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Aubergine Again and Again

September 23, 2011 by Janey

Aubergine, pronounced somewhat nasal by some people, is the French word for “eggplant.” I remember my mom always tells me that eggplants have barely any nutritional value –yet it’s frequently on our dinner table because it’s one of her favorite vegetables –or fruit for that matter. I take after her because after a certain point, I finally grew appreciation for them. Eggplants can absorb flavors tremendously and I love that its texture can be squashy because it’s always thirsty for liquid or oil. It’s prone to sucking up flavor and moisture from how it is cooked.

In Spain, it was highly cherished for its supposed aphrodisiac qualities. Who would have thought right? In 16th century England and Italy, eggplant was apparently shunned and suspected of causing madness. I don’t know about eggplants but I know one Aubergine can cause some happy madness in me.

Some eggplants have won best in gardening and biggest or best-shaped trophies but this particular Aubergine has been awarded the Nescafe Gold Spot 2009, The Miele Guide’s One of Asia’s TOP 20 (Restaurants 2009/10) and Philippine Tatler Best Restaurants 2008. [Read more…]

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Between Bites TOP 10 Best Japanese Restaurant

May 12, 2011 by Janey

If you do a backyard survey among your friends on their favorite cuisine, Japanese cuisine will definitely be on the top 2 list. And what’s there not to love about the Japanese? Er, except for territory invasion and similar events, Japanese are well lauded for their love for their country and most especially, the wonderful dishes they introduced to the rest of the world.

Sushi, don buri, tamagoyaki, sukiyaki, tempura, yakiniku, and the best quality of beef, need I say more? In Japanese cuisine, quality of ingredients and presentation are dealt with heavy importance.

Yes that’s me with the children of the foster family that adopted me for 4 days 🙂

The Michelin Guide supposedly awarded Japanese cities by far the most Michelin stars of any country in the world. Tokyo alone has more Michelin stars than the combination of Paris, Hong Kong, New York, LA and London.

I have about 25 Japanese restaurants in my list but the 10 below are what I have compiled for my TOP 10 at this time. Please don’t look for Seryna, Tsukiji, Yuu Jin, Haiku, Sushi Kappo Kobikicho and Nihonbashitei first and will have a different list for those. I can’t find my photos for Senju 🙁

10. Nagomi Japanese Restaurant

Upon entering Nagomi, one would feel the Japanese vibe of the restaurant, with the usual rack stand of Japanese magazines, private rooms with sliding doors and certain pieces like the Japanese lantern and posters add to the whole appearance. The very long sushi bar seals the deal.

Nagomi sometimes has that old smell but it doesn’t stop Japanese business men from the Ortigas area to frequent the place. This Japanese restaurant has a wide range of dishes to offer. It shows in their extensive menu.

If you don’t feel adventurous, their cold soba with tempura set satisfies your cold noodle craving at a reasonable price.

READ MORE:

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant

El Pueblo, Real de Manila,

Doña Julia Vargas Ave. cor ADB Ave.

Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

(632) 635 4546/ (632) 632 1736

9. Konbini

Before Royce Chocolates formally opened in Manila, Konbini Store is our easiest access point to Royce chocolates.

What’s interesting about Konbini Store is the way a customer has to order his/her meal. They have this rack of cards with photos of the dishes and price tag.

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You just get the cards (dishes) you want and pay for them at the counter like paying for grocery at a convenience store. Then they will serve the food on your table.

Miso Chasiu Ramen PHP 220

I was going to opt for the Shoyu Ramen but changed my mind and went for Konbini’s Miso Chasiu Ramen.

I wasn’t expecting much but was delightfully surprised that the Miso Chasiu Ramen was really a warm hearty bowl of yum. In degree of taste and cheaper price, it can actually rival Ukkokei Ramen Ron in my book.

READ MORE:

Konbini Store’s Chasiu Ramen

Konbini Store

57 Connecticut Street,

Northeast Greenhills, San Juan

(632) 722 4263

8. Nanbantei of Tokyo

Nanbantei is a Japanese restaurant located at the 3^rd level of Greenbelt 3. It looks smaller from the outside but the inside is very spacious with three divided dining sections. The open grill stands in the middle of the first dining area with a table outlining the front grill section.

The grill section is where yakitori happens. Yakitori is the process of roasting bite size pieces of meat, poultry, or vegetables, which Japan cooking is famous for.

Nanban Yaki PHP 180 (2 sticks) –Bubba’s order

Beef with special Nanban sauce. Square cut 1.5 x 1.5 inch of tender beef that has a peppery and smoked flavor. The beef was tender, buttery and flavorful. The sate sauce can append another layer of taste.

Yaki Niku PHP 170 (2 sticks) –2 orders, Jem and I had the same order

Grilled thin slices of beef, which were also good, but it was a tad bit saltier for my taste. The cut of the beef is similar to the Sukiyaki cut but slimmer and softer.

Nanbantei’s strength lies on their grilled dishes. Order the platters that appear to have more value for money.

READ MORE:

Nanbantei of Tokyo

3^rd Level, Greenbelt 3,

Makati City, MM.

(632) 757 4130

7. Hana and Kagura

Hana is a rather small restaurant, probably 30-32 sqm floor area that had a narrow bar on the right side and 3-4 tables inside and a private corner at the far end. Hana is known as the best place to get the biggest and most delicious Takoyaki in town.

Takoyaki PHP 120

Hana is quite famous in the block because of their Takoyaki. They have a takoyaki stand set up outside of the restaurant and you’re ensured that you get the freshest of their Takoyaki balls right of the hot iron grill. Takoyaki to some is considered as the best street food in Japan.

6 pieces of giant dumpling, shaped like a ball, is from a Japanese batter with diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.

READ MORE:

Hana Restaurant, Little Tokyo

Hana Restaurant

Little Tokyo Compound,

Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

(632) 339 3855

Open from 10 am – 11pm

Kagura

Kagura is in the same compound as Hana Japanese restaurant and they are actually right beside each other. Kagura was actually our first choice but it was fully booked for that day. Kagura is known to dish out the best Okonomiyakis or Japanese pizza.

6. Izakaya Kikufuji

As usual, Bubba and I found ourselves trotting to Little Tokyo –one of our favorite places to get an authentic Japanese meal. Instead of visiting Urameshiya again, Izakaya Kikufuji is a favorite alternative.

The dining space at Kikufuji is quite spacious with the sushi bar slash open kitchen right smack at the center of the restaurant. The place was brimming with people, a lot were Japanese but I noticed that crowd also composed of Filipinos and we spotted eye candy Georgina Wilson.

Spicy Tuna Salad PHP 252

I love the tuna cutlets that tasted fresh and were coated beautifully with Japanese mayo that has a tinge of heat.

It’s better to visit Kikufuji during lunch than dinner. Prices are cheaper, for one. Kikufuji’s lunch sets come with free appetizers and side dishes like cabbage salad, miso soup, black seaweed salad and spicy tuna starter

Enoki Bacon Tare PHP 52

The grilled items on the menu are quite extensive and it’s hard to go wrong because it’s the Japanese chef who manages the grill. The bacon had grilled marks that looked appetizing and the cured meat wasn’t salty at all. There’s a bit of sweetness in the skewered meat that probably came from the enoki mushrooms as well.

Unaju Don PHP 345

I’m not a big fan of eel but I do order it from time to time being a small fan. Kikufuji’s unadon is quite good, cooked well without the fishy taste. The teriyaki sauce that they topped the boneless eel with is succulent.

Buta Jo Roose Shoga Yaki PHP 185

Buta Jo Roose Shoga Yaki was like shaved meat, similar to bacon, but sautéed with sweetened onions and leeks. It’s served with shredded raw cabbage on the side.

READ MORE:

Izakaya Kikufuji

2277 Pasong Tamo, Makati City

(632) 893 7319/ (632) 893 6131

Open for lunch and dinner

5. Ukkokei Ramen Ron

Ukkokei Ramen Ron is located along Pasay Road in Makati but it stands out from the rest of the scene since it garnered reputation as the best ramen in town, taking out Shinjuku who held the fame for the longest time off the top spot.

Ukkokei serves Ramen with three (3) different soup bases. This is the best place to start –choose from Shoyu (soy-based), Shio (salt-based) or Miso (miso-based). Then pick out the option you want under each soup-based category depending on the ingredients you want on your soup.

Miso Butter Corn Ramen PHP 360

Get served with a bowl of piping hot ramen that will bring you much comfort –both in taste and texture. Ramen is freshly made with just enough bite but still retains its softness and excellent elasticity. The miso-based broth tastes delicious but others might get turned off by the oiliness of the soup.

I love Ukkokei’s Miso Butter Ramen. There is generous amount of corn kernels and bean sprouts that adds a different crunchy bite while the butter adds creaminess to the whole deal. If you find the pork slices or chayu too few like I did, order an extra plate for PHP 120.

READ MORE:

Ukkokei Ramen Ron

Unit 1-2, Upper G/F, Tesoro Building,

822 A. Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road),

Makati City, Philippines

(632) 856 4588

4. Chibori

Chibori is a spacious sleek Japanese restaurant at the heart of the business district of Cebu. In 2008, this was where my tongue lost its virginity to Uni. Thanks to Norman who specifically booked that Japanese dinner for me to taste my first ever sea urchin experience.

Norma and Chris

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One of my favorite Cebu photos, this one with Travel Factor

Assorted Sushi Platter –Premium PHP 800+

6 kinds of sushi were plated on a wooden rack with some side garnish salad. It was my first time to try uni (sea urchin) and although it tasted like too much “sea,” I really enjoyed the salty fishy flavor and velvety texture. The boys let me finish most of it.

Sushi Moriawase

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Tempura

Sukiyaki PHP 600++

Sukiyaki is a Japanese beef hotpot with thinly sliced beef (ooh lala), carrots, leeks, tofu, other veggies and vermicelli noodles. The broth has a sweet note to it. Sukiyaki used to be a staple order for me every time I dine Japanese but haven’t ordered this much lately.

Chibori’s sukiyaki is a winner because it has a good balance between the sweetness of the broth and flavor of the beef. The veggies were soft but still had a bite to it. One of the best Sukiyaki’s in the Philippines!

READ MORE:

Chibori– Cebu

Chibori

G/F CJRS Bldg., Asiatown IT Park,

Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines

3. Tsumura

Tsumura has been a favorite haunt of enthusiasts of high quality and equally priced sushi. Some have dubbed Tsumura, “Tsu-mahal,” because prices of certain dishes here can go up the wazoo! A Japanese sushi chef runs the restaurant so definitely high expectations are set.

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Sashimi Moriawase PHP 890

The assorted Sashimi Moriawase set comes with a selection of fresh and imported fresh sashimi and a sampling of uni. The mixed set has a variety of raw fish that I’m not that familiar with, as well as beautifully cut squid, salmon, tuna, and mackerel. Their sashimi platter indeed has the finest cuts of delicious raw fish (at least those fish that are in my food-cabulary).

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Amiyaki Beef PHP 470

Uni PHP 80

Wagyu Beef Usuyaki PHP 600

Supple mushrooms wrapped in thinly sliced Wagyu beef –very tender, flavorful that it’s mighty impressive. The mushrooms were very light, in mellow contrast of the excellent beef. It is simply an indulgence in fine food. The taste is divine.

Tsumura

2^nd Level 88 Corporate Plaza, Sedeno corner Valero Streets,

Salcedo Village, Makati City

(632) 887 4848/ (632) 4850

2. Inagiku

Inagiku was awarded as Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secret (MBKRS) Winner of Best Japanese Restaurant in 2010. It’s no surprise since Inagiku is known to serve world-class Japanese cuisine with its delicate ALWAYS FRESH sushi and sashimi.

Sushi Platter

Tempura Sushi Roll

Grilled Gindara

Make sure that you always have room for Wasabi ice cream! It’s a favorite ice cream flavor of mine, next to Pistachio and Blueberry.

READ MORE:

Inagiku

Level 2, Shangri-La Hotel Makati, Makati Shangri-La Hotel

Ayala Ave. cor. Makati Ave. Makati, Metro Manila

(632) 813 8888 loc. 7588, 7599

1. Urameshiya Yakiniku Restaurant

Japanese is what Bubba loves best and the first time I brought him to Urameshiya for a dinner date, he fell in love with the restaurant. The setting strongly reminded me of my Japan trip. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Japan have a lot of character and produce mouthwatering dishes as those in the upscale ones.

Urameshiya Entrance

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Urameshiya Yakiniku serves the best Yakiniku in Manila. I’m biased because I love my meat in its smoky grilled/semi-charred condition. Bubba and I usually order the Tarafuku Set but their Wagyu set is also one of the best.

On the Table

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Enjoying my Japanese BBQ!

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This was a wonderful date spent with Bubba

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And another one 🙂

Tarafuku Set PHP 1,850

With the economic crunch, it’s definitely not easy for everyone to shell out almost 2K for a beef set that’s good for a hungry couple. However, I really recommend burning (literally) 2K for Urameshi-ya. I feel that every peso of that set is worth the quality and quantity of meat you’re getting.

Urameshiya definitely tops our list at this time! 🙂

READ MORE:

Urameshiya Yakiniku Restaurant

Urameshiya Part Deux

Urameshiya (Urameshi-ya) Yakiniku Restaurant

2277 Amorsolo (beside Makati Cinema Square)

Makati City, Metro Manila

(632) 819 5008

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B&T Mexican Kitchen’s Chicken Mole, Deliciously like No Other

January 7, 2011 by Janey

Bubba and I have frequented B&T quite a number of times and although we are hooked in ordering our usual favorites, I deviated a bit and got something that I have never tried before. What was on my plate this time was an order of B&T’s Chicken Mole.

READ MORE:

B&T Mexican Kitchen

Mole is known to be a famous Mexican Spanish mixture of sauces where the combination of a variety of chilies and chocolate is predominant among the other numerous spices it’s mingled with. Chicken Mole is traditionally chicken, more often deboned, covered in the “mole” mixture and baked until it’s done.

B&T’s Chicken Mole Meal PHP 320

Chicken was tenderly cooked and coated copiously with this dark brown “mole” sauce that has a burst of different flavors, from sweet to spicy to piquant. Complex flavors with a tad hint of chocolate. The medium thick sauce can get overwhelming that’s why it’s good to pair it with rice. Mine was served with brown rice but my friend Richard had it with cilantro lime rice when he visited B&T. I think the cilantro lime rice would work better since the trace of acidity will balance off the sweetness and spiciness of the dish. The chicken mole was also served with 3 flour tortillas to wrap your chicken mole with.

Even if the dish can get pretty heavy midway, I thoroughly enjoyed B&T’s chicken mole. It would be perfect to wash it down with the Horchata drink or in between sips of margarita. I’d like to try it again with the cilantro lime rice next time, more timid than the Mexican brown rice. If it becomes too rich midway, just ask for a wedge of lemon to spritz on your mole from time to time or just add a touch of the fresh salsa. While you’re at it with all those testing of flavors, why not try it with their sexily addicting garlic sauce? 😉

Let your imagine-taste-tion go overdrive. Create your own wrap.

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My previous entry on B&T Mexican Kitchen mentioned that they didn’t have brown rice. They have since added it in their roster that’s why Bubba’s favorite burritos now come with brown rice.

Steak Burrito with Cilantro Lime Rice

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Steak Burrito with Mexican Brown Rice – Bubba’s ultimate favorite!

If you want a rich taste of Mexico on a plate, head over to B&T Mexican Kitchen and order the must-try Chicken Mole Meal.

B&T (Burritos and Tacos) Mexican Kitchen

G/F Sekai Building (same bldg. as Masuki and Maki Place)

Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, Philippines

B&T Mexican Kitchen Album

Many thanks to Philip for the Chicken Mole!

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B&T Mexican Kitchen – Burritos and Tacos Mexican Kitchen

December 7, 2010 by Janey

One lazy Saturday, Bubba and I decided to check out the newest burrito place to hit the town. If you’re familiar with the building that’s frequented for the chicken wanton mami (noodle soup made famous in Binondo/Chinatown), siopao and siomai of Masuki that are easy on the palate as well as the pockets, this is also where B&T Mexican Kitchen recently opened.

B&T Mexican Kitchen interiors include orange chairs matched with black tables and elements of Mexico in certain aspects of the restaurant like the Mary by the door. Menu is written on a chalkboard with colored chalks. The concept looks familiar –word from the foodie grapevine is, the owners of the “OTHER” Burrito place had split up.

Rumor has it that Chef Rob Goco is supposedly opening his own Mexican place at the Fort to rival the newly opened Ristras. And B&T Mexican Kitchen is also from another previous partner of Ristras. But who actually knows? *shrugs* I only get my insider dibs from foodie friends.

It’s been quite a long while since I last visited Ristras –even before the rumored split up. I just found the quality not the same as the initial months it opened when Bubba and I used to visit at least twice to thrice a week. When I heard a new one opening, I was quite excited to see how B&T Mexican Kitchen will fair.

Step 1: Choose your meal

Burritos and Tacos are what they do best here. If you’ve been exposed to the other Burrito place, then you’re definitely not new to the oversized and overstuffed burrito that gives you the power of choice when it comes to the stuffing. Stuffing starts off with Cilantro White Rice and then choice of meat, salsa, toppings, and sauces.

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Guacamole!

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Cheese!

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From choices of DIY Burrito, Frito Burrito, Burrito Bowl to Mexican Taco, BnT Mexican Kitchen also offers Mexican favorites like Quesadilla, Chimichanga, Fajitas and Guaca de Frito.

But hold up, there’s MORE… you can get your Burrito or Taco all fused up with Asian flavors –whether it’s Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian, Korean (with Kimchi), or Thai.

There are also other dishes to try like the Mexican pizza, Mexican burger, Mexican franks and adobo pizza. Vegans are also welcome here with B&T’s vegetarian pizza and vegetarian burgers and franks.

Step 2: Choose your meat

Al Pastor PHP 310

Barbacoa PHP 320

Carne Asada PHP 320

Carnitas PHP 310

Chicken PHP 300

Chicken Mole PHP 320

Fish PHP 330

Shrimp PHP 350

Vegetarian PHP 290

Step 3: Choose your sides

Chips and Guacamole PHP 95

Chips and Pico de Gallo PHP 95

Chips with Chili Con Carne PHP 150

Ball Park Nachos PHP 220

9-Layer Dip Nachos PHP 220

Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Sauce PHP 95

Step 4: Choose your drink

Other than the usual colas, they also serve Horchata, Agua de Melon, Agua de Tamarind, Margarita among other drinks.

Step 5: Choose your dessert

Quesadilla de Fruta PHP 115

Mexican Fritters PHP 115

Chocolate Nachos PHP 105

Mint Nachos PHP 105

Strawberry Nachos PHP 105

Tres Leches

Don’t get overwhelmed as the steps are easy as 1-2-3. In our case, Bubba and I skipped Step 5 since we expected that we’d be full by the end of our meal. But there are people who always have room for desserts.

On the Table

Steak Burrito PHP 310

B&T Mexican Kitchen only had one choice for rice, compared to a brown rice option before at the other place. I think brown rice has more flavor and presentation value because of its color. Nevertheless, B&T’s Steak Burrito was what Bubba missed a lot at the other place. Quality beef merged with a mélange of flavors and textures from the corn, salsa, guacamole, cheese, beans. It was as mouthwatering as it looked as it tasted.

The exploding taste and spices from the steak burrito is tamed a bit by the Cilantro White Rice portion. Add the winning garlic sauce and you’re in for a surefire treat!

Nachos with Salsa PHP 95

Notice that the nachos are in three different colors –same colors that represent the flag of Mexico. I’m sure kids would find a kick out of eating these colorful chips but I prefer it in just 2 colors at most.

Mexican Burger with Potato Fries PHP 310

Cooked medium rare, the burger was superbly juicy and had brisk meaty flavors. The tomato onion lettuce salsa on top was a refreshing gradation of taste while the melted cheese that seeped onto the outer layer of the meat almost made me finish it in record time but I had to restrain myself since Bubba wanted a bite.

Never had garlic sauce on your burger? I gave mine a dunk on the sauce and it added a creamy garlicky kick to my burger. I’m craving for it as I type this.

Horchata PHP 50

Milky sweet rice drink –we were given a sample of their Horchata which cooled all the flavors from the burritos and burger.

The wait staff is eager to please –maybe a little too eager at times but you can’t fault them. Better eager than lazy. There are tables also for big groups so it’s easier to sit everyone. Prices are relatively lower than the other place.

I’m visiting B&T again really soon for the Mexican Burger and I also got an eye for the burrito with kimchi. Sounds intriguing to me!

B&T (Burritos and Tacos) Mexican Kitchen

G/F Sekai Building (same bldg. as Masuki)

Ortigas Avenue, San Juan, Philippines

B&T Mexican Kitchen Album

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11 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 2010, address, Authentic, B and T, B&T, B&T Mexican Kitchen, Baby Tan, barbacoa, berks, best, best burritos in town, Best Mexican, best Mexican restaurant in Philippines, blogger, BnT, BnT Mexican Kitchen, branch, branches, burgers, burrito, Burrito and Taco, Burritos and Tacos, Burritos and Tacos Mexican Kitchen, butch, Cali Mex, California, celebrity, Charlie’s, Charlie’s Grill, Chef Rob Goco, chorizo brown rice, cilantro wild rice, cris darwin lim, Cyma, darwin, delivery, DLSU, dogs, Eric, eric ryan tang, ERT, expensive, Filipino, food, food blog, food review, garlic sauce, Good Service, grand opening, grill, guacamole, hotdogs, how much, how to create a burrito, how to make, image, in town, J. Abad Santos, Jalapeño, jim, jim harold lim, la salle, latest, location, Makati, management, Manager, Manila, Map, marie, marinade, masuki, math, meat, menu, Metro Manila, Mex, mexicali, Mexican, Mexican Kitchen, Mexican restaurant in Manila, Mexican restaurant in Philippines, nachos, ortigas, Photo, photos, pinoy, previous owners of Ristras, price, prices, promotion, Quezon City, red cross, restaurant, Restaurants, Ristras, Ristras at the Fort, Ristras Fort, salsa, service, split up, taco, Taste Manila, wait staff, where, Zapata's, Zapata's new location

In Crumbs: Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice, Clawdaddy Crab House, Cibo

June 11, 2010 by Janey

2 Sets of Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice Aren’t Enough

May 30, 2010 –2 weeks ago, we ordered Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice yet again. This time, scared to run out of it, we ordered two sets (plus an extra cup of ginger, as usual). It was the highlight of Sunday family lunch at Bubba’s place. We learned that Sundays are usually the busiest day for Stevie since a lot of people call in for orders during this family day. That specific Sunday, there were 8 orders called in for pick-up in Bel-Air, including 2 that were ours.

Bored of the usual lunches in the office? Order Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice, pick it up, and share a great lunch at work. That’s what we did in April. Karen was stuck somewhere so the HCR lunch was shared with our COO and my boss. I’m glad they both loved it. Karen followed afterwards and ate a hefty share as well. I had three helpings myself.

I had more than three helpings 2 Sundays ago… 😉

Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice (For pick-up orders only)

21 Libra St. Bel Air,

Makati City

(0906) 508 4155

Venting out on Food @ Clawdaddy Crab House and American Grill

May 31, 2010 –My make-up was lost one day and replaced the next day (Monday). And that brought a string of good luck with it in the weeks that followed.

But that Monday night, I can’t help but do a vent-out dinner (where I eat my heart out literally –I choose the restaurant and not look at the price tag when ordering and just eat what I want). I treated Bubba at ClawDaddy Crab House and American Grill. We rarely eat at seafood restaurants (Bubba is not a shellfish fan) but this time, I just wanted to get my hands messy with crabs and ribs.

Crab Maritess PHP 120/100 Grams (I think our crab was at 900grams so that was about PHP 1,080)

Crab sautéed in olive oil, white wine, garlic and chilies

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What I do every time I visit is order Crab Maritess and requests for the sweet and spicy Sze Chuan sauce on the side

Smoked Baby Back Ribs (Half) PHP 398

Smoked, slow-cooked, and char grilled baby back ribs basted with ClawDaddy’s BBQ sauce –with 2 side orders of dirty rice

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Rustic Mashed Potato PHP

ClawDaddy Crab House and American Grill

6^th Level, The Ledge, Shangri-la Plaza Mall

EDSA Cor. Shaw Blvd. Mandaluyong City, MM.

(632) 636-5679

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ClawDaddy Crab Buffet

ClawDaddy Crab

Meann’s Birthla at Cibo

June 3, 2010 –It was Meann’s birthday. I surprised her at the office with some Machiavelli chocolates and a banner with the Happy Birthday sign. Lunchtime, we headed out to Shangri-la Plaza for Meann’s birthday lunch treat from dee boss (CGS). It was a toss between Agave or Cibo. We ended up in Cibo.

We bumped into Pebs (AFC’s Senior Sales Affiliates Manager) and Michelle (wife of Chef Bruce of Tablescape) at the restaurant. Pebs used to be my religious supplier of Royce chocolates from Singapore back when she was still based there for work. And Pebs also used to work for SKY as airtimes sales head. She’s now with Asian Food Channel. I’ve met Michelle once when we dined at Chef’s Table.

Pebbles briefly shares that a good friend of hers and her husband’s suggested a place to dine at and when he sent the link of the place –it was my Between Bites site’s link he sent. She laughed a bit because we knew each other. What a small world after all. They tried Frazzled Cook and were really happy about it. I flushed a bit when Pebs said that I got many readers. I delight in the honor of being read… but alongside it is the “invisible” pressure of improving my writing and making good recommendations –those that are deserved.

We ordered one appetizer and a pizza to share among the four of us. As usual, I had my favorite, Pasta dela Terra. Meann asked me what’s good to order and I suggested either Pasta Dela Terra or Pasta Al Telefono. She got the latter while CGS and Karen got two other pasta plates I wasn’t able to note.

Pasta Dela Terra PHP230

Mushroom trifolati, stewed tomato, goat cheese, Parmesan, cream

Tegamino Di Formaggio Fuso Mozzarella PHP 230

Mozzarella, white cheese, tomato, anchovies, basil

Cibo

2nd Level Shangri-la Plaza Mall

Shaw Blvd. cor. EDSA, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

(632) 631 7753

READ MORE

Agave Mexicana Cantina

Gastronomic Indulgence at the Chef’s Table

Pebbles and Royce Nama Chocolates Bitter

Frazzled Cook and His Dazzling Dishes

Cibo

Two Italians in One Night

Thursday Club Series: Agave Mexican Cantina

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2 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 100, 21 Libra, addition hills, address, american, antique, awarded, bel air, best, Best Chicken Rice in Manila, best crab place, best crab restaurant, best food, best food blog, best foodie, best in Metro Manila, best recipe online for fragrant rice, Between Bites, Blvd., boiling, branches, Buffet, bulk, chairs, Chef, Chef Bruce Lim, Chef's Table, chicken, chicken broth, chili sauce, Cibo, Claw Daddy Crab, Clawdaddy Crab House and American Grill, Clawdaddy Crab restaurant, contact number, Cuisine, date, delivery, different dinner, dining, dinner, discount, discover, drink, drinks, engaging, Fat Michael's, Filipino, food blog, food blogger, food blogs, food finds, food review, foodie, for orders, Fort, Fort Bonifacio, Frazzled Cook, freestyle cooking, Garden, ginger, grill, group, Hainanese Chicken Rice, hawker, homemade iced tea, hotspot, how to get there, Ilonggo chef, inquiry, interactive, interesting, Jude Mancuyas, Kalayaan, kitchen, lamb stew, live cooking, location, Luna Mencias street, Makasuntra, Makati, Malate, mall, management, mandaluyong city, Mango strudel, Manila, Map, menu, Metro Manila, Michelle, Michelle Lim, mismatched, new, new concept, New Orleans, new restaurant in Metro, now delivers, olive rice, outdoor, owner, P1, P950, Party, party orders, Peruvian Hot Pot, pesos, Philippines, Photo, photos, pinoy, price, Promo, recent, recipe, restaurant, review, ribs, romance, romantic, rooftop, san juan area, seafood, Seafood Paella, Sentosa, service, setting, shangri-la plaza, Shaw Boulevard, Singapore, site, Spanish, spicy cajun fish, steamed, Stevie, Stevie Villacin, stevie's, Stevie's Hainanese Chicken Rice, street, STV, STV Hainanese Chicken Rice, sweetened soy sauce, tableside cooking, Tao Yuan, Taste Manila, telephone, The Frazzled Cook, unconventional, unique, upcoming, Valentine's, Video, Wagyu Salpicao, website, what to order, where to go, whistlestop

Foodie Club Series: The Shabu Shabu Fit For A King at King One Rotary Hot Pot

June 8, 2010 by Janey

I’ve been hearing King One stories from Richard, Irene and Wendy ever since the Foodie Club meet at Beijing Hand Pulled Noodles and since then it’s been included in my “food/restaurant” hit list to try. I don’t know how the King One Plurk thread started but when somebody said June 6, it was immediately a “green light” for me without even peeking at my calendar.

June 6 was such a hectic Sunday. Bubba and I went from one end of Manila to another end but nothing could have stopped us from joining the King One lunch get-together. It wasn’t too tough to find the place with specific directions from Richard. A little before 12 noon, Carlos, Bubba and I were welcoming Irene and Richard back in Manila (fresh from a Davao trip). Our group of five sat comfortably in the reserved booth near the conveyor belt.

King One has a conveyor belt that showcases all their little plates of ingredients available for hot pot. They will basically provide the Hong Kong curry broth on your table and set it to boil. Once boiling starts, cooking begins. Grab the plates that you want to add to your curry soup. Sze Chuan sauce is also available as an additional spice.

On the Table

I’m so happy that I was sitting across Irene because she knows good food! She picked the right plates off the conveyor and requested some more plates directly from the servers who are stationed inside the “belt”. We started off with:

Tao Pao

Tao Pao is basically beancurd skin. I learned from Irene that this is used to wrap Kikiam meat. Interesting huh? It takes a while to cook them but it’s worth the wait to bite into the soft beancurd skin. It gives a different texture to your palate –the beancurd sheets have a unique bite about it I can’t quite explain. It was soft yet textural… almost still crunchy.

Mozzarella Balls

It’s Singaporean fish balls with mozzarella inside. Be careful when you bite into it because even if the outside might not be that hot, the inside could be piping hot!!! It’s best, as Irene advised, to cut it first on your plate.

I like the soft fish balls (I’m not a fan of fish balls, maybe squid balls, but Singaporean version is good!) without the evident fishy taste and interestingly semi-sweet and cheesy mozzarella bit inside.

Lamb Slices

Bubba and I love Healthy Shabu Shabu but it can get quite pricey. Some plates there cost PHP 500 already and your limited to just one plate for that price. King One has great meats available with the “all you can eat” price. I particularly loved the lamb slices and I think even finished one plate by my own. It had enough meat and fat combined in the strips.

Instead of dumping the meat/shrimps on the boiling soup that makes them a bit overcooked and dry, the trick is, I learned again from Irene, to place the beef on the ladle, submerge it in the hot pot and wait a few seconds for the pink to turn light brown, then pull it out onto your plate. The lamb tasted so delicious soaked a bit in the curry soup.

Hong Kong Curry Soup

Enoki Mushrooms

Also known as Golden mushrooms… it’s one of my favorite

Fresh Scallops

We didn’t get to try this since it wasn’t available that day… but Richard and Irene were able to try it on their previous (dozens) visits.

Shrimps

Do the same trick with the lamb slices to the shrimp. King One can serve the shrimps without the shells anymore. Best to dip the cooked shrimp in the Sze Chuan sauce… it’s like dipping suahe in Chinese restaurants into the semi-sweet soy sauce with spring onions.

Dip and Shake -and it gets cooked!

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Other than the above, we also tried litid, pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings, watercress, fresh squid, Hong Kong fish cutlets, etc.

Richard and Irene brought several pasalubong from Davao –langka yema of 2 brands and durian yema. My favorite (and I think Joan and Carlos agree with me on this) is the Apo ni Lola Yema Langka –has the sweet milky yema flavor to it and strands of fragrant langka adding a different sweet tang to it. I almost finished the whole bag.

Apo ni Lola has the sweetest yema langka! 😉

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Richard and Irene 🙂

Love this HAPPY photo! 😀

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Abet and Joanne 🙂

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Carlos aka ZP aka Zipster

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It was a battle won by “us”

After eating the yema langka, I had to eat some more savory food. I can’t end with only a sweet note on my palate. I ate more shrimps soaked in the sze chuan sauce and half a plate of lamb slices. It was a wonderful lunch where the food are abound and of good quality –prepared well I should say. I get turned off with restaurants that offer buffet sometimes because of the way the food is prepared… but in this case, King One’s staff handles the food properly. Service was friendly, prompt and inclined –more reason to enjoy your King One feast.

King One’s “all-you-can-eat” hot pot was such a pleasant and satisfying lunch –all for a good price of PHP 529 per head. It’s a bit far off the usual Metro highways but the trip to Macapagal Avenue is worth the while. Best to go on a Sunday where traffic is really light in the area.

King One Rotary Hot Pot

M2-A Lower Hobbies of Asia

#8 Macapagal Ave., Pasay City

(632) 556 1370

King One Album

Related Entries

FoodieManila King One

Tales from the Tummy

Photo Credit:

Carlos Palma of FoodieManila.com

Richard Co of TalesfromtheTummy.blogspot.com

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Tahanan ni Aling Meding and Outdoor Lunch at Lake Pandin

April 6, 2010 by Janey

We were out of the country only a week ago and I didn’t expect that we’d have plans for the Holy Week. I was really thinking of staying in but was pleasantly surprised that Bubba had something up his sleeve for me.

Although it’s been on my Things to Do/Visit list for quite some time, it was Bubba who managed to pull off the Ugu Bigyan-Tahanan ni Aling Meding-Lake Pandin trip. It was probably the best local trip he ever planned!

Casa San Pablo was Bubba’s first choice to reminisce our first trip together to San Pablo Laguna in early 2008. However, I opened the idea of trying a new place –my choice in mind, Tahanan ni Aling Meding.

Wake up to the soothing view of Sampaloc Lake from the balcony of your room and relish the feeling of living at a mansion. This house was built initially to be the rest/vacation house of the Borja family, whose whole family (11 siblings) is already based in the States. The hotel serves as their own mansion for relaxation and family reunions and other events when they fly to the Philippines.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding opens up their big gates for folks who are visiting San Pablo City, it’s your secret hide-away residence in Laguna.

Type of Rooms:

1 Family Room PHP 5,500

(5 beds for 6 persons)

1 Honeymoon Room PHP 3,500

(1 queen-size bed)

This is the room Bubba got.

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Closet

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There’s computer desk for your laptops.

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2 Superior Rooms PHP 3,500

(2 beds)

4 Executive Rooms PHP 3,000

(2 beds)

2 De Luxe Rooms PHP 2,500

(2 beds)

Amenities:

*Wi-fi Zone

*Aircon

*Cable TV

*Swimming Pool (7am-10pm only)

*Hot and Cold shower

*Refrigerator

*Telephone

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At breakfast the next day, we noticed a table of foreign guests and a lot of families staying in Tahanan ni Aling Meding. Two families enjoyed swimming at Tahanan’s pool. We had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wilson Borja and sharing a breakfast conversation with him –reminiscing how the whole Mansion started.

Tahanan ni Aling Meding

Dagatan Blvd., Sampaloc Lake,

San Pablo City, Laguna

Manila Line: (632) 520 6089

Laguna Line: (049) 562 5951/ (049) 562 5855

Email: admin@tahanan.info

How to Get There:

(From Tahanan ni Aling Meding Brochure)

Coming from Manila, after San Pablo border, stay on the Maharlika Highway. You will see a Caltex station to the left, immediately before a fork in the highway. The right side of the fork leads straight to Lucena, the left leads to San Pablo City Proper. Take the left road. At the junction to Calauan, take the main avenue to your right. This is Rizal Ave. Turn left at the corner of San Pablo Central School. Follow the road beyond the City Hall. As soon as you see the lake, turn left on the perimeter road (actually more of a sharp U-turn). Tahanan will be to your left.

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Reminiscent: Jay’s Kinabuhayan. Elusive: Kusina Salud. Revisit: Palmera’s.

During this trip, we fought the urge to drop by at Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café to just say hello. We remembered our fantastic time at Jay’s eating that delicious spiced chicken and greens/flower salad of his. After that lunch in 2008, we also had some bonding time with Jay and his trustee aide and friend and some of his pet animals over some smooth lambanog –yes we were drinking at 3 in the afternoon! After which, we had a short trip at Kubli Springs and took an energizing dip while playing some guitar music. Good times, yeah.

We missed to try Kusina Salud last time we were in town. Bubba has been trying to contact Kusina Salud since Tuesday that week to no avail. Nobody seems to answer the phone or maybe we have the wrong or an old number. It was included in the plans to have dinner there that evening. Unfortunately, since we weren’t able to place our reservations, we hesitated to walk-in.

—

Palmera’s restaurant was again recommended to us. When it was being described, I felt that I knew the place. And I was right. We dined there in 2008. We were supposed to go to Jay’s Kinabuhayan Café for dinner that day but ended up going to Palmera’s instead because of fear of getting lost and rebel attack (?).

Bubba couldn’t remember that we ate there until we walked inside the place. Palmeras’ has its own appeal as a grill-resto-bar that offers live music on certain nights. Bubba ordered Crispy Tilapia slightly recalling that he liked it the first time we were there. My order was grilled liempo and hot calamansi juice.

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Before Shot

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He massacred the tilapia

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A sweet smug smile.

—

Whatta really large snake!!!

—

He in fact did like it and finished the three tilapias. We drove back to Tahanan ni Aling Meding to retire for the night. Bubba’s plan didn’t end there. The next day after checking out, we headed straight to this “secret” place Bubba has been keeping under wraps.

I was very much in the know about the Ugu Bigyan and Tahanan ni Aling Meding plans but he cooked up something special for me –a simple outdoor lunch at Lake Pandin.

Lake Pandin

Lake Pandin is one of the seven lakes, called Pitong Lawa, in San Pablo, Laguna. We reached the gateway point and parked our car. Aling Siona, the wife of Mang Tano, who Bubba corresponded with regarding our reservation that day, welcomed us and guided us in the trail.

It was a 10-15 minute trail walk to Lake Pandin. Bubba asked me if the trek feels like the Kabigan Falls trek we did in Ilocos Norte. I said it was a bit the same but there were more scenery in the previous trek I think. He knows I have my qualms on trekking but I like it better than hiking. I’ve never hiked in my entire life.

Mang Tano and wife are part of the group (“samahan” in Filipino) who escorts the visitors –they are the same group that live nearby the lake and make a living out of fishing and the Pandin Lake tours. Nowadays, it’s all ladies who paddle the raft because the “men” felt a bit awkward in the past when foreign guests wear only their skimpiest.

The idea is they serve your lunch on the bamboo raft and the lady paddlers will take you across the lake at a quiet corner with shade. Enjoy nature’s breeze in Pandin Lake while eating your lunch made by the locals.

I was taken by the calming beauty of Pandin Lake. The sun was out but we didn’t feel the heat –just the cool wind whispering softly in our ears. We had the view of the lush greens at every corner.

Lunch was simple but tastes good. We loved the little shrimps in coconut milk (gata). And despite having tilapia the night before, Bubba was able to finish the 3 tilapias on the table again -this time grilled instead of deep fried. 🙂

—

After lunch, Bubba and I relished the calmness of the scenery and stillness of time. We look out at the “docking port” where we came from and felt so on our own. Our minds were very relaxed… while my body was such in a tranquil moment.

—

Our Fun Rapid Shots (Neoprint style photo sesh haha)

*WARNING*

Might be too cheesy for those with strong gag reflexes.

—

Our “Pose Ode” to Madz *salute*

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More Photos:

In his own time.

Bubba with the pink paddle.

—

Thought-bubble: “This is just so nice.”

—

Yea, I have a tummy.

I tried to exercise but with my eating habits…

there will always be a happy bump there in the mid-section.

Sexy ain’t in my dictionary.

Never mind, I’m happy.

—

The lady paddlers resting as we were resting.

A coconut suddenly fell, almost on the head of Marlyn. We all laughed.

Out of relief.

—

Bubba and Boozie-la

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At peace with nature.

—

Back to the roots.

—

“Initiation?”

“Baptism of Fire?”

—

Oh no!

I wasn’t trained for this. 😀

———–

After a couple of hours in this peaceful setting, we decided to head back. If only I didn’t promise “Moms” that I’d be in Manila for dinner-out, we’d be staying until past 5PM. Bubba helped in paddling back to shore.

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The Baranggay Tanod who makes us feel safe.

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It was a short 20-minute paddle, where we bonded with our raft paddlers, Marlyn, Malou and Nik.

Ate Marlyn, Ate Malou and Nik

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The Other Lady Paddlers

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The Baranggay Tanod who protectively watched us from afar and helped us trek back to the parking lot.

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You can opt to take the ride at PHP 180 and with lunch, an additional PHP 180. We enjoyed the afternoon so much that Bubba gave PHP 500 as extra. If you plan to visit and you enjoy it tremendously, please feel free to leave an extra for the community locals. They earn here through integrity and hard work that it’s so easy to give from the heart.

The Afternoon at Lake Pandin

It’s one of those afternoons I will long remember. Tranquil. Serene. Rural. This was the part where we most felt recluse from the world.

Bubba and I shared varying moments here. There were moments we talked. Moments we took photos. Moments we look out to the world… …even moments where we each had our own thoughts, devoid of the other’s presence.

Being enclosed in the rural surroundings is a humble reminder that life started out simple. And in simplicity, we are in touch more with our inner selves.

Lake Pandin

Baranggay Santo Angel

San Pablo, Laguna

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Timbaland, Jojo and Justin Timberlake Live in Manila Concert

February 19, 2010 by Janey

***UPDATE*** Timbaland concert will supposedly start at 930 PM tonight to make way for Earth Hour.

Rumor has it that Timbaland will have a concert in Manila and his special guest is supposedly Justin Timberlake!!! I love Timbaland but shouldn’t it be the other way around –a JT concert in Manila featuring Timbaland? At any rate, I don’t mind who’s on the spotlight but I would love to see both Justin Timberlake and Timbaland in one show -it would be one sizzling performance!!!

U92 is launching, which is the push behind the concert of Timbaland who is supposedly coming to Manila together with Jojo and JT. I’m so excited to get confirmation on this soon. My only gripe is, I wish it was going to be held in Araneta Coliseum.

Changing Lives: Timbaland and Jojo Live in Manila

(And a surprise special guest… JT, is that you?)

March 27,2010

SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds

Ticket prices:

PHP 4651.20

PHP 3100.80

PHP 1550.40

PHP 310.08

Tickets will be available in all Ticketworld outlets. Call 891-9999 for more details about this show

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27 Comments Filed Under: A Taste of Manila and Other Things, Press Play Tagged With: 1 hour, 2010, 891-9999, Album, album launch, Araneta Coliseum, Back to Back, breaking news, Changing Lives, Channel V, concert scene, concert series, confirmation, confirmed, contact number, dance moves, discount, early bird promo, Earth Hour 2010, event, events company, February, Filipino, Fort, front act, Globe, group rates, handler, hip hop, Jojo, JT, Justin Timberlake in Manila, lights off, Live in Manila Concert, Makati, make way for Earth Hour, Makita, management, Manager, Manila, March 27, media interview, media passes, media sponsor, MOA, movement, MTV, music, music channel, news, one show, open grounds, performance, Philippines, pinoy, Press Conference, press release, presscon, price, prices, Promo, promotion, pushing through, report, RnB, rumor, short, SM, SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, sponsor, surprise special guest, telephone number, ticket prices, ticket reservation, ticketnet, ticketworld, Timbaland and Jojo in Manila, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake Live in Manila, Timbaland concert start at 930pm, Tour, tour manager, true, U92, update, vj

Venetian Macao Auditions

January 14, 2010 by Janey

The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel is looking for Gondoliers and Streetmophere Artists positions for February 2010.

GONDOLIERS

On its 4 Venice styled waterways, Gondoliers will be required to steer gondolas while serenading guests with Italian operatic selections.

Job Requirements:

Vocal skills will be fundamental to the position.

Conversational English is a necessity

Have a well groomed, professional appearance.

Please prepare:

One Italian song, a capella

One other piece of your choice- pop, jazz, Broadway, etc.

Also, be prepared to improvise dialogue in an Italian accent, and to recite a short monologue in an Italian accent.

A pianist will be provided- please bring sheet music if necessary.

STREETMOSPHERE ARTISTS

Vocalists

Please prepare:

One Italian aria from the Classical or Romantic period (i.e. Mozart, Verdi, Puccini)

One other piece of your choice- pop, jazz, Broadway, etc.

Vocalists must also be able to execute and perform choreography/movement while singing, and have the ability to sing as soloist in addition to an ensemble setting.

Sight reading ability is a plus.

Basic Requirements:

* Classical training and Stage performance experience is a plus

* Good customer service skills

* Enjoy interacting with the guests and taking photos.

* Be able to follow direction and be flexible to changes

MUSICIANS

* Ability to perform as a soloist and as part of an ensemble

* Ability to learn music quickly and accurately

* Be able to follow direction, work well with others, be flexible and maintain a professional attitude and image at all times

* Should possess strong improvisational skills

Pianists

Please prepare:

* one solo piano piece from the classical repertoire

* one aria accompaniment from the Classical/ Romantic repertoire (Vedrai carino, O mio babbino caro, Quando m’en vo)

There will be sight reading from a piano score as well as from a lead sheet, as these skills are fundamental to the position.

String Musicians (violin,guitar,viola,cello)

Please prepare:

* One solo piece from the classical repertoire

There will sight reading from a piano/ vocal score, as well as from a lead sheet. These skills are fundamental to the position.

Please bring resume and head shot.

Audition Details:

Date: January 15 and 16,2010

Time: 9:00am to 6:00pm

Location: Philippine Opera Company

15 Garcia Villa Street, San Lorenzo Village, Makati City

Telephone number: 892-8786 or email: zarah.aguila@venetian.com.mo

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Aubergine

September 16, 2009 by Janey

Recently dined at Aubergine for a business dinner with BBC and it was quite appropriate. Aubergine, French for eggplant, is an illustrious French Continental restaurant affiliated with the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management (ISCAHM). It is not my first visit at Aubergine but the stellar wine cellar still catches the attention as the showpiece spectacle of the restaurant.

Image Source: Aubergine.ph

On the Table

French Duck Confit PHP

With creamed Brussels sprouts and parsley marble potatoes

Roasted Wagyu Beef Tri Tip PHP 1,200

With pan-fried duck foie gras, Port wine sauce, glazed vegetable and Pommery mustard mash potato

The entrée plate arrived looking fanciful with the lavish alliance of Wagyu and foie gras at the spotlight, outlined with champagne froth, while shoestring potatoes curled resembling a bush, glossed vegetables and mustard mashed potato at the hem.

Requested for medium and the kitchen got the perfect doneness according to preference. The Wagyu beef is just divine, a reddish pink center with an outer charred layer perfectly seared, locking the moisture of succulent meat. The luxurious lean cut of Wagyu didn’t have intense marbling in it as most expect of Wagyu beef. Tri tip is a comparatively lean cut since it is taken from the bottom sirloin, similar to skirt steak.

Foie gras, the fattened liver of a duck or goose, in this case duck, was indisputably delicious. It was definitely rich in flavor, surprisingly more generous in size than expected. Quite delicately rich and creamy, it enhanced the beef flavor of the meat providing an almost melting effect in the mouth.

Aubergine’s Roasted Wagyu Beef Tri Tip is a perfect embrace of everything that is sheer pleasure with beef.

Aubergine

32^nd and 5^th Bldg.,

5^th Ave. Cor. 32^nd St.,

Fort Bonifacio, 1634 Taguig City

(632) 856 9888

Aubergine Album

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Past Love Rekindled at Pasto

August 14, 2009 by Janey

Previous to the discovery of Ristras, Pasto was frequent in the call log. Bubba and I were reminiscing the other night how much we crave for Pasto before. Pasto was our favorite go-to-restaurant for DVD food. The Greenhills branch is rung ahead of time to order 2 batches of crostinis with chicken pate and pomodoro salsa dips. Grab, pay and off to home movies.

I also like eating at home since Bubba finishes most of the salsa, so I have to replicate with a homemade one. Diced tomatoes, diced red onions (nominal), fresh basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, (mmm-mm!) I can have as much as I want. Soon, we were pairing our Pasto “to-go” order with Sandy’s Pizza’s buffalo wings, which we also got quite akin to. Interestingly, we only order the wings (they deliver for 2 orders) and not the pizza.

Another favorite in Pasto is their Romano entrée (PHP345). Romano is crusted chicken breast with spinach and roasted mushrooms in a Gorgonzola cream sauce served with fettuccine.

On the Table

Zuppa di Pomodoro PHP 95

Pasto has the best roasted-tomato cream soup in the Metro. Its semi-smooth thickness is exactly right without making it appear like a tomato puree. There’s a hint of Parmesan and cream taste in the roasted tomato soup. Garnished with fresh basil on top that adds a minty flavor perfect for that hot soothing spoonful.

Crostini, Pasto’s famous version of Italian crostini served with your choice of “dips.” One order is equivalent to 8 pieces of crostini shaped like a pizza slice –thin, toasty and crispy. Price of crostini depends on the dip.

Chicken pate PHP 125

Pomodoro Salsa PHP 105

En Route to the Perfect Bite

Spread the chicken pate on the crostini
Put a bit of the tomato salsa on top with a drip of the balsamic olive oil dressing

First layer of taste is good enough for me.

3. Add another layer of flavor by adding grated Parmesan cheese.

4. To add some heat, add the chili flakes

Before Ristras’ burritos and nacho chips, this was our comfort food.

Ortaggi PHP 225

Spaghetti cooked with artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese. The usual order is Romano, Vongole or Frutti di Mare, but we took a detour and ordered a pasta dish we haven’t tried –Ortaggi. It was a tad bit on the sweet side (probably from the sun-dried tomatoes which I really love) that I wasn’t expecting. We only finished half of the pasta, partly because we needed to run off to watch GI Joe.

Pasto

Greenhills Theater Mall

Unit F&B-5, Greenhills Theater Mall

Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan

(632) 722 4992

El Pueblo

Julio Vargas Ave cor. ADB Ave

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

(632) 634 0157

Paseo Center

3^rd Floor, 8757 Paseo de Roxas

Salcedo Village, Makati City

(632) 893 0588

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9 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 2009, 2010, affordable, Agave Mexican Cantina, andrew tan, August 1, Authentic, barbacoa, berks, best, best Italian, Best Mexican, branch, branches, burgers, burrito, butch, Cafe, Cali Mex, California, celebrity, Charlie’s, Charlie’s Grill, Chef Rob Goco, chorizo brown rice, cilantro wild rice, coffee, cris darwin lim, Cyma, darwin, delivery, DLSU, dogs, Eric, eric ryan tang, ERT, expensive, Filipino, food review, garlic sauce, Good Service, grand opening, grill, guacamole, hotdogs, how to create a burrito, how to make, image, in town, Italian, J. Abad Santos, Jalapeño, jim, jim harold lim, la salle, latest, location, management, Manager, marie, marinade, math, meat, menu, Mex, mexicali, Mexican, Mexican restaurant, new, new branch, number, opening, Pasto, Philippines, Photo, pinoy, pre-nuptial photos, price, recent, recipe, restaurant, Restaurants, Ristras, salsa, San Juan, San Sebastian Church, service, shredded beef, Steak, supplier, take out, tang, Taste Manila, Venue, Video, wedding, wedding season, weddings in Manila

Nanbantei of Tokyo

August 13, 2009 by Janey

Bubba, Jayme and I arrived at Greenbelt just in time to have a quick dinner before SKY Cable’s The Hangover premiere at Cinema 2 last Monday.

The grill section is where yakitori happens. Yakitori is the process of roasting bite size pieces of meat, poultry, or vegetables, which Japan cooking is famous for. The tradition supposedly started not with the Japanese, but with the Dutch who had settlements at Dejima, Nagasaki, during the Edo period.

Nanbantei has the same vibe that transports one to the restaurants in Tokyo -simple minimalist interiors with low lights, wooden tables and brown and cream color palette.

On the Table

Nanban Yaki PHP 180 (2 sticks) –Bubba’s order

Yaki Niku PHP 170 (2 sticks) –2 orders, Jem and I had the same order

Grilled thin slices of beef, which were also good, but it was a tad bit saltier for my taste. The cut of the beef is similar to the Sukiyaki cut but slimmer and softer. Quality meat but a bit pricey for its size.

Shiitake Mushroom PHP 90 (2 sticks)

Japanese mushrooms that have a beefy taste and silky texture grilled yakitori style. 2 pieces of mushroom per stick seem pricey for 90 bucks.

Miso Soup PHP 75

Bubba didn’t want to order one but I insisted because he needed hot soup to warm him up. He wasn’t feeling well and his runny nose (due to allergy) was bugging him all day. This is the ugly part since the waiter accidentally bumped the small container, 3/4s full, and spilled the soup on Bubba’s pants, which was okay because it wasn’t intentional. What was amiss was when they didn’t ask if we want it replaced. Moreover, when we got the bill, it included the Miso soup. I had to call their attention to scratch it off.

Gohan PHP 75

Plain Japanese sticky rice served on a brown bowl. The sticky white rice is perfect with the grilled beef.

Fried Rice PHP 95

Japanese fried rice

I think we should have ordered the platters that appear to have more value for money. Their ala carte items seem to be more expensive than their set meals or platters. I was still hungry after the dinner having eaten only 4 pieces of meat. Nevertheless, the meat was tasty and food was overall satisfactory. Nanbantei of Tokyo combines the best of the Japanese and Dutch traditions to give a thoroughly enjoyable Japanese food experience. It is a cozy Japanese restaurant that offers authentic delicious yakitori cuisine.

Nanbantei of Tokyo

3^rd Level, Greenbelt 3,

Makati City, MM.

(632) 757 4130

Nanbantei of Tokyo Album

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Leave a Comment Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: Authentic, Bad Service, beef, best, best in town, branch, contact number, dish, Good Service, Greenbelt 3, grill, hole in the wall, Japanese restaurant, Little Tokyo, Makati City, management, meat, menu, miso soup, Nanban Yaki, Nanbantei of Tokyo, Philippines, price, quality, Restaurants, service, staff, sushi, Taste Manila, Tokyo, vibe, waiters, what to order, Yakiniku, Yakitori

Addicted to Ristras

July 30, 2009 by Janey

I seriously cannot count how many times I’ve been to Ristras. I’ve had one too many visits since it opened. I would have gotten a loyalty card by now if they have such customer management system.

July 24, Friday night, we are back again in Ristras but not for our usual “to go” food to be gorged on a DVD night. We were there to give Butch a congratulatory pat on the back for his upcoming wedding on August 1, Saturday.

It’s already this week and just 3 days ago, I attended Didi’s wedding. I still shake my head in disbelief knowing at least 9 people who are getting married between today until mid next year. It’s the wedding season!

Butch and Marie, who I had some time to bond with during a spontaneous Tagaytay getaway, are one of the nicest and most sensible couples I know. Both are currently working at P&G and have been together since 3^rd year college.

Other than Andrew, it was Cris Darwin, Eric, Butch and Jim’s first time at Ristras. We were just here 2 nights ago (err… every 2 nights before that as well?)

The boys were a bit overwhelmed with the array of delicious ingredients in front of them. Same sentiment I had when it was my first time there not so long ago. I’m glad I was assisted during my selection of what’s going inside my burrito from Chef Rob. I was glad to give the same assistance to the berks.

Create Your Own Burrito

First: Choose Bowl or Burrito

It’s a matter of eating it in a bowl or in a wrap

Second: Choose Your Rice (Easiest!)

2 choices: Cilantro White Rice or Chorizo Brown Rice. (You can also forego if you’re on a no-rice diet)

I go for the chorizo brown rice, wonderful color, fantastic grain.

Third: Choose Your Meat (or Go Vegetarian)

Steak –good quality meat soaked in hours in Chipotle Adobo marinade and then grilled medium rare. Very tender and tasty

Chicken –grilled chicken meat in jalapeno marinade

Carnitas –free-range pork braised and seasoned with thyme, bay leave, orange juice

Barbacoa –slow braised shredded beef with cumin, cloves and other spices

You can choose 2 meats for your burrito, which will be separated on each side.

**Go Vegetarian and pack on the bell peppers, black beans and red beans or you can just add it all to your meat

Fourth: Add-ons!

Choose your add-ons: Jalapeno, pico de gallo salsa, tomatoes, tomatillo green chile salsa, roasted chili corn salsa, sour cream, grated cheddar and white cheese, guacamole or no need to choose, you can go with “all the works!”

The serving is good for a hungry one or best shared with a good friend! Now it’s time to order your nachos!

On the Table

Steak slash Barbacoa Burrito PHP 290

Bubba and I decided to split a burrito. It was steak, brown rice and all the other works on one side while it was barbacoa and brown rice on the other. Savor every mouthful

9 Layer Dip with Nachos PHP 255

I really love Rockefeller’s 7-layer nachos but being so far away in Makati, I’ve replaced it with Ristras’ 9-layer dip. 9-layer-dip is brimming with 9 colorful layers of fresh ingredients starting from 2 kinds of beans, sour cream, tomatoes, pico de gallo salsa, onion, corn, chopped olives, jalapenos and guacamole if you wish. Create a perfect bite by getting a piece of everything. We usually ran out of chips but we just grab a Tostitos Hint with Lime tortilla chips from our stash at home and it heightens eating this delicious comfort food. It’s actually more perfect with Tostitos.

Whatever you decide, the garlic sauce makes all the mix and matches come together. The white yogurt sauce suffused with loads garlic has the right consistency compared to other garlic sauces that are diluted. It gives a softer and creamier supplement to each textural bite.

(Chris said that after that Friday visit he finally hit the mark and would probably visit after a month. Newsflash: we were at Ristras last night, only 5 days after that vow.)

If Meg Ryan is addicted to love, she definitely needs to pay Ristras a visit.

CHECK OUT B&T Mexican Kitchen along Ortigas Avenue.

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San Juan City

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8 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 2009, 2010, affordable, Agave Mexican Cantina, andrew tan, August 1, Authentic, barbacoa, berks, best, Best Mexican, branch, branches, burgers, burrito, butch, Cali Mex, California, celebrity, Charlie’s, Charlie’s Grill, Chef Rob Goco, chorizo brown rice, cilantro wild rice, cris darwin lim, Cyma, darwin, delivery, DLSU, dogs, Eric, eric ryan tang, ERT, expensive, Filipino, food review, garlic sauce, Good Service, grand opening, grill, guacamole, hotdogs, how to create a burrito, how to make, image, in town, J. Abad Santos, Jalapeño, jim, jim harold lim, la salle, latest, location, management, Manager, marie, marinade, math, meat, menu, Mex, mexicali, Mexican, Mexican restaurant, new, number, opening, Philippines, Photo, pinoy, pre-nuptial photos, price, recent, recipe, restaurant, Restaurants, Ristras, salsa, San Juan, San Sebastian Church, shredded beef, Steak, supplier, take out, tang, Taste Manila, Venue, Video, wedding, wedding season, weddings in Manila

ClawDaddy Crab Buffet

January 28, 2009 by Janey

I love seafood. Crabs, lobster and shrimps can be part of my everyday meal and I won’t get tired of it. Red Crab, Emerald Garden, Ocean Dragon, Dragon Gate, King Crab are among the few frequented in college days. During those days, the one that tops the list is The Seafood Club by Red Crab in Greenbelt 3 because of their lunch buffet. The lunch buffet consists of a small salad and dessert section, 1-2 pasta, 2-3 other viands plus unlimited crabs. This is the ultimate come-on for me.

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It is a bit problematic to invite Bubba to restaurants such as those mentioned because he doesn’t like seafood that much. One Friday evening, Bubba suggested eating dinner at ClawDaddy, which we’ve been to a few times for their ribs, dirty rice and other fare but never because of crabs. He insisted that I get the dinner buffet so I can have as much crabs as I want. He wants to see me break my record of eating 13 medium-sized crabs in one sitting.

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Clawdaddy’s menu is extensive with various choices for appetizer, soup and salad as well as their grilled meats and seafood. This is the first time though that I am trying their buffet. The buffet included soup, salad, 2 kinds of fish, chicken and crab. The buffet spread that evening wasn’t really that desirable but my main goal was the crab so I’m still a happy camper. Bubba ordered ribs with dirty rice (PHP 250++)

I didn’t break my record that evening. I have only finished about 5-6 crabs –pretty rusty. I need to get this well-oiled machine up and running again.