Pepi Cubano: An Uncompromising Cuban Sandwich Supreme

It is not my desire to be remiss when pointing out a treasure for the purpose of sharing. So, aprés months of extensive research on where to find an authentic Cuban sandwich in the Philippines, the one where it best led the husband and I were to this gem of a sandwich shop in Gallardo St. Makati, Pepi’s Cuban Sandwich!

Let me not prolong the curiosity. Here it is, the Cuban sandwich in the Philippines that has captured the meaning of the bread-fillings-bread concoction. The Pepi Cuban Sandwich is indeed complete with the puerco asado, ham, cheese, dressing, mustard and the pan cubano pressed closely and tightly, altogether here the concert of these flavors and the crunchiness of the bread blend beautifully to make one ricisimo,  esquisito, deliciso sanguche cubano. Claro que sí ! 

Other fares and variation include the chicken, vegetarian, media noche (plain ham and cheese) and the beef steak Cubans. I urge you to try the joint which has been in existence from 2006. They began as a home outfit that delivered the sandwiches to the offices and word of mouth is what got them to where they are right now. Today they deliver, cater and has even been offered to open up at the malls all around capital, not just the capital but I say nationwide and why ever not? 

Sabòr!

The Tartan Table: Olde Scottish Food

A stumbled into a notable 'hole in the wall' restaurant in Central Florida, about 47 miles from Tampa named The Tartan Table and dining here was intimate and flavorful. I sampled a Scottish Meat Pie made from Angus Beef which was served with mash (potatoes), chips (or fries) and a freshly baked dinner roll by the cook who also owned the place. Turns out, the cook is a native of Edinburgh, she was in the restaurant business there and is a transplant to Spring Hill, Fl. I was much obliged that the pie crust she used for my meat pie was the puff pastry-type, that buttery flair to it I remember distinctly and the chips (which we do not have much expectations from) were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

The ambiance and decor was of course Scottish and each table was clothed with different Tartan patterns that represented a few clans from Scotland; I dined at the “Taylor” clan table, as it were. 

My waiter was a personable young man who was very well versed with the menu, theme and the nuance of the place. It was a special touch that the chef/owner herself came to meet me at the table and chatted a bit. It’s gestures like that which make dining special. I just relished in the pleasant experience I had here and if I ever go back to the area, I will want to visit it again.  

~~~

My Life in France: by Julia Child w/ Alex Prud d'homme

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. I devoured the words and details just as Julia Child did her Sole Meuniére the first time she went to her la belle France. This book to me was mainly a travelogue with gastronomy as the main purpose and Sacré bleu! How it transported me. 

The novel chronicles Julia's years in France, her escapades through the little towns all over the country, her culinary adventures, building relationships with fellow food lovers, her time and in detail at Lé Cordon Bleu and the hurdles of book publishing.

The book is very well written in narrative form and one almost walked, thought and felt as Julia did as she imbibed France even to the aroma of the streets in Marseilles. France is made beautiful by her in this book and I like her feet-to-the-ground approach in dining and touring, preferring local flavors or “holes in the wall” restaurants and finding kindred among the culinary enthusiasts in those circles. It is also touching that her husband is given the due that he deserves as Julia's financier during her Lé Cordon Bleu days, being a great support and a gateway to notable contacts for her.

Do give this a tumble, you won't regret it and like any good book, there is the objective to finish it, but you'll feel sad when it ends. 

~~~

Breakfasts:

at home...

at a B&B...

Blueberry Tart:

Ingredients

Crust:1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature, 2 tbsp sour cream

Filling: Blueberries, 3 large egg yolks,3/4 cup sour cream, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Crust: Place the flour, butter, and sour cream in a food processor and pulse to combine. When the dough has formed a ball, flatten with rolling pin (may need more flour so dough is not sticky) place on to an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.

Filling: Combine the egg yolks, sour cream, sugar, and flour and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture over the pan, Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 min until the custard sets and is pale golden in color, then add the blueberries on top as desired then put back in oven for about 20 - 30 minutes until custard is firm. Cover with an aluminum foil tent if the crust gets too dark. Allow to cool for a while then transfer to a tart/pie server, garnish with whipped cream prior to serving each slice if desired. 

Bon appetit!  

My Wonton Soup :

WONTON SOUP

beef meat balls:

ground beef, chopped garlic, beaten egg, flour, seasoned salt, chili powder - mix all in a bowl and form into small meatballs

wrap in Wonton wrapper already squared, brush sides with water to make the sides stick fold this diagonally

Base Soup:

Prepare this prior to making the Wontons. lots of water in pot, season this with seasoned salt, 1/2 packet of low sodium beef bullion, freshly ground black peppers, fresh ginger root (julienne), lots of garlic, lots of sliced onion, lemon grass if you have it. Bring to boil. Taste periodically and add more seasoning if desired.

Upon boiling, add diagonally sliced  Chinese cabbage lots of scallions and the wontons with the meatballs. When the wontons surface - the wontons are ready. allow to simmer mildly up to 7 minutes more then add more scallions prior to serving. 

Enjoy!

West, North and Crustaceans :

The West:

This too is a re-post of a superbly conceptualized home in Scottsdale, AZ. And what is not to admire with this structure? the whites comforts the desert, the door, the strategically arranged windows! It's the stuff of good conversation! 15 votes.

The North:

 This is for the theme: "Sacred Sunday" again I believe and it is a very well aged Stained Glass window at St. Margaret's Church in Edinburgh. I must say, that church was a treasure trove for photography! 14 votes.

and by golly, the crustaceans:

The theme "Food Friday" is a very fun and challenging photography theme in Google Plus. Since it's an international crowd up there, one can just imagine the photos from all the corners of the earth that streams in! I love participating in it and I have made the best of virtual friends in this theme of all because cuisine is such a genial topic! 10 votes!

A Heart of Flan

May I please begin this month's blogs with 1 picture that conveys love. A heart shaped Flan. 

Ok, this dessert might not be that "loving" to your heart considering the amount of egg yolks it requires for this succulence but may I say, in a month when the focus will be on matters of love, hearts, sweetness etc because of Valentine's day to treat oneself to a nice dessert may just be a way to kick February off!

Recipe: 

1 can evaporated milk

1 can condensed milk

 10 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

For Caramel:

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

Procedure:

In a saucepan - bring sugar and water to boil until sugar caramelizes

Pour caramelized sugar into shaped molds, set aside.

Mix the evaporated milk, condensed milk and egg yolks by hand/blender

Pour mixture to the molds

Open air steam mixture for 20 minutes on stove top

Allow to cool by refrigerating

(make sure the Flan is cool before transferring to avoid breaking flan)

Loosen edges with a knife then transfer to a serving dish upside down

with the bottom now on top and the caramelized sugar glazed over on top as well

Lastly,

Enjoy!

Books by British Domestic Godesses from a Great Friend

I just got these books from my friend Graes through the mail:

1. A Taste of the Sun by Elizabeth David

2. Campaign for Domestic Happiness by Isabella Beeton

3. A Little Dinner Before The Play by Agnes Jekyll

&

4. Everlasting Syllabub and the Art of Carving

All these books are about keeping the house, techniques on how to work on livestock, poultry and home grown vegetables, turn them into scrumptious dishes, the old fashioned way. These books will also give an insight to how the early 20th century chefs/cooks managed their households.

Boy, am I excited to get my hands (and eyes) on these and tell you all about it, if thou be interested. 

Cuisine Time: Seafood Pasta

I had the hankering for home made seafood pasta. This is my own take on this simple dish and hope you like it:

For pasta:

- boil pasta (usual way)

For Mussels:

- Prepare to boil salted water 

- Add ginger roots 

- Add mussels 1/2 lbs

- wait until mussels open up (discard unopened shells)

-drain - set aside

For the Dish:

- heat up wok under medium heat

- add 2 tbsp spoons of butter - allow to melt

- add 1 1/2 tbsp of minced garlic - saute a few minutes

- add 1/4 lb peeled shrimps

- add 1/4 lb sea scallops

- allow butter and garlic flavor to soak in 

- add mussels with shell

- season with salt, Italian seasoning and saute all ingredients

- add 1 tbsp  fresh lemon juice

- pour about 3 tbsp white wine

- add Basil then allow flavors to blend

- use slotted spoon to add pasta into the mixture gradually

- add water from pasta to maintain moisture

- drizzle extra virgin olive oil all over (1 tsp)
- toss to mix all around

- add few minced fresh garlic (for fresher flavor)

To Serve: 

- place in serving plate
- garnish w/ fresh Basil and add grated Romano or Parmesan

- Bon Appetito!

London

Finally went to that place with the, with the . . . oh the clock! and the people with the accent!

It's not cliche to me because I have always dreamed of coming here, working here and living here. That was of course until I saw her current state, to which I was saddened by. 

Nevertheless, despite the dirt from Heathrow to Warwick to Bromley-by-Bow and the absence of the old chaps with the Chapeau and umbrella, London is still a destination worth visiting because depending on your perspective, every one I saw there, whether indigenous or transplanted - were trying. 

Whilst there I got to:

Eat fish and chips the traditional way at "The Anchor"
(built in the 1600's)

Mess around with the red phone booths:
(I needed a quid...) 

Hear London Calling:

(it said "Vrooomm!")

See a Shakespeare Play:
(w/ the English Patient as Prospero)

Photograph Monet:
(well, figuratively speaking.)

 

Sample Punk Sweetness:

(ah, life's ironies...)

Meet the Invisible Man:

(w/ visible neck)

and,

Soak up the Thames at night.

- Among others anyway...

Simply Caprese

Let's begin!

Sliced tomato

Fresh Basil

Mozarella

Sea Salt

Freshly Cracked Black Pepper

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Construct like in Photo

Enjoy!

Repeat as desired

Blog Cover Deconstrcuted & Blog Content Explained

 Bohol, Philippines

Don't know why but starting and editing blogs are fun for me. A nice past time; there's an element of hope in conceptualizing what the blog, the layout, the outcome and what the possibilities could be.

 my niece Kayla

So it follows that I have another one and after years of starting one after the other, just as I think to myself, I have found the style and flow desired, in comes another of my ideas. This one may be a bit like Simple Snippets, the blog I had which I thought would be the simplest, most easiest blog to manage yet still look cool. But alas, even that one became cumbersome. 

Shrimp Pasta Salad

With "et al. by Y.," I sincerely endeavor to make it as random, informal but the coolest of all the blogs I've had. I borrow plenty from a lot of my favorite blogs, some from my own personal friends and others from masters who are indeed constant and are much publicized. 

 Manhattan, NY

In any case, I will not promise that this will be the last blog I will start and not finish, but it is my intention that this will be the most enjoyable.

random girl who loves ties

And by the way, just as what the blog description and the blog title suggests, this will be about travel, spirituality, design, cuisine, events, people, music, books, living and many, many other things which I want to blog about!

random violin in the Internet

only pic not taken by me on

this set of pics...