Food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It's inseparable from those from the get-go.

One of life's terrible truths is that women like guys who seem to know what they're doing.

Cream rises. Excellence does have its rewards.

Food is so personal - I mean someone is talking to you when people are cooking for you. I like to hear an identifiable voice.

Avoid at all costs that vile spew you see rotting in oil in screwtop jars. Too lazy to peel fresh? You don't deserve to eat garlic.

Never try to get your kid to eat anything she doesn't already want to eat. Just eat interesting stuff in front of her while completely ignoring her. Never, ever suggest "try it." Never say those dreaded words "try it, it's good." Or worse, "It's good for you." That'll poison the well.

I'm really happy to see Filipino cuisine starting to really take hold outside of the Pinoy community.