Puto Binan is disappearing

After a really long time, I was able to once again get a fill of Puto Binan over the weekend, and somehow, wanted some real true-blue Binan ones - guess what, according to my research, there is not much of these made in Laguna nowadays. What's more, less and less of traditional markets are carrying this unique type of puto. So I tried to look for recipes in the internet, and lo and behold, there were several that stated you need an INSTANT BROWNIE MIX to make Puto Binan!? What was that? Puto is a rice cake, essentially. So that already excludes anything that has to do with brownies and brownie mixes. I will try to check and see where to buy the best, if not, existing authentic Puto Binan on my next post. I will be in Los Banos this Saturday so it won't hurt to make a side trip somewhere to check out and see if there is still real Puto Binan that can be bought in Laguna or at least in the outskirts of the province.

Tamales and Rice desserts from Batangas

Last weekend, I was once again exposed to rice delicacies from the most strange place and from a province not so popular for it. First is the picture above which is all the wares of a Batangueno, and he usually sells his yummy tamales and suman at the entrance of Alabang Town Center at the back of McDonald's Alabang. You will surely see him there, especially during weekends. Though his products are quite expensive - P 75 for a tamales or a suman malagkit (that comes with a sugar dip, not the usualy sugary saucy dip but more a paste), but so far they taste superb! I wanted to come back for more but last weekend he wasn't there. Turns out that he leaves as soon as his wares are sold out.

The next suman delicacy is from Cauayan, Isabela, which is small and soft (covered with banana leaves, of course, and tied together a la sinturon ni hudas firecrakers, in dozens) - it has a nutty flavor and is not so sweet. Fantastic! I forgot how they call it but will post it when i get to talk to my sister-in-law who was responsible for bringing some hoome.