Real California Milk Cheese + Beer Pairing + Homemade Butter in Boracay

For those of you who regularly read my blogposts and follow me on Instagram (@lemongreenteaph) you know that its been a great year for me and I’ve been quite fortunate (even #blessed) to be able to travel and see a lot of new places.

But of all the trips and events I’ve attended this year, our most recent trip to Boracay has to be the most memorable of all.

Maybe it was because of the fresh Shangri-la Boracay air or the fact that we had the entire beach to ourselves one afternoon.  #LifestyleOfTheRichAndFamous  

Or maybe because it was one of those rare times that you get to be in the company of influencers Camille Co, Lissa Kahayon , Nicole Anderson and friends, and chat with some of the best writers in the country.

It may even be because of the people from the California Milk and Dairy Board and the Cheese Dude Mark who challenged our palate and us recognize tastes we couldn’t describe at first.

One thing is certain though—the Beer and Cheese pairings had a lot to do with it.

Beer Buddies

When you’ve got a father and two brothers who love drinking beer as much as I love drinking tea, its easy to find out the best types of pulutan. There’s sisig, the lechon, chicharon bulaklak, peanuts and, chips and during Christmas of course ham and queso de bola.

So while I had an idea that beer and cheese go well together, I never expected it to be better (and simpler) than wine and cheese pairings.

And you would be depriving yourself and your taste buds of an incredible epicurean experience if the only beer and cheese pairing you’ve tried is—keso de bola (gouda cheese) and pale Pilsen.

Good cheese tastes even better with the right beer and vice versa.  As long as you know your beer-- hops, IPA, pale ale or malt—its easy to find a great pair from the thousands and thousands of cheese variety.

I’m not much of wine person and I guess I “woke” up my beer taste palate when I reached my late 40s. It was then that I learned how to differentiate one bottle of beer from another, discover different brews, and how many bottles it would take before I begin to feel tipsy.

Beer and Cheese in Boracay

We were invited for a Cheese-Beer Pairing experience by the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) last May 30 at Shangri-la Boracay for a 2-day workshop with the “Cheese Dude” Mark Todd.

Yes, we flew to Boracay, stayed at one of the best hotels in the world—just to learn how to pair beer and cheese.

Yup. Life is good.

Though it was kind of a challenge for Mark to keep our attention all throughout the beer and cheese tasting sessions when we all felt like Moana being called out by the sea.

His enthusiasm was infectious and his anecdotes and stories made it even more entertaining and before we knew it we made it through 8 beers and 8 kinds of cheeses—and  to be honest some were easy on the palate, some were a bit weird and there was one pair that I felt were never meant to be together.  

Mark told us that aroma is a big factor and it adds to the total experience of cheese-beer pairing. So its best break the cheese first and take a whiff before biting into it and letting its flavors escape in your mouth, just as you should smell the beer and take a sip right after a cheese bite.

The first 3 pairings were my favorites from the 8 pairs that was presented to us.

The first pairing was the Marin French Triple Creme Brie + Engkanto Pale Ale, this was the best pair because the sweetness of the beer compliments the smooth, creamy and elegant taste of the cheese. I could eat the cheese without any sides granted that it would pair with Engkanto Pale.

The 2nd pairing was the Rogue Creamery Chocolate Stout + Kalinga Kolsch, this cheese is savoury and tangy balanced by the sweetness and coffee notes of the stout. Aromas are buttery and creamy, highlighted by a hint of ale. This cheese went well with Kalinga beer's light and fruity flavor. This pair is  best when you love your cheese with a hint of chocolate and a great balance of pale malt and New Zealand hops of Kalinga Kolsch.

The 3rd pairing was the Marin French Breakfast Cheese +  Lapu Lapu Lager- the cheese is described as small, fluffy cheese with a buttery, mild tang from California. Its great to pair with crisp and clean Lapu lapu lager. The flavor of the cheese stands out with this kind of lager.

The rest of the pairings were also good but these three were the standouts and easy recommendations.

So how do you pair BEER WITH CHEESE read on for more tips.

1.  Choose beer and cheese varieties that can stand up to another's flavor profile and strengths- they should compliment each other, not compete or mask  the nuanced flavors that makes them unique.

For example, an aged Blue cheese that is nutty and creamy is best paired with a malty sweet barley, wine - style  beer.

2. Like beer, cheese has a huge range of flavors and comes in a variety of styles - California cheesmakers make more than 250 varieties and styles of cheese alone. Dont let the choices overwhelm you; use this as inspiration for a new taste adventure.

3. Look for the Real California Milk seal to be sure you cheese is made with milk from California's 1,300 dairy families.

The next day we were divided into groups of two. Now that we knew our beers and cheese it was time for us to try and make our very own—dairy products—cheese and butter—the old fashioned way.

I got to partner with Ms. Krizette of The Manila Bulletin and our first challenge was to make our own cheeseboards.  Part of the fun of eating a cheese board is getting to nibble on lots of different flavors and textures. Our cheeseboard had oranges and lemons to add color and make it more appealing , we chose brie and some cheese plus crackers and grapes. I guess the best cheeseboard should have a balance of saltiness (cheese), sweetness (fruits/grapes) and mix of crackers to make it more delicious and beautiful for presentation. And though we didn’t win the challenge we sure came up with one tasty cheeseboard and had fun doing it.

After cheeseboard making, we proceeded to making our home made butter and cheese.

The directions on how to make homemade butter was very easy-- but not for your arms.

All you had to do was pour cream into a jar (we used a mason jar) and close the lid. Now all you have to do is shake the jar for around 20 to 30 minutes---continuously--until butter forms a soft lump. The secret is to shake the jar vigorously, you dont have to stop.  Set an alarm and before 30 minutes you'll see a lump forming out of the jar.

Pour contents of the jar into a fine mesh strainer and strain out the buttermilk, leaving the solid butter. Remove the lump of butter and set aside on a small plate.

We were one of the teams who successfully produced butter. 

To learn more about Real California Milk and other dairy products made with Real California Milk, visit their website at www.realcaliforniamilk.com or their Facebook page at Real California Milk.

BRIA Homes’ “secret to success” is no secret at all

If youre looking for affordable and quality housing , then you can check out BRIA Homes. They have more than 50 housing projects on more than 700 hectares of land in the Philippines. 

There are success stories and there are Success Stories. And the story of how BRIA Homes, until recently a newly established player in the real estate industry, became the fastest-growing mass housing developer in the Philippines is a remarkably simple one.  

  

From the start, BRIA Homes’ vision has been to offer hardworking Filipinos their dream homes in the form of economical house and lot packages and budget-friendly condominium units. Every single employee in BRIA Homes is driven by this purpose—not merely to earn but to help ordinary Filipino families acquire superior quality, well-designed houses that will last a lifetime. 

BRIA Homes has more than 50 housing projects spread on more than 700 hectares of land, which are located in over 40 of the Philippines’ progressive towns and cities nationwide, with even more projects currently in the pipeline. 

This affirms that BRIA Homes remains earnest in addressing the mass housing problem in the country. Towards this end, BRIA Homes has developed a formula: Affordability (Mura) + Superior Quality (Dekalidad) = a beautiful BRIA Home for Every Filipino. 

This formula has empowered ordinary Filipinos—new entrepreneurs, blue collar workers, young professionals, newly married couples and small families—to go after their dream home for as low as P1,897 a month, through flexible payment options such as PAG-IBIG Funding or bank financing. 

Aspiring homeowners can choose from a wide range of house models, all located in pleasant and wholesome communities that are secured by guarded gates and perimeter fences and feature recreational facilities such as basketball courts and swimming pools.

BRIA communities also enjoy proximity to schools, religious institutions, hospitals, retail establishments, and major roads and highways. All these and more have made BRIA Homes a leading mass housing developerin the country. 

BRIA Homes is a subsidiary of GOLDEN BRIA Holdings, Inc., considered the third largest real estate company in terms of market capitalization valued at more than P200B. The fastest-growing mass housing developer in thePhilippines, BRIA Homes is primed to bring affordable house-and-lot packages and condominium units closer to ordinary Filipino families. This is the goal that drives every single employee in the company, for which the ultimate fulfillment is seeing a client happily moving into Bria’s homes. 

To know more about BRIA Homes, call (0966) 277 5944, like “Bria Official” on Facebook, and follow “@TheBriaOfficial” on Twitter and Instagram.

If you like my posts and would love regular updates like this. Pls follow Lemongreenteaph on Facebook. 

Maxicare makes healthcare more accessible to Ilonggos

Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, the country’s leading healthcare provider, recently established its newest health pod in Startek Philippines, Inc.,a call center and BPO in Iloilo, to ensure better access to healthcare services for its employees. 

The latest health pod is a fully automated system that manages patient-queuing, and makes gathering of initial vital signs quick, accurate, and hassle-free. It offers convenient and time-saving way for employees to get their LOA (letter of authorization). 

The latest Maxicare health pod is located atTwo Global Center, Megaworld Blvd, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. 

In photo (L-R): Maxicare senior assistant vice president and group head of corporate sales Fiona Lava-Victoria, chief operating officer Nelissa Badal, president and CEO Christian Argos, Startek global COO Peter Martino, Startek Philippines COO Parikshat Nagpal, and Startek Philippines human resource vice president Ana Maria Magsaysay.

For more information, visit www.maxicare.com.ph.



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Jardine Distribution, Inc. unveils its official Lazada Store

Now you can shop at the comfort of your own room because 

Jardine Distribution Inc. (JDI) joins online selling when it officially launched its JDI Lazada Online Store. 

“At JDI, we always see disruption and digital technology as opportunities for us to grow and become better.  One of these opportunities is the availability of online market places.  We are very excited to launch our official JDI store in Lazada as it brings us closer to our customers and clients.  Our mission is to care for the Filipino homes and the launch of our Lazada Store makes it more convenient for our customers to avail of our products,” says Peachy Tiu, AVP for Construction Supplies. 

JDI officially launched the online store both to its employees and customers last June 17 with special promotional offers for its Solignum wood preservative, BASF waterproofing products, Woodshine polish and other Construction and Home Pest products.

“We are very happy with the outcome and acceptance of the market to our online store as we see our followers and sales continue to increase from the time we officially launched it. We are optimistic that, with the high-quality products we offer for the construction and home care segments, it will get better through time”, shared Jazzcer Macabanti, JDI Brand Assistant and in-charge of Digital sales. 

All JDI Construction Supplies products are now available at JDI Lazada store. Follow our store with this link: https://www.lazada.com.ph/shop/jardine-distribution-inc/.

#EverydayLechonHappiness with Lydia's Lechon

Having spent most of my youth living in Blumentritt, which is a stone's throw away from the lechon capital of the Philippines, I always thought all the best lechon originated in Laloma. 

So I was a bit surprised to learn that one iconic lechon brand actually traces its beginnings in Baclaran, a place more known for devotees and those looking for great bargains. 

Among the thousands of people who flock to Baclaran church to pray, was 7-year old Lydia, who prayed for a better life for her family. 

Even at young age, Lydia, the daughter of a butcher, knew they could earn more by selling roasted pigs. At first her father was hesitant, but Lydia was determined and when she got the chance, she came up with her own lechon recipe.

Last June 21, Lydia's Lechon celebrates 55 years and I got to meet Mrs.Lydia in person. At 72, she is still strong and fierce (with the way she chopped the big lechon, I envied her strong arms) and I love that she dont look her age. Her lechon I should say is the best tasting lechon for me, hands down. 

DEVOTION MEETS PASSION

The Redemptorist street near the National Shrine of or more commonly known as Baclaran Church, is known for a lot of things a refuge for devotees of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the endless tiangge stores that sell clothes, vendors’ stalls, jeepneys, traffic jams and the landmark restaurant that is Lydia’s Lechon.

It was in the 1950s, Lydia recalled that she would skip school every Wednesday to sell street goods such as tomatoes, onions, and even turon. She admits to being born to poor family, and the young Lydia needed to work and save money because she didn’t want to burden her parents even more by asking for her allowance.

Even as a young girl, Lydia knew she had to do something because she didn’t want to spend the rest of their lives selling in the streets.

At age 12, she told her father, who was a butcher to roast the pigs he slaughters instead and that she would sell them as lechon.

Her father was hesitant to listen to the idea of his little girl but with her persistence he finally agreed to set up a shop in front of Baclaran Church where she sold their roasted pigs. It became such a hit that they were able to sell an average of five kilos of lechon every Wednesday.

By 1965, 17-year-old Lydia married Benigno de Roca and started a family. She then expanded her lechon business by cooking meat innards into dinuguan to avoid wasting the entrails and add more choices to her dishes.

At first Lydia began to set up tables along Redemptorist street that served as her makeshift restaurant to sell slices of lechon to the church-goers of Baclaran, as well as the hungry folks shopping in the area, but as their customers grew in numbers, the couple eventually put up a full-on restaurant along Roxas Boulevard.

A CRISPY, CRUNCHY BREAK

It was during that time that they got their first significant break happened as a well-known hotel requested for a delivery of ten whole lechons every day. This presented a huge challenge for Lydia as they never encountered an order this huge before. Using the Php500 they received from the godparents of their second child as business capital they purchased 10 live pigs and sold them at Php80 per roasting.

Now that her clientele has also changed, Lydia realized she had to take her lechon to the next level knowing that they will be served to the city’s well-to-do diners.

She decided to mix lemongrass, pandan leaves, and salt with the pork belly to bolster its flavor and aroma and sure enough it became an instant hit.

Her next break came from one of their loyal diners—the owner of a growing number of malls, Henry Sy.

The SM Malls founder used to eat at Lydia’s restaurant every Sunday. Lydia mustered all of her courage to talk introduce herself to Mr. Sy and that conversation would lead to an offer for her to open a store in one of his malls.

In 1990, Lydia’s Lechon opened its first mall branch in SM Sta. Mesa, which was followed by another one in SM Makati and 25 other branches in the next few decades.

Lydia’s Lechon would eventually became so famous that tourists, balikbayans and OFWs, would make it their very first stop after arriving from the airport.

LYDIA’S 5.5

From being the star of the table in every Filipino celebration, the lechon has become become a go-to dish, perfect for everyday meal thanks to the various lechon recipes out there.

As Lydia explained, “We want our patrons to enjoy Lydia’s Lechon in different ways.”

And Lydia isn’t just focusing on their dishes as Lydia’s Lechon also offers a diverse and growing product portfolio starting with a wide assortment of condiments, as well as snacks that are perfect to take home for pasalubong or to send to your relatives abroad.

Also new on Lydia’s Lechon delivery is the signature Lechon Bilao which is available starting at Php2,500 and can serve up to eight to ten (8-10) persons. Patrons can order the signature Lechon Bilao and the rest of the menu items online thru the food delivery partners, FoodPanda and GrabFood. 

In addition, Lydia’s Lechon has launched their online customer rewards apps in partnership with Globe Rush along with Lydia’s Lechon HAPPY Card for free, the bearer is entitled to 5% discount on whole lechon and 10% discount for dine-in orders. 

Lydia’s Lechon is working on all these new offers and more as they gear up for its 55th anniversary celebration. “We are excited to bring you more surprises, especially now that we are on our 55th year of bringing everyday lechon happiness to everyone,” added Ms. De Roca. *All new menu items will be available in selected Lydia’s Lechon stores starting July 15, 2019.

For inquiries, you may contact Lydia’s Lechon at 939-1221 and 939-4665 (Quezon City); 8512987 to 89 (Baclaran); Globe 0917-5380304 or 0917-8202989; Smart 09189675213. For more information, visit www.lydias-lechon.com.

Rock hard this July as Hard Rock Café Manila presents some of the country’s best bands

Rock hard this July as Hard Rock Café Manila presents some of the country’s best bands performing live every night the whole month!

Go back in time with African-American blues and jazz with the famous Bluegrass band. Catch them live every Sunday, at 8:pm. Meanwhile, it’s going to be ‘Mulatto-Mondays’ as the best of soul, jazz, and R&B will be rendered by the Pinoy-rhythm Mulatto band on all Mondays of July at 8:pm.

Enjoy the beat of the brass as the popular 9-piece band known Maria’s Project hits the stage on July 9 and 16 at 8:00pm. You may also swing to the band’s special rhythm and brass section on July 23 and 30 at 7:00pm. On July 23, catch The Voice of the Philippines champion Mitoy Yonting and his award-winning band, The Draybers, perform Pinoy and international rock songs at 8:00pm. 

Nothing to do on July 30? Dance to the discography of The Dawn and watch Jett Pangan and his band rock Enveloped Ideas, Iisang Bangka, and other hits via a one-night-only show at 8:00pm. 

Swing to Spirit of 67 every Wednesday at 8:00pm and be entertained with jams from the 60's up to the 80's. And if you want to indulge yourself with  supreme audio decadence, don’t miss the all-male Ice Bucket and delight in their all-rock repertoire, every Thursday at 8:00pm. If you can’t make it on a weeknight, you may catch them perform songs from Aerosmith, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Styx, and many more of the greatest rock icons of all time, all Saturdays of July at 9:45pm. 

Fridays will always be fun, fun, fun as Big Nite Out, the country’s best show band, treats you  big time with their disco hits, pop and R&B hits, plus top 40 dance favorites on July 5, 12, and 19 at 7:30pm. Hit the nonstop dance button, too on July 26 as they throw a rave party through their disco hits on July 26 at 9:45pm. 

July 19 will see Verse Two band play at 9:45pm while on July 26, Love Me Dudes will wow you with their Beatles-inspired rock & roll music at 7:30pm. Finally, hit the roads to Hard Café as Highway 54 plays their retro repertoire all Saturdays of this month at 7:30pm.

Ride through the waves of the beat this July. Check out these bands at Hard Rock Café Manila and jam your hearts out!

Hard Rock Café Manila is at the 2^ndLevel of S Maison at Conrad Manila, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. Contact us at +639162524119 or (02) 9909809 and follow us on our social media accounts and be up-to-date with the latest: (Facebook – Hard Rock Café Manila; Instagram - @hardrockcafemanila.

WATCH OUT FOR THE OPENING OF HARD ROCK CAFÉ MANILA’S 2^NDBRANCH AND ROCK SHOP AT GLORIETTA THIS SEPTEMBER!