J. CO OH NO

There's a new donut place in town, and it hails from Indonesia.

http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?hl=tl&sa=X&biw=1024&bih=653&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=sS_ejai7_uY4_M:&imgrefurl=http://hermawan.typepad.com/blog/emotional_marketing/&docid=a-8_goUykbBB7M&imgurl=http://hermawan.typepad.com/blog/images/jco.jpg&w=280&h=255&ei=OIO6T8bsLYGgiQf6x-j8CA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=401&vpy=149&dur=2189&hovh=204&hovw=224&tx=92&ty=110&sig=101790864866695224351&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=158&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:71

I've already been seeing their advertisements around the metropolis in the MRT stations months ago, and I have to admit my interest was piqued, albeit a little dubious on how successful they would be in penetrating our market considering the demise of Go Nuts after Krispy Kreme entered the country.  Nevertheless, I dragged my mum one week day afternoon after hearing from her that their branch in Megamall was already open.  At first I wondered at the wisdom of having the store located along the Strip, but thinking about it further (and from seeing the filled seats all around the place), it was smart on the owner's part because this meant that they could close later than the other shops located inside the mall (which more or less closed by 9pm).  Also, it helped that they were a stone's throw away from the pedestrian overpass; hence, within eyesight of potential walking customers who may (or may not) have been thinking of bringing home something yummy.  So, partially relieved that this new business would have no shortage of customers (although why I was worried for something and/or people who I had no connection with made no sense whatsoever...), we entered the shop.

First impression... bright and cheerful.  There are two separate counters, one for the donuts, the other for the coffee drinks at al and frozen yoghurt (yes there is!).  There's quite a number of tables and seats available, with comfortable sofa chairs placed by the walls.  So far though, there's still quite an excited and hectic buzz in the air, which might be from the nervous and almost over achiever-ish attitude of the wait staff who are all obviously eager to give their customers a good time "the j. co way".  Because of this, on my part, I feel that you can't relax just yet in j. co and savor your cup of coffee over donuts and talk with friends.  Well, the frenetic energy could also be from the fast turnover of customers that came in and out of the place, most of whom seemed to be professionals in a bit of hurry.  Considering, the time of day we went (mid-afternoon on a weekday), this probably explained the clientele at that time.  Perhaps the weekend an nighttime crowd would give a different ambiance.  Anyway, enough logic and on to the food.


http://www.interaksyon.com/lifestyle/assets/2012/04/077.jpg

Well, when we went, we didn't order any drinks, but a look over the menu showed the usual house brew, latte and tea offerings, as well as green tea, thai tea, avocado, and (what i'm most curious to try) cherry-flavored coffee.  Right now, they're actually offering a free glazed donut (what they call glazzy) with any coffee drink.  More on this theme next time.

so as you can see, we had ours to-go.  In general, the donuts are not as sweet as krispy kreme or go nuts.  probably because they're not all glazed prior to adding toppings.  Although they're quite soft, I din't find them as melt-in-your mouth as its American counterpart.  As of yet, I haven't decided if that's a good or bad thing.  Anyway, the following is a bite-by-bite account of what I've tasted so far.

Cheese me up

I am enamored with sweet and savory combinations.  Which is why I was excited to taste this flavor.  So much so that I was willing to wait 15 minutes for it.  However, when I tasted it, it didn't quite live up to my expectations for the primary reason that it just wasn't cheesy enough.  When it comes to cheese donuts, Cello's still rules.  I think it was because there was no contrast enough between the sweet donut and salty cheese.  Although they do have a specialty donut named J Club which is a cheese-topped donut with a slice of cheese in the middle which I'm also looking forward to try.

Tiramisu

According to the sales girl who took my order, this was the best seller. And I couldn't agree more.  Here, the not-so-sweet donut worked well with the richness of the coffee flavor of the icing.  Even the cream filling wasn't so sweet.  Definitely a must-try.

Black Jack

This is another best seller in my book.  It's a plain donut, dipped, covered, DRENCHED in really rich dark chocolate ganache.  'Nuff said.

Alcapone
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgf0F7PZmwpTsLne_hhGL-QBDr-efQHQyGESX1waVjengEpSU7e1mcUd2qVxmlgP99653HCOv-hj5cF9OFVSL-myvm2o5nOrmd6luToRmAbTb-NHxERAvHWFOH0zYiAs6Gha00_LRlxV6/s1600/jco_donuts3.jpg

This was my mum's donut, and being the finicky person she is, I was pleasantly surprised that she enjoyed it, owing to lots of slivered almonds on top.  The glue that binds it to the donut is white chocolate.



So far, to be happy with 3 out of 4 donuts is a pretty good score I guess. Well, dear donuts of J. Co, whihc of you will be next.....

COME AWAY, LOVE

Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
To a land of everlasting bright sky-
          To our land of make-believe.


Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
Over the rainbow and past the great blue sea:
          This is our land of make-believe.


Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
Where the grass is lush, and the night - a mere blush...
          This, in our land of make-believe.


Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
With just the wind as our song and the trees guard our time...
          This: our land of make-believe.


Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
Your arms around me as my lips touches yours-
          This will be our land of make-believe.


Come away, come away... come away, my love,
          Come away with me.
In my silence echoes the love I have for thee...
          This... In my land of make-believe


And so fly away, fly away...
          Fly away, love... Fly away from me.
There is no you and me in this reality.
          No real land of make-believe.
Fly away, love, fly away, far, far away...
          Over the rainbow and past the great blue sea...
Away from the make-believe that was we.

UNREQUITED LOVE

            Here I am.  Waiting.  For what, I do not know… Then again, I do not know much yet.

            What a beautiful world I live in.  Warm, comfortable, secure.  Acceptance radiating from everywhere I turn.  Is everyone this happy? I don’t think so.  They’re not where I am anymore.

            Why do things have to change?  Once perfect bliss is grasped, how is it lost?  Is it a trick of God, or entirely a person’s fault?  It is said that life is a wheel, turning round and round, but will it never stop?  Perhaps, if it does cease, so will life… maybe… happiness goes with how you handle the turn of the wheel…

            I do not ever want to go far from home. The cord which binds me to it is stronger than all the rope and all the twine made by man.  Love.  What a wonderful word.  It encompasses all thought, all feeling, all senses. Love. It surpasses age and time, social class and race, religion and belief.  Probably the only thing constant in this world is love.  This one word which brings the greatest men to their knees, encouraged weak souls to stand and proclaim their individuality! can also put to rest arms raised between nations and put brother beside brother, on the same lever, in the same height.  Love.  To be in love, and not in-love, is what everyone wants. And I have it.

            From this point in my life, everything is possible.  I have so much potential, I have so much hope.  I am the future! I will set to right whatever mistakes others have committed before me, and continue the good another has started.  I am strong.  I have courage.  No one will stop me for I am in the Right.  Others will join and we will succeed until Paradise Lost is Paradise Found.

            ouch

            How beautiful I am.  With my new-found sight I look at myself and see God’s gift in flesh.  These hands for helping, these arms for protection, my shoulders for comfort, my whole being for others.  Just as my mother was for me.

            The darkness soothes the sudden crushing pain slowly crawling through my body…

            I feel my heart beat-beat-beating with my blood pound-poun-pounding through my vessels. Filling me with warmth and energy. Making me live.

            Why is it that something pulls me from this abyss?  I do not want to leave yet! I should not leave yet… now is not my time yet!  I should know.

            NO!

            No, I will not allow this!  Mommy! I’m not ready! I’ll die! I’ll die! I’ll… die… Mommy… do you want me to die?

            Mommy… I love you! Mommy…

            And still it pulls… and still, it pulls me…

           

            Now, I do not have to wait.  Now I know of happiness and love; now I know of pain. Now I join all the rest who will forget such happiness existed. Now I will join those who will be never experience it again. Now I join those who will be forgotten.  My wheel is stuck in a rut on the road of life with no hope of ever being lifted.  The cord which binds me can only be severed by the hand that holds it… and love is vanquished for a future in the Paradise Lost.  This beauty’s features will be mangled and torn, of no use for others.  The blood shall halt, and this heart will stop.

            The light is harsh compared to the dark.

            I love you, mommy.

            Perhaps the greatest tragedy is death brought about by the being which created you.

(July 1998)

IN A COTTAGE BY THE WOODS

I looked around, making sure that no one was watching.  Satisfied that I was alone, I ran from the edge of the forest towards the cottage not far away.  I knocked on the door, while looking behind my shoulder for any sign of The Hunter.

            “Please hurry…” I whispered to myself.  I knocked again, with more insistence.

            “Hold your horses, the world’s not ending just yet.”  Responded an old rasping voice.

            “I’m sorry, sir, but if you don’t mind, it’s a matter of life and death!”  I answered urgently.

            “Whatever.”  Muttered the voice from behind the door.

            After what seemed like eternity, the door was finally opened by an aging, stooped, one-eyed man.  He squinted his good eye against the sunlight and scratched his smooth pate.  I pulled at his trousers .  He looked down and gasped.

            “Don’t have a heart attack, air!  I wouldn’t be able to help you!”  I said in alarm.

            “You… you can talk!”  He said disbelievingly.

            “It’s a long story,” I started as I pushed my way in, “But I think I’ll have my whole lifetime to tell you if you let me stay.”  I finished, looking at him pleadingly.

            The old man bent down and stroked my fur.  “Is someone after you?”  He asked me.

            My nose quivered, “Yes.”

            “Don’t worry, no one will think of disturbing an old hermit like me.  You’re quite safe here.”  He reassured me.  He picked me up and set me on the sink. “Phew, you need a bath, my friend.”  He joked.

            I shamefully lowered my head as the old man began washing me from the tip of my long ears to the end of my bushy tail.

            Suddenly, we heard gun shots and furious barking.  The old man looked out his window and his eye widened with dismay.

            “Perhaps it’s better if I hide you somewhere.  Just to be on the safe side.”  He said as he quickly toweled me dry.  He pulled open a closet door and shoved me in.  “There are some carrots in there.  I’m sorry if it’s a little stuffy, but this is the best that I can do.”  The old man explained.

            I looked deep into his eye, the good one.  “Thank you so much.”  I replied sincerely.

            The old man smiled with uncertainty for a moment.  He opened his mouth as if to say something, but quickly changed his mind.  He closed the door with a bang.

            I felt around the small, enclosed space and my paws happened on some carrot slices.  I began munching on them and silently thanked my Creator for the old man.  Not long after I noticed that the heat was becoming more intense.  I remembered the old man’s words and decided to disregard the discomfort.  Then I smelled smoke, and noticed the slight flickering flames underneath me.  I suddenly recalled my mother’s warnings” of burning closets that cooked animals for human consumption.  I realized my predicament and pounded on the door.  I shouted and shouted…

The old man pulled out his rocking chair and sat down, looking up at the stars that were starting to show in the darkening sky.  Soon after, he heard heavy footsteps coming up the pathway.

            “Sorry, dad, nothing special tonight, just a couple of pheasants.”  His son shouted regretfully as he held up the fowl.

            “That’s okay,”  The old man said, rubbing his hands, “I’ve got rabbit roasting in the oven.”  He smiled evily while smacking his lips.

(1997)

DOUBLE BAKED POTATOES

It was just suppose to be a simple baked potato, but because we didn't have enough cheese, I thought of making a bechamel sauce.  And from that sprung the idea of making it a double baked potato, similar to what they have in Everything At Steak.  

Prepare the potatoes:
Wrap the medium-sized potatoes individually in aluminum foil.  Roast in 450F oven for 20-30 mins, or until soft (pierced easily by a fork).  Cut in half and remove flesh, leaving around a centimeter from the skin.  Set aside.

Chicken bechamel sauce:
In a saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter.  Throw in 1 small onion, chopped.  Saute until soft and translucent.  Add 1/2 cup thinly sliced mushrooms and brown.  Add 2 tbsp flour and mix together until a roux is formed.  Stir around for approximately 1 minute.  Slowly add 2 cups of chicken broth.  Stir until smooth.  Let simmer.  Adjust consistency.  Add 1 cup cream.  Simmer until bubbles break surface.  Add 1 cup cheese.  Stir until cheese is completely melted.  Season with salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp paprika and 1/4 tsp nutmeg.  Remove from heat and stir in cooked shredded chicken.  Taste to adjust seasoning.

To assemble:
Dot butter in potato cases.  Fill with mashed potato mixture and form into a mound.  Sprinkle with additional cheese and dot with butter.  Return to oven for another 15 - 20 minutes.  Serve immediately with chopped chives and sour cream.

CHICKEN BIRYANI

it always begin with an ingredient, and in this case, it was basmati rice that was almost a year in the cupboard. And a craving for Indian food, particularly biryani.  And after about an hour of searching online for a beginner's version, my mum casually mentions she has one courtesy of Magnolia chickens.  And so the following is an adaptation of said recipe, as well as some tweaks that I learned after reading numerous versions.  It's actually been some time since I ate an authentic biryani, so I hope this had atleast some semblance.  If not, well I hope its atleast remotely tasty.

Spice mixture:
Dry roast 1 tsp coriander seeds and 2 bay leaves until fragrant.  Grind in mortar and pestle until powdery.  Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp finely chopped garlic, 1 tsp grated ginger, and 1 whole chili pepper chopped to the mortar and pestle.  Grind to a paste.  Add 1/4 tsp dried chili flakes, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp cloves, and 2 tbsp ghee*.  Mix together.  Set aside.

For marinade:
Mix together 1 tbsp tomato paste to 1/2 cup plain yogurt.  Add 2/3 of spice mixture.  Stir together.  Pour over 1/2 kg chicken pieces and marinade for 3 to 4 hours.


To prepare:
First, prepare the rice by washing 3 cups of uncooked basmati rice and then soaking for atleast 10-15 minutes.  Set aside.  In a bowl, soak 1 tsp katsuba or saffron in 2 tbsp milk and soak for at least 10 minutes.  Set aside.


Heat pan with 1 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp ghee.  Saute 1 large chopped onion until lightly browned.  Add 1 tsp grated ginger, 1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic, and 1 whole chopped chili pepper.  Fry until fragrant.  Add 2 whole tomatoes, seeded and chopped.  Saute until tomatoes are soft.  Brown chicken pieces. Remove and set aside.  Add remaining spice mixture.   Drain rice and pour into pan.  Saute until translucent.  Add katsuba/saffron mixture and stir until liquid has evaporated.  At this point, the rice can be cooked in the pot or in a rice cooker.  I opted for the rice cooker so the rice mixture was transferred to one.  add in 4 1/2 to 5 cups chicken broth.  Cook.  Halfway through, add chicken to the rice mixture.  In remaining 5 minutes cooking time, add peas.  


Garnish with chopped cilantro, slivered almonds and hard boiled eggs.




*to make ghee:  melt 1/2 cup butter until it bubbes.  Watch butter carefully to make sure it does not burn.  Remove from heat.  Milk solids will settle on the bottom of the pan.  Carefully pour off clarified butter.


✔  1/3 cup raisins may be added to the rice with the peas.

A CHRISTMAS STORY

The Christmas song played over the radio. Amidst the clamor of the bustling fastfood restaurant, he could still hear strains of the sad music.

            He sat on his usual seat by the window, watched the stream of people passing by, going about their morning affairs.  He unhappily rested his chin on the palm of his hand.  It still hurt to hear the song.  The empty seat in front of him was a constant reminder that he would forever be alone.

            Unconsciously he fiddled with the gold band hanging from a chain around his neck.  Had things been different a year ago, it would have been around her finger.  He would have wanted her to keep the ring, but her mother had thought it best that he kept it; it seemed too precious buried in the ground.

            Love lost during Christmas, the singer sang. He understood the message. 

            He drank the last dregs of the cold bitter coffee and stood up from his table.  As he left the establishment, he glanced back at his seat.  Already it was occupied by a pretty young girl.  He stopped and watched as a boy hesitatingly approached and motioned towards the empty seat in front of her.  She smiled and nodded; the boy sat down. Two heads leaned closer together, and he, outside looking in, wished them a better future.

(December 2002)

Siren's Song

She sang of love, of sunny days
And seagulls soaring through skies of blue.
The gleaming sea from the sun’s morning rays
Waking her everyday anew.

She sang of love, of happy days
Of swimming freely beneath the waves.
After the fishes she would chase
Into corals and deep within the caves.

She sang of love, of carefree days
When everything she wanted was what she had –
Her heart was in its place;
She thought her future was far from sad.


But when she saw his face, she knew 
Her song had changed...
Her song of love was full of
Loving him instead.


She sang of love, of stormy days
Of giant waves and sinking ships – 
She saw her chance and wrapped him in her embrace.
And as he lay upon the sand, a kiss she stole from his lips.

She sang of love, she sang of pain;
She sang and sang the song that others had sung before...
But deep inside she knew it was all in vain.
But on and on she sang... until she was no more.

MOTHER'S DAY DINNER

it began with one ingredient - asparagus. and i remembered that i've been craving for fish in a lemon butter sauce with capers.... so viola! it also helps that it's my sister's birthday the next day and fish, pasta, capers and olives are her favorites :)

Fish in lemon butter sauce with capers and asparagus

Drench fish fillets in seasoned flour (salt and pepper).  Heat pan with oil and butter and pan-fry fish until golden brown. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.  Transfer to a serving platter. Par-boil asparagus spears and arrange aound fish.  In same pan, de-glaze with 1/4 cup white wine and simmer until alcohol has evaporated.  Add 2 tbsp capers and 1 tbsp garlic. Saute for 1 minute, or until fragrant.  Add the juice of 1 whole lemon.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add 2-3 tbsp butter and swish around pan until sauce becomes creamy.  Pour over fish and asparagus.  Serve immediately.

Pasta with tomato oil and olives


In a pan, heat 1/2 cup olive oil.  Add 1 tbsp chopped garlic, 1 tbsp chili oil or 1/2 tsp chili flakes, and 2 tbsp chopped capers.  Saute for 2 minutes.  Add 2 tbsp tomato paste.  Saute for 1 minute.  Deglaze with red wine and evaporate alcohol.  Add olives.  Let simmer.  Meanwhile, cook pasta (spaghetti in this case) according to package instructions.  Once cooked, add noodles to sauce.  Add pasta water to loosen sauce if needed.  Add chopped basil.  Taste for seasoning.  Serve immediately!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MUM!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE SISTER!!!