Slurp Some Ramen at The Maya Kitchen This Saturday

Hello, hello!

It's been more than a month of no updates here on the blog, and I apologize for that. My netbook has gone bonkers, and I find it really difficult to update the blog using my phone as doing so drains the battery very easily (and it was difficult to tap the letters one by one as well). Right now, my sister is letting me use her netbook - provided my mom isn't using it. Hopefully, I can have that chance to use this gadget even for a few hours everyday so I can update all the blogs, that are now gathering cobwebs. :)

Anyway, weather lately has been weird - the other day it was super hot, and yesterday it was fairly cool. Regardless the temperature, a slurp of broth is always a comfort, and this Saturday, The Maya Kitchen is going to have a Ramen Craze Plus, as Japanese master chef Seiji Kamura will share his tips and secrets in creating wonderful ramen and other dishes like:

Miso Ramen, a chicken or pork broth with miso, lard and sesame for a thick, sweet and hearty soup. The thick, curly noodles are topped with spicy bean paste, butter and corn, leeks, onions, bean sprouts, ground pork, cabbage, sesame seeds, white pepper and chopped garlic.

Hiyashi Chuka, cold noodles served with thin omelette strips, boiled chicken, cucumber, boiled bean sprouts, tomatoes and pickled red ginger and wakame seaweeds.

Chachu or Japanese asado is tender, slow-cooked, marinated, stewed pork belly that can be served many ways. Chef Kamura will pepare Chachu Salad with Sesame Dressing.

Tonkatsu, pork cutlet breaded and deep fried until golden brown. Katsudon is the familiar rice bowl with panko coated pork cutlets with a sweet, savory sauce.

Chef Seiji Kamura has made the Philippines his home. He is regarded with high esteem in the local culinary scene and has been cookbook author, culinary consultant and chef demonstrator. He has penned two cookbooks with The Maya Kitchen entitled Japanese Cookbook for Filipino and Secrets of Japanese Cooking. He attended the Tokyo Cooking Academy and trained in Lyons, France.

To be a part of this event happening this Saturday - 15 February 2014 (9am - 1pm), contact The Maya Kitchen -  8921185 / 892-5011 local 108 / Mobile No. +63947 835 2290, or e-mail them - contactus@themayakitchen.com. You may also drop by The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center, located at the 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City.

For more information on other courses offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com.

Krazy Garlik Kraaazy Grubs

I am one of those people who just love garlic, not minding its strong flavor and smell. At home, garlic is an ingredient that we buy in regularly as I just love adding it in many dishes and dips. Among the many restaurants in The Bistro Group, Krazy Garlik was probably the one that caught my attention and have longed wanted to try out their dishes, but its location seem to always hinder me from eating here.

Two days before Christmas, my sister had to do a lot of errands in preparation for our upcoming Cagayan de Oro trip, so for our late lunch / snacks, we decided to try out Krazy Garlik's offering.


It was nearly 3pm when we got there (after a salon appointment at Browhaus), so there were only a few diners, allowing me to take a mandatory interior restaurant picture. Checking their menu, my sister and I were surprised at how much garlic infused dishes they offer. At that time, my sister wanted to try their pizza, but for sure we won't be able to eat it, so we just went for something we could handle.

Newest offering at the Krazy Garlik is the Kraaazy Grubs, a selection of Mexican inspired dishes. We had:

Thank You!

Oh boy... been so long since I last blogged. So many things happened - after Christmas, the family traveled to Cagayan de Oro to attend brother's wedding (and have a short vacation, too), then when we came home I got sick. I still am not 100% okay up to this day, but I am definitely much better than I was a few days ago.

I was supposed to post this before we left for CDO, but time just wasn't enough for me to sit and
blog, so before I start off the blog journey for 2014, let me just post this first.

Our family isn't big on gifts. We rarely give each other gifts during birthdays and Christmas.. so whenever I receive gifts, I do get giddy about it. For Christmas 2013, the gifts I received are from the companies and people I worked with for this blog and here are the gifts I have received: