Entries Tagged 'Where To Eat' ↓

Being a dominantly Catholic nation, Filipinos in general abstain from eating meat this Lenten season. As it may be a challenge for most, here are some seaffood suggestion from Heaven & Eggs as they introduce new heavenly seafood fares which range from light and healthy snacks to inventive main courses.

Heaven & Eggs takes on the classic American street grub, Fish n’ Chips into something exciting. The Fish n’ Chips (P299), with its premium Cream Dory fillets in beer batter, are deep fried and served with tangy tartar sauce dip.

Eat to your heart’s content with the generous serving of Heaven & Eggs’ Pan Seared Cream Dory Fillet in Beurre Blanc sauce for only P310.

They also offer the Shrimp Sandwich P295 (top photo), delectable fresh cubes of shrimps filling prepared with the freshest lettuce and crunchy cucumber in soft French baguettes.

Both light meals come with a choice of house fries or shoe string fries.

For a more delectable and fulfilling meal, you can try the Tuna Fusilli and Pan Seared Cream Dory with Mango Sauce.

Take pleasure in a light and healthy Tuna Fusilli with parmesan-laden French baguette at Heaven & Eggs for P285

Moreover, the Tuna Fusilli has huge chunks of tuna sautéed in olive oil, garlic, slices of black olives and fresh tomato strips, seasoned with Heaven & Egg’s special seasoning. It is also served with French baguette topped with parmesan cheese. Lastly. the seared Cream Dory fillet glazed with whisked butter and mango puree, are served in generous portions with buttered marble potatoes and broccoli in Italian seasoning.

In time for April’s Lent season, Heaven & Eggs Glorietta 4 in Makati City is offering these seafood snacks and dishes for the whole month of April!

Another foodie stopover in our Avida Food Hunt series was the Bebe Rouge Patisserie. Right after a filling meal at Mao Jia Hunan Cuisine Restaurant in Bagtikan, it’s time for dessert!

Cream Melon

Bebe Rouge Patisserie is one of San Antonio Village‘s premier bakeshops located conveniently at the corner of Sacred Heart St. and Metropolitan Avenue.

The quaint and pink bakeshop is owned, managed, and operated by a vibrant Japanese couple–Chef Atsushi and Chef Jun, both French-trained pastry chefs.

Here is a quick set of photos inside Bebe Rouge Patisserie:

Bebe Rouge @ New Hatchin Building

Desserts Sampler including the bestseller Strawberry Shortcake

(left) Earlgrey Financier – Almond Cake rich in ‘Beurre noisette’ with Earl grey ‘ tea powder Php 50; (right) Financier Chocolat – Chocolate flavor financier, almond cake rich in ‘Beurre noisette’with cocoa powder Php 50

Their bestseller is the strawberry shortcake which tasted almost heavenly. 🙂 Visitors also have a wide selection of pastries like macaroons, galettes, and other pastry desserts. They also have a wide selection of tea concoctions at about Php 150. Iced teas are served in glass while the hot ones are in teapots. Hot coffee is at Php 100 while a cold one is at Php 120.

More photos:

Chef Jun of Bebe Rouge

Bebe Rouge Macarons

The Patisserie

Bebe Rouge Patisserie in Makati

Bebe Rouge Patisserie actually has an interesting mix in the aspect of culture – a Japanese-owned shop of French pastries in the Philippines. 🙂

Magnum Manila

The opening of Magnum Manila at SM Aura Premier SkyPark tomorrow is all-abuzz around the metro and in the social media-sphere where those who got first dibs, including NomNom Club, have been sharing their photos online, much to the jaundiced eyes of those who haven’t.

But the day has come, tomorrow, Magnum Manila opens it’s first pop-up ‘pleasure store‘ in the Philippines, following other branches around the world including Paris, Jakarta, Shanghai, Amsterdam and New York, among others.

Magnum Manila Signature Combination

Magnum Manila Pleasure Store

Mr. Bryan Chanyungco

So before you hit the store in it’s grand opening tomorrow, here are 10 Things You Need to Know About Magnum Manila:

1. Magnum Manila is not a Café

No, it’s not  a cafe, as Magnum Manila brand manager Bryan Chanyungco has confirmed in an interview with NomNom Club.

Strictly, it’s a “Pleasure Pop-Up Store“. It means that their main purpose is to support the brand – Magnum.

It would be open for only a little more than a year and the objective of success is then attained!

Magnum Manila @ SM Aura Premier

2. Dessert Dishes were Crafted by Chef Miko Aspiras

Chef Miko Aspiras

The Magnum concoctions forming all the dessert dishes were crafted by Chef Miko Aspiras, a globally award-winning pastry chef and is currently one of the pastry chefs in a well-known Philippine premier hotel.

3. Food is by Chef Him Uy de Baron

You may consider Magnum Manila a restaurant since aside from the Magnum Ice Cream creations, there are other sumptuous dishes you could order from appetizers to soup and salad to mains.

Some names from the menu include Asian Steak Salad, Pumpkin Soup, Magnum Braised Beef Cheek, and Carbonara.

The entrees are the creations of Chef Him Uy de Baron, the executive chef of Chef Cuisine Catering and owner of Nomama.

Asian Steak Salad

Make-Your-Own-Magnum

4. The “Make-Your-Own-Magnum” only costs Php 100

Since Magnum Ice Cream‘s launch about two years ago, the brand has already made it’s mark in the Philippine ice cream industry. And with Magnum Manila, the customer’s experience will be elevated by offering them the chance to create their very own Magnum bar for only Php 100!

Most of your favorite desserts from other restaurants costs more!

5. Step 1 Make-Your-Own-Magnum: “Coat It”

The DIY process starts from the choice of ice cream. Choose between vanilla or chocolate truffle.

After selecting your Magnum ice cream base, you get to “Coat It” by choosing a chocolate coating from white, infinity dark, and classic.

Step 1: “Coat It”

6. Step 2 Make-Your-Own-Magnum: “Top It”

To ‘Top It’ is to make you Magnum Bar more exciting by experimenting on 18 different toppings to choose from. You could create more than a hundred thousand combination with all 18 of them!

The default is to add 3 toppings from the varied choices. The toppings include pistachios, almond, chocolate chip cookies, dried raspberries, gold nuggets, and even sea salt or chili flakes for that surprise kick!

Step 2: “Top it” – 18 Toppings to Choose From

7. Step 3 Make-Your-Own-Magnum: “Drizzle It”

Finally, you get to drizzle your Magnum Creation with the same chocolate choices from the coating section. Select either white, infinity dark, or classic Belgian chocolate.

Step 3: “Drizzle It”

8. Magnum Manila contemporary architecture and sleek interiors is designed by Ed Calma.

Magnum Pleasure Store @ SkyPark

Magnum Manila Interiors

9.  NomNom Club’s Top Dessert Choice is the Cookie Dough Skillet

The Magnum Manila menu is quite handy but there are a lot of options to order. So to help you make the right choices, allow us to give you NomNom Club’s top choice which we believe you’ll never regret – the Cookie Dough Skillet.

The Cookie Dough Skillet is a warm chocolate chip cookie dough topped with two vanilla Magnum bars, dark chocolate and chopped pecans.

At P250, it has earned to be one of my favorite desserts of all time. It’s also good for sharing!

Other Magnum Manila creations include the Rainbow Dream & Pink Friday.

The “Rainbow Dream”

The “Pink Friday”

10.  NomNom Club’s Main Dish Recommendations are the Seared Salmon and Mushroom Burger.

For the ‘mains‘, please do try the Seared Salmon with Basil Creme and Chorizo Confit and the Mushroom Burger.

While the Seared Salmon is good for a meal, the Mushroom Burger has that unique meaty texture perfect just before a Magnum Manila dessert creation for snacks.

Seared Salmon with Basil Creme and Chorizo Confit

Mushroom Burger

Free Magnum

But wait, there’s more!

Free 500 Make Your Own Magnum

Magnum Manila in SM Aura opens its first day with a big crunch! A free crunch for the first 500 customers, so to speak.

They will get their own Make Your Own Magnum dessert creation for FREE!

Be one of the First 500 guests to get a taste of the Make Your Own Magnum experience. Doors officially open at 12NN on Tuesday, April 8 2014. Patrons may physically line up ahead of time (no phone reservations).

1-patron-1-MYO-Magnum-Bar Rule

Magnum Manila Signature Creations

Magnum Manila Pleasure Store

Being a pop-up store which will only be open until sometime in 2015, you should then grab the earliest chance to taste the cold and luxurious Belgian chocolate bar of Magnum made the way you want in thousands of possible combinations.

Know more about Manila’s Magnum at Magnum.com.ph, @Magnum_PH on Instagram, and MakeMyMagnum.com.

And considering that the newest Magnum Gold retails for Php60 each in convenience stores, the Magnum Manila P100 DIY Magnum plus 3 toppings in a full dine-in premium store is actually pocket-friendly.

Mao Jia Hunan

Hunan province in China is famous for its spicy fares and that’s what Mao Jia Hunan Cuisine restaurant along Bagtikan street in Makati is bringing to its customers and nearby residents.

Continue reading →

Todd English Food Hall Manila

Todd English Food Hall, a 900-square-meter specialty culinary hall that offers a mix of fresh and prepared international gourmet food, opens in Manila today. Continue reading →

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight

Traditionally, Chinese New Year in the Philippines is celebrated with the colors red and gold. ‘Red’ symbolizes luck in the Chinese culture while ‘gold’ represent prosperity.

But in the new Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight restaurant in Greenhills, you have more colors to celebrate it with care of their multi-flavoured Xiao Long Bao!

New Look

Aside from changing their old name Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight also revamped its look. In my second visit to the restaurant a few weeks ago with my wife,  I was surprised to know that they had a renovation sometime mid of last year. I didn’t know about it since my first visit was perhaps back in 2012. I felt it was a let down at first since the see-through noodle kitchen was gone. It provided an interesting view from the outside whenever I pass by V-Mall in Greenhills.

New Crystal Jade in V-mall Greenhills

On another thought, the changes were also good in a way that the new ambience was refreshing to the eyes dominated by light purple shades and the skyline of Shanghai on one wall adding to the casual dining experience.

Xiao Long Bao

Xiao Long Bao

Having grown-up in a Chinese family, Xiao Long Bao (a steamed soupy pork dumpling) was a common sight in big family gatherings in Chinese restaurants. But I have never seen a Xiao Long Bao other than its traditional plain and white form. Needless to say, the Multi-colored Xiao Long Bao (Php 229) came as a surprise. 🙂 Wifey and I discovered that the rainbow-colored Xiao Long Bao set was a mix of 5 flavors including Shrimp (orange), Spicy Chicken (dark orange), Spicy Beef (red), Vegetable and Dried Beancurd (green), and interestingly - Cheese (yellow). :) You can mix and match any of the five as a package for only Php 229. One piece is about P49-P59 each. I think this is the only colored Xiao Long Bao in the Philippines.

Multi-Flavored Xiao Long Bao

With a more piqued interest, we just had to try it! 🙂 And so we did. For a spice-averse couple like us, you can easily guess our favorites. The seafood-lover in me cherished the shrimp while wifey went for the cheese. The spicy chicken and beef flavors were tolerable for our standards so you need not worry either. The vegetable and dried beancurd was a good one; it was my second choice, actually.

Yummy Beverages

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight Menu

Beyond the signature Xiao Long Bao,  Shanghai dishes are mostly represented by La Mian noodles, Tan Tan Mien, Spicy and Sour soup, and sauteed chicken with cashew nuts, among others. Here are some more new and interesting dishes we tried from their menu over lunch.

Braised Pork with preserved vegetable in Claypot (Php 300) [NomNom Recommended]

Lion’s Head – braised minced pork & mushroom with cabbage (Php 358)

Crispy Eel in “Wu Xi” Style [NomNom Top Choice]

Deepfried Mushroom in Salt & Pepper (Php 288)

Mango Pudding (Php 120)

Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Taro (Php 120 3pcs)

We also got a ‘Fried Mixed Rice in Hot Stone Pot‘ (Php 348) but organic red and brown rice is not for everyone. They usually turn out tougher than ordinary rice; so think twice about this. We liked it for it’s health benefits though. Check out our Costales organic farming adventures here.

The Braised Eggplant with Pork in Claypot (Php 300) from the menu looks interesting as well so I think we will try this in our next visit.

Moreover, Crystal Jade is open for breakfast in the morning from 7 to 10:30 a.m with a special breakfast menu. Pair up your favorite dimsum with a bowl of their signature congee or pulled noodle offerings and conclude with a Chinese tea.

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight
Address: Unit 117-121 Ground Floor, V-Mall, Greenhills
Operations: 7 to 10 p.m. Monday to Sunday
Telephone: (+632) 570-5233 & 570 6910
Website: www.crystaljade.com

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight also delivers via City Delivery at (02) 87878.

Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight Restaurant

Did you know that Crystal Jade also offers Black Truffle and Foie Gras Xiao Long Bao flavors? 3 pieces cost Php 188. So why not celebrate your colorful Chinese New Year with the family at Crystal Jade Shanghai Delight tomorrow? 🙂

Bottomless Tostada Chips with Skillet Queso (P390)

NomNom Club recently visited Chili’s at The Atrium of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City for the first time.

Here’s a short photoblog, aka ‘photo-chips‘, of what we had in the filling dinner a few days ago.

Chili’s SM Megamall

• Triple Dipper (P495) – a combo of three well-loved appetizers in Chili’s: Chicken Cripsers, Wings Over Buffalo, and Southwestern Eggrolls. The latter is a crispy flour tortilla filled with smoked chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeno jack cheese, red peppers and spinach. Triple Dipper also comes with avocado ranch dressing, among other sauces.
  

  Chili’s Triple Dipper (P495)

• Bottomless Tostada Chips with Skillet Queso (P390) – never tire with your unlimited crispy tostada chips with flavorful house-made salsa and skillet queso which is a combination of chesse dip and soft beef.
• Classic Nachos (P435) – It certainly looks like pizza, but they are nachos! These nachos has melted cheese on top, jalapenos, and beans served with house-made pico de gallo and sour cream. You have the option to add grilled beef for (P195), grilled chicken for (P95), and guacamole for (P55).
  

  Classic Nachos (P435)

• High and Mighty Pie (P380) – Definitely a dessert to share (although I can finish this all by myself)! 🙂  It’s indeed high for a pie and mighty for a cake! It has Heath candy pieces in rich vanilla ice cream piled high on a crushed Oreo cookie crust and drizzled with caramel and hot fudge.
  

  High and Mighty Pie (P380)

  

  Big Mouth Burger Bites

Lastly, we had the Big Mouth Burger Bites. We also had smoothies which are as good as desserts by the name of  Fresh Strawberry (P195) and Molten Chocolate (P195).

Molten Chocolate (left) & Fresh Strawberry (right); both Php 195

The former is a generous serving of vanilla ice cream blended with chunks of strawberries at the bottom. The latter is special chocolate coating blended with vanilla ice cream and milk. It’s creamier than the first.

Chili’s chilisphilippines.com 2F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Makati (729.3022) Northeast Greenhills, San Juan (727.2959) Tomas Morato corner Scout Fernandez, QC (372.5017) Power Plant Rockwell, Makati City (659.65627) SM Megamall (631.0380) Twitter/Instagram: @Chilis_PH

Chili’s SM Megamall

We used to go to Chili’s in Greenhills and the one at the Timog / Tomas Morato Area. Chili’s SM Megamall is surely a welcome addition to their list of branches which is more accessible.

There are four numbers to remember from this ‘Awesome Secret Foodies Tour‘ – they are 8, 20, 3, & 1000. The numerals represent 8 restaurants, a 20-course degustation, 3 Hours, and 1000 pesos.

Foodies Anton Diaz, RJ Ledesma, wifey Marjorie Uy & NomNom!

The Tuscany Food Tour at McKinley Hill in Fort Bonifacio presents a 20-course degustation spread among 8 restaurants that intends to continually fill your tummies for 3 hours. All these for a measly P1,000 from you pocket. Moreover, 2 of the metro’s iconic foodies – RJ Ledesma and Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet – will join the group of 30 to make the experience more engaging.

Participating Restaurants in the Food Tour:

• Sauceria
• Planet Grapes
• L.E.S. Bagels
• Main Street
• Sophie’s Mom
• B&T Mexican Kitchen
• Marciano’s
• Trattoria Poggio Antico

Not to keep you wanting for too long, let’s take a peek on what the 8 restos  have to offer:

Planet Grapes

Wine pairing at Planet Grapes plus choice of one red wine and one white wine:

Planet Grapes

Wines include Folie a Deux Merlot 2010, Joel Gott Riesling 2011, and Kunde Family Chardonnay 2011, among others

RJ Ledesma joins Our Awesome Planet in hosting the Tuscany Food Tour

Trattoria Poggio Antico

4-in-1: Prosciutto con Melon (ham and melon on pizza crust), Crespella del Poggio Antico (crepe stuffed with ham and cheese, and mushrooms in truffle oil), Pomodoro e Mozzarella Crostini and assorted pizzetas, and Oyster Sur Pate di Fegato (oyster on liver pate)

This Foodie Tour come in a Group of 30

….or simply your small group of friends

B&T Mexican Chicken

B&T Mexican Kitchen

Chipotle Chicken Pizza, Mango Glazed Habanero Chicken, Taquitos Espesyal with Barbacoa, & Nachos with Assorted Dips [+ Awesome “Rice” drink on the left]

Chicken Mole

L.E.S. Bagels

L.E.S. Bagels with assorted Cream Cheese Filling (NomNom Tip: :I love the one with black sesame seeds)

Marciano’s

West Side Four Season Pizza; (not in photo: Woody Allen Linguine)

Dow Jones – US T-bone with prawns, potato wedges, sausages, and roasted vegetables

Sauceria

Feta Cilantro Tomato Cocas – Spanish style pizza

Artisanal All-Beef Burger with tuyo blue cheese spread in a Furikaki bun

Tuna Tataki – Zaru Soba with homemade wasabi sour cream dip

Main Street

Poutine – thick-cut fries served with beef gravy and cheese curds (best with San Miguel Beer)

Wagyu Burger – Kitayama beef in sesame buns served with tomato relish, cheddar cheese and their very own house sauce

BEST DESSERT in this tour: Organic Maple and Candied Bacon Artisan Ice Cream (using vanilla maple base)

Sophie’s Mom

The place is dainty and cute fit for the little princess. However,  I’m not sure if the Red Velvet shown below will be offered because the tour menu only indicated Oreo Cheesecake Cookies and Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes (fyi). Any which way, you could always order it independently. 🙂

Red Velvet Cupcake (display only)

The “An Awesome Secret Foodies Tour” is presented by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls for you to discover Tuscany’s best kept secrets starting today (November 30) and for the next three more Saturdays (December 7, 14 and 21) from 2pm to 5pm.

The experience will enable you to taste a little bit of everything and get a feel of the place before splurging out on an entire meal. Only a limited set of 30 tickets will be available per date tour so hurry up and get your tickets at designated booths near the Tuscany Grand Villas Gate from 11:00am to 6:00pm (between Ukkokei Ramen Ron and Marciano’s).

An Awesome Secret Foodies Tour @ Tuscany

For more information, you may call 709-0888, 709-9888 or 0917-838-0111.

Food Tour Tip: Eat slowly and enjoy the company as much as you would the food. Each participant will be given a tour kit including the tour ticket, tour pin, degustation menu and the McKinley Hill Gourmet Guide.

NomNom Top Picks are:

• Main Strreet’s Organic Maple and Candied Bacon Artisan Ice Cream
• Sauceria’s Tuna Tataki
• Sauceria’s Feta Cilantro Tomato Cocas
• Marciano’s West Side Four Season Pizza
• L.E.S. Bagels with black sesame seed (I forgot the name; it was long 🙂
• B&T Mexican Kitchen’s “Rice” drink
• Planet Grapes’ Torrontes wine.

Join this mouthwatering degustation at Tuscany in McKinley Hill with your friends and family and I’m sure you will enjoy it as much as we did during the media tour. This Tuscany Food Tour is a secret no more, but remains awesome for the next 4 Saturdays.