Chef Laudico’s Feasts Opens at SM City Clark Pampanga

It’s no secret that I’m such a foodie. But ever since I’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, I’ve learned to decline food invitations with a few exceptions of course. I’ve been asked by my friend and fellow food blogger, Edel if I wanted to represent her to experience Chef Laudico’s Feasts at SM City Clark Pampanga. Since I’m not that busy, I jumped at the chance to visit the said restaurant which I later learned turned out to be another food paradise. 

 To be perfectly honest, I’m one of those people who wonder what made celebrity couple chefs Rolando “Chef Lau” Laudico and wife Chef Jackie Laudico to open a buffet type of restaurant in Pampanga. In an interview we’ve had with them, Chef Lau and Chef Jackie openly admitted that they were discouraged by well-meaning friends to do so. It is common knowledge that Kapampangans are the best cooks in the country since Pampanga is the food capital of the Philippines. However, these chefs take pride on the fact that it is a challenge on their profession as chefs to prove that they have something new to offer even to the most discriminating palate.

Batangas Food Festival in Matabungkay Beach Hotel by Filipino Culinary Masters

What happens when you put together two extremely passionate, creative and talented master chefs, both successful in their respective fields, a managing director of a popular resort and her culinary team all together? That’s what Security Blanket had witnessed when I was invited to the media launch of Batangas Food Festival 2016 at Matabungkay Beach Hotel. It was a gorgeous lunch that could be called a symphony of flavours, tastes, aromas and textures that make up the Batangas Food Festival menu. 

Ms. Charley Leviste-Antonio, managing director of Matabungkay Beach Hotel in Lian, Batangas put together top chefs Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, the “Adobo Queen” herself and Chef Jaja Andal to collaborate on the menu for this year’s Batangas Food Festival, which will run from October to December 31^st, 2016. 

Salu Restaurant in Quezon City Food Review: Taste the Flavors of the Philippines under one roof

The Philippine archipelago is considered a melting pot of South East Asia. So, a Filipino cuisine is prepared and cooked either with a touch of the Western and Asian culture.  Filipino dishes are cooked in a variety of ways dependent on the locale.  Note that the country is interspersed by the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Security Blanket recently discovered a new restaurant that offers some of the best modern Filipino cuisine featuring the different dishes from the 7,107 islands in the country. Located in Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Streets near Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Salu, The Filipino Restaurant is a brainchild of former actress Harlene Bautista, husband Romnick Sarmenta and Chef Janjie Ocoma a.k.a. “Lakwatserong Kusinero.” 

Salu Restaurant takes a proud look at provincial flavors and showcases the most popular regional recipes with a touch of decadent flair. With the 7,107 islands, the Filipino culinary palate is as diverse as the country's numerous dialects and Salu Restaurant aims to take customers and diners on a culinary tour that shares rich flavors from across archipelago. What Salu Restaurant does best is to highlight lesser known recipes from far-flung areas of the country that may taste foreign to Manila-based Filipinos. It also does a stellar job at elevating local household recipes to level-up into world-class level. 

The four pillars of Salu Restaurant

To say that a Filipino likes to eat is an understatement. ‘Like’ is not quite the term to use to describe the relationship between a Filipino and food. However, it does not still encapsulate the whole truth. A Filipino has a love affair with food. An affair describes a commitment, status, and a mutual understanding between two parties. In effect, a Filipino does not just have a one way relationship with the food; the food loves a Filipino too! 

Former celebrities turned entrepreneurs Romnick Sarmenta and wife Harlene Bautista

Island Cove's Sangley Point and Fishing Village Restaurants Food Review

Like sunsets, life at the resort is over before you know it. While packing your bags after living a life of reckless abandon during a long weekend, you dread the thought of heading back to Manila where work is waiting to zap your energy all over again. Somehow your short vacation has put your life back together, but the point of no return is somehow tearing you apart.

I recently revisited Island Cove and Leisure Park in the hope to balance out work and play. Thankfully, Island Cove gave me a respite from work, what with the beautiful island cove engulfing me that reminds me of paradise momentarily.

I won’t talk much about what Island Cove resort has to offer here as I do have another blog post for that. Since this is my food blog, allow me to share with you my gastronomic journey on the island instead.

Larry J Cafe's New Menu Offering Food Review

Spinach empanaditas

My family and I have been loyal clientele of the LJC Group of restaurants. We truly enjoyed Filipino foods served at any LJC restaurants because hands down, they really had the best ones. Security Blanket along with my friends found ourselves at Larry J’s Café in Serendra. Although the service was a little on the slow side, the wait was worthwhile as all the food we’ve had was just amazing, appealing and most of all, satisfying to my palate! 

Vegetable samosas

For appetizers, my friends and I shared on Spinach Empanaditas and Vegetable Samosas. I love the crunch of the phyllo pastry. They are also fresh in taste. The fillings are just right and the sauce for the veggie samosas was perfect. Imagine your beloved spinach and artichoke dip as filling for the empanaditas, that’s how good it tastes like.

Eggplant caprese

Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine, Glorietta

Seasoned by history, Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine surely knows how to bring out the best in our timeless home-cooked favorites. Taking its name from decades of history in the Philippines; from 1521 Magellan's Voyage to the 1986 EDSA People's Power Revolution.  Dekada Historic Filipino Restaurant showcases nothing but the best of Filipino heritage recipes. Their menu gets its charm from historical-related names of the food, like El Filibusterismo Crispy Tadyang, La Liga Filipina Short Ribs Caldereta, Hulbalahap Pinakbet, among many others. 

Celebrate Christmas with Max's Holiday Party Package and 4Sharing Meals

Preparing a full Noche Buena certainly takes a lot of time and work. For a stress-free Christmas Eve, order Max's Holiday Party Package. Perfect for gatherings of 10 to 12 guests, Max's is serving two of our favorite sarap-to-the-bones Max's fried chicken, Lumpiang Shanghai Cater tray, an option of either Pancit Luglug or Pancit Canton Medium cater tray and to cap off that perfect meal--the said package includes 12 pieces of Max's Corner Bakery freshly-baked mini Ensaimadas. These delectable Max's Holiday Party Package is good for take-out and delivery from December 16 to January 5, 2014. OFW's abroad may also send these Max's Holiday Party Package to their relatives in the Philippines by logging on to Max's official website: www.maxschicken.com

For small group of families and friends, there's Max's latest 4Sharing meal-- featuring succulent fork-tender Max's Crispy Pata for an awesome holiday indulgence. Delight in a feast for the senses with spectacle, smell, and exquisite flavor of Max's Crispy Pata paired with a choice of either Sizzling Tofu or Chopseuy, steaming rice and a cool glass of iced tea or Pepsi for only Php799. This offer is good at any Max's branch nationwide from December 1 to 31, 2013. 

Sentro 1771: Redefining Modern Filipino Cuisine



Sentro 1771 at Serendra welcomes guests with a smile. 



It's been ten years since Sentro 1771 opened their doors to the public with original modern Filipino cuisine. Chef Vicky Pacheco elevated Filipino cuisine to a different level by creating local dishes in a chic and elegant setting--incorporating touches of Swiss and French techniques along with familiar Filipino flavors. From the time they started the business, Sentro's 1771Modern Filipino cuisine had indeed set a trend in contemporary Filipino restaurants. Since then, Sentro 1771 continues to innovate its menu. They are committed with quality so one will be surprised to see a full-service kitchen. Foods are guaranteed fresh a made upon order-no commissary.

Duck Pancakes is a great way to start your meal.

B2B Skewered Chicken Gizzards are your best bet to streetfood.

Sentro has compelling interiors--the menu is muscular, a strong variety of Filipino classics revitalized for the district's discriminating patrons and a healthy selection of comfort foods guaranteed to please the expats and Filipinos who frequented the area.

Camote Cups are perfect for someone who's on strict diet.

Adobo sa gata will give Adobo fans a reason to rejoice!

For starters, Sentro 1771's Duck Pancakes has an Asian flavor with a twist. A pretty good alternative to pork or beef. Strips of native duck slow-cooked in beer, rhum vinegar, soy sauce, and muscovado sugar are tucked into Chinese pancake pita-like pockets served on soup spoons. It actually reminds me of adobo flakes although this one's a bit on the sweet side. 

Macau Chorizo and Cheese Tidibts are so cute and tasty too!

Macau Chorizo and Cheese tidbits (P240) are cute mini spring rolls filled with Macau chorizo, shallots and keso de bola. If you're somewhat adventurous when it comes to food, go ahead and try the B2B sticks (P150)--Skewered grilled organic chicken gizzards cooked adobo style and are perfect for those craving for some street foods. 

Sentro 1771's Seafood Bagoong Rice is such a hit!

For first timers, don't miss their house specialty and all-time best seller: Sentro 1771's Sinigang na Corned Beef (P595)--Corned beef short plate and boneless beef shanks in tamarind broth with local vegetables. Customers can ask food to be prepared the way they want it and according to their diet restrictions or how they want it to be spicier or more sour. 

Lamb Caldereta is my best bet and will certainly something to come back for again and again and again.

Carnivores will definitely go ga-ga over Sentro 1771's version on Lamb Caldereta--Succulent and perfectly tender boneless lamb shoulders stewed with carrots, bell peppers, tomato sauce and spices. Can be served mild or spicy.

Sinigang na Corned Beef is a house specialty and all-time best-seller

Their Crispy Pork Kilawin is just as good. Deep fried pork strips slathered with thin slices of leeks, carrots and onions in some vinegar based sour sauce. For the health conscious, they have grilled fish of the day stuffed with onions, tomatoes, miso, malunggay, tried with pandan. Pair it with organic brown rice. 

Best paired with organic brown rice, this fish of the day is perfect for a healthy guilt-free meal.

Since as of this time, I am still on a diet program, I personally like their Camote cups--carved sweet potato filled with stir-fried cabbage, Baguio beans and carrots (P240) and two-egg Ampalaya crepe (P150) sautéed bitter melon on egg crepe, topped with salted duck egg.

Keso Flan is such an experience, try it to believe it!

Bloggers on my table dished out on Sentro's 1771 Seafood Bagoong Rice topped with grilled squid, shrimps, and hits flakes. For Adobo fans, they have a wide range of adobo choices from the classic Chicken Pork Adobo, Adobo sa Puti (no soy sauce), Adobo sa Gata (vinegar-peppercorn-garlic with coconut milk),Garlicky Adobo, Lamb Osso Bucco adobo  and Catfish Adobo Flakes. 

There's a vast selection of sweet endings to cap off your meal. I suggest you try Keso flan. It is a lechwe flan-like dessert that tastes like cheesecake and is served with slices of keso de bola, and salted duck egg. It is such an experience as a it has the contrasts of salty and sweet.

Fried Suman with mangoes and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Banana Tart

If chocolates are your thing, there is Fried Suman with mango drizzled with generous chocolate syrup or banana tart. If you like something cold, there's halo-halo cup for you sold at P75 for the small one with ten ingredients that will surely satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Sentro 1771's Halo-halo is certainly divine.

I no longer wonder why Sentro 1771 is such a popular dining destination. It's simply one of the best settings for a romantic date in the city. They've got delicious comfort foods, honest-to-goodness modern Filipino cuisine and excellent service (We requested lemon water for our table, and even if it was not part of the menu, the waiter gave each one of us our lemon water without any hesitation!) The chefs pours their hearts and souls into your every meal. Customers will surely walk away filled with happiness each time you dine.

So if you happen to have balikbayan friends or expats, or simply would want to spend the weekend or a day with good food, good ambiance and excellent service, Sentro 1771 is the place to go.

Sentro 1771 is a member of the 1771 Group of Restaurants that includes Chateau 1771 in Greenbelt 5, Cafe 1771, WineBar 1771 and Sidebar at El Pueblo Real de Manila, ADB Avenue cor. Julia Vargas, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Sentro 1771 in Greenbelt 3 is open from 11:00AM to 11:00PM (Mondays to Sunday) while Serendra is open from 7:00AM to 10PM (Sunday to Thursday)/7:00Am-11:00PM (friday to Saturday). For inquiries and reservations, call Sentro Greenbelt 3, (02) 757-3941 or Sentro Serendra (02) 856-0581.

Log on to www.1771group.com or follow them @sentro1771 on Facebook and Twitter.

Security Blanket thanks Cha Sy and Ms. Vannah Santiago.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Max’s Offers a Luxurious Twist to Celebrations serves 4Sharing Meals Featuring Kare-kare for only PhP 899

Awesome Crispy Pata from Max's

Max’s Restaurant had always sought way to delight their loyal patrons by bringing in exciting new ways to bring Filipino cuisine closer to the hearts of both the young and old food enthusiasts. Hence, Max’s Restaurant has recently launched the latest wave of its 4Sharing Meals featuring a perennial favorite among Filipinos, the Kare-kare.

Max’s 4Sharing Meals is an exciting dining trend that offers classic Filipino dishes to customers in small group or family of 3 to 4. Priced very affordably at PhP 899, diners get value-for-money with a delectable feast of Max’s mouth-watering Kare-kare, 4 servings of steaming white rice, refreshing iced tea or any Pepsi softdrink for 4, and Max’s world-famous, sarap-to-the-bones Fried Chicken that is always cooked to crispy perfection.  It is the perfect food adventure for gregarious diners and get-together bundle meal to be shared with friends, family and other fellow Max’s aficionados.  Just thinking about the delicious spread that will be served every time customers enter Max’s Restaurant for the new Max’s 4Sharing Meals is enough to whet the appetite.

“Kare-kare is known for its painstaking and tedious preparation.  With Max’s latest 4Sharing Meals, Max’s highlights the fun memories associated with this classic dish and its true main ingredients:  patience and love,” shared Ms. Ghena Austero, Max’s Marketing Manager for Dine-in, Functions and Events.

Indulge in Max’s 4Sharing Meals Featuring the Kare-kare at any Max’s Restaurant nationwide from May 1 to June 23, 2013.  To learn more about the most “sarap to the bones” news from the most loved Filipino brand, visit www.maxschicken.com, the official website of Max’s Restaurant.  Also check out www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant and be a member of Max’s Facebook Fan Page.