Why social media is abuzz with comments about the latest offering of the national roast chicken chain Andok’s
Whole roasted chicken is called litson manok; whole roasted pig is litson baboy or simply lechon. What is roasted cow?
Social media is abuzz with comments about the latest offering of the national roast chicken chain Andok’s—litson baka. Loosely translated, it’s roast beef. But it is so unlike the roast beef commonly featured in five-star hotels and fine dining restaurants. Neither is it the whole roasted calf featured in fiestas and grand feasts.
Litson baka, a bargain at ₱320 per boxed order, consists of 270+ grams of bite-size slices of beef marinated or brined to taste like the famous litson manok. While many netizens commented about missing the real lasang baka, others were pleased with the taste.
Available at select branches, it can be ordered for pick up or delivery and comes with a vinegary dip, which some buyers wished was a gravy instead.
FEAST FOR FOUR
We had a grand dinner when my son brought home a box of litson baka. With it as centerpiece, there was little else for me to do.
We made a simple roux-based gravy enhanced with a chicken cube to pour over boiled baby potatoes. A simple green salad and fresh fruit completed the meal.
The meat was more than enough for four hungry adults.
VERSATILE AND ADAPTABLE
My girlfriends have also successfully used litson baka to make fast and memorable meals.
Sharon made beef stroganoff by mixing onions, mushrooms, and sour cream gravy, poured over the Litson Baka and flat egg noodles.
A Chinese friend added the beef to stir-fried broccoli or asparagus scented with sesame oil.
I have had it in ramen and lomi, and with Velveeta in a Philadelphia Steak Sandwich.
QUICK SHAWARMA
Everyone enjoys assembling his own shawarma. The activity adds joy and excitement to any gathering.
Fill bowls with sliced onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, torn lettuce leaves, garlic mayonnaise, yogurt, and cheese. Place warmed flat bread on a plate and cover with a towel.
For shawarma, the beef should be sliced into smaller pieces. Hot sauce could be offered on the side.
Litson baka, a bargain at ₱320 per boxed order, consists of 270+ grams of bite-size slices of beef marinated or brined to taste like the famous litson manok. While many netizens commented about missing the real lasang baka, others were pleased with the taste.
WORTH ITS WEIGHT
Each litson baka order starts as a 450-gram beef slab, which goes through many hours of brining in a secret marinade and more hours of slow roasting. The weight and shape of the finished products vary depending on shrinkage and fat content.
Unlike the roast beef at hotels, litson baka is cooked well done throughout, which is the way most Filipinos prefer their meat.
There seems to be a clamor for gravy in place of the accompanying vinegar dip, which a few comments described as suitable only with pulutan.
I am inclined to add it to my list of go-to dishes for buffets and pot luck events. Convenient, affordable, and always available.
I wonder: Would Anthony Bourdain have approved?