Mee Kee Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Rikuseki An Japanese Restaurant in Legaspi

June 8, 2015 by Janey

Celebrated for serving one of the finest sashimi, sushi and Japanese fares in the metro, Sushi Kappo Kobikicho has modified its restaurant to what is now known as Rikuseki An. They still serve the freshest and finest sliced raw fish and seafood. Rikuseki An actually means a place of comfort and who won’t get comforted with fresh ingredients flown in twice a week from Japan to ensure quality.

Their menu is quite extensive which includes ala carte options as well as lunch and dinner sets. Like most Japanese restaurants in Makati, lunch sets are usually cheaper than dinner menus. Theirs ranges from as low as Php 400 to as high as Php 1000 whereas for dinner, it starts at Php 980 to Php 4000. Omakase is also offered in Rikuseki An where the chef will whip up small plates depending on his whim and what’s freshest in the market. It’s a full course dinner fully controlled by the Chef’s special selections.

During New Year’s Eve, Basemh who fancies the place recommended that us four spend dinner there. And for sure, we did SPEND. I was looking for the eject button on my seat so I can just shoot right out of there… but it’s bills that got ejected out of wallets. 🙂

On the Table

Cold Silken Tofu

A small plate of cold silken tofu topped with freshly grated wasabi was the complimentary appetizer from the kitchen

Akami Sashimi MP (Market Price)

Lean flesh of blue fin tuna

Fresh tuna with a deep-red hue of a steak and as meaty tasting yet tender and unresisting

Chutoro Sashimi MP (Market Price)

Medium fatty flesh of blue fin tuna

Basemh observed that among us four, I’m the only one that doesn’t dip my sashimi in the soy and instead just paste it a bit with some fresh wasabi morsel. I don’t like the salt taste from the dark soy to eclipse the natural subtlety of the top grade tuna.

Gradients of reddish to light pink with the lighter shades slash white streaks showing the marbling of the blue fin tuna. Rikuseki An’s Chutoro is a stellar piece of sashimi made of succulence. It’s delicate, faintly sweet, and a paradox of lightness and richness.

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Lung Hin at Marco Polo

June 3, 2015 by Janey

There was a lot of excitement when Marco Polo opened in Ortigas. The food buzz circulating was about a good Chinese restaurant at the hotel. Lung Hin is a contemporary specialty restaurant that features authentic Cantonese cuisine and fresh seafood. I first visited Lung Hin during my birthday lunch earlier this year and tried it again with family during our 2-day Holy Week stay in the hotel.

The restaurant interior of Lung Hin boasts of modern design with elements of elegant classic Chinese motif. There is a main dining area and private rooms for closed functions and celebrations. Try to reserve a table near the floor-length windows for a stunning view of the Ortigas area spanning across the Metro and soak in the wonderful natural light that fills the dining room.

On the Table

Seafood Hot and Sour Soup P380 (good for one)

It is quite expensive for a hot and sour soup served in a personal bowl but it is fairly filled with generous seafood bites.

Deep Fried Crispy Tofu with Delicate Pepper Sesame Sauce P280

It’s quite amusing when the menu item already describes itself and says it comes with a “delicate” pepper sesame sauce so there I was anticipating how delicate this “delicate” is. This was a good appetizer with cubes of tofu fried creating that firm outer layer that’s peppery yet inside it was very fragile like a light cream.

Stir-fried Squid with Mashed Salted Egg P380

This dish was easily my favorite on the table and has sparked a return after the first visit. The stir-fried squid was still very tender and obscenely coated with mashed salted egg giving it added grainy texture and delightful deeper flavor that’s salt-cured but not all too salty. Salted duck egg yolks are best for flavoring which has a sharp flavor – it tastes rich and fatty.