Rochkirstin | com

Category: Makati

  • Review of Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar (Makati City)

    Review of Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar (Makati City)

    Do you know which restaurant has got the best burrito in Manila? Well, according to spot.ph, the champion in this category is no other than Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar in Makati. Beat that? There’s only one way to find out—and it’s when you grab a bite of their “finest Mex-Tex” food yourself!

    Ines Cabarrus (in photo with me below) and Elian Habayeb have ventured in the Philippines to serve authentic flavors of Mexico and American Southwest cuisines combined. The menu is so joyously predictable. To boost their competitive edge against Mexican food establishments that are sprouting over the city, Chihuahua plays with much creativity and innovation.

    With bigger and newer plans still up and coming to improve their menu, Chihuahua teams up with world leader Monin, the French company that has been producing gourmet flavors for over 100 years. This February 2014, they will be releasing three new margarita variations: strawberry, red berry and passion fruit. For the non-alcoholics, there are new flavors of quesadilla, new variations of nachos and smaller size of burritos to intrigue patrons like me. Let’s see how Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar’s food fared in my taste test.

    Review of Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar (Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    This branch of Chihuahua across A-venue Mall has two floors and can accommodate up to over 50 people. This place is screaming RED! Making the ambiance pretty upbeat, this predominant color in the interior stimulates the energetic vibe.

    Acoustic music pumping through the speakers helped to set the mood for the night. Incidentally, we came on a Wednesday night and Chihuahua has a live acoustic singer/guitarist every Wednesday. Tip: Say the password “acoustic” to the cashier and get a free Chihuarita shot to help you sing along.

    Disco lights pulse and dance around the walls and ceiling. Props such as game boards, cowboy hats, balero cups and other toys are placed at the sides. These can be borrowed for picture-taking.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The owners and staff are very accommodating and friendly, so ordering from a wide variety of food on their menu board on the wall behind the counter can be done easily. The ordering process starts upon selection of meats or veggies, then deciding whether you want them in a soft taco, burrito, salad or burrito bowl. Third step is either you witness how preparation of food is done or wait at your table. Mostly everything else once the food is served must be self-service.

    Different types of condiments (pickled Jalapeno peppers, fresh guacamole and Pico de Gallo) are available at a counter, and several types of homemade sauces are accessible from their “hot sauce library.”

    Food: ★★★★☆

    First and foremost, we had the classic favorites: three types of nachos, namely Chips & Queso “Special” (PHp 195), Steak Nachos (PHp 385) and Chicken Nachos (PHp 345) which all had corn, salsa, grilled pepper and onions. The Chips & Queso “Special” was made with queso and some chili con carne; the Steak Nachos, with tender, char-grilled, perfectly marinated American beef; and the Chicken Nachos, with lean marinated breast. All were really tasty and the matching condiments were as well rich and intense.

    After having a bit of everything, it was hard to say which I preferred the most. The nachos were crisp and crunchy. The toppings worked harmoniously with the delicious corn flavor.

    It seemed almost like a rare deal when the dish was served to us warm. I loved that melted cheese was still runny-rich and viscous and not a state where it had already cooled and thickened. What I also liked was the mix of quality ingredients in a bowl.

    Next were two types of burritos, the “pride and joy of Chihuahua.” The Mini-Me Burritos (PHp 225) are lighter, less packed but just-as-good-yet-smaller portion of the original 12-inch sized award-winning burrito.

    The Two-bean Burrito (PHp 135), an entry-level burrito worthy of the coveted Chihuahua brand, can suit vegetarians’ taste best. It is made with smoky refried beans, Mexican rice, black beans, creamy queso, and chipotle salsa, wrapped in the 10-inch soft flour tortilla.

    Thirdly, we had two different viands of brilliant quesadillas: the Veggie Quesadilla (PHp 385) and the Chicken Spinach Quesadilla (PHp 495). These quesadillas look like a large Mexican pizza made with two toasted flour tortillas held together by three kinds of cheese. Both were served with pico de gallo, chipotle salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

    I tried a slice of each but I could not just finish the whole thing. There was a lot going on upon the first bite. I thought the Veggie Quesadilla was more delicious, since the corn kernels, grilled peppers, onions and zucchini had a good contrast.

    On the other hand, the overall taste of Chicken Quesadilla was not as appealing to my taste buds, but I liked it, too! This quesadilla was made with grilled marinated chicken breast and butter-sautéed spinach with garlic, onion and cilantro.

    Coming soon are the Steak Quesadilla (PHp 545) with grilled USDA beef, onions and peppers; the Carnitas Quesadilla (PHp 485) with slow-cooked pork, red onions, and cilantro; and the Picadillo Quesadilla (PHp 465) with spicy ground beef and red onions.

    For a good Mexican dessert, we closed the deal with Chihuahua’s Banana Nutella Quesadilla (small PHp 195, large PHp 345), which had a firm but moist patty. Each bite was nice, juicy and nutella-flavored, thanks to the following ingredients: Nutella®, Jiffy’s Peanut Butter® and then topped with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, shaved almonds and cajeta (a Mexican caramel similar to dulce de leche). The fresh bananas were responsible for the hint of sweetness. Yum! 😛

    We washed all the food down with Strawberry Frozen Margarita which was made with real tequila.  It was nicely tart but wasn’t too fruity or too sweet for me. As a “powerful cocktail drink,” this margarita was a little less syrupy than most versions I’ve tried in other bars. The acidity was adequate and the drink didn’t come with an unpleasant aftertaste.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar is a Mexican food lover’s paradise. Their offerings are so much a marriage of Mexican and Texan food and flavors. I was mostly impressed with the quality and presentation of the food but less impressed with the prices which I thought should be tagged a little lower. Of course in Manila, you can get nachos, burritos, quesadillas and drinks for half the cost. However, what you can’t get elsewhere is the FUN!

    In Chihuahua, one can take advantage of the festive ambiance and enjoy the night away with free salsa dancing lessons every Saturday night at 10:30PM. Yup, this place transforms instantly from a rather quiet dining area to a home of the best salsa dancers residing in the metro. The good news? Everyone is invited and the party lasts until 5AM. 😀 So if you feel like chilling and letting loose, schedule a trip to Chihuahua this Saturday right now. I bet you’ll have the most fun, hands down.

    If you’re not okay with Saturday, you can still have an equally fun ride at Chihuahua’s every Friday when they feature music more on the Reggaeton tip. You’d know it’s real when you see Domicans, Cubans, Costa Ricans and Panamanians in the crowd. The Corona-sponsored weekly’s Urban-Latin club music comes courtesy of Jonathan Picayo  and some of the best DJs the city has to offer.

    I’m not exactly running back for another set of Mex-Tex food right away, but if a burrito craving strikes me back again, I’ll know where to go. And by now, I think you also do. 🙂

    Thanks, Aldous, for the invite! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/chihuahuamexicangrill” name=”Chihuahua Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar” description=”7838 Makati Avenue (across A-Venue), Makati” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact +63916 3737308 or email chihuahuamexgrill@gmail.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-02-14″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating Hours: 11am until 3am (Mon-Thurs), 5am (Fri-Sat), and 12am (Sun)

    Other branch:
    G/F Greenbelt 2 (Esperanza street-side across from The Residences) | 625-0106
    Operating Hours: 11am – 11pm daily

  • Review of Sentro 1771 Restaurant (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Review of Sentro 1771 Restaurant (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Sentro 1771 gave away gift certificates last time (if you have not read my review of Sentro – Serendra branch, click here) and it was time to make good use of them last Saturday. I was supposed to have a date with wushu friends, but something happened so it did not push through. Thank goodness, my family was available then to spend time with me over dinner. Their prize? A treat they deserve at Sentro Greenbelt 3.

    Review of Sentro 1771 (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    At a fine-dining destination like Sentro 1771, there’s no denying that ambiance leaves a lasting impact. Much like its branch at Serendra BGC, the central area of the back of the restaurant is occupied by this long and attractive counter table where specialties of the house are displayed. Other features mostly alike are the color and theme. Modern and elegant—something you would imagine seeing in a city. I am absolutely in love with this place. 😀

    The place was busy and packed both at the al freco area and inside. The good thing is that it’s spacious so Sentro 1771 makes a great brunch spot for groups and families. We were lucky a table was emptied when we arrived and we were seated promptly right after it was cleaned.

    Service: ★★★★★

    I like it every time the attending waiter/waitress personally introduces his/her name. It shows more hospitality from their end. This is how Sentro’s staff operates as they treat you like guests to their own home with easy-going chill and relax style rather than business. Menu was well provided and water was served quickly.  While taking our orders, the attendant took extra attention in checking if we wanted our mains to be served together or after the starters. I truly appreciate the attentiveness to minute details and that spelled all the difference in a good dining experience.

    Food: ★★★★★

    We started with the Crispy Pork Kilawin (PHp 280), a dish that I suppose many meat lovers would love. The kilawin flavor was beautifully infused and the richness of that simple key ingredient (vinegar) was given justice in this plate. The Crispy Pork Kilawin was slathered with thinly sliced leeks, carrots and onions. You may be wondering if I ate it at all. Answer is yes, just a tiny bit, to make it to the “report card.” Else I would not be able to give a nice description, right? :mrgreen:

    Next, we had the Seafood Bagoong Rice (PHp 530), which still tops as my favorite here at Sentro. If there’s any one and only dish you have to order, it is this. And check out that plating…piles after piles of grilled squid, garlic shrimps and hito flakes on bagoong rice. This dish is a definite stunner!

    Moving on to vegetarian finds, the Vegetarian Red Rice (PHp 180) was healthy and refreshing. It consisted of red organic rice stir-fried with garlic, carrots, cabbage, celery, onions and chickpeas. The texture of the grains was perfect and the mixed taste of everything was divine. This is the item on the menu that our eyes could not ignore, and I’m happy to say we’ve made the right choice.

    Accompanying the red rice was the Tofu Steak Tocho (PHp 90). Get these two and you can call it a nice, fulfilling meal. With a hint of vinegar and sesame oil, this fried tofu entree was topped with sweet-sour sauce made of tausi, fermented tofu, onions and tomatoes. It was full of beany flavor. Too bad Sentro does not have soy milk to wash it down with. They would have made a great combination.

    Following Mom’s request, we had the Sauteed Lengua with Mushrooms Salpicao (PHp 550). As you may recall, she typically wants those food that she cannot cook herself. The tender-to-the-bite tongue was lightly fried in olive oil and topped with seasoned mushrooms. The sauce was sweet and thick; I’m thinking it was made with soy sauce, brown sugar and oyster sauce. By itself, the sauce can already be eaten with rice without the meat. But that’s just me. My mom liked it very much so I guess you can trust her palate on that.

    Another “carnivorous” dish was the Lamb Caldereta (PHp 480)—boneless lamb stewed with carrots, bell peppers, tomato sauce and spices. For this, we were given the options “mild” and “spicy,” and we chose the former because my sister does not like eating spicy food. The sauce tasted like the typical caldereta sauce cooked in most Filipino homes. The lamb had this bold and strong intensity that was beyond what words could possibly describe. I didn’t like the after-taste and the smell. Hmmmm 🙁

    Finally, we had the Catfish Adobo Flakes (PHp 360), accented with native garlic and yellow ginger. It’s a nice pica-pica dish that goes well with white rice. The hito flakes were crispy and they’re the same catfish adobo flakes that were used as toppings on the Seafood Bagoong Rice.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    If you’re into classy Filipino restaurants, you have to come here at least once. This place is freakin’ gourmet! All-in-all, it was a good night for us; although on the spendy side, food, service and ambiance were worth the trip. Your mouth would water looking at food other customers have on their tables.

    I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Sentro 1771 Restaurant is the perfect place to ring in the New Year or celebrate anything. Just make that reservation ahead and be ready for an amazing meal. 🙂

    This is located beside Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.)

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/sentro1771″ name=”Sentro 1771″ description=”2/F Greenbelt 3, Esperanza St Legazpi Village, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 757-3941″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-12-26″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other Branch
    Serendra, Bonifacio Global City | (02) 856-0581 –> read review here

  • Review of Kenji Tei Ramen House (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Review of Kenji Tei Ramen House (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Last week, my college friends and I planned to meet in the weekend for a quick catch-up. We’re all running busy lives now and it has been like a year since we gathered together. Finding a restaurant to dine in still posed as a challenge, but using the Zomato app helped me to choose one that we have not tried before and that’s pretty accessible for us all. Thus the choice: Kenji Tei Ramen House in Greenbelt 5, Makati City.

    Kenji Tei Ramen House is a Japanese restaurant which aspires to broaden the Filipinos’ palate through a space where true Japanese flavors are brought in. I haven’t heard a lot about this establishment; there’s not much reviews posted online about its food quality, customer service and the like. So I came with an open mind, filled with enthusiasm and without expectations, just ready to be served with a bowl of Japanese ramen. 😉

    Review of Kenji Tei Ramen House (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    With its high class and modern ambiance, Kenji Tei Ramen House did a good sporting chance at taking a top spot for lunch-outs. It’s got the simple wood styling and straight lines of typical Japanese bistros, minus the loud music and “the attitude (those staff who usually shout the Japanese greetings).” I find it nice to be able to sit in a well-lit space without yelling and trying too hard to hear my dining companions. I especially liked the design of the ceiling matching with the counter. Overall, I’d say the place is refined, clean and well…date-worthy.

    Service: ★★★★★

    When I arrived, the waitstaff immediately handed me the menu and she was calm enough to spend a bit of time talking about ramen suggestions, noting that those with meat are out of my options. Serving time was quite quick. Another remarkable thing was that the waiters refilled our glasses with the house barley tea  (mogi cha).

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Kenji Tei Ramen House’s menu is straightforward, with only two pages listing Japanese food staples from appetizers to desserts. There was no whacked-out modern version of Japanese dishes so I guess their focus is on executing good versions of the classics. Or I could be wrong.

    I ordered the Gomoku Shio Ramen (PHp 264, Regular), one of their best-selling signature dishes, composed of ramen noodles with vegetables, mixed seafood (small prawns and squid), egg and pork. I requested that the cutlets of pork be placed on a separate plate, for me to give away and share to my friends.

    Slippery with a tender bounce, the quality of noodles used in Gomoku Shio Ramen was good. I thought the soup broth was supposed to taste crazy salty because of the “shio” word in its name, but it was not salty at all. Rather, in distinct milky color, the soup was characterless and bland. Aw. Other not very admirable comments on top of my head while slurping the bowlful were that the soup lacked in aromatics and the squids were too chewy. In short, I was left there wondering how this became a best-seller ramen. As highly praised as it may be, there is no way this ramen is going to my list of laudable food.

    Moving on, I also had a few spoonfuls of their Wakame Ramen (PHp 248, Regular) — soy-based ramen which had a glimmering sheen of fat on top, with seaweed sheets that brought much of the soup’s flavor. The Wakame Ramen was clean-tasting and somewhat richer than the former. Although it hit the spot in a pinch, it’s not the ramen that’s worth traveling for.


    Another soy-based ramen we tried was the Curry Ramen (PHp 258, Regular) topped with a mildly spicy curry sauce. It was good that the curry flavor was not super intense, and the spiciness of the soup can be clearly felt. However, I still feel it was neither mind-blowing nor life-changing. The spice was noticeable though, especially if you decide to go above “mild” and put chili powder to dominate the spicy choice on the zero to three alarm spice scale.

    We’re done so far with the ramen taste-testing. Next to the “grilling session” was the Crispy Chicken Teriyaki (PHp 228, 8 pieces) — grilled chicken glazed in Teriyaki sauce, which passed our test. The chicken teriyaki was a revelation. You’ll be prompted to grab a bowl of rice (gohan) to balance out and complement the overwhelming, deeply satisfying sweet taste. In addition, the side salad with mayo dressing was refreshing.

     Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    If you’re looking for the best ramen in the city, I don’t recommend going to Kenji Tei Ramen House. Sure, the noodles were not limp and I could sense that they were boiled to perfection. But the taste of the broth with the ingredients and the garnish were not enough to win awards for this house to be the next exciting ramen place to visit.

    For the food alone, I wanted to give Kenji Tei two stars for “Price for Value.” Then again, aiming to be more considerate here, I give one extra credit for the friendly service and the cozy ambiance that enhanced the dining experience.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/kenjitei” name=”Kenji Tei Ramen House (Greenbelt 5, Makati City)” description=”3F Greenbelt 5 Mall, Greenbelt, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 7543098″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-10-31″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other Branch:
    Ground Floor, Alabang Town Centre, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City
    For inquiries, contact (02) 5118980

  • Review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Four long years have passed since Louie and I last had dinner in a restaurant in Greenbelt together. We used to meet here during lunch break or after OJT (last term before graduating from college) frequently. So this place must mean a lot to us! 😀

    One of the real catches where we had nice memories in Greenbelt is Bubba Gump. Sounds familiar? Of course, that is if you have seen the 1994 blockbuster movie Forrest Gump, one of Tom Hanks’ greatest films. Most customers say that the restaurant’s gimmicky ambiance, engaging staff, and food are the main prizes. That couldn’t be more agreeable, except for the last. Read on the rest of my review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to discover why.

    Review of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Inside Bubba Gump are so many fun touches related to Forrest Gump, resembling what the restaurant would have looked like had Forrest run the scheme of things here himself. Quotes from the movie and memorabilia filled the walls, ceiling, tables and decorations. Note: If you have not seen the movie, go on and watch it first before dining here to have a greater appreciation of the way the restaurant was designed.

    Interesting diversion: Near the entrance, Bubba Gump has a gift shop section where guests can take a good look at Bubba Gump-branded shirts, caps, keychain holders, mugs, tumblers, dolls and other souvenirs that are on sale.

    After eating, I roamed around and was surprised to find that the restaurant is so spacious with a lot of different sets of tables and chairs positioned in the smoking and non-smoking areas. There’s the bar, the regular central dining, the balcony and a place I identify as a function room where a gathering for a decent-size crowd of 20-30 can be accommodated. Definitely, this place scores A+ in my books!

    Service: ★★★★★

    The coolest thing in service was having to call the wait staff’s attention by flipping the table sign from the default “Run Forrest Run” to “Stop Forrest Stop,” instead of the typical gestures like raising one’s hand or shouting “Miss” or “Mister” verbally that may just annoy other dining customers. (The same style is being implemented in Pepper Lunch.) I’d love to add another one: “Pay Forrest Pay” so immediately the waiters would know that customers are all ready to pay for the bill and they’d prepare for the check.

    Staff were hospitable, extremely upbeat and entertaining. In one of our visits, the waitress even quizzed us a few trivia questions about Forrest Gump and gave us vanilla ice cream as prize for answering correctly.

    Food: ★★★☆☆

    Bubba Gump prides itself for using ingredients that are sourced internationally and only from premium local food suppliers. All over the world, they are known for best-tasting SHRIMPS, or as Bubba would call it – the fruit of the sea. So we were just excited to let our taste buds reminisce and remember how their “best ever” shrimps taste like.

    The Popcorn Shrimp (PHp 295) may be filed under “Appetizer” on the menu, but this starter can be a meal by itself. However, the fried shrimps with roasted red bell peppers and three great dipping sauce were mediocre at best. They were not as fresh and the flavors were far from bold or exciting.

    Going to the positive side of the spectrum, the Chicken Cordon Bleu (PHp 490) was awesome. This course was made with four pieces of breaded chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese, deep-fried and served in lobster butter sauce, mashed potatoes and asparagus spears. The quantity was wholesome and the mixed taste of the ingredients was quite unique.

    The bread crumbs resulted to an unyielding crispy crust which belied an unbelievably soft chicken meat. The contrast consisted of the right amount of saltiness of the ham, a good choice of smooth cheese in between, with the mashed potatoes making for a mellow touch — genius on a plate!

    Price for Value: ★★☆☆☆

    Bubba Gump is not a bad restaurant but just is one that serves seriously overpriced food served up in the style of the Deep South. Word of advice is to not be blinded by their culinary illusion because you can get more affordable and more delicious food from other seafood restaurants in the Philippines but maybe without the same great setting.

    As said in the movie, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” With that, you can order other spectacular dishes from the Bubba Gump menu, but be prepared to pay for the heavy price as well. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” name=”Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Greenbelt 3″ description=”2/F Greenbelt 3, Esperanza St. Ayala Center, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 757-5154″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-07-22″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Tony Roma’s (Glorietta 4, Makati City)

    Review of Tony Roma’s (Glorietta 4, Makati City)

    American food seems to be the pinnacle of greasy gluttony or a truly perilous trap that causes sharp stomach pains and regret. As far as I know, typical American cuisine is fond of enveloping their menu with too much meaty dishes. I found the same thing consistently with Tony Roma’s, where I had dinner with a friend last week, at least upon going over their menu three times. (Click here to view Tony Roma’s menu.)

    Tony Roma’s is a franchise under a holding company, Mas Millennium (Singapore) Private Limited operating in seven cities in the world, namely: Singapore, Jakarta, Shanghai, Bangkok, Manila, Sydney and Perth. In the Philippines, it has three branches spread out in these locations: Glorietta (Makati), Bonifacio Global City (Taguig) and Alabang Town Center (Muntinlupa).

    I’ve never known about Tony Roma’s before, as restaurants that tend to lean on meat-centric offerings are not really on my culinary radar. But this does not mean that I would reject a dinner invite at an “upscale” dining place like Tony Roma’s. 🙂

    Review of Tony Roma’s (Glorietta 4, Makati City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    From stepping in from the door and glancing around, I could sense that Tony Roma’s is a “special-occasion” diner that presents creative and complicated food prepared perfectly and complemented by an unparalleled wine list. According to my research, this top-notch restaurant is best known for well-executed steaks, tender baby back ribs, elegant setting and well-informed service that are guaranteed to justify expensive prices.

    Perhaps because of our conversation flow, I didn’t notice that we’ve stayed here for about three hours. Gasp! We left when it was almost closing time. For that, I commend the ambiance of the place with great marks, as it helped me feel comfortable. Tony Roma’s is as fancy as a restaurant in a four-star hotel where customers can feel relaxed to wile away an entire afternoon or evening.

    Service: ★★★★★

    We received fine service. Staff was gracious to suggest a quiet area for us. The first floor seemed pretty busy and cramped with customers eating at peak hours. The second floor had about three different sections for different types of customers: families, small groups and big ones. We were given the menu once we were seated. The waiter repeated our orders as he should. Food didn’t come out fast but waiting time was tolerable.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Food choices on the menu consist of all traditional American variety. Must-tries are the well-marinated “fall-off-the-bone” pork ribs and chicken barbecue. While there are tons of variations of pork and chicken dishes differentiated by the sauces, there are also dishes that are suited for pescetarians like me.

    I got the Shrimp Marinara (Lunch portion, PHp 395) — linguine with marinara sauce, a dash of herb and Parmesan cheese topped with tender grilled shrimps. The taste of the pasta is almost forgettable, but the texture was great and the shrimps were seasoned wonderfully. I’m not a “pasta person,” but this one, like the limited number pastas that passed my test, is counted as a strong contender in defying my preconceived biases against pasta. This shrimp marinara didn’t make my heart skip a beat but overall taste was good.

    On the other side, my friend had the Chicken Alfredo (Lunch portion, PHp 415) — linguine with mixed with creamy mushroom sauce, a dash of herb, Parmesan cheese topped with grilled chicken breast.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Carnivores who are willing to pay a hefty price can check out the steaks and baby back ribs at Tony Roma’s. Basing on the quality and presentation of food and accommodation, I recommend this restaurant still even if I’m not a straight-out meat-eater.

    Tony Roma’s
    Ground Floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila
    Contact number: (02) 757-1926

    Other branches:
    2F Expansion Wing, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City
    5th Avenue Corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

    Operating Hours:
    11.00am to 11.00pm (Sun – Thu)
    11.00am to 12.00 midnight (Fri – Sat)

  • Review of TWG Tea Salon and Boutique (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    Review of TWG Tea Salon and Boutique (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    The last time I went to Greenbelt with my friends was on December 14, 2012 when we had dinner at Fish and Co. While walking to the car parking area and saying our goodbyes, we saw several newly opened restaurants that offer superlative plates and exclusive culinary experiences. One of my targets then was TWG Tea.

    I knew TWG Tea (The Wellness Group) two years ago way back in Singapore but never had the chance to dine in because no one would take pictures of me and I didn’t have anyone to go with. The fine epicurean products seemed too good to be true, and the most I wanted was to have a piece of TWG’s macaron. 😀 拜托了, 我觉得我很可怜。

    With my visit to TWG Tea Salon & Boutique’s branches in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and ION Orchard, my thirst to take a sip of this luxury tea grew. Fortunately, I don’t have to buy an airplane ticket to Singapore, Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Fiji, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turks & Caicos, Ukraine, UK, US or Vietnam where TWG has retail outlets and exquisite tea rooms for it now has two branches in the Philippines. One is in Greenbelt and the other is in Resorts World Manila. :mrgreen:

    TWG Tea is known to harvest and sell only the finest teas in the world. Time is ripe and it’s with my greatest pleasure to finally enter this tea shop of elegance and beauty as a diner.

    Review of TWG Tea Salon and Boutique (Greenbelt 5, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    TWG Tea is nothing short of a wonderland of unique tea pots in different sizes, shapes and colors and over 450 types of tea blends spiced with a touch of sensuality packed in elegant tins. These can be seen through the glass-mirror exterior, but there was more we discovered when we got inside.

    TWG in Greenbelt is both a tea store, where you can buy over-the-counter pastries, tea leaves in colorful boxes and souvenirs, and a dining place where limited tables and chairs are placed. There’s another special counter where customers can inquire about the teas on the long menu, with a large collection of shelved teas again positioned like aged wine bottles in the background.

    Every section was graced with grandeur, with dashes of gold throughout the salon. Designs on the walls were hand-crafted. It was like a small palace with bronze fittings, Italian marble floors, crystal lamps and antique mirrors.

    To me, the TWG salon was also in part a mini museum where we viewed accessory collections from a myriad of hand-blown glass, porcelain, stoneware, cast iron teapots, fine bone china teacups, saucers, creamers and sugar bowls, to smaller things such as tea filters and tea scoops.

    Service: ★★★★★

    TWG Tea gives customers a hands-down priceless experience from start to end. The receptionist assigned for crowd control listed our name and number for reservation and told us that she’ll send an SMS when there are free seats set for us.

    Tough luck! An hour had passed before we received her message confirming for the accommodation, but that’s okay – we thought we definitely had to make the most out of her stay.

    Indeed, we received a royalty treatment from their hospitable and approachable staff. No one felt hurried or pushed out of the store and like a regular coffee shop for hang out, TWG Tea is one exquisite place to enjoy tea and intimate chats with desirable meals and desserts.

    Food: ★★★★★

    We spared about 15 minutes to decide for our order, browsing through their extensive menu. Ultimately, we just asked the eloquent waiter for his best recommendation.

    Food offered in TWG Tea hit the spot perfectly between breakfast and lunch, and lunch and dinner. Wow was the first word that came to mind when the three-tiered Fortune Tea Set (PHp 650) arrived at our table. I mean, yes, we’ve seen variations of macarons, muffin and sandwiches from places such as the UCC Café, the French Baker, Delifrance, etc. But TWG Tea’s presentation tops them all!

    For the tea included in the set, we can opt to be served with iced tea and hot tea. Iced tea was an inferior choice over hot tea, as the amount of serving and the variants for iced tea are fewer. For the hot tea, we could only choose those valued at PHp 195 on the menu. Despite the limitation, featured tea blends and names were still so many in number that we found it difficult to order.

    Silver Moon Tea is their bestseller of all times, as it’s the world’s favorite. We had the last order of the said tea for the day. It’s a combo of vanilla and green tea accented with grand berries. The fragrance was eminent but the taste was similar only to typical teas you can sample at Chinese and Japanese restaurants. We finished about six cups of tea (three refills per person) over almost two hours of conversation.

    The first delicate savory we had were the chocolate and blueberry muffins. They were the best muffins I ever had, perfectly baked with moisture and served with TWG Tea jelly and whipped cream.

    Next were three of TWG Tea’s signature tea-infused macarons which were meticulously handcrafted in a delicious manner. We liked the Earl Grey Fortune and Chocolate macaron the most, followed by the Napoleon Tea and Caramel then the Camelot Tea and Praline. Each had a distinct taste and I rate it as 3-4 times better than those I bought from Tous Les Jours before. (TWG Tea’s macarons are individually priced at PHp 50, 56% pricier than the TLJ’s. Gasp!)

    Thirdly, we had shared three plush smoked salmon sandwiches with gruyere cheese on one side of the bread, delicate green salad and house vinaigrette – the perfect vehicle to happiness.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    I credit the efforts of TWG Tea tasters who travel thousands of miles to various countries every year to sample and search teas and come up with exclusive blends from source gardens. The price was worth braving the inevitable customers that line up through the doorman, waiting that long, and paying for those elite guilty pleasures.

    If you believe that tea time should be the most awaited and cherist moment of the day, TWG Tea Salon and Boutique has you covered.

    TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
    Level 1, Greenbelt 5
    Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines

  • Review of Paris Delice (Makati Avenue)

    Review of Paris Delice (Makati Avenue)

    Every day busy, busy every day.

    That’s probably the line I’ll tag to myself since I have not gotten enough rest recently. When I have free time for myself, I would rather spend it relaxing over a quiet meal with friends, chill out in a library (or bookstore), or sleep than indulge in hours partying for freedom and screaming with loud company. And I think Aldous had just spent this perfect time to chill with a great company of bloggers last Thursday.

    They went to Paris Delice for an event that got them focused only on food, drinks and conversation. Me: envious. 🙄 I personally have not been to Paris Delice in Makati, but judging from their dining experience, I think their dishes must have met the lunchtime standard served promptly with care to customers.

    The following is a guest post by Aldous Calubad, my co-blogger and writer at SEO Hacker and When in Manila, sharing his review of Paris Delice:

    Paris Delice offers freshly baked bread, getting daily deliveries from France. Their bread is half-baked there, then it is baked again here in the Philippines for total satisfaction. 😉

    Event host Chef Al Laine De Leon is the head chef of the restaurant and also the manager at the same time. Mr. Thibault Daniel, one of the restaurant owners, greeted us and served us with grace—always asking if we needed anything and how the food was.

    Review of Paris Delice (Makati Avenue)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The restaurant has the ambiance of a coffee shop and it provides high speed Internet access for those looking to spend time here.  A lot of people don’t know it is actually a French fast food restaurant because customers can drop by and buy only bread.

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    The servers failed to ask us if we needed anything.  They just did their job in serving the food to us.  Perhaps, they are not used to seeing customers who drop by and order a lot of food so I can forgive them for that.

    Food: ★★★★★

    First, we were served two kinds of soup: Cream of Tomato Soup and French Onion Soup.  One of the bloggers found her French onion soup a bit salty, so she didn’t finish it. Anyway, I think that is quite normal for that soup.

    Next, we were given salads including French Salad, Pinoy Salad, Roma Salad and Tagaytay Salad.  I had the Tagaytay Salad and chose the classic Caesar dressing. The other salad dressings available were Raspberry, Balsamic and Asian.

    Two long sandwiches headed our way, namely: L’Europeen (ham & cheese) and L’Atlantic (salmon). I have to say their specialty really is their bread which made all the sandwiches delicious.

     Then came four big plates of pastas: Chicken Curry Pasta, Poulet Au Pistou, Bolognaise and Aragula-Chevre. I chose the Chicken Curry pasta and I noticed it was not spicy which was good. All other bloggers enjoyed their picks likewise.

    The final serving contained breads and pastries but the other bloggers were too full to even notice that.  I noticed the croissant though and I just could not resist tasting that because I love croissants.  I must say their croissant is a must try.

    I also got to try their Nutella Beignet and it is like a cream puff with nutella inside. That was one bread I enjoyed and it is perfect for dessert.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    The store closes at 7:30 in the evening and they have a 40% sale on their breads starting at 7PM.  That is such a huge giveaway given the fact that it is not yet that late to be giving away their breads at such a handsome price.

    I highly recommend this French themed restaurant if you are a big fan of bread. I would love to come back because I saw they also have quiches that we did not get to taste.

    Paris Delice
    1 Juno Street, corner Makati Avenue, Makati City
    For inquiries, call 09173157667

  • Review of Fish and Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati)

    Review of Fish and Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati)

    Last weekend marked the half of December. Mostly at this time, I have mixed emotions on the coming days leading up to the holidays. At one end, I’m excited, looking forward to the short vacation when I can spend more time with my family, my boyfriend, my friends and myself. On the other end, I dread the fact that this break would also make way to adding weight on and basically, fats—which I utterly don’t welcome.

    I thought I’d already gained some pounds. Last night I stepped on the weighing balance and felt a sigh of relief when I saw my weight didn’t change at all. Yes!

    As a girl with an insatiable love for interesting food, this end-of-year extravaganza of luncheons and dinners would be deadlier for my long-standing goal to eat reasonably and stay fit in all seasons. It’s quite hard to avoid the minefield of treats offered in the holidays, and pushing them away when someone already has placed food on my plate is equally hard. But if this someone is Mommy or Louie, then it would be easy to pass food back to their plates to show my generosity in return. 🙂

    Last Saturday, I was glad that three of my friends from college also gamely took care of my leftover. We dined in at Fish and Co., Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati for our year-end party / Christmas celebration. It was indeed another fish-tacular experience! Here are pictures to whet your ravenous appetite.

    Some Trivia

    Did you know that Fish & Co. started its business as a mid-level casual dining restaurant in 1998? It opened its first branch in Plaza Singapura, Singapore during the peak of the Asian regional financial crisis. Fish & Co. had managed to grow its business nonetheless and built branches in other parts of the world, namely: Malaysia, Indonesia, Middle East, Philippines and Hong Kong.

    In the Philippines, Fish & Co. has opened its door to the Filipinos since 2005 as a member of the Bistro Company. According to my research, Greenbelt 3 was its first ever branch in the country!

    Review of Fish and Co. (Greenbelt 3, Makati)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    I had eaten in Fish and Co., Singapore several times and once in the SM Mall of Asia branch. In contrast with them, this branch of Fish and Co. at Greenbelt 3 is not one that’s very promising in terms of atmosphere.

    Default contemporary wall decors were present, including the different kinds of colorful fish hanging from the ceiling. However, it was a no-cold zone; poor air-conditioning was notable. The restaurant had a laid-back and decent vibe, with plenty of outdoor seating and limited indoor seating in long but narrow space. Noise was tolerable across the dining area.

    Service: ★★★★★

    We came with a reservation so we did not have problems getting tables and chairs for 10 people. Waiters took our orders and served them fast.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    I probably would not have connected “fish” and “chips” three years ago. Before I had only been exposed to Chinese food, which are mostly home-cooked. When I had my first plate of Fish and Co.’s fish and chips, I thought it was a ludicrous combination. After some bites, it made great sense.

    Looking for something with relatively new taste from my last visit, I made sure to order a dish I haven’t tried. The seafood curry was my choice for the evening. It came with squid rings and fish fillet pieces which were not fried greasy but slowly braised in spicy red coconut curry sauce served on steamed jasmine rice. I loved it when its spiciness did not overpower the taste of the rest of the ingredients. I was just too full to finish them off.

     

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    There’s nothing quite like indulging in a restaurant with fish delights that are delicately seasoned and cooked to perfection. I will have no trouble repeating the seafood excellence that I enjoyed that night. Fish and Co. is a great dining place with friends and family. Just get ready to pay for at least PHp 250 per dish plus the 10% service charge.

    In my case, I paid for PHp 335 (discounted from PHp 395 because one of my friends holds a membership card that entitled us all to avail of the 20% discount) for the seafood curry. It was a large pan retaining the most flavorful of fish preparations, so I thought it’s sound to say it duly was worth the price.