My lunch yesterday was half-Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, a bowl of Pasta e Fagioli soup, water melon and coke ( photo below). It was a yummy lunch and very filling with the hearty Italian Fagioli Soup. I was curious about the soup and its difference with minestrone soup so I did my search and here's what I learned.
This site is the venue of my collection of special and ordinary Philippine and American dishes. For the last 55 years, My wife, Macrine Nieva Jambalos Katague had been the boss in the Kitchen. However, when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2013, I have to take over her cooking duties. I have been enjoying cooking and this proves that one is never too old to learn new things in life.
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Home -Cooked Filipino Dinner- The Comet Room in Newton's
Last Friday's night( September 6), John and Carol Larimore invited me to join them for filipino dinner at the residence of their bible class friends in Concord. Ruby and Greg Atienza were our host. Ruby's is in the Filipino Food Catering Service ( see Menu above)- House of Casey. She cooked a simple 3-menu Filipino dishes with steamed rice and sticky rice soup( congee).
The dishes were delicious. It included a grilled deboned milk fish( Inihaw na Bangus), pork adobo, sauteed (ginisang) mongo in smoked fish( Tinapa) and the sticky rice soup ( with ginger). She also send me home ( padala) the mongo dish which I plan on devouring with gusto next week. I took some photos as follows:
Filipino food tends to be overlooked for other Southeast Asian cuisines, like Thai and Vietnamese. But you’d be mistaken to neglect it. Pinoy cuisine has been delighting taste buds for centuries with phenomenal flavors that reflect the country’s multi-cultural influence. From deep-fried lumpia rolls to sweet leche flan, you can find Chinese, Spanish, or Native influence in almost every dish. ๐https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/traditional-filipino-dishes/
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Early Morning Shadows in My Bedroom- Part 2
Part 1 of this original poem that I recently posted received some positive comments from my readers.
Here's Part 2 for your reading pleasure: Early Morning Shadows in My Bedroom-Part 2
Early Morning Shadows in my Bedroom,
Woke me up again at 3:00AM Today;
I was in a daze, pondering, is it mahjong or bridge
Or is it Chair volleyball, ladder or corn Hole?
Realized it is Saturday and no Games Today!
When I was finally fully awake,
Batman & Robin jumping into my bed;
Looking at me with their soulful green eyes,
Eagerly, patiently and waiting to be fed.
Last night Filipino Dinner was a blast,
Hosted by Ruby and Greg Atienza;
Filipino- American Friends of John and Carol Larimore.
Enjoyed very much the sticky rice porridge, pork adobo,
Inihaw na Bangus ( deboned grilled milk fish),
and Sauteed Mongo Beans with Tinapa ( smoked fish).
Thank you once again from the Bottom of My Heart,
John, Carol, Ruby and Greg Atienza;
Newton's Renovation and Maintenance is over,
Dreading Newton's at Dinner Noise Levels;
Wishing Eating Outdoors at Yoga Room remain forever,
Best dining experience and socializations to remember.
Thank You My Dear Readers and Commentators,
Your comments and responses to my daily blogs;
Will always be appreciated and remembered.
Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my salmon-pink rose in my apartment
Hallelujah! We have French Toast for breakfast the other day! A once in a Blue Moon Event here at THD!
Friday, August 23, 2024
Pork Sinigang-Most Appreciated Gift from A Stranger
The much awaited pork sinigang soup that our Chef Agustin and I has been talking about, was handed to me during my brunch take-out trip to Newton's yesterday. It was a gift from Agustin's Filipino-American wife( Mrs. Gutierrez). I have not meet Mrs Gutierrez in person, but Agustin has been telling me she cooks Filipino food for Him. I will add this in my postings of examples of an act of Kindness from Strangers. Agustin, please relay my thanks to your wife for the above Pork Sinigang Dish.
As seen in the photos above, I divided the dish in 3 portions. Two for future use in my freezer, the other one I have savored and indulged with gusto last night with steam white rice and green papaya atchara ( sweet pickles).
The soup has been rated by Taste Atlas as the best tasting soup in the world.๐ This soup was served at Newton's last October 13, 2023 during the Filipino-American History Month Celebration here at THD.
I have written several articles on the soup sinigang. Again here's a summary for your information and review. Sinigang is a sour soup native to the Philippines. The recipe above uses pork as the main ingredient. Other proteins and seafood can also be used. Beef, shrimp, fish are commonly used to cook sinigang. The chicken version, on the other hand, is called sinampalukang manok. It is mixed with a variety of vegtables, such as green beans, okra, radish, eggplants etc..., For detail visit:
https://panlasangpinoy.com/pork-sinigang-na-baboy-recipe/
๐https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/03/pork-sinigang-best-tasting-soup-in-world.html
Here are more websites on Best Soups of the World, listing Sinigang in the top 10, top 50 and top 100 best tasting soup in the world
https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-100-best-dishes-in-world.html
https://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-top-ten-most-popular-dishes-of.html
Again thank You, Mrs Gutierrez and Maraming Salamat!! Masarap! Manamit Guid ( Ilongo).This gift is very much appreciated!!
Meanwhile, Happy Renovation Celebration to all my Fellow Residents here at THD! Will there be Pinoy Food in the Food Trucks This Saturday? Just Dreaming?
My photo taken by Martha Rodriguez after receiving the Sinigang from Agustin yesterday.
Saturday, June 8, 2024
California Top Five Most Popular Ethnic Cuisine
Filipino Cuisine-Not in the Top Five Popular Ethic Cuisine in California
Manila Clams-One of My Favorite Dishes- Photo Credit: Sandi Green
California is famous for its world-class food scene, from its farm-to-table eateries and Michelin-starred restaurants to its rich agricultural lands and renowned wine destinations. Aside from being the country’s largest food producer, California is also the country’s most populous state; its nearly 40 million residents make up more than 10 percent of the entire United States population. With that sizable number comes a melting pot of people and cultures—over 200 languages are spoken in California, including up to 90 indigenous languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse regions of the world.
Given the linguistic, cultural, and culinary diversity of the Golden State, culinary website Chef’s Pencil set out to determine: What are Californians’ favorite ethnic cuisines? To answer this question, Chef’s Pencil turned to Google Trends data on national cuisines. When gathering this data, Google looks at the number of searches centered on a certain cuisine—such as Japanese food, Japanese restaurants, Japanese rice, sushi, sushi recipes—and the names of well-known eateries serving that specific cuisine, and allocates an interest score based on the percentage of people in a state or city that made those searches.
Chef’s Pencil used the Google Trends data to determine the five most popular ethnic foods in California—and the results may surprise you.
5. JAPANESE (INTEREST SCORE: 16)
The first sushi restaurant in California was Kawafuku, which opened in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood in 1923. Next was Tokyo Kaikan, a popular gathering spot for Japanese immigrants and Hollywood trendsetters—and the birthplace of the famous California roll (supposedly). True or not, the history of Japanese food in California makes the cuisine a favorite among residents; Japanese fare had an interest score of 16, making it the fifth most popular food in the state. Japanese cuisine was most beloved in the cities of San Francisco and San Jose, receiving scores of 37 and 29, respectively.
4. ITALIAN (INTEREST SCORE: 37)
Remember when we said California was the largest agricultural producer in the nation? Well, it’s mostly thanks to the Italian immigrants who came to the state in the 1880s. This 19th century influx of Italians may also explain why Italian food is the fourth most popular cuisine in the state, with an overall interest score of 37. Italian fare seems to be most beloved in San Diego, where the cuisine earned a whopping interest score of 82.
3. THAI (INTEREST SCORE: 38)
Garnering just one interest point over Italian cuisine, Thai fare comes next in Californians’ favored ethnic foods—and it is no wonder, given that Thai is one of the healthiest cuisines on the planet. Many common Thai ingredients have immune-boosting, disease-fighting powers, and given the Golden State’s culture and ethos of healthy eating, it makes sense why Californians would love Thai food. This cuisine is particularly popular in the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles—home to the world’s First Thai Town—Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco.
2. CHINESE (INTEREST SCORE: 46)
Californians’ love for Chinese food began in San Francisco, as thousands of Chinese immigrants made their way to the City by the Bay during the Gold Rush, bringing with them the food of Guangdong—then known as Canton, hence Cantonese food. (Fun fact: The fortune cookie was invented in California, too.)
You can now find food from all regions of the China, of course, but California chefs continue to put their own spin on the cuisine, with super-hip fusion dishes highlighting quality ingredients and expert techniques—a movement arguably led by Mission Chinese Food, which went from a humble pop-up in San Francisco to a bi-coastal New Chinese Mecca.
1. Mexican Food: (Interest Score 80)
Mexican cuisine holds a special place in California's culinary landscape, enjoying immense popularity with an interest score of 80. This reflects the deep cultural connections between California and its neighbor to the south. The state is dotted with a mix of contemporary and traditional Mexican restaurants, offering a feast of authentic flavors from tacos and chile rellenos to pozole and California burritos. San Diego, in particular, stands out as the epicenter of Mexican gastronomy in the state, boasting an even higher interest score of 86, testament to its vibrant food scene.
What’s your favorite ethnic cuisine? Let us know about your top picks in the comments below. of California food.