International Buffet and Barbeque at The Terrace Restaurant

Clockwise: Mixed vegetable hydroponic Salad, Potato salad, beef salad with wasabi sauce and assorted sushi

High season begins in Thailand. The Passage is getting busy. The whole staff at the resort is working hard to prepare for the influx of guests from all over the country and beyond. To welcome our first guests of the season, we hosted a buffet and barbeque event. Well, sort of. There was a downpour on the day of the event. (Thailand is approaching monsoon).The rain ruined every thing we had planned. Instead of char grilling meat and seafood on a wood fire, the chef grilled them in the kitchen using an electric grill. We set up the buffet inside the restaurant. In spite of the wet weather, our guests set the mood for an evening of fun, food and laughter. Thanks everyone. You rocked!

Flambe

The restaurant where I work is pursuing something more challenging. Flambeing main course and dessert in full view of guests. As I was told, no restaurant on Koh Samui has done it so our  F& B Manager has this goal to make our restaurant the first to offer the kind of service to customers.

So what is flambe? It is a cooking procedure in which food is drenched in alcohol and ignited.  The method is used not only to add flavor but also to give that elegant finished to the dish.

Thai Fresh Spring Rolls

Channel Three organized a Food Fair a few weeks ago. The hotel where I did my training was one of its participants. Featured at the fair was the hotel's baked goodies and Thai fresh spring rolls. Since the fair started early,  only few kitchen staff were there to help including me. I had no background in making Thai fresh spring rolls but I learned that day just by watching the sous chef do it. We managed to make a day's supply.Thank God!

Spring rolls are good on its own. They can also be served as an appetizer or finger food at gatherings. With only a rice wrapper, greens and other veggies, you can put them together to create a complete meal.

Bibingka Mix (Rice Cake Mix)

When we went grocery shopping in Philippines last Christmas, my sister found this bibingka mix which only needed an egg, water and a tablespoon of melted butter to make. We so love bibingka so she bought one to try. Months past and the bibingka mix was long forgotten. Today, while my mom,  sister and cousins were playing scrabble, I was thinking of what to serve  for merienda (afternoon snack). I remembered the bibingka mix.

Floating Market Damnoen Saduak

One and a half  hours away from the bustling metropolis is Thailand's most popular floating market. It is located in Damnoen Saduak District in Ratchaburi province, 105 kilometers away from Bangkok. My guests and I joined a guided tour of the floating market. We also went for a walk along the canals. The canals were packed with boats selling fruit and vegetables and local food. The tour cost Thai Baht 1000 per person (around $30). The price includes trip to floating market, buffet lunch and Samphran Elephant ground and zoo.

Citrine Restaurant's Photoshoot

The week that went by was rather slow. There was only one big gathering  held at the hotel.  And today, the hotel's restaurant was set up for the annual photo shoot. The entire kitchen staff worked together to create the best dining atmosphere possible.

It's getting more exciting at work!

Custard

During the entire week I was requested to work in the pastry/bakery section. Helping the pastry chef was to my advantage. First of, I had to be at work before 7. I love to work early so getting up before the rooster crows is not an issue to me. Second of, I could go home before the rush hour began.(It begins at 5). The last reason which I think mattered most was learning from a more experienced professional. Well, I need to be trained by a seasoned pastry chef.

Food Plating

Beef lasagna

My second week at the hotel seemed more exciting. I was allowed to assist in cooking more western dishes for  a la carte dining. I also learned food plating and presentation techniques.

Thai Dessert - Bananas Cooked in Coconut Milk ( Kluai Buat Chi)

I am learning  Thai dessert at work. Yesterday, another Thai chef was kind enough to let me take a picture of how she makes Kluai Buat Chi. They are bananas cooked in coconut milk. Most ingredients in Thai cooking are just approximation so I am sorry  that I won't be able to share the exact measurement  needed. Anyway, here's the step- by- step procedure of this popular Thai dessert.

Surviving My First Week at St. James Hotel

Fish Piccata in Tomato sauce

My three-month training at St James Hotel in Sukhumvit has started. I was given the late morning to evening shift so despite my desire to update this blog regularly, I can't. Since I got back from my country, I had been  busy preparing for this much anticipated "event". I had only five days rest before my training began and I still had not fully recovered from travel fatigue.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you my experiences in the first week of my 3-month stint. I was assigned to assist the Thai chef. She's an older woman, probably a little younger than my mom. We hit it off right away. Even I'm not proficient in Thai language  I had a blast working with her.  She taught me some knife and cutting techniques used for different types of vegetables. There were times when she let me cook Thai dishes just by following her instructions. It's a bit of struggle for me as I was not sure if I understood her instructions right. She's a very nice woman and she smiled at me even I didn't quite catch them.

Yesterday was a different story. There was a party later in the evening. Another chef was on vacation and the sous chef who's in-charged of Western dishes had to work alone. He asked me to assist him. With just a yes and a no, I managed to follow his instructions and I was able to help him finish all the dishes on time.

My Holiday Food in the Philippines

I'm back! To kick off my first blog entry in 2013, I'm going to share photos of food I feasted on during my recent Philippine trip. Hope you enjoy.

Breakfast

1. Mom's homemade soymilk
2. Vegan pancake made of soy pulp, young coconut, mashed banana and flour.
3. Oatmeal topped with banana slices. (My uncle supplied us with loads of bananas while there).
4. Pan de sal - a bread roll made of flour, eggs, yeast, sugar and salt.