Confined to quarters

A nasty knee kept us indoors for a few days. We decided to go through our culinary library and pick some of the books in which we revisited chefs, authors, recipes and food terms, which we are now sharing with our readers.

Larousse Gastronomique is a “bible” for people engaged in the culinary arts as well as those home cooks who want to enhance their ability to understand the terminology of gastronomy and execute dishes they are not so familiar with.

Now available at National Bookstores is a four-volume set, each focusing on specific food items – Fish and Seafood; Meat, Poultry and Game; Salads; and Desserts, Cakes and Pastries.

Originally created by Prosper Montagne in 1938, the main book has become the world’s most famous reference book. The above volumes carry more detailed info on specific subjects. Sift through its pages and you might want to try making salmon cooked in champagne or make “Tuna in Tea” by frying the fish then infusing with strong tea, combine with unsalted pork belly, ginger and fish sauce, and let simmer for at least one hour.

Kiwi fruit being now readily available, a simple recipe is to enhance pork chops with kiwi and some spices. Or, for a more special occasion, there is a recipe for boiled lamb leg with caper sauce.

We are not too keen on making complicated desserts, but going through the pages has encouraged us at least to try the lime souffle and the rice gateau with caramel. Look up the set, and have some exciting adventures in your kitchen.

After a few days, in the course of our usual rounds, we noted that the Korean “invasion” – food-wise – is in full gear. Look at the many restaurants, some operated in homes inside subdivisions by housewives from this neighboring country of ours. Just asking though – are they paying taxes on their business conducted in their private residences and do their have the necessary permits to operate? 

Korean bake shops are mushrooming in malls, the latest being Tours Les Jours, at the Ayala Town Center in Alabang, which we thought was French, until we were greeted upon entering with an enthusiastic and familiar Korean welcome. The name means Fresh Everyday and we can believe that. At a late afternoon hour, there were only a few items left. Practically everything has been sold. The pastries and cakes are not much different (in shapes and flavors) from our own bake shops, but, being new, it surely attracts buyers who form lines inside and outside the store. Prices range from P28 to more than a hundred a piece.

The good thing is they give seniors the discount mandated by law, which makes it a preferred store to some other local outlets that refuse to honor (on take-home products) what is legally deserved. 

In BF Parañaque, on 386 El Grande, we decided to stop and look at the merchandize sold by the Little China Town Store. It is a small place but full of what one may find in the real Chinatown. There is a selection of typical Chinese dishes, like their adobo with eggs, and a departure from the authentic menu, the shabu-shabu broth. There are small tables with chairs for dining. It would cost less than P150 to have a good meal there. We need/plan to go back and sample their food.

On their shelves are various items ranging from camote flour to shitake mushrooms, seasoning elements, to canned fruits, wines, aluminum foil which is tagged at a very good price of P580 a big box, and even school supplies. 

Attracted by its big sign, we walked into the food supplier Amber on Sucat road, thinking they had ready-to-buy food that one can choose from. No, they give you a flyer, point to their board and you choose what you like and they’d cook your orders. Waiting time, depending on the items you choose, is between 25 and 45 minutes. This system is actually good because it assures customers that what you get is freshly cooked.

They are known for their original pancit Malabon and pichi-pichi, but they have many other offerings such as seafood, meat and vegetables. There are value pancit and rice packages which combine noodles/rice with barbecue, chicken lollipop, fish fillet, even lengua from P63.50. Quite a good price.

Eat well today.

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