What ur melon?

When my good friend, Jim Paredes, asked me how I liked his new CD , “Palaro” I gave him a whole review on it. But one particular song that caught my attention was the song about the watermelon or 'butong pakwan'

I must agree that women can be such chauvinists when they are infanticipating. We just can't help it, but when our hormones and our MENtal faculties don't agree, we can demand what we think our body wants......And Paredes' song about the man being 'outside the kulambo' or couch destined if the woman doesn't get her way is sooooo true......as the saying goes, ... “If momma ain't happy, nobody happy”

Summer is just around the corner, and I am almost sure that watermelons will flood the groceries at this time of year. But then again let's hope we don't get any from China, where they might just blow up in your face considering that that particular farm almost had the entire crop cracking up because of a chemical miscalculation...They got sort of raptured in their own way. ~ I mean the melons, not the chinese!

Watermelons are good sources of hydration considering that it is 92% water. And did you know that everything of the fruit is useful. From the pulp to the skin , it is all edible. Even the seeds are a great appetizer. It's what the chinese eat in between dishes being served at a chinese feast, so my mom used to say.

When I get a chance, I buy a whole piece and use them accordingly. I will set aside what I initially bought it for, and usually it's for salad and a refresher after a spicy meal. Then, the rind, I make into chutneys (try making kimchi salad or our very own atsal in substitute for unripen papaya). The remaining pulp I would apportion them into ziplock bags and each bag would contain some watermelon chunks, cucumber bits, sprigs of mint, a small tiny cut of chile pepper and lime juice. Then I would freeze them all. After work, or when guests arrive, I would put my frozen concoction in a blender and make some smoothie for that summer drink. I will add a few ounces of tequilla or gin, to add some kick.

My goofy girlfriend confided that watermelons are great sources of juicing up our men especially at the onset of aging...And tonight am giving it to my 'significant other'....now, after that, is not my story to tell anymore. Go ask him if it really works!!! because from here on...my lips are sealed and my fingers locked........maybe.



I think they're related...Red is the new green joke!

An Afternoon of Talk and Taste - Rice Festival (featuring Asian cuisine)

I haven't really figured out what Filipino cuisine is all about”, said Brad, a guy I met at the train station. It was one of those days when I felt bubbly and good, and I saw this guy carrying the shape of a covered waste can behind his back. He was tall, caucasian and good looking, so the flirtatious me had to strike up a conversation, just to ease up the boredom of waiting for a train and to quench out the curiosity of his backpack.


He said that he was carrying an egyptian drum and informed me of his group, Djinn. We then talked more about music, culture, travels and food which led to the statement above. We exchaned 'net' sites and maybe might see him in one of his gigs in Manhattan. Here's his site http://www.djinnnyc.com/ (He's the American one with the hair..hehehe)


Then I proceeded to Astor Place , where the Asian food demonstrations were being held to celebrate the Rice Festival featuring Asian cuisine.. Upon arriving, A Korean Food Truck fronting the building of the place was giving away small portions of bibimbap.


The entrance foyer of the venue had a couple of exhibitors, giving away free samples. You could grab a bottle of Fiji water as you enter, and the Kyocera knives prided itself on the sharpness thereby giving away the sample cuts of dragon fruit and star fruits (balimbing—btw, here in America, they cost about $2-$5 EACH fruit, unbelievable!)


The Macau table was serving portions of it's chinese version of 'arroz a la cubana' complete with rice, poached egg and cut up beef. Salty is my comment on this one. And there was also a table giving away shots of some liquor, which of course I got. Oh! And not to forget, Singha beer from Thailand was giving away samples of their brew, which I kept replenishing during intermissions. Now that was fun!


There were 4 demonstrations for that afternoon, starting with chinese cuisine by Ching Hue Huang, who was promoting her cookbook “Ching's Fast Food”. She made steamed chicken with chinese mushrooms, goji berries and dried lilly buds. Except for the goji berries, all the ingredients were familiar especially the lilly buds which we often find in our very own humba and some pansits. Then she also made a vegetarian crispy bean curd rolls. It was good, but I prefer our very own mung bean spring roll dipped in vinegar with garlic.


Then there was Angelo Sosa who presented a Malaysian Dish of shrimp belacan. About 3 or 4 “puti” did not like the smell of bagoong being sauteed (belacan is the shrimp paste of Malaysia ). The belacan is similar to the ginamos of Bacolod, compact, dark and dry. The dish was simply comfort food. Reminds me of eating by the beach. Lots of shrimps dipped in spicy pinakurat on mounds of rice. (http://angelososa.com/)


The third speaker was former Miss Korea, who dished out simple bibimbops. It was simple all right, but each vegetable was given care to create the dish. While preparing, she had to relay stories of her drinking sprees...oh well! Not quite, but really, what's good with food but a nice pairing to go with it, right?


The final speaker and one of my favorite chefs was Ming Tsai from the show East Meets West . He combined the orecchiette pasta with black bean he pounded and mixed them with spicy pork and broccoli. And he was also promoting his book “One Pot Meals” . He is not only a good chef, but truly an entertainer as well. I would also dub him as the Jamie Oliver of the chinese people since he was explaining about the awareness of foods leading to cancer, obesity and the like.


I enjoyed my whole afternoon learning and meeting new people, tasting food made by the fine chefs and getting samples from sponsors. I look forward to the next food event......



Singha Beer from Thailand


Angelo Sosa with moi...hmmm...isn't he just so tall....

Ming Tsai as he demonstrates his dish..


the Korean food truck