Villa Escudero | Where Nature Meets Tradition and Culture.

It has actually been months since we last visited Villa Escudero, but I wanted to blog about it anyway for two reasons: 1) Villa Escudero is one of the top tourist spots in this region (or perhaps in the country), and 2) this was such a fun day for the entire family; it has been years since my cousins and my siblings and I did something like this together.

Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort is an eco-tourism resort that showcases the history and cultural heritage of the Philippines. Located along the boundary of Laguna and Quezon, Villa Escudero is best known for its carabao rides, cultural shows, and its scenic waterfall restaurant.

The way to Villa Escudero. 
If you see this along the highway, then you're on the right track.

Established in the late 1800s by Don Placido Escudero, Villa Escudero began as a self-contained sugar plantation. Towards the early 1900s, the place eventually became a coconut plantation. In 1929, the plantation became officially known as Villa Escudero, the same year when Don Arsenio Escudero, Don Placido's son, built the country's first working hydroelectric plant to supply power to his dessicated coconut factory and to the entire estate.

In 1981, Villa Escudero opened its doors to the public, making it one of the oldest and most famous resorts in the Philippines. From its humble beginnings, Villa Escudero has become one of the country's leading tourists destinations for both locals and foreigners alike. It is especially popular among balikbayans or expats who have been away from their home country for so long and are eager to experience traditional Filipino food, culture, and heritage all over again.

A modified jeepney parked near the waiting area.

The Villa Escudero Museum, which houses religious artifacts and other historical items.
Picture taking is prohibited inside the museum.

We visited Villa Escudero last November, a few days after the onslaught of Typhoon Paeng (Tropical Storm Nalgae). Since we were traveling as a big group (there were 13 of us), I made a reservation about a week prior to our visit, which I booked through their website. I called the Villa Escudero office the day before our visit, just to make sure that they're open and our reservation was not cancelled because of the possible damages brought about by the typhoon. Thankfully, the staff confirmed that Villa Escudero is open and operational, and so our trip pushed through.

More of our Villa Escudero experience after the jump!

Balai Palmera pursues passion by helping other businesses.

In 2019, during the height of the restriction caused by the pandemic, Chef Ryan Dimapilis, President of Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center, keeps himself busy by thinking of ways to keep his business afloat as well as his employees employed. 

“I’m a firm believer that we, Pinoys, are very resilient and at the same time supportive and loyal in many ways. This was strongly proven during the pandemic when many businesses turn online to sell their products. Most of our clients at first were mostly family and friends, which branched out and reached many more people who find our products worth a try,” he shared.

A Eureka Moment!

Along with his partners and staff, Balai Palmera concocted their version of Calabarzon’s beloved Buko Pie, which has led to a new triumph for the company. Gathering supplies from local suppliers from Laguna and Quezon, Balai Palmera uses all-fresh and no-preservative Buko Pie that instantly gained patrons in Silang and nearby municipalities in Cavite. As soon as restrictions were eased out and news spread out, Balai Palmera’s kitchen became so busy with hundreds of orders of this Buko Pie day after day.

“As much as we want to concentrate on this success, as a businessman, I know that there other smaller businesses that need help to bounce back from the pandemic. So, as soon as we were able to reopen some of our other businesses, we started reaching out to local manufacturers to promote and even sell their products in our Pasalubong Centers,” he added.

From one Pasalubong Center, Balai Palmera recently expanded its footprint by opening one more Pasalubong Center in Silang providing more choices and convenience to its customers. This extensive and expasive center carries other local brands that made their way to the palette of domestic and international guests of the region.

One-Stop Pinoy Favorite Shop

Balai Palmera takes pride in its merchandise for only being 100% Pinoy-made but also being DTI-approved.

"This goes to show that how dedicated we are in making our customers’ visit to our Pasalubong Centers an experience they would love to do again and again. By having DTI-approved products in shops, we are bringing the best of the region within their arms reach,” Dimapilis happily shared.

Aside from Buko Pie, Balai Palmera guests can also enjoy locally produced Pedro’s Kangkong Chips, J. Fernandez’s Chichapop, Nikimat’s Tahong Chips, Binan’s Okoy, Pastillas De Leche, Banana Chips, Mushroom Cracklings, Calamansito, Basimatsi, Coco Jam, Jacobina, Biscocho, Piaya Ube, and R&l Chicharon. 

From healthy snacks to filling and heartwarming pastries and bread, one can also find comfort and enjoyment in Balai Palmera’s version of Chocolate Almond Babka, Raisin Bread as well as Ensyamada which use local ingredients from local manufacturers.

“While we continue to pray for the day to come where we are all safe and free to move around again, we will keep working with various industry leaders to create a collaborative effort that transcends Pinoy pride,” he concluded.

Balai Palmera Restaurant and Pasalubong Center have two branches, first at Tagaytay-Sta. Road Brgy. Pasong Langka, Silang, Cavite, and second at Aguinaldo Highway, Bypass Road, San Vicente 2, Silang, Cavite.

For more information, updates, and other news, you may follow them on their official Facebook and Instagram accounts.

McDonald's brightens up the holidays with the launch of its Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts.

As the holiday season draws near, more Filipinos are looking forward to celebrating by sharing the light and happiness to their loved ones despite being apart. Luckily, McDonald’s is here to bring back a taste of that signature Pinoy Christmas through the new festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts!

Taste the festive and Filipino-inspired holiday desserts from McDonald's!

Combining Filipinos’ sweet tooth and love for the holidays, McDonald’s is adding a Pinoy twist to their best-tasting desserts with some crowd-favorite Filipino desserts. For ube lovers, indulge in McDonald’s take on the sugary delicacy with the Ube Pastillas Sundae and Ube Pastillas Frappe, while you can enjoy the sweet, creamy, and delicate flavor of Brazo de Mercedes with McDonald’s various renditions of the classic cake: the Brazo Sundae, Brazo Frappe, or Brazo Iced Coffee! Those looking for the classic taste of sweetness and warmth can also grab a cup of McDonald’s Hot Chocolate, perfect for cozy Ber-month mornings.

New frappe flavors!

New sundae flavors!

It’s never too early to start the holiday season! Brighten up and sweeten the holiday celebrations with the new McDonald’s Ube Pastillas and Brazo desserts—available for a limited time only.

Taste the festive twist to McDonald’s desserts by ordering via Dine-In, Take Out, Ride-Thru or via delivery through McDelivery, Grab or foodpanda! Follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Viber to stay up to date on all McDonald’s announcements.

"Cooked with Love" | Family, Food, and Nostalgia in Ajinomoto's web series.

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC)’s latest web series entitled “Cooked with Love,” reveals a heartwarming take on cooking as a shared love language among Filipino families.

Have you watched "Cooked with Love"?

Cooked with Love features interwoven stories of three generations of women who show their love for each other through sharing recipes and dining together. Showcasing heart-warming stories of relationships and how cooking with love was made more memorable with AJI-NO-MOTO® Umami Seasoning. The series feature Tessie, the grandmother; Jenny, the mother; and Therese, the daughter. Viewers can watch the first episode, “Slurp,” and second episode, “Squeeze,” on Ajinomoto’s Cookmunity® Facebook page and Youtube channel. Meanwhile, the last episode, “Sniff,” will premiere this Saturday, July 10.

“Cooking food and sharing mealtimes are powerful in shaping wonderful memories with our loved ones. With Ajinomoto being a part of the Filipino cooking and dining experiences for more than six decades now, we want to help them relive and celebrate those feel-good moments through Cooked With Love,” says Roann Co, APC General Manager of Marketing and Public Relations.

Passing it on

"Slurp" starring Mommy Jenny and Therese.

“Slurp” tells the story of Mommy Jenny who shares their Nilagang Baka family recipe with her teenage daughter, Therese. The parallel scenes of two mother-daughter generations making the family recipe ties the episode together well. The cute and kilig first installment captures how love can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Paying it forward

"Squeeze" starring Therese and Lola Tessie.

“Squeeze” features the relationship between Therese and her grandmother Tessie. Viewers will see how cooking Arroz Caldo becomes Lola Tessie’s way of saying “I love you, apo.” It shows that cooking traditions persist because of people who care for and love their family.

Putting the pieces together

The concluding episode “Sniff” showcases food as a source of comfort in tough times and more importantly, in dealing with the constant changes life has to bring. It recalls how Tessie comforts her daughter Jenny since she was a child until now that she's a mother who is about to face a life-changing situation. Through it all, the women share their love while cooking and eating their classic Adobo recipe.

With community quarantine protocols urging Filipinos to remain at home, stories of familial love are sure to encourage Filipinos to express their feelings through food. Cooked With Love lives up to APC’s Eat Well, Live Well promise in its pursuit to provide good food, better health, and wonderful dining memories to Filipino families with the help of umami, a nature-based ingredient that brings out the meaty, savory deliciousness, and deepens the flavor of food. For more information, visit www.ajinomoto.com.ph.

Foodie Goodie | Neri's Gourmet Tuyo.

One of the very few local celebrities that I follow on Instagram is Neri Naig-Miranda, wife of Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda. Her IG feed features snippets of her life as a homemaker and mom-to-be, random stories about love and marriage, plus her cooking adventures.

Photo credit: Neri Miranda.

Through her Instagram, I also discovered the sophisticated version of dried herring, or 'tuyo' as we call it here in the Philippines. Cooked and bottled in olive oil and infused with onions, garlic, chilies, and spices, your plain ol' dried herring get's a 'face lift' and becomes 'gourmet tuyo'.

I love tuyo, and have been wanting to give this 'avant garde' version a try for the longest time. I was finally able to satisfy my curiosity and satiate my craving over the weekend - yay!

Old packaging of Neri's Gourmet Tuyo.

Apparently, Neri's Gourmet Tuyo now has an official reseller in my area. Stocks are usually available during the weekends and can be purchased at Kpop Bang, a Korean restaurant located within the city proper.

What's inside. :)

Neri's Gourmet Tuyo comes in 120 mL bottles, and is available in two variants - Original, which retails at Php 170 per bottle, and Spicy, which sells for Php 175 per bottle. I bought the Original variant, thinking that the latter might be a tad too spicy for my liking.

Made with olive oil.

In one of her Instagram posts, Neri mentioned that she uses only olive oil for her gourmet tuyo, which is good since this oil is considered as the healthiest among all cooking oils. In addition, olive oil lends a distinctively fresh, earthy taste to virtually any dish. This gourmet tuyo is also infused with garlic, onions, and spices, plus diced carrots for the crunch factor.

Dried herring + aromatics + spices + olive oil.

I love that Neri's Gourmet Tuyo is neither too salty nor cloying, and is seasoned just right. How I wish I had bought more than one bottle, because that particular bottle was emptied in no time. Haha! Definitely buying two (or more bottles) next time!

This was gone in a jiffy, lol.

In the future, I hope Neri's Gourmet Tuyo will also be available in luggage-friendly packaging. As in pouches, so I can stuff them easily in my luggage and bring some whenever I visit my husband abroad. I'm sure a lot of OFWs missing the taste of home will appreciate this as pasalubong, too!

Neri's Gourmet Tuyo (San Pablo)

c/o Kpop Bang,

Paseo de Escudero St, San Pablo City

0915 105 8922

Foodie Goodie | Kuya J Restaurant.

Mum had been craving for halo-halo ever since she arrived two weeks ago. All the more after seeing Jericho Rosales' halo-halo commercial on TV. And so last Saturday, we went all the way to SM Lipa to dine at Kuya J's - the restaurant which Jericho Rosales endorses - and give their halo-halo a try.

Kuya J's picture menu.

A casual dining restaurant, Kuya J offers traditional Filipino dishes in a setting that's cozy and homey, yet posh at the same time. Just look at the interiors - very minimalist and quite pleasing to the eye, unlike some of the traditional Filipino restaurants that I have been to. Our group of eight (six adults and two kids) were given seats at the far end of the restaurant, near the door which leads to the al fresco dining area.

Inside Kuya J's Restaurant.

Their menu is pretty impressive, too. Lots of food choices from appetizers to sizzlers, soups and vegetables, rice and noodles, and drinks and desserts.

Kuya J's House Specialties.

Before placing our order, we asked the waitstaff if their dishes are good for sharing. He said yes, and that each dish can serve 4-5 persons. We figured it would be alright to just order one serving of each of the following dishes since the six of us were supposed to be on a diet. Haha!

Kuya J's Crispy Wings, Php 240.

Kuya J's Crispy Wings - crispy chicken wings cooked in savory sesame sauce and served with a garlic mayo dip. I'm not sure how three pieces of chicken wings can serve five, let alone four people. What is this, manna from heaven?! But to be fair with Kuya J, these wings were very flavorful. My son loved it so much he ate it with rice.

Camaron Rebosado, Php 285.

Camaron Rebosado - deep-fried battered shrimp served with sweet and sour dipping sauce. This dish was just as good - the batter was light and crunchy, the shrimp meaty and well-cooked.

Bam-i, Php 185.

Bam-i - vermicelli and egg noodles mixed with pork belly strips, squid balls, shrimp, squid, and fresh greens. It's your typical pancit, good enough for my grandmother's liking.

Kare-kare, Php 399. 

Kare-kare - beef and oxtail stew in a peanut-based sauce. The flavorful sauce and the fork-tender meat did not disappoint, but as usual, the serving was a little less than what we expected. We ordered two additional servings of the kare-kare and had to wait for another fifteen minutes for it.

Kuya J's Bulalo, Php 485.

Kuya J's Bulalo - beef and bone marrow slow-cooked with secret spices and served with corn and vegetables. Not a fan of bulalo, especially in this kind of weather, but my Mum and grandmother enjoyed this best-seller from Kuya J. I reckon the soup was pretty good as my son and my niece had second helpings.

Crispy Dinuguan, Php 195.

Crispy Dinuguan - deep-fried pork belly in rich blood sauce. I was expecting this dish to be like Kanin Club's Crispy Dinuguan with the pork chunks mixed into the rich and creamy sauce. But alas, Kuya J's looked nothing like it. The serving is a tad smaller, too.

Garlic Rice Platter, Php 140.

We ordered two servings of the Garlic Rice Platter thinking that it would be enough for all of us. Had we known that one platter isn't even enough for the kids to share, we could have just ordered eight cups of Garlic Rice. Or the Unlimited Rice at Php 60 each, but that would be bad for our diet. 

Tablea Coffee Flan, Php 85.

Thankfully, the desserts exceeded our expectations. The Tablea Coffee Flan, made with Batangas tablea, is divine! It's literally bittersweet as the subtle bitter flavor of the tablea gives a nice contrast to the creaminess of the leche flan.

Kuya J's Halo Halo Espesyal, Php 99.

Finally, the Halo Halo Espesyal, the main purpose of this dining trip. It was everything Jericho Rosales said in his commercial - ice made with carabao's milk, which makes the halo-halo extra creamy without being overly sweet. Best of all, this halo-halo doesn't scrimp on ingredients. Definitely worth the money!

Waiting to be served.

Our first dining experience at Kuya J's isn't exactly exceptional, as we were disappointed at how small the servings were vis-a-vis the price. Plus the waitstaff who tended to us was seemingly exasperated because we kept on adding orders halfway through the meal. That could have not have been the case had we known that their food servings were good for just two or three people. But they do serve good food and yummy halo-halo which I guess makes it worth the trouble.

Kuya J Restaurant 
2nd Floor, SM City Lipa
Lipa, Batangas

Foodie Goodie | Lechon Paksiw.

We had lechon (roasted suckling pig) for Noche Buena, and guess what we did with the left-overs. Even a six-year-old would know what would happent the day after. Yep, it became lechon paksiw.

'Paksiw' means to cook and simmer in vinegar, a method of cooking that is pretty common here in the Philippines. While I'm not too fond of the common paksiw na pata (pork hock) or paksiw na bangus (milkfish), lechon paksiw for me is a totally different story. I guess it's the lechon/liver sauce that makes all the difference.

Lechon Paksiw

Ingredients:

1/2 kg lechon, cut into pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
2 pieces bay leaf
2 cups Mang Tomas Lechon Sauce
2 tablespoons vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon pepper corn
1 cup water

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a large pot and cook over low flame.
2. Simmer for 30 minutes or until sauce thickens.
3. Season with salt to taste.
4. Serve hot with steamed or fried rice.

Foodie Goodie | Bulgogi.

Just four more days 'til Christmas and here I am trying to figure out what to cook for our traditional Christmas Eve Feast aka Noche Buena. My London-based cousins are coming home for the holidays (this will be their first Christmas in the Phi since they left for London ten years ago), and they're all asking for lechon. So yeah, roasted suckling pig will definitely be on the menu as requested. We usually have two or three meat dishes on our Noche Buena table so I'm thinking of bulgogi as the other meat entree for the night.

Bulgogi is a dish of thinly sliced beef that is pre-marinated with various seasonings and grilled on a hot barbecue pan. Bulgogi has been popular since the 1950s when the beef was served in thin slices to make it more tender and reduce the cooking time. Below is the recipe, which I learned from KTO (Korea Tourism Organization), in case you'd like to try making this at home. :)

Bulgogi

Ingredients:

300 grams beef (sirloin)

1 onion, sliced

100 grams lettuce

Marinade:

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp garlic, crushed

1/2 tbsp sesame seed, crushed

1/4 tsp black pepper

50 grams pear juice

Procedure:

1. Rinse beef thoroughly under running water. Dry excess water then remove excess fat and cut into thin slices.

2. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the the marinade.

3. Add the beef and onions to the marinade. Mix well, and marinate it for 30 minutes.

4. Heat the griddle or pan and grill/fry the beef on high heat. 

4. Serve with lettuce.

Globe goes global with new international SIMs!

Great news for OFW families and Filipinos traveling abroad!

As more Filipinos fly to Europe, Globe Telecom continues to find ways for them to stay connected to their homeland by introducing in Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) its newest international SIMs with affordable call, text and surfing rates.

Globe local Italy SIM.

With the Globe local Italy SIM, Filipino travelers can keep in touch with loved ones back home using local rates. For just 10 euros or Php 620, subscribers are allocated with 1GB of mobile data, along with 240 minutes of calls to all networks in Italy, valid for 30 days. Using the Globe local Italy SIM, they can also call Globe and TM subscribers in the Philippines for only seven euro cents or Php 4.50 per minute. No other mobile operator in Italy offers these affordable rates.

Globe local UK SIM.

Meanwhile, Filipinos in the UK can enjoy 10 pence or just Php 7.50 for both calls and texts to Globe and also TM users in the Philippines to all networks in the UK. Mobile data costs only £1 (one UK pound) or P75 for 10 megabytes (MB) of data to power a two-minute video stream, 10 emails with attachments and 100 posts on their social networking accounts.

The Globe International SIMs are available at the Globe booths at the departure areas of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The SIMs can also be used with an open line handset. For more information, visit ukglobetel.com and globemobile.it.

Spotlight | Samyo Bed and Linen Spray + Giveaway!

I'm a sucker for aromatherapy. From massage oils, to scented candles, to oil lamps, to reed diffusers - I've tried them all. This time around I'm using a new method, in the form of mist sprays.

Just recently, I received these bottles of bed and linen sprays from Samyo Fragrances. The brand derives its name from 'samyo' - the Filipino term for 'aroma' or 'fragrance'.

Samyo Bed and Linen Sprays.

A fledgling business enterprise, Samyo Fragrances aims to take advantage of the olfactory perception (aka, sense of smell) to address an individual's specific need. Their Xaplono line, for instance, aims to address sleeping problems and boost relaxation through aromatherapy.

At present, there are two variants available in the Xaplono line: Harmony, a light, floral scent made from lavender and chamomile essences; and Tranquility, an earthy, woody scent made from oils of sandalwood and vetiver.

Tranquility.

Used for centuries to enhance meditation, sandalwood is also a natural sleep remedy. Vetiver, on the other hand, helps relieve anxiety.

Harmony.

Lavender, a very popular fragrance, has been named as one of the most useful essence for the relief of anxiety and stress. It's a great complement to chamomile, which calms the mind and induces a happy feeling.

These bed and linen sprays come in transparent plastic bottles with a fine-mist atomizer spray and a snug-fit protective cap. To use, simply spritz 3 or 4 times onto pillows or bed sheets before naptime or bedtime.

Atomizer spray.

Both Harmony and Tranquility are fragrant, yet mildly-scented. The aroma is very natural - not the kind that could make you sneeze or cough at first whiff. It's gentle on kids' noses, too. In fact, my son loves the light and lulling scent of Harmony.

Harmony + Tranquility.

If you're thinking of trying these sprays, you can purchase them online via the Samyo website. Or you can drop them a line on Facebook or Twitter. The 100mL bottle costs Php 300, while 50mL bottles costs Php 200 each. Both rates are inclusive of delivery fee.

Thank you, Samyo Fragrances! :)

Now here's the best part.
As a treat to all of you, Samyo Fragrances will be giving away two (2) 100 mL bottles of these bed and linen sprays (one of each variant) to one lucky reader! And just now, the Sales and Marketing Manager of Samyo contacted me, saying that he's including a Starbucks gift certificate to the prize pack!

To join the giveaway, simply complete the tasks listed on the Rafflecopter below.
You have to complete all of the mandatory tasks for your entries to be valid. You can earn more entries should you choose to do the optional tasks. More completed tasks mean more entries. More entries, the better your shot at winning the prize.
Giveaway will run until April 1st, so try to earn as much entries as you can. Good luck! :)

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