Sunday, August 10, 2008

My favorite Bicol delicacy: Taba from Balatan


Whenever I get to visit the Bicol region or have a family member coming from that area, Taba is one must bring and buy item.

This dried fish used to cost P100 to P120 a kilo 4 to 5 years ago. When I was in Iriga City last week, I found out that this now cost P280 a kilo.

Taba means meat as the fish bones were already removed in its preparation. No need to use oil when cooking it and best to dip with spicy vinegar. The ones I get to purchase were often sourced from Balatan, Camarines Sur.

I just love this!

Sunday, August 03, 2008

A Yummy Meal Cooked Your Own Way - Healthy Shabu Shabu

(As I often receive invite to blogging events, I asked Jason Cheng to cover this and post updates in this blog. - Janette Toral)

Hi. I'm Jason Cheng (a super food lover) and recently got the chance to attend the Healthy Shabu Shabu Restaurant bloggers' event at Robinsons Manila, Philippines.

This restaurant chain can be found in most popular malls: The Podium, The Powerplant (between EDSA Buendia and Guadalupe), SM Mall of Asia (near Taft), Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Galleria(near Santolan MRT) and at the Shangri La Plaza(at Shaw Boulevard EDSA).

What does the restaurant offer?
They provide generous servings for you to cook on an electric stove, that is integrated in a customized manner with your table. Also designed at a safe distance for kids to eat.

Their menu sets include imported meats such as lamb, angus meat, tenderloin, and seafood sets. Take note that Shabu Shabu is very expensive in other countries. The Philippines though tend to enjoy this dish at a more affordable price.

In every set you buy, you will have:
  • A vegetable set with raw fishballs, crab meat, toufu, sweet corn, and 2 types of noodles. (on the right most)
  • A special sauce ( on the middle)
  • Shrimp Paste, Egg and some spices ( on the bottom)
  • And the set you buy at the top.

















Eating Shabu Shabu is not about placing the raw ingredients to the boiling pot randomly. That's definitely a big mistake.

In the event I attended last August 2, 2008 at the Healthy Shabu Shabu restaurant at Shangri La Plaza mall showed us the proper way of mixing the spices, shrimp paste, egg yolk and white at the sauce and the soup bowl.

The proper method was discussed by Miss Candy Hwang and her assistant demonstrated the procedure well :
  1. Mix the shrimp paste evenly to the sauce and soup.

  2. The egg white will be mixed into the soup and it will give more taste along with the raw servings being cooked. The egg yolk will be mixed into the sauce.

  3. The spices will be decided by the customer if he prefer to put the chili slices to the sauce, or make it blend to the soup.
I discovered an interesting variation. Put a spoonful of sauce with chili slices, shrimp paste, and egg yolk to the soup container, this gives a delightful and spicy blend.

You can also try to mix the serving with the egg, until it is coated, then boil until it is ready to eat. There are many ways to cook it at your preference.

Though of course, their desserts are sweet and has a natural mix of fruits as well.


I definitely look forward in visiting Healthy Shabu Shabu again soon!