La Loma Lechon

Touted as the lechon capital of the Philippines (this will surely warrant a lot of comments from our Cebuano friends), La Loma is a district in Quezon City where they prepare all these mouth-watering lechon (spit-roated pig). Mila's, Mang Tomas, Ping-Ping - some of the popular names when it comes to lechon baboy (and baka, manok.)

It's said that it was Mang Tomas who started this industry way back in the early '50s. At that time, Mang Tomas was only selling pork around his neighborhood. His house was in front of the La Loma Cockpit Arena. After a day's worth of betting, some of the cockpit fanatics would buy pork from him and ask for it to be roasted to serve as their pulutan (finger food that usually accompanies beer drinking). In the long run, he decided to just sell roasted pork. And the rest, as they say, is history.

This photo was taken last month when my T and I went "touristy" in our own city. It was fun, you should try it. Anyway, I'm posting it today because the holidays are coming and maybe some of you are looking for a place to buy lechon or even a place where you can bring your balikbayan friends/family members. Trust me, its a very interesting place. Full of good food and rich history.

Coffee Pot(ty)

Considered to be the world's most expensive coffee, these beans are actually Philippine civet (Paradoxorus Philippinensis) droppings. Now, now before you reach for your barf bag, allow me to elaborate. These civets (known as alamid in the Philippines) eat coffee berries as part of their diet. The inner bean of the berry remain undigested and are eliminated by them which are then harvested, washed and slightly roasted by the farmers. Its said that the digestive enzymes of the civet give the coffee that yummy taste. I am not sure about that as I haven't tasted it yet given its astronomical price. Hopefully, this post might take me somewhere *wink, wink*.

For more information on the coffee alamid, click here.

Fusion Cuisine

One day my friend, perhaps due to utter frustration on the "lack of proper cheese in this country", complained that he misses his Camembert and Roquefort (and Gruyere ad infinitum) badly. Hoping to change his somber mood, I dragged him to the local deli. The mere sight of chedarella sent chills to his spine. "Que horror! What a crime! Such inhumanity!" Hmm. Okay so maybe I was a little ignorant on how serious they are when it comes to their dairy produce.

Then came a eureka moment - Kesong puti! Now why did I not think of that before?

And so after a quick trip to the neighborhood bakery to get his baguette (but of course!) to pair up with the cheese, he finally found himself grinning from ear to ear. "But its like bûche de chèvre! Delightful!"

They say that you can take a French from France but not France from a French.

Taho

In the neighborhood where I grew up, we kids all rush to meet our ultimate morning hero - the taho vendor. We're reduced to adoring fans waiting to be acknowledged and be given our own little cup of white, warm soft goodness mixed with that golden syrup arnibal and lots of firm sago. Yum, yum.