very green counter

Parking is very limited in this branch. Fortunately, I had a driver that time so I just told him to wait for me. There were no customer when I entered which I thought was a bad sign.

menu

Cha Dao’s menu is very limited but their milk teas are very cheap. I asked the crew what the place’s milk tea specialty is. They said their best sellers are Assam and Wintermelon. I decided to try large Assam with Egg Pudding and Pearls which only cost me a total of P95, cheaper than other competitors.

While waiting, I took photos of the small store. I found it too “green” and it doesn’t look very comfy to hang out in.

very basic

green everywhere

Since I had really low expectations of Cha Dao, I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted what I ordered. Assam is very milky and suitably sweet but the winner is their egg pudding. I think it’s one of the best tasting out there.

Cha Dao is a good and cheaper alternative take out milk tea place. I wouldn’t hang out in the shop because I find their color scheme very suffocating. Another negative is their limited parking space but for pedestrians that won’t be a problem because Cha Dao is very accessible. It’s near the entrance of Kapitolyo and it’s easy to commute to and from the shop. So I recommend this if you are tired of the long line at Chatime Pioneer or if you have a limited budget.

I just found out that they deliver. I don’t know how much the minimum for delivery is though.

Cha Dao Tea Place
Unit 2, FADI Building, #5 West Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City (Beside Cebuana Lhullier and main Kapitolyo gate)

This is the Crazy Burger

I first discovered this treasure when Citizen Pub had a booth at the SuperSale Bazaar where I sold my Aromacology products. It was love at first bite! Ever since then, I would drag my friends to Citizen Pub to see if they’ll like it too and they do. The Crazy Burger (P180+) doesn’t come with fries but it’s good enough for 2 people. I’m an exception because I have big appetite and I can eat 1.5 Crazy Burgers.

The Crazy Burger is an inch-thick all-beef deep-fried patty with veggies and has a wasabi mayo with crab meat dressing. WASABI MAYO! CRAB MEAT! Need I say more?

Citizen Pub and Burger Bar
Citi Golf
Julia Vargas, Pasig

The place was almost empty because it was a weekday and it was late for dinner. We arrived at around 10 PM. Good thing the restaurant closes at midnight.

Bobby Chinn is located far from our hotel but cabs know how to get there because of its fame. I think an old house was renovated to become what is now the Bobby Chinn Restaurant in Hanoi and his home when he is in Hanoi. It’s in a residential area so there is hardly any public transportation there.

lovely Asian lanterns at the entrance

more Asian decor

Bobby Chinn memorabilia

awards received by the restaurant

paintings from Chinn's private collection are displayed in the foyer

The bar is located on the first floor. There are many low couches and silk lines the walls which creates the illusion of a cocoon and a more intimate and exotic ambiance.

faces are blurred for their privacy

The dining area is on the second and third level. Silken walls create a room with different sized tables. The ecru silk lightens the atmosphere of the dining area but there’s no disconnect from the exotic motif going on downstairs. Also like below, paintings by famous local artists from Chinn’s private collection line the walls.

another painting

tiny lamps help create an intimate mood

The menu shouldn’t be ignored. It is changed seasonally but we were there, Bobby wrote witty and sometimes outrageous messages on the menu, a reflection of how he is in real life. A curse word or two are thrown in which made me take a second look.

Bobby Chinn does think out of the box. There are more messages all over the menu.

I decided to choose from the Vietnamese Tasting Menu which is a set menu for $35 ++.  For starters I got Filet Mignon Spring Rolls with Chipotle Sauce, the Chicken Soup with Coconut and Lemongrass and Steamed Prawn Lotus Salad with Fresh Herbs and Chilli Lime Vinaigrette. Then Smoked Pork Belly in Caramel Sauce, Baked Cabbage, and Stir Fried Rice as main entrée. I picked Taro Che for dessert.

The Filet Mignon Spring Rolls was light, subtle, and crisp. The vegetables used were fresh. The chipotle sauce gave the spring rolls a more earthy kick. The Chicken Soup awakened the taste buds. It was refreshing and surprisingly light. The Steamed Prawn Lotus Salad was also very good. Vegetables were just as fresh and whet the appetite in preparation for the main dish. Smoked Pork Belly was superb. The pork wasn’t too fatty. It was expertly marinated so the caramel wasn’t overpowering the meat. Paired with the rich cabbage and fried rice, plus the La Joya Sauvignon Blanc, the pork shone through. Grounding, filling, and slightly sweet, Taro Che was the perfect ending to the meal.

complementary skewer

Filet Mignon Spring Rolls

Chicken Soup

Steamed Prawn Lotus Salad

Steamed Pork Belly

Taro Che

By 11:30 PM we were the only diners there so the waiter accommodated our request to brighten the lights for photo ops.

As I mentioned earlier, public transport is hard to come by in the area so the staff called a cab for our party of 6.

I highly recommend that you dine at Bobby Chinn when you are in Hanoi. The food is excellent, the staff are professional and accommodating, and the restaurant itself is a must-see.

Bobby Chinn Hanoi
77 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, Vietnam
(84-4) 934 8577/78

I just made a Google Plus page for Dementia Foodista. Please add https://plus.google.com/b/100146699186269896346/ to your circles!

Served that night were the following: Oyster Rockefeller, Gambas con Chorizo, Mario’s Caesar, Paella Valenciana, Mango Jubilee and assorted cakes from the cart (I chose Toffee Sansrival which was sooooo good!). For main entree, there were four choices: Corned Beef and Cabbage, Bacalao a la Vizcaina, Salpicon de Mar Y Tierra, and Glazed Pork. I picked the latter because but it was overcooked so I requested for a new one which came out better. Still, I much prefer how Santol Chutney Glazed Pork Chops was served before.

Chef Anton Benitez talked about Mario's future plans

Mario’s is still very much in demand so there won’t be drastic changes in the future. Why change what ain’t broke, right? Chef Anton said that they might come out with new dishes but their priority is to make Mario’s more accessible and their online presence felt.

Fil Benitez rekindling funny Mario's tales

Fil Benitez is less hands-on now. He has entrusted the Tomas Morato branch to his younger brother Anton.

Oyster Rockefeller

Paella Valenciana

the secret's in the sauce...este dressing

freshly prepared Mario's Caesar

Gambas con Chorizo

Glazed Chops

flambe!

Mango Jubilee

the best Toffee Sans Rival in town!

Congratulations, Mario’s! May you have more customers and regulars in the years to come.

Fil and dementia

Mario’s Restaurant
191 Tomas Morato Ave corner Sct. Gandia, Quezon City
reservations@marios.com.ph
(02)372-0360 and (02)442-7445

The staff packed our table with new and old Lachi’s dishes: Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs (P132), Chinese Pork Belly in Red Sauce (P152), Tinik-less Daing na Bangus (P70 for half/P120 whole), Home Style Beef Tapa (P100), Breaded Pork Cutlet (P95), Laing, Pork Marinara Pasta (P95), Chili con Carne, The Ultimate Calderata (P190) and much much more. The Davaoenos surely knows good food and they flock to Lachi’s even if it’s out of the way and in a remote place with hardly any public transport.

The photos below are my favorite Lachi’s staples.

Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs

Chinese Pork Belly in Red Sauce

Pork Marinara Pasta

I’ve returned to Lachi’s two more times after the DFAT event. That’s how much I like the food there. I always make it a point to eat there at least once when I’m in Davao. The Unforgettable Pork Ribs is tender and yes, unforgettable. It is slightly sweet and spicy. The Chinese Pork Belly in Red Sauce is a heart attack waiting to happen but at least I will die happy. The Pork Marinara is very cheesy and will suit the Pinoy palette. The best thing about these three dishes is not only they’re very delicious, they’re very affordable too.

It is a well-known fact in Davao that Lachi’s is where Davao coffee shops source their desserts. You can only imagine what the desserts are like in Lachi’s itself. During DFAT, we got to try 3 types of Sans Rival: The original, capuccino, and durian. I prefer the original to the more pungent durian which is an acquired tasted. I ordered one whole box to take home with me to Manila and it only costs P285. The cakes are in a whole different level though. All of them were moist, soft, and ALWAYS freshly baked. Believe me when I say that the Symphony Torte, Five Chocolate Torte and Regal Chocolate Torte are to die for. I wanted to take home boxes of cakes to Manila but unfortunately they will melt during the flight so the owners of Lachi’s discouraged me to do so.

Three types of Sans Rival

Assorted tortes

more heavenly cakes

cheesecakes

Do make sure to eat at Lachi’s when you’re in Davao. It is a must-try experience you won’t regret.

Mike Aviles, one of the owners of Lachi's

Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.
Ruby Street, Marfori Heights
Davao City
82-2245552 / 0916-9841183

https://www.facebook.com/lachisdavao

Calle Bistro is a revolutionized food sale that would bring together local and foreign cuisines in the metro catering to young professionals and food enthusiasts to unwind, socialize and explore the rich oriental and western flavors. This UP JPIA project aims to assist budding food retail brands and enterprises in promoting their products and to provide a one of a kind food socialization experience where people from different walks of life can get a slice of the world right on their plates. This is a night of food adventure made more special as live bands serenade the visitors as they indulge in Calle Bistro. Games and raffle draws would also make it a night of fun and excitement for everyone.

Proceeds of this project will benefit the UP JPIA Long-term Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) scholarship fund and will provide financial support for UP JPIA’s other socio-civic activities.

UP Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (UP JPIA) is a multi-awarded organization. They take pride in being the sole Hall of Fame awardee and three-time recipient of the most coveted “Gawad Chancellor Award for the Most Outstanding Organization” in the University of the Philippines. They are also branded as the “Most Outstanding Local Chapter” by the National Federation of JPIA three times. Some of the projects that have put them over the top in recent years include Project Activate, a health-consciousness campaign, representing them in the regional finals of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations in the country; TikTakbo, an annual fun run with over 800 runners annually and the Accountancy Students Seminar and Extra-curricular Training (ASSET), a three-day seminar for the top 50 senior and graduating accounting students all over the Philippines.

Calle Bistro will be at the Eastwood CityWalk 2. The event will start at 6 PM and close at 3 AM. Admission is FREE!

Paul and Carolina Macasaet

Ambience, Design and Space

Modern interior

spacious yet intimate

Lest you might think that Melo’s restaurants are stuffy relics where old farts hang out, you have another think coming. They keep up with the times. This goes for the food as well as the restaurant itself.

The one where I was invited to is in Alabang, just near Alabang Town Center. It is surrounded by other restaurants and there is a mall currently being built in the complex. The area has ample parking space and is well-guarded.

Inside Melo’s, they retained the old Melo’s colors of red and cream but transformed the general design into something more contemporary. Everything is designed by the patriarch himself who certainly knows more than a thing or two about aesthetics. Ambient lighting, the use of lines and space, sculptures and paintings by national artists add to the comfortable yet classy appeal of the restaurant.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Service

The whole time I was there, the staff were very attentive to our needs. The waiters stayed in the background when serving our orders and didn’t disrupt our conversation. When asked about food choices, they seemed knowledgeable. Perhaps they should have smiled more but there’s a possibility that smiling might distract me. I don’t know…I just think it will make the place appear friendlier.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Food and Price

Keep in mind that Melo’s is a fine-dining restaurant so expect the price to be higher than average restaurants. Served to us that night were: complimentary Crostini with Duck Pate (free), Oyster Rockefeller (P400 for 8 pieces), Foie Gras Balsamico (P600), Raclette Cheese (P380), Gambas Ajillo (P270), Waldorf Salad with Duck Breast (P330), and the Chef’s Specials.

The Chef Specials price varies according to the grade and size of steak you want served. The price is P1,930 for 4oz. and P3,700 for 8oz. Grade 8 Wagyu for both.  The Chef Specials are Tenderloin Wagyu, Filetto Tartufato and Tenderloin Wagyu Foie Gras.

Besides Chef Specials, I got to try the classic Rib Eye Wagyu (Grade 6 – P225 per oz.).

We also tried Melo’s pastas: Creamy Truffle Pasta Farfalle with Mushroom (P490) and Spaghetti Vongole (P350).

For dessert, we had Red Velvet Cake (price unknown) and Raspberry Cheesecake (price unknown).

Complimentary Crostini with Duck Pate

The duck pate was creamy and very spreadable. The crostini were warm and crunchy. The Crostini with Duck Pate in place of bread rolls places Melo’s at an advantage over their competitors.

Oyster Rockefeller

Melo’s version of Oyster Rockefeller is the best I’ve tasted. It is baked with hollandaise sauce and topped with bacon (BACON!!!) and parmesan cheese. I couldn’t get enough of it and I will come back to Melo’s even just for this.

Foie Gras Balsamico

The Foie Gras Balsamico is served with balsamic reduction, raisins, grapes, raspberries, caramelized onions and croquette. It was perfectly seared, creamy, and the balsamic reduction contrasts the sweetness of the fruits to highlight the taste of the foie gras. The croquette is an added bonus.

Raclette Cheese

The Raclette Cheese comes with marbled potatoes, cocktail onions and pickles. This is another favorite of mine. It is always served warm. Raclette is really good cheese and eating it gooey was a delight! I ignored the potatoes, pickles and onions. I just wanted the cheese. It was while I was eating this that I wished I ordered wine too.

Gambas Ajillo

The Gambas Ajillo was slightly spicy. The shrimps were small but juicy and light and didn’t spoil my appetite. The shrimps are soaked in olive oil and have a sprinkling of fried garlic. It was very nice.

Waldorf Salad with Duck Breast

I wasn’t too happy with Melo’s version of Waldorf Salad. I find it too sweet but my companions liked it. The salad has duck breast, walnuts, apples, raisins, and Melo’s homemade mayonnaise. I think it was the homemade mayonnaise which makes the salad sweet.

Rib Eye Wagyu

The Rib Eye Wagyu is a classic which comes with mixed vegetables and mushroom. It was very tender and succulent and the marinade was simple and I liked it a lot. I like my steak with some fat in it and the cut which was served was nicely marbled with fat.

Tenderloin Wagyu

Tenderloin Wagyu is served with morel mushroom and Cabernet toasted garlic sauce, mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes. As I expected, the wagyu was very tender. I like my steak medium rare and Melo’s has perfected their cooking technique. The morel with cabernet and garlic added a woodsy taste to the steak. The cut was purely lean meat.

Filetto Tartufato

The deadly Filetto Tartufato was fantastic. It is a fillet mignon wagyu with pan-seared foie gras and truffle oil sauce. It comes with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes. This is another favorite because I love truffles. The steak is soft and tender and the truffle oil makes it smokey and earthy.

Tenderloin Wagyu Foie Gras

The Tenderloin Wagyu Foie Gras was superb. It comes with red wine cranberry sauce and truffle oil mashed potatoes. The pan-seared foie gras that was served was thick and perfectly seared. The wagyu was soft and juicy just like the other steaks. The sauce enhanced the flavor of the steak and was not too sweet. The truffle oil mashed potato was heavenly. Did I tell you that I’m a fan of mashed potatoes? Good mashed potato this certainly was.

Steak Rice

Steaks come with the soup of the day. You may also request for steak rice which is white rice mixed with beef drippings and/or fried fat which is taken from the steak you order. Both are free.

Spaghetti Vongole

By this time I was very full but I persisted. The spaghetti was cooked al dente. The shaved parmesan, olive oil, and boiled clams were abundant. The Spaghetti Vongole is a very filling dish.

Creamy Truffle Pasta Farfalle with Mushroom

I prefer the Creamy Truffle Pasta Farfalle with Mushroom over Spaghetti Vongole. As I said earlier, I love truffle and this pasta screams of truffle. The farfalle was cooked al dente, the mushrooms seemed fresh since they weren’t rubbery. I took half of this home with me.

Red Velvet Cake

The Red Velvet Cake is different from others I’ve tasted. The frosting has a distinct taste of lemon zest which awakened my senses. The cake  was spongy, light, and airy.

Raspberry Cheesecake

Melo’s Raspberry Cheesecake was good. The cherries were fresh  and the cake was not so sweet, just cheesy good. I ate it with gusto.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Melo's is discreet

Melo’s serves good food. There is no doubt about it. They wouldn’t last this long if they didn’t. If you want to impress someone, take that person to Melo’s. If you want to have a date with your wife or girlfriend, take them to Melo’s. If you want to indulge yourself, go to Melo’s alone and you will still enjoy the experience. Whatever the occasion, this restaurant has been tried and tested by hundreds, maybe thousands, of repeat customers which means that whatever Melo’s is doing, they’re doing it right.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

BTW, Melo’s also offers catering. If you live in alabang, just contact the number below and look for Frankie or Randy.

Melo’s Alabang
C-41 Westgate Filinvest
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
7713945 and 7712288

bury me in this dress | Mukhang Pera

Fruiteamix is a small shop but it looks bright and cheerful. I don’t know when they opened but their service was very slow when I went there and there were only a few customers there.

There was no queue at that time. I asked the staff taking my order what their best seller is. She said it’s Premium Milk Tea and Honeydew Milk Tea. I said that I want to try Premium Milk Tea with Pearls (P95 for large). I gave her P100 but she said I’m still P5 short. I was thinking that maybe it’s for the pearls so I gave the money to her and waited. It felt like ages when I was finally called. I was in a hurry so I didn’t check if they got my order right.

When I got home, I was very annoyed when I saw what was in the plastic bag they gave me. It was a large Honeydew Milk Tea. To add insult to injury, there were no pearls! I couldn’t do anything anymore since I was already home and it’s not worth it to drive back just to have it changed. I just had to settle with Honeydew.

It tastes okay but nakakaumay. If there were pearls it would have been better because it chases away the umay. I had to throw away the drink after drinking half of it because it was making me gag already.

Honeydew Milk Tea

Fruiteamix, I hope you’ve improved by now but based on that experience, I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

Fruiteamix
57 Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills
San Juan, Metro Manila

© Dementia Foodista

Konbini Store is a Japanese grocery. It sells candies, chocolates, junk food, instant noodles, ingredients, beverages, ice cream, and more at exorbitant prices. If you want to shop Japanese food, go to Little Tokyo instead. The groceries there like Sakura and Chotto Stop are much much cheaper and has much to offer. Even though Konbini is pricier, folks who live in San Juan shop there because it’s more convenient. The Greenhills residents are rich too so the price probably doesn’t matter much to them.

Besides grocery items, Konbini has a kitchen for those who want to eat or take-out authentic Japanese food. For those who want to eat in, Konbini set up an eatery inside the store. People can order Japanese street food from a glass booth in front where the cooks will also cook the goodies. If you want ramen and/or gyoza instead, go to the cashier and they’ll give you a menu of what they offer. You pay for your order there and the food will be cooked in the kitchen at the back of the store while you wait in the eating area.

When I go to Konbini, I always order their Shoyu Ramen (P230) and Kani Cream (P65 per piece). Their gyoza is so-so. I also suggest their Pita Pan Yakiniku (P180) and Tonkatsu (P175 per piece).

I was forbidden by their waiter to take photos of the food but I figured that since I paid for the food, I have the right to take photos. Still, I took them discretely lest the kitchen force me to leave the place.

Shoyu Ramen

Shoyu Ramen is a delight to the senses. It smells comforting and it is very tasty. The broth’s ingredients is a closely guarded secret. Such is the way of ramen shops in Japan. When I eat their ramen, I only eat a little of the noodles because they fill me up fast. Instead, I slurp the delicious broth, eat the egg, veggies, and the nori strip.

Kani Cream

Kani Cream is creamy crab goodness which I can keep on eating.

Gyoza

As I said earlier, the Gyoza is just so-so. Many are left untouched when I leave the table.

If you want to try Konbini Store, I suggest you go there at odd hours because it gets very busy at lunch and dinner.

Konbini Store
57 Connecticut St., Northeast Greenhills
San Juan, Metro Manila
(02) 722-4263