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The Philippines is an archipelago, rich in history, beautiful scenic spots, kind and cheerful people, and iconic foods! No wonder, many tourists fall in love with the country easily.

If you are watching Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” you may have seen how Andrew Zimmern excitedly tasted balut (duck embryo), which Philippines is famous for. According to the American television personality, food writer and chef, who visited the Philippines in 2014, the Filipino food would be the next big thing in the international cuisine.

Filipino foods may lack attractive presentations that Korean and Japanese foods offer, but definitely it is one of the best when it comes to flavor. Forget about balut or lechon (roasted pig) that you often see on the television.

If you are coming to the Philippines for the first time, you shouldn’t miss the top 6 must-try dishes of the country:

Food# 1: Kare-kare

Kare-kare is one of the well loved dishes by the locals as well as foreigners. It is the second most popular dish next to Philippine’s Adobo. The dish is a stew with rich, savory peanut sauce or ground peanuts, oxtail, calves feet, beef stew meat, pork hocks, pig feet and offal or tripe.

The stew can be composed of vegetables or seafoods, instead of meat, such as mussels, squid and prawns. Kare-kare is a complete meal because it also has vegetables, including eggplant, asparagus beans, Chinese cabbage, daikon and green beans. The dish is eaten with bagoong (shrimp paste) that can be added with chili.

Food# 2: Halo-halo

Halo-halo (mixed together) is a favorite dessert of the Filipinos made of shaved ice, various sweets, including gulaman (agar jelly), sweetened banana and then topped with ube (yam), leche flan, or ice cream and evaporated milk. Sometimes, it is also mixed with boiled sweetened chickpeas, sweetened kidney beans, sugar palm fruit (kaong) and coconut sport (macapuno). Sugar is also added to the dessert and placed in a tall glass or a large bowl.

Food# 3: Pork Sisig

Pork sisig is another signature Filipino food that is so popular in bars and restaurants throughout the country. Zimmern once touted the dish as “one of his favorite dishes.” It is made from chopped pig’s face, pig’s ears and chicken liver. The dish originated in Pampanga (province) and is seasoned with chili peppers, calamansi (calamondin), topped with sunny side up egg, and served in a sizzling iron plate.

Food# 4: Sinigang

Sinigang is a very popular Filipino stew or soup that has a unique savory and sour taste. It is almost similar to the Malaysian dish called Singgang.

The stew is one of the favorites of the Filipino families. The original version of sinigang is cooked with tamarind, giving it a one-of-a-kind sour taste.

Sinigang is called a one-pot meal because it is complete with the main ingredient that can be pork or beef or seafoods, tamarind, tomatoes, vegetables, such as okra, water spinach (kangkóng), white radish (labanós), taro corms (gabi), yardlong beans (sitaw) and eggplant (talóng). It is often garnished with long, green peppers to add spice.

There are several variations of sinigang, including: sinigang sa miso, sinigang sa mangga (unripe mango), sinigang sa bayabas (guava), sinigang sa kalamansi (lemon), sinigang na isda (fish), sinigang na baka (beef), sinigang na baboy (pork), sinigang na hipon (shrimps) and sinampalukang manok (chicken with tamarind).

Food# 5: Puto at Dinuguan

If you’re new to the country, you shouldn’t miss puto (rice cake) and dinuguan. Dinuguan,often prepared during fiestas is a flavorful stew cooked with pork or pork offal, such as kidneys, lungs, heart, snout, intestines and ears. It is mixed with the gravy of the pig’s blood, vinegar, garlic and chili. The dish is often eaten with puto.

Food# 6: Adobo

Adobo compared to other Filipino dishes is a dish that has reached its popularity in the international scene. It is the most iconic dish of the Philippine cuisine. The word adobo came from the Spanish word adobar that means “to marinate.”

Adobo is made of pork or chicken or both and marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, black peppercorn  and bay leaf. The dish is so popular that it is cooked even by foreigners.

Marie Sandoval is a chef, certified food lover and food blogger. Her passion in cooking is seen in her several recipe books that she herself has written. Aside from cooking, Marie loves traveling and discovering different cuisines, she is also a life coach. Visit the Official site here.

For food fans, one of the big things about visiting any place is sampling the local cuisine – trying new dishes or new twists on classic dishes, unusual ingredients or simply something made a different way.  So if you are planning a trip to San Jose Costa Rica or any other part of the country, what kind of cuisine will you encounter?

Basics of the cuisine

Some describe Costa Rican cuisine as a mix of comfort food and traditional home cooking with a Latin flare.  The country has many family owned and operated restaurants that are small in size and called ‘sodas’ offering some of the best traditional or modern types of Costa Rican cuisine.

Generally, the food isn’t as spicy as in some parts of the region and the ease of sourcing fruit and vegetables means there are plenty of flavors on offer.  If you read a good guide on the country such as the Travel Excellence Costa Rica Travel Guide you will also see that the tap water in the country is safe to drink so there’s no need to rely on bottled water.

Traditional dishes

Gallo Pinto is a breakfast dish that is comprised of beans and rice that is popular in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  The basic ingredients are mixed with a range of other ingredients to add the taste including cilantro, onions and peppers.

Casado is more a type of dish than a specific one – it is a combination of ingredients served on a plate and usually includes rice, beans, tortillas, salad, fried plantain and a different meat or fish.  Where you are in the country often dictates what meat or fish you receive and there is usually a glass of fresh fruit juice served with it.

Light meals

Chifrijo is a bar dish that combines rice and beans with either fried pork meat or skins and is topped with a mix of avocado, chimichurri, lime and pica de gallo.  It is served with homemade tortilla or plantain chips and is perfect with a cold drink.

Chicharrones is another popular snack meal that is served at family gatherings and at bars as well as at celebrations.  They are made from fried pork rinds – so be aware of your cholesterol levels!  The dish is so popular that there is an annual fair in Puriscal dedicated to it.

Patacones are peeled and sliced green plantains that are quickly boiled then flattened and fried until crispy.  They are then finished with lime and salt then served with refried beans, avocado, pica de gallo or even shredded cabbage.

Fun cuisine

The cuisine of Costa Rica can definitely be described as a fun one with lots of traditional dishes and fun light meals to enjoy.  Plus, you can always get a good supply of international classics that you will recognize if you are a little unsure about trying something unusual.

With summer coming to a close, we’re heading into the season of dinner parties. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, or Thanksgiving, you might be hosting a dinner party in the near future.

As a good host, you want every single one of your guests to enjoy themselves, and that includes satisfying their stomachs. So, here are some tips for planning the perfect party to cater to all dietary needs and restrictions.

Vegetarian Options

More and more people are choosing the vegetarian lifestyle so it is important to include these guests in your meal preparations. Good thing for you though, vegetarian menus are fairly easy to prepare. Some great dishes include:

• Broccoli and Cauliflower Bisque
• Cheese Souffle
• Stuffed Squash or Eggplant
• Apple Pie
• Mushroom or Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Bruschetta

Vegan Options

A vegan menu is a little harder than a vegetarian menu and will require more consideration. Your dishes must not only be free of meat, but also free of dairy products such as eggs, milk, and cheese. Read up on a vegan lifestyle if you’re unfamiliar with what it entails. Some safe dishes include

• Potato Stuffed Artichokes
• Carrot Ginger Soup
• Roasted Chickpeas
• Cheese Dip with Vegan Cheese

Gluten-Free Options

The number of gluten-free eaters has tripled in the past five years. Therefore, it’s virtually impossible nowadays not to have at least one gluten-free guest. This one isn’t easy though, as many common menu items include gluten. However, here are some delicious ideas you can consider adding to your dinner party:

• Gluten-free pasta
• Deviled Eggs
• Potato Frittatas
• Roasted Turkey
• Prime Ribs

Another tip for gluten-free guests is to serve wine instead of liquor or beer as these most likely have gluten included in their recipe.

Ketogenic Options

Another huge diet that has taken off is the ketogenic diet. Characterized by low levels of carbohydrates and a reduction in sugar, the keto diet is pretty easy to cater to. However, without the use of sugar, it can be hard to find keto-friendly options for desserts. Here are some ideas for you to surprise your guests with:

• Sugar Free Peanut Fudge
• Chocolate Mousse with Stevia
• Low Carb Jalapeño Poppers
• Keto Pigs in a Blanket

Many of these dietary options are easy to cater for as long as you pay attention and know the exact restrictions for each diet. You should also make sure that everything is labeled during the party, and be sure not to mix dishes. You should not put meat dishes on the same plate as the vegetarian options.

Other than that, these tips are sure to help you plan the perfect party to satisfy every guest’s tummy.

We all know the importance of consuming enough water daily. But, do you know the importance of drinking the right type of water? Or how much better purified water is compared to the general tap water you’ve been drinking for years? Thankfully, you can easily purify the water in your home without hassle.

The following are several ways to do this.

1. Water purification systems

Installing a water purification system in your home is the best and most convenient way of ensuring that the water you are using on a daily basis does not contain any harmful substances. This method won’t be too expensive and when done by a reputable company, won’t be of any hassle. It’s the easiest way of guaranteeing a clean supply of water.

Get in touch with an expert like Jim McMahon from Cleanairpurewater.com who is a professional ecologist with extensive knowledge on what makes water unhealthy, and what you need to do to make yours more drinkable. He deals with all customers individually, starting off with a phone call, to ensure they get what they need.

2. Boiling

Boiling is one of the oldest forms of water purification and is considered to be a fail-safe method to purify water at home. The process doesn’t require any special instruments, simply heating water until it reaches its boiling point and then letting it boil for five to seven minutes will kill most of the impurities and make the water drinkable. Adding a pinch of salt to the water will give it a little taste as boiling kills oxygen in water.

3. Iodine tablets or liquid tablets

Small amount of iodine tablets or liquid iodine is sufficient to purify water and kill all contaminants that are harmful for your health. As iodine is also a chemical, using it in small amounts and only as a temporary purification solution is recommended if you want to ensure you stay healthy.

4. Solar disinfection

This is an inexpensive way of purifying water when you do not have the option of boiling water. As hinted by the name, the sun’s energy is used to purify the water. Fill plastic bottles with water and put them in the path of direct sunlight for at least 6-8 hours to kill all impurities before consuming it.

There are numerous methods of purifying water to make it drinkable. While installing a water purification system is the easiest way of purification, there are also some free options to consider such as boiling the water (however these could be seen as more of a hassle as you have to wait for it to be done each time). Use the method that is easiest for you and don’t side-line the importance of having purified water in your home!