Showing posts with label food for the trails. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food for the trails. Show all posts
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Food for the Trails: Café Antigua in Lucena City, Quezon
* Café Antigua
Looking for a place to eat while in downtown Lucena? Then this place is for you, dear reader. Nestled amidst the mixture of old and new structures and the general ‘busy-ness’ of the city streets is this gray stone structure, reminiscent of the old time movie houses. A word in curving lines is put up on its wall: Antigua. At first glance it looks like a typical building in a business area of the city. But never judge a book by its cover, right? In this case, never judge a building by its façade. For it took a random internet search to find that much more is in stored within this structure.
And thus the ‘discovery’ of Café Antigua happened.
* view of Café Antigua’s interior
The interior of the café/restaurant evokes an atmosphere of Binondo. And why not? The food being offered in this place has traces of the Chinese – pancit and its varieties, siopao, among others. It is also good to note that Café Antigua is open for visitors even in the morning. You may choose to have your breakfast or lunch there. In our case we opted to have a heavy snack (which could already be considered a lunch). You can order the usual pancit guisado, chami, or lomi. One interesting meal was the one with red misua. Then there are the rice meals partnered with different soups. You also have a choice of different desserts ranging from halo-halo to leche flan.
The place is wide enough (you can eat even if you’re a big group of at least 10) and comfortable enough (it’s air-conditioned!) that your stay will definitely be worth it. I just don’t know if giving tip is allowed (our change was given to us even if we were already at the door on the way out). An ideal budget here would be at least 500 pesos to 1,000 pesos.
So next time you’re in Lucena City, either because you are going to its two major malls or just passing by the time in preparation to trips to the nearby towns of Quezon, do visit Café Antigua and replenish yourself with the food they offer.
* a view of Café Antigua’s building back in 2010
[How to go to Café Antigua, Lucena City, Quezon: Coming from Manila in a bus, drop off at ‘Diversion’ in Brgy. Gulang-gulang where jeepneys and tricycles and their drivers are stationed. You may choose to ride on a jeepney as it is cheaper. Just say ‘Bayan’ to the driver. Café Antigua will be on the left of the street as you head towards the Provincial Capitol. An easy marker would the church. Once you pass by the San Fernando Parish Church you can ask the driver to drop you off.]
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Food for the Trails: Cook Your Own Pancit Habhab
My sister recently went on a trip to Lucban/Tayabas area and went home with a pack of Pancit Habhab. For a change I volunteered to cook this Lucban pancit. The pancit pack comes with a recipe guide but I am paraphrasing it here.
Things to prepare:
- garlic (chop ‘em!)
- onion (chop ‘em too!)
- cabbage (cut into pieces)
- sayote (slice into pieces)
- carrots (slice into strips)
- pepper
- cooking oil
- meat strips (I used chicken from our New Year celebration)
Now we cook it!
Heat your cooking oil on a pan.
Saute garlic and onion then add the meat strips, pepper (the amount would depend on your taste), and your soy sauce.
Then add the vegetables stirring them all the while until you deemed them cooked (or half-cooked depending on your preference).
On a separate pan I boiled water and instead of a broth I opted to use oyster sauce. Then you add the pancit habhab cooking it until tender enough.
Then add the other ingredients and mix them thoroughly.
As a final touch, I served the pancit habhab with calamansi and fried ham (again, from New Year celebration).
I thought it easy enough to cook, wondering if the common pancit is also cooked that way. But some palates deemed my delicacy matabang so I added more soy sauce to taste. Comments for improvements are welcome, dear reader!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Food for the Trails: How to Make Suman
An ever-present food during the time of Undas/Undras, suman proves to be an integral part of the Filipino appetite. But this food can still be found being peddled in many places here in Laguna. So how do we make this delicious snack? Here’s how.
But note that these will only just be a general guide. With regards to the exact measurements of the needed ingredients one has to consult the elders who can aide you in the perfection of your own suman delicacy!
Suman is basically a rice delicacy. We often use what we call malagkit for its preparation. Now your approach can be in two parts: 1) wrapper (pambalot) preparation and 2) suman preparation.
Wrapper Preparation
You have to obtain as much banana leaves as possible.
Then you have to run them over a flame (in Filipino it is termed as ‘laib’ or ‘i-laib’) to essentially ‘cook’ the leaves.
Then you have to cut the leaves according to your intended sizes for the suman. Set them aside.
Suman Preparation
Wash your malagkit much like your usual rice. Set aside.
Pour coconut milk (kakang gata or the first milk you get once you have squeezed the coconut meat) on a big pan then heat. Pour in now you malagkit onto the pan.
Mix constantly to avoid the malagkit sticking onto the pan. Once cooked, or half cooked depending on your preference, you can now place them in the wrappers. You can use tablespoon as your reference. Once wrapped, you have to seal them using parts of the banana leaves as well.
You may now put altogether in a big container. Pour water into it, just enough so that it will further cook the suman inside. To save fuel, you may use the old-school stove (using firewood or coal).
To check whether the suman is already cooked, you stick a fork onto one of them or you can taste one yourself. Whether they are already cooked or not would depend on your preference.
The first time I tried doing it from preparation to cooking, it took me a whole day. Night has settled already when the last embers in the stove were finally put out. And so to treat myself, I combined suman with sinukmani and coffee. Comments (especially for improvements) are welcome!
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Food for the Trails: Patio Sophia in Pila, Laguna
Food is ever present in travels and tours. And so if you are looking for some quick chow in Pila, Laguna, you may want to visit Patio Sophia. Situated just across the street from the Pila Church, the visitors are offered with food common to the Filipino palate. Yes, the usual stuff – pasta-based snacks and Filipino ulam – but the surrounding enables you to imagine a Spanish-era setting as you eat. One only has to look outside and see neighboring houses and stores. In our case we choose the favorites: baked macaroni topped with cheese and clubhouse. Pushed with cold drinks, and merienda time was well satisfied.
Patio Sophia is located at number 30 Rizal Street, Barangay Santa Clara Norte, Pila, Laguna. You may contact them at these numbers: (049) 559-5032, 0932-8778783. You may also send them an e-mail to: patio_sophia@yahoo.com.ph
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Year That Was 2013: A Taste of Local Flavors at Café de Lipa
Home of Filipino Coffee.
True enough. With the ambience and taste you will be truly at home at Café de Lipa. An occasional detour to Lipa City, Batangas eventually led us to several coffee shops in the city. But in terms of local taste and price, Café de Lipa is the place to be. Found adjacent to the main entrance of SM Lipa, it gives a relaxing view of a wide expanse of Lipa skies. Couple your brief respite with either a hot cold coffee plus their wide selection of cookies and de leches.
Syempre, hindi mawawala ang kapeng barako (brewed coffee)!
Do not ask the coffee or cookie names, dear reader; they all got lost with the cell phone that broke down a few months back. Although found on a popular mall, I think there is still another shop of the same name found a short walk away from the Lipa City bus terminal. Do try Lipa coffee!
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Food for the Trails: Aleng Taleng’s Halo-Halo in Pagsanjan, Laguna
* food you can try at Aleng Taleng’s
* behold, the one who started it all: Aleng Taleng
* view of the store from the outside
Traveling necessitates rest and food. And what’s better than sampling the local delicacies of thwe place you are visiting? For the town of Pagsanjan in Laguna, it has Aleng Taleng’s Halo-Halo. Claimed to have started in 1933 it is a place where you can find local food at reasonable prices. Of course, halo-halo is the store’s expertise but you can also try their noodle, seafood, and chicken delicacies. Whether you come in pairs or in big group, Aleng Taleng’s Halo-halo can accommodate you.
* one bonus product we got in Pagsanjan: kesong puti,
a local delicacy found in the areas of Santa Cruz and Pagsanjan
[Where is Aleng Taleng’s Halo-Halo in Pagsanjan? The store is located at 169 General Luna Street, Brgy. Maulawin, Pagsanjan, Laguna. For inquiries you contact them at these numbers: (049) 501-7861, 0917-8998484, 0917-7578484.]
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Food for the Trails: Take a Break at RC Burger
* behold, RC Burger
Want to step away from the usual fast food type of burgers? Then try out the burger at RC Burger. Just a short walk away from San Pablo City plaza, this place boasts different burgers: tower burger, big belly burger, big thriller burger, small thriller burger, chicken burger, and even burger steak. With the Holy Week on its way, it will be good to have a place to take a break and fill in our stomachs.
* a RC Burger and fries for you
What makes this place worth trying is their Burger Challenge where you get to have your burger for free or you get to win some gadgets if you eat a particular burger for a certain time interval. But I’m not going to spill the details so better visit the place.
For inquiries you can contact RC Burger at the following numbers: (049) 573-0424, 0923-7492251, 0921-5704202, 0917-8148872, 0999-8789061.
Visit their Facebook page: at facebook.com/RCBurgerCo
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Food for the Trails: Coffee Break at Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival, San Pablo
* interior views of Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival
A slight drizzle one time opened up a chance to visit Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival, a beautifully lit coffee/cake shop in our home city of San Pablo. The unusual cold nights every now and then proved a good excuse to get a taste of some coffee right in the city proper.
The place was cozy as expected but I do not see it as fitful place for an intimate meeting. Rather, it is a conducive place for simple group meeting or family gathering. The fixtures and its lighting may be contributory to this.
* good food in a good place
But beyond the interior designs the food was superb. We tried a Cuban sandwich and a red velvet cupcake coupled with a blackberry mocha coffee. The bittersweet combination of the food and drink was simply enjoyable. I am yet to try to more famous cakes they have there. Next time it has to be more than a simple coffee break at Si Christina.
[How to go to Si Christina Gateau Sans Rival, San Pablo City, Laguna: This coffee shop would not be hard to find. The place is close to the San Pablo Cathedral and in fact just opposite the city plaza.]
Food for the Trails: Isaw Atbp. Along Lopez Avenue, Los Baños, Laguna
My recent revisit to Los Baños, Laguna (LB for most of us who spent part of their life in this town) to obtain some documents brought back memories of my college days. I remember walking along Lopez Avenue whenever I had money just enough to bring me to San Pablo or whenever I want to do a solo food trip along this main thoroughfare to UP Los Baños.
As I walked towards Junction (Lopez Avenue and Los Baños-to-Calamba highway intersection) I could not resist the inviting smoke from a makeshift store just in front of Robinson’s Town Mall. In tracing the smoke’s origin, I found myself again in this small stall where isaw and the usual gang of innards are grilled and sold. As always these foods (often tagged as street foods) were satisfying.
From this impromptu eat I came up with the idea of covering some of the busiest streets in LB and make a blog post on the food being sold along these streets.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Food for the Trails: Chef Mau Restaurant in Liliw, Laguna
* Chef Mau Restaurant, Liliw, Laguna
A fine eat in a fine town. There were just few cases when I was so starving that my next eat proved to be more than satisfying. That was the case when we visited Chef Mau Restaurant and Catering Services in Liliw, Laguna, famished after two days of work in Magdalena, Laguna.
* designs inside Chef Mau Restaurant
Chef Mau Restaurant may be situated in a rural place but their menu is superb. No rural scene can hide that. The place is conducive for small or larger groups. But for a big company, one may opt to make reservation first (see contact details below). The restaurant itself is native in style, built mainly from of wood and decorated with native arts and designs. Cozy I may say.
* dishes to look forward to in Chef Mau
* the gang after an hour (or more) of feasting
Their
menu includes specialties on pasta, pizza, sandwiches, cakes for the
common stomach. For those who are in for finer eats you’ll have seafood
selection, chicken and fowl, salad and vegetable dishes, pork and beef,
among others. But as have been suggested to us, we requested for the stuffed eggplant with pork sausage.
Man, it was terrific to taste. I just hope I got the name right as I
have missed taking note of it. In any case, you’ll see the photo of the
dish accompanying this post.
[How to go to Chef Mau Restaurant: For this who are now interested to try it out, Chef Mau Restaurant and Catering Services is found along the road leading to the town of Magdalena, Laguna. If you board a jeep in Liliw town proper bound to Santa Cruz via Magdalena, just ask the driver to drop you off at Chef Mau. For inquiries you may call and/or text these numbers: (049) 573-6290, 0915-9267824, 0917-5071798, 0921-4948226.]
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