The Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series features Chef Jessie’s Christmas Table

For multi-awarded chef, Chef Jessie Sincioco, Christmas will always be the time to cook up spectacular meals. In The Maya Kitchen‘s next Culinary Elite Series, Chef Jessie showcases her creativity and passion for creating a sumptuous Christmas spread.

Back in 1983, Chef Jessie was awarded the grand prize in the baking category of the Great Maya Cookfest, which she claims was her passport to the culinary world. Her commitment to her craft and innovative spirit elevated her career to new heights to become a premier restaurateur with multiple prestigious awards under her belt. She is now the President and CEO of her very own company, JCS Gastronomies Inc., and runs some the finest restaurants in the metro hands-on: Top of the Citi by Chef Jessie and Chef Jessie Rockwell Club.

This December, Chef Jessie returns to the Maya Kitchen to share her very own Christmas menu with aspiring cooks. The short course will feature tips and ideas about preparing a delightful Christmas table.

“A lot of times people would ask me for advice about what to prepare for their Christmas meals,” says Chef Jessie. “So I really think of everything special. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive, but it has to be something that you really want to eat.”

For the Culinary Elite Series, her Christmas table is inspired by Filipino flavors. Chef Jessie makes use of local ingredients, from the appetizers to the dessert. “I really thought of doing something Filipino,” she says. “This is because we have to showcase that Filipino food can be elegant, too.”

The menu includes Smoked Milkfish Bihud Pie, Salad greens with Alugbati, Paco, and other local greens as appetizers. For the main course, she prepares a Cochinillo Stuffed with Atsara Rice, a special Kinulob na Manok recipe, and Tiger Prawns Stuffed with Laing. For dessert, a rich chocolate fudge out of local Cacao de Bola and a hot chocolate drink to complete the menu.

Even with so many dining establishments to choose from, there are many who can still appreciate the heart that goes into a home cooked meal. “That’s why we need to encourage these home cooks,” Chef Jessie explains. All the recipes were created with regular home cooks in mind. “The dishes I want them to learn are familiar Filipino flavors with a special twist that anyone can cook and everyone will enjoy,” she continues.

Chef Jessie understands how central food is during the Filipino holiday celebration, “For us Filipinos, the dining table is our gathering place, and the food and its thoughtful preparation reflects our love for those whom we serve these to.” Through this Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series, Chef Jessie is looking forward to sharing her delicious and creative recipes to encourage families to put together their very own Christmas table to celebrate and share.

The Maya Kitchen Culinary Elite Series features top chefs like Chef Jessie share their original recipes, cooking techniques, insights, and personal stories. This short course is open to all aspiring cooks who want to master skills straight from a professional.

For more information on this and on other course offerings, email contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City. You may also call 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

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