Restaurant Discovery: Grande Torino

Social media makes me fat. There, I said it. Every time I see a food post, I drool and I always end up asking the postee (is that even a term?) where he or she got that particular dish. Soon, I find myself sitting in the same restaurant giddily munching like there’s no end. And it happened again last weekend. Maybe I will lose weight if I stop checking Instagram and Facebook. Hmm… Nah. Even if I don’t check, I sense it. 

The stop of the day is courtesy of H’s Instagram post. Her caption made me so curious that I just have to change my plan of exploring Teachers Village to a Kapitolyo food trip. Luckily, J was okay with the sudden change (since we plan on having lunch at Blacksoup Café + Artspace). Sorry J for being a fickle-minded foodie.

Presenting… Grande Torino.

The place was a bit away from the bustling area of restaurants of Kapitolyo. You can surely miss this restaurant if you have no idea that there’s an Italian restaurant in this area as it is slightly hidden with only Smile Elephant Thai Restaurant as the other restaurant nearby.

If I recall it right, there was only one other table occupied when we arrived and it was lunch time on a Saturday. I guess the place is still yet to be discovered.

The friendly waitress guided us on what to order and we went with the following: Patè  di tonno (PHP65), 4 Stagoni (PHP490), Filetto (PHP350/100 grams with 300 grams as minimum order), and Green Apple Yoga juice (PHP120) while J had wine.

Service was rather quick. First served were our drinks and I was surprised (and felt rather dumb too) to find out that Italian Yoga Juice meant that the brand is Yoga and it came from Italy. I thought it was something preferred by yogis! The server gave me another glass, this time with water as she mentioned that the juice is too concentrated. It was fine with me though.

Next served was the appetizer. To be honest, the patè lacks taste. I coudn't taste the tuna and anchovies. In short, it was forgettable.

The angus beef tenderloin filet was served next and to our surprise, it was plated in a very simple manner. It made me wonder if that's how steaks should be served and I was just lack culture in my blood. (Will Yakult do the trick? Fine, it's a corny joke.)

Restaurant Love: Borough

It has been quite a while since I last saw R. I always organize the reunions of BOP 2008, a competition I attended way back in college, but for some reason, the reunions can hardly be called successful. *hurt*  But since R and I already blocked our Saturday that week, we decided to push through. Date. <3  

Since our minds and tummies were set on having dinner at Borough, we went on with the plan. R was very excited with the Milk and Cookies and I really miss it too. 

The place was half full when we arrived and we got the table near the stairs. We ordered Baked Mac N Cheese (PHP320) to share while R ordered the Adobo Sandwich and I got the Salmon and Brown Rice (PHP490). We also ordered Serendipity 3 (PHP200/glass), an alcoholic version of the popular Frozen Hot Chocolate of Serendipity Café in New York.

Serendipity 3 arrived first and I really tried to resist as I have nothing in my tummy the whole day. (Yes, it is quite hard to believe but it did happen and I will NEVER let it happen ever again!)  

Anyway, I gave in and had a sip. I was surprised that the chocolate syrup and chocnut taste was very faint. I guess Absolut Vodka’s taste is something difficult to hide.

Next served was the Baked Mac N Cheese and it was as yummy as ever. I loved the rich cheesy flavor. Served fresh from the oven made all the difference too as every forkful means a battle with the stretchy cheese. Slightly annoying but a very wonderful sight. 

Our dishes arrived next.

Restaurant Love: Balboa (Take 3)

I love Balboa. In fact, I think this is my third entry on the restaurant. I ate there around 6 times already and I still crave for more. I have the Balboa addiction! But I have finally moved on from my crazy fascination over its Roasted Chicken. This time, I tried other dishes.

F sent me a random message about Balboa one Friday night and asked if I want to try the place out. Since I had no plans for lunch that day, we agreed to meet and K joined us as well.

I arrived a bit late (because I had to finish my weekend chores first) and F and K were halfway done with their meals. But given that I love to order a complete meal, I ordered a bowl of Cream of Squash (PHP209), Smoked Salmon (PHP348), and Carrot Pineapple (PHP138). I also ordered an Espresso Cheesecake (PHP228) for sharing.

 

My cream of squash was not as smooth as I wanted it to be but it sure was creamy and thick. It was sweet and slightly salty just the way I prefer it to be. I enjoyed it with my toast.

Finally... Da.u.de

I have always wanted to visit Da.u.de for the longest time but every single time I visit, a CLOSED signage greets me. Every. Single. Time. However, I never give up. If I want something, I will do what it takes to get it. Determination!

C and I agreed to have lunch over a silent chat (weird!) last May 1 and since I get to suggest where we’ll have lunch, I suggested Da.u.de simply because I just have to eat there (fine, and have my photo taken with their adorable mustache glass mugs). Luckily, C decide to call first to check if the store was open last May 1 and my bad luck was still with me as they were closed that day. Then again, C was told that they actually have another branch near A. Venue and it was open to feed the hungry tea fanatics. Yahoo!

It was surreal when I stepped in. Finally, I get to try Da.u.de after so many failed attempts.

The place was empty when we arrived. The food selection was limited so I opted to have a Salmon + Cream Cheese (PHP275) while C had Mushroom Mascarpone (PHP370).

First served was our tea which came with a plastic tea pot with a hole on its base. Apparently, you have to put it on top of the tea cup and it pours the filtered tea in an instant. It was like magic! (That or I just get easily impressed. )

First Bite: Edgy Veggy

It was yet another T2 dinner and since I have this it-has-to-be-near-me-or-else-I-will-not-show-up rule, J and I decided to have dinner somewhere near my place. One place that caught my interest was Edgy Veggy. They joined Yummy Eats before but I never had the chance to try their food simply because I was too busy... not eating. (Can you believe that?!) Since we have not tried the restaurant's dishes before, we opted to have our 14th of the month dinner there instead.

Hello, Edgy Veggy!

It took me a long while before paying the place a visit simply because it sounded so healthy and I have never been a fan of healthy (tasting) food. But since I was feeling A LOT heavier these past months, I finally convinced myself and J to have dinner here.

The place is pretty small and could only accommodate around 10-15 people maximum at a time. (Well, they do deliver though.) The menu is also very simple and doesn't offer a wide selection of dishes but good enough to cover the basics. 

J went for the Moroccan Rice Meal (PHP230) while I ordered the Spinach Pasta (PHP175), Fried Risotto Balls (PHP160) and Pineapple Shake (PHP100).

The risotto balls were served first and it was surprisingly delightful. Béchamel infused risotto balls with three kinds of mushroom wrapped in crispy panko crust and paired with marinara sauce was a winning combination. The flavors were light and it sure worked as a great appetizer.

Restaurant Love: Wooden Spoon

I've heard of Wooden Spoon from my great friend N and from my colleague M. I still remember how M described one of the dishes...  
“Tilapia that tastes like Crispy Pata” to which we all reacted... “Really now?” Yes, we were pessimistic foodies then. 

My favorite Dragon Lady and I celebrated Children’s Day last May and planned on having a kiddie lunch as well. Unfortunately, most of the restaurants in Rockwell do not really offer much variety for kids except for the usual Jollibee and McDonald’s. While on the lookout, we 
spotted Wooden Spoon and I remembered M’s happiness when he shared his find, “Crispy Pata Fish”. I admit, I was really curious with 
that so I asked T if we could have lunch there instead and she agreed.

The place wasn’t packed given it was 3 p.m. when we got there. We noticed though that the crowd seemed to be a bit... more mature.

Ordering was a breeze as we were famished. We decided to go with Crispy Pata Fish (PHP245, small), Shrimp Pampango (PHP239), 
Garlic Rice (PHP125), Reyna Blanca (PHP75) and Iced Tea (PHP55).

The Crispy Pata Fish did not disappoint. It looked like your usual fish but the texture was totally different. It had the crispy yet slightly 
chewy skin. The flesh was tender and flavorful. It tasted just like your usual crispy pata but healthier.

Restaurant Love: Black Sheep

I am not a picky eater but one thing I am allergic to would be "expensive" food. I guess I have the I-could-eat-this-much-which-is-a-lot-instead-of-spending-it-with-this-one-pricey-dish. Okay, I still blame my Bistecca experience. It really affected how I view restaurants serving expensive dishes. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind spending a few thousands for a nice lunch or dinner. But if I walk out with a sad or still hungry tummy, I turn into an angry foodie. Thus, it took a bit of convincing before I finally gave in to try...

Hello, Black Sheep!

Located at the Penthouse of W Building at the 32nd and 5th, it definitely doesn't sound like casual dining. I was surprised though that the place wasn't as uptight as I thought. (In fact, despite not knowing, I opted to wear a summer dress and flat sandals.) 

The host guided us to our table and handed our personalized menu. (As a sucker for anything personalized, they get 5 stars already!) I also like that despite getting a specific set, we still have a freedom to choose some appetizers, mains, etc. 

First served was the Chicken and Egg. Charmingly plated, it was a piece of deep-fried chicken, marinated in soy and topped with salmon roe and submerged in raw egg. I was iffy at first to try it as I have never tried gulping raw egg. But since it looked divine, I gave it a go and I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was flavorful and slightly crisp and the remaining liquid was warm and slightly sweet. 

This was followed by a bowl of warm Tocino Bread. It was light and sweet because of the tocino bits.

Served next was the Longganisa Ice Cream. What made me go crazy over this dish was the fact that they were able to capture all the tastes you get from eating a longsilog. Aside from the sweet and meaty taste of longganisa, there was also the crispy black rice, pork flakes, and even the tangy taste of vinegar. It was an amazing dish! The vinegar was turned into this jelly base that made me smile like a fool while finishing it. I also ate the flower!

Restaurant Discovery: Open Kitchen by 48 Concepts

I'm glad that my friends remember me when they want to try a new place. I got to reconnect with a few schoolmates because of my passion for food and I get to meet new people because of it as well. Food is definitely L-O-V-E.

K has been asking that we do a food trip soon but our schedules never match. But it finally did one Sunday and E, a schoolmate one batch higher, joined us as well. It was a little School of Management reunion of three generations.

 

Since I tried almost every restaurant in Kapitolyo, I get to pick where we'll feast and I chose Open Kitchen by 48 Concepts as I have never been there and I have read great reviews about this place.

The place is pretty small but definitely cozy. Parking, just like with the other restaurants, is a challenge but it's not really an issue if you live around the area. But what made me smile like a fool were the small stick men on the bricks! I find it adorable.

K and E were already munching on Sausage Saute (PHP285) when I arrived. The sausages were rather flavorful and meaty and I enjoyed every bite of it.

After a short chit chat, we decided to order. K went for a burger (which I totally forgot but I believe it was lamb burger). E went for the Rosemary Beef Shanks (PHP530) while I ordered Pumpkin Vanilla (PHP140), Tuna Tartar (PHP185), Anise Pork Belly (PHP420) and Green Goblet for my beverage.

First served was the Pumpkin Vanilla which was presented in an amazing manner. It was served as plated scoop of Vanilla ice cream then the server started to pour hot pumpkin soup. 

Heart-shaped Burgers: Murray and D'Vine

I have this huge thing for hearts. I don't really know why but ever since I was young, I get attracted to anything shaped like a heart (not the human heart, just so we're on the same page). I used to have a lot of shirts with hearts printed on it. I also used to have a lot of accessories with heart pendants, charms, and what not. I also went crazy over Papa John's heart-shaped pizza. And I have this glowing heart pin I used to wear every Heart's Day. I guess it has something to do with being me being a February baby.

My favorite Dragon Lady, T, told me that there's a restaurant that serves heart-shaped burgers and we agreed to have a date there and murder a burger or two. But I didn't expect to visit the place sooner when I ran out of ideas during my trip there with J. 

Hello there, Murray and D'Vine.

The place was pretty dark when we went so I thought it was closed and I was already planning to recommend my favorite restaurant in Serendra, Mesclun, as an alternative. But the friendly server approached us and told us that they were open. So, I guess it was destiny. Hello, heart-shaped burger. <3

We opted to dine upstairs as it was cooler there. The server gave us a bell to use to call them. Pretty cute but it clashes with the whole concept of the restaurant. Anyway...

It took us quite a bit to order as we were distracted by the shape of the food. After a while, I decided to go for the Ostrich Burger (PHP565) while J went for the Aussie Burger (PHP515). We also ordered a glass of drink each (and unfortunately, I forgot what it's called but we got it for less than PHP100 each if I recall it right).

First served were our drinks which were pretty decent. The drinks had a slight kick but nothing to make one woozy.

Detective 101: Mystery Manila

I have been going crazy over Mystery Manila and I was quite surprised that I had a hard time finding friends to drag to this fun place. Luckily, I saw a post of one of my former colleagues saying that she will go with her boyfriend. I put my thick face on and asked if I could tag along. (Yes, third/fifth/seventh wheeling is my hobby.) They agreed and as soon as we set on a date, it was game on. Woo hoo~ 

I think we were a bit too excited as we arrive 45 minutes before our schedule. A, being the “cool” one, suggested that we kill some time inside the car as to not look too eager. But after 20 minutes, we decided to go in.

The mystery we tried

The place was surprisingly small. I noticed that there are only three rooms and two of which are for the two stories while one serves as their office. There was also a chalkboard wall where they write down the top 10 teams with the fastest time in solving the case. A, M and I thought really hard on what our name should be and I really want the name “Do Not Erase” with the hope that they will never erase it. Anywaaaay…

We were greeted by the friendly staff and asked us where we’re from and offered some refreshments. (I had to ask if that’s a clue since I was in my detective mode as soon as I entered. Well, it was just iced tea and water. Nothing more.)

The rewards if you get to solve the mystery!!!

Yummy Eats 2014 Countdown: 33 days to go!!!

33 days to go before the yummiest event of the year! Yummy Eats is back with more food finds to satisfy our ever growing discriminating taste buds.

 

I just love it that every single concessionaire that is part of the event offers amazing (and I mean AMAZING) dishes as each concessionaire is carefully screened by Yummy’s editorial team. Yummy Eats is definitely not an event for all as several do not make the cut. So you are guaranteed to have happy tummies when you leave the venue.

Looking back, I always look forward to March as that’s the time when Yummy starts to screen the concessionaires. Different kinds of food fill the pantry for us to savor. And the best thing was… it was part of our job! We were actually working while enjoying those yummy dishes. Oh how I miss those days.

Anyway, I believe Yummy has been announcing some of the participants this year through its Facebook page so make sure you like Yummy magazine’s page for updates!

I am hoping my favorites Mochiko, Pepita’s Lechon, Crunchy Belly, and Pio’s Kitchen will join again!

I am so excited for the biggest foodie event of the year! See you all soon! :D

P.S. They are offering the tickets at really really (did I mention really?) affordable prices. Get your ticket at PHP250 if you buy through Yummy.ph (<--click now!!!). If you get 5 tickets, one is free as you just have to pay for PHP1,000. Now how sweet is that?