Shoot First Eat Later

Philippine Food Expo – Fruit Based

regular sized mangoes with mini me mangoes

hot mango sampaloc

mango concentrate

okra for export to Japan

green mango concentrate

yellow mango concentrate

dried green mangoes

These fresh frozen fruits are exported to Korea. Some are dipped in Chocolate. I wanted to try one but this was one of my last stops and I was so full of samples already.

half a mango

pineapple

mango, banana and pineapple dipped in chocolate

pretty decent prices

Philippine Food Expo – Malunggay

Malunggay is a popular tree in the Philippines. In English it is called Moringa Oleifera. The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium.

I think this is the year of the Malunggay. It’s being made into beverages, chips, noodles and even soap.

Moringa powder can be sprinkled on food while cooking. A pouch costs P600.

malunggay junk food

Philippine Food Expo – Pili Nuts

Pili nut products are abundant in the food fair. But for me the ‘best in show’ award goes to Wrapsody. These pilinut filled pastries taste like a cross between baklava and turon (fried bananas in lumpia wrapper). It may be quality control or whatever but in the box of 12 pastries that I bought some are crunchy while others are chewy (makunat). Either way they’re goooood. They’re not in any store yet but I’ll post their contact details. They will be at the National Trade Fair at SMX, Mall of Asia on March 12-15, 2009. I have to go and stock up on Wrapsody!

a box of wrapsody on top of pili nuts in shell

the pili tree

chili garlic pili

I didn’t like these pili puffs. It’s all dough and little pili.

hopia de pili and pili bonbones (yum-o!)

my ode to wrapsody

Wrapsody Pilinut Filled Pastries
C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries
Banag, Daraga, Albay
telephone: (63) 916-6430696
email: cindyspecialties@yahoo.com

Philippine Food Expo – Healthy Stuff

I was very impressed with these bars. The owner was very helpful in explaining each variety and letting me try a lot of them. I ate one bar late in the afternoon and was quite full from it. The bars are light and crisp and not too sweet.

The Muesli-Granola Kitchen and Bakeshop
telephone: 0917-8118673
email: thehappyfood@gmail.com

There was an abundance of coconut sugar in the fair. I finally caved in and bought a bag.

I never knew there were so many kinds of veggie noodles. This should be a good way of sneaking in veggies to kids’ meals. Should work for me too!

squash and shrimp chips

garlic and malunggay chips

a sweetener made from Yacon tubers

A variety of alternative flours.

Philippine Food Expo 2009

I went to the Philippine Food Expo 2009 at SM Megamall’s trade hall which was held from March 5-8, 2009. I was surprised that majority of the food showcased was all about healthy alternatives. It took me 3 hours to finish the fair which occupied all 3 trade halls in SM. I got so tired trying all the samples pushed at me. It was so hard to say no!

my haul from the food expo

I’m dividing the pictures into these categories so come back everyday to see the whole coverage of the food expo.

Healthy Stuff
Malunggay
Pili Nuts
Fruits
It’s all about snacks
Vinegars, Sauces and Pickled Stuff
Beverages
Everything Else

Market Market part 3

This is one of my favorite stalls. Sitsirya (junk food) sells a variety of goodies from all over the Philippines.

one of the best pastillas in town

Kablon Farms jam and honey. Coco Sugar is a natural sugar substitute for diabetics. Low Glycemic Index (35). Does not increase blood sugar, controls cholesterol. (from Sitsirya)

exotic fruit concentrates

chicharon

imho the best sapin sapin

Sapin sapin is a layered glutinous rice and coconut dessert. It is made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, water, and coloring with coconut flakes sprinkled on top (from Wikipedia).

Market Market part 2

Turrones de casoy are nougat slivers made with cashews and honey and then wrapped in rice paper. Assorted fruit tarts

more peanuts

polvoron in different flavors

famous dried mangoes

ready to cook chicharon (fried pork rind and belly)

native cookies

milkfish

different kinds of dried fish

Market Market part 1

The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands which are divided into 80 provinces. Each province has it’s own food specialty and flavor. Going around Market Market, a mall in Taguig, will give you a chance to travel from North to South and buy each province’s delicacies. Each cart represents a province and is filled to the brim with goodies.

chichacorn (crunchy corn bits)

lengua de gato and peanuts

sesame, cashew & peanut brittle
from Good Shepherd Sisters’ Mountain Maid Training Center

peanut butter, mango jam and famous ube jam

atchara (pickled green papaya) and strawberry preserves

assorted fruit wines

coffee alamid is the most expensive coffee in the world made from droppings of the civet. the small bottle is P400 the big bottle is P1000

coffee made from rice and ginger tea

honey and lemon grass concentrate

Red Mango at SM Megamall

Red Mango is a frozen yogurt chain founded in South Korea in 2002, that has gained popularity in the United States. The company is known for using natural ingredients in making “authentic frozen yogurt” that is both tart and creamy. (from Wikipedia)

Red Mango is now in Manila. Their first 2 branches are at the Trinoma mall and Eastwood. The newest branch just opened at SM Megamall and that’s where I went. The only frozen yogurt I’ve tried is Pinkberry in L.A. I tried the coffee flavor without any toppings. It was soooooo tart (mukhasim talaga). I can’t imagine why people were crazy for it. I hope this isn’t as tart as Pinkberry.

They have a wide range of toppings from cereal, crushed graham, pomelo, kiwi and other fruits. But the most unique one was mochi. Mochi is a japanese sticky rice cake. I wasn’t in an adventurous mood otherwise I would have tried mochi with mangoes.

I got a medium original flavor with 2 toppings for P145. I chose sliced almonds and chocolate chips. I love the yogurt! It has just the right amount of tartness and it’s very creamy. The toppings are just right quantity too. I had toppings til the last spoonful of yogurt. Next time I’ll eat this without any toppings. It’s that good. By the way for those who will eat this take note of the pink plastic spoon. It’s imported from Korea and has a very nice shape and perfect for eating ice cream. I kept my spoon :D.

SM Megamall
Ground Flr. Bldg. A

Ice Cream Flavors in the Philippines

Since the Philippines is a tropical country we have many unique fruits and flavors that have been made into ice cream. Here are just a few of the more unique ones.

jackfruit, purple yam and mung bean

cashew brittle mantecado (traditional spanish cake flavor)

chocolate peanut

sansrival is a cake made of meringue layers and buttercream icing

Selecta Creations is a more premium line of ice cream. I can tell you it’s yummy specially the quezo real.

mango

purple yam

jackfruit with purple yam

cheese (strange but good!)

from wikipedia: Halo-halo (from Tagalog word halo, “mix”) is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a tall glass.

coconut salad (another dessert staple in Filipino parties)