MDWK

Chef Cecilia DeCastro, Culinary Sage

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 00:43 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

One of the most famous and respected names in food today is Wolfgang Puck, the official caterer for the Academy Awards Governors Ball. His outstanding culinary talents have given rise to the Wolfgang Puck Companies which encompass 15 fine dining restaurants, premium catering services, more than 80 Wolfgang Puck Express operations, and kitchen and food merchandise, including cookbooks and canned foods. He has appeared in many TV programs such as Frasier, Iron Chef America: Battle of the Masters, as well as Cooking Class with Wolfgang Puck on The Food Network, in an American Idol season finale episode and in a TV commercial advertising California along with famous people such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack Nicholson.

While many know Wolfgang Puck, not many know that for the past three decades, he has been working closely with a Fil-Am chef, Cecilia de Castro. For over 30 years, Cecilia has collaborated with Chef Wolfgang Puck. She was a culinary producer for the Emmy Award- winning Wolfgang Puck Show for 5 seasons in Food Network. She continues to work with Chef Puck with his cookbook developments, product/recipe development for the Home Shopping Network and Spago, as well as food events such as the Oscar Awards Governor’s Ball and American Food & Wine Festivals.

What the Doctor ordered: Filipinos Need Better Diet

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 00:37 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

GROWING up in the Philippines, one of Fil-Am Dr. Felcar Morada’s favorite snacks was chicharon. He loved eating the fried pork rinds, but now as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association (AHA) and a practicing physician in Glendale, he knows better.

One of the snack staples of Pinoys, Chicharon is high in fat and sodium, two no-no’s when it comes to eating healthy.

It’s easy to finish a bag of the scrumptious snack without noticing the ramifications it will have on your system.

Filipinos are notoriously bad eaters, said Morada.

Healthy snacks for kids

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 00:31 Jherlyn Meneses / AJPress Los Angeles

Active kids with so much energy need as much nutrition as they could get. Nowadays, having three full meals a day seem inadequate for their active lifestyles. Many children still fall short on meeting their dietary needs for vitamins and minerals. Because they are growing and have a fast metabolism, eating snacks in between meals play an important part in their nutritional diet.

According to a survey done by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), twice as many kids today eat snack foods as compared to kids 20 years ago. However, parents should beware of what their kids eat. These days, groceries and supermarkets are filled with pre-packed instant snacks and junk foods that lack nutritional value. Do not just allow your kids eat unhealthy snacks that are high in sugar and simply adds up calories; except of course on occasional treats. Give them fresh and healthier options instead and always keep in mind the four food groups namely fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes.

Edsel Sotiangco to perform to a sold-out crowd in Hollywood

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 00:24 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

This coming Saturday night, July 18, the Celebrity Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hollywood has to open the windows of its Garden Pavilion and put in more chairs in its beautiful veranda to accommodate the sold-out crowd that will come for This is The Moment, the first solo concert of Edsel Godwin Sotiangco.

Dubbed as The Golden Boy with the Golden Voice, 11-year old Edsel has performed onstage for the past two years with some of the biggest names in the Fil-Am music industry—Apl de Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Sharon Cuneta, the 4 Divas – Kuh Ledesma, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla,and Pops Fernandez, Florante, Nora Aunor, Martin Nievera, Dolphy, Judy Ann Santos, Jed Madela, AJ Tabaldo, Ramielle Malubay etc. "This time, it’s his turn to be shine, to be the center of attraction, the main performer. This is his moment," announced Alvin Reyes, the show’s talented director, during a press conference held recently in Los Angeles.

The Life and Loves of Sammy Lorenzana Jr.

Wednesday, 08 July 2009 00:23 Cynthia De Castro / AJPress Los Angeles with Photos by Miko Santos

(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

The Life and Loves of Sammy Lorenzana Jr.

‘My best is yet to come!’

Behind most of the Philippine products you see in stores today is an amazing story. The story of Sammy Lorenzana Jr., the pioneer importer of products from the Philippines, not only to the US, but to many other parts of the world.

"I started it all, around forty years ago. I first imported Lorenzana bagoong, patis, and other spices. Then, I expanded the line to include around 500 products - including seafood, vegetables, sweets, juices, snack foods etc," said Solomon Udarbe Lorenzana Jr, better known to family and friends as Sammy.