Ratatouille Omelette

(Oct 19, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) What to do with last night's leftover Ratatouille? Make it an omelette!

Whenever I can't figure out what to have for dinner, I default to the cut-up veggies sold at the market for only PHP20 ($0.50). There's too much of it though I end up with left-overs the following day. I can always make an omelette of any leftover.

Ingredients: mix of ratatouille veggies already cooked, eggs, cornstarch slurry, bell pepper, onions, garlic

Cooking: I saute the aromatics and make an omelette. I sandwich the ratatouille when I fold the omelette, and from the pan drippings, I pan-fry some bread slices.

Final Outcome: heaven!

Next time: any leftover will always be the next time. I just need to have eggs around

Lemon-Grass Ginger Tea

(Oct 17, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) For a refreshing change in morning start-me-up beverage, instead of either coffee or sikwate (hot native cacao drink), I tried lemon-grass (tanglad) and ginger tea with a squeeze of lemoncito (calamansi). It's healthier than coffee and less fattening than cacao. Tastes great too!

Lemon-grass can be bought by the bunch at the market. Since everyone has it here in Siquijor, you can simply ask to cut some from your neighbor. Ginger is everywhere.

Ingredients: lemon-grass and ginger

Cooking: boil everything in water and strain. Add sugar and enjoy!

Final Outcome: can't complain :)

Next time: maybe I can use turmeric

Pizza on a Wok

(Oct 15, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) Pizza Nite tradition continues with me in Siquijor - even if it means making pizza from scratch on a wok.

with no fridge, I couldn't make anything that might spoil the next day. Being in a remote town in a remote island in the remote part of the Philippines, I was lucky to chance on Cheezee for cheese - I don't think it's technically cheese, but that's what I can work with. With no oven, I had to be creative with my wok by propping the pizza on a grate.

Ingredients: tomato paste, onion, garlic, green onion, bell pepper, eggplant

Cooking: make pizza dough from scratch. When formed, place directly on the wok (lowest heat) until both sides are firm enough to be put on a grate - don't fully cook yet. Remove from wok, add sauce and toppings, and put back on the wok on top of the grate. Heat on medium.

Final Outcome: The first outcome came out bleak. I was using too much fuel and the cheese wasn't even melting. The dough didn't really cook. I had to increase the heat and let it stay longer than 5 minutes.

The variation I did was to place the dough directly on the wok without the grate but heat at its lowest setting so the pizza won't burn underneath but still melt the cheese on top. This actually came out great. The crust was crunchy and the cheese melted and fused with the sauce.

Next time: Next time, no more grate. I'll cook directly on the wok at the lowest heat setting.

Bolinao Kinilaw

(Oct 9, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) At the seawall, I saw a fisherman come out of the water with a net full of Bolinao fish. His wife was waiting on the shore, selling it for P200/k (the most expensive I've seen). The fish was so fresh they were still alive. Fish that fresh is also very nutritious - time for another Kinilaw Bolinao (raw fish in vinegar).

Ingredients: Bolinao fish, tuba vinegar (naturally fermented coconut sap), calamansi (local lime), ginger, onions, biasong (kafir lime zest)

Cooking: just mix them all up

Final Outcome: fish this fresh can only be great!

Ideal Fish for Kinilaw: Tuna, Balarete, Indangan, Blue Marlin, Tarugho, Tangige and Salmon

Fish Okuy

(October 3, 2023, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) I saw a guy by the roadside with a big styrofoam cooler. It can only be fresh-catch fish! I nosed around and they have what interests me - small fish I can eat raw or make an omelette with. At PHP 170/k, it wasn't cheap. I bought PHP 50 worth. I simply could not refuse a fresh catch.

Ingredients: small fish (instead of shrimp), eggs, cornstarch slurry, string beans (instead of the traditional camote, carrots and potatoes)

Cooking: I mixed them all up. Instead of salt, I used oyster sauce, soy sauce and patis. I pre-measured the servings to be 1 cup, and fried them individually until golden brown.

Final Outcome: It's not what I would call okuy anymore, but it was done in the same style. It came out crunchy on the outside and omelette texture on the inside. Because okuy is greasy, I paired it with atchara and tuba vinegar.

Next time: With fish, I would like to partner it with eggplant to make an eggplant fish omelette.

Coconut Bread

(October 2, 2023, 2023 Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines) One whole mature coconut (niyog) was grated at the market (PHP30-35). I made the usual bread recipe with the addition of the coconut (coconut milk still intact). I've done this in Thailand and it was a great coconut cookie. But this time, I wanted to make coconut bread.

Ingredients: Coconut (grated with milk still intact), 1 cup bread flour, yeast, sugar, 1 egg, no water (since the coconut milk is still there)

Cooking: Everything was mixed together and serving sizes were flattened - because I can only fry it on a wok. I have no oven. It will burn if not flattened.

Final Outcome: I came out with a flat almost crunchy bread. It was neither a cookie or bread. I could hardly taste the coconut despite its rich concentration. After just 2 days in an airtight container, it got moldy.

Next time: Early on, I should decide if I want this to be a cookie or bread. More flour and not as flat-thin if bread, more sugar and baking powder (not yeast) if cookie. More sugar not to make it sweet, but to bring out the coconut flavor. I have to finish it up before it goes moldy.

1. Resorts - Lazi has some beach/dive resorts on its west coast - Gabayan Riviera, Lazi Beach Club, Bahura Dive Resort. However, the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
2. Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day only in the morning, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
3. The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun goes down, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset
4. Lazi Port - Kho Shipping, the shipping line operating from Lazi Port, has stopped its service to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Cebu. Passengers can go to Siquijor Port or Larena Port for boat services out of Siquijor Island

Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.

1. Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
2. Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
3. Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
4. Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)

Food - these were suggested by a local to me

1. Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
2. Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
3. Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
4. Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
5. Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion

1. Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm




2. Aleson Shipping - at Siquijor Port, 6 am and 6 pm daily, 1:30 pm M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax




3. Ocean Jet - 40 mins,at Siquijor Port, 0919.066.5964, www.oceanjet.net, marketing@ocenajet.net, 6:00am/6:00pm, P350/pax (tourist/open air), P580/pax (business class)
   
   

En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.

1. Ocean Jet - 8:20 am, at Siquijor Port
   To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, 2 hours (arrive 10:20 am), P1200/business class
   To Cebu (Pier 1): P1600/tourist & open air, 4 hours (arrive 12:40 am), P2400/business class
2. Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase
   To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, 3 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 10 pm, P475/standard (Tourist, PHP 750)
   To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 10 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 5 am, PHP 605/standard (Senior P484), Tourist, PHP 770
3. Apekoptravel - at Larena Port to Tagbilaran: 1:00 pm, xxx hours, P750
   Reserve through call or text: Cleare - 0938 283 4760 | Grace - 0936 534 6564 | Jessel - 0961 759 6711, Pay via G-Cash: +63-917-880-1464, Email: momovillageadventure@gmail.com, Facebook messenger: Apekoptravel. Enter your birthday and nationality to get discounts: 0 to 3 years old free, 4 to 9 years old will have 20% discount, 10 years old and above full price, Filipino Senior Citizens will also have 20% discount

1. Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?

There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat

1. Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
2. Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
3. Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
4. Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes
5. Plaridel (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.

1. Goodbye Siquijor April 18, 2024
2. January Chronicles: Bandilaan Meditation January 2024
3. My January Yoga Practice: A Journal January 31, 2024
4. Jan 2024: Squid, Balangawan, Margarita Pizza January 2024
5. December Chronicles: Yuletide Season December 30, 2023
6. December Snapshots: Bolo Bolo Dip, Christmas Lunch, Tuba Denizens, Friends Forever, Men Working, Cow / Crow December 1-30, 2023
7. Eggplant Bulad Pizza December 20, 2023
8. Canghaling Cave November 14, 2023
9. Kings and Queens November 13, 2023
10. Barangay Vote-Buying October 22, 2023
11. Real Estate Mapping October 1, 2023
12. Learning Cebuano: Oct October 1-31, 2023
13. Oct Food Hack: Pizza, Kinilaw, Coconut Bread, Fish Okuy, Carrot Omelette,Lemon-Grass Tea October 2023
14. Sep Snapshots: Fisherman, Granny, Pedicure, Big Fish, Garbage September 1-30, 2023
15. Sep Food Hack: Fish Tinola, Ratatouille, Chayote Omelette, Flat Bread September 2023
16. Together Forever Sep 11, 2023
17. The Cigarette Talk Sep 1, 2023
18. Siquijor Star Meditation Center Aug 31, 2023
19. The Lost Dogs of Siquijor Aug 27, 2023
20. Moving to a Bungalow! Aug 22, 2023
21. Aug Chronicles: CDO produce August 31, 2023
22. Aug Snapshots: Pan de Sal, Palpitate, Taho, Tuna, Pineapple August 1-31, 2023
23. July Chronicles July 31, 2023
24. July Snapshots July 1-31, 2023
25. Learning Cebuano: July July 1-31, 2023
26. June Chronicles June 31, 2023
27. June Snapshots June 1-31, 2023
28. Learning Cebuano: June June 1-31, 2023
29. May Chronicles May 31, 2023
30. May Snapshots May 1-31, 2023
31. Learning Cebuano May 1-31, 2023
32. In Search of a Cool Climate May 25, 2023
33. The 64 km Bike Ride May 16, 2023
34. Lazi Fiesta May 15, 2023
35. The Boulevard Opening May 5, 2023
36. April Snapshots April 1-30, 2023
37. Learning Cebuano...Again! April 1-30, 2023
38. Kris Visits Siquijor Mar 17 - Apr 15, 2023
39. Exploring Siquijor with Marky Mar 25 - Apr 11, 2023
40. Siquijor Healing Festival April 5-8, 2023
41. The Talk at United Church of Christ April 2, 2023
42. Mar Snapshots Mar 1-31, 2023
43. Vigil for the Ghost Ship of Siquijor March 31, 2023
44. Judging an Essay on Gender Equality Mar 29, 2023
45. The Thief, the Shaman, the Elves and the Police Mar 20, 2023
46. Finally Acquiring the Motorbike Mar 18, 2023
47. Bitcoin Blunder Mar 15, 2023
48. Maria's Unsung Beaches Mar 11, 2023
49. Lagaan Falls Mar 9, 2023
50. Tibhong Spring Water Source Mar 8, 2023
51. Bolo-Bolo Natural Spring Mar 2, 2023
52. Reasons to Get a Wife March 1, 2023
53. Feb Snapshots Feb 28, 2023
54. Camagung-Ong Natural Spring Feb 28, 2023
55. Heeeere's Johnnie! Feb 26, 2023
56. Manifesting a Motorbike from Thin Air? Feb 18, 2023
57. The 'Bad Guy' of Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
58. Amazement from Drivers License Renewal in Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
59. Locong Falls Feb 9, 2023
60. Inguinal Hernia? Goodbye ABS! Feb 4, 2023
61. Jan Snapshots January 31, 2023
62. In Search of Tubod Cold Spring Jan 27, 2023
63. 1:4:2:3 Nadi Shodana Jan 26, 2023
64. Lazi's Boulevard Jan 22, 2023
65. Lazi: A Monthly Stay Jan 21, 2023
66. 7 Days in Maria, Siquijor Jan 14-21, 2023
67. Capilay Spring Jan 17, 2023
68. Siquijor: In Search of Resonance Jan 9-14, 2023
69. Riding Around Siquijor's 86km Coastal Road Apr 3, 2012
70. Exploring the Cantabon Cave of Siquijor Feb 23, 2012
71. Jovee and Missy's Excellent Adventure Nov 6-7, 2010
72. Freediving in Siquijor's Marine Sancturaries Apr 23-24, 2010
73. Island Tour of Siquijor Apr 22, 2010
74. Kram's Siquijor Wedding Apr 21, 2010