A Low-Calorie Day

After eating out  on several occasions, it was time to balance it with some lower calorie, low carb options.  For economies of scale and a more efficient use of the kitchen, the same dish was offered for Heaven's Country Kitchen's (my food business) low calorie meal delivery.  [Hey, I eat what my clients eat.  ;-)]

For today, I tried out this new recipe for steak rub using coffee (my favorite drink) called Coffee and Paprika-Rubbed Sirloin Roast served with Buttermilk Dressing and simply accompanied it with Pan-Grilled Japanese Tofu, Tomatoes and Bell Peppers.  In this instance, I used local beef sirloin with some fat left on it to help give it additional flavor.  In any case, the fat was later dissolved and left at the bottom of the oven because I roasted it using the turbo broiler (or halogen-powered oven).  But this will cook equally well in a conventional oven but place the meat in a roasting tray atop a rack to allow even browning all over.

As for the side dish, I just sliced the tofu into cubes, and the vegetables into chunks then pan-grilled it with just a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil until lightly browned.  This meal has  236 calories.

 

What's good about this recipe is that the prep time is short, and cooking it is hassle-free - you just need to put it in the broiler and keep your time.  The roast came out flavorful by itself, actually, but the dressing gave it added punch.  Enjoy!

The Recipe

1       T. brown sugar
1 1/2 t. instant coffee powder
3/4   t. Spanish paprika
1/2   t. garlic powder
1/2   t. salt
1/8   t. freshly ground black pepper
1 kilo   whole beef sirloin

Score beef all over in a criss-cross pattern Combine the spices and rub all over beef and leave in a covered container in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.  When ready to cook, pre-heat conventional oven to 250 deg. Celsius for a few minutes and maintain heat when starting to roast the beef.

For the turbo broiler, place beef at 3-4 inches from heat source and set temperature at the same level (250 deg. Celsius) and timer at 50 minutes.  This will produce a medium-well roast which is ideal for local beef.  If using imported beef, and you'd like it medium rare, cook for 30 minutes.

In both instances, turn beef once half-way through its cooking times.  Once beef is done, transfer the roast to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.  After that, slice beef thinly across the grain and serve with Buttermilk Dressing.

Buttermilk Dressing

2   T. low-fat buttermilk
2   T. light mayonnaise (I used Lady's Choice Mayo Lite)
1   T. snipped fresh chives
1    t. apple cider vinegar (I used Bragg's)
1    t. Dijon-style mustard
1/4 t. sugar
1/8 t. garlic powder
1/8 t. each salt and black pepper

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until blended well.  Cover and chill in the refrigerator.  This dressing is good for up to 2 days.  (recipe for beef and dressing from low-carb cooking magazine issue 2013)

Dinner Dates - Casa Marcos & Guevarra's

It was just one of those weeks when it seemed all of your waking hours were on nothing but work so that an invitation (or two in fact) from the significant other to just forgo a home-cooked meal and do a bit of stretching (of the vehicle mileage), that I picked up my bag and went off for something of a breather from the hot stove and fingers nicked several times by a newly-purchased Japanese steel cook's knife (we're still getting to know each other).

Casa Marcos
Unit 20a/20b Ortigas Home Depot
J. Vargas Street, Pasig City
+63 2 4703637

This is an old standby, and has resurrected for several years now from their original place in Gilmore Avenue.  It used to be that Casa Marcos was where movie deals get made, what with the LVN Pictures (or was it Sampaguita?) compound just a few meters away, and then later on, with "Mother Lily" of Regal Films until she had her own McDonalds franchise, so that of course, the venue of wheeling and dealing had to be settled at a less (ahem) classy spot.

But while Casa Marcos' interiors have a renewed vigor, the menu remained thankfully the same.  They bake their own mini pan de sal then and now, and in addition, serve regular-sized ones filled with chicken, corned beef or sardines. 

My husband and I still enjoyed the same Gambas for appetizer, a shared Caesar Salad to make room for their specialties which are the creamy and delicate Lengua Sevillana and the silky Callos ala Madrilena. Request that your bread basket be refilled to truly enjoy the flavors.

Like its branch in the Fort Global City, the one in Ortigas makes you enjoy the old standards in an intimate but neighborly setting.

Guevarra's
387 P. Guevara St.
San Juan, Metro Manila
+63 2 7051811

Much has been talked about this newest restaurant of famed Chef Rolando Laudico and his wife Chef Jackie, and the fact that my husband noticed that the place is always full every night he goes home from work got both of us curious.

On the weekend we decided to try it out, we were waitlisted but we braved it through the downpour thinking that there might still be a chance to get a table.  Guevarra's is a converted 1940s or '50s house located in a still decidedly residential part of San Juan.  As we turned into its open gate and driveway up to the house, there was an appreciable oohs and aahs among us.  The restaurant maintained the general integrity of the structure and was really handsome and inviting with all the lights glowing a mellow yellow within and without.  There was ample parking space, and had just been filled up a few seconds after we arrived.

The wait was 30 minutes before we could get a table, and this was only out of luck since a group cancelled their reservation.  

What Guevarra's is, is a casual venue that offers lunch and dinner buffet (Php599 for adults and Php499 for children plus VAT) featuring various Filipino flavors and regional cuisines, with a few international dishes like the US Roast Beef Belly that shared equal billing with other roasts like lechon manok and lechon baboy,  and Fish Fillet with mango chutney, a decidedly Indian dish.

 

 

The highlights of the spread were the Fresh Ubod Lumpia (young coconut spring rolls), the Party Pasta which is essentially Spaghetti with Aligue (or Crabfat) sauce, the Chicken Pastel and the Paella Negra.  The dessert buffet had various rice cakes, chocolate fondue, chocolate mousse and soft-serve ice cream.

 

It was a good place to bring family and friends, and apparently quite attractive enough to hold birthday and other celebrations there.  At the time we were dining, there were two different birthday celebrations going on.

 

 

The food was really good, what one would expect from Chef Lau, made more appetizing brought about by the charming ambiance of the house, and the courteous, but not intrusive, attention of the waitstaff.  But do reserve your table a week ahead to avoid the hassle of waiting.

Bread and Kitchy Art - Pan de Amerikana Marikina

The heavy rains had us scurrying towards the thatched roof of Pan de Amerikana Bakery one day for an afternoon snack and a respite from all that driving we did that day.  Thus, I was unable to take a picture of its famous landmark - the windmill.  Despite the gloomy weather, we were greeted with artsy delights - from a bridge and a pond to assorted and mismatched bric a bracs, from antique musical instruments and radios to movie stars of LVN or Sampaguita pictures fame. 

 

 

And of course, who would miss the giant chess set against the backdrop of Roman pillars?  My husband and daughter made a beeline towards it.  The game is afoot - literally.

 

 

Our large group settled near the giant aquarium and there were orders for pasta carbonara, pancit palabok (rice vermicelli in seafood aioli), halo-halo (assorted sweetened beans and fruit in crushed ice, milk and sugar), and of course their 1950s style large wheat pan de sal (bread of salt), which can be served either with corned beef, butter or Cheez Whiz and accompanied by coffee (instant 3-in-1!). 

 

 

The bread is the reason why one goes there - baked fresh daily, chewy on the inside, crusty and crumbly on the outside, and totally healthy since they only make it with whole wheat flour.

 

 

I didn't take pictures of the plates we ordered since, frankly, it wasn't that worth it.  It was bland all around.  But do go there for the bread, and maybe rest a little on the hammock, or tinker with their assorted and interesting decorative pieces as props.  I hear that they serve flavorful Pinaputok na Tilapia (Tilapia fried in banana leaves) and even steaks.  But will have to go back there and try it out when the weather is better.  

 

 

 

Besides good bread and art, they also sponsor tai chi and art lessons, and from time to time, conduct chess clinics.  Thus, there are a million reasons to go and spend some time in this charming pocket of Marikina.  It makes one curiouser and curiouser.

Pan de Amerikana
92 Gen. Ordonez cor. Maroon Streets
Marikina Heights, 1800 Marikina City
Metro Manila
+63 2 4752398

Street Food Sampling - Songkran

This was during one of my visits to my mother's house in Las Pinas, within southern Metro Manila.  When I was growing up here, the town (now a city) used to be just made up of several residential subdivisions or villages - quiet and suburban.  It no longer can be called suburbia, certainly.  It hasn't been for quite some time actually.  The same thing can be said about BF Homes in Paranaque, even though it has been a self-sustaining subdivision since the late 1970s. 

The hub of commercial activity there used to be just the President's Avenue, but over the years, residences along Aguirre Avenue have little by little been converted to varying business establishments, and the most attractive of them all are the different cafes and restaurants which offer in itself a buffet of cuisines - from Japanese, to Irish, to Italian, 

Spanish, Chinese and of course Filipino along with the sturdy standby Tropical Hut Hamburger.  BF Paranaque can be said to have it all.

For our part (me, my mom and brother), we sought out Songkran, a restaurant that specializes in Thai street food.  The exterior of the restaurant itself elicits tranquility.  A terrace with outdoor tables and chairs surrounds the structure giving the diner a choice of whether to stay outdoors or indoors.

Inside was cooler though on that particular day, with ceiling fans and a hint of airconditioning with sturdy wooden tables and comfortable chairs.  Floor to ceiling windows make you enjoy the greenery outside.

The menu presented a wide variety of dishes which you would normally see offered for sale on a typical busy Bangkok street.  But for now, we settled ourselves with just a few of them.  The lemongrass and mint tea came highly recommended, and they really weren't kidding.  It was thirst-quenching and the subtle sweetness will not make you gag.  There were other cool Thai drinks on offer but will probably try them some other time.  I was definitely hooked on this one.

 

 

Thereafter, we asked for the Catfish Salad which one should always get whenever you're in a Thai restaurant.  The fish was delectably crunchy, never oily and balanced with the fish sauce and vinegar dressing that was cradled within the folds of salad greens and peanuts.

 

 

The green chicken curry was a welcome onslaught of flavors.  More subtle than the red curry, but leaves you with a clean savory taste, especially when paired with aromatic Jasmine rice that help set off the spices.

 

 

We also tried out the Fish Fillet with Caramel Sauce.  It took some time, but it was worth the wait.  The fish was crispy and reminiscent of toasted fishballs, and the caramel sauce was oozing liquid gold. An upscale salute to our very own "tusok-tusok" fishball which our very own manongs sell at every street corner here.

 

 

Thai food always seeks balance and every dish we tried woke our taste buds to every nuance of flavors.  For three dishes and 3 cups of rice with drinks, the Php938.00 bill was reasonable.  We left sated but not gluttoned.  With this experience, we were certainly coaxed to come back and try the other dishes.

Songkran
249 Aguirre Avenue
BF Homes Paranaque
+63 2 8292963

Milk Teas and Sashimi - Bubble Tea BGC

The milk tea craze is still going strong in the Philippines, or at least in Metro Manila, that is.  One of my favorites would be the Japanese brand Bubble Tea.  I have been to their Bonifacio Global City branch many times and liked the cheery pastel ambiance, and thought that I would write about it in my next visit.

This particular visit though had a few flies in their ointment.  We were still greeted by pleasant smiles and prompt assistance with our menu choices, but we noticed that the furniture now showed some wear and tear.  A shame too, because they really had comfortable seats and this was coupled by what should have been a well-thought of motif.  Then the rest rooms were a nightmare.  It has not been cleaned and it reeked of overuse.  Indeed, while they do open until 4am, this is not an excuse not to ensure optimum sanitation standards.

I ordered the mixed sashimi and it came, yes, well arranged, but was warm (!) and garnished with tired-looking radish strings (take note too, of the old stock of tamago [egg] sashimi pieces).  When I asked about this with the waitstaff, they only apologized and said that it was prepared near the stove.  But wouldn't the cook know that sashimi should maintain a certain cool temperature and thus, should avoid preparing it near a hot plate/stove?  They only graciously took note of this and will just tell the cook.  But my point is, the damage has been done.

 

 

Nevertheless, they came through with their Katsudon and the Pork Curry Rice.  Very colorful, well-cooked, and the balance of flavors and textures were evident. 

 

In fact, we noticed that the Japanese expats who came in, all had the Pork Curry Rice.  I suppose, in order to avoid any surprises, they tend to choose this dish which one cannot go wrong in preparing it.

 

 

 

Of course, their milk teas were still wonderfully silky sweet.  I prefer the old-fashioned Royal Milk Tea, but their Chocolate and Buco Pandan flavors satisfy as well.  Maybe if they do a little re-upholstering and are minded to clean their toilets, I will probably come back. For now, I'll have to contend with trying out their other branches instead.

Simply Fishy

After the heavy rains have died down, and we pick ourselves up from the devastation of typhoon Maring (international name "Trami'), it is certainly a time to go back to something simple.  What better way to serve a meal than to make one that doesn't require a lot of time and ingredients.  Here's a recipe for steamed fish fillet I'd like to contribute to your recipe box.

 

 

 

The Recipe:

 

200 gms. boneless fish fillet (lapu-lapu or grouper, cream dory, or maya-maya)

4-5 garlic cloves, minced (more if you like)

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. Chinese cooking wine

1 tsp. chopped spring onions

1/2 to 1 tsp. salt, or to taste

 

Arrange fish fillets on a plate.  Add sesame oil and cooking wine evenly on the fillets.  Sprinkle salt evenly followed by the minced garlic.  Place in a steamer or arrange a rack inside a big casserole with simmering water reaching only 1/4 level.  Steam fish for 10-15 minutes.  Sprinkle spring onions on the fillets and serve immediately.



Neighborhood Joints

Small cafes are one of my favorite places.  They're usually within a short distance from your house, have a homey atmosphere, and a specialty dish or two with prices that are not so steep.  They're a perfect place to go to if you just want a change of scenery and yet still feel comfortably familiar.  I like three so far.

Café Cristina
M.L. Quezon Street, Antipolo City
(across Shopwise)

This is the nearest to where I live and in a busy location within my city.  Ample parking is available too as it is located within the Hotel Cristina compound.  The interiors have a feel of a residential living room (perhaps like your own?), complete with collections of old books (I sighted an old edition of Encyclopedia Britannica), a piano and period bric-a-bracs. 

They serve good coffee and coffee-blended drinks, but I go here to enjoy their great-tasting Pasta Carbonara (Php145).  My daughter, being the unofficial Carbonara expert, gives a thumbs-up to the rich eggy sauce that is boosted well by chunky bacon pieces.  I also recommend their competent Sizzling T-bones (Php199), Lechon Kawali and Katsudon (Php150 each, although, I think what they meant is Tonkatsu not Katsudon).  For dessert, a slice of Cappuccino Cheesecake does the trick.  They have wifi too so you can definitely cozy up with your cup of joe and still be in touch with the virtual world.

(Thanks to the photographers/patrons in Foursquare for the pictures)

Brickfire Grill
Ortigas Avenue Extension, Cainta
(near Tikling Junction)

This restaurant is relatively new and we were caught by surprise because it just sprouted up right within the PTT gas station.  Coming from Pasig, it will be right after Max's Restaurant on your left, before reaching the Tikling Junction.  You'll just have to take a U-turn at the nearest break along Ortigas Avenue Extension.

 

The place is small, but being surrounded by glass windows gives it an illusion of space.  The menu offers a little of everything that will taste good on the grill.  The Nachos and Fries with Cheese Sauce was a generous starter.

Then since its on the menu, we had to try their adobo, which have variations.  You can have it with just chicken, or pork only (Php99), but they have chicken and pork combined with a spicy sauce (Php150).  We got the chicken and this was served enclosed in a wooden barrel complete with hard-boiled egg, and tomato and onion salsa. 

You take out the barrel and you are met with your chicken meal wrapped in banana leaves (binalot style).  Their adobo is Tagalog-style:  soy-infused slightly thick sauce that had the chunk of rice swimming in it.  The salsa itself is to swoon over as it gave the right tang and balance to the chicken dish.

The only steak they have on offer is the Cowgirl Annie (Php145).  You can either have it sweet, tangy, or their original flavor.  We got the original-flavored Annie and it was great for a Pinoy beef T-bone - tender and well-grilled with scorching in the right places.  This was served with rice (or mashed potato, your choice) and gravy.  For the price, you won't feel short-changed.

They have other items on offer like Tangigue Steaks, Baked Prawns, and Pasta but that's for another trip back.

Ramen Bar
Eastwood Mall, Quezon City

I admit this is a departure from what generally is thought of as a neighborhood restaurant but at the time of this writing, the rains were pouring and what better way to warm yourself up than a bowl of hot piping noodle soup without Japanesey prices? 

Personally, I am not a fan of ramen, but there Shiyo Ramen (salt infused broth with tonkotsu ramen, topped with tamago, naruto, negi and chasyu) was a scene stealer.  Despite the clean taste, you can still clearly decipher the pork.  I suppose the simplicity and purity of salt does the trick.  Although, you may also try their Shoyu Ramen (with a soy-infused broth) and this is also good, but one can still depict the natural oil from the pork base.

But that was my husband's dish.  I was equally happy with Ramen Bar's Beef Yakiniku Rice topping although I would have wanted more beef in my bowl and their flavorful Gyoza, which they served deep-fried, not just seared which is the usual way of serving it in other fine Japanese restaurants.

Enjoy these comforting bowls amid glowing halogens, subdued voices from other tables, and cute anime sketches overhead, and it is still a neighborhood stop.