 |
| Nana Meng Tsokolate Basket |
MENU
Ten Ways to a Perfect ‘Noche Buena’
PASKO na naman o kay tulin ng araw! Christmas spirit turning into Christmas stress? Here’s a shortlist of what to order and where:
Countdown Chow
As guests mingle and wait for the birth of Jesus Christ, hungry after the Simbang Gabi but as yet not allowed to eat until the clock strikes twelve, they can munch on the following:
Pata Negra
Flavorful but rich and tart. Pricey but will definitely signal the beginning of a great evening. Best appreciated by itself or with a glass of good vino.
Available at the Wine Depot. 897-8167. P4,600 per kilo. Limited supplies.
Kesong Puti, Toasted Pandesal and Tsokolate Pair this with a demitasse cup of Nana Meng’s Tsokolate. Use the Special Cashew Tsokolate for a special take on hot chocolate.
Available at Nana Meng’s Tsokolate. 0917- 8339539; 0920-9023216. Robinson’s Galleria Ground level behind the supermarket; Glorietta IV 3rd level beside Food Choices. Two to three days’ advance notice for bulk orders.
Santol Jam with Champagne For a different take on pre-meal crackers, offer this special santol jam made by the farmers of Nueva Ecija. They also have a guava jelly that is delightful. To make the crackers fancy, pair them with champagne!
Full of Grace Santol Jam: Available at the Magallanes (St. Alphonsus de Ligoury) Parish Office. 8528228 or 0917-4468958. Champagne by Moet Hennessy available at Ram’s Wine Store on Pasay Road.
Buffet
Sugar glazed ham Pragmatic observation: Christmas is almost as much a celebration of pork as it is of salvation! For some fancy ham, have this sugar glazed version by Michelle Dee Santos who comes highly recommended by Mariano Garchitorena of The Peninsula Manila. If The Pen recommends it, you know two things: 1. It must be really good. 2. It must be really pricey, hehe. Actually, it’s quite reasonably priced at P850 per kilo.
Call 0917-8201128. Orders are for 1, 2 or 3 kilos. P850/kilo + P60 for the box.
Cochinillo The ever revered pig may also make an appearance on your Noche Buena table through the craftsmanship of Chef J Gamboa of Cirkulo. Cirkulo accepts orders for their “Cochinillo Asado-Spanish style.” It’s a whole roasted suckling pig good for 10-12 persons. Available at Cirkulo. 8108735; 8102763. P4,950/order. 3 days’ advance notice.
Paella Negra Have a squid paella from Alba’s if you don’t mind risking black teeth for those photos. Bring your own paellera or make do with their “presentable” aluminum pan. This and a good red wine should seal that Christmas spirit!
Available at Alba’s. Polaris Street, Bel Air Village, Makati. 8966950 to 51. One to two days’ advance notice. Order good for 2-3 persons P500; 4-6 persons P1,000. Plus P500 for every additional three heads.
Dessert
Chocolate Cake
I always pass this small store on Mabini in San Juan named Chocolat, with a sign that advertises their “Death by Tablea” chocolate cake. The body is so moist, the top layer is just adequately rich. And the icing on this cake: a hint of that Filipino tablea flavor. This is THE chocolate cake to order this Christmas!
Chocolat. 7260330. chocolatcakes.multiply. com (no E in chocolat!). Four to seven days’ advance notice for bulk orders.
Chocolate Truffles
I tried Honey Dy’s chocolate truffles almost ten years ago and they are still as delish today. These are not your ordinary chocolate truffles, mind you; they are Rum Raisin Truffles or Chocolate Cherries. I eat mine slowly and make them last till Three Kings.
Available at Sweet Addiction. 0918-5304610 or e-mail honey@vgmiranda.com.
Kakanin Shameless plug, but unless you have a suki at your nearby palengke, your closest bet to reliable suman, bibingka, cassava and ube halaya is still Nana Meng’s Kitchen. Bow. Pair it again with hot chocolate, UNLESS you have a balikbayan from the US who can bring you home some of Jacques Torres’ Wicked. (This hot chocolate is so good I would marry Jacques Torres for it!)
Kakanin and tsokolate available at Nana Meng’s (details above). Three days’ notice for bulk orders.
To bring home on Christmas Day
Food for the Gods This is one gift that I recommend because the packaging is just so darn cute! They come in these ceramic gingerbread houses or in a ceramic snowman. Sooooo adorable!
Available at Cake Avenue. Tel. 8983557. 78 Estrella Street, Makati (off Rockwell, going to Edsa). www.cakeavenuebakeshop.com
Pitcher P380; Ceramic house P500; Ceramic snowman P380.
Something from Home Have your guests go home with something from your hometown. From salt to vinegar to chicharon to sausages to jams, share the flavors of your hometown. Bottle it, wrap it in foil, put it in a bag. I got a glimpse of a bottle of salt from Ilocos Norte made gorgeous by the bottle it was packed in: a gift from Senator Bongbong Marcos to a fellow senator. At first you think, “Salt?! Who gives away salt?!” But really, it’s brilliant. It showcases what’s best from your province, it’s personally prepared by you for that special touch, it encourages a spirit of community and nationalistic pride, and ultimately it’s perfect because there’s no flavor better than home!
Merry Christmas!
P.S. Amidst all this eating, don’t forget to pray and greet Jesus a Happy Birthday! •
Countdown Chow
As guests mingle and wait for the birth of Jesus Christ, hungry after the Simbang Gabi but as yet not allowed to eat until the clock strikes twelve, they can munch on the following:
Pata Negra
Flavorful but rich and tart. Pricey but will definitely signal the beginning of a great evening. Best appreciated by itself or with a glass of good vino.
Available at the Wine Depot. 897-8167. P4,600 per kilo. Limited supplies.
Kesong Puti, Toasted Pandesal and Tsokolate Pair this with a demitasse cup of Nana Meng’s Tsokolate. Use the Special Cashew Tsokolate for a special take on hot chocolate.
Available at Nana Meng’s Tsokolate. 0917- 8339539; 0920-9023216. Robinson’s Galleria Ground level behind the supermarket; Glorietta IV 3rd level beside Food Choices. Two to three days’ advance notice for bulk orders.
Santol Jam with Champagne For a different take on pre-meal crackers, offer this special santol jam made by the farmers of Nueva Ecija. They also have a guava jelly that is delightful. To make the crackers fancy, pair them with champagne!
Full of Grace Santol Jam: Available at the Magallanes (St. Alphonsus de Ligoury) Parish Office. 8528228 or 0917-4468958. Champagne by Moet Hennessy available at Ram’s Wine Store on Pasay Road.
Buffet
Sugar glazed ham Pragmatic observation: Christmas is almost as much a celebration of pork as it is of salvation! For some fancy ham, have this sugar glazed version by Michelle Dee Santos who comes highly recommended by Mariano Garchitorena of The Peninsula Manila. If The Pen recommends it, you know two things: 1. It must be really good. 2. It must be really pricey, hehe. Actually, it’s quite reasonably priced at P850 per kilo.
Call 0917-8201128. Orders are for 1, 2 or 3 kilos. P850/kilo + P60 for the box.
Cochinillo The ever revered pig may also make an appearance on your Noche Buena table through the craftsmanship of Chef J Gamboa of Cirkulo. Cirkulo accepts orders for their “Cochinillo Asado-Spanish style.” It’s a whole roasted suckling pig good for 10-12 persons. Available at Cirkulo. 8108735; 8102763. P4,950/order. 3 days’ advance notice.
Paella Negra Have a squid paella from Alba’s if you don’t mind risking black teeth for those photos. Bring your own paellera or make do with their “presentable” aluminum pan. This and a good red wine should seal that Christmas spirit!
Available at Alba’s. Polaris Street, Bel Air Village, Makati. 8966950 to 51. One to two days’ advance notice. Order good for 2-3 persons P500; 4-6 persons P1,000. Plus P500 for every additional three heads.
Dessert
Chocolate Cake
I always pass this small store on Mabini in San Juan named Chocolat, with a sign that advertises their “Death by Tablea” chocolate cake. The body is so moist, the top layer is just adequately rich. And the icing on this cake: a hint of that Filipino tablea flavor. This is THE chocolate cake to order this Christmas!
Chocolat. 7260330. chocolatcakes.multiply. com (no E in chocolat!). Four to seven days’ advance notice for bulk orders.
Chocolate Truffles
I tried Honey Dy’s chocolate truffles almost ten years ago and they are still as delish today. These are not your ordinary chocolate truffles, mind you; they are Rum Raisin Truffles or Chocolate Cherries. I eat mine slowly and make them last till Three Kings.
Available at Sweet Addiction. 0918-5304610 or e-mail honey@vgmiranda.com.
Kakanin Shameless plug, but unless you have a suki at your nearby palengke, your closest bet to reliable suman, bibingka, cassava and ube halaya is still Nana Meng’s Kitchen. Bow. Pair it again with hot chocolate, UNLESS you have a balikbayan from the US who can bring you home some of Jacques Torres’ Wicked. (This hot chocolate is so good I would marry Jacques Torres for it!)
Kakanin and tsokolate available at Nana Meng’s (details above). Three days’ notice for bulk orders.
To bring home on Christmas Day
Food for the Gods This is one gift that I recommend because the packaging is just so darn cute! They come in these ceramic gingerbread houses or in a ceramic snowman. Sooooo adorable!
Available at Cake Avenue. Tel. 8983557. 78 Estrella Street, Makati (off Rockwell, going to Edsa). www.cakeavenuebakeshop.com
Pitcher P380; Ceramic house P500; Ceramic snowman P380.
Something from Home Have your guests go home with something from your hometown. From salt to vinegar to chicharon to sausages to jams, share the flavors of your hometown. Bottle it, wrap it in foil, put it in a bag. I got a glimpse of a bottle of salt from Ilocos Norte made gorgeous by the bottle it was packed in: a gift from Senator Bongbong Marcos to a fellow senator. At first you think, “Salt?! Who gives away salt?!” But really, it’s brilliant. It showcases what’s best from your province, it’s personally prepared by you for that special touch, it encourages a spirit of community and nationalistic pride, and ultimately it’s perfect because there’s no flavor better than home!
Merry Christmas!
P.S. Amidst all this eating, don’t forget to pray and greet Jesus a Happy Birthday! •
