Kitchen Stories - Tagliatelle with Poached Eggs & Bacon + English Muffin French Toast

by She Said

We spent New Year's Eve at home this year. We usually sleepover at my lola's place but decided last minute to visit her on New Year's Day instead.

I had already sent our helper home to spend the holidays with her family so I kept the menu real simple. We were a small party of just four adults, one teen, and one very cute baby boy, so I knew it would be manageable.

I loved it that the preparation and cooking of this meal was such a family affair. Everyone did their bit,  as well as helping in the clean up after. But truth be told, most part of my contribution really, was ordering everyone around and telling them what to do :)

 Tagliatelle with Poached Eggs & Bacon
 5 large eggs, poached
4 slices double smoked bacon- steak cut
1 cup arugula, frisee or other bitter greens, chopped
a stick of butter
500g Tagliatelle pasta
Parmigiano Reggiano
3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
salt & pepper

  1. Slice bacon into half inch pieces. In a pan, over medium heat, render bacon until lightly brown and crisp-chewy. Drain on paper towels.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to boil and salt it. When water is at a rolling boil, add pasta and cook al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving some of the pasta liquid.
  3. Toss pasta in some melted butter, adding a few tablespoons of pasta liquid as needed. Divide into pasta bowls and top with chopped greens.
  4.  Bring another pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat.  Break an egg into a small bowl and slide egg into the water. Repeat with the remaining eggs. Gently spoon the simmering water over the eggs and allow to cook for 3 minutes. They should be just opaque and a thin film forming over the yolks.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, carefully transfer egg on top of pasta and greens. Add a generous amount of bacon for each portion. Garnish with Parmigiano, a sprinkle of pine nuts and some salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
English Muffin French Toast with Whipped Cheese & Ferrero Rocher
 2 medium eggs
half cup plain creamy yogurt
3 tablespoons honey
half teaspoon cinnamon
4 English muffins split in half
butter for frying
whipped cream cheese
Ferrero Rocher chocolates

  1. Whisk eggs in a bowl until frothy. Add yogurt, honey and cinnamon. Mix well. Transfer to a shallow dish. Can be made ahead and refrigerated, covered airtight, 2 days.
  2. Soak muffins in yogurt mixture,  cut side down, about 5 minutes. Turn and soak about 2 more minutes.
  3. Heat non-stick skillet on medium heat. Add butter and cook  muffins cut side down until brown,  about 3 minutes. Flip and brown other side, 2 minutes more.
  4. Keep warm in a 200 degree oven while cooking remaining muffins. Serve topped with whipped cheese and crushed chocolate.

I included the recipes in case you want to try these at home. Both dishes are super easy to make and delicious.  Enjoy!




The Way We Ate - Wildflour Cafe + Bakery & Chez Karine

By She Said
We finally found our way to Wildflour Cafe + Bakery, which is just a short walk from the bus stop at The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City.

As soon as you enter the cafe, you will gravitate towards the breads & pastries on display which are all baked on-site. Don't they all look delicious?

This charming bistro has such a warm and friendly ambiance, we immediately felt at home. They even have an open kitchen that you can view from the outside and watch how all the food preparation and baking is done.

Since I've been hearing and reading so much about Wildflour, I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to order.

Complimentary baguette and butter sprinkled with fleur de sel, served hot & fresh out of the oven. 

 Tarte Flambe- caramelized onions, bacon, gruyere. Savory & sweet flavors on a light, crispy crust.


 Bahn Mi Sliders- brioche stuffed with crispy pork, chili and some simple slaw

Crispy Potatoes- with sour cream, bacon & chives.

 Green Tea Mojito- a refreshing mix of Pineapple & Basil
 Passion Berry Iced Tea

We'll definitely be back for more. Still so much on the menu that I want to try out and I want to buy some of their Cranberry Walnut Loaf too!

We took the bus back to Bonifacio High Street and walked to Serendra to have dessert at Chez Karine or "Karen's Place", named after owner Chef Karen Yang. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, she trained under no less than famous Pastry Chef Pierre Herme. This French-inspired patisserie is designed with clean and simple lines, so as you enter, there are no distractions. You immediately focus on the pastries on display.

Pannacotta and Royal Pudding in cute little glass jars.

Our favorites are the Mango and Strawberry Pannacotta. So light and creamy and heavenly:)

Macarons- Strawberry, Earl Grey, Lemon, Pistachio, Dark Chocolate were some of the flavors on display.
Salted Caramel Macaron


So basically, all we did in Bonifacio Global City was eat, walk, then eat some more.

I'm happy that my daughter is such a willing victim in all these food adventures I embark on. It's actually, more of an obsession, really! ha! 

We don't always have the same taste in food, but at least I'm able to let her experience and try something different. But more than the food, I'm hoping that as she looks through all these pictures of the meals we've had together, she can reminisce and remember how much we enjoyed each other's company :)



Wildflour Cafe + Bakery
G/F Net Lima Building
4th Avenue, corner 26th St.,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig


Chez Karine Bakery
1/F Serendra Mall
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Feeling Touristy in Bonifacio Global City

By She Said

I make a list of the restaurants I want to try out in a little red book that I have with me every time I'm online reading food blogs. Wildflour Cafe + Bakery was on the priority list, along with  Chez Karine , da.u.de Tea Lounge, Gourmandise Patisserie, and Mango Tree, all located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

But if you're like me, I often get disoriented whenever I'm in BGC. It is, after all, 240 hectares wide and you can easily get lost there. Buildings, restaurants, and retail shops seem to sprout up by the minute and I can hardly keep up.

I read about the BGC Hop-on Hop-off bus tour that was operating around the area, and because we were feeling a bit touristy the weekend after Christmas, it was the perfect time for us to explore and find those places I've been wanting to dine in.

BGC bus

Tickets are at P25 and serves as a one day pass for all bus rides from 2pm-7pm every Saturday and Sunday. But it is best to call the BGC Concierge to confirm the schedule, because the weekend we were there the bus was operating from 4pm-8pm.

There are five stops on the tour route to allow tourists to get off the bus and explore nearby sites by foot. For as long as you have your ticket, you can get back on the bus anytime within the day to explore the rest of the district. The bus makes the round of all the stops approximately every 30 minutes.


 map-brochure & tickets

The tour starts and ends at Bonifacio High Street, in front of Bo Concept and the soon to open American Eagle Outfitters. (yay!).  We got a free ride when we were there. They were giving out complimentary tickets- lucky us :)

 The bus provides a pre-recorded audio introduction by popular tourist guide and heritage advocate, Carlos Celdran. The sound system is not that good, though. Hope they do something about it.

 http://bgc.com.ph/sites/default/files/content-images/news-events/080312poster.jpg
click on photo to view tour route

a popular stop is the world-class science center, The Mind Museum


Commune with art and nature by going on an Artwalk Adventure around BGC

Taking the tour gave us a renewed appreciation of this sprawling city with its  interesting architecture, public art installations & sculptures featuring works of local artists, and refreshingly green open spaces & breezy parks. What a unique experience!

Where we ate at BGC up next!


BGC Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
operates Saturdays & Sundays
tickets are available at the
Bonifacio High Street Concierge
located at B7 and at the bus
www.bgc.com.ph


The Way We Ate - Lugang Cafe

By She Said

What comes after all that holiday shopping? More shopping! she said was blessed to receive some cash gifts from family for Christmas and wanted to check off a few things from her Christmas wishlist. So off we went to SM Mall of Asia to indulge her with some retail therapy. Good thing I'm not paying this time!

I've been wanting to try Lugang Cafe in Greenhills for the longest time but I've never had a chance to since I live in the south- and if ever I happen to be around that area, it is for the sole purpose of visiting my 94 year old lola.

I'm so glad that Lugang Cafe now has a branch in Mall of Asia. From the famed Bellagio Group of Restaurants, Lugang Cafe in Manila is the first branch to be set up outside of China. Serving authentic Taiwanese cuisine, they have garnered recognition and is listed as one of  Philippine Tatler's 100 Best Restaurants for 2012.


  Lugang Cafe, Mall of Asia

 Steamed Shrimp & Pork Shiao Mai 

 Stir-Fried String Beans With Minced Pork



 Golden Fried Rice  

Crispy Chicken 


 Iced Tea and Aloe Jelly in Honey Lemon Juice 


The truth is, she said ended up not buying anything! But we had so much fun window shopping, trying on clothes, laughing and eating! Another perfect mother-daughter bonding experience for us :)






Lugang Cafe Manila
Mall Of Asia
G/F 136-137 Main Mall South Wing,
SM Mall Of Asia, Pasay City

Northeast Greenhills
115 Connecticut Street
Northeast Greenhills, San Juan



little shop of horrors


I've been really, really busy for the last quarter of 2012 with rehearsals for the school play Little Shop of Horrors! (I don't know if you'd peg me as a theater girl had you met me in person. I just am.) In case you don't know what it's about, it mostly involves a florist's assistant and a strange and interesting plant. It's such a fun show and I get to play ONE OF THE BEST ROLES EVER which is Chiffon, one of the street urchins, who is sassy and confident and loud and amazing. I hope I do it justice.

If you live anywhere in the Alabang area, I'd love it if you'd come watch! Open shows are this Friday night, January 18, and Saturday night, January 19- both at 8pm to 10pm. Tickets are 450 pesos, available at the front of house. :)


The Way We Ate - TWG Tea Salon & Boutique

by She Said

Tea time is the perfect mother & daughter bonding experience for us. It is, after all, a time honored tradition shared by women who come together to have long, meaningful conversations about love and life, over warm cups of tea.

We've had some unforgettable tea bonding experiences at the Author's Lounge of The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok, and at the Tiffin Room of Raffles Hotel, Singapore, so we were excited to try the new TWG Tea Salon in Greenbelt 5. Besides, the post-Christmas rainy weather in Manila was perfect for some tea.

TWG Tea, which stands for The Wellness Group, is a luxury tea brand established in Singapore in 2007. The year 1837, which is part of their branding, represents the year tea trade was made official with the creation of  the Chamber of Commerce in Singapore.



Signature tea cups and flatware
I think tea time is a great way to teach children proper table manners & etiquette.

Paris-Singapore Tea
A distinguished green tea enhanced with the subtle fragrance of cherry blossoms & red fruits.


Fortune Afternoon Tea Set
TWG Macarons, Scones served with TWG Tea jelly and whipped cream,
TWG Croque Monsieur


Tea-infused macarons, from top:  Napoleon Tea & Caramel, Lemon Bush Tea, Earl Grey Fortune & Chocolate


Smoked Turkey Ham Eggs Benedict
Homemade toasted English corn flake muffins topped with two poached farmhouse eggs served with creamy hollandaise sauce and a choice of smoked salmon or smoked turkey ham.


TWG Tea offers over 800 single estate fine harvest teas as well as exclusive blends. About 450 teas from their collection can be found in store at any one time.

Creme Brulee
 infused with TWG Phuguri Darjeeling and Vanilla Bourbon Tea

Can't wait for the flagship store to open at Resorts World Manila!



1837 TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
Level 1, Greenbelt 5
Legaspi Village, Makati City


The Way We Ate - Mamou too!


she said and I have a December food love affair, and we have the perfect partnership. I choose the restaurant, and she takes the food photographs. The feasting takes off just as soon as she gets off school for her Christmas break.

We started this holiday tradition about 5 years ago. My mom had just passed away in 2007 and we were both in desperate need of something to get us into the holiday mood.

We always make our first stop Power Plant Mall. We love this mall! It has a cozy, feel good, warm atmosphere and the holiday decorations are always elegant, tastefully done and nothing over the top.

Mamou is known for their Angus rib eye steaks, our absolute favorite! But since it was just the two of us, we settled for some pasta and salad.

Healdsburg's Harvest Salad
Greens in season, sweet tomatoes, glazed pecans, dried cranberries, stilton cheese,berry vinaigrette

 
Pasta Andrada Bolognese
USDA Prime grade ground beef, bacon steaks stewed in Italian tomatoes and cream sauce on spaghettini pasta

Our meal was quite satisfying, but the family seated beside us ordered steak and the aroma and sizzling goodness was wafting to our table, making me regret not ordering this. All the more reason to go back :)

Up next! The Way We Ate - TWG Tea Salon & Boutique


Mamou too!
R1 Power Plant Mall
Amorsolo Drive, Rockwell Center
Makati City

twenty-thirteen: a mix for the new year

by she said

this is a mix i put together to welcome the new year. the songs on this mix range from upbeat to ballad and all speak volumes on different things. this playlist has a song for pretty much anything- much like this year, which i'm sure will be a blend of ups and downs. (but let's hope for more ups!)


tracklist
  1. Forever - Haim
  2. Everybody Talks - Neon Trees
  3. Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay
  4. Stop - Spice Girls
  5. Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
  6. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
  7. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
  8. She's Got You High - Mumm-Ra
  9. Closer - Tegan and Sara
  10. Don't Look Back - She and Him
  11. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
  12. I Would Do Anything For You - Foster the People
  13. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
  14. Will You Hang Around? - Sam Means
  15. Wonderwall - Oasis
  16. Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran
  17. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac

The Thanksgiving Jar

by She Said, she said

Happy 2013! We decided to start the new year with a bang by putting up a mother & daughter blog. We have so many things to be thankful for and how apt that we received Thanksgiving Jars for Christmas from cousins Bong & Chely.


The jar comes with these instructions...

1. On the 1st day of 2013, get a strip of paper from the jar..
2. Write down your answer to: "Today, I am thankful for _ _ _ _."
3. Repeat everyday.
4. For next year's Christmas, find a cozy spot, grab your beverage of choice, and read the jar's contents to your heart's joy. :)
5. Spread the love and good vibes!

**Optional: Fill this jar with travel tickets, movie stubs, letters, and all other knickknacks that represent what you've been blessed with this 2013.

It will be fun finding reasons to be thankful for each day and we hope to follow through until the end of the year.

We are teeming with ideas and we're excited to see how this blog will evolve. Hope you join us for the ride :)
 
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