No.  I don't drink tea, with jam and bread.  I drink tea while reading, watching TV or toying with my android phone.  Sometimes, I drink tea when not a lot of customers visit the shop. But most of the time, I drink tea when I feel cold, or to ease flu and the chills that you get when you have fever.  You can say that I drink tea for health and medical reasons.

          Drinking tea originated from China. That is where my ancestors came from.  My father is a 100% tea addict.  He never ends a day without drinking cups and cups of his favorite tea.  His current favorite is the one packed by Unilever not Lipton, but the other brand with a chinese chariot logo.  Way back before when commercialized tea bags are not readily available, my parents used to buy tea in Manila's Eng Bee Tin.  But most of the time, our tea stocks came from our relatives in China who brings them here in the Philippines when they come and visit my grandparents.  But lately, given that tea is becoming an expensive product, gifting of tea is not the trend anymore. 

          I have just bought an unusual tea from an unlikely shop inside the mall.  I got two variants namely a "Ginger and Citrus Fruits" tea and a "Cranberry and Ginger" tea.  I tried the Cranberry variant, and it is good...not the best, but a good taste for flavored tea.  I've tasted Twinnings and Dilmah brands when we stayed in hotels.  English Breakfast variant of Twinnings is one of the best in the tea-bagged commercial teas.  But nothing beats the classic natural dried tea leaves with Jasmine blossoms and Green tea variants.  However, the best-selling and most famous of all natural tea is the Oolong Tea.  It is the Black of Teas. If we have Black Coffee, then we also have Oolong Tea.  In China, they have chilled Oolong Tea and Oolong Milk Tea. This is how Oolong tea is considered as the classic of all classic teas.

Photo: fotohunter/shutterstock c/o www.mnn.com

          The traditional tea drink is derived from the infusion of tea leaves.  The plant of the real tea comes from the genus Camellia.  The top leaves are dried, then roasted/heated to a perfect and ideal grade.  From there, the roasted leaves are infused in hot water to get the drinking tea.  Technically, there are different ways to get and produce the different types of traditional tea from tea leaves. But I am not an expert on the topic, the only thing I enjoy is drinking tea and trying out different teas in the market.  The non-traditional teas are the ones that use other natural fruits, plants and other ingredients.  Most of the time, these teas are collectively called as Herbal Teas.  The most popular herbal tea, in my humble opinion, is Ginger tea.  It is a favorite of mine especially the one produced by Gingen.  However, in the Philippines, ginger tea is not a foreign tea.  Ginger tea in our country is called Salabat.  It is naturally done by boiling ginger in water until the desired taste is achieved.  You either drink it pure or you add sugar to make it sweeter.  In more sophisticated version, you may add Honey instead of suger.

          A lot of herbal teas are now scattered in the tea market.  Chamomile tea and Chrysanthemum tea are also gaining popularity.  The two herbal teas are marketed as a soothing and relaxing teas.  But the natural dried chrysanthemum flowers sold in chinese stores around Binondo Manila are used for medicinal purposes as emphasized by traditional chinese medicine.  My mother used to give me Chrysanthemum Tea when I was a child, especially when I had fever and cold.  And the taste is good, but again, not as good as Jasmine tea for an aromatic type of tea. hehe.

          If you ever get a next time to visit the Philippines, do not forget to drop by Binondo Manila to get your naturally processed dried teas.  Majority of these shops are along Ongpin street.  But you may find other streets in the area interesting given that Binondo is one of the oldest Chinatown in the world.  For other teas, don't forget to try our local salabat or ginger tea if they are offered in you hostel or the place that you visited here in the Philippines.  But the best thing in returning from a trip, is to bring tea samples for you to enjoy after a Philippine vacation.  Remember, tea is not just a drink with jam and bread...but it is a drink for all seasons.

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       Good day! It's Sunday again!  Today, we were off again to our favorite Sunday breakfast nook...... Angeles City's The Brickhouse Cafe!

   

       I have to come up with another post about The Brickhouse since there are many new things about the place.  First, they added waffles in their buffet set.  These waffles are also filled with peanut butter!  I am not a big fan of peanut butter, but for the others, it was a very good addition to their "menu".  Another new thing I discovered was their Longganisa.  Aside from the mass produced sweet longganisa that they offer, they added my mother's favorite Native Longganisa mentioned in my past post on The Brickhouse Cafe. 

       Another new and exciting addition that I tried today, is their Lemon Cucumber juice drink.  It replaced their Iced Tea drink.  But it was great to see that my favorite Tanglad Juice is still available for us to enjoy!

     

       Other additions are Tortang Itlog or Pinoy Omelette and a new style of their Turon or Fried Banana.  Their Buffet price per head also increased by 20.00 pesos...but given that their services has improved coupled with new and improved offerings, plus the increase in the prices of basic goods in the Philippine market..the price is justified...Sulit na sulit pa din!...no shortchanging....definitely a "value for money" experience!

       The Brickhouse Cafe in Angeles City now offers Breakfast Buffet every Friday, Saturday & Sunday of the week!  So we'll take it easy on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!  No worries...just easy....Easy Like Sunday Morning!

        It was a Saturday when we had a delivery service to a town called Bulaon in San Fernando, Pampanga.  Surprisingly,  the downtown market area of Bulaon was not any different from what happens in our Angeles city counterpart.  It was a busy place like in our business area.  However, the only difference I believe is the width of the sidewalks and streets.  Bulaon had narrower ones compared to Angeles City.  On the way back,  we stopped over at a local Filipino-style eatery.  In english, they call it cafeteria or canteen...but for us, we call them Carinderia.

        The Carinderia that we visited is called Manok's Canteen...well yes, it used the English counterpart given the influence of western culture in the Philippines. Haha!  This is a staple carinderia for us when we deliver goods in different areas of Pampanga.  The place used the word Manok's or Chicken since it specializes in fried chicken that is sold on-the-go...however, they only offer this specialty in the late afternoon and evening where their target are those customers who buy these to pair up with beers or other alcoholic beverages.

        In the morning, Manok's offer early brunch or lunch food menu where Rice & Ulam combo is lined-up by students, workers and walk-in families. The Carinderia has a very local ambiance with walls painted in candy-green color while the chairs & tables are red.  Manok's also offers sari-sari store items such as chichiryas, candies and cigarettes.

        By 9:30 in the morning, the canteen already has several ulam or viands available.  In the Philippines it is very common for people to eat rice paired with an ulam of their choice. On that day, I chose to eat Rice and an ulam called Dinuguan while my sidekick chose Rice and the world renowned Filipino Sisig.  Dinuguan is made from Pork's Blood or Dugo ng Baboy...thus the name "D-in-UGO-an".  The ulam also utilizes Pork as a main  ingredient plus vinegar and lady finger chillies.  There are two main types of recipe for Dinuguan, the first makes use of liquid/quashed Pork's blood while the second uses clotted, solidified Pork's blood.   The first is the more expensive recipe given that it uses Pork meat as a main ingredient while the second is a cheaper alternative where solid Pork's blood is coupled with chopped pork intestines.  Personally, I like the cheaper version not just because it is half the price, but I also love eating ulam with pork intestines. 

        On the other hand, the world famous Pinoy Sisig is made from thinly chopped pork ears and pisngi or pork "cheeks".  The chopped meat are mixed with a generous amount of chopped sibuyas or onions; then is seasoned with spices before being sautéed to perfection.  Some modern innovations of this putahe/ulam are variants with egg and chicharones for a more crunchy feeling in every bite!  Sisig is believed to be a specialty of Angeles City Pampanga.  This year in 2017, the local government of Angeles city decided to formally organize the first Sisig Festival in the country.  So if you're planning to visit Angeles City in 2018, be sure to stop by in June to catch exciting activities and events.  

        Other ulam that Manok's canteen offers are Kaldereta, Giniling, Tortang talong, Kamansi, Pork in tausi sauce, Chopsuey, Kilayin, Paksiw na Bangus and Sipo Egg.  They also offer hotdogs, fried egg, Tocino and fried galunggong (fish) as alternative ulam.  Traditionally, in Carinderias like Manok's Canteen, people line-up in front of a counter where ulam varieties are viewed via a glass covered display area.  The food server then scoops up the ulam into a platito(saucer) and cups rice onto your plate.  Carinderias also offer specialty drinks such as softdrinks, bottled orange juice and other packed fruit juices.  But remember, to save up some moolah, drinking water is 100% free!

        The next time you find yourself in Angeles City,  don't forget to try out some ulam from Manok's canteen.  You may opt to take it out, packed in clear biodegradable plastics or simply eat your lunch on one of their cool tansan(bottle cap) shaped monoblock tables.  Don't forget to take a selfie by the Sprite Lebron's mix poster if you still find it there.  Haha! Ingat and eat well. 

Update: Brickhouse Cafe now offers Breakfast Buffet on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. 

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       Sunday is the day, that the Lord has made!....for family bonding that is.  Last Sunday, it was a pleasure again, to be able to eat at my father's favorite Sunday breakfast nook.  The place is The Brickhouse Cafe, located along Sto. Rosario street in Angeles City, Pampanga near the Simbahang Matua(old church) beside Mercury Drugstore.  

        The Cafe offers a Breakfast Buffet menu that caters to people who love Filipino dishes, particularly treats that are served in the early morning hours.  Me and my late mother are fans of the Filipino culinary taste, thus when she was still with us, we usually had our Sunday mornings here at the resto with my father.  She loved everything that the Brickhouse Cafe offers in their buffet...but she didn't eat much then since she was already suffering from kidney ailment plus an impaired sense of taste caused by aging.  

        The first part of the buffet table offers the traditional rice and viands meal.  You will find hot garlic rice at the front end of the buffet but if you're not interested in eating rice, then you may opt to eat Bihon or thin rice noodles  cooked Filipino style.  These are then followed by a couple of dishes such as pork giniling(ground pork),  Scrambled Egg, fried hotdogs and Pindang or Tocino or a type of pork dish where the meat is marinated and preserved with a sugary syrup based mixture before being cooked sautéed in a pan, a specialty in our pampanga province. 

         Other treats are fried Talong(eggplant), Kamatis(tomato), Itlog na maalat(salted egg) and Longganisa, a Philippine "sausage" where ground meat and spices are thoroughly mixed, marinated, then inserted in pork intestine "skins" before cooking.  However, this procedure is the authentic Philippine Longganisa.  The Brickhouse's Longganisa is a mass produced one where use of intestine skin is discarded and the Longganisa is shaped into small sizes and then thrown straight in to the pan for cooking. The taste of this Longganisa is sweet, a common taste of Filipino dishes.  

        Next part of the table is the American inspired breakfast menu.  You are given the option to pick Pandesal or the Philippine staple bread.  This bread is usually round to oval shape.  It is cooked under the oven usually with a crunchy outer covering and or the plain soft finish.  Together with the Pandesal, you may opt to choose heart-shaped mini pancakes! Haha!  And you may drip over your pancakes, maple syrup and/or condensed milk.  Tiny rolled Turons are also offered, these are bananas rolled in rice crepes then fried with brown sugar overlays. Again, a sweet Filipino treat.  Lastly, if you are a fan of rice congees or porridge, the Brickhouse Cafe also provides it's very own Arrozcaldo.  This is my father's all-time favorite here at the Resto.  The traditional way of eating Arrozcaldo is to season it with a small amount of calamansi juice, patis(fish sauce) and a dash of ground black pepper. Hmmmm....yummy!

        For my brother who lives in Manila, his favorite feature in the Brickhouse is the bottomless or unlimited Brewed coffee!  Yes, together with the unli breakfast buffet, you also get a pass on unlimited freshly brewed coffee.  If you're not a coffee addict, like me, you must try the resto's specialty cold drink,  the Tanglad juice or juice made from lemongrass.  It is by far, the best Tanglad juice I had in my life...that is FREE of course!  Iced Tea is also a choice in their beverage line-up.  But for the overly health-conscious customers, the Brickhouse Cafe also provides bottomless Fruit water.  This is characterized by a generous amount of sliced fruits mixed in water then served via a classy glass jar that comes with a faucet!  It's a complete Filipino breakfast IMHO(in my humble opinion). 

        Sadly, the resto only offers its Sunday Breakfast Buffet during Sundays from 6:00am until 10:30am in the morning.  On that Sunday morning, it was my treat.  I paid for the sumptuous breakfast meal of my father and that of our kasambahay.  It is very unlikely for us to eat here when my mother passed away.  My sister, the usual sidekick of my father on Sundays, is not a fan of Filipino food.  Therefore, if you love Filipino dishes, and is highly interested in trying out Filipino breakfast Unli-style...please come, stop by at Angeles City and taste the specialty of The Brickhouse Cafe on a Sunday morning.  You won't regret it for sure.  This is Jamos the Explorer,  "Mangan ta na!"  (Let's eat!)

#Update: for a new write-up on The Brickhouse Cafe....please read this post. 

#Video: for video watch this here. 

        I craved for a Bibimbap meal this morning. Since my dad won't be having his dinner with us, I decided to go and eat(again) at my favorite Korean buffet restaurant in Angeles city pampanga.  The place is called Korean Restaurant Manchoo or we fondly call Manchoo Buffet Restaurant.  It is located at the 2nd floor of the newly built Central Mall along the corner of Angeles-porac road and Friendship Hi-way.  The said mall is still under construction as of today, the 25th of July year 2017.  Looking from the road, you will find the place to be complete and "visitable".  However, inside, it has yet to fill up a lot of stalls and biz slots.  Thru the stairs leading to the 2nd Floor,  you will find Manchoo to the left.  

        Manchoo offers the standard Unlimited Korean Samgyupsal menu, complete with fresh lettuce leaves, pork and beef meat slices both cooked and uncooked servings.  If you intend to personally grill you Samgyupsal, you will be offered to sit on the tables outside.  This makes sure that smoke from grilling will not stay within the air-conditioned areas which may cause suffocation, given that Manchoo doesn't have the ergonomic suction/exhaust pipes that other grill themed Korean restaurants in town.  Aside from the unli Samgyupsal, there are buffet selections that you may also try.  These offers may vary weekly, but you will surely encounter the all-time favorite fish fillet, Korean bulgogi, Spicy Tofu, Kakeakedon and Chicken cordon Bleu.  

        On the other side of the buffet table, you will find a set of Maki and Kimbob servings and a self-service Bibimbap menu, complete with sliced carrots, cucumbers, beans sprouts, pork ginilings and dried seaweed strips. I particularly loved the concept of their Bibimbap menu since I like beansprouts, carrots and dried seaweed. And when you combine these with rice and a special sesame oil based seasoning, a flavorful taste explodes in your mouth as you eat your first spoonful of bibimbap concoction.  Drinks are also offered Unli-style. You may choose from four(4) cold drinks namely, Pineapple juice, Orange juice, Home blend Iced tea & Iced coffee.  Iced coffee is my preferred drink in Manchoo.  The desserts menu offers Fruit salad, Minatamis na Saba or Sweetened banana(saba variety), Marshmallows and biscuits with Hershey's chocolate syrup for an amazing dip. 

        As I've mentioned before, my hipag taught me on not starting a meal with cold drinks as it makes our tummy feel full and/or discourages our appetite.  Thus, it is better to start with a hot soup to spark up our appetite before the long fight of eating unli-style.  In my experience, I avoid eating a lot of sushi, maki, Kimbap since it is rather heavy for the tummy, or it is what Filipinos call "Mabigat sa Tiyan" (Heavy for the stomach. I go for the basic buffet sets first, then I follow it up with Makis and Kimbap.  Then, from there I stop and go for bibimbaps, Samgyupsal and the basic buffet.  I then finish my "Unli meal" with their salad and sweets.  While doing the eating,  I make sure that I am reading something be it a magazine or a book.  From this, I don't just fill up my tummy with food, I also am able to gain additional knowledge for my brain while enjoying the food in restaurants. 

Next time you visit our Bayan, Angeles City of Pampanga Philippines.....try Manchoo for a change...its a the right size buffet for a big-sized Macho me. 

Halina't 

Mabuhay!