Pleasurable Aging

Last Sunday afternoon, my husband and I went out to go-see a puppy I wanted so much to buy. Instead of a puppy, we bought home some steak. This is how I discovered this simple pleasurable that a foodie will surely treasure...

After visiing the puupy, we chanced upon a small shop that had a banner that advertises its product: steak. I wouldn't have been too keen on checking the place out if not for the other printed line on the banner: aged beef. Now that's one uncommon thing in meat shops so I got interested. Seeing the size of the place, you might have some reservations in entering it, but darling, don't be deceive by its front. Inside this cramped space of a shop is the most tender beef you'll chance upon in Manila.

Prime Beef Company is located in Quezon City. I do not know how this shop has been kept quiet for so long. Their clients include top hotels and restaurants and people who know quality. The company's products are all aged beef, mostly cuts used for steak (tenderloin, striploin, ribeye and sirloin) but they also have burger patties, corned beef and ribs. Their meats are well-marbled with fat. They are their own supplier of Australian cattle and butcher so quality is really a thing with this shop.

Oh, I know the question on your mind right now, what the heck is aged beef? Well, I didn't know what exactly it meant the first time I encountered it. This wasn't taught in culinary school although having the background helps you understand the basic idea of this aged beef concept.
Actually, aged beef is just beef kept for a certain amount of time under a controlled environment. This ensures the tenderness of the beef and (they claim) improves the intensity of flavor.

We bought a prime rib steak and some herb-crusted striploin roast from the shop. I wanted to see if the claim to tenderness and better flavor has any real foundation. So as not to tamper with the flavor, I seasoned the steak with just salt and pepper and seared it on both sides until it was just pinkish inside: a perfect medium rare. We proceeded to eat this sumptuous looking piece of meat with loaded mashed taters and corn. Man, it was really good! By just the first bite, you'll know it was good quality beef! Your teeth just sinks into the meat and the juices just bursts into your mouth. It wasn't too beefy nor does it have any of the strong smell that you get from beef bought from other shops. It was really tender and full of juices. You can even overcook it and it still stays tender (my husband tried over doing a piece in the microwave and it ended up still tender but it didn't help with the flavor though).

Okay now I've praised the product, what about the price you say... The price generally is much higher, actually almost double than your regular meat but there is a reason for it. When you age the beef it loses some of its water (therefore intensifying the flavor) thereby losing some of its weight. Yes, this pleasurable does come with a high price but consider also that you can only find the same quality of steak in fine dining restaurants which end up pricier than cooking your own steak.

So the next time you want to spend a mint in any fine dining place for a steak, opt to visit Prime Beef Company and just cook your own. You are going to spend quite a bit but you still end up paying less and you get to eat more of that fine steak.

For those who wish to know:

Prime Beef Company is located in Kamias Road Extension, Quezon City

Pleasurable Ziggurat

I have always known that my palate is drawn to full-flavored foods... It is no wonder that when the first morsel of beef curry from this corner restaurant touched my tongue - oohlalaah! I fell in love with it. Some of you might have heard of this place before but others might not. For those of you who are clueless to this pleasurable, well dears, I'm talking about Ziggurat.

Ziggurat is a restaurant in Makati that one hardly notices but once discovered one could never forget. This place serves a delectable selection of indian/mediterranean/african/moroccan cuisine in a backdrop of arabian nights setting. I first heard of this pleasurable from a classmate of mine in my masteral psych class (this was the reason why i still remember her name after 3 years of not having seeing her). She was telling us about a corner eating place that served indian food and the ambiance was something. My boyfriend then (now my husband) was very hesitant to go try the place out since he doesn't like indian food that much. I had to resort to the "but you said whatever I want..." routine which worked of course. That was the beginning of a pleasurable discovery.

In our every visit, I can't seem to get used to it's drugging ambiance. Casual dining arabian style: low tables on a carpetted floor surrounded by plush pillows made more romatic with mellow lighting and ceiling draperies. When the server gives you the menu don't be surprised to see a gazette for it is a Gazette (informational too!) with the menu printed inside. Ziggurat offers a selection of appetizers, curries, kebabs and other more exotic flavors -and of course- beverages and desserts.

Ordering just enough will be hard to do. Most of the time, you're tempted by the various dishes on the menu that your eyes will be bigger that the space in your belly. Their choice of appetizers are varied and friendly to the less adventurous when it comes to trying out food. For the main dishes, I'd suggest if you are not too willing to go beyond your comfort zone then try their curries (I like having the Masood - a selection of beef red curry, chicken yellow curry and vegetable yellow curry - a wise choice for beginners). And don't forget the kebabs! Ordering rice to accompany these delectable treats would be advisable, although rice is a bit pricey compared to other places, you won't regret it. Bread will do nice as well, I like pairing the khobiz with the tasty treats. For the adventurous souls, try ordering from the african selection (though I can't vouch much for them. I haven't ventured in ordering from that section of the menu yet for I am still very much in love with my curries and kebabs!) For your drinks, a nice cool fruit lassi (yogurt drink) will do nicely or a nice cup of harem tea (a warning: their tea is always made with a touch of sweetness so if you don't want itthat way opt for the syrup to be placed on the side). The place also holds a good selection of wine that will pair nicely with the food.

There is a misconception that indian/mediterranean/african/moroccan cuisine is spicy but really it is not. Some of it may be but it is often times tolerable and most of the dishes are full-flavored and well-balanced than it is hot. But for our fiery eaters, don't get disappointed! You can always use a dash of their fiery harissa sauce which is a regular table condiment with the garlic cream sauce.

If after consuming your savory meal, you feel like you still have space in your pit, then order some baklava (a crispy pastry dessert with pistachios and honey) or some kulfi (mildly spiced ice cream) to please that sweet tooth. A nice hookah (flavored tobacco, a.k.a. shisha/bubbly-bubbly) after that heavy meal can be an extra treat for our smoker friends.

Visiting Ziggurat is like stepping in a arabian harem, pampered with those delectable dishes to your heart's content....well, if you don't watch it you might end up looking like one of those harem women after pigging out in this pleasurable place.

For those who want to know:

Ziggurat is located at Tigris corner Euphrates Streets, Makati