Victoria's Gourmet: Garlic Tinapa

Alvie's mom has been cooking something up in the past year which just happens to be the perfect little quick Christmas treat.

Victoria's Gourmet's creation is good ol' garlic tinapa, infused with chili peppers, oil, select spices, and of course, lots and lots of garlic! My favourite part of the bottle is actually the garlic and tinapa bits that settle on the bottom. On a cup of rice, it provides all the blasts of flavor you will need. You can have it on your panini or turn it into a nice plate of tinapa pasta.

Another convenient benefit we've come across for this product is that it is portable enough to carry with you to distant places and overseas. It will surely be appreciated by loved ones longing for a taste of home.

As it is the season of giving, there are also packaging options in case you would like to have a nice little gift for your family and friends. They accept orders in advance so that you can avoid getting caught up in the Christmas rush.

For inquiries and orders, you may reach Victoria's Gourmet at +63917-5253088.

Facebook: Victoria's Gourmet

McDonald's: New 2014 Coke Glasses

McDonald's sent a cool gift over to my house. Leaving Diablo III (seen in background) to see what package awaited me.

The huge heavy box yielded a nice new collection of the nice McDonald's Coke glasses we have come to enjoy over the years. The six glasses, all in grey, have the patterns diamond, linear, mosaic, pixel, ripple, and steel. Funny, that the set is actually six glasses and I was given five. Awesome headstart to completing the collection! Maybe a secret compartment will open when I insert the sixth glass... containing a huge jar of hot fudge? Wishful thinking.

I will still complete the collection though! I'll probably try out their new Bacon Cheeseburger while I'm at it. It does sound good! Thanks, McDonald's!

Niner Ichi Nana: The Craft Series

Niner Ichi Nana (right next to the Hungry Hound) is one of the coolest hangouts in the Fort, and with the Craft Series, it just got cooler. Every Thursday, they offer a special menu of themed drinks and food, and we were invited to enjoy the Pulutan-themed night with drinks prepared by Chef Mikko Reyes and Erwan Heussaff.

The interior is dim and cozy, just like I like it (however this is the reason for the grainy pics. Our phone cameras just couldn't keep up haha).

Tokwa't Baboy, P198.00

pig's ears + tofu croquette + soy vinegar foam
Talk about pulutan! The tender pork didn't actually feel like pig's ears, just delicious juicy pork. The tofu croquettes were so good. They reminded me of Saisaki's agedashi tofu, crispy on the outside with a soft center.

Pom Before Prom, P330.00

Bombay Sapphire, Pomelo Shrub, Elderflower, Mint Leaves, Simple Syrup
I'm no cocktail expert, so please bear with my descriptions. Haha. From an cocktail novice though, I enjoyed this drink. It was a smooth drink with a hint of pomelo and mint and I particularly enjoyed the fragrant dried orange slice.

Three In One, P390.00

Hennessy VS, Cold Press coffee, Condensed Milk, Mole Bitters, Vanilla Tincture, Egg White
Only when I saw the drink did I get it. 3-in-1 coffee! Haha. I usually prefer the creamy drinks so this was my first choice. Not bad at all and the taste was definitely much deeper than any sort of coffee mix. Perfect for the sweet tooths.

Traitor Tetra, P350.00

Bourbon, Jerry Thomas Bitters, Mango Puree, Orange Juice, Orgust, Lime Juice
Another cool drink name. Tetra! Innovative idea for a fun drink that makes me feel like a high-schooler sneaking alcohol into class. Quite a potent drink, this one, but it was still fun to imbibe with all its fruity flavors.

Legit Sisig, P349.00

face + liver + brain + onion + chili + calamansi
I think it is fair to say that classy places don't usually get sisig right, so I was pleasantly surprised to find out that their sisig is goood. Legit indeed. This dish has some serious street cred. We couldn't stop snacking on it in between sips.

Sizzling Foie and Shrooms, P386.00

a la pobre gravy + pickles + pan de sal croutons
I have never heard of sizzling foie gras before, and it's not nearly as famous as it should be. It was decadently rich and flavorful. I savored every tiny bite (I was rationing it) and the sauce-drenched pan de sal croutons were very good too.

Happy Horse, P310.00

Bacardi, House Pineapple Lemon Soda, Cointreau, Paulaner
My surprising star of the night was this infectiously happy horse. The decapitated beer bottle lost its head but became something much better! The ingredients sounded simple enough but the cocktails sweet alcohol-spiked lemon soda had such a beautiful aftertaste that I just had to sip again the moment it left my mouth. On and on, until the drink was gone. I highly recommend going for this!

We thanked Erwan for the event and the invite. It was a thrilling night for the senses and the sweet alcohol-induced magic. Haha. Catch the Craft series nights and you'll be in for an awesome time.

Menu:
Pulutan



NINER ICHI NANA
G/F, Globe Telecom Tower,
32nd Street Corner 7th Avenue,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
(0917) 876 9999 / (02) 7974064
Operating Hours:
Mon - Thu: 5:00 pm - 1:30 am
Fri - Sat: 5:00 pm - 2:30 am
Facebook: Niner Ichi Nana


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Mrs. M: ¡Viva La Fiesta!

GUEST POST:

I was on the lookout for a lunch buffet promo online for my husband's (Mr. Savvy's dad) birthday when I chanced upon La Fiesta Largest Filipino Buffet. I googled it and I was intrigued by seeing sushi, pasta and other non-Filipino dishes being offered.

Off we went to the venue along MOA to celebrate! Unknown to us, they also had that 'Celebrate your birthday for 7 days' promo. It's already looking pretty good. I like the ambiance and the neat, spacious environment. They just opened June of this year so I hope they keep up the maintenance of the place.

There was a band playing good OPM music but our kids wisely chose a table not too near the live music. That way our conversation will not get drowned. To add to the Filipino feel, there was a Mamang Sorbetero going around pushing the 'dirty' ice cream cart. You can call him anytime to serve you a scoop or two in a cone.

I toured the whole buffet spread from appetizers to dessert before I made my choice.  This is the way to go to avoid regrets (hehe).

They had a lot to offer: streetfood like fishballs, kikiam, isaw, betamax with different sauces and dips, pizza and pasta, sushi and very limited sashimi, Filipino classics, Chinese dimsum and some dishes, shawarma station, barbecued meats, rolled lechon and other meats, seafood station including Paella Marinara, juices and shakes station, desserts local and international, coffee and tea.

It is not humanly possible to sample all of them but I did try my best.

First I saw were sad one-day old chicks and I ask, "Why???" It was together with the sisigs.

I started off with Ceasar Salad, California Temaki and thin crust pizza. I was not too impressed but the pizza was quite good. I would have had more pizza but that would mean the end of my buffet adventure.

The Dinuguan was a standout for me. It was really dark, a bit oily and meaty just the way my hubby Ricky and I like it.

The Kare-Kare, a childhood favorite of mine, was not well-represented. It was too pale and the flavor was more starchy than peanuty.

The spicy shrimps were well seasoned and spicy. They were fresh as the shell peeled off easily.

I got one of those halved mangoes on a stick in a jar of water and I spread some pale-looking bagoong alamang on it. I had to instinctively close my eyes as I savored every morsel of the bagoong. It was the best I ever tasted. It is not salty as one would expect but more of the shrimp flavor and well sauteed too.

The durian ice cream was, literally, the bomb. The smell was strong to those nearest me and they inched away from me a bit. Haha. It tasted so good and creamy though like the real fruit which I have learned to like, thanks to my Zamboanguena friends.

Over-all, it was a very pleasant experience. It felt good to be a Filipino with our diverse heritage and culture being showcased in La Fiesta.

One thing I know, it won't be my last time there. I might have to heed the call of their savory Dinuguan in the very near future.

- Ellie

LA FIESTA LARGEST FILIPINO BUFFET
Mall of Asia Complex (MOA)
One Esplanade, Jose Diokno Boulevard,
San Miguel By the Bay, Pasay City
(02) 556-1111, (02) 556-1222, (02) 556-1333
Operating Hours:
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Facebook: La Fiesta Largest Filipino Buffet


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Burgers & Brewskies: Call the Nurse!

We tried some burgers without the brewskies at this very interesting restaurant a short walk away from work.

Call the Nurse, P280.00

Spiced Mustard Aioli, B&B Cheese Sauce, Seared Mac & Cheese and Honey Sriracha Bacon

Drool. We've been here a couple of times but I've never ordered this one again because it just seems so bad and so good and I am not interested in being visited by the nurse anytime soon. Bacon and fried mac and cheese nearly make the burger patty seem like a condiment in this sinfully delicious edifice.

Heisenberg, P250.00

Bleu Cheese Sauce and Jicama Celery Slaw with Bacon Vinaigrette
How could I not order the Heisenberg??? Unfortunately though... I can't claim to have the most sensitive tongue in the world, but I couldn't taste the bacon vinaigrette, nor even the bleu cheese sauce. It all tasted like... a burger. without cheese. with strange crunchy singkamas-style fries on it.

S.P.F., P65.00

Sweet Potato Fries with a Secret Spice Mix
Not bad, not bad, and also seasoned quite well! An addictive appetizer or side dish for a price that isn't too bad.

Verdict:
Call the Nurse: Very Good!
Heisenberg: Okay
S.P.F.: Good

Great place for a quick burger fix or a delicious reason to be visited by your local medical attendant! Burger and beer yourself to your delight.

Love Burgers & Brewskies? Hate it? Let me know by commenting below, or just tweet me!



B&B: BURGERS & BREWSKIES
Unit E, Bellagio II, Forbes Town Center,
Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
(02) 4034038
Operating Hours: 
Sun - Thu 11:00 am - 11:30 pm,
Fri - Sat 11:00 am - 2:00 am
Facebook: B&B Burgers and Brewskies
Twitter: @BnBrewskies

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Hatch 22: No Ordinary Benedicts

How often do you get to dine on a work of art? When at Rockwell, the perfect place for a fine snack would be at Hatch 22.

A few years ago, I was only familiar with the fancy-sounding Eggs Benedict by name and now, after trying it out at several places, I know it to be one of my favorite, however elusive, breakfast dishes.

NYOB (Not Your Ordinary Benedicts), P445.00

Fresh baked rustic muffins, wild mushrooms, sous vide eggs, Italian ham, sauteed spinach and torched citrus hollandaise.
Above and beyond the standard Eggs Benedict are the ones offered by Hatch 22, aptly named NYOB. Why, you ask? I can't explain it. (Some blogger I am, huh?) It may be the citrusy touch to the hollandaise sauce or how it all comes together with the sauteed spinach and the perfectly poached egg. It may have been the vibrant atmosphere of the cafe and how the sunlight shouted its way in to brighten the room. Either way, this is quite possibly the best version I've tried.

Classy view from the @hatch22ph pic.twitter.com/ShKYlHZwQq
— Joaquin Iñigo Medina (@joaquinigo) January 11, 2014

The coffee addict that I am now, it was impossible not to order a nice latte to go along with it. The coffee art featured here is mine, by the way. I'd say it captured my mood pretty well!

Menu:
Greens, Kettle Pot
Hatch Brunch Specials, Pancakes
Cafe Menu
Drinks

Love Hatch 22? Hate it? Let me know by commenting below, or just tweet me!

This is our third post about Hatch 22.
Hatch 22: Birth of a New Cafe
Hearty New Dishes at the Hatch 22



HATCH 22
Ground Floor, Power Plant Mall,
Amorsolo Dr., Poblacion, Makati City
+63917-7942005
Operating Hours:
Mon - Wed: 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Thu - Sat: 7:00 am - 12:00 am
Sun: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Facebook: Hatch 22
Twitter: @hatch22ph


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Pink Panda: Rendang, that's good!

We're happily no strangers to the wonder that is Pink Panda, and we visited once more to try some of the newer dishes. Truth be told, I'd want to keep coming back for every dish, because I have not encountered anything here that I did not really like.

Just like the food they serve, the area is equal parts stylish and homey. I love those lights. How can I get those in my bedroom? Haha.

Seafood Ceviche, P365.00

Swordfish/Shrimps/Squid/Citrus Dressing/Peppers/Red Onions/Cilantro
We were started on a heavy serving of a light dish. The ceviche (seeBEEtcheh), or you might want to call it fancy kilawin, tasted as colorful as it looks. Even if other dishes were already served, I couldn't just drop my bowl until every last citrusy morsel was gone. The seafood was great. The fish was creamy, the squid chewy, and the shrimps skinless. A bonus would be that this dish tastes very healthy too. All tasty, sourish meat and greens here.

Prawn Toasties and Tom Yum Shots, P320.00

Shrimp Toast Canapes/Red Curry Shrimp Paste/Sour Prawn and Mushroom Broth (Spicy)
This did not seem to be such a filling dish to begin with when I saw those four shotglasses, but the discreet heroes of this group are the buchi-buchi-skinned slices of bread on the sides. They were delicately flavored and had shrimp meat under the sesame seeds. They were a perfect contrast to the shots of intense sour-spicy flavor they were served with. And again, who wouldn't enjoy skinless shrimp! You can tell I'm a lazy shrimp-eater.

Crispy Beef Rendang (plain rice not included), P430.00

Caramelized Beef Curry/Golden Shallots/Lemongrass/Cucumber Acar
We were warmly welcomed to the restaurant by Chef Miggy who we had a nice chat with. He talked about Pink Panda's new offerings and selected what we ate there that day. His personal favourite is the Crispy Beef Rendang, which I also had been looking forward to try, having tried the original dish in Indonesia when I worked there a few years back. The Rendang was rich as expected, but as opposed to the original, the beef is very, very crispy. I'm not sure I like it as much as the tender meat of the original dish, but the crispiness was indeed enjoyable, and a nice twist. Chef Miggy was right when he said it's impossible to eat this without some nice plain rice on the side.

Shrimp and Tanigue Sambal Kebabs, P525.00

Shrimp/Tanigue/Peppers/Onions/Cherry Tomato/Sambal
Due to the success of the Chicken Sate, Pink Panda thought of adding another similar skewered treat, more focused on seafood. The tangy flavorful fish and veggies of these sticks were also very delectable. I'm more of a sate guy, but I'd enjoy this any day. Also goes well with rice!

We ended the meal with a tiny piece of dessert.

Sriracha Mousse, P225.00

Dark Chocolate Chili Mousse/Chocolate Crust/Lemon Grass Cream
Tiny, yet far from light, this tarty, sweet, decadent, strangely delicious, mousse was very fun to eat. The sriracha did not translate to much spice but it did give a tangy touch to the dessert. Creamy mousse topped with what looks like delicious chocolate tree branches made for a fun and exciting end to our indulgent meal.

There you have it, the comforting zing that is the awesome selection of food of Pink Panda. Be sure to drop by and try out their many dishes across many cuisines and you won't be disappointed. :)

Menu:
Small Sharing Plates
Greens, Broths, Starch, Sandwiches, Desserts
Express Lunch



Our First Visit:
Pink Panda South East Asian Diner

Our recent visit to Hatch 22:
Heart New Dishes at the Hatch 22

PINK PANDA SOUTHEAST ASIAN DINER
G/F Y2 Residence Hotel,
4687 Santiago St. corner B. Valdez & Singian Sts., Makati City
(0906) 205-3898 / (02) 224-3000 loc. 3057
Operating Hours: 11:00 am - 12:00 mn
Facebook: Pink Panda Southeast Asian Diner
Twitter: @PinkPandaManila


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