The best eats from the Laudico’s kitchen

As the pandemic continues to affect the local dining scene, it is becoming a must for restaurants and other food spots to adapt food pick-up and delivery services. Giving their patrons a choice to feast on their food at home not only provides a safe manner but also a way for them to enjoy the dishes they love during the pre-COVID-19 times and share them with their loved ones at home. The latest to do this is couple and chefs Roland (Lau) and Jac Laudico as they offer Chef Laudico OK Café’s best dishes into ready-to-serve items.

Since 2016, Chef Laudico OK Café, located within the vicinity of Renaissance Tower in Pasig City, has been a haven for foodies looking for local comfort food. With its name paying homage to their children Orlando and Keona, the restaurant champions their family’s favorites that soon became their diners’ beloved eats, too. Over the pandemic, the clamor for their comfort food and modern Filipino dishes increased, thus, the creation of their new offerings. But just like other businesses pivoting to the latest demand, the two chefs think of the best ways to translate their restaurant experience into packed meals.

“The most important factor that we had to learn is packaging and presentation upon arrival to the client,” Chef Jac told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “These we had to study and test what dishes retain their integrity when frozen and reheated, or how it comes out after being packed and delivered freshly cooked.”

This time, anyone can have a serving of their best meals whenever the cravings hit with the restaurant’s warm and ready-to-serve dishes or frozen that can be easily reheated anytime. Foodies can choose from their best-sellers like Angus Beef Tapa, Bacon Bagnet, Lechon Kawali Sinigang, Crispy Pata, Tender Beef Pares, and Angus Beef Kare-Kare, and, on a plant-based note, Vegan Kare-Kare with Vegan Bagoong.

For dessert, some of the options are the Queso de Bola Cheesecake topped with Cashew Nut Brittle, Tablea Chocolate Tart, and Keto Burnt Basque Cheesecake. At their deli, they sell handmade chocolate truffles and pralines, assorted pastries, and bread such as pan de sal and Spanish bread.

Also available are big servings in trays for gatherings or portioned individually in bento boxes for virtual celebrations. Anyone is sure to be impressed by their very premium Roast Pork Belly Stuffed with Lemongrass served with Traditional Paella Rice with Pinakurat Glaze and Liver Sauce or their Roast Turkey with Pan Gravy served with Chestnuts and Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing or Traditional Saffron Paella.

“The recipes need little adjustment if any, it’s more of how it’s packaged, what components need to be separated so it retains its freshness,” Chef Lau shared with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “It’s a challenge to think about the perfect balance of convenience and retaining the freshly cooked quality that they experience during dine-in. But it’s been two years and we continuously learn and keep on learning by looking at what’s available in the market locally and abroad when it comes to packaging.”

Chef Laudico OK Café bento boxes start at P300, inclusive of two viands, or can be customized according to the client’s preference. Its complete menu can be accessed at www.cheflaudicookcafe.com. Get in touch with it by sending an email at [email protected] or through its social media accounts, @ChefLaudicoOKCafe on Facebook and @chef_laudico_ok_cafe on Instagram.

Hello, readers! Do you have a story you want us to feature? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter and let’s talk about it.