Entries Tagged 'Casual' ↓

J.CO Chocolate Caviar Donut

You might have heard the foodie news – J.CO coffee and donuts have landed in the Philippines! Their first stop was SM Megamall in Manila which just opened last March 15, 2012 while I was in South Korea. This will be followed soon with branches in Greenbelt 3, Trinoma, and SM Mall of Asia.

By the end of the year, the Philippine’s master franchiser is opening up 10 branches, with a target of 20 by the end of 2013 and 30 by 2014.

J.CO is a popular lifestyle café chain in Indonesia and some parts of  Southeast Asia. It first opened in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2005 with the thrust to fuse the popular donuts of the West with the exotic touches of the East. Other countries in the Asian region soon got into the J.CO craze, including Malaysia, Singapore and, more recently, Shanghai in China.

J.CO SM Megamall Branch

J.CO Donuts

J.CO Hazle Dazzle

It is just right then to follow through this news with an inspection of what this Indonesian-grown donut and coffee brand has to offer.

On focus in this write-up is their main product – the J.CO donuts.

They use a wide array of ingredients sourced from around the world like Belgian chocolates, Californian almonds, American honey, New Zealand cheese, and Japanese Matcha green tea.

Let us look at some of them and their best-sellers.

Moreover, the makers of J.CO donuts seem to have a penchant for Hollywood celebrity names as well…from Jacky Chan’s to Leonardo Di Caprio’s. 🙂 Check these out:

Strawbeery Caviar Choco and Oreology (L-R)

Hazel Dazzle
Donut topped with rich milk chocolate sprinkled with chopped peanuts and filled with a hazelnut surprise

Strawbeery Caviar Choco
Light and fruity donut with strawberry choco topping with crisp chocolate bits

Oreology
One of the worl’d favorite chcoolate treat with white chocolate topping fully covered with ground bits of dark Oreo

JCO Jacky Chunk (leftmost); Meisisipi (middle)

J.CO Avocado Dicaprio (rightmost)

Jacky Chunk
Dark-Chocolate and Peanut combo kick on glazed donut

Meisisipi
Donut laid with rich choco toppingand crunchy choco sprinkles

Avocado Dicaprio
An avocado delight with creany fruit flavors and a teasing chocolate granish on the sides

Tiramisu & Blue Berrymore

Tiramisu
An espresso dessert-inspired creation with Tiramisu-flavoured filling topped with sprinkled cocoa powder.

Blue Berrymore
Filled with cream cheese and blueberry sauce, the white chocolate topping puts the exclamation mark. making it Charlie’s favorite angel.

J.CO 'Glazzy' Glazed Donut (right); Heaven Berry (left)

Glazzy
J.CO‘s classic honey-glazed soft-bite donut

Heaven Berry
Strawberry cream donut topped with swirly white chocolate garnish

JCO Forest Glam (right)

Forest Glam
Black Forest topping composed of cherries, dark chocolate, and confectioner’s sugar

Crunchy Crunchy
Chocoltae covered donut with crunchy chocolate rice crispies on top.

3 NomNom Favorites

Alcapone
J.CO’s signature donut with Belgian White Chocolate sprinkled with roasted almond slices.

JCO Alcapone(left) and Green Tease (right)

J. Club Cheesy Rich with a bite

Green Tease
Green tea cream on top!

J. Club Cheesy Rich (top photo)
This cheesy donut is rich with cheddar and cream cheese, among others.

Price

All the J.Co donuts are at a uniform price of P42 (except J.Club Cheesy Rich which is P45) to enable the customers to try all of them without being too concious of the price. A not-so-common pricing strategy if you ask me. 🙂

J.CO Donuts

J.CO Chocolate Caviar (Crunchy Crunchy in the background)

All the J.CO donuts also has a mini-doughnuts counterpart called J.Pops. It’s a good way of being able to taste-test a variety of donuts before actually making your choice of with the big ones!

Chef Christine Nicole Nicolas

Albeit Mr.Kurosawa Restaurant has been around for more than three years now (Eastwood branch), this was the first time I was able to try it in their Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila branch, which is on their second year of operations.

The Euro-Japanese mix concept is new to me as well. The owners described it as “Japanese cuisine with a touch of European flair” headed by corporate Chef Christine Nicole Nicolas, Chef Benjamin Gonzales, and Chef Florabel Co-Yatco.

French-Japanese items like tempura or gyoza souflaits, steaks and fine wines; Greek-Japanese items like Japanese kebabs and salads; Spanish-Japanese items like the japaella; and Italian-Japanese items such as pastas and pizza, are among some of the interesting fusion cuisines. This is complemented with traditional Japanese favourites such as kobe, teriyaki, tempura, donburi, sushi and sashimi.

New Offerings

Their new offerings include chicken, katsu dishes, and milk teas. They are the following:

Tongkatsu (Breaded deep-fried pork cutlet)

Fish Katsu (P268)

and Shrimp Katsu (top photo)

There are also Salmon Katsu (P448) and Torikatsu (P288) which I was not able to try. Regular iced tea are at about P70; add P30 for the large size.

Highly Recommended

Highly recommended are the 4pc. Chicken Wings called Last Samurai (P298) and Ebi Katsu (P398).

Last Samurai (Chicken Wings)

Ebi Tempura

Needs Improvement

On the other hand, thier range of milk teas need perking up. I found the Strawberry Yakult Milk Tea (Sakura) and Matcha Milk Tea (Yojimbo) ordinary.

I have yet to try the Winter Melon Milk Tea (Sanjuru).

Here are some more shots from their menu:

Mr. Kurasawa Menu

Mr, Kurusawa Ramen

Mr. Kurusawa Brain Freeze Beverages

Check out their branches below:

Eastwood Branch
G/F Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City
10am – 11pm (Sun to Thu)
10am – 12pm (Fri to Sat)
Tel no. (+632) 901-0825.

Resorts World Manila Branch
2F Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City
11am – 11pm Everyday
Tel no. (+632) 973-6213

Feel free to share your Mr. Kurusawa adventures here in case you have tried dining in any of their two branches. 🙂

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

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

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

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

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

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

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! 😛

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

“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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

No food blog needs to tell you that the milk tea craze has hit the Philippine’s capital and metropolis while slowly moving into the suburbs as you are reading this article. And Seattle’s Best Coffee is not turning a blind eye to this ongoing, and even phenomenal, trend.

SBC Milk Tea (Cold)

They’ve always had it, but it’s now being given a spotlight. Available for almost a month now, I was only able to try Seattle’s Best Milk Tea a week or two ago in their Greenhills Town Center branch.

Having recently come from the milk tea capital of the world that is Taiwan, my interest in milk teas has certainly grown. And sometimes, I can’t help but compare them to what we have here.

But I don’t even have to go far. Seattle’s Best Milk Tea is already unique by itself on how they positioned themselves in the market. Here are my observations:

• They only offer one variant/flavor of milk tea
• They offer their milk tea with a hot option (something not so common)
• They use red pearls

One and Only Milk Tea Variant

In contrast to the usual milk tea shops, Seattle’s Best is offering only one kind of milk tea – the SBC Milk Tea.

It’s a blend of black and green tea infused with caramel flavor to take care of the sweetness.

I told a friend that they are actually taking a big risk here. It’s a hit or miss thing. With only one option, you either get the customer’s nod or nay. It’s a bold move, I should say (or maybe they are still testing the market).

Hot Milk Tea

Although a hot milk tea is not a regular thing either in Taiwan, more so is the case in the Philippines. It’s good thing SBC offers this option for those who want it not chilled.

Red pearls

They want to be different, and it comes in style. As trivial as it is, having red pearls (or sago) in your milk tea adds that SBC touch, specially to someone like me who almost always have it with extra pearls. 🙂 It’s not unique though as I recently saw one in particular, the new ‘Drink Tea‘ shop having the same (there’s one in The Podium).

It’s only red tapioca/pearls and no other. You won’t find a nata or jelly option as add-ons. 🙂

Greenhills Town Center in San Juan area

The Verdict

Cold

After all has been said, what now? To shoot it straight to the point, the SBC Milk Tea was good, although I’ve had better. I’m not sure if my cup had much ice, but it was at the verge of being bland.

Hot

The hot SBC Milk Tea was also good but most of my friends dismissed it as too sweet. I think it deserves a second chance. I like it better than the cold one I had. It gets my thumbs up!

It’s also perfect with an order of the SBC Clubhouse.

SBC Clubhouse

Tip

With my experience with the cold one, I suggest you tell the counter to reduce the amount of ice by half. I’d try that myself the next time I go back. 🙂

Price

The cold SBC Milk Tea is available in sizes medium (PhP110) and large (PhP120), while the hot one is slightly cheaper at P100  and P110, respectively. The price is fair enough considering the ambiance of a known coffee shop.

With Seattle’s Best Coffee is giving in to the milk tea craze, I suggest you give-in as well and find your cup of tea – hot or cold. The SBC Milk Tea is available only here in the Philippines and until March 31, 2012.

Max's Fried Chicken P299

Max’s Restaurant, the brand that has given you the ‘sarap-to-the-bones‘ fried chicken, is offering their biggest chicken takeout promo so far!

Starting today, February 20, 2012, customers can bring home their favorite regular Max’s Fried Chicken for a good take-out deal of PhP299, down from the original P375 price.

“Filipinos have an endearing habit of ‘taking out’ food after they dine at their favorite restaurant. It’s part of our generous and inherent family-oriented nature,” says Bobby Simborio, Corporate Communications Officer for Max’s Group of Companies. “With Max’s Chicken Take-out Promo, we want our customers to bring home the most scrumptious surprise to their families – Max’s “sarap-to-the-bones” Fried Chicken,” Simborio added.

Max's Chicken Take Out Promo

Max’s Restaurant “Chicken Take Out Treat P299” will be available in all 123 branches nationwide from February 20 up to March 31, 2012 only.

Valentine's Pizza

It doesn’t get any cheesier than this! This is the ultimate gimmick a pizza chain could have – a ‘heart-shaped‘ pizza for the Valentine’s season! And this is what Angel’s Pizza just did. 🙂

I think your loved one whom you will give this too will surely burst out a big laugh, or at least a big smile upon seeing a heart-shaped pizza surprise.

Valentine's Day Option?

As the photos reveal, Marjorie and I indulged ourselves on the pizza a few days ago and had a fun photo shoot with it. a heart-shaped pizza does not come that often anyway. 🙂

Perfect for the season of love for a mushy-lovey set of people in the Philippines, Angel’s Heart Shaped Pizza is available in Big Family and Thin Crust Pizza only until February 29, 2012!

We were able to try the Extra Feast Pizza flavor and Pepperoni. However, the latter came out too salty. It”s the Extra Feast which gets our thumbs up! 🙂 Price is the same as the regular pizzas depending on the flavor you purchase.

You can also have Angel’s Heart-Shaped Pizza delivered by calling Angel’s Delivery number 922-2222.

Marj Trying on Angel's Pizza

Heart-Shaped Pizza

Watch out for an online contest we are organizing for Feb 13, & 14 related to Angel’s Heart-Shaped Pizza! Advance Happy Valentine’s!