Desserts Storm 2 : Manila's Finest

In 2013, The Experienced Chef recycled a dried-up macaroni soup to macaroni in mushroom sauce.   With this recycled pasta dish, one must not despair in leftover cooked pasta.   Moreover, when the sauce runs out for a cooked pasta or the excess pasta is plain,  this offers plenty of possibilities to realize one's culinary creativity. One can select a pasta topping from dissolving an instant soup powder mix in sachet, heating a ready-to- serve soup dish in can, using a pasta sauce or just plain sauteing onions and tomatoes.

After enjoying the recycled pasta dish, we can proceed to taste the finest desserts found in Manila.   In fact, these are pastry items which can be consumed on its own during snack or merienda time. These will blend well with coffee or tea.

Pastry Bread - Cheddar Cheese Ensaymada 

Created by:

HIZON'S Cakes & Pastries

1197 Jorge Bocobo corner Arquiza streets
Ermita, Manila

Prune Walnut Cake

Created by:

Becky's Kitchen
1061 P. Ocampo (formerly Vito Cruz)
corner Bautista streets
Singalong, Manila

Chinese Deli

Custard Hopia

Year Cake "Tikoy" Bar (Muscovado)

Created by:

Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli
628 Ongpin street
Binondo, Manila

Crinkles

Created by:

Becky's Kitchen
1061 P. Ocampo (formerly Vito Cruz)
corner Bautista streets
Singalong, Manila

Desserts Storm 1 : Cupcakes and Pie

Coconut "Buko" Pie

Created by:

ORIENT - The ORIGINAL Buko Pie Bakeshop

National Highway, Barangay Anos

Los Banos, Laguna

Cupcake

Flour-less Chocolate Cupcake

Red Velvet Cupcake

Created by:

Sophie's Mom
Santol St., San Antonio Village
Makati City

The Experienced Chef Recommends

Before I started making videos, I  was already thinking of highlighting food served in the Philippines.  The reason was a feedback from a Malaysian colleague who commented that Filipino food is bland.  Being temporarily based in Malaysia for a year and being polite to my host country, I did not rectify the impression. 

Since my colleague only stayed a couple of days in Manila, there was no way she would know the real taste and color of Filipino food.  I don't think she has even gone to a decent restaurant in the country at that time. Anyway, this plan of mine was revived when I made a couple of videos about recycling leftover food in my Youtube Channel.

The Experienced Chef Recycles videos were supposed to be a culinary feature series.  Since  I want to focus on highlighting local food preparation (not only native dishes) and I could not create The Experienced Chef Recommends videos for now, I decided to execute my plan via blog. As an incidental food blogger, I am aware of my limitations and people's varying preferences.  I do not have any culinary academic credential and on-the-job work experience, but I have five (5) decades of tasting, consuming and rating food preparation in the country.  

In the end, the food blogger and culinary specialist could only be judged if the reader could come to the Philippines and actually taste the featured food product.  Thus, it is my objective to inform the reader that if you happen to drop by the Pbilippines ask the locals how to secure these featured food items.  For the FOODiction blog, expect very few words and ,like it or not, an indirect recommendation of the food item.

Let me just introduce to you The Experienced Chef via the videos made for the Youtube Channel.  These videos do not recommend these Filipino dishes rather The Experienced Chef informs and instructs the household how to recycle the leftover food.

Milk Fish (Bangus) in Sour Broth to Fried Milk Fish

Fried St. Peter's Fish (Tilapia) to Tilapia in Fish/Mackerel Sauce with Jute Leaves

Coming up are  The Experienced Chef TEC continuing recommendations for a satisfying culinary experience if you happen to visit the Philippines.  Whether  TEC recommendations suit your taste or not, just come over and taste them!