4 Irresistable Filipino Noche Buena Food Recipes

Christmas is over! Sadly it was a rainy christmas eve in the Philippines because of the typhoon and there was no way to go outside to see the fireworks display or community outdoor party. Pretty much the only way and the best option is to stay in bed wearing your holiday sweater. And not to have a dull night, you go with a movie marathon after that traditional Filipino noche buena with your family. And guess what? The next day when you woke up, you stepped on the scale and you were surprised because you gained 3 lbs. Congratulations! Or Is it too late to say I'm sorry? Well, majority of us don't really care like bear. Noche Buena food like menudo, adobo, pasta and buko pandan are simply irresistable. Definitely these are all filipino food with spanish and american influence. And you know what made me happy? They were all on our table last christmas eve. And what is wow about that? I was the one who cooked for my family and I have recipes to share to you. Oh! You're welcome. 

It's my first time to blog about one of my favorite hobbies which is to cook. Somewhat the main reason why I'm doing this not only because I really love blogging but also to share to the world the savory filipino food. Wherever you are. Hope you like it!

MENUDO

1 Kilo Pork Meat (cut into chunks)

1/2 Kilo Pork Liver (cut into chunks)

Oyster Sauce

Soy Sauce

Fish Sauce

Calamansi(Philippine Lime) Juice

Black Pepper

Margarine

Vegetable Oil

Garlic(crushed)

Onion(chopped)

4 Potatoes (cut into chunks)

1 cup Green Peas

1 cup Garbanzos(ChickPeas)

230 Grams Tomato Sauce

Water

Tomato Paste

Bell Pepper(cut into chunks)

Raisin

Salt

Make sure to wash all the meats. Marinate the pork meat and pork liver in a separate bowls. Put 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, 3 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp calamansi(Philippine Lime) and 1/2 tbsp black pepper in each bowl. Mix it altogether and leave it for 5 minutes. Heat the pot. Add 3 tbsp vegetable oil and 3 tbsp margarine. Saute crushed 1 tbsp garlic and 1tbsp onion. Add the marinated pork meat and liver. Stir it occasionally until aromatic. Cook it for about 3 to 5 minutes. Then add potatoes, garbanzos(chickpeas), green peas, 1 cup of raisin and bell pepper. Add 2 tbsp tomato paste, 230 grams tomato sauce and 3 cups of water. Stir it and bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and cook it again for about 25 to 30 minutes or until pork is tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finally, serve it hot. Good for 5-7 person.

CHICKEN ADOBO WITH PINEAPPLE

1 Kilo Chicken Meat

Garlic(crushed)

Oyster Sauce

Soy Sauce

Vinegar

Salt

Black Pepper

Pineapple Juice

Pineapple Chunks

Margarine

Vegetable Oil

Thyme

Rosemary

Make sure to wash the chicken meat. Put it in a bowl and start to marinate. Add 1 tbsp crushed garlic, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1/2 tbsp salt, 1 cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup pineapple juice. Mix it altogether and leave it for 10 minutes. Heat the pot. Add 3 tbsp vegetable oil and 3 tbsp margarine. Add the marinated chicken meat only not the sauce. Cook it for about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until it slightly turns brown. Add 1 cup of pineapple chunks and the marinade. Stir it and bring to boil. Lower heat, cover and cook it again for roughly 20 minutes or until the meat is tender. Season it with thyme and rosemary to taste. Serve hot. Good for 5-7 person.

FILIPINO SWEET PASTA MEATBALLS

1 Kg Angel Hair Pasta

1 Kilo Ground Pork Meat

1 Egg

Bread Crumbs

Onion(chopped)

Salt

Ground Pepper

Garlic Powder

Garlic(crushed)

500 Grams Hotdog(cut into chunks)

Black Olives(chopped)

Water

Thyme

Rosemary

1 Kg Pasta Sauce

Pomace Oil

Vegetable Oil

1 cup water

Parmesan Cheese

Boil 6 liters of water. Add 1 tbsp salt. Add 1 kg Angel Hair Pasta into rapidly boiling water. Cook uncovered and maintain water at a rolling boil. Stir occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking together. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until tender-"Al Dente". Rinse with tap water and drain immediately. Set it aside. Now, it's time to create meatballs. Make sure to wash the ground meat. Put it in a bowl. Add 1 egg, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 1/2 cup onion, 1/2 tbsp salt, 1/2 tbsp ground pepper, 1/2 tbsp garlic powder. Mix it altogether. Get 1 tbsp of the meat mixture and gently roll between your hands to form meat balls. Continue forming until all the meat is used. Once done start to heat a large frying pan with vegetable oil over medium heat. Fry the meat balls until they turn into slightly golden brown. About 5-7 minutes. Set aside. Heat the same pan with 5 tbsp pomace oil over medium heat. Saute 5 tbsp onion and 5 tbsp garlic. Add fried meat balls, hotdog chunks, 1 cup black olives, 1/2 tbsp thyme, 1/2 tbsp rosemary. Stir fry for about 5-7 minutes. Add 1/2 tbsp salt and pour 1 kg spaghetti sauce. Let boil for about 10-12 minutes. Add the cooked pasta. Mix it altogether and cook it again for about 3-5 minutes. Serve it hot with a sprinkle of parmesan and a drizzle of pomace oil. Good for 7-10 person.

BUKO PANDAN

Shredded Coconut

250 ml All-Purpose Cream

300 ml Sweetened Condensed Creamer

Pandan flavor essence

90 g of Filipino Gelatin(Gulaman)

Water

Let's make gulaman first. Dissolve the mixture in 410 ml water. Bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Pour into mold and let cool to set for about 45 minutes. Slice the gelatin into chunks. Put it in a container. Add the shredded coconut(5 coconuts were used here). Add the condensed milk and all-purpose cream. Add 1 drop of pandan flavor essence. Mix it altogether. Chill it overnight. Good for 5-7 person.

Circuit, Makati City: Check Out The 'Tallest Artificial Christmas Tree' In Town

Happy Christmas Everyone! How was your celebration? Did you get drunk? Were you satisfied with the gifts you received? For sure you got bloated. Am I right? Me too. Yule Ham is indeed irresistable. Even me, I find this month of December the most 'wonderful time of the year'. Why? Excluding the traffic jam everyday, you get to see christmas lights display everywhere, lights and sounds show, nonstop party, exchange gifts that will either make or ruin your day, caroling kids at night, 13th month pay or christmas bonus for hardworking employees like me, shopping rush, "Misa de Gallo/SimbangGabi", a nine-day series of masses(December 16-24, usually starts 4am), the cherry on top traditional family dinner we also call "Noche Buena" in the Philippines, family reunion, eat out with friends and let me not forget the new year countdown. What else can you ask for? Did I miss one? Well, pretty much these are all in my backyard. 

Honestly, I'm still in the middle of absorbing on what they call "spirit of christmas". I know everything is somewhat overwhelming. So, one of the ways for me to say that I'm not dreaming this holiday vibe is to go out during my free time. After Ayala Triangle Gardens, one of the perfect places to see in Makati City these days is Circuit. It's totally an advantage for me living near this place. But to tell you what. It was my first time when we went here last week. Come with me and discover Circuit!

First and foremost, going to Circuit was intentional. When I was in Ayala Triangle Gardens, after watching lights and sounds I was encouraged by the emcee to visit Circuit and get a chance to see the 'Giant Christmas Tree' in town. Wow! And there you go. It happened. It was evening, roughly 7pm when we went there. While everyone is in a rush going home, here I am with my family enjoying my free day. #Fambam. We rode tricycle and paid 50pesos(1 USDollar), one of the modes of transportation in the Philippines and aside from bike, this is very reliable when you want to go here easily. The way here is like passing through the eye needle. 

Inside Circuit Makati Mall

Did you know that Circuit was a horse racetrack before? It was the old Sta.Ana Park. My uncle used to work here for Philippine Racing Club(PRC) but it is now operating in Cavite City. I never thought that Ayala Land would turn this into what they say city's new "premier entertainment district". We walked from north to south and east to west. We saw every areas of Circuit. The place is not fully developed but for sure three or five years from now this will be the oasis of many millenials. I can say, although I had seen a lot of skaters and runners, truly the best place for them, there's no life yet. Few restaurants and merchants to shop. I enjoyed the most was our time in Timezone. It was just a small area outside Starbucks where we got to play arcade games. 10pesos per token.

I'm unlucky guy so I didn't play this. Perhaps, seeing pikachu there is enough.

Bang! Bang! Sadly, it's not working. We wasted 1 token.

These christmas lights displays are super cute! Really sweet to the eyes.

When my nephew thought it was a big lollipop.

The moment we've been waiting for. CHRISTMAS TREE! Literally big. 

One-of-a-kind 56-feet outdoor artificial christmas tree.

Inside the giant christmas tree.

Another great shot inside the giant christmas tree.

And yes you can enter inside. It can fit roughly 20-30 viewers.

He enjoyed this fake grass.

Outside the christmas tree.

Our 2 hours visit in Circuit was fair. Perhaps I expected to see more christmas lights displays but sadly it didn't win my heart so much like what I saw in Ayala Triangle Gardens. It would be better to see also lights and sounds show here. Hopefully next year. Although I really prefer this place for jogging I'm really looking for more. For sure this will be answered as year goes by. Again, merry christmas to all of you guys. Let me share what I just read yesterday. Whatever religion you have, still. Happy Christmas! 

Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City: Glimpse Of 2016 'Festival Of Lights'

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room and heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Well, for sure not only heaven and nature are singing but many of us. Aren't you feeling the holiday vibe yet? Not only Santa Claus is doing his "Ho-ho-ho!" but also kids preparing their straw bags and getting ready to collect gifts from Godparents. There's really a lot of happening this season. One is, what do you think? Party today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Plus a never ending gift-giving. It's indeed a season to be jolly, get drunk, and get broke. Right? 

Fast forward, this busiest month of the year will push you to appreciate more your restday. It's like every second counts. It's like you wouldn't wanna miss what's buzzing the town. Somewhat, you would want to go outside instead of sleeping on your couch. Like what I said, there's a lot of happening this season and definitely only for this season. One example, lights and sound show in Makati. I'm so sorry for my readers outside Manila and The Philippines if you can't relate but I know you have a very beautiful 'christmas show' in your place too. It was last week  when I went there alone. 

Ayala Triangle Gardens 'Festival of Lights' in Makati is a much awaited show opened on November 15. It's on their 6th year of wowing Filipinos mostly employees working in Ayala, central business district of Makati. Due to every night traffic jam, its kinda stressful to go here especially if you're from north and the main mode of transportation is mrt 3(metro rail transit). Goodluck to you. I'm lucky enough living in Makati. I can travel here by jeepney(Filipinos affordable mode of transportation). There were years I took it for granted. Sadly, it's my 2nd year to witness this. Again, it didn't fail me. Only one word I can say. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Warning! What you will see are lights! Stunning lights! 

 

                     

 

Hello everyone! If you're looking for a relief. Then kill that stress by visiting this fantastic show. It's set to run until January 8, 2017 daily from 6pm to 10pm. If you're living near Makati or Manila. Let's go here tonight! Make sure if you're wearing shorts bring insect/mosquito repellents. It's garden anyway so expect it's a bit itchy. Have fun! I might go here again. See you there!

5 Famous Fast Food in Manila. What's Your Favorite Meal?

Where do you like to eat later? One budget meal, please? I want sundae, can you phone them? I miss that crackling sound when I ate their fried chicken last monday, you might wanna order? They have 24/7 delivery anyhow. These questions you may have asked before or heard somewhere, am I right? Well, the thing is it all boils down to one answer and that is 'fast-food'. FYI, the word "fast-food" was recognized in a dictionary by Merriam-Webster in 1951. Commonly quick alternative to home-cooked meals.

Nowadays, as malls continue to multiply, as our workload doubles, as our lives become busy as bees, we don't have option but to buy 'takeaway' and eat 'on the run'. It may sound not right because as everyone knows, we find it less nutritionally valuable compared to other dishes we cook in our kitchen. Usually precooked, high in saturated fat, sugar, salt and calories. It has also been linked to obesity, cancer and high cholesterol. But I am sharing this to you guys not to discourage or push you to eat more. Hello! We are in the 20th century now, okay? We all know, yes you know too, that fast-food sells the best food in the planet from fried chicken, hamburger, french fries to my favorite caramel sundae. Let's not be hypocrite, they are really irresistable. I still always believe everything must be in moderation, so, you know what to do. 

It was 2014 when I started not to bring packed lunch at work because of my shift, when I no longer had time to prepare for this, somewhat I also thought it would save my time and money, in short no use of gas in our kitchen and less effort. And since I love all of them, might as well dedicate this post to my favorite fast-food chains in town.

1.) McDonalds

https://www.mcdonalds.com.ph

I'm lovin' it! This household name is also known to their ad campaign "Paparapapa...love ko to!" in the Philippines. This is one of the oldest fast-food restaurant chains in the country, I remember when I was a kid I often attend birthday parties where the venues were usually at McDonalds. And yes I was also I fan of happy meal toys back then, I used to collect it everytime there's a new Disney movie, like 'Hercules'. Honestly, I like the happy meal toys before than today.

Saying Hi! From the famous clown on earth, Ronald McDonald, the primary mascot of McDonalds fast-food brand.

McDonalds mainly sells cheeseburgers, chicken products, fries, breakfast items, soda and desserts. Today, everywhere you go there is McDonalds, and that made them the world's largest restaurant chain(36,538 outlets) serving approximately 68 million customers daily in 119 countries. (wikipedia)

What I like to order is usually the McSaver Meals. How about you? First, even when I was in college, I really like this budget meal, for less than 100pesos(almost $3.00) you have 1 pc fried chicken with rice, softdrink and dessert. "Mc...Mc...McChicken!" A cute commercial I just saw on tv, it was like a new version of cock-a-doodle-do.

Sunday will always be special because of sundae. Which one do you like? Choco fudge or caramel? I hope they would come up a new flavor. What do you think?

Sadly, I got the butt part, but it was still good, especially the skin. Right?

2.) KFC

https://www.kfcdelivery.com.ph

KFC stands for "Kentucky Fried Chicken" with a trademarked tagline "finger lickin' good".

Salute! To the official mascot of KFC, Colonel Sanders.

What I usually order here? The classic 1 pc chicken with rice and soda, plus 1 dessert for less than 100pesos(almost $3.00). Like many filipinos, I'm also a fan of "unlimited gravy" and it's no longer weird for me to flood my plate with this gravy-licious sauce, the technique also here is when you wanna feel full right away, don't worry I understand you're on a tight budget, then feel free to drink a pitcher of gravy, lol, just kiddin'. This made KFC famous, their gravy really stands out amongst other fast-food chains, plus the meaty chicken, plus the mashed potatoes, plus the "krushers" and yes! Everything is Yummy!

Chewy choco brownie on the side. 

3.) Jollibee

www.jollibee.com.ph

A well-loved Filipino multinational chain of fast-food restaurants. Famous to their positive and child-friendly slogan "Bee Happy!". Plus they have the cutest mascot. The most admirable bee in the planet. It is the largest filipino-owned fast-food chain in the Philippines. And on behalf of all filipinos, all over the world, thank you Jollibee for putting the country on the map of this industry. Also being the first to compete with the giant McDonalds, hahah. Still, it's a healthy competition.

Without a doubt Jollibee's popular Chickenjoy is a bomb! Great Evah!

Mango Sundae. Yum!

4.) Chowking

www.chowking.com

Although it is also a Philippine-based chain this fast-food primarily sells chinese food with a touch of filipino cuisine, you heard it, right? Chinese food, that's the reason why I fell in love with Chowking right away. I understand that they always have available "siomai" but you know what I had loved their "orange chicken" first, sadly it's no longer part of the menu. Then surprisingly Chinese-style fried chicken came, another savory food made me realize, there's much better to order.

Chinese-style Fried Chicken

I tried their new "Choco Pao" and it's also good. Perfect snack for everyone.

5.) Mang Inasal

www.manginasal.com

A popular Filipino fast food chain because of its trademark "Unlimited Rice". Apart from the usual crispy fried chicken we can buy in a fast-food resto, this grilled chicken started to boom in the world of fast-food around 2008, I remember I was in college when it became "talk of the town", everyone was like crazy about chicken barbecue of Mang Inasal and the unlimited number of rice servings for free, and what is great about it, you can have it all plus the softdrinks on the side for less than 100pesos. It also introduced a very unique "orange" chicken oil you can mix with soy sauce and put it on your rice. Mang Inasal also promotes filipino cuisine in the market and that's the nicest thing I love about this fast-food, it gives you easy access just in case you wanna eat filipino food.

Chicken "Inasal"- Just in case you don't know, it is a chicken marinated in a mixture of lime, pepper, vinegar and annato then grilled over hot coals while basted with marinade. It is served with rice, calamansi(Philippines alternate to lime), vinegar(sinamak or white vinegar) and soy sauce. A common dish in the western Visayas region of the Philippines, a specialty in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental as well as in neighboring cities and provinces. (wikipedia)

Neither gravy nor catsup is the sauce for "Inasal", either soy sauce and calamansi or sinamak vinegar, infused with lots of garlics, chili peppers and langkawas(a kind of ginger). (wikipedia)

If you haven't seen yet, this is Halo-Halo, a filipino dessert, usually you can buy this during summer but Mang Inasal made it available for all seasons. So if you plan to visit the Philippines, just look for this fast-food. This is a must try! You will surely say, "I ❤ Mang Inasal!".

There you go! I hope you've made the right decision where you wanna eat next, but all of them are really great to try. So no more dilemma, you can go 1 fast-food a day. There are a lot of amazing restaurants and places to go, so see you on my next post about that. I'll continue my walk and search for this. You're welcome!

Makati City: The "Gangnam Style" Experience At Gentleman Korean Restaurant

Ahn-nyeong-ha-se-yo!(that's hello in korean, and that's all I know) Welcome to Korea! Ooppss! Just kidding, I haven't been there yet though, hopefully the soonest? Well, as they say "keep your fingers crossed". Anyway, while the skies are cloudy and dark gray outside, downpour is about to start, me here typing my new post for my blog while enjoying my brewed coffee. Hope you're at your best mode while reading this too, now let's talk about Korea! Not really about their country but my experience eating in a korean restaurant last year with my japanese friends. It was after our business meeting when I was invited to join them for dinner. At first I didn't know where would we eat, I was somehow understood them but all I heard that time was "gentleman". It was just a treat, so I had no choice but to say okay than no way. I honestly miss them now, sadly I can't speak fluent "nihongo", the japanese language, so they had no options but to adjust and talk to me in english. I was still thinking while we were walking amid that evening, along Poblacion, Makati City, what and where is gentleman? Even who is he? What else can I say but? Ikemasho! (let's go in japanese)

    (credit to keiko kato)

Welcome to Gentleman!

Now I know! That was the first phrase I said when we were at the entrance of the restaurant. Do you know Psy? You might be living in other planet if you don't know him, he is a south korean singer, songwriter, and record producer. The creator of "Gangnam Style", it's dance craze hit the youtube by really super storm, went viral and reached one billion views last Dec. 21, 2012. Amazing, right? Not only that, his second song that became also a craze because of its upbeat and novelty music was "Gentleman". Have you seen the video? It was the trend before PPAP(Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen). A korean restaurant named after the infectious dance song of Psy. Can't wait to go inside!

(credit to keiko kato)

I must say, what really excites you when you eat in a korean resto is the grilling part. The first thing you will remember and encourages you to go again.

(credit to keiko kato)

Japanese and Filipinos dinner at Korean Restaurant. Yeah! Because we love different asian cuisines. Happy Tummy United Nations! 

It was my first time to eat in a korean resto and honestly everything was new to me, although some food somewhat had resemblance to filipino food. I had no chance to get their names and prices, so I googled them and I hope I'm correct with all the information. Let's get to know them one by one.

(credit to keiko kato)

Pajeon- a variety of jeon with green onions, as its prominent ingredient as pa literally means 'green/spring onion' in korean. It is a pancake-like korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, green onions, and often other additional ingredients depending on the variety. Usually recognizable by the highly visible green onions.

What is Jeon? Pancake-like dishes in korean cuisine. Made with various ingredients such as sliced meats, poultry, seafood and vegetables depending on the style and mixed with flour batter or coated with egg batter and then pan-fried with oil. Commonly eaten as an appetizer or sometimes as a sweet.

(wikipedia)

(credit to keiko kato)

Samgyeopsal- a popular korean dish commonly an evening meal, a thick, fatty slices of unseasoned pork belly. Commonly grilled with garlic and onions, or with kimchi together at either side. Dipped in sesame oil and salt mixture, and wrapped with ssamjang in lettuce. (wikipedia) 

(credit to keiko kato)

(credit to keiko kato)

I'm not certain, somewhat this was another version of sweet & spicy korean beef stew, a nutritious food, with its bell pepper and carrots somehow remind me of filipino 'caldereta'. Even if I forgot the name, I'm sure it's my favorite, Yes! I'm certain with that. If in case you know, feel free to comment below.

I first fell in love with koreanovelas when I was high school student and now with korean cuisine. And thanks to my japanese friends who treated me, nice to know we have another one thing in common, our love for asian food. It's a great way to taste the beautiful culture of Korea. This Gentleman Korean Restaurant is highly recommendable to foodies, like you!

(credit to keiko kato)

Flying kisses from our friend, Tamura-san. Thanks for reading my blog. Till we meet again on another post. I hope this guide you on your next food trip.