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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Review of Tramway Bayview Buffet (Pasay City)

    Review of Tramway Bayview Buffet (Pasay City)

    Looking for a cheap but good buffet restaurant in Manila? There’s no doubt about it – Tramway Bayview Buffet just might end your long search. Tramway reigns king when it comes to presentable, super affordable buffet-style Chinese, Japanese and Filipino food choices in the city.

    Last Thursday, my mom who’s a sucker for all-you-can-eat buffets was craving to dine in at Tramway’s branch along Roxas Boulevard since she was too tired (and dramatically “lonely”) to cook. So we slipped into the venue at about 8:30PM just in time.

    Review of Tramway Bayview Buffet (Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    With so many great restaurants in Pasay City saturating the foodie market, this buffet restaurant may be easy to overlook – unless of course, you’re one of those working or residing in one of the establishments and office buildings nearby.

    Tramway’s interior design is quite simple. All the chairs and red linen-topped tables are placed on the rectangular area without divisions. So this place is not a pretty good one to chair and hold private meetings. Also, because of the loud/noisy RnB music playing on the background, you could hardly hear anyone unless you opt to go to their function rooms, or wait until one song is finally over.

    Rates of function rooms are as follows:
    Restaurant Exclusive (good for 950-1050pax)
    4 Open Dining Exclusive (good for 350-850 pax)
    4 Big Function Rooms (good for 100-150 pax each)
    4 Medium Function Rooms (good for 50 pax each)
    4 Small Function Rooms (good for 12 pax each)

    Service: ★★★☆☆

    This is a self-service restaurant. Upon entering through their glass doors, we were not accompanied or helped by any of their staff to find clean and empty tables. We walked through the aisles, found one by ourselves and started to get food. The only things the server did were leaving a pitcher of water when we were seated and giving the bill out as it was called for.

    Food: ★★☆☆☆

    What do Steamed Fish, Sweet & Sour Pork, Vegetable w/ garlic, Fried Chicken and Tofu have in common? Not much, except they were all served in Tramway for both lunch and dinner. Other staple dishes are Yang Chow Fried Rice, Pancit Canton Guisado, Pasta (Spaghetti and Linguini with White and Red Sauces), Dices of Raddish Cake, Clams and Chicken Feet.

    We ate to our heart’s content but still spared some space in our stomachs for the side dishes: California Maki, Century Egg, Chinese Dimsum, Vegetable Salad, Tossed Lettuce, Carrots, Cucumbers and Onions (with Salad Dressing: Thousand Island Sauce) and Macaroni Salad.

    For desserts, we had Fresh Fruits (Watermelon, Papaya and Pineapple), Assorted Gelatin (coffee and pandan) and Assorted Puto.

    Food quality and taste were on the lower scale of average. Sigh. I don’t count myself any satisfied. The taste test here failed pathetically.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    All the food above were for PHp 248 (no drinks included) per head. Senior citizens even have 20% discount, and rate for children who stand below four feet is at PHp 181 per head.

    True, the price is considerably cheap for buffet; judging based on the food though, value is low. Exerting her utmost disappointment, my mom said the price should be only at PHp 150 pax. 😀

    [schema type=”review” name=”Tramway Bayview Buffet” description=” 1600 Roxas Boulevard, Corlayug Street, San Jose, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines” rev_name=” Contact number: (02) 5360402″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-07-27″ user_review=”11″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours:
    Lunch Time:
    1st Batch – 11:00am to 1:00pm
    2nd Batch – 1:00pm to 3:00pm
    Dinner Time:
    1st Batch – 6:00pm to 8:00pm
    2nd Batch – 8:00pm to 10:00pm

    Other Branches:
    1. Tramway Buffet Plaza
    Lower Ground Floor, Worldwide Corporate Center, Shaw Boulevard, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City
    Contact numbers: (02) 8617129, (02) 7066351
    2. Tramway Garden Buffet
    65 Timog Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City
    Contact number: (02) 4152005
    3. Tramway Tea House
    Alcaraz Street, Santo Domingo, Quezon City
    Contact number: (02) 4111565

  • Review of Geolica Colored Contact Lenses (Eye Care)

    Review of Geolica Colored Contact Lenses (Eye Care)

    In the last two weeks of June, I knew I had to begin my search for yet another pair of contact lenses, as the “life” of my last pair of clear Air Optix Aqua was nearing its end. Incidentally, The Optical Shop in SM Manila had a big tarpaulin promoting discounts of some branded eyeglasses and Geolica contact lenses.

    In particular, I was interested to buy the Geolica colored contact lenses because I want to see well, feel good and look good. 😀 The price (PHp 1200 for two pairs) was considerably cheap. With much doubt and curiosity, I asked the eye doctor a series of questions before paying out. Here are my findings:

    Geolica Company Background and General Product Information

    1. Geolica (http://www.geolica.com.ph/) as a brand is specifically exclusive for the Philippine market under GEO Medical Contact Lens, Inc.
    2. GEO Medical Contact Lens, Inc. is the branch of GEO Medical Co. Ltd. from Gwangju, South Korea which is growing as a leading venture enterprise specialized in bio-engineering research and manufacturing of contact lenses.
    3. GEO Medical has steadily built up quality-control based productive facilities and adopted new technologies for its ever expanding customer base by supplying innovative and top quality contact lenses along with outstanding service.
    4. Each contact lens passed through innovative technologies with the finest process which made it obtained certificates, permits & approval from Philippine FDA, TGA in Australia, Medical Device License from Health Canada, ISO 13485 CMDCAS,  Accreditation Certificate of Foreign Medical Device in Japan, KOTRA Seal of Exellence and Korean FDA Good Manufacturing Practice Certificate.
    5. Geolica colored contact lenses can be worn for six to eight hours in optimal condition.

    Geolica Colored Contact Lenses For Asian Eyes

    The thing that worried me was the shorter time I could wear the contact lenses —> pertaining to the fifth numbered point above. (Air Optix can be worn for 12+ hours without eye irritation.)

    To solve this, the doctor assured that it’s safe to place drops of lens lubricant to relieve minor irritation, dryness, discomfort and/or blurring if ever I experience these issues. At the same time, the lens lubricant would clean the contact lenses while in the eye and retards the accumulation and deposition of lachrymal minerals on the lenses.

    Another thing that struck me was that the Geolica contact lenses that were on sale are said to be valid for a year’s use. OMG ❗ I thought there may be a big possibility of having a build-up of loosened deposits and harmful microorganisms on lens surfaces. So how?

    The doctor responded and showed me LENSCARE, “a sterile, preserved, buffered, isotonic solution containing sodium chloride, boric acid, potassium chloride, edete disodium, sodium borate, preserved with thimerosal 0.001%.” This product is specially formulated for soaking, disinfecting and rinsing of all soft (hydropilic) lenses including new polymers for extended wear. And this comes with the Geolica package from The Optical Shop.

    OK. I was convinced.

    Selection of Color and Design

    The next step was to choose the color and design. They have a catalog of the different colors on paper but none on a picture of a real person. Because of this, I could not see how the colored lenses would look like once worn and matched with my dark brown/black eye color.

    Colors (one-tone) to choose from were: Lady Aqua Blue, Lady Lime Green, Lady Light Brown, Lady Pearl Grey, Lady Cobalt Blue, Celine Violet, Celine  Blue, Celine Green, Celine Pure Hazel, Celine Grey, Celine Brown, Circle Natural Brown, Circle Choco Brown, Circle Dark Black or Circle Dark Brown. They also have the two-tone and three-tone colored lenses which were highly recommended to me by the staff.

    With fingers crossed, I chose the three-tone brown (left below) and gray (right below) ones and got my order the next day (because mine are graded).

    Review of Geolica Colored Contact Lenses

    Appearance: I started wearing the brown lenses on July 5, 2013. It was a Friday and many people in the office noticed how my eyes looked differently. I also laughed at myself when I first looked at my reflection on the mirror. 😛 Popular comment I got was that the pupils of my eyes became enlarged. 😯 Enlargement was not one of the features I sought when purchasing these lenses; nonetheless, it’s okay.

    The color shows up well in most light. If you’re far from me, you might not see it in an obvious fashion. When you’re up close, you’ll vividly see that the design has spikes of golden brown and dark brown shades and you’ll know immediately that I’m wearing colored lenses. 你能看得到吗？

    Comfort: Right now I’ve been wearing this pair of Geolica contact lenses for three weeks. Level of comfort is fine but at first my eyes tend to go watery and sometimes it takes more time for me to adjust them properly into the eye circle.

    I have my contact lenses on for 12 straight hours to work, at work and from work. Rarely do I experience dryness. When I do, I just follow the doctor’s instruction: drop the sterile lens lubricant to moisten the contact lenses thereby reducing friction against the cornea.

    On the whole, comfort level is not as high as the Air Optix but is satisfactory in the sense that I’m not bothered while they’re on and I don’t see or feel any hindrance to my vision at all.

    Price for Value: I’m very pleased with the affordable price of Geolica contact lenses. I get to really save more because a pair of FreshLook colored contact lenses, from what I remember, costs PHp 450 (good for a month’s use), while Flexwear Colors (2 pairs of 3 Months disposable soft contact lenses of the same color) cost PHp 650 and Sarabia Optical offers PHp 600 a pair. Other brands are even more expensive.

    Instructions and Precautions

    1. Always wash and rinse your hands thoroughly before handling your lenses.
    2. After removal of your lenses, clean each lens with the cleaner on both surfaces. You may be advised by the eye doctor to rub both lens surfaces for 30 seconds either in the palm using the forefinger on the other hand or between the thumb and the forefinger, while some lenses are not for rubbing.
    3. Rinse surfaces to remove deposits and debris. You can make it a habit to clean and rinse the same lens first (either left or right) to avoid mix-ups. (In my case, I can go for whichever first because I have the same eye grade in both eyes.)
    4. Place each lens in the correct chamber of your storage case.
    5. Close the covers tightly.
    6. The lenses must be soaked in this solution for a minimum of four hours before reinsertion.
    7. Always use fresh solution. Discard solution in storage case after use, rinse and allow to air dry.
    8. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
    9. Never touch the dropper tip to any surface since this may contaminate the solution.
    10. Store solution at room temperature. Keep away from freezing.

  • 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″ ]

  • WU Fest 2013 by What’s Up Manila (Makati City)

    WU Fest 2013 by What’s Up Manila (Makati City)

    What Happened in the WU Fest 2013?

    Partnering with Wazzup Pilipinas, What’s Up Manila Magazine has launched an event last July 6, 2013 at the A. Venue in Makati Avenue, Makati City called WU Fest 2013. There were over 50 booths which participated in providing food, drinks and a wide variety of entertainment and activities.

    Our Favorite Exhibitors and Sponsors

    1. Sprinto

    Founded in Hong Kong, Sprinto has long been established as an expert in creating extraordinary watches. Now it has extended its market horizontally as it began to also offer top of the line quality eye wears that are equipped with both practical and aesthetic functions.

    The brand believes in “bringing utmost comfort and safety to all its customers, sparing nothing less than the best colors, design and quality, while still making it unbelievably affordable.” The good news is that this collection is available in major fashion hubs in Manila! Other places where you can find these shades are: Dubao, Singapore and Hong Kong.

    2. Bistecca

    Bistecca prides itself for having the finest steaks in the metro, specifically at the Joya Lofts and Tower in Rockwell City. I personally have not heard of this restaurant before but it might have been creating much buzz in other foodies’ world. Inspired by the traditional Italian way of eating steaks, this establishment aims to offer customers what they feel is the best way to have a steak – shared among friends or family, accompanied by great sides, and a few bottles of wine. In the WU Fest event, Bistecca generously provided the lunch for the bloggers.

    3. Bayani Brew

    Direct from the Gawad Kalinga farm at Angat, Bulacan, Bayani Brew is the social enterprise that produces all-Filipino, all-delicious, all-nutritious iced tea. It originated from the native brews introduced by the nanays (mothers) of the Gawad Kalinga community in the GK Enchanted Farm. It advocates the use of indigenous ingredients such as lemongrass, pandan, and sweet potato tops which are the main ingredients of “Bayani Brew Classic” and “Bayani Brew Purple Leaf.”

    Bayani Brew wants to be remembered not only for its refreshing beverages, but also as part of a movement brewing a new breed of Filipinos crazy in love with our country.

    4. Eat My GF (Garlic Fries)

    Wah liao. Looking for scandal ah? Probably a lot of attention has been caught by this stall named Eat My GF (Garlic Fries) that served burgers and potato chips. This one offers lasting taste and lasting experience. To confirm this, let us visit their two restaurants located in Alabang Town Center and in Little Baguio in San Juan.

    5. Bear Beer Philippines

    Bear Beer Philippines gave away free booze for the bloggers who attended the event. These beers are the best-selling ones that came a long way from Germany. It claims to be “the most affordable imported beer in the Philippine market.” But don’t just take my word for it, come on and try  their different variants of beers!

    6. OK Quench

    Bloggers should have left home hungry to take advantage of the numerous free samples given by the distributors of OK Quench: thirst-quenching sparkling juice drink made with Natural Fruit Juice Concentrate.

    7. Naughty Ninja

    Naughty Ninja is a modern brand aimed to bring out the naughty, sarcastic, evil genius side in all of us. They just recently launched the wrist band as their first product of their accessory line. These are silicon wrist bands with motion sensors and LED blinkers which proved to be quite popular among concert and party-goers.

    They will soon be in the business of producing witty, fun, and satiric t-shirts and undergarments for men and women. The shirts designs (Ninja Tees) will be released soon with references incorporated to movie or TV quotes, parodies of movie posters, word play, wit and humor, and day-to-day events. The fun in being naughty is that it’s low key, subtle and discreet, just like a Ninja is.

    Wrap Up

    There were simply a lot of fun, wild and crazy things that happened in the WU Fest 2013 event, and these could only be best appreciated if you were there! So boohoo to those that did not make it, and cheers to the many people who joined us in the celebration. 😀

  • Review of Kangaroo Jack Steak & Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Review of Kangaroo Jack Steak & Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    After watching Despicable Me 2 last Sunday, Louie and I had dinner in Kangaroo Jack Steak & Grill. Since 2006, this diner has been busy pleasing patrons who are mostly lovers of delectable tenderloin, T-bone steaks, sizzling meals and grills.

    I’ve eaten in their SM North EDSA branch with my mom – four years ago. It was difficult to pass judgment immediately because I haven’t been to a lot of restaurants then and I’ve only “converted” myself into a “foodie” about two years back. 😀 Here I present my honest and humble review of Kangaroo Jack:

    Review of Kangaroo Jack Steak & Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    I don’t know if the ambiance of a typical Australian restaurant is anything similar but clearly, the place was an epitome of a common grill house. The restaurant’s vibe was lively and the decors were all consistent to the theme.

    Two things turned me off: (1) We saw a small cockroach on our table that we quickly shoo-ed away. (2) The upholstery of the sofa we were seated on was badly torn and obviously worn out but otherwise still comfortable.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Efficient staff did their best to mitigate the “worth-it” waits here. Wait staff were responsive and attentive, willing to assist customers anytime.

    Food: ★★★★★

    Many diners subscribed to the promo buffet (offered from 2PM to 5PM). At the buffet table (most likely consisting of snacks), I saw the following dishes: soup, nachos, rice, adobo, meatballs, pastas, and banana fritters. The buffet came with unlimited iced tea, so one can be truly satisfied with the promotion for only PHp 169 pax.

    We arrived at past 6PM and didn’t intend to catch on the buffet time anyway; we were too sure that portions of a la carte dishes would suffice. Kangaroo Jack is most famous for its steak, grills and sizzlers, but our minds tend to gravitate to order entrees for the “health conscious” instead because we’re that kind of couple. 😛 So…

    For the appetizer, we had the Nacho Jacko (PHp 145) which was crisp corn tortilla chips topped with Kangaroo Jack’s meat sauce, tomato salsa and grated quickmelt cheese served with marinara sauce. Packed with flavor and flair, the nachos were crispy and the toppings and sauces tasted remarkably. This is the kind of dish that feels like it’s been going steady since eons ago and shows no signs of ever changing. It’s a hit that I couldn’t stop going back to, though I’m not much of a nacho-person.

    The main dish was the Bangus ala Kiev (PHp 160) which was stuffed banugs belly with cheese and carrots in bechamel sauce, served with java rice, veggies and corn on a cob. It was a fine selection I’m glad we tried. But the fish caused an allergy attack to Louie. Apparently, he’s allergic to some fish, making his tongue feel thicker and numb for a short time.

    Because of that, I had to finish 2/3 of the entree and felt super full. 😯 This Bangus ala Kiev with name so chic was seriously great stuff! Each bite transported my taste buds with the cheesy fillings.

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    There’s no shortage of accolades about this restaurant and hey, prices of food here are surprisingly easy on the pocket! Kangaroo Jack caters to the general public as its prices are much lower than that of the big brands currently available in the local fast-causal dining segment.

    Service was good and the enticing environment further makes Kangaroo Jack a “bargain for the quality” – translation: book for a reservation when you decide to eat in peak dining hours or wait in the queue.

    Kangaroo Jack Steak and Grill
    G/F Robinsons Place Manila, Padre Faura Wing, Adriatico Street, Ermita, Manila

  • Review of MARU Korean Restaurant (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Review of MARU Korean Restaurant (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Last Sunday was one of those fine days when we just wanted to explore and indulge in Korean cuisine some more while not traveling far. MARU Korean Restaurant happened to be the perfect spot as it’s very accessible from our place — outside through the exit of Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place, Manila.

    A treat for your senses awaits at this restaurant specializing in both authentic and inventive lick-the-plate-delicious and mostly spicy food. In Maru, Korean food staples are done expertly. Customers are given the option to sit on the floor and dine the “Korean-way,” essentially just how Maru stands by its name; in Korean, it means “living room floor” and the literal translation pretty much sums up the experience.

    Review of Maru Korean Restaurant (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The Korean ambiance was definitely felt through the theme, with minimal accents and monochromatic design. Half of the restaurant had grills on the tables for BBQ. So if you want to grill meat, be sure to tell the staff that you have to get the BBQ table.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Staff composed of the guard, waitresses and waiters and the restaurant manager were exceptionally courteous, responsive and helpful. All the names of dishes on the menu were in Korean and we couldn’t understand any of them except for the common ones like bulgogi and japchae. The wait staff gave us ample time to decide which to order according to the pictures, and they gave their recommendations off of the menu when asked.

    Maru has this cute button that functions like a “nurse call button” that allows patients customers to alert nurses waiters of their requests. I pressed it three times in our entire stay and the wait staff came quickly each time upon hearing the buzz. Cool! 😀

    Food: ★★★★★

    Before the arrival of the actual entrees, we were served with banchan that included Korean potato marbles, fried banana balls, slices of eggplant, diced tofu, kimchi, picked vegetables, etc. Since these side dishes can be refilled until our stomachs tell us to stop, Mom joked that we can dine in here one day, order only their premium sticky rice and be satisfied with as much banchans as we can have. 😛

    Amidst the laughter, Doinjang Jjige (PHp 250), a hot pot stone of traditional Korean dish—soy bean soup boiled with clams, vegetables and other extraordinary spices came gushing next through our delight. The soup tasted so salty and spicy that I couldn’t take it without galloping water and adding rice to each mouthful.

    Next we had the Doenjang Jjigae (PHp 250), regarded as one of the representative dishes of food in Korea. This fermented soybean paste stew was super concentrated, flavorful, and pretty salty (expect to drink lots of water or eat spoonfuls of rice in between). As much as it was salty, the soup was numbing and screaming hot (pain = yum). I’m guessing primary ingredients used were: braised beef, tofu and kimchi. We should not have ordered this because it tasted almost the same as the Doinjang Jjige but less sour.

    Chadolbaegi or simply grilled beef brisket helped to tame the spiciness of the previous two. This entree came with thin slices of premium fat beef similar to that of a bacon, a bowl of lettuce, special sauce and sesame oil. Normally I hate to eat meat because of the chewy texture and just because I find it eww. But this one I had to try and I had no regrets! 🙂 We liked it a lot and we even have plans now of going back to Maru just to have our second round of chadolbaegi.

    Served hot, Jabchae Bab (Korean glassy noodles) (PHp 200) is a must-try in any Korean restaurant. It consisted of stir fried noodles in sesame oil, various garnished vegetables, cooked with flavored soy sauce and sweetened with sugar. A bed of rice and side dishes accompanied the sweet potato noodles and completed the feast.

    Finally, we had the Bulgogi Kimbab (PHp 120) which was fresh and succulent. Of good quality, each slice in the seaweed and rice roll was crave-inducing.

    This is not the meal to have if you’re in a rush. Korean meals, I suggest, have to be taken in a leisurely, social affair. There are unlimited refills of side dishes anyway. So you can take your time appreciating the different flavors infused to your taste buds and enjoy.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    We were truly happy with everything in MARU! With generous servings and wonderful standards, the price for value is spot on reasonable. We’ll definitely continue to come to Maru and keep this restaurant in our rotation.

    ❗ Maru Korean Restaurant is also able to cater to customized private parties and gatherings for more than 30 people. No need to worry about balloon decors and photo booths for your events. For your catering needs, please contact Merchant directly. They now have an ongoing deal (via Ensogo), a treat for 2 or 4 people which you can view here.

    [schema type=”review” name=”MARU Korean Restaurant” description=”G/F Adriatico Street, Ermita, Manila” rev_name=” For inquiries, call (02) 385 7192, (02) 353 9854 / 0917 5569854″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-07-17″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other branches:

    A. Venue, Makati Branch
    A Venue Mall, Makati Avenue, Poblacion, Makati
    Contact nos. (02) 4039140 / 0917 8064172

    HK Sun Plaza, Macapagal, San Jose, Pasay City
    Contact nos. (02) 8360404 / 0917 5283034

  • Review of YummySoy (The Fort Strip, BGC, Taguig City)

    Review of YummySoy (The Fort Strip, BGC, Taguig City)

    Soy food and beverages have been gaining popularity here in the metro because of the many health benefits of soy. Nowadays, you can get soy milk at any regular grocery store. However, mass-produced soy milk are mostly made with non-organic and GMO (genetically modified) soybeans, and preservatives are added. With “Simply Refreshing!” as its tagline, YummySoy strives to live up to the promise in delivering FRESH, non-GMO and good quality soy-based desserts and drinks in a contemporary ambiance.

    Apparently, the name YummySoy sounds familiar to me as I’ve seen this brand in many locations in Singapore before (most frequently when I pass by Joo Chiat Road). I recall that Mr. Bean is one of its head-to-head competitors as they both serve refreshing soy-based beverages and food products. I’ve tried Mr. Bean a couple of times but haven’t sampled YummySoy’s delights even once. 😛

    Brought to the Philippines by a Filipino who’s still working full-time in SG, this branch of YummySoy at The Fort Strip beside K-Pub opened just last June 3, 3013 after its first branch at Robinsons Place, Manila which launched last March 7, 2013. Their beans are imported from Singapore and processed in their commissary in Pasig City, Metro Manila. This is why the taste should really be fresh and consistent with the original recipe’s.

    Yesterday’s food-tasting event was a compromise between going out of the house when it was raining and not eating YummySoy’s tastiest treats at all. I chose the latter because I had already said yes to the organizer and luckily it was a good choice. 🙂

    Review of YummySoy (The Fort Strip, Taguig City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Any restaurant that fills the room with yellow and orange color combination stimulates hunger. I was not hungry when I first came in but after waiting for a few minutes, I must be absorbed by the very charming and pleasing ambiance that made me succumb to order my first drink. 😀

    The chilled bean curds (taho) were neatly presented in the refrigerators. Customers can view the menu on the Hyundai LCDs where the products and prices are displayed. I wondered why they opted to put and turn these devices on when they can just have menus posted behind the counter or still on top pasted on the walls via lighted signs to conserve electrical energy. ❓ Anyway, if that’s part of their strategy to entice customers then it must be working effectively.

    The number of chairs are limited to 12, so even if this is a nice place to hang out, by the setup, customers would be more encouraged to take their orders out than stay in and wait for tables and chairs to be freed.

    On other thought, Operations Manager Mr. Hermoginio (see picture below) said that their target market is composed largely of employees from nearby office buildings who want to chill out from work and have a quick break here and those coming out of other pubs and restaurants in The Fort Strip. I figured most if not all these people are always on the go, so the limited seating capacity might still be adequate for the branch for now. The “egg” chairs were really comfortable to sit in though! 🙂

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was outstanding. Drinks and chilled taho were presented in a fashionable manner. Since they are readily made, staff would just have to get them out of the fridge and serve them to the tables well.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    I’m a regular drinker of soya milk (豆浆 doujiang) — both the home-made and commercial one. Because our house is located near the tofu factory in Divisoria area, my mom would often buy pure soy milk blended from soybeans and water and serve it as a staple breakfast at home. Hence I can differentiate the taste of finely made soy milk without preservatives and of those already added with sweeteners, inorganic flavoring and heavily-processed ingredients.

    YummySoy served us with their five of their best variants of flavored and original chilled bean curd, slurpy and drinks with different toppings: Strawberry (PHp 85), Dark Chocolate (PHp 85), Original (PHp 75) and Almond (PHp 85), with add-ons Strawberry Pops (PHp 15), Coffee Jelly (PHp 10) and Pearls (PHp 10).

    After taking spoonfuls of all these, I have to say my favorites are the strawberry-flavored chilled bean curd with strawberry pops and the almond-flavored chilled bean curd with coffee jelly! ♥

    With these silky, creamy, and refreshing bean curds, you think you’ll stop eating to save some for later but eventually find yourself with an empty container. The texture is smooth and soft and goes well with the soya bean milk, perfect for those who want an excuse to indulge on such a hot day and yet not want to eat something too sinful.

    Notes:

    • YummySoy also offers hot original soy and almond-flavored soy drinks but the hot version takes a bit longer to prepare.
    • Each flavor of bean curd and drink can be paired with any add-on.
    • YummySoy – The Fort will soon accept deliveries from nearby establishments.
    • To get a discount, you can buy six chilled bean curd (varied flavors) at PHp 400.
    • Customers can choose the sugar level of the drinks: from 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% to 100%.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    The quality and taste of their offerings make it easy for one to patronize them easily. Prices are about the same as drinks in milk tea and coffee shops. However, I just have this notion that taho or soy bean curd must be cheaper because taho is one that is commonly and traditionally sold by street vendors carrying cylindrical metallic containers placed on each end of a bamboo pole. One cup of this drink costs only PHp 10-20, while YummySoy charges about six times over. 😯

    – With Bloggers Carol and Aldous –

    [schema type=”review” name=”YummySoy, The Fort Strip” description=”Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Beside K-Pub)” rev_name=”Operating Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 10am-10pm; Weekends: 10am-11pm” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2013-07-14″ user_review=”17″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Other branch:
    3F Midtown Wing, Robinsons Place Manila

  • 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)