When Italian, Greek and Asian food meet
FOR an exciting gastronomic fare nowadays, it's always to go for global cuisine. Gone are the times when a dinner party calls for strictly Chinese, strictly Filipino cuisine or whatever.
So, when Miguel Cordova of Afrique's cooked up a medley of Italian, Greek and Asian cuisine, guests at Bo Parcon's birthday bash last month had a really great munching time.
He served Beef Samosas, which consists of ground beef, mozzarella cheese and herbs and spices accompanied with garlic and mayonnaise dip.
A samosa is a common snack that originated from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Its ingredients are wrapped inside a fried triangular-shaped pastry shell and can be spicy or sweet. In the old days, it's eaten with chutney and tea or coffee. These days, people prefer to bake it as this is healthier and more convenient.
Another favorite was the Crab Sushi Sandwich, which consists of whole wheat bread, lettuce, cucumber, ripe mango slices and kani (crab). This combination is quite healthy. Do you know that people who eat whole wheat bread weigh less than those who don't? Also, it reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
For those who love protein, Cordova made Mixed Sausages, a combination of Hungarian, Schublig and Italian sausages that were sauteed in olive oil and parsley. Everybody picked on every morsel in between sips of wine or vodka tonic and talks about fashion and politics.
Another source of protein is the Greek Beef Salad with Pearl Potatoes and Feta Cheese. Cordova used sirloin beef cuts, feta cheese, olive oil and red peppercorns for this vitamin E-rich baby.
Feta cheese is salted and cured in a brine solution for several months. Feta cheese is white, usually formed into square cakes, and can range from soft to semi-hard, with a tangy, salty flavor that can range from mild to sharp. Its fat content can range from 30 to 60 percent; most is around 45 percent milk fat.
Two of Afrique's best selling pizzas, Afriques Special Pizza and Bacon Garlic Pizza were served. The former consists of black olives, sauteed pork sausage, onions, tomatoes, cheese and red sauce. The latter has bacon, roasted garlic, onions, cheese and tomato sauce on it.
Then, there's the Chicken with Ham Broccoli, a heavenly preparation of chicken, cooked ham made tasty by heavy cream, butter and olive oil and made succulent with the presence of broccoli flowers.
Lastly, per the request of the celebrator, Cordova prepared a Chocolate Fondue in fuchsia. Yup! It was pink chocolate at its best and everybody trooped to the fondue section for a taste of this exciting concoction.
That was a night when everybody forgot about their diet. But then again, the feast was grand but healthy. KV