Foodie Goodie | Porchetta Restaurant.

Save for the occasional take-outs at the nearby McDonald's or at the pizza and chicken joint two blocks away from home, we hardly eat at restaurants here in Korea for two reasons: 1) my son can't handle the spiciness of traditional Korean food, and 2) we cook at home, and it's cheaper that way. Plus, my husband's cooking is the bomb!

On Mother's Day, however, we decided not to scrimp because what the heck - it's a special day, and it's the first time in six years that I'm celebrating my 'motherhood' with both my son and my husband. And so after our tour of the COEX Aquarium, the boys and I went searching for a nice restaurant that's neither a fast food chain or a pizza joint. We were literally all over the place, as COEX is a pretty huge mall, and the restaurants are not lined up in one floor like they do in Philippine malls.

Porchetta.

We somehow ended up at Porchetta, because Yue saw something very tempting called 'Chicken Finger Fries' on their menu.

The counter, where you place your order and pay for your bill.

Named after that fatty, savory, and boneless pork roasted in the traditional Italian way, Porchetta is a casual dining fusion restaurant famous for their ciabatta sandwiches.

Sandwiches on their menu.

They also serve pasta and steak - which we ordered, soups and salads, dessert, and even alcoholic beverages.

Yep, they serve beer. And wine, too.

We were able to get a table right away, as there were quite a few empty seats when we arrived. Halfway through our meal, I noticed that the restaurant was already quite packed.

Diners at Porchetta.

Here's what we had for dinner at Porchetta.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries, 11200 won. The three of us enjoyed this dish a lot. The fries were crunchy and flavorful, and were neither overcooked nor soaking in oil. Same goes for the chicken - crunchy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. Considering that this dish is good for sharing for up to four people, paying more than a man won isn't so bad.

Bacon Carbonara.

Bacon Carbonara, 15900 won. My son is a huge fan of white sauce pasta, and he loved this carbonara a lot even if the sauce, according to him 'looks more yellow than white'. This dish didn't scrimp on bacon, as it came garnished with generous portions of meat.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto, 18400 won. Husband and I ordered a serving each of this dish, and boy, was I surprised to see not just one, but two thick slabs of porchetta on the hot plate. Aside from the risotto, which lies at the bottom of the plate, this dish also comes with cherry tomatoes, potato wedges, and greens on the side.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

I love that the meat was cooked and flavored to perfection, but eating two slabs of it was just way too much for me. I only ate one, and gave the other piece to my husband, whose appetite was heartier than the usual that day. Maybe because we're eating as a family, which only happens when we're in Korea. :)

Mother's Day dinner at Porchetta.

Many thanks to the friendly waitstaff of Porchetta for taking this photo! They understand and speak English, so no need to worry about the language barrier. Oh, and if you ask for it, they'll give you their wifi password, because the free wifi at COEX Mall is a bit weak in this area.  :)

Porchetta

159, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, COEX Mall I103
+82 2 551 8808

Solaire Exclusives for Mother's Day 2014!

On Sunday, May 11, we celebrate the day of the most important women in our lives - our moms.

And our friends from Solaire have came up with the best treats to honor our beloved moms. From the special discounted rates in the ultimate family staycation, to the exquisite set menus in our fine dining establishments, they’ve made sure that this will be one unforgettable Mother’s Day.

On Mother’s Day weekend, bring your entire family to Solaire and stay in one of their luxurious suites with discounted rates. Under the Summer Family Getaway packages, their rooms go as low as PhP6,000++ for Deluxe Room Cityview and PhP7,000++ for the Deluxe Room Bayview. The special rates are also available in Grand Deluxe Cityview (PhP8,000++), Grand Deluxe Bayview (PhP9,000++) and 2-Bay Suite (PhP12,000).

Amazing accommodation at Solaire.

Their amazing staycation packages come with an impeccable buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids age 6 years and below. For kids who are 7 to 12 years old, they offer a 50% dining discount. Your stay also includes free use of the swimming pool and the fitness center. To test your luck, the package comes with PhP500 worth of gaming credits.

If you opt to celebrate mom’s special day with a lavish dinner, they have set menus in Fresh, Yakumi, Finestra, Red Lantern and Strip. Everyone in the family can enjoy their mini pizza creation of the day (Roasted Branzino in potato crust, Versuvio tomatoes, white wine and Gamberoni), Pasta Carbonara in rich and creamy sauce with pancetta bacon, Limon Cello lemon and Chicken Parmigiano at their Italian restaurant Finestra.

Pasta Carbonara from Finestra.

For the lovers of Japanese cuisine, Yakumi offers a special menu that includes Gyuniku Tataki (Seared beef strip loin with onion dressing and micro herbs), Yakumi Sushi and sashimi sampler, Lobster mini soup, Ebi tempura, Chilean Seabass teriyaki and Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras.

Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras from Yakumi.

Red Lantern also offers a sumptuous set menu for those who prefer Chinese dishes. The family can feast on Hand rolled Beijing duck, Pumpkin soup with seafood and white fungus, Deep fried crispy shrimps with sweet mayonnaise, Wok fried prime beef black pepper sauce, Steamed sliced fish with Tofu in black bean sauce, the season's best vegetables with oyster sauce, and Braised noodles with spring onions and ginger sesame oil.

A sample of what Red Lantern has to offer.

Strip, the hotel's steak house, also offers a Mother’s Day menu consisting of Green Pea sphere and crisp ham; Tomato salad dried olive oil and goat’s cheese; Foie gras crumble mousse with candied fruit and nut; Seared tuna blood orange sponge, watermelon and labuyo chili crust; Pork belly beer braised and tomato relish; Smoked Angus beef and Caramel Sand torch banana. All of the set menus are priced at PhP1,900 and all come with the Solaire Mother’s Day creation, the Caramel cheesecake with red berries and white chocolate silk.

Sumptuous food from the Strip.

If you want to go all – out however, their buffet outlet Fresh is ready with Lechon (Charcoal grilled suckling pig), Roasted prime rib of ‘Gold Label’ prime beef, Brioche baked whole salmon Coulibiac, seafood delights and a long list of desserts which include tarts, cupcakes, cookies, parfaits, doughnuts, puddings and cakes.

May it be the ultimate staycation or a gastronomic adventure in one of our first-class restaurants, Mother’s Day at Solaire is definitely a great bonding opportunity for the entire family. For reservations, call 888 8888 or log on to www.solaireresort.com for more details.

Wordless Wednesday #74 | Spaghetti Monster!

Foodie Goodie | Beef & Rotini.

I've always been fascinated with rotini pasta ever since I was a kid. They're literally pasta 'with a twist' as they come in a corkscrew, spiral shape. They even have colored variants, such as the Barilla Tri-Color Rotini, which were often given to us as gifts by relatives who used to work in Italy.

And after seeing how much love my Spaghetti Aglio Oglio received from you, my dear readers, I decided to share another pasta recipe for this week's edition of Foodie Goodie. Like the Aglio Oglio, this dish uses the simplest ingredients and takes just about half an hour to cook.

Beef & Rotini

Ingredients:
500 grams lean ground beef
1 pound rotini pasta, uncooked
1 pack 250g Del Monte Beef & Mushroom Pasta Sauce
1 pack 560g Del Monte Sweet Style or Italian Style Spaghetti Sauce
2 cups Mozarella cheese

Procedure:
1. In a skillet, cook ground beef until brown. Drain the excess oil.
2. In the same skillet, stir in the pasta sauces and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Stir in uncooked rotini and return to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes or until rotini is al dente). 
5. Remove from heat then sprinkle with cheese.
6. Cover and let stand for five minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Spaghetti Aglio Olio.

Weekends are for watching old Korean dramas. At least that's what they are, for me. And the past weekend saw me finishing 'Pasta' - all twenty episodes of it. This hit romantic comedy series, which aired in 2010, revolves around the life of Seo Yoo Kyung (portrayed by Gong Hyo Jin) and her dreams and struggles to become an elite chef.

Lee Sun Kyun and Gong Hyo Jin in Pasta.

After watching this drama, I was prompted inspired to do two things - have my ears pierced near the cartilage - in the style of Gong Hyo Jin,  and cook Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic ala Choi Hyun Wook (the male lead, portrayed by Lee Sun Kyun).

Now I have three piercings on my left ear. :)

I've never cooked Spaghetti Aglio Olio before, so I did a bit of research and came across this recipe from the Food Network. The ingredients are pretty basic, and this dish takes very little time and effort to cook. It's perfect for days when I'm in the mood for pasta but don't want to go through the whole process of chopping and slicing and prepping ingredients, lol.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Ingredients:
500 grams spaghetti
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsps flat-leaf parsley, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
kosher salt to taste (plus 1 teaspoon)
zest of 1/2 lemon
parmesan cheese, grated

Procedure:
1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously.
2. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente, tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
3. While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil, the 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic softens and turns golden.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, reserving about a 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
5. Add the pasta and the reserved water to the garlic mixture. Mix well.
6. Add the parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
7. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide amongst 4 to 6 dishes. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday. 

Foodie Goodie | Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham.

After bombarding you for the past few Fridays with chocolate desserts and peanut butter recipes, I decided to do something different for my first Foodie Goodie post for the year. Not dessert this time, because I know everyone (including me) is complaining of eating too much during the holidays and gaining weight in the process. Don't we all, haha.

Now I bet most of you served ham during your Christmas and New Year's Eve dinner. Ham, after all, is the star of the Noche Buena (and Media Noche) - at least that's how it goes for the typical Filipino family. Anyhow, if you have leftover honey-glazed ham from the holidays, you'll be glad you did. Those left-overs are great for omelettes, soups, casseroles, and sandwiches, and they will come in handy for the recipe I'm sharing below.

Fettucine Alfredo with Ham

Ingredients:

1 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package instructions
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Romano cheese, shredded
6 egg yolks
1 medium-sized red or green bell pepper, cut into squares
1 cup ham, cut into squares
Salt and pepper

Procedure:

1. Cook the fettuccine according to package instructions.
2. Heat a saucepan or cooking pot. Pour in the milk and bring it to a boil.
3. Add the heavy whipping cream. Stir, and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Add the Parmesan and Romano cheeses, then bring the heat down to the lowest possible on your stove. 5. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the texture of the mixture becomes fine.
6. Whisk the egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Add about 5 tablespoons of the milk-cheese mixture, and continue whisking until the ingredients have completely blended together.
7. Add the egg yolk mixture in the saucepan/cooking pot with continuous stirring until the texture becomes thick.
8. Add the cooked fettuccine and toss until the noodles are well covered with sauce.
9. Add the chopped ham and bell pepper and mix with the noodles and the sauce.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.
11. Plate, serve, enjoy!

If you have dishes you would like to see or recipes you would like to learn, let me know! It might be something that I (or my husband) know how to cook, or I could look it up on Mum's recipe book. Just leave me a comment, send me a message, or tweet me for recipe requests. I'd be more than glad to help!

Happy weekend eating! :)

Sharing with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.