The Uncle Cheffy Experience

Before last February 12, 2011 I have no idea what Uncle Cheffy was all about.  Well, except for the fact that a former classmate of mine mentioned about an investment venture he entered into in an international cuisine restaurant named Uncle Cheffy.  Since we've just finished brainstorming about an event we were organizing, everyone was famished and so I suggested that we check out his venture if it was worth the investment.

The joint was located in Ali Mall Cubao and was the third franchise to open after The Fort and Eastwood branch.  It was barely a day old during our visit---that being their first day of operation---the place still had that faint scent of paint and wood in the air.  The place was simple in terms of its furnishings  and by my reckoning, it had maybe a hundred seater capacity.  The crew were naturally friendly and not just because we were with one of the investors. 

We had our investor friend order for us.  The house specialty were the oven baked pizzas called panizza so we ordered the All Meat and the East Meets West flavor.  At first, I had some doubts if we're going to get our fill given that the pizza came out in thin crust---oh, did I mention that we were hungry like a wolf?  Well, apparently, my doubts were baseless as our party of four almost left two slices of pizza untouched until my "maraming mahihirap na di kumakain" attitude stepped in and devoured what was left. 

Unlike the other pizzas that I have come to know, the pick-up-and-eat type, the panizza required a different kind of eating ritual.  It was served with a veggie garnishing of arugula, alfalfa, and diced tomato which you put on top of the pizza and then roll it that they become the "palaman".  I'm not a veggie guy but the garnishing really complemented the taste of the mozzarella cheese and whatever other toppings there was on the pizza---it was heavenly!

We also had the Memphis BBQ Ribs.  Actually, this dish came first before that pizza.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I had doubts we wouldn't be satisfied---well, DUH!  Hungry...wolf...get it?  Anyway, this dish totally changed my definition of meat.  I remember watching "Man vs Food" in the Food Network Channel and the host would almost always describe the meat as "buttery soft and melts in your mouth"---now I know why.  The meat was so soft that you could just simply have to tap it to make the meat fall off the bone.  Very tasty too!  

I really enjoyed the food so much that I had to take my wife the following day and make our pre-valentines celebration extra special.  That and also to take advantage of the special discount that Uncle Cheffy was offering its patron as an opening treat. 

After reading this blog you may no longer get the 50% discount, however, here's what the rest of what Uncle Cheffy have for the rest of February:

February 15-17, 40% off on food and drinks 

February 18-20, 30% off on food and drinks

February 21-27, 20% off on food and drinks

Bon appetit!

Food Network Hotties

I'm a big fan of FOOD! Naturally, with the dawn of cable television, I became an avid follower of the Food Network Channel. Nope, I'm not into cooking. My mother is a great cook. I did want to indulge in this endeavor during my early years but I didn't have the patience necessary for the rituals of food preparations. However, --I'm definitely into eating!

Watching the chefs create those sumptuous meals and pastries makes my mouth water in glutinous anticipation! However, other than salivating from the food, I'm now equally mesmerized by the beautiful chefs that has invaded cable TV. Here are my favorites.

Nigelia Lawson

Other than a resident chef of the Food Network Channel hosting Nigelia Feasts and Nigelia Express, Nigelia Lawson is also a prolific cook book author whose books have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide.

Her 2005 book "Feast: Food to Celebrate Life" was the inspiration behind her show Nigelia Feasts. In 2007, in conjunction with the launching of her book "Nigelia Express" was the airing of her show of the same title.

She is a mother of two and lives in London, England.

Melissa d'Arabian

Melissa won season five of The Next Food Network Star in August 2009 beating thousands of candidates. She is a housewife and mother to four preschool-aged daughters.

Her philosophy of budget concious cooking stemmed out of necessity during her early years growing up with her mother and sister in Tucson, Arizona. Her promise: $10, four people, infinite possibilities.

Ingrid Hoffman

Ingrid Hoffman is not new to television. She had her own show "Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman" aired on Latin America's Cosmopolitan Network in 2004 which eventually became the highest rated show among the Hispanic stations in 2005. Her March 2006 appearance in the "Martha Stewart Show" introduced her to the english speaking audience. It was soon after that when the Food Network Channel called her.

She is also the author of a cook book "Simply Delicioso: A Collection of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist" which was published in 2008. She resides in Miami, Florida.

Giada de Laurentiis

Just in case you're wondering, YES, Guiada IS related to acclaimed director Dino de Laurentiis. She's actually her granddaughter.

She was born in Rome to a large Italian family and grew up frequenting his famous grandfather's restaurant DDL Foodshow.

Her career with the Food Network dates back 2002. She was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Lifestyle Host and has went on to become one of the most recognizeable faces of the Food Network. She hosts "Everyday Italian" and "Giada's Weekend Getaways".

Laura Calder

Laura is a new discovery of mine. I was able to catch her last night doing her stuff in her show "French Food at Home".

She was born in Canada and started her career in journalism and public relations but soon shifted to food. She studied cooking in France and Canada.

Her love affair with French cuisine started out when she was working for a wine expert in California. She then moved to France to work on a cookbook with Anne Willian. What was suppose to be a nine month stint became a ten year stay. From there she was smitten by everything French.

She went back to Canada in 2005 to shoot her Food Network show "French Food at Home".

She has published two cookbooks, "French Food at Home"(2003) and "French Taste: Elegant Everyday Eating"(2009).