The Philippines Today

Bola Catalana Meet the Catbalogan version of embotido. The ground pork mingles with sausage and cheese, flour, salt, and pepper. What makes it unique? Milk is added while the mixture is enfolded in “sensal,” or leaf lard, which goes through the steaming process followed by baking. Some families go straight to baking. A heritage dish … Read more

Salvaro Coconuts are widely cultivated in Samar Province.  From the tree comes this coconut-dusted wafer: thin, light, crisp, and sweet. Call it vegan, a healthy nibble any time of the day. It is also a perfect accompaniment to a warm cup of coffee!  Indulge in this crispy-licious goodness in Samar! How to make Salvaro (Kabkab) … Read more

Queseo Did you know that you can make cheese out of three ingredients? Meet queseo, a native cheese made from pure carabao’s milk. The procedure starts by boiling the unskimmed milk. Once it cools down, scoop and place it in a bowl with a small amount of coconut vinegar. Swiftly gather the mixture at the … Read more

Tamalos This culinary jewel of Catbalogan, Samar, is a luxurious version of typical tamales. A Mexican-inspired dish that landed on Philippine shores during the Manila-Acapulco Trade (1565-1815). Chunks of vinegar-pork belly (simmered with vinegar and spices) and “Pipi-an” (sweet and spicy peanut sauce) rest in layers of lumpia wrapper – on a bed of larded … Read more