Issue 15: A "Sweet" Leisurely Stroll Through Central (Part II) 🍋
Come explore Piti and Asan + a sweet stay at home dessert pairing
Hi Friends!
We’re on our last village guide, where we continue on our central road trip to Piti and Asan.
We also have a sweet treat for you in this special issue featuring Freelance Pastry Chef Ethol Alviz and the amazing desserts she created to celebrate Mes CHamoru!
Our trek through the island may be over (for now), but we take a breather by staying home and doing what we do best - eating & drinking. 🍷🍰 Ethol also shares tips for pairing her favorite beverage with savory recommendations.
P.S. Don’t forget to participate in our giveaway on our IG for extra entries! All our subscribers get an automatic entry to current and future giveaways. We’re announcing this week’s winner LIVE on Saturday, April 8 at 11 AM 🏆
We hope you have a wonderful Easter!
❤️ WW Gals
Our Itinerary through Piti and Asan
(Sources: Mayors’ Council of Guam, Port Authority of Guam, and National Park Service)
Piti
Also known as “port city,” Piti is home to the Port Authority of Guam in Apra Harbor. Vessels dock to load consumer goods for Guam and Micronesia at this port.
💭 Did you know…
The village gets its name from the CHamoru word “puti” meaning pain either through a sore, disease, illness, or through physical or emotional pain… ouch!
In the 16th century, the Port of Guam catered to Spanish ships. Today, it’s one of the most important ports in the Pacific region that links the CNMI, Micronesian islands, and Far East markets with the US and the rest of the world.
📍Emerald Bay in Piti
Just behind the Piti powerplant is the beautiful Emerald Bay. A short walkway leads out to the ocean, but from the ledge you can see the mesmerizing turquoise waters.
Follow Guam EPA for updated beach reports.
📍Piti Guns
During the Japanese occupation, Piti was a rice paddy village, and the guns were strategically placed for defense by the Japanese. The guns had a firing range of about 10 miles and were to be used against incoming ships. Today, Piti Guns remains as a historic hiking trail.
📍Kite Flying at Asan Beach Park
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading the historical placards in the park while enjoying kiteflying during sunset.
💭 Did you know
The village of Asan gets its name from the CHamoru word “hassan” meaning scarce or rare.
In 1901, Asan Beach was an imprisonment camp for 42 exiled Filipino rebels who fought in the revolution against the U.S. Paralyzed 30-year-old Apolonario Mabini was considered the brains of the revolution and was exiled to Guam for refusing to take the U.S. Oath of Allegiance.
Poll Time!
Stay at Home Guide: Dessert Pairing with Freelance Pastry Chef Ethol Alviz
After a month-long adventure exploring our island's different villages and sites, we’re ending it with a relaxing tasting event at home. We’re indulging in these too-gorgeous-to-eat desserts by freelance pastry chef Ethol Alviz, who used local products and recommended wine and spirit pairings so we can have the full experience.
Bio: Ethol Alviz aka @bloobaker is a freelance pastry chef with a bachelor’s in culinary from Enderun Colleges/Ecole Ducasse in the Philippines. She is also qualified as a Wines and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2, a training that teaches how to depict regional wine varieties from regional climate to production processes all from a single sip. She recently completed a program at a 2 Michelin Star restaurant in France.
🍋 LOCAL LEMON paired with the Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc
local lemon whipped ganache, confit, cremeux, financier, shortbread
EA: Originally, I wanted to use calamansi for this dessert, but I kept seeing local lemon around, so I just had to pick it up. I've never tried local lemon before, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me since I've wanted to work with local fruits/vegetables more. For me, it was like a crossbreed between calamansi and mandarin- a sweeter, less sour calamansi. It also reminded me of dalandan – known as sour orange and a native fruit of the Philippines.
In each component of this dessert, I incorporated the local lemon. I wanted to show how you can manipulate the textures of one ingredient to give a different but balanced mouthfeel. It's such a challenge for me, but I love it. It's my kind of art.
For the local lemon dessert, I paired it with Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc. Maybe I'm a bit biased because it is my favorite white wine, but I do have my reasons for it; sharp, crisp, acidic, and dry are all the characteristics of this wine.
Acid paired with acid doesn't sound like it'd be complementary, but when paired together, it can bring the acidity into balance and enhance the fruitiness. The zestiness of both the wine and dessert isn't lost but instead highlighted.
🥥 COCONUT Paired with WhiCo’s Sparkling Whiskey and Coconut Water
coconut whipped ganache, almond cream, coconut candy, mascarpone cremeux, sweet pastry dough
EA: A revamp of one of the desserts I made last year for Mes Chamoru.
Most of the components are similar to last year, with only a few tweaks in the recipes and the techniques used to make it. While the local lemon dessert highlights locally grown fruits, this dessert highlights a sweet staple known in the CHamoru culture – coconut candy.
For the coconut dessert, I paired it with WhiCo's Sparkling Whiskey and Coconut Water cocktail. The whiskey complements the caramelization in the coconut candy without being too overpowering, while the freshness of the coconut water compliments the creamy coconut flavors in the dessert. It is a perfectly refreshing drink to wash down with every bite
🥂 Ethol’s Favorite: Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc and How else can it be paired?
EA: Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite, specifically because it is from Marlborough, New Zealand. Sauvignon Blancs that come from this region is known to be more aromatically pronounced, pungent, and intensely flavored compared to other regions. This is because Marlborough has a cool climate, where this grape grows best. Not to say that New Zealand has the best Sauvignon Blanc, but it is just my preferred taste.
This wine pairs well with fatty, highly acidic foods, light fish and seafood, goat cheese specifically, poultry such as chicken or turkey, green vegetables, and anything citrusy.
Tip: You can find Ethol’s favorite spirits at Circle K in Sun Plaza, Tumon 🥂 Locals get a 10% discount ONLY at this location 😉
Coming Up This Easter Weekend…
You might have noticed that we did not include our regular “Events” section in this newsletter, but not to worry! We gathered all the upcoming events for April.
🌱 Saturday, April 8, 2023
Guam Animals in Need presents Pupper Pop-Up’s
While you’re out shopping, stop over to cuddle with some furry friends in need and maybe adopt one 🐶
📍 Location: GPO (Beside Bestseller)
⏰ Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Come on everyBUNNY, let’s head to Micronesia Mall for a fun day of Easter activities such as Easter ornament decorating, magic show, and face painting for ages as well as a big kids only bunny hunt for 11-17 year olds. Did we mention that the activities are FREE?
📍 Location: Micronesia Mall Center Court
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Spring Into Reading with Guam Community College
Encourage the love for reading at GCC’s storytelling event for children ages 4 to 10 (must be accompanied by their parent or Guardian at all times). There will be fun activities and a contest!
Admission is FREE!
📍 Location: GCC E-Building room 117-120
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
The Salt and Light Realty and Safe Haven Guam
The Salt and Light Realty will be hosting their First Anniversary Gala, a charity event to benefit Safe Haven Guam, a non-profit organization that gives hope and support to expecting mothers in need of confidential advocacy, counseling, parenting classes, and other resources.
All proceeds will go toward the renovations and improvements of the new Safe Haven Pregnancy Center facility.
Tickets: $150
📍 Location: Dusit Thani Guam Resort’s Royal Ballroom
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Purchase tickets here
See our full event calendar for April here.
Don’t Be a Stranger!
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