The Purple Doll

Holdak: Boneless Korean Fried Chicken at Mezza Residences

2013-06-18T23:59:00.000+08:00

The Korean wave has already reached Manila! And I'm not just pertaining to the rise of KPOP, K-dramas and Korean barbecue houses that flock the Metro, but also of the continuously growing number of restaurants offering Korean-style fried chicken. And while I've had my fair share of these extra crispy treats, I recently came across one Korean chicken house called Holdak offering my kind of fried chicken -- boneless ones.

Located in Mezza Residences (SMDC's condominium development in Sta. Mesa), the fast casual restaurant Holdak is not homegrown but a franchise of a popular chain of restaurants from South Korea with branches all over Busan, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungnam and even China and Japan. And just earlier this year on January of 2013, Mr. Carl Tan who was himself a patron of the chicken offerings at Holdak, finally opened the first branch here in the Philippines to give Filipinos a taste of the real Korean fried chicken.

Being a Korean fried chicken spot, Holdak takes inspiration from Myeongdong, one of the most famous commercial districts for foodies in South Korea, for its interiors. And although it definitely speaks fast casual-dining restaurant, the place was still comfortable.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

Holdak's Korean Fried Chicken (4 Kinds of Sauces)

I've mentioned earlier that Holdak offers boneless Korean fried chicken, and this is actually the first time I've heard of this great feat from a Korean chicken place. They use thigh fillets too to ensure not just convenience, but also a juicy and flavorful chicken eating experience. And before I blab some more, let me go straight to what we've tried.

Yang-Nyam (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

This serving of Yang-Nyam is the original Korean-style fried chicken recipe sauce of Holdak. And while I honestly don't have any idea what its name means, it's definitely enjoyable -- sweet, sour, salty and savory with hints of a peanuty taste.

✓ Spicy Yang-Nyam (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

Since the Yang-Nyam was a little too tamed for my palate, I resorted to eating more of the Spicy Yang-Nyam which also has the same sweet, savory and peanuty flavor like its original recipe sibling but with a strong kick of heat that will surely linger for quite a while.

Jack Daniels (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

One of Holdak's bestsellers is the Jack Daniels which is sweet and is topped with caramelized onions. While this is definitely in line with the Filipino palate, I found it a little too sweet for mine. Nonetheless though, this is a variant kids and kids-at-heart will love.

✓ Padak (2-pc. Mini Meal P99; 3-pc. Solo Meal P145; Box of 6 P279; Box of 12 P549)

My most favorite variant at Holdak is the Padak, a spring onion-topped serving which oozes with light, zesty and refreshing Asian flavors. Among the four sauces, this I think is the safest bet since its familiar yet subtle taste will surely sit well on everyone's palate.

All 4 Korean fried chicken variants were quite big and are made up of extra crispy chicken fillets with a lot of skin. And since they were made from chicken thighs, they were indeed succulent and tasty even on the inside, perfect either to pair with a serving of rice or to just enjoy them by themselves. Papak, papak!

The Extras

Aside from the fried chicken, Holdak also offers some side dishes to go with the mains.

✓ Salad (P35)

This Salad which is a bowl of shredded green and red cabbage with creamy sesame dressing comes free if you order either the box of 6 or 12. But even as a la carte, I say this is worth ordering as it's great along with any of the 4 sauces, most especially with the hearty serving of Yang-Nyam and Spicy Yang-Nyam.

Curry Fries (P55)

Fries lovers can also get either the plain Fries (P45) or this Curry Fries serving. And while I generally love anything potato, this didn't jive too well with my taste buds. Don't get me wrong, I like curry, but I guess I was just not digging the curry powder too much.

Ramen (P85)

I've become quite a ramen fan lately. So being a little pickier with my noodle soup, Holdak's Ramen unfortunately didn't satisfy me. However, if you're up for something at par with (or a little better than) instant Korean noodle brands, this is a good order.

Cheese Ramen (P95)

Although I'm generally not a fan of Holdak's Ramen, I can definitely say that this serving of Cheese Ramen is better than its plain Jane of a sister. Since it has melted cheese in the mix, the soup became creamier which makes every spoonful a little more enjoyable.

✓ Melona Ice Cream in Melon and Strawberry (P35 each)

Since we're in a Korean fast casual restaurant, it just follows that we should close the meal with Korean ice cream. And we're definitely in luck as Holdak offers not just Melona Ice Cream Bars (in Melon and Strawberry), but also Samanco Fish Ice Cream Waffle (P45), Encho Pinipig Bar (P40) and Snow Ice Coffee (P65).

THE VERDICT

Although there are already a lot of Korean-style fried chicken players in the market, I think Holdak stands a good chance especially with its crispy, juicy and succulent boneless chicken thigh fillets. To add to that, there are also 4 kinds of sauces to choose from, so everyone in the family or even in the barkada will surely find something to suit his/her palate. With that said, I'm actually already planning a returning trip. I want to take home all 4 variants since I'm curious to know which sauce would prevail in our household.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Holdak Chicken, Mezza Residences
Mezza Residences, Aurora Blvd. cor. Araneta Ave.,
Doña Imelda, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 354-2195
Facebook Page
Twitter

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Holdak was very generous to give a gift card during Holdak's Bloggers' Night last May 30. And since I want to further share with you my satisfaction from Holdak's boneless Korean fried chicken, I'm giving away this Box of 12 gift card to one lucky winner.

Prize: (1) winner of FREE BOX OF 12 (worth P549) gift card from Holdak Chicken.

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prize, or have a person you'll give this prize to in case you can't personally use them.
Free shipping to Metro Manila addresses only. Non-Metro Manila winners can opt to shoulder the shipping fee. (Really sorry about this.)
Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
Make sure you do all the first eight mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway raffle will run from today until July 5, 2013. The winner will be drawn the next day and will be contacted within that week. So join now and get a taste of the real Korean fried chicken from Holdak Chicken!

Disclaimer: Prize was provided by the good folks from Holdak Chicken.

Miso-Ten: Ramen and Tempura Place + Giveaway

2013-06-15T02:28:00.001+08:00

The rainy days have already started, and what comfort food better fits the bill? I say a hot bowl of freshly-cooked ramen! So with a good friend in tow, we headed to the newly-opened Miso-Ten in Robinsons Magnolia to sample the miso ramen and tendon (tempura rice bowl) goodies this new ramen and tempura destination graciously offers.

Located at the second floor of Robinsons Magnolia's Veranda, Miso-Ten is a specialized casual dining Japanese restaurant from the same company behind Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Grill House, Tokyo Café, Stackers Burger Cafe, Kogi Bulgogi and Parmigiano Pizzeria Ristorante. And since I've loved the restaurants I've tried from IFoods Inc., I was sure excited to give their new ramen and tendon venture a try.

Like the other restaurants in the mall's Veranda, Miso-Ten offers not just indoor dining, but also an al fresco area. However, since it was quite sunny when Stacy and I visited, we opted to get seated inside where wooden furniture and fixtures were aplenty. And while the restaurant's interior is generally simple, I like its laid-back and refreshing feel.

Click the Miso-Ten Order Form to enlarge.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

Unlike most ramen shops in the Metro, Miso-Ten is thankfully on the more inexpensive side of the spectrum. For P275 a bowl, you can get a good miso-based ramen. You can even mix and match it to your liking by getting a Miso-Ten Order Form and ticking which options you want in your hot noodle soup bowl. If you're not so sure about the customization though, you can play it safe and choose straight from Miso-Ten's menu.

The Food

Now, let us get to the good part. Here are the Japanese dishes we had during the visit.

Mango Kani Salad (P150)

To start off our meal, we had the Mango Kani Salad which is a bowlful of cucumber slices, kani shreds and sweet diced mangoes with a good squeezing of Japanese mayonnaise. If you follow me on Instagram, you'd know how big of a fan I am of this combination of refreshing Japanese flavors. And just the way I like it, every ingredient is fresh giving the whole ensemble not just good flavor, but also a nice play in texture.

Gyoza (P140)

I'm picky when it comes to dumplings, but these Gyoza had me a little confused but in a good way. While I like my gyoza pan-fried to have a slight crunch, these bundled treats reminded me strongly of kuchai dumplings which I also love. They were more steamed rather than fried, so their skin were soft to the bite and oozes out with savory goodness.

✓ Tempura (P380 per 5pcs.)

Since we're in a ramen and tempura place, we didn't dare miss the chance to try an ala carte order of the Tempura. Okay, I know we should've tried the tendon, but we didn't want to get full just yet. Anyway, like how good tempura should be, Miso-Ten's rendition has light yet super crispy batter coating the tiger prawns. But unlike the usual accompanying sauce to tempura which is tentsuyu (made from dashi stock, mirin, soy sauce, sugar and grated daikon radish), this order comes with a sweet Teriyaki-like sauce which makes the whole order perfect alongside a bowl of steamed rice.

✓ Miso-Ten Original (P275)

For the ramen part, we had the Miso-Ten Original which has a creamy and moderately rich broth, pieces of tender, succulent and fatty chasyu pork, ajitsuke egg, green onions and sesame seeds. You can always adjust and customize your bowl through the Miso-Ten Order Form, but Stacy and I liked every spoonful of this default order. If I had to be nit-picky though, the egg noodles were a bit of a downer for me. However, for the very reasonable price, I can definitely vouch for the quality of the broth and its toppings.

Sesame Miso (P275) with Extra Roast Chicken (P35)

We wanted to try the Tan Tan Mien (P275) so badly, but since it wasn't available that time, we decided to just settle for the Sesame Miso. And honestly, it wasn't a bad idea. The broth was rich, creamy and with strong hints of sesame and even some peanut-y note. And while this bowl already came with chasyu slices, we had some Extra Roast Chicken to pimp it even further. And you know what? I actually feel like the roasted chicken is a perfect match for this already-tasty ramen variant. They were tender and meaty with a sweet and savory saucy skin that tastes even better in sesame miso broth.

✓ Roast Chicken and Black Garlic

You can always customize your ramen bowl to have roast chicken and black garlic via the Miso-Ten Order Form, but if you're not sure if you'd like them already infused in your bowl, then ask to have them served separately like what we did. In the end though, the Roast Chicken went straight in our second bowl of ramen. But for the Black Garlic, we added it little by little since we didn't want our ramen to end up having a black garlic flavor that's too potent. Based from personal experience, we liked the Black Garlic in our Tonkotsu Ramen better than in the already-flavorful Sesame Miso Ramen.

THE VERDICT

With a lot of expensive ramen houses sprouting in the Metro, it's nice and refreshing to find a ramen restaurant offering more budget-friendly options. I also like that Miso-Ten isn't just a ramen place but also a tempura haven. Since ramen and tempura are probably the two most popular Japanese food for Manileños, Miso-Ten got it right by specializing in not just either of the two, but both. So if you're a ramen and tempura lover who doesn't want to splurge that much, then I recommend you give Miso-Ten a visit.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Miso-Ten, Robinsons Magnolia
2/F Robinsons Magnolia Veranda, Aurora Blvd.,
Valencia, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 442-5914
Facebook Page
Twitter

Miso-Ten, Robinsons Place Manila
G/F Robinsons Place Manila, Adriatico St.,
Ermita, Manila
(02) 353-1864

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Now that I've shared my experience at Miso-Ten, it's time that you too have your own Miso-Ten experience. And to make everything more fun and exciting, I'll make things easier for 1 lucky winner as he/she will get P500-worth of Miso-Ten gift certificates.

Prize: (1) winner of P500-worth of gift certificates from Miso-Ten.

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prizes, or have a person you'll give these prizes to in case you can't personally use them.
Free shipping to Metro Manila addresses only. Non-Metro Manila winners can opt to shoulder the shipping fee. (Really sorry about this.)
Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
Make sure you do all the first nine mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway raffle will run from today until June 30, 2013. The winner will be drawn the next day and will be contacted within that week. So join now and have your own ramen and tempura experience at Miso-Ten.

Disclaimer: Prizes were provided by the good folks from Miso-Ten.

Lutong Bahay: Spicy Tuyo Aglio Olio with Super Tuyo

2013-06-12T15:34:00.000+08:00

Lutong Bahay is a short tag on the title which I use to feature home-cooked food, either in our own home or at a friend's house, either my own cooking or not.

I've always loved cooking and eating pasta, but the usual carbonara or spaghetti had already got tiring for my taste buds. And then, I remembered a Pinoy fusion pasta I got to try from Chef Ivory Yat's The Sultry Chef stall in Mezza Norte. So equipped with a jar of Super Tuyo Famous Spicy variant, I thought of giving this dish a dry run in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

6 to 8 pieces of tuyo fillets (shredded)
1 head of garic (minced)
2 pcs. of tomatoes (de-seeded and diced)
1/2 lb. spaghetti pasta
butter
olive oil
chilies or red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese and basil (optional)

Procedure:

Cook your pasta according to package and set aside. Don't wash it off on running water, by the way. Just let it sit in the cooking pot until sauce is ready.
Heat butter in a pan and sauté the garlic until slightly golden, then add the shredded tuyo fillets and diced tomatoes.
Add the chilies or red pepper flakes. I skipped this though, as I'm already using tuyo fillets from Super Tuyo's Famous Spicy variant. Season based on your preference.
When the tuyo fillets have already melded in the sauce, turn off the heat and add some olive oil.
Put pasta (straight from the cooking pot) to your spicy tuyo sauce and mix well.
You can add in some grated Parmesan cheese and some basil leaves. As for me, I prefer to garnish my pasta with more tuyo fillets.

This pasta dish is one of the simplest I've ever had to cook, yet it tastes amazing especially if you're a fan of spicy tuyo. I seriously can't stop eating forkful after forkful, and this in itself is just the plain version. If you have some shrimps, you can also add them into the mix and make a Spicy Tuyo and Shrimp Aglio Olio. Now, that sounds fancy!

Since I've already mentioned Super Tuyo, let me go all out and make a quick review. I was given these 3 jars to sample -- Famous Spicy, Original and Sweet and Spicy. All 3 of these variants have tuyo fillets in garlic and oil. However, I'd say my favorite would be the Sweet and Spicy one as it's perfect with garlic rice or on top of even just plain rice. It gives off a nice blend of sweet, spicy and savory flavors that I truly enjoyed.

My second favorite would be the Famous Spicy. While it lacks the sweetness dimension, it definitely makes up for it with extra spice. I think this is perfect for people who love their tuyo fillets really spicy, or if you'd want to incorporate a spicy tuyo into a dish (This can be good on pizza too!), just like what I did with my Spicy Tuyo Aglio Olio.

As for the Original, it didn't really excite my palate much and I'm not sure either where I can incorporate it. However, if you're a creative home-cook, I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something as my dull mind can only see this eaten with champorado.

For more info on Super Tuyo, visit their Official Website, Facebook Page or Twitter.

URBN Bar & Kitchen: Contemporary Comfort Food in BGC

2013-06-11T23:59:00.000+08:00

As a self-confessed party pooper, it was unlikely for me to visit one of the hottest bars in the Metro's party scene. But aside from being a destination for party-goers with a busy nightlife, URBN Bar & Kitchen is also a good foodie destination. And if you don't believe me, then let URBN's gastronomic and drool-inducing dishes convince you otherwise.

More Restaurants in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig:

Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge: For Modern Spanish Comfort Food

NACI: Revisiting The Improved Comfort Food Destination

Wrong Ramen: Not Your Conventional Authentic Bowl of Ramen

Sweet Bella Cafe: More Than Just Cakes and Pastries

Kuppa Roastery & Cafe: The Family That Knows Coffee

Bistro Filipino: Modern Filipino Cuisine by Chef Laudico

Toro Restaurant and Bar: A Fusion of Japanese and Mexican Flavors

Located in the 3rd floor of Fort Pointe II Building, URBN Bar & Kitchen is the new brainchild of the same brilliant people behind Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge. And similar to its bar and resto sibling, URBN Bar & Kitchen brings us yet another hip destination not just for clubbing, but also for palate satiation as expected from Chef Benjo Tuason.

Smoking and clubbing area (lights go off by 10pm)

Dining and lounging area -- where we stayed

Unlike Relik which has more of a rustic ambiance, URBN Bar & Kitchen on the other hand gives off more of a neo-industrial vibe in large doses with its high ceiling, exposed steel pipes and light installations, LCD TV, hardwood furniture and fixtures, and big, mismatched lounge chairs right smack in the center of the smoking-cum-clubbing room.

Home Made Potato Chips (P250) and URBN Cosmo (P258)

We first had some Home Made Potato Chips while waiting for the main dishes. Served with an aioli and a pesto dip, these chips satisfied the potato lover in me. Each piece was thin and crisp as what good and addicting potato chips should be. I also had an order of URBN Cosmo, a concoction made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice and lime juice.

✓ Double Baked Manchego Souffle (P395)

After the bar chow, this beautiful plate of Double Baked Manchego Souffle with crispy Jamon Serrano and Manchego bechamel sauce was served. At first, I actually thought this is a potato and cream dish. But after knowing the name and getting a forkful, I just can't help but to dig in some more. With an explosion of savory, salty, creamy and cheesy goodness, this is a dish true-blue cheese lovers shouldn't miss!

URBN's House Salad (P220)

We also had a serving of URBN's House Salad which is a light and healthy mix of greens, poached pears, candied walnuts and shaved Parmesan drenched in a raspberry vinaigrette. Although this green dish has somehow been overshadowed by the flavorful Manchego item it followed suit, this is still a great plate compared to most salads I had.

✓ Seared Scallops (P590)

I'm a really big fan of scallops, so just imagine my delight when this beautiful serving of Seared Scallops was brought to our table. And while my photo definitely doesn't justify how delicious this was, I can say with full conviction that this plate of big, juicy Australian scallops with Jamon Serrano atop a bed of cauliflower purée is worth coming back for.

Spicy Shrimp Cocktail (P280)

To further whet our palate, we had the Spicy Shrimp Cocktail with mangoes and cucumber which was a harmonious blend of sweet and spicy, and soft and crunchy. Usually, I don't really care much for shrimp cocktail items. However, this one is definitely an exciting appetizer that successfully enticed us in preparation for the main course.

Mac & Choreese (P290)

While I like the conventional mac and cheese, Chef Benjo's Mac & Choreese rendition with big chunks of chorizo surely got my attention. It's as creamy, as cheesy and as hearty, but with an added bonus of the savory and flavorful chorizo bits.

✓ Australian Rack of Lamb (P960)

The meal starter portion may be long, but this Australian Rack of Lamb was definitely worth all the wait. Crusted with herb and horseradish and served with a roasted pumpkin wedge, this rack of lamb has got to be my most favorite item that night. Eaten with or without the garlic yogurt sauce, a forkful of this lamb is so meaty, so juicy, so succulent and so savory, but minus the gamey taste lamb meat has been notoriously known for.

✓ Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs (P550)

Another highly satisfying meaty dish we had was the Sticky BBQ Pork Ribs served with rice pilaf and chili-butter sweet corn kernels. While I'm not a crazy fan of BBQ ribs, I felt like I became a convert after getting a taste of the sweet and smokey sauce-coated savory fall-off-the bone tender pork ribs URBN Bar & Kitchen served us. Yum!

✓ Crispy Duck Leg (P560)

Unbelievable as it is, another great dish in the form of Crispy Duck Leg followed suit. (Everything has been consistently good!) Served with a creamy, tasty mushroom risotto and braised carrots and asparagus, this serving of duck leg has a moist, succulent meaty inside and a really crispy skin basking in red wine jus. And while duck doesn't normally top my list of yummy foods, I can't deny that this serving is simply delicious.

Chicken Fried Steak (P390)

While the name made our whole table think this serving of Chicken Fried Steak with veggies and mashed potato, is really chicken, we had a "wow mali" moment when Chef Benjo told us this is actually beef sirloin just prepared like buttermilk fried chicken -- coated in buttermilk batter, deep fried, and finally topped with mushroom gravy. And as expected, everyone started digging in more and more after the surprising revelation.

24 Days Dry Aged In House Rib Eye Bone (P2,800 for 450 grams)

Closing our main course was the 24 Days Dry Aged In House Rib Eye Bone which is a huge serving perfect for sharing with the whole family or the whole barkada. And as a steak lover, I can't help but be giddy when I saw this piece cooked in medium rare doneness -- my preferred way of enjoying steak. And while I'm not so sure if those are steak juices running freely on the plate, it's also smothered with Shiraz jus which perfectly blended with the super succulent, tender and meaty lava rock-grilled piece.

✓ URBN's Salted Caramel Cheesecake (P150)

After a meaty meal, we started closing off with URBN's Salted Caramel Cheesecake. It only took one bite and I knew I was in love. The cheesecake itself is good, but after getting pimped with a drizzling of salted caramel, it became more heavenly with a beautiful blend of subtle creamy cheesecake goodness, and sweet and salty caramel.

Chocolate Classic Souffle (P300) and ✓ Mango Classic Souffle (P300)

The Classic Souffles which come in chocolate and mango flavors were also equally satisfying dessert items. Served with a combination of chocolate and vanilla sauce, or mango and vanilla sauce, these treats are perfect in my book -- soft, fluffy and airy with a molten center. And while I'm usually partial to chocolate variants, I have to say the light and refreshing Mango Classic Souffle won me over this time.

Chocolate Love-ah Cake (P250)

To finally mark a sweet ending, we had the Chocolate Love-ah Cake which was drizzled with some extra virgin olive oil and even sprinkled with rock salt. Even without the added salty flavor, this in itself is already a well-executed lava cake as the center oozes out with rich, gooey molted chocolate. And since this chocolatey goodness is even pimped with salt, it tasted more amazing in my book! If I have to be nit-picky though, I guess the chocolate cake itself can still be improved when it comes to moistness.

THE VERDICT

Relik has taught me that bars can also be good destinations for foodies, and this trip to URBN Bar & Kitchen has further instilled this in me. Seriously, everything we had that night was consistently good, starting from my first piece of potato chip until my last spoonful of chocolate love-ah cake. So if you're like me in the past -- skeptic that a bar can serve great food, then give either Relik or URBN Bar & Kitchen a try. I'm sure you'll not only find yourself drinking or socializing, but definitely eating the night away.

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

URBN Bar & Kitchen, Bonifacio Global City
3/F Fort Pointe II Bldg., 28th St.
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
(0917) 564-9333
Facebook Page
Twitter

King Chef Fine Dining: Revisiting A Chinese Feast in Banawe

2013-06-09T23:59:00.000+08:00

One of my earliest restaurant reviews back in 2011 was my visit to King Chef Fine Dining in Banawe, Quezon City. And while I didn't get the chance to pay it a trip sooner, it has remained to be one of my favorites when it comes to Chinese fare. Earlier this year, we revisited King Chef after futile attempts to eat at buffets during the Valentine's night. And while it was our last option, I gladly got to relive my adoration for King Chef Fine Dining.

Complimentary peanuts while we wait for our orders

Unlike most people who celebrated Valentine's night with their special someone, the beau and I didn't go out during that special day. Instead, I celebrated with the whole family who were craving for an eat-all-you-can adventure. Unfortunately though, the restaurants offering dinner buffet in the West Avenue and Banawe areas in Quezon City, were all overflowing with people. And since I can't bear to have my parents wait for hours and hours without the assurance of getting seated within the dinner service time, we just went straight to King Chef Fine Dining to try our luck, hoping they have free tables.

Obviously, we were gladly accommodated. And so our Valentine's dinner began...

King Chef Seafood Spinach Soup (Small P220; Medium P330; Large P550)

To start off, we had the King Chef Seafood Spinach Soup which is also the same soup item we had on our previous visit. Like how I remembered it, it was still a subtle blend of spinach and seafood bits in a really enticing forest-moss green color. Everyone in our table seemed to have enjoyed it, even my little sister who actually dislikes spinach.

Peking Duck 2 Ways (Half P1,050)

Next, we had Half a Peking Duck 2 Ways which a specialized server prepped. Just look at that glistening skin! I may not be a big Peking duck fan, but I sure wanted to snag some of those crispy duck skin to gorge down. I can do away without the ways, anyway.

✓ Peking Duck Pancake (1st Way)

Or so I thought. As much as I wanted to eat the Peking duck plainly, I have to admit that eating it as a Peking Duck Pancake is so much better. The duck skin with part of its meat is encased in a flour wrapper with cucumber, shallots and some Hoisin sauce. Every bite was just bursting with a delicate savory flavor, nicely balanced by the fresh fillings and thin wrapper. We had to eat these right away though so they won't get tough.

✓ Minced Duck with Lettuce Wrap or Sang Choi Bao (2nd Way)

While I really enjoyed the first way, the Minced Duck with Lettuce Wrap version was a treat I find lighter and easier on the palate. The rest of the Peking duck meat was minced and sautéed with vegetables in oyster sauce, then served with lettuce wraps. The whole family enjoyed this fun, interactive, albeit messy, way to eat Peking duck.

Spareribs with 8 Spices (Small P290; Medium P430; Large P725)

This was my favorite dish during our previous visit to King Chef. However, for some reason, this serving of Spareribs with 8 Spices while still as tasty, had a funky note to it. It was still fried to a beautiful crisp with an inside oozing with tons of flavor and meaty goodness. I guess it was the oil they used which posed problems for us this time around.

✓ Salt and Pepper Frog Legs (Small P330; Medium P495; Large P825)

While this serving of Salt and Pepper Frog Legs is another fried item, we didn't notice any funky note in the oil. They were crispy and very well-seasoned, two factors we look for when it comes to fried frog legs. And since we loved them to bits, we tried our hardest not to finish the whole plate so we can still have take home frog legs for midnight snack.

✓ Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style (Small P380; Medium P515; Large P1,080)

A visit to a Chinese restaurant won't be complete if we skip ordering my little sister's favorite dish -- Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style. Served in a hot stone pot, these slices of beef tenderloin were juicy, meaty and very succulent, doused in a sweet and savory sauce. Among our orders for the night, I found this dish the most fitting to eat with rice.

Steamed Fish Fillet with Japanese Tofu (Small P260; Medium P390; Large P650)

For seafood, we decided to have the Steamed Fish Fillet with Japanese Tofu. This serving is pretty good as the fish was fresh and was cooked perfectly while bathing in a light soy sauce. The addition of Japanese tofu was refreshing too, although it served more purpose for me and my dad who are bigger tofu lovers.

Stuffed Eggplant with Japanese Sauce (Small P380; Medium P570; Large P760)

Big sis wanted some veggies, so we had Stuffed Eggplant with Japanese Sauce as suggested by our server. I can't clearly remember every detail from this dish anymore. But if I'm not mistaken, this has tofu and a Teriyaki-style sauce. I personally found this one dimensional when it comes to taste, but it's a good vegetable viand paired with rice.

Yang Chow Fried Rice (Small P210; Medium P310; Large P525)

Our rice of choice for the night was the Yang Chow Fried Rice. Not exciting I know, but the family loves pairing Chinese dishes with our default rice order. Although I can't say this version is the best I've had, this serving was good enough. And while this plate didn't have as much pork and chorizo de bilbao as I would've wanted, I loved the fact that there were shrimp pieces. And mind you, the shrimps were cooked perfectly!

For drinks, we decided to order a pot of Healing Honey Chrysanthemum Tea (P85) which promised to help cure sore throat, prevent cough and colds, and help moisturize the lungs. I'm pretty sure we needed to drink more than a pot to actually receive this tea's healing effects, but taste-wise, it was light, refreshing, floral-y and highyl enjoyable.

THE VERDICT

My second visit to King Chef was yet another enjoyable experience. It may not be as excellent as before (I'm not sure if my standards just elevated, or if the food quality wasn't as good as before anymore), but it was still pretty good compared to most Chinese restaurants I've been to. And of course, with courteous, prompt and thoughtful service to go along with the good food, I'm sure me and my family will again visit for a third time.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

King Chef Fine Dining, Banawe
987-989 Banawe St., Quezon City,
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 410-4919; 413-6619; 441-4177

King Chef Seafood Restaurant, Lucky Chinatown Mall
2/F Lucky Chinatown Mall, Binondo,
Manila, Philippines
(02) 720-8594; 466-5765
Facebook Page

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina: A Taste of Fil-Mex in Kapitolyo

2013-06-04T22:10:00.000+08:00

Our second stop for the POP Talk Kapitolyo food trip episode was this fairly new Filipino-Mexican restaurant along East Capitol Drive, called Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina. And while I was already getting full when we reached the destination, just the mention of one of my favorite herbs got me all giddy, excited and fully enticed to taste their offerings.

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

I didn't get to take photos of Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina's interior, but I really like how intimate, cozy and laid back the place was. It had wooden table and benches perfect for a family-size Mexican feast or a dinner out with the whole barkada. They also have an al fresco dining ready when the restaurant's dining space gets full, or if you just love to enjoy your Pinoy-Mejicano treats with a refreshing view of the Kapitolyo neighborhood.

✓ Beef Nachos (P160)

For starters, we had a serving of Beef Nachos which had heapings of beef pieces, guacamole, tomato salsa, cilantros and melted cheese sitting atop a mountain of crispy tortilla chips. Seriously, these are the best nachos I've ever had in my entire food blogging life! It doesn't taste just one dimensional like most nacho items offered in other restaurants. It had an addicting combination of fresh, herby, savory and cheesy flavors.

✓ Silantro’s Quesadillas (P145)

I usually like my quesadillas with different kinds of fillings, but Silantro’s Quesadillas have proven to me that a good quesadilla can have just a few types of fillings but still be just as good, or actually even better. And yes, that's what I exactly got -- soft and warm tortilla exploding with loads and loads of cheesy goodness. Wish I had taken an even close-up photo of the gooey cheese though. That would've made a really sexy food porn!

✓ Beef Quesadillas (P145)

For those who still get bothered by meatless quesadillas, there's the equally tasty and satisfying Beef Quesadillas which had the same amount of cheesiness but with the addition of tender and succulent beef pieces. And while I'm a big carnivore myself, I don't know but for some reason, I like the gooey and cheesy beef-less version a tad more.

✓ Calliente Wings (P170)

It only took one bite, and I immediately included these Calliente Wings in my mental list of my most favorite chicken wings. Bearing the word "calliente" which means hot and fiery, these bright red babies will indeed test your spiciness threshold. After finishing a few pieces, my mouth was already starting to burn. My attempts to stop was futile though as these guacamole, cabbage shreds and cilantro-infused treats were so addicting! By the way, you can ask to have the spiciness level of these devils toned down.

Silantro's Lucha Tacos Station (Soft or Hard-Shell Tacos)

Lucha Tacos (Ligero P65; Medio P85; Completo P100)

1. What's your weight class?
(Ligero 1 choice of meat, Medio 2 choices of meat, Completo 3 choices of meat)
2. Choose your meat. (Beef, Pork, Chicken, Lamb, Lengua or Oxtail)
3. Do you like your taco hot or cold?
4. Last step: Order another one. *wink*

As a taco lover, I was really happy to see that Silantro offers 6 different kinds of meat. We had the Medio Lucha Tacos with beef and lamb topped with tomato salsa, cabbage shreds, cilantro and a slice of avocado in a warm soft-shell taco, served with guacamole.

✓ Silantro's Burrito (P160)

Silantro prides itself in their burritos, and I can see why. Unlike most burritos from other restaurants, Silantro's Burrito is bigger, meatier and have more "authentic" flavor. Rolled in a soft sheet of pita is a paella-like rice with tender and succulent beef bits, along with tomato salsa and cilantro, served with guacamole and sour cream on the side.

Pancholon's Burger (P160)

Burger lovers, fret not 'cause Silantro has something for you, the Pancholon's Burger which has a thick, meaty and succulent patty topped with tomato salsa and some cilantro. It also comes with a serving of guacamole which you can drizzle on the burger filling for more Mexican flavors, or leave it alone to serve as your fries' dipping sauce.

Fresh Dalandan Juice (P90); JV and Ms. Laila modeling at Silantro

Silantro has beers and cocktails perfect to pair with its lineup of great-tasting Filipino-Mexican dishes. And while I wanted to try some of their alcohol-spiked drinks, I left it for my next visit and just settled for the refreshing and zesty Fresh Dalandan Juice.

Click the menu photo to enlarge.

THE VERDICT

I've only seen Mexican food as just okay enough for my palate. However, after trying out Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina, I can actually say that I've fallen in love. Everything we've had that day was really, really good, with most of the items being my favorites. And while I don't consider Silantro as a Filipino-Mexican food haven, but more of an "authentic" Mexican fare destination, I'll be sure to go back again and again to have my fix!

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina, Kapitolyo
75 East Capitol Dr., Brgy. Kapitolyo,
Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(0917) 508-4748
Facebook Page

BULLCHEF: My Bulalo Chef Experience in Kapitolyo

2013-06-04T22:05:00.000+08:00

Here's our last stop in POP Talk's Kapitolyo food trip episode. It's this hip and trendy bulalo place in East Capitol Drive called BULLCHEF which stands for Bulalo Chef.

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

On my POP Talk guesting last year, I got to try a really good bulalo place in Manila. Since then, I've started to become more and more of a bulalo fan, so you can just imagine my delight when I found out that we'll be visiting another bulalo destination for this episode!

BULLCHEF's second floor dining area

Unlike other bulalo places I've visited before, BULLCHEF possesses a youthful charm not only with its dining space's lighting, but also with its walls donned in photos and notes from patrons and celebrity visitors. And while I usually like simple and less when it comes to interiors, I can't help but just enjoy the positive energy the whole place gives off. Oh, and I also thought of a mission for this trip. I want to leave my own markings too! *wink*

✓ BULLCHEF Special (P210) good for 1-2, served with 2 rice

We first started off with the BULLCHEF Special which is presented and served in a unique way. Our server first poured the hot and smoking broth from a kettle to our bowl of bulalo. She then whistled and the whole BULLCHEF crew chanted "BULLCHEF" in unison. Now, that's definitely a special bulalo entrance, perfect to amp up our appetite.

As for this bowl of bulalo's taste, I'd say "sabaw pa lang, ulam na" as the broth was really flavorful. A serving has good amount of meat and vegetable fillings too. And of course, there's a really rich, buttery and fatty piece of bone marrow that I gladly took care of.

✓ asimBULL (P225) good for 1-2, served with 2 rice

I was already satisfied with just the classic bulalo, but after getting a taste of this serving of asimBULL which is bulalo in sinigang broth, I suddenly had a change of heart. This instantly became my favorite! I've had bulalo in sinigang before, but this is by far the most flavorful of them all. It was so concentrated, so tangy and so thick that it makes every spoonful a beautiful explosion of sinigang flavors that perfectly complemented the bulalo.

✓ BULLusok (Mini P125; Big P149)

Fellow bulalo lovers can also enjoy a different take on bulalo like this BULLusok which is a sizzling bulalo rendition served with garlic rice, gravy and vegetables. While I love the hearty and comforting classic bulalo with broth, I really appreciated this BULLCHEF item as it's definitely a perfect viand and rice pairing. The beef pieces were tender and very savory, and there's a bone marrow piece (not in the photo since it was already wiped out XD) which tastes really good with the buttery gravy.

esTAPA (Classic P98), ✓ TAPA don't preach (Spicy P98), and ✓ TAPA ko mahal ko (Sweet P98)

Aside from bulalo items, BULLCHEF also offers tapa which comes in 3 different flavors -- classic esTAPA, spicy TAPA don't preach, and sweet TAPA ko mahal ko, and are served with egg salsa, garlic rice and soup. Among these 3, my favorite is the sweet version as it has a good blend of sweet, savory and succulence. I also like the spicy one as it has a really nice kick after the savory notes. And although the original version wasn't exciting enough for me, I can't deny that it's also good, very tender, savory and succulent.

Lechon Kawali (P105)

We also got try the Lechon Kawali which like the tapa also comes with egg salsa, garlic rice and free soup. But although this item was crispy and quite good, it was far overshadowed by the bulalo dishes we had that day. So, sorry to you lechon kawali dish.

Mission vandalism, achieved!

Haha.. Had the asimBULL misspelled pa! Anyway, sharing with you BULLCHEF's menu. Not only do they have good bulalo dishes, their food names are also amusing.

Click menu photos to enlarge.

THE VERDICT

BULLCHEF has somehow revolutionized my bulalo experience. Unlike in other bulalo places where the vibe is traditional, my trip to the Bulalo Chef left me with a hip and quirky impression while satisfying both my palate and my stomach. Everything we had was good, especially the asimBULL which is worthy of my continuous returning visits. So if you're a bulalo lover in for a food trip in Kapitolyo, then go visit BULLCHEF!

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 4.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

BULLCHEF, Kapitolyo
4 East Capitol Dr., Brgy. Kapitolyo,
Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(0916) 338-3898
Facebook Page
Twitter

Three Sisters': Budget-Friendly Filipino Restaurant in Kapitolyo

2013-06-04T22:00:00.000+08:00

Even if I was on the set of GMA News TV's POP Talk when we went to Three Sisters' Restaurant, I still brought my food blogger self and shot food photos to my heart's content. So as promised, here's my review of Three Sisters' Restaurant, a time-tested Filipino food house which was the first stop in our POP Talk Kapitolyo food trip.

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

Located along the East Capitol Drive in Brgy. Kapitolyo, Three Sisters' Restaurant is probably, if not, the oldest brand of restaurant in the area. Established back in 1941, this homey panciteria-style food house went by the name Three Sisters' Refreshment Parlor and was serving in a different location in Pasig. However, even after over 70 years of existence, Three Sisters' Restaurant has still been serving hearty Filipino dishes from the founder, Lola Rosa's original recipes. And with such a long and colorful history leaving this food destination an important institution in the area, my fellow reviewers and I were surely excited to try out the time-tested Three Sisters' Restaurant's offerings.

The four pork BBQ musketeers at Three Sisters' Restaurant

✓ Pork Barbecue (P35 per stick); 2-Stick Pork BBQ with Java Rice (P90)

The restaurant has been known for their best-selling Pork Barbecue which was even included in Spot.ph's list of best Pinoy pork barbecue in Manila, so there was no way we're skipping this item. And even before we got a bite off this meaty treat, I was already impressed by its size. It was more than twice the size of regular pork barbecue! As for the taste, it was indeed worthy of its status as the meat was very tender and very succulent. It was also very flavorful with a mix of smoky and sweet tocino-like glaze.

Quarter Chicken Leg (P90); Quarter Chicken Leg with Java Rice (P120)

Aside from the pork barbecue, another favorite in the restaurant is its Quarter Chicken Leg which is also barbecued. And although I'm not so much of a chicken barbecue fan, I really liked pairing this hefty item with the java rice. It was cooked perfectly -- smoky and flavorful on the outside, yet tender and moist on the inside. It was also served with an accompanying sweet and savory sauce which I seriously can't get enough of! I also tried putting some of the sauce onto my pork barbecue, and it was a total flavor explosion.

✓ Pancit Bihon Single Order (P80); Bilao (For 4-5 P280; For 6-8 P420; For 10-12 P560; For 14-16 P700; For 18-20 P840; For 22-24 P1,050; For 26-28 P1,260)

As much as I love the pork barbecue, I have to admit that this Pancit Bihon is my most favorite item out of everything we had. And you know why? It's because I generally don't like bihon, yet Three Sisters' managed to had me digging in! Unlike most pancit bihon I've had in the past, this serving wasn't dull. Instead, it was very tasty and had a good amount of toppings including chicharon! To be frank, I'm not a big fan of eating chicharon either, but having it infused in this noodle dish added an exciting dimension in both taste and texture. So to non-bihon eaters, let Three Sisters' bihon change your mind.

✓ Sinigang na Kanduli sa Miso (about P150 to P180?)

A trip to a Filipino restaurant wouldn't be complete without sinigang, so to add more comfort to our already-comfortable stay was the Sinigang na Kanduli sa Miso. As someone who loves sinigang, Three Sisters' version gladly met my expectation. It was tangy, hearty and was just the right blend of sinigang sa miso. Another thing I like was the choice of fish as the kanduli (salmon catfish) made the whole dish more enjoyable.

Kare-Kare (P120)

We also got to try the Kare-Kare which is another Filipino restaurant staple. Served with not just bagoong, but also another sauce which I shamefully failed to try (I thought it was for the barbecue.. I found out it's for the Kare-Kare pala when we were already finished eating. Fail, I know!). Anyway, I liked this serving of kare-kare taste-wise. It was light on the palate yet tastes flavorful when infused with the bagoong. It also had good amount of meat, veggies and tripe for its price. It would also go really well with just plain rice.

Maanghang Kalderetang Baka (P170) and Gulaman at Sago (P25)

The last viand we had was the Maanghang Kalderetang Baka which is said to be another best-seller. It was quite spicy and had beef that was really tender. However, for some reason, I found the meat a little gamey-tasting. It was quite enjoyable paired with my java rice though. We then had a glass of Gulaman at Sago to end our meal. And while I found it very refreshing, especially since it was a hot and humid day, it lacked the sweetness I was expecting. Maybe if this was a little sweeter, it would've been perfect.

THE VERDICT

Our trip to Three Sisters' Restaurant has made me realize that people living and working in and near Kapitolyo are really lucky. Aside from having an area full of restaurants boasting various cuisines, they also have a time-tested Filipino restaurant serving comforting and tasty home-cooked Pinoy favorites for very affordable prices. If only I were living in the area, for sure I'd be ordering from Three Sisters' Restaurant during those lazy days. And yes, I'd be ordering the pork barbecue, bihon and sinigang for sure!

Taste - 3/5
Ambiance - 3.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Three Sisters' Restaurant, Kapitolyo
8 East Capitol Dr., Brgy. Kapitolyo,
Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 631-4431
Facebook Page

Catch The Purple Doll on GMA News TV's POP Talk on June 4!

2013-06-02T23:59:00.000+08:00

One of the highlights of my 2012 was being a reviewer in the "Basta driver, food lover" episode of GMA News TV's POP Talk. A few months later, I was lucky to have taken part again in another exciting food trip, this time, in Kapitolyo -- a foodie haven in Pasig City.

Me with Kuya Tonipet

Since this is already my second time, I wasn't as stunned in disbelief that my face will appear on national television. There's still that amazement though since POP Talk contacted me again for another episode. And although I'm not really a full-fledged expert when it comes to food, I'm grateful for the opportunity of not just getting to go on another food trip, but also for the experience and the chance to share my love for food on TV.

POP Talk reviewers, Kuya Tonipet and sir PJ Pike at Three Sisters' Restaurant

Together with POP Talk's host Kuya Tonipet, the talented actress Max Collins, and college student JV, we went on a food trip in Kapitolyo to try Three Sisters' Restaurant, BULLCHEF and Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina before chilling at Mad Mark's for the verdict.

I hope I'm not spilling important beans here, but let me give you a mouth-watering sneak peek of what you can expect on POP Talk this Tuesday! *wink*

Pancit Bihon from Three Sisters' Restaurant

Silantro's Burrito from Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina

Bullchef Special (Bulalo) from BULLCHEF

Ice Cream courtesy of Mad Mark's

I personally haven't seen the teaser yet, so I don't know if I'll look as awkward as before or not. But nonetheless, I'm sure this will be a great episode for foodies, especially to those planning to go on a Kapitolyo food trip as I myself really enjoyed trying out these 3 restaurants, as well as scouting other Kapitolyo eateries worth visiting in the near future.

POP Talk reviewers with make-up artist Ms. Laila at BULLCHEF

I'll be posting separate features-slash-reviews for these restaurants within the week. But for the meantime, please watch POP Talk on GMA News TV (Channel 11) this Tuesday, June 4, night at 10PM for your dose of Kapitolyo food porn na talagang POP na POP!

UPDATE: My reviews on the 3 Kapitolyo restaurants we visited

Three Sisters' Restaurant: Budget-Friendly Filipino Fare in Kapitolyo
Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina: A Taste of Fil-Mex in Kapitolyo
BULLCHEF: My Bulalo Chef Experience in Kapitolyo

King Sue: Ham, Bacon and Sausages Fit for Royalty

2013-06-01T21:38:00.000+08:00

Although I've been trying to eat more veggies, I just can't fight off the carnivorous cravings, not with our stash of King Sue around. It also didn't help that I received a nice surprise from King Sue a month ago -- a combination of their best-sellers and new meat products. Okay, with these goodies, who am I kidding? Why am I even complaining?

In our family, my little sister and I consume about 90% of the cold cuts and deli meats we have in the household. And with a loot from King Sue, it was no different. We received a pack each of various ham, bacon and sausages, and we just can't help but devour every one of them. I can't even believe that in just a span of a week, all these were wiped out!

King Sue's newest product Chicken Sausages, together with some Canadian Bacon

Chicken Sausages

One of the newest products from King Sue are these Chicken Sausages. Honestly, I am not a big fan of any other brands' chicken sausages. However, King Sue was a game changer for my palate. They weren't exceptionally big in size, but biting into them unlocks an explosion of juicy and savory flavors. Even my dad who's very particular when it comes to sausages, really liked these. Grilled or pan-fried, these will surely satisfy.

Canadian Bacon

Another exciting item we cooked right away were slices of King Sue's Canadian Bacon. Unlike regular bacon which comes in fatty strips, the Canadian version is more like ham as it's taken from the eye of the loin, making it leaner. And although this deli item is perfect in a burger, on pizza or infused in a pasta dish, merely pan-frying it was no problem for us. We enjoyed it with some toasted bread and chewy pandesal. Yum!

King Sue's Hawaiian Ham with fried eggs

Hawaiian Ham

Probably the most common type of ham, the Hawaiian Ham, is another usual but still as savory and as flavorful treat from King Sue. We tried incorporating small slices of it in our home-cooked Yang Chow fried rice (which recipe I'll be posting soon by the way) and in a garden salad. However, enjoying it plain with just some hot pandesal, sunny-side up eggs and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, is still as satisfying and as delightful.

Sweet Ham

I failed to take photos of this deli treat, but rest assured, King Sue's Sweet Ham is an item fit for any occasion -- succulent inside, yet sweet and savory with its glaze. And although this type of ham is more fitting on a celebratory table, my little sis and I found joy in just making a gourmet sandwich with some TLC and this Sweet Ham as filling.

King Sue's Sliced Bacon with scrambled eggs and rice

Sliced Bacon

Call me lazy for not even making garlic fried rice to go with this ensemble. But for me, King Sue's Sliced Bacon is as enjoyable even with just plain rice and some scrambled eggs. Heck, I'd even down these crispy bacon strips just by themselves! Forgive me for being ignorant (or too honest) here, but when it comes to bacon, I'm not really good at telling which brand is better since bacon is and will always be good in my opinion.

King Sue's German Franks with some toast

German Franks

As a sausage lover, I can't deny that I'm really glad King Sue didn't only give me samples of their new Chicken Sausages, but also of my favorite German Franks. As a breakfast item, or even as an all-day snack, I love pairing these juicy, meaty and flavorful sausages with just plain toast. I know, this is too boring. But with savory and spiced sausages, I don't think any help from any other condiments is really needed. Okay, okay, maybe having sauerkraut (pickled shredded cabbage) on the side will be good too.

WRAPPING IT UP

Although I've tried some of King Sue's products before, it's nice to have sampled some more of their cold cuts and deli items. And after receiving and trying out these samples, I can definitely say with conviction that King Sue can expect purchases and repurchases from our household. With years and years of perfecting the craft of cold cut and deli preparation, King Sue has indeed created a brand fit for royalty.

Oh, and I'm also excited to share some dishes and recipes I made using King Sue's products. So stay tuned for my future Lutong Bahay posts!

King Sue
(02) 364-8575; 364-8548; 364-8689; 364-5430
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

Matgalne Restaurant: Korean BBQ-All-You-Can Starts at P299!

2013-05-30T00:30:00.000+08:00

Whenever I'm craving for meat, the first thing that crosses my mind are Korean BBQ houses. Why, you ask? Well, aside from the scrumptious Korean side dishes called banchan that never fail to whet my palate, I just love the interactive cook-your-own meat dining style. However, lately some Korean BBQ houses are taking the whole experience even up a notch by offering everything, both meats and side dishes, unlimited. One of which I've recently visited is Matgalne Korean Restaurant in Kalayaan Avenue, Makati.

Located specifically in Kalayaan Avenue corner Mariano Street, Matgalne Korean Restaurant isn't really a new player in the market. In fact, this Korean restaurant owned by Mrs. Windy Park, opened way back in 2003. And of course, being the meat lovers we are, my friend and I decided to give it a visit last week, especially now that they have a new promo of offering the lunch buffet at only P299! The place and the rate actually reminded me of another Korean BBQ house in Quezon City, Don-Day Fresh Restaurant. One difference though is Matgalne offers lunch from 11:30AM all the way up to 4:30PM. Now, we don't find lunch buffets lasting this long, so it's definitely a good feat!

I'm not sure if Matgalne Restaurant now has an English or romanized signage outside. But if they still haven't put up one yet, here's how the establishment's Korean signage looks like. Frankly, we had a little trouble looking for the place since we don't frequent Kalayaan Avenue. Good thing though, my friend Fel can read Hangul so I was literally asking her to read almost every Korean BBQ house's signage to find Matgalne.

Although I don't mind the non-air conditioned space of Don-Day Fresh, I can't deny I was super happy to find out that Matgalne Korean Restaurant has air-conditioners. It makes grilling and devouring all the more comfortable especially with the very humid summer weather we're having. Oh, another thing I noticed at Matgalne are their BBQ grills. Instead of installing grills onto every tabletop, Matgalne has a separate burner.

The Food

Speaking of grilling, let me already share with you the scrumptious meaty treats we had.

Unlimited Samgyupsal (pork belly)

Unlimited Chadolbaegi (beef)

Most Korean BBQ places I know offering eat-all-you-can is only for samgyupsal, but in Matgalne, lunch buffet at P299 won't only give you unlimited pork, but even unlimited beef! And with these servings on our table, my friend and I wasted no time cooking them.

We enjoyed taking turns cooking and flipping these beautiful pieces of meat. And this is what I really like about Korean BBQ restaurants... We can cook the meats to our liking -- cooked all the way through for Fel, and a little less done for me. (Both are equally good!)

And here's how we ate our unlimited samgyupsal and chadolbaegi, Korean style -- wrapped in lettuce leaves with kimchi and raw garlic. You can also add condiments like gireumjang (salt and black pepper in sesame oil) or ssamjang (soybean-chili paste).

Aside from unlimited meats, Matgalne offers more than 20 kinds of side dishes to make the dining experience more enjoyable. I wasn't able to try everything, but here's a look at my first plate. I guarantee that every item I had was yummy, and they're all MSG-free too!

Since I wasn't able to try everything, let me just take you on a virtual tour of the dishes I got to take photos of. I think I missed the Spicy Vegetable Soup with Tofu and Hobakjuk (Korean winter squash porridge) though, but I heard they were good.

Leaves for wrapping

Kimchi

Mattang (caramel-glazed sweet potatoes)

Beosot Jeon (mushroom pancake)

Ham Jeon (Korean pancake with ham)

Eggplant Jeon (Korean pancake with eggplant)

Gyeran Mari (Korean rolled omelette)

Kimbap (Korean "sushi" rolls)

Onion Rings

Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables)

Jumeok Bap (dried seaweed rice balls)

Kimmari (japchae-stuffed seaweed rolls)

Onjingeo Bokkeum (Korean spicy stir-fried squid)

Dak Kang Jung (sweet and spicy chicken)

Sautéed vegetables

More vegetables

Bibimbap (Korean mixed rice) section

Banana Turon
I'm not sure if there's something like this in South Korea, but I know a lot of Koreans who love our banana turon! Even my little sister's Korean schoolmates love these.

See? I told you there were a lot of side dishes at Matgalne Korean Restaurant. Among them though, the item I wanted to try the most was the bibimbap. Sadly, I was already too full to do so. I guess this gives me all the more reason for a returning visit. *wink*

THE VERDICT

This trip definitely satisfied our meat cravings. We enjoyed every piece of pork and beef we cooked. And to go along with the carnivorous satisfaction from Matgalne are their wide array of side dishes which are equally great-tasting, very fitting since Matgalne means "masarap" or delicious. Service is prompt and friendly too, and the restaurant itself is definitely comfortable. So for a promo price of P299 for lunch, I say with conviction that this is a steal! Actually, even their dinner rate at P399 can already give very good value for money. So if you're up for a Korean BBQ-all-you-can, then don't miss Matgalne Korean Restaurant!

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Eat-All-You-Can Rates:
Lunch Buffet (Until June 30, 2013) - P299
11:30AM to 4:30PM
Dinner Buffet - P399
5:30PM to 11PM

Matgalne Restaurant, Main Branch
4768 Kalayaan Ave. Cor. Mariano St., Poblacion
Makati City, Metro Manila
(02) 890-2949
Open Mondays to Saturdays
Facebook Page

2F Millenium Place Bldg., Meralco Ave.,
Ortigas Center, San Antonio
Pasig City, Metro Manila
(02) 632–9714
Open Mondays to Saturdays

Cold Stone Creamery: The Ultimate Ice Cream Opens in Manila!

2013-05-29T09:31:00.000+08:00

Ice cream lovers, let's all rejoice as Cold Stone Creamery, an American-based super premium ice cream parlor chain, has now arrived in the Philippines! With its offerings dubbed as the best ice cream in the United States, fellow foodies, serious ice cream enthusiasts and connoisseurs can now be treated like royalty as Cold Stone Creamery opens its doors this week in Serendra (fronting Market! Market!), Bonifacio Global City.

As an avid ice cream lover, it was a pleasant surprise to have been invited to the launch of Cold Stone Creamery together with my girls from The Foodies Circle. As a brand promising an Ultimate Ice Cream Experience through friendly and energetic service, and most importantly customizable ice cream, we found it the perfect time not just to fulfill our tasks as food bloggers, but also to really bond over great-tasting ice cream creations.

Yes, you read it right. If you're new to Cold Stone Creamery, this brand doesn't only offer different flavors of smooth and creamy ice cream made fresh daily. They also give guests the option to make their own ice cream creations with the addition of top quality mix-ins. So rest assured that there's an ice cream combo perfect for everyone.

Choose Your Cup Size

The ordering process is so easy, and it starts with choosing your ice cream cup. You can go for the smallest for a modest tasting portion, or go for the biggest should you want to share the ice cream with your whole family, the whole barkada, or the whole barangay.

To give you an idea of the cup sizes, here's a snapshot I took. They were named Lick It (3 oz), Like It (5 oz), Love It (8 oz), Gotta Have It (12 oz), Mine (16 oz), Ours (32 oz) and Everybody's (48 oz). Don't you just love these quirky cup size names?

If you're like me who loves to have waffle cones or bowls with ice cream, you can choose from Plain Waffle (P35), Chocolate-Coated Waffle (P45) or Chocolate-Coated Waffle with Sprinkles (P45), and opt to add them in.

Choose Your Ice Cream Flavor
Ice Cream, Create Your Own (Ice Cream + 1 Mix-in) or Signature Creations

Coffee, Cheesecake, Strawberry
Raspberry Sorbet, Strawberry Mango Banana Sorbet, Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate

Sweet Cream, Chocolate, French Vanilla
Pistachio, Mocha, Salted Caramel, Cotton Candy

French Vanilla, Mint, Cake Batter Ice Cream
Butter Pecan, Banana, Orange Dreamsicle, Cinnamon

You can always have your ice cream plain if you're not much into mix-ins. Personally, I like enjoying my ice cream just by itself. And at Cold Stone Creamery, I'm sure even without any add-ons, you'd still have a good time especially since you can choose any from these 20 handcrafted flavors which are a combination of the Always Available Flavors (top row ice creams), Seasonal Flavors and Fruity Sorbets.

Click menu photo to enlarge.

If you're not sure what to get, then you can refer to the Signature Creations menu. These pre-made ice cream creations will not only make your ordering process easier, but can also leave you impressed as they are time-tested favorites not just of the Cold Stone Creamery patrons, but also of this ice creamery's founders.

Add Some Mix-ins

If you're not satisfied with just plain ice cream and would want to customize your own creation, then add as much mix-ins as your heart and palate desires. Cold Stone Creamery offers quite a number of mix-ins from candies, nuts, fruits, as well as cakes and cookies. But I think the most eye-catching for me were the dried mangoes, coconut and Hany milk chocolate as they're something truly Pinoy.

Watch as your order is prepared

The crew members even sing and chant songs while prepping an ice cream creation.
Now, that's entertainment!

In other ice cream shops, they'll simply hand you the ice cream after scooping it out from the chiller, but here at Cold Stone Creamery, your ice cream and choice of mix-ins will first be prepared on a frozen granite stone. Aside from thoroughly blending your ice cream with your mix-ins to form a whole new flavor which means a more enjoyable ice cream eating experience for you, the prepping itself can be entertaining as the crew members would sometimes put on a show and toss the ice cream high up in the air.

Time to enjoy your Ice Cream Creation!

Since we're already in Cold Stone Creamery, we might as well forget dieting and just dig in. And after checking out the flavors and mix-ins, I decided to go for Salted Caramel with Pecan and Almonds. Although I've tried a lot of salted caramel-flavored ice cream, this is very different. Unlike most rendition which has overpowering and heavily sweetened salty caramel taste, Cold Stone Creamery's was like a milky and creamy vanilla ice cream with subtle hints of salt and caramel. This is definitely perfect for people wanting a mellow take on salted caramel. Proof: I didn't even need to drink water after!

Salted Caramel with Pecan and Almonds (P188 + P35), Strawberry Mango Banana Sorbet with Blueberries (P188), and Cinnamon with Almond, Pecan and Brownies (P188 + P70)

Berylle on the other hand, got herself a Strawberry Mango Banana Sorbet with Blueberries which was light, refreshing and oozing with slightly sweet and tangy fruity flavors. For a sorbet, we expected this to be quite icy. But instead, it was smooth and a little creamy which made every spoonful more enjoyable. For some reason, I found this a little reminiscent of Jamba Juice's Banana Berry both in taste and texture.

Stacy tried an interesting mix of Cinnamon with Almond, Pecan and Brownies. Like the general feedback in all our ice creams, this one is another creamy blend with a subtle warmth of cinnamon. And since the ice cream itself has a mild flavor, it became the perfect base for the earthy, crunchy nuts and the moist, chewy brownies.

My Our Strawberry Blonde in Chocolate-Coated Waffle Cone

For round 2, I chose Our Strawberry Blonde from the Signature Creations. It's a blend of strawberry ice cream with graham cracker pie crust, real strawberries, caramel and whipped cream, and I had it in a chocolate-coated waffle cone. The ice cream creation itself is so refreshing yet creamy with an enjoyable tang from the real strawberry bits. The waffle was fun to eat too and reminded me of chocolate-coated Pocky sticks.

Berylle's Cheesecake Fantasy in Plain Waffle Bowl

As a cheesecake lover, Berylle opted for the Cheesecake Fantasy which is a mixture of cheesecake ice cream, graham cracker pie crust, blueberries and strawberries. I got a spoonful from her pick and it was really good. It tasted like real mixed berry cheesecake but in an ice cream form. The plain waffle though easily became soggy after a few minutes, but Berylle seemed to have enjoyed her Signature Creations choice still.

Stacy's Pistachio and Mint in Chocolate-Coated Waffle Bowl with Sprinkles

Stacy on the other hand, made her own creation by combining Pistachio and Mint ice cream and encasing it in a crispy rainbow sprinkle waffle bowl. And as much as I was skeptical, I found myself loving the flavor when I had a spoonful. The pistachio was definitely the more dominant note, but it had a mild cooling hint that was so refreshing.

Beverages and Signature Cakes

Aside from ice cream, Cold Stone Creamery also offers shakes, smoothies and ice cream cakes. I even spotted some ice cream cupcakes on their menu! I'm not sure if they'll offer those right away, but I'll be sure to try them when they become available.

It was a pleasure not just to have tried the yummy treats at Cold Stone Creamery, but also to have met its president, Mr. Michael McGill. Like what he had shared with us, this premium ice cream destination is indeed for everybody -- little kids, young students, yuppies, adults, even the elderly. It's a happy place for anyone and everyone who wants to indulge in the ultimate ice cream experience.

Cold Stone Creamery, Serendra
G/F Serendra, 11th Ave., Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 846-0460
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

Spectrum: A Must-Try Buffet at Fairmont Makati

2013-05-28T17:06:00.000+08:00

While I've already been to quite a number of hotel buffets in the metro, I can't deny that I still get really excited, most especially if they're as good and as impressive as one I've recently been to. And speaking of which, I'm thrilled to share with you my latest eat-all-you-can adventure at Spectrum inside the luxurious Fairmont Hotel along Raffles Drive.

Located right smack in the bustling city of Makati, Spectrum is the newest all-day dining and eat-all-you-can hotel buffet destination at the lobby level of the Fairmont portion of twin hotels Raffles and Fairmont Makati. As expected from a classy hotel restaurant, Spectrum boasts of a sophisticated and modern yet cozy dining space with earthy colors, bewitching drop lights, big glass windows, golden room dividers and comfy cushioned seats -- the perfect place for a laid-back afternoon or night of good food.

And while Spectrum's dining area is quite spacious, there aren't really a whole lot of tables to ensure guests will have their much-needed dining privacy. That's good news for me too so not a lot of diners have to see me hoarding food on our table. Tee-hee!

Before we start the virtual tour inside Spectrum, let me share with you that this eat-all-you-can destination doesn't offer just plain water. Available during lunch is a unique feat at Spectrum -- flavored water. For our visit, we were offered some green apple-flavored water which was the perfect light and refreshing drink for a hot summer day. I've heard there are also other flavors like strawberry, cucumber-kiwi and even rose!

The Buffet Spread

I got to check Spectrum's buffet offerings in one ago, and I'm pretty sure you will too. As Chef Gregory Georges whom we met while taking photos of the food, had shared, Spectrum doesn't really specialize in certain dishes but they give utter importance to freshness and quality. So in short, here in Spectrum it's not really the quantity that matters but the quality. And without further ado, here are the drool-worthy foods I spotted.

Cold Cuts and Cheese Station and Salad Bar

Assorted Sashimi and Sushi

Assorted Seafood

Bread Station

Mongolian Station

Some soups and noodles from the Chinese Station

Assorted Dimsum at the Chinese Station

For main entrées, there weren't a whole lot of items but they all looked really good. They were also a mix of Filipino, Japanese, Korean, American, Spanish and even Mediterranean cuisine which give diners good diversity when it comes to flavors.

Chicken Inasal and Beef Teriyaki

Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelette) and Steamed Mussels in Ginger Broth

Kimchi Bokumbap (Korean-Style Fried Rice) and Pork Binagoongan

Gambas al Ajilo and Brocolli Gratin

Orange Maple-Glazed Pork

Chicken Sautée with Onion & Basil and Grilled Zucchini

Chicken Curry and Mixed Vegetable Couscous

Next, let's go to one of my most favorite sections in Spectrum.

Salmon Quiche and Roast Beef at the Carving Station

Pasta Station

Pizza Station and Tandoori Station

Babaganoush and Hummus

As for desserts, Spectrum definitely has aplenty. They even have a Honey Station for all you fellow crazy honey lovers! Read: Do NOT ever miss this section.

Spectrum's Honey Station with live buzzing bees

Mousse, Cakes, Mini Cakes, Tarts and More!

Special Mango Station at the Desserts Section

Local Favorites Suman & Kutsinta and the Crepe Station

Spectrum's New Zealand Ice Cream

The offerings at Spectrum may not be as many as those from other major hotel buffets. However, I actually like it this way since guests can be assured that every item is freshly-prepared. It's also more realistic to attempt trying everything from the buffet spread.

What We Got

Now, let me share with you the servings we had. Stacy and I decided we'd be sharing each plate so we'll be able to try more kinds of food. *wink*

✓ Salmon Sashimi, and ✓ Tako Sashimi

We started off with these beautiful, huge, thick slices of salmon sashimi with some pieces of tako sashimi (octopus). Even if I always eat these Japanese favorites, I have to admit that biting through every piece was such a joy. With or without dipping them into the wasabi-soy sauce, we surely took pleasure in their fresh, subtle sweetness. Yum!

✓ Spicy Tuna Maki, Spicy Salmon Maki, ✓ Crunchy Salmon Skin Maki, ✓ Salmon Belly Maki, Salmon California Roll, and ✓ Maki Special of the Day

After the sashimi, of course it follows that we'll have some maki rolls. We got to try a few kinds and I can say with conviction that every flavor, every piece we had was awesome. They were at par, or even better, than most sushi rolls I've had. I especially love the Spicy Tuna Maki as it's really spicy and not just pretending to be one. The Crunchy Salmon Skin Maki was really enjoyable too, as well as the juicy Salmon Belly Maki. However, among all the maki items, our overall favorite was the unique Maki Special of the Day which has an interesting fusion of flavors and even had figs!

Pita with Babaganoush and Hummus

Assorted Cheeses: Brie, Blue Cheese, Blue Pepato, Truffle Gouda, Port Salut and Saint Nectaire
Assorted Cold Cuts: Salami, Air-Dried Beef and Prosciutto

To further whet the appetite, we got some Mediterranean dips with pita bread. We also didn't dare miss the assorted cheeses and cold cuts with dried fruits and nuts, which will definitely satisfy a hard-core cheese lover's desire as the servings are generous. We specifically instructed to only have a teeny-tiny bit for every cheese variant, but just look at the portion sizes! These are definitely not teeny-tiny. Now, it got me thinking just how big will the slices be if we were to ask for big servings.

Fresh Scallops, Shrimps with Cocktail Sauce, and ✓ Smoked Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce

Being seafood lovers, we also tried some items at the cold seafood section. We had some fresh scallops, shrimps and smoked salmon. Everything we got were good, but it was the smoked salmon with creamy dill sauce that won me over. We also wished there were fresh oysters in the lot, but I'm not so sure if they have oysters for dinner service. Nevertheless though, all the seafood were fresh and very enjoyable.

✓ Braised Suckling Pig, and ✓ Peking Duck with Hoisin Sauce

For some Chinese cold cuts, we had these great items. The perfectly-cooked Braised Suckling Pig had a beautiful crispiness that crackles with every bite. Its meat was also very tender and juicy. The Pecking Duck on the other hand, was so moist and so succulent that you can enjoy it even without the sauce. Tip: You can ask the chef to make you Peking Duck Sushi. We didn't get to try it, but we'll do for sure next time.

Remember the brick oven at the pizza station? It's where pizzas at Spectrum are freshly cooked. You can choose to have one flavor of a whole pizza, or have multiple flavors in one pizza. They even have personal sizes like what we got!

✓ Seafood Carbonara Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, ✓ Four Cheese Pizza, and ✓ Margharita Pizza

✓ Salmon & Capers Pizza, ✓ Parmaham & Capsicum Pizza, ✓ Anchovies & Olives Pizza,
and Bacon & Parmesan Pizza

And aside from the really neat customization feat, the pizza flavors are all really good! My most favorite was the Seafood Carbonara Pizza which was coincidentally the pizza flavor of that day. I also really liked their Four Cheese Pizza which was definitely cheesy and so enjoyable. And of course, the Margharita Pizza, Salmon & Capers Pizza, Parmaham & Capsicum Pizza, and Anchovies & Olives Pizza deserve a mention too. Oh, and aside from the fact that they don't scrimp on the pizza toppings, the pizza dough itself was enjoyable too - soft, chewy and slightly crispy, just the way I like it.

✓ Spaghetti with Brocolli, Tomatoes and Almonds

It's the beau who's crazy for pasta even in hotel buffets, but since we're curious, we still decided to try one of the Pasta of the Day offerings, the Spaghetti with Brocolli, Tomatoes and Almonds (the other item was Penne with Salmon Teriyaki Sauce). This oil-based, vegan pasta option reminded me of Corner Tree Cafe's vegan pasta for its light, aromatic and nutty notes. The veggies and almonds also added not just beautiful bright colors, but also an enjoyable crunchy texture to the al dente-cooked spaghetti.

Salmon Quiche and ✓ Roast Beef

From the carving station, we got a slice of the moist, chunky, savory and simply flavorful Salmon Quiche. And of course, how can we not get some Roast Beef while we're at it? We had our beef cooked further to medium doneness. Served with some mushroom sauce, we thoroughly enjoyed this moist, succulent and scrumptious serving.

✓ Gambas Al Ajillo, Mixed Vegetable Couscous, ✓ Orange Maple-Glazed Pork, ✓ Kimchi Bokumbap, and Asparagus Gratin

As much as we want to try all the main entrées, it was just impossible as we were already feeling almost full. (And we had still had to save space for desserts!) However, we actually enjoyed these items we got. My personal favorites were the Orange Maple-Glazed Pork, Kimchi Bokumbap, and Gambas Al Ajillo in that order.

Although we already ate a lot, we strategically paced ourselves to get to the most exciting part -- desserts. While Spectrum is praised for having a fresh and high quality selection of food, I've heard and read that their desserts section is one of the most raved.

✓ Freshly-Made Crepe with Banana, Mangoes and Mixed Berries topped with White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream, Pistachios and Almonds

The first dessert we had was this freshly-made crepe with tons of fruit and nut toppings, as well as a scoop of yummy White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream. You can either let the chef recommend you a flavor combo, or follow your palate's desire. But whatever combination of toppings you go for, I'm sure you'll love the whole ensemble as much as we loved ours. The crepe itself is light, soft and creamy yet slightly fluffy. It's as good as crepes from my favorite crepe destinations, Crepes & Cream and Cafe Breton.

✓ Mango Sago with Pandan Ice, ✓ Coffee Taho, Black Sesame Pudding,
Mango Cheesecake, and ✓ Chocolate Cheesecake

We also tried some interesting desserts with a twist, just like the local favorite Mango Sago with not just plain crushed ice but pandan ice! There was also my favorite Pinoy breakfast item but with a shot of caffeine, the Coffee Taho. For black sesame lovers, the Black Sesame Pudding is a nice and very unconventional dessert with its unsweetened roasted sesame seeds topped with a berry syrup. And then there are also cheesecakes available in different flavors such as mango and chocolate.

✓ Mascarpone with Pistachio and Honey

From the honey station, we tried the Mascarpone with Pistachio and Honey which isn't exactly just a dessert item. I'm a sucker for honey, and having it fresh with my other favorites -- mascarpone and pistachio, sent me straight to a foodgasm. The blend of subtle flavors and soft, silky textures with bits of crunch here and there was enough to mark this as one of my all-time favorite food items ever! (No exaggeration here.)

✓ Strawberry Mouse Cake, Tiramisu, ✓ Chocolate Calamansi Mousse, and Mango Crumble

Cake lovers like me are lucky since Spectrum has tons of great cake offerings. One of my favorites during our visit was the Strawberry Mouse Cake which had just the right blend of sweetness and tang, and the perfect silky mousse cake texture. Another favorite is the Chocolate Calamansi Mousse which is one of the best mousse cakes I've ever tasted! It had alternating layers of dark chocolate ganache, dark chocolate mouse, calamansi chiffon, calamansi jelly, and calamansi mousse. Seriously, you MUST try this when you visit Spectrum! We also had some Tiramisu and Mango Crumble, but while they were good too, they were somehow overshadowed by the excellent mousse cakes.

Mango Ginger No'jito (P300) and Grapefruit Lemonade (P300)

For drinks, one can opt to enjoy the complimentary flavored water, or the coffee and tea that comes with the buffet, or order some refreshing blends like a Mango Ginger No'jito which I oh-so-love, or a Grapefruit Lemonade which is a sharp, citrus-y drink perfect for summer. They also have other fresh juices, cocktails and a selection of wines.

THE VERDICT

Spectrum has sure proved that it's not all about quantity. With the freshness and high-quality food items they offer, they sure left not just my stomach but also my palate in pure bliss. Almost every dish we had was rave-worthy. And with courteous, friendly and prompt service, along with the classy yet homey ambiance, dining here for breakfast, lunch or dinner will surely be an experience worth remembering. In fact, after this trip, Spectrum has already made my favorite hotel restaurants' list, and I highly recommend everyone to give Spectrum at Fairmont Makati a visit soon!

Taste - 5/5
Ambiance - 4.5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Buffet Rates:
Breakfast (6AM to 10AM Weekdays, to 11AM Weekends & Holidays) - P1,450 net
Lunch (11:30AM to 2:30PM Daily) - P1,675 net
Dinner (6PM to 10PM Daily) - P1,995 net
Sunday Brunch (12PM to 3PM Sundays) - P2,777 net
Sunday Champagne Brunch (12PM to 3PM Sundays) - P3,888 net

Spectrum, Fairmont Makati
Lobby Level Fairmont Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Ave.
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 555-9888 ext. 6840
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

Electrolux Discover-E Journey + Contest Announcement!

2013-05-24T14:23:00.000+08:00

It's no secret that we Filipinos have an unwavering passion and love for food. Whenever we celebrate with family, friends, colleagues, a special someone, or even just with ourselves, there'll always be good food around whether it be a sumptuous offering from a restaurant, or a hearty home-cooked meal. And with this in mind, Electrolux is embarking on a journey to re-discover our appreciation of Filipino food, culture, and heritage.

This is through Electrolux's Discover-E kitchen campaign which will have a series of activities: the Discover-E Web Series, the Discover-E Food Festival in June, and a photo contest. “As part of our commitment to meet the needs of (Filipino) consumers, Electrolux has carried out a nationwide initiative designed to promote culinary discovery and enjoyment of Filipino cuisine,” says Andrea Pionilla, Group Product Manager, Electrolux Philippines. “Our Discover-E campaign will let consumers discover and do more culinary exploration in their kitchens with the help of Electrolux kitchen appliances.”

The Discover-E Web Series

Electrolux may have already been offering kitchen appliances to help with your culinary journey. However, with the Discover-E campaign, Electrolux will be helping you to further hone your skills as they hold the Discover-E Web Series where they'll teach you of easy ways to do Neo-Filipino dishes which you can prepare and enjoy in your own kitchen.

Electrolux’s celebrity chefs, Chef Bruce Lim and Chef Rosebud Benitez, will showcase the delicacies of different Philippine regions on every episode through an instructional 10-minute YouTube video every Friday. The 2 chefs will be presenting their own recipes while teaching you how to turn ordinary Filipino dishes to 5-star restaurant items.

Electrolux Discover-E Food Festival

To further celebrate and re-discover Filipino cuisine, Electrolux brings together all your favorite Filipino dishes from different parts of the Philippines through the Electrolux Discover-E Food Festival which lets you discover Electrolux's kitchen appliances through new tastes and flavors that you will surely love. This event will also feature different food vendors offering a wide array of Filipino food items, cooking demos by celebrity chefs, little chef apprentice cooking workshops, a cooking challenge for culinary students, live entertainment, raffles, and games. So mark your calendars now, it's June 15 to 16, 2013 at the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City. See you there!

Instant Discover-E Photo Contest

If you're like me who loves taking photos of your food before devouring them, then you should definitely join Electrolux's Instant Discover-E Photo Contest. This is aimed at encouraging everyone to take a picture and upload scrumptious Filipino food using either Instagram or Twitter. Once a week, 3 entries with the yummiest picture will be awarded free items, gift certificates and Food Passports for Electrolux Discover-E Food Festival!

To join, simply upload your food photo on Instagram or Twitter, then post it with the hashtag #DiscoverE and tag @ElectroluxPH. Isn't this super simple? Contest period is from May 15 until June 30, 2013, while winners will be announced every week.

For more info about Electrolux Discover-E, visit www.electrolux.com.ph/discover-e.

Daily Quickie: Pizza Hut's Cheese Burger Pizza

2013-05-17T22:30:00.000+08:00

Daily Quickie is a short tag on the title which I use for blog entries about food I'm snacking at home, work or anywhere.

I've always loved Pizza Hut's creative stuffed crusts, so whenever there's a new variant available, I make sure to try it out. And because of my adventurous nature when it comes to stuffed crusts, we dared order the newest Cheese Burger crusted pizza when the friendly phone operator offered it. However, it wasn't exactly what we thought it would be.

We got the family size Super Supreme Cheese Burger (P649) and was shocked when we opened the box. Forgive me if I'm an un-updated soul living under a rock, but I thought the cheese burger crust would look something like their sausage stuffed crust, but just using ground beef. However, it looked nothing like that. Instead, it was this oddly-shaped UFO-looking pizza with a crown crust, topped with mini-burger patties and melted cheese. We can't help but just stare at how weird our pizza order looked like.

Sorry Cheese Burger Pizza, but I think we'll just stick to our favorite Parmesan Cheese Crust.

After some searching, I found out that this "crown-crust" pizza was already selling in the Middle East since last year. And apparently, it has now made its way to the Philippine market. While my whole family doesn't dig this bizarre combo of pizza and cheeseburger by Pizza Hut for aesthetics and technical (problems with properly holding a slice) reasons, I have to give it to them that a slice indeed tastes like legit cheeseburgers, especially with the big tomato slices, lettuce leaves and ketchup thrown in. However, we probably wouldn't be ordering another Cheese Burger Pizza any time soon.

How about you, have you tried Pizza Hut's crown-crust Cheese Burger Pizza? If not, would you be interested to try it? Anyway, have a safe and happy weekend, friends.

Cafe De Seoul: Seoul Searching at Taft Avenue

2013-05-16T20:04:00.000+08:00

Although I love Korean BBQ houses and bulgogi restaurants, there will always be a special spot for Korean cafes in my heart. Unlike the usual Western coffee shops, Korean cafes offer a unique experience not only with its drinks and snacks, but also with a lighter, hipper and more creative atmosphere. And this my friends is exactly what I loved about Cafe De Seoul -- a fairly new Korean cafe along Taft Avenue in Manila.

More Good Eats at Vito Cruz, Taft Avenue:

Cafe De Seoul which opened just this March is located at the 2nd floor of One Archer's Place. It's right next to DLSU's Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, which is a few blocks away from the Quirino LRT station (towards Vito Cruz). And while I was certainly surprised at the numerous food spots that opened right after I left the building (I used to rent a unit at One Archer's Place), I was sure excited to experience Cafe De Seoul's offerings.

And by offerings, I don't just pertain to Cafe De Seoul's own brew of coffees, teas and other concoctions. Aside from the usual f&b to go along with a nice relaxing stay in a Korean cafe, Cafe De Seoul also offers a creative space -- the perfect place for brainstorming, fun catch-up sessions, an energizing alone time while finishing up a project, or just a spot to draw inspiration from when you have the dreaded creative block.

Don't you just love how fun, modern and invigorating the place looks like? Your eyes can roam endlessly inside Cafe De Seoul, and I'm sure you'll find yourself with the same dilemma I had. "Where do I sit?" It sounds petty, but believe me, Cafe De Seoul is spacious and almost every spot seems perfect. Whether you sit by the windows, at the long table, or by the couches, you'll never fail to feel like you're in an airport cafe in Seoul.

Would you believe, some tables are even equipped with Samsung Galaxy tablets?

There are even more awesome things you'll see when you check out the trinket-filled corners at Cafe De Seoul. They have a shelf full of cute merchandise, magazines you can read, and even a working Dutch coffee drip. But the most eye-catching feat I found were the table tops installed with Samsung Galaxy tablets! Of course, if you brought your own gadgets, fret not as Cafe De Seoul offers free Wi-Fi and even network sockets.

The Food and Drinks

Sorry if I became too giddy sharing the light, creative, modern and techie ambiance of Cafe De Seoul. It's not usual for me to gush over a cafe's interior, but this is an exception since the place is really my cup of tea. But of course, ambiance is not the entire selling point, so let us now move on to the food and drink offerings at the cafe.

Brussel Waffle (P245)

I always get a waffle when I'm in cafes, so it's nice to have tried the Brussel Waffle which is a popular Korean snack that's lighter, crisper and has larger pockets than other European waffle variants. It's served with your choice of gelato, fruit slices and 3 kinds of sauces -- chocolate, white chocolate and strawberry. I know price is a little steep, but this serving is indeed one of the best waffles I've had. Even without the sauces, I can actually enjoy every forkful (and finish the whole thing) with just fruits and a dollop of gelato. Yum!

Chocolate Lava Cake (P130)

Chocoholics shouldn't miss the Chocolate Lava Cake. It's one of the cafe's best-sellers combining elements of a moist chocolate cake, and a creamy soufflé. Flavor-wise, I loved that this serving is rich and super chocolatey. Normally, I can finish chocolate desserts instantly. But since this cake has intense chocolatey goodness, it helps to have a companion to share this with. Personally though, I would've preferred if it has oozing molten chocolate. But this dessert's moist, almost-molten center is a good consolation.

✓ Rice Cake (P50 each; P400 set of 10)
Available flavors include melon, mango, green apple, strawberry, wild strawberry, blueberry,
orange, banana, peach and grape.

The prettiest dessert we had were the Rice Cakes which are called tteok in Korean. Unlike traditional tteok, this modern take is quite similar to Japanese rice cakes called mochi. Outside every bundle is a casing of pounded glutinous rice. The inside on the other hand, is a mix of fruit flavors and sweet bean paste perfect to pair with the cafe's teas. For this trip, I was fortunate to have sampled 9 with the exception of the peach flavor. And for someone who has tried quite a number of Japanese mochi, I can say that these colorful treats far surpass the ones I've had in terms of flavor, texture and appearance. Honestly, I loved every flavor equally, and that has never happened before!

Gangnam Balls (P145)
Available in beef, tuna and kimchi.

For savory rice lovers, you can try the Gangnam Balls which are a variation of Korean rice balls called jumuk bap. Served with 2 kinds of sauces, these savory bundles of rice are perfect for people on the go, or for those who just want an easy-to-eat meal while studying or working in the cafe. I got to try both the beef and tuna variants, and they were quite good. The next time I visit Cafe De Seoul, I'll be sure to order the kimchi flavor.

✓ Seoul Bing-Soo (ECO P210; BIZ P260)
The ECO size is good for about 2-3, while BIZ is good for about 3-4 persons.

My most-awaited dessert for the trip was the Seoul Bing-Soo which is the Korean equivalent of our halo-halo. While our local summer dessert is certainly more colorful, there's no doubt that this bowl looks as enticing. Every serving has finely-shaved ice, red beans, sliced almonds, peanuts, tteok (Korean rice cakes), and a scoop of vanilla gelato drizzled with chocolate syrup. Although our own halo-halo is more elaborate, I can't deny that the medley of all the flavors in this Korean dessert is just addictingly good! Every spoonful is refreshing, with a warm and earthy hint from the nuts and red beans.

✓ Green Tea Bing-Soo (ECO P200; BIZ P250)
The ECO size is good for about 2-3, while BIZ is good for about 3-4 persons.

Another variant of this refreshing summer treat is the Green Tea Bing-Soo. It has almost the same combination of ingredients, except that there's green tea syrup in the mix and is topped with green tea powder. While both bing-soo variants brought me to shaved ice heaven, I'll only recommend this flavor to the exciting folks who love matcha as it might be too much for those who don't really fancy the taste of matcha green tea. Oh, and just a tip, make sure to mix all the ingredients thoroughly so you can enjoy every dimension (flavor and texture) of this refreshing Korean shaved ice dessert.

Ddalgi Sonagi (ECO P155; BIZ P165) and ✓ Honey Citron/Yuja (ECO P130; BIZ P145)

For drinks, we got to enjoy the Ddalgi Sonagi which literally translates to "strawberry rain" in Korean. Like what its name implies, it's a mixture of ice-blended green kiwi and strawberries sure to quench your thirst from the scorching summer heat. It was humid outside when we got to Cafe De Seoul, so we really appreciated this refreshing and not overly-sweet concoction. However, I have to admit that the Honey Citron/Yuja won me over. Its appearance had instantly refreshed my senses, and more so when I took a sip. It had hints of honey and sharp citron, perfect to both invigorate and provide comfort.

✓ White Choco Mocha (ECO P130; BIZ P145) with Blueberry Syrup (P20)
and ✓ Honey Schisandra/Omija (ECO P130; BIZ P145)

On another trip, I got to take a sip from my friend's ice-blended White Choco Mocha with Blueberry Syrup. Although it was my first time to have tasted blueberry-infused coffee, I actually liked it. It was creamy and has fragrant and sharp notes of blueberry, yet the coffee taste is still there. On my next visit, I'll be sure to try its hot coffee counterpart. As for my order, I had a hot Honey Schisandra/Omija Tea which was super comforting and tasted a little similar to the Honey Citron/Yuja, except that the sharpness was more evident here. Every sip was very comforting though, the perfect cup for a rainy day.

You can easily spot Cafe De Seoul if you enter the rear entrance of One Archer's Place.

THE VERDICT

My visits to Cafe De Seoul have left me impressed not just with its food and drink offerings, but more because of its ambiance and great service. While I already have a list of my favorite Cafe De Seoul items, as well as another list of my next-to-try drinks and pastries, it's the unwavering charm of the place that pulls me to come back. It's not often that you come across cafes exuding creative atmosphere capable of invigorating and inspiring its patrons. Even if the price tags are leaning more toward the steeper side, the overall value I got not just from the food and drinks at Cafe De Seoul, but from the whole experience, is definitely worth it. So if you're a cafe lover who's not just after the flavors but also for a holistic experience, then try Seoul-searching at Cafe De Seoul.

Insider Tip: You can actually have your papers photocopied at Cafe De Seoul. Just inquire! *wink*

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Novelty Factor - 4/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Cafe De Seoul, One Archer's Place
2/F One Archer's Place, Taft Ave., Malate
Manila, Philippines
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Post-Mother's Day Giveaway: Goodwill Coffee by Great Kind

2013-05-13T07:26:00.003+08:00

Mother's Day may have passed, but showing mom you love her, definitely doesn't have a deadline. And in partnership with the good folks from Goodwill Coffee, I'll be giving away a box of 10 to 3 winners, so you and mom (or dad) can bond over a good cup of coffee.

If you haven't heard yet of the wonderful benefits this Moringa (malunggay) and Spirulina-infused coffee can provide, then check my previous blog post about Goodwill Coffee. I'm sure you'll be amazed at how a simple cup of coffee can contain natural vitamins and nutrients beneficial for you. Goodwill Coffee tastes great for an instant coffee mix too as it makes use of Arabica and Robusta beans for a smooth and strong flavor, along with non-dairy creamer and minimally processed brown and white sugar for a balanced taste.

Prize: (3) winners of a box each (10 packets) of Goodwill Coffee by Great Kind

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

This giveaway is open nationwide to Philippine residents.
Winners will receive a box (contains 10 packets) of Goodwill Coffee, free shipping.
Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
Make sure you do all the first 7 mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway raffle will run from today until May 19, 2013. The winner will be drawn the next day and will be contacted on the same week. So join now and experience a great-tasting, healthy coffee that truly cares, Goodwill Coffee.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by Goodwill Coffee.

MEZZA NORTE by Mercato Centrale Now Open in Trinoma!

2013-05-13T04:52:00.003+08:00

Food markets have been the "in" thing for foodies these past few years, and we have the Mercato Centrale Group to thank for that. However, as you may have noticed, I still haven't blogged about the weekend market or even the Sunday morning market of Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City. I've already visited it twice, but haven't tried as many food and vendors as I would've wanted, hence my inhibition to post about it. But, northies like me can finally get a taste of the premier food market in the comforts of our own area. We now have Mezza Norte in Trinoma's Mindanao open parking!

You may have heard of Mezza Norte opening in UP Ayala-Technohub. But last May 3, 2013, Mezza Norte has made the big move to Ayala Mall's Trinoma. (Yay for this, since Trinoma's actually easier to visit for me!) Every Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 4PM to 3AM, northern Manila foodies can now enjoy a vibrant night food market with over 50 food vendors, a mix of Mercato Centrale and Cucina Andare suki, and budding food entrepreneurs. Of course, I didn't dare miss having my own Mezza Norte experience.

Schmidt's Gourmet Hotdogs

Display of Coney Island Chili Dog (P145)

Our sample of the Wagamama Hotdog (P130)

One of my favorites that night was the Wagamama from Schmidt's Gourmet Hotdogs. It's a Japanese-inspired hotdog with Japanese curry, Japanese mayo, coleslaw and shredded nori. As much as I love Japanese flavors, I can honestly say that even the hotdog alone can already make me one happy kid. But of course, the addition of the west-meets-east combination of ingredients made this hotdog even more awesome.

Joshua Tree Hawker-Style Asian Noodles

Bruneian Kon Loh Mee

Hong Kong Wet Fried Mee

I failed to note the prices of these noodles, but I think they were a few bucks over P100 if I remember it right. I got to try both the Bruneian Kon Loh Mee which was a flavorful egg noodle dish with roasted pork toppings, garlic, mushrooms and scallions in an oyster-based sauce, and the Hong Kong Wet Fried Mee which was milder in taste and seemed like e-fu or yi mein noodles. However, my favorite from this vendor would have to be their Malaysian Char Kway Teow which achie Joan had and gladly shared with us.

The Sultry Chef

The Sultry Chef's Ivory Yat, 2nd runner-up in MasterChef Pinoy Edition

Roast Beef and Chicken (P99 each)

My sampler of Tuyo Aglio Olio, Penne with Basil & Meat Sauce, and Roast Beef

I've been a fan of the international MasterChef series, so it was really nice to have met a finalist from our very own MasterChef Pinoy Edition. And what's more awesome is I get to taste her food! I only got a small portion of the Roast Beef so I couldn't exactly tell how good it was, but I sure had enough fill of the tasty Tuyo Aglio Olio which was my favorite among her offerings that evening. It was slightly spicy,cheesy and tasted just right.

Roasterrific!

My sampler of Herbalicious Lechon and Peking Style Roasted Chicken

Roasterrific! may have already opened a home in Maginhawa, Quezon City, but I'm sure glad they're here at Mezza Norte Trinoma so I can get an easier access to their tasty Peking Style Roasted Chicken and their sinful yet heavenly Herbalicious Lechon, both of which I oh-so-want to top on a hot serving or two of steamed rice. Yum!

Sinangag Trip

Eyeing on the Hungsilog, Special Baconsilog and Hungrarian wrapped with Bacon

If I'd have to choose between a continental breakfast and a Filipino breakfast, there's no doubt that I'll go straight for our own brekkie set! I love my silog so much, that's why I was so happy to have seen Sinangag Trip at Mezza Norte. And although I only got a free taste of their Hungarian Sausage, it's already enough to make me come back and try the full order of their Hungsilog and maybe their Hungarian wrapped with Bacon.

Chef Bab's Sizzling Sisig

I'm a self-confessed sisig lover, so the sight of Chef Bab's Sizzling Sisig offering different kinds of sisig variants was a delight. They had sisig made with chicken, pork, dinakdakan (pork offal), bangus, squid, and even veggie meat and tofu. I only got to try the Veggie Meat Sisig, and while it tasted as meaty as an honest-to-goodness sisig, it was also really spicy which makes it a perfect partner on top of rice and with an egg.

Takoyaki at Mezza Norte

Now, forgive me for this grave food blogging offense, but I failed to note the name of the business making and selling these Takoyaki. I only realized that I don't know which business this belongs to when I was already sorting the photos. *sobs in the corner of shame* Nevertheless though, we enjoyed munching on these plump pieces. Oh, and I'm sure you'll easily spot them at Mezza Norte should you crave for some Takoyaki.

Carlo's Kitchen

Carlo's Kitchen's famous Crunchy Belly

I first encountered Carlo's Kitchen and its famous Crunchy Belly at Rockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test. And while I'm usually the type who doesn't get impressed much the second or third time around, I can say that tasting another round of these savory, salty and sinful Crunchy Belly was even better than the first time. That really says something!

Merry Moo's Artisan Ice Cream

Sea Salt Caramel, Cookie Butter, Earl Grey Tea, Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies & Brownies, Strawberry Basil, French Vanilla, Honeycomb, Coffee Kahlua, Butterscotch Pecan

I've already heard of great things about Merry Moo, but it's the first time I've confirmed the raves. And yes, they're right! Merry Moo's Artisan Ice Cream is one of the best-tasting ice creams I've ever had! For P70/P75 per large scoop, I can say that the taste of this creamy deliciousness is definitely worth it. I got to sample every flavor and my favorites are: Earl Grey Tea, Coffee Kahlua, Sea Salt Caramel and Strawberry Basil.

Mochiko

I tried Mochiko before, but I wasn't too impressed since I still prefer Mochi Creme when it comes to mochi ice cream. However, getting a taste of their new Red Velvet (P70) was a game changer. This mochi ice cream, unlike any other has real red velvet cake encased with a cream cheese ice cream. So yes, this isn't just mochi filled with ice cream. It's mochi filled with CREAM CHEESE ice cream, and a REAL red velvet cake!

Edgy's Food Trip & Drink

Pineapple Juice, Buko Pandan Juice, Melon Juice and Strawberry Iced Tea;
Also available are Dalandan Juice, Mango Juice and Wintermelon Tea.

Food tripping also calls for having something to drink, and the first to have taken my attention was Edgy's Food Trip. Unlike others who prefer their beverages in a cup, I actually like mine to be in a bottle so I can easily store it inside my bag in case I have the need to. As for the taste, I really liked my Buko Pandan Juice (P35) as it was true to the buko-pandan flavor I grew up to love. However, I highly prefer my friend Berylle's Melon Juice (P35) which was more refreshing and more perfect for a very humid evening.

OTHER FOOD SIGHTINGS AT MEZZA NORTE

We were already too full to even attempt trying more food, so I'll just share with you some of the stalls I spotted at Mezza Norte. Maybe I'll try some of them on my next visit.

Chef Anton's U.S. Roast Turkey

I've sampled this from Rockwell's 2nd UTT, and it's really good!

The Cheesesteak Shop

Here's another favorite of food market goers!

Chicken Chop

Mr. Nakamura's Authentic Japanese Food

I love that the kimono-donning Mr. Nakamura freshly cooks every dish!

Gyudon (P95)

Yakitori Don (P80)

Katsu by Uno

Most enticing kebabs (I saw) at Mezza Norte

Again I fail as a food blogger... But these are the most enticing-looking kebabs I saw that night!

Battle of the Grills

Lots and lots of choices for the barbecue lovers: PAJ Grill, Mamay's Ihaw-Ihaw, Aloha Grill, [I-don't-know-but-this-is-a-mercato-staple/street-food-with-a-fab-seller] , Giga Bite

Big Bob's Charcoal Grill Burgers

Happy Chef Baked Ribs

Shawarma Fusion

Little Donkey Burrito Fiesta

Manila Q

Lecheng Lechon

Juana Bowl

One of the most drool-inducing sight of the night

Kitchen Xperience & Zeny's Kitchen

Domz Food House Ilocano's Best

Etcetera Mongolian Bowls

Green Minded Healthy Sandwiches

Cakes by K

Yummiest-looking cakes of the night

Piper's Pan

One of the most popular offers, 3 mini-cakes for P100!

Medchef Homemade Cakes, Pastries and Desserts

Mio Gelati

Will definitely try this next time since their branch in San Juan is quite far!

WRAPPING IT UP

There are a lot of food stalls, so I encourage you to personally visit Mezza Norte to check out for treats you might like. As for me, I sure had fun sampling and roaming around the food market, but I'll definitely be back soon for the interesting items I missed.

Thanks Aldous for the invite, and to Berylle for being my pigging out buddy!

So the next time you're in Trinoma and you, your family, your special someone, barkada, workmates or food buddies want to try a different dining experience, visit Mezza Norte in Trinoma's Mindanao open parking and experience the Mercato Centrale of the north.

For those interested to become food vendors in Mezza Norte or any of Mercato Centrale Group’s food markets, you can send an email to admin@mercatocentrale.ph or text (+63 917) 840-1152.

LEVANTE by Mercato Centrale Opens in Eastwood this Friday!

2013-05-12T06:09:00.000+08:00

After the big move of Mezza Norte to Trinoma, another food market by the Mercato Centrale Group will be serving northern Manila foodies looking for a different dining experience. This time, it's in Eastwood Citywalk 2 with a grand opening this May 17 from 6PM to 3AM. So friends, get ready for Levante -- the Mercato Centrale of Eastwood!

Whether you're a regular food market goer or a first-timer, everyone is bound to enjoy a culinary adventure at Levante with its mix of mouth-watering food items from the kitchens of Eastwood’s budding food entrepreneurs, along with your favorite Pinoy street foods, and of course, gustatory treats from Mercato Centrale's suki vendors.

“Eastwood has always been very supportive of new food concepts, from their new fusion restaurants up to their gourmet food markets in the malls. We are very glad to bring the Mercato Centrale concept to Eastwood to further complement the foodie-friendly lifestyle they have created” said Anton Diaz (Our Awesome Planet), co-organizer of Levante.

“We can’t wait for the residents, office workers and visitors of Eastwood City to enjoy the wide variety of gourmet and artisanal vendors we are bringing to the market!” added RJ Ledesma, co-organizer of Levante.

So save the date and come over to the grand opening of Levante to enjoy great-tasting and affordable food, pastry and dessert choices, as well as live acoustic entertainment. Bring your family, friends, workmates or even your special someone and experience the Mercato Centrale of Eastwood. Levante is open only on Fridays, from 6PM to 3AM.

For vendor inquiries, please contact (+63 917) 840-1152 or (+632) 812-0102, email admin@levanteeastwood.com or visit www.facebook.com/levanteeastwood.

Daily Quickie: Cookie Butter Donuts by Go Nuts Donuts

2013-05-10T00:40:00.000+08:00

Daily Quickie is a short tag on the title which I use for blog entries about food I'm snacking at home, work or anywhere.

Earlier this month, I was lucky to be offered two boxes of Go Nuts Donuts' newest donut flavor, the Cookie Butter Donut. Although I try not to give in to sweet and caloric temptations, I'm not yet crazy to the point of rejecting this gracious offer. So together with the beau, we headed to Go Nuts Donuts' SM Mall of Asia store to pick up these treats.

I still haven't jumped in on the Speculoos Cookie Butter bandwagon, but it just took me one bite from my Cookie Butter Donut before I instantly fell in love. Instead of using nuts, this special spread is made from crushed Speculoos biscuits spiked with cinnamon, nutmeg and other Christmas-y spices. And Go Nuts Donuts, being an ingenious brand that they are, topped their glazed donuts with this cookie butter spread.

Now, if you're like me who prefers your donut not too sweet, a little unconventional, and with a tinge of comforting spices, then this is perfect for you! Although I still won't give up on my other favorite donuts especially on discounted pon de rings which are coincidentally currently available on an online deal site, I think it won't harm to grab a piece or two of the Cookie Butter Donut from Go Nuts Donuts once in a while.

For more info and updates on Go Nuts Donuts, visit their Official Website, Facebook Page or Twitter.

NACI Comfort Food: New Look + Mother's Day Giveaway!

2013-05-09T23:07:00.000+08:00

It was around this time of the year last 2012 when I first encountered NACI Comfort Food in Greenhills. After another year, I again revisited this comfort food and dessert destination. This time though, NACI Comfort Food has already moved to Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and has rebranded itself into a modern, trendier dining destination.

From wearing an earthy, homey and cozy interior, NACI Comfort Food in The Fort now sports a brighter and more colorful facade nicely complemented by its high red ceiling and colorful dining chairs. And while I'm generally more into dimly-lit restaurants with neutral color palette, I actually prefer this more updated, hip and refreshing new look.

Aside from NACI Comfort Food's new do, there's another thing that's new this time around. Joining Ms. Nadine Nocom in running the restaurant is new co-owner and model Ms. Natasha Villaroman. And it doesn't end here as another new thing at NACI Comfort Food is its added touch of techie modernity. Not only does the restaurant have an eye-catching LCD TV showing a slideshow of enticing dishes from NACI, but they also hand out tablets to diners who prefer browsing the menu interactively and with style.

Of course, I love swiping through the tablet. But being an old-timer at heart, I still used the printed menu which doubles as a placemat. The tablet's good though if you're curious at how the dishes and drinks look like as there are photos for every item on the menu.

Now, let me share the dishes we got to try that afternoon.

The Appetizers

NACI Comfort Food has about 8 meal starter items on their menu. And if you're like us who would want to try not just one or two, but a few more appetizers without breaking the budget, then it's best to order Nat's Appetizer Sampler (P520) where you can choose 4 of the best-selling appetizers which will come in smaller-than-regular portion each.

While the meal starters don't come in full size, every variant's still a great appetite whetter fit for up to 4 people. Our sampler platter had the following best-selling goodies:

Beef Taco Springroll (P280)
Crispy springrolls stuffed with beef taco filling and served with tomato salsa and sour cream

Cajun Mozzarella Balls (P280)
Crispy-fried mozzarella croquettes served with pimiento salsa and crispy fries (for full size)

Classic Salpicao (P380)
Sautéed beef tenderloin chunks, chili fingers and garlic in olive oil

Glazed Chicken Wings (P350)
Crispy-fried wings with Naci's secret glaze served with lemon cream dip and crispy fries (for full size)

I loved every item on our Nat's Appetizer Sampler. But if I have to pick favorites, I think my best bet would be the Mexican-Asian Beef Taco Springrolls, and the succulent and savory Classic Salpicao which I think would be perfect over garlic rice.

Soups and Salads

Normally, I'd skip the soup when dining out. Unless of course, I'm feeling a little under the weather or just suffering from the monthly PMS. However, since we didn't get to sample NACI Comfort Food's soup items before, we thought it would be good to try it now.

Tita Em's Chowder (P260)
Creamy and hearty chowder with shrimps, corn kernels and bacon served in a bread bowl

Enoki and Soba Broth (P240)
Seafood dashi broth with enoki, ajitsuke tamago (Japanese soft-boiled egg) and soba noodles

Onion Soup (P180)
Classic caramelized onion soup with French baguette slices and melted mozzarella cheese

These soup items come in personal sizes, but I think it can be shared by 2 even up to 3 light eaters without a problem. Among these comforting bowls of soup, my favorite was the Enoki and Soba Broth which was very light, refreshing and oozing with delicate seafood goodness. Tita Em's Chowder was good too and very hearty, although it was unlucky of us that they ran out of bread bowls for this serving. The Onion Soup would probably be my least favorite as although it tasted good, it was just too rich for my liking.

For salads, NACI Comfort Food offers 4 kinds on their menu, and we were fortunate enough to have sampled all of them.

Classic Caesar Salad (P200)
Crisp lettuce leaves tossed in classic Caesar dressing with croutons, bacon bits and Parmesan tuile

Smoked Salmon Salad (P280)
Mixed greens tossed in honey-lemon dill dressing with smoked salmon, onion rings, cherry tomatoes and Parmesan shavings

✓ Kani Mango Crunch (P260)
Assorted greens layered with kani, ripe mangoes, cucumbers, crispy wonton and vermicelli then drizzled with wasaby mayo

Tofu Green Salad (P220)
Mixed green salad with Chinese black vinegar, crispy tofu croutons and peppered calamari

With the salads, I can't believe that after a year, I'd still love the Kani Mango Crunch. I think it's the combination of refreshing Japanese flavors and a touch of wasabi that really got me hooked. The Classic Caesar Salad is a good contender too. Even if it's a very conventional variant, NACI Comfort Food did good in offering an enjoyable rendition.

Pizza and Pastas

One of the most popular comfort foods is a classic combo of pizza and pasta. And being in a restaurant named NACI Comfort Food, it just follows that its menu has a list of pizza and pasta variants somewhere.

Steak and Cheese Pizza (P540)
Thin-crust pizza with thin slices of beef tenderloin, fresh button mushrooms and cheese sauce

Nadine's Adobo Cannelloni (P360)
Classic adobo flakes rolled in pasta, topped with bechamel and laced with adobo sauce and mozzarella with focaccia bread on the side

Penne Al Fungi with White Shrimps (P360)
Penne tossed in basil mushroom cream with white shrimps and served with focaccia bread on the side

I love pizzas, so I really liked how light, crispy yet delicately savory the Steak and Cheese Pizza is. Nadine's Adobo Cannelloni which I already got to try last year, was still the same savory Filipino-themed pasta dish that garnered praises from our group. And then also comes the Penne Al Fungi with White Shrimps, a tasty cream-based pasta dish with perfectly-cooked shrimps and juicy mushrooms that I can't get enough of.

NACI Specialties and Entrées

We were already having food overload that afternoon, but we were then served with the superstar dishes at NACI. Apparently, our lunch has just officially begun at this point.

Shrimp Jambalaya Rice (P480)
Slow-cooked baked rice with curry, coconut cream and shrimps topped with fried eggplant, tomatoes and raisins

Peruvian Chicken Rice (P420)
Slow-cooked baked rice with chunks of chicken and sautéed capsicums then topped with aioli

✓ Grilled Mahi Mahi (P380)
Grilled mahi mahi fillet topped with dill cream and cherry tomatoes, and served with parsley rice

Oven Baked BBQ Chicken (P320)
Naci's BBQ-marinated chicken fillet served with java rice and buttered vegetables

As a big carb person, I still felt the same love I had for the Peruvian Chicken Rice even after a year. I like how it's a cross between a paella and a risotto. The Shrimp Jambalaya Rice didn't impress as much though as it wasn't as tasty as I expected. However, I found a new favorite among the entrées. It's the Grilled Mahi Mahi which tasted amazing! The fillet was cooked to a perfect tenderness, with a beautiful grilled flavor that went perfectly with the dill cream. On the other hand, the Oven Baked BBQ Chicken was good, but the sauce was a little too sweet for my liking.

Desserts and Drinks

Back in Greenhills, NACI has called itself NACI Comfort Food & Dessert Bar. And while they've dropped the "dessert bar" part from their name, they still carry the sweet treats they were known for.

✓ Chocolate Ganache Cake (P165), Red Velvet Cake (P130), Pistachio Sansrival (P120)

Cakes have been one of my most fave comfort foods, and among NACI's offerings, I have to say the Chocolate Ganache Cake is the one you shouldn't miss, most especially if you're a fellow chocoholic. The Pistachio Sansrival was good too as it wasn't too sweet and had an enjoyable combination of soft, chewy and nutty textures. And although the Red Velvet Cake is what I was excited to try, it was unfortunately my least favorite. It was dry and didn't have as much cream cheese as I would've wanted.

✓ Red Velvet Cupcake (P75), ✓ Caramel Cream Cupcake (P75),
Chocolate Ganache Cupcake (P90), Black and White Cupcake (P90)

It was a different story with the cupcakes though as the Red Velvet Cupcake topped my favorites list. The base cake was just so moist and there was enough cream cheese to make the whole cupcake oh-so-delicious! The Caramel Cream Cupcake was a pleasant surprise too. I didn't expect it to be really good but its chiffon cake is super soft and fluffy, the perfect case for a sweet and salty caramel filling. The Black and White Cupcake which used to be my favorite, is still as good, but it was overshadowed by the previous 2 cupcakes I mentioned. As for the Chocolate Ganache Cupcake, I feel like the cake version is a lot better.

Tamarind Iced Tea (P120), Grape Shake (P165), Mocha Java Chip (P225), Strawberry Kiss (P235)

NACI Comfort Food also offers a wide variety of drinks, from fresh juices, iced teas, milkshakes, coffee blends and more. Our group had fun choosing pretty drinks photogenic enough to be posted on our blogs. Haha! Don't worry, everything tasted great.

THE VERDICT

Visiting the new and freshly-rebranded NACI Comfort Food is truly a nice experience as we got to relive the good food but in a more modern, trendier and hipper ambiance perfect for a comfort food destination. Personally, I like this new change and I'm sure a lot of patrons, especially the younger crowd would love this new feel too. While price is a little bit steep, I think it's worth taking a trip to NACI once in a while as this comfort food destination carries the legacy of the late Chef Ed Quimson who served as executive chef for the restaurant. Diners on a strict diet are also very welcome at NACI Comfort Food as they're even Cohen-friendly.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3/5
Overall Value - 4/5

NACI Comfort Food, Fort Bonifacio
Unit 3 Two Parkade 7th Avenue,
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 847-NACI (6224)
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

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Since it's almost Mother's Day, NACI Comfort Food will be holding a Mother's Day Dessert Buffet on May 12, 2013 (Sunday) for only P349 per head. This doesn't only include unlimited desserts, but also free-flowing coffee and tea. But the surprise doesn't end here, in partnership with NACI Comfort Food, I'm holding a short, 2-day giveaway in time for Mother's Day! One lucky winner will score 3 passes for NACI's Dessert Buffet.

Prize: (1) winner of 3 passes to NACI's All-Day Dessert Buffet this May 12, 2013

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

Be a Metro Manila resident or someone (even not within Metro Manila) who can actually use the prize.
Winners will have to visit NACI Comfort Food this May 12, 2013 (Sunday) to enjoy your All-Day Mother's Day Dessert Buffet.
Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
Make sure you do all the first 8 mandatory steps to be eligible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway raffle will run from today until 5PM of May 11, 2013. The winner will be drawn, announced and contacted by no later than 6:30PM of May 11 (Saturday). So join now and treat the most special woman in your life to NACI Comfort Food's All-Day Dessert Buffet this Mother's Day! (Non-moms are welcome too.)

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by NACI Comfort Food.

Slappy Cakes: Do-It-Yourself Pancakes Now in Manila!

2013-05-08T23:59:00.000+08:00

While I'm not a big breakfast person, I don't think my view mirrors the general public as there has been a continuously multiplying number of breakfast places sprouting here and there. But while a restaurant serving all-day breakfast may not entice me that much, with Slappy Cakes and its interactive dining setting, I'm undeniably, undoubtedly sold!

Slappy Cakes is a popular breakfast spot in Portland, Oregon, USA brought to Manila, or rather Eastwood to be specific, by the same folks who've brought us Mango Tree. It has already been featured on The Cooking Channel, Rachel Ray, Women's Day Magazine, and was even awarded the title "America's Best" by Food Network for being one of America's top ten dining destinations. But just what makes Slappy Cakes special?

It's Slappy Cakes' interactive setting giving us, the guests, a one-of-a-kind experience creating, designing, and simply having fun with our own do-it-yourself pancakes!

Replacing O'sonho in the New Eastwood Mall's ground floor, Slappy Cakes now takes charge of the inverted L-shaped restaurant, filling the dining area with four-seater tables equipped with big non-stick pancake griddles which I fondly call my pancake playground.

And now, I'll let you in on my Slappy Cakes experience...

Step 1: Choose a Batter

The first step in enjoying your Slappy Cakes experience is to choose one, two or three (or all) from these selection of Slappy Cakes' homemade pancake batters.

Peanut Butter (P260); Vegan (P260); Whole Grain (P225);
Classic Buttermilk (P225); Chocolate (P260)

We got to try all these pancake batters and my favorites are the honest-to-goodness Peanut Butter, the earthy Whole Grain and the bittersweet Chocolate. However, the Classic Buttermilk is great if you want your pancake simple, while the Vegan variant, which is a little runny in consistency, is perfect for vegans and health-conscious diners.

By the way, each bottle of Slappy Cakes' pancake batter is good for 2 to 3 persons and can make up to around 6 regular-sized pancakes. Given the price though, I just wish every batter would come with even the simplest complimentary fixin or topping.

Step 2: Pick Some Fixins and Toppings

Of course, who would want to have their pancakes be a plain Jane? So to add some spunk, you can choose from Slappy Cakes' variety of fixins (which you can combine with your batter when cooking) and even toppings (to top and prettify your DIY pancakes).

For our session, we had some Bacon (P80), Mangoes (P60), Blueberries (P75), Chocolate Chips (P45) and Assorted Mushrooms (P70) for our fixins, and some Maple Syrup (P45), Chocolate Sauce (P60) and Lemon Curd (P80) for toppings.

From the fixins and toppings we had, my favorites would probably be the lemon curd-bluberry combination. The assorted mushrooms were great for a savory pancake too. And if you're a bacon lover, maple syrup and bacon bits is the way to go!

Step 3: It's Cooking-Slash-Playing Time!

My favorite step in the whole Slappy Cakes experience would probably be this one. Choosing which batter and which fixins and toppings to get was just a good introduction to what's yet to come. So let the all-day breakfast, all-day-fun begin!

Chocolate pancake with Bacon, and Classic Buttermilk pancake with Chocolate Chips

I won't be detailing this step anymore since I'm sure you guys will have different kinds of fun on your own Slappy Cakes interactive dining experience.

So let me just share with you my pancake artworks...

Make your name pancake!

Or make a regular pancake and top it with your name pancake!

Make hearts or other-shaped pancakes and garnish them with your favorite fruits!

You can also make a vegan pancake with the Vegan Batter and Assorted Mushrooms!

Draw your heart out using the pancake batters!
(Was missing the beau so forgive my sticky cheesiness.. XD)

Or collaborate with your friends and have fun doodling on the griddle!

I had more pancake doodles, including my over 20 failed attempts at making a perfect heart shape, but I didn't include them since they didn't look too photogenic for this blog. Oh, make sure not to waste the batter and eat the pancakes even if they were mistakes.

Other All-Day-Breakfast Goodies at Slappy Cakes

Aside from pancakes, Slappy Cakes also offers soups and salads, as well as a selection of all-day-breakfast items, both American and even Filipino-themed. This is perfect if you're not big on pancakes, or if you just want to eat and skip all the cooking.

We got to try mini versions of the Country Fried Bacon (P230) which is a sweet, savory and crunchy serving of bacon dipped in batter and fried with caramel sauce, as well as the tender and sweet-savory glazed tocino in Tocino Tociyes (P250) which is served with 2 eggs cooked to your liking, garlic rice and mango salsa. Our version however is tocino skewered with mango, onion, tomato and potato, which while more of a cocktail food, whetted my palate. It was also super addicting that I devoured over 10 sticks!

All-Day-Cocktails and Mocktails at Slappy Cakes

Now, who said cocktails and mocktails should only be available at night? Here at Slappy Cakes, you can drink to your heart's content as early as 7AM!

Since Slappy Cakes also takes pride of its special drinks, we got to try a sample of Slappy Screw (P200) which is a sharp and summer-friendly cocktail made from vodka, ginger syrup and orange juice, as well as their Cranberry Fizz (P200) which is a kicking blend of cranberry syrup over sparkling wine. If you're not fond of alcohol, you can try the Cucumber Lime Aide (P190) which doesn't only look good but also tastes refreshing.

But more importantly, have fun and enjoy a great bonding time at Slappy Cakes whether you're with your special someone, with your family, or in our case, with friends.

By the way, Slappy Cakes will be opening a branch in SM North EDSA soon. So fellow northies, let's all patiently wait for this fun interactive DIY pancakes place at SM North!

THE VERDICT

Slappy Cakes is not just another all-day-breakfast place. Unlike other breakfast dining spots in the Metro, the interactive dining setting they offer is truly one-of-a-kind. Sure, there's really nothing amazingly spectacular with the pancake batters, fixins and toppings (although they're good), but the experience is something to be enjoyed not only by kids, but also by the kids-at-heart. And yes, that alone is enough selling point for me. Price is leaning a little more towards the steeper side, but it won't hurt to have fun at Slappy Cakes with the special people in your life once in a while.

Anyway, the next time I'm at Slappy Cakes (Yes SM North branch, I'm waiting for you!), I'll make sure to try some a la carte items on the menu. Maybe aside from the interactive dining setting, I can find another reason to come back to Slappy Cakes again and again.

Taste - 3.5/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 3/5
Price - 3.5/5
Novelty Factor - 4.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Slappy Cakes, Eastwood
G/F 1110 New Eastwood Mall, Libis,
Bagumbayan, Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 909-3501
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

My Top Picks at UP Economics Society's FOODGASM II

2013-05-05T20:37:00.000+08:00

I've always been a fan of food events where anyone can be a food critic for a day. And after experiencing my first session at last year's 10th Ultimate Taste Test, I once again had the chance to sample different treats under one roof last March 9, 2013 in UP Economic Society's Foodgasm II held at Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City.

This year's Foodgasm, formally titled as Foodgasm: Take the Second Bite, has definitely been bigger than its predecessor. There were 19 concessionaires, a mix of both home-based and official businesses, with 22 different food item entries aiming to please the attendees' palates and each vying to get the title of Foodgasm Champion.

Like other events of this nature, attendees had to sample the offerings from each concessionaire and give ratings (from 1 to 5) for every food item they got to try. Frankly, I don't find it very easy to score the treats I got to taste, especially at the beginning when I don't really have a default basis or standard for giving the ratings. However, after sampling 21 items (I missed 1 since they already ran out of food samples), I got the hang of it and found these gems I consider my top picks at Foodgasm II.

1. Ping Gu Mushroom Fries

My most favorite food item among everything I've tried at Foodgasm II is this small serving of Ping Gu's Crispy-Fried Oyster Mushrooms which comes with a choice of sweet chili, gravy, tomato ketchup or garlic mayo as a dip. Although the concept is simple, it tasted amazing and was really foodgasmic. Biting through the mushroom fries was enjoyable for their delicately crispy outer layer, while the inside was juicy and oozing with mushroom goodness. I was also amazed by the meticulous preparation since not only were the mushrooms freshly-picked, the cook was even using a thermometer to make sure the oil reaches the ideal point for frying these bite-sized deliciousness.

Ping Gu Mushroom Fries on Facebook

2. Paire's Class A (Almond Slice and Amaretto Sour)

Paire Cocktails and Pastries had 2 entries for Foodgasm II, literally giving us a second bite off its offerings. One was Ligid which is a crispy pork appetizer, while the other was a dessert pairing called Class A which comprises of their almond pastry and amaretto sour cocktail. While their first entry is really good, it was their Class A which got me raving. The almond slice is already very enjoyable by itself, but following it up with a shot of amaretto sour while still chewing on the pastry is refreshing, delicate and heavenly.

Paire Cocktails and Pastries on Facebook

3. Sophia School Cafe's Veggie Sisig and Veggie Dinuguan

I'm always open (with both arms) to healthier options when it comes to eating out, so I was really glad that there were 2 vegan entries by Sophia School Cafe that night. The first is their Veggie Sisig where they used tofu instead of the usual pork or fish. Sure, this didn't taste exceptionally spectacular, but the use of tofu while still maintaining that familiar sisig taste is worth the good score. Then, there's also the next dish...

Veggie Dinuguan which successfully placed me in a wowed state. Normally, I'd prefer regular sisig than regular dinuguan, but in this case, the Veggie Dinuguan was more unique and mysterious to me. Just how can you manage to make a pig blood stew without using pig's blood? My bet is on black beans, but I'm not really sure. Nevertheless though, this is a really good vegan alternative to dinuguan. Yummy, but not sinful.

Sophia School Cafe 0917 847-1956

4. Frabelle Foodie Chef's Mini Pies and New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream

My fourth spot is a tie between these two brands which are good, but have already been around for a while. For Frabelle's Mini Pies, I think they were made by home-cooks who usually join (or have probably won) Frabelle's cooking and recipe competitions. And while these meat pies may not be entirely unique, they were actually really good.

Frabelle Foods on Facebook

I've already encountered New Zealand Natural at last year's Ultimate Taste Test, but this year, I think I've made the right ice cream flavor choice which justifies why this is the leading premium ice cream brand in New Zealand and Australia. I got myself a cup of the White Chocolate Raspberry and fell in love with its delicately rich creamy goodness. The addition of white chocolate chips and raspberries also added flair to this refreshingly sweet treat which made every spoonful addicting. It's perfect for the summer season too!

New Zealand Natural Philippines on Facebook

5. Sweet Confections by Giselle's Triple Chocolate Fudge Cupcake

There were a total of 3 cupcake entries and concessionaires at Foodgasm II, but it was this Triple Chocolate Fudge Cupcake that won me over. The frosting isn't really special as it's just the conventional vanilla butter cream icing in pink and yellow colors. However, its base cake is the best among its kin during the night. It was moist and very chocolatey, spiked with an espresso twist. And even though it looks rather ordinary, both my friend Vernice and I agreed that this is indeed the best cupcake at Foodgasm II.

Sweet Confections by Giselle on Facebook

So there you have my personal favorites and top picks at Foodgasm II. It might not directly coincide with the official results of the event -- Paire Foods Inc. (Expert's Choice), Sophia School Cafe (Most Innovative), Ping Gu Mushroom Fries (People's Choice) and New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream (Overall Champion), but I can vouch for the goodness of these winners as they're also part of my list.

Anyway, thank you to UP Economics Society for inviting me to take part at Foodgasm II. It was fun sampling the offerings from different concessionaires and rating them. Props to you guys for a successful event, and till the next Foodgasm!

Mango Tree: Thai Cuisine, Anniversary and Project Brave Kids

2013-05-03T05:21:00.000+08:00

If you've been sticking around for quite a while, you might have noticed that I've been growing a love affair with Thai cuisine. So when I was invited to a first year anniversary thanksgiving lunch at Mango Tree in Bonifacio High Street Central, I can't help but feel ecstatic as it's one of the Thai restaurants around I have always been meaning to visit.

More Bonifacio High Street Central Restaurants:

With a promise of Thai cuisine at its best, and a very posh and comfortable casual fine dining ambiance, I surely brought my high expectations at Mango Tree, which by the way even has popular outlets in Bangkok, Dubai, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Doha.

However, this trip to Mango Tree was even more meaningful than what I expected. Sure, I enjoyed just being inside the restaurant with its high ceilings, modern yet elegant interiors, cozy leatherette chairs and banquet seating, as well as its al fresco and mezzanine dining areas. But beyond the facade, there was another reason why we were at the thanksgiving lunch. Apart from celebrating its successful first year, Mango Tree is giving back by supporting a cause that truly matters.

Project: Brave Kids

From March to May, Mango Tree will be helping the kid beneficiaries of Project: Brave Kids -- a non-profit organization assisting children with cancer (and their families) to improve their quality of life by enhancing their social, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being, celebrate their birthdays. And during that fine lunch, I was very honored to have witnessed how these angels wore happy smiles as they blew their birthday cakes.

I may not know what struggles these children are forced to battle with, but that afternoon was very touching and inspiring for me, especially to see how these brave kids face their affliction with such courage and optimism. So I'm really glad to see Mango Tree's initiative, since aside from bringing happiness to these kids through a birthday celebration, they will also be donating part of their proceeds to Project: Brave Kids, to support their activities and projects lined up for 2013. So to Mango Tree, I salute you for this decision, for choosing to give back to a very important cause.

The Food

Now, while the kids celebrated with good food, sweet treats and happy cheers, we also had our fair share. So, let me take you on a gastronomic tour, through the dishes we had.

We first had the Yum Mamuang (P280) which is a green mango salad with peanuts and grated coconut. Just one forkful and I was sold! The harmony of the sweetness and tang from this appetizer was just beautiful. Unlike other green mango salads which will leave you with a crumpled face, this dish's balanced flavor will definitely do otherwise.

We then had the Tod Mun Goong (P380) which are deep-fried shrimp cakes served with a sweet-chili sauce on the side. Although I'm not a big fan of shrimp (or even crab) cakes, I liked that these babies were fried to a golden-brown crisp without being too oily. Every bite was very flavorful too, so this is good not just for adults, but also for the kids.

Next, we had the Tom Yum Goong (P450) which is a hot and sour prawn soup infused with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, mushrooms and red chilies. Now, I'm a big fan of tom yum goong so I was excited to try Mango Tree's version. While it has the sour, refreshing flavor that I love, and not too mention a surplus of prawns, I found the overall taste a little too salty and lacking in heat. I think this is perfect though for those who are new to Thai cuisine, or perhaps to those who are not big fans of spicy foods.

Then came my most awaited dish, the Pad Thai Jay (P350) -- Thai stir-fried rice noodles with mixed vegetables and tofu. As a huge fan of this Thai favorite, I was very excited to get a taste of Mango Tree's rendition. From the plate, it already looked delicious...

More so when you get a taste of it! The rice noodles from this Pad Thai Jay were moist, chewy and very elastic which makes munching every strand an enjoyable experience. The beansprouts and nuts also added both an addicting crunchy texture and a nice flavor which complements the sweet, savory and sharp notes of the dish. Seriously, this is one of the best pad thai noodles I've had, and I'd definitely order and re-order it again!

For more carbs, we had the Khao Ob Supparod (P380) which is pineapple fried rice with chicken, peas, corn and raisins beautifully served in a halved pineapple boat. Since I grew up eating at Chinese restaurants, I thought this would be something similar. However, it was interesting to find out that this Thai version has a delicate sweetness and more savory flavor. And in all honesty, I so prefer this over the Chinese counterpart!

We also had the Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now (P850) which is steamed sea bass with fresh garlic, chili and lime sauce, and served on a nice fish-shaped platter with a burner at the bottom. I'm not big on steamed fish, but I have to admit that I like the blend of subtle flavors and the very clean taste of this fresh sea bass. However, the texture of the fish itself wasn't that moist and soft anymore. Maybe it's because we left the burner to heat up the fish for long. So friends, learn from our mistake! Eat this up upon serving.

Another viand we had was this Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung (P400) which is stir-fried chicken pieces with cashew nuts, capsicum and onions. This is the first time I've had this kind of chicken dish and I can say it's quite good. It wasn't as strong-flavored as I expected, but the cashew nuts really gave an enjoyable taste to the already-sweet and savory sauce. I think I would've enjoyed this more though if it had more heat.

For seafood lovers, the Talay Ruam Mit (P1,700) is a set you don't want to miss. It's pricey alright, but the grilled crabs, prawns and squids were as fresh as they can be. They were also served with Thai glass noodles, as well as a trio of sauces which perfectly complement the grilled seafood treats. Among these, I enjoyed the crabs the most even though they were the most difficult to eat. The squid were tender too and very tasty. My least favorite would probably be the prawns (despite my love for them). Although they were moist and flavorful, some parts were unevenly cooked (a little raw).

Desserts and Drinks

Above my love for Thai salads, noodles and entrées is my inclination for Thai desserts.

And to start our Thai dessert session was the Tako Khao Phod (P220) -- pieces of pandan leaf-encased coconut custard with sweet corn. Compared to other tako khao phods I've had, this serving is probably the most plain when it comes to appearance. However, this is also my most favorite out of all takos I've tried. The custard itself is very soft, smooth and creamy with a generous filling of corn and coconut bits. It also has a slight saltiness which goes really well with the coconut cream, and which I really love.

Since one dessert isn't enough, we also had the Tub Tim Grob (P250) which is a glass of red ruby chestnuts and jackfruit with Mango Tree's homemade coconut ice cream. Whenever a Thai dessert has red ruby chestnuts, I'm almost instantly sold. However, in this dessert's case, although I love the red ruby chestnuts, it was the coconut ice cream that stole the spotlight. Unlike most coconut ice creams around, this one is slightly salted which makes every spoonful a pleasurable taste of Thai dessert heaven.

For drinks, I had the Fresh Carrot & Orange Juice which was the Drink of the Day. It was very refreshing, energizing and had my preferred sweetness level. I also got a taste of their Thai Iced Tea (P90) which was creamy and had just the right balance of sweetness and that distinct Thai tea taste (from star anise and crushed tamarind seeds).

THE VERDICT

Everything we had from appetizers down to desserts were all of great quality. Whether you're a beginner at Thai cuisine or an experienced one, you'll find something to love from Mango Tree's wide array of offerings. You can even have your dishes adjusted to your liking. Price tag might not look friendly, but with an excellent selection of food, a set of courteous, alert and knowledgeable staff, and a cozy yet posh casual fine dining ambiance, I think spending, dining and returning to Mango Tree is well worth it!

Taste - 4.5/5
Ambiance - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3.5/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Mango Tree, Bonifacio High Street Central
G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock,
7th Ave. cor. 29th St., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 217-2367
Official Website
Facebook Page
Twitter

Mother's Day Giveaway: Surprise Mom with a McDo Breakfast!

2013-05-01T13:11:00.000+08:00

Aside from Labor Day and the elections, the most-awaited occasion this month of May is that special Sunday dedicated to a wonderful woman whom we lovingly call moms. And if you've wanted to surprise her this upcoming May 12, then you're in luck as McDonald's Philippines and The Purple Doll hold a special Mother's Day giveaway to help 3 of you surprise your mom with a McDonald's Breakfast delivered right at your doorstep.

You've read it right. After giving out free coffee and serving free McMuffins during the National Breakfast Day, we can continue to shout a Hooray for Today with this special surprise McDonald's whipped up for Mother's Day. We won't only get to surprise our moms for free, but our dear mother would get a taste of McDonald's early-morning treats perfect to jump-start her day. To join, you only have to follow these simple steps.

Prize: (3) winners will have a special McDonald's Breakfast delivered to their moms on Mother's Day (May 12, 2013).

PLEASE READ!
Guidelines to enter the giveaway raffle:

This giveaway is open to Metro Manila residents only.
Follow the Rafflecopter mechanics below to join.
Make sure you do all the first seven mandatory steps to be eligible.
I'll be choosing 3 winners from different mode of entries: 1) based on the answer to the question, 2) lucky draw via Rafflecopter, 3) lucky draw via Twitter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway raffle will run from today until May 6, 2013. The winner will be drawn and contacted the next day, the 7th. So if you haven't thought yet of a surprise for your mom, or would want an additional surprise for her on Mother's Day, then join this McDonald's Mother's Day Giveaway. Hooray for today!

Disclaimer: This contest is brought to you by McDonald's Philippines.