Sandy Daza

Manila's ‘batchoy king’

It all started at the La Paz Market in Iloilo. There was a family selling meat at the market. At the end of the day, there were leftover parts of the beef. From those leftover beef parts came the birth of the most famous dish of Iloilo: batchoy.

Rice without the guilt

Being in the food business has its perks and a few drawbacks. The biggest perk? I get to try all kinds of delicious food sent my way. The downside? I have to watch how much I eat—otherwise, it’s easy to end up on the road to obesity and health issues. Nobody wants that! So, I’m careful. I’ve been on a diet for as long as I can remember. 

Inasal perfection, found here

In the early '80s, a stall with a blue-and-white chicken logo opened just across from Don Bosco in Makati. It was a barbecue chicken stall that originated in Bacolod. I’d never heard of, let alone tasted, this provincial specialty. All I saw was smoke and could smell the aroma of grilling meats. Naturally, I had to try it. It was love at first bite. I learned that this dish was called Bacolod chicken inasal. Marinated and broiled over charcoal, this dish, to me, could put the Philippines on the world culinary map.

Exploring Bangkok's best bites

Foodprints woke up once again! This is my show on the Metro Channel where I go to a city (here and abroad) and feature food that viewers can get tips from. It’s basically telling people where to find delicious food. 

A delicious hot pot journey at Jiang Nan

Last week, a friend, Kat Hernandez, told me she went to a Hot Pot place near where we live. P599 per person, eat all you can. I immediately knew where I was having lunch that day. I asked my daughter Ali and her boyfriend Bingo if they wanted to come. Of course they did!