It’s hard to be away from the place you have lived majority of your life. Kris and I were born in the Philippines where we finished our studies before starting a new life in New Zealand then moved to Australia. Along with the new adventures come some challenges in adopting to a new culture, tradition and food as well.
Craving Filipino dishes on special occasions such as birthdays and Christmas is not easy. Most of the time we have to learn how to cook and bake from scratch since it’s difficult to find a shop that sells these traditional meals and sweets. We do find ways to get them as it’s not only the taste that we want but also the experience and the memories that come back to us every time we have a bite.
Good thing we have Filipino Stores around Australia that bring home closer to us by selling familiar ingredients and goods. Kris and I were so glad to discover this particular Filipino Store in Sydney where we found most of the food and groceries that we crave for.
We hope that this post could help our fellow kababayans who are looking for a filipino grocery shop where you could also dine in and enjoy their delicious meals. Enjoy!
Come and visit them at 211 Marrickville Road, Marrickville NSW or follow and like their Facebook Page @ Filo Pride by clicking HERE!
If I were to count how often Kris often we go to Gipsy’s Kitchen Cafe when we were still in New Zealand I would say it’s at least every 2 weeks for the entire 6 years we have been together. That’s how we love their coffee and pastries.
Since we have moved to Sydney last year, we have been missing our favourite Cherry Pie, Rhubarb scone, Apple Pie, Peach and Passion Fruit Friand and Halloumi Roll. They have been dubbed as purveyors of the best flat white coffee in Wellington. I think we have memorised every pastry they sell and the warm welcome by the staff. I could still remember every inch of their cafe and Rowan busy preparing the aromatic pastries in the kitchen as we walk past through going to the private indoor garden spot at Strathmore. They have the best spot and area where you could chill and unwind.
Gipsy Kitchen is always jam pack at summer so we make sure we get there before 10 in the morning.Going to Gipsy’s has been a routine before going to Bunnings to shop lots and lots of Plants! 😉@JessieStreetTeAro@ourFavouriteSpotInStrathmoreA dose of Gipsy before and after our flight.Best Scone Ever paired with Greek Yogurt.It’s always Coffee Time @gipsy‘sCaffeine and sugar, the two basic food groups. -Laurell K. Hamilton@JessieStreet @gipsykitchenWewere one of the first customers to queue on their first day opening @ JessieStreet, Te Aro.Journaling @gipsy, Sometimes the Best Ideas come up while having the best coffee in Gipsy.
I will never forget way back when Kris and I were in a long distance relationship. He sent me an overnight package of cherry pie from Wellington to Christchurch for Christmas Eve! How sweet was that! I married him the next year! LOL! I mean, who would not want to marry the man who makes things possible? 😉
Best Christmas Gift 2014
We have invited friends with us and it has been a place where we share wonderful moments and laughter together. Gipsys’s Kitchen gives you not only the best food and drinks but the best experience as well.
Here are our favourites through the years and we just want to share our wonderful memories of Gipsy’s.
Cheers!Day Off + Sunny Day = Gipsy Kitchen 😉@theHeartofTheCityA great place for first dates and plant lovers.
Kris and I were so much looking forward to visit New Zealand this year but we have cancelled our plans due to travel restrictions. We are so much looking forward to travel back in Wellington soon and the first thing we would do is to visit Gipsy’s Kitchen and order all our favourites. We can’t wait! Syndey has the best cafes as well but nothing beats Gipsy’s Kitchen. We left our hearts in their kitchen and they will always be number 1 in our hearts wherever we may go.
3 Locations 4 Glamis Avenue Strathmore, 1/37 Jessie Street Te Aro & 112 Cuba Street Te Aro. Wellington, New Zealand
Kris and I had enjoyed our Easter Sunday morning with delicious hot cross buns and a hot cup of coffee. It is very popular here in Australia and in New Zealand especially during Holy week celebration. The Philippines, on the other hand celebrates Holy Week with sweet sticky rice pudding paired with hot chocolate drink.
A traditional Hot cross bun tastes like a spiced , yeasted bun with raisins and marked with a cross on the top that symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus Christ . Its origin dates back to the 14th Century when an Anglican monk baked the buns and distributed them to the poor on Good Friday. Some people have superstitious beliefs that the buns can be used to treat the sick and help them recover from any ailment. Hot cross buns were also thought to protect the ships from shipwreck during sea voyage.
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
As Christians, we believe that the bread symbolises God’s love for us when He gave His only son Jesus Christ to die for our sins that we may become alive through his death in the cross. Jesus is the Bread of Life. We live because of Him.
I would like to share to you the story from John Chapter 6 of the Holy Bible which reminds us of how powerful God is through His miracles. I hope that by the message of this story will strengthen our faith and give us hope for the future.
John 6 New King James Version (NKJV)
Feeding the Five Thousand
6 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.[a]3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them[b]to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
The Bread from Heaven
22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except [d]that one [e]which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”
32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Our native country Philippines is known to grow the best Mango in the entire world! Yes, that’s right! In fact it was recorded as the world’s sweetest mango in the world by Guinness Book of World Records.
When we moved to Australia this year I was thrilled to know that they grow sweet mangoes as well. Since then, mango has become my daily snack. Australian mangoes are really big and one mango can make you feel like you’ve eaten a full meal.
Kris and I love desserts. One of our favourite dessert is Mango Float. It tastes sweet and can be very addictive that’s why you must share it (or gain extra weight). For those who haven’t tasted it yet, it is somewhat similar to a tiramisu but with mango flavour minus the coffee and chocolate. If you are a mango lover, this dessert is definitely for you. Absolutely divine and an instant crowd pleaser.
Ingredients:
3 sweet mangoes
2 tubs thickened cream
1 can condensed milk
2 packs sponge fingers/lady fingers (or you can use Graham biscuits as alternative)
What you’ll need:
Egg beater or electric mixer (Choice between the two will affect the texture of the cream. For a fluffy mixture of the thickened and cream and condensed milk I suggest using an electric mixer.)
Spatula
Mixing bowl
Wide rectangular container
Lay the first layer of sponge finger into the container.
2. Pour the mixture of thickened cream and condensed milk on top of the layered sponge finger. Use spatula to spread the mixture evenly.
3. Put slices of mango on top of the cream mixture.
4. Repeat steps 1 , 2 and 3 till the desired number of layers (usually 3 layers will do).
5. Add final layer of cream mixture and dust the top layer with crushed sponge fingers. Then style it with slices of mango. This is my favourite part. 🙂
6. Cover and place in the fridge overnight to soak the sponge fingers with the cream.
Creative Journey of Kris and Aileen 