Happily stuck at home with Stock At Home PH

I looove food kits. It is perhaps one of the few good things that happened during the pandemic. I love how restaurants and home businesses adapted to serve us great quality food and at the same time it gives us freedom to customize each dish to our liking.

Ever since I watched Mark Weins slurp down an entire bowl of Khao Soi Gai a few years ago, I’ve been on the look out for this classic Thai dish in Manila. A few months ago, the search officially ended when veteran food stylist Sharlene Tan-Aspe of Stock At Home PH shared their Khao Soi Gai kit with me. And on a cool night like this, I can only think of the warmth from this hearty Thai favorite.

Khao Soi Gai

First of all, that broth — oh baby, that broth! So light yet so sharp and packed with flavor (I think the chicken base makes it lighter compared to, say, tonkotsu ramen). It’s got a subtle heat to it, just enough to fight off the “umay” factor most curries have. It makes you want to eat more. It’s rich and earthy, spicy but not too overwhelming, the coconutty curry broth comes alive with a squeeze or two of fresh lime and makes it sing. Try it without the lime first so you can appreciate the difference.

Another good thing is that you get to cook the egg noodles that comes with the kit, so you can choose the firmness (3-4 minutes in boiling water is recommended for al dente). The crispy fried noodles complement the chewy egg noodles for added texture. I honestly could eat a bag of their crispy fried noodles as a snack. Petition to sell the crispy noodles in bags.

Each Khao Soi Gai kit also comes with lime, pickled mustard greens, shallots, and their Nam Prik Pao or Thai chili paste (use it sparingly as the broth is already spicy on its own). breaks through the richness and keeps you coming back for more.

Khao Soi Neua

This is Khao Soi Neua, the beef version of Khao Soi Gai with a richer, more robust broth. The beef chunks are incredibly tender, almost melting into the broth, effortlessly breaking apart in your mouth. The richness of the broth lessens the heat (compared to Khao Soi Gai), so feel free to add as much Nam Prik Pao as you want.

Each Khao Soi Neua kit comes with crispy noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, Nam Prik Pao (Thai chili paste), and the all-important lime wedge. The kit makes two generous bowls. It doesn’t come with eggs, but who’s going to stop you from adding it?

Arroz Caldo

The rainy season calls for a hearty bowl of good ol’ Arroz Caldo and Stock At Home PH's take on this classic Pinoy comfort food sticks to its true form but with a crunchy twist: Shredded chicken meat has been fried ‘til crisp and golden instead of being traditionally boiled. The result? Arroz Caldo with more interesting textures but with the same nostalgic flavors.

The Arroz Caldo kit is available in two sizes and comes complete with crispy garlic, spring onions, hard-boiled eggs, and even calamansi.

Butter Chicken

Stock at Home PH’s Butter Chicken tastes the way I always imagined butter chicken would taste: Spicy but not hot (it has a lot of spices but not a lot of heat), complex yet warm and inviting. The various spices have come together and gotten to know each other so well, creating a harmonious sauce that’s flavorful, smooth, and simply delicious.

Each tub is good for 3-4 persons (or 2-3 Chings) and it’s freezer-friendly! So you can have it any time you have a butter chicken emergency, like I do every week. The kit comes with your choice of roti or basmati rice.

Chicken Parmigiana

Stock At Home knows comfort food so well and it’s evident in their Cheesy Chicken Parmigiana, one of the newest additions to their portfolio of homemade goodies.

It’s a complete meal that comes with crispy fried chicken pieces in a bed of marinara sauce and topped with cheese and fresh basil, buttered noodles, and more marinara sauce. The noodles are well cooked and still flavorful without overpowering the chicken parm. The marinara’s savory tanginess cuts through the richness of the fried chicken and buttered noodles, giving each bite more umami.

Merienda, anyone?

Aside from full meals, Stock At Home also takes merienda very seriously.

Their Chicken Pot Pie comes in a freezer- and microwave-friendly plastic container, but if you want to get that slightly golden and charred topping, pop it in an oven-safe container and heat it up for a few minutes. The mashed potato top is so creamy and the chicken filling is flavorful and light.

Spinach Dip with Whole Wheat Melba Toast

Try to stop snacking on Stock At Home’s Spinach Dip with Whole Wheat Melba Toast, I dare you. It's almost impossible. If you run out of melba toast, it still works well with crackers.

Portuguese Egg Tarts

And check out these bite-sized Portuguese Egg Tarts (Pastéis de Nata)! Flaky crust, creamy filling, not too sweet, and just the right amount of bitterness from the charred tops. Don’t forget the coffee!

Keep supporting small businesses, so they can make more amazing products that we can all enjoy. Order through @StockAtHomePH or @TheSevenPantry on Instagram.