Lechon is arguably one of the favorite specialty foods for Filipinos in and outside of the Philippines. If the sight and smell of a whole pig roasted to perfection brings pleasure, what more the taste of it? I have tasted many types and variants of lechon from different places in the Philippines - from North to South - but last week it was my first time to taste the Native Lechon made by the Cotta family in Lucena City, Quezon Province.

Inside, read my attempt to describe the taste of the Cotta Native Lechon. Crispy outside. Tender and juicy inside. Sounds like a commercial huh? I dare you to try Cotta Native Lechon and tell me if you think otherwise. Just take a look at the pictures of the lechon inside I guarantee you will want to taste this lechon, too.

By Valerie Tort

Watching movies in your favorite theatres is considered more enjoyable than viewing a pile of the latest DVD series of your much-awaited shows and anthologies in your pad.

Alas! It is movie theatre popcorn—the missing ingredient for the ultimate satisfaction of movie viewing at home. You miss the crunch and the buttery taste it fills your mouth in every crunch. Due to the large market for fast, convenient, and instant meals and snacks, anyone can enjoy movie theatre popcorn in minutes.

More Jolly Time Microwave Popcorn flavors

By Valerie Tort

The charisma of Middle Eastern cuisine continues to invade the streets of Malate as Luckyway Chicken and Kebab Restaurant served authentic Arab dishes.

The family-style restaurant is appealing since it has a casual and homey ambiance that can accommodate all walks of life as opposed to an upscale fine dining establishment. Diners are afloat in a gastronomic sea of culinary cultural influence in Luckway Chicken and Kebab Restaurant as it focused not only on the Arab cuisine but also the Filipino, Chinese, American, and Italian cuisine.

Savor Middle Eastern Cuisine at Luckway Chicken and Kebab Restaurant

By Joel Pinaroc

Mang Jimmy’s, an eatery at the MWSS compound in UP Diliman near Katipunan Avenue, remains an institution when it comes to how to best serve sizzling food, fast, and efficient, without straining one’s budget.

For quite sometime now, Mang Jimmy’s continues to provide a unique, and satisfying way to give diners money-for-value items, that are simply unbeatable.

If not for the long queue of vehicles outside its premises, first time visitors will not immediately notice Mang Jimmy’s.

More on Mang Jimmy’s mouthwatering sizzlers

By Valerie Tort

Amid the Starbucks phenomena, how many of us know that that the Philippines grows the best verieties of coffee in the world? And the kapeng barako is just one of them.

More and more people are becoming coffee drinkers. Coffee has become a part of the everyday Filipino diet. Remember the choice of tapa (smoked meat) or longanisa (Filipino sausage) served with sinangag (fried rice) and fried egg paired with coffee for a Filipino breakfast? How about the merienda of cuchinta and coffee?

Find out more Philippine Coffee variety

By Joel D. Pinaroc

For more than five decades now, Rodic’s Food Express, or simply Rodic’s, at the Shopping Mall inside the University of the Philippines, Diliman, has been faithfully filling up the gustatory needs of budget-conscious students and diners wanting to experience that home-cooked goodness Rodic’s is very famous for.

What makes Rodic’s popular is not merely the simple, yet satisfying menu, but also the pricing, that to this day, continues to be very competitive.

More on Rodic’s Famous Tapsilog

By Valerie Tort

Summer is almost over, but we always find ways to beat the lingering tropical heat with cold treats! Ice cream stands are all prepared and geared up to serve their much awaited customers. Thumbs Up mini ice cream is a surefire way to beat the scorching and sweltering sun around the corner.

When ice cream is on the block of our hot sunny days—a bottle of ice cold water, wide-brimmed hats, and tons of sun block will not keep the heat away unlike the a sugar cone with a heap of mouth-watering rich and creamy ice cream.

See the many Thumbs Up mini ice cream creamy flavors

By Jodelen Ortiz

The food industry is an essential element to promote tourism. Most tourists, especially those from other countries would always look for authentic Filipino cuisine and Philippine exotic food. In fact, some tourist spots bexame widely popular particularly because of their food. No wonder, there are provinces with festivals and events that flood the street with lechons, bangus (milkfish) and pantat (catfish) dishes.

Tourism without the food and restaurants are either non-existent, dying or weak. Thank God, Puerto Princesa City’s tourism condition is none of these three.

Continue: Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Restaurant Guide

by Valerie Tort

For more than 17 years of dimsum cooking, executive chef Daniel Leung continued to hone his craft from different hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong to the exotic Philippine Islands. Shanghai Bistro’s tradition of bringing out the best in Hong Kong and Chinese cuisine has come here to the Philippines to share with us its authentic dishes cooked by their Hong Kong culinary squad.

“Cooking for Filipinos has always been enjoyable for us, since we know that most Filipino diners love Chinese cuisine,” Leung said.

Their Hong Kong based chefs has added a dash of Filipino taste without sacrificing the genuine qualities of the Shanghai dishes they serve the diners.

More on Shanghai Bistro’s authentic Chinese cuisine

Have you ever been to De La Salle University in Taft, or have you ever walked along Katipunan Avenue lately? If you are an Atenean, La Sallian or just a plain bystander in these places well you have probably eaten a doughnut from Cello’s.

Cello’s has three branches, one in Taft near De La Salle University, Katipunan road in front of Ateneo and the newly opened branch in the Tiangge capital of the Philippines, Greenhills, San Juan. You’re probably wondering about this doughnut. You’re probably thinking, “No one beats Go Nuts Donut or Krispy Kremes”. I beg to differ, Cello’s is the best doughnut I’ve ever had.

Find out more about Cello’s Pinoy Doughnuts