I thought ChocNut is only available at Filipino stores?

So I grabbed my cellphone, and took a snap, as [...]]]> I was checking out my purchase at Walgreens (Communipaw Avenue and JFK, Jersey City), when the shiny brown packs of ChocNut on the counter caught my attention. Whoa. Choc-Nut at Walgreens? When did this happen?

I thought ChocNut is only available at Filipino stores?

So I grabbed my cellphone, and took a snap, as I don’t know when I am coming back to Walgreens.

More after the jump ….

For those who are wondering, ChocNut is a local product popular among Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines. It is a peanut milk chocolate, packaged in small bite-size powdery bars, similar to polvoron. This Filipino sweet is delicious, and it brings back childhood memories, as far as I’m concerned.

Choc-Nut in the Walgreens rack

It’s been a looong time since I’ve been to Walgreens, so I’m not exactly sure when Choc-Nut became available at this store. But it doesn’t matter now. All I know is you don’t have to look for a Filipino store if you miss this delectable snack! Just go to your nearest Walgreens, and grab a pack or two.

Right now, Walgreens is selling Choc-Nut for 2 packs per $3. I think PhilAm Store on Newark Avenue sells this at similar price.

Philippine Bread House’s Ube was featured last week in a blog called “The Village Voice“. They classified the delicacy as one of the “strange snacks of the world”, and I’m not surprised. Filipinos love to eat odd things and we are not afraid [...]]]>

Philippine Bread House's Ube. (Ube photo from The Village Voice)

Philippine Bread House’s Ube was featured last week in a blog called “The Village Voice“. They classified the delicacy as one of the “strange snacks of the world”, and I’m not surprised. Filipinos love to eat odd things and we are not afraid to experiment some varieties. For instance, where can you find people putting “pink” condiment (combination of mayonnaise and ketchup) on hamburgers? It sounds strange, but it’s pretty normal to Filipinos.

As a Pinoy who grew up in the Philippines, ube is one of my favorite “kakanin”. It’s one of my favorite ice cream and cake flavors next to chocolate…

…The sweetness and moistness of ube is often exploited in sweet pastries in the Philippines. Filipinos also love the bright purple color, and use it in puddings, cakes, frostings, candies, breads, and ice creams….

More on Strange Snacks of the World — Ube. Philippine Bread House is located at 530 Newark Avenue, Jersey City 07306.

The main dishes of Thanksgiving are the brown roasted turkey and ham. However, Filipino dishes will definitely occupy the dining [...]]]> Who says Filipino Culture is gone here in the US? It is not lost yet when Filipinos in Jersey City celebrate holidays such as Thanksgiving. Filipinos will gather and will still serve Filipino food.

The main dishes of Thanksgiving are the brown roasted turkey and ham. However, Filipino dishes will definitely occupy the dining table.

For instance, Balmaceda Family of Teaneck, New Jersey hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for Couple For Christ-Foundation For Family and Life (CFC-FFL). They served turkey with gravy but Filipino dishes like Paella and Pancit Bihon are still a big hit. Members of CFC shared a dish (not necessarily Filipino), and suddenly, choosing what to eat was hard to do. The table was filled with other “ulam” such as lumpiang shanghai, Beef steak, Asparagus with carrots, and many more.

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More inside this post ….

Another Pinoy culture is Pinoys invite other Pinoys to their home to revel this special day. No matter how small the place is, Filipinos still find a way to share meals with friends and other groups.

Pensoy Family of Jersey City had a pre-Thanksgiving dinner last Sunday (November 22, 2008). The couple invited various church groups to their humble apartment resulting to a “standing-room only” situation. Despite that, Filipinos didn’t mind as they mingled and socialized with each other, while eating home-made Filipino dishes like Kare-Kare, fried Tilapia, Deep-fried Lumpiang Shanghai, and delicacies like puto, kutsinta, biko, and maja blanca.

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Just goes to show that most Filipinos – wherever they are – are still Filipinos by heart and actions. Happy Thanksgiving to all Filipinos – in Jersey City, around New Jersey, and in various parts of the United States!