I’ve passed by Charlie’s several times since I live near Barangay Kapitolyo so I know the place isn’t much to look at. It’s right beside a car wash so eating there isn’t really appetizing for us. My family decided to just get take-outs because of that fact. When my sister and I got arrived around 6:30 PM, there were already a lot of families eating and ordering take-outs but there were still some tables available. Their menu is written on a chalkboard above the kitchen counter and the way it is written is kind of confusing. We both decided on Black Angues Burger with fries (P175), Meatball pasta for mom (P250), and Fish and Chips (P180) for sharing. Quite expensive for a restaurant beside a carwash. My rating for their prices:
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

While waiting for our food to arrive, I explored the place and was surprised that it is big. There’s an indoor eating area with aircon and flat screen televisions. I also checked out the ladies’ room and liked the design. The outdoor dining area is just too close to the cars being washed though. It’s only separated by a plastic wall. My rating for location and ambiance:
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Charlie's indoor dining area

Our orders didn’t take too long. Unfortunately, we realized when we were home already that they forgot to include the pasta so we had to go back for that. Good thing Charlie’s is only a couple of minutes away. They apologized for forgetting our pasta but what if we live far from there. That’ll be P250 down the drain. My rating for their service:
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I was so famished so I immediately dug in my burger and fries and boy, it was sooooo good. The P175 price is certainly worth it. I tried tartar sauce and malt vinegar with the fish and chips. It was satisfactory and well worth the P180. As for the meatball pasta, I found it too oily but mom and my sister liked it. My rating for the food:
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Black Angus burger with fries

Fish and Chips

I definitely recommend Charlie’s Grind and Grill. I noticed that they also serve imported beers at a much cheaper price. Their Corona is only P135. The food is worth the price even if it’s more expensive than other burger places. The next time I go there, I’ll try their Black Angus Cheesesteak.

Overall Rating: 3.63 out of 5 stars

Charlie’s Grind and Grill (look for the car wash)
16 East Kapitolyo Drive, Bgy Kapitolyo
Pasig

Bonus: Charlie has free wifi.

As I was waiting for my family to come back, I inspected the interiors of The Stock Market and the decorations. I noticed the pineapples, lots of them, in paintings, table ornaments, etc. The restaurant also sells produce like various fruits and vegetables, meat, cheeses, wines, and cooking utensils. I noticed a lot of Del Monte cans so I pieced together that the restaurant is owned by Del Monte Corporation. The restaurant is spacious and has several function rooms on the first and second floors. I like how the interior looks like a posh market and the white walls and ceiling gave the impression of cleanliness.

When my family arrived, I ordered the New England Clam Chowder (Php 195) as a starter and the Prime Burger  (Php 395) which is the best seller in their Bukidnon store as indicated in the menu. My family ordered some other food but I will not include them in my review.

When my chowder arrived, I took a spoonful of the soup and the temperature was the right kind of warm. The serving is just enough for 1 person and I was able to finish it quickly. I’ve tasted better New England Clam Chowder so for me, the restaurant’s version is just so-so. I think it needed more seafood but it’s still okay.

New England Clam Chowder

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Prime Burger arrived quickly after I finished the soup. It has grilled pineapple, bacon, lettuce, mayo (?) and grilled onion. It also came with french fries and tomato catsup (Del Monte I presume). I had the patty grilled medium rare and the chef was able to deliver that. The presentation was satisfactory but for the price, I think they should have come up with a bigger burger. The patty is thick but I still found the burger small. The burger itself was too bland for my taste. I prefer tasty foods but maybe for those who like simple tastes, the burger will be perfect for them. The fries were soggy as well. I didn’t finish this dish because I expected more from a Php 395 burger.

Prime Burger

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Since The Stock Market is located in Bonifacio High Street, the price is to be expected. However, I expect better food for the price. The Stock Market fell below my expectation and I doubt that I will eat there again.

Overall Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

The Stock Market
Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

Double Cheese Burjer

It took more than 15 minutes to cook the burger and I find the burger small for a double patty burger. At first bite, the patty tasted salty but it was still okay for me. I was famished. I have a big appetite and the burger left me hanging so I ordered another one which again took long to prepare.

Their menu is sparse with only burgers and drinks as choices. I wish they also offer fries or onion rings to accompany their burgers.

As for the establishment, there is ample parking space since it’s situated in a commercial complex. The burger joint is well-lighted but small. The design is very simple, bordering on bare.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Ben’s Burjer
Along Barangka Drive
Mandaluyong City

I also want to try Nutella and Almond Roca. Their only branch is in Mall of Asia but the site says they deliver in Alabang. I wish they’ll open a kiosk nearer my area. I hardly go to MOA.

click to enlarge

Very affordable! I can’t wait to try the Black Angus burger. It was also mentioned that the Cheese Steak and Buffalo Wings are good and that the fries are hand cut. I’ll definitely drop by next week!

The food they offer is a bit pricy so I settled for a sandwich, a bowl of soup, and my staple Coke Light.

Crema de Calabacines al Queso

The soup I got, Crema de Calabacines al Queso, is sublime! It’s pureed green zucchini with a touch of cream cheese. The croutons were cooked perfectly but I couldn’t figure out what kind of bread was used. For Php 160, I highly  recommend this!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Mess

Yes, the sandwich is called Mess but it must be a family joke because it sure isn’t messy. It’s a combination of pepper salami, smoked pork ham, Tomme de Savoie cheese, tomato, lettuce and their special dressing. It comes with potato chips and mayonnaise. The meats are delicately salty and the veggies are very fresh. Mess is Php 295, expensive for a sandwich and they have other sandwiches which are more pricey.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For a restaurant in a mall, Terry Selection goes beyond my expectation. I wish the restaurant is cozier because I found the design too utilitarian. Perhaps their other branches have a more homey feel. I’ll try to order a better meal the next time I go there but I must prepare at least Php 1,000 to enjoy it. Still, I definitely enjoyed my humble meal.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Terry Selection
Basement Level
Podium Mall, Ortigas Center

Among the food our table tried are the following:

Elliniki Salata

Greek Salad/Elliniki Salata

An appetizer which consists of tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, green pepper, onion, feta cheese, Kalamati olives, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt. Manos’ version is very fresh and is a delight to the palate. Their feta is tastier than the ones I buy from the grocery and the tomatoes are very fresh and I suspect organic. It’s a perfect appetizer before the Greek main course.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

dolmades

Dolmades

It is another appetizer which is made of rice, onions and Greek herbs all wrapped in grape leaves. Manos serves it with their homemade Tzatziki, a sauce made of yoghurt, garlic and olive oil. Although the dolmades has rice, it’s not very filling so it makes a fine appetizer. Probably if I ate it all by myself I would be full but it’s good enough to be a meal in itself. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Saganaki

Another appetizer made of  baked shrimp, feta cheese, bread cubes, tomatoes sauce, and olive oil. Their tomato sauce is very fresh. The feta adds an oomph to the tomato-based dish. This isn’t my favorite appetizer because it’s too sour for me but I still liked it.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

mousaka

Mousaka

It is a main course which is made from olive oil, eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, minced meat, onions, white wine, béchamel sauce, and parmesan cheese. This dish is very flavorful and filling. I am a fan of eggplant and potatoes so the mousaka made my tummy happy. However, I think it would have tasted better if there is some feta in it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

grilled lamb shoulder

Grilled Lamb Shoulder

Guess what this dish is made of. Hehehe. The lamb was grilled with olive oil, vinegar, salt, and oregano. I loved the lamb a lot because it wasn’t gamey (Thanks, Daryl!). The grilling was done well. It didn’t turn the lamb shoulder tough but just the right tenderness. My gripe about this dish is the fries. I do love potatoes but I prefer that they serve the lamb by itself. Or maybe with mashed potatoes. The serving could do without the rice too.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

baklava

Baklava

A dessert made of fillo pastry, roasted hazelnut, walnut, almond, pistachios, cloves and cinnamon. I don’t remember if I liked this dessert or not. I guess it just didn’t stand out so I won’t rate it.

yoghurt

Yoghurt

Manos’ dessert yoghurt disappointed me. Although it was served with virgin honey from Ilog Maria, it was still too sour for me. They also have a drink version of the yoghurt and I didn’t like that one either. It was very bland for my taste.

Value For Money

Since we shared all the food, we each paid only PHP 300 plus. If anybody wants to try Manos Greek Taverna after reading my entry, I suggest bringing 2 or 3 companions to share the foods with. Not only will it make the meal easier on the pocket, it will make the outing more fun.

Ambiance

Since the restaurant is not air-conditioned and located along the highway, you can smell the exhaust coming from the passing vehicles. The restaurant itself is low-key with plain wooden foldable tables and monobloc chairs. Ventilation is good though because of the large windows and numerous electric fans.

Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Manos is owned by the Greek Manos Sapountzakis and his Filipina wife Estrella. They’re open everyday up to 10 PM. They also deliver to hotels and residents in Tagaytay.

Manos Greek Taverna
Calamba Road
Brgy. San Jose
Tagaytay City

tsokolate eh

heavy breakfast

The breakfast included the following: pugon-baked pandesal, giniling na baboy, suman, another type of suman, tamales, and tsokolate. I loved the pandesal. It was heavy on the stomach and it tasted great. My favorite among the fare was the tamales. I would have gotten several servings of it if it weren’t a full-day of food binge eating.

For my American readers, the Filipino tamale is different from the Spanish/Mexican kind. Although it was introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards, the ingenious pinoys back then substituted rice for corn since rice is abundant in the Pampanga region. The Filipino tamales is a steamed mixture of ground white and brown rice, ground peanuts, coconut milk, chicken, chorizo, and hard boiled egg (sometimes salted egg). 

tamales galore on the right

I am a big fan of tamales and I first learned of it when my mother brought them home from Santi’s Greenhills. Actually she bought them from a man who sells native delicacies in front of Santi’s. Anyway, I try to buy tamales whenever I can. It’s not common to find them in Metro Manila. Oh I digressed. Pardonne-moi!

I can’t really say I’ve tried Everybody’s Cafe because I only had the chance to eat their breakfast food and I’m not even sure if those are regularly served. Hence, I couldn’t rate the restaurant yet but for their tamales and pandesal, I give them

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Everybody’s Cafe
Del Pilar, McArthur Highway
San Fernando, Pampanga 

Everybody’s Cafe also has a booth in Salcedo Market every Saturday.

OMG Kawaii Bento

Isn’t it cute? The god is made of croquettes and it came with 2 pieces of ebi tempura and teriyaki sauce. I had it for lunch on that day and it’s filling. I didn’t need sauce for the croquettes because they were tasty enough. The tempura needs a bit of the teriyaki sauce because it tasted bland. The bento tastes like most Japanese bentos I’ve tried but the plus of this one is the visual factor. I will recommend this meal to kids and teens, especially as a meal served during their parties.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

To make arrangements visit the OMG Kawaii Bento website.

We were warmly welcomed by the Tayags in their gorgeous home. Their property which provided a much-needed refuge from the Pampanga heat, is filled with sculptures and greeneries. The house itself is very organic since the materials used were mostly from wood salvaged from torn old torn down Churches and homes.

Mrs. Tayag provided us with a delicious thirst-quencher of Dalandan juice with muscovado sugar ice cubes. One glass is just not enough.

Served with the Dalandan juice is crackers with several toppings to choose from: crab fat, pesto, and I forgot the other one.

This was followed by lumpia with their special Oriental sauce and a salad of ferns, eggs, and other kinds of greens.

lumpia

salad

Everything I’ve mentioned so far could have been a meal in itself but those were just appetizers. Since Spanky has been raving about the 5-way lechon on Plurk, there was no way in hell I would say no to the next part of the meal.

Hello, Mr. Piggy!

The lechon was cooked on the day of the tour so it was very fresh. 

The first way was crisp lechon skin with liver sauce.

lechon skin smothered in sauce

It was good and crispy but I’ve always eaten lechon that way . Still, I emptied the plate.

The Second Way is pritchon. I’ve only tried pritchon once and it was a Filipino restaurant in Greenbelt (forgot the name so I guess their food was just okay). The tayag version is out-of-this-world! You make it yourself by getting a tortilla wrapper, dumping as much of the crispy lechon floss as much as you can, adding kimchi, basil, onions or whatever topping you want and then pouring the XO (spicy) and Oriental sauces on top of everything.

I absolutely loved the tangy taste of the pritchon and how the floss crunches while I chewed. 

D-I-Y Pritchon

The third way is sinigang sa kamias na lechon. For me it was just okay. I’m not too fond of kamias.

sinigang

Fourth way was barbecued lechon ribs. The marinade was simple and I was still able to detect the lechon taste. I liked this one a lot.

barbecued lechon rib

Fifth Way is asadong lechon. I don’t remember much about it because I was too distracted, trying to find a way to get more pritchon and barbecued rib.

asadong lechon

We were fortunate since Margaux Salcedo was assigned to our table. She introduced us to the Sixth Way: lechon tongue and eye. I was grossed out at first but when Eloisa tried it and said it was good, I just had to try it myself. And yes, the eye was good. It’s not hard, more of rubbery like how litid is. It also has the lechon taste because of how it was smoked with the rest of the animal. Hee hee.

six-way!!!

The five-hour lunch didn’t end there. Of course there had to be dessert. It’s a Tayag creation called Paradiso which befits its name. It’s made of sweet yam and gabi and surrounded by coconut sauce. Claude torched the top ala creme brulee.

paradiso

Since this entry will serve as my answer to Kitchen Cow’s contest, this five-hour meal is the most memorable meal for me because it combined good company, showmanship, art, great culinary skills and perfect ambiance – all prerequisites for my hedonistic lifestyle. I also know that Anthony Bourdain had this meal when he went to Pampanga

If anybody wants to join future Ultimate Pampanga Show-Offs, just keep on following any of the organizers’ blogs.