Manila Foodistas: A Month Before Christmas

It's a month before Christmas and most of us are either preparing to gain those extra pounds over the holiday or slaving over our jobs (or student life) just to earn some extra cash for that Christmas shopping.

With all the vacation time we get over the holidays, it's definitely one of our favorite seasons of the year. And after mulling over what to do with all that time we now suddenly have, we take the time to reminisce: What's our fondest Christmas memory?

Danne
My fondest memory has to be opening gifts, not for the gifts themselves but for the fuzzy feeling of Christmas midnight. The thought that almost everyone are in awake, in their homes, and spending quality time with family is so heartwarming. Also, during Christmas season (especially just before Christmas break), everyone's nice-- nicer than usual.

Nicole
It was definitely the day I understood what Christmas is really all about. It's way beyond all those celebrations, get-together and of course eating! :)) Christmas is not just a one day event that happens once a year but it is that one thing we should be very grateful for every single day. :)

Therese
I didn't want to think very far back so I would have to say that my fondest Christmas memory is that of last year's (2010). For some reason, it was especially cold that Christmas break, and I was able to spend it with family and friends. I even remember going to Tagaytay with my relatives on the 26th of December, having dinner at Alfredo's and having dessert at Bag of Beans. It was simple but for me, it was fun! :)

Tiffy

All I remember of past Christmases are the food. Lots and lots of food. And the guilt right after. Of writing down, "Go on a diet." on New Year's Eve. But oh all those food! It was worth it. The best Christmases are those when I have nothing to do--I just curl up with a book (or probably my laptop) and read to my heart's content.

About those "extra pounds"... What food are you willing to earn those pounds on? Any favorite Christmas treat?

Danne
I'd be willing to gain some pounds for sweets! Leche flan is one of my most favorite Christmas treats. I also love home-baked cookies friends give during the season. Plus cake, pastries, food for the gods, I can go on and on!

Nicole
Christmas dinner or not, hands down to my mother's lasagna! I have not yet eaten the lasagna better than my mom's! My favorite is her vegetable version - with spinach, zucchini, and lots of tomatoes! YUUUM!

And as for my favorite Christmas treat, bibingka is the one! There are so many types of bibingka here in the Philippines and what we have in Antipolo every Christmas season is what I call the "pancake" type. I remember two years ago, I was at our city's town plaza almost every night just to buy this bibingka from my suki! :D

Ingredients: Rice flour, egg, cheese, salted egg, and margarine

Therese
Something I look forward to on Christmas (aside from the usual treats) is Christmas ham! I don't normally eat it but because we always receive some, it has become somewhat of a seasonal food for me. Another thing I only get to eat during Christmastime is puto bumbong - a Filipino sticky rice dish. It's a bit sweet and it's topped with coconut flakes.

Puto bumbong

Tiffy

I remember my first Christmas in Japan, and I had work. My good friend Karen was making eggnog (she usually uses rum) that night and told me that she'd save me some. But she didn't--she drank it all. A few days after, I was hanging out at her dorm room and she made some again (under my close watch this time lest she drinks it off again). I'll get her recipe and tell you about it some time!

Christmas wish lists aren't really about others but taking a peek at wish lists not our own help some of us add some more to our list. So... What's on your wish list?

Danne
Number 1 on my wish list would be to get a chance to travel somewhere interesting. Then, I could take really nice pictures and be part of people's stories. Then again, if I should wish for something tangible, it would be to have a pretty camera strap. It needs some replacing!

Nicole
World peace. . . ha ha ha! Seriously, I'd like to have a replica of the Noli Me Tangere manuscript, Lang Lang's newest CDs, and C.S. Lewis' book collection (excluding the Narnia series) =))




Therese
Since we're talking material here, I would love to have an Apple iPhone4S!

Tiffy
I would love to suddenly have the will to be a vegetarian. Seriously. I've tried (and failed) so many times it's ridiculous! But some stuff off my wishlist would be: a new bicycle, something I can read PDF files with (an iPad or something similar), and nice make-brushes (and maybe some make-up as well)!

What about you?

Danne: The Artsy Kid

Just as mentioned, it would be nice to have a proper introduction so, hello! I’m Danne Lim (pronounced as Dane), a new blogger here in Manila Foodistas. The founders (Bong, Joey and everyone else) were my org-mates back in college, and so were Thea and Tiff. Blogging isn’t new to me since I’ve kept a personal blog since I was 14, but the challenge really was to update as often without getting caught up with life outside the virtual world. So yeah, I’m on for the challenge! I now join the bandwagon and begin to share with you some thoughts about my dining experiences from here on!

I just graduated from UP this October with a degree in psychology, which makes me currently be in a transitional phase between college and real life. I am also graphic artist so I tend to be more artistically-inclined. In relation to food, I think I am able to appreciate scrumptious and appetizing presentation besides taste.

When we begin to talk about food, you could probably hear me inject the word “potato” into the conversation several times. That’s because I really love that special root crop! I like it in all forms, whether as baked potato, potato salad, French fries, mashed potatoes or hash brown. I’m sure several of you could relate to this. There are just certain kinds of food that are versatile and easy to love!

I lived in Japan for quite some time so I also have a certain fondness for Japanese food. My favorite would be the unglamorous yet convenient onigiri (お握り), which are usually triangular rice balls. I could also appreciate authentic ramen and delicious gyudon too.

And of course who would not appreciate fried food? It’s one of those more common kinds of cooking here in the Philippines. I like crunchy, deep fried food but I realized its health repercussions so I became a little conscious eating them. I was a junk food lover, and I especially loved chips that had lots of salt. But then recently, I have been influenced to stop eating chips. I have been junk food sober for months now, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m excited that this is just the beginning of a fun-filled food journey with the Manila Foodistas! See you in the next blog!

Danne

Nicole: The New Kid in the Blogging World

Nicole: The New Kid in the Blogging World

Hello citizens of the world wide web! This introduction of mine is a bit late but just like all newcomers, I gotta present myself. :D

I'm Nicole, one of the new foodistas here in MF. I'm a fresh grad from the University of the Philippines and just like Therese, I'm a Spanish major too (we're batchmates actually).

I'm a frustrated pianist and things that I like are stuff that a lot of people may find unamusing - case in point: classical music. I like old stuff and when I say old, it's really old ha ha! History gets me high as a kite! I adore my mother's cooking and ever since I got to know how to eat healthy, I've become a health psycho. Though I'd be a hypocrite if I say that I don't eat junk food because I still do (I do have cheat days too). I don't like a lot of sugar in my food or drink hence I am not into desserts but I just can't resist cheesecake! When it comes to cuisines, I like anything Asian, preferably raw - kimchi, kinilaw - and lots of vegetables!

I was not born a writer and never did I imagine, even in my wildest dreams, that I would be one. But here I am, now a part of the Manila Foodistas and typing things which I believe worth sharing. Really thanks to Tiffy for that! :)

Therese in Taiwan: The Writer 自我介紹

Picture taken last July 2011 at Borough, Podium

My name is Therese. I graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman last April 2011. After graduation, I was fortunate enough to get a summer scholarship to Spain, and then a 3-year scholarship to Taiwan. I'll be taking Mandarin enrichment classes during my 1st year here, followed by a 2-year masters program in International Affairs.

I can't say that I write flawlessly/interestingly, but I do like to write/keep a blog. I also like to eat, to take pictures (albeit amateurishly), and to travel. Being a "Manila Foodista" would probably be a misnomer, seeing as how I'm not even going to be in Manila for the most part of the next 3 years. But I do think that knowing where to go, what to do, and what to eat in other countries can also be helpful.

Join me as I take pictures and write about my Taiwan (and probably even other countries, wink wink) adventures!