First Bite: El Corazon

It has been a long while since the last time I dined in Corazon. I remember that it was a family gathering and that we had a scallop fare for lunch. Named as El Corazon in the new Uptown Mall, the homey place still offers Corazon's staple favorites. 

Hello, El Corazon! 

The Hispanic vibe is very evident as soon as you step foot inside the restaurant. Arches, warm hues, adorable wall decors and bricks (washed white for an illusion of bigger space) are the first things you'll notice. 

We arrived around 4 pm for an early dinner and we managed to get a table right away. 

For this meal, we tried Málaga (PHP375), Chorizo Filipino with Egg (PHP345), Gaudi (PHP1,600, whole | PHP850, half | PHP450, quarter) and Paella Valenciana (PHP695). 

First served were the appetizers.

The Chorizo Filipino was served on a small clay pot and came with some warm pandesal. I liked the meatiness of each chorizo slice and how it complemented the potato cubes and fluffy pandesal. 

The egg made the dish thicker and richer.

Málaga was served next and it was my favorite dish from the set. The anchovies were delectably soft and undeniably fresh! I loved the tanginess of the lemon olive oil. It was not overwhelming and was just right to whet the appetite for the mains. (Tip: It is best enjoyed with the toasted crostini for crunch.)

The mains were up next and both were definitely filling! 

The paella was topped with fresh seafood such as prawns, squid and mussels. There were also chunks of chicken, pork and chorizo along with veggies, eggs and lemon wedges. It was served super hot making us very cautious to scoop one or two servings. 

First Sip: Chotto Matte

A trip to Izakaya Sensu is not complete without visiting its neighbor Chotto Matte which means "wait a minute" in Japanese. I failed to ask why they named it such but I think it has the same concept as Brotzeit (which means break). The idea is to slow down and have a drink or two. And this is why Chotto Matte is open from lunch till dinner. 

Hello, Chotto Matte! 

This speakeasy bar seemed to attract a slightly older crowd with its dim lounge-like setting. 

With a huge selection of Suntory beverages, Japanese liquor lovers would go crazy over the wide selections! They have beers, cocktails, mocktails, sake and whathaveyou concoctions like Sakuratini. 🍸

I went with Chu Hi Sours line of beverages which is marketed as great light afternoon drinks. I initially ordered Melon (PHP195) but Andrej (one of the owners of Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte) insisted that we also try Grapefruit (PHP175).

Melon was served first (as Grapefruit was requested after I ordered my drink). 

It was basically a melon-flavored shōchū. (Shōchū is a Japanese traditional hard liquor that typically contains 25% alcohol by volume. It is usually distilled from rice, barley, buckwheat, sweet potatoes or brown sugar.) 

It had a nice hint of melon and it was like drinking a refreshing glass of light beer. Personally, I think that it would have been better if the melon taste was a bit stronger so that I'd have a sweeter drink to pair my meal with. 

First Bite: Izakaya Sensu

I have been waiting for Izakaya Sensu to open for months! Ever since I saw its board up last May, I counted the days, weeks and months that passed. It was no exaggeration at all as I was confident that this restaurant will deliver given that it is under the Raintree group of restaurants. And finally, after confirming that Izakaya Sensu will open on July 9, I cleared my weekend plans just to visit this place. Sadly, the place was not open to the public just yet. July 9 and 10 were exclusive to media and friends of the owners. With a broken heart, I had dinner elsewhere and messaged one of the owners (who used to be a former colleague of mine) how sad I was for not getting my uni sashimi fix. She sure knows how to mend broken hearts though as she asked me to head back if I was still around and that it'll be their treat! Unfortunately, I already had a huge bento for dinner and told her I'll drop by Monday instead. And I did yesterday.

Hello, Izakaya Sensu! 

We were greeted by a well-lit Japanese restaurant with high ceiling adorned with wooden lighting fixtures. 

We sat at the brightest spot best for food shots and ordered the following: SENSU Kawari Kusi 5 (PHP195), Butabara Aspara (PHP60), Butabara Enoki (PHP70), Uni Isobe Age (PHP495), Dragon Roll, Soft Shell Crab Roll and Ebi Tempura Roll (I was so giddy to be finally here that I forgot to take note of the prices but these are within the PHP250-300 price range). 

While waiting, we had a wait snack made of salmon with tuna and veggies. It had a light flavor and was great to whet one's appetite. 

I also managed to have a quick chat with one of the owners, Andrej. He said that originally, the Japanese chef wanted to get all the ingredients abroad and most of the seafood from Tsukiji Market. But that would entail high costs and they would have to charge so much. Luckily, they found some local (and quality) suppliers for some ingredients like uni. But for others like salmon and hamachi, they have to get it elsewhere to ensure top quality dishes . He also told me that they are still testing the waters so Izakaya will be open just for dinner this week and will start to serve lunch meals next week. (Note: They close after lunch service and will resume operations for dinner service. So no Japanese afternoon breaks for now.)

First served was the huge plate with all the rolls. 

I sure had a hard time taking photo of this one so I used magic instead!

Tim Ho Wan Supper Specials for Night Owls

I still remember the crazy long lines of Tim Ho Wan when it opened its first branch in Manila way back 2014.  Fast forward to 2016 with 5 branches, this pork bun heaven has not lost its charm. How could they if they keep on cooking up reasons to make us salivate for more?

Hello, Tim Ho Wan! 

This well-loved one-star Michelin restaurant opened its newest branch in Uptown Mall Bonifacio and it has some new offerings exclusive for its supper menu available from 10 pm to 3 am. Yes, you read that right, until 3 am. This place is an answered prayer for those with sudden odd hour cravings! 

Tim Ho Wan BGC is still exploring the possibility of doing 24/7 run; but for now, here are some dishes you could sample during your midnight run: Sliced Imported Abalone Congee with Chicken and Mushroom (PHP350, 1 pc abalone | PHP500, 2 pcs abalone), Beef Brisket and Tendon Noodles (PHP200), Pork and Vegetable Wonton Noodles (PHP220) and Garlic Fried Fish Skin (PHP190). We also ordered the staples Baked BBQ Pork Buns (PHP145, 3 pcs),  Prawn Dumplings (PHP160, 4 pcs), Dumpling with Spicy Sauce (PHP150, 4 pcs), Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp (PHP120) and Mango Pomelo Sago (PHP120). We also got Iced Tea and Cold Barley Tea (PHP50 each) as drinks. 

First served were the delectable baked BBQ pork buns. The flakey bun with the sweet and tender pork filling sure brought out those pearly whites as it tickled our taste buds. 

The dumplings were served right after. 

The piping hot spinach dumpling made me feel so healthy given the fact that I was munching on veggies. The slight bite of the spinach and shrimps created a nice contrast from the wonton wrapper. It was delicious. If healthy tastes like this, I wouldn't mind having my greens all day long!

Same was true with the prawn dumplings. It was also bang for the buck as Tim Ho Wan does not scrimp on prawns! Each dumpling was packed! Definitely no wonton-wrapper-with meager-filling dumplings here! 

I found a new favorite in dumpling with spicy sauce. (Side story: I usually lose interest when I read the word spicy but R insisted we order one. And I was so glad we did!)

Second Bite: Melt Grilled Cheesery

I still remember how giddy I was when I first visited Melt Grilled Cheesery. With its menu filled with cheesy dishes, it was like I found (cheese) heaven in Uptown Mall. Everything we ordered were great too! It was love at first bite and I was so happy to share my discovery with my family and friends. But some of those who tried the place were not as ecstatic. *insert sad face here*

Hello, Melt Grilled Cheesery!

I managed to convince J and his girlfriend M to visit Melt with me after our pizza dinner. (Yes, I was a happy third wheel on their Friday night date.)

We easily managed to get a table as the place was not as full as its pizzeria neighbor.

We focused on the desserts as we just had dinner and went with Dulce de Lecheese (PHP285), Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (PHP215) and Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (PHP235 which was changed to PHP255 if I remember it correctly).

Service was prompt and house water was served in less than 5 minutes. We were also given a complimentary sandwich from the owners. They also spent time to chat with us and that was when I found out that their bread supplier is Artisan Emporium. 

First Bite: Pepi Cubano

I have been hearing a lot about Pepi Cubano and how good its Cuban sandwiches are. But its location discourages me from trying it out. Then again, the food gods love me and made Pepi Cubano as one of the concessionaires of the Gourmand Market last May 2016. 

Hello, Pepi Cubano! I have read a lot of good reviews about you!

I was giddy to try it out on my second Gourmand Market visit and shared a Pepi Cubano (PHP250) with R. 

The Pepi Cubano was served after a couple of minutes and we were given a few dollops of Traydor Chili Sauce which they were also selling that weekend. 

Restaurant Love: Ippudo

One Sunday morning, R got a message from his dad saying that he’s craving for ramen. Knowing my intense love for food, R’s dad asked me for recommendation. I suggested Ippudo’s newest branch in Uptown Mall. And soon, I found myself rushing to dress up as we were being picked up for lunch.

Hello, Ippudo!

The newest Ippudo branch was busy when we went. All small table were occupied so we settled with the huge communal table. 

Everyone was hungry so we quickly ordered Shiromaru Motoaji Special (PHP495), Akamaru Shinaji Special (PHP495), Karaka-Men Special (PHP495), Beef Ishiyaki Rice(PHP495), Pork Bun (PHP125), Fried Chicken Bun (PHP125), Hakata Style Gyoza (PHP210) and Matcha Crème Brûlée (PHP160). We also got some shakes (PHP110) for drinks.

Service was quick and our gyoza and pork buns were served in less than 10 minutes. 

Uncle H loved the gyoza. It was meaty, succulent and packed with flavor! He liked it so much that he asked me to order another. 

The pork bun was a hit with J. She got half of the bun and ate it blissfully. We also ordered another bun after finishing our first order. 

Sadly, the fried chicken bun did not get the same love as it was hardly touched. It was good though. It was just a bit messy to eat as the fat fried chicken stuffing was a bit too thick for the bun. 

Both R and Uncle H loved their spicy ramen bowls and quietly finished it without sharing with anyone. 

First Bite: Chibo Okonomiyaki

I have been curious about S Maison ever since foodies bombarded Instagram with dishes from Uma Uma and Chibo Okonomiyaki. Since S Maison is not exactly walking distance from where I work, I decided to wait it out a bit. But food gods know better and organized it for me. 

Hello, S Maison!

The place is pretty posh with its high etched ceilings. Most of the retail stores and restaurants are still closed so it’s not fun to visit the new mall just yet. But if you can’t wait to get your hands (or tastebuds) on the talked about ramen and okonomiyaki, then do visit this place… soon. My first stop during my visit is Chibo Okonomiyaki. 

This okonomiyaki place is an upscale version of the well-loved Dohtonbori. The plush couch seats and shiny walls were elegant yet still exude a Japanese ambiance. 

Since this will not be my only stop and because I still had an event to attend to after (and I planned to visit Uma Uma! and Horse’s Mouth), I only ordered Butatama Okonomiyaki (PHP190) and Gyoza Teppan (PHP150). It was so hard to choose as they have a wide range of okonomiyaki and teppan dishes. 

I sat across the teppan area to see the chefs prepare my meal. Unfortunately, since there were only a few guests, they only used the teppan in front of the other diners near me. I had to move to another seat to see my orders get flipped and do all those delectable acrobatic moves. Knowing that it’ll be served a couple of steps away from me, I asked the server to signal me when my food was about to be prepared. After a few minutes, I got the signal from the server and I moved a few seats from mine.

The gyoza was already on the teppan plate and it sure looked flat and sad. This dish was ready in less than 5 minutes. 

It was on the dry side and despite its small size, it cannot be enjoyed in one bite. The thin crispy sides were a bit too wide for the mouth. Believe me, I tried and ended up hurting the sides of my lips. 

Now Open: Freezer Burn

So this happened:

I was planning to head to Locavore for dinner last Friday as I had this intense craving for congee and knowing that Locavore has one with foie gras, I just have to go for it! So I speed walked from work and headed straight to Forbes Town...when I saw my former Yummy magazine colleagues in front of Freezer Burn.

I was super excited to try Freezer Burn's sweets as this dessert shop is the newest baby of the talented duo Chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla (and their awesome partner Charlie Paw) who happen to be the brilliant minds behind hits like Le Petit Souffle, Fowl Bread and Bad Bird. I was counting the days till July 2, the store's opening date to the public. 

As I love being prepared, I asked the Yummy team for their favorite picks and they practically loved everything! I was trying to check the place out when Charlie saw me from the inside. He greeted me and I shared how giddy I am to visit the store tomorrow. And that was when he asked me if I want to sample one...now. OF COURSE!!! 

Hello, Freezer Burn!

Freezer Burn is like a portal to a cool 70's or 80's American ice cream diner. Everything was adorable! The cool color palate is very Instagram-friendly! Even the buzzing wait numbers have the same light and cool color!

Chef Miko and Charlie explained to me why they call the shop Freezer Burn. It is a play of words as each composed dessert (priced at PHP295 each) is a combination of cold treat which is ice cream (freezer) and hot dish (burn). 

After a long while of checking the menu and asking Chef Miko for recommendations, I was torn between Morning Glory (Maple Bacon Ice Cream with Brioche Toast and Popcorn) and Cream of the Crop (Corn and Cheese Ice Cream with Toasted Honey Cake and Cornicks). I was also very interested in Ketchup Mayo Fries (Ketchup and Mayo Ice Cream with Salt Pepper Fries) because I love weird flavors. But I eventually got Morning Glory because of the cotton candy. While waiting, I sampled the chocolate and ketchup mayo ice cream. 

The chocolate ice cream was the best chocolate ice cream I've had to date! It was so rich and as other guests describe it, deadly. It was inspired by the thick chocolate paired with churros. No wonder it was so good!

The ketchup and mayo ice cream was brilliant as well! You could definitely taste the two condiments and both went so well together with the vanilla ice cream base. I get it why they paired it with fries. It was made for those who love eating their sundaes with fries. It was so smart of this group to create such!

My dessert was served after 5 minutes or so and it was not a long wait at all considering that there were a handful of orders before mine.

And it was so pretty. *cries*

First Bite: Mr. Graham's Sandwich Shop

After several Monopoly Deal Millionaires’ Edition games with 4:0 in favor of moi and digesting the macarons, cookie shot and milkshake we ordered from Mrs. Graham’s, R and I move to Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop. With several foodies raving about this shop, we just have to know why. 

Hello, Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop!

The place is small… very small. I didn’t get to check the second floor but the first floor could accommodate a maximum of four guests. The place was also (literally) hot. I’m not sure if the store’s air-conditioning was busted when we visited but I noticed that there was a stand fan trying its best to work its magic to keep the place cool.  

I decided to go with the shop’s bestseller The Cebuano (PHP210, small | PHP380, medium) and had it to go as the place really wasn’t that pleasant and inviting for us to stay. (And R wanted to head back so that we could work out and swim.) 

While waiting, I noticed that some customers just order sandwiches to go as well. Perhaps that’s the market of this shop. This explains why the place isn’t that comfortable. I have to admit though, the wall decals are adorable.

I asked the server to plate the sandwich first so that I could take photos of it. He gladly obliged and served The Cebuano on a wooden plate. I took some shots and had it wrapped.