First Bite: 205

New restaurants never fail to make my eyes sparkle. I feel like a crow lured by anything shiny and that I just have to go nearer. And when I spotted 205, I just have to check it out.

Hello, 205.

Shimmering with its gold and marble interiors, 205 is one eye catching restaurant along Bonifacio High Street Central. 

Restaurant Favorite: Mister Kabab

Mister Kabab has been one of my go to restaurants back in college. Its mouthwatering and affordable kebabs are just too good to resist. And when it became available via food panda, I regularly order some for dinner. But nothing beats dining in. 

Hello, Mister Kabab. 

I used to frequent its air conditioned Pearl Drive branch and order my favorite Chicken Kabab. But gone are the days when driving to my alma mater University of Asia and the Pacific would only take a few minutes.

First Bite: Hai Kang Seafood Restaurant

I usually get stressed out when eating in Chinese restaurants. Everything seems to be so fast-paced. Plate after plate after plate of food gets served within a few minutes and we have to eat fast to make room for the next set of dishes. And the same case is true when we visited one of the popular Chinese restaurants along Wilson.
 
Hello, Hai Kang Seafood Restaurant.

I’ve never heard of this restaurant before but I was told that this has been around for years (or even decades) and it is quite popular especially to the Chinese community.

I was greeted by a huge dining area with high ceiling and several pocket rooms that could be enclosed by movable partition walls. The place was packed with diners on a Saturday night and one could get lost with and drown in the chaotic dining scene. Thankfully, R’s family was near the entrance and we didn’t have to squeeze our way in to the other side of the restaurant.

First Bite: Mama Rosa

I follow several notable foodies on Instagram and when they say this restaurant or that café is their favorite, I get curious. I just have to know if these foodie approved places are worth my time and money. And so when chef and food columnist Angelo Comsti said that Mama Rosa is one of his all-time favorite restaurants, I just have to visit the place. And I went with my mom as it seemed appropriate to bring your “mama” to Mama Rosa.

Hello, Mama Rosa.

I was worried that that place might be packed so I asked my sister to make a reservation for four. We got to the place around 1 p.m. and were lucky to score the parking space in front of the restaurant. And when we got in… surprise! The place was empty!

Famished, we quickly ordered the following: Kinilaw na Isda (PHP280), Kalabasa soup (PHP90, Halaan (PHP120), Mango Chicken (PHP225), Lechon Kawali (PHP220) and Guinataang Sigarillas (PHP160). 

While waiting for our orders, we were given some chips and dip. 

First served was the Kinilaw na Isda and the tuna chunks came in three variants. One had green mangoes and coconut cream, another had salted duck egg, tomatoes and black beans, while the last one had cucumber, radish and kamias. The one with the coconut cream was the spiciest as it had red chilies in it but I still manage to eat half of it as the spice level was still tolerable. I loved the one with salted duck egg best as there was a contrast in texture and the saltiness of the egg balanced the tanginess of the dish. If you love tangy dishes, you’d love the one with kamias.

I was so delighted with the generous serving of soups. Each bowl was good for sharing. The pumpkin soup was good for 2-3 while the halaan was good for 2. 

The pumpkin soup had a nice thick texture and I loved its sweet flavor. It was the ideal pumpkin soup. 

The halaan had a nice light taste which was perfect for a starter. 

Love at First Bite: Karen's Kitchen

When you get older, Christmas is no longer about getting gifts. It is now all about getting... fat. But if I get to stuff myself with good food, I am a-okay with it! And thanks to the long break, I finally got a chance to visit the restaurant in Kapitolyo that I have been eying for almost a year... Karen's Kitchen!

Hello, Karen's Kitchen!

The place is oozing with charm. Each corner is Instagram-worthy and every piece on display has a story to tell. I have never been to a place as warm and beautiful as this one. It was definitely made with love and a lot of thought. 

Since the place is small, I made sure that we get a table and dropped Karen a message to reserve one for us. She then suggested that we pre-order as some of the dishes take time to prepare. (Some dishes take as much as 45 minutes to cook.) It sounded like a great idea. Less waiting, more eating! 

I ordered Squash Soup with Squash Flower (PHP175), Mushroom Truffle (PHP395) and Karen's recommended Dalandan Chicken (PHP345). We also ordered Strawberry Juice (PHP165), Red Velvet Cupcake (PHP96) and Sticky Toffee Pudding (PHP144). Karen insisted we try Raclette Japanese Cheesecake (PHP205) and gave us one on the house.

First served was the squash soup and it was divine! It was the perfect texture for pumpkin soup. It was thick and creamy, sweet with a bit of spice. The bread stick was perfectly soft and flavored too! We were off on a good start.

Next served was the mushroom truffle pasta and it smelled heavenly. You could undeniably smell the aroma of truffle.

Love at First Bite: Xtremely Xpresso

A few weeks ago, I went to Anvaya Cove with some college friends and R. The place would have been extra nice if the weather cooperated. Nonetheless, it was a fun trip! And since we're already in Subic, I made sure that we stop by Xtremely Xpresso.

Hello, Xtremely Xpresso!

The place was packed when we arrived but we were lucky to get a table for six right away.

While the staff was clearing our table, we roamed around and the first thing we noticed was that there are different concepts in play. The main dining area of Xtremely Xpresso has an old  American diner feel with its vintage light boxes. 

The other dining area had an English tea salon feel.

Once our table was set up, we ordered Big Ben Xtreme (PHP729) for sharing. R and I also ordered Bacon Cheeseburger (PHP180), Meat Lasagna (PHP200), and Pumpkin Soup (PHP120). For drinks, we opted for Raspberry Avalanche (PHP100) and Caramel Daze (PHP100).

R's drink sure was berrylicious. It was really sweet! Mine had a nice hint of coffee with the sweet taste of caramel. R and I both liked the Caramel Daze more than the Raspberry Avalanche.

The pumpkin soup was creamy and had that sweet taste that I love. The crispy bacon bits added a nice contrast in flavor and texture.

Next served was our lasagna. It was cheesy and meaty! I loved it! It may not be sophisticated or the classy type of lasagna but this comfort dish is a winner! I packed the leftover lasagna for lunch the following day and it was still as good as when it was served at the restaurant.

Restaurant Love: Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar

It has been a while since I have done a food trip thus I tend to eat less now. Yes, I can no longer do four stops. (I bet you think I eat like a person on a diet huh?) 

I have super friends! Even before I landed, I already arranged dates with the people I love. N for one was game for a food trip. So that means more than one stop.

Wee both finally agreed to go to Bonifacio Global City as it has a lot of new restaurants we have yet to try. We planned to visit Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar, Sunshine Kitchen, and Kitchen's Best. We didn't know though that most restaurants close at 4 p.m. on Sundays so we had to change our plans a lot!

Anyway, this entry focuses on our first stop, Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar.

Why hello there OTKB!

Let’s Paint the Town… PINK.

One chilly night, we decided to brave the cold winds and bend down to look for stars… at the WALK OF FAME area in Hollywood. But this is another story. The Tommy’s trip after the long walk is also another story. What I wanted to share in this entry is how we painted the town… pink. Or how the wind made our noses pink.

Another must visit place according to my friends was Pinkberry. I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this place… that it serves really good yogurt, that the place is über cute, and Kim Kardashian loves hanging out here (uh, where did this come from?).

We were supposed to go home already as it was already past 12 midnight when we finished posing with the stars… on the floor of the Walk of Fame. But our eager tour guide R wanted to tour us around Burbank. As he was the one who does the driving, we just sat back quietly as he drove to the place he called his “favorite hangout”.

With our toes curled and noses turning pink, we strolled around Burbank and saw… PINKBERRY. Well, they were about to close already when we arrived yet they still welcomed us with smiling faces. I love you already!