Entries Tagged 'New Brews' ↓

If you’re looking for a new chill-out place without the pretensions of being cool-and-all-that, Big Bad Wolf is the place to be at.

Big Bad Wolf in Fort Bonifacio

Effortlessly, the relaxed and homey setup of Big Bad Wolf just makes you feel at home and in the company of your favorite friends with good food. This is what I felt the first time I went there and got to meet 2 of the three owners, Neil Paras and Ponch del Rosario. 

I wasn’t really expecting to meet them since my meeting there was supposed to be with the people of Brieo Deals. Anyhow, it was a good chat. I came to know  that all three were high school buds who had a common goal of establishing a restaurant just like how they envisioned Big Bad Wolf now – cozy, good ambiance, and great food.

Speaking of great food, they serve different preparations of steak, grilled meat, pasta, light meals, and appetizers they call little plates.

Best of all, they also serve the not-so-usual preparations of dishes we know. I’m can be a little adventurous when it comes to food so I do appreciate restaurants who creatively comes up with new fares to gear away from the usual stuff which can become boring in time.

Let the photos and names sell themselves (Top photo is Santol-smoked Pork Belly with Dirty Rice). 🙂

Potato Skins with Boursin Dip (P120)- highly recommended

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup (P230)

Fresh Tuna Wrap with Wasabi Mayo (P220)

Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Wings (P170) - I call this the Big Bad BonChon Chicken Wolf. 🙂

Poached Egg Carbonara Pasta - very good while it's hot

Goat Cheese & Chorizo Rolls (P240)

Bacon Wrapped Middle Eastern Dates (P280) - I loved this specially if you prefer it sweet

Peppered Chuck Steak (P490)

Dorado Fillet Wrapped in Bacon (P350) - for bacon lovers

They just had a promotions deal with Brieo Deals last month, but you can get updates form their Facebook page as well.

Big Bad Wolf
G/F Fairways Tower, 5th Ave. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
+632.822.5833

Big Bad Wolf Restaurant Interiors

Tell your closest friends of this new hideaway called Big Bad Wolf, tucked quietly at the back of Fairways Tower at the corner of 5th Avenue and McKinley in Fort Bonifacio, share some wine or beer, and enjoy the night.

On it’s 8th year of publishing the Philippines’ Best Restaurants Guide, premiere society magazine, The Philippine Tatler, with partner San Miguel Corporation, is once again organizing its annual Charity Week for a chosen charity.

Philippines' Best Restaurants

Philippines’ Best Restaurants Guide

This handbook is a product of months of reviews of the current 157 restaurants and finest dining places in the country. It has served as a pocket guide for foodies, gourmands, and discerning diners for the best 100 restaurants.

“Restaurants are evaluated on their cuisine, ambiance, service standards and price. The reviewers follow a standard rating procedure that encompasses the different facets of a restaurant – from the range of the menu and the wine list, as well as the competence and etiquette of the wait staff.“

The Philippines’ Best Restaurants 2011 also included new sections such as the Best lists of restaurants excelling in various categories such as the Best for Tourists, Best for Wine Lovers, Best Chinese, Best Vegetarian and Best Steaks, among others.

Philippine Tatler's Best Restaurants Guide

Seven of the country’s best chefs were also featured in “Chef Talks.” They are Juan Carlos de Terry of Terry’s Bistro, Tonyboy Escalante of Antonio’s, J Gamboa of Cirkulo, Colin Mackay of Sala, Sala Bistro, and People’s Palace. Add to that Jessie Sincioco of Chef Jessie Rockwell Club and Chef Jessie Top of the Citi, Tippi Tambunting of Masseto, and Tomo of Taka.

Philippine Tatler 10th Anniversary Issue

Charity Week

This year’s chosen beneficiary of the Charity Week is the Virlanie Foundation.

Virlanie Foundation Officials & Volunteers joined by Philippine Tatler Officers at Shang Palace

Thirty-six (36) restaurants from the Philippines’ Best Restaurants list will donate a generous portion of their proceeds from September 22-30, 2011 to Virlanie. The funds will support one of Virlanie’s projects – the Mobile Unit. It is Virlanie’s outreach program for street children living in Divisoria through a mobile classroom and good nutrition through a feeding program.

Here is a list of the 36 participating restaurants:

• Aubergine
• Azuthai
• Banana Leaf
• Cafe Ilang Ilang (Manila Hotel)
• Cav Wine Shop – Café
• Chef Jessie Rockwell Club
• Cibo
• Circles (Makati Shangri-La)
• Cru Steakhouse (Marriott Manila)
• Crystal Jade
• Escolta (The Manila Peninsula)
• Felix
• Indigo (Discovery Shores Boracay)
• Kai
• Keizo
• Kimpura
• Kirin Chinese Dining
• L’Incontro Ristorante Italiano
• Le Bistro Vert
• L’entrecote
• Lili (Hyatt Hotel and Casino)
• Lusso Gastro Bar
• Mabuhay Palace (Manila Hotel)
• Mamou
• Masseto
• Ninyo Fusion Cuisine
• Opus Restaurant and Lounge
• Palermo
• People’s Palace Thai
• Restorante Y Damaso
• Sala
• Sala Bistro
• Sugi
• Thai Patio
• The Tivoli (Mandarin Oriental Manila)
• Umu (Dusit Thani Manila)

36 Best Restaurants Charity Week List

Interestingly, I have also just published a few weeks ago about Golden ABC‘s similar advocacy which donates parts of their proceeds purchased from their clothing shop entitled Get Up: Fashion for Advocacy.

Maurice Arcache also joined us in the lunch launch @ Shang Palace

Philippine Tatler and Virlanie Foundation invite you foodies to dine with advocacy and enjoy a meal or two at any of Philippine Tatler’s Best Restaurants included in the Charity week from today until September 30, 2011. You still have five days to go dine and at the same time help the needy! 🙂

In celebration of our 2nd anniversary this month, “everyone’s food blog” – NomNom Club, together with the KFC Tower Burger, challenges you to “Demolish the Tower Burger with NomNom Club!“

KFC Tower Burger

In addition to the existing official “Demolish the Tower Burger” contest, “Demolish the Tower Burger with NomNom Club!” encourages all bloggers in Metro Manila to participate in this special and limited activity for you to try!

What’s in it For You:

1.) Get to Demolish the Tower Burger for FREE complete with the set meal of fries and a drink.

2.) Be successful in demolishing the Tower Burger completely within 2 minutes (while being recorded with your own video camera) and get an instant P300 KFC Gift Certificate!

3) Be able to upload your video on YouTube, join KFC’s official contest, and get a chance to win and experience the much-awaited Night Race in Singapore! Click HERE for the official KFC contest mechanics.

How To Join:

1) Know Where NomNom Club Is

Monitor the NomNom Club Facebook Page and await the wallpost schedule to be announced everyday from Sept 13 to Sept 16 anytime from 12nn to 8pm. At least 1 wallpost per day will reveal at least 1 KFC branch where NomNom Club is located and what time you can catch him there.

For example (on the NomNomClub FB wallpost):

“Hello guys! catch @NomNomClub at KFC Cubao Branch  (back of Gateway Mall) from 5pm to 7pm and get the chance to demolish the KFC Tower Burger!“

2) Perform the required Facebook wall post

— Post the link of this blogpost in YOUR Facebook wall ‘link’ section: “https://nomnomclub.com/restaurants/2011/kfc-tower-burger-nomnom/” anytime from now until 4:00pm of September 16, 2011.

— Add a message with this format:

“I’m going to KFC <insert branch> at <time> to take on @KFC Philippines Demolish the Tower Burger Challenge with @NomNomClub !”

Don’t forget to tag @KFC Philippines and @NomNomClub (tag by writing “@” first) in the message.

3) Join On-The-Spot

Be there within the announced time, easily look for NomNom and participate! Come early because only 5 contestants per hour can be accepted. When you come late beyond the announced time, he’s not there anymore! (Although you can still buy for yourself a Tower Burger and participate in KFC’s official Demolish the Tower Burger Contest ).

This is how NomNom looks like in person 🙂

Requirements:

1) Subscribe to NomNom Club HERE or join NomNom Foodie Club HERE to get insider tips (through your email) of the locations in advance.

2) Bring your camera. If you don’t have company, NomNom can hold your camera and time you while you devour the KFC Tower Burger.

3) Bring a Valid ID. I will be carrying a tablet with Wi-Fi to verify on-the-spot if your FB profile was able to post the required message and tags and if your FB profile photo actually looks like you! 🙂

Demolish the Tower Burger with NomNom Club!

The big box of KFC Tower Burger got buns, creamy mayo, crisp and fresh lettuce, a hash brown and the original recipe chicken patty. It also stands as a 2-inch high burger (or more) that stack up high!

So who’s up for the KFC Demolish the Tower Burger Challenge with NomNom Club? Tower Burger’s on the house! 🙂

Touted as the “Best Chicken in America” by New York Times, GQ, and Esquire, BonChon seems to be on it’s way to the same status here in the Philippines.

BonChon Chicken Menu

With presence in Ayala Triangle Gardens Restaurants row, Greenbelt 1, SM Megamall, Libis, Robinsons Galleria, Greenhills Promenade, and Makati, US-based Korean brand BonChon has been known for its fried chicken’s super crispy, light, and non-greasy outer layer that comes in soy garlic or spicy glaze. I belong to the soy garlic cult. 😛

But this blog is not about what you already know. It’s not about what you are used to. 🙂

The MORE

If, just in case, you are already tired of the spicy glazed BonChon chicken wings you have been ordering twice a day, everyday, for the past few weeks, I’d just like to tell you that there’s more to BonChon Chicken than just ‘chicken‘. 🙂

BonChon Calamari

BonChon Calamari

First in my list of recommendation is the BonChon Calamari. You may dismiss it as your ordinary fried calamari with breading but I love it’s ultimate crunchiness. Make sure to have it with the spicy mayo dip.

A serving is priced at P125. Not cheap for the size, but worth the taste.

BonChon Fish Tacos

BonChon Fish Tacos

Next comes their Lenten  favorite introduced last April 2011 which now became a menu mainstay – the Fish Taco. Fried and glazed just like the BonChon chicken, it also comes in either soy garlic or spicy glazed (with toothpick insert). Placed in the center like a taco and topped with Kimchi coleslaw (shredded cabbage, tomatoes, et.al.), the Fish Taco is priced at P75. They use soft taco, by the way, and the fish is Cream Dory.

Foodie Tip: Buy the Fish Tacos Meal that comes in two plus a drink for only P150.

BonChon Ginger Tofu Salad

BonChon Ginger Tofu Salad

On a diet and protein-conscious? This is for you. It’s basically a green salad with tofu cubes and ginger dressing. You might also chance upon some crispy wanton strips. I found it wanting though; so they could actually put more of that. P125.

BonChon Bulgogi Ricebox

BonChon Bulgogi Ricebox

The Bulgogi Ricebox is basically a rice meal with a generous serving of bulgogi (sirloin beef) on top. Reducing my rice intake, I am more interested with the Bulgogi wrap which has lettuce and kimchi coleslaw instead of rice. Both is priced at P125

Did you know that the BonChon Calamari, Fish Taco, and Ginger Tofu Salad are unique to the Philippine franchise? Interestingly, BonChon international is open to their local franchisers’ ideas on localizing the menu.

Owner Mr. Scott Tan also mentioned that they are looking into further expansion with an Alabang Town Center branch opening soon, among others.

BonChon Chicken Ayala Triangle Gardens

Check them out http://www.bonchon.com.ph/, https://www.facebook.com/Bonchon.Chicken.Philippines,

So the next time you visit BonChon and want to take a break from your BonChon Chicken frenzy, you know your options. 🙂

Food lovers, connoisseurs, and foodies, hear ye, hear ye! One of the most exciting food event of the year is back – the sixth edition of the Ultimate Taste Test!

Brought to you by Our Awesome Planet, in cooperation with San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 is happening on September 3 at the Rockwell Tent from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. as food blogger Anton Diaz  embarks on this first partnership with Rockwell.

Be a food-critic-for-a-day by sampling mouth-watering food preparations and concoctions from over 50+ home-based food businesses and some of Power Plant Mall’s own restaurants. Participants also get to rate the food samples and exhibiting food concessionaires on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest. The hihgest scorers get to be featured in Anton’s site.

Each ticket costs P585/person and covers the ff:

• Food Taste Portions from 50+ Home-Based Food Vendors & Power Plant Mall Restaurants (new) for the entire Saturday
• A bottle of San Miguel Super Dry, Premium All-Malt or Cerveza Negra (18 years old and above only)
• Exclusive to 1,000 foodies

Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 2011

For ticket inquiries, call Power Plant Mall Office (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours or Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours.

Here is a list of Food Exhibitors you might expect:

If you want to be a food supplier, contact Rockwell UTT Application Form and submit  via email to admin@ultimatetastetest.com.

See related Posts:

• Ultimate taste Test 4.0
• Ultimate taste Test 4.0 Photos

Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test Event
September 3, 2011, Saturday, 11.00 am – 9.00 pm.
Rockwell Tent
Email admin@ultimatetastetest.com.
P585/head. Tickets available at Power Plant Mall Office (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours or Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours.

See you fellow foodies at the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 on Saturday! 🙂

This one’s way overdue…by more than two months 🙂 I may not be able to let you taste the good finds through this article but I can at least let you see how delicious they looked like at the Yummy Eats event held last May 2011.

Starbucks at Yummy Eats

In celebration of Filipinos’ love for good food, YUMMY magazine held its first-ever cooking and eating fair, YUMMY Eats at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City.

“For years, YUMMY magazine has been featuring amazing food finds in the metro. Now that we’re on our fourth year, we feel it’s high time to bring the magazine closer to our readers by having 31 food brands under one roof,” says Frances Ang, associate publisher of YUMMY Magazine.

The event gathered 31 concessionaires specially handpicked by YUMMY magazine.

I think it’s been almost a year since my last Food Foto Fiestaso a photo feature on Yummy Eats is begging.

Here are some which caught our attention:

Plants and Zombies Cupcakes

Hunts and McCormick Rosemary Iced Tea

Wha Pao Siopao

Low Cal Cafe

Fruits In Ice Cream

Lechon

Longaniza

Angry Birds Cupcakes

Participants were also treated to cooking demos from McCormick, Hunt’s, and Saranggani Bay Prime Bangus. It was also an afternoon of learning, as Francis Bautista and Constancio Arabejo from Petron Gasul talked about kitchen safety, while Nowie Potenciano of Mochiko, Pamelo Cinco of Risa Chocolates, and JJ Yulo of Pinoy Eats World discussed new food business ideas.

Hosted by three self-confessed foodies –TV personality Issa Litton, Magic 89.9 deejay CJ Rivera of The Big Meal, and YUMMY magazine’s resident contributor, Chef Aileen Anastacio—YUMMY Eats proved to be one big gathering of food lovers.

And of course, this Yummy Eats article ain’t ending without our NomNom recommendations: The top three spots goes to Divine Desserts, Risa Chocolates, and Tina’s Pie Outlet.

Divine Desserts

Divine Desserts
Home-style dessert shop featuring specialty cakes and desserts made with all natural ingredients baked fresh everyday. The desserts are luscious! I got to try the Wasabe Kitkat Mousse and Double Fudge Cake.

Risa Chocolates

Risa Chocolates
Risa Chocolates is known for delicious handmade chocolates. Their delectable line up includes melt in the mouth truffles, chewy choco chip dough, satisfying chocolate bars, and healthy and tasty cacao nibs.risa’s Chocolate Truffles are simply unforgettable. 🙂

Frozen Merengue Pies

Tina’s Pie Outlet
Although they are famous for  savory pies, it’s the Frozen Merengue Pies which I liked at the event.

Completing my Top 10 Finds are:

Also commendable according to my notes are Chef’s Table, Balamban Liempo Cebu, Goodies N’ Sweets, Gourmet Dips and Dressings, and Mochiko.

Chef's Table Dishes

Balamban Liempo Cebu

Gourmet Dips and Dressings

Goodies N' Sweets

Mochiko

Check out the rest of the photos and concessionaires are here:

• Amaya Frozen Caramel
• Big Daddy’s Chicken
• Carmela’s Best Ice Cream
• Cebu Balamban Liempo
• Chef’s Table By Chef Bruce Lim
• Classic Confections
• Divine Desserts
• Farm N Deli Enterprises
• Fruits In Ice Cream
• General’s Lechon
• Gold Leaf Teas
• Goodies N’ Sweets
• Gourmet Dips And Dressings
• Honest JuiceJaq’s Kitchen
• Kusina Ni Maria Catering
• Kusina Teatro
• Little Miss Oc Kitchen
• Lowcal Café Co
• Merry Moo
• Mochiko
• Oriental Basket
• Pinoy Eats World
• Pipino Vegetarian
• Risa Chocolates
• Simply Pie!
• Starbucks
• The Fruit Garden
• Three Instia Road Kitchen
• Tina’s Pie Outlet
• whaPao!

I hope there wil be another Yummy Eats next year ! 🙂 For more of YUMMY online, visit www.YUMMY.ph, become a fan on Facebook via Facebook.com/yummymagazine, and follow them on Twitter via Twitter.com/yummyph.

The rainy season really hampers the mood specially for a travel and food blogger like me. With the Philippines’ incessant rain and typhoons from the middle part of the year onwards, my traveling is restrained and food escapades limited.

Visiting Mercato Centrale

The last time I went to Mercato Centrale in July, I was soaked in a heavy rain shower going back home. But these are the sacrifices you make for good food and indulging experiences. Night or day, I love Mercato. With the unique and varied choices of delicacies offerred by the foodie stalls, each visit can be as unique as your pallate can take.

On the other hand, the rainy season can really spoil a Mercato Centrale experience.

Heaven Sent City Delivery

We all know that the concept of food delivery is nothing new. But I never thought a group of small foodie businesses could actually come together and get themselves a food delivery partner.

It’s a simple but bright idea. Lightbulb!

City Delivery Delivery Boy

I don’t have to drag my sleepy head on a cold bed weather weekend morning. I’d just have to call on City Delivery’s hotline number 87878. Or if you want to experience Mercato Centrale delivery online, check their website at  http://CityDelivery.ph or their Facebook page where it says City Delivery is a “multi-restaurant delivery service…we let our customers experience the world on their plates with an impressive array of cuisines from the city’s prime restaurants and other food establishments.”

Currently, for a minimum order of Php500 and a delivery fee and 10% Delivery charge,they deliver to the residents of the following areas: Alabang, Greenhills, Las Pinas City, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Ortigas, Paranaque City, Pasay City, Pasig City, Quezon City, and The Fort.

The cap is a little high for an individual delivery but I guess it fits more for group or family order so the P500 minimum delivery is not a problem. I owe all these realization from Mel who asked me if I could feature them here at NomNom Club. And so, now, here it is! I never knew beforehand that I could have stuff from Mercato delivered at the comfort of my home. 🙂

Please keep in mind the advance and real-time ordering scheme:

• Weekdays: Advanced ordering (2 days in advance depending on the merchant)
• Weekends: Real time ordering (9AM-­‐2PM)

Moreover, I was told that current participating establishments are the following:

• 

  Manang's Chicken

  Bale Dutung

• Big Bob’s
• Chuck’s Grubberie
• Homemade Ravioli
• Manang’s Chicken
• Merry Moo
• Mochiko
• Spring by Ha Yuan

I hope more will join in the near future so that consumers can have more choices.

Although my top pick is the ever-famous Bale Dutung, I haven’t tried Manang’s Chicken either. With a recommendation form Mel, I decided to give their signature chicken a try.

Manang's Chicken from Mercato Centrale through City Delivery

Rice almost gone but there are still 2 chicken!

Mel didn’t fail me as Manang’s Chicken was good as well. The white meat was tender and I cannot let go of the sinful chicken skin made tastier by the SAUCE.

I just had to put it in all caps; you would know why after trying Manang’s Chicken yourself.

🙂

In my next City Delivery order, no one can stop me from having one of Pampanga’s best – Bale Dutung by by Chef Claude Tayag!

🙂

Mercato Centrale at the Comfort of your Homes with City Delivery

Thank you City Delivery, it’s Mercato goodness, rain or shine!

I’m not a vegetarian but I do chow on vegetables for health reasons. I include it in my meal whenever possible. Last night, it was a pleasure to discover that one of the new seven Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches – the Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread -  is positioned as a healthy vegetarian sandwich for the ‘veggy‘ lovers.

Roasted Vegetables in Flat Bread

I wasn’t really expecting much from the vegetable sandwich but it was surprisingly good! The Roasted Vegetables Sandwich will replace the vegetable artisan roll you might have been used to. It consists of Mediterranean vegetables marinated in Italian spices with mild chili dressing on grilled flat bread.  The chili is interestingly mild just enough to put a twist to the fare.

To complete your healthy meal, pair it with the Green Tea Latte (no whip, of course) and go for soy.

6 Other New Lunch Sandwiches

Starting August 9, Starbucks will introduce these new hot lunch sandwiches catering to those looking for filling meals during lunch time. Prepared in less than 5 minutes, it is best suitable for  people on-the-go.

Aside from the Roasted Vegetables sandwich above, the first three which will be available in all Starbucks Philippines branches are the following:

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

Ultimate Grilled Cheese

It’s a grilled cheese sandwich made with six types of cheeses such as Gruyere, Emmenthal, Feta, Provolone, Mozarella, and cheddar.

Although half of those cheeses sounds alien to me, it ended up good to the taste. On the other hand, the premium cheeses might cater only to the more mature taste buds who can appreciate high quality cheeses. It also comes with slices of Hungarian sausages in between and seasoned with roasted garlic and Italian herb-ed butter on bread.

Roasted Chicken Pesto

The roasted chicken breast fillet comes with Shitake mushrooms and pesto mayo sauce topped with Emmenthal and cheddar cheese in between grilled flat breads. The breast fillet are juicy and the pesto mayo is really aromatic.

This is actually the only one retained from the previous lunch sandwiches menu. And there’s a great reason why this is so. 🙂

Roasted Chicken Pesto Sandwich (left) Beef Brisket Sandwich (right)

Beef Brisket

Emmenthal cheese covering slices of beef brisket with caramelized onions and Dijon mustard constitute this sandwich. The beef brisket itself was fairly ‘ok’ last night but I think I need to try this again before I give it a final verdict.

— o —

The last three new sandwiches are available in select Starbucks branches in the Philippines:

The Clubhouse

The Clubhouse Sandwich

It’s the usual chicken clubhouse you know…with ham, cheese, pickle relish, mayo mustard dressing, tomato and greens, among others, on flat cranberry bread.

It’s available in all Starbucks branches except Baguio, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo and Naga.

Tuna Waldorf

Tuan Waldorf

Tuna Waldorf is a classic tuna salad with red and green apples, walnuts, and celery in yogurt mayo dressing topped with hard-boiled eggs served in raisin walnut bread.

This one’s a filler and will surely be loved by those with good appetite and good taste.

It’s available in all Starbucks branches except Baguio, Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo and Naga.

Tuna Melt

Tuna Melt

It’s a tuna salad with melted cheese on roasted Rye bread topped with mozzarella and seasoned wtih Spanish paprika.

This is the rarest among them all available only in selected provincial branches and the only one reachable by land from Metro Manila – is Starbucks Baguio. The other branches that carry this is Boracay, Bacolod, Cebu, CDO, Davao, Iloilo, and Naga only.

Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches

NomNom Recommends

After perseveringly trying all of the seven sandwiches last night for the benefit of my readers 🙂 , I recommend these top three in no particular order (parang beauty pageant lng) :

• Roasted Vegetables on Flat Bread
• Roasted Chicken Pesto on Flat Bread (there’s a strong reason why this one was retained)
• Tuna Waldorf in Raisin Walnut Bread

 So, a day after my birthday on August 8, you can immediately try these new Starbucks Lunch Sandwiches. But if you are the scrimpy-type like me, you can wait for August 15 and 16 where all Starbucks branches will have a P50 off promo on all these lunch sandwiches I have mentioned upon purchase of any Starbucks beverage except service water. 😛