My Kitchen by Chef Chris, Revisited ♥ ♥ ♥

 

 

 

My Ninang Ann Marie and cousin Cherry are visiting from Taiwan and have been eating waaaayyyyy too much crispy pata and paella (if such a thing is ever possible).

So I thought I'd take them somewhere different for dinner. I know Cherry loves her carbs and will be delighted to know that in Manila, there is a place where you can roll your pizza with fresh vegetables.

"Like lumpia?" she asked.

"Yes."

"But I don't like vegetables."

"Don't worry, I'll eat your share."

 

Complimentary bread with basil parmesan olive oil dip

 

 

Original Tinlou Panizza - bacon, ham, caramelized onion, sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms

 

 

Original Verena Panizza - tomato and white truffle oil enhanced cheese sauce
topped with scallops, prawns and sun dried tomatoes

 

 

Not kidding when I said I'll eat her share. I LOVE ARUGULA.

 

 

Like lumpia.

 

 

We ordered a few other dishes to fill up our tummies.

  

Osso Buco Maestri - prepared after an old family recipe in lemon and white wine flavored
cream sauce with fresh Italian parsley on a bed of saffron risotto. Love the flavor, but the
veal could be a lot more tender.

 

 

 Grilled Homemade Italian Sausage - with caramelized garlic in red wine sauce, 
lentil casserole and golden fried potatoes

 

 

Risotto Fruti di Mare - classic fish and seafood risotto with salmon, mahi mahi, 
shrimps, mussels with tomato, parmesan, butter and saffron

 

 

Mom and her phobia of broccoli 

 

 

Lemon and Lime Cheesecake

 

 

 Cannoli - sweet ricotta cream with chocolate, pistachio and glazed fruits in crispy pastry shell

 

 

Lumpia lovers 

 

 

See my previous My Kitchen post here.

My Kitchen by Chef Chris: The Oasis Paco Park Hotel, 1032-34 Belen Street, Paco, Manila. Tel: +632 521-2371 to 75 

Gourmet Finds ♥ ♥ ♥

 

I am not proud to say this, but last Holy Week, when the whole world was fasting and practicing abstinence in observance of the lenten season, I went wild and feasted on these:

 

 

Boxes and boxes of goodies from Gourmet Finds. Thank you, Evelyn! :)

 

 

After all, who could resist these pretty little almond cookies? 

 

 

As always, I like to play with my food a little before eating. Whoopsies!

 

 

Under its crisp shell, each Gourmet Finds' macaron is moist and chewy. I know this because I ate them all! Lol! :) I daresay it is one of the best macarons in Manila in terms of texture and consistency.

I'm not big on fruity and tangy flavors, but I'm all-out head-over-heels for nutty and chocolatey. The pistachio and chocolate macs are instant favorites.

 

 

 Lemon macaron with lemon mascarpone filling

 

 

Raspberry macaron with raspberry puree cream filling

 

 

Pistachio macaron with pristinely smooth and nutty pistachio cream filling. I love this!

 

 

And this! Chocolate macaron with Valrhona chocolate ganache filling.

 

 

The Eclairs, however, are not as exciting. I found the choux dry...

 

 

… and the vanilla bean pastry cream a bit too runny

 

 

VALRHONA CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT COOKIE
"170 grams of divine, gooey dark chocolate goodness and walnut chunks rolled into one 
huge cookie good for sharing." But I did not share. My principle is this: anything that can fit in 
one palm is good for one mouth.

 

 

Giant cookie innards

 

 

Croissant

 

 

Gourmet Finds' croissant is not the crisp, flaky and airy kind. It is dense, moist and decadent, 
screaming super premium French butter in every bite. This baby made my hand smell like heaven.

 

 

It also comes covered with toasted sliced almonds and dusted with powdered sugar
if you like your croissant sweet and crunchy 

 

 

My two favorite Gourmet Finds products are the Kouign Amann and the Cannele Bordelais.

 

 

Kouign Amann

 

 

Look at the layers! An orgy of butter, sugar, flour, and a lot more butter. It's so good at room
temperature, and even better when toasted in the oven. Seriously, things this buttery and
intense should come with a surgeon general's warning.

 

 

Cannele Bordelais

 

 

The chewy, caramelized crust gives way to a moist, spongy, custardy center.
It's a cross between a pancake, a pudding, and a sweet popover.

 

 

It is a kind of pastry you'd want to eat when no one's watching so you could stuff the whole thing
in your face in less than 30 seconds. 

 

 

Gourmet Finds: 0921-7622240 or gourmetfinds@yahoo.com

Gourmet Finds Facebook Page

Steve and Eleonor's Wedding Reception

 

There was free-flowing Black Label at the cocktail reception

 

 

But I was more interested in food

 

 

My Appies
(Others didn't make it to the plate and went straight in my mouth)

 

 

Photo booth
(I love my dress! Hee hee hee!)

 

 

My cousin Danny and his friend who offered me a free meal at his restaurant when he
found out I have a food blog. Excuse me, but CHE!!!!!!!!!!!! :P (He's a nice guy, in fairness)

 

 

 Le Pavillon

 

 

The theme was Greece

 

 

The Wedding Cake by the bride's sister Ernaline

 

 

The Presidential Table

 

 

The Setting

 

 

The First Dance

 

 

The entourage joining the dance
There was a lot of boogieing at this wedding. Everyone was so game! :)

 

 

Dinner was catered by Cibo di M.

 

Cream of Porcini and Chestnut
Truffle perfume, chestnut crumble, rye shards 

 

 

Spinach and Feta Flan, Prosciutto Crisps
Field greens, organic micro greens, prosciutto di parma, tomatoes, cucumber, balsamic vinaigrette

 

 

Siamese Twin Raviolini
Mascarpone and liver pate, sage butter

 

 

Lemon-Basil Slush

 

 

Pan Seared Halibut in Parchment Box
Fennel confit and cherry tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and French beans
and
Braised and Grilled US Angus Short Ribs, Duet of Sauces
Red wine au jus and porcini cream, goat cheese potato torte, asparagus spears

 

 

Sweet Selection
L'Ottimo with double cream, mango panna cotta, cappuccino creme brulee

 

 

More dancing! That's the groom with his mom, Auntie Lilia!

 

 

These guys were really enjoying themselves!

 

 

Neighbors

 

 

Why am I ALWAYS stuck with the oldies??? :P

 

 

I love what the officiating priest said at the wedding ceremony:

"You may have everything... a good voice, a handsome face, a beautiful body, lots of money…

But if you do not have love, you have nothing.

Love is everything.

It is more than enough."

 

 

Finally, after 14 years... Congratulations, Steve and Ele!!! :)