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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Dinner in a decent yet affordable Thai restaurant serving Thailand’s culinary treasures, plus an instant discount upon booking? Sign me up. Inspired by the lively and intoxicating ambiance of Jatujak Market in Thailand, Jatujak in SM Mall of Asia presents delicious Thai food, a needed breather among the tastes of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino dishes we usually have in most times of the week. With a great menu, unpretentious vibes, and a truly beautiful space, this restaurant in SM MOA is the definition of impressive. Check it out.

    We visited Jatujak last Saturday after booking a time slot via the BigDish mobile application. BigDish is a restaurant reservation app that lets users enjoy up to 50% off their bill. Registration is quick and easy. There’s no need for credit card, reservation fee, and coupons to print. Just choose the restaurant and the date and time you’d be visiting where the discount is incorporated. Once reservation is done, confirmation will be sent through e-mail and sms. Show the message to the restaurant staff and voilà, you’ll get your meal at a discount hassle-free. 🙂

    Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance:

    Jatujak in SM Mall of Asia has its wooden and bricked walls artfully decorated with Thai scripts and memorabilia. The muted and subtle colors create a restful, leisurely family atmosphere. Housed in a cozy and modern setting, it captures the street-side appeal of Thai food and brings it home to the Philippines. Lighting is good and seats are comfortable enough for an afternoon’s worth of chilling. Jatujak is well-spaced and not stuffy. It’s your kind of spot to go for a casual lunch, dinner, or a last-minute date night with friends.

    Food:

    Jatujak’s Sampler Appetizer (PhP 215) is hard to turn down. It’s made up of shrimp cakes, fresh vegetarian spring rolls and pork spring rolls. Light yet full of flavor, this sampling dish is the perfect kick-off before the heavy flavors make their entrances.

    Tom Yum Mixed Seafood (Tom Yum Talay) (PhP 290) delivered all of the yes for us. It is the exact combination of sweet, spicy, and creamy we want after a long day of playing adult. The spiciness is bold, brash, and not always for the faint of heart. It’s one of the dishes you can describe as an authentic and fully-realized flavor of Thailand. And that’s exciting. I especially like the natural sweetness of the shrimps as it really did shine through.

    Vegetarian Pad Thai (PhP 200), made up of firm pan-fried flat rice noodles, tofu and carrots is the holy trinity of curing a hangover. It struck a balance between sweet and sour, with a hint of tamarind flavor leading the way. This is a good dish to order during the Lent season.

    Call it Whole Fish Pla Pla with Garlic Chili Sauce or pla kao sam rod or god’s gift of eternal happiness (if you love eating fried fish), it doesn’t matter. The fish is perfectly fried and the sweet, sour and hot sauce on top made it more appetizing. Get this, or you’re going home having missed out on something exceptional.

    I was surprised to see bagoong fried rice on the menu because I thought it’s a Filipino-style recipe. Thai Bagoong Rice though tastes a little different because of the herbs and spices used. Jatujak’s Bagoong Rice (Kao Kluk gapi) (PhP 185) has multiple sweet, salt and sour components which make up the spectrum of Thai flavors altogether on a single plate.

    Crispy Pata in Red Curry Sauce (kaeng ped ka moo) (PhP 580) is an interesting coconut-based curry dish with a milder taste and aroma, a delightful twist to the curry we know. Interestingly, it’s not spicy and the creamy coconut milk masks the pungent smell of the curry paste. If you love crispy pata and a Thai cuisine devotee yourself, consider this a must-try. 🙂

    Lemongrass Tea (Nam takray) (PhP 80) is so refreshing and delightfully healthy. It’s good for digestion, full of antioxidants, regulates high blood pressure, boosts metabolism and burns fat. We had it bottomless and totally loved the citrusy flavor of lemongrass, which is milder and sweeter in taste than lemon.

    We had Sticky Rice with Mango (koo niew mamuang) (PhP 135) for dessert. It’s palatable, comforting, and just enjoyable as it’s something closer to home. The glutinous rice with sweet and sour mangoes can be described as a tasty antidote to calm your still spice-singed mouth.

    Price for Value:

    Thanks to the BigDish app, our pleasant dining experience at Jatujak Thai Restaurant in MOA came with a bonus (10% discount). Yay! Thai dishes here are a good steal for the prices and will not break your wallet. Serving sizes are good for sharing and food portions are generous. We will try another restaurant that’s featured by BigDish Philippines next time. With BigDish Philippines, getting a discount through the app is only a few button presses away.

    To know more about BigDish, check out its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BigDishPH/ or visit its website at https://bigdish.ph/. Click this button to book a table now:

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/jatujakthaifood/” name=”Jatujak Thai Restaurant” description=”2nd Level unit 237 Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 556-0850″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-04-04″ ]

  • 6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Planet Grapes in Shangri-La at the Fort

    6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Planet Grapes in Shangri-La at the Fort

    Planet Grapes opened at the ground floor of High Street Park, Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig on March 21, 2017. Once again, we were enthralled with their classy street food paired with wine. Like their branch in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong, Planet Grapes (PG) at the Fort (located between Toby’s Estate and Pink’s Hot Dogs) is a paradise and a great hangout spot that’s worth checking out. In this post, I’m sharing six compelling reasons why you should visit it soon. 😉 #PlanetGrapesShangFort #PlanetGrapesPH

    6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Planet Grapes in Shangri-La at the Fort

    1. Knowledgeable and Confident Service

    With such a wealth of knowledge overflowing from this city, you’d think that a wine bar that so thoroughly holds your hand through the ordering process would feel a bit condescending. The staff at Planet Grapes proves otherwise. These guys take their wine seriously, and that flows into their service. Have questions regarding best food and wine pairings? They got the answers. Orders are served in a hygienic, professional, timely, and efficient manner.

    2. Mouthwatering Appetizers

    We visited Planet Grapes Shangri-La at the Fort both at lunch and dinner times. (Click here to see their menus.) Mouthwatering appetizers are presented as “small plates” on the menu, but the portions are actually good enough for sharing.

    Baboy, Bagoong, Singkamas, at Mangga or “BBSM” (PhP 290) for short is one of the best classic Filipino street food with a blend of sweet and sour that can easily whet your appetite. The combination is skillful and I imagine the dish tasting even better with smaller shrimps for a more concentrated flavor.

    Planet Grapes Street Food Platter (PhP 395) deserves more attention. It’s composed of Chorizo de Cebu, Vigan longganisa, garlic bangus longganisa, squid balls, kwek-kwek, and chicken skin. Everything is good on its own. This is the best entree to share with a bunch of friends. You go from zero to feeling-more-like-a-real-person in just a few bites.

    Planet Grapes Sisig (PhP 245) is always a good choice. It can stand as an appetizer or a hearty meal served with extra rice. PG Sisig is crispy pork mask served sizzling with a fresh organic egg and a refreshing tomato salsa. Tastes and textures are spot on. There’s a great hit of salt and crunch from the pork parts.

    Their famous Chicharon with Tinapa Dip (PhP 215) is also a must-order. It’s crispy pork rind served with a tart cream cheese and smoked milkfish dip. It’s the perfect starter to get while everyone warms up with a glass of wine.

    3.  Tasty and Decadent Mains

    The mains aren’t too groundbreaking, but it’s impossible to fault well-cooked dishes. Beautifully prepared, all these entrees have harmonious tastes that fascinate the palate.

    For seafood lovers: Grilled Norwegian Salmon (PhP 665) – Grilled Norwegian Salmon seasoned simply with salt and pepper then finished off with fresh salsa verde, served with a light kamut salsa

    For pasta lovers: Spaghettini and Meatballs (PhP 315) – all beef meatballs braised in a rich tomato sauce served on a bed of al dente spaghettini and topped off with Parmesan cheese

    For spareribs lovers: BBQ Spareribs (PhP 690) – fork-off-the-bone pork ribs doused with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce

    4. Yummy Desserts

    At Planet Grapes, you’d want to end your meal with a bang. I’ll say YES to any of these yummy desserts any day: Planet Grapes Leche Flan (PhP 150) – silky and dense leche flan made from carabao’s milk, Sapin-sapin with Salted Egg Sauce (PhP 215) – glutinous rice cakes combined with sweetened jackfruit and ube halaya, all topped with a rich salted egg sauce, Chilled Taho Sampler (PhP 175) – soy milk taho topped with strawberry, matcha, and caramelized sugar syrup, served with sago pearls, and Turon Trilogy (PhP 165) – filo pastry wrapped sweet plantains and ube halaya resting on a bed of preserved jackfruit coulis.

    The difficult part is when you’re pressured to choose only one of the desserts here. When that happens, I recommend to go with the Sapin-sapin with Salted Egg Sauce. It’s unique, somewhat addictive, and has a very appealing quality to it. Their version of sapin-sapin is unorthodox and unabashedly bold. It works together ingeniously with the salted egg sauce, truly one of a kind. 🙂

    5. Chill and Cozy Ambiance

    Planet Grapes at Shangri-La Fort is not a big place that can accommodate hundreds of guests, but with the chill and cozy ambiance that complements your satisfying meal, what’s there to complain about? This restaurant/wine bar feels modern, chic, and sleek. The chandelier with wine bottle details make up for Planet Grapes’ excellent signature interior design. Comfy couches on the side contribute to the relaxed atmosphere as well.

    6. Excellent Wine Selection

    If you love wine or want to try tasting wines, don’t let Planet Grapes Shangri-La Fort slip under your radar! Come here after work and drink some fine wine with your date, friend or co-worker, and leave the drama out. Customers can have wine by the glass in sip, half, or full serving or take it by the bottle for a more exquisite experience. Make reservations because word spreads fast, and this will be every foodie and wine lover’s new spot in BGC in no time. 🙂

    My current favorite? It’s the white wine Clos Des Verdots Bergerac Rouge 2014 Rouge. I love its crisp, fruity, light, and refreshing characteristics. We also sampled other red wines which have taste notes along a fresh bouquet of black and red berry fruits, black pepper, and raspberries.

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetGrapes/
    I    nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/planet_grapes/

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://planetgrapes.com.ph/” name=”Planet Grapes Shangri-La Fort” description=”Unit GF10, Ground Floor, Shangri-La The Fort BGC, Taguig City” rev_name=”For inquiries or reservations, call (02) 772-6614″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-03-22″ ]

    Business Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:00am-12:00pm, Fri-Sat 11:00am-2:00am

  • Review of Century Park Hotel – Family Staycation (Malate, Manila)

    Review of Century Park Hotel – Family Staycation (Malate, Manila)

    We spent the last two days of 2016 taking a staycation at Century Park Hotel in Manila. Staycations are an awesome way to not only break up the usual routine, but also to explore your home city and experience it in a different way. Located at the heart of the Philippines’ capital city, Century Park Hotel Manila takes pride in being a warm home in the urban jungle. Many restaurants surround the hotel plus two shopping malls (SM and Harrison Plaza) that offer both convenience and leisure to guests. An overnight stay in this comfortable and cozy hotel suite is a fab treat for the entire family.

    Review of Century Park Hotel – Family Staycation (Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance:

    Despite being only about 30 minutes away from our home, Century Park Hotel Manila ticks all the boxes for a “relaxing vacation.” Spacious and well-lit, the ambiance of the hotel ground may make one assume it’s style over substance. It’s not. Some of the areas including the ceiling were recently renovated, but the hotel’s old charm is still kept present to date.

    The lobby looked presentable with enough bold touches–tall Christmas tree, water fountain, plush seats, and star lights hanging from the ceiling–to add artsy, “holiday” vibe. What makes me want to go back every time is its noteworthy scent. Century Park Hotel has a distinct clean and refreshing scent which I can describe as the combination of chamomile and green tea. Those who have been here will most probably know what I’m talking about. The smell is so invigorating that it makes me feel fresh and nice. 🙂 Love it!

    With six function rooms and a business center, Century Park Hotel in Manila provides accommodation for corporate and special events. Inside the hotel, there are five restaurants, a gym, lap pool, regular swimming pool, and a Jacuzzi for guests to unwind after a long day. These facilities make up for an overall good experience for every guest.

    The room we stayed at was equipped with reliable Wi-Fi access, Cable TV, telephone with bathroom extension, tub/ shower bath combination, hairdryer, in-room safe, individually-controlled air conditioning, refrigerator, coffee or tea-making facility, and bathroom essentials/toiletries. Check this link out for more information about Century Park Hotel rooms.

    Service:

    Booking for a room, reserving, checking in, and checking out were fast and hassle-free. Service was friendly and thorough. The staff were hospitable and welcoming, always willing to answer questions and satisfy requests whenever possible. Clad in native barong tagalog, the security people at the ground floor are strict and this provide an extra level of security that will make you feel safe and at ease. Bags and luggage regardless of size need to go through their scanning machine.

    Price for Value:

    Century Park Hotel Manila is a recommended hotel for both business and leisure. It is not really luxurious and modern but decent enough to give you a comfortable and nice stay with the family. Ranging from Php 3500++ to PhP 4500++ for Superior Double Room to Deluxe Double Room (inclusive of breakfast buffet for two, welcome drinks and some more incentives), prices are reasonable and have good value.

    Popular places of interest nearby: Philippine International Convention Center, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Ninoy Aquino Memorial Sports Complex, Harrison Plaza Shopping Complex, World Trade Center, SMX Convention Center, and SM Mall of Asia.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.centurypark.com/location/” name=”Century Park Hotel Manila” description=”599 P. Ocampo Street, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 528 8888″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-03-11″ ]

  • Painting Session at Sip & Gogh Paint and Sip Studio (Ayala Heights, Quezon City)

    Painting Session at Sip & Gogh Paint and Sip Studio (Ayala Heights, Quezon City)

    Sip & Gogh is the first-of-its-kind paint and sip studio in the country. It’s one of the top 10 recommended things and activities to try in the Philippines on TripAdvisor.com. We had our first canvas painting session at Sip & Gogh Ayala Heights branch last month and totally enjoyed our experience. 🙂 It’s a great place to relax, socialize and paint together while sipping wine or some cool beverages with family and friends. If you’re looking for something a little different to do rather than food-tripping, shopping, or mall-hopping in Metro Manila, this is definitely it!

    Painting Session at Sip & Gogh Paint and Sip Studio (Ayala Heights, Quezon City)

    The rundown: You go online, select a branch, look at the monthly calendar, choose a schedule that’s free and available, and pay to register and reserve for the time slot. The price (PhP 1,000) includes the apron rental, paint, canvas on easel, painting materials, cup with water, food and drinks.

    We’re all amateurs when in comes to canvas painting. The last time I used a paint brush was back in high school during our Chinese drawing (圖畫) and Chinese calligraphy classes (毛筆). Or do those even count? 😉 Anyway, I’m glad that everything went smoothly. I recommend to be let loose and not be afraid to brush away. There’s no need to draw perfect lines here. 🙂

    Painting at Sip & Gogh provided us a unique experience that broke the mold of our regular routine. When we walked in, we were presented with so many options of paintings to draw that it took a while before we finally grabbed one each to our seats.

    In the beginning, the studio assistants instructed us on the basic techniques of color blending to form a new color (e.g. to make violet, mix red and blue) and to make the shades darker or lighter. They also helped us draw light “imaginary” sketch lines for the right proportion and placement of images on the canvas. We still called their attention every now and then for advice on how to proceed. They were willing to come and answer our questions.

    Two hours went by pretty quickly. I’m happy we did not feel rushed or pressured. As style comes from diversity, we drew with our own hand movements without having to forcefully copy the original painting exactly. Anyway, when all is said and done, it feels so awesome to have a piece of art that you created hanging on your wall. Yup, we’re proud of our work and we’re psyched to return to Sip & Gogh for another great time. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.sipandgogh.com/” name=”Sip & Gogh” description=”Sip & Gogh is the first-of-its-kind paint and sip studio in the country. A perfect place to be with family and friends to relax, socialize and enjoy time painting together while sipping your favorite beverage.” rev_name=”Call +63 2 961 12 48 or +63 999 887 61 90″ rev_body=”#1 Capitol Hills Drive, Old Balara 1119 Quezon City, Philippines” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-03-09″ ]

  • Review of Crisostomo Restaurant (UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City)

    Review of Crisostomo Restaurant (UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City)

    Crisostomo is one of the best known protagonists in Jose Rizal’s novels. A restaurant serving authentic Filipino cuisine with a sophisticated twist is just aptly named Crisostomo by no less than the accomplished Chef Florabel Co-Yatco who has a vision of providing an excellent fine dining experience that is non-intimidating and affordable, closer to the reach of many. I’ve been passing by Crisostomo Restaurant in Eastwood Mall on multiple occasions since my office is nearby, but this was my first time to finally have the chance to try it out. We had dinner at its UP Town Center branch after finishing a fun painting session at Sip & Gogh Ayala Heights. 🙂

    Review of Crisostomo Restaurant (UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City)

    Food:

    Crisostomo Restaurant features a fusion of lola’s secret recipes sprinkled with style and flavor. It’s not the regular Filipino restaurant that you can stumble upon in almost every corner in the metro. Crisostomo offers turn-of-the-century dining. Bringing some next-level moments of radiance, it’s one of the better places to eat in UP Town Center where the entire family can enjoy food. Most of its menu items are coined with character names from Rizal’s novels, and rightfully so, because every nibble is a mouthful that hits home.

    For appetizers, we had Bolas de Fuego (PhP 255) and Bagumbayan Lechon (PhP 295). Bolas de Fuego was presented as a friendly entree for both adults and kids alike. It came with deep fried crispy fish and squid balls and sweet chili and fish ball sauce on the side. If you miss eating clean Filipino street food, you’d want this on your table.

    Bagumbayan Lechon was another amazing entree that’s reliably good for scratching your itch for familiar Pinoy food. Deviating from tradition slightly bit, it’s not the usual chicharon you can expect but lechon kawali chips paired with liver sauce and garlic vinegar. It’s almost sinful so I’m sure some people may be torn between the balance of eating for pleasure and eating for health.

    Moving on, we had Sinuglaw Tarsilo (PhP 310) which was composed of grilled pork belly and tuna cooked by soaking in vinegar. It’s downtown culinary play and uptown elegant class. We loved it with rice. Altogether, the taste was tart, bright, complex, refreshing and a little sharp with acid. The fish stood out as it was firm on the exterior but with a tender, translucent center.

    Kangkong Con Selo (PhP 150) could bring joy even to non-vegetarians not only because garlic kangkong (water convolvulus or water spinach) tastes absolutely delicious but also because there’s lechon kawali chips in the mix. Kangkong is also one of my favorite greens to eat. They’re long and almost noodle-like, fun to twirl up with chopsticks, even if they get messy sometimes. 😉

    Stuffed with laing (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) and served with crab fat sauce, tempura-style prawns Legazpi (PhP 525) were so filling and modernly mouthwatering. Packed with so much flavor, this dish is what you can consider funky enough to be distinctive. One week later, I was still dreaming about eating it…again and again!

    Pinoy Paella (PhP 450) was especially enticing because of its vibrant color and aromatic ingredients. It was carefully assembled with prawns, chicken, inihaw na liempo, and chorizo and yielded tender grains of Spanish rice. This paella can be described as homely in the best sense. It’s about marrying lots of different elements rather than elevating one big thing. The precise combination of these give it is characteristic flavor.

    Price for Value:

    Prices of food at Crisostomo Restaurant aren’t exactly cheap, but price range considering value is good. The dishes are top notch and you certainly get what you pay for. If you’re craving for great Filipino food, this is a good place to go. Everything seemed to be so palatable you’ll hope there’s unli rice! 😛

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/www.crisostomo.ph/” name=”Crisostomo Restaurant” description=”1st Level UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 6225347 or +63 9178371346″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-03-01″ user_review=”9″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”10″ ]

  • Mystery Party: Murder Manila Presents Murder at the Mansion

    Mystery Party: Murder Manila Presents Murder at the Mansion

    The Marketing Team hosted a special kind of party for our post-Valentine’s Day celebration. Dinner did not only come with sumptuous food but also with an interesting twist. Each of us received a digital invite from Murder Manila with an email from the “owner of the mansion” named Mr. Owen days prior to the event. Guests arrived at the party in character clad in costumes respective to the roles. Basically, murder happened during the party and everyone was a suspect. No one was allowed to leave the mansion. Everybody had different objectives to complete, but there was only one common goal: to find out whoddunit. Who’s the victim? Who’s the killer? What was the motive for murder?

    Mystery Party: Murder Manila Presents Murder at the Mansion

    The invitation from Murder Manila contained a character outline and an email from Mr. Owen. My character’s name was Ms. White, a maid who was hired by Mr. Owen a week ago. Nothing else was mentioned about the murder and no clues were given on how to solve the case. I supposed there would be another set of instructions to follow. Our first task then was to be in costume when attending the party and immerse ourselves in character.

    Two gamekeepers of Murder Manila came to facilitate the event and explain how the night was to proceed. The game did not go by a script, but Murder Manila gave us enough details to do and look our part without being told exactly what to do and which steps to take next.

    At the start, they handed each of us an envelope with confidential messages pertaining to the objectives and things to be aware about and “Mystery Money” that we could use to bribe the other players. As Murder Manila put it, “Bribery, cheating, blackmailing, and other creative means to acquire money are expected and encouraged.”

    Mingling with others, knowing the characters and their relationship with one another, and staying focused were some important reminders that, if applied right, would help a lot in setting the stage for spontaneity and keeping the role play lively.  It’s funny how we had so many improvisations on our character stories throughout the night! #CareerMode 😉

    The Characters

    The Story

    We were all invited to a mysterious party by an unknown host in the famous Mystery Mansion. Everyone except Dr. Brown, the butler, and the maid knew Mr. Green, the Banker since he’s the one handling the finances of his clients. The night turned fatal murder happened while we were having dinner.

    We saw how Mr. Green fainted and died (of course, it’s all acting so don’t freak out just yet). 😛 We received a new set of detective kit which contained more information about the murder, plus some evidences which could lead to the killer’s hidden motives. Based on the materials, we questioned every suspect and put our detective skills to the test. After about an hour, Sgt. Slate, the Retired Cop, gathered all the facts and evidences to help us pin down who the killer was and decide on our accusation.

    Finally, we were given scorecards to write down our main suspect. We also got to vote for the best dressed and best actor. The fastest to solve the mystery and the one who got the most money (from stealing and bribery) also won prizes. I’m not revealing who’s the killer, but you may guess it right when you see this picture:

    Mystery Solved!

    Wrap Up

    In two hours, we experienced a captivating event where we were transformed to a world of mystery and hilarity while dining and enjoying delectable entrees at our office’s boardroom. 🙂 Murder Manila by Mystery Manila provides mysteries full of suspicion, intrigue, greed, love, hate, jealousy, and revenge… the perfect recipe for MURDER! It is especially fun for groups of friends, co-workers, families, and organizations. It’s not the typical party setup you know; it’s so much more. Whether you’re assigned as an innocent character or the suspect, the aim of the game is to have fun. And we did!

    To know more about Murder Manila, check out their website and their Facebook page.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Murder-Manila-1611595099069010/” name=”Mystery Party: Murder Manila Presents Murder at the Mansion” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-23″ ]

  • Top 10 Korean Restaurants and Cafes We Tried in Seoul, South Korea

    Top 10 Korean Restaurants and Cafes We Tried in Seoul, South Korea

    Food tripping in South Korea where food is mostly tasty and spicy is a joyous dining experience. Whether it’s a formal restaurant, a casual one, or just in the streets, the visceral thrill of trying out Korean food right at the heart of Seoul is downright enjoyable. With the many places we explored, we found out that there’s much more to Korean cuisine than kimchi and bulgogi. Next time you’re going to Korea, here are some of our restaurant  and food suggestions for you to consider. 🙂

    Top 10 Korean Restaurants and Cafes We Tried in Seoul, South Korea

    1. VIPS Barbecue at Incheon International Airport

    We’re not fans of ordering packed food in the airplane. Hence, upon arrival at the Incheon International Airport, hunger struck intensely. There are plenty of food joints in the airport, but VIPS BBQ & Salad was closest to the arrival hall and the menu looked most attractive. VIPS Barbecue appealed as a hole-in-the-wall restaurant but it’s a gem. We ordered Seoul Rice—a mixture of rice, eggs, vegetables, meat, and seaweeds. Taste was a combination of sweet, savory and a little spicy.


    2. Han’s Deli in Myeongdong

    After about two hours of travel from the airport to our hotel in Myeongdong, we hunted down food again and discovered Han’s Deli (한스델리) in Jongno-gu. Han’s Deli is known as the “most celebrated deli” in Korea. Its first humble steps date back to 2004. The menu is Western with an Asian-Korean twist, lots of pasta, pizza, salads, tonkatsu stuffed with cheese and sweet potato. Portions are large and are good for sharing. Prices are reasonable by Korean standards.


    3. Gogungddurak Museum Shop and Cafe

    On the next day, we looked forward to watch the epic Sumunjang (Royal Guard) Changing Ceremony in the Gyeongbokgung Palace only to find out that it was cancelled that day because of the rain. What’s more sad was that we left the hotel early in the morning without having breakfast. Gogungddurak Museum Shop and Cafe was recommended by one of the guardsmen of the palace and we were relieved when it’s just a few steps away. This cafe is a must-try because food and drinks are made and served according to the Royal Recipe! We tried the Buckwheat Crepe and Goldongban (Bibimbap) and drank jeho-tang, one of the drinks that the emperor gives to retainers in the fifth day of the fifth month.


    4. Yoogane in Myeongdong

    When in Yoogane, there’s no better food to order than Chicken Galbi with Mozzarella Cheese. Tender chicken meat marinated in spicy sauce and rice were prepared and cooked onto the huge pan on our table right in front of our eyes. It’s hard to go wrong with fried rice, seaweed, and cheese. We absolutely loved this power combo dish! I hope we’ll also have Yoogane again in Manila (it closed some months back). The branch closest to Myeongdong Station is open from 10:00 am to 1:00 am. The branch furthest from Myeongdong Station is open from 10:45 am to 12:00 am.

    5. Asian Family Restaurant Dongmoon in Nami Island

    Located in BAPLEX, center plaza of Nami Island, Asian Family Restaurant Dongmoon is a halal certified restaurant which serves more than 30 varieties of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Singaporean, and Vietnamese food, using only the freshest ingredients every day. We ate Noodles with Black Soybean Sauce and Bulgogi with Rice. When it’s cold outside and every food you can think of seems too heavy or rich, these marvelous bowls of comfort are your safest bet. Both were good enough to satisfy our palate. My sister was happy to finally taste authentic black noodles she usually sees in Korean television series. 🙂


    6. Shao Long (少龍) Chinese Pub in Myeongdong

    There’s a lot of delicious gimbap rolls and bibimbap restaurants to go to in Myeongdong, but the lines are long, the tables are full, and the diners are often drunk and loud. There’s no better place to feed us on a cold and late night out for dinner but Shao Long (少龍) Chinese Pub, which was only three stores away from our hotel.

    While ambiance and interior design aren’t much of a looker, food deserved a thumbs up. The Spicy Fried Rice and Gimbap were good, not greasy, and did not leave us feeling heavy afterwards. Prices, as you can see on the menu below, will not put your wallet in danger. It’s also worth to note that there was only one staff who welcomed us in, the same staff who took our orders, cooked the food, served it and handed us the bill. Neat!


    7. Korean Food Court inside Folk Museum, Lotte World

    Lotte World has a wide variety of dining choices but we opted to have lunch in one of the restaurants in the Korean Folk Museum for a more traditional Korean fare. This food court in the museum looked like Singapore’s Food Republic. We had Beef Rib Stew, Korean-style Raw Beef Mixed Rice, and Octopus Rice. At first we felt a little squeamish about the thought of eating octopus. But guess what? Out of the three, we loved it the most. The octopus’ texture fell somewhere between soft and chewy.  The raw beef, on the other hand, beckoned an interesting riff on the usual bulgogi rice. It was blissfully meaty with an amazing depth of flavor.

    8. Paris Croissant Cafe in Palace Station

    Near the palaces, the all-day Paris Croissant Cafe in Palace Station revolves around the fresh, artisan breads and pastries that demand attention. Especially if you love bread, picking a favorite anything from this cafe is like picking a favorite child: it’s impossible. The buttery and flaky pineapple pastry was beyond good. The sausage with curry filling was also a hit. These are just what you need to start (or end) a day. 🙂 Paris Croissant also has a branch in Incheong International Airport.

    9. San Jin Grill Restaurant in Myeongdong

    Food tripping in Seoul won’t be complete without Samgyeopsal. We’re lucky that Korean restaurants specializing in grilled pork belly BBQ are literally beside and across our hotel. 😀 We went to San Jin Grill Restaurant in Myeongdong for dinner to celebrate our friend’s birthday. Our meal consisted of thick and fatty slices of pork belly meat that’s seasoned well. Accompaniments consumed included lettuce, sliced raw garlic, onions, and aged kimchi. The thin slices of marinated pork were perfectly tender with unique and bold spiciness. We couldn’t get enough! 🙂

    10. Four Seasons 100% Milk Snowflake House

    After a feast day of epic proportions, don’t forget to try Korean desserts. We capped off our last night in Myeongdong with Injeolmi Bingsu, the best-selling choice of the house. When faced with a sinful treat like this, solo dining can be a pain. The Injeolmi Bingsu is topped with almond slices, pumpkin seeds, rice cakes, soybean powder, and a great big pile of shaved ice. What’s intriguing was that when the ice started melting, the Injeolmi powder turned chewy. The condensed milk furthermore made each spoonful luxuriously smooth and tasty. Patbingsu is a cool dessert that’s substantial without being too rich. With all its different components, it won’t bore your taste buds for sure. 😉

    Wrap Up

    With an empty stomach and strong resolve, you can fill up on must-eat Korean food in Seoul where food prices don’t have to blow your budget. Take your friends along on a culinary adventure, and depending how much you devour, you can get away with spending less than $30 a head all day. Home-style Korean options shine the brightest for my liking, but ultimately, whether you’re in the mood for barbecue, a vat of kimchi soup, or even a bibimbap-esque salad, there are certainly restaurants in almost every corner that can efficiently and happily satisfy your Korean food craving.

    [schema type=”review” name=”Top 10 Korean Restaurants and Cafes We Tried in Seoul, South Korea” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-21″ ]

  • Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    It was my last night in the condominium unit in Eastwood, so my housemates and I decided to go out for a goodbye dinner. I chose Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken in Eastwood Mall since it’s a feel-good place where we could have great food and an awesome chat without having to splurge a lot. Established in 2011, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken serves grilled Portuguese-style chicken with their signature African-Portuguese spice mix brought all the way from Africa. The term “Peri-Peri” refers to African bird’s eye chili, a key ingredient in creating their customized sauces.

    Review of Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Whether you’re on the lookout for a solo lunch spot or a chic hangout place with coworkers in Eastwood, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken is the quite the move. It’s located on a prime spot on the second floor of the mall. The space is enough to accommodate big families and spontaneous group dinners. You’ll be delighted and impressed by the character diversity showcased by the colorful bottles displayed against the walls and the wooden finishes that bring just the right accent to the dining area. The lights provide profound energy that adds warmth and welcoming vibe to the setting.

    Food:

    The Rio (PhP 695) is a phenomenal plate with one whole hearty peri-peri chicken with java rice, java garlic rice, fries, and tortilla. The chicken was perfectly cooked and amazing with all the side dishes. It came out really juicy in the middle and somewhat charred outside. The staff said that the Rio Peri-Peri is one of the best things on the menu, and we agree. It’s a solid order with a “yes” factor to the taste.

    Topped with grilled peri-peri chicken strips, onions, tomatoes with perinnaise sauce, the Ala Peri-Peri Pizza (PhP 350) was another great entree that can represent what Peri-Peri chicken is all about. Chicken strips were on point texturally with a nice interplay of hot-off-the-grill, savory and rustic flavor. It’s easy to be head-over-heels with this one!

    Price for Value:

    Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar in Eastwood Mall offers soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and chicken platters that can make you truly satisfied. Average budget per person is at around PhP 300. It’s not too bad considering the quality of food and friendly service. Come hungry and leave full! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/peripericharcoalchicken/” name=”Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken” description=”Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 4706884 or +63 9174222117″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-02-16″ ]