Magnolia Best of the Philippines

I was pleased when Magnolia started making ice cream again. I like to support Philippine brands whenever possible. Unfortunately, and probably because dairy is so expensive here, most ice creams sold are "mellorines", which don't use butterfat but usually coconut oil. I heard that the vanilla flavor of Magnolia is still a true ice cream.

I tried the strawberry (Baguio) and coffee (Batangas) flavors and they were both ok. The mango-mangosteen (Davao?) was bleech. The mangosteen swirl tasted chalky and not at all like mangosteen to me. I also didn't like the butterscotch (Iloilo).

My favorite BOP flavor so far is the caramel cashew fudge (not sure where. Based on the cashews it could be Antipolo or Palawan).

I also like this flavor from Selecta but I think all Selecta "ice creams" are mellorines.

Walker's Toffee Duo

I have a sweet tooth and after chocolate, I love toffee, the chewy kind.

I don't see toffee sold often so I grabbed this when I saw it at the supermarket. It only occurred to me to post the photo after I'd eaten the side with Brazil nuts. I'd have preferred other types of nuts but at least they're not peanuts!

I don't know why there's a check for "just good ingredients" when it has emulsifier, and palm oil instead of butter but well...

Custom Magnum Bar

I went to the pop-up store at SM Aura and got myself a customized Magnum:
Vanilla ice cream
Dark chocolate dip
Chopped pistachios
Roasted almonds
Freeze dried raspberries
Milk chocolate drizzle

I'd have wanted to try one of their restaurant offerings but there was nothing I could eat by myself so I had to settle for a Magnum. It was pretty good, but for Php120.00 once is enough. I'd prefer to pig out on a pint for that price.

Red food

Yummy, vine-ripened cherry tomatoes and a few strawberries from my dad's garden.

I only get to taste his produce around once a year, but I try to eat it every day I'm home in the province.

Corn and Rice Coconut Milk Porridge (Ginataang Mais)

Comfort food during the cold months. I just boil rice (ideally malagkit or glutinous rice) with extra water until cooked, add a can of drained whole kernel corn, add powdered coconut milk and sugar to taste, simmer for a bit and then eat!

It's also good cold.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened cocoa (I used the 70g foil pack of Ricoa)
1.5 cups brown sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
dash salt

Procedure
1. Mix cocoa, sugar, and salt in pot. Add water.
2. Bring to a boil with regular whisking. Watch that it doesn't boil over.
3. Simmer until you reach the desired thickness. Don't forget to keep whisking!
4. Let cool and mix in vanilla. Transfer to a jar and keep in ref.

This recipe benefits from using the best cocoa you can afford. Ricoa's barely acceptable but it's all I had in hand. Most recipes recommend dutched cocoa.

The Dining Room at Gourmet Farms

Ate lunch at The Dining Room of Gourmet Farms located along the Gen. E. Aguinaldo Highway of Silang, Cavite.

Food was fine but somewhat pricey. I didn't like the cheesecake because it tasted like refrigerated sort with gelatin, not baked. Salad was forgettable---I'd expected it to be magnificent since the farm was just outside. I liked the pot roast best (luckily, since that was my order).

Starting top left, clockwise: Beef kebabs P380, White chocolate cheesecake P220, Pot roast P380, Fattoush salad, P250, Baked salmon P380, Four cheese pizza P400. Forgot to take a photo of the osso bucco which cost P450.


Considering the distance, I'd only eat there again if I happen to be in the area. Although I'd probably rather go with Manos' Greek Taverna or some other resto with more affordable choices.