food
September 25, 2019 Batanes, Philippines
While the scenic views of Batanes continue to captivate my heart, Ivatan cuisine is also something worth going for.
When visiting a new place, my not so adventurous foodie self always make sure to try their local dishes as much as possible because what's traveling when you don't experience it like a local? So to help you feel more like a local when visiting Batanes, I've rounded up a list of must-try Ivatan dishes.
LUÑIS
It's a traditional recipe of pork cooked with just rock salt. It is then stored in jars drowning in its own lard. This is the Ivatans' way of preserving pork. Luñis is quite similar to dried pork adobo. This is best served with supas (turmeric rice), another Ivatan specialty.
I also tried the unconventional sinigang na luñis and it's undeniably delicious!
PICADILLO A BAKA
This Batanes dish is usually prepared after butchering a cow. It is served to those who helped in preparing the cow. Mostly served with nisuhad a wakay or boiled sweet potato.
UVED BALLS
It's the Ivatans' version of meatballs. Uved balls are made from banana corm and minced pork. If you really want to try Ivatan cuisine, this should be on your list.
Photo by Opal E. Bala
ARAYU (MAHI-MAHI)
During the time I was in Batanes, I didn't see a live arayu, only the dried ones. But from searching on the internet, I was amazed at how beautiful it looks like. It's a mix of gold and hues of blue and green. In Batanes, harvesting this fish is a part of a sacred tradition called kapayvanuvanua. Up to this day, the Ivatans still practice it to gain the favors of the sea. They believe that it will protect them from the sea and will give them an abundant catch.
VUNUNG
I already mentioned this on my previous post. Although Vunung is not really a dish, it's one thing that you must try when in Batanes. Vunung is the Ivatans' traditional way of serving food. They wrap the meal on Kabaya leaves. Usually, these are served on special occasions like weddings where people help hand in hand in the preparations without compensation.To me, this is the best way to try and appreciate the Ivatan cuisine.
Have you tried any Ivatan dishes? What's your favorite? Let me know on the comments box below :)
December 19, 2018
If there's one thing that comes to mind when you hear about Korean desserts, bingsu tops the list. But don't you know the country of oppas is also famous for its ice cream? Kiss the Tiramisu is the living proof.
If you happen to pass by a cafe in Hongdae, Seoul with a long queue, it must be Kiss the Tiramisu. People line up for their eccentric but delicious soft-serve ice creams made with premium ingredients including the mascarpone cheese which stands out as the one element that binds everything together into a one sweet symphony.
And instead of putting the ice cream in cones or ordinary cups, the soft-serve comes in gold-rimmed plastic goblets that you can take out of the store and reuse, which takes the ice cream experience to the next level.
Because it easily caught the hearts of many, the brand has grown to 14 branches all over South Korea and 20 franchises overseas including Australia, China, Canada, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, soon in Paris and of course, the Philippines.
Shirley Vy-Wong, CEO and President of Foodeology, Inc., brought this famous Korean dessert shop to the Philippines last year, making its first branch in Makati. Since then, many Filipinos have fallen in love with Kiss the Tiramisu's famous soft-serve ice cream and other desserts.
Shirley Vy-Wong, CEO and President of Foodeology, Inc.
Shirley Vy-Wong with Jiro Kim. founder of Kiss the Tiramisu
But how about those who live in the North? This question from those who live far from the central business district prompted Shirley to open another branch of Kiss the Tiramisu. Thus, they opened one in TriNoma Mall in Quezon City. Now, every Filipino can experience the hype of this luxury Korean dessert.
Original Tiramisu
Sure, tiramisu ice cream is no stranger but Kiss the Tiramisu will give you a different delightful form of experience! They pride itself with its perfect and melts-in-your-mouth layers of vanilla ice cream made only with milk—no water added, mascarpone cheese, mocha and butter cookie crumble, coffee sauce, and dark chocolate shavings.
Original Tiramisu, P265
Matcha
It has almost the exact list of ingredients as the Original Tiramisu, only replacing the coffee sauce with matcha sauce and adding a fine dusting of matcha powder.
Matcha, P285
Injeolmi
They say, no Korean dessert is complete without its famous delicacy injeolmi or sticky rice cakes dusted with roasted soy bean powder. This flavor serves you a sweet part of Korean culture. If you like your desserts sweet and savory, you'll find this more than enjoyable.
Injeolmi Ice Cream, P265
Midas Touch
This is an exclusive flavor offered only in the Philippines. It's like a different take on the famous pinoy dessert halo-halo. This dessert is crafted by Chef Kat Diploma. What's in the goblet are the layers of ube cake, leche flan, crushed barquillos and soft-serve vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce and an edible 24k gold that makes this dessert an Instagram-worthy feature! This is also known as the Billionaire's ice cream.
Midas Touch, P295
Aside from the ice creams, Kiss the Tiramisu also offers cakes to satisfy your sweet cravings. They have the Classic Tiramisu Cake and Matcha Tiramisu Cake. And because the holiday season is here, they have their specialty Christmas cakes namely Peach Cheesecake and Oreo Mousse Cake (a personal favorite).
Kiss the Tiramisu is located at the Ground Floor of the Mindanao Lobby Entrance of TriNoma Mall, Quezon City.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
August 7, 2018 Thailand
Thailand is one of the most famous Asian countries that has notable cuisine because of its undeniably raw and tasty flavors. Here, I'll start with the most important thing that you have to know about Thai food—they're mostly spicy!
And because I'm not the spicy kind of person, I was hesitant to try most of the Thai cuisine and opted for the safe ones a.k.a. fast food. But lo and behold, the meals at fast food chains are spicy even the ones that they gave me when I asked for something that's "not spicy at all."
It's a different kind of spice; it's like it's gonna burn your tongue and release hot air from your ears. Anyway, so what I tried there were the street foods and the ones that are soft-flavored.
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December 6, 2016
Restobars aren't really my thing because number one, I don't drink alcoholic beverages and two, I hate loud, smokey, crowded people. So when Xyclone Restobar invited me to try their food, I had second thoughts because seldom I go to restobars and if I do, I've got no other choice but go for the sake of my previous job. It's always a strange feeling for me to be inside one. Should I go or should I not? I asked myself three times to be exact.
Good thing, I did. Now I'm thanking my adventurous-always-want-to-try-something-new self for taking me there.
April 29, 2012
Yesterday was a tiring day. Before we go to SM Megamall, we went to a Wedding first.
My sister and I didn't want the same restaurant so we end up eating different food. Because she can't decide what to eat, she ended at McDonald's. And because I was craving for something sour with salty taste like cheese, I preferred at French Baker which is one of my favorite Bakeshops. I love their ham and cheese croissant, garlic bread, pizza, and lemonade. Unfortunately, what I wanted to eat was sold out, I opt to try something new.
Four Seasons
I've never tried one of their pasta dishes before so I ordered this.
Actually, I forgot the name of this dish. Hahaha. I would like to say that I didn't like this one. The sauce that they used for the pasta is similar with the Old Spaghetti House (which I don't like too). I was expecting something really sour to fit my taste but then I realized, I was in a French Resto not an Italian. HAHA silly me. But I like the taste of their chicken and it was so tender.
January 21, 2012
Last Wednesday, since we were dismissed early by our Professor, my friend and I decided to eat. Of course, what else? Hahaha. We roamed around the campus to find what to eat. And then I found the pizza, I quickly grabbed my wallet for me to be able to get that immediately (patay-gutom much?)!
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