32nd Annual Kadayawan Festival Schedule of Events

Kadayawan one o the biggest Agro-Industrial and cultural festivities will be held from August 1 to 31, 2017 – Floriculture Exhibit and Bahay Kubo contest will be held from August 4 to 11, 2017 .

Submission of plant entries will be on August 12 and Judging will be held on August 14, 2017 , formal opening and ribbon cutting ceremonies will be held on August 14, 2017.

 

 

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Tales of Matryoshka Dolls

Tales of Matryoshka dolls started when i was a teenager, I have a distant aunt ( on the maternal side) who just collected a couple of sets of the famed Matryoshka dolls. It was part of a few items displayed at the second floor of apartment and commercial stall somewhere along Salazar street within Binondo district, Manila.

According to her , the dolls were bought sometime in the early 1980’s from a Russian who sold some Matryoshka dolls during a bazaar in Makati.

It was selling like pancakes since there were few items sold in the country during the early part of the Russian- Philippines diplomatic relations. Being a license jewelry appraiser and Chinese plaque maker was the key in meeting some foreign dignitaries or joining a bazaar.

It was late 2005, when i saw again the dolls at the display cabinet. I felt like those dolls are quite eerie since they were facing the sala set near her room, They were like those  voodoo dolls. They have large eyes!

She asked me if i have some friends or relatives who would love to buy the set including an old vintage cabinet made from narra ( a hardwood variety ) art deco era around 1940’s and a Fuk Luk Su figurine set . She badly needed the money , But i have no friends who would collect those nesting dolls , Fu Luk Su and even the narra cabinet could not be sold immediately.

Business is getting bad and eventually there were a lot of bad credits and paying off her debts is the priority. Her father ( technically i called him great grandfather ( tai kung kung  ) because he is over 90 years old ! was the original owner of the cabinet.

Eventually, great grandfather or tai kung kung died a year after and they were evicted by the association who owns the unit that they were renting since the 1940’s . They are not able to settle the rentals for more than a year. Most of the items were used as payment to settle some of her bad debts. This it was not enough, since outstanding debts runs into millions of pesos ! According to her story, there were 2 old time regular ” suki ” jeweler from the province who borrowed some jewelries ( in millions ) paid in half  , since the jewelries would be shown to her buyer. Eventually, the bank cheque issued bounced and jeweler could not be found.

It was the same story of a Cebu based fashion accessory owner who also owe her about Php 450,000 worth of real jewelries and only paid her in fraction , Mostly useless fashion accessories which was never sold.

Her health failed and she died last year.

History

  The Chinese crafted nesting boxes , gift boxes or surprise boxes that date back to the Song Dynasty, around 1000 AD or a little bit earlier sometime around 950 AD  These boxes were both functional and decorative. Sometime during the 1700s they applied this concept to a set of dolls and the first nesting doll was born.

Chinese nesting dolls are similar to the nesting dolls that are common today.  In the original Chinese sets the smallest doll held a single grain of rice normally or  prosperity or fruitful. There were a lot of meaning an symbolism behind the rice.

Due to trade relations between China and Japan. Some of the nesting boxes or surprise boxes were adopted by the Japanese and new dolls were created sometime around the 17th century .

The outer most doll was Fukurokuju the Japanese god of happiness and longevity. Daruma dolls originated in the city of Takasaki, around the mid- 1760s.  They are a hollow Papier-mâché doll and often have a wooden mold to create their shape.

How did it Come to Russia

Some historians and dolls collector would trace their roots around 1880s to 1890’s when Savva Mamontov discovered a set maybe from Japan.  Mamontov was a wealthy supporter of the arts and wanted to revive Russian folk art.   One of his artists, Sergei Maliutin created the first Russian set with the help of Vassily Zviozdochkin.

Eventually it became a fad and it became a popular gifts . Some Eastern European countries also adopted the nesting dolls and there are clubs and associations which collects and exhibits the dolls.

 

Collector Friend

A friend who will be celebrating her birthday next week ,collects different kind of dolls, one of her bucket list was a Matryoshka dolls. Her passion started when she was a teenager with some barbie dolls she acquired as a birthday present. Her collection quickly expanded into dolls from other countries.

I saw 2 sets posted in a swap and buying site . The item quickly caught my attention. After a few days and a couple of delays ( due to heavy monsoon rains ) I was able to meet the dealer/ collector and paid the stuff. According to the collector, He got the item from Japan few years ago and decided to unload the item.

 

 

 

 

Homegrown Dishes at Inay Ag Pancit

Homegrown and regional noodles cuisines are served at Intay Ag Pancit . It is an old house built around 1969 on about 500 square meter lot in 51 Cenacle Drive, Sanville Subdivision near Fernwood Garden and near Visayas Avenue in Quezon City .

 

Intay Ag Pancit means ” Tara mag Pancit ” tayo in the local language . Ms. Bangs Zaldivar the proprietor envisioned their homegrown and well-loved pancit from Cagayan province and northern provinces of Ilocos .

The place is quite big since it used to be an old house an can accommodate between 40 to 60 people at any given time. The place is perfect for its rustic and natural light. One can also pre-book this place which is ideal for small family gathering, pre-wedding nuptial , seminar, workshop and corporate meetings.

The place had a soft opening about a month ago and had attracted clientele from as far as Novaliches, Fairview, Valenzuela, Marikina and nearby places.

Breakfast Meals

For those who wanted a taste of breakfast, They have a flavorful bangus meal at Php 129 , carabao tapa with rice and egg at Php 150 ( ideal for sharing and add additional rice)  , adobo with rice at Php 90 and longganisa meal with rice and scrambled egg with shredded longganisa meat for just Php 90

Different Types of Noodles from Cagayan

Pancit Cabagan–  cooked in pork broth, vegetables like carrots and cabbage, ground pork meat, lechon kawali with boiled chicken eggs. This noodle dish is best served hot and mixing calamansi sauce, soy sauce , vinegar , chopped white onions and for those who like spicy- chopped chilies.  The noodles are made from hand-pulled miki type noodles. According to some local culinary historians, The original dish was said to have come from Amoy, China . Local people from Cabangan, Isabela  province learn to adapt and changed some of the ingredients which are locally available .

The dish best shared between 2 to 3 person  ( Php 100 ) per serving .

Pancit Niladdit – hand-pulled flat type of egg noodles . This noodle dish originated from Lal-Lo, Cagayan province . The noodles are cooked in chicken broth with toppings of shredded chicken meat, dried shrimp ( hibi), chopped carrots, topped with onion rings . Best eaten with calamansi and soy sauce mixture.

The dish is best shared between 2 to 3 people ( Php 100) per serving.

Pancit Batil- Patong – It got its name from the way the ingredients are presented topping poach egg (patung) together a side serving of egg drop soup (batil) . The egg drop soup is normally poured on top of the noodles and served hot. It is accompanied with crushed chicharon ( pork rinds ) , mung bean sprouts,   lechon kawali and chopped spring onions.

The dish originate from Tuguegarao , Cagayan province. Side condiment of soy sauce, chopped  white onions, chili and calamansi typically accompanies the dish. ( Php 100 ) per serving.

I prefer the Pancit Cabagan and Pancit Nilaaddit compared to Pancit Batil -Patong

Viands

Igado – ( Php 199) strewed vegetable dish  , Crispy Dinuguan ( Php 199 ) Dinakdakan – Cagayan version of sisig ( Php 199) all meal viands can be shared between 2 to 4 people.

Snack/ Merienda

Intay ag Pancit also boasts of their vanilla bread pudding ( Php 120) per slice. chocolate cake ( Php 130 ) per slice and Kape A Bagas which is coffee made from rice ( Php 50) per cup.

How to Commute:

One can take a jeepney ride from SM North / Trinoma to Project 6 and Visayas Avenue ( Php 8.00 ) minimum fare and another tricycle ride going inside the Sanville Subdivision – Special fare cost Php 17.00 per head or Php 9.00 for 4 passengers ( There are tricycle station at Shell and 7/ 11 Convenient Store)

Address: 51 Cenacle Drive, Sanville Subdivision , Quezon City 

Operations: Everyday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm 

0917 871 8418, 0995-617-9725 ( Globe ) , 0908-618-5986 ( Smart )

 

Yordanovi Bulgarian Restaurant at The Food Hive

Yordanovi is an all Bulagarian restaurant which started its operations at nearby Road 3 few years ago. They started serving Bulgarian sausage to their customers and eventually opened a stall at The Food Hive.

The Wolf is also called Meshana Skara  ( all meat platter: Kufte ( meatballs) , Kebapche (Bulgarian Kebab) , Sausage, Shish , Red Wine-Marinated Pork Liver with Slices of Lemon.)

The wolf platter can be shared between 3 to 5 person .

Ms. Maricris Yordanov and Chef Plamen Yordanov

menu board

The stall also showcase its popular sandwiches , salad, bread pudding, home -made ham  and its menus are clearly posted at their stall.

Yordanovi Bulgarian Restaurant is also listed on a popular food and restaurant review site ZomatoPH.

Address: The Food Hive, 80 Visayas Avenue , Barangay Vasra, Quezon City

Operation Hours: Everyday 11:00 am to 11:45 pm

 

Pappare Ristoranti at The Food Hive

Pappare Ristoranti opened last January 2017 at The Food Hive which is located at 80 Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

The Food Hive

Food Hive is known for their celebrity chefs who got some food stalls within the park.

Mee Gamberi Goreng and Crabonara are among the best sellers 

What is nice about their noodles are they are hand pulled and made fresh.

Ms. Gem Tee 

The stall got its inspiration from Italian zone within New York City . The proprietor  Ms. Gem Tee is opening another concept store along Matapat street near Maginhawa street in Quezon City . The stall had a modern approach and the menus are well posted and with large signage.

Mee Gamberi Goreng is made from handmade egg noodles, kale , shrimp , shitake mushroom, fish cake topped with fried egg , chopped spring onion leaves , fried onion and with secret Goreng sauce. ( Php 250 ) per order . Good for sharing between 2 to 3 persons.

Crabonara is made from handmade pasta , crab fat ( aligi ) , fresh crab meat , guava-smoked bacon and topped with egg cooked at 63 degrees heat. The guava wood gives a distinct flavor to the bacon. One can adjust the flavor by requesting if they wanted a more spicy flavor. ( Php 250 ) per order , ideal for sharing between 2 persons.

Pappare PH had an active social media account and is listed at the popular food and restaurant review site ZomatoPH.

Contact : 0917 830 9290

Operation : Everyday 11:00am to 12:00 midnight