A Lenten Fasting Feast at Lolo Dad’s Brasserie

Fasting at Lent should not be done out of mere sense of obligation.  It should be rewarding to the person abstaining from meat.  Aptly, fasting should be practiced with a melange of palatable non-carnivorous cuisine and in a place that emits a sense of bliss and gratification instead of sorrow for Jesus’ sacrifices.  At Lolo Dad’s Brasserie, Lenten fasting promises that.

Acclaimed Chef Ariel Manuel of Lolo Dad’s Brasserie has cooked up a soulful feast especially for Lenten Fridays.  He has conceived a delectable Lenten Lunch Special that is actually inexpensive for its food quality, quantity and ambience.

There is the daily Antipasto Buffet for Php 380++, which can extend to Php 800++ with Limitless Dishes of Pizza, Pasta, Entrees and Desserts and the Lenten Special for Php 1,300 ++.

The Antipasto Buffet is a smorgasbord of light fish and vegetable dishes inspired by a sophisticated blend of cuisines using local and imported ingredients. It features the following dishes:

Caprese, an Italian dish assembled with thin slices of fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese sprinkled with oregano and olive oil;

Marinated Smoked Salmon with Capers and a Mayo-based sauce;

Creamy Penne Pasta with minced Bell Peppers;

Assortment of Pickled Fares, such as mushrooms, button onions, artichokes, olives, zucchini, garlic and eggplants;

Baked Mollusks in Tomato Sauce and Garlic;

Pan-fried Squid in Olive Oil with a garnish of onions and cucumbers;

Blue Marlin chunks sauteed in tomato, onion and garlic;

Baked Potatoes with minced boiled eggs and croutons coated with mayonnaise and fresh basil;

Marinated Anchovies with garlic and croutons;

Diced fresh Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Singkamas with olive oil and basil; and

Assorted Breads – Rosette, Flat Crackers and Grissini Sticks.

The Antipasto Buffet alone is sufficient, but it certainly gets better with the heavenly option of limitless Pizza and Pasta, plus a choice of entree and desserts.

Rich and crunchy Four Cheeses Pizza;

Softened Creamed Smoked Salmon Pizza;

  Basic but superb Pizza Marinara, topped with tomato, garlic and oregano;

 Penne Pasta with Tomato and Mushrooms, topped with basil and parmesan cheese;

 Blue Cheese Cream, lovely yet could have been lovelier with the emphasized flavor of blue cheese;

 Truly delicious Spaghetti with Garlic, Anchovies and Olive Oil;

and a choice entree of:

 Sauteed Squid and Prawns with Green Beans, coated with Olive Oil and oregano on risotto, and

Breaded and Deep-Fried Cobbler fish with green breans, potatoes and tartar sauce.

The Lenten Specials, on the other hand, offers Chef Ariel’s proud creations of seafood dishes pleasingly matched with vegetables and herbs.

 Light and flavorful Marinated Salmon and Prawns with Feta Cheese and Mesclun Greens in Lemon Dressing; and

Pan-fried fillet of Seabass and Lobster Tail with soft potatoes.

To cap such a savory meal, the Lenten Special also includes desserts like Dark Chocolate Sponge Cake with White Chocolate Mousse and Fresh Berries and  Strawberry Ice Cream.  Unfortunately, these were not available.  Instead I had a portion of:

 Blueberry Cheese Cake with a scoop of Vanilla on the side.

Lolo Dad’s Brasserie at 6750 in Makati is indeed a blessing from the universal plane of perfection and gastronomy.  The food and ambience are very good and their proximity to Glorietta and Ayala Avenue, as well as a pay parking area, make for such a divine Lenten experience.

****************************************************

For reservations and inquiries, call Lolo Dad’s Brasserie : 

Address : 6750 Ayala Avenue Makati City Philippines
Telephone # : (632) 813-6750
Fax # : 867-3944

Pasta Saporita Al Aglio, Zenzero e Yogurt (Garlic, Ginger & Yogurt)

Pasta meals are your best bet in preparing a quick and easy meal.  It is not only flavourful and filling but it also contains a low glycemic index, which aids in curing diabetes, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  For dieters, a sufficient serving of pasta with a non-fatty sauce like our mix of Garlic, Ginger and Yogurt is enough to feel satisfied and energized.            

2 tbsps.                                    Ginger, chopped

2 cloves                                    Garlic, halved

1 tsp.                                         Virgin Olive Oil

300 g.                                       Spaghetti #5

2 tsp.                                         Ground Thyme

2 tbsp.                                       Natural Yogurt

1 dash                                        Rock Salt

1 dash                                        Black Pepper (crushed)

300 g.                                        Parmesan Cheese, grated                       

1. Cook pasta according to instructions.  To boost the flavor, you can also season with ground thyme when you add rock salt to the boiling water.
2. In a separate pan, heat the oil and sauté the garlic and ginger on low fire until the aroma comes out.  Turn off the heat and let them simmer in the heated oil.
3. Scoop a cup of the pasta water before it reaches al dente and pour it in the sauce.
4. Once the pasta is done, drain it with a colander and mix it into the sauce.
5. Add yogurt, ground thyme and crushed black pepper.  Turn on a low heat fire and mix the pasta with the sauce well.
6. Serve it warm with grated parmesan cheese on top.

Zesty Mediterranean Ensemble

Tahina Coated Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Tuna and Black Olives with Citrus Zest 

Jumpstart your smart eating habit with this delicious and healthy meal consisting of nutritious ingredients found along the Mediterranean coast.  This recipe is light and absolutely filled with health benefits like Omega 3, Vitamin B, C, and E, Calcium, Protein, and Dietary Fibers just to name a few.  What’s more is that it only takes a maximum of 20 minutes to prepare. Try it!

500g.        Cauliflower florets                      4               Tomatoes, diced

120g.        Tuna, fresh or canned             10 pcs.       Black Olives

4               Limes, juiced                              1 tsp.         Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh Basil

                                       HOMEMADE TAHINA

1 ½ tbsp.   Tahina Paste                           1 clove       Garlic

1 cup         Natural Yogurt                          1 tsp.         Fresh parsley, chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste                             1 tsp.         Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Steam or boil cauliflower in a small casserole.
2. Mix together the steamed cauliflower, diced tomatoes and tahina sauce.  (If you want to make your own tahina, just blend the aforementioned ingredients together).
3. Squirt the lemon juice on the dish.
4. Top with black olives, fresh basil and tuna.
5. Serve with fibrous crackers or wheat bread.

Steamy Asparagus with Almonds

Ignite eros with this healthy and flavourful recipe rich in natural stimulating ingredients like Garlic, Parsley, Almonds, and Asparagus.  Serve this dish on a candlelit table with likewise stimulating glasses of white wine.

3 tbsp. Fresh parsley, sliced

1 large Garlic clove

½ cup Almonds, sliced

3 tbsp. Shallots, finely sliced

2 tsp. Lemon peel, grated

2 tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp. Virgin Olive Oil

1 kilo. Asparagus, trimmed

Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over low flame.
2. Add shallots & garlic & saute until tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Pour the shallot mixture into a medium bowl and mix in some more olive oil, parsley, lemon juice & peel.
4. Spice up with salt & pepper.
5. Steam asparagus until crisp-tender. (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover shallot mixture & asparagus separately; chill).
6. Place shallot mixture in a heavy large skillet over medium flame.
7. Add almonds & cook this until browned, stirring every once in awhile, about 3 minutes.
8. Add asparagus & stir until heated through.
9. Spice up to taste with salt & pepper.
10. Divide asparagus among plates.
11. Enjoy the Steamed Asparagus With Almond and toast to a romantic evening!