Aiai Delas Alas Endorses HOBE Quick Cook Noodles

Last week had me noticing how Ms. Aiai Delas Alas has been very visible endorsing brands and products left and right. She was doing that while promoting a movie called Bes and the Beshies under Regal Films and Cineko Productions. I felt the sense of thankfulness and dedication as she attributes all these projects to God because she's sharing a lot through her charities and also help building a Basilica (not just a church!) in Manila. She feels it's her life mission, and true enough she's so blessed.

We asked her about renewing her endorsement with HOBE Quick Cook Noodles and she says "I am so happy and he's very good to me (Bobby Co, owner of Hobe Bihon). He is very supportive and as long as he needs me I will be here for Hobe. We started with buses, pretty soon we will do market tours. We have been together for three years and I consider this as a blessing from God, I love how this happens because I have some set aside for my charities. I cook pasta, bulalo, tacos, but quick cook noodles are so easy to prepare and if you're busy and in a hurry, this would be a good thing to have in your homes."

Mr. Co on the other hand shared the good news and said "We have new plans with Aiai as we go out on the streets, trade fairs, US and Asian countries. We are going to have a lot of projects with her now that she's on her third year. We have grown up to 50% sales when she came in the picture. We are very thankful for that. Our product is made of cornstarch, we have better products because we don't use flour. Max's, Aristocrat, Dencios, Chicken Deli is using our products. Right now we are exporting our products in the US, Europe and we are probably going to have her there too. In Chinese it means good taste, we are so proud to have introduced this in the north because it sells quite better in Isabela and northern provinces. We will be studying if we can have a spicy version, or one with Malunggay leaves to fortify it with nutrition and we are raring to do that perhaps soon."

Now I took the liberty of cooking with the HOBE Quick Cook Bihon this evening for dinner and I think I know why people love this one. It's not that starchy type that we're used to eating when cooking Bihon per se, it made so much sense because it's not mushy, it's firm, you can feel it in every fork swirl. I think that's why it's been selling quite good as Mr. Co said earlier, and they are very happy with Ms. Aiai being seen in every pack they sell. They see her as a caring Mom, she really cooks and even promised to cook for us soon. Congratulations Ms. Aiai! Congratulations on your endorsement and thanks for the instant noodles you gave us this morning, I'm putting it into good use.

I'm cooking and eating it today!

Easy Parties with Red Door Kitchen

My life is crazy. Even if people think this is fun, it's packed with events left and right and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone. I must say, I appreciate TIME so much that I really spend it wisely on weekends to catch up on sleep, or do a fine job of reconnecting with friends and family. Now since I sleep late and wake up late, I don't have (sometimes) the luxury to actually cook for about 6-8 people. It's a scary task and I don't have the hands to wash the dishes, but if I do I would. Last Saturday, I woke up around lunch time (okay my Mom woke me up) because I forgot I scheduled a feast for the weekend. My Mom was already cooking Spaghetti and I forgot to tell her to relax because everything is taken cared of. Just look at this spread, this is from RED DOOR KITCHEN.

I always pass by this area when going to Manila or nearby Banawe for events or restaurant hopping (as they are located between D. Tuason and Cordillera streets). They have their establishment in one of the shacks there identified with an actual Red Door (so you can't miss it!). They specialize pickup or delivery of great party food which you can even schedule ahead of time. That to me is convenient especially if you're not the type who cooks or have the time for it. I'm a schedule freak so if you can arrange for it before it happens, that's a life saver.

Aside from that, they can accommodate orders even if you need it within the day. Ask them and it should be easy. Like if you have relatives from Canada (oh yes it happened to me just now!) and they need to take something from home, I'll let you in on some great pasalubong items which you can order from them too!

This is UBE ENSAYMADA. Imagine swirls of soft baked bread intertwined with semi sweet ube and loads of salty grated cheese and glistening sugar on top. It was good baby, it was so good it was gone once I opened the box it came with.

My favorite on the other hand is the CHEESE ROLL. I like how this one mixes the love that the ensaymada has but got a thick stick of cheese in the middle. Perfect for cheese lovers like me.

Oh my, I wonder what's inside these wonderfully packaged round things. Now the way this works is that you have to BUILD YOUR OWN COMBO. You have to CHOOSE YOUR NOODLE, then CHOOSE YOUR MEAT and ENJOY.

This is the CHINITOYO. This one is their own recipe. I like how it's packaged well and has got a life of it's own. What I mean about that is the combination of flavors. It's a little sweet, boldly savory and a little spicy too. It's their best one, their best seller. Building the combo, I chose the CHICKEN CHOPS as meat for this dish. I like it a lot because of how they did the breading, I mistook it for that Taiwanese Porkchop I so love from Chinese restaurants, so this one is a healthy option. They even packed the vinegar neatly, so I could put it in a smaller dish and enjoy lunch with my family. I would strongly suggest you order the same, the generous servings and tasty accompaniments are just awesome.

Oh don't get me started about the PALABOK. Their version is with thick rice noodles, really thick eggy sauce, scrumptious shrimp and is super good. They have the pork cracklings on a separate packet so it doesn't get mushy when it arrives. They also provide calamansi for those who would like some. The meat paired with this is the LIEMPO BARBECUE. It's meaty, but hell of a lot soft because it's cooked perfectly. I don't know how they marinated this thing but man, it kinda threw me off as it felt like barbecue from Aristocrat. I definitely dig this the most, so if you're a meat lover... don't trip on your way out because this is so precious. Nothing was left for my Dad LOL. 

 Now this was a surprise. We had company who didn't like the SPAGHETTI of the other take out place (you might know what that is), but this one didn't just pass with flying colors.. she was raving about it. True enough, when it was my turn to get some on my plate, this was wonderful. I felt like a kid again. Now you know those things that could kick some of your childhood memories? This was it. It's sweet, a definite challenger to the more popular Filipino spaghetti without tiring you at all. It's something you would come back for more. Oh and if you're not doing anything, please try the LUMPIANG SHANGHAI. It's meaty, not too hot, has that crunchy exterior you love.

If you're a little more adventurous, please do help yourself with the KUNG FU SHRIMP. It's a very good version of Kung Pao Pasta, hotter than usual so it's right for me. I love extremely hot stuff but even though it was just enough, it was lovely! I also like the mushrooms and peanuts, it was a play of textures. I was a little full already during this time but the spice was just so inviting, I had seconds of this. You can also order the pasta and noodles individually, but I strongly suggest you get the combo instead. It's the better option and could save you a few bucks.

For those who would still need a little more carbs, take a LOAF BREAD with your combos. You don't have to go out and buy it from the local bread shop or bakery. They already have some available upon order so don't hesitate to add this on your list.

Now what's a celebration without a cake. Good thing my family loves UBE CAKE, but if you're the type who couldn't make up their mind... they've got one they call CANT DECIDE CAKE wherein they put around 4 flavors in one putting. I super duper love this ube cake though because it's fluffy outside, and the cake wasn't really too sweet which was perfect for the diabetic people in my house. It felt like eating a jar of that lovely ube jam you used to take home from Baguio, and it's really good. I would get one for my Dad's birthday on Sunday. He deserves a treat!

I took photos of the brochure so you get an idea. You can always look it up or ask them while you order. They are also on Facebook

For those who are already tired about the same old food you order for birthdays and special occasions, RED DOOR presents itself not just as a super great alternative, but an equal or even greater promise to be present in your special days. It's affordable, it's so good and if you're going to ask me, it's even better than the usual. I would personally feed this to my friends and family, and it's complete with protein on the combos so you don't have to think about stuff to add because they've got a menu that's really well though of. Add to that the lovely cakes and baked goodies which you can take for a ride, hey it's a home run! 

They also have the CHOCOLIQUOR CAKES BY MARICAR REYES POON which is so popular nowadays, you don't have to look further. Call the RED DOOR KITCHEN office hours at 442-9888 or their mobile number 0999 477 7333. I am already hungry from editing this article, but I'll have to hold it. You go ahead and call them, your family will enjoy something new, something real good for a FUN PARTY!

Hope someone orders a cake for me!

ANNAM Noodle Bar Opens In Eastwood City

A new restaurant just popped up in Eastwood City! It's called ANNAM which comes from the same people who brought you NAMNAM Noodle Bar, the most popular one in Singapore. Now I don't think I've tried it when I was there because I probably was concentrating on hawker stores but the good thing is, they're relatively serving the same dishes as if you're there. The lovely menu is composed of different bowls of Pho, so you're relatively going to have your Vietnamese fix when in this joint. I'm a little tired of the other Vietnamese restaurant in Eastwood, not naming names, but their store is relatively a fresh take on that.

I don't have interior shots but I'll be back there soon. The place has tons of seating, bunk seats, bar stools, they can easily fit groups and combine chairs and tables if needed. It looks small outside but they maximized the space inside so you're bound to find something good to eat in ANNAM. Speaking of which, here are some of the things I liked on their menu.

This is one of their dried noodles. They call this the Sauteed Lemongrass Pork Noodle. It is served with a bowl of bone broth on the side and the way they eat it is they pour a bit of it on the dried noodles before consuming it. I like the fried Imperial Roll on the center, tasted like a cross between the local lumpiang shanghai and chinese kikiam. It's a little softer though, but really good.

This is their Vegetarian Southern Rolls served with peanut sauce on the side. For those who are watching their weight, this might be a good alternative to your favorite rolls. Wrapped in rice paper, has cabbage, bean sprouts, other veggies, it's filling but definitely not oily. If you're a little allergic to prawns like me, this would be a good thing to have while having your Pho fix. 

This one is the Fresh Southern Rolls with Prawn, Pork, Fresh Herbs and Peanut Sauce. I can hear the ladies on my table raving about these. It's fresh, you get that sweet shrimp flavor when you bite into it. Pretty good that we get something legit like it now in the Philippines. 

They don't really hold back on the spices so you might find a few of them a little too SPICY. Be careful what you ask for, but this is GOOD NEWS for people like me who LOVE the spicy kind. This is their Crispy Squid with Sriracha Mayonnaise. As the name suggests, they probably have a batter and got these squid pieces deep fried. Then you have the option to up the ante with the Sriracha laden mayo as your dip. I loved  this one. 

This is the Crispy Imperial Rolls. As I said a while ago this is a cross between our very own lumpiang shanghai and chinese kikiam which I absolutely love.  Yes, you need to have this either over rice or just be something to munch on while you're having your pho. It's sweet and savory, something that most of us in Southeast Asia LOVE!

My love for beef balls were already triggered as soon as I saw this on the menu. This is their Pho Australian Ox Tail and Beef Balls. It's like a lighter bulalo, with a few herbs in between. The beef balls are also freshly made so they probably did it inside the restaurant with their own hands. It doesn't seem refrigerated either which is a good thing. It kinda crumbles a bit when you bite into it but it was still firm. The rice noodles were springy, make sure you add Sriracha and Hoisin sauce to take the flavor profile further. I loved this a lot! 

I chose this for the sole mention of Sambal on its name. This is their Chili Sambal Braised Beef. It's got strands of beef, separated or broken down by the sheer softness of it. It's mixed in with Sambal Chili, which Singaporeans love. I like the intensity, but this might prove a little too hot for Filipinos. This is probably made for me, I did finish the whole thing, but it's a tad pricey. I think you're paying for the ambiance, the interior, the freshness of ingredients. With that in mind, add it up, then it's worth it.

This is their 3 Colour Dessert. It almost felt like a halo-halo but it's not. It's closer to their Iced Cacang but I think they used coconut milk instead of milk. It's a little "not too sweet" for a dessert but it would be good for those who are watching their sugar. You get the same lovely flavors, less the sweetness. I guess it works.  

This is their Vanilla Pudding with Palm Sugar Caramel. You'll get that intense sweetness from the syrup, it kinda paints on the canvass, things like this happen. I like that it's sweet, but some of the others find it too sweet. I'm still rooting for it though. Good to share after a date.

My favorite part of the show was when they told me they had this inside the store. This is Fish Sauce, Chili Sauce (like Sriracha) and Hoisin Sauce. They actually sell these too, plus the bowls I think and a couple of the noodles they use in their dishes. They have it dried so you just have to throw it in boiling water and cook like how the pros do. Their Hoisin sauce is really good too, as it's not too salty, but more on the sweet savory side. Now that's just for starters.

ANNAM is something I'd really want to go back to when I'm having my Vietnamese Pho fix, they've literally exceeded my expectations and the catch here is, they don't even use MSG. Now that it is here, people should really try it out. I'm glad I did, so you know what to do. Go grab your friends, your loved ones, share a bowl of Pho and make ANNAM in Eastwood's 1880 Building. It's right beside the second Starbucks store (the large one). Just walk a couple of steps and you'll find it there. For what it's worth, it's the place to be now that it's raining a lot in Quezon City. They have intense Viet Coffee too for those who run in those batteries. You better get yourselves a bowl. Four out of Five Kumags.

For more information about their restaurant:

Annam Noodle Bar Philippines

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://annamnoodlebar.com.ph