wagyu – Jellybeans in the City

Homemade goodness from Baba’s Kitchen

Want to jazz up your mealtimes without slaving all day in the kitchen? Or have tasty munchables ready whenever you get hungry for a midnight snack or get in the mood for a Tv binge?

Well, you won’t have to do hard kitchen labor because you can get your hunger pangs and cravings catered to by Baba’s Kitchen!

Yep, my cooler bag from Baba’s Kitchen is chock-full of tasty homemade goodies that opens up a world of wonderful gustatory possibilities.

I’ll tell you more about these but first, let’s check out the bag’s contents.

These include ready-to-cook viands such as Breakfast Patties, Spanish Chorizo and Wagyu Tapa, snackable dips such as the sweet and spicy Mango Jalapeno, the tasty Garlic & Herb and Chicken Rum Pate, the highly snackable Beachcoast Crisps: Cranberry Edition, as well condiments such Baba’s BBQ Sauce and Baba’s Spicy Bitchin’ Sauce.

With so little time for food prep after a hectic workday, I had to get a bit more creative when coming up with a dinner that the kids will get excited for.

So, I whipped up a batch of Cheesy Peppery Burgers using Baba’s Kitchen’s Burger Patties!

We paired our meal with some crackers, Baba’s Kitchen’s Beachcoast Crisps and Baba’s Kitchen’s dips!

With much of the prep work of the meal already done by Baba’s Kitchen, I had more time to enjoy dinner time with the kids!

This meal-in-minutes sure seems like a resounding success, wouldn’t you say?

UPDATE:

I also whipped up a quick lunch for the family: Tapsilog using Baba’s Kitchen’s Wagyu Tapa!

So, now, what can I whip up with the other items from Baba’s Kitchen? Use the Spanish Chorizos for some Deviled Eggs? Use the BBQ Sauce as a Chicken Teriyaki Marinade? Let me know if you have more ideas.

If you want to have more fun mealtimes with the fam while feasting on great food (with little effort!), check out Baba’s Kitchen!

Order now from Baba’s Kitchen’s website. To stay updated on Baba’s Kitchen’s products and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

At home at Ome Japanese Cafe

Don’t you sometimes just want to be in a place where you feel right at home? Somewhere that you can be with family and friends while enjoying good food and good company?

Well, located in a family-friendly neighborhood in Quezon City ii a quaint and cozy Japanese eatery that brings comfort and happiness through its delicious and affordable Japanese comfort food.

Ome Japanese Cafe prides itself on its fresh ingredients and meticulously crafted dishes. These culinary creations were honed from the extensive experience of its chef/owners Christine Ramos and Gerivic Orocio in restaurants both here and abroad.

During a recent foodie meetup with my foodie friends from #WeLoveToEatPH, I was able to experience Ome’s signature dishes as well as new menu selections.

Hand-crafted sushi

Ome’s chefs demonstrated their considerable skills with these beautifully assembled sushi rolls.

Ome Signature Roll (Php285). House-cured Norwegian salmon, cucumber and cream cheese topped with crab, masago and Srirach aioli.

Embassy Roll (Php260). Shrimp tempura, crab, cream cheese, tempura flakes, tobiko and sweet creamy sauce.

Tokyo Roll (Php385). Shrimp tempura roll topped with unagi, mango and eel sauce.

Crispy Spicy Salmon Roll (Php230). Spicy Norwegian salmon with cucumber, mango and tempura flakes.

Cucumber-wrapped Shrimp Tempura Maki (Php350). Shrimp tempura, romaine lettuce, crab and mango wrapped in a wafer-thin, katsuramuki-style slice of cucumber.

Hearty and heart-warming Ramen

Filling and tasty ramen will surely satisfy hunger while appealing to the need for tasty comfort food.

Chicken Paitan (Php385). Roasted soy chicken, mushrooms, soft-boiled egg and black garlic oil top ramen noodles in a rich and creamy broth made from pressure-cooked chicken bone broth with bonito salt and kombu.

Tan-Tan Men (Php350). Sauteed ground pork, corn, bok-choy and sesame egg in sesame broth seasoned with chili oil.

Partnership with Real California Milk

Collaborating with Real California Milk, Ome Japanese Cafe developed a tasty selection of viands that was incorporate high-quality cheeses.

Udon Carbonara (Php380). Hearty udon noodles topped with thick-cut smoked bacon, poached egg and mozzarella ina tasty carbonara sauce.

Japanese Omurice (Php340). Creamy omelet spiced with a bit of Pepper Jack Cheese on top of Japanese fried rice and drizzled with Hayashi demi-glace sauce.

Chicken & Cheese Katsu (Php320). Panko-breaded chicken cutlets wrapped around oodles of cheese, accompanied by shredded cabbage and katsu sauce.

New menu items

Pretty soon, Japanese food lovers will be able to enjoy these newest culinary creations.

Tepanyaki Wagyu Beef Cubes (Php485). Tender beef slices smothered with Hayashi demi-glace accompanied by seasonal veggies and creamy mashed potato.

Shrimp and Seasonal Vegetable Tempura (Php295). Deep-fried shrimp and veggies covered in batter enriched with dashi broth, making the resulting tempura crisp, light and airy.

Sweet endings

What better way to end the meal than on a sweet note with these scrumptious desserts?

Matcha Panna Cotta (Php180). Mango puree and muscovado sugar on creamy matcha-flavored panna cotta.

Mango Pudding (Php180). Succulent slices of fresh mango top a rice pudding enriched with coconut milk.

Feast on these dishes with your nears and dears at Ome’s well-appointed cafe or have them delivered to your home.

Ome Japanese Cafe is located at Chimes Square, 77 Congressional Avenue Extension, Quezon City, open daily from 11am to 8pm.

For inquiries, reservations and delivery orders, call +63 2 70886066 or +63 917 6293212.

It also accepts delivery orders via BeepIt.

To know more about its latest promos and offers, follow Ome Japanese Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended a food tasting held at this restaurant wherein the food items served were not paid for by the participants, including myself.

Japanese-style burgers and more from MOS Burger

With a burger joint practically at every street corner, the Philippines may well be a Burger Nation.

Those proliferating burger outlets, however, are mostly Western-style, largely because the burger was introduced by the Americans to the country.

One of the few bright spots of 2020 is the introduction of new, Japanese-style burgers to widen the culinary horizons of Pinoys, thanks to the opening of MOS Burgers first store in Robinsons Galleria.

This outlet joined the brand’s 1,300 stores in Japan and almost 400 stores overseas. Pretty soon, new branches sprouted up such as in Megamall, Glorietta and Kapitolyo.

My daughter, who’s a serious fan of Japanese food and culture, has always wanted to eat at one of MOS Burgers’ local branches ever since the first one opened but the lockdown due to the pandemic precluded me from taking her.

Thankfully, with the recent loosening of quarantine restrictions, we were able to visit the Robinsons Galleria branch where we enjoyed some of its celebrated offerings.

MOS Cheeseburger (Php169 solo | Php269 set with iced tea and sides). I got this Japanese-style cheeseburger that comes with MOS’ special meat sauce poured over a pile of beef patty, tomato, onion, and cheese. It was well complimented by an order of Chicken Karaage (Php160).

Wagyu Burger (Php309 solo | Php409 set with iced tea and sides). My daughter ordered this Japanese-style burger made with flavorful Wagyu beef. It’s excellent when enjoyed with a side of Japanese House Salad (Php90).

Hash Browns (Php60/3pcs | Php90/5pcs). Crispy and golden-brown grids of fried potatoes.

Strawberry Cake (Php129). Fluffy chiffon cake layered with cream filling and slices of candied strawberry.

I’m glad that I was able to experience MOS Burgers again as it’s been quite a while since its Grand Opening when I last had a taste of its menu items.

A few days later, the fam was able to have another MOS experience – at home, this time – thanks to a food truck making its rounds in BGC which Hubby happened to pass by on his way home.

Of course, he brought home the MOS Cheeseburger in a Family Pack (Php499/3pcs).

But he also added two MOS Garlic Rice Onigiri (Php79 each): Chicken Karaage Mayo and Ebi Tempura. These are balls of Japanese rice flavored with garlic chips and wrapped with nori along with their fillings.

With its unusual burgers and sides, MOS Burgers surely is a welcome addition to the local food scene!

MOS Burgers outlets are located in the following areas, now open for dine-in, takeout and delivery:

Robinsons Galleria
Kapitolyo
SM Megamall
Robinsons Place Manila
Glorietta

Nanka brings fresh and natural flavors to your party with its catering service

Parties bring together people and food. It is a time for the enjoyment of other people’s company, hopefully over delightful repasts.

And to help bring in the good food that will fuel great party experiences, Nanka Japanese Steakhouse offers in-house and outside catering.

I experienced it myself last December when my division held our office Christmas Party at Nanka.

From my previous dining experience here with my fellow foodies, I already know that Chef Mike Santos and his team pride themselves in bringing out the natural flavors of food. Everything starts with the finest ingredients – fresh produce, meats and seafood – all painstakingly prepared and cooked to accentuate their natural tastes and textures.

Recently, I had another taste of Nanka’s catered dishes when foodie pioneer Spanky Enriquez hosted a food-tasting buffet which featured these delicious viands:

Mushroom and Tofu Soup.

Shiitake Pasta.

Baked Salmon.

Teppanyaki Shrimp.

Pork Belly with Spicy Miso.

Roasted Chicken.

Salmon Sashimi and Assorted Sushi Rolls.

Kani Salad.

Assorted Sweets which include eclairs, carrot cake bars, cream puffs and brownies.

Nanka’s buffet packages start at Php825 per person.

But the real stars of the show are what we had for “dessert:” Nanka’s famous premium steaks which included the Wagyu A5, the highest grade among Japanese Wagyu; WagyuX by Rangers Valley and the Black Onyx Bone-in Rib-Eye and Black Onyx Tomahawk. All of Nanka’s steaks are priced at Php500/100 grams.

These steaks are seared cast-iron grill before oven-roasted to a medium doneness. Served with togarashi salt, wasabi sea salt, housemade demiglasse, chipotle miso and chimichurri sauces, each bite is buttery and beefy that we found ourselves going for more. (Too bad I had to leave before the Tomahawk was served but, fortunately, I was able to taste it during my previous visit.)

So if whether you’re planning a party for the fam or an office shindig, do check out Nanka’s catering services.

Many thanks Spanky for the invitation!

Nanka is located at 1810 Mother Ignacia corner Chino Roces Avenue, Paligsahan, Quezon City, open Mondays to Saturdays from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 85179677, +63 977 6218472, or +63 917 6734917.

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.

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Japanese-influenced Latin flavors at Nanka Japanese Steakhouse, Paligsahan

Did you know that Japanese culture has a profound influence in South America? Currently, Brazil has the largest population of Japanese immigrants while Peru has the second largest. This mixing of people and backgrounds surely produce wondrous variety in culture and society, especially in the food.

That came into play when my foodie friends and I recently visited Nanka Japanese Steakhouse. Located at the nook of Mother Ignacia and Chino Roces Avenues in Quezon City, the place has an elegant yet homey vibe, a welcome respite from my workday’s stresses. It is a perfect place for intimate date nights, chill barkada get-togethers or quiet family dinners.

Nanka’s executive chef Michael Santos takes pride in the work his team (which includes executive sous chef Rogel Rogel Pagtalunan, executive pastry chef Joel Gonzales and chef de cuisine Kenneth Afable) does in accentuating the natural flavors of food, made with the finest locally and internationally sourced ingredients. These include Black Onyx Angus and WagyuX steaks and tuna flown in from GenSan twice a week.

“I like clean flavors,” shares Chef Mike. “I like to emphasize the protein. I was taught to give respect to the animal being served and I feel the best way to do that is to not lose its soul – its flavor.”

My foodie friends and I were able to sample an excellent selection of Chef Mike’s recommendations from Nanka’s recently re-launched menu, which included:

Oysters Hollandaise (Php365 for 6 pieces). Large oysters from Aklan covered in a rich sauce made with egg, butter and lemon, then broiled until the top is starting to brown.

Deep-fried Oysters (Php375 for 8 pieces). Oyster meat lightly dredged and battered, then deep-fried to a golden brown.

Grilled Ahi Tuna (Php355). Yellowfin tuna, also known by its Hawaiian moniker ahi, is well-suited for raw sashimi dishes and for grilling. In this dish, it is served seared rare to bring out its natural flavor while adding some smokiness from the grilling and further enhanced by a dash of togarashi powder.

Grilled Togarashi Shrimp (Php495 for 9 pieces). Fresh shrimp perfectly grilled and spiced with sichimi togarashi, a Japanese powder flavoring made with seven ingredients which include red chili pepper,
orange peel, sesame seeds, Japanese pepper, ginger and seaweed.

Garlic Crabs (market price). Two giant crabs cooked in butter and garlic. Digging into this was one of the highlights of the meal.

Prawn Garlic Noodles (Php375). Plump and fresh prawns sauteed in garlic and tossed together with al dente noodles.

Black Onyx T-bone (Php520 per 100grams) and Black Onyx Tomahawk (Php495 per 100grams). Black Onyx is a well-known Australian brand of Black Angus beef noted for its ruch flavor, juicy tenderness and fine marbling. True to his philosophy of letting the meat’s natural flavors shine through, Chef Mike and his team seared the steaks in a cast iton grill then finished cooking them to a medium doneness in the oven. These were served with togarashi salt, wasabi sea salt, housemade demiglasse, chipotle miso and chimichurri so that diners can season or add sauce to taste.

Japanese Green Tea Mousse (Php215). A delectable dessert made with layers of matcha sponge, matcha pudding and matcha whipped cream icing.

Chocolate Ganache Mountee (Php245). A play of different ways to enjoy chocolate and matcha; a matcha bowl on top of a chocolate bowl with ganache in between, all on a bed of red velvet crumbs.

With these dishes, it is plain to see the sheer mastery and craftsmanship of Chef Mike and his team. Each dish, made of the choicest ingredients, beautifully presented and carefully crafted to enhance its natural flavors, show that the fusion of flavors between Japanese and Latin cuisines are well worth exploring.

Many thanks to Chef Mike and the staff of Nanka for the warm welcome and the wonderful meal!

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

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

There’s something for everyone’s craving at Pob Stacion Food Park

For quite a while now, the Poblacion area has been reinventing itself from its previous incarnation as Makati’s red-light district and re-establishing itself as its foodie-friendly haven. Here, foodies can explore various options in food and drink spanning various cuisines and concepts.

If you were to pool some of those eateries together and concentrate them into one easily accessible place, you would have the Pob Stacion Food Park. Located at B. Valdez Street, Barangay Poblacion in Makati, a ten-minute walk from A Venue or Century City Mall, the newly opened multi-storey Pob Stacion houses a variety of concept food stalls that give the park’s visitors wondrous choices for their gastronomic adventure or to soothe their food cravings.

Recently, together with my fellow foodies, I had a taste of what Pob Stacion’s food outlets have to offer. Read on and check out my top picks.

Above Sea Level (Seafood)

As the home of the Giant Butterfly Squid (Php180 with 1 Java rice | Php250 with 2 Java rice | Php350 with 3 Java rice | Php450 with 4 Java rice), they really do serve it up big-time. Lightly battered, well-seasoned and fried to a golden-brown, each enormous squid by itself is good for two people and is best enjoyed with the resto’s vinegar dipping sauce.

If you’re feeling extra hungry or adventurous, add the Seafood Festival (Php380) to your order and bite into mouthwatering crab, shrimps, mussels and corn on a bed of Java rice doused with a buttery crab fat sauce, or the Spicy Squid Sisig (Php180) for a seafood take on the Pampanga delicacy.

Rib Pop (Pinoy-Korean Fusion)

With the Korean food craze firmly entrenched in the Philippine culinary scene, it’s hardly surprising that the two cuisines would mesh together at some point. That point is here at Rib Pop where the best of the two cuisines is highlighted in its Ribpop Sampler (Php400) which consists of its signature dishes: Black Ink Chicken Wings – squid ink bettered fried chicken pieces with spicy tangy sauce, Ribpop Bowl – your choice of rice topped with beef short ribs, and an assortment of banchan – small plates of Korean appetizers.

Octoboy (Japanese)

Who would have thought that Takoyaki (Php70 for 3 pcs | Php140 for 6 pcs), balls made of batter filled with chopped octopus meat, cooked in a specially shaped griddle and served with those wriggling Bonito flakes, would be such a hit with us Pinoys? If you’re on the lookout for something quick, cheap and yummy, Octoboy’s Takoyaki is your best bet.

Tokyo Tempura (Japanese)

Did you know that tempura, the Japanese method of deep-frying battered seafood and vegetables, was influenced the Portuguese who were residing in Nagasaki in the 16th century? Today, tempura is a mainstay in practically all Japanese restaurants in the country and is even gaining some foothold in Pinoy eateries through localized versions.

Tokyo Tempura’s versions are quick, yummy, easy to enjoy when you’re having a case of the munchies, and with affordably priced options which include Imperial Tempura (Php150 for 12 pcs), Tempura Rice (Php80) and Kani Tempura (Php55 for 6 pcs).

Want some spicy kick to go with your tempura? Add the Chili Cheese Poppers (Php55 for 4 pcs) to your order and take some heat from those tempura battered cheese-filled jalapenos!

Oskar’s Soul Kitchen (American)

If you’re looking for an alternative to your usual fastfood burger, check out Oskar’s Soul Kitchen’s Cheeseburger (Php220) – a quarter pound of ground Wagyu beef patty sandwiched in an oatmeal bun together with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and the resto’s signature sauce.

Still have room for more? Add Angus Beef Hotdog (Php140), Fries Overload (Php160), or the Nachos Overload (Php150) to your order and eat to your heart’s content.

Wing’s Lab (American)

How about Wing’s Lab’s sinful take to your flavored chicken wings? Try its American Wings (Php699 with Nachos and Beef) which hits you with its Jack Daniels flavored sauce.

Want something to quench your thirst after those spicy wings? Take your pick from the resto’s refreshing and conveniently packaged Juices (Php60 – Blue Lemonade, Cucumber Lemonade and Melon with Milk). The best part is that you can easily take these handy juice packs with you all over the park and beyond.

Authentic House of Curry (Indian)

Get yourself a taste of the exotic with the Authentic House of Curry’s spicy Beef Rendang (Php240) and Lobster Scallop Balls (Php180). These dishes provide a nice South Asian flare to your food park fare.

Cha Tuk Chak (Thai Milk Tea)

While boba milk teas abound all over the metro, Thai milk teas are not as visible, which , for me, is a shame if Cha Tuk Chak’s drinks are anything to go by. From the world famous creamy and silky Cha Yen (Php110 regular | Php125 large), the sweeter, fruitier and caffeine free Nom Yen (Php120 regular | Php135 large), the sweet lemon-infused Thai Ruby (Php115 regular | Php130 large), the refreshing Thai tea with real lemon Thai Emerald (Php115 regular | Php130 large), and the gourmet dark chocolate milk tea given a Thai spin Koko Yen (Php110 regular), among others, you’ll have tasty thirst-quenching options as you navigate the food park.

Papa Diddi’s (Ice Cream)

And who can forget about dessert? Papa Diddi’s Hand-crafted Ice Cream (Php75 for 1 scoop | Php110 for 2 scoops | Php145 for 3 scoops) come in such unusual yet localized flavors that pay tribute not just to our Pinoy heritage but also to the farmer communities that supply the brand’s all-natural ingredients. From the fruity Mango Pili, the cheesy Queso Blanco with kesong puti and Cheese Closed with cheddar, the chocolatey Chocolate Lovin and Tsokolate de Cagayan, the sinfully indulgent Tres Leches and the chocolate-meets-spicy Davao Meets Bicol, your dessert gives you a cool, culinary trip across the country.

So if you’re a denizen of Poblacion, or on a night out with friends in the area, do add a stopover to Pob Stacion Food Park to your evening’s itinerary.

Many thanks to Raina of KonyoQueen.com for extending the invitation!

Disclosure: Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend a foodie meetup held in this food park. Food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.

Birthday dinner at Soru Izakaya, Ugong

As a foodie that has been exposed to various cuisines, restaurant concepts and cooking styles, of course I would want an extraordinary meal at an extraordinary restaurant for my birthday dinner with the family.

For some time now, I’ve been wanting to dine at Soru Izakaya ever since I caught sight of pictures showing its colorful and creatively presented makis. Add the fact that the resto chain is currently a Zomato Gold partner where I can get free dishes as a Zomato Gold member, and that sealed the deal.

An izakaya is a type of informal pub originating from Japan, where small and inexpensive dishes and snacks are served to accompany alcoholic drinks. This kind of dining establishment has proved perfect for afterwork de-stressing with friends through drinks and good food.

Soru Izakaya’s visually arresting aesthetic also adds to the relaxing vibe. It takes inspiration from bishoujo (pretty girl) manga, traditional Japanese art, the colorful Tokyo night life and the emergence of speakeasies.

For my birthday celebration, the place proved to be an awesome venue where the extended family came together for a great meal, which included:

Miso Soup (Php45). A staple among Japanese soups wherein softened miso paste is mixed into a savory dashi stock with tofu cubes.

Kani Salad (Php240). Shredded crabsticks tossed in salad greens dressed in a mixture of miso and Japanese mayo. Toppings of crunchy kani, ebiko and nori strips add to the flavors and textures.

Spicy Maguro Salad (Php300). Tempura flakes and cubes of fresh tuna top salad greens dressed in miso and spicy mayo.

Wagyu Steak Teppan (Php990). Iron-grilled wagyu steak served with mixed vegetables.

Tomahawk Katsu (Php320). Deep-fried breaded pork tomahawk cutlet served with sweet and savory katsu sauce and shredded cabbage in roasted sesame dressing.

Unaguro Aburi (Php390). Tempura rice topped with torched tuna and unagi with teriyaki sauce and a bit of truffle oil.

Lava Maki (Php390). Salmon skin, crabsticks and tamago topped with cubes of fresh tuna and salmon in a spicy mayo and teriyaki sauce.

Shake Belly Aburi (Php230). Torched salmon belly with wasabi teriyaki sauce, finished with wasabi mayo, oborro mayo and Japanese mayo.

Nori Tempura Nami (Php330 for 5 pieces). Deep-fried tiger prawns in nori flavored batter.

Meiji Kare (Php260). Japanese-style beef curry with potatoes and carrots on rice.

Shoyu Ramen (Php290). Tender chasyu pork slices, boiled egg and mixed vegetables in a steaming hot shoyu broth.

It was a fun birthday dinner in a new place for the fam.

On my next visit, I would love to try the Tantanmen ramen and one of Soru Izakaya’s desserts.

And since four us unlocked our Zomato Gold privilege, we got 4 of these dishes free!

Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 (Buy 1 Get 1) deals on food or 2+2 (Buy 2 Get 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 Soru Izakaya branch is located at Techno Point Building, Julia Vargas Avenue, Ugong, Pasig City, open Sundays to Thursdays from 11am to 12 midnight and Fridays to Saturdays from 11am to 2am.

Other branches are located at:

Ground Floor, 140 Maginhawa Street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Luxury Wagyu at Miyazaki Gyu, BGC

Just when you thought that you’ve tasted all there is to good ole’ steaks, here comes Miyazaki Gyu introduce us to a truly luxurious steak experience.

The restaurant got its name from the Miyazaki Prefecture in the Japanese island of Kyushu. It is the word’s second largest producer of beef from Japanese black cattle – referred to as miyazakigyu – which is known for having a high level of marbling, making the meat as tender and flavorful as can be.

The restaurant not only sells high-grade beef but also treats its diners to the optimal preparation of the meat, thereby maximizing flavor and texture. That is actually the driving force behind the resto: showcasing to local diners the full potential of miyazakigyu, as envisioned by its executive chef and youngest Iron Chef contender Kensuke Sakai.

Hubby decided to treat the family to the experience of eating such high-quality beef so we spent one of our weekend lunches over the holidays checking out its offerings.

The restaurant embodies a combination of Japanese simplicity with its clean lines and bamboo accents, and of luxurious opulence with its gold and leather interiors.

A display of its various meat offerings takes pride of place, giving diners the option to take some home.

For our luxurious miyazakigyu lunch, we had:

Beef Sushi (Php650). Slivers of tender wagyu draped over sushi rice and lightly doused with ponzu sauce served as our appetizer.

Hubby, my daughter #ExhibitA and I split orders of various beef cuts – Chuck Roll or Premium Steak (Php22/gram), Habaki or Special Part Steak (Php25/gram) and Top Round or Prime Marble Steak (Php32/gram) all cooked to medium doneness so we can savor their taste, juiciness and tender texture.

Hamburg Steak (Php900). Our little boy #ExhibitB, on the other hand, was treated to this tasty grilled ground beef burger patty.

All of these meat dishes are preceded by a light vegetable salad and a steaming hot soup with slivers of wagyu beef.

The steaks were served with sauteed bean sprouts, minced herbs and a bit of salt to bring out more of their flavor.

We also upgraded to the House Special Garlic Rice that went so well with the wagyu steaks.

Given its price range, dining at Miyazaki Gyu is really not for everyday enjoyment; for me, it’s for those rare occasions when you feel like you deserve a break from the ordinary. Its premium-grade wagyu surely takes you to a whole new level of experience.

Miyazaki Gyu is located at Podium Level, One Mckinley Place, 26th Corner 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, open daily from 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 2 8296167 or +63 917 166 6673)

Check out my reviews of other Japanese restaurants:

Yummy Lunch Break at Blue Rocket Cafe, Paligsahan

On one of our last lunch breaks prior to the holiday break (and still high from our country’s Ms. Universe win – yey!), my officemates and I decided to venture a bit farther our than our usual haunts.

We settled on Blue Rocket Cafe + Kitchen, a cozy yet cheery cafe along Scout Reyes a few blocks away from Mother Ignacia Avenue.

The place boasts of homey and rustic interiors accented with brick-lined walls, eclectic wall art and green decor. If you’re hankering for a photo opp during your mealtime, this resto is the perfect backdrop. The chill vibe and the colorful surroundings also make it a great venue for #TitaConferences (I seem to be gravitating towards this kind of place lately, hehehe!). The resto is even cheerier now with all the holiday decor and tchotchkes.

For our group’s happy lunch, we ordered:

Wagyu Beef Sticks with Peanut Sauce (Php325). Juicy cubes of marinated wagyu beef served on sticks with peanut sauce.

Sirloin Stroganoff Pasta (Php315). A rich cream-based pasta generously topped with bits of grilled beef sirloin.

Creamy Tomato Pasta with Chicken (Php255). Spaghetti noodles doused in a rich tomato and cream sauce and served with grilled chicken.

Honey Garlic Wings (Php195). Six pieces of flavorful, crispy-on-the-outside and tender-on-the-inside chicken wings covered in honey garlic sauce.

The dishes were promptly served, piping hot and in servings large enough to satisfy our group.

And since two of us who are Zomato Gold members unlocked our privilege in this resto, we were able to enjoy Sirloin Stroganoff Pasta and the Honey Garlic Wings for free!

What a lovely way to enjoy one of last opportunities for a happy lunch for the year!

Blue Rocket Cafe is located at 79 Scout Reyes corner Scout Lozano, Paligsahan, Quezon City, open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 10pm and Fridays to Sundays from 11am to 11pm. For inquiries or reservations, call +63 2 9317769 or +63 932 7346705.

No time to visit the resto? You’ll be happy to know that Blue Rocket delivers via Honestbee. Simply place your orders here.

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 as soon as slots open. (They tend to get snatched up pretty quickly so be sure to sign up as soon as slots become available.) Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Yummy and affordable saikoro steaks at Wagyu by Monica in Unimart, Capitol Common

After some emergency grocery shopping (brought about by my need to stock up on food items during prolonged inclement weather) at Unimart in Capitol Commons, the fam discovered Wagyu by Monica‘s pop up store. I should probably say my son’s insatiable tummy discovered it as we had just eaten lunch at Locavore in nearby Kapitolyo but he was still looking for some snacks. 🙂

Anyway, I also got attracted by the smell of steak grilling so I walked over to the stall. Hubby gamely sponsored a stick each of saikoro steaks (grilled wagyu tenderloin cubes) at Php100 each for the kids and ourselves so that we all would be able to taste this delicacy.

(For those who want to eat it with Japanese rice, you would need to shell out Php130 for 1 wagyu stick and Php220 for 2 sticks. Extra Japanese rice will cost you Php30.)

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Pure #wagyu beef from Japan at @wagyubymonica. Each cube is 100% juicy, tender and flavorful wagyu served fresh from the pan. At Php100/stick, this is a relatively affordable indulgence. Check out my review at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (search: Wagyu). #foodie #foodporn #foodstagram #foodiegram #foodgasm #nom #nomnom #nomnomnom #igers #igersmanila #delish #happytummy

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Aug 12, 2018 at 12:12am PDT

Saikoro steak is a popular izakaya (Japanese tapas style dish). The name translates to “dice” as the steaks are sliced into cubes similar to dice.

These saikoro steaks were even more special as they were made of 100% wagyu beef imported from Japan. Wagyu beef is known for its rich flavor owing to its increased marbling when compared to other beef varieties.

That taste was enough to convince us that we should have it for dinner tonight so Hubby again forked out Php800 for a container with a half-kilo (around 42-45 cubes) of these premium wagyu . The quarter-kilo (around 22-25 cubes) container was priced at Php500 and the 1-kilo (around 88-90 cubes) container was priced at Php1,500.

At home, I thawed the package out for 30 minutes then placed 2 cubes per mini-skewer (using the skewers I bought from All About Baking) to approximate the cooking and eating experience we had at the pop up store. Then, following Hubby’s advice, I didn’t marinate the cubes anymore but placed them on a hot non-stick cookware (no oil or butter needed) to pan-grill them.

Per package instructions, I seared four sides of the cubes for 2 minutes each to achieve a medium well doneness. (Alternatively, you can sear the sides for 1 minute for rare doneness or for 3 minutes for well doneness). I just seasoned the cubes with a little salt and pepper to taste (I was careful not to overseason the cubes as they were already flavorful enough) and served them with hot steamed rice.

Well, the flavorfully juicy and melt-in-your-mouth saikoro steaks were a hit with the fam and now I’m already planning to buy the kilo container and serve the wagyu cubes during our next family gathering. It would be a bit expensive but still worth it!

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Cooked these beautiful and #delish #wagyucubes from @wagyubymonica. I bought a half-kilo of these yummies for Php800 earlier after I sampled a stick of these yummies at their stall at Unimart in Capitol Commons. You should smell it while it was cooking! The dish was a success with the fam and I’m already planning to serve this on the next family gathering. Check out my review at beingjellybeans.wordpress.com (search: wagyu). #wagyudoin #wagyu #wagyucookin #wagyuph #foodie #foodporn #foodstagram #foodiegram #foodgasm #nom #nomnom #nomnomnom #igers #igersmanila #happytummy

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Aug 12, 2018 at 7:38am PDT

Wagyu by Monica’s Pop Up Stores can be found at:

Unimart Capitol Commons: from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm
EDSA Shangri-la Plaza Food Forum: from Friday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm
UP Town Center (beside Bon Chon): from Friday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm
SIDCOR Sunday Market (at ETON Centris): Sunday, 6am to 2pm
Cash and Carry Makati: open Monday to Sunday for 2 weeks (August 13 to 26), from 10am to 10pm.

Wagyu by Monica also delivers to any location in Metro Manila, accepting payments via online transfers or over-the-counter deposits in BDO or BPI. It also accepts cash on delivery with at Php130 charge on top of shipping fee.

Their wagyu cubes have a shelf life of one year they are kept in yhe freezer.

Contact Wagyu by Monica through:

Facebook: wagyubymonica
Instragram: wagyubymonica
Mobile: +63 917 6580221

Want to cook these wagyu cubes at home? Check out the cooking equipment you might need at Amazon.com!

Prexware 7 Inch Bamboo Picks Paddle Skewers BBQ Picks 100 Pack

Happycall Nonstick Double Pan, Omelette Pan, Flip Pan, Square, Dishwasher Safe, PFOA-free, Red (Jumbo Grill, 3″H)

Spring Chef Kitchen Tongs – Salad Tongs with Stainless Steel and Silicone Tips, 2 Piece Locking Set Best for Serving and Cooking, 12 Inch

A feast with a view at The Nautilus Whiskey Bar, QC

I’m not much of a drinker but I understand the appeal of hanging out somewhere scenic or cozy, favorite concoction in hand and just chat with friends.

Last Friday night, together with fellow Zomato foodies, I did just that at The Nautilus Whiskey Bar. Named after the submarine helmed by Captain Nemo in Jules Verne’s classic adventure novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island, the bar boasts of an extensive wine list, steampunk-inspired interiors made to look like the inside of the famed submarine designed by artist Ram Mallari, Jr., and a roofdeck that provides a breathtaking view of Quezon City.

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Sunset drinks.

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jul 6, 2018 at 3:44am PDT

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#Latepost of #steampunk inspired decor inside The Nautilus Whiskey Bar in QC. #restoart

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jul 8, 2018 at 5:36pm PDT

For this gathering, The Nautilus brought out more than just the regular bar chow:

House Buffalo Wings (Php275). Spicy chicken wings drenched in hot sauce and melted butter with a side of blue cheese dressing. Nothing like something hot and spicy have one go looking for drinks!
Wagyu Cubes (Php450). Melt-in-your-mouth cubes of tender wagyu beef served on a hot plate.
Tuna Carbonara (Php275). This dish featured the Mega brand of tuna flakes cooked with mushrooms into a white cream sauce.
Roasted Spiced Chicken Au Poivre (Php445). A spice-infused roasted half-chicken served with crisp steamed vegetables and fries.
Baked Norwegian Salmon (Php495). Cheese-topped salmon fillet served with onion links, shiitake mushrooms and steamed vegetables.
Nautilus Signature Cheeseburger (Php325). Homemade quarter-pounder beef patty drizzled with melted cheese, topped with deep-fried onion rings and served with crisp potato fries.
The Nautilus Sling (Php302.50). A blend of orange juice, lime juice, triple sec, blue curacao and bourbon whiskey.

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Our #roofdeckfeast for tonight. #flatlay #foodie #foodporn #foodstagram #foodiegram #foodgasm #nom #nomnom #nomnomnom #igers #igersmanila #delish #zomato #zomatoph #zomatophfoodie #zomatophfoodiemeetup #zomatophfmu

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jul 6, 2018 at 3:15am PDT

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More than just #barchow: Buffalo Wings, Wagyu Cubes, Tuna Carbonara, Roasted Chicken, Baked Salmon and the Nautilus Cheeseburger. #foodie #foodporn #foodstagram #foodiegram #foodgasm #nom #nomnom #nomnomnom #igers #igersmanila #delish #zomato #zomatoph #zomatophfoodie #zomatophfoodiemeetup #zomatophfmu

A post shared by Jellybeans in the City (@beingjellybeans) on Jul 6, 2018 at 4:49am PDT

The Nautilus Whiskey Bar is located at the roofdeck of Prime Hotel, No 70 Esguerra Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City (across Hi-Top Supermarket). It is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 5pm to 2am, and Fridays to Saturdays from 6pm to 3am. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 998 8680324.

Also, catch performances by singers Paula Bianca, Ana Ramsey and Aileen Udtog on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays respectively from 8pm to 12mn.

Special deals include:

Buy 1 Get 1 on local beers and selected cocktails as well as 10% discount on bottles during Happy Hour, 5pm to 8pm Tuesdays to Thursdays.
10% off on all bottled whiskey with a free Coke or Sprite carafe every Friday and Saturday.

Disclosure: Together with other Zomato foodies, I was invited to attend 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.