the frazzled cook

i'm starting to do my bloglog (blog backlog). here is the first item. :)

another "hidden" restaurant at shaw is the frazzled cook. it is about two blocks away from cookbook kitchen. once we got time in our hands, we decided to try it out for lunch.

the interiors of the restaurant was like a home that was converted into a dining area (think cafe juanita - but a little less eclectic). the chairs were mismatched, a lot of books and other stuff decorating the area. here is a photo of their hello kitty utensils.

for our drinks, we ordered a pitcher of iced tea (Php 250.00). don't be fooled by the small size of the pitcher. even after downing several glasses of iced tea, we did not manage to empty it.

junjun ordered lengua with mushroom and corn, served with buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes (Php 350.00). the lengua was good as it was tender and flavorful. although junjun would have preferred gravy with it instead of the mushroom and corn sauce.

i ordered spicy gambas al ajillo with saffron rice, served with buttered vegetables (Php 300.00). the shrimps were cooked nicely and the garlic gave the kick to the dish. it really went well with the saffron rice.

for dessert, we had an order of pancake ala mode (Php 180.00) which consisted of freshly cooked pancake, syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. the contrasting temperature of the pancake and the ice cream was a treat.

overall, we had a good dining experience here. if you are to go as a group, it is advisable that you call ahead for reservations. there is limited parking in front of the restaurant.

The Frazzled Cook

916 Luna Mencias St.,

Brgy. Addition Hills,

Mandaluyong City

(02) 782-5980, (02) 7253354

http://www.thefrazzledcook.com

cookbook kitchen

after several rescheduling, junjun and i finally got the chance to eat at cookbook kitchen. making sure that we have researched how to get there, we flagged down a taxi and gave directions to cookbook kitchen.

i have made prior reservations for our dinner, so when we arrived, we were immediately ushered to our table. all of the staff was very friendly and accommodating.

for drinks, we ordered the red iced tea (Php 50.00) and green iced tea (Php 50.00)

i ordered the parmesan crusted fish fillet (Php 260.00). it had a nice crunch on the top, subtle cheese flavor, and it's creaminess was just right to my taste. you could also taste the hint of herbs. we ordered the regular size, but there was also a petite size. we had a leftover of about 1/3 of the dish we took out. junjun ate it for breakfast, and he said that it was still cold, even if it was cold out of the ref.

junjun ordered the cinnamon pork belly (Php 290.00). the pork was very tender and the cinnamon sauce/rub was very unique and complimenting to the pork. there was also a side of grilled pineapple and mushrooms.

for dessert, we ordered the petite size of kittin's scarlet cake. it was a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. the cake was very moist, and the icing was not too sweet.

overall, it was a very good experience. it was like a treasure hunt for the place, and it was well worth it. we might be coming back here to try out their other offerings.

cookbook kitchen

8 Socorro Fernandez Street, Mandaluyong City 1550

7243595 or 3815935

http://cookbookkitchen.multiply.com/

wham!

after buying our tickets to IMAX, hubby and i decided to try this newly opened food joint in SM Mall of Asia... Wham!

The interior was of warm red, yellow and orange colors reflecting comic book like illustrations. You can choose to sit on usual chairs and tables, or opt for the sofa.

Junjun ordered the hungarian sausage sandwich (Php 85.00), and i ordered the wham burger with cheese (Php 102.00).

The hungarian sausage was huge. The taste was ok with just the right amount of kick from being spicy.

the wham burger with cheese was very good. the 1/3 pound beef patty was grilled, and it was very flavorful and juicy. i also like the veggies and the dressing that came with the burger.

overall, the price was worth its value. one will be very full after eating the sandwiches they offer. you could also order sidings such as fries.

the MOA branch was a little hot though, i think there was something wrong with the airconditioning.

if you are looking for a good burger, this could be worth trying out.

Wham! Burger

SM Mall of Asia

recipes by cafe metro

3/27/2010 - date day for us. what we decided to do was eat lunch at greenbelt and watch the movie "the book of eli".

after perusing through the various restaurants at greenbelt 3, we zeroed in at recipes by cafe metro. we ordered the rice + 1 meals. these are different choices of viands that is served together with rice and a glass of iced tea (Php 170.00).

we chose bbq short ribs, adobo flakes with egg and green mango + catfish salad (Php 105.00). i opted to change mine to garlic rice for an additional of Php 10.00.

the salad was good, but it could have been better if there was more catfish and the mango have been cubed instead of sliced into strips so that it would have been easier to eat.

the adobo flakes was crisply done, and was a little bit too salty. it would have helped if there was vinegar served on the side.

our total bill was a little less than Php 500.00. the food was worth the price. if you are looking for filipino fares, this is one restaurant you could choose.

Recipes by Cafe Metro

2nd floor, Greenbelt 3

Makati City

omakase

i was hoping to have lunch at banapple, but the place was full when we arrived. since junjun and i (together with his kuya) are already hungry, we decided to skip the place and go somewhere else for lunch (although i did take out cake slices from banapple which will be in a different blog post)

we went japanese and had our lunch at omakase at il terrazzo (tomas morato).

we ordered california maki, katsudon, ika fry and yakimeshi.

the food was good, but nothing to rave about. service was also fast. our bill was around Php 1000.00, which was ok since there were three of us.

the restaurant also offered bento boxes with cute names like naruto and doraemon, maybe i'll try that next time.

omakase

ground floor, il terrazzo

sct. madrinan cor. tomas morato

south triangle, qc

finds in boracay 2 - real coffee & tea cafe

i have heard many raves and read many blogs regarding real coffee's muffins. so while we were in boracay, one of my to-do's was to visit the coffee and get a hold of the famous muffins.

the shop is open from 7am - 7pm and they serve "breakfast" all day. they have omelettes, pancakes, sandwiches, shakes, tea, coffee, cookies and of course, muffin. the cafe is a little hard to find, since it was somehow "hidden" with just a small arrow on the beach pointing to it.

when we first went there, we arrived at around 6:30pm, unfortunately, the store was closed. so i was determined just to go back the next day.

after walking long stretches of sand from station 2 to station 1, hubby and i finally arrived (again) at the cafe. there were a few yuppies hanging around, having their brunch. we sat on the stools around the service station.

we ordered the calamansi muffin, banana-walnut muffin and a funky monkey shake (choco-banana).

the calamansi muffin was indeed unique. there was the play of sweetness and sourness that was just right. the aroma that the calamansi gave was also appetizing. the whole walking thing was worth it for this muffin.

the banana-walnut muffin was also nice. it was not too sweet, you could taste the bananas and the walnuts.

they do deliveries for a charge of Php 50.00. if you want to take home these muffins, they advise that you call a day before (i think they only bake enough for the store per day). unfortunately, since we were leaving that day, i wasn't able to bring some home. maybe next time we're in bora... i would also like to taste their omelettes. ^_^

Real Coffee & Tea Cafe

Station 1, Boracay

(+63) 36 288 5340

finds in boracay 1 - deco's la paz batchoy

just outside the resort that we stayed in at station 2, boracay was deco's la paz batchoy. they claim that they're the original. so on our second night, we tried to taste the batchoy that they offered.

of course, we ordered the batchoy. i chose the miki noodles. together with the noodles, we also ordered puto manapala, pre-war pandesal and pandesal ni pa-a.

the pandesal ni pa-a was a little like what we can buy in our bakeries now. it was soft. it was also said that these were baked in a pugon, or the traditional brick oven. pa-a was the name of the person who made these then.

the pre-war pandesal was more dense and smaller in size.

the batchoy was of course, good. it had chicharon, liver, and other pork bits. you can opt to have hard boiled egg for an additional price. the soup was sweet and salty at the same time. one can ask for more soup if you want.

the price was fair for the serving, and you will really be filled by their batchoy. if you're in boracay and looking for a nighttime snack, this would be perfect.

Deco's Lapaz Batchoy

Station 2, Boracay

http://decoslapazbatchoy.com/d/

c2 classic cuisine

last february 5, with the invitation of my friend who works at c2, junjun and i had a dinner date at c2.

we ordered the lover's set meal which was offered for the valentine's season. the package included alique rice, crispy ribs sinigang, binagoongang lechon kawali and leche flan.

the food was good. i liked how crispy the lechon kawali was and the veggies on its side. the sinigang was also a unique dish. the ribs was done very crispy and it was served separately with the sinigang broth. the sourness of the broth complemented well with the ribs.

i loved the leche flan... the description was true... it was melt in the mouth. you can be very sure that there was no egg white used. it was just soft, velvety custard. we also had the bibingka souffle, which is not your usual souffle. you could really taste the saltiness of the egg, the coconut... it is like eating a real bibingka that transformed into a foam-like texture.

for drinks (not included in the set meal) we ordered sago and gulaman for junjun and green mango shake for me.

our total bill was around Php 1000.00 pesos. the food was great and the ambiance was nice. it is a place where you can share a meal with your loved ones or friends, and catch up with each other's lives.

c2 classic cuisine

2/L Archaeology Section,

Powerplant Mall, Makati City

8978113 / 8973911

PS: add the restaurant as your friend in facebook and you will get a free bibingka souffle when you eat there, with a minimum bill of Php 1000.00

wicked

we had the chance to eat at "Wicked Kitchen" before the holiday break. i have heard good reviews about this restaurant and we decided to try it out.

since this is located in Mother Ignacia (near ABS-CBN), it was a little traffic, and we were lucky that we were able to get a parking space.

we ordered the broccoli and cheese chowder, sisig rice, bagoong pork rice. their dessert were named after the seven deadly sins, and we decided to try gluttony.

our total bill was a little over Php 500.00. the food was good and we were filled to the brim. the only downside was that the resto was a little small, and i imagine it would be packed during meal times, and of course the parking would be difficult.

we would go back here to try the other meals, and of course sample other sinful desserts. =)

Wicked Kitched

143 Mother Ignacia Ave.

Quezon City

a night in kapitolyo

last friday, before going home to cavite from the office, Junjun and i decided to have dinner at slice and dice steakhouse at kapitolyo, pasig.

slice and dice offers steak at low prices. they also have baked tahong, sisig, calamares and other dishes.

junjun ordered the t-bone steak, and i had the steak a la pobre. both are priced at Php 99.00, plus Php 20.00 for the rice. we also had the red blend iced tea.

the steak served was huge, and is almost good for two persons. i also liked the gravy sauce that accompanied the steak. our total bill was around Php 300.00.

after dinner, we went to the back of the food complex for dave's yogurt.

i read about dave onstott's yogurt from anton's blog, and decided to check out the item. we got the chocolate hazelnut (premium - Php 80.00) and peach (classic - Php 70.00).

the chocolate hazelnut felt like you were eating ferrero rocher chocolates with a hint of sourness in the end. you could really feel the hazelnut bits as you eat through the yogurt. junjun liked the peach flavored more since the mild sweetness of the fruit complemented the tang of the yogurt.

we will go back to this someday to taste the other flavors, and try the yogurt cake. =)

Around the Manadaluyong Circle

Since we have been renting an apartment in Boni, we have tried out several restos where we could find good food at cheap prices. Here are two of them.


Find #1 – R&J Bulalohan

From EDSA going to Mandaluyong City hall, just before you enter the circle, this resto is located near the Petron gas station. I have heard many comments about this resto and we decided to check it out.

As the name implies, they are famous for their bulalo, which is served either regular or special. They also have the bulalo steak. Aside from this, they also offer a variety of viands, meals and snacks.

We ordered a regular bulalo (Php 199.00), lechon kawali, rice and a pitcher of iced tea. The servers were efficient. You could also ask for extra “sabaw” whenever you have drained your bulalo of its soup. Our bill amounted to around Php 500.00.

The place is not airconditioned, but it is well ventilated. They are open 24 hours, and even accepts catering and delivery. Inside the store you could also find message from different stars/tv shows whom they have catered to like mixed nuts, rated k, and the buzz.

If your looking for something cheap, tasty and filling, then this is one place that you could go to.


Find #2 – Circle Garden Grill

This restaurant is located along the Mandaluyong City Hall circle. Near to it is the newly opened animal hospital.

The menu they offer is similar to what is in R&J. Here we ordered bulalito (a small serving of the bulalo), sizzling sisig, and chopseuy. We also ordered rice, and a 1.5 liter of softdrinks.

I liked their sisig, it was very tasty and is a little bit crunchy. The bulalito was ok, but I prefer the bulalo of R&J.

The restaurant is air-conditioned, but there is also a garden portion at the back of the resto. This I assume is for those who go out on gimmicks. The server was a little bit masungit, but she was efficient in providing us everything we need before we even ask for it.

Our bill was a little more than Php 600.00. I would go back to this place to try out other offerings and also for the sisig.

August Celebration, Part 2 – Taaleña

On August 20, at around 5pm, we started our journey to Tagaytay. For dinner, we headed to Taaleña.





This restaurant offered Filipino food. Since it was still a weekday, we were the only guests. We were seated outside where, would there had been sunlight, we had a view of Taal Volcano.

We ordered Sinigang na Salmon Head sa Miso, Lechon Kawali and Adobong Kangkong.





The sinigang was good. It was hot, sour and thick. Of course, the salmon tasted good. The lechon kawali was like the usual. The adobong kangkong was a little bit different. The sauce was thick like asado.

Our bill was around Php 900.00, which already includes the rice and drinks. There was nothing to rave about in this store. The food and service were good, but nothing was outstanding

August Celebration, Part 1 – Brazil! Brazil!

August 20 – Junjun and I are celebrating our 8th anniversary as boyfriend-girlfriend. Since August 21 is a holiday, we decided to take a looong weekend.

Our first celebration was in August 19, when we had dinner at Brazil! Brazil! in Serendra.

Brazil! Brazil! is a churrascaria. They serve an eat-all-you can of grilled food and sidings. They grill all kinds of food – chicken, pork, beef, seafood, corn, pineapples, banana, etc. There was a section where you can choose your salad, pasta, mashed potato, rice and dessert.

A key element in dining there is the yo-yo that is placed on the table. If you want to be served churrasca, you just have to make sure that the green side is up. Otherwise, put the red side up if you want to pause from eating.

After we arrived, we ordered drinks and we were served the soup. I had the mango-pandan iced tea and Junjun had the Mango Lychee shake.

Mango Pandan Iced Tea (Php 135.00)

Mango Lychee Shake (Php 135.00)

We helped ourselves to some salad, and then we turned the yo-yo green side up, and the grilled food started coming. We had cuttlefish, pork shoulder, chicken fillet, beef sirloin, beef brisket, schublig and schublig with cheese. We also had some mashed potatoes from the siding section.

When we had our fill, we had a dessert of fruit salad and chocolate cake.

Weekday buffet is priced at Php 628.00 (net). Drinks are priced separately. For those who are “carnivores” and love to eat meat, this is definitely the place to eat.

Brazil! Brazil!
G/F The Piazza One
Serendra, Bonifacio Global City
Taguig