Food Flights around Asia

If there’s something I absolutely cannot live without, it’s rice. I can cut out anything from my diet- soda, dessert, even a big juicy steak, but please not rice. I salivate with the thought of eating rice more than even the most delicious ulam. When I have occasional binges on an eat-all-you-can buffet, 2/3 of my plate is rice and I go back for more. If others say their comfort food is---- mine is….rice.So when I got invited to the Mccormick event last week entitled Food Flights, expecting to learn about the spices and flavorings that Mccormick is known for, I was seriously ecstatic to find out it was an event all about my all time fave dish—it was the launch of Mccormick RICE cookers!mccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsChef Rolando Laudico, who is one of McCormick's newest endorsers, calls this new product a "game changer" because it gives us all a chance to have not only more "appetizing rice" but restaurant quality rice to serve to our families and to eat at home!We were treated to an onsite cooking demo where Chef Laudico showed us how to make his unique dish: the "Nasi LAUmak" - Nasi Lemak ala LAUdico.  On the counter he had all the ingredients ready and showed us first how to make the rice.mccormick food flightsHe used an induction cooker and so I learned that when using an induction cooker, you have to use a corresponding pan that is induction compatible. (Great treat for me because I was about to test to my new Electrolux induction cooker which I am so excited to use!).  So Chef Laudico said that per 2 cups of rice, you use one packet of McCormick Rice Cookers.  If you are using a rice cooker, he suggests to add more water than if you were cooking on a stove top or induction stove.  So once you put the rice into the water, simply drizzle the entire packet contents in, stir a bit, cover the pot and wait till the rice is cooked.After a few minutes, the rice and the ulam was cooked as well. Chef Laudico says we should "fluff the rice" with a fork to remove clumps that are stuck together. I asked Chef Laudico if there are specific types of rice to use for certain Rice Cooker flavors- like if we should use Long grain for Biryani, or Short for Hainanese. Chef says that you can actually use any type of rice you prefer, but after testing and mixing , you can see if it will adjust the amount of water you put so that you get the right texture you desire.  This is also to check if it is flavorful enough for you and your family's preferences.So here is the plated product of Chef Laudico's NASI LAU-Mak! Yum!mccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsHaving our appetites whetted by that demo, it was finally time to go on a FOOD FLIGHT-- a virtual food trip around Asia. Ooh rice and travel- two of my favorite things!  With my passport in hand, we went through 3 stations- Singapore, Malaysia, India. Each station showcasing a variant of the McCormick Rice cooker and its finished product...INDIA's BIRYANI STATIONmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsMccormick Biryani Rice Cookers has turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom that infuses the color and flavor that Indian cuisine is well loved for.mccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsSINGAPORE's HAINANESE STATIONmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsMcCormick Hainanese Chicken Rice Cookers is packed with flavorful hints of Lemongrass, Ginger and Garlic.mccormick food flightsMALAYSIA's Nasi Lemakmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsmccormick food flightsMcCormick's Nasi Lemak Rice Cookers has a combination of Pandan and coconut milk flavors. Match it with fried chicken, curries and stir fried dishes and seafood.I felt like we went around Asia in one afternoon! This was travel on a plate—mccormick food flights My favorite among the three was the Hainanese chicken. It reminded me of my sister in law Joyce who loves to cook this dish for us. Sisinlo Joyce is based in Canada though so if she wanted to try this new product I’d have to ship it to her because apparently the Mccormick Rice cookers is a product developed exclusively for the Philippine market- so only available locally. (I predict this product will go international eventually! What do you think?)McCormick Rice Cookers was a great discovery. At the back of my mind, I was wondering what ingredients were used to create such a flavorful little packet.  I checked the label and it even says it is made of "Natural herbs and spices".   As if he read my mind, the host Mark announced that the product is MSG –free, with no artifical flavoring,  and no artificial coloring. The packet even says it is made of natural herbs and spices.  Wonderful news for all of us moms!This is something easy enough for me to make for my family, and will also teach Yaya too.  Gary and the kids will soon be treated to a restaurant- quality meal at home. McCormick Rice Cookers are already available at SM Supermarkets, Landmark, and Hi-Top. Outside Metro manila it is also already available in select supermarkets.To know more about McCormick Rice Cookers and McCormick products, check out their pages:Website: http://www.mccormick.com.ph Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/friendsandflavor Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mccormickFor recipes, download the McCormick's Flavor HQ app here: http://appsfacebook.com/flavorhq

Janice Villanuevachef rolando laudico, easy dinners, food flights, mccormick, mccormick rice cookers, recipes, riceComment