Entries Tagged 'Restaurants' ↓

Makati’s Lolo Dad’s Brasserie this Holiday Season

Lolo Dad’s has gained its gastronomical reputation long before among Malate‘s finest. And now in Makati, foodies such as NomNom just has no excuse of trying it out.

Now in the form of a brasserie, Lolo Dad brings the experience closer to busy metropolitans.

A brasserie in Makati

Aside for the price range, Lolo Dad’s Brasserie exudes the same trademark quality of food and service at Ayala 6750 for about a year now.

“We created a Brasserie in order to give a more affordable Lolo Dad’s dining experience to the people,” said Ding Ayuyao, general manager of the Brasserie.

A brasserie is an affordable restaurant that serves wine, fine meals and beer.

Lunch Special Menu

With the holiday season, Lolo Dad’s Brasserie reinvented its Lunch Special.

At just P495 per head(exclusive of service charge), the Lunch Special Menu includes Mussels or Beef Cheeks specially prepared by Ariel Manuel himself, owner of Lolo Dad’s and Manila’s Best Kept Restaurant Secrets Best Chef awardee. This menu already includes three choices of appetizers, and for dessert, indulgent Vanilla Almond ice cream sitting on top of home-style banana bread.

For tapas aficionados, the Brasserie has prepared a tapas menu that won’t cost over P200*. Enjoy this delightful Spanish treat anytime of the day.

Lolo Dad’s Brasserie is open from Mondays to Saturdays at 11:00 am to 10:00 pm at Ayala 6750 in Makati City

Photo above (left to right):
1) Kebab of boneless Chicken Leg (with Garlic rice)
2) Mussels, Prawn and White Flesh pasta (in Chardonnay, Garlic and Anchovy pasta)
3) Stewed Beef Cheeks (baked with Puff pastry)

End your meal with a sweet note with the delectable Vanilla Almiond Banana Split consisting of Vanilla and Almond Selecta Ice cream with Banana bread.

Indulging in Choco Walnut Fudge with Hershey’s

Choco Walnut Fudge

Choco Walnut Fudge

I was ecstatic a few weeks ago upon knowing that Red Ribbon will be releasing their second ‘premium’ cake – the indulgent Choco Walnut Fudge.

The first one – Coffee Walnut Bavarian – became my instant favorite when it came out early this year.

Aside from the fact that it’s from Red Ribbon, the Choco Walnut Fudge was made more special since it used Hershey’s dark chocolate.

All these premium qualities earned this new cake from Red Ribbon the title “a 5-star  Indulgent Dessert.”

Red Ribbons Choco Walnut Fudge

Red Ribbon's Choco Walnut Fudge

Slice of Choco Walnut Fudge

Slice of Choco Walnut Fudge

A creamy layer of chocolate mousse rests on the lower brownie cake both loaded with fudge and chopped walnuts all over.

Surrounding the cake is Hershey’s  dark chocolate ganache. Even the sprinkles on top and long chocolate curls around it are all made with Hersheys.

Yumm…

Aside from Hershey’s dark chocolate, I think it’s the chocolate mousse which caught my tastebuds. I’ve always loved the chocolate mousse cake.

Choco Walnut Fudge Cake with Hersheys Dark Chocolate

Choco Walnut Fudge Cake with Hershey's Dark Chocolate

Hurry! Catch your own Choco Walnut Fudge soon since its only offered this holiday season! It retails at P680 in one size. Nomnomnom…

Christmas Flavors from Greenwich

This Christmas season, Greenwich understands the Filipino’s penchant for celebrating the holidays with merriment and lots of food like the Christmas ham, roast beef, pasta, and fruit salad.

With these in mind, Greenwich introduces the new Triple Ham and Cheese Overload – its latest addition to the popular Greenwich Overloaded pizza line. It overflows with different hams and cheeses. The three hams are Chinese ham, pastrami ham and cooked ham while the cheeses include quezo de bola, parmesan and cheddar cheese.

For the pasta lovers, Greenwih ramps up the Meatball Spaghetti Supreme with overflowing parmesan cheese and thick marinara sauce served over premium-grade pasta.

Greenwich- Meatball Spaghetti Supreme

Greenwich- Meatball Spaghetti Supreme

Moreover, other pizza and pasta products you may want to include in your Christmas get-togethers include the other Greenwich Overloaded pizzas—Extreme Cheese & Sausage Overload, Cheesy Blockbuster Overload, Special Overload and Meat & Cheese Overload, while the Lasagna Supreme and Beefy Baked Macaroni completes the cast.

So do get a slice of Greenwich Christmas with their Meatball Spaghetti Supreme and Triple Ham and Cheese Overload pizza.

A Yummy Christmas Dinner

Last night’s dinner was made of Yummy, figuratively and literally. Yummy foodie magazine invited a group of foodies, including Nomnom, for an intimate dinner at Tosco in Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City.

Tosco, Dusit Thani Hotel

Tosco, Dusit Thani Hotel

And who would say no to an intimate dinner invite by a food magazine? It’s almost sure, the food would be great. And I was not mistaken.

Potato Sour Creme Soup

Potato Sour Creme Soup

Potato-Sour Creme Soup

For soup appetizer, we had potato-sour creme soup.

It was good and creamy. The lemon grilled shrimp slices even made it better.

I found the initally served bread complimentary to its rich taste and I cleaned up my bowl to the last drop.

I think the leaves on top is tarragon – an aromatic Eurasian herb for seasoning.

Tosco Bread

Tosco Bread

Stuffed Chicken Breast

Stuffed Chicken Breast

Chicken Breast with a Surprise

The main entree looked like a simple chicken breast but I found a surprise marinated apricot and orange cinnamon couscous at its center. The serving of rice is also worth mentioning with its citrus-like aftertaste and scent. It was something new to my taste buds and I found it pleasing. Stems of green asparagus lined the plate.

Couscous is a north African dish usually characterized by steamed semolina and meat; in this case chicken meat.

Chicken breast with Orange Cinnamon and Apricot

Chicken breast with Orange Cinnamon and Apricot

Trilogie

Yes, you read it right – it ended with ‘gie.’ The dinner was concluded with a trilogie of vanilla, red wine creme, and caramelized mango. It was the goodness of dessert times three.

Tosco Trilogie: Vanilla, Red Wine Creme, & Caramelized Mango

Tosco Trilogie: Vanilla, Red Wine Creme, & Caramelized Mango

The vanilla was prepared light and covered with shreds of crispy barquillos. Lovely.

It was my first time to taste a red wine creme and I loved its softness with hint of strawberry. Although I think I’m alone with this conclusion since the plates of those around me left the red wine creme half-consumed.

The caramelized mango was, well, caramelized mango.

Although a combination of three desserts sound overwhelming, I surprisingly found it wanting. The three were all sweet but it was not overdone. Simply said, I cleaned the plate.

Toscos Caffe Latte

Tosco's Caffe Latte

And just like after any sweets, a good cup of coffee is always appreciated after.

Yummy Planner 2010

Yummy Planner 2010

Yummy Magazine - December Issue

Yummy Magazine - December Issue

It was a good way of celebrating the holidays and the blessed year of 2009 for Yummy Magazine as they release the Yummy 2010 Planner and 3 new cookbooks namely YUMMY Meals in Minutes, YUMMY So-easy Sweets, and YUMMY Weekend Cooking.

The Yummy Planner 2010 is now sold in major bookstores at P250 while the cookbooks are at an affordable price of P100 each.

Their December issue is also now out with cooking tips for Christmas like how to have a delicious and inexpensive Noche Buena. They are also adding new sections to the magazine and website Yummy.ph. Something to look forward to in 2010. Check it out here.

Tosco Wine Bar, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City

Tosco Wine Bar, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City

More photos of Yummy Christmas Dinner.

We also shared a good chat over dinner with fellow foodies Fran, Az, and new friends Oggie & Ferdz of HappyFoodies.com, among others. It was also nice to see Anton of Our Awesome Planet again and Joey of Table for Three Please, for the first time. It was a Yummy dinner indeed!

The 15th Jollibee MaAga ang Pasko

On its 15th year, Jollibee, together with Aga Muhlach and the Jolly Toy Scouts has started the campaign for “MaAga ang Pasko” early this month. Jollibee’s MaAga ang Pasko is the longest running toy and book donation drive in the country that aims to continue spreading Christmas cheer to children in need.

Jollibee Donated Toys

Jollibee Donated Toys

The launch kicking-off the campaign was held in SMX beside SM Mall of Asia. Led by Jollibee executives, Aga Muhlach, and participating schools, they held ceremonial gift giving of donations in form of books and toys placing them in the donation stations to symbolize the start of the campaign.

MaAga Ang Pasko

MaAga Ang Pasko

With the series of unfortunate natural calamities that have struck the Philippines, Jollibee‘s MaAga ang Pasko drive aims to enhance the spirit of sharing and giving with more ways to make kids happy this Christmas season.

Jolly Toy Scout

Jolly Toy Scout

Be Empowered! Be a Jolly Toy Scout!

Introduced last year, the Jolly Toy Scouts helped reinforce the message of sharing in a fun and exciting way by having more than 15,000 Jolly Toy Scouts from over 30 partner schools signed up last year to lead efforts in collecting donations such as toys and books for needy children. They also help clean up, pack gifts, and join the distribution drives.

Aga Muhlach

Aga Muhlach

Aga Muhlach as Advocate

Once again, Aga Muhlach lends his support for the project and was honored as a Toy Scout Troop Leader in last year’s campaign.

“Seeing young kids and grown-ups pitching in to make other children happy never fails to brighten my day. These young Jolly Toy Scouts get to really understand the value of sharing …” says Aga.

Double Up Gifts, Double Up Happiness

Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko Launch at SMX, SM Mall of Asia

Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko Launch at SMX, SM Mall of Asia

In celebration of its 15th year, Jollibee will match every donation with a Jollibee toy, effectively doubling the number of gifts to be collected this year.

 Albert Cuadrante

Albert Cuadrante

“As Jollibee matches every donated toy and book with a Jollibee toy, we will be able to double the number of donations and consequently, double the number of children who will get to enjoy a more memorable and happier Christmas,” exclaimed Albert Cuadrante, Vice President for Jollibee-SBU Marketing.

MaAga Ang Pasko Donations and Member Schools

MaAga Ang Pasko Donations and Member Schools

Supporting Member School

Supporting Member Schools Make a Pledge

Children Looks Forward To Christmas

Children Looks Forward To Christmas

Adopt-A-School Program

In addition to this year’s campaign, MaAga Ang Pasko introduces a new component: the ADOPT-A-SCHOOL program that encourages schools and various institutions in becoming a partner of a beneficiary school. All toys and books collected, as well as the corresponding toys to be given by Jollibee to match their collection, will be given to their partner beneficiary school.

Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko Toys

Jollibee MaAga Ang Pasko Toys

For More Photos, Click Here.

Please do support Jollibee‘s MaAga ang Pasko campaign. In your own way, you can teach your children selfless giving by encouraging them to voluntarily donate some of their toys, old or new, in any Jollibee branch nationwide.

A Chocolatey Weekend

Hello NomnomClub.com readers and subscribers. I recently received a delicious email from one of my admired chocolate shops in the metro – Heavenly Chocolates.

We had a very educational chocolate seminar in their shop along Roces Avenue early this year. And I was ecstatic to know that they’ll be having free tasting sessions over the weekend.

This coming Nov 21 & 22, Heavenly Chocolates will entertain customers for free tasting sessions. The first one entitled “Taste the Darkness” will be on Saturday, November 21, 2009. I’m not really sure if the title has something to do with the near-showing Twilight sequel: New Moon. 🙂

Other Chocolate Products - Sachi Nama Chocolates & Rice Crispies

Taste the Darkness” will introduce the new flavors of SACHI BLACK chocolates. Sachi Nama Chocolates are one of the premium products of Heavenly Chocolates. Free tasting is available all day long. Come with a friend.

The second day, Sunday, November 22, 2009, focuses more on the traditional Filipino merienda. The culprits are tsokolate (native chocolate), suman (sticky rice pudding), mangga (mango), and ensaimada (a type of pastry).

You can come in groups or as a family as long as you RSVP for crowd control. The available time slots are 2 pm, 4pm, and 6 pm.

Look for chocolate connoisseur Benjamin Pedro and RSVP via his email: benjaminvpedro<at>yahoo.com Wait for the confirmation email and see you at the 4pm session on Sunday. 🙂

Heavenly Chocolates Shop

Heavenly Chocolates Shop

Heavenly Chocolates is located at 127 Roces Avenue, Quezon City. When you are at the Timog Area, it is a stone’s throw away from the McDonald Morato Branch with a giant french fries facade. The shop is near the corner of Tomas Morato & Roces Ave. Their telephone number is 666-2208

For the first timers, Heavenly Chocolates is relatively an average-sized chocolate shop that can house about 25 customers at a time, but it gives you that homey atmosphere fit for a hot cup of chocolate drink during a rainy day. 🙂

Nomnom Club’s Thank You Day Photo Contest Finalists

Woot! Thank you to all who participated in my Thank You Day Photo Contest Promo a few weeks ago! This is actually a back post as I was very busy lately. Nonetheless, the 5 Nomnom Club finalists and winners are:

  • Thank You Mama! by LittleNars.com
  • “I am doing this for Mama, this is how I will show my love for her. She doesn’t deserve any other disappointment. She only deserve happiness. So please God, MAKE THIS HAPPEN.”

  • How do you spread the sweetness of gratitude? by Mamuyac.Multiply
  • “I can’t find the right words to say to my baby Charles but “thank you” on how he made my life an exciting and worthy journey that it is today.”

  • An Entry … by IAmNicely.com
  • “I want the world to know how grateful I am to God for giving me such cool and loving parents.”

  • My Entry… by Misha
  • “I am thankful for my best friends who have always been there for me through the good times & the bad.”

  • Spread The Sweetness… by NextJam
  • “I’ll be showing you how to be appreciated through my passion in Toy Photography.”

    Thank You Day

I wish you guys the best and hopefully Toblerone would be able to select one of you in their top 3 winners from among all the finalists from the online community! Cheers!

Nonetheless, by being finlaists in my contest, all you five automatically receives Thank You Toblerone Gift Packs! You will be informed via email as to how to claim these items.

Thank you also to GeiserMaclang and Toblerone for hosting this contest.

For more information on the National Thank You Day, visit www.thankyoudayphilippines.com HERE

Jozu Kin, A New Take on Japanese Menu

Located in one of the newest foodie circles of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, I anticipated with excitement a good Japanese dinner that night. It is my first time in Jozu Kin having opened only early September 2009.

Jozu Kin, Burgis Circle in Fort Bonifacio

Jozu Kin, Burgis Circle in Fort Bonifacio

With a tagline “The Japanese Gold,” i was surprised that most of the prices were actually manageable given the upscale atmosphere of the restaurant. The ‘gold‘ is actually the literal translation of ‘Kin‘; and ‘Jozu‘ means ‘skillful‘ (not ‘Japanese‘, boink!).

Mari Moriawasa

Mari Moriawase

Their menu offers a wide range of variety from sushi to sashimi, and maki to teppan-grilled dishes.

Accompanied by 5 other friends, let’s now take a closer look at the food.

For the first order, we had Maki Moriawase for appetizer. It was a maki sampler platter of California Maki, Tempura Crunchy, Dynamite Roll, Philadelphia Roll, and Futo Maki (P357).

Maguro Togarashi

Maguro Togarashi

For the main dishes, we had spicy tuna with onions & wasabi mayo – Maguro Togarashi. At P125, the serving is good for two. It was not too spicy either.

Kuro Kusho Pasta

Kuro Kusho Pasta

It was also an uncommon sight to see western-style pasta in a Japanese menu; well at least for me. We had Kurokusho Pasta with freshly crushed black pepper, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and black tobiko.

Upscale Entrees

Tartufo Hotate

Tartufo Hotate

Matsusaka Gyu

Matsusaka Gyu

For the upscale-priced ones, 4 entrees caught my attention namely Tartufo Hotate, Matsusaka Gyu, and two Foie gras variants: Pan Seared Foie gras and Tenderloin Foie gras.

Tartufo Hotate are scallops, pan seared, with asparagus shitake mushroom and truffled brown butter.

Matsusaka Gyu is matsusaka beef seared on teppan. Matsusaka beef are among the highest-grade beef in the food industry. The price will send one of  your eyeballs bulging in a while. 🙂

Another first for me is the foie gras. Foie gras is basically fattened duck or goose liver . Tenderloin Foiegras is tenderloin beef and foiegras seared on teppan.

Pan Seared Foie Gras

Pan Seared Foie Gras

The serving of Pan Seared Foie Gras looked conservatively sophisticated with a mango slice on top followed by the foie gras on rice and mango puree and finally glazed with honey. It was just a handful, but the experience is quite unique and unforgettable.

Tenderloin Foie Gras

Tenderloin Foie Gras

Only one phrase can describe it: “melt in your mouth goodness.” Some of you may know the meticulous process of producing a foie gras, which explains the price.

Ushi Ebi Sunburst

Ushi Ebi Sunburst

The last four mentioned entrees are priced at P590, P1850, P700, and P700, respectively. Yes, Matsusaka Gyu did not send my taste buds to the heavens, but the price did. 🙂

And to end this Jozu Kin experience is the best among them all – the main photo of this article: Ushi Ebi Sunburst.

It’s a mix of giant marinated and grilled prawns with lettuce, fresh strawberry, grape, apples, orange and blue berry in balsamic vinaigrette.

Although I believe my description was exact having mentioned strawberry, grape, and blue berry in singular forms, the grilled prawns was outstanding in size and taste, and not in singular form.

Jozu Kins Ushi Ebi Sunburst

Jozu Kin's Ushi Ebi Sunburst

We wish to thank Chef Jayme Natividad who was gracious enough to introduce and explain some of the dishes to us.

More photos, Click Here.

Give Jozu Kin a visit at Unit ES-2 Forbes Town Center, Burgos Circle, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. You may reach them at 403-1875.