D Hungry Girl

Corniche

2012-02-15T19:48:00.000+08:00

Valentine's dinner date with my family :)

It's already an annual routine to celebrate Valentine's day with ~~a date~~ my family. February 14 is single awareness day for all of us, including me and my sister, whose boyfriends are more than 7000 miles away from us.

Since "hearts day" fell on a Tuesday, a busy day for my dad, we had to do dinner somewhere near his office, so we headed to Corniche. I was impressed with how much the place has changed from the last time we dined there, I think that was 3 years ago. Corniche used to look very plain and the food wasn't so inviting, but now, wow. The interiors are so elegant and the food arrays have definitely expanded.

BRACE YOURSELVES, PHOTO BOMBARDMENT COMING UP!!!

flowers on the left = from my sister's boyfriend, bouquet on the right from Rafael :)

it's so nice how they didn't forget to send these for us! (they better not haha)

Valentine's day traff*ck

papa dear

I loved the chicken caesar salad pizza! The dough was so soft.

How fancy are these fresh lumpia ubod?

we all liked the prawns in coconut sauce so much

it was a simple dish but the deliciousness made it extravagant.

poor ducky :(

the charsu pork and peking duck were good but the macau roast pork was too oily

we requested the seafood to be cooked in butter and garlic - the mussels didn't taste fresh but the lobsters were really delicious!

and of course!!! the dessert station!

the ice cream was so good :(

by the end of dinner, the ebullient staffs gave us cupcakes and red flowers! :)

grabbed from my instagram! follow me if you have! dianeyap11 :)

Roxas Blvd. corner Dr. J. Quintos St., Manila, Philippines

(632) 528-3000
6:00 am to 11:00 pm, daily.
http://www.diamondhotel.com/corniche.html

Lu|Lu

2012-02-11T22:48:00.000+08:00

This post is a little heavy for me as it's about my last date with Rafael (the next time will be 4 months from now huhu) Coincidentally, when he was leaving last August, this was where we had our last lunch too.

Moving ooooon, it was funny how this day started for us,

I came straight from school and he told me to meet him in "Lulu", so I went to the yogurt place, Lulu Belle.

I was waiting there for minutes then it finally hit me, he actually meant "Lu" as in the restaurant.

I furiously walked all the way from the 4th floor of Powerplant, going to Joya.

When I got there, we had a little argument about which one's correct: Lu or Lulu?

I asked the waitress, and she explained that it used to be just Lu, but now, they refer to it as Lulu. No one wins the argument. :b

These are both Rafael's drinks, he really likes the authenticity of the flavors of Lu's drinks.

Argentinean Hand-Chopped Beef Empanadas ♡

Not your run of the mill empanada. The filling is bursting with flavor and meat.

Rafael wanted to order one more. I told him to just stick to his plan of getting another dish that has an [L] (recommended) on it.

Truffled Mac N Cheese

The menu claims this has 5 cheeses, of course I can't distinguish each one of them anymore but I like how the cheese on the top part was crunchy so it balanced the melted liquid-y cheese under.

Herb-Crusted Lamb Spare Ribs

"This is good except there's too much herb, it tastes too herb-y." declaimed Rafael when he was halfway through the dish. It was however, balanced by the couscous that came with it.

Bejeweled Couscous

Turmeric Chicken ♡

I ordered the fried Hainanese chicken before, but it's not available anymore :(
Rafael suggested I pick whatever has the [L] mark on it, so I went with the turmeric chicken and it was such a great choice. The flavor's penetrated deep within the soft meat so every gnaw was inducing satiety.

What I like about Lu, aside from their unique and delicious dishes, are the casual chic interiors and fast and free wifi. If you haven't tried this restaurat yet and always find yourself randomly around the area of Rockwell, it's time to pay them a visit and trust me, it will be worth it. :)

click to enlarge Lu menu taken on January 18, 2012

G/F Joya Bldg., Joya Drive, Rockwell, Makati City, Metro ManilaPhilippines

(02) 403-3991

Fire Lake Grill

2012-02-10T13:34:00.000+08:00

It was Rafael's last Saturday in Manila and we wanted to do something different from the usual

...so we took a random trip to Tagaytay for lunch =)

yummyyyy Hen Lin siomai during the gasoline station stopover!
I call dibs on the ones on the left since those are "unaffected" by chili hehe

just HAD to ask Rafael to stalk this transport truck!! I'm such a sucker for pigs I swear!

Look at this one making "beautiful eyes" eeeeeeee

sooo cute!! makes me sad to think of where they're taking them :(

andddd we're finally here!! :)

Fire Lake Grill is situated inside The Cliffhouse Tagaytay, a place visited by various patrons everyday for its magnificent view of Taal volcano. There's a parking fee for those who are there just to enjoy and take photos of the nice background, but it's automatically waived if you eat in one of the restaurants there and present the validated parking ticket.

Can I just say... I've been VERY excited to blog about this restaurant!! Normally when we talk Tagaytay + steak, the usual prospect is Antonio's, but I'm so happy I discovered this place - a cheaper, closer, less prim alternative!

Rafael was complaining about how we've been in the car for hours and all he wants is fresh air. Al fresco dining is a no-no for me, but the brisk air of Tagaytay and that lovely view of Taal volcano right in front of us, who am I to spurn?

I checked the indoors to take photos, saw this plaque of award (Asia Tatler Dining 2011 Philippines' Best Restaurants) and had high expectations for Fire Lake Grill right away.

Fresh Pumpkin Soup Topped with Roasted Pumpkin Seeds and Chives

There was a thick flavor of perfectly puréed pumpkin. I was literally drowning the hot, fresh and soft complimentary bread rolls in this soup. This definitely got me excited for the rest of the meals to be served.

- my only complain is that, they could've been more creative with the name of this soup ( same goes out to the rest of their menu :b haha)

US Angus Beef, Mushrooms, Onions and Blue Cheese Pizza ♡

The steak atop each pizza slice was the star. Nothing but love for this.

Fettuccine Pasta in Black Truffle Cream Sauce with Smoked Garlic Sausage and Shitake Mushrooms

This pasta has an abundant amount of toppings. The truffle essence was just perfect.

US Angus Porterhouse w/ Pepper Rub ♡

Rafael requested for a pepper rub add on, 2 of the other options are herb rub and coffee rub (which according to the waiter makes the steak bitter) I was immediately impressed by the beckoning criss-cross grill marks, very neat and bright presentation. All is forgiven after my first bite of this. Infinitely succulent, worth every single centavo.

Rafael's wala kamatayan na garlic rice. EVERYWHERE na lang!

Grilled Jumbo Prawns

Big and packed with freshness. Squeeze the lemon juice all over and it's simply perfect.

The waiter assigned to us was very welcoming, friendly and cordial. It didn't take long for our dishes to arrive. I conclude that this isone of the best restaurants I've tried since I started blogging. The drive all the way to Tagaytay was definitely worth it.

click to enlarge Fire Lake Grill manu taken on January 14, 2012

Unit 3, Cliffhouse Tagaytay, General Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Cavite
(046) 483 2069 / (927) 914 4604
Monday to Friday serving lunch (11 am to 2 pm) and dinner (6pm to 10pm)
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays :
serving meals the whole day from 11am to 10pm
http://www.firelakegrill.com/home/index.html

Bar Dolci

2012-02-05T14:54:00.001+08:00

After having dinner at Tokyo Bubble Tea, Rafael and I headed to Bar Dolci to get some of my favorite goodies. Just a quick post. Read on! ;)

indeed!!! :)

This is the staircase going to the second floor, where there are more seats, aside from the ones located outside.

Cocktail Pops

Gelatos!!! Sucks that bubble gum flavor wasn't available that night :(

and here it is... THE main event of this entry!

These sensuous delicacies never fail to make my day, I swear!

What I like most about Bar Dolci's macarons is that they're not just about fantastic flavors, but the quality and texture of the macarons itself, so soft and mellow. (kicks Bizu's macarons butt any day) It's like biting onto a marshmallow but once your teeth are dug inside it starts to become crunchy and chewy. Ahhhh sooo good!

Here are my top favorite flavors:

Vanilla

Salted Caramel

This one melts faster as compared to the other flavors, donno why

Blueberry Cheesecake

and the fairest of them all...

Ferrero

I actually like this more than the real Ferrero Rocher chocolates! No nut in the middle so yayyy! So good sakdjladjla

nomnomnom

F133 Forbeswood Heights cor. Burgos Circle, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines
(02) 28468245
Mon - Thu: 11:00am - 12:00am | Fri - Sat: 11:00am - 2:00am | Sun: 11:00am - 12:00am
http://bardolci.com
http://www.facebook.com/BarDolci

Tokyo Bubble Tea

2012-02-04T17:44:00.001+08:00

Raise your hand if you're happy Tokyo Bubble Tea finally has a branch closer to the South!! *raises my hand* yessss this means I no longer have to go all the way to Tomas Morato or Greenhills. :) :) I was so excited about this so I scheduled a visit to their newest branch as soon as I found out about its opening
...kind of disappointed with my first dining experience here though :( read on!

Strawberry Milk Tea

I got the strawberry milk tea with 2 extra puddings and small bubbles. Yes, you have the option to pick whether you want your bubbles to be small, big or a combination of both. They had to transfer some of my drink to a shot glass because I had too many add-ons that it wouldn't fit in one glass.

Takoyaki

It took awhile inside my mouth before I tasted the grilled octopus. There was too much batter in this. The sweetness of the mayonnaise, katsuoboshi and sweet soy sauce was a little bit too strong. No good.

Nippon Ebi

This was okay, I don't appreciate the melted mozzarella cheese underneath though, it gave the sushi that peculiar, slimy texture.

Tori Spaghetti Pesto

This was okay. Nothing too spectacular. I liked the chicken on top more than the pasta.

1/4 Japanese Chicken Leg Rice

presented nicely, but tastes ordinary.

Gindara Foil Yaki

This is the main reason why I was so excited to visit Tokyo Bubble Tea again, the gindara foil yaki - which I gave nothing but amazing praises in my old blog. However, my excitement was turned into disappointment right away. On the first bite, I hurt myself right away. This was all bone, probably made up of 10% fish meat, and the rest is just bone.

After awhile, I just gave up on it, I couldn't even enjoy a single spoonful of fish, there's always a ton of bone on it. I always order gindara in Japanese restaurants and this is the first time I experienced something like this. I was so, so disappointed.

Their sister company Honeybee Patisserie

This is a nice place to hang out with friends, or if you prefer to be alone, then fine, chill by yourself. Fantastic ventilation system, bright place, fast and free wi fi!! The staffs are nice but I prefer the other branches more. Why? Because they didn't serve me gindara that bad. I'll considering giving them a second chance though, will drop by the restaurant soon in hopes that the gindara would be less bony. But right now, thumbs down.

click to enlarge Bubble Tea menu taken on January 17, 2012

The Fort Residences Bldg, 30th St cor 2nd Ave, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 478-7483
http://www.facebook.com/tokyobubbletea

Ramen Cool

2012-01-27T22:58:00.000+08:00

After Milky & Sunny and Mad Mark's, here comes another East Capitol Drive situated blog entry. (I'm sure there's gonna be more when Rafael gets back in May)

It was a very quick "pre-dinner", Rafael just really wanted to take me here before he leaves because according to him, "no one has blogged about this new place yet" how supportive of my hobby. what a boyfriend material ;b

The place is very well lit, showcases casual vibes, and apparently doesn't lack adornments. From the hanging paper turbine lamps down to every table that is separated by either big Sakura printed glasses or wooden dividers.

Rafael and his new hair cut... :/

Gyudon

Like what I mentioned in the beginning of this story, it was a very quick "pre dinner" because we still had another dinner at his house with his family. No starters, we jumped into the main dishes right away. Rafael kept convincing me that the gyudon is really good, but for me it's just okay, a little dry actually. I don't know why he likes it.

Beef Ramen

(that's Rafael's technique of cooling his noodles) this one also, Rafael kept saying it's good but I found it... okay lang nothing beats the authentic ones from Ramen Bar up to date!

Sukiyaki ♡

This one, I liked a lot! I wanted to go for another round. The serving is actually good for 2 people already.

There was an abundant amount of different tasty ingredients that each contributed to the overall yummyness of this sukiyaki, the soup was very rich in flavor and my most favorite part is the noodles! Can someone please tell me what those jelly-like noodles are called? I just love the texture and its feel inside my mouth so much!

This place is new, definitely one of the nicest looking restaurants along Kapitolyo. The waiters are alert and polite. :) The menu looks promising too.

click to enlarge Ramen Cool menu taken on January 17, 2012

Ristorante Bigoli

2012-01-26T22:55:00.000+08:00

One of the perks of being a food blogger is, of course, getting an invite to a free food tasting! Just a few hours ago, I got to attend another event of OpenRice Philippines, "Eat's A Date" (thank you :), Khaezel!!!) at Ristorante Bigoli. I was hesitant to confirm at first because of its distance from my place but it's not like I have anything better to do with my life today, and so I went.

The place was big and there were so many seats (I heard they get really full on weekends)

mooore seats!

For those who choose to enjoy fresh air, they have a balcony located at the 2nd floor.

unlimited refillable drinks!

Breadsticks

We were served breadsticks while waiting for the food to arrive but I didn't eat one until after 20 minutes, so it was already cold. They served us another batch before the dessert was released, so I got try it hot and my conclusion on their breadsticks? It's good whether hot or cold!

Spaghetti al Pesto

Spaghetti Puttanesca

quick trivia: did you know that Puttanesca Spaghetti actually means "slut spaghetti"?

now you know ;) haha

Spaghetti Bolognese

Amongst the 3 pasta dishes served that night, this one is my favorite! It possessed the conventional taste of bolognese with its perfect balance of sourness.

Italian Chicken Platter

We all shared good comments about the chicken! It was so meaty and palatable to the bones! I love how it's slightly salty.

Bacon Stromboli

This, in my opinion, is the highlight of that dinner event! The flower shaped turnover was so soft and delicious! Mixed with one of my most favorite food ever, THE bacon, this was just... Wow. I'm craving for it already!

Pepperoni Stromboli

While most of my seatmates were raving about the bacon dip, I was more fanatic of the one that came with the pepperoni stromboli.

Bigoli's Supremo

I didn't get to try this because I ate too much stromboli and was sooo full already! weak :(

Pepperoni Classico

The crust was crunchy. I loved the flavorful layer of savory cheeses and pepperoni. This pepperoni pizza is above average!

foodies in action!

fellow food blogger Lynne - check out her amazing blog!!

We capped the night off with these, creamy and dainty gelatos on stick from their sister company, Stickhouse! We were offered the limited edition flavors that target kids as their market. Just look at those adorable cartoon animal characters on each stick!!

Nutty Choco

Choco Banana

Cookies 'n Cream

Great food, friendly staffs and a nice spacious place! The positive comments don't end there,

another good thing about Bigoli is that, when I checked out their menu, I noticed that the prices are really very affordable! Considering they serve quality Italian food, this one is a really great place to try out, specially if you're with a large group of people. They have 2 other branches at TriNoma and SM North EDSA. :) Thank you so much Bigoli and OpenRice Philippines for the invite! Til next time ;)

Center Plaza, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 421-0416
Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 11:00 am - 12:00 mn

http://www.facebook.com/RistoranteBigoli?sk=info
https://twitter.com/#!/bigoli_official

Blog Giveaway: The White Hat Cioccolato

2012-01-25T22:40:00.001+08:00

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Peking Garden

2012-01-24T07:12:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year hangover equals a Chinese restaurant blog entry :b

Peking Garden at Greenbelt 5 is full and jam packed every Sunday so we were lucky to be given a table sans a reservation. I had high expectations in their food since just a few days before this, I had such fantastic Chinese cuisine at Mabuhay Palace when I was invited to lunch by my boyfriend's family. I won't be able to blog about it though since it was too awkward for my life to take photos while Rafael's WHOLE family is right there. Buuuutttt! I have here some pictures to share from that day:

When this weirdo picked me up from the lobby in his lola's powerchair, I couldn't stop laughing! Oh Rafael! hahaha! So moving on...

I like how the ambiance in Peking Garden is so authentic Chinese restaurant-esque, for one, it's NOISY! Not the kind that gives a headache okay. I can hear people chattering from all over the place, the place was so bright and lively. I liked it. :) The decorations all over the restaurant are genteel and there are details that actually have a subtle purpose aside from just being an ornament, like the ones on the ceiling, that are actually meant to "disguise" the air conditioner vent, how creative.

Complimentary Chips

If I'm not mistaken, we asked for 5 more servings of the wanton chips. It was salty and crunchy, super fun to munch on not to mention addictive!

Cold Cut Combination

The freshness and richness in flavor of each assortment here is undeniable. The barbeque pork was impressively tender.

Steamed Vegetable Dumplings

Steamed Supreme Soup and Pork Dumplings

...or xiao long bao for short! I'm not sure if it makes a difference on the texture but I like how these dumplings are lying on a bed of cabbage, coz I normally see cloths used for this.

Hand-made Noodles with Beef & Spring Onion in Soup

This is nothing compared to Tasty's beef noodles. When Rafael says "pangit" that means the food is really bad, and he said that when I made him try this.

Hot Prawns Salad

I liked this one A LOT. The prawns were big, fresh and crunchy on the inside. The sauce was perfect too, it wasn't too sweet, just right.

Crispy Boneless Chicken

Nothing special about this chicken.

I know you're expecting to see duck in this entry, unfortunately, my sister, who's the only one in the mood to eat duck that night, suddenly changed her mind and opted for chicken instead.

I know what you're thinking, who eats in Peking Garden without ordering the Peking Duck? Well, I'm sorry nalang :b

Deep Fried Garlic Spare Ribs

I didn't get to try this but they my sister and brother said it was good. Never mind what Rafael has to say about this coz it's fully biased anyway since this is his favorite thing to order in Chinese restaurants.

Steamed Fish Fillet with Broccoli

The fish was so creamy and delectable! Together with my most favorite vegetable, this one deserves a "blogger like", like Facebook like, but on blogger hehehe

Fried Rice "Yeung Chow Style"

I don't know why but, everyone ordered plain rice after trying this. Hmmmmm

Mango Sago

Banana Fritters

Banana glazed with sweet sauce, cooked perfectly. I was too full already, like, my stomach was literally bulging but I still went on and ate so much of this, it was reaaaally good!

Each item on the Peking Garden menu is available in S,M,L serving. The place was so jam packed but there was no problem with the waiting time for our food. The staffs are all very well trained and accommodating. Overall I think the restaurant is pretty good, I mean, there must be a reason why so many people dine here all the time right?

click to enlarge Peking Garden menu taken on January 15, 2012

4/Lvl. Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 729-0567

Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 11:30 am - 2:00 pm | Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-23T22:35:00.000+08:00

Just a reaaaally quick post on what we had for Chinese New Year dinner earlier!
(because I'm still ignoring my piled up homework over the weekend...)

Cold Cuts Platter

My relatives feasted on this even before I got to take a photo of it that's why only the jelly fish and century eggs are left. :b Same goes to some of the following photos haha

Crabmeat & Egg Soup

noodles for loooong life

Steamed Garoupa

this was sooo big and delicious!

Pigeon

Steamed Crabs

^ my favorite!! ^

Pata Tim

Hot Chicken and Shrimp Salad

Deep Fried Seafood Roll

Mango Sago

Almond Lychee

I got this cute charm bracelet from my aunt! :)

and of course! Chinese New Year is not complete without... THE ang bao ;) ;)

恭喜發財!!!

GONG XI FA CAI!!!

Mad Mark's

2012-01-22T13:50:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure what / who I miss more, Rafael or... Mad Mark's? Excuse the cheese, I just really can't think of any other introduction for this entry right now hehe.

Mad Mark's is a small food place that made the last week of Rafael's Christmas vacay in The Philippines extra ~~memorable~~ fattening for us. I'm serious. We would just hang out there and blissfully devour on ice cream (me) and fries (Rafael). We were mad, mad about Mad Mark's. The best part is, it's conveniently just about 3-5 minutes drive away from Rafael's house. Yayyy!

Sometimes the place would be jam packed, sometimes only a couple of customers are dining, but it's never empty. On our 3rd visit, I decided to take a photo of the door - JOKE HAHA. I decided to take a photo of the "view" from the seat we usually occupy in those 5 consecutive days of hanging out at Mad Mark's. (yes, it kind of became a routine for us.)

The setting is very straight forward, no frills but pleasant looking. A simple combination of white walls, wooden seats, tables and floor, pool table lights, and some touch of Indian red to add a hue of color to the place.

Herb Parmesan Fries ♡

Can I just say, this photo does not do justice to Mad Mark's Herb Parmesan Fries. If I could have a conversation with the people in their kitchen, the first thing I'll ask is... How in the world do they make this thick cut snack? As my teeth gnaw into the impressively crispy outer part, I taste the mellowness of the hot and fresh fries slowly melting inside my mouth. I'm sure Rafael has more praises for this, between the two of us, he's the one who's always excited to finish the whole basket. Some days we would get just the side order, some days we go for one whole order (which is good for about 2-3 people), and there was a time, when we ordered both. These fries. I can't even.

and now.... For the main event of this entry...
I'm not the type of person who eats that much (fine, maybe I am) but not when it comes to ice cream. The most I can finish is probably 1-2 scoops on an interval of every 3 days(?) But after trying the one from Mad Mark's for the first time, I literally found myself begging Rafael everyday to take me back there so I can get my Half Baked Madagascar fix. Of course Rafael being the awesome boyfriend that he is would always succumb to my request and eat ice cream with me as well hehe okay promise enough with the cheesiness na! :b Going back, I can't pin point what exactly it is about it that got me hooked, but their ice creams are just sooo dainty you HAVE to try it!!! FYI: I learned before that ice creams are not supposed to melt fast, if they do, it means not pure dairy was used. This is not a problem for Mad Mark's ice creams, they really take a while to melt down, sometimes I would even order another scoop in advance then I just leave it there hanging until I finish the one I'm currently enjoying. My favorite flavors are: Madagascar Vanilla Bean(it tastes like the Vanilla flavor from Haagen Dazs, but more affordable!), Half Baked Madagascar(the previous flavor added with some delicious, chunky and chewy cookie dough) and Cookies and Cream(also Rafael's favorite)

alskdjklasjdklas ♡

ahhhhh ♡

:P~ ♡

Rafael and I tried the Country Strawberry flavor once, we both didn't like it.

Here are some dishes Rafael and I tried during our first time at Mad Mark's,
- on our next visits though we only got the fries and ice cream :)

Strawberry Vinaigrette Salad w/ Fish Fillet

The size is overwhelming, it can serve 3-4 people. There was an abundant amount of fish fillet, I liked the sweetness of the strawberry dressing. Good value for money!

"The Man" Sandwich

This was HUGE! Rafael and I didn't finish it, we got so full halfway! There was a very generous amount of delicious Angus beef and grilled chicken. Not such a fan of the cheese here though, it wasn't my kind of cheese, it wasn't elastic. Overall this is above average. :)

Mad Mark's offers a self service system but I can assure you, they have very helpful and congenial staffs, one time I accidentally left my coins on the table and the waitress really ran after us to the car just to give them back. I also like the free unlimited water located on the table right across the counter. :) I'm sure Rafael and I will be conquering this place again when he gets back this May! Soooo to conclude this entry, back to the beginning of this post, I miss Mad Mark's, and going to Mad Mark's with Rafael. :b sorry I know this post is so cheesy sometimes hahaha. If you're a nearby resident, and you haven't tried Mad Mark's yet, WHY? Drop by. NOW! :)

click to enlarge Mad Mark's menu taken on January 12, 2012

23 East Capitol Drive Brgy Kapitolyo, 1600 Pasig, Philippines
Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
http://www.facebook.com/MadMarks.Resto?sk=info

Tasty Dumplings

2012-01-21T23:56:00.000+08:00

Tasty (for short) is one standing proof that you really shouldn't judge a book by its cover. It may not have the poshest and biggest facade like any of your swanky favorite Chinese restaurant but it definitely offers some simple dishes that surprisingly leaves a lasting impression.

Wintermelon Juice ♡ and Soya Milk

The soya milk is good but it's the wintermelon juice that got me really addicted. Every gulp is so refreshing as you taste the unique and thick essence of this sweet drink that truly lingers in the mouth. The flavor somehow reminds me of honey mixed with sweet grass jelly, it's just sooo good! From what I recall, there were a total of 4 orders of wintermelon juice on the receipt.

Fried Dumplings

I just had a tidbit of this, it was my boyfriend who ordered this. All I can say is, it was crrrrrispy!

Pork Chop Rice ♡

It's not a real Tasty dining experience without trying one of their famous food item, the pork chop. It can be served a la carte, with noodles, or with rice. I suggest you try the one with rice, it's the best combination for most of the people I know. The meat is large and lean, Tasty has this special sauce and feel free to drown your rice and pork chop in it, trust me, you will like it. Not a single thing has changed about this filling dish from the first time I have tried it 8-9 years ago.

a bottle of the special sauce on top of every table

Beef Noodles

Beef Noodles ♡

Beef noodles is one thing that I order every time I'm dining in a Chinese restaurant and Tasty's is without a doubt one of my most favorite, and the cheapest. The beef is juicy but the best thing I like about it is how the noodles don't depend on the soup, it's flavorful on its own, TASTY indeed!!! I like the texture too. This beats, if not, matches up, with the beef noodles from all the other more upscale Chinese restaurants I've tried, any day!

If you ever find yourself touring the streets of Manila's Chinatown, be sure to make a stop over here! Aside from the fantastic, reasonably priced food, the service is great too. All the waiters and waitresses are alert and food arrives on your table fast!

"Sunbathing, more fun in The Philippines!!" :b

Binondo Church - I was baptized here!!! =)

click to enlarge Tasty Dumplings menu taken on January 16, 2012

620 Ongpin St., Binondo Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 242-5195
Su: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm M, T, W, Th, F | Sa: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Stacy's

2012-01-20T14:20:00.000+08:00

It was one of the most unplanned days I've spent with my boyfriend.

From unexpectedly swimming in my house all the way from the South in the afternoon,

Rafael and I randomly found ourselves in Katipunan, just to get something from his friend.

Then we suddenly ended up in Capitol Hills <- that village is so green and nice! for dinner.

I was "camera less" as everything was going spontaneously, so I had to use my phone to take photos of the food.

Since I'm not satisfied with the inferior quality of the images, I had the urge to be artsy craftsy with the different apps on my phone, hence the completely different look of this entry.

Admit it, the outcome turned out to be cute. Just shut up and go away if you think otherwise. Kiddiiiiing! Please, read on. ;)

White wooden walls and furniture mixed with some touches of pastel-colored ornaments, I can't deny the adorable look and dainty feel Stacy's exudes. I immediately fell in love with how cute the place is! The cashier corner is my favorite part, it's just so perky and retro specially with the baby pink Smeg fridge that I've always dreamt of having (one day... one day...)

yellow fresh flowers atop each table to match the yellow gingham cloths

once guests are done placing their orders, they are immediately served with a polka dotted mug filled with popcorn, marshmallows and pretzels! Rafael downed the popcorn like a drink.

Of course one of the focuses of a place that looks like this would be kiddies!

There's one corner with a mini table and chairs, for the little ones.

Prepare to salivate with each of the dish's description, imagine reading the entire menu, I swear we had such a hard time finalizing our orders!

Real Deal Nachos ♡ - "Your favorite superbowl snack made more special with a mile high dip. Golden corn nachos paired with a tower of layered El Paso ground beef, butterball lettuce, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, diced red tomatoes, white onions, black olives, avocado slices and cilantro."

Real deal, definitely! I'm telling you, this is not your run of the mill nachos, the dip is just heavenly! Served hot with overflowing fresh toppings. Such an "upscale" nachos, definitely one of the best!

Stacy Jones ♡ - "Tender yakiniku cut U.S. beef sirloin tap smothered with loads of fried garlic served with "anyway you like 'em" eggs, caramelized tomatoes and roasted garlic rice."

This one didn't disappoint, it is exactly what the description claims it to be. Loved the plating btw! Cute heart shaped rice!!

Rice N Shine - "Crunchy yet savory garlic longganisa with perfect harmony of cane vinegar and choice seasonings. Served hot and hashed with fluffy onion and tomato omelette and roasted garlic rice."

I haven't mentioned this since I moved to this blog but Rafael has a thing for anything garlic or longganiza. Those 2 combined, it's just happiness for him! Stacy's version was presented in a different way, instead of the usual allantoid, this one is served in crunchy bits form. I didn't really get to try it but according to Rafael, it's "not bad."

Homebaked Chicken Parmesan - "Everyday food has never been this tasty! Baked chicken fillet in Italian herbs and chunky tomato sauce layered with oodles of parmesan and mozzarella cheese, topped on a bed of herbed rice pilaf."

This was served piping hot! I burnt my tongue so many times because I was too excited to try it out. The chicken fillet was so soft and the sauce was overflowing. The flavor resembles to the orange sauce of Italian pasta, it's a little sour. I liked it.

We had to stay in Stacy's longer because Rafael's friend wasn't in Katipunan yet so I was forced to order 2 more scoops of ice cream. I got the Double Strawberry and White Chocolate Macadamia flavor. Both were good but nothing to rave about. I liked the latter one more.

Stacy's is not just a kiddie friendly, lovely hang out place. It's also a place that serves quality comfort food that is surely satisfying to the palette! The waitresses are all very polite and alert. The location is nice too, gives off a little Tagaytay vibes. Or that's probably just me... Wish there was something like this close to my place. Overall, both my boyfriend and I liked our dining experience here! :)

click to enlarge Stacy's menu taken on January 9, 2012

Capitol Greenstreet Commercial Center, 1 Capitol Hills Drive, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Mon - Thu: 9:00 am - 9:00pm | Fri - Sat: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm | Sun: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
0927.3262244 / 0933.4427661 / 09178472229
http://www.facebook.com/stacys.resto

The Frazzled Cook

2012-01-19T17:54:00.000+08:00

Notice the "I am... a restaurant" sign?

Upon entry, patrons are greeted by this living room inspired setting that definitely gives off that homey eclectic ambiance

Here are some of the different corners of Frazzled Cook, as you can see, they don't have a specific personality. It's a hodgepodge of different themes and decors. I guess the name of the restaurant has something to do with it, seems like someone "frazzled" was in charge of the interiors of the place.

These aquatic decors weren't around the first time I visited The Frazzled Cook and frankly speaking I'm not such a fan of them, totally ruined the vintage mishmash effect of the facade.

cute hello kitty utensils!

Herbed Chicken Salad in Basil Vinaigrette ♡

A single order of this salad is good for sharing. There's a generous amount of crunchy, fresh greens partnered with succulent, meaty strips of chicken breast fillet. Smothered with just the aright amount of basil vinaigrette dressing that gave the perfect tangy flavor to the whole salad. This one's a great starter.

Wagyu Salpicao ♡

This is the main reason why Rafael and I went back to The Frazzled Cook. There's no other place (that we know of) that can offer Wagyu Salpicao this good! Imagine delicious garlicky wagyu beef cubes that's so soft it almost feels like it's literally melting inside your mouth. This dish guarantees nothing but fantastic flavor and texture, you can't help but wish the serving was larger once you finish everything together with the brown rice that comes with it.

Grilled Tanigue Steak with Herbed Butter

The fish is huge and presented neatly but overall it tastes just okay, nothing special.

Red Velvet Ice Cream ♡

I've been hearing about Pinkerton ice cream so when I saw that it's available in Frazzled Cook, I ordered a scoop right away. One can never go wrong with red velvet so I chose that flavor. I was expecting some sort of plain, nothing-but-cream-cheese-y taste but it wasn't like that at all. It was very mellow and had different hints of a real flavored cake. The part I liked the most? Definitely the real red velvet cake chunks on the ice cream!!

It's kinda tricky to get to the place specially if you're not familiar with the area so just refer to their website or Google Maps application for that :) I didn't get to take a photo of Frazzled Cook's menu but you can just check out their super fancy website. Link's posted down there! v v v v

916 Luna Mencias Street, Brgy Additional Hills, 1500 Mandaluyong, Philippines
7825980 | 7253354
Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 10:30 pm
http://www.thefrazzledcook.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Frazzledcook?sk=wall

Hiatus

2012-01-18T17:49:00.000+08:00

First of all, I'm really sorry for being idle for nearly 2 weeks. Yuppp, guilty as charged! Irresponsible amateur food blogger haha. The reason behind the idleness is because it was Rafael's last few days in Manila (I'm in a long distance relationship remember!!) so we really maximized all the time we can spend hanging out with each other (yihee) He just left this morning though :( and the next time I'll be with him again is 4 months from now hayyyy! Enough drama. :b Anywho! Another reason why I didn't have enough time to update is because this semester in school just started so I'm also really busy trying to adjust to my new subjects and profs. Those 12 days of hiatus left me with about 30 backlog posts, yup, no exaggeration soooo! I'm back to business starting tomorrow! ;)

Mr.Jones

2012-01-06T23:39:00.000+08:00

Notice the different look of the images on this post? Yeah, I had so much free time tonight hence the maarte photos :b this is just gonna be a quick post before I go to bed - yayyy Rafael's gonna be back from Cebu tomorrow!! yeyeyeyeyeahhh

Mr. Jones exudes that 1950's American diner vibe. They recently just renovated the place, bought the area next to them and added more seats and space!

we borrowed one of the foosballs while waiting for the food to arrive

I won btw :)

Root Beer Float

Lip Lickin' Seafood Bites and Chews

Lightly coated fried clams, dory, prawns, calamaris served with 3 dipping sauces: caper, lemon dill butter, roasted bell peppers with pesto, classic tartar topped with caviar - Don't you just love the bucket presentation? It looks like the fisherman just caught the seafood, I liked the tartar sauce the most.

Jones' Famous U.S. Ribcap Tapa ♡

The reason why we had dinner in Mr.Jones! I've been craving for this! Not your run of the mill tapa. Mr. Jones uses rib cap which is a mixed slab of meat and fat thus making the beef tender, incredibly thin and just foodgasmically flavorful. You have to try this! One of the best pinoy tapas of your life :)

Wicked Truffle Mac and Cheese ♡

There's a lot going on here, don't get me wrong though, everything contributed to the total deliciousness. 3 different kinds of pastas which are all cooked perfectly, 4 cheeses that you'll really see and taste, overloaded toppings and the most amazing part is that you can really smell the truffle scent while the dish is being delivered to your table. Definitely one of the best truffle mac and cheese in the metro!

They have a very wide list of comfort food and drinks that will surely cater to patrons of different age, gender, diet plan etc. The waiters are all courteous, hip and entusiastic. Some may find their menu priced above par but the huge servings and quality of food definitely make up for it! :)

click to enlarge Mr. Jones menu taken on December 23, 2011

1/Lvl. Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St., Legaspi Vill.Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 501-3111

Haiku

2012-01-05T22:22:00.000+08:00

Christmas day so as expected, all the restaurants in Greenbelt were jam packed. It was extra hard for my fambam to get a table because there's about 11 of us. After so many restaurants, we finally found one that's not crowded, not really a good sign to dine at but we were all starving so there was no room for being choosy. Considering that they barely had customers, ample attention on us was expected but NO! First, we had to wait to be seated for 10-15 minutes even when there were so many readily available tables inside. Next, when we finally got to be seated, we had to wait about 10 more minutes just for our orders to be taken, and then the wildest part was the waiting time for food to be served, 20-30 minutes. Just from that alone took almost an hour. The waiters are enthusiastic but it seems like they just really lack training or something. I know I've done too much complaining already but it doesn't end here. Keep reading...

Look at the ceiling, look at that. If there's one thing that turns me off about places, be it a club, restaurant, shop, etc. it's when their ventilation system is exposed like that. I don't know why but I hate it! I HATE IT. I HAYRETTTT! Come on, you're not a cold storage plant okay?

Here's another one, my dad was the one who pointed it out to me. We were given about 10 teacups and 4 had a huge crack on them. And so after the loooooong wait, our food finally arrived.

Agedashi Tofu

I had a really bad first impression of Haiku so I was already expecting substandard quality of food but this one shocked me. The first dish to be served was simple yet tasted exceptional. The tofu was fresh, crunchy on the outside and went so well with the delicate sauce.

California Maki

One of the worst california makis I've tasted, it's in the same level as the ones from Tokyo Tokyo. Rice was hard and not sticky, didn't feel like Japanese rice at all.

Ebi Tempura

pretty decent.

Tonkatsu

average

Gindara Teriyaki

For a gindara teriyaki lover like me, this one would pass above average. The sauce was dulcet and the fish was creamy. It's also nice that there's more sauce drizzled on the plate, that way you have the option to put how much you want on the fish depending on your taste preference.

Unagi Teriyaki

Seemed a little over cooked

Ribeye Steak US Angus Beef

I liked the flavor but it was kind of tough and overpriced. Not worth the money.

Ribeye Steak Local

This one's half the price of the US angus beef and there's no difference between the flavor and serving between the two so it's a smarter move to just order this.

Beef Ramen

me: babe how's your ramen?

Rafael: pangit.

enough said

Beef Ramen

With the kind of service they manifested, I won't recommend Haiku. There are plenty other choices out there, Japanese restaurants which can serve the same, or better quality of food, with better facilities and no cracked plastic cups. I'm going to end this entry with yet another complaint, I know they've been around for years now but they're situated in an upscale location so I'm hoping they will find the time to replace their menu, it's not really that hard. Seriously, the texts are fading already.

click to enlarge Haiku menu taken on December 25, 2011

2/F Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

(02) 757 45 97

Parmigiano

2012-01-04T17:41:00.001+08:00

If you're around the area of Resorts World Manila and thinking of a place where you can take your family or a small group of friends to lunch, dinner, whatever, you have to consider Parmigiano Pizzeria Ristorante or Parmigiano for short. This is one of the restaurants I keep going back to, the service, ambiance, food quality and price check, check and check! Also because it's the nearest Italian restaurant from my house hehe :b

The seats and the walls gave a little more upscale look. The cylindrical hanging lantern lights and arco floor lamps helped provide a better, more modernly fashionable lighting in the place. Plastered on the ceiling are some basic Italian dining greetings, including the ever so famous Buon Appetito!

Once the table is occupied, it is immediately served with complimentary foccacias, which are always served hot and soft! Don't you just love delicious, FREE food? :)

Insalata Di Cesare ♡

Fresh romaine lettuce, chunkier than the usual bacon bits and creamy homemade dressing. All positive comments on this one but really, the nicest thing about their Caesar salad is that a piccolo (Italian for small) order can already feed 2-3 stomachs.

Frittura Di Calamari

I've dined in Parmigiano 4 times and this is the only time I was disappointed with the calamari. It just seemed too ordinary, when normally it would be chewy and flavorful even sans the marinara sauce.

Gambero Aglio e Olio d' Oliva

Such a fancy name for buttered prawns haha! Anyways, there are only 3 pieces but the size and savor of the prawns definitely made up for its price.

Ravioli Al Funghi

This one's a must try for white sauce and mushroom lovers. A little too saucy but trust me, more is better than less! Next time though I'll probably order the regular pasta al funghi as I'm getting bored with this, I kinda wanna slurp slurp haha

Risotto Ala Parmigiana

Arborio rice cooked with parmigiano Reggiano cheese and sprinkled with shaved Parmesan, Rafael can eat this alone for an entire meal but me, I can't. Too cheesy for my taste, chaka baka kainin ako ni Mickey Mouse chos!

Pollo Arrosto con Patate ♡

YOU DO NOT DINE IN PARMIGIANO WITHOUT HAVING THIS ON YOUR TABLE! This is one of the best roasted chickens I've had. The flavor's deeply penetrated into the soft meat so it's juicy up to the bone. It comes in either half or whole but I strongly suggest you go for the whole order if you're dining with at least 3 people.

Tre Salsiccia

This one's their take on meat lover's pizza, the price is reasonable but we all found it too wet and sour.

2nd Level, Newport Boulevard, Newport City, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
(+63 2) 659-8295
Monday to Sunday 11:00am to 11:00pm

Jamba Juice

2012-01-03T11:46:00.000+08:00

Aaaaaaaaand it's finally here!!! (This would've sounded one billion times more exciting if I posted this entry 2 months ago haha) The same group of people who brought in Krispy Kreme here did it again! We finally have Jamba Juice in Manila!

I conquered the first ever branch of Jamba Juice Philippines together with 2 of my friends, Yanna and Julinel! On our way to Bonifacio High Street, they were talking about how they didn't really like the mango based drinks in the states as they use Mexican mangoes. They were really looking forward to trying out the ones here because they were assuming that Philippine mangoes will be used for their drinks but after placing their order, the clerk made them aware that they also use Mexican mangoes. BOo! I hope that since this one's located here in Manila, maybe they can try supporting our local products, I mean come on! We inarguably have one of the best tasting, sweetest and freshest mangoes in the world! pinoypride ;)

The burst of their bubble lead them to opting for the Banana Berry instead and they both liked it very very much!

Chunky Strawberry Topper

I went for one of the choices under the fruit & yogurt parfait selection. I didn't really pay attention to the description and just focused on the main title. The "chunky strawberry topper" sounded the most appetizing to me so I got that. At first it was okay, I really liked the granola and bananas, they were sweet! Then I dug into the strawberry / yogurt smoothie underneath, tasted it and that's when I felt the strong peanut butter flavor. I had no idea it contained peanut butter, and it contained a lot! I don't like peanut butter. So I went back to the counter right away and got some other drink instead hahaha

Razzmatazz

I loved my second choice of drink so much! A smoothie mixture of strawberries, bananas and orange sherbet, sooo delicious and refreshing!

We were just hanging out there when one of the staffs approached our table to ask about our Jamba Juice experience. I said that I wasn't such a fan of the chunky strawberry topper and I was offered another drink for free! ;) Too bad I've already ordered and finished my Razzmatazz hehe they have really great staff! All smiles when we arrived up until we left. Visit them now and get jambafied! ;)

7th Avenue corner 29th Street South, Bonifacio High Street, 1634 Fort Bonifacio, Philippines
M - Th: 7am-11pm F-Su: 7am-1am
http://www.facebook.com/jambajuiceph?sk=info
http://jambajuice.ph

Yabu

2012-01-02T08:31:00.000+08:00

Here goes my first post for 2 O I 2! I wanna start this year of food blogging right so I'm gonna go with a restaurant where I have nothing but good comments ;)

Tonkatsu for me is nothing but an ordinary deep fried breaded pork. I can't remember a time when I dined in a Japanese restaurant and actually ordered this kind of dish. But after dining at Yabu, I now have a completely different perspective of it! Every single thing they claim on their description of the food they offer just fits right in! The difference between an ordinary breading and their fresh Japanese breadcrumbs or "panko", and the health benefits of their 100% natural canola oil which you'll really see and taste on how not oily their food is! All of this combined and you get a gratifying result of authentic Japanese katsu!

There are lots of blogs out there with photos of Yabu's facade but just for my blog's sake, I will post some too. They have seats perfect for 2 people and for large groups as well. Wood and leather are the dominant textures of the place, like the tables, seats and walls. Every desk has its own set of condiments which includes Japanese chili powder, salad dressing, etc.

There are lots of interesting and informative readings on the menu so place your orders first before proceeding to reading while waiting for your food to arrive :)

A few minutes before our food was officially served, one of the waiters approached our table to show us how to make our own sauce. I could really smell the aroma of the sesame seeds while I was grinding them on the griddled bowl. After that, I finally mixed it with some Worcestershire sauce and tadahhh my katsu sauce is ready!

Rafael's take on an "artistic" shot of me... fail

Every food set in Yabu comes with Japanese rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, unlimited cabbage(which I tell you is so fresh and crunchy and goes perfectly with their dressing!) and a bowl of fruit. One order is already a complete meal! Sulit.

Chicken and Seafood Katsu Set

It was a no brainer move for me to order from the mixed katsu sets section as I'm the type of person who prefers different textures and flavors inside my mouth over just one kind of food for my entire meal, it bores me. This set includes chicken, black tiger prawn, squid, oyster, eggplant and pepper originally but since I'm not such a fan of oysters, I asked if it was possible for them to replace the oysters with fish instead (I love fish!!!) the waiter confirmed it with the kitchen, and they gladly agreed upon my request! It's so nice when restaurants know how to be flexible like that, it definitely gives a more pleasurable dining experience to customers. So what is the verdict? Extraordinary. I was so satisfied as I crunched my way to each and every item on this set! The chicken was so tender that the use of chopsticks to slice it was enough, the fish was so soft, the scallop tasted really fresh, the prawn was large. With or without the sauce this one's a winner. I now have very high expectations for katsu! I feel like ordering this kind of dish in other restaurants would just end up with a big disappointment.

an up-close view of the fish

Premium Tonkatsu Set

Rafael ordered the premium tonkatsu set. What makes this special is that the meat used here is Kurobota, which is heavily marbled so it results to a more tender pork. When Rafael's eyes go like this O.O ...I know right away that the food he just tried is "bomb" (according to his lexicon) and he had that reaction after his first bite of the premium tonkatsu. He made me try it and I loved it too! The elevated wire mesh stand made it externally crunchy and flaky on both sides with no evident sign of too much oiliness and the pork was softer and pink-er than the usual.

Yabu does not only have fantastic food but also fantabolous service! All the waiters are very energetic, bubbly and alert! You won't regret dining here! It's really the house of katsu!

click to enlarge Yabu: House of Katsu menu taken on December 21, 2011

2/F Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, 1552 Manila, Philippines
(02) 5763900
Mon - Sun: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
http://www.yabuhouseofkatsu.com/index2.php
http://www.facebook.com/yabuhouseofkatsu

Happy 2012!

2011-12-31T23:02:00.000+08:00

Happy happy new year everyone! 2011 has been amazing for me and I hope the same goes out to all of you :) sorry for not being able to blog for a few days, I'm still currently enjoying my vacation here in Hong Kong, good thing I found the time to squeeze in a blog entry while waiting for the countdown! I'll be back in Manila tomorrow so yep, new posts coming right up! ;) again, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world this year 2011! :)

Chef's Table

2011-12-27T10:05:00.003+08:00

About 2 weeks ago, instead of partying the Friday night away, my friend Danika and I found ourselves in a completely different frame of mind and just opted for a night of chill dining. We headed to Chef's Table and it is highly recommended that you give them a call beforehand just to make sure that you have seats, it was a weekend and the place was jam packed when we got there but because we made a reservation, we were lucky enough to be given a spot by the bar, which gave us a perfect view of what's going on in the kitchen ...and the bald chefs. YES! All the chefs are bald because that's how the owner Chef Bruce intended it to be, for hygienic purposes.

wide open kitchen

stairs going to the mezzanine floor, which can also serve as a function area

distinct geometrical high ceiling

Mini Agarao & Dalandan Spirit

Chef's Table has an extensive list of their original alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.

It was a no brainer for me to get the Mini Agarao, FYI I have a penchant for buco-lychee concoction.

Danika got the Dalandan Spirit which she liked but I found too carbonated.

Reversed Sotanghon Soup ♡

Instant plus pogi points for creativity here. First, the fried noodles is served dry and crispy, after that it is poured with the steaming French onion soup, then you watch while your sotanghon slowly melts and softens. My favorite part about this is how the liempo bits managed to stay crunchy even after being soaked in the soup.

Fried Pusit♡

the hot oil blanched squid was fun to chew and went well with the green mango salad

Inasal na Chicken Caesar Salad

the greens are fresh and the dressing is light

the meat was tasty however, I wish they added more chicken.

Calamansi Tuyo Spaghetti♡

days before this, Danika and I tried out the "tuyo spaghetti" from a restaurant called The Room Upstairs and it was NOTHING compared to this! Every slurp of the pasta was full of the perfect sourness with just the right hint of spice. I don't eat tuyo because I always thought it was too bony and I might choke to death (O.A.) but I was eatingthe one on top of this like it was stick-o. Every element in this dish was perfectly combined. Definitely a great infusion of pinoy pasta.

Kare Kare

I originally ordered the Braised Liempo which from what I recall is one of the most tender and perfectly flavored pork bellies I have tried but it wasn't available that night. I went for the kare kare instead as recommended by the waiter who told me that this was the best seller. It was a good choice, it was delicious, nicely presented and really soft! There's a catch here though!! Just keep reading...

Bagoong Rice

This went perfectly well with the kare kare!

Buko Pie Martini

I went ahead and started devouring on the buko pie martini, which I couldn't resist, the creaminess ahhhhh. It has real buco pie crumbs underneath and every scoop releases a smoke that proves just how freshly made it is.

Danika was still enjoying her kare kare and bagoong rice and out of nowhere she calls my attention and asks what was that thing on her food, we were both in shock to find... A strand of facial hair buried within the meat!! We discretely called the attention of our server and he quickly informed the manager about this. After a few minutes she approached our table and humbly asked for an apology and offered to just replace the dish but we said it's okay, we're done eating anyway so she just offered to remove the item from our bill which we gladly agreed upon. I have dined in Chef's Table thrice and this is the first time something like this happened. Let me get one thing straight, I am not posting this to sabotage Chef's Table, I just want to be honest with my feedback and experiences on blogging about food places so peace!!

facial hair strand

They also slashed the Buko Pie Martini from the total bill :)

Service is exceptionally great they are all very well trained, polite and fast.

Pricing is reasonable

click to enlarge Chef's Table menu taken on December 16, 2011

Unit 106 The Infinity Tower 26th Street The Fort Global City Taguig, Philippines(02) 399-18-88
12NN - 2PM | 6:30PM - 12 MN
http://chefstablemanila.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chefs-Table-with-Chef-Bruce-Lim/150956614943306

Kitch' Cafe

2011-12-26T07:41:00.004+08:00

What's not to admire about the clean, bright, dainty setting of Kitch' Cafe? This was the second time I've dined there and it still didn't fail to give me that "brightening" mood.

Apple Pear Juice

This was such a refreshing drink, it's really oozing with the fruits' extract

Adobo Cream Sauce Pasta ♡

The first time my friend Danika and I tried this, we literally couldn't stop raving about how perfect it is. We found ourselves doing the same thing on the second time. The cream sauce is mellow yet the adobo essence lingers in the mouth. Also present here is a generous amount of VERY tender pork cubes, which just added to the whole deliciousness.

Kitch Beef Tapa with Salted Egg and Tomato ♡

I kept telling myself "NO D, you're not going to finish all that rice!" but I couldn't help it! The sweet tapa, salted egg and tomatoes were such soulmates inside my mouth, next thing I know the whole plate was gone.

Truffle Mac & 4 Cheese

Chicken, Portabello, Gruyere Panini

Longanisa with Tomato Pan De Sal Sandwich

We were so upset about the fact that their best selling pizza pan de sal wasn't available so we just settled for this, and ended up disappointed.

Garlic Crusted Cream Dory with Mustard Aioli Sauce

outstanding crisp crust on the outside and soft fish texture on the inside

Danika enjoying her Milky Way

Kitch' Cafe is one of the most value restaurants that I've been to this year. Prices are affordable yet you get top quality food and service. Their staffs are so friendly! They actually still remembered us even if it's been months since the last time we visited. :)

click to enlarge Kitch' Cafe menu taken on December 9, 2011

Sunvar Plaza, Pasay Rd. cor. Amorsolo, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 843-3620
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitch-Cafe/165263806844752
Su, M, T, W, Th, F, Sa: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T23:08:00.000+08:00

Merry Merry Christmas!!

Sophie's Mom

2011-12-24T11:05:00.000+08:00

Sophie's Mom is not your ordinary bakeshop. Aside from the usual pan de sal and eclairs, they also offer other delightful breads and pastries like hazelnut praline sweet buns (calling all nutella lovers!!), caramel cream puff, stookies (stuffed cookies!!) unique specialty cupcakes and how can I forget, delightful mochi ice creams and mochi truffles. All of that, baked fresh every morning at their very own patisserie.

that's me (excuse the haggard look, this was taken during my final exams week hehe) with Sophie ! I swear she's such a nice, intelligent and pretty girl!

Christmas theme at Sophie's Mom. They always have the cutest decorations that never fail to compliment the "breath of fresh air" vibe of the place! -- All made by Sophie's mom herself!

Red Velvet Cookies

Christmas packaging

Dulce De Leche, Lemon Meringue, Creme Brulee, Red Velvet

Dulce De Leche cupcake

Nutella Mochi Truffle

The flavor of this soft and chewy mochi coated in cocoa powder lingers in the mouth so it's hard to stop yourself from eating another and another, and another. I was amazed at how the nutella truffle filling gushes out slowly with each small bite.

Mochi Ice Cream

You're probably thinking (because I was too) that it would be nicer if they added food coloring to the outer part to match the flavor of the mochi ice cream, but Sophie's Mom doesn't use any artificial preservatives, and they'd like to keep it that way. Some of my favorite flavors would be the leche flan, and frozen brazo, I swear they taste EXACTLY like the real one, except in a mochi form! The mango and strawberry flavors really had fresh fruit bits within the ice cream, all natural fresh ingredients made by Sophie's Mom. Did I mention these are way affordable as compared to other brands of mochi ice cream? :)

I had to go to school after so I stocked the mochi ice creams in my car's fridge first. :)

These are just some of the unique goodies Sophie's Mom has to offer.

Check out their complete menu HERE.

8760 Santol St., San Antonio Village, 1203 Makati, Philippines
8:00 am - 9:00 pm
856-4849 / 404-8165 / 0920 912 9952
http://www.sophiesmom.com
http://www.facebook.com/sophiesmomonline

Milky & Sunny

2011-12-23T15:07:00.000+08:00

I've been hearing a lot about this all day breakfast spot and I've been itching to visit but I had to wait a month longer until Rafael gets back since it's located really near his place and I'd love to take him here for brunch. So! On his second day in Manila...

This wall in Milky & Sunny is my favorite part of the place

Bacon Tostadas

The tortillas are both soft and crispy but the salsa tasted like pinoy spaghetti tomato sauce, another off thing about this is that it's called "bacon" tostadas but it BARELY had bacon in it. I only saw about... 5 bacon bits

Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Pepperoni Omelette

The sauce on top of this tasted exactly like the salsa on the bacon tostadas. I didn't really enjoy or feel the pepperoni and mozzarella in it.

Breakfast Enchiladas

Not such a fan of this because it had too much beans on its filling. Again, the sauce tasted exactly like the salsa on the bacon tostadas, we were so sick of it already. Lesson learned: Don't order these three dishes(bacon tostadas, tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoni omelette, breakfast enchiladas) all at the same time, just pick one from them!

Tapa Rice and Egg Meal

slightly sweet, the tapas were packed with deliciousness, but tough. :(

Chicken and Waffles

The waffles were soft and delicious, there was just a right amount of syrup. Dilemma: The chicken inside was too dry.

Banana King Kong French Toast

This one's the best among all our orders. (would've been the tapa if it wasn't tough) The bananas, french toast, nutella, syrup just went well together, it was soft, sweet and dainty.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pancake

Kudos to the pancakes for having the perfect fluffiness! + there was an abundant amount of strawberry syrup/jam and cream cheese!

Hot Chocolate

Too bitter.

Cappucino

It's either I expected too much from Milky & Sunny or their food is just really disappointing. In my opinion, they still have a lot of improvement to work on with their food. The service wasn't so bad though. The best thing about Milky & Sunny is how the place was designed to look so cute and entertaining with the little details and colors all over the restaurant.

click to enlarge Milky & Sunny menu taken on December 20, 2011

9 Briggy Hall, East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, 1603 Pasig, Philippines
Mon - Sun 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
http://www.facebook.com/milkynsunny?sk=wall

Recipes

2011-12-19T22:51:00.000+08:00

This is going to be a very quick post. I just really can't sleep coz of too much excitement going on in my system! Just so you guys know, I'm in a long distance relationship (yihee) and my most favorite boy in the world willfinally be back in a few hours!! After exactly 123 days :) :) I'm so so so so excited! K moving on...

Sotanghon Soup

We were surprised when the bowl was placed on the table, we didn't expect the soup of the day to come in such a big serving. This was mellow but still possessing the real flavors of a sotanghon. There was an adequate amount of toppings present on the soup as well.

Chicharon Bulaklak

it was crispy and not too oily

Lechon Kawali w/ Kangkong

I like how the sinful lechon kawali is mixed with a healthy bed of kangkong. Each layer of the pork was great. The skin was crispy, the fatty part was not oily and the meat itself was crunchy and soft. It comes with this sauce that goes well with both the veggies and lechon kawali.

Crispy Tilapia with Tamarind Sauce

The fish was cut into boneless strips which made eating it easier. What really made this dish extraordinary and exciting is the tasty tamarind sauce, it was sweet and sour but very mellow.

my friend Julinel and my goddaughter Julia :)

Our food was served fast. There was a waitress on standby near our table and she was very attentive, although I don't understand why they don't give glasses along with the bottled water, we had to ask for it. And it happened twice. Nevertheless we liked Recipe's food a lot and agreed that it's really value for money.

click to enlarge Recipes menu taken on December 7, 2011

3rd Level, Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City, Philippines

Tournè

2011-12-18T11:14:00.000+08:00

Every now and then, I go "website hopping" in search of interesting places to add to my list of restaurants to check out. I came across Tournè (french term for "turned") by Chef Sandralyn Hataway and I was instantly intrigued upon reading that they change their menu every 2 weeks! I also learned about their advocacy for "slow food" (you'll know more about it later) and their support for local farmers by using ingredients fresh from our very own fields. I just had to conquer the place right away. I made a reservation through their website around 8am and got a confirmation call at around 10am.

Some touch of plaid and sky blue gingham tablecloths in a white and clean setting, this gives off such sunny and bright vibes. I swear the dining room of my future house will look something like this :b

open kitchen

what is "slow food"?

vivid colored fresh flowers on every table

Complimentary soya chips and a homemade special dip to enjoy while waiting for order(s) to be served. I find the dip very interesting, I'm not sure what ingredients are in there exactly but the flavor surprisingly changes with every bite together with the semi-sweet soya chips.

Their iced tea was very unique and authentic, it really had that aromatic after taste.
The strawberry juice was so fresh, I could even feel the strawberry seeds!

Chicken and Amsis Farm's Organic Basil ♡

It may look simple but I swear, every single ingredient(pesto sauce, artisan Neufchatel cheese, chicken strips) lying on the hot and soft homemade dough will leave a distinguish palatable taste in your mouth. This made me extra excited for the other dishes to be served!

Marlin Shitake Skewers ♡

We were promptly advised by the waiter that they ran out of marlin and if it's alright that they will use tanigue as a subsitute, I don't see much difference between those 2 fishes so I said okay right away. The fish was soft and didn't need any sauce or dip, it was flavorful on its own. I was already happy and satisfied until I mixed it with the bagoong rice, it tasted even better! It was such a perfect combination.

Surf and Turf

I was torn between this and the Adobo Chicken Thigh a la Tourne. I originally went for the latter one but minutes later the waiter went back to inform that it's not available anymore so I ended up with the Surf and Turf anyway. The 3 different components of this main course had their own exciting thing going on. The flavors were all distinct from one another. However, I find the steak more on the tough side and the edges of the potato gratin harder than the usual. Those are some flaws I found here but other than that, I can still honestly say that this is truly delicious.

The servers are well trained and very cordial. There were a lot of guests when we got there but they still managed to pay an all out attention to us. The owner, Chef Sandralyn was also there and caught me taking photos of the place and greeted me with a warm smile and a simple greeting. Overall, I had such a pleasant first dining experience here, I definitely can not wait to come back and try out their next set of dishes! I highly recommend this restaurant.

Unit 5 and 6 the Fort Strip 7th Ave. Cor. 26th St. BGC, 1634 Manila, Philippines
(02) 555 0267
http://www.tournerestaurant.com

Ramen Bar

2011-12-17T14:47:00.000+08:00

On the hunt for authentic Ramen in the metro? You can never go wrong with Ramen Bar. I should know because I have already witnessed two really close people to me that ordered Ramen in some random Japanese restaurant and regretted it drastically. I also once ate here with a friend from Japan and she mentioned that this is one of the best Ramens she has tried in Manila. The interiors are very straightforward, nothing too fancy, just some wooden furniture and details here and there plus dark red painted walls.

I appreciate how Ramen Bar added a glossary on their menu to familiarize people (like me) with no knowledge of terms like chasyu, naruto, negi, kakuni, etc. It's really informational and hepful.

Kakuni Buns

The buns are served hot and soft but I find the sauce too sweet and too much for its size, so it overflows after the first 2 bites. Nevertheless this would still fall under average, not below average.

Shoyu Ramen

The main reason why we went to Ramen Bar is to pacify my friend's recent bad encounter in a Japanese restaurant called Zaifu. I wish I took a photo of the "Shoyu Ramen" from Zaifu so you can see how big the difference is between that and Ramen Bar's. The soup says it all. With Ramen Bar's Shoyu Ramen, you can instantly notice how deep the color is while the one from Zaifu literally looked like they just poured hot water with about 5 drops of seasoning, it was so clear that you can see the pechay or whatever vegetable they used for that. Ramen Bar's soup is salty and savory yet still light on the palate.

R.B.S. #1

I always order R.B.S.#1 because it has the most toppings. Everything here, from the chasyu and kakuni down to the tamago really contributed into turning this into a sapid dish. I specifically like how the texture felt inside my mouth whenever I'd chew on the Ramen noodles together with the black curly noodles (? not sure what it's called) and lastly, I clearly remember how the chasyu broke apart when I tried to pick it up to transfer it. I was surprised, just goes to show how really tender the meat is.

Service is smooth and fast, as always.
Prices are reasonable considering the quality of food and the size of serving, one bowl can definitely get you full and satisfied!

click to enlarge * Ramen Bar menu * taken on December 12, 2011

Ground Level, The Venice Piazza, Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 552-1636
Su, M, T, W, Th: 9:00 am - 10:00 pm F, Sa: 9:00 am - 11:00 pm

Cupcakes by Sonja

2011-12-16T06:24:00.000+08:00

Just because it's National Cupcake Day today.

If there's one cupcake place here in Manila that everyone knows about, it would definitely be Cupcakes by Sonja. Before anything else, let me just get one thing straight: It's Son-Ja, not son-YUH and please, not son-HUH. Son-jjjja.

The metal French garden inspired seats outside, red/pink/white striped walls and cute floral patterns gave such a sophisticated, distinctive look to the small bakeshop. Cupcakes by Sonja offers a wide variety of unique cupcakes and also some other goodies such as cookies, whoopie pies, milkshakes, etc. I wanted to try out the bubblegum milkshake but it wasn't available the night I dropped by, boo!!

Vanilla Sunshine, Chocolate Surprise, Red Velvet Vixen, PB&J

When it comes to red velvet cupcakes, I always recommend Sonja's. Aside from the satisfying large size and fluffiness of the cupcake, what really makes this is the icing. It's d i v i n e! The amount of cream cheese is just right and the consistency is perfect. I honestly wouldn't mind drinking a glass of the icing alone. hehe

The scent of the peanut butter icing was very dominant when I opened the box. I didn't get to try it though, as I'm not a fan of peanut butter.

The creme brulee cupcake tart was a tad too sweet for my taste buds.

click to enlarge Cupcakes by Sonja menu taken on December 14, 2011

1C 03 Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(02) 856-0308
http://cupcakesbysonja.com
http://www.facebook.com/cupcakesbysonja
Su, F, Sa: 11:00am - 1:00am M, T, W, Th: 11:00am - 12:00mn

Mic Test

2011-12-15T16:05:00.000+08:00

Hiiii! Here it is. THE reason for my 2 week food blogging hiatus. I have apparently revamped the entire blog and also changed my domain from Hello Hungry Girl to D Hungry Girl. I hope that just like me, you guys like this one way better than the previous one! Oodles of delicious posts coming right up! So try to drop by as often as possible. ;)