Filipinos are natural food lovers, so when you add discounts on restaurants into the mix, it becomes a sure recipe for success. One particular company that’s trying to try this brew for success is Makati-based Gourmet Society Philippines.

Basically, the company partnered with over a hundred restaurants in Metro Manila to offer their community with up to 20% discount on when they dine in without the need to present coupons, GCs or QR codes. On top of this, the company has partnered with ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bantay Bata to provide feeding programs for malnourished children in Manila using proceeds from membership fees.

For more information about Gourmet Society Philippines, you can check the press release below.

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Gourmet Society Philippines simplifies restaurant privileges by giving its members 20% off their bill at over 150 partner restaurants in Metro Manila. Members just have to present their Gourmet Society card when paying their bill in order to get their discount, eliminating the need for printing coupons or the need for scanning QR codes. Diners can avail of discounts without minimum spend and use the card as many times as they want.

Filipinos love food, and Filipinos love discounts. You’ll get all of that with Gourmet Society -Joost Boer, co-founder and CEO of Gourmet Society Philippines. 

After observing different restaurant discount programs in the country, Joost believes that there is a much simpler way of availing discounts while bringing value to diners and restaurants alike. “It makes dining out more affordable for people, and at the same time, it helps restaurants gain new customers while decreasing their marketing costs.”

Gourmet Society is offering its membership card for a special introductory price of Php 999, offering discounts for one year at over 150 restaurants. Partner restaurants include popular chains such as Burgoo, Gumbo and Mrs. Fields. In addition, independent restaurants such as the popular One Way Restaurant, Corner Tree Café, Aracama, Tapeo, Lulu and the acclaimed My Kitchen By Chef Chris are also part of Gourmet Society. There are also some gastropubs and bars such as celebrity owned The Hungry Hound and Niner Ichi Nana. Gourmet Society is continuously expanding within Metro Manila and is expecting to reach 250 restaurant partners by the end of the year.

Gourmet Society Philippines is more than just restaurant privileges

Aside from restaurant discounts, Gourmet Society is contributing to the wellbeing of local communities through a partnership with ABS CBN Foundation, Bantay Bata that will support a feeding program for malnourished children in Manila. 

Meanwhile, Gourmet Society’s blog contains articles delving into the background stories of several Gourmet Society restaurant partners. It also helps people navigate through Manila’s dining scene, and provide insightful infographic content such as foreign dining etiquette guides.

Gourmet Society Philippines has also partnered with Viber Public Chats, to create FoodTalkPH: a public chat which brings together chefs, such as Chef Laudico, Chris Locher, Philip Golding and Chef Boy Logro as well as restaurateurs and food lovers to discuss recipes, share delicious food photos and videos as well as discussing the latest news in the buzzing Manila food scene.

Exciting growth plans

The company has some very exciting growth plans for the coming year and expect to see some great new features in our app. We are also staging a very exciting food awards concept in February 2016, so watch this space!

Gourmet Society Philippines is redefining restaurant discounts in the country by giving 20% off your bill at over 150 restaurants in Manila. Members just have to present their Gourmet Society card. Aside from a physical card it is also possible to display a digital card on the Gourmet Society app, which is available for the iPhone on the App Store and Android on the Google Play Store.

Looking for a good place to go on a date this Valentine’s day? Akira and Sumo Sam are offering its patrons some freebies to make this special day even sweeter. From February 12 to 15, the two restaurants will be offering free desserts to its customers at select branches in and out of the metro.

SumoSam

From Feb. 12-15, get a free dessert for minimum purchase of P1500. Available at SumoSam branches in Marquee, Rockwell, Shangri-la, Trinoma, Gateway, Greenbelt 3, MOA, Megamall, North EDSA and Nuvali.

Akira: The Art of Sushi and Teppanyaki

From Feb 12-15, get a free Orange Flambé vanilla ice cream for minimum purchase of P1,500. Available at Akira branches in Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Magnolia and Alphaland.

Have you ever felt so sluggish that if you had your way, you would sit comfortably on a couch and just watch as time elapses? You are not alone since at some point during the day we all get tired and sluggish. At this point we usually opt for coffee, doughnuts or any sugary food to boost our energy so that we can get on with the day. Health experts recommend eating breakfast and snacking regularly throughout the day to stay energetic.

 Here is a list of foods that are proven to boost energy. 

1. WHOLE GRAIN

• Nutritionists recommend that carbohydrates should be the main source of energy in your diet. Any wholegrain that is available to you will do the job. 
• Although processed carbohydrates will quickly increase your blood glucose levels and cause an energy surge, this increase soon fades leaving you hungry for more Complex carbohydrates undergo slow digestion therefore providing sustainable energy. 
• Quinoa is a great choice and you can have it for breakfast with Greek yoghurt or for lunch where you can mix it with your salad. 

2. WATER

The list of the benefits of drinking water is long. Keeping hydrated is important for energy metabolism. Start your day with a glass of water and stay hydrated all day long to keep sluggishness at bay. 

• Water aids in the transportation of nutrients to the cells and keeps cells at an optimum condition for energy metabolism. Remember that dehydration results in fatigue so you should drink lots of water.

3. SALMON

Salmon is rich in essential fatty acids. The essential fatty acids also play a role in maintaining a healthy heart and in brain activity. 

4. BEANS

• Eating beans can help in boosting energy. Eating proteins with carbohydrates slows down the digestion of carbohydrates which helps in controlling blood sugar levels. 
• Beans are rich in iron which is a major component of hemoglobin which is responsible for oxygen transport. Beans also contain B vitamins and magnesium that also support energy metabolism. 

5. DARK CHOCOLATE

• Most healthy food is usually not tasty but dark chocolate is one of the exceptions. The next time you feel tired in the office instead of drinking coffee eat a bar of dark chocolate instead. 
• Research has shown that dark chocolate contains flavor which is an antioxidant that is good for the heart. A healthy heart means proper oxygen transportation which leads to optimum energy production. 
• Iron and magnesium are also present in dark chocolate. 

6. COCONUT

• This healthy food is not only a treat for the taste buds but it is also a good way to boost your energy. 

• Coconuts contain medium chain triglycerides. These medium chain triglycerides can boost you energy when required because they can be easily converted to energy. Therefore eat a coconut to raise you energy production and deal with sluggishness. Conclusion whether you are having a stressful day or just feeling sluggish, the above foods are a natural way to boost your energy. You should avoid stress since it can cause blood sugar swings

Author Bio:

Alisa Emily lives in Switzerland, UK and is an avid blogger and reader. Since her early years she’s had a passion for writing. Her areas of interest are Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle, Food, Lifestyle, Reviews (Book/Movie), Health and Fitness. She works as a Freelancer on her chosen areas of interest and currently writes on behalf of ESTA which helps you in visa assistance service.

Philippine cuisine is one of the most common world cuisines. Its unique flavor, style of preparation and eating customs involve a mixture of different cuisines and techniques including Chinese, Malay, American and Spanish. 

There are many kinds of dishes ranging from simple ones meant to eat at home to the complex ones meant for special events. Most of the dishes are fashioned from fish, beef, pork and vegetables with a healthy serving of freshly cooked rice. If you want a particular food, you must know which regional cuisine to order. There are cuisines from:

1. Central Philippines
2. Northern Philippines
3. Southern Philippines

Here are the top Philippine recipes that have made a name worldwide. And if you're planning to try out some Filipino food (especially if you're trying it for the first time), here are some dishes you might want to order.

1. KARE KARE

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Photo Source Maggi.ph

This is a must have cuisine in any Filipino event or restaurant. It is always said that if you have not taken Kare-Kare, then you equally have not had Philippine cuisine. To enjoy it more, serve with bagoong (shrimp or fish paste). This dish consists of a sumptuous mixture of:

• Vegetables (includes eggplant, beans, etc.)
• Ox tail  (usually those from a cow's stomach)
• Peanut sauce
• Small pieces of pork

2. ADOBO

Photo Source: Wikipedia

While Americans have the burger, Filipinos  have the "Adobo". This is a simple but delicious dish, which is prepared using simple but well-balanced ingredients including 

• Pork and or chicken
• Garlic
• Soy sauce and vinegar
• Deep fried meat that is shredded if you want Adobo Flakes

3. PORK MENUDO

Photo Source: Litosphere Wordpress

You will never miss this dish in any Filipino gathering. When you order this Philippine cuisine, you must be particular about which regional cuisine because different regions tend to prepare pork menudo in various ways. However, all of the variations are mouth-watering. Most of the recipes will include: 

• Hotdogs
• Vegetables including Garbanzos, potatoes and carrots
• Green peas
• Dried raisins
• Tomato Sauce

4. Pancit Molo (Mob o Soup)

Photo Source: Angsarap.net

Ever tasted the Chinese wonton soup? This Philippine delicacy resembles that Molo soup is a mixture of the following ingredients.

• Shredded chicken
• Shrimps
• Grounded pork that is wrapped in wonton.

Filipinos usually top the soup with garlic, green onions or freshly squeezed calamansi. It is funny how this dish is called "Pancit" yet it contains no noodles.

5. Inihaw Na Liempo (Grilled Pork Belly)

As the name suggests, preparation of this dish is not hard. With the delicious taste, you do not need any cutlery to eat Inihaw Na Liempo. To complement the taste, add eggplant salad and some vinegar. The best way to eat is using the "kamayan" way, which is the culture of eating using your bare hands. This is common in the Philippines and almost all foods are eaten this way.

These are just the five cuisines which top the list. Of course there are many other dishes that will get you licking your fingers especially if you eat the "kamayan" way.

Author Bio:

Scott Archer is a Passionate blogger. He works on behalf of Turkish visa. He has been writing contents on the web professionally since 2006. As an avid reader and blogger, he shares his experience through his articles on Travel, Education, Technology, Parenting and many more.

When you have a morning workout you need to provide your body with fuel. While exercising the body is robbed from its protein, carbohydrates and fluids.  The supplies of nutrients you have stored in your system will be depleted and if you don’t eat well after working out you will run out of energy and feel shattered for the rest of the day, defeating the point of exercise in the first place.

Source

When to Eat

Eat some food within half an hour of finishing your exercise routine.  It’s a good idea to eat this soon as you will be able to absorb all the nutrients quickly and feel the benefits.  If you’ve been avoiding eating after your exercise in the morning and noticed that it leaves you lacking in strength and energy read on to learn about some excellent foods to add to your diet, all of which are perfect for consuming after working out hard in the gym or at home.

Avocado Goodness

Avocado is perfect as it has amazing nutrients you’re going to really appreciate. You will be feeding yourself a great source of:

• Saturated fat
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Folic acid
• Pantothenic acid
• Potassium

The potassium is beneficial as it will work to regulate your blood pressure. Avocado is a great energy booster too, so you’ll feel ready to take on the rest of the day and even your second exercise routine in the evening.

Healthy Cereals

Cereals that are not loaded with sugars are ideal to eat as they help replenish your muscle energy stores. Cereals are full of carbohydrates and protein, both of which are useful as they help cellular energy metabolism.  As you eat cereal with milk you add an additional source of protein too, helping your muscles to repair and recover from the strenuous activity.

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are one of life’s little superfoods.  When you eat sweet potatoes you’re feeding your body:

• Vitamin C
• Manganese
• Complex carbohydrates
• Beta-carotene
• Dietary fibre

The sweet potato will replace the glycogen levels in your body which drop after a workout, thanks to it being a complex carb.

Salmon for Energy

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and these are amazing at helping you to recover and feel energised, giving you the lift you need to continue your day with energy. In addition to the fatty acids you’ll also benefit from the:

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D

You’ll have an abundance of energy thanks to the great vitamins in the fish and you can also benefit from the properties in the salmon that help the body to regulate its insulin.

Omelette Power

Omelettes are an amazing post-workout food. Egg whites have an abundance of vitamins along with proteins and amino acids, perfect especially if you’re working on increasing your muscle mass. That’s why those focusing on building muscle always include egg whites into their diets. The amino acids in the egg are ideal as after an intense workout they will help to repair any damaged tissue. You can buy egg whites so there’s no need to eat the yolk, beneficial if you’re watching your cholesterol.

After a few weeks in hiaitus, we're back again in Linda's kitchen to give you another mouth-watering recipe for you to enjoy especally this holiday season. Today we'll be bringing to you the last turkey recipe we have for this series - turkey potpie.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all- purpose flour
• 3 - 4 tablespoons for water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 1 tablespoon cold butter

For the filling:

• 1 cup peeled potates, cubed
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ½ cup carrots, thinly sliced
• ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1/3 cup celery, chopped
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup onion
• ½ cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 –  ½ cups cooked turkey, cubed
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup 2% milk
• 2 tablespoons all- purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix flour and salt using a food processor. Let it pulse to blend. In the mixture, include cheese and pulse again to develop fine crumbs.
2. Butter and shortening should be added to form coarse crumbs from the mixture.
3. Pour water carefully into the mixture while processing. Keep the water coming until the dough can be formed into a ball.
4. Make two balls with the dough, one larger than the other.  Use plastic wrap to cover the two dough balls. 30 minutes of refrigeration are required
5. While waiting, prepare a saucepan and get started with the filling. 5 minutes are needed to saute the following in butter: celery, carrots, potatoes and onions. After this, include garlic in the mix and cook for another minute.
6. Cook the vegetables into the broth for at least 10 minutes until the ingredients are tender.
7. Mix flour and milk. Pour this into the vegetables in the saucepan. Boil and cook the mixture for 2 minutes, or wait for it to thicken.
8. Stir the mixture and gradually add the remaining items in the filling ingredients. 5 minutes of simmering is needed.
9. Retrieve the larger dough ball and knead it to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Trim the dough and pour the hot turkey mixture in the crust. Get the smaller ball and roll it on top of the mixture to cover the pie.
10. Seal the edges. Flute if necessary.
11. Make decorative cutouts if you have specialized cutters for pies.
12. Put the pie plate in the oven and bake at 350 degreesCelsius. A total of 35 – 40 minutes is needed to get the right golden brown crusting.

About the Author
Linda Rosario is a blogger from chefneeds.com “The Kitchen Every Chef Needs”. Linda loves painting and cooking. She also has a small pastry shop.

Last time I showed you how to make a very simple dish from Turkey and a few pieces of vegetables. This time around, let's take things a notch higher with a slightly more difficult dish. Today, let's try to grill turkey and make some grilled turkey tenderloins with rosemary.

For this dish, you will need the following:

• 2 green onions, chopped
• 4 turkey tenderloins
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ juiced lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
• ½ lemon, zested
• 2 tabslespoons balsamic vinegar

Additional materials: large plastic (resealable), grill, brush

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the plastic bag and add the following: green onions, orange juice, olive oil, chopped rosemary, balsamic vinegar, zested lemon, juiced lemon, honey and salt.
2. Mix the ingredients well inside.  This will serve as the marinade for the turkey tenderloins.
3. Put the tenderloins in the bag and seal it along with the marinade. Shake the contents well.
4. After mixing, leave the turkey in the marinade bag for 1 hour at maximum.
5. Prepare the grill and turn it on medium heat.
6. Get the turkey inside the bag and place it on the heated grill.
7. Grill the first side for at least 5 minutes, then reverse the tenderloins to grill the other side. It would take at least 3 – 5 minutes.
8. Dip a brush made for sauces in the marinade and coat the turkey tenderloins evenly.
9. This dish can be divided into 4 servings.

About the Author
Linda Rosario is a blogger from chefneeds.com “The Kitchen Every Chef Needs”. Linda loves painting and cooking. She also has a small pastry shop.

 

Turkey is best known during Thanksgiving when it is endlessly served by most households in the United States. Its unique meaty flavor is a favorite complement for wines, which is why chefs find it fun yet challenging to concoct Turkey dishes for restaurants and hotels.

Most home cooks do not need to wait for Thanksgiving or visit the restaurants to get a taste of Turkey. Here is one turkey recipe that is perfect for home cooking.

INGREDIENTS

• 8 slices whole grain bread
• 4 radishes, thinly sliced
• 1 cucumber, sliced
• ¼ cup lite cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• 4 small leaves Romaine Lettuce
•  ½ pund sliced Butterball Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the slices of bread and spread at least 1 tablespoon of lite cream cheese evenly on them.
2. Each bread should have the following layers: 4 cucumber slices, 6 radish slices and 2 tablespoons carrots. Put a small-sized leaf lettuce on top and at least 2 ounces of Buterball sliced turkey.
3. Put another slice of bread on top.
4. Use a sharp knife to cut the sandwich into halves.

About the Author
Linda Rosario is a blogger from chefneeds.com “The Kitchen Every Chef Needs”. Linda loves painting and cooking. She also has a small pastry shop.

For someone who has never visited a Pancake House store, one would assume that this restaurant only serves Pancakes and other types of desserts to its customers.  But in reality, Pancake house is more than just pancakes and waffles and one might be surprised by the amount of variety that these restaurant has in terms of the food they serve.

So when my friends and I visited one of their branches, we were just as surprised to see that they have a lot of dishes to offer. However, having a diverse menu isn’t everything when you’re looking for the best dining experience. So to justify whether or not Pancake House makes the cut as one of the best places to eat in the city, here’s a quick review of our dining experience.

AMBIANCE

The environment inside Pancake House’s store is very typical of most restaurant and fast food chains in the country. It’s not that fancy but it doesn’t look cheap either. The walls are colored orange making the dining experience quite lively and energetic. Customers can choose if they want to sit on couches or the usual metal chairs.

Lighting inside the store is also quite good. The branch we visited employed soft and warm lighting as opposed to the bright lights used by most fast food chains, which gives the place a very cosy and relaxing feel. Most of the time, there is also music playing in the background that adds to the place’s homy vibe.

FOOD

As stated earlier, Pancake House offers more than just pancakes and other pastries. A close look at their menu, one can find an assortment of pasta, rice meals and sandwiches. Serving size for pasta is adequate given the prize of each meal. For sandwiches, on the other hand are also quite generously served and are served warm to touch.

The taste of the food is also okay. And when I say okay, I mean the taste of the food is good enough to satisfy your hunger but it’s not the kind of unforgettable food you would want to order again and again each time you eat at that restaurant.

Of course, there’s a reason why the restaurant is named Pancake House. And this is because the star of their menu – their pancakes are superb. The pancake dishes on their menu are served hot probably straight from the pans they were cooked on. They have a healthy serving of 2-3 pieces of pancakes per order and is drizzled with the syrup of your choice topped with a scoop of ice cream.

SERVICE

Customer service for Pancake House can be rated as average. The serving time of most of their dishes are at par with the serving time of other restaurants at the same price level. There weren’t any issues we encountered when we ate there. The tableware that the restaurant uses was all clean and are in good condition. 

Tables and chairs were clean and are cleared a few minutes after a customer leaves. The store’s restroom is also surprisingly well maintained. The only thing that I wish would have been improved is the staff’s lack of initiative to pay close attention to their customer’s needs. During our visit at their branch in SM Megamall, we had to call the staff’s attention twice before they approached us to see what we need.

In my opinion, a restaurant that charges their customers at the rate the same as Pancake House should see the needs of their customers in a timelier manner in contrast to other restaurants that charge cheaper.

VERDICT

In general, our Pancake House dining experience was really good. There weren’t a lot of negative instances that made us unhappy. However, there weren’t also a lot of good things that we saw that made our visit exceptionally pleasant. Instead it was quite okay – hmmm, just okay.

With all points taken, I can recommend Pancake house to those looking for that dining experience with a western flavour. If you’re a fan of pasta, club sandwiches and pastries, this restaurant is your best bet in getting all your favourite dishes in one roof with a budget of under P1,000 for two people. So if you’re tired of eating at Pizza Hut, S’barro or Banaple, you might want to try Pancake House for a change J

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Sizzling plates have long been the territory of a favourite Filipino food – the sisig. But nowadays, the sizzling plate has become the home of other dishes other than sisig that are now slowly becoming an enjoyable food experience by providing foodies with a unique way of eating meals that are not commonly served on a hot plate.

One restaurant that capitalized on this way of serving food is Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak. The brand is part of the Pancake House group of restaurants and already has several branches in and around the metro. We recently had an opportunity to drop by their store and give their menu a try. And here’s what we have to say about the entirety of their products and services. So if you’re planning to dine in one of their stores, here are a few things you can expect.

AMBIANCE

We visited the Glorietta 5 branch of Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak and the overall look and feel of the restaurant exudes that of a middle class environment. The chairs are well built, all the dining wares are well maintained and the store was properly lit. The store in Glorietta 5 has both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor seating features wooden tables and benches lined with cushions while the store’s outdoor section has wooden tables and red plastic chairs with back support.

There’s a television screen inside the store that displays ads and other promotional materials for the restaurant. Each table in the store has its own set of condiments which include a pair of salt and pepper shaker and if I’m not mistaken a bottle of vinegar and soy sauce.

Lastly, a unique item on SPS’s tables is the MOO flip card. Each table has a card stand that features two cow-head shaped cards. One side of the cards are coloured red and states “Moo” while the other sides are coloured green and states “Go”. Customers can use this card to let the staff know when they need something by simply flipping the card stand to show the green side of the card.

FOOD

As the name of the restaurant suggests, almost every part of the menu, especially the entrée is composed of meals that are served in sizzling plates. Most of the items on the menu are served half cooked and customers may need to cook them thoroughly on their own by mixing or flipping components of the dish to cook it to one’s preference.

Eggs and specific meat dishes may be served this way. Furthermore, paper guards are placed on the sizzling plate to protect the customer from sauces and meat juices that sizzle with the heat of the hot plate. Sauces are also served together with your orders.

Serving time is adequate and customers may have to wait for about 10-15 minutes for food to be served. If you’re ordering dessert, you can ask the staff to serve the dessert later until you’re finished with the main course. Serving size is quite generous though, one serving of one of their signature sizzling plate dishes can easily provide satisfaction to ordinary customers.

And in terms of taste, the food is actually tastes good; you just have to be careful in eating as you can burn your mouth or your tongue if you try to eat without allowing the food to cool down. Moreover, the hot plates can sometimes become really crowded and customers may end up spilling a lot of food when they’re trying to eat.

SERVICE AND PRICE

Customer service is quite okay with Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak. The staff of the restaurant was very quick in addressing any needs we had whenever we flipped the moo card. Service time was very quick and they were very accommodating.

Price is a little bit higher compared to common fast food chains. Prices of their signature pepper rice dishes are around P200+; so for those looking for a very cheap way to satisfy their hunger, SPS might not be the best place to do it. But for those who are looking for a different way to dine and would want to stay away from the usual pasta, burger, fried chicken, pizza or fries that most fast food chain offer, then SPS would definitely give you something different for a change.

So there you go guys. Have you been to a Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak store in the past? Tell us you experience by leaving a comment below. You can also find TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and GooglePlus. You can also subscribe to TFL’s RSS feeds for more of the latest stories about Filipino living.

We’re just two weeks away from Christmas and a few days away from the Simbang Gabi. And as with most Filipinos, I’m pretty sure that aside from attending the Simbang gabi for the next 9 days, most of you are also looking forward to getting a taste of those traditional holiday food that are usually sold at the church’s plaza. Let’s take a look at three of the most popular street food that a lot of Pinoys feast on every Christmas season.

BIBINGKA – this is a special rice cake made with coconut water, eggs and milk. It is traditionally cooked in a special terra cotta stove where the bibingka is placed in a container lined with banana leaves, which is then placed between two layers of charcoal. This gives the bibingka a distinct charred look and an aroma of roasted banana leaves and rice.

PUTO BUMBONG – Puto Bumbong is another rice-based delicacy commonly found in Philippine streets during Christmas. It’s made from glutinous rice mixed with butter or margarine, purple food color and shredded coconut. But unlike the bibingka, a puto bumbong is steamed rather than baked which gives it a more sticky consistency.

KASTANYAS – Kastanyas or chestnuts for the rest of the world is another Filipino delicacy fit for the holidays. The nuts produced by the chestnut tree are usually roasted together with atsuete to give it its signature dark brown color. Kastanyas are usually eaten as candies or desserts during Christmas.

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Most Pinoys nowadays are frequent travellers. The popularization of seat sales in airline companies as well as improved routes of transformation has made travelling to a lot of easier compared ten years ago. But of course, we Filipinos are more of a muncher than a traveller. So whenever we go out and about exploring the world, we always like to bring some food to eat to past the time or to just fill an empty stomach.

So what are the most popular chichas for Filipinos on the go? If you’re planning for an out of town trip, an adventure trip or you’re just plain hungry, here are a few snacks you might want to consider bringing the next time you want to go Dora the Explorer.

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Peanuts – Peanuts are probably one of the best knick-knacks to bring whenever travelling. They’re very easy to stash in your bag. Peanuts can be bought from supermarkets as packed snacks with different variants and flavors or be bought from vendors in bus stations or sidewalks.

If you’re buying from sidewalk vendors, you can either get a steamed peanut (shells included) or a fried version with two variants. One with the skin (the brown coating found on peanut seeds) or the one without which is known locally as the hubad na mani.

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Chips – Another snack favorite for people on the go are chips. Chips are readily available in most supermarket and even in sari-sari stores so getting them is a piece of cake. The most common chips are those from Jack N’Jill, Oishi and Regent. For the more posh traveller, there are a variety of imported chips you can choose from including Lays, Pringles and Doritos.

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Pugo (Quail Eggs) – Although not really something that’s easy to eat on the road, quail eggs or pugo have long been a favorite for travellers all over the country. They are usually sold in small plastic bags with a small amount of salt included. Each pack contains around 4-5 pieces of quail eggs and costs around 20 pesos per pack.

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Corn (Cornick or fresh corn) – Another favorite snack in buses and trains is corn. Whether in the form of deep fried corn bits or steamed corn on the cob, you can see corn snacks sold in bus and train stations and even sold by vendors in bus stop overs.

If you love the steamed corn on the cob, do take note that there are buses that do not allow passengers to eat this while on the bus. This is because they can be quite messy to eat at times and can’t leave an unpleasant smell if you leave them on plastic for a considerable amount of time.

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Biscuits/crackers – Last but definitely not the least are biscuits and crackers. They’re very cheap and very reliable when it comes to satisfying a hungry stomach. There is a diverse list of choices such as plain crackers, cream filled biscuits, jelly-filled biscuits and flavored crackers to name a few.

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So there you have it guys! Which is your best buddy whenever you’re travelling? Please tell us by leaving a comment below. And please, don’t forget to add TFL on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google Plus and subscribe to their feed for more Filipino lifestyle stories.