There is a type of chicharon for everyone. Chicharon is the common term for cracklings made out of animal skin. In the Philippines, there are as many types of chicharon as the number of islands in the archipelago. Ask for chicharon in one locale and then in a...
Works by
Idge Mendiola
Cooking with calamansi
Calamansi is ever-present in the Filipino kitchen. What is sometimes called the Philippine lime or calamondin is a versatile pantry staple that finds many uses in everyday cooking. Its juice lends a unique balance of sweet and tart to dishes that no other citrus fruit...
How a Vegetarian Restaurant Tries to Survive a Global Pandemic
When Manila was placed under the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, Corner Tree Cafe shifted operations and prepared food for the staff of a nearby hospital. Nourishing and nurturing were the hot meals that came out of their kitchen since the team has been...
Plant-based Products to Try Today
Anyone on a plant-based diet or simply trying to eat more sustainably will be pleased to find out that there are a plethora of choices available in the market today. Chefs, purveyors, and even large corporations are shining the spotlight on vegetables and producing...
Do the durian
Want to consume durian differently this time? Or want to surprise guests with a durian-centric dish that highlights its lovely flavors instead of its undesirable stink? These recipes are exactly what you’re looking for! It’s high time the durian gets a better...
Purple Reign
Ube halaya or purple yam jam is a popular local treat enjoyed by Filipinos. The jam is consumed in multiple ways: as a spread over pandesal or crackers, as a topping for desserts like halo-halo, or as an ingredient incorporated in other sweet recipes. It’s also eaten...
Chef JP Offers a Taste of Home in his Dubai Restaurant
There is no pork on the menu. A typical Filipino restaurant would have several iterations – lechon, sisig, crispy pata, inihaw na liempo, sinigang na baboy. But not at Kooya. Not cooking with pork is among the regulations, as well as halal guidelines, that chef JP...
Mastering Maranao Cooking
The Maranao are one of the 11 ethnic groups that make up the Muslims in the Philippines. Also described as the “People of the Lake,” they are indigenous people situated near Lake Lanao in the province of Lanao del Sur in Mindanao. The National Commission for Culture...
An Overview of Philippine Bananas
The Philippines is the second major exporter of bananas in the world.
Three Ways with Crabs
Cooking crabs may seem intimidating for some, especially when dealing with live crustaceans that have claws waiting for the right moment to attack.