HOME

The Philippines
by Katrina Dovey


Home is where the heart is.

This is why a lot of people feel as if the Philippines could be a home to them, the country opens up its arms to everyone wanting to be a part of it. A lot of people feel as if the Philippines is already home to them, and it's no question why.

The Philippines is a country filled with culture. From its festivals to their wildlife, the food it offers, the places to see, the people you meet, there is so much to see. Everyone should travel to the Philippines because of all the things there is to see, every direction you face there is always something new to discover in this beautiful country,

Photo credits: http://www.justonewayticket.com/2012/12/05/why-you-should-travel-philippines/

Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is populated by approximately 102 million people. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Manila are the Rizal Park, Fort Santiago or the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eralviz/

Although Manila is the capital of the country, the real adventure starts when you step out of the city.

One of the most popular tourist spots in the country would be Boracay which is a white beach located in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. The beach is lined with restaurants, hotels, bars, and other activities to do, it has truly become one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country.

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/35173034@N04/3259854237

A big part of the Filipino culture is its food. The food of the country is a combination of the mixed cuisine of countries like Malaysia, India, China, America and other countries that give it a sense of originality. 

Photo credits:http://www.expatch.org/2014/09/29/in-tagalog-dumalo-tayo-sa-pista/fiesta1/

Adobo is one of the most popular Filipino dishes and is unofficially considered to be the national dish of the country. The name adobo came from the spanish word "adobar" which means "marinade" or "sauce". The main ingredients tend to be meat, soy sauce, vinegar, cooking oil, garlic, and bay leaf. For this blog, I wanted to share with you all a dish that is a part of the culture but... with a twist.

The recipe I will be sharing today is Pork Adobo with Baby Back Ribs.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup Light soy sauce
• ½ cup Rice vinegar
• ½ cup Rice wine
• 1 Tbs.Fish sauce
• 3 Tbs. Brown sugar
• ⅓ cup Chopped garlic (approximately 18 to 20 cloves)
• 4 Bay leaves
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 2 Tbs. Cooking oil
• 1 Rack of baby back ribs (approximately 3½ lb.), cut into single pieces
• 3 Green onions, chopped
• Fresh lime juice from 1 lime
• 6 Lime wedges to serve

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine soy sauce and next 7 ingredients(until black pepper) and whisk to dissolve sugar into sauce, set aside.
2. 
3. preheat oven over 350 degrees.
4. 
5. Heat a braising pan or deep skillet (I recommend to use oven-safe pan such as dutch oven or cast iron pan) over high heat; add oil. Sear pork ribs 3 minutes each side or until golden brown. It doesn't need to be cooked- we just want nice sear on each ribs. Do 2 batches if that’s necessary for really nice golden brown seared ribs.
6.  
7.  
8. Tap excess oil on pan with kitchen paper towel and place seared pork ribs all back into pan or roasting pan if you are using. Pour sauce we made earlier. Cover with aluminum foil first then cover with lid. If not, you might ruin your lid from splashing soy sauce and sugar mixture. Place into preheated oven, braise for 1 hour 30 minutes.
9.  
10.  
11.  
12.  
13. Remove pan from oven and bring back to stove. Uncover and cook for additional 10 minutes until meat has a nice caramelization and liquid reduced- as sticky glaze on ribs.
14.  
15.  
16. Transfer ribs on a serving plate and spoon out most fat out from pan. Add in green onion and lime juice to sauce and mix.
17.  
18.  
19. 
20. Pour sauce over ribs and serve warm. Enjoy with a warm cooked jasmine rice! :-D
21. 

*Recipe and pictures retrieved from: http://seonkyounglongest.com/filipino-baby-back-ribs-adobo/*

The Philippines has so much more to offer than what anyone can write. It is filled with hidden treasures and secrets waiting to be found.

Photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cb_agulto/5770275195

Sources:

Filipino Adobo Recipe : Filipino Adobo with Baby Back Ribs - Asian at Home. (2015, January 22). Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://seonkyounglongest.com/filipino-baby-back-ribs-adobo/

Laureta, I. (2015, March 10). 28 Reasons You Should Absolutely Never Visit The Philippines. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://www.buzzfeed.com/isabellelaureta/sarcasm-its-more-fun-in-the-philippines#.binGpeVxx

Manila, C. (2016, January 04). PopCom: PH population expected to hit 104 million in 2016. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://manila.coconuts.co/2016/01/04/popcom-ph-population-expected-hit-104-million-2016

Lobino, S. (2012). 10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved March 09, 2016, from http://www.justonewayticket.com/2012/12/05/why-you-should-travel-philippines/

Boracay - Lonely Planet. (n.d.). Retrieved March 09, 2016, from https://www.lonelyplanet.com/philippines/the-visayas/boracay 

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

A blog about Guatemala
by: Katrina Dovey

In the past two articles, I’ve given you, the readers, insight in countries that are in Asia and in Europe. This month, I want us to explore North America together.

North America is a continent which is composed of 23 countries and dozens of possessions and territories. (North America) With this, we can say that there is a lot to see in North America. Some of the countries that are in North America are Canada, Mexico, Haiti, and the United States of America, just to name a few. However, our focus for today will be GUATEMALA!

Guatemala humbly has it all: from colonial towns to Mayan ruins, great mountain lakes to vibrant religious festivals, sandy beaches to exotic jungles. Often visitors to the country find they leave enlightened; civilizations they believed long gone are found thriving, Tomb Raider landscapes they thought fantasy are shown to be real. (Guatemala Travel Guide)

Although Guatemala is known to have one of the highest crime rates in Latin America, most visits are known to be trouble-free and unaffected by crime. (Guatemala Travel Guide) A good tip to know when traveling there would be to always have a phone ready to call someone if any danger occurs. You can get up-to-date security information through INGUAT (a telephone information service is available in English), the Guatemalan Tourist Institute. INGUAT’s tourist assistance service, PROATUR offer an escort service for tourists groups or individuals traveling locally in the region. You can contact them on (502) 2421 2810 and (502) 5578 9836. You may also dial 1500 in Guatemala. (Guatemala Travel Guide)

           A few other tips coming from wikitravel.org (Guatemala):

 Never take photos of children without permission. Some Guatemalans are extremely wary of this and will think that you are mixed in with kidnappers and planning to take the child for ransom. Kidnapping is a common occurrence in Guatemala. The country also has many problems with children being kidnapped and sold for adoption on the black market. Taking pictures of adults at a distance with a few children included is generally fine. In the major cities, people are somewhat more open towards picture taking, but still avoid it.

It is dangerous to travel between cities after dark. Doing so significantly increases your risk of being the victim of an armed robbery.

Pickpocketing is common in markets, so never keep anything in your back pocket and take as little with you as possible.

Guatemala has an abundance of natural beauty and numerous treks. But some of these are notorious for robberies (Volcan de Agua, trails around Lago de Atitlan, Volcan de Pacaya). Always ask around about the situation before embarking blindly. Inguat, locals, and fellow travelers are safe bets for information. Traveling in groups during daylight sometimes decreases the risk, but not always.

Traffic can be dangerous. You will encounter many two-lane roads (one lane each way) and drivers are apt to swerve back and forth, avoiding potholes and bumps along the way. There are also various multiple lane highways. Traffic in Guatemala City and surrounding metropolitan areas during rush hour is very slow, but general driving everywhere is usually very fast (average speeds of up to 60 mph in some city roads).

Retrieved from: http://s1.zetaboards.com/anthroscape/topic/5938127/1/

Guatemala is rich in natural beauty and travel opportunities; it's a country that offers so much to those willing to step off the beaten track for a little while. Some things to do in Guatemala could be to visit Antigua Guatemala which is often regarded as the travelers’ hub, a crumbling, picture-perfect Central American town ringed by volcanoes. From here you can take a hike up Volcano Pacaya, take a bus to the bustling market of Chichicastenango, or simply sip some coffee in a street-side cafe and watch the world go by. You could also go to Lake Atitlan (or Lago de Atitlán) which is another frequent stop on any visitor’s itinerary. It is a volcano-rimmed lake with plenty of backpacker hostels and Mayan villages that dot the shores. The last option I will be suggesting today would be Flores in Guatemala's wild north. It is a tourist friendly island in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá. From here you can take a bus ride to one of best preserved Mayan ruins in the world, Tikal. Howler monkeys and dense jungle make walking around the ruins an adventure in itself.

Almost all meals in Guatemala include some form of black beans, white rice and corn tortillas. Breakfast often involves scrambled eggs and fried plantains. Fresh fruit is another common substitute.

The recipe I am sharing today is not a typical dish in Guatemala but it does incorporate some of the spice and flavours that the country offers. The recipe I will be sharing today is called Chile Relleno Casserole. Here it is:

 

INGREDIENTs:

• 1lb grated cheese 
• 3eggs
• 1 ¹⁄₂cups milk
• ¹⁄₂cup flour
• 1(8 ounce) can whole green chilies

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and flour.
2. Spray a pan (9x13) with a nonstick cooking spray.
3. Layer chilies, then the mixture made in step 1, then the cheese.
4. Continue this order until you run out of ingredients and put EXTRA cheese on the top!
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.
6. Allow about 10 minutes before serving!
   
   
   

Thank you for reading yet another blog! Till next time,

Katrina Dovey



Sources:

Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe - Food.com. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from                         http://www.food.com/recipe/chile-relleno-casserole-24361

Guatemala. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from Wiki Travel: http://wikitravel.org/en/Guatemala#See

Guatemala Travel Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from World Travel Guide: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/guatemala

North America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 29, 2016, from Map / Geography of / Map of: www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/na.htm

  

Grace Park

by: Joaquin Quiros

The facade of the homey restaurant that is Grace Park. 

Ahhh, Grace Park. The finest restaurant in Rockwell Center. As a long time resident in the area, I have seen the changes of the landscape over time, new buildings, and most especially the many restaurants that have sprung up and vanished in the area. One of these many restaurants I have grown to frequent in recent times is Grace Park.

The mastermind behind Grace Park, Gaita Fores. 

Owned and managed by Master Chef Margarita Fores, Grace Park deviates from her other restaurants such as Cibo and Lusso in its rustic nature and disregard for uniformity. Established in 2012, Grace Park is a farm to table restaurant,(one of the few, if not the only one I've dined in and heard of) the concept is simple: Naturally grown foods,fresh from a local supplier brought to your palettes. It serves a mix of great food, both local and international dishes. Its ambiance and charm, as well as the food have always kept me a regular at this fine restaurant in my neighborhood. A homey environment such as the one provided by Grace Park enhances the diner's experience. A main selling point of the restaurant I believe, is the fact that when you walk in to feast on its meals, it is akin to dining in someone's, if not, your very own home. The meals they serve are continental, ranging from Italian meals to English desserts, American Steaks and of course, varieties of rice grown nowhere but here in The Philippines. On an interesting note, the name of the establishment is taken from Grace Park, Quezon City, apparently where Chef Gaita's Fores side of her family had its roots. Clearly the name itself invokes the concept of home.

Two of my favorite dishes:
( The meals are reasonably priced, ranging from Php 200 to as much as Php 3000 at its peak. Still, a bang per buck restaurant nonetheless.)

 

Chicken Parmigiana 
The Chicken Parmigiana of Grace Park is a meal the invokes Sunday Lunches at your Grandma's house, the tomato sauce is thick, the butter is baked, when you combine the two and swab them onto the chicken fillet, the taste is magical as the flavours complement each other so well. The meal exemplifies the spirit of home cooking, whilst also using organic ingredients to create the dish. At Php 610, the meal really gives you your money's worth.  9/10. 

 

The Muscovado Beef Belly Rice is a delicious rice pilaf. It is essentially fried rice with beef, tomatoes, garlic and vegetables. I consider this comfort food as it tastes so genuine and sublime. Eating the dish is a very emotional experience, as my mother used to cook a similar dish to this when I was a but a wee lad. The meat is tender, I've never been served this dish with hard beef. Nothing can compare to this fine meal. At only Php 540  you can fill your belly with with some hearty beef, rice and a various assortment of greens. 

Sources for the first two images: :http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2013/04/grace-park-one-rockwell.html 

                                                    http://manila.coconuts.co/2014/11/19/food-news-gaita-foress-casa-artusi-reopens

INDIA: Keep Calm and Curry On

by: Katrina Dovey


           With India having one of the biggest and most popular food cultures in the world (The Top Tens, 2015), most of us have tried their food. From curry to tandoori chicken to hundreds of other recipes, India’s food is a favorite among many. With 7.68 million visitors in 2014 compared to the 2.65 million that it received in 2000 (Statista, 2016), India’s tourism has really gone up in recent years.

Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/310115124313760806/

            There are lots of tourist spots in India. All may be related to any kind of person. There are religious sights, beaches, wild life and others. And for the more active people out there you may also do sporty activities. Trekking is a great activity to partake in. A place for you, the more mobile people, would be the Northern part of India. With pretty much every outdoor activity possible, you could go to Uttarkhand and Himachal Pradesh which could cater your wants such as trekking, skiing, and white-water rafting. Ideal trekking season is in September/October so be sure to visit in those times if you plan to go trekking.

Photo credits: http://www.brics-info.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Indian-tourist.jpg

            For those looking forward to a vacation focused more on relaxation, the south of India would be the place for you. You can relax at the beaches and read a book or just sun bathe. Take your pick of the Goan beaches – Arambol, Vagator, and Palolem are top spots – or try the black sand beaches of Kovalam and Varkala in Kerala, as well as lesser-known, golden sand in the north of the state. (Lonely Planet, 2015) On these beaches you could also have one of their favorite snacks, bhelpuri which is a combination of puffed rice, noodles, green mango and a tangy sauce.

             This brings us to our main topic, FOOD. The recipe I will be sharing today is Punjabi lemon chicken made with citrus juices, sugarcane juice and some basic Indian spices called ‘Punjabi Lemon Chicken’. Without further ado, here is the recipe:

Punjabi Lemon Chicken

Photo credits: http://food.ndtv.com/recipe-punjabi-lemon-chicken-373267

Ingredients: 

6 chicken thighs without skin

For the base:

3-4 Tbsp refined oil

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 onions julienned

6 cloves garlic chopped

1/2 inch ginger chopped

3-4 hot green chillies

3/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp coriander powder

Salt to taste

1 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup orange juice

1/4 cup fresh sugarcane juice

Fresh coriander to garnish

Method

Heat a heavy cooking vessel on a high heat and once its hot, add the refined oil and swirl the pan to coat the base evenly. Once the oil is nice and hot, add the cumin seeds and saute them until crackling and fragrant.

Now add the onions, garlic and ginger and sauté them gently until they take on a light golden brown color. Turn up the heat and then add the spice powders. Toast the spices on a high heat until they are intensely aromatic and well toasted. Then add a little water and bhuno the base ingredients repeatedly until the oil rises to the top and the masala is well cooked out.

Add some salt and mix well, then add the chicken thighs to the pan. Turn up the heat and fry the chicken in the masala until it is evenly coated with the flavor of the base and is a very light yellowy golden brown in color.

Now add the lemon and orange juice to the chicken and deglaze the pan well, scraping up the flavor packed pan deposits on the base of the pan. Stir everything together well to combine, then add a little sugarcane juice to balance the acidity of the lemon juice.

Bring the chicken to a boil, then turn the heat to low, cover the pan and let the chicken simmer away until it is cooked to perfection and almost falling off the bone.

Once the chicken is cooked, uncover the pan and simmer the light gravy until slightly reduced and concentrated in flavor. Turn off the heat, then garnish with fresh coriander and serve with hot rotis or rice.

Recipe by: Aditya Bal

Hope you enjoyed this recipe! See you soon for the next blog!

Signing out, KD.

Sources: 

http://www.thetoptens.com/countries-with-the-best-food/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/76220

http://www.statista.com/statistics/206872/number-of-foreign-tourist-arrivals-in-india-since-2000/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/india/travel-tips-and-articles/76017

http://food.ndtv.com/recipe-punjabi-lemon-chicken-373267