Pan de Amerikana: the evolution of the P...

Much of the food that we enjoy today were not totally from our brown-skinned ancestors. A great deal of our local cuisine was introduced to us by the Spanish, and our favorite bread is no exception. Translated, the name means salty bread, but a bite out of this tasty morsel does not reveal any salty taste. It is actually sweet. The Pandesal is the result of the lack of ingredients that the Spanish were supposed to make it with. Like their bocadillo, the Spanish quality bread is hard and crusty on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Because of the quality of the...

Mario’s Restaurant Turns 40

Just a year younger than I am, a “heritage restaurant” has turned 40 years and still going strong. Sadly, there is only one branch in Metro Manila and that is the one along Tomas Morato. You can’t miss it because it’s been there since it was built. At 40, what has changed? The decor, some of the people, some new items on the menu, but what’s important is that which did not. And that would be, the service, some of the prices on the menu and the Caesar Salad. It’s been homemade since they started serving it and that’s why many of...

2011 Philippine Tatler’s Best Rest...

The Philippine Tatler has done it again, Once again they have come with the Philippines’ Best 100 Restaurants. Yes, even while dining in some of your favorite restaurants, you are helping the homeless, the needy, the disabled and the abandoned find their way back into a productive and meaningful life. Every year the Philippine Tatler chooses an institution/beneficiary of their campaign  and for 2011, Tatler management has chosen the Virlanie Foundation. Virlanie Foundation has helped more than 13,000 street children become productive citizens and significant...

The Wonder That is Jolly Jeep

  As an Asian country, we are not spared from the richness and inventiveness of street food. Skewered, sautéed and saucy, street food comes in a variety of shapes and sizes that continually evolve.  Rich and poor alike, we all enjoyed street food as our guilty pleasure without regard about its source and handling. Street food in the Philippines is a booming business that is slowly coming out of the its former shell as being part of the underground economy into a legitimate business player fiercely competing with international fast food giants on an economically...

Dang Dee: the real value meals

Here’s good news for office workers in the Legaspi Village area in Makati. Aside from the usual Jolly Jeeps, Dang Dee serves good food at near Jolly Jeep prices. Check out their price list. Cheap and filling, it’s best you can have at these prices. I love the tea eggs and pickled veggies that go with the really delicious Jasmine rice. My personal favorite is the Pork Chop Bento. The Bento started in Japan but has become very popular in Taiwan due to it’s convenience and cost-effectiveness. Dang Dee is both delicious and sanitary. They do not use styro...