‘FoodPrints’ travels to Spain to trace Filipino flavors

CEBU, Philippines - Not known to settle for what’s on the surface, Lifestyle Network host Chef Sandy Daza has chosen to take a food trip all the way to a country from which our own local cuisine has derived much of its flavors, winding up all the way to Spain in this Sunday’s (June 1) episode of “FoodPrints.”

Chef Sandy traces the origins of favorite dishes that the Filipino people have come to call their own, such as paella, cochinillo, cocido, ensaimada, empanada, and a whole smorgasbord of familiarly delicious Spanish food.

Traveling with his sister Nina Daza, Sandy meets Spanish foodies, American tour guides, chefs, cooks, fellow kababayans, and all kinds of residents who show Sandy why Spaniards are so passionate about their cuisine, and teach Sandy how to eat like a Spaniard.

Sandy’s first stop is the capital city of Spain, Madrid — the melting pot of cuisines in the country. There, he discovers dishes that are perfect to eat on rainy days. He also drops by a well-known bakery known for its mouth-watering empanada, which is reminiscent of the kind Pinoys have developed in our own country. The bakers in a popular ensaimada shop teach Sandy how to mold the perfectly-shaped ensaimada. But in the end, Sandy contents himself with eating bite after bite of the crunchy, moist and chewy pastry.

When in Madrid, Sandy discovers the fastest way to orient yourself with their food is to go to a food court, like El Corte Ingles, where the best of Spanish cuisine can be found: cheese, Spanish pizzas, bread, deliciously thin Iberico Ham, and of course, good old Spanish wine. In Madrid Fusion 2014, Sandy meets people of all nationalities who gather for a three-day convention celebrating cooking trends and the world’s culinary superstars.

Chef Sandy also learns that, in Spain, days are long and the nights are even longer. Evenings find Sandy hopping tables from one tavern to the next in search for cocktails and several rounds of tapas.

Sandy’s food adventures don’t stop in the capital city of Madrid. Next week, on June 8, catch the second part of FoodPrints’ trip to Spain as Chef Sandy travels to Valencia for sunshine, oranges, and authentic Paella Valenciana, Barcelona for a stroll down Las Ramblas, and some delicious seafood. He even takes his food trip to Cuenca for abstract art and the most tender Cordero al Homo.

“FoodPrints” season 2 airs every Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on the Lifestyle Network (SkyCable channel 52), with replays on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 12nn. (FREEMAN)