Perfected Pizza I've featured many pizzas before, but I think this one is just more perfect than the others.
Do this ahead of time:
Pizza dough from scratch - it takes 3 risings before the dough is ready. Portion the dough and flatten one serving on the wok. Cover until it gets bigger (this is the 3rd and final rising)
pizza dough to be flattened and risen on the wok
Salted dried fish (bulad) - soak the fish in water to remove excess salt, then shred to debone. Strain
soak the dried/salted fish in water to remove excess salt, then shred to debone. Strain
Roasted eggplant - eggplant is roasted on flame, skinned and sliced. Half is added to the sauce and half is used as toppings
Tomatoes - tomatoes are sliced and seeded. Half + all the seeds and moisture to be added to sauce while half with no seed, no moisture is used as garnishing
Ingredients + Cooking Instructions: in chronological order
Aromatics - sliced garlic, onion, green onion (the white part) and bell pepper are sauteed in medium heat in saucepan
aromatics: sliced garlic, onion, green onion (the white part) and bell pepper
Salted dried fish (bulad) - add to the sauce
bulad, shredded salted fish, is added to the sauce
Roasted eggplant + tomatoes - half of eggplant is added to the sauce. Tomatoes + seed and water content are added to sauce
eggplant and tomatoes added to sauce
Prepared tomato sauce - toss-in the prepared tomato sauce. Ideally, I should be doing my own sauce, but tomatoes are too expensive here in Siquijor that buying prepared makes sense (and expedient). Simmer to a saucy consistency. The sauce is now prepared and finished.
prepared tomato sauce is added to sauce mix
Pizza dough - pizza dough should have risen on the wok. Start stove on lowest heat setting until the dough has a crusty underside (5 mins). Turn to the other side (4 mins) and start adding the sauce
Toppings - you will be doing this as the other side of the crust is being cooked. You only have about 4 minutes to do all this and cover the pizza. Add the other half of the eggplant and cheese as toppings. Cover so it acts like an oven
eggplant and cheese are added as toppings
Garnish - when cooked, add green onions and diced tomatoes(seeded so no moisture)
green onions and diced tomatoes are added as garnish
Remove from heat - lift cover and if the bottom is crunchy enough (about 4 mins), remove from heat
pizza should be cooked and ready to rack
Rack - transfer to a rack for aeration and keeping the crust crunchy
yummy goodness with crunchy crust
Drizzle with Olive oil - drizzle with olive oil before serving. For drizzling, I use my flavored olive oil. It's olive oil put in a different bottle with added star anise, cinnamon sticks and cloves
drizzle pizza with olive oil infused with star anise, cinnamon sticks and cloves
Ending Thoughts What makes this special is the crunchy crust since the dough is wok-roasted on both sides and thin enough so that the inside is cooked as well.
(December 31, 2023) I'd been catching the morning sun for my sun-gazing, riding up Bolo Bolo for my afternoon bike workout and spring dipping, and 3 yoga books concurrent...more »»
(May 29, 2024) In theory, ChatGPT should have already synthesized all permutations of the Masala Chai recipes that are available online. And from its mega-database of just Masala Chai, it produced this Food Recipes. Just how 'perfect' could this be? Let's find out....more »»
More on Lazi:
Lazi Local Info
Resorts - Lazi has some beach/dive resorts on its west coast - Gabayan Riviera, Lazi Beach Club, Bahura Dive Resort. However, the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day only in the morning, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun goes down, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset
Lazi Port - Kho Shipping, the shipping line operating from Lazi Port, has stopped its service to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Cebu. Passengers can go to Siquijor Port or Larena Port for boat services out of Siquijor Island
More on Siquijor Island:
Siquijor Island Local Info
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion
Siquijor Island Map Siquijor - Dumaguete Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm
Aleson Shipping - at Siquijor Port, 6 am and 6 pm daily, 1:30 pm M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax
Siquijor - Tagbilaran - Cebu City Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
Ocean Jet - 8:20 am, at Siquijor Port To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, 2 hours (arrive 10:20 am), P1200/business class To Cebu(Pier 1): P1600/tourist & open air, 4 hours (arrive 12:40 am), P2400/business class
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, 3 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 10 pm, P475/standard (Tourist, PHP 750) To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 10 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 5 am, PHP 605/standard (Senior P484), Tourist, PHP 770
Apekoptravel - at Larena Port to Tagbilaran: 1:00 pm, xxx hours, P750
Reserve through call or text: Cleare - 0938 283 4760 | Grace - 0936 534 6564 | Jessel - 0961 759 6711,
Pay via G-Cash: +63-917-880-1464, Email: momovillageadventure@gmail.com,
Facebook messenger: Apekoptravel. Enter your birthday and nationality to get discounts:
0 to 3 years old free,
4 to 9 years old will have 20% discount,
10 years old and above full price,
Filipino Senior Citizens will also have 20% discount
Siquijor - Plaridel Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?
Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip(as of Jan 2023)
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
Suggested Destinations After Siquijor Island
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes