Hostel Review: Pickled Tea Hostel (Yangon, Myanmar)

Due to our very tight schedule, for the first night in the city we opted for a hostel as we might be on the road come nightfall.

Clean, spanking brand-new kind of feeling to the rooms and place - the dorm bunks the four of us occupied were spacious and well-designed. You have your own cabinet with lock (inside are the towel and blanket for your use) and a rack for hanging clothes. While that may be common with other dorm rooms, what I appreciated was the designer's regard for roominess.

The common bath and toilets are big enough to be comfortable when doing your ablutions. Unlike others I've come across before, they bundle the shower and toilet into one cubicle and you can even dance inside if you want to. The drains are working so I like this design rather than going out after a shower and going to the toilet to finish your business :-)

The cubicle has a hook, a shelf for putting up your things - really thought out for the harried backpacker who will also appreciate the hairdryer and clean washbasin area.

You must leave your shoes below before going up the stairs (no elevator) - contributing to the overall cleanliness of the place. The people were welcoming and gave us a cold drink upon arrival - thoughtful as we were somewhat parched.

In the lobby area is a table where you can have your breakfast - which we sadly had to skip the first day, but we did manage to taste on our last day in Yangon. It is bundled with your stay, and while it varies, it was a welcome treat to be able to taste it on our last day. By the side, a stack of longyis for the males and females are up for sale, along with cold drinks etc.

They have wifi, though its not the fastest in the world, you will be able to post on its provided speed. The aircon was good enough for the cool temperature lover like me, though be careful for those staying in dorm rooms, it might freeze the occupants of the top beds if you do not take that into consideration when you set it up.

Reading light and night light available, power outlet to charge your gadgets only 1 outlet per person) while you snooze and you are all set. Ah, probably what I will suggest is that they add a mirror to the back of the door of the rooms so one does not have to pop to the bathing area.

The single room we took for our last day in Yangon had a balcony overlooking the street, so that is an option if you don't want to rub shoulders with others. The 4-bed dormroom we had earlier had no view.

Noticed the surrounding area was great for photowalk - we passed by a vegetable market and stalls on the streets, and unless I miss my guess, local food would be available very near to the hostel as the locals go about their business on the streets.

The Scwedagon Pagoda is around 20 minutes walking distance.

Word of caution - during rainy season, it might be challenging staying here - one of the guests we talked to said it was flooded in front of the hostel the day before our second visit.


11 Myaynigone Zay Street • Sanchaung Township • Yangon, Myanmar
T +95 9 250903363 • E contact@pickledteahostel.com
http://www.pickledteahostel.com/

Stayed: August and September 2015

Film Review: The man called "Heneral Articulo Uno"

Sipping piping-hot native chocolate, a friend in Cebu mentioned not having watched “Heneral Luna”, a Filipino film which has recently been much-praised and much-touted in the Philippine film industry and by fellow-Filipinos. I expressed curiosity and made arrangements to accompany my friend the following day. I also managed to bring my mom along even if she is not overly fond of Filipino films. I told the latter we would be seeing some “bigote” (mustache) action. Hehe!

I cannot remember when I veered away from historical dramas and biographies. It has been ages since I’ve sat down in a movie theater or in front of the idiot box to see any Filipino or Tagalog films or television series.

The quality of the plethora of Philippine movies advertised in the yearly film festivals, as well as the heap of soap operas dished out with no discrimination on our TV screens - such “entertainment” to me, was at best, only a momentary distraction from the nitty-gritty of real life and far too bland as a mishmash of whatever the producers, writers or directors could think of at that time to spit out to the accepting public.

Taking a chance on the film in this review - it has turned out to be different from what I had expected.

I had read very few reviews on this film beforehand - information about the film was poured like a raging flood on the internet by enthusiastic countrymen who seemed to have been rejuvenated by a film about an honest-to-goodness Filipino hero - a leader to look up to in these trying days when it seems nothing has changed.

Generally speaking…the poor are well, still poor, the working class sends its breadwinners abroad, the rich are getting richer and a graph showing how many leaders are mostly known for their foibles than their true accomplishments would not be curving downwards - not anytime soon anyway.
We are still indeed our own worst enemy - and after all this time,

Skipping the film’s synopsis on the internet, I preferred to quietly sit and softly sift through the movie’s flowing scenes with a clean slate – armed only with vague memories dug up from afternoons of Philippine History lessons in high school.

Did I enjoy watching the movie - in it's totality, in its depiction of Heneral Antonio Luna and the other major characters who had defined a momentous part of Philippine history?

Creative liberties being taken by the producers aside, I can answer unequivocally - yes.

The humor which was injected into certain acts in the film was certainly Filipino. Something familiar. Something that the public would usually resonate to.
It was not a dry, urbane, morose retelling of how Luna persuaded *cough threatened? cough* people to his cause, steadfastly directed his military troops and faithful men, snatched clandestine moments with his beautiful Red Cross ladylove, dealt with President Aguinaldo and those he deemed as traitors to the nation.

It was a well-crafted series of scenes depicting Antonio Luna as a Filipino man - a human being like the rest of us, with feet of clay but striving manfully to be true to his own personal beliefs about what was good and just for his Motherland. He was portrayed as fiery, prone to curses (puñeta!) and loving his mother and this country with almost equal fervor – ready to die, ready to spill his own blood. In this day and age where more people are ever-ready to spill the other persons' blood for their own selfish betterment, who cannot help but be awed by this portrayal of a man with his nationalistic fervor and honest reactions, by his seeming nobility of spirit, by his trimmed mustache quivering in indignation against the perceived insult and injury to the Filipino people?

Do I think it is worth an Oscar award? That it would win an Oscar?
No.

It cannot be denied that the quality and caliber of this film is light years away from most of the Filipino canned, formulaic films we’ve been subjected to all these years.

Indeed, the direction of how the beautiful cinematography, ingenuous, well-thought-out script and theater-worthy acting were meld into an almost seamless tapestry of a riveting story - the Filipino audience will be elated to see at long last such “quality” standards making its presence felt in a Filipino film.

While its talented and familiar actors are certainly more than equal to the task of bringing to life one of our more colorful heroes and other players in this defining era of the our country’s history, I think back to the award-winning films I’ve seen, and regrettably, I do not feel that vicious “tug” on my heart and psyche that makes me jump to my feet and shout with glee - "It’s a shoo-in for Oscar night!" In short, competition is tough on this arena.

An important lesson I learned during business school is that, it doesn’t matter how or what you think, what matters is how your professor thinks. In the same way, it is the target audience for a movie which must be pleased, whose taste buds must be satisfied with gusto. The same way with the reviewers of such film festivals and contests.

While quite Filipino in its depiction of how my countrymen would react in situations (that train scene image where the temperamental General whipped the hangers-on out of the train will remain with me for some time!) such as a war in the late 1800s, or to life these days for the modern version, I had this niggling impression that a film camera was trained at the scenes of a theater production.

I felt that it had a theatrical bent, but was restrained from going full-blast as it was handled as a film and not an on stage production.

A historical story, a biopic film, which would have been typically given a serious tone and treatment, except that it must also appeal to a Filipino audience which unfortunately had been fed on a surfeit of dramas, canned shows, foreign films imported from abroad. It must beguile, it must enchant and it must not go overboard with black and white portrayals of the leaders of the revolution and war.

This is not to say that this film has not valiantly attempted to entertain as well as educate the almost-fried and dried palate of the Filipino movie viewers.

That this film, proudly and unashamedly, determinedly tackled Heneral Antonio Luna’s story to bring to the big screen - a biography of a larger-than-life hero but still seemingly distant figure who usually is relegated these days to decorate street names or staid history books not even probably taken seriously by the average Filipino student – that in itself is a feat that Heneral Luna himself may laud with a snappy military salute.

That it has generated all this positive response about its presence is a factor that I sincerely hope would mean better or superlative quality films being made by our talented filmmakers in the future – a fervent wish and long-held cherished dream that one day the majority of our films will garner its own share of critical and financial acclaim on a global scale.

Maybe Heneral "Articulo Uno" Luna’s ghost may rise up and decry my opinion (screaming puñeta! into my ear) but surely he cannot cite Articulo Uno at me for my article on one of the films depicting his life and role in our history. :-)

Recipe: Avocado and Shrimp Ceviche

Category:		Salads
Style:		Continental
Special Consideration:		Quick and Easy
Servings:		4

This recipe I took from O&CO, however I just tweaked it for ingredient availability.Preparation time is around 30 minutes, and cooking time of 3 minutes.

Ingredients:

24 pieces uncooked shrimps

2 pieces limes (I used Philippine lemons instead of buying - so about 5 pieces for starters)

5 tbsp olive oil (but if you can buy the specialty olive oil which is lemon-flavored, much better)

3 tbsp O&CO mango fruity condiment
2 pieces ripe avocados2 tsp spice mix (I just use whatever I have on hand, like hamburger seasoning etc.)
1 tsp O&CO fleur de sel
mini toasts

Directions:

Peel and de-vein the shrimps and marinate for at least 10 minutes in a salad bowl at room temperature - with lime or lemon juice, green lemon oil and mango condiment.

Drain the shrimps and fry them for about 2 minutes in a non-adhesive fry pan at low heat. This is to sear the flesh, then place them again in the marinade.

A couple of minutes before serving, peel and cut the avocados in large shavings.

Add them to the salad bowl with the shrimps etc. and toss gently.

Arrange in single plates, cover with the marinade, sprinkle with some spice mix and fleur de sel.

Enjoy with warm mini-toasts.

Cincinnati Hotel | The Westin Cincinnati Hotel

Cincinnati Hotel | The Westin Cincinnati Hotel

About rumah Turi - the first eco-friendly hotel in Solo

About rumah Turi - the first eco-friendly hotel in Solo

Alton Brown's Scones (bookmark)

Alton Brown's SCONES Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons shortening
3/4 cup cream
1 egg
Handful dried currants or dried cranberries
Directions
Heat oven to 375 degrees.


In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix well. Cut in butter and shortening. In a separate bowl, combine cream with beaten egg then add to dry ingredients. Stir in fruit. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Roll dough out and cut into biscuit size rounds. Bake for 15 minutes or until brown.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/scones-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

How to Grow Turmeric (bookmark)

How to Grow Turmeric

Review: PINTO Art Museum in Antipolo City

Antipolo for me is way far off...but the expansive, beautiful gardens and exhibits of Philippine contemporary art was worth the long trip from Makati City.

My first thought was - wow! I never thought something like this existed in Antipolo. 

Art galleries are spread around the country, but "Pinto Art Museum" took me back to the last time I had visited an outdoor museum (that was in Japan ages ago). I had enjoyed it so much but didn't think there was anything back in my country which could have the same kind of thrust. This is still not of the level of what I had experienced in that other one, but it does not make it less enjoyable and it is all the more unique and precious because it is Filipino.

The verdant and green gardens would surely be enjoyed by children with their energetic scampering around. A big rocking horse, unusual sundial, even a shabby-chic bed can be seen when you first enter the grounds and situated near the gallery shop which, during the time we were here, made me gape in astonishment - it featured works which reminded me of the decor I find in the old Catholic churches back in my hometown - harking all the way back to the Spanish-colonial era. Small wonder as the artist was known to have a hand in restoring some churches in Bohol.

There's a smattering of mission-style buildings on the grounds - and its white outlines against the flowering shrubs and other art installations gives it a look which makes you think - surely you must be in another country?

The display of Philippine contemporary art, which encompasses Dr. Joven Cuanang's collection
and other for sale items will take some time to go over. If you breeze through it, you may not notice or appreciate just-around-the-corner whimsical exhibits. One room which startled me featured gentle murmuring voices of women - appropriately titled "Usapang Babae" (Women Talk) and not only was it amusing but the room was cool - a good respite from the heat which does plague the country during this time.

There was this room which made me think of a night spent in a zen-like bamboo grove in Japan - complete with water plopping daintily into water basins filled with round smooth pebbles. All very soothing and smelling of green leaves.

Aside from paintings and sculptures which make you pause, the architecture of the buildings housing the collection is delightful. You might see some bamboo on the ceilings, a wooden bench which totally belongs to the "art" theme and despite the huge space, wheelchair-bound visitors do not have to worry about the stairs from one room to another as there's a ramp.

There's also a cafe inside though it was closed during our visit. If you come here during weekends, this art museum would be probably more crowded...but aside from the visitor which might like to see art, its also now and then populated with those interested in having a prenup-photoshoot or even possibly a picnic.

I could wax ecstatic about this museum situated in the Silangan Gardens - even if I felt I didn't get to see all of it a s we were in a rush with other matters, I certainly would like to visit this again.

"Pinto" means door in Filipino.


- 18th March 2013, Antipolo City, Philippines

Recipe: Chicken Pospas (Philippines Porridge)

Category:		Snacks
Style:		Philippines
Special Consideration:		Quick and Easy
Servings:		~

Ingredients:

1 piece breast chicken or other parts (cut into pieces) (fleshy part) (flaked)

onion (sliced/minced) - leeks or bulbs

salt to taste

1 cup rice

3 cup water

garlic

ginger (optional)

toyo

Directions:

1. Saute the onion until brown. Then fry the chicken.

2. Cook the rice with 3 cups water as in the usual porridge.

3. Tear the chicken into small strips then drop into the boiling rice. Season with salt to taste and serve hot.

Recipe: Ube Fritters / Postre (Philippine Snacks)

Category:		Snacks
Style:		Philippines
Special Consideration:		Quick and Easy
Servings:		30 pieces or more

Ingredients:
1 kilo ube (purple yam) 

15 to 20 pieces ripe bananas

oil for deep frying

Directions:

1. Pare the ube and shred it thoroughly. Slice thickly the ripe bananas.

2. Coat a slice of banana with the grated ube and deep-fry. Before placing another set of fritters, remove completely the cooked ones.

3. Place it in a colander for drainage of oil and serve hot.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Philippine Holidays 2013

Filipinos can now start planning their vacations for 2013 after Malacañang announced Saturday the list of holidays and special nonworking days for 2013, to guide employers and the public.

The list is based on Proclamation 459, signed by President Benigno Aquino III last August 16.

In the proclamation, the regular holidays include:

Jan. 1, New Year's Day (Tuesday)
March 28, Maundy Thursday
March 29, Good Friday
April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan (Tuesday)
May 1, Labor Day (Wednesday)
June 12, Independence Day (Wednesday)
Aug. 26, National Heroes' Day (last Monday of August)
Nov. 30, Bonifacio Day (Saturday)
Dec. 25, Christmas Day (Wednesday)
Dec. 30, Rizal Day (Monday)

The special nonworking days include:

March 30, Black Saturday
Aug. 21, Ninoy Aquino Day (Wednesday)
Nov. 1, All Saints' Day (Friday)
Nov. 2, All Souls' Day (Saturday)
Dec. 24, day before Christmas (Tuesday)
Dec. 31, New Year's Eve (Tuesday)

Feb. 25, the EDSA Revolution anniversary, is a special holiday for all schools, the proclamation said.

In his proclamation, Aquino said the proclamations declaring national holidays for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha shall be issued after the approximate dates of the Islamic holidays have been determined in accordance with the Islamic calendar (Hijra), or the lunar calendar, or upon Islamic astronomical calculations.

"To this end, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall," he said.

Also, Aquino said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate the implementing guidelines for this Proclamation. — LBG, GMA News

A Different October Fest

PICCA Fest is something to look forward to for animation and manga fans here in the Philippines

Película 2012 Spanish Film Festival (Movie 2012 Spanish Film Festival)

Start:	Oct 4, '12
End:	Oct 14, '12
Location:	Greenbelt Theatre 3 / Greenbelt 3 Cinemas Greenbelt Mall, Ayala Center

The 11th Spanish Film Festival, The Most Important and Most Celebrated Spanish-language film festival in Southeast Asia, will showcase the best Spanish and Latin-American films in recent years. Once again, film enthusiasts Manila Will Be Treated to an exciting line-up of multi-Awarded films in the English language.

This year's films are a collection of absorbing dramas and compelling narratives explore the full spectrum That of human experience in new and surprising ways. Also there will be a number of fun and light-hearted films for the audience to enjoy movies as well as from the Latin American community to presenting all perspectives and wide range of styles.

Click this to view a calendar of the screenings.


 - Oct 1, '12 12:14 PM

Enchanted Kingdom, Revisited

Ten years after my first visit to this wonderful amusement park,  I set off on a wacky trip with some equally wacky and fun-loving classmates from AIM.

These fellow MM classmates had enough of serious work and were serious themselves in getting some good clean fun before graduation.

- Dec 5, '06 12:51 AM

Japan Meteorological Agency | Tropical Cyclone Information

Japan Meteorological Agency | Tropical Cyclone Information

typhoon2000 seems to be down..but since we have lots of tropical storms, need to check some other sites...

Carrot and Daikon Salad (Japanese Salads)

Category:		Salads
Style:		Japanese
Special Consideration:		Vegetarian
Servings:		4-6

From the internet

Description:

Daikon (大根), literally "large root"), is also called Oriental radish, Chinese radish and Mooli (from Hindi Muulii). It is a mild-flavored, very large, white East Asian radish. It is common in Japanese cuisine.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1 small carrot, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
1 1/2 cups daikon, peeled, cut into matchstick pieces
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds


Directions:

1. Place 1 1/2 cups of the water and the salt in a medium bowl. Place both carrot and daikon in this salted water for half and hour, then drain and set aside.

2. Combine the vinegar, remaining water, soy sauce and mirin in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the carrots and daikon and simmer for 2 minutes until tender. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

3. Place the daikon and carrot between paper towels and squeeze gently to remove the excess vinegar. Place in small bowls, sprinkle the sesame seeds over it and serve.

-  Nov 25, '10 6:48 PM

Eiga Sai 2007: "Kamikaze Girls" (Shimotsuma Monogatari) (4 Stars)

Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

Just came from Japan Foundation's showing of Japanese contemporary films for 2007. This evening, the first offering was "Kamikaze Girls" and it was shown in Shangril-la Plaza at Crossings. They will have more films till Tuesday of next week, but for those who can't make it, these films will also be shown in CCP and UP Film Institute.

Lifted off from their brochure:

Format: 2004/HD or 35 mm/ 103 min./Color
Director: Tetsuya Nakashima
Japanese Release: 2004

Synopsis:

Momoko (Kyoko Fuduka) escapes from the boredom of her life in her humdrum rural hometown Shimotsuma by swathing herself from head to toe in doll-like "Lolita" garb. One day she meets her diametrical opposite on the fashion scale, the surly black lipstick biker chick Ichigo (Anna Tsuchiya, winner of 2005 Japan Academy price for best newcomer) who takes a liking to Momoko's unexpectedly gutsy nature and the two form an unlikely alliance.

Momoko consoles Ichigo after she suffers a broken heart at the hands of the local pompadoured lothario and uses her embroidery skills to embellish Ichigo's biker uniform for the graduation ceremony of a respected senior. In return, she takes Momoko to the best Lolita boutique in the city where her sewing skills gain for her a chance to work for her favorite designer. However, Ichigo's fellow delinquents don't take kindly to her friendship with Momoko, which leads to a final showdown with the gang boss. Severely outnumbered, Ichigo looks doomed until the loyal Momoko rides to her rescue. A mildly surreal, frenetically comic journey into Japan's youth subcultures based on a graphic novel by cult manga creator Novala Takemoto and directed by TV commercial Tetsuya Nakashima.



My review:

After reading the synopsis above, my idea or impression of what the movie was going to be turned out to be quite different in reality. I don't know if it was the subtitles misleading me.

However I do know what I like and enjoy, and this film has all the trademarks of what I expect from Japanese comedy films - I would not know the film terms, but there is a section of some anime to explain the story (kinda like the "Kill Bill" movie), there is the section of flying cabbages, head on collision and Momoko floating around (kinda like the "Kung Fu Hustle" movie), talking to the camera directly to explain the situation, exaggerated and ludicrous love scenes etc.

The costumes made my eyes spin..all those laces and frills and curls and blonde hair dyes and biker chick fashion...on an aside, I wonder why in the world Japanese clothing seem so outlandish nowadays..and to think they really had a nice sense of kimono fashion before..oh well *shrug*

But the twist and turns of the story were fun and unexpected, although a bit obvious to an old hand at Filipino dramas like yours truly. Again, the friendship between these two unlikely girls is at once funny and touching. And the scene where Momoko lectures her mom on happiness and not giving up on it makes you think again of how a parent lectures their young..this time its just the younger person doing it...ironic eh?

That pompadoured guy made my eyebrows rise to the heavens...but its something I would expect from a manga drawing. All in all the characters are over the top sometimes, but this is what you can expect from a comedy story like this. There is a good mixture of shots flowing in and out..so its not boring, since the shift from one scene to another used different techniques but I suspect its what made my headache pop out (or it could be the lack of food before watching the movie).

It is a happy ending of course (for awhile though I thought the opening scene of our Rococo-era-loving heroine flying upward into the heavens meant her early demise) - for almost all characters concerned, from her obaa-san (grandma), otou-san (father) and the other main characters (her okaa-san or mom didn't win the beauty contest though, which made her dad really happy..nope, they were already divorced)...all in all not a lot of loose threads to make you unhappy with the plot...some yakuza, yanki, finger-cutting, vomiting ala anime style, pink outlandish bentos and food..

See I've just joined a Japanese club at my current company, and though it was because of love of anime and manga, I'm glad I didn't pass up the opportunity to watch this Japanese film festival.

Personally I would have enjoyed a whole week of Kurosawa-sama's films (think "Ran", "Seven Samurai", "Rashomon" etc.) which I have always loved even before I fell in love with anime. Picture a purring cat...but I just found out that contemporary films are also quite good..quite unexpectedly I must admit.

Other movies coming up this week (I don't know if I can view the others though, I prefer sleep and food):

* Shangri-la (Togenkyo No Hitobito)
* Blue Spring
* Out of this World
* Hotel Hibiscus
* Inochi
* No One's Ark
* The Stars Converge
* Harmful Insect

- Jun 21, '07 12:08 AM

Recipe: Leek and Tuna Salad (Japanese Salads)

Category:		Salads
Style:		Japanese
Special Consideration:		Quick and Easy
Servings:		4

Ingredients:

1 baby cucumber (approximately 100 g), washed
2 tablespoons thinly sliced leeks
2 large basil leaves, shredded
400 grams fresh sashimi-quality tuna
black sesame seeds (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger, grated

Ginger Dipping Sauce:

1 1/2 teaspoons grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon dark soy sauce

Directions:

1. Place the leeks in a small bowl of cold water and soak for 5 minutes. Drain, then pat dry with paper towels. Shred the cucumber into thin, long strips. Set aside.

2. Combine the shredded basil leaves and sliced leeks in a bowl. Add half of the grated ginger. Toss well to combine. Dice the tuna and combine with the earlier mixture.

3. Prepare Ginger Dipping Sauce. Divide the ginger between 4 small sauce bowls and top with dark soy sauce to taste.

4. Divide the tuna mixture into 4 equal portions. Place each portion on a serving dish. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds if you prefer. Garnish with reserved shredded cucumber and serve with the Ginger Dipping sauce on the side.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

- Aug 19, '10 6:31 PM

Recipe: Bak Kut Teh (Pork Rib Soup) (Chinese Soups & Stews)

Category:		Soups & Stews
Style:		Chinese
Servings:		6 cups

Description:

Last December 2008, I received a special "my kind of book" from Helene when I spent my Christmas holidays with her family in Singapore. She combined two of my loves in it - glorious food and glorious pictures of food - the Singaporean dishes were presented almost like still-life paintings by masters of art.

I would like to share with you some of the simpler dishes (one reason is that at least with these recipes, I can find the ingredients here in my area).

Copied from "Authentic Recipes from Singapore" Wong and Wibisono.

I chose this because I had a sip-pilicious time slurping this soup down with Loo and Helene in Singapore. I remember I bought one pack of the "bak kut teh" spices but since I rarely buy meat while living here in Manila, I don't think I've used it.


A popular late night, or early morning pick-me-up, this flavorful soup can be prepared with various cuts of meat, although this version using ribs is the most popular.

Ingredients:

500 g (1 lb) pork ribs, cleaned, separated and cut into lengths
one 150-g (5-oz) piece lean pork
1 bulb garlic, unpeeled and washed
12 cups (3 liters) water
4 tbsp black soy sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 red finger-length chili, thinly sliced, to serve (optional)
Black soy sauce, to serve (optional)

Seasoning:

1 packet Bak Kut Teh spices (Note: packets of these are sold in supermarkets and food shops in Singapore, Australia and Malaysia. You can also try stopping by a Chinese medicine shop and ask for seasonings to make Bak Kut Teh.)

the packet usually has a combination of cloves, star anise, cinnamon, rock sugar and various Chinese medicinal herbs...


Directions:

1. Place the pork ribs, pork and garlic with the water in a large pot. Wrap the seasonings in a piece of clean cheesecloth and add to the pan. Add the soy sauce and sugar and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, covered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the meat is very tender and almost falling off the bones. Discard the cheesecloth filled with the seasonings.

2. To serve, slice the pork meat into smaller pieces. Place a few pieces of meat in individual serving bowls with a few ribs and whole cloves of garlic, and ladle the hot stock over the meat. Serve with a small bowl of sliced fresh red chili in black soy sauce on the side. Serve immediately.

-          Jul 2, '10 5:13 PM