eat all you can

Urban Marche: Cash and Carry Weekend Market

2016-07-25T17:38:00.001+08:00

There are several weekend markets in Makati today. A few of the posh villages here offer weekend markets for their residents and "outsiders" as well. One of the recent additions is Cash and Carry's Weekend Night Market called the Urban Marche. Marche, according Wikipedia is one of the 20 regions of Italy.

Urban Marche can be found at the parking lot of Cash and Carry in Palanan. The site is where the old "imported" shops were located.

There are stalls selling clothes, jewelry and all sorts of food. I seldom look at the stalls selling clothes and other dry goods because my primary purpose of going there is to eat.

Some of the food I've tried are shawarma, barbecue, pancit, pasta, Ilocos bagnet and lechon belly. A couple of weeks ago, my doctors told me to cut down on oily and salty dishes. Grabe! It's really difficult lloking for healthy yet delicious food. But fortunately, in this weekend market, there is a stall that sells healthy stuff. Tuna pasta, veggie burger, etc.

The burger patties are made of puso ng saging. It's not really new for me because my cousin used to make this in the province before. But I still liked the idea that they have it here in Manila.

Urban March is open Fridays to Sundays from 3 - 11 pm.

SOI restaurant: A Special Restaurant

2016-07-20T10:07:00.001+08:00

It was so hot in my room last Sunday I decided to go to SM Mall of Asia to enjoy their free aircon. lol I got there at about 11 am and decided to look for a place to eat before they all get filled with lunch goers. I was choosing beetween Soi Restaurant and Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Since they are both on the North wing of MOA, I decided to just walk by the restaurants to see which has more vacant tables. When I passed by Soi I noticed that the lady by the door (part of the crew) possibly has special needs. Please don't think that there is something unusual with how she looks or she looks weird as how persons with special needs are depicted in television shows. She is not like that. Don't think I was being judgmental. There was just something with the way she talked to me that caught my attention.

She was doing stuff just like the other members of the crew were doing but it still made me ask for the manager to confirm. It turned she was not but the supervisor was there to answer my questions. I just confirmed with him if the lady was indeed special. The supervisor confirmed it. I asked if all branches employ them but apparently it was only at MOA. It was the manager's decision to give it a try.

You may be wondering why I was so interested to know. Well, I work with children with special needs. I know how frustrating it is knowing that after you train them, some of them will not end up having the same opportunities like the others outside. You teach them and train them how to do things the way they are "normally" done in the real world. Then they end up not being able to find jobs because no one will accept them. So it is really special for me to see establishments like Soi that employs people with special needs. Don't get me wrong. I do not have anything against those who do not accept them. They probably have their reasons. But I really appreciate those who do give them the chance to prove their worth.

So SOI, keep up the good work.

Anyway here is what I ordered. For less than 200 pesos I got this meal that comes with glass of iced tea and a small saucer (yes, a small one lol) of appetizer.

Orange Infused Water - Health Benefits of Orange

2016-06-27T13:42:00.000+08:00

Like Lemon Infused Water, Orange Infused Water is also popular. Here are some of the health benefits of orange.

Orange contains soluble fiber which may help in lowering cholesterol level in your body. It also helps regulate high blood pressure.

Orange also contains a good amount of Vitamin C which helps in boosting the immune system. This means that your body will be able to fight infection better.

It also contains potassium which is good for the health of your heart.

Since it contains Vitamin C, many will believe it is acidic in nature. It is true. But only before it is digested. Orange actually contains alkaline minerals to help maintain balance in the body.

To make orange infused water, slice a medium sized orange into disks. Soak them in a jar of water.

Lemon Infused Water - Health Benefits of Lemon Infused Water

2016-06-24T16:10:00.000+08:00

The most popular infused water (or at least I think it is) is Lemon Infused Water. Many restaurants serve lemon water now instead of ordinary tap water or mineral water. Anyway, here are some health benefits of Lemon Infused Water.

1. It is a good source of Vitamin C. This helps boost the immune system.
2. It is good for the skin -- giving it an added glow.
3. It aids in proper digestion.
4. It helps fight bacteria that cause diseases.

To make Lemon Infused Water, slice lemon to make thin disks. Soak the lemon in a jar filled with water.

Apple Infused Water - Health Benefits of Apple

2016-06-23T10:07:00.001+08:00

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. For you, what does this line mean? This phrase is just a saying and should not be taken literally. But let's give a little meaning to this. In simple terms, if we eat fruits like apple, we'll get a lot of health benefits. This may help prevent diseases so we won't have to go to the doctor's clinic for treatment. But please, let us not keep the doctors away. Even if we're not sick we still need to see them for check up. That is something that many people forget or ignore. To stay healthy, let's not forget to have regular check up with a doctor. This is more preventive than anything.

Anyway, let's talk about apples. Here are some of the Health Benefits of Apple

Apples contain Vitamin C that boosts the immune system. In that case, it could really help prevent sickness. When the immune system is up and running well, we'll be able to fight whatever disease causing agents come our way.

Apples also contain phenols which help reduce cholesterol.This is a fun way of fight thing that dreaded stuff we have in our bodies.

Apples also help increase the levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This, some articles say, will help fight Alzheimer's Disease.

Some say this may also help reduce the risk of having Parkinson's Disease. Apples help the protection of the dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Had I known about this 7 years ago, I would let my dad eat apples for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lol

An old "tradition" I learned from an aunt is to eat apples whenever I have diarrhea. She told me it's better than taking d*@*s.

Another help benefit would is about fighting cancer. Apples have antioxidants that will help get rid of free radicals in your body. I don't really know what specific cancers it could help fight but just the same, it's nice to hear that this can help prevent or fight the big C.

Apples are also rich in fibers so it can help flush the toxins away.

Lastly, eating apples can help you reduce weight. How? Since apples are rich in fibers as said above, eating it as snacks or in-between-meals will help you feel full so you won't be eating much come mealtime. It has less calories than meat or whatever you'll eat.

So, what is my point? Well, I simply would like to tell you that my infused water suggestion for today is Apple Infused Water.

Just like the others, simply cut an apple into small pieces and soak them in a jar of water. I guarantee you, this is nice because it tastes good and looks good too.

Healthy Snacks for School - Healthy Baon for Your Child 4 (Microwave Omelette Cup)

2016-06-22T14:12:00.000+08:00

I think one of the good styles to hide vegetables from your children in by putting them inside an omelette. But since some kids are like scientists who easily discovers things, try to use trick I'm going to tell you.

Cook your omelette using a microwave oven. Wait! I'm not done yet. Do not use the microwavable plastic containers but instead, use ceramic mugs or whatever containers you have at home that has cover for easy packing. Here's what you should do.

But first, let's start with the ingredients.

Microwave Omelette Cup

2 large eggs - beaten
3 tbsp grated cheese (or you may use cubed or diced cheese)
3 tbsp cooked ham (or diced hotdogs)
2 tbsp diced carrots (or shredded for easier hiding)
2 tbsp diced potato
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
1. Spray oil (just a little or better yet use butter) inside a ceramic mug.
2. Put all the ingredients inside the mug. Mix well. (Fill to about 3/4 of the mug since the omelette will still rise).
3. microwave for about a minute. If the egg is still not yet set, microwave again for a few seconds or until the egg is well cooked.
4. If the mug has a lid, then there's no need to transfer it to a different container. If not, then run a knife around then transfer to your preferred container.

You can use this recipe not just for your child's healthy baon but also for your breakfast at home.

What I want to try is to use mason jars instead of ceramic mugs. It would be nice to look at, I think. I've used mason jars for a number of things already like for cathedral windows, nut layers, etc. But I don't know if you can put it inside a microwave oven. I'm afraid to try, lol. If you're brave enough to do it then please let me know of the result.

Anyway, I hope this simple omelette recipe will be of help. It's very easy to follow -- just like your ordinary hotdog omelette or ham, omelette.

Longan Infused Water - Good for the Heart and ... Sex Life?

2016-06-22T08:50:00.001+08:00

Are you familiar with Euphoria fruit? Euphoria fruit or euphoria langana is popularly known as longan. It tastes like lychee and when peeled looks like one too.

Longan is commonly used by the Chinese as a tonic used for a lot of health reasons. The most common use is for the heart. It also helps rejuvenate the blood. They say it also helps the skin become smoother and gives it it's much needed glow. It improves the eye-sight. It has Vitamins A and C. It also has potassium. And lastly, and interestingly, it is also popular as a sex tonic. Why? Well, some texts I read simply says that since your skin improves, your sex life will also improve.

So by now you can probably predict how to make longan infused water.

Just soak a dozen pieces of peeled longan in a jar of water and you're all set.

Garlic and Ginger Infused Water - Garlic and Ginger Tea

2016-06-21T10:58:00.000+08:00

Garlic is known to help lower blood pressure. It also lowers cholesterol levels thus they say it is good in preventing heart diseases. It contains manganese, vitamin C and vitamin B6 (for the nerve cells). It also has anti-oxidant properties that we all know is good for preventing cancer.

Ginger is good for the digestive system. It helps relieve irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. It also has anti-inflammatory effects. It helps relieve pain. Many also use ginger to cure nausea. It is also believed that ginger can help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Now, combining these two seems a great idea. So here is a recipe of Garlic and Ginger Infused Water. Well, this is more like Garlic and Ginger Tea.

What I did to prepare this is to slice garlic and ginger into small pieces. Then instead of soaking in water at room temperature, I used hot water. This will help draw out the flavor from the two. My original idea was to have two separate drinks. But somehow, people find the taste, not to mention the smell of garlic, too strong. So i decided to mix it with ginger which has a more pleasant smell. The ginger will somehow tame the taste and smell of garlic.

Healthy Snacks for School - Healthy Baon for Your Child 3 (Carrot Pancakes)

2016-06-20T12:52:00.001+08:00

I've so far posted 2 Healthy Baon for Your Child. Here's another one. This a recipe for Healthy Pancakes.

Carrot Pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
4 tbsp. melted butter
1/2 cup shredded carrots

Procedure
1. Mix all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and shredded carrots in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the center (make a volcano like thingy).
3. In the center, pout the milk, egg and melted butter. Mix until you create a smooth mixture.
4. Heat an oiled frying pan over medium heat.
5. Scoop the mixture on to the pan and cook until both sides are brown.

Pear Infused Water

2016-06-20T09:19:00.000+08:00

I've posted about two infused water recipes already -- okra and cucumber. Today I'll show you pear infused water. This is a very tasty one so for those who really want a flavorful water, try this pear infused water.

Well, there is really no recipe for infused water since it would always depend on your taste. Just cut a medium sized pear and add it into a jar filled with water. Size of the slices would depend on the container you're going to use.

If you've noticed I've posted only single fruit/vegetable infused water. I think it's best to start with the simple ones. But later on I'll put combinations for a more exciting taste. Just enjoy the single ones first, okay? :)

Healthy Snacks for School - Healthy Baon for Your Child 2 (Healthy Rice)

2016-06-17T08:34:00.002+08:00

This second post about healthy snacks that your child can bring is not really snacks. It's about making your child's rice healthy.

If your child brings rice and viand to school and you can let him bring vegetables, it's time to turn to the rice and make it healthier.

What you can do is boil the vegetables that you want like malunggay and cabbage. Use the broth to cook the rice. Your child will not notice it but he'll get nutrients from the vegetables. You can try other vegetables to have different flavors. But I suggest you start with the ones that have mild taste. Or maybe something interesting to them like sweet corn.

I hope this will help you make your child's baon a healthy baon.

Healthy Snacks for School - Healthy Baon for Your Child 1 (Hamburger with Vegetables)

2016-06-16T15:31:00.001+08:00

Do you want to have a healthy snacks for your child to bring to school? I have 1 suggestion for you to try on Monday.

Prepare a homemade hamburger for your child. To make it really healthy, add some vegetables. But I'm sure you'll say your child does not like tomatoes and lettuce added to his burger. He'll likely just remove them. So what must you do? Instead of tomato slices and lettuce, add carrots and potatoes. And you'll probably say that's just the same unless you turn the potatoes into fries. Hmmmmm....

What you can do is to mix these vegetables into the burger patty itself. This is simple. Just follow this recipe and you'll be fine.

Hamburger with VegetablesRecipe

Ingredients

1/2 kilo pork
2 small pieces of carrots
1 medium sized potato
1 egg
3 tbsp bread crumbs
salt
pepper
butter
buns
dressing

Procedure

1. Wash and peel the vegetables. Cut them into small pieces (like half the size of your thumb...sorry I can't think of a better example right now, lol).
2. Have them ground with the pork. Yes, many meat vendors will allow that. Have the mixture ground twice.
3. Beat the egg in a large bowl. Add in the ground meat and vegetables.
4. Add the crumbs into the mixture. I usually use about half a cup of this but with the potato mix into the ground pork, you won't need much of this.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Heat the pan and fry the patty using butter.
*You may opt to toast the bun of your choice in an oven toaster or on a pan. After adding the patty, add whatever dressing your child wants.

This is a good way to let your child eat vegetables. My cousin actually adds malunggay leaves but since they'll remain distinguishable, your child may opt not to eat the burger at all.

Other than carrots and potatoes, you may also add other vegetables/fruits like sayote (chayote), unripe papaya, sweet potato, apple and squash (the young one). You may have to add more bread crumbs though depending on the texture created by the mixture.

This is just one suggestion if you're having a hard time thinking of what healthy food you can let your child bring to school as baon. I'll add some more suggestions in the next coming days.

#healthysnacks #healthybaon #hamburgerrecipe

Cucumber Infused Water

2016-06-16T12:41:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I wrote about okra infused water. Okra infused water or okra water is popular among people who have diabetes as it is toted as a very good home remedy for diabetes.

Today, I made myself cucumber infused water. But before I talk about that, let me explain first some of the benefits of drinking infused water. In general, here are the things you can expect.

1. Infused water has better taste than plain water. That's plain and simple. Whatever fruit or vegetable you add to your water will give it flavor. It makes your water more interesting to drink. I've heard of people who stopped drinking colored drinks (soda and fruit juices) and turned to water for 'better health' but eventually went back to their old habits because, let's accept it, drinking water alone can be boring.
2. It flushes out toxins in your body.
3. It aids in digestion.

Each kind of fruit or vegetable you use will give specific benefits to add to these.

Cucumber infused water is easy to make.
1. Slice the cucumber.
2. Put them in a jar.
3. Fill the jar with water.
That's pretty easy, right?

Now, for the added benefits of cucumber water - they say cucumber has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants will help remove free radicals in your body that can cause health problems like cancer.

#infusedwater #cucumberinfusedwater #cucumberwater #cucumber

Benefits of Drinking Okra water

2016-06-14T16:58:00.003+08:00

Recently, I've decided to try healthy drinks like okra water. I've been told that okra has a lot of benefits and since it is one of my favorite vegetables, I decided to try okra water.

Okra is also called lady fingers. Okra is commonly eaten as part of the local dish called pinakbet or pakbet. It is a combination of several vegetables like talong, kalabasa, ampalaya, sitaw and okra.

Image taken from godshealingplants.wordpress.com. Thank you to the owner.

I also like it steamed and eaten with bagoong or shrimp paste.

But anyway, that's not the point of this post. Here are some of the benefits of okra as believed by many.

1) It has high dietary fiber content that has the ability to keep blood sugar levels stable.
2) The high dietary fiber content also helps in flushing out toxins in the body.
3) For the same reason, it also helps control cholesterol levels in the body.
4) It contains vitamin C and antioxidants that is good in boosting the immune system.

How to prepare Okra Water

Image taken from www.zbynet.com. Thank you to the owner.

1) Wash a few pieces of medim-sized okra.
2) Cut the 2 ends.
3) Slice the okra into 3 pieces.
4) Put the sliced okra in a pitcher or jar.
5) Fill the pitcher or jar with water.
6) Let the soak overnight.

Nutrition Month - Vegetable and Fruit Homemade Costume Ideas

2016-06-14T08:49:00.001+08:00

I'm sure many of you are already looking for ideas for nutrition month costume of your child. Nutrition month is July here in the Philippines. So here are some ideas. Check out this link for Nutrition Month Vegetables and Fruits Homemade Costume Ideas. You may also check this link for other Nutrition Month Fruit and Vegetable Costume Ideas.

Lydia's Lechon - The Landmark, Makati City

2016-06-06T13:29:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday evening, I went to Landmark to look for polo barong for the office. I just came from our company outing in Lemery, Batangas but I was too tired too sleep. After looking at their wide selection of barongs, I decided it was time to eat. I went to the food court because I was craving for lechon and I know there's Lydia's lechon there.ia's Lechon, The Landmark

When I ordered the meal which says you can select to dishes served with rice and ice tea, I was immediately told that there's no more 'balat' or the crispy skin that lechon is known for. I said I don't mind because I was really craving for it.

When I got to my table and started to eat, I found out that what the guy served me was mostly BTB or balat, taba at buto. Yes, the amount of 'balat' should have made me happy but they were all makunat. They're not crispy anymore. The amount that I could actually eat was too little. I wanted to go back to protest but I was really too tired to go back to the stall and argue.

The Best Ramen in Town - Vest Ramen in Town by Erra's Grill

2016-05-27T17:59:00.001+08:00

I found myself alone last night. All my friends have their own activities to attend to. So i decided to check out this ramen place I've been meaning to try since I've read about it in a food blog a few months back. The place is called Vest Ramen in Town by Erra's grill. I wasn't sure if they meant Best Ramen or what but since the blogger recommended it, I decided to give it a try.

The blog said it is a no-frills ramen house. It's located along a busy street in Malate, Manila. It is an open place, no walls to 'separate' you from passers-by. Yes, you'll get to inhale free smoke from cars, dust from the street and eveything else that's there.

Anyway, I got there at around 8 pm. The place was packed but lucky for me, a table was vacated. A couple, a foreigner and a Filipina just paid their bill and took off.

I was surprised when I saw their menu. You can get Shoyu Ramen for only P70. I got tantanmen worth P100. For P20, I got pork add-on. You can have egg for an additional P15 and spice for the same amount.

My order was delivered on my table in under 15 minutes. It was fast considering the place was really full.

The Tantanmen was very good. The noodle was cooked just right. The broth was not as creamy as I would have wanted it to be but it tasted quite well. It has just the right spiciness. It has just a few greens. Just like the place, the ramen looks plain but it was simply good.

Would I come back for it? YES. Would I recommend it to my friends? YES. But I would warn them that it is a simple ramen house, it looks like a carinderia, it has no airconditioning system (obviously, it's open air) and the seats are made of plastic.

Value for money, this place is.

Vest Ramen in Town is along Adriatico St. cor Nakpil.

#bestramen #vestramen #malate

Kris Kringle Gift Ideas this Christmas

2015-12-16T10:52:00.000+08:00

Kris Kringle. 'Tis the season of giving gifts. And many offices and groups are having what we love best -- giving surprise gifts. And the best was t do that is via Kris kringle, I don't know how that got that name but I'm quite sure Kris Aquino has no hand at it. lol

Anyway, here are suggestions for some of the common "something" to give your baby or monito/monita.

SOMETHING RED: the usual would be apples, red candies or a set of red pens. For practical and useful gifts you may give red Christmas balls or a pack of red Christmas gift wrappers. Your monito/monita will like it because lines in gift wrapping sections in malls can be too long at this time. For unique gifts, give a pack of red tomatoes, a kilo of red rice (it's available n some supermarkets like Rustan's) or a can of tomato sause/spaghetti sauce.

SOMETHING SCARY: i don't know why some groups include this as a category for the "something" this season. It's so Halloween haha. But you can buy some horror story books at National Bookstore. A DVD of a horror movie you like.

SOMETHING LONG AND HARD: common gifts would be a pencil or ruler. But you may choose a hula hoop, a train track, a stack of plastic cups (no, not the disposable cups) or a ream of long bond paper.

SOMETHING BIG: if you don't want your identity to be revealed, do not give something that's literally big as it is difficult to carry to the office or wherever your doing your Kris Kringle. Instead, give a box of Zesto BIG or BIGGIE fries or drinks from Wendy's.

SOMETHING YUMMY: of course you'll think of chocolate or cake or whatever you like, But make it a little bit unique by giving a pack of Kopiko (remember their Coco Martin commercial?).

SOMETHING NAUGHTY/SEXY: an FHM magazine will do. Or a sexy underwear from Bench. Or a pack of condoms. Or that souvenir from Baguio.....the man in a barrel or THE ashtray.

SOMETHING SOFT: a pack of cotton come to mind. Or marshmallow. A roll of bathroom tissue is useful. If you want, you can also give a dozen sanitary napkins. Or perhaps a handkerchief. A bottle of shampoo will also be fine to give your monito/monita soft and flowy hair.

Nutrition Week - Fruit and Vgetable Costume Ideas

2015-07-03T13:14:00.002+08:00

I got surprised when I saw the increasing number of visits this blog has been getting for two weeks now. The I realized it's July. here in the Philippines, this month is considered as Nutrition Month. And I have several posts about Nutrition Week costumes hence the increase in number of visitors.

If you want unique ideas, please read my previous post. I wrote there suggestions on how you can make homemade costumes (illustration below). I also added ways to use "old" costumes (like Cinderella, Snow White, Mickey Mouse) for Nutrition Week Programs.

Additional ideas:

Come as a cellphone. Yup, you heard that right. Cutout a drawing of the front of an iphone. Make sure it's big enough to cover the front of your body. Then cutout an illustration of the backside of an iphone. Attach them with garter or string so you can wear the costume over your shoulders. Hard to describe -- just look at the illustration below.

Draw fruit slices on a cartolina (white then color according to the fruit that you chose or cut out using colored paper). Attach the "fruit slices" on a skirt. Best fruit for this is orange (see drawing below). You can also try tomato.

You can use balloons to make a bunch of grapes costume. Just blow several small balloons and attach them together to resemble a bunch of grapes.

Lastly, you can also come as a "fruit ninja". If you're familiar with the game then you know what to do. Let your child wear a ninja costume and let him carry s fruit sliced in half.

Health and Culinary Benefits of Oregano

2015-05-21T18:30:00.000+08:00

This summer heat is terrible. Everyone is complaining about it. This heat is making a lot of people sick. That includes me. I've been coughing for several days now probably because of sweating too much -- as the old people say, uubuhin ka pagnatuyuan ng pawis.

Since I always try home remedy first before taking pills, I decided to rely on my childhood cough medicine -- oregano.

When I was a kid, my mother would always boil oregano leaves whenever I have cough. Initially, I did not like the idea of drinking the concoction. But because of my mom's persistence, I learned to like it eventually.

When I was in high school, I found out that oregano is also used for other health purposes. Aside from healing cough and other respiratory tract problems, it is also used for urinary tract infections. They say it also aids in treating gastrointestinal problems.

They say all these is because it has antibacterial properties. On top of that, they also say it has antioxidant properties. Since it is has antioxidant properties, it is safe to say that you can drink this for prevention of different kinds of diseases.

What you need to do is to boil several oregano leaves until they become soft and the water turns greenish. My mom also adds other medicinal plants like sambong leaves and basil. Sometimes, she squeezes calamansi on the concoction to improve its taste (do this once you've removed it from fire).

Aside form health benefits, oregano also has culinary uses. I usually use it when I cook chicken using turbo broiler. I put oregano leaves together with basil, tomatoes, onions and garlic at the bottom of turbo broiler. It gives the chicken a distinct but subtle flavor. It also gives the chicken an appetizing aroma.

I have also tried putting oregano leaves in almondigas (albondigas)-- misua with meatballs. Since almondigas has a very simple taste, adding oregano makes it a little fancier.

I've also used oregano with grilled bangus (milkfish). I added it with the tomato, onion and garlic mix that I stuffed in the belly. My original intention in adding oregano was to mask the smell of the fish (lansa) but I found out that it also added an interesting flavor to it.

If fresh oregano is not available, you can use the dried oregano that's available in most supermarkets. You just rub it on the meat you're going to grill to make it special.

McRib - Ribs or No Ribs

2015-05-21T09:10:00.001+08:00

I attended a whole day seminar about Behavior Management conducted by The Medical City Pediatrics Department yesterday. On our way back to Makati City from Pasig, my friend and I decided to drop by McDonald's first to buy something to eat because we knew it was going to be a long ride. It was 5 in the afternoon so traffic was really bad.

I ordered McRib since I've heard about it but have not actually tried it. There are two variants -- McRib and McRib Deluxe. The former has onions and pickles while the latter has lettuce. The former is sold at P129 with small fries and soda while the latter is sold at P149 also with small fries and soda. I chose McRib Deluxe.

At first bite I already concluded that it really tastes like barbecued ribs. The sauce tastes authentic. But I think the one pickles and onions would have been a better choice. I think pickles and onions would be a better match with the sauce. But it was still great.

While we were eating, my friend said she has some friends who didn't like the McRib. For them, it was not good because there's no real ribs. I was surprised at this comment. I mean who would actually think that they will put real ribs on their sandwich. Yes, that's what the name says but honestly, do you really expect them to put ribs there? Go to a fine dining restaurant or a steak house if you want real ribs. The price alone would tell you that it's just burger patty.

I saw on the internet a video showing how McDonald's make McRibs. The video shows that they use real meat which is different from the myths that say they use stuff other than meat.

Anyway, will I have McRib again? Yes. It tastes good for a fastfood sandwich. I'll have it again and this time I'll get the one with pickles and onions. But I'm not trying it again real soon. Probably I'll give it a week or two.

Cabalen and Their Food Choices

2015-05-19T17:56:00.003+08:00

I had dinner with some friends at Cabalen restaurant last Friday. It was an unplanned trip to the mall so we didn't make reservations. Fortunately, there weren't a lot of people when we arrived so we were seated right away.

The first thing I noticed with their dishes is that many of them were vegetables. There were still meat and seafood dishes but it felt like they were reduced. If you are not fond of vegetables, you will definitely feel shortchanged. The good thing is they still have lechon. And unlike in the past, their lechon has greatly improved. The meat tastes good even without the lechon sauce. The skin is also crispy unlike before when they were usually rubbery.

Dessert choices has also lessened. They still have the halo-halo that many people actually looked for. They also have chocolate fountain with nothing but marshmallows to dip. I didn't see sliced fruits so I had to ask for bananas which I always like to dip in the hot chocolate fountain. They gave me bananas -- unpeeled -- so I had to peel it on my own. Sliced apples would have been nice too but there weren't any.

I was happy with the lechon, sisig and spicy tahong but overall, I wasn't satisfied. I mean I ate a lot of these three so I left Cabalen full but I was not really satisfied with the limited choices.

I understand that it is priced lower than Vikings or Buffet 101 but those restaurants have so many choices you wouldn't really mind paying that much. Cabalen's buffet dinner is just P398. This is lower than the P888 of buffet dinner at Vikings and P899 at Buffet 101 on weekdays but it still feels more expensive because of the limited choices.

I do hope they will improve their food choices in the future so the P398 would feel more acceptable.

Arana't Baluarte -- Chandeliers and Arches

2015-05-15T14:16:00.000+08:00

I was feeling sad last night since I was not able to go home to the province for the Arana't Baluarte 2015. It's a festival in honor of San Isidro Labrador. It's similar to the one of Lucban, Quezon's Pahiyas. But instead of decorating houses, what we have in our town are Baluarte or Arches where Arana or Chandeliers are placed. Each chandelier is designed with fruits and vegetables. This is like thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Remember, San Isidro is the patron Saint of farmers.

These arches line the major streets in town where the procession will pass by later in the afternoon. As soon as the procession pass by an arch, the chandeliers will be released/dropped for the people to get their share of fruits and vegetables. It can be rowdy at times because naturally, the people would want to get as much bounty as they can. But in spite of the rowdiness, it is generally fun.

In the past, the arches which are usually made of bamboo are kept plain and simple. But through the years, people started to design these arches such that they are now really fabulous looking. Then it became a contest. Each barangay or cluster of barangays has its own arch to design. Now, you'll really be amazed at the creativity of the people in charge of designing these arches.

I've compiled some pictures I got from facebook pages of my pamangkins for you to see. Thanks Karen and myleen.

Gumaca, Quezon

This arch or baluarte is near our house.

Arch by one of the barangay clusters.

Believe it or not, this is an arch.

The chandeliers or arana.

These chandeliers will be dropped as soon as the last part of the procession pass.

Although the main even is in the afternoon, many people are already going around town to see the arches.

Benefits of Guyabano Leaves

2015-05-14T09:53:00.001+08:00

Last Monday, a friend gave me a bottle of El Shaddai luya oil and Guyabano (Soursop) leaves. While I know what the ElShaddai oil is for, I had to ask her what she wants me to do with the Guyabano leaves. She said she knows that I always have urinary tract infection or UTI and kidney stones problem so she decided to give me the Guyabano leaves to boil. She said her mom said it's good.

I know many are saying that Guyabano is good for the health but I'm not sure what exactly the benefits are. So this prompted me to ask around and here's what I got. Apart from being good for UTI, it also has cancer fighting capacity. An internet article said that it's even better than chemotherapy.

I also gathered that it also helps increase the immune system since it contains Vitamin C. It also aids in digestion and prevents constipation. I wonder if it can also help reduce weight.

It is also rich in B Vitamins so it's good for the nerves. Potassium is also listed as one of the contents of Guyabano so it is also good for those with heart conditions. Add to that the help it could give to athletes like runners who are into long distance running (fun runs are famous these days, right?) because it could help prevent leg cramps.

Manang, who I asked to boil the leaves for me a while ago said that in their province, Guyabano is believed to help cure skin infections. Those with rheumatism and arthritis also use Guyabano for that much needed relief.

Of course, these benefits do not come from the leaves alone but from fruits, bark and roots as well.

Guyabano Leaves

It looks and tastes like any other tea so no need to worry.

Anyway, what I was told to do is to boil the leaves really well and have it as my morning drink. I hope it helps (fingers crossed).

Ginataang Pako with Mussels Recipe

2015-05-12T18:54:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday, a vendor passed by our house carrying a bundle of pako or ferns. I only know two dishes that can be made out of it, pako salad (ensaladang pako) and ginataan. I decided to cook Ginataang Pako with Mussels . I wanted another kind of shellfish but unfortunately, it was not available at the market that day so I settled for tahong. I usually see it sold at the flea market in our town every Thursday. Anyway, I haven't really done this dish in the past so like the many other dishes that I wrote about here, I invented my own recipe.

Ginataang Pako with Mussels

Ingedients:
1 bundle pako
1/2 kilo mussels
3 pieces medium tomatoes
1 1/2 cups of coconut milk
1 cup water
salt and pepper

Procedure:

Boil mussels in a pan.
Once cooked, set aside.
Add the pako and chopped tomatoes where you boiled the mussels.
When the pako is tender, add 1 cup of coconut milk.
When the sauce is already thick, add the remaining coconut milk.
Let it simmer for a few minutes.
Add the mussels (shells removed).
Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.

I am cutting down on rice but this dish made me forget about that for a while. Try it.