Our Noche Buena Feast

A family gathering during Noche Buena is sacred when it comes to my father's side of the family. We've been having a Noche Buena feast since I was still in my diapers, and my lolo and lola were still alive back then. And thru the years, when lolo and lola were long gone, we still continued the annual tradition and this year is no exception- ho ho ho.

There are seven families present and that includes my six cousins and tons of nephews and three nieces (daughter included), a grandson(!), and a super momsie. :)


NEW RESTO ALERT: Oasis Garden Cafe

words and photos by Irene Enriquez

High Tea Party at Oasis Garden Cafe in Solaire

Coffee, tea, and tiny cakes are a few of my favorite things. That’s why when Edel sent me to the High Tea Party as a representative for Kitchen Goddess, I was ecstatic. It was a chance to try a variety of tea and sumptuous cakes.

This selection of pastry includes bibingka, spring roll, and leche flan.

FOOD FINDS: Gourmet Baked Rellenong Bangus and Other Fisher Farms Products

We've already tried the fish sausage of Fisher Farms when it was sold in the grocery near us but this is the first time that I came across Gourmet Baked Rellenong Bangus.

Also, the timing of discovery was perfect since its almost Christmas. :)



CEBU: Zubuchon

This is my first time to dine at Zubuchon although I've tasted their lechon and chicharon for more than several occasions already. The Escario branch is near the Capitol and also near to where I was staying.


RECIPE: Paskong Kakanin Favorites By The Maya Kitchen

This Christmas Season, The Maya Kitchen created Paskong Filipino kakanin like bibingka, puto bumbong and puto with a special yummy twist.


Yutaka Izakaya, A Hidden Gem

We've been dining at this quaint Japanese restaurant called- Yutaka Izakaya since daughter was still a wee one but I haven't really blogged about it much. I mean, it is such a gem that I still don't want to share it- hahaha. But I know that a lot of foodies out there are already familiar with this restaurant.

And because its almost Christmas, I am sharing my fave Japanese restaurant. :)

California Maki. 12 pcs of goodness costs around P160 and you can order half if you're on a diet. I know I can't eat this anymore since I've stopped eating rice but it used to be my favorite. They don't scrimp on ingredients especially the "tobiko" or the orange fish roe. The maki also has a generous nice tasting Japanese mayo. Skip the soy sauce and wasabi because you don't really need it. Trust me.


Introduction To French Wine At Planet Grapes

I've attended more than several wine events for the past year, the highlight of which was my unplanned trip to Hong Kong to attend the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2013. I used to be just a social drinker when it comes to wine but having tasted more than a fair share and wine pairings and meeting vintners, my knowledge about wines improved. And special thanks to Planet Grapes for inviting me to attend the Introduction to French Wine and wine pairing event as they introduce twenty new wines to their cellar.


The TANG Flavors of Christmas

We all grew up drinking TANG orange and this drink is present in our meals especially on special occasions and Christmas is no exception. So how can you make your Noche Buena Feast more special this time?

Introducing The TANG Flavors of Christmas! Now with six flavors to choose from: Mango, Grape, Strawberry, Orange, Apple, and Pineapple. So which one is your favorite flavor?


RECIPE: Bibingka

This is a quick and easy bibingka recipe not just for the Christmas Season but all year round. Luckily, I was able to satisfy my bibingka cravings thanks to The Maya Kitchen for sending me some boxes of bibingka mix.


A Feast of Duck This Holiday Season at l'entrecote

Make your Christmas feast much more special by serving some Foie Gras creations from l'entrecote Corner Bistro at Burgos Circle in Bonifacio Global City.

This holiday season, l'entrecote teamed up with Rougie Sarlat, the world's number one producer of foie gras and moulard duck specialties and created mouthwatering duck and foie gras dishes.


Pan-fried foie gras with Calvados Apple and Balsamic Glaze

RECIPE: Baklava

Here's another recipe that's great for the the Noche Buena feast shared by The Maya Kitchen and Chef George Lizares of the LJC Group of Restaurants . I had my first taste of baklava at the Salcedo Market years ago. Its a filo pasty filled with minced nuts. Its really quite good albeit expensive since you need pistachio and walnuts. I think you can tweak the recipe a bit. ;)

BAKLAVA

(Good for 4-5 persons)


Freshly made baklava was one of Larry’s favorite desserts and he enjoyed it with vanilla ice cream.  It’s a simple but elegant dish fit for a king.

Ingredients for the filling and wrapping

120 grams Shelled pistachio nuts
120 grams Shelled walnuts nuts
50 grams Powdered sugar
220 grams Unsalted Butter, melted
Filo pastry sheets


Bizu Patisserie Christmas Holiday Delights

Christmas is always such a joyous occasion for everyone and preparing food for the Noche Buena feast always takes careful planning especially when it comes to selecting special dishes for the family.

This year, aside from the Yuletide Crown Pork Roast of Bizu Patisserie and all-year round favorite macarons, Bizu introduces its Porchetta with Truffle Risotto. This is a slow-roasted pork belly stuffed with herbed truffle risotto. It also has crispy skin which is oozing with goodness.


Hot Mama's Kitchen Christmas Menu 2014

Giving food especially during the Christmas Season is always a good and practical idea since almost everyone enjoy cookies, cakes, and other sweet goodies. And for the holidays, Hot Mama's Kitchen has an exciting array for delicious goodies that the whole family will love. These are great gift ideas for teachers, co-workers, friends, neighbors, and simply everyone on your list.



Le Cellier Wine Degustation At Le Cafe Curieux

Le Cafe Curieux is one of the most interesting cafes I've been to in the metropolis. Maybe its the ambiance and the food, and of course, the people behind Le Cafe Curieux.

As its name implies, the cafe has a lot of interesting things to offer. There was a time when they hosted some art exhibits, hosted an album launch, wine pairing, etc.


RECIPE: Roast Chicken With Three Mushrooms

The recipe was demonstrated by Chef George Lizares of the LJC Group of Restaurants  at The Maya Kitchen.  Chicken is a very versatile meat and much loved by both adults and kids. This Roast Chicken recipe is a nice dish for the Noche Buena feast.

Roast Chicken with Three Mushrooms

(Good for 4-5 persons)


Herb Butter Chicken Seasoning
2-3 tbsps Butter
1 tsp Fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp Fresh marjoram leaves
Salt and pepper to taste


Ingredients


1 pc Chicken
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup Peeled and diced onions
¾ cup Peeled and diced carrots
¼ cup Celery, diced
¼ cup oil



Beaujolais Wine Dinner At The Sofitel

For the second year, the Sofitel Philippine Plaza and Le Cellier hosted a special Beaujolais Wine Dinner for special guests and was also graced by Monsieur Yves-Dominique Ferraud of P. Ferraud & Fils. The wine dinner was held a few days after the annual worldwide Beaujolais Nouveau celebration.


Uni3 GastroHub

Dampa in Macapagal is a nice place to go to whenever you're craving for seafood but most of the time, it is crowded also. Luckily, nearby Hobbies of Asia is fast becoming the "new" dining area along Macapagal.

Uni3 GastroHub is one of the new and exciting "paluto" restaurant in that area. Although the restaurant is quite new, the owner, Mr. Patrick Lozada, has years of experience thanks to the famous Trinity Seafood Restaurant.



Lee Hak

The name of the restaurant reminds me of a Korean rom-com character from the Rooftop Prince.


RECIPE: TKG's Spicy Cebu Chorizo Pizza

I bought several kilos of spicy chorizo when I went to Cebu a few months back and I've been keeping it in the freezer for special use. So today, daughter has a sudden craving for pizza. The dough was bought from SM Hypermarket as well as the rest of the ingredients like cheese, pineapples and tomato sauce.


SM Hypermarket's Best Pinoy Streetfood 2014 Grand Champion

So here are the lucky four finalist who survived the elimination round after the pancit cooking challenged at the SM Hypermarket Best Pinoy Streetfood 2014. Read more about the pancit challenge here.

Those who made it to the final round are: Merly Dulay Co, Eloisa Cabrales, Herculer Umali and Jose Nestor Guevara.



Dona Elena Al Dente Pasta Celebrates World Pasta Month

The month of October is special especially to pasta-lovers like me because it is the month when pasta-enthusiasts around the globe celebrate it by preparing new and traditional pasta dishes. And in line with this, Dona Elena Al Dente Pasta joined in on the celebration by hosting an afternoon of fun for print and online media guests.


Via Mare

Via Mare has been around for more than three decades having opened its first restaurant in Greenbelt 1. It serves Filipino comfort food such as dinuduguan, puto bumbong and bibingka. But what I love best at this restaurant is their molo soup.

This is also one of those restaurants that's close to my heart having dined here when I was young and with my parents and aunt who were now long gone. I have a lot of happy memories dining here.


The Amazing Tokyo Tonteki

Tokyo Tonteki prides itself for the porkloin steak with which it was named for- tonteki. Having originated in Shibuya, Japan, this mouthwatering pork loin dish is not on Philippine shores.


Best of Pinoy Streetfood Cook-Off Grand Finals At SM Hypermarket

Last November 28, 2014, the finalists from the different SM Hypermarket branches compete for the Grand Finals of SM Hypermarket Best Pinoy Streetfood 2014. From the numerous contestants, only 10 made it to the finals which was held at the SM Hypermarket Cubao branch along EDSA.