the start of my Meatless Fridays

Last Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent. Just like any practicing Catholic, this would also be the day when my family and I would skip having meat for the entire day and for every suceeding Fridays up until Easter Sunday. However, since this year's Ash Wednesday coincided with the super festive Chinese New Year, we had to skip the practice and compromise by doing a good deed instead. (hmm..now, i can't remember what was my good deed that day.. :P)

One challenge of eating out on a meatless Friday is finding a good restaurant that serves yummy seafood dishes at a reasonable cost. Normally, good seafood entrees can only be found at high-end restaurants that guarantees that your fish won't taste "malansa". Either that or you'd end up with deep fried seafood dishes that will clog your arteries faster than you can say "oh no!"

Thus, i really have high respect for restaurants who manages to come up with delectable veggie or seafood dishes and won't hurt your pocket afterwards.

Groovy Seafood Dinner
Last night, as I met up with two of my college friends, I suggested for us to dine at Cocorama at the 6th level a.k.a. The Ledge of Shangri-la Plaza. Since I've been craving for American diner-like meals lately, I figured out that with the 50s look, the red and white kombi and the psychedelic looking menu might be the answer to my latest food craving. Sadly, while scanning the menu, I figured out that this is not your typical American diner. In fact, there was no milkshake (which i believe is a must-have in every diner) being offered! Instead, they have a fusion of Asian/Jamaican/Mexican dishes that sounds and looks yummy. Good thing that they have quite a number of seafood dishes, mostly on shrimps though, available.

With our stomachs slowly growling, we ordered the Poke and Pineapple Salad (Php.330). Of course, I just had to ask the waiter was a Poke is. Turns out that it's fresh tuna in Hawaiian. We had our hesitations but our adventurous spirits just pushed us to give it a try instead of going for the usual Coconut Shrimp Caesar Salad.

The salad came in a big bowl that is good for 3-4 pax. It has chunks of fresh tuna, pineapple tidbits, raw onion rings, nori strips and sesame seeds all peacefully lying on top of a bed of the crunchiest lettuce that I've ever tasted. The salad came with two dressings: the typical asian soy dressing and a spicy red dressing. After pouring in the asian dressing, we excitedly mixed it up and began to help ourselves with it.

Sarap! (Delicious), exclaimed my friend and I just have to agree. The salad was just bursting with the best flavors that one can get out of the tuna, pineapple, onions and yes, even the sesame seeds.

Moving on to our main entree, we chose the Pan Seared Dory with Rice (Php.240). I've always been a fan of Cream Dory as my mom loves to cook this at home. Cocorama's version once again, made our palates very happy and satisfied. However, the cut of the fish is a bit too small and the rice a bit overwhelming. Perhaps they should increase the cut for the Dory and lessen the rice to make it just right.

It was a simple dinner but a filling and pleasant one at that. The service was pretty ok too. I love the ambiance but I think it would have been better if it was in a full restaurant set-up with Bob Marley singing in the background. hehe

I will definitely go back and perhaps try their waffles, pancakes or the chiquito (six pieces of mini taco filled with chicken strips or beef sauteed in tomato sauce, served with shredded lettuce, salsa and cheese!).

My Cocorama experience was a good one. It would have been better though if they have more food choices available. Nonetheless, they deserve 4 twinkling stars!

Cocorama is located at the 6th floor (The Ledge) of Shangri-la Plaza Mall nearest to the Cinema ticket booth.