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Category: Makati

  • Review of COCA Café Thai-Chinese Food (SM Jazz Mall, Makati City)

    Review of COCA Café Thai-Chinese Food (SM Jazz Mall, Makati City)

    On Valentine’s Day, before heading out to SM Mall of Asia for our family’s celebration, we visited SM Jazz Mall to check out an investment. At lunch hour, we browsed through the menus of restaurants on the ground floor and loved what we found at COCA Café.

    COCA Café in SM Jazz Mall (across Beauty and Butter) has more than just a few signature dishes that make it worthwhile, offering a great variety of Thai-Chinese food. It’s one of those places where I can just close my eyes, blindly point to an item on the menu, and feel comfortable to eat whatever will end up on the table. We have tried dining at COCA Restaurant in SM Aura, Taguig last year and we liked everything that was served. How would COCA Café’s food compare?

    Review of COCA Café Thai-Chinese Food (SM Jazz Mall, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    COCA Café looked cozy and inviting, with natural sunlight beaming from one side of the room. This café showcases a style that oozes sophistication, elegance, and crisp straight lines that adds character and unique personality to the minimal space. Lots of the open walking areas in between tables bring in a sense of uncluttered ambiance and airiness, which is for me, a visual treat. The designs and furniture are perfect for an intimate date or business meeting.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Customer service was really fast and smooth. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable on the menu. I was quite surprised that our orders were conveniently served in less than 10 minutes during a busy lunch, so we enjoyed a quick cook and good food in a time-sensitive and team-oriented environment.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Appearing as a riot of colors, the Crispy Noodles with Seafood (PhP 250) came with a generous serving of seafood and just the right level of crispiness to the noodles without being too oily. This must be a classic savory Chinese comfort food that’s rich, robust, and flavorsome.

    The Grilled Tuna Belly with Rice (PhP 250) was just average at best. For the most part, it tasted like smoke on the outside. Maybe it was grilled too much that the charring added more to the non-enjoyment of the entree. Since we thought the tuna belly was overcooked, it was also dry and we could not taste any juiciness inside.

    The Sweet and Sour Fish with Rice (PhP 200) was fairly good, although it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. The tender and lightly fried pieces of fish did neither tasted but nor overly sweet. This dish would be more appetizing if they could increase the sourness.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    There were hits and misses but we had a good time after all. I loved the clean dining area most. The service team deserves an award for being nice accommodating. Budget did not waiver, however, for the quality of food we had this time, price for value could be better.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/COCAcafePH” name=”COCA Cafe Philippines” description=”SM Jazz Mall, Nicanor Garcia Corner Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact 02 8286260 or 09173228502″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-03-04″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries – Customized Homemade Character Buns

    Review of Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries – Customized Homemade Character Buns

    My parents celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary last February 21, 2015, Saturday. We hit up south of Metro Manila and had dinner at The Nest in Vivere Hotel in Alabang. It was my second time to visit the place, and again, I was awed by its elegance and romantic vibe. This restaurant at the 31st floor is really top notch! On the way, we picked up our “special gift” for our parents at the agreed meetup location with the vendor—Cash and Carry Mall in Filmore Street, Makati.

    This post is about a review of that “special gift.” As we wanted to surprise our parents, we did not show them what it is until we arrived at the hotel. 😆 Haha. Well…suspense, suspense!

    If you follow me on Instagram, you would have already known about it. Click this link to view the picture. 🙂 Here’s also a quick preview:

    Review of Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries – Customized Homemade Character Buns

    Service: ★★☆☆☆

    My sister discovered Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries through Instagram. PBB Big Winner Myrtle Sarrosa shared a picture of the character siopaos sent to her, and we found them extremely adorable. We viewed more pictures posted by Mrs. K and totally fell in love with the customized buns. They actually reminded us of those character dim sum we enjoyed in Crystal Lotus Restaurant in Disneyland Hotel-Hong Kong.

    Mrs. K can only be contacted via SMS, Viber, and WeChat. Strictly no calls are entertained, as revealed in her Instagram account. My sister used Viber and waited a while for a response. After a week, we finally got a reply on details on how to order, what we can request for, what the cost will be for a box of six different deco buns with different fillings, and where and when to meet up.

    With the delay in response, I thought that Mrs. K should further improve its reachability and quality of customer interactions to increase customer satisfaction in the long term.

    We booked our order three weeks in advance to make sure that nothing conflicts, we secure the deal 100%, and all proper arrangements will be made. The meetup time was supposedly 10AM, but because of some reason provided by Mrs. K, it was moved to 5PM.

    At exactly 5PM, we were so ready to receive the package and waited in the car at the meetup place. After 15 minutes, there was no sign of Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries. I knew that making a call is a no-no, but I decided to dial the number to  follow up. We were told to wait for another five minutes. Five minutes lapsed and no one showed up. I made another phone call and was asked to wait for an extended period of time. Was I being impatient? No, I’d like to think that I was just excited. 😐

    After consecutive four calls, the delivery guy parked his car across us and handed the box over. We had a quick peek to check how the result looked like. Oh, thank God our waiting has paid off!

    Food: ★★★★★

    The deco buns we ordered were not that easy to make since the designs had to be created with multiple colors. Additionally, they’re not characters that are well known outside our home. They’re the dolls we have in bed that we hug in our sleep, namely: Talong (the eggplant), Biri (the strawberry), Cheffe (the chef-bread), Bani (the banana), Pattie (the chicken), and Tabby (the pink puffalump mouse).

    My sister edited their eyes as hearts ♥♥ (to show being in love) and sent the pictures to Mrs. K via Viber. This is how the customized deco buns turned out:

    OMG! Super cute!

    Available fillings to choose from are: Pork Asado, Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki, Choco Nutella, and Custard. Originally, we requested for five different fillings for the five characters and Choco Nutella for the sixth bun. Unfortunately, here’s what we just got instead:

    • Choco Nutella – Biri and Cheffe

    • Pork Asado – Bani and Tabby

    • Beef Teriyaki – Talong and Pattie

    The reason why @mrs.ksdecopastries did not include every kind of filling we ordered was that she chose only the best selling fillings for us. Anyway, we let it pass this time. We can try the other fillings in our next order.

    Mrs. K’s deco buns somehow pulled off as plump, Chinese-style steamed buns that are so tasty that you might forget your name for a minute. No additional sauce needed. After each bite, you will crave for another one immediately, so it’s a good thing that the buns’ sizes are not too small that you won’t be full.

    The buns were soft and pillowy. Each was well crafted, with great flavors and a good time for your mouth. Everything was so delicate and perfect that I seriously couldn’t tell which one I liked the most.

    These deco buns are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snack—anytime! Yes, you would want to have a taste of it. And yes, you should order way ahead of time. Build up some courage and confidence to eat these cuties because you’re going to need them. 🙂

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    With Mrs. K’s deco pastries, the world can get a whole lot sweeter. The buns taste as good as they look and remind us of childhood feelings that are both nostalgic and hungry. Cost of each design ranges from PhP 75 to PhP 90. The buns we had were PhP 75 each. Overall, it’s a fair price to pay. With better service and faster response time, Mrs. K can dominate the “cupcakes” and “macarons” hyped scene and mark the beginning of a new era of buns coming back into style. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://instagram.com/mrs.ksdecopastries/” name=”Mrs. K’s Deco Pastries” description=”For inquiries, SMS/Viber/Wechat: 09153722855″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-02-25″ user_review=”11″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

  • Review of Nikko’s Baking Studio’s Macaron Making Class (Paseo de Roxas, Makati City)

    Review of Nikko’s Baking Studio’s Macaron Making Class (Paseo de Roxas, Makati City)

    When boredom strikes, I find an effort to beat it by checking out lists of new and interesting things to do. Last week, I decided to finally take up a baking class, which has been on my “to-try list” for some time. And suddenly, in absolute perfect timing, I was invited to try out the six-hour macaron making class at Nikko’s Baking Studio (9AM-3PM).

    Bossman Spanky called it “The Bloggers’ Bake-off,” and the challenge was to make Lemon French Macarons. OMG! I love French macarons and so I was happy and excited to learn the recipe and techniques in a hands-on environment led by Chef Nikko Buendia herself. 🙂

    Chef Nikko, me, and the finished products ♥

    Nikko’s Baking Studio is a culinary school, café, and bakery packed into one. Whether you’re looking for a quaint bake shop where you can grab delicious treats for your upcoming corporate event, baby shower, or wedding, or attend baking classes to learn how to make those treats, this lifestyle baking studio along Paseo de Roxas in Urdaneta Village, Makati City (across Mandarin Oriental, One Roxas Triangle, near cor. Buendia) can meet your needs.

    Review of Nikko’s Baking Studio’s Macaron Making Class (Paseo de Roxas, Makati City)

    The Place

    Before the class started last Saturday, Chef Nikko told a rich story of how she started with baking. She showed us around and walked us through a typical day in her thriving business.

    From the quick tour, I observed that the café area of Nikko’s Baking Studio resembles what you would expect from a tasteful bakeshop. With goodies displayed at the coffee bar, artsy paintings on the wall, and wooden furniture both placed inside and outside at the patio, this place has a cozy vibe and the most fitted environment to have a good time.

    Separated from the café only by a wall, the baking studio on the other side contains the four stations equipped with baking machines, racks, utensils, books, and other baking materials. It’s a conducive space for interacting with classmates in a professional teaching kitchen. Participants of up to eight (8) in one session can work side by side with one another, with two people paired in one station.

    The Food

    Nikko’s Baking Studio encompasses snacks and desserts such as cakes, tortes, pies, and cookies. Among all the delicious treats it offers, the Kahlua Mocha Cake or the “Pope’s Cake” must be the most popular now, as it was one of the four cakes that flew with Pope Francis when he left Manila last January 2015. Since then, Nikko’s Baking Studio has been receiving numerous orders of the same cake with slightly different decorations.

    We were lucky to have the chance to taste this famous cake! 🙂 Oozing with decadence of Kahlua (a coffee-flavored rum-based liqueur), the Kahlua Mocha Cake was indeed calories worthy, with layers of moist and fluffy chiffon and sweet filling on the inside. It had just the right level of sweetness to please our palate without any satiation.

    sample: decorated Kahlua Mocha Cake for a customer

    Another indulging treat we tried was this plain-looking Pineapple Streusel Pie, which surely deserves a lot more recognition. Eating a slice truly made all the difference from just looking at it. The pie had a medley of textures including real pineapple chunks with each delightful bite. Yummy!

    Next, we also tasted the four flavors of French macarons offered: vanilla, lemon, peanut butter, and pistachio. Maracons have a reputation of being beautiful and delectable, and these small cookies are also known for being incredibly temperamental and finicky to make.

    The point of this exercise was not only to fill our stomachs and get energized before the class, but it was also to create reference points or benchmarks so we would know what the acceptable quality criteria are for macarons. 🙂 Nikko’s Baking Studio’s macarons were visually impressive and very good with light and chewy texture.

    The Class: ★★★★★

    Adorned in uniform aprons, we gathered around the counter in the middle of the room and read the baking instructions. In order to get a headstart, one of the chefs in the baking studio had managed to measure out the pre-prepared ingredients according to weight. If only all ingredients would be conveniently placed like that magically and with precision at home, I suppose that setup would be any baker’s heaven. 😉

    Chef Nikko first performed all the steps and explained the procedures in detail, while we watch her do it then replicate later. She assured us that macarons are easy and simple to do. Everything indeed looked so manageable, from folding of ingredients to make the plain almond meringue shell, piping the mixtures onto the trays, drying them, and baking the macaron shell in the oven, to mixing the ingredients to make the lemon curd, piping a mound of curd onto each shell, and covering each filled shell with another shell.

    When it was time for us to make the precious dainties, Marge, my partner, and I carefully followed the instructions on the handout and recalled how Chef Nikko did the steps. When unsure, it was best to ask for guidance. The chef helped us in a friendly manner and without hesitation.

    Thanks to her patience and our team effort, we succeeded. Even if some macarons did not come out as perfectly shaped (some cracked, some a little burned, and some discolored), they were still delicious. Every piece exuded a very perky little personality on its own. The most gratifying part was seeing the shells rise in the oven and develop feet. 🙂

    Here are some tips that Chef Nikko gave the class to make a perfect macaron:

    • Weigh all ingredients using a digital scale to ensure consistent results.
    • Sift the ingredients multiple times if necessary. Dry ingredients should have a powdery texture with no lumps.
    • Print a template with drawings of circles spaced at least a half inch apart to keep the macarons in consistent size and shape. Place this printed sheet under the parchment paper before piping the macaron mixture.
    • After piping, bang the baking sheet firmly on the counter to release any trapped air.
    • Dry the piped macarons for 30 minutes before baking. The drying process is complete when the macarons no longer stick to your finger when touched. The macaron surface should appear with a matte finish.
    • When baking, make sure to know your oven and check the best duration to bake and not only depend on what the recipe states.

    Wrap Up

    Attending Chef Nikko’s baking class made me realize that having the first-hand experience is really far from just watching like an audience of a show. Aside from learning how to make the lemon French macarons, I also appreciated the company we shared. The baking studio burst with life and laughter, with funny jokes and comments by the chefs and my classmates (Irene Co of Indulgence by Irene, Camille and Faye of The Soshal Network, and Marge of Coffeehan). There wasn’t a dull moment with these guys!

    I look forward to learning and trying other recipes, take the time to make things the homemade way, and in the process have fun doing it. I hope this post encourages you to give macarons a shot, whether you’re a complete beginner like me or a frustrated baker. 😛

    Schedules of Nikko’s Baking Studio’s baking classes are announced monthly on their Facebook page, so please check back regularly. The following is the list of schedules for this month of Feb 2015. I think both kids and adults can join. Contact Nikko’s Baking Studio to book your spot.

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  • Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM Jazz Mall, Makati) #EatLikeAViking

    Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM Jazz Mall, Makati) #EatLikeAViking

    Last Friday, December 19, 2014, Vikings Luxury Buffet, the Philippines’ largest buffet restaurant, has opened its sixth branch at the new SM Jazz Mall in the same ground as SM Jazz Residences. I’m so honored and humbled to be invited by Ms. Raquel Bartolome, Marketing Manager, to be one of the first to see how this luxury buffet restaurant makes guests “dine around the world” in its multi-cultural culinary feast—with a classic European vibe this time. 🙂

    While most buffet restaurants buzz with energy and people and a few others adopt a classy approach to impress with wine and seafood, Vikings Luxury Buffet never fails to combine the best of both worlds.

    Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM Jazz Mall, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Every Vikings branch I’ve been to is one high-design dining destination where you’re guaranteed to have a memorable meal out. Vikings at SM Jazz Mall is no exception. Stepping in, we realized that this branch features a beautiful, chic and modern theme that emphasizes on Italian and French interior design. Echoing elegance, bright walls and colorful ceilings welcomed our view. In the reception area hang striking chandeliers installed from surprisingly unique material—vibrant balls and confetti.

    The space is much organized with buffet stations in the center, and the dining areas, which are sectioned into both open dining and elevated function rooms, at the sides. With four enclosed rooms available, Vikings Buffet Restaurant at Jazz Mall can be considered as a great venue for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions in a more private setting. Even though the rest of the restaurant is crowded, you will not feel the “buffet rush” when you’re placed in one of the rooms.



    The backdrops in each section made me feel like I’m somewhere in Europe. I should have dressed in a completely more formal attire to complement the ambiance, if only I knew about it prior the visit. 🙂 #PictureReady

    By placing hundreds of marble tables and stylish chairs, the dining floor has a rich textural effect that is much more than the sum of its parts. Liberal applications of tall glass windows give an illusion of a European grand ball dining.

    Furnished with intricate tiles, the design of the washroom area exuded warmth as well. At first sight, it’s one that has a timeless charm that’s relaxed, making visitors feel right at home.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Special mention must be made of the personable service, as most of the staff are friendly and personable. Service was zealous and prompt, with servers frequently coming over to ask if we want to have more drinks or if we’re done with our plates. I’ve noticed that there’s a good ratio of the staff and the crowded diners because there’s always one who’s available to come to serve.

    Like in other Vikings branches, when one in your group is celebrating his/her birthday, be prepared to receive cheers and enjoy a song and dance performance (not the usual “Happy Birthday” song) by the talented staff. 🙂

    Food: ★★★★★

    Vikings’ array of dishes doesn’t disappoint. They’re great overall but individually may not be the finest when compared to restaurants known for their expertise. Still, Vikings chefs pin down the ingredients, master the process and make food that result to substantial satisfaction by their dearest customers.

    In every Vikings visit, I can’t get enough of Japanese food (sushi bar), Chinese food (dimsum fare), some Italian and then desserts. In this encounter, I had tried all meat in the carving station: rosemary stuffed leg of lamb, turkey, tender pork belly, and premium beef. Tastes and textures were superb. The pork belly and lamb melt straight off the bone and in your mouth! Mom raved most about the beef. It was just…wow.

    In the Italian station, the seafood pasta deserves special mention. It’s Italian-style seafood for those who want to perhaps recapture something of their recent holidays in the Mediterranean. The unique pizza flavors really got me. Tasting true to name, the Lamb Shawarma Pizza and the Black Carbonara Pizza are definitely must-tries. Also not to miss, the baked seafood lasagna is a whole new way to enjoy a classic favorite. It’s lasagna sans processed meat but packed with clams, shrimp, etc. I suggest getting some freshly baked bread from the appetizers to pair with this and let it soak up all the creaminess and cheese. It might also be good with the Sliders.

    That’s when you discover that the beauty about eating buffet is not only that you can eat plenty to your heart’s desire and try something new, but also the sheer freedom you have to test out and pair food from one section to another and know which flavors will work harmoniously. In Vikings Luxury Buffet, it’s about dining without restrictions and without the prying eyes of others in the same venue.

    Moving on to the desserts table, all fruits, cakes and pastries were a delight. Options for your sweet tooth are extensive, so you might have to take a quick look around and plan first which to attack. 😉 I personally like the chocolate cake, ice cream, halo-halo and pudding shots.

    For drinks, we enjoyed Sago’t Gulaman and Honeydew Lemon Mint Tea the most. If you’re not a fan of fruit juices, you can choose to go with iced tea, soda, coffee, sake (Monday to Wednesday only) or draft beer. Wine is available but with added cost.

    Appetizers

    Japanese

    Chinese

    Meat, Pasta, Seafood, etc.

    Desserts

    Drinks

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Price may be more expensive than many restaurants, but considering that you are paying a premium for its grandiose view, stylish decor and unforgettable dining experience, dining at Vikings SM Jazz Mall is worth it. Book early to assure a table. 🙂

    Prices, subject to 5% service charge, are as follows: Weekday lunch Weekday dinner/ weekend and holiday lunch and dinner
    Kids below 3 ft Free Free
    Kids between 3ft and 4ft PhP 188+ PhP 288+
    Kids between 4ft and 6ft PhP 388+ PhP 588+
    Adults PhP 688+ PhP 888+
    75 years old and above 50% special discount 50% special discount

    Happy holidays!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/vikingsjazzmall” name=”Vikings Luxury Buffet” description=”SM Jazz Mall, Metropolitan Avenue Corner Nicanor Garcia Street, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 891-3888, 891-4888, 0917-827-1888, 0919-999-7888 or email at vikings.jazz@yahoo.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-12-27″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating Hours:
    Lunch – 11am to 2:30pm
    Dinner – 5:30pm to 10pm

  • Review of Wild Ginger (Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati)

    Review of Wild Ginger (Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati)

    My best friend from high school suggested a meetup as we haven’t seen each other for a very long time. After changing venues about three times, we finally settled to have our lunch date at the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati City. The question remained: where to eat? Power Plant Mall houses a lot of exquisite restaurants at the lower ground level, yet it took me only a few minutes to choose Wild Ginger. Deciding factors were the type of cuisine and the unique presence of the restaurant in the city. 🙂

    As far as I’ve observed, Wild Ginger has only one branch, and I wonder why it has not spread out to more all these years when it serves really diverse Southeast Asian food that’s good both to the eyes and the palate. I thought this restaurant is a must-try. It aims to take customers on a taste trip through lands as mystic as India, as exotic as Thailand, and as familiar as the Philippines.

    Review of Wild Ginger (Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    With minimal decor, the interior was nothing fancy. If there’s anything worth to highlight, it’s the light-colored theme that gives a cool and relaxing vibe. A major plus has to be the cleanliness of the restaurant. Outdoor seating is also available and is good for those who enjoy watching mall-goers walk by.

    Compared to the other restaurants on the same floor, there wasn’t a huge crowd of diners at the time we came. This made me appreciate the quietness more, since we had to talk a lot to catch up on updates in life while eating.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Staffs were humble and helpful throughout our dining experience. There wasn’t any rushing involved even if we stayed for about two hours in Wild Ginger. Our glasses were quickly refilled with water and requests were granted promptly. The bill also came out in an appropriate time frame as asked.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Nasi Goreng (PhP 235) was a recommended dish by the restaurant manager. It’s a complete meal with Indonesian fried rice, egg and chicken satay skewers. Having tried several versions of Nasi Goreng from other restaurants, I found that this one is a good contender. The missing ingredient I was looking forward to taste was coconut in the rice and maybe sambal chili. 😛

    With the Curry Laksa Seafood (PhP 265), all I needed actually was a soup spoon to scoop up all the goodness in the bowl. The curry soup was made with coconut curry that’s thick, creamy and mildly spicy that didn’t upset the stomach. It had an ample portion of egg noodles mixed with tofu, vegetables, juicy prawns, fish balls, other seafood and spices. The balance of flavors was spot-on. I particularly liked the densely rich flavor of laksa with a slightly gritty texture. Fragrance was very stimulating, indeed.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    This probably isn’t the kind of place I’d want to eat at on a regular basis, but the menu itself is good enough to bring me in. Wild Ginger features Southeast Asian food that can be playful and nicely presented. Part of the lure is the good mixture of influences—aboriginal, colonial, and modern international. Counting on the quality and authenticity of the food tastes, I’m quite sold that the price for value is fair.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.wildginger.com.ph” name=”Wild Ginger (The Southeast Asian Table)” description=”Lower Ground Floor, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 8981859″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-11-28″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Il Ponticello (Salcedo Village, Makati City)

    Review of Il Ponticello (Salcedo Village, Makati City)

    Upon entrance, I was welcomed by Steve Magdaraog, the managing partner of Il Ponticello. He offered me drinks and introduced me to his wife, Imy, and the executive chef, Panky Lopez whom I’m very pleased to meet. Then he told me a quick background about the restaurant. Since 1998, Il Ponticello (known to the locals here as “Ponti” for short) has been popularized as a dining and night out spot in Salcedo Village, Makati serving authentic Italian cuisine. Late last year, the restaurant business has been revived with Steve’s group taking over.

    Well, it’s good to know that Ponti has kept its venue at the heart of the Makati business district where employees, yuppies, expats, students and travelers all come along after a busy and tiring day to take their load off and stuff themselves with great food and beverages.

    I’m privileged to be invited here to taste the best of its revamped “modernized Italian” menu and experience its cool ambiance with the country’s most awesome bloggers I know, thanks to Boss Spanky. 🙂

    Review of Il Ponticello (Salcedo Village, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The design of the room was done pretty neatly, with modern touches everywhere. Purple is my favorite color so the theme of the place got me fired up easily. Oh, the vibe can be contagious.

    There’s a long comfy couch with pillows at one side, while the rest of the dining floor is filled with sturdy dining furniture.

    Behind thick curtains, a private dining area (maybe a function hall for special events) is still ongoing construction, but we had a sneak peek and found that it also looked sleek and glamorous. In that regard, Il Ponticello gave the impression of a classy bar and restaurant, a good interpretation of a modern Italian joint.

    Food: ★★★★★

    We had a superb meal which took about four hours, starting from the antipasti, followed by wonderful selections and variations of pasta, pizza, mains and desserts. So yes, it was a blast. 😀

    Antipasti

    We first feasted on the Portobello Alla Griglia (PhP 490) which essentially was a dish that screamed CHEESE and MUSHROOMS. There are appetizers and there are great appetizers. Obviously this one lands as the latter. Seeing how good it is (with grilled portobello, mozzarella di bufala, smoked ricotta, poached cherry tomatoes, and evoo) won’t make you dare skip.

    A plate of mozarella bites pan fried in butter and balsamic reduction, the Mozzarella in Carrozza (PhP 290) (in English, “mozzarella in carriage”) was loaded with gooey cheese delight inside. Lightly fried, it tasted buttery and not too starchy.

    Pasta

    The Lasagna Carbonara (PhP 420) is a combination of two favorites in one. A staple on Il Ponticello’s pasta menu, this creamy delight was made with homemade lasagna, mozzarella cream, pancetta tesa strips and grana padano. For a rather wild and creative change, this pasta was topped with egg yolk that can be popped and mixed. Result was a more flavorful lasagna carbonara that’s almost out-of-the-world delicious.

    Another legendary pasta dish from Il Ponticello was the Crema di Tartufo (PhP 450), which featured a serious love affair of truffle and mushrooms, pappardelle, cream, truffle paste, truffle oil and porcini mushrooms. The powerful aroma of truffle and mushrooms had me licking my lips and the sight of the rich pasta had me drooling. 😯 I’d remember Crema de Tartufo as one of my favorites! It was perfect.

    The tomato-based Gnocchi Amatriciana (PhP 390) tasted simple and straightforward. It consisted of homemade potato and semolina gnocchi, thick cut panceta and grana padano cheese. The cute bite-sized pillows of gnocchi were soft and each had a delicate kick of spice. You also can’t go wrong with this on your table.

    Pizza

    Can you believe that Rotolo (PhP 480) falls under the category of “pizza”? I couldn’t. I’ve always known pizza as an oven-baked flat bread that usually goes into the shape of a circle, rectangle or even square and oval in some pizzerias or pizza restaurants. So I was struck upon learning that there exists a rolled pizza stuffed with mortadella, ricotta cheese, tomato cream sauce topped with dollops of pesto and it’s called Rotolo. 😛 Yeah, you may call me ignorant for that matter! But hey, it’s great to learn something new—and sharing it, right? I’m in love with the pesto on top. ♥

    If you are a fan of ham and cheese, the Pizza Valdostana (PhP 520) is the pizza that must be kept at the table for the entirety of your meal. It’s composed of parma ham, gorgonzola cream, mozarella and baby aragula. This pizza was lovely, with the ham so thick and the cheese not stingy. High fives all around.

    Deliciously delicate misto of tartufo and fresh mushrooms, mushroom cream sauce, mozzarella cheese and truffle oil—mix everything and you get the Pizza Tartufo (PhP 520). The truffle oil in Tartufo smelled divine and played a major role in whetting my appetite. Oh, if I could, I would have unhinged my jaw like a snake to take more slices of this pizza all at once (but we know I can’t do that, haha).

    Main

    The Chilean Seabass in Bottiglia (PhP 1400) was served with pan roasted Chilean seabass, prawn broth, mussels, clams, Napoletana Piccante sausage, finished and served in a mason jar. With crispy skin, the seabass had a little fishy taste but I appreciated that the texture was firm, silky and overall pleasant. The fish’s flesh was moist and as it was swimming in the sauce, the flavor bursts through in each bite.

    in the jar…

    Ponti’s Presto was for me one of the most visually stimulating dish probably because of my love for prawns (with shells already cracked open ready for eating). 😛 Together in one plate, the grilled prawns, cherry tomatoes, fried basil, garlic confit and trofie pesto worked nicely. The grilled prawns were plump, butterflied and cooked to perfection.

    The porchetta appeared to me as “bread” from afar. Funny I only realized it’s not the moment it’s chopped before our eyes. The Signature Porchetta alla Romana (PhP 390 for solo – 2 Thick Slices Porchetta Carving, Pilaf Rice, Pommery Mustard Sauce; PhP 1200 for whole – 1 Kg Whole Roast Carving and Pommery Mustard Sauce) is slow-roasted pork belly seasoned with fennel and garlic served with pommery mustard sauce.

    If you’re planning to dine in at Il Ponticello, it’s absolutely mandatory that you try this traditional Italian dish. The porchetta was so tender and moist, with skin beautifully crispy. It was so yummy that I didn’t mind eating pork this time. 🙂

    Last (but not the least) we sampled on the mains category was the Flat Iron Steak (PhP 590)—USDA choice flat iron steak with garlic mashed potatoes and summer salad. Everyone tried this, and everyone approved! The beef was super tender and packed with flavor. I found myself nodding and smiling. I’m sure my mom would like this at lot, too.

    Desserts

    No matter how full we were, we still we gotta have some room for desserts. First on the lineup was what dreams are made of: Tiramisu (PhP 290)—savoiardi, zabaglione, amaretto, ristretto and cocoa powder. Decadent, fluffy, creamy and chocolate-y, this tiramisu was the best I had in this lifetime. It had just the right amount of sweet, so it’s easy to be tempted to stab a fork and eat the cake down to the last bite. The cake was accompanied by a Nutellino, which basically consisted of nutella and vodka. Talk about power shots. Wow! 😀

    The Caramello di Semolina (PhP 290), made with white bread, semolina, cream, butter, eggs, caramel and ice cream, was also good but it wasn’t to my particular liking.

    One thing that can’t be missed at Il Ponticello is their Cannoli (PhP 290). This mini taco-looking pastry was made with crispy cinnamon pastry shell stuffed with ricotta cream, dark chocolate morsels, nuts, powdered sugar. I liked that it produced a good crunch sound effect and the filling had a gentle flavor.

    Wiggling sexy, the Cheesecake Panna Cotta (PhP 290) offered an elegant tang with cheesecake crumble and caramel sauce. Its crumbly smoothness can’t be beaten. The taste was just clean and simple, one that won’t push you deliriously over the edge of a food coma.

    More jiggly and creamier than the cheesecake panna cotta, the Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel served with chocolate soil, caramel cream and sea salt was melt-in-your-mouth heaven. It contained 72% dark chocolate and with the salty sweet combo, this had a life span of not more than a minute on our table. So good!

    We’re already zombies (death by the chocolate goodness) but the Budino Al Cioccolato (PhP 390) was calling out and begging to be eaten, so it was devoured in silence. We’ve just run out for words. A touch warm, the chocolate lava pudding was moist and the richness was intensified. It’s presented with vanilla cream, amarena cherries and caramel sauce and it’s hardly possible to resist.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Sure, Il Ponticello is generally expensive, but food prices are reasonable for the quality and ingenuity. Spending a little more for food that you can thoroughly enjoy is okay once in a while. If you can’t handle paying out alone, having a complete and satisfying meal here will be manageable if you go with a bigger group and order plenty of food to share so you can also share the bill. 🙂

    Note: The grand opening will be on this Friday, October 24, 2014, so watch out!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/ilponticellomakati” name=”Il Ponticello” description=”2/F Antel Corporate Center, 121 Valero Street, Near V.A. Rufino Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 5539971, 9949512 or +63 9497608731″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-10-22″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

    Operating hours:
    Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30AM – 2:00PM
    Dinner: Monday – Thursday 6:00pm-12:00AM and Friday and Saturday 6:00pm-2:00AM

    Dress Code:
    Smart Casual (No slippers and shorts)

  • Review of Saboten Japanese Cutlet (Glorietta 5, Makati City)

    Review of Saboten Japanese Cutlet (Glorietta 5, Makati City)

    Saboten by Raintree Restaurants is a Japanese restaurant which started in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1966, specializing in KATSU—a breaded, deep-fried meat patty. A number of friends had been telling me how incredibly good their katsu is. Last Saturday, I have finally made my way to Saboten Philippines in Glorietta 5 for a meal, with only the best recommendations on its menu. So, do they have the most amazing katsu cut ever? I’ll just say that Yabu and Kimukatsu (two katsu restaurants I’ve tried) have some serious competition over here. 😛

    Review of Saboten Japanese Cutlet (Glorietta 5, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Saboten Japanese Cutlet offered a comfortable and tranquil environment. The ambiance was cozy with bright lighting portrayed in the pictures below. As there are separators in between tables, you can be rest assured with some privacy. That said, this is a good restaurant that’s probably suitable for business meals even. The decorations were decent, neither exaggerated nor luxurious. I recommend booking a table in advance to avoid long queues during peak dining hours.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was generally competent and friendly. The staffs bowed the Japanese way to show respect every time they left our table to go after our requests. Calling for their attention was easy as they were scattered around the L-shaped dining room. They served food quickly (even for the refills of miso soup, rice, etc.) and acted professionally. I certainly have nothing to complain about. 😀

    Food: ★★★★☆

    When presented with several hot items on the menu, the best way to decide what to order is to ask the manager himself. As obedient customers, we gladly followed his recommendations. 😀

    We had the Mille-Feuille Katsu with grated radish and ponzu sauce (PhP 1130), served on a tray with multiple dishes arranged in a highly delectable and aesthetic manner. As typical katsu sets tend to be, it came with unlimited refills of miso soup, rice and shredded cabbage. The “stars” of the plate must be the Mille-Feuille (130g), two Deep-fried Shrimps, Loin Cutlet (65g) and two Rolled Cutlets (Choice of Asparagus, Cheese and Plum).

    The fun challenge was keeping everything balanced. In lieu of the refreshing shredded cabbage as a side bite, the heaviness of the meat could be cut through. Outside, crumbs of the cutlets were golden brown in color, crispy with enough saltiness.

    Looking ZOMG-awesome, the Mille-Feuille (translated to “a thousand leaves” in English) was twice more delicious than the standard loin cutlet variety. It’s Saboten Japanese Cutlet’s original recipe of tender juicy and very thinly sliced layers of pork.

    For the rolled cutlets, we chose the cheese and asparagus flavors and appreciated them more as we dipped the pieces into the DIY sauce (ponzu sauce with toasted sesame seeds mashed via a pestle). The sauce did a neat job in complementing the taste of the cutlets.

    The deep-fried shrimps (or shall I say, tempura) were nothing extraordinary, but it was worth mentioning that the shrimps used were really fresh. Served with an overly rich tartar sauce, it was one Japanese comfort food done well!

    My favorite non-pork item had to be the Tuna Katsu Set (PhP 425)—Saboten’s original cutlet with Sashimi Grade Maguro. It was truly wonderful with a crispy coating and moist center. Deep-frying time has been adjusted to emphasize the taste of maguro. It’s best enjoyed with Saboten’s special wasabi soy sauce.

    As a thickly structured drink, the Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit (PhP 195) was quite energy-boosting. I liked that the flavor wasn’t at all artificial and the sweetness did not go overboard. Rather, it was like exploding with natural tropical flavors of ripe mango plus a hint of passion fruit.

    With a very delicate and subdued flavor, the Matcha Lychee Almond Cake (PhP 210) has been a good way for me to soothe my tongue after a flavorful, heavy meal. This cake was a creamy one but I’m sad to report that I could barely taste the almond and lychee out of it. Good points? It was moist, airy and not overly sweet.

    On the other hand, the Sesame Sansrival (PhP 210) was a bit disappointing. Until my last bite, the sesame taste didn’t come out prominent against the sansrival (buttercream, meringue and chopped cashews). The consistency was okay but I just preferred that it turn down a bit on the nuttiness and bring the sesame aroma more to the next level.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    It takes a great restaurant and a talented team in the kitchen to stay relevant and popular over four decades to date, and that’s exactly what Saboten Japanese Cutlet has done. This is an ideal spot for quenching katsu and comfort Japanese food cravings, for either solo dining or small groups. You won’t realize what you’re missing until you stumble upon it.

    Given that food quality is high and portion of set meals is good to share with 2-3 people, I guess eating in this restaurant is not such a bad deal for the price. I give a different/separate rating for the desserts though. At least based on the cakes we tried, 2/5 stars is justified by the small slice and my unmet expectations.

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  • Review of Mr. Jones (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Review of Mr. Jones (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Mr. Jones by Raintree Restaurants at Greenbelt 5 is moving to Bonifacio High Street in BGC soon. We came by last Saturday to admire its cooking and ambiance—three days before “D-day” or their move-out day. Mr. Jones is an up-market and contemporary restaurant serving a full array of authentic American cuisine. The menu features real blue plates, gourmet diner pies, burgers, old-fashioned milkshakes n’ egg creams, fountain drinks, boutique gourmet beer and all-day breakfast among others.

    Review of Mr. Jones (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Nicely decorated, Mr. Jones in Greenbelt 5 was a lovely rectangular room and not cramped. Theme was pleasing to the eye as it consisted of pastels accented with bold primary colors. Details on furniture were quite adequate and consistent. I liked it how natural bright lighting strikes all over the room, and I hope that this remains the same in their new branch in Bonifacio Global City. There’s also an al-fresco area that had a warm and relaxing ambiance. Being situated outside the mall and nearer the greenery was a big plus. It was absolutely charming! 🙂

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Service was professional, non-intrusive and accommodating majority of the time we were there. Orders came quickly and there was no pressure to leave right away once we had finished the meal.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Mr. Jones’ Crab Carbonara Linguine (PhP 450) tasted fine and fresh but just lacked excitement. Made with crab meat, black caviar, bacon, egg yolk, linguine, fresh lemon and dill, the pasta didn’t look much when it arrived. I was saddened because it did not have that strong, luscious flavor of crab in white sauce I had anticipated. I also wished that the garnish and toppings were more abundant and more vibrant. Overall, this dish deserved a mediocre salute. Next, please.

    We chose Rosemary Grilled Chicken and Turkey Melt (PhP 450) from the list of superstar sandwiches because its description on the menu was long hence it looked interesting: emmental and gruyere cheese, pesto, mixed greens, tomatoes and onions, topped with sweet cranberry compote on toasted rye served with fries, coleslaw and a pickle. After 10 minutes, my curiosity was quelled finally upon my first bite. It was a good-quality sandwich. Everything was put together well and resulted to something satisfying. The sides couldn’t go unnoticed. They were as good as sides complementing a sandwich could get.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    The food was okay but not PhP 900++ okay. I expected a lot more. With the high prices, they should have inspired a deeper pang of hunger or a craving. That said, a reduction in prices would be nice and probably would reflect the taste of food better. At least this was what I thought out of the two items we ordered. I could pass a different judgment when we try more of Mr. Jones’ food next time. 😛

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/raintreemrjones” name=”Mr. Jones ” description=”Greenbelt 5, Makati (moving to Bonifacio High Street)” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-10-01″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]