Lee Kum Kee Cook with the Masters

We all know that Lee Kum Kee is known as one of the manufactures of the best sauces. However, what most people don't know (me included - before, of course) is that it was in 1888 when they invented the oyster sauce, and in time, more and more sauces were added to their long list of quality products, which made cooking easier for us. Celebrating its 123^rd anniversary of giving superior quality products to every home, they conducted four cooking demos around the metro featuring celebrity chefs - Chef Sau del Rosario, Chef Sandy Daza, Chef Eugene Raymundo, Chef Him Uy De Baron and Chef Ernest Gala.


Last October 9, 2011 Lee Kum Kee sets the biggest and one of a kind cooking demo called the Cook with the Masters Grand Cooking Demo featuring Lee Kum Kee’s brand ambassador for Southeast Asia and true culinary expert, Chef Bruce Lim at Glorietta Activity Center. Many mall goers and attendees had fun at the activity area while waiting for the cooking show to start. They first had to read about Lee Kum Kee's rich history, then they had to  proceed to the “tasting area” where they will experience the exquisite flavors of Lee Kum Kee sauces (others were combination of different sauces creating another new awesome taste) and finally, the had to drop by “Lee’s Kitchen" to have a picture taken with the Lee Kum Kee products. Completing all steps not only gave them the chance to take home a souvenir picture, they were also given chance to take home some goodies. People also had the chance to shop for Lee Kum Kee products, and for every 300 pesos of LKK products, they can take home an eco-bag, which they can use (and re-use) whenever they shop.

Brigada (a percussion band) opened the program and host Ms. Issa Litton welcomed the guests and audience for the grand cooking demo.

For the first round of cooking, some members of the audience (which they picked before the show started) cooked alongside Chef Bruce. They cooked two dishes - 3 Cups Chicken and Oyster Chicken with Mushrooms.  Both dishes were very easy to cook and are perfect for busy persons. Though both were easy to cook, both tasted really good. 

The second round were participated by the culinary students from CCA and MICAH. They cooked Spicy Seaside Prawns, another easy dish to whip up. for this they used Lee Kum Kee Chili Garlic, Premium Oyster Sauce and Seasoned Soy Sauce for Seafood. It’s a little bit sweet maybe because of the oyster sauce, but it had a wee bit hint of spice, which anyone can tolerate. Of course, if you plan to cook this, you will just have to adjust its level of spiciness.

The third and final round of cooking was participated by the celebrities namely Baron Geisler, Phoemela Barranda, Desiree del Valle, Enzo Pineda, Rocco Nocino, Steven Silva and Djanin Cruz. They cooked Braised Pork Belly, which sounded a bit tedious and time-demanding, but the beauty of the dish was that it was another easy dish to prepare. Come to think of it, we all know that celebrities have busy schedule, but I guess them preparing this dish just testifies that anyone can cook an awesome dish despite their schedules. I do love this dish because it allows people to multi-task - cook and do other house chores. The combination of mustasa and pork blended well, I thought mustasa can only be used for fish sinigang, but thanks to this recipe I can allow myself to eat more mustasa.

Aside from just listening and watching how they prepared the dishes, Ms. Issa Liton threw in some questions to the audience and they will win a Lee Kum Kee products if they answered correctly. Since this is the grand demo, they also introduced the other chefs who demoed from the past cooking shows.

All of us got to take home a mini booklet of all the recipes they demoed from past cooking shows until the grand showdown. All of the dishes were so easy to do and I think the family will get to try almost all of the dishes. 

Jesz

* Beautifully plated pictures of the dishes were scanned from the recipe booklet we took home; all other pictures were taken by my ever dearest sister Jenn of Tara, Let's Eat!

Celebrating Mommy's 62nd

Papa  John’s Pizza

Unit 107-108 Annex 2, Ground Floor

SM City Fairview

Last September 13, our family celebrated the 62^nd birthday of my mom.  We celebrated it at the newly opened pizza house in SM Fairview which is Papa John Pizza. Finally the long wait is over to taste their pizza. Many people said that they have a good pizza. I'm a Pizza Pasta lover and this is one of my long lists that I want to taste.

My mom always want a soup when we go dine out, so we ordered their two soups, the cream of chicken and corn (above) and the cream of mushroom (below), which the family shared.  Both soups are tasty but I love the cream of mushrooms, for me it’s already a full meal because of the croutons and bits of mushrooms.

My sister ordered Garden Fresh Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.  My sister said that it’s a little bit sour because of the mustard (this wasn't her first choice for salad dressing, but they ran out of Italian Vinaigrette), but she finished it so I think she loves it.

We want to order all of their pizza but instead of ordering one big pizza, we decided to go for 2 smaller size of pizza ( the 9” pizza) with different flavors. We try the Super PAPA Classic Pizza and the Grilled Chicken Deluxe Specialty Pizza.

Super Papa is a combination of Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Ham, Mushroom, Green Peppers and Black Olives.  Toppings were typical for a pizza, but I did find this one really tasty, the crust was so soft and I loved dipping it in their garlic butter sauce.

Grilled Chicken Deluxe Specialty Pizza had Grilled Chicken (of course) as well as ham, bacon, and mushroom in Carbonara Sauce. This was my favorite that night, I felt the taste of all flavors and even my mom loved this too. Good thing mom pushed with this flavor... when we were deciding which two flavors to try, my sister was suggesting their seafood pizza, but mom really wanted this. I guess moms do know best. :) Maybe we can try the seafood pizza next time.

Their pizzas come in three sizes. Their 9" pizzas were normally sliced into six parts, but since we were only four, sister suggested our pizza to be cut in 4, so we could have equal portions. Her salad already made her full, so she only got to eat one pizza slice, the other one she took home and ate it the next day.

I will really be going back to this place, all our food serves hot  and that was the most important to me because you feel the freshness of the food, and their pizzas are not oily. I love the ambiance and their server was friendly and I felt that they were happy to assist us.

For more information about Papa John’s Pizza you may see their website at http://www.papajohns.com.ph

Jesz


*photos on this post credited to http://www.agent112778.com/. Thanks brother!

My Burger Food Trip

I really love burgers and love to try new burgers here in manila. When The Food Scout had a raffle with the prize being 200 pesos GC for Boulevard Diner, I didn’t hesitate to join (as sister and I have been trying our luck joining contests with GCs for Boulevard Diner as prizes), and lucky was I to be one of the winners for Jill's contest.

The GC will expire on 15 August, and despite several factors hindering me to do this food trip, I was able to use it on its last day. Entering the shop, I found it so simple, cozy, and has this '80s ambiance. Not only that, the had a friendly staff.  When she gave the menu, I was so amazed to see the photographs of their burgers that I want to try it all. As what was written on the menu, all of their burgers are made in 1/3 pound beef patties and the price was ranges from 150  to 270 pesos, and for just an additional 45 pesos, the burgers will be upgraded to a full meal with Freedom Fries and a glass of  Iced Tea.

I decided to go for their newest burger, which consisted of double bacon, Swiss brown mushroom cheeseburger with pan gravy. It was so new that the time I had it, it still has no name, and that the costumers had to guess or think what the name of the burger will be. Now that this burger is officially on the menu, it is now called, Luigi Meltdown. Why Luigi? I surely don't know, but seeing the lettuce, maybe it had something to do with Luigi, Mario's brother (Mario Bros.).

Anyway, their burger was huge for me that I needed to use a fork and a knife to eat it. I felt that I was eating steak that time because the patty was cooked medium done, and I was really able to savor the juiciness of the beef. The Freedom Fries was different to the other kinds I have eaten, theirs had longer cuts and slightly thicker, which was able to give me the potato goodness I wanted.

Aside from the burgers, Boulevard Diner also serves buffalo wings called “wingerangs” that have heat-o-meter ranges (Hickory, Lust, Fury, Love, Smoked, Death and Better than Hell) so it depends to the costumer how spicy their wings will be. Costumers also have their choice to make their own burger from the base, topping to the sauces and dressings, in case they didn't fancy any of the burgers on the menu.

Since I was alone for this food trip (sister didn't have enough money to go on a food trip that day), I really want to eat  there again with my family. I'm pretty sure they will also love this place (especially my siblings who are "certified" meatatarians), and personally,  I also want to try their Wingerangs because it is a big hit to their customers and that even kids love it.

If you're a burger and wings lover, go check out Boulevard Diner. It is located at 91 Xavierville Ave. Loyola Heights Quezon City,they just in front of Regina Bldg. Call them at 504-5634. The diner  is open Mondays to Fridays at 11am to 11pm and Saturdays to Sundays 11am to 10pm.

How to get there?

• From Cubao, take Aurora Blvd the turn left to Anonas street then turn right at Chico street then just straight ahead until to Xavierville Ave.
• From Katipunan, turn right when you see McDonald's at Rosa Alvero St.), then turn left at the first corner (Esteban Abad st.). Go straight until Xavierville Ave. then turn right.

Jesz