Yummy Collections

Fried Rice Tom Yum

2010-06-09T10:10:00.002+10:00

Does it look good? Nice presentation? This is not what I cooked, this is the HiThai one...

I've been hooked to eating tom yum seafood fried rice at my local Thai resto - HiThai at OnFour, Westpoint Blacktown.

You say 'tom yum is a Thai soup you idiot!' That was what I first thought and ordered it to satisfy my curiosity and hunger. And as they say, the rest is history and a start of a love affair with this rice dish - a complete meal in itself.

I promised myself to try to recreate this dish at home, and what better way to do it by scoring a tom yum paste in a bottle, some left over rice, fresh seafood [I tried using green New Zealand mussels, shrimps & calamari or squid], lemon grass & in the absence of galangal, I used sliced ginger. Remembering that most of the spices are already pre-mixed in that tom yum sauce, if only I could get it locally... [or maybe I didn't looked hard enough!].

Anyway, on a recent trip to Singapore - lo and behold, found tom yum paste [Kee's] and bought one [with several bottles of chicken rice/Hainan rice paste/sauce, etc.]. Proceeded to use the product at home but found it to be really hot, as in tom yum hot. So I've reduced the amount to a palatable taste...

I Googled tom yum fried rice, have a look at the recipe and winged it using the available ingredients I have:

On a really hot wok or pan/pots/paellera, etc.; heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, sauté the lemon grass, sliced ginger and the magic paste.

Sauté the seafood; which should have been washed & cleaned thoroughly. The wife did it for me, half shell mussels, shrimps or prawns [what's the difference?] de-veined and with only the 'tails' left for whatever reason [presentation? to hold onto? etc.] and the squid or calamari just cut into bite size pieces. Do not, under any circumstances, overcook the seafood!

Set aside... more olive oil, lemon grass & ginger. Sauté with the cooked rice [preferably cold & cooked beforehand, so it won't stick too much]. When the rice is heated & cooked, add the seafood back into the pan/pot/wok, cook for another five minutes & served with your favourite white sweet wine [which I find complements most chili Thai, Indo, Indian food].

If that doesn't work or not too good to your taste, hit to your local Thai resto and order the damn thing!

Wish list: Ripples @ Chowder Bay

2010-05-16T09:30:00.000+10:00

Here's one of the reviews at the Sydney Morning Herald, a bit dated Oct 2007] but confirmed by mX reviewer Vanessa Santer.

If ever I don't make it at Chowder Bay there's also a more accessible Ripples at Thw Whard.

Travel Postcards: 48 hours in Manila

2009-09-14T20:52:00.001+10:00

By Michaela Cabrera [Originally appeared in Reuters]

MANILA (Reuters Life!) - The capital of the Philippines is not the kind of place you fall in love with at first sight: the Spanish colonial-era mega-city is home to around 12 million people, congested, polluted and often chaotic.

But amid the confusion, there is a lot to see. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge provide hints to help visitors make the most out of a short stay in the city.

FRIDAY

6 p.m. - Take a jeepney, the country's iconic mini-bus, to Quiapo Church in downtown Manila to see Catholics attend Friday mass in the thousands. Devotees flock to the church to revere the Black Nazarene, a 400-year-old statue of Christ from Mexico believed to be miraculous. A plaza outside bustles with stalls selling candles, flowers, herbal medicines and potions.

8 p.m. - Start your Friday night at the financial district, Makati. Young professionals hang out at Greenbelt, a leafy outdoor mall with a cinema and a park. M Cafe makes excellent cocktails -- ask for the citrusy Sunset Sake.

9 p.m. - Dine at Sentro restaurant, also in Greenbelt, and order Filipino favorites such as adobo (pork and chicken stew), sinigang (beef in tamarind broth) and crispy pata (pork knuckles).

10 p.m. Take a cab north to the gritty side of town and head to Cubao X, a cul-de-sac of curios shops, art galleries, funky bars and cozy restaurants. Mogwai Bar screens classic Filipino films from the 1940s and 50s, and nearby Black Soup Gallery exhibits cutting edge visual art.

Also, check out the local music scene at 70's Bistro at nearby Anonas Ave., a popular watering hole for artists, activists and journalists. Bands belt out original music and a bit of The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Sting.

12 a.m. - Woozy from all that drinking? Head to the nearest street vendor and try balut or duck egg, an unusual delicacy which contains a duck embryo, a solid yolk and soupy fluid.

SATURDAY

8 a.m. - For breakfast, try arroz caldo (rice porridge) or the more adventurous dinuguan (stewed pigs' blood) with puto (steamed rice cakes) at Aristocrat restaurant near Malate Church. The Baroque-style church served as a base for British soldiers who launched an assault on Manila in 1762.

9 a.m. - Wander across Luneta Park, where national hero Jose Rizal, a renaissance man whose writings inspired the revolution against Spain, was executed by firing squad. The park also features a gigantic relief map depicting the 7,000 islands of the Philippine archipelago.

10 a.m. - Relive Manila's Spanish colonial past in the cobble-stoned streets of the old walled city, Intramuros. Visit the 400-year-old San Agustin church, a World Heritage site that boasts a fine collection of religious relics. You might chance upon a wedding reception across the street at Casa Manila, a museum depicting a typical Spanish colonial house. Around the corner is Manila Cathedral, which sheltered wounded soldiers in the Spanish-American war. Walking tours by history buff Carlos Celdran are entertaining. (celdrantours.blogspot.com/)

11 a.m. - Walk to Fort Santiago, a Spanish garrison where Rizal was imprisoned until his execution. A small museum houses manuscripts of his novels and his medical instruments. His famous poem, Adios Patria Adorada, is translated in several languages. Climb on the ramparts and watch barges cross the Pasig River.

12 p.m. - Ride a horse carriage to the old quarter of Sta. Cruz and for lunch: try the tasty fried chicken of Ramon Lee Panciteria. The pink-walled restaurant with retro upholstery and high ceiling fans dates back to 1929.

1 p.m. - Stroll along Ongpin St. in Chinatown, a bustling commercial hub in Binondo. Snack on hopia (mung bean cake) at Eng Bee Tin Chinese deli, or try the dimsum at Wai Ying Fastfood.

3 p.m. - Shop for native handicrafts at the market under the bridge in the Quiapo area, near the church. Haggle with vendors and beware of pickpockets. A large Muslim community lives in the neighborhood, and the Golden Mosque is worth a visit.

5 p.m. - Cool off at the SM Mall of Asia, a four-hectare maze of shops and restaurants, with a skating rink, bowling alley, science museum, a music hall and an IMAX movie theater.

7 p.m. - Buy seafood at the dampa (wet market) on Macapagal Avenue near SM Mall of Asia, where you can ask restaurants to cook the day's fresh catch any way you want.

9 p.m. - Catch a ballet, play or concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where the award-winning UP Madrigal Singers often perform. If your taste is more risque, head east from the bayside to Club Mwah in Mandaluyong. Their glittery spectacle is Manila's answer to the Moulin Rouge, but with transvestite artists decked in flamboyant costumes.

SUNDAY

7 a.m. - Enjoy breakfast at Jollibee, the country's biggest fastfood chain that outsells McDonald's. They serve traditional Filipino breakfast meals, including tapsilog (salted beef with fried egg and garlic rice) and longsilog (pork sausage with the same combination), as well as sweet spaghetti and hamburgers.

9 a.m. - Head to the mecca of flea markets, Greenhills Shopping Center, lined with stores touting fake designer bags, clothes, knock-off iPods and pirated DVDs. Vendors from the south offer good bargains for pearls.

12 p.m. - If you had a light breakfast, binge on the buffet lunch at Spiral, at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel. The scrumptious all-you-can-eat choices include lobster, Angus beef, sushi and lechon (roasted piglet).

2 p.m. - Learn Philippine history through finely-sculpted miniature dioramas at the Ayala Museum. The galleries also show pre-Hispanic gold artifacts and paintings by Philippine art pioneers like Fernando Amorsolo and Juan Luna.

4 p.m. - Hop in a cab and head to The Fort, a sprawling complex of offices, condos and malls in a former army camp. Soothe those tired muscles with a massage at The Spa on Bonifacio High St., which offers traditional hilot and a range of lush treatments. You can book a private villa, with its own massage beds, steam room and hot tub.

8 p.m. - Chomp on more Filipino dishes at Abe, which specializes on kare kare (ox tail in peanut sauce), binagoongan (pork in shrimp paste) and binukadkad na plapla (butterflied tilapia fish). Then wind down at Cav, a wine bar that dispenses Sauvignon Blancs and Merlots from vending machines.

(Editing by Miral Fahmy)

Uruguay: Chivito

2009-09-05T02:07:00.000+10:00

A note to myself to get one of these monsters.... and if I can't...

Wish list: Ventuno

2009-08-28T15:28:00.003+10:00

Just a note to myself to go and visit/eat at this establishment: Ventuno at 21 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay [02 9247 4444]. Read review from mX: "Pizza the action" last 26 Aug by Vanessa Santer.

20 Tips for brain health by Dr Paul Nussbaum

2009-07-30T11:13:00.003+10:00

20 Tips for brain health - especially for you "teen-aged" ha ha ha

It's also important when it comes to taking care of your brain. Yet most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late.

Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier.

"More and more research is suggesting that lifestyle is very important to your brain's health," says Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a neuropsychologist and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

"If you want to live a long, healthy life, then many of us need to start as early as we can." So what can you do to beef up your brain - and possibly ward off dementia? Nussbaum, who recently gave a speech on the topic for the Winter Park ( Fla. ) Health Foundation, offers 20 tips that may help.

1. Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire.

2. Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex.

3. Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons.

4. Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all.

5. Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia. ! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden.

6. Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain.

7. Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well.

8. Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer.

9. Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. (And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early.)

10. Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. (Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too.)

11. Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease.

12.. Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why.

13. Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain.

14. Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there.

15. Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives.

16. Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life.

17. Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia.

18. Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too.

19. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells.

20. Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go.

Beef Laksa Soup

2009-07-26T18:09:00.003+10:00

I think that was it - or maybe chicken satay soup... can't remember anymore. But I do know it was a great hearty soup that filled me one day shopping at Ramen San, Blacktown Westpoint.

Churros and empanadas

2009-07-25T18:54:00.007+10:00

Half-eaten churro...

Last April, we - Honey and myself managed to have brekky at The Churros Corner at Blacktown. We were one of the first ones in this small upmarket food outlet that morning. I love churros and so is my wife, everytime we go to Disneyland and in the US, this is one of our favourite snacks.

I have read this local cafe in my local paper and since then we've been meaning to go - except that the store hours coincided with our working hours - so we made sure that one Saturday we will make time to sample their churros.

We were not dissapointed with the churros - some of which are either filled with chocolate, but my favourite is the caramel-filled ones. The coffee is passable.

The empanada pie.

But what truly impressed us was the empanada; this pie-like pastry [which literary meant to wrap or coat in bread - Spanish verb empanar] is similar in look and size to the Filipino variety except for the fillings as well as the pastry. The South American, particularly Argentinian version; the pastry is less sweet and the filling is moist instead of the drier and sweeter Filipino version. Our Argentinian host; and I suspect the baker/owner - admittedly knew the difference. He was obviously aware of the Filipino variety when we were discussing his empanada.

According to The Blacktown Advocate, the Saraceni family took over this pie shop over a year ago and reopened with a distinct South American/Argentinian feel. Other must have is the $3.90 omelette [which I suspect is a Spanish variety], all of which are freshly made onsite giving a "homemade" and authentic touch.

The Churros Corner - 7 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown. Tel no [+612] 9622 1417

Open 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Saturday & until 6:00 pm on Thursdays.

Holiday Red Oz Mojito

2008-12-25T12:52:00.004+11:00

Here's my version of Red Oz Holiday Mojito:

First off about four to five fresh mint leaves, the traditional Vietnamese ones and MUST be fresh.

1 teaspoon of red or raw sugar (or Splenda for diabetics).

Juice from half a fresh lime, cut into quarters and muddle (gentle crush) in a tall glass (tom collins or a mug). Just be gentle with the bruising of the mint leaves and lime just so to release the flavours but don't overdo it otherwise you'll get this overpowering mint flavour.

Add crush ice, a shot or two of Bundaberg red rum and topped with soda water.

Sometimes I omit the red sugar and instead use Schweppes lime juice cordial (sweet) and topped with either Seven up or Sprite replacing soda water for some fizzle.

I found out you need to adjust for individual taste. For example, alcohol content and sweetness. Some find more rum content better (real driners) and for me and the ladies, a shot of rum will do. Some diabetics might substitute Splenda or diet soda to sweeten the mix.

The key here is using Bundy red rum to get that Aussie taste!

Wagwu Beef Burger

2008-11-02T12:28:00.005+11:00

If you have the time, manage to find the ingredients (unless you have a wagyu cow in the backyard! And the patience to do this (2 hours and a half!). Otherwise just head to your nearest resto... mine is at Plan B café, 204 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD (02 9283 3450).

Lifted from Gourment Traveller (click main title) and saved here for future reference.

“On a trip to Sydney I had the wagyu burger at Plan B café. I’d love you to ask chef Justin North to share his recipe.”Anh Nguyen, Oakleigh, Vic

Wagyu burgerServes 4 Cooking Time Prep time 25 mins, cook time 2hrs 30 mins (plus chilling)

30 gm unsalted butter
3 onions (about 600gm), coarsely chopped
30 ml Madeira
400 gm wagyu, coarsely minced (see note)
100 gm wagyu fat, coarsely minced (see note)
50 gm dried fine breadcrumbs
1 egg, lightly whisked
2 tsp grapeseed oil
4 thin slices of vintage cheddar (80gm)
4 brioche rolls, split (see note)

To serve:

mayonnaise
1 baby cos, outside leaves discarded, leaves separated

Pickled beetroot
500 gm beetroot (about 3), trimmed, washed
200 ml red wine
100 ml ruby port
100 ml cabernet sauvignon vinegar
50 gm white sugar

Carmelised onion
2 onions, thinly sliced
2 tsp grapeseed oil

1 For pickled beetroot, combine ingredients with 1 litre water and 1 tsp salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring just to the boil, reduce heat to low, then simmer gently until beetroot are tender and liquid reduces to 400ml (1½-2 hours). When cool enough to handle, peel and thinly slice beetroot and set aside. Strain cooking liquid through a muslin-lined fine sieve into a saucepan, bring to the boil over medium heat and reduce to 260ml (10-12 minutes). Place beetroot in a sterilised jar, cover with liquid and seal. Pickled beetroot may be kept in refrigerator for up to 1 month. Makes 600ml.

2 Meanwhile, for caramelised onion, combine onion and oil in a saucepan, season to taste and stir frequently over low-medium heat until caramelised (45 minutes-1 hour). Set aside and keep warm.

3 Meanwhile, melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat, add onion and stir frequently until caramelised (35-40 minutes). Deglaze pan with Madeira, cool completely, then transfer to a bowl and add minces, breadcrumbs and egg and mix with your hands to combine. Season to taste. Mould into 4 patties, place on a tray, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

4 Meanwhile, preheat a grill on high heat and lightly toast cut-side of rolls, then spread with mayonnaise. Top roll bases with lettuce, burger, caramelised onion and beetroot. Sandwich with roll tops and serve immediately.

Note If you don’t have a mincer, you may need to ask your butcher to prepare this for you in advance. Keep mince cold as it softens easily at room temperature. Brioche rolls are available from select bakers. Substitute with a soft burger bun."

RECIPE by Justin North PHOTOGRAPHY by Chris Chen STYLING by Mia Asker

Savoring the secrets of the south by Michael Kho Lim

2008-05-27T09:15:00.002+10:00

Finding a place to begin a life and build one�s family is never easy. This is what Verdana Homes Mamplasan tries to solve. It offers a place suitable for the family person with a fast-paced and active lifestyle. Verdana is a safe and intimate community whose highly networked location makes it the gateway to the booming metro south, an area which used to be just vast green pastures but is now filled with culinary, leisure and recreation, and commercial destinations.

Ilog Maria Honeybee Farms

First stop is the Magsaysay Family's farm called Ilog Maria Honeybee Farms located in the highlands of Silang, Cavite. Silang is the largest town in Cavite known for its variety of fruits and coffee. Its pristine environment also makes the town an ideal place for keeping honeybees.
Joel Magsaysay started his farm business with only two colonies of bees, which were given to him by a friend. The bees are shipped to the Philippines from Australia. Since the bees are used to saving up honey for winter, they work very hard and gather as much honey as they could. After one year of being acclimated to their new environment and realizing that Philippines has no winter, however, the farm's honey production decreases. Thus, Magsaysay imports Australian honeybees annually to keep up with the production requirements.

Ilog Maria's other product lines are born out of family needs. One day, they ran out of bath soap and didn't have enough money to buy soap. Magsaysay mailed many letters to friends and relatives abroad to send him books about bees and making bee-related products. When the books arrived, he and his family studied the different production processes. Later on, the farm started producing soap, honey cider vinegar, beeswax candles, lip balm, throat spray and insect repellent, among others.

All Ilog Maria's products are pure and natural. The Magsaysays don't have any plans of expanding their store. People can only purchase online by visiting www.ilogmaria.com or when they travel all the way to Ilog Maria. And once in the farm, also try its house drink, ice cold honey-buko (honey-coconut) juice.

Bawai's Vietnamese Kusina

Next stop is the hidden kitchen of Bawai on Lagusan Drive, Tagaytay City. It's located right after the Dona Leoncia Country Retirement Homes. After a right turn at Purok 5, Bawai can be seen on the left side.

Bawai is Vietnamese for grandmother, while kusina is Filipino for kitchen. The restaurant is owned and operated by Bawai herself. She is Banh Da Lon or simply called Yong. In 1972, she migrated to the Philippines with her Filipino husband Virgilio Tatlonghari, who was then working in Vietnam.

The restaurant is really the couple's retirement house. Both of them had no plans of putting up a Vietnamese restaurant when they decided to retire last year. Every weekend they would have a family gathering in Tagaytay and their children would invite some of their friends to join them. The guests enjoyed Bawai's cooking that they also invited some of their friends to dine at Bawai's. Since then, the couple has decided to open their lovely home to the public for weekend dining.

Bawai's Vietnamese Kusina serves close to authentic home-cooked Vietnamese cuisine since Bawai imports ingredients from Vietnam through her friends and relatives. Some of the house specialties include the Vietnamese fresh lumpia called goi cuon fresh noodles, shrimp, pork and veggies wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper served with Bawai's peanut sauce. Another dish is called the nem nuong grilled Vietnamese sausage in skewers served with dry noodles and fresh vegetables, rice papers and special Vietnamese patis or fish sauce. Bawai's pho bo remains a favorite among the diners. Pho bo is a Vietnamese soup of flat rice noodles with thinly sliced beef cooked in hot beef broth, topped with cilantro, spring onions and scallions. Bawai serves banh da lon for dessert. It's a Vietnamese version of sapin-sapin that's made of pandan and monggo beans.

Bawai's place can't receive many guests. Prospective diners need to reserve and order in advance since each meal is cooked by Bawai herself. Bawai's Vietnamese Kusina is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For reservations, contact 0920-97BAWAI (22924).

Chateau Hestia

A short walking distance from Bawai's Vietnamese Kusina leads to Chateau Hestia. In Greek mythology, Hestia is the goddess of Earth, who presides over domestic life. She sees to it that her people are well-fed and that the sacred fire of Olympus never dies out.

Chateau Hestia is co-owned and operated by Johannes Zehethofer. He is a civil engineer by profession and comes from Vienna, Austria. He travels around the world and sails around the Philippines. His fondness to entertain his friends, and his love for wine and good food have given birth to Chateau Hestia.

Johannes brings to Tagaytay his European culinary experience. He personally attends to his guests, offers them different dishes from his collection of recipes, and serves them with his homemade wines.

An example is Johannes' Filipino version of lemon cello. He makes use of the local dalanghita in lieu of lemon. One can take this as an aperitif, or a digestive drink after eating Chateau Hestia's sinful yet heavenly dessert sampler. Some of the house specialties include panna cotta topped with marmalade and paired with Ferrero homemade ice cream, and mousse au chocolat, a bitter sweet ganache topped with red wine poached pears.

Johannes finds Tagaytay to be a very relaxing place for travelers to dine and unwind. The 5,000-square-meter property is surrounded with many types of greenery that give diners a laid-back feeling and a homey ambience. Chateau Hestia is open from Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. For more information or inquiries, contact Johannes at 0918-9305372 or visit www.chateauhestia.com.

Yoki's Treasure

Somewhere in Mendez, Cavite, is a private museum with a collection of Chinese and Balinese artifacts called Yoki's Treasure. A 30-foot giant Buddha and other life-size replicas of animals greet its visitors near the entrance. Although it's a private place, Yoki, the owner, allows students to visit the place and just charges them a minimal amount of P10.

Yoki'�s Treasure also has a large farm where it grows beds of lettuce and other vegetables using the hydroponics technique. This is an ingenious home-built soil-less method where terrestrial plants are grown using mineral nutrient solutions. The vegetables grown here go into Balay Indang's dishes.

Balay Indang, also owned by Yoki, is a bed and breakfast place, garden refuge located in Indang, Cavite. A wide expanse of flowering plants and trees surround this beautiful and relaxing sanctuary that makes it a perfect venue for weddings, retreats or even team-building activities. Balay Indang has a large, well-maintained swimming pool, a luxurious and airy pool-side pavilion with billiards, mahjong and a collection of classic board games, and a fish pond with red kingfish tilapia where everyone can enjoy fishing together. And Balay Indang won�t be complete without its well-stocked kitchen and restaurant that serves sumptuous local and foreign home-cooked meals.

Those interested to visit Yoki's Treasure or dine at Balay Indang may contact Marge Tan at 0917-8665825.

T House

T neither stands for "tea" nor "Tagaytay", but T House does serve a cold glass of lemon grass tea in the captivating view of Tagaytay City. T really stands for tranquility, the Zen-like ambience for guests to relax and recharge away from the stress, problems and pollution of the city life.
Upon arrival, T House staff greets the tired traveler with a warm smile together with a damp face towel to cool one down. This is followed by a cold glass of kamias with pineapple shake to complete the refreshing welcome.

The food at the dining hall is superb. T House only serves the best-tasting homemade pan de sal and the famous Mang Rudy's puto topped with local cheese. In Tagaytay, it is only Mang Rudy's puto that everyone craves for because he uses rice to make this delicious delicacy. T House also offers the most tender chicken and herb grilled chicken. And sealing this hearty treat with a sweet kiss is T House's fresh and juicy fruit kebab.

Everything in T House is designed to provide rejuvenation and serenity for its guests. From the clean, modern architecture, the sound of flowing water, the birds in the fruit-bearing trees, the smell of fresh herbs, to the spa treatments, everything is intended to indulge one's senses to pure delight.

There are 15 rooms to choose from, clustered into fire, earth and water, with each having its own distinct personality and blissful experience to offer. All rooms are air conditioned, provided with a cable TV, and hot and cold shower with a complete set of bath amenities.

T House is located on 3195 Calamba Road, Tagaytay City. For inquiries and reservations, call 0922-8THouse (846873) or visit www.THouseTagaytay.com.

Kanin Club

The final stop is an all Filipino rice-based restaurant located at the heart of Paseo de Sta. Rosa called Kanin Club. The establishment started when mountain biker Anthony Mendoza and his friends were drinking coffee at Cafe Breton. One of them asked, "Is there any rice being served here?" Everyone gave a big laugh, but that also gave Mendoza an idea to put up a restaurant beside Cafee Breton that caters to people who love to eat rice, or simply put members of the kanin (rice) club.

Anthony himself takes charge at the kitchen while his wife Emily and the couple from Cafe Breton help him out in the business. As the restaurant name implies, it serves a wide range of rice dishes. Bestsellers include aligue (crab fat) rice and tinapa (smoked fish) rice. One also has the option to option to order "All-You-Kanin" which is an eat-all-you-can white rice for only P40 per head.

Kanin Club is also famous for its crispy dinuguan, deep fried pork skin and innards flavored by vinegar and stewed pork blood. Its other crispy dishes include crispy tainga (pork ears) and crispy liempo (pork belly). Other house specialties are sinigang na tadyang ng baka (cow ribs), spicy tahong (mussels), chicken curry, Thai green mango salad, Itsy-Bitsy (string beans with beef flakes) and the famous seafood kare-kare, which is mussels, squid, shrimps and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce and served with bagoong (shrimp paste).

For dessert, Kanin Club has its signature turon a la mode. It is banana, purple yam jam, macapuno strips and monggo beans wrapped and deep-fried in a rice paper roll, served with a scoop of Arce Dairy ice cream on the side.

After two years of satisfying the Filipino palate in Laguna, Kanin Club has expanded and put up another branch in Westgate, Alabang, just this January. For inquiries or reservations, contact (049) 544-0332 or (02) 771-1400.

Verdana Homes

With all these exciting places and tasty treats surrounding the area of Verdana Homes, living in the south will surely be a fantastic experience. It is indeed the gateway to the south. Verdana Homes Mamplasan is a residential subdivision located only five minutes from the Mamplasan Exit of South Luzon Expressway.

Verdana offers residential lots and house-and-lot packages that are perfect for those who want a home that combines the warmth and traditions of suburban living with modern-day facilities and amenities. It also combines innovation and comfort, and beauty and function of the southern lifestyle. Verdana Homes is a project of Community Innovations, backed by the solid experience of Ayala Land in developing superior communities.

Living in Verdana spells fun for the family. Since it is designed to foster ideal family living, Verdana is perfect for young families with growing kids since there is a spacious field for children to run around. They can spend hours playing, discovering and exploring while getting to know other kids. Residents can also swim, play badminton, work out at the gym, relax at the spa, play poker, hold parties or group gatherings, or simply hang out. Access to malls, shops, schools, office and other establishments is also in convenient proximity.

Truly, there's no place like home in Verdana. And as Verdana Homes puts it, "It's easy to be a family here."

For inquiries, contact (02) 848-5100 (Metro Manila) or 1-800-10-848-5100 (outside Metro Manila), or email cii-sales@ayalaland.com.ph or visit www.verdanamamplasan.com.ph. Interested parties may also visit the Verdana Homes showroom in Alabang Town Center located at the 2nd level, across from Paeng's Towncenter Bowl.

Michael Kho Lim is a Philippine Daily Tribune Life and Leisure contributor. Above article was published in its May 25, 2008 online edition.

Note to Self: See Ploning and Go To Cuyo, Palawan

2008-04-30T11:14:00.004+10:00

Just another travel wish list.

While I've been to Palawan once. I've never been to Cuyo or El Nido, just in the capital of Puerto Princesa and out to the underwater caves of Sabang. A ride, that my wife said turned her minudensya or intestines and stomach into knots of pulutan.

The downside of this trip was the road (if you can call it that, more like a path); from the city center of Puerto Princesa to Barangay Cabayugan. I guess visitors like to travel as comfortable as possible, unless you wanted to ride a horse. The roads are really rugged and reminded me of the roads in Olongapo in the 60's, just a pile of stones and rocks. In a way, that gave the feeling of adventure to this hour long drive, which was well worth the effort and the pain.

My wife and I, were welcomed by no less than the then city councilor, Auntie Tits Villena, the wife of our host and uncle of my brother-in-law. We even met Mayor Ed Hagerdon and his wife, who was so funny that she mentioned that the first inhabitants of Puerto Princesa (aside from the aboriginal Taong Bato) are all "miners". They just point to a particular land and says, "That's mine!" Funny indeed.

We love the place, or part of Palawan that we saw and experienced. We love to go back but this time spent more time in the outskirts of the capital.

I saw the movie trailer of Ploning, which was shot in Cuyo, Palawan. Enthralled by the beauty and simplicity of the place, I am putting it in my travel wish list. Hence this post.

Read the post of publicist (I believe his article on Cuyo from the local newspaper was THE spiel. They carry no by-lines and upon reading is verbatim to his post.), Oliver Oliveros here.

As it has pictures, I won't spoil the post by reposting here, merely quote on why Cuyo is one the best place to visit:

"An island where flowers do not grow due to the coastal climate and strong seasonal winds, Cuyo is nonetheless a place blessed with nature's beauty. Secluded and quiet, it is covered with cashew and coconut trees that gracefully sway to the wind. Thick clumps of bamboo abound. And of course, the vast blue seas—home to a myriad of corals and sea creatures— that seem extend to eternity.

The island would appeal to hardy, outdoor types of people who enjoy taking walks, swimming and discovering a unique local culture, rather than indulging in material pleasures. And forget five-star hotels: there is only one on the island—Cuyo Place. Cuyonons live on the basics and hardly complain. They are very resourceful and have found ways to make the best of what they have like making tuba from coconut and cashew brittle their specialties. Life is slow, timeless and the epitome of "rural living" in its simplicity, the kind that grows on people who visit the island."

Cuyo is not as commercialised as Boracay by a long long mile, it was Boracay in the 60's and 70's. Cuyo caters not for tourists but for travellers.

UK UK!

2008-04-30T10:01:00.003+10:00

Most probably and most likely, in this age of high oil, gasoline and rice prices; you would have come across the ubiquitous (I've looked this up...)flea markets, car boot sales, swap meets, and here in Australia: Paddy's Market!

In the Philippines, there is a very interesting phenomenon: ukay ukay - primarily a flea market for pre-loved clothes and accessories.

See this link for a well writtten and very informative take on ukay ukay.

Ukay-ukay: A Unique Philippine Shopping Adventure By Laura Jaranilla.

A bit of an interesting fact about flea markets from Wikipedia:

"The original flea market is likely to be the Marché aux puces of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. It is a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris. They earned their name from the flea-infested clothing and rags sold there. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum."

Hopefully ukay ukay clothes are not infested as such!

Moonbay Marina at Subic, Zambales, Bataan & Mindoro

2008-03-31T18:07:00.005+11:00

Just a couple of links I wanted to note down.

1. Pier 1 and the new Lighthouse Hotel at SBMA.

This is a new leisure resort complex inside SMBA. It nice to have a web site to announce what's in stock for the visitors. Although this is not the only one in the area, this is the newest.

2. Dawal Beach Resort and Potipot Island at Candelaria, Zambales.

While living in Olongapo City for years, I've never heard of this beach and island. This goes to show that one is always on the lookout to other areas, rather thatn in your own "backyard". I've been to some beaches as far as north of Iba, Zamabales. But I guess you need the local knowledge to know and get to these wonderful beaches and islands. The internet and Visit Zambales web site have generated a lot of awareness regarding these sites. The roads are much much better nowadays, plus the newly opened SLEX which cuts down the travel time considerably from Manila.

3. Viewpoint House at Puerto Galera, Mindoro.

I've heard of Puerto Galera in Mindoro even before the advent of Boracay. This seems to be more accessible via Batangas City as per the couple who runs the Viewpoint House in that port.
They also manufacture and sell "Nut Art"; coconut shells, cleaned, polished and painted.

4. Bataan. Another nearby province full of history, especially of the second World War. There are also lots of hidden "jewels". This is all made known to the intrepid traveller via their "My Bataan" website.

That's another four main areas I wanted to visit and see!

I want to go to Batanes!

2007-12-04T12:18:00.000+11:00

Yup, that is the first blog/post of one of the many places I want to go to in the Philippines.

As I've said and noted here in this blog, this is just a "remind me" blog of yummy recipes/food I want to taste/cook AND a list of things to do and places to go to.

I've been to most "touristy" areas in the Philippines. While I must admit I have not travelled that extensively, I can "boasts" that I've been to Luzon, Visayas and Minadanao.

In Luzon, I've been to Baguio and La Union as far as north. As far as Bicol, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Metro-Manila in the south. And Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan and Olongapo in central Luzon.

In the Visayas, I've been to Cebu, of course; Tagbilaran (a couple of hours on the pier... hehehee enroute to Dumaguete City to attend The 13th Rizal Youth Leadership Training Institute in Silliman University... hey fellow RYLTI'ers I am "pedia"!), and Dumaguete. I've travelled in Palawan semi-extensively and of course, to Boracay in Aklan.

In Mindanao, I've been to Zamboanga City for a week while on vacation when I was small. My Ate Aida use to live there with her family. That was my first airplane flight!

Now as for Batanes, this is what I came up with:

"There's no other place in the Philippines as beautiful as Batanes, says Asian Spirit executive vice president Joaquin Po. (Of course, they are the only airline that flies there!)

The island boasts of a mixture of Hispanic and Oriental cultures aside from the natural beauty of its untouched forests and sparkling, blue waters. Here is where the Pacific Ocean and South China Sea meet in a majestic clash of waves that surrounds Batanes. From the cold northern winds that plow through the famed Marlboro Country, the 155 steps of the Chawa Viewdeck all the way to the romantic view of the cliffs and waters from both the Sabtang and Basco Lighthouses, Batanes often gives tourists the impression of being in another place and time."

According to Roel H Manipon, in his Daily Tribune article entitled: Capturing the Romance of Batanes; which is actually about the movie Batanes by Adolfo Ali Jr.

"The waves are towering, and the cliffs and hills, blanketed in green grass, resonate with beautiful desolation. The villages are quaint and quiet, and life moves in a pensive pace. Many people who have been to Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines made up of small islands strewn between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, swear that the place is like no other in the country.

I immediately fell in love with the place. I didn't think there was such a place in the Philippines that mixes the beauty of Greece, Tibet and New Zealand, exclaimed young filmmaker Adolfo Ali, Jr. The landscapes, the mountains and the raging waves. Wow! No amount of words can actually describe the beauty of Batanes.

For him, Batanes is a perfect place to fall in love. It complements the beauty and heartache of love in general with its landscape and raging seas."

According to Anita Feleo in her article: Batanes: Another World:

"Batanes is not for tourists out to shoot Kodakchrome views. It is rather for those still blessed with a sense of wonder, for whom uncharted roads lead to discovery. There are plans to urbanize Batanes. The young are agog: the old dread change. In the old days, the Ivatan believed that when they die they become stars. On cloudless nights, the Ivatan's dark world is lit by hundreds of brilliant stars. Up there is balm to pain of change. Up there is a cairn to folk memory."

While I have not seen Batanes, the movie; I've heard so much of the bahay na bato (stone house) of Basco, Batanes and the Babuyan Islands that inspires me to go there and experience the place. So Batanes is definitely on my list. See you there!

Kesong Puti

2007-12-02T12:32:00.000+11:00

Above courtesy of Pinoyfoodtalk.net as lifted from Green Grocer. It shows the Pan de Sal and the Kesong Puti.
I just wanted to remind myself of the white cheese to spur me on to make some!

Well it all started with a liter of rancid milk.

We usually buys a two liter jugs of fresh full cream milk. We normally consume that much due to my grandson, Kallen being still on the bottle. Plus we usually have capuccino whenever we have the time make it.

But this week, we somehow was too busy to make coffee. I though of making white cheese, as we have in the old country. Being from Cavite, I tasted this cheese and relished it with hot pan de sal or Filipino bread. White cheese is usually made from carabao's milk. So I googled a recipe and found one. This one was posted by Kayenne So from a recipe from San Miguel, Bulacan.

But instad of making the white cheese, I followed and read Kayenne's posts at Green Grocers and Chef Kayenne. Saw some interesting links, like Oggi's I Can DoThat, a lady from Virginia, USA to Dhanggit's Kitchen. Another Filipina now living in Provence, France.

So here I am still reading and looking at these mouth watering recipe's without my white cheese. We did bought another 2 liter jug of milk and a small block of fetta cheese, but still too lazy to make that kesong puti. The fetta is different from the white cheese I love.

Maybe before the milk expires, I will make that cheese. All I need is a cheese cloth and a bit of effort.

Orange and thyme roasted olives and Antipasto & Tapas Bar

2007-11-22T10:27:00.000+11:00

Antipasto Photo by Ben Dearnly

I've seen this recipe in a Daily Telegraph paper (page 17, 20 Nov 2007). As seen on the super food ideas (SFI) TV, according to the spiel.

"Recipe of the Week: SFI food editor Kim Coverdale shares her best entertaining tips and advice (I guess in the SFI TV show or mag?? Check the link.). This week: a wonderful way with olives!

Serves 8 to 10

1 orange, rind thinly peeled with a vegetable peeler, juiced

375g jar Green Valley Greek pitted kalamata olives (or whatever brand kalamata you can find, obviously!), drained

350g jar Green Valley Spanish pitted black olives, drained

450g jar Green Valley premium stuffed queen olives (no nationality! :)...), drained

or 460g Green Valley stuffed olives, drained

10 sprigs fresh thyme

6 garlic cloves, peeled

1/3 cup Moro olive oil

Assorted antipasto ingredients (see you local Italian or any Deli), to serve

1. Preheat oven to 200 deg C. Combine orange rind, orange juice, olives, thyme, garlic and oil in a large ceramic baking dish (How easy is that!). Roast for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven.

2. Serve olives warm as part of an antipasto platter."

I love antipasto and tapas. Whenever possible friends, families and I go out in a nice Spanish restaurant and just order tapas. Here in Sydney, some of my favorite Spanish restaurants (which I can afford!) are in the "Spanish quarter" in Liverpool St in the city CBD.

One of the first ones I've been to is Miro Tapas Bar. Also I've been to a couple of times to the oldest and original in that street, Capitan Torres.

In Don Quixote Restaurant just off Liverpool St on Kent St, they make a mean lechon de leche or roasted pork yearling... very very tender you can cut the meat with an ordinary plate!

Like Thai retaurants, they are sprouting all over the place now, Newtown, Darlinghurst and Newtown to name a few. There is also this one in Glebe Point Road with a Filipino cook. Maybe its time to get re-acquainted with tapas again! With a nice Spanish sherry or a cool Sangria. Salud! Ola!

Welcome to my Yummy recipe collections.

2007-11-22T10:15:00.000+11:00

Well it's not my recipes, its just recipes that I collected so I can make them (or ask the wife to make them for me!) one of these days.

Until that "time" comes, at least I know where they are. You are most welcome to try these recipes and if you find them yummy or whatever, please leave a comment or something.

Better still you can invite me and we will try them together :)...

I am a foodie, or I try to pretend to be one. I love eating food (which I think makes me a foodie pretend to be, I got to start somewhere!) and I am one to try at least one dish or food. I am that adventurous when it comes to eating, nothing goes to waste.

Love watching those food and travel shows... it makes sense. You are in the comfort of your own home and it's not expensive. You do get all the good tips and when you do have the time and budget to go out, then you are at least prepared.

From time to time I will also post places I would love to go to and places I've been. At least I can give back to you tips of what to watch out for or what to look for. In short travel tips.