Best Chili Con Carne

n Bacolod, several Restaurant have Chili Cheese Fries on their Menu. The only ones I tried were at Buffalo’s Wings n’ Things but they are out of business. Their Chili Cheese Fries were good.

Chili is much more than a Bowl of Chili. There are Chili Dogs, Chili Burgers, Chili Hash Browns, Chili Mac, which is mixed with Macaroni and Sonic has their famous Frito Chili Pie. I think most Americans have tried all those dishes at one time or another during their lifetimes.

I sometimes serve Chili over Spaghetti and add a Boiled Egg on top. This will get your Motor Running! Adding the Boiled Egg is something I do but not the common Recipe. Chili over Spaghetti is…Skyline Chili and popular in Cincinnati.

Did I mention Chili Dogs? The Chili Dog is my favorite Hot Dog, beyond compare. The Frankfurter, add Chili, top with Shredded Cheddar Cheese if you like but for sure…top with lots of Raw Onions!

Best Chili Recipe

I know this is what you have been waiting for! Gringo Gary’s Best Chili Colorado…

• 1 pound Italian sausage links
• 1 boneless pork shoulder butt roast (1 pound)
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 can (29 ounces) tomato puree
• 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 to 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 cans (16 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Chili Colorado has nothing to do with the State of Colorado. Nada! Chili Colorado is Mexican Style Chili and Colorado means..Red Color.

Enjoy my Chili Colorado! It is Chili today and Hot Tamale!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Power Breakfasts

My first meal of the day is sometimes a challenge, but only sometimes. I have been known to eat non-traditional Morning Meals, such as Fried Chicken, Tuna Salad on Toast or a Bowl of Chili. Pizza as well.

Yesterday, I had Enchiladas for Brunch, as appears in the feature photo in this article about Power Breakfasts.

I am not the Original Bacolod Food Hunter but I am a Food Hunter. I am always looking for something new, something different to eat but nothing really exotic. No Hummingbird Wings for me!

A new list, I now have for the First Meal of the Day. With a Little Help from my Friends!

Check These Out…

Cheesey Eggwich. Very simple. Split an English Muffin, pop it in the toaster. Top with a sliced Hard or Soft Boiled Egg and your favorite Cheese. I prefer Soft Boiled Eggs.

Eggsadilla. A Scrambled or Poached Egg, garnished with Salsa, topped with Monterey Jack Cheese, on a Corn or a Flour Tortilla.

Cinnamon French Toast. You know it already.

Loaded Omelet. Add your favorites. I enjoy an Omelet with Onions, Tomato, Mushrooms, Bell Pepper and Cheddar Cheese. No Meat required but I also like adding Ham from time to time.

Mediterranean Scramble. Scrambled Eggs, Olives and Ricotta Cheese. Add sliced Tomato and/or Fresh Cut Fruit.

Rolled Oats or Steel Cut Oats with Fresh Cut Fruit or Raisins.

Some Recipe Suggestions here are by Amiga Chef Alexandria 33 Nguyen. 33 is really her middle name. She is only the 2nd person I ever saw with a number for a middle name. Chinese-American Writer and Journalist Jennifer 8 Lee is the first.

Other Recipe Suggestions by Gary Amigo, yours truly! Start your Day with a Power Breakfast, to get your motor running.

Good Morning Philippines!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Rib Shack

Last evening, we shopped at Metro Supermarket at Ayala Mall in Talisay. After shopping, everyone in our group of 4 were ready to eat!

I was outnumbered, which was no problem to me concerning where to eat out. Rib Shack is what the other 3 with me wanted. More Power! Our son and our best Filipino friend wanted Bacon BBQ Pork, 2 Skewers for P99 with (what else?) RICE. My wife ordered BBQ Chicken Inasal with Rice for P99. I opted for Grilled Bangus Fish for P125. I am Porked out lately! I had Pork Spare Ribs at home, 2 nights ago. Everyone, everyone enjoyed their BBQ at the Rib Shack. They not only have good BBQ, their Food is not overpriced. It is very affordable. Check ’em out at the Rib Shack.

The Rib House has branches at Talisay Ayala Mall, SM Mall, 888 Chinatown Square Mall and in Kabankalan.

Boneless Bangus is a great local Fish to Grill. You gotta love it! I kick it up by making my own Tartar Sauce, using Mayonnaise, Horseradish and Pickle Relish. Depending on my taste, I use Sweet Pickle Relish or Dill Pickle Relish.

Last evening was not our First Rodeo at the Rib Shack. No, we have eaten there several times over the past couple of years. I like their Back Ribs.

When we are out shopping, we have a number of favorite restaurants where we enjoy dining in the Bacolod Area.

At home, my favorite Hobby includes BBQ, Barbecue, Barbeque! Making BBQ has long been one of my favorite methods of preparing Food, going back in the day when I lived in Alabama and in Florida, USA.

I have long been a Saucier during my Home Culinary Adventures. I really, really enjoy creating Sauces, especially BBQ Sauce. For more than 30 years, I have been making the Alabama Gibson White BBQ Sauce for Grilled Chicken. It consists of Mayonnaise, Horseradish, White Vinegar, Lime/Lemon/Calamansi Juice and Cracked Black Pepper. It is soooooo good!

Like Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay, I greatly enjoy…Grillin’ and Chillin’. Chicken, Ribs, Pork Chops, Pork Steaks, Beef Steaks, Sausages, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. I love them all…hot off the Grill.

Whatcha Gonna Grill?

It really depends on what I am in the mood to eat that day, as to what I BBQ. When there is a gathering of friends and family, I grill a large variety, wanting to plate something for everyone. I do not mind but it never fails, everybody, everybody has a request for me to BBQ on my Charcoal Grill.

I would never, never, never buy and use a Gas BBQ Grill. I like Authentic BBQ and only Charcoal or Wood Chips are all this BBQ Cowboy uses.

It is time to fire up the Grill!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Shopping For Foreign Food

As I have written before, there are more Foreign Food Products available in Bacolod City all the time.

Food Adventurer

In America, there are several companies that do your grocery shopping for you. You make a list and one of their staff will go buy it for you and deliver it to your door. For me, I would not avail this service, as I am a Food Adventurer and I enjoy shopping for myself. Even my wife cannot shop for me and she does not try.

I am not a shopper who will drive across town to save P20 just to buy an item at a different store. However, I have my shopping down to an excellent technique and I shop for different Food Items at different supermarkets and Delis. I do not spend an entire day going to different supermarkets for shopping but since I enjoy going, anyway, I go to one or two stores in the same day. Next time, on to different stores.

Today, I knew where I wanted to go…Cafe Bob’s Deli and Robinsons Supermarket on Alijis Road. I looked around to see if there were any new arrivals but I knew what I was planning to buy before we got there.

I enjoy going to Bob’s Deli and enjoying one Negros Pale Ale. Those with me usually order Coffee but today, they decided on Dad’s Root Beer. My intention was to buy Cold Cuts at Bob’s Deli. I bought Olive Lyoner, AKA Pickle Loaf in Alabama, and Smoked Ham. P139 spent for both, total price. I enjoy Santis Spanish Style Chorizo and I picked up a package for P263. This is not a local product and the Cold Cuts are also imported.

At the newest Robinsons in the City of Smiles, I wanted to look around to see if any new arrivals, as I had not shopped there this month. The Lamb Weston Crinkle Fries were on my list and I bought them. Hunts Pork & Beans, which I prepare with Virginia Honey Cured Bacon, is a Product of the Philippines. It is P119 per package.

The Promo of the Day at Robinsons was Buy One Take One with Fusilli, AKA Corkscrew Pasta, for P58. Each package is 500 grams, so it was 1 kg of Fusilli for the price of half kilo. I have found Fusilli to be very versatile, as you can prepare a number of dishes with it. Beef A Roni, Macaroni Fruit Salad, Macaroni Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad Fusilli and Crab Salad Fusilli, naming my favorites.

This branch of Robinsons is the only one that stocks Tong Garden BBQ Sunflower Seeds and they are P23 per package.

I buy Sandwich Bread at Robinsons Bakery, P39 per loaf, and I like it better than all the other Sandwich Breads sold in Bacolod.

Where to Buy Fruit

All the supermarkets charge about 3 X the public market price for Fruit. For example, Robinsons price for Cantaloupe is P135 per kilo, while the public market price is P40-P45 per kilo. I did buy one Cantaloupe, paying P85 for it because I want it for brunch tomorrow. We do not pass a public market with Cantaloupe on the route home.

There are several brands, Products of the Philippines, which produce Foreign Style Food items because many Filipinos also buy them. Some of the Philippines brands are good but mostly, I have found that they are not all that. For sure much cheaper, but while the cost is less, in many cases, the quality is also less. I had rather pay more, even double for better taste and quality. None of the local brands of Vienna Sausage measure up to Armour and Libby’s brands.

I am set with my shopping until May rolls around. And then I get to have more fun in being a Food Adventurer.

I can fry it, I can grill it or I can eat it right out of the can!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Armour Star Meats in the Philippines

SM Supermarket has the largest selection of Armour Star Meats in Bacolod City. During the past week, SM has new stock of Armour Star Smoked Vienna Sausage, Barbecue Flavored Vienna Sausage, Chicken Vienna Sausage, Jalapeno Vienna Sausage, Treet Spiced Luncheon Meat and Potted Meat.

I am not complaining but it would be nice to also see Armour Star Chili, Hash, Roast Beef and Sliced Dried Beef. I would also like to find Armour Star packaged, not canned, Hot Dogs.

Armour Star had long been one of the leading Meat Packing Companies in America, since right after the Civil War. Nowadays, it is not only Armour Star but several other companies are part owners of Armour Star Meats. Pinnacle Foods, Smithfield Foods of Virginia and Eckrich Sausage are involved in Armour Star.

I cannot say everyone but for me, I still enjoy eating food that I grew up eating. I have always enjoyed a Vienna Sausage Sandwich with Mustard, ever since I can remember and I still do. However, I eat Vienna Sausage Sandwiches less often these days than I did in my younger days. Yet, I still always have several cans of Armour Vienna Sausage on hand for when I want to eat it.

Libby’s Vienna Sausage is alright, too, and it is also available in Bacolod City.

Less often but still liking it, I will make an Armour Potted Meat Sandwich with Mustard.

One time, I bought a Philippines brand Vienna Sausage just to try it and it was terrible. I did not finish eating even one of these Vienna Sausages. Tasha, our dog, ate them. I have only tried one Philippines brand of Vienna Sausage.

At one of the Delis in Bacolod, Metro, I bought the original style Vienna Sausage, imported from Europe and which is not canned, and it is very good but due to its length, probably best eaten on a long bun. Or adding it with cooked Cabbage and Potatoes. Also very good.

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Tenderizing Pork Shoulder Ribs

I am trying a new method of tenderizing Pork Ribs and other cuts of Pork. when suspected of being…tough.

I made a Brine to marinate a rack of Pork Shoulder Ribs in the ref, for 12 hours. Water, Coarse Salt, Black Pepper Corns, Brown Sugar, White Vinegar and Toyomansi Sauce.

I had bought 2 racks of Pork Shoulder Ribs at SM Supermarket. I marinated the first rack in Pineapple Juice and Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauces, however, not long enough. The Pork Ribs were not as tender as we like them.

I really do not like boiling Meat before Grilling. The slow cooker will take the Pork Ribs right off the bone, over- tender, and I like the Rib Bones intact.

The Sauce Makes the Difference!

I often make my own BBQ Sauce, however, I also buy several different flavors of Commercial BBQ Sauce, readily available in Bacolod City Supermarkets. Bulls-Eye Original BBQ Sauce is a personal favorite. I also enjoy Kraft Mesquite Smoke BBQ Sauce and Hunt’s Hickory BBQ Sauce. Basting Pork Ribs on the grill with a thick BBQ Sauce should be near the end of the grilling because it will burn if applied too early. A bit of blackening is alright but I do not like solid blackening. I greatly enjoy BBQ Ribs!

Due to a time constraint, I put the Pork Shoulder Ribs on the Grill last evening after 10 hours of marinating, instead of at least 12 hours. On a scale of 1-10, I rate using the Brine Marinade for tenderizing…7.5.

The Pork Shoulder Ribs were tender enough and I did not want them falling off the bone.

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Grinders, Hoagies and Po Boys

I usually eat a Sub type Sandwich several times every week at home, ones I make.

There is not a Subway Sandwich Shop in Bacolod City. There are a few restaurants in Bacolod, which attract foreigners, that have Sub type Sandwiches on their menu.The best attempt is found at Delicioso Deli and Bistro. Cafe Bob’s Deli makes sandwiches to order and eat in but they do not have Hoagie Rolls or Baguettes as their choice of breads.

There is a Vietnamese Chain in Bacolod, Xin Chao, which has the Banh Mi/Vietnamese Sandwich on their menu. I recommend eating at their main restaurant branch at Hi Strip 4 Bldg on Circumferential Road. Their franchise kiosks in malls and shopping centers leave a lot to be desired because… what started out as a good Sandwich has gone to hell in a handbag! These days, there is very little Vietnamese Ham on their Sandwich, a little more Liver Pate and mostly sliced Carrots and Cucumbers. More like a Vietnamese Veggie Sandwich.

Soon, I plan writing about Coyo’s Cafe in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental. They have a fabulous Pulled Pork Sandwich and other great dishes on their menu that foreigners will enjoy eating.

American Hoagies

In America, Hoagies were originally associated with Italian-Americans but soon were popularized and most everyone enjoyed eating them. In the NE part of America, many call these a Hero Sandwich. I have also heard the term…Zeppelin in that area, in reference to a Sub.

In New England, Grinder is the term. I have read, more times than once, that a Grinder is a hot Sub, however, in Rhode Island, I most always ate a cold Gringer, with Cold Cuts. I sometimes ate a hot Grinder, a Meatball Sandwich, which is good as well.

I make the New Orleans style Po Boy but I am limited to a Fish Po Boy, a Crab Po Boy and a Smoked Sausage Po Boy. I like an Oyster Po Boy but have yet to really find the larger Oysters, making the best Po Boy when Deep Fried. The large Oysters in our area are really Medium, compared to the Oysters in the South, Florida and Louisiana. I developed an allergy to Shrimp, so a Shrimp Po Boy is out!

Enjoy Life and eat a Hoagie, a Grinder or a Po Boy today!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Eating Korean Food In The Philippines

A new Korean restaurant opened at Golden Field in Bacolod and the name is Hanok. I have been hearing a lot of talk about how great the Korean food is at Hanok. Of course, if you already know you do not like Korean food, no need to go there, as that is all they serve. Some of the dishes, you can cook at your table. There are many dishes that are prepared in their kitchen by an actual chef, so you do not have to cook!

A friend contacted me and told me that there is a Korean owner and a Korean chef at Hanok and he knows I know Korean food very well. I ate Korean and Thai food 4 or 5 times each week when I lived in Ft Walton Beach, Florida. A Korean friend owned my favorite restaurant/watering hole/karaoke bar in the Florida Panhandle. Mary Esther, Florida.

Korean Dining Experience

Four of us dined at Hanok last evening and even our 11 year old son raved about their food! We could not eat all the food, of course, as each dish is for 3-4 people, depending on appetites. It is about social, getting together, ordering 4 or 5 dishes, sharing and having a few drinks. We ordered 5 dishes, a pitcher of house blend cold tea without ice and a couple of beers for my friend and I. My wife and I were the only ones who could use chopsticks and Korean chopsticks are normally metal, not wooden. Do not worry, as they have regular eating utensils as well at Hanok. The fare was exactly P1500 and we had a ton of leftovers to bring home.

For brunch today, I had leftover Korean Green Onion Pancakes and Cheese Egg Rolls. These egg rolls are not like Filipino Lumpia or Chinese Egg Rolls. No, no, no. They are actually eggs, rolled up and stuffed with wonderful cheese.

Finding an Excellent Korean Restaurant

I will be the first to tell you, finding an excellent Korean restaurant in Bacolod and even in Cebu is hit or miss. Mostly Miss from my experience. I have eaten at 2 different Korean restaurants in Cebu City and both were not good at all. Not authentic. Hanok is the only authentic Korean restaurant we have found in Bacolod. The only one!

A good tip for ya. See which restaurant has many Korean patrons eating there. If they eat in a Korean restaurant that is crap, they will not go back again. If you find a Korean restaurant with many Korean patrons, I think you have found the gem. Word of mouth spreads. “Don’t go to _____(fill in the blank.) No good!”

Last evening, there were two lovely young Korean ladies dining there and each had a full bottle of Soju. They are a better man than I am if they can drink a bottle of Soju! Perhaps they were drinking the 18% ABV Soju? I have only tried the 45% ABV Soju in the past and I already knew if I messed around drinking much of it, it would knock my socks off! I found it to be a hard drink.

No thanks! Just give me an ice cold OB, a Korean Beer. There is a joke that OB is Oriental Budweiser Beer. It is good beer.

I had not eaten an authentic Korean Green Onion Pancake since 1995. I am very happy I found them again at Hanok.

If you want to enjoy excellent authentic Korean Cuisine in Bacolod City, I highly recommend Hanok in Golden Field.

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Eat Like A Viking: All Day Buffet!

Two days after our son’s birthday, we went to Vikings Buffet, located in SM Mall. Their lunch hours are 11am-230pm and the one price, all you can eat and drink, allows you to stay the entire time, in what they promote as All Day Buffet. The wait staff did not come around until around 2pm to hand out the bills.

Vikings begins taking reservations and handing out Walk In Numbers at 10am and we had W-2, second to be called in at 11am. P588 per adult and P388 for our son, which was based on his not being over 4’6 in height.

Draft San Miguel is included in the price. Red wine is P149 per glass or around P600-P900 per bottle.

When we went to Vikings on Wednesday, no one in our party ate plain white rice or any of the Filipino Cuisine. I had the Louisiana Dirty Rice with Chicken Livers & Gizzards as a side dish. There was a whole pig and diners could ask for Lechon but none in our party wanted any. Everyone wanted the dishes that are not commonly eaten at home or in local Filipino restaurants. Exactly the way it should be.

The Carving Station of the Buffet featured beautifully marbled Roast Beef, Lamb, Chicken and Smoked Sausage. I went with the meat first but I skipped the Chicken. I headed to Mexican Corner on the Buffet and made my own Taco Salad with ground beef chili with beans, lettuce, tomato, onion and sour cream.

The Japanese section of the Buffet has all the good sushi, such as Salmon, Tuna, California Maki and others. The Chinese section of the Buffet only had Egg Foo Young that I was interested in and I did not really look at the rest too much.

I had a small Cucumber Salad, which was hot & spicy as hell and I only took one bite! Too bad. I don’t like it that hot. The only seafood I was interested in was the deep fried crabs and you can eat shell and all. I have developed an allergy with Shrimp and Prawns but I can eat all the other seafood/shellfish.

Several types of ice cream and many types of cakes and pastries are on the Dessert Bar. There are many other drinks other than beer but I wanted the Draft.

Dining Entertainment

Vikings puts on the best Birthday Show I have seen anywhere here. A Reggae version of a Happy Birthday song, other Birthday songs, all their staff come around to sing and dance, including the ladies who keep the CR clean. The photo op includes wearing a Viking helmet with horns. I really enjoyed the show.

I know that Vikings have branches in Bacolod, Manila and in Cebu City.

The bill for 4 of us was P2,300 for the 3 1/2 hour feast and party. A fabulous deal to me!

I think everyone will enjoy Vikings Luxury Buffet. If not, I will wonder about them!

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~

Essential Pantry Items

For me, having a well stocked pantry and ref is not only essential but is like having money in the bank.

A friend recently asked me, what are the essential pantry items available in the Philippines. I told him what is essential to me may not be essential to him. We are all different. I cannot really think of any item I cannot buy in Bacolod, which I enjoy, within reason, of course. I will most likely never see Martha White Flour but the local White King Flour works great for me.

The Basics

There are a few basic items that I keep on hand at all times in the ref. Home Brand Mayonnaise, Crystal and Trappey’s Bull Original Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lea & Perrins Worcestershire, Heinz Chili Sauce, Morehouse Prepared Horseradish, Heinz 57, Morehouse Mustard-The Official Mustard of the LA Dodgers/French’s Mustard as backup, Any brand of deli peppers in a jar, Dona Ellena Olives, Kweichow Chili & Garlic Sauce, Parmesan Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Hunt’s Hickory BBQ Sauce and Barrio Fiesta Sweet Bagoong.

We are not big on using salt but sometimes, it is required. Nowadays, I buy McCormick Iodized Salt. I also use Morton’s Kosher Salt but it is not Iodized and I do not use it in pork dishes.

I also keep the more common spices on hand. Black Peppermill, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Italian Seasoning, Chili Powder, Turmeric, Bay Leaves and Cajun Seasoning of any brand. McCormick Cajun Seasoning is usually in stock at SM.

Canned Goods

Every kind of canned beans and peas that I see, I have in my pantry. Garbanzos included. The locally grown Mountain White Beans, famous in Hinoba-An Negros Occidental, and the White Sitao Black Eye Pea are the only dry beans we had much luck with, concerning coming out soft enough to my liking.

Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, imported Corned Beef, Vienna Sausage, Spam, Stewed Tomatoes, Sauerkraut, Imported Spaghetti Sauce in jars, are other items I keep on hand.

Misc

Misc Items are several kinds of Vinegar, including Spiced Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Patis Fish Sauce, local Molasses, Brown Sugar, Onions, Garlic, sometimes Ginger, Vegemite, Jif Peanut Butter, Smucker’s Strawberry Jam, Canned Peaches & Pineapple Rings and Corn Meal.

In the freezer, I always have Ground Round Beef and different Sausages. Also Fish Fillets, Wings/Leg Quarters Chicken, Pork Chops/Pork Steaks. Rarely Beef Steak these days.

I buy Marca Leon Vegetable Cooking oil, product of the Philippines but keep a bottle of Dona Ellena Olive Oil on hand.

Although I do not drink Red Wine often, I try to keep one unopened bottle on hand. Of course, cold beer in the ref at wholesale price. I never buy whiskey/spirits to keep on hand but on occasion for friends.

I hope you are also keeping your pantry well stocked. Shopping for food is one of my favorite hobbies.

I hope to see you one day, somewhere…all around Bacolod.

Your Amigo,

~ Gary ~