Chavez, at the recent Creative Arts Emmy's, the reason why he loves sisig.

"I like sisig very, very much. That's perfect beer-drinking food. Love it!" Bourdain said.

It was in 2009 that Bourdain tasted his favorite Filipino dish during his visit to the Philippines for the show "No Reservations."

He also had a satisfying experience with Jollibee's halo-halo at the Philippine fast food giant's Los Angeles branch on his show, "Parts Unknown."

"Good stuff," said Bourdain who recently won his second consecutive Creative Arts Emmy's award for "Parts Unknown."

Americans tries Filipino snacks

Buzzfeed staff this time tries Pinoys sari-sari store snacks.

Watch the video below as they try and actually like the Filipino snacks.

Buzzfeed staff tries Filipino street food:

And of course Jollibee:

All Jollibee stores in Metro Manila will reopen on Sunday

Tomorrow's the end of #ChickenSad.

Jollibee (via Wikipedia)

All 72 Jollibee stores in Metro Manila and surrounding areas that have close since last week will return to normal operation starting Sunday, August 17, 2014.

Reports from various news sources state that, although some of the Jollibee outlets will still operate on a limited menu, the company assures the public of the 100% availability of the three bestselling and most popular items which are Chickenjoy, Yumburger and Jolly Spaghetti.

On August 8, Jollibee apologized to the public as its 72 stores in Metro Manila and nearby provinces temporarily closed because of the popular menu's unavailability and delay of supply deliveries cause by the company's IT system upgrade.

According to the reports, Jollibee is implementing contingency measures to improve its product deliveries from local commissary to the affected stores.

Jollibee also made it clear that it doesn't import chicken or any meat products from China but instead sourced its chicken requirements from accredited suppliers such as San Miguel Foods Corporation, Foster Foods Inc., and GAMA Foods Corporation.

Chori Burger and Sizzling Sisig: Grubs that New York foodies love

Chori Burger as "the best burger in all of New York City," while Sisig as "arguably the greatest pork dish on earth."

Chori Burger by Jeepney (via Philippine Daily Inquirer)

"It's been a savory run for Filipino chow in the Big Apple," reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer as Chori Burger by the Filipino eatery, Jeepney Gastropub won the 2014 Golden Hamburger trophy of Time Out New York’s Battle of the Burger.

While Lumpia Shack Snackbar's sizzling sisig was billed by the New York Times as "arguably the greatest pork dish on earth."

Ligaya Mishan described Lumpia Shack's sisig as, "Ears, jowls, belly. They come brined, blanched, shattered and fried, each tip blackened and alchemized, each pocket of fat approaching liquefaction. A raw yolk idles on top. Stab it and churn."

Adding that, "This is sisig, the greatest pork hash — arguably greatest pork dish — on earth. Say the name with two flicks of the tongue, somewhere between a whisper and a hiss."

Jeepney's Chori burger on August 7, beat other top New York burger contenders such as Burger Joint, Corner Bistro, Donovan’s, Five Guys, Shake Shack and Steak and Shake.

The runner-up, meanwhile, goes to Dale Talde, a Filipino-American chef and owner of Pork Slope, a food joint that specializes on pork dishes.

Chori Burger, which will compete in the 2015 Battle of the Burger in Miami, Florida is made of challah bun, half beef and half longganisa patties, and topped with banana ketchup and atsara.

The burger also comes with kamote fries and Maggi garlic aioli dip, reports ABS-CBN.

Cultural learnings through food at Asian Eats

Asian Eats, held last August 8-10, showcased the foods from 10 different Asian countries.

Inasalan sa Dalan, an Asian Eats participant (via Business World Online)

Ten countries were represented by various purveyors at the recent "Asian Eats" held last August 8-10, 2014 at The Podium which was organized by Asia Society, reports the Business World.

It's the second food fair by Asia Society which according to the executive director of Asia Society-Philippine Foundation, Inc., Suyin Liu Lee, is primarily an educational organization that tackle Asian issues from policy and business, to culture, through collaboration or partnership with subject matter experts.

With the help of Pinoy Eats World - a company dedicated to food culture, offering programs such as food tours, guerilla dinners, themed dinners and art dinners (according to its Facebook page) - who curated the purveyors, various Asian countries were represented in the event.

Some of the purveyors present were NAV Modern Thai Cuisine for Thailand, Downtown Cafe by Bale Dutung and Inasalan sa Dalan for the Philippines, Spring by Ha Yuan for China, Phat Pho for Vietnam and Rita’s Kitchen for Indonesia.

Also present at the opening day were Vietnam’s Ambassador to the Philippines Truong Trieu Duong and India’s Ambassador to the Philippines Lalduhthlana Ralte.

NutriAsia plans to penetrate Indonesia's banana catsup market

The company is preparing for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) integration by 2015.

NutriAsia products (via NutriAsia)

In preparation for the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community integration which will start the creation of a single market for the 10-member nation of ASEAN, NutriAsia is finding a way to penetrate the Indonesian market particularly Jakarta.

NutriAsia President and CEO Angie Go Flaminiano stated that the company is looking for a partner in Indonesia "who's very interested with the banana catsup," according to a report by GMA News.

The company is a condiment manufacturer with popular products such as UFC, Jufran, and Papa banana catsup brands, Datu Puti and Mang Tomas condiments, and Golden Fiesta and Hapi Fiesta cooking oil brands.

Flaminiano, in a briefing at the Marilao, Bulacan factory of NutriAsia said that "the distributor we're talking to thinks that the banana catsup will appeal to the Indonesians."

She added that if NutriAsia do test the market using banana catsup, they will limit it to Jakarta.

NutriAsia currently exports its products worldwide targeting mostly Filipinos living overseas.

Filipino Food in Kuala Lumpur's ASEAN Food Festival

Participants including Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin got curious and asked how adobo is made.

On August 8, 2014, to showcase unity in diversity, the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia joined the ASEAN Food and Cultural Festival held at the Taman Pudu Ulu park in Kuala Lumpur.

The event which was officiated by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin and organized by the Malaysian Youth Council, and served as its Hari Raya open house, brought together the ASEAN Embassies and Malaysia's state representatives the region's culture through cultural performances and foods.

Philippine Embassy delegation head, Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said, "Food and cultural diplomacy is a wonderful way of showcasing Philippine culture, especially in a country like Malaysia.  We have found in several occasions that apart from filling the tummies, Filipino food also provides comfort to the spirit."

The DFA.gov.ph's portal states that, "the Philippine Embassy booth was a hit with the guests, as it served chicken adobo with rice and mini-turon.  People flocked the booth to get second servings, finding both dishes unique and filling. Embassy officers and staff also interacted with the guests who asked how the dishes were prepared."

No other than Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyddin became curious with adobo and even asked how it is made.

He was then provided a copy of Mama Sita's cookbook containing halal Filipino dishes.

image source: DFA.gov.ph

Does Good Presentation Improve Food Taste?

Which kare-kare would taste better, the one presented like an Amorsolo painting or those that are simply poured onto a bowl?

A dish presented in 3 different ways (via Rappler)

Flavor is said to be 75% smell so that if you cannot smell your food, you only experience 25% of it. But if the entire experience of food were fully taken up by what the nose and our taste buds can receive, why do we bother arranging food in such creative ways, complemented by elaborate paraphernalia – such as linen, delicate porcelain, wood or glass? Why do we even patronize fine dining with all its accompanying rituals and not simply assure ourselves that good food is good food so we should just serve it the same way all the time?... Rappler

A Book On Rare Filipino Food Stuff

Rare Filipino breads, hams, recipes and items from the book, "A Quick Guide to Filipino Food and Cooking” by Cris Abiva.

Pan de bonete (via Spot.ph)

After doing my groceries I’d usually dropped by National Bookstore. I’ll look for discounted books which they’d normally sell at very low prices to clear their shelves for new titles. This morning I found a few good titles and I bought some.

Surprising catch is this cook book, “A Quick Guide to Filipino Food and Cooking” by Cris Abiva. This inconspicuous book is a treasure throve of forgotten Filipino foodstuff... With One's Past

Boy Bawang and other Filipino foods at the Australian market

Filipino foods that you can buy at several Asian stores in Blackwater, Australia.

Boy Bawang (via I Love Boy Bawang)

Do you know ” Boy Bawang”?

If you don’t, “Boy Bawang” is the crispy and crunchy garlic-flavored cornick made from corn grit that is a favorite junk food of young and adults in the Philippines and surprisingly, Filipinos in Australia... Sunday Punch

A Restaurant That Works

Bruce Lim’s Rustique Kitchen offers Filipino favorites with a twist.

“I just want a restaurant that works,” says Cojuangco. “I spoke with chef Bruce and we discussed concepts. It so happened he didn’t have a restaurant at that moment. He was doing food production for a convenience store. I told him the convenience store is not yours. Here, you can be as creative as you want. This is your restaurant. So I named the restaurant after him.” Inquirer

Coffee, Pig and Playtime in Buscalan, Kalinga

Two2Travel shows, in a photo essay, the simple life, and free coffee, in Buscalan, Kalinga.

Coffee in Buscalan, Kalinga (via Two2Travel)

Coffee is free in Buscalan.

It is served about three times a day, sometimes more. When there’s nothing else to do, when there’s just too much going on, when there are visitors to welcome, early in the morning, before going to bed — there are never too many excuses to have a steaming vat of Kalinga brew, served black and piping hot... Two2Travel