The Ultimate Food Trip happens in Rockwell on September 3

I'm really anxious about this and I want to go. Guys, do you think I can? :) I just want to bring my pasta to the event.

Rockwell's Ultimate Taste Test 

The Bazaar Experience

I would have posted sooner but I was really pretty beat up after all the five days of bazaar. And after all that hard work, I understood just one simple thing: it is hard to do things alone.

Every morning from August 8 to 12, I woke up at midnight or past midnight to start preparing and cooking. I have to be finished by 6:00 AM so that I can let it rest and leave at around 7:00 AM or 7:30 AM. Fortunately, I had a driver so most of my sleeping time was done in the car. Once at school, I had to bring all my stuff to the venue in the middle of the school and set up my booth. I manned the booth all day, then packed up, and waited for my driver to pick me up. Once home, I just sleep and do it all over again.

I am not one to complain because I wanted this and it was really fun. I was able to make friends with the booth beside me even if they were also selling food. I would say it was really just a learning experience for me.

I would be the first one to tell you guys that I did not really earn that much in terms of money but I learned a lot that time. The food was great but the people who will be there to support you matter as much and even more than. So this would really just be my way of saying, thank you to everyone who helped me throughout the week and the people who tried out our food. I hope I could be able to hear from you guys again.

A Brief Experience

DLSU Bazaar is hard but awesome! Cooking, sleeping in the car, setting up, selling and giving out food, go home, sleep, and do it all over again. I just want to invite you guys at SJ Walk in DLSU-M so please support our last two days! Please share to your friends! :)

Thank you, guys!

The Next Level of Taste

This will be my first foodie entry and I wouldn't have it any other way than to talk about one of my most favorite eats, The Steak!

For my cousin's birthday, we went to Cru Steakhouse in Marriot Hotel beside Resorts World Manila. I was pretty excited since I haven't had a good steak in a long time. It was all paid for by my aunt but the limitations were no Wagyu Beef. He he! Not a bad deal still.

Being the good boy that I am, I just went with USDA Prime Rib eye, 350g, Medium, with sides, Black Truffle Risotto, Potato and Onion Gratin, and Forest Mushroom Sauce. I'm still a kid so forgive me if mushrooms still get the best of me. Ha ha!

The steakhouse ambiance was warm. You could see the steaks being chilled, there's wine all around, and the kitchen grill was a sight to see.

So, the table started out with our complimentary bread and the spreads were Cream Cheese with thyme and whole red peppercorn and Parsley Butter. The bread was great! Our family loved the ones with crusted cheese and the cream cheese went well with the peppercorn. Unfortunately, I was not able to take pictures since it was gobbled up pretty fast.

The next came the Caesar Salad and the French Onion Soup. It was the oldies' orders so I wasn't able to taste any but the cheese on the French Onion Soup must be great since they praised it the whole time.

Now, the steaks came rushing in one by one and I just saw mine with the sides. It was heaven on a plate. I missed eating steaks especially with my family and when my grandfather was still alive. It was also funny that my cousin and I had the exact same order for the steak, sauce, and sides. The steak was not that thick and not that thin. It had that juice in every bite and the Forest Mushroom sauce just complimented it.

The Black Truffle risotto is something I cannot describe. It was creamy and just divine. The Potato and Onion gratin was the highlight for me. I was taking my cousin's half of the gratin because I finished mine halfway through the steak. The potato was still bitey and the onion was creamy and flavorful and it was just all perfect.

Since me and my cousin were the big eaters in the bunch, I was able to test my palette with some of the other steaks my mom and uncle ordered. My mom ordered a USDA Prime Rib eye, 250g, Medium Rare. I now understand why some steakhouse do not serve past medium rare. It was juicier and more flavorful in the middle because it retains more of the flavor of the meat. My uncle ordered a Australian Grain Fed Angus Rib eye, 350g, Medium. There was a sweet lingering taste when I took a bite of it and it was just so different from the USDA Prime.

Last up, the desserts came in and we were confronted with a Sugar-free Cheesecake for my cousin and the others and a Grand Cru Chocolate Mousse for me. There was just a symphony of flavors from the chocolate mousse alone. The dark chocolate mousse, the think white chocolate, and the caramel sauce did not overpower each other. The strawberries and the mango coulis was just a bonus and it added layers and dimensions to the food.

Comparing Cru Steakhouse to most other steakhouses in the Philippines, it would be really one of the best I have tried. I have to go back and try them again soon. He he!

I still have a lot to learn on the different flavors but I can determine it when I taste it now than before. It's really fun when my palette is going to the next level. My mom and I get to understand each other because of that. Ha ha!

Anyways, I have a big day tomorrow and I have to start cooking now. To all the Lasallians and my friends, see you at the bazaar!

Heart, Meat, & Soul Foods with David Garmsen

 

Hearty, Meaty Spaghetti

Food Styling: Lorraine Timbol © 2011

Photography: David Garmsen © 2011

So I could not sleep again as usual, I was so excited from our food shoot yesterday with David Garmsen, a wedding photographer. David is a good friend of mine and I really am happy that he took it on his busy schedule to shoot for Heart, Meat, & Soul Foods. It was a great shoot even if it was kind of cloudy. I love how the shots turned out.

Soulful, Tender Roast Chicken and Hearty, Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Food Styling: Lorraine Timbol © 2011

Photography: David Garmsen © 2011

It was a great experience cooking, running around, and arranging the shots. I loved working with my mom who was the food stylist for the shoot. I also want to take some of her recipes into consideration especially her lasagna and baked macaroni. Okay, maybe more than just taking them into consideration, he he!

Soulful, Cheesy Cream Dory

Food Styling: Lorraine Timbol © 2011

Photography: David Garmsen © 2011

Thank you again to my mom and David! Check out David's blog and see his feature on Heart, Meat, & Soul Foods there.

Hearty, Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Food Styling: Lorraine Timbol © 2011

Photography: David Garmsen © 2011

To my fellow Lasallians, please support us and visit our booth next week, from August 8 to 12, from 9 AM to 6 PM, at the SJ Walk, in DLSU - Manila! We are giving out in introductory prices so enjoy good food at affordable prices! Enjoy and experience our food with us!