LOOK: ‘Surfing the Menu’ hosts try Filipino dishes at Maginhawa

It is said that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. What better way to welcome Aussie first-timers in the Philippines then than to feed them with our food?

“Surfing the Menu: Next Generation” hosts Dan Churchill and Hayden Quinn have arrived in Manila for the TLC Festival, which is happening today at Bonifacio High Street.

Before meeting their fans and sharing their love for food and travel at the fest, though, Dan and Hayden went on a food tour in Quezon City to sample some of the Philippines’ most famous dishes.

For their first stop, the celebrity chefs went to Rodic’s in Maginhawa to try its famous tapsilog.

Verdict: The lads said they liked it! They said the dish went well with some chili sauce.

Next stop was Kanin Club at UP-Ayala Land Technohub. Upon being told that kanin meant rice in Filipino, the Aussies said, “we’re going rice clubbing!”

Hayden and Dan take a photo with Rodic’s famous tapsilog as the celebrity chefs go on a food tour in Maginhawa, Quezon City. —PHOTOS BY RISSA M. CAMONGOL

The surfer chefs sample the famous Filipino breakfast staple.

Having sinangag na sinigang and crispy pork belly dinuguan at Kanin Club, UP-Ayala Land Technohub

Here they had sinigang rice and crispy dinuguan, and for dessert they had halo-halo.

“Oh wow. It’s pretty sour,” they said, adding they loved tamarind. “I like it!”

Dan became excited when he saw the halo-halo. “So much color!”

My friends let me introduce you to Halo Halo a popular Filipino Dessert… yep this one ticks the boxes #ColorAlwaysWins

A photo posted by Dan Churchill, Healthy, Food (@dan_churchill) on Nov 3, 2016 at 2:22am PDT

Verdict: They liked it!

And then it was time for a boodle fight at Gerry’s Jeepney. By this time, the guys were already pretty full, that they were overwhelmed when they saw the quantity of food served to them.  

Boodle fight at Gerry’s Jeepney

Every country does their own grilled bird, this one was pretty epic #philippines #kamayan A photo posted by Hayden Quinn (@hayden_quinn) on Nov 3, 2016 at 1:18am PDT

Verdict: They liked it, but it was apparent that they were so full at this point. Dan was impressed with the grilled eggplant salsa.

They also made bibingka after a quick demo on how to prepare it.

Doing what I love in a country with so many smiling faces… set up a little shop hehe see all those Manila friends at #TLCfest16 tomorrow!

A photo posted by Dan Churchill, Healthy, Food (@dan_churchill) on Nov 4, 2016 at 3:42am PDT

Bibingka Not sure about this one? Could be an acquired taste A photo posted by Hayden Quinn (@hayden_quinn) on Nov 3, 2016 at 1:23am PDT

Verdict: Hayden said it could be acquired taste.

To cap off the tour, they tried the famed Filipino concoction of dirty ice cream in a hamburger bun.

That moment when you bite into a hamburger bun filled with cheese ice cream for the first time…we are discovering some unique eats in Asia

A photo posted by Dan Churchill, Healthy, Food (@dan_churchill) on Nov 3, 2016 at 4:01pm PDT

Verdict: Definitely not a fan.

Despite being full from all that food, Dan and Hayden kept the energy up and were such good sports. In fact, they also rode the tricycle, where they had a hard time fitting in.

These Aussie lads also rode a tricycle for good measure.

They couldn’t believe a tricycle could fit up to five people!

Expect the same energy, lots of laughter, and of course glorious food and great entertainment from these surfer chefs at the festival, together with TLC stars “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro and Janet Hsieh of “Fun Taiwan.”

Admission is free at the TLC Festival, which starts at 11 a.m. and features a “global village” where guests can learn how to cook, make art, be entertained and many more. Use the #TLCFest16 hashtag.

Catch new episodes of “Surfing the Menu: Next Generation” Mondays, starting Nov. 7, at 9 p.m. on TLC.

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