GOOD FOOD, GOOD LIFE: Kitchen adventures, Fil-Mex, and Cheesy Baked Bangus

Food is not just about nourishment. It serves several functions. We find comfort in it. We use food to mark special occasions. 

Cooking is more than a means to an end. It’s also a hobby, and it can always be a way to express affection. Allow me a bit of a callback, but our  July cover star Ann Colis did say: “Honestly, I feel cooking is an act of service, and that’s my love language. Cooking isn’t just the responsibility of feeding people. It also has to be how you want to share something with people.” 

Food and beverage can change our whole disposition towards the day. Who here feels like a complete human being only after their first cup of coffee in the morning?

For those who need an alternative to the black brew and to look after their sugar levels, there’s Diabetasol. These lifestyle nutrition powders have a low glycemic index, are high in calcium, and contain fiber and 11 vitamins and minerals. The cappuccino flavor is for those who need a pick-me-up while keeping their sugar in check. You can also get their Sweetener that has zero calories and can be added to different drinks, so you can still get that sweet taste without going against your doctor’s advice. 

On the other hand, if you’re like me, who isn’t much of a coffee lover, I’ve learned to love salabat. I’ve realized that it’s not just for days when you’re sick or when your throat is itchy or irritated. Salabat is a good drink for digestion and can be taken in the morning or after a meal. Sanlo Premium Instant Salabat got me excited about ginger brew with its variants: Original, Honey, Turmeric, and Oregano. They also added a Malunggay variant this September, perfect for these rainy days.  

Sanlo’s blends are also great palate cleansers. Try serving it with dessert, and you’ll see that that bitter-spicy flavor is a good contrast to the sweetness.

I also like my salabat iced, especially when it’s the Honey variant. 

In the Kitchen

Creativity in the kitchen started with sushi bake, dalgona coffee, sourdough, ube-cheese pandesal. But novelty treats and K-inspired specialties can only take you so far. We’ve found ourselves in a rut a few times too often with the extended time at home. I also experienced menu fatigue when I switch it up with delivery options. 

It’s situations like this that call for something like KooKit Manila. It is the first customizable food kit delivery service in The Philippines. 

With KooKit Manila, you can order three to five kits per week, with your preferred serving size (either for two persons or for four persons), and select the delivery date that suits you best from Saturday to Monday. Every week, KooKit has a range of different dishes to choose from. I discovered some recipes that I never tried before but are now part of our kitchen line-up: Pork & Sage Meatballs, Chicken Milanese, and Cheeseburger Casserole. 

If you’re a cooking noob, KooKit Manila makes everything easy with ingredients measured out perfectly and an easy-to-follow instruction guide. 

For those who want to further their kitchen skills, you can take up some classes at The Bailiwick Academy. The e-learning platform provides classes for baking, cake decorating, and other culinary lessons. 

Impressive about The Bailiwick Academy is their line-up of successful chefs sharing their know-how: M​​iko Aspiras, John Cu-unjieng, Joey Prats, RV Manabat, and James Magos. On top of that is their shop section, so you don’t have to worry about where to source the ingredients and baking equipment you need. All that’s left for you to do is press play. 

Comfort food

I’m a sucker for good Fil-Mex comfort food any time of the day. That’s why I’m hesitant to share with you my latest find. But since I do believe good food must be shared, I’m telling you all about Tio Rico. 

The simple, no-fuss menu should not be underestimated. Each item is a hearty serving and a delicious meal. I highly recommend the Pork Belly BBQ Rice Bowl that features thick pork belly cuts drenched in barbecue sauce, complemented with tangy garlic sour cream. 

The Steak Rice Bowl is also something you should get when you’ve got a big appetite. The Meaty Cheese Rolls come in threes but are not meant for sharing because they’re the type of good thing you want to be selfish about. 

If you’re looking for some seriously delicious fish, there’s Mr. Dagupeño. They’ll give you large servings of whole boneless Dagupan Bangus. Delivered freshly grilled, it’s good for any home celebration.

You can get the classic Inihaw filled with tomato, onion, and lemongrass. But a curious one is their Cheesy Baked Bangus. The unlikely combination might be your new favorite when you try it. Make sure to cook a lot of rice before your order arrives. 

Mr. Dagupeño also offers Inihaw na Pusit, Inihaw na Liempo, and Vigan Longganisa. 

Photo via @tioricoph