Glossary B

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Baumkuchen refers to one of the many traditional cakes from Germany, a German Tree Cake. It is a layered cake coated with chocolates . Baumkuchen is literally translated as "Tree Cake" (Baum = Tree and Kuchen = Cake)

Baumkuchen has a characteristic concentric rings that appear when sliced which resemble tree rings that give the cake its German name.

The origins of Baumkuchen which is known in Germany as the "King of Cakes"can be traced back into the distant past, from the 15th century and lingered in Europe until the 20the century.

Baumkuchen is also well known in Japan as it is in Germany. In Japan, it is known as "the Ultimate Wedding Cake". The first German confectionaer to bake Baumkuchen in Japan was Karl Juchheim who was captured by the Japanese during Worl War I in China. The Juchheim company is very famous in Japan and their Baumkuchen is usually used for presents or souvenirs given for the guests at wedding receptions.

Enjoy the pictures below of Baumkuchen I always buy in Germany during the Christmas season.

Botsi refers to one of the many Street Food in the Philippines which is made from the esophagus of chicken that are cut into small pieces, battered and deep-fried and served with a spicy Sawsawan (Dip) made from Vinegar (Suka).

Botsi can also be skewered and grilled.

What I have seen in San Pablo City in the Philippines during the daily Night Food Market is the battered and deep-fried version of Botsi , like the picture below. My friend who enjoys tasting these unique Street food enjoyed eating Botsi a lot together with the spicy Sawsawan that comes with it.

A plate wrapped in plastic can also be seen on the left side of the picture where the newly fried Botsi can be eaten swimming in the spicy Sawsawan. How I wish I can eat and enjoy them too. Hopefully, one day

Biko refers to one of Philippines sweets made of glutinous rice cooked in brown sugar and Coconut milk.

Biko is also spelled as Bico. They are made in different ways in every region of the country, but the main ingredients are always glutinous rice (Malagkit) and Coconut Milk (Gata) and of course the brown sugar (Asukal) to sweeten it.

Bico is best served with Latik.

Below is a picture of Biko sold using a mobile cart. One of the lovely sights we can always see in Philippines streets, the different raw or cooked food sold by mobile carts around.

Bicol Express refers to a dish from the Philippines.

Bicol Express is a traditional dishes from the Philippines, specifically from the Bicol Region which is famous for cooking spicy dishes employing the use of chilies, thus its name.

Bicol Express is made often with lots of slices of green spicy Banana Peppers, fiery Siling Labuyo (Red Bird's eye chili peppers) and small slices of pork or chicken, but not often or dried fish cooked in shrimp paste (Bagoong Alamang) and Gata (Coconut Milk)

Bicol Express is one of the popular dishes in the Philippines which is Ginataan (cooked in/with Coconut Milk)

Please see the article on Bird's Eye Chili Pepper for the picture

Hot and spicy Bicol Express offered by a food stall in one of the food court in a well-known mall in the Philippines.
Bicol Express, a Philippine Dish

Biryani also known as Biriyani refers to seasoned rice with mutton, chicken, fish and yoghurt and lost of spices, some versions have cashew nuts

There are so many kinds and types of Biryani in India, and it is also one of the national dishes of Pakistan.

There so many aspects about Biryani, but as of now, I just want not to elaborate on it, but to show you what Biryani looks like, so below are various pictures of Biryani which I gathered when I travelled to India.

Please see also other related articles about my short life in Allepey, Kerala, India and my encounter with Biryani. I am sure, after seeing so many pictures of Biryani, you wil either search in your area for Indian Restaurant serving Biryani or you will learn how to cook it.

Above are different kinds of Chicken Biryani all from one Allepey, Kerala, India. The last one is a Chicken Biryani served with Charlas/Saarlas and Thakkali Chutney bought from one of the Biryani Shops in Allepey, Kerala, India

Below is a Chicken Biryani which is a mainstay in Kerala, India as food for Wedding Parties

Above is a Beef Biryani from Allepey, Kerala, India. Almost looks the same as Chicken Biryani, except that it has Beef.

A simple Firsh Biryani below

This is a Biryani in one of the Restaurants in Dubai served with plain curd.

Below is a Mutton Biryani.

Börek is a thin, flaky and filled pastries which is available in different varieties based on shapes, filling and cooking method.

Moreover, Börek is the common and general name for all filled or stuffed baked or fried pastries, made from a thin flaky dough called Yufka (filo/phyllo sheets) and filled with various ingredients. (Please see related article and pictures of Yukfa)

There are many kinds and varieties of Börek based on fillings and place of origin, among them are the following:

(1) Su Böreki is a juicy kind of Borek which is a cross between a pastry and Lasagna. With Cheese and Parsley filling.

(2) Peynirli Börek - layered pastry with Cheese filling

(3) Patatesli Börek - Borek with potato filling

(4) Ispanakli Börek - Borek with spinach filling

(5) Kiymali Börek - Borek filled with minced or ground meat. Kiyma means ground meat in Turkish

(6) Cig Börek - a deep-fried thin dough filled with raw minced meat

(7) Ay Böreki - crescent-shaped Börek

(8) Talas Böreki - is a puff pastry with meat kebap filling

(9) Gül Börek is puff pastry with lamb meat.

Nowadays there is plenty Yufka sold in plastic packs available in the supermarkets. Some are of course not the best Yufka like that which are made in Turkey. Phyllo/Filo pastries can also used if no good Yufka is available nearby

Kiyma is Minced/Ground Meat and Ispanak is Spinach in Turkish.

Börek is also spelled as Boerek, and Burek

Depending on the filling, the shape and sometimes the region the term Börek is preceded by a descriptive noun: Kabak böre?i (Zucchini börek), Ispanak Böre?i (spinach Börek), Kiymali Börek (Börek with ground meat) or Su Böre?i (water/boiled Börek), Tepsi böre?i (layered börek) etc.

Ispanakli Börek or Spinach Börek is the favorite among the Turkish. It is generally made for and served at afternoon tea when friends and family gathered together, sold by street vendors as street food or Bakeshops early in the morning for breakfast. It can also be served as a complete meal for lunch or dinner served with Ayran, Soda and of course Turkish Hot Tea.

Ispanakli Börek can be prepared in different styles, in bundled, rolled, or in spiral, but the most common style is called Tepsi, a Turkish word which means "Tray", a layered Ispanakli Börek.

Below are pictures of Börek from Turkish Restaurant in Bremen, Germany. Turkish Food is one of the Foods closest to my heart. Turkish are the foreign people who can easily be friends in Germany. As a foreigner in Germany, it is nice to have new friends and the Turkish are the friendliest. I love to visit Turkish Restaurants and Coffee shops here just to sit down and enjoy the ambiance plus the food is always delicious, especially the Baklava and Kadayif with hot Turkish Tea.

Above is the first ever Börek I have eaten in Bremen, Germany, since our house is nearby a Turkish Eatery. It is a Börek filled with Cheese (Peynilri Börek)

Below is a picture of 3 different kinds of Börek in one of my favorite Turkish Coffee shops nearby my home in Huchting, Bremen. Filled with Ground meat (Kiyma); Spinach (Ispanak) and Cheese (Peynir)