PEBA: Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Awards

2011 PEBA Awards

It's about time that the expats/OFWs finally have the spotlight in their very own blog award. All four foodistas have experienced being foreign students abroad and it is not easy--probably more so for the ones who work in other countries. Aside from having to deal with a totally different culture, language, and being away from family, they also have to deal with workplace issues! 

The 2011 PEBA Awards will be held at the Ayala Trinoma Activity Center on December 9, 2011, Friday, 5PM. 

I have visited some of the nominee's blogs and they do seem to have really interesting stories to tell. (Plus, one of them is holding a Christmas giveaway!)

Restaurant Review: Senya Kitchen

Senya Kitchen

908 Nicanor Reyes St., Sampaloc, Manila

Tel.: 708-5221

Type of Cuisine: Filipino

Average cost per person: PhP 100 to PhP 300 (with the more expensive dishes good for 2-3 persons)

Overall rating: 3/5

I've been meaning to eat at Senya Kitchen ever since that time one of its waiters wouldn't let me pass through without taking a flyer. It was actually that persistent advertising that made me turn to look. The area wasn't exactly where you'd want to be skipping around. Everyone was always on a rush and you tend to just get swept by the flood of people. I've been passing through the area since I moved here in Sampaloc, Manila, in mid-2011. At the same time, Senya Kitchen had just opened.

One of the good things about the restaurant is its home kitchen feel. The decorations of shrubs pouring from the walls and the actual kitchen from behind the counter mimic what one would see in an actual house. There were bamboo plants for added aesthetics. The condiments area and the restrooms maintain the appeal: not too high class and certainly very familiar.

The menu changes every so often, showcasing the specialty of the day, reminiscent of those diners in chick lit movies like 50 First Dates. There is a huge board plastered right next to the counter that displays the entire menu. Once you enter the place, it's about the first thing you'll immediately notice. The food was exactly what you'd find in your own kitchen and that's not really appealing to everyone, especially people like me who find themselves stuck with similar dishes for every week. We all tend to get bored with our own cuisine because we're never eating anything that isn't Filipino. It’s the most accessible food if you’re a student far from mom and dad. However, if you don't get to cook as much as you'd want to, or if you've got a wider range of meals to choose from in your own fridge, which is barely Filipino, Senya Kitchen offers the nostalgic atmosphere you've been missing. It’s just like your mom’s cooking, more or less. The affordability is an added bonus. Ideal for people like me who live far from their hometown.

A bit of a warning, though: lunch time can get hectic with long lines courtesy of hungry students from nearby universities. Senya Kitchen is, after all, within the university belt.

Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet (PhP 225.00)

I’m a big seafood fan, so I was excited to try out their version of sweet and sour fish. I wasn’t exactly sure what the fish was, but my food buddy is persistent about it being salmon. Personally, I thought it was trevally (locally, talakitok). Whatever it was, it was very delicious. The carrot julienne and the chili peppers were great for the sauce. There was nothing creative here but the meal was pretty satisfying. 

Sinigang na Baboy (PhP 65.00)

When you think of home-cooked meals, Sinigang na Baboy immediately comes to mind. I love sinigang that is either spicy or sour, even both, at a level higher than normal. The vegetables were satisfying but the pork was a little too hard to cut for my taste. I did love the ribs floating in my soup. That was probably the highlight of my meal. Sinigang is always a great comfort food, no doubt about that.

Reviewed by:

Jofer Serapio

(guest blogger)

Fish Bones for Breakfast

Fish Bones for Breakfast
by Nicole


Last weekend, I was so pleased that I had the chance to visit my mother's lovely abode. Together with my sisters, we arrived at our mother's house at lunch time. I did not plan on spending the night there but because I was snoozing the whole day that day, my sisters left me. Boy, I was so glad that I stayed because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to eat something REALLY DIFFERENT!

When I woke up the next day (I was dead tired so I slept really long), it was time for breakfast. I cooked something - pan-fried ground pork with eggs - and it was such a boring dish. When we were eating, my mother suddenly remembered something then she stood up and went to the fridge. She said she's got something delicious and when I saw what she's about to cook, my eyeballs dropped! Who on earth would've thought that fish bones could be eaten. I mean, say hello to the fried fish bones! :D

Fried Fish Bones

These fried fish bones are actually from Cebu. My Pop bought this when he was there a week ago. Cebu is known for dried stuff like dried mangoes and the famous danggit, a type of dried fish. I've eaten various dried fishes including the really yummy hard to resist dried squid BUT NEVER dried fish bones UNTIL that breakfast! :))

I was so surprised that these fried fish bones are actually GOOOD. They taste like tocino! How interesting is that?! Now I wonder how much sugar is in there hrrmmm. . . And oh, just in case you guys are wondering, they're crispy so these fish bones won't get caught in your throat (hindi ka talaga matitinik).

with Pineapple vinegar

We Filipinos, if it's dried and fried, we ALWAYS eat it with vinegar. Another first at this breakfast at my mom's is a taste of this pineapple vinegar.

Produced by Golden Greens Global, a Filipino farm in Tagaytay

An all natural vinegar is sure a MAJOR plus plus for me. If you're the type who likes vinegar, then hands down, you'll like this pineapple version.  Its sourness is just right and it has sweetness in it too. My Pop bought this somewhere in Quezon City. If you're interested in buying just leave a comment and I'll tell you :D

They say, breakfast should be the heaviest and boy I indeed ate A LOT!

Danne: The Iscreamist

Every now and then I'd like to post about 'novel' resto finds. This week I post about The Iscreamist store in UP Village, which is one of those must-try places.

From the outside, I'd like to think that this store is outer space-inspired. You know, galactic robots, scientific things, yeah! The font's very telling.

The store's unique selling proposition is that they use liquid nitrogen in bringing the best out of their food. From what I know, liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in liquid form (yes, haha), which means it's at a very low temperature, in contrast to atmospheric nitrogen which is in gas form. So once you dip your food into liquid nitrogen, it becomes cold and crunchy! And the coolest part is that it releases smoke since it evaporates very quickly. So when you eat smores that are just dipped in liquid nitrogen (you'll see later on), smoke comes out not only from your mouth but also from your nostrils.

Upon entry, you'll see their periodic table menu. The treats are actually cheap and student-friendly-- the reason being is their proximity to UP Diliman.

They have dragon's breath snacks. Once you dip and eat them, you'll see smoke coming out. We got smores. They serve 4 sticks per order + a cup of liquid nitrogen (PhP 48).

They also have ice cream which they make from cream + liquid nitrogen. It's actually good!

Besides eating, I suggest you watch how they mix up and do the food. It's actually something you'd like to see to be entertained.

The area's quite small but the overall experience was quite interesting.

The Iscreamist is located at 46D Magiting Street, Teacher's Village, QC (beside the smaller Moonleaf, in the vicinity of Maginhawa Street). Open Monday-Saturday 5:00PM-10:30PM.

I'm all for trying out new things!

Danne