Kain Pinoy – Page 9 – …because we love to eat

Dialogues at Starbucks with Lori Baltazar

I’ve been to two Dialogues twice before; it goes without saying that I enjoy these talks that Starbucks organize every two months. This month’s theme is education, and last Saturday, they tapped Lori Baltazar of Dessertcomesfirst.com to share her thoughts and experiences on food blogging and photography.

Lori started of by telling us about herself, her background and how her food blog came to life. It was her ~~passion~~ fervor for food that pushed her to writing and blogging about the one topic she loves most. For Lori, blogging is not just about writing whatever comes to mind. Each post entails much research, usually done right in her personal library of over 400 cook books and several reference books (which includes a descriptionary). Her hardwork can be clearly seen in her blog: each post are detailed and written so lyrically that you find yourself craving even before you reach the last paragraph.

One thing that I vividly remember about Lori’s talk on food blogging was when she said to “trust your taste.” She advises us to be honest with what we think about the food we are reviewing, and not force ourselves to like it, just because everybody else like it. I found myself agreeing, and shamefully admitting to myself that I am guilty of it more than a couple of times. Another thing I remember was to not go to a restaurant when you’re in a bad mood. Again, I agree — bad mood more often than not, affects the general feeling you have about a place, thereby losing your objectivity.

On food photography, Lori shares these pointers:

Know your camera
Use natural light
Rotate the plate
Use the lowest ISO you can manage
Macro function is your best friend
Be discreet. NO flash.

And here’s Lori talking about macro and using flash:

Afterwards, there was a coffee pairing: Starbucks brews paired with a savory wrap and two desserts. The Organic Shade Grown Mexico was paired with the Basil and Tomato wrap (I forgot exactly what it was), the Colombia Nariño Supremo with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie and the Komodo Dragon Blend with the Mocha Sans Rival (so good!).

Dyanie, Lori and Me

The dialogue, the coffee and the pastries weren’t the only things that made this event memorable: I also met one of my readers, the dearest Dyanie who sent me a package of goodies back in August. Yup, couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Do you love your Mother?

I’m not one for fads, but one fad that I do like is the switch from plastic bags to reusable bags (which I’m hoping wouldn’t just be a fad). Before, there was just Envirosax. Then retail stores followed, offering their own branded reusable bags in lieu of plastic, often for a fee. These bags are cute, but sometimes come with a price tag that raises the eyebrows.

Mother Earth Bags is an advocacy project of four friends Nena, Joey, Kat & Angela, who believes in saving the planet one bag at a time. It may be hard to make a dent on the trillion plastic bags used every year, but saving hundreds a year per person is still something, right? Besides, how can you resist these cute bags?

The bags come in printed canvas (Php 95) and flour sacks, both plain (Php 35) and embellished (Php 65).

Now on to the good part! I just got my Mother Earth Bags, and I’m absolutely impressed. The craftsmanship on each is superb! The bags are made at The Livelihood Shop, a program that employs underprivileged women of Taguig. Not only are you helping the environment when you use the bags, you’re also providing these women with livelihood when you buy.

Mother Earth Bags are available on a per order basis, through their Multiply site. Or, you can win a couple of bags for yourself from Kainpinoy.com! To join, simply tell us which one of these phrases describes you perfectly:

I’m a mama’s girl.
I’m a mama’s boy
I’m one hot mama.
I honor my mother.
I’m bringing this to my mama.
My mother loves the Village People, Gunther and Hard Gay.

Post your answers in the comment box, and be sure to leave a valid e-mail address! This contest is open to all Kainpinoy.com readers, both in the Philippines and overseas. Contest closes on October 31st, and the winner will be drawn and announced on the 1st of November. I’m running a similar contest over at my travel blog, and yes, they’re independent of each other. You can join both contests to increase your chances of winning 😀

Nescafe Iced Coffee

I’m not really much of a coffee drinker, I have to admit. Despite working nights, I’ve actually grown accustomed to staying up all night without needing to drink coffee to keep me awake and functional. However, I like trying new things and when I see something new, I have to try it!

While grocery shopping with my family, I wandered over to the chiller to pick up some cheeses and see what else is available. Nestled with the Yakult and yogurts was these small bottles of Nescafe Iced Coffee.

Just a tad bigger than the Yakult bottle, the Nescafe Iced Coffee comes in three variants: Original, Sweet & Creamy and Ginseng. Not a fan of ginseng, I picked up a bottle of Original blend, and two bottles of Sweet & Creamy. At Php 10, it’s cheap enough to buy a couple for taste testing. Apparently, it’s a pretty good buy as well. The Sweet and Creamy variant was exactly as it was labled: very creamy and not overly sweet (to me at least). The Original was good too. I was expecting it to be black, but it was already sweetened and had cream, though not as sweet and as creamy as the other variant.

So if you find yourself in need of a caffeine fix, but don’t have the budget for a pricey cup, head on to the nearest covenience store or grocery and pick up a couple of bottles of Nestle Iced Coffee.

Greenwich Pizza Party with John Lloyd

Greenwich invited members of both traditional and new media to formally launch their new Gourmet Overloaded pizzas a couple of weeks back. Instead of a formal press conference, we were treated to a pizza party with Greenwich endorser, John Lloyd Cruz.

John Lloyd with the Greenwich team

Greenwich’s Rufino branch was packed with media people, eagerly waiting the pizza and John Lloyed. At 4 pm, the guest of honor was ushered in, and camera flashes filled the room. After the introductions and raffle, the pizzas were brought out: Hickory BBQ Chicken and Grilled Beef Shawarma.

Greenwich Overloaded Hickory BBQ Chicken Pizza

The Hickory BBQ Chicken Overloaded Pizza was packed with toppings, and in one whiff, and you know the pizza’s bursting with flavor. And it was. The Grilled Beef Shawarma was the winner in my book, though. It was able to capture that shawarma flavor I’ve been hankering for. So much so that I had to resist the urge to roll the pizza slice and it shawarma style XD

Greenwich Overloaded Grilled Beef Shawarma Pizza

And to further prove that I hardly pay attention, I learned that afternoon that the Greenwich Overloaded pizzas are available in thin and thick crusts (which it turns, Ryan already blogged before). I’m partial to thin crusts, but in Greenwich’s case, I highly recommend going for the thick crust version. I find the thick crust softer than the thin crust, and are actually not that thick. I also found out why their pizzas aren’t as oily as other pizzas: they use olive oil!

Greenwich Pizza
Website: www.greenwich.com.ph
Delivery Hotline: 5-55-55

Lisa Leung at Tang City

Top Singaporean chef Lisa Leong flew in to Manila recently to demonstrate the uses of MCT products by hosting a cooking demo at Tang City in Glorietta. Aside from being a top chef, Chef Leong has long been an advocate of healthy living and healthful eating.

Normally, when we hear healthful food, we think of bland, and tasteless food. Well, Chef Leong came to show us that healthful food can also taste great.

During the event, she demonstrated how these products can be used as substitutes to other ingredients. By the way, most MCT products used in the demo are coconut based, such as the MCT COCOS Powder- which is a good substitute in recipes calling for coconut milk or cream-and the SUPER COCO Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.

She first made some Kaya, a Singaporean jam, using the MCT Cocos Powder and the COCOS Pandan Coconut Oil. These were then served for us to sample on some hot, toasted bread. That was the first time I’ve had Kaya, and I have to say, I loved it! It was so good.

Next, Chef Leong made a rice dish called Nasi Lemak, again using the MCT COCOS Powder and the COCOS Pandan Coconut Oil. These were served with the usual sidings.

Another Singaporean delight she made was the Dancing Singapore Laksa, her take on the traditional Laksa. It was basically the same, except that she used the Dancing Chef Laksa Paste, the MCT COCOS Powder and the COCOS Pandan Coconut Oil.

For dessert, Chef Leong made some Jingle Glass Jell-O, again using the MCT COCOS Powder in place of the milk. It looked pretty much like the Stained Glass/ Cathedral Windows Jelly we’re used to.

And, she also baked a delicious Pandan Cake using a rice cooker! How awesome is that?!

Who says you’d have to deprave yourself just to be healthy? This array of New Asian Style cuisine by Lisa Leong proves to us why great-tasting, healthful food is far from being a myth.

This cooking demo is made possible by Team Asia Corporation, the leading distributor of Highlanders Brown Rice Tea, Super COCO Virgin Coconut Oil, and Nano Wellness Cards in the Phillippines. For inquires, please call (02) 723-4461 to 64; email sales@teamasiacorporation.com, or visit their website : www.teamasiacorporation.com

Milky Way at the Powerplant Mall

After a blog event in Makati last Saturday, Arpee, Noreen, Eric, Bong and I headed to Rockwell for the Negros Trade Fair. A freak thunderstorm had us changing our plans at the last minute — it was pouring so hard that visibility was zero! Luckily, we were already inside the mall during the sudden downpour. We were left without any plans though… where do we eat?

I seldom go to Rockwell, so I asked Arpee and Noreen to pick out where we’d have an early dinner since they frequent the Powerplant mall. We went down to the lower ground, where most of the the restaurants are. We were overwhelmed with the choices, each restaurant with its own specialty. We were all set to go to Mongkok when we spotted a restaurant that is near and dear to the Lazaros: Milky Way.

I’ve only heard about Milky Way from Arpee’s blog, and I’m glad to finally able to try it. Milky Way is set up much like a turo-turo, where each dish is laid out in glass display and you point to the dish you want to order. My eyes were immediately drawn to the gorgeous pile of Pork Spareribs, and ordered one for myself. I ordered one order of rice to go with it, and a plate of Pancit Luglog.

When the food was served, I went about taking photos as I usually do (except when I’m extremely hungry). Arpee and Noreen, on the otherhand, having eaten at Milky Way several times before, didn’t bother and went about attacking their spareribs and Adobong Pusit. I heard Arpee gushing about the spareribs — how tender the meat was, and how flavorful it is. Quickly finishing my photoshoot, I put my camera and Gorillapod back in my bag and digged in.

I’ve learned to take Arpee and Noreen’s word when they say something’s good, but nothing prepared me for how good the food actually taste. The Pork Spareribs was great in every way — it’s tasty, it’s tender and it has a good proportion of fat at meat. Priced at Php 180 for one slice, it may seem pricey, but bear in mind that it’s a pretty big slice: it’s big enough to share. One rice is not enough for the whole slab, but I refrained from ordering an extra serving because I still have my pancit. The Pancit Luglug was another hit in my book. Unlike other palabok/luglog that tries to overwhelm you with the number of toppings, Milky Way keeps it simple with the delicious aligue sauce, hardboiled eggs, chicharon and spring onions. At Php 90 per order, Milky Way’s Pancit Luglog is a good choice for a filling merienda (try it with their Sago’t Gulaman, which I hear is another clear winner).

Milky Way
Concourse Level
Power Plant Mall
Rockwell Drive corner Estrella St.
Makati City

900 Arnaiz Avenue
Makati City

Ground Level, V-Mall
Greenhills Shopping Center
San Juan

Rafik's Wagyu Shawarma

Fellow foodies Eric and Bong were headed to the Salcedo Weekend Market, so I tagged along, eager to see how the market has grown from the last time I went there (which was way back in 2004). My, has it grown! There are certainly more booths now compared to 4 years ago, and twice as many people. The only familiar sight was Ineng’s barbeque stall, which has always been a bestseller.

I went around the market twice over, to see the offerings before I decide what to have for breakfast. I was thinking of having the Paella, Kaoko always rave about, but couldn’t find it. Still, there were plenty of stalls offering a wide variety of cuisine. In no time, I was torn between several choices.

In the end I ended up at the stall near the Bgy. Bel Air Clinic. Proudly proclaiming that they serve Wagyu burgers and shawarma, my interest was certainly piqued. I’ve been hankering for shawarma for some time now, and my curiosity about Wagyu pushed me to stop and buy from the stall.

This is the most expensive shawarma I’ve ever had. At Php 190, it raises your expectations. It certainly reached mine. The meat was tender and packed with flavor. The garlic sauce was especially nice, too. It was quite a way to satisfy my shawarma craving.

The Salcedo Community Market is open every Saturday, from 7am to 2pm.

Salcedo Community Market
Jaime Velasquez Park
Tordesillas and Leviste (formerly Alfaro) streets
Salcedo Village, Makati City
The market is open every

Winners of the Delifrance Tray Couture Coupons!

Thank you to everyone who joined our Delifrance Tray Couture contest! I was overwhelmed by the responses. Here the 10 winners of the Delifrance Tray Couture coupons:

Girlie A. Camungay who said:

Im a person who can COMPLETE your day that’s why I can compare myself to Cherie. Cherie has a COMPLETE source of health benefits like carbohydrates(bread, pasta), protein(chicken, egg), and vitamin A & C (mango, vegetables). Its very rare to find a COMPLETE meal and so am I…

boy kuripot who said:

Given my tight work schedule, it’s always a balancing act between work and play. I play as hard as I work. To me, everything needs its balance! Even when it comes to meals, I see to it that I eat balanced meals. I need to have enough carbs, proteins, and nutrients that fits my diet. Of course flavor needs to be well balanced too! For these reasons, PHILIPPE Delifrance Tray Couture best reflects who I am. It has enough carbs from the pasta and bread to give me a boost for my busy schedule, enough proteins from the beef and tuna, and nutrients to last me the day. A well balanced meal for a well balanced guy like ME!

Lita Lim who said:

I’m the health conscious Amelia, because healthy need not be dull, bland and boring. It can be just as delicious as you want it to be, all a matter of choosing the right foods for you. I realized I want to live longer so I’ve made a conscious choice to have more seafoods, fruits, and vegetables. When you get to my age you get to think about wanting to see your grandkids get married… so now I’m more like the health conscious Amelia.

Tricia Andre Lorenzo who said:

I may be a girl but I’m the hearty and down-to-earth Philippe!

I don’t mind getting down and dirty when the occasion calls for it, like trekking in the muddy fields on the way to a mountaineering adventure. Believe me, I need energy to do that which is why I prefer my meals hearty!

Don Eleazar Balboa who said:

I go with Philippe because I flip out whenever I get to taste my favorite meat ingredients (tuna & beef!). Plus its my birthday (27th), so I guess I deserve a great treat from Delifrance. I also make my own version of beef stroganoff (w/ reed beet, red wine, special sauce), so I wanna explore the Delifrance way, the real way it is done…

Millette who said:

I’d say the Philippe Delifrance Tray Couture is the one for me!

I eat heartily and so PHILIPPE it is!

The Beef Stroganoff dish over noodles and tuna clubhouse would definitely satisfy my gastronomic appetite! I work like a horse and I would need all the protein to meet up the demands of my busy schedule.

Ronald Delima who said:

Sporty personality of mine,
A Philippe coutery could well define.
Tuna, Onion and Mayo Clubhouse dish
its truly every health buff’s wish!
Beef Stroganoff Pasta galore
for extra energy to let you do more.
My Philippe is quite a yummy treat,
a delightful meal thats quite hard to beat.
So go on, give Philippe a bow,
Head to Delifrance and order one now!

Danilo M. Reyes who said:

I’m a Philippe because I’m a straightforward and no-nonsense type of guy. I believe in working hard and playing hard. I need my carbs and my protein, and what better combination than fish, beef, bread, and pasta?

My energy I can keep
just by ordering a Philippe

I can go on and on all day
Taking on anything that comes my way!

JJ who said:

An Amelia I truly am. Because I may look meek and mild on the outside, but I am just as naughty and spiced up on the inside! A gastronomic dichotomy of sorts to match a seafood-pomodoro fusion.

letsgosagoDOTnet who said:

I am a Philippe, u know why?
Coz tuna & pasta I love to try.
I am a Philippe, don’t dare pry,
Or I’ll roll on the ground and cry. =)

Congratulations to all the winners! You can claim your prize at Unit 7C, 114 Tuscan Bldg., V. A Rufino St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Contact numbers are 812-8828, 812-9199, 0917-523-4624. Look for Ms. Joyce Pogoy.

Much love to Delifrance and GeiserMaclang for making this contest possible 🙂

Jollibee's Black Forest Sundae is pure bliss

The work week has just started. Do you feel stressed already? Take some time out, de-stress and give yourself a treat.

Jollibee is coming out with a new sundae variant that lets you indulge without having to spend a lot: the Black Forest Sundae. Our favorite vanilla soft serve ice cream is smothered in rich dark chocolate syrup, blended with a drizzle of cherry syrup, served with moist brownie chunks from Red Ribbon and dark chocolate bits, and a slice of cherry on top. The best part? It’s only Php 35 pesos.

This sumptuous treat will be available in Jollibee branches starting September 24, 2008.

Chowking's Chao Fan (Fried Rice)

Good news to all Chao Fan lovers like myself!

Chowking now has four variants of Chow Fan: Spicy, Beef, Pork and Yang Chow. I love all four, but I have to say that the Yang chow– with Chinese chorizo, shrimps, chopped vegetables and fried egg–, and the Beef Chao Fan–packed with a rich, beefy flavor, beef bits and chopped vegetables–are my faves.

Do you want even more good news? Even though there’s a rice crisis, they still managed to make it affordable. Chowking Chao Fan goodness starts at PHP 39.00.

I’ve always loved Chao Fan. It’s something that I order whenever I eat at Chowking. Already great on it’s own, I often pair it with a plate of sweet and sour pork, or a serving of either siomai or lumpia.

http://www.chowking.com/global/