Eat Out, Eat in, Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and so is the opportunity for Filipinos to find yet another excuse to indulge in some comforting, homegrown food. Whether you’re scheduling a cook-in date with your boyfriend, or would like to try out a family-friendly restaurant with the whole brood to celebrate on the 14th, relishing the flavors of Filipino food is a great way to celebrate the day of hearts.

Homespun website www.ingestphil.com helps you run through the rich plethora of Filipino dishes and guides you through an interesting array of recipes. Add some authentic Pinoy flavor to date night this month and savor the unique way in which Filipinos show their love.

Get a sampling of what Ingest has got on their menu—and add these dishes to your own Valentine’s Day repertoire!

Ginataang Kohol
Said to be an aphrodisiac, this delicacy was made fancy and famous by the French, but is also a large part of Filipino culture. Cooked in coconut milk and doused with a serving of leafy vegetables, kohol can be eaten with a hot cup of rice or taken by itself as an appetizer.

Valentine’s Day tip: If you and your partner have never tried snails before, make this a part of your dinner lineup. Nothing bonds two people like trying out a new, adventurous dish.

Nilasing na Hipon
Crunchy and deep-fried, this delicious shellfish dish gets its name from the wine or liquor it’s marinated in. A perfect accompaniment to local beer, it’s a popular appetizer that is best eaten and savored with your fingers. Valentine’s Day tip: Best for low-key, casual dates, this dish will work perfectly well with a night out on the town with your single girlfriends too. Don’t forget the San Miguel beer!

Dinuguan
“Black food” as some people call it, consists of stewed pork blood. Paired off with sweet rice cakes or puto, this exotic dish is mixed in with vinegar, garlic and a dash of chili pepper for exciting space. Not for the light-hearted, this dish is one of the more popular dishes in most Filipino spreads.

Valentine’s Day tip: Have your paper napkin handy! You don’t want your black food smearing your mouth throughout your date.
Get recipes and find out more about #ingestph at www.ingestphil.com.

The Blue Leaf Filipinas offers guests a new venue to host parties, corporate events and intimate get-togethers for friends and family. With our modern take on classic Filipino traditions, we can help you forge new bonds and create new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Filipinas at 632-9188 or visit filipinas.theblueleaf.com.ph for more information