a little of entrep and more

Something Different and Something Familiar in Las Paellas

2009-07-19T09:31:00.007+08:00

I've eaten in Las Paellas a fair number of times and I would just like to share more of their dishes that I've tried.
Their Teriyaki Chicken (P195) is your typical, run-of-the-mill Asian version of a chicken. The sweet sauce is good although the chicken could have been less charred.
The Prawns A La Parilla (P285) were better in taste, although I expected at least three pieces of prawns for the price. Nonetheless, you could not go wrong with pan-grilled prawns in lemon butter sauce. I've always loved shrimps drenched in lemon butter, and this dish leaves me craving for more.
These pictures were taken from the Las Paellas branch in BF Homes. One thing I noticed though, was that they lacked garnishing on their food. Like with the Oysters Rockefeller (P215), the oysters were simply presented in a plate, very much unlike the one we had in the Festival branch (click here to see picture) where there was a slice of lemon smacked in the middle and I'm not sure if the green garnishings were parsley, but it made the dish much more appetizing.
The same goes for the Salpicao (P245). The one in the Festival branch had buttered corn and steamed vegetables on the side (click here to see picture), which really enhanced the dish, while this one in BF had none. I'm not sure though if they had just no stock of spices and vegetables that day or if they really present the food in a plain and undecorated way.
The dishes themselves were good though, so decorations or no decorations, this restaurant is still good enough for a second or third or fourth visit.

Baker's Dozen in Rockwell

2009-06-01T15:17:00.006+08:00

I've made a post about this same event a few months ago. And since I haven't yet featured every participant, this time I've managed to take more photos of the pastry booths and their wares.

Costa Brava features Coco Natura, an all natural and organic coconut sweetener, a sugar substitute for beverages, cooking and baking.
One of their specialties is the Chicken Mushroom Pie (P50).
Also included in their list are different cakes and cupcakes, ensaimadas, gelatin, leche flan, macaroons, palitaw, polvoron, and a whole lot more.
Costa Brava
Spot: 12 Polaris St. Bel Air I, Makati City
Telephone: +632 896.1267 / +632 896.6872
Contact Person: Juda Liu

Postres del Cielo mainly sells gourmet polvoron. They have unique flavors like Kiwi, Cranberry, Rose & Lavender (P250/dozen).
Postres del Cielo
Cellphone: +0918 818.8115
Telephone: +632 635.4734
Website: postresdelcielo.multiply.com
E-mail: postres.delcielo@yahoo.com

Cake Avenue creates custom-made theme cakes for all occasions, some of which are decorated cupcakes and cookies, birthday, wedding and baptismal cakes, and company give-aways.
They also have special cakes and pastries like Brazo de Yema, Brandied Butter Cake, Food for the Gods, Lemon Squares, Oatmeal Crispies and Russian Tea Cookies. Their sugar free products inlcude Chocolate and Carrot Cakes, Fluffy Mamon, Brazo de Yema and Apple Pie.
Cake Avenue
Spot: 78 Estrella St. Bel-air Village, Makati
Telephone: +632 895.2579 / +632 898.3557
Contact Persons: Liza Salgado / Maryrose Damaso
Website: www.cakeavenuebakeshop.com
E-mail: cakeavenue@gmail.com

The Crukitchen offers different brownies, lemon bars, food for the gods, crinkles and cookies.
They also have specialty cakes and pies like Luscious Belgian Chocolate Decadence, Belgian Chocolate Mousse, Dome Paradise Cake, Chocolate Pecan Turtle Tart, Baked Oreo Cheesecake, Moist Chocolate Caramel Cake and Walnut Carrot Cake. Sugar free versions of the cakes are available upon request.
Among their bestsellers are the Belgian Creme Puffs (P295/16pcs and P200/9pcs), Cinnamon Rolls, and Lola Consuelo's Leche Flan (P150). The leche flan looks rather tasty and so pretty, not too dark with the sauce.
The Crukitchen
Spot: 43 Barcelona St. Merville Park, Paranaque
Cellphone: +0920 927.8188
Telephone: +632 825.4474
Website: thecrukitchen.multiply.com

Puff Mommy basically offers cream puffs.
Here is one more luscious looking leche flan.
Puff Mommy
Cellphone: +0917 813.2323
Telephone: +632 821.2752

Ienne's Cupcake Cafe offers different flavored cupcakes like Vanilla, Vanilla Mint, Raspberry, Blueberry (P50) and Mocha, Red Velvet, Dark Chocolate, Passion Fruit (P55). They accept bulk orders with advance notice and you can also have mini cupcakes made. You can even have the cupcakes personalized with their available sugar decors.
Ienne's Cupcake Cafe
Telephone: +632 466.7645
Website: iennescupcakecafe.multiply.com
E-mail: iennescupcakecafe@yahoo.com

Anatolia Cuisine serves Turkish pastries and desserts.
Anatolia Cuisine
Cellphone: +0917 855.8005 / +0917 855.8006 / +0922 855.7690
Telephone: +632 437.4249
Contact Persons: Levend Ekizoglu / Claire Saldana - Ekizoglu
E-mail: anatoliacuisine@gmail.com

Joyce's offers all natural homemade food. They have pastries like butter or chocolate rum cake, chewy butterscotch and oatmeal crisps.
But probably their most famous product is the Dulong (P250). Tiny fishes drenched in olive oil and garlic. We've been having this for years. It makes for a very delicious snack, just grab several pieces of melba toast, smother them with a generous helping of dulong and pop them one by one into your mouth. Yummy!
They also have Queso de Bola Spread (P280), which my mom loves, and Portabello Mushroom Dip (P300).
Joyce's
Spot: 11 Margarita St. Magallanes Village, Makati
Cellphone: +0917 523.2913
Telephone: +632 853.0129
Contact Person: Joyce Aragon
Website: joycearagonfoods.multiply.com
E-mail: joycearagon@yahoo.com

Iya's Jumbo Pastillas basically offers different flavored pastillas and lengua de gato.

Iya's Jumbo Pastillas
Spot: J&C Fruits Market! Market! Stall #18
Telephone: +632 729.0325

Talangkanin from Only You

2009-05-23T22:06:00.006+08:00

The latest ABS-CBN teleserye "Only You" features a specialty dish, Talangkanin, made of aligue rice with seafood and vegetable toppings. All those intrigued with its taste whenever watching this primetime soap, can quench their curiosity by visiting Kaya restaurant which exclusively serves this extraordinary meal also called Aligue Bibimbap (P220).
Though good for two people, one person can find himself unable to stop from gorging on the aligue rice. The fusion of flavors from this melting pot of shrimps, squid, mushrooms, beansprouts, carrots ang egg paints a mosaic-like feel for the palate. I would have loved more aligue for the rice but one cannot complain at the wholeness of the meal. There's also even soup that goes with this dish.
Not knowing that the Talangkanin would be quite a stomach filler by itself, we had also ordered the Bulgogi (P160), pan-grilled marinated sirloin strips. The serving is quite small but actually just enough (though it may not seem so at first). Bulgogi is very much like any other meat dish save for the flavor of its sauce, which is distinct to Korean dishes. This brings me back to college days when a classmate of ours would sporadically bring Bulgogi to school and instead of having it as his lunch, ends up giving all of it to us (not at all unlike preschool bullies pushing little kids with lunch boxes around the playground, haha!). I really love the sauce, you can eat it with rice or just munch on it alone.
This is the first time I've tried Kaya and given the affordable prices, I think I'll be coming back to try other Korean dishes as well.
Kaya
Spot: Concourse Level, Powerplant Mall, Rockwell, Makati
Telephone: +632 898.0934 / +632 898.0935

Bohemia Cakes and Pastries

2009-05-09T01:06:00.006+08:00

Erika Fortunado was a classmate of mine in high school. Every now and then, she would bring pastries to school, sharing with us her delicious creations in between classes. She is a graduate of Hotel Management School 'Les Roches in Switzerland and has also received a Pastry Diploma from 'Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. Now, she is the proud owner of Bohemia Cakes and Pastries with the tag line "We Dream in Cake!!!".

Her passion for baking and flair for creating artistic and very detailed sugar pieces are evidenced by her every masterpiece.
You can also visit her multiply website to see her cake gallery, which serves as samples of her work and not a catalog of her designs. All of her cakes are designed per client to ensure the uniqueness of design and character. However, if you see a design that you very much like, she can replicate it with some changes tailored fit for you. Cake prices are dependent largely on labor so there is no set pricelist. You can send your cake or pastry requirements through e-mail, which is her primary mode of communication as she could not normally take calls in the middle of designing a cake. And no one wants to disturb a master at work (when you see how particular she is up to the tiniest detail, you will very much understand why).

Bohemia Cakes and Pastries
Contact person: Erika Fortunado
Spot: Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City
E-mail: bohemiacakes@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.bohemiacakes.multiply.com

American Adobo

2009-05-03T03:14:00.007+08:00

I came across this video in YouTube about a foreigner demonstrating in Tagalog how to cook Adobo, much like my post last year about a different foreigner singing Buloy. It's really funny, actually his accent is.

Birthday at Friday's

2009-04-22T10:18:00.005+08:00

We spent my hubby's birthday strolling around Greenbelt 3, 4, and 5. Then we had dinner at Friday's in Glorietta. We decided to start with our all-time favorite Fried Mozzarella (P275), six pieces of mozzarella cheese coated in special Italian-style breading, then deep-fried and served with a rich Marinara sauce. It was a bit pricey for half a dozen deep-fried cheese but the oozing dairy goodness dipped in special salsa was palatably worth it. I could eat more than a dozen of those but restrained myself to make room for the main dish.
I ordered the Jack Daniel's Chicken (P355). Two juicy chicken breasts basted in a sweet, savory glaze and garnished. Served with Chef's vegetables, grilled corn, choice of cheddar cheese mashed potatoes or rice pilaf and their original Jack Daniel's sauce. The mashed potatoes certainly deserve special mention. I usually don't like mashed potatoes, as most of the time they taste artificial or bland. I was hesitant to go with the mashed potatoes, but thinking I should cut my rice intake (don't look at me like that, I know they're both starch and carbo, it just sounds like a more disciplined woman to say that I'm cutting my rice intake), I opted for the former. And great thing I did. It was the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted (not that I've tasted mashed potatoes from every restaurant, nonetheless it's the best for me so far). There are little pieces of potatoes embedded for texture, which is why it's more flavorful than those totally mashed artificial-tasting ones. The chicken was alright, some parts were a bit tough but manageable. It would have been tastier if the poultry had more juice. The sauce on the other hand, tasted so good with the chicken albeit too sweet.
My hubby order the Jack Daniel's Pork Chops (P585). Two pieces of thick 230 g pork chops and a hefty helping of cheddar cheese mashed potatoes or rice pilaf. Served with seasonal vegetables, grilled corn and their original Jack Daniel's sauce. The pork chops were more tender and the combination of the meat and sauce was much better appreciated. As with my order, the mashed potatoes were great and the grilled corn also makes for a delectable side dish.
We washed the heavy meal down with my favorite variant of iced tea, the Strawberry Iced Tea. Good thing it was bottomless, I just couldn't get enough of it.
TGI Friday's
Spot: 3rd Floor Glorietta 3 Ayala Center, Makati
Telephone: +632 893.9410

Related Post:
Sauntering Down Bonifacio High Street (Part 1: TGIF Dinner)

Elfav-ulous Hangout

2009-04-12T06:32:00.004+08:00

There's a quaint little ice cream shop in Pergola Mall of BF Homes where homemade ice cream and a homey atmosphere pretty much makes up its attraction to the locals. 10 minutes of ice cream isn't a sufficient excuse to lounge around, but having rice meals, games & puzzles and free WiFi are.The good thing is, a few of their flavors are quite unique and very much for the legal aged folks. They have Tequila Rose, Bailey's and you'd never guess... Beer (P60)! I must admit I haven't tried their Beer though I am curious as to its taste. I've always love Bailey's and Tequila Rose cocktails and so I chose to try the two first which very much taste like so. Not surprising considering the 3% and 10% alcohol content warning printed on the ice creams' labels.Not only do they have ice cream but they also offer a selection of rice meals mostly for P99, which already includes a drink and a shot glass of your favorite ice cream. Pretty neat huh? While waiting for lunch to arrive, you can play with board games and puzzles available in some tables. There's chess, dominoes, tic-tac-toe and Acrobatz Monkeys (which I've yet to try).I ordered the Grilled Liempo with Iced Tea (P99). While it isn't the finest of it I've tasted, it's filling nonetheless and it serves the purpose. For that price, I'd be willing to have it a go next time around. Don't get me wrong, it is good, no gourmet stuff here but it's still pretty good.Their iced tea has a homemade flavor. Not a big fan of it though.Their specialty really is in their homemade ice cream. For my shot glass of freebie, I got the Bailey's and was contemplating on ordering an extra scoop. My daughter wanted the Bubblegum (P40) flavor with star candy sprinkles (P10). It was yummy as well, makes you really feel like a kid.It's a nice place to hang out, the free internet access is not so bad either. And the crew won't let you feel that you have exceeded your stay.

Elfav Ice Creamery
Spot: 2nd Floor Pergola Mall Aguirre Ave. Phase 1 BF Homes, Paranaque
Telephone: +632 659.3025

Hop In The Fro-Yo Wagon!

2009-04-09T00:09:00.008+08:00

Everyone has been noticing the frozen yogurt craze, a.k.a. fro-yo. Seems more and more people have joined in the wagon. And so I wanted to find out if there was a difference in taste among the various brands.
I entered Lulu Belle in the Power Plant mall and ordered their Strawberry and Natural Yogurt (P80), which was twisted and that reminded me of McDonald's twirl sundae. It tasted very fresh, especially the strawberries with its tartness and sweetness mixing on your palate. You can also opt for the green tea flavor which can also be mixed in with natural yogurt.
My daughter chose to have an ice cream instead of a yogurt (she doesn't like them and thinks they're too sour for her taste). Their Chocolate Ice Cream (P70) was much too chocolatey for me and I'm glad we had ordered toppings of candy sprinkles to even out the richness of the flavor.The White Hat was in Rustan's Supermarket, Glorietta. It offers just the basic Natural Yogurt (P85) plus a lot of toppings to choose from like fruits, candies, chocolates and cookies.
I tried adding 3 toppings (P45) and chose the chocolate chips, M&M's and cherries. Weird combination right? It was actually my daughter who chose it and was adamant about it, only to taste half a spoonful and let me finish the rest of it on my own. Suffice it to say, she still wasn't changing her mind about yogurt anytime soon. Although their yogurt really is more on the sour side.Yoh-gurt Froz can usually be seen inside branches of Hobbes and Landes. There's one in Bonifacio High Street, Greenbelt 5, and Shangri-La Plaza.Like the White Hat, they only offer the Natural Yogurt (P80) and a selection of fruits, chocolates, and candies for the Toppings (P40).I got the chocolate chips (they're really my favorite chocolate toppings), M&M's and candy sprinkles as forced upon (again!) by my daughter, which (you guessed right), she didn't even taste. I liked this better than the White Hat's though because it's a bit sweeter, the taste is more balanced, you can forget that it's 98% fat-free.It was interesting and good to see a yogurt cart in Salcedo Saturday Market. They offer several flavored yogurts (P65) like Mango, Chocolate, Passion Fruit and Wild Berries, and I enjoyed every variant, even the natural one. The consistency is like that of an ice cream but the naturalness of the taste is that of a yogurt. Very different from the mall-based ones but very delightful nonetheless.I'm not a fan of yogurt before. But trying these natural, smooth frozen desserts with a whole world of toppings made me change my mind. Plus the fact that they're fat free, low calorie, no cholesterol, with prebiotics and probiotics, simply put, healthy, well that's another reason to enjoy one.

Royce' Strawberry Nama

2009-04-04T15:13:00.004+08:00

You can never go wrong with strawberries and chocolates. And chocolate filled with hints and tinges of strawberries definitely makes it to the top 3 of my list, right after chocolates filled with liquer and chocolates with mint. For this season, Royce' offers its Strawberry Nama. The same melt-in-your mouth, creamy Nama goodness but with the light flavor of fresh strawberries. I say fresh because the taste is not of the sweet, artificial kind but more of the fruity kind, a bit of tartness that balances the sweetness of the chocolate.
The experience is what can only be expected from Royce' chocolates. I'd be in a hurry though, if I'm not mistaken, this variant will only last until the end of April.

Pastries Galore

2009-03-27T22:26:00.019+08:00

Strolling through the Power Plant's ground floor, flanked by streams of restaurants, I chance upon several booths being set up. People were putting some pastry goodies on the cloth-covered tables, arranging delicacies from breads to cupcakes and cookies, each mouth watering and very tempting. Naturally, I stop and begin to flutter from table to table, scrutinizing the goodies laid out in front of me.

Among them is The Russian Cookie House, offering homemade Russian and Pistachio cookies, Jan Hagel and biscotti.
The Russian Cookie House
Spot: Cucina Victoria Concourse Level, Power Plant Mall, Makati
Telephone: +632 896.5707 / +632 897.1115 / +63917 895.2863
Website: www.russiancookiehouse.multiply.com

Another is the Empire which sells macarons of different flavors at P30 per piece / P350 a dozen. They have white chocolate, mocha, chocolate, cookies and cream, lemon, pistachio, blueberry, strawberry, triple chocolate, hazelnut ganache, chocolate-strawberry, caramel-pecan and mango chocolate rum. They also sell cheesecake balls which go for P30 per piece / P270 a box of 9 pcs. in the original flavors of chocolate, black and white, strawberry white chocolate, sprinkles and walnut chunk. The premium flavors consisting of almond chunk, cookies and cream, chocolate chip, coffee bean and caramel go for P35 per piece / P315 a box of 9 pcs. The cheesecake bites, on the other hand, are available in all premium and original flavors at P240 per box of 15 pcs.
The Empire also makes wedding, party and corporate giveaways. They have macarons in a classic box tied with a ribbon in the color of your choice. They offer free delivery within Metro Manila for a minimum of 15 boxes, or P150 delivery fee for Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Taguig and Pasay areas.

Empire
Telephone: +632 467.1995 / +63917 886.1190
Contact person: Georgia

The Sweet Life by Ange offers couture cupcakes (P660 a dozen), cakes and cookies:

Marie Antoinette - vanilla cupcakes with Tequila Rose Buttercream (available in virgin as well)
Chanel - moist chocolate cupcakes with Valrhona Buttercream
Satine - red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
Sugar Daddy - moist chocolate cupcakes with Bailey's Buttercream
Tres' Chic - vanilla cupcakes with Valrhona Buttercream
Moulin Rouge heart (P725) - Moist Red Velvet Cake layered with a delectable Cream Cheese Frosting and finished off with chocolate hearts
Chocolate Lust 9" round (P850) heart (P650) - a divine Bailey's-infused Dark Chocolate Mousse that rests on a flourless chocolate base, cloaked in a rich chocolate ganache
Brazo de Mercedes 7"x11" (P575) 4"x8" (P325) - a melange of soft meringue, custard and French Vanilla ice cream on a graham cracker crust
Cheesecake Fantasy Cookies (P160) - chewy, melt-in-your-mouth Cheesecake-flavored cookies
In line with the upcoming Easter Sunday, they're also selling candy cookies shaped in Easter eggs and bunnies. Great treats for kids young and old, yummy too, at least according to my daughter.
The Sweet Life by Ange
Cellphone: +63917 823.8198
Telephone: +632 815.0188 / +632 401.2609 / +632 752.8692
Website: thesweetlife.multiply.com
E-mail: sweetlifebyange@yahoo.com

And last, but definitely, definitely not the least, San Lo's Famous Empanadas, box of 6 (P390) box of 12 (P780). They have 5 varieties of it, Pastel de Pollo, Jamon Y Queso, Callos A La Madrilena, Carne Norte and Atun (Tuna). At P65 a piece, I was definitely skeptical about purchasing even one, it was too pricey for a piece of stuffed bread. But my mom was set on buying, and got half a dozen of them. Good thing too, as soon as we got in the car, I handed my mom a piece and took a bite myself. The soft, buttery crust with the overflowing filling suddenly erased all my hesitations in spending more than usual for this. As if the flavorful and generous filling isn't enough, just the crust alone can satiate your hunger. I have not tasted a crust so luscious that I don't mind having to eat it at the end, until now. At P65 a piece, it was worth every peso, even if just for the feeling of contentment each bite imparts. Now this is comfort food.
Aside from that, they also have tortas in original and queso de bola flavors; cakes such as Mango Famous Cake, Pineapple Upside-down Cake, Sansrival, Fudge Chocolate Cake; and even embutido.
San Lo's Famous
Spot: Petron Station Dasmarinas Village, Makati
Cellphone: +63915 904.2631
Telephone: +632 844.2853
Contact Person: Ana

Blizzard in the Summer

2009-03-23T00:24:00.010+08:00

I was walking as fast as any mother hauling a 5 yr old daughter with one arm and carrying a bag full of groceries in the other, could. I was pressed for time and I wasn't even done with half of my to-do list for the day. Even in the confines of an air conditioned mall, I cannot seem to escape the scorching heat of summer (the fact that I've been dashing around doesn't help either). I thought now's a good time as any to get me a nice and cold Blizzard ice cream.
Too lazy to whip up an original creation, I scanned their menu for the regular flavors. Oreo? nope. Banana Split? nope. Strawberry Banana? hmmm, doable. Chocolate chips? too ordinary. Mud Pie? sounds too chocolatey. Brownie Temptation? too brownie-y. Kit kat? nah! M&M's? so-so. Butterfinger? too sweet. Caramel Cashew? sounds yummy. Chocolate Coated Strawberry? perfect! And so I placed my order, gave the man my payment, waited for the lady to grind the chocolate and strawberry, and watched her turn the cup upside down - as was their usual style - to show that the ice cream doesn't melt right away, hence, Blizzard cold.
The ordinary flavors go for P65 for a 9 oz cup, P75 for a 12 oz cup and P85 for a 16 oz cup. The special flavors go for P79, P99 and P119 for the three different sizes. To beat the heat, they offer two new summer flavors, Mango Pleasure which has mango and toasted coconut, and Almond Pleasure which has almond, chocolate and toasted coconut. Tropical Delights that will make you forget summer for about 8 minutes (the time it takes for you to finish a 16 0z cup).

Dairy Queen
Spot: 2nd floor New Wing, Alabang Town Center

Kenny Roger's Healthy Meals

2009-03-13T02:37:00.010+08:00

As with all the health and wellness craze emerging (and not without good reason; it is rather a good thing that Filipinos are now being conscious about their well-being, especially their food intake), different restaurants are now squeezing in healthier food choices in their menu. Not to be outdone, Kenny Rogers now offers healthy alternatives to their usual roasted chicken meals. For a very reasonable price, you get to have a choice from five healthy set meals which already includes Kenny's Lite Iced Tea.I ordered the High Protein Meal (P165) which comes with 1/4 roast chicken, tuna vegetable salad, steamed rice and lite iced tea. The side salad was a nice complement to the chicken and proved to be very filling. I almost did not finish the whole meal, I was afraid my tummy would burst. The salad was a mix of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, corn, olives, tuna, cheese and onions. This was the first time I've tried tuna on a salad, it's usually chicken or ham, and it was good. Perhaps next time, I'd better not finish the rice to leave more room for the greens.
My mom ordered the Classic Healthy Plate (P170) which includes 1/4 roast chicken, vegetable salad, fruit salad, corn muffin and lite iced tea. The salad was basically the same as mine sans the tuna. The fruits, on the other hand, were drenched in sweet syrup, a very delightful way to end a good meal. Since my mom had no room left, my daughter ate the muffin that came with her plate. I also bought her a box of different flavored muffins consisting of cornmeal, strawberry swirl, chocolate, cookies 'n cream, coffee glazed, and there's another one that's kind of sprinkled with tiny pink sugar crystals.
Kenny Rogers' new take on their restaurant ambiance and design, plus their whole new addition of healthier meal varieties, whether it be rice, sandwiches or drinks, have given people more reason to go for the healthy route. And it doesn't hurt either that these meals come in affordable value-for-money packages.Kenny Rogers Roasters
Spot: 3rd floor Festival Supermall, Filinvest, Muntinlupa
Telephone: +632 850.3674 / +632 771.0750

Via Mare Additions

2009-03-08T21:42:00.008+08:00

I know, I know, we've just recently eaten at Via Mare and here we are again. This time though, we chose different meal selections. My mom and I decided to share both orders, starting with the Pork Tocino (P250). We specifically asked the waiter to serve us tendon-free pork, and we were pleased to have our request granted. Their omelette with tomatoes provide a very filling companion for the meat.
We also ordered the Rellenong Talong (P98) as an accompaniment to the main dish. This is broiled eggplant stuffed with sauteed ground pork and pan-fried with beaten egg. They were generous enough with the ground pork without losing the eggplant's flavor. Personally, I don't put ketchup on my omelette dishes, but the condiment comes with the dish. I'm not sure why they call it relleno though, I thought that means stuffed something. This is more of an omelette or torta if you will.
My mom ordered their Brewed Coffee (P65) provided for by Lavazza, which was blatantly advertized. I didn't get to taste it but she said it was better than the Danesi brand that other restaurants carry.
And what's a good meal without the ever reliable staple beverage, good old Iced Tea (P80). I have to say, this was better than the previous one from the other Via Mare branch. It had a special blend which was a balance of sweet and lemony flavor.

Via Mare
Spot: Ground floor, Rockwell Center, Makati
Telephone: +632 898.1305

Related Post:
Cafe Via Mare

Cafe Via Mare

2009-03-06T01:25:00.006+08:00

The Via Mare restaurant in Greenbelt 3 is a fusion of both the Cafe and the Oyster Bar. For this afternoon, we opted to order from the Cafe's menu only. We had the Ensaladang Bagnet (P160), crispy roasted pork with tomatoes and shallots in calamansi and bagoong dressing. The salad-like presentation is appealing to the eyes. This actually goes quite nicely with rice (better order lots of it because this dish is really appetizing). I love the whole mixture of pork and tomatoes drenched in a sour and salty sauce. It bursts with so much flavor, it makes you crave for more.
For the post-meal fare, we had the Puto Bumbong (P62) with grated Queso De Bola (+P22). You can also opt for the grated cheddar cheese (+P15). This native delicacy really depends on the sidings for flavor and the queso de bola together with the brown sugar and coconut did not disappoint. The consistency of the glutinous rice is just right, not too dense and not too sticky.
Of course, we ended the meal with the usual Iced Tea (P80) beverage, which was a little too lemony and a bit diluted.

Via Mare
Spot: Shop 138 Greenbelt 3 Ayala Center, Makati
Telephone: +632 757.4020 / +632 757.4023

Related Post:
Via Mare Additions

Las Paellas' Rollback

2009-02-28T19:48:00.005+08:00

It's good to know that not only gasoline prices and jeepney fares can offer rollbacks. Las Paellas have a few dishes whose prices were reduced, one of which is the Baked Eggplant (P160). This eggplant, tomato, spinach and anchovy topped with mozzarella dish used to be P180 for an order. I love how this dish is generous with mozarella without drowning out the eggplant. It's a great appetizer or entremet.
Another viand whose price was knocked off is the Seafood Platter (P215) which used to be about P375, if I'm not mistaken. The seafood consists of shrimps, calamares and fish fillet served with tartar sauce and yellow mayo. It's good for 2-3 people and is actually quite filling even without rice.

Las Paellas
Spot: Promenade Entrance Festival Mall, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang (across Starbucks)
Telephone: +632 842.6919

Related Posts:
Food Trips (Part 2: Las Paellas)
Another Taste of Las Paellas

Heaven Came in 30 Thin Packages

2009-02-23T15:50:00.004+08:00

What can I say, it really is addicting. Royce' that is. 'Maybe it's a phase' hopes my logical left side of the brain (it better be, everyone's penny pinching, stop splurging on the sweets... plus think of all the calories). 'Stop worrying about it, just enjoy the artistic creation that delights the palate' my creative right side of the brain replies (it's worth every penny anyway).

So the right side wins, and I again find myself purchasing a different selection. This time, I try the Prafeuille Chocolat (P540). It comes in Caramel, Honey and Coffee.
I chose the Caramel. The box comes with 30 individually wrapped thin, square bars of chocolates. As you take a bite, a shot of caramel oozes out. For something with caramel, it isn't sickeningly sweet at all. And the thinness of the chocolate makes you crave for more. I was halfway through the box when I remembered I have to leave some for my mom lest I want to pick a fight (hmm.. what's a fight compared to these little, thin heavenly bites? kidding mom!).

Royce'
Spot: R3 Rockwell Center, Power Plant Mall
Telephone: +632 492.5051

Related Post:
Power Food Finds at the Power Plant (Part 2: Royce')

Suzukin BF Branch

2009-02-16T17:45:00.003+08:00

After a long wait, our lunch at Suzukin's BF branch was highly disappointing. It didn't measure up to its Kamagong counterpart, and it was sad knowing that we still have to traverse a highly populated highway just to get a taste of the original dining experience we have come to love.

The restaurant was nice and clean, although it lacks a homey feel. I was slightly surprised to see it empty of dining customers. I heard that during its opening season, the place was always packed especially during lunch time. My eyes have not witnessed that statement.
As soon as we sat down at our table, our waitress - the bearer of bad news - informed us that the Oyster Butter and Tuna Sashimi were not available. Great! It was the main reason we decided to eat here. What a nice way to make a lasting dining impression.

We were already hungry and so we resisted the urge to get up and leave and instead, ordered anyway. Their California Maki (P168) was the usual crab meat, mango, cucumber, ebiko and sushi rice rolled in nori with special mayo. Not the best Ive had, but not the worst either.
You can order their Ebi Tempura (P160) Teishoku (P200) style which comes already with rice and soup, together with 5 pcs. of deep fried shrimps. The tempura was a bit dry and short on flavor. The breading made up the majority of the taste.
Their Beef Garlic (P142) was delicious, it was always one of my favorites. Though I wish they wouldn't skimp on the serving amount. The thinly sliced beef stew wouldn't even be enough for one hungry person. This doesn't come with rice, we just opted to order some fried rice to fill our stomachs.
We also wanted to try their Sukiyaki (P175). Thinly sliced beef with tofu and mixed vegetables in sotanghon rice wine soup. At this point, I wasn't surprised to find it bland. It wasn't presented well, no fusion of colors from meat and different vegetables. The aluminum container even looked like it had gone straight from the stove top to our table, with no one bothering to transfer it to a presentable serving soup bowl.
Their Gyudon (P129), composed of thinly sliced beef with sotanghon and beaten egg on rice was yet another letdown. It was deficient in taste, the whole meal made me want to cry. I had waited for months to try this place. I'm not sure if they were just having an off day but I guess the empty tables during lunch hour would have to account for something.
We had to force the food down with some drinks. It wasn't entirely bad... if you had no expectation whatsoever and have had no previous dining experience with its flagship restaurant.
With the BF branch's replication of Makati's falling short of expectation -- though the ambience was better, the food presentation and taste proves to be more important in this case -- safe but sad to say, I won't be revisiting this Southern branch for a while.

Suzukin
Spot: A. Aguirre Ave. BF Homes, Paranaque City (near J. Elizalde St.)

Related Post:
Suzukin: The Growing Little Japanese Restaurant

Tempura Revisited

2009-02-12T09:59:00.008+08:00

I had previously done a post about Tempura around 3 months back. I just wanted to share a bit of my dining experience with a few more menu items. Let's start off with some maki.

Seeing as they had new selections of rolled sushi, I decided to deviate from my usual California Maki and order a Caterpillar Roll (P140) instead. Rolled maki with unagi (eel), Philadelphia cream cheese and mango strips. It was so-so, the cream cheese drowned out the unagi and I couldn't quite taste the mango.
Next was Uncle Sam's Maki (P180). Rolled maki with shrimp, Philadelphia cream cheese, cucumber strips and mango topped with bacon and mayo. Even if the cream cheese overpowered the shrimp, having the crunchy bacon helps balance the meat with the cream.
The Hawaiian Maki (P135) was my favorite among the three. Maki with pineapple chunks and spicy crunchy salmon bits. The crunchiness of the salmon bits and the creaminess of the mayo makes for an interesting, but tasty fusion of textures in your mouth. No overbearing cream cheese this time so you're sure to taste every bit of flavor.
This next type of maki isn't actually under the Sushi/Maki selection, but is under the Appetizers. It's Tori Chizu Maki (P150). Deep-fried breaded chicken fillet filled with Philadelphia cream cheese, asupara and carrots. Again, as much as I like cream cheese, they put this dairy way too much on their food. I can't even taste the chicken. I know there is because I can feel my teeth grinding on some meat, but I can't be too sure. I wish they'd ease up on the cream cheese to bring out more flavors for the palate.
For the main course, we had the Ebi Tempura 3 pcs. (P170) 5 pcs. (P250) 8 pcs (P395). Deep fried tiger prawns in crispy batter. Their version of the breaded shrimp is as good as it gets. It's even fortified with Omega-3 to promote a healthy heart.
There's also the Tori Teriyaki (P170). Grilled boneless chicken leg with sumptuous teriyaki sauce. If you prefer sweet sauces, I say go for the teriyaki variety of the meats. If you'd rather have stir-fried meat with lots of bean sprouts, go with the teppanyaki. This dish is nothing extra ordinary though, it's just your safe I'm-not-in-the-mood-to-risk-trying-something-new dining choice.
The Spareribs Sansho Yaki (P225) is grilled spareribs cooked in house specialty sauce served with vegetables and sprinkled with Japanese pepper. I appreciate the tenderness of the meat complemented by sporadic portions of fat. Although a bit chewy, it does not wedge itself in between your teeth. The sauce is a bit too flavorful, be careful not to drench the meat too much.
The Unagidon (P255) is teriyaki style grilled eel topped on rice. Personally I like this dish because I love Unagi sushi, and having a generous amount of that in a bowl makes me drift away to sushi heaven. The eel is tender, soft and almost melts in your mouth.
The Buta Shogayakidon (P160), on the other hand, is pork strips with lightly gingered Japanese soy sauce topped on rice. This rice toppings lacked flavor. The pork strips were a bit rubbery. I guess I should have known the second I saw that the menu picture was more appetizing than its actual counterpart, this dish is not worth a second try.
I love, love their Sukiyaki (P250). Sukiyaki sliced beef tenderloin with mushroom, tofu, vegetables and vermicelli in sukiyaki soup. This is good for two people. I like how they achieve the right amount of sweetness for the soup. Generous amounts of meat and vegetables adds to the value-for-money attribute of this viand.
Aside from softdrinks and iced teas, Tempura also offers shakes like this Banana Nut Shake (P65). Other flavors are Mango, Watermelon and Four Seasons.

Tempura
Spot: Ground Floor, Cinema Area, Alabang Town Center
Telephone: +632 8502136 / +632 8501273

Power Food Finds at the Power Plant (Part 2: Royce')

2009-02-07T16:51:00.007+08:00

I've been hearing about Royce' for a time when they finally opened up a local branch in Rockwell. When I first visited the place, I was shocked at the prices. The only available ones were the Nama Chocolates (P580), all the others have been sold out as of that instance (I wondered if that was a ploy to make customers think that their products are good enough to be sold out, but succeeding visits proved that it was just an isolated case of under stocking). With one eyebrow higher, I began my internal debate about the rationality of expending over 500 bucks for a small box of chocolate. With eyes now closed, I pointed to the White Nama Chocolate, walked over to the counter and plunged right into saying goodbye to Ninoy.
Watching the crew wrap the chocolate in an insulated bag complete with an ice pack, piqued my interest. Surely this chocolate must be something else for it to be treated with such great care. As soon as I got in the car, my curiosity got the better of me. The box contained 20 mini bars (my mind started to calculate how much was it per bar -- ugh, this better be good). After taking a few shots amidst the bumpy ride, I opened the package and cut a slice. The first word that comes to mind as I took a bite is "Heaven!". The explosion of the cold, creamy chocolate leaves something to erase all thoughts until you've finished the little bar. In hindsight, I began to analyze the fusion of flavor and emotions in that single act of ingestion. The first thing you taste is the powder, then comes the cold sensation and before you begin to decipher the taste, the chocolate begins melting in your mouth, and that's the time you identify the sweet goodness of white chocolate, and wonder how in the world someone makes a chocolate this unbelievably good. The silky texture makes you think of butter and before you start counting fats and calories, you are pulled by its force to take in a couple of more bites, and then some.
After a dozen bars, it began to be too sweet for my palate. I'd appreciate it more if I were to save it and eat it for another time. You can't let it wait for too long though, it expires rather quickly and is really best eaten fresh. I also tried the Champagne Nama Chocolate, and I found it even more heavenly than the White (maybe because I'm rather fond of chocolates with wine, champagne and rum inside). This one I can continuously consume until I finish the whole box. The flavor isn't too sweet and the champagne does not come on too strong like usual liqueur filled chocolates. It's like my own personal haven, that befits me depending on what I need. It can act as a comfort food set on letting you forget the stresses of the day. It can also be a rewarding toast to an accomplished task or goal. This melt-in-your-mouth confection leaves a lasting impression, enough to make you forget about belt-tightening in times of global recession. Other variants are the Au Lait, Bitter and Mild Cacao.
There's also the Pure Chocolate (P540 / P580), a combination of two flavors in one box. There are 20 individually wrapped, thin, round pieces for each chocolate flavor.
I opted to try the Creamy Milk & White Chocolate (P540). Though it doesn't melt immediately as does the Nama, the same smooth and creamy texture can be expected from this variety. This is actually less sweet than the Nama. I think it's the thinness and fineness of this chocolate that leaves you yearning for more. Other variants are Sweet & Milk (P540), Caramel Milk & Creamy White (P580), Venezuela Bitter & Ghana Sweet (P580), and Mild Bitter & Extra Bitter (P580).
Other popular selections are the Potato Chip Chocolate (P540) large (P990), salty, crispy chips dipped in smooth milk chocolate; the Bar Chocolate (P250), their original bars in classic variations: dark, white, milk, creamy milk, almond and rum & raisins; the Truffe Chocolates (P450) in Orange, Kirsch and Praline variants; and the Prafeuille Chocolate (P540) in Caramel, Honey and Coffee. There are a lot more as can be seen in the display glass cases below, so better head on there to discover them.
This coming Valentine's, this would surely be a big hit with your loved ones, a box or two will earn you brownie points. This bag alone strapped on your hand, will cause your wife's or girlfriend's arms to wrap around your neck.

Royce'
Spot: R3 Rockwell Center, Power Plant Mall
Telephone: +632 492.5051

Related Post:
Heaven Came in 30 Thin Packages

Power Food Finds at the Power Plant (Part 1: Pepper Lunch)

2009-01-26T23:47:00.009+08:00

I finally got to try Pepper Lunch and I love it! We arrived early to avoid the line that usually forms in front, evidenced by the queue barrier post as seen in the picture below.
It's kind of a high-end fast food joint, it being semi self-service. You get in line for your orders, the computer monitor shows you your bill, then you pay with cash or credit card.
The crew assigns you a table number (usually you get to choose if there are hardly any customers, which is rarely) then you go off and wait for your food. The seats are comfortable with soft leatherette pillows, nice for lounging around or resting off your full tummy after the meal.
I ordered one of their bestsellers, the Beef Pepper Rice (P198) with drinks (P235). Though with a lot of freshly ground black peppers (obviously), the taste is just right, not in the least bit overdone. A little bit oily, but still delicious. It's quite filling too, it's sort of feeling that you're well beyond satiated but you can't seem to stop yourself from finishing the whole thing.
How To Enjoy a Pepper Rice Meal:
1. When served, turn the meat over and over to cook, while the plate is still hot.
2. Then cut the meat into smaller pieces. Pour some sauce (you can choose between honey brown sauce or garlic soy sauce -- I like the Honey Brown sauce).
3. Then mix it up with the rice and corn. Voila! Bon Appetit!
There's also the Salmon Pepper Rice (P275) with drinks (P312). The salmon is a bit dry though, so I suggest putting more sauce. Other meat options for the pepper rice are pork, chicken and curry beef.
Besides the pepper rice, they also offer steaks, hamburgers and a combination of meats, ala carte or with rice and drinks. My mom tried the Pork and Chicken Combo (P250) with rice and drinks (P320). It was ok, but I think the endearing factor of the restaurant's concept is the mix of the special pepper rice with the viands so our vote still goes to the Beef Pepper Rice.
Pepper Lunch
Spot: Ground floor, The Concourse, Power Plant, Rockwell Center, Makati
Telephone: +632 895.6185

Food Trips (Part 5: Racks)

2009-01-23T00:26:00.006+08:00

I missed Racks. It's been a few years since I've last eaten there. There was a time when all its branches seem to have closed down. Then they opened one in Magallanes, only I don't get to go there. Good thing they recently opened up in Festival Mall, Alabang.
For starters, I ordered my favorite soup, Clam Chowder (P78). Made with fresh clams, bacon bits, onion, celery, carrots and a little wine then simmered over a low fire for that hearty flavor. I've always loved Racks' version of this chowder, and after several years, they still make the best of it. There were generous portions of clams, and was so flavorful that I had to stop myself from ordering another one lest I don't have enough gastronomic space left for the main meal.
We ordered the Ribs & Chicken Family Platter (P1,055). This comprises half rack of beef ribs, half rack of pork ribs, half a chicken, a platter of rice, coleslaw, baked beans, and a pitcher of softdrinks or iced tea. This comes off cheaper than ordering separate dishes and is a good choice for families. You also have the option of an all chicken, all pork or all beef platter. Actually, the secret of every food order here is their signature sauce, which you can also buy from them by the bottle. It comes in regular and extra hot variants. I liked the pork ribs best, soft and tender with none of those unwanted tendons present in beef ribs.
The coleslaw was so-so. It was drenched in Thousand Island dressing. It was ok for a side dish but not really expedient for working up the appetite.
The baked beans was left untouched. Partly because it wasn't appetizing at all, but more so because of a traumatic experience our family has had with bean burritos years ago, which left us, well let's just say, weak in the stomach. The only beans we will eat -- if we must -- is canned pork and beans.
And as usual, we wash down everything with our staple drink, iced tea.

Racks
Spot: Chef's Avenue, Level 3, Festival Mall, Alabang
Telephone: +632 809.2189

Related Posts:
Food Trips (Part 1: Dulcinea)
Food Trips (Part 2: Las Paellas)
Food Trips (Part 3: KopiRoti)
Food Trips (Part 4: Super Bowl of China)

Hanging Out in the Milky Way

2009-01-17T23:30:00.004+08:00

And I don't mean the Galaxy. Nor the chocolate bar. Milky Way is a restaurant and take-out counter that serves good, home-style Filipino cooking. They offer high quality food in take-away packages and provide home cooked fare that has been frozen and packed in microwaveable containers or vacuum packaging.

For those that have been a frequent visitor of my blog since its inception, you would gather from my posts that I can't cook to save my life. In our home, if -- take note, it's IF not when -- someone's buzzing around the kitchen, it's my hubby and not me. That's why food markets and take-out counters are really my life savers.

Milky Way has a great number of food choices. There's the already cooked Filipino dishes like BBQ Pork Spareribs (P180) -- I love this one, the fat tastes great, the sauce is sweet, the meat is very tender, worth every peso; Dinuguan (P85) -- another favorite, light on the sauce with a tiny hint of chili; Laing (P75) -- I always have to get two orders of this coz my hubby also loves it, one just isn't enough for the two of us. There's also Menudo, Korean Beef Spareribs, Paksiw na Lechon, Beef Caldereta, Sinigang sa Miso, Sinigang na Baboy, Bistek Tagalog and a whole lot more. Sometimes, you have to ask them if a particular dish is available because they can't display everything at once, the other meals are stored away.
Then there's also the frozen goods like Beef Tapa, Longanisa, Embutido, Lumpiang Shanghai, Pork BBQ, Tocino, Rellenong Bangus, Siomai, and many more. Just re-heat it in the microwave oven and you're good to go.

They also have preserves and native delicacies, my favorite of which is the Dikiam na Mangga (P200). It's sweeter than the regular Burong Mangga (P160). Both goes great with Pork Spareribs, Longanisa or Beef Tapa.
Other selections are the salads and sandwiches, cold pastas and desserts. All these come at very affordable prices but you have be ready with cash as they don't accept credit cards.

Milky Way
Spot: Ground floor, Rockwell Power Plant, Makati
Telephone: +632 756.5026

Another Taste of Las Paellas

2009-01-16T19:55:00.006+08:00

I know I've done a review of some dishes from Las Paellas, but let me share with you a few more. Let's start off with the Roasted Black Angus (P195). Slices of roasted black Angus beef topped with mushroom gravy sauce. I was hesitant to order this as I was imagining something similar to Heaven and Eggs' Angus Tapa, which recently went from tender and perfectly cooked to hard and rubbery, along with their change of ambience. My mom, on the other hand, was brave enough to risk it. Smart move. The beef was thinly sliced, it was so tender, it could have melted in your mouth.
Another beef viand is the Salpicao (P245) for sharing (P395). Grilled beef tenderloin chunks in garlic sauce. This one was also good, not too garlicky given the garlic chips scattered all over. Just like what we can expect from a good old Salpicao recipe.
For the dessert, we had a slice of Canonego (P75). Light and delectable merange dessert with custard sauce. I love this cake, it's actually the same white part that you see from Brazo de Mercedes (the only part I eat -- I give the sweet, yellow portion to my mom). Plus, it's dredged in caramel and a little rum, topped off with cherry.
And for all these delectable dishes that have traversed our digestive system, the best beverage to wash it all down...Iced Tea.
Las Paellas
Spot: Promenade Entrance Festival Mall, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang (across Starbucks)
Telephone: +632 842.6919

Related Post:
Food Trips (Part 2: Las Paellas)

What Happened to Teriyaki Boy?

2009-01-11T14:34:00.005+08:00

Teriyaki Boy is not my favorite restaurant in the metro but it's quite good for an ordinary lunch or dinner. My recent visit to the Festival Mall branch was an otherwise experience, though. We were quite hungry for just a mere afternoon snack and so we were contemplating on whether to eat at Teriyaki Boy or Las Paellas. With stomachs rumbling, we decided to go to the nearest one from the main mall entrance. Apparently, delayed gratification would have been the better decision.
I ordered the Teriyaki Boy Chicken Ju (P195). Teriyaki Boy's signature grilled chicken, with sweet and savoury teriyaki sauce, topped on steamed Japanese rice, served in a special Ju box. It was quite ok, the usual sweet teriyaki sauce poured over the usual grilled chicken. Nothing special, nothing that leaves a mark.
Their California Maki (P125) was horrible. What was supposedly a crabstick salad with fresh mango, coated with fresh roe, was instead a sticky rice with a faint hint of crabstick and an even fainter hint of mango. The rice tasted like they were stored in the ref for a week already, the whole thing was extremely dry enough to choke you up.
My hubby ordered the Tonkatsu (p138). Fillet of pork, breaded and deep-fried until golden brown, served with katsu sauce. As can be seen from the picture, it was very plain and dry. No garnish or small salad on the side, the pork lacked juice and flavor, and to make matters worse, it wasn't even cooked well. My hubby was very much disappointed and didn't finish it because a lot of the portions were undercooked.
We ordered the Chicken-Gyoza Meal (P160) for our daughter. It's a selection of Teryikai Boy chicken, gyoza, gohan, fruitsicles, jelly and Nestea iced tea. The chicken tasted ok, just like my own order. But the jelly was a semblance of something served in a public school cafeteria. It tasted like solidified water jello with a chocolate coloring. After tasting it, I had not bothered having my daughter eat it. We were appalled with the whole meal, we didn't even risk trying the gyoza and fruitsicles. The whole dinner was extremely disappointing.

Teriyaki Boy
Spot: 3rd Level, Chef's Ave. Festival Supermall, Alabang
Telephone: +632 807.6268 / +632 807.7091

New Rank in the New Year

2009-01-08T01:31:00.002+08:00

I just wanna share my shock slash joy when I suddenly noticed that my PR ranking increased from 2 to 3. Thanks to all my visitors who have contributed to this stat increase.

It's been a whirlwind year and with the birth of this blog, I have discovered some things about myself and those that catch my interest. I am liking what I see, every bit of improvement, I deem a feather in my cap. Hopefully, even through all the daytime urgency and nighttime craziness, I will still continue to find time to sit back, reflect on and share my interests, my discoveries, accounts of my daily life, accompanied by captured moments, imprints of the present, memories immortalized. And as I continue this journey, hopeful of the unclear future, reminiscent of events past, may you still be here, willing and able to give a fraction of your hour and take a glimpse of my life, one piece of account at a time. Again, thank you.