Qwek Qwek

(Chicago) – I still remember my Lola (“grandmother”) gathering the stale pan de sal from the previous days’ breakfast. She brought out the llaneras (oval metal baking pans) to be used as mold for her impromptu bread pudding. I never actually saw how she made it, not even the ingredients she used. I was too [...]

(Chicago) – Calumet Fisheries is a veritable institution in Chicago; standing proud for more than 6 decades in the business is an unobjectionable proof. It has all the accolades of James Beard and badges of approval of culinary superstar’s like Anthony Bourdain. It is also immortalized in a classic film, Blues Brothers. I have read [...]

(New York) -  Do I need to explain more why I can not fail to visit Max Brenner in Union Square during my recent trip to New York? It’s all because of this slice of heaven: Chocolate Marshmallow Pizza. It started with plain pizza dough, covered with generous chunks of Max’s chocolate and seamlessly topped [...]

(New York) – Who would have thought that rice pudding can be such a hot culinary phenomenon in New York dining scene? Yes, Rice to Riches which serves more than a score of different kinds of rice puddings is super hot in Soho.  Many people, both local and tourists alike, flock to this rice nirvana [...]

(Indianapolis) – I went to Indianapolis with my friends once again for a volleyball tournament.  While they were busy with their game, I was preoccupied looking for food – great tasting food that is unique to this place. So I googled and made some phone calls to friends residing in Indiana. What came up on top [...]

(Atlanta) -  The dining scene in Atlanta is getting hotter and bolder by the minute because of newer, trendy and ingenious restaurants popping up all over the city. And they are getting noticed nationwide through Food Network and Travel Channel.  One of these blazing talk-of-the-town Atlanta restaurants is Two Urban Licks. I did my research [...]

(Chicago) – We went to Jam for Sunday brunch to celebrate my good friend, Sally’s birthday. We usually do dinner out to a nice restaurant for birthdays but every one’s ridiculously busy during summertime and brunch was the only viable time to be together. To be fair to Sally who is always present in every [...]

(Chicago) – This is a simple, hearty chicken stew and perfect with hot white rice. Ingredients: 2 tablespoon olive oil 12 chicken thighs 1 large onion, chopped 1 cup dry white wine ¼ cup fresh marjoram or 2 tablespoons dried marjoram 2 medium boiling potatoes cut in chunks 2 large carrots cut in chunks 2 [...]

(San Diego) -  My last meal in San Diego ended deliciously.  My flight was later in the afternoon and I wanted to have a memorable lunch somehow. So my friend and I walked 7 blocks to downtown area to look for some good lunch places.  We forgot what day it was and the nicest of [...]

(Atlanta) – I am not a fan of chain restaurants. They are abundant and ubiquitous. But only a few of them are consistent to the high quality of food wherever city you are. Right after the Sunday project work in Atlanta, we ran out of restaurants to go to for lunch. Not that there is [...]

(San Diego) -  This is the resident restaurant of Andaz hotel where I stayed during my recent visit to San Diego.  With a 50% discount, courtesy of my friend who works at Hyatt, and the proximity to my room, it makes sense to spend at least one meal at this restaurant.  Actually, the ambiance of [...]

(Chicago) – It’s Sunday. My usual routine is to  look at my secret black book of restaurants upon waking up, select a brunch place from the list, get ready and head out. For a change, I’d stay-in and make my own special herbed omelet. I have some fresh mushroom from a farmer’s market which goes [...]

(Singapore) – Vergel is not an expert in baking, but since I always crave for desserts since I got pregnant, he tried to learn how to make simple breads and pies. Thanks to Youtube for being such a great help when it comes to quick and easy ways of baking! Now, I can eat desserts [...]

(Singapore) – At 9pm, Carrefour grocery at Plaza Singapura sells the salmon head and its other bony parts at only 10SGD per pack. As I’m a big fan of salmon and with its high DHA content which is good for my baby, who is already at her 9th month in my tummy, we make it [...]

(Chicago) – Frankly speaking, I have never heard of Caliterra before.  I just went to this place in order to use a restaurant.com gift certificate. I brought with me 2 of my friends for lunch and we’re surprised to  find out that they have $10 lunch special that includes drink. We got 4 lunch plates. [...]