My Birthday Wish Granted by "Quickfire"!

Last month, I saw an announcement on Quickfire's Facebook page inviting the viewers to submit their 10-minute recipes. I immediately thought of one and sent an e-mail to them. I wrote in my letter that I got my cooking skills from my late mom and it would be a privilege to be featured in their show, just in time for my 40th birthday.

My birthday had passed but I did not get any reply from them. One week later, I received a text message from one of the production staff, Ms. Georis Tuca, informing me that my recipe was chosen and I would get a chance to cook with Chef Rosebud Benitez. I was so excited but nervous at the same time for it will be my first time to appear on TV by myself, moreso in a cooking show.

The Quickfire team is so cool and very accommodating. All of them are very easy to work with, especially Direk Ogi, Ms. Georis, Ms. Andi and of course, Chef Rosebud. What you see is what you get - this is how I would describe Chef RB. No pretensions. She was very helpful in making me feel at ease during the taping. Not to mention that she really is one hot chef mom!

Furthermore, I felt very happy to show my pride for my mother's cooking skills. After all, if not for her, I would have not been able to get this opportunity.

Thanks to my mom and to Quickfire!

Fish Is It!

Finally, I decided to have my own food blog. Since this is my first post, I would like to start with my successful video entry which won 3rd Prize in the recent I Love Fish Video Contest, sponsored by Fishta Seafood.

I am fond of video contests. When I found out that Fishta Seafood is sponsoring a contest which would feature favorite fish recipes, I didn't have second thoughts knowing that it will be managed by Ms. Janette Toral. I have previously joined a video contest which she also administered and I really trust how she conducts such.

I chose to cook "Broiled Parmesan Tilapia" as my entry because this has been my most favorite fish recipe since I tasted one in Cookbook Kitchen at Eastwood City, only with a slightly different name which is "Parmesan Crusted White Fish".

Cookbook Kitchen's "Parmesan Crusted White Fish"

My entry: "Broiled Parmesan Tilapia"

Submission of entries was from February 21 to April 7 and the results were posted on May 7. The awarding ceremony was held on May 24 at Max's Restaurant in Quezon Avenue.

Grand Prize Winner:

Edgar Joseph Baltazar, Jr - "Lapu-Lapu Teriyaki with Asparagus"

Second Prize Winner:

Czarina Khamille Sacaguing - "Baked Seabass"

Third Prize Winners:

• Marichu Zablan - "Broiled Parmesan Tilapia"
• Camille Georgia Uy - "Fish with Tofu"

• Paul Le - "Fish and Chips"

Aside from these, they also gave Fishta gift packs to the first 10 participants with qualified entries and bonus gift packs to the rest of the contestants courtesy of Ms. Janette Toral.

For the complete list of Fish Recipe entries, just visit their official website: http://www.ilovefish.ph

Again, thank you and more power to Fishta Seafood!