Here are some tips from Michelle Baltazar.
When it comes to shopping in the Philippines, many visitors and balikbayan shop until they drop. Consider some traditional much-loved cuisine such as the Café Via Mare in Greenhills.
After a few hours spent shopping in Greenhills, you need energy food. For lunch, I went to Via Mare – writes Michelle. At first glance, it’s just like any other fast food places you go to in Northern Sydney. I found it very convenient, close to the movie theatres and bustling with families and friends having a quick bite.
But the casual surroundings belie the breadth of the menu though, which is distinctly Filipino. I ordered several dishes including oysters for starters, tiyan ng bangus sinigang, pinais na alimasag and ensaladang bagne!
For dessert, I had a basic version of halo-halo (literally translates to mix-mix). I thought it was really sweet but then I overheard one of the girls in another table asking for more sugar in her halo-halo. And there I was thinking I had a sweet tooth!
If sports is the religion in Australia, religion is the religion in the Philippines – but food comes a very close second! A trip to Manila always reminds me of the culinary delights that you can’t get elsewhere. A legacy of the Spanish, Malaysian, Indonesian and American influences all mixed together!
(In April 2009, journalist Michelle Baltazar set out to visit the Philippines on a 10-day tour as a member of the Filipino Press Sydney Group. Through the initiative of master journalist Jaime K. Pimentel, airfare was provided by Arnul Pan, Country Manager of Philippine Airlines. The initial premise was to write a few articles that would showcase the Philippines from the eyes of a long time Filipino resident in Australia. This brief column is just a teaser for a coffee table book authored by Miss Baltazar soon to be launched this year.)— ?