Tuesday, December 23, 2014

There's a New CBTL Drink in Town: The Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Ice Blended and Latte!

There's a New CBTL Drink in Town: The Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Ice Blended and Latte!

If you're looking for a new and tasty companion for the holiday season, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines recently released a new decadent drink - The Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Ice Blended and Latte. On paper, the combination of Chocolate + Hazelnut + Truffle just seems so heavenly!


Thursday, December 18, 2014

Try This Simple, Delicious Kangkong (Water Spinach) and Garlic Recipe

Water Spinach (Kangkong) ingredients

Kangkong (or Water Spinach) is a very popular vegetable not only in the Philippines but around the entire Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the cheapest vegetables around because it's a 'pest' that can practically grow anywhere. Asians eventually found out that when you saute Kangkong in garlic, some fish sauce (patis), and oyster sauce, it becomes a really delicious dish that explodes with flavor. I personally love cooking this dish because it's cheap, nutritious, and it's so easy to make.

Before I begin, I just want to say that the picture on top is only for show. You will be cooking around 4 times as much Kangkong if you plan to follow the proportions given in this recipe. So, let's begin.

Nutritional Benefits: 
Back when we were kids, remember how Popeye gets his superhuman strength just by eating a can of spinach? Just like spinach, Kangkong is a low-calorie dish jam-packed with nutrients. A serving of this dish will provide 297.1mg of Potassium, 2g of Fiber, 2.8g of Protein, 110.4% of your daily Vitamin A requirement, 82.7% of Vitamin C, 7.2% of Calcium and 8.8% of Iron at only 41 calories! It's also loaded with antioxidants that help boost your immune system. Not bad for one of the cheapest vegetables in the planet.


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Speak Up: The New Restaurant Critic Is You


What you say matters. With the advent of social media, it's very easy to share each and every dining experience with everyone you know. If you eat at a new restaurant and you find out that you were served raw chicken, you can easily share this experience on Facebook, Twitter or Zomato. This sends your social circle a signal that the food isn't good and they shouldn't waste their time dining at that restaurant. This might prompt them to tell their friends as well, so it's a domino effect that comes from just one bad review. In today's culinary environment, restaurant perception is everything.


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Try Out This Easy Recipe for Grilled Pork Chops

Grilled Pork Chops Recipe - ingredients

Pork Chops are often a household staple. It's a dish that's also quite easy to cook. You can grill, pan-fry or oven-bake pork chops and they'd taste quite good no matter how they're cooked. My personal preference is to grill the chops. It's the healthier style of cooking that requires less or even no oil, and they come out delicious each time.

This recipe is fairly simple. It just needs a couple of pork chops marinated in a simple soy sauce marinade. Trust me when I say anyone can make it. It is easy enough that it's actually one of the first recipes I mastered. I also didn't burn it the first time I tried it way back. So here's the recipe


Monday, December 15, 2014

Learn How You Can Mix Flavor Profiles to Create a Perfectly Balanced and Flavorful Dish


When it comes to food, taste is everything. In the past, humans needed to eat because our body requires the energy and nutrition from food to survive. Since then, our experience with food has evolved. We now expect food to be delicious. If not, we complain about it to the restaurant or write bad reviews online in sites such as Zomato or Yelp. We're quick to say "too greasy" or "too bland" if the flavor is out of balance.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

The Ultimate Guide to Flavoring With Fresh Herbs


I recently wrote an article on The Ultimate Guide on Flavoring With Spices here at Chef Jay's Kitchen. I hope it was able to help you create even more flavorful dishes by enhancing your knowledge on spices. 

This time, I want to share how you can enhance the flavor of your dishes using fresh herbs. Both infographics were beautifully done by Cooksmarts.com - a great website that aims to educate and empower home cooks like you and me. They deserve all the credit for coming up with very useful guides. 

Saturday, December 13, 2014

From Around the Web: Our Favorite Articles for November


I'm really sorry for such a late post. When I started Chef Jay's Kitchen, I promised you that I'm going to share the top 5 food articles I've come across each month, and I am way behind schedule. It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, but I understand that shouldn't be an excuse. I know it's late but here are the top food articles for November! Once again, thank you for your patience.

The Most Powerful Food Combinations You Need to Know

The Most Powerful Food Combinations You Need to Know

You should know by now that a daily dose of healthy food such as apples, green tea, and eggs is excellent for your body. By eating the right kind of food (I don't mean that bag of chips or french fries), your body gets all the nutrients it needs to function properly. You will feel amazing and less sickly as a result. 

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Ultimate Infographic Guide to Flavoring With Spices


If you love to eat, then you are probably familiar with spices. We often see them in grocery shelves or in our kitchens just an arm's reach away whenever we need them. Spices have been around for centuries, and they are very important of the history of our world:
Spices have been the inspiration for trade, exploration, war, and poetry since the beginning of civilization. That ground pepper you shake on your salad was once worth its weight in gold; the nutmeg you grate onto holiday eggnog once fueled a war that gained Long Island for England.
It's a good thing we don't have to wage war just to get that bottle of ground pepper, right?

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Krispy Kreme Offers Day of the Dozens on December 12


On December 12, 2014, Krispy Kreme Philippines will be offering a one day promo where you can purchase a box of Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts, and get a second dozen for only P77! Just make sure you present the voucher above to the participating stores! 

It's Time to Know More About What Minerals Do and How To Get A Healthy Dose


We hear about vitamins and minerals all the time. While they are both essential for maintaining a healthy body, minerals are often an afterthought for most people. No one ever says "Get your daily dose of minerals!"

The main difference between the two is that vitamins are organic substances while minerals are inorganic substances found in the periodic table that our body absorbs. They both are essential because without them, we won't even survive. They perform hundreds of roles in our body from repairing cellular damage, healing wounds, convert food to energy, and so much more. 

If you want to know about vitamins and minerals, then check out this guide from Greatist.com, a wonderful health and fitness website.


Wednesday, December 10, 2014

The Ultimate Healthy Grocery List

There are people who say they want to take better care of themselves and live a healthy lifestyle. Now, there are two parts to that equation: a healthy diet and daily exercise. I don't know about you, but in my opinion it's a lot easier to eat healthy than have a 1-hour session in the gym. 

In order to help you eat food that's actually good for you, here's a grocery list from shape.com that shows you a list of ingredients you should pick up the next time you visit the supermarket. I'm hoping this can get you in the habit of buying food that's healthy. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

10 Healthy Foods That Should Be Part Of Your Daily Diet


Health and proper nutrition has recently been topic of focus of this blog, and for good reason. I'm passionate about food but I would also like to influence you, my readers, to live a healthier life. I'm not perfect. I eat Crispy Pata, Sisig, Lechon, Cake, and fast food just like everyone else. While I don't always eat clean, I do preach moderation - It's important for you to balance unhealthy meals with healthy ones. 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Coffee and Tea Taste are Addictingly Delicious, and They're Amazing for You Too!

Coffee and Tea are Delicious, But Here are Healthy Reasons Why You Need to Drink More

Coffee and Tea are two of my favorite drinks (add milkshakes and you have my top 3). I usually drink a cup of coffee first thing in the morning to jump-start my day. It wakes me up and helps me stay focused. I also drink coffee or tea right after eating lunch to either give me an energy boost or to help me relax. It really depends on the kind of day i'm having. 

If you are curious on what blend of coffee I drink, I brew the Philippine Barako Blend - a really strong blend that's grown in the Philippines (it belongs to the Liberica family). It's packs a strong punch and tastes quite good. That is, if you want to stay awake throughout the day. 
I do hope popular coffee shops like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Starbucks share Philippine Barako Coffee to the rest of the world soon. You should really try it.

I am also a fan of green tea, more than black or herbal teas. Green tea is said to be more healthy, with less caffeine and is better tasting (in my opinion). My favorite green tea would have to be Genmaicha Green Tea from Japan. Here in the Philippines, I get my green tea from CBTL Philippines since they have a tasty Genmaicha Green Tea blend and their Green Tea Matcha Latte is one of my favorite drinks. You should try them if you like to drink tea.

Try drinking tea after your workouts. I find that it helps sore muscles relax, and it also helps detox the body since we drink a lot of water after a workout. Of course, I also drink tea whenever I'm feeling a bit under the weather to help my immune system. For sweet tooths I suggest you add honey, its a good day way to enhance the health benefits of tea. 

Check out the benefits of both tea and coffee below;
  

Friday, December 5, 2014

What 200 Calories Look Like and Why You Should Care


Obesity is a serious problem. We often eat food that's bad for us, packed with fat and sugar. Even though we eat too much, we still don't get enough of important nutrients that our body needs to function properly. The average person's diet today consist of either canned food or fast food, due to their promise of 'tasty and convenient' food. So we buy this garbage over and over again, even if we know it's no good. But do we really know the extent of damage caused by these bad habits?


Thursday, December 4, 2014

Urban Flavors: Enjoy a Gastronomic Feast at Estancia, Capital Commons


There's a new hub for foodies in town. This December 6, 7, 13 and 14, you can have a mouth-watering gastronomic experience at Estancia, a new mall located at Capital Commons, Pasig City. Tickets will be available at the following establishments at 500 pesos each:
  • Capital Commons Information Center
  • Greenhills Shopping Center Customer Service booth
  • Tiendesitas Customer Service booth

Monday, December 1, 2014

Michal Ansky: The Intimacy of Food on Our Plates



I'm a huge fan of TED talks. I'm one of those that believe a healthy dose of these talks can be good for you because they help you make better decisions in life. I previously shared Jamie Oliver's TED talk on the importance of food education and on better nutrition, and here I am sharing another talk that I hope you will like - this time by Michal Ansky. 


Sunday, November 30, 2014

Three Great Benefits of Induction Cooking That You Need to Know

The Case for Induction Cooking - American Home Induction Stove


A couple of months ago, I used to cook my meals using a gas stove just like everyone else. There's something about cooking with fire that made you feel like a real chef. This summer, however, I had to move to a new (and empty) condominium unit. I was faced with the dilemma - what new toys should I get for my new kitchen? The first thing I need is a stove, but should I stick with the familiar gas stove or should I foray into the unknown with an Induction Stove

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Want to Get 60% off at Vikings Jazz Mall Makati? Here's How!


Vikings, one of my top 3 favorite buffet restaurants in Metro Manila, is about to open their 6th branch in SM Jazz Mall this coming December 2014. As a treat to the very first customers in their new store, they are offering a 60% discount for the 1st 100 walk-in guests who would like to enjoy a scrumptious lunch and dinner feast on the grand opening day!


Remember to like the Vikings Jazz Mall Makati Facebook page and stay tuned for the announced opening date! Here are the promo details:



Thursday, November 27, 2014

Jamie Oliver: The Importance of Food Education for a Healthier World



Shocking fact. Diet related disease is the biggest killer in the US today. Since we have talking about the importance of nutrition and including eating vegetables for a well-balanced diet to avoid some very common nutritional deficiencies, let me take this opportunity to share a very inspiring TED talk regarding the food we eat and the importance of food education. A lot of people meed to see it.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Three Reasons Why Escoffier Cook's Companion is the Perfect Kitchen Partner


There are a couple of really great apps out there that make life in the kitchen a whole lot easier and one of which is the Escoffier Cook's Companion - named as one of the best cooking apps for new and seasoned chefs. This simple app is packed with a number of very useful features ranging from a kitchen converter to a full glossary of kitchen lingo. The best thing about it is that it's FREE. Yes, I love free apps a lot!

Scroll down to find out the top 3 reasons why you should download this app, or you can just watch the video on top to see what it can do.

Find Recipes for the Ingredients in Your Kitchen With Supercook.com



Supercook.com is a really amazing website and I think every home cook should get an idea of how much of a lifesaver it can be. Supercook offers home cooks something valuable - the ability to find recipes that you can cook with just whatever ingredients you have lying around at home. You don't have to go out and buy ingredients because the website already gives you recipe ideas based on what you already have. It's certainly useful if you want to try out a new recipe, but are too lazy to go out. It happens.

The video above shows you the new supercook website, but while testing it out I found it to be a bit buggy. I entered in the ingredients I have in my pantry (using my old supercook account) and it didn't show me any recipes. So, in the meantime, you can just use the old website to get started. It's less pretty, but it's just as useful.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

MyFitnessPal: The Perfect App for a Healthier Lifestyle

MyFitnessPal Review - A great tool to help you to a healthier lifestyle

I have been using myfitnesspal for quite some time now and so far I must say that I love it! It's a really great way to keep track of your daily nutritional requirements, it has the ability to calculate the nutritional information of your recipes, and it integrates well with other health and fitness apps (such as RunKeeper, Pacer, and Apple's Healthkit). The great part about it is that it is FREE. The app has been made available on iOS, Android, and even online through www.myfitnesspal.com so you don't need to own a smartphone to make the most out of it. 

Let's get down to the top 3 reasons on why every home cook should have this great app as part of their arsenal. 

Monday, November 24, 2014

Essential Videos That Will Show You How To Cook The Perfect Eggs


Watching Masterchef for a couple of seasons now makes you realize the importance of being able to cook the perfect eggs. Perfectly cooked eggs can be enjoyed on its own or it can be used to elevate more sophisticated dishes.


Of course, Cooking the perfect eggs should be one of the first skills that every home cook should learn, but unfortunately it's also easily taken for granted. I mean, anyone can cook
eggs right so why bother?


Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Kitchen Cheat Sheet: A Comprehensive Guide Cooks Everywhere Would Love to Have

The Kitchen Cheat Sheet - metric conversion, meat cuts, cooking times, and storage



I have a treat for you today. It's a handy cheat sheet for cooks that I found a while back while surfing the web, made by Everest.co.uk, to help cooks with metric conversions, meat cuts, cooking times, and food storage tips. Quite frankly, being able to know all of this accelerated my personal growth in the kitchen, and I hope it does wonders for you as well. I'm hoping this this will save you a lot of time by not having to google these all the time.

A Healthy Tuna & Broccoli Spaghetti Recipe And Other Yummy Healthy Dishes

A Healthy Tuna & Broccoli Spaghetti Recipe And Other Yummy Healthy Dishes

It's no secret that I love to eat pasta, along with everyone else I know. Pasta has been the staple food of Italy for a very long time, but at this day and age it's now a dish enjoyed all over the world - from a simple aglio e olio to more complex pasta dishes. I'm sure a lot of home cooks out there would love to get their hands on a great pasta recipe so that they can impress their family and friends with a delicious meal. 

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Great Grocery Finds at Cash & Carry Supermarket

Cash & Carry Mall at Makati City
As the 'chefs' of our home kitchens, we would like to cook with only the best quality ingredients. Most of the time, quality also means pricey. The common belief is that we can only cook with premium ingredients if we are willing to pay a hefty price to get them. I'm here to say that it's not always the case, and you can find good quality ingredients at an affordable price if you know where to look.


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Impress With This Delicious Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe

Impress With This Delicious Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe

Christmas parties are not complete without a serving of some delicious Classic Chicken Macaroni Salad as an appetizer or as a side to complement the main course. It's really a staple for work or family gatherings around this time of the year, with December parties just around the corner. Here's a recipe that works great as an appetizer and it also makes for a tasty afternoon snack.

The good thing about it is that chicken macaroni salad is actually quite easy to make. You don't need to know much cooking to master this dish. It's really just combining the ingredients in a bowl and calling it a salad! I personally like the macaroni salad side dish from KFC, and that is my inspiration for this recipe. I think this is a pretty darn close, but you tell me!

Wonderful Treats Await the First 100 Customers of Krispy Kreme Iloilo


Krispy Kreme will finally open their first Iloilo City at SM City Iloilo on November 30, 2014, and the first 100 customers in line on opening day will be receiving wonderful treats from Krispy Kreme! Yes, of course it's free doughnuts! 

Sunday, November 16, 2014

There's a Hole in the Wall at Century City Mall


I recently dropped by Century City Mall and it seems that restaurants in their 'food court' - Hole in the Wall - are currently on their soft opening. When I dropped by, restaurants such as Spruce, Scout's Honor, Green Cheese, and Tiny Duchess were already serving food and beverages. I expect other food stalls to follow suit soon and from the looks of it expect them to serve pretty damn good food!


Hole in the Wall is an interesting, high-end food court which was made to blend very well with the overall concept of Century City Mall - Luxury Living. It has a well-lighted ambiance with beautiful tables and couches, coupled with a wonderful view overlooking Makati City. In fact, it feels like you're in cafe rather than a food court.

Three Simple Steps to Cook Delicious Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

Three Simple Steps to Cook Delicious Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

Aglio E Olio is an Italian classic that anyone can make at home. In fact, it's probably the easiest pasta recipe there is. All you need is spaghetti, garlic, parsley, and some extra virgin olive oil and you are good to go! I find it outrageous that some restaurants sell Aglio E Olio at exorbitant prices even though it doesn't cost much to make at home. So, I'm going to try to fix that with by showing you how to prepare it yourself.

What we will be cooking here is most basic Aglio E Olio recipe - just oil, garlic, parsley, and pasta. Traditional Aglio E Olio isn't served with any cheese or meat, but of course there are countless variations out there. Every Italian household in the world would have their own recipe, just like how every town in the Philippines makes adobo or pancit a little bit differently. I suggest you just experiment with different flavors by adding some shrimp, cheese, and chili flakes along the way to make it even more delicious. 

What are Chicken Oysters and How Do You Find them?


Chicken Oysters, which are also sometimes known as the 'Chef's Reward' when cooking with chicken, are arguably the best part of the chicken because the oyster is soft, tender, moist, and very flavorful. They are small, dark, and oyster-shaped pieces of meat - which explains why the part named after oysters. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

Oh No! Baskin-Robbins Philippines Ran Out Of Ice Cream!

Oh No! Baskin-Robbins Philippines Ran Out Of Ice Cream!

Baskin-Robbins recently opened their first store in the Philippines this July at the Upper Ground Floor, Central Square at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. But it didn't take long before they encountered their first crisis - they ran out of ice cream! They haven't had their full selection of ice cream flavors for a couple of weeks now. 

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Where to Find Specialty Coffee Shops in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Third Wave Coffee in Bonifacio Global City

Around early this year, a new trend began to emerge. Coffee-lovers from all over the Metro started to hang out in small, boutique coffee shops that had excellent ambiance and far more delicious coffee than our usual Starbucks Coffee or The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. These are coffee shops and baristas that were just crazy about taste, flavor, and perfection in every cup. Alas, Third Wave Coffee caught fire and is now one of the hottest trends in Metro Manila today. 

Friday, November 7, 2014

Kitchen Updates: ChefJaysKitchen.com

Hi everyone, 

I just wanted to give everyone a quick kitchen update. So, I am currently in the process of integrating the old website (www.chefjaykitchen.blogspot.com) to a new domain (www.chefjayskitchen.com). I am really optimistic about this move since I hope more people will get to discover the site because of this. I'm crossing my fingers that the transfer will be very smooth, but we can never be too sure. 

If you have any difficulties with any portion of the website, please let me know by either filling up the contact us page or comment on this blog post. 

Thank you and have a pleasant evening. 

Don't miss out! You can follow me on Facebook or subscribe to Chef Jay's Kitchen by email to get updates on new articles. To check out my restaurant reviews, follow me on Zomato.

Cheers, 
Chef Jay

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Future of Food, with Ben Roche & Homaro Cantu



In the 19th Century, Scottish philosopher and writer Thomas Carlyle called Economics 'the dismal science' because of the theory proposed by Thomas Malthus that says population growth would eventually strain natural resources. This means we would not be able to produce enough food for our required food supply. As in turns out, technological improvements over the past century helped us avoid this dreary prediction and supermarkets are now stacked with grocery items from all over the world.


Monday, November 3, 2014

Here are the 2014 Starbucks Holiday Flavors, Featuring the Christmas Cookie Latte

*Photo from Starbucks Philippines Facebook Page
I went to Starbucks earlier today for my daily dose of coffee and I saw that the red holiday Christmas cups are back, which usually marks the official release of their featured holiday beverages and, more importantly, the 2015 Starbucks Planner. Their lineup of holiday beverages this year features the new Christmas Cookie Latte along with old favorites such as the Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha.

Starbucks Philippines normally releases the same core beverages each year, and these are the Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha, but they also release a new flavor that, in my opinion, aren't that delicious (forgetful flavors such as the Praline Mocha and Dark Cherry Mocha). 

I have been drinking these Christmas drinks for quite some time now, since my planner collection started way back in 2010, but I have always ordered only one holiday favorite to complete the sticks for my planner. Will this year break that streak?

New Great Taste White Flavors Are Out, But Are They Any Good?

New Great Taste White Flavors Are Out, But Are They Any Good?

I was in SM Hypermarket yesterday and I can't help but notice two new Great Taste White Flavors that I have not seen before. I did a bit of research, and it seems that Great Taste has been hyping up for a 'great surprise' in their Facebook page for quite some time now. They have not released any official statement regarding the new flavors as of the moment, but my guess is that SM might have released the new flavors earlier than what was planned (they always do).

Friday, October 31, 2014

From Around the Web: Our Favorite Articles for October


Every month, I plan to share with all of you the top 5 articles that I found interesting over the past month. This will also be a personal archive of articles I'll eventually read again in the future, so it helps me keep track of everything. If you missed the one for September, here it is. Now let's cut to the chase then, here are my top articles for the month of October, most of which really focuses on kitchen techniques to achieve mastery.   



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The 2015 Starbucks Planner: Start Collecting Stickers on November 3


Following the release of the 2015 Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Giving Journal last Saturday, Starbucks Stores in the Philippines will start handing out stickers for the 2015 Starbucks Planner and release of their Featured Christmas Beverages on November 3, 2014. It's that time of the year to start collecting planner stamps (and beverage stars for Starbucks Card holders) once more! 

Starbucks Philippines Share-a-Latte Moment




Today's the final day for Starbucks Philippines Buy 1 Take 1 French Vanilla Latte Promo! Just purchase 1 French Vanilla Latte and you can get another one for free. It doesn't have to be the same type, so you can buy 1 hot French Vanilla Latte and get a free French Vanilla Frappucino if you like.



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Here's a Menu Guide for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines

Here's a Menu Guide for Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Philippines
After hundreds of hours spent in this coffee shop while drinking a delicious cup of coffee (and earning thousands of swirl rewards points in the process), I can proudly say that Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has been my favorite coffee shop for the past 4 years. 

Although not as popular as Starbucks Coffee, I think this humble little coffee shop has better coffee, a homier feel, and a better music playlist than it's more popular counterpart. It also has an outstanding gourmet menu and a really delicious selection of tea from around the world. I like their drinks so much that at one point, I was able to get 5 Giving Journals (I gave the other 4 as a Christmas gift) because I was hooked to the delicious beverages and good food. 

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf St. Bistro in Bonifacio Global City also serves quality gourmet dishes not found in other CBTL stores, so it's certainly a store I recommend you try out as well.

So, here I am about to ramble about my favorite items from their menu so that you can make the most out of your Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf experience.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Start Collecting Stamps for The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's 2015 Giving Journal on October 25

Start Collecting Stamps for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's 2015 Giving Journal on October 25

It's finally here! You can start collecting stamps for the 2015 Giving Journal from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines on October 25. I mentioned in my previous post on CBTL's sneak peek video that I usually collect planners from both Starbucks and CBTL every year because I tend to study in both stores a lot. However, between the two I prefer the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf planner because it costs me a lot less money and I really admire CBTL's support of the Real LIFE Foundation.



Thursday, October 23, 2014

Wyeth's Enercal Plus: Is it Any Good for Your Health?

Wyeth's Enercal Plus: Is it Any Good for Your Health?

Understanding proper nutrition is an essential part of crafting a well-balanced diet. Of course, the best diet should consist of some grain, protein, fruits, and vegetables as recommended by Harvard's Healthy Eating Plate. Unfortunately most of us don't have the luxury of time and resources to plan every meal to make sure we get all the nutrients we need, which is why nutritional supplements and multivitamins are so popular. 

I was recently able to get my hands on one nutritional supplement specially formulated for adults - a can of Wyeth's Enercal Plus. Wyeth describes Enercal Plus as the following:
ENERCAL PLUS is an adult nutritional supplement for health inside and out. It contains Nutri-Life Plus, which contains essential nutrients found in a balanced meal. More than just vitamins, it has whey and soy protein, Calcium and Vitamin D for bone and muscle strength, antioxidants for improved immunity and has 0 grams transfat for a healthy heart.
Wyeth's Enercal Plus is,
  • Made of 100% Vegetable Fat Blend
  • Contains Whey and Soy Protein, Calcium and Vitamin D
  • High in Vitamins A, C, & E
  • Contains Choline, Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and B12
So based on everything all the information mentioned above, is Enercal Plus any good for your health? 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Selecta Ice Cream Christmas Flavors


Last month, I wrote a review of Three New Selecta Ice Cream Flavors that was being sold in SM Hypermarket. The new flavors were Choco Almond Fudge, Mais Con Quezo, and Fruit Salad. As a huge ice cream fan, I bought all tree flavors so that I could try them all out. I did grow up enjoying scoops of Selecta Ice Cream. However, it was a bit puzzling as to why the new flavors didn't come with a major promotional campaign similar to what Selecta has done in the past, but it seems that Selecta has recently released a new TV Commercial introducing the three new flavors as their 2014 Christmas Flavors! 

Which of the three flavors should you buy? Well, I would say it would be up to your personal taste. In my opinion though, I did mention in my review that I loved Mais Con Quezo ice cream flavor the most, and I really do recommend you try it. If you want, they also sell a Fruit Salad and Mais Con Quezo dual tub so you can buy that instead if you would like to try both flavors at the same time. 

I hope you enjoy this coming holiday season with tubs of ice cream! Let me know what you think of the three new flavors in the comments below. 

Don't miss out! You can follow me on Facebook or subscribe to Chef Jay's Kitchen by email to get updates on new articles. To check out my restaurant reviews, follow me on Zomato.

Cheers, 
Chef Jay 

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Ice Cream is Loads More Fun with Cold Stone Creamery

Ice Cream is Loads More Fun with Cold Stone Creamery Mall of Asia

I recently had the pleasure to try out freshly made ice cream from the Cold Stone Creamery branch in SM Mall of Asia. Cold Stone Creamery is categorized as "Super Premium" ice cream by industry experts, so I was already expecting the ice cream to be really good. What stood out to me, however, was the outstanding service. Everything they do, from dancing to flying cups, is done to make eating ice cream a truly entertaining ice cream experience.

So, here's what happened during my visit to the Cold Stone Creamery.


Erwan Heussaff's Pesto Pasta Recipe: is it Any Good?

Erwan Heussaff's Pesto Pasta: is it Any Good? - Ingredients

Last week, Erwan Heussaff shared his very own version of a 3-Herb Homemade Pesto Recipe on his personal website, The Fat Kid Inside. I know that a lot of people have been giving him a hard time, making accusations that his food doesn't taste any good. Well, let's put that to the test, shall we?

I'm here to give an honest opinion on what his food actually tastes like. Does it taste any good? Maybe he just has a French palate that doesn't really understand the types of flavors that Filipinos want?

Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 5 Servings
Total Cost: 150 Pesos
Cost per Serving: 30 pesos

Saturday, October 18, 2014

You Should Eat More Brown Rice, Here's Why

You Should Eat More Brown Rice, Here's Why

Rice has always been a staple of the Filipino diet, with over a hundred million Filipinos eating a healthy serving of rice during every meal. Try to imagine eating Kare-Kare, Sisig, Bulalo, and other Filipino favorites minus the rice. Pretty hard to imagine, right?

We Filipinos normally consume white rice rather than it's less processed counterpart, but I'm here to convince you why you should consider eating rice that's more brown than white. 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines: 2015 Giving Journal



I'm so excited! Here's a sneak peak of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf 2015 Giving Journal. Every November, CBTL Philippines begins the stamp-collecting season for the next year's planner, and every year it's always a better planner than the year before. This year, they started a bit early by officially launching the 2015 Giving Journal on October 25. 

I think Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Philippines wanted to start a bit earlier this year so that more people can get their hands on next year's planner and maybe to benefit more scholars. This is because all the proceeds from the planners are donated to the Real LIFE Foundation. The previous 3 campaigns was able to support 21 Real LIFE Scholars, so let's try to get the word out to support more of them.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Philippine Milk Madness: The Best Tasting Supermarket Fresh Milk

Philippine Milk Madness: The Best Tasting Supermarket Fresh Milk

When we shop for our weekly groceries, we have a variety of choices on what we can buy. With so many brands trying to grab our attention, as creatures of habit we normally try to simplify things and go for what we're most familiar with. It's the same thing with the milk that we buy, so I'm hoping to help you with that decision.

Now, I'm an advocate of making sure that everyone gets to drink at least 2 glasses of milk every day. This is so that we get enough calcium and avoid calcium deficiency, which is still very common even in the world we live in today. 

I think it's important to highlight that the fresh milk that we buy at the supermarkets is actually UHT Processed Milk, and not really 'fresh milk'. There's a difference, since UHT processed milk has been processed in very high temperature to extend its shelf-life by 6 to 9 months. There has been quite a bit of negative reactions to UHT milk, particularly because it allegedly doesn't taste as good as raw fresh milk. But here in the Philippines, we don't really have a choice since it's hard or expensive to get our hands on 'fresh milk'.

Let's make do with what we have. In this article, I'll try to decide on the best fresh milk brand in our supermarket shelves today.

Here's How to Grill a Simple, Delicious T-Bone Steak

Here's How to Grill a Simple, Delicious T-Bone Steak

Steak is one of the most simple yet delicious ingredients you can work with in the kitchen. It's filled with natural juices that bring out really great flavor. Quite frankly, you don't have to add anything except a bit of salt and pepper to grill a great-tasting steak.

In the Philippines, steak is pretty expensive when you go out to eat at restaurants. It can easily cost you over a thousand pesos to have a taste of good quality steak from restaurants such as Outback, Myron's, Racks, Chilis, and other high-end establishments. But who says you can't have a good steak meal at home? 

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Ken Afford's Delicious Sisig Ala Domeng Deserves More of Your Attention


Anyone who passes by Ken Afford along the streets of Katipunan Avenue wouldn't think much of the place. It's a small restaurant, tucked away in a not-so-obvious corner near more popular establishments such as Bo's Coffee and Xocolat. The place itself does help to make the restaurant stand out. What keeps me coming back to Ken Afford is their delicious home-cooked food, particularly the Sisig Ala Domeng which is one of the best - if not the best sisig dishes - I have tried in Metro Manila. Yes, their sisig tastes better than that of Gerry's Grill, Sisig Hooray, Wooden Spoon, and Gilligans. 

Their bestsellers are the Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, and Sisig Ala Domeng. I don't eat the other dishes much, so this post will really just focus on their delicious sisig.

Friday, October 10, 2014

4 Important Tips to Save Money on Groceries

top 4 Important Tips to Save Money on Groceries

I was reading articles from the imoney.ph Learning Centre earlier today and a particular article that caught my eye. It was a piece on '7 Ways To Outsmart Your Supermarket'. I thought it was a pretty good article as it shows us tips on how we can stop the temptation of overspending when in the supermarket. The article has great suggestions, such as (1) stick to your grocery list, (2) never shop when hungry, and (3) more importantly look into substituting items for generic brands

I would like to build on this article. I think they failed to mention a couple of important tips on how to save money on groceries that I also find quite useful. Here are 4 important tips to save money on groceries.