Entries Tagged 'Cravings' ↓

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! 🙂

NomNom got an invitation from DOLE for a cook-off challenge last month. Although I wasn’t one of the challengers as much as I wanted to be, tasting the Dole tomato sauce-inspired dishes prepared by Chef Jeremiah de Belen Favia from then QTV11‘s Healthy Cravings and Ka-Toque Lutong Barkada, was a delight.

First in the recipe set was the Cherry Tomato and Eggplant Ragu Penne. It was a simple penne pasta dish but made special with the lycopene-rich thick sauce of Dole tomato sauce. This was the same dish prepared on the spot for demo by Chef Jeremy.

Cherry Tomato and Eggplant Ragu Penne

This was followed by the Chili Con Mushroom Over Herbed Baked Potato.

Chili Con Mushroom Over Herbed Baked Potato

But what I liked best was the Dory Braised in Dole Tomato Sauce. I usually like saucy dishes such as these. The fish meat got the right texture and the flavor was enhanced further by the sauce.

Dory Braised in Dole Tomato Sauce

“Dole advocated healthy living through our products and activities. For this event, we like to highlight that being healthy should be part of our love for food, and this event highlights that it is easy to be healthy,” adds Poch Zenarosa – Dole Philippines’ Packaged Foods Division Product Manager.

Chef Jeremy in the Dole Cook-Off

The Challengers in the MIHCA Kitchen

MICAH Waltermart Makati

The Dole Cook-Off Challenge was held at the Magsaysay Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Arts (MIHCA) in Waltermart Makati.

Having started the other day, the week-long “Indonesian Food Festival” hosted by Oakroom Restaurant (Oakwood Hotel in Ortigas) will run until the 21st of September.

Sata Ayam (Appetizer)

Delight in the diversity of Indonesian cuisine and the combined influence from its neighboring countries. Discover authentic Indonesian food from the islands of Java, Sumatra and Bali as prepared by Executive Chef Deden Suherman and Chef de Partie Sulistyo who both came from Oakwood Premier Cozmo Jakarta for this festivity.

This is my first time to have a full authentic Indonesian meal prepared by an Indonesian chef and it was a good experience. I also found some similarly equivalent dishes from our own like the Sop Buntut which I can compare with how ‘bulalo’ is cooked in the Philippines since Indonesia is a fellow South East Asian country.

For starters, we had “The Temptation” appetizer set which consists of:

• Tahu Asi (stuffed tofu inside crisp breading-P295++);
• Asinan Sayuran (refreshing serving of sliced fresh vegetables with cold sweet and sour soup – P295++)
• Sate Ayam  (flavorful chicken skewers with thick peanut sauce – P395++)

Indonesian Appetizers: Tahu Isi, Asisnan Sayuran, Sate Ayam (left-right)

For the main dishes, we first had Gado Gado (P350++), a plateful of mixed boiled vegetables with peanut sauce at the center. It can pass as an appetizer as well, actually. 🙂 (Top Photo)

Oxtail Soup (Sop Buntut)

This was immediately followed by the warm oxtail soup called Sop Buntut (P425++).

Things heated up again with the serving of spicy beef stew called Rendang Daging (P525++).

Spicy Beef Stew (Rendang Daging )

It was then concluded by Ikan Asam Pedas (P495++), a Western Sumatra spicy-sour fish dish.

Ikan Asam Pedas (Spicy Sour Fish)

The dessert set was: Sweet Es Cendol (rice flour  with coconut milk and brown sugar sauce – P225++) and Pisang Goren (fried banana topped with brown sugar – P225++). The Es Cendol is their version of our Halo-Halo.

Es Condol - Pisang Goren - Wedang Jahe

Bajigur (Warm Ginger-based Drink)

I had both hot and cold ginger-based drinks called Bajigur (P175++) and Wedang Jahe (P175++), respectively. The former is a combination of coffee, coconut milk, brown sugar, and ginger, while the latter has boiled grilled ginger, lemon grass, clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar as well.

Other available dishes you could try in the Indonesian Food Festival include Bakwan Udang (vegetable fritters with shrimp P395), Mie Goreng (Indonesian Fried Noddles P375), Opor Ayam (Chicken cooked with coconut milk P325).

For other desserts and drinks, they also have  Ketan Sikayo (boiled sticky rice with pandan custard P225), and Sekoteng (boiled ginger, lemon grass, clove, white sugar,carnation milk, with fresh bread cubes, peanuts, mung beans and tapioca pearls P175).

Chef Deden Suherman and Chef de Partie Sulistyo

Available for lunch and dinner, the restaurant is open for breakfast too. For reservations and inquiries, you may call 637 7888 or 910 8888 extensions 8603/8604

Oakroom Restaurant
Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Tel. No. 637-7888
Open from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight

Oakroom Restaurant

Oakroom Restaurant Indonesian Food Festival

Hurry, Oakwood Restaurant’s Indonesian Food Festival is only upto September 21, 2011!

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! 🙂

What do you call the act of devouring food at the Ultimate Taste Test event? – ‘Ultimate Taste Testing’. 🙂

Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, NomNom, & Tricie (R-L)

Ok, I made that up.

A week after the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0, people have been asking how many food stalls was I able to try. And when I answer 51, they seemed to be amazed and ask how I did it.

It’s simple actually.

If you approach it mathematically, ~50 stalls in 5 hours is equal to 10 stalls per hour or 6 minutes per food stall. Thinking about it, 6 minutes is already a good rate which includes taking photos, lining up, and asking  a little background about the food from the owners.

Here are some tips on how I was able to make it through 51 of the 55 food stalls in Ultimate Taste Test 6.0:

1) Skip Breakfast – this readies your tummy with maximize space available. 🙂

2) Come Early – I came 15 mins. ahead of time. There were only a handful of people and you’ve got the food suppliers pulling you by the arm just to try their delicacies. You’ll never feel unwanted. 🙂

Conquering 51 Food Stalls at the Ultimate Taste Test 6 (2011)

3) Relax, Don’t Panic – Eat in pace, one at a time. You’re not in a race. Get rid of the greedy mentality and trust the organizers that they prepared enough food for everyone and that you will not run out of food to taste.

4) Take a Sip after every food stall visit – this helps clear your palate for objective tasting of the next, and pushes down the previous. You can also bring a water bottle just in case the event lacks beverage suppliers.

Nomnomnom...

5) Eat in Line – when rush hour strikes, you might find yourself waiting in line specially if the stall is a blockbuster hit. This is the best time to eat your haul from the previous stall. By the time you’re finished, your’re in front of the line. Efficiency is key. 🙂

6) Bring an Eating Buddy – (preferably with the same level of appetite)  nothing beats peer support. If you see your friend eating along with you, you will be more determined. Although I came by myself, we didn’t fall short of having the other food bloggers around for company (and critique).

7) Strategize – being my third UTT, I already learned from my previous mistakes. I utilized a different strategy this time. For the first hour (11am-12nn), I just took photos. The title should actually be 51 Stalls in 4 Hours. 🙂

8 ) Alternate Main Dishes and Desserts – my first approach was from left to right, but there came a point when there was a series of dessert food stalls which overwhelmed even my sweet tooth. I decided to drop my sequence and just remember to go back to the ones I skipped.

6 Ultimate Finds from the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0

This was my alternate title for this article. But since a lot of food bloggers already came out with theirs days ago. I surmised mine was old news.

Anyhow, so here’s NomNom Club‘s Top 6 Ulitmate Finds from the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 last week:

Symphony of Flavors

6.)  Symphony of Flavors – Best Leche Flan Cheesecake ever! The goodness of Lech Flan and Cheesecake combined.

Carmen's Best - Holly's Milk and Ice Cream

5.)  Carmen’s Best – Using 100% fresh cow’s milk, I love the Salted Caramel Ice Cream.

Chef C's Paella

4.)  Chef C’s – I can’t remember if they served other dishes but I was extremely satisfied with their Paella De Andaluz.

Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine

3.)  Dek A Thai Authentic Cuisine – The Popia and Thai Milk Tea were indeed authentic and very good. You’d want to dine in and ask for a full serving. 🙂

Luigi's

2.)  Luigi’s -  They almost made my top spot with their awesome Phillychangas and Chicken Cordon Bleu with Aligue Mayo. Yummy!

PinakBest

1.)  Pinakbest – Aptly named, Pinakbest was my pinaka-best pick with their Bagnet and Ilocos empanada. They also got the longest line.

But…but…I have  more recommendations! Allow me to give my next 6 as well:

Spring By Ha Yuan

7.)  Spring by Ha Yuan – Their Ka-Pao variants Pulled Pork, Beef Shortrib, and Monk’s Dream were a sight. I was only allowed to try one though – Beef Shortrib – and it was good!

Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates

8.)  Theo & Philo Chocolate – these Artisan Chocolates come in interesting packages and chocolate flavors combined with the not-your-usual chocolate partners. 🙂

5 Loaves & 2 Fish

9.)  5 Loaves and 2 Fish – not sure if I should call it nachos or tortillas, but the baked chips were crunchy and the dips were interesting and flavorful

Chori Chori Burger Joint

10.)  Chori Chori Burger Joint – they got the Chori Burger taste from Boracay. You should try the Chori Burger with Egg.

The Sweet LIfe's 'Sweet Surrender'

11.)  The Sweet Life – You should try their “Sweet Surrender” which is a frozen soft meringue with custard and French Vanilla ice cream. It is held by a graham cracker crust.

Eat My GF (Garlic Fries)

12.)  Eat My GF – Aside from the interesting name, it’s basically Garlic French Fries at it’s best.

An additional special mention would be  Chef Bruce Lim’s Chef Table’s Buco Pie Martini for its creativeness. 🙂

Chef's Table Buco Pandan Martini

For more photos of the other exhibitors, check out the photo albums in our NomNom Club Facebook fanpage.

Ultimate Taste Test 6

And those are my 13 Top Picks form the recent Ultimate Taste Test 6 and how I made it through 51 of them in 5 hours. See you next year! 🙂

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. 🙂

After years of waiting, Krispy Kreme lovers from the south of Metro Manila do not have to travel north just to get their fix of Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts and coffee. They now have their own located near the Bridgeway of Filinvest Festival Mall in Alabang (south of Metro Manila).

Krispy Kreme Opens Filinvest Festival Mall in Alabang South

Krispy Kreme Alabang

NomNom Club was invited for its grand launch last September 2, 2011, a day before its public store opening.

The night started with good food and good friends just right outside the store. With minimal lights pending the scheduled launch, a short program led by host Patty Laurel brightened up the night.

One of the KK winner of one-year supply of Krispy Kreme doughnuts is a baby! 🙂

After a brief speech, Krispy Kreme executives pressed the symbolic green button altogether to signal the grand opening of its 24th branch in the Philippines. This triggered the opening of the lights, the store, and the Krispy Kreme HotLight!

Guests were also given half-dozen original glazed doughnuts to enjoy or take home.

“Krispy Kreme is a brand that Filipinos love…we are very happy to finally open our first store in the South with the intent of sharing the delectable Krispy Kreme experience across the nation,“says Mark Gamboa, Krispy Kreme Philippines Marketing Manager.

Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnut

My Favorite: Krispy Kreme Baked Creations

New Concept Store

Krispy Kreme Customer Feedback

More than just being the first branch south of Manila, Krispy Kreme Filinvest Alabang is also the first in the world to incorporate the new Krispy Kreme store design moving forward.

A Krispy Kreme loyal customer would notice that the “Krispy Kreme” logo can now be found along the ceiling of the counter.

The Krispy Kreme Festival Mall Alabang branch also creates the doughnuts instore and has an alfreso dining area that is common among malls in this area.

Cebu Next, Then Davao

Krispy Kreme is further expanding with the next one in Cebu. Well, actually, not one, but two! Also in the queue for provincial branches is Davao.

Back to Metro Manila, they do have plans to open another branch in Alabang. They are just waiting for the right and perfect spot.

Krispy Kreme Alabang Staff

Congratulations once again to Krispy Kreme for their store opening in Krispy Kreme Filinvest Festival Mall Alabang!

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! 🙂