Pasta with pineapple wine from Adams, Ilocos Norte

Today I made a pasta dish with pineapple wine.

Ingredients:

1. 200 grams linguine pasta
2. 6 pieces medium size prawns (sugpo), cooked
3. 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
4. 1/2 teaspoon of dried rosemary
5. 2 dried birds eye chili (siling labuyo)
6. 2 tablespoon of margarine
7. 1/2 cup pineapple wine

Cooking instructions:

1. Cook pasta linguine according to instruction
2. After the excess water is drained, pour in the pineapple wine.
3. When the wine is partially absorbed by the pasta, toss in prawns, dried oregano and dried rosemary.
4. Add the margarine and chopped chili.
5. Stir for 2-3 minutes and serve.


In this pasta, I used pineapple wine from the Municipality of Adam, Ilocos Norte. They make great tasting wines and also it is one way of supporting and promoting local industry. I also replaced conventional butter to locally available margarine it has a very distinct flavor and it combines well with prawns and herbs too.

Kangkang Windmill Cafe

Last Saturday 11 November 2017, I went to Bangui, Ilocos Norte and had my lunch at Kangkang Windmill Cafe. The cafe is located near the scenic and famous windmills along Bangui Bay and if you are traversing the national highway (AH26) you will see signages pointing you to this hidden cafe at Brgy. Barruyen (map photo below):

The weather that time was humid and windy, plus its already 12 noon so its time for my lunch and my body clock never failed to remind me :-) The menu is pretty standard which include rice meals, viands famous to Ilocos like bagnet (deep fried pork), pakbet (mixed filipino vegetables), fruit shakes and sandwiches.

I ordered buko (young coconut) shake that exceeded my expectation. It was creamy, not too sweet and of course lots of buko meat.

For my meal, I had  cheese and bacon sandwich and potato fries. The sandwich also has tomato, cucumber and mayonnaise. The star in my plate was the potato fries, it was made from fresh cut potatoes and deep fried. Its a little bit crispy outside yet still soft and moist on the center. Compared to fast food or store brought frozen variety, this potato fries from Kangkang  Windmill Cafe is miles ahead in terms of flavor and taste.

Now, what would I change? maybe serve the fries with paper towel underneath to absorb the excess oil and few sprinkle of salt to enhance flavor. 

As a whole, my meal was good and looking forward to eat again at Kangkang Windmill Cafe.

Mabuhay Lounge at Ninoy Aquino International Airport ("NAIA") Terminal 2

In case your flight will leave from NAIA 2,  try to drop-by at Mabuhay Lounge  of Philippine Airlines. Here you can freshen up, relax and regain your energy by enjoying various light snacks like tropical fruits, sandwiches (photo below), rice porridge (arroz caldo), and choices of beverages such as soda, fruit juices, coffee and even cold beer.

The lounge also has a complimentary wi-fi connection you can use to read your personal and business emails or update your social media accounts, daily news papers and a huge flat screen television on the other side just in case you want to watch movies or games. 

Though access to Mabuhay Lounge is a privilege and requires you to be a Mabuhay Miles member with status of either Elite, Premiere Elite and Million  Miler. Passengers on business class can also avail of the lounge services.

To check other Mabuhay Lounge locations here in the Philippine or abroad please click the link below:

https://www.philippineairlines.com/en/travel%20information/beforeyoufly/attheairport/lounge

Clockwise: 1) small ensaymada, a soft sugary round bread covered with butter, cream and topped with grated cheese; 2) wheat bread with roasted beef and lettuce; 3)  herbed focacia bread with zucchini, eggplant, basil pesto spread and cheese; 4) Thai sticky rice cake topped with sweet coconut cream and slices of sweet ripe mango. 

528 Ilawod

I spent almost 10 years in Daraga, Albay during my high school and college days. Daraga is a first class municipality just few minutes away from Legazpi City and gateway to the province of Sorsogon if coming from Albay and Camarines Sur provinces. 

Through the power of social media (facebook) I learned about 528 Ilawod unique offering of baligang (Syzgium curranii) smoothie. For food enthusiast and blogger like me its worth a try, so I made sure its included on my to do list during my monthly vacation from work.

(Fast forward...) The ambiance of 528  Ilawod is cozy and relaxing, it feels like your in posh coffee shop but with a hint of local culture. The attendant/barista was very accommodating in explaining the menu and giving recommendations (it means she knows her craft). As much as I want to try all in the menu, I ended up ordering smoked fish (tinapa) pasta, baligang smoothie and calamansi tart. 

Tinapa pasta is light but packed with the flavors of smoked fish and olive oil.

Old sewing machine turned into dining table.

You can rest your feet here while eating and reminisce your childhood.

To freshen up my palate, I ordered Baligang (Syzgium curranii) smoothie.

I asked half sugar in it so I can enjoy more the sweet, sour and tart flavor of the fruit.

Calamansi tart just highlighted my eating experience at 528 Ilawod.

If you want to try and experience 528 Ilawod unique and satisfying food and drinks they are located at #528 Ilawod Lotivio Street, Daraga, Albay, Philippines.

Lechon Belly

Lechon or roasted pork is common during special occasions in The Philippines  like fiesta, birthdays, graduation, or any life milestones. Nowadays, having lechon at home is easy because of ovens and broilers are  easily available at appliance stores or malls. A simple lunch, dinner or any occasion can be a little bit special by making a lechon belly at home. 

Here the belly part of pork is rolled and stuffed with spices like garlic, pepper, salt and lemon grass with its bulb crushed to release its flavor. Then its tied with butchers tie to secure its rolled position.

Patience is one of the key ingredient here, cooking it for about 1.5 to 2 hours under maintained heat of the oven or turbo broiler.

After a long wait, the reward is crispy brown skin and juicy aromatic meat inside. 

Kabigan Falls, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

This time my feet drag me to Kabigan Falls located at Balaoi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. From Pagudpud proper I rented tricycle for Php 500 with destinations like Pagudpud arc. Pagudpud Bibe (shell) landmark, Blue Lagoon, Kabigan Falls and Bantay Abot cave. Due to limited time I decided to visit Kabigan Falls and Bantay Abot cave only.

I reached Balaoi by 1:30pm and registered at visitors center wherein every tourist shall pay Php 110, the fee comes with a local guide. The trek going to the falls is approximately 1.5 kilometers or 20-30 minutes walk but my occasional taking of pictures surely added a few minutes. 

It was a gloomy afternoon so I enjoyed trekking and hearing the sounds of running water at the river. The guide told me that the Acacia tree(picture above) is around 200 years old.

 Wooden bridges....

 For me the sound of forest insects and birds were very relaxing...

 By this time, the air is cool and the scent of the forest gave me a sense of tranquility.

 Wooden bridge again...

 I'm getting near the falls I can sense it :-)

 There it is! Kabigan Falls

 The sight of rushing water is very inviting.

Testing my photography skills by using slow shutter.

How can I resist?

Smile :-) I guess he's wondering why I'm standing in front of him.

So far my visit to Kabigan Falls was great, the trek is not too far and the terrain is good. Even children and older people can go there easily.

Binalot Chicken Adobo

While I was waiting for my bus bound to Ilocos Norte, I decided to pass the time doing what I love- EAT! I entered a restaurant with name "binalot" and learned that most of their meals are wrapped in banana leaves. 

I ordered chicken adobo and it comes with 1 cup rice, 1 tomato and half salted egg. Receiving my ordered meal was like receiving a gift, slowly I unwrap the leaves and the aroma of banana leaves awakened my senses. Adobo have different versions all over the country (Philippines) but surely in every version you'll enjoy the marriage of vinegar and soy sauce, garlic, pepper and  bay leaves. The chicken meat was so tender its perfect with a spoonful of hot steamy rice in every bite. Tomato is a perfect side dish to freshen the palate and salted egg to entice your taste buds more.

My own stretuna sandwhich

This is the first time that I will be featuring food that I personally made. Perhaps you are wondering what  "stretuna sandwich" is , basically its a tuna sandwich and the meaning of stretuna is just a product of my creative mind and of course backed by present situation while I'm buying the ingredients. 

The contents of my stretuna sandwich as follows:

1. Freshly baked baguette breads

2. Cucumber

3. Lettuce

4. Tomatoes

5. Avocado

6. Sliced cheese

7. Canned tuna chunks in oil (its more flavorful than those in water)

8. Mayonnaise

9. Chili powder

10. Dried oregano flakes

11. Gourmet salt

Just mix the canned tuna chunks, mayonnaise, chili powder, dried oregano flakes and gourmet salt then you have your delicious stretuna spread. Remember to mix it evenly so the flavors of every ingredient will blend resulting in thick yummy stretuna spread :-)

After that, cut the baguette bread into 3 or 2 pieces it depends on your appetite and start filling it with 2 to 3 tablespoons of stretuna spread, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado and cheese. 

Don't be shy on adding more stretuna spread or greens, after all it's your own sandwich do it as you like.

Lastly, share and enjoy stretuna snadwich!