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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Posts Tagged ‘desserts’
Buko Pie Dilemna
February 9, 2010
There were few food issues I had to straighten out during my recently-concluded trip to the Philippines. The major one was, who has the best BUKO PIE in the Philippines? Most buko pies now are commercially-prepared and the quality is compromised. This competition is somewhat narrowed down to three competitors as I have gathered few observations already from my previous visits to Iloilo and Luzon last year. Nang Palang’s emerged as the winner last year and will face off with its steep competitor from Bacolod (El Ideal) and Laguna. Few of my readers briskly suggested to try the Laguna-made buko pie. Allow me to show you who prepares the BEST BUKO PIE in town, or should I say, in the Philippines?
The BUKO PIE from Laguna has finally arrived for my scrutiny. Thanks to my niece Elgin from Laguna who brought this buko pie made by Orient Bakeshop who claims to be the maker of the original buko pie.
Looking closely inside the pie will reveal the whole story. Here, I noted there are ONLY few strips of buko and more of the cornstarch base.
El Ideal of Bacolod prepares pies and other local delicacies. A very popular name in Negros.
El Ideal's BUKO PIE came very close to winning the competition! Strips of buko are quite visible to the eyes.
I'm glad that Nang Palang's Buko pie has upgraded their box, making it more competitive.
The Nang Palang's BUKO PIE is loaded with select buko strips and it almost fill the whole pie with it. Thus making the flavor so rich and creamy. That's my kind of buko pie, making Nang Palang's my GOLD STANDARD.
And the winner is: NANG PALANG'S BUKO PIE! This is an unbiased taste test and as I always recommend, be your own judge!
First Encounter in Manila – Kamay Kainan
January 22, 2010
Since my flight to Iloilo was a day ahead, I took the freedom to explore Manila of places I have not been into. First stop was Trinoma. So much buzz about this place that I went there to experience it first hand. I was captivated by its multi-leveled rooftop gardens amongst its humongous exterior structure. The said gardens are appropriated to different levels and it appears one is going from one massive garden room to another. I was totally impressed! Well, nothing comes my way when my stomach started to remind me that it is chow time. Instinctively, I was looking for authentic Filipino foods and my food radar zeroed into Kamay Kainan, located just right where the said gardens are. It is practically, a buffet-styled restaurant catering exquisitely Filipino foods…..an excellent place for homesicked balikbayans to recuperate from.
Just massive garden structure right at the heart of Trinoma.
The element of water is balancedly utilized in smaller garden rooms.
Chinese bamboos are grouped throughout the place and it gives a contrasting serene mode.
Kamay Kainan is a very well-planned restaurant offering lunch and dinner buffet style. Interestingly enough, they also offer merienda (snack) in between meals and the stuff are lined in just outside the resto. Making it inviting for the passerby to have snacks without having to burden themselves in choosing snack foods. What a brilliant idea!
The food selections where overwhelming! The Filipino foods are situated at the back in a carousel-style.
I concentrated on sea foods and stayed away as much from greasy ones/ Here I have different shells including suso in coconut milk.
Though I was already filled right up to my throat, I still have room for dessert. Watch the guinataan, minamatamis na saba and corn bread. What added to my excitement was, I was able to eat street ice cream inside the resto as they have a "kareton" ice cream.
Sweet Saturday
July 11, 2009
On my way home today from work, I can’t resist dropping by Happy Birthday Cakes Bake Shop in Mississauga. I featured this bakeshop few months ago and, as I have mentioned before, it is owned by few Filipino conglomerates. I was overwhelmed by the variety of Filipino desserts displayed inside. The timing was perfect as my chef was off for the weekend and went shopping for the whole day. I spotted their pancit palabok, maja mais, bibingka and leche flan. Join us for dinner!
Pancit Palabok
Bibingka with salted eggs and grated coconut.
Maja Mais.
Leche Flan.
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