Food for the tummy…nourishes the soul…the thoughts…and our bodies.
I ain’t a formal culinary student…but our kitchen let me experiment on cooking…what basically the restos and cooking shows let me taste! Bon Appetit!
2012 Yummies
Achiote Taqueria, Rockwell – with sis Ann Tan, 01/16/12
- Burritos
- Warm Spinach and white cheese salad
Yellow Cab – Mama’s birthday, 03/02/12
- New York’s Finest
- Wings, wedges and chips sampler
- Charlie Chan pasta
Krokodile Grille, Greenbelt – reunion with the “babies”, 03/06/12
- lechon kawali
- laing pasta
- sinigang na bangus
- baked tahong
Cafe Breton, Greenbelt – still part of the reunion and “2nd bday”, 03/06/12
- Le Magnifique
- Cafe Liegeois
Burgoo, SM MOA – arrival dinner and first time meet with Bugi, 07/18/12
- Onion Rings, Fries and Chicken Wings Sampler
- Pomelo Salad
- Pizza
- Pasta
21 Seafood , Kovan, Singapore, Pau’s pre-birthday dinner , 08/05/12
- Butter Crabs
- Cereal Prawns
Pizza Hut, SM Sta. Rosa, Papa’s birthday lunch, 08/07/12
- Mushroom soup
- Mozarella sticks
- Stuffed crust Super Supreme Pizza
- Chicken Pesto Pasta
Recent Food Trips 2
September-October 2011
PIZZA HUT family meal (@SM Sta.Rosa)
RED RIBBON mango cream birthday cake (@SM Sta.Rosa)
WORLD CHICKEN in farmfresh mushroom sauce, Asian Noodles and cheese muffin (@Glorietta)
CHEWY JUNIOR cream puffs! in chocolate madness, apple cream cheese and cookies n’ cream (@Greenbelt)
KOPI ROTI kaya puffs and kopi bun (@Greenbelt and The Columns)
SHAKEY’S PIZZA family meal (@NAIA 3)
El Domingo En Casa Cucina:The Other KFC!
BonChon…Charlie’s…Manang’s…familiar?
Of course!
Common Denominator: Twice fried chicken…A korean way of cooking, a.k.a. “kyochon chicken”
and this is one of the most supported fast food items in Manila now…
I’ve actually tried BonChon with my good friend RC one weekday for dinner and a few months ago, Manang’s Chicken was introduced to me by my hermano Stephen at Mercato. The BonChon encounter was really on top of my mind to try it out as to satisfy my curiosity and my sudden idea of coming up with my own (and possible business venture ^_^). So as usual…what I get to taste outside, I find alternatives, do research and test it at home!
Here’s my version of the other KFC — Korean Fried Chicken:
Marinate chicken overnight or for an hour with these:
Chicken Seasoning
Most recipes just call for salt and pepper for the seasoning, but for me, it is better if you season the chicken well so that you will have a succulent piece of chicken wing even without the sauce.
- 6 pieces chicken wings, drumstick and wing part separated (12 pcs total)
- 1/2 T minced onion
- 1/2 T minced garlic
- 2 T soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
coat the chicken with
Breading
- 1 /2 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch or breading mix (and breadcrumbs if you like)
- salt and pepper to taste
deep fry for about 6-8minutes or until done.
set aside. drain in paper towels excess oil and start doing the
Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 T honey
- 2 T brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 T finely minced garlic and onion
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 T hot sauce
Instructions:
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, water, and brown sugar. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, saute garlic and onions for 2 minutes.
- Pour in soy sauce mixture and simmer for 10-12 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and add in ketchup and hot sauce.
- Stir to evenly mix the sauce.
deep fry (for the second time) the chicken until crisp. drain oil again then toss the twice fried chicken in your pre-made sauce.
ENJOY!!!
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>>TipBox<<
for the sauce, you can alter ketchup with sweet and chili sauce (available in bottles) and eliminate the hot sauce;
can also add toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions on top…best with tartar sauce or sour cream! 🙂
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El Sabado En Casa Cucina: Creamy Fried Sardines Pasta
(amelie trivia: i love to experiment dishes, i make new meals out of what’s available in the house! no mesurements, just taste tests…and “tanchaiming”)
btw, this is a local seafood (semi-)white sauce pasta version!
- Prepared in just 30 minutes (boil your noodles already and strain!)
- Be ready with butter to saute your garlic, onions and tomatoes if you wish
- Fry the canned (spanish style) sardines just a little…and add its natural oil
- add a little bit butter again and a little water
- salt, pepper and sugar to taste (can add seasoning granules if you want)
- gradually mince the fish meat while adding (evap) milk* to the boiling sauce
- when sauce is beginning to thicken, add the noodles
- simmer in low fire
- serve…devour!
*if you want a tomato-based sauce, replace milk with canned tomatoes or LOTS of freshly diced tomatoes…and minced basil leaves…yuuuummmmeeeey!
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>>TipBox<<
break pasta noodles in the middle before drowning them to boil, of course add salt and oil
an don’t overcook…keep it “al dente”!
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Jollibee Flavored Fries: Newest Addiction!
My palates, craving for something salty, commanded my feet to head off to Jollibee one ordinary afternoon. I remembered the commercial on the flavored fries so I politely asked the crew if they have it on their branch as I could not find it on the menu as I was staring on it before.
And YES, they have it!
I was just planning to take out a serving, for curiosity and cravings’ sake…however, learning that it costs more than half a hundred, I immediately thought of just upgrading a value meal with that flavored fries…tipid! 😉
A few moments, my order was served and after paying, I headed home. Tried one…two…and more during the trip home, and choosing Sour Cream and Onion flavor, definitely did not disappoint me!
Terrifically, satisfied!
I’ve always enjoyed Pringles, Piknik, Piattos and Shake Fries, and starting now, Jollibee’s Flavored Fries in Sour Cream!
Now I have a new fave…hmmm…mmm!
Aristocrats for a Qoola night with Auntie Anne ^_^
Actually, it was a Friday night bonding which started with my sissy coming over to Makati. We patiently waited for the rain to halt and the moment it did, we rushed to Ayala (I was really ready to buy a new cam that day) right away!
First stop: Glorietta, Ayala Ave.
Hopping off from the FX, we don our way to the mall’s entrance – our shortcut to Park Square where I intend to look for a cam. Passing at G4, I was reminded of my cravings with that hand-rolled, warm pretzels…and yeah, Auntie Anne’s was there! After years, I finally had the chance to get myself (and my sis) a piece of it (no exaggeration, it was really some time ago that I had my last bite!), and there, we got the original flavored pretzies and took a cream cheese dip! Yum Yum!
we were so excited to munch that we only had the dip to be taken a shot of!
Second Stop: Aristocrat, Jupiter St.
After we escaped from the treacherous rains, we headed to Jupiter St. to meet up with my good friend Ziek. He wanted to have dinner at his fave resto plus be with us, so we agreed to dine at Aristocrat since it’s the only branch in Makati. He had his “house specialty order”, Barbecued Chicken, while we all shared with the all-time favorites Laing and Fish Fillet in Sweet and Sour Sauce (since my original bangus belly order wasn’t available).
Ziek’s treat @ Aristocrat
After that nice dinner, the spontaneous night rolled as we tried searching for a place to unwind and go good time…luckily…all the KTV bars nearby are jampacked…*toink* we forgot that it’s a payday-friday! oh yeah…
Third stop: Greenbelt, Ayala
Correct! we found ourselves at Ayala again…the nearest “still-awake” place nearest to where we are…but…
-all the coffee shops are crowded…and it’s kinda ordinary…
-gelato shops are closing in 10 minutes…we don’t just want to sit and gulp the ice cream!
-we are not drinking that night…Ziek’s got work on Saturdays!
-we don’t have the “kachings” for dancing…Bed Space closed???
so we ended up at Qoola…that nice incense-scented (i forgot what particular scent it is, but I love it!) little nook at the Greenbelt strip near your high-end wine bars and pasta-pizzeria.
A cool way to end our night and a healthy dessert to share with stories. We got one hefty serving of frozen blackberry yogurt with almond, choco-strawberry chips,candy sprinkles and maple syrup. It’s by the grams, so you’ve got to choose the lighter toppings if your getting more yogurt!
Qoolalah!
Recent Food Trips
Eastwood
HL @ the new Eastwood Mall (my first time after yearssss!)
all time fave! Green Tea + Rock salt and cheese
Kogi Bulgogi – Korean eating with Superfriends on a Thursday night
Kimchi Pancake…a hit!
Ayala
Bonchon Chicken @ Greenbelt…since Ayala triangle is surely crowded
the popular ‘twice fried’ fried chicken in town!
Fort Bonifacio
Serenitea @ Burgos Circle…reunion with former colleagues
Okinawa Milk tea with black pearls and 50% sweetness
:
e.l.f.’s contant advertisement-emails caught my attention one time with these little tube pals that contains shimmery cream! great for the eyes, face and even lips! it’s a one-stop-shimmery cosmetic that’s easy on the pocket! it is sold at Php129 only, yet it’s out of stock today!!!
ENVY is a budding fashion accessories and clothing e-business owned by the Tan sisters, Ann and Angela. Their ‘passion for fashion’ plus love for travels gave inspiration to this brand, thus little by little making them known through their clients and seasoned bazaars around the metro.
Photo Credits: Envy Fashion + Accessories FB page
i’m up for the challenge.
Unique Marathons: Outbreak Manila- BGC, Dance4Life dance marathon
to Sis, thanks for lending me this!
compliments of a former officemate =)
a suggested reading from the past (I downloaded the audiobook version)
JIT referral coming from a good friend — currently reading this one and finishing soon so I can return 😉
belle âme 
