Showing posts with label ceviche. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ceviche. Show all posts
Every time we pass by the Fort Bonifacio area, we couldn't help but notice the crowd Las Flores is drawing. That made us want to try it for quite some time so one evening, we just spontaneously gave it a go.
It's at One Mckinley Place same as Smoper Chicken and Toro Restaurant. It has a very bright and inviting facade. It is very attuned to its name "Las Flores" which means "the flowers". Upon reaching their door, we were quickly assisted and ushered to our table.
The interiors were very homey and cozy.
I love everything about the place: the plate, glass and wine displays, frames on the wall, mix match of cushioned furniture, lighted candles on every table and more.
As I've researched, this is owned by the pioneers of Barcino. Since we've had a pleasant experience with Barcino ever since, we had even higher hopes for this one.
Food
The Complimentary Bread Basket was served as soon as we ordered. Everything on it was warm and moist so we couldn't resist nibbling on them.
Soup/Sopa
We had our Sopa Del Dia split into two. It was a bit watery cream of asparagus. It was an okay starter just to have something warm for the tummy.
Cold Dishes
Ceviche has always been my kind of thing. But, it's my first time to try a Ceviche de Vieiras con Jamon Iberico which is a scallop ceviche with ham. This is by far the best one I've tried yet!
Okay, so I guess I'm into raw dishes in general cause I enjoy having carpaccio too. The usual carpaccio is for meat or fish so I was intrigue by the Carpaccio de Calabacin con Calabaza Asada y Salsa de Pimientos del Piquillo which is zucchini carpaccio stuffed with pumpkin cream and roasted red bell pepper sauce. It delivers a nice one of kind experience I'd recommend anybody to have. It's a bit pricey though. Maybe you're paying for the beautiful plating.
The Buñuelos de Bacalao con Salsa Romesco y Piñones are codfish fritters with romesco sauce and pine nuts. This is good but nothing extraordinary.
Fellow mushroom lovers should not deprive themselves of the Setas Bio en Tempura de Cerveza y Mayonesa de Soja and order it at once. On a more objective note, I enjoyed this simply because it is mushroom cooked in beer batter. Not much ingenuity was applied here.
Carnes y Pescados
The Pollo Asado A La Catalana which is roasted chicken with prunes, shrimp and apricots received a lot of praise that night. I personally enjoyed the fruity apricots sweet notes that matched the tender chicken well.
Rice/Arroces
This is one of the best Paella de Marisco or seafood paella I've ever had. Even Barcino's rendition is pale in comparison. The price is a steal too!
The Paella Negra con Sepia is also delicious but we preferred the Paella de Marisco over it.
I don't usually post the bill but this box is too cute not to be shared.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Las Flores is a good modern Spanish Catalan restaurant to try. We enjoyed our dining experience. For the food quality, ambiance and service, it's definitely worth the price paid for.
Food
 |
| Complimentary Bread Basket |
Soup/Sopa
 |
| Sopa Del Dia (Soup of the Day) (145 php) |
Cold Dishes
 |
| ♥ Ceviche de Vieiras con Jamon Iberico (350 php) |
 |
| ♥ Carpaccio de Calabacin con Calabaza Asada y Salsa de Pimientos del Piquillo (295 php) |
 |
| Buñuelos de Bacalao con Salsa Romesco y Piñones (395 php) |
 |
| Setas Bio en Tempura de Cerveza y Mayonesa de Soja (195 php) |
Carnes y Pescados
 |
| ♥ Pollo Asado A La Catalana (495 php) |
Rice/Arroces
 |
| ♥ Paella de Marisco (Seafood paella) (495 php) |
 |
| ♥ Paella Negra con Sepia (495 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Las Flores is a good modern Spanish Catalan restaurant to try. We enjoyed our dining experience. For the food quality, ambiance and service, it's definitely worth the price paid for.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Las Flores Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ | Salads 1 | Salads 2 | Cold Dishes 1 | Cold Dishes 2 | Hot Dishes 1 | Hot Dishes 2 | Carnes Y Pescados 1 | Carnes Y Pescados 2 | Sandwiches Mini | Rice | Soup | Desserts | |
| Taste | ★★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Las Flores | |
| Business Address | G/F One Mckinley Place, 25th St
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours | Lunch: 11am-2pm Dinner: 6pm-2am |
| Payment Options |  Cash |
| Service Charge | 10% |
| Budget/Person | 400-1,500 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
| Contact | (02) 552-2815 |
| Other | Facebook Fan Page |
It's been ages since my last Mexican meal. Its probably since there are only a few Mexican restaurants in the Metro and most of them are Tex-Mex. Achiote Tacqueria is a Mexican taco shop concept of Chef Robby Goco who runs the renowned Charlie's Grind & Grill and Cyma.
Achiote Tacqueria is named after the spice Achiote or Achuete in Filipino which is made from the red seeds of the annatto tree because its the only common spice between Mexico and the Philippines. Achiote Tacqueria is located at the outdoor area of Powerplant Mall. It has a casual cozy ambiance with well cushioned chairs that matched it wooden tables.
Food
Starter
The Chips N' Salsa are fresh-baked tortilla nachos with their salsa sauce. They were addictively crunchy and the salsa sauce was delightful too. You can tell that they made them from scratch and from the finest and freshest ingredients. The salsa is more than enough for me but you can request for an additional bowl for free.
Although the Chips N' Salsa is already good, I'd recommend the Achiote Nachos if you're dining with a group. It's their interpretation of how a wholesome Mexican nacho is supposed to be. I'd say its nacho chips with the works. It's got green onions, refried beans, pico de gallo, jalapeno pepper, sour cream, guacamole and cheese sauce.
The Ceviche Full is another sure shot crowd pleaser. You can select among these fresh seafood of your choice: shrimp, white snapper, mackerel, octopus and crab. It is marinated in lime and topped with jicama (a kind of Mexican yam or turnip), extra-virgin olive oil, spicy sauce and avocado. It's a Mexican or Coastal American way of doing our local kilawin. It's a superb mixture of flavors. The fresh seafood bits are delightfully chewy too.
Achiote Sizzle!
The Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga is a hefty appetizer. It is served with soft flour tortilla, pica de gallo, sour cream, roasted native pepper and black beans topped with queso cotija. I'm told that they only use of free range chicken.
To enjoy it, place everything on the soft tortilla wrap, roll and munch.
Soups and Salads
The Taqueria Salad is a plateful of fresh sliced romaine, arugula leaves, roasted poblano (mild chili pepper from Mexico), avocado, caramelized onions, queso cotija, cherry tomatoes, red raddish, crispy tortilla strips and cilantro lime dressing. The cilantro lime dressing is light and refreshing so it was able to bring out the best flavors of the quality ingredients.
The Warm Spinach Salad is the first warm salad I've ever tried. It felt like eating a vegetable dish. It is spinash topped with boiled egg, caramelized onions, shredded red raddish and queso cotija. The chorizo vinegrette was bold and savory that it was able to neutralize the rich leafy taste well.
Burrito
.jpg "achiote burritos")
The Burritos are huge so if its not your sole order, better to request them to slice it so you can share them. Achiote allows you to customize your Torta, Burrito, Taco ad Quezadilla according to your preference. For their Burrito, you can have it in four ways: House Burrito, Fajita Burrito, Burrito Bowl and Chimichangga. We choice the House Burrito.
Quesadillas
The Mushroom Quesadillas is a quesadilla filled with queso chihuahua, black beans, goat cheese, fajita veggies, salsa verde and my favorite sauteed wild mushrooms. Chewing on the rich wild mushroom bits were such a pleasure. It also comes with a smaller portion of the Achiote Taqueria Salad.
Achiote Tacos
The Achiote Tacos are double layered steamed cheese stuffed corn tacos with toppings. The cheese is what sticks the two corn tortillas together. An order contains 3 pieces.
The Short Ribs Barbacoa is topped with chili colorado, salsa verde, onions and cilantro.
The soft juicy ribs and chewiness of the cheesy steamed corn tortilla makes this a great snack.
The Fish Achiote taco
is new on the menu. Since I've not much of a meat eater, I enjoyed
this better. It has a beer-battered halibut, cabbage slaw, chiptotle
mayo and salsa. I'm quite a fan of beer-battered fish fillet too.
Dessert
The Chef Rob's Addiction is the reason why you should never judge a book by its cover. It may look plain, but a bite of this will get you hooked. It's a contrast of caramelized sweetness and slight saltiness. The filling is gooey and chewy while bottom is crunchy.
Margaritas
The Primo Blanco is a fresh margarita mix of Sauza Silver or Cuervo and Cointreu shaken and served on the rocks. It's recommended to drink this during the day. Compared to the Primo Reposado, its sweeter.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Achiote Tacqueria is a great place to dine with friends and family for a fun Mexican meal. Enjoy your tacos street-style and make it even better with their drinks. The price is a bit steep as expected from thee restaurants within the Powerplant Mall vicinity but portions are great for sharing.
Food
Starter
 |
| Chips N' Salsa (125 php) |
 |
| Achiote Nachos |
 |
| Ceviche Full (400 php) |
Achiote Sizzle!
 |
| Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga (215 php) |
.jpg "achiote sizzle chicken") |
| Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga (215 php) |
.jpg "achiote sizzle chicken") |
| Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga (215 php) |
Soups and Salads
 |
| ♥ Taqueria Salad (295 php) |
 |
| Warm Spinach Salad (295 php) |
Burrito
.jpg "achiote burritos")
 |
| Chicken House Burrito (325 php) |
 |
| ♥ Barbacoa (Braised Beef) House Burrito (325 php) |
 |
| ♥ Mushroom Quesadillas (360 php) |
The Mushroom Quesadillas is a quesadilla filled with queso chihuahua, black beans, goat cheese, fajita veggies, salsa verde and my favorite sauteed wild mushrooms. Chewing on the rich wild mushroom bits were such a pleasure. It also comes with a smaller portion of the Achiote Taqueria Salad.
Achiote Tacos
The Achiote Tacos are double layered steamed cheese stuffed corn tacos with toppings. The cheese is what sticks the two corn tortillas together. An order contains 3 pieces.
.jpg "achiote tacos") |
| ♥ Short Ribs Barbacoa (355 php) |
.jpg "achiote tacos") |
| Short Ribs Barbacoa (355 php) |
 |
| ♥ Fish (355 php) |
.jpg "achiote tacos fish") |
| Fish (355 php) |
Dessert
 |
| ♥ Chef Rob's Addiction (75 php) |
Margaritas
 |
| Primo Blanco (320 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Achiote Tacqueria is a great place to dine with friends and family for a fun Mexican meal. Enjoy your tacos street-style and make it even better with their drinks. The price is a bit steep as expected from thee restaurants within the Powerplant Mall vicinity but portions are great for sharing.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Achiote Tacqueria Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★ | Menu 1 | Menu 2 | Drinks | Make Your Own |
| Taste | ★★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Achiote Tacqueria | |
| Business Address | G/F Rockwell Powerplant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell Center Makati, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours | Mon-Thurs: 11am-11pm Fri, Sat, Sun: 11am-1am |
| Payment Options | Cash |
| Service Charge | |
| Budget/Person | 350-800 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
| Contact | (02) 822-0273 |
| Other | Facebook Fan Page |
We initially intended to go Do-It-Yourself and Backpackers Style just for a little adventure during our North Trip but since my local relatives invited us, we couldn't refuse and decided to join them on our last days. My aunts and uncles brought us to Kahuna Breach Resort and Spa for a lunch at Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant in San Juan, La Union.
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
Although it was a hot summer day during our visit, walking from the parking area to Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant offered a beautiful scenic view which got me skeptic.
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
It also had an LCD TV, a billiard table and a view of the swimming pool which is exclusive for their resort guests.
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
.jpg "big kahuna bar and restaurant")
Food
Tapas Menu/Appetizers
 |
| ♥ Calamari (275 php) |
Sandwiches
 |
| Kahuna Clubhouse (275 php) |
Everyday Combo Meals
 |
| Combo 3 (good for 4-6 person) (1,200 php) |
Entrees
 |
| ♥ Blue Marlin (In Season) (350 php) |
Beverages
.jpg "buko juice") |
| Fresh Buko Juice (75 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant offers a nice ambiance with a beautiful beach view. But, I find the hefty price not worth spending for the food quality. We were so glad that we didn't pay for the food otherwise this would have been a regrettable expense that will tremendously affect our humble backpackers budget. On the other hand, if you prefer to dine and relax without minding the price, this is a good choice. This is my aunt's favorite restaurant in La Union.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★ | Breakfast | Tapas Menu and Appetizers | Light Meals and Sandwiches | Entrees | Asian and Rice Bowl | Pasta, Kids, Side Orders | Combo Meals | Coffee and Desserts | Beverages | Beverages 2 | |
| Taste | ★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant | |
| Business Address | National Highway Brgy. Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union, Philippines |
| Business Hours | 8am-4am |
| Payment Options | Cash |
| Service Charge | 5% |
| Budget/Person | 250-600 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Unlocked Foursquare Perks | None |
| Contact | (72) 607-1040 |
| Other | Website |
Diamond Hotel celebrates a grand Filipino Food Festival at Corniche (see previous entry) through its Culinaria Capampangan prepared by celebrity Chef Sau Del Rosario of Villa Cafe. Chef Sau is also the chef consultant of Toro Restaurant.
Genuine flavors of Pampanga, the culinary capital of the Philippines, will be offered for their lunch and dinner buffet from May 10 to 19, 2012. To add more excitement, you also get a chance to win round trip airline tickets for two to Bohol with accommodations. The Culinaria Capmpangan Food Festival is in partnership with Philippine Airlines and Crossover 105.1 and Avis Rent-A-Car.
_640x427.jpg "corniche diamond hotel")
Culinaria Capampangan by Chef Sau
Corniche offers the same wide spread of buffet. But in addition, you can find labels indicating the Culinaria Capampangan dishes. Here are some of the offerings that I got to try. =D
 |
| Ceviche with Pomelo |
 |
| Adobo, Quesong Puti and Salted Egg |
 |
| Pancit Luglug with Condiments |
 |
| Whole Maya Maya Mayonesa |
 |
| US Sirloin Bistek with Shitake Confits |
 |
| Crispy Pata Kare-Kare with Steamed Local Vegetables |
 |
| Whole Baby Lechon with Stuffed Curried Rice (Biringhe) |
 |
| Pork Sisig, Foie Gras & Organic Egg |
 |
| Lamb Chops Kaldereta, Local Vegetable Ratatouille |
 |
| Ox-Tongue Cream of Mushrooms and Corn |
 |
| Pinakbet with Shrimp and Crispy Pata |
 |
| Aligue Fried Rice |
 |
| Tiboktibok, Brazo de Maiz, Halaya Ube, Pina and Mango and Halo Halo (clockwise from back left) |
 |
| Other Desserts |
This isn't part of the Culinaria Capampangan but they were just so irresistible. Don't ever miss the gelato! We tried all flavors and we loved them all. =D
 |
| What I Had |
Their salmon sashimi, maki, baked oysters and peking duck never fails to impress me.
To join the celebration, I took all the Culinaria Capampangan dishes I could find:
- Chicken Galatina Roulade - moist, tender and flavorful just how I prefer it
- Cerviche with Pomelo - our group loved this
- Fried Catfish Fillet with Buru (Fermented Rice) and Vegetables - a unique dish to try
- Adobo, Quesong Puti and Salted Egg - thin crust pizza with the right saltiness
- Corn Soup with Crabmeat - different from others I've tried
- Whole Baby Lechon with Stuff Curried Rice (Biringhe) - succulent meat and delicious curry
- Pork Sisig, Foie Gras & Organic Egg - most expensive sisig dish I've tried
- Pancit Luglug with Condiments - always something enjoyable to eat
- Lamb Chops Kalereta, Local Vegetable Ratatouille - delicious and tender lamb shanks
- Ox-Tongue Cream of Mushroom and Corn - my favorite for the night!
- Steamed Lapu-lapu with Ginger Soya Sesame Sauce - cooked perfectly with delicious sauce
- US Sirloin Bistek with Shitake Confits - tender meaty sirloin with tasty shitake mushrooms
- Crispy Kare-Kare with Steamed Local Vegetables - great-tasting with the superb bagoong
- Aligue Fried Rice - reminds me of Thai Bagoong rice but on the sweet side
- Brazo de Maiz - corn with some sort of root crop topped with meringue
- Halaya Ube, Pina and Mango - soft and smooth topped with pina, mango and cheese
- Tiboktibok - light and refrshing Carabao milk pudding
As you can see, every dish I tried were delightful. My companions and I surrendered to the wide spread buffet with great satisfaction so try Culinaria Capmpangan while you can.
| CulinariaCapampangan at Corniche Diamond Hotel | |
| Business Address | Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street Manila, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours |
Lunch: 11am-3pm
Dinner: 6pm-11pm
|
| Payment Options | Cash |
| Service Charge | |
| Budget/Person | 1,888++ |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Contact |
(02) 528-3000
|
| Promo Period | Email: bizcenter@diamondhotel.com Facebook Fan Page | Website |
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