Gwyneth Paltrow posts own take on chicken adobo

MANILA - Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow decided to take on Filipino cuisine, trying out the highly-popular local dish -- the chicken adobo.

In her lifestyle website Goop, Paltrow recently posted the recipe of the dish, matching it with waffles and dipping sauce made from lemon juice, maple syrup, peppers, and soy sauce.

"This is Filipino adobo, not the Spanish version. The vinegar brightens the richness of the fried chicken and helps with digestion," she wrote in her post.

Paltrow kept it simple with her adobo -- letting the chicken simmer in the broth of white vinegar, bay leaves, garlic, sugar, soy sauce, salt, pepper flakes, and peppercorns.

She then dunked the pieces in buttermilk before taking it out to be breaded and fried.

The Oscar-winning actress suggests, however, that one add or lessen the amount of chiles "depending on how much heat you like."

Paltrow started Goop, a weekly digital publication, in 2008 "to share all of life's positives."

She previously featured the local brand Datu Puti, as she attempted to give an Asian flavor to her local vegetable dish by using the Filipino condiment.

"From creating a delicious recipe to finding a perfect dress for spring, Gwyneth began curating the best of lifestyle to help her readers save time, simplify and feel inspired," the website said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Adobo as national food?

MANILA - What should be the Philippines' national food?

Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st District, Bohol) has filed a measure seeking official recognition of adobo as the national food.

He also wants the following declarations of national symbols:

bakya as national slippers
bahay kubo as national house

jeepney as the national vehicle
arnis as national martial arts and sport

cariñosa as national dance
Philippine monkey-eating eagle as national bird

kalabaw as national animal
bangus as national fish

narra as national tree
Philippine pearl as national gem

sampaguita as national flower
anahaw as national leaf
mango as national fruit

Relampagos said he filed the bill to "lay the basis for the declaration and recognition of the Philippine national symbols.

“National symbols represent its country, its people, its history and its culture. In the Philippines, there are around twenty national symbols being taught in school. However, of these symbols, only ten are official, that is with basis either in the Constitution, Republic Acts and Proclamations,” Relampagos said.

The move, he claimed, would leave other "national symbols unofficial or blatantly colorums, for having no basis for their declaration."

“Rizal now becomes the unofficial national hero, carabao the unofficial national animal, mango the unofficial national fruit, bangus the unofficial fish, the baro’t saya as the unofficial national costume and so on,” Relampagos said.

He said the bill "aims to develop and instill nationalism and unity, ensure respect, promotion and preservation of the national symbols, correct the unofficial status of these symbols as taught in schools, provide guidelines for their use, care and conservation and to promote Philippine tourism through these symbols, among others."

He added the bill is in support of the "policy of the State to inculcate patriotism, nationalism and appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols in the historical development of the country."

If passed into law, it would direct the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) "to give primordial importance to the respect, promotion, preservation, conservation, cultivation and usage of these national symbols, as appropriate, including dissemination through the quad-media."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Am chef cooks adobo at Eat Vancouver Festival

VANCOUVER – It was no less than a culinary champion from California, Fil-Am Chef Albert Rivera who took the stage at the recent Eat Vancouver festival.

His recipe, the classic Chicken Adobo, but served with a twist as it was prepared with coconut milk.

Rivera said there were no second thoughts in choosing his favorite dish.

“It comes from the heart. I just want to show there are different ways of cooking adobo,” the Kulinarya Champion 2012 said.

The demo was quick and the line was long as the audience was eager to taste his creation.

Chef Rivera said Filipino food is just the beginning of the things one can enjoy in the Philippines.

“We have all the fusion of flavors and the beaches! It’s an island! What more can you say? It’s a beautiful island,” he said.

It’s no wonder then that while the Department of Tourism launch its latest campaign, “It's more fun in the Philippines” during the Eat Vancouver Festival with tourist arrival in Canada going 10% last year. Tourism officials said it’s a big market they can’t ignore.

With the help of local tour operators, different Philippine vacation packages were offered to showcase the country's best.

“Ang pagkakaiba ng Pilipinas kaysa ibang Asian destinations ay ang ating hospitality, our friendliness and very engaging people. Kaya nga itong campaign natin na Its more fun in the Philippines, naka-anchor ito sa ating mga kababayang Pilipino na kapag pumunta ang mga turista sa Pilipinas, they will enjoy their stay in the Philippines. Aside from the beautiful places,” said Rene Delos Santos of the Philippine Tourism Office in San Francisco.

source: abs-cbnnews.com