In search for a Valentine’s Day venue to date Pangs.

Even if I and “Pangs” (slang of Panga-Palanga, a Visayan term
meaning “dear”, “my love” or a “loved one”) always make it a point
to take dinner out, being just 2 at home, in lieu of dwelling-cooked sharing,
last night-we decided to scout for a place where to spend the day of hearts.
One time, chanced upon this new site that looks “cool” in my opinion
and so we headed to it post office work.
Having a bit romantic dimly lit dinner in a mid to top class chophouse
on the 14th was out of the question as the nite, itself,
will be gigantically hovered by traffic jams everywhere.
And many will definitely be on the “waiting list” by the door of the resto.
This place we chose is new and not known to many as of yet-that we thought it to be just right…
in addition to its close proximity to office.
The place:

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…a diner present in more than 20 countries specializing on different types of chicken offerings.
Not dim ambiance but well lighted-very bright-surrounding (check the brightness of the inside signage on top)
Got in with about 3-4 tables (out of 20+) occupied (not counting the capacity of the 2nd floor)
It was quiet at first

Thank you for the menu:

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I love chicken, plainly marinated-cooked-garnished chicken, and I ordered:

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…plain oak wood smoked 2 chicken pieces.
I LOVE IT.
I will surmise that it was just plainly cured by sodium nitrite, salt and very little sugar via marinade.
GRILLED. NO EXTRA FLAVOR. SIMPLE but heaven for me.
Did not touch the rice and consumed total of 3 cold pale pilsen with it.
Further, ordered 4 pieces take-out.
WHILE FINISHING MY 3rd BOTTLE, THE NOISE STARTED TO TRIPLICATE...
and everyone who came in seemed to know all, each one and everybody.
Pangs ordered:

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Not much of a bestseller for me.
Un-marinated chicken cuts, dusted with flour then deep fried.
Generously poured fried pieces with heated water-soy sauce-salt-honey (maybe)
BBQ sauce mixture plus lots of crushed fresh garlic & thickener.
We both ate a piece and took-out the remaining 2.
I kept on hearing lots of different voices in all tables
as if each one talking was “trying to sell” something to the other 1 or 2.
Until the whole area turned out to be like a “cock fighting arena”.
Voices tingled in my ear. I asked for the bill. I can’t take the noise any longer.

I learned the people inside, almost all, were from “a pyramiding-style items-selling outfit”
and each one was convincing the other 1 or 2 or 3 to be one with them.
HUWAH. So noisy.
OUR DECISION…NO. WE WON’T BE THERE THIS 14th.
Will just stay home and share dinner.
BUT, and again BUT…WILL BE BACK FOR THE WOOD SMOKED BBQ CHICKEN.
…either cover my ears with my competition-proven electronic ear muffs then sip my 2 cold bottles
or take out na lang.

A convergence with revolting flavors fighting for time. 

Got up a bit late today. Had to hurry for early morning meeting with clients.
Marilyn prepared a “united nations” of breakfast for me prior to take off.
Processed from Canadian pork belly fried bacon strips got burned along sides.
Dried baby squid were oven toastered for few seconds to enjoy super crunchy appeal…overdone.
Sunny side up egg yolks got broken that they appeared semi scrambled.
Abundant citric acid-laden Chinese canned orange juice seemed like taking vinegar.
Never mind my high blood glucose condition, added 3 teaspoons of cane sugar to neutralize.
…and the rice…and the rice. WAIT!
Not yet done.
Oh well. At least, we’re together.

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Ika-Dobo. A recipe blending 2 cultures: Pinoy & Japanese.

A blend of 2 cultures: well rounded harmony of Filipino recipe (Adobong Pusit)
infused with Japanese ingredients.

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IKA-DOBO
Ingredients:
1 kilo cleaned squid
15 ml. cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, pounded, crushed
1 small sliced onion
3 grams black pepper powder
2-3 pcs. green banana pepper
2-3 pcs. red chili pepper
15 ml. Kikkoman soy sauce
5 grams wasabi paste
2 grams salt
60 ml. water
Procedures:
In heated oil sauté onion until translucent then garlic until brown.
Add in squid carefully tossing to prevent head separating from body
Pour in wasabi paste, soy sauce and scatter on top salt and black pepper.
Tumble enough to let flavors be absorbed by squid.
Add water. Bring to boil until desired squid done-ness is reached.
Turn off heat.
Add in banana and red chili peppers.
Cover for 5 minutes.
Serve.

A simple dessert even my 8-year old grandson can process…blindfoldedly…fruit salad.

After more than 3 weeks of preparing & consuming beef, pork, chicken…chicken, pork, beef
past yuletide including thereat post season hangover, this morning, I felt an urge
a very strong clamor for a simple sweet.
Instantaneously, Marilyn & I raided the canned goods cabinet and WOWOWIE
found mid-size tin of fruit cocktail, a small can of condensed milk
and an all purpose cream tetra-pack.
Not contented, nah not enough, as fruit cocktail was just full of sliced pineapple,
“Nata de Coco”, few slices of grapes and ripe “papaya”.
Onslaught towards ref we proceeded. Gotcha…
an apple, 3 bunches of grapes & 1/4 Christmas leftover “Marca Pina Edam Cheese”
Here we go.
De-skinning apple & grapes, slicing and mixing & grating made me drool further.
And:

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Sans further cooling or freezing, 2 cups thereof I consumed.
But the batch came too generous for just 2 of us at home.
So, portion packed into per serve cups and stowed at freezer for future cravings.

BAGWANG captured the hearts & appetite of 650+ participants @ NESTLE’s National Sales Kick Off 2014 (Blue Leaf Filipinas). Proud to have served you Nestle.

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While 5 full-force staff are ultra busy deep frying Bagwang at the back kitchen,
front-liners in that little corner at top-right are getting ready for the 6:00pm (Jan. 08/14)
influx of hungry participants.
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…and a brief snap for posterity…cleared our minds…focused…wide smile all the way through
ready, really ready for these:

 

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part of the crowd who enjoyed our “creation”
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and this
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and the star.

Thank you guys.