ekl10

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marcia-Adams-Restaurant/142606612433801?fref=ts

 

Thanks for the heads-up, you are right, the food here is pretty good, definitely worth the day trip up here last Saturday.

Glad you iked it. which dishes did you try? did they have the baby octopus that day? its usualy a best seller and often is unavailable due to the availability of the octopus. How bout the rabbit were you able to try it?

@ asmo, not quite sure but i think it was pumpkin puree

Greeka Kouzina, P. Guevarra san juan

I almost didnt wana post this one since its very rare one would find a place where everything just seem to work. well almost everything. I tried out this new place along P. guevarra where the old mac service center use to be. It was a greek restaurant that had somewhat of a filipino twist in flavors. I know what your thinking. Greek? im sure not many are open to Greek cuisine, specially since most Greek dishes compost of vegetables. Well, at Greeka you dont have to worry. It actually caters to either vegetarians or carnivors since the menu has an extensive list of salads to well served meats.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-101_zpsf36d5fca.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-102_zpse4ec4e54.jpg

pita with choice of dip - this one i chose the hummus. pita bread is very fluffy and soft

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-100_zps6a1a77be.jpg

Watermelon, lamb salad. - The lamb was well seasoned and cooked and it went so well with the arugula salad. as for the watermelon it gave that refreshing feeling in each bite.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-99_zps380488de.jpg

Chicken souvlaki salad - Grilled bbq chicken on top of a mountain of greens - The chicken was cooked perfectly still moist and juicy

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-98_zps8eae3c30.jpg

Greek porkchops topped with butter garlic - the meat was cooked so perfectly that it was very soft yet still remained that nice whey texture. this dish is highly recommended and do try to consume it as soon as possible cause its not as good once it gets cold.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-111_zpsfa5688a4.jpg

forgot what pasta this was but let me just point out that this dish is actually free. Yup you heard it, FREE!!! at Greeka for every meat order you get a free order of side dish and the choices of side dish are actually a lot. The serving of these side dishes are also quite big that they pass as a dish on its own. "Now you know why i was hesitant to share this place eh? "

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/greeka%20cuisina/photo-103_zpsc5c47a25.jpg

partial view inside the restaurant.

This has got to be one of the best restaurants i have ever been in in terms of value. not only are the prices really cheap but the servings are also huge and very tasty. and with such perks as free side dishes how can you go wrong:?

OVerall:

Ambiance: 4 - the place is well presented although it does get cramped when there are a lot of people since the space is quite small. Also, parkign can get a bit tough since space is limited.

food: 4.5 - All the vegetables were served very fresh and everything was well seasoned. i actually had ordered more dishes but was not able to post the pics since i was too eager to eat that i had forgotten to shoot. by the way i highly recommend the lamb neck which is cooked for 5 hours, the flavors were excelent and the meat was tender.

service 3.5 - unfortunately, since it is a newly opened establishment they havnt been able to anticipate the amount of diners they would have at the same time that it seems like they lacked servers.

price 5 - for the amount of food being serve which is by the way really big and also the quality of food. i give it a very high marks. One dish can cost you around 200 - 4 pesos only including a free side dish. need i say more?

here's a preview of what wafu has to offer. enjoy..

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wafu/photo-76_zps87697982.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wafu/photo-84_zpsceabb200.jpg

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http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wafu/photo-78_zps0ad75677.jpg

@asmo, i was able to confirm last night from the owner that they do have a set menu at wafu. You can actually customize your own menu, just have to inform them ahead of time. As for the prices they can vary. one of the reasons why the set menu is a bit expensive is that they will serve a 12 course meal rather than the usual 3, 4, 6, 10 courses.

@ asmo, sorry but i wasnt aware that wafu had a degustation menu. from my experiene it seemed like a normal japanese restaurant that just adds a bit of class to its presentation.

@lomex, nope! not that group. teriyaki boy had a previous owner the one that really created teriyaki boy. pancake house just bought it from him. Thats why i wrote teriyaki boy (the original)

@ asmo, the japanese establishment your refering to is called "wafu" its owned by the same guy that brought us teriyaki boy ( the original), eat well, and many other restos. The ambiance of the place is really nice, has a very formal feel to it. and diners can enjoy dining tepanyaki style or regular type. Though the place seems very high end its quite evident that the the establishment is still adjusting to the new set up, having to serve more people than they are normally accustomed to and having to serve in a much luxurious way. oh and servings here are pretty big. will just post my fr soon. still, suggest you do try the place.

@ asmo, actually they accept last orders around 9 but you can still stay to finish your meal. the establishment doesnt really cater to late nights since it is a fine dining establishment that aims at serving great degustation food. That is also why the restaurant is located not in the busy area of the fort. its actually pretty hidden outside a condo unit. I suggest you google the place before heading there cause you can get lost getting there.

the goose station. coming from edsa, southbound, before you reach buendia make a U turn on the left side of edsa under the flyover. you are now heading north bound, stick to the right side and make a right heading fort bonifacio ( stay on the right side) you eventually see shell station on your right and cats ( mercedes benz on your left ) keep going straight heading to market market. youll pass by st lukes hospital on your right and S&R just head straight till you reach the stop light between market market and serendra. Make a right turn ( on your left you will see STI school. keep heading straight. youll see manila water on your right then make a right on 38th street then another right on triangle dr. then left on 39th st. you should see the goose station outside of W building.

@asmo last time i checked they were open from 6 - 9pm and yes they are open on sat. but i suggest you call in advance for reservation 556-9068 since they do have limited seats. Also, like i mentioned before they change menu's every 3-6 months and last i heard their latest menu isnt that great. In addition they also have removed the 10 course meal, so ive been told.

actually, i dont blame nolita for charging a bit higher price considering they are using high quality / unconventional ingredients in their menu. Yes, the taste and presentation doesnt seem that great but nonetheless they are using better ingredients than most pizza place and at least you actually get varieties.

wildflour, fort bonifacio

The fort area has truly developed itself and is slowly becoming the food epicenter of manila, with different restaurants sprouting in different corners one gets surprise eveytime you drive by just to see another new establishment opening. One of those surprises was wildflour, this glass walled restaurant really caught my attention after seeing the number of people in line wanting to get a seat inside and how one can literaly see the inside of the restaurant including its kitchen since the whole restaurants front is made of see through glass. The restaurants claim to fame is its brunch menu which unfortunately i was not able to try just yet since im often here only during the night time. but one day will surely try it.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-86.jpg

Bone marrow- its alright in taste lacked a bit of seasoning actually prefered the one in cue better.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-92.jpg

forgot the name of this salad but the dressing was really good and loved the nuts.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-88.jpg

a very cheesey pizza - loved this dish it was filled with cheese flavor which i really love.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-87.jpg

baked mac and cheese - it was very comforting food.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-90.jpg

fried potato wedges - batter was too thick

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-91.jpg

baked herb chicken - chicken was moist and flavorful but still the taste was a bit off

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-89.jpg

mini bhan mi sliders - loved this dish it had chinese influence using hoisin sauce and pulled pork

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/wildflour/photo-93.jpg

slow cooked short ribs - technique in cooking was excelent, the meat was very soft and tender however, the taste lacked the "umph" factor.

Overall:

venue: 4- loved the interior and exterior of the place although i do wish they would get a bigger space since it does get cramped inside due to the number of people eating

food: 3.5 - so far food was just ok, think they really stand out on their brunch menus which unfortunately can only be ordered till 2pm

service: 3.5 - service was alright even though place gets crazy staff are still hard at work and doesnt give people attitude.

price: 3.5 - prices are on an average maybe a bit high for the quality but still pretty reasonable

Aracama, the fort bonifacio

The fort use to be known for its party scenes where crowds get wild and crazy and the people would not go home till the sun came out. Unfortunately, after all the bad s@%t that happened during those years of partying the local gov't gave strict laws that establishments would have to close its doors as the clock reaches 2-3am. and soon this place started loosing the crowd, as new establishments in other areas of the metro opened up with no restrictions. and just when you thought all was lost in this almost ghost town like place it started to revive itself. More and more establishments started opening its doors and this time they wernt set on the party scene instead they concentrated on culinary experience.

Recently, one of the most iconic arreas at the fort has opened its doors once again but this time not as a party place but a family oriented venue where groups can enjoy modern filipino flair.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-97_zps9ab4318d.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-96_zps0081277c.jpg

fishballs - I was very surprise with this dish since not only did they create the fish balls from scratch but it was sooo good. the balls were very juicy and flavorful and has little starchy texture.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-95_zpsf389dbcb.jpg

puso ng saging salad - i have to admit at first i was very excited about this dish since its presentation looked so apetizing and to my surprise this was one of the worse dishes ive ever had. it was just so wrong in all levels.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo19_zps093883aa.jpg

fried lumpia - very ordinary but loved that it came with vinegar

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-92_zps09832bfb.jpg

Salpicao - loved the flavor of the dish however, the meat on the other hand was chewy and tough.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-90_zps6f9d0e47.jpg

bagnet - was very crunchy and cooked just right

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-94_zps8f0416cb.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/aracama/photo-91_zpse0979613.jpg

crispy pata - just like any toehr crispy pata very scrumptious and goes so well with beer.

Overall:

venue: 4 - place is very modern and i love how they had a seperate area outside for people who would go there for drinks and not just to eat.

food: 3.5 - food was just so so but still an ok experience

service: 3.5 - staff were friendly but service did take a while.

price: 3 - prices are a bit steep considering the quality of the food

surprisingly, xin tien di at crowne plaza hotel also serves pretty good dimsum but one of my all time fav has got to be lili's sunday lunch dimsum buffet over at the hyatt hotel.

Boon tong kee, mall of asia

Singapore, a well known country in Asia for having such rich and diverse culinary backgound. In Singapore you will find all sorts of food fairs from the fine dining to the sidewalk vendors and often they become well known not only in Singapore but all over asia. One particular establishment has achieve such recognition, BOON TONG KEE, famous for its Hainanese chicken and creative approaches to traditional chinese favorites.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-124_zps1808a2d8.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-123_zps88964270.jpg

Century egg - very fresh

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-127_zps2eafed14.jpg

cornflaked shrimp - shrimps were pretty big and juicy

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-122_zpsf84b5d1c.jpg

Sweet and sour pork - has a very different taste as to the sweet and sour we are accustomed to.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-125_zps65f4bef1.jpg

Boon tong kee's famous ribs - unfortunately, the one in Singapore actually tasted better.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/boon%20tong%20kee/photo-126_zps441274fb.jpg

Green beans in XO sauce - realy delicious the veg were fresh and crisp.

Overall:

Venue 3.5 - despite being much presentable than its counterpart in Singapore still think the place could have been imaged differently. it was too much of a fast food look.

Food 3.5 - unfortunately, for us we were not able to try their famous hainanese chicken since we arrived almost closing time and they ran out. but nonethe less its other food are still tasty and different.

service: 3. - service took sometime considering we were the only customers left.

price : 3 - for servings that are pretty small and quality of food and service the prices are a bit steep.

THE GOOSE STATION, TAGUIG

In today's culinary world many are aspiring to be famous great chefs. Competition is very feirce that chefs often get side track and turn to parlor tricks and showmanship just to get attention from consumers. One style of cooking that has truly emerge and becoming well known not only abroad but also in the Philippines is the Degustation was of serving food. Degustation is also known as tasting portions. This method of serving is being used by several chefs to entice customers in trying out their variety of food selections. however, many chefs fail in this type of service since they often fail to provide balance amongst their menu. Degustation style of service is not only an art but also science since one has to carefully consider each dishes taste and put them in an order that would be complimenting one dish after the other.

In the metro, one specific chef comes to mind who trully has perfected this style of service. Chef Rob Pengson who's the brainchild of such culinary genius as the goose station.

In this establishment customers can choose from a 3 course meal, 6 course meal and the ultimate 10 course meal.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/TGSExpressMenuAugust2012-1.jpg

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complimentary freshly baked breads - These breads are delicious and must becareful when eating cause you can get carried away and may end up not having enough room before the meal even begins.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/picstitch.jpg

starter snacks - foie gras cone - loved the taste of the foie gras and the filo cone was very soft yet crisp

curried rice crackling - was a bit forgetable, nothing special and didnt even taste like curry

corned beef sandwhich - soft and flavorful

parmesean parfait - it was just alright

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/photo-69.jpg

Home made spaghetti - spaghetti with parmesan cream and gochujang alamang. This pasta dish was unbelievable. the alamang ( baby shrimps) were sauted in sugar which gave it a very sweet flavor and topped with the parmesan cream over the pasta it was like eating a desert pasta.

White asparagus flan, crab jelly, crab salad and avruga caviar - this dish was so rich and creamy that it literaly melts in the mouth. the caviar was very fresh that it didnt have that very fishy after taste.

Trout - pimpkin puree, pepper bisque, morcilla, cauliflower couscous with black garlic. The fish was cooked perfectly leaving it moist and flavorful.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/photo-68.jpg

artichoke - marinated artichoke, green olive aioli with jamon de belota falafei. this dish was just alright.

Beetroot - textures of beetroot with macerated dragon fruit, arugula puree and sour cream. if you love beetroot then youll love this dish. the beetroot was very tasty and it complimented well with the dragon fruit however beetroot is an aquired taste.

Lychee mojito - as a palette cleanser this dish was brilliant.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/photo-59.jpg

24 hour steak - USDA short ribs with worchester jus, haricot verts, fried onions and truffled mash. This steak was cooked in a souvis style where it was vacumed sealed in special plastic and was cooked under a very controlled warm water for 24 hours leaving the meat very very tender and creamy almost like a grade a wagyu beef.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/photo-58.jpg

Squab - 5 spice, radish fondant capers, pistachios, roasted leek, beet chips. The squab was very tender and juicy and the fried capers were great accents to this dish.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/goose%20station/photo-67.jpg

desert - chocolate - candy bar with layers of feuillantine, milk chocolate and earl grey tea. This desert was very rish and creamy kinda gives orgasms to any chocolate lovers.

- peanut butter - bar with carmelized banana and chocolate. love this desert kinda reminds me of a reese peanut butter cups

- Chocolate truffle. melts in the mouth.

* my apologies, since i tried saving space for the pictures i was not able to place the menu in the proper order they were served.

Overall:

Venue: 4.5 - place is small but has a very intimate setting perfect for dates and special meetings

food: 5 - simply wow!!!! every bite is gastronomic.

service: 4.5 - staff are very polite and accommodating

price: 3.5 - a 10 course meal can set you back a hefty P2,600. it is quite steep but with the quality of food and service its fairly appropriate.

Vault, City golf pasig

not much to say but a great place to hang out and grab a couple of drinks while enjoying a few pica picas. place is very comfortable and plays great music.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/vault/photo-46.jpg

Crispy chicken skin - very healthy and full of flavor.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/vault/photo-45.jpg

Chicharon bulaklak - served a bit cold which made it unpleasant

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/vault/photo-47.jpg

spicy squid - goes so well with beer

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/vault/photo-44.jpg

Salpicao - very flavorful however, the meat was very tough to chew.

Overall:

Venue 3.5 : very cozy and has comfortable seats

food 3: the quality of food does not match the ambiance of the place

service 4: serveers were very friendly and accomodating

price 3.5 : prices are reasonable and just right

Mao jia Hunan Cuisine, Ronak Ortigas ave

Have you ever heard of the saying don't judge a book by its cover? well not only does it apply to life or people but it also applies to food.

I came across this little establishment by Ronak center along Ortigas ave. At first glance, the place seemed like a typical chinese restaurant that serves old fashion hunan cuisine and upon ordering you are left with the feeling of boredom with the way the food is served and the colors of the dish. In short, the food was very plain, boring and had no life into them. However, to my surprise as i take a bite in each dish that it actually carries quite a punch in flavor and spice. Caution! if you are afraid of heat or extreme spicy flavor and i suggest you avoid this place. Almost everything on the menu actually is served spicy or very spicy leaving customers with cold sweats and burning sensations on the mouth.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-70.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-71.jpg

so, whats your hotness level? are you hot? or very hot?

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-73.jpg

Mapo tofu - at first glance this dish looked very bland and lifeless but beware!

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-75.jpg

Kung pao chicken - not your typical kung pao chicken with sticky sauce this one had a very runny sauce. among all the dishes this had the most tolerable hotness.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-74.jpg

Mao jia Red braised pork belly

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/mao%20jia%20hunan/photo-72.jpg

five spice beef - the dish seemed very boring and lifeless but with one bite you are awakened by the flvors of the five spice. the meat however, was dry and chewy.

Overall:

Venue: 3 - very plain and simple reminds you of a small corner resto along the streets of hongkong

Food 2.5 - too damn spicy

service: 2.5 - service was quite slow considering it was off peak hours

price 3.5 - prices are reasonable however, one finds it difficult to finish all the food with all the heat in the mouth.

P.F. CHang's, Alabang town center

After trying out the new go cart track in Alabang we found ourselves very hungry from the axhausting driving experience. As we head down Alabang town center we were surprise to see how big the place has change, several new areas have been developed giving new spaces for restaurants to flourish. One particular establishment really caught our attention. P.F. Chang's is world renowned since it is a very hot spot among celebrities in the states. Its a fusion of chinese cuisine mixed with western flavor adding new flare to old chinese dishes. Not only does the establishment serve awesome food but also has a variety of great cocktails to choose from.

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Its very hard to miss this resto with its giant horses and old warrior statues posted all over the resto.

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Shrimp dynamite - one of the restos specialty and faroved by many. it has a very spicy yet tangy taste. a great starter.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-23.jpg

Duck wrap - shredded duck meat served in pita wraps. its very tasty and filing

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-18.jpg

Crispy green beans - the beans were cooked just right leaving it crispy and fresh.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-25.jpg

crispy honey shrimp

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-17.jpg

Northern style ribs - fried ribs served with 5 spice - the ribs were a bit dry and lacked "umph"

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-22.jpg

Hunan style hot fish - this dish was very flavorful and was the favorite amongst all of us

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-21.jpg

Crispy honey chicken

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/pf%20chang/photo-19.jpg

Forgot the name of this dish but it too was very tasty and flavorful

Overall:

Venue: 4 - the place had a very sexy modern vibe to it not normally associated with chinese restaurants.

Food : 4 - food were very flavorful, fresh and was served just the right amount

Service: 3.5 - the place was pretty big that sometimes servers were very hard to call upon

Price : 3. - its abit on the higher side but considering the international status of the restaurant and the quality of food its fairly priced

Chow fun, San juan

Been hearing and reading about this place for sometime now and when i finally had the chance to dine here was very excited. heard how this resto was able to modernize and made eating chinese food "fun". Unfortunately, my experience wasnt as "fun" as i'd hope. I'm not sure if its just the food that ive ordered or there was jsut something about that night but whatever it is i never really felt the excitement and thrills people have been raving about this place.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-70.jpg

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Chinese fondue - consist of balls, radish cakes and someother fried stuff. One can shoose to dip their food on either the cheese curry or spiked sweet chilli. opted for the cheese curry unfortunately, could hardly taste any curry flavor and the fried food with the cheese made an unpleasant combination.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-72.jpg

Oriental duck rolls - tasted like any ordinary spring rolls and hardly tasted any of the duck.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-77.jpg

fried duck rice - probably the best dish of the night.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-76.jpg

chili baby crabs - soft shell crabs deep fried and accompanied by a sweet chili sauce. i found this dish to be offensive to the crab. it wasted such good quality soft shell crab by over dipping it in batter and over frying it. it tasted burnt and discomforting from the old oil used to fry.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-73.jpg

sour caramel pork. - chow funs version of a sweet and sour pork. truthfully i would pick any sweet and sour pork from other restos any day compared to this version it was just flavored so wrong.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-74.jpg

dark chocolate butchi - the filling was just very sweet and again the oil that seemed to have been used was very old and left a very unpleasant after taste.

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m585/ekl1982/chow%20fun/photo-75.jpg

how flakes pastry - for those who dont know, many chinese kids in the philippines grew up eating how flakes, these are coin shaped snacks that we would much on as a kid. they had a very sour grapelike flavor to them. and this dessert featured the howflakes. the flavors are ok just a bit on the salty side and the filo pastry was a bit tough to chew.

Overall:

Venue: 3 - the place was alright a bit neat however, could hardly identify the restaurants concept due to the mixed dislays and concepts representing differentareas of the establishment.

food 2.5 - its just so wrong to use such bad quality oil.

service : 3 - servers often seem lost and alwys missing

price 3 - for the quality of food and service the prices are about average.

Basil, White plains qc.

Don't you just love the feeling of being in a spa? the warm, cozy feeling and the scented aroma of herbs and flowers burning? Well at basil you get that same spa feeling only this time you are there to pamper your stomach. This hidden gem in quazon city is starting to create buzz with cars having to park on a very busy main road due to the number of people dining. As soon as you enter the huge wodden doors you are taken aback by the scent of aromas and you hear this calming sound of water coming from the waterfall at the back of the restaurant.

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Pomelo and shrimp salad - very refreshing

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Fried catfish on a bed of mangoes - fish and mangoes goes so well together.

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very creamy chicken soup - loved the way it was served and its such a great idea to have a candle lit underneath keeping the soup warm at all times

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Phad thai - a very unique style of pad thai since noodles used were glass noddles. it had such great texture and flavor.

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Lemon grass wagyu steak - The steak was very tender and soft however, the lemon grass was unnecessary.

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creamy pork curry - If hot thai curries are your thing then this is for you. the curry sauce is quite spicy but still gives a great flavor.

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Crispy fish with three flavored sauce - fried grouper fish served with your choices of tamarind, garlic and chilli sauce.

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Pork ribs with honey - The meat was very tender and flavorful the sweetness of the honey accents the taste so well.

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Sticky rice with mango - loved the presentation and the texture of the sticky rice was just right not too sticky not to dry. has a very sweet flavor with the caramel milk and mango.

Overall:

venue: 4.5 Loved how the place makes you feel calm, relaxed and hungry. although i do wish they would have put more comfortable chairs.

food: 4.5 - food was very fresh, flavorful and exciting

service: 4. - attendants are always ready and quick to serve.

price: 4. - for the quality of food and service plus the ambiance of the place i think this place is worth every penny.

Borough, Ground level Podium mall

One of the most iconic and famous cities in the world has got to be New York city. Its famous for its breath taking skyscrapers, fashion, culture and food. But did you know that New york city is actually divided into 5 different boroughs? The city is so big that it had to be divided into different districts or what we call boroughs; Bronx, Manhattan, Staten island, Queens and Brooklyn. Each borough has its own diverse culture and scene. The same diversity inspired the start of a well known establishment here in metro manila. Borough is located at the ground level of Podium mall along ortigas and just like New York city, this establishment also doesnt sleep since it is open 24 hrs a day.

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Not only can you get awesome american comfort food but also grab a few drinks while at it.

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Potato chips - Great chips has the right amount of salt and the dip goes so well.

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spicy buffalo wings - very tasty, tender and juicy. sour cream goes well with the spice of the chicken.

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Crispy chicken and truffled mash - Chicken was very crispy although wish they could have used lesser batter but the chicken remained very tasty.

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lasagna - the tomato sauce was very sweet. it had somewhat of a filipino twist.

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pulled pork sandwhich - the pulled pork was very tender and taasty however, it was over powered by the sour flavor of the krout.

All in all, borough is a great place to grab some food and have a few bottles with great company.

Overall:

Venue: 3.5 place can get very crowded at night and can somtimes get too noisy. Has a very dark mysterious feel to it.

Food: 3.5 plain and simple comfort food

service: 3 place could need a few more attendants seeing how it can get jam packed at night.

Price : 4 fairly reasonable for the size and quality of food being served.

For spanish sardines suggest you head down to your local supermarket and get a jar of saragoza spanish sardines, either the oil based or tomato based and just heat it on a pan put it on a hot pandesal and ur good to go. If you want something heavy and fancy, try cooking the sardines with garlic and add the tomato sauce or chili oil then a couple of onions and sun dried tomatoes then mix in some pasta. yummm...

o ya read about that i believe its nolita. kinda has that manhattan feel to it. was it any good?

Hahaha asmO, my apologies. But glad u got to try the fort area. Which resto did u guys go to?