Entries Tagged 'Taguig' ↓

New Jollibee Chocolate and Coffee Floats: Get a Lift! *

Jollibee Coffe and Chocolate Floats

Jollibee Coffe and Chocolate Floats

With the scorching summer hitting as high as 35.9°C in the Metro and a staggering 38.4°C nationwide, Jollibee – one of the largest fast food chains in the country, fights the heat off with the newly-launched Jollibee Chocolate Float and Jollibee Coffee Float which are sure to give people their needed lift.

Jollibee Amang Rodriguez Branch

Jollibee Amang Rodriguez Branch

Held about a week ago at Jollibee Amang Rodriguez branch, media people and bloggers graced the unveiling of 2 latest additions – Chocolate and Coffee Floats, to join the roster of Jollibee’s Coke Float and University Floats.

Being a coffee lover, I felt excited when we were first served with Jollibee’s Coffee Float. Made with a delightfully smooth blend of iced coffee, this gloriously refreshing drink is topped with a rich vanilla soft serve and a beautiful swirl of chocolate syrup.

Enchong Dee

Enchong Dee

From a coffee lover’s point of view, Jollibee’s Coffee Float can easily compete with any cafe’s ice blended coffee or even coffee-infused frappuccino. With a slight hint of bitterness balanced by Jollibee’s sweet concoction of vanilla ice cream, this Coffee Float can definitely give you your needed dose of caffeine while leaving you revitalized and lifted.

Jollibee on a Hot Summer Day

Jollibee on a Hot Summer Day

With the majestic sun shining very brightly upon us, it was a relief to be served with Jollibee’s Chocolate Float next. Made with deliciously rich iced chocolate, this sweet treat is even topped with Jollibee’s signature creamy vanilla soft serve, and a dollop of chocolate syrup.

Jollibee Chocolate Float

Jollibee Chocolate Float

Although I am most certainly partial to coffee-based drinks, it was surprising that I preferred Jollibee’s Chocolate Float more. The iced chocolate drink was far from being overly sweet and made a perfect base for the creamy vanilla ice cream. Most of my companions also preferred this over the Coffee Float, so it definitely earned our stamp of approval.

Endorsed by the equally yummy and refreshing Enchong Dee, Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats retail at only P45 per cup. Should you wish to have these refreshing floats with your favourite Jollibee Value Meals, you can opt to just add P25 to get your needed lift.

Jollibee Coffee Float

Jollibee Coffee Float

*Story and Photos by Blogger Apprentice Stephanie Go

Jollibee’s Chocolate and Coffee Floats are available in all Jollibee stores nationwide. So if you want a delicious drink to fight off the scorching heat of the summer, head to your nearest Jollibee branch and get a lift!

Starbucks Philippines: 12 New Things This April

Today is the day – April 24, 2012 – when a gamut of new beverages, food items, and promos start at Starbucks Philippines. Coffee and frappuccino addicts as you are, you ought not be behind the news. Worry not as NomNom Club is here to make sure you are. 🙂

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino

1) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Coffee Based)

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino blended beverage is your favorite Starbucks Frappunccino roast coffee with chocolate cookie bits made richer with mocha sauce, and vanilla syrup. And as if that’s not enough, it is topped with chocolate drizzle on cookie crumble blended topping.

If I’m not mistaken, this is the first time Starbucks PH is offering  chocolate whip cream.

It’s like a java chip frap with vanilla syrup. It can remind you of Wendy’s frostee as well. 😛

A yummy treat for the chocolate-loving coffee drinker!

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

2) Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage (Cream Based – Zero Coffee)

The same as number 1 above but is cream-based instead of coffee.

Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino

Something for the chocolate lover who wants a coffee alternative; maybe even for kids too. It’s just like your all-time favorite Magnolia Chocolaitwith cookie bits.

Did you know that you also have the option to ‘blend‘ your cream into the beverage (instead of ‘just on top’)?

* Tall P165, Grande P175, Venti P175

3) Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Not really new, it’s more of a focus featured beverage highlighting the However-You-Want-It Frappuccino beverages.

It’s your favorite Strawberries and Cream frappuccino with the option for soy, non-fat milk, or your defualt whole milk.

* Tall P155, Grande P165, Venti P175

4) Sausage Pizza Roll (P95)

Replacing the current sausage roll, this flaky pastry is filled with a smoked frankfurter and cheese pizza sauce. A true comfort food that can easily satisfy that impulsive craving for a quick soft bite.

Don’t forget to have it warmed.

Sausage Pizza Roll

Sausage Pizza Roll

5) Fish and Chips Wrap (P150)

A filling wrap of fish fillet, herbed potato wedges, and dill mustard egg sauce. It’s big and enough to substitute for a full meal. If you’re wondering, the chips is inside. 😛

Fish and Chips Wrap

Fish and Chips Wrap

6) Chicken Grape Almond Salad on Classic Ciabatta Bread (P150)

Available in a Starbucks Philippines stores nationwide, this is a tangy sandwich of chicken, celery, roasted chopped almonds, sliced sundried tomatoes, and interestingly grapes, with lemon-mayo sauce and hints of tarragon and Emmenthal cheese sandwiched by crunchy Ciabatta bread.

My favorite made better with the twist of adding grape slices! It’s the anti-thesis of a boring food, there’s so much in every bite! 🙂

Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich

Chicken Grape Almond Salad Sandwich

7) Cookie Crumble Cheesecake with Chips Ahoy (P130)

This is for the cheesecake and Chip Ahoy cookie lovers combined. The baked cheesecake is topped with chunky-chewy Chips Ahoy cookies + chocolate chips with a base / crust made of assorted crushed Chips Ahoy cookies.

However, it’s not type of cheesecake. I’m for the sinfully sweet, smooth, and soft ones.

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake

Cookie Crumble Cheesecake

8) Whoopie Pie (P75)

Whoops, it’s big! And the two bulging eyes seem to beg you not to eat them. 🙂

This redesigned returning favorite from last year is a sandwich of two fudgy dark chocolate cookie cakes filled with white roasted marshmallow cream icing and chocolate chips. At first, it looked like a really sweet treat that’s painful to the tooth but turned out just ok.

Whoopie Pie

Whoopie Pie

Although it’s a bit pricey at P75, the fun factor, specially for the kids and kids-at-heart, makes up for it; somehow. lol

It’s cuteness would also have been multiplied by ten if it was just a quarter of its current size. Who knows, Starbucks Philippines might just come across this blog and have the mini Whoopie Pies next season. 🙂

Starbucks Whoopie Pies (Sampler Size)

Cuteness Overflowing: Starbucks Whoopie Pies (Sampler Size)

9) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Cold Cup Tumbler (P550)

Twist and turn (step 1). Write (step 2). Erase (step 3). Those are the steps into ‘customizing‘ your ‘customizable(woah!) new Starbucks Tumblers!

After the twist-and-turn, you could remove the outer cup and ‘write‘ your favorite Starbucks beverage label on the surface of inner cup. Common sense also suggests to use a non-permanent white board marker. If you think your favorite Starbucks beverage will not change, like forever, then feel free to use a permanent marker. 🙂

Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)

Customizable Starbucks Tumblers (How To)

So lets say that you’re as brilliant as I so you use a non-permanent marker, then you could easily erase it (step 3; pardon the watermark which blocked the ‘erasing’ action) with any tissue paper or cloth.

After which, you simply twist-back the outer cup and viola – give your labelled and customized Starbucks tumbler to your barista!

The Cold Cup tumbler is the one on Step 1 and Step 2A photos.

10) Customizable Starbucks Tumblers: 16 oz. Stainless Steel Tumbler (P1095)

Please see number 9, but you can have hot beverages in these! I want to have this one!

The Stainless steel tumbler is the one on Step 2B and Step 3 photos.

11) Scratch Card Promo (Buy 1 Take 1)

For the first time in Starbucks Philippines history, they’re having a scratch-card based promotion, just like in the lottery. 🙂

From April 24 to April 29 (or until supplies last), buy one Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage and get one scratch card to win an exciting treat that you can use for your next Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino Blended Beverage purchase!

Scratch card redemption is until June 11, 2012.

Starbucks Scratch Card

Starbucks Scratch Card

Prizes in the scratch cards can be

  • one free add-on
  • double free add-ons
  • buy-one-free-one beverage!

12) Starbucks Happy Hour / Frappuccino Happy Hour (50% Off)

The Starbucks Happy Hour is back! Your favorite Starbucks However-You-Want-It Frappuccino Blended Beverage will be at half-price EVERY MONDAY from 2PM to 6PM from April 30 to May 28, 2012!

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbucks Happy Hour

Starbuck's Love Fernandez

Starbuck's Love Fernandez

The long lines will surely be back, but this time, instead of the previous 2 hrs, you’ve got more time allotment of 4 hrs!

That’s a DOZEN of new things to remember at Starbucks Philippines starting today – April 24, 2012 (except for the Starbucks Happy Hour which starts April 30)! Hmmm…which one to try first? 🙂

New Figaro Dinner Meals, Milk Tea, & The Popping Bobas

After the introduction of Chicken Rice and Tofu Steak almost three months ago, Figaro has added anew two dinner meal variants – Crusty Dory Fillet in Creamy Pesto Sauce & Rice Pilaf and Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue with Java Rice.

Figaro Crusty Dory Fillet

Figaro Crusty Dory Fillet

The Crusty Dory Fillet was just ok. I liked the Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue more which had flavorful chicken strips. Add to that the special sauce, java rice, and string beans.

The sauce is more on the sweet side which may be loved by some, and disliked by those who want their barbecue sauce with more pepper. Nonetheless the Filipino taste would prefer the former.

Dinner meals are only available 6pm onwards.

Figaro Dinner Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue

Figaro Dinner Meal: Pan-Seared Chicken Barbecue

More of Figaro Milk Teas (plus Popping Boba)

Wintermelpn Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

Wintermelon Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

From five milk tea flavors namely the Strawberry Lemon Iced Tea, Raspberry Milk Tea, Taro Pudding Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea and Taro Pudding Chiller Feast comes two new interesting flavors. I got to try the Wintermelon Frost with classic tea and Honeydew Frost with Figaro tea.

Honeydew Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

Honeydew Frost: Figaro Milk Tea

The Wintermelon Frost with classic tea (P100) reminds me of the sago’t gulaman. I love it but I find the sweetness overpowering the tea flavor. In addition, the toppings called popping boba and pearls adds enjoyment with every sip as the popping boba somewhat ‘explodes‘ in your mouth. 🙂 You have to experience it yourself!

For the Honeydew Frost (P100), it had a strong tea flavor which is what I usually look for in milk teas.

* Story and photos by Marjorie Pineda

Now, it will be very easy for me to choose which flavor of milk tea to order. So, what’s your favorite milk tea flavor and Figaro Dinner Meal? These two new milk tea variants are available starting today at all Figaro stores – April 11, 2012!

Chicken Delish & Best Food Forward Photos

Bon Chon, Chicken Charlie, and now – Chicken Delish! I made sure to check out this humble stall at the recently concluded Best Food Forward food fair held at NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City over the weekend.

Chicken Delish

Chicken Delish

The foremost reason is because Chicken Delish owner Annalyn Jusay-Zoglmann pimped it out to me. 🙂 She is fellow blogger as well so I was curious on what she came up with since her sole (so far) and actual branch in Paranaque is beyond my reach.

Chicken Delish Sauces

Chicken Delish Sauces

It’s one of those home-style fried chicken made more special with its tasty sauces such as the sweet and spicy sauce, Pinoy barbecue, sriracha (Thai hot sauce mixed with butter and honey), Pinoy buffalo, and the good old salt and pepper. While still being improved, her bestsellers are the sweet and spicy sauce which was not surprising with Filipino customers.

For my part, I tried it with the sweet sauce last Saturday and was satisfied. The meat was still tender and juicy even if it was late in the afternoon already. The chapchae side dish I chose was also good even by itself. Hopefully I can try it with the Pinoy barbecue sauce soon.

Annalyn says that she was serving her gourmet-style fried chicken to her family even before the bonchon craze hit the metro. ” Chicken is something every member of my family loves and experimenting on the many ways to cook it was a natural progression of our passion for all things poultry-related.

Chicken Delish @ Best Food Forward 2012

Chicken Delish @ Best Food Forward 2012

It came to a point that I wasn’t just happy serving my chicken at home as I was also pondering my retirement from the corporate jungle and embarking on a business… I went ahead to test my business idea in the Soderno Sunday market last year and after its initial success with the weekend crowd, an opportunity came for me to open a stand-alone store at the Caltex Gas station in Better Living, Paranaque City. I’ve also been joining bazaars like the Midnight Mercato in the Fort to gain further exposure for my product,” adds Annalyn or AJ for short.

Chicken Delish Menu / Sidedish

Chicken Delish Menu / Sidedish

Chicken Delish Price

Chicken Delish‘s four-piece chicken wings afford-ably cost P90 while the two-piece drumsticks are at P120. Feel free to share your experience with Chicken Delish in the comment section below specially if you’re from the south. 🙂

Best Food Forward Photos

Next, here are the other Best Food Forward photos I got from the food fair. Thanks to Nuffnang Philippines for the blogger tickets.

Picket Fence Ice Cream Cart

Picket Fence Ice Cream Cart

SkewU Skewers

SkewU Skewers

Pink Wasabi

Pink Wasabi

Mochiko Ice Cream and Ponzarotti

Mochiko Ice Cream and Ponzarotti

Pinoy Eats World

Pinoy Eats World

Best Food Forward Seminars and Cooking Demos

Best Food Forward Seminars and Cooking Demos

88DB.com

Med Chef

Chorizo Burger and a popcorn concessionaire

Chorizo Burger and a popcorn concessionaire

Crunchy Belly

Crunchy Belly

Wagyu Burger and Special Chocolate booth

Wagyu Burger and Special Chocolate booth

MCA

Moderne Culinaire Academy

JT's Manukan and Malabon Delicacies

JT's Manukan and Malabon Delicacies

Thai Cha Yen

Thai Cha Yen

Cuisiniers (left); Milk Chocolate booth (right)

Cuisiniers (left); Milk Chocolate booth (right)

88DB.com

88DB.com

Our Kitchen and OpenRice.com booth (I'm an OpenRicer myself!)

Our Kitchen and OpenRice.com booth (I'm an OpenRicer myself!)

Yummy Magazine

Yummy Magazine

Did you go to the Best Food Forward last weekend? How was it? Which were your favorite food concessionaire? NomNom’s choice from those I have tried are Crunchy Belly of Carlo’s Kitchen, SkewU, Pint Homemade Ice Cream, ButterBeer, and well, Chicken Delish.

🙂

Best Food Forward Teaser

All is set for the big day tomorrow as Manila’s benefit summer food fair – Best Food Forward – comes back to town from its success last year!

Sumang Malagkit with Tsokolate

Sumang Malagkit with Tsokolate

Bigger and better, BEST FOOD FORWARD 2012 returns with more surprises and enjoyable activities on March 24 and 25, 2012 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. It promises to be an affair where everyone can savor the best food from food entrepreneurs and exhibitors all in one roof.

Best Food Forward likewise aims to encourage group of friends, families and industry people to appreciate our local delicacies, entrepreneurial talent and creativity/

Photo Teasers:

Not too long ago, NomNom Club, together with a select group of foodies, were able to try about ten of the food exhibitors in the upcoming Best Food Forward that served like sort of a teaser. 🙂

They are

  • The Fruit Garden – Luxury Jam
  • Casa San Luis
  • Manang’s Chicken
  • Pint Homemade Ice Cream
  • Skew U
  • Butter-Beer
  • Simply Pie
  • Quantum Cafe
  • Carlo’s Kitchen – Crunchy Belly
  • and the Chocolate food concessionaire which served different chocolate by-products including brownies, and chocolate dips for the suman. The taste  is so rich and authentic…I forgot their name! 🙂
The Fruit Garden

The Fruit Garden (by Pierre Marmonier Marmonier) - I got to try their new flavors

Casa San Luis

Casa San Luis

Mannang's Chicken

Mannang's Chicken

Simply Pie

Simply Pie

Quantum Cafe

Quantum Cafe

Chocolate Food Concessionaire

Chocolate Food Concessionaire (whose name/brand I forgot) 🙂

All the above-mentioned ten concessionaires served fantastic treats but four among them deserves the NomNom” seal! 🙂 You should not miss the following in tomorrow’s Best Food Forward:

  • Skew U

    Skew U

    Crunchy Belly of Carlo’s Kitchen – awesome crunchy liempo bits will make you ask for more

  • Skew U – pronounced as just “Skew”, you’ll be surprised with the tender meat of their chicken and pork skewers.
  • Pint Homemade Ice Cream – My readers know how much I love ice cream, ‘nough said.
  • ButterBeer – Harry Potter fan or not, you’ll love this wizardy beverage. Make sure to have it really cold for best results
Crunchy Belly of Carlo's Kitchen

Crunchy Belly of Carlo's Kitchen

Butter Beer with its Young Creator

Butter Beer with its Child Creator

Panghimagas: Pint Homemade Ice Cream

Panghimagas: Pint Homemade Ice Cream

Here are some more of the food concessionaires (including):

  • Chicken Delish
  • 3 Angels
  • AZChia-ChiaBia
  • Bacolod Chicken Inasal
  • Bliss
  • Bonanza Roasted Calf
  • Casa San Luis
  • Chewy Junior
  • Choclery Artisan Chocolates
  • Cinq Dessert Boutique
  • Cuisiniers
  • Culinary Institute of Aristocrat
  • Cupcake Boutique
  • DEC
  • Downtown Philly
  • Duckie’s Cupcakes
  • Eat my GF (Garlic Fries)
  • Enzo’s Shawarma
  • The Fruit Garden – Luxury Jam
  • Gold Leaf Tea
  • Ineng’s
  • Jam Foods & Co. – Angus Beef Tapa
  • Justine’s Baked Goods
  • Kate Baked
  • Kate Bakes
  • Khao Shong Coffee
  • Little Louie’s Cupcakes
  • Lu Chi Authentic Dimsum House
  • Mama Lou’s
  • Manang’s Chicken
  • Megabites Chocolates
  • Monster Cookies
  • Our Cookie Jar
  • Our Kitchen by Manila Catering
  • Perfect Home Living
  • Picket Fence Milk & Ice Cream Bar
  • Pint Homemade Ice Cream
  • Rice Pots
  • SaWrap and Roll
  • Smoochies Basil Seed Drink
  • Skew U
  • Snow Joe Cream Coolers
  • The Souq Organics
  • Sugar Cakes by Ana’s Kitchen
  • Sweet Vanilla
  • Teys’ Cakes and Pastries
  • Think Wink Cookies
  • Tokyo Bubble Tea
  • Unit 16 Sweets
  • Yemashita
Food Cencessionaires who explained their delicacies led by Ms. Gwen Carino

Food Cencessionaires who explained their delicacies led by Ms. Gwen Carino

Best Food Forward 2 is also for the benefit of the Unang Hakbang Foundation and is supported by Gastro Chef, M Café, Chelsea Market & Restaurant, Mr. Jones, Momo, Melba’s Farm, Café Lupe, Flavors on Fire Catering, Modern Culinaire Academy, Gourmet Farms, Pinoy Organics, Baicapture, and Make Believe.  With special thanks to media partners Flavors, Yummy, Entrepreneur, Appetite, BC Media, BusinessWorld, Click the City, 88db, Openrice, MacGraphics Carranz, Media Magnet, Nuffnang, Myweb.ph, AllTravelSpots.com, IEMAS, and Crossover 105.1.

Best Food Forward 2012

Best Food Forward 2012

NomNom Club and BFF

NomNom Club and BFF

For more information on Best Food Forward, you may contact 0917 8871933, 2119644 or bestfoodforward2@gmail.com. Check out  www.bestfoodforward.com.ph as well. Ticket prices for entrance is at P50.

Chic-Boy + Mang Inasal = Floring’s BBQ Grill

You might mistaken quick-serve restaurant Floring’s BBQ and Grill for Chic-Boy if you will just look at the menu offerings and the price range it lists. Add to that the Paa and Pecho dishes with unlimited rice mark and you might think you are at Mang Inasal.

Floring's BBQ & Grill

Floring's BBQ & Grill

Three weeks standing Floring’s BBQ and Grill, along the 4th and 31st avenue of Fort Bonifacio, opened up as an affordable alternative for Fort Bonifacio office goers that seemed to get inspiration from more established restaurants Chic-Boy and Mang Inasal.

Recommended Dishes

I got to try some of it’s dishes for the first time during lunch and it was generally a good experience. The interior is clean and colorful fit for a glaring grill house.

I would have to recommend their Crispy Chicken which you can also get as a meal called Chicken-Tastic with a choice of Paa or Pecho for only P99 with plain rice or P120 with Java Rice. Add P22 and get a softdrink or iced tea as well. It reminds me of Max’s fried chicken. 😛

Floring's Cripy Chicken : Paa or Pecho

Floring's Cripy Chicken : Paa or Pecho

A complete good meal with drink for a total of P142 (if Java Rice) may be a little above the budget of a regular office worker but if you consider the location and it’s neighboring restaurants, this is already ok (don’t forget the unlimited rice).

The second dish I give a thumbs up is their Bangus Sisig at P140 (Top Photo). The serving size might be short for two persons but the taste makes up for it.

Chef Florabel Co-Yatco did a great job on these two from those I have tried.

Needs Improvement

Ensaladang talong

Ensaladang talong

Pork Ensaladang Talong (P60) was also good but the serving is smaller than that of the photo in the menu.

The Halo-halo (P80) is very good in taste and the ice shaving is better than that of most other restaurants. On the other hand, the P80 price in ratio to the serving size is also above than most/average in the market. I think it’s a bit over-priced.

Lechon Manok

Lechon Manok

I was able to try the Lechon Manok (P165 half /P299 whole) and the 2-pcs Pork BBQ meal similar to Paa/Pecho pricing (P99/P120).

The taste is average and nothing special. I believe it can be made better.

Halo-Halo

Halo-Halo

Next to Order

I checked their  menu and perhaps I’ll try their Morning-Mazing breakfast meals next or the seafood offerings which they also have. Moreso, the bestseller Whole Liempo (P165) and Pork Binagoongan (P99/P120) looks promising.

Floring’s BBQ and Grill
Unit 2, 31st corner 4th avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Tel No: (632) 966 6873
10am-11pm

Interirors (1st floor) of Floring's

Interirors (1st floor) of Floring's

Floring's in Bonifacio Global City (Facade)

Floring's in Bonifacio Global City (Facade)

Considering that Floring’s BBQ Grill have been in operation for only less than a month, I say they are doing a good job and we hope for more improvements in the near future. Number of branches aside, Chic-boy beware! 😛

Max’s Restaurant: Heartwarming Flavors For Lent *

It’s the season of Lent once again. For Catholics like myself, it is the time of prayer and fasting. And by fasting, this means we should not indulge on meat. Max’s Restaurant, the House that Fried Chicken Built, recently brought its classic Filipino flavors into new and lighter dishes for the Lenten Season. Launched last February 29, I was lucky to be part of the first group to try these sumptuous healthy meals.

Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies

Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies

At Max’s we understand that Lent is a special time for Filipinos. This has inspired us to create our lightest and the most scrumptious fare for lent. These dishes are bursting with flavors, married with the homegrown classic taste that Filipinos love – its a certified gustatory experience for everyone,” says Mr. Bobby Simborio, Max’s Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies as he introduced their latest offering for the lenten season.

As we were the “certified” to first try out these dishes, I was already excited just seeing their posters. My taste buds were ready to check them out. I was intrigued and they didn’t fail me.

Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu

They served the Max’s Adobong Kangkong Stuffed Tofu (Php150) first. As a tofu lover, it is given that I would love this dish but its fresh Kangkong leaves did all the trick in making it a lot better. The shiitake and button mushrooms completed the fare while drizzled in sweet adobo sauce. This would be appreciated by both vegetable or non-vegetable eaters. It’s also a sweet alternative to the sizzling tofu in Max’s menu.

Max’s Cauliflower Puffs

The next one is quite deceiving for the picky young eaters and meat lovers. Max’s Cauliflower Puffs (Php160) may look like a simple puff with crispy stuff inside, but there is a cauliflower dipped in special batter. The vegetable is not immediately visible because it is deep fried and comes up with a special sauce.

The kids who were present during the event didn’t even notice the taste of the cauliflower. I enjoyed this dish because I absolutely love eating veggies. It’s crunchiness was also enjoyable.

Cauliflower Puffs

Cauliflower Puffs

Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

The last dish was so intriguing that it already got me thinking about its taste before they served it. Max’s Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce (Php265) is so delicious, I stuffed my plate just as much I could consume. It’s made of breaded cream dory, shrimp and deep fried squid rings served with a special sweet sauce, honey and piquant bagoong. It’s a must try for seafood aficionados. I was actually looking for the bagoong taste, but the honey overpowers its saltiness.

Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

Sizzling Seafood in Honey Bagoong Sauce

Max's Fried Chicken

Max's Fried Chicken

And of course, we were served with the famous Max’s Chicken.

* Story and photos by Contributor Ria Hazel C. Lumandog of http://sugarsmile.blogspot.com

Try out these heartwarming dishes for lent that are truly divine. 🙂 You may also check out www.maxschicken.com. The Lenten Dishes are now available in all Max’s Restaurants nationwide since yesterday, March 1, 2012.

Relik Tapas: More Than a Bar

Relik Tapas and Bar sounds like ‘something old‘. But if you’ve been there, you’d pleasantly know why it was named such. The red bricks and classic furniture lend that relic and cozy feel.

Relik's Margarita

Relik's Margarita

Relik is not that easy to find, actually. You would extend an extra effort to find it at the second floor of Commercenter Bldg at the corner of 31st avenue and 4th street in Bonifacio Global City amidst all other restaurants visually competing for attention on the street. On the other hand, the restaurant has been getting the raves as a cool hangout place. With the good interiors and atmosphere, I am not surprised.

But this story is not about Relik as a bar. More than that, Relik offers good food.

Together with some foodie friends, we got to experience a mix of Spanish-Mexican tapas-inspired dinner the other day.

Let me share with you those I met that night:

Tasting Board

Tasting Board (P490) - Boneless “Diego Martin”. Chorizo Pamplona, Stuffed “Serpis” Spanish olives and Manchego

Benny’s Certified Angus Ribeye

Benny’s Certified Angus Ribeye (P1150) - a 300g rib eye served with a burnt butter sauce

Relik's Mixed Paella

Relik's Mixed Paella (P820) - serves 8 and is ordered a day in advance

Vanilla and Amaretto Panacotta

Vanilla and Amaretto Panacotta (P160) - cooked cream with a berry compote

If your saliva dripped over those photos, there’s more.

And these are the ones you should not miss and I recommend:

Baked Australian Brie (P530) [Top Photo] – creamy Yarra Valley Brie wrapped in jamon and lightly glazed with honey.

Chorizig

Chorizig (P295) - chorizo bits topped over with Filipino favorite - sisig

Quesadillas

Quesadillas - served with guacamole and tomato salsa. Choice of garlic shrimp, pulled pork, BBQ chicken fillings

Mother Ann’s Braised Ox-Tail

Mother Ann’s Braised Ox-Tail (P450) - slow braised Australian ox- tails served with pomme puree and buttered carrots

Mussels and Chrorizo

Mussels and Chorizo (P330) - green mussels sautéed in garlic cream and Spanish chorizo

Roasted Bone-Marrow

Roasted Bone-Marrow (P290) - topped with gremolata, served with caramelized onions and crunchy bread

I’d also have to give Relic for being able to serve bone-marrow. It’s not a common dish in a restaurant.

Relik is open Monday to Friday from 11:30 am – 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm – 4:00 am; Saturday to Sunday 5:00 pm – 4:00 am.

2/F Commercenter Bldg, 31st Ave cor 4th St, Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines
(0917) 529-8333

Whether you just want to have a good time with your friends or is looking for a good lunch or dinner, check out Relik Tapas and Bar and enjoy the food as much as you will do the place.