I Blog, Therefore I Am.: Food

, by Abbie

KITCHEN EXPERIMENT: CHICKEN SOPAS

We've been married for two weeks now and living a very domesticated life. There are adjustments here and there but the biggest discovery I had is my hubby's hearty appetite. He has a very strict rule of eating 3x a day (on time and on the dot at that) whereas I only eat when I am hungry. This was initially a problem because I am not exactly Martha Stewart. I cook from time to time but I am not really the Filipina 'housewife cooking type'.

BUT I'm a very competitive person and I always aim to please thus I was able to cook a total of 4 lunch/dinner dishes (Sinigang, Afritada, Fried Chicken, Sopas), successfully marinated some chicken thighs and drumsticks, perfected an over easy egg, and mastered breakfast cooking in my 14 days as a married woman. Mean feat for someone who used to be clueless on the amount of cooking oil when stir-frying.

Last night, New Year's Eve, I decided to try one of my favorite dishes: Chicken Sopas. I got the recipe from Manila Spoon but I modified it a bit according to our preference, brands of the ingredients, and serving size. The hubby approved this but he wants it more 'salty'. You guys can also adjust the salt level through fish sauce or salt. Sharing the recipe below.

CHICKEN SOPAS

Ingredients
1 boneless chicken breasts, cooked then shredded
200 grams Del Monte Elbow Macaroni
3 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Knorr Chicken Broth Cubes
1 medium yellow or white onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 medium carrots, cubes
3 celery stalks, sliced diagonally
8-10 cups chicken broth (I used the water where I boiled the chicken)
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste
Fish Sauce, 2-3 tablespoon or to taste (you can opt with 1 tablespoon depending on your preference)
1 can Carnation Evaporated Milk

Steps in Cooking

1. Boil the chicken breasts until tender and cooked. Shred it with a fork or just with your hands after it cooled down.

2. Set aside the water where you boiled your chicken breast. You will use this after for the broth.

3. Cook the Del Monte Elbow Macaroni al dente. I used an induction stove and boiled and timed it for 14 mins. Set aside after cooking. Prepare the vegetables while boiling the macaroni.

4. In a large pan, heat the oil. Saute the onions, garlic, celery, and carrots until the onions become translucent and the vegetables are tender for about 5 minutes. Add a little salt and pepper.

5. Add the shredded chicken. Add the boiled chicken water, add the Knorr Chicken Broth cubes, season with some fish sauce, salt, and pepper. Add fish sauce or salt to taste or depending on your preference. Bring to a boil.

6. Add the cooked Del Monte Elbow Macaroni and Carnation Evaporated Milk and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Serves 9 - 10
Cost: Php 250.00 (most of the ingredients are in the pantry so this could be lower)

Hope this helps! Enjoy!

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, by Abbie

In #WittAbbie, Caterer

REVIEW: K. BY CUNANAN FOOD TASTING

No updates since May! I've been a very bad blogger. Been really busy with work but I TRY to put a little wedding planning and prep every now and then. Anyway - here's a long wedding update and review on K. By Cunanan.

One of our most important wedding suppliers is our caterer - K. By Cunanan. I am very happy with our choice of caterer and its also the very first supplier that we booked back it December. They are my ultimate non-negotiable.

I was not really keen on getting them in the beginning. I was actually preparing a series of food tasting and meetings with prospective caterers (Albergus, Bizu, Mesclun, Passion Cooks, etc.). BUT our friend, Patty Laurel-Filart, suggested and recommended her wedding caterer to me. I checked them out, found very good food reviews from past wedding couples, and fell in love with their superb styling. Food is very important in any event. People will probably forget my wedding dress but they will never forget the banquet experience; so the guys who will cater for the wedding is very important to us.

Trivia: We switched wedding dates from December 12 to December 18 because K. By Cunanan was already fully booked on the 12th. Yeah - I chose a Friday instead of a very good Saturday December date all because of food and styling!

We booked and paid the required Php 10,000 last December but we officially reserved last January at the Getting Married Bridal Fair. Booking them on fairs will give additional FREE desserts or appetizers in the menu. The Account Manager that was assigned to us in the fair was Rann Dela Fuente.

There are two food tastings at K. By Cunanan. The first taste test is where you will meet your Account Manager, discuss wedding details, and try out K's popular dishes. The second food tasting is usually 2-3 months before the wedding. You'll be able to taste your selected menu from the first taste test or request for more dishes which were not included in the first one. The final styling and detailing will also be discussed in the meeting.

Our initial food tasting was last May 12. Witt and I were very excited (of course food!). The food tasting is at the K. By Cunanan Commissary in Green Meadows.

Here are the reviews and the fooooood...

We started with the Raspberry Iced Tea. They have other Iced Tea blends like Vanilla and Home Made Iced Tea but I think we will go with the Raspberry. It has a somewhat similar taste with Red Iced Teas.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

K. By Cunanan offers Hors d' oeuvres for the guests. Our wedding will have a 1.5 hours gap from church to reception and we will be serving cocktails during that time. K offers a variety of hors d' oeuvres: fresh, soup, wrap/taco, fried, and on toast. We were served Bacon Wrapped Dates, Onion Soup with French Toast, and Chicken Tortilla with Arugula, and Carmelized Onion. The Bacon Wrapped Dates is a winner and we will definitely include it in our menu. You can never go wrong with bacon! The Onion Soup is so-so and it was served in shot glasses which might be a hassle to some. The Chicken Tortila is okay but we will ask for other options.

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, by Abbie

In #SproutMeUp, Food

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In Buffet, Food

NEW YEAR EATS AT VIKINGS JAZZ

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In Abbie, Buddy's

VISITA IGLESIA 2010 (PART ONE)

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In 52 Weeks, Chocolate

CHOCOLATE FIRE

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In Abbie, Awesome Planet

THE ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 4.0

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, by Abbie

In Abbie, Events

IT'S BORACAY NOT BORA!

I was fortunate to be in Boracay last Labor Day weekend for the Smart Buddy Hot Summer Samahan event. I was not really expecting the work trip and I only learned that I was going less than 24 hours before my actual departure. I went to the island to oversee one of the activities of Smart's premiere summer event.

It was only my third trip to the island and it was fun to learn and experience new things and visit different places which I haven't been. It's also nice to discover a different Boracay apart from the watersports and beaching that we all love. Read on!

1. I was "almost" and "mostly" solo on the trip and it was both good and bad. Good because I can do all the things I want and bad because I don't have anybody to share it with.

2. Labor Day weekend was the second busiest period of summer! I was early at the airport but I was still bumped off because PAL Express overbooked my flight due to four canceled Caticlan flights that day.

3. PAL Express transferred us to Seair and it was my first time to ride a 20-seater plane (I counted)! The plane was bare and I can't sleep. I was finally able to sleep 30 minutes after take-off but the repeated turbulence woke me up.

4. The upside of Seair? We were only 9,000 ft. high so I was able to take some overhead shots; and land and sea travel to Boracay were also free!

5. There were so many people in Boracay that weekend! It was so crowded! You have to line-up for almost everything. It was also raining on and off but the people were dedma about it.

6. I met and worked with colleagues from Boracay, Iloilo and Makati who helped me with agents stuff, booth supervision and reaching the target. :)

7. First lunch meal was at The Big Mouth in D'Mall with colleagues. I ordered a small bowl of Pesto Pasta and a glass of Coke. Damage? Php 200! Welcome to Boradise of Expensive Everything!

8. I was supposed to stay at Patio Pacific (it was overbooked) or at the Fairways (it was so far) but I ended up at this simple, beachfront hotel at Station 1 called Casa Fiesta. It was right in front of our event venue and it was just less than a hundred feet from our Wireless Center. Perfect!

9. The lady who owns Casa Fiesta was very kind and accommodating. She did not ask for even a deposit or a down payment for my 4-day stay. She just asked me to fill-out some forms. The room was spacious and the bathroom was clean. It has a double bed, a TV, a ref, a/c and a veranda overlooking the beach.

10. Work on my first day was very stressful. The target was high and it was really stressful working in the beach. Unbelievable but true.

11. I took a break and a stroll along Station 1 mid-afternoon to check out the scenery. I was hoping for a Jonah's shake but it was jam-packed as usual.

12. I'll be fit as a fiddle if I live in Boracay with all the walking and strolling. I loved all the solitary walks I had.

13. I love great hotels so I took note of all the resorts and boutique hotels I want to stay in. Here are some of them: Zuzuni, Las Brisas, Residencia Boracay, Two Seasons, Bluewaves Beach House, Seawind (always been on my list since 2001), Boracay Regency and, of course, DS.

14. Since it was a work trip, we obviously had meetings! I had two on my first day.

15. I love the I-don't-care Boracay attitude that gave me the convenience of wearing anything I want. Shorts? Check! Floral overload? Check! Non-black stuff? Check! It was also the first time I wore white in years!

16. Our first day dinner was buffet at Seawind where I was able to taste one of the best pastas I've ever had = Oil & Garlic With Mushrooms and Hams. I am now hunting for a recipe!

17. There was also something in the Boracay air that makes one thirsty! So I ordered a glass of Bailey's on one of the beach bars near my hotel. I had the shock of my life when the bartender gave me two glasses. I apparently ordered one their "buy one, take one" drinks. Geez!

18. I was up bright and early on my 2nd day for our actual Summer Samahan event. I was happy and excited. I was up until 2:00 am devising a strategy that would "sell". It DID sell and we had a favorable outcome. Yey, me!

19. I was busy the entire day working non-stop. I only stopped for a well-deserved lunch at Tribraz along Station 2. Tribraz is a french bistro near Cafe Del Mar. I had Potato & Meat Casserole and Rice Pilaf. Yummy!

20. I had an EX moment across the miles. I can't believe it! *shakes head, roll eyes*

21. Speaking of #21, I learned that all my pasts and possible future are all Smart subscribers. Galeng!

22. The Summer Samahan event was so great! Bosses will be happy. I realized that I can also be an excellent frontliner and on-ground person. Chat will be proud!

23. I would like to thank Aqtiv 100 Plus Energy Drink (Hi, Jomar! Hello, Mark!) and Colgate for the support and sponsorship. Until next time!

24. I was so exhausted the whole day but it did not hinder me to peek at my Social Networking Sites and tweet.

25. Second night's dinner was another buffet at Le Soleil De Boracay at Station 2 with colleagues. It was just so so. Nothing spectacular.

26. I strolled along Station 2 and 3 after dinner. I discovered new restaurants, saw the new Mandarin Spa and took note of all the places I can take my family on our trip in June.

27. Looks like the best chill-out places in the island are (and still are) Guilly's, Bamboo Lounge and the new Obama's Grill at Statiton 1; and Bombom's, SummerPlace and Hey Jude at Station 2.

The new Obama Grill at Station 1

28. Spongecola is the best! 'Nuff said, love 'em. The Summer Samahan Event culminated with a concert of Spongecola, Rocksteddy and Bamboo. Rock on!

29. I caught a fever because of the on/off rain and the high temp of my room's AC. I spent the night on-line with my favorite fattening snack bought from D'Mall: Lays & Coke.

30. I am the biggest loser in Boracay because I spent the day in bed resting and nursing my colds on my 3rd day. I was awoken by cheers before lunch as a result of Pacman's greatest boxing battle against Hatton. I wasn't able to watch the match live but I learned from Twitter how the bloodshed happened.

31. I spent my final afternoon doing usual Boracay stuff like eating Chori Burger, strolling along Station 1 and sipping Jonah's Fruitshake. I tried the plain Mocha flavor and it was delicious.

32. There was, of course, the Sunset! It was not a magnificent summer sunset and it was very cloudy but it was great nonetheless.

33. I love the All Flip Flops By The Beach store at Station 1. Nice lighting, too!

34. My favorite Boracay activity is Massage By The Beach so I obviously did not leave the island without it. It was relaxing and refreshing as usual.

35. I had my first-ever Henna Tattoo! I was so happy about it so I had two. One on my right ankle and the other one on my right leg.

36. One of my best ever meal was at Aria. I had the Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino pasta for my last lunch at the island. It was so delicious. All the raves about Aria are indeed true!

37. The flight back home was breeze. I took a PAL Express flight and I must say that it's the best ride I've ever had from Caticlan to Manila. It's not as "uncontrolled" like Cebu Pacific and Seair.

38. I arrived around 4:00 PM on a Monday and was both happy and sad about it. Sad because I just came back from one of best places in the world and happy because I am back in my beloved city with my family and friends on it.

I'll be going back to Boracay in June but this time with the family. We will be celebrating my brother's 27th birthday there. Hopefully, I'll be able to swim and do beach stuff and watersports by then.

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, by Abbie

In Food, Friends

DINNER AT MADISON

I closed another busy week with a fabulous dinner last Friday with friends. I was all fired-up and inspired last week to work despite having to stay late at the office for several days. Everything is actually quite cool despite the new work, targets, and responsibilities that were given to me and my group last week. But work is not what this post is all about. I digress.

I met up with Olen and Dansel, my super girlfriends from Honda, for some bonding and heart-to-heart at Greenbelt last Friday. It's been quite a while since I last saw them. I wasn't able to attend our yearly Christmas/New Year gathering so I also brought with me my gifts for their daughters, Nicole and Bela, who are both my Godchildren.

Olen & Dans checking out Bela's pictures

I love these two women to bits. They were with me in some of my "development years" post-college. Olen and I used to share a condo before in Salcedo Village when I was still with Honda. She's one of those unfortunate people in the planet who knows me very well. Dansel was the late addition in our little group. Some common experiences and feelings in the past brought her to us to form a lifelong friendship. It was really nice seeing them both last Friday.

Now on to the food! We initially planned to dine at A Veneto, a favorite of Olen's, but it was so full that night thus we decided to look for another restaurant. It was good that we skipped A Veneto since I just dined there the previous Thursday with my geek boylets. We ended up at Teriyaki Boy in Glorietta for some appetizers and dinner at Greenbelt.

Teriyaki Boy used to be one of my favorite el cheapo Japanese places. My friend Tin and I dined there a few months back and I hated it since. There was something new, raw and weird on the dishes they served that night. I haven't been to TB since then until last Friday where we had California Maki and Ika Fry for appetizers which were fortunately not so bad that night.

California Maki

Ika Fry

Dans wanted to eat somewhere nice and quiet so we decided to check out the new restaurants in Greenbelt. We also wanted some salad, pasta and pizza so we eventually ended at Madison in Greenbelt 5. They had the usual Friday crowd so we dined al fresco.

Madison specializes on steaks and ribs but they also have pasta, salads and pizza. There was an enticing Wagyu Rib Eye on the menu but we decided to stick with greens and noodles. We shared a Crab Caesar Salad, Grilled Seafood Linguine and Meatball & Herbed Roasted Tomatoes. I love the seafood linguine but I admit that it's not too different from the other seafood pastas I've had before.

Crab Caesar Salad, Baby Romaine Hearts, Bacon & Boiled Egg

Grilled Seafood Linguine, Tomato Vodka Sauce

Artisan Pizza
Meatball and Herbed Roasted Tomatoes

I've been experimenting with a lot of restaurants and food lately (check out my previous posts) and it was mainly because of my new camera. My shots are improving but I will definitely try to schedule my photography class this February to have more post-worthy shots on this blog.

I wonder where we will eat next Friday. Any suggestions? :)