SPICY AND SAUCY ENCOUNTER AT BLUE POST BOILING CRABS AND SHRIMPS

The ever-changing food scene in Davao City has brought in so many food variations that were welcomed with so much eagerness and excitement by discerning Davaoeno palate, the latest addition – Blue Post Boiling Crabs and Shrimps.

Blue Post is not new to Davao, it used to be a famous casual bar with good food and homey billiards where friends can come around to eat and wind down after the day’s work. However, with so many restaurants budding around, Blue Post relaunches itself with an innovative concept patterned after the famous Boiling Crab in the US in which diners would line up, waiting patiently for their seafood order that’s being placed in a boiling bag and scrapheap on top of the dining table. Using their bare hands, diners would relish and dig in the bag for their seafood cooked with special sauce.

Anthony and Jen Ang

The owners, Anthony and Jen Ang having seen diners enjoy the ‘messy-finger licking’ meal thought it would be a perfect new dining experience they can offer Davaoenos.

Soon after, we had a chance to experience this ‘messy-finger licking’ seafood meal and was a bit in wonder to see tables lined with glassine papers with no plates, spoons and forks on top of it at all. Evidently, this type of casual dining eliminates the formality of using spoons and forks which apparently; the way crabs and shrimps should be eaten, shouldn’t it?

They offer a variety in their menu but crabs, mussels and shrimps cooked the way your sauce you wanted it to be is their so-called banner meal spread.

And this is how it will go. When you finally selected which seafood to eat, choices of crab, mussels, shrimp or mix, you’ll be asked how you’d prefer it cooked, fried or boiled, either way, you then have to choose how your Cajun sauce would fare – regular, mild or screaming spicy hot. I’m not wired for piquant flavors so our table decided to go for mild spiciness.

After a few minutes our order came in steaming food grade boiling bag and was dumped on top of our table, and since there’s no plate, spoons and fork, you get to have your hands ready at the wash area and be ready for the boodle-fight sort of meal. And oh, please don’t forget to get yourself a crab bib, the wait staff would be happy to have it looped for you, love that food accessory, it come so useful not to mess your top up.

We had;

Fried Garlic Crab [you can also have this boiled in Cajun sauce, regular, mild or extra spicy.]

Boiled shrimp in Cajun sauce [you can opt for an add-on of corn in a cob, potatoes or sausages]

Hot and Spicy Mussels with succulent and plump meat.

Garlic Fried Garlic Tuna is one on the list you shouldn’t miss for the world. It’s fried spot-on giving the tuna meat a perfect texture of crispiness on the outside yet juicy and flavorful on the inside. It’s served with generous fried garlic on top making it the best fried tuna I’ve ever had.

They also have garlic chicken wings. If you’re bringing kids with you, they won’t normally eat the crabs in spicy sauce, a good option then.

Halo-halo for dessert. I was looking for the crashed ice, they say it’s there I can’t see it, but I can savor it. The impeccable combination of the conventional halo-halo fixings and the right amount of cream they put in it, make it melt in your mouth to perfection. So good!

Should we be proud of our messy table? Yes, because we surely had enjoyed our hot, spicy and saucy meal, it was so good. I will be back.

Blue Post Boiling Crabs and Shrimps will open on December 8, 2013; it will be a perfect venue for your family, friends and office Christmas blow-out. If you love crabs and shrimps, having it cooked with extra zest and twists, would definitely let you love it more.

I highly recommended it!  

BLUE POST BOILING CRABS & SHRIMPS
J.P. Laurel Ave. Bajada, Davao City
Tel. Nos. (082) 221.83.60
Email Add: blueposts@aagroup.com.ph

GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES THIS CHRISTMAS

Finding the best gifts for everyone on your list can be a challenge. Delivering a present that you know they will love is part of the joy of giving. There are so many gifts to choose from, and selecting the right one means knowing your recipient well. 

The Foodie Chef 

If your recipient loves to cook, kitchen gadgets are always a great choice. A set of knives, new pastry bags and stand mixers will wow your recipient. For the foodie, go for gift certificates for exotic cuisine, a membership to a wine club or a gift card to their favorite restaurant. There is a full menu of wonderful gifts for foodies. 

Colorful ring set for the fashionista

The Fashionista 

The best gift for the fashionista is one that complements her extensive wardrobe. Accessories like earrings with synthetic diamonds, bracelets and rings make great gifts. Scarves, stylish gloves and sweaters are always a hit. Men love stylish ties, watches and leather bracelets. Shopping for the person who loves to shop is always a challenge, but you can usually find the right fashion-forward gifts that they will love. 

The Sports Fan 

It shouldn't be hard to find the right gift for the sports fan. Score gifts emblazoned with the team logo for the must-have gift. Jerseys, hats and mugs are great for the fan who feels like he's part of the team. Tailgating accessories like folding chairs, grills and logo tents are always welcome on game day. Golf lovers love custom tees and bags. Customized sports apparel will surprise and delight your recipient. 

The Creative 

If your recipient loves to paint, scrapbook or do crafts, you can find the perfect gifts at your local crafts store. Paint brush caddies, scrapbooking kits and specialty papers are lovely gifts for the creative crafter. A leather journal makes an excellent gift for a writer, while musicians will appreciate new music stands and books. Any gift that will help your recipient create new artistic works will be a welcome gift for the holidays.

Animal Lovers 

Fun fish tanks, dog paw print necklaces and animal print socks make wonderful gifts for pet pals. You can find whimsical gifts like cat inspired shot glasses, weiner dog vinegar bottles and cat ear headphones that every animal lover will appreciate. Giving the best gift is half the fun. By knowing what your recipient will love, you can give a gift that they will cherish for years to come.

ONE YEAR ON FROM TYPHOON BOPHA, FAMILIES STILL REELING FROM LOSS OF LIVELIHOODS

Increased support is needed if families are to fully recover from the impact of Typhoon Bopha on their livelihoods, Save the Children says. 

A year after the category 5 typhoon – the highest category for a storm – the children’s aid agency says tens of thousands are still struggling to find work to feed their families. The Typhoon, which struck on 4 th December 2012, affected over six million people and left nearly 2000 dead or missing. 

The storm caused widespread damage to agriculture, which account for the livelihoods of 80 per cent of the residents in the affected area. The Filipino government’s disaster agency estimates a loss of over US$700 million in agricultural damage, including bananas, coconuts, rice and maize. 

“The job that aid agencies need to fulfil shouldn’t stop at immediate relief,” said Tom Howells, Team Leader for Save the Children’s Bopha Recovery Program. “But many are forced to end their projects as there is little to no funding available for long-term rehabilitation of livelihoods. Our worry is that these families will no longer be able to send their children to school, provide nutritious foods and a protective home environment once aid stops.

” Save the Children conducted two livelihoods projects in the Bopha-affected areas, unconditional cash grants for vulnerable families and cash-for-work to rehabilitate schools. Roselyn Cabatlao, 34, was one of the program’s beneficiaries in Davao Oriental after her family lost their only source of income – a coconut plantation – in the storm. It will take them at least seven more years to get back on their feet as coconut trees take about eight years to mature. 

 “I can see there are still many families here that do not have stable income because many of our coconuts have been damaged by the typhoon,” she said. Through income generated from Save the Children’s cash-for-work program, Roselyn is now able to buy food, vitamins and condiments for her children. The mother of three was also given the tools and seeds to plant vegetables in their backyard for consumption and income. The vegetables and direct nutrition interventions helped Roselyn’s son, Jericho, to recover from severe acute malnutrition. “Families like Roselyn will be left to their own devices once aid agencies leave. We have given them the basic tools to sustain themselves, but it will be years before Roselyn harvests coconuts again and builds a sturdy house for her family,” said Tom Howells. 

 Save the Children responded to the needs of affected families in Typhoon Bopha, delivering an integrated package of child protection, education, health and nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene, disaster preparedness in schools, food security and livelihoods in Agusan del Sur, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. Overall, the children’s aid agency has reached about 138,000 people. 

Save the Children has spokespeople available for interviews. Please contact Lynette Lim, Communications Manager for Save the Children at lynette.lim@savethechildren.org or +63 9152622601.