Tsinoy Foodies

Ramen Daisho has been repeatedly mentioned as one of the best Ramen houses by Japanese ramen consultants and influential food bloggers so we just had to try it out for ourselves. Daisho means big and fly high.

According to other posts, the owners of Ramen Daisho bought the same ramen recipe used in Ukkokei Ramen Ron which so happens to be one of the first ramen houses I reviewed in this blog and my favorite too. So, no doubt I just couldn't help but compare or use Ukkokei as a referrence.

For the ambiance, Ramen Daisho and Ukkokei Ramen Ron as so far apart. The former is so bright, modern and spacious. While the latter is traditional, dark and a bit eerie.

On the table is an origami for the chopstick holder. It can keep you pre-occupied while waiting for your order.

It transforms into this.

Both Ramen Daisho and Ukkokei has a paper place mat. But, as you can see the former has informative cartoon pictures, comic strips and English texts. While, the latter has an image of an old man and Japanese texts.

Ramen Daisho's menu is more informative as it describes the broth and the kind of noodles used. I noticed that there's an error in the description of the Shio Chasyu Ramen. That description is meant to be for the Hakata Ramen. =p It also offers ramen in two serving sizes: Regular and Large. The Regular is priced near that of Ukkokei's. Ukkokei's menu has a clearer product image so you can see the size and the toppings well. But, there are no descriptions.

Food

Ramen
The two are also different in terms of ramen variety. Ramen Daisho has Shio, Shoyu, Miso and Hakata. While Ukkokei has Shio, Shoyu and Miso with a twist of the butter corn for each kind and their limited Tantanmen. Ramen Daisho uses different kinds of noodles while Ukkokei uses only one type.

The toppings of their ramen is different as well. Ramen Daisho serves their ramen with a runny ajitsuke tamago (egg), nori (seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), green onions and fried onions. While Ukkokei's ramen toppings vary depending on the type of ramen. The default rameen toppings is menma (bamboo shoots), green onions and bean sprouts.

For the Chashu, Ramen Daisho makes use of the pork shoulder part which is thin, lean and meaty. WhileUkkokeimakes use of the pork belly part which is marbled with fat.

Shoyu Ramen Regular (300 php)

The Shoyu Ramen is soy based. The taste of the broth is similar to that of Ukkokei so its hardly distinguishable.

♥ Shoyu Chasyu Ramen Regular (380 php)

The Shoyu Chasyu Ramen has an addition of two more Chashuso its 80 php more expensive. With this option, I really wonder why there is an extra topping of Chashuavailable for 120 php.

♥ Shio Chasyu Ramen Regular (380 php)

Mom really loved her Shio Chasyu Ramen. The flavor of the salt-based broth is mild and soothing. Its slightly lighter and less oily than Ukkokei's.

♥ Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen Regular (300 php)

The Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen is not offered in Ukkokei so I was eager to try it. You can just from the looks of the broth that it is milky white as proof of the tastiness it acquired from long hour of cooking pork fat and bones. I loved how flavorful it and it would have been the best one I've tried yet if only it wasn't a bit salty.

Side Menu

Gyoza (110 php/5 pcs)

Aside from ramen, the family has also grown fond of searching for the best gyoza. Price-wise, they are one of the cheapest. But how about the taste?

Gyoza (110 php/5 pcs)

We loved their juicy, meaty and ginger-y Gyoza! This is one of the best we've tried.

Tsinoy Foodies Other Ramen House/Shop Reviews
Akira Restaurant
Hanamaruken Ramen 花丸轩
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen
Kitchitora 1 | Kitchitora 2
Kokoro Ramenya
Menya Genki Tonkotsu Ramen
Miso-Ten
Mitsuyado Sei-Men
Moshi Koshi 1 | Moshi Koshi 2
Rai-Rai Ken Ramen House
Ramen Bar
Ramen Cool
Ramen Ichiban-Kan
Ramen Nagi
Ramen X (Closed)
Ramen Yushoken
Ukkokei Ramen Ron
Wrong Ramen

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Ramen Daisho is definitely worthy of being one of the top best ramen houses in the Metro! Surely, this should be included in every ramen lovers list. I'd love to come back and try theirMiso Ramen next. In referrence to Ukkokei Ramen Ron, I think it offers a different dining experience in its own.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ramen Daisho Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ramen Daisho
Business Address	Unit 2, Sunshine Square, Liberty Center 312 Shaw Blvd., Pleasant Hills, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11:30am-2:30pm Dinner: 5:30pm-10pm Last order is 30 minutes before closing
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 774-0036 774-0036
Other	Email: gyubou_yakiniku@yahoo.com.ph Website

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As a lover of Thai cuisine, Basil has long been on my wishlist. I was really glad that my cousin chose this place to celebrate Father's Day.

If you're looking for this place, look out for Roche Bobois Showroom along Pasong Tamo Extension because this is behind it! We had a hard time looking for this place. It's a good thing uncle called to instructed us.

The dining area was huge! It had brick-colored walls with artistic steel framed mirrors. There were large Buddha figures. Each were holding flickering candles. It had a fountain in the center and many long tables covered in black linen sheets and big wooden and skillfully carved sturdy chairs.

How odd that we were the only diners that night. It's as if we reserved the place all for ourselves. My brother and male cousins were on their annual traveling tradition so we were less than usual. We occupied just one long table which happened to be on the very center of the dining area.

P.S. My apologies I wasn't able to take a photo. They say that people born in February are moody. Well, this night I wasn't in the mood to be a shutterbug. This post would not have been made positive if not for my kind-hearted little sister who volunteered to take some food photos.

Food

Salad & Appetizer

♥ Thai Papaya Salad (255 php)

We loved the Thai Papaya Salad with palm sugar, fish sauce, garlic, chillies, cherry tomatoes, lime juice and crushed peanuts. It had a dominant sweet peanut flavor.

♥ Thai Crispy Fish with Green Mango Salad (370 php)

Unlike the Yam pla Duk Fu I've tried before, the Thai Crispy Fish with Green Mango Salad has a solidified crispy catfish. It was fun to eat together with the very sour green mango strips, onion slices, chillies and cashew nuts.

Fresh Spring Roll (260 php)

The Fresh Spring Roll is one of the most chunky I've encountered so far. It's got shrimp and ground pork bits with carrots and greens. It is served with a sweet and sour tamarind sauce.

Soup

creamy chicken soup with tamarind leaves

♥ Creamy Chicken Soup with Young Tamarind Leaves (315 php)

We tried both the soups that they offered which were served in a similar method. The Spicy Seafood Soup (350 php) is a traditional Tom Yum soup with shrimps and oyster mushrooms. We had our soup mild because my cousins are not fond of spicy dishes. I enjoyed it!

Every one loved the Creamy Chicken Soup with Young Tamarind Leaves. It was my first time to try this kind of soup. One slurp and I'm hooked! Although I liked the Spicy Seafood Soup, I have to agree with the family that this tangy and creamy coconut-based soup is better.

Seafood

Stir-Fried Fish with Crispy Holy Basil (435 php)

The Stir-Fried Fish with Crispy Holy Basil is fried tilapia fillet in tapioca batter and served with sauteed crispy basil, garlic and chilli. Love the crunchy texture but the flavor is nothing extraordinary.

Curry

Chicken Green Curry (325 php)

We had two kinds of curry. The first was the Creamy Pork Curry (325 php). It had a rich and thick herby (with hints of lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime and coriander) and spiced Panang curry flavor. Some of my cousins find the flavor too weird for them but I appreciate its distinct taste. The pork bits was tender too.

The Chicken Green Curry (325 php) was too diluted that we could hardly taste the green curry and coconut milk. It looked like a soup with chicken and eggplant bit and basil leaves.

Meat & Poultry
We tried the Spicy Wagyu Beef Short Ribs (490 php). It was so sweet that you the spiciness is tamed to a very manageable tone. It was tough to chew so I'm quite surprised that they considered that wagyu.

Emerald Chicken (295 php)

The Emerald Chicken is Chicken Pandan or chicken wrapped in pandan leaves and herbs. This one is bite-sized. It's pretty good!

♥ Chicken with Cashew Nuts (295 php)

I was expecting this to be similar to the one I had in Mango Tree. But, I guess Basil likes to define it's own distinct Chicken with Cashew Nuts by making them more pleasurable to eat in a crunchy way. This was not too herby in flavor so the taste is more on the safe side like the Chinese kung pao chicken. As expected, this was everyone's favorite as it was emptied quickly.

Rice and Noodle

♥ Thai Bagoong Rice(298 php)

Our favorite Thai rice dish is of course the Bagoong Rice. I liked their Thai Bagoong Rice because it had fried shrimp bits. The pork is very sweet so the portion is just right as it is intended to be eaten with the rest.

♥ Thai Style Fried Noodles (360 php)

Another Thai staple that we usually order is the Pad Thai. Basil's Thai Style Fried Noodles is one of the best! The noodles were bouncy and fun to chew. The tamarind dressing and crushed peanuts blended excellently along with the other tasty ingredients.

Dessert

♥ Sticky Rice with Mango (130 php)

We wanted to try all their desserts but the Sticky Rice with Mango is the only item available. The Sticky Rice with Mango had the most beautiful presentation I have ever seen. Unlike other sticky rice with mango, this had lots of crushed peanuts. For the price, it was a hefty servings. Peanut lovers will enjoy this but for me, I still prefer the one with dominant coconut milk flavor.

Drinks
The Thai Milk Tea is the only non-alcoholic beverage available. It was too sweet!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for the most bang for the buck fine-dining Thai experience, Basil is definitely a great choice. The dishes composed of authentic Thai herbs and spices and other quality ingredients. The food is affordable given the large portions which is not usual for a Thai and fine dining restaurant. We were really surprised by it. We surely missed the presence of the guys when we ended up with so many left overs and take home packages hehe. However, we felt that they was a misalignment with their luxurious ambiance and the poor service. Given that we were the only diners for the night, we found it difficult to call the attention of the servers. It took too long for them to comply with our requests or some were not even complied with.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Basil Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Basil
Branches	Makati (Behind Roche Bobois Showroom) 2100 Pasong Tamo Ext Magallanes Village, Makati City, Metro Manila (0916) 438-1543 Katipunan White Plains Ave cor. Katipunan Ave Ugong Norte, Quezon City, Metro Manila (02) 911-4158
Business Hours	12pm-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	300-800
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other

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My mom has this habit of calling me whenever she is pleased with something. So one time, she called me and this is how it went: (in semi-Chinese so I translated it)
Mom: You have to try this Chilled Green Tea Taho at Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles!
Me: Oh where is that?
Mom: Here in San Juan.
Me: I don't how you ended up there but I have no intention of going to San Juan (we live in Manila!) for some dessert. Please just bring one for take home.
Mom: Of course, we can't bring it home. It's so good! Yum yum yum!
Me: Okay mom. Anything else?
Mom: No, that's all good bye.

So when my friends and I were strolling SM Manila for lunch, I insisted that we try Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles.

It's a very spacious place with large wooden tables with matching wooden benches. They also had a fast WiFi and a nice Chinese playlist.

Food

Noodle Soup

Braised Beef Noodle Soup (165 php)

The Braised Beef Noodle Soup is delicious! The braised beef was fragrant and tender which goes really well with the broth. Indeed, you can tell from the texture that their noodles are freshly-made and hand-pulled. I've always preferred hand-pulled noodles which is probably why I used to frequent Mey Lin for their Hot and Sour Noodle Soup. Well, "used to" because when they expanded to various malls, their quality became inconsistent to my disappointment so I never came back.

Sliced Beef Noodle Soup (160 php)

The Sliced Beef Noodle Soup is has milder broth and a bit tougher meat despite the thin slice.

If you like spicy dishes, you can add some chili oil that's available on the table.

Mixed Seafood Noodle Soup (160 php)

The Mixed Seafood Noodle Soup is quite tasty and generous in terms of toppings. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience with this since the fish fillet tasted slightly sour. I think they used an old stock. =( I didn't bother to complain because we were in a rush since it's only a short lunch break. On the bright side, I didn't encounter any stomach-ache. But still, the sourness really messed up the great tasting broth and spoiled the experience.

Dessert

♥ Chilled Green Tea Taho (65 php)

Finally, my real agenda for that lunch visit is the Chilled Green Tea Taho. I wished they didn't serve it with the syrup and sago. It was overpowering the Chilled Green Tea Taho. I was literally scooping out the sago just so I can enjoy the delicious taho itself. I went home a bit disappointed then my mom told me that it was served separately during her visit so she didn't even put some. I'll probably request that on my subsequent visits.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking an affordable hot noodle soup, Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles is a great choice. Their pricing fits the budget right. The service is also very good! The staffs are very courteous and friendly.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Appetizer \| Fried Rice \| Noodle Soup \| Dimsum \| Dumplings \| Noodles \| Chef Recommendations \| Healthy \| Dessert \| Tea \| Drinks \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Kanzhu Hand-Pulled Noodles
Branches	Quezon City G/F Prince Jun Condominium, Timog Ave. QC (02) 782-1285 \| 709-4168 San Juan G/F Citiplace Bldg, J. Abad Santos St., San Juan (02) 477-7919 \| 748-7910 Pasig Unit 122-123 CFA G/F SM Super Center Frontera Verde, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Ugong, Pasig City(02) 576-3962 Marikina Unit 104 nodison center, 9 Marcos Highway, Brgy. San Roque, Marikina City (02) 646-0235 SM City Manila Upper Ground Floor, SM City Manila, Concepcion St. corner Arroceros and San Marcelino St., Manila(02) 950-9874
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	100-300
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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I'll admit, I had the impression that healthy food is often expensive, boring, inconvenient and inaccessible. But, Zigla! Fresh, Healthy and Organic seems to solve all that! It's an affordable and healthy fast food located at the Zuellig Building in the busy district in Makati. They also have a branch in Robinson's Magnolia Food Court which I seem to have missed during my visit.

I've been a foodie since birth. But, am I a health-conscious foodie? Honestly, not until I recently encountered so many skin allergies sprouting about which made me conscious of what I eat. My family became really disappointed when I've become quite a picky eater. But, I'm actually glad I got a bit unwell because it awakened me to a healthy lifestyle. I promise you, if you eat healthy food, you'll certainly feel the impact to your body in a holistic way including your energy and mood.

At Zigla!, you don't only get to see the ingredients of the food you'll order with their transparent packaging, they also list down the ingredients and nutritional information (such as the calroies, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugar and protein) per product on their menu. They also list down significant attributes such as "Gluten-Free", "Sugar-Free" and "High-Fiber" which are very helpful!

They have a farm in Batagas so they guarantee that their food items are made from grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and farm-fresh organic produce.

Food

Salads (Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free and High-Fiber)

♥ Korean Beef Salad (215 php)

The Korean Beef Salad has the following listed ingredients: Grass-fed Beef, romaine lettuce, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, red bell pepper, corn, nori and Oriental dressing.

♥ Korean Beef Salad (215 php)

As you can see with the Korean Beef Salad, they don't scrimp on the ingredients. The oriental dressing is surprisingly very sweet and flavorful so I'm guessing it's stevia sweetened. The korean beef was so tender. The romaine lettuce and bell peppers were really crunchy. The pumkin seeds, goji berries, corn, nori and sesame were excellent complements too.

Tuna Mediterranean Salad (199 php)

The Tuna Mediterranean Salad has the following listed ingredients: tuna, romaine lettuce, pumpkin seeds, white cheese, tomatoes, red bell pepper, olives, egg, croutons and citrus dressing. I'm actually curious on what the croutons are made of and how they manage to made that Gluten-Free. This is a lighter option than the Korean Beef Salad.

Brown Rice Meals (Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free and High-Fiber)

Roast Beef & Mushroom with Brown Rice (225 php)

The Roast Beef & Mushroom with Brown Rice has the following listed ingredients: grass-fed beef, high-fiber, brown rice, gravy and mushrooms.

Roast Beef & Mushroom with Brown Rice (225 php)

Wow! The Roast Beef & Mushroom with Brown Rice is so good that it will totally erase all you negative connotation of a healthy food.

♥ Fish Tausi with Brown Rice (145 php)

I'm quite impressed that despite the affordable pricing, the Fish Tausi with Brown Rice makes use of the healthy cobbler fish.

♥ Fish Tausi with Brown Rice (145 php)

The texture of the fish is superb! It goes well with the tasty black bean sauce, onions, leeks and red bell pepper.

Wraps (Sugar-Free and High-Fiber)
The Wraps are convenient on-the-go options.

Beefy Cheesesteak Wrap (135 php)

The Beefy Cheesesteak Wrap has the following listed ingredients: grass-fed beef, high-fiber oil tortilla (first time to try this!), romaine lettuce, bell pepper, onions, cheddar cheese, low fat mayo and barbecue sauce.

Beefy Cheesesteak Wrap (135 php)

The high-fiber oil tortilla is not as soft as other tortilla's I've tried but it's okay. I enjoyed this very much! The meat was savory and tender. The sauce is dominantly cheese and mayo that I could hardly distinguish the barbecue sauce.

♥ Buffalo Chicken Wrap (145 php)

An equal contender to the Beefy Cheesesteak Wrap is theBuffalo Chicken Wrap. It has free-range chicken, high-fiber olive oil tortilla, romaine lettuce, cheddar cheese, low fat mayo and buffalo sauce. I found this easier to munch because the chicken were cut in cubes and were very soft but very tasty as they are covered in buffalo sauce.

Sandwiches

♥ Herbed Chicken Sandwich (135 php)

Although I'm not fond of sandwiches, I really enjoyed the Herbed Chicken. It has a high-fiber wheat loaf, herbed spread, free-range chicken.

♥ Herbed ChickenSandwich (135 php)

I like how the ingredients were evenly spread throughout the sandwich. The herbed spread was so aromatic and flavorful! To my surprise, this Herbed Chicken Sandwich is actually a hefty meal in itself.

Drinks

Zuper Juice

Roselle Bignay Soda (150 php) and ♥ Green Juice (135 php)

The Natural Fruit Soda is probably the healthiest soda I've ever encountered. The Roselle Bignay Soda is a carbonated drink with rich roselle flower flavor, probiotic inoculant, soluble fiber, stevia and unrefined cane sugar.

The Fresh Detox Juice selections were however more to my liking.

The Green Juice has kale, parsley, apple, celery and lemon. I bet if I don't tell you what's in it, you'd never guess you're having veggies!

Orange Juice (99 php)

The Orange Juice has a safer flavor which no one could resist especially the kids. It has orange, carrots, celery and lemon.

♥ Yellow Juice (170 php)

The Yellow Juice is my favorite! It has pineapple, apple, celery, lemon and ginger.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Overall, I'm very impressed with Zigla! Fresh, Healthy and Organic. Their pricing and quality are beyond my expectations! I just wish that they' have more branches so people like me can conveniently avail of it as often as we can. It's certainly my kind of fast food. I hope we can have more of this kind of fast food in the future.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Zigla! Fresh, Healthy and Organic Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Zigla! Fresh, Healthy and Organic
Branches	Zuellig Bldg. Makati Ave. cor Paseo de Roxas Makati, Metro Manila Robinson's Magnolia Food Court G/F Robinsons Magnolia, Doña M. Hemady Avenue, New Manila, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-8pm
Payment Options	cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	120-300
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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After numerous Gerry's branches sprouting locally and internationally, who could ever guess that it would open Sweet Chili Thai Fish & Noodle House.

I have to admit, I had no clue on what to expect. The name barely even hints what it has to offer.

The pioneer store is stationed at Fisher Mall. It has a casualans Asian-influenced dining area with an open kitchen.

Food

Soups & Noodles

♥ Seafood Tom Yum (205 php)

The Seafood Tom Yum is good for 2-3 persons.

♥ Seafood Tom Yum (205 php)

As you can see, they made use of authentic Thai spices which made the soup rich and flavorful. I even like the spicy kick it delivers in every sip. Seafood include fish fillet, shrimp and squid.

Seafoods

♥ 5 Kind Herbs (365 php)

The 5 Kind Herbs is a deep-fried king fish dish with sweet and sour sauce, garlic and five authentic Thai herbs. This is my first time to try a dish like this and I certainly enjoyed it!

Chicken

Chicken Pandan (265 php)

One of our all-time Thai favorites is the chicken pandan. Sweet Chili's Chicken Pandan does not disappoint in terms of size and taste.

Stir Fried Spicy Chicken in Basil Leaves (245 php)

The Stir Fried Spicy Chicken in Basil Leaves is another hit among my companions. We all enjoyed the crispy skin, tender juicy meat and the crunchy basil leaves.

Pork

Grilled Liempo (215 php)

I don't know what's Thai about the Grilled Liempo. But, my friends enjoyed eating it with the spiced up sauce.

Dry Noodles

♥ Phad Thai with Egg (185 php)

The Phad Thai with Eggis delicious! The noodles were bouncy and chewy, the sauce is rich in a captivating way especially with the chopped peanut. The shrimp was so soft.

Vegetables

♥ Tofu with Minced Chicken (195 php)

The Tofu with Minced Chicken is my favorite among all our orders. It's fried breaded smooth and silky tofu topped with basil, chili and minced chicken.

Rice

Bagoong Rice (185 php)

For the price, this generous serving of Bagoong Rice is already good up to 4 persons. Their version is pretty good because of the huge pork chunks.

♥ Seafood Rice in Basil Sauce (185 php)

I've always been a fan of bagoong rice but this time, the Seafood Rice in Basil Sauce appealed more to my liking.

Desserts

Thako (85 php)

A serving of the Thako has six dessicated coconut topped cream pudding with tiny tapioca pearls base and wrapped in pandan leaves. My friends found this to be irresistible while I thought this is one of the sweeter thakos I've tried.

Drinks

Beverages

Thai Milk Iced Tea (55 php)

The Thai Milk Iced Tea was a bit too sweet for me.

Shakes & Juices

Ripe Mango Shake (80 php)

♥ Green Mango Shake (80 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
If you're looking for affordable Thai cuisine that's good for sharing then Sweet Chili Thai Fish & Noodle House is one of your best bets. I regret missing out on the Thai Noodles so I'm planning on coming back with the family.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Sweet Chili Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Sweet Chili Thai Fish & Noodle House
Business Address	2/F Fisher Mall, Quezon Ave., Del Monte, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	150-400
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 364-5550
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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If you're looking for a60's diner ambiance that's serving great American breakfast meals,Mr. Jones is probably the first thing that pops into your mind.

It's retro vibes will definitely brighten up your morning.

The place is so colorful and lively.

Food

Bacon and Eggs

The classic Bacon and Eggs with a pair of eggs (any style you want), thick bacon slab, potato wedges, pancake balls and slices of oranges.

Jones' Famous U.S. Ribcap Tapa

The Jones' Famous U.S. Ribcap Tapa is served with a pair of eggs (any style you want), garlic rice, atchara, crispy fried garlic and atchara. The tapa bits are tender, savory and meaty, you'll surely chew for more.

Jones' Huevos Rancheros

My favorite would be the Jones' Huevos Rancheros. It's a dish with slow-cooked sirloin chunks, cumin scented black beans, roasted tomato, bell peppers, salsa fresca, American and jack cheese, two and sunny side-up eggs. It is served with fresh tortillas, lime, and a bottle of hot sauce. I just love to spice the day with something fiery in the morning. =)

Big Boy Fried Chicken & Waffles

The Big Boy Fried Chicken & Waffles is served with chicken stock gravy to complement the big fried chicken and whipped butter and maple syrup for the waffles.

Challah French Toast

The Challah French Toast is one of the most exquisite french toast variant I've tried. It is a french toast tower with nutella and raspberry. It is topped with caramelized with bananas and crispy bacon. It also comes with maple syrup, whipped cream or whipped butter.

Milk Shakes

Banana Cream Pie

They say a visit at Mr. Jones is not complete without an order of their famous milk shakes. At Mr. Jones, every milk shake order comes with the refill in a stainless glass.

Banana Cream Pie

I tried the Banana Cream Pie which was a vanilla milk shake with banana bits and topped with cherry, graham bits, Cinnamon and nutmeg. It was pretty good. The consistency is not too thick and not diluted either.

Mr. Jones will be closed by September 30, 2014 because it will be moving to Bonifacio High Street Central. Watch out for the opening of Mr. Jones Jr. by the end of the year! I can't wait to order some burgers and milk shakes as movie snacks. ;)

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The family wanted to check out the Century City Mall. It was still new so there wasn't much to see so we were eager for dinner. We were all agreed to try a restaurant that's unique to the place so we chose between Azzuro Restaurante Mediterraneo and Caliburger. Wanting to have a more healthy and wholesome meal so decided to go for the former.

Little did we know that according to our server, Azzurro actually has other branches.

The restaurant is very spacious.

We opted to dine at the second floor and owned it to ourselves for that evening.

Food

Soup (Sopa)

♥ Sopa de Ajo (140 php) *split into 2

The Sopa de Ajo is a Spanish garlic soup. It's actually my mom's favorite kind of soup. This version has bacon so it's a bit more savory and oily than the usual but we loved it!

Creamy Seafood Chowder (200 php) *split into 2

The Creamy Seafood Chowder is also a good choice for soup.

♥ Roasted Pumpkin & Root Vegetables Soup (140 php) *split into 2

I enjoyed my healthy choice of Roasted Pumpkin & Root Vegetables Soup.

Salad (Ensalada)

♥ Azzuro's Crisp Caesar Salad (250 php)

Their Azzuro's Crisp Caesar Salad is great version of our favorite classic salad.

Main Course (Plato Principal)
For the main course, they have Spanish, French, Italian, Greek and Egyptian (Arabic). The server suggested we go for the Spanish dishes because that's the chef's specialty. The chef was said to be from Casa Armas.

Spanish

♥ Callos Madrileno (350 php)

The Callos Madrileno is really good! It was bursting with zesty flavors and everything was tender.

Rice (Arroz)

Paella Valenciana Small (450 php)

The Paella Valenciana also met our standards. It was generous with the toppings. I just didn't like the kind of ham they used.

Paella Negra Small (460 php)

The Paella Negra was good but I think it would go better with some garlic mayonnaise.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Azzuro Restaurante Mediterraneo offers interesting Mediterranean dishes for a reasonable price. It was a good discovery for us. The food quality, ambiance, service and pricing is good enough to draw its own crowd. But, they may be lacking in terms of marketing.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Azzuro Restaurante Mediterraneo Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Appetizer \| Appetizer 2 \|Soup \| Salad \| Spanish \| French \| Italian \| Pasta \| Greek \| Egypt (Arabic) \| Rice (Arroz) \| Dessert Beverages \| Alcohol \| Wine \| Hot \|
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Azzuro Restaurante Mediterraneo
Business Address	3/F Century City Mall , Kalayaan Ave Poblacion, Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	11am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	300-800
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 519-3928
Other

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We used to frequent Aloha Hotel during our childhood days because it has Sze-Chuan Houseon the first floor and our favorite Korean restaurant on the second floor. I guess the closing of the Korean restaurant really saddened my mom so we didn't visit the area until recently.

Sze-Chuan House has a very humble facade.

But upon entering, you'd see how spacious the place is . There many traditional chinese tables covered in linen and paper sheets. It's crowded with Chinese diners. I just love to hear the loud familiar and homey chattering noise. And, it's no surprise that we saw some friends dining there too.

Food
Sze-Chuan House specializes in Sze-Chuan cuisine from the province of Sichuan in China. Most of the Chinese here in the Philippines like us are from Fukien in China or Canton in Hongkong. So we don't have knowledge on cooking Sze-Chuan cuisine and encounter their dishes only in restaurants. I recently watched an episode of "Yan Can Cook" Sze-Chuan special where he shared that in Sze-Chuan there are more than 20 kinds of chili peppers of various color and sizes so you can presume that they really like spicy dishes.

Appetizers

♥ Lucky Five Kinds Cold Cuts M (525 php)

For appetizers, we ordered the Lucky Five Kinds Cold Cuts. As the name implies, it has five kinds of cold cuts: Jelly Fish, Century Egg, Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce (it's sliced braised pork with garlic Kaman soy sauce), Shredded Chicken with Peanut Pepper Sauce (it;s braised shredded chicken with celery bits, peanut butter, sesame seed and thick pepper sauce) and Savory Sliced Beef Shank (it's sliced beef shank braised in soy sauce, star anise, onions and leeks). You can already infer just from the cold cuts that Sze Chuan cuisine are fond of sauces. The selection are all very delicious and tasty!

Soup

♥ Hot & Sour Soup M (360 php)

The Hot & Sour Soup of Sze-Chuan House is one of the best in the Metro! You can see by the looks of it that they don't scrimp on ingredients. These soup is loaded with a variety of spices.

Squid & Frog Leg

♥ Fried Frog Legs w/ Salt & Pepper S (225 php)

Never ever dine at Sze-Chuan House without ordering their Fried Frog Legs w/ Salt & Pepper! It's frog legs covered in flour and egg dashed with salt, pepper and diced spring onions. This is my favorite since childhood. I'm glad it's still as perfect as before.

Duck, Pigeon & Chicken

♥ Diced Chicken w/ Hot Pepper M (380 php)

The Diced Chicken w/ Hot Pepper also known as the Kung Pao Chicken is our family's favorite Sze Chuan dish. We always order this whenever it is available. The diced chicken used to be served with cashew nuts but I guess to lower the cost, it's now served with peanuts, celery and dried chili. I still say it's better with cashew!

Vegetables & Beancurd

♥ Fried String Beans S(195 php)

It's still a mystery how they are able to cook their Fried String Beans. It's additively crunchy. I can't describe it with much particularity so I insist that you have to try it!

♥ Mapo Tofu S (170 php)

The Mapo Tofu is another good dish to order. The tofu is cooked delicately so it's silky smooth in every bite. The sauce is as you can see, rich in spices too.

Hot Pot & Casserole

First Class Mixed Seafood S (295 php)

The First Class Mixed Seafood has fish fillet, cuttlefish, sea cucumber, abalone, shrimp, fat choy (the black hairlike moss which represents wealth in Chinese) and carrots. This is not only first class in terms of ingredients but also in terms of taste too.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Sze Chuan dining at Sze-Chuan House never disappoints. This is one of the best Sze-Chuan restaurants in the Metro! The price is very reasonable too. Bring lots of company to maximize on their serving portions and variety. If you're not fond of spicy dishes, ask if the dish is spicy while ordering and request them to tone it down. They also sell frozen dimsum.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Sze-Chuan House Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Set 1 \| Set 2 \| Appetizers \| Soup \| Abalone \| Squid \| Frog \| Fish \| Crab \| Pigeon \| Chicken \| Pork \| Beef \| Hot Pot \| Casserole \| Vegetable \| Sizzling \| Fried Rice \| Vegetarian \| Chef's Recommendation \| Noodles \| Dimsum \| Dessert \|
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Sze-Chuan House
Business Address	Aloha Hotel 2150 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11am-2:30pm Dinner: 5pm-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	150-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 526-8088 \| 525-4192
Other	Website

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Mom has been wanting to check out the Legaspi Sunday Market after hearing about it from some friends. Well what my mom wants, she always gets so we decided to have our lunch there a few Sundays ago.

The Legaspi Sunday Market is found in a parking space at the corner of Legaspi Street and Salcedo in Legaspi Village in Makati. It opens at 7 am and ends in 2 pm. I suggest going early as some are sold out or closing before 2pm. Plus, the heat is more intense in the afternoon.

Unlike other food markets, the Legaspi Sunday Market offers a wider cuisine choice so I opted to categorize the vendors through that. The price range is wide in this market. Some can be as expensive as those offered in full-blown restaurants. I also noticed that many market goers are foreigners who are willing to spend for quality food. There are also non-food stores but I didn't have time to check them out.

Filipino

Diana's Special Bibingka

I failed to take note of the name of this store. But, they sold our favorite Puto and Cochinta from Marilao, Bulacan branded as "Popular". We always buy some wherever we see those available. It's really good you should try it. They have the plain white puto, plain cochita and puto and cochinta hybrid.

Budbud Gourmet Suman (Facebook Fan Page)

Sweet Mama's Classic Recipes

Imang Salud (Facebook Fan Page)

Imang Salud's classic ensaimada(180 php) is said to be of the heirloom recipes of Imang Dayrit-Santos of San Fernando, Pampanga that has been passed down through 3 generations so we were enticed to try it. It is bigger than the usual. I loved how soft and fluffy it is and topped with grated queso de bola. I didn't like that it was topped with sugar though.

Thai

Chang Thai

We tried the Thai Milk Tea (45 php) from Chang Thai. It was pretty good. They also sell Thai Fried Rice with Pork (80 php), Catfish Salad (200 php) and more.

Khun Caesar's Thai Kitchen

Khun Caesar's Thai Kitchen Phad Thai is freshly cooked with TLC according to the menu. True to their word, each batch is freshly cooked so you have to wait as long as 15 minutes sometimes. You have thre choices: Phad Thai with Shrimp (245 php), Phad Thai with Chicken (225 php) and Phad Thai Vegetarian (200 php). We got the Phad Thai with Shrimp and as you can see we got a hefty serving of Phad Thai with three large prawns! It's good for sharing. I highly recommend this as it's one the best pad thais I've tried.

Malaysian

Spanish

Casa Giño

There were so many choices but I could only try out a few but if I visit again, I'm definitely going to try Casa Giño next. They have a lot of interesting Spanish dishes.

Mantequilla

Japanese

Sumo Yakitori (Facebook Fan Page)

Sumo Yakitori offers a single pricing of 100 php. For the Premium, you get two stick. For the rest, you get three sticks.

Indonesian

Warung Warung

If there's one Asian cuisine I haven't ventured into, that would be Indonesian so I'll make sure to try Warung Warung on my next visit.

Asian

Although, I forgot to take note of the name. But, I think this guys dishes looks good because he is so passionate with them see!

Australian

Garrido's Australian Home Made Pies (Facebook Fan Page)

Garrido's Australian Home Made Pies smelled great. They have lots of variants too:Steak & Mushroom,Chicken & Leek,Plain Beef Pie, Steak & Kidney, Beef Curry,Steak and Onionand Chicken Curry.

Middle Eastern

Maharajas Kebabs (Facebook Fan Page)

We tried the Mutton Masala (250 php) or Curry at Maharajas Kebabs. There was a lot of bones but they were really clean-tasting and tender. The curry blend won over my taste buds. There are only a few food establishments that serve mutton so I'm quite happy with this discovery.

Rafik Shawarma (Facebook Fan Page)

The Wagyu Shawarma (200 php) of Rafik Shawarma took some a while to be ready but it was worth it!

I've never seen so many baklava variants before. Unfortunately, I skipped this for another dessert option. =(

Greek

My Big Fat Greek Kouzina (Facebook Fan Page)

The Chicken Souvalki (150 php) at My Big Fat Greek Kouzina was delicious! It's got chicken breast bits, tomatoes, onions, parsley and tzatziki for sauce then wrapped in pita.

Moroccan

Authentic Moroccan Cuisine (Facebook Fan Page - C101 Galeria de Magallanes Lapu Lapu St. Magallanes Village)

I had a really good Moroccan cuisine experience at Kasbah and was quite saddened when it closed their Fort branch so I was happy to see this! I tried the Tagine de Kefta (185 php) which I'm told was their best-seller. It was meatball tagine Australian halal beef in tomato base with sicilian olives and eggs with pita bread. It has the strongest tangy tomato taste I've ever encountered so I had to eat it with pita. The family was overwhelmed by its flavor but I acquired the taste for it. It was also my first time for the Almond Briwat (100 php/6 pcs.) so I ordered one for dessert. It is a triangle pastry glazed in honey with a sweet potato, almond and rose water filling. I liked it because I love floral flavors. The family thought otherwise so lucky because more for me. =)

Israeli

Pick a Pita (Facebook Fan Page)

I also saw Pick a Pitaat the Greenfield District weekend food market.

Burgers and Sandwiches

Fraulein's German Sausage Deli Stand

Monster Burger (Facebook Fan Page)

Mr. Delicious

Steaks

Bottled / Preserves

Pastries

Foodlab (Facebook Fan Page)

Gourmet Breadhouse

Snacks and Desserts

Tacoholics (Facebook Fan Page)

Fat Fingers (Facebook Fan Page)

Adam's Seriously Good Ice Cream (Facebook Fan Page)

I've heard a lot of good raves about Adam's Seriously Good Ice Cream. I'll try this sometime!

Drinks

Long Island Deli

I tried the Strawberry Yogurt Shake (60 php) at Long Island Deli. I was cool, creamy, tangy and refreshing.

Tong Coffee (Facebook Fan Page)

Organic Market

This cheerful Taiwanese seller is really good at suggesting what you can buy for a perfect organic salad. She's so nice that she even gives samples that you can try on your salad. We bought a lot of fresh vegetables from her.

There's surely a lot more to try at the Legaspi Sunday Market so I look forward to my next visit. Any suggestions on which I should try next?

Legaspi Sunday Market
Business Address	Corner of Legaspi Street and Salcedo in Legaspi Village Makati, Metro Manila
Business Hours	7am-2 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	none
Budget/Person	50-500
Contact	Facebook Fan Page

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Every person in the world knows that caviar is a delicate, which can not be seen on our tables every day, but from time to time we please ourselves by buying a tiny jar of caviar.
In most cases it is considered as a tsar’s food – something that should be eaten, may be, only once in the lifetime. We associate caviar with inaccessible food which is far from being very healthy, but it is closer and more useful than we have thought.

A Healthy Dainty
At the same time, hardly anyone realizes that being real delicate, Russian caviar is the food which contains a great deal of vitamins and nutrients.

Antioxidant Protection
For example, vitamin A is present in big amounts in caviar. This vitamin is important as an antioxidant to protect our cells, to improve our immune system; to support our eyesight; to stop and slow aging processes of the body.

Potassium for Better Oxygen Penetration
Potassium is crucial for blood pressure when it is high; potassium should be consumed to prevent kidney stones. If you need to accelerate your brain reactions you had better eat some caviar as the potassium containing there will help to transport oxygen to the brain quicker.

Reduce the Risk of a Heart Attack
Omega-3 is the vitamin that is often absent in the products that we eat every day. Caviar is one of the richest sources of this acid. Omega-3 is vital to prevent Alzheimer's, to lower blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of a stroke or a heart attack.

Vitamin D to Take Care of the Immune System
Vitamin D is also exuberant in caviar. Vitamin D is able to protect your immune system from various viruses. If you lack sunshine, vitamin D is necessary for you, and caviar can be one of the ways to get it.

Caviar to Restore the Level of Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is a red blood cell component that makes it easier for the oxygen to travel via blood, and it is vital for the life of every human being. After any type of surgery, your body loses hemoglobin and to restore the necessary level you need to eat caviar.

Still some Downsides
The only downside of caviar is the price, of course, and the number of calories it contains. For instance, an ounce of caviar has 75 calories; the amount of salt is also quite high.
As you can see, Russian caviar possesses lots of various vitamins which are crucial for us, but, at the same time, eating only caviar is not a way out – you need to have a balanced diet, full of various vegetables and fruits to feel healthy and happy. Do not associate it with only party and cocktail food for very rich people. You are able to taste caviar without any difficulty.

During my visit at Kabila Filipino Bistro, I also discovered that its neighbor, Museum Cafe, serves a special breakfast menu from 8 am to 11 am so I decided to give it a try.

Food
I'm very happy with their multi-cuisine breakfast offerings.

Chinese (Served with a choice of 3 pcs. Shrimp Dumplings, Sharks Fin or Siumai)

Chicken Hainan Noodles with Shrimp Dumplings (350 php)

My favorite is the Chicken Hainan Noodles with Shrimp Dumplings.

Chicken Hainan Noodles

The Chicken Hainan is so tender, the broth is flavorful plus it had shitake mushrooms which I love.

Shrimp Dumplings

The Shrimp Dumplingshas a beautiful clear and smooth shell and the shrimp was soft but solid and not soggy.

Anise Scented Beef Congee with Siumai (295 php)

I don't usually enjoy congee because its commonly plain for my liking. But, theAnise Scented Beef Congee with Siumai is certainly a hearty and flavorful choice.

Anise Scented Beef Congee

The Anise Scented Beef Congee has savory and tender braised anise scented beef that requires little chewing. The rich flavors of the beef is evident in the congee broth as well.

Siu Mai

The Siu Mai is a pretty good version too.

Favorites

Omelette Station

You can make your own omelette or choose one from their menu.

Waffles/Pancakes (served with maple syrup, butter, peanut butter and topped with ripe mango, watermelon and granny smith apples)

Waffles (250 php)

An order of their Waffles comes with 4 pieces of golden brown crips on the outside and soft on the inside waffles topped with whipped cream and fruit cubes. I enjoyed them with the peanut butter.

Pancakes (250 php)

M Benedict Jamon Excellente (375 php)

TheirM Benedict Jamon Excellente is one of the best egg benedicts I've tried yet! The perfect egg composure and the smoky ham combination is so sensational!.

Drinks

Fresh Juices

Lemon (150 php)

TWG Tea

Morrocan Mint (150 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Museum Cafe offers reasonably price hefty breakfast meals that will surely perk up your morning! Their breakfast variety is not the usual fare and you certainly can't go wrong with any of them.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Museum Cafe Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Breakfast Menu \| Drinks 1 \| Drinks 2 \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Museum Cafe
Business Address	G/F Greenbelt 4, Makati Ave cor Dela Rosa St Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila
Business Hours	8am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	200-800
Free WiFi	Yes (Ayala Mall Free WiFi)
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 757-6000
Other	Website

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I've been busy for the past few months so I've missed quite a number of family gatherings so my cousins were joking that if I don't show up soon, I'll be stricken off the family roster. So on my dear cousin's birthday at Lusso by Margarita Fores, I made sure I'd come and I did.

For family members who haven't dined at Lusso before, we have to admit, we passed by it before we actually found it. It had no signage except on the door which is hardly noticeable... Can you see it?

Lusso means "luxe" in Italian which probably explains the elegant interiors and the gigantic crystal chandelier. Space is quite limited so it afforded us with privacy all night long.

Every gathering for me is a testament that my grandparents were the best kind of couple who established and taught our clan well. Though the world may be chaotic, my mom together with my uncles and aunts are always working hand-in-hand, overcoming struggles and celebrating together. Belonging to our dynamically interwoven, expansive and expanding, fun-loving, optimistic and hard-working family, I can't help but be inspired and molded by it. As our generation has yet to embark, I'm looking forward to continuing their virtuous legacy.

Food

♥ Complimentary Bread Sticks

We were served some Complimentary Bread Sticks which were good so we munched while waiting for our orders.

Dips

♥ Watercress & Gruyere Dip Vegetable Crudites (375 php)

This Watercress & Gruyere Dip Vegetable Crudites is so good! It was emptied in a flash with the dip bowl scraped clean. As far as dips goes, this now tops my list beating the usual spinach dips that I encounter.

Bites

Salmon Tartare Mille-Feuille (315 php)

The Salmon Tartare Mille-Feuille is salmon cream sandwiched between crunchy spinach wanton wrappers and topped with salsa. It was quite enjoyable to eat especially since I love salmon. But, yes it costs around 50 php per piece!

Plates

portobello mushroom asparagus goat cheese mille feiulle

Portabello Mushrrom, Asparagus & Goat Cheese Mille-Feiulle (520 php)

The Portabello Mushrrom, Asparagus & Goat Cheese Mille-Feiulle served with Rucola pesto was just okay.

Lobster Bisque (370 php)

Bisque is one of my favorite soup whether it's shrimp, prawn or lobster. I'm hardly ever disappointed so it's so unfortunate that this Lobster Bisque failed to impress me.

Pasta

Taglierini Di Lusso (575 php)

The Taglierini Di Lusso is a very rich and creamy pasta topped with pink peppercorn and a small chunk of foie gras with a hint of santol. As you can see Taglierini is a flat and narrow type of pasta. I'd suggest this for sharing because of its richness. For something with its name on, I didn't feel it was justified.

♥ Spinach Taglierini (450 php)

I actually liked the Spinach Taglierini more than the Taglierini Di Lusso. The cream sauce is the same but it was complemented better by the spinach pasta, Asiago cheese, shitake mushrooms and parma ham.

♥ Luxe Mac & Cheese (645 php)

The Luxe Mac & Cheese is the best baked macaroni I have ever had. It is topped made use of three kind of cheese and a generous portion of pancetta bits. This is so good that my 7-year old nephew finished one whole of this on his own.

♥ Lobster & River Prawn Lasagna (750 php)

This Lobster & River Prawn Lasagna is delicious! But, the price is a bit too much don't you agree?

Sandwiches

♥ Lusso Demi-Pound Burger (850 php)

The only reason why I've encountered Lusso before is because of the Lusso Demi-Pound Burger. It's hailed as one of the top burgers in the Metro. So it was only natural that every single one of us has to try it. We had ours cooked medium and split into three. It was really good. Although I expected the foie gras on top of the thick US Beef patty to be a bit bigger. My brother had hisLusso Demi-Pound Burger cooked medium well and they could hardly distinguish the foie gras. So moral lesson is the rarer, the better.

Mains

♥ Shepherd's Pie (575 php)

Lusso's Shepherd's Pie is not your ordinary shepherd's pie covered in puff pastry. It's a glorious rendition with braised lamb chunks in prune gravy and topped with soft and smooth truffle potato puree. I highly recommend this!

Lamb Shank Ossobuco (950 php)

The Lamb Shank Ossobuco is delicious. It has a really zesty and clean meaty taste. But it was not fall of the bone tender as I was expecting it to be. The saffron risotto that was served with it was lightly spiced so I couldn't help but havesome more.

Desserts

♥ Mocca Sansrival (290 php)

The Mocca Sansrival is a 4-layered mocha meringued with rich French mocha buttercream topped with cashew nuts. This is an extraordinary twist to the usual sansrival. We were all impressed!

Tiramisu Croccante (295 php)

I wonder if it's because I'm not a fan of white chocolate but I failed to appreciate the Tiramisu Croccante. I liked the crunchy texture but it was too sweet for me.

Drinks

Cappuccino Decaf

The service is really nice. The served the cake which we bought from a neighboring store using their silver platter and they didn't charge as any corkage fees (very considerate right? ^^)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

When dining at Lusso by Margarita Fores, prepare an extravagant budget as you will be paying for the grand fine dining ambiance, first class service and dishes with expensive ingredients. However, I don't think all dishes are paying for. For pasta and pizza, perhaps I'd consider Margarita Fores'Cibomore practical and worthy to spend on.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Lusso by Margarita Fores Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Lusso by Margarita Fores
Business Address	G/F Greenbelt 5, Legaspi St Legazpi Village, Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Mon: 11am-12:30am Tue - Thu: 11am-1am Fri - Sat: 11am-2am Sun: 11-11:30pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-2,000
Free WiFi	Yes (Ayala Free WiFi)
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 756-5893
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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Well, believe it or not, its actually my first time to try Jamaican patties. A few weeks ago, my friend Zep and I had breakfast at RC Jamaican Patties at the fifth floor of Market Market.

As an employee within the Bonifacio Global City area, Zep always has his breakfast at Market Market and we chose this because he hasn't tried it yet.

The good thing about Jamaican patties is that you can have them for breakfast, lunch, snack for dine in or on-the-go or dinner. In fact, RC Jamaican Patties is conveniently located near the cinema area which makes it an ideal movie snack or meal.

They have a lot of varieties on their menu.

And, they have a convenient take out package.

According to their staff, they bake several times a day to ensure freshness.

Since we're both spicy food fans, we were thrilled with their options! Well for my friend Zep, the hottest of the hottest wasn't enough for him but that's not a problem since they also offer a special cayenne sauce.

Food

Classic

Beef Granada (45 php)

The Jamaican patties were served really hot. As you can see, it has a nice golden brown thin crust that's crisp in every bite. I had the Beef Granada because I wanted to gauge the spiciness first. I loved it! It had the right amount of kick.

♥ Beef Curry (45 php)

Zep commented that he tried other Jamaican patties before but they were too flat and had so little filling. He was quite please with Beef Curry. He was glad that they don't scrimp on their ingredients even the red chillies.

Premium

♥ Cheeze Burst Jerky (58 php)

I also tried the Cheeze Burst Jerky which in addition has oozing melted cheese. I really like the cheese they use. It was rich and creamy cheddar and not the diluted like nacho cheese dips.

New Premium

Tuna Royale (48 php)

We also shared the Tuna Royale which had creamy tuna fillings. Both of us approved of this.

Baked Mac (55 php)

For our last serving, we had the Baked Mac. It was so cheesy!

Drinks

Premium Beverages

♥ Ceylon Tea (58 php) and Premium Iced Tea (58 php)

We both loved the Ceylon Tea which had a distinct richness and aroma.

Four Seasons (58 php)

If you're not into tea the Four Seasons is also a good choice. What's cool about their premium beverages is that their slushees so its fun to drink but don't drink too fast as it can cause brain freeze. It's an excellent frozen drink that's refreshing to drink for a whole movie long.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
For such an affordable price, we were quite surprised that we were both so full and bloated by the end of our breakfast. When craving for the finest jamaican patties, I'd definitely go for Royal Carribean Jamaican Patties.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Royal Carribean Jamaican Patties Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu \| Premium Beverages
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Royal Carribean Jamaican Patties Market Market
Business Address	5/F Market Market, 26th St. cor. C5, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	None
Budget/Person	50-200
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(0943) 709-0406
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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Loving my experience atRockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test and Rockwell's 3rd Ultimate Taste Test, I'm back again for the Rockwell's 4th Ultimate Taste Test to discover what new food entrepreneurs have to offer.

There were around 40 food concessionaires but I'd like to focus only on new discoveries.

Ice Creams/Frozen Yogurt

Blue Bell Ice Cream (Facebook Fan Page) and Kool Kids

I was able to try Blue Bell Ice Cream's SeaSalt Caramel and Red Velvet Cakeice cream. While, Kool Kids offered Dark Chocolate which they made with nitrogen and cream mixed with Kitchen Aid upon every order. I found Blue Bell Ice Cream's SeaSalt Caramel too sweet for my liking but the Red Velvet Cakeice cream is a must try! Kool Kids'Dark Chocolate was rich and creamy. That night, I actually visited their store with the family in SM Megamall. I'll have a separate post on that.

Other Ice Creams/Frozen Yogurts that were there which I've encountered wereJack FrostPremium Ice Cream,Merry MooandPink Berry. Jack FrostPremium Ice Cream served their classic best-seller wintermelon and a new flavor called Raspberetto (Raspberry w/ Amaretto). I still prefer their Basil. Merry Moo impressed me (more than my prior tries with them) with theirWhite Choco Match Avocado. The texture, sweetness and creaminess is perfect. The Scandalously Chocolatewas pretty good too. Pink Berry offered theSalted Caramel which I've shared before and their new Cherry variant. I tried the Cherry and loved it. They offered a new topping too called the Sugarpova Premium Gummy Candy which was a hit for those who have sweet tooth. I, on the other hand, chose my classic favorite topping: Roasted Almonds.

Dairy Products

Hacienda Macalauan (Facebook Fan Page), Buffy's (Facebook Fan Page) and The Dairy Farm

I'm a big dairy fan especially when they are all natural and as fresh as they can be. I enjoyed Hacienda Macalauan 3 Cows Yogurt Drink in Mixed Berry and Green Apple, Buffy'sBlueberry Yogurt, Strawberry Yogurt, Fresh Buffalo Milk andWhite Cheese PastillasThe Dairy Farm's Cheese, Garlic Butter and Salted Butter.

Spreads

Butchay's Spread the Love (Facebook Fan Page)

Butchay's Spread the LoveAlugbati and Bicol Express Spread were really creative. I loved the Bicol Express since I love spicy foods but the Alugbati tasted bitterishly healthy.

Made by Max PH (Facebook Fan Page)

Made by Max PH's Almond Butter andAlmond Butter Banana Smoothie was so rich and creamy that it's difficult to believe that its all natural and sugar-free.

Main Dish
I seem to have forgotten to take a photo... but the top main dish is Bhest Lasagna's (Facebook Fan Page) Premium Beef Lasagna. It is the one of the best contender there!

Chili Asylum (Facebook Fan Page)

Chili Asylum's Corned Beef Chili was the bomb! The Watermelon Salsa was just okay.

Wise Eats Manila

Everyone was raving about Wise Eats Manila's Lamb Ham. Their Bratwurstand Calamansi Premium Marmalade was also awesome! What's cool about their processed meats is that they use fresh meats, premium cuts, gluten-free spices and don't use nitrite and nitrate (which as I've researched are converted to nitrosamines when cooked and are listed as carcinogenic by accredited Medical associations).

Kitchenini (Facebook Fan Page)

Too be honest, Kitchenini'sBurong Tilapia Wrapped in Mustasa Leaf portion was too small for me to really appreciate its flavors. But, I did love the crunchiness.

HomeGrown Greens (Facebook)

HomeGrown Greens is worth the mention just because I've toward organic fresh food.

Fisher Farms

Fisher Farm's Gourmet Baked Rellenong Bangus is a great choice for lazy cooks like me.

Pink Mixer Bakery (Facebook Fan Page)

I forgot to try Pink Mixer Bakery's offerings =(

Denise and Polly's

Denise and Polly'sAir Dried Angus Beef Tapa is less guilt but more flavor dense!

Fork Play (Facebook Fan Page)

Fork Play's no msg and no artificial preservatives Roast Chicken is simply delightful!

Belly Bob's (Facebook Fan Page)

You simply wouldn't mind being sinful with Belly Bob's Boneless Lechon Belly de Cebu andCrispy Lechon Sisig de Cebu. Every bitedelivered a superb crunch followed by explosion of fatty oil and juice from the tender meat.

Cookies

Cuptain Cakes (Facebook Fan Page), The Crumbly Oven(Facebook Fan Page) and The Green Baker (Facebook Fan Page)

Technically, I've tried Cuptain Cakes before but that was for their cupcakes. So theirbrownie crunch cookies belong to a different avenue. I recall being more impressed with their cupcakes though. The Crumbly Oven'sChocolate Cookieswere really good! They were crumby but soft and moist like chocolate crinkles. Green Baker's Lemon Basil CookieandGarlic Cookiewere also delicious!

Desserts

Dolci (Facebook)

Dolci is our new family favorite dessert. It has the fun texture of my favorite halo-halo topping: Nata de Coco with bold rich coffee flavor. Pair it with ice and milk and you have the best dessert that you can enjoy anytime at home.

Gorgy Balls, Hoft (Facebook Fan Page), Chichi's Forever Sweet, Fat and Skinny Dessert (Facebook Fan Page), Briet's Dessert Station (Facebook Fan Page)and Red Spatula (Facebook Fan Page)

Gorgy BallsGraham Balls was loved by fellow foodie friends. I enjoyed Chichi's Forever Sweet Banaloafin cream cheese. I forgot to try HoftandBriet's Dessert Station's Puto Flan but it looked good. Red Spatula is said to be the former owner of Red Ribbon. I got to try their Dulce de Leche which was too sweet for me. I still prefer the classic plain mamon.

Make Peace Cookies by Cuizina Co. (Facebook Fan Page), Sweet Fevrier Co.(Facebook Fan Page), My Cup of Cake (Facebook Fan Page), Chizu (Facebook Fan Page), Chrainis Red Confectionery (Facebook Fan Page), Jertie's Kitchen (Facebook Fan Page) and Panic Baking

Make Peace Cookies by Cuizina Co. Raisinuts Oat Cookies was a bit sweet but good. I enjoyed Sweet Fevrier Co. Kisstachio Oatmeal Cookie more. My Cup of Cake'sCalamansi Cupcake and Tablea Cupcake were also on the sweet side. Chizu's Cheese Cup Cakesare one of the best cheesecupcakes I've ever tried! I just love thenot-so-sweet classic or old-fashioned style cheese cup cakes. We used to buy a specific brand in Rustan's when we were young but it's no longer available. Love the generous nuts of Chrainis Red Confectionery Tofee Candy. Jertie's Kitchen gluten-free and muscuvado-sweetened Dark Chocolate Brownies and Pumpkin Jam deserves praise for ingeniuity! Being a matcha fan, I also enjoyed Panic Baking's Matcha (Green Tea) Oatmeal Bars but I'd prefer stronger matcha and less sweet.

Other concessionaires that I've shared before which you can check out: Happy Monster's Elvies Pie, Dulcelin, California Pizza Kitchen and KXP. I'll have a separate post on TWG soon.

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I just love new discoveries. My first exploration at Zuellig Building led me to the food court where I discovered Zigla! Well, I just found out that Zuellig Building has a lot more to offer with Terraz Meetings & Bistrolocated at the 3rd floor.

When you're in Makati and all you could see are cars and tall buildings, you'd understand the refreshing feeling I had upon reaching Terraz. I just love it's bright and spacious motif with clear glass windows andyellow green and yellow soft and well-cushioned seats. Diners were enjoying themselves as if the busy and fast-paced office life has been put on hold.

I couldn't help but appreciate the huge space that Terraz has to offer. Aside from the generous distance of each table from one another, affording their diners comfort and privacy, they also made sure the diners have a beautiful view of their open kitchen, cake chiller and the garden outside.

It was a usual lunch on a weekday workday and the place was packed.

It also has a bar area which is understandably unoccupied during the day.

What sets Terraz apart from other restaurants is its meeting rooms. Doesn't it resemble a grand board room?

Food

Complimentary Flat Bread with Pimiento Cheese and Aoili Dip

Upon being seated, we were given a Complimentary Flat Bread with Pimiento Cheese and Aoili Dip. I just love flat breads like the roti prata so I quickly got my hands and mouth busy with these.

Salads

Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna (275 php)

The Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna isone of the few salads that has left a distinguishing impression upon me. The highligh of the salad are the perfectly prepared pan-seared ahi-tunacrusted with sesame seeds. It really brought the other fresh ingredients to life. Other components arefresh and crunchy romaine lettuce, sliced Japanese cucumber, red beets and vine cherry tomato. It also had a flavorful sesame dressing.

The Terraz Chef Salad (295 php)

The Terraz Chef Salad with romaine lettuce, red wine, hard-boiled egg, crispy parma ham, grilled bacon, roast beef in light salt, cheddar and emmental cheese cubein pepper vinaigrette and ranch dressing was also good. But, I personally prefer the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna over it.

Pizza and Pasta

Truffle Herbed Chicken& Creamy Mushroom

I am a big sucker for an dish with truffle on them. The Truffle Herbed Chicken& Creamy Mushroom with its moist and tendermarinated grilled chicken breast with 3 kinds of mushroom and red wine sauce pasta dish is no exception.

Simple Saffron Spaghtetti

It's actually my first time to try something like the Simple Saffron Spaghtetti. It's their home made (made from scratch) saffron spaghetti with spinach and grilled asparagus. Usually, when I eat pasta, my taste buds tend to be drawn towards the sauce. But, in this case, the sauce is so light that it actually let's you appreciate the distinct flavor of a very precious spice: saffron.

Western Flavors

Buttered Tilapia Saltimbocca (350 php)

I'm very particular with fishiness so I often steer away from the tilapia. But, the Buttered Tilapia Saltimbocca is surprisingly clean-tasting that I'm surprised it is actually tilapia. It is served with vegetable pilaf asparagus sage tomato sauce and grainy cream mustard sauce.

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion and Foie Gras (695 php)

Upon seeing generous chunks of foie gras, the Grilled Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion and Foie Gras has already won over me. I'm very biased towards dishes with foie gras. I'm so in love with it. The dish is delicious! It is also served with macaire potato, sauteed vegetables, mushroom ragout and merlot sauce.


Merlot Braised Veal Cheeks (550 php)

Another dish that I found simply irresistible is the Merlot Braised Veal Cheeks served with crushed garlic potato in olive oil and marinated vegetables: beets, beans, potato, carrots and mushroom ragout.

Pan-Seared Boneless Chicken Cream Emince (350 php)

The Pan-Seared Boneless Chicken Cream Emince is a dish that will surely please mushroom lovers like me. It has a rich mushroom flavor with a wholesome creamy texture that complements the moist chicken fillets well. It is served with baked potato, bacon, peppered asparagus and french beans.

Asian Inspirations

Spicy Terraz Corned Beef Adobo (495 php)

An interesting clash of two Filipino classic favorites: corned beef and adobo is the Spicy Terraz Corned Beef Adobo. Seriously, this is one of the best corned beef and adobo dish I've ever tried! Even the sides were surprisingly awesome! I loved the garlic pumpkin, sweet mashed potato and kesong puti which are fried and buttered like chicken nuggets.

Dessert

Crepe Zamurai (150 php)

We all wore puzzled faces when the Crepe Zamurai was served. We could only identify the caramel sauce and cinnamon sugar on top of the crepe. What lies under is still a mystery.

Crepe Zamurai (150 php)

As soon as everyone got to try the Crepe Zamurai, we all had smiles plastered on our faces as we kept spooning for more of its addictivemango and banana bits in a pool of caramel sauce and Cinnamon sugar.

Pavlovaz (150 php)

The Pavlovaz which is a meringue filled with light cream, cherry and berries was good too.

Drinks

Ginger & Mint Lemonade (130 php) and Strawberry & Mango (120 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I've so glad I've discovered Terraz Meetings & Bistro, Makati's hidden gem! It offers a one of a kind experience at reasonable price. I definitely want to try more of their menu selections.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Terraz Meetings & BistroX Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Menu 1 \| Menu 2
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Terraz Meetings & Bistro
Business Address	3/F Zuellig Building, Makati Ave. cor. Paseo de Roxas, Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Weekdays 11am-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	350-1,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 625-4831
Other

Terraz Meetings & Bistro Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

UCC Cafe Terrace is our favorite coffee place because it serves a widevariety of Japaneseinspired meals in addition to coffee and cakes.

They sell a good selection of coffee products. We always buy some to make sure we have a stock at home.

They have a lot of cakes available. I have yet to try them all.

It has a dim yellow light with a casual atmosphere.

Food

Salad

Chicken Teriyaki Salad (299 php)

The Chicken Teriyaki Salad has chicken teriyaki chunks, cucumber, corn kernels, pineapple slices, tomatoes and romaine lettuce.

Japanese Spaghetti

Bacon, Mushroom and Sausage Spaghetti (359 php)

For a savory and creamy Japanese pasta, I recommend the Bacon, Mushroom and Sausage Spaghetti.

Cakes

Chocolate Fudge Cake (150 php)

The Chocolate Fudge Cake is a very soft and moist dark chocolate sponge cake covered in rich bitter-sweet chocolate ganache.

Macadamia Sans Rival (220 php)

The Macadamia Sans Rival is a great choice for non-chocolate cake lovers. It's crunchy and chewy textures and right blend of sweetness is simple captivating.

Special Brewed Coffee

Houseblend (109 php)

A visit at UCC must always end with an after-meal coffee. The Houseblendis good enough if you're on a budget. But, for a more wholesome experience, I suggest you try the Blue Mountain.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
UCC Cafe Terrace serves affordable meals, coffee and cakes that never fails to satisfy.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		UCC Cafe Terrace Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Salad \| Soup \| Pasta \| Gratin \| Casserole \| Risotto\| Omurice \| Rice Plates \| Curry Rice \| Waffle \| Toasts \| Desserts \| Coffee
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

UCC Cafe Terrace Robinson's Place Midtown
Business Address	G/F Robinsons Place Manila, Manila, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	300-600
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 567-2029
Other

UCC Cafe Terrace Robinson's Place Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

Way back in high school, my classmates and I would sneakily eat behind the teacher's back just for fun. We Tsinoys call that"Taw Cha". We would take turns bringing snacks and share it with the group. One day, my classmate brought Kopi Roti which was entirely new for me.

I asked where he bought it and brought home some for the family as a surprise. They loved it too and since then we've been loyal customers.

Food

Set

♥ Set E: 1 pc. Kopi Bun with Coffee (or tea) (105 php)

When dining in, our usual order is Set E: 1 pc. Kopi Bun with Coffee (or tea). Kopi Roti'sCoffeeis pretty good for such an affordable price.

♥ Kopi Bun (50 php)

But,our favorite is really their Kopi Bun. Just its coffee and butter aroma can wake me up from a drowsy state. When I was in high school, this was only 30 php. Naturally, it's been price has increased like the rest of the commodities.

♥ Kopi Bun (50 php)

The Kopi Bun has a thin flavorful crispy coffee crust with followed by its soft and fluffy dough with warm butter in the middle. Whenever we spot a Kopi Roti branch, we'd buy some of this for take home. They have a nice packaging for 6 pieces with matching paper bag. We enjoy eating this for breakfast or merienda. It's easy to reheat. We just use the electric oven toaster.

Kaya Puff (25 php)

It's our first time to try the Kaya Puff which was smaller in size and topped with powdered sugar.

Kaya Puff (25 php)

It was not as crisp as the Kopi Bun. Instead of butter, it had the Kaya spread. It was pale in comparison to our all-time favorite Kopi Bun.

Soft Boiled Eggs (35 php)

They also offer the Soft Boiled Eggs which was prepared the Singaporean way. It has 2 soft boiled eggs mixed with black soy sauce and sprinkled with white pepper. I'm not a big fan of this style since I love my eggs plain as I appreciate the egg yolk flavor but some prefer eating eggs this way. If you haven't tried this, you should try it out for yourself.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Over the years, we've tried coffee buns from local bakeshops and international franchises but nothing even comes close to Kopi Roti! It is still our favoriteKopi Buns and I think it's pretty tough to beat.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Kopi Roti Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Specialties \| Beverages \| Set \| Rice Toppings \|
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Kopi Roti The Columns
Branches	The Columns Ayala Ave, Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	50-200
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 945-9746
Other	Website

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As much as the family wants to enjoy buffets as often as we can, we'd like to pace ourselves. Since my cousin recommended Fresh Buffet at Solaire Resorts and Casinoupon its opening, its long been on our hotel buffet list.

Finally, we got to try it... not once but twice! I'll just shareboth experience here if you don't mind. Our first visit was on a Thursday night and the second was on a Monday night so it's the same weekday rate. But, the former is way better than the latter.

Food

Cheese Station

Goat Cheese, Goat Cheese, Bleu Cheese, Jams, Honey and Preserves

This was constant on both visits.

Cold Cuts Station

Cold Cuts with Pate

So are these...

Mediterranean Station

I love their Mediterranean section. They not only offer more than just the basic hummus, I noticed that some of the selections vary as well.

Fresh and Smoked Seafood Station and Japanese Sashimi, Sushi and Maki Station

Fresh Seafood During Our First Visit

During our first visit, we were so delighted with their Seafood Station. It has large King Crab. Look at the size of those claws! There's also huge Alaskan Crab Legs. I had to come back for a second serving of those! The Oysters were large and fresh so we ate them raw. The Smoked Salmon, Smoked Mackarel andSmoked Tanigue were all great too. The Shrimp Salad and Squid Salad were also satisfactory. From the Japanese Sashimi, Sushi and Maki Station on the side, the Salmon Sashimi, Tuna Sashimi and Red Snapper were all so fresh as you can observe from their vibrant colors.

Fresh and Smoked Seafood and Sashimi During Our Second Visit

We obviously had an excellent first dining experience so we came back with a party of over 20 and we ended up disappointed with the Fresh and Smoked Seafood and Sashimi offerings. The Salmon Sashimi looked pale and frozen. The Fresh Oysters were not only small, they were slimy and tasted yucky. We requested them to be baked in butter (they don't have cheese!) but the experience was just the same. Only small Crabs and Mussels were offered along with theSquid Salad andMussel Salad. The Smoked Selections were the same.

Prepared Salads

Plate from Our First Visit and Offerings on Our Second Visit

During our first visit, we there was Lobster Salad! It was prepared the same way as theShrimp Salad. In addition, they offered theTuna Nicoise Salad, really good Coleslaw and Potato and Ham Salad. On our second visit, they had the Tuna Nicoise Salad, Beef Salad, Tomato MozzarellaSalad and Coleslaw. Sadly, the delicious Lobster Salad and Shrimp Salad was not offered.

Bread Station

Bread Station

Lots of choices for pastry lovers!

Soup
During our first visit, they had a delicious Barley Soup. The next visit, they had Curry Soup which was exactly the same as their Filipino Curry Chicken from the Filipino Station without the toppings. I didn't like it.

Namul Station
They also offered variantions of Namul such asFresh Lettuce,Kimchi andJapchae plus Korean Sauces.

Main Dishes

Main Dishes During Our First Visit

We loved the Truffle Macaroni and Cheese, Red Snapper, Arabic Style Lamb Shoulder with Cous Cous,Duck with Orange, Vegetable Gratin and wait for it... Sweet Chili Lobsters!

Main Dishes During Our Second Visit

I didn't try much from our second visit except for the Roasted pork with Sauerkraut. Other were pretty much like ordinary party catering dishes like the Tagliatelle Bolognaise, Pancetta Rissotto and Mini Beef Sliders. Good thing they also offered the same Vegetable Gratin which my nephew indulged in.

Dimsum, Noodle Soup, Chinese Cold Cuts and Filipino Sections

They had the same offering on both visits. The Dimsum Selections were pretty good. TheyPork Siomai was tasty. The Noodles Station allows the Chinese chef (speaking English with a typical Chinese accent) to serve your Noodle Soup according to your preferred noodle type, vegetables, sauces and broth: beef, chicken or pork. The Chinese Cold Cuts had two offerings: Hainanese Chicken and Peking Chicken. From the Filipino Station, constant offerings are the Liempo and Chicken Inasal. There are also variations of cooked Filipino dishes and soup like Sinigang. I tried the Filipino Chicken Curry. It was pretty good.

Fish Station

Lapu Lapu in Sweet and Sour Sauce (first visit) and Tilapia in Sweet and Sour Sauce (second visit)

The delicious Lapu Lapu in Sweet and Sour Sauce was downgraded to Tilapia in Sweet and Sour Sauce on our second visit.

Grilled Station

Lamb Quesadilla and Prawns Pil-Pil

TheLamb Quesadilla and Prawns Pil-Pil were our favorites from the Grill Station.

The items are pretty much the same on both visits even the Vegetarian Pizza. I didn't mind trying that for the second time though because it was really good! Also try the Chicken Teriyaki.

Roast Station

The Roast Station does not disappoint! On our first visit, there was Suckling Pig. Our second visit there wasRoast Beef which always had a waiting customer.

Fruits

Fruits During Our First Visit

On our first visit, there were a lot of Fruits Selections. Only Melons and Bananas were offered during our second visit. =(

Gelato Station

Of course, I wouldn't miss the Gelato and had them on both visits. I love the Mango flavor so had it twice.

Cake Station

They have a lot of cakes! On both occasions, the offerings were essentially the same. They even have Sugar-Free ones. My favorites are the ♥ Signature Chocolate Cake, ♥ Pistachio Opera Cake, ♥ Tiramisu,♥ Raspberry Cheesecake and ♥ Coconut and Mango Mousse.

Chocolate Fondue and Candies Station

Aside from the Chocolate Fondue, they also have a Chocolate and Candies Station. On our first visit, they have a ♥ Chocolate Lollipop Filled with Chocolate Ganache . It was really good! On our second visit, they offered Chocolate Bits. They also have some candies like Polvoron and Ube.

After-Meal Coffee

The buffet rate is inclusive of free hot drinks: ♥ Cappuccino,Latteor Tea.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I really can't conclude much onFresh Buffetbecause of the great disparity between my two visits. Since they offer them at the same rate, I'm expecting high standard of quality which they would maintain consistently especially since there were a lot of people dining and most of them were tourists.

How about you? How was your experience?

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Fresh Buffet Rate
Ambiance	★★★★★	Breakfast: Adult: 1,100 ++ Child (7-12 yrs.old): 500 ++ Lunch: Mon-Sat: Adult:1,900 ++ Child (7-12 yrs.old): 950 ++ Sun& Holiday Adult:2,400 ++ Child (7-12 yrs.old):1,200 ++ Dinner: Sun-Thurs: Adult:2,100 ++ Child (7-12 yrs.old): 1,050 ++ Fri& Sat: Adult:2,600 ++ Child (7-12 yrs.old): 1,300 ++ *Children 6 yrs. and below: FREE
Taste	★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Fresh Buffet
Business Address	1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, Paranaque City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Breakfast: 6:30am - 11am Lunch: 12pm-3:30pm Dinner: 5:30pm-11pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	1,800-2,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 888-8888
Other	Website \| Facebook Fan Page

Fresh Buffet Solaire Resort and Casino Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

Most addicts don't admit that they are addicts. But, I'm really honest so I'll confess I'm an ice cream addict! To prevent myself from stuffing up on too much ice cream (I used to eat a pint/s a day), I have a personal policy of not eating ice cream unless someone else invites me. So one usual malling night, the family decided to try Swensen's.

Of course, I was so excited!

I quickly checked out the flavors at the counter even though all the diners are seated as they have a menu so no need to stand up lol.

As I counted, they have 16 different flavors available.

They had a large seating capacity but it was a bit crowded.

Food

♥ Apple Cranberry Sorbet (95 php) and♥ Blueberry Cobbler (95 php) (Add 20 php for the Waffle Cone)

♥ Yogen Berry (95 php), Mango (95 php) and Blueberry Cobbler (95 php)

We really love that they have tarty options. The flavors are also out of the ordinary.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Swensen's Philippines offers delicious ice cream that will cool you down anytime you need to chill. They have lots of flavors to offer so you'll sure find one to your liking. However, I find their pricing a bit steep.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Swensen's Philippines Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Swensen's Philippines
Business Address	G/F SM Mall of Asia, South Wing, Seaside Drive, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge
Budget/Person	100-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 804-0046
Other	Facebook Fan Page

Swensen's Philippines Mall of Asia Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

My family has been raving about Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop for quite some time. In fact, they've been there several times already. It just so happened that I'm always unavailable.

Luckily, last month, I was able to try it out for myself with the family.

It had a minimalist casual flair with its yellow cushioned booths and space saving dividers.

Food

Omelet Curry

♥ Hamburger Omelet Curry (273 php)

The Hamburger Omelet Curry is a must try! I'm rarely impressed with Japanese burgers and this is one of those moments. Based on the burger alone, I still think Arafu cafe's version is better but this is a real steal for a much more affordable price! Judging by the Japanese curry, this is by far the best one I've tried yet. The omelet is plain but fluffy.

Curry Noodles

♥ Sliced Beef Curry Ramen (310 php)

I had the Sliced Beef Curry Ramen. I loved this so much I finished it to the last bit. The ramen noodles are not that special but they are really enhanced by the curry broth and the tender and tasty sliced beef.

Udon w/ Hot Soup

♥ Mushroom Udon (238 php)

The Mushroom Udon is a soothing clear broth that brings out the delicious flavor of the enoki mushrooms and seaweeds. This is a common favorite of the family.

Bee Ramen

♥ Pork Ramen Soup (230 php)

A big thumbs up for their Pork Ramen Soup. For it's substantially low price, it is at par with authentic ramen brands that are franchised from abroad.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
The family rarely visit the same restaurant more than twice. I rarely do too unless of course, there are new interesting offerings. But, after we had our dinner at Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop, we all agreed that we'll be back again. I've read the poor ratings are mostly due to poor service. The service was actually very good on during our visit. It was on a Sunday evening and the place was packed.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Fried Dish Curry \| Omelet Curry \| Stewed Dish Curry \| Fried Rice \| Noodles \| Grilled \| Donburi \| Salad \| Snacks \| Drinks \|
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop
Business Address	Bluebay Walk, EDSA Extention, Pasay City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-12am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	250-500
Free WiFi	No
Unlocked Foursquare Perks	None
Contact	(02) 7850737
Other	Facebook Fan Page

Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies

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