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A Christmas Dinner Larry Would Love

Larry Cruz is synonymous with these iconic restaurants

  • Café Adriatico,
  • Bistro Lorenzo,
  • Bistro Remedios,
  • Bistro Burgos
  • Ang Hang,
  • Larry’s Bar,
  • Café Havana,
  • Bollywood,
  • Camp Gourmet,
  • Paper Moon,
  • In the Mood Dance Bar
  • Fely J’s,
  • Lorenzo’s Way
  • Abe

Larry Cruz and his legacy continues today as the LJC Group makes sure that everything is as perfect as Larry would have wanted it.

Invitation Nov 29

Join The Maya Kitchen on November 29, Saturday, 9am-1pm, as it presents Chef George Lizares, the corporate chef of the LJC Group, in a cooking demonstration entitled “A Christmas Dinner Larry Would Love.”
Chef George will prepare the following:

  • Cheerful Feta and Watermelon Salad (black olives, yellow and red watermelon with Italian dressing);
  • Kingfish and Shrimps Curry in Coconut, (Tanigue fillet and shrimps gently simmered in Indian-style coconut cream curry sauce);
  • Chicken with Three Mushrooms, (roast chicken with Porcini, Button and Shitake Sauce);
  • Couscous with Seven Vegetable (tender lamb morsels combined with chickpeas, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots, capsicum and cabbage in a rich broth);
  • Baklava (filo pastry, nuts, butter and orange-infused syrup served with vanilla ice cream).

Chef George looks up to Larry Cruz who had been both a boss and a mentor to him. He started with the LJC Group in 1998 as a food and beverage manager. He left and came back in 2008 as corporate executive chef, left and came back again in 2011 up to the present in the same capacity.
The LJC Group was borne out of Larry Cruz’s decision to take a career change way back in 1979. The journalist became a restaurateur. Larry’s indelible mark will forever remain in the history of Philippine cuisine. Every day, Chef George Lizares and the people behind The LJC Group continue to pay tribute to the man who cannot cook yet somehow managed to permanently change the country’s culinary landscape.

“A good meal is one that satisfies all the senses. …More than just looking good, it has to taste good…match the setting… More important for me, it should be enjoyed with someone.”—Larry J. Cruz

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For more information on this and on other courses offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com or e-mailcontactus@themayakitchen.com

visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 / 892-5011 local 108 / Mobile No. +63947 835 2290.

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 25th 2014 | Filed in From the Admin's Desk,FYI,Happenings | Comments (0)

Pan de Donuts from Pan de Manila

We are regular customers of Pan de Manila Mindanao Avenue Branch. Aside from pandesal, we enjoy the cheese bread and the ensaimada.

These days, we also buy Pan De Donut from them. Priced at Php38/piece, less if you buy more than one, even I have a difficult time finishing a piece. I have to share with one of the kids because the Pan de Donuts are heavy. Made with soft baked bread, a combination of pandesal and donut, without the pandesal crunch and “powdery” crumbs, these Pan de Donuts are not just delectable but soft, not too sweet (am talking about the bread itself and not the toppings) and so filling. Aside from the toppings, these is a not too sweet filling inside the bread that oozes out every time you bite into it.

Pan de Donut Chocomonds (pardon the grainy photo)

Pan de Donut

In the box, clockwise from L upper corner: ChocNut Crumble, Nippy Nips, Piling Pili, and Cocojammers.

Pan de Donut assorted flavors

This ChocNut Crumble was shared between my daughter and I.

Pan de Donut ChocNut

Best eaten with brewed coffee or cold milk. My kids have these with smoothies.

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Since it has opened several years ago, there rarely goes a week that we do not buy pandesal from Pan de manila Mindanao Avenue branch. For sure every Saturday we do because I need to bring a few pandesal with me to go to work to “bribe” a student to work well.  Anyway, another post will be coming up about a complaint we have which actually didn’t just happen this week but has happened a few months back.

Posted by Treasure Jar on Nov 1st 2014 | Filed in Bonding Time,For Little Hands,From the Admin's Desk,FYI,Plateful of Fun,Reviews | Comments (0)

Black Bottom Orange Cheesecakes

Black Bottom Orange Cheesecakes

Black Bottom Orange Cheesecakes

Fudge Brownie Base:
¼ cup butter
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 package MAYA Oven Toaster Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 230 g
1 tablespoon melted butter

Orange Cheesecake Filling:
2 ¼ cups cream cheese, softened
¾ cup sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ tablespoons orange zest
1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur
orange food color, as needed

White Chocolate Ganache:
½ cup all purpose cream
½ cup chopped white chocolate
chocolate coins, for garnish (optional)

  • Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C.
  • Prepare fudge brownie base.
  • Grease and line the bottom of a 9×5-inch rectangular pan. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, cream the butter until soft.
  • Add the egg and water and blend together.
  • Add the brownie mix and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth.
  • Pour on the prepared pan and spread batter until smooth.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until done.
  • Once cooled, crumble the brownie and add in the melted butter.
  • Set aside.

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  • Prepare orange cheesecake filling.
  • In a mixer bowl, soften cream cheese and add sugar until creamy.
  • Add in the eggs one at a time.
  • Add the orange zest, orange-flavored liqueur and orange food color. Blend until well incorporated.
  • Prepare white chocolate ganache.
  • Place the all purpose cream in a pan and bring to a boil while stirring continuously.
  • Add the chopped white chocolate and stir until melted and combined. Set aside and cool.

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To assemble. Pack 2 tablespoons each of fudge brownie base at the bottom of eight (8) 4-ounce paper cups. Pour orange cheesecake filling until ¾ full. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove cheesecakes from oven. Cool. Pour white chocolate ganache on top and garnish with a chocolate coin. Serve

Yield: 8 individual cheesecakes

Note: Omit food color if a white cheesecake is desired.

Posted by Treasure Jar on Oct 23rd 2014 | Filed in For Little Hands,FYI,Recipes | Comments (0)

‘European Cooking Made Easy’ at The Maya Kitchen

Learn how you can prepare select European dishes as rising culinary gem Chef Cara Davis mounts a cooking demonstration at The Maya Kitchen on October 25, Saturday, 9am-1pm.

Chef Cara Davis

Chef Cara will share the following recipes:

  • Salmorejo Soup, an Andalusian version of gazpacho made by blending tomatoes, garlic and day old bread. The soup is then garnished with crispy Jamon Serrano and hard boiled eggs.
  • Chicken Fines Herb is sautéed chicken breast paired with a rich and creamy sauce made by adding wine and jus lie to sweated shallots. Cream and finely chopped chives, tarragon, parsley and chervil finish off this classic French dish.
  • Cavatelli is fresh, handmade pasta tossed with a pesto of pistachios, parmesan cheese, herbs and roasted tomatoes.
  • St. Peter’s Fish is pan seared Tilapia finished with a beurre blanc sauce made by whisking chilled butter to a white wine and vinegar reduction.
  • Peach Galette is a basic crust made of butter and flour, rolled out and filled with peaches flavored with cinnamon and vanilla.

Chef Cara got her culinary training from the following institution:

  • Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York,
  • French Culinary Institute in Manhattan
  • New York Bartending School

Starting at the age of fifteen, chef Kara worked at Kultura and C5 at The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

She has also worked as a chef de partie with Chef Grant Achatz at Alinea in Chicago, Chef Daniel Humm at Eleven Madison Park in New York and most recently with Chefs Juan Marie and Elena Arzak at Restaurante Arzak in San Sebastian, Spain.

11 year-old Chef Cara became the youngest student to attend Basic Cooking, Basic Baking and Cake Decoration classes at The Maya Kitchen.

The young chef also does private catering.  She is involved in charitable works, having worked as a volunteer cook for a Toronto women’s shelter and a New York soup kitchen.

Chef Cara is based abroad and is in the Philippines only for a visit.

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For more information, log on to www.themayakitchen.com or e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com

Visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 / 892-5011 local 108.

Posted by Treasure Jar on Oct 21st 2014 | Filed in FYI,Happenings | Comments (0)

Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

You know life just got better when you can organize your kitchen better and thereby work more efficiently saving on time, energy and lessening exasperation over spoiled food, high electricity consumption and having to deal with disorganization.

The new Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator gives you all that and more. Designed to provide optimum use of space to make kitchen life more organized, looking for something in the refrigerator has never been as easy as it was before. To parents with children who like to rummage through the typical refrigerator in search for an apple to munch on or a pizza to heat for snacks, you know what this means, right? Some food containers are opened and not closed properly, some even spill (the horrors!) and some are switched in location.

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

Even chef couple and Samsung Digital Appliances ambassadors, Rolando and Jackie Laudico note that preparing dishes both at home and their newly-renovated restaurant, Guevarra’s, there is a difference on how an organized refrigerator makes work easier and smooth flowing.

When preparing dishes at our restaurant, it’s always important to have our ingredients readily available. With the high kitchen traffic, we can’t afford to waste time looking for ingredients as the viands should always be readily available for our customers.” said Chef Jac “While at home, we always aim to prepare healthy yet delicious meals for our children so it’s important for us to have a refrigerator that keeps healthy produce like vegetables fresh so we won’t have to constantly replace them.”

Samsung Digital Appliances therefore created a refrigerator that helps families keep their food organized and fresh but also looks good in the kitchen.

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

Be more organized

The Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator features two layers that optimize the use of space and provide clearly defined zones for frequently used food. It has three functional zones

  • The Cooking Zone stores frequently used items, such as eggs, cheese and sauce bottles;
  • The Family Zone stores items for the entire family like beverages and fruit;
  • The Kids Zone stores children’s snacks and is located at the lower part of the Showcase considering the height of children.

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

Customized storage space for everyone? Cool!

Located deeper within the refrigerator, behind the outer Showcase is the perfect place to preserve easily perishable items like vegetables, fruits and meats.

 

More Space.

The Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator has more space, to provide the family’s differing food preferences. The daily food items and ingredients like snacks, beverages, sauces are put in areas and at heights to determine optimal locations.

Ice Master

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

There is an Ice Master built into the door, to provide extra space by freeing two additional shelves in the freezer. Yes, with conventional freezers, if your ice cube trays do not have covers, sometimes these get contaminated with other food items. 

The Ice and Water Dispenser feature gives you chilled filtered water at just a touch of a button.

Slide and Fold Shelf

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

The Slide & Fold shelf adds extra flexibility to storage because it can easily be removed, folded up or raised and lowered to fit items you might want to put in. There is really no wasted space.

Save time

With the Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator, all frequently used items have a designated, easily accessible space.

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

Saving time in food preparation is very important, especially for moms like me who doesn’t need to go through the different zones in the refrigerator in search for just one item.

Keep food fresher for longer

Samsung Digital Appliances : Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator

Food also stays fresher for longer in the Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator. Its unique features retain cool air within the refrigerator even if the Showcase door is frequently opened, and ensure an even and constant temperature from top to bottom, front to back. This assures customers that food stays fresh, no matter where it is stored or how often the door is opened.

For sure, the Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator is a premium home appliance. Equipped with a Digital Inverter Technology, this refrigerator provides energy savings efficiency and guarantees durability.

There is a 10 year warranty on the compressor.

Truly, one of the most important items you can have in your kitchen, both at home and, in our case, at work is a refrigerator that keeps your environment organized.” said Chef Lau “Which is why we are happy to have the Samsung Food ShowCase to make our kitchen life easier.”

The Samsung Food ShowCase Refrigerator (with Ice and Water Dispenser) is priced at Php 139,900 and Php 129,900 for the basic model.

Available at all authorized Samsung dealers nationwide.

More photos here. Pardon the grainy photos.

Samsung Smart Oven : Choco Banana Cake

One of the recipes we enjoyed tasting during the Samsung Digital Appliance Saturdate with Mom event that my youngest child and I went to was Chef Jaq’s Choco Banana Cake baked in a Samsung Smart Oven.

Chef Jac's Choco Banana  Cake

We love putting bananas and chocolate in baked goodies, like this Banana, Oats and Chocolate Chips Bread we bake at home.

Samsung Smart Oven

Here is recipe of the Choco Banana Cake by Chef Jaq Laudico baked in a Samsung Smart Oven:

Ingredients:

  • 600grms apf,
  • 50 g cocoa powder
  • 48g baking powder
  • 8g baking soda
  • 1200 g coco sugar
  • 125ml oil
  • 375 ml water
  • 150 gm butter
  • 600g banana
  • 83.3g milk

How to Prepare:

  • Sift together cocoa powder, flour ,baking powder ,baking soda
  • Add sugar water and oil . Mix well
  • Add the bananas and milk
  • Pour into a loaf pan
  • Top with roasted nuts
  • Bake 20 minutes 200 c on preheated convection setting in the Samsung Smart Oven

 More photos here.

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