TAWILIS: A Good Breakfast Treat

If there's one thing that this pandemic has done, it's that the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipino actually surfaced. Tons of businesses left and right, to survive, we had to resort of many ways to earn a living. This includes services, products, even food, which all remind us of our humble beginnings.

 Now I loved staying in Tagaytay city. Whenever we stay there, our relatives remind us how welcome we are each time we visit. In the morning, I always wait eagerly for breakfast which includes toast, rice, ham, bacon and eggs, plus my favorite the super crispy fried Tawilis. The pandemic had us all confined in the city and think twice about going out of Metro Manila. While I wanted a taste of good breakfast in Tagaytay, it was a bit impossible as Tawilis was pretty much sourced only in Taal Lake.

Lo and behold, our friends heard our wishes. There actually exists DRIED TAWILIS. I was so ecstatic that something like this is available in Metro Manila. During breakfast the next day, I lightly toasted this over hot canola oil and I was overly careful not to do it too long as it might burn. I also sprinkled a little sugar just like how I cook my dilis. And voila! You now have your own Crispy Dried Tawilis at home. Since this is Tawilis, it's not overly salty because it comes from fresh water. 

What's good is that one packet of these actually can feed a bout 3 or 4 people. It looked quite small with the packaging but when you fry and take it out, it's enough to feed a small family. Now imagine having this with fresh sliced tomatoes, onions and salted egg... ugh... I know right? Well don't fret because it's actually easy to order from them. Just call Kuya Nic's via 0995 3336670. He's doing this also to help a business in Tagaytay that was heavily hit during Taal Volcano's eruption a few months ago and of course they typhoon.

 You'll love this good breakfast treat, I'm sharing it so you too can help businesses thrive during the pandemic. 

Cheers!

An Oriental Journey with Kikkoman Soy Sauce

I was invited to a cooking class a few weeks ago by the good people of Kikkoman Soy Sauce. I'm sure just like me, you've got your fair share of Kikkoman Soy Sauce stories you're raring to talk about. It's my family's go to brand if we're eating something Japanese but that afternoon during the cooking demo, I learned there's a lot of things you can do with it. 

I'm a purist kind of guy when it comes to Kikkoman Soy Sauce so when it's Sushi, Maki or Sashimi, I only use it plainly or put in a bit of wasabi to give it a little kick. The Chef's however at 25 Mushroom Kitchen showed us how we can use the lovely premium brew for different dishes without losing it's flavor. I can cook, but I don't delve that much into Japanese cooking because it tends to have a lot of preparation involved in it. Good thing they prepared most of the mise en place before we even got there as they knew that would actually take some time to chop, julienne and peel things for this short course.

The task was a bit difficult because it entails us to make California Roll from scratch, of which I know I've actually done so miserably in the past. I just did what I had to do and since most of the guys and gals there were also doing it for the first time, I think I did quite good for what it's worth and yes, I even ate my California Roll, it was edible haha!

California Roll can be actually modified by putting in different fruits or vegetable in the center. We were advised to wet our hands as putting in the rice will be a very sticky situation. Of course after everything's done, we NEED to use Kikkoman Soy Sauce as it's dip. I feel the most difficult part of this is the cutting wherein you need a very sharp knife to do it. Make sure you only put a thin layer of rice as it is going to be heavy on the belly. They also have Teriyaki Sauce now which we'll use later on in the class.

I like a LOT of Japanese mayonnaise on my California Roll so I didn't hold back in that department. My version was absolutely good! If you say otherwise, friendship over!

They also taught us a new skill, this is how to debone a whole chicken leg!

We used grated ginger, sweet sake, a little sugar and the all important Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce as marinade!

We dredged it in flour, fried it until golden brown. We set it aside then we made the sauce.

We didn't have to thicken it anymore because the chicken already contained flour. So more Kikkoman Soy Sauce and Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce, sugar and spices was all we need to finish the dish.

Can you see how yummy this looks like? Because it is. I loved this so much I didn't have to take it home anymore because I finished it all during the class haha!

This is the lovely Japanese Fried Rice. Amped up by Kikkoman Soy Sauce too of course!

I made a mistake (okay I admit haha) of putting a whole egg on this Beef dish. I should have only put in the egg yolk instead of the whole egg LOL but what's important is that I had fun and I learned a lot of things that we could do with Kikkoman Soy Sauce. Now if you want to experience what we did in 25 Mushrooms Kitchen, all you have to do is tell us why in an Instagram post with a photo of your favorite Kikkoman dish (just tag me). Or you can just comment on the Instagram post I'll be doing in just a bit. Convince me why you think Kikkoman Soy Sauce is the best and if you win you'll get Php 1,500 worth of Kitchen pass for a class in 25 Mushrooms Kitchen.

If you want to know more about what happened in the class we had, here's some videos to get you going!

I'll wait for your comments here and on my Instagram posts and I'll announce the winner next weekend (March 12, 2016). Who knows, it might be you!

For more information about their products:

Kikkoman Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.kikkoman.com.sg/

Post on Instagram and Win a Wingstop Flavor Revolution Party!

The ATOMIC, my personal favorite!

What? You haven't been in a Wingstop branch yet? Well, you my boy (or girl) are missing a lot! They've got legendary wings, pretty tasty too and available in different flavors. My ideal wing, is the one above called ATOMIC. Let's just say it's a very intense, very peppery hot, a thing that might linger on your tongue a few minutes even if you douse it down with your favorite softdrink brand. For me, the best meal is something that makes me cry, something that makes me perspire, and this was exactly it. I didn't even had a rice that afternoon!

Mango Habanero, sweet, spicy and fruity!

This is Cajun

We had Onion Rings in between those scrumptious wings!

Doesn't that make your mouth water? It's Hickory Smoked Barbecue, you'll lick your fingers off!

Well okay, I know some of you might not been able to visit Wingstop yet to bring your friends and family... but here's the thing, Wingstop is actually holding an Instagram contest called Wingstop Flavor Revolution. If you go to their stores now, or take out some of it then post it on Instagram, you could win for yourself Php 2000 worth of Wingstop GC's every week, or if you stand out and have the best photo for the 2 month period, they'll throw you a real deal Wingstop Flavor Revolution Party for you and 9 of your friends! Now isn't that big party a deal breaker? 

Well that's not all, you can actually do this on a regular basis. Just make sure you follow the mechanics indicated on their announcement here http://on.fb.me/1NKBQ3A. You have until the end of August to win those awesome gift certificates every week and perhaps the huge party they can throw for you! The more Instagram posts you do, the more chances of winning! Make sure it looks great on photos okay?! Otherwise, they might pick the others who are joining too!

For more information about their contest:

Wingstop Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.wingstop.com.ph/

FREE WINGS as #WingstopTakeover Happens in Bonifacio Stopover!

My heart stopped when I saw this photo on my timeline. I remember the time we were at the opening of the Wingstop branch in Glorietta a few weeks ago. Now, they're not just opening a new branch in Bonifacio Stop Over, they're also giving away Wings for FREE! This unbelievable phenomenon has happened in their other branches like Greenhills and UP Town Center, and with the new Bonifacio Stop Over branch, they're crazy I know!

I super duper love the ATOMIC flavor which had me believe in Chicken Wings heaven all over again. Aside from that, they've got other flavors like the Hickory Smoked Barbecue, Hot Buffalo, Mild Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Cajun, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper and the Louisiana Rub. I tasted them all and the Lemon Pepper actually comes in a close second. You should have both in one visit. Oh and did I say that they'll be giving away 5 PIECES OF WINGS FOR FREE? Yes, that's correct! All you have to do is line up on May 20 from 5 to 8 PM and scream your lungs out about this event called WINGSTOP TAKEOVER. 

If you're in the area just look for the store and line up with your friends to get that awesome chance to taste the best wings in town with their 9 awesome flavors. It'll change the way you know chicken wings for sure, I got educated about that the last time I visited their store in Glorietta. Now it's your time to chomp those wings and lick those fingers all over again for scrumptious wings all for free! That's good news!

For more information about their restaurant:

Wingstop Fort Bonifacio

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Visit their official website

http://wingstop.com.ph

Wingstop Opens New Branch in Glorietta 2!

It was a fun night, one of the best restaurant launches that I have ever been to. The people were pretty (tons of celebrities and models!), the booze, the soda, the wings were overflowing and it was because of one good thing, WINGSTOP has put up another branch in Glorietta 2. Now, people based in Makati has so many things to look forward to. They're hooking you up with the best wings in town, each very unique, super good in 9 different flavors!

They had stations in the venue, each having perfectly cooked crispy fried chicken, the flavors were permeating through the crowd, one or the other having that distinct aroma, loving each wing part that I had to sink my teeth in together with my friends and other bloggers during the launch.

It was like a circus. Each Wingstop wing guy had their own flavor bowl tossed, swirled, and put into these paper containers. It was still hot, I could tell they pretty much got individual wing covered with the special sauces and spices. My mouth was already watering because I could see some of them being eaten by the early birds. I did the next smart thing and prepared my self for an all out wing party! This is it!

I had ice cold Coke in one part of the table, then had them prepare the wings in all flavors like Hickory Smoked Barbecue, Hot Buffalo, Mild Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Cajun, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper (my favorite), Louisiana Rub and the super hot one called Atomic. They were not joking about the fact that it is hot, I had two and I almost gulped two cans of coke because of that. It was amazing because it's like a gustatory adventure on its own. I super like how they got me into Wingstop Chicken Wing Monster mode in no time. You could tell how I enjoyed it just by looking at the aftermath of my meal. 

Wingstop has so much to offer for people who would like to have the best wings in town. Please visit their newest and biggest branch in the Philippines, they started regular business today and you better hurry or else I'll finish it!

For more information about their restaurant:

Wingstop Glorietta

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Visit their official website

http://wingstop.com.ph

Live Blog: Bon Chon Launches New Crunchy Garlic Chicken

It's been a while since I've eaten in Bon Chon Chicken. The reason being because my favorite store in Eastwood is now kinda far from where I live. I used to have lunch there almost everyday and I pace myself so I could take in a couple of wings, thigh and drumsticks before I go back to work. Aside from that, I also love the Japchae but I am trying to refrain from carbs so I'm always concentrating on chicken when in Bon Chon. There's more reason now to do that because they've just launched a brand new flavor today, they're calling it Crunchy Garlic!

I still love my Soy Garlic, the Spicy one and also the Honey Citrus flavors. Filipinos love the thought of having something intensely flavorful. This one's got a sweet, salty and zesty exterior, sprinkled with golden garlic bits and super crunchy outside so you'll still hear that perfect crunch each time you take a bite off of it. I love how it doesn't hold back on the garlic flavor. The smell actually radiates across the room so even as they're cooking it in the kitchen you can feel how good it is right off the bat. You now have another choice to love Bon Chon as they add a new thing on their menu. They continue reinventing what they already have so patrons wouldn't be bored and have something to look forward to each time they go to a Bon Chon branch.

Oh and there's Crunchy Garlic Cream Dory too for those fish lovers out there!

I've already seen a couple of people in my timeline wanting to go to Bon Chon and get one of these new Korean Fried Chicken flavors that only Bon Chon has. There's a lot of brands out there, but it seems that Bon Chon has been able to take the lead since they opened shop 2010 in the Philippines. I remember being there when their first store opened, and honestly the Bon Chon Chicken then still tastes the same as today... and that is a lot to be thankful for!

But really, trust me when I say Bon Chon Chicken is darn good! Call 6331818 now and ask it to be delivered right at your doorstep!

For more information about their products:

Bonchon Chicken Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.bonchon.com.ph/

Lee Min Ho for Kyo Chon Philippines

I love Korean Fried Chicken. It's the way they prepare it, the way they cook the chicken and the way they have their endorsers here in the Philippines. The brand is currently expanding aggressively in the country but has almost a 1000 stores in Korea. It looks like Pinoys are now being more adventurous when it comes to food, and they see us as a huge market. Basically, they're just giving us what we want!

They're already in the USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and USA. Kyo Chon wants us to have the healthiest fried chicken possible so they're using the freshest ingredients, healthy canola oil, and brush those wings, thighs, legs with their special sauce before frying to perfection, no rush so they get the full flavor. They don't use MSG too which is a good thing, if they're chickens taste good already without that, imagine how painstakingly they do it in the kitchen to make it this good.

I wasn't able to go to this event because of other commitments but I wasn't going to let this pass because as we know, Lee Min Ho is here! I got my Minoz friend to take photos of the event, so if you enjoy Kyo Chon's food, you'll even enjoy their endorser, right Oppa?!

The event was also hosted by Sam Oh

Seen in this photo is San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, Ms. Keri Zamora and their son.

Executives from Kyochon, from Philippines and in Korea

Some lucky fans got the chance to meet and greet Lee Min Ho, and his body guards of course!

Lee Min Ho being congratulated by Kyo Chon Executives for his successful show in the Philippines.

I loved the part where he said he missed us and bid good evening to everyone in Filipino!

Then he had to say good bye, and he'll be returning soon!

Lee Min Ho will also be starring in Gangnam Blues that will be shown on theaters tagalized since Viva and SM has co produced its release here. Watch it in specialty Asian Theaters in major SM Malls come March. Aside from that, he'll still be endorsing a lot of products in the Philippines and perhaps we're all going to have a chance to meet him in a bigger gathering real soon. I hope the Minoz find this one exciting reason to go to Kyo Chon Restaurants in Metro Manila. Come and get the best Korean Fried Chicken which they warn is highly addictive. 

Hope you also enjoyed the photos of Lee Min Ho while he's here in the Philippines. I'd like to credit the photos to my friend Karen, a full blooded Minoz who took the time to go to Greenhills and cover for me. She wants to stay anonymous I guess but really, THANK YOU! 

For more information about their products:

Kyo Chon PH

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://kyochon.ph/