Durian

I was ecstatic to hear that there was a Durian Festival in Quezon Memorial Circle. And when my father in law wanted to go and see, I was even more excited!

Because, of all the fruits in the country, this is just my favorite of them all!

Its tough and spiny covering doesn't intimidate me.

And most of all, its indescribably offensive aroma which others may even describe as horrid, mucky, yecchy, yucky or just foul, is simply heavenly to me!

At the festival, it was a blast seeing the fruit get opened right right before you and then neatly packed into these tight (not air-tight though) plastic containers ready to go.

You either love this fruit or you don't. There is no going in-between. It would be almost impossible to describe the taste of the durian fruit. You can read all you want about it but you would have to take a bite to understand and realize why they call the durian the "King of the Fruits".

I just love durian! I brought home 3 packs... and I want more.

Chicharap

I prefer calling this kropek. We use to make this at home using ready-to-deep-fry crackers that instantly literally grow into kropek right before your eyes in seconds! But now, I can get to enjoy this anytime I want even when I am not at home.

Simply open a box and you're ready to go!

It is crispy... tasty... and perfect for just munching.

Dipped in Chowking's own vinegar concoction, the pleasureable blend of prawn flavor mixed with the tangy dip just bursts inside your mouth!

Seafood Wharf

This is one of our favorite restaurants when we want to enjoy the freshest seafoods and more. Located at the Old Army and Navy Club Compound South Road, Luneta Park, the restaurant provides a great view of Manila Bay while you dine.

The place is spacious, inviting and breezy.

The freshest choices!


Creepy crawly ones...


Chilled ones...

Take your pick from the above choices... They all end up in their kitchen where the master in the art of cooking do they marvelous creations.

From the hanger to your platter...

This is a mainstay everytime we visit. Their tamarind sauce for the roasted duck, suckling pig, chicken and asado is so heavenly!

I wish I had more photos to show than our sweet and sour maya maya and halaan soup we had that day. Unfortunately, when the rest of food came, I was too engrossed with eating and forgot about shooting! Hahaha....

But take it from Mayura and all the balikbayan guests we have treated at Seafood Wharf, , all the seafood goodness you pick here are cooked just the way you want them.... perfectly!

Your first visit would definitely be not your last. Right, Mayura?

Choco Crunchies

Having blogged about Choco Mallows not so long ago, Choco Crunchies would surely be not far behind. This time, it is my hubby's favorite light snack treat.

Choco Crunchies has never changed... the box, the corrugated board lining the inside, the neatly arranged piles of the chocolate covered biscuits... still the way we remember it!

Each treat is delicately wrapped in foil that holds and seals the crispy chocolatey goodness in every bite.

Even my girls had a blast! They each wanted one for themselves! Hahaha...

Headed for it.... stepped on it... any which way, they just had to have one.

This is definitely not just a child's delight. It is something the whole household will enjoy!

Error

I was trying to post another blog entry today but ended up exasperated. An error kept popping up preventing me from adding photos to my topic for today. My photos are the life of my blog and this error I am getting is just so frustrating. Who wouldn't be. I hope this gets fixed soon.


The error page looks like this:
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E-pass

Mon and I decided to buy an electronic pass for our car. And after using it for about a week now, we regret not having bought it sooner!

We have lived here in the south ever since we got married. And me, more than half of my life. And we have seen how traffic in the South Suffer Highway has gone from bad to infuriating.

And now, this little tag, as they call it, saves the day (and time) for us. It has unbelievably cut down our "pila" time by more than 200%! Simply stick the tag on your windshield and you're ready to go.

Clip on...

Clip off...

Our driving in and out of the SLEX has been cut short significantly since e-pass holders get their own entrance and exit lanes in tollgates. Plus. there is no need to pay in cash. Everything is pre-paid and toll charge is automatically debited from your tag's load at the moment you go thru the tollgates as indicated by a beep.

I don't need to prepare my coins anymore in the morning for our toll fee. We now reach work ealier. And we can now save on gas more. I am glad there's e-pass.

Lanzones

I had to blog this before it goes out of season. I see a lot of lanzones in the market and in the groceries these days since it is still in season.

I have yet to see a lanzones (Lansium domesticum) tree. But the fruit, we surely have enjoyed a kilo or two of this.

Buying and choosing the sweet variety is always a game of luck for me. I still have not mastered the art of telling which ones are sweet and which ones are not too sweet.
Well, some advise to choose the not so "fair-skinned"ones. Discolorations may indicate that that cluster is sweet. Others say that those with a lot of black ants clustering around may also indicate that the bunch is sweet.

These tips help. But the "libre-tikim" way is still the way to go for most of us. Taste to believe.

Pastillas de Leche

These little sweet treats wrapped in white cellophane are made from carabao's milk and originated from Bulacan, homemade by carabao-rearing farmers.

My husband loves pastillas de leche. I always bring home a bag or two from Red Ribbon or Goldilocks just for him.

It was my Kumareng Cecile who told me to try this specific brand of pastillas de leche which she bought in Market Market.

I am glad I followed her advise. This Sevilla Sweets Pastillas de Leche is so rich and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness. Each bite is full of that milky goodness that bursts in your mouth. Mon loved it. And I am sure he will want more.