my summer movie: Sex and the City the movie

I can't wait for May 28 to come along! Ü

In throwing a birthday Pizza party

My birthday is coming up and it has been a tradition eversince that I would start celebrating it a week in advance and this will go on up until a after week my actual birth date. The same practice was done again this year but it was made extra special because I was successfully able to combine good food to be shared a wonderful group of friends.

Pizza with the Boys (and the Girls)

It's no secret that I love Paul very very very much and I'm thankful that he has a great set of friends who eventually became my friends as well. Ü To kick off my 2008 birthday celebration, I treated the group to a simple pizza party complete with a couple of beer and loads of laughter.

Of course, as a foodie, I shall not settle for just any type of pizza other than one that is unique and delicious. Thus, prompted my search for the best pizza in town. Browsing through the pages of fellow bloggers, I was able to get quite a lot of suggestions from the ever famous Brooklyn Pizza to the classy gourmet pizza of Caffe Caruso and Cibo. Still, I know I'm still on a look out for something else.

It was just perfect timing that Paul's bestfriend Lex, showed me a link that directed me to a multiply site of an up-and-coming pizza company: Sandy's Pizza, it read. Browsing through the site, I learned that they are just located nearby and they already had TV guestings as well. Wow! This just might be it!

More on Sandy and her Pizza
I set the date and Lex was super kind enough to lend me his place for the pizza party. The invite was sent out and my pizza party is finally happening! I was so excited that I called Sandy to place my order 5 days in advance. Sandy is a very nice lady who patiently answered all my inquiries. She even helped me choose which flavors to get as I wanted to try them ALL! Finally, we settled for an 18" pie with four flavors and a 14" with two more flavors. That's what I'd call getting 6 flavors with one call! haha

Finally, my pizza party day has arrived and at exactly 815PM my order was delivered. Opening the first box to inspect, I was greeted with a mouth-watering garlicky scent that made my stomach rumble. It sure looks good! My only comment was that the pizza was dizzled with a bit too much oil that eventually made it soggy.

We immediately served the pizza and there were a lot of moments of silence as everyone seems to be enjoying their own slice of pizza! Hooray!

Here's what we got:

18" pizza (P545)Combination of White cheese, Italian Sausage & Mushroom, Garlic Chorizo and Tuyo in Olive Oil

14" pizza (P390) Combination of Pizza Margherita and Meatzarella

The white cheese is a blend of Mozzarella, Parmesan and Kesong Puti, this has always been my favorite and I like it that Sandy didn't scrimp on the amount of cheese used for my pizza. As for the Filipino special flavors, the tuyo in olive oil sadly has a very weak tuyo (salty dried fish) flavor which was a bit of a disappointment since there were a lot of tuyo fans in the group. The garlic chorizo, on the other hand, was pretty good that everyone who got a slice of this were left satisfied.

Meat lovers should rejoice because it will definitely be a meat loaded pizza with Meatzarella and Italian Sausage and Mushrooms. The Meatzarella has beef, pepperonie, chunks of bacon and italian sausage perfect for a pizza night with the boys. The Italian Sausage and Mushroom has a more sophisticated taste. I love biting into the chunks of italian sausage while the mushroom perfectly tones down the strong flavor of the meat.

Lastly, my second favorite -- the Pizza Margherita. This was personally recommended by Sandy who told me that her version has a pesto tomato base and is topped with mozzarella and fresh basil. Since I love herbs most especially basil, I couldn't say no to her offer. I'm glad I got this because it sure was a winner! The pesto flavor was just right that it wouldn't leave you with a terrible herb-y bad breath after enjoying your pizza while the basil enhances the flavor with a sweet note.

I enjoyed the great service of Sandy who personally took my order, openly shared with me her recommendations on which flavors to get and even offered to deliver my pizza at no extra cost when I was initially planning to pick this up from her place.

I'm happy that she's opening a branch along J. Abad Santos, San Juan which is just a stone throw away from my humble abode. Looks like I'll be having more of Sandy's pizza soon!

You may contact Sandy's Pizza at 7218334/7218929 or watch out for the grand opening of her first ever store at J. Abad Santos, San Juan (right in front of the old Aviary).

angels still DO exist out here

Today started out just like an ordinary day. I woke up with a bit more energy knowing that it's friday and the weekend is just a couple of hours away. I prepared for work and thank God that I didn't have to take the cab because my sister made that sacrifice to do so just to let me get more sleep and have my parents drive me to work instead. At the office, I was the first to arrive giving me time to check my mails and to sort out some papers before the phone begins to ring like crazy. Everything was pretty normal, I had oatmeal for breakfast and salad for lunch. Finally, I'm starting my no-rice diet. Ü

Who would have thought that one simple conversation can change my day from being great to the best?

It happened so fast but it's one thing that I'll never forget ever! Apparently, a dear friend and fellow blogger, was paying close attention to my wish list (located at the side bar of this blog) and look what she gave me:


It was definitely a very pleasant surprise but it made me realize that there are still a lot of nice people in this world Ü I really appreciate the sweet gesture and I love love love my new tripod!! THANK YOU PHOEBE!!!

I Love You Pepper Lunch!

One of my resolutions this year (and for the past 15 years at that) was to lose all the unwanted pounds and to live a healthy, sexy life forever! Unfortunately, I've been pushing this back from time to time, later on realizing that I am NOT progressing at all *sigh*. With my increase fondness for food blogging and continuous quest to share with all of you the newest and coolest food places out there, I know I have to be more careful in adding more weight and in putting my health in danger.

Last week, I made a new resolution to totally cut rice out of my diet. Since I always have a bowl of oatmeal in the morning and a small pandesal for lunch, I realized that I might as well continue eating light for the entire day. My no-rice plan was suppose to begin yesterday. Oh dear, this was until I realized that I am meeting up with a couple of fellow bloggers to try Pepper Lunch, the newest and most talked about restaurant in Powerplant Mall.

I've heard so much about their oh-so-soft-it-melts-in-your-mouth steak, their spicy yet so addictive pepper rice and a lot more! It also doesn't help that I've been a regular visitor of Chuvaness.com, which has been giving us the exciting updates about Pepper Lunch since Day 0.

Looks like I have to move my no-rice plan one day back to give way to my first ever experience at Pepper Lunch. (Note to self: Just one more day, I promise...)

I arrived at Powerplant Mall way ahead than everyone else because I had to do some work at the store first. I took a peek at Pepper Lunch thinking that the restaurant might still be empty (it was around 6PM then) and I can still take a decent photo of the facade. Guess what? All tables were occupied already. "Woah! Filled up at 6PM? Oh no!"

I worked at the store and made my way down right after, my friends have already arrived and were all at the entrance of the restaurant choosing what to order. Good thing we were given a table right away. I love it that they have an organized system wherein a group gets a number and once the table is ready, they can place their order, pay at the counter then tell the cashier the assigned table number. In less than 10 minutes, your order will be served to you by their friendly and very accomodating restaurant crew.

For this visit, I tried the Salmon and Chicken Plate at P465 for the entire meal (VAT inclusive). At first, I personally find it a bit pricey. However, together with this comes a glass of softdrink and a bowl of fragrant Japanese Rice which totally made me postponed my no-rice diet for the next day.

Cooking it was fun too! It's like having your own mini teppanyaki griller in front of you. Following the instructions of the restaurant crew, I have to quickly spread the japanese butter onto the salmon and chicken then turning it faced down for it to cook. What I did was as soon as I flipped them to allow the butter to sizzle, I flipped it back to make sure I get to coat both sides. Haha! My chef-wannabe self was having a ball!

I drizzled some Garlic Soy Sauce on my veggies but later realized that I liked the Honey Soy Sauce better.

I slowly sliced a piece of salmon and ate it cautiously in case it's still burning hot and might make me lose my poise (kakahiya naman!:P). Good thing, the heat was just right and I can feel the salmon meat melting slowly as the flavor begins to spread out. IT'S.SOOOOOOO.GOOD. As I was beginning to fall into a trance of salmon happiness, Phoebe, who ordered the same thing as I did, asked me how I find the salmon. I was at a lost of words as I ended up just nodding and flashing her a thumbs up sign. She got it right: "It's illegally fresh". I have to agree as I only expect this kind of salmon freshness from a high end Japanese restaurant that will charge you an arm and a leg for a generous piece.

However, it wasn't only the salmon that got my approval for this dish. In fact, the chicken deserves just as much praise. I love how they were able to keep it so juicy that no dips or sauces are needed to enhance the flavor. It's teriyaki chicken that doesn't scrimp on the meat.

Lastly, the rice. Oh boy, the one that made me move my diet one day back. How can I ever say no to Japanese rice? What more, a bowl of fragrant, shiny white Japanese rice? The rice was so good that I think it's possible to eat it alone. Now I wonder how Japanese girls can stay so skinny with such delicious rice? Hmm...

Sweet Endings

A good meal deserves a good ending. Thanks to Jayvee who was sooooo nice that he treated us to a couple of PL's desserts for us to sample and rave about.

First up was the Vanilla Crepe Cake (P120). There's something very familiar with this cake when I first saw it. It was as if I've seen this before even if I know that it's not locally made. I took and bite and tried to rack my brains some more. Then I remembered! It was similar to an Indonesian cake that our partners from Indonesia brought for us to try during our coffee tasting in Cebu. That was it! I loved that cake so much I think I had two to three servings that morning. Pepper Lunch's Vanilla Crepe Cake tastes very similar to the Indonesia cake but is more creamy and soft. Yet, it maintains its lightness and agreeing with Juned, it's something fun to eat because you won't get stuffed easily. I'd like a cup of coffee with my Vanilla Crepe Cake please Ü

side by side comparison:
Pepper Lunch's Vanilla Crepe Cake and Starbuck Coffee Indonesia's coffee cake
(I forgot the actual name)
I was simply blown away with the yummy Vanilla Crepe Cake that I was totally caught off guard when I took a small slice of the Molten Milk Chocolate Cake (P120). "Woah!" was my initial reaction. I got to say, I am admittedly a molten chocolate cake lover! First was Cyma's Skolatina and now Pepper Lunch's Milk Chocolate Cake. I love slicing the soft, chiffon-like cake and later on seeing the rich, milky chocolate sauce slowly oozing out like a dramatic volcano. It's just chocolate heaven! Once again, my coffee please?

Milk Chocolate Cake
Lastly, there was the Korumitsu Ice Cream (P30). This is japanese soft served ice cream served with brown unidentified syrup. It looks like caramel to some while others things it's something else. Nonetheless, we all agree that it's pretty good but sadly the first two desserts are tough contenders which makes this poor little fellow look like an ordinary dessert similar to the sundaes of Mcdonald's.
Korumitsu Ice Cream
Surveying what my friends ordered, I realized that the price really do justify the high quality that they make sure is present in all their food items. To enjoy a wonderful meal at Pepper Lunch, make sure to prepare around P500 per head as price ranges from P235 (Beef/Chicken/Pork Pepper Steak meal) up to P660 (Rib Eye Steak meal).
It was a fun night hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones. Till our next food trip!!
All present!
1st column: Phoebe, Sophie, Didi and Juned
2nd column: AJ, Jayvee and yours truly

Pepper Lunch is located at the Ground Floor of the Powerplant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City

Thank God America chose the right Idol Ü

Hooray for David Cook! This year's American Idol Ü

Although both Davids were good, I'm glad a rocker won this time around. Oh Happy Day!!

What's the Latest #2: One Peso Seat Sale to Naga, Mindoro and Tuguegarao by Cebu Pacific

Here's to more travelling around the Philippines!

Cebu Pacific now has 3 new routes to Naga, San Jose (Mindoro) and Tuguegarao!

There's finally more reason to explore Apo Reef's underwater wonder in San Jose in Occidental Mindoro, to surf and ride the waves in Naga (in my case I can finally buy all those pili nuts that I truly loveeee) or to go spelunking in the caves of Callo, Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley!

Woah!! What's cool is the Cebu Pacific is offering tickets to these destinations for only 1 Peso from May 21 to 27, 2008 and is valid for travel until August 31, 2008!

Whatdyasay? Tara na, Biyahe Tayo!! Ü

What's the Latest #1: Chocolate Clothing Co.'s Warehouse Sale

Some piece of good news for the shoppers out there... Ü

ATTENTION CHOCOLATE LOVERS!
THE ANNOUNCEMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR....

YOU ARE INVITED TO....
CHOCOLATE CLOTHING'S WAREHOUSE SALE!
It's no big secret that we have the BEST WAREHOUSE SALES so this is another delicious Chocolate warehouse sale you won't want to miss!

WE HONORED YOUR REQUESTS TO MAKE THE SALE MORE ACCESSIBLE!!!
THIS TIME OUR FAMOUS WAREHOUSE SALE WILL BE HELD IN THE ORTIGAS AREA...


GROUND FLOOR, PACIFIC PLACE, PEARL DRIVE, ORTIGAS CENTER PASIG CITY (beside Tektite Towers)
50-70% OFF... great GRAB Jeans, beautiful dresses, party tops, fun and sexy swimwear, cool accessories, trendy tees... and more! In case you're wondering, we also have men's clothes, children's clothes and Havaianas on sale too!

SALE DATE IS ON May 28 to June 1, 2008.
WEEKDAYS May 28, 29, 30 from 8 am till 9pm
WEEKEND May 31 and June 1 from 11am till 7pm
Credit Cards and EPS accepted!
See attachment for details, directions and contact numbers!
for more information please call 643-4331, 643-6993/4, 637-9638, 633-5390, 637-5172

Visiting Fely J's Kitchen

My mother's castle was her kitchen, a small one I remember but always a festive corner wherein friends gathered. She wasn't a great chef by today's standards but she loved to cook for family and kept treasured recipes of Filipino and Asian dishes she picked up from her travels....- Larry J Cruz

I'd always say, when it rains it pours...and I'M LOVIN IT! After resting my overworked digestive system from the fun food blogger's meet two weeks ago, I got a new invite (my 2nd one!!) to attend the grand launch of Fely J's Kitchen at Greenbelt 5 last week.

I've always been a big big BIG fan of its sister restaurant, Abe, that I immediately said yes the minute I read the invite. I also invited my close friend and certified foodie Celine to enjoy the night with me :)

We all know about the LJC group and most especially on the late Larry Cruz who was highly regarded as a significant icon in the food and beverage world. Growing up, I've heard of Cafe Adriatico from my aunts and uncles, who would drive all the way to Malate for dinner and some drinks with friends. Then there's Cafe Havana, Bollywood and just recently, Abe. The list goes on but one thing stays constant -- it's the good quality of food that one can always expect from the LJC line of restaurants.

Abe was named after Larry's father, E. Aguilar Cruz and the restaurant specializes in home cooked Kapampangan favorites like Gulay Magalang, Mutton Adobo with Popped Garlic, Abe's Chicken Supreme and a whole lot more. Abe was well appreciated by the upper AB dining crowd that it just makes perfect sense for the LJC Group to introduce a new restaurant concept this time paying tribute to Mrs. Felicidad de Jesus-Cruz, the woman who gave so much inspiration and motivation to the two men in her life -- Abe and Larry Cruz.


On Fely J's

The interiors of Fely J's remind me of a traditional Filipino home with a feminine touch complete with intricate floral designs and light pink painted walls. Each table has a big orchid centerpiece which I truly love!

Surveying the buffet spread that the kitchen team has prepared for this special occasion, I see a fusion of Asian and Filipino dishes such as the: Vietnamese Fresh Spring Roll (P225) and Fresh Lumpia Ubod for starters, the Thai Shrimp and Pomelo Salad (P245), Namit Nangka sa Gata (P245) and the Nippon Surprise (P275) for the salad offerings, there's the Tilapia with Sweet Plum Sauce (P385), Ginataang Gulay at Hipon (P245) and the Lamb Kaldereta (P395) for their main dishes, and lastly, do not ever miss out on the Dilis Rice and the Char Kuey Teow (P395) to accompany the yummy main course dishes. Of course, a meal will never be complete without a sweet ending. They offered a platter of Fresh Fruits and my new found favorite -- the Maja Blanca.

The two starters were pretty so-so simply because both lack the ZING! that I was looking for especially in the Vietnamese Spring Roll. However, an accompaniment of a tasty peanut sauce might just do the trick.

The salads on the other hand will be one of the reasons why I'll definitely go back to Fely J's. I love how they mix local ingredients but giving the dish a unique identity. The Thai Shrimp and Pomelo salad, for instance, is a blend of pomelo and shrimps with peanuts and mint served on a cute cocktail glass.

While enjoying the music and slowly savoring the freshness of my salad, I was also excited to move on to the main course. For one thing, the Lamb Kaldereta simply looks inviting especially when paired with the Dilis rice. mmmm...

Thank God I was not disappointed as both dishes successfully passed the taste test with flying colors! The Lamb Kaldereta reminds me of Abe's Lamb Adobo which I will always go back for. It's perfectly cook just how a lamb meat should be. Stewed with onions, olives and other herbs, this dish is just bursting with flavor that will make you skip your carbo-diet for one night as you reach out for your second (or make that, third) serving of rice.

The Ginaatang Gulay at Hipon has sauteed shrimps and veggies with coconut cream and spices. It's your feel good Filipino food that Mom would always prepare after a long day at work.

What I enjoyed most about trying out new restaurants is when I see the creativity of the chef in creating a new yet very familiar dish. It's an interplay between going with the well-loved but giving it a new twist to make it more refreshing for the palate. One example is the Dilis Rice. Prior to this visit, I've been reading and hearing tons of raves about the rice. Friends would even tell me to "be sure to order the dilis rice!". Thank you my lucky stars as this was served during the launch giving me the chance to try it out myself. Looking at it closely, its actually piping hot steamed rice with garlic dilis on top. Hmm.."nothing that spectacular from the looks of it", from the looks of it. It wasn't until I ate this with my Lamb Kaldereta that I was able to fully appreciate this creative specialty. The dilis gives off a salty, garlicky taste to the plain rice which perfect complements any flavourful dish. It's actually like garlic rice with a twist. I absolutely love it!

Making sure we save space for dessert, Cel and I found ourselves back at the buffet table right after our dinner plates were cleared. With a wide spread of colorful fruits and native delicacies, I settled for the Maja Blanca, since I'm a fan of kakanin (glutinous rice desserts), and a piece of Banana-Langka Turon. The latter was yet another ordinary offering while the Maja Blanca was really good! It has just the right amount of sweetness, creaminess and stickiness that, in fact, makes it very addicting.

It was a pleasant evening getting to know more about Fely J's and what it has to offer. It's a perfect place for families who are looking for good ol' home cooking with a creative twist. Price ranges from P200 to P395 therefore it's wise to prepare at least P400 per head.

Fely J's Kitchen is here to treat us with a different twist in Filipino and Asian cooking. It veers away from the traditional native dishes and instead adds a motherly touch to each dish. Following the words of a famous soldier who landed in Leyte..."I shall return!"

Fely J's Kitchen is located at the 2nd level of Greenbelt 5. You may call them at 7288878 to reserve.

[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #3: Mamou

Food will always be a subjective topic for as long as its taste quality is concerned. Each one of us has a different palate and preference that while a certain dish may be too salty or sweet for my taste, it may come out to be superbly delicious for others.

I'll always be thankful for being able to have the privilege to visit new and unique food spots and to try their specialty dishes as well. However, the joys of eating also poses a bigger challenge for me, which is to thoroughly understand the story behind the restaurant, the chef and of the dish being served as well. I realized that fully appreciating food per se is not as easy as opening your mouth wide enough and chewing it well. It goes as far as slowly savoring the flavor, identifying what makes it very distinct and perhaps creating a vision on how I would like to remember it by.

Quite similar to the Disney movie Ratatouille, I get excited whenever I encounter a dish that immediately strikes a memory from the past. It may be as simple as a bowl of native chicken soup that my mom would always make when we're down with flu or a plate of tuna and mushroom pasta on olive oil, which was one of the first dishes that I was taught to make from cooking class.

During the Spot Tour, we visited a fairly new restaurant in Serendra called Mamou. Mind you, this restaurant is quickly getting popular with the Makati/Taguig dining crowd that they actually have this strict policy of two seatings reservation. The first one happens at 6PM where early dinner patrons are expected to be at the restaurant on time to be able to make way for the 2nd dining crowd coming in two hours later. The food must be really good for customers to oblige and follow the strict time reservation policy.

Luckily, I had the chance to dine at Mamou prior to the blogger's meet and believe me, I had my very own Ratatouille moment when I tried their Steak (P1,680/P2,800) served with your choice of:creamed spinach, corn pudding, baked mashed potatoes or steak rice. This dish reminds me of Dad who loves his Steak medium rare when we would occasionally dine at this popular steak house back then.

Imagine my delight as I happily but very briskly walked towards Mamou to meet no less than Malou Fores herself as she welcomed us in and introduced us to a couple of their specials like the Melba Chips with Wild Boar Terrine, Grain Mustard and Wild Blueberry Preserves, the very healthy and yummy Healdsburg's Harvest Salad (Mixed greens with dried cranberries, glazed pecans, cranberry stilton cheese and drizzled with berry vinaigrette), Roast Pork Chicken (P345/P595) which they can customized for you should you prefer all pork or all chicken, their infamous Steak and lastly my newest favorite, the Dark Chocolate Sans Rival (P180).

More on the dessert...

Being a white chocolate lover, I was a bit hesitant to try the Dark Chocolate Sans Rival thinking that my satisfied taste buds would just be ruined by the bitterness normally found in dark chocolates. However, with some prodding and convincing from my companions, I gave in and took a teeny tiny slice. Chewing it slowly, I can hardly taste the bitterness but instead enjoyed the interplay of the buttery sweetness matched with the meringue filling which complimented the dark chocolate mixture. It has a smooth finish that makes it perfect as an after dinner treat to be shared by two. Before I knew it, I was on my way back to the buffet table to get another small slice before moving on to the next stop.

Mamou will always be one of my favorite spots in Serendra. It's a perfect place to dine and catch up with good friends. Just make sure to make a reservation and to get the 2nd seating if you're planning to stay longer.

Visit Mamou at the G/F of Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Heights, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig but call them first at 8563569 or email mamou@info.com.ph

Related posts:
Spot Pass: the Bonifacio Highstreet and Serendra edition
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #1: Texas Roadhouse Grill
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #2: Polu Kai

[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #2: Polu Kai

Back in December 2006, I remembered how excited I was to visit Serendra after reading a lot of positive reviews about it. Our first stop was at Polu Kai Grill as it was one of the few restaurants who opened way ahead before the rest did. I remembered ordering two dishes which were simply forgettable. The meat was dry and tasteless, the squid (or was it fish) was nothing extraordinary. Perhaps they were just trying things out at that time but I never got around to going back and giving it another try since then. Good thing the company was great or it would have been a terrible experience as a whole.

Similar to my Haiku experience, I was surprised to see Polu Kai Grill on my list to visit during the Spot.ph Blogger's Tour. Needless to say, I was a bit hesitant being well aware of their dishes based on my previous visit. Then again, I entered the restaurant with an open mind thinking that it has been more than a year since and things might have changed.

Good thing I did or I would have probably missed out on enjoying a real good Hawaiian meal!

Browsing through the menu, I am totally loving the cute sounding names of their best-sellers which incidentally were also the ones sampled to us. There's the Aku Poki (P160) which the menu describes as Hawaii's most famous pu-pu!!! Fresh tuna chunks in shoyu sesame marinade served in a bed of lettuce. I am a big fan of raw tuna so this dish I like! It somehow reminds me of spicy tuna salad minus the wasabi and the spicy dressing normally added to this dish. Another Pu-pu (which, mind you, means appetizer in Hawaiian and not something else) is the Lomi-lomi Salmon (P160). This is very much similar to the Aku Poki except that it uses fresh salmon served with a spicy and tangy mango salsa to compliment the taste. The last and definitely my favorite was the Polu Kai Baby Back Ribs (P650). I believe that any dish that has the name of the restaurant stuck to it must be the best-seller and true enough, the baby back ribs didn't disappoint. The chef told me that they have marinated this over a long period of time and grilled it to perfection to achieve that "falling off the bones" quality. I love how the flavor was perfectly kept intact and the sauce was sooo good that I had to stop myself from scraping my plate clean.

Eating made us all thirsty and what a delight that we were served with fresh pineapple juice (P105) in a mini pineapple. This drink completed my Polu Kai Grill Hawaiian experience that I couldn't help but take a photo of my yummy drink for remembrance. Ü

Once again, good food is definitely better the second time around. Aloha!

Polu Kai Grill is located at the retail promanade of Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. It's wise to make a reservation especially during dinner time by calling them at 8560355/901-1841

Related posts:
Spot Pass: the Bonifacio Highstreet and Serendra edition
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #1: Texas Roadhouse Grill
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #3: Mamou

[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #1: Texas Roadhouse Grill

Through food blogging, I learned the importance of the saying "to see taste is to believe." This is because when Texas Roadhouse Grill first opened in Manila, a friend wrote about his horrifying experience and how bad the food was. Thus causing me to lose interest in trying it out as I figured that it will just be a waste of money and time. This was until another friend invited me out for dinner and suggested the same restaurant. It has been a year and a couple of more positive comments after that I've decided to just be more adventurous and to try it out myself.

It was a great night catching up with my dear friend over a huge skillet of nachos called the Loaded Texas Chips (P200), a platter of Shrimp and Salmon Skewers (P390), which is one of their house specialties, another platter of the Crispy Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard sauce! (P240) and finally a refreshing glass of Watermelon Fruit Mist (P95). The serving is HUGE that is good for sharing. Yet, contrary to the negative comments, the food was really good that ordering just one dish is not enough. In fact, I really enjoyed the food, service and the over-all experience during my first visit at TRG that I went back exactly one week after with another group of friends.

Just imagine my delight when I found out that Texas Roadhouse Grill in Bonifacio Highstreet is part of the itinerary for the Blogger's Tour. The always-happy servers welcomed us as we entered the cozy rodeo-like restaurant. Booths are available for groups of 4 while a family of 20 might have to reserve the enclosed area specifically made for birthday parties and private functions.

We were served with samples of their best-selling dishes namely the Geronimo's Seafood Pasta Marinara, the Open Range Beef Tips and lastly my personal favorite, the Shrimp and Salmon Skewer.

The Seafood Pasta Marinara is made of fettuccine noodles mixed with squid rings, juicy shrimps and fresh mussels tossed with spicy Marinara sauce. I honestly find it a bit bland for my taste, it somehow lacks the tanginess that I normally get from a tomato based pasta dish. Perhaps it would have been better if they added more herbs and another can of stewed tomatoes into the sauce.

The Open Range Beef Tips however was pretty good. Soft and tender that I didn't have to use a knife to slice it up. It obviously was well marinated and perfectly grilled to be able to achieve the right consistency.

My ultimate favorite, and I think the crowd will agree, is the Shrimp and Salmon Skewer. Not minding the price, this is one thing that will make me look forward to more Texas Roadhouse Grill visits.

This dish has three skewers of shrimps and salmon grilled and seasoned with herbs and spices. This is served on a bed of Texas rice and fresh yummy veggies on the side. Do you know the feeling of biting into a piece of shrimp and it gives that heavenly, crunchy, fresh out of the water, taste? That's the experience that I always get while having this dish. I love it that TRG is able to ensure that the salmon and shrimps served are nothing but of the best quality all the time.

Forget your diet for just a couple of hours because at Texas Roadhouse Grill, you are expected to dine like a real cowboy! Yeeehaaaa!! Ü

Texas Roadhouse Grill is located at Bldg 1, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. You may contact them at 8561547 to 48. Another branch is located at El Pueblo Real de Manila in Ortigas Center.

Related posts:
Spot Pass: the Bonifacio Highstreet and Serendra edition
Three SPOTs on the Dot] #2: Polu Kai
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #3: Mamou

Spot Pass: the Bonifacio Highstreet and Serendra edition

This is a delayed blog entry as I took a short break after finishing off the Trinoma Spot Pass edition. During this time, I was able to re-organize my thoughts, digest some more and prepare my fingers and mind to share with you another set of interesting stories, this time from the 2nd and last leg of Spot.ph's Blogger's Meet at Bonifacio HighStreet and Serendra in Makati.

What felt like a major challenge when we were given the chance to visit 18 restaurants during the first run, turns out to look just like an appetizer as we had to visit *make a wildddd guess!* 24 food and non-food establishments all around the newest hang-out place in that part of town.

With only four hours to complete the tour, we began at Krispy Kreme and slowly made our way around Bonifacio Highstreet before proceeding to Serendra. How I wish though we had more time because I literally find myself rushing through the last few stores just to get my card signed. Unfortunately, compromising the experience that I was supposed to have if only there was more time. Perhaps the organizer can consider making it a half day event the next time?

I'm really amazed at how well Ayala develops their commercial land. For instance, who would have thought that right at the middle of Bonifacio Global City, will emerge a chic retail strip aptly called the Bonifacio Highstreet. BHS houses a number of flagship stores, unique retail boutiques, office spaces and entertainment facilities. I love the importance that they give to the environment, where a large area is alloted for trees and plants to grow. It is also a perfect place to bring the kids as they can freely run around and sharpen their inquisitive mind while playing at the giant playground.

Just a couple of steps away from BHS, Serendra is Ayala's newest residential/commercial project. It's structure actually reminds me of the apartments in Singapore where the buildings are of the same shade and there's always a small commercial space at the ground floor. Well, Ayala will never settle for something small thus Serendra's food and retail promenade was born. I always enjoy going to Serendra because of the one-of-a-kind restaurants present there. There's Polu Kai, Cuilliere, Chelsea, Chocolate de Batirol, Fu, Cupcakes by Sonja, Mamou, Mezza Luna, Miss Desserts, Xocolat, Portico and a lot more!

Three Spots on the Dot
It was an exciting afternoon visiting all 24 establishments. As my way of saying THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart (and tummy) to the organizers and people behind this successful event, I'd like to be share with you my experiences and thoughts on my TOP 3 SPOTS in BHS and Serendra in the following days. Ü

Related posts:
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #1: Texas Roadhouse Grill
Three SPOTs on the Dot] #2: Polu Kai
[Three SPOTs on the Dot] #3: Mamou

summer cravings: my one and only Mango Torte

One afternoon, my sister brought home a big brown and orange square box that was given to her as a birthday gift. Dulcelin it reads. Filled with excitement and curiosity, I helped her open the box and saw a low (almost flat) "cake" filled with mango strips and pipings of whipped cream. Immediately, I thought it was someone's version of Red Ribbon's Mango Cream Pie -- a family favorite for years!

After dinner, we made tiny slices of the cake and saw that the mango strips lie on top of a thin layer of cashew nougatinne crust. Hmm...interesting. Taking my first bite, I love the sweet, silky taste of the mangoes against the nutty cashew crust. YUMMY!!

Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of whipped cream that I had to carefully pluck out the cream from my slice of cake eating just half of what was served to me.

Later on, after doing my research, I found out that what we had wasn't a cake after all. It's called a torte which Wikipedia defines as

a cake made with many eggs and usually ground nuts or even bread crumbs instead of or in addition to flour

I also found out that Dulcelin is very much well known for its mango torte and they actually sold 2,000 pieces of these during the Holiday season back in 2005. I can just imagine how many Mango Tortes were sold last Christmas! *wow!*

Luckily, we also found out that a supplier is just located near our place making it easy for us to order a box of Mango Torte (9" P580/ 12" P850) whenever we have that sudden craving for it. It has also became a regular birthday gift that we would share with our friends and relatives and Dulcelin's Mango Torte never fails to bring out the excitement and curiosity in them as well.

This is one dessert that we'll never get tired off because of the just right feeling that it gives. The mangoes are of perfect sweetness and the cream just the perfect consistency. Not too heavy nor not too light.

It's my perfect summer craving together with a tall glass of icy water. Ü

You may order your Dulcelin Mango Torte through the following distribution points:
- 36 Times Street, West Triangle, Quezon City (374-2165 or 67, 0917-535-2592)
- Delicacies Village, Tiendesitas, Libis
- Fiesta Market, Market!Market!, Fort Bonifacio
- Tea Republic, Pacific Star Bldg, Makati (848-0270)
- 11 Garfield Street, Greenhills West, San Juan (584-2185, 0917-533-7778)
- 158 Pili Drive, Ayala Alabang Village (858-9890)

For my sweet mommy on Mother's Day

Our family is truly a marketer's dream.

They say, holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day were introduced by a smart businessman as his marketing plan to generate more sales for his store. This later turned into a nationwide celebration where Filipino children would buy a gift or treat the family out for lunch or dinner.

A marketing trap?

Not really. For a nation who practices close family ties and giving high respect to the elders, Mother's Day is a special day for moms to relax and experience the joys of motherhood. For us, children, it is a special day for us to thank our moms for all the sacrifices that she has made for us starting from the nine months of carrying us in her womb up to the everyday sacrifices that she has made to give us the best lives possible.

Racking our brains for a good THANK YOU gift

Mother's Day, in our family, is just as important as our birthdays. We plan this ahead of time to make sure that mommy will enjoy the entire day. This year, after ruling out quite a number of options (it was more of a been there, bought that, done that thing), my sister and I have decided to just keep it simple and sweet.

What better way to make our dear mommy happy but with a box of handmade Belgian Chocolates by Benoit Nicolay? Thanks to my colleague Zarah, who introduced us to this yummy indulgence last Valentine's Day, this is our mother's day gift for mommy.

My mom is a big fan of chocolates but mind you, she only craves for Belgian Chocolates. Once in a while, after a stressful day at the office, she would treat herself to a piece of dark chocolate. Biting in the bitter-sweet candy, she'll slowly wait for it to melt in her mouth savoring the richness of the dark cocoa before taking another small bite.

I can still remember the smile on Mommy's face when I handed her the elegant-looking black box of chocolates last night. She opened it carefully and saw nine assorted chocolates placed in their own mini compartments. The box looks like a small jewelry box which is just fitting for the precious sweet goodies kept inside. Very good packaging, if I must say so myself.

He has a wide array of chocolates to choose from. There's definitely something for everyone! Be is dark, milk or white. Benoit also has truffles, pralines, bars and belgian waffle trio! My ultimate favorite are his milk and white pralines which I got for only P350/box of 9.

Ordering was not a hassle too! Together with my two other colleagues, we sent an email one day in advance and our boxes of chocolates were delivered in less than 24 hours after. My only complain was the lack knowledge of the delivery girl. While receiving and checking our boxes at the lobby, two more colleagues passed by and showed great interest in ordering chocolates for Mother's Day. Sadly, the delivery girl failed avoided answering their inquiries and instead, allowed us to do the advertising for her. This is most probably because a) she can't speak and/or understand english or b) she does not have an idea about the prices and the ordering details at all.

Therefore, to save you from having the same lost-in-translation experience that our two colleagues had, I am sharing with you the contact details of Benoit Nicolay for you to enjoy his delicious chocolates as well.

You may visit the official site of Chocolates by Benoit at http://www.chocolatesbybenoit.com/ or contact them through email at info@chocolatesbybenoit.com or call them through the following numbers: +63-822-6995 and +63917-327-1877. .

frannywanny, mommy and pan
Happy Mother's Day!

Little Losers Attack!

After a week spent on food blogging, I think it's time to allow our poor, overworked but very satisfied tummies to "rest and re-charge" for a short while. Otherwise, I should probably make my own Little Loser character called Miss Glutonny inspired from the colorful shirts that Paul and I came face to face with when we attended the launch of the newest shirt line of David and Goliath yesterday.

The Little Losers?
Staying true to the signature David and Goliath humor while injecting more ATTITUDE and SPUNK, creator Todd Goldman came up with the Little Losers collection. This is his newest set of designs featuring graphic misfits that pay tribute to character stereotypes. Looking at the available Little Loser characters (there are 21 out of 57 of them here in the Philippines!), Paul and I found our favorites. Mine was the Miss Spoiled Brat and his was Mr. Couch Potato. Definitely so US! Ü

This humor...I LIKE!

The event was literally a FUN-filled one with the SPIT which stands of Silly People Improv Theater and Mr. NoyPi Gabe Mercado entertaining the crowd. Unfortunately, Paul and I were late and missed out on most of the comedic act but luckily we were still able to catch the awarding where awesome prizes were given out to the youngest and oldest blogger, the first blogger to arrive, who can say "David and Goliath" backwards and even to the one who was the first at the buffet line!

The highlight of the night, however, was that I was able to meet more bloggers again and share this fun fun fun event with Paul. A big hello to Rache, Phoebe and to my dear friend Sophie whom I haven't seen in AGES!

Frannywanny and Mrs. Awesome Planet
Yours Truly and Sophie
We ended the night by doing four pa-cute poses in front of the Fotoloco camera. Teehee Ü

Big thanks to David and Goliath for a very successful launch and for showering us with cool giveaways!! We can't wait for the weekend to buy our own Miss Spoiled Brat and Mr. Couch Potato shirts!

Grab your own Little Losers at any David & Goliath stores located at: Bonifacio High Street, Powerplant Mall, TriNoma Mall, Robinsons Place Manila and Greenbelt 5.

Credits: photos by Paul *mwah*

[My Top Five SPOTs in Trinoma] #5: Five Cows

I'm sure by now you're already wondering how on earth were we able to consume all those samplers served in just one afternoon. To be honest, I still can't imagine it myself either. With so little time given (yes, 5 hours is NOT enough to fully appreciate the restaurant and its specialties...) we found ourselves rushing through the remaining stops and sadly, failing to enjoy what the other restaurants have to offer. :(

Thankfully, just when I was about to give up and is just in need of something sweet to end our food trip, we ended up at Five Cows. From the reaction of my fellow bloggers, it seems like they were also ready for dessert as well. Chatting with the friendly supervisor, we found out that Five Cows offers more than just desserts. "We're not just an ice cream parlor," he explains. In fact they have a long list of hot meals that is quickly gaining popularity.

The reason behind this is because the owners want to expand the traditional way of how Filipinos would view an ice cream parlor. They make sure that their hot meals are just as delicious as their ice cream to encourage customers to have dinner there and then to get an ice cream sundae after.

During this short visit though, what caught my eye was the Marble Slab Concoctions. I just love choosing my own fillings and mixin's for my ice cream! I felt like a little girl in front of the glass window watching the ice cream chef prepare our Bubble Gum Blast (P110).


This is a combination of bubble gum and strawberry ice cream filled with mini marshmallows and rainbow sprinkles! yum! It actually tastes like another childhood favorite -- the bazooka gum.

It gave a sweet, pleasant taste that is just perfect after stuffing ourselves with all those samplers. Surely, I am definitely going back and perhaps I'll try another Marble Slab Concoction perhaps with nuts and cereals this time. Ü

Five Cows is located at the 4th level of the Trinoma Mall.

[My Top Five SPOTs in Trinoma] #4: TGI Friday's

Welcome to TGI Friday's!
There was that time, back in the mid 90s, when dining out with the barkada in the newly opened TGIFriday's branch in Glorietta was considered Über cool. We would order a Friday's Three-for-all and a Mushrooms, Chicken, Mushrooms, which is my personal favorite, all to share. These paired with a glass of bottomless iced tea..and there was also that never ending contest for the boys on who can get the most refills to make their P45 worth it.

Sadly, with the rise of more American fun dining restaurants in the Metro, TGIFriday's slowly took the back seat. No more long waiting hours, no more polos (the mint with the hole) served at the waiting area, more restaurant choices for diners and more tables available whenever you'd get that sudden craving for yummy potato skins and mozzarella sticks.

Luckily, we were given the chance to be re-acquainted with the TGIFriday's experience during the bloggers' tour in Trinoma and once again during the 2nd leg, the venue I will disclose later on. Ü

The operators of TGI Friday's gave the restaurant a new upgraded look with a life sized mannequin of Elvis in one branch and an astronaut in another waiting by the entrance to welcome diners in. I also noticed the shift from the vintage American feel to a more modern, classic design that shows elements of the 70s up to the future.

I was feeling a bit woozy from all the dishes served in the previous stops that I was silently praying for something healthy. "A salad would be great", I thought.

Thankfully, my wish was granted when we were served with a platter of their famous Caesar Salad (P245) and the Friday's Three-for All.


As my companions began to dig into the Friday's Three-for All, I paid more attention to the salad. This no-frills salad is served on a bed of Romaine lettuce with crouton, parmesan cheese shavings, and their signature Caesar dressing, I'd say Friday's Caesar is one of the best that I've tasted. Not too creamy, not too dry...it's just right.


The Friday's Three-for-all, on the other hand, is a perfect choice for those who would like to have a little of everything. It consists of four pieces of potato skins, four pieces of (yummy yummy) mozzarella sticks and four pieces of spicy buffalo wings! What I love about this dish are the three types of dips served with celery sticks to act as spoons. It's always fun experimenting which dip would go best with either the skins, sticks or the wings.

During our visit, a group of friends were also there to celebrate the birthday of one of their companions. In true Friday's fashion, the entire crew began to cheer and sing their signature birthday song while presenting the celebrant with a complimentary cake. It reminded me of the times when my friends and I would spend our birthdays at Friday's and we would also get the same not-so-surprise treat from the crew, even to the great embarassment of the blushing celebrant.

TGI Friday's is here to stay. It will always remain as the best barkada hang-out when they're looking for a fun place where they can enjoy the great food and laid back ambiance match with the best and most enthusiastic service crew in this part of town.


Bloggers attackkkkkkk(from left to right: Karl,Shari, Maki, Joy , Mica and yours truly)
TGI Friday's is located at the 4th level of Trinoma Mall in QC and at the Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

[My Top Five SPOTs in Trinoma] #3: Haiku

They say first impressions last. I've been a firm believer of this even when choosing where to dine out. I easily stay loyal to restaurants that serve quality dishes complemented with the best service. Suffice to say, I rarely would go back to a place where I've had a bad experience or I simply find the food not worth my hard-earned money.

Case in point: Back in 2001 when Haiku first opened in Greenbelt 3. I had dinner with my mom and sister there during one of our mother-daughter-bonding sessions. We ordered a huge bowl of soba to share and a platter of ebi tempura. The service was pretty ok, we were well attended to but guess this is because we were the only customers there at that time. However, my mom, who is super sentitive towards salty and oily dishes immediately noticed that the soba was a tad too salty for her taste. Instead of apologizing and offering to replace her order, the chef came out and proudly said "ahh..ganyan talaga yan" (ahh..that's really how it should taste). This annoyed us and it was basically the first and last time we dine at Haiku since then.

Fast forward seven years after, I find myself walking in to Haiku as it was one of the stops during the bloggers' food tour in Trinoma. We were served with a sampler platter of Haiku Salad and Oyako Roll.

The Haiku Salad (P185) consists of kani shreds, nori sheets, fried dry noodles on top of a bed of crispy lettuce and drizzled with a generous serving of japanese vinaigrette. I find the dressing a bit too strong for my liking that it overpowers the taste of the other ingredients in the salad.

I LOVE the Oyako Roll. It's your typical maki roll with chicken as the main ingredient. I love how compact the rice is that it doesn't fall apart considering how huge it is that it can only be consumed after several bites. I'm a big fan of sushi, makis and sashimi and this one if officially now part of my list of favorites!

Its menu boasts of a wide range of donburis (rice toppings), noodles and teppanyaki dishes. Haiku is perfect for casual family dining as the prices are fairly reasonable ranging from P250-P300 per head for a delicious complete meal.

Thank God for allowing me to re-experience Haiku once again. I'd say...
"good food is better the second time around"

Haiku is located at the 3rd Level of the Trinoma Mall. Contact (02) 901-5610, (02) 906-5111 to make a reservation.

[My Top Five SPOTs in Trinoma] #2: La Maison

During my visit to Cebu early this year, the first thing that I asked our partners after exchanging Hi's and Hello's was "San masarap kumain dito?" (Where is it good to eat here?) Our partner, who was so accomodating immediately enumerated her recommendations: there's the infamous Sutukil (which I later learned was a big al fresco food court that houses a number of stalls selling barbeques and grills), then there's Krua Thai and lastly La Maison.

I was further intrigued by her last recommendation. "Is that a french restaurant?" , I asked, noting the sound of its name. Our hospitable partner told me that it's really more of a casual dining restaurant that specializes in ribs and steaks.

Sadly, due to my tight schedule, I wasn't able to try La Maison but promised to do so on my next return. Luck must have been at my side when I found out the La Maison has opened not one but three branches here in Manila. Hooray! Now, I do not have to wait till my next cebu trip to try their ribs and steaks!

Imagine my joy when our team marshall Trixie led us to La Maison in Trinoma Mall during the Bloggers' event last week. We were led to an enclosed section that they normally use for private functions. The supervisor, who was a very gracious host, invited us to try out samples of their popular dishes.

Surveying the mini buffet table, I saw the La Maison Spareribs (P625) that is served in a huge platter and is good for sharing. I tried one bite and true to our partner's claim, the tender meat does falls off the bone. Mmm...a carnivore's treat!

There's also the Chef's Duck Liver Pate (P275), which is the house specialty, and the Seafood Marinara (P185/P325) which was equally flavorful even if i'm not that fond of tomato based pasta dishes.


While chatting with the supervisor, I later found out that La Maison means The Home which is very fitting as it boasts to be the home of the best ribs, steaks and seafood. I was also told that aside from the three dishes served that afternoon, I should also try the Dover Sole Fish Fillet (P275/P450). My new found friend Ryan of kainpinoy.com keeps on raving about this saying that it's the first time he has tasted a fish that literally melts in your mouth!

Aside from the homey comfort food that we were able to taste at La Maison, I consider this one of my top spots because of the great service that we were given during our short visit.

I'm giving La Maison 4 twinkling stars for the yummy ribs, great service and wonderful first-time experience!

La Maison is located at the 2nd level of TriNoma. Visit their other branches at Greenbelt 5 (Level 3), The Podium (Ground Level)--opening soon-- and Ayala Center Cebu (Level 2).

[My Top Five SPOTs in Trinoma] #1: CYMA

When I think of Greece...
... I see cute white square concrete houses lined up atop a hill
... I imagine symbols from my ancient history classes and the dream of visiting the Parthenon someday
... I drool over juicy lamp chops marinated in the most flavorful herbs and grilled to perfection
... I look forward to watching men and women shouting OPA! as they fire up a sizzling plate of melted cheese

Greece is located in the southeastern part of Europe and consists of a mountainous mainland and numerous islands. Although this is situated at the opposite part of the world from the Philippines, we Filipinos are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the food, tradition and culture of Greece when dining at CYMA.

During the Bloggers' Tour around Trinoma, we were able to meet Robby Goco, the Executive Chef of CYMA. Talk about being starstrucked! I finally had the chance to personally chat with the man who heads the powerful kitchen team who makes just the best Roka Salata, Saganaki (Flaming Cheese), and Lamb Chops in this part of town (or probably even in the country!)

He shared with us his secret (which we promise we will keep) and allowed us to sample a couple of their best-sellers which incidentally were some of my favorite dishes too! In true Cyma fashion, we were served with a platter filled with bite sized portions of:


Roka Salata (P245/P490)
fresh arugula mixed with romaine lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, candied walnuts and topped with shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of Greek Vinaigrette.


Spinach & Artichoke Fondue (P280)
A must-order appetizer! It's a mix of melted cheese, sliced sun-dried tomatoes and Feta served with warm pita triangles and grilled garlic bread.


Arni Sto. Fornou
slow roasted leg of lamb served with potatoes and lemon au jus
note: this is a new addition to the menu, i think

and last but never the least (for chocoholics, this might even be the BEST!), Chef Robby treated us to his best selling dessert in the house the...

Skolatina (P210)
Inspired by the volcanos in Greece, Chef Robby created this sweet masterpiece which is a Molten Chocolate Cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and roasted chestnut sauce. When served, one might think its just your regular mini chocolate cake but using your fork, make a slice and out will come the dark chocolate sauce that makes eating this dessert unforgettable. The sauce is still warm and it just blends perfectly with the vanilla ice cream.

What's great also with CYMA is the fact that the restaurant uses mostly local products and only the olive oil is imported from outside. It serves healthy, flavourful dishes that gives the Filipino dining market a chance to eat like a god or goddess without the guilt!


OPA!
Cyma is located at the 4th level of the Trinoma Mall. They also have branches in Greenbelt 2 (Ground Floor), Shangri-la Plaza (the Ledge, 6th floor) and in Boracay (D'Mall)