Treasure Jar

Well known Chef Fernando “Fern” Aracama recalls fond memories of Christmas past in his cooking class at The Maya Kitchen on November 23, Saturday from 9am-1pm.

A very young boy walking home from midnight mass with his family is something Chef Fern remembers to this day. He took inspiration from the traditional Media Noche meal that awaited them but this time he shares recipes of dishes that are not the usual but delightful nonetheless.

To warm you up is Patatas Riojana, a very simple yet hearty and delicious potato and chorizo soup Chef Fern revisited on his recent trip to Spain.

To fill you up is Grilled Ensaimada Media Noche style. Hot and crusty butter grilled ensaimada stuffed with Chinese ham and queso de bola.

Insalata Uvato goes with the Grilled Ensaimada. This is his signature salad with honey balsamico vinaigrette, toasted pine nuts, green and red grapes and kesong puti.

Malunggay and Mozzarella dip is nutritious greens in a creamy, cheesy brûleé best served with crispy crostini. This is a signature appetizer in Aracama Filipino Cuisine, one of Chef Fern’s restaurants.

And because it is Christmas there has to be Bunuelos and Warm Chocolate Dip. These are the recipes of Chef Fern’s dear Abuelita of deep fried choux pastries served with a thick and smooth milk chocolate dip.

Chef Fern hails from Bacolod and is a graduate of the University of the Philippines with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. He took further studies at The New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont USA and was a 2003 Cochran Fellowship Program Awardee at the Hilton College, University Of Houston, Texas, USA.

Chef Fern has a long list of bars and restaurants to his name like Aracama Filipino Cuisine, Opus, Republiq & Café Republiq, MYTHAI Kitchen, Lucky Niku Café, The ChopHouse, The Tides Hotel Boracay as well as previous spots Restaurant UVA, Encore/Embassy & Member’s Only and CANTEEN simple+good food.

He is also active in World Association of Chef Societies (WACS), Les Toques Blances Philippines, Council of Chefs, United States of America’s Department of Agriculture and is a Chef Consultant with Philippine Airlines.

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

Tags: Bunuelos and Warm Chocolate Dip, Chef Fern Aracama at The Maya Kitchen, Chef Fern Aracama Recreates Childhood Media Noche at The Maya Kitchen, Grilled Ensaimada Media Noche style, Insalata Uvato, Malunggay and Mozzarella dip, Patatas Riojana

Spend time with your children, those who have “been there and done that” parents tell us so.

This is the youngest child, doing an artwork late into the night. I stayed up with her, asking what I can do for her but she refused my help because she said she needs to do this artwork herself.

Spend time with your children so that they grow up with you and learn the things you find valuable. Spend time with your children while they still welcome your hugs and kisses and not when they have to go to rapid detox centers.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you. ~Khalil Gibran

Tags: motherhood, parenting

Ilustrado, the home of heritage Filipino-Spanish cuisine shares well loved dishes from our heroes’ hometowns at The Maya Kitchen, 9am-1pm on October 26, Saturday with Boni Pimentel, Ilustrado president and his chefs taking center stage.

Recipes include

• Umbuyan, tinapa flakes sautéed in olive oil and wrapped in pechay leaves has its origins in Manila where Andres Bonifacio was born.
• Bagnet with KBL Sauce is an Ilocano version of lechon kawali with kamatis, bagoong and lasuna as sauce where Juan Luna and Antonio Luna are the proud sons of Ilocos Norte.
• Manok ng mga Bayani, chicken simmered in bold textures of dill, kamias, ground peanuts and toasted rice is inspired by no less than President Manuel Luis Quezon who hailed from Baler, Aurora.
• National hero Jose Rizal from Biñan, Laguna inspired Jaleang Bayabas, very ripe guavas peeled and mashed in milk and sugar.
• Rounding off the recipe line-up is Paella Ilustrado, Spanish rice dish with pork, chicken, seafood, chorizo bilbao, peppers and peas which is a consistent bestseller in the restaurant menu.

Ilustrado is located at 744 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila opened its doors in 1989. Through the years it has expanded all over the metro and has also made a name in catering for clients such as Malacañang Palace and other government agencies, foreign embassies, multinational corporations, local businesses and prominent personalities. It is also a favorite wedding reception venue due in part to its proximity to some of Manila’s historic churches.

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

Tags: Boni Pimentel Ilustrado president, Ilustrado the home of heritage Filipino-Spanish cuisine, The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center

FEATURE:

Did you know that surprises make people remarkably happier?

Surprises have, indeed, powerful effects. Psychologist Norbert Schwarz conducted a classic study where it was found that a small but pleasant surprise, such as finding 10 cents, uplifts a person’s mood. Schwarz repeatedly placed a coin near a copy machine where it can be easily seen. When the subjects who found the coin were surveyed shortly thereafter, their overall satisfaction with life was significantly higher than those who did not find the coin.

While the study was conducted at a time when a coin can buy more than it does today, the basic conclusion is that even a tiny, pleasant surprise can improve one’s disposition.

“It’s not the value of what you find. It’s that something positive happened to you,” stressed Schwarz.

Whether you’re a kid or a grown up, you will not be able to resist the joy and pleasure of discovering something new. Bent on providing this kind of joy, a unique chocolate treat, Kinder Joy is finally arriving in the Philippines to spread delightful surprises.

Feel good and experience a huge surprise happening on October 19 & 20, 2013, from 10am to 10pm at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Activity Center.

Expect fun-filled activities and awesome surprises on top of yet another big reveal—a special guest who will surely charm Filipino kids and their families.

Come and explore the amazing world of surprises!

Tags: Big Surprise, Big Surprise MOA October 19-20 2013

How does Globe GoUNLI30 give you the REAL UNLI chat experience? 

See those apps above?

Those are readily available to you when you register with Globe GoUNLI30. There is absolutely no reason why you won’t be able to communicate with your loved ones when you subscribe to Globe GoUNLI30, whether your message is about being late for dinner with your parents, ironing out details for a surprise baby shower for a friend in a clique in FB Messenger or even phone call through Viber from your sister who works in the UK.

All these apps available to you even without asking for a wi-fi password from the coffeeshop where you are having your afternoon mocha latte.

Did I say there are no additional charges as well? Well, I did now.

Php30 = 1 day.

So what are you waiting for, subscribe now to Globe GoUNLI 30.

With GoUNLI30, subscribers get unlimited texts to all networks, unlimited calls to Globe/TM, and unlimited chat with the best messaging apps like Viber, Kakao Talk, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat, Line and the telco’s very own messaging app GMessage without the need for Wi-Fi or additional data charges.

Available for only P30 valid for 1 day, GoUNLI30 gives you no excuse to stay out of the loop and connect with more than 1 billion users around the world regardless of mobile network or location.

Go all-out unlimited with GoUNLI30 and UNLICHAT25 now.

HOW TO REGISTER WITH Globe GoUNLI30

Register by dialing *143# and then choosing GoSAKTO on your Globe mobile phone or texting GOUNLI30 or UNLICHAT25 to 8888

Tags: *143# GoSAKTO, GoUNLI30, HOW TO REGISTER WITH Globe GoUNLI30, text GOUNLI30, UNLICHAT25, UNLICHAT25 to 8888