An Old Favourite: My Love for Kamameshi

I practically grew up here...I'm not kidding. I've always loved how homey the environment of this restaurant is, no matter which branch I go to. Sadly though, I think they only have one branch left and that is in Zobel Roxas in Makati. It's okay because I don't mind going to that area just for Kamameshi because even if I'm not a rice person, I somehow love their mixed rice right from the start (so I was around 4 years old then I think. Hihi).

The following are our usual orders:

Gomoku Kamameshi (Php 173.60) - this is steamed kettle cooked rice (which according to Wikipedia is the exact translation of Kamameshi). The rice comes with toppings of beans, carrots, ground chicken, shrimps and mushrooms plus some sort of sauce that makes an entire spoonful a really delectable experience.

Ika Yaki (Php 162.40) - this is grilled squid with spicy terriyaki sauce which actually taste like sweet soy sauce. I'm not one to complain because I love it that way. The squid is soft enough to chew. Serving is good for 2 people.

Ebi Tempura (Php 330.40) - deep fried shrimps in light crispy batter. Found the shrimps to get a little smaller everytime. But how they cook this and the sauce it comes with tasted good.

Pork Gyoza (Php 173.60) - Japanese-style dumplings with ground pork. I love how Kamameshi cooks this because each dumpling has a perfectly fried side which gives you a bit of a crunch while the rest is soft.

The taste of their house tea is really good and mild. If I'm not mistaken, it is rice tea. Also, I always love the little appetizer they give (bean sprout and dilis [anchovy]). Always yummy. I also recommend you guys ordering their Sukiyaki, though theirs is a little pricey since they source the beef outside the country.

I'm gonna go out now and get me some rice. Hihi. Toodles! :)

New Kamameshi House
5787 Zobel Roxas Street , Makati
(63-2) 834 2695‎

The Ultimate Venue for Comfort Food --- Banapple

I was once tagged along by my closest friends to Quezon City and found ourselves in their then newest dining place in Tomas Morato called Il Terrazzo. The ultimate comfort food / hang-out place has arrived. You can't go wrong with Banapple. One word: yummy.

Pesto Verde (Php 130) - the pasta was cooked to perfection. It can use a little more cheese and should be a little less oily. The bread on the side was baked perfectly. It was really soft and it was delicious with butter on it.

Breaded Fillet of Cream Dory with Honey Thyme Mustard Sauce (Php 160) - the dory tasted fresh. Honey mustard tasted great. This came with garlic rice that was obviously rich in butter (which is actually very good news on my part).

Hickory Smoked Barbecued Ribs (Php 155) - it is recommended to eat this dish as soon as it gets to your table. It is very tender when consumed hot, beware though because the tenderness expires so eat it right away. The barbecue sauce is salty and sweet at the same time. The corn kernels that it came with were a bit overcooked.

Iced Tea (Banapple's own concoction) (Php 50) - it came in a huge glass. It was with a hint of sourness from citrus and had a sweet aftertaste. Really good.

Banapple Shake (Php 85) - banana and apple shake with the right amount of dairy that made it milky. Order this if you want a refreshing drink.

Banoffee pie (Php 70/slice) - huge banana pieces with garnash (chocolate shavings) that are dark and is yummy. the whipped cream/icing is a perfect complement to the sweetness of the crust/pie.

Very Berry Custard Cake (Php 80/slice; Php 750/whole) - it had a right amount of fruity flavour but sweet enough to be recognized as a cake. Good stuff as well.

We actually ended up ordering the following prior to eating our dinner proper as we were really hungry and the wait was a bit long.

Chocolate Chip Brownie (Php 40) - it was very moist. The chocolate chips tasted great.

Oatmeal Cookie (Php 50) - it was huge and not too sweet. My friend suggested that it should come with raisins as for people not to tire of it easily as it was, as I said, huge (look how it was compared to my goofy face).

All came in huge servings and the prices are great. Ultimate comfort food indeed.

The only downside is that it's in Quezon City which is quite far from my place. They should bring this to Makati and still maintain the price. I'm sure office people of Makati will like this. They should also expand their place in Il Terrazzo as they have many customers but few tables to accommodate them.

Banapple
2/f Il Terrazzo Tomas Morato corner Sct. Madrinan
South Triangle, Quezon City
(63 2) 4132675

Terrace at 5th

There are some restaurants that you wish you never really had any expectations due to the fact that they might actually fall short in the end. It's not totally aghast but when it is someone's birthday or you are celebrating a special occasion, you would wish you had gone to other familiar restaurants instead. I will have to give this restaurant another try some other time.

I've eaten here last Christmas. I know, a lot of my materials were made way before I post them, but I'm trying to keep up. Anyway, that really isn't the issue.

Terrace Salad (Php 360)- this is the restaurant's signature salad. As stated in their menu, it is composed of fresh garden greens with almond chips, apples, and popcorn sprouts tossed in a special balsamic dressing. This was awesome. The dressing of balsamic vinegar with something else I cannot determine was oozing with flavour. The sliced apples it came with are an awesome addition. I wonder how this would taste with foie gras (add Php 430)?

Marinara spaghetti (Php 340) - you have a choice of having this mixed seafood pasta with either tomato, cream or olive oil. We chose the tomato dressing. The dish wasn't bad, it's just that there was really nothing special about it.

USDA Prime Angus Rib Eye, Lady's Cut (350g, Php 1,400) - I didn't like it. There were too many veins in it. Had it cooked medium but found the meat to be on the dry side. The steak sauce that it came with was okay though it isn't for people who don't like curry.

Homestyle Confit Pork Belly (Php 520) - I have no idea what "reduced balsamic vinegar" means but I liked this particular dish as it was tender (probably a result of slow-cooking the meat) and the sauce was really good.

I will have to order the provolone and soft crab shell next time. I'll have to give this restaurant another try (and to come back for the salad). Ambiance was laid back and service was good. They were really kind since my brother broke their candle holder and didn't charge us for anything.

Terrace at 5th
1/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center
Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St.,
Ayala Center, Makati, Metro Manila, PH
(63 2) 729-6860, (63 2) 729-0860, (63917) 827-6860

Manila International Auto Show 2010! :)

I'm not really much into cars, well not as much as most guys I know. I appreciate looking at cars which have been set-up but absolutely no intentions of doing that to my own car. I also like doing window shopping of cars because I'd like to know what are the new car models and the price range (even if the intention of buying is non-existent as of the moment). It is just good to be in the know.

I think I've been to one of these auto shows two years ago but I couldn't remember if it was Manila International Auto Show (MIAS). This year, I've been able to attend this exhibit, from the opening last Thursday April 15 and I will attend until Sunday April 18 because duty calls.

Surprisingly though, I was able to enjoy myself snooping around the new cars (Mazda 6 in particular), vintage ones (yellow Mustang) to the set-up cars. I've been seeing Mazda's CX7 around the Metro lately and I still find it really sexy (especially in red). Too bad it is priced at Php 1.5M which for a 2.5L, 4 seater vehicle, is quite expensive. The price can't prevent me from loving it though, so that's fine.

What I've been meaning to do is to watch Russ Swift, three-time Guinness World Record Holder for precision driving, live in action. His stunts are truly amazing to watch in videos but seeing it live is just wonderful. The guy is currently 59 years old and he still does precision driving excellently. He just loves what he does.

I was able to record this stunt which was heart racing, really.

I hope to be a volunteer during one of his stunts. I'm not even sure if he's getting volunteers this year but last year he did. That would be amazing.

See the stunts live at this week's Manila International Auto Show, during the afternoon. You'll be impressed. I'm going back tomorrow to take more photos.

See you there! :)

Manila International Auto Show 2010
April 15-18, 2010
World Trade Center

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Best Frozen Yoghurt of Them All

Alright, I admit. I was never a fan of yoghurts, not even the frozen ones.

This was true until I got to taste Pinkberry in New York around early 2008. From then on, I became a convert. I'm loving yoghurts.

Red Mango first opened in Eastwood if I'm not mistaken. Now that's too far away from where I stay and from where I work so I would only hear raves about it. When they opened in Greenbelt, I wasn't really into trying it right away. I waited until me and my family had dinner around the area and then I gave it a try.

I usually order the plain yoghurt with mango and chocolate chips. I love it. It's nice to see that they don't scrimp on the toppings. I love the taste of the yoghurt all by itself as well. Tangy and sour but with a really smooth texture. Yum. The chocolate chips even out the sourness of the yoghurt.

Since it's scorching hot these days, I'd love to get myself some everytime I drop by Greenbelt and Mall of Asia. :D

Yoghurt servings come in four sizes (40z - P80, 6oz - P115, 8oz - P150 , family - P220) for original and if you want the green tea, they are P5 more expensive. Add P20 for one topping, P30 for two toppings and P40 for three. :)

Red Mango
4th Level, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center
Makati City

Taho at Gloria Maris

I grew up eating taho from sidewalk vendors. It is an ultimate favourite though I can't have it as often as I would like because it actually causes me a few rash every now and then. Anyway, I love taho that I even got curious with Baguio's Strawberry Taho.

Since I began working, I haven't really eaten taho that much. Gloria Maris is actually a good venue to get really delicious soybean custard (or taho, as we call it here in Manila) aside from buying from the streets.

Gloria Maris' version is expectedly sweet (as all taho are). One order is good for around six people already. It comes in a wooden pail (that's actually a tin container inside :P), with separate molasses syrup and tapioca. This was when I realized I have absolutely no talent into scooping some taho. In retrospect, I should've taken a picture of the wooden container after I scooped out some taho. Hehe.

The molasses syrup (or what I hear people call arnibal, I just call it matamis) has a different twist into it. It is sweet but it has a different kind of after taste. There might be a different ingredient in it (vanilla drops, maybe?). In any case, it is very good. The tapioca is like the ordinary tapioca you get from your taho off the streets.

If you have one of those taho cravings, Gloria Maris is a good place to go. The one nearest to me is in Rockwell. Just make sure to tag along some of your friends as it will be quite daunting to me if you can finish an entire serving. It's around Php 120 if I remember it right.

Aside from taho (which is weird for me because it's considered a dessert), as any Chinese restaurants offer, they have a lot in their menu. I've tried their jellyfish with century eggs, salt & pepper squid, yang chow fried rice, beef and broccoli. All are actually pretty good. This was the first time I've eaten in Gloria Maris (and I am half-chinese, how that became possible is beyond me. =P).

Gloria Maris
Rockwell Power Plant Mall
Makati City
(63-2)8959741

A World of White and Blue: Sophia's Mediterranean Deli

I have always been fascinated as to how life in Greece is because it is always being featured as a place with a laid-back atmosphere. Not that I don't want the city life, but sometimes, an escape is needed to be able to go on and do more.

But while I wait for that chance to fly to Greece (and Turkey as well, preferably :P), I'm contented just exploring the Greek (or Mediterranean) dishes. There are only a few of these in the city. Sophia's, I heard, is the best in South.

We were served free bread sticks upon ordering.

Greek Village Salad (Php 375) - all is good, serving is split into two. There was an overload of feta cheese (but I'm not one to complain). Fresh greens are a plus point. I love that there are a lot of olives and capers too. The only downside was that there was excessive EVOO which drenched the greens a bit.

Tzatziki (Single - Php 175 / Family - Php 320) - this is cucumber based yoghurt used for dipping pita. The pita served was "raw". I prefer my pita a little bit crispy but still maintaining the softness of the bread. The taste of the Tzatziki is a bit tangy which I like. The sour after-taste was also accepted by my palette very well.

Ravioli Quattro Formaggio (Single - Php 299) - I thought four kinds of cheeses will be placed inside a ravioli. The case was, each ravioli had one or two types of cheeses so you get a mix of different tastes. Blue cheese made it to my stomach but is still too powerful for my type. The rest were all good. The serving was good for one if you're eating just this. You get to choose if you want the raviolis to be cooked in cream or in tomato.

Chicken Kiev (Php 495) - the serving was good for one. I didn't realize it was going to be quite a small serving of this chicken, but the taste sure made up for it. It came with garlic rice and a side of diced veggies. Overpowering garlic all over the chicken is just delicious.

I think they offer baklava and would've loved to order some if it weren't for the bursting stomach we had at the end of the meal. Next time then.

Sophia's Mediterranean Deli
Westgate, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
(63-2) 771-7717

Surf and Turf at its Finest in Highlands Steakhouse

The presence of Highlands Steakhouse in Mall of Asia never intrigued me... not until late last year when I heard how good the steaks really are.

This establishment has been in Mall of Asia since it opened as far as I remember. This was during New Year's Day (I know, late post, sue me). :P They were offering a buffet meal that time but we chose to pick from their a-la-carte menu. We were served the following:

Bread with Garlic - this was on the house. Warm bread is always good to have especially when you are really hungry and can't wait for your ordered food to arrive (which was the case that day). =P

Steakhouse Clam Chowder (Php 90) - the soup was nothing spectacular. I actually didn't like it because it tasted a bit off for me. Also it wasn't as hot as I would want it to be.

Highlands' Ceasar Salad (Php 300) - lovely un-tossed salad. Would've preferred it to be tossed but the touch of meat (a.k.a. cold roast beef) and parmesan cheese was amazing. The meat was delicious and I am always a sucker for parmesan. Overall, this salad was something worth ordering.

Surf and Turf of Fillet Mignon and Baked Lobster (Php 1,680) - now this meal isn't actually as good as it sounds, it is better. The lobster was cooked to perfection. The melted Emmenthal cheese on top was really great with that seafood. The texture was not so hard and it was oozing with flavour. I loved it. The fillet mignon on the other hand was cooked to medium well and was really tender. There was just some hint of burned meat from the grill but it was all good because it was really juicy and easy on the taste. I didn't like the mushroom sauce that it came with because it tasted like Jollibee's burger-steak sauce though you'll love eating just the meat anyway.

Pan-fried Chilean Seabass Fillet (Php 850) - ah, the fish was creamy and soft. This came with saffron cream and fresh tomato dill concase which was really good. I loved the texture of the seabass, it melts in your mouth. The pasta that it came with was cooked al-dente so that was good as well. This is something you should get when you visit the establishment (writing about it makes me crave, yummmm).

Lemonade - I can't remember how much this was but it shouldn't go over Php 100 (I guess). Anyway, I loved that it was fresh and not too sweet. It is very refreshing on a hot summer day.

I look forward to the day I can get to spend another afternoon here again as the ambiance is very country and very relaxing. :)

Highlands Steakhouse
2nd Floor, 213 Entertainment Mall,
SM Mall of Asia Pasay City
(63-2) 556-0768

Spiral Over And Over Again

And I would always love to stuff myself to death here. Haha. Known for its wide variety of food covering dishes from around the world, Spiral has become one of the favourite places to go to if you want some heavy lovin' (a.k.a. food coma).

It was actually S' birthday but he's tagging this dinner with something else I'm too icky for it to be tagged into. It was a Tuesday night but surprisingly, there were a lot of people dining. I can imagine how busy their kitchens were.

We started with some Japanese food such as sashimi, sushi, tempura shrimps and sukiyaki soup. I found the soup a tad too salty for my taste but the rest (especially the salmon sashimi) were just great. I have always loved Japanese dishes and this is a good place to get them from.

We began getting some half-cooked seafood and had the chefs turned some cold shrimps into buttered garlic ones (a la dampa). I didn't know that you can do that before. I always just skipped the cold seafood because I always like my food hot. I wonder if they will grant my request if I ask for some oysters to be baked (though I don't really have the stomach for oysters at night). Hmmm...

I dug in the hams (prosciutto, is that you?) next with some solid parmesan cheese. I still prefer the shaved type of this cheese because the texture is good for the palette. I think it enhances the taste that way. I grabbed more cheese by the salad bar afterwards. I got some paella to taste as well though probably because the food was displayed for so long, it wasn't moist anymore.

And then came the prime rib. What you see on display is actually cooked medium, unless you want your meat well done, it's safe to have it sliced and pour sauce over it. It was good but not as juicy as I think it should be.

Since I've browsed through the entire buffet (prior to actually eating, I do this always so I know what to get), and I wanted to gorged into the desserts right away. Of course, I think I have more EQ than that (emphasis on the I THINK part), I have waited until the end to get some for me to try. I got a mango crepe that has absolutely been lambasted by chocolates (syrup and chips). I can't help it, it's this love affair with chocolates that keeps me on doing that. Then I had their crème brûlée which was actually good. I've tasted a whole bunch of other stuff that has chocolates in them (or are chocolates as it is).

While we continue to stuff ourselves to death, we decided to have our coffee and took our (ooops, it's actually MY, hihi) remaining desserts outside for some fresh air. It was amazing because sumptuous meal + chocolate overload + good coffee + windy night is just a perfect recipe for relaxation. I loved it.

As for how much, good thing we have an Accor card (which you can actually get, I think for P7,100 - ask Sofitel for the complete perks) so we only paid for one. :)

It's safe to say that I'll have to lose some serious weight before going for another buffet meal. 'Til next time!

Spiral
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex Roxas Boulevard,
Pasay City, Philippines 1300
(63-2)5515555