Foodie from the Metro

Tokyo Bubble Tea | A Bubbly Dine In

2012-02-26T23:45:00.000+08:00

The Fort Residences Bldg
30th St, Cor. 2nd Ave.,Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila
Business Hours: 11AM to 1AM Daily
Phone: (02) 478-7483
Cuisine: Japanese
Budget: Php200↑
Delivery: No
Payment: Cash or Credit Card
Overall Rating:

Experience Tokyo's premium milk tea and hot Japanese-Western Dishes.

...

Tokyo Bubble Tea is no new restaurant for me. It has been around since 2007, and I've even been dining in their Tomas Morato branch for several times already! And it's really nice to see that they're still doing great despite the various milk tea shops that have already sprouted all over the metro.

It all started when Tokyo Milk Tea Corporation owners wanted to introduce bubble milk tea drinks in a casual-type of restaurant in Manila. (Their tapioca [*sago*] pearls are what they call as bubbles.) They wanted it to be infused with the Japanese's style of ambiance and fusion food—and so they did. So far they have branches in Wilson Greenhills, Tomas Morato, SM Megamall, SM The Block, and The Fort! This Fort branch was recently launched last December 15, 2011 and having to work here in BGC, it's only natural that there'd be a time when I'd get my lunch or dinner fix from them.

(The food photos below total two of my most recent trips to Tokyo Bubble Tea.)

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Who wouldn't be tempted to drop by Tokyo Bubble Tea when their bright and lively colors are so conspicuous? For one thing, their decoration alone encourages a fun feast for your eyes, and I really don't like using this word too much but I'll use it anyway: the place looked cute. ♥

The more prominent hues were green and orange but hues of yellow, pink, and brown were even mixed to the overall look of the restaurant and all of it were just so pleasing to look at. The ceiling lights, ceiling pattern of yellow hollow circles, white-bricked wall, screens, etc. etc. etc. And oh, it also has an al fresco area which was perfect for the smokers. (Even if there's a small yet very obvious sign outside that says 'No Smoking'. )

Also, they have beside them the owner's wife's own J-pop-inspired pastry shop, Honeybee Patisserie, which I have yet to (absolutely) try especially since the chef and I both have the same first names! Haha! (Chef Aileen Tan).

FOOD & PRICE

Here is something that you should know about Tokyo Bubble Tea: they only give you the freshest and top-quality food and drinks just so you could get to experience the best of the Japanese cuisine! Their menu, if I must note, is very helpful (and colorful!) for first-timers because it already shows the pictures of each dish.

First stop! A salmon nigiri-sushi (P190.00) served with pickled ginger, soy, and wasabi—the usual, but it was nice and loose, so I know that I was eating good sushi. Now I know that we all have our own way of eating sushi. I for one am a big fan of Japanese cuisine yet I don't like wasabi—the hint of wasabi applied by the cook/chef is enough for me.

Tokyo Bubble Tea is a casual restaurant so if you place dollops of wasabi to your soy sauce because that's your kind of thing then there's no need to worry if it's the right way or not. Why? Nobody cares, haha! As long you're enjoying your sushi, then great! But if you're going into a legit sushi bar, it's best to remember that (1) you shouldn't drown your sushi in soy sauce, (2) you shouldn't drown your wasabi in soy sauce, and (3) you shouldn't drown—LOLJK—you shouldn't use a fork and a knife (use your chopsticks or your hand if it's for nigiri sushis.) Well I actually don't know if the chefs care how you eat it, but I guess eating it the right way would give you a better experience of tasting the freshness of the sushi.

Next is the rolls! We ordered the Korean Beef which was beef sauteed in Korean sauce, rolled in rice and black sesame—and boy, it was really yummy! I actually didn't find the need to even dip it in soy because it was already rich in flavor!

Korean Beef - Maki Sushi (P185.00)
Food:
Price:

In another note, I have a feeling that I will always give a low rating to all tamagos because they're really just too costly. I mean, I could cook and imitate it myself and then what, they're worth more than a hundred pesos? Well fine, it may be made by a chef and they have their own special recipe and style but still! *rants and rants and rants* Haha! (In the first place, if I think this way, I shouldn't just buy one, right? Haha! But I was and always am craving for it!)

Tamago - Sashimi (P130.00)
Food:
Price:

Off to the main course! We ordered the Apple Sauce Glazed Grilled Porkchop Rice. For the record, most of the porkchop pieces that I've encountered would often be too hard and too chewy (undercooked) that my jaw would hurt. That's why I would often refrain from ordering porkchop or even katsudon for that matter. But thankfully, this was a good sort! The meat was very tender and well-cooked, and the apple sauce really helps in making this dish oh-so-irresistable!

It was even a delight to have such scrumptious buttered vegetables and garlic rice that went along with the dish.

Apple Sauce Glazed Grilled Porkchop Rice (P275.00)
Food:
Price:

Still in the spirit of rice meals, we ordered a donburi: Fish Katsudon, one of their best-sellers which was composed of breaded fish cutlet with cheese filling and seaweed wrap, sunny side up egg, and tonkatsu sauce. It was a decent one: crunchy on the outside, tender fish inside. And my companion was actually taken by surprise when she saw black bits along with the filling—this was actually the only time that we found out about the seaweed wrap inside it and I must say that this sort of messed with the taste of the fish and the cheese.

Fish Katsudon (P195.00)
Food:
Price:

From all the rice we're having, I ordered for a noodles dish, the Sukiyaki Beef that had thin slices of USDA beef with soft tofu and mixed vegetables in a BIG bowl... a really big serving. When I first saw the tray that our waiter was holding, I just wanted to slap myself because I realized how I keep on forgetting! One example, I used to order their Beef Stew Noodles and my friend and I would always share that (and still we can't finish it all!) So end result: I had to take out half of the Sukiyaki Beef. But I guess it was actually a good thing in itself because then, I had something sweet to eat for dinner.

Fish Katsudon (P255.00)
Food:
Price:

Nobody should go to Tokyo Bubble Tea without even trying one of their drinks seeing as they only use all-natural ingredients and not the artificial powdered ones. You can choose from a lot of flavors of milk teas, milk shakes, tea slush, black tea, and green tea—whatever floats your boat!

I tried their Strawberry Milkshake (L - P145.00) and it was good! Well, it's not the kind that would make me go back to them for, but it was a nice drink nonetheless.

I actually used to love their sweet Royal Milk Tea, but with the advent of the tea shops in the city, this has obviously been replaced (by Gong Cha for instance). I also used to refer to their tapiocas as the best ones, but now, even with their great chewy, sweet, and gooey texture, there are already bigger tapiocas out there (cheaper even) and yummier types too.

Yet even with that and the fact that it's a bit expensive compared to the others, their drinks can still be such a worthy buy! Best to pair off with the numerous dishes that they offer.

What I recommend for their drinks are the: Taro Milk Tea and (yep) Royal Milk Tea.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Beef Gyuudon (P245.00)
Chicken Teriyaki Doria (P245.00)
Beef Stew Noodles (P245.00)
Dynamite Maki-zushi (P295.00)

OVERALL

...there's a reason why they're still around, striving and spreading out. Sure, they may be on the expensive side, but their big food servings and quality taste makes up for the extra shell out.

No Words, Just Food | #1

2012-02-25T01:03:00.000+08:00

Meat Doneness | Is it Done Yet?

2012-02-21T15:25:00.001+08:00

I started this blog because I wanted to document my food trips. And I don't know if anyone noticed but I often include 'Did-You-Know' sections or fact tidbits in my posts because I believe that being a foodie isn't only about the taste and the wondrous gulps, it's also about knowing the dish before you. So in part, that's also one of my intentions for this blog—educating myself and my readers.

Putting that dramatic intro aside , I have come across Dr. Dave's page where he discussed meat doneness (the condition of being cooked to a desired degree) and I wanted to share it as well because I love meat/steak with a passion ♥ especially a medium rare kobe beef. Aaaaah, now I'm craving for one!

BLUE RARE (115F)
"Seared on the outside, completely red throughout. Meat remains gel-like in texture and is difficult to chew. Juices are not yet flowing freely."
*This is as raw as it can be for die-hard carnivores

RARE (120F)
"Seared and still red 75% through the center. Once heat transfer completes during resting period, steak will achieve:"
*The Perfect Steak: tender and juicy

MEDIUM RARE (126F)
"Seared with 50% warm and mostly pink to red center. Firm on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside."
*Past the point of the Perfect Steak

MEDIUM (134F)
"Seared outside, 25% of pink showing inside. There should still be slightly more gray-brown than pink coloration."
*Much drier and tougher than the Perfect Steak.

MEDIUM WELL (150F)
"Mostly gray-brown, but with a slight hint of pale pink inside. Good for those who want slightly juicy steak, and detests any sign of "blood" in their meat."
*Past the point of no return?

WELL DONE (160F)
"100% Brown. No sign of pink, usually slightly charred on the outside.It has to be done slowly on low heat, or else you end up with shoe leather."
*Said to be a waste of good quality steak.

Isn't Eating Almost Raw Meat Bad?

To answer that question, let me quote this article:

When it comes to things like chicken, pork, and ground beef, yes, definitely! But the risk for steak is different. If a cut of steak is going to have any bacteria, it's just about always going to be on the outside. Steak doesn't contain the parasites that plague chickens and pigs. However, the outside should be cooked and handled with clean instruments.

Ground beef, on the other hand, is going to have bacteria spread throughout. You are more likely to get E. Coli by eating undercooked ground beef, so go for a well-done hamburger.

And I also know a lot of people who cringe at the sight of 'blood' oozing out from rare to medium rare steaks, but here's a fact: it's meat juice NOT blood.

That "meat juice" is mostly water, fat and myoglobin.

Did you know the real reason raw meat looks so red is because of myoglobin protein in the muscles? Contrary to popular belief, it's not because of the hemoglobin found in blood.

A quality steak that's been properly drained and cleaned should contain hardly any blood at all, even when it's served rare.

Learning these things has now convinced me to try a rare steak next time as it is claimed to be the 'Perfect Steak'!

Now if you're planning on cooking meat, there are two ways to checking the 'doneness': (1) Meat thermometer or through the (2) finger test. A meat thermometer is a bit expensive, so here's a cheap but sure way to check. It's simply comparing the feel of the meat with the below test:

I must say I had a bit of fun playing with my fingers when I saw this. Haha!

So there it is, hope this helps. Happy meat eating!

New Domain | Site Will be Up and Running by Wednesday

2012-02-18T12:43:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

I have finally decided to buy my own domain (www.foodiefromthemetro.com).

Hence, this site will be experiencing a bit of a revamp for the next three days. Please bear with me! I'll be up and ready to go again by Wednesday (February 22) with new posts. I will be replying to all of your comments as well on that day.

So, this is just a heads up!
Now I'm off to do a bit of coding work. Whooo! *Game Face: ON!*

Órale! Taqueria Mexicana | Fresh and Good

2012-02-18T01:16:00.001+08:00

G/F, The Fort Strip
7th & 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila
Business Hours: 11AM to 11PM Daily
Phone: (02) 552-2660
Cuisine: Mexican
Budget: Php400↑
Delivery: No
Reservation: Takes reservations
Payment: Cash or Credit Card
Overall Rating:

Garnish the day with color and happy memories!

...

If my friends are craving for Mexican food, their usual and immediate top of mind amongst all the other Mexican places in Manila is Ristras. But I have to tell them to come over to Fort Strip and try Órale! Taqueria Mexicana, a new home-style California-Mexico-inspired taqueria (Spanish word for taco shop). I just have the feeling that it might be their newest favorite! Yours too!

In my first 'Eat's a Date' invite, I met Órale's general manager, Nikki Confiado. For a start, he told us that living in the San Francisco Bay Area introduced them (him and his wife Lek) to a lot of different food and cuisines; double that with their frequent trips to Mexico then they have surely come to love the Mexican fare. And now that they're here in the Philippines, they decided to put up Órale!—not only to satisfy their cravings but also to let us Filipinos have a taste of Mexico's authentic street food.

As for the word 'orale', it is known to be a common interjection in Mexico that would often mean "Okay!" or "Alright!"; used mostly to express great appreciation for a certain thing. In its slang connotation, it would equal to expressions such as "Hell yeah!"

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

I've never been to Mexico but from what I've seen from movies and on TV, Órale's bright-orange façade, wooden chairs, minimal decor, and rustic homey feel really had a Mexican feel to it.

I've actually passed by Órale for a lot of times before since I frequent Fitness First that's just beside it, BUT I never really had the chance to dine because I was always in a hurry. The number of people though (70% are foreigners) and the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant would always pique my interest.

It's a small place actually, but still spacious. Besides, Órale has an al fresco area, perfect for the smokers—a friendly advise: don't stay out there if you're wearing shorts because I did, and boy, there was one point where mosquitoes feasted upon my legs and thighs with such fervor! Haha!

Inside, you'll be greeted by a colorful mural of some of the famous Mexican icons—as I was told, because... well... I felt so uneducated when I couldn't identify all of them, except for the luchadors (Mexican wrestlers) and Our Lady of Guadalupe (not seen in the photo below) Now according to my companions, the others were Carlos Santana, Cheech and Chong, Frida Kahlo, and El Chicharito. Also included was the Volkswagen Beetle.

There also these wonderfully prepped food pictures and we were told that it was taken by Mylene Chung. [ Check out her blog entry about this here ].

Meanwhile, their kitchen area is even visible and we were even told that almost every decorative element in the restaurant (such as the sign boards) were made by them.

There's even this cool corner where you can have a bit of fun with the masks painted on the glass mirror.

FOOD & PRICE

Órale imports almost all of their ingredients from San Francisco and to keep the authenticity of the food, Nikki and Lek have a food consultant, the Monday Chefs. Nikki also pride themselves on how they serve only the freshest batch of dips and salsas and also on how they made everything from scratch.

ANTOJITOS (Appetizer)

First was the Totopos Y Salsa. I've learned that these tortilla chips were made by them using imported white corn: I loved how they were crunchier and 'fuller' compared to those that I've tasted before in other restaurants. Meanwhile, the salsa was lightly fiery.

Totopos Y Salsa (P85.00)
Food:
Price:

Their Grilled Corn on the Cob was okay, made unique with the seasoning of herbs and made even more interesting when you squeeze in some lime. That night, I wasn't into the Mexican messy type of eating, so I resorted to being Ms. Demure and shredded the corn instead of handling it with my bare hands. (LOL).

Grilled Corn on the Cob (P85.00)
Food:
Price:

SALSAS

What's great about Órale is their varied homemade salsas which tasted A-grade! They served us Salsa Impyerno, guacamole, and black beans.

It was actually funny because none of us were too brave at first to try the Salsa Impyerno; the name was frightening in itself! But being the foodies that we are, we have to taste it! And I'm not a fan of anything spicy but for this, I could make an exception! Haha! Taking in the Salsa Impyerno firstly gave me a light but blissfully sweet taste and then after that, it was a whole rush of spicy! Some of us even found ourselves sweating afterwards!

Salsas
Food:
Price:

Mango Salsa = best for seafood

Ranchera = chicken

Salsa Roja = carnitas

Salsa Verde = barbacoa and carne asada

TOSTADA (Toasted flat tortilla)

There were different types of toppings for the tostadas and we were served with the Barbacoa kind: a form of cooking where they roast the meat until tender. This was rather new to me but I love the mix of flavors and the tender texture.

Barbacoa Tostada (P155.00)
Food:
Price:

TACOS (Folded tortilla)

Carne Asada Tacos was served with tortilla chips and lime. I'm not much of a fan for pickled jalapenos so I had to take those off from the toppings. But that aside, this was such a treat! I loved the play of the flavors as well as the hints of spice.

Carne Asada Tacos (Tres) (P325.00)
Food:
Price:

QUESADILLAS

Another great dish: the Double Cheese Quesadillas! This was a soft flour tortilla made from two cheeses—one of which was Moneterey Jack cheese—topped with diced tomatoes and pickled jalapenos. This was best eaten while it was still warm to taste its perfect cheesy delight!

Double Cheese Quesadillas (P245.00)
Food:
Price:

BURRITOS

Most people would cringe at the thought of lengua (ox tongue) but for my case, I love lengua! And Órale hit all the right spots with this lengua burrito—it tasted rich and hearty; all of the soft tortilla, lengua, and rice. (It is said that it takes them 3-4 hours to cook the lengua to perfection! Yum!)

Lengua Burrito Grande (P355.00)
Food:
Price:

To go along with all the good food, Órale also offers a wide selection of drinks such as their imported Mexican beers.

SERVICE

Even if Órale is a self-service restaurant, the waiters were all very friendly and patient enough to answer any question that you may have; the same trait that Nikki has. Recently, whenever I pass by Órale after gym, I'd often see Nikki entertaining some of his customers and it was nice how he still remembered me.

Back to their servers, I'll say it again: they were very eager in assisting me and my companions. One of them had even shown us how they make their tortillas! He said that they used to manually flatten and shape their doughs, but now, they have the machine showed in the picture below:

OVERALL

...I recommend Órale! very much. If you're wary of spicy food (like me), I suggest that you throw that fear away temporarily because the food, filling, chips, etc. becomes even more flavorful when you dip it into their racy salsas.

Pricey, you say? Well yes, but you get your money's worth! Not only do they serve such big servings (one order would actually be enough for two!), but every dish is of top quality as well—every bite sends you the message that what you were served with is fresh, authentic, and 'homemade'. Órale!

MENU

As of February 1, 2012.

Hong Kong Roast Food Express | The HK Experience

2012-02-17T00:34:00.000+08:00

51 Bel Air
22 Jupiter Street
Corner Galaxy, Makati City
Business Hours: 7AM to 10PM Daily
Phone: (02) 984-7760
Cuisine: Chinese
Budget: Php200↑
Delivery: Yes
Reservation: Takes reservations
Overall Rating:

A taste of authentic Hong Kong.

...

Hong Kong Roast Food Express first appeared in Bagtikan Street (Makati) offering authentic Hong Kong fare and it seems that they hit it off well given the good reviews posted by different websites and bloggers alike online.

Fortunately enough, I got to try HKR myself when I was invited to dine in their newest branch located in Jupiter St. where I also met the owner/partners: Mary and John. According to them, due to their frequent trips to Hong Kong and China, they decided to bring the taste of Hong Kong's genuine street café experience to us Filipinos.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

When I was in Hong Kong, I remember how we mostly ate at high-end restaurants (say... Cuisine Cuisine at the IFC Tower) so I don't really know yet the true Hong Kong street food experience (the Kowloon restaurants, am I right?). We did go to different side-street milk tea shops but that's of course, a different thing. But at least, I saw the overall look of the normal Hong Kong street cafés, and I must say that seeing HKR kind of brought me back to our 2010 trip.

As for it's location, it won't be that hard to find HKR given the gigantic and bright orange sign that they have outside their establishment.

Upon reaching the spot, I was a bit surprised that it is located at the basement of the building and as per usual with Chinese cuisine eateries, I was greeted by roast chickens hanging from the restaurant's glass window.

Its interior, on the other hand, had a modern but simple feel to it and you can clearly see elements of typical Chinese decor—especially the wallpaper, wooden chairs, and the lit lanterns.

FOOD & PRICE

HKR aims to offer quality Hong Kong food in such affordable prices and to add an added 'oomph' to their menu selections, most of their ingredients are imported.

First, we were served with Yang Chow Fried Rice—the kind that kept me wanting for more servings! The choice of rice as well as its preparation was an absolute success, satisfying my palate.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (P165.00)
Food:
Price:

Their Beef Hofan Noodles wasn't the best beef ho fan that I tasted, but I loved it all the same! For one thing, the slices of beef were very tender and the ho-fun noodles didn't look harassed—which tells me that it was handled very well during the cooking process. It was a bit oily though, but it was the balanced sort found in usual good ho fan dishes seeing as it didn't ruin the flavor at all. I actually had to refrain myself from taking more helpings or else my companion wouldn't have any left!

Beef Hofan Noodles (P245.00)
Food:
Price:

The Roast BBQ Pork was the most delectable dish of the night! It came to me as no surprise since HKR specializes in roastings: I remember reading somewhere that Mary and her chef ardently worked along Hong Kong chefs to perfect this dish. It was tender and marinated perfectly, as the asado sauce brought out the goodness of the pork.

Roast BBQ Pork (Asado) Short Order (P180.00)
Food:
Price:

Yet another favorite: Honey Glazed Fried Chicken! It was finger-lickin' good! (Oops, is there a trademark for this? Haha!) But really, it was! The honey wasn't that overpowering to make the whole dish taste sickeningly sweet—it was just right! Tender, juicy, and sweet = perfect.

Honey Glazed Fried Chicken (P195.00)
Food:
Price:

The Special Baked Chicken was cooked well and juicy, but for me, it wasn't something new. It was just... well, okay. And looking at the price, I must say it's rather expensive given the size of the serving.

Special Baked Chicken (Native) (P310.00)
Food:
Price:

An explosion of rich and delectable color: HKR's Sweet & Sour Pork. Nothing too outstanding about this but I love the sweet-sour taste for this one.

Sweet and Sour Pork (P240.00)
Food:
Price:

Another dish served and this one had this soft and velvety fish fillet texture that would still be worth its price.

Celery Fish Fillet (P185.00)
Food:
Price:

Then came dessert!

I was actually in aghast when I saw them serve French Toast because that's not a Chinese delicacy (or so I thought). They explained to us that this is one of the specialties served in Hong Kong.

Now before I go on, here's one fact about me: I try to eat healthy food for as much as I could, so dishes that look oily and dripping with so much butter tends to make me scurry away in fear. But the owner told us that this was one of their sought out selections; well it does look yummy anyway so I took a bite and.... I. LOVED. IT! It was very sweet, moist, and yummy!

It's just basically two slices of bread slapped on their 'special filling' (which tasted a bit like peanut butter? Or sesame? I dunno. The owner didn't want to tell me, haha! **UPDATE** It's Chinese peanut butter!) topped with creamy butter. Another fact: I don't like peanut butter, but this one made me love it for even just a while. Haha!

French Toast (P80.00)
Food:
Price:

At first glance it may look unappetizing, more so if you're no fan of beans or black sesame then surely that feeling might be doubled! But take a chance and order this dessert because you'll never regret it: at first bite it may taste funny, but take more and you'd slowly love the taste: I can guarantee that.

Actually, for me, it came to a point where it kind of resembled the taste of cookies and cream but the hints of sesame made it more unique and memorable.

(If I think about it now, Black Sesame ice Cream is a popular delicacy in Japan.)

Black Sesame Ice Cream (P85.00)
Food:
Price:

As for my drink, I ordered their Honey Lemon (P90.00) which came with a spoon and I found it very odd so I asked one of their waiters and he told me that it's used for squeezing the lemon. Niiiice. Haha! I tried to take a sip first without the squeezing part and I found it very lemony. When I did finally squeeze the lemons in my drink, the taste was amplified even more and the previous scarce hints of honey... I can no longer taste! Still, it would be a good drink if you're up for that kind of sourness.

OVERALL

...it was a great dine! Made even nicer because the owners were very quirky and fun to talk to—especially John! Haha, he kept us entertained all night and it was fun seeing him and Kenny exchange banters because the two of them were really humorous; and I'm even more glad because I met these new people!

With one of the owners, John.

Anyhow, trust me when I say that HKR does have that authentic taste for some of their dishes; just make sure you try their roastings! ♥

MENU

As of February 9, 2012.

Cupcakes by Sonja | Love and Sweets

2012-02-14T17:00:00.000+08:00

I never leave Serendra without buying from Sonja's. Ever since these gourmet cupcake shops rose to popularity, Cupcakes by Sonja has always been my first top pick. I'm still in the hunt for good contenders, but for now, let me just show you how my recent visit with them had been like.

They put up a few decorations for this love month—they didn't put up anything more than that, which is fine, because their red-striped wallpaper alone is actually enough to go with the 'feel' of this Valentine season.

Other than the decorations, there were even these carefully-crafted Valentine cupcakes in display!

But what I usually buy from Sonja's is a box of two of my favorites: Vanilla Sunshine (P55.00) and Red Velvet Vixen (P70.00)! ♥

I usually choose the blue-green-colored Vanilla Sunshine with vanilla buttercream frosting—not that the color brings out a different flavor, LOL, I just liked the hue. Haha!

Unfortunately, the Red Velvet Vixen was already sold out! They told me that the next batch will be ready by 7:00 PM, and well... it was 5:30PM when I arrived at the shop.

Ain't that sign just adorable? And just because it was, I followed it's advice and decided to buy another kind instead. I was just about to buy the Bunny Hugger Carrot Cupcake (P60.00) when the Peppermint Patty (P68.00) caught my eye. Now I'm not a fan of mint nor even peppermint in particular so I've never really tried these types before... but I thought, why not try, right? I might start to like it!

For sure, the peppermint frosting was refreshing; but, still and the same, I guess I still don't (and might never) have the thing for anything minty. It would have totally worked for those who are a fan of peppermint though... So in the end, I just gobbled up the delightful Valrhona (a French brand) dark chocolate cupcake and left the frosting for my sister who gave me a weird look when I handed her over a plate full of pink frosting. Haha!

Cupcakes by Sonja
1C03 Serendra Piazza
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila
(02) 856-0308

Shiok | Triple Asian Cuisine

2012-02-12T23:49:00.002+08:00

01-05 Fort Forum Bldg.
Bonifacio Stop Over, 31st and 2nd St
Fort Bonifacio Global City
Business Hours:
MON - FRI: 10AM to 10PM
SAT - SUN: 11AM to 10PM
Phone: (02) 659-0094
Cuisine: Singaporean, Malaysian, & Chinese
Budget: Php200↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Reservation: Yes
Website: Facebook
Overall Rating:

In a way, Fort has become my second home because I go to work here during the weekdays and I usually chill here during the weekends—speaking of work, in times that I don't cook lunch (my own 'baon'), I would eat out with my coworkers and during one of our lunch-capades, they introduced me to Shiok, one of the quick-service restaurants found in the Bonifacio Stop Over.

Shiok is a quick service restaurant offering Singaporean, Malaysian, and Chinese food that aims to share with customers an experience of extreme delight by serving delicious crowd favorites and providing value for their money.

The word "shiok" comes from Malaysia and Singapore, commonly used to convey a feeling of sheer pleasure or joy; therefore, when applied to food... you get the point. In Fookien, Chinese people also have the word "shiok" which means "cheap". And well... if we look back at the aim of Shiok:

To share an experience of extreme delight? Check!

To provide value for the customer's money? Check!

Shiok really does offer affordable meals to its customers; as long as you know what to order because some of their meals—like the Hainanese Chicken—can get pricey, but then again, that's just mainly because it's imported, capturing the quality taste of Hong Kong (I think?) chickens.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Tucked between 7 Eleven and BPI, the place looked and felt like one of those old Chinese types of restaurants that I've seen back in Hong Kong and in our own Binondo place here in the Philippines; there was minimal design, a clear peek in the 'kitchen', small space, etc. etc. but still, the restaurant was clean and neat. But don't let the ambiance pull your spirits down or something because the food can be really so shiok!

FOOD & PRICE

Since a lot of people frequent this restaurant during lunch time, they have a special Lunch Express menu where meals are worth only P98.00 along with a free drink. One of my companions ordered the Chili Pork Rice and I must say... it was a small serving for a big guy like him (haha!) but he was still happy with it! It had the right amount of spiciness and the pork was especially tender and flavorful.

Chili Pork Rice (P98.00)

Food:
Price:

From their 'Baked Curry Rice' selections, we ordered their Luncheon Meat and Egg and Hainanese Chicken Curry.

The Luncheon Meat and Egg in particular was an okay meal. Nothing too special about it; just plain luncheon meat and egg (obviously, as the name goes) but what added pizzazz to this dish was the cheese and the curry mix! It melted so creamily along with the food and the rice that it eventually became a really good treat.

Luncheon Meat and Egg (P160.00)

Food:
Price:

As for the Hainanese Chicken Curry... IT WAS A-PLUS! Really, it was so delicious! The melted cheese and the curry mix was the same as that of which was in the Luncheon Meat dish, but pair it off with the oh-so-tender and tasty chicken strips, then we have a recommended meal in our midst!

Hainanese Chicken Curry (P160.00)

Food:
Price:

To complete our lunch affair, we had a side order of Sambal Kang Kung: yet another great dish from Shiok! The well-cooked kangkong was mixed in sambal belacan, but this sauce wasn't too overpowering and spicy; it was in perfect balance.

Sambal Kang Kung (P80.00)

Food:
Price:

Sambal is a chili-based sauce popular in Malaysia and Singapore.

Sambal belacan is Malay style sambal. Fresh chilis are pounded together with toasted shrimp paste (belacan) in a stone mortar to which sugar and lime juice are added.

Other items from their menu which I recommend are:

Hainanese Chicken Rice
As I've said before, their chicken is imported so expect that it is of premium quality. Most of my coworkers have even agreed that the chicken was plump and also tasted sufficiently fatty, tender, and more flavorful than any local chicken cooked in the Hainanese method.
Roti Prata (P55.00)
This is a fried flour-based pancake that is cooked over a flat grill; we commonly know it as a traditional Indian food but it is also very popular in Malaysia and Singapore. I recommend this as an appetizer or as a dessert since it's very soft and even more delectable when you eat it right away when it is served warm and fresh! I believe they serve it in three different types of sauce: curry, sweet, or spicy.

OVERALL

...my Shiok experience was, well... very shiok! (Tasty and affordable!) And I think it's even better if you come as a group because some of their dishes have big servings; three dishes could actually fill four persons! Some people actually question the authenticity of these dishes... They say that some don't taste or are not even Malay or Singaporean; so I guess if you do have the time to come by Shiok's Taguig branch, be the own judge for that and do also tell me if you had a shiok experience either way.

*Shiok also has another branch in Greenhills at the Promenade's food court section.

MENU

As of February 3, 2012.

Xocolat | X and Red O's

2012-02-10T22:52:00.000+08:00

And my hunt for red velvet choices continues! This time around, while at Greenhills, I decided to drop by Xocolat and check their artisan "This Red Cake".

This Red Cake (P795.00)

Food:
Price:

What first appealed to me about this cake are those red circles spread around atop the cream cheese frosting. It was minimal but it really made the cake look more alive and fun. The taste? It was good, but it wouldn't really be in my top list mainly because I was disappointed on how there was little to no cream cheese filling in between the two layers (which can be clearly seen in the photo above) so if you get to the middle part, it might get a little bit dry, so it follows that the body lacked moist. Yet! If you're into the chewy cake type, then this would work for you, I guess. Thankfully though, there was a redeeming trait of this red velvet cake and it was the... frosting! Yes, it was fantastic! It was creamy and thick with that perfect mix of tangy taste, always leaving that milkiness at the back of my tongue. ♥ Now if only the inside was better...

While I was still at Xocolat waiting for them to wrap this cake up, I decided to take pictures of some of the other cakes that they were offering. It was nice how some of the cakes were given a touch of the Valentines fever.

Oh yes, Valentines is really drawing near!

Xocolat

G/F Greenhills Promenade

San Juan, Metro Manila
(02) 514-3862
Cafe Menu [ click ]

NU•VO | Dinner and a Chance of Stars

2012-02-10T07:34:00.000+08:00

G/F Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center
Makati City
Business Hours:
SUN: 5PM - 1AM
MON to SAT: 5PM - 2AM
Phone: (02) 757-3699
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Budget: Php1000↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Reservation: Yes
Delivery: No
Overall Rating:

"One of the restaurant places where you could spot celebrities and popular personalities: Nuvo." I can vouch for that because when we dined here, we did see a celebrity and that was JR (that RnB singer from the GMA network).

Anyhow, there's not that much information available online about Nuvo; but, one thing is for sure: it specializes in Mediterranean cuisine yet they do offer great selections of pastas, salads, meats, and so much more.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Greenbelt 2 always has a lively atmosphere come night time, and Nuvo is the first establishment that you'd see along the line of restaurants in the area. It's positioned very well and just by one glance, you'd know that this place would provide you a posh dining experience. This classy facade clearly shows how Nuvo aims to draw in the people who seek or live lush dining sprees.

Inside, I noticed how there was great attention put into the restaurant's design, furniture, and layout. The overall ambiance was chic and high-class: perfect for an intimate meal or even for a simple dinner while you catch up with friends in whichever of the following locations: the well-lit dining area, the bar,the second floor, or at the al fresco dining area.

FOOD & PRICE

First, we were served with their complimentary bread and I loved how it was so fragrant, soft, and warm! It was a great starter for our meal ahead.

So after that, we were served with Baked Oysters Rockefeller, and well... it tasted soooooo good! It was tender and tasty—they weren't rubbery or chewy like some oysters that I've tasted before (an indication of badly-cooked oysters)

Baked Oysters Rockefeller

Food:

Other than that, we wouldn't really call it as a 'fine dining' experience without tasting foie gras! (I think it's time for my followers to know that this is one food that I will always love!) ...Unfortunately, they didn't have one in their menu. What they did have was plain Goose Liver. It wouldn't be as good as foie gras but I'll make do. Haha!

Now whether it be fattened goose/duck liver (foie gras) the real deal breaker for this type of food depends on how it is prepared and cooked. (NOTE: Goose is always the better choice). Thankfully, this dish hit it off real well! The goose liver tasted rich and sufficiently velvety, pairing off very nicely with the mashed potatoes and caramelized apple—and of course I wouldn't forget its delightful savory sauce: Calvados jus! I believe that 'jus' means 'juice' and that Calvados refers to an apple brandy made in Northern France.

Goose Liver (Regular P980.00)

Food:
Price:

For the main course, I ordered Grilled Salmon with baked potato mash and fries. What I enjoyed about this dish was how the seasoning didn't entirely overpower the salmon's taste. Nonetheless, there's nothing new or novel about it even if it was a good eat.

Grilled Salmon (Regular P700.00+)

Food:
Price:

My companion's order was Lamb Cuts which is...... a kind of meat that I don't enjoy. Most of my guy friends have reacted very strongly when they learned of my dislike for this but I dunno... the unique, gamey strong flavor of lamb is something that I don't really appreciate. My companion rather loves lamb, so I relied on his opinion and well, he said that it tasted great! He also said that it was magnificently tender with a hit of sweet fatty taste.

Lamb Cuts (P800.00+)

Food:
Price:

OVERALL

...dinner at Nuvo was a lovely experience despite the hefty prices—the food and the presentation, the ambiance, the service, as well as the relaxing vibe of the restaurant would already give you your money's worth by the end of it all. Though of course, I advise you to be loaded and ready when you do visit Nuvo because it can still get pretty expensive if you want more of their great food choices.

Stickhouse Promo!

2012-02-08T00:17:00.000+08:00

I love discovering new food choices; how much more for new types of desserts, right?

Stickhouse. This establishment has been around since 2009; an ice cream shop that originated from Italy and the nifty thing about it is that it sells authentic gelato on a stick! NOTE: I find this incredibly surprising because it's only now that I managed to hear of them. (Talk about slow and late!) From what I've read and heard, Stickhouse already has kiosks over at Trinoma (3), SM Megamall (1) and Eastwood (1)—which makes me even more surprised because I haven't seen this in Megamall! (I am so... blind? LOL).

If you haven't tried this out (like I do) then now is our lucky chance!

In an aim of increasing brand awareness, Stickhouse is currently running an online promotion called "Stickhouse Like-o-Meter" where we could all have the chance of winning FREE coupons simply by just liking their Facebook page! Now how does it go exactly?

Simply help Stickhouse reach 1,200 fans on or before February 14, 2012
Like their Stickhouse Official page on Facebook and then tell your friends to like the page too.

If goal is reached, a sweet Valentines treat awaits the first 250 requestors/registrants of the free gelato coupon.

Fans can start requesting/registering for the free gelato coupons on February 15, 2012 via the Facebook page.

Failure to reach 1,200 fans by February 14 will only reward the first 100 requestors of the free gelato coupon.

**Free gelato is a choice between Stickhouse coffee or milk gelato. Gelato variant is subject to availability.

Stickhouse's gelatos are said to be nutritional and healthy seeing as they only use 100% natural ingredients. I've also seen a lot of reviews saying how these gelatos are such good treats! (Now that makes me even more eager to try them out; ASAP!)

To learn more about their menu choices, check this image below:

Once again, like their Stickhouse Official page and get a chance to win free coupons!

*This is a post/feature request.

Saint's Alp Teahouse | Lunch and Drinks

2012-02-04T13:57:00.002+08:00

I was first introduced to Saint's Alp during lunch break at work and being the grammar nazi that I am, I had a brief dramatic moment where I said: "This is grammatically incorrect! This should be Saint Alp's!" I mean, just look at it! It burns my eyes and makes me want to scratch at it. LOL. But thankfully, there's nothing wrong with the name; that's the way it is and how it was intended to be. According to their main site:

The name “Saint’s Alp” originated from a famous resort “Xian Ji Yan” in Taipei where the legendary Lu Dong Bin, one of the eight immortals of Chinese mythology, once visited the place and left a footprint on a piece of rock there. This was how the Saint’s Alp’s “Big Foot” logo was also formed. This symbolizes that Saint’s Alp has brought in the Taiwanese tea culture and trend to Hong Kong and targeted to spread all over the world which becomes an ideal meeting place for its clienteles.

Milk tea shops are spreading all across the metro like the plague but here's another establishment for us to try and mull over. Saint's Alp Teahouse was founded in 1994 and was the first one to introduce Taiwanese bubble tea and tea drinking culture in Hong Kong; and now, the franchise is brought here to the Philippines. Established last July 2011, it has branches at Katipunan and Taguig.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

I've heard that the place at Katipunan is frequently filled with students seeing as Ateneo and Miriam are near and that compared to their Taguig branch, Katipunan has a lot more space. But all and the same, I love how their branch here in Taguig has a feeling of comfortability. But they could really do more with better decor. I just find the big white space on the wall a bit too plain and flat.

FOOD

The first thing that I liked about Saint's Alp is that it's one of the few milk tea shops that sells food with their drinks; and it's good Taiwanese food!

For instance, I like one of their best seller's, the Taiwanese Marinated Minced Pork (P195.00) because it was rich in taste. The pork was even very soft and pasty in texture. As for the tea egg, I've tasted these types of eggs before where it the flavor of the yolk is amplified and the whites would taste a bit salty; but for my order though, it didn't taste that much at all. It was almost close to a regular egg. But still, I love this dish!

For my drink, I had Lychee Black Tea with Nata and it was more lychee than tea—or no tea at all. There were hints of it, but most often, none. Yet I still savored the taste and the nata which were both a good fix.

I got these goodies because of a deal, but if you're ever going to visit Saint's Alp, try their toasts. It's quite pricey but they're great and there are a different spreads to choose from. If you're not like me who loves peanut butter, try their Peanut Butter and Condensed Milk combo toast which my friend had ordered because she theatrically declared that she was in heaven with every bite. Haha! On second thought, I still find it quite ridiculous that for P75.00 you get only one slice of toast with spread/s. Well it's a half-inch thick... but still. Nah.

So other than toasts, try their Cheesy Tempura Balls (P90.00) because once you break through the crispy outer shell, you'll be overwhelmed with the oozy and warm cheese inside it. As for drinks, they have a lot of varieties : sorbies, milkshakes, glacemint (blended iced mint drinks), "white moustache" (tea topped with a layer of salted whipped cream; say Happy Lemon? LOLJK), frothy tea, classic teas, black teas, and coffee. For a sweet treat, try their Caramel Milk Tea.

OVERALL

Saint's Alp Teahouse is a great shop where you can get comfy and a place where you could sit and enjoy your teas and bubble milk teas with good food choices. Actually, when I first heard that it's a 'teahouse', I immediately thought of a place with tatami mats, tea pots, and uniformed girls who will do some sort of tea drinking ritual for the customers. (Say hello to my imagination!) But obviously, Saint's Alp is a modern leisure place. Still... an authentic and traditional teahouse would have been nice—yet with our culture, I don't think there'll be a lot of people who would frequent such a place.

Anywaaaay! I might drop by again to try the other items from their menu.

Saint's Alp Teahouse
G/F, Forbeswood Parklane, Rizal Drive
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
(02) 478-7135

Goodies N' Sweets | Red Velvet Cupcake

2012-02-02T17:00:00.000+08:00

I've eaten a lot of red velvet goodness from different establishments all over the metro, and one of my recent finds is this red velvet cupcake from Goodies N' Sweets! Correct me if I'm wrong but I haven't heard or seen people rave for this cupcake, and it makes me wonder why because these were so good!

Red Velvet Cupcake (P60+)

...which then leads me into thinking that the reason might be because of the price and size combo. I mean you could buy Sonja's for only P70 and their red velvet cupcake is like double the size of this one. But still! The up side about Goodies N' Sweet is that their red velvet cupcake, for me, had a moister and softer texture. Paired with it's superb cream cheese frosting and I knew that it was a great deal! I must also note how I fancied the nice touch of those pink metallic dragées.

Now I first learned of red velvet back in 2005 when I was trying to write a fictional story. (I love writing stories as a hobby back then—shame that I rarely do it now.) I was trying to look for a type of cake that would be in a reddish color. I figured that it would be the perfect 'cheesy' gift that my fictional character would give to his girl... and so there, I discovered red velvet! I can still remember how badly I had wanted to try one, but then I couldn't find any store that would offer such. Good thing I discovered Cupcakes by Sonja around (I think) 2007, and just by the first bite of their Red Velvet Vixen, I was in love! ♥ Naturally, this was followed by an ardent hunt for other red velvet cakes and cupcakes just to satisfy my craving!

For my next 'hunt', I'm looking into trying Bella Cupcakes' red velvet treats next; I've read of good reviews about it and I can't wait!

Red Velvet
...is usually made of buttermilk with cream cheese or vanilla icing. It's simple and it's really easy to make. It is said that the red color is due to the reaction of the cocoa powder when it is mixed with buttermilk (an acidic ingredient) but often times, most pastry shops use red food coloring.
Drageé
Is a classic decorative confectionery; and they are edible! Usually these are almonds or chocolates coated with a sugar shell, while the metallic types of drageés look like small pearls (just like in the picture above.)

Kiosk
4th Floor Shangri-la Plaza
Corner EDSA, Shaw Boulevard
Mandaluyong City
(02) 638-0411

L’Incontro Ristorante Italiano | Dine Like Italians

2012-01-31T17:00:00.000+08:00

207 Nicanor Garcia St. (former Reposo)
Brgy. Bel-Air
Makati City
Business Hours: 11AM to 12AM Daily
Phone: (02) 899-0635 or 38
Cuisine: Italian
Budget: Php1000↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Reservation: Yes
Parking: Yes & Valet
Overall Rating:

Italian dinning experience.

...

L'Incontro is an Italian word that means "the meeting place". It used to be a ristorante mostly for ballroom dancers but when the Italian owner had to leave the country, restaurateur Tina Pamintuan bought the place in 2010 and revamped it into a restaurant that's focused on showcasing the diversity of the Italian cuisine so that we Filipinos could dine like how the Italians do.

I've been a member of Deal Grocer ever since it was established and I was glad when one day, they offered a great deal for L'Incontro! It included a 3-course Italian lunch with roasted garlic pizza and Prosecco champagne. I made sure that I didn't miss it especially since I've heard a lot of good reviews about L'Incontro; to add, it was even awarded as 2010's Best Italian Restaurant at Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Once we stepped in to L'Incontro, we instantly loved the rustic yet homey atmosphere! It really felt like we were in some old countryside house in Italy given the high ceilings, wide space, and wood furniture—Pamintuan styled the place really well! Even with this cozy ambiance where you can absolutely wear casual clothing while dining, it still screams of posh and sophistication.

There's also a cozy wine lounge just beside the main dining area with such great choices for red, white, and rose wines; they even offer cocktails should you wish to enjoy a drink or two; or more!

FOOD & PRICE

L'Incontro's usual menu offers classic and modern Italian dishes from all regions of Italy—may it be Northern, Southern, classic, authentic, and the like. You are even ensured that they use only the freshest and finest ingredients for their wide food selection.

Now for the 3-course lunch! First, we were served with Prosecco champagne. I'm not that reliable in giving comments about such drinks like this, but good thing my companion was! According to him, it was moderately dry, bubbly, and refreshing with a slight fruity taste. While in my case, all I know was that it didn't taste bad, haha, and yes it tasted a bit fruity. I have a feeling it was peach.

Along with this was the restaurant's complimentary bread and bread sticks; a part of fine dining that I have always come to love because of the dips that come along with it. Usually for my experiences, the bread would be served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar but I was glad that this time around, we were served with marinara and pesto dips!

Our Italian meal eventually started off with soup ("zuppa" in Italian): a tomato bisque with grilled tomato and white cheese and it was really creamy! I usually put a bit of pepper into my soup in order to kick it up a notch; and did I kick it! Haha!

Following this was the main course. We get to choose between three options and for me, I decided to go for Scallopine Saltimbocca (prosciutto wrapped thinly sliced, pork fillets in white wine and port) with mushroom duxelle ("duxelle" means finely chopped) and glazed potatoes... and it was delightful! The glazed potatoes helped give good balance with the aftertaste of the white wine from the scallopine saltimbocca; but it wasn't much of a problem if I ate the scallopine alone because it was very flavorful and juicy!

Saltimbocca means "jump in your mouth" and it's no wonder why it's called as that.

Meanwhile, my friend ordered for the grilled swordfish involtini ("rolls") with Sicilian grape caponata, citrus dressing and mash potatoes. He must have loved it so much because by the time that I came back to our table after going to the loo, he had already attacked the food, leaving me with nothing much to take a shot of! I was actually thankful that he didn't attack my food too, or else... haha! Once again, this dish's mix of flavors were well-balanced and the citrus dressing really helped add an oomph to it.

Next, we asked for the roasted garlic pizza to be served before dessert. What's great about this pizza was that it was made with white wine, cream, and sage. Though it's a familiar treat, it was very lush and the white wine and cream helped cut down the taste of garlic which really suited our palate. Another surprising fact about this pizza was that it was bigger than how we imagined it to be; we initially thought that it would be small in size so we ordered for the pizzas that came along with both of our coupons, but we were so glad to be wrong! In the end, we had to take the rest of it home.

Finally (unfortunately) was dolce. We were served with warm chocolate with salted orange caramel and vanilla gelato—a perfect way to end our L'Incontro experience. There was nothing really new about this dish but it was a nice touch to have a not-so-ordinary sauce—the salted orange caramel—and a wonderfully moist chocolate cake.

SERVICE:

Their waiters were very nice and lively. Even if we already had a set menu prepared for us, they were very eager in explaining the dishes to us as well as in giving meal recommendations for our future visit—which will really happen because the food was really great!

OVERALL

...every recognition that L'Incontro has gained thus far seems to be well-deserved. I can personally confirm that this is certainly one of those places where you could enjoy a hearty meal with your friends, family, and loved ones in style and with that Italian feel. So do try L'Incontro, and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

MENU

As of January 9, 2012.
Prepared fresh by Chef Geoffroy Morgan de Rivery.

* Vegetarian
** Vegetarian Option

ANTIPASTI ("Before the Meal") E INSALATE (Salads)
Caprese Salad*	..................................................410
White Italian Buffalo Mozzarella, aged balsamico and ripe red tomatoes, EVOO, basil and thyme.
Caesar Salad**	365
White Italian Buffalo Mozzarella, aged balsamico and ripe red tomatoes, EVOO, basil and thyme.
Warm Mushroom Salad*	450
Sauteed portobello, button and shiitake bacon mushrooms, mixed greens, fresh grapes, shaved Parmesan.
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio	590
Thinly sliced raw choice cut beef with thyme and black pepper, truffle balsamic glaze, Parmesan.
Crespella ala Fungi en Tartufo**	550
Crepe in black truffle and mushroom sauce stuffed with smoked ham and cheese.

ANTIPASTO PIATTI (Dishes)
Mista di Carne e Verdure	........................................950
Selection of Italian Cured Meats and Vegetables. Prosciutto di parma, salami, coppa, mortadella with pistachio served with marinated zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers. Good for 2 served on a board
Assorted Select Cheeses - 3 Kinds*	750
With flat bread.
Assorted Select Cheeses - 5 Kinds	975
With flat bread.
Terrine de foie grais canard	800
Slow cooked in VSOP Cognac with focaccia and berry compote.

ZUPPE (Soups)
Cappuccino of Mushroom Soup*	...................................................310
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup*	280
Lobster Bisque served with baby lobster in shell	390
Puree of Roasted Chestnut Soup*	360
With white truffle oil, celeriac pesto

PRIMI (First Courses)
Risotto Mushroom*	........................................550/220
Wild mushroom risotto of oyster, shiitake, button and portobello with black salsa tartufo.
Spaghetti Vongole	435/180
With Italian flat leaf parsley, white wine, garlic, fresh clams, and lemon.
Penne Arrabiata*	435/180
Spicy pomodoro with capers and olive oil.(Add: Italian Sausage)
Spaghetti Alio e Olio*	410/165
Fresh garlic toasted tossed in extra virgin olive oil, noodels, and fresh Italian herbs
FRESH HOMEMADE PASTA...
Lamb Lasagna	540
Ground lamb bolognese, home made egg lasagne sheets, bechamel and layered melted cheese
Gnocchi Gorgonzola*	510
Pan seared home made gnocchi dumplings, creamy gorgonzola cheese sauce and crumbled walnuts.
Tagliatelle Carbonara	485/195
Fresh homemade egg noodles with crispy pancetta bacon and classic carbonara sauce.
Chestnut and Ricotta ravioli*	580/240
Fresh ravioli pockets filled with roasted chestnuts and ricotta cheese in a porcini mushroom sauce.
Octopus and Squid Ink Pasta	590/255
Local fresh octopus, stewed in a tomato and white wine sauce with olives and garlic, served on homemade squid ink tagliatelle.

SECONDI (Second Courses) - MAINS
Blackened Chilean Sea Bass	........................................1,150
With truffle cauliflower mash, brown butter and almonds, celeriac puree. (Ask about their catch of the day.)
Pesce Cartoccio	795
Fresh catch of the day baked in the oven, cooked in foil/paper with white wine, Italian herbs, and lemon zest, tomatoes (fresh catch, filleted and deboned).
FROM THE ITALIAN GRILL...
Bistecca Ala Fiorentina (1 kilo Chargrilled Rib Eye Steak) US Angus Beef Rib Eye	5,540
Wisconsin Beef 100% USDA Certified and Graded : Aged for 15 days
Choice Rib Eye with Bone	4,750
Prime Grade Rib Eye	6,700
New York Striploin (300 grams)	........................................2,100
Salsa tartufato mash potatoes and baked onion au gratin

CONTOURNO (Side Dishes)
Comes with complimentary sides up to 4pax (for 1kilo rib eye) of:	........................................
..........Rosemary bacon potatoes ........ Baked onion gratin
Carni Filleto Tagliata (200 grams)	1,250
Wagyu tenderloin with salsa tartufato mash; roasted grapes, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms.
New Zealand Lamb Chops	995
With Italian vegetable Rissoni, mint pesto.

DOLCE (Sweet)
L'Incontro's Special Cheesecake	...................................................280
..........Belgian White Chocolate ........ Dark Chocolate with Chocolate Bar ..........Gorgonzola with Candied Walnuts
Formaggio En Fruit Piatto	520
Caramelized Camembert with dried fruit and nuts, gorgonzola with honey and walnuts.
Chocolate Crepes	295
With mango flambee.
Dessert Pizza	320
With Nutella, fresh strawberries, and muscarpone
Tiramisu	255
Panna Cotta	240
Assorted Gelato	170
Cacao (sugar free), Pistachio, Limone Sorbet, Menta, Strawberry, Vaniglia, Nocciola (Hazelnut)
Affugato Special	340
(Espresso shot, hazelnut gelato and Amaretto Liqueur with biscotti)

Swensen's | Sundae Haven!

2012-01-29T00:39:00.000+08:00

G/F SM Mall of Asia
South Wing, Bay Boulevard
Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours: 10AM - 10PM Daily
Phone: (02) 804-0046
Type: Ice Cream & Desserts
Budget: Php100↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Delivery: No
Overall Rating:

Ultimate Sundae Experience!

...

I've heard of this first Philippines branch ever since September of last year but I never really had the time to drop by MOA and check it out; well of course, I've been to MOA numerous times since then but I believe I've spent most of it in the North Wing so... I didn't get the chance to remember visiting this place. BUT ANYWAY! When I did learn of it's opening, I was ecstatic!—and I have my rusty memory to blame for always forgetting!

For a brief background, Swensen's is an international chain of ice cream shops founded in San Francisco, California by Earle Swensen. As of now, the shop has over 180 flavors and it's natural to expect that more types will be made soon. Thanks to Chito and Lizzie Guerrero who are proud owners of Grilla Bar & Grill and The Old Spaghetti House, they have brought this superb sundae experience here in the Philippines! TRIVIA: Chito and Lizzie imported everything when they franchised Swensen's so that you'll get your authentic Swensen's ice cream fix. Currently, there are 27 flavors available in MOA.

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Chito and Lizzie meant well in keeping the Swensen's experience. I love how the place has that cozy and relaxing feeling! What really caught my eye was the Tiffany stained glass lamp by the counters which could be seen as well in other Swensen's branches all over the world.

FOOD & PRICE

The best-est thing about Swensen's? What you see on the menu is what you'll really get! I had a hard time choosing my order because I wanted every ice cream that was plastered on the menu! Finally, since I've already worked up an appetite from the menu's pictures alone, I ordered for a big one!

Nutty Banana (P265.00)

Food:

Price:

"A crispy waffle basket served with banana and caramel sauce topped with almonds and pecan praline." And it was... YUM!!!! I absolutely took my time savoring this sundae-from-the-heavens. By the first bite of the creamy ice cream alone, I was smitten.

I had a funny moment though when I inquired about this. The server told me that it could be shared for two but I was all: "Oh no, this would be just for me." Haha! Next time I'd try their two other basket sundaes, namely, Crispy Cocktail and Oreo Brownie.

Meanwhile, my companion ordered the Chocolate Sundae selection's Frosted Choc Malt Fantasy.

Frosted Choc Malt Fantasy (P285.00)

Food:

Price:

This order was just pure madness when I tasted it... With all that hot fudge, marshmallow bits, malt balls, and chocolate chips, gaaah! I almost ordered one for myself too!—or well, yeah, just eat it all while he's not looking. But that didn't happen; with just the way he was gulfing this all down, there's nill chance of stealing it in whole. LOL.

I'm hoping that they'd open a branch soon in Fort or in Greenhills; MOA is a bit too far from me both from work and from home. I heard that they'd soon be opening in two new locations: Eastwood and SM Southmall.

Also, I hope we'd have our own Swensen's All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream and Dessert Buffet just like what's in Singapore! [ Click here for the image; sourced from swensens.com ] Because if this happens, it will be heaven! I'll always be there and I wouldn't care if I get fat and whatnot! (LOLJK).

Sidenote: I love the prints on their glass! ♥

SERVICE:

The service crew on the other hand, was really friendly; they were rushing around a bit too much though when we were there, but at least, it was because of a very reasonable reason: there were so many customers! That goes to show that even if this had opened months ago, it's a hit with us, Filipinos! Well, it should be; Swensen's sundaes are too hard to miss nor ignore!

Overall... I. AM. DEFINITELY. COMING. BACK!

MENU

Shakey's | Late Night Talks with a Basket of Mojos

2012-01-24T20:57:00.001+08:00

If you are also a follower of my personal blog [ click ], you would have probably known by now that I have attended Katy Perry's epic concert last Sunday. It ended really late so I spent the night over at my best friend's (Celine) house.

For the two of us, whenever we have a slumber party or overnight sprees, we would usually call for a delivery of our main comfort food: Shakey's Mojos™. Well I do know that it isn't really the type of 'wow-food' out there, but it's enough for my appetite. It's one of my favorites and definitely one of the things that I'd often crave for.

Basket of Mojos™ (P223.00)
^{Which isn't really in a basket here. LOL}

Aside from that, we also ordered Celine's favorite pasta: the Seafood Marinara. We could have ordered for pizza, but it was already 2AM then so I feared that the pizza would go to waste if Celine can't stay up for long; she typically falls asleep rather too suddenly, leaving me alone. Boo. Haha!

Seafood Marinara (P184.00)

If you ask me, whenever I'd try to order this pasta in Shakey's, it would often taste bland and a tad oily. Luckily, this seafood marinara delivered to us last Sunday tasted really great! It's finally a seafood marinara from this resto that looks and tastes delicious! The pasta was cooked al dente, sauce was great, and I loved the fish cubes and plump shrimps. So I guess that ordering this pasta would often be a hit or miss for people.

Should you want Shakey's to be delivered right at your doorstep, they have a delivery service that's up for 24 hours. Just call 77-777 or order online through [ here ].

Cooking with Chef See Cheong Yan of Enderun Colleges

2012-01-21T00:26:00.000+08:00

I don't know if it's appropriate to call it 'cooking with' when all I did was eat and watch his video. LOL. This is a post that's long overdue, but thankfully, I finally have the time to make an entry!

This was actually an event that we had at work, and I was one of the few who were lucky enough to be included in the list of participants (there was a limit). The session mainly tackled German table etiquette (since my company is based in Germany) and wine drinking by Ms. Ruth Hung; thereafter, the holiday recipes by Chef See Cheong Yan (and eating what Chef See had prepared. Haha!)

Chef See Cheong Yan
Head of the Culinary Arts at Enderun Colleges. He had worked in different international hotels including Edsa Shangri-La.

Ms. Ruth Von Siebenthal Hun
Principal Lecturer in International hospitality, food, and beverage management.

Other than learning about the German culture and etiquette (which I doubt, would prove substantially helpful for me since it is highliy unlikely that the traders and I would talk about food during our working hours LOL); I also learned about such alien words which I don't think I'd bother learning on how to pronounce. I mean... German words are really difficult and the spelling would always fool you! Which then leads me into thinking as to why they'd even bother to spell it out if it won't even help us on its pronunciation; it's much like French, Italian, and the like! Haha! Jokes aside, the language was beautiful (haha a change of heart!) Now after that, we discussed wines and the proper way to drink it: I was very hooked to this lecture.

And since I'm always in a 'sharing mood', here are some of the things that I've learned:

Wine Producing Zones
As seen from the image below, these are the usual wine-producing countries as their geographical location is conducive to wine making.
Pairing of wine and food:
White wines / Light Red Wines / Rose Wines = Fish, Seafood, and White meats
Medium to Heavy Red Wines / Full Bodied White Wine = Beef and Game (Strong meats)
*Don't waste wine by drinking it with curries or spicy food as these would numb the taste buds; hence, wine cannot be appreciated.
Wine Drinking
Hold the stem of the glass. (Don't hold it like what you see in TV where the actors hold it as if they're cradling it in a sophisticated way.) Then, first, you take in the smell of the wine. Second, you make the wine swirl inside the glass; and if the legs/tears drip down in a slow manner, the wine is richer. Lastly, you slurp the wine—yes, slurping is the best way to drink wine and I have yet to learn how without choking or looking like a fool. But well, you can drink your wine in sips if slurping isn't your style.

There were other interesting facts but I cant find my notes and I think I've mistakenly deleted the other photos. But anyway! After the lecture, we had the chance to drink the Australian white and red wine that they have brought along.

I enjoyed the white wine more. Usually I would have enjoyed both but oddly enough, I wasn't in the mood that day. And oh... I should confess that I'm still not a total aficionado of wine drinking. (Maybe because I'm not that old yet? LOLJK) But I know that soon, I'd have to learn loving it because I feel that in the future, I'll be having business dinners and a corporate woman should know her way around wine drinking. Aye?

Onwards to Chef See's recipes! The served food were:

Roast Turkey Breast with:
Apple, Chestnut, and Sage Stuffing
Christmas Turkey Pie

LADIES & GENTS, THIS I SWEAR TO YOU!!! The Apple, Chestnut, and Sage Stuffing was divine! Thankfully, I recorded the part of the video where the recipe for this was shown. So please, enjoy watching the (shaky) video below, and maybe, you can even try it at home:

After this experience, I am even more enticed to join a cooking class in Enderun. Soon.

Facebooked!

2012-01-17T17:02:00.001+08:00

Hi guys! Just a quick post. I finally decided to make a Facebook page for this blog just so I could connect with a lot more people. (Yes! I am serious about keeping this blog alive! Haha! I love posting about food and my food-scapades!) So, in my sidebar, you can see that there's already a 'Like button widget' and a link so that you could be directed to this blog's Facebook page.

I would be very glad if you could drop by or hit the Like button!

To my fellow 'foodies' and bloggers, drop me a comment if you've got your own Facebook page as well so I could check it out. Cheers!

Chatime | Promo Time!

2012-01-17T00:49:00.000+08:00

Another tea place! I felt the need to blog about this right away because Chatime's Fort branch is having a fabulous promo for its grand opening! Last January 9 to 15, they offered free upgrades to your drinks. And now, starting today up to January 22 (Sunday), from 4:00 to 6:00 PM they will be having a buy one get one promo!

And to be more specific about this one, if you buy any drink from their menu from 4-5PM you'll get a free regular-sized Grass Jelly Milk Tea and from 5-6PM a regular-sized Pearl Milk Tea.

Now before I proceed, let me offer you a friendly advice: do arm yourself with a lot of patience or if not, do come by at a very early time or else, you'll experience something very nerve-wracking. LOL. A lot of people must have really loved Chatime's teas (and the promo) because my office mates and I had to wait for almost two and a half hours for our order! (We were already finished with our work at that time. Haha!)

No joke. I think the management didn't expect a lot of orders—yes, I say orders because though there are a LOT of people, one person in line would often order around 20 cups for instance which would of course, translate to 40 cups! And oh... how I pity the service crew! Their number was enough but I think it didn't help that they had so little space. And yes, how I pity my coworkers and I as well; haha, I know we could have just left and come by tomorrow at an earlier time, but... the promo really reeled us in and we were already there! So we decided to endure it up till the end! And well, by 5PM we were already grouchy... Who wouldn't be?

And just to prove my point as to how one person could really hoard up on orders, look at the pictures below! Tea galore!

This hassle aside, first, the place was great! I love the mix of colors, the lighting, and the spacious area for customers. It looked very clean and posh! (*Photos below were taken after the promo madness haha!*)

Plus, on normal days, their service is quick; so no worries there.

"Since its founding in Taiwan last 2005, ChaTime has become one of the biggest international bubble tea brands today, as well as being the only publicly listed beverage provider in the Taiwan stock exchange. As of September 2010, they have over 480 stores worldwide in Taiwan, Malaysia, China, USA, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Australia, plus new stores opening soon in Korea, Japan and the Philippines!

CHATIME tea is fresh and brewed on site with real tea leaves. Fresh tea is not only more aromatic, but also healthier. Together with this, they infuse different natural flavors to make CHATIME the best bubble tea drink store in town!"

Usually I would have asked for their Pearl Milk Tea, but today, I ordered a large cup of Taro Pudding Milk Tea (P95):

Drink:

Price:

...and it was alright! Well, it was actually a tad too milky, but the taste of the taro was strong enough! So in a say, it was great enough to make me forget my annoyance for the long waiting time that I have suffered through.

My companion ordered a Banana Milk Tea (Large P90 ; which was oh-so-very banana-y haha!), and then the remaining two of us took the free drinks (Grass Jelly and Pearl Milk Tea); and all three of these were all and the same, good drinks.

If I had to rank all of the milk tea places that I've tried, my top three would have to be Serenitea, Gong Cha (I tried this one in Hong Kong; haven't tried the branch here in the Philippines), and then this store! Chatime! I just love their wide selection of milk teas.

Speaking of my trip to Hong Kong, we did visit a LOT of milk tea shops and I can't remember the names of the rest (well obviously, Gong Cha stood out for me, haha!). There was one low-key store though near the night market manned by this nice elderly young man who was selling milk teas mixed with coconut syrup and boy... was it yummy!!! Aaah... I wanna visit Hong Kong again!

Anywaaaaay, haha! Chatime's Fort branch opens from 9AM to 12MN from Mondays to Saturdays, and then 12NN to 10PM during Sundays. Other branches of Chatime are located at:

Pioneer Center, Pasig
Robinson's Galleria Supermarket
Landmark Bridgeway, Makati
One Archers Place, Taft
SM Mall of Asia, Manila
Eton Centris, Quezon City
Gateway Mall, Araneta

MENU

*Recommended

MELLOW MILK TEA
	R	L
Chatime Roasted Milk Tea*	................................................75	........85
Brown Rice Green Milk Tea	................................................75	........85
Oolong Milk Tea	................................................75	........85
Chatime Milk Tea	................................................75	........85
Jasmine Green Milk Tea	................................................75	........85
Pearl Milk Tea*	80	90
Taro Milk Tea*	80	90
Red Bean Milk Tea*	90	100
Matcha Red Bean Milk Tea*	90	100

ORIENTAL POP TEA
	R	L
Japanese Sakura Sencha*	................................................70	........80
Japanese Genmaicha	................................................70	........80
Formosa Oolong Tea	................................................70	........80
Taiwan Alishan JinShyuan Tea	................................................70	........80
Anxi TueGuanyin Tea	................................................70	........80
Chrysanthemum Pu-Erh Black Tea	70	80
Green Tea Latte	80	90
TieGuanyin Tea Latte*	90	100
Matcha Tea Latte*	90	100

SMOOTHIE SERIES *Cold only
	R	L
Cocoa Smoothie	................................................55	........-
Red Bean Smoothie	................................................55	........-
White Grape Smoothie	................................................55	........-
Sweetheart Fruit Smoothie	................................................55	........-
Mango Slush*	................................................55	........-
Passion Fruit Slush*	70	80
Strawberry Slush*	70	80
Grape Slush*	70	80
Matcha Red Bean Smoothie*	70	80
Coffee Smoothie	................................................80	........90
Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie	................................................80	.......90
Lemon Yogurt Smoothie	................................................80	........90

QQ JELLY
	R	L
Chatime Grass Jelly Roasted Milk Tea*	................................................85	........95
Taiwan Mango QQ*	................................................85	........95
Passion Fruit QQ*	................................................85	........95
Grapefruit QQ	................................................85	........95
Lemon QQ	................................................85	........95
QQ Milk Tea*	85	95
Grass Jelly Milk Tea	85	95
Grass Jelly with Fresh Milk*	85	95
Taro Pudding Milk Tea*	85	95
Taro Red Bean Milk Tea*	90	100

COFFEE
	H	C
House Blend Coffee	................................................75	........85
Americano*	75	85
Latte*	75	85
Cappucinoo	75	85
Mocha	80	90

FRESH TEA
	R	L
Brown Rice Green Tea*	................................................60	........70
Oolong Tea	60	70
Ichiban Roasted Tea	60	70
Jasmine Green Tea*	60	70
Black Tea*	60	70

CHATIME SPECIAL MIX
	R	L
Mango Green Tea	................................................70	........80
Grapefruit Green Tea*	70	80
Lemon Green / Black Tea	70	80
Kumquat Green Tea	70	80
Taiwan Plum Ice Tea*	70	80
Passion Fruit Grean Tea*	70	80
Pearl Green / Black Tea	70	80
Yogurt Green / Black Tea	70	80

CHATIME MOUSSE
	R	L
Matcha Mousse	................................................85	........95
Ichiban Roasted Tea Mousse	80	90
TieGuanyin Tea Mousse	85	95
Oolong Tea Mousse*	80	90
Jasmine Green Tea Mousse*	80	90
Black Tea Mousse	80	90
Chocolate Mousse	85	95

ENERGETIC HEALTHY JUICE
	R	L
White Grape Ice Tea	................................................80	..........-
Hawaii Fruit Tea*	80	90
Honey Lemon Aloe	80	90
Kumquat Lemon Juice	80	90
Honey Pomelo Juice	80	90
Lemon Juice	80	90
Kumquat Juice*	80	90
Yogurt Lemon Juice*	80	90
Superior Pure Cocoa	80	90

Happy Lemon | Royal Milk Tea with Pudding

2012-01-15T18:55:00.000+08:00

We went to watch Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows at Promenade, Greenhills and since I wasn't in the mood for my usual soda-and-popcorn combination, I decided to go for a tea-and-fries combo! So off we went to Happy Lemon and then Slammers Burgers.

FACT: I've actually been to Happy Lemon for numerous times already (ever since it first opened in Greenhills) and so, it's natural that I'd already know my favorites, namely: Milk Tea with OREO Cookies & Cream, Mango & Orange Yogurt, Lemon Yakult, and Milk Tea with Crispy and Brown Sugar Jelly.

What I ordered however, was my newest favorite: Royal Milk Tea with Pudding.

Why a new favorite? First, because I'm a royal milk tea type of fan, and second, because... err, I just liked it. Haha! As per usual, their tea tasted rich and the egg pudding was (always) good!

I think it's apparent that I haven't included their rock salt and cheese product line in my favorites list... and that's because I don't love those drinks, nor do I hate them. Meaning that they're just fine, but it's not the kind of drink that I would regularly order. But anyway, I just love their toppings especially the brown sugar jelly and pudding! Once, I was tempted to order a cup filled with only either of these two toppings. (LOL).

And oh, the fish 'n chips of Slammers Burgers was a perfect munch-on during the movie screening. Nothing new about this one; it tastes just like any other normal fries.

For the latest menu of Happy Lemon, see images below:

Jamba Juice

2012-01-11T22:51:00.000+08:00

7th Avenue, Corner 29th Avenue
Bonifacio High Street Central (BHS)
The Fort, Bonifacio Global City
Business Hours:
WEEKDAYS: 7AM - 11PM
WEEKENDS: 7AM - 1AM
Phone: (02) 784-9000
Type: Beverage Shop
Budget: Php200↑
Accepts Credit Card: Cash
Delivery: No
Overall Rating:

SQUEEZE the day!™

...

Jamba Juice originated from California and was founded on the idea of providing "better-for-you" snacks and beverages to those who are seeking a healthier lifestyle.They offer drinks such as:

All Fruit Smoothies
Just fruit and juice
Classic Smoothies
Fruit and juice blended with nonfat frozen yogurt and sherbet
Creamy Smoothies
From the word itself, it's creamier
Fresh Squeezed Juices

They also offer other treats such as fruit parfaits, yogurt parfaits, and steel cut oatmeal.

Jamba Juice in BHS had only opened last November 11, 2011 and it is the FIRST Southeast Asia branch courtesy of the Max Group of Companies (who had also brought Krispy Kreme to our country). Apparently, Jamba Juice is very famous overseas especially in California—and I really didn't know that. To be honest, the first time that my coworkers started mentioning how there's this new Jamba Juice, the first thing that came to my mind was that they were somehow talking about this local product called "Jungle Juice" which I recall was a favorite drink of some of my classmates back in DLSU. Err... I am so out of my mind.... never mind. Haha!

So anyway, I finally had the chance to check it out when some of my friends at work invited me!

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

Jamba Juice is located in the Bonifacio Hight Street Central—currently under construction but nearly to be finished. This area is being set up by the Ayala Land Real Estate; soon to be a complex of retail and office spaces. I've read that the big space in the middle will be an amphitheater with an interactive water plaza right at the center and I'm psyched to see how that would turn out! Now since Jamba Juice is situated near this soon-to-be amphitheater, I say that they found such a good place!

They are also one of the very few establishments that had opened up here in BHS Central so their store and (especially) the outdoor umbrellas were really eye-catching!

The inside of the store, on the other hand, was well-designed with predominant hues of green, yellow, and orange: first step in and I was loving this place already! Haha! It is said that this particular branch is different from those overseas because it has a dining area. (Usually, it's a take-out type of establishment).

I especially loved this part of the store:

Small (16oz) Medium (24oz) Large (30oz)

What's also cool is that there's a photobooth section where you can, yes, take a picture of yourself, your friends, and/or your drink and then send it to your e-mail!

FOOD & PRICE (+12%sc inclusive)

The crew was very helpful in explaining the products that they offer and as usual, I asked for their best sellers and they were: Strawberries Wild and Banana Berry. I decided to go for the latter and ordered a 22oz size.

Banana Berry (Medium: Php155.00)

Drink:

Price:

This is made from bananas, blueberries, apple-strawberry juice, frozen yogurt, and raspberry sherbet. From the first sip, I immediately tasted the bananas followed by an after taste of a slight tinge of raspberries—aaaand, I wasn't really that impressed. But one of my friends told me that I should try letting the smoothie cool down and then later take a sip. I tried that and boy, was I surprised! The fruits' taste stood out a lot more than before! I figured that the ice/coldness of the drink can be overpowering.

And before I forget, it was funny how my friend commented that after taking a sip of this from my cup, the taste of it didn't leave her taste buds! Haha!

Now since I was with my friends, I had the chance to taste the drinks that they ordered too!

STRAWBERRIES WILD [ Classic Smoothie ]

Strawberries - bananas - apple - strawberry juice - frozen yogurt

I had mixed feelings about this drink mainly because there wasn't anything new about it. It tasted of strawberry but at times, I would ask myself if it really was strawberry that I was tasting. Haha! But still, it was a good drink and creamy too!

FIVE FRUIT FRENZY [ All Fruit Juice ]

Blueberries - strawberries - bananas - peaches - mangoes - mixed berry juice - peach juice

This was heaven! The name served its purpose well!

PEANUT BUTTER MOO'D [ Creamy Smoothie ]

Chocolate base - peanut butter - bananas - frozen yogurt - soymilk

If you know me, I'd flat out say that I hate peanut butter so that would equal to me hating this drink. And well... I didn't really hate it because it was so creamy, but since I am not a fan of peanut butter, one sip was enough for me. Haha! So to be fair, I asked my companions and well, they all loved it to bits!!!

OVERALL

...the juice by the Jamba is great! Two thumbs up for having such unique blends! Also, you won't ever feel robbed of the fruits that your cup should rightfully contain because every drink was very rich and creamy. Most notable of all is that their smoothies are as smooth as they can be! You surely wouldn't encounter any hard bits of ice!

Here are some other cool stuff for Jamba Juice :

You can ask for your smoothie to either be thick or thin!
Thick = slightly less juice and more fruit
Thin = thinner and more liquid
As I've said above, try a smoothie with no ice or just let it cool down; it tastes better that way!
If you're a health buff, Jamba Juice provides free complimentary boosts! (See menu below).

MENU

Cara Mia Gelateria | Mango Jubilee

2012-01-08T18:47:00.000+08:00

This was a lazy Sunday so I thought of dropping by at Robinsons Galleria; while strolling around, I happened to pass by Cara Mia, and the display of gelato was so tempting that even if I still have a cold, I jumped in and bought a scoop!

I was about to buy a scoop from the 'best-sellers' (Pistachio, Cioccolato, Blueberry Supreme, or Guinduia) but I thought otherwise. I wanted to try something else, and the bloodied display of Mango Jubillee caught my attention.

...Unfortunately, I didn't like this gelato one bit. I dunno if this was the natural taste, but when I ate it, I didn't taste anything at all. It's said to have blueberry bits too but not even those bits had given me any savory. I'm not sure if there was a problem with the making of this gelato but I hope to try it again next time to prove myself wrong.

Nevertheless, I'm still a fan of the Cara Mia gelatos! The Sans Rival and Tiramisu types are perfect for my sweet tooth!

Cara MiaIs
Italian for "my dear"
Gelato
Is an Italian word for "frozen" and was first created in Italy. Unlike ice cream, gelatos are made with more milk and lesser fat; hence, its richer and creamier taste!

MENU:

As of January 8, 2011.

GELATO \| Pint: P260.00 \| Tub:P700.00 \|
	..........................Scoop
Blueberry Supreme	..........................75
Choco with Nuts	..........................75
Choco Sans Rival	..........................75
Cioccolato	..........................75
Espresso	..........................75
Guinduia (Choco Hazelnut)	..........................75
Mango Jubilee	..........................75
Mint with Chocolate	..........................75
Mocha Straciatella	..........................75
New York Cheesecake	..........................75
Nocciola (Hazelnut)	..........................75
Oreo Cookie	..........................75
Sans Rival	..........................75
Straciatella	..........................75
Strawberry Supreme	..........................75
Tiramisu	..........................75
Toffee Almond Roca	..........................75

GELATO LITE \| Pint: P300.00 \| Tub:P800.00 \|
	..........................Scoop
Cioccolato Lite	..........................85
Strawberry Lite	..........................85

GELATO CAKES
	Slice	Whole
Banana Blast	.............................................115	........745
Choco Sans Rival	115	700
Choco Tartufo	118	798
Di Lusso	125	1,190
Mango Sans Rival	115	700
Mango Symphony	120	798
Meringa Dolce	115	660
Peach Walnut Passion	120	798
Rouge	128	1,280

CAKES
	Slice	Whole
Brazo De Mercedes	............................................m.65	...m...530
Caramella Premia	70	585
Mango Felicity	80	750
Nocciola Gateau	88	795
Pistachio Cioccolato	85	755
Sans Rival	73	595
Tentazione	80	700

AFFOGATO Scoops of gelato served with a shot of espresso coffee.
Black Forest Spell	.........................................................m.140
Berries Delight	140
Nocciola Blend	140
Tiramisu Twist	140

PASTRIES
Cinnamon Raisin Bread	.........................................................m.165

GELATO SHAKES
Caramel Espresso	.........................................................m.160
Caramel Vanilla	160
Chocolate Crumble	190
Mango Berries	160
Mudslide	160
Pistachio Almond	220
Sans Rival Irish Cream	190
Strawberry Delight	160

COFFEE & TEAS
Brewed Coffee	.........................................................m..70
Caffe Caramella	125
Caffe Latte	75
Caffe Mocha	125
Cappuccino	70
Decaf	70
Earl Grey Tea	45
English Breakfast Tea	45
Espresso	70
Green Tea	45

Conti's | Cakes Galore

2012-01-02T00:12:00.000+08:00

One of the many good things that could happen when I go out with my friends is when we would decide to order different things off the menu just so we could all share the food and have some sort of mini picnic or something.

Last week, after hanging out at the Ayala Triangle, we decided to pass by Greenbelt for dessert and finally , we decided to eat out at Conti's (Greenbelt 2)... Boy, it was such a fabulous feast for my eyes and my sweet tooth! Haha!

These six were the only cakes left for us to choose from (we arrived at Conti's at around 10:30PM) and even though we were five, we decided to just go ahead and order a slice from all six of them. Haha!

New York Cheesecake (P80.00)
Oreo Cheesecake (P75.00)

I don't really fancy cheesecakes, so naturally these were the cakes that I had the least bites from. Now, I don't think I'd provide a fair judgment for this one! Haha! But my cheesecake-loving companions rather commented that the New York cheesecake flavor was a tad bit strong, and the Oreo cheesecake was... well, so-so; same as like any other Orea cheesecake in town.

Moist Chocolate Cake (P75.00)
Choco Overload (P75.00)

CHOCO MANIAAAAA!! The Moist Chocolate Cake was divine! Whereas the Choco Overload was from the name itself, overkill. It was a good set that no chocolate lover should ever miss!

Sansrival (P90.00)
Mango Bravo (P145.00)

These are the cakes that we loved the most—especially that of the Mango Bravo! Well of course the rest were as good as it could be, but the flavors of these two stood out for us from all the rest! It's a little bit agonizing though how Mango Bravo is somehow pricy; but then at the very least, its taste really makes up for its hefty price.

Conti's has been around for more or less, 15 years, and it continually strives to be the No. 1 family restaurant here in the country... and what can I say about that? So far, so good.

G/F Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center
Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi
Makati City, Metro Manila

CPK | Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad

2011-12-27T23:51:00.000+08:00

California Pizza Kitchen is famous for its pizzas, but I'll be focusing on their Focaccia Sandwiches... Why? Because there's a lot more to CPK than their gourmet pizzas! Aaaand mainly because for me, the Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad sandwich is the best in their focaccia menu!

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad (P195.00)
Grilled chicken, dried cranberries, walnuts, celery, onions and mayonnaise; topped with lettuce and tomatoes. For P25.00, you can substitute Szechuan slaw for Caesar salad / herb onion focaccia for garlic cheese.

Well yes, the real thing differs greatly with the pictures posted in the main site (see below) but, at least the taste of this cranberry focaccia sandwich didn't disappoint!

FOCACCIA
A flat Italian bread that can be topped with different ingredients (such as herbs, onions, cheese, etc.) It is eaten as a snack in Italy and considered to be a wonderful base for a sandwich. Focaccia is related to pizza (since their doughs are similar in texture and style) but they are not the same.
SZECHUAN
Just like any slaw (coleslaw), this consists primarily of shredded cabbage. CPK made this type of slaw as based from the Szechuan cuisine—a style of cuisine from the Sichuan Province of southwestern China that is famous for their bold flavors (spiciness). So yes, Szichuan slaw is a bit spicy.

What I love about this dish is its right mix of ingredients—the savory taste of the grilled chicken perfectly matched the sweetness of the cranberries! The Szechuan slaw didn't complement the sandwich very much, but then again, it rather helped the focaccia's relish to stand out sharply in my palate. I can't wait to drop by CPK once more to have a taste of this sandwich!

2/L Greenbelt 5
Ayala Center, Makati City
Business Hours: 11AM to 11PM daily
Phone: (02) 572-5965
Cuisine: American
Budget Per Meal: Php500↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Delivery: Yes. Minimum order of P500.
Online ordering for delivery = [ click ]

Sentro 1771

2011-12-25T13:27:00.000+08:00

2/L Greenbelt 3
Ayala Center, Makati City
Business Hours:
WEEKDAYS: 11am to 11pm
WEEKENDS: 11am to 12mn
Phone: (02) 757-3940
Cuisine: Filipino
Budget: Php500↑
Accepts Credit Card: Yes
Delivery: Yes; Call 757-5555

Magkita kita tayo sa Sentro!

...

"Sentro 1771 skirts the cutting edge of modern Filipino cuisine, offering traditional fare with a twist that brings it into the 21st century. Ingredients are used in surprising and non-traditional ways, making the meal both exciting as well as satisfying. From the time that this restaurant opened its doors two years ago with its version of no borders cuisine, it has garnered a reputation for being a restaurant of the highest quality and unparalleled originality." (It is one of the Chateau 1771 group of restaurants).

My friends and I dropped by this restaurant for dinner right after we watched a movie at Greenbelt. It was my first time to dine here and it's nice to finally add another restaurant to my list of modern Filipino places (Mesa - Filipino Moderne as the other).

AMBIANCE & DECOR:

One of the first things that I loved about Sentro was their ambiance and location and I especially liked the big windows with its colorful paintings—I really don't know what kind of paint that was, but it can be wiped off. The one thing that was off was the theme of the restaurant; I mean... it didn't feel 'Filipino' at all, not even modern Filipino too. For me, it felt more like a place that's from the olden side of America or Mexico or something. LOL.

The window seats and outside seating would be the perfect spot because it is one of the GB3 restaurants that's located near the fountain.

FOOD & PRICE: (Inclusive of Tax and subject to +10% Service Charge)

For the night, my best friend (Celine) and I both ordered soups since we weren't feeling hungry at all. Still, the soup was good; nothing much to say for it. It was just of generic quality; though my soup (clam and corn soup) somewhat tasted bland... but it's nothing that a pinch of pepper can't solve. Haha.

Clam and Corn Soup (P90.00)
Chicken Tinola (P90.00)

Our other friend wasn't also feeling hungry at all (or was he on a diet? JK) and he ordered a salad. Turned out that he didn't really appreciate the taste of the green mango and I ended up eating the rest. I kept calling him crazy for not liking the dish.

Green Mango Salad
Solo: P100.00
Sharing: P210.00)

Our other two friends opted for a heavier meal which was a plate of crispy pata.

OVERALL

...the food was great! But I have to say that they were a bit overpriced. It would have been better if Sentro had done something 'novel' about their dishes as well as in their presentation too so that we could overlook the price haha.

That aside, if you got balikbayans or foreigner friends, then Sentro 1771 would be one of the good places that you can take them in order to introduce Filipino cuisine. I'd love to drop by next time, be famished so that I could order a heavier meal or different dishes.

MENU:

As of December 11, 2011.
*Chef's recommendation

APPETIZERS
Sizzling Tofu	..........................250
Vegetable Spring Rolls	..........................250
Fried Kesong Puti	................Solo: 180 Sharing: 320
Tokwa't Belly	..........................270
Fresh Smoked Fish Spring Rolls*	..........................270
Crispy Drunken Shrimps	..........................320
Grilled BBQ Minis	..........................350
Sentro Pica-Pica Platter	................Solo: 350 Sharing: 660
SOUPS
Clam and Corn Soup	..........................90
Chicken Tinola	..........................90
Squash Soup	..........................90
SALADS & VEGETABLES
Adobong Kangkong	..........................80
Vegetable in Tamarind Soup	..........................80
Stuffed Squash Blossom	..........................200
Kare-Kare Vegetable	................Solo: 150 Sharing: 280
Green Mango Salad	................Solo: 100 Sharing: 210
Shrimp Tops Salad*	..........................220
Tomato Kesong Puti Salad*	..........................280
Healthy Vegetable Potpourri	................Solo: 120 Sharing: 220
RICE & NOODLES
Spinach and Glass Noodles	..........................220
Stir Fried Noodles w/ Vegetables	................Solo: 280 Sharing: 520
Sentro's Pancit Palabok	................Solo: 180 Sharing: 340
Sentro's Bagoong Rice	................Solo: 320 Sharing: 610
Plain Rice	..........................45
Garlic Rice	..........................55
Brown Rice	..........................65
SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE
Sinigang na Corned Beef	................Solo: 310 Sharing: 595
SEAFOOD
Rated GG (Galunggong)*	................Solo: 230 Sharing: 445
Bangus & Eggplant Torta	..........................270
Gindara Escabeche	................Solo: 210 Sharing: 390
Catfish Adobo Flakes	................Solo: 250 Sharing: 360
Tilapia Fillet in Coconut Milk	................Solo: 220 Sharing: 360
Catfish Sentro Style*	................Solo: 350 Sharing: 680
Seafood in Tamarind Soup	................Solo: 380 Sharing: 720
Sweet & Sour Shrimps	..........................420
MEAT
Honey Garlic Pork Spareribs	................Solo: 280 Sharing: 560
Crispy Pork Ribs	................Solo: 440 Sharing: 630
Pinoy Osso Bucco	..........................380
Garlicky Adobos	................Solo: 320 Sharing: 580
Beef Binagoonga	................Solo: 360 Sharing: 690
Lamb Caldereta	................Solo: 480 Sharing: 880
Boneless Crispy Trotter	..........................550
Sentro Garlic Steak	................Solo: 480 Sharing: 880
Kare Kare	................Solo: 520 Sharing: 820
CHICKEN
Grilled Chicken Steak	................Solo: 320 Sharing: 480
Home-Style Chicken Adobo	................Solo: 220 Sharing: 420
Boneless Chicken Barbeque	................Solo: 390 Sharing: 660
Fried Chicken Cutlets	................Solo: 350 Sharing: 495
Sentro Roast Chicken	..........................510