Pineapple for the People

Dole and Del Monte are among the top agricultural companies in the Philippines. 

Dole employs approximately 5,700 regular employees, most of whom work in the farm in Mindanao, one of the three largest islands in the Philippines.  Dole implements social programs that provide schooling for the children of the employees, hospital and health care for employees, and wages and benefits above government requirements.  

Del Monte has a work force of over 3,000 employees, most of whom reside in the community surrounding the farm.  Del Monte also set up the Del Monte Foundation, Inc that helps promote the social responsibility of the company for its employees and their families.  

This is very valuable, especially in poverty-stricken areas in Mindanao. 

Know that a diet rich in pineapples, whether Dole or Del Monte, helps almost 10,000 families lead better lives.  

Barbeque Anyhow

There's something about white water rafting and kayaking that keep me hooked.

The roaring waves and ice-cold water, the adrenalin rush, the splendor and beauty of the mountain ranges of Cordillera and Sierra Madre - the trip is packed with so much adventure that I get hungry for more...food.

And this is why outdoor grill tops my list of favorites. Locally called inihaw or sinugba (grilled or barbecued meat or fish), it is served with steamed rice and sauce made of soy sauce, mid-sized lime, and vinegar. Salted egg mixed with chopped tomatoes immersed in vinegar make an excellent accompaniment to inihaw.

In the Philippines, inihaw or sinugba is a popular fare across the different regions. There are several types of inihaw, more than one can possibly imagine:

Inihaw na liempo (Grilled Spareribs)

Inihaw na porkchop (Grilled Porkchop)

Inihaw na tilapia (Grilled Tilapia)

Inihaw na panga ng tuna (Grilled Jaw of Tuna)

Inihaw na tiyan ng tuna (Grilled Tuna Belly)

Inihaw na bangus (Grilled Milk Fish)

Inihaw na pusit (Grilled Squid)

Inihaw na tulya (Grilled Oysters)

Inihaw na tahong (Grilled Mussels)

Pork Barbeque

Chicken Barbeque

Chicken Inato (Local Chicken Barbeque from Cebu)

Chicken Inasal (Chicken Barbeque from Iloilo/Bacolod)

And the list goes on and on...

A popular joke in town is - "How would you like your barbecue done?"

Answer - "Anyhow." (Which sounds similar to inihaw)

Thermometer for Hot Food: Thailand

My favorite chili fried chicken burger is KFC Zinger.  This is the sandwich version of the hot & spicy KFC fried chicken. I wanted to try it in the "hot" capital of Southeast Asia:  Thailand. 

Five bites into the Thai Zinger, and I was teary-eyed. My hunch is that KFC Thailand changed the formula.  They must have added 200% more cayenne pepper into the batter to suit the palette of their Thai customers.  Thai customers have an apparent addiction to chili pepper; even the French Fries come with ketchup AND CHILI SAUCE!  

But hot stuff do not just make us cry.  Spicy foods have health benefits, springing from capsaicin, a chemical found in the veins of peppers. 

Capsaicin can help alleviate the pain or arrest the symptoms of the following: 

1. Arthritis

2. Sleep Disorder 

3. Depression

4. Cancer

5. Ulcer

6. Sinusitis/Sinus Headaches

7. Alzheimer's Disease

8. Muscle Pain

9. Sore Throat/Flu

10. Migraine

Peppers are rich in vitamin A, C, and beta carotene.  It is also low in fat and cholesterol and seems to help people lose weight by absorbing the fat and burning calories faster. 

Now, that gives KFC Thailand Zinger a real zing!

 

Chopstiquette: Dos and Don'ts with Chopsticks

During a day-tour in Hong Kong, I sat across a Swiss couple who grew up speaking German and learned English at a university.  We were seated in the same table for lunch.  The server passed by, offering chopsticks to the diners.  "Chopsticks? Chopsticks?"  she asked. With her thick accent, it sounded more like "tsa-stee, tsa-stee" and left the Swiss couple bewildered. 

The Swiss couple held their chopsticks and asked if "chopsticks" is an English word.  I said, "Yes, and it comes from two words: 'chop' and 'sticks'.  Chopsticks.  It just sounded different from the way the lady said it because...well maybe her mollars were missing, I don't know."

So, here's a brief orientation on how to use chopsticks as helpful tools for dimsum, noodles, sushi, etc.  and not as weapons of mass destruction: 

1. DO NOT PIERCE dimsum or dumplings or sushi. Always use the chopsticks to pick up the food. 

2. DO NOT POINT to your colleague with chopsticks unless you intentionally want to blind another person out of sheer cruelty. 

3. DO NOT WAVE chopsticks in the air or spin them like ballpens.  They might just fly to the shark's fin soup in the next table, and you'll wind up paying for the check in the other table as well. 

4.  DO NOT USE CHOPSTICKS as a serving spoon.  If you ordered food for sharing, ask the server for a serving spoon or extra chopsticks. 

5.  PLACE THE CHOPSTICKS on the chopsticks holder after the meal or during breaks. 

When in doubt, simply ask for spoon and fork. 

Enjoying Meals Mid-Air

My personal choice in airlines?  Cathay Pacific. 

From the ground crew to the airline crew, they manage to exude warmth and hospitality.  I recall struggling with my ice cream - I was practically pounding my mini cup with my teaspoon. The in-flight attendant approached me and offered me a new cup of ice cream BEFORE I could even complain.  This is exemplary customer service.  Outstanding service matched with good food makes eating mid-air a pleasure for passengers like me.         

This is probably why Cathay Pacific has been voted time and again as one of the best airlines in Asia. 

 

Cathay Pacific is ranked second in freshness of food.  The first class cabins have rice cookers, toasters, and skillets so omelettes and rice are cooked prior to serving. In 2005, Cathay Pacific earned the Airline of the Year award, followed by Qantas Airways and Emirates.  In 2007, the Hotel Club voted Cathay Pacific as one of the top five airlines in Asia Pacific. Then in 2008, Cathay Pacific emerged once more as one of the three best airlines in the world. 

To the staff of Cathay Pacific, xiexie*!

(Chinese for "thank you!")

   

Green Tea in the Cold

If you think sushi and sashimi are all there is to Japanese cuisine, think again.  When I first set foot in Japan, the first thing I looked for was the odd-tasting green tea ice cream. 

Japan is one big ice-cream lover.  This is the only country I know of that celebrates  ICE CREAM DAY.   May 9, 1869 was the first day ice cream was made in Japan.  Every year,  ice cream companies come up with special treats on Japan's  Ice Cream Day. That makes sense, with 2 out of every 5 Japanese adults who eat ice cream weekly!

Because of this huge market potential, international players have come to Japan.  Haagen-Dazs sales reach as much as US$400M annually with seventy stores.  This is the only country where Green Tea is one of the top flavors of ice cream.  The other top sellers for Haagen-Dazs are Vanilla, Cookies & Cream,  and Strawberry. 

Cold Stone has recently entered the market and targets to open 150 stores by 2010. Top flavors are Azuki Bean, Green Tea, and Blushing Mango Cloud.  For Baskin Robbins, which has been in the country for more than 30 years,  target number of outlets is 1,010 shops by 2010. 

  

A Bite of Bohol

One of the most unforgettable seafood dishes I have ever tried is the sting ray - yes, a sting ray.  It was a fresh catch from the sea fronting a beach house in Bohol, located in Central Visayas, Philippines.   

Mrs. Alvarez, a lovely homemaker from Bohol, cooked up a delicious dish with cutlets of stingray cooked in spiced coconut milk and bamboo shoots. The stingray had an outer layer as soft as the belly of a milk fish.  The inner portion tasted like tuna except that this a little bit more chewy and seemed to glide down the throat more easily. 

I have yet to taste another dish that can compare to the uniqueness of this home-made dish.  

    

Dining Tips with Friendly Filipinos

The Philippines is a nation of warm, friendly people.

Should you ever be invited to a Filipino home for dinner, here are some things you might like to know to help you appreciate the culture of these people-loving, well-meaning hosts. 

1. NEVER SAY NO.  When you enter a FIlipino home and they are already eating, they will politely ask you to join them.  Do not decline the invitation unless you have eaten already.  The correct thing to say is, "Oh thank you, but I just finished my dinner."  

However, if you have not eaten yet, you are expected to join them at the dining table. 

2. A FRUIT SALAD IS NOT A SALAD.  The Filipino Fruit Salad is a dessert made of a fruit blend (grapes, pears, papayas, pineapples, etc) combined with heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk.  Do not expect this before dinner.  It will be served after dinner. 

3. SOUP IS SERVED NOT BEFORE BUT AS PART OF THE MAIN COURSE.  Most Filipino families prepare clear broth filled with meat and vegetables such as the Sinigang (Shrimp or Pork Ribs cooked in tamarind-based broth with swamp cabbage, radish, and tomatoes), Nilaga (Beef cutlets cooked in beef broth with onion, potatoes, and cabbage), or Bulalo (Beef Shank in beef broth with halved corn cob, string beans, and cabbage). These soupy dishes are heavy, flavorful, and filling.  These come with sauces on the side such as toyomansi (blend of soy sauce and mid-sized lime)  or calamansi't patis (fish sauce with mid-sized lime).

4. RICE IS A STAPLE.  Pizza and pasta may be eaten either as snacks or alternative dinners.  For most Filipino families, dinner comprises of moist, steamed rice and a viand (heavy, filling dish).  Depending on the financial status of the family, the number of viands can increase or decrease. 

5. SPOON & FORK.  Most table settings comprise of spoon and fork, not chopsticks.  If you need a knife, simply ask the host for one.  Some hosts prepare knives while others don't; it depends on the practice of the family. 

6. COMPLIMENT THE WOMAN OF THE HOUSE even if the maid did all the cooking. 

7.  DO NOT CANCEL AT THE LAST MINUTE.  Chances are, the family prepared a lot for your coming. Microwave is never used for guests; all dishes are freshly cooked.

8. BRING DESSERT OR DRINKS like a bottle of wine to show gratitude and grace.

9.  EXPECT A SUGAR OVERLOAD.  Bread has sugar.  Spaghetti has sugar, particularly for children's parties. In this nation, both the people and the food are sweet. 

10. DO NOT ACCUSE FILIPINOS OF OVER-EATING. Should you be invited to spend a day with a Filipino family, do not be surprised to see the following: 

Meal #1 - Breakfast: Rice with sunny side up egg and Tocino (sweetened, cured meat)

Meal #2 - Mid-morning snack: Arroz caldo (rice porridge with ginger and chicken) or Donuts

Meal #3 - Lunch: Rice with Adobo or Sinigang

Meal #4 - Mind-afternoon snack: Slice of pizza or a plate of pasta or local noodles

Meal #5 - Dinner: Rice with Caldereta (Beef stew in tomato sauce with olives, carrots, potatoes) or Fried Chicken

Meal #6 - Coffee with pastries or Suman at Latik  (Sticky rice with caramelized coconut cream) 

McDonald's Singapore: Slicing into Obesity

I could not believe my eyes! Ready-to-eat packs of apple slices lay by the cashier counter of McDonald's Singapore.  What's more is that I saw more customers getting apple slices than french fries.  Was I really in McDonald's? 

Again, I applaud McDonald's for localizing  their product portfolio according to the customer needs of highly urban and very slender Singapore.  This must be one of the healthiest in the McDonald's chain all over the world! 

True enough, a study of the American Heart Association reveals that East Asia and South Asia have the lowest incidence of obesity, compared to their female counterparts in Europe, Africa, Australia, Latin America, and Canada.    

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a standard measure for gauging obesity. It is measured by dividing weight (kg)  over height (m).  If the result is higher than 25, then subject is overweight; if more than 30, then one is obese.    

The study of American Heart Association shows that the level of combined overweight & obese women based on BMI in different areas of the world are as follows: 

Middle East - 70%

North & South Africa - More than 65% but less than 70%

Canada & Latin America & South Europe  - More than 60% but less than 65%

East Europe & Australia - More than 55% but less than 60%

Northwest Europe - 50%

South Asia  - More than 40% but less than 50%

East Asia  - More than 30% but less than 40%

Bravo McDonald's!  Once again, I salute McDonald's for its  quick way to innovate and adjust to the appetite of (or lack of) customers worldwide. McDonald's is truly a global brand with local flavor.

Is Korea the New Cabbage Patch?

Every meal in Korea that I ate had kimchi.  Every meal.  

I wonder how much cabbage this country consumes  in a year!  

Kimchi consists of the following ingredients:  

(1) Vegetables - Usually cabbage but can be supplemented with eggplant, cucumber, chili pepper leaves, mustard leaf, carrot, turnip, dropwort, or sweet potato

(2) Meat or Fish - Flatfish, oyster, chicken, or abalone

(3) Grains - Sticky rice, malted rice, barley, or flour 

(4) Spices - Green onion, garlic, powdered chili pepper, black pepper, onions

(5) Condiments - Salt, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, sesame seeds, taffy

(6) Fish Paste - Salted shrimp paste, salted anchovy paste, salted clam paste, and others 

To make one recipe of Kimchi that fills an entire Kimchi pot, it requires around 100-200 cabbages.  That is only for personal use and does not include commercial production.  In 1997, commercial production estimated an output of approximately 408,000 tons of  kimchi products.

Because of the increasingly urban lifestyle, Koreans shifted from home-made kimchi to processed or bottled kimchi.  The Ministry of Health & Welfare conducted a national survey in 1998 that showed an increase of processed vegetable consumption from 80g per day (1969) to  284g per day (1998).        

If that consumption is still true to day, with a population of 48M, then Koreans eat 13.6B grams of  kimchi per day.  That's a lot of cabbage!  

Jonah's Out of the Sea

                                                                                           I'm not much of a beach buddy, but this one beach I cannot resist:  Boracay. 

A long stretch of the finest white sand, clear blue water, the variety in cuisines and the party-all-night atmosphere make Boracay one of the best holiday destinations in the Philippines.   If you want a great escape into the ethereal, this is the island to go to.  

And Boracay is synonymous with Jonah's shakes.  A holiday in Boracay is not complete without a taste of this carabao-milk based shakes, offered in refreshing (sometimes mind-boggling) flavors such as Lemon-Milk, Mango-Melon, and the bestseller, Banana-Choco-Peanut Shake.  

One sip of Jonah's shake in an afternoon at Boracay, and I'm in paradise.  

Many times I have wished for my flight back home to be canceled! 

French Twist to Chinese Moon Cakes

The Chinese celebrate the Moon Cake Festival yearly, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.  It coincides with the night when the moon shines its brightest; it is also called the Mid-Autumn Festival.  To celebrate this festival, the Chinese get together with families and friends and give out moon cakes.  There is a gift-giving practice during this period. 

Original moon cakes are dense round or square pastries made of lotus seed paste; there is usually an egg yolk in the center.  

Haagen-Dazs came up with their own version of moon cakes - I personally tried one in Orchard Road, Singapore.  The rich, creamy ice cream was imported directly from France. The outer layer, instead of lotus paste, consisted of either Strawberry, Belgian Chocolate, or Cookies & Cream ice cream.  The mango sorbet was molded to resemble the classic egg yolk.   The crust was replaced with pure belgian chocolate sauce, hardened to perfection.

This was a different experience - a plated French couture on a Chinese catwalk, a marriage of French dairy and Chinese tradition.   

Haagen-Dazs moon cakes are  now part of the Moon  Cake Festival in Greater China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia (see photo above), and Thailand.  In Haagen-Dazs Beijing, one has to order as early as July in order  to book these fancy ice cream moon cakes according to Asia Times.  

 

  

McDonald's India: Respect for the Sacred Cow

Hinduism is the most dominant religion in India.  About 82% of the population in India is Hindu (approximately 930M people), and Hindus consider cows sacred. 

Cows are deemed sacred in Hinduism because it represents life and sustenance of life.  It is the source of milk and cream, cheese, and yogurt.  It is a generous provider; yet, it only consumes nothing but water, grass, and grain.  Cows symbolize grace, abundance, gentleness, and  connectedness with nature.  Thus, the Hindus treat them with honor.

What intrigued me in my travel to India was - If  8 out of 10 households in India are Hindu, how does McDonald's sell its hamburgers?  I could never imagine a McDonald's chain without hamburgers.  Can you? 

I had the most interesting hamburger fast food experience in McDonald's Mumbai.  Out of reverence for the cows, McDonald's did not have hamburgers.  Instead, they had an assortment of McChicken sandwiches! 

I ordered a grilled McChicken sandwich called Chicken McGrill.  I have never tasted anything as delicious as this!  They grilled the chicken burger and served it with tomatoes and mint sauce.  The battle between the hot grilled patty and the cool-flavored mint gave an incredible sensation in the mouth.  

Of course, what is McDonald's without fries?  I tried the French Fries with none other than...Masala, a blend of Indian spices with a zing! 

So, I salute McDonald's for showing reverence and adapting to the local culture.  The R&D team of McDonald's has put forth outstanding innovation in the face of an enormous hurdle that otherwise could have discouraged McDonald's from entering this market.   

Beginning with Breakfast

Nutritionists strongly encourage the public to eat breakfast.  Research has shown that breakfast can help increase performance and control weight.  Breakfast can also curb hunger in the morning, particularly a few hours before lunch. 

Thus, when I am out-of-town for business meetings, I never skip breakfast.

But Shangri-la Mactan redefined breakfast for me.  

I sat in the coffee shop, overlooking the coconut trees that lead to the pool and the beach.  The sky was clear, and the lush greenery set against the blue horizon was picturesque.  For an hour or so, my eyes feasted on the breathtaking view.        

The server came to take my order.  I requested for Mango pancakes and made a special note - I wanted the Mangoes embedded inside the pancakes, not on top of it. 

To my delight, the pancakes came in, warm and fluffy just as I like them.  The pancakes were very soft with the Mangoes swirling in the batter.  It was wonderful. 

The breakfast at Shangri-la Mactan lured my senses - the smell of coffee in the nearby table, the impeccable service and smiles of the staff, the charming landscape, the taste of fresh mangoes in delectable pancakes.   Breakfast has then taken on a new meaning for me - beyond the need to source energy from food to a pleasurable start  for the day.  My business meeting in cebu has never been so positive, so dynamic until I had that breakfast in Shangri-la that left me spellbound for an hour and totally invigorated for the day.

There are currently three Shangri-la hotels and resorts in the Philippines.  Two are located in business districts:  Ayala Avenue in Makati City, the busiest street in the Philippines and Ortigas Center, the second largest business district in the country.  The third one, Shangri-la Mactan is located in Mactan, Cebu, approximately one hour by plane from Manila.   Shangri-la is opening its fourth branch in Boracay, one of the finest beaches in the country.  Both Mactan and Boracay are travel destinations, not only for beach lovers but also for scuba divers.  They're also perfect for business conventions and honeymoon rendezvous.  

Shangri-la has been rated among the finest hotels in Asia.  Makati Shangri-la has been identified as one of the top ten hotels in Asia  while Shangri-la Mactan has been voted as one of the best family hotels in Asia by the Hotel Club in 2007. 

And so my food trip began. Shangri-la Mactan has become my first stopover in this lifelong food trip.  

    

Taking Off on a Food Trip

My food trip began in a country composed of 7,107 islands.  

A company assignment allowed me to travel - and taste the local delicacies in this beautiful country.  The country is not only home to a rich marine life abounding in the main bodies of water in Southeast Asia such as the South China Sea, the Philippine Sea, the Sulu  Sea, and Celebes Sea.  It is also the abode of tropical fruits such as Mangoes, Bananas, and Papayas which food manufacturing companies such as Dole and Del Monte grow locally and export overseas.   With only two seasons per year - summer and rainy season, food is available year-round with plentiful harvest during summer.  Imagine then a country with a bounty of seafood and tropical produce.  Dishes can range from the popular seafood dishes such as  kinilaw to many other fruit-based recipes. 

7,107 islands + lots of seafood + lots of fruits & vegetables = lifelong buffet in the Philippines!

I then knew... this would be the start of  a trip I will never forget yet continue to take, year after year.