The BURGER BAR in Greenbelt 2, Makati City

June 16, 2013, 4:15 am

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June 12, 2013 - We celebrated this Father's Day by first hearing a mass in Sto. Nino de La Paza Community Greenbelt Chapel, followed by a mini feast in Burger Bar (Greenbelt 2) to fill up some hungry bellies.

Since Burger Bar is relatively new, I got excited to share this up and blog right away! To provide you an outline, I'll be covering in this post the place itself, the dishes we had, my overall dining experience and, of course personal recommendations!

Burger Bar in G/F of Greenbelt 2, Makati

The Place

Burger Bar is not your typical burger joint because it has a fancy concept and unique burger names. You will definitely love how paradoxical the place appears. It has some hints of being retro yet shows elements of being modern at the same time. As mentioned in Spot.ph, Burger Bar may remind you of Pop Tate's Chock'lit Shoppe of Archie comics. Yes, perfect for you and your friends (or family) to hang out in.

You will know you are there when you see Namnam - Filipino Restaurant because Buger Bar is located just above it (like a mezzanine). How edgy, right? 

Burger Bar: burgers ready to be served

Once you go in, you will see something like the photo below. Unfortunately, since Burger Bar occupies only the upper half of the ground floor, there isn't much free space. Also, the tables and chairs appear to be somehow cramped especially when they are occupied. You will need to battle your way through you seats. We didn't bother because we treated it as part of the theme or fun.

Inside Burger Bar: People feasting over the burgers!

The orders took a while to arrive, so I managed to take a few more snapshots of the kitchen. Here's my best shot among those I took:

The awesome chefs preparing the amazing burgers, pastas and other dishes!

Photo of my family waiting eagerly (yet patiently) for the dishes to arrive. Wait, let me take this opportunity to publicly tell my dad how much I love him. "Happy Father's Day and I love you so much!"

The Food

It's time for the thing we all love - food! Let's start with the appetizers, Onion Rings (P80):

The flavorful Onion Rings of Burger Bar

The onion fries was flavorful, but somehow seemed to be artificially flavored (i.e. barbecue powder). Nonetheless, it was definitely a great starter. Try it even without any ketchup or mayo, you will still find the taste ticklish as far as your taste buds are concerned.

Not forgetting to be somehow healthy, we ordered The Holiday Salad (P245):

Grilled Chicken strips on a bed of crisp romaine, basil, feta cheese, almond sticks, strawberry vinaigrette

The incredible Holiday Salad of Burger Bar

The Holiday Salad showcases fresh collection of greens, fruits and nuts! You will absolutely go crazy by how magnificent this dish is! I particularly enjoyed this salad because of the special strawberry vinaigrette. It was my first time to taste something that new and fresh! Two-thumbs up for this delectable salad!

Note: If you want to Douple Up just add P115 (totaling P360). However, the single serving is already good enough to share between 2-4 people.

Proceeding with the burgers, I had this 4Cheese Chuck (single patty) at P245:

Parmesan-crusted double patty Beef Bomb Blend of chuck & short rib, yellow cheddar, aged gruyere, mozzarella, arugula, garlic aioli all on a Sesame Seed Bun

Recommended for Cheese lovers: The 4Cheese Chuck

For the four cheese, was it really four? Well, I wasn't able to notice. The overall taste was relatively bland (except for the latter part). I got confused with this burger because the flavor wasn't uniform. Some parts lacked flavor, while some were too salty. The only thing I loved about my burger was the texture of the meat. It was fantastic!

I wonder what I did wrong because based on other reviews I found, the bloggers/writers' dining experience was either great or fantastic. Well, I think I have the answer below:

Tip: Cut or bite the burger in smaller pieces to savor the moment. I think that was my mistake. Based on my experience, when you bite smaller pieces you will be able to taste the variety of flavors of your burger just like the last 2 bites of my burger. Too bad, it was too late when I realized this. (This may explain why I thought it was bland.)

The next one that came up was the Creamy Shrimp & Tomato Alfredo Pasta (P265):

Creamy Shrimp & Tomato Alfredo Pasta

Living up to its name, this dish was really creamy and flavorful! I love how the creaminess jived with the taste of seafood and tomato sauce. In fact, this was up to par with my favorite pasta dishes! However, the only negative I can say about this dish was the serving. It was less than expected.

My mom had this Happy Fried Chicken and Zesty Spaghetti and Meatballs (P299):

Happy Fried Chicken and Zesty Spaghetti and Meatballs

The Happy Fried Chicken should have been named Salty Fried Chicken, practically because of the strong saltiness of it. It didn't made us happy because there wasn't special about the chicken.

As for the Spaghetti and Meatballs, it featured an intense flavor of herbs that made it taste more like an Indian pasta dish. Some of you may like it that way, while some don't. My mom and I belong more on the latter. Sure, I was able to appreciate it, but that was because I just had a spoonful. A little more than that might eventually ruin the rest of my appetite.

Let's proceed with some more burgers. The next one up was The Piggy (single patty) at P245 with an add-on of fried egg (P25):

Double patty Beef Bomb Blend of chuck and short rib, mozzarella, fried bacon strips, house-made bacon jam, lollo rossa greens, garlic aioli all on a Sesame Seed Bun

Dressed up Piggy: The Piggy Burger w/ Egg

I can't say much about this burger because my younger brother ate it all up fast! Yeah, that was how good he thought this burger was. Unsurprisingly, he was the most satisfied among us.

Time for the next burger, The Bar Burger (double patty) at P395:

A double patty Big Game Blend of hanger & brisket, smoked scamorza & gorgonzola cheeses, fresh prosciutto, watercress, caramelized onions spiked with sriracha aioli, crowned with crispy onion rings all on a Brioche Bun

The Bar Burger Double Patty

That was quite a mouthful for a definition right? Sadly, it didn't tasted that way. For me, it was just like "double patties with fried onions showered by a special sauce". This does not mean, however, that I didn't enjoy it. Maybe I was just expecting too much of this burger, since it was named after the store, but again, I didn't find it special. My brother also just said "It was okay" when he could have said "It was super awesome!" Never mind, I don't see my brother saying that to me. *hardy har har*

As a tradition, we also ordered some Skinny Fries (P45) to go along with our burgers.

Skinny Fries of Burger Bar

I don't want to dwell much on this. All I can say is that this Skinny Fries was just an expensive McDo fries in disguise - nothing so magnificent about it.

Observations

In general, the amount of serving was a disappointment. Due to this, the value for money diminished which means that the premium paid for these burgers weren't much felt. In fact, I can already settle for the burgers of Burger Project. 

Also, I've noticed that my dining experience was somehow similar with that of in Charbroiled Burgers of BF Homes Parañaque. The only difference (aside from the ambiance and place) was the price, Burger project being the more expensive.

Wrapping Up

Basically, the observations above serve as my blog post ender, and since we got slightly disappointed with the outcome of this dining experience, my mom decided to have the desserts elsewhere. Eventually, we ended up in Classic Confections (check my blog one's in a while for this post). Share to us what you think of the place! Have your tried dining here already?

Recommendations

Do I recommend the place? Still yes because I don't discount the fact that I may be wrong with the things I've written. Plus I should also consider how our preferences and taste differ. Anyway, if you don't know what to order, maybe you can check out which among the dishes we ordered are the winner/s or loser/s. 

Losers

Happy Fried Chicken with Zesty Spaghetti and Meatballs
Skinny Fries

Winners

Onion rings
Creamy Shrimp Tomato Alfredo Pasta
The Piggy (based on my brother's reaction)

Those not mentioned are neither great nor bad (i.e. somewhere in between)

RATING OVERVIEW
Place:  
Taste:
Service:
Price: 
Overall Experience: 

Note about the rating: These scores are based on this experience alone, as well as the food that I had during this time. 

Check out these images for the menu:
  

BURGER BAR
G/F Greenbelt 2
Esperanza St cor Greenbelt Dr Ayala Center
Makati City, Metro Manila
Service Charge: 10% before VAT or 8.93% of the price

Contact No.: (02) 625-2792

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The CLASSIC CONFECTIONS in Greenbelt 5, Makati

June 25, 2013, 5:18 am

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≪ Previous: The BURGER BAR in Greenbelt 2, Makati City

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Classic Confections of Greenbelt 5 in Makati

After slightly getting disappointed in Burger Bar, we decided to have our desserts elsewhere. Taking the suggestion of my sister, we ended up in Classic Confections where we had cakes, tea and coffee.

In this blog post, I'm taking a new approach, where I reduce the words and put in more photos. Let me know what you prefer more.

Chill and hang out in Classic Confections!

Sit back and relax as you chat with your friends here in Classic Confections. It's all comfy, warm and inviting. The place is lovely because of the fun arrangement of the sweets, but what I adore the most is the ultimate comfort the place brings.

On the go goodies of Classic Confections

If you are on the go or planning to surprise someone with some sweets, Classic Confections will still be there for you. Take a look at these goodies wrapped or packed in cool and sleek containers or packages.

 
Now check out the cool cake collection of Classic Confections! Each of these treats has something unique in them. You will definitely take delight in being able to try them all out.

Inside the store: Featuring the Cakes

Spend some time relaxing in this very comforting place in Greenbelt 5!

The cozy interior of Classic Confections

Admire the beauty of the place. This is what you call "simple yet elegant". 

A little closer: Cakes and Goodies

The Cakes

As mentioned, you will find the cakes interesting because you will see or taste something different. The selection is somewhat limited, but this may be a good thing because you know that they are specializing.

In addition, the flavor of the cakes is distinct and potent; hence, sharing is definitely encouraged. This means that a few spoonful will do the trick. In fact, anything beyond it may diminish your enjoyment. Order and share up! 

Cheesecake Obsession (Individual) at P245

The Cheesecake Obsession was awesome, but the taste was something you'll get used to immediately. The texture and flavor are something you'll find in the usual cheesecakes, but what makes it different is the variation in taste brought by the cylindrical chocolate pieces on top.

Double Chocolate Mousse (Individual) at P195

The Double Chocolate Mousse was two of my brothers' favorite. The moist and soft cake, wrapped in a delightful semi-sweet chocolate, made it highly memorable, not to mention the fantastic combination of taste as the mousse blends in. It was quite an experience!

Nono's Chocolate Oblivion (Individual) at P225

Nono's Choco Oblivion tasted very special but may be a little sweeter than what it should be. On the other hand, the texture was notable because of the variation caused by the crunchy and sugary coating - and actually this is what makes it really sweet. On the contrary, if you have a prominent sweet tooth, you won't mind it, and in fact, you'll love it!

Iced Mocha at P135

As for the drink, I didn't enjoy it much because I'm not into coffees, but what can I note this Iced Mocha is the distinct coffee and cocoa taste infused together. There was little to no hint of sweetness (depending on your sensitivity to it) which balances the sweetness of the cakes.

Cafe Americano at P85

This what something my dad had. I wasn't able to try it out (because again, I am not fond of coffees), but I'm just sharing this photo to you, so you'll have an idea.

Comment on the Prices

I find the prices somewhat extravagant (for the cakes); however, when we speak of value for money, I'll tell you it's absolutely worth it. Considering the taste and experience, the prices would entirely be worth the extra pennies you'll provide.

Note about the Service Charge
I was somehow surprised when I discovered that there was a service charge because all they need to do is slice the cake, put it on the plate and serve it up. However, I didn't mind it until the time we went out.

The service charge should have made the crew appreciative that we dined there because they'll get a portion of it. Sadly, it was disappointing that they forgot to say "thank you". This is just a short yet effective way of expressing gratitude, yet they failed to make it.

Anyway, this wraps up my blog post about this intriguing Classic Confections. Try it out as it redefines what cakes should be. Don't forget to comment and share this post with your friends!

RATING OVERVIEW

Classic Confections (June 25, 2013) by Renz Cheng
Place:  
Cake Experience:
Service:
Price: 
Overall Experience: 4.5

CLASSIC CONFECTIONS
Greenbelt 5
Legaspi St. Legazpi Village
Makati City
Contact No.: 729-9243
Service Charge: 10% of price

CRUMPY SPREAD: Creamy, Chocolaty and Nutty Goodness

June 30, 2013, 3:04 am

≫ Next: CAFFE SAN MARCO of Hotel Venezia in Legazpi, Albay

≪ Previous: The CLASSIC CONFECTIONS in Greenbelt 5, Makati

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Crumpy Package from Fly Ace Corp!

One fine day, I received a package from Fly Ace Corp containing two bottles of Crumpy spread (i.e. 1 was Crumpy Choco while the other one was Crumpy Nut). It came a long with it a nice message telling me to enjoy them and share it as well. I got pretty excited to open it up!

What is Crumpy Spread?

Crumpy is a Premium Belgian spread brand produced by one of the leading companies in Europe specializing in chocolate products. Contrary to what we know, Crumpy does not only offer the all-time favorite chocolate spread but also other variants like Crumpy Duo (chocolate and hazelnut) and Crumpy Nut. In addition, all variants are available in 225g and 400g sizes depending on your needs!

Crumpy Choco and Crumpy Nut

Since I was too eager to try them out, by the time I took photos. I hurriedly get some bread, put it on top and voila! I had my instant yet amazing merienda!

Instant Delicious Snack: Crumpy Nut on Bread

Crumpy Nut - the Choco-Hazelnut Spread
I wasn't aware that there is a Crumpy Nut which is the hazelnut version of the Chocolate Spread. Most people compare the Crumpy Choco with Nutella whereas the one should be compared is Crumpy Nut, and
although the sweetness was "an inch more than enough", it has the distinct and remarkable taste of hazelnut that make you want more of it!

It was nostalgic because back when I was a teenager, my mom used to bring home Crumpy, and I just realized this upon seeing the container and tasting the chocolate goodness!

Crumpy Nut vs Crumpy Choco

• The Crumpy Choco features ultimate and pure chocolate goodness! It is thicker in comparison with the Crumpy Nut. 
• The Crumpy Nut is slightly lighter in color comparing it with the Choco one. 
• The Crumpy Nut spread is creamier (which is something I appreciate) and has a more unique taste brought by the hazelnut.

More about the Crumpy Nut
I totally love this choco-hazelnut spread because the taste was honest - nothing but pure sweetness and love stored in a adorable glass container.

The creamy texture of the chocolate was highly remarkable as it gives a melt in your mouth sensation. The choco-hazelnut spread goes all the way done in a smooth and suave way. Having this said, I believe Crumpy is perfect for making doughnuts or other pastries especially that it crystallizes pretty well when you put it in an oven.

What are you waiting for? Try this great Belgian treats to sweeten up your day! You will enjoy this as a spread or as an ingredient for pastries & cakes. You may even enjoy it on its own!

The Product Line of Crumpy known as the Crumpy Family!

The Happy Crumpy Family - Belgian Chocolate Spreads!

Disclosure: The Crumpy were received for free sent via package mail from Fly Ace Corp.

CAFFE SAN MARCO of Hotel Venezia in Legazpi, Albay

July 2, 2013, 1:28 am

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Hotel Venezia in Legazpi, Albay

After we landed on Legazpi City, we hurriedly seek for something to eat. Good thing, Mirze (my blockmate who is also a "local", since she grew up there) and her family were so hospitable in reserving and treating us in Caffe San Marco of Hotel Venezia!

Although Legazpi City hasn't reached its full potential in terms of development, you will be able to see some great structures (e.g. houses, hotels and establishments) around. One of those is Hotel Venezia. Here's a cool snapshot of the hotel:

Outdoor dining area of Caffe San Marco

I just realized that this is the side where Caffe San Marco is located, and this photo shows the outdoor dining area.

Hotel Venezia Lobby

The hotel, by looking at the lobby, is not very much magnificent, but it is more than decent enough as a place to stay if you ask me. Anyway, it will take you only a few walks from the lobby before you reach Caffe San Marco. This is the place where we had our first meal in Legazpi City.

Caffe San Marco

This restaurant, found in Hotel Venezia, features cuisine inspired by Italian flavors (mixed with some of our own cuisine) crafted from the freshest and most seasonal ingredients. 

Caffe San Marco: Dining Area

Caffe San Marco is not half as bad. In fact, I found the place comforting and cozy enough as if its giving me a warm welcome hug.

Rice and 4 varieties for main dish

This may not sound great, but Caffe San Marco offers limited variety for the buffet. However, Mirze mentioned that this is just common in all restaurants offering buffest. Plus, on the average buffet around Legazpi costs only around P250 which is already a great bargain. Oh, just to give a little proof on that, the lunch buffet in Caffe San Marco is P250, and the same is true for Waway Restaurant (another known buffet restaurant in Legazpi).

We arrived there nearing 2:00 pm which may explain why there wasn't much left on the buffet table (the buffet ends at about 2:30 pm). Luckily, we were still able to try everything that was there.

Fresh and savory appetizer on a soup spoon

This delicate appetizer is very much memorable in terms the taste (fresh raw tuna with spices). Sadly, I wasn't able to take note of the name.

The Pasta Station: Fresh from Chef

The good thing about this place is that it still offers freshly cooked pasta despite the affordable price via the pasta station.

The desserts selection: simple yet good enough

Alright, of course, Caffe San Marco wants to complete your dining experience just like other buffets, so here are some desserts for you: brownies and fresh fruits.

Now, this is what I initially picked for my first round:

My first meal in Legazpi - Caffe San Marco!

Both the Beef Caldereta and Beer-Battered Fish were amazing, but hands down to the caldereta. It was the ultimate winner! You will appreciate the play of flavors in this dish, since the taste of beef, cheese, spices and veggies jive up pretty well . It reminded me of one great experience wherein I tasted the best caldereta ever!

I won't focus on the taste of each dish because Caffe San Marco serves varying dishes daily, but I think it is sufficient for us to know that they provide great dishes!

This wraps up this blog post! However, check out all my upcoming blogs because I still have a lot to share regarding my Legazpi Travel Experience!

RATING OVERVIEW

Caffe San Marco (July 3, 2013) by Renz Cheng
Place:  
Taste:
Service:
Price: 
Overall Experience:  4

Caffe San Marco
Hotel Venezia, Renaissance Gardens,
Washington Drive, Legazpi City
Contact No.: +63 (52) 481-0888 or (02) 661-8888
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Celebrating Troy James Palanca's Birthday in Legazpi City

July 2, 2013, 4:55 am

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≪ Previous: CAFFE SAN MARCO of Hotel Venezia in Legazpi, Albay

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This is just a quick post on the day we celebrated in advance Troy's birthday!
During our third day (well for some it was their second) in Legazpi, Mirze mom's prepared an awesome dinner for all of us. That night, we planned to celebrate Troy's birthday as well.

Anyway, I want to grab this opportunity to thank Mirze and her mom for the super delicious supper! It was definitely a blast! We had this salad:

Fresh Salad for Appetizer

Then this fresh and tasty seafood paella:

Seafood Paella

As well as this mouthwatering spare ribs:

Delectable Spare ribs

Let's not forget my ultimate favorite, the "Meat Loaf":

My Favorite: Meat Loaf

This one was definitely the highlight of the night, Troy's mini-surprise celebration:

Troy Palanca's Birthday Cake!

Check instagram for #b12atlegaspi and #b12atlegazpi you will be able to see some of our adventures there. Anyway, today is Troy's actual birthday, so I'll take this moment to greet him.

Happy Birthday to my super awesome geeky blockmate

Troy James Palanca!

Troy Palanca with his airplanes!

You are truly an achiever! Thank you also for being a source of positive externalities. #wink

Let's do our best in our thesis, quiz tomorrow and of course board exam! You rock!

Happy Birthday TJ Palanca! Let's also support his blog: Jumbo Dumbo Thoughts

Watch out for more Legazpi related posts! What is your birthday message/wish for Troy? You may post them below. He will be able to read them for sure.

WAWAY's Restaurant Buffet in Legazpi City

July 5, 2013, 1:01 am

≫ Next: EMONG'S Famous Malunggay Bread in Legazpi

≪ Previous: Celebrating Troy James Palanca's Birthday in Legazpi City

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Lunch Buffet in Waway's Restaurant

In Legazpi, mini-buffets are really popular wherein you will pay only around P250. The downside of this, however, is that you are faced with limited varieties. Waway's Restaurant is one of those restaurants that offer a mini-buffet, and we were able to try it out during our Legazpi Adventure.
Related Post: Caffe San Marco Mini Lunch Buffet

Appetizers

There was a sufficient number of appetizers to choose from which I very much appreciated. However, I found them somehow plain.

Interesting Vegetable Appetizers

Filipino Fried Veggies

Veggie Appetizers

The Main Dishes

There were no less than 12 varieties of dishes for the main course. Freeing the blogger in me, I decided to note them down, so here are the dishes available when we visited Waway's Restaurant: Bopis, Pancit Guisado, Bicol Express, Laing, Gulay na Malunggay, Sauteed Beans, Beef Kare Kare, Green Peas with Quail Eggs, Fish Escabeche, Pusit Guisado and Dinuguan.

The Famous Bicol Express of Legazpi

The photo above shows the famous Bicol Express. However, I didn't dare to taste it because my friends mentioned that it was too spicy, which I may not be able to tolerate well. If you love spicy food, you will definitely find this enjoyable because some of my friends did, so I am considering this as a must-try.

Veggie Dish: Laing

Aside from Bicol Express, Bicol where Legazpi is situated is famous for the pinangat or laing.

A Filipino Specialty: Bopis

One of the dishes I highly appreciated was the Bopis because of the playful flavors.

Pusit Guisado

Waway's Pork Dinuguan

The Not-So-Awesome Beef Kare-Kare

I got excited when I saw that Waway was offering Beef Kare-Kare because it is my all-time favorite among Filipino dishes! Too bad I got pretty disappointed with this one. It was tasteless even you put Bagoong. It was probably the most unsatisfactory Kare-Kare I ever tasted.

Grilled Chicken

Grilled Liempo

Between the two grilled dishes, I prefer their Liempo because of its juiciness, unlike the chicken which I found somewhat dry.

Lechon in Waway's Restaurant

Desserts

Another source of disappointment was the lack of desserts selection. Will you believe that this is the one thing they got?

Limited desserts in Waway's Buffet

Drinks

Drinks are not free. You will need to pay up additional P30 for bottomless drinks, and you can choose between iced tea, orange juice and coffee.

Add P30 for bottomless drinks

If you want an affordable mini lunch buffet you may want to check Waway's Restaurant. However, do not keep your hopes extremely high. Otherwise, you might get disappointed. 

To bright things up and to conclude the blog post as well, here are the top 3 dishes I recommend for you to try when you visit Waway's: (1) Bopis; (2) Bicol Express and (3) Grilled Liempo

RATING OVERVIEW
Place:  (very casual looking)
Taste:
Service: No sufficient basis 
Price: 
Overall Experience: 
Note about the rating: These scores are based on this experience alone, 
as well as the food that I had during this time. 

WAWAY'S RESTAURANT
Home of Seafood and Native Dishes
Bonot, Legazpi City
Albay, Bicol
Contact No.: (052) 480-8415

EMONG'S Famous Malunggay Bread in Legazpi

July 5, 2013, 2:15 am

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This is just a quick post on Emong's famous Malunggay pandesal (bread). When we visited Legazpi, we were able to try out some pandesal from Emong's Bakery on one fine morning. One small bite was enough to make us all fall in love with this "manna from heaven".

Fresh from the bakery: Emong's Pandesal

According to my friend Troy, the malunggay bread costs P2 each, and every piece is served fresh and warm.  It is definitely tantalizing to feel the warmth as you hold it and catch a waft of the mouthwatering aroma.

Emong's famous Malunggay Bread

The taste and texture of the bread was somehow comparable with that of Pan De Manila's; however, this is more unique considering the added malunggay. The good thing about this pandesal is that the taste of the malunggay was just subtle, making you enjoy more of the other fresh ingredients! That day when we had Emong's Malunggay Bread,  I found the best pandesal to date! 

When you visit Legazpi, make sure you won't miss trying Emong's famous Malunggay Pandesal Bread.

EMONG'S Malunggay Bread
Legazpi City, Albay

DJC HALO HALO in Legazpi City, Albay

July 6, 2013, 7:18 am

≫ Next: RAZON'S of Guagua and its Famous Halo-Halo

≪ Previous: EMONG'S Famous Malunggay Bread in Legazpi

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DJC Halo Halo in Legazpi near Pacific Mall

DJC Halo Halo is a famous place for the heat-quenching Halo-Halo! The store is located in Landco Business Park which is only a few meters away from the Pacific Mall. If you are planning to visit Legazpi, make sure to drop by the place. They are really bragging about their "creamy, delicious, home-made Halo-Halo".

The Place 

The place is casual enough to make you feel comfy, but it still a bit disorganized with all the boxes around. However, what you may find comforting is that DJC is air-conditioned; hence, you won't be battling with the heat as you enjoy the Halo-Halo!

DJC Halo Halo Branch in Legazpi

The Halo-Halo Experience 

DJC's Original Supreme Halo-Halo (P85):

This Halo-Halo contains an ube ice cream, crushed ice, ube, leche flan, mais, gulaman, mini sago, saba and cheese. 

Fueled with Passion: DJC  Original Supreme Halo-Halo

Unlike Razon's Halo-Halo which is prominent for its simplicity in terms of the number of ingredients, DJC is known for the ultimate and unique flavors of varying ingredients. While this may be favorable for some, it may be the opposite for a few.

Admittedly, I was able to enjoy the first few spoonful, but because of the complexities of flavors, it became overwhelming at some point. In order to avoid this, try to have someone to share with. As for the taste, what I find somehow unique was the addition of the grated cheese, since it made the overall flavor interesting. However, what I didn't like was the excessive sweetness probably brought about by a lot of sweet ingredients. Nevertheless, I was able to appreciate it.

Here's a photo of me with the DJC Halo-Halo:

Renz Cheng (me) with the DJC Halo Halo!

This pretty much sums up my blog post! If you'll ask whether it is recommended, I say YES! Variety is good, so I'm sure you will enjoy this treat from DJC!

DJC Halo Halo
Landco Business Park, Legazpi City
(near Pacific Mall)
Albay, Bicol

Menu and Prices of DJC:

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RAZON'S of Guagua and its Famous Halo-Halo

July 6, 2013, 7:18 am

≫ Next: Legazpi City Travel Guide - Food Trip, Places and More

≪ Previous: DJC HALO HALO in Legazpi City, Albay

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Razon's of Guagua in SM Manila

Razon's, a Filipino specialty restaurant originating from Pampanga, became well-known because of its signature Halo-Halo and Pancit Luglug.

A Brief History of Razon's

Razon's store started as a mini-stall or "refreshment parlor" at the Razon residence in L.M. subdivision in Guagua. Due to the simple yet excellent taste of the halo-halo, the store became extremely popular through word-of-mouth. Today, they have no less than 20 branches all over Metro Manila.

Below is a photo of one of the branches found in SM Manila.

Razon's Halo-Halo - SM Manila Branch

The Halo-Halo Experience

Razon's Halo-Halo (P98):

This halo-halo features a "simple yet excellent mixture of only three choices of ingredients, sun-ripened saging na saba, macapuno and leche flan with dayap rind traditionally cooked to perfection."

Razon's famous simple yet amazing Halo Halo

I really love the overall simplicity of Razon's Halo-Halo. If I were to describe the taste, I will oddly say "honest" because of its pure heavenly goodness. The presence of only 3 main ingredients make you focus on the uniqueness each can offer. Everything dances well in harmony creating a memorable halo-halo experience.

Another thing that I really appreciate regarding the halo-halo of Razon's is the quality of the crushed ice. You will enjoy how it smoothly and easily melts in your mouth.

Trivia: Korea has its own version of our halo-halo, and Koreans call it Bing-Soo.

Love in a glass - Razon's Halo-Halo!

Overall, I was able to feel the love in the halo-halo I had, and I am proud to say that this is the best halo-halo I tasted so far!
Related Post: DJC Halo Halo - another famous place for halo-halo in Legazpi

Halo-Halo Experience:



Razon's of Guagua
Unit 145 UGF SM City Manila
cor Arroceros, Manila
Contact No.: (02) 353-7381

Legazpi City Travel Guide - Food Trip, Places and More

July 10, 2013, 8:01 am

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A Friendly Travel Guide for Legazpi by A Not-So-Popular Kid

Legazpi City is known to be the home of the famous cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, but aside from this, there are a lot of fascinating places to visit, as well as food to enjoy in this simple yet fantastic city in Albay, Bicol. In this blog post, we will be exploring these opportunities!

For a more convenient reading experience, I just included the photos of the places and restaurants I visited. If you find them interesting, you may want to click on the photo to bring you to the specific blog posts where more details can be found. 

Start of a Journey in Legazpi

This is where your adventure will begin to unfold:

The Legazpi Airport: Start of a Journey

You will be surprised by how simple everything seems in Legazpi, but I'm sure you will enjoy its cleaner air and refreshing environment!

Outside the Legazpi Airport where memorable experiences begin

Last page update: July 10, 2013

Places to Visit
Just click on the photo to read the blog post about it.

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Lignon Hills

Misibis Bay Resort

Cagsawa Ruins 

Mt. Mayon (ATV)

Legazpi Food Trip

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Caffe San Marco

The Oriental Hotel - Cakes

Four Seasons

DJC Halo Halo 

WAWAY Lunch Buffet

Emong's Bread

Small Talk 

Colonial Grill

Pili Nuts (Souvenirs)

To check all the restaurants and food places in Legazpi that I already blogged about, you may check them out by pressing the button below:

Start exploring Legazpi! 

Enjoy and share your favorites below!

Desserts in The ORIENTAL HOTEL of Legazpi City

July 11, 2013, 7:23 pm

≫ Next: ALBAY PILINUT Food Souvenir Shop Since 1936 in Legazpi

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Overseeing the city - The Oriental Hotel in Legazpi

The Oriental Hotel is one of the popular hotels in Legazpi because it enables you to see the city lights at night. Since where the hotel stands is somehow elevated, you will be seeing something like this in the lobby alone:

City Lights View from The Oriental Hotel

If the view of and from the outside are already awesome, you will be more amazed by the inside. The hotel features a minimalist (in terms of the colors and architectural designs) theme while making it seem classy enough to catch the eye.

Interesting architectural design of The Oriental Hotel

The Hotel Restaurant

We checked out the place for the sake of visiting it and to get some cakes for our desserts (we had our dinner in Smalltalk). It was a nice that we decided to drop by because it felt so relaxing being in the place not to mention how peaceful it was just to sit there and chat with friends.

Dining area of the restaurant in The Oriental Hotel

You can easily find the restaurant in the lobby, because all you need to do is face left as soon as you enter the hotel. Due to the fact that it was already past dinner when we visited the place, the place looked rather empty.

Anyway, to enjoy much of the fresh breeze of Legazpi, we agreed to enjoy our cakes outdoor.

Outdoor Dining Area of the restaurant in The Oriental

About the Service
There was a slow to no response at all when we visited the restaurant, and apparently they have low sensitivity to customers' needs. In fact, it took more than 10 minutes before the cakes were served, while all they have to do is to slice the cake, put it on a plate, and serve it up with a smile. Hmmm..
(And did I mention that the place seemed empty when we visited?)

The Cakes

We only had 2 cakes (which by the way costed P100 each) to share among us during that time because we were already full. The first cake we chose was the Chocolate Caramel Cake:

Chocolate Caramel Cake of The Oriental

This cake was almost awesome because it was not too sweet yet the chocolate goodness was there. However, it had issues on the texture wherein it lacked both the smoothness and freshness. Also, the caramel taste wasn't felt

The next one we had was the Mango Shortcake:

Mango Shortcake of The Oriental Hotel Photo Source: Nathaniel Chan

This cake was definitely better than the first one because it had less issues than the first. My friends also said that they liked this one more saying that the mango taste was there and the level of sweetness was just fine.

The Experience

Overall, it wasn't that bad despite the not-so-good service and satisfactory cakes because we really enjoyed the first few moments eating the cake, plus we all loved how serene the place was. I suggest that you visit the place only at night, unless you are planning to book for a stay in this hotel.

The Oriental Hotel - Restaurant
Taysan Hill, Sto. Niño Village,
Legazpi City, Albay,
Contact No.:  (02) 994 5644

ALBAY PILINUT Food Souvenir Shop Since 1936 in Legazpi

July 13, 2013, 8:04 am

≫ Next: SMALLTALK Restaurant in Legazpi City - Casual yet Fancy

≪ Previous: Desserts in The ORIENTAL HOTEL of Legazpi City

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Albay Pilinut: Food Souvenir Shop in Legazpi

It has been a tradition that when we go out on a vacation, we buy souvenirs for ourselves and, of course, for our families and/or friends. This often times create a bit of a hassle because you don't know what to purchase and where to purchase them. Luckily, in Legazpi, there is one popular place for food souvenirs - Albay Pilinut Store.  According to my friends who are from Legazpi, this store is one of the top choices when it comes to purchasing affordable yet tasty delicacies.

The Store

There isn't anything fancy about the Albay Pilinut Store itself, since it just looks like a home with shelves and products. What's somehow interesting about it, however, is that it resembles an ancestral house bringing back the old Filipino architectural feel. 

Choose among a wide range of food souvenir products in Albay Pilinut

As soon as you enter, you will be seeing a lot of products to choose from ranging from Filipino dishes in a jar to the famous pilinuts.

Other specialties - Filipino dishes in a jar

Pilinuts

Prices:P70 for 10 pcs || P80 for 85g || P250 for 230g (as of June 2013)

Aside from the Mayon Volcano, Legazpi, or Bicol in general, is famous for the pilinut - a unique type of nut that is so tasty and crunchy. In Albay Pilinut, you are given a lot of varieties to choose form such as crispy pil with honey, pili butternuts (my favorite), salted pili, sugarcoated pili and more! 

Pilinut collection in Albay Pilinut Store

Here are more photos of the amazing pilinuts:

More variants of the Pilinut which come in different sizes

Polvoron and Mazapan de Pili

Prices: P70 for Polvoron || P80 (80g) and P150 (160g) for Mazapan de Pili

Polvoron de Pili, Mazapan de Pili and Pili Butternut of Albay Pilinut

I don't highly recommend the polvoron because it was just plain, and the flavor of the pilinuts were negligible. Although I enjoyed it, I was still looking for something else in its taste which is probably the taste of milk (since it does not contain any).

Mazapan

Mazapan is a confection made of ground pilinuts mixed with egg whites, sugar and milk

For the Mazapan, I was completely surprised because I know from my previous experience that I didn't like how it tasted. The texture was uniquely rough due to the crushed pilinuts, and even if the texture was like that, it still is highly enjoyable because they managed to make it soft enough to find delight in.

Well, this concludes this blog post, but check out all my other Legazpi-related posts by clicking on the Legazpi Travel and Food Collection button below.

Albay Pilinut - Food Souvenir Shop
873 Rizal St., Old Albay District
Legaspi City, Albay, Albay

Contact No.: (052) 481 1161
Store Hours: 7:00am - 7:00pm (M-Sa)
                      8:00am - 6:00pm (Su)

SMALLTALK Restaurant in Legazpi City - Casual yet Fancy

July 14, 2013, 6:32 am

≫ Next: PERICO'S Canteen in DLSU St. La Salle Building

≪ Previous: ALBAY PILINUT Food Souvenir Shop Since 1936 in Legazpi

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Smalltalk Restaurant in Legazpi City

Smalltalk is a popular dining place in Legazpi that showcases authentic local cuisines of Bicol. By looking at the place from the outside, it will seem like a carinderia, but don't be fooled because when you enter, you will be surprise how quaint yet cozy it truly is.

Casual on the outside, fancy in the inside

The Place 

As mentioned, the place features an old-fashioned interior, mixed with bits of modern touches. Plus, it looks very inviting and warm, ultimately making you feel like home. In addition to this, it features some traditional Filipino elements which induce interest about the Filipino Heritage and probably history too.

The Filipino inspired interior of Smalltalk with a modern twist

You will notice in the photo that there are a lot of people who patronizing Smalltalk. This is because Smalltalk is already one of the fancier restaurants around.

Locals are also fond of dining here in Smalltalk

The Service 

Although the staff is really accommodating, the lack of speed in providing their service was a total downer. It took so long before the dishes were served, probably around 20 to 30 minutes. Luckily, we weren't totally hungry that time, because if we were, we could have lost our patience.

Photos and antique collections in Smalltalk

The Food 

The food was not that excellent and noteworthy (except for some), and they weren't even photogenic at the least. However, I still appreciate it because I was able to taste something different from the usual dishes I eat. Let me share with you those we had that time.

Appetizer - Pizzettes (P120)

Tiny pizza crusts with four dips: pesto, red sauce, pinangat and Bicol express

The Starter: Pizzettes with four sauces

Neglecting the issues on food quality (i.e. temperature and texture), this dish definitely a source of great taste adventure. Order this and you will be given the opportunity to experience four flavors in one simple dish! Hence, this is definitely a must-try!

Bicol Express Pasta at P105

Smalltalk's famous Bicol express in pasta with alamang and sili sauteed in garlic & spices

Despite being totally unphotogenic, this Bicol Express Pasta was just fine. The level of spiciness was kept at an enjoyable level which made it fun to dig into.

Bicol Express Pasta of Smalltalk

Tuna Tomato Pasta at P120

Pasta with fresh tomato and tuna sauteed in olive oil

Nothing totally special about this dish, it was just your ordinary tuna pasta with tomatoes. At this point, it became obvious that Smalltalk really lacks presentation.

Tuna Tomato Pasta of Smalltalk

Pili Basil Pasta (P120)

Pasta with garlic, special pili and fresh basic cooked in olive oil

This is what I personally had, and it broke my heart! It was oily and bland wherein the "special" pilinuts didn't make any difference at all. On top of that, it was served slightly cold already. I felt the lack of passion in cooking this dish, considering that it could have been super when executed well!

"Specialty dish" of Smalltalk: Pili Basil Pasta

Beef Stroganoff at P140

Pasta in white sauce with tenderloin beef

This is just one of those dishes which will make you say, "It's just okay - tastes like what we have at home" which is way better than saying "The taste is just so-so, and I think my mom can cook this better."

The ordinary Beef Stroganoff Pasta

Grilled Squid at P175

Squid marinated in barbecue sauce and grilled into its finest

Despite the squid being slightly chewy, I was able to appreciate this dish because of the fine taste. In fact when I focused on the taste, I eventually forgot about the texture since it was that good. And just like what is mentioned in the menu, the barbecue flavor was distinct.

Even if it seemed like the food was okay, I still got disappointed (considering that I didn't keep my hopes up that much). The dishes would be better if they could have just improved on the quality. Having that said, I believe that the lack of quality really overshadowed the potential of each dish we had.  I would have left home truly heartbroken if not because of the good ambiance and music of the place.

Commendable Dishes

1. Pizzettes - this affordable appetizer is perfect for taste exploration because it comes with four dips that you will find interesting.
2. Bicol Express Pasta - you will be able to try the what's Bicol is famous for, uniquely through a pasta dish. It's very interesting, and the level of spiciness is tolerable. 

What We Should Have Ordered

1. Cordon Blue - According to my friend from Legazpi, the Cordon Blue is highly recommended. In fact, she orders this dish most of the time. Unfortunately, it was out-of-stock when we dined there, so it must be indicative of something great. 
2. Pizza Dishes - Based on other reviews I've browsed through, the pizzas of Smalltalk are really amazing, which may indeed be true because they offer unique pizza dishes such as those with Pinangat - a blend of taro leaves, chili, meat and coconut milk. 
3. Steaks - My friend who visited Legazpi said that they were able to try Smalltalk, and he liked the steak so much! 

Smalltalk Cafe
Doña Aurora St, Legazpi City
Albay, Bicol
Contact No.: (052) 480 1393

Menu and Prices:
 

PERICO'S Canteen in DLSU St. La Salle Building

July 19, 2013, 3:28 am

≫ Next: FOUR SEASONS Chinese Restaurant in Legazpi City

≪ Previous: SMALLTALK Restaurant in Legazpi City - Casual yet Fancy

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The Perico's Canteen in De La Salle University

A Brief Story

If you are a student of DLSU, by now, you should have tried dining in Perico's canteen, or at least know that it exists. Just in case you don't know (especially for 113 students), Perico's replaced the Animo Canteen just this academic year. In fact, this news became viral and somehow controversial because the former canteen had been there for quite a number of years already. Anyway, looking at the bright side, this was also good news since we are now offered with new and exciting variety of dishes.

Trivia: You may still enjoy some of your old favorites from the Animo Canteen in the food stalls located in the Br. Bloemen Hall (replacing the Zaide Canteen) such as the queggs, squid balls, Jamaican patties and more.

The Food

I haven't actually tried a lot of dishes in Perico's because I normally eat with my friends, and they are often reluctant to have lunch there. Fortunately, there was one time when everyone was too lazy to go out of the campus, and so we ended up here. (I only have two dishes to share as of now, but I will update it as soon as I try more, so you may want to check back once in a while).

The On-the-Go Food
If you are in a hurry, you may prefer having those that were cooked by batch process. The offered dishes change daily.

The Freshly Cooked Ones
As an alternative, you may want to have something that will be prepared upon order. Of course, you will need to wait for these dishes to be served up. Most of the students' favorite are of this type.

The Korean Beef Tapa (P110)

Korean Beef Stew for P110

 It looks great right? It was my friend, Myles, who ordered this, and I just asked for a small portion, so that I would have an idea of how it tastes like. Here's what he said about the Korean Beef Stew: "Malasa naman yung Beef Stew pero medyo matigas yung meat at malitid kaya mahirap nguyain." And I agree with this.

Do I recommend it? Well, still yes because of its awesome taste and aroma, but if you put high premium on texture, you may want to skip this.

Beef Tapa (Tapsilog) at P95:

The Best Seller Beef Tapa at P95

I was having a hard time trying to figure out what I want, so I asked a crew what is their best seller. She recommended the Beef Tapa, and giving my trust to the lady, I decided to go for it.

It wasn't a bad decision, because I got to enjoy this meal! The taste of the tapa was what I really prefer - tasty and somehow sweet. However, the only issue I had the tapa was the same with the one above - the texture, brought by the presence of much litid (tendon).

Well then, do I recommend it? Still yes especially if you love the semi-sweet version of Tapa, besides, it is relatively affordable when you compare it with that of offered by Tapa King. However, I still prefer the Tapsilog of RAP Steaks and Cakes because it is served with 2 eggs, and the price is just the same at P95.


For now, this concludes my blog post about Perico's, but when I get the chance, I will be updating this.
Share to us what you think are great dishes we should try by commenting below!

FOUR SEASONS Chinese Restaurant in Legazpi City

July 21, 2013, 3:12 am

≫ Next: ADOBO CONNECTION in Archer's Place, Taft Avenue

≪ Previous: PERICO'S Canteen in DLSU St. La Salle Building

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Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant in Legazpi

For our last day in Legazpi, we were again generously treated by our block mate and his family in the Four Seasons Restaurant, which I heard is a famous restaurant catering to the locals’ (and occasionally tourists’) craving for Chinese dishes.

The Place  

Interior of Four Seasons Restaurant Source: Four Seasons Restaurant

By the time we entered, I immediately felt the Chinese theme of the restaurant from the tables and chairs, color combinations, dish offerings and more. Hence, you will indeed feel the Chinese authenticity of the place. However, while the place integrated modern Chinese elements in the designs, you will still feel the Filipino culture and the warm, familiar hospitality offered.

Four Seasons Restaurant and its Happy Customers

The Food  

As mentioned, we didn't pay for the dishes we had, and because of this, I wasn't able to take note of the prices. Well, I tried searching online but I failed. There weren't any sites listing the menu and prices of Four Seasons Restaurant. All I was able to find out is that the prices are about over a hundred (P100). Anyway, I shall now present the dishes we had!

Fried Lumpiang Shanghai

Lumpiang Shanghai of Four Seasons Restaurant

The lumpia featured the infused taste of both Filipino and Chinese cuisine. It may not be that super special, but you will definitely love how it will meet your expectations – crunchy, tasty and good! Yeah, you should order one when you get the chance to.

MUST TRY: Seasons Chicken

The Famous Seasons Chicken of Four Seasons - a must try!

If Binondo has the famous Sincerity Chicken, well Legazpi has its very own Seasons Chicken which is equally good or perhaps better in terms of taste. The difference between the two is that the latter also comes with a special sauce that will emphasize the goodness of the chicken. In case you don't have any idea, the chicken tastes sweet and salty at the same which will playfully tickle your taste buds.

Crab Omelette

Crab Omelette of Four Seasons Restaurant

If you want to enjoy a crab without the hassle of breaking the shell and having a hard time with it, you may want to order this. The ingredients are fresh so you will definitely find the taste great. What I really like about this dish as compared with other similar dishes I had was the absence of excessive oil and "lansa".

Seafood-dish-that-I-forgot-the-name-of

Seafood in Special Sauce of Four Seasons Restaurant

This was something I easily forgot, probably because it is a common dish to order in Chinese restaurants which means I tasted something similar quite a number of times already. I failed to ask the name of the dish, or if I did, I forgot. However, what I can distinctly remember was the smooth texture of the fish which indicates great quality.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed this blog post! You may check out my other Legazpi-related posts by clicking on the Legazpi Travel and Food Collection button below.

Legazpi Four Seasons Restaurant
Magallanes St., 4500 Legazpi City
Albay, Bicol
Contact No.: (052) 480 7530
Store Hours: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Facebook Page: Four Seasons

Other Branch:
2/F Food Plaza, Pacific Mall,
F. Imperial St. Cor. Circumferential Rd.
Legazpi City

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ADOBO CONNECTION in Archer's Place, Taft Avenue

July 21, 2013, 7:23 am

≫ Next: ABABU PERSIAN KITCHEN in Leon Guinto near Taft Avenue

≪ Previous: FOUR SEASONS Chinese Restaurant in Legazpi City

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Adobo Connection in Archer's Place, Taft

Adobo Connection certainly became an instant hit among Lasallians because it now has two branches along Taft Avenue. The first one is in the Archer's Place, while the second one is in the University Mall, both located in the second floor. Personally, I got excited when it first opened, but I lost that enthusiasm just weeks after. I don't know if I consider it lucky or not, but we just ate recently there because my friends voted for it (yes, we usually try to vote for the place where we will eat - majority wins).

The Place 

I'm personally not a fan of the place. I find it dreary, poorly lit and uncomfortable. Due to this, I am forced to include Adobo Connection in the list of last restos around Taft I'll dine in.

Part of the interior of Adobo Connection in Taft

The Service 

I was fairly disappointed during my last visit because of the high inaccuracy of my order. I was eyeing for the affordable meal named Mama's Sweet Chicken Adobo (see photo below) which is inclusive of 1 chicken part and Adobo rice (P79). However, I was surprised when she was asking for P99 for that order. I thought they changed prices, but I paid anyway. Afterwards, I found out that they have a Kanin-All-U-Can Meal with the same name, and that is what the lady thought I want.

I didn't make a huge fuss about it, but the question here is why didn't she clarify my order especially that they have the same name for two types of meal. Frankly, it was supposedly forgivable, but what I hated was her rude and sarcastic response - she was rubbing in my face that I was the one who got it wrong - that I didn't specify my order. She said, that I should have ordered for an "Affordobo Meal of Mama's Sweet Chicken Adobo".

Affordobo Meals Source: Adobo Connection FB Page

The bad service didn't end there, it was hard to get the attention of the staff, and so it was inconvenient because you need to wait a while before your rice gets refilled. My rant can go on forever, but let's just cut it short here, and proceed with the food.

The Food 

Now, I was only able to have 2 dishes. The first one was the Kanin All U Can Mama's Sweet Chicken Adobo (yes, apparently, you need to call it like that or else you may end up being wrong) valued at P99. The difference between this and the affordable meal is the portion of chips, the additional chicken part and the rice. It was indeed somehow sweet, but still the overall taste didn't seem so fantastic (but it wasn't bad either).

Mama's Sweet Chicken Adobo at P99 and Sopas at P19

In addition to my first order, I also added a side dish of sopas at P19 which was quite affordable. Luckily, I enjoyed the taste and quality, but it was not enough to compensate for my not-so-great dining experience.

Anyway, I don't recommend the Sweet Chicken Adobo, but you may order up the Sopas. Also, if it is your first time in the restaurant (or even if it's not),  I suggest the Adobo Flakes. That is way better!

I'd like to hear from you. How was your experience?

Adobo Connection
2/F One Archer's Place
Taft Avenue, Manila

ABABU PERSIAN KITCHEN in Leon Guinto near Taft Avenue

July 24, 2013, 4:56 pm

≫ Next: SAMGYUPSALAMAT Korean Restaurant near Taft Universities

≪ Previous: ADOBO CONNECTION in Archer's Place, Taft Avenue

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Taft people are starting to become foodies - those who are very enthusiastic about food exploration. This is why a lot of entrepreneurs see this as a great opportunity. You will notice that around Taft, there had been a surge of new restaurants. Good thing I was able to try one just yesterday - Ababu Persian Kitchen!

Ababu Persian Kitchen in Leon Guinto near Taft

The Place

Just like what appears in the photo below, the place is more like casual, which is totally fine. However, the only problem with the place based on our visit was that the air-conditioning unit didn't seem to help out in making the temperature cool enough for us to be highly comfy. (Well, I hope that gets fixed soon).

Friendly note: Ababu Persian Kitchen is near the Providence Tower.

Interior of Ababu Persian Kitchen filled with Customers

The Food

Beef Kabab Rice Meal (P109)

Charbroiled Ground Beef served with egg, sweet corn, chopped tomatoes and onions, rice topped with butter and bottomless drinks

Beef Kabab Rice Meal of Ababu Persian Kitchen

Although slightly saltier than it should be, this dish offers satisfactory, to great, taste depending on your preference. What's unique about this dish, as compared with that of the Persian Grill, is the presence of sweet corn.

The good: Affordable, bottomless iced tea, fried egg

The bad: Saltiness, un-photogenic

Keema Rice Meal (P109)

Sauteed beef served with egg, sweet corn, chopped tomatoes and onions, rice topped with butter and bottomless drinks

Keema Rice Meal

Looking like an ordinary "giniling", this Keema Rice Meal is actually fine. However, I still think it's a bit salty, and not to mention, oily.

The good: Affordable, bottomless iced tea, fried egg

The bad: Saltiness, oiliness

Tipid Meal - Shawarma Rice Bowl (P49)

Oven roasted sirloin beef with rice

Tipid Meal - Shawarma Rice Bowl

I wasn't completely happy with my order (Beef Kabab Rice Meal), but I thought I just had the wrong order. Hence, I tried the shawarma, as well. To my surprise, it just tasted like my previous order. Alright, don't get me wrong because I'm not saying the food didn't taste great. All I'm saying is that the taste didn't seem to match my palate.
The good: Affordable (P49), generous serving of the beef
The bad: Bland-looking, lack of variation

Summary

The Overall Good: Price, Service (attentive and friendly staff), Bottomless drinks for the value meals
The Overall Bad: Distance (for DLSU students), considerably boring sauce
The Overall Not-So-Good: Taste, appearance
Recommendable? To try, yes! To dine-in frequently, maybe.
Better than Persia Grill? Possibly not.

Ababu Persian Kitchen
Leon Guinto corner Estrada St.
(near DLSU, St. Scho and DLS-CSB)
Store Hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 daily

Menu and Prices of Ababu:
 

SAMGYUPSALAMAT Korean Restaurant near Taft Universities

July 26, 2013, 4:02 am

≫ Next: HAPIPOTUMUS Opens Up in Burgundy Transpacific Tower along Taft

≪ Previous: ABABU PERSIAN KITCHEN in Leon Guinto near Taft Avenue

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Samgyupsalamat: Korean Pork BBQ Restaurant near Taft

Samgyupsal is the Korean term for pork belly. The owner of the place probably decided to add Filipino touch to it, and merging the term "salamat" with it. Hence, we have the Samgyupsalamat which if we translate correspondingly, we'll get Pork Belly Thank You.  Sensible, corny or funny? What do you think? 

The Place

In case you are wondering where will you find this place, you may scroll down below and take a look at the map. However, if you aren't that eager to know, let me proceed with my insights about the place.

Interior of Samgyupsalamat Korean Restaurant

By looking at the photo, you will notice that this part of the restaurant makes an effective use of natural lighting, which I very much appreciate. However, it is apparent that the place isn't much Korean-inspired (although there are some elements of Korean theme integrated). The owner probably wanted to put more weight on the practicality and simplicity of the restaurant. Also, since the place will cater to students, he probably thought that they would want it casual enough to be highly comfortable.

Anyway, what I love about the place is that they also have private rooms for customers, coming in a larger group (e.g. 8-10 people); hence, you can be silly with your friends without worrying of being judged by others.

Special Promos

If mere food exploration does not entice you much, maybe the special promo would. Check out the promos below:

Check out the unli promo of Samgyupsalamat!

The Happy Hour

It was odd that they named this "Happy Hour" because you usually associate it with drinking. Anyway, I think they call it that way because freebies make us happy. Free rice may not sound so convincing, but if you'll order it there, it will cost you P30. Similarly, that's the price you'll "save" when you avail of the promo.

The Food

Alright! Let's start exploring by starting with the appetizers. With a minimum order of two (2) Samgyumsal Meals, you will be given a set of appetizers consisting of three small dishes: the Kimchi and two other ones I forgot the name of. 

Side Dish of Samgyupsalamat: Spicy veggies

Korean Kimchi - one of the free appetizers if you order two Samgyupsal Meals

I forgot to take photo of the other one, but to give you an idea it tasted and looked like the Filipino Atsara. Anyway, the taste of these appetizers were fine, but there was some point where the spiciness was too much for me to handle.

Now, let's proceed with the main dish we ordered, but you need to forgive me because I wasn't able to completely remember the names. Also, since we were subject to budget constraint, we just ordered the minimum meal in order to take advantage of the free appetizers.

Beef Sirloin (P280)

Beef Sirloin at P280 in Samgyupsalamat

Samgyupsal Pork Belly (P200)

Samgyupsal Pork Belly

Pork Belly grilled in front of you!

It's hard to really differentiate the taste of the pork and beef because usually it depends on how good the sauces are that go along with these grilled meat. Luckily, I really enjoy the taste of the sauces (i.e. benchmarking with that of the sauces in Maru Korean Restaurant), which made me appreciate what I had.

Time to feast!

Lunch in Samgyupsalamat - Korean Cuisine experience!

Evaluation and Suggestions

Place:  
Taste:
Service:(Staff must smile more)
Price: (Pricey for students)

Do I recommend the place? Well, definitely yes!

In order to take advantage of the promos, I suggest that you group yourselves into 4 or 5. Order 2 of the Samgyupsalamat Meal, then order extra rice. With this, you will spend around P100-P150 each depending on your chosen meals. However, take note that you will not be entirely full, but your thirst for food exploration may be satisfied.

How to get there?

It's very easy to find the place. Use the map above to guide you. If you are coming from either St. Benilde or St. Scho, exit via Leon Guinto St. and just walk straight then turn right after the WWW Tower. If you are coming from DLSU, you may want to pass by Burgundy Tower (which is supposedly prohibited), then walk straight head, you will notice it by the signage.

Love Korean Dishes?
Check out my post on MARU - Korean Restaurant.

Samgyupsalamat - 삼겹살라맛
911 Kapitan Tikong St.
Corner, Leon guinto St.
Malate, Manila
Store Hours: 10:00am to 12:00am (Daily)

HAPIPOTUMUS Opens Up in Burgundy Transpacific Tower along Taft

July 27, 2013, 5:18 am

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The Hapipotumus Logo

Adding to the pool of new restaurants, Hapipotumus recently opened its first store in the 2nd floor (or strictly speaking, the mezzanine) of Burgundy just this July. This food place offers us our usual pinoy favorites such as tapa, sizzling plates and more! Let's explore!

Hapipotumus is located in the 2nd floor

The restaurant can accommodate up to about 30 people, while still preserving some space for comfort. The downside, however, since Hapipotumus is just new, is the difficulty in getting a seat during lunch.

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The Food

Judging from the menu, we can tell that Hapipotumus focuses on Filipino favorites, and best sellers according to the crew are the Tapang Tapat (P99) for the unli rice category and Double Porkchop (P69) for sizzling plates category.

Best Seller of Unlimited Rice Meal Category - The Tapang Tapat:

The 'best-seller' Tapang Tapat of Hapipotumus

This Tapang Tapat is already inclusive of the tapa itself, atsara, fried egg and unlimited rice. It features a salty and saucy taste of Tapa which some may dislike depending on their preferences. Personally, I didn't fully appreciate it because I'm more inclined to the sweet version of tapa.

Oh and now, I realized that we have a growing list of Tapsilog to choose from: Tapa King, RAP Steaks and Cakes, Perico's, Agno, Hapipotumus and more!

Best Seller of Sizzling Category - Double Porkchop:

I also tried the other best seller (or recommended by the staff so to speak), which is the Double Porkchop. This dish includes the double porkchop drenched in a special gravy sauce and the unlimited yellow rice. Three words for this dish: savory, affordable and okay! 

In terms of the taste, I prefer this over the Tapang Tapat, and considering the price, this is definitely a winner! Hence, this is recommended over the Tapa.

Hapipotumus in a Nutshell

Overall, I find the restaurant a bit of a lackluster because I didn't find something very unique and special in these two "best sellers" (although, I appreciate the Double Porkchop) - what more the other dishes right? But, I don't want to make a hasty conclusion, so I'm giving it another try soon. I know I may sound discouraging, but don't be. Go try it out, and share your insights here!

Lastly, hit on the share button if you want your friends to know about this place.

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Hapipotumus
Mezannine, Burgundy Transpacific Place
Taft Avenue, Manila
(Near De La Salle University)
Menu and Prices:

1ST COLONIAL GRILL - Home of Sili Ice Cream in Legazpi

July 28, 2013, 8:42 am

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≪ Previous: HAPIPOTUMUS Opens Up in Burgundy Transpacific Tower along Taft

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The 1st Colonial Grill in Legazpi City

The 1st Colonial Grill became famous due to the unique dishes they offer, especially the famous Sili Ice Cream. This unique dessert dish garnered some awards and was featured quite a number of times already in magazines, TV and more! Luckily, we were able to try dining in this restaurant when we visited Legazpi for a block vacation. Anyway, I'll make this post quicker by immediately proceeding with the food.

The Food 

Presented below are some of the dishes we had, when we visited the place. 

Note about the Prices

Since we were again treated by my block mate's family, I wasn't able to take note of the prices. However, I tried checking online, and found a menu back in 2012. I used these prices, but they may not be that accurate now (i.e. if they changed their prices). 

For our appetizer, we had this Sweet Meat Quesadilla (P70):

Appetizer: Quesadillas of 1st Colonial Grill

This quesadilla tasted like the typical ones we have - cheesy, tomatoey and tasty! What's notable about this dish is the price, but that's only if I got it right.

Tinapa Fried Rice at P199:

Fried rice with tinapa flakes, salted egg matched with tomatoes and manggang hilaw

Signature Tinapa Fried Rice of 1st Colonial Grill

This Tinapa Fried Rice is one of those dishes 1st Colonial Grill is well-known for. It looks vibrant in the photo, and the great thing is it is just as awesome when you taste it! Also, what I particularly love about this is its authenticity as a Filipino dish, that you'll surely notice.

Buko Chopseuy (P179)

Best selling Buko Chopseuy of Colonial Grill

Another unique dish of 1st Colonial Grill is the Buko Chopseuy. The taste of ordinary chopseuy is there, but it was made more exciting with the buko (coconut meat). The ingredients are fresh, so you'll really appreciate this vegetable dish. Also, since it was my first time to have something like it, I found it really delightful.

Pork Sisig (P185):

A Filipino Favorite: Sisig

This Pork Sisig tastes like the usual ones we enjoy; however, what I think is different is the subtle crunchiness of the sisig. 

Related Post:Chorizig of Relik Tapas Bar in Taguig

Grilled Mussels (P195):

Seafood Goodness: Grilled Mussels (Tahong)

I am huge fan of Seafood, so I was able to appreciate this one, although I was able to note that it had some issues with the texture - perhaps it was overcooked. Anyway, this dish features grilled mussels topped with cheese, garlic bits and spring onion.

Crispy na Pata (P525):

The Vibrant Crispy Pata

First off, I would say that this dish is rather expensive; however, considering the huge serving and good proportion of meat, it becomes somewhat okay to order. As for the taste, well, I can't seem to differentiate it with other crispy pata I had. Nevertheless, it was good.

Now, let's proceed with the main event - the dessert! This is what actually made them famous, so I expected a lot from it. Anyway, here you go: Homemade Ice Cream (P79) of 1st Colonial Grill:

3 scoops choice of the following flavors - sili, malunggay, pili and tinutong

The famous Sili Ice Cream, with the other two homemade ice cream - Pili and Tinutong!

The Sili ice cream was sweet and the spiciness was just an aftertaste. The Tinutong flavor was also unique, since it captured the burnt rice taste.Among the three, my favorite is the Pili flavor, even if there was no uniqueness about the taste as compared with the other two. Overall, the ice cream was able to meet my expectations, or maybe topped it a bit. Thumbs-up for this dish!

Alright, there you have it! The 1st Colonial Grill Restaurant! I know it is popular and often never fails to be part of the to-visits of every tourist, but after eating there, I understood the reason why.

Recommended for you to try:

• Buko Chopseuy (P179)
• Tinapa Fried Rice (P199)
• Homemade Ice Cream (P79)

Want more exciting places to eat in Legazpi?

Check out the Travel and Food Collection!

1st Colonial Grill

1/F Pacific Mall, F. Imperial St. 

Cor. Circumferential Rd. 

Legazpi City, Albay

Contact No.: (52) 481 1213