Pagkaon--the Foodscapades

Cabernet Chicken (Served With) Parmesan Risotto

2012-01-17T19:46:00.001+08:00

Late last night, I read an article that said wine should be consumed an hour after opening. That made me check out the bottles of wine we had in our fridge that has sat there for weeks now. According to the article, once you allow wine to sit for that long, it slowly turns into vinegar thus making it unfit for drinking. So I decided to create my own version of Chicken Marsala. Unfortunately, we didn't have Marsala. But we had the most common type of Red Wine in our fridge: Cabernet Sauvignon. It then got me thinking. If there is a recipe for Chicken Marsala, then there must be a recipe for Cabernet Chicken somewhere. I searched Google for two minutes and found that it only had recipes for grape-stuffed Cabernet Chicken. Unfortunately, I did not have grapes in the fridge. So I decided to ask my Twitter followers for a Cabernet Chicken recipe. Thankfully, one of my friend, Daryl, sent me an easy recipe for Cabernet Chicken. I tweaked it a bit and added my own flair to it, and this is what I ended up making.

Cabernet Chicken

In a bowl, I mixed a tablespoon of Corn Starch/Flour

Five Tablespoons (or so) of All Purpose Flour

Some Salt, Pepper, Oregano, and Basil.

I then prepared some Chicken Quarters and set them inside a huge plastic container.

Then, I dumped the Flour mixture all over the chicken, put the lid on the plastic container, then shook it for a good three minutes. This is how I always dredge Chicken especially when I am not sure if I have enough Flour Mix for all the pieces. It also ensures a uniform coat on all the pieces.

Once the chicken was ready I heated some oil in a pan then...

Browned the chicken in the hot oil.

I turned it over once and let the under-side brown as well.

I then set the chicken aside.

I threw all the oil I used previously and scraped off some of the burnt/cooked Flour and disposed of it as well. Then, in the same pan, I melted some butter.

Once the butter was melted, I added back the browned Chicken Quarters and some whole button mushrooms and let it sit on the melted butter for a while.

Then I deglazed the pan with the stale Red Wine and let the wine simmer for a while. Before turning the heat off, I added about two Tablespoons of milk and a dab of butter and then transferred the Chicken Quarters to an oven-safe pan.

I then baked the dish for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then 200 degrees Fahrenheit for another 20 minutes.

After that, your Chicken Quarters and Mushrooms should come out looking all gorgeously Golden. I served mine with a semi-instant version of Risotto using regular leftover rice we had at home mixed with Pork Stock, Butter, Parmesan Cheese, Basil, Parsley, and Black Pepper.

Twitter!

2011-12-13T14:35:00.000+08:00

Hey! Please follow me on twitter.com/zhaun

60-Peso Food Trip

2011-11-18T00:39:00.002+08:00

The air is cool, Christmas decors are up, and a big old man is somewhere up North starting to check Naughty and Nice lists. What does this mean? This means that December, the season of Christmas and over-spending, is happening really soon. How do you prepare for that? By saving up as soon as you can.

Here is the deal: from a Financial point of view, December is one of the best months. During this month, most people spend a lot, but they also make a lot. The common partyphile however, may find it a wee bit difficult to maintain their hedonistic tendencies while still trying to put a cap on their budget. Obviously, the partyphile’s budget for alcohol and partying shall be left unchanged, thus finding other ways of pinching pennies is inevitable. So where can one partyphile cut costs? I say: on transportation, fashion, and of course, food.

And that brings us to this article’s topic: food. But not just any other type of food, cheap food. Why am I writing about this on a party column? Because again (if you didn’t get the intro to this article), it is the perfect time to cut costs and partyphiles may find it difficult to do that. Moreover, my affordable food finds taste expensive and hit you in the right spot; making eating in my suggested food establishment a pleasurable (albeit affordable) experience; and we all know that hedonism is one of the more recognizable of partyphile traits.

The Challenge: To find affordable meals for sixty pesos.

The Venue: Within the vicinity of the Ateneo de Davao University Jacinto Campus. Why? Because cheap food establishment are in abundance near schools.

The Requirement: Great taste. Decent establishment. Good service.

The Candidates:

Harley Boulevard Motor Café (Php 60.00): This quaint resto is popular among the cool kids in the University because they serve alcohol. However, the reason why students and non-students keep on coming back is because they have really good American food that is served hot and fresh and for a measly price. The resto is decorated with different relics of modern Americana and makes the place inviting, interesting, and quirky. Their menu consists of comfort-food like Shepherd’s Pie, Sloppy Joes, their ever-popular Extra-Large burger, Buffalo wings, Chilidogs, Mashed Potatoes, Spaghetti ad Meatballs, and other American favorites. To cater to the local crowd however, they also serve some food with rice. My affordable choice from Harley’s is the Chili Cheese Bowl—a bowl of steaming-hot white rice topped with a hefty serving of Harley Boulevard’s signature Chili con Carne and some grated cheese. This meal is very satisfying and very comforting. The spices in the chilli complement the sharp flavour of the local cheese that top the dish and the white rice mutes the flavours and lends some sort of hominess to the dish making it both novel yet familiar to the palette. An order of Chili Cheese Bowl goes for sixty pesos. If you are into spicy food, you will enjoy the fact that Harley’s has their own signature hot sauce that they place in used Rum bottles and serve with every meal. Oh, and if you do not have enough moolah for drinks, do not fret—they offer purified water for free. Find Harley’s at Juan Luna Street corner Juan dela Cruz Street

2.) Star Bistro: Meals, Coffee, and More (Php 60.00): This food establishment is just one of those places that you’d want to stay in for hours and hours. It is cozy, cool, and quite conducive for conversation. More importantly, their menu is filled with surprising offerings like waffles, pancakes, their signature Bistro Chicken, pork chop, breakfast food, Filipino favorites, English Muffin sandwiches, tarts, cakes, cookies, and a lot of other affordable gastronomic treats. I ordered one of their set rice meals when I was there and went for their Cheese sausage. It came with a cup of rice, a small serving of buttered corn and carrots, and some mayonnaise ad ketchup. Obviously, this is a very Filipino way of enjoying sausages, but I find nothing wrong with it. Moreover, they serve a whole piece of sausage for a quarter of the price as coffeeshops would. Although they do not actually create their sausages (but seriously, who does?) they have mastered the art of cooking it perfectly: with a slightly oily and toasted outside and an extremely soft and juicy inside. They also offer some water for free, and drinks that range from about 12 to 20 pesos. If you have a little bit more than sixty bucks, you could even enjoy some dessert after your meal. Find star bistro at Juan Luna Street.

3.) Khash Persian Kebab (Php 60.00): Khash or “Kebab” as more popularly known in the area, has been in operation for years and years now. In many ways, Khash has been imbedded in the culture of AdDU and thus reminds me (and many others) of very fond memories in the place. Although it has already survived a couple of renovations, the same old Khash Kebab vibe is still there; and hordes of students still eat up at this establishment for lunch or some merienda. Because I had a sixty peso budget, I decided to order a single Beef Kebab which is a long strip of ground beef that is expertly seasoned and grilled to mouth-watering perfection, a cup of steamed white rice with a dollop of butter on top, some of their home made gravy (which costs thirty-seven pesos), and a roasted tomato (which I ordered separately and costs three pesos). As if that was not sinful enough, I also order a serving of their slightly spicy mashed potato drowned in their glorious gravy for only twenty pesos. The meal is satisfying as heck and is kind of exciting as well. The beef kebab goes perfectly well with the buttered rice, and the grilled provides a fresh contrast to the heavily spiced main course. The mashed potato is silky and smooth and quite addictive. Find Khash Persian kabab at Jacinto Street.

Thanks to Dorothy Falcon for the photos. Tune in to Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 in the PM. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Semi-Instant Pulutan

2011-08-26T16:37:00.001+08:00

Filipino drinking sessions are unlike those that are attended or initiated by our foreign Partyphile friends. The Filipino drinking sessions, more commonly referred to as "inuman" sessions, are less formal (although there aren't many formalities that go with foreign drinking sessions either) than those of our non-Pinoy counterparts. Our drinking sessions can take place anywhere, at virtually any time of the day, and may be attended by just about anybody dressed in just about any sort of garb. The Pinoy inuman session is definitely a no-brainer. All one needs to start is a bottle (or two...or more) of alcohol, a group of friends, some conversation (of varying degrees of sensibility), and some "pulutan".

"Pulutan" is the Pinoy term for anything that you eat with your alcohol. And in this country that isn't limited to nuts and crackers.

It is common to see Pinoy boozers enjoying a round of beer with that night's dinner-leftovers. Aside from the common sisig, fish crackers, and nuts, Filipinos enjoy eating anything-- from pizza, to sashimi, to lechon, to instant pancit canton, to Pinoy style barbecue, and so much more-- with their poison of choice.

And although these food items seem worlds apart it seems like the usual choices when it comes to pulutan choices have to be 1.) Savoury, and 2.) Convenient. Whatever may be in the pantry or fridge at the time of the inuman session is always a good pulutan. However, this may get a little tired. This is why I have gathered a few of my easy pulutan recipes and decided to share them with you. Here they are:

1.) Instant Tuna Sisig. All you need for this recipe is canned tuna in oil or leftover tuna meat, torn into bite-sized pieces (leftover grilled tuna belly works best for this), a white onion, butter, and liquid seasoning. All you need to do is mince the white onion and sauté it in butter. When it becomes translucent, add your tuna, and sprinkle with liquid seasoning. You may serve this on a hot plate with a piece of calamansi (Filipino lemon).

2.) Cored Beef Nachos are also a wonderful semi-instant idea. All you have to do is heat canned corned beef in a skillet, add frozen carrots, peas, and corn (which is available in most groceries), and then add some tomato sauce over it. Season the mixture to taste and then scoop some on top of a bed of Nachos or Potato Chips. Then, sprinkle everything with some quick-melting cheese and pop it in the microwave or oven until the cheese has melted.

3.) Meat Loaf Hash. Usually, people prepare meatloaf by simply slicing it and then frying it or by eating it straight from the can. This unique take on Meat Loaf is savoury and fried and makes for really good pulutan. All you have to do is slice the meat loaf into little cubes. Slice an onion and two potatoes the same way. Then, prepare a skillet and heat some oil in it. Pour the onion, potatoes, and then meat loaf and cook on high heat until the potatoes are cooked through. If you want to give it a little crunch, you may leave it in the skillet to brown a bit. It approximately takes 15 to 20 minutes. You may also dust it with cheese before serving.

4.) Leftover Adobo Flakes. This is the ultimate in Pinoy pulutans, although not may people know about. Seriously though, is there anything more Pinoy than fried adobo? Anyway, here is how you do it. Take your leftover Pork adobo and tear into small flake-like pieces (it should resemble larger pieces of Corned Beef). Then, let it sit in the sauce it previously came from for some minutes to help it absorb the flavour of the sauce. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a frying pan. When the oil is hot, cook the adobo flakes in it at medium high heat. Keep frying it until it looks golden brown and looks crisp. After this, remove the adobo flakes (at this point it will look like crunchy corned beef) and place on top of a paper towel. This will absorb the oil. As the adobo flakes cool down, it starts to get crunchy. Serve it in its crunchy state as the perfect Pinoy pulutan.

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile’s (The Radio Show) Pulutan Special this Wednesday (August 31, 2011) from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions, log on to http://party.i.ph or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Friday State of Mind

2011-06-22T03:30:00.002+08:00

Admittedly, a hard and jaded Partyphile like myself have little inclinations on becoming too emotional. In fact, only three things in life make me emotional: good food, good drinks, and weekends. And the emotion I choose to feel when faced with these three elements of bliss is happiness. So yes, I was happy—ecstatic—when I found out that one of the few places that could offer all three elements of my happiness was now in Davao.

TGI Fridays, as you probably already know (unless of course if you have been living under a rock these past few months, which has been out-of-chic since Obama’s death inside a cave) opened some time at the end of May (2011 of course. Check the date on top of the page in case you are reading this some time in the distant future) in Abreeza Mall. Yes, the one owned by the Ayalas, along JP Laurel.

Most of you know that TGI Fridays is a casual dining restaurant; you go there to dine…casually. Duh. However, the fact that they started out as a bar might come as a surprise. I know it gave me that kind of reaction which later developed to a strong infatuation with the brand. In my book, any restaurant that serves good food and alcohol is, well, good. In fact, in my book, any place that serves alcohol is good, but that’s a whole different story. Now, going back to Fridays.

Fridays actually started out as a bar, and even though they gained popularity in the country for being a casual dining resto, they could not forego the bar because it is a very important part of their identity. But of course, this is not what you want to read about. I know what your thought process is when you step inside Fridays.

You got here thinking that you are about to enjoy really good food. And then, all of a sudden, a huge bar comes into your line of sight. Suddenly, you start thinking twice about having some food. Alcohol, of course, is always better than solid food (well, for most of us, that is). But then of course, you decide to do what you went there for: eat. At the back of your mind, you are thankful that you decided to skip their cocktails because you would not really know what to order. And that is where I come in. Being the Partyphile you love (or hate) I have whipped up a review of six of their best-sellers. So no. Do not expect me to say bad things about their drinks because: 1.) They gave them to me for free. 2.) These are best-sellers for a reason. 3.) They are just too good to bash. So without further ado, here are six of the cocktails you must definitely check out at TGI Fridays:

L-R The Pina Colada, The Margarita, The Electric Lemonade,

and the bestselling Mojito which also comes bottomles from 4PM til closing time

1.) The Classic Mojito: This cocktail is the king of all cocktails as far as TGI Fridays is concerned. Their Mojitos are the stuff of Urban (Cocktail) Legends. Have you ever read passages and stories about the power of a Mojito to transport the drinker to a beach-side setting with a bevy of friends in tow, and a sunny disposition to boot? Well, I haven’t either. But that is exactly where this cool and citrusy Mojito takes you. If this cocktail does not refresh you and remove all the stress that has pent up from whatever it is you do (work, school, or shop), then nothing else in the world can. This cocktail tastes like a citrusy, minty, fizzy burst in your mouth. It is cool and calming and is made with Rum. How can you go wrong with that? Oh, and to make things even better, TGI Fridays offers Bottomless Classc Mojitos from 4PM until closing time at only Pesos 305. And do not even try to argue that you can buy two buckets of beer with that money in your friendly neighbourhood sari-sari store. These Mojitos are BOTTOMLESS. ‘Nuff said.

2.) The Margarita: Served on the rocks, this classic cocktail is one of the more popular items on their cocktail menu. If feels like a shower of citrus and alcohol in your mouth, that is bound to make your knees weak with one sip. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. This cocktail is potent but is easy on the palette. In fact, while I was sampling this cocktail, a fine gentleman from Japan kept on giggling beside me. Turns out, he has had 6 servings of this cocktail… and it was not even 6 PM. It seems like, with the Margarita, you just can not stop with one. A well-made cocktail is good in any language, I guess. What’s in it? TGI Friday’s very own Margarita Mix, Triple Sec (a citrus-based liquor; do your own research to find out why it got its special name), and Tequila. Alright. I am ending this paragraph here. Tequila should be enough to convince you.

3.) The Pina Colada: If you do not know what a Pina Colada is by now, shame on you! It is ONLY one of the most popular cocktails in the whole wide world! In fact, I’ve heard some news that aliens in Mars drink the cocktail. And I’m not even making this up. Ok, so maybe I am. But you can bet your bottom dollar that if ever Martians would choose a Pina Colada to booze up on, it would definitely have to be the one they serve at TGI Fridays. Ok. Fine. If you still do not know what it is, here is the proper explanation. The Pina Colada is a blended mix of Coconut Milk, Citrus Fruits, and the king of Tropical fruits, Pineapple. Basically, it is a Tropical Holiday in a glass. A really large one too, if you order it at Fridays.

4.) The Electric Lemonade: Ok. So you think that Lemonade is a boring drink. It is kind of flat and one-sided. It is simply lemon, sugar, and water. Right? Right. Thankfully, the Partyphile Gods have blessed us with Alcohol; and this makes everything a little better. So, TGI Fridays serves up a gorgeous Electric Lemonade: a combination of Lemonade, some really good Vodka, and some Blue Stuff. It might be Blue Curacao; it might be not. But at this point, would you really care? I wouldn't too. All I care about is a good cocktail; and this might be a good introduction for somebody who hasn’t grown accustomed to cocktails just yet. If you are new to the whole cocktail-drinking bandwagon; then this is the one for you. Oh, and by the way, TGI Fridays (as well as most of the food establishments at the Ground Floor of Abreeza) will be extending their closing time to two in the morning. So please, for the love of Alcohol, grow accustomed to cocktails now.

Leading the pack is the flirty Appletini

5.) The Appletini: So most martini innovators will tell you that anything that is shaken (or stirred) with ice and combined with Vodka is a Martini. Martini Purists will tell you that all these innovations are fake Martinis, and the classic Martini is the only way to go. I say, if they are really purists, then they should not even drink cocktails in the first place. Whether an Appletini is a real Martini or not, it is far better than any old Martini I have ever tried in my life. And trust me, I have tried one too many Martinis. Fridays’ Appletini is a sweet and tart blend of Apple Syrup, Vodka, and it seems like, Magic. This Appletini is surprisingly good, and is one of the fastest-rising stars in their cocktail menu. It is perfect for ladies who enjoy a really great-tasting cocktail, without the instant buzz; or for gentlemen who just want to drink a cocktail for its taste. It is impossible not to give out a smile after drinking this cocktail; it kind of reminds one of apple-flavored candies that used to be popular during our childhood. Of course, this comes with Vodka, which makes it better than any old piece of candy.

6.) The Mudslide: Before you order this, get ready for an all new cocktail experience. Although the mudslide is served with a simple swirl of chocolate syrup (to line the glass) and some chocolate chips, there is nothing simple about the cocktail. It is made with Bailey’s Cream (which is gorgeous when taken alone), Kahlua (which is comforting at any time of the day), Vodka (which still remains to be one of the most, if not the most, popular alcoholic beverages in the world), and Vanilla Ice Cream. Think of the mudslide as an adult version of the Chocolate Milkshake you used to love as a child. It is creamy, dreamy, smooth, and slushy all at the same time. It seems to provide you with nostalgic memories that bring you to a place of comfort and solace. It is that kind of drink. The experience may be comparable to that of drinking a cup of Hot Chocolate, but we all know that the Mudslide is better (it has alcohol in it). It comes in a tumbler that is the perfect size for really sitting back and relaxing. In fact, I will go as far as to say that it is one of my favorite cocktails so far. It is definitely a must-try. And if you don’t take it from me, well, good luck on finding another valued opinion about cocktails.

The Mudslide is as comforting as the good old-fashioned milkshake, but with alcohol

All in all, the cocktails at TGI Fridays are above par. These yummy alcoholic treats, combined with some finger food (Ballpark Nachos, perhaps) seem to be the perfect combination to transport you a weekend-state-of-mind, at any day of the week. After all, in here, it is always Friday.

For comments, suggestions, letters of adoration, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph, or listen to Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM. You may also follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Enzo is the man to look for behind the bar. He whips up Fridays' signature cocktails and has little tricks up his red-and-white sleeves. Consider him your new best friend.

The ballpark Nachos seem to be the perfect accompaniment to any cocktail

Yogu Iloilo

2011-04-04T16:58:00.002+08:00

I spent three lazy days in Iloilo with no travel buddy ad without a real itinerary. So most of my afternoons were spent lazily walking around the city, trying to look for gastronomic delights. On my second day in Iloilo, I decided to check out this adorable yogurt shop I found in Smallville.

The place was called Yogu. The whole shop was made out of an old container van and was painted all white. They had pink nets that acted like canopies and had really cool pink accents inside. (check out the uber-cute pink ashtray in the photo). They only had plain yogurt and a limited menu of toppings... So I decided to indulge in all the pink cuteness (even though it's not really my thing. I thought it would look better in the photos though) and decided to order some Frozen Yogurt with Strawberry Sauce and Strawberry Flavored White Chocolate Chips.

I swear, it is one of the best frozen yogurts I've ever tried. It was tart and had a really yogurt-y taste. It was refreshing, it was affordable (around 100 bucks, if I'm not mistaken), ad the staff was very friendly too. Loves it! I soooo wanna visit Iloilo again.

Afrique's Iloilo

2011-04-04T03:57:00.002+08:00

I recently went to Iloilo (alone.loser much?) and decided to chillax for three days and explore what the city has to offer gastronomically. I was referred by soo many people to Afrique's so I checked it out during my last day in Iloilo. I ordered their Osso Bucco which was HEAVENLY! The sauce was tangy and savory and had ust a little spice. Plus, I could really make out the taste of the lemon rind, which helps cut through the velvety and uber-tender umptuousness of the beef. I think i just had a food-gasm.

And in true Pinoy fashion, I ate my Osso Bucco with white rice. LOL. I lurve that it didn't break the bank though. I think the dish cost around 275 pesos. That's pretty affordable, in my opinion. Oh, and the waitstaff looked gorgeous. teehee.

And this place mat with a kitschy article kept me entertained as I waited for my order (which didn't take very long). I needed it because I have the attention span of a goldfish (2 seconds). I wish I could have staed in Iloilo so I could have MORE Osso Bucco and maybe even try the rest of Afrique's offerings.

Mamma Maria's Davao Take-out

2011-04-04T03:48:00.002+08:00

Mamma Maria's Davao has opened last year but I've only eaten there once. Last week though, we had ten visitors over so we decided to take some pizza out. Their thirty-inch pizzas cost a little over a hundred, so we decided to take three pizzas out. We didn't realize that thirty-inch pizzas were THIS BIG.

This is how you know that you are going to have left-over pizza for a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Was it good? I'll tell you when I've digested all of it.

follow me on http://www.twitter.com/zhaun

Krua Thai

2011-04-04T03:06:00.002+08:00

My family eats out every Sunday and one of our default Sunday afternoon go-to places is Krua Thai at the Metro Lifestyle Compound along F. Torres Street. We looove their food because we enjoy the salty+sweet taste of Thai cuisine; plus the prices are not bad. The photos below show some of Krua Thai staples (the things we order almost EVERY TIME we're there)

(clockwise from top-right: Thai Mango Salad, Thai Calamares, Tofu in Red Curry, Black Pepper Fish, Thai Spring Rolls)

Thai Mango Salad: Honestly, I never tried this dish. I don't like Green Mango and I don't like vinegar. So I don't try it. However, the rest of my fam swears it's yum-o.

Thai Calamares: If you expect uber-crunchy pieces of breaded and fried squid, you won't get it from this dish. It's dipped in batter and fried much like Battered Chicken so it's slightly crunchy and slightly cake-y. But that's not a bad thing. it's really tender too.

Tofu in Red Sauce: If you are under the impression that tofu is bland and tastes like sponge; well you might be swayed into thinking otherwise after trying this dish. it is slightly spicy, tangy, salty, and well-balanced. Plus, can you really go wrong with curry? (Ok, so my brother hates curry..but he's just weird like that)

Black Pepper Fish: Don't let the name scare you. Although it tastes really, really, REALLY like black pepper, it isn't spicy at all (or I just can't feel the spice because my tongue is always coated in alcohol) and it tastes AWESOME. I swear I could eat it FOREVER.

Thai Spring Rolls: Everybody who knows me (ok..not EVERYBODY) knows how much I love spring rolls, and I extra-love (this might even be lust) Thai Spring Rolls because i enjoy eating spring roll wrappers stuffed with rice noodles with steamed white rice...because it's carbs plus carbs on top of more carbs! Take that South Beach Diet!

(Clockwise from top-right: Chicken in Red Curry, Chicken Pandan, Pad Thai, Thai Calamares)

Chicken in Red Curry: This dish is basically like the Tofu in Red Curry. It's basically awesome...and that isn't basic at all. Wut?!? I know. I'm crazy-stupid today. It's real good. Unfortunately, my weird-a$$ brother can't take heat so we ordered this with Mild spice. BUMMER.

Chicken Pandan: This dish is basically marinated chicken wrapped in Pandan (or Screwpine for all you social-climbing Filipinos who pretend that they don't actually add PANDAN in their rice everytime they have visitors over) Leaves and then pan fried to golden-brown (and crispy) perfection! Seriously: chicken + frying...do I really need to explain why this is awesome?

Pad Thai: If you aren't into sweet food... you might not like it. But I like it. It's flat noodles with a sweet sauce and some shrimps and nuts and wrapped in scrambled egg. It is said to be one of Thailand's signature dishes. It tastes GORGEOUS. Plus, I love the mouth-feel of the silky noodles with the nuts.

Oh, and by the way..you can follow me on twitter.com/zhaun

Culinary Creations: Paprika Dory, Mango Salsa, Bean and Pea Soup

2010-10-22T23:15:00.003+08:00

One of my culinary idols--My Tita Pura-- visited us in Davao a couple of months ago. i decided to welcome her wth some of my Culinary Creations. Here is what I prepared:

Bean and Pea Soup: Now, soup is not one of my best suits. i do not really know how to make a good soup so I decided to boil some peeled and diced potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, onions, and some garlic. Then, I strained out the veggies and put it straight ina blender to make a thick soup (almost paste-like). Then, I put it all back in the water I used to boil it in and mixed it until I achieved a thick but smooth consistency. Then i added my faves: green peas ad garbanzo beans

Paprika Dory with Mango Salsa. This was very easy to make. I simply marinated the dory with fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and paprika and then pan-fried it.

The Mango Salsa I made with it simply contained diced ripe mangoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and some parsley. I used to put some onions in it but it turned out to be too strong. So for this one I added caramelized onions to give it a sweet taste. I did not season it with salt or pepper as I liked the clealiness of the taste

Hummus: I also made some hummus by blnding some garbanzo beans, sesame oil, olive oil, black pepper, salt, garlic, and some lemon juice until I achieved a super smooth consistency. I served this with some flour tortillas.

Oh and I served some roasted chicken that went with the hummus and tortilla. It was marinated with cumin, salt, pepper, maple syrup, garlic, onions, and then cooked in the Turbo broiler. It was pretty good.

White Hat Frozen Yogurt Cebu

2010-10-22T23:12:00.002+08:00

White Hat is one of my fave frozen yogurt spots because they serve some of the best Mochi PLUS their froyo really tastes like yogurt. I know it is probably made from powder which tastes like yogurt and is not actually yogurt (because how can powder have bacteria? The heat kills it. and yogurt should have bacteria) but among all the froyo stores, this comes the closest to the real yogurt taste in my opinion. Plus, the place is sooo cute.

Tempura SM Cebu

2010-10-22T22:34:00.002+08:00

Sometimes, you just cannot help but to crave for Japanese food. My Nipo-cravings hit me whil I was in Cebu and so I started to scour SM City for a decent looking Jap place. We found this place called Tempura, which was very interesting.

When we read the menu, we saw that the prices were pretty decent.

I ordered some Age Dashi Tofu which was served at room temperature and was sooo soooo soft and lovely. I also had a Yakitori Chicken and Rice meal, and some Kakiage (veggie) Tempura. The Yakitori Chicken was relaly sweet and tender and had the smoky taste I really, really like. The Kakiage tempura was lovely. I looove that it was tender and crunchy and perfectly cooked.

My friends ordered Prawn Tempura (which was lovely), some Kani Sashimi, Tonkatsu 9which I failed to try out).

However, when I get back to Cebu Three weeks from now, I will definitely go back to Tempura.

Oh, and by the way, we ordered all this:

Yakitori
Agi Dashio Tofu
Kakiage Tempura
Prawn Tempura
Tonkatsu Platter
Tonkatsu Toppings
Kani Sashimi
Sashimi on Rice
two Mango Shakes; and
Water

and we paid a measly 1,200. AMAZINGLY cheap..esepcially for Japanese

Oh, and if you are wondering..well, yeah. the three of us ate all of that up

Moon Cafe Cebu

2010-10-22T22:27:00.003+08:00

Moon Cafe is a Mediterranean Resto with branches in Ayala Mall in Cebu and one in Big R (Robinsons) in Cagayn de Oro.

We ordered the Moon Cafe steak, which was tender and really really yum-o

the beef stroganoff was a little bland and lacked character but it was at least palatable.

Their baby back ribs were so-so.

The prices were alright. not cheap but not expensive. however, i must say, it was not as good as its price. tsk tsk.

Cowrie Cove Cebu (Shangri-La Mactan Cebu)

2010-10-22T22:11:00.002+08:00

I was recently in Cebu and just had to have cocktails. So we headed on over to Cowrie Cove at the Shangri-la Mactan which is sooo gorgeous. We order a couple of cocktails that were really gorgeous and were sooo good. Plus, the world-class bartenders were super nice!

We had "Sex on the Beach" which is the Yellow cocktail in the photo. It was super tart ad yummy and interesting and perfectand it got the job done. that is, it got us drunk.haha

The orange cocktail is, of course, the classic screwdriver which is basically vodka and orange juice. no surprise there

The one in the fish-bowl like contraption is a cocktail. the name of which slips my mind.haha. but it was cute. and filled with grenadine..click the photo below to check the cocktail out. its GORGEOUS

Sbarro Ayala Cebu

2010-10-22T21:58:00.002+08:00

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Sbarro. I recently ate at the one in Ayala Cebu. It was, as it always is, spectacular and redonkulously fattening. Haha

As always I ordered the Chicago Deep Dish while my friends ordered some pasta and some pizza. Well, the photos say everything

Candy's CDO

2010-10-22T21:39:00.002+08:00

Whenever I visit CDO I always make it a point to dine at Candy's because they have some of the best pastries and cakes this side of the Philippines. During my last trip I (with my family) ate several of their desserts.

Let's start with the Cara-Vanelle. This dessert has been featured in this blog before. Cara-Vanelle is a caramel mousse with chocolates, dried peach, and little bits of granola-bar-ish squares. Yes. That is the one in the lower left-hand corner of the photo

Sylvanna- the one on top of the Cara-Vanelle (in the photo) is their version of a Sylvanna. That costs around 160 pesos and is HUGE. It is good enough for four people to share. It is super crunchy and creamy on the inside.

The Pecan Tart is the one photographed on the upper-left-hand portion of the collage. It was a god size, but it was a bit pricey. Anyway, it was very chewy and very rich. It was redonkuluously yummy

On the top part of the collage is their Mango Delight (i think. or mango rhapsody.or mango something) Anyway. It is made of mango. I know the outside of the cake looks like it has yellow icing ut that is actually paper-thin strips of Mango. It has a light taste and is served chilled. It reminds me of a really good refrigerator cake. it was not very sweet, and i really liked how soft it was. its my new Candy's fave. Check Candy's CDO out on your next visit to CDO

Big Ben Gensan

2010-10-22T21:24:00.002+08:00

Whenever I get bored with life, I ride a bus and head straight to Gensan. It is only three hour saway from Davao and a bus ride costs a measly 225 pesos. Whenever I go to Gensan, I always try to look for new foodie finds. During my last Gensan trip, I found the interesting Big Ben.

Big Ben Gensan is an upsacle resto along the fron strip of Robinson's Gensa. They serve a lot of Filipino favorites including Kare-Kare and the Spanish-inspired Paella. However, they are famous for their steaks. So that is what I ordered.

For only 350 Pesos, my black pepper steak was great. It was cooked really, really well. It was perfectly seasoned and wa svery tender, even though I had mine medium-well. Their gravy was rich and thick and savoury, exactly how I like it.

For 350 bucks, this was a steal! The meal came with my steak, some buttered veggies, mashed potatoes drenched in gravy, green salad with mango vinaigrette, a creamy soup, and even a cute and moist cupcake.

We also ordered their Paella Negra. The rice was nicely cooked, it was still quite al dente, and the toppings were very juicy and moist.

Try Big Ben Gensan whenever you are in the city of Tunas.

What to Eat in Davao: Syrian Cuisine!

2010-08-06T18:20:00.003+08:00

As you all know, Zabadani is one of my favorite restaurants in Davao. It is along Ponciano Street and serves authentic Syrian Food. They have started offering new food in their menu. Here are some of my favorites:

Beef Kebabs

Samboosak

Kabsa is kind of like paella, but it is made with a Syria flare. It has peanuts, a lot of spices, some Onions and some Chicken.

They also have authentic youghurt Lassi

However, the Belgian Choco is still y all time fave drink in Zabadani

What to Eat in Davao: Pinipig Suman

2010-08-06T17:57:00.002+08:00

We went to Cagayan de Oro last month and stopped by at Seagull Mountain Resort along Buda Road (boundery of Bukidnon and Davao) and had some breakfast there. they served the best suman ever! Their suman was chocolate flavored and was served with some pinipig and a sprinkling of sugar. We ate it wih some native hot chocolate. Yummy!

What to Eat in Davao: Korean Food!

2010-08-06T17:20:00.002+08:00

My friends and I truly enjoy Korean food ad it seems like every time we get together, we choose to eat in a Korean Restaurant. Our fave is Kim Chi restaurant at Bajada, right in front of Victoria Plaza. It is pretty easy to find, just tell the cab driver where you want to go.

Right after you finish ordering, the waitstaff gives you a set of six appetizers. These appetizers vary with every visit but on this day they served us with some traditional Kim Chi, some egg omelets, some water Spinach with a sweet and garlicky sauce, steamed clams with chili sauce, some seaweed salad, ad Korean Potato and Scallion Pancakes

As our starter, we ordered some Kimchi Chige. This is a sour and spicy soup with tofu slices, cabbage, pork, onions,a nd other greens. it is very savory and has just the right amount of sourness. We asked our Kimchi Chige to be served with Mild heat (my Mom insisted), but I personally like the spicier version.

Kim Bap was then served to us. Kim Bap is the Korean version of a Maki. It is made with slices of raddish, crab stick, carrots, ham, cucumber, egg, and yellow radish, all wrapped inside some sticky rice and Nori. They served it with a dusting of Sesame Seeds

Japche is (i think) Korea's national dish. I am aware that most people think Korean food is always spicy, but Japche is anything but. In fact, it is a little sweet and is very savory. It has a lot of Umami goodness to it. I heard that the noodles they use for Japche is made with Cassava starch. it is definitely more glutinous than the noodles I'm used to. It had some scrambled eggs, bell peppers, mushrooms, pork, and some veggies

Bulgogi is another one of my favorite Korean dishes. It is made with beef that is super tender and (rumour has it) has been marinated ad boiled four different times to ensure that it tastes super yummy and super tender. They serve it with some veggies and some noodles. I read though that they add some pear juice...But I doubt that the one at Kim Chi Restaurant has any trace of pear.

Emerlad Tea Garden Again

2010-08-05T13:57:00.003+08:00

Emerald tea garden is a Chinese style resto my family and I frequent. Their food is really really good and i looove the laid-back set-up

Below is a photo of one of my fave fod: jelly fish! oh, and century eggs! i soooo love these...especially with chili-garlic sauce and some soy sauce

pata tim
my all time fave: lemon chicken
beef steak
minced pork with hoisin sauce and lettuce leaves

mapo tofu

Margie's Pastries

2010-08-05T00:04:00.005+08:00

margies is one of the patisseries I do not really frequent, but when I do, I really enjoy their food.

I especially like the brownie thins. These are quite pricey, at seventy (i think) pesos for this little package but they are really addictive. They are basically super thin and super crunchy pieces of brownies which are oh-so-good.

This cake was also really good. Although the ame of this cake escaes me, you must try this the next time you visit Margies (there's a branch near SM Davao and one in Torres)

The profiteroles were kind of disappointing though. Profiteroles are basically choux pastries (the same pastry that you get with éclair and cream puffs) with chocolate icing and cream. However, their version had a thinner chocolate liquid that almost tasted like a ganache. They also served it with some cream. However, the dessert wasn't sweet AT ALL. And i love sweet desserts... so i was terribly disappointed...

Their red velvet cupcake was quite good though. I loved how sweet the icing was. Hahaha. Oh, and their chocolate truffles were a bit too bitter for my liking. :D Dust off some cocoa powder before actually consuming the product. Was it as creamy as I expected it to be? No.

Harley's Burger

2010-08-04T23:48:00.002+08:00

Harley's is this quaint little burger place near Ateneo jacinto. i think it's at juan Luna street..maybe... Haha

But it's in front of Better Components. It is really affordable and really good too. Below is a photo of a serving of "chili cheese fries" which is a serving of freshly fried french fries topped with a slightly spicy meat sauce, and some grated cheese. It was definitely very satisfying and really comforting.

Their burgers still did not disappoint (this is my second time dining there) for around 60 pesos, the patty was HUGE and was still perfectly cooked, although I really hope they make it a wee bit more flavorful.

Cafe Marco Buffet at Marco Polo Davao

2010-08-04T23:25:00.004+08:00

Although the spread at Cafe Marco has decreased considerably, he food is still quite spectacular. I actually like their food, unlike in most buffets. :D

Below is a photo of some Lam Ragout, Some Chicken with Cashews, and some stuffed pork loin...plus some roasted 'taters...

Below is some potato wedges, some cherry tomatoes, some onion rings, fried squid, and some veggie gratin, and some other appetizers

Maki galore with natto (fermented whole soy beans)

desserts, desserts, desserts,

and my all time fave: mango with cream and pandan (screwpine leaves) jelly

Piesta (Gen San)

2010-08-04T23:13:00.002+08:00

Piyesta in Gen San is one of my new favorite places to visit in the city of tunas. It is a quaint resto bar (with videoke) in Robinsons Gen San. I loooved their Kura-sticks (kurat is the vernacular for "surprised). These sticks are made of chilies that were previously de-seeded and then stuffed with ground beef. the stuffed chilies were then wrapped in spring roll wrappers and deep fried to golden perfection. Loves it!

My friends and I also sampled their "gayuma" which is the vernacular for "love potion". This potent mix of rum, tequila, and vodka (im guessing) with strawberry juice goes down very smooth and is actually very tasty for something so packed with alcohol. Plus, they serve this shots of potion in little test tubes which i found cute

I chugged down seven gayuma shots without batting an eye lash. I LOOOOVE it!

Rai Rai Ken

2010-08-02T17:59:00.005+08:00

Whenever we do not have food at home (because we were too buy or too lazy to cook) we go to Rai Rai Ken. The food there is lovely! We especially love their Jurassic Maki. It is kind of like a California Maki roll but with some roasted eel on top and some tempura in the middle. It is super yummy!

We also ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Bento It includes some steamed rice, some sauteed veggies, some tempura, dipping sauce, and some chicken teriyaki pieces. It was soooo yum-o!

My cousin ordered his all time fave: Katsudon. This dish is made with deep fried pork cutlets with onions, scrambled eggs, juliened Nori and some Katsu sauce that is all laid on top of some perfectly cooked white rice.

I think the dish below was called Mapo Tofu. I'm not so sure, but it was really good. It had minced pork, some sweet and spicy sauce, and some deep fried tofu squares. It also had scallions, chilies, and garlic.

we ordered their Yakiniko rice (i think). Haha. actually, i dont remember what it was called, im just guessing thats what its called. anyway, it had a lotta bacon on topic..and i looved it

we also had some deep fried squid teriyaki

and some traditional prawn tempuras

Saranggani Highlands

2010-08-02T17:37:00.002+08:00

Last May i visited Gen San or work and pleasure. I stopped by one of my all-time favorite places to hang out in : Saranggani Highlands. And although it is easy to get distracted by the gorgeous view and the beautiful exteriors (it is kinda like a gorgeous secret garden), he food is one thing i always look forqard to when i am there.

This time we tried their sesame dusted fried prawns. They were soooo yummy and crunchy. Definitely a must-try. Im gussing the breadcrumbs were dusted with a little all spice to give it a neo-Asian taste to it. Very satisfying.
The salad we ordered was such a pretty dish and it was really really good too. It had sauteed shrimps, cherries, ripe magoes, and some pomelo and a dressing of honey and mustard. It was definitely a yum-o dish.PLUS i like the unique, fresh, tangy, and sweet taste
However, my fave dish was the crispy hito. They deep fried some fish fillets that was glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce and was topped with green mangoes, shrimp paste, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. They served it with a deep fried catfish head ad deep fried catfish tail

Red Ribbon Mother's Day Cake

2010-08-02T16:23:00.002+08:00

We bought Mama a mother's day cake from Red ribbon during (last) mother's day, and it tasted really nice. :D

It had classic sugar icing and vanilla cake. It was soft, fluffy, and super yummY! Oh, plus it looks really cute..

It kinda looks like it was home made right? Coolness

Grand Men Seng

2010-08-02T16:16:00.002+08:00

We had buffet lunch at Grand Men Seng a couple of months ago and I terribly enjoyed it. I think it costs 200 pesos per person so it's pretty affordable..

Their pasta was cooked perfectly, and I really enjoyed the veggie tempura. :D
Their humba as super tender and was super tasty. Their Morcon was suuuuppppeerrr yummy! It wasn't as tender as I would have hoped it to be, but it was really, really yummy!
Yep, that's me. My mouth is to full.Haha

Mamma Maria's Pizzeria Gen San

2010-07-06T14:05:00.002+08:00

I visited Mamma Maria's Pizzeria again, because I looooved it the first time I dropped by. This is how it looks like from outside. It is located along Quirino avenue in Gen San. it is pretty easy to find. tricycle drivers know where it is.When you enter the place, you get to enjoy the wall murals of tourist spots in Italy. i find this to look very classy and quirky. A very nice touch.
We order a hawaiian pizza, and we could actually see the pizza man making our pizza. i loooved how i could actually watch him creating our pie from scratch. the owner says you could even get inside the kitchen and pose for the camera while pretending to make your own pizza.haha.cute
That is our HUGE thirty inch pie ready for the oven.. this is their second largest pizza. they also have a 63 inch pizza, the largest in the world. our 30 inch hawaiian pizza cost around 900 bucks. I think that was a fair deal considering it took us two days to finish (we took our leftovers out, ate it while drinking beer in other spots, and then i had it for midnight snack, and then again for breakfast, and i still did not finish it. i left it in the hotel room. sad.)

we also ordered some carbonara and bolognese pasta. both of which cost 99 pesos. very good deal. see hwo huge the pizza is compared to our plates, and te table. HUMONGOUS.

Krua Thai

2010-07-06T13:53:00.003+08:00

My family and I ate at krua Thai a while back but i forgot to upload the photos. so i hope i remember the names of the dishes..haha. anyways,ill try..

We started off with a mango salad. i don't like anything with vinegar in it so i didn't try it.ick
This was my fave. Thai Spring rolls. I just love how sweet it is, plus i love that it has noodles inside. Carbo loading! haha. it is crunchy and is perfectly seasoned. i swear, if you go to Krua Thai without ordering this, I'mma go there and order it for ya
these are their pork spareribs. They are fried and they have been coated in a batter. I do not know how they do it, but their batter is really something different. when you slice into the spare ribs, the batter falls apart as if it is a shell. I dunno. I just like it. it is super crunchy
This was a chicken dish with cashew nuts. this is too yummy for words. seriously, i do not know how to describe it, it was THAT good.
This beef dish was super tender and was really savory. i liked it, all my brothers liked it as well. it came with a vinegary dipping sauce which i didnt like, but i didnt think this dish needed some sauce. it was perfectly fine on its own.
pad thai noodles are one of the msot popular thai dishes. so, we decided to try some of krua thai's version. it was wrapped in scrambled eggs which you had to break in the middle to get to the noodles. the noodles were sweet and salty and were really good. i think this is one of my favorite noodle dishes ever. (i dont like noodles that much)

finally we had black pepper fish. it was exactly that; fish with a lot of black pepper. i loooved it but that is probably because i love black pepper. if you don't like pepper, skip this dish

Krua Tahi is located at the metro lifestyle complex along f torres street davao city

Kim Chi Restaurant

2010-07-06T13:39:00.002+08:00

there's this place i go to with my college friends every time we meet. its called Kim Chi or Somang and it is right beside Chowking Bajada, right across Victoria Plaza. the prices are a bit higher than we would normally spend but it satisfies our Korean cravings every time.

When you first arrive they give you six appetizers per table (each table sits four so if you come in a group of six, you get two tables and twelve appetizers) they gave us some (from the top left) sweet potato fritters, spring onions with chili sauce, kim chi, pickled water spinach and raddish, cucumber salad, and leek and ham omelet
We always order their bulgogi. We prefer their beef bulgogi, which is a sweet dish of soy sauce, beef tenderloin,sesame seeds, sesame oila nd brown sugar . however, it is always 'out of stock', so we ordered pork bulgogi instead. it is a totally different dish. it is spicy and has a lot of veggies. it is equally good though.
We also enjoy kim bap. it is like a maki roll but it has more fillings. theyhave sesame seeds,scrambled eggs, cucumber, kani, carrots, raddish, ham, and i forgot the other ingredient.haha
japche is another fave. I think it is made out of cassava noodles. it is kind of like a glutinous version of sotanghon (or Asian vermicelli) and has a sweet sauce. it comes with some meat, a lot of veggies, mushrooms,and egg. it is really super good
pajeun is another fave for people who do not like spicy food. it is basically a sdavory pancake made from cassava starch and has squid and other veggie sisnide. it has a soy dipping sauce.

Mom's Birthday Cake from KaeKae

2010-07-06T13:16:00.002+08:00

My Mom celebrated her birthday a couple of months back and my friend KaeKae gave her this gorgeous cake from iCake (i think) im sure this was pretty expensive but i assured KaeKae that it was worth every penny. that cake was uber yummy. it had chocolate cake with a bubblegum flavored fondant.

Oh, and if you are wondering why the cake looks like that, well, my mom LOVES bags... plus she has bangs..so it actually kinda looks like my mom.haha. only, ahm, sweeter.hahaha

Thanks KaeKae!!!1

Lengua Estofado

2010-07-06T12:58:00.002+08:00

Ok. So my mom would totally kill me if i gave you our Lengua recipe, so instead, i'll just give you some photos of the Lengua. Mom cooked it, I plated it. i know it looks kinda cute. haha. Anyway. the next tiem you have Lengua Estofado at home, try to present it this way. :D mwah!

Culinary Creations

2010-07-06T12:49:00.003+08:00

Ok, so one night i made some ground pork with tomatoes, onions, garlic, potatoes, bell peppers and all that jazz. Then, i placed them inside super sweet red bell peppers, topped them with cheese, and voila! a super yummy dinner!

There was a lot of extra filling so i put them over some Lumpia (spring roll) wrappers which were placed atop ramekins and then baked them. another super gorgeous dinner!

Plus, it is not spicy at all. do not worry about the bell peppers. after being baked for around ten to fifteen minutes they get super tender and super sweet. delish!

Eeek. Pagkaon Mistakes

2010-07-06T12:38:00.003+08:00

Ok. Sorry. I found this in one resto in Bukidnon and I just thought that I would HAVE to post it because it was just too damn funny. First of all, it is Pineapple-Kalabasa FLAN. not PLAN! and in the same way, it is Pineapple-Durian FLAN. not Plan. I didn't take a photo but on a different page they offered LECHE PLAN. Again, it's FLAN not PLAN. PLUS, when did chicken salad become dessert?

Alright, let's move on to the Japanese section. I always thought it was Sashimi, not Shashimi.. You'd thinkt hey would have corrected the name of the dish since they managed to correct the prices of the other dishes below it, right? Plus, it is TERIYAKI..theirs is missing an "i" thus they serve teryaki. And they repeat the error again for Teryaki Malasugi. And friends, it's Tongkatsu. Not tongkutso. Sorry again. i just find it hilarious.

Chocolate heaven at Red Ribbon

2010-07-06T12:31:00.002+08:00

The ad for this cake was enticing. it said this cake had four types of choclate. and when i got me a slice i realized the four types were: mousse, brownie, chocolate curls, and ganache (the icing). did it feel like i was experiencing four different types of chocolate with one bite? no. It felt like i was eating chocolate mousse that had a brownie crust instead of cake.

Was it really that good? unfortunately, no. i would soo want to say "yes" but the truth is, it is too much. it is too sweet, it is too rich, it is too much of everything. Its good with coffee though, or with hot milk..or hot chocolate (if you are a chocoholic) but i would serve these in smaller slices than you normally would.

I give this three out of 5 spoons.

Red Ribbon S'Mores Cake

2010-07-06T12:14:00.002+08:00

A couple of months ago we tried the Red Ribbon S'Mores cake. If you are not familiar with a traditional S'more it's actually a piece of roasted marshmallow and chocolate in between two graham crackers. Obviously, this cake had all those elements. The cake was chocolate and had chocolate pieces on top, they had soft marshmallowsin the middle of the cake and on top of it too, and they had a graham cracker crust in the middle. plus,t his had some caramel syrup on top.
Was it like a smore? not really. It was soft, and fluffy, and airy. was it good? Hell Yeah! It was not as sweet as i was expecting it to be (i like super sweet stuff) but i'm guessing it is the right sweetness for most people. this is sooo much betetr than their bland oreo cake. I give this cake two thumbs up

Roast Beef Sandwich at Brother's Burger

2010-05-30T19:55:00.003+08:00

If you are lookin for your beefy fix but are tired of the old Burger combo, you HAVE to check out Brother's Burgers Roast Beef Sandwich. They used to have a roast beef sandwich before but it was not as good as this one.

I'm sure, right about now, you are staring at the photo on top wondering what the heck is inside that queer looking sandwich...I won't tell you! haha.. I kid..

But before the ingredients list let me just say that this is the perfect burger when you are on-the-go. It is SOOO filling, but it also gives your palette a huge punch of flavor. In fact, it is one of the msot flavorful sandwiches I have ever tried.

(omg. just look at the beefy goodness below)

Anyway, this sandwich includes:

A soft Kaiser bun. I love this new bun they use for this line of gourmet sandwiches because it is softer and (if it makes any sense) creamier. haha. I know bread is not supposed to be creamy, but the Kaiser Bun almost melts in your mouth.
Fresh lettuce and tomatoes (a staple in any sandwich IMHO)
Slivers of oven-baked roast beef. Now, let me tell you why I love these slivers of roast beef. First of all, they are super tender and are cooked perfectly so when you bite into the sandwich, you actually get the part you just bit instead of struggling with the sandwich because all of the beef comes spilling out with a bite (i hope you understand what i mean). I think this is very important for any sandwich because it helps keep your meat to bread ratio in check. Also, the roast beef pieces are seasoned perfectly so it packs a lot of flavor but still tastes like beef. Plus, they are super juicy too. I wonder how many hours they cook those slabs of beef to get roast beef this tender...
Crispy Onion strips also top the sandwich. These kinda taste like onion rings, only thinner and with a lot less breading. This provides a certain crunch to the sandwich and a little added flavor and sweetness
The dressing they use for this is horseradish. It has a little kick of spice but it is tolerable, even for people who abhor spicy dishes. My brother can not take any spicy dish but loved this one. Also, usually I do not like dressing on my sandwich because I do not like the taste of mayo and most dressings use mayo as a base but this did not taste like mayo at all. i know it HAS mayo, but the taste is totally different. and the sharpness of the horseradish works very well against the hearty flavors of the beef and onions

Anyway, keep on staring at the photos.haha

Other gourmet sandwiches you can try at brothers burger are the CORDON BLEU sandwich (refer to previous post) and the Zumo Sandwich which is made up of two crispy breast fillets with an Asian slaw

Eat your heart out. haha. I know, this is food porn. You are lusting after these sandwiches

Check out Brothers Burger at Damosa Gateway near Firenzo and Spirale

Cordon Bleu Sandwich at Brothers Burger

2010-05-30T19:37:00.002+08:00

Remember my last post about Brothers Burger and how gorgeously yummy their burgers are? Well, I just visited Brothers Burger again and was surprised to see that they now offered something MORE than just burgers.

I really love Cordon Bleu so I decided to try out their Cordon Bleu Burger. I was really surprised because after a bite, i realized that it tasted EXACTLY like traditional Cordon Bleu.

I'm sure you are wondering what is inside the burger, so here is a rundown of all the yum-o stuff that goes into this sandwich.

Check this out. Here are the ingredients:

A super-soft Kaiser Bun
Fresh Lettuce to give you a little crunch and pop of freshness against all that deep-fried goodness
Fresh Tomatoes for added flavor and freshness
TWO (yep, two) HUGE, golden, crispy, yet still tender Chicken Breast fillets that are perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked
TWO slices of sharp and creamy cheddar cheese to give you that authentic Cordon Bleu taste; and finally
TWO HUGE pieces of Smoked Ham that are cooked just right. These pieces of ham are still tender and are soooooo yummy. Aaah...I think I could eat this ham all day

As you would expect, the combination of all these flavors are oh-so-yummy..Unfortunately, the sandwich was too huge so I could not finish it. However, my brother terribly enjoyed my leftovers.hahahaha

So there..another sandwich to try at Brothers Burger. SOOO worth the money you pay for it. I swear, every chicken lover should try this one out.

Alright, stare at the pictures some more...I know you can not resist...

Brother's Burger

2010-04-12T20:11:00.009+08:00

I must admit, I never crave for burgers. I think it is because I have grown too accustomed to burgers, that it has lost its novelty; in a sense, i saw burgers as a staple...kinda like Adobo. What I craved for was usually pasta, pizza, or nachos. But burgers never seemed to be on my 'cravings' list.

I mean, when it's there, i like to munch on it, I like to savor the beefy goodness; but when it isn't, I never seem to mind. However, through the invitation of a new cyber buddy, I decided to visit Brother's Burger at Damosa. I remember trying a Brothers Burger in Manila once, but that was so long ago that i could not remember how it tasted like.

Anyway, when I stepped in to the store in Damosa, I was surprised at how smiling and accommodating the staff was. And even though this was just another (fast-food) Burger joint the fact that the cashiers never seemed to rush me with my decisions, and that they even helped me decide what to order made me feel like I was a customer; somebody who was willing to try out a different burger experience. In other burger joints, you feel like you are reduced to just another person waiting in line. Here, you feel, in a sense, like you are the only customer they are waiting for. It is surprising how a warm smile, and a sincere passion for work can spell all the difference for a customer. This just tells me that the management is doing something right.

Since the burger i was eying (the Santa Fe) was not available, the cashier suggested that I try the Ranchero Burger (265 pesos). She was kind enough to explain to me what it contained, and she recited the ingredients as if she knew it like the back of her hand.

I am sure you are staring at that picture below. I know, the burger was HUGE. And it was sooo good. Okay, so here are the ingredients:

The Ranchero Burger had:

Fresh Tomatoes - and not the small types you get in the market. They have huge slices of tomatoes.
Fresh Lettuce - crispy, crunchy, and oh-so-fresh
A half-pound all-beef patty - it was perfectly cooked. Soft and juicy to the last bite and with no signs of blood whatsoever.
Huge strips of bacon- the bacon pieces were not overly fried so they maintained a certain softness. Usually I like my bacon extra crispy, but the bacon in this Burger is cooked just right for a burger. Meaning, when you bite the burger, you only get the part of the bacon you actually bite. Over-cooked bacon strips seem to fall out of the bun with one bite. however, since the bacon strips here are still tender, you get the right ratio of burger and bacon
Extra crunchy Onion Rings- I am a little bit biased because i LOOOVE onions, but I think raw onions taste too strong and actually ruin the whole burger experience. With this burger, I got Onion rings (my ultimate favorite). I was happy.
Barbecue Sauce- I mean, what more can I say? Pure genius right?
Buns- The buns are perfectly cooked as well. A little crunchy and crusty but still very soft, AND thin. I am SOOOO glad that this burger has more meat than bread.

Eat your heart out

(I just wanted to show you how it looked inside)

Oh! By the way, if you love potatoes, you will definitely LOVE these. I love how the fries at brothers Burger actually taste like potatoes instead of oil or some artificial sponge.

My co-DJ, Steve Midnight order a Brothers Burger. It is a simple half pound burger with mayo, lettuce, and fresh tomatoes...served inside an oat bun. Steve midnight enjoyed it very much.

Soooo, I admit, I used to NOT crave Burgers. However, one serving of that humongous piece of beefy goodness....and I have been craving more like crazy. Ever since i got a taste of the Ranchero Burger, i have been wanting more from this burger joint.

Aaaah. I do not know what to say anymore. it is just soooo good. I am sure the pictures say it all.

Lemon walnut Torte from Tiny Kitchen

2010-04-03T16:04:00.001+08:00

What can i say? Its lemony, its sweet, its crunchy..it is perfect!

It is very lemony, much more lemony than most lemon cakes in the market...so...i love it.

Concord Cake at Tiny Kitchen

2010-04-03T15:54:00.002+08:00

The Concord Cake is one of the few cakes that is not too sweet. It is gorgeous to look at, and it is super yummy; especially the one from Tiny kitchen

Ok, so if you do not know what a concord cake, it is actually just layers of mousse and meringue

And those little rolls that surround the cake..those are pieces of meringue as well

Emerald Tea Garden

2010-04-03T15:33:00.003+08:00

Chinese food is admittedly one of my guilty pleasures . I just love how Chinese cuisines always tastes interesting; salty and sweet at the same time, and with a lot of umami goodness. One of the better chinese joints in Davao City is Emerald, and their food is wonderful

We started off our recent meal at Emerald with this cold cuts platter that featured century eggs, jelly fish, Asado. white chiken (i think) and some preparation of pork intestines (i think)

the jelly fish was my fave. im in love with jelly fish.haha

We also ordered some very very fresh prawns. i dont eat prawns (damn allergy) but everybody said it tasted wonderful. It came with a dipping sauce that everybody was raving about

We also had some soup. Whenever we eat at emerald we order the eight treasures soup. It has tofu, squid, fish, shrimp, carrots, egg, mushrooms, and i don't know what else, but it tastes really good and comforting..exactly how a bowl of soup should be.

We also had pata tim, and there were crunchy little pieces of sea cucumber (i think).. love sea cucumber. the pata tim was usper tender and was really flavorful...

My ultimate fave, lemon chicken..super crunchy and super lemony. yum-o!

Plus they serve a really good oyster cake. You can really see the oysters inside the omelet, unlike in some other chinese restos

OOOOH. and whenever you decide to visit emerald, make sure to order some minced prok with lettuce wraps. it is lovely. it is crunchy, perfectly seasoned, fresh tasting, and the hoisin sauce is glorious.

Leftover Makeover: Sauteed Asparagus

2010-04-03T15:21:00.003+08:00

Alright, I amde this reicpe with leftover sauteed asparagus but I'm sure this will work just as well with sauteed kangkong or sitaw, or any other sauteed veggie dish. Actually, this reicpe works for almost ALL leftovers. (my personal fave is adobo)

Anyway, all you need to do is find an oven-safe bowl or ramekin. Then, take three pieces of large spring roll wrappers.. Put the three pieces of wrapper on top of each other, but make sure that they are not perfectly aligned. this gives it a prettier look later (an uneven layer. cute)

Anyway, push the wrappers down on the bowl, fill them with your left overs, drop one scrambled egg, top with cheese slices (or grated cheese) and then bake them until the cheese has melted and the egg has set. this takes less than ten minutes.

Wait for them to cool before you take them out of the bowl.

PS you may also use muffin pans

Mamma Maria's Pizzeria

2010-04-03T15:10:00.002+08:00

Wherever I go, I look for a really good pizza place., And my friends say that Mamma Maria's Pizzeria is one of the most popular pizza places in General Santos City. So the last time I was there, I decided to visit the resto.

The interiors are cute (do not mind my stupid face), as they contain pictures of Italy and stuff.

The pizza we ordered was around 20 inches (i think) and it was wonderfully cooked. Unlike the huge pizzas in Davao City, Mamma Maria's actually had a super crunchy crust. And i liked that. i'm a sucker for super thin-crust, uber-crunchy pizzas. So i truly enjoyed my meal at Mamma Maria's

Defintiely worth a try. So the next time you visit Gen San , make sure you drop by Mamma Maria's

Royce Champagne

2010-04-03T15:03:00.002+08:00

Everybody knows that I am a choco-holic...

And..i do not know what to say. Just staring at the pcitures makes me want to go and grab another bite. this was just spectacular. Royce chocolates do not just melt in your mouth, or your hand..they melt everywhere in this tropical country. they melt so fast in fact, that you need a pick to get the chocolate out.

You NEED to try these chocolates. They are soooo soft. the texture..it kinda reminds of ice cream. when the chocolate piece touches your moth it instantly melts into the smoothest, chocolatiest goo ever.

This box goes for 580 pesos but it is sooooo worth it

Stuffed Bell Peppers

2010-04-03T14:49:00.002+08:00

I made this dish for the holy week since we aren't allowed to eat meat during this time.

The filling had rice, onions, celery, garlic, mushrooms, small pieces of cream dory, and then i moistened it up with some cream of mushroom and one egg. i stuffed them inside a huge bell peppers, topped with cheese and then baked.

you must admit, these look gorgeous

Pork Stew With Mashed Poatoes and Buttered Peas and 'Shrooms

2010-04-03T14:20:00.006+08:00

Alright, this dish looks nice, but it is actually a very simple dish. it has some rustic appeal, and the procedures are super easy; making this dish perfect for any last minute diner.

here is what you have to do:

Chop some bell peppers, onions, and potatoes to fairly huge pieces. Also, smash 2 garlic cloves with the side of your knife

While you are preparing your veggies for your beef stew, you might as well mince up the bell pepper snad the garlic for your buttered chick peas (also known as garbanzo beans) and 'shrooms.

Since I'm using a pressure cooker (because it cooks faster) I season my meat and then sear it. This locks in the flavor of the meat. I find that if I do not do this before I stick the meat inside the pressure cooker, it comes out bland and tasteless. However, if you will not be using a pressure cooker, you may skip this part.

So yeah, sear the meat (that means cooking it in hot oil until the outer layer is cooked) until it turns white. I am using pork shanks (i think). Just find a similar cut of meat.

After all my meat has been seared, i take them out and then dunk all my veggies in the same pot and the same oil that my pork has been seared in.

Once your onions turn translucent, you may add in some red wine (if you have some lying around the house) to de-glaze the pot. (that just means, you are removing all the parts that are stuck on the bottomm of the pan). About half a cup to a cup of red wine will do.

And then add some tomato sauce. About one cup would serve well for half a kilogram of pork

Put the pork pieces in and then cover with some water. Seal the pressure cooker and wait for around twenty minutes. This should be fall-off-the-bone tender by that time.

While waiting for your pork stew to cook sauté your bell peppers (for the buttered shrooms and chick peas) and minced garlic in a good amount of butter. I use around two tablespoons of butter.

Remember to add some oil as well, because butter burns really quickly. Mixing it with oil helps it burn longer.

once the butter melts and the bell peppers are tender...

add in the mushrooms...

..and the chick peas

Heat them through for a couple of minutes, and they are ready to serve.

You still have more pockets of time to work on the other elements of this dish. You may totally skip this part, but i like it because these little strips of crunchy spring rolls make make the plate look better and they give a different texture to the dish. The crunchiness of this element goes well with the smoothness of mashe potatoes. (oh btw i do not show you here how to make mashed potatoes because they are very easy. while waiting for these crunchy strips of spring roll wrappers to bake, make some mashed potatoes)

Alright, going back..Simply slice some spring roll wrappers and lay them on some rack to bake. When they have turned golden brown, take them outta the oven and set them aside.

You may serve all these dishes like this (all in one palte) or in separate serving platters. of course, you may serve these on separate nights or simply serve the pork stew alone.

For the purpose of this photo, i decided not to take any sauce from the pork stew, but the sauce has all the flavor. Do not throw it away.

See how cute that crispy strip of spring roll wrapper is? cuteness!

Cold Treatment

2010-04-03T14:18:00.001+08:00

Cold Treatment

Everybody I know has been complaining about the heat in the city. El Nino is obviously here, and it is bound stay for at least two more months. Sadly, the rotational brownouts do not help at all, but below are the list of things that will.

Mix It Up: When Filipinos realize its too hot outside, we always crave for halo-halo. And when in Davao, one has to try the city’s most revered halo-halo shop: Aling Foping’s. Located at MTS, this quaint store gives you customizable halo-halo with the smoothest crushed ice ever. Rumor has it, they use mineral water to make the ice, shave it once and then pack it back in the mold. When you order a serving (if you can stand ordering JUST ONE) they shave the ice again, making it the only twice-shaved ice cream I know of.

Go Gigantic: If ice cream is what you are craving for, this cute little resto in Damosa Gateway may just be the perfect spot for you. Choose among a wide array of ice cream concoctions from the classic banana split, to parfaits and even refreshing ice cream based beverages all served in hefty packages! If you plan to beat the heat in a big way, this is the place to do it.

Fly Butterfly Fly: If you crave for something alcoholic, as I usually do mid-afternoon, but want to keep cool; Farfalla is the place for you. This pasta bar that literally translates to “butterfly” will give you just that: butterflies in your tummy. The outré smells of this homey place will get you excited to sample their wonderful pasta offerings. However, if your only purpose is to beat the heat, you must try their Mojitos. They are more citrusy and minty than I’m used to, but they just add more fresh appeal to this wonderfully classic drink. Plus, a dash of light rum never hurt anyone

Get Minty: Since we’re already in the topic of alcohol, why not try a glass of Bols Peppermint at Someplace Else at the Habana Compound in Rizal Street? This glass of mint liqeur is sure to keep you cool enough, no matter what the temperature outside is. If you can not imagine drinking a minty alcoholic beverage, imagine taking a swig of vodka with ten pieces of mentholated candy. Yes, it is that strong.

Slushed Alcohol: If something more ice-laden is what you crave for, drop by Dos Amigos, still at the Habana Compound in Rizal, and choose from their wide array of blended margaritas to finally get rid of the heat. For more added refreshment, pick flavors with mint in them.

Zen Appeal: If you want something healthier to help you beat the heat, try Café Firrenzo’s blended green tea drink. Unlike some cafes that serve their green tea drinks with a dollop of whipped cream, Firrenzo serves theirs sans the calorie-laden spoonful of icky cream. I find that the richness of the cream overpowers the fresh and refreshing taste of green tea, so Firrenzo’s take on the Japanese fave is delightfully pleasant.

Italian Job: If, like me, you often crave for something fizzy when the heat of summer arrives, you would appreciate Fagioli’s line of Italian Sodas. They offer a wide array of these fizzy drinks in several flavors like Strawberry, Kiwi, Blueberry, and other fruit favorites. Plus, they do not break the bank.

Scream Without Cream: If you want another healthy alternative, try out I Scream Fro Yo. This three-week old stall is quite simple compared to most shops that sell frozen yogurt, but their products taste as good. I had a serving of frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries, chopped walnuts, and a thin strawberry syrup. Surprisingly, it was as satisfying as more expensive brands, and was quite refreshing as well. It was so good in fact, that I ordered another one of their concoctions. My second order was the Frozen Yogurt Flurry with bits of Butterfinger and caramel syrup that turns into a chewy string once it touches the frozen dessert. The effect: a melt-in-your-mouth, stuck-between-your-teeth, pasted-on-your-lip experience, or as I would call it: pure pleasure. I predict this will be one of the city’s best kept secrets for years to come.

For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile, log on to http://party.i.ph or add us up on Facebook. Search for “Confessions of a Partyphile”

Tune in to Confessions of a Partyphile, the radio show, on 105.9 Mix FM every Wednesday evenings, from 6 to 9 PM.

Davao on a Plate

2010-04-03T14:12:00.000+08:00

Davao on a Plate

The Davao Region is known for many things. It is known to be home to the Philippine Eagle, our national bird; it is known to offer a wide selection of fruits like pomelo, durian, and mangosteen; it is known to be the largest city in the world, in terms of land area; it is known to have the second-cleanest water in the world; and it is known to be one of the safest places in the country. However, people often over look the fact that Davao has also become a melting pot of international and local flavors; offering something to fit every person’s palette and fancy.

Davao seems to take everybody on a culinary adventure, as it offers a tour of the world, from table to table and plate to plate. A culinary trip to Asia is possible with the authentic flavors of Korea at Somang, Korean Shiktang, and Gamjatang. Exotic Thai flavors are offered at Krua Thai and Bangkok Wok; while delicate Japanese tastes may be enjoyed at Tsuru, Zakoya, Tadakuma, and Nonka, among others. If shabu-shabu is what you crave for, Tong Yang gives you the perfect hotpot experience, while Banana Leaf offers a fusion of Southeast Asian flavors and Hanoi gives you an introduction to the world of Vietnamese cuisine.

If Chinese is more your thing, there are a lot of places to choose from. Mandarin Tea Garden and Dimsum Diner are two of the most popular Chinese fast-food chains in the city; which give you your dim sum fix any time of the day. If family style Chinese-dining is what you crave for, Ahfat Restaurant, Grand Emerald Seafood Garden, Sen Ton Whan, and Marco Polo Davao’s Lotus Court are all worth a visit.

After a trip to Asia, visit the sun-kissed flavors of Café Mediterranean; or try Persian fare at Majid’s Kabab, Turquoise, and Kash Kabab. You could also try the Syrian offerings at Zabadani or Indian cuisine at Taj Minar.

If European cuisine is what your tummy rumbles for,there are also a lot of places you could visit. Claude’s Café de Ville dishes out sophisticated French food, while Farfalla, Spirale, Picobello Ristorante Italiano, Salutti, and La Pizzeria Nel Traliccio give you the best Italian pastas, pizzas, and more. If a different pizza-dining experience is what you crave for, a trip to Eduardo’s Pizza, Italian Job, Boyd’s or Coco’s is sure to get you satisfied. If Spain is on the itinerary, Hola Espana at Damosa Gateway gives you the best of Spanish cuisine. Tiny Kitchen could help ward off your paella cravings, while Swiss Deli, Haggar’s Place and De Bonte Koe offer a host of European favorites.

Samplings of American-style burgers are also worth a visit at the surprisingly affordable Harley’s, the socially-conscious Al’s Diner, and the most popular local burger chain: Space Burger. If you’d kill for the crunch and zest of Mexican food, Dos Amigos at the Habana Compound is sure to give you a run for your money.

Whenever your tummy rumbles, and your appetite allows, you must try the several buffet restaurants in the city. Buffet Palace offers countless Filipino-Chinese favorites, while Nanay Bebeng highlights home-style Pinoy fare. Chippens is also quite popular, especially for their seemingly never-ending dessert table, and Iron Horse is king when it comes to affordable seafood and grilled fare. Glamour is the place to be for eat-all-you-can crabs, while C-Tres and Apung Kula are turning out to become the new buffet favorites.

One can never leave Davao without sampling its take on the Pinoy barbeque. Penong’s, Colasas, and Banok’s all offer sumptuous, perfectly marinated barbecued meats, all served with unlimited rice. An interesting barbeque experienced is also promised at Lyndon’s World’s Worst Ribs and Awful Chicken. Some other Pinoy favorites include the cowboy-inspired Ranchero Grill and Roadhouse Café; fusion dishes at Café El Gato, Antonio’s, and Kusina Selera. More Pinoy favorites include Dencia’s, popular for their congee and tokwa’t baboy; Nanay Conching’s and Dusk ‘Til Dawn for the best Native Chicken; and Marina and KC Fishing Restaurant for the freshest seafood in the metro.

If you have a sweet tooth, a quick visit to Davao’s pastry experts, Lachi’s and Bistro Rosario should be on schedule. Aling Foping’s halo-halo at the Matina Town Square is also worth a visit, if only for the smoothest shaved ice (in a halo-halo) in town. Cute and colorful cupcakes from Baby Cakes, sinfully indulgent cinnamon rolls at Annipie, and heavenly mini-desserts at Sugar Munch are also worth a try, while gigantic servings of ice-cold treats are available at Ice Giants. If a healthy frozen dessert is more your style, you can drop by I Scream Fro Yo, for affordable frozen yogurt, near Dover Lanes, or simply visit all the fruit stands at Ponciano Street.

Truly, Davao gives an answer to all the food-related cravings one may have. It takes but a simple trip around town to satisfy a soul’s hunger for a culinary adventure to places and regions one can only imagine visiting; but regardless of where your culinary trip may take you, or whatever it is you choose to fill that spoon with, Davao dining is always enjoyed with a serving of hospitality…and that is probably the sweetest ingredient of all.

Hershey's Kisses Krispy Kreme Donut

2010-04-03T14:02:00.002+08:00

You see that white and brown donut with a kiss on top. that is the new Hershey's Kiss KK Donut. It tastes Uber Good. I mean, it has white chocolate, and then caramel syrup and a whole kiss on top..how can that ever be a bad thing?

Of course, all the other KKs were equally yummy...especially the one with a dusting of cinnamon and an apple filling. Take out some KKs now and eat a dozen in bed. you will feel much much better

Conti's Pastries

2010-04-03T13:49:00.004+08:00

My brother visited Manila to catch the Timbaland concert and he decided to bring home some goodies. he brought home this box of Conti's pastries. The chocolate ones were marvelous. However, the lemon bars tasted egg-y and flour-y not lemon-y.haha

Im not very impressed. tell me if you think otherwise. Although I must say, all these little squares were super moist

Chowking's Orange Chicken

2010-04-03T12:38:00.002+08:00

I am a sucker for orange chicken and lemon chicken, so when i heard that chowking actually offered orange chicken, i was delighted. i mean, now i could get my orange chicken fix from a fastfood...and without a lot of money.

Let us start with the negative and get that out of the way. First, where are the oranges? i was expecting at least ONE wedge of real orange there, since the poster showed the dish with SO MANY orange wedges...but well, there were none. Second,. where is the orange taste? welll, it is there, but it was very VERY hard to taste. The sauce tasted like vinegar+sugar+pepper+salt...not very orange-y if you ask me.

But i understand why chowking would do this. i am sure not many filipinos would be willing to eat a piece of chicken that tasted a lot like chicken. im sure this dish would sell less if it tasted more orangey. and sinc ethis is a fast food chain, and caters to the masses, i can not complain

the positive: it was actually quite a generous serving of super soft, extra crunchy (even if it was dunked in sauce), bone less chicken fillets. the chicken was so good in fact, that it actually tasted like it could have come from KFC. the dish tasted quite good...just make sure not to expect anything that actually tasted orangey...which is hard to do, considering the dish is called orange chicken.

to cap my meal off i ordered some mango sago (tapioca balls). It was sweet (but not too sweet), cold, and the fresh mango pieces were delightful. if you have to choose one thing from the chowking menu, i would suggest you go for the mango sago rather than the orange chicken

Harley's Diner

2010-04-03T12:28:00.002+08:00

A lot of people have been telling me to try this resto in Juan Luna, right in front of Better Components. As i entered the store, i was greeted by the warm smile of Sam; the American owner of the store.

I ordered the extra large burger to fill my extra large appetite, and I was not disappointed. For one hundred pesos, the burger was actually bigger than i expected it to be, and it was juicy and tender, and really beefy. actually, i think it is made out of pure beef.

the patty was so big in fact, that it couldn't fit in the bun. but isn't that the best way to eat a burger? to enjoy the patty before the bun?

The burger was perfetto! You should deifnitely try it..It left me SUPER FULL but i just ahd to have a taste of their chili cheese fries...just because everybody else seemed to be loving it

this serving costs 45 pesos and it features french fries topped with home made chili and cheese. yum-o!

Ngoyong Haus

2010-04-03T12:22:00.002+08:00

A new Ngoyong store opened in Davao City, name Ngoyong Haus. It is in Obrero, near Gabbie's. The Ngoyong costs 6 pesos per piece.

As you probably can tell, the ngoyong pieces are very very crunchy. I do not fancy many lumpia dishes, but this is definitely one of my new favorites. If you do not mind oily food, this will definitely be at the top of your merienda list

Cafe El Gato

2010-04-03T11:45:00.006+08:00

My family and I decided to eat at Cafe El Gato one Sunday. I didn't really know what to expect, but it actually turned out to be spectacular. Overall, the dishes were yum-o, and the service was excellent.

We started the meal with complimentary banana chips. I didn't eat any of course, since i HATE bananas. But my brothers say it tastes good. I would imagine all banana chips taste good. :D I wouldn't really know...next!

We were then served with cheesy potato wedges. obviously (as you can see in the photo) they sprinkled bacon bits all over the dish. it was comforting, it was warm, it was good. yum-o! Can you really go wrong with potato bacon and cheese?

We then had some spring rolls. I think these had some Ubod inside. I don't really know what ubod is but i think it's from the insides of coconut trunks

We also had buffalo wings. these were yum-o as well. i was actually surprised at how tender the chicken was, and how the tangy sauce makes it oh-so-good.I would like to apologize to he chef for not trying the dip, but i was afraid it had mayo and me don't likey mayo. :D sorry

One of the prettiest dishes we had at Cafe El Gato was the curried crocodile. If you are wondering how crocodile tastes like..well, imagine a chicken and a fish having a love child. It tastes nice. and the sauce was great. and the toasted strips of coconut...cute. unfortunately, i thought there were too many coconut pieces that it actually overpowered the rest of the dish. But they added another layer of texture. so it worked for me. Will i order this the next time i visit El Gato? Hell yeah!

Below is my favorite dish at El Gato. Actually, I think this is my favorite version of Lengua. Ever.

It was creamy, it was rich, it was perfectly seasoned, and it was hearty. I just could not keep my hands off this dish. This dish actually reminded me of holidays; it brought back so many warm emotions. Aaaah. I do not know what else to say...but when in El Gato, you definitely have to try this.

We also had Bistek Tagalog, which was very tender. It tasted like my Mom's version so that made me happy

Even their rice is cute. don't ya think?

This is the family enjoying our meal. :D

Don't mind me..i'm just staring at the Lengua dish

The Site

2010-04-03T11:35:00.002+08:00

The Site has been in CDO for as long as I remember. Obviously, it is still hip and happening, although I'm quite sure they changed locations. Anyway, this one is in the Lim Ket Kai Compound...or Rosario something..I forgot what they call it. Anyway, I went to Cafe Macumba to have a cocktail.

That marble (ish) fountain in the middle of this watering hole actually surprised me. It was unexpectedly novel

I ordered this TALL glass of mojito. And although i'm used to mojitos with real lemons (and this had calamansi), it was equally as refreshing. And it costs 100 pesos. ONLY. Now that is a good deal. The enxt time you are in CDO, drink up!

Sunburst CDO (lim Ket Kai)

2010-04-03T00:29:00.002+08:00

This is not the way i remember sunburst. I remember unburst to be a little less ....posh..but this country-themed resto in cdo is nice..and the chicken is nice. although i remember the old sunburst chicken to be more succulent and more flavorful, the chicken in this aprticular branch was alright. However, for 99 pesos a piece, id rather do KFC

Kyla's Bistro

2010-04-03T00:01:00.004+08:00

I wanted to check out Kyla's bistro primarily because of the way it looked. I mean, these two globes outside the resto are enough to make me want to live there! They are so nice to look at. they look quite small in the pictures but these globes can easily seat 12 to 15 people.
Unfortunately, the aesthetics were the only thing that was note-worthy in this resto. the food was ordinary.

I love how they wrapped the huge liught bulbs with mesh
and how they used coconut husks as ceiling fixtures
but the carbonara was so-so

the sizzling pork belly was too fat and oily, but tasted alright

and the chicken ala kiev was a bit dry and the white sauce tasted liek flour. however, the filing (cheese and herbs) was delightful. out of everything we tried at kyla's bisto, this was our fave

Candy's

2010-04-02T23:29:00.003+08:00

During my second day in CDO i visited Candy's just to have dessert. The interior of this quaint resto is breath taking. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to take pictures inside, but here are some pictures of the set-up in the al fresco portion of the resto. You must admit, it looks a hell lot like Miami. Right? Right.

I ordered this piece of cake. Admittedly, it was small, and not very appetizing to look at, but there was something about it that just seemed like it was begging for me to take a bite. And i did. Actually, i took more than a a bite.

This piece of cake is called the cara-vanille (i think). It costs around 170 pesos but every little bite was well worth it.
The top is decorated with a sliver of almond, a piece of dried peach, and a piece of milk chocolate. Basically, it is a caramel mousse (with chunks of chocolate, hints of vanilla, and i think there were some pieces of dates too) laid on top of a crunchy chocolate base that seemed to be half-crusty, half-doughy. It had hints of hazelnut which made it taste a LOT like a piece of Ferrero Rocher

Those little squares actually resemble granola bars. These squares tasted like oats, and had sesame seeds too. Actually, they tasted pretty much like fig newtons...which is very strange since it does not have any figs in it. I don't know how to explain this dish properly. It was just magical. it was probably the best piece of cake i have ever eaten. ever

Now this is candy's by night. The waitresses look so cute with those orange aprons...

I started the night off with a Kamikazee which was shocking to me, because for 160 pesos, it came in a small shot glass. I mean, in Davao, this would have been a full on cocktail, and not a shooter. but it did the job..i guess

Now the highlight of my night was this HUGE piece of sylvanna. It is reasonably priced, at 160 for this huge piece. I think 3 people can share this easily..

Whenever you visit cdo try the cara-vanille,t hen the sylvanna. haha. you will thank me for it

BFB (Big Flat Bread) in Cagayan de Oro City

2010-04-02T23:14:00.007+08:00

I visited Cagayan de oro City recently and I must say, my stay there was total bliss. Of course, what is a vacay without good food? So I tried some of the restos near the hotel I was staying at (Mallberry).

A stone's throw away from my hotel (well, depending on where and how you throw the stone. Seriously, it is a two minute walk away) was the gorgeously decorated BFB or Big Flat Bread.

BFB CDO (sorry. I couldn't resist it.It was just too cute to type out)

So during my first night in CDO, Dad and I, along with my Aunt and cousin dined at this quirky pizza place. here is the low down:

We had ordered a considerable feast and the first item that was served was their Carbonara. If you aren't a fan of Pasta that actually has some character to it (that is, has a distinctive taste instead of the bland cream sauce everyone seems to be soo exposed to these days) then you would not like their Carbonara. But then again, if you aren;t a fan of Pasta that actually has some character in it, you probably are a loser... or you aren't a foodie at all. ( I am totally kidding). So how does it taste like? DIvine. It was creamy, but not overly creamy. It was pretty good for its price. More importantly, it was wiped out even before I could take a sip of water. Yes, my family ate it up like Piranhas would do fresh, bloody meat.

The buffalo wings were tart and slightly spicy. They were juicy and perfectly seasoned. I liked them. Honestly, my first introduction to Buffalo wings was that of Don Henrico's (the spicy, crunchy, smoky, chicken that had a certain depth to it) so I usually compare other Buffalo wings to my memory of that taste. However, the BFB Buffalo wings just could not be compared to the ones Don Henricos served ONLY BECAUSE they are of a completely different vein. That is NOT to say these weren;t good. They are just completely different. Did I like the BFB Wings? Yes I did. In fact, I think it is the best I've had in a very long time (and yes, that includes the Buffalo wings I've had in Marco Polo Davao).

The buffalo wings from BFB pizza CDO is more reminiscent to the traditional American Buffalo Wings. They are tangy and spicy and super tender. I looove it.

the pizza was good. I mean, there are a dozen and one pizza places in the country.and obviously, we all have our favorites. However,for its price and for its taste, it may just be my new favorite. It is not greasy at all and the crust was perfectly baked.and oh, by the way, their pizzas are HUGE!!!!

I had sooo much fun eating their pizza. since there were only four of us that night we decided to order their second to the largest pizza which we finished in no time. I was left super full and super happy.hahaha. My daddy was equally happy as he did not pay much to keep his foodie son full. Bwahahaha

the fried chicken was good as well. It wasn't OH-MY-GOD-THIS-IS -THE-MOST-AMAZING-CHICKEN good, but it was really really good for a place that specialized in pizzas. Plus, can anyone actually tell if Fried Chicken is good anymore? I mean there are soo many fried chicken places these days which all taste nice so it seems like all fried chicken is good chicken. So how the fried chicken at BFB? It ws cooked jsut right. meaning, the skin was crunchy yet the insides were still moist and not gamey at all. Their chicken came with potato wedges which were delightful. I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved them!

All in all, BFB served up some really good dishes. I think the allure of this resto lies in the location and the interiors. The resto is funky and aesthetically pleasing. The interiors reel you in with their quirky designs,and once you taste their food, you will wish that you were held captive for good. Yes. The food is good. So good that I want to live in BFB-land. Plus, i really loved the potatoes.

Check BFB CDO at the Rosario Arcade inside the Lim Ket Kai compound. Oh, and by the way... the potatoes are really good.

Wait, did I mention that the potatoes are good?

Mojitos at Farfalla

2010-02-09T14:12:00.003+08:00

My DJ friends and I visited Farfalla to have cocktails and all ordered Mojitos. This glass (pic below) is worth 200 pesos, but they have this "happy hour" promo-thingie from ten pm 'til midnight (I guess), where they give you a free Mojito for every order.

All in all, the drink was very good. Quite refreshing.Its more lemony than most Mojitos ive tried, and it had considerably more mint leaves than im used to...but it gave it a very clean taste.

try it!

This is a good introduction to the world of "cocktails" as more and more Dvaaoenos still drink beer, and nothing but. A swig of this citrusy potion will make you re-think your loyalty to beer. :D

Pizza Hut's Barbecue Ribs Pizza

2010-02-09T14:04:00.002+08:00

Last week my friends and I sampled the barbecue ribs pizza from Pizza Hut. I didn;t expect much from this dish mainly because I couldn't believe how barbecued ribs would go well with tomato sauce...However, I found this pizza surprisingly good. It was actually very flavorful, and actually tasted like barbecued ribs even though it did not contain any bones (ribs)...because, duh!..its a pizza

Anyways, its worth a try. i imagine its not for everyone, but if you like it, you will really like it..if you wont, well, you really wont..

its one of those stuff where u have to take extreme sides on the matter. haha. what am i talking about? i dont know anymore, i had too much to eat and im sleepy as heck.

bottomline: try it. its worth your buck

Cran-Raspberry Cake

2010-02-09T13:46:00.002+08:00

We had leftover cranberry sauce from a turkey dinner, and i had perfected a butter cake recipe, so i put the two together, and added raspberry flavoring to the cake and baked it to perfection.

I chilled and whipped some cream and put a dollop on a slice

and found some fresh strawberries in the fridge. i sliced them up and topped my cream with them

it was light, creamy, rich, and had several layers of flavor. loves it!

btw, the cream was flavored with lemon oil to provide a contrast to the berry flavor