Christmas is personal to a family. It doesn’t have to include the food the region is noted for. It can do away with the perceived must-haves like jamon and queso de bola. It all depends on what the family expects. And that is usually the specialty of lola or an aunt or a retired driver’s haleyang ube with Star margarine on top.
Atching Lillian Borromeo is known to the culinary world as the expert on traditional Kapampangan cuisine. To her I owe much, for she is the woman who so unselfishly allows me the privilege of reliving the glory of the past through her stories and cooking techniques and the uniqueness of her cuisine.
“The most rewarding part of my job is to see children with a smile on their faces,” says candy chef Chua Wee Hao of Made in Candy, a Singapore-based candy store that specializes in 100-percent handcrafted sweets.
Now that the Christmas season is in full swing, lots of candy canes are for sale in supermarkets and, sometimes, even in bookstores. Having outgrown my childhood fondness for these colorful, peppermint treats, I’ve found other uses for them that are more suitable for grown-ups. Here are some suggestions to make the most of this season’s candy canes.
Christmas is a time for good food, and, of course, great ham. For celebrity moms Barbie Almalbis-Honasan, Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Danica Sotto-Pingris, the Noche Buena ham is festive food that delights both kids and adults in their families.
AHA Chef instructor Joey Carpo shows how to prepare and cook Lechon Paksiw.
AHA Chef instructor Joey Carpo shows how to prepare and cook Peking Wraps.
AHA Chef instructor Philip Golding shows how to prepare Paninis.
AHA Chef instructor Joey Carpo shows how to prepare and cook Ham and Potato Chowder.
AHA Chef instructor Joey Carpo shows how to prepare and cook Coronation Salad.
