Only in the Philippines

Harriet just came from the Philippines last month and was so generous to share her Delimondo corned beef, among her many other pasalubs.  We stayed home today due to the snowstorm so I thought we’d have that for lunch. We had it with fried eggs ala cornsilog.  The next thing I thought was if Mom would want to sneak some of this delicious corned beef in her luggage on her next trip to Toronto. 

 

Then, more things came to mind -- snacks we’ve enjoyed from childhood and some we’ve come to like only after we’ve left.  Most are available in Asian groceries here at an unimaginable patong to the price.  So Mom still always tries to send whatever she can from time to time, while some are impossible and are only meant for craving… at least for now.

 

• Chocnut
• Chivalry pusit
• Cow Label
• Golidolocks Pinipig polvoron
• House of Polvoron, new discovery
• Calamansi Concentrate
• Salabat
• Muhlach’s ensaymada
• Red Ribbon’s mamon
• Ylano’s Sylvanas from Cebu
• Inday’s Dried Mangoes
• Eng Bee Tin Hopia
• and Tikoy
• misua & chamisua fr Mom’s source
• Alsa Gulaman
• Asado siopao from Mamonluk
• Adobong mani
• Garlic chips
• Banana Chips
• Lapid’s Chicharon
• Lucky Me La Paz Batchoy
• Knorr Soup Snax
• CurlyTops
• Choco Mallows
• Palillos de Milan
• Lengua De Gato
• Shing-a-ling
• Jack-n-Jill Potato Chips
• Kropek
• Moondish Laing
• Purefoods Sisig
• Zaragosa Sardines

The (impossible) list goes on to street food like fishballs, kekiam, taho, sorbetero, balut, fried lumpia, the balut vendor’s chicharon, and the pork BBQ from Sct. Alcaraz & Matutum.  I miss the vendors coming to your house selling watermelon or, my favorite, crabs – lalaki, babae o bakla!

 

Food aside, I also miss the perks of having home service mani- & pedicure by Belen, foot spa and body massage at Holiday Spa, haircut and waxing at Bambbi, and free food from Shabu.

 

These, only in the Philippines!