Eat – Page 100 – Jellybeans in the City

Get your ultimate cup of tea at Ultrakappu, Old Balara

Just when you thought that the milk tea business has reached its peak, here comes a new player in the market that has something quite novel to introduce: healthy beverage options.

That is not something most people go to milk tea joints for but for John and Anna Pelino, who are both on keto diets, having sugar-free and keto-friendly choices available in their milk tea bar is essential.

Found in a residential area along South Zuzuaregui Street in Old Balara, UltraKappu was borne out of the couple’s trip to Taiwan (originally to take their young toddler to see the pandas) into a week-long milk tea party. Finding a particular taste in Taiwanese milk tea that they wanted to bring back home, they soon set up shop in Quezon City with the help of Anna’s brother Mark, further fueling the milk tea craze in the metro.

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited UltraKappu’s flagship store to discover what sets it apart from other milk tea establishments.

One: The brand has Japanese-inspired origins

Unlike most milk tea places in the country that translate their Taiwan origins to their local operations, UltraKappu got its (very loose) inspiration from Japanese superheroes. UltraKappu (or “urutorakappu”), in fact, translates to “ultra cup” in Japanese.

Even the store is marked with Japanese-style minimalism. Two sets of cafe-style tables and chair and bar stools provide seating adequate for around ten people. The store logo is boldly emblazoned in orange against the dark grey background, while the TV plays the store’s music video starring cosplayers dressed as Japanese-style anime girls enjoying their favorite drinks.

However, all the milk tea ingredients are imported from the motherland of milk tea, Taiwan.

Two: A milk tea place for the health conscious?

You would think that “milk tea” and “healthy” are two mutually exclusive concepts but John and Anna are adamant that their store be able to offer, not only supercharged versions of beverages already available in the local food scene, but also guilt-free and ultimately healthier drink choices.

How exactly?

For one thing, they offer sugar-free drinks, suitable for those on keto diets, such as Bulletproof Black, Bulletproof White, Bulletproof Mocha and Almond Milk Tea.

Bulletproof coffee is a drink consisting of brewed coffee, grass-fed unsalted butter and medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) coconut oil, all healthy ingredients that are low in sugar but high in good energy.

Diners can even request to see the macros of these drinks such as the amount of calories, fat, carbs and protein they contain to make sure these fall within their daily intake levels.

Also, instead of just adjusting sugar levels of their other drinks, the staff can take out sugar altogether. For additional Php10 to the price of your kappu order, they will use a sugar substitute with zero net carbs and zero sugar.

Lastly, UltraKappu has an Ala Carte Menu that allows diners to build their own healthy milk tea from scratch. With a base of either assam black tea or jasmine tea, diners can pick and choose toppings they can add to their drink which include, pearls, salty cream, cloud (a cream foam that adds texture to the drink), Oreo crumbs, egg pudding, grass jelly, popping boba (with yogurt inside), nata, konnyaku (low-carb blocks of jelly-like extract from a type of root crop), MCT oil and butter.

Standout drinks for me include:

Bulletproof Mocha (Php130 small | Php140 medium). I didn’t expect to find this so creamy! While it’s not as sweet as my regular coffee drinks, I can definitely taste a certain milky richness.

Super Soy (Php115 medium | Php125 large). Imagine your favorite taho drink supercharged with boba pearls and caramel.

Brown Sugar Boba Milk (Php100 medium | Php110 large). Ooh, that intense toasty brown sugar caramel distributed in creamy milk tea!

Oreo Matcha (Php130 medium | Php140 large). I’m not so into matcha drinks so I was surprised that this one appealed to me. It’s really because its taste is not as intensely herby as other matcha drinks I’ve tasted, and the Oreo crumbs serve to add sweetness and texture to the drink.

Salty Cream Pudding (Php130 medium | Php140 large). The creamy milk tea with an added dimension of the sweet-salty taste of salty cream and the mild sweetness of egg pudding.

Now, aren’t you glad you have more (and healthier) choices for your milk tea fix? Drop by UltraKappu to get your own ultimate cup of milk tea goodness today!

UltraKappu is located at 2nd Floor, Bali Garden Residences, Zuzuarregui Street, Matandang Balara, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 10pm.

No time to drop by the store? Have your drink delivered by Lalamove! Contact UltraKappu through its Facebook or Instagram pages to order.

Check out my reviews of other milk tea joints:

Uncover hidden delights at HidN Lounge, Tomas Morato

Along Quezon City’s Scout Rallos Street, quite some distance from the busy hustle and bustle of Tomas Morato Avenue, is a hidden haven for food and drink lovers.

It’s quite appropriately named, too: HidN Lounge. From the outside, apart from its subtle signage, it looks like any normal house. Step inside, though, and you will find a well-appointed space suited for getting together with friends for dinner or after-work beers, or for enjoying your solitude along with your choice of bar chow and cocktails while being serenaded by the mellow tunes of an acoustic band.

With the help of her parents, owner Kat Kierulf transformed her grandmother’s house into a cozy and comfy watering hole where Quezon City’s denizens can lounge about to relax and have fun, two activities so highly prized given today’s hectic lifestyle. Dim lights, eclectic decor and comfortable furniture form areas where you can have some privacy and stay hidden.

Together with my foodie buddies from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I visited HidN Lounge (and passed it by as I was driving, because it is, you know, hidden) to see and taste what it had to offer.

These included:

Roti Canai with Curry Sauce (Php140). I’m not a fan of curry but I liked dipping the warm, chewy bread in the mildly sweet curry sauce.

Spicy Tofu (Php165). Tofu cubes stir-fried in a sweet and spicy sauce. Another dish that had me reaching for the bowl again and again.

HidN’s Caldereta (Php395). An old family recipe of Kat’s mom, Ina, this features tender beef pieces stewed in a rich tomato sauce with potatoes and bell peppers, topped with cheese.

Kare Kare Bagnet (Php395). Crispy slices of bagnet from Ilocos on a bed of rich and savory kare kare peanut sauce and accompanied by succulent lightly boiled greens.

Sinuglaw (Php395). The marriage of sinugbo and kinilaw led to this ceviche-type dish made with with grilled pork belly and fresh tuna made drenched in spiced vinegar and topped with salted egg. A great palate cleanser to nibble on in between richer dishes.

Gambas (Php425). Succulent whole shrimp in sauteed in garlic and olive oil. Great by itself as an appetizer or paired with rice. Personally, I was half-tempted to ask for more bread so I can scrape every bit of that flavorful garlicky olive oil from the cast-iron pan.

Lengua Salpicao (Php395). Ox tongue cooked to absolute tenderness and marinated in garlic served with olive oil. A definite winner for me.

Classic Pork Sisig (Php235). A staple among practically all Filipino restaurants, the pork sisig makes it appearance here accompanied by a sunny-side-up fried egg and some chopped liver.

Crispy Adobong Kambing (Php390). Goat meat tenderized, marinated adobo-style, deep-fried for crispiness and accompanied by garlic flakes. Not a bad intro to goat-based viands.

HidN Agenda (Php330). Ten different spirits combined together in a large goblet and set aflame right before your eyes. This is definitely not for lightweights: with just a little sip, you can feel the drink warm its way down your throat. I couldn’t finish my itty-bitty shot glass of this drink. If you’re a seasoned drinker and you’re feeling adventurous, give this drink a try.

21st State Cocktail (Php260). A dessert cocktail made with cognac and coffee liqueur and sprinkled with shaved chocolate on top, this drink is sweet and with a mild buzz. Definitely my kind of drink!

Having uncovered this hidden gem just a little distance from my workplace, I’m already thinking of after-work get-togethers and office celebrations that can be held here. It’s such nifty place to hide away in.

Many thanks to Kat and Ina Kierulf, as well as the wonderful staff of Hidn Lounge, for the great food and drinks, and the warm welcome!

HidN Lounge is located at 21 Scout Rallos Street, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 6pm to 2am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9824422, +63 917 8592355 or +63 917 8850718.

Did you know you can buy two drinks and get the same two drinks for free at HidN Lounge through Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks.

Disclosure: Together with my fellow foodies, I was invited to join a foodie meetup held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Alternative Filipino Cuisine at Abbiocco, Paligsahan

Do you remember that warm, comforting and sleepy feeling you get after a big and satisfying meal?

Well, the Italians call that feeling “abbiocco,” after which Quezon City’s newest restaurant is named.

To live up to its name, Abbiocco Alternative Filipino offers up classic favorites and imaginative reinventions of Pinoy dishes in large servings best enjoyed with others, from intimate get-togethers to large, full-scale celebrations. These well-loved viands honor local and authentic flavors while incorporating contemporary elements and techniques that reinvigorate old recipes.

Abbiocco even included Italian, Spanish and other Western selections to its menu, signifying not just the influences these had on Filipino cuisine but also the growing cosmopolitan tastes of Filipino diners.

Together with my foodie friends, I was lucky enough to join an exclusive preview of what Abbiocco has to offer. During our food tasting event, we were able to try delectable dishes such as:

Soups (sabaw):

House Kalabasa Soup (Php198). Pureed pumpkin and diced biscocho make this a mildly sweet yet savory cream soup.

Cream of Tomato with Malunggay Pesto (Php198). Tomatoes and malunggay pesto enhanced with cream and crispy toast make this a fresh start to the meal.

French Onion Soup (Php198). In this localized version of the French dish, caramelized red and white native onions, fresh thyme and rosemary leaves are incorporated in a beef stock base and topped with a layer of melted cheddar cheese.

Appetizers (pampagana):

Fried Shrimps in Salted Egg Sauce (Php388). The trend of adding salted egg yolks in dishes is in full swing in this dish. The shrimps are plump and succulent while the salted egg sauce is subtle enough not to be too overpowering.

Kinilaw na Tanigue sa Calamansi (Php298). I usually associate this local version of ceviche with bar chows and drinking parties but, as demonstrated by Abbiocco, it serves well as an appetizer, too.

Salad (ensalada):

Abbiocco’s Ensalada ala Anton (Php348). In this localized version of the Ceasar salad, romaine and iceberg lettuce are tossed with smoked bacon bits, biscocho, sundried local tomatoes, parmesan cheese and house-made dressing.

Sandwiches:

Abbiocco’s Triple Decker Sandwich (Php358). Roasted chicken breast, scrambled native eggs, smoked bacon and lechon kawali are layered over each other along with cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes with calamansi and garlic mayo in between whole wheat bread slices.

Mains:

6 Hours Braised Lamb Shank (Php1,888). A shanknof lamb is slow cooked for six hours to achieve that falling-off-the-bone level of tenderness then doused in curry sauce and served with Abbiocco rice and side vegetables. The lamb is notably missing that gamey flavor and is well complemented by the mildly spicy curry sauce which makes this – surprisingly – my favorite among the dishes served.

Pinoy BBQ Baboy Back Ribs (Php698). Lean pork ribs is slow-cooked to tenderness, marinated in local lime, soy sauce and honey and served with garlic mashed potato, whole kernel corn and buttered vegetables.

Anton’s Salted Egg Fried Chicken Wings (Php348). Crispy chicken wings are coated in salted egg sauce then served with Mango Avocado Salsa.

Seafood Kare-Kare sa Gata (Php798). Mixed seafoods and vegetables are cooked in a rich peanut sauce and served with bagoong.

Pasta Crema Carbonara (Php348). Firm spaghetti noodles are tossed in a sauce made of egg, caramelized local onions, queso de bola, smoked bacon and pepper.

Desserts (pahimagas):

Leche Flan (Php168). The homegrown version of the creme caramel dessert, made very sweet with condensed milk with a bit of citrusy flavor from dayap rind.

Halo Halo (Php228). This traditional dessert of shaved ice, evaporated milk and other sweetened ingredients is perfect for a hot summer day. I prefer mine without the pinipig, though.

Beverages:

Mocktails (non-alcoholic drinks). Virgin Mojito (lime, mint leaves and soda water), Tornado Twist (Grapes, Tresec and Soda Water) and Shirley Temple (raspberry syrup and fizzy lime soda).

If you’re looking to reinvigorate your relationship with Filipino food, look no further than Abbiocco!

Thanks to the lovely folks of Abbiocco for the warm welcome and the fine food!

Abbiocco Alternative Filipino is located at G/F Metro Stonerich Building, 3 Scout Rallos St. corner Mother Ignacia Street, Bgy. Laging Handa Quezon City, open daily from Sundays to Thursdays from 11am until 11pm, and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 9892350.

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I attended a food tasting event held here wherein food and drink items were served to allow us to sample the fare. These were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo Gives You More Delicious Options at Budget-Friendly Prices

Just when you thought you’ve experienced all there is to it when it comes to ramen dining, in comes another concept from the same company that gave you the Tsukemen experience.

Infinity Foods Alliance, the firm behind Mitsuyado Sei-men: The House of Tsukemen, recently opened a cafeteria-style ramen shop at the Japan Town of Top of the Glo in Glorietta 2 that is reminiscent of the noodle houses in Japan.

Mitsuyado Seimen is a concept that originated from Tokyo, Japan. It specializes in Tsukemen (dipping noodle). This is what it has been known for in the Philippines for the past six to seven years. It is known for making good quality thick noodles for Tsukemen. For Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo, meanwhile, uses good quality thin noodles.

“Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo is a ramen house where you can choose your own ramen and pair it with your preferred topping,” explained Judy Kay C. Ang, representative of Infinity Food Alliance.

Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo was born because the company wanted to offer a fast-paced restaurant to satisfy the ramen cravings of Filipinos. In the Philippines, ramen has been priced on the average of P400-P500 per bowl. Through Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo, it wants to bring ramen appreciation to a price level that is more affordable, which is about only P180 per bowl.

Their ramen offerings include the Hakata Ramen, a pork-based broth that originated from the Hakata District of Fukuoka in Kyushu in southern Japan. They also have the white original Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen, Red Spicy Ramen (which makes use of the Japanese spice, karashi), Black Garlic, and Green Matcha.

To add variety to the ramen they ordered, customers are encouraged to customize it by selecting from various favorite Japanese toppings. Choices include the Charsiu, Sukiyaki, Ajitama, and Boneless Pork Chop, among others. Ang said that there are currently 10 to 12 toppings, and this number can increase in the coming months.

“We want to offer something different to the popular ramen, and we want it to be very affordable. At Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo, customers can enjoy good quality noodles at very budget-friendly prices,” said the company’s Marketing and Customer Care Specialist April Faith Alquiroz.

Now, if you want to enjoy your ramen with other popular Japanese food on the side, you can do, too! For Filipinos who love rice, meanwhile, there are donburi options available. There are the Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl Don, Ebi Tempura Don, Chicken Karaage Don, Boneless Porkchop Don, and Gyoza to choose from.

Ang said that after their Glorietta ramen shop, they will be opening another Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo in Vertis North. In the coming months, they will also be unveiling a CoCo ICHIBANYA Curry House in Top of the Glo before the end of the year.

Infinity Foods Alliance is among the many companies focusing on Japanese concept restaurants by entrepreneur Hubert Young, who has been credited for growing the UCC Coffee chain in the Philippines. He is also set to open the biggest Japanese fast food burger chain Mos Burger in the last quarter of the year.

Mitsuysado Ramen Shokudo is located at Top of the Glo, Roofdeck, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm.

Restaurant details and images provided by Mitsuyado Ramen Shokudo in a recent press release.

Yummy and healthy eats at Nomi Cafe, BGC

Being a foodie, I find that when given a choice between what is flavorful and what is healthy, I would usually go for flavor. For me, eating is not just something I do to nourish my body; it is also something I do to calm my mind, soothe my soul or warm my heart.

The thing is: sometimes, there doesn’t have to be a line between flavor and health. At Nomi Cafe, for instance, Japanese food are prepared using fresh produce and premium ingredients to present diners with a meal that whets their appetite while helping them keep themselves healthy.

On our way to our staycation, I took my mom and my daughter to Nomi Cafe in Bonifacio Global City. (Yes, we’re three generations of women out for good food and good vibes!)

We liked the chill, casual and relaxing vibe of the place, from the use of pastel colors, the fun sayings on the walls, to the faux greens under the glass tables that give diners a feeling of nature and freshness.

One of Nomi’s founding partners, Take, was there to tell us more about the cafe’s origins. Take and his friends synergized what they like about their favorite modern Japanese cafes in Kyoto, Osaka and Kyoto, and brought about Nomi Cafe in Bonifacio Global City to a receptive Filipino dining public.

We were able to enjoy some of Nomi Cafe’s yummy and healthy offerings such as:

Beef Me Up (Php350). A balanced bowl of sauteed beef tenderloin, roasted garlic, broccoli, bell peppers, mixed greens, olives and soy garlic dressing on top of steamed Japanese rice, this is perfect for my mom who’s into getting more veggies in her meals. If she wanted to, she could have opted to replace the rice with brown rice or cauliflower rice.

My mom paired this rice bowl with a Berry Power Up (Php180), one of Nomi Cafe’s low-fat smoothies. This drink is made of strawberry, blueberry and acai shipped from Brazil which are then blended with coconut water and yoghurt. This, and the other drinks we ordered, also make use of earth-friendly bamboo straws which makes my environmentally aware daughter very happy.

Pork Katsu Curry Rice (Php330). My daughter has been craving for Japanese curry for some time now, so it’s fortunate that she chanced upon this dish. The katsu pieces were tender and tasty and well complemented by the potato, carrots and curry sauce.

My baby girl, who also happens to be a matcha connoisseur, opted for a Matcha Weight Loss Smoothie (Php190), a banana smoothie infused with organic match flown in from Japan, to enjoy with her rice meal.

Tantanmen (Php395). In yet another instance that proves my #RamenPhase is here to stay, I opted for this spicy and hearty ramen given the day’s sudden burst of rainfall (which, thanks to the inconstant weather deities, dried up by the end of our meal). Tantanmen gets its richness from the sesame seeds and paste incorporated in the soup flavored with ginger, spring onions and other aromatics. Together with the bits of ground pork and tamago, it presents a complex flavor that I just can’t resist.

I got myself a Mango Madness (Php180), made with fresh mangoes mixed with bananas, coconut water and cinnamon to cool and refresh my palate after the Tantanmen.

Nomi Style Cheesecake (Php250/slice). For dessert, we treated ourselves with this confection composed of matcha cheesecake on a graham cracker crust topped with a rich matcha-flavored mousse.

Thanks to the wonderful folks of Nomi Cafe for this fun foodie adventure with my favorite girls!

Nomi Cafe is located at Ground Floor, W City Center, 30th Street corner 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 12 midnight and Sundays from 12 noon to 8pm.

Disclosure: Our meal was sponsored by Nomi Cafe as a way for us to sample the fare in exchange for an honest review.

Happy fam brunch at Over Easy, Marikina

When we think of brunch, we think of ladies leisurely eating a meal while exchanging gossip.

However, one Tuesday, while my mom was out doing errands, my daughter #ExhibitA and I decided to take my groovy dad out for brunch at Over Easy.

So, after a short trip from our house in Pasig to this trending resto in Marikina, soundtracked with classic rock ‘n roll from my daughter’s Spotify, we found ourselves at Over Easy’s sprawling premises.

And my dad lost no time taking a pose! (So now we know where I got it from! 🤪)

Actually, the resto’s premises is quite conducive to photo opps (“IG-worthy” is how kids today would call it).

From the colorful wall murals to the artfully displayed tchotchkes, Over Easy exudes an atmosphere of warmth, comfort and welcome while still retaining that “cool” factor. Badly put: you might get dragged here by your tita, but, deep inside, you wouldn’t mind.

Yep, you wouldn’t mind hanging out here one bit especially once you’ve tasted what Over Easy has to offer such as what we enjoyed during our brunch with Daddy-o:

Macaroni and Cheese (Php220). This is actually #ExhibitA’s go-to dish. Over Easy’s version features creamy and hot melted cheese mixed in with macaroni and topped with bacon bits.

Fish and Chips (Php295). Fish fillets coated with beer batter, deep-fried until golden brown and served with parmesan dusted potato chips and tartar sauce.

BBQ Ribs (Php510 for half-rack with 2 side dishes). Fall-off-the-bone tender braised ribs, then grilled to get that rich smokey flavor, then served with Over Easy”s signature barbecue sauce. All I can say about this dish is that the bones were picked clean by the time we’re done.

While my dad sipped on his Coke Zero (Php55), #ExhibitA and I treated ourselves to a European Strawberry Cooler (Php140), a refreshing fizzy drink flavored with sweet strawberries (yeah, it’s a tita drink, hahaha!)

Lava Cake (Php195). Our foodie adventure here wouldn’t be complete without dessert. We got ourselves a molten chocolate cake topped with classic vanilla ice cream and doused with chocolate syrup. What a perfect way to cap our meal!

This brunch may not have been an all-out gossip over drinks sesh among ladies but it allowed my daughter and me to spend some precious time with my dear daddy.

Over Easy is located at G&W Terraza, Mayor Gil Fernando Avenue, San Roque, Marikina City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 7am to 11pm and Fridays to Sundays from 7am to 12 midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 2554686.

Disclosure: Part of our meal was sponsored by Over Easy through gift certificates shared by Harvard of Always Hungry PH.

A new foodie haven: Shizuka Cafe, Little Baguio

With all the frenetic activity at work and at home, don’t you sometimes for a place where you can just relax and enjoy your time alone or with a few close friends?

Well, look no further than this relatively new cafe located a few minutes’ ride away from Greenhills.

From the outside, Shizuka Cafe may blend in among the many dining establishments in Little Baguio, but inside is a welcoming and cozy haven. Muted lighting and artfully displayed Japanese-themed bric-a-bracs make it a comfy and relaxing place, in line with the meaning of its name – shizuka, which means calm, peaceful, silent and quiet.

Shizuka’s Chef Paul Tan and his partners introduced quite a lot of innovations and advocacies to the local dining scene which include Shitzuka’s drives for artisanship (by carefully crafting its food and beverage offering), sustainability (through minimizing the use of plastic in its operations), local commerce (by sourcing its ingredients for its homey Japanese cuisine and finely craft coffee beverages from local merchants) and diversity (by employing differently abled staff).

Together with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH and #SaanSaPH, I was able to sample some of the well-crafted dishes that Shizuka brings to the table. Check them out:

Onion Tempura (Php125). Onions coated in tempura batter then deep-friend and served with wasabi aioli. I love how texture of the onions and the flavor complexity that the wasabi aioli adds to the dish.

Pork Gyoza (Php150). Five pieces of the popular pork and vegetable pot stickers. In contrast to the usual gyoza from other restaurants, these come in pretty square shapes.

Nachos (Pho180). Crispy wonton wrappers doused with a sauce made from three cheeses and topped with soy Bolognese and parmesan cheese. I found myself reaching into this bowl and popping those nachos into my mouth again and again.

Tori Tebasaki (Php155). Tender chicken wings glazed with a sambal sauce, an exotic take on the chicken wings dish.

Tori Salad (Php180). Mixed greens with grilled chicken and miso balsamic vinaigrette.

Katsu Sando (Php190). Breaded ground pork katsu sandwiches coated with house-made tonkatsu sauce.

Tori Pesto (Php165). Sandwich with freshly grilled chicken and shiitake tossed in pesto sauce.

Nori Mac and Cheese (Php190). Shell macaroni in a cream sauce made of mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan served a crispy nori. I tried this hearty pasta dish with both with a touch of seven spices and without and I like it better without the spice.

Gyu Salpicao (Php290). Flavorful tenderloin in garlicky salpicao sauce over rice served with a sous vide egg. Salpicao is oftentimes a hit or miss with me: any excess in salty, sweet or spicy flavors tends to detract from my enjoyment. I’m happy to discover that this version of the dish is very well-balanced with added richness from the sous vide egg.

Tori HBS (Php210). Crispy fried chicken tossed in honey butter glaze over rice, also served with sous vide egg. What makes the Gyu Salpicao a standout also applies in this dish.

Big Breakfast (Php230). Imagine waking up to a hearty breakfast of hefty pancakes smothered in premium butter, generous slices of Italian sausage and fluffy scrambled eggs. Heck, fill yourself up with this meal any time of the day.

The Nursery (Php115). Peanut butter cream cheese with chocolate soil. A real treat for a sweet tooth like me.

Better than Doughnuts (Php100). My first taste of freshly made Southern American-style beignets more than met my expectations. Fluffy and chewy and perfectly complemented by matcha or chocolate ganache, this serves as a wonderful cap to the meal.

Shizuka Cafe also brings imaginatively crafted beverages to the table. These include:

White Genmaicha Cha (Php108 for 16oz | Php128 for 22oz). One of the Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese series, this features a not-too-sweet earthy rice and green tea flavor. I would have loved it sweeter but this would be good for those who are managing their sugar intake.

Strawberry Milk (Php118 for 16oz | Php138 for 22oz). Fresh strawberries blended with milk and also topped with Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese. I wish it could have maintained its consistency (we took a long time taking pictures) but it is sweetly refreshing just the same.

Cold Brew Latte (Php108 for 16oz | Php128 for 22oz). The more caffeinated among the Flaky Sea Salt and Cheese series, this is good for those looking for a pick-me-up.

Strawberry Chamomile (Php145). Refreshing loose-leaf chamomile tea and strawberries.

Sparkling Yuzu Mojito (Php220). This refreshing citrusy drink is made with yuzu and lime fruit juice, tonic water and white rhum.

Strawberry Sakerita (Php230). Loose-leaf chamomile tea blended with fresh strawberries and sake served in a glass with salted rim. A sweeter and milder Japanese version of the margarita, one I can imagine myself enjoying again and again.

So when you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to unwind in a relaxing and welcoming environment, head off to Shizuka Cafe. Bring your friends with you for an extra good time!

Shizuka Cafe is located at 709 Jose Abad Santos Corner F. Calderon, Little Baguio, San Juan City, open daily from 8am to 10pm. For inquiries, reservations and pick up arrangements, call +63 926 0792964.

No time to drop by Shizuka Cafe? Order what your craving for via Grab Food and have it delivered right to your doorstep.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Unli Japanese fusion dishes at Hodai, West Triangle

Considering I work in Quezon City, it’s a wonder I’ve only explored a fraction of the gastronomic choices the other side of Quezon Avenue has to offer.

This is why I grabbed at the chance to dine at Hodai together with my foodie friends.

Located in a sprawling renovated two-storey house along Examiner Street which was originall built in the 1960s, Hodai offers a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for its diners, perfect for group get-togethers and family outings. The decor is minimalist with bits of Asian accents while windows throughout the dining area let in a lot of natural light.

“Hodai” translates to “all you can” in Nihongo, and really, you can eat to your heart’s (and tummy’s) content of Japanese cuisine (with some Korean food thrown in) in this resto.

Curious on what you can enjoy at Hodai? Feast your eyes on these!

Fish Teriyaki

Japchae

Rose Cream Pasta

Tempura

Sushi Rolls

Korean Fried Chicken

Kani Salad

Kimchi Gyoza

Tonkatsu

Cheese Cream Spicy BBQ Bowl

To get your fill of these delicious dishes, choose from two value-packed meal sets:

Silver Set (Php499). Includes Teriyaki, Japchae or Rose Cream Pasta, Tempura, Sushi Rolls, Korean Fried Chicken, Kani Salad, Kimchi Gyoza and Tonkatsu.

Gold Set (Php599). Includes everything in the Silver Set plus Cheese Cream Spicy BBQ Bowl.

Note: Unli rice and miso soup are also provided on a self-service basis. Guests are also given Korean frozen sweets as desserts after the meal.

The sheer number and variety of these sumptuous dishes may be daunting at first. However, for hungry foodies and fans of unli servings, Hodai’s meal sets present quite a good deal.

And to sweeten the deal further, Hodai has irresistible Lucky 7 promo offers this July:

On weekdays, get 1+1 on the Gold Set. That means two people can dine on all these food for only Php599.
On weekends, get discounted rates on the Silver set (now at Php349) and the Gold Set (now at Php419).

So, really, there’s no better time to gather up your family and friends to feast on all-you-can-eat Japanese food at Hodai!

Thanks to Clarissa of Clarisays.com and Carlo of EatsCMT.Food.Blog for extending their invites!

Hodai is located at 14 Examiner Street, West Triangle, Quezon City, open daily for lunch from 10am to 3pm and for dinner from 5pm to 10pm. For reservations, call +63 956 4605848.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I attended a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Crispy Pata for Php133 at TRES

For every single-receipt transaction of P2,300, get a whole Crispy Pata for only Php133 from the regular menu price of Php753 at TRES. The offering runs whole day, everyday at TRES on the 2nd floor of SM City North Annex and TRES along Rufino Street near corner Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati.

Crispy Pata, one of the bestsellers of TRES, is soaked in a secret marinade and fried twice for that double delicious crispy crackling goodness. The meat is tender and steeped with flavor. It is served with thinly sliced sweet potato crisps and a sweet and spicy soy sauce and vinegar dip.

TRES is also known for its signature Kare-Kare-Kare that comes in Classic Beef with flank steak and tripe; Seafood with prawns, squid, fish, shellfish, and clams; Crispy Beef Tadyang and Crispy Pata.

The Kare-Kare-Kare tag refers to the restaurant giving patrons three signature condiments to pair with the dish – extra sauce to pour, diced peanuts to top and the famous TRES bagoong guisado as a dip. All three are on tabletops so patrons can even use them on any dish.

The extensive menu also offers Bagnet, Roast Iberian Chicken, Lamb Adobo, Lengua con Setas, Bulalo, Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso, Binagoongang Lechon Kawali, Crispy Sisig, Gising-Gising and more plus appetizers and desserts.

TRES along with M Catering are the last culinary projects of the late Chef Ed Quimzon. A number of the menu offerings are either his original creations or inspired by his initial concepts.

For reservations, catering and other inquiries, visit TRES on the 2nd floor, The Annex, SM City North EDSA or call +63 2 3527032 or +63 917 5290837; and TRES on the ground floor of Keyland Ayala SLC Building, Rufino near the corner of Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati or call +63 927 7915489. You may also visit Facebook. TRES is also available through Food Panda.

Restaurant and menu details as well as product image provided by TRES in a recent press release.

Japan’s taiyaki is now here at Taki Taki, Century City Mall

Do you know what a taiyaki is?

It is a Japanese yaki (baked) dessert which follows the shape of the tai (Japanese red seabream). A classic street vendor fare in Japan, it has now reached our shores when the first store of Taki Taki opened a few weeks ago at Century City Mall in Makati.

Walk around the mall’s Hole in the Wall food hall and you will find a quaint little shop decorated with fish images (the servers even wear cute fish hats), and anime-like drawings. The smell of baking taiyaki might even lead you there, hmm?

So how are taiyaki made?

Waffle batter is poured into hot fish-shaped molds (each side poured separately) with the filling placed in one side. Before the batter is cooked through, the molds are closed for up to three minutes until the batter is golden brown and the filling is sealed inside inside the taiyaki.

The taiyaki is a actually quite versatile in the sense that it can suit almost any filling, whether sweet (Php100) such as red bean, Nutelle/Peanutbutter, apple cinnamon and cream cheese with strawberries, or savory (Php120) such as cheese, tuna/corn/mayo, bacon egg and cheese and curry cheese.

Being a sweet tooth, my choices in taiyaki include one with the traditional filling of anko (sweet red bean paste) and another with cream cheese and strawberries. The red bean taiyaki has that sweet and light taste while the cream cheese taiyaki has a nice contrast of saltiness from the cheese and tart sweetness from the berries.

Taiyaki also make for tasty frozen treats. Soft-serve ice cream made with premium Hokkaido milk is twirled into open taiyaki cones then topped with candies, crunchies, fruits and drizzles.

I got myself an I Love Taki (Php200), made with Vanilla Milk ice cream topped with marshmallows and strawberry sprinkles and strawberry syrup syringe, and a Grizzly’s Chocolate Overload (Php200), made with Chocolate Milk ice cream topped with toast crunch, cinnamon, marshmallows and a milk chocolate lollipop.

Well, this is another case of sugar high for me.

These taiyaki treats are a welcome addition to the dessert and snack choices available in the metro. If you want a taste of this popular Japanese street food, head to Taki Taki today!

Taki Taki is located at the Hole in the Wall, Fourth Floor, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm, Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm and Sundays from 10am to 9pm.

Disclosure: I was invited to visit Taki Taki where I was served food items mentioned here for free for me to sample the fare in exchange for an honest review.