cooking hacks – Jellybeans in the City

Last Saturday afternoon, the Quantum Skyview at Gateway Mall 2 buzzed with energy as home cooks, food enthusiasts, and aspiring chefs gathered for “Cook with Chef Tatung: Ignite Your Passion.” This special event offered a unique chance to learn from Chef Tatung Sarthou, a culinary icon known for his Simpol philosophy, which simplifies traditional Filipino recipes. The venue was lively with product displays from sponsors like Masflex Cookware, Nestlé, Maggi, and NutriAsia, who also provided a range of freebies to attendees.

Meet the Culinary Maestro

Chef Tatung Sarthou is a name that resonates deeply in the culinary world. With over three million followers across digital platforms, his influence extends from his popular digital show, Simpol, to his international appearances at Madrid Fusion and the Village Internationale de la Gastronomie in Paris. His work in promoting Filipino cuisine globally and his role as a resource speaker on Netflix’s Street Food showcase his dedication to elevating Filipino flavors.

Chef Tatung is also a successful restaurateur with ventures like Pandan Asian Café, Tatung’s Private Dining, Azadore and Tindeli. His creative agency, Vertikal Kreatives, manages major culinary projects and campaigns for top brands. This event was a testament to his commitment to making cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Interactive Cooking Demos: A Culinary Showcase

The centerpiece of the event was Chef Tatung’s interactive cooking demonstration. Attendees watched closely as Chef Tatung, alongside Menchie Porciuncula—winner of the “Get a chance to cook with Chef Tatung” contest—prepared his Birthday Spaghetti. This dish featured a delightful mix of carrots, bell peppers, and sausages from Tindeli, demonstrating how simple ingredients can create a flavorful meal.

The collaboration didn’t stop there. Chef Tatung also teamed up with Chef Jackie Ang Po to craft a unique Bibingka Cheesecake. Chef Jackie, known for her work with Fleur de Lys and Del Monte Kitchenomics, added her expertise to this innovative dessert, blending traditional Filipino flavors with modern techniques. Their joint efforts highlighted how combining different culinary styles can produce extraordinary results.

Simpol Tips and Kitchen Hacks

Chef Tatung shared valuable tips and kitchen hacks that resonated with both seasoned cooks and beginners:

Patience is Key: “Add ingredients little by little when cooking; take time to develop the flavors,” Chef Tatung advised. He emphasized that patience is crucial for achieving the best results in cooking.
Adapt and Innovate: Chef Tatung encouraged cooks to be flexible. “Authenticity is not the basis for us to feed our families. Use what you have and let creativity guide you.” This approach is all about making the most of available ingredients and adapting recipes to fit your needs.
Seasoning Throughout: One of his essential tips was to season food step by step. “Season your food every step of the way, not just at the end,” he said. This method ensures that every part of the dish is flavorful and well-seasoned.
Understanding Fundamentals: Chef Tatung stressed the importance of mastering basic cooking techniques. “We need to understand the fundamentals. Whether cooking salmon or tilapia, improper seasoning or overcooking can ruin the dish.” His focus was on learning the basics to create delicious, well-balanced meals.

Engage and Taste: A Hands-On Experience

The “Taste and Learn” segment was a highlight of the event. Select participants had the opportunity to taste Chef Tatung’s dishes and gain insights into his cooking techniques. This interactive portion allowed attendees to experience the flavors firsthand.

Exciting Prizes and Giveaways

The event also featured a range of prizes and giveaways that added excitement to the day. Trivia games rewarded winners with Tindeli vouchers and Simpol aprons, while the raffle offered a variety of prizes. Attendees could win kitchen essentials like Masflex cookware, with major prizes including La Germania gas stoves and online cooking classes with Chef Jackie. These giveaways, along with product displays from sponsors, made the event even more enjoyable for everyone involved.

The Big Reveal: Simply Simpol

One of the most anticipated moments was the reveal of Chef Tatung’s latest cookbook, Simply Simpol. This new addition to his bestselling series emphasizes the simplicity of cooking. What sets this book apart is its inclusion of QR codes that link to cooking videos. Readers can use their phone cameras to access these videos online, making it easier to follow along with Chef Tatung’s recipes. The book will be available starting October 2024 for Php490 at National Bookstore, Shopee, Lazada, Fully Booked, Tiktok Shop, and Amazon.

Inspiring Home Cooks

As the event concluded, it was clear that Chef Tatung’s influence extended beyond his recipes. His approach to cooking—making it accessible, creative, and enjoyable—left a lasting impression on everyone present. Whether they were seasoned cooks or just starting out, attendees left feeling inspired and empowered to explore their culinary passions.

Chef Tatung’s dedication to simplifying cooking and sharing his love for food continues to resonate with a wide audience. Through events like this, he shows that anyone can create delicious meals at home with a little creativity and a lot of heart.

Know more about Chef Tatung and his various endeavors by visiting his website or by following his social media platforms: Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok.

For first time parents, nothing beats the excitement and joy of seeing their new bundle of joy. However, first-time parenthood also means exhaustion from the erratic feeding-crying-sleeping-changing, dealing with a whirlwind of emotions, and adjusting to the trial-and-error nature of raising a tiny human.

Amid all the chaos of navigating a new life milestone, it’s important to stay well-fed to be able to have the energy to deal with the needs of a newborn, on top of taking care of other household duties.

But who’s to say that new parents should settle for fast food deliveries? Here are nutritious meals first-time parents can easily prepare:

Wraps.

Handheld meals are best when you’re up and about, scrambling from one room to another. Parents who have their hands full will appreciate a quick bite when the new boss of the house is asleep.

To make a basic wrap, heat up your tortilla wrap, put the savory filling of your choice – it could be as simple as reheated beef, pork, or chicken or canned tuna, then add some greens and vegetables.

Explore different fillings and flavors of meal wraps here.

One-pot Meals.

One-pot meals make sure you get your fill of grains, vegetables and protein in one go – no need to figure out how to mix and match dishes, devote hours of cooking separately or wash lots of pans and plates.

Perfect as a weeknight dinner, one-pot meals such as rice bowls, pasta or casserole dishes, are surefire ways to enjoy your meal while still cutting down on chores.

Be inspired by these one-pot meals.

Heat-and-eat Meals.

Enjoy homecooked meals while still saving on time and energy when you do the practice of meal prep once or several times a week.

You can cook your favorite ulam on a weekend, divide them into several portions good for one meal, then store them in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, simply pop in the microwave!

Explore the basics of meal prepping here.

Aside from exploring easy and filling recipes, equipping the kitchen with appliances and tools that help cut down on prep time and cleaning will greatly help first-time parents. As first-time parents begin their parenthood journey, baby-proofing the house also extends to the kitchen.

With so many things happening all at once, having a safe and trusted kitchen fuel like Solane LPG gives first-time parents one less thing to worry about. Make sure your LPG is verified Solane because copycats and illegally refilled tanks are at risk of leaking, which may cause massive fires and endanger your home and family. Verified Solane LPGs go through the Timbang Challenge to guarantee that you get what you paid. They are also subject to stringent safety standards from the plant to the time they are welcomed to your homes to ensure that they are not a threat to your growing family.

Spend more time cherishing moments with the family when you’re confident about the safety of your kitchen. To order Verified Solane LPG, customers may call the Hatid Bahay Hotline – (02) 8887-5555, send a message to 0918-887-5555 (Smart) / 0917 8977555 (Globe) or the Solane Facebook page, or place their orders through the Solane app. Customers may also place an order through the Web Ordering Platform.

Images and details provided in a recent press release.

Tag: cooking hacks

Cook with Chef Tatung Sarthou: Ignite Your Passion

Solane shares easy eats for newbie parents

Wraps.

One-pot Meals.

Heat-and-eat Meals.