Chef Tatung Sarthou Does New Cook Book: SIMPOL: 101 Dishes with Video Links

It's a nice afternoon to talk about food and yes, this includes a nice chat with famed Chef Tatung Sarthou. The heavily awarded Chef has been in the industry for years and he's launching a cookbook drawn from his SIMPOL series, food done and made simple with Filipino cuisine in mind.

Chef Tatung says "It's such an honor to have you here today and I'm excited about this book called SIMPOL. We've done a really different one and just to give you an idea, growing up, I've been in the kitchen doing a lot of things, making it my own playground. I wanted to do a lot of things but I wasn't able to do them all. My recipes just evolved into doing simple recipes as Filipinos at home started following them. I'm glad they were able to do that, I wanted to do things that are simple, to do it for family, or make home cooking available for commercial purposes. It's fast, even better than existing ones. As long as it makes you happy, that's already good. This cookbook was something that we have been working for over a year. Although we got hacked a little over a year ago and started over a new channel. This is a new SIMPOL, we're trying our luck in social media and it wasn't always easy, we are just persistent and we have grown a lot in the last few months. It has evolved than just a recipe channel. This book is under ABSCBN and they have supported me with this book, and releasing this at this time is just amazing. The recipes will be uploaded over the weekend, if you scan the QR codes you will see the videos too and just follow it so you can link generations with 101 of my favorite recipes so you can cook it at home. We want to make it as SIMPOL as ABC. Even if you haven't cooked at all, you will able to follow these recipes because it was designed for you. We will also be releasing a Baking Simpol cookbook by next year which will be geared for younger audiences. I am so happy that aside from doing this, we will have more travel content, to hopefully have another book in the works. Thank you so much for being here. This will be available on Shopee, Lazada, on bookstores nationwide where ABSCBN publishing is available."

Philippine Cookery: From Heart To Platter won “Best TV Chef Book Outside Europe” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which was held in Yantai, China. The recipes in the new book will have improved versions of the old ones he came out with. 80% of it will be new ones and will be easy to follow. The pandemic meant he had more time to finish the recipes of this book and he's glad to see how people have approached him and said that they have gained business by following his recipes. This year, he will be representing the country again for the same competition. 

Be UNAPOLOGETIC

"I did a dinner and served Filipino food. The access to local ingredients was the challenge really, it differs because we substitute things. Now it becomes authentic as food is becoming more avaialble now. In essence, our food is good, but I realized when I come home I still look for comfort food, we don't have to be apologetic about it. We can do it the way it is done in the Philippines. We need to do it properly and don't care about what others say, more people in the Philippines have to taste our dishes and it's what we need right now, affordable, good food. I want to provide real solutions for Filipinos. I got to make it simple because I am simple, I see the cost of food and there are some recipes I do using local ingredients, it still tastes the same as with what people cook in other countries. My dream wasn't really becoming a Chef, I wanted to become an author growing up. It just fell on my lap and it became a platform to see my calling. Ultimately, I really want to be a teacher. I want to do something significant in my life, for me to be able to do something to change the lives of people I am with. Maybe this is where I'm happy."

He broke down while speaking to us...

He said "One of the greatest people who helped me was Gina Lopez. She was really the one who helped me when I was starting out, she was the one who saw my talent in doing this. I've always been involved with the farming community. In Botolan, we were doing something not related to this, we were just there and someone offered us to stay there. I offered to teach their staff to cook, the next time the Lopez family is over we'll call you and we didn't take that seriously. They called me one day and I went there to cook lunch, and Gina says "Can you cook for me at home and I hope you can do it for the presidents of several universities in Manila." I was in my rags and she asked me if I had a Chef's uniform. I did that dinner for her and it was a success. I started a relationship with their family, that's where I met them. It started the ball rolling, they got me to start and in just two to three months, my book was out for Madrid Fusion. It won the world gourman awards even if it was against 57 countries. This is why I am a solid Kapamilya."

Recipe for Beginners

"Simpol Crispy Pork Belly would be good for beginners. You just fry it til it is golden. You can acheive lechon kawali, it will impress anyone. You can also use it for Kare Kare and assemble it with vegetables. You can also do hardinera. You just mix it and you can have a fancy one on a plate. There are so many dishes that we have in the Philippines and it's a good way of thinking what is essential. It doesn't need to be complicated, you just do it right."

Inspiration

"I think it was my grandmother who is my inspiration. I didn't feel poor when she made things, it was just sauteeing stuff, with water, it looked very fancy but it was just the manner how food is presented. It didn't feel it lacked anything. I think it stemmed because they were born during the war."

"Filipino cooking should never go without Vinegar, Soy Sauce and Fish Sauce. It starts a lot of Filipino dishes, just add on stuff until it becomes a good dish. Garlic Mushroom Chicken, Fried Chicken, Chicken Casserole, Holiday Chicken Hamonado, things that you can serve even on holidays. I'm very proud of that."

"For me, I would like to see the industry to have more Filipino chefs to develop more of our recipes. We need to feed our countrymen, than be blinded by the glitz and glamour of other countries. We need to see what the simple person cooks, and hope looking to that as an opportunity.


"The book is so beautiful, it costs only 350 pesos so it would be accessible to a lot of people. I hope you support us, the advocacy, to see what drives us in what we do and get the message across. Thank you to companies that see what we are trying to acheive. Nutriasia supports us to do that. Also, thank you to our media friends who are also supporting us through the years. Thank you to everyone and good afternoon!"

Again, his book is available now on Shopee and Lazada plus all the bookstores where ABSCBN Publishing is available.

A Homey Partnership of Nutriasia, Avida and Amaia

What makes a house a home? I've asked myself that question a couple of times already and might have the answer for it but let me tell you how three big corporations decided to forge a partnership so their communities would get to that state. You see Nutriasia, Amaia and Avida knew how important it is to live in a community harmoniously and what better way to do that but by doing a Grand Neighbor Day last October 28, 2017 at their different communities across the country. Nutriasia held their Datu Puti #PerfectAdobo challenge in these events not to pit these lovely people and outdo each other but to promote camaraderie and the sense of family in each meal.

I'm sure each of them must have had their perfect version of Adobo and for sure they've been able to use these products quite regularly. Nutriasia is also celebrating their 25th year and making these houses become homes is but a shared vision between them, Avida and Amaia. 

Ms. Dang de Leon the Corporate Marketing Consultant for NutriAsia says "The partnership between the Philippines premier condiment producer and the leading property developer you might say may be unlikely. But NutriAsia, Avida, and Amaia both aspire to make Filipino families happy and content through its quality products. Aside from that, NutriAsia has been helping to provide authentic Filipino meals at the dining table. This gives immeasurable happiness to the Filipino families we serve including the ones in the community of Avida and Amaia. Let us all celebrate the love for family." 

Ms. Tess Tatco the Head of Corporate Marketing for Avida Land agrees and says "The partnership with NutriAsia encourage our shared interests. We know NutriAsia can help us build better communities.”

Select new home owners fromAmaia and Avida Land will also be receiving Home Cooking Starter Kits. This is part of their partnership with Nutriasia who manufactures iconic Filipino food brands such as Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC, Papa, Jufran, Mafran, Golden Fiesta and Mang Tomas. 

KUMAGCOW

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Nutriasia's JoyRide at Independence Day Celebrations in Rizal Park

Today marks another year of the independence for the Republic of the Philippines, and what better venue to do it than in the place where our national hero Jose Rizal is buried, at Luneta in the city of Manila. I've had memories as a child and even in my teens of going on different parades for my school in the past, and this place has changed quite a little. The people here are of various economic levels, from Class A to F. Manila is one of the most densely populated cities in the world and that means that some are homeless and still live in the streets, some of these people end up in the Luneta Park, but let's not dwell on that shall we?

We're here for food as one of the country's well loved brands under the roof of Nutriasia wants to show off what they can do with teir products. They own Datu Puti, UFC Ketchup, Golden Fiesta Cooking Oil, and tons of brands under their name. I'm sure your Mom has cooked some really special dishes with these products I mentioned, and you sat in your dining table, contently enjoy the love and care they put into these hearty meals they make. If you were in Luneta today, you must have seen this cute truck right at the place where the iconic Carabao of the park is located.

They call this the Nutriasia "Joy Ride" Food Truck where they prepare meals and sell for cheap so the Filipino public would be able to taste gourmet prepared dishes at a fraction of the cost. These days, if you order Adobo in restaurants it'll cost you a lot not to mention measly servings that wouldn't satisfy your hunger right? At the Joy Ride Food Truck, they serve their meals differently and even let you enjoy locally produced All Natural Blended Juice Drink. They use real fruit juice so you only get to have the best that only Nutriasia can provide.  

This Guyabano-body but You drink was just the perfect thing to have during that scorching hot weather. There are other flavors available like Kamias (which I also love), Dalandan, Mangosteen and others which you can also drink in this kind of day. It's not too sweet, it's just right.

You and I have their version of the perfect Adobo. Thing is, a lot of them prefer trusted brands like Datu Puti. The salty savory soy sauce and the intense sour vinegar just makes the perfect marriage when in that pot boiled with chicken, pork, or both of them. Simmered four an hour or two, then served with heaping hot white rice, ugh! You just won't be satisfied with one serving. The updated Adobo Wrap they had us tried that day was so good, I had to make this an exception to my no rice diet again. (Cheat day LOL).

Now who in their right mind would serve fried Chicken Skin on this day? I think they want to make us believe in FREEDOM a little more LOL!

They also served Adoburrito Humba Wraps made with pork simmered in broth and Datu Puti Adobo Series Humba. They also had us try the sinful Bagnet Wrap that's got deep fried air dried pork and the lovely super hot Mang Tomas Siga which is the liver sauce they sell in leading supermarkets and stores nationwide. Now why is the Chicken Skin so good you say? That's easy to answer, they've got a new product called Golden Fiesta BIG CRUNCH which is designed for Fried Chicken (but you can use pork as you please) and they used it in the Chicken Skin. After frying them to a crunchy state, they doused it with flavor powders that also comes in the package. I love the barbecue flavor the most, but they have it in Sour Cream and Onion, and in Cheese too!  

Now you don't have to settle with boring fried chicken, because Nutriasia took care of that problem. Isn't this like those Korean Fried Chicken you see in restaurants already?

Thank you so much to Nutriasia for having us in their event. I saw how families, friends and ordinary people enjoy it that afternoon. It was my first time to see the BIG CRUNCH too. I'm sure this will be enjoyed by everybody at home as I took some of it home.

Make sure you get them at all leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide! Trust me on the Smoked Barbecue Flavor, it's so good

KUMAGCOW

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