Entries Tagged 'Casual' ↓

“Pwede na akong mamatay” is a local euphemism which literally  means “I can die now.” Indeed, after you have tasted Pizza Hut’s Lechon Pizza, you could say that without hesitation, especially if you know you are going to Heaven. And well, because your cholesterol shoots up double time. 🙂

Pizza consumption by itself is one  the West’s strongest influence in modern Filipino food culture. The number of competing brands alone speaks for its itself.

The varieties also testify the market’s complex taste and preference of their own pizza. You have the thick, the thin, the stuffed, the pop-ups, and the top thats.

On the other hand, the “Lechon” (roasted suckling pig) is a major food centerpiece for big gatherings, fiestas and celebrations here in the Philippines.

I never thought the day that the lechon and the pizza would meet can actually happen. But Pizza Hut did it. Pizza Hut dared and successfully combined the goodness and crispiness of lechon and the quality of their pizza.

Lechon Pizza Slice

Think of Pizza Hut layered with generous cheese with chunks of lechon meat and slices of the sought-after crispy lechon skin and you have your deadly but delicious Pizza Hut’s Lechon Pizza.

The skin is not the traditional shiny lechon skin but more of the fried and crunchy. Good thing I liked it more this way. Pizza Hut intentionally air dried the skin separately and adds it as topping on top of the pizza only as it is served. This allows the lechon skin to maintain its crispiness.

Your initial temptation is to pick the crispy lechon skin atop the pizza slice and eat it by itself. But that might  leave your pizza lacking as a whole. I prefer to hold my guns and consume it altogether and experience the crispy lechon skin as I take one bite at a time of the lechon pizza. 🙂

You could also request for the sauce to be held and not immediately spread on top of the pizza as served. Although the lechon pizza sauce is still on the sweet side, it is not as much as your retail favorite Mang Tomas lechon sauce. This can either be good or bad on a person-to-person basis. 🙂

Hold that saliva from dropping. The Pizza Hut’s Lechon Pizza comes in two sizes – medium and large.  The Lechon Pizza price starts at Php 329 for the former with 10 inches and Php 499 for the latter of 14 inches.

You can also have it as part of a special package under the Manila Signature Dishes where it is paired with  other servings and wine for the price of P799.

“Inspired by the popular local favorite, this new flavor celebrates the Filipino creativity and ingenuity.“

Manila Sugnature Dishes 2010:
Pizza Hut Bistro New Lechon Pizza Set P799 (Price still subject to service charge and local tax)

• Medium Lechon Pizza
• Seafood Supremo
• Olive Garden Salad
• 2 Glasses Casillero del Diablo Merlot

It has the rustic burnt lechon aroma you can smell from afar as it comes nearer your table. It is an ultimate dream come true for pizza and lechon lovers. Have the best of both in a single serve. You should not let this ultimate foodie comfort food pass this Christmas holiday season as it is only available until about the end of January next year.

Pizza Hut Lechon Pizza

I recommend the Pizza Hut Lechon Pizza with a thumbs up for those who love pizza and lechon. Be sure to bring family and friends to share it with as  I myself was only able to consume 3 slices. Try one before you die, it’s Pizza Hut Lechon Pizza or forever hold your peace. 🙂

HalfMoon Asian Cafe is known for their, well, half-moon BibingCrepes. BibingCrepes on the other hand is a combination of Filipino delicacy ‘bibingka‘ and western crepes.

Giant BibingCrepe

A few weeks ago, HalfMoon Asian Cafe invited us over to witness their record-breaking gigantic bibingcrepe cooked right at their branch in Timog, Quezon City.

Survivor Bibingcrepe? 🙂

The giant bibingcrepe spanned a huge table a little bigger than a clan’s dining table. It would take at least 6 people with arms wide-stretched to ‘hug‘ the bibincrepe‘s circumference.

The live cooking of the bibingcrepe was broadcast live that same day over GMA’s Unang Hirit morning show.

Yes, we missed the cooking and mixing of their bibingka recipe but we were the consumers that night. The halfmoon giant bibingcrepe had two kinds of spread – chocolate and cheese. I liked the chocolate more  (And here we are again on the Dove chocolate and Toblerone chocolate series). 🙂

Hot Bibingcrepe

Full Moon Bibibngcrepe 🙂

Just like bibingka, you should always have your bibingcrepe served hot and fresh, jst like what I had in HalfMoon Asian Cafe that night. Needless to say, it is matched perfectly with a serving of their hot chocolate for a very chocolaty experience. 🙂 A cup of low-sugar brewed coffee would also do to avoid a sugar-rush.

Bibingcrepe Designs

If you can’t get attention with size, try the cuteness factor. We, the guests, gamely joined a mini-contest later on which is ‘Dressing-Up-Your-Bibingcrepe.’

Aside from the Halfmoon bibingcrepe, we are to squeeze out our creative juices accessorizing it with marshmallows, chocnuts, chocolates sprinkles, cupcakes, cheese cubes, and M&M’s.

HalfMoon Asian Cafe Bloggers

Half Moon Asian Cafe

Of course, ourteam won. 🙂 We didn’t eat it though ‘coz our hands were all over it while decorating ’em. ‘Til the next BibingCrepe experience at HalfMoon Asian Cafe! 🙂

Today, Starbucks marks its 13th year of presence in the Philippines. Its first branch of Starbucks in the Philippines opened December 4, 1997 at 6750 Ayala Building in Makati City.

The 1997 opening of Starbucks in the Philippines was significant as it became the third market to open outside of  North America.

The Starbucks experience has since spread throughout the Philippines. In fact, it’s first branch in Mindanao has opened just last month in the province of Cagayan De Oro (CDO).  Starbucks continues to innovate with new concoctions and products such as their latest introduction of the Starbucks VIA Brew instant coffee. They have also released their Starbucks Planner 2011. They are also having the rounds for their Christmas Starbucks Cheers Party around the Philippines.

And as a Starbucks treat to it’s loyal customers, all branches of Starbucks in the Philippines are giving away complimentary cupcakes to it’s first 50 customers in each branch today. Happy Anniversary Starbucks!

Goodles Noodles & Mercato Centrale

Goodles Anniversary Promo

Goodles is celebrating its 1st anniversary on November 24, 2010 and they are sharing an anniversary promotion. From 11am to 9pm, three (3) of Goodles’ best selling pasta tubs will be sold for P100 only during various times. (see photo below for details).

Goodles Anniversary Promo - P100 Noodles

Check their online pages as well at facebook.com/ilovegoodles and ilovegoodles.com .

Mercato Centrale

We have the market-style foodie destinations Salcedo Market (Saturdays) and Legaspi Market (Sundays) both in Makati City. While on the other prime business district of Ortigas in Pasig, is Banchetto.

And then there will be Mercato Centrale – Bonifacio Global City’s answer to the weekend’s demand for great meals and food adventures. nomnomnom…

“Inspired by the outdoor markets of Mercato Centrale in Florence and the Boroughs Market in London, Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City is an innovative weekend lifestyle market with unique, great tasting food finds that you won’t find anywhere around the metro! Mercato also has an extensive selection of healthy and organic fruits, vegetables and livestock, all located in a clean, comfortable, well-ventilated and organized setting.” – http://www.mercatocentrale.ph/

Mercato Centrale BGC

They start tomorrow – November 21 – at the corner of 30th st. and 9th avenue in Bonifacio Global City from 6am to 12nn. See you at Mercato Centrale at about 9am! 🙂

It’s all about a dessert expo called “Sweet Surrender” and Brothers Burger at 50% off!

Organized by Goodfellas Productions, an upcoming dessert expo for desserts enthusiasts this November 13, 2010 (6pm) will be held at Sitio Elena along Ortigas Extension, Metro Manila

Sweet Surrender Desserts Expo

For tickets and other inquiries, text /call Stephanie So at 09175185188 or email thesweetsurrender@gfp@gmail.com. Free invites for bloggers, media and photographers. Dinner and cockail will be served. After party starts 12mn.

Nomnomnom…

Brothers Burger

Brothers Burger 50% Off

Ok, this is past the weekend already. On November 15, 2010, Brothers Burger are on 50% off!

Brothers Burger branches at Convergys, Magallanes, Tomas Morato, Megamall, Malate, Ortigas, Capitol Hills, and Pasong Tamo will be cutting their Big Brothers Burger prices in half from 11am to 10pm as a Thanskgiving Gift. maximum of 20 burgers per guests only.

It’s a weekend of desserts and Brothers Burgers!

It’s Christmas! And NomNom Club starts it with Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party!

Starbucks Cheers Party

The Starbucks Christmas-themed beverages and Starbucks Christmas-themed food items are back! Last November 3, 2010, the 6750 branch in Makati held the first Starbucks Cheers Party this year for their loyal customers and patrons from 6-8pm.

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

Starbucks Christmas Beverages

We enjoyed sample servings of Toffee Nut Latte, Praline Mocha, and Peppermint Mocha.

If you miss the Christmassy feeling, try the Peppermint Mocha. The minty aftertaste, rich chocolate, smooth espresso and velvety steamed milk would reassure you of the season’s atmosphere. It is topped with whipped cream and red sugar sprinkles.

Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte

The Toffee Nut Latte on the other hand has the buttery flavor of sweet toffee combined with toasted nuts.

Also blended with smooth espresso and steamed milk, it is topped with whipped cream and toffee-flavored  sprinkles.

Praline Mocha is similarly prepared but accented by hazelnut syrup and topped with mocha sauce drizzle.

My favorites though are Toffee Nut Latte and Praline Mocha; in that order.

Starbucks Christmas Red Cups

Starbucks Coupons

Similar to last year, guests were given Cheer Party cards with coupons. It has a raffle stub, planner promo card, photo booth pic, 10%off on Starbucks merchandise / Starbucks VIA ReadyBrew, and a complimentary tall beverage.

Acapella Manila

Although I did not win in the raffle draws, I got to taste a wide array of the Starbucks Christmas-themed food items while the Acapella Manila choir serenaded us with popular Christmas songs.

Here are photos of Starbucks guests and friends in the recent Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party:

Starbucks Cheers Party

Starbucks Barkada

Starbucks Merchandise

Starbucks 6750

Starbucks Philippines Family

Starbucks Friends

Starbucks Christmas Cheers Party

More Starbucks Philippines Cheers Party might be coming your way over the next few weeks!:

• Nov 12 – Starbucks Silver City (7-9pm)
• Nov 17 – Starbucks Aguirre BF Homes (8-10pm)
• Nov 18 – Starbucks Northeast Greenhills (6-8pm)
• Nov 19 – Starbucks Katipunan (6-8pm)
• Nov 26 – Starbucks Marquinton (6-8pm)
• Nov 29 – Starbucks #10 Congressional (5-7pm)

It was indeed an awesome Starbucks Cheers Party 2010! I’m already excited for next year; hahaha! 🙂

I first saw Bubble Tea when they opened their first branch in SM Megamall in Ortigas. Through the years, Bubble Tea proved to maintain its quality amid competition using authentic, natural, and freshly shaken premium milk tea in contrast to powder-based fads. Eventually, other branches came about in SM North Edsa and  Timog. And later this month, they will be opening their newest branch with a function room along Wilson St. in Greenhills.

Bubble Tea's Black Sesame Milkshake

It was only recently that I began to appreciate their other servings of Tokyo-inspired Japanese dishes and some Japanese-Western fusion including pasta, burgers, and sandwiches.

In line with new discoveries, I ventured out from my usual Bubble Tea favorites such as the Royal Milk Tea and Taro Milkshake when I visited their branch in Timog with some foodie friends.

Egg Pudding Add-on for Bubble Tea Milkshakes

I initially got to sample a small serving of the Azuki Red Bean Milk Shake and was extremely satisfied. For a change, the red bean flavor was different, to say the least. It was a welcome respite  from the usual sweet milkshakes. Moreover, it provided a unique texture to taste because of the red beans.

I also saw a new flavor in their table menu – the Honey Dew Melon with mango bits available in both milk tea or shake. But I ordered the Black Sesame Milkshake for curiosity’s sake. It was my first to try this one and similarly, it was not too sweet and of course, had the black sesame flavor. It was a good choice.

Milkshakes are priced at P135 for medium size and P145 for large. Milk Tea are at P115 (medium) and P125 (large). Hot milk tea is at P80. Other flavors include Japanese Green Tea, Almond, Coconut, Double Chocolate, Mocha, and Jasmin (I’d like to try this next). For an additional P20, you can have add-ons which include extra-bubbles (big/small/combi), vanilla ice cream, and the egg-pudding which you goy to try out. I really love chewing on their soft firm bubbles (sago/tapioca), I go for the big bubble add-ons. 🙂

Bubble Tea Japanese Food

Now for the dishes. It was a fiesta of comfort foods in Bubble Tea. With servings big enough to share, it seems like the photos came right out of the Japanese menu and landed in our tables where no empty space were left.

Okonomiyaki Japanese Pizza

Japanese Ceasar Salad

Tonkaktsu Omurice Bubble Tea

Beef Stew Curry

The dishes we tried out include Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza – P125),  Japanese Ceasar Salad (Ceasar salad with Fried Chicken – P195), Tonkaktsu Omurice (Breaded Pork & Omelette – P265), Beef Stew Curry (Jap style sliced beef stew w/ sweet and mild spicy curry, rice, & egg – P265), and Takoyaki (P175).

Takoyaki : grilled octopus-filled balls made of pancake batter, topped with mayonnaise, katsuobushi and sweet soy sauce.

Pasta

Tori Pesto Spaghetti

Spicy Mix Seafood Tomato Spaghetti

We got to try out two pasta dishes. The first is Spicy Mix Seafood & Tomato Spaghetti ( P295) which has salmon, tuna, squid, prawn, clam and mussel.

The second is Tori Pesto Spaghetti (P265) which is pan-fried Chicken w/ pesto cream sauce.

Maki Sushi

Nippon Ebi

It flooded with maki and sushi such as Nippon Ebi (P285),  Unagi Lover (P295), and Vancouver (P285). The latter is made with breaded prawn and spicy tuna in teriyaki sauce.

Another home-developed sushi is Bubble Salad Sushi (P165) which is a mini mixed salad topped with sushi rice. On the rightmost of the four photos is the Spicy Tuna (P195).

They have combination platters in case you want to have a try of each.

Bubble Tea Maki Sushi

Recommendations

But among the myriad of choices, there were five which greatly satisfied my tastebuds (in reverse order of preference).

Salmon Foil Yaki (P345)

Salmon Foil Yaki

The tender fish meat of the steamed salmon fillet gave it away with its freshness retained by the wrapping in foil. Surprisingly, it also had a mildly sweet twist.

Chicken Teriyaki Doria (P245)

Chicken Teriyaki Doria

It’s baked casserole rice covered with melted cheese. Topped with grilled boneless chicken and teriyaki sauce, this dish is sure to fill you up.

Aspara Bacon Yaki (P185)

Asparagus Bacon Yaki

It’s a skewer of grilled asparagus wrapped with bacon and cheese on top. Bacon and Cheese is love; no need for further explanation. 🙂 The asparagus is the healthy angle to reduce your guilt in exchange for this pleasure.

Japanese Fried Chicken

Tofu Steak (P165) [Top Photo]

Light, fresh, and soft. Those are the three adjectives befitting this small simple dish called Tofu Steak.

Lightly breaded and mixed with sweet sauce and vegetables, this soft, melt-in-your-mouth and warmly served tofu is my perfect appetizer.

Japanese Fried Chicken in a Basket (P385)

Actually, I am surprised as much as you are that a common friend chicken dish ended up on top of my recommended list.

I did not expect much when I took a bite of the leg portion. But the taste and crispiness, albeit with almost nil bread crumbs, was fantastic.

Aside from the quality of the chicken itself, I would say the cook have a certain style in cooking this thin-skinned fried chicken to maintain such level of crispiness and juiciness in the white meat.

Perhaps more than just deep-frying it to perfection.

With only four pieces, it may also be dismissed as expensive at P385. But this juicy Japanese fried chicken served with noi ginger sauce and japanese potato salad sidings is very much worth it.

Bubble Tea Experience

This is what you call a Bubble Tea fiesta in this humble Tokyo milk tea place started by Reagan Tan who developed most of Bubble Tea’s menu and is also its CEO.

Check them out online at http://www.facebook.com/tokyobubbletea or email them at tokyobubbletea@gmail.com

Join their current contest called “Pichur Pichur” and get to win a Nikon Coolpix S230 camera with touchscreen LCD and Bubble Tea gift certificates.

Bubble Tea Branches:
Tomas Morato – #220 Tomas Morato Avenue, QC (4123573)
SM North Edsa – LGF SM North Edsa, The Block, QC (4410097)
SM Megamall – LGF SM Megamall, Mandaluyong (6387479)
Greenhills – Unit 3 #229 Wilson Street, West Greenhills, San Juan City
Delivery Option: www.citydelivery.ph or 87878

Bubble Tea : Tokyo Milk Tea Place

Try out Bubble Tea in any of their branches in Metro Manila, Philippines and have a bubbly Bubble Tea experience!

There’s a new Italian spot in town and it’s at the Fort Strip in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City – Focaccia.

They’re no that new actually. Their first branch is at A.Venue in Makati and Focaccia Fort is their second and bigger branch. I got the chance to sample a number of their pasta, crazy rolls pizza called Pazzo Rollio, and of course, well, the Focaccia breads. It’s good to be paired with any of their tomato, squash, or potato soup. If you can’t decide, have a taste of all three with the Soup Trio which are small cup-size servings of the three mentioned soups.

Focaccia

Focaccia Bread with Spinach Artichoke Formaggio

We had a serving of focaccia bread with Spinach Artichoke Formaggio as appetizer. I loved the spinach artichoke cheese dip as I have always enjoyed the same in other Italian restaurants.

Shrimp Scampi

Pasta

Next came the pasta series. We started with Shrimp Scampi (ok, it’s not pasta 🙂 ). It was followed by a series of Penne ala Sicilliana, Frutti de Mare, Prosciutto Tartufo, and Cannelloni con Ragu.

Osso Bocco

Lasagna variants came in next with Lasagna con Ragu and another one which I forgot. Osso Bocco came in last.

I recommend Shrimp Scampi and Osso Bocco.

The Shrimp Scampi was good but I’d like to suggest that they can offer a spiced-up version – it would be a hit, I think. 🙂

The Osso Bocco is flavorful for those who fancy a strong-tasting pasta dish.

Focaccia Pasta: Frutti de Mare, Prosciutto Tartufo, and Cannelloni con Ragu (not in order)

Focaccia Lasagna: Lasagna con Ragu and another (forgot name) 🙂

Pizza

The finale was their Pazzo Rollo crazy roll pizzas. They are known to have first introduced this in Metro Manila, even way before Yellow Cab‘s Dear Darla pizzas. Focaccia was inspired from this practice of rolling pizzas from Pampanga.

First came the Slice of Italy Pizza followed by Scallopine ala Marsala, Sette Formaggio, and Seafoods Pizza.

Slice of Italy Pizza

Focaccia Pazzo Rollo 'Crazy Rolls'

Seafoods Pizza

With thin crispy toasted pizza and fresh veggie inserts including my well-loved arugula, the crazy rolls were good.

They could have wider slices though for a better ‘rolling‘ experience at the expense of more servings.

The first and last (Slice of Italy Pizza and Seafoods Pizza) gets my thumbs-up.

So how do you do it? Stuff, roll away, and enjoy. 🙂

Crazy Rolls: (1) Stuff, (2) Roll, (3) Enjoy. 🙂

And More

Aside from the Italian cuisines, diners would notice its good interiors. Playing with the red, black and white color templates, Focaccia has the premium atmosphere fit for its target market at The Fort Strip. The owners also acknowledge that the Fort branch is bigger and has a more ‘classy‘ feel than their A.Venue branch. It also has a function room to accommodate private lunch/dinner meetings from corporation around the business district of Taguig.

Focaccia Restaurant Interiors

Focaccia Fort Strip

Going back to food, Focaccia also serve panini variants of roastbeef, caprese, smoked salmon, and Italian sausages. In line with the Italian concept, they have wine (Veramonte, Altozano, Valformosa) and gelato as well. My eyes were on the P\pistachio flavor after dinner but my stomach says “I’m so fulll already.” 🙂

Give Focaccia “A Slice of Italy” a visit at their Fort Strip branch just below Fitness First. Their business hours are 10am to 3am (Wed, Fri, Sat) and 10am to 11pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sun).