Have yourself a Mediterranean holiday spread and paint it, too!
Wondering what potluck dish to bring to your Christmas party? Look no further than your pantry or fridge for inspiration. You can make olive tapenade out of that jar of olives, or gourmet dips by infusing herbs into a tub of Magnolia butter or cream cheese. For mains, pop that whole Magnolia chicken in the oven, sprinkle it with herbs and spices for a delectable Mediterranean treat. Better yet, open a can of chorizo Bilbao and whip up a delectable pasta dish with garlic bits in less than 20 minutes.
“The possibilities are endless, especially if your pantry or freezer is well stocked with San Miguel Purefoods and Monterey products,” says Llena Arcenas, manager of San Miguel Purefoods Culinary Center (SMPFCC) over lunch at Sip & Gogh Studio in Balara, QC.
Arcenas and the SMPFCC culinary team recently hosted an intimate lunch to give us unique ideas on how to make holiday meals extra special.
SMPFCC chefs Ramon Victoria, Kristina Jardin, Rene Ruz, Clarissa O, Ronaldo Garcia Jr. and John Valley prepared a colorful holiday spread featuring Spanish-Mediterranean dishes influenced by the cultural heritages of Spain, Italy, the South of France, Portugal, Morocco, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Croatia.
Chef KC Jardin perked up the appetite with his fruit board laden with Magnolia Quezo de Bola and Edam Cheese (cut into cubes) served with fresh fruits and nuts. The thinly sliced Purefoods Jamon Royale went well with freshly baked artisanal breads such as brioche rolls, focaccia, karta musika, and Dutch crunch loaf.
Chef RJ Garcia highlighted the versatility of Monterey pork belly in his lechon porchetta with apple chutney, whole grain mustard and brown sauce. It’s a cheaper, healthier, but equally delicious alternative to the traditional lechon. Also, it’s something you can prepare in the comforts of your kitchen, while waiting for your seafood paella to cook.
“This event was actually organized to showcase the versatility of everyday food items. Explore all the possible food presentation ideas to make the dishes unique, enticing and exciting,” explains Arcenas. “More than that, we also wanted to show the merging of both art and science when it comes to food preparation. Remember, we eat with our eyes first, so the food not only needs to taste good, it should look good as well.”
PAINT YOUR NOCHE BUENA
Dubbed “Holiday Feast in Canvas,” the event was held at Sip & Gogh, an art studio cum café in Balara, QC, that lets one drink while painting.
The highlight of the San Miguel Purefoods culinary affair was the Christmas cupcake-decorating demo conducted by cake artist Penk Ching, and a group painting session where we painted a still-life holiday spread featuring SMPF products.
“The subject of our amateur paintings was apt as the holidays are fast approaching. For Filipino families, Christmas is not complete without the star of the noche buena feast — Purefoods Fiesta Ham,” enthuses Helene Z. Pontejos, vice president and general manager, Great Food Solutions.
Needless to say, our tablescapes were replete with all-time Christmas favorites such as Purefoods Fiesta Ham, Magnolia Quezo de Bola, and for good measure, the irresistible cupcakes of chef Penk Ching.
With San Miguel Purefoods products, you can whip up a delectable noche buena spread, and paint it, too!
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San Miguel Purefoods products are available at leading supermarkets and grocery stores nationwide.
