Mister Donut Pon de Ring

 

Last year during Spring time, I took a 5-day trip to Korea with my foodie friends.  I know I haven’t blogged about it here yet but that’s in the pipeline within this summer (US time har har).  I’ll include places where to eat, to shop and sites to see and activities to do.  I didn’t think I’d have so much fervor for a progressive country (except Japan when I attended a brief exchange study program there) but Korea courted me and had me smitten.  Too smitten, I wanted to keep it as another secret affair like Bali or Cambodia, which I eventually shared to you guys.  Open book.  Open life.  Open happiness.

 

READ THE TRAVEL STORIES HERE:

 My Love Affair with Bali

Angkor Wat, A Journey to the Lost City Begins

The Elephant Terrace

Back to the Roots at Ta Phrom

 

Before I go off tangent, one of my small discoveries in Korea was Mister Donut.  In La Salle, I got hooked on buying the Twist at the Mister Donut stall in the College Canteen near the CLA building for a season, other than the siomai rice, sizzling plates, Aristocrat, sisigs, Mickey Dees of the college world.  Then I totally forgot about MD, especially years after when Gonuts Donuts opened at Fort, Krispy Kreme some 7 years ago, and the sprout of many doughnut shops. 

[Read more…]

The Tie That is Taiwan (Part 3 of 3)

Where did I leave off?  Oh that first evening with Jim at Xi Men Ding.  That was a good night to catch up and do a bit of shopping while trying out more of Taiwanese street food.

We’re “friends” shot

The “we sort of like each other” Shot

Jim recounts how Taiwan has been for him.  He moved there more than a year ago for work.  I remember we even threw a despedida for him and I kept teasing him about not bringing the album the group prepared for his departure.

 

Reminisce our cute Taiwan trip!  READ the story below:

The Tie That is Taiwan (Part 1 of 3)

The Tie That is Taiwan (Part 2 of 3)

Day 3, Monday

Ma Li restaurant Shabu Shabu, Chang Kai Shekand Fuxing Dinner

Staying up late the night before to pack and enjoy our midnight snacks from the streets of Taipei, we woke up leisurely on our last day.  Initially planned to go but eventually decided to skip Sun Yat Sen (SYS) Memorial Hall (our bus passed by it and didn’t give a huge impression on me) and Longshan Temple(you see one temple, you’ve seen them all) to make it a light and easy trip. One place I wanted to go to but didn’t find time was Yangmingshan National Park and the hot springs in Beitou.

Ma La Hot Pot Restaurant

My favorite hot pot in Manila is King One Hot Pot in Manila, which was introduced by Richard and Irene and Healthy Shabu Shabu.  But I believe I ate at the best hot pot in Taiwan and maybe that part of Asia.

  [Read more…]

The Tie that is Taiwan (Part 2 of 3)

 

Day 2, Sunday

Half-Day Tour to Keelung and Yehlou Park, Popular Shin Ye Restaurant, National Palace Museum, Xi Men Ding at Night

 

Woke up early this day to make an 820am pick-up time by the van that will take us to our half-day tour to Keelung, Yehlou Park and 2 other sites.There is an English-speaking tour guide with our party of 7 – a family of three with teenager, another middle-aged couple and us. Bubba was able to grab breakfast at the hotel while I fixed our hotel room –bed, trash, and key items on my bag that day before leaving.

Empty Benches

 

Keelung

Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan.  Keelung is within borders of New Taipei so both Taipei and Keelung shares a metropolitan area.  Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, Taiwan’s second largest seaport is located in the city.

 

[Read more…]

Between Bites TOP 10 MUST BITES 2011

 

I have scoffed, gobbled, munched, wolfed down different dishes in many, almost countless, restaurants that I have to really organize my food thoughts.  That is the reason time and again I come up with these Between Bites Top 10 lists.

 

 

READ MORE:

Between Bites TOP 10 Food Highlights of 2010 (1st Half)

Between Bites TOP 10 Best Japanese Restaurants

BETWEEN BITES TOP 10 BEST DATE PLACES

BETWEEN BITES TOP 10 BEST FILIPINO EATS

BETWEEN BITES TOP 10 BEST PAELLA

BETWEEN BITES TOP 10 BEST Buffalo Wings

TOP 5 Sultry Strawberry Treats

Mercato Centrale, Where Food Lovers Meet, The TOP 10

Between Bites TOP 10 Things About Bali 

And here we go again!  This time I have dubbed my annual list as “MUST BITES” in line with the Between Bites “brand.”  Yuck, brand daw oh.  Haha.

10. Rub Ribs and Barbecue

A simple duplex with a red signage that spelled RUB stands in Tomas Morato.  With more comfortable dining area on the 2nd floor, the small space has quotable quotes in frames adorning the wall.  Their menu offers wings, potato wedges, pastas, pork belly, among others but obviously, it is a no-nonsense restaurant devoted to the love of ribs and barbecue.

 

[Read more…]

Chatime Tea, Why Don’t Cha?

 

I never realized that the Milk Tea fever will explode this big.  Foodie friends and non-foodie friends got hooked initially on Serenitea and some eventually switched their coffee time with cold tea drinks.  I was never a big fan of coffee although I love the smell and I take it once in a while during meetings but I was pretty much taken by Serenitea since late 2009We visit frequently in a week and somehow got addicted to it. 

 

Family of drinkers

 

Now, they have about 5 branches since they opened since 2 years ago.  I did lessen my visits when prices hiked up, and even limited orders of my favorite peppered corn.  Bubble Tea opened along Wilson Street and my Twin and I usually pick that spot for our chat/bonding/catch-up time.  Happy Lemon, a new player in the market, has followed suit and started making waves in the Greenhills area since it opened late last year. 

 

 

I have somehow got friends hooked on it also and have converted some from the first cooler to the latter.  My different groups of friends cannot stop raving about Happy Lemon in the past couple of months and TODAY I’m quite excited to share with them, a new DRINK discovery.

 

 

After having lunch with Richard, Irene, Lauren, Fran and Paul at Cab Café 2 days ago, Richard suggested to stop by his latest addiction, Chatime.  Chatime is a Taiwanese (the population who started the milk tea craze) brand of milk tea and is considered one of the largest bubble tea brands in the world. 

 

What I love about ChaTime is their second floor that’s a huge lounge area with chic seat designs.  It begs to spend more time there chatting with good friends and finishing your round of drinks.  Or maybe 2 rounds *shrugs*

 

 

They had so many varieties of drinks available to order that it might take you a while to choose your poison.  Take note that some of the Chatime drinks do not come with toppings/pearls/sinkers so make sure that you check with their friendly staff.  Pearls are an addition of PHP 15/serving.

 

Photo Credit: Richard Co of www.talesfromthetummy.com

 

 

While there was an order for 2 Cocoa Smoothies, Tea Guanyin Tea Latte, Grass Jelly Milk Tea and Cha Time Roasted Milk Tea, I settled on Taro Milk Tea (PHP 90) and got a Pearl Milk Tea (PHP 80) as an added free bonus due to the current promotion they have on the store. 

 

Chatime OVERLOAD! I likey-like! 🙂

 

It’s Buy 1 Take 1, choose any of the drinks on the menu board and take 1 Pearl Milk Tea (regular size) for FREE only from 12nn-2pm!  This will last until tomorrow, April 15, so better head over to Chatime at Pioneer St. by today or Friday to get free dibs on their Pearl Milk Tea.

 

Taro Milk Tea

 

Chatime Taro Milk Tea is the most real taro drink you can find in the market.  Don’t expect our local purple yam as its taro taste or the synthetic kind.  It took me a few more sips, midway, to finally appreciate Chatime’s version of fresh taro and I grew to like it.  It had pieces of the taro and i enjoyed the texture of the drink… not-thick or not-thin.  It had a certain dance in your mouth.  I might order the same next time I’m there but I’m also tempted to get a second drink to try their other offerings.

 

Try some Chatime drinks!

 

Chatime supposedly has 500 stores worldwide and it is now available in Manila with its first branch in Pioneer Street.  Why don’t CHA give it a try? 😉

 

 Photo Credit: Richard Co of www.talesfromthetummy.com

 

 

Chatime
Good Tea, Good Time

Pioneer Center, 8006 Pioneer cor. United Sts.

Pasig City, Philippines

 

 

 

Related Posts:

Different Tea Assortment to Love at Serenitea

A Sunday Afternoon Picnic

Happy Lemon

 

Between Bites’ TOP 10 Food Highlights of 2010’s 1st Half: What a Mouthful!

 

 

Between Bites TOP 10 Food Highlights (2010 -1st Half) 

 

 

10. King One’s Shabu Shabu

 

That Sunday lunch at King One’s Shabu Shabu (PHP 529 per head) was a wonderful lunch where the food were 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.  Don’t forget to order fresh prawns, mozzarella balls, tao pao and lambOh lamb!

 

 

 

READ MORE!

Foodie Club Series: The Shabu Shabu Fit for a King

 

 

King One Rotary Hot Pot

M2-A Lower Hobbies of Asia

#8 Macapagal Ave., Pasay City

(632) 556 1370

 

 

9. Sweet Revenge of Maitre Chocolatier

 

Sweet Revenge is Maitre Chocolatier’s Lindt Molten Lava Cake -dark chocolate molten lava cake made from Europe’s finest Lindt Excellence Dark 70%, filled with oozing sweet and vengefully spicy chocolate served with vanilla ice cream

 

Sweet Revenge was the unanimously favorite on the table with its gooey warm chocolate that ruptures from the moist cake that’s bittersweet dark and spiced with chili.  Midway when the chocolate flavor sinks in, the chili essence abruptly creeps in creating a sweet heat inside your mouth.  Cool off with the vanilla ice cream that soothes your taste buds to a calm reverie.  Bubba, Zipster and I loved the yin yang taste of darkness and sweetness, as well as the heat and arctic feel.

 

 

The spunk of the chili in the luscious chocolate liquid inside and the vanilla ice cream bring it all together in sweet harmony. 

 

 

READ MORE!

Exquisitely Choco Loco at Maitre Chocolatier Boutique Café

Maitre Chocolatier Boutique Café

 

 

Maitre Chocolatier Boutique Cafe by Eva Wong 

2A (Beside Starbucks), No. 28 Jupiter Street 

Bel Air, Makati City, Philippines 

(632) 897 8559 

 

 

8. Minato’s Great Korean Barbecue

 

Other than the smorgasbord of side dishes that includes Kimchi, spiced green vegetables, peanuts, bean sprouts, marbled potatoes among a variety of other side accompaniments, it is really the barbecue that’s quite good at Minato.  It has to be one of the best in town.

 

 

Kimchi Pancake

The Kimchi Pancake is oil-fried pancake with bits of beansprouts and cabbage flavored Kimchi-style.  And I think it’s free.

 

So Kal Bi PHP 350

Marinated beef short ribs –has a shadow of sweetness, garlic and soy.  It’s hard to restrain oneself from gnawing the large bones with charred meat.

 

 

Sam Gyeop Sal PHP 240

The plate had thick, fatty slices of pork belly (almost looks like uncured bacon) alternating meat and fat and then skin.  Meat is left unseasoned and usually cooked on a grill at the diner’s table.  In this case, the wait staff helped in cooking the pork belly slices.  On the side, green onion leeks and lettuce are served in case you prefer to wrap your meat inside.  Customize it and add different side dishes or Kimchi and dip in sesame oil with fine black pepper and salt for a perfect finish.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

Foodie Club Series: Great Korean Barbecue at Minato

 

 

Minato Korean Restaurant

Escriva Road (between Furu Restaurant and Agua Vida)

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

 

 

#8 is a toss-up between Minato and Chic Boy

tied at the same number.

 

 

8. Tasty Lechon Liempo at Chic Boy

 

Great food doesn’t necessarily have to come at a price.  There’s a new affordable (almost dare to say cheap) food discovery along Jupiter Street in Makati.  Call on the Chic Boy.  Chic-Boy is actually a play on the words Chicken and Baboy (pork) –the meats that are quite popular in the Filipino community particularly when it’s grilled.

 

Chic Boy is putting a whole new turn on chicken inasal, lechon manok and lechon liempo like you’ve never tasted before.  They’ve taken a special secret recipe of tasty lechon manok and lechon liempo in Cebu and chicken inasal of Bacolod and put it all in one easy-breezy and affordable restaurant here in Manila.

 

 

Must-orders include their Cebu Lechon Liempo and Salmon Sinigang (PHP 45).  With those affordable prices and flavorsome and satisfying meals, how can anyone go wrong? 😀

 

 

READ MORE!

Tasty Lechon Liempo at Chic Boy

 

 

Chic Boy

Jupiter St., Makati City

 

 

7. 22 Prime’s Tomahawk Chop

 

Quick-fire thoughts:

I love the ample size of fat that adds a buttery texture  

and heightens flavor of the meat 

Peppercorn sauce bursts a bouncy flavor that goes perfectly with the chop 

The salad is a good pause in between bites of meat as a cleanser to the palate 

Side of baby vegetables had the right crisp and seasoning  

–the lone brussel sprout was my favorite!  Quite tasty!!!  

 

 

 

Don’t miss out on ordering my FAVORITE Chef Rick’s Cheese Bread!

 

 

Chef Rick’s Cheese Bread PHP 140

Gooey warm cheese topped on three breads, soft and bursting with tantalizing flavors.  Served with baby greens in a mild citrus dressing sparkled with pink peppercorn.  Sun dried tomato and broiled four cheese together?  It’s an exercise in indulgence.

 

READ MORE!

22 Prime’s Tomahawk Chop is a Prime Mover

Premium Night at 22 Prime

 

 

22 Prime 

22nd Level, Discovery Suites 

25 ADB Avenue 

Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Center 

Pasig City, Metro Manila 

(632) 719 8888/ (632) 719 6821 

 

 

6. Ya Kun Kaya Toast –Ortigas

 

Want a great breakfast that lifts you up at any time of the day?  Head over at Ya Kun Kaya! 🙂

 

Kaya Toast (Half PHP 115, Set Menu PHP 140)

2 slices of delicious Kaya toast with butter –has the right lightly toasted crunch of the bread, slathered with butter and just enough green sweet coconut spread.  Satisfies when washed down with Ya Kun’s famous coffee tarik or the traditionally pulled coffee.  It’s not on their menu, but you can change your coffee to Yin Yang, which is this delicious half-coffee and half-tea drink. 

 

 

Noticeably, the Ya Kun eggs were cooked perfectly, which other Kaya stores can’t quite get, where the eggs usually come out with still some raw uncooked parts.  My little spoon broke into that fountain of yolk and I was soaked in sunshine delight.  There’s no brighter day than eating wet and perfectly prepared eggs with the crunch of your toast.

 

 

READ MORE!

Ya Kun Kaya -Ortigas

In Crumbs: Ya Kun Kaya, Taverna Verde and Taal View Heights

 

 

Ya Kun Kaya Toast 

G/F AYK Bldg., Escriva Drive (Right beside Astoria Plaza) 

San Antonio Village, Ortigas, Pasig City 

(632) 470 4285 

7AM-11PM 

 

 

5. Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice

 

Suffused in its natural chicken juice/broth, the chicken meat was very tender and delectable –quite tasty for what can be considered a “healthy food.”  The exquisite and juicy flesh of the steamed chicken is finely balanced with the fragrant rice sprinkled with green onions.  Add a splotch of color and taste by blending in the ginger in sesame oil, chili and sweetened soy sauce. 

 

 

Ooh, the appetizing smell and pleasant gingerly-sesame light taste mixed with a touch of soy and red spice… makes you definitely bite off more than you can chew.

 

 

READ MORE!

In Crumbs: Stevie’s Hainanese Rice, Clawdaddy and Cibo

Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice: Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

 

 

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

21 Libra St. Bel Air,

Makati City

(0906) 508 4155

 

 

4. Legend of India

 

Next to my favorite cuisine, I think Indian cuisine is one of the most interesting and flavorful fares in the world.  Indian cuisine uses various spices, herbs, and vegetables and fruits sometimes grown only in India.  It also has a wide assortment of cooking techniques. 

 

Kadai Paneer PHP 260

Cottage cheese cooked in a traditional kadai masala paste

 

 

Rogan Josh PHP 450

Rogan Josh is an aromatic curry meat dish cooked with a mixture of strong Indian spices where the fat of the meat is usually roasted first in yogurt marinade.  Legend of India tamed their version for our group, which mean it wasn’t intensely hot, but it was still intensely enjoyable paired with the vegetable biryani or the naan.

 

 

Sweet Lassi PHP 110

It was my first time to actually drink a whole glass of sweet Lassi.  I’ve tried it before in other Indian restaurants but found the others’ version too sour for my taste.  Lassi is a popular and traditional Indian yogurt-based drink.  I tremendously enjoyed Legend of India’s sweet lassi since it has a perfect blend of yogurt, milk and sweetener.  There’s a bit of tangy taste to it but it mellows down with a frothy sweet milky flavor.  It fully relaxes your taste buds from the spices.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

Legend of India is Legend of Taste

 

 

Legend of India

114-B Jupiter St.,

Bel-Air II, Makati City

(632) 836 4232

 

 

3. Tsumura’s Wagyu Beef Usuyaki

 

Other than the sushi and sashimi…

 

 

It’s the Wagyu Beef Usuyaki that’s memorable at Tsumura! 🙂

 

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.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

The Way a Sushi Should Be at Tsumura

 

 

Tsumura 

2nd Level 88 Corporate Plaza 

Sedeno corner Valero Streets, 

Salcedo Village, Makati City 

(632) 887 4848/ (632) 4850 

 

 

#3 is actually a toss-up between Tsumura and Serenitea

tied at the same number.

 

3. Serenitea’s Okkinawa or Hokkaido Milk Tea

 

Serenitea is your one-stop shop for all things serene about tea.  They have different variants of tea that will help boost a definite change of drinking lifestyle.  It is the healthy alternative to colas, coffee and sugar-loaded smoothies.  We visit 3 to 4 times a week to get our “Serenitea fix,” which is usually their Okkinawa milk tea drink with nata or pearls (depending on what topping you want) or Hokkaido with pearls.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

Different Tea Assortments to Love at Serenitea

A Sunday Afternoon Picnic

 

 

2. Frazzled Cook’s Paella

 

In terms of taste and price, I consider Frazzled Cook’s Seafood Paella as the best in my book so far.

 

Seafood Paella PHP 550

For those diners who love their seafood paella with the full generous portions of mussels, squid rings, shrimps, chorizo and egg, this is their best bet for paella and huge value for money.  I love the fact that they serve it on the paellera since I enjoy most my paella with the burnt crispy part at the bottom. 

 

 

For other recommended orders, below are some dishes worthwhile to try:

 

Wagyu Salpicao PHP 550

When the serving arrives on your table, initial thought would be, “this dish is pricey.”  If you’re being served with quality Wagyu that certainly softens in your mouth in a buttery texture without any effort, then your money is good.  Have no qualms being served only a few flavorful cubes of beef drenched in its sautéed oil with lightly fried chips of garlic and slices of button mushrooms.  Superb.

 

 

Peruvian Hot Pot PHP 400

The Peruvian Hot Pot is their version of spicy lamb stew.  This was Bubba’s favorite as the spicy invigorating flavors all come together from the lamb, olives, bell peppers and wine –great flavor and unbelievable rich sauce.  The lamb meat had no gamey aftertaste that will surely convert those non-lamb eaters.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

The Frazzled Cook and His Dazzling Dishes

 

 

The Frazzled Cook

#916 Luna Mencias Street, Baranggay Additional Hills,

Mandaluyong City

(632) 782 5980

 

  

1. La Tienda Steak

 

Chuleton PHP 2,150 (PHP 425/100 grams)

It was the steak that was the highlight of this dinner date for me (okay, plus Bubba’s adoring chinky eyes).  One of the best steaks I’ve tasted in Manila is not found on a focused steakhouse.  It’s at a Spanish restaurant called La Tienda.  I was pleasantly surprised how the steak gratified my meaty cravings.  I think we had it cooked in medium doneness.  The delicious steak was quite tender –glistening with appropriate grease and seemingly lightly salted while being cooked.

 

 

 

READ MORE!

La Tienda

 

 

La Tienda

43 Polaris St. Bel-Air

Makati City, Philippines

(632) 890 4123

 

 

Because I love food so much, I have #11-#20 but I’ll save it for another post.  Watch out for that soon! 😉

 

For the meantime, here’s looking forward to the wonderful eats and gastronomic experiences for the next half of the year!  Food Highlights from July-December 2010 –2nd half version!  And finally, by the end of the year, TOP 10 of 2010!!! 😉  I’m so giddy with excitement!  CHEERS!

 

THANK YOU Ming for this photo! 😉

 

 

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE and EAT!!! 😉

 

Photo Credit:

Carlos Palma of Foodie Manila

www.FoodieManila.com

Different Tea Assortments to Love at Serenitea

 

 

Serenitea is your one-stop shop for all things serene about tea.  They have different variants of tea that will help boost a definite change of drinking lifestyle.  It is the healthy alternative to colas, coffee and sugar-loaded smoothies.

 

 

There’s no room to get bored with Serenitea’s long list of drinks!  But it’s definite that you’ll really get hook at one or two and have that for one whole season before aiming for another variant.

 

 

First, choose your kind of tea: Assam, Royal Milk, Jasmine or Earl Gray.  Then you can choose whether to get it cold, hot, with fruits or as a latte.  There are also optional toppings to choose from: pearl, crystal, black bricks, pudding, lime jelly, and QQ.

 

Once Bubba and I brought Serenitea for a Sunday picnic and we both loved the drinks that accompanied us.  Bubba got the Hokkaido milk tea with 75% sugar while my choice was the Grass Jelly milk tea with 0% sugar.  What’s terrific with Serenitea is the fact that you can actually choose your sugar percentage from 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%… you can even go beyond or none.  Richard of Ya Kun Kaya Ortigas shares that Irene gets 150% sugar with her tea drink -I’m quite the opposite since I enjoy drinks with less sugar.

 

Last time I was here was during the Foodie Club’s meet at Beijing Hand Pulled Noodles.

 

“Foodie Club”

I couldn’t just buy for myself so I bought for Bubba and Joyce.

I got Joyce the Yakult, which she loved.

 

So for those who are health-conscious or watch their sugar intake, this is your best bet to getting satisfying drinks without breaking your sugar level.

 

It’s been quite a while since we’ve been enjoying Serenitea.  Let me share with you that the tea drinks from Serenitea have calmed even the most stressful days at work… the evening comes and the mind is still running wild with that day’s events, the tea drink somehow relaxes my mind into a soothing detoxifying reverie.  

 

 

Drop by Serenitea and get a dose of freshly brewed tea in different assortments.  Be warned that the place can get really packed even at odd hours so have the option to just order to go and bring it home or someplace else where you can enjoy your Serenitea. 

 

 

Minimum delivery in San Juan area is PHP 200.

 

 

Serenitea Cha Kitchen

#1F G&L Bldg. J. Abad Santos,

Cor. V. Cruz, Little Baguio, San Juan

(632) 379 4166

Serenitea Multiply Site

 

Serenitea Album

 

Related Entries:

A Sunday Afternoon Picnic

Foodie Club’s meet at Beijing Hand Pulled Noodles.