Ren can cook. So can Randy. If this Lamb Osso Buco Milanese with Gremolata is Ren’s signature dish, then the classic Valencian specialty that you see below is her brother’s. Barely two days home from the US to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his 30th birthday, Kuya Randy graciously made [...]
Grilled Harissa Shrimp and Couscous with Pine Nuts
As much as I enjoyed the fantastic lunch we had at Brasserie Cicou, I don’t think that I’ll be able to develop a sincere appreciation for French cuisine. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I do. It’s just that I don’t see myself as sophisticated enough to ever truly appreciate [...]
Creole Shrimp over Couscous
Couscous, like salsa, is one of those foods with a name that’s just as much fun to say as it is to eat. “Couscousssssssssss…..Salssssssaaaaaaaahhh…..” Fun right? Well, as luck would have it, waiting for me at the dinner table last night was this fantastic meal made with both couscous AND [...]
Fish En Papillote with Roasted Lemon Potatoes
I didn’t know that Ren was preparing fish en papillote for dinner the other night, so coming to the table and finding this sealed foil pouch on my plate was akin to discovering a shiny wrapped present underneath the tree on Christmas morning. Excited, I held the plate with the [...]
Pan Seared Cream Dory with Creamed Leeks and Truffled Mashed Potatoes
As far as I can tell, there are two reasons why Ren decided to make this fish dish, her first in several months. The first is for health reasons. She’s panicky over that whopping half-a-pound she gained last week, so she wants to melt it away with healthier food, at [...]
Shrimp and Pork Meatball Wraps
Little known fact about Ren: She speaks three languages. For those of you who know her, English and Tagalog you already knew about. But were you aware that she’s fluent in a third language as well? It’s true. She speaks this cryptic, nearly indecipherable language that I like to call, [...]
Saewoo Pajeon (Shrimp Green Onion Pancake)
And the beat goes on… CLICK HERE to view the other looks from this week’s Mercedes Benz Pajeon Show. Pancake Ingredients 150 g peeled shrimp Approximately 10 stalks green onions, chopped 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup water 1 tsp soybean paste 1/2 tsp sugar 3 Tbsps Vegetable oil Directions Mix [...]
Galibi Pajeon (Scallop Green Onion Pancake)
By pure coincidence, Ren whipped up this fantastic two-part Korean-themed dinner on the very same day North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il passed away. The fact that she rarely prepares Korean food makes this chance occurence even more surprising, which got me curious as to the differences between North and [...]
Spicy Sardines Pasta
Spontaneity. Ad-libbing. Improvisation. Sometimes inspiration comes from the oddest of circumstances and when you least expect it too. Ren wasn’t planning on making one of her Reneelicious Recipes this evening, but when events changed and she had to come up with dinner on the fly, she conjured up this magical [...]
Squid Head and Mushroom Curry Noodle Soup
This was supposed to be just a mushroom curry noodle soup. But when we were at the supermarket buying all the ingredients for it, Ren, unsurprisingly, spotted a packet of squid heads in cold storage so decided to add it to the mix. The head is my favorite part of [...]
Linguine with White Clam Sauce
Something’s fishy here. Ren knows I’m a seafood guy and she’s been whipping up these fantastic seafood dishes week after week. First it was the baby octopus, then the mussels, and now these succulent baby clams with linguine in an exquisite white wine reduction sauce. Either I’m doing something right [...]
Mussels Fra Diavolo with Linguine
Retrogusto or “Back of the Palate.” We’ve heard the phrase “Back of the Palate” used to describe certain flavors before, but we never fully understood what it meant until today. When Ren noticed subtle flavors presenting themselves after each bite from this rich and spicy dish, she experienced one of [...]
