The Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series features Chef Jessie's Christmas Table

It is always an overwhelming feeling when I get an invitation for an event like this. The Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series by no other than the famous, charming, accommodating and one of the greatest chefs in the Philippines, chef Jessie Sincioco. Now, she's back at The Maya Kitchen where she won the grand prize in the baking category of The Great Maya Cookfest in 1983. Chef Jessie mentioned that no matter how busy, she can't say no to where she started, her passport to culinary world. Chef Jessie is also blessed to be chosen to prepare the food for the pontiff when he came here in the Philippines last year.  She also brought her aunt and introduced to all of us, her greatest influencer in baking, who raised her since she was nine years old. This is the first time that I saw chef in person and I can see her professionalism, and her feet stayed on the ground even after earning multiple prestigious awards and became a premier restaurateur. 

Chef Jessie is now the President and CEO of her own company, JCS Gastronomies Inc., and runs hands-on, the finest restaurants in the metro, Top of the Citi by Chef Jessie and Chef Jessie Rockwell Club. she returned to the Maya Kitchen to share with enthusiastic cooks her very own spectacular menu. 

"A lot of times people would ask me for advise about what to prepare for their Christmas meals," says Chef Jessie. "So I really think of everything special. It doesn't have to be the most expensive, but it has to be something that you really want to eat."

In my family, me and my 3 daughters love to cook and bake, and I agree with chef about cooking what you want. Experimenting on every menu and fitting what can be afforded by our budget is also important. That's what I love about what chef shared, to make use of local ingredients from the appetizers to the desserts. "I really thought of doing something Filipino," she says. "This is because we have to showcase that Filipino food can be elegant, too."

Mesclun of Local Greens, with Marigold & CrispyCoconut Flakes in Coco-Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

Smoked Milkfish & Bihod Pie with Croutons

 Cochinillo Stuffed with Atchara Rice

Kinulob na Chicken

Tiger Prawns with Laing

Dark Chocolate Fudge Orange Cupcake out of local Cacao de Bola

The menu comprises Smoked Milkfish & Bihod Pie with Croutons and Mesclun of Local Greens, with Marigold & CrispyCoconut Flakes in Coco-Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing as appetizers. She prepared a Cochinillo Stuffed with Atchara Rice, a special Kinulob na Chicken recipe, and Tiger Prawns with Laing. My mom's a bicolana and I don't eat Laing unless it's cooked by my mom, but this time I ate the Laing that checf Jessie prepared. Guess what, I loved it! The dessert she prepared is a Dark Chocolate Fudge Orange Cupcake out of local Cacao de Bola. Since I love baking, this is going to be added in my list not because of its unique taste that captured my palate.

All these dishes that incorporated Filipino ingredients mostly are not new to me, however the twist of Filipino flavor are contemporary which inspired me to try something new and creative. It is not just me, but everyone in the room were so impressed with chef's menu. You can see many dining establishments around, yet there are a lot of people who appreciate the taste and the heart that goes into a homecooked meal. "That's why we need to encourage these home cooks," explains Chef Jessie. "The dishes I want then to learn are familiar Filipino flavors with a special twist that anyone can cook and everyone will enjoy," she continues.

The Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series features classes where top chefs like Chef Jessie share their original recipe, cooking techniques, insights and personal stories. The short course with Chef Jessie is open to all aspiring cooks who want to master skills straight from a professional.

Chef Jessie understands how central food is during the Filipino holiday celebration, "For us Filipinos, the dining table is our gathering place, and the food and its thoughtful preparation reflects our love for those whom we serve these to." Through this  Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series, Chef Jessie is looking forward to sharing her delicious and creative recipes to encourage families to put together their very own Christmas table to celebrate and share. 

This Christmas season I will be preparing the menu that I learned from The Maya Kitchen and Chef Jessie, which I will pass to my children and treasure what I have cultivated. 

For more information on this and on other course offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com, email contactus@themayakitchen.com, 

or visit 

The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center 

Tuesday to Saturday

8/F Liberty Building 

835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road)

Makati City

You may also call 8921185 or 8925011 local 108 or +63 929 6796102.

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