My Food Bucketlist (Worldwide)

This post will continuously grow as I learn about and try new dishes from all over the world. this list includes iconic signature dishes that are highly recommended as well as my favorite food items.
Will also post a food list for Philippines too.

Symbols for things I've tried and what they mean:

♥   - Absolutely Love IT! Will try it over and over and over....
☺ - Taste is ok, maybe it'll taste better the second time..
☻ - Didnt like the taste but I'm glad I tried it once


USA

• Gooey Buttercake (St. Louis, MO) ♥♥♥

My favorite. I've tasted different variations and I love them all. My absolute favorite would be The gooey buttercake served from Brewhouse Historical Bar in Hyatt Regency Riverfront in Downtown St. Louis. I love the gooey buttercake cookies which I normally buy at Scnucks (Culinaria) in 9th Street.

• Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake (from Cheesecake Factory) ♥♥♥

My "Ultimate" comfort food. That moist delectable layers of cheesecake... I've been craving this for years since I left the US. Whoever can bring this cake here in the Philippines, I will love you forever.

• Strawberry Cheesecake Makimono at Drunken Fish (St Louis, MO) ♥♥♥

The picture doesnt do justice to the taste.  But it was soooo good!

• Anheiser-Busch Beers (St. Louis, MO) ♥♥♥

 

Join the free tour (or better yet, the Brewmaster's Tour for a more in-depth and intimate interaction) and try as much beer as you want.  At the end of the tour, you get an honorary beermaster certificate and unlimited access to the fridge full of craft beers! Blueberry Beer was the coolest I've tried.

•  Samuel Adams Tour (Boston, MA)

Despite having tasted "fresh beer" and toured the Anheiser-Busch Facility in St. Louis (one too many times) Learned so much going to this tour of Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams Brewhouse). 

The $150-beer - Sam Adam's Utopia Beer

Unfortunately, they dont have stock of this beer when we went there. All we could do is smell this empty bottle. I have yet to try, but will definitely do when I get the chance. 
http://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/utopias 

An awesome review of Utopia from a blogger made me want to try it more. Mind you, I'm not even a beer drinker!
http://www.thekitchn.com/sam-adams-utopias-this-is-what-a-150-beer-tastes-like-beer-sessions-193231

• Doyle's Boston Style Clam Chowder (Boston, MA) ♥

After the Sam Adams tour, you come here for three reasons : 1. complimentary free Sam Adams glass when u order a glass of beer here 2. Mystic River was filmed at this bar 3. Clam Chowder Soup

• The original Buffalo Wild Wings at Anchor Bar (Buffalo, NY) ♥♥

The original Buffalo Wild Wings that is ever so famous in any bars and pubs worldwide was created in Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. When in upstate NY, this is a must-try. Dont forget to bring home their famous barbecue sauce too.

• Crab Rangoon (normally in any Asian restaurants) ♥♥♥

• Best Barbecue (Memphis, TN) 

Being in Memphis, we just had to try their famous barbecue. We looked up online and went to the most voted top 1 barbecue in town- Central BBQ. We tried the brisket, pulled pork and ribs.

Central BBQ
2249 Central Ave. Memphis, TN 38104
Tel: 901-272-9377
Fax: 901-728-5850

• Elvis Presley sandwich (Memphis, TN) 

•  Brother Juniper's (Memphis, TN)

 It was voted the Best Breakfast in Memphis

• Candies and different soda pops in Bricktown Candy Co. (Oklahoma City, OK) ♥

http://weheartokc.com/bricktown-candy-co/

 

• Dr. Pepper (Dublin, TX) ♥

The Dr. Pepper that was produced her made use of cane sugar (instead of the usual high-fructose corn syrup).

• Roundrock Donuts (Roundrock, TX) ♥♥

Be ready to endure long lines in buying these huge donuts (four of us devoured a single piece)

• Dick's Last Resort (San Antonio, TX) ♥♥♥

** Photos from my friend Erika Pagapong (Idk why I don't have pictures from this night.haha)

Where you can find the rudest servers (literally). That's the restaurant's main selling point. I don't remember the food but definitely had a good time. definitely not for the sensitive ones. Prepare to be subjected to racist or green jokes. Dont hesitate to throwback some puns too,

• Homemade Flour and Corn Tortilla, Guacamole, etc (McAllen, TX) ♥

We've been invited to family gatherings of Mexican friends/colleague. Idk all the names of the food I ate but they were amazing especially since they have their own family recipe for those dishes.

• Junior's New York Cheesecake (New York City, NY) ♥

http://www.juniorscheesecake.com/

World's Most Fabulous Cheesecakes. Need I say more? I actually downed half the cake on our way from NYC to Boston. I didnt realize until now that they have Red Velvet Cheesecake too!!. hmmm, international shipping please....

• Pastrami Sandwich - (New York City, NY)

• Coffee and Beignets  (New Orleans, MS)

ASIA

• Pad Thai (Bangkok, Thailand) 

• Sushi (Tokyo, Japan)

• Kimchi (South Korea)

Of course, thanks to my Korean friend, I've tried an authentic, homemade (in Korea) Kimchi.

• Rice cake (south korea)

I forgot the name of the dish another Korean friend gave me. It was homemade from Korea as well. 

• Samgyeopsal (South Korea)

• Chili Crab (Singapore)

• Hainanese Chicken (Singapore) 

EUROPE

• Pizza  (Naples, Italy)

• Gelato (Florence, Italy) 

• Frites (aka French Fries!) (Brussels, Belgium) 

• Waffles (Belgium)

•   Mussles  (Belgium)

• Chocolate (Belgium)

• Crepes (Brittany, France)

• French Wine (Champagne, Bordeux, etc)

• Riesling Wine (Germany) 

 
  
 SOUTH AMERICA

•  Steak (Argentina)

 
 

Zambales Super Mango Tour

The “Sweet Elena” variety is considered to be the sweetest mango in the world. I havent seen the certificate but according to Zambales locals, it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. 

The Department of Tourism - Office of Product Research and Development developed this tour program back in 2009. It was launch sometime between 2009-2010. Last April 25, 2013, the program was "re-launched" and Korean Tour Operators were invited to try the daytour.  There were some changes in the sites initially selected for the tour. 

Venus Sales and I accompanied Ms. Stephanie Lee of HanaTour Manila, Inc and Mr. Harry Baek of RAKSO Air Travel & Tours Inc. to Subic Bay Freeport where the accommodation was arranged at the Subic Park Hotel.  Ms. Leona Nepomuceno and Ms. Juliet Malonzo from the DOT Region 3 met the group upon their arrival at 5:30PM.

On April 25, 2013, the group, together with Ms. Cindy Kim, Manager of the IRC Subic Branch left for the day tour at 8:00AM.  

The Zambales Super Mango/ Agricultural Tour started with a visit to Green Garden Farm in Castillejos.  The site is approximately 30 minutes away from Subic Bay Freeport.  The visit includes a guided tour around the facility, shopping for fresh produce and complimentary fresh sugar cane juice.  

Normally, a short demo and briefing are conducted and the visitors are allowed to harvest vegetables which include Philippine and foreign varieties. 

Here are photos from our initial launching in 2009/2010:

OPRD Chief Warner Andrada harvesting organic vegetables

 A rolling tour around the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University San Marcelino Campus followed.  Professor Ferdinand Domingo of the RMTU Research, Extension and Training Office served as tour guide.  He explained the different types of mangos and factors affecting its growth and promulgation.  He further mentioned the technology and research that the school has undertaken to enhance productivity of local farmers.  

Grafting or mango propagation demo and tour inside the RMTU processing plant and laboratory are part of the regular Super Mango Tour itinerary however, it is currently under renovation.

The next stop is Rosa Farm.  

Professor Domingo provided a tour of the farm providing interesting facts about the processes of mango propagation.  The RMTU in cooperation with Rosa Farm is looking into year-round production of mangoes.  

The farm has about six trees bearing oversized mangoes.

  The guests were each given a sample of this extra-large fruit as token. 

During harvest season, the farm offers a pick-and-buy activity wherein guests can harvest the mangoes they want to purchase.   

Processed mango and duhat wine, fresh ripe mangoes, and other products were available for sale.

 Farm owners Leonardo and Nelda Zulueta prepared scrumptious snacks featuring their mango produce and native delicacies.

 The visit to Casa San Miguel, an art center established by acclaimed violinist Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata.  

Entrance to Casa San Miguel

(Main) Building facade

The guided tour featured the Museum of Community Heritage, Corpus Hall, Aeta Heritage Museum, Seamen’s Gallery.  

The group entering the premise through the Back Stage Cafe

Casa San Miguel offers accommodation for up to 20 pax as well as the Back Stage Café where visitors can hang about before or after watching performances.  

Courses in music, drawing and painting, photography, film-making and creative writing are currently offered.

For more info, please refer to Casa San Miguel's FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/casasanmiguelph and Website: http://casasanmiguelph.com/other-services/bed-and-breakfast

·         In Punta de Uian, San Antonio, the resident manager gave a tour around the 19-hectare property with their accommodation ranging from the standard rooms to duplex and villas.  Different activities are available in the resort such as jet skiing, banana boat ride, kayaking, ATV ride, surfing and snorkeling.  

The accommodation

A sumptuous buffet lunch was served featuring mango-inspired dishes such as the grilled tuna with mango salsa.   The meal concluded with sampling of mango by-products such as mango wine, dried mangoes, mango tarts, mango cookies and mango pie.

Must-try delectable pasalubongs, mango pastries, wines and candies when in Zambales:

Mango pie from Green Thumb

Box of green Thumb Mango Pie (My absolute favorite!)

Dried Mango and Mango cookies 

(I've tried dried mangoes from different towns and provinces in the Philippines but this is by far the sweetest and most delicious. There's really a very distinctive taste about it)

A mus try mango wine. I guess this is like a dessert wine.

Mango Tart taste different compared to the ones in other cities like Cebu or Guimaras

For more info, please refer to Punta de Uian's FB Page : https://www.facebook.com/PDUofficial  and Website: http://puntadeuian.beachsubic.com/

·         The group proceeded to Cabangan to tour the vicinity of Mango Camp, a resort offering a wide array of team-building facilities. General Manager Donnie Lajarca treated the visitors to some refreshments. The tour ended at 4:00pm and the group proceeded back to the hotel. 

Mango Camp is a great place for corporate team building activities.

The accommodation

Will try to post a separate blog on different accommodations in Zambales

More Photos at: My facebook page