Silence...

... means that I've been busy with a new project: reopening Kitchen Revolution. Except instead of focusing on baked goods (my usual vegan margarine supplier doesn't carry said margarine, boo. Am working on it.) I'm doing savory food.

Where to find me? Check out my table at Mercato Centrale, the new food / farmers market in Bonifacio Global City on Saturdays, 6am to 12nn. I peddle vegan brunch (sausage, tofu scramble, garlic brown rice) and weekly specials (sometimes pasta, sometimes sandwiches. Maybe sushi? I like to play it up). I'm on Facebook -- if you are too, then friend me!

Funny story how I decided to reopen. After a year in New York attending cooking school and interning at awesome restaurants, I was in a sulky, couch potato, lying-in-fetal-position mode for a month after coming back home. Didn't want to do nothin' except watch DVD's of Brothers & Sisters and Desperate Housewives and think wistfully of my past life. I'm not gonna lie, the transition from a fast-paced city to sleepy suburbia was difficult. I can go on and on about how New York's the greatest thing since sliced bread... but I'll spare you the details.

It was the 16th of November, Tuesday, about 2am -- I was up doing what everyone does at 2am -- checking Facebook. And some friend was tagged in a bakery business's photo of an ad for a new upcoming food market. The ad looked great, the market sounded promising (organic, healthy, vegetarian, blah blah), and I decided that I needed to be part of it. The market opened on the 21st, a Sunday. So from Tuesday to Sunday I was on autopilot, fixing my menu, buying ingredients and equipment, troubleshooting, cooking, setting up shop. Man, that week drained the hell out of me, I think I lost 3 pounds. I also did not sleep from Saturday 10:30am until Sunday 4:30pm.

Fast forward to present time: I'll be at the market every Saturday through February and it's great. My parents should thank Mercato C for getting me out of my funk. I actually don't mind waking up at 4am on a Saturday to set up shop for the market, even though it's gotten in the way of my social life (note that I never really had a social life to begin with...). I love not having a corporate job although I do miss the paychecks. I love "going to work" (making a mess in my kitchen) in shorts and a tank top and no make up. And I love going to the market and meeting other vendors who aren't necessarily vegetarian, but sell interesting stuff.The table on my right sells healthy vegan cakes and cupcakes; the one on my left does home delivery vegetable detox juices. The table behind me does sales for community supported agriculture. And a lot of farmers there sell gorgeous organic produce, herbs, grains, and beans.

Organic lemongrass bought at the market straight from the farmer, 

probably harvested the day before -- P35 / US$0.80 for 8 stalks.

If you live in Manila, do check out Mercato Centrale -- 30th St and 9th Ave, Bonifacio Global City. It's behind The Spa on Bonifacio High Street. Do check out what the market has to offer, and if you're curious, check out my table in Tent 1.

PS Apart from the market, I do have plans to get vegan food into the mouths of Filipinos. Catering, cooking classes... I'm workin' on it!