CHEESE BE WITH YOU

New cheese on the block.  Check them out!

Available at Wine Depot branches.

SAUCES, STEAKS & TRUFFLE OIL

Various recipes involving steaks, sauces and the use of truffle oil were aptly demonstrated, cooked & taught by Chef Marco Legasto during one of the gourmet workshops at Wine Depot Alabang.  This particular session had a number of men as participants.  Probably because of the steaks =)

Mise en place all set.

Chef Marco in action.

BARBECUED STEAK

Beef cube roll sliced and pan seared with onions.

Barbecue sauce poured in small quantity. For the BBQ sauce: tomato sauce, brown sugar, white vinegar, bay leaf, celery, leeks, garlic, pepper & soy sauce. Combine ingredients and boil until thickened.

Yum! Finished product for participants' tasting.

WAGYU BURGER WITH JAMON IBERICO SALSA

Topping: saute chopped jamon iberico , sliced button mushrooms. Add slice foie gras. Set aside. Then add diced tomatoes and a dash of truffle oil.

Grill Tajima Wagyu burgers. Use ciabatta bread or regular burger buns. Instead of buttering inside of sliced bread, spread a little goat cheese. Put grilled burger on top of sliced bread.

Arrange jamon iberico salsa on top of burgers. Add grated Manchego cheese.

BEEF AND PORCINI SAUCE

Use Tajima Wagyu topside beef or any striploin beef, Create a pocket in the middle of the beef by slicing until mid way. Stuff with butterflied prawns (about 2-3 pcs.), slivers of foie gras & sliced button mushroom. Then close. No need to tie or secure with toothpick.

A wise option is to wrap steak with 3-4 slices of bacon to secure & for that smokey bacon flavor. No need to season beef & bacon. So many flavors will eventually commingle.

Butter on pan. Pan sear both sides. Put end of bacon on pan first to seal. Then bake in oven for 10 minutes at 250C. Time to Prepare sauce.

Saute prawn heads in butter. Add garlic, onions, celery, dry white wine, sliced button mushrooms, sliced porcini mushrooms, water, salt, lobster oil. Drippings from the steak in the oven must be added for extra flavor.

Lobster oil from Australia.

Strain head mixture well. Pour strained liquid in sauce pan. Another option is to blend using a hand or regular blender & food processor especially if prawn heads are excluded.

Finish with butter and cream.

Simmer a bit. Then drizzle truffle oil.

Glorious truffle oil. Gives any dish that spectacular taste and aroma. Purists will not want this as it masks the real taste of food. Mask it does...but beautifully. Drizzle a little on creamy scrambled eggs, pasta sauce or any dish you want to up the ante.

Remove meat from oven when done. Let rest for a few minutes and slice. Slice meat according to preference. The one above was sliced into small pieces for all participants to taste. If quantity is not an issue, best to serve whole per person =)

Pour sauce over. TBW makes this sauce regularly with a bit of change. Prawn heads are removed in the sauce if an all-meat dish is to be served. Also, if porcini is not available, use any fresh and dried mushroom combined. Sauce can be used for pasta, on fish or any protein. Makes any ordinary dish extraordinary.

WINE PAIRING DINNERS

FAMILY DINNER INSIDE AND OUT

Lest dear readers be “China’d out” from reading successive posts about this country, TBW will temporarily set aside a couple of China drafts  for future use and redirect focus on other topics but still centering on food =)

Having casual dinners at home with the entire family and serving some of our favorite food is unfailingly a joyous moment for all.

Appetizers: Portobello mushrooms drizzled generously with evoo and grilled 'til tender. No other marinade or seasoning. Let the mushroom's natural juices ease out & mix with the olive oil. Unpretentious delight.

Norwegian smoked salmon with dill sauce.

Table staple: Sheep cheese

Santi's had no lamb pastrami available so beef pastrami it was instead.

Brought from Nanjing, China, soy roasted duck, hygienically vacuum packed and sealed for easy transport.

Soy roast duck vacuum packed.

Actual duck, approximately 1 kilo in weight.

In the absence of hoisin & plum sauce, try having roast duck with cranberry & caramelized red onion chutney for that sweet & savory tastes Available at Wine depot Alabang

Angus rib eye for the carnivores in the family. Just add salt & pepper. Pan sear in evoo. Serve au jus.

A wondrous discovery! Slice potobello mushroom that was grilled with evoo and position on an iceberg lettuce leaf. Sprinkle grated goat's cheese and add a dollop of home-made ceasar dressing. Wrap, hold with hand and bite. O dear me....the taste combination is remarkably divine! Even the different textures contribute to its divinity. One has to experience this to know what I'm talking about. From the first to the 6th or 7th bite, I'd stare into space and savor its delectableness. Pure palate pleasure.

Going out for an impromptu dinner on a weeknight to a nearby, tried and tested restaurant is always a fun thing to do.

Alma de Cuba's (along Aguirre st. in BF) fried rolls filled with chunky mashed potato served with sour cream & tomato dips.

Grilled pork steak with java rice, corn on the cob and 2 sauces on Alma de Cuba's huge signature plates. The boys also had their favorite BBQ rib platter.

Cross order from Songkran next door. Spicy beef salad.

Super favorite shrimp cakes of Songkran. Crunchy- outside-and-tender-inside patties flavored with lemon grass & other herbs. Sweet & salty syrupy dipping sauce is the perfect accompaniment.

The family that eats a lot together, gains weight together….hahaha but true!!!!!!

FOOD FINDS

These are some of TBW quick food finds over the past weeks…….

Nut-Thins by Blue Diamond. These nut & rice crackers are good for snacking and an excellent base for canapes. Comes in pecan, almond & hazelnut varieties. They are wheat & gluten free. Checkout S&R for these.

Coco Natura- a natural sweetener made from pure coconut sap. Ideal for those with diabetes.

Cheese pimiento bread. Eat solo or with a sharp goat cheese. Tasty combination. Found at Amira's Tart House in Silang.

Wagyu topside. A good & wise alternative cut for Wagyu lovers as price is friendlier. Cook as pan seared steaks or salpicao. Available at the meat/deli section of Wine Depot Alabang.

Suman sa Lihiya in thick cubes and vacuum packed. Refrigerate when opened. Can last for weeks. TBW eats this with Ilog Maria extra virgin honey as well.

Chicken & mushroom tarts. Pop in micro for a a few seconds. Great for a quick yummy tummy filler. Go to Amira's for a better & lower priced version.

Golden Oreo Funstix. A no fuss, no frills answer to a sweet fix. Find them on SR shelves.

Enjoy!  May these food finds help make life easier and happier =)