A Hidden Treasure at The Fort

I frequently use the streets of The Fort going to and from Makati and Cainta (less traffic but more traffic lights) but only recently did my Hubby and I discover a hidden treasure that's one for the tummy. And it's hidden behind the Crossroads building (you know, the one where there's a drive-thru Starbucks?!) and just along the streets of Justicia Drive.

The treasure I am talking about is the Recovery Food resto. I don't know the reason behind the name, yet, but I could guess that because their menu consists of food that could help you "recover" from hang-overs (lots of gimmicks spots in BGC), and also from running your 21K (hotspot for fun runs, BGC is).

As I was saying, the menu. They serve happy food there... Happy Beef Rice, Happy Pork Rice and Happy Chicken Rice (no kidding!) These come in small (as low as P155.00) and regular servings (P285.00) and with option of white or brown rice.

So on our very first visit (we went twice already), we ordered the small serving of Happy Beef and Happy Pork over brown rice.

Happy Beef Rice (P160.00)

Happy Pork Rice (P155.00)

And here's what we can say. They're AMAZING!!! No exaggeration here. Both beef and pork were so tender and they're so full flavor. And the rice, it was cooked just right, not dry nor overcooked and went very well with the meat.

But no meal is complete with these hot babies... biggie hot sauce and powder!

We also ordered Cheese Sticks (P99.00) which are the best ever because they used cheddar.

Cheese Sticks (P99.00)

Oh, before I forget, we also ordered Iced Tea that were served in long-neck bottles, really cool and unique.

Iced Tea in Long-Necked Bottles (P99.00)

Even their house water were also served in these cool bottles :) Tagay! hahaha

fun way of serving drinks

The Recovery Food menu also has salads, noodle soup, sandwiches, Arroz Caldo (congee), and desserts. I also spotted SST in there and it stands for Sweet and Spicy Tuyo, a must try on our next visit.

Now that I am done writing, I think I am craving of some Recovery Food food. It really is addicting.

Thanks for reading and Happy Eating!

Dinner at Breakfast at Antonio's: A Meal to Remember

Finally!!! I get to eat at Breakfast at Antonio's! I've read about it over and over again and I guess it's about time I get to experience it myself, and that's thanks to our business partner, Mam Beth Lacson, for making this possible!

Welcome to Breakfast at Antonio's

I'm all about first impressions so here's what I thought about the place.

Breakfast at Antonio's reminds me so much of a "Bahay Bakasyunan". It has high ceiling, very open space so it feels so relaxing, dark wood floors, netted windows and hanging and potted greens everywhere.

Reception/Waiting Area

Potted and Netted

But though it felt old school, the furniture are so not. Just look at this chair. Who would have thought wires that keep trespassers away can make a chair look cool?!

Style and Comfort

But what blew my mind was the uniform of the staff. Look how old school our lady server's clothes are. So cool.

Coolest Outfit

As for our orders, it took us newbies quite a long time to decide what we really, really, really want because there were so many uncommon choices to choose from. I mean, it's not every day you see these in your menu: Roesti, Bleu D’ Auvergne, Gruyere, Sauerkraut or Horseradish. We have to be careful what we order or we might end up just wasting it.

But, finally, we decided on the Bacon & Swiss Cheese Roesti Over Easy Eggs (P320); Bacon, Mushroom & Cheese Fritata (P400); Portabello Tagliatelle with Truffle Cream Sauce (P495) and Beef Stroganoff with Gherkin Mushroom Sauce just to name a few.

Bacon & Swiss Cheese Roesti Over Easy Eggs (P320)

For those who are not familiar with Roesti (like me), it's pancake made from Swiss potatoes done the extra crispy way. Topped with as crispy bacon, every bite was a mouthful, and a very unhealthy one at that. Clogged arteries here we come.

Beef Stroganoff with Gherkin Mushroom Sauce

The Beef Stroganoff Pasta was very filling and creamy. The person who ordered this was not able to finish it but had it wrapped to go.

Bacon, Mushroom & Cheese Fritata (P400)

The Bacon, Mushroom and Cheese Fritata I ordered for myself and I did not regret it in every single bite (I just had to drink tons of tea after). The bacon wrapped inside the 3-egg omelette was super crispy, and the mushrooms taste super good.

Portabello Tagliatelle with Truffle Cream Sauce (P495)

But aside from these amazing and sosyal-sounding dishes, you can also buy fresh veggies from their store.

Veggie Stall

They also sell bread and pastries which I am so tempted to buy because I've heard are good. They also come in cute paper bag.

Fresh Bread also available

As after a great meal, I felt very fulfilled because 1) the food was great and definitely worth the price though I'd only go back for special occasions 2) the place is refreshing, something different from your typical restaurant and 3) the staff were very courteous and polite even when we complained about the tiny cockroaches that kept wandering to our table (we were told they came from the plants so at least they're clean?)

Thanks for reading and Happy Eating!

Soft and Chewy Belgian Waffle Sandwiches

There's a kiosk at the ground floor of Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall that serves pancakes not only for breakfast but all day long. Wait, they're not just pancakes, they're BELGIAN WAFFLES!

Famous Belgian Waffles

The Belgian Waffles Kiosk

It has always intrigued me why this kiosk has the longest line, so one afternoon, I stopped by to see what the hype is all about.

Since that was my first time, I did not know what to get, good thing they have this big menu (with prices) by the wall and also by the counter which I took photos of, of course.

Belgian Waffles Menu

Turns out, they sell not just waffles but waffle sandwiches. That's one big freshly cooked waffle folded in half with your choice of filling inside. And for my first time, I ordered my favorite, Blueberry and Creamcheese for only P55.00.

By the way, price starts at P35.00 for the single flavors and P55.00 for the combination fillings.

The waiting time for my order was a bit of a wait because they make the waffles as you order, but the kiosk has a dine-in area where I can see the waffles as they were being made, and I also got to chat with one of the staff who told me that their bestsellers are the Blueberry & Creamcheese and Banana Hazelnut flavors, so the 15-minutes waiting time was not boring for me.

I also ordered a cup of Malaysia Coffee for only P35.00 out of curiosity, which looked like 3-in-1 instant coffee. The staff said it's already sweetened. On my first sip, I find it nutty and sweet, which was pleasant to the taste. But when taken with my waffles which filling was sweet, I could barely finish the small cup.

Malaysia Coffee at P35.00

Anyway, here's my Blueberry and Creamcheese Waffle, straight from the pancake maker and served in a paperbag and on a wooden plate.

Waffles served on a Wooden Plate

Here's a close-up look of my order.

Blueberry and Creamcheese Waffles at P55.00

The waffles were soft and chewy, not crunchy which was what I initially thought, and the filling was of real blueberry jam and creamcheese, and it oozes on my first bite so it was definitely worth its price.

It was filling too. In fact, I can hardly finish the whole thing. Two persons could probably share an order.

Next time, I'd try their other bestseller, the Banana Hazelnut.

Happy Eating!

The Not-So-Amazing Aloha of Jollibee

Six years ago was the last time I had Jollibee's Amazing Aloha burger and I loved every bite. The grilled double burger patties, the slice of juicy pineapple and the crispy bacon, hmmm, just thinking about it already makes my mouth water.

So when it came back recently, I know we had to have our reunion, and it happened on a Sunday afternoon at a branch that I've never been to, T.M. Kalaw cor. Ma. Orosa.

I had the Amazing Aloha burger meal complete with regular drinks and fries. I was pretty excited as I opened the box where my burger lies.

Amazing Aloha Burger Meal

As  I opened the box, what I saw completely disappointed me. The burger was unappealing and way different from what I had six years ago.

2013 Amazing Aloha

Okay, so it still has the same ingredients but this time was way different. The patties were burnt and dry, the lettuce was a lone white piece and it's not even the leafy portion.

2013 Amazing Aloha Ingredients

And then there's the bacon which was supposed to be fried and crunchy but turned out to be steamed and soggy. However, I did like the pineapple slice which was grilled a bit because it was juicy.

All in all, this was not a very fulfilling reunion with the Amazing Aloha for me. I hope that I'd be luckier the next time.

Happy Eating!!!

Maki-All-You-Can for only P350.00???

Last Friday, a payday, my work friends, family and I head over to Manila Maki, my favorite Japanese-Filipino fusion resto, and took advantage of their month-long Thank-You-To-All-Our-Loyal-Customers promo, the Maki All You Can, for only, wait for it... P350.00!

As soon as I learned of this promo, I immediately rounded up my work buddies and asked them if they want to join my family and I on this amazing deal. Well, they said yes, and from our original group of 5, we grew to 10!

Table for 10 please

Anyway, at 6 PM on a Friday night, the gang and I got ourselves seated at a long table in the middle of the room where we immediately ordered everything on the laminated menu.

Buffet Menu

But before you get too excited, let me tell you first that only the dishes on the laminated menu (not their regular menu) are included in the buffet. There are four kinds of Maki, 6 pieces per serving:

• Osaka Maki (P155.00) - has crab sticks, cucumber, Japanese mayo (on top), tanuki flakes and chili powder (for that extra kick!)
  

  

  Osaka Maki (P155.00)

• Pinoydon Maki (P155.00) - adobo chunks, mango and cream cheese (yummy!)
  

  

  Pinoydon Maki (P155.00)

•  Aligue Maki (P145.00) - kani, cucumber and taba ng talangka (high-blood alert!)
  

  

  Aligue Maki (P145.00)

• Oahu Maki (P140.00) - spam, teriyaki sauce and nori (spam, really?!)
  

  

  Oahu Maki (P140.00)

 Then there are nine main entrees:

• Pinoydon Tofu (P135.00) 3 pcs. - it's tofu, not tokwa so its really, really soft, like taho, while the crust is crunchy and golden brown
  

  

  Pinoydon Tofu (P135.00)

• Longgiyoza (P125.00) 4 pcs. - Lucban longganisa and leeks for the filling, dumpling wrapper for the wrapper and then steamed, and finally, fried.
  

  

  Longgiyoza (P125.00)

• Bon Bon Chicken (P185.00) - deep-fried boneless chicken chunks coated with sweet sauce and drizzled with Japanese mayo, perfect with Gohan
  

  

  Bon Bon Chicken (P185.00)

• Pork Kare Katsu (P215.00) - it's Katsudon with kare kare sauce
  

  

  Pork Kare Katsu (P215.00)

• Calamares (P185.00) - its Calamares but with wasabi mayo
  

  

  Calamares (P185.00)

• Pinoydon Fried Chicken (P175.00) - deep fried boneless chicken chunks, like the Bon Bon Chicken, but no sauce coating.
• Tempura Ukoy (P145.00) - deep fried veggie strips molded into chunks
• Talong Teriyaki (P95.00) - sliced paper-thin talong, deep fried, served with sweet sauce

And of course, there's rice too! Pinoy Chahan (P70.00) - Japanese fried rice and Gohan (P40.00) - plain rice

Pinoy Chahan (P70.00)

Drinks are not included in the P350.00 buffet, but for an additional P50.00, you get a glass of their unique iced tea. If you want to go bottomless, just add P70.00. Not bad since the regular price of their bottomless iced tea is P95.00.

So after almost two hours (we were given from 6 to 8 only) with our tummies really full of Manila Maki food and air from non-stop laughing, our total bill is P4,073.93.

Longest Meal Bill...ever

And so, another epic pig out accomplished.

Happy eating... I sure did!

There are Monsters in my Donuts!!!

Last weekend, my sisters-in-law brought home a box of Monsters University-themed Krispy Kreme donuts, and they looked really, really cute that we paparazzi-ed on them first before eating them up. Well, my daughter was too fast for us so there's only five left.

Monsters U Donuts

If you want to try these cute little monsters for yourselves, they come in a box of 8 for P220.00 or box of 15 for P395.00. But hurry, the monsters are due to go back to their world by the end of July 2013.

Oh yeah, before I forget, a box comes with a free Monsters University bag tag. We got Sully.

Sully bagtag

Happy eating... I sure did!

Solo Mode with McDonalds McDelivery

I've always wanted to order food for delivery just for myself but the thought f shouldering the delivery fee by myself has always held me back (even the P40.00-fixed delivery fee)... until today!

I was really, really, really craving for some McDonalds french fries but all my friends has already bought their food so I decided to just pick up the phone and dial 8-MCDO or 86-2-36.

I wanted to order the McFloat Combo but was advised that the promo has ended so I end up ordering a medium fries and a medium coke. And, with my "Free Cheeseburger" coupon, I get a sandwich too.

Merienda - Solo Mode

By the way, I got the "Free Cheeseburger" coupon from the nearest McDonalds branch by just showing the McDo staff that I have saved the McDelivery number on my mobile phone and voila! I got a coupon!

And if you want to get yours and also know more on how to claim your free burger and up to four coke float upgrades, you may visit http://mcdo.ph/mechanics.php for detailed mechanics.

Happy eating...because I sure am :-)

Ang McDonalds sa Masangkay

Every time I'd accompany my daughter to school, I prefer to pass the time at McDonalds because of their free refillable coffee. If on other branches the staff won't ask for your receipt and sign your cup on your 1st free refill, they do in their Masangkay branch.

But I don't really blame the management for doing this because every time I'd visit this branch, most of the customers are people like me who are just looking for a place to make "tambay". There are large groups of men who talk business and tsismis, parents and yayas who are waiting for their kids' or wards' lunch break, and there are students from various schools around the area. Buy a cup of large coffee for only P35.00 and you have the right to stay in as long as you want.

But wait, don't judge me yet, because every time I'd go to McDonalds, I'd order myself a big breakfast  with a large coffee so hey, I have The right to stay in longer than usual. And for this meal, it took me 3 hours ha ha ha... sorry, McDo.

Big Breakfast with Large Coffee

 Anyway, when I have pancakes, I want strawberry preserve together with butter instead of maple syrup.But if its free on other branches, it costs P8.00 at Masangkay. And they don't even issue receipts.

strawberry  preserve for my pancakes

But after all that's been said, I can't not go back every time. It's my only tambayan on school days.

La Piadina at Glorietta

My favorite food?! Pasta and Pizza!!! So whenever I am asked where to eat, I almost always suggest a place that serves these two dishes, like when my sister and I took our mom for a pre-Mother's Day date, I picked La Piadina right away.

La Piadina

I learned of La Piadina way back in college where the first branch I've been to was in Robinsons Ermita. It was the first time I've been to a restaurant where instead of using hot sauce for the pizza, they have this tumbler of spicy olive oil with a whole clove of garlic. And that's the main reason why my Hubby who is not a fan of pizza and pasta love this place. But that was back then. Today, they don't do that anymore.

Anyway, on my mom's special day, we ordered these sumptuous dishes

• Pasta Scampi (P290.00), which is a pasta dish of spaghetti in marinara sauce (meaning the sauce is tomato-based) with real whole shrimp without the head and shell but the tail is intact and served with two slices of garlic bread. The noodles was firm (al dente!) yet the sauce stuck to it and the shrimp was plenty and cooked just right so its chewy. This dish is already good for 1-2 person.

Pasta Scampi (P290.00)

• Spicy Arabiatta (P200.00) is also cooked in marinara sauce but the noodles used is penne. It's supposed to be spicy but for someone like me who's accustomed to eating spicy food, I find it mild so I had to add a few drops of chili oil in my serving. This pasta dish is also served with two slices of toasted garlic bread and is good for sharing of 1-2 person.

Spicy Arabiatta (P200.00)

• Quattro Formaggi Pizza (P370.00) or Four Cheese Pizza is a plate-sized thin crust pizza with mouthwatering melted cheese which type I would guess includes Mozzarella and Parmesan. This was served hot so when I lifted a slice, the cheese was really sticky!!! An order is good for 2-3 persons.

Quattro Formaggi (P370.00)

After an hour and a half and finishing two pasta dishes but left two slices of pizza for take out, we were ready to call it quits.

Here's to more yummy adventures!

Happy Eating!