Noche Buena

Am spending the holidays here in the Netherlands, which actually means: wish I was back in Manila with my mom and brother and his family. Aarrgh, I really miss them and, of course, all the Christmas smells and tastes. Heard that my brother (who's an art director) art-directed this year's noche buena hehe...he did everything from the grilling to making the pasta sauce and of course, the food styling. They had pasta, prawns, steak among others. Not to be outdone, here's a preview of my anniversary dinner (dec. 23) and noche buena (dec. 24) with Martin.

Anniv dinner: mushroom ragout in pastry puff; honey and orange-glazed baby carrots; mashed potatoes with garlic and chives; roast beef in red wine and herb butter gravy; creme brulee --- yumyum!

Noche buena: medium-rare deer steak lightly seasoned with soy sauce, salt and pepper; cauliflower and stringbeans flavoured with thyme and rosemary; tender rabbit in port sauce; mocha-cherry cake...oh yeah, and rice, of course!!!

But no matter how tasty it was, I still crave for the Pinoy taste...somebody give me good ol' DINUGUAN!!! (For my Dutch friends: that's beef cooked in cow blood, peppers, onions, vinegar and garlic!!! ...nou ja, jullie eten toch bloedworst! Enough with the squirming! ;-p )