Where I Buy Filipino Longganisa In Sydney Metro

I've very fond of eating Longganisa (Filipino sausage) that everytime I'm in Manila, my Mom makes sure that the household has enough Longganisas to feed me all throughout my stay. She also makes an effort of buying different kinds such as the ones from Vigan, Lucban, and Caloocan.

When we moved here, I learned how to do it but I was never patient enough making them (I'm more inclined to make Tocino). I once settled  buying the frozen ones imported from the Philippines (they're available in Asian supermarkets) but I long for Longganisa made fresh and available from the butcher. 

During one of my usual visits at my "suking" butcher, I found that they're selling Filipino Longganisa! Wow!!! I immediately asked him if they were made them by a Filipino and he confirmed with a smile. Since then I've been coming back to our butcher not just for the usual meat products that we need but also for my beloved Filipino Longganisa.

This Longganisa I found tastes very similar to the Filipino Longganisa that my Mom buys in Caloocan. The only difference is it's not as sweet but the taste is really Pinoy, a balance of sweet, salty and peppery taste. The good thing about it too is that it's not laden with food colouring.

If you're a Filipino in Sydney Metro craving for Longganisa, check them out at Good Luck Butcher Shop, located at Good Luck Plaza Blacktown. The Longganisas are not available everyday so I suggest you call them first (02-9261-6696).

The Longganisas are priced at 9.99 a kilo. 

Sagada Coffee From Bo's

This was the only bag of coffee we brought home from Manila. 

Since we've had a Nespresso machine, we limit buying coffee beans to just one bag at a time. Since we don't drink coffee everyday, the supply of coffee at home had to be managed well so they don't go stale. 

On my last day in Manila, I stopped by Bo's Coffee to have a quick "me" time and bought a bag of Sagada Coffee to take home with us. I vacuum-packed the bag and only let it breathe two weeks ago. The aroma of coffee beans were heavenly the moment I opened it.

The good thing about coffee beans is that I get to share it too. I shared half of it to my friend so she can have a taste of Sagada Coffee. She gets to have the bag while I store the coffee beans in a glass container. The coffee-themed sticky note went perfectly well to what's inside the container.

Something about Sagada:

Sagada is a place in the northern part of Philippines located in the centre of Cordillera region. It is a popular destination for travelers who are either thrill seekers or nature lovers because of it's maejestic mountains and natural attractions. 

Sagada Coffee is part of Bo's Coffee's Philippine Origins line which celebrates Philippines' culture and great coffee. Drinking Sagada Coffee is a way to getting to know the place thru its flavour profile.

Sagada Coffee has a balance of sweet and nutty flavour with hints of chocolate and tobacco. I personally describe this coffee as "gentlemanly sweet", a perfect drink on a lazy afternoon of leisure. 

Related Post:
Mornings with Bo's Coffee

Cheesy on a Thursday

Two things.

We've been having chilly mornings in Sydney and the weather has turned me more sentimental than I already am. *Cheesy na nga ako, naging cheesy pa lalo!* 

The song "Buko" has been my LSS for days. Songs like these are what I call the modern type of harana. Eto yung tipo ng kanta na simple pero may lambing at madaling awitin. Maaring corny sa iba pero para sa akin, na-appreciate ko na OPM siya.

Naalala ko pa nung nililigawan pa lamang kita

Dadalaw tuwing gabi masilayan lamang ang ‘yong mga ngiti

At Ika’y sasabihan bukas ng alas siyete sa dating tagpuan

Buo ang araw ko marinig ko lang ang mga himig mo

Hindi ko man alam kung nasan ka wala man tayong komunikasyon

Maghihintay sa’yo buong magdamag dahil ikaw ang buhay ko

 Kung inaakala mo na ang pag-ibig ko’y magbabago

Itaga mo sa bato dumaan man ang maraming Pasko

Kahit na di mo na abot ang sahig

Kahit na di mo na ‘ko marinig

Ikaw pa rin ang buhay ko

Naalala ko pa nung pinapangarap pa lamang kita

Hahatid, susunduin, kahit mga bituin aking susungkitin

Kung inaakala mo ang pag-ibig ko’y magbabago

Itaga mo sa bato dumaan man ang maraming Pasko

Kahit na di mo na abot ang sahig

Kahit na di mo na ‘ko marinig

Ikaw pa rin ang buhay ko

Araw-araw kitang liligawan, haharanahin ka lagi

Kitang liligawan, haharanahin ka lagi

Kung inaakala mo ang pag-ibig ko’y magbabago

Itaga mo sa bato pumuti man ang mga buhok ko

Kung inaakala mo ang pag-ibig ko’y magbabago

Itaga mo sa bato, dumaan man ang maraming pasko

Kung inaakala mo na ang pag-ibig ko’y magbabago

Itaga mo sa bato, dumaan man ang maraming pasko

Kahit na kumulubot ang balat

Kahit na hirap ka nang dumilat

Kahit na di mo na abot ang sahig

Kahit na di mo na ako marinig 

Ikaw pa rin (ikaw pa rin) ang buhay ko

A Penchant For The Old Manila

One of the few realizations we had when we vacationed in Manila was this: that we come back because we want to have a feel of what our life used to be. Going back to our mother country means we get to reminisce of our childhood and relive a life we once used to be a part of. Seeing Manila grow and change with the times is a milestone but a part of me wishes that some things and places are still maintained to how it's supposed to be. That's why I love reading books and watching old films where I get to see how things were when Manila (and the Philippines) was young.

A penchant for the old. My love for what Manila used to be.
Curly Tops from my childhood. The romance of using a telephone.

I was fortunate to come across the book "The Manila We Knew" in April. It was a collection of stories and essays of life in Manila. Stories that capture one's love for a city and its soul, life and history. In its pages you'll find romance and tragedy, hope and struggle. 

I started reading a few pages on Sunday morning and it brought me back to a time when I wasn't even born yet, when life in Manila was simpler. I'm glad that thru this book, I get to have a peek of what it's like to be part of the old Manila.