A Not-So-Popular Kid | Personal Blog

The Girl and The Bull Restaurant is hidden in the NGMi Bldg in BF Homes

Our second stop after Songkran Thai Restaurant, where we had 2 plates of appetizers, was the famous yet hidden The Girl + The Bull restaurant. Since the restaurant only has a small signage with a silhouette picture of a bull and a girl, we found it difficult to spot the place. This necessitated me to call them up and ask for directions. That was when we realized that we were already just a few steps away from the place.

The Girl + The Bull in a secret hideout
Adding more appeal and mystery to the place, The Girl + The Bull is secretively located in a building called NGMi, which isn't as easy as it seems to spot on; however, I hope with the photo above, you'll find it easier to find.

Since my curiosity was really stirred by the resto's lack of prominent signage, I asked one of the staff about it, and she said it was purposely done so to limit the number of people coming into the place. This made sense when I quickly counted the seating capacity here in the restaurant. Apparently, with a very limited floor space, The Girl + The Bull can only accommodate 25 to 30 people at a time. Hence, reservation is highly encouraged to ensure seats.

Small yet Classy Interior of The Girl + The Bull in BF Homes

Artsy and Classy Interior
What I practically adored about this restaurant was the simple yet artsy and classy interior. With this, despite the absence of any dress code policy in the restaurant, you'll feel obligated to dress up (or at least wear a smart casual). Otherwise, you'll feel undressed.

Alright, now that you've caught a glimpse of the place, let's now take a look at the food. Well, uhmmm, unfortunately, we were under budget constraint, so we were only able to order 2 dishes for this particular food stop.

Roasted Pork Belly || P440

Hoisin jus, beetroot, spinach, peanut crumble, coconut cream, coriander oil and spring onion roots

The amazing roasted pork belly with beetroot sauce in The Girl + The Bull

Awesome! That's how I can wrap up my experience consuming this one up!

Aside from being presented in a tantalizing form (which by the way requires serious passion and creativity) , the roasted pork belly offered a burst of united flavors that was delightful to the palate (although the taste tipped of a bit my sensitive saltiness scale).

In addition, the pork was really roasted well marked by the velvety tenderness of the meat.

Note: Do not get scared by the color of the sauce, it was the beetroot's fault.

Famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken || P430

Smoked paprika, balsamic maple syrup, butternut pumpkin and kale. Available only every Friday and Saturday from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm

The Girl and The Bull's famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken

The second dish we had was the famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken which is only available on Fridays and Saturdays only.

I was able to take note a few bullet points regarding the chicken, and I want to share it with you in that manner:

The chicken was mildly sweet on its own most likely from the marinate used.
The batter was considerably salty due to the barbecue flavoring enveloping the batter.
The seemingly mango sauce cushioned the potent taste of the chicken that avoided me of getting too tired of the taste early
The chicken (in my opinion) should be shared with others to avoid you of the fast diminishing marginal utility in consuming it.

To summarize all the points, the chicken was good, but I prefer the roasted pork belly.

A Not-So-Popular Kid visits The Girl + The Bull

The Girl + The Bull - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to The Girl + The Bull

With the experience we had, I must admit that The Girl + The Bull should definitely be part of your list when you visit BF Homes! You will love not only the place but as well as the food. Oh, also, I observed that even though the dishes are priced a bit expensive, they are still relatively priced fairly considering the quality and uniqueness of the dishes. This is a definite must-visit!

The Girl + The Bull
Location: NGMI Bldg, 346 Aguirre Ave B.F. Homes, Parañaque

Contact Number: +63 905 5722556
Service Charge: 10% on price

The Burgery - The Bad Boys of Burger in BF Homes

Following our second stop in The Girl + The Bull, where we had amazing dishes (in fact, the best ones for this particular food trip), we stopped by The Burgery which claims to be the house of the bad boys of burger. By this time, I was already getting full, but my hunger for exploration impelled me to try more places out. Also, I was already near 80% of the budget I've set for this food trip, and that still doesn't include what we spent here in The Burgery.

It was a good thing that we had some reinforcements as 3 more people joined our food trip!

Simple interior of The Burgery in Aguirre Avenue of BF Homes

The Burgery - Simple and Casual
The good thing about The Burger was its interior's simplicity and casualness. It is perfect for some barkada hang-out and/or informal meetings. However, what you need to watch out for is the availability of seats. The seating capacity is very much limited and can accommodate about 20 people at a time.

Something about the service: I think it wasn't my day when we had a food trip because I kept on stumbling upon people who are in a not-so-good mood. Similar to our first stop, Songkran Thai Restaurant, the staff didn't seem approachable and friendly with their frowns.

Anyway, let me share the burgers we had!

Machine Gun Burger || P178

1/3 lbs of 100% Pure Beef Patty with Bacon, Mushroom and Cheese

Machine Gun Burger of The Burgery

Although the burgers looked really decent and appetizing, the taste didn't measure up that well. There seemed to be a lack of passion in making the burgers, since they fell a little short from their potential. However, this is just my insight. One friend rebutted this telling me that the burgers were great in his taste.

Well, wait, you might get the wrong idea. The burgers were okay, and indeed satisfactory, but I was really expecting something special since I've come a long way from Binondo just to try something supposedly difference. Maybe, I got a little disappointed; that's all.

Big Al Burger || P168

1/3 lbs. of 100% pure beef patty with onion relish, lettuce, tomato, teriyaki sauce and shitake & button mushrooms

Big Al Burger - a sweeter style of burger

This Big Al Burger is the sweet style burger of The Burgery. However, I share almost the same sentiments as mentioned above (although this one is slightly better).

Fat Tony Burger || P158

1/3 lbs. of Pure Beef Patty with Onion Relish, Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese and Bacon

Fat Tony Burger of The Burgery

The Fat Tony Burger had a strong semblance with the Machine Gun with differences only with the veggies and relishes; however, I prefer this one over the former. Also, I believe this burger was able to pass my taste test!

Crispy Chili Garlic Bacon || P148

Crispy Bacon on Top of a Herbed rice with Chili Garlic Sauce

The Crispy Chili Garlic Bacon Main Entry of The Burgery

Now, this was something really interesting here in The Burgery; however, since this wasn't my order, I wasn't able to have a taste of this meal. Now, basing my opinion on gut-feel alone, I think this is something really worth the price!

Before I end, let me share this photo of the guys and gals I had food trip with:

A Not-So-Popular with some new friends!

The Burgery - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to The Burgery

Generally, the burgers here in The Burgery are considerably affordable; however, the taste and quality aren't that top-notched to make the value for money go beyond what we'll actually pay up. In other words, you just get what you pay for which may actually be a good thing for others.

With this, I still believe that The Burgery may be worthy of your exploration; however, I'm a bit hesitant on returning back to it, since again there wasn't "extra value" that I can find with the dishes we tried, unless we had mistakes in ordering the right ones. In case we did, will you enlighten me up on what we should have ordered? *hehe*

PS: My quest for the great burgers in Metro Manila is still on, any suggestions on where to search?

The Burgery
Location: 231 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque City

Store Hours: 11:30 to 12:00 mn daily

Contact Number: +63 977 162-5022 [retrieved from Zomato]

Don Limone - Great Cheesecakes & Grill in BF Homes

Marking the end of our BF Homes food trip, we had our desserts in Don Limone, a place known for cheesecakes and grill, as the tagline suggests. This wasn't supposedly part of the food trip plan, but while we were walking around BF, we spotted the place and decided to check it out!

From the outside, Don Limone didn't seem so spectacularly special; however, as you enter the door, magic unfolds. Subsequently, you'll be greeted by this altered painting which for me was funny.

Don Limone shows its creativity and humor on the painting that greets you up!

Upon entering, you will also be greeted by the fancy outdoor dining area perfect for dates or for simply chilling. You'll be able to enjoy the relatively cleaner breeze as well as the warm sunlight!

Fancy outdoor dining area of Don Limone

However, in case you are not an outdoor person, you may opt for the indoor dining area which has a quaint and old-fashioned interior. It was really a marvelous sight!

Quaint and Old-Fashioned Interior of Don Limone

Quaint and Old-Fashioned Interior of Don Limone
As mentioned, interior really has that wow-factor! It featured a quaint, cozy and inviting Victorian/Renaissance-style interior. Dining there just brought us to another dimension, and it was really cool!

Also, notably, the place has a large seating capacity, so most likely you'll find no trouble getting seated. However, this may not apply during Friday nights and Saturdays, according to the staff.

Baileys Irish Cream (P255) and Toblerone Raspberrry (P295)

Don Limone's famous cheesecakes in BF Homes

They say that there is always a room for desserts, but I found it hard to believe since I was really full by that time. Hence, what we did was to order 2 cakes, and just grab a spoonful or two for each cake. You'll be surprised to hear that despite the 6 of us (1 passed) eating the cakes, it took us a while to consume everything. Yeah. that was how full we were!

Anyway, both of the cakes had a sufficient serving good enough to be shared by 2 or more (depending on how much you need to satisfy your urge). However, I have to admit that I found the cakes here in Don Limone expensive than usual.

By the way, the Baileys Irish Cream had some alcohol content in it which made the cake interesting; nonetheless, I found the taste somewhat unbalanced although in its overall it was okay. On the other hand, the Toblerone Raspberry fell a little short from our expectation. In fact, most of us thought that this will be the winning dessert, but it turned out to just a runner-up.

A Not-So-Popular Kid in Don Limone with Bedan friends

This marked the end of our BF Homes Food Trip, and thanks for reading the series!

Don Limone - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Don Limone

Don Limone, in my opinion, is a place you want to put into your BF Homes food trip list because of the great ambiance! Unfortunately, you may need to stretch your budget further for this restaurant because of the unfriendliness of the prices to your wallet. Now, it will depend on you whether you'll find the price worth it or not. I'm a bit torn regarding this, but I think I lean more on the "not that worth it" side.

Still, I'm curious to try the non-desserts here in the place, and I think I need to go back! In case you tried out dining here, what dishes can you suggest? Thanks!

Don Limone
Location: 199 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque City

Contact Number: (02) 345-1803
Service Charge: 10% on price

Ogetsu Hime Japanese Restaurant in SM Aura

The group who brought in the famous Dads - Saisaki and Kamayan came up with another interesting restaurant called Ogetsu Hime, which is a special Japanese restaurant offering premium and uncommon Japanese dishes at a relatively more affordable prices.

Something about Ogetsu Hime
Derived from the name of the Japanese food goddess, Ogetsu Hime is known for its specialized menu of sushi, teppanyaki and sukiyaki, while using the highest quality of both local and imported (from Japan) ingredients.

The interior as well as the Teppanyaki grilling area of Ogetsu Hime

Frankly, I never heard of this restaurant before. I just came to know Ogetsu Hime through an invite, since the management wanted to further bump up its Best of Japan Special Half Price promo. It was really fortunate of me to be part of this event. All the great food made me extremely happy for the day!

What's this Best of Japan - Special Half Price Promo?

Running from August 28 to November 28, the Best of Japan promo makes selected premium dishes more affordable by slashing off 50%. I've included a photo of the promo prices below for your reference.

By the way, this promo is available from Monday to Sunday both for lunch and for dinner.

Now, let's get to the juicy part -- the dishes!

Best of Japan Sushi Collection

Otoro, Amaebi, Engawa and Anago

Premium Sushi Collection of Ogetsu Hime

Although it was plated this way, there is no item in the menu that will enable you to have a platter of assorted sushi. This means that you'll have to order each separately in case you want to try them all, which is actually difficult when you are coming alone or by pair, since each order contains about 4 or 5 pieces of sushi.

Now, if you have spare budget with you, why not do that? After all, each of these sushi was really amazing with its impressive freshness, quality and taste! I'm not quite sure about this, but it felt like this is the best sushi I've tasted so far!

By the way, here's the menu containing the marked-down prices of the selected dishes here in Ogetsu Hime as part of the promo:

Best of Japan - Special Half Price Promo of Ogetsu Hime

Hamachi Sashimi || P750 - Regular Price || P375 - Promo Price

Fresh Japanese Yellowtail

Fresh Japanese Yellowtail Sashimi of Ogetsu Hime

Hotategai Sashimi || P750 - Regular Price || P375 - Promo Price

Hokkaido Giant Scallops

Hotategai Sashimi - Hokkaido Giant Scallops

The Hotategai Sashimi featured a subtly sweet and fresh raw scallops that really hit the right spot of my palate.

Matsusaka Sukiyaki || P3,900 - Regular Price || P1,950 - Promo Price

Sliced Matsusaka Beef, Shiitake & Enoki Mushroom, Vegetables, Beancurd and Yam Noodles. Cooked in Sweetened Soya Sauce. Good for 2 - 3 people.

Fresh sukiyaki will be prepared on the spot here in Ogetsu Hime

Matsusaka Beef for Sukiyaki of Ogetsu Hime

Matsusaka Beef for Sukiyaki - prime meat at its finest!

You probably don't believe your eyes when you saw the price of this dish, and unfortunately, that is not a typo. The reason why this is priced this way is because of the usage of Matsusaka Beef which is a premium meat from Japan. (I'll expound more on this later in the Teppanyaki dish).

The sukiyaki is prepared on the spot to assure freshness!

Although in the photos above it may seem like your regular overpriced sukiyaki, it wasn't. It got this unique tenderness and flavor that I never tasted before! Also, the broth had a potent flavorful taste. It was so rich that I consumed everything in a matter of seconds!

Note: Indeed this special dish is pricey, and for some may not be worth the price. Hence, you'll need to understand more about the Matsusaka Wagyu Beef and its uniqueness in order to fully appreciate this Sukiyaki.

Uni Tempura (3 pcs) || P210

Sea urchin wrapped in Nori

Special Uni Tempura - something different for the palate

Although it didn't appear that special from this view, it truly was when I got to try it! As you bite on the tempura, the uni in the inside begins to ooze out which delivers a potent and amazing taste in playful pulses!

Ebi Shiitake Tempura || P360

Shiitake Mushroom with Seasoned Black Tiger Prawns

Incredible Ebi Shiitake Tempura of Ogetsu Hime in SM Aura

I've never had anything like this before; hence, I got extremely joyous about it! It had this sensible crunch on the outside, crispness on the second layer brought by the fresh shiitake mushroom and freshness in the core from the seasoned black tiger prawns! Amazing!

Chajan Moriawase || P110

The sticky Chajan Moriawase (Mixed Fried Rice) to pair up with the dishes

Gindara Teriyaki || P550

Broiled Japanese Silver Cod with Teriyaki Sauce

Japanese Gindara Teriyaki - Broiled Japanese Silver Cod

Among all the dishes we tried for the night, this was the one which had a hard time keeping up. Yes, the gindara was really fresh; however, it still got the "lansa" that curtailed the maximum enjoyment from consuming the dish. Overall, it was still great!

Matsusaka Teppanyaki || P3,900 - Regular Price || P1,950 - Promo Price

Matsusaka is an incomparable excellent meat from a black-haired Kuroge Washu from the cattle regions of Matsusuka, Mie, Japan. This is one of the world's best!

The Matsusaka Teppanyaki, Best of Japan, here in Ogetsu Hime

Dubbed as "Incomparable in flavor, juicy and tender", the Matsusaka beef is famous all around the world, and Ogetsu Hime is making it "affordable" for us! Yeah, I know you are giving me a nasty look, but I've asked around and found out that this type of Wagyu beef is indeed one of the world's most expensive types of beef.

I just went crazy over how extra tender the meat was! It had an almost melt-in-your-mouth sensation that massages the taste buds! Also, this teppanyaki dish is accompanied by a delicious sauce that is rightly sweet that brought out more of the goodness of the beef!

Ogetsu Hime - Ratings

Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings apply solely to this dining experience.
Place ★★★★
Taste ★★★★☆
Service ★★★☆

Budget needed: at least P1,500 per person (coming in as pair) for some sushi/sashimi, Chajan Moriawase and Matsusaka Teppanyaki or Sukiyaki

Give your own rating to Ogetsu Hime

I have to admit that Ogetsu Hime didn't fail to impress me with the amazing line-up! However, I would have appreciated the dishes more if they were given more craft in terms of the presentation. Well, this is just a personal insight, but I normally want to see "how much I am paying" not only with the taste but as well as in the way the dishes are orchestrated.

Overall, I would say that this is really a good place to enjoy authentic premium and uncommon Japanese dishes!

Ogetsu Hime Japanese Restaurant
Location: 5/F Sky Park, SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City

Reservation No.: (02)519-9840 or (0917) 809-6585

The awesome Green Pastures of Shangrila Plaza

Green Pastures is one of the top foodie destinations here in Shangri-La Plaza, and this was evidenced by the number of patrons and customers visiting this restaurant throughout the day. Luckily, I was able to give it a visit during one fine lunch without having the need to queue up (which is a usual case here in Green Pastures).

One of the hottest restaurants in town - Green Pastures of Shangrila Plaza

A Comforting Back-To-Nature Place
Green Pastures shows how much it loves the beauty of nature by incorporating a "farm" appeal in its design. This will enable you to catch an ambiance of comfort and being free. For me, being here in Green Pasture indeed makes you feel like you are in a greener pasture where the business of the world simply drifts away as you enjoy the food with your companion/s.

Customize your freshest salad here in the Green Pastures

Here in Green Pastures, you have the freedom to customize your salad which by the way comes from the freshest ingredients straight from the farms, ranches and whatnot. This is in line with the commitment of the restaurant to serve quality products that are fresh and sustainable.

Table setting here in Green Pastures

I heard that the serving is generous for each dish here in Green Pastures; hence, we just ordered one dish each - vegetable burger for me and duck fat fried chicken for my friend.

Vegetable Burger that Doesn't Suck || P395

100% vegetarian burger made with organic chickpea, mushroom, leeks, celery and eggplant with housemade cheddar cheese and Potato bun.

The Vegetarian Burger that Doesn't Suck of Green Pastures

The Vegetarian Burger that Doesn't Suck - an interesting treat for vegans

A better look of the Vegetarian burger of Green Pastures

Most of the time I'm carnivorous; however, during this time I was in a mood to try something different and healthier. Hence, I went for this Vegetarian Burger, which really surprised me with its meat-like texture and taste! It was really awesome!

I don't know how Green Pasture does it, but I'm really impressed with this burger! Unfortunately, I loved it without the sauce, since there's this "bean-like" taste that didn't end up in good terms with my taste buds. Oh, the fries were great as well!

Duck Fat Fried Chicken (Pro-Biotic) || P595

Sweet potato fries, honey-butter herb de Provence, roasted banana catsup.

Duck Fat Fried Chicken of the Green Pastures in Shangri-La Plaza

Top notch dish presentation made the dish more tantalizing!

This Duck Fat Fried Chicken was something really interesting because of the uncommon tang from the duck fat used to fry the chicken. However, I must warn you that you need to focus on the taste to be able to appreciate it. Otherwise, you'll feel like you are overpaying for some regular fried chicken.

Also, even though I am not a fan of sweet potato, I got fascinated that Green Pasture served this with the chicken. It really is not that frequent for restaurants to serve something like this.

Hmmm, there you go guys! I hope I got to try some other dishes, but these two are all I got. Don't worry, I'll update this post as soon as I get to try more dishes here.

Green Pastures - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Green Pastures

Although I already knew that this place is something to rave about, I still got blown away with the awesomeness of the food from the design to the intricacies of the taste! Hence, even with a high premium to pay on these dishes, I still found high value for the money. With this experience, I am more excited to try out other dishes here in this restaurant. Thus, I hope you'll share with us the dishes you personally recommend. Cheers!

Green Pastures
Location: Level 4, East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

Contact Number: (02) 654-3219
Service Charge: 10% before VAT

Mochicream Cafe - house of authentic matcha drinks and desserts

Mochicream Café, Japanese Sweets Deli, in SM Megamall

One of the food stops that I really enjoyed in the recently concluded SM Megamall Mega Food Wok was this Mochicream Cafe, a Japanese Cafe serving special and not-so-common drinks and desserts. It was pure awesome how the place offered something different and familiar both at the same time!

A Cafe that is Modern yet Clique
Mochicream Cafe has a modern yet stylish interior that exudes an ambiance of comfort and peace. Plus, the furniture (more specifically the chairs) are really cool, although you need to be mindful of your weight so that the chairs won't lose their balance.

A peaceful, simple yet creative space in Mochicream Cafe

Here's a photo of the mochi cream of the cafe for you to have an idea:

The Mochi of Mochicream Cafe in SM Megamall

Note on the mochi: These are the traditional mochi which means that the filling inside is made out of paste/cream and not ice cream.

Now, let me share with you two of the specialties of Mochicream Café!

Matcha Dacqiose (P170) and Matcha Latte Espresso ((P155 for 12 oz)

Matcha Latte Espresso of Mochicream Cafe

The Matcha Dacqiose reminded me of the Alcapone of JCO, but this was so much better and more comforting. To exaggerate, I felt really light and worry-free for a few seconds while munching on these!

Yes it may be really sweet at times, but I didn't mind it that much because of the comforting blend of flavors.

On the other hand, the latte was something I really appreciated. Frankly, I was surprised myself because I'm not much of a coffee person, but I think it was the matcha to blame, since it shadowed part of the bitterness of the coffee, making the drink oh-so-enjoyable!

Energetic and Potent Matcha Essence
The pastry and the drink both featured the authentic DO matcha that had a lively, energetic and potent taste. This matcha green tea product is different from the usual ones you know because of the authenticity. You'll understand what I'm talking about when you actually get to taste the natural subtle bitter tang innate to this type of matcha green tea!

Mochicream Café - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Mochicream Café

Overall, I found Mochicream a good place for drinks and desserts. I know I might be having a hasty generalization, but I saw a lot of potential in this place, and to support this claim, there were a lot of customers chilling by the time we went there.

However, I checked out the Zomato page and the reviews seem to go in a different direction. Still, I stand by my view on the two products I've tried. Now, how about you? What do you think about this place?

Mochicream Café
Location: Fourth Floor, SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Mega Mall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

Dekada's spacious doll-house like interior in Glorietta 3

Juggling my Day Job and Food Blogging
Ever since I started working in a well-known audit firm, I began to worry that I may not have the time to continue my hobby of doing food blogs (and sensibly conducting food explorations), and just recently, this was put into test as I was invited by the brand manager of Dekada to try out their Filipino dishes. Fortunately, it was scheduled on a lunch time.

Since the Glorietta 3 is just near the place where I work, I took it as a good sign. Thus, I ended up accepting the invite and checking the place out!

Dekada Filipino Cuisine Restaurant Interior

A more glimpse of the interior - adorable tables and chairs in Dekada Filipino Cuisine Restaurant

Bringing the nostalgic feeling
Dekada first stepped into the Philippine food scene during the celebration of the Independence Day in 2013. It entered the market with a basic concept of bringing back the glory decades of our country, through a nostalgic feeling. With this, the management decided to integrate this with the homey interior, the names of the dishes as well as the recipes themselves.

The nostalgic old-fashion equipment - telephones, typewriters, blenders and etc.

Drinks in Dekada

Fresh Buko Juice (P128), EDSA Milo Godzilla (P168), Guinomis (P78) and Bottomless Dalandan (P98) - Clockwise

Milo Godzilla Drink in Mason Jar - Dekada Restaurant

Guinomis Filipino Drink of Dekada Restaurant

Dekada has an interesting line of drinks ranging from juice to samalamig. What I was able to personally try was the Milo Godzilla which was indeed nostalgic! I remembered the days when I was sipping some cold milo shake at our old home in U.N. Avenue. Taste-wise, I found it sweet yet refreshing!

Filipino Dishes

The Magwagi Family Platter a la Boodle (P1,999)

The Magwagi Family Platter of Dekada Filipino Restaurant

What was showcased to us during our visit was one of the promo platters of Dekada called Magwagi Platter. This platter includes the following dishes as components:

For your reference, I'll include the price when you'll purchase them per dish.

Aguinaldo Twice-Cooked Adobo || P389

Aguinaldo Twice-Cooked Adobo of Dekada Restaurant

This twice-cooked adobo leaned more towards the salty yet flavorful side of the various adobos we know. Anyway, what made this somewhat special was usage of the beefinstead of a pork, and also the inclusion of chunks of garlicthat I really enjoyed!

Sakay Bicol Express (P289) and Rizal Lechon Manok (P578)

The interesting thing about the Bicol Express here in Dekada is that they deconstructed it. You'll now have a separate bicol express sauce, which was creamy (from gata) and subtly spicy, to go with the liempo-style pork!

The Lechon Manok, on the other hand, was my least favorite among all the components of the platter. However, it doesn't mean that it tasted bad. It was just a little bland for my taste.

Murphy Crispy Pla Pla (P289) Dominicano Adobo Rice (P268)

The Crispy Pla Pla was indeed crunchy on the outside and fresh in the inside! I was able to enjoy it because the good technique of frying brought out the natural goodness of the fish meat!

To go along with all the viands in the platter, the Dominicano Adobo Rice was included. It tasted just fine and not too overpowering, which was ideal for the situation, since it cushioned and sometimes complimented the taste of other dishes.

Yamashita Sinigang na Sugpo sa Kamias || P389

The tasty Sinigang na Sugpo of Dekada Filipino Restuarant

Now, if the lechong manok was my least favorite, this was my most favorite among all the components. I just loved how controlled the sourness of the soup (and the subtle sweetness from the kamias) was bringing out its natural and refreshing tang! I only had one issue with this dish -- the prawns were somehow overcooked slightly undermining its full potential.

Not in the photos: Laguna Salad (P128) - Yellow and Green Mangoes with Tomatoes and Hibe

Desserts

Martial Law Buko Halo-Halo || P98

The Halo-Halo in a Coconut for desserts!

When the Halo-Halo was served to us, I was a bit marveled by the presentation. The way it was arranged and the inclusion of the small umbrella made the dessert look really lovely. Aside from that, this is just your typically good halo-halo.

Puto Bumbong with Cheese (4pcs) || P148

Dekada's specially made Puto Bumbong - Christmas all year round!

Although I am not much of a puto bumbong eater, I was able to appreciate this dessert because of its quality and freshness. My mom, who considers herself as a puto bumbong expert, also said that it passed her "taste test"!

Note: The butter was already integrated with the mix itself, just in case you are curious about it.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed this blog post on Dekada, but before I head on to the overall summary, let me share this photo.

A Not-So-Popular Kid in Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine

To the bloggers I was with namely Teta & Aldrin (of Tetadventurer) and Jam (of LadyLagalag), as well as Leah the brand manager of Dekada, thanks for the awesome bonding!

Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Dekada!

Although Dekada came from a group of restaurants (i.e. Sumosam, Akiba, Banzai and etc) that specialize on Japanese cuisine, it was able to show that it can compete well in the Filipino cuisine category.

Moreover, with this particular experience, I believe that Dekada has really something to offer in terms of food, ambiance and value for money.

Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine
Location: Second Floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City (near the passageway to Landmark)

Reservation Number: (02) 8410131
Service Charge: 10% before VAT

Linguini Fini opens up in SM Megamall for the first store in the Philippines

I first learned about Linguini Fini when I joined the Mega Food Wok Tour with Jin of jinlovestoeat, and I have to admit that the restaurant really left a grand impression on me for both the place and the food. Let's find out the reason behind this! Hop on!

Linguini Fini – Farm to Market Dishes
Fueled by the passion of serving quality and and as much as possible organic dishes, Linguini Fini brings its customer the best dishes by incorporating straight-from-the-farm ingredients. Also, most of the dishes served here are freshly made in-house; in this way, we are assured of fantastic quality and taste!

The artsy interior of Linguini Fini makes the place seem like a "hideout"

A different look at the unique interior of Linguini Fini in SM Megamall

The Place
What first struck me upon laying sight of the interior was the overwhelming level of awesomeness. The place really was outstanding in terms of its concept, artwork and design. As a matter of fact, in some aspects, Linguini Fini looks like a very comfy hide-out place to just hang-around and do some ~~poker~~ catching up.

Also, I am not sure if this is how the management visualizes it, but the place seems really ideal for barkada eat-outs! Well, of course, this doesn’t prevent you from dining with your family.

Anyway, let me now share with you two dishes we feasted on during the food tour.

Longganisa and Scamorza Pizza || P755

Longganisa and Scamorza Pizza of Linguini Fini

The pizza was leaning towards the flavorful salty category; however, it went well with how fresh and tasty the ingredients were! As a shallow observation, this pizza reminded me of Yellow Cab, probably because of the moderate resemblance in taste and “associate feeling/memory”. However, this one of Linguini Fini was less oily and definitely tastier!

In addition, the chef/s used vigan-style longganisa (explaining why the pizza leaned more on the salty side) which I totally appreciated!
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Papardelle "Nose to Tail Bolo" || P430

The spectacular Papardelle "Nose to Tail Bolo" of Linguini Fini

The pasta, although slightly greasy, was really full of energetic flavors. Plus, the red sauce metaphorically held on tight to the freshly made pasta, making the dish really memorable! In fact, all of these characteristics made the overall flavor really distinct that had the power to linger on the taste buds! It was totally a foodgasmic adventure!

Note: At some point, the Papardelle seemed like a pasta and Spanish callos beautifully mixed together!

Linguini Fini - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Linguini Fini

With all the sheer awesomeness I experience with the pasta (well, yes, I loved the pasta more than the pizza), I would say that I was deeply amazed and impressed by the restaurant. Again, I might be having a hasty generalization from the two dishes, but I’ll risk it in giving my positive recommendation for you to try Linguini Fini out!

Linguini Fini
Location: Third Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

Contact No.: (02) 5313302 [retrieved from Zomato]

Marking the end of our Mega Food Wok Food Tourwas this 6th stop to a dessert place called Kool Kidz. At first, I thought this will just be an ordinary ice cream place wherein the staff scoops from a pint or gallon some ice cream and place it on a cone. However, it wasn't, and you'll probably be amazed after learning how differently they make their ice cream here (just like I did)!

Kool Kidz Ice Cream Store in SM Megamall

Pouring nitrogen in making the Ice Cream at Kool Kidz

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
All the ice cream here in Kool Kidz are made on the spot as if done by magic! However, the trick used is not kept secret. You’ll be witnessing the entire process of using nitrogen to solidify the liquid mix to an ice cream! Actually, one of the highlights in this store is really the “show” of making the ice cream.

Alright, now that you get the idea, let me share with you the one we had for the food tour.

Liquid Nitrogen Mooncake-Inspired Ice Cream

Liquid nitrogen mooncake-inspired ice cream of Kool Kidz

Since it was the mooncake season when we had the food tour, Kool Kidz offered something related to it. With this, the owner made a special ice cream recipe/flavor that was mooncake-inspired.

Although I found the taste a little bit weird, I appreciated the beauty of the process as well as the uniqueness of the bean-like flavor of the ice cream. Unfortunately, in its overall, this particular variant wasn't my cup of tea.

Also, since I was too full, I failed to try other flavors here in Kool Kidz. However, I was able to note that the prices of the ice cream here in Kool Kidz range from P120 to P150 for regular size and P150 to P230 for large

Kool Kidz - Summary

Give your approval or disapproval to Kool Kidz

I'm not sure whether my satiation with the amount of food I consumed impaired my taste buds, but I wasn't able to find something spectacular with the “special ice cream” of Kool Kidz. However, I need to validate this once more by trying other flavors and trying them out when I’m not full.
Fellow foodie friends, I would really appreciate it if you can drop some insights regarding the ice cream here in Kool Kidz. I’d like to hear from you!

Kool Kidz
Location: Fifth Floor, SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Mega Mall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City

Contact No.: (02) 5793495 [retrieved from Zomato]

Foodie Friends, I have an interesting event to share with you, and it goes with a catchy name “Best Food Forward”.

Pre-event of Best Food Forward held in The Blackboard

A Much Awaited Benefit Food Fair
Marking its 4th year, Best Food Forward or simply BFF is set to occur on 11th and 12th of October 2014 from 10 am to 8 pm in Rockwell Tent in Makati City. This is basically a food fair event which means you’ll be bombarded with a lot of awesome stuff to eat and indulge on! You will also be introduced to a lot of new products of both current player and newcomers in this amazing foodie world.

On top of all, the food fair is driven by its mission to provide help to the its chosen beneficiaries, particularly the various flood victims of our country.

Ticket price is only P100 which is inclusive already of the entrance as well as the food tasting for some of the samples (according to one of the representative I've talked with). There would also be some participants who would be selling their interesting products there.

Best Food Forward 2014 Poster

Getting a Glimpse of the Event
Just recently, I was one of the fortunate people to be invited to a pre-event of Best Food Forward to have a sneak peek of what would be offered on the actual event itself.

Hence, for you to have an idea as well of what to expect there, let me share with you my experience together with the food samples I was able to try!

Big Dog’s Kitchen

Product Highlights: Specialty Sandwiches

B.M.C. (Broccoli, Mushrooms and Chicken) Sandwich of Big Dog's Kitchen

Roast Pork Sandwich of Big Dog's Kitchen

The sandwiches here were surprisingly good despite their simplicity in appearance! The quality of the bread was also fantastic with its amazing crisp coming from the delicate toasting.

Love Agnessi

Product Highlights: Traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies

Love Agnessi's Highly Comforting Cookies!

The traditional cookies here in Love Agnessi are some of the finest I’ve tried to date! The high-quality chunky chocolate chips used for the chocolate chip cookies were tremendously heavenly!

Also, pairing the cookies up with some milk also did wonders to their already magical flavors!

Contact Number: +63917 5291816

Kooky Pam

Product highlights: Specialty Gourmet Cookies

Owners of Kooky Pam Online Baked Goodies Shop

Red Velvet, Dark Belgian Choco Chip and White Choco Macadamia Oat of Kooky Pam

The cookies here in Kooky Pam are jumbo in size, and offer something different. The Belgian Chocolate Cookie was really moist and dreamy! I shared some with my friends when I got in the office the following work day, and they immediately checked out the website! That was how they loved them!

Also, I was surprised by the Red Velvet because I initially thought it was just your typical artificially flavored cookie. When I tried it out, I didn’t know that it had an amazing cream cheese filling inside! What a nice treat!

Contact Number: +63939 920 4647
Website:http://kookypam.blogspot.com

Voila Old Fashioned Jar Cakes

Product highlights: Peanut Butter Mudcake, Red Velvet Hazelnut Fudge and Belgian Fudge No.5

Voila's Amazing Belgian Fudge Jar Cakes!

Ready to Bake Jar Cakes by Voila

I’m pretty sure that a lot of innovative and creative elements were put into these Voila Jar Cakes. The packaging is really impressive, and the taste (as well as the texture) was really fantastic! Satisfy your cravings easily with these jar cakes! You can even store it into your office for “emergency” purposes.

Contact Number: +63917 8560600

Lick the Spoon

Product Highlights: Gourmet Bagoong and Other Fish &Veggy Gourmet Products

Lick the Spoon's Deep Dips Gourmet Bagoong

If you are already tired of the usual sweet, spicy or salty bagoong, you should definitely try the specialty gourmet bagoong of Chef Arnold Berdo (brainchild of Lick the Spoon). They have this interesting Spicy Chocolate Bagoong, Bagoong with Tamarind and Bagoong with Mushroom.

They also have other products such as Gourmet Tinapa, Tomato Eggplant Pate and the like.

Contact Number: +63917 8051188

Kewpie

Product Highlights: Japanese Mayo, Regular Mayo, Sandwich Spread, Roasted Sesame Dressing and Sesame Soy Sauce

Kewpie Products are now invading the Filipino World of Cooking

Kewpie, pronounced as QP, is a Japanese brand of dressings, mayo and the like. It started accumulated recognition with its Roasted Sesame, which by the way I enjoyed dearly since it somehow reminded me that of the dressing found in either Yabu: House of Katsu or Tonkatsu by Terezawa.

Note:These products are available in selected grocery stores and supermarkets.

Anyway, Kewpie will showcase how amazing its products are by offering dishes made of them.
PS: I really enjoyed the Spinach Dip made with Kewpie’s Japanese Mayo

Gourmet Garage – Catering and Events Specialist

Grilled Shrimps with Babaganoush of Gourmet Garage Catering

Lamb Biryani in Filo Crisp of Gourmet Garage

If in case you are in search of a caterer, you may want to check out Gourmet Garage in Best Food Forward. I was able to talk with one of the managers, and she said that Gourmet Garage can cater to all occasion since its chefs are capable of providing any dishes or even cuisine of your choice.

Contact Number: (02) 551-6005

There you go my dear foodie friends! Remember that these are still not all the participants of the Best Food Forward food fair. There are still a lot to look forward to. Hope to see you there!

Event Summary
WHAT: Best Food Forward Food Fair
WHEN: October 11 and 12, 2014
TIME: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
WHERE: Rockwell Tent in Makati City

Ticket Price: P100
Facebook Page: Best Food Forward

Sweets for You Online Bakeshop - Cookies and More!

Developing a Cookie Love
I remember back when I was young (probably teen years), I wasn't so fond of cookies. Probably, it was because I wasn't that much exposed to sweets back then. However, that was until a classmate of mine shared with me her baked goodies.

I’m not that sure about this, but raking all the memories I can recall, it would seem like it was my first extremely joyful experience eating some cookies. Yeah, you may dub it as a “love at first bite” that opened me to the world of cookies!

Remembering the Love at First Bite
A couple of days ago, a message unexpectedly popped out of my social media account, and it was Alyssa Syiaco, the classmate I was talking about a while ago. It turned out that she wanted me to try her cookies once more!

It was great to hear that\ over the years, she got the opportunity and the capacity to turn her passion into a business going by the name Sweets For You or Sweets For Ya, and finally, after almost a decade, I was reunited once more with that first cookie love.

Teagen and Sweets for Ya partnership

A Humble Beginning
I was able to ask my friend, Allyssa, to share something about her online business, and this is what she said:

Baking is my passion. Since I was a kid, I already started baking. In fact, I sold my goodies in school when I was in my elementary and high school years. I noticed that my baked goods were a hit to everyone, and so I decided to make an online business called Sweets for Ya during my college years with the purpose of expanding my customers and introducing my baked goods in an upgraded level.

With this, I joined our school bazaar to gain more experience and to know the feedback of the customers. Surprisingly, I got tons of positive response for my product. Lastly, I think my 15 years of baking is enough to show to everyone that I can satisfy your cravings. I never stop learning and want to try new things. 100% home made

Alright, now that you already have a knowledge about the bakeshop, let's explore some of the goodies!

Orea-filled Cookie || P310 per 12 pieces

Oreo-Filled Cookie by Sweets for You

A closer look at the Oreo-filled Cookie of Sweets for You

This Oreo-filled Cookie was something I really liked because of its apt sweetness, as well as its interesting puffiness! As for the texture, I found it perplexing enough because it was between moist and crunchy, and all of these really made the cookie interesting especially with its neat surprise inside – the oreo itself!

Note: People who don’t appreciate too-much sweetness will do with this special cookie.

Fudgy Crinkles || P160 for 12 pieces

Chocolatey Goodie: Fudgy Crinkles by Sweets for You

Chocolate Goodness: Fudgy Crinkles

Expectedly sweet with its confectioner's sugar, the fudgy crinkles were considerably moist and soft. Also, its chocolate goodness approached the near “dreamy” level, which I very much appreciated.

Oatmeal Cinnamon || P160 per 12 pieces

Crunchy Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies

Even though I am more into the soft type of oatmeal cookies, this one was really great with its cinnamon flavor. Interestingly, it reminded me somehow of the famous speculoos butter cookie.

Black and White Cookie || P190 per 12 pieces

Black and White Cookies of Sweets for You

Despite the cookie being thinner than what I’m used to, the B&W cookie was surprisingly soft. Also, even if it had some regularity (or perhaps familiarity) in the overall aspect of the cookie, I would say it was nice. (Still, I'd hope for the shape of the cookie to be more bulky).

Well, there you go! Now, we shall head onto the other details in case you are interested to buy.

How can you buy from Sweets for Ya?
Some of the goodies will be available in TeaGen Milk Tea Shop in P. Noval and Dapitan St.

Also, the cookies and bars are available for shipping, while the cakes and cupcakes are available for meet up at these places:

McDonald's near De La Salle University (Vito Cruz)
SM Lazaro
Starbucks in P. Noval near University of Santo Tomas

Sweets for Ya
Contact Number: +63917 3194730 or +63922 8182921
Instagram Account: @sweetsforya

I can still vividly remember my elementary days when I used to have Gardenia Cream Roll choco-filling as baon almost everyday, and I feel happy to share with you that they still have those today, although they might have changed form already over the years. Today, Gardenia Philippines brings us the amazing yet affordable Cream Rolls for only P10.

Gardenia Cream Rolls for a Barkada's Favorite Snack

Gardenia Cream Rolls - a fun-filled snack for barkadas and the like!
Frankly speaking, I've lived more than half of my life being with Gardenia, and throughout those years, I seemed to have made a bond with it already. As I briefly recall it, I used to have a choco-filled bun when I was in elementary, and I often get so excited for recess because I would be able to eat the soft and tasty bun with its oozing chocolate. Aaaaah, those literally sweet memories!

Gardenia Cream Rolls for a Fun-Filled Barkada Moments!

As a confession, during those years, I used to be a really loner-kid with only a couple of friends. Hence, I normally eat the bun alone on my seat. The only friend that always joined me during those snack times was the Gardenia snack I was munching on. Of course this is just an exaggeration to make it more dramatic, but yes, that part of eating alone from time-to-time is a true story.

Now, that I'm already a grown-up man, and no longer the loner kid I used to be, I get to share my stories, adventures and tales with my friends, but aside from these, I get to share with them the food I have with me (although sometimes it gets mandatory). Luckily, Gardenia came up with something share-able for barkadas -- the Gardenia Cream Rolls!

Currently there are six (6) variants of these Cream Roll that feature some of your most-loved ice cream flavors!

Gardenia Cream Roll Rocky Road || Gardenia Cream Roll Ube || Gardenia Cream Roll Chocolate

Gardenia Cream Roll Choco-Strawberry || Gardenia Cream Roll Cookies and Cream || Gardenia Cream Roll Cheese

These buns feature a soft tasty bread with a sweet filling of your choice! Since there are 6 flavors to choose from, you can have a different flavor for each day (well, except Sunday, unless you repeat one). I was able to try some of the cream rolls, and they reminded me of the pandesal with ice cream! It further reminded me of my childhood and teen years.

Gardenia Cream Roll as a Barkada's Favorite Snack
Again, what's good about the cream rolls aside from their affordability is that it's perfect for sharing with your barkada in school, work or neighborhood. In fact, you may conveniently purchase a Barkada Pack with 4 different flavors for only P40 in your favorite grocery stores or supermarkets!

As a working individual, I now understand the importance of savings, and I realized that this could make me do the trick more. With only P10, I already have one snack to munch on!

Gardenia Cream Roll Text to Win Promo
On top of all these, Gardenia launched a Text to Win promo where you may WIN amazing gadgets such as Samsung Galaxy S5, GoPro Hero 3 Cameras, Samsung 7.0 Tablet, & Samsung Dualview Cameras and other exciting prizes like gift certificates & bread packages.

It's very easy to join this promo! All you need to do is to text the promo code found in every Barkada Pack purchased to 2948! You may visit http://www.facebook.com/gardeniacreamroll for the full mechanics of the promo.

What are you waiting foodie friends, grab this opportunity to win amazing prizes! This promo runs from October 15 to November 30, 2014!

For more events and promos by Gardenia, you may want to be updated by liking or following the following social media accounts and website:

Facebook Page of Gardenia Cream Rolls
Gardenia Philippines Website
Twitter Page of Gardenia - @gardeniaph
Instagram Page of Gardenia - @gardeniaph

Disclosure: Sponsored Post

Niu by Vikings Buffet Restaurant in SM Aura Premier

The "Best" Just Got Better!
Who would have thought that the one who started the buffet-craze here in the Philippines would come up with something even more interesting? Well, probably, you've heard about this already because it made a huge buzz when it opened up this October 2014,but just in case you seriously don't have an idea of what I'm talking about, it's no other than Niu by Vikings.

Note:"Best" might be highly disputable depending on your experience, but in my books, Vikings currently holds the "Best Buffet" title.

Niu by Vikings - Background

"Níu, which means nine in the Viking language, is a significant number in Norse mythology. Guests will feel like they are truly on cloud nine when they dine at this restaurant situated at the highest peak of SM Aura Premier. Its interior is sleek, chic and ultra-contemporary, with dark wood tables and comfortable upholstered chairs adorned with dramatic lighting and elaborate décor in intimate dining spaces that will surely bring guests and their companions a memorable experience." - Vikings

Niu by Vikings Interior - Located in SM Aura Premier

Niu by Vikings Buffet Rates/Prices

Weekday Lunch

Kids between 3ft to 4ft || P288

Kids between 4ft to 4.5ft || P488

Adults || P1,088

Weekday Dinner, Weekend and Holiday
(inclusive of wines)

Kids between 3ft to 4ft || P388

Kids between 4ft to 4.5ft || P688

Adults || P1,388

Kids below 3 feet are FREE of charge!
5% Service Charge Applies

A Product of the Grilling Station here in Niu by Vikings

My Vikings Experience
It was only this year that I got exposed to the world of Vikings (in SM Megamall), and I was honestly caught by surprise! There were a lot of dishes to choose from and most of them were really amazing! On top of all, the buffet prices are reasonable.

Anyway, since a huge percentage of dishes offered here in Niu are also available in the regular Vikings, let me just share with you the link to my Vikings Experience Post - SM Megamall Vikings Buffet. Still, I'll share with you the important highlights of Niu that differentiates it from the rest of Vikings Branch as well as other buffet places.

What's New in Niu - 7 Highlights

1. Luxurious Ambiance

Niu by Vikings in SM Aura Premier - Interior

The first thing that you will notice when you enter Niu, is the glamorous interior that exudes an air of sophistication. In fact, the ambiance tricks the mind into associating the restaurant as part of a hotel.

2. Impressive Service

Niu by Vikings: Preparation of Yakitori and Special Skewed Dish

Chef Slicing Raw Salmon for Sashimi - Niu by Vikings

Niu by Vikings is manned by a strong waitstaff (in terms of number); hence, despite having a large seating capacity, Niu can still be hands-on with its customers.

3. Exciting Beverages - Wine and Cocktails

Cloud Nine Beverage in Niu by Vikings available for dinner, weekend and holidays

One of the most exciting highlights here in Niu is the availability of wine beverages and other cocktails such as Dark Mojito, Margarita and Cloud Nine. Take note, you may have as much as you want during weekday dinner, weekend and holiday.

4. Bountiful Carving Station

Roasted Turkey - Carving Station of Niu by Vikings

Amazing sauces for roast meat in Carving Station (Niu by Vikings)

Vikings became well-known for its exciting roast meat selection; however, Niu is pushing this to a next level by providing more offerings such as the Herb Spit-Roasted US Prime, New Zealand Garlic and Rosemary Studded Leg of Lamb, Beef Ribs, Niu Belly-chon, Salmon Coulibiac and Roasted Turkey.

Herb Roasted US Prime, Beef Ribs and Leg of Lam - Niu by Vikings

Niu Belly-chon and Salmon Coulibiac - Niu by Vikings

5. Superb Italian Station

Stromboli in Italian Station of Niu by Vikings

An Italian Station may not be that unique in a buffet place, but Niu is again taking this further by providing high-quality dishes! Plus, you'll be able to request for interesting Italian specialty such as the Risotto Balls and the Risotto!

Risotto Ball by Request in Niu by Vikings

Special Risotto by Request in Niu by Vikings

6. Awesome By-Request Dishes

Dragon Roll with Wasabi Aioli of Niu by Vikings

Foie Gras dish in Niu by Vikings

Pan-seared Beef Medallion Stuffed with Gorgonzola with Deconstructed Hollandaise

Niu is powered by a lot of amazing professional chefs equipped with a wide range of skills, creativity and passion! Hence, you must take advantage of this fact, and go for special "by-request" dishes under the grilling station!

7. Amazing Gelato Station

Niu by Vikings - Gelato Station

It is already infrequent for some buffet places to have an ice cream station. So, what more for a gelato station, right? Interestingly, Niu has one! Now, there's something heavenly that will cap off your feasty buffet experience.

Note: Personally, I found the gelatos sweeter than what I can tolerate. Having said this, I still prefer the gelato station found in Diamond Hotel.

Niu by Vikings Really as A Spiral-Kill
According to the famous food blogger, Anton Diaz, Niu by Vikings can be considered as a Spiral-kill. Evaluating through my personal experience here in this luxurious buffet restaurant, I would agree on it. The range of dishes offered in Niu is extremely wide, with various cuisines to choose from such as Filipino (our very own), Chinese, Italian, American, Vegetarian, Japanese, Southeast-Asian and etc. Plus, the quality of the dishes are mostly high-grade!

On top of all, the price of the buffet in Niu is definitely reasonable, and in fact highly affordable (comparing it with that of Spiral). Yes, I know that an orange shouldn't be compared to an apple, but slowly that orange is turning red and taking shape of an apple. Well, you know what I mean. *wink wink*

Anyway, with my fantastic experience here in Niu, I believe that the restaurant is a threat not just to Spiral, but also to any hotel buffets in town!

How about you - do you recommend this place?

More Photos in Niu by Vikings

Chinese Siomain in Niu by Vikings Buffet

Niu by Vikings
Location: Level 6 SM Aura Premier, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila

Contact No.: (02) 478-3888 or 847-38888

Service Charge: 5% before VAT

Shi Lin's interior in Lucky Chinatown Mall

Shi Lin is a Chinese cuisine restaurant offering familiar dimsum dishes (such as siomai, xiao long bao, dumplings and steamed buns) as well as other specialty dishes.

Thirst for Something New
My primary motivation for trying Shi Lin is for me to use up my ZAP Card to earn discount points, but other than that, I was really eager to try a new restaurant! With this, I decided to bring my family (albeit only those that are available) with me, and since I got my first pay that week, I took the liberty of being held responsible for the bill.

Anyway, in this blog post, I'll be sharing with you the dishes we had during that fun-filled night!

Noodles with Double-Boiled Beef Soup || P155

Noodles with Double-Boiled Beef Soup - Shi Lin

Noodles with Double Boiled Beef Soup of Shi Lin

Although the broth tasted very much familiar and ordinary, the firmness of the noodles added fun to it!

Noodles with Sesame and Peanut Sauce || P165

Noodles with Sesame and Peanut Sauce of Shi Lin

The Interesting Noodles with Sesame and Peanut Sauce

I got pretty excited when I saw this on the menu, since it would be my first time to try something like it. Yeah, I consider it to be uncommon, if not unique!

Its peanut sauce was sufficiently thick and held onto the firm nicely-cooked noodles!

Shrimp and Pork Shaomai || P195 for 6 pieces

The Xiao Long Bao-like Shrimp and Pork Shaomai

A closer look at the Shrimp and Pork Shaomai of Shi Lin

I didn't know that there is another way a siomai (or shaomai according to Shi Lin) is cooked, but I'm more familiar and fond of the usual siomai wherein the meat is full! On the other hand, Shi Lin's version of siomai seemed like a xiao long bao with light and "soupy" meat inside.

Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao || P218 for 6 pieces

The black-truffle infused Xiao Long Bao

The mild truffle essence effectively blended with the goodness of the steamed meat, and although the inside wasn't as "soupy" as I expected, it was still almost excellent! On top of all, it's my first time to have a xiao long bao with black truffle!

Salt and Pepper Chicken with Chili || P250

The tasty Salt and Pepper Chicken with Chili of Shi Lin in Binondo

What I like about this chicken dish was its tastiness and crunchiness! It can be likened to that of Sincerity but this is crunchier and, in my opinion, better.

Fried Rice with Shredded Pork and Fried Rice with Mustasa and Radish

Fried Rice with Shredded Pork of Shi Lin

Fried Rice with Mustasa and Radish of Shi Lin

Both of these rice dishes were really tasty and complementary with other dishes. Although they may have been greasy, I was still able to appreciate them.

Now, before I end this blog post, let me share with you this photo of me and part of my family.

A Not-So-Popular Kid (me) with the fam here in Shi Lin

Note: I don't understand why this last photo turned bluish when I upload it here. I tried re-uploading, but it keeps on appearing this way. It's pretty weird, but anyway, I'm still sharing it with you!

Shi Lin - Ratings

Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings apply solely to this dining experience.
Place ★★★
Food ★★★☆
Service ★★★☆
Value for Money ★★★☆
Budget needed: at least P300 per person (coming in a group of 4 and above) for the dishes above or something similar

How about you - do you recommend Shi Lin?

The food I've tried here in Shi Lin ranged from satisfactory to good, but what I liked the most was the tasty Black Truffle Xiao Long Bao. Unfortunately, there seemed to be something lacking that could have made my experience extra awesome. I'm guessing it's the dull ambiance.

Overall, I would still say that this place is nice and interesting to be tried! Friends, don't forget to help out our fellow foodies by providing a thumbs up or down above.

Shi Lin
Location: Ground Floor, Lucky Chinatown, Binondo, Manila

Reservation No.: (02) 516 0321 - Delivery

Il Ponticello is located in the 2nd Floor of Antel Corporate Center in Salcedo Village, Makati

One fine day, Richie Zamora, the man behind The Pickiest Eater in the World food blog, invited me to join them in the soft-opening of the newly revamped Il Ponticello (Cucina Italiana), and being all-adventurous when it comes to food, I gave my yes without any hesitations.

Looking back to that moment, I'm very glad I accepted because I didn't know that I'd be having one epic lunch in an awesome place with awesome people!

All new Il Ponticello Cucina Italiana in Antel Building

A Brief Story behind Il Ponticello

The name of the place (Il Ponticello) may ring a bell to you, and that is just normal because this restaurant has already been operating for decades. However, through the years, it became more like a bar, than an Italian restaurant. After a few more years, it eventually came into a halt when it lost its appeal.

Now, a new set of management, composed of young and brilliant individuals, took the challenge of giving life back to the place and restoring its true identity -- a homey place for authentic Italian cuisine.

IL Ponticello - Cozy and Sexy

Cozy and comforting interior of Il Ponticello Cucina Italiana

With its rebirth, the restaurant transformed into something classy yet homey. In fact, it's extreme coziness makes it an ideal place for some dates or friendly chit-chats.

Chef Panky Lopez - man behind the all new Il Ponticello

The incredible chef Franco "Panky" Lopez

In order to provide a strong foundation to the revamped restaurant, the management needed the help of an incredible chef going by the name, Chef Panky Lopez!

"Steered by Executive Chef Panky Lopez, the new Il Ponticello introduces a fresh and innovative new menu that steers Italian classics into delectably sexy territory. Chef Panky serves up an extraordinary array of regional Italian dishes strongly influenced by Southern Italian cooking characterized by the generous use of the highest quality extra virgin olive oil, and only the freshest and most authentic Mediterranean ingredients." -- Il Ponticello

Now that you already know the background of Il Ponticello, let's check out the dishes!

IL Ponticello Cucina Italiana in Salcedo Village, Makati

Marashino Sunrise Mocktail of Il Ponticello

Antipasti (Starters)

Mozzarella in Carozza || P220

Mozzarella Bites Pand Fried in Butter & Blasamic Reduction

Mozzarella in Carozza - a great Italian Starter!

This humble appetizer featured an enjoyable mozzarella zest with subtle sweetness coming from the balsamic reduction.

Portobello Alla Griglia || P490

Grilled Portobello, Mozzarella di Bufala, Smoked Ricotta, oached Cherry Tomatoes & EVOO

Portobello Alla Griglia - a definite must try in Il Ponticello

This portobello dish showcased a flavorful smokey taste with its highly sophisticated mushroom goodness. Plus, due to the smoking the process, the ricotta and mozzarella became really tasty and creamy!

Pasta

Crema Di Tartufo || P450

Serious love affair of Truffle & mushrooms - Truffle Paste, Truffle Oil, Porcini Mushrooms, Fettucine

Light but ticklish truffle essence in this pasta dish called Crema di Tartufo

This pasta had a distinct truffle essence, but generally had a soft taste.

Gnocchi Amatriciana || P390

Homemade Potato and Semolina Gnocchi, Tomato Sauce, Thick Cut Pancetta & Grana Padano Cheese

Soft, chewy and comforting Gnocchi Amatriciana Italian Pasta dish here in Il Ponticello

It was my first time to have something like this, so I don't have any clue on how to assess this dish. However, I was able to note of its mushiness, light tomato sauce, herby and meaty taste.

Lasagna Carbonara || P420

Two favorites in one - Homemade Lasagna, Mozzarella Cream, Pancetta Tesa Strips, Grana Padano and Egg Yolk

Densely flavorful Lasagna Carbonara of IL Ponticello in Makati

Photogenic and above all delicious, this Lasagna Carbonara was definitely an ultimate winner for a cheese and pasta lover like me! I just fell in love with it densely flavorful cheesy and creamy goodness that exudes a comforting feeling!

Pizza

Pizza Valdostana || P520

Chef's Signature - Parma Ham, Gorgonzola Cream, Mozzarella, Arugula

Pizza Valdostana of Il Ponticello Cucina Italiana

Pizza Valdostana - immensely tasty and salty!

This Pizza Valdostana really has an immensely powerful flavor which leaned more towards the salty side!

Pizza Tartufo || P520

Deliciously delicate misto Tartufo and Fresh Mushrooms, Mushroom Cream Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese, Truffle Oil

Rich and potent truffle zest in this Pizza Tartufo of Il Ponticello

With its thin crust, the pizza enabled us to focus on the tastiness of the cheese and mushroom (i.e. truffle) accents. Hence, if you are longing for the extremely distinct flavor of Truffle, you should definitely go for this pizza!

Rotolo {Originale} || P480

Mortadella, Ricotta, Tomato Cream Sauce, hand-rolled in a Napoletana crust, dollops of Pesto

Rotolo - rolled pizza here in IL Ponticello Cucina Italiana

This Rotolo was something that also marked in my memory because of its creaminess and interesting blend of pesto!

Main Dishes

Presto

Grilled Prawns, Cherry Tomatoes, Fried Basil, Garlic Confit & Trofie Pesto

Presto, a fresh shrimp dish from the deep sea

Chilean Seabass in Bottiglia || P1,400

Pan Roasted Chillean Seabass, Prawn Broth, Mussles, Clams, Napoletana Piccante Sausage, Finished and Served in a Mason Jar

Chilean Seabass in Bottiglia of Il Ponticello

A better look: Chilean Seabass in Bottiglia of Il Ponticello, Makati

Although both the taste and texture were considerably fishy or "malansa", this dish was just fine with its spicy tomato sauce.

Flat Iron Steak || P590

USDA Choice Flat Iron Steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Summer Salad

The irresistible Flat Iron Steak here in IL Ponticello

This Flat Iron Steak was simply irresistible! The delicate grilling was evidenced by the enjoyable taste and texture of the meat!

Signature Porchetta Alla Romana || P390 - Solo (2 Thick Slices with Rice) || P1,200 - Whole (1 kg)

Slow-roasted Pork Belly seasoned with Fennel & Garlic served with Pommery Mustard Sauce

Signature Porchetta Alla Romana of the new IL Ponticello

Sliced Porchetta of Il Ponticello in Salcedo Village, Makati

Sliced Porchetta -- a slice of goodness -- of IL Ponticello in Salcedo Village, Makati

This Porchetta featured a lovable tenderness that made the meat easy to break down! Plus, it was tasty on its own even without the sauce. In fact, I love it without it because adding the sauce made it saltier than what I can tolerate.

Desserts

Cheesecake Panna Cotta || P290

Vanilla Panna Cotta, Cheesecake Crumble with Caramel Sauce

The wiggly and mildly sweet Cheesecake Panna Cotta

This refreshing wiggly dessert was not just fun to look at, but also fun to indulge into. Those who are not much into sweet desserts will definitely adore this one!

Note: I just love the cheesecake bits of this dessert dish!

Caramello Di Semolina || P290

White bread, semolina, cream, butter, eggs, caramel and ice cream

Caramello Di Semolina - Italian bread pudding

Caramello Di Semolina - bread pudding at its finest!

This Caramello Di Semolina featured its vanilla and caramel goodness! Simple yet amazing!

Tiramisu || P290

Savoiardi, Zabaglione, Amaretto, Ristretto, Cocoa Powder

The surprisingly uber amazing Tiramisu of Il Ponticello

The Tiramasu really made a huge commotion because of its extremely balanced coffee taste and sweetness. You will end up out-of-words with the goodness of this special dessert! You should definitely try this!

Cannoli || P290

Crispy Cinnamon Pastry Shell, Ricotta Cream, Dark Chocolate Morsels, Nuts and Powdered Sugar

Authentic Italian dessert called Cannoli

Crispy on the outside yet creamy and sweet in the inside - this is how I'd describe the cannoli!

Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel

72% Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta, Chocolate Soil, Caramel Cream and Sea Salt

Pure chocolate goodness -- Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta of Il Ponticello

Just like the earlier panna cotta, this was just mildly sweet added with a twist with the dark chocolate!

Budino Al Cioccolato || P390

Chocolate Lava Pudding Pot, Vanilla Cream, Amarena Cherries and Caramel Sauce

Budino Al Cioccolato of IL Ponticello, Makati

Heavenly sweet chocolate goodness of Budino Al Cioccolato

Although this dessert was intensely sweet, it was also immensely heavenly with its delectable chocolate taste. Choco-and-sweet lovers will definitely go gaga over this dessert!

IL Ponticello - Summary
Through this amazing luncheon experience, IL Ponticello was able to show an impressive new beginning! All the dishes showed different and exciting elements that revealed the vibrancy of the Southern Italian cuisine. And although the prices may not be that pocket-friendly, IL Ponticello assures us that we'll recover the value of what we'll pay for with its sexy and cozy ambiance, good service and incredible dishes to offer!

How about you - do you recommend this place?

Il Ponticello Cucina Italiana

Location: Second Floor, Antel Corporate Center, 121 Valero Street, Near V.A. Rufino Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City

Contact No.: (02) 553 9971 [retrieved from Zomato]

Kenji Tei Ramen House in Greenbelt 5, Makati

One of my college friends, who happened to also be my colleague at work, suddenly developed a craving for ramen, and the next thing we knew, we were already in Kenji Tei Ramen House enjoying a warm bowl of ramen! Yes, it was that fast because our workplace is conveniently located near the Greenbelt malls.

Kenji Tei is housed in Greenbelt 5 of Makati City

Anyway, this will just be a brief blog post, since I don't know much about the story behind Kenji Tei. All I know is that it falls under the Top 10 Ramen of some food blogs (well, that is according to Myles Sia, the one who craved for some ramen).

Gomoku Shio Ramen || P280 - Regular || P375 - Large

Mixed Seafood, Vegetable and pork shio Ramen

Gomoku Shio Ramen of Kenji Tei

This is what I particularly ordered for myself, and I have to admit that I loved how the broth tasted at first. However, after tasting the broth of my friends' ramen, it seemed a little dull in comparison. Still, I enjoyed the ramen because of the generous serving of the meat and seafood ingredients.

Note: Two of my friends mentioned that I shouldn't order seafood ramen because it's not a specialty of Ramen Houses. Hmmm, what's your view on this?

Miso Ramen || P265 - Regular || P355 - Large

The tasty Miso Ramen here in Kenji Tei Ramen House

Although I wasn't able to try everything this ramen could offer, I was able to taste the broth, and it was really potently good! I used to avoid the miso flavor for my ramen, but after this, I might go for one next time!

Spicy Negi Ramen || P275 - Regular || P365 - Large

Spicy Miso-based broth topped with Negi slices and Chashu

Adventurously spicy ramen -- Spicy Negi Ramen

This is what my friend, Myles, ordered because he wanted to have something different. Fortunately, he didn't regret his decision to go for this ramen! Yeah, I got to try the broth and it was really distinctly flavorful and spicy!

Shoyu Ramen || P245 - Regular || P325 - Large

The highly-photogenic Shoyu Ramen of Kenji Tei!

This Shoyu Ramen was something I also enjoyed due to its simplicity (in appearance) while still maintaining the complexity of the taste!

Gyudon || P305

Well-presented unconventional Gyudon of Kenji Tei Ramen House

Although I appreciate how unconventional the Gyudon was prepared and presented, I failed to appreciate it to the fullest. It was probably because I'm used to the usual Gyudon wherein the beef are placed on top of the rice with raw egg yolk on top.

Renz Cheng (A Not-So-Popular Kid) in Kenji Tei

Ramen is best enjoyed with awesome people!

Interestingly, we invited our Japanese friend (an intern in the audit firm I work in) to join us for this lunch, and he gladly accepted. I asked what he can say about the ramen, and he mentioned that it was the same with what he is enjoying in Japan. He further added, "Maybe the chef is Japanese".

Kenji Tei - Ratings

Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings apply solely to this dining experience.
Place ★★★★
Food ★★★☆
Service ★★★
Value for Money ★★★☆
Budget needed: at least P300 per person for a bowl of ramen

How about you - do you recommend Kenji Tei?

Compared to other famous ramen places, Kenji Tei could be considered relatively affordable (while still being able to maintain the authenticity of the flavor).

Since the Gyudon wasn't as fantastic as I expected it to be, I'm being lured to think that you should only go for some ramen here in Kenji Tei. I don't know if this would be valid; hence I want to know more about your thoughts about the place.

Kenji Tei Ramen House
Location: Level 3, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City

Contact No.: (02) 754 3098

Service Charge: 10% before VAT

Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurant in Kapitolyo called Pomodoro Pizza

Love for Howol
There is something about hole-in-the-wall restaurants (let's just call them Howol) that really stroke my curiosity. First off, I love the thrill involved in locating and spotting the place. Second, the food in these restaurants are usually incredibly noteworthy! I'm assuming it's because of the restaurants' simplicity or lack of pretentious glamour that makes the dining experience more pure and less complex.

However to tell you frankly, despite my thirst to explore howol restaurants, I've only been to a few, and in fact, I can enumerate them here.

Yes, it may be a short list, but luckily I got to grow it with one more entry. Just this Saturday, I got invited to try out an Italian-inspired howol restaurant in Kapitolyo, and it goes with the name Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen.

The simplicity of Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen enables you to focus on the food

A Humble Place for Italian Delights
Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen is a humble 15-seater restaurant with an extremely simplistic outdoor feel (yeah, that's a euphemism for being an open resto without an aircon).

Frankly speaking, when I first had a glance of the place, I got a bit hesitant, thinking "Does this restaurant really serve great dishes?" True enough, it's indeed better not to judge a book by its cover. The quality of the dishes was able to divert our attention towards the food. Well, speaking of food, let's explore some of them!

Note: I suggest that you dine here in the evening so that you'll enjoy the night breeze.

Dishes here are well-curated with recipes coming from the chef from Galileo Enoteca Italian Restaurant, improved and tweaked by the own chef of Pomodoro.

Houseblend Iced Tea || P40 - glass || P99 - pitcher

Houseblend Iced Tea of Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen

This refreshing iced tea was marked by a sweet mango-like flavored iced tea. It somehow reminded me of the iced tea of Besty's Kitchen.

Gamberetto Pizza || P189 - 10" || P229 - 12"

Shrimps, Garlic, Mozarella, Cheddar, Secret Cheese and Basil on tomato sauce

Thin crust Gamberetto Pizza of Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen

This Gamberetto Pizza featured a very tasty sauce marked with an authentic sourness and subtle sweetness. This was further improved by the rich seafood and garlic taste.

Aligue Pasta || P132

Mama's favorite! Squid ring sauteed in Aligue pasta from Guagua, Pampanga

A balance of unhealthiness and healthiness - Aligue Pasta!

The Aligue Pasta was naturally greasy because of the aligue, but with it came a playful fatty seafood zest. Also, the squid was notably fresh evidenced by its tenderness.

Spanish Sardines Pasta || P119

Spanish Sardines and Black olives sauteed in garlic and olive oil

Adventure for the palate - Spanish Sardines Pasta of Pomodoro

The dish showcased a tasty pesto essence paired with a kick coming from the sardines. Highly enjoyable!

Spaghetti with Meatballs || P132

Two large Italian meatballs topped on simmered Pomodoro sauce

Spaghetti with Meatballs of Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen

Spaghetti with crunchy and tasty meatballs - so good!

The meatball had an enjoyable crunch that was light on the flavor but perfectly went well with the palatable sourness of the sauce.

Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen - Summary
Overall, Pomodoro Italian Kitchen really had something delightful in store for the visiting foodies despite the lack of any outlandish or glamorous design and interior. In fact, in my opinion, it's one of those howols that proves that (more than money) passion as capital surely makes a difference!

Note: Although the prices here in Pomodoro are within reach, you may still get more value for your money (an extra 5% from the points earned) by using your ZAP account. Read more about it here - Getting Rebates using ZAP!

How about you - do you recommend this place?

Pomodoro Pizza Kitchen

Location: 6-G San Rafael Corner Santa Rosa Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Contact No: +63 9275894426 [retrieved from Zomato]

Voila Jar Cakes Making Each Moment Sweeter

Due to a lot of curious foodie friends I've encountered, I'm giving a spotlight to this simple yet amazing creation - Voila Old Fashioned Jar Cakes!

What are Voila Jar Cakes?

Voila Jars are ready-to-bake jar cakes you can bake in 3 easy steps in less than 5 minutes. Finally, you can have FRESHLY BAKED cake whenever you want.

How to Prepare

STEP 1 - Add packet content and 6 Tablespoons of water into jar

STEP 2 - Mix contents really well

STEP 3 - Microwave for 1 minute medium high heat (without the lid) and then enjoy!

Available Flavors

Belgian Fudge No. 5 || P150

Peanut Butter Mudcake || P150 - my favorite!

Red Velvet Vanilla Fudge || P150

Voila Old Fashioned Jar Cakes

The first thing that caught my attention was the really impressive packaging. The mason jar itself makes the product tantalizingly tempting! The next thing I enjoyed was the process of preparing the jar cake, and the last thing (but most definitely not the least) was tasting the heavenly and smooth chocolate blend.

How to Get Voila Jar Cakes?

I know you are itching to get your hands on one of these babies, so let me share with you where you can purchase these jar cakes.

Delightful Ready to Bake Voila Jar Cakes

Partner Stores

Find these jar cakes in these partner stores:

Craft Coffee Revolution

66 Broadway Ave., New Manila, Quezon City

88 Esteban Abada St., Loyola Height, Quezon City

Plaza Cafe

Corinthian Plaza Bldg., 121 Paseo de Roxas St. cor. Gamboa St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

The Food Bin

201 Katipunan Ave. Ext., Blueridge, Quezon City

841 Kalayaan Ave. cor. Matilde St., Brgy Poblacion, Makati City

Order Online via Facebook Page

You may check out the order page housed in Voila Jar Cakes' Facebook Page

Lastly, you may also contact them via SMS at +63917 862 3242 or send an e-mail to sales@voilajars.com

CaliBurger in Century City Mall, Makati

The CaliBurger Phenomenon
When Caliburger arrived here in the Philippines, a huge hype was created, and people got divided into three groups -- those who loved it, those who say it's just overrated and those who haven't tried it yet.

For so long, I belonged to the third group, but that was until I got invited to try out one of the newly launched limited edition Smokehouse Burger. Now, the question is where did the "sorting hat"reclassify me? Stay tuned because I shall reveal it later as we go along with this blog post.

The cheerful, vibrant and energetic interior of Caliburger in Makati

Big TV perfect for events here in Caliburger, Century City Mall

CaliBurger - Vibrant and Positive
The first thing that immediately struck me, upon stepping in CaliBurger, was the design and interior of CaliBurger. No kidding! The place had this extremely cheerful, vibrant and energetic vibe, mostly attributable to the playful colors and beach-theme elements found inside the restaurant.

Hence, even if there are no actual beach waves here in CaliBurger, you are still in for a treat because you will definitely catch a huge wave of positivism here in this burger place in Century City Mall.

CaliBurger in Century City Mall can be a candidate for your next party!

Just in case it will be relevant, this CaliBurger branch in Century City Mall has an estimated seating capacity of 200. Thus, if you are thinking of celebrating your birthday (or any other event), this may come up as a good candidate.

Bar-style area of CaliBurger in Century City Mall

Bar-style area of CaliBurger where you can enjoy cool drinks to beat the heat

The New Smokehouse Burger || P235
CaliBurger just launched its Smokehouse Burger crafted by the renowned Chef Robert "Rob" Pengson.

" I want to create a unique burger that completely whets your appetite, something fragrant, and that goes well with an ice cold beer or smoothie "- Chef Rob Pengson

The All-New Smokehouse Burger of CaliBurger

Running for a limited time only, this Smokehouse burger features an aroma that provides a noticeable waft of spice (that reminds me of something like a curry of some sort, although there is none of it in this burger). It has this subtly sweet sauce that is infused by maple syrup, mustard and aioli.

Also, it has this impressive crunchiness coming from the onion rings on top of the patty, making each bite momentous. Overall, I would say that this burger is a winner in terms of the taste, but I'm still undecided in terms of the "value for money". The burger is somewhat expensive considering its serving size. However, I just realized that some burgers of Wendy's and Burger King are priced this way, and this now gives an indirect justification for the price.

Chef Rob Pengson with the Caliburger Smokehouse Burger

The photo above shows how enthusiastic Chef Rob Pengson about the burger. He even said that he created this burger for all the foodies to enjoy!

A closer look at the Smokehouse Burger of CaliBurger

CaliBurger- Summary
With the overwhelmingly positive ambiance of CaliBurger, the dining experience became highly enjoyable. As for the burger itself, I won't deny that I liked it, although I am not so sure whether I liked it enough to make me crave for it again. This is why the "sorting hat" I was talking about earlier had some difficulty in reclassifying me into one of the two remaining groups. Now, the hat gave me the liberty to choose, just like Harry Potter (unless I got the story wrong), and with this I choose to lie in between, so please shed some light on the matter by sharing your experience.

How about you - do you recommend this place?

CaliBurger
Location: Fourth Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City

Contact No: (02) 4038554 [retrieved from Zomato]

The newly renovated Teriyaki Boy in Glorietta, Makati

Soon after being acquired by the Max's Group, Teriyaki Boy began to undergo a lot of subtle but significant changes. Although these changes are still currently being rolled out across branches, Teriyaki Boy already completed one in its Glorietta Branch, and I was fortunate enough to be invited to check out the place and, of course, the food.

A New Teriyaki Boy

Aside from the obvious replacement of the logo, Teriyaki Boy also revamped its menu and overall concept. Instead of the regular casual ambiance, the management has decided to mix a dash of classiness to the interior and design. However, even if this was done so, there is still an air of comfort that allows you to just be yourself as you enjoy the conversation and the food.

The management also mentioned that it further improved the dishes into a "higher standard". Through this invite, I was able to test the validity of such statement. Hence, let's begin exploring!

Appetizers, Sashimi and Rolls
Tempura Tuna Tartare || P155

A spicy mix of tuna sashimi, Japanese mayo and tempura flakes. A bestseller in its own right!

The best selling Tempura Tuna Tartare of Teriyaki Boy

This amazing appetizer, which practically reminded me of the Spicy Toro Sashimi of Nihonbashi Tei in Makati, was definitely a stunner! I loved how playful the wasabi-like spiciness was as well as the crunchiness from the tempura flakes.

Sashimi Salad || P299

Cubes of fresh Norwegian salmon and yellowfin tuna in between a bed of greens, crunchy kani strips and fresh shrimp roe served with a concoction of sashimi dressing

A basket of freshness - Sashimi Salad!

Ranging from bland to lightly sour (unless you request for more dressing), this Sashimi Salad offered a bunch of freshness (from the sashimi and greens) mixed with crunchiness (from the fried kani strips on top).

Okonomiyaki || P88

Japanese savory pancake made of a special batter recipe, vegetables, squid, topped with bonito flakes

A Japanese staple - Okonomiyaki!

This Okonomiyaki served featured a balanced flavor wherein the lovely Japanese mayo adds up a savory sourness.

Blogger's note and tip: I've been to a handful of Teriyaki Boy branches, and the taste and quality of Okonomiyaki differed from one branch to another. Hence, for better consistency and control of taste, request beforehand for light to moderate mayo drizzles on top of the okonomiyaki.

Teriyaki Boy Chicken Maki || P289

Teriyaki Boy Chicken in a roll - wrapped in nori, topped with a combo of chicken skin, grilled chicken and Japanese mayonnaise

The tasty Teriyaki Boy Chicken Maki - a must try!

This "it-is-so-huge-it-will-not-fit-in-your-mouth"Teriyaki Boy Chicken Maki was sensational with its exciting layers of flavors.

Dragon Maki || P399

Named because of its shape, Dragon Maki is a savory roll of breaded shrimp covered with sushi rice, topped with grilled eel and sprinkled with sesame seeds

The photogenic Dragon Maki of Teriyaki Boy Restaurant

Although apparently expensive, this Dragon Maki surely sparked up the evening with its distinct and memorable seafood goodness!

Green Tea Milk Shake || P125

The mildly sweet Green Tea Milk Shake of Teriyaki Boy

This amazing drink simply caught me off guard with the remarkable balanced sweetness, creaminess and green tea essence! Even my good friend, Teta of tetadventurer.blogspot.com, who isn't a fan of the flavor, liked the drink so much!

Main Dishes
Gyu Don || P314

Thinly sliced beef stir-fried with special Teriyaki Boy sauce, topped with raw egg and sesame seeds, laid on a bed of steamed Japanese rice

The Gyudon of Teriyaki Boy Japanese Restaurant

Although relatively more expensive compared to other Donburi selections, this Gyudon definitely showcased something interesting especially with its sticky Japanese rice and savory sauce.

Blogger's Tip: Allow the Gyudon to settle for a while after stirring the contents, so that the egg yolk blends well with the meat and the entire rice bowl dish.

Teriyaki Boy Chicken || P214

Succulent boneless chicken ,marinated and cooked with special Teriyaki Boy sauce

The best-selling Teriyaki Boy Chicken

Marked by the lovely crunchy skin and smokey taste, this Teriyaki Boy Chicken surely is worthy of being hailed as the All-Time Bestseller!

Chikuwa Fish Tempura || P219

Battered and deep-fried, this fish cake dish is wrapped with nori and injected with cream cheese at the center

An uncommon dish in Teriyaki Boy - Chikuwa Fish Tempura

It was my first time to try a dish such as this, but other than being uncommon, this Chikuwa Fish Temura didn't have something very much special in it. Based on my perception, it tasted like a squid ball with a touch of un-harmonizing cream cheese.

However, do not be too discouraged to try this because my fellow food blogger, Teta, said that she really enjoyed it.

Wafu Steak || P366

Premium diced-cut beef, perfectly seared and stir-fried with garlic and teppanyaki sauce, served with a siding of sesame moyashi

The Wafu Steak of Teriyaki Boy Restaurant

Buttery and garlicky are the two words that will describe this dish!

Beef Tataki || P499

*go for medium rare*

Wafu steak, grilled and seared on top of a layer of buttered mixed mushrooms.

The amazing Beef Tataki - surely a must try when cooked right!

Topping the previously served Wafu steak, this Beef Tataki was one huge of an unexpected scene stealer! It was really all tender, juicy and nice!

Desserts
Mango Bavarian || P79

Jelly with bits of sweet mango topped with whipped cream

Delightful dessert with balanced sweetness and flavor - Mango Bavarian!

Probably the best dessert among the three options here in Teriyaki Boy, this Mango Bavarian featured something tranquil due to the balanced sweetness and creaminess.

Green Tea Jelly || P69

Green Tea gelatin with whipped crea and adzuki beans

Light and subtle Green Tea Jelly dessert!

Although the base was generally light (or bland in some respects), the atsuki beans and whipped cream on top compensated for it.

Mango Tempura with Vanilla Ice Cream || P229

Slice of yellow mango dipped in tempura batter, deep-fried with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup

Mango Tempura with Vanilla Ice Cream

Honesty compels me to tell you that I did not enjoy this dessert, and the reason behind this is my lack of fondness for fried desserts. Well, based on my personal belief, desserts are there to supposedly detach you from the savory dishes (i.e. strong flavored main course dishes). However, in this case, it instead mimicked one. Also, the taste for me was quite predictable and mostly just okay.

A Not-So-Popular Kid in Teriyaki Boy, Glorietta 3, Makati

Teriyaki Boy - Summary
Budget Needed: P250 - P350 each person
Teriyaki Boy surely has a huge potential in providing amazing Japanese delights that are surely affordable (at least relative to other Japanese restaurants providing similar dishes).

I need to note however that not all infinities are equal because some infinities are bigger than other infinities. Oh, that's from The Fault in Our Stars. What I meant was, you need to remember that not all branches are equal. Hence, one branch may outdo another branch, while some branch may not be as good as another. However, admittedly, with my exposure in various branches, I can say that this is the best so far.

How about you - do you recommend this place?

Teriyaki Boy
Location: Ground Floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City

Contact No: (02) 840 1047 [retrieved from Zomato]

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The All-New Teriyaki Boy Experience in Glorietta, Makati