First Bite: Big D's Smokehouse

My uncle couldn’t stop raving about this ribs place in Eastwood and told us that he’ll treat us there on his birthday. Confident about his choice, he scheduled the last Sunday of the Christmas break to be his birthday celebration at Big D’s Smokehouse.

Hello, Big D’s Smokehouse.

We arrived a bit too early in Eastwood and ended up waiting for 20 minutes outside for the restaurant to open. 

I was a bit hesitant to dine here as the place didn’t exactly get a lot of good reviews online. Some said that the ribs were dry while others were disappointed with every single dish they ordered. But it’s free so… game!

My uncle wanted to order The Big Feast which includes a plate of nachos, two servings of onion rings, 2 pasta plates of your choice, 2 orders of chicken fingers, 3 full slabs of ribs, 4 side dishes, 5 cups of rice and a sizzling plate of pulled pork for PHP2,999. I did the math and if you choose all the most expensive pasta and sides, you manage to save about PHP200 or have that sizzling pulled pork for free. (I guess it wasn’t that bad if you do not want to think of what to order anymore.) We also ordered a plate of Hush Puppies (PHP175) as additional appetizer.

First served was the platter of nachos and it looks so oily. The tortilla chips were thin and crisp which I enjoyed. But I would have liked it more if the beef topping was juicy. The one we got was dry and the cheese wasn’t as creamy or gooey as I wanted it to be.

Onion rings were served next and it’s your usual crisp onion rings with garlic ranch dip. Nothing much to talk about.

Hush Puppies soon followed and it was a crowd favorite. The combination of cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheese created a delightful and crisp cheese ball! It also had the right level of tart. But what I loved most about this dish is that every bite is promised with an ooze of the heavenly cheese combination. 

The smooth and creamy melted cheese with the crunchy batter was divine. I also enjoyed it with the garlic ranch dip.

The chicken fingers (PHP190) looked so… thin. Taste-wise, it was a bit bland and dry. We had to put a generous amount of honey mustard for it to be more palatable. At least it was crisp.

Second Bite: Adaäm and Yves

Organic? Blargh! Most restaurants that use that word come up with hella expensive dishes. And when this trend was still in its earlier stages, most establishments have no clue how to make it more palatable. I recall trying some out and I felt robbed for eating grass that costs like steak. A couple years later, they finally got the idea that healthy does not exactly have to be yucky. And one restaurant that captured my heart and tummy is… Adaäm and Yves.

Hello, Adaäm and Yves.

It has been a few months since I last visited this dark yet charming place. The industrial interiors truly give this place a chill ambiance while its accent lights add elegance.

R and I were the early birds that night. The place just opened when we got in and the servers were still busy putting all the cutleries and condiments in place.

It was quite warm inside the restaurant as they just turned on the AC. The perk though of being early is the undivided attention of the staff.

Since R wasn’t very hungry, we decided to share Cabo Quesadillas (PHP340) and A Day is Ibiza (PHP495). We also ordered a glass of Coco Rocha (PHP175) for a sweet treat.

Service was quick as our dishes arrived in less than 20 minutes.

The serving of Cabo Quesadillas is quite generous and good for sharing. The toasted tortilla, which reminded me of crunchy pancake, was topped with free-range chicken sausage bits, cheese and sour cream.

I loved the play of textures and flavors. The crunchy base, soft and slightly salty chicken sausage bits, and creamy and tangy sauces all made this dish divine. I also loved the delightful sunny-side up egg that I had the pleasure to poke for its yellow yolk to ooze.

I was a bit disappointed with the serving size of the paella. It was quite small and it was even more expensive than the quesadillas. But it had two pieces of prawns,mussels and clams so... fine. 

I liked the texture of the Valencian-style organic red rice. It was slightly firmer than the usual grains I eat on regular days. It went well with the seafood toppings and it was even better with lemon juice drizzled on it to balance the paella's saltiness. It was also pretty heavy despite its small serving size.

First Bite: Impressions

Unlimited foie gras. Those sweet words made me go "ooooh" longer than holding my breath to win the "happy birthdaaaaaaaay" contest. 

Hello, Impressions!

This classy buffet restaurant in Resorts World Manila is headed by celebrity chef Cyrille Soenen and its layout is meant to impress.

The slightly dim lit restaurant had a minimalist signage in front that also serves as the reception desk. 

As soon as you enter, you are greeted by several numbered tables with the first buffet bar on the right which serves the meats. 

We got table #18 reserved for us which was perfect as it was in front of the buffet table that prepares foie gras, scallops and lobsters. It was also near the sweet corner a.k.a. desserts and sashimi.

My first plate had a lot of salmon sashimi, a few maki and foie gras. 

The foie gras bits were bite size and it was... just okay. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad. It had the usual slightly grainy texture of foie gras and the delectable oiliness per bite. But it lacked richness in flavor.

First Bite: Maisen

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart. But the very next day, you just made me fat. Yep, it was the season to get fatty two weeks ago and I have done nothing but munch, chew and munch some more. And when I was invited to tag along to visit this "most famous" katsu place (in Japan), I just couldn't say no. 

Hello, Maisen!

The place looks a lot classier than the other restaurants in SM Megamall. Not sure if it was the yellow lights but the ambiance sure was nicer.

There were a lot of katsu to choose from. R went with Maisen's bestseller Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu Set (PHP630) while I ordered the Salmon Katsu Set (PHP550). Both comes with cabbage, rice, miso soup, pickle set and fruits. 

It took about 20 minutes or so to prepare our orders so I was quite famished when my dish arrived.

First one served was R's Kurobuta Tenderloin Katsu and it was perfectly golden brown. 

The set includes a katsu sauce specially paired with kurobuta. It was slightly thicker and lumpier than the sauce from other katsu places. 

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.

First Bite: BLK513

I'm quite hooked to Looloo these past days and I can't help but notice the numerous reviews on BLK513, the newest yogurt place in Manila. Okay, you might think that it's nothing special because it's just another yogurt shop which brands such as Red Mango, Pinkberry and White Hat made popular. Buuuut... this yogurt is black. BLK= black. And since new food or restaurants are very appealing to me, I just have to try it myself! 

Hello, BLK513!!!

It has been several weeks since I first saw a post on this "activated charcoal" infused yogurt. Charcoal on yogurt??? Well, it is definitely not your lump of coal on top of smooth and delectably tangy yogurt. Activated charcoal is actually used in hospitals and even at home. Some of the benefits you get from it are (1) reduces high cholesterol (2) anti-aging (3) digestive cleanse (4) toxin removal; and (5) prevents hangover.

Okay, sold!

R's family scheduled a katsu lunch at Maisen a few days back and I thought that it was perfect since I hardly visit Megamall these past months. (Holiday rush, traffic and SM Megamall is an equation for headache!)

After lunch, R and I went to BLK513 for dessert and I opted for cup (PHP185; PHP175 for cone) so that I could get more toppings/layers. I went with caramelized cookies (which tasted like Speculoos or Biscoff) for crunch, kiwi and strawberries for fruits and Nutella for syrup.

And tadaaaaa...

My first spoonful didn't give much of an impression. It tasted like your usual tangy yogurt which you get from Red Mango, only darker. But the second spoonful with the layers made it more delectable.

Restaurant Love: Yabu House of Katsu

You better watch out, you better not cry. You better not pout, I’m telling you why. Christmas break is a few days away! Yeeeey! And I am now feeling it with all these Christmas dinners and meet ups. I love it! Come here holiday fats! *hug* :D

It has been a tradition in our department to organize a simple Christmas dinner where we share a nice meal together and exchange gifts. But since we were extra busy (and poor) this year, we decided to scrap the second one and just focused on the fattening part.

This time, we decided to have dinner at Yabu and since it’s not exactly a new restaurant, I made sure that I order something different. I remember a post on Yabu’s Menchi Katsu Burger (PHP380) and decided to get that one.

When we arrived, the early birds already secured a long table for us. (And it was not a picnic to get one as they waited for half an hour outside as Yabu requires them to place all our orders before getting a table).

It took a while before my dish was served. I was starving to the point of me feeling my cheekbones becoming more prominent and my tummy digesting my tummy. And to distract myself from the World War III happening inside my body, I decided to read the comic strip on the wall which was quite funny. (Katsu solves family feuds.)

First Bite: Brand Bakery Bistro

There are moments when the lazy bug bites me really hard to the point of not eating even when I’m hungry (simply because I have to cook or prepare my meal before filling the tummy). But there are also times when I still find the energy to eat out on a weeknight. And a few months ago, I got to try Brand Bakery Bistro.

Hello, Brand Bakery Bistro!

This quaint bakery is located at the second floor of RCBC Tower in Fort Bonifacio. I noticed it before when we were looking for Paprika.

The place is quite dark and has more of a bar vibe than a cozy café. It has a long showcase chiller beside the counter for its desserts which are not included in the menu. The pizzas available on that day are also displayed there.

While waiting, we got a plate of complimentary bread.

Since I wasn’t really craving for anything in particular, I just went with Melazane Fritte (PHP150), Tagliatelle Crema di Salmone (PHP260), Pink Lemonade, and Mango Panna Cotta.

First served was the Melazone Fritte (eggplant fried in canola oil) and it was your usual “tortang talong”.  The server said that it is one of their best appetizers and I believed him! But it was such a simple (and overpriced) dish when it arrived.

 

Fine, let’s try it before judging it (even more). *bite* *munch* *swallow* Okay, done.

First Bite: Paper Moon

Several months back, social media was raving about this quaint pastry shop known for its crepe cakes. Available in flavors such as original, chocolate, mango and strawberry, kids and adults alike flock to the shop like bees toward honey. But since its first shop was located in Makati, its sweet aroma did not reach me till… it opened a branch in SM Aura.

Hello, Paper Moon!

Finally, after so many months, I could now sink my teeth on those soft, delectable layers of thin crepe!

I was rushing to go home when I made a quick stop here and unfortunately had to wait for my turn as the server was busy with a group of indecisive diners. It gave me some time though to take snapshots of the place.

I wanted to get strawberry because strawberry is LOVE but they ran out of slices and I was not willing to splurge PHP350 for a mini cake. (I was still not sure if it’s worth PHP350 so I hesitated.)

I ended up buying a slice of mango crepe (PHP225) and had it prepped to go. (And the server was nice to accommodate my request to have my slice wrapped first as I really had to go home ASAP.)

After giving my tummy some time to digest my heavy dinner, I started to plate my crepe cake and…

Stuck in Seoul: Food Café

Walking around Gyeongbukgong Palace, N Seoul Tower and the shopping streets of Dongdaemun drained me so much that I almost fainted. Then I realized, I wasn’t really tired… I was hungry. After convincing my mom and sister to stop shopping, we finally got out of the shopping mall and headed to… the tourist information center and asked for a nice place to eat. And the friendly staff mentioned Food Café. So off we go to the place they say that serve yummy Japanese dishes.

Hello, Food Café!

This simple food joint is located near the line of malls of Dongdaemun and the Dongdaemun subway station. And since it has a nice location, it was a bit packed with hungry night owls when we got there. Luckily, we easily got seats (and a table of course!).

After browsing the menu, we decided to go with Cheese in Pork Cutlet (7,000 ₩), Seafood Udon (6,000 ₩) and Vegetable Kimbap (3,000 ₩).

Service was quick and first served was the plate of cutlet.

It looked like your usual crunchy pork cutlet but each bite was delightfully cheesy. The melted cheese sure made this katsu a happy pill for the tummy.

I was looking forward to the seafood udon as I was freezing that night! And it did not fail me at all. It was served piping hot and it definitely warmed me, especially my tummy.