restaurant review – Page 63 – Jellybeans in the City

I finally ate at Mendokoro Ramenba!

Ever since I started going through my #RamenPhase three years ago, Mendokoro Ramenba has been the gold standard that longtime ramen connoisseurs have been encouraging me to try.

One foodie, in fact, advised me to withhold my judgement on where to find the best ramen until I have tasted what Mendokoro has to offer. What kept me from checking this resto out were news of the long waiting lines and the relative inaccessibility of its original branch in Makati to me.

Soon, I heard news that it opened a new branch in Bonifacio Global City and I eagerly waited for my chance to join the club of ramen aficionados whose tastebuds have experienced the sheer joy of Mendokoro’s ramen bowls.

Well, just the other day, I finally got the chance to taste two of its ramen offerings.

And I must say: I can totally understand the hype.

Mendokoro translates to “shared table” in Nihongo. In keeping with this concept, and consistent with its earlier branch in Makati, this resto features a bar-style seating arrangement. Patrons first order and pay for their food at the cashier, then they are ushered to their seats along the bar which can seat up to forty-five people. The ramen bowls and other food items are assembled in the open kitchen right smack in the middle of the bar and are served as soon as they are done.

After a meeting in a nearby building, my officemates and I, all newbies to Mendokoro Ramenba, decided to head on over to Icon Plaza and get a taste of the resto’s much-vaunted ramen bowls.

We split among ourselves the Shio Tonkotsu (Php370) and Tantanmen (Php420) bowls of the resto’s ramen offerings, two orders of Aji Tamago (Php80/order) and five pieces of Gyoza (Php200) which served as our appetizer.

Tonkotsu ramen are notable for the sheer amount of effort and time needed to properly prepare these dishes. The broth is made by boiling pork bones (“tonkotsu” in Nihongo) and other ingredients in water for up to eight hours, until it takes on a rich, cloudy appearance. Tonkotsu ramen are normally served with noodles that are still slightly firm, then topped with chashu, a slice or marinated pork belly. I prefer the salt-flavored shio ramen over the other options of miso and soy sauces-flavored shoyu ramen; fortunately, my companions agreed with my choice. We added the tamagos – marinated soft-boiled eggs – to our bowls for added richness.

Tantanmen, on the other hand, is the Japanese take on the Sichuan dish Dan Dan Noodles. In this delectable bowl of ramen, the noodles are engulfed with a rich, mildly spicy (we requested that the spiciness level be dialed down) broth, flavored with the nutty sweetness of from the sesame paste.

Each mouthful was a delight and we soon found ourselves slurping our bowls clean. Now I can hardly wait until I can come back to sample the other ramen options available here.

This Mendokoro Ramenba branch is located at Icon Plaza, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, open daily from 11am to midnight. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 8514844.

Its other branch is located at V. Corporate Center, Soliman Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City. It is open daily from 11am to 12 midnight and assists inquiries and reservations via +63 2 4789625.

A taste of Singapore’s hawker scene at Roti Shop, Rockwell

A key feature of Singapore’s foodie scene is the proliferous hawker shop. Populated by stalls selling wondrous varieties of inexpensive food, the Singapore’s hawker centers are among the first food stops for many tourists and a go-to place for good yet cheap eats for the locals.

Having already closed her Southeast Asian Restaurant Wild Ginger in the Power Plant Mall, Marla Moran decided to use the space vacated to bring a hawker-style eatery to the mall. And so the Roti Shop came to be.

The resto’s premises are bright and cheery, with a happy jumble of bright colors and kitschy decor, particularly those maneki-nekos, cat figurines with one paw periodically waving, or beckoning to customers. These figurines are said to bring good luck to business establishments.

Roti, obviously, is the key item in most dishes served here. Also known as chapati, it is a round unleavened flatbread rooted in Indian cuisine. Normally eaten by hand, it is served hot from the pan then usually pulled apart and shaped to scoop into savory side dishes. Alternatively, cheese and other ingredients may be folded into the roti dough, resulting to tasty murtabaks.

Together with fellow food bloggers from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to sample some of the Roti Shop’s signature offerings, which include:

Cheese Roti Prata (Php160). Cheese slices are inserted in between balls off roti dough then flattened down prior to cooking in a buttered pan, resulting to a crispy and flaky flatbread with melted cheese flavoring each bite. This is among the most basic of roti varieties; I would prefer to dip it into a stronger flavored side dish but it is a safe bet for those new to this kind of cuisine.

Beef Murtabak (Php215). Consider this the Asian Quesadilla: the roti prata is stuffed with marinated minced beef which makes for a filling, savory dish.

Corned Beef and Onion Murtabak (Php225). Imagine your favorite breakfast flavors of corned beef, onions and fried egg packaged roti style! I would prefer the fried egg yolk to be a little more runny, though. (Yeah, I’m looking for #yolkporn, hehehe!)

Veggie Murtabak (Php195). A savory mixture of chickpeas, peas, spinach and carrots replaces meat as the filling in this murtabak, which will surely be much appreciated by those on a vegetarian diet.

Roti Tisu. Its name translates tom “roti tissue paper” because the bread is actually paper thin. In Singapore, however, it is called “roti helicopter” as the cooks usually spin the dough around to stretch and flatten it prior to cooking. It is then twisted into a cone and sprinkled liberally with chocolate sauce and candy sprinkles. Quite a treat for those of us with a sweet tooth!

Non-roti items served include:

Char Kway Teow (Php275). Wok-tossed rice noodles with seafood and chicken.

Hainanese Chicken Rice (Php495). A half-chicken poached in a stock flavored with garlic and ginger. The stock is then used to cook rice, producing a flavorful and oily rice. It is served with a trio of dipping sauces comprised of dark soy sauce, red chili sauce and freshly ground ginger in oil.

Roti Shop Chendol (Php125). An iced dessert made with pandan jelly, red beans, coconut milk and coco palm sugar syrup. Consider this the Singaporean halo-halo!

These Singaporean hawker dishes are an exotic treat for me and my fellow foodies. I plan to come back and get a taste of that Laksa!

Roti Shop is located at the P1 Level of the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City, open daily from 11am to 9pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 4789450 or +63 917 7114533.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in 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.

A new take on sushi at Inari by Hamaru, The Podium

By now, with the proliferation of Japanese restaurants all over the metro, you would think you know sushi like the back of your hand.

But sushi at Inari by Hamaru is no ordinary sushi. This I discovered, together with my fellow foodies, during a recent food tasting event held at The Corner Market Food Hall of the Podium that featured its newly opened food stalls.

Inari’s claim to fame is its inarizushi: it is a pouch made of seasoned and fried tofu stuffed with sushi rice and other fillings. It takes its name after the Shinto deity Inari who, legend has it, has quite a fondness for fried tofu.

During this particular food tasting, however, our group was treated to other items in Inari’s menu such as:

Black Rice Sushi Platter (Php775). These are forty pieces of five flavors of sushi rolls – Ebi Tempura, Torched California, Spicy Tuna, Sweet Eggplant and Crispy Salmon Skin – all made using organic black rice. This is quite a step in a healthier direction as black rice is imbued with the highest amounts of antioxidants, protein and dietery fiber among all rice varieties. Its health benefits include a stronger immune system, cancer and diabetes prevention and improved digestive health. Black rice also aids in weight loss, reducing swellings and in promoting heart and brain health. If only I’m not looking for that sticky and fluffy white sushi rice with every bite! Oh well…

Nori Tacos Ebi Salad (Php185) and Chimichurri Tuna (165). An imaginative take on nori-wrapped sushi rolls, these feature crunchy deep-fried seaweed shells stuffed with fresh sushi filling. For me this is a way to enjoy old sushi favorites in new tastes and textures.

I was only able to sample a few of Inari’s offerings during the food tasting so I just might drop by the Corner Market Food Hall again, just to check the other items out!

Inari by Hamaru is located at the Corner Market Food Hall, Second Floor, Podium Mall, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. It is open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a Blogger Event held in the Corner Market Food Hall. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Magically happy lunch at Coldlayers Cafe, Fisher Mall

Have you ever had that moment when, quite unexpectedly, the stars aligned and the universe brought forth your deepest, yet unasked for, wish?

Well that’s what happened to my friend Ruby and me as we were deciding where to have lunch on this hectic Monday. Having exhausted most of Zomato Gold partner restaurants in the Tomas Morato area, I was already resigned to eating cafeteria food or venturing out to the food stalls near our office, but no! Ruby’s muse whispered in her ear that we should go to Fisher Mall for lunch.

And wouldn’t you know it! One of the hidden desires of my heart (or my tummy, I’m not entirely sure which), is to dine at Coldlayers Cafe, one of the restaurants in Fisher Mall. This eatery, as luck would have it, happens to also be a Zomato Gold partner restaurant.

Ever since I saw posts from my fellow foodies of Coldlayers Cafe’s signature snow ice desserts, I’ve been dying, partly of envy towards the other foodies, and partly of my desire to try those icy treats.

So we heeded the voice of Ruby’s muse and off we went to Fisher Mall, straight to the cafe, where, in the colorful resplendence of the resto’s interiors, akin to magical beings of yore, we unlocked our hidden powers, that is, our Zomato Gold privilege.

And what have we unlocked, you may ask?

Well, comfort food that filled our tummies and warmed our hearts, that’s what!

The Cheezy Meat Lasagna (Php285), for example, is a filling meal enough for us two, what with alternating layers of lasagna smothered in a hearty meat sauce and rich creamy bechamel sauce, topped with melted parmesan and cheddar. Yummy!

How about the Chicken Cordon Bleu (Php280), then? We loved these juicy, herb-crusted chicken fillets stuffed with melted cheese and ham, complemented by a cup of garlic rice (yeah, carbs on carbs!)

And of course, those are just preambles to the main event, the piece de resistance: Coldlayers Cafe’s flavored ribbons of ice! Called Snow Ice, these treats are made fresh in small batches daily using only the freshest natural and locally sourced ingredients, and stored for no more than three months. Containing 0% butterfat content, snow ice treats have more intense flavors than ice cream, and use two-thirds less sugar too!

Being a self-confessed chocoholic, I got myself a Secret Affair (Php210). This is made of dark chocolate snow ice topped with crunchy brownie bits, chocolate cereal, nuts and a chocolate wafer stick, then drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Ruby, on the other hand, got a Sweet Surrender (Php210), a Horlicks snow ice sprinkled with malty horlicks powder, then drizzled with chocolate syrup and served with fresh tapioca pearls on the side.

From start to finish, this has been a truly magical happy lunch, filled with good food that chased away our Monday blues and energized us to forge on until the workday is done. (‘Cause we work hard for the money!)

And thanks to Zomato Gold, we got the Chicken Cordon Bleu and the Sweet Surrender for free!

Want to score a similar discount? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

This Cold Layers Cafe branch is located at Third Floor, Fisher Mall, Quezon Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 10am to 9pm and Fridays to Saturdays from 10am to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 3611431.

Another branch is located at Second Floor, Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

No time to visit the stores? You’ll be happy to know that Cold Layers delivers via Honestbee.

Sultry nights of Fil-Mex food and rockin’ music are comin’ at Bodega Casa Villa, Marikina

In one of the quiet roads of Marikina just off the major thoroughfare that is Gil Fernando Avenue is a burst of vibrant colors, tastes and sounds, a perfect venue for chilling out when the sultry summer nights come along.

Bodega Casa Villa is a Fil-Mex restaurant that seeks to bring the fun and spice of Mexican food to the Filipino palate. This results to a mix of contrasts: spicy dishes and refreshing drinks, a rockin’ and colorfully decorated al fresco dining and bar area outside and a homey yet well appointed setting inside, and signature Mexican dishes using Pinoy ingredients.

The Latin vibe is alive and well in this resto, from the murals and sombreros that adorn the warmly colored walls, the ornate mirrors in the washing area and restroom, to the table napkins that mark each place setting.

Together with other local foodies, I was able to try out its Fil-Mex fare, which include:

Mucho Nacho Bodega (Php230). Large piece of crrrrunchy corn nachos topped with salsa fresca, jalapeno peppers, garlic cream, queso sauce, and our very own longganisa and kesong puti!

Sinugbang Maiz “Elote” (Php120). A very fresh twist on the grilled corn-on-the-cob (“sinugba” being the Cebuano term for anything grilled), succulent grilled corn are coated with a mixture of mayo, parmesan and cheese powder, then flavored with spices, cilantro and lime.

Crispy Dinuguan Burrito (Php250). Hefty rolls of burritos stuffed with rice flavored with dinuguan (Filipino version of blood stew), pork meat and lettuce, and served with bits of chicharon (pork skin cracklings) for added crunch and flavor. These are served with salsa verde and chipotle salsa.

Taco Trio (Php295). A triad of soft-shell tacos, each with a different flavorful filling: the Pork Bagnet Sisig, the Chicken Inasal and the Beef Barbacoa. Enjoy these with salsa verde, chipotle salsa and garlic cream sauce.

Aligue Squid Pasta (Php275). Cappelini pasta tossed in a decadent aligue (crab fat) sauce along with rings of grilled squid.

Stacked Chicken Wings (Php765). A mountain of twenty-four (!!!) meaty and juicy pieces of fried chicken wings doused in three different kinds sauces: Parmesan, Quezo and Chipotle. Have a taste for adventure? Reach into a platter of these without looking at what you’re getting and take a bite. Personally, I love the Parmesan-coated wings.

Be sure to check out the bar’s signature cocktails and other drinks while you’re enjoying the food and the live acoustic music.

It sure looks like Fil-Mex foodie adventurers have a new home in Marikina!

Hankering for a chill and enjoyable night out with your friends? Take advantage of the resto’s various promos!

Php200/6 Bote. Get six bottles of San Miguel Beer products for only Php200 every Monday.

Taco Tuesday. Buy one get one on all tacos every Tuesday.

Beer-All-You-Can Wednesdays (Php350). Chug down all the brews you can muster, every Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm.

Bring Your Own Bottle Thursdays. Got your signature drink at home? Bring it here as there is no corkage fee, then enjoy it together with your fave Fil-Mex dishes and chill sounds.

Thanks to Fat Girls Day Out for extending the invitation!

Bodega Casa Villa is located at 48 Dragon Street, San Roque, Marikina, open daily from 5pm to midnight. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 6451952

A Valentine celebration of love, food and music at Chef Jessie’s Place

Having said goodbye to the Christmas holidays, many of the metro’s denizens have rolled up their sleeves and gotten back to their daily grind.

However, this recent Valentine’s Day, many braved the traffic jams and packed malls to spend time with their special someones.

As for me, I was thrice-lucky: I was able to have a special Valentine’s Day celebration with three of my loves: food, music and friends.

I was among the bloggers of #WeLoveToEatPH invited to attend a benefit dinner held at Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati.

The venue is a newly built building located at the corner of Pililla, Tanay and Obrero Streets in Barangay Olympia in Makati. The building is the culmination of world-renowned Chef Jessie Sincioco‘s dream to have her own place, hence the name. It is set to open to the public in early March.

The benefit dinner, at Php3,500 net for two people (the proceeds of which will be donated to Caritas Manila), features a sumptuous international buffet selection, personally designed and overseen by Chef Jessie, along with her brother Chef Reo Sincioco.

The event is highlighted by musical performances by Madonna Decena and Renz Fernando. Madonna is the Filipina finalist in Britain’s Got Talent and a multi-medalist in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). Renz, on the other hand, is a four-time WCOPA medalist hailing from Tawi-Tawi. Together, they serenaded the diners with love songs and ballads.

The dinner’s international buffet selection includes dishes from various cuisines such as:

An assortment of exotic appetizers. I loved the slightly spicy Fusili with Crab Sticks best of these.

Beef Cheeks Bourguignonne. Also known as Beef Burgundy, this hearty dish is highlighted by tender morsels of beef cheeks, stewed in red wine and meat stock, accompanied by root carrots and aromatics.

Chestnut Pork Barbecue. I was excited to find out that the pork used in these skewers were actually flown in from Spain because Chef Jessie wanted her pork barbecue to be so tender that the meat falls off the stick with every bite.

Grilled Assorted Seafood in Berlinoise Sauce. Succulent salmon, prawns and other seafood are bathed in a rich creamy sauce.

Penne in Creamy Tomato Sauce. Al dente penne tossed in a rich creamy tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese.

Brown Rice Vegetable and Mushroom Risotto. A flavorful rice dish which aptly complemented the other viands.

Decadent Desserts. Sweets for the sweet which include Crepe Samurai, Chocolate Fudge Slice with Salted Caramel, various panna cotta, Hazelnut Chocolate Tranche and Chilled Strawberry Cheesecake.

Spirits from Titania Wine Cellar are also available by the bottle.

I couldn’t help but fill my plate with these tasty selections (and return for seconds and thirds, hehehe!). And it certainly seemed like I had the whole world on my plate!

This Valentine’s Day celebration at Chef Jessie’s Place was a memorable night spend with great music, great food and great friends!

I’m looking forward to coming back when it officially opens to the public.

Check out my previous blog post on Chef Jessie’s Place.

Disclosure: Together with my other food bloggers from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was invited to a Valentine’s Day benefit dinner held at Chef Jessie’s Place. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Former OFW pays tribute to family recipes at Las Pinas’ Cafe Tribu

When OFW, nurse and new mother Krishna Torres – Pagarugan returned home to the Philippines to raise her daughter, she decided to become a franchisee of Cafe Tribu, a coffee shop specializing in Philippine-grown coffee beans.

However, her coffee shop soon turned into a family affair.

Her sister and business partner Kathleen Torres-Bell turned their premises – formerly occupied by a beauty salon – into a bright and cheery haven for relaxing and conversing with friends. A colorful array of furniture and decor are mixed and matched into an eclectic yet tasteful combination: from the flowers and wire lamps hanging from the ceilings, her father’s paintings and mural taking pride of place on the walls, to the various chairs, tables and throw pillows that make one’s stay here quite comfy indeed.

The cafe’s sprawling premises can accommodate up to fifty people for a party or office function, but can also serve as a cozy venue for an informal art exhibit or crafting workshop.

A wide spectrum of diners comfortably pass their time in this space – from local businessmen taking a break from their morning walk, to students of nearby schools and colleges meeting up with friends.

Her mother, a cooking enthusiast, helped her expand the store’s menu to include classic Filipino dishes – affectionately dubbed Naty’s Specialties after her late grandmother – some of which I was able to sample, among others, when I visited this place for a much-awaited get-together with two of my closest college friends. These are dishes made-to-order at least two days prior, and are good for three to four persons, which include:

Kare Kare (Php420). To be honest, I’m still loyal to my mom’s Kare Kare in terms of flavor and mouthfeel but this does come close. The meat, slow-cooked for hours, is tender and can be easily pulled apart by my fork. Together with crisp, lightly cooked vegetables, it is submerged in a thick peanut sauce. When eaten together with rice and the cafe’s slightly spicy homemade bagoong (shrimp paste), each mouthfull is an explosion of flavor.

Laing (Php240). Bicol’s signature dish of shredded taro leaves and meat bits cooked in coconut milk – and accompanied by a hefty serving of sliced chilis – is one of my husband’s favorite dishes. I took some home for his dinner which he loved. (Ganda points for me, huh!)

Chicken Barbecue (Php350) and Liempo Barbecue. Another set of Pinoy classic dishes, these are comprised of large pieces of chicken and pork belly marinated in a sweet barbecue sauce and grilled to tender and juicy perfection.

Beef Tapa (Php130). Why, oh why, do strips of tender fried marinated beef become irresistible when accompanied by fried egg (sunny-side up, please!) and garlic fried rice?

Alas, too bad for my #dietgoals, Naty’s Specialties go so well with rice, lots and lots of it. (Our nanays and lolas seldom thought about carbs when these recipes are being developed, I guess.)

Meanwhile, to address the hunger pangs and limited budget of the students who frequent her cafe, Krishna also serves snacks that are easy on the tummy and on the students’ wallet such as:

New York Hotdog (Php115). A hefty Frankfurter rolled in oil, topped with caramelized onions, salsa, spicy mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup and bacon bits.

Club House Sandwich (Php100). This double-decked sandwich has layers of ham, tuna and veggies, served with crisp potato chips.

Want something hot to accompany those yummy snacks? You can’t go wrong with the drinks whipped up by the cafe’s Lebanon-trained barista such as the Hot Chocolate Velvet (Php90), White Chocolate Latte (Php105), Caramel Macchiato (Php105) and Oreo Latte (Php120).

How about something refreshing to cool yourself down when the hot summer days come along? Check out the cafe’s icy frappes such as the Matcha Green Tea (Php140), Strawberries and Cream (Php120) and White Mocha Frappe (Php120). But really, don’t leave the store without a taste of the cafe’s specialty, the Coffee Peanut Butter Avalanche (Php150), truly a heavenly concoction!

This day was memorable because three friends were able to come together for good conversation over good food and drinks, amidst beautiful surroundings. So make your own beautiful memories with family and friends here at Cafe Tribu!

This Cafe Tribu branch is located at 136 Gloria Diaz Street Corner CV Starr Avenue, BF Resort Village, Talon, Las Piñas City. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 3563971 or +63 995 2740204.

Disclosure: Together with my college friends, I was invited to a food tasting held at this restaurant. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by my companions nor myself.

New and exotic dishes at Essential Goodness for the Pilgrims in Poblacion

Along the busy and traffic-congested road that is Makati Avenue is a haven catering to the wanderers that venture into this bustling city.

Dubbed Essential goodness, for the pilgrims, it is a rooftop restaurant and bar of premium hostel Lub D Makati. The restaurant’s dining experience is the result of the hostel’s collaboration with notable local chefs Nicco Santos and Quenee Vilar of Hey Handsome and Your Local restaurants. With a menu that builds on familiar Pinoy favorites and international cuisines, the resto initially made a name for itself among Poblacion’s denizens with its All-Day brunch menu.

It also boasts of tastefully decorated interiors and an al fresco roofdeck with a breathtaking view of the Makati skyline.

Recently, along with fellow foodies, I got a sneak peek at its soon-to-be-launched menu items which were paired with drinks from the resto’s bar list. These include:

Tofu Salad. Made with marinated kino tofu tossed with spinach, cilantro, basil and lime. It is paired with Caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail made with lime, sugar cubes and cachaca, a distilled spirit concocted from fermented sugar cane juice.

Salmon Ceviche. Raw marinated salmon served with green papaya, tomatoes, coconut cream, green and red eye chilis and cilantro. It is paired with Sauvignon Blanc.

Crab Curry. Crab meat stewed in curry, and served with cilantro and roti, flatbread originating from India made from stoneground wholemeal flour. It is paired with the exotic Sour Sup Black Tea, a drink made of guyabano juice, black tea and whisky.

Fried Chicken Poppers. Juicy fillets of breaded chicken served with spicy sambal cream cheese and edible flowers.

Vegan Curry Laksa. The Southeast Asian spicy rice noodle soup made even healthier with shitake mushrooms, zucchini, bean sprouts and banana hearts. It is paired with a refreshing glass of Essential Iced Tea made with black tea, lemongrass and calamansi.

Thai Fried Chicken. Cured chicken deep-fried to achieve a crisp and flavorful skin and tender juicy meat. It is served with pickled red bell pepper and green chili sambal on top of fragrant herbed rice.

Braised Beef. Local beef slow-cooked for four hours and served with guava sauce, green papaya salad and herbed and toasted rice. It is paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the world’s best-known red wine varieties.

Earl Grey Chocolate. A thick layer of grey black tea infused chocolate smeared onto a bowl containing vanilla ice cream topped with citrusy yuzu syrup and brown butter crumbs.

Mango and Sticky Rice. Slices of sweet ripe mangoes topping a bed of coconut sticky rice with a side of caramelized peanuts.

The new dishes feature a distinct Southeast Asian taste profile, with some heat from the chilis and crisp freshness from the vegetables. One or two dishes do have a bit of a problem in balancing the flavors but this can be addressed prior to their official launch. Do watch out for these tasty offerings in the coming days.

The deliciously exotic food, chill vibe and beautiful surroundings made this food tasting a very memorable event for me and my fellow foodies. Kudos to the Essential goodness, for the pilgrims team for the masterfully prepared dishes and the lovely event.

Essential goodness, for the pilgrims is located at 13th Floor, Lub d Makati, 7820 Makati Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City, open daily from 6am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 5416358 loc 2600 or +63 917 5340497.

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a food tasting held in 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.

1223 Grill: A hidden gem for Korean BBQ in Pasig

Korean barbecue has grown in popularity in recent years. I sometimes think that I can’t pass through an area without seeing at least one Korean barbecue joint.

Apparently, there was an area between Pasig and Pateros where there was a dearth in K-BBQ eateries. That is, before 1223 Grill came along.

The only K-BBQ joint in a relatively quiet residential area just off the C-5 highway in San Joaquin, Pasig City, 1223 Grill usually caters to local residents as well as students of a nearby school. This restaurant approximates the usual location, look and feel of similar eateries in Korea: homey and located off-the-beaten-track.

Together with other food bloggers from Saan Sa PH, I was invited to check out 1223 Grill’s Korean food offerings, which include the Samgyeopsal and Chadolbaki Unli Combination (Php429 for lunch | Php449 for dinner). The most popular (and ubiquitous) among K-BBQ variants, unmarinated pork belly and beef brisket slices have a special appeal. Since no flavoring was applied to the meats prior to grilling, the flavor has to come from the meats themselves and the what you put on them once they’re off the grill. Personally, I like dipping them into sesame oil seasoned with salt and pepper, and into ssamjang (soy bean paste) before wrapping them in the crisp lettuce leaves along with a thin slice of raw garlic.

But the Korean BBQ fest does not end there! Add a pan of creamy melted Cheese (Php100) into the fray for dipping and what have you got? An explosion of flavors with each bite that’s just heaven!

For more than just a bit of heat, we had the Spicy Chicken and Pork with Cheese (Php289) and the Teokboki Spicy Rice Cake (Php120).

The Budae-jjigae (Php399) is a hearty soup of flavorful broth, noodles, tofu cubes and chopped aromatics along with processed meats. Did you know that its name translates to “army base stew?” It came about after the armistice that ended the Korean war, when home cooks scrounged for food left behind in the US bases. Today, it is usually consumed along with beer or as a lunch item.

Rounding up our viands are the Japchae (Php150), stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables, and Beef Bibimbap (Php280), rice mixed with julienned cucumber, mushrooms, soybean sprouts, spinacha and beef, flavored by gochujang (red pepper paste). I like placing small amounts of bibimbap into my samgyeopsal in lettuce wrap to get an interesting mix of textures and flavors with each bite.

And of course, as is customary among Korean BBQ joints, our viands were accompanied by several types of banyan (side dishes) that we can munch on while waiting for our meats to cook.

1223 Grill prides itself on having premium ingredients; many of its meats are actually imported to capture the authentic taste of Korean food.

The servers were also quite attentive and accommodating, despite our group’s many requests and inquiries.

It seems that 1223 Grill’s combination of great and affordable food and friendly service is well-appreciated by its patrons. Plans are already underway to expand the store’s area to accommodate more customers.

It was quite a Korean food adventure; we even had some shots of soju mixed with Sprite to cap our meal!

1223 Grill is located at Unit 1-A, Angeles Residences, F. Angeles Street, San Joaquin, Pasig City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 2pm to 12 midnight, and Fridays to Saturdays from 2pm to 1am. For inquiries, call +63 2090 62206843.

Take a gastronomic trip around the world at Passenger Seat, Marikina

If taking a tour of the world to experience the cuisines that each country has to offer is included in your bucket list, you’re in luck. You actually won’t need to leave the metro to do just that. Simply hie on over to Passenger Seat at Riverbanks Center and begin your journey.

The restaurant’s plane-themed decor stems from the owner Mayee’s original ambition to be a flight attendant. As she couldn’t pass the qualifications for this job, she decided to establish a plane-themed restaurant with the help of her parents and her boyfriend after graduation instead. This was inspired by a similar eatery in Taiwan that she saw online.

Her boyfriend Ralph, a Hotel and Restaurant Management graduate, helped her develop the menu. Encompassing both local and international cuisines, Passenger Seat’s food offerings feature whimsical and travel-themed names.

Take the Boodle Flights, for example. These menu items are named after boodle fights, the Pinoy-style communal feast wherein various viands surround a pile of steamed rice served on banana leaf. These are usually eaten by hand amidst a boisterous group of friends or family.

Manila (Php585, good for 2-3 persons) features all-meat viands which features Chicken Inasal, Lechon Kawali and Grilled Liempo, served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and a pitcher of Iced Tea.

Palawan (Php599, good for 2-3 persons), on the other hand, is the seafood lovers Boodle Flight with Daing na Bangus, Grilled Stuffed Squid and Buttered Shrimp, also served with Salted Egg, Boiled Okra, Grilled Eggplant, Ensalada, Steamed Rice and a pitcher of Iced Tea.

Up for an all-out food feast with the entire barkada or fam? Opt for Pilipinas (Php1,499) then. It has all of the viands of Manila and Palawan and twice the amount of the accompanying eggs, veggies, rice and iced tea.

If you’re not up for Boodle Flights, don’t fret. You can always opt for Single Flights, single-serve food items inspired by key dishes from each region, whether domestic or abroad.

Tagaytay (Php350), features the place’s most famous dish: the Bulalo. The flavorful broth is coupled with the tender meat (with tendons that actually melt in your mouth), made even more special with the much-sought after bone marrow.

Zambales Sinigang sa Miso (Php235) and Sampaloc Singang na Hipon (Php240) are answers to those craving for seafood and sour broth.

Mexico (Php159) features the country’s crisp corn nachos topped with homemade salsa, ground beef, tomatoes, onions and torched cheese.

The Califoria (Php125), on the other hand, is a meaty quarter pound patty of specially seasoned ground beef topped with three types of cheeses along with lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

Want some fries with that? Then check out Brussels (Php65), a mother lode of French fries topped with meat bits and loads of cheese!

Chicken wings such as the teriyaki-flavored Kyoto (Php159) and the spicy buffalo New York (Php169) are great to munch chased by pretty mocktails such as the Shirley Temple (Pink Illusion – Php75) or Roy Rogers (Cherry Cala – Php75).

Carbo-loading? Head on over to France (Php155) for some pasta and seafood in homemade red sauce, to Rome (Php155) for some creamy sauce littered with bacon, ham and mushroom bits, or to Italy (Php155) for some heat from chili flakes mixed into the aglio e olio pasta sauce.

Refresh yourself with shakes made of fruits in season at Php125 each such as the Pangasinan (watermelon), Baguio City (strawberry) and Guimaras (ripe mango).

Don’t forget to reward yourself with something sweet and decadent (I know I won’t)! It’s Belgium Sizzling Brownies are topped with either classic or special Uncle D’s ice cream.

If you brought your whimsical and adventurous side when you visit Passenger Seat, you’re in for quite a trip best enjoyed with a large group of fam and friends!

Passenger Seat is located at Ground Floor, Riverbanks Mall, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangka, Marikina City. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 917 8373695.