Reasons to Make Your Kids Join Kids Kitchen Camp

Part of my daily morning ritual is to listen RX 93.1's Top Ten Segment with Chico and Delamar. They keep me company while I'm driving myself to work. Inspired by their wacky and sometimes utterly true entries, I made my own top ten in relation to San Miguel Pure Foods' Kids Kitchen Camp. Here's something to consider for yourself and your kids in order to keep them busy and learn a new skill this summer.

The Top 10 Crazy but True Reasons to Make Your Kids join San Miguel Pure Foods' Kids Kitchen Camp Workshop:

1) Your kids are feeling bored and they have absolutely nothing to do.

2) Your kids are just too alert and highly energized that they just need to be busy.

3) Your kid want to be the next Mario Batali or the next Nigella Lawson.

4) You just want to get them out of your hair and an afternoon (better yet, 3 afternoons?!!!) of their absence is enough to make you keep your sanity.

5) You are living in the areas mentioned in the line-up (mind you, the workshop's going nationwide for the first time) and will not forgive yourself if you let this chance pass.

6) You serve your family's meals day in, day out and you just need to train those in the next generation.

7) Your kids have gone through acting, dancing, swimming, taekwondo, aikido, basketball, kumon and singing lessons, that there is absolutely nothing else they haven't taken except cooking camp.

8) You want to get a copy of their cookbook, it's sooo cool!

9) You kid joined last year and would love to join again, meet new and old friends and see the new TJ mascot!

And the top reason to make your kids enroll in San Miguel Pure Foods' Kids Kitchen Camp is...

10) Your kids just wanna learn how to cook because they are really interested, period.

Have a beautiful summer!

Thai Heaven

It was the proverbial dinner date place for hubby and I whenever we would be in Glorietta, Makati. Obviously, It wasn't about the ambiance - with its small, cramped, brown interior- no, no, no - it was everything about the food.

Thai food junkies that we are, Dusit Thani, I assume is popular. It is forever packed. I have never gone there without ever hoping that the couple by the corner would just finally sip their Tom Yum quick, so we could have their post and soon enough, enjoy our favorite soup.

A recent visit at Dusit Thani brought me back to heaven. We ordered my ultimate favorite, Paad Thai, the Thai's version of sweet and sour flat rice noodles. When here, you have a choice of topping it with chicken or prawns. We asked for the former. The noodles were perfectly seasoned and you are given a set of other toppings from chilis to ground peanuts to further enhance the product. And no, there is no food styling involved here. Expect your food to come in the simplest way - as if the chef just poured it straight from the wok and that's it. No garnishes whatsoever.

I almost always assume that if a Thai place is really good with the way they make their curries, then all the rest follows. Given that you can never scrimp on ingredients when you make curry - (I swear, you will really know, and taste!), I decided to give their Seafood Green Curry a try. Chunks and strips of squid, shrimps and squid balls with bits and pieces of Thai basil and chilis swim in a pool of curry sauce. The sauce, though runny by my standards, is actually flavorful. More rice please.

Fishcakes were also part of the menu and this one tops the list. It is our first time to try this and were not disappointed. Four patties arrived and were served with a sweet, spicy tomato-garlic sauce with chopped cilantro. The patties had the texture similar to squid balls. The patties had the flavor of fish, wansoy and leeks combined and it absolutely worked.

Our meal ended with a nice, creamy glass of my favorite drink, rich and fragrant Thai Iced tea. No need for dessert after this one.

Kulinarya Antipolo

I've always known Antipolo to be the pilgrimage capital of the Philippines, or the place where one would bring his new vehicle for priests to bless. As a child, my family would visit the place once a year to pay homage to the Shrine of Good Voyage and attend the 7AM Mass. Afterwards, we would go around the food booths selling various suman, "kalamay" (sticky brown flat rice cakes) and roasted cashew nuts to bring home as pasalubongs.

Admittedly, I didn't expect much from this Kulinarya Antipolo tour. I pretty much depended on the recommendations of our food and travel guide Anton Diaz for the sites to visit. While this tour had more stops compared to our previous tours, it was a wonderfully balanced tour of food and art appreciation.

Rizal Dairy Farms

First stop was Rizal Dairy Farms of Jackie Hassig Alleje. Her organic farming methods and artisan style of production sets her milk, yoghurt and cheese products apart from the rest. Her products are mainly for the food service market though due to public demand, she has decided to offer her regular products in a few retail establishments such as Salcedo Market in Makati and Market, Market! at Fort Bonifacio.

Vieux Chalet

Next stop was Vieux Chalet which is found at Taktak Road, Antipolo City and is a small quaint place that is perfect for quiet dinners.


The place is right beside a bed and breakfast complete with Spa services which you may avail of. Chef Florence, a rather young chef and charming at that, served us her Swiss specialties, among them, my favorite which is the Osso Buco and their Homestyle Smoked Ham.

Casa Santa

After a rich and bountiful brunch, next stop was Casa Santa. Here, almost 3000 pieces of various Santa inspired items are on display. The house was converted to a sort of Santa Museum and is open to the public for a minimal entrance fee. Take all the pictures that you want while there.

Crescent Moon Cafe
Grab all the ceramics plates, pots and vases) you want at the Crescent Moon Cafe where you will also find Lanelle Abueva's Pottery. They sell ceramic creations by the kilo. I was able to get a couple of teapots for the price of one!

Benji Reyes' Home

For wood furniture aficionados, Benji Reyes' home is a showcase of sorts. His house is a fantastic representation of the Filipino artists' version of the finest wood furnitures and functional Pinoy architecture.

Dumalaon Bakery

Antipolo is also known for the Dumalaon Bakery. This is your not-so-typical neighborhood bakery as it sells sweet dough breads shaped into crabs, turtles, alligators and the famous Lechon. At Php10 per, one would think twice about eating the bread since it is just too pretty to be consumed.

Laya Private Dining


The final leg of our trip was a 5-course dinner at the Laya Private dining place run by young couple Irene and Ricky. This place boasts of a fantastic view of city lights and the cuisine is a mix of modern Pinoy and Asian fusion.

Find the time to visit Antipolo sometime. There is truly more that this place has to offer.