First Bite: Naxional South American Diner

Uptown Parade is becoming a foodie destination for those who are up for something different. Though there are only a handful of restaurants in that block, all (except for Sweet Ecstasy) establishments are new. Salvatore Cuomo for one is in that area and it has been attracting serious foodies to have a bite of its mouthwatering pizzas. The Italian joint has created buzz in social media thanks to its showbiz and high society patrons. This is why it would be easy to miss this sweet South American restaurant which opened on the same day as a famous hot dog joint. 

Hello, Naxional South American Diner. 

I must admit, I wasn’t planning to dine here for lunch on a weekday. We were eying Moe’s Southwest Grill’s PHP10 burrito promo but the line was just too crazy. We had to wait for 3 hours if we want to take advantage of the said promo. Since we are mere salarymen and salarywomen, we opted to go elsewhere and that elsewhere turned out to be Naxional. 

Only a few tables were occupied when we got there at 12:30 p.m.. We were greeted by adorable bright coloured wall decals and diner chairs in red. 

We quickly ordered Pollo Peruano (PHP385), Rabo Encendido (PHP350), Carne Desmechada (PHP295) and Picante de Pollo (PHP330). We were told that our food will be served in 25 minutes so it was such a delight when it took them less than 20 minutes to serve our dishes, except for the Picante de Pollo which took a bit over half an hour. 

M’s Carne Desmechada was served first and it looked like a fancier version of corned beef. A dish from Venezuela, it is made of pulled beef short ribs in tomato stew served with white rice and caramelized plantains. I had a bit of the pulled beef short ribs and it did taste like corned beef, only it was more flavorful and not as salty. It was actually pretty good. 

D also liked his Rabo Encendido and said that the dish had a rich taste. He also said that it would have been nice if there was more rice served with it. 

The Picante de Pollo, a dish from Bolivia, was served late. No one complained though as the slow braised chicken with black beans, root vegetables, coconut crème and fried garbanzos was worth the wait. It did look like afritada though and M said that it did taste a bit like it. M’s husband G said that he wasn’t so fond of the coconut crème as its taste did not go so well with the rest of the ingredients. 

I loved my Pollo Peruano. I loved the tender and succulent Peruvian pit chicken. The chicken went so well with the corned rice creating a harmonious salty and sweet taste. 

First Bite: Pink's Hot Dog Manila

I have been counting the days, weeks and months since I heard the news that the legendary Pink's Hot Dog is coming to Manila. I was ecstatic as I know that Pink's has never branched out outside (sounds redundant) Los Angeles. The well-loved hot dog joint has been patronized by foodies and celebrities alike. Heck, even Brad Pitt and Betty White love Pink's! Just knowing I ate the same dish as these A-listers make me feel like a celebrity. Forget the dirty tables and the long wait outside despite 3 degrees temperature. All for the love of hot dogs. 

And so when I found out that Pink's was opening on June 8, I planned out my schedule. I even bugged R's friend K to confirm the date and she said that it was indeed opening on Wednesday. There were also online news outlets claiming the same thing. It was just bizarre though that Pink's Hot Dog Manila's social media pages were not announcing any. I had to confirm as I do not want to waste my energy walking for 20 minutes to be greeted by a closed sign. I decided to message Pink's via its Facebook page. Seenzoned. 

Assertive and with burning desire to know the truth about Pink's opening date, I messaged one of the owners via Instagram. No reply. 

What annoys me is that despite the terrible online customer service, I would still go because it's new and I'm curious. There are times I hate the food blogger in me! 

Finally, it was confirmed that they will open on June 10, Friday. At 5 p.m..

I scheduled to go on Saturday (as I had to be in Quezon City during its opening day) but R got sick so I opted not to go. (It was also because I found out that the line was long and people had to wait for an HOUR to get their hot dogs. I refuse to wait that long.) 

And so I went a few hours ago after work. HELLO PINK'S HOT DOG!!! 

Guess what? There was no line. We managed to order right away and got a table. We ordered The Hollywood Legend (PHP280) and East LA Street Dog (PHP280). Drinks are steep so we just shared one Berry Yuzu (PHP160). 

First Bite: Salvatore Cuomo

Salvatore Cuomo is probably one of the most awaited restaurants this year. Celebrities, high society and foodies alike cannot help but go crazy over this well-known food establishment owned by restauranteur and celebrity chef Salvatore Shigeta or more popularly known as Salvatore Cuomo. I wanted to visit it on its first days of operation but I was eying another restaurant at the same time and went with the latter. I told myself that I will visit it when there’s an occasion given its relatively steep prices for its mouthwatering dishes but with all the positive reviews I read here and there, I just have to visit it ASAP. And I finally did just a few hours ago.

Hello, Salvatore Cuomo!

We were greeted by a black, white and red facade and a small waterfall-like fountain by the entrance. It further established that I was about to enter a not so casual restaurant. 

The inside interior design is more of elegant industrial with the restaurant's leather upholstered wooden furniture pieces and bare ceiling with exposed pipes. There are some lovely drop lights which made the ambiance classy. 

We went for lunch and it sure was packed! We were asked by the host if we made reservations. We didn’t. I didn’t know that it would be this packed given that it is fairly new. But never underestimate the pull of Salvatore Cuomo’s name. We were lucky though that there were two vacant seats by the bar. Since we were already there, we settled with those high stools. 

Given that Salvatore Cuomo is known in Japan as “The Pizza Man”, it just makes sense if we order pizza. We got Margherita (PHP680). We also ordered Zuppa di Funghi e Gamberetti (PHP390) and Tiramisu with Pistachio Gelato (PHP380). I wanted to try its reasonably priced steaks (prices range at PHP800-1,500) but we decided to stick with a few dishes as we weren’t that hungry. 

It was expected that service wouldn’t be at its peak as the place was very busy. All servers were on the move. But our soup arrived within the 15 minute mark. I had to ask for the noteworthy complimentary bread basket though as they didn’t serve any before our soup. (It arrived after serving the pizza and after following up thrice.)

The soup may be expensive but they sure did not scrimp on the ingredients. The soup was thick and the mushroom taste was strong. I loved that there were bits of mushroom to bite on instead of it being too grainy causing my throat to itch. The sautéed shrimps were good too. It was fresh and complemented the thick soup. I also liked the drops of sour cream giving the dish a tinge of tanginess. 

Foodie Alert: Happy Lemon's Bubble Waffles

I have been seeing the mouthwatering eggette or egg waffle of Happy Lemon for quite a while now. The first store I know selling it is Egg-It in Kapitolyo. But I hardly visit the area now so I never had the chance to visit it. So just imagine my excitement when I found out that I do not have to brave the traffic just to go to Kapitolyo or to Makati (to visit The Dessert Kitchen or Milk Trade). Can’t picture it? Just think of a cat person wearing everything with cat prints who never had a cat but wanted a cat and eventually got a cat. Yes, that type of crazy happiness.

But the lukewarm reviews on Happy Lemon’s eggette made me delay my visit to the nearest store. It took me nearly two weeks before I braved the sun and visited the Happy Lemon branch in High Street. 

I asked the server if they have eggette as I didn’t see any signage around. He gave me a puzzled look and I had to repeat what I said. Apparently, he just knows bubble waffle and eggette is unheard of. And so, after a confusing exchange and charades, he told me that they were out of batter. *ugly cry* My 7 minute walk ended up as a waste of time and energy. 

Instead of heading back, I opted to visit Central Square Mall to look for other desserts. I went up to the cinema floor and discovered another Happy Lemon branch! 

I slowly approached the store afraid to hear the words “out of stock”. I hesitantly asked if they have bubble waffle and upon checking the stock, he gave me a sweet yes. *twirls*

When In Hong Kong: Go Crazy Over Salmon!

If I were to choose only one thing to eat the rest of my life, I would choose salmon. I just love it. I love the texture, the color… everything! (Well, except maybe the smell when it is still raw and extremely fishy.) And I saw a gold mine of salmon during our recent Hong Kong trip.

While exploring our hotel’s surrounding area, we noticed that there’s a line of stores near our hotel (located in Causeway Bay, near Canal Road) that sell salmon and hairy crabs. We decided to go to the one that sells ready to eat salmon and got Salmon, Salmon Roe and Sea Urchin with rice (HK$90) and Fried Soft Shell Crab Cutlet with rice (HK$38).

Despite the long queue, service was quick and we got our orders in less than 10 minutes. 

We enjoyed our rice bowls while standing as there were no dining tables or chairs available. They only had those bar tables on the opposite side of the showcases.

I first had a bite of the salmon bowl and it was so good. Though slightly expensive, you’d see that the store was generous with fresh salmon bits. The serving of sea urchin was a tad stingy but it was still okay given the price. The uni was soft and the taste made me reminisce the sea. The veggies added texture and crunch to the dish making it even more scrumptious.

The Fried Soft Shell Crab Cutlet was also delectable but it was quite dry without any sauce. I just wish that it had some salmon or something fresh and not deep fried. Then again… that price tag for one bowl is very attractive.

I wish we have this in Manila. 

First Bite: Wolfgang's Steakhouse

R never fails to make me fat. He suddenly messaged me that we could have a fancy dinner a few days ago and that I could pick any restaurant. I went with this steakhouse in Resorts World Manila. And so, we braved the weeknight traffic (which was intensified by the sudden heavy rainfall) and got to RW Manila a bit past 8.

Hello, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse!

I was surprised to see the steakhouse packed on a weeknight. There were only a few tables left when we got there.

I was ushered to the table near the washroom and after a few minutes, I felt uncomfortable with people walking past me. I also disliked the creaking sound and movement of the floor every time someone steps on the planks. They have to do something with the terrible flooring installation.

I was then moved to another table nearer the bar area and it addressed my first concern but not the second. It seems like the whole place had uneven flooring.

Anyway, back to steaks.

R and I ordered Porterhouse for Two (PHP4,988 | 1kg)  and Filet Mignon (PHP2,958 |450g). We also got Lobster Cocktail (PHP3,688) for appetizer and Jumbo Baked Potato (PHP158) as side dish. I also ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (PHP418) to pair my steak.

While waiting for our meals, we enjoyed the wait basket of warm bread and butter. I loved the soft dinner buns with ham bits.

The lobster cocktail was served next. (Side note: I was quite disappointed with how the server took this order. She was not sure on how much lobster we get per order. I just had to ask as PHP3,688 is pretty steep for an appetizer.) One order comes with one lobster cut in half.

The server assisted us with our first serving of lobster and gave us a dollop of sweet and tangy sauce that came with the cocktail.

Sadly, it wasn’t spectacular and quite forgettable. If only I knew, I would have just ordered another steak.

R’s Porterhouse was served next and it was HUGE! It’s good enough for three hungry individuals!

We had it prepared medium so the center was still a bit bloody when it was served. There were a few dry parts and some were a bit overcooked for medium. Some parts were succulent but not outstanding for me to crave for more.

First Bite: Peperosso

I love to stalk Instagram accounts that focus on food. Several posts make me drool like crazy on a daily basis and when the restaurants that serve those delectable dishes are within my turf, I try to pass by as soon as possible. One of the restaurants featured by a certain food app was Peperosso and it sure made me curious. I immediately messaged my looloo friends R and W and after a few adjustments with our schedules, we finally went.

Hi, Peperosso! 

The place was pretty empty on a Tuesday night. R and I went to the second floor for the servers said that it's the coldest area of the restaurant. 

There was only one other table occupied when we got there and they were having a rather interesting discussion about the latest elections. 

Anyway, since W will be arriving late, R and I decided to order ahead and went with Tartufo (PHP385), Parma Ham and Arugula (PHP290, solo) and Peperosso (PHP300, solo). 

Service was quick and our pasta and Parma Ham and Arugula pizza arrived in less than 15 minutes. The Peperosso pizza arrived 10 minutes after. 

The Peperosso which has ham, mozzarella, spinach, egg, mushroom and Evo as toppings was pretty good. It was a bit oily but flavorful. The crusts were a tad burnt making the dish bitter. 

The Parma Ham and Arugula pizza was slightly bitter too because of the crust and arugula. But the parma ham balanced it with its natural saltiness. 

Love at First Bite: Manam

I have been eying Manam for quite some time now. Anyone who could resist good sisig at an affordable price is not human. Come on, crunchy sisig on sizzling plate at less than PHP200? I’m drooling just thinking about it. After months of planning to visit this place, it finally happened.

Hello, Manam!

The spacious and high ceiling restaurant was barely full at 6:30 p.m.. Diners started to pour around 7 p.m. and it was packed by the time we left. 

It was a good thing that I made a mental list of what to order as we were really famished while browsing the menu. We could have ordered more than we could eat that night. After some “process of elimination” for the other dishes F wanted to try, we finally settled with House Crispy Sisig (PHP135, solo), Overloaded Garlic Bangus Belly (PHP175, solo), Gising Gising (PHP120, solo) and Bagoong Rice (PHP95, solo). F ordered Strawberry + Kamias (PHP115) while I went with Mango + Pomelo + Coconut Cream + Sago (PHP120). 

The drinks arrived first and both looked good.

F’s drink was refreshing yet a bit tangy because of the kamias.

It was balanced though by the strawberries (if it was indeed naturally sweet).   

My drink was like the beverage version of Mango Sago with a hint of pomelo. 

It was delightful yet not exactly thirst quenching. 

The dishes were served right after our drinks and the aroma made us drool.

Foodie Alert: Jollibee Halo-Halo Sundae

The happy bee’s social media accounts posted its newest offerings--Halo-Halo Sundae and Adobo Flakes two days ago and the Jollibee foodie community went crazy! 

It all started when my college friend B posted a photo of Jollibee’s Adobo Flakes “no pork” burger and Halo-Halo sundae at 11 pm. I quickly shared the post with R and as usual, my giddiness died down when R didn’t find it interesting. 

The case is totally different though with my looloo friends. Food excites them (and anything matcha turns most of them wild). R2 and looloo Community Ambassador J were the first ones to try the new offerings and said that it was good. Not exactly superb or drool worthy but not bad for the price you pay. 

I wanted to head to Jollibee after work yesterday to try it but R’s dad wanted to eat out and so I had to head home right after as they’ll pick me up at my place. 

But I finally got to try it earlier for lunch. 

We had some delivered and it arrived like milkshake. (We quickly placed it inside the freezer but it didn’t really help much. It melted even more!)

As for the taste, it was simply vanilla sundae with halo-halo toppings. Nothing more, nothing less.

They scrimped on the toppings as I only got 4 jellies, roughly 6 beans and 4 coconut strings. I also had about 1 cm of langka. And I’m not even exaggerating here. 

Then again, it was a nice treat to help you cool down. Just don’t expect too much.  

Love at First Bite: Toni & Sergio

McKinley is turning into a foodie destination with its new restaurants and beautiful yet still under construction Venice Grand Canal Mall. I decided to reserve a table at Toni &Sergio, a new Italian-Spanish restaurant in the new mall for Mother’s Day after reading about a positive review about the place.

Hello, Toni & Sergio.

We got to the place half an hour earlier than my reservation but we were graciously accommodated by the staff and directed us to the corner table with a couch. Since the place was a bit dark, we moved to the one near the window for some natural light. 

With grumbling tummies, we quickly ordered the following: Truffle Cream Soup (PHP150), Creamy Baked Spinach (PHP200), Paella dela Casa (PHP490) and Lasagna 6 Cheese (PHP520).

While waiting for our food, I admired the restaurant's nice interiors and beautiful tiles. 

The bowl of truffle cream soup was served first and it was not as creamy as I thought. It was quite light in texture but it was definitely flavorful. However, I think it would have been better with some croutons as the soup was a tad too salty to be enjoyed in one sitting. I had to split the bowl with my mom.

The Creamy Baked Spinach was served next and it was delightful. It was just like the one from Cyma. Creamy, cheesy and spinach-y if there is such a term. It was a wonderful dip or topping for the toasted bread. We loved it so much that we asked for more bread which they gave for free.