Holiday Gift Ideas

As the holiday season approaches, Butchie's Recipes offers various holiday options for you and your friends, family and colleagues.

Any and all occasion gifts, especially for the holidays available to suit every taste and preference - starting at P50. Custom-make baskets containing the items you wish can be prepared to suit your budget.

Best selling artisan pastries from the century-old La Moderna Bakery in Guagua Pampanga as well as the best of Capampangan pasalubong are on offer together with non-food items such as fine ceramics glazed with ashes from Mount Pinatubo benefitting the EVA Charity Foundation uplifting the lives of indigenous peoples in Region 3. Capampangan books, magazines and other multimedia items are also available.

Drop by Butchie's Recipes of La Moderna Pampanga located at G/F Health Cube Building, 226 Wilson Street, West Greenhils, San Juan, Metro Manila (between BDO and Kink Cakes). Ample street and basement parking available. Open 8am to 730pm Mondays to Saturdays.

A small 30-seat restaurant serves up our family's heritage recipes such as beef calitiran, bulanglang na bangus and many more. Tray of these dishes can be ordered ahead of time - for potluck parties and other occasions.

Tel (63 2) 385 0387. Email butchiesoflamoderna.blogspot.com. Website butchiesoflamoderna.blogspot.com.

Butchie's Recipes Products Now Available in Guagua King of ABS-CBN foodcourt

Products from Butchie's Recipes of La Moderna Pampanga are now available at Guagua King, a food kiosk located at the food court of ABS-CBN in Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City.

Best selling artisan baked products from 70+ year old La Moderna Bakery of Guagua, Pampanga and other Capampangan specialties such as sweets and Claude Tayag's signature sauces are available.

Guagua King is open daily from 8am onwards. Telephone number is (63 2) 379 3658.

See you there!

Beat the El Nino Heat with Summer Fruit Sherbets

Cool off with summer fruit sherbets at Butchie’s Recipes. Available are refreshingly light watermelon; melon – a cooler version of samalamig; cold-busting pineapple rich in vitamin C, and mango which tastes similar to but lighter than its Pinoy sorbetes inspiration.

Similar to the restaurant’s bestselling malunggay, ebun buro (salted egg), reds monggo and gabi sorbetes and buco cheese dayap sherbet, the summer flavours are made more special with coconut milk but doesn’t contain any dairy making it suitable for the lactose intolerant.

Other frozen items include artisan pastries sans rival and sylvanna, tinapang tilapia, embutido, Guagua longganisa and home-made beef tapa. Butchie’s also offers Filipino-Capampangan dishes, products from La Moderna in Guagua, Pampanga as well other food and non-food items from the Northern Luzon province.

Tray orders of the Narciso family’s heirloom recipes such as beef calitiran (fork tender beef stew), crab adobo and prawns thermidor are also available for take-out upon prior notice.

Butchie's Recipes is located at the ground floor of the Health Cube Building, 226 Wilson Street, West Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila. Open 8am-730pm Mondays to Saturdays and for special evening and Sunday occasions upon prior notice. Tel (63 2) 385 0387 or mobile +63 917 844 7593. Email: butchiesoflamoderna@yahoo.com. Websites: butchiesoflamoderna.blogspot.com and http://ansongo.multiply.com/

A Blessed Easter to Everyone!

Twin Butchie's feature UHF TV and the web! Studio 23 News Central feature with Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo and www.clickthecity.com interview by Bea Acosta

Butchie's Recipes on Studio 23's primetime programme News Central Friday Foodie Feature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHEk3cTdRE

Anchor Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo interviewed president Angelo N. Songco and sampled (and loved) our beef calitiran, bulanglang na bangus and crab adobo!

Thank you Ria, Vince and Mark!

* * *

Butchie's Recipes by Beatriz Acosta

Pampanga is undoubtedly a province rich in culinary delights. Why else would author-chef Anthony Bourdain visit the place for his television show? For those who have the time, a visit to Pampanga always makes a foodie entertained, and his stomach happy. For those of us in Manila, we have Butchie's Recipes run by the Narciso family.

Because their family is set to bring the best of the best of Capampangan flavors to Manila, the Narcisos decided to create a hybrid establishment - a restaurant, a bakery, a grocery and a store rolled into one

Clipcast - http://www.clickthecity.com/clipcast/?v=1138

Butchie’s Recipes of La Moderna, Pampanga. Enjoy Capampangan treats in the heart of San Juan. From comfort food dishes to top Pampanga products, Butchie's Recipes has become the one stop shop for Kapampangan cravings when in Manila. Angelo Narciso Songco talks about their family's resto-store.

Bulanglang Na Bangus Butchie's Recipes serves the Capampangan style of sinigang in their Bulanglang Na Bangus (P120). Instead of sampaloc, their variation uses guava as the souring agent, making the soup lean on the slightly sweeter side.

The Calitiran (P125) is something that the Narciso family cooks up at home, a beef stew that's stuff of comfort food. It's a simple dish of tender meat slices with some sauce and mushrooms, a version of 'bistek' of sorts.

Their Lumpiang Sariwa (P95, 2 pieces) was quite memorable, as I was expecting something else from it.

The roll of soft crepe was filled with sauteed fresh mixed veggies, and it is eaten with some of the sweet nutty sauce drizzled on it. The assorted vegetables like string beans, carrrots and cabbage remind me of the taste of chop suey, if it were served lumpia style.

Of course, after having a good meal, you must cap it off with equally good desserts!

For an authentic La Moderna experience, order the light and creamy Sylvanna (P22 - 1 piece, P140 - Pack of 7, P300 - Box of 15) or the sweeter Sansrival (P25 - 1 piece, P280 - Small, P480 - Large), which Angelo Narciso swears is still the same recipe and taste when he was still a child.

Their line of Ice Cream P45 - scoop, P220 - 750ml tub) comes from Guagua. I suggest you try two of their exciting flavors: the Ebun Buro and the Malunggay. Now before you raise your eyebrow or shake your head out of disbelief, let me tell you, they both taste 'safe,' and more importantly, delicious!

Scoops of Malunggay and Ebun Buro Ice CreamThe Malunggay is their best-selling ice cream, and I assume it is because of its green-tea-like flavor. Or probably its health benefits... or both.

The texture of their ice cream is icier, like a sherbet, and I personally like it. The Ebun Buro's dominating flavor is creamy and cheesy. Instead of it being pungent and salty like I thought it would be, it's more of a 'bibingka ice cream' in reality. There are bits of boiled egg in the ice cream that make it extra fun to eat.

After eating or before you start your Capampangan meal, you may want to take a look at their little grocery full of local delicacies and knick-knacks.

Angelo boasts that they rounded up 'the best of the best' of what Pampanga has to offer, and Butchie's Recipes resells them so that one need not travel far to have a taste of the flavorful province.

I bought some sweet, cashew-filled Empanaditas (a must-try), and assorted flavor Polvoron to bring back home. They also have Pinatubo products, items made from Mount Pinatubo ash; some books about Pampanga culture, and some of Chef Claude Tayag's famous sauces and marinades. So if you want a taste of Pampanga here in Manila, Butchie's Recipes is definitely the place to be.

Thank you Bea!

All-Day Dining Menu and Product List

Butchie's Recipes offers all day dining for families and friends MOnday to Saturday from 8am to 730pm. Seating up to 30 persons with an outdoor tables seating up to six, Butchie's Recipes has ample basement parking and is available for private functions in the evening or Sunday upon prior notice.

Gift suggestions for friends, family and colleagues. Artisan bakery products from P55 to personalised hampers to suit every preference and budget.

Carefully selected Campangampangan specialties, literature, DVDs, CDs as well as fine Pinatubo ash-glazed products from P65 make great gifts as well.Tray orders of heirloom Filipino-Campangan dishes are available on advanced notice.

All-Day Breakfast served with salted egg and rice
Tinapang tilapia - 135
Homemade beef tapa - 140
Tocino - 140

Butchie’s Specialties
Okoy - 70
Lumpiang sariwa - 95
Rellenong ampalaya - 95
Ampalaya with giniling - 95
Mixed seafood - 125
Fish with tofu - 125
Lengua - 125
Callos - 125
Beef calitiran - 130

Daily Specials - please inquire from our staff

Merienda

Sandwich (filling varies) - 75
Dinuguan - 85
Pancit - 85
Chicken macaroni salad - 85

Desserts
Guagua sorbetes and sherbet flavours - 45, 220 (scoop, 500g pack)

Flavours: Ebun buro (salted egg), malunggay, red munggo, gabi ice cream and buco cheese dayap sherbet

Beverages
Bottled water - 25
Soft drinks in can - 30
Pandan iced tea - 35
Brewed coffee - 45
Tsokolate de batirol - 55Frozen Products
Guagua longganisa (one dozen) - 40
Tinapang tilapia (three pieces) - 160
Embutido - 165
Beef tapa (1/2 kilo) - 250
Tray Orders (to order three days in advance)
Okoy (16, 30 pieces) - 480, 875
Rellenong ampalaya 16, 30 pieces) - 620, 1,120
Embutido (three rolls of 15 slices) - 420
Chicken asado (for eight, 15 persons) - 640, 1,120
Bulanglang na bangus (for eight, 15 persons) - 760, 1,390
Umba (for eight, 15 persons) - 780, 1,440
Callos (for eight, 15 persons) - 800, 1,470
Fish with tofu (for eight, 15 persons) - 820, 1,500
Mixed seafood (for eight, 15 persons) - 830, 1,520
Beef with broccoli (for eight, 15 persons) - 830, 1,520
Kare-kare (for eight, 15 persons) - 840, 1,550
Beef calitiran (for eight, 15 persons) - 850, 1,560
Prawns themidor (16, 30 pieces) - 1,250, 2,250
Crab adobo - seasonal
Chicken galantina (one whole) - 890
Tokwa’t baboy (for eight, 15 persons) - 350, 600
Pancit (for eight, 15 persons) - 600, 1,095
Dinuguan (for eight, 15 persons) - 630, 1,140
Lumpiang sariwa (16, 30 pieces) - 590, 1,020
Chicken macaroni salad (for eight, 15 persons) - 680, 1,200

Product List
Hand-made treasures from the pugon oven
Oatmeal cookies (pack of six) - 95
Empanaditas (piece, pack of 10, box of 25) - 15, 140, 350
Toasted Bread - 18
Chicken empanada - 20
Sans rival (piece, pack, box) - 25, 140, 280
Butter toast - 42
Turrones de casuy (pack of 10, 20, tin of 50) - 50, 95, 200
Sampaguita (pack, S, M, L) - 55, 85, 135, 200
Masa podrida (pack, S, M, L) - 55, 85, 135, 200
San Nicolas (pack, S, L) - 65, 100, 235
Mamon tostado (pack, S, L) - 75, 90, 200
Gorgorias (S, M) - 100, 185
Sylvanna (piece, pack of 7, box of 15) - 22, 140, 300
Other products available to order: petite fortunes, longganisa pandesal, taisan loaf and rolls, inipit.

Capampangan specialties
Sasmuan polvoron (piece, styro, L pack) - 12, 98, 250
Guagua atchara (S, M) - 50, 100
Guagua chicharon - 55
Puto seco - 55
Mobee’s tarts (pack, S, L) - 55, 110, 200
Naty’s pastillas (pack, styro) - 70, 125
Conching’s polvoron (S pack, styro) - 60, 90
Wow garlic chips (S, M) - 55, 98
Barquiron - 65
Emy’s boat tarts - 70
Butong pakwan - 100
Yemas - 95
Aiza’s marzipan (pack, S, L) - 95, 105, 290
Wow peanuts with garlic chips (S, M) - 100, 130
Native tsokolate (S, M) - 95, 185
Homemade Peanut Butter - 145
Cashew brittle - 150
Barquillos - 65
Allied peanuts (S, can) - 165, 275
Wow Casoy - 190
Claude Tayag’s gourmet sauces & condiments
Claude 9 oriental sauce - 96
Claude 9 balo-balo (fermented rice with shrimp) - 96
Claude 9 inasal barbecue marinade - 108
Aslam atbu (spiced cane vinegar) - 180
Mac Best taba ng talangka - 200
Claude 9 pesto - 235
Claude 9 XO sauce - 252
Claude 9 pure taba ng talangka - 342

Capampangan books, DVDs, CDs from the Center for Kapampangan Studies as well as fine Pinatubo ash-glazed ceramics are available (benefiting the EVA Charity Foundation - www.evacf.org.

Any and all occasion gift baskets or hampers with your favourite items to suit your budget and preference may be prepared with prior notice. Menu selection and prices may change without prior notice.

Duman Duman. Get Some Before It's All Gone! (a few packs still available!)

http://www.spot.ph/2009/12/14/jenny-orillos-on-duman-the-christmas-grain/

Jenny Orillos on Duman: The Christmas Grain
By Jenny Orillos Published: December 14, 2009 in spot.ph

It’s that time of the year for the duman—young grains harvested from a variety of glutinous rice in Pampanga. Think pinipig, but not pounded to a pulp (the grain retains its slender outline). It is fragrant as a rice field, or how I imagine a rice field to be.

After hearing about it for three years from my Kapampangan friends, I finally got to taste the duman on the very first day of December. Kapampangans traditionally serve it for breakfast or merienda with hot carabao’s milk or tsokolate de batirol. Pale green—it is almost “green gold”—the duman is sprinkled on top and then stirred into the milk. The grains plump up slightly minutes after settling at the bottom of the cup.

The taste is not immediately earth-shattering, but delicate and subtle like rice just beginning to cook. You’ll have to pay special attention to its nuances but the flavor is there to be enjoyed like a long, involved conversation. It is best enjoyed that way because the duman is a traditional delicacy grown in limited quantity (which explains why not all Kapampangans know of it).

Angelo Songco, president of Butchie’s Recipes of La Moderna, Pampanga and who grew up eating duman, says that it is planted only in select rice paddies in the town of Sta. Rita in the summer. When the rice is harvested in the early mornings of November-December, a strong duman-making culture—usually confined to families who grow and harvest the grain—emerges.

Most family members and relatives are involved in the rhythm of duman-making. The young grains that remain on the stalk become the duman. It is winnowed, soaked, toasted, pounded and packaged in banana leaves and paper. After the harvest, there are families already on the waiting list for their share of the duman. The remaining stocks are hawked by a vendor and not sold in any stall in the market.

Sold by the pati (about a kilo and a half) and measured by a small wooden box (takal), a kilo of duman costs around P3,500. A golden grain indeed. Knowing the duman’s origin and the context with which it is consumed makes each grain all the more precious.

In the town of Sta. Rita, duman harvest signals the beginning of the Christmas season. It is said that you can smell it in the air. Although a visit during the duman festival in early December would have been a great way to partake of duman, I didn’t have to travel out of Manila. At Butchie’s Recipes, a cozy restaurant and pasalubong store in San Juan, it is sold frozen in small batches for take home or served in hot milk or tsokolate de batirol.

Angelo says that last year, a balikbayan customer purchased all of their stock so they were not able to sell to the public. This year, they have some in stock for those who want to try the duman. Tightly wrapped in foil and paper, the duman stores well in the freezer and lasts for months. Otherwise, a duman connoisseur does not waste time in eating it grain by golden grain.
Butchie’s Recipes of la Moderna, Pampanga is at Ground level, Health Cube Building, 226 Wilson Street, San Juan City. Call 385-0387. http://butchiesoflamoderna.blogspot.com/