I am thrilled to have rediscovered chef Florabel Co Yatco’s food. I’ve actually forgotten how tasty and easy to eat her offerings are.
During a meeting at Florabel’s Estancia, I was overwhelmed by the choices.
I ordered burrata, crispy lechon kawali, sautéed baby squid with house-made chorizo and goose liver paté.
As soon as the food was served, our noisy table turned quiet and all we could say was, “sarap.”
How Florabel manages to keep her dishes straightforward and interesting is impressive.
What I fondly remember about that Friday afternoon was the way we deliberately ignored analyzing the food. We just partook of it, with sheer delight with every bite.
The thought of the crispy liempo and the baby squid alone makes my mouth water. I can’t wait to go back and order both once more, this time with rice!
Blended drinks
Frappés and smoothies were a hit during my son Diego’s 15th birthday party.
Thanks to Torani and Café Essential Powders, you can now recreate café-style blended beverages at home.
I was watching how the drinks were being prepared. Nothing could be simpler. Just add a few scoops of Café Essential Powder, some full cream milk plus your syrup or purée of choice. Blend, top with whipped cream and there your have it.
I have worked with Equilibrium for years and have remained a fan of their entire line that includes different types of coffee, Torani syrups and purées, Dilmah teas and frappe powders. They have every conceivable ingredient a barista might need.
They now accept orders online (www.equilibrium.com. ph) and deliver their products to your doorstep.
Here are some recipes from the party you can try at home. All you need is a blender and you’re ready to go.
Mocha Milano
60 g Café Essentials Kona Mocha
½ oz Torani Choco Milano Syrup
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Mocha Hazelnut
60 g Café Essentials Kona Mocha
½ oz Torani Hazelnut Syrup
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Mocha Salted Caramel
60 g Café Essentials Kona Mocha
½ oz Torani Salted Caramel Syrup
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Belgian Chocolate
60 g Café Essentials Belgian Style Dark Cocoa
½ oz Torani Dark Chocolate Sauce
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Belgian Raspberry
60 g Café Essentials Belgian Style Dark Cocoa
½ oz Torani Raspberry Syrup
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Belgian Banana
60 g Café Essentials Belgian Style Dark Cocoa
½ oz Torani Banana Puree
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Cookies and Cream
70 g Café Essentials Cookies and Cream
½ oz Torani Caramel
3 oz Milk
12 oz ice cubes
Matcha Green Tea
70 g Café Essentials Matcha Green Tea
3 oz Milk
12 oz ice cubes
Strawberry Smoothie
30 g Mocafe White Chocolate
1 oz Torani Strawberry Puree
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Banana
30 g Mocafe White Chocolate
1 oz Torani Banana Puree
3 oz milk
12 oz ice cubes
Process in a blender. Top with whipped cream and garnish as you wish.