A few months ago, I got to visit UP Diliman Campus for the second time. I didn't get to roam around the area during my first visit because back then I was focused for my college entrance exam. From what I've heard, there are a lot of great places to eat within the area. I've took the chance to try Restaurant-of-Choice located at the Ang Bahay ng Alumni.
It has an alfresco area with patio umbrella tables. While the indoor area can be divided into two portions. There is a casual dining area by the entrance while the other portion is behind a curtain for diners who prefer to have some privacy.
Food
Pasta
Though I'm not a fan of cream pasta, I was enticed by the mushrooms so I ordered the Quattro Funghi. It is a pasta with four types of mushroom melange, garlic cream and linguine. The garlic subtleties are quite evident in the cream but it was just right that it didn't over power the mushrooms. The pasta is cooked al dente so it was pleasurable to eat.
Burgers
My friend had the100% pure beef burger with aioli, lettuce, tomatoes between sesame buns. He claims it was pretty good. It was served with slightly salted french fries.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
ROC (Restaurant-of-Choice) is a great choice of food when at UP Diliman Campus. The food is of quality and the price is just right.
It has an alfresco area with patio umbrella tables. While the indoor area can be divided into two portions. There is a casual dining area by the entrance while the other portion is behind a curtain for diners who prefer to have some privacy.
Food
Pasta
♥ Quattro Funghi (166 php) |
Burgers
ROC Burger (158 php) |
Panizza
Margherita (228 php) |
The Margherita is a panizza with tomatoes, mozzarell and, basil chiffonade. It was not too greasy and the thickness was perfect.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
ROC (Restaurant-of-Choice) is a great choice of food when at UP Diliman Campus. The food is of quality and the price is just right.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | ROC (Restaurant-of-Choice) Menu | |
Ambiance | ★★★ | Menu 1 | Menu 2 | Menu 3 | Menu 4 | Menu 5 | Menu 6 | Menu 7 | |
Taste | ★★★ | |
Service | ★★★ | |
Price | ★★★ | |
♥=Favorites or Recommended |
ROC (Restaurant-of-Choice) | |
Business Address |
100 GF Ang Bahay ng Alumni, Magsaysay Ave,
UP Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila
|
Business Hours | Mon - Sat: 11:00 am -9:00 pm
Sun: 9:00 am-6:00 pm
|
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | |
Budget/Person | 120-300 |
Free WiFi | No |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | (02) 425-0191 |
Other | Facebook Fan Page |
After a fulfilling dinner and some strolling at Robinson's Place Manila, we spotted a new ice cream stall with two large chillers that's hard to miss near Mexicali. It's called "New Zealand Natural".
They had so many enticing flavors to offer. After a few minutes still left undecided, the staff decided to let us try the Hokey Pokey which was their best seller. We found the blend of butterscoth and honeycomb too sweet for our taste but I'm guessing many liked it because the tub was almost empty.
Forrestberry Yoghurt (95 php) |
♥ Cool Bananas D' Lite 2 Scoops (95 php + 50 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream offers guilt-free variants without sacrificing in terms of flavor. It's more bang for the buck to get two scoops because one scoop is 95 php and an additional scoop is just 50 php. Wonder what I'll order next... Any suggestions?
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | New Zealand Natural Menu | |
Ambiance | ★★★ | Menu |
Taste | ★★★★ | |
Service | ★★★ | |
Price | ★★★ | |
♥=Favorites or Recommended |
New Zealand Natural Robinson's Place | |
Business Address | 2nd Lvl., Robinson's Place, Padre Faura Wing, M. Adriatico St., Ermita Manila, Metro Manila |
Business Hours | 10am-9pm (mall hours) |
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | |
Budget/Person | 95-145 |
Free WiFi | No |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | |
Other | Email: info@nzn.com.ph Website | Facebook Fan Page |
Chef Florabel Co - Yatco and Ricky Laudico has been around for quite some time now and they're obviously making their mark in the food industry (Roboto San, John and Yoko, Mr. Kurosawa, Sumo Sam and more). They have recently unveiled their newest creation, Dragon Chef in Trinoma, which focuses on Chinese Cuisine with a hearty and hip twist.
The location is quite small. Assuming they're on full capacity, they'll can serve roughly around 30-40 guests which is a good thing since the less people means less noise and with that you'll get to appreciate your food more. And, they'll be able to provide your food faster as well.
Dimsum
Har Gao "Shrimp Dumling" (148 php) |
Quarry Bay "Pork Siomai with Edamame" (158 php) |
Xiao Long Bao (168 php)
|
Salad
Nirvana "Crispy tofu, Fruits & Walnuts with Sesame Dressing (298 php) |
Starting off your meal with a light and fruitful salad has never hurt anyone. The Nirvana salad is composed of fresh greens, sliced fruits, tofu, walnuts and sesame dressing which is a great and healthy way to start your meal.
Noodles
Fukien Style Noodles (378 php) |
Fresh noodles, fresh greens, fresh seafoods.... what's not to love? Sometimes eating can be a chore especially when you're health conscious but that's not the case with this dish.
Soup
Seafood Beancurd Soup (288 php) |
Drinking soup is a great way to hydrate your body while getting vitamins and minerals in the process and what better way to get all the benefits than having a bowl of seafood beancurd soup.
Rice
Dragon Chef Fried Rice (298 php) |
Most people prefer eating their meals with rice and they sure did a splendid job answering that demand with their Dragon Chef Fried Rice.
Main
Well if you're already tired of eating all those healthy dishes you could also try some of their more sinful yet hearty dishes.
Yuen Long Pork Belly with Cuapao (458 php) |
Cuapao |
Emperor Wenzong (338 php) |
Manchurian Calamari (288 php) |
Sweet and Sour Pork (318 php) |
Wanchai Pork Asado & Lechon Macau (318 php) |
Drinks
Red Citrus (108 php) |
Green Lychee (108 php) |
Dessert
Snowballs (328 php)
This dessert looks irresistible especially with the cute bunny on the center. These round glutinous rice balls covered in coconut are almost too cute to eat but then again its also compelling to eat them.
Dragon Chef is a new twist to the traditional Chinese dishes while enjoying its hip ambiance. Most of their servings are good for sharing so I suggest you come in groups.
Dragon Chef Restaurant | |
Business Address |
Fourth floor, Trinoma,
Quezon City, Metro Manila |
Business Hours | 11am-10pm |
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | 10% |
Budget/Person | 500-800 |
Free WiFi | No |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | (02) 621-4487 |
Other | Email: Dragon.chef@rocketmail.com Facebook Fan Page |
Dragon Chef Restaurant Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies
As foodies, we're always challenge ourselves to be one of the firsts to try out a new food place. One of our latest find is "Basilico". Its facade looks a bit dainty and uninviting that you might even think that you are in the wrong place. But once you go inside, its actually cozy with its colorful interiors despite its limited space.
Food
Basilico is named after the Basil herb which serves one of the primary ingredients in their dishes. For a humble restaurant, we were amazed that their menu had so much to offer. We were fortunate that the one of the owners Mr. Renelee Javonillo was there to give as some tips on which to order. He also shared that the dishes there are not Authentic Italian but Italian-inspired which he concocted himself.
Appetizers
♥ Chicken Peperocino (215 php) |
When the Chicken Peperocino was served, we were not only enticed by its beautiful plating but we were all eager to try this dark java-cayene pepper sauce covered baked chicken wings. Just a bite of this made us head over heels with it. It was perfectly crunchy and the taste was a pleasant blend of sweet, nutty and pungent. This is one unforgettable dish that you just can't miss out on!
Entree
Baby Back Ribs (250 php) |
The Baby Back Ribs is oven-barbecued American pork ribs in a sweet and tangy sauce served with either Mashed Potato and Basilico Rice. It was served hot, tender and tasty but it wasn't the baby back ribs we were expecting. It was good but nothing spectacular. The Mashed Potato had a herb-infused gravy which didn't appeal to my taste buds either.
Pasta
Chicken Cajun ala Carbonara (190 php) |
♥ Arrabiata (180 php) |
The Arrabiata delivered a sensational sophisticated flavor that got us all raving for it all night long! There is just a perfect medley of flavors from the fresh herbs, zesty stewed tomatoes, sweet peppercino and hint of red wine that will surely win you over. This is a must try!
Pizza
Seeing how confused we were in what pizza to order, they offered to allow us to try two pizza flavors in one pizza. Mr. Javonillo emphasized to us that they are more than willing to please their customers as much as they can. When I asked about that pricing, he told us not to bother because they care more about customer satisfaction than pricing distortions. He even mentioned that although not on their menu, they even make rolled lasagna with spices depending on the diner's preference. How cool is that right?
♥ Funghi Pizza (300) and ♥White Pizza (250 php) |
Chili Oil |
We were given some their own blend of Chili Oil which serves as the hot sauce for their pizza. It's mixed with basil, chili flakes, cayenne pepper, white pepper and more.
The first pizza I got to try was the White Pizza. It's a pesto-based thin crusted pizza topped with triple cheese: mozzarella, parmigiano and cheddar in white sauce. It had a hint of truffle oil. I usually don't enjoy a cheese and cream based pizza because I find it either too plain or overwhelming, but the White Pizza definitely own me over. The taste had a nice balance. It also goes well with the Chili Oil.
The Funghi Pizza is just as great as the White Pizza. Compared to the White Pizza, this was more chunky. It was topped with stewed tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, beef toppings and three types of mushrooms. We could all tell that the stewed tomato sauce was freshly made because of its rich flavors. But, the freshness of the mushroom was the key to the success of this pizza. We could all derive the earthy fragrance of the fresh mushrooms as we savored them in every bite.
Dessert
Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake Solo (200 php) |
Cold Beverage
Red Velvet Basilico Iced Tea (40 php), Apple Basilico Cola (35 php) and Mango Cream (60 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Basilico is a hidden gem in Pasig for affordable yet Gourmet Italian-inspired dishes. We were all shocked with their pricing. Not only is their serving size generous, they also don't scrimp on ingredients. In case you're wondering, they offer FREE delivery with a minimum order ranging on the location. They also have affordable packages ranging from 250-800 php per person for bulk orders and catering. In fact, a large percentage of Basilico's clients are corporate firms which order from them on a daily basis.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Basilico Menu | |
Ambiance | ★★★ | Menu | Menu 2 |
Taste | ★★★★ | |
Service | ★★★ | |
Price | ★★★★ | |
♥=Favorites or Recommended |
Basilico | |
Business Address |
202 Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., Caniogan,
Pasig, Metro Manila
|
Business Hours | 10am - 10pm |
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | |
Budget/Person | 65-300 |
Free WiFi | Yes |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | (02) 655-5651 |
Other | Email: info@basilicofood.com Facebook Fan Page |
After taking the Jawbreaker Challenge at Zark's Burger, the group decided to supposedly burn all those calories by shopping at the End of Season Sale at SM Mall of Asia. Upon reaching the mall, I somehow felt that we were bound to eat sooner or later when our first stop was not a store but a drink stand. As expected after three hours of shopping, we were again on a food spree as we were enchanted to try the wonderful crepes and drinks at Mother's Cafe & Crepe.
Mother's Cafe & Crepe is known as Mazazu Crepe in other countries. It originated from Japan in 1998 and has now more than 40 stores in Japan with stores opening in Singapore, Korea, Canada, Hongkong, China, Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and now in the Philippines.
The Mother's Cafe & Crepe store can be found on the second floor on the outdoor area by the Movie Theater. The space is quite limited housing only a few tables. But, all their treats and drinks are good for take out too which I find convenient for movie snacks and drinks. =D
Food
Mother's Cafe & Crepe's authentic Japanese crepes are unlike any other. They are healthier because their crepe mix is mixed with bran making them high in dietary fibre. Each crepe contains 50% of the dietary fibre commonly found in cereals. It is also fortified with minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. They also use a light-tasting and low-fat whipped cream which contains only 26% fat contest and its all vegetable fat so its low in cholesterol.
Mother's Cafe & Crepe has a lot of crepes and drinks selections. And, if that's not enough for you, they even allow you to create your own crepe. As much as we wanted to try them all, we all fell dazed just by looking at their menu. We were lucky that the owner Mrs. Adeline Ong Santiago was very hands-on as she was there to manage her store during our visit so she hinted us on what to order.
Deluxe Crepe
Almond Choco Banana (125 php) |
Premium Crepe
♥ Strawberry & Banana (155 php) |
Ice Crepe
♥ Caramel Strawberry Cheese Cake Soft (255 php) |
Delica Crepe
♥ Bacon Egg (130 php) |
Soft Cream
Raw Milk Vanilla Cup 6 Oz (120 php) |
Drinks
Orange Float 16 oz. (95 php), Melon Soda Tapioca 16 oz. (85 php) and ♥ Green Tea Milk 16 oz. (95 php) |
♥ Jasmine Green Tea with Cream Cheese 16 oz. (90 php) and Milk Tea 16 oz. (85 php) |
Caramel Latte (95 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Mother's Cafe & Crepe is an must-try food stop for delicious meals, drinks and desserts. Variation and customization is something granted when visiting Mother's Cafe & Crepe so you'll surely get what your craving for. Try it and I assure you that their crepes are unforgettable and will leave you wanting for more. Since Mother's Cafe & Crepe is found just near the SM Movie Theatres, they are the best option for movie snacks and drinks too.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Mother's Cafe & Crepe Menu | |
Ambiance | ★★★ | Menu 1 | Menu 2 | Menu 3 | Drinks | |
Taste | ★★★★ | |
Service | ★★★ | |
Price | ★★★ | |
♥=Favorites or Recommended |
Mother's Cafe & Crepe SM Mall of Asia | |
Business Address |
2/F SM Mall of Asia (Bay Blvd.),
Pasay City, Metro Manila
|
Business Hours | 10am-9pm (mall hours) |
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | |
Budget/Person | 100-300 |
Free WiFi | Yes (SM WiFi) |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | (02) 804-1910 |
Other | Facebook Fan Page |
I've been to Zark's several time during college days. Although located on the second floor with a discreet signage, it's credibility for making unique hearty burgers has established its reputation among Lasallians and more. But, it never crossed my mind to take the Jawbreaker Challenge until recently when my friends all decided to go and try. I arrived a bit late due to the road closing in Quirino because of a cave-in. So when I came in, fellow Tsinoy Foodie Kurt and the rest were clenched on their stubs as they were ready to begin.
Every table had the Jawbreaker burger on their table. I guess no one wanted to be the wuss in the group right? Especially when the photos of the successful challengers are posted on the wall just to intimidate you.
After we handed out our stubs, we got our Jawbreaker Burger served with fries. The Jawbreaker Burger is the BIGGEST burger I have ever encountered. Aside from the noticeable oozing cheese sauce, it had two spam slices, strips of bacon, three thick and heavily seasoned beef patties and veggies.
Everyone had their own way of eating it. We Tsinoy Foodies are very traditional. No matter how thick the burgers are, we squeeze them tight and bite through them so we can appreciate all those grueling layers.
Kurt's empty plate |
Would I want to take on the challenge again? Yes of course! I'll try and try until I finish the burger and then beat the time. On the other hand, I firmly believe that Kurt can beat the time the next time around. We'll keep you posted when we do. =D
How about you? Any Jawbreaking stories to share?
Zark's Burger Taft | |
Business Address | 2nd floor Archer's Nook, Taft Ave, Manila, Metro Manila |
Business Hours |
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am-10:00 pm
Sat-Sun: 10:00 am- 9:00 pm
|
Payment Options | Cash |
Service Charge | |
Budget/Person |
250
|
Free WiFi | No |
Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
Contact | (0923) 737-2517 |
Other | Facebook Fan Page |
/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)