TOKYO – A special fair featuring Ube Halo-Halo and other ube-inspired dishes is being held at Sonoko Cafe Ginza to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines.
The “Philippine Fair with Ube Halo-Halo” runs from July 1 to Aug. 31 in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. The limited-time menu features ube, or purple yam, a key ingredient in many Filipino desserts.
The fair showcases Sonoko Cafe Ginza’s version of Ube Halo-Halo, inspired by the traditional Filipino shaved ice dessert enjoyed for generations. True to its Tagalog name, which means “mix-mix,” halo-halo combines shaved ice with a variety of colorful ingredients.
The cafe’s Ube Halo-Halo includes ice cream drizzled with ube sauce and ube shiratama, or chewy rice flour dumplings made with purple yam. According to Sonoko, the dessert is prepared without unnecessary food additives to highlight the ingredient’s natural flavor and sweetness.
Other ube-inspired dishes, including ube curry, pasta, Mont Blanc, smoothies and frappes, are also available during Fair Week from July 27 to Aug. 9.
Sonoko Cafe Ginza offers dishes prepared through non-oil cooking methods using carefully selected ingredients. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photos courtesy of Sonoko Cafe Ginza)
