Ramada Manila Central Hotel, Binondo

 

I have fond memories of Binondo as a child or teenager walking with her dad along the busy people-filled streets of Philippines’ China Town.  I also frequented the area when I took up advance summer classes of Trigonometry and Geometry, Typing and Chinese classes at YMCA. 

 

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Ivan Man Dy’s Binondo Food Wok  

I also had fun doing a food walk tour with Ivan Man Dy at the helm guiding us while we snaked in between streets and corners to find the best spots for Chinese specialty food.  I was back at the area again sometime July when The Food Club spent the weekend over at a newly built hotel in Manila.

 

Ramada Manila Central stands tall at the heart of Binonda, Manila, Philippines amidst neighboring historical sites like the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, who happens to be the first Filipino saint.  Launched this year, it is a comfortable respite at the center of one of the most historic sites in the country and the oldest Chinatown in the world, where cultures of Filipino and Chinese meet.

 

The hotel is quite accessible being situated in one of Manila’s central business, cultural and commercial districts.  It’s also a few minutes away from big shopping complexes like Divisoria, 168, and 999 Malls.  Bubba and I were first to arrive at the venue and initially parked at the basement but since there was a bit of construction ongoing in their basement parking, we opted to park outside beside the historic Binondo Church.  We learned from the front desk that they actually have parking slots reserved there for their clients and they assured us that the car is secured with round the clock security.  

 

Initially we thought of checking in at the ground floor but since we will be occupying the rooms at the Executive Floor, there was an express check-in waiting for us on that floor, 5th.  We were assisted with our overnight baggage and showed us into our room.  

 

All guest rooms offer hi-speed internet access, 32 inch LCD TVs for all room types, separ [Read more…]

Balkan Express

 

After visiting my “Beloved Papa” last Saturday morning, I brought my family out for lunch at Balkan Express. 

 

I’ve been hearing quite a buzz about Balkan Express from foodie friends. 

 

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Richard’s

 

It’s a stone throw away from my place so when I finally found the time to check it out, that’s where we headed.  Balkan Express is situated almost at the corner of Mon and J. Abad Santos streets. 

 

 

If you’re not familiar with the Little Baguio area, the easiest route is to take Wilson Street from Greenhills and turn right to P. Guevarra.  Drive along the street past the SKY Cable office and turn right when you see Mon St., where you will turn right again.  I’m sure you won’t miss the yellow Balkan Express signage with two cute Balkan icons (?) with moustache.  

 

 

Parking can be a setback but fortunately, we were able to find one near the entrance door.  The restaurant, with yellow and orange walls and jar-like lowlights, is quite small with limited number of matching brown tables and chairs.  There were 6 of us so we had to merge another table to fit our party. 

 

 

Order should be placed by the counter (or even at the table but I decided to go to the counter anyway) where Serbian owner Marko Batricevic courteously helped me with the choices. 

 

 

Marko Batricevic is a fellow La Sallian who was part of the DLSU team that took home the 2007 UAAP Basketball Championship trophy.  Balkan Express is his and his brother Martin’s venture into bringing Eastern European Home Cooking to Filipino palettes.        

 

 

On the Table

 

Chicken Batak PHP 290

Grilled boneless chicken thigh stuffed with mozzarella cheese served with Jasmine rice

 

 

I’ve heard “hit and miss” reviews about their chicken batak.  My first try was not a letdown.  The boneless chicken thigh was grilled perfectly without losing its moisture and the stuffing of mozzarella cheese was generous giving the chicken enough saltiness from the cheese to season the meat.

 

Goulash PHP 230

Internationally popular stew made of lean beef, onions, and paprika served with noodles, 150g of lean meat

 

 

The brown stew had tender chunks of lean beef and interestingly swirls of pasta noodles.  The lean meat breaks apart easily without the effort of chewing.  The goulash gravy was smooth and quite tasty with Serbian spices and touch of ground paprika powder and onions.  The meat is coated well with the flavor of the goulash. 

 

Stuffed Pljeskavica PHP 320

Grilled Serbian meat served with homemade sauce, tomato, lettuce, onion and French fries

 

 

The semi-thick slab of meat is grilled evenly with visible grill marks that always looked appetizing to me.  Cut into it delicately and the cheese stuffed inside oozes out daintily.  The Serbian meat sprinkled probably in Serbian spices was flavorful but on the salty side –which might turn off some people but it was okay to me. 

 

Musaka PHP 195

Layered oven casserole dish made with shredded potato, ground beef, eggs, yogurt, milk, and onions.  Made to order

 

This is supposed to be a made-to-order dish which is usually ordered at least a day before, but Marko checked with the kitchen and since somebody ordered ahead of time, they can pull of another serving to accommodate our order of Musaka.

 

 

The Musaka crumbles easily barely anything that holds the minced meat together except for the partial yogurt, egg, milk and shredded potato mixture on top.  Texture is interesting with softness of the minced meat in contrast with the semi-crunch of the upper layer.

 

Balkanski Kebab PHP 330

Serbian barbecued chicken kebab (320g) wrapped in bacon served with Jasmin rice

 

 

Barbecued in my dictionary meant it must be grilled or smoked even just a tad bit –this doesn’t give that notion at all.  The chicken cuts tasted like it was boiled instead of grilled without probably any type of seasoning because it’s flat out bland –that not even the shade of saltiness from the bacon could save.  Fascinatingly, my sister Joanne seemed to like it and finished this.  I couldn’t even finish half a bite. 

 

Cevapcici PHP 180 (2)

All time favorite Balkan dish made of grilled minced meat served on a burger bun with homemade sauce, tomato, lettuce, onion, and French fries

 

 

Appearance is close to a hamburger except that the patty inside is actually three pieces of sausage-looking grilled meat.  In terms of price and taste plus consistency in quality, the Cevapcici takes the crown.  I ordered another Cevapcici to go so I could bring it to Dihia for his snack in the office and for him to try.

 

Service was handled well with minimal staff, even Marko was helping out in serving water and attending to the tables.  I find the price a bit steep for the overall combination of taste/serving, service and ambience.  

 

 

What I guess really turned me off the place was a noisy group at the far end of the dining room.  My patience can usually stretch for noise (but maybe I did mind that time since I just came from a solemn place and still had a lot of unidentified emotions) but this particular lady in the group was obnoxiously loud with no courtesy for the other diners.  Her booming voice can be heard audibly and painfully like she was just sitting right next to your EAR.  I see a Chinese family next to us and they too seemed to be distressed.  I recognize that the place is small and noise may resonate easily within the room –but my practical mind does know that if she could have unselfishly toned it down a bit, everyone would have had a more pleasing Saturday lunch there. 

 

Rocky and Shobe

Fat and Thin

My Reason to Breathe

 

If it’s going to be like that every time, I don’t think I’d be happy to bring my family back.  My mom enjoyed the food despite the noise but I personally could barely think, much less eat with all the harping.  If we do pay a return visit, it’s probably just going to be Bubba and me or with the Foodie Club.  

 

If you’re interested in trying out Eastern European home cooking in Manila, Balkan Express can actually dish out that experience for you.  The stuffed Pljeskavica, Chicken Batak and Cevapcici were the more popular choices for me and the rest on the table. 

 

 

Balkan Express

Eastern European Home Cooking

87 J. Abad Santos., Cor. Mons St.

Little Baguio, San Juan City 1500

(632) 330 0945

 

 

Balkan Express Album  

 

Photo Credit:

 

Carlos of FoodieManila.com

Richard of TalesfromtheTummy.com

 

 

Between Bites Meets Big Better Burgers (BB Meets BBB)

 

 

Big Better Burgers is a new fast casual restaurant, serving freshly grilled premium burgers.  Together with the Foodie Club, Wednesday was set as our BBB dinner meet.  We were introduced to Eric Teotico, a former director of TV commercials, who has translated his passion for directing TVC to passion for directing taste in food.  Their first shop opened on October 2008 at the mezzanine floor of Victoria Towers corner Timog and Panay in Quezon City.  Since then, they have launched three more branches at SM North EDSA, SM Fairview and SM Cubao. 

 

 

Big Better Burgers are made from fresh, one-third pound, pure beef burger patties, specially infused with their own crafted seasoning, grilled and smoked to juicy perfection. 

 

 

On the Table

 

Wedges PHP 55

The wedge-cut potato fries were pretty big.  I like the cheddar cheese and dill mayo that were served with it.

 

 

Bacon Barbecue Burger PHP 150

1/3 lb. grilled burger, bacon, grilled onion, barbecue sauce

 

 

Hahalapeño Burger PHP 147

1/3 lb. grilled burger, jalapeno salsa, cheese, lettuce, ketchup.  This was what I was eyeing but since Peter already ordered it, I went for variety and ordered something else.  Next time I’m at BBB, BB will definitely order the Hahalapeño Burger… 😉

 

 

3 Cheese Explosion PHP 165

1/3 lb. grilled burger, mozzarella, quezoloco, cheddar cheese -Bubba enjoyed this a whole lot. 

 

 

Mushroom Loco PHP 147

1/3 lb. grilled burger, lettuce, quezoloco, button mushrooms in burgundy sauce -perfect for people who love mushrooms

 

 

 

Good news for Green Archers because Big Better Burgers is opening a branch at La Salle Taft University Mall on August 1, 2010 while for the southerners, a franchise branch has opened at Northgate, Filinvest Alabang last June 18.  Get a taste of quality American burgers at Big Better Burgers! 😉

 

 

Thanks to Tita Jane (Tukayo) for arranging this dinner and Eric and Chiqui Teotico for inviting us over.

 

 

Big Better Burgers

Ground Floor, SM Cubao

(632) 709 3021

 

 

Big Better Burgers Album