Filipino Cuisine at Le Tavole Accademiche

This October, Le Tavole Accademiche (Academic Tables) of the Università degli Studi di  Scienze Gastronomiche  (UNISG)  in  Pollenzo,  Italy  opens  its  kitchen  to  the  culinary expertise of Chef Jam Melchor, as he prepares to serve savory Filipino dishes that will open up their palates to our local flavors and feed their knowledge about Filipino food culture.

UNISG,  founded  in  2004  by  Slow  Food  International  in  cooperation  with  the  Italian regions of  Piedomont  and  Emilia-Romagna,  has  focused  on  the  study  of  gastronomy.  Le  Tavole Accademiche  embraces  this  focus  through  food  that  combines  education, haut cuisine and local produce. 

Every year, 25 international top chefs are invited to prepare creative recipes that reflect  the school’s principles of good, clean and fair food using local, seasonal ingredients. For  the first time, a Filipino chef will present the local cuisine and gastronomy as Chef Jam  Melchor visits UNISG this third week of October, 2017. 

“I  want  this  trip  to  be  a  platform  for  Filipino  food  to  be  recognized,  especially  in  that university where they value gastronomy,” Chef Jam shares. “My goal is to inspire more  Filipinos, the youth especially, to discover more  about our  cuisine like  where it comes  from and what is it all about.” 

During his visit, Chef Jam will be serving classic and regional dishes that will hopefully  fire up more conversations about Filipino food as UNISG students and alumni feast on Filipino fare. Although he hails from Pampanga, his menu will feature different provinces through his Sinigang na Bayabas, Adobong Batangan, Binulo na Tinawon and Sinuglao.  While  the  Sinigang  na  Bayabas,  soured with  the  local  guava,  highlights  his Kapampangan roots and is a personal favorite, Chef Jam acknowledges that sinigang, just  like  a  number  of  Filipino  dishes,  has  different  interpretations.  

He  travels  to Batangas for his Adobong Batangan, pork belly braised in vinegar, garlic, and annatto. “Batangan is the old name for Batangas, where the dish originated.”  Binulo  na  Tinawon  pays homage  to  the  traditional  way  Filipinos  cook  rice  using  bamboo. This version will highlight the heirloom rice tinawon, grown in the Banaue Rice Terraces.“I  want  people  to  know  more  about our  interesting  food  culture,  its  diversity  and abundance,” Chef Jam adds.

Chef Jam crafts his  menu around local  ingredients  such as  pili  from Albay, adlai  from  Bukidnon and  mango  from  Guimaras  and  Zambales.  In  fact,  pili  will  be  an  integral  component  of  his dessert  plates,  that  features  Mango  Pili  Sansrival  and  Pili-Crusted Turon.

He will also be bringing several Filipino Ark of Taste ingredients, which he will have the chance to present to UNISG and use in his menu.  UNISG hones the minds of future gastronomists about the global food culture through academic discussions and practical  experiences that allow them  to discover and taste more  of  what  lies  beyond  their  shores.  Through  the  endeavors  of  chefs  like Jam Melchor, we can be assured that conversations and dialogues about Filipino food and  Philippine ingredients will continue with the next generation of gastronomes. 

ABOUT CHEF JAM MELCHOR:

Chef Jam Melchor always dreamed of becoming a chef. He grew up in Pampanga, the  Philippines’ culinary capital that boasts of prominent people engaged in food industry.   He  opened  his  first  restaurant  Villa  Café  in  2011,  serving  modernized  Kapampangan  heirloom recipes. This was followed by Bite Contemporary Cuisine in 2012, which was  hailed as one of Manila’s best restaurants for 2013 by spot.ph, and known for its organic dishes and its advocacy for sustainability. In 2013, he established Healthy Eats Manila,  now known as YesPlate® and considered as the only sustainable diet delivery service  in  the  metro  that  aims  to  provide  nutritious  calorie  counted  meals  and  easy  weight  management solutions to professionals that includes top celebrities.  From 2014 to 2015, he was commissioned by the the Philippine government under the  Department of Agriculture to be the Chef Ambassador representing the Philippines for the  ASEAN  Roadshow  2014  Linamnam!:  Flavours  of  the  Philippines.  It  was  held  in  different  ASEAN  Countries  to  promote  local  products  for  export,  with  a  food  festival  showcasing Filipino classic dishes. 
This paved the way for him to convene the Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement, an  SEC-registered,  non-profit  movement  dedicated  to  the  promotion  and  preservation  of  the Philippine culinary heritage and gastronomy.  An active member of Slow Food International, Chef Jam participated as a delegate and  Philippine representative for the Terra Madre 2016 last September in Italy, cooking and  presenting Filipino dishes and Philippine Ark of taste ingredients to the world.  Chef  Jam  Melchor,  together  with  the  Philippine  Culinary  Heritage  Movement,  spearheaded  the  call  for  the  creation  of  a  Buwan  ng  Kulinaryang  Pilipino,  calling  out  concerned  government  agencies  like  National  Commission  for  Culture  and  the  Arts  (NCCA) and the Department of Agriculture to petition and request the President of  the Republic of the Philippines for the declaration  or issuance of an Executive Order / Presidential Order  that  Filipino Cuisine  will  be celebrated  annually  through  the  Buwan  ng  Kulinaryang  Pilipino.  This  month-long  celebration  for  the  preservation  of  Filipino  cuisine, will pay tribute to the rich culinary heritage of the country, and encourage and  support the study and in-depth research about Philippine gastronomy.

ABOUT UNISG

The University of Gastronomic Sciences, founded in 2004 by the international non-profit  association Slow Food, in cooperation with the Italian regions of Piedmont and Emilia- Romagna, is a private non-profit institution. Its goal is to create an international research  and  education  center  for  those  working  on  renewing  farming  methods,  protecting  biodiversity, and building an organic relationship between gastronomy and agricultural  science.  The  result  is  a  new  professional  figure—the  gastronome—skilled  in  the  production,  distribution, promotion, and communication of high-quality foods. Gastronomes are the next  generation  of  educators  and  innovators,  editors  and  multimedia  broadcasters, marketers  of  fine  products,  and  managers  of  consortia,  businesses,  and  tourism  companies. UNISG students, hailing from around the world, gain dynamic experiences in artisanal  and industrial food production, thanks  to complementary education in both sciences  and  humanities,  sensory  training,  and  hands-on  learning  during study  trips  across five continents.

ABOUT ACADEMIC TABLES

The Academic Tables is more than just the dining hall at the University of Gastronomic Sciences  in  Pollenzo.  It  is  a  space  that  combines  education,  haut  cuisine,  and  local products at a fair price.  The preparation of each dish takes into account seasonality of locally  sourced  products,  the  furnishings  and  cutlery  are  eco-sustainable,  the  kitchen features energy efficient equipment, and finally, meals are ordered in advance through a booking system which reduces food waste at the source. In addition to the team of five UNISG chefs at the Academic Tables, each year 25 guest  chefs are invited from around the world to visit UNISG and prepare creative recipes for our  students  which  respect  the  principles  of  good,  clean,  and  fair  by  using  local,  seasonal ingredients while keeping the meal at an affordable price.

ABOUT LE TAVOLE ACCADEMICHE 2017

Chef  Jam  Melchor  will  the  be  first  Filipino  chef  invited  to  present  and  cook  the  local cuisine and gastronomy this third week of October, 2017. He was invited when he met the  organizers  at Terra  Madre  2016,  and  expressed  their  desire  to  feature  Filipino cuisine and to learn more about it. Chef Jam will be assisted by Johan Movido, a culinary graduate from CCA Manila. The  road  to  Le  Tavole  Accademiche  was  made  possible  with  help  from  the  following  sponsors:  Department  of  Agriculture  -  Philippines,  the  Province  of  Pampanga  and  Albay, the city of Angeles, Carl Schmidt Sohn PH, Mama Sita's Mixes and Sauces, Le Jardin  Café,  Top  Chef  Enterprise,  Destileria  Limtuaco,  Philippine  Culinary  Heritage  Movement, and Slow Food Youth Network Philippines.

For  parties  interested  to  support  this  endeavor,  you  may  get  in  touch  with  Chef  Jam through his email at chefjamme@gmail.com or mobile 09178309516.

SM Supermalls 100 Days to Christmas

#SMagicalChristmas was unveiled today headed by Mr. Joaquin San Agustin Senior Vice President for Marketing, SM supermalls. Also  present at the unveiling of  100 Days to Christmas was Mr. Russel Alaba (AVP for Marketing, Mindanao Region).

Mr. Joaquin San Agustin Senior Vice President for Marketing, SM supermalls

Mr. Russel Alaba (AVP for Marketing, Mindanao Region).

Mr. Jose Mari Chan serenaded the guests with his famous Christmas songs. He even promised to send all the media a copy of his new album that contains 22 new Christmas songs. That's an awesome early Christmas present!

He even stayed long to accommodate all those who covered the event, and even the people outside the event venue. What a humbling experience it is that my children got to meet in person the singer who sang the song I sing for Julia, Rafael and Juan to lull them to sleep when they were babies. That song is Tell Me Your Name.

What to expect for SM Supermalls 100 Days to Christmas?

For more details on how to join SM Supermalls 100 Days to Christmas,

visit www.smsupermalls.com/smagicalchristmas/ 

Experience the World in SM Supermalls with Timex Time Travel

Being a watch collector, I enjoyed the event of Timex "Experience the World in SM Supermalls with Timex Time Travel" earlier at SM City Manila.

Now’s the perfect time to find the watch that will suit your lifestyle, or your love ones, as you explore the workmanship and story of origins from these global watch brands, by checking out Timex Time Travel across 18 malls this September 1 to Oct 31, wherein they are offering event-exclusive deals, freebies and fun games that I tried.

The brand interactivity in this travel-themed expo includes free barber cut for the dapper gentlemen courtesy of vintage-centric Ingersoll, X-Box Kinect game challenges by surf-and-skate-inspired Nixon, selfie-worthy mugshot photo booth and fan meet & greet from MMA specialists Mark “Mugen” Striegl and Filipino Eduard “Landslide” Folayang presented by Police Watches, Cosplay demo by color-inspired Ice Watches, plus other fun games from Timex and Titan.

Timex is connecting past and present, linking classic and colorful with its TIMEX TIME TRAVEL Road Show in participating SM malls. As the home of Global Brands, SM Supermalls has launched an exciting campaign inviting the whole family to experience new and fun happenings at SM as the retail giant partners with various international brands such as Timex which boasts a 160-year old heritage from United States. Alongside Timex are other global watch brands like Ingersoll from U.S., Police from Italy, Titan for UK, Nixon from the U.S., and Ice Watches from Belgium.  “Timex Time Travel Road Show is designed to celebrate and explore the evolving landscape of watch making from various watch brands around the globe”, says Marketing Director Melissa Lucas of Newtrends Int’l Corporation, the exclusive distributor of these world-renowned watch brands and the retail operator of Timex Shops and Watch Republic Shops nationwide. Lucas adds, “For many years, a watch is the perfect accessory people can wear every day. It’s one’s own signature piece, something you wear suited to your lifestyle and that people end up identifying it with you. 

Grab your new watch without stressing out your pocket with event specials from these global brands offering 10% to 70% discounts for all the watches. Enjoy easy installment for 3 months and 6 months to pay at zero percent when you swipe your card. Perfect for your pre-holiday gift hunting is the Marathon from Timex at two sportswatches for only Php 1,500. Plus, get freebies like shirts and accessories when you buy Ice Watches or get a free Puma eyewear worth Php 8,000 when you get an Ingersoll.

 

Want to win watches instead? Then simply join the Timex Time Travel online contests. It only requires you to capture your selfies from each of the brand’s corner and post in your Facebook wall and you can win a free watch! Police is giving away four bold-designed watches, Timex is raffling 10 watches of your design choice, Ice is awarding ten colorful watches and Ingersoll is giving away one P28,000-worth vintage-inspired automatic watch!

Aside from deals and prizes, the Timex Time Travel is also your best chance to get free watch services such as free watch personalization with caseback name engraving, free cleaning and diagnostics, and free battery replacement (upon watch purchase) valid for two years.

Catch the Timex Time Travel road show on: Sept 1 to 6 in SM East Ortigas; Sept 4 to 9 in SM San Lazaro; Sept 9 to 13 in SM Manila; Sept 11 to 14 in SM Marikina; Sept 16 to 20 in SM Dasmarinas; Sept 22 to 27 in SM Centerpoint; Sept 23 to 27 in SM Fairview; Sept 29 to Oct 4 in SM Southmall & SM Taytay; Oct 6 to 11 in SM Novaliches; Oct 7 to 11 in SM Marilao; Oct 13 to 17 in SM Clark; Oct 13 to 18 at SM BF Paranaque; Oct 19 to 23 in SM Pampanga; Oct 20 to 25 in SM Bacoor; Oct 23 to 25 at Mall of Asia; Oct 25 to 27 at SM Bicutan; and Oct 27 to 31 at SM Sucat.

Get ready to explore and experience the world in SM malls and make a style statement  SM malls and make a style statement with iconic watches from Timex Time Travel!

ABOUT TIMEX:

Timex is an American heritage specialist in the art of timekeeping that combines high-end Italian designs with cutting edge German engineering. Timex is the product of over 160 years of watchmaking innovation and expertise. It all began with a group of artisans and craftsmen in the New England town of Waterbury, Connecticut. What the group created would ultimately become synonymous with time itself and propel timekeeping from the mantelpiece to the pocket, and onto the wrist.  Since 1854, Timex has devoted itself to crafting quality, value and timeless watch styles. From the locker room to the board room, there is a great Timex watch for everyone. ‘THE TRUE ORIGINAL’  Robert H Ingersoll and his brother Charles founded the Ingersoll Watch Company, one of the oldest American watchmakers. The Ingersoll brothers were pioneers of industry and invention in the field of watchmaking. They devised and followed an ambitious plan: to offer Ingersoll watches to the general public at an affordable price, whilst maintaining real quality and credibility. Based in New York City, each watch was initially produced by hand, but in 1892, thanks to Henry Ford, Ingersoll succeeded in developing a production line for pocket watches and wristwatches. With high quality production, precision components and the very reasonable price of $1.00 (a day’s wages at that time) the so-called ‘Dollar Watch’ was born. Other groundbreaking achievements of Ingersoll: 1910  24th President Theodore Roosevelt helped Ingersoll achieve worldwide acclaim by    famously being called ‘the man from the country where Ingersoll watches are made’. 1919 Ingersoll invented the first glow in the dark pocket watch called the Radiolite with a     simple luminous dial. It was widely used in the First World War by tankers. 1933 One of the most iconic watches in US history is conceived when Robert H Ingersoll    meets with Disney to obtain a license for a Mickey Mouse watch. 1947 Gandhi praises the Ingersoll pocket watch for its precision timekeeping declaring it    as one of his most valued possessions. It can be found at the New Delhi museum    amongst his other minimal value possessions. 2012 Ingersoll celebrates 120 years of ground-breaking innovation and pioneering     achievements in watch-making.

Applebee's Philippines

This September 2017, Applebee's Philippines celebrations begin with the launch of their new menu that will definitely  excite the foodie in you. At Applebee's Grill and Bar, not just about their great tasting food but also  about having fun and sharing laughs over drinks with friends and family.

Their new look straight from the US with a New Brand Promise: Serving Up Good Times. And of course, a big part of keeping that promise is a delicious array of new dishes that the new menu is absolutely loaded with," according to Mr. Bob Vallar, Marketing Manager of Applebee's Philippines.

Let's start with Applebee's all-new appetizers - Team Beer and Team Cocktails and Wine. Team Bear can choose between Engkanto's Ginger Ale and Lager to pair up with Fried Sweet and Spicy Pickles, Bacon Jalapeno Potato Croquettes and Calamari.  Team Cocktails and Wine would love to pair their glass with a Southern Beef Brisket Quesadillas.

Ian Paradies, Founder and President of Engkanto Brewery, brings back forgotten Philippine folklore into the daily lives of the modern Filipino. The vivid tales of the Engkanto, who are believed to guard natural creations, include Maria Makiling, the Kapre, the Tikbalang, the Sirena, the Duwende, and many others. A new generation of Engkanto observed that beer was the one thing that all Filipinos still worshiped daily, so the Engkanto created the perfect recipes. Engkanto Brewery is positioned to deliver to Filipinos an obtainable craft beer that is brewed with high-quality and natural ingredients. Today, after over a year of perfecting its  avor, Filipinos can  nally drink the magic of Engkanto.

Pork Liempo Adobo, Fiesta BBQ Pork Liempo and Chicken BBQ are homegrown local flavors that people will swoon over. Pork Liempo Adobo is 2 slabs of succulent pork belly steaks drizzled in a tasty soy-vinegar sauce, topped with crispy fried onions.

Calamari

Grilled Watermelon and Spicy Shrimp Salad is perfect flavor accompaniment which the ladies would love.  This seafood and salad creation is great for ladies who lunch.  It has fresh greens, cucumbers, feta cheese, toasted almonds, spicy grilled shrimp, and grilled watermelon cubes in a creamy mint yoghurt dressing.

Grilled Sausage Marinara Pasta is for those who love Schueblig sausage and marinara sauce. It is topped with slices of grilled , mushrooms, bell peppers and sun-dried tomatoes.

Triple Meat All-in Burger is power-packed Brioche bun with USDA beef burger patty, double smoked bacon, shredded beef brisket, cheddar cheese and honey barbeque sauce

Spicy Firecracker Shrimp Cavatappi

I completely forgot the name of this one, I just know this SALMON is sooo good, I got to have it again soon!

As I always do, capping the day with a brewed coffee and room for desserts like Banoffee Cheesecake and Smores Creme Brulee.

  Banoffee Cheesecake (toffee cheesecake drizzled with Dulce de Leche and Hot Fudge sauce, topped with banana chips).

 Smores Creme Brulee (sugar-glazed chocolate creme brulee topped with banoffee crumble and toasted marshmallows)

Applebee's Grill and Bar Branches:

W Global Center, 30th Street corner 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 801-9662

CityWalk 1, 1110, C1-B Eastwood Avenue, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, Metro Manila
(02) 566 6800

For more information, visit Applebee's on facebook.com. 

The Maya Kitchen Top Eats Series Features Chef Mira Angeles’ Spell Kitchen

Over a decade of being a chef and a lifetime of loving food has led Mira Angeles to where she is now, owning a “magical” restaurant and sharing the joys of cooking to others. It took years of training and several attempts at entering the industry before finally becoming a well-loved chef, but now she’s sharing her talents and inspiring others to take up the skill with a Maya Kitchen Top Eats session in her very own Spell Kitchen.

It’s not a stretch to say that Mira has been cooking her whole life, being that her mother was taking classes at Le Cordon Bleu while pregnant with her. Her family has always loved eating good food and watching cooking shows, making her a foodie since she was young.

Though she didn’t get to immediately pursue her chef dreams, life worked its magic and steered her that direction anyway. Working at ABS-CBN, she was partnered with Food magazine’s Micky Fenix who introduced her to chef Myrna Segismundo. The two reignited her passion for food and became her mentors. She eventually entered certificate courses in ISCAHM for fundamentals of Culinary and Pastry, then other short courses in Maya Kitchen. She soon became a full-time chef and opened steak restaurant Cow King with her brother.

While steaks were something she was perfecting, she also indulged her creativity by creating different dips which, through word of mouth, amassed a huge following. Not long after that, she fulfilled her dreams of writing with regular recipe contributions to Yummy magazine; of teaching as she holds special classes at Maya Kitchen and at culinary events space Back of the House; and of opening her own restaurant with the magic-inspired Spell Kitchen, after the closing of Cow King. In this new restaurant-cafe, she puts her twist on Filipino comfort food, along with steaks and her famous dips, spreads, and salad dressings.

For the Maya Kitchen Top Eats session at Spell Kitchen, Chef Mira will be holding a fun, interactive cooking demo for students. Food lovers will come together to learn to make an appetizing Taco Salad, Garlic Cheese Butter dip, healthy Vegetable Lasagna, indulgent Belly Good Lechon Kawali, and sweet Apple Turon.

But more than just running down recipes, the chef imparts the lessons she’s learned from her cooking career. One of them being: “Dishes should be done well. Never settle with ‘pwede na yan.’ Always do things with quality no matter how simple your dish is.”

This respect for food and for her customers is one of the things that makes Mira such a well-loved chef. And for those just starting out, she has this to say: “One should make time to practice and never give up. I’ve had failed Chiffon cakes, burnt brownies, and a chocolate mousse that didn’t turn out well. One must persevere in order to have success.”

For more of Chef Mira Angeles’ quality cooking, Spell Kitchen located at Tomas Morato cooks up magic meals daily.

For more information on this and on other course offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com, e- mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City. You may also call us 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

Like and follow Maya Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @TheMayaKitchen1 and follow on Twitter @TheMayaKitchen.