What food do you crave for in the middle of the night?
January 25, 2004 | 12:00am
With all the rich, figure-defying treats we indulged in and decadently enjoyed over the holidays I’m sure you have, at this point, decided to get back on healthy-eating track. I have. Or so I thought.
For me, it is very easy to vow not to eat dessert when I can still taste that bit of sugar from my third serving of cake or to swear off meat after a particularly delightful lechon spree. But give me a couple of days and I will start looking for the very same things I declared I would stay away from. Sounds familiar?
Again, it is happening to me now. I felt I had enough lechon to last me at least three months but here I am craving for it in the middle of the night. Yesterday, it was the torta Española and tomorrow I have a strong feeling it will be a toss between the chicken galantina and the terrine de foie gras.
Hungry now? Let me share with you a personal list of favorite goodies I indulged in over the holidays that, I now realize and accept, are much too good to be enjoyed for just one season. Go ahead and enjoy it the whole year through. I know I will. May you find as much pleasure sharing them with family and friends as I have.
Lechon from Cebu is renowned for being one of the best there is. No fiesta or party is ever complete without it. I remember my Lola Carmen would always order the lechon from someone named Ulcing.
Late last year, Richard and I were doing our grocery at PriceSmart when a lady approached asking if I was the granddaughter of Carmen Martinez. She then introduced herself as Tessie, the daughter of Ulcing and went on to say that she, in fact, has carried on the family business here in Manila. Boy, that was really music to my ears and I wasted no time in trying out their lechon. Many orders later, I am happy to say that it tastes as good as the one I used to enjoy in Cebu. It may be calorie-fic but hey, it is terrific! Prices vary depending on size. For orders, call Tessie at 0919-4595591 or 810-6408.
Another favorite lechon haunt for me is Manila’s very own Lydia’s Lechon which also never disappoints.
For a long, long time I have been in search of the old-fashioned torta from my childhood – light and fluffy yet moist, with a sprinkling of anise atop it. Nothing came close. They were either too dry, too packed and heavy, too sweet, too wrong.
And then Margie’s version came along. There are many kinds of torta (torta Cebuana being one of the better known) but the heavenly ones she bakes are called torta Española, the recipe of which she inherited from her paternal grandmother. During the olden times, she says, because the torta was best eaten several days after it had been baked, the women baked a week before the fiesta and hung the torta on the windows to keep them away from the reach of little children who could not wait to indulge. After tasting it, I’m sure you will understand why. This one is a real winner – I can polish off three whole pieces in one serving (the diameter measures around 3.5 inches long), it is that good! Try to order and I bet it won’t stay in your kitchen table for a week. A couple of hours would be more like it.
Margie’s Torta Española comes in a big box of 12. To order call, or text Margie at 0920-2647818 or 824-9738.
The name says it all. The shop that just opened at Greenbelt 3 is packed to the seams at all times so when finding a table becomes as easy as Frodo’s journey in LOTR, taking home precious supply of their hot chocolate is your next best bet. My favorite is their hot chocolate powder blended with orange peel oil. Follow the package instructions carefully, don’t just dump the contents in a cup of hot water. Believe me, those little extra steps spell all the difference. While you’re there, go ahead and grab some of their chocolates. An intriguing item is their chocolate with a taste of lavender. It’s like aromatherapy you can eat. Delicious, delicious, delicious.
I’m really not fond of ground meat but after love at first bite of Lydia’s chicken galantina, I am a happy convert. I received my first as a Christmas gift and the four succeeding ones my family and I polished off just a week after were products of pure and simple addiction. Her galantina has a delicious Pinoy taste and comes with a yummy sauce that makes you think of home-cooking at its best. It is wonderful eaten either warm or cold (your choice) although personally, I like the former better.
Orders can be placed at 810-8248 or 0917-4405106.
Foie gras lovers, look no further. This is as close to France as you can get. Farah imports her superior quality fattened duck liver from Perigord, France and, backed by years of French culinary experience, whips up an absolutely divine duck foie gras terrine. It is velvety and decadent, delicious beyond words, and literally melts in your mouth. It comes with a packet of melba toast and should you want to give them as gifts, Farah offers several package options as well.
Orders must be placed at least one week in advance. Call Farah at 722-4234/7247684 or 0918-9264671.
The lady I go to for bottled tuyo and daing flakes has another bestseller up for grabs. Tita Carmel says she was experimenting on basic banana bread recipe and was trying different things to enhance it. She then thought of pineapple upside down cake and came up with her very own version that is buttercake-based, which happens to be the old-fashioned way. It’s serendipity if you will. This version is proof that coincidences can be very delicious. This tummy tickler is delightful in its simplicity. It has none of the complicated, sophisticated add-ons that come with a lot of desserts nowadays; just pure, simple goodness that make you think of happy thoughts. The juicy pineapple chunks and caramelized sugar top will linger even after that last bite. Yummy eaten warm or cold, although I prefer the former.
For orders, call 9113443 or 0917-6220083.
A little treat from time to time won’t hurt. Stay healthy and don’t over-indulge. When tempted to go overboard, think of your doctor – that thought should be all it takes to make you realize when enough is really enough. Bon appetit!
For me, it is very easy to vow not to eat dessert when I can still taste that bit of sugar from my third serving of cake or to swear off meat after a particularly delightful lechon spree. But give me a couple of days and I will start looking for the very same things I declared I would stay away from. Sounds familiar?
Again, it is happening to me now. I felt I had enough lechon to last me at least three months but here I am craving for it in the middle of the night. Yesterday, it was the torta Española and tomorrow I have a strong feeling it will be a toss between the chicken galantina and the terrine de foie gras.
Hungry now? Let me share with you a personal list of favorite goodies I indulged in over the holidays that, I now realize and accept, are much too good to be enjoyed for just one season. Go ahead and enjoy it the whole year through. I know I will. May you find as much pleasure sharing them with family and friends as I have.
Late last year, Richard and I were doing our grocery at PriceSmart when a lady approached asking if I was the granddaughter of Carmen Martinez. She then introduced herself as Tessie, the daughter of Ulcing and went on to say that she, in fact, has carried on the family business here in Manila. Boy, that was really music to my ears and I wasted no time in trying out their lechon. Many orders later, I am happy to say that it tastes as good as the one I used to enjoy in Cebu. It may be calorie-fic but hey, it is terrific! Prices vary depending on size. For orders, call Tessie at 0919-4595591 or 810-6408.
Another favorite lechon haunt for me is Manila’s very own Lydia’s Lechon which also never disappoints.
And then Margie’s version came along. There are many kinds of torta (torta Cebuana being one of the better known) but the heavenly ones she bakes are called torta Española, the recipe of which she inherited from her paternal grandmother. During the olden times, she says, because the torta was best eaten several days after it had been baked, the women baked a week before the fiesta and hung the torta on the windows to keep them away from the reach of little children who could not wait to indulge. After tasting it, I’m sure you will understand why. This one is a real winner – I can polish off three whole pieces in one serving (the diameter measures around 3.5 inches long), it is that good! Try to order and I bet it won’t stay in your kitchen table for a week. A couple of hours would be more like it.
Margie’s Torta Española comes in a big box of 12. To order call, or text Margie at 0920-2647818 or 824-9738.
Orders can be placed at 810-8248 or 0917-4405106.
Orders must be placed at least one week in advance. Call Farah at 722-4234/7247684 or 0918-9264671.
For orders, call 9113443 or 0917-6220083.
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