Entries Tagged 'Dessert' ↓

I gave in to Spanky’s prodding for some comfort food at a newly opened foodie spot in Jupiter street in Makati – Gino’s Eats and Beats – and pulled along 5 more friends.

Gino’s is conveniently located a stone’s throw away from Fiamma and immediately beside The Distillery. The place is not that big but cozy and has a modern feel. It was no surprise that the interiors of this concept restaurant was designed by Team Manila.

Mushroom & Artichoke Spread

And so we grabbed the green and stylish menu and placed some orders. 15 minutes later, the dishes started to come one by one. I think we ordered a little too much, even for a group of 7. It’s good we were still awaiting for a couple of more friends – Jane and her Bubba. 🙂

The resto-bar-type restaurant has a TV monitor which showcased the menu food photos. This certainly was a big factor in our ordering pattern. 🙂

Gino's Dumplings

But looks can be tricky, the taste buds should decide.

First on the spotlight is the Greatest Cheese Quesadillas (P305 – Top Photo). Beef Quesadillas are one of my favorite pica-picas, adding loads of cheese on top just gives it more umph!

Eggs Benedict

This was followed by more appetizers namely Mushroom and Artichoke Spread (P160), Gino’s Dumplings (P195), a pair of Eggs Benedict (P185), and Grilled Sausage with Cheese Sauce (P220). This one’s on cheese overload, nomnomnom!

Then here comes a fiesta of platters initiated by the Fried Platter (P430) with more cheesy combinations of cheese logs, baby squid poppers, and Risotto mashed potato balls served with roasted bell pepper sauce and aioli.

Grilled Sausage with Cheese Ssauce

Fried Platter: Cheese Logs, Baby Squid Poppers, Risotto Mashed Potato Balls served with roasted bell pepper sauce and aioli

Grilled Sticks Platter: 12 sticks of Pork Asian BBQ, Chicken Barbeque in peanut sauce, Pork Pinoy BBQ, and Curry Pork BBQ

The Grilled Sticks Platter (P430) followed consisting of 12 sticks of Pork Asian BBQ, Chicken Barbeque in peanut sauce, Pork Pinoy BBQ, and Curry Pork BBQ

The spicy-lovers dared for a Wings Platter (P405) with 9 pcs of Buffalo wings, Hoisin Honeys and Honey Mustard and carrot sticks.I’m not too sure if it should be spicy…because it’s not. 🙂

Wings Platter: 9 pcs of Buffalo wings, Hoisin Honeys and Honey Mustard and Carrot Sticks

By this time, we were feeling loaded but temptation keeps coming in.

A luscious-looking burger comes into the scene called Greatest Longganisa Burger (P185). It’s actually named Greatest Longga Burger. Sans 100% pure beef, a longganisa burger is almost always better because the Filipino longgnisa is juicier in nature than regular beef. It’s as juicy and flavorful as it is oily and sinful; again with cheese on top. Woah!

Greatest Longga Burger

Jane and Chris finally arrives to the rescue. They didn’t have to order anything as the Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce (P245), the scrumptious Grilled Shrimp Scampi (P270), Angus Belly Salpicao (P270), and Stir Fried Pork and Tofu (P220) also came after them. 🙂

Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Sauce, Angus Belly Salpicao, and Stir Fried Pork and Tofu

Grilled Shrimp Scampi

I had to surrender to the last three dishes and passed on Marsala Pork Chop (P210), Greatest Adobo Flakes (P185), and Beef Garlic Tender Tips.

Marsala Pork Chop, Greatest Adobo Flakes, and Beef Garlic Tender Tips

Nonetheless for NomNom, there’s always room for desserts! 🙂

Gino’s Desserts: Greatest Panna Cotta (P150), Greatest French Toast (P150), Greatest Mango Jubilee(P150), and Gino’s Greatest Vanilla Sundae(P125).

They were all good, creamy, sweet, and sinfully delicious!

Gino's Desserts: Greatests - Panna Cotta, French Toast, & Mango Jubilee

Gino's Greatest Vanilla Sundae

While only Gino’s Dumplings need improvement for my taste, my top three highly recommend ones are the Greatest Cheese Quesadillas, Grilled Sausage with Cheese Sauce, Eggs-Benedict, and Greatest Longganisa Burger. Ok man, they’re four! – so what? 🙂

Interestingly, dinner service ‘eats‘ time is from 6 to 10pm as Gino’s turn into ‘beats‘ with house and hiphop music 10pm onwards. Moreover, you can cross order wines and liquores from The Distillery vis-a-vis order Gino’s from The Distillery. 🙂

By the way, Gino’s is also open for lunch with set meals at only P100 for the Makati office crowd. It opens Mondays-Fridays 11am–3pm. They open again at 6pm for dinner onwards. And of course, a blogger’s best friend – free Wi-Fi! 🙂 Take note however, that their menu is still in the adoption phase and some dishes might change from the menu.

They’re located at Unit A, Ground Level, Valdelcon Building, 20 Jupiter Street, Makati. (632) 519 1272 / (63) 917 885 6969 .

Gino's Eats & Beats

I will end this article with something for you to think about: why do you think most of the menu items have the “Greatest” before ’em? 🙂

Just look at the pictures and tell me you will not try Gino’s Eats and Beats in Jupiter for at least once in your life. Tell me!

Cheese-inspired Christmas desserts flowed from the recent launch of the World’s Longest Christmas Celebration by Kraft Eden Cheese last September 4, 2010. The project features 100 unique cheese-based specialties of 100 towns nationwide to celebrate 100 Days of Christmas.

Here are 5 towns and their dishes among the list of 100:

Bacolod: Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese and the Masskara Festival

Considered as one of the best places to live in the Philippines, Bacolod has already made a name for itself. Bacolod is also one of the top sugar producers of the country. Famous for is its magnificent Masskara Festival, it is a colorful, festive and widely-acclaimed annual festival that attracts a huge number of tourists. Get a taste of the rich and blossoming Bacolod through their native specialty Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese.

Bacolod: Bakareta with Fried Potato and Kraft Eden Cheese and the Masskara Festival

Iloilo: Creamy Macaroni Soup with Eden Cheese and Dinagyang Festival (Top Photo)

Known as the “Textile Capital of the Philippines”, I have been to Iloilo twice and is looking forward for the third this coming November for the Visayas Blogging Summit.

Marked for its Dinagayang Festival, Iloilo’s specialties include La Paz Bachoy, Molo Soup, and biscocho. You may also try the famed Creamy Macaroni Soup with Eden Cheese.

Bauan, Batangas: Vegeden and Kampon ni Pakakak

Bot to far away from Manila, the town houses the 2.5m tall Anubing cross that is said to be miraculous and has since become a major attraction to devotees. But for beach lovers, it is hailed as a “Diver’s Sanctuary”.

It is also the home of their special wrap and roll called Vegeden.

San Carlos, Pangasinan: Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con cheese and Veggie and the City Plaza of San Carlos

Known for their mango trees and mung beans, this side of Pangasinan also engages in livestock raising, crop production, inland fishing, pottery, food processing, tourism, and commerce. Formerly known as Binalotangan, San Carlos is rich in its agro industry.

Get a taste of the promising and aspiring San Carlos by enjoying their rich and creamy Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con Cheese and Veggie.

San Carlos, Pangasinan: Sushi Catfish with Crabmeat con Cheese and Veggie and the City Plaza of San Carlos

Abucay, Bataan: Cheesy Eggplant Layers and the Sibul Spring

Abucay is home to the Sto. Domingo Abucay Church – one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. It is also where Pasukulan Falls – a natural wonder in the unexplored and unspoiled valley of Mt. Natib can be found.

It is reputably where the first printing press in the Philippines can be found, and claimed to be even older than that of the United States. So have a nature trip in Abucay while enjoying their Cheesy Eggplant Layers.

Abucay, Bataan: Cheesy Eggplant Layers and the Sibul Spring

Do you think one of these is the best dish to have this Christmas season?

Support your choice dish or your province by having 1 empty pack of Eden Sulit Pack, Eden 180g or Eden 500g, and a piece of paper with  your name, contact details, the name of the town you want to vote for and your signature. Drop your entries at the nearest Eden’s Sarap ng Pasko stations at the Prime Cast office, SM Mall of Asia or any ABS-CBN Main and Regional offices.

Sarap Ng Pasko

Check out more details about Kraft Eden‘s  Sarap ng Pasko by going to www.sarapngpasko.com and view the other unique cheese-based dishes that you think deserve to win.

I celebrated my personal birthday a few weeks ago and a Jollibee cake made by Red Ribbon found its way into our home.:)

It was a big fondant chocolate cake with a big and cheerful printed Jollibee mascot on top. A fitting cake for a day of merriment.

Jollibee Birthday Cake by Red Ribbon

Chef Laudico

However, I was further surprised when I came home to our QC house last Sunday (two days ago) and found a Chef Laudico brownies box in our refrigerator. It was accompanied by a birthday greeting card saying:

“Happy Birthday. Hope you’ll enjoy this box of brownies especially and exclusively prepared by Chef Jackie Laudico…“

Wow, that sounds special, albeit belatedly.:)

I opened the box and found a set of ten elongated brownies. Something different from the usual square ones we see. And indeed, the taste was exquisitely premium. More than just the average brownie, it was a luscious mixture of the brownie; plus the roasted nuts caramelized cashew on top. I can’t exactly distinguish what kind of nut but it’s most probably cashew.

Chef Laudico Brownies - the Best!

It was so good. This is one of the best brownies I’ve had. I think this due to the good chocolate mixture highlighted by the crunchy and premium-tasting roasted walnuts caramelized cashew on top. Yum!

Birthday Card

I searched the Net including Chef Laudico website (http://www.cheflaudico.com.ph/) but didn’t find the brownies, not even its name.

And lastly, the card indicated:

“We have made a donation under your name to the Virlanie Foundation and the Autism Society of the Philippines.”

NomNom Club

What a warm feeling of goodwill done in your behalf for your birthday. Thank you GeiserMaclang, Stratworks, and Jollibee, you have made my birthday this year more special.

Thai cuisine gets highlighted as Marriott Hotel Manila brings the Flavors of Thailand to Manila.

Marriott Cafe features one of the South East Asia’s favorite cuisines – the Thai food – in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Embassy of Thailand and Thai Airways. From August 1 to 31, satisfy your taste buds with a delicious showcase of authentic Thai dishes from Thai chef Thanathorn Krobsuay.

Chef Krobsuay, as Marriott’s official Thai food ambassador, shares his sophisticated style and expertise in Thai cooking flown all the way from the JW Marriott Bangkok.

Marriott Cafe

My experience of the Thai dinner buffet at the Marriott started with the famous Tom Yam Goong soup. It’s a spicy prawn soup with lemongrass and galangal. Although there are a number of variants of this soup including their color which is usually red, this one is white.:) It was a good prep-up appetizer.

Next in line was the Som Tum, a spicy green papaya salad. This time, it meant the word ‘spicy‘ in its flavor. 🙂

Other dishes I tried out were Thod Mun Pla, Spicy Wok Fried Seafood, and Larb Gai. Thod Mun Pla are Thai fish cakes (marinated and fried) with pickled cucumber, green beans and sweet and sour sauce while Larb Gai is a minced chicken salad with mint and ground rice plus lime juice and fish sauce.

As common as it is in Thai buffets, I give my thumbs up that night goes to the Pad Thai. I found the stir fried noodle and seafood perfectly cooked and taste that’s not too overpowering.

Pad Thais are considered their national dish which consists of fried noodles, eggs, been sprouts, shrimp, chicken, and tofu combined with other oriental ingredients including tamarind juice, hot chili, and fish sauce.

Ending the buffet was a Kanom Thai Ruam (selections of Thai royal desserts) which are usually made of coconut milk based or sweet sticky rice. Thai desserts are generally not as sweet as those from the Philippines which we are accustomed too. So if you are one of the latter I have mentioned, you might consider Thai desserts a little lacking.

By the way, I also got to try a Thai pizza which was conservative with the toppings. Interestingly, it had a basil leaf on top of each slice.

Too bad i lost all my photos in this food escapade. The photos here are care of Marriott Manila. Top photo by Alex Dizon.

Promotion

Moreover, diners who avail of the Flavors of Thailand buffet also get a chance to win a pair of round trip tickets to Thailand courtesy of the Thai Airways and Tourism Authority of Thailand. The prize trip includes a three-night stay with breakfast at the Rennaisance Koh Samui Resort and Spa Thailand.

Flavors of Thailand Buffet

Flavors of Thailand

The Flavors of Thailand buffet is available during lunch and dinner at P1,350 nett for adults and P675 nett for children.

Sunday Brunch is a little more expensive at P1,650. Children below 12 get in for half the price and children below 6 get in for free!

Marriott Café is located at the Ground Floor of Marriott Hotel Manila in Newport City, Pasay. For information and reservations, call (632)988-9999 or visit www.marriott.com/mnlap.

Being a non-Muslim, I am guilty of not really knowing enough Halal foods, or which products are Halal certified and the likes. Perhaps I didn’t care enough about it then.

But being a travel and foodie blogger, I would eventually come across Muslim communities and it would be truly helpful for me to know their culture and food practices including observation of Halal certified products of which this article is going to be about.

Wikipedia says that Halal is an Arabic term pertaining to food permissible according to Islamic law. The Muslim’s religion – Islam, implements laws that indicate which foods can or cannot be eaten based on their perception of ‘clean‘ animals. This include proper ways of slaughtering an animal for consumption. In general, the Muslims don’t consume anything with pork or the derivatives thereof.

Halal Food Products

You might want to check this Halal products guide. As mentioned earlier, I never really knew which products are Halal or otherwise and it caught me by surprise that there so many common-day products around us which are actually halal certified.

Some of the featured Halal food products are Skyflakes, Eden Cheese, Lucky Me Pansit Canton, Argentina corned beef, Fiorgelato ice cream, and Tang powdered juice.

“It aims to provide updated information to folks interested in purchasing Halal certified products. Links are provided directly to the company website for further information.” according to the website’s about page. Also, get updated on Halal certified food and products in Facebook.

It is indeed good to know about this new site serves as a repository Halal certified food just like a Halal food guide.

Ok, actually, it was an afternoon snack with some friends. But I really do hope it was breakfast then at Kopi Roti because French toasts are so my morning favorite. 🙂

Kopi Bun with Kaya Spread Filling

At the Greenbelt 3 branch, we tried their Hainanese style ‘Kopi‘ (coffee) with sweet milk at P50 and signature Kopi Bun (P40) which is a soft bread with coffee flavored crust and sweet buttery filling.

Kaya Toast

We also had 2 “Roti” French toast (P55), “Roti” Kaya toast (P45), some Kaya puffs, soft boiled eggs (P30), and a Milo Dinosaur beverage. The first two were served with the ‘secret‘ Kaya spread and butter while the third is filled with the former.

For that day however, my kaya toast was so ordinary, and I don’t know why; so I’m raving only about the roti French toasts and my Milo Dinosaur.

As long as it’s slightly toasted and fresh hot, my French toasts never fail me. It’s one of those soft-and-chewy inside but slightly-toasty on the outside comfort food. Just remember to consume them immediately upon serving so it’s still fresh hot.

Kopi Roti French Toast with Kaya spread and butter

Milo Dinosaur

The Milo Dinosaur is a cold concoction with the Milo branded chocolate malt powdered drink. If you love Milo from your childhood years, you’ll be getting flashbacks with its large serving. 🙂

Soft Boiled Eggs

From the menu board, I recommend Set A which is composed of 2 “Roti” French toast (for your egg and carbohydrates), soft boiled eggs (for your protein needs), and Kopi for your caffeine kick (almost perfect if it could be changed to a Milo Dinosaur). It’s a complete breakfast at P125 which saves you P10 from ordering them separately.

Kaya Puffs with Special Kaya Spread Filling

Non-incidentally, today is also Kopi Roti’s 5th year anniversary in the Philippines! Being a Singaporean franchise, the raw ingredients supplying their 18 branches here are sourced directly from Singapore.

In light of this, avail of their special treat from Aug 4-8, 2010 : Kopi Roti offers you the “5 + 1 anniversary promo“. …Buy 5 Kopi Roti products, Get 1, free.*

Congratulations Kopi Roti! More Kopi Buns and French toasts for breakfast! Woot! 🙂

Positioning itself as a Filipino cafe in a sea of coffee shops in the metro, Figaro Coffee Company has adopted itself to something unusually found in a typical coffee shop setup: a Filipino Breakfast Meal.

Corned Beef Breakfast

Prepared by Chef Carl Marxist Tan, I’ve all tried Figaro‘s three breakfast meals namely: Pork Longganisa, Classic Corned Beef, and Gourmet Crispy Tuyo (Dried Fish).

I am torn between the pork longganisa and corned beef, they are both good. Perhaps, I’ll just leave that for you to decide.

If you have the Filipino sweet tooth and doesn’t mind the extra fat, go for the homemade Pork Longganisa. You’ll love it and ask for more.

Figaro Pork Longganisa

If you decide to get more serious and prefer it a little salty in the morning, the corned beef sauteed in onion breakfast is for you.

However, I would say that the Crispy Tuyo needs a little improvement in the preparation. Given that it has the “crispy” on the meal title, it somehow fell short of that expectation. Other than that, the tuyo flakes was ok.

Figaro Crispy Tuyo (Dried Fish)

All three sets priced at P175 come with a fried farm sunny side up egg and tomato-cucumber salsa on the side. It is also paired with an 8 oz. Figaro brewed coffee.

New Desserts

Chocolate Eclair Dessert (P65)

Figaro's Ambrosia (food for the gods - P70)

Figaro also adds 2 new desserts to its sweet line: the Chocolate Eclair and Ambrosia.

Eclairs are long custard-filled pastries. This one is covered with chocolate on top. I recommend Ambrosia, also known as Food for the gods.

And yes, you can order the Figaro All Day Breakfast “all day.” 🙂

Figaro is a 100% Filipino owned coffee company and sources its coffee beans locally to support the industry.

If one is coming from Quezon City, the San Miguel By The Bay area across SM Mall of Asia can indeed be considered a far “Ibayo” (the next town). But it can be a worthwhile visit for Filipino cuisine lovers.

Ibayo Barrio Fiesta

Barrio Fiesta has been an iconic restaurant here in the Philippines representing good old classic Filipino dishes well-loved and tested through time.

And with the onset of the owners’ third generation family members in the person of Tristan and Tyrone Ongpauco, they have decided to give it a new twist. From the Filipino home-inspired rattan tables and chairs, Ibayo gave it a touch of modernity with new interiors while retaining the Filipino touch.

From a full-pledged restaurant into a bistro, you could now find bar chow, beer, and cocktails (such as the Ibayo Sunset) in the menu, obviously catering to the younger crowd. The Ibayo branch in San Miguel By The Bay also serves alfresco.

Ibayo Firesticks

I tried it about a week ago with some friends. We had the ever-staple Crispy Pata (deep fried pork knuckles), White Adobo (Adobong Puti), Lechon Kawali, Mama Chit’s Special, Ibayo Firesticks, and  Pinaputok na Pla-pla wrapped in foil.

But before all that, we had the Ibayo Firesticks (or should I say “they” because I never got to try one). My comrades are very fast on the plate. 🙂 These firesticks are jalapeños & cheese rolled up as a spicy appetizer

Ibayo Crispy Pata - P425 Regular P525 Large

White Adobo / Adobong "Puti" - P190

Pinaputok na Pla-Pla - P265 per 500grams

The twist to White Adobo is the combination of chicken and pork marinated in vinegar but without the soy sauce (hence ‘white’) while Mama Chit’s Special (P695) is a mini fiesta of sorts served in a bilao. There’s shrimp, calamares, lumpia, chicken, bangus, and others – all fried. It serves 4-5 persons.

Barrio Fiesta Rice, Kare-Kare, and Buko Fresh Fruit Shake

But what I loved about dinner that night is the Barrio Fiesta Rice, a native Paella style rice. The paella rice was flavorful on its own, surrounded by tahong (mussels) and topped with shrimp and crab.

Barrio Fiesta Rice - P250

Another winner that night was their Kare-Kare, tender oxtail and tripe stewed in peanut sauce. Heat is maintained with a small fire at the pot’s bottom. Kare-kare would be one of the few dishes we can expect to be consistent through all of Barrio Fiesta branches and Ibayo as the peanut sauce they use all come from one source.

Kare-Kare - P220 Regular P350 Family

Buko Fruit Shake FTW! - P105

I can’t rave more about the Buko Fruit Shake I had. If there’s a drink you should not miss in Ibayo, it’s this one. It’s not overly sweet, but it’s creamy. The shaved-ice’s texture and consistency was also perfect It’s so good it could pass for a sherbet.

Turon Ala Mode / Majablanco - P75 / P65

We also had Turon Ala Mode and Maja Blanca for dessert. I’m not sure why it’s “majablanco” in their menu. Maybe it’s an alternative term. I’m just used with ‘maja blanca‘ since I was a child. 🙂

Ibayo by Barrio Fiesta

Dining @ Ibayo

That’s my Ibayo by Barrio Fiesta experience. Try them out at Building G, Unit 7-8 in San Miguel by the Bay, SM Bay City (bayside behind MOA). Don’t forget the Barrio Fiesta Rice, Kare-Kare and Fresh Buko Fruit Shake!  They are open 3pm-12mn on weekdays and 3pm-2am on weekends. Call 0917-5376062 or 0906-5002782 for reservations.