LIVESTOCK Bar and Restaurant in Sgt. Esguerra, Quezon City: Home of the Most Tender Crispy Pata I've Ever Seen!

You wouldn’t think much of it at first, given the fact of its seclusion from the slew of food strips that surround that South Triangle area in Quezon City, but LIVESTOCK Restaurant seemed to stand on its own in Sgt. Esguerra street.  I’d have to say, you really need to try the kind of foods they serve here in order to understand what makes it a standout and a cut above the rest. 

Okay, so what makes Livestock different? Forgive me for raving so much about our latest food discovery. The menu here isn't only enticing but also exciting. Let me give you guys a warning: Livestock's take on the popular Crispy Pata had taken a cult among foodies. It is pretty ADDICTING, there I've said it! Now if you ever try it, don't tell me I didn't warn you, okay?

To be honest, I am not a big fan of Crispy Pata. But when you're served with the most tender Crispy Pata I have ever seen in my entire life--as proof, you can even slice them with a popsicle stick--it'll probably change your mind, the same way it had made me an instant convert. The good news is, it did not only looked good but it also tasted really, really good. The Livestock Crackling Pork Belly was also a revelation. It's rather an interesting deviation from the usual lechon. Imagine tender pork belly roll stuffed with choice herbs and roasted until crispy. Served with a choice of liver based sauce or "Pinoy sarsa" or sinamak vinegar--tangy and sour vinegar with hints of chili for an added kick. For the sauce or dip, I like to mix soy sauce, onion, garlic and chili. It packs a punch so opt for something else if spice ins't your thing. The special vinegar in itself offered a mellow kind of palate cleansing from all the pork fats you must've consumed. 

A bite into Porky Fries revealed a new sensation with smoky pulled barbecue interspersed with homemade fries in cheese sauce. We also ticked off Lemon Asparagus with Parmesan. I loved it so much that I vow to try to do it at home. I'm used to having asparagus either wrapped in bacon or cooked with oyster sauce, but we've never tried asparagus in butter and lemon with generous dash of parmesan just like the way it's served at Livestock. 

My verdict? I realized that Livestock do not scrimp on ingredients, they use high-quality and fresh meat which seemed too obvious on each bite or spoonful of whatever dish it is that you may have ordered. One could easily identify and enjoy the bursts of flavors and spices, thus making your dining experience at Livestock a memorable one. 

I am a sucker for herbs and spices and having all these ingredients cooked in ways I couldn't possibly imagined really amped the flavors. There are actually more choices to choose from on their menu. Oh, and did I mention they've got an amazing array of beers, wines and alcoholic drinks? 

Even if we felt like our jeans were about to burst, we still managed to make room for dessert!

Special mention also goes to their Bacon Ice Cream Sandwich--I haven't seen that anywhere else!--made from simple vanilla ice cream on top of honey glazed french toasts with bits of crunchy bacon strips. I love the fact that Livestock have fun and adventurous menu. 

As I write this down I could feel myself salivating…I’d definitely come back to Livestock and I'll be bringing my best friend with me when she comes home with her fiancé. OMG! I’ve been raving about Livestock Bar and Restaurant for days now! I think I had a mild case of food coma! In fact, food was sooo good that it had taken quite a while for me to start writing about it and shared my experience on my food blog, simply because I'd want to keep my mind away from it first so that I could focus more on other stuff I needed to do. 

Oh, my, I wish I had all the space so I could further elaborate why you guys should come and visit this place, but perhaps you should visit the place yourselves and discover what makes it different.

By the way, Livestock Bar and Restaurant can accommodate a lot of people. They have smoking and non-smoking rooms plus an al fresco dining on the third floor, 

Be sure to come early as this place gets quite packed in the late afternoon to evening. 

Come and visit Livestock Bar and Restaurant, I assure you it’s worth all the effort and the trip. I’d love to see this place expand in the next years to come. I’d like to help them spread the good news that there is such a lovely place tiucked right in the heart of South Triangle area where people can find unbelievably delicious comfort food.

Livestock Bar and Restaurant is located at 34 Sgt. Esguerra Street, South Triangle, Quezon City. 

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

Chef team from Unilever Food Solutions bags highest PCC Gold Award

Press Release: Team Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) emerged victorious in the PCC’s Filipino Cuisine Challenge as the top scorer to bring home the Gold, besting more than 30 other competitively-trained culinary teams. In photo are (starting second from left): Chefs Carlos “Pipo” Aluning, Janice Lazaga and Joanne Limoanco-Gendrano with WACs judges Chefs Fernando Aracama and J Gamboa.

 

“It is a great honor for us to be recognized for the talent and skills of our chefs, and this Philippine Culinary Cup win is certainly a milestone for the entire team,” said Colin Butler, Unilever Food Solutions Philippines Managing Director.  “Our passion for what we do drives us to keep learning and to try and outdo ourselves every day.  This award is testament to that. We derive the greatest satisfaction from knowing that sharing what we learn with our partner restaurateurs, chefs and caterers can only affect them and the industry in the most positive way.”

 

The Philippine Culinary Cup is the only locally-endorsed culinary competition by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) and is considered one of the best among the prestigious culinary competitions in the Philippines. It attracts hundreds of participants all over the Philippines coming from hotels, restaurants, and premiere culinary schools.

 

Chef Joanne, Chef Janice, and Chef Pipo are part of the UFS culinary team who provide continuous training programs on kitchen efficiency to food operators all over the Philippines through Chefmanship Academy.  Training modules can range from food safety, costing to menu planning.

 

To know more about Unilever Food Solutions and how you can be part of our upcoming Chefmanship Academy sessions, visit www.UFS.com.

 

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Unilever Food Solutions – Who We Are

At Unilever Food Solutions, we help chefs all over the world serve tasty, wholesome meals that keep guests coming back for more.

 

We create ingredients that save precious prep time in the kitchen, without compromising on flavour or flair.  And constantly provide ideas and inspiration that keep your menu fresh and exciting. Our ingredients are some of the staples of professional kitchens in 74 countries around the world: Knorr, Lady’s Choice, Best Foods, Lipton and more.

 

We’ve been in food since the 1880s. We’re chefs ourselves. So we understand that critical balance between impressing your guests and making a profit. And how to keep your menus and recipes fresh and exciting, as times and tastes change.

 

For more information on Unilever Food Solutions, please visit: www.ufs.com.

 

The Shrimp Shack Restaurant Food Review: Suck, Peel and Eat--Say Aloha to their Market! Market! Branch in Taguig

When someone mentions Hawaiian food, the first thing that comes to mind is pineapple. In our country, anything that has pineapples on it are called "Hawaiian"--from pizza flavor to burgers and salads. Initially, I thought The Shrimp Shack was composed of pineapple based recipes on their menu but I turned out to be wrong. Back in the 50's, Ouahu's North Shore in Hawaii was not only famous for its sandy beaches and water sports but they also had shrimp trucks that attracts locals and tourists alike. Such is the kind of experience that The Shrimp Shack would like to capture for their customers to experience. With a goal to give their guests an authentic Hawaiian Shrimp Scampi experience, The Shrimp Shack Restaurant's specialties are Garlic-Shrimp Scampi and Chili Garlic Scampi. For those who aren't familiar with the said dish, Shrimp Scampi is originally an Italian-American dish composed of loads of garlic, olive oil, butter, white wine and spices. The Shrimp Shack also assures the shrimps' freshness as they only use fresh, local in-shell white shrimps. They follow what the locals of Oahu does--shrimps are best to suck it first to get its tasty flavor on your mouth, peel off the shell, eat and enjoy. So don't be surprised to see that in any of the shrimp dishes from The Shrimp Shack are unpeeled and still on their shell. 

Now that you know well enough where and how The Shrimp Shack has began, let's move on to the said restaurant's vibe. The Shrimp Shack had that kind of ambiance that will make you feel like you were transported to one of those Oahu North Shore beaches in Hawaii. Walls were painted with a beach backdrop complete with "surfing signs" and huge colorful surf boards adorning their walls. In fact, The Shrimp Shack restaurant actually reminds me of one of my favorite Drew Barrymore films--"The 50 First Dates" with Adam Sandler, which was a love story shot in Hawaii. 

For starters, we were served with Hawaiian Chicken Salad with Water Chestnuts (Php140). This salad sort of left me flabbergasted upon a spoonful. Usually, green salads had that citrusy-vinaigrette taste. But certainly this salad is an exception. It had minced carrots, chicken and greens alright, but what has surprised me the most was the overpowering taste of ginger on it. It was the first time I've had a green salad that had minced ginger. Well, perhaps I had always associated ginger with things like fried rice, Hainanese chicken etc. that I didn't saw the possibility that it could also be an ingredient in green salads. The experience was kind of strange for someone like me whose idea of salads revolves around balsamic vinegar + olive oil and other creamier popular dressings like ranch, thousand islands and the like. Just don't order this salad when you're on your first date, unless you'd want to have a dragon's breath that smells like ginger. 

Next, we've had shrimp popcorn (Php195). This one is served literally as such--shrimps on a bed of popcorns. I could eat those shrimps just as fast as I eat popcorns. Those small breaded shrimps had flavors popped just right into my mouth. How good was it? I should say that only a few minutes after it was served, all the shrimps had totally gone. 

Then, after we've had the shrimp popcorns, we were served with Tomato-Cheese Fondue with Nacho chips (Php145). I loved that this appetizer didn't had any complicated ingredient. Made from honest-to-goodness melted cheese with minced tomatoes and onions, you could simply dig into the cheese using the nacho chip triangles and enjoy the food. Be careful though because it's served on a hot plate similar to sizzling plate. 

We've also tried some of The Shrimp Shacks sandwiches and pasta dishes. I'd highly recommend the Shrimp Scampi Spaghetti (Php220). Loaded with minced garlic and shrimps in olive oil and al dente pasta, this was the dish that has truly made my day. It was sooo good that I think I could eat it again and again. It had the natural sweetness of shelled shrimps bursts its own flavor + add the generous garlic and olive oil into it--it had that sweet yet a bit salty and some umami taste. If there's one dish (no, make them two dishes because if you do away with the pasta,this dish would then be called Shrimp Scampi) I'd certainly come back for at The Shrimp Shack, this has to be it! Other foodie bloggers didn't liked the fact that the shrimps were still on their shells, but according to my well-traveled friend, they also practice the same thing in Italy to ensure and sealed-in the shrimps' flavor. 

                         Shrimp Po-Boy Sandwich with fries

                                   US Angus Cheese Burger with fries

We've also tried The Shrimp Shack's Shrimp Po-Boy Sandwich (Php185) which was pretty much the same thing with shrimp popcorn except that it's served with lettuce and tomatoes.  Then, we devoured on US Angus Cheese Burger (Php265). To be perfectly honest, I was a bit disappointed with their patty because it was way too bland for my taste. It had tomato, lettuce and cheese--but it seemed to lack in taste. 

                The Pot Roast Belly

I was a bit disappointed too when we've tried The Pot Roast Belly (Php285) because it also tasted bland.  The meat was so tender with a demi glace brown sauce or gravy served with mashed potatoes. But the demi glace didn't seemed to do much justice to the said dish. The fork tender meat wasn't as impressive as it's supposed to be because it's bland. For the next dish called US Angus Beef Steak Loko Moko (Php255)--which had a beef patty on a rice mound with a fried egg on top. The patty this time had more flavors, a bit peppery but still good. 

                               US Angus Beef Steak Loko Moko

                  Soy Glaced Chicken Barbecue with rice and Macaroni Salad

Soy Glaced Chicken Barbecue is similar to Chicken Teriyaki. This one's best eaten with a side dish of Macaroni Salad (Php45). Moist and tender, it goes well with The Shrimp Shack's addicting pineapple blended house iced tea. 

                                    Apple Crisp ala Mode 

Although some of their dishes weren't exactly standouts, their desserts had a different story. The Apple Crisp ala Mode (Php130) was truly delicious. Served on a hot plate with crumbles and thin apple slices with a scoop of yummy vanilla ice cream on top--it deserves a space into your stomach after a meal. 

                                            Butter Mud Pie

Not to be outdone is my new dessert favorite, Butter Mud Pie (Php130). An enticing square of Butter Pie with chocolate crumbs and ice cream with oozing chocolate sauce--every chocoholic's dream indeed. I'm no fan of chocolate but I'd love to eat this one whenever I can. It was sooo good, I even compared it to T.G.I.Fridays' Mud Slide dessert. And hands down, The Shrimp Shack's Butter Mud Pie is a whole lot better than theirs. I know it's not fair to compare them, but I just couldn't help it because they look almost the same. 

In a nutshell, I'd definitely recommend The Shrimp Shack's Shrimp Scampi (regardless if it's the chili garlic variant or the ordinary one or even when it's on top of a pasta spaghetti) because it's fresh and had that naturally sweet and salty after-taste. I'd also come back for their desserts because they perfectly cap off our meals and for some they might find them addicting. For that Hawaiian-beach vibe, helpful and friendly staff in Hawaiian inspired hibiscus printed polo shirts and cool ambiance, The Shrimp Shack is one nice place to kick back and relax and to simply savor the shrimps as you suck, peel, eat and enjoy! 

Come and visit The Shrimp Shack at their Market! Market! Branch located at the G/F of Market! Market! (You'll find them across Serendra, beside its sister restaurant, The Old Spaghetti House). 

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

Win Unilever Food Solutions Limited Edition Cookbook and Leann's TeaHouse Korean Casual Dining Restaurant Gift Certificate

        The Limited Edition Sooo Pinoy Cookbook by Unilever Food Solutions

I have long wanted to hold a giveaway for my food blog. The last time I did was ages ago when I gave away Nestle's 100 Years Limited edition cookbook. Now, since there have been an abundance and so much blessings has kept coming our way, I'd like to share with you a simple giveaway for Security Blanket. 

For my loyal readers and hopefully, new blog followers, let me share with you a chance to win another limited edition Sooo Pinoy Cookbook  published by F and B World for Unilever Food Solutions. One lucky winner will have this cookbook. And I assure you, you'll love to have this book. It teaches al ot of cookng tricks and techniques in the kitchen. 

I'm also giving away Php400 worth of Gift Certificates from Leann's Tea House. It's a Korean Casual Dining restaurant located in Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City. Even if you haven't tried Korean cuisine, I can assure you that there's definitely something you'll fancy at Leann's. Try their best selling Tonkatsu Kimbap---breaded pork roll with rice, seaweed wrap, crab stick, cucumber and spices. Plus they'vvgot unlimited samgyupsal--grilled thinly sliced pork belly. They have the all-time favorite Bibimbap (vegetables, beef strips, egg and kimchi on top of steaming rice). For more information, please Check out my blog on Leann's Tea House.

Joining is so easy. Just make sure to follow the instructions below and you'll be fine. Contest ends on October 9, 2014 at 12pm. 

Contest Mechanics:

Note: Those with an asterisk (*) are Mandatory: 

1. Follow Security Blanket via Google Friend Connect.*

2. Follow Security Blanket via Google Plus (found of the right side of the blog)*

3. Like https://facebook.com/dolcecerise on Facebook*

4. Follow @yapashing on Instagram

5. Follow @purpleplumfairy on Twitter

6. Comment below with your name, location, email,  Google Friend Connect name, Twitter handle, FB name and IG account name*

Winners will be receiving an email from me an please acknowledge within 48 hours. Failure to do so will forfeit their prizes. Winners must be willing to claim the prizes personally. Thank you. 

Good luck!

Special thanks to Leann's Tea House for the sponsored gift certificates for our readers.