Is durian a talent? I had failed five times to tolerate its strong smell. This time, I tried Davao's durian. The plump, ripe yellow fruit... Surprisingly, the smell was bearable! It had a refined, mellow sweetness. The real talent lay in Davao's durian, not me.
Japanese food abroad is always enticing. During a domestic transfer at Manila Airport, I tried sukiyaki don. Though it looked good, the meat was crumbly, the carrots gritty, and the rice dry. Yet, I finished it quickly, captivated by a mysterious charm. Why? The sauce was authentically delicious! A single superb element transformed the dish, much like life.
On my Cebu Pacific flight to Manila, I tried Piattos cheese-flavored crackers. Their crunchy texture and cheese flavor made me crave beer. Surprisingly, they didn't smell strongly until eaten. Perhaps their subtle aroma made them suitable for in-flight sales. I could enjoy them without restraint! Crunch, crunch!
I don’t want to part! I told her. With the flight time approaching, her big eyes and beautiful smile were irresistible. Let's head to Jollibee at Manila Airport! The Yum Burger seemed ordinary, but its special sauce shone with each bite. The Palabok had fluffy rice noodles and a savory garlic sauce. Now, time to go home!
Breakfast on trips is crucial! Not for the daily rhythm but for creating memories. "Tocino" means bacon in Spanish. It's relatively sweet but light, and the texture is pure bacon! It pairs perfectly with Filipino rice. Breakfast is all about filling your stomach—for the memories!
Instead of food, I’ll talk about games. "Mobile Legends" is a hugely popular mobile app in the Philippines, a highly addictive game played by people of all ages and a headache for mothers. I also enjoyed it, and finding a wafer snack with game cards inside reignited my urge to play. It had a strong coconut vanilla flavor.
Is food born in a restaurant more reliable? "Palace Mami," a noodle dish with rich beef broth. The thick beef soup is perfectly balanced between salty and sweet, almost rivaling Japanese ramen. Created in a Manila eatery in 1979, good restaurant dishes seem destined to be copied and spread.
If you want to hide a disadvantage, mix it with advantages. Grilled pork skin, for example, has a healthy roast color like red pork skin. It's chewy with a crispy surface that pairs well with vinegar. Did you know it’s high in protein, low in sugar, rich in collagen, and low-cost, making it great for your skin?
Did you know that videotapes have been reincarnated in today’s world? After losing the battle with VHS, they found new life in the Philippines. Known as "Betamax," this skewered delicacy made from solidified chicken blood resembles a videotape, hence the name.
Appreciation might come from knowledge. At The Lost Bread in Baguio SM Mall, I had "Ube Macapuno Ice Cream." The unique creaminess of Ube matched perfectly with Macapuno, a rare coconut meat found in only 0.15% of wild coconuts. But with research, its cultivation success rate is now 75-100%, showcasing human ingenuity. Suddenly, it feels more precious!
