Blogalag

THIS CHRISTMAS, INVITE THE GENERAL'S LECHON

 

Christmas and Lechon.  Two beautiful words that will instantly make you giddy with excitement.  The former will make your heart skip because it's another wonderful year to celebrate with family and friends.  While the latter will make your mouth salivate the moment you hear it.  That's why this Christmas, why don't you invite the General's Lechon to grace your dining table?

When I got the invite from Spanky to sample, not just one, but three gorgeous roasted suckling pigs, I did not even think twice about going.  You'd be crazy to turn down Philippines' national dish (in the most cholesterol-filled category).  Brainchild of husband-and-wife team, Bryan and Lynett Ong, General's Lechon was brought to Manila from Bryan's hometown of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.  I asked Bryan, "Why General?" and all he did was point to his wife.  Good husband.

When we entered the couple's kitchen, 3 medium-sized pig greeted us.  And their names were Original, Curry and Chili-Garlic.

BREAKFASTS ACROSS TIMEZONES

 

It has been a year since my first visit to the US.  I remember being giddy about the thought of my very first Thanksgiving as well as my very first winter.  But the thing I was most excited about was the fact that I'll be able to taste an authentic Ramen on my stopover to Narita Airport in Japan (hey, that's as authentic as I can get during my transfer) and an authentic American breakfast since I'll be chowing it down in America.  Food always gets me excited.  Isn't it obvious?

So as soon as my plane landed in Japan, I walked towards my gate and did some window shopping in between since I have about 2 hours to kill.  Just very near the gate is a Ramen place.  I can almost hear the noodles calling my name.  Without thinking twice, I entered the store and lined up to get me a bowl of Chashu Ramen (pork ramen).

There is something about flavorful broths that make all your insides happy.  The tenderness of the pork went well with the al dente noodles.  Travelers who have been to Japan will definitely tell me that there are other more delicious Ramen than this.  That may be true but at that point, I didn't really care.  It was the perfect breakfast for me and I know that it will sustain me long enough on the flight before I get my next meal on the plane.

PINOY THANKSGIVING ALA PEPITA'S KITCHEN

 

September 2011.  Thanksgiving in the Philippines came early to me and my foodie friends.  Dubbed as "Lechon Degustacion", the private dinner was one for the books.  Well first, let's identify what "degustacion" means.  Degustacion or degustation is a culinary term meaning an appreciative tasting of various foods focusing on the gustatory or sensory system, the senses (sight, smell, auditory, taste and touch), the culinary art as well as the good company.  A degustation usually consists of 8 or more courses involving small portions of the chef's signature dishes.  By the definition alone, you can already tell that this is not your ordinary lunch or dinner.  This is considered an EVENT.

Being one of the early birds, together with friends Yedy of Yedylicious Food Blog and Glenn of The Strolling Spoon, the moment I saw the long dining table adorned with colorful plates and origami, I know we're in for an exciting dinner.

 

I fell in love with this napkin ring that I was tempted to take it home.  Haha!  But of course, I didn't.  I don't want to give Dedet dela Fuente, our gracious host, a problem when she starts counting her beautiful napkin rings only to find out that she's short of one.

MY VERY FIRST THANKSGIVING

 

Exactly 7 days from now, everyone here in the United States of America will prepare a feast, will gather around the dinner table to toast the exciting get together and will express their gratitude for whatever good things that happened in their lives for the past year.  And this celebration is called Thanksgiving.

Every 4th Thursday of November, people here in the States buy the fattest turkey they can get their hands on, call up their family and friends to help them devour the entire bird and simply spend time together as one big happy unit celebrating a good year's harvest or in most cases, blessings that each and everyone received for the past year.  I was able to experience such when I visited my relatives in San Francisco last November 2010.

By evening of Thanksgiving, friends and family came pouring in bearing gifts.  If you're Asian, you know pretty well that by gifts, we mean food.  The celebration may be American but the feast was totally Filipino.  The only taste of an American Thanksgiving that I experienced was the turkey.

ARE YOU A HAPPY LEMON?

 

Well, I am!

 

And yes, I am still alive!

 

Finally, after months and months and months of just reading about this craze, I got myself dragged by two of my best gal pals to Powerplant in Rockwell.  They told me that I must NOT leave the Philippines without ever getting my own dose of Happy Lemon's Cocoa with Rock Salt and Cheese.  So I willingly obliged.

It was a lovely Saturday when we trooped to Powerplant Mall and patiently queued for some happy drinks.