It’s the season of Lent once again. For Catholics like myself, it is the time of prayer and fasting. And by fasting, this means we should not indulge on meat. Max’s Restaurant, the House that Fried Chicken Built, recently brought its classic Filipino flavors into new and lighter dishes for the Lenten Season. Launched last February 29, I was lucky to be part of the first group to try these sumptuous healthy meals.

Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies

“At Max’s we understand that Lent is a special time for Filipinos. This has inspired us to create our lightest and the most scrumptious fare for lent. These dishes are bursting with flavors, married with the homegrown classic taste that Filipinos love – its a certified gustatory experience for everyone,” says Mr. Bobby Simborio, Max’s Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies as he introduced their latest offering for the lenten season.

As we were the “certified” to first try out these dishes, I was already excited just seeing their posters. My taste buds were ready to check them out. I was intrigued and they didn’t fail me.

Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

They served the Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu (Php150) first. As a tofu lover, it is given that I would love this dish but its fresh Kangkong leaves did all the trick in making it a lot better. The shiitake and button mushrooms completed the fare while drizzled in sweet adobo sauce. This would be appreciated by both vegetable or non-vegetable eaters. It’s also a sweet alternative to the sizzling tofu in Max’s menu.

Max’s Cauliflower Puffs

The next one is quite deceiving for the picky young eaters and meat lovers. Max’s Cauliflower Puffs (Php160) may look like a simple puff with crispy stuff inside, but there is a cauliflower dipped in special batter. The vegetable is not immediately visible because it is deep fried and comes up with a special sauce.

The kids who were present during the event didn’t even notice the taste of the cauliflower. I enjoyed this dish because I absolutely love eating veggies. It’s crunchiness was also enjoyable.

Cauliflower Puffs

Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

The last dish was so intriguing that it already got me thinking about its taste before they served it. Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce (Php265) is so delicious, I stuffed my plate just as much I could consume. It’s made of breaded cream dory, shrimp and deep fried squid rings served with a special sweet sauce, honey and piquant bagoong. It’s a must try for seafood aficionados. I was actually looking for the bagoong taste, but the honey overpowers its saltiness.

Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

Max's Fried Chicken

And of course, we were served with the famous Max’s Chicken.

* Story and photos by Contributor Ria Hazel C. Lumandog of http://sugarsmile.blogspot.com

Try out these heartwarming dishes for lent that are truly divine. 🙂 You may also check out www.maxschicken.com. The Lenten Dishes are now available in all Max’s Restaurants nationwide since yesterday, March 1, 2012.

The Holy Week has traditionally started in the Philippines with Palm Sunday being yesterday. Here are Figaro‘s lenten special offerings for their customers to keep them satisfied without the guilt. 🙂

Kani Sandwich

Figaro’s Kani Sandwich is filled with yummy crab sticks and garnished with lettuce and tomatoes in potato bread. Although the bread quality could still be improved, I love the generous serving of crabsticks in between. More than that, it tastes really good and satisfying with the light mayo dressing packing ’em all together.

At P179, it is served with a salad  of lettuce and ripe tomatoes on the side (again) which is different from the one with the crab sticks to further compliment the filling.

Figaro Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta

Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta

The chili is actually light, which is good for me. Figaro’s Angel Hair Pasta is mixed with Spanish sardines sauteed in garlic, olive oil, dried chili flakes, onions and black olives. Tossed in angel hair pasta., it is further garnished with finely-chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese. All the  ingredients and its flavors make the whole serving a little complicated to the taste but they all blend well together for that sophisticated taste.

“The saltiness of the fish melts with the sour and salty taste of the black olives exploding in flavors of the spices, onions, garlic and chili flakes,” says an article I read. At P180, it is served with 2 toast bread on the side and a choice of beverage from Figaro coffee or the new Figaro’s Summer Frosts.

Figaro Kani Sandwich

However, in the end, I’m not really a fan of Sardines so  I still prefer the Kani Sandwich. 🙂 Both are shareable enough with the Kani sandwich being served as a pair of triangular slices.

Figaro is going “Light for Life” with their Lenten special snacks that is Kani Sandwich and Chili Sardine Angel Hair Pasta.

Being a predominantly Catholic country, one would immediately observe if the lent season is approaching in the Philippines. One of the give-away signs is that restaurants offer their non-meat alternative to their customers. One of the early movers this year is Max’s restaurant which has started offering their Max’s Seafood Fest since yesterday.

Fish Fillet for the Lent

Fish & Seafood Fest

Max’s has started its Seafood Selections Promo and offers non-meat dishes familiar to the Filipino taste.

The seafood spread include Filipino cuisines like Camaron Rebosado and one of my favorites Sinigang na Hipon.

A wide selection of fish dishes are also part of the option such as Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet, Spicy Laing Tilapia, Fish Fillet in Black Bean Sauce, Sinigang na Tiyan ng Bangus, and Steamed Fish Fillet in light soy.

Max's Seafood Fest Promo

“…the timeless flavors of Filipino cuisine and warm memories of sharing these meals with their friends and family. ..this is what Max’s brings to the table with its Seafood Selections Promo… a taste of home with every hefty serving of these traditional recipes,” says Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies.

Seafood Fest Frequency Card

Seafood Selections Frequency Card Promo + Chicken-All-You-Can GCs

Max’s also launched a special seafood fest frequency card where each purchase of a qualified seafood selection dish with a glass of Pepsi gets a sticker for a card slot.

From March 8 to April 30, 2011, diners who can complete the six sticker slots will get a free Max’s Chicken-All-You-Can gift certificate.

Frequency Card Promotion Mechanics

Max's Offering for the Lenten Season

Have a non-pork meat diet with Max’s Seafood Fest and enjoy a meatless Lenten season. 🙂