Ikomai Japanese Restaurant is popular for out-of-the-box menu curated by Japanese chef Hideki Saeki and executive chef James Antolin.

Saeki’s dishes are reflective of Nagoya where Saeki hails from. He highlights ingredients Nagoya is known for, like the use of miso. He also takes pride in his execution of tebasaki (Nagoya fried chicken wings), one of Ikomai’s bestsellers.

He and Antolin explore and blend cooking styles, combining the best of Nagoya with the flavors of Tokyo or Osaka, to create unique dishes.

The menu, says Antolin, is progressive, never boring.

The restaurant has a new line of do-it-yourself (DIY) cooking kits. The little brown boxes come with clear, precise instructions to ensure that the specialties, once enjoyed only at Ikomai, can now be had at home.

There are the bestsellers: Buta Kakuni, Karaage Skewers, Tebasaki Wings, Kushikatsu Moriawase and a Cake Bar Set.

When I got my Kushikatsu Moriawase Kit, I was amused. Inside the brown box were little elements: chicken, pork, shrimp, onion and okra, breading mix, batter, Mentsuyu with ginger, bonito flakes, miso glaze, lemon, spring onions. Each one is neatly sealed, like little parts of a Lego toy kit, ready to be assembled—in this case, ready to cook.Ikomai has a Father’s Day DIY gift box that contains two pieces of karaage, three kinds of sauces (spicy, Japanese mayonnaise, miso glaze), white wine, red wine and a box of assorted pralines.

Tel. 0917-6243145

 

Milk and yogurt

My dear friend Irma Rivera sent bottles of milk and yogurt, and they were delicious.

I first sampled the yogurt and it was good. The milk, however, was another story—sweetish, creamy, rich and tasted “straight off the cow.”

Bukidnon Milk Co. believes that happy cows make the best milk. Its grass-fed cows from New Zealand have been meticulously picked for the hillsides of Bukidnon, where they are nurtured in stress-free environment. The cows are left to graze the breezy pastures, bask in the sun and, for their safety, are kept comfortable in barns equipped with misting fans.

The milk is crafted with pure and simple ingredients. It is minimally processed and contains no GMO, no growth hormones, no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. It is lightly pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria while preserving the milk’s natural, creamy flavor and essential nutrients.This is truly world class and proudly Philippine made.

Bukidnon Milk Co. delivers.

Tel. 0917-8190496; follow Bukidnon Milk Company on Facebook, @bukidnonmilkco on Instagram

 

Cold-brew coffee maker

The Toddy is a nonelectric, cold-brew coffee maker that produces coffee concentrate without acidity.

Cold-brewed coffee is smooth, rich and full of flavor. This is why the concentrate makes the perfect base, whether for your first morning cup, or your fancy, blended, hot or cold coffee drinks.To use the concentrate, simply dilute with ice or hot water. For blended drinks, add milk, ice, chocolate, liqueur, flavoring, cream—the choice is yours.

The concentrate lasts a week or even longer in the refrigerator.

If you wish to savor the real taste of your preferred coffee blend, try using the Toddy and be amazed by how stark and distinct each element is, side by side, when brewed this way.

Limited stocks available.

Tel. 0956-2644712, 88623041 -43

 

Drip filter coffee machine

The Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine is meant for those who love fancy yet functional appliances.

In my kitchen, the machine gives a pop of color and an aroma that fills my space when brewing coffee.

Wake up to a freshly brewed cup by setting a the digital clock timer. The glass jug holds up to 10 cups and has a “Keep Warm” function for optimal coffee temperature up to 20 minutes.

The machine is on sale until June 30.

Tel. 88777634; follow SMEG Philippines on Facebook,

@smegphilippines Instagram

Flourless cookies

To pair with coffee, serve chef Buddy Trinidad’s Double Chocolate Flourless Fudge Cookies with Candied Orange Peel laced with Don Papa Rum for Father’s Day. Ain’t that a treat!

Tel. 0918-9451965

Visit www.reggieaspiras.com; follow @iamreggieaspiras on Instagram