I've become quite fond of Chef Chris Locker so naturally, I wanted to be among the first to check out Recess by Chef Chris. 


The facade doesn't give much hint of what's in store.



Well, there's a bar which is a bit retro don't you think?

Then there's this really cool dining area which you can pefertecly describe as "so highschool-ish".  There are lockers, black boards and brick walls.   The other rooms are used as function rooms.

The ceiling has elements on them. 

Food

Complimentary Bread

Salads

Recess Salad (390 php)

The Recess Salad has greens, alfalfa, orange slices, grapes, caramelized almonds, apple, cherry tomatoes drizzled with grape seed oil.  This is a really good salad so I enjoyed it.

Originals

♥ Platinum Full (790 php)

Of course, the main purpose of every meal prepared by Chef Chris is his panizza which in this case is referred to his "Originals".  Although I'm not quite fond of pizzas, I react adversely towards pannizas.  In fact, the family has dined several times at My Kitchen by Chef Chris solely for them.  I noticed that the price is the same here. When I tried the Platinum, I once again had that "wow" moment.  This is a very savory and meaty variant because of the angus beef and bacon.   The pineapple, tomato and mushroom brings a milder tone of flavor giving it a balanced taste.

♥ Magnesium Full (790 php)

The Magnesium is more inclined to the Filipino palette because of the sweet and salty flavors.  It has pork barbecue, tomatoes, slated egg and kesong puti.

Pinoy Originals

♥ TiTo Full (790 php)

The TiTo is ideal for breakfast because it it's our favorite breakfast meal turned into a panizza.  It has smoked bangus bits, tomatoes, salted egg and red onions.  

Aside from the Pinoy Originals, they also have other breakfast items which they served all-day starting 7 am.


Burgerland

♥ Recess 70:30 (480 php)

The Recess 70:30 is a one of a kind of burger that will surely mark a lasting impact.  It's a 200 gram burger with 70% angus beef and 30% maple bacon topped with aged cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, golden onion rings and sliced shitake mushrooms.  It also comes with fried onion rings and fries.

♥ Recess 70:30 (480 php)

You can already sense the bacon from the reddish color of the patty.  Gosh! This is one of the most flavorful, sinful but worthy burger patty I have ever tried.

Vegetarian

Fried Tofu (390 php)

Vegetarian friends, this Fried Tofu is for you.  Yes, you heard that right.  It's just for you because it's a bit too plain and not worth the price for me.  It's Fried Tofu with roasted eggplant, tomato and red onion chutney.  On second thought, I'll just share in on the pilaf which has raisins, pine nuts and coriander which is a winner for me.

Fish

♥ Baked Salmon (750 php)

 I don't think I've ever encountered any restaurant serving Baked Salmon that thick.  This
Baked Salmon with mustard cream sauce served with grilled tomatoes, roasted potatoes and Italian brocolli is one of the best salmon dishes I've tried yet.  Despite the size, this was swipe clean with pleasure by yours truly.

Pork

♥ Swiss Style Pork Tenderloin Slices (570 php)

The Swiss Style Pork Tenderloin Slices is one of the most recommended according to Foursquare tips.  Well, I have to admit, it is definitely worth to try!  The pork tenderloin slices is very tender and the mushroom cream sauce is the perfect complement for it.  It is also served with potato roesti and broccoli.

Beef

♥ Special Callos Casserole (510 php)

I've a sucker for any callos dish so pardon me if I'm quite biased in saying that this is very delicious!  Again, not a single bit of the tasty and tender Special Callos Casserole was spared by moi.

Lamb

♥ Lamb Korma (590 php)

The Lamb Korma is hailed by the menu as the king of all curries.  This dish has lamb shoulder in spicy masala with onion, ginger, lemongrass braised with tomato and yogurt.  This is so good that I'd gladly bow down to it or even kneel before it.  The spiciness and zestiness is so addictive.  The lamb is very tender with no hint of any gamey taste.


Desserts

Special Turon (280 php)

The Special Turon is an upgraded version of the turon as itis topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drenched in caramel sauce.  For the price, I'd rather try something else.

Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake (320 php)

The Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake is a moist chocolate cake.

 

Chef Tinlou's Valrhona Decadent Cake (320 php)

I found this too sweet for my preference.  I'm even surprised that this was served with an extra helping of caramel sauce.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Recess by Chef Chris is something new to try!  Portions are huge and food quality is superb.  I also found the food variety to be plenty so it's set to make a fun food adventure.  I actually enjoyed dining here more than the numerous times I dined at My Kitchen.  But, the price may be a bit of a set back as it is beyond what the typical  pocket money can shoulder especially for a casual or regular dining experience with friends. 

Whenever my friends find out that I have a food blog, most of them would say I'm lucky for having tried so many food establishments.  Truth be told, it's the dishes I don't blog that I'm most grateful for.  On most days of the week since childhood, our dishes at home are cooked by mom from the freshest and healthiest ingredients which she buys from the nearby market on a daily basis.  

Another question I am usually asked is what is my favorite dish.  I always just smile because I don't think anyone would believe me if I told them, it's simply my mom's steamed okra and fried pampano. =))  

And mind you, cooking is probably the least my mom has ever done for us.  And, we, as her children have and will always show her how much we love her for that.  


For our pre-mother's day dinner celebration, my siblings and I thought really hard on treating her to establishments she deserves.  We decided that a French dinner which we rarely have would be fitting.  Thus, I suggested Brasserie Cicou by Chef Cyrille who is nicknamed Cicou. I've visited this on the 18th of February three years ago and since then I've been wanting to take the family here to try.


The interiors are as I've remembered it to be, an excellent fusion of elegance and comfort.  The lamps are made of wine glasses and wine bottles which was artistic but in a refined way.


There's a loft which board games.  My siblings played chess here while having an after-dinner coffee.

There are pastries and spreads for sale at the Delicatessen.

Food

Complimentary Bread Basket

I've read a lot of raves about the Complimentary Bread Basket but when we tried it, it was not as spectacular as we expected.  It was thinly crusted so it was quite crisp and flaky on the outer while soft and chewy on the inside.  It was good but not beyond comparison as exclaimed to be.

Appetizers et Snacks

♥ Beef Carpaccio (488 php)

When the Beef Carpaccio was served, we all had the same silent expression which I assumed to be "Wow! That's a lot of fine meat right there."  It was a heavenly as it looked.  My mom and siblings, who are rarely enticed by meat dishes, couldn't help but eat like carnivores.


Les Soupes
We had our soups split into two because we intend to order more solid offerings.  

La Soupe a l'Onion (330 php) *NOTE: this is only half serving

 The La Soupe a l'Onion is a very good rendition of the classic onion soup covered in melted cheese.

 

♥ Prawn Bisque, Sea Urchin Flan (390 php)

All the soups we tried were awesome.  But, my favorite among them would be the Prawn Bisque, Sea Urchin Flan.  I'm very pleased that mom approved of this as well!

Mushroom Soup (310 php)

The Mushroom Soup received the least praise but only because it was more common that the rest.  The bold flavors of the mushroom were enhanced by the cream base.


Salades-Sandwiches

Chef Cicou Salad Single (330 php)

Salad is my mom's favorite course so we ordered the Chef Cicou Salad.  It had croutons, greens, onions, gruyere cheese, dried tomatoes, egg, chicken and ham.  It was really good! 

Les Pates

♥ Seafood Ink Pasta (510 php)

We really didn't expect the Seafood Ink Pasta to be as it is.  It was like a lasagna with black layer of pasta covered in melted cheese and drenched in creamy sauce with bits of prawns, fish, mussels and clams.  It was fantastic!


Poultry

Chicken Breast Fillet (498 php)

I thought the Chicken Breast Fillet looked and sounded plain but I was proven wrong.  The chicken was moist and very tasty.  The pasta was cooked al dente.  This is one of the most precisely cooked pasta, I've ever encountered.


Beef

♥ Onglet Poele (650 php)

The Onglet Poele is one of the best pan-seared US hanging beef tender I've tried!  We had it cooked medium and it was cooked precisely so.  It was also served with thick potato fries and romaine salad.

Fish

♥ Asian Sea Bass a la Plancha (610 php)

The Asian Sea Bass a la Plancha is another hit among us!  The mix match of flavor and texture is light but outstanding.


Dessert

♥ Kougn Amann au Cinnamon (330 php)

For dessert, we had the Kougn Amann au Cinnamon which is aboslutely the best Kouign Amann in the Metro!  We indulged ourselves over this sweet laminted pastry is covered in cinammon sugar and topped with vanilla ice cream.


Coffee

♥ Decaffeinated Coffee Lavazza (120 php)

It's my first time to be acquianted with Lavazza, an Italian espresso coffee brand.  Well, I loved it!  The Decaffeinated Coffee Lavazza was a very soothing after-dinner coffee.

Delicatssen

♥ Vanilla Canelle (20 php) and ♥ Madeleine (15 php/each)

We really bought some Vanilla Canelle and Madeleine for take home snacks because they were so tiny and cute.  But upon tasting them, I found them to be the most ist and soft ones I've ever tried.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Thanks to Brasserie Cicou, I've appreciated French cuisine like never before.  The service is excellent.  The food quality is definitely worth of the price you pay for. 

Ever since the news broke last year that Tim Ho Wan, Hongkong's Michelin-Starred Restaurant will be opening at SM Mega Fashion Hall, practically everyone I know got excited about it.

It's not as large as I thought but they have tables outside to cater to more diners.  And, there is are seating areas for waiting customers too.

They currently have ten Hongkong Chefs during the opening phase.  And, six will stay on as permanent chefs to assure the same quality as its other counterparts.  They import everything from the sauces to the dimsum skin. 

Food

Big 4 Heavenly Kings

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

I advise that you adopt a no sharing policy with the Baked Buns with Pork BBQ!  I initially expected it to be similar to the Baked Bo Lo Bbq Pork Bun of Crystal Jade but it wasn't.  It was more crumby than soft and chewy. 
 

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

The 145 php price for 3 pcs. of Baked Buns with Pork BBQ is quite a steal!

♥ Baked Buns with Pork BBQ (145 php/3 pcs.)

The crust of the Baked Buns with Pork BBQ is so deliciously crumbly that it collapses delicately on your mouth with every bite.  Best eaten with your hands just like what I did. =)

Steamed

Prawn Dumpling (160 php)

The Prawn Dumpling is also known as the hakaw or my most favorite dimsum!  This is the best I've tried so far because of the perfect dimsum shell.

♥ Steam Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp (120 php)

The Steam Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp is an upgraded version of the Prawn Dumpling which spinach and crunchy turnips.


Rice

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

The Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf is very fragrant.  We could smell it even before opening.
 

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

Upon opening, it had stick rice with lots of toppings inside: mushroom, pork and blood sausage.

♥ Glutinous Rice and Lotus Leaf (190 php)

Drinks

Cold Barley Water (50 php)

I had Cold Barley Water for drinks which was a refreshingly sweet complement for the dishes I had.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I'm very happy that we now have Tim Ho Wan here in Manila.  The quality is superb and the pricing is reasonable.  I'll surely come back to try more of their offerings.  I can't wait for the SM Mall of Asia and glorietta branches to open.