Rochkirstin | com

Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Whether you’re trying to supply sweets for your family and friends, or just need to wind down with some coffee after a rough day, Sweet Avenue Cafe along Leon Guinto Street can be your new go-to. It’s an extremely warm and friendly environment in a rather more quiet neighborhood in Malate, Manila. Their cupcakes are excellent, as are the cookies and cakes. Made-to-order cakes with cute designs for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings are available as well.

    Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance:

    Sweet Avenue Cafe is what you might call “homey” or “lived in,” a charming place to grab a drink, have a casual low-stakes dinner, get your sugar rush fix, and host some other situations—reunion with old friends, party with a group of about 30 people, or your next first date. A large glass pastry display counter stands at the center, immediately welcoming guests from the entrance. Paintings on the wall show nature and places the owners have visited. Wooden furniture further add warmth, sophistication and character in the room.

    Food:

    Any of the sweets and pastries here are a safe bet.

    Love matcha? The Matcha Chocolate Cake (whole cake-PhP 1200, slice-PhP 125) is quite good. Featuring four layers of dense and rich chocolate cake, the matcha in it wasn’t too overpowering. Instead, it brought both rounded sweetness and a pleasant bitterness, providing a depth that’s light and refreshing. With the top layer outfitted with whipped cream, this cake is a delicious hit.

    The Raspberry Cupcake (PhP 55) almost got me in the mood for Valentine’s Day. 😛 This pretty in pink, berry-luscious, moist cupcake had a tart and tangy flavor in a thick melt-in-your-mouth cloud of buttercream. I enjoyed it a lot!

    Sweet Avenue Cafe’s Assorted Squares (PhP 120 for 9 pieces, PhP 220 for 18 pieces) and Cookies (Chocolate Chip-PhP 20, White Choco Macadamia-PhP 25, Matcha Almond-PhP 28) are presentable gifts to bring home this holiday season. Light in consistency, they are tasty in bite-size pieces and the flavors are interesting.

    As far as pairing goes, you can go with ice blended drinks, enjoy a few with hot coffee, or go bold with fresh guyabano shake or halo-halo. Other recommended drinks are as follows: Cafe Americano, Cafe Latte, Cappucino, Cafe Mocha, Caramel Machiato, White Mocha, Irish Mocha (PhP 80-120).

    Price for Value:

    Sweet Avenue Cafe is a cafe/coffee shop shoot off with reliable cakes and pastries. Average price per head at PhP 100-200 is considerably affordable. If you work or live in the area, consider yourself lucky to be in the vicinity. (Note: Closed on Sundays) Gotta try their rice meals on my next visit! 🙂

    Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30AM-9:00PM

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/sweetavenuecafe/” name=”Sweet Avenue Cafe” description=”1970 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila 1004″ rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 2469069 ext:944 or (02) 668 2340 Ext 5238547″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-28″ ]

  • Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)

    Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)

    My sister surprised us when she booked seats for four (via Deal Grocer) at Café Ilang-Ilang, Manila Hotel in celebration of her 24th birthday last November 26, 2016. We only learned about it when she dropped us at the hotel entrance on the day itself. 😛 Happily, we went around the lobby and corridors to have a glimpse of the grandeur of “The Grand Dame” (for the first time) and then experienced a scrumptious lunch in the spacious buffet restaurant. 🙂 My heart raced with excitement. Everything looked sooo beautiful! Christmas adornments and sparkly decorations were all over the venue.

    Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)

    Ambiance:

    Café Ilang-Ilang is one of the most famous and highly raved restaurants housed in a hotel in Manila. The interior exudes a casual elegance that fits in with the decor in the rest of the theme. The color palette is mostly brown shades, ranging from delicate beige to rich chocolate brown hues. What made it interesting to look at is the wonderful play of textures and patterns in different types of fabrics. It’s these architectural and design touches that create such a sense of old world sophistication with a twist of modernity. Lovely!

    Food:

    Serving an array of cuisines from across all continents in well-positioned buffet counters, Café Ilang-Ilang for the most part looks like a renaissance of chic casual dining. Designed artfully to satisfy the distinguishing palate, it features an extensive selection of food delights with a fresh spin on various open kitchens and a delectable desserts space that highlights its tradition of unique and excellent dining.

    We started our culinary adventure at the Italian section, where we picked up some deli and made our own fresh pasta and pizza. The spinach ravioli was captivating! We savored every bite. Italian food induced so much pleasure that we had to remind ourselves to save space in our tummy as we had to visit over 10 more food stations next.

    We headed to the appetizers section which displayed wows and rows of tables with tantalizing cheese, bread, salads, and cold meat—all nice for the eyes and savory for the taste buds.

    Café Ilang-Ilang’s central stations serve a mix of Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Korean, and Mediterranean specialties. The range covers from Thai Tom Yang and flavorful Kare Kare, Patatim, Peking Duck, Tandoori Lamb Chops, Steak Rendang, and a plethora of Korean side dishes such as kimchi to even a dedicated spread of Halal food. There’s also a meat corner where we each had a slice of smoking Churrasco with Prime Rib, Wagyu Beef, and finger-lickin’ Baby Back Ribs.

    Just when we were so full and about to leave, we visited all corners of the restaurant once more and were struck to find out that there’s also a Japanese food section situated in another dining hall. The sushi and sashimi were presented neatly and colorfully. This was one of those times when we wished we could take some food home ’cause our stomachs can’t take it anymore. 😛

    For desserts, we especially enjoyed ALL the flavors of gelato, which were not too sweet but really, really good. The cakes, chocolate fountain, and other pastries were also excellent.

    Price for Value:

    The variety and the number of food selections at Café Ilang-Ilang may not surpass Sofitel’s Spiral or EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s HEAT, but these are soulful food that takes a journey through the brain yet doesn’t for a second forget its purpose: to delight and dazzle, sure, but also to comfort and please on a deeper level. With the classy atmosphere and friendly customer service to boot, price for value is fair. Rate per person was discounted at PhP 1,195.5 from a total of PhP 4790 in Deal Grocer’s awesome deal: Lunch Buffet for 4 at Café Ilang-Ilang (Monday-Saturday). Thanks, again, to my sister for her treat!

    The Birthday Girl

    If you’re interested to try and take advantage of the deal, please note that the Deal Grocer offer is redeemable Monday to Saturday for Lunch (11AM to 2:30PM) only from October 31, 2016 to March 25, 2017 EXCLUDING declared holidays and NOT valid on Sundays.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/” name=”The Manila Hotel” description=”One Rizal Park, 0913, Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 527 0011″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-27″ ]

    Opening hours
    Breakfast: Daily 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM
    Lunch: Daily 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
    Dinner: Daily 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

    Café Ilang-Ilang Rates:
    Breakfast Buffet (Mondays to Sundays): PhP 1,450.00 NET per person
    Brunch (Sundays only): PhP 2,400.00 NET per person with bottomless chilled juices
    Lunch (Mondays to Saturdays): PhP 2,150.00 NET per person
    Dinner (Themed Nights):
    Mondays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
    Tuesdays – Mediterranean Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
    Wednesdays – Asian Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
    Thursdays – Surf And Turf Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
    Fridays – Seafood Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
    Saturdays – American Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
    Sundays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person

  • Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

    Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

    At this time of the year, most of us take “dieting” to a pause and reward ourselves with decadent food. Christmas celebrations are everywhere! I’ve been to at least five events with different groups in two weeks, and the parties don’t stop until the first week of the New Year. Last Friday, we held our company Christmas get-together at Planet Grapes – Shangri-La. Food served buffet-style from a special menu were palatable, toothsome, and even more enticing with wine. We enjoyed merry-making and eating until we waved a white flag. Full and satisfied tummy = blissful surrender. 🙂

    Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

    When it comes to ambiance, Planet Grapes definitely knows how to push all the right buttons. With glamorous interior design, dim lighting, enomatic machines, and wine bottles displayed on the walls, this restaurant makes for the perfect balance of convenience and space for a party of 70-80 people.

    Planet Grapes is a great go-to place for a la carte meals, but it can also be dressed up and host private special occasions. So whether heading in with a group of dining companions in search of a decent function room or just coupling up for a quiet, intimate lunch or dinner, you won’t need to look further. Street food meets wine at Planet Grapes, where wine lovers young and old can enjoy international wine with Filipino comfort food.

    Food Rundown: Street Food Meets Wine

    In my book, Paella is a party dish, the kind of endeavor you’d only undertake if you plan on feeding at least 10, if not 20 people. Planet Grapes’ Seafood Paella worked as a great comfort food, elegant and down-to-earth all at once. With the top layer of rice nice and crisp like those of big Spanish paella pans, the result was a hot and hearty meal, full of shrimps, slices of green and red peppers, and eggs. The best part? The rice soaked up all the flavor of the saffron, so even without the feisty ingredients, taste was spot on.

    Porchetta was as delicious as it looked, and we’re glad it’s available in Planet Grapes’ Christmas Package. How can you go wrong with succulent pork with tender, juicy, well-seasoned meat and crunchy skin? The impressiveness of this monster roast makes it a “can’t-miss dish” for the holiday table, but it’s so good that’ll you’ll want to eat it all year. Yum!

    Beautifully moist and evenly cooked, the Chicken Barbecue hit the right sweet, tangy, fruity, and spicy notes a barbecue sauce should. With an intoxicating smoky-sweet aroma, it was meaty, flavorful, and not too saucy. Love it!

    Steamed meatloaf prepared the Filipino way, the Pork Embutido had a slight pâté-liver-like smokiness from the ground meat combined with the sweetness of the raisins and the bits of veggies stuffed in it. It’s another Pinoy celebration staple that’s simple and homey.

    Buttered garlic shrimps were cooked with garlic and butter—two of the greatest pleasures in life, also the two ingredients I could probably live off of for the rest of my life. 😛 Every last juicy bite of the shrimp was completely worth devouring and cheating your diet for. Some of us kept returning to the buffet table to get more of these!

    A bowl of Tinolang Manok was particularly warm, wholesome, and soothing. It’s chicken soup made with bone-chicken, wedges of green papaya, and ginger-flavored broth. If you’re wondering how’s tinolang Manok with wine? I thought it’s fantastic. At Planet Grapes, you can be adventurous and try to mix and match the pairing of food and wine or ask the staff for the best recommendation. A sip of white wine provided a welcome note of freshness and contrast, almost like a squeeze of lemon or an extra layer of flavor. Usually, the saltier the broth, the better high-acid wines tend to taste.

    Hugel 2013 Alsatian Riesling came with a bouquet of green apple, peach, lime, almond, and a plush mouthfeel with the usual lashings of acidity.

    For desserts, we had Suman with Latik (Coconut Caramel Sauce) and Chocolate Balls and Leche Flan (Sweet Egg Custard). Both were heavenly luscious! It’s really hard to choose one over the other. These are the kinds of treats that make me close my eyes for a moment while solely appreciating the taste and texture of food with a smile on my face. Thank you, Planet Grapes. #foodporn #foodcoma 🙂 Happy holidays, everyone!

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.planetgrapes.com.ph/” name=”Planet Grapes” description=”Discover wine, one grape at a time. North Wing, Shangri-la Plaza, Epifanio de los Santos Ave, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 531 8207″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-27″ ]

  • Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Fatburger’s first branch in the Philippines is now open in Glorietta 2! What’s behind the excitement? A quick look in this setting would probably lead you to believe this is just another American casual burger joint in the mall, one where you can hang out with friends and enjoy comfort food. However, this restaurant will probably deserve a more serious stamp of approval for burger-lovers as it offers a fun “create-your-own” ordering experience. There’s no shortage of ways of build your meal. You can choose different ingredients and add-ons for the burger. Want bone-in and boneless chicken wings? You decide. Choose the flavor and the heat level, the dips, and so much more.

    My family and I visited Fatburger during its soft launch to taste some of its best-selling dishes and learn what’s it’s like to dine in a restaurant which was founded over 69 years ago. Aside from US and the Philippines, Fatburger is also present in other nations including China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, India, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Tunisia, Macau, Pakistan, Oman, Panama, Singapore, Canada, and Qatar.

    Review of Fatburger (Glorietta 2, Makati City)

    Ambiance:

    Creating a modern interior of a restaurant that has been existing for ages doesn’t seem an easy task, especially if it’s one of the most storied ones in history. Fueling in creativity, the designers of Fatburger must have made a good job. The color scheme looks subtle and elegant, with neutral colors for the fixtures, walls, and ceiling and red and yellow on the logo as accents. On the surface, this works to positively ooze charm and character as well. Overall, the vibe is casual and relaxed.

    Fatburger is appointed with decent natural lighting across the dining area, but the fancy spotlights even makes the venue look more stylish and appealing as a post-date place to grab snacks in the heart of Makati City. From the entrance, the order counter is properly positioned upfront so customers would see the menu as they walk in. This is then surrounded with a choice of seating at individual tables or at a trendy communal table that’s perfect for mixing and mingling.

    Service:

    Customer service is pretty straightforward. Check the Fatburger menu, order and pay at the counter, and wait for your orders to be served at your table. Need something? Attendants take and manage requests efficiently to ensure a smooth and pleasant dining experience.

    Food:

    Light and hearty, the Garden Salad (PhP 235) may be the best choice for salad lovers and vegetarians. The greens were remarkably fresh and crisp, and the tomatoes had a refreshing snap and brightness that positively screamed garden. The cheese on top disguises the fact that you’re eating something healthy beneath. Aside from making the taste balance and more coherent, it definitely helps to trick the brain into actually enjoying the salad. 😛

    The Chili Cheese Fries (PhP 165) were soft and addictive. The fries would be boring on their own, but the chili managed to tie everything together, while the cheese added sharpness to contrast the richness of the dish. It’s another lovely appetizer to start to the meal.

    Fatburger serves different kinds of burger sizes, and each size upgrades with a layer of patty: original (1/4 lb), double (1/2 lb), triple (3/4 lb), and quad. Customers who would successfully finish The Quad alone will be awarded with a certificate of acknowledgement with congratulatory greeting from Fatburger on conquering the challenge. For huge fans of burgers, it just feels awesome to be at the top at the food chain! Decadent in the extreme for sure, this is “the burger” you eat before standing in front of a firing squad: a last meal of epic proportions. 😉

    For a regular meal, the Original (1/4 lb) (PhP 195) was enough to keep us satisfied. It’s made with chuck-eye beef patty that’s grilled to perfection. It may not be as intense and tremendous in size as The Quad, but it’s a solid burger that’s spot on tasty and not boring. You can’t go wrong.

    Fatburger’s Chicken Sandwich (1/4 lb) (PhP 195) is available in three preparations: Grilled, Crispy, and Cajun. We tried the Cajun-spiced chicken sandwich and we enjoyed it. The chicken was tender and it had a beautiful blend of salt and spices.

    Moist and juicy, the chicken wings were our mighty favorites. We got Sweet Bourbon Bbq – Boneless Chicken Wings (PhP 185, Small – 5 pieces) and Honey Garlic – Bone-in Chicken Wings (PhP 175, Taster – 4 pieces) in medium hot level served with celery, carrots, and our choice of dressing. Well spiced and both sweet, these flavors are a nice departure from the standard buffalo. My sister liked sweet bourbon bbq more, while my mom and I favored the honey garlic. If you want piping hot, get the Death Valley or Scorchin’ and be mighty brave.


    Kick’N Chicken Wrap (PhP 195) is not a rival of the burger but a great complement for a full meal. It’s made with boneless wings tossed in wing sauce with rice, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing wrapped in a tortilla. The ingredients were put together firmly and tightly. It’s structured in a way that allows the flavors of each piece to burst in the mouth while still providing spots in the chew for hot juices of chicken to collect, ready to be gushed and dribbled out the moment you bite into it. Eat the chicken wrap right away though or it will end up soggy.

    For drinks, we had Lemonade (PhP 65) and Oreo Cookies and Ice Cream Milkshake (PhP 195) which were served as great accompaniments to food at Fatburger.

    Price for Value:

    Fatburger Philippines ushers in flavor bombs beyond the original beef burger we all know and love. Keep in mind that it’s not about burgers alone. Buffalo wings, fries, and other sandwiches are also available and they are all reasonably priced. There’s also a full bar with beer, cocktails, and wine averaging at PhP 150-PhP 200 a glass. Wait…burger and wine? Why not? We’ll try that next time!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/FatburgerPhilippines/” name=”Fatburger Philippines” description=”Glorietta 2, Ayala Center, Palm Dr, Makati” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (800) 459-4647″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-10″ ]

  • Thai Cooking Class by Chef in Stilettos (White Plains, Quezon City)

    Thai Cooking Class by Chef in Stilettos (White Plains, Quezon City)

    In terms of tastes and spices, Thai cuisine is one of the more distinct cuisines in Asia that I like. Thai dishes mostly consist of strong aromas, heavy spicing, and the the kind of bitter and hot flavors that can make you weep simultaneous tears of pain and pleasure. In Metro Manila, there’s a number of Thai restaurants but only a few really serve the next best thing to the authentic version. Thai at Silk, Silk Road, and Thai Bistro were some of the restaurants we tried before that deserved a huge thumbs up. Behind all these was “Chef in Stilettos” Cecille Chang who’s now busy imparting her passion, knowledge and skills for cooking Thai food through classes held at her condo unit in BGC. 8-10 students are ideal.

    Chef in Stilettos shared her glowing techniques and secret recipes to make perennial favorites such as the Spring Rolls, Papaya Salad (Som Tam), Hot and Sour Prawn Soup (Tom Yum Kung), Green Curry with Chicken (Kaengkhiawwaan Kai), and Stir Fried Noodles in Thai Style (Pad Thai). Thai cooking classes are held usually in Chef Cecille’s condo unit in BGC, but this special class was set in a friend’s house.

    Attending this Thai cooking class was a good chance for me to go to the other side of the fence. As a food blogger who always writes food and restaurant reviews, I thought it was a fun and unique experience to test and “critique” my own. 😛 So, how good or bad did it go?

    Thai Cooking Class by Chef in Stilettos

    Chef Cecille started with the introduction of the different vegetables and spices that are being used in cooking Thai food. She taught us the proper way of cutting veggies and had us write our names on mini chalkboards so we could clip them to our plates and bowls later. All ingredients were readily prepared and sectioned per dish. Recipes were provided in clearbooks for easy reference.

    Chef Cecille first demonstrated how to cook the dishes per recipe and let us taste before we proceed with our turn. Students cooked by twos with the chef guiding on the side, so beginners like me could stay worry-free. 🙂

    5 Thai Dishes We Cooked

    1. Spring Rolls

    As a crowd-pleasing appetizer, fried spring rolls were made up of pork, shrimp, mushrooms, rice vermicelli, and a jumble of crunchy raw vegetables. The noodles had to be dry before the cooked ingredients could be rolled into the rice paper. The guiding principle in rolling is to put less filling so it will be easier to fold and seal the rolls. For the sauce, the classic sweet, sour and savory number from sugar, water, fish sauce and lime juice fits the bill perfectly.

    2. Papaya Salad (Som Tam)

    Som Tam consisted of shredded green papaya that we pounded with a mortar and pestle to release its tart, bracing juice. It was seasoned with lime, tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili heat which resulted to sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavors. Green papaya (picked unripe) almost had a neutral cucumber-like flavor, unlike the orange-colored papaya with black seeds. Among all the dishes in the classes, I thought this one was the easiest to prepare because it didn’t involve cooking. We just pounded the papaya and mixed in the rest of the ingredients.

    3. Hot and Sour Prawn Soup (Tom Yum Kung)

    A bowl of Tom Yum is hearty enough to be served as a stand-alone soup course or, as the Thais do it, a main course eaten with rice. This is a reliable comfort food with a clean and zingy flavor. Mussels can be used as a substitute for prawns which won’t give a significant absence of seafood taste. Providing the most savory notes here has to be the tom yum paste, which now can be bought in some supermarkets in Manila (if you don’t want to create from scratch). With chicken stock and prawn stock, coconut cream, mushrooms, fresh kaffir leaves, lemongrass, galangal, lime juice, plus a handful of chilies stocked in the fridge, a tasty dinner is just a chicken breast and a few herbs away.

    4. Green Curry with Chicken (Kaengkhiawwaan Kai)

    Curry has many different versions, but the green curry with chicken of Thailand just might be the upgrade you’re looking for. It starts with the blend of coconut milk and coconut cream as base, green curry paste, kaffir lime leaves, sweet basil leaves, and then layered with aromatic spices and chilies. I just followed as instructed and couldn’t believe that with just a few minutes of cooking, the chicken breast became tender and delicious. The green curry turned out as a super satisfying dish! 🙂 More chili can be added to heighten up the spiciness level.

    5. Stir Fried Noodles in Thai Style (Pad Thai)

    Everyone was waiting for Pad Thai! 🙂 Why not? It was fun and intriguing to learn how to make what’s known as the global ambassador for the glories of Thai food. These simple stir-fried rice noodles are almost certainly one of the best-known examples of Thai cuisine throughout the world. We cooked the Pad Thai tossing tofu, prawns, shallows, chopped pork tenderloin, dried shrimps, and chewy flat rice noodles in a few minutes then adding the sauce which delivered a powerful umami punch.

    The prep list looked intimidating with a long list of ingredients, but we were rewarded with an awesomely flavorful, authentic version of this famous Thai noodle dish. With so many ingredients, laying them all out within quick reach in the order they will be used will make the process easier. Fried sunny side up and ground roasted peanuts further added a good contrast to the textures present.

    Wrap Up

    “Chef in Stilettos” Cecille Chang is a funky and kikay chef who’s easy to work around with. She’s a great instructor and also someone who carries good conversations like a friend. She has completed a 12-month intensive culinary training all over Thailand, including special sessions with the royal family’s private chef, and has numerous other accomplishments under her belt when it comes to Asian cuisine.

    This Thai Cooking Class certainly brought happiness because for the first time in forever, we felt extremely proud and very satisfied with our own cooking. 🙂 Rate is PhP 2,500 per session per student. Call +63956 3789129 to register or visit Thai Cooking Class Facebook page to know more.

  • Review of Green Pastures (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Review of Green Pastures (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    After careful thought and consideration, I decided to move in to a condo unit near our office in Eastwood at the start of November. My parents visited me on my second week of stay to see “my home during weekdays” and get around Eastwood Mall at the same time. To give them a warm welcome, I treated them to dinner at Green Pastures in Eastwood Mall, a farm-to-table concept by Robby Goco of Cyma. We enjoyed all the organic, local, and original dishes we were served with.

    Review of Green Pastures (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

    Ambiance:

    Green Pastures is one of the most charming environments you can find in Eastwood Mall. Tables and chairs are well-spaced and are matched with the same wooden finish. The ceiling introduces further layers of texture and draping greens. Interior design is minimal but large windows make the space look posh. The dim surroundings and the clear view of Eastwood Mall grounds and the side of 1800 Building outside make this restaurant somewhat achieve an all-round air of calm professionalism.

    Service:

    Service was gracious. We were well taken care of. The assigned waiter asked us about the food and promptly attended to other requests. My only gripe was that it took a while for orders to arrive. In any case, waiting time is a good time to start a conversation and catch up on updates with friends or family on the table.

    Food:

    As an appetizer, the Pinoy Egg (PhP 150) tasted far superior to the typical chicken egg we cook at home not only because it’s actually duck egg (just like balut but no weird and slimy inside) but also since it was wrapped in Green Pastures’ house-made longanisa. It had a rich and smooth consistency. We cut it into four and mixed together with the greens to form a salad. If you feel like trying a modern-day Filipino delicacy, this is a must-order. 😉

    Vegetarian Burger that Doesn’t Suck (PhP 430) looked interesting on the menu. Fun food names like this make you think. We have tried a number of vegetarian burgers from different restaurants before, and this one was a standout. It truly delivered its promise! Taste wasn’t “fake” because the patty was not made with fake meat but with a custom blend of organic chickpea, mushrooms, leeks, celery, and eggplant. The vegetarian burger was served on a brioche bun and with sweet potato fries on the side.

    The Octopus and Bone Marrow Specialty Pasta (PhP 425) is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a unique-tasting pasta. The first bite was unexpectedly complex for such a simple-looking dish. The marrow, completely emulsified in the sauce, added a velvety smoothness balanced by the sweetness of the octopus and brightened by garlic passato. Beautifully complemented by the crunch of the crumbs, the fusilli were tender yet retained some firmness. Overall, I found the dish sensational.

    Hot and hearty, the Arroz Con Pollo (PhP 390) can be described as an after-work comfort food. Closely related to paella, it’s known as a traditional dish of Spain and Latin America. The white polished tinawon rice was flavored with konbu broth and mixed with the elegance of organic roasted chicken and crispy chicken skin.

    Price for Value:

    Organic and decent meals await at Green Pastures in Eastwood Mall. At a glance, diners may grumble about the steep costs, but portions that sized for sharing and thoughtfully cooked fare help offset any negatives. It’s worth a try. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Pastures-Eastwood/780087915410287″ name=”Green Pastures” description=”Third Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City ” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 6613612″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-11-23″ ]

  • Review of Beefy’s New York Grill (Solenad 3, Nuvali, Santa Rosa)

    Review of Beefy’s New York Grill (Solenad 3, Nuvali, Santa Rosa)

    From the same owner of B&B Burgers & Brewskies, Beefy’s New York Grill, which opened recently at Solenad 3 Nuvali, is simply a cool spot throwing down some seriously delicious food. We had our lunch here last Sunday together with Chef Marc Nocon (part-owner) and my KTG friends. 🙂 The main attractions, at least for me, are the burgers. Beefy’s burgers are made with handcrafted quarter pound US angus beef patties grilled to medium. These work surprisingly well with the rest of the menu: salads, fries, chicken wings, dawgs, madwiches, and yes, even rice meals! Selecting food favorites at Beefy’s is like picking favorite children. It’s not an easy decision because you love them all. 😛

    Review of Beefy’s New York Grill (Solenad 3, Nuvali, Santa Rosa)

    Ambiance:

    Beef’ys New York Grill not only has colorful food on the menu. Its design looks literally colorful as well both from the outside and inside. With abundant of natural lighting from the tall windows, the space gives diners a welcoming and inviting feel. As one would expect from a burger joint, overall ambiance is decidedly casual with a smattering of tables for groups. The walls are featured with New York-inspired drawings that are very Instagrammable. I guess these can pass as stylish backdrops for your next OOTD.

    Service:

    Order at the counter and wait for food to be served at your table. There were people manning the counter and there are staff also walking around to attend to requests. Service was prompt and friendly.

    Food:

    Lunch started with Mrs. Tso Salad (PhP 160), which was made with a mix of fresh chopped romaine, Tso chicken, sweet peppers and onions, and sriracha dressing. Salads are not exactly my most favorite go-to meal option, but we just had to try this for variety. 😛 I’m glad it wasn’t disappointing at all! Mrs. Tso Salad’s chicken had the ideal contrast, thanks to the crisp crust and juicy meat.

    Chimichurri Fries (PhP 220) packed a great combo of yummy braised pork belly, chimichurri, sour cream, and salsa. The onions and sauce added some extra tang and sweetness, too. Best fries in Solenad 3? I can believe it.

    East Village Bacon Tempura (PhP 180) came out hearty to the bite. Lightly battered, the tempura bacon could be sinful for your diet, but it’s so good and even better when dipped into the sriracha honey vinegar for a spicy kick. The sweetness of the honey and the tanginess of the vinegar balanced each other out.

    Spam Chips (PhP 180) were presented as another pile of pleasure. Well, who doesn’t love spam? Paired with honey and black pepper mustard, these spam chips were almost tempting to be eaten with rice. You can’t go wrong. It’s really satisfying.

    That Chili Con Nachos (PhP 200) wasn’t shy on ingredients. It brought massive amount of flavor with a generous helping of chili con carne, egg, cheddar, mozzarella cheese, sour cream, and salsa. This dish had an aromatic spice and texture that’s far from trashy.

    When you want a departure from basic buffalo sauce for chicken wings, get General Tso (PhP 380 for 12, PhP 220 for 6). Topped with soy ginger chili glaze, taste was sweet, salty, tangy, and bright, fitting right into my definition of delicious. It’s a home run and a must-order at Beefy’s.

    Aladeen (PhP 380 for 12, PhP 220 for 6) wings were cooked with an earthy, savory, and wonderfully spiced coating plus a perfectly placed herby accent. Coriander garlic cilantro cream as an ideal accompaniment rounded out the taste of cumin in the chicken.

    A huge upgrade to the usual hotdog in a bun, The Franchise (PhP 200 for a la carte, PhP 225 with fries) consisted of gotham mac, bacon crumble, and charred coleslaw, making it truly a feast in your mouth. The luscious and creamy macaroni and cheese in this dawg was fun and unconventional.

    Cooked with crushed corn flakes and brushed with General Tso sauce, Tso Fried Chicken (PhP 240 for a la carte, PhP 265 with fries) arrived pretty on the table. It ended up with extra-crunchy crust and the meat was still plenty juicy. Charred coleslaw and lettuce gave a raw crunch. Loved it! 🙂

    Beefy’s burger patties are moist, supple, and wonderfully savory, beautifully complemented with different ingredients that bring such great flavors. Beefy’s Tribeca (PhP 325 for a la carte, PhP 350 with fries) was spot on. It consisted of a triple patty, triple emmenthal cheese, bacon jam, onions and peppers, supah sauce, lettuce, and tomatoes. No doubt, it was superbly executed.

    With deep beefy flavor, The Empire (PhP 260 for a la carte, PhP 285 with fries) was composed of fried egg, emmenthal cheese, bacon, fried red onion strings, supah sauce, and arugula. Bacon, egg, and beef patty all in one bun sounded like heaven. I also enjoyed the countervailing flavors of the arugula and the inherent flavor of onion. Getting fries on the side is recommended, especially if you’re looking into adding a salty tinge to the dish.

    Can’t finish the Tribeca but think that The Empire is too “thin” for your appetite? Order the Notorious (PhP 260 for a la carte, PhP 285 with fries)! This double-patty burger largely met the mark, an old school prep with your classic interplay of cheddar and emmenthal cheese, onions and peppers, and supah sauce. It’s not too big that you’ll immediately need a nap after eating it. Apart from the duet of cheese (that I liked very much), the onions were also spot on. Again, Beefy’s delivered in spades. 🙂

    Mains

    The crispiness of the corn flake-crusted boneless chicken in Beefy’s Chicken Fried Steak (PhP 200) was a complete standout. The chicken came out tender. Combined with mash charred coleslaw and gravy and eaten with rice, this dish was eminently balanced.

    The Tapa (PhP 240) was served with marinated and grilled US beef shortplate, 2 eggs, rice and tapa sauce. Taste and texture of the “beef bacon” were impressive. This dish is worth a trip to check out on its own merit. 😉  I’d be happy to have this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s that awesome! The good news? You can opt to order extra gravy for only PhP 25. 😛

    Desserts

    Time for dessert libation! We were very full at this point, but for desserts, we had to say yes. 🙂 The Wiffle Waffle (PhP 160) was a tantalizing take on your childhood waffles. Topped with ice cream and cayenne caramel, these Belgian waffles were crispy and golden. I liked that the syrup and ice cream were not too sweet but delectable enough to revel in.

    The dense and creamy Bananacotta (PhP 120) was a real treat, a nice ending to a heavy meal. Made with banana custard, sliced bananas, lady fingers, and chocolate ganache, the banana panna cotta turned out as light, refreshing, and smooth as it should be. Last but not least, the golden-toasted S’mores (PhP 120) were simple, gooey and good.

    Price for Value:

    Beefy’s New York Grill brings in a hip crowd for its NY fare. It can be the next certified hot spot for comfort food, and sweet treats. Their “food coma”-inducing burgers are your best bet and the good news is that these babies won’t stretch your budget. Reasonable prices make it equally a comfortable venue for lunch meetings and fun dates. Too bad it’s far away from home. In any case you’re visiting Solenad in Nuvali, know that this restaurant is waiting. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Beefys-New-York-Grill-1830853233804152/” name=”Beefy’s New York Grill” description=”Solenad 3, Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (049) 544 6606″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-11-20″ ]

  • Top 10 Places We Visited in South Korea in Four Days

    Top 10 Places We Visited in South Korea in Four Days

    Ask five friends which places are the best to visit in South Korea and you’ll get five different sets of answers. South Korea has many fascinating tourist attractions, and it’s easy to fall in love with its beautiful places. ❤Receiving tips and advice from everyone’s “Korea Bucket List” made us feel more and more excited for the trip. Thanks to recommendations, creating our own itinerary was a piece of cake.

    My fiancé, sister, best friend, and I went around Seoul in four days with its efficient mass transport system. Since we’re all into trendy stuff, adorable cafes and delicious restaurants, what better place to stay than right at the heart of shopping in Seoul: Myeongdong. 🙂 (Read this post for my review of Casa Myeongdong Guesthouse and Budget Hotel.)

    Our perfect idea of travel was to taste the best of Korean street food, shop for Korean makeup and skin care, try out Korean fashion, visit Korean palaces and wear hanbok, and simply enjoy the city’s cool weather. If you’re like us and are planning to go to Korea soon, this post may be helpful. Read on! 😛

    Top 10 Places We Visited in South Korea in Four Days

    1. Grevin Seoul Museum (서울 그레뱅 뮤지엄)

    Grevin Seoul is the biggest wax museum in Asia. It holds several wax figures of known celebrities like Psy, Lee Min Ho, Jang Geun Suk, John Lennon, Brad Pitt, Jackie Chan and famous icons such as Nelson Mandela, Pope Francis, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Michael Jordan. They looked and felt almost real, which was quite eerie. 😛 The concept originated from France’s famous beeswax museum, the Musée Grévin. We spent an hour taking pictures and walking through the 14 main theme sections inside.

    Address: 23, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 중구 을지로 23 (을지로1가)

    Operating Hours:
    Monday-Thursday, Sunday 10:00-19:00
    Friday, Saturday 10:00-21:00
    * Last admission 45 minutes before closing.

    Admission / Participation Fees:
    Adults (ages 19-64) 18,000 won
    Children (ages 5-18) & Seniors (ages 65 or older) 15,000 won

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station:
    City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1,2), Exit 6. Walk straight for 5 mins.
    Euljiro 1-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 1. Walk straight for 3 mins.

    2. Myeongdong Shopping Street (명동)

    Myeongdong is one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul. Since our hotel was situated right in Myeongdong, we just shopped happily and leisurely around without the worries of getting lost or having problems going back to the hotel late at night.

    Many designer shops and department stores line the streets and alleys and every store is filled with fashionable goods and trendy stuff. Korean cosmetic and skin care brands like Innisfree, Etude House, Holika Holika, The Face Shop, Tony Moly, Laneige, and Nature Republic can be found repeatedly in almost every block! Myeongdong is also a good place for tasting Korean street food and local restaurants. We had lots of fun. 🙂

    Address: Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 중구 명동길 (명동1가)

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station: Myeongdong Station

    3. Lotte World

    Lotte World was one of the highlights of our trip. It is a major recreation complex in Seoul, which consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park (a Guinness World Record) that is open all-year around. Since we booked our flight via Air Asia, we scored a huge discount for the ticket. For the one-day pass, the price went down from the regular KRW 52,000 to KRW 36,000 per person. 🙂 I showed the screenshot of our Air Asia ticket on my phone.

    Lotte World is linked directly to Jamsil subway station. Shopping malls, a luxury hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities, an ice skating rink, and movie theaters are all in one place. It also has an outdoor amusement park called “Magic Island,” which was decorated in Halloween theme featuring zombies and haunted houses since it was Halloween when we went there. Attractions and rides are great for both kids and adults. Do expect long queues and waiting times though.

    4. Namiseom Island (남이섬 종합휴양지)

    Namiseom Island (or Nami Island for short) is small but there’s so many things to see and do. This was where Winter Sonata drama series was shot. It’s named after General Nami, who led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo (reign 1455-1468). We traveled to Nami Island from Myeongdong through the subway, Gapyeong City Tour Bus, and the ferry. Total travel time was two hours.

    People say that the best time to go to Nami Island is either during autumn or winter. We’re glad we caught the autumn leaves in sight. Everything looked lovely with yellow, orange and red hues dominating what was once a lush green flora. Most tourists we saw here were Korean families enjoying the view, cycling, and having a picnic on the grass. Overall ambiance was relaxing and peaceful as we felt closer to nature. It’s my favorite place in Korea thus far. 🙂

    Address: 1, Namisum-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 강원도 춘천시 남산면 남이섬길 1

    Operating Hours:
    [Ferry Schedule]
    07:30-09:00 (Departure from Gapyeong Naru: Intervals 30 minutes)
    09:00-18:00 (Intervals 10-20 minutes)
    18:00-21:40 (Departure from Nami Naru to last ferry: intervals 30 minutes)

    Admission Fee: (includes a round-ferry ticket, usage fee, and additional tax)
    General Rate for Adults: 10,000 won
    Discounted Rate: 8,000 won
    Special Rate: 4,000 won

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station:
    Go to Gapyeong Station and take the hop-on/hop-off bus for the Gapyeong City Tour.

    5. Petite France (쁘띠프랑스)

    From Nami Island, we rode the Gapyeong City Tour Bus and hopped off to Petite France. Traffic was heavy on a Saturday, so travel time was doubled from 20 minutes to 40 minutes. Worse was that we stood the entire time when we were on the bus. Anyway, visiting Petite France was worth it! 🙂

    Petite France looked like a French cultural village set in the Korean countryside. It consists of 16 French-style buildings where guests can lodge and experience French food, clothing, and household culture. The small village contains a memorial hall dedicated to Saint-Exupery, the author of the celebrated French novel, Le Petit Prince (1943). As such, it is called the Little Prince theme park. At the same time, this place serves as a youth training facility (Goseong Youth Training Center). It’s also where Secret Garden, My Love From the Star, and Beethoven Virus television series were shot.

    Address: 1063, Hoban-ro, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do 경기도 가평군 청평면 호반로 1063

    Operating Hours:
    09:00-18:00 (Last admission: 1 hour before closing.)

    Admission Fees:
    Adults: 8,000 won
    Teenagers (Middle & High School Students): 6,000 won
    Children (ages 3-Elementary School Students): 5,000 won
    Seniors (ages 65 & above) / People with Disabilities: 6,000 won (proof of identification required)

    How to Go:
    [Bus] From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Sangbong Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Cheongpyeong. Or from Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal, take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri (고성리). Alternatively, take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Petite France.

    6. The Garden of Morning Calm 

    From Petite France, we rode the Gapyeong City Tour Bus once again and alighted at the Morning Calm Garden. This place houses Korea’s major botanical gardens, attracting about 700,000 tourists from home and abroad annually. The garden aims to promote the beauty of Korean flowers and plants to the world. Its design focused on curves, spaces, asymmetric balance, and Korea’s unique beauty to express classic elegance.

    The Garden of Morning Calm is covered with a rich tapestry of color from the thousands of flowers and trees in full bloom. Conquering the entire area was very tiring. We climbed several flights of stairs to get to the topmost part where we found a greenhouse displaying many colorful flowers. The top location is a perfect spot for artists and photographers who want nature as their subject. It’s a wonderful feeling as well to breathe in fresh and cool air.

    Address: 432, Sumogwon-ro, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do 경기도 가평군 상면 수목원로 432 (상면)

    Admission/Participation Fees:
    Adults: 9,000 won
    Student: 6,500 won
    Children: 5,500 won

    How to Go:
    [Bus] From Sangbong Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal take a bus bound for Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal. Or take bus 1330 at Cheongnyangni Transfer Center (in front of Lotte Department Store) and get off at the Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal. Alternatively, take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Morning Calm Garden.

    7. Itaewon Special Tourist Zone (이태원 관광특구)

    Itaewon is a multicultural place where over 20,000 foreigners live and is widely recognized by international visitors. This is why restaurants here offer various cuisines that cater to both Korean and non-Korean nationals. Streets of cultural diversity looked more interesting and beautiful after 9PM.

    The bar district/nightlife here is said to be probably the best in Seoul. We did not come to Itaewon to drink or socialize in bars but to hunt for more chic clothes and accessories. 😛 This area is crowded with shops selling clothes and bags, leather products, and souvenir items. Prices of items are higher in general as compared to those in Myeongdong.

    Address: Hannam-dong and Itaewon-dong in Seoul 서울특별시 용산구 이태원동 , 한남동 일대

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station: Itaewon Station

    8. Namdaemun Market

    Another place to go shopping galore is Namdaemun Market. Stalls of inexpensive clothing, hats, carpets, housewares, fabrics, jewelry, mountain gear, fishing equipment, stationery, kitchenware, accessories, toys, food, flowers, and appliances can be found in the streets. Prices of stuff are affordable as you can expect from a wholesale market, so there’s no wonder why the market is usually crowded. Namdaemun Market is open from 11:00PM to 3:00AM. It’s a great opportunity for bargains and also for taste the best of Korean street food some more.

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station: Hoehyeon Station

    9. Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

    It would be sad to visit Seoul without going to one of the palaces. Out of the five grand Korean palaces that exist today, we chose Gyeongbokgung Palace because it’s Korea’s most famous royal palace. It was built in 1395 and has been destroyed and reconstructed numerous times. Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings’ households, as well as the government of Joseon. The place is well-maintained and clean. The National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum are located within the premises of the complex.

    We joined the English tour (for free) to learn more about Korea’s history, its architectural traditions and court customs. After the tour, we took our time strolling around the pavilions and halls within the palace’s spacious walled grounds. The compound is huge and it’s a good place for photoshoots. Entrance is free if you wear hanbok (but you need to pay for the rental outside).

    Address: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 종로구 사직로 161 (세종로)

    Operating Hours:
    November-February 09:00-17:00
    March-May 09:00-18:00
    June-August 09:00-18:30
    September-October 09:00-18:00
    Closed on Tuesdays

    Admission Fees:
    Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won / Groups (10 people or more): 2,400 won
    Children (ages 7-18): 1,500 won / Group (10 people or more): 1,200 won

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station:
    Gyeongbokgung Palace Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5
    Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 2

    10. Changdeokgung Palace 

    Changdeokgung Palace is only one subway station away from Gyeongbokgung Palace Station, so if you have time, go and check it out. 🙂 It deserves a look not only because it’s one of the most historically significant attractions that represent the beauty of Korea but also because Changdeokgung Palace was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Committee in December of 1997. It would be nice to learn its importance from the time of Seongjong, the 9th king of Joseon, when a number of kings began using it as a place of residence.

    Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built as a primary palace following the construction of Gyeongbukgung Palace in 1405. Its grounds comprise of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden. Known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond and a pavilion. The best time to see the garden is during fall season when the autumn foliage is at its peak and the leaves just starts to fall. Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate that day. It was raining when we went there, so we were not able to stay as long as we wished.

    Address: 99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99 (와룡동)

    Operating Hours:
    Feb-May, Sep-Oct 09:00-18:00
    Jun-Aug 09:00-18:30
    Nov-Jan 09:00-17:30
    Closed on Mondays

    Admission Fees:
    Adults (ages 25-64): 3,000 won / Group (over 10): 2,400 won
    Children and Teenagers (ages 18 and under): Regular 1,500 won

    How to Go/Nearest Subway Station:
    Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3 or 5), Exit 6. Walk for about 10-min to arrive at the palace entrance.
    Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 3. Walk straight from the exit (towards east) for about 5-min to arrive at the palace entrance.