The Two Mansions

Mansion, as what Mr. Webster defined, is a large imposing residence that is meant to be magnificent, grand and impressive. Last year, I was able to visit one in Mt. Vernon, Virginia and just this year in Baguio City. Both of these places had significant history that every citizen should know.

George Washington’s Mansion at Mount Vernon Estate in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

At the entrance of The Estate

George Washington’s Mansion located at the heart of Mt. Vernon Estate in Virginia is one of the most famous destinations for tourists who wanted to see the abode of the first and one of the greatest president of the United States, George Washington. The mansion is a 3-story, built of wood, overlooking the Potomac River. It is fully preserved together with the other structures such as the servant’s quarter, vault, smokehouse, and tomb.

Washington Family

Front lawn

Washington's Vault. Knock, knock...

Servant's Quarter

The smokehouse - where he kept the "tapa".

The estate is being run by the Mount Vernon Ladies’Association, a private, non-profit organization founded in 1853. It does not accept any grants from the government. It sustains its operation on revenue from retail store and restaurant, ticket sales and donations from foundations, individuals and corporations.

The Mansion in Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City, Philippines

Caption not needed.
I just wondered why there is a yellow ribbon at the lawn. 

The Mansion, built in 1908 for the US Governor-Generals but rebuilt in 1947 after being destroyed during the American liberation, held some important functions such as the Second Session of Economic Commission of Asia and the Far East in 1947 and first meeting of the South East Asia Union known as the Baguio Conference of 1950, conceived and convened by President Elpidio Quirino.

It has a mini-museum showcasing memorabilia and works of art collected over the years of being occupied by the past presidents. Within the compound is a 2-story building that serves as the official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines in Baguio City.

The whole compound is being maintained by the Philippine government and is guarded by a contingent of Philippine marines.

Conference room of The Mansion (Photo from cityofpines.com)

Front Lawn  (Photo from cityofpines.com)

What really is a yogurt?

I asked this question because a lot of Filipinos do not have an idea what yogurt is or have not tasted yet. I am a Food Technologist specializing in dairy production and processing and would like to share with you some inputs about yogurt. I am producing yogurt for commercial and personal consumption.

We had the opportunity to participate a couple of months ago in an Agri-Fair hosted by the City Agriculture Office of Cagayan de Oro. During the week-long event, it was an eye opener at the same time a good experience worth pondering.

In one occasion, an executive–looking guy walked in and bought a bottle of blueberry-flavored Fruits and Yogurt Creations. A few steps away from the booth, he opened it and took a sip. Without hesitation, he walked back and complained it was sour.

Huh, sour? I did not expect this comment. I was dumbfounded for a while before I replied. What came out from my mouth was, “That’s a yogurt sir, not a flavored milk.” Realizing that other people might hear him, he walked away with a timid smile before taking another gulp. He must have liked it already.

Judging from buyers’ reactions, I found out that most of the kids love yogurt and have an idea what yogurt is but many oldies are still ignorant about it. This is probably that generation 60’s to 80’s are still used to canned and powdered milk. It was only in the mid 90’s that local milk production started.

With recent trends to be health-conscious and aggressive push of multi-national companies of their products through TV advertisement, it is only now that we get to know what yogurt is. But is the yogurt that you know the real yogurt?

Yogurt is fermented milk, either, set, stirred, or strained. It is made by adding bacterial culture ( Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus bacteria) to a cow’s, carabao’s  or goat’s milk making it sour after a period of time.

Set yogurt is milk allowed to ferment in a cup and served or sold in a form of undisturbed mass. Stirred yogurt, also known as Swiss-style yogurt, is milk fermented in a pot or vat that after the fermentation process, it is stirred to form a viscous liquid. Strained yogurt, also called Greek yogurt is fermented milk filtered or strained to remove the whey making the consistency very thick.

Unflavored yogurt is called plain yogurt while added with sugar is a sweetened yogurt. If added or flavored with fruit, it will be fruit-flavored yogurt. The sweetened fruit-flavored yogurt frozen using an ice cream machine is called frozen yogurt. If yogurt is added with water, sugar and flavor, it is called yogurt drink. All of these variations should contain probiotics or live microorganisms to be called yogurt. A fermented product that does not have live microorganisms or has microorganisms but eliminated by further processing or cooking cannot be called yogurt.

There are lots of yogurts in the supermarket now. Before you grab one thinking that it has probiotics in it, read the label first. You might be surprised there are also lots of dummy yogurts out there.

To know more of what a real yogurt should be, visit www.fruitsandyogurtcreations.com.  

Fruits and Yogurt Creations Flavors

Fruit Yogurt Flavors

Since its product launch in August, Blueberry flavor became the most sought fermented dairy product in Cagayan de Oro and Cebu City while Strawberry flavor was  more popular in Tandag City. But with the latest addition of Mango flavor to the product line, it became a hit in all places instantly. 

Fruits and Yogurt Creations in 90 mL Yogurt Cups

Blueberry in yogurt balance the sourness in yogurt and sweetness of the fruit thus enhancing its distinct blueberry taste.

Strawberry is the most popular flavor in kid's candy, wafer, and milk. With strawberry in yogurt, it makes you reminisce your childhood with the added benefits of probiotics.

Who does not like Philippine Mangoes? With its pulpy meat and irresistible sweetness, it creates contrast in tangy yogurt and heavenly sweet mango bits.

What's next? Langka (Jackfruit) Flavor?

Fruits and Yogurt Creations Launched

GELI Foods started in August 8, 2012 by a veteran food technologist specializing in dairy products. It is a home-based milk processing operation focusing on fermented milk products and cheeses utilizing latest knowledge in processing techniques combined with artisan skills. He decided to venture on his own business after more than 10 years of working in dairy development program of the government and private sector as project development officer and processing specialist.

GELI Foods can process up to 200 liters per day of plain (unflavored) and fruit-flavored yogurt using a bain-marie method and follows a standard incubation time to achieve the right acidity and consistency all the time.

Its cheeses are made using traditional techniques of an artisan cheese maker. From the ways of how cottage cheese is made in Laguna to European feta, it is carefully followed and improved to suit the local taste.

The source of milk is from the highlands of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon where cows are fed with fresh grasses and plenty of water at Green Acres Dairy Farm. The cows are holstein-sahiwal crosses and are grazed freely in assigned paddocks planted with improved grasses and legumes. Milk is harvested using double-bucket milking machines and stored in milk cooling tanks before delivery to GELI Foods.

Fruits and Yogurt Creations is the brand name of GELI Foods for its fermented products. It is a combination of properly fermented yogurt and imported blueberry and strawberry preserves for blueberry and strawberry flavored and mature and sun-ripe mangoes for its mango-flavored yogurt.

It is now available at Vjandep Pasalubong Center in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.

Blueberry yogurt with Sweetlife Coco Sugar

Yogurt with Blueberry is an irresistible blend. But it is usually added with regular refined sugar which makes people think twice to grab a cup or two.

What if instead of refined cane sugar, SweetLife Coco Sugar is used? Hmmmm. Intriguing!!!

In August 2012, we will be launching our more healthy yogurt in Cagayan de Oro. It will be yogurt that you never had before.