World Class Chefs
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Ramilo (Ram) Villaluna
Ram is a budding chef from Iloilo City (Molo). He gained his training in Culinary Arts at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies under food guru Gene Gonzalez, Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kumpps) in New York. He took up bread making, and he studied food styling under Delores Custer of the Culinary Institute of America. It all started in Antique where his father owned a restaurant many Antiquenos learned to love. He continued the culinary legacy of his father and now, Ram owns a catering business, Cindy\'s Catering. Food is Ram\'s life, seriously speaking. I am short in saying that he is married to the food industry that, he spends most of his time teaching and mentoring at the Department of Culinary Arts at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo. If one cannot find him in the classroom, Ram will be on the road crisscrossing Iloilo and Antique having first hand in the management of his thriving businesses from both provinces. He also has a once-a-week TV show in GMA 7 \"Food Trip\". I met with Ram once before and he exudes perfectionism, the character that will beam him up to the limelight of culinary arts. At present time, Ram is extremely busy in Manila. I believe he is one of the finalists in The National Food Showdown 2010 sponsored by ABS-CBN. We wish you all the luck, Ram! Maybe, after this showdown, Ram will have the opportunity share favorite recipe here at ILONGGO LIVING.
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Guimaras Mango Delight!
May 3, 2010
It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the year already and, mango season back in the Philippines is in full swing. No doubt, people there are taking full advantage of the delightful fruit that seem to taste like peaches but somewhat unique in texture, flavour and aroma. Have I mentioned before that the sweetness of mangoes from the Philippines makes it a world of difference from mangoes here in North America (import from Mexico)? As a mango connoisseur, I do honestly believe that mangoes from the Philippines is the best in the world. Specifically, mangoes from Guimaras are known world-wide, from Australia, Asia and the Pacific rim of North America. Albeit, it makes me wonder why these mangoes does not reach our area here, the east coast. Nevertheless, to mark the bounty harvest of mangoes in Guimaras, about April of each year, local people celebrate the “Manggahan Festival”. The celebration is highlighted with folk dances and trade fair. Thanks to my fellow blogger and friend, Junnjun Mendoza of Gigs Ilonggo for kindheartedly lending me his photo shots of the above-mentioned celebration.
I was totally taken by this shot as it depict a gigantic mango-shaped object made up of real mangoes itself. I don't know about you but, I caught this mango-shaped image the first time I laid my eyes on it. To some, it might be just a bunch of mangoes tied up together.
One cannot help but admire how the Guimaras mangoes looks like. How it differs when you try smell the aroma of a ripe mango from the ones we get here in North America.It is way beyond comparison!
Mango fruit stands must have dominated the trade fair they had during the Manggahan Festival in Guimaras.
The best way to eat mango is to just wash it, peal it and munch at it with one's bare hands! One will find out how many mangoes you can devour in one shot. DID YOU KNOW THAT? The local government of Guimaras prohibits entry of non-local variety of mango plants in the area to prevent cross pollination?
Here are some few shots from the Manggahan Festival in Guimaras. (Thanks to Junnjun Mendoza of Gigs Ilonggo).
Yes Lee mango stands/kiosks with mangoes and by-products dominated the trade fair.
Busog gid mata mo sa kadamuon sang mga dalagko nga mangaa..hehe