Halo-Halo @ Top Chef
Top Chef has been my addiction lately. I download the latest episodes since it’s not shown here in this side of the planet. This is Bravo reality show about the search for the most talented chef in the US. It’s like Iron Chef minus the celebrity chefs competitors. The contestants are the hottest up and coming chefs from the best restaurants in US.
My favorite is Richard because he’s into this type of cuisine technique — molecular gastronomy. It sounds like a science project but cuisine has always been about Chemistry (a subject I hated in high school. I prefer my vinegar on a pot of adobo and not on a test tube). Richard uses interesting non-traditional gadgets in the kitchen and unusual techniques. His concoctions are somewhat made from flavors that would you think you wouldn’t go together ( like wasabi and white chocolate in the movie theme challenge) and still his dishes ends among the judges’ favorite if not the winner.
Episode 7’s Quick Fire challenge was all about dessert. Then I heard someone say he is making “Halo-Halo”. It was Dave who was going to prepare this Pinoy traditional dessert. I had no idea Dave grew up in the Philippines. I thought he was Vietnamese. LOL. He did a fine dining twist to the Halo-Halo.
The Halo-Halo was among the three favorites for this challenge. It was a toss between the Halo Halo and Richard’s Banana scallop. Richard won the challenge though.
Personally I like my Halo-Halo simple like the ones at Razon’s. Razon’s Halo-Halo has three ingredients only - macapuno, bananas (saba) and leche flan for topping. I hate beans in Halo-Halo — always thought they didn’t belong there. Beans are veggies. Probably some parent in Philippine history tricked to his/her kids to eat veggies by concealing it in a cold glass of sweet Halo-Halo.
Dale’s Halo-Halo recipe can viewed here.
Random Shots of Happiness
Wake up and smell the roses…
Hmmm. Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chips + Andes Creme de Mente Chocolate Chips equals…
…Chocolate Mint Cookies.
This is how you start a brand new day.