happy hour Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Black Olive Cerveceria at Capitol Commons

November 7, 2013 by Janey

The two-level restaurant with an outdoor patio dining area only has its yellow signage as its spot of color. Stepping inside, the dimly lit dining room akin to a beer cellar is decorated in warm tones of beige and rich brown wood surrounded by glass walls. The long bar fronting the kitchen and the high ceiling add a dramatic touch to the interiors. Diners can enjoy cocktails or beers while waiting for a table or right before dinner –or vice versa.

After getting cooped up at home for 2 days due to fever and colds and working until 7pm last night, I was only glad to get a last minute invite to dinner. I was supposed to catch One Republic’s concert but ended up not going. Dinner alone wouldn’t have been what I wanted to do. Good thing Carol called and invited to check out a restaurant at Capitol Commons with Rizza and Rizza’s boyfriend Ken.

Exhausted from that day’s ongoings, I sunk into my seat perusing the menu. Something about the menu felt familiar and I asked the wait staff if my theory was correct. Menus sometimes feel like a chef’s penmanship and you tend to recognize the writing. In this case, Black Olive is another venture of Chef Carlo Miguel of Opus, Draft and Beso fame.

On the Table

Squid Ink, Battered Prawns with Jalapeno-Honey Aioli P390

The introduction to our dinner started with two hot small plates. We immediately dug in as soon as the first tapas was brought out. The prawns were covered in squid ink batter, slightly crispy, and served with a delicious jalapeno honey aioli dip on the side. Gone in 60 seconds.

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Mad for Garlic

October 10, 2013 by Janey

Some 4 weeks ago, I was at the Fort checking out a wine and garlic restaurant that showcases garlic-themed dishes using different varieties of garlic and cuts. There are other specialty ingredient restaurants in the Metro but Mad for Garlic tries to separate itself by infusing Italian cuisine with Asian flavors.

Opening its garlic-infused concept restaurant 13 years ago in Korea, Mad for Garlic is actually a local franchise but is available across different locations in Korea, Jakarta and Singapore. The restaurant uses both Korean garlic and the local garlic varieties. Their menu has a selection of pasta, pizza, salads, rice dishes, steaks and other entrees.

On the Table

Dracula Killer P195

The item that could kill Edward Cullen with a kiss – choice garlic cooked in olive oil and with anchovies. This starter is served with garlic buttered bread which is good with the garlic barbed with salty shade of the anchovies.

Gorgonzola Pizza with Honey Dip

One of their bestsellers, Mad for Garlic’s Gorgonzola Pizza is topped with Italian Gorgonzola cheese and served with honey dipping sauce. It was an easy buy-in for me. I enjoyed eating the thin pizza and loved the Gorgonzola cheese’s strong flavor, which was similar to Bleu Cheese only creamier and softer, its sharpness unresisting but mellowed by the honey.