How can I not keep writing about Bambi Javelosa of Bambi’s Gourmet Kitchen, when she keeps outdoing herself with even better, tastier creations?
Recently she debuted her Sushi Cake (tel. 0999-8814272, 0917-6727230), molded sushi rice stuffed with pure goodness. Variants include Dragon Roll Cake (sliced avocado, thin salmon slices, cucumber tekamaki with a special sauce, with kani and aburi unagi on top); Spicy Salmon Cake with avocado, mango and tuna rose; Alligator Sushi Cake (avocado wrapped with salmon, with temaki rolls, capped with unagi); and Crazy Maki Sushi Cake (cucumber wrapped with mango and an overload of shredded kani).
These sushi creations are on another level—very sinful and rich.
The secret to Sergeant Alimango’s (tel. 0917-8591111) delicious Birthday Noodles is the seafood stock made from prawns and crabs. The noodles alone are a great delight to the palate. Then there’s the generous capping of quail eggs, shrimps, strips of pork and vegetables. It is delish even when cold—truly a celebratory dish.I’m not fond of okoy, but I like what I’ve recently discovered through my friend, Irma Rivera, because it is not oily and has crispness that crumbles like a chip. This very thin shrimp fritter has a refined and delicate flavor. It is very addicting, especially when dipped in sweet, garlicky vinegar sauce. It is the perfect snack to keep in your fridge: just pop it into the toaster oven. According to its reseller, Cindy Martinez, the okoy is an heirloom recipe from a family of caterers (tel. 0917-8781109).
The black kutchinta (tel. 0998-5474186) that tops my list is soft, but with a nice rubbery chewiness, with just the right tinge of sweetness. The dip is also very good: I love the rich, subtle burned finish.
Ghost Month
For believers, geomancer Aldric Dalumpines (tel. 0999-3128168) has “alay” (offering) recommendations for this year’s Ghost Month from Aug. 19 to Sept. 16.According to Master Aldric, this month is culturally a dead month for Chinese communities worldwide. It is usually the time of year when business and other social activities are put on hold.
Sept. 2, Ghost Day, is also when prayers for protection and help are offered to dead and hungry ghosts. This is when paper gifts shaped as mansions, cars, paper money and the like are offered in exchange for protection.
With these, goodwill offerings of lucky food are also prepared. These are believed to bring prosperity to those who offer them.
Most popular are sticky rice cakes or tikoy, dim sum, dumplings that look like gold nuggets. The list of offerings is endless, from roasted calf and lechon to chicken and whole fish. They differ as households usually prepare the favorite dishes of their dearly departed.
Master Aldric specified that red offerings, as well as a red wardrobe, should be avoided out of respect for the dead. White is the preferred color, the Chinese color for mourning.
This year, given the pandemic, Master Aldric simplified the often lavish ritual. A simple daily offering of three pieces of sweet ordinary candies or chocolates on the side of any main entrance will do. Do this for your workplace and home. Again, no red candies. This has to be replaced daily. The previous day’s offering is thrown out, never to be consumed. The candy offering should have begun midnight of Aug. 18, maintained until Sept. 16.
Not to worry; if you just read this now, it’s not too late, Master Aldric said; you can still catch up.
Why three? To symbolize the unity and goodwill of peaceful harmony and coexistence of heaven, earth and man.
He shared a protection secret ritual in feng shui. On the paper plate or saucer of candies, write using black marker pen, not red or blue, a request to protect you, your family, your home and its occupants from harm from any illness, especially new coronavirus disease.
It is believed that these prayers are granted and the act of offering takes away the burden of illness from the one making the offering, assuring his or her protection, well-being, good health and prosperity.
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