-this last trip in Manila, I made sure I came back to Taipei, FULLY STOCKED on my kind of COMFORT FOODS: 
FLAT TOPS
CHIPPY*PIATTOS*NOVA* BOY BAWANG
KRISPY SKREMES are here - just in time for HALLOWEEN '09!!!
Yep, everyone's tasty, sweet treat donut shop, Krispy Kreme, is wowing everyone once again with their Halloween Offerings: Aliens, Skulls, Spiderwebs, Pumpkin Heads, and lots more.... These are definitive treats for those trickster with really discriminating and ultra sweet taste buds...
During the last trip to Manila, I finally got to see and hang out with my nephew Ace.... Besides David, I would say he is one that is soooo much into eating and trying anything and everything... so we make it a point to eat out at least once, each trip of mine... and try something new...
This time around, since we were already in Shangrila Mall-Edsa, running errands, we decided to check out Green Tomato... it is one of the newest eatery there that we both have not tried yet....
The decor is simple and pleasing enough... white and green... and the menu is, though nothing to brag about, still has a good selection.... The food was surprisingly tasty, I say this as the time we were there - lunchtime - we were the only ones eating there so we were afraid we had made the wrong choice... Still, we enjoyed it... not too pricey for a SHANGRILA restaurant, and the portions are large enough that we actually had leftovers....
More Photos Here
Friday, Feb 12th: Little Asia Restaurant to Celebrate my nephew and niece's Feb. Birthdays... Asian Fusion type resto - loved it....
Location: Greenhills...
Loved everything about the place.... yummy food... cool interiors... beautiful mural... service is par excellence... my only complain is the table setting... paper place setting does not suit this place at all.... they could have done better... but that is a minor misstep, as they excel in everything else....
Took my nephew and niece for their BDays.... Just the 3 of Us!!!
...from Krispy Kreme...
I guess, a visit to Manila is not complete without stopping by Krispy Kreme for a donut or two... or a box full!!! Since it is not here in Taiwan, I do enjoy the stopover there during my trips... it helps that they have one of their biggest branches in the Greenhills Shopping Center are - one of my FAVE haunts when in Manila... and it is also nice that they seem to be coming up with new things to entice and treat their donut-a-holic followers, such as me...
With Valentine's Day looming, they are pushing their "Share The Love" campaign... Chocolate covers, heart shaped donuts... with a variety of filling and topping... each and everyone of them - delicious!!! This time around they are also offering a cute little tin with a really cute retro print... fell in love with it's sweetness right of the bat...
Yummy Chocolate Covered Heart-Shaped Treats!!!
Located at my FAVE Mall in Manila, Shangrila-Edsa, SumoSam has got to be one of the BEST -- in just about everything! -- a Japanese Restaurant has to offer...
I first tried this place a couple of years ago, after finding out that it is owned by a FAVE actor of mine, Marvin Augustin... thought I would give it a shot just for the heck of it... I loved it -- and I have been a BIG FAN and FREQUENT visitor since!!!
From the really cool Menu... to the Deliciously, well presented, food... and right down to the Great & Friendly Services by the rainbow colored accented hair staff (this is a prerequisite for those who works here!) -- everything is just to my liking!!!
Our fabulous meal along with a shot of the equally fabulous decor...
Photos are taken during my last visit in Manila with my friend, Juliana... Of course, I had to start out her visit by showing her my most favorite places -- the Shangrila Mall, ZARA, & SumoSam...
Am missing them already..... got to TASTE a few of these SWEET SNOWMAN TREATs being offered by Krispy Kreme for the Holidays... Guarantee, once you have one Krispy Kreme Doughnut - you cannot stop... soooo addictive....Juliana and I were able to have this Holiday Tasty Treat last month, we each had one, plus another extra FAVE... told you you cannot stop with just one!!!
Of course, my first Krispy Kreme Experience was in the Bay Area a few years back... then each and every visit, we would make sure to stop by there for some DOUGHNUT treats.. deliciously fattening but who cares!!!
Since last year though, branches of this sinful place opened up all over Manila... am sure they know the Filipinos are BIIIG on SWEET THINGS -- I could not be HAPPIER, as am able to have their treats at least once, each and every visit...
Hanging out at TriNoma with Juliana for the day... seeing a movie, shopping, and food -- of course! I wanted to try something I have yet to try before... and at the same time take Juliana to a themed restaurant, someplace I know we both will love -- for it's uniqueness... 5 COWS, was our choice!!!
The NEON colored cow heads on the front of the restaurant was enough to draw us in for lunch... the RUSTIC white decor was an added bonus... minimal, clean, with some cow knick knacks here and there... The service was pretty good,too -- with plentiful attentive staff... Each and everyone beaming with a genuine smile on their faces as they bring us our orders or refill our water glasses...
The food was pretty good, too... for the type of restaurant that it is... my Cheeseburger was tasty and a pretty good size... and Juliana's pasta was not too bad either... nothing to boast about but certainly nothing to complain about, either... just right to satisfy the moment's hunger and taste for something different... and fun!!!
Alas, we were sooo full by the time we finished our main courses -- the servings were plentiful -- no room for their famous desserts!!! Besides we already planned on the KRISPY KREME Snowman Treats... Oh well, it just means I will be heading back there again soon... to get the SWEETS Experience!!!
For Juliana's second nite (Nov. 23rd) in Manila, I wanted her to experience what I have come to love at Barrio Fiesta... not just the GREAT PINOY food, but the whole presentation.... the Filipiniana Decor, the local costumes, and the fun of seeing the waiters and waitresses get into the act and sing songs while serving or in between servings... a REAL TREAT! ALAS, this was not so on this particular nite...
We opted to go to the Barrio Fiesta in Makati Ave... mainly so I can take Juliana around the newly opened A.Venue as well... which is next block to Barrio Fiesta... We met up with my family around 6:30 and were seated for dinner by 7PM.... Right away I noticed there was no entertainment whatsoever -- so I asked??? Was told that, there's some diners that requested they do not sing till after they are done eating and have left...LOLs?? why bother to go to this place then? Half of the FUN is the whole entertainment Experience....
Well, I spoke too soon... as when the entertainment finally came - it left me sooooo disappointed... two musicians who played for about 15 mins before they were joined by one waiter singing... He was good, I will give him that but where are the others? Why is the entertainment soooo SKIMPY??? I was sooopo frustrated and felt BAD as I ahd already mentioned to Juliana how nice & entertaining this place was... Maybe I should have taken her to the one in PASAY or even the one in MEGAMALL, which we have frequented before and always left us satisfied - both our tummies and our eyes & ears.....
In fairness though, the food was still good -- tasty and very authentic... we ordered Kare Kare, Crispy Pata, Adobo, Pinakbet, Bicol Express... a wide variety and considered staple Pinoy dishes... So at least, on that part -- my hunger for the Barrio Fiesta Experience was SATISFIED!!
Our choice was Dairy Queen.... something different for the family as they have never had it before.... Haagen Daaz is much more available in Shopping Malls in Manila... though I know of this place growing up in the Bay Area (California, USA), I did not get to have it again till I went to Vancouver to visit David, who was studying at the Culinary School at the time.... his rented home happens to be walking distance to a Dairy Queen.... and no matter where we are headed, we seems to be walking by it... so enticing but alas, always too crowded and busy... We did manage to enjoy it a couple of times though... once while suffering through the long lines... and another time in LANGLEY with Larraine and Jill (With David in photo above)... such a sweet treat and very much lining up for!!!
And a bit more INFO according to WIKI:
...and they say AMERICA has more BURGER joints!!! During last month's visit in Manila -- we came to realize that The Philippines comes close in being the second Burger capital in the world.... sooo many Burger Joints to choose from, ranging from dives to upper class joints... and that is not counting TGIF, WENDY's, Burger King, McDonalds & The Philippines' answer to McDo, Jollibee -- the latter two btw, can be found not just in every mall in The Philippines but a lot of busy street corners as well....
This trip though, we opted to check out a few other places.... off the beaten, tried, path, as one would say.... with the first being Burger Machine... now these joints are practically everywhere there are a lot of foot traffic... mostly where there are blue collar worker... they look like little buses that was turned into an eatery.... and true to their clientle, the menu is simple and really, really cheap... of course, the actual burger leaves a lot to be desired...
2nd stop was quite an improvement, Belgian Fries... not sure really why this is the joint's name as their most famous products are burgers called, SLAMMER... the Burgers are quite tasty and packs a punch in the cheese department... they are also a good size so most would opt to get 2 to satisfy the hunger.... Price is Moderate... I would definitely recommend this one and for sure, will go back to again and again... I only know of the one at Greenhills.... really worth trying out....
Another disappointing stop was Ben's Burjer, a new joint recently opened on Libertad Street...walking distance from our CONDO.... the name alone should have tipped us off... when I asked the cashier why is it called Burjer (thinking that they might have just spelled it wrong, she simply replied: "just to be different..." It was different alright.... different as in hardly edible and price on the high side...
There are other places to try am sure... ace even insists we need to go to the all you can eat burgers in 1 hr for one price... or the one where yo ahve to down a big sized burger in a matters of seconds, and you get your money back... LOLs, my stomach is hurting just thinking about them.... For now this is all my stomach could handle... and the one thing we have decided on is that - nothing still beats the YUMMY taste of the YUM Burgers from Jollibee...
Have you ever read a REVIEW about a movie or a restaurant; get excited by it to see or try; then be soooo disappointed??? Sadly, that is just how our LUNCH EXPERIENCE turned out to be with Angel's Kitchen...
The FOOD magazine review talks of fusion and modernizing the Filipino food.... tasty delicious concoctions.... and moderate pricing.... boy it was wrong on all count by our standards....
The ambiance was nice enough... the staff, friendly and accommodating... but the food was not up to par at all... most everything was on the BLAND side --I mean how can Pinakbet Rice not be tasty when you already have sooo many things thrown in there? and this is one of their most famous specialty dish? Mandarin Chicken, was basically friend chicken with some lemon sauce.... and worse, the chicken was cold and dry... only the sauce was HOT!
(Right Photo: Possibly the BEST part of the dining experience for me.)
I really do not mind paying for food but if one has to pay an average of 350.00+ Pesos for each plate on the menu (roughly US$7.50) - the restaurant should really make sure that the food is at least good... even not excellent.... maybe it was an off day for the chef -- who knows? it just made for a very unsatisfying dining experience... and from noticed with the other diners - no one seemed to have a smile on their faces leaving the place... surely, they, like us, did not have a Heavenly Experience!!!
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Angel's Kitchen, San Juan
57 Connecticut St., North East Greenhills
San Juan, Metro Manila
(02) 744-1018
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During last month's visit to my Mom in Manila, we happen upon this signage for a Chinese Fast Food/Take Out Chain.... and right away, we could not help but laugh and be drawn to it - has got to be the cutest packaging around for a Fast Food/Take Out Chain Shop - in the Philippines, or even the world....
SINGKIT, I believe, is a slang word for SLANTY EYES... in The Philippines, am told that it is not a derogatory term but more of an endearing one... and just take one look and tell me, would you be offended???
This is the complete singage for the Chain Shops - next trip I would love to actually see one of the shops....
-i came across this at Rustan's Supermarket during one of my visits in Manila.... the name really made me laugh.... i took the photo but have completely forgotten already till I came across it in one of my photo folders... and it made me laugh again....
HAPPY FRIDAY Everyone!!!!
Anyone who knows me long enough, knows that am BIIIG on TONKATSU, deep fried, breaded pork cutlets... Not sure when the LOVE for this dish started - but it goes waaaay back -- that's for sure! I believe it was at KIMPURA HOUSE, Makati that I first got my TASTE of Tonkatsu - many years ago and I have loved it ever since... When in Japan - am always in HEAVEN as I can have this anytime, anywhere....
In Manila, there are a few places one can go to for cheap, fun, and tasty Japanese food - and for me, Tonkatsu specifically... There' SUMO SAM at the Shangrila Mall, Edsa - a bit on the PRICEY side but very much worth it... make sure you have plenty of time to sit and chat though as it gets crowded during dinner time... if you want to go a bit more affordable without sacrificing the taste and service, there is TERIYAKI BOY. They can be found in a lot of places all over the city but my favorite one is located at The Promenade in Greenhills.... (For other branches & locations - Check Here)
Teriyaki Boy prides themselves to be a Fast-Casual Japanese Dining Restaurant - and time and time again, they prove themselves well.... They have yet to disappoint me, my family & friends... we visit at least one of the places, each time I do fly into town... Besides my FAVE Tonkatsu , one can also select from the many offerings in the menu - SUSHI, SASHIMI, Gyoza, and of course, Teriyaki...
