During the COVID pandemic, the family has been practicing caution in choosing where and when to dine out.  Having our first dine out at Yamazato山里 at Hotel Okura Manila was a wise choice and as you read along our experience, we're sure you'll agree as to why.

According to the official Michelin Guide website, "In 2002, Yamazato became the first traditional Kaiseki restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star outside of Japan, thanks to Chef Masanori Tomikawa’s subtle cuisine that is full of velvet-smooth flavours."

When we dined there, the above-mentioned was the only information that lured us into trying out Yamazato.  But a few days after we posted about it on instagram, its management commented some interesting details therein: (1)  This branch in the Philippines is the 10th location to open worldwide and (2) Yamazato in Bangkok, Macau, and Taipei also have Michelin distinction.   What an amazing track record right?

Brief Info on Kaiseki

It has dawned on us that we've never tried Kaiseki before.  Kaiseki, kanji are written as 会席 or formally as 懐石 literally mean "breast-pocket stone" which Zen monks, who do not have budget for food, give to guests to ward off hunger as a sign of hospitality. These kanji are thought to have been incorporated to indicate the frugal meal served in the austere style of chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony).  Both sets of kanji remain in use today to write the word.  

Kaiseki now represents a set course meal as a counterpart to the Japanese haute cuisine.  

After such an introduction, you'd think we'd go for the Yamazato Mini Kaiseki Set which was available from 6 pm to 9 pm right? Wrong.

Since the family really missed dining out and having special dishes for sharing, we decided to go ala carte style.   

COVID Protocols

As responsible citizens, we're really advocating cautious practice against COVID.  And, we feel that restaurants such as Yamazato with excellent COVID protocols should be commended too.

 

Service

While deciding on what to order from their menu which we viewed through our phones, our personal server wearing her face mask and face shield cautiously served us complimentary hot tea and oshibori or hot towel.

 

Food

Simmered Dishes  (煮物)

♥ Buta Kakuni 豚角煮 (894 php)

 

 

Yasai Takiawase  野菜炊き合わせ (280 php)

 

 Grilled Dishes 焼物

♥ Gindara Saikyo Yaki 銀鱈西京焼き  (880 php)

The Gindara Saikyo Yaki in white miso sauce was so good.  We ordered three of this dish!    

Fried Dishes 揚げ物

Tempura Moriawase  天麩羅盛り合わせ (800 php)

Of course, the Tempura Moriawase is another must order.  Each one has to have their own Prawn Tempura.  With this dish, you can already judge it by the color and texture of the tempura batter. 

 

Chicken Teriyaki  鶏照り焼き (620 php)

 

Noodles

♥ Tempura Soba (Hot) 天麩羅そば(温) (880 php)

The Tempura Soba is another comforting dish for the soul to enjoy.  The buckwheat noodles was smooth and bouncy.  It didn't have the usual rough and brittleness that you'd usually expect for a soba.  The soba and the rest of the toppings meshed well together.  Even the mild natural earthy flavor of the shiitake mushroom brought out by the broth.

 

Sushi / Sushi Roll 寿司 / 巻物

♥ Futo Maki 太巻寿司 (780 php)

The Futo Maki may look just like any other maki you've encountered but take a bite and the play of textures and the fresh flavors of the ingredients in your mouth will leave you a distinguishing satisfaction.

 

Secret Menu

♥ Chahan

We're so glad that our server hinted us to order Yamazato's Chahan.  She even checked with the kitchen as to the availability of this dish since it is not in the menu.  We felt like a winner when she announce that it was available.  But, we felt even luckier upon trying this.  This is hands down one of the best, if not the best Chahan we've had.

 

We know that we sound like a broken record as we repeat in our Japanese blog post that we've always believed that ordering the Chahan is one of our measuring gauge of the quality of a Japanese restaurant.  And, thus, our standing ovation of compliments for Yamazato's Chahan says a lot!

 

Complimentary Tea

Unfortunately, we were able to inquire as to what type of Japanese green tea this was.  But, it was the most refreshingly clean-tasting tea we've ever tried.  It made us wonder if it was the quality of the tea itself or the precision in steeping that made the difference.  

 

Complimentary Birthday Surprise

 

Complimentary Dark Chocolate Cake

 

Upon informing them during our reservation that we're celebrating a birthday there, Yamazato prepared this surprise.  We really appreciate this! 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

We totally agree with Michelin guide in recognizing the Yamazato山里.  Although we have yet to the Yamazato in other countries, with the quality of the dining experience we experience here in Manila, we believe that its execution in multiple branches is no doubt at par with each other.  If you're looking for a really quality Japanese fine dining experience here in Manila, Yamazato should belong in your top list. 

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Yamazato山里 Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Yamazato 山里 Okura Hotel Manila
Business Address	Resorts World Manila, 2 Portwood Street (formerly Palm Drive, Newport Blvd, Pasay, 1309 Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 11:30am-2pm Dinner: 6pm-10:00pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	1,000-2,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(02) 5318-2888
Other	Website

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This Christmas is unique because it is a Christmas amidst a health crisis.  Yet, the Philippine food industry is quite fortunate as there are a lot of establishment that can thrive like the international brand Subway that are still well-loved and well-supported by the community. 

Subway One Archers Place

During our visit for take-away at Subway One Archers Place's we can't help but notice that there are a lot of delivery men who come in and out to pick up orders.

12 Subs of Christmas Discount Deal

To show its gratefulness, Subway is offering its 12 Subs of Christmas Deal that aims to lift up the Christmas spirit through a 12-day promo discount deal.

Subway One Archers Place COVID Protocol

40% On Second Sub

GENERAL MECHANIC

1. Buy (1) 6-inch of Christmas + 16-oz drink and get the 2nd 6-inch of Christmas at 40% Off.

The 12 6-inch sub of Christmas are: 

• Ham
• Sliced Chicken
• Roasted Chicken
• Sliced Chicken & Ham
• Smoked Chicken
• Spicy Italian
• Pulled Pork
• Italian B.M.T
• Steak & Cheese
• Meatball Marinara
• Subway Melt
• Subway Club

2. The 2nd sub at 40% off should either be of the same or lower value.

3. Available for TAKE-OUT and DINE-IN only.

4. Promo is available for 12 days starting December 16, 2020, until December 31, 2020.

So here's our orders... It's worthy to mention that despite the pandemic, four (4) breads options are available: Wheat,  Honey Oat, Italian Parmesan and Oregano.

Food

♥ 6-inch Italian B.M.T (126 php)

The Italian B.M.T is a world favorite with sliced Genoa salami, pepperoni and ham and your choice of vegetables.  We like all vegetables including onions please!

♥ Steak & Cheese (160 php)

Our personal favorite is the Steak & Cheese. You can't go wrong with lean and tender steak slices with creamy melted cheese on a sub.

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The COVID pandemic has taught us to spend more time in the kitchen than going out of our homes.    These holiday season instead of buying gifts for relatives, we sent out cooked dishes to them instead.  One of the most popular dish we've conjured that gained a lot of praise is our Creamy Truffle Mushroom Vegetable Penne Recipe.

Creamy Truffle Mushroom Vegetable Penne

So we're sharing our tweaked Tsinoy Foodies Creamy Truffle Mushroom Vegetable Penne Recipe for you and your loved ones to enjoy too.

Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
¼ cup butter
1 chopped medium onion
6 cloves chopped garlic
2 cups fresh shiitake mushroom
1 can NESTLÉ Cream 300g
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
2 tbsp Umbria Terra Di Tartufi White Truffle Oil (from goodwill.market)
2 tbsp Umbria Terra Di Tartufi Black Truffle Sauce (from goodwill.market)
500g Vegetable Penne (cooked al dente)

About Umbria Terra Di Tartufi

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi is an Italian artisan brand distributed by Dygen Food Ventures, Inc.  Its artisan products including truffle oils and sauces are made with pure ingredients fromt he luxuriant area of Valnerina Italy.  It does not contain any artificial colors, additives or preservatives and is produced from years of research to retain the unique and authentic flavor of the truffle. 

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi White Truffle Oil

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi White Truffle Oil is a condiment based on olive oil, dehydrated Bianchetto truffle and white truffle aroma.  It is your choice for ready to serve snacks and meals.

 

Umbria Terra Di Tartufi Black Truffle Sauce

Procedure

• Step 1: In a heated pan, add 3 tbsp olive oil and ¼ cup butter.
• Step 2: Sauté onions and garlic until fragrant (but don't let them caramelize).
• Step 3: Add 2 cups fresh shiitake mushroom and let it sit for 3 minutes.
• Step 4: Pour in NESTLÉ Cream and let it sit for 2 minutes in low heat.
  
• Step 5:Season with salt and black pepper.
• Step 6: Toss in Vegetable Penne and mix.
• Step 7: Add 2 tbsp Umbria Terra Di Tartufi Black Truffle Sauce then mix.
• Step 8: Turn off heat then add 2 tbsp Umbria Terra Di Tartufi White Truffle Oil then mix.
• Step 9: Serve immediately. 

Christmas time is undoubtedly the best time of the year!  During the Christmas season, people gift, surprise, donate, charity, and make the most exquisite meals throughout this joyful month to bring in joy and make everyone else’s Christmas jolly too… It is also the time for the entire family to come together, share their stories, and have a hearty laugh.

People coming together also means that you’ll have to cook in plenty and make amazing food for everyone to relish and rave about. Of all that you’ve been cooking years after years, we recommend you treat your loved ones to this fun and fancy looking dish. It will be really nice to have your family members rolling out the dough, topping pizzas, and baking them fresh while discussing events of past and future.

You simply have to arrange the ingredients and tools in advance to make up for the pizza making session. The most important tool to have for this family fun event is a cheese grater. Of course, what good is a pizza without any generous load of cheese? 

To make things easier for you, we have enlisted the best cheese graters available. Check thedaringkitchen.com/cheese-grater to find the latest and choicest selection of cheese graters that will surely impress your guests too.

So, without wasting any more time, you must peep into the recipe to get the ingredients ready for the family cooking event.

Holiday Pizza Wreath Recipe

• Cheese grater
• Vegetable chopper
• Knife
• Peeler
• Spoons
• Bowls
• Rolling pins

Ingredients
2 cups pizza sauce
Pizza dough
Dry flour, for rolling the dough
Mozzarella cheese, grated
Any topping of your choice (I used colorful bell peppers, mushrooms, and chicken shreds)

Procedure

1. Thinly roll out the pizza dough using dry flour into a circular shape and place it over a lined   baking tray.
2. Use a cookie cutter to cut out a hole from the center of the dough so that the dough looks like a doughnut.
3. Now, evenly put pizza sauce on the rolled out dough as the first layer.
4. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees C
5. Top pizza with any topping of your choice and load it well with the grated cheese.
6. Bake the pizza for about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown on top.
7. Slice and serve hot!
   

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The COVID Pandemic has made us realize how we can be consciously or subconsciously affected by everything around us.  The months of confinement made us yearn for the psychological comfort of once again being able to go out.  Fortunately, we can now (with safety measures) go out once again and chill at our favorite cafes like Cafe Mary Grace.

Well-known for its Ensaymadas and Cheese Rolls, Mary Grace has become one of the fastest growing local food brands.  Even during the pandemic, it has continued to open more kiosks and cafes. All of its kiosks and cafes have the same interior which we love.  It just charms us to coziness each time.  The yellow lighting, floral and ceramic decors and the homey furniture and fixtures harmoniously makes it one of the most beautiful and cutsie cafe in the Philippines.

Food

The cafe menu covers all types of meals from breakfast to after-dinner snacks. 

Crispy Cassava Chips with Onion Dip (205 php)

Since we wanted to take our time and enjoy our meals slowly, we first ordered the Crispy Cassava Chips with Onion Dip for starters.  This is our first time to try this and it was surprisingly good!  So good that we dare say that the Onion Dip is as addictive as the more famous Spinach Dips or Artichoke Dips.

Hearty Soups

Seafood Chowder (190 php)

The Seafood Chowder has the right blend of creaminess, richness and chunkiness to make it the appropriate warm and comforting soup that prepares the belly for a heavier meal.

Salads

Fresh Kesong Puti & Calamansi Vinaigrette (288 php)

The Fresh Kesong Puti & Calamansi Vinaigrette is a refreshing salad to try as it incorporates local ingredients.  The kesong puti is fried and breaded but not oily at all.  It was so much fun to eat.

Mary Grace Caesar Salad (360 php)

 The Mary Grace Caesar Salad is the classic Caesar Salad done right.

Tomato- Based Pasta

Pasta Amatriciana with Meatballs (320 php)

This is the first time for us to encounter a pasta with Amatriciana sauce.  Based on our research, the Amatriciana sauce is a sauce named after the town of Amatrice and is actually one of the most famous pasta sauces in Italian cuisine today.  While we couldn't verify how near it is to that one you can find in such town, we enjoyed this Pasta Amatriciana with Meatballs as the red sauce was rich in spices with a tinge of savoriness and tanginess.

Cream-Based Pastas

Classic Carbonara (315  php)

The Classic Carbonara is one of Cafe Mary Grace best sellers.  Everyone who has tried this has loved this.  We're sure you would too!  Enough said!

Pizzas

Margherita (498  php)

Cafe Mary Grace pizzas are thin and chewy dough crusted topped with fresh and premium ingredients such as its home-made tomato.  We opted for the classic Margherita which was a great compliment to our other orders.

Freshers

Homemade Iced Tea

Apple, Cinnamon Tea and Honey (95 php)

Peppermint Iced Mocha (185 php)

After our meal, we stayed for coffee.  The Peppermint Iced Mocha was a hit among us.

Cappuccino Regular (120 php)

If you're the plain-type of tito or tita, you can go for the hot Cappuccino.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Mary Grace is one of the best cafes in terms of ambiance and food quality in the Metro Manila.  We can see this cafe chain as one that would expand with more branches in the future. 

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Cafe Mary Grace Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	N/A
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Cafe Mary Grace Rockwell
Business Address	R2 Level Expansion, Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Drive, Estrella Street, 1210 Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours	10am-9pm (mall hours)
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,200
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(632) 84781850
Other

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