A TASTE OF BELGIUM

Last december we had the chance to visit belgium for just a weekend.we came back to rome to celebrate new year's eve here.The place was on ice and it was freezing cold but that did not stop us from roaming around the city.To give you an idea of our short vacation here :

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the administrative centre of the European Union. This has earned the city the title of the Capital of Europe. Brussels has been given its character by the coexistence of French and Flemish culture, and it is nowadays home to nationalities around the world, adding a cosmopolitan flavour to its atmosphere. The vibrant atmosphere of Brussels is further enhanced by picturesque medieval streets, lively squares, beautiful boulevards, impressive monuments, spacious parks, cosy cafés, interesting restaurants and an active cultural life.

Bruges is the historic capital of West Flanders, Flanders being one of the three regions of Belgium. Bruges is one of Belgium's chief tourist attractions. FOR MORE PHOTOS : HERE AND THERE A short fellowship with the church brethren in bruxelles... trying belgian mussels... they say it's one of their best. ...but i like it better how they cook it at home It was short, it was fun and i definitely want to go there again someday as long as it's not in the winter time :D

TOMATO SAUCE AND BASIL PASTA w/ FRIED TOFU

Another boring day...i decided to cook pasta and tofu for lunch...easy to cook...costs cheap...and tastes good.. :D

VENICE TRIP

VENICE is a city in northern Italy known both for tourism and for industry, and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of 271,367 (census estimate 1 January 2004). Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area (population 1,600,000). The name is derived from the ancient tribe of Veneti that inhabited the region in Roman times.The city historically was the capital of an independent city-state. Venice has been known as the "La Dominante", "Serenissima", "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Masks", "City of Bridges", "The Floating City", and "City of Canals". Luigi Barzini, writing in The New York Times, described it as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man".Venice has also been described by the Times Online as being one of Europe's most romantic cities.

This august we had the chance to visit venice.It is indeed a very beautiful place.One place we should really look forward to go to.And i definitely wanna go there again.For 2 days i was able to visit some places and take some photos.

The Grand Canal (Italian: Canal Grande, Venetian: Canałasso) is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses (Italian: vaporetti) and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola.

The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto) is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is the oldest bridge across the cana

The Accademia Bridge is one of several bridges crossing the Grande Canal. The bridges are necessities in Venice, where the water flows everywhere, and this one links the Sestiere of San Marco to Dorsiduro. Whether you stay on one side of the canal or the other makes little difference, but it is always nice, however, to find a cozy cheap hotel in Venice within distance of the Accademia Bridge. This lovely wooden structure is popular among locals and tourists alike.

The Ponte degli Scalzi (or Ponte dei Scalzi), literally, "bridge of the barefoot [monks]", is one of only four bridges in Venice to span the Grand Canal.

The bridge connects the sestieri of Santa Croce and Cannaregio. On the north side, Cannaregio, are the Chiesa degli Scalzi (Church of the Barefoot or Discalced Monks) and the Santa Lucia (Ferrovia) railway station. The south side, Santa Croce, is close to the bus station Piazzale Roma.

Piazza San Marco (often known in English as Saint Mark's Square), is the principal square of Venice, Italy, where it is generally known just as "the Piazza". All other urban spaces in the city (except the Piazzetta) are called campi. The Piazzetta (the 'little Piazza') is an extension of the Piazza towards the lagoon in its south east corner (see plan). The two spaces together form the social religious and political centre of Venice and are commonly both considered together.

for more photos follow this link: http://rhythmofmysoul.multiply.com/photos/album/4/FINALLY...my_1st_try_outdoors_venezia#

PANSIT PALABOK

Well who doesn't want palabok?I'm a pansit lover and palabok is one that i love eating.It's been about 6 years since the last time i've tasted my last palabok.It has been a very long time isn't it?So i've finally decided to cook it myself.You must be thinking if i'm a good cook?I'm not.I juz learned a few things from my gf and by watching others cook, and trying to cook them by myself.And thanks to the internet, just 1 click and we can find the recipes we need.

Usually i follow recipes from panlasangpinoy.com.So as usual i somehow followed his steps in cooking palabok.At first i was kinda excited of what the result would be.And i'm very glad all the hard work had a good result.I was very happy that my palabok really tasted like palabok.haha..I've posted some pics here for you to see what came out...

DINAKDAKAN

DINAKDAKAN is an ilokano dish composed of grilled pig's face/head.It is somehow similar to the famous sisig.It serves as a good pulutan for those who love to drink but it also equally good as a viand.I usually cook this when we are on a tight budget(haha).At a store near our home i can buy a whole pig's head for about 0.98cents(euros).Isn't that nice?For less than a euro i am able to prepare a delicious food.But i advise those who have hypertension and heart problems like me, to eat this moderately...

I have found a dinakdakan recipe on the net which is almost the same as how i prepare it.Here it is :

Dinakdakan Ingredients:

Pig’s meat (ear, tongue, face)
White onion; chopped Ginger; chopped
Salt and pepper
Kalamansi or lemon juice
Mayonnaise(

Dinakdakan Cooking Instructions:

Boil pork until half cooked. Strain and grill until brown. Sliced into 1” long and 1/4” thick (or your desired sizes). Place in a bowl and then add onion, ginger, and lemon or kalamansi juice. Mix well with mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.

Cooking Tip:

If pork's brain is available, use it instead of the mayonnaise for a more delicious and tasty dinakdakan.

Wrap the brain in an aluminum foil and grill until medium cooked. Blend in the dinakdakan and viola! Ready to eat!

..........The photos are the actual photos of the dinakdakan i prepared for dinner tonight.Oh and yeah i used brain here instead of mayo.

Bon Appétit :)

MY FIRST BABY

Music is for everybody.To many people in many cultures music is an important part of their way of life.
For me its has been one of my so called passion.Not that im good at it.But since i was young it has been my desire to be somehow good on this craft.I play a little of every common instrument that you can see around.One thing you may get by growing up in the church and being around other musicians.I tried to start playing the keyboard(piano) when i was about 10 years old.But i wasn't improving that much that's why i gave it up.A friend tried teaching us how to play the drums but i still thought it wasn't for me.(i thought it's kinda hard for me for being a left handed).That's the reason i tried learning the guitar.I bought my first guitar at sta. mesa manila when i attended a summer music workshop there(i bought it for P2, 100).It lasted until i went to college.But i accidentally broke it one time i was cooking and playing the same time.I was stupid enough to just put it in the table without checking if it wouldn't slip.Then bammmmmmm....it had a big crack on the side.I gave it to a friend and somehow he fixed it...i think he's still using it until now.

I had the chance to go to italy by 2001 and before i went back to the philippines, my mom bought me a new guitar.It was a YAMAHA APX-5A.We bought it for almost 400euros.It sounds well (too bad i can't play it that well...ahaha).Specially if you connect it on speaker or amplifier.The acoustic sound is really good.She has few scratches now but im glad it is still whole until this time.I hope she will last more and not having the chance to be broken again.I'm thankful for the nine years and still working well.

PASTA CON GAMBERI E POMODORINI(PASTA WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES)

Nothing says Italy like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pasta. Wherever Italians have immigrated they have brought their pasta and so today it is basically an international staple.The Italian cuisine

is rich and varied in all its aspects, but pasta has been its pride and glory through much of its history. When Italians emigrated, settling throughout the New World and Oceana, they brought their pasta with them and it found its way into everyone's life style, a worldwide comfort food that today we take for granted.



For 6 years of living here in italy i've tasted different kinds of delicious pasta.From meat to vegetables..and to seafoods, they all look good and definitely taste good.I'm a filipino and usually we cook filipino foods at home.But sometimes we miss eating pasta instead of eating the usual rice and ulam tandem.Yesterday was one of those days.My gf came home for the weekend and we've decided to cook pasta for dinner..We tried to make pasta cooked in shrimps and tomatoes.She usually prepares this recipe at work but she uses bigger shrimps.Too bad they dont have it at the market when we went to buy the ingredients.But anyways we were still satisfied at the result.To give you an idea of what we cooked i've also posted some pics here.