Halo-Halo @ Top Chef
Top Chef has been my addiction lately. I download the latest episodes since it’s not shown here in this side of the planet. This is Bravo reality show about the search for the most talented chef in the US. It’s like Iron Chef minus the celebrity chefs competitors. The contestants are the hottest up and coming chefs from the best restaurants in US.
My favorite is Richard because he’s into this type of cuisine technique — molecular gastronomy. It sounds like a science project but cuisine has always been about Chemistry (a subject I hated in high school. I prefer my vinegar on a pot of adobo and not on a test tube). Richard uses interesting non-traditional gadgets in the kitchen and unusual techniques. His concoctions are somewhat made from flavors that would you think you wouldn’t go together ( like wasabi and white chocolate in the movie theme challenge) and still his dishes ends among the judges’ favorite if not the winner.
Episode 7’s Quick Fire challenge was all about dessert. Then I heard someone say he is making “Halo-Halo”. It was Dave who was going to prepare this Pinoy traditional dessert. I had no idea Dave grew up in the Philippines. I thought he was Vietnamese. LOL. He did a fine dining twist to the Halo-Halo.
The Halo-Halo was among the three favorites for this challenge. It was a toss between the Halo Halo and Richard’s Banana scallop. Richard won the challenge though.
Personally I like my Halo-Halo simple like the ones at Razon’s. Razon’s Halo-Halo has three ingredients only - macapuno, bananas (saba) and leche flan for topping. I hate beans in Halo-Halo — always thought they didn’t belong there. Beans are veggies. Probably some parent in Philippine history tricked to his/her kids to eat veggies by concealing it in a cold glass of sweet Halo-Halo.
Dale’s Halo-Halo recipe can viewed here.
Agy Love
I love British model-of-the-moment Agyness Deyn and the quirky way she dresses. She knocked CokeKate Moss in Tatler’s best dressed list this year. Anything she wears would be hard to pull off. Her style can be sometimes overtly 80’s.
She reminds me of…
Phoebe Cates
Agy-inspired mood board I made at Polyvore.com
Boracay Circa 1992 & A Rumored Goddamn Bridge
For the past few days I have been busy organizing our Boracay trip for this month amongst other things. I had to research resorts and possible itineraries that doesn’t include predictable beach activities. In my quest for information I stumbled upon this interesting link in Trip Advisor.
The Dept. of Public Works and Highways is planning a 8 meter wide concrete highway along the full length of Bulabog Beach, including the next bay, which will return to the main road along Kingfisher Farm road. They plan to build it right on the beach with a sea wall to protect the road, thus completely destroying the existing white sand beach, which has over the last few years become very popular with kite-boarders, and in the so-called off season, with all types of water sports.
Poster: Pikiwiki
Boracay Forums, Trip Advisor
A possible bridge connecting Caticlan and Bulabog Beach? I don’t know about you but the sound a bridge losses the charm of the whole idea of an island. Did they even research about the environmental impact of this? More vehicles, more air pollutants. Boracay is already overdeveloped as it stands. This isn’t exactly a genius plan for “sustainable” tourism noh? There have been concerns about too much traffic in Boracay - instead of building a bridge try limiting the number of people and vehicles that go through the island. I will do my own research when I get there and ask the locals their opinions about the alleged bridge.
DPWH — duh - this is NOT the first time they attempted to build a bridge that would destroy something of significant value. Remember Loboc, Bohol? They started building a highway that would pass and destroy century old Loboc, Church. Many protested thus the project was discontinued. Now it stands as an ugly edifice fronting the church. A sad reminder of an absolute waste of tax payer’s money for projects that were not well researched.
My mom grew up in Banga, Aklan which is next town from the capital - Kalibo. She first heard of Boracay when she was still in school. A classmate would invite them to this fantastic looking island. Most of her classmates and my mom didn’t have the luxury of time to travel to an isolated area. This was in the late 50’s. The roads were very rough if not dangerous and boat rides were rare. I don’t think my grandparents would have given my mom permission because it was really isolated back in the days.
There are numerous stories on how Boracay was discovered. Locals say that an American or European found out about it in the 70’s. The secret of a tucked away island traveled only through word of mouth. According to Wikipedia it was popular with backpackers in the 80’s. Boracay first inhabitants were Aetas — which sadly there have been news of the natives’ displacement due to massive tourism. Which is kind of ironic for a province that celebrates one of the oldest festivals in the Philippines – Ati-atihan, originally a pagan celebration. The religious Sto. Nino concept was only introduced during the Spanish colonial times.
A 13th century (c.1212 AD) event explains the origins of the festival. A small group of Malay datus, fleeing Borneo, were sold some land by the Ati people, the original inhabitants of Panay Island. The new arrivals celebrated the event at a great feast by painting themselves black to look like them.
Source: Wikipedia
I remember my first visit in Boracay in 1992. The island started gaining popularity among local and international tourists. We decided to see the island since it was only 2-3 hours away from Banga. There were no direct flights to Caticlan. You had to go through then undeveloped Kalibo airport. A common provincial airport doesn’t have the facilities of X-ray machines that scan through baggages. Everything had to be opened and checked manually. There lies an unlucky possibility of your unmentionables being checked right smack in the middle of the airport. There were also no vans/services to Caticlan, only Jeepneys that they overload until there was only enough space for the driver to hold his steering wheel. LOL — which is typical practice in many provinces. I don’t remember seeing resorts made from concrete edifices. There was one resort however on top of Diniwid. Most of the resorts were made from native housing materials like nipa. Electricity was also scheduled. Best of all there were no fees being collected in Caticlan port.
Boracay circa 1992 or about 16 years ago. The four girls are my cousins. This was taken in Station 2 near Tirol Estates (I think they changed the name already). Tirol is one of the old, old, old families in Boracay, Aklan. A large portion of lands in Boracay are untitled and owned by the government. Notice the lack of resorts in the background and a pitched tent. An international beach volleyball tournament was being held that time. Most of the tourists were Caucasians. Does anyone remember the name of the bar that stood in the middle of the sea?
Look at this photo taken in Boracay circa1980’s from Nostalgia Manila. My goodness! The shore is almost empty!
When we got off the boat the first thing we saw were half naked women bathing in the sun. Lola Patricia was a little shocked. My cousins - who were mostly little boys and girls that time were giggling, well — like kids. I explained to them that these were common for some Western culture and just ignore it. The memoirs of the beach was the best part of that first visit. The sand — how could I forget the sand, it was like fine sugar crystals. The Boracay sunset against the Claude Monet orange and blue skies was enchanting. How could one not fall in love with such picturesque scenery?
Sadly each time I go there, I see signs of over development. As guests we also have a responsibility. To Boracay visitors, please don’t leave your trash just anywhere. Take it with you or find a trash bin to get disposed of it. Why the hell am I ranting about this basic human common sense? Because even back when I first landed in shores of this beach I had to pick up empty plastic bottles because some idiots leave them on the shore.
Boracay is still a great place to chill and break away from the city. You will not get bored by the vast activities you can opt to do. If you prefer serenity and secluded beaches this one is not for you. I know one beach just like that but I won’t tell you until I get there.
I don’t have a return ticket flight to Manila yet. I think I’m gonna be here till the end of April and take time to revisit my roots.