The Pedestrian Foodista

Guess what?

2010-04-04T14:21:00.000+08:00

04/04/2010

Guess what?

Clue 1: It's about The Pedestrian Foodista.

Clue 2: It's something near.

Clue 3: It's really, really special!

Yes. You got it right.

The Pedestrian Foodista is celebrating its first anniversary!

Since we went on the blogosphere last year, The Pedestrian Foodista has been your dependable source of foodie stories. For a year, we have been to different places around the country, got invited to events, and enjoyed food with great company. Indeed, this past year has been a ride with you, our readers!

For OUR first anniversary special, we want you to expect juicier features and food trips. We want to thank you for making our continued existence possible, so we're pulling out all the stops to create an anniversary special that will tickle your taste for good food and adventure. Check out the new look of The Pedestrian Foodista this April, as well as our anniversary food trips and features.

We start our month-long anniversary special in two weeks, so see you!

(Special thanks to http://www.scienceprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/cupcake_591.jpg as the source of this entry's photo.)

Familiar eats with friends

2010-04-03T14:27:00.001+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista
04/03/2010

I really like summer afternoons and nights. The more pleasant weather allows one to venture out and enjoy the sights. At the same time, it allows great bonding time with friends as one goes out to familiar haunts. Whether those haunts are found in the city or beyond it, summer brings out one's need for comfort.

As this particular summer left this particular foodista with nothing much of a choice but to stay within the city for work, most of my free time was spent lounging in the air-conditioned comforts of malls. On a recent Saturday night, I tagged a friend along and we had an Ortigas food trip among familiar haunts.

The Ortigas area is actually a nice place for urbanites to lounge or stroll around. With malls within the vicinity, as well as great dining choices, there is something for everyone's budget. Of course, we were in a particular mood to splurge for a bit, so we went around the area and ate to our heart's content.

The afternoon was pretty hot, so we decided to lounge by Cafe Mediterreanean along The Podium - which was the subject of our past entry - to pass by the time. I ordered some hummus, which had chickpeas or garbanzos as its main ingredient, with some warm whole wheat pita bread. Downed in bottomless iced tea, the hummus was so rich and appetizing, I ended up having three pita bread with it! It definitely felt so light and healthy, even as it left a nice fullness in your tummy after having it with bread.

We left the Cafe Mediterreanean in the early evening - around 6:30 - and we decided to stroll along Ortigas which was already a bit cooler at the time. To burn off what we just ate, we decide to go to the Shangri-La Mall in Ortigas for a longer walk. Among the many malls that have become landmarks of the metropolis, I like Shangri-La the best for its relatively unhurried atmosphere as compared to others.

We bought a few stuff that we needed, and having worked up a bit of an appetite, we went to Wham! (which was subject of another blog entry) and had some grilled burgers and fries. Wham! was always one of the reasons I went to Shangri-La, for before I discovered their great row of restaurants upstairs at the top floor, this joint was my favorite for their food and prices. We had the usual Wham! with cheese and Crosstrax Fries for dinner, and we had it over recollections of college days when this joint was so affordable for students like us then.

In the mood for dessert, we decided to have a nightcap by going back to The Podium and visiting Cafe Breton. Having been the subject of earlier posts, Cafe Breton is one of our clear all-time favorites. With great sweet treats, Cafe Breton was always a cozy, comfortable place to chat and just lounge around. Being regulars to the cafe, we sampled almost everything from their savory to sweet crepes, as well as their salads and other offerings. For this particular night, we wanted something cool. We were pretty full and satisfied after Wham!, so we just shared a banana split, while I had some tea and honey to go with it.

We left Ortigas at around 10 pm, being satisfied with an afternoon and evening of strolls, dining and chat. It was indeed a comfortable time among familiar eats. Now, if I can just go to the beach...

(Special thanks to the following sites for this entry's pictures: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wham-Burgers/50720010585, http://www.solarnavigator.net/geography/geography_images/Philippines_San_Miguel_Avenue_Ortigas_full_moon.jpg, http://heitmannsnuts.netfirms.com/nuts2/nfoscomm/catalog/images/banana_split.gif)

Battle Froyo has a winner!

2010-03-27T08:47:00.007+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/27/2010

The polls have closed.

The results are in.

We have a winner!

With 31% of the votes cast, our Battle Froyo winner is RED MANGO! Remember the feature we made about it last year? It's probably the familiarity and the taste of Red Mango's froyo creations that sealed the deal for our hard-core foodistas.

Nonetheless, while Red Mango led the way for our foodistas, California Berry was second at 26%, with Frutti Froyo capturing third at 21%. It was a relatively close finish for our top three placers, proving how discriminating our foodistas are when it comes to their favorites.

Thank you for supporting this poll, and expect more of these battles to rage all throughout summer. Tune in for more of The Pedestrian Foodista!

Welcome summer!

2010-03-20T15:10:00.005+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/20/2010

As some of you have probably noticed, The Pedestrian Foodista has an updated look for this summer!

Of course, with a new look for The Pedestrian Foodista this season, expect the site to be your official companion all summer long! You'd be glad to know that the Pedestrian Foodista has been lining up some summer getaways that would feature great food trips and sights. Whether you're in a budget, or looking to splurge, The Pedestrian Foodista is there to recommend yummy choices that would suit your taste. Remember to check us out often for our special summer getaway series!

This summer, don't forget to interact with us, as we feature more polls and other widgets that would enable you to tell us what you think. As you have also noticed, the site has been introducing social media applications to help us interact with the larger online community through different platforms. Please continue supporting our site with your emails, comments and votes!

Watch out too for choice contributions from friends and fellow foodistas, who would share with us their own adventures and simple joys. Join them as we celebrate food, family and friends with your comments and suggestions. Should you wish to be part of this yourself, feel free to share your own food story, recipe, or tip to our email.

Expect a great summer with your one and only, The Pedestrian Foodista!

Battle Froyo

2010-03-17T22:07:00.009+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/17/2010

I have always loved yoghurt ever since. My favorite treat was flavored yoghurt --- you know, the ones with fruit bits inside --- and I had them for dessert every chance I had. I know, it's probably an acquired taste, owing to its tart flavor (which some really abhor), but there's something with yoghurt that I really love. Maybe it's the flavor, maybe it's the health benefit that goes with it, but I just connect yoghurt with creamy goodness that feels so light on the tummy.

This love for yoghurt partially explains my current rage about its frozen sibling, more popularly known as froyo. The craze about fitness and healthy eating has just taken the country by storm, that "healthy" outlets, including the ones that sell froyo, are sprouting all over the place. I'm not complaining, of course, since I love yoghurt to begin with, and I have used that as an opportunity to scour the city in search of the best froyo.

Right now, I have been to the following froyo places: California Berry in Greenhills, Red Mango in Megamall (which was a subject of an earlier entry), Frutti Froyo in Petron La Vista, Yogurbud in Megamall, Podium and Shangri-La Mall, Golden Spoon in Shangri-La, and Qoola in Greenbelt. I'm still trying to put a finger on which version I should recommend, so I would like you, our readers, to help me select which is which.

I'd be putting up a poll on the right side of our page, and I would like you to vote on which outlet wins the Battle of Froyo. Feel free to share your experiences on the following froyo places, and leave a comment on the site. The best answer wins...

...a mention from The Pedestrian Foodista, which means bragging rights!

So, let's start, and declare Battle Froyo open!

(Special mention to the following sites as the source of our entry's images: http://www.spot.ph/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/froyo/yogurbud.jpg, http://www.tourismrichmond.com/uploadedImages/Content/Visitors/Dining/Cafe_and_Casual/Qoola_logo_thumb.jpg, http://wwff.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/mango.jpg, http://azimg.com/azimg_internal/logos/115_0872455314_GoldenSpoonLogo.png and http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2490512&id=145775862864&fbid=146042562864.)

Staff of life

2010-03-14T10:24:00.004+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/13/2010

a selection of sweet and savory bread

Called as the staff of life, bread has sustained mankind for millenia. For Western households, who depend on bread as a main source of energy, the bread-making tradition has resulted in a wide variety of products. For the French, who have elevated bread-making into an art, their bread, such as the baguette, has become as iconic as their Eiffel Tower or the Louvre.

This art of bread-making is demonstrated daily for us at Le Coeur de France (The Heart of France, translated into English). A French-styled cafe and boulangerie, Le Coeur de France/LCDF features sweet and savory breads, sandwiches, and light meals. With different branches throughout the Metro (such as one in Forbes Park, Shangri-La Ortigas and other Robinsons malls), LCDF bakes these classic breads fresh everyday.

pain de mie (milk bread)

We chanced upon LCDF after a long afternoon of shopping. Definitely tired, as we scoured shop after shop, we saw LCDF with their wide selection of breads as we were going home. Looking for a quick takeout to bring home, we selected some sesame bread (Php 105.00/loaf), pain de mie or milk bread (Php 105.00/loaf), and garlic bread (Php 79.00/loaf). Of course, they still had other bread such as bagels (Php 40.00), which are always good with cream cheese, sweet windmills (Php 68.00) and savory feuilletes/turnovers (Php 68.00), which are both great for afternoon tea.

one of their open-faced sandwiches

The seemingly unhurried ambiance of their stores certainly provided a welcome contrast to the hassle of the mall, especially during a sale. This certainly tempted us to stay a bit longer just to rest after an afternoon of shopping. Nonetheless, as we decided to go home after our takeout, we made a mental note to visit one of their stores next time for some afternoon tea.

Of course, that goes with saying that their breads (judging by the taste of our takeouts) were indeed excellent!

Note: Le Coeur de France has branches in Robinsons Malls (such as at the 3/F of the Robinsons Galleria) and at the Shangri-La Mall (G/F near the Starbucks entrance). LCDF hours coincide with mall hours, and they sell bread at a discount near the end of the day.

(Special mention to the Manila Commuter, http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3895433463_f37229f971.jpg and http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2941/lif7c.jpg as the source of this entry's images.)

A shoutout for everyone

2010-03-10T20:56:00.004+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/10/2010

Hear ye, hear ye! The Pedestrian Foodista would like to take a break from its regular fare for this announcement.

Since we first kept tabs of our site last year, we are proud to announce that we have reached the HIGHEST number of visitors ever in one day last Sunday! Thank you very much, our dear readers, for making this feat possible! We certainly appreciate the great feedback from your end as well as your never-ending support for the site. Rest assured that The Pedestrian Foodista will pick up the pace this summer to give you great food features. We have a couple of summer trips in store, and we hope to bring you the best of our island-hopping adventures as we go on with this hot, hot summer.

Once more, thank you for keeping the hits high and letting the feedback come in! We hope to see you in our future entries!

(Special mention to http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID19321/images/champagne2_1_1_.jpg as the source of this entry's photo.)

Facebook users, unite!

2010-03-07T13:01:00.007+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/07/2010

One of the coolest things about blogging is being able to get acquainted with all sorts of widgets and technological what-have-you. Since The Pedestrian Foodista had its debut last year, we have been able to keep abreast of the latest advances in blogging, computers and technology. Although we are still a site for foodistas first and foremost, these technological advances have made our site more interactive for our readers.

One such advancement that currently catches our fancy lately is Networked Blogs on Facebook. The big idea behind Networked Blogs is simple, which is to give Facebook users a chance to follow their favorite blogs on the FB platform. At the same time, the tags on each blog allow the Networked Blogs application to group it with similar sites. As a result, the social networking capabilities of blogs and FB profiles are integrated for maximum exposure and recall.

So, to paraphrase a great thinker: Facebook users, unite! You have nothing to gain but a world of readers!

Check out The Pedestrian Foodista on Facebook's Networked Blogs: http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/the_pedestrian_foodista/

(Special mention to the Facebook NetworkedBlogs site as the source of our entry's image.)

Beat the heat for less than a hundred pesos!

2010-03-06T22:53:00.008+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

03/06/2010

As of this week, our local weathermen from PAGASA has just declared the end of the northeast monsoon, which signals the start of summer for the Philippines. True enough, with the cooler winds giving way to warm nights and even warmer days, summer is already here. With temperatures now reaching into the mid-thirties, people from these sunny isles are now seeking ways to beat the heat without burning a hole in their pockets.

For the past few days, your Pedestrian Foodista has been going around the supermarket shelves, as well as some street corners, in search of cooling concoctions. With an additional reminder of keeping a budget of less than a hundred pesos, it was truly a challenge. Nonetheless, we succeeded, and here are three concoctions that we found outstanding:

3. Teablends

With a branch located at the Ash Creek Center in Greenhills, Teablends has been a fixture offering freshly-made green tea to the younger high school crowd that frequents it. Teablends offers flavored green teas, "personality" teas that feature different blends, and their bestseller nai cha or milk tea. With prices ranging from Php 30.00-50.00, Teablends is very friendly to the budgets of the younger ones who form its enduring clientele. My personal Teablends favorite is their raspberry green tea (Php 30.00 for a large glass), which is just very refreshing and light on the pocket.

For a budget of Php 100.00: You can buy at least 3 large glasses of the stuff. Not bad.

2. Yin Yang Cooling Tea

Traditional Chinese medicine has held that eating too much hot food could cause an imbalance in the body. It is a reason why the Chinese have concocted "cooling" drinks made from different herbs and plant extracts in order to cool the body and keep its balance. Yin Yang Cooling Tea, bottled by the same makers of the wildly popular C2, does the same "cooling" effect, with the familiar taste of black gulaman. For Php 20.00 at Mini Stop --- I never saw this product in other groceries yet --- one can enjoy the cool difference of Yin Yang. This is my newest favorite bottled drink, and I have stocked up on this stuff in my fridge!

For a budget of Php 100.00: You can buy 5 bottles of Yin Yang. That's much better!

1. Nestle Sorbetes

Bringing back childhood memories of "dirty" ice cream sold in the streets, Nestle Sorbetes features the same flavors we used to love. At only Php 5.00 per stick, and less than a hundred pesos per tub, this product is a surefire way to satisfy a family. We normally buy the stuff for dessert, and we absolutely love the langka (jackfruit) flavor, which has the right amount of fruity sweetness. We're really crazy for this product right now, and I could swear that we have eaten different flavors of the stuff in just a week's time!

For a budget of Php 100.00: You can buy 20 sticks, or one tub, which is more than enough for a family of five or six. Now that's value!

Truly, beating the summer heat need not be expensive. Share us some of your cheap refreshing thrills and let's compare!

(Thanks to the following sites: http://tipideaty.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/teablends2.jpg, http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7EsWmG33rY/Srb63opy9yI/AAAAAAAAAlc/5gJ5X9dLPco/s400/sorbetes+keso+ice+cream+on+stick.jpg and http://nomnomclub.com/cravings/2010/yin-yang-cooling-tea/ as the source of our pictures.)

Fastfood comfort

2010-01-31T21:31:00.005+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

01/30/2010

To be honest, life for this Pedestrian Foodista has been crazy lately, as tasks from my day job keep on piling up. While eating leisurely and blogging about it has been largely relegated to the back seat for the meantime, turning to pleasures like comfort food and giving in to cravings has kept my sanity level intact. As engagements like eating out in new places and accepting invites to other restaurants have been set to much later dates, I presently turn to familiar chains for a taste of comfort.

I am not exactly a fastfood junkie at the present, having traded burgers and the like for "slow food" at home and in restaurants. Nonetheless, there are some fastfood items that just stand out in my gustatory memory, and the taste of these are enough to give instant comfort on a pretty awful day.

Take for example the McDonalds double cheeseburger. Imagine buns with two juicy beef patties, layered with delectable cheese, ketchup and pickles. Isn't that heaven? Taken with an upsized order of fries, and a nice large glass of diet soda, that becomes, hands down, the best fastfood meal. Although I don't recommend you eat the stuff everyday (unless you want to clog your arteries), it sure does qualify for a nice cheat once in a while.

With my situation having tons of work and little leisure time, a double cheeseburger meal was certainly in order. Rewarding my hard work with a great double cheeseburger, enjoying it with fries in tomato ketchup, and washing it down in diet soda just worked wonders for my tired spirit. However, having enjoyed the stuff once this week, I have basically gone over my limit of fastfood, and I am now promising to burn off the rest of that by walking and moving around.

With that said, I better walk off. See you in the next post.

(Special mention to http://shamo23.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/mcdonalds_double_cheeseburger.jpg as the source of this entry's picture.)

Help Haiti NOW

2010-01-24T11:04:00.007+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

01/24/2010

Haiti's killer earthquake more than a week ago is finally etched in the consciousness of the world. However, with reports placing the death toll among the tens of thousands, with the homeless and sick registering much higher tallies, pictures of Haiti's suffering unfortunately only filters out, in small trickles, into the world. With much of their infrastructure destroyed, even foreign news media could only send us bits and pieces of information on the enormity of suffering experienced by the Haitian people.

These trickles, bits and pieces were enough nonetheless to mobilize a globe. With the help of technology, represented at its frontline by an armada of bloggers, resources are being mobilized in order to assist rescue operations, maintain health and sanitation among the living, and help Haiti get back on its feet. However, much assistance is still needed, and Haiti needs more people like you to help.

We may be almost a world away from Haiti, but we can still help. Here are some organizations who are directly involved in aiding the Haitian people:

The Philippine National Red Cross. Belonging to the Red Cross family that is across the globe, the PNRC is sure to bring your aid to its Haitian counterparts involved in the relief effort.
World Vision. Being active in Haiti for decades, World Vision is also spearheading efforts to help Haiti, especially its children.
Save the Children. Another charity deeply involved in the relief effort, Save the Children is also present in assisting the Haitian people on the ground.

Indeed, with today's technology at our disposal, we can create an impact. Join the world's relief effort for Haiti, and help give life and hope to a people.

(Special mention to http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jan2010/8/0/leogane-haiti-pic-dm-ian-vogler-745564000.jpg, http://despardes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/13-480x349.jpg, and http://media.nj.com/star-ledger/photo/-b254d89a1a6d62d7_large.jpg as the source of our entry's pictures.)

Light afternoons and lighter drinks

2010-01-20T16:44:00.008+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

1/20/2010

It has been quite a hiatus for The Pedestrian Foodista, and we're back! The past weeks have been exceptionally busy, as our day jobs returned with a vengeance (yes, we do work). Nonetheless, with things reverting back to "normal", we can start with our foodie adventures again, and here's our first discovery for 2010!

January has always been associated with new beginnings, turning a new leaf, and everything else new. It leaves little to wonder why many start their own resolutions (among us, we're just limiting ours to just one), hoping that the new year would turn out to be better than the last. At the same time, the new year affords everyone a chance to check out new horizons and try out new tastes.

On a relatively light weekday afternoon, The Pedestrian Foodista took to Ash Creek in Greenhills, which was actually a "tambayan" (hangout place) for students after class. Ash Creek wasn't just any ordinary "tambayan", but a place that packed some mean outlets. Imagine a Starbucks, a Pancake House branch, among others, in a place that supposedly catered to high school kids!

Of course, more than those outlets, we were particularly interested in a particular store, which was a sort of "depot" for different imported goodies. Offering Bulla ice cream, Lemnos cheeses, among others, it was a paradise for foodistas who have elevated tastes. This place was Greenhills's best-kept secret for sure.

On that light afternoon, we also had some light drinks, which were from the Bundaberg line. An Aussie brand which prides itself with its "natural" tag, Bundaberg was a pricey (drinks were in the fifty-peso range per bottle), yet welcome indulgence for a market that is saturated with sugar-filled sodas. Featuring drinks such as ginger beer, sarsaparilla, peach soda and lemon-lime bitters, it promised light and refreshing tastes for discerning foodistas like us.

We had a great time sampling Bundaberg's line of drinks, and it was such a great indulgence for a light, yet warm weekday afternoon. We do hope that you do so as well, and discover a taste that is as new as 2010.

An apple (crumble) a day...

2010-01-02T00:11:00.006+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

01/02/2010

Happy new year, everyone!

We welcome 2010 by featuring an apple crumble recipe by one of friends, Ryann Lim. He loves to cook and bake, and we were so lucky to be given a recipe for his great apple crumble. He takes excellent photos of his finished products as well, and we certainly hit the jackpot when he gave us a photo to match his delicious recipe.

Doing some apple crumble is certainly timely, as many of us would probably still have apples left over from our New Year's fruit baskets. This recipe's ingredients are easy to find, and with some conscientious baking, you can create a great Sunday dessert with this one. Pair it with some good vanilla ice cream, and you've got yourself a comforting apple crumble a la mode.

Thank you very much, Ryann, for this awesome recipe. To my fellow foodistas, enjoy!

APPLE CRUMBLE

Ingredients

Apple Crumble Filling

5-6 large fresh apples (cored and sliced - peel if desired)

1 teaspoon nutmeg

¼ cup brown sugar

¼ cup white sugar

¼ cup water

1 teaspoon cinnamon (cinnamon sticks work better)

Apple Crumble Topping

1 cup flour

1 cup raw oats (optional)

½ cup white sugar + ¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup unsalted butter

Procedure

· Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. Peel and core apples, then chop in roughly 1/3 to 1/2 inch chunks.

· Place apples, sugars, nutmeg and cinnamon in a pot. Stew apples over a low fire for about 20-30 minutes. The apples are good to go once they are soft, so use the spatula to see if apples are soft enough.

· Place the stewed apples in the baking dish.

· In a large bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon and butter. Rub the mixture with your fingers. You can also use a pastry blender to mix everything, or pulse the dry ingredients and butter in a food processor until the mixture resembles crumbs. Mix in the brown sugar until blended.

· Top the apples with the crumble topping. Spread the topping evenly and make sure that you do not pack the topping over the apples.

· Bake until the topping is crisp and golden, which should be 25-30 minutes. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve warm.

A Toast for 2010

2009-12-31T10:26:00.004+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/31/2009

In a few hours, the whole world is going to watch 2009 slip away into history, and beckon 2010 with a bang. 2009 has been such a year filled so much tragedy as well as triumph. While we mourn over our tragedies, and celebrate over our triumphs, our human nature more importantly moves us to hope. As we move on to 2010, we also hope --- that this next year would be a better one, much kinder, and with much more things to be happy about.

As The Pedestrian Foodista closes 2009, we end with a customary toast for you, our readers, and the world in general:

"We wish for a new year laden with new and exciting opportunities, hopeful dreams, and shared endeavors. We wish for a new year filled with the bounty of food, best enjoyed together, extended to others who also need it. More importantly, we wish for a new year filled with peace and hope in the world, with people enjoying the warmth of family and friends."

With that, happy new year everyone!

(Special thanks to the following sites for our entry's pictures: http://www.robertprice.co.uk/robblog/images/eastbourne_fireworks_2005_2.jpg and http://blog.wineenthusiast.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/champagne_toast.jpg)

2009 Backtrack (Part 2)

2009-12-30T12:40:00.011+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/30/2009

We’re back with our own countdown of adventures for 2009! Can’t wait to read up? Here it is:

5 Dezaato Pan

This was such a special, as this was entry was our first-ever feature! Penned by Migs Libre, a budding foodista himself, he wrote about his own gelato adventure in Dezaato Pan. Of course, for 2010, expect more features from our foodista friends!

4 Los Banos, Laguna

Our visit to Los Banos, Laguna was such an unforgettable one, as we combed through their local circuit to check out their food. We really had a wonderful time as we were treated to Mio Cucina, a small, cozy restaurant serving local fare and some more. Indeed, if you are passing by Los Banos, check out Mio Cucina and be amazed yourself.

3 The Philippine Fashion Week

One of the perks of being in The Pedestrian Foodista is getting so many event invitations. Being invited to Marlon N Rivera’s collection launch for 2009 was one of the highest points of the year, as we were able to hobnob with the most creative people in the fashion industry. Of course, getting close with the models, and having fabulous food afterwards, was even better!

2 Cebu vacation series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and the Footnote)

Amidst not-so-good PR, the Philippines still ranks among the BEST destinations in the world. With people as warm as its sunny skies, the sights, sounds and tastes found in the Philippines are beyond expectation. We validated that as we went to Cebu, went beachcombing (with a Bohol sidetrip), and explored the island’s urban sights. Indeed, the Philippines is such a nice place, and we hope that you foodistas from foreign shores come over and experience it yourself!

1 Thanksgiving dinner with the US Potato Board

Fitting as the name is, “Thanksgiving” is just the perfect high point of this year, as we had lots of things to be grateful for. For starters, we're so grateful for The Pedestrian Foodista’s launch, its continued existence, as well as various invitations that validate our presence. As we hope for 2010 to become a better year, we are also hoping for more adventures shared with you, our dear readers.

Now, with our countdown done, it is time for us to thank you once more, dear readers, for making us a part of your life for 2009. We wish that you continue to stay with us, as we embark on an adventure for good food, fuelled with the zest for life and the warmth of family and friends.

Once more, we are The Pedestrian Foodista, and we are looking forward to still journey with you this 2010!

2009 Backtrack (Part 1)

2009-12-26T12:51:00.016+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/26/2009

Goodbye 2009!

It is perhaps an understatement to say that this past year has been an eventful one. In generous measure, we were buffeted by much tragedy coupled with ounces of triumph. Nonetheless, as indomitable the human spirit is, we endured --- and enjoyed food in the process!

The Pedestrian Foodista, in its own small way, became a witness to the joys and letdowns this 2009 brought to our collective experience. However, we would like to believe that being able to enjoy good food with even greater company certainly outweighed any letdown this 2009 brought to us. For this, we would like to thank you, our dear readers, for making us a part of your life, and following our adventures this year. As we backtrack on our shared adventures, we hope that we get to relive some of our past thrills as we look forward to yummy 2010.

Feel free to click on the links below, so you can also check the actual articles we've written:

10 C2 Greenhills launch

We were treated to great Filipino food at this restaurant launch. Thank you to the Cravings Group for such a wonderful invitation!

9 Teazann

A friend of ours owns this restaurant in Metrowalk, and we were just so happy to sample their comforting food paired with their yummy green tea concoctions. This Teazann visit ranks among the best restaurant experiences we’ve had ever, and we are just craving for the refreshing taste of their green tea!

8 The UP Vargas Museum

Food and art really go well together, as evidenced by this Vargas Museum gallery opening for Duddley Diaz’s retrospective. The art pieces were really cool, and we just had a great afternoon talking about art, while sipping some refreshments from Café Iana.

7 Clawdaddy’s at the Bonifacio High Street

Reunions are always about sharing great times amidst satisfying food and drink. This high school class lunch at Clawdaddy’s at the Bonifacio High Street became one of our best reunions yet as we spent a leisurely afternoon together.

6 Tagaytay with Nicolas

Our French friend Nicolas was just so enamored with our country and culture, that it was just fitting that we take him around the Metro and Tagaytay for a foodie extravaganza. Among our stops, this lunch at Josephine’s and coffee at Bag O’ Beans really made our trip. We are looking forward to his next trip, which is scheduled for 2010 by the way!

Did these entries make you reminisce your favorite foodista trips? Read our next entry on Wednesday as we bring to you the Top Five adventures we’ve had this year!

(Credits go to the following sites as the source of our restaurant logos: http://www.philgift.com/gc/small/teazann.gif , http://www.redcrabonline.com/images/clawdaddy/clawdaddy_r1_c1.jp, http://www.josephinerestaurant.com/)

From The Pedestrian Foodista...

2009-12-25T12:02:00.006+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/25/2009

... a merry Christmas to all! Thank you for making The Pedestrian Foodista a part of your life, and we wish you the peace and blessings that this season may bring. We hope that we share more Christmases together, as we strive to bring you not just the best food, but the joys of family and friends sharing it.

Once more, merry Christmas everyone!

(Thanks to http://www.thebestkeptsecret.ca/images/uploaded/gift%20guide.jpg as the source of this image.)

My Christmas wish

2009-12-23T14:46:00.008+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/23/2009

Christmas is merely two days away, and it's my guess that everyone's probably busy with all of the last-minute preparations and parties. For many of us, it's probably a whirl of celebrating, shopping, eating and preparing for the feast that awaits tomorrow evening. Indeed, Christmas is just a joyous time, that it's easy to get lost with all of the happy feasting.

Nonetheless, it is my wish, that amidst our cheer, we also remember one thing. Let us couple our joy with the season's reason for being (whether we may be religious or not) --- to get in touch with something bigger than ourselves, spread some goodwill, and make this world a bit better with our presence.

I end this with a wish that probably sums up what I feel about the season:

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

May all of these, and more good things, come true. Here's to a blessed season to all of you, my friends and readers. Cheers!

(Special thanks to http://www.vermontchristmastrees.com/images/christmas_tree.jpg as the source of today's image.)

A Clawdaddy Christmas reunion

2009-12-19T11:15:00.012+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/19/2009

It's less than a week before Christmas!

chicken tenders

At this time, I'm pretty sure that most of us are having their share of happy reunions and parties that allow us to spread some cheer and goodwill to our family and friends. Lately, I have been doing the rounds around the Metro as well, attending to reunions organized by my various groups of friends. A group of friends, which are classmates from way back in high school, called me up for a nice class lunch at the Bonifacio High Street. Of course, I attended ---knowing that it was another opportunity to catch up and savor some great food.

We went to Clawdaddy's, an American-style seafood restaurant that also had a branch at the EDSA Shangri-la. Unfortunately, being allergic to seafood (except fish and shellfish), I could not really sample the full possibilities of their wide menu. Nonetheless, the few dishes I had were enough to give me an idea on their cooking.

As this was a class lunch, we certainly outdid each other in defining the word "unhurried". From an original plan of just staying for lunch, we stayed well into the afternoon, and shared our stories amidst good food and drink.

smoked salmon salad

Clawdaddy, as a restaurant, really did their food well, but we had our own favorites during our class lunch. A classmate of mine, being such a boy at heart, had chicken tenders, which was breaded in cornflakes and served in a box that looked like a Cadillac. As we relived the good-natured teasing so common with high school classmates, we ordered and waited for our own --- which was a smoked salmon salad. It was really a standout, with mesclun greens graced by a nice, sweet-sour passion fruit vinaigrette. The sweet crunch of the caramelized walnuts, coupled by the smoky taste of the salmon, was such a great combination. It was already a feast, and we were not having main course yet!

Clawdaddy's clammy spaghetti

My classmates, being thoughtful people (thank you and sorry for the inconvenience), decided against ordering crab or other seafood so we can share. So, for our main course, we had some clammy spaghetti, which was spaghetti with an olive oil, white wine and Manila clam broth. It looked so deceptively simple, but it was heaven! The simplicity of the flavors, coupled with some warm, toasty bread, was enough to lift your spirits. Of course, with some of us being incorrigible, unrepentant carnivores, we also had spaghetti with meatballs. The spaghetti was just huge, having two quarter-pound meatballs in a nice tomato sauce. We ended up sharing pasta among ourselves, and ordering extra servings because of their great taste.

Oysters Rockefeller

Of course, we also had some Oysters Rockefeller (an all-time favorite), which was oysters with spinach, bacon, cream and cheese. Just having one is already an indulgence, and I would rank Clawdaddy's version as one of the best I ever had, comparable to Via Mare's, which served their oysters in a bed of rock salt. We also had some ribs for main course, which was served in a nice wooden plate, coupled with a generous serving of mashed potatoes (with some skin on).

ribs and mashed potatoes

Indeed, our lunch at Clawdaddy's became such a great feast. With the excellent food and thoughtful staff, having a great time was just so easy. We ended up reminiscing on good times (and our loser moments) in high school, when our lives were less complicated --- our concerns centering on getting homework done, the latest gossip, and planning the next day out with our limited budgets. We laughed over our juvenile antics and jokes, and we exchanged stories about our own plans and dreams, now being twenty-somethings who are now a bit older and hopefully wiser.

Of course, we had some big news, since a classmate just announced that he's getting married next year. That sounds like another reunion for me, and I would be looking forward to the next one!

For the meantime, merry Christmas everyone!

(Clawdaddy can be found at the Bonifacio High Street at The Fort, Taguig City. You can call 856 4326 or 856 4785 for your reservations. Another Clawdaddy branch could be found at the 6/F, The Ledge of the EDSA Shangri-La Mall.)

TPF Christmas finds: Sweet, sinful indulgence

2009-12-16T10:14:00.004+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/16/2009

Something sinful for Christmas?

That doesn't seem to sound right.

However, with some baked goodies, a bit of sweet and sinful indulgence can go together with Christmas. We experienced this special indulgence when we had some cookies and other baked goodies from Sweet as Sin, courtesy of a friend, Dorothy Ferrer.

As we celebrated a reunion of high school friends, Dorothy gave us samples of her brother's baking. We had a few boxes of these treats: chocolate crinkles, double chocolate cupcakes and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Among these goodies, what stood out for me were the cookies. These oatmeal chocolate chip creations had excellent texture, which was a cross of chewy, nutty and crunchy. It wasn't sickeningly sweet, as many cookies in the market are, but sweetened just fine. It was great to the bite, and had a full taste, owing to the oatmeal, nuts and chocolate chips generously added to the cookie.

Indeed, these Sweet as Sin's cookies were a great Christmas find, and I'm so glad to share this with all of you. So if you want some sweet, sinful indulgence this Christmas, go ahead and help yourself to a batch of these cookies. Happy Christmas indulging!

(Special mention to the Sweet as Sin site as the source of our pictures for this particular entry.)

(Sweet as Sin makes special goodies for your pleasure. Call or text +63918 9797273 or +63908 8736263 for your orders. Visit their website at http://sweetsin07.multiply.com for a look at their other baked treats.)

Soupy Saturdays

2009-12-12T10:17:00.008+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/12/2009

gomoku ramen

With the relatively chilly air making its way to the metropolis -- finally, no thanks to global warming -- the collective temperature of its urban denizens have been going down as well. Many have now been gearing up for the cold nights of the Christmas season, and have been warming up with great food and company. We were not an exception to that, and we have been consuming some piping hot soup!

shoyu ramen

We recently visited Kimono Ken located at The Podium in Ortigas, and had a "themed" dinner with a less than 250-peso budget per person. Knowing Kimono Ken, it was quite pricier than other Japanese outlets, but it boasted of more substantial servings which promised more bang for the buck. Unlike other outlets featuring Japanese-influenced cuisine, but suffering from a lack of good service, Kimono Ken had noticeably more "festive" staff.

For our "themed" dinner, we decided to sample their range of ramen (noodle soup) featuring different soup bases. A friend had gomoku ramen (Php 200.00), which was a seafood noodle soup in a soy base. Another had shoyu ramen (Php 180.00), which had chasyu or pork slices in the same soup base. I wanted to have a more substantial soup, so I ordered a miso ramen (Php 180.00), which had a thick soybean paste integrated in its broth, coupled with ground meat. To pair our soups, we split an order of a kani salad maki (Php 150.00), consisting of a crisp outer shell, and a delectable crabstick and mango filling, rounded out with a surprisingly refreshing mayo dressing.

miso ramen

After trying to sample spoonfuls of everything, I was convinced that what stood out for me was the miso ramen. Being a lesser-known incarnation of ramen, as most Japanese noodle soups were served in a soy base, the miso ramen had a more full-bodied consistency, and the addition of ground meat heightened its feel to the mouth. This particular ramen had a certain sweetness as well which felt new to my palate long accustomed to more savory soups.

kani salad maki

Overall, that Kimono Ken dinner made for a nice, light meal that perfectly accompanied the chilly holiday air. Spending about Php 250.00 for an authentic Japanese meal made the deal even more sweeter. I would definitely recommend trying out their soups for a nice twist this holiday season.

(Kimono Ken is located at the top floor of The Podium in the Ortigas Center.)

My first Christmas food gift

2009-12-09T19:58:00.003+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/09/2009

Christmas is certainly in the air! You can now feel the familiar morning chill and hear the sound of carols in this time of the year. Of course, with Christmas around the corner, many of us are now exchanging cards and gifts, and are busy thinking of presents to give to family and friends.

I'm just happy that I have received my first food gift this Christmas, and it's a nice block of ham! My personal Santas have given me Purefoods Fiesta Ham, and I am already conjuring up possibilities of serving this particular gift - probably with a nice orange glaze, or with cheese in a sandwich, or just eating it by itself.

To my Santas who have given me this gift, thank you very much!

(Special mention to http://www.sanmiguel.com.ph/uploads/Image/Newsroom/0708%20to%201208/pfham.jpg as the source of this photo.)

Thank God It's Potato!

2009-12-05T10:13:00.008+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/05/2009

The customary Thanksgiving turkey

For Americans, Thanksgiving ranks as one of the most favorite holidays of the year, alongside Christmas or the Fourth of July. While we Filipinos don’t have Thanksgiving, we can still relate with Americans in a sense that holidays such as these are opportunities to bond with family and friends. Holidays such as Thanksgiving are also chances to savor good food, which we did experience in the US Potato Board’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Crispy sea bass with parsley brandade, root vegetable floss and rosemary orange beurre blanc

Held on the 25^th of November this year at the M Café, Greenbelt, the US Potato Board decided to invite press people and bloggers like The Pedestrian Foodista to sample scrumptious Thanksgiving fare, using none other than the humble potato! While most of us then were quite clueless, and were expecting a carbo-loading affair, we were proven wrong as we were presented a seven-course meal prepared by Chef Sau Del Rosario. With his team of sous chefs, we had a gourmet experience, featuring different takes on the potato all the way from appetizers to dessert.

Seared foie gras and US scallop potato pea soup

A look at their Thanksgiving menu certainly looked fancy and intimidating, even to the most grizzled food critic, but it whetted our appetites nonetheless: (1) Potato Dill Sourdough, (2) Crispy Sea Bass with Parsley Brandade, Root Vegetable Floss and Rosemary Orange Beurre Blanc, (3) Seared Foie Gras and US Scallop Potato Pea Soup, (4) Porcini and Truffle Gnocchi, (5) Baked Pork Tenderloin with Potato Spinach Flan and Mustard Sauce, (6) Whole Roasted Turkey with sides of Roasted Pumpkin with Capers and Rosemary, and Cranberry Sauce, and (7) Potato Torte with White Chocolate. All of these dishes were served generously with California red and white wines.

Baked pork tenderloin with potato spinach flan and mustard sauce

We were overwhelmed with the food! If there was Iron Chef in the Philippines, Chef Sau and his team would have earned top points for taste and plating. Among the courses, we would rate the soup as the top standout. We love the rich taste of foie gras by itself, but searing it and placing it in a soup is a coup! Complemented by the luscious, well-prepared scallop, that potato pea soup was heaven. The textures and taste were just perfect. In our opinion, it was the best thing we have tasted for the entire year, or in our recent memory.

The fish and the pork were also delightful. We loved the sea bass done with vegetable floss, which acted as the fresh counterpoint of the fish. The parsley brandade bed filled us well, and sauces were perfect in putting together the flavors of the dish. On the other hand, the potato spinach flan complemented the pork, which was juicy, luscious and excellently done. Actually, by the time we were halfway with the pork, most of us were quite full already. Pacing ourselves at that time, we wanted to reach all the way to dessert.

Potato torte with white chocolate

The last course honestly gave us a bit of a scare, as we had no idea on how to incorporate a potato in dessert, and make it taste decent. Chef Sau, however, in a stroke of genius, made a potato torte, which tasted just like sans rival, but was creamy and rich like mashed potatoes, only sweeter. Dessert certainly gave a great cap to our fabulous meal, and we were in a pretty thankful mood after dinner for the awesome offerings of Chef Sau. Indeed, for that night, thank God it was potato!

(M Cafe is located at the Greenbelt 4 in Ayala Center, Makati. It is adjacent to the Ayala Museum. You can call 757-3000 for reservations and inquiries.)

Mastering Meatloaf

2009-12-02T11:29:00.004+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

12/02/2009

One of the best things in a long weekend is an opportunity to do some leisure cooking. During the last long weekend, I did just that, and I tried to make some meatloaf as an attempt to utilize our ground meat in a different way. I have derived this recipe from Ina Garten’s version, but I did add my own twist to it using easier-to-find ingredients. This is also more savory, and is good with piping hot rice or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

600 g ground beef or pork
1 tablespoon pure olive oil
2 large white onions (chopped)
dried thyme
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon freshly milled pepper
3 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup Japanese breadcrumbs
2 eggs (separated into whites and yolks)
½ cup tomato ketchup or spaghetti sauce

Procedure:

Preheat oven or turbo broiler to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Saute the chopped onions, thyme and chicken bouillon cube in olive oil. Once onions are translucent and cooked, off the heat.
Add the Worchestershire sauce and tomato paste.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until some air has been incorporated.
Add the beaten egg whites, egg yolks and onion-thyme mixture into the ground meat.
Add salt and pepper, as well as the Japanese breadcrumbs.
Put the meatloaf mixture into a baking dish.
Spread tomato ketchup or spaghetti sauce over the meatloaf.
Bake the meatloaf for 35-40 minutes, or until the product is cooked through. Serve while hot.

Try kitchen-testing this recipe, and tell us what you think!

(Special mention to http://www.newdealcafe.com/_content/events/single_use/meatloaf-large.jpg for the picture used in this entry.)

C2 Eat, C2 Believe

2009-11-28T07:40:00.009+08:00

The Pedestrian Foodista

11/28/2009

If the number of restaurants around the world featuring a country's cuisine were to be a measure of national identity, then having a "Filipino identity" based on food would be sadly, unfortunately non-existent. The world recognizes the elegance of the French, the simplicity of the Italian, or the clean flavors of the Japanese. But -- and a very big but -- who recognizes the Filipino?

Go out of the country and check how many restaurants are there serving Filipino fare. Even in our own country, check how many restaurants bother to serve Filipino fare as if it was gourmet. It would be sad to see that Filipino fare is relegated to the bottom when it comes to inventiveness, flair and taste. Even some dismiss our food as all "brown", just like our skin.

sisig rice and fried bangus belly

Nonetheless, with the natural talent of the Filipino chef, there is a growing movement to change the world's perception of our food by putting our cuisine in the world map. For one, the owners of C2, who also belong to the Cravings group, have their brave new vision of Filipino food by putting up a restaurant that features our homegrown favorites.

C2, which also has their branches in Shangri-La, SM Megamall, and Rockwell Power Plant, recently opened their newest addition in Greenhills. Tucked at the back of the Greenhills shopping complex, C2 Greenhills features Filipino food served gourmet, with the inventive hands of its resident chefs. We were lucky to get invited to the C2 launch on the 11th, and we had a taste of its great food.

Amidst great music, and great company in the presence of fellow bloggers and members of the press, we were served C2's creations in a six- (which turned seven- ) course dinner. Overall, C2 pleased the discriminating members of the press and its guests, with the delights they have served us during that dinner.

tinolang binakol served in a coconut shell

In that meal featuring the best of C2, we particularly liked a couple of standouts. Their soup, which was tinolang binakol (chicken cutlets in ginger-coconut juice soup) was very satisfying. The delicate taste of the broth, which had a hint of sweetness from the coconut juice, and capped with a whiff of ginger, had a very tropical feel. Served in a coconut shell, that tinolang binakol primed us for the rest of the evening's meal.

lumpiang hubad

We were also pleasantly surprised with the lumpiang hubad (sauteed vegetable strips in garlic-peanut sauce). The vegetables were perfectly done, sauteed but still retaining their fresh crisp. The garlic-peanut sauce was just the perfect accompaniment, a bit sweet but nonetheless complementing the natural flavors of the vegetable medley. It was so good as an appetizer, but one could also eat it with piping hot rice. Of course, we washed our dinner down with a refreshing pandan iced tea, which was clean to the taste and sweetened just fine.

As some of the press contingent arrived a tad late for dinner, C2 also served our table (which made us early birds so lucky) extra helpings of their famed tilapia fillet in coconut emulsion. Having been served a table's worth of the dish, our fellows from the press had extras, which they promptly offered to the rest of us. The rest of us did not refuse the opportunity, and we were treated to the textures of the dish - the velvety feel of the coconut emulsion, coupled with the crispy fried tilapia. Indeed, this unexpected offering capped off a good night.

As we left Greenhills full and satisfied, we also felt hopeful for the future of Filipino cuisine. If there were more C2's in the world, having their own brave new vision for Filipino food, our national identity would probably be more evident, our food more recognized, and our people's culinary skills more appreciated.

(C2 Greenhills is located at 18 Missouri St., Northeast Greenhills, San Juan. It is at the back of The Promenade Mall.)