Spasso: For the love of Italian Tapas!

        Amidst all the thesis woes and the months our group dedicated to painstakingly converting 80 kilos of humble papaya seeds into a golden orange biodiesel, my food buddy and I felt the need to indulge ourselves and finally bid thesis farewell. :D As every thesis group gets frazzled and flustered in accomplishing their thesis… a bountiful celebration upon hearing the words, “Congratulations you’ve passed!” is just reasonable. :D

Urameshi-Ya: Where Kobe Meets Yakiniku

      Finally, we are living in a food generation that yearns to spend huge amounts of money for the sake of relishing top-notch beef. Manila’s exposure and knowledge to the exquisite breeds of beef is certainly not primitive. What seemed to be a delicacy or even luxury in the past is starting to become an everyday craving for the discerning eaters. I’m sure you know that I’m talking about the fine and decadent Kobe Beef, which most arguably considers to be the most expensive and delicious beef on earth. :)

Mamou: For Glistening Steaks and Good Ol' Home Cooking

     

      I am not a dead-on carnivore who salivates in the presence of rib-eye steak and the rest of its fine relatives, the tenderloin, the filet mignon, the porterhouse, the sirloin, or the New York strip. The Wagyu however, is a different story :D There's something about lamb that excites me more. It's probably the bold and distinctive taste in lamb that easily satisfies my adventurous taste buds.  Yet, over the years, I have gained a certain appreciation for steak especially when I was exposed to restaurants that gave ample respect to the glorious cut of beef. Preserving the integrity of the beef is delivered throughout the process of storing and preparing the steak (brought to room temperature), dousing just the right amount of olive oil, lightly salting  the steak, preheating the pan, not overturning the meat,  testing its doneness, and resting the steak to lock in its juices (resting also helps the meat achieve a full flavor). Truly, this respect has been served in several restaurants in the region like Melo's, Antonio's, Elbert's Steakroom, Myron's Place, and a humble home kitchen, Mamou.

Maitre Chocolatier Boutique Cafe: The Answer to your Chocolate Cravings

I was a kid again. 

Complimentary Ritter Sport

      The world will be doomed without chocolates. And I'd rather not imagine any further how life will turn out without the brown (and sometimes white), smooth, and velvety, melts-in-your mouth goodness of chocolates. As a child during Halloween, my hand dug deep in a sea of candies to look for that mini pack of M & M's or foiled Hershey's Kisses. Luck was undoubtedly by my side if I knocked on the right door and received an individually-wrapped pack of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.Yet at the same time,even a piece of Cloud 9 can already get me all hyper and smiling.  As I've grown up, my cravings became bolder and I became more open to the sinful world of chocolate and cacao innovations. I adore a chocolate in any form may it be as a ganache, fountain, pie, shot, fudge, mousse, fondue, soufflé, and more. Chocolate is the ultimate 'go to' in stress, in in moments when one can't think of the perfect gift, in days of misfortune, and in times when all you really need is that perfect sugar fix. 

Antonio's, the Food-Lovers Mecca

It is of rarity that the outstanding restaurants in our country do get recognized. We have a plethora of good eats in the Philippines that vary from comforting home-style to exquisite.  Even Makati can already stand as its own food nation. To name a few consistently good restaurants in the Metro there’s Abe, Shinjuku, People’s Palace, Cibo, Café Med, Chelsea, Hossein’s, Som’s, Tsukiji, El Cirkulo, Chef Laudico’s, Sala, Carapccio, Lolo Dad’s, and Lemuria. Yet south of this bustling Metro is a quaint, family and barkada-friendly city that is surprisingly known not just as a place for relaxation but also as a melting pot of top-notch food. I’m talking about Tagaytay and one if it’s best kept treasure is Antonio’s Fine Dining. 

What I thought would be a Sunday trip for lunch at Verbena became an unexpected trip to the restaurant that I envisioned to be the finale of my ‘Food Adventures’. My jaw literally dropped and my heart started to race when I heard my dad say these glorious words… “Celine, parang ayoko mag Verbena, let’s just go for Antonio’s. We’ve gone this far anyway!” All I can reply was, “Are you serious?!” No exclamation point and swear word can justify the enthusiasm and excitement I had.

Mr. Jones: The Modern Day Diner

   

      Just when you thought that Haute Bistros, Trite Cafes, and Uptight French Restaurants are taking over the dining scene in Manila, you better think again. Right at the heart of the Metro (that's Greenbelt 5) is a 50's inspired American Diner that caters to those who are in search for straightforward, all-day comfort food. Something as hip and whimsical as Mr. Jones, situated in a posh mall like Greenbelt 5, is definitely a breath of fresh air. It's a place where you can genuinely unwind and catch up with old friends. 

   I love Mr. Jones' casual and retro appeal, without necessarily overdoing it. They successfully combine modern with groovy through plush brown-leather walls, vinyl cushioned seats, dangling orange lights, a zebra sofa, and of course, ultimate diner staple... a classic mini-jukebox.

       The MENU (check link for the menu) presents a variety of breakfast fares and big plates that are sure to keep your tummy filled for hours. The detailed description of every dish made choosing more difficult! Almost every thing in print seemed extremely mouth-watering, the mind goes wild. Yet the true test, still lies on the tasting.

Tao Yuan: A Genuine Taste of Cantonese-Singaporean Favorites

     Every time someone asks me my top three favorite cuisines, I'd ecstatically say, 1. Mediterranean (primarily for the moussaka, the baba ganoush, lamb kebabs, gyro, and the garlic yogurt), 2. Thai (for the pad thai, green curries, and fried pomfret), 3. Italian (who doesn't love Italian cooking? hehe). Yet, just last year, I've developed a certain fascination for Singaporean cuisine. Blame it on AFC (Asian Food Channel) and their overenthusiastic food hosts who are on a constant hunt for hawker stalls that serve the best Fishball Soup, Roti, Chili Crab, or Claypot Chicken Rice. My favorites being, Yummy King, Star Choice, and Coffee Talk and Hawker Woks. Watching these shows is my ultimate guilty pleasure. I wake up at 6 am, shower as fast as I can, and dry my hair while watching a bunch giddy Singaporean hosts, cornering and relentlessly interviewing hawker diners.

A Northern Marvel: C' Italian Dining

       One would typically assume that the finest and most exquisite restaurants in the country can be found in Manila. Internationally-trained chefs flock to the nation's capital to please the urban palate. Yet, I was surprised to find out  that tucked away in Clark, Pampanga is a restaurant that serves one of best and most authentic Italian fares.  An approximate two-hour drive from the city will lead you to this treasured Northern destination of food lovers, C Italian Dining. 

     Upon stepping into the restaurant, you are welcomed by the genius behind the Italian food masterpieces such as the infamous 'Panizza', Chef Chris Locher. Plates noted by famous personalities such as Martin Nievera, Gloria Arroyo, Dingdong Dantes, Gabby Concepcion, and Predsident Noynoy, hang on cobblestone walls. These are true testaments to the amazing dishes you can expect. 

      The dining area then transports you into what looks like a medieval tavern accented by chic, black wooden tables and framed paintings. The restaurant also offers al fresco dining, best fit for evening dates and those seeking for a delightful garden ambiance.