A very modern Barrio Fiesta greeted me a couple of weeks ago when Spanky Enriquez invited this author and other food bloggers there. Gone were the Filipiniana decors, gone were the minstrels, gone were the kitsch. The new Barrio Fiesta is toned down and will be appreciated by Filipino food gourmets.

main dining area

modern Filipiniana

Nostalgia makes me miss the old Barrio Fiesta but I still welcome the new look. Read the rest of this entry »

Fate smiled upon us that night. It was already past midnight. We just came from a videoke joint in Jupiter Street and I wanted something sweet. Most of the restaurants and bars were closed for the night so Eloisa suggested we just go to the Starbucks at the end of the road. I was never a Starbucks fan but I needed my dessert fix. We hoped into my car and drove there. I shouted when I saw the establishment next to it. Although it was dark, my eyes zoomed in on the word “chocolatier.” I remember Jane mentioning on plurk about a chocolatier and me replying that I must go there. It hit me that this was the place she was talking about. Eloisa, Faith, and I worried for a bit that the cafe was closed already since it was already late. Fate wanted me to experience Maitre Chocolatier Boutique Cafe because they were still open. I said a quiet thanks for the blessing.

Ambiance, Design, and Space

embossed letterings on the wall and a dress made from chocolate wrappers

You will be greeted by this

lights and lines

The cafe was dimly lit. Perhaps it was because of the time. The mood lighting makes the place a nice place to go on a date. Sweet words exchanged over sweets. The chocolatier is spacious and is minimally designed with boxy furniture and a curved ceiling. The bar is highlighted with its fanciful chocolate bar tiles and the nice curlicue signage. Read the rest of this entry »

Last June 29, 2010 was the launch of Watering Hole’s delivery service. Well it’s not really their delivery service. They tied-up with City Delivery which delivers food from a number of established restaurants right to your doorstep. I was lucky to be invited to this event where I enjoyed several dishes Watering Hole offers.

City Delivery service

Watering Hole was teeming with people that Tuesday night. There were the regular customers and some of us who were invited.

The host interviews someone from City Delivery

Representatives of City Delivery were there. One of them explained how their delivery service works. She said that there are 2 ways to access them:

Phone

1. Dial their hotline number 87878.
2. Choose from a wide variety of cuisines from their restaurant partners.
3. Place your order.
4. Enjoy the great tasting dishes.

Internet

1. Go to http://www.citydelivery.ph/.
2. Register.
3. Choose from a wide variety of cuisines from their restaurant partners.
4. Place your order.
5. Enjoy the great tasting dishes.

They deliver to the following areas: Makati, The Fort, Greenhills, Ortigas, Eastwood CBD, Pasay, Cainta, Magallanes, Mandaluyong, and some parts of Manila and Quezon City. They also deliver to people who work or reside in areas not included in the list for a higher minimum fee. The minimum fee is P500 pesos  plus 10% for the delivery fee. I think it’s a reasonable price for a hassle-free dining in your own home.

A professional photographer took our photos

Watering Hole had several activities for us that night. They got DQ band who entertained us while we ate, a photo session of us posing with our favorite Watering Hole dish, and there were games where they gave away Watering Hole and City Delivery gift certificates as prizes.

Do check out City Delivery to know more about their services and add Watering Hole on Facebook so you’ll be updated with their latest offerings and activities.

Watering Hole Restobar
EDSA, Shangri-la Mall

My family decided to finally try Mr. Jones tonight. We’ve been curious about the diner for awhile. We learned about it from a flyer we read at Chelsea Market Cafe (Chelsea and Mr. Jones belong to Rain Tree Group of restaurants). We have a fondness for diners, you see.

I do not go to Greenbelt often. The parking fee is a killer. The Ayalas should do something about that. We spend a lot of money in the stores there yet we have to pay exorbitant parking fees. It’s very unwelcoming. But I digressed.

Ambiance, Design, and Space

Where were we? Ah yes, my family loves diners and so we went to Mr. Jones. We arrived early at 5:30 PM and there were a lot of people eating. That’s a good sign. Lots of people eating means food must be good. We wanted a booth inside for the A/C. There was no table available. Since the lady there told us that they don’t take reservations, she said she’ll get my number so she can text as soon as a table inside is available. After giving her my cellphone number, my family and I went window-shopping. It took Mr. Jones a long time to text me. It must have been an hour. Maybe more.

Mr. Jones is crowded

Look at how close we were to the kitchen. I didn't use a zoom lens

When we got back, the restaurant was packed. The space they are renting is small, even the outdoor dining doesn’t help the congestion. Inside, I think there are only 5 or 6 tables and this is because of bulky furniture. It looks like a real diner though.

Rating:

Service

The lady was very distracted when I talked to her. She was taking down the names and numbers of customers who wanted to eat there so we had to wait before she showed us our table. Actually all the staff are inattentive. When inside, their backs are turned to the customers while they punch in orders, wait for food to be served, etc. Now that I think about it, none was friendly at all. No wait staff was even smiling.

Rating:

Food

This is where this review should get better. I ordered Grilled Bone-In Maple Glazed Pork Chops & Apple Sauce (P450). It is topped with cinnamon apple and apricot compote and is served with spiced pumpkin puree, haricots verts, and organic carrots.

Grilled Bone-In Maple Glazed Pork Chops & Apple Sauce - P450

The chops is tender but a tad dry. Since it is sweet, I felt like I should be eating the chops during Christmas and the pumpkin puree just exacerbated that feeling. Don’t get me wrong. The pork chops is good but I just didn’t feel like it’s something for normal dinner. My sister, on the other hand, liked what I ordered.

My sister ordered Big Mama’s Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf (P395) which is filled with chorizo (at least according to the menu). It is served with haricots verts, roasted herb tomato gravy and potato puree. The meatloaf is topped with fried egg cooked according to your preference.

Big Mama's Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf - P395

I tried my sister’s order and found it okay. The meatloaf is huge. It has a slight tangy taste but I didn’t detect any chorizo. The potato puree is too soft for my liking but it still tasted fine.

Mom’s order was the 1/2 Inch Thick Double-Smoked Bacon & Eggs (P350). It comes with 2 eggs cooked according to your preference, roasted rosemary breakfast potatoes, biscuits, and gravy.

1/2 Inch Thick Double-Smoked Bacon & Eggs - P350

This is the one I liked best among the three. The bacon is perfectly smoked, tender, fatty, and chewy. It has the perfect blend of sweet and salty. The biscuits and potatoes are really good too. The smoked bacon reminds me of the ham mom cooks for us for Christmas. I should have ordered this instead of the chops but mom wasn’t able to finish hers so I gobbled up all her leftovers.

Mr. Jones has a very limited choice in desserts. There are milkshakes and floats but are they even considered desserts? More like drinks to me. They have a couple of pies but none looked appealing to us. I wanted to get a milkshake but it’s just too fattening. Oh well. Probably next time.

Rating:

For a diner, yes Mr. Jones is still a diner even if they upscaled the food a bit, Mr. Jones is too expensive. The serving size per dish is big and some dishes can be shared by 2 people. Still, diners should be affordable. I’ll most possibly come back again to get the 1/2 Inch Bacon but not in the near future.

Overall Rating:

Mr. Jones
Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5
Makati City

Last week, I got an email invite to try Xocolat. I’ve been to Xocolat in Serendra several times before but I’ve always been curious of the branch in Loyola Heights. I immediately called Patricia Avecilla, Xocolat’s Marketing Manager, and confirmed my attendance. Since it was a dinner for two, I invited my good friend Phoebe to go with me. It didn’t take too much convincing since she’s a chocoholic.

Location and Ambiance

Call me an eager beaver for arriving an hour early. I thought I would get lost or get stuck in traffic but the drive to Katipunan Avenue was hassle-free that day. I was able to find Casa Xocolat fairly easily since I’m familiar with Katipunan, having spent several years haunting the eats there during my U.P. days. Parking was a breeze and after depositing my bag on an empty table, I spent the time soaking up the cozy atmosphere and taking photos.

lots of space

some decors are for sale

Casa Xocolat is known for desserts

lovely hand-painted lamps

inviting outdoor dining

Read the rest of this entry »

My sister and I weren’t able to take out mom for Mother’s Day so the next day, which happened to be holiday since it was National Elections, we decided to dine out. I wanted somewhere near because the election tired us out and I had to do the driving. I asked friends for suggestions and Jay Salazar reminded me that the Podium branch of Chelsea Market is already open. I love Chelsea in Serendra so I was decided to try the new branch which is nearer our place.

Design and Function

We arrived at around 6:30 PM so seating wasn’t hard although a lot of the tables were already taken. We were seated near the entrance and we could feel the humidity every time the door opened. I suggest that they install one of those air curtains so the heat from outside wouldn’t whoosh in and so that their A/C wouldn’t have to work doubly hard.

Bright but feels cramped

Chelsea Podium is 2-storied. I believe it can accommodate more people than their Serendra branch. The design and the use of mirrors give the impression of open space but it feels cramped when you are there (the ground floor in particular). Chairs are back to back and you have to excuse yourself in order to get to the counter or the rest room. The lighting design is chic and makes the restaurant inviting. Decorations were okay but I prefer the ones in Serendra.

Rating:

Service

Service is slow but I think the staff are still undergoing training. The waiter forgot my request for water and napkins. The service needs a lot of improvement in my opinion.

Rating:

Food

I got my usual iced tea and decided to try the pork belly. I think the pork belly is their new offering because I didn’t notice that dish before.

Pork Belly

I liked the Pork Belly at the first bite but the thick layer of fat became too overwhelming for me. Oil dripped when I bite the pork and plopped on the plate. The crispness of the pork skin wasn’t consistent either. Some parts were tough and hard to chew. I was very hungry though and ended up finishing the dish even if I felt like gagging afterwards.

Rating:

This particular Chelsea experience was a let down. I was expecting great food and service like the one they provide in Serendra. However, I will give Chelsea Podium another try but not in the near future. I want to give them time to adjust to the new place.

Overall Rating:

Chelsea Market Cafe
Ground Floor, Podium Mall
Ortigas Center

Mr. HK Tan invited a couple of bloggers to his restaurant last May 2, 2010. I was expecting it to just be one of those usual food blogger events. Not that I’ve been to many but the ones I’ve attended, we just came, ate, and digested. The Nasi Lemak was interactive to say the least. Mr. Tan taught us how to make Sambal Blachan which is kinda like chili sauce with bagoong. According to him, Sambal Blachan is the base for many Indonesia/Singaporean/Malaysian dishes.

HK Tan

Use Kafir leaves

hands-on demo

Blachan from India

Sambal Blachan with papadums

Sambal Blachan is very easy to make and Mr. Tan made us taste the mixture as it progressed so we know how each ingredient contributed to the overall taste. I must say that it opened up my senses mostly because of how very spicy it was.

HK Tan is a true-blooded Singaporean who fell in love with our country that he decided to stay for good. His quest for an authentic Singaporean restaurant failed so he decided to open one himself. Being a foodie, he knew that in order to bring the real Singaporean flavor to Manila he had to import most of his ingredients. And in order to match the food preference of the Pinoys, he adjusted the spiciness of his dishes although customers may request to have more chili added to their orders.

He made us taste many of what Nasi Lemak had to offer. Too many in fact so I’ll just include the ones I really enjoyed.

Malaysian Chicken Curry P300

The Malaysian Chicken Curry of Nasi Lemak is the best I’ve tasted. It’s not too spicy. I think the serving size is good for 3 persons.

Penang Char Kway Teow P200

The Char Kway Teow is the most-ordered noodle dish. It’s good for 1 to 2 persons and chili is optional.

Fried Squid w/ Salt & Pepper P200

Mr. Tan uses a special batter which makes the squid crisp, chewy, and juicy on the inside. 2 to 3 persons may share an order.

Kueh Pai Ti P180 (5 pieces)

These bite-sized appetizers are excellent.

Ayam Panggang

I do not know the price of this Javanese BBQ Chicken dish but it’s delish.

Singapore BBQ Sting Ray

Another new Nasi Lemak dish. This is my favorite!

Thanks to HK Tan and Spanky Enriquez for inviting me to this event.

Nasi Lemak
Level 2, East Lane
Robinsons Galleria
571-8988

I won’t make this a formal food review because I think so many of you have tried Cibo anyway. This is just my take on my favorite food there.

When my friends (and my family) and I couldn’t think of any new restaurant to try, we often end up eating at Cibo. Although it’s not a budget restaurant, it isn’t very expensive either. I always end up feeling really full afterwards because of the carbo-loading. Here are the dishes I ALWAYS get.

Te Freddo Limone (Lemon Iced Tea) P70

Spinaci Zola (crostini with spinach and gorgonzola dip) P235

The Spinaci Zola is yum yum yummy! I don’t finish the dip so I can take it home with me. How I wish Cibo will sell it in bottles but according to one of their waiters, its shelf life is only a few days so that’s the reason why it’s only for dine in.

Penne Al Telefono (but I always get mine Spaghetini) P315

The Al Telefono is a creamy mix of stewed tomato, mozzarella, white cheese, basil, and of course, cream. I don’t have any good reason why I always have the penne changed to spaghetini. Hahaha.

No more room for dessert after these but I’ve tried their Tiramisu Croccante and found it just so-so.

There you have it. My not-really-a-review Cibo post

My family and I went to Tagaytay to do some errands and for lunch, I was able to convince them to eat at Fire Lake Grill. I made a review of the restaurant last December and I raved about their steak. Of course, I got the Angus Ribeye and although it was still good, I prefer the steak I ate during my last visit. The mashed potatoes also lacked taste for. I think my taste buds have changed. Anyway, I finished the steak and my family liked it too.

While I was smoking outside, I was surprised that Chef Paul Huang approached me and thanked me for the review I wrote. He was wondering how to contact me (I have a contact page here LOL) so he could thank me. I was delighted to know that people read my food review blog and more delighted that Chef Paul read my review. He asked me how I found today’s steak and I told him my thoughts honestly. He wasn’t offended and he graciously accepted it, saying that he’ll keep what I said in mind.

Chef Paul Huang and me

I’ve always wanted to try Mario’s Restaurant. I remember during my high school years, there was a Mario’s in St. Francis Square and their bright orange facade always drew my attention. I kept on asking mom to take the family there but she always said that the restaurant is expensive so we never did. Well, years after and that branch is gone now, I was finally able to try Mario’s and learned that the price isn’t that bad at all. I thank Spanky for taking me and a couple of other bloggers to Mario’s Tomas Morato branch last night.

Ambiance

Located in the heart of bustling Tomas Morato, Quezon City, Mario’s offers a peaceful dining experience quite apart from the other restaurants in the area. With it’s simple yet cozy design and large main dining area and function rooms, it’s a good place for a date, corporate pow-wow, and even weekend family get-togethers.

Perfect for meetings

I’m not sure how long the Tomas Morato branch has been around the restaurant is very well-maintained and clean. In fact, it kind of looks new inside. There is a Baguio flavor to its decor, most probably due to the restaurant’s origins.

Rating:

Read the rest of this entry »