I’m sure you’ve heard about Filipino hospitality, a trait known to most foreigners who have met Filipinos. We were the recipient of that during our trip to Melbourne last March.
My friend Deb has a college school mate and friend named Dennis who now lives in Melbourne. Deb mentioned that she’s brought her friends to see Melbourne and Dennis immediately invited all 7 of us to a picnic. Imagine that?
After visiting the Koala Conservation Centre we met Dennis and his wife Mylene and son Carl at the Cowes, the seaside commercial hub of Phillip Island.
There were several huts with hotplates where you can cook for free. All they ask is to clean up after you use the hotplates.
As soon as introductions and hellos were exchanged the family deftly unpacked all the food they brought. See the rice cooker filled with cooked rice? No Filipino picnic is complete without rice.
It’s obvious that the family was used to having picnics here. They worked fast like a well oiled machine. Here’s Mylene grilling pork belly simply seasoned with salt and pepper while her son Carl watched on.
Carl was in charge in charge of the seafood. In case you’re wondering what the pot of water was for – it’s for our instant coffee. See they thought of everything!
While Mye and Carl were busy cooking my friends were busy playing. Dennis was busy taking pictures of everyone that’s why he doesn’t have a single picture here.
Carl cooked the most awesome salmon with lots of garlic, ginger and teriyaki sauce. It was everyone’s favorite.
We were ready to eat. They even brought an appetizer platter with yummy mozzarella balls called bocconcini.
Just look at our fabulous picnic food! Everyone raved about the perfect doneness of the grilled salmon. Carl has a future as a chef. Everything was so good from the pork belly, mushroom, asparagus to the prawns.
Wayne, an Australian who drove for us and was Dennis’ friend, married a lovely Filipina woman named Leia who made this delicious Vietnamese salad with rice noodles and assorted veggies.
I also loved the super sweet corn.
That’s Wayne in green with his wife Leia.
Thank you Dennis, Mye and Carl for your wonderful hospitality. We all made new friends that day. We hope to see you again one day either in Melbourne or in Manila.
After our picnic lunch we boarded our van and went to The Noobies Boardwalk and Penguin Parade.
Shoot First Eat Later 