Tsinoy Foodies

It's been awhile since we had ramen so the family decided its finally time to try the famous Ramen Nagi at their recently opened SM Mall of Asia Branch.

According to my little sister, this branch is way smaller than their pioneer branch at SM Aura.

I don't mind the lack of space though. I felt the humble interiors depicted the typical vibe of an authentic ramen house in Japan.

There were enticing pictographs on its wooden walls.

Each table had a set of condiments.

Leaf Mustard or Takana

Garlic

There's also a Garlic Crusher ready on the table.

Food

Original King (Butao) (390 php)

The Original King (Butao) is an award-winning tonkatsu pork broth topped with Chashu, and Kikurage. My sisters who preferred light-tasting ramen chose this as their favorite.

Original King (Butao) Omotenashi Sheet

What differentiates Ramen Nagi from other Ramen places is this Omotenashi Sheet that allows you to customize your ramen.

Red King (Akao) (410 php)

The Red King (Akao) has a miso-infused ground pork ball and chashu floating in the center of the rich red broth blended with garlic, cayene pepper and chili oil. I loved this!

Red King (Akao) Omotenashi Sheet

The Red King (Akao) has a default spiciness of 5 so the spicy level you add will be in addition to that. I advise not to put the level too high because there's a chili oil on the table anyway. I had my firmness "Extra Hard" but it came out to b softer than my siblings "Normal".

Black King (Kuroo) (410 php)

The Black King (Kuroo) is blackened by calamari ink. It also has a minced pork ball, chashu, kikurage and sesame. I found the broth too flavorful to finish but something good for a first try.

Black King (Kuroo) Omotenashi Sheet

In choosing the pork, belly is better is you want it tender and chunky. While, shoulder if you want it soft and thin like ham.

Green King (Midorio) (410 php)

My top pick among the 4 is the Green King (Midorio). It's a tonkotsu broth mixed with basil and olive oil topped with Chashu, grated parmesan cheese and Kikurage.

Green King (Midorio) Omotenashi Sheet

For ramens that are already spiced infused like the Red King and this, we opted for Cabbage as the vegetable. It worked better for us.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Ramen Nagi offers ramen variants unlike any other ramen places. It's truly a must-try for ramen enthusiasts like me. I like the customization scheme. They also have the Limited Kings which varies from month to month that you can try. The service is superb. They have more than adequate staff who will assist you in any possible way. They also serve complimentary cold and hot tea.

However, the Limited Kings and other side dishes are not yet available at the SM Mall of Asia during out visit.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ramen Nagi Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ramen Nagi
Branches	SM Mall of Asia Ground Floor, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia Pasay City, Metro Manila SM Aura 5/F SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway cor. 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10 am-9 pm (Mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-800
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 501-0000
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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Cupcakes by Sonja is one of the pioneers of cupcake shops here in the Metro. Its success has quickly paved way to many branches sprouting like mushrooms. They cupcakes has also become one of the popular food items in a party.

Mini Cupcakes
I recently attended a party with a mini cupcake buffet. I was told by the host that the mini cupcakes are made to order at a minimum order of a dozen with 4 days advance notice.

I think the mini cupcakesare a good idea because it allows you to try more flavors and makes each cupcake easy to finish.

Dessert Comes First, ♥ Peppermint Patty, Vanilla Sunshine and Bunny Hugger Carrot

The Peppermint Patty is a Valrhona dark chocolate cupcake topped with peppermint frosting.

Bunny Hugger Carrot

The Bunny Hugger Carrot is a moist classic carrot cupcake hinted with cinnamon and topped with cream cheese icing.

♥ Lemon Drop, Mocha Motion and PB & J

The Lemon Drop is alight vanilla chiffon cupcake covered in sour lemon buttercream frosting. The Mocha Motion is a chocolate cupcake topped with a dollop of frothymocha buttercream on top.

Chocolate Surprise

♥ Red Velvet Vixen

The Red Velvet Vixen is their best seller! It is the traditional Southern Red Velvet cupcake made with Belgian cocoa and topped with luscious cream cheese icing.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cupcakes by Sonja is sure to please guests in any party. With so many flavors to choose from, I'm sure one will fit your sweetness preference. They continuously make new flavors too.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Cupcakes by Sonja Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Cupcakes by Sonja
Branches	Serendra G/F Serendra Piazza Bonifacio Global City Tel. (02) 915-2936 Glorietta 2/F Glorietta 2 Bridgeway Ayala Center, Makati Tel. (02) 625-4884 Rockwell P1 Level Power Plant Mall Rockwell Center, Makati Tel. (02) 949-8046 Shangri-La Plaza L/G East Wing Shangri-La Plaza Mandaluyong Tel. (02) 955-1073 Rustans Fresh G/F San Antonio Plaza Forbes Park, Makati Tel. (02) 915-2936 Greenhills Shopping Center G/F The Promenade Extension Greenhills, San Juan Tel. (02) 394-5440 Robinsons Galleria 2/F Robinsons Galleria Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City Tel. (02) 570-3993 TriNoma 2/F TriNoma Quezon City Tel. (02) 901-3092 SM North EDSA 2/F Main Building SM North EDSA Quezon City Tel. (02) 373-0340 SM Manila Garden Level, SM City Manila Ermita, Manila Ayala Fairview Terraces G/F Ayala Fairview Terraces Quezon City
Business Hours	10 am - 9 pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Budget/Person	50-400
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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It's been two years since my first visit at Krazy Garlik so I'm looking forward to try their new dishes. This time, I dined at their branch in Greenbelt 5.

It has a cozy appeal to it.

These Krazy Garlik dolls are so cute, I want to take one home!

Food

Appetizers

Creamy Garlik Hummus (295 php)

The Creamy Garlik Hummus is a garlicky version of my favorite middle eastern dish: hummus. I loved it!

Salad

♥ Roasted Tomato Salad (495 php)

The Roasted Tomato Salad with its mesclun greens, roasted tomatoes, dried figs, feta cheese, cashew nuts, olives, croutons and garlic vinaigrette is delicious! This had a splendid mix match of flavors and textures.

Main Course

Garlik Oxtail and Chorizo Paella (495 php)

The Garlik Oxtail and Chorizo Paella is not your traditional paella. It's got chunks of oxtail and chorizo together with roasted galic, red bell peppers, black olives and onions. The toppings made it savory but the flavor and texture of the rice just didn't define it as a paella for me.

Oxtail and Chorizo Stew (495 php)

Well, the Oxtail and Chorizo Stew isn't a new dish as I've tried it two years ago. But, I remembered liking this dish so here it is again. I also noticed that after two years, their dishes prices are still the same. ;)

♥ Garlicky Cripsy Pata To Share (695 php)

Another dish which I liked two years ago is the Garlicky Cripsy Pata. I think you'd agree that it's difficult to resist a perfectly crispsy and tender crispy pata right?

Desserts

Krazy Mess (295 php)

For dessert we had the Krazy Mess which is strawberry ice cream topped with frozen raspberry, nata de coco, whipped cream and home-made meringue. This is so lusciously good but very sweet so I'd advise this for sharing.

Affogato Trifle (295 php)

The Affogato Trifle is not as extravagant as the Krazy Mess but coffee lovers like me will appreciate this more. It's vanilla ice cream with coffee jelly, whipped cream and meringue poured over with a hott espresso shot.

Drink Me

♥ Pretty in Pink (105 php)

I'd say they had a very big makeover with their drinks. Not only was it significantly lower in price, the taste is better! I'm now a fan of the Pretty in Pink. I didn't know that strawberry, guyabano and honeyed garlic could that this good!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I'm happy that Krazy Garlik has new offerings that garlic lovers like me will surely look forward to try.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Krazy Garlik Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Appetizer \| Salad \| Main 1 \| Main 2 \| Main 3 \| Main 4 \| Veggies \| Pizza \| Pasta \| Rice \| Desserts \| Drink 1 \| Drink 2 \| Alcohol \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Krazy Garlik
Branches	Krazy Garlik Promenade 2nd Level, New Wing, Promenade Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila (02) 650-3733 Krazy Garlik Makati 2nd Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila (02) 501-3752 to 53 Krazy Garlik Resorts World 2nd Level, New Port Mall, Resorts World, Pasay City, Metro Manila (02) 621-7148 to 49 Krazy Garlik Alabang Town Center Ground Floor, Town Plaza, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila (02) 659-3392 to 93
Business Hours	10 am - 9 pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,000
Free WiFi	Yes (same bistro password)
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Website

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Choice Buffet Restaurant is our family favorite when it comes to an authentic Korean grill (bbq or bulgogi), hot pot (shabu-shabu) and buffet. But, they are not limited to Korean, there are Japanese dishes as well.

We've been coming back to this place since it was first established many years ago. My family actually prefers this over the more popular Yakimix. We've always felt that this place is underrated by many perhaps due to lack of marketing.

Each table has its own table-top electric stove for the hot pot (shabu-shabu) and a griller.

Food

Korean grill (bbq or bulgogi) Station

They have a wide range of marinated meats.

The only problem we usually encounter when dining here is not knowing which is which. I've been hoping they put a label on each item...

What we love about their meat is that you can choose how much marbling you want unlike other buffets where meats offered are more on fats than meat.

My Grill Plate

Have your grill buttered from time to time so your food won't burn easily...

Hot Pot (Shabu-Shabu) Station

The hot pot (shabu-shabu) station is massive in terms of variety but don't expect much for the quality of the fish cakes, squid balls and fish balls. I recommend the fresh mussels, seafoods and vegetables from this section especially the shitake mushrooms.

My Shabu-Shabu Plate

You can make your prefered the blend of your hot pot (shabu-shabu) broth from these.

Here's my spicy blend

My Shabu-Shabu Bowl Ready to Eat!

Ban Chan Station

They also have an assortment of ban chan (korean side dishes) which you can eat with your grilled dishes and also add to their Make-Your-Own Bibimbap section.

My Banchan and Grill Condiments.

Salad Station

Sashimi, Kimbap, Sushi and Maki Station

You can request for Salmon Sashimi or Tuna Sashimi.

They also have Kimbap, Kani Sushi, Tuna Sushi, Salmon Sushi...

and California Maki.

Cooked Korean and Japanese Dishes Station

Ddeokbokki (Korean Rice Cakes)

Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

Ebi Tempura

Eggplant Tempura

Pajeon

Fish Tempura

Pork Katsu

Fried Spring Roll

Fried Rice

Galbi Jgim, Japchae, Ddeokbokki and Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

These were all delicious especially the Galbi Jgim.

Desserts Station

There are mini cupcakes, marshmallows...

Cake Rolls

and cakes. The Cake Rolls looked like they've been there very long although we were the first customers on a lunch time.

Local version of Pixie Sticks on straw

Ice Cream Station

Big Scoop Ice Cream (Strawberry, Mocha, Chocolate and Vanilla)

Coffee Station

Hot Coffee

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
You're sure to be satisfied and leave with full stomachs when you dine at Choice Buffet Restaurant. It's a must-try affordable Korean grill, hot pot and buffet.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Choice Buffet Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Rice Toppings: 150 php Buffet Rates:Monday-Friday Lunch Buffet: 490 php Dinner Buffet: 580 php Saturday, Sunday, Holiday Lunch Buffet: 580 php Dinner Buffet: 580 php
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Choice Buffet Restaurant
Business Address	Hobbies of Asia Macapagal Blvd. Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11:30 am-2:30 pm Dinner: 5:30 pm-10:30 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	150-600
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 804-0729
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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A few months ago, I was in the Bonifacio Global City area when my friend Sumi called me inviting me to go to join them at Koko Buri at Forum South Global.

I usually google about restaurants prior to visiting them so I have an idea about what food they are offering. But since this was an impromptu spur of the moment thing, I didn't know what to expect.

I was surprised that it occupied a large area and the interior were really grand.

It caters to both big and small groups with private function rooms even.

Food

Appetizers

Chicken Popcorns (190 php)

Only when I saw the Chicken Popcorns on the table did I realize that it served Korean Fried Chicken. These little poppers were fun to eat.

Dori Dori (260 php)

But, I enjoyed the superb crunchy coating and softness of the fish meat of the Dori Dori more the the former.

Chicken Meal (served with rice and salad)

Chili Garlic Chicken Meal Lunch (175 php) *photo credits to thepurpledoll.net

They offer the Chicken Meals in two sizes: lunch and dinner (bigger). We liked the crispy and the juiciness of the Chili Garlic Chicken but found the spiciness inadequate especially when the menu indicated it with a spicy level of 3 chillies.

Pasta

♥ Fettucci di Koko Buri (380 php)

The Fettucci di Koko Buri is a hit amongst us. I've never had healthy asparagus cream pasta this good!

Pizza

Primavera (455 php)

The Primavera is a fully-loaded crispy thin crusted pizza with ground beef and pork, green and red bell peepers, mushroom, onions and olives.

Sizzling Pots

♥ Nagasaki Champon (595 php)

The Nagasaki Champon is a really hot pot... hot meaning spicy! =) It was even spicier that the Chili Garlic Chicken. It's a huge bowlful that's good for 6-8 persons. It has five kinds of seafoods: squid, clams, mussels, alimasag (tiny crab) and shrimps. It also has bean sprouts, cabbage, scallions and udon noodles so its really heavy on the tummy. As a spicy lover, I loved this!

Beverages

Natural Carrot and Apple Slush (140 php)

The Natural Carrot and Apple Slush was too light for my liking... It would be better if it had more carrots.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Koko Buri is an upscale place for Korean Fried Chicken and more. The price is quite reasonable given its impressive ambiance. They also serve imported beers and wines that perfectly soothes its fanciness.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Koko Buri Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Appetizers \| Salads \| Fried Chicken \| Chicken Meal \| Sizzling Pots \| Pizza \| Pasta \| Rice \| Beverages \| Imported Wines and Beers \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Koko Buri
Branchees	Fort Bonifacio 2/F Forum South Global Bldg., 7th Ave. cor. Federacion Dr., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila (02) 565-5446 Pavilion 4, Jose Abad Santos Highway Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga (045) 499-5656 Tierra Linda Bldg., Gapan Olongapo Road, San Fernando City, Pampanga (045) 436-5656 Harbor Point, Rizal Highway Subic Bay Gateway Park, Olongapo City, Zambales (047) 250-2968
Business Hours	Mon-Thur and Sunday: 11am-12am Fri-Sat: 11am-2am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	5%
Budget/Person	150-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Website \| Facebook Fan Page \| Instagram

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When I was in high school, there are only three items I buy from our school canteen: 1. Snowy (it's a cheaper version of 7-11's Slurpee) 2. Ersao Spicy Squid 3. Ersao Fruit Shake. The Ersao 二嫂 Spicy Squid is a family favorite even my mom likes it. She occasionally requests us to buy her some so she can eat it whenever she picks us up from school.

That was a very long time ago so imagine our glee when we saw an Ersao 二嫂 branch open here in Malate just a few blocks from home. They also have a free parking area. We couldn' help but reminisce our high school days so we paid it a visit.

Unlike a stall in school, it is a full-blown restaurant which adopts a pay-as-you-order system.

Food
They now have more menu selections including rice meals but most of them are not available. We managed to order every Rice Topping that was available.

Rice Toppings

Spicy Chicken Rice (85 php)

The Spicy Chicken Rice is good. It was crunchy, peppery and tender on the inside. But, I still think that these are better off eaten as snacks.

♥ Spicy Squid Rice (85 php)

The Spicy Squid Rice is still the winner for us. It's exacty as I remembered only a bit tougher to chew. But next time,I'll just have it as a snack.

Taiwan Sausage Rice (110 php)

The Taiwan Sausage Rice is not a bad option either. It's more suitable with rice the the former two because it was more savory.

Pork Chao Fan (120 php)

The Pork Chao Fan is a bit expensive given the toppings...

Noodles

Beef Kamto Noodles (100 php)

The Beef Kamto Noodlesis comes with bokchoy and beef bits. It's served warm and the flavor is just right. The size is just not as fulfilling as I hoped.

Drinks

Blended Green Tea

Yakult Green Tea Regular (65 php)

The Yakult Green Tea was a bit bland for our taste.

Freshly Brewed Milk Tea

Rose Milk Tea (105 php)

The Rose Milk Tea is a bit pricey. I kind of remembered their drinks to be cheaper. Taste-wise it was fragrant so I enjoyed it.

Shake Float

♥ Avocado Shake Float (115 php)

The Avocado Shake Float is an upgraded version of my favorite Avocado Shake. This is so heavenly! If only it wasn't loaded with so much calories, I could have this everyday. It has a vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, pearls, nata and super creamy avocado fruit shake. I highly recommend this! But on guilt-conscious and budget-conscious days, I can settle for the Avocado Shake. =))

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Ersao 二嫂 is a good stop-over for affordable Taiwanese snacks and drinks especially their Fresh Fruit Shakes.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ersao Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ersao
Branches	MALATE Unit A Ground floor University Tower Malate, Pedro Gil St. Malate, Manila, Metro Manila BANAWE #668 Banawe Street, Quezon City Delivery: 409-7172 / 408-9665 BANAWE MAUBAN 213 Banawe Street, Brgy Manresa Quezon City Tel no.: 385-5069 WEST AVENUE 93C West Avenue, Barangay Bungad, Quezon City Delivery: 376-6610 ABAD SANTOS #1300 Jose Abad Santos Cor Padre Algue Delivery: 253-3707 SM STA. MESA —MEZZA Aurora Blvd., Mezza Residences Unit WS 121 Delivery: 560-3650 E. RODRIGUEZ #82C E. Rodriguez Brgy. Dona Aurora Senior Avenue Quezon City Delivery: 516-8168 / 411-1114 ST. JUDE MALACANANG #1439 Dr. Jose P. Laurel Street, San Miguel Manila. Delivery: 516-7228 PANAY SCOUT BORROMEO #7Q and 7R Scout Borromeo Street, Quezon City Delivery: 414-1543 GREENHILLS, GRANADA #13-14 Granada Sy. Brgy Valencia corner Santolan Quezon City Delivery: 781-3393 / 781-3303 GREENHILLS, XAVIER #4 Madison Street, Greenhills, San Juan Tel. no.: 386-4917/ 486-2405 GRACE CHRISTIAN GRACE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Tel. no.:425-6378 DOñA M. HEMADY NEW MANILA - #84-B Doña M. Hemady New Manila Quezon City Delivery: 727-2828 WILCON VISAYAS Visayas Ave, Quezon City Delivery: 391-6905 MARIKINA #36 Lilac St. Rancho 1 Corner Hacienda Heights Conception 2, Marikina City Delivery: 948-1833 ORTIGAS PEARL DRIVE Delivery: 664-9700/ 586-1739 EASTWOOD 3rd Floor cyber & fashion mall, Eastwood, Quezon City NAGA CITY SM Naga City FS4 LAGUNA Southwoods Laguna CEBU CITY 3rd Floor JCentre Mall, Mandaue City, Cebu Tel No.: (032) 260 2747
Business Hours	9:30 am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	60-300
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Website \| Facebook Fan Page

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Ever since the news broke last year that Tim Ho Wan, Hongkong's Michelin-Starred Restaurant will be opening at SM Mega Fashion Hall, practically everyone I know got excited about it.

It's not as large as I thought but they have tables outside to cater to more diners. And, there is are seating areas for waiting customers too.

They currently have ten Hongkong Chefs during the opening phase. And, six will stay on as permanent chefs to assure the same quality as its other counterparts. They import everything from the sauces to the dimsum skin.

Food

Big 4 Heavenly Kings

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

I advise that you adopt a no sharing policy with the Baked Buns with Pork BBQ! I initially expected it to be similar to the Baked Bo Lo Bbq Pork Bun of Crystal Jadebut it wasn't. It was more crumby than soft and chewy.

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

The 145 php price for 3 pcs. of Baked Buns with Pork BBQ is quite a steal!

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

The crust of the Baked Buns with Pork BBQ is so deliciously crumbly that it collapses delicately on your mouth with every bite. Best eaten with your hands just like what I did. =)

Steamed

Prawn Dumpling (160 php)

The Prawn Dumpling is also known as the hakaw or my most favorite dimsum! This is the best I've tried so far because of the perfect dimsum shell.

♥ Steam Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp (120 php)

The Steam Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp is an upgraded version of the Prawn Dumpling which spinach and crunchy turnips.

Rice

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

The Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf is very fragrant. We could smell it even before opening.

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

Upon opening, it had stick rice with lots of toppings inside: mushroom, pork and blood sausage.

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

Drinks

Cold Barley Water (50 php)

I had Cold Barley Water for drinks which was a refreshingly sweet complement for the dishes I had.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I'm very happy that we now have Tim Ho Wan here in Manila. The quality is superb and the pricing is reasonable. I'll surely come back to try more of their offerings. I can't wait for the SM Mall of Asia and glorietta branches to open.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Tim Ho Wan Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Tim Ho Wan
Business Address	SM Megamall Fashion Hall (Megamall D) Julia Vargas Ave cor. EDSA Wack Wack, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Business Hours	12pm-9pm (last call)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	150-500
Free WiFi	Yes (SM WiFi)
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact
Other	Website

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Whenever my friends find out that I have a food blog, most of them would say I'm lucky for having tried so many food establishments. Truth be told, it's the dishes I don't blog that I'm most grateful for. On most days of the week since childhood, our dishes at home are cooked by mom from the freshest and healthiest ingredients which she buys from the nearby market on a daily basis.

Another question I am usually asked is what is my favorite dish. I always just smile because I don't think anyone would believe me if I told them, it's simply my mom's steamed okra and fried pampano. =))

And mind you, cooking is probably the least my mom has ever done for us. And, we, as her children have and will always show her how much we love her for that.

For our pre-mother's day dinner celebration, my siblings and I thought really hard on treating her to establishments she deserves. We decided that a French dinner which we rarely have would be fitting. Thus, I suggested Brasserie Cicou by Chef Cyrille who is nicknamed Cicou. I've visited this on the 18th of February three years ago and since then I've been wanting to take the family here to try.

The interiors are as I've remembered it to be, an excellent fusion of elegance and comfort. The lamps are made of wine glasses and wine bottles which was artistic but in a refined way.

There's a loft which board games. My siblings played chess here while having an after-dinner coffee.

There are pastries and spreads for sale at the Delicatessen.

Food

Complimentary Bread Basket

I've read a lot of raves about the Complimentary Bread Basket but when we tried it, it was not as spectacular as we expected. It was thinly crusted so it was quite crisp and flaky on the outer while soft and chewy on the inside. It was good but not beyond comparison as exclaimed to be.

Appetizers et Snacks

♥ Beef Carpaccio (488 php)

When the Beef Carpaccio was served, we all had the same silent expression which I assumed to be "Wow! That's a lot of fine meat right there." It was a heavenly as it looked. My mom and siblings, who are rarely enticed by meat dishes, couldn't help but eat like carnivores.

Les Soupes
We had our soups split into two because we intend to order more solid offerings.

La Soupe a l'Onion (330 php) *NOTE: this is only half serving

The La Soupe a l'Onion is a very good rendition of the classic onion soup covered in melted cheese.

♥ Prawn Bisque, Sea Urchin Flan (390 php)

All the soups we tried were awesome. But, my favorite among them would be the Prawn Bisque, Sea Urchin Flan. I'm very pleased that mom approved of this as well!

Mushroom Soup (310 php)

The Mushroom Soup received the least praise but only because it was more common that the rest. The bold flavors of the mushroom were enhanced by the cream base.

Salades-Sandwiches

Chef Cicou Salad Single (330 php)

Salad is my mom's favorite course so we ordered the Chef Cicou Salad. It had croutons, greens, onions, gruyere cheese, dried tomatoes, egg, chicken and ham. It was really good!

Les Pates

♥ Seafood Ink Pasta (510 php)

We really didn't expect the Seafood Ink Pasta to be as it is. It was like a lasagna with black layer of pasta covered in melted cheese and drenched in creamy sauce with bits of prawns, fish, mussels and clams. It was fantastic!

Poultry

Chicken Breast Fillet (498 php)

I thought the Chicken Breast Fillet looked and sounded plain but I was proven wrong. The chicken was moist and very tasty. The pasta was cooked al dente. This is one of the most precisely cooked pasta, I've ever encountered.

Beef

♥ Onglet Poele (650 php)

The Onglet Poele is one of the best pan-seared US hanging beef tender I've tried! We had it cooked medium and it was cooked precisely so. It was also served with thick potato fries and romaine salad.

Fish

♥ Asian Sea Bass a la Plancha (610 php)

The Asian Sea Bass a la Plancha is another hit among us! The mix match of flavor and texture is light but outstanding.

Dessert

♥ Kougn Amann au Cinnamon (330 php)

For dessert, we had the Kougn Amann au Cinnamon which is aboslutely the best Kouign Amann in the Metro! We indulged ourselves over this sweet laminted pastry is covered in cinammon sugar and topped with vanilla ice cream.

Coffee

♥ Decaffeinated Coffee Lavazza (120 php)

It's my first time to be acquianted with Lavazza, an Italian espresso coffee brand. Well, I loved it! The Decaffeinated Coffee Lavazza was a very soothing after-dinner coffee.

Delicatssen

♥ Vanilla Canelle (20 php) and ♥ Madeleine (15 php/each)

We really bought some Vanilla Canelle and Madeleine for take home snacks because they were so tiny and cute. But upon tasting them, I found them to be the most ist and soft ones I've ever tried.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Thanks to Brasserie Cicou, I've appreciated French cuisine like never before. The service is excellent. The food quality is definitely worth of the price you pay for.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Brasserie Cicou Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2 Specials\| Desserts Drinks \| Delicatessen
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Brasserie Cicou
Business Address	57 Annapolis Street, Greenhills San Juan, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Tues-Saturday 12pm-11pm Sunday: 10:30 am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-2,000
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 661-9200
Other	Facebook Fan Page \| Website

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I've become quite fond of Chef Chris Locker so naturally, I wanted to be among the first to check out Recess by Chef Chris.

The facade doesn't give much hint of what's in store.

Well, there's a bar which is a bit retro don't you think?

Then there's this really cool dining area which you can pefertecly describe as "so highschool-ish". There are lockers, black boards and brick walls. The other rooms are used as function rooms.

The ceiling has elements on them.

Food

Complimentary Bread

Salads

Recess Salad (390 php)

The Recess Salad has greens, alfalfa, orange slices, grapes, caramelized almonds, apple, cherry tomatoes drizzled with grape seed oil. This is a really good salad so I enjoyed it.

Originals

♥ Platinum Full (790 php)

Of course, the main purpose of every meal prepared by Chef Chris is his panizza which in this case is referred to his "Originals". Although I'm not quite fond of pizzas, I react adversely towards pannizas. In fact, the family has dined several times at My Kitchen by Chef Chrissolely for them. I noticed that the price is the same here.When I tried the Platinum, I once again had that "wow" moment. This is a very savory and meaty variant because of the angus beef and bacon. The pineapple, tomato and mushroom brings a milder tone of flavor giving it a balanced taste.

♥ Magnesium Full (790 php)

The Magnesium is more inclined to the Filipino palette because of the sweet and salty flavors. It has pork barbecue, tomatoes, slated egg and kesong puti.

Pinoy Originals

♥ TiTo Full (790 php)

The TiTo is ideal for breakfast because it it's our favorite breakfast meal turned into a panizza. It has smoked bangus bits, tomatoes, salted egg and red onions.

Aside from the Pinoy Originals, they also have other breakfast items which they served all-day starting 7 am.

Burgerland

♥ Recess 70:30 (480 php)

The Recess 70:30 is a one of a kind of burger that will surely mark a lasting impact. It's a 200 gram burger with 70% angus beef and 30% maple bacon topped with aged cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, golden onion rings and sliced shitake mushrooms. It also comes with fried onion rings and fries.

♥ Recess 70:30 (480 php)

You can already sense the bacon from the reddish color of the patty. Gosh! This is one of the most flavorful, sinful but worthy burger patty I have ever tried.

Vegetarian

Fried Tofu (390 php)

Vegetarian friends, this Fried Tofu is for you. Yes, you heard that right. It's just for you because it's a bit too plain and not worth the price for me. It's Fried Tofu with roasted eggplant, tomato and red onion chutney. On second thought, I'll just share in on the pilaf which has raisins, pine nuts and coriander which is a winner for me.

Fish

♥ Baked Salmon (750 php)

I don't think I've ever encountered any restaurant serving Baked Salmon that thick. This
Baked Salmon with mustard cream sauce served with grilled tomatoes, roasted potatoes and Italian brocolli is one of the best salmon dishes I've tried yet. Despite the size, this was swipe clean with pleasure by yours truly.

Pork

♥ Swiss Style Pork Tenderloin Slices (570 php)

The Swiss Style Pork Tenderloin Slices is one of the most recommended according to Foursquare tips. Well, I have to admit, it is definitely worth to try! The pork tenderloin slices is very tender and the mushroom cream sauce is the perfect complement for it. It is also served with potato roesti and broccoli.

Beef

♥ Special Callos Casserole (510 php)

I've a sucker for any callos dish so pardon me if I'm quite biased in saying that this is very delicious! Again, not a single bit of the tasty and tender Special Callos Casserole was spared by moi.

Lamb

♥ Lamb Korma (590 php)

The Lamb Korma is hailed by the menu as the king of all curries. This dish has lamb shoulder in spicy masala with onion, ginger, lemongrass braised with tomato and yogurt. This is so good that I'd gladly bow down to it or even kneel before it. The spiciness and zestiness is so addictive. The lamb is very tender with no hint of any gamey taste.

Desserts

Special Turon (280 php)

The Special Turon is an upgraded version of the turon as itis topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drenched in caramel sauce. For the price, I'd rather try something else.

Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake (320 php)

The Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake is a moist chocolate cake.

Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake (320 php)

I found this too sweet for my preference. I'm even surprised that this was served with an extra helping of caramel sauce.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Recess by Chef Chris is something new to try! Portions are huge and food quality is superb. I also found the food variety to be plenty so it's set to make a fun food adventure. I actually enjoyed dining here more than the numerous times I dined at My Kitchen. But, the price may be a bit of a set back as it is beyond what the typical pocket money can shoulder especially for a casual or regular dining experience with friends.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Recess by Chef Chris Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu 1 \| Breakfast \| Dessert \| Drinks 1 \| Drinks 2 \| Drinks 3 \| Drinks 4 \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Recess by Chef Chris
Business Address	50 Jupiter Street Bel Air Makati, Metro Manila
Business Hours	7am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-1,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 899-1818
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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A few weeks ago, the family wanted to explore the restaurants at Greenfield District. We discovered the Greenfield District Weekend Market.

Unlike other markets, this one is very spacious. It's not cramped up and has lots of seating capacity too. It has free picnic tables set up and if those aren't enough you can just set up your own picnic blanket on the grass and enjoy the night breeze. I think this is a very great hang out for family, friends and even a nice romantic dating venue.

The best thing about this place is that it's pet friendly. As an owner of 7 dogs, I'm continuously looking for good pet-friendly places and this is one of the best so far.

The music is played by a live band. Anyone can also volunteer to show their musical skills.

There's an organic market with fresh produce, food stalls, tiangge shops and art galleries.

Organic Market

Food Stalls

I've shared about Mac's Deli Original Vigan Empanada before in my Rockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test entry here.

The family bough a fresh Ginger Ale from Stanford x Shaw from 200 php a bottle.

Ginger Ale from Stanford x Shaw (200 php)

This is good for only 7 days because there's no preservatives. It's very good perfect for the summer and a healthier bubbly alternative to soft drinks.

Habib, Primos and Hideout Gastropub has their stand alone restaurant along Greenfield District too.

I've seen this Pick a Pita at the Legaspi Sunday Market too.

I've previously shared about Carlo's Kitchen Crunchy Belly where I tried it at the Best Food Forward back in 2012. It was a first time for the family and they all agreed it was delicious although very sinful.

I look forward to having a picnic with our dogs at Greenfield District Weekend Market soon!

Greenfield District Weekend Market
Business Address	Edsa Avenue cor. Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Business Hours	3pm-10 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	none
Budget/Person	50-200
Free WiFi	No

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The girls at The Foodie Circle, haven't seen each other for quite some time so we made plans to meet-up at Bellini's at Cubao Expo.

Bellini's has been on our wish list for the longest time so it was an anonymous decision. It was actually also my first time to check out Cubao Expo so it was an awesome experience. They were a lot of antique and gift shops in that area.

Based on blog posts and the facade of the place, I thought it was a humble hole-in-the-wall type. But, upon stepping in, I was surprised with its area size and its amazing interiors!

It's as if I was transported to Europe . The walls had magnificent painting and 3 dimensional crafts.

Even the ceiling were not spared.

I promised my friend I'd share this with him so here's a short video tour of the venue.

On top of each white linen covered table is a bell which you can ring to call their servers. We were impressed that some of their servers can speak Italian.

Food

Complimentary Bread Sticks

They also served complimentary bread sticks.

The food took quite some time to serve but the serving size is really big.

Pasta (for fresh pasta add 40 php)

Pasta choices: Tagliatelle, Rigatoni, Spaghetti, Maccherroni, Penne, Fusilli, Farfalle, Ravioli, Tortellini, Gnocchi, Capellini (3 color pasta - add 25 php).

For the pasta, you can choose which type you want.

♥ Pomodoro Gnocchi(250 php)

We had the Pomodoro Gnocchi which we all loved. The tomato sauce is zesty and the gnocchi is so chewy.

Tartufo Funghi con ProscuittoFusilli(360 php)

We all loved the mild Tartufo Funghi con ProscuittoFusilli which is smoked ham with mshroom and cream.. However, the pasta was not cooked right as it was a bit tough to bite.

Risotto/Rice

♥ Risotto Frutti Di Mare (300 php)

I'm not a fan of Risotto Frutti Di Mare because I usually find it too flavorful for me to finish but this one, I enjoyed to the last bit.

Pesce/Fish

Pesce al Forno (1,100 php)

The Pesce al Forno is claimed to be baked local sea bass. We only ordered this because a famous food blogger we all looked up to recommended this on her post. This was good but it wasn't the quality of sea bass we expected for the price. We really regretted ordering this. =( I felt robbed lol.

Pizza

♥ Napoli and Quattro Formaggi Small (300 php)

They allowed two flavors for the small so we chose: Napoli with anchovies, capers and oregano and Quattro Formaggi topped with 4 kinds of cheese. Both flavors were really good! We loved the crunchy thin crust of their pizza as well.

♥ Napoletana and Parmesan Arugula (350 php)

We also tried the Napoletana with tomato, basil, olive oil and oregano andParmesan Arugula with smoked ham and arugula. Just as the other pizza, this was also good. I guess you can't go wrong with their pizzas.

Dolce/Dessert
We were really excited by their menu selections. They even had gelato ice creams on the menu. But, when we asked what was available, we were only left with two choices so we got both of them.

Torta di Arancio (150 php)

The Torta di Arancio is an orange cake topped with marmalade and orange peel. I liked the top layer but the texture of the chiffon is a big failure for me.

Torta di Obama (200 php)

The Torta di Obama is a sweet chocolate caramel cake. This failed in terms of taste and texture too.

Complimentary Sweet Wine

The Complimentary Sweet Wine tasted like cough syrup.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Bellini's is a must try huge Italian hidden gem in Cubao Expo. I highly recommend it. We enjoyed the ambiance so much that we stay here for around 3 hours! The food superb especially the pizza and pasta. Everything was swipe clean as usual. You can opt to skip the expensive fishes and dessert.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Bellini's Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Appetizer \| Salad \| Breads \| Pasta \| Rissoto \| Zuppa \| Meat \| Fish \| Rissoto \| Zuppa \| Pizza 1 \| Pizza 2 \| Dessert \| Whole Cakes \| Gelato Cakes \| Drinks \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Bellini's
Business Address	Cubao Expo, Cubao Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	300-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 913-2550
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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We've been frequenting SM Mall of Asia since childhood so we've tried almost all restaurants there except for Manos Greek Taverna and Italian restaurants which the family isn't too fond of. So, I decided that we go for the former.

It had a blue and white motif like the Santorini in Greece or if local, Thunderbird Resort Poro Point hehe.

The tables have a matching blue and white linen with matching blue wooden chairs. The white walls had blue framed photos of the Santorini.

Food

♥ Complimentary Pita & Tzatziki Dip (150 php)

While waiting for our orders, we were served a Complimentary Pita & Tzatziki Dip. Everyone loved this! Perhaps this is now our Greek favorite dip.

Salad

Pajarya (Beet Root Salad) (140 php)

I don't consider myself to be a picky eater but there are still a few things I don't enjoy eating and these are: 1. stale pandesal 2. dragonfruit 3. beet root. So I was surprised when they served the Pajarya or beet root salad because the family ordered it without me knowing. I tried it and it was just okay for me because I really don't like the taste of beet root but the family was crazy over it.

Dips

Greek Humus (160 php)

The Greek Humus is pretty good. But we liked the Tzatziki better.

Orektikas (Appetizers)

Kolokifthokeftedes (195 php)

The name Kolokifthokeftedes is such a tongue twister right? It's actually just zucchini fritters topped with grated feta cheese. I'm not a fan of fritters but I found this to be quite enjoyable. It's a bit heavy for solo so I advise this for sharing.

Oven Baked Dishes

Moussaka (300 php)

The Moussaka looks and tasted like it was just pre-heated. Ingredient-wise, I think they did it right though.

Arni Fornou (Lamb in Oven) (640 php)

The staffs kept insisting that we order the Arni Fornoubecause it was their best-seller. It was dry and tough that I felt robbed for the price!

♥ Kotopaulo Fornou (Chicken in Oven) (305 php)

The Kotopaulo Fornouwas tender and juicy! How unexpected that this turned out to be better than their best-selling Arni Fornou.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Manos Greek Taverna offers affordable Greek dishes but it's quite food quality is quite disappointing. On the bright side, the service is good and the place is cozy enough to chill with their free WiFi. I heard Manos Greek Taverna is popular in Tagaytay. I wonder if the food quality is the same.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Manos Greek Taverna Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Orektika \| Soup \| Salad \| Dips \| Main 1 \|Main 2 \| Meals \| Promo \| Rice \| Desserts \| Beverages \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Manos Greek Taverna SM Mall of Asia
Business Address	GF, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	3%
Budget/Person	350-1,000
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact
Other

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Since we were little, we would buy Dippin' Dots ice cream whenever we would take a stroll on the malls.

Some malls offer more flavors than the others. You can sample their flavors before you decide which one to
buy. But, if you're using a gift certificate, the staffs wouldn't be as accommodating...

Dippin' Dots SM Mall of Asia

The biggest flavor selection would probably be in Glorietta 3.

Dippin' Dots SM Mall of Asia

There have 6 kinds in total: Ice Cream, Ice, No Sugar Added, Sorbet, Yogurt and Sherbet.

Over the years, we've changed our favorite flavors from Bubble Gumand Sour Blue Razz or sometimes ♥Banana Split and Peanut Butter Chip.

Our Current Favorite Flavors
Since Dippin' Dots is really good but expensive, we always just buy one large cup for sharing. They offer three sizes: Regular, Large and Extra Large. Large seems like a wise choice because it allows you two flavors. The Extra Large with entitle you to three flavors although they don't specifically mention that anymore when you order.

♥ Mint Chocolate and Java Delight Large (165 php)

We've been buying this for so long we experienced the Large cup being sold only at 120 php to 140 php then 150 php. Now it's 165 php!

♥ Strawberry Cheesecake and ♥ Lemon-Lime Large (165 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Dippin' Dots will always be our family favorite ice cream drops because there's no other one like it.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Dippin' Dots Price List
Ambiance	★★★	Regular: 135 php Large: 165 php Extra Large: 200 php
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

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It's been awhile since we had ramen so the family decided its finally time to try the famous Ramen Nagi at their recently opened SM Mall of Asia Branch.

According to my little sister, this branch is way smaller than their pioneer branch at SM Aura.

I don't mind the lack of space though. I felt the humble interiors depicted the typical vibe of an authentic ramen house in Japan.

There were enticing pictographs on its wooden walls.

Each table had a set of condiments.

Leaf Mustard or Takana

Garlic

There's also a Garlic Crusher ready on the table.

Food

Original King (Butao) (390 php)

The Original King (Butao) is an award-winning tonkatsu pork broth topped with Chashu, and Kikurage. My sisters who preferred light-tasting ramen chose this as their favorite.

Original King (Butao) Omotenashi Sheet

What differentiates Ramen Nagi from other Ramen places is this Omotenashi Sheet that allows you to customize your ramen.

Red King (Akao) (410 php)

The Red King (Akao) has a miso-infused ground pork ball and chashu floating in the center of the rich red broth blended with garlic, cayene pepper and chili oil. I loved this!

Red King (Akao) Omotenashi Sheet

Black King (Kuroo) (410 php)

The Black King (Kuroo) is blackened by calamari ink. It also has a minced pork ball, chashu, kikurage and sesame. I found the broth too flavorful to finish but something good for a first try.

Black King (Kuroo) Omotenashi Sheet

In choosing the pork, belly is better is you want it tender and chunky. While, shoulder if you want it soft and thin like ham.

Green King (Midorio) (410 php)

My top pick among the 4 is the Green King (Midorio). It's a tonkotsu broth mixed with basil and olive oil topped with Chashu, grated parmesan cheese and Kikurage.

Green King (Midorio) Omotenashi Sheet

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ramen Nagi Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ramen Nagi
Branches	SM Mall of Asia Ground Floor, South Wing, SM Mall of Asia Pasay City, Metro Manila SM Aura 5/F SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway cor. 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10 am-9 pm (Mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-800
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 501-0000
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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I've been wanting to try Chef Rob Pengson's dishes for the longest time. So since the likelihood of someone asking me out on a date to The Goose Station is close to nil, I decide to dine at his Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar (OTKB) instead.

Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar (OTKB) is strategically located at Bonifacio High Street where many food enthusiast would go for quality food and drinks.

The place has a very cozy vibe with its high ceiling, brick red walls and yellow soft lighting.

Food

Mains

♥ Crispy Pork Belly (550 php)

The Crispy Pork Belly has apple and raisin glaze topped with alfalfa on a bed off mountain rice. It is also served with poached apple and chicken liver parfait on the side. This Crispy Pork Belly is a must try! It may not look like it but it's a fulfilling meal too.

Cheeseburger (395 php)

The Cheeseburger was just okay for me. It looked more delicious than it actually taste. I'd pass up on this for other more interesting dishes.

♥ 200g Hanging Tender Bistecca (945 php)

The 200g Hanging Tender Bistecca is the best dish for the night! It was just "wow!".

♥ Tenderloin Tips (790 php)

The Tenderloin Tips is a more chunky option than the 200g Hanging Tender Bistecca.

Drinks

Refreshments

Fresh Lemonade (120 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
It's no surprise why fellow foodies have been ravings about Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar (OTKB). It's serves comfort food at its finest indeed. As my first time experience with Chef Rob Pengson has been sensational, I want to try more of this dishes.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar (OTKB) Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2 \| Drinks 1 \| Drinks 2 \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Olive Tree Kitchen & Bar (OTKB)
Business Address	B4, 9th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-2am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 823-0366
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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You can probably verify from our "paellas" label that our family is a major paella enthusiast. So our craving for it has recently brought us to Las Paellas Cafe in Greenhills Promenade.

It has an alfresco area for smokers...

and an air-conditioned area. The casual ambiance is very low key and not as classy as other Spanish restaurants in the Metro. It also looks more modern. As I scanned through the menu, I could inferred that it was not authentic Spanish but Spanish fusion cuisine.

There's a chiller with various cakes displays.

Food

Paella Valenciana (1,020 php for 4 persons)

We were surprised when our Paella Valenciana when it was served. First, it was huge for 4 persons! And, second, it was saucy. We thought the pricing is quite affordable. It had lots of toppings too. The let down was the rice variant and the sauce. It was very "nakakumay" to eat. We took half of this for take home. In fairness, it tasted better when we reheated it because the sauce dried up and was absorbed by the rice.

Paella Negra (1,020 php for 4 persons)

We enjoyed the Paella Negra more than thePaella Valencia. But, we all agreed that this paella is not worth the carb intake. Compare to other paellas we tried, this falls among the bottom portion of the list.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Las Paellas Cafe is a so-so paella place where you can settle your paella craving when on a tight budget. On the bright side, the service is very good as the staffs are very friendly and quick to respond.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Las Paellas Cafe Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Soup \| Salad \| Starters \| Paninis \| Pasta \| Seafood \| Chicken \| Carnes \| Spanish Specialties \|Las Paelllas \| Old Manila 1 \| Old Manila 2 \| All-Day Breakfast \| Pizza \| Churros Desserts 1 \| Desserts 2 \|Drinks
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Las Paellas Cafe
Business Address	2/F Greenhills Promenade, Greenhills San Juan, Metro Manila
Business Hours	9am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-600
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 723-7485
Other

Las Paellas Cafe Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

For many years now, Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes has consistently drawn massive influx of diners at theirAyala Triangle Gardens branch. Many friends as well as my little sister has recommended it as a must try. And so finally on one fine evening, we did.

The interiors are cute with a doll house type of motif. The colors used are light and bright.

There is a cake display by the counter.

Pastries are also sold.

There's a candle light on each heavy cement round table.

Food

♥ Super Caesar Salad (120 php)

The Super Caesar Salad was very good. It has everything you are looking for in a good caesar salad. For the price, it's quite a steal.


Grandma's Corn Chowder (80 php)

The Grandma's Corn Chowder was not very warm when served. It has bacon bits, potatoes and corn. It was quite disappointing because it was thick but not as smooth and creamy as I'd hope. It was also tad to salty for my taste.

Entrees (served with seasoned garlic rice)

Banapple Beef & Sausage Stew (195 php)

The Banapple Beef & Sausage Stew appeared and tasted like it was pre-heated. Again, it was not very warm and the thick stew was too salty and peppery for my liking. On the bright side, the meat cubes and sausage slices were tender.

Pasta

♥ Lasagna Roll-Ups (180 php)

The Lasagna Roll-Ups was delicious! Aside from being cooked al dente, its zesty, herby and cheesy flavors are festive for the taste buds.

Herbed-Chicken Rolls in Basil Cream Sauce (185 php)

The Herbed-Chicken Rolls in Basil Cream Sauce reminded me of the classic Cordon Bleu. The basil cream sauce was nice. It complemented the chicken fillet meat, cheese and ham. But, it failed to deliver a crunchy thick breading.

♥ Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs (185 php)

The Hickory Smoked Barbecued Country Ribs is the best one among our orders. Not only did it have the right blend, it was also very tender.

Cakes

Classic Pecan Pie (105 php)

The Classic Pecan Pie was too sweet for us. In fact, we didn't finish it. It has a heavy gooey syrup-y texture.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Honestly, I'm not that impressed with Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes to wait in line for it. I just don't find any of it rave or crave worthy. I wonder if I ordered the wrong dishes or it's because I'm not fond of heavy and thick sauced that's over-seasoned. I'll probably only have their meals for price consideration. The serving portion is huge for the affordable price they are offered.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu \| Menu 2 \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes
Business Address	Katipunan 225 & 206 Katipunan Ave, Blue Ridge Quezon City, Metro Manila Northeast Square 47 Connecticut St. Northeast Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila Ayala Triangle Gardens Ayala Ave, Ayala Triangle Makati City, Metro Manila Il Terrazzo 2/L Il Terrazzo 35 Tomas MoratoQuezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	7:30am-11:30pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	100-300
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 439-2675 (Katipunan) (02) 413-2675 (Tomas Morato) (02) 756-2675 (Ayala Triangle) (02) 477-2675 (Connecticut, Greenhills)
Other	Website \| Facebook Fan Page \|

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Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant has been a common recommendation by family and friends we tried it a few months ago.

I haven't been to a German restaurant for a very long time so I didn't know what to expect. It's been decades ago when I dined at the presently closed down Schwarzwälder in Makati.

It has a stylish pub interior with heavy wooden-polished tables matched with leatherette covered benches. The place was dim so each table was lit with candle light.

Food

Bayrische Brotzeiten (Cold Appetizers)

Brotzeit Brot (Best of Brotzeit) (480 php)

The Brotzeit Brot is german bread topped with leg ham, emmentaler cheese and cream cheese. It also served with red bell peppers, pickles, cocktail onions and egg on the side. This is good because the leg ham was of quality. I'll try to mimic this for a party serving some time.

Platten (Platters)

♥ Brotzeitplatte (Brotzeit Platter) (4-5 pax)(2,500 php)

Since there was 5 of us who will be sharing the meal, we ordered the Brotzeitplatte. It includes a pork knuckle, best sausages, pork schnitzels and 2 side dishes of our choice.

♥ Brotzeitplatte (Brotzeit Platter) (4-5 pax)(2,500 php)

It didn't look humongous on the menu, so we were quite surprised when a long wooden board full of these were served.

♥ Best of Brotzeit Sausages

When you say "Best of Brotzeit Sausages", it's really vague right? It gave me the feeling that what they serve depends on what is available. So we had 1 Pork and Veal Sausages (the white one), 2 Garlic Pork Sausages, 2 Spicy Chicken Sausages, 2 Smoked Pork Sausages and 1 Pork Cheese Sausages. All were delicious!

♥ Pork Knuckle (2,500 php)

The glorious part is the Pork Knuckle. Look at how gorgeous it is with its perfect golden brown crispy skin. The meat was tender and succulent that we all suddenly forget how sinful it was.

♥ Pork Schnitzels

Since I wasn't the one who ordered, I initially thought this was some sort of fish fillet. But upon first slice, I realized it was Pork Schnitzels. This is a very good rendition. The batter is just right and the pork meat is almost pillow soft.

Spatzle

For our first side dish, we had the Spatzle which was buttered. It was a rather dull accompaniment.

♥ Sauerkraut

The Sauerkraut which is braised white German Cabbage was a great choice for side dish especially with the pork knuckle.

This was one of the heaviest meal I've ever had hands down. Maybe we should have asked the staff if they meant German persons or normal Asian persons before we ordered this. =p

Drinks

Biermischgetranke (Beer Mixed)

Russ'n 0.3 ltr (175 php)

Of course, drinkers would want to try their beers so my little sister tried the Russ'n. She seems quite please with her weissbier with lemonade.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant offers a cool German eating and drinking experience. It's a must try if you want to immerse yourself into the German food culture. But, bring some company and prepare to shell out a bit more than customary.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Cold Appetizers \| Hot Appetizers \| \| Salad \| Salad 2 \| Pizza 1 \| Pizza 2 \| Sausages 1 \| Sausages 2 \| Main 1 \| Main 2 \| \| Main 3 \| Soups \| Soups 2 \| Platters 1 \| Platters 2 \| Desserts 1 \| Desserts 2 \| Happy Hours \| \| Alcohol \| Bottled Beers \| Draft Beers 1 \| Draft Beers 2 \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant
Business Address	Street Level Shangri-la Plaza Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Manila
Business Hours	Mon-Thu; Sun: 11am-11pm Fri-Sat: 11am-1pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-1,500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 631-1489
Other

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A few months ago, I was in the Bonifacio Global City area when my friend Sumi called me inviting me to go to join them at Koko Buri at Forum South Global.

I usually google about restaurants prior to visiting them so I have an idea about what food they are offering. But since this was an impromptu spur of the moment thing, I didn't know what to expect.

I was surprised that it occupied a large area and the interior were really grand.

It caters to both big and small groups with private function rooms even.

Food

Appetizers

Chicken Popcorns (190 php)

Only when I saw the Chicken Popcorns on the table did I realize that it served Korean Fried Chicken. These little poppers were fun to eat.

Dori Dori (260 php)

But, I enjoyed the superb crunchy coating and softness of the fish meat of the Dori Dori more the the former.

Chicken Meal (served with rice and salad)

Chili Garlic Chicken Meal Lunch (175 php) *photo credits to thepurpledoll.net

♥ Fettucci di Koko Buri (380 php)

The Fettucci di Koko Buri is a hit amongst us. I've never had healthy asparagus cream pasta this good!

Pizza

Primavera (455 php)

The Primavera is a fully-loaded crispy thin crusted pizza with ground beef and pork, green and red bell peepers, mushroom, onions and olives.

Sizzling Pots

♥ Nagasaki Champon (595 php)

Beverages

Natural Carrot and Apple Slush (140 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Koko Buri Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Appetizers \| Salads \| Fried Chicken \| Chicken Meal \| Sizzling Pots \| Pizza \| Pasta \| Rice \| Beverages \| Imported Wines and Beers \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Koko Buri
Branchees	Fort Bonifacio 2/F Forum South Global Bldg., 7th Ave. cor. Federacion Dr., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila (02) 565-5446 Pavilion 4, Jose Abad Santos Highway Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga (045) 499-5656 Tierra Linda Bldg., Gapan Olongapo Road, San Fernando City, Pampanga (045) 436-5656 Harbor Point, Rizal Highway Subic Bay Gateway Park, Olongapo City, Zambales (047) 250-2968
Business Hours	Mon-Thur and Sunday: 11am-12am Fri-Sat: 11am-2am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	5%
Budget/Person	150-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Website \| Facebook Fan Page \| Instagram

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Nanbantei of Tokyo is an international chain of yakitori restaurants from Roponggi Tokyo Japan. Since the establishment of its pioneer branch 40 years ago, it now expanded in Singapore, Shanghai, and the Philippines.

I visited their branch located at the 2nd level Bonifacio High Street Central just beside Village Tavern. The other is in Greenbelt 3.

The interiors are of traditional Japanese with wooden tables, chairs and dividers. The entire place is lit with soft yellow lighting.

They have an open kitchen were you can see your yakitori orders being grilled by the expert chefs.

Food

Soup & Salads

Shiitake Mushroom Salad

The Shiitake Mushroom Salad has the usual salad ingredients: lettuce, carrot, cherry tomatoes with the special ingredient: fresh shiitake mushroom. I never knew that you can eat the shiitake mushroom raw. I loved it! The sesame dressing is perfect for it too.

Samurai Sets (888 php/good for 3)

Samurai Set A (800 php/good for 3)

All Samurai Sets comes with 3 servings of Miso Shiru and Gohan. We tried the Samurai Set A which includes: 1 set of Ebi Tempura (6 pieces), 3 Tebasaki (grilled chicken wings seasoned with salt),3 Poteto Maki (grilled potato wrapped in bacon seasoned with salt), 3 ♥ Negima (grilled chicken meat with leeks seasoned with salt), 3Aspara Maki(grilled asparagus wrapped in bacon seasoned with salt) and 3 ♥ Pork Yakiniku(grilled pork meat marinated with yakiniku sauce).

Samurai Set B includes: 3 Leba Maki (grilled chicken liver wrapped in bacon seasoned with salt), 3 Beef Garlic Maki, 3 Pork Garlic Maki,3 Beef Yakiniku, 3Shake Kushi Yaki (grilled salmon balls marinated with teriyaki sauce) and Kani Salad. Samurai Set C includes 3 Bonjiri (grilled chicken tail marinated with teriyaki sauce), 3 Tebasaki , Sakani Maki (grilled dory fish wrapped in bacon seasoned with salt), 3 Tsukune, 3 Shiso Maki (grilled pork with shiso leaf) and Tori Karaage.

Pork

Enoki Maki (140 php)

The Enoki Maki grilled enoki mushroom wrapped with pork seasoned with salt.

Beef

♥ Shitake Maki (220 php)

The Shitake Maki is grilled shitake mushroom wrapped with beef seasoned with salt.

♥ Gyu-Tan

The Gyu-Tan is grilled ox tongue seasoned with salt and pepper.

Seafood

♥ Ebi Maki

The Ebi Maki was a hit among my companions. It is grilled shrimp wrapped in bacon season with salt.

Chicken

♥ Tsukune (120 php)

The Tsukune is grilled chicken meat balls marinated with teriyaki sauce. This is my favorite among all our yakitori orders.

Special Items

Tori Karaage (200 php)

The Tori Karaage was tender and juicy but I did not appreciate the thickbatter.

Side Order

Yaki Onigiri (85 php/piece)

We were intrigued by the Yaki Onigiri or grilled rice balls. It was an interesting sight but I didn't enjoy it that much especially since the nori wasn't crispy anymore.

Beverage

♥ Strawberry Mango Shake (100 php)

The Strawberry Mango Shake is really good! This is probably the best summer fruit shake I've tried yet.

Strawberry Shake (100 php)

The Strawberry Shake is just as good.

Dessert

Coffee Jelly (120 php)

For dessert, the Coffee Jelly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a great choice.

Green Tea Ice Cream (100 php)

The Green Tea Ice Cream is also a nice meal-ender.

Avocado Ice Cream (100 php)

Or you can opt for the Avocado Ice Cream to avoid the caffeine.

New Cocktails

♥ Japanese Mojito (175 php), Malibu Midori (125 php), Gin Basil (125 php), Hibiscus Mojito (150 php) and Fresh Rita (150 php)

Popular among my colleagues was the Japanese Mojito. It's a blend of Ichiko Soju, calamansi juice, syrup and soda water.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Nanbantei of Tokyo offers authentic yakitori selections and other Japanese dishes for an affordable price. They have a wide variety of drinks too. If you're in group the sets are a good option to enjoy more savings.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Nanbantei of Tokyo Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Samurai Set 1 \| Samurai Set 2 \| Sushi \| Sashimi \| Soup \| Salads \| Pork \| Beef \| Seafood \| Chicken \| Vegetables \| Special \| Side \| Platters \| Best-Sellers \| Beverage \| Desserts \| Liquor \| New Cocktails 1 \| New Cocktails 2 \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Nanbantei of Tokyo
Branches	Greenbelt 3 Greenbelt 3, 3/F Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila (02) 757-4130 to 31 Bonifacio High Street Central 2nd level Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Avenue corner 29th Street, Taguig City, Metro Manila (02) 621-3224 to 25
Business Hours	Lunch: Mon-Sun: 11am-2:30pm Dinner: Mon-Thurs; Sun: 5:30pm-11pm Fri-Sat: Dinner: 5:30pm-12am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	200-500
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Facebook Fan Page \| Website

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