Ever since I became a holder of the The Bistro Group Premiere Card, I try to frequent The Bistro Group restaurants to maximize its perks.  Watami has always been my favorite about their concepts.  I've been visited Watami several times within a span of a year since its opening.  When I heard that it introduced new lunch sets, I just couldn't pass up the chance to check it out too.

My last lunch at Watami was at its Glorietta 1 branch.  It's actually my second time to dine there.  It's not as spacious as the SM Mall of Asia branch which I've shared before, but the interiors are substantially the same.

Food

Salad

♥ Watami Salad (350 php)

I've said this before and I'll say it again.  The Watami Salad is one of the best salads I've tried and I've never pass up a chance to order this when dining at Watami.


Sashimi

♥ Salmon Sashimi (225 php)

♥ Scallop Sashimi (395 php)

Having tried all their Sashimi variants, I have now settled for my favorites which is the Salmon Sashimi and
Scallop Sashimi.  I'm really glad to share that they've consistently served them with the freshest quality.

Tempura 

Assorted Tempura (295 php)

The Assorted Tempura has a generous serving of four pieces Ebi Tempura and an assortment of vegetables.  The quality of the batter and the prawns are better than average.  

Skewers

♥ Pork & Enoki Mushroom Skewers (135 php)

I've also ordered again the Pork & Enoki Mushroom Skewers which is my top pick among the other Skewers selection.

Ramen

Tokyo-Style Ramen in Shoyu Flavored Soup (380 php)

During my previous visits, I've always passed out the chance to try their Ramen.  So this time I was determined to try one.  I initially wanted to try the Watami Ramen but unfortunately it was not available so I settled for the Tokyo-Style Ramen in Shoyu Flavored Soup.  It had a very light soy based soup which was pleasant to sip.  But, the texture of the noodle fall short of my expectation especially for its price which is the same with other famous ramen shops. 

Lunch Sets

♥ Chicken Cutlet with Scrambled Egg Sauce with Rice (375 php)

I was really impressed with the Chicken Cutlet with Scrambled Egg Sauce with Rice before so I ordered this as a Lunch Set.  I noticed that when you order this as Tokyo Don (topping with rice), it is priced at 295 php.  But, as Lunch Set, it comes with a salad and miso soup for an addition of 85 php.  I guess with the Lunch Set, you now have the option to decide the set up you want with this delicious dish.

♥ Roasted Mackarel with Rice (355 php)

I think the Roasted Mackarel with Rice is the best option among the Lunch Sets.  If you order this ala carte, it is at a bigger portion but priced at 425 php.  I assure you that the serving size of this lunch set is more than satisfying for a solo eater.  The Roasted Mackerel is cooked flavorful and juicy too!

♥ Black Pepper Beef with Rice in Stone Pot Set (275 php)

The Black Pepper Beef with Rice in Stone Pot is a must order at Watami!  Whoever I'm with, I always recommend them to try this.  Up to this day, it has never failed to impress everyone.  

Beef Sukiyki Rice in Stone Pot Set (395 php)

We were quite surprised with the Beef Sukiyki Rice in Stone Pot because it was dry unlike the one in the ala carte section.  It was not as generous too in terms of ingredients so it was a bit lacking in taste and overall impact so for this item, I'd rather order it ala carte style.



Dessert
Out of all my attempts to order the complete Maccha Collection, this is the only time the three items were all available so I ceased the chance to try and compare them with each other.

♥ Maccha Tiramisu (155 php)

I really loved their Maccha Tiramisu.  It's the best among the Maccha Collection if only they could consistently serve this in its chilled condition.  I'm quite disappointed that this is always either unavailable or if it was, it was served with a gooey consistently.  I also noticed that this last one had lesser maccha powder on top.  


Update (December 7, 2013): The Maccha Tiramisu is now consistently chilled based on my last two visits. =)

Maccha Ice Cream with Anmistu Dumplings (135 php)

The Maccha Ice Cream with Anmistu Dumpling is good because the Anmistu Dumplings were fun to eat with the red beans and the maccha ice cream.  But, I'd definitely choose the Maccha Tiramisu over this.

Maccha Parfait (195 php)

The Maccha Parfait is similar to the Maccha Ice Cream with Anmistu Dumplings with the addition of maccha syrup and corn flakes.  Eat this like the halo-halo and you'll love the play of textures complemented by the strong maccha taste.

Other Bistro Group Restaurant Reviews
Bulgogi Brothers
Italianni's Restaurant
Krazy Garlic
Ma Maison (closed)
Modern Shanghai
SikLab Filipino Favorites
Tonkatsu by Terazawa
Village Tavern
Watami 1

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Watami is still the best Bistro Group concept for me.  I really enjoy the quality for the price value.  However, I still believe that they need to work on improving their service.  No doubt I'm expecting that on my return.  And, I'm still craving for the Maccha Tiramisu as I'm writing this.  Hope they do something about that too.  I really like the Lunch Set idea.  Now, diners like me can choose the set up of their meals especially when they want to eat on solo serving and avail of some savings.   

This might sound quite peculiar but my mom, being born under the year of the monkey, is fond of cute monkeys.  I guess our home being filled with our cute monkey items we've given her over the years is enough proof.  So when we spotted Tea Monkey Tamayaki & Tea with a cute monkey logo, as expected, we quickly parked and checked it out.

Tea Monkey Tamayaki & Tea at Wilson is found just below Carol's Texan 5.The place is modern and cozy as expected from a typical milk tea store.  But, this one has monkeys everywhere from its glass window to its walls which makes it more fun and bright.

On both branches:, we noticed that the staffs are very friendly.  I recall on our first visit at the Adriatico Branch, they even allowed us to sample before ordering so we'd know the default intensity of their tea bases. 

Unlike other milk tea brands, Tea Monkey Tamayaki & Tea uses paper cups.  On the plus side, it is environmental friendly.  While on the other side, you can't really see what's in it so I was a bit frustrated not knowing if there's still a lot of adzuki beans and pearls down there.  Moreover, the adzuki beans are sticking to the side of a cup making it difficult to sip with the straw.  They also offer their drinks in two sizes: Regular and Large.  And, you can choose the sweetness level. 

Drinks

Milk Tea
The Roasted Milk Tea with Peals L (100 php) was good but it didn't stand out in terms of flavor.  I was yearning for a more powerful roasted taste.  But, I liked their pearls with excellent chewiness.

The ♥ Matcha Milk Tea with Adzuki Beans L (115 php) is great!  It's creamy and aromatic but not too thick so its still refreshing.  The amount of adzuki beans is sufficient too.

Rock Salt & Cheese
The ♥ Green Tea L (100 php) is the best drink I've tried at Tea Monkey Tamayaki & Tea yet.  The green tea is refreshing with a flowery after-taste just the way I like it.  The rock salt & cheese heightens the flavors more giving it a great texture too.


Food

Tamayaki

♥ King Kong (110 php)

Their Tamayaki comes in an adorable in a cute box still with a monkey logo.  An order always comes with six Tamayaki balls: 2 Akegai, 2 Ebi and 2 Tako.  But, they have various topping options. 

♥ King Kong (110 php)

The King Kong named after the king of the jungle is the option with the complete toppings.  It is topped with Japanese Mayonnaise, Tamayaki Sauce, Roasted Nori, Katsuboshi, Fresh Nori, Tobiko and Kodako.  I really liked their tender and moist Tamayaki.  It was quite tasty too.  They also don't scrimp on the ingredients especially the Tako!  How I wish I could just order the Tako though cause the Akegai and Ebi is really pale in comparison to it. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Tea Monkey Tamayaki & Tea is another great place to drop by for tea and tamayaki.  The price range of the tea is at par with famous brands but quality-wise, I'd say its worth it.  There's not much tamayaki places in the Metro, I'd definitely add this to my list. 

One fine summer afternoon, my friend Sumi and I had a relaxing lunch date at Miso-Ten Robinsons Magnolia which is actually a short cut for their specialty dishes.  Miso is a short cut for their Miso Ramen and Ten is a short cut for Tendon which means tempura rice bowl.

As its name Miso Ten hints, it is a casual Japanese restaurant that highlights its ramen and tempura offerings.  It is under the Ifoods Inc. who runs Peri-Peri Chicken, Stackers,Parmigiano, Kogi Bulgogi and Tokyo Cafe. 

Its woody interiors offers a simplistic and neutral feel designed for a eat and go scenario.  Their location and pricing, makes them a viable option for employees and students.  They have an indoor and al fresco dining option.  The indoor is quite limited in terms of seating capacity but its very spacious so each table is afforded some privacy. 

Food

Salad

♥ Mango Kani Salad (150 php)

Their Mango Kani Salad is overloaded with mango cubes, kani and cucumber strips.  I could tell by the play of texture that every ingredients is at their best condition. 

Ala Carte

Tempura (380 php/5 pcs.)

Who could resist ever Tempura?  I know I can't.  I just love the feeling of biting into its extra crispy batter coating that unveils the soft tiger prawns.  Miso-Ten's tempura sauce is thick and sweet which amplifies the flavor of the tempura making it a perfect viand for a rice bowl.

Gyoza (140 php)

The Gyoza reminded me of the Chinese dumplings because it as steamed until the skin is wet and soft and it made us of kuchay (chinese chives) rather than the traditional Napa cabbage.  Although I prefer my pan-fried Gyoza to have some crunchiness, I still enjoyed this for its taste and texture.


Ramen
The standard price of their standard ramen with complete toppings and sauces excluding extras is 275 php.  You can customize your ramen by ticking the boxes of their order form.

TIP: If you're unsure whether you'll like the other components, you can request to have them served separately.

Sesame Miso with Extra Roast Pork Topping (275 php + 35 php)

The Sesame Miso has a thick and rich base.  A few sips of this and you'll be able to detect the evidently rich sesame paste.  Since Sumi and I loved the fragrant flavor of roasted sesame, we really enjoyed this but found it difficult to finish.  The eggs were able to meet my expectations since it was cooked runny. 
 

♥ Tonkotsu (275 php)

I really wanted to try the Tan Tan Men but it was not available during our visit so I chose the Tonkotsu instead.  The broth was creamy and pleasantly flavorful so we slurped it until the last drop.  The Chasyu Pork was so soft, the you could feel the fatty part melt and explode with its savory flavors as it touches your tongue.  Everything would have been perfect for me except that they use the usual egg noodles.  But, for the price, I guess its quite understandable.

Black Garlic

We had the Black Garlic served separately so we can try to match it with our two ramen orders.  We discovered that it went well with the Tonkotsu but not so with the already strong and flavorful Sesame Miso.

Ramen Extra

♥ Roast Chicken (35 php)

Although I'd still go for the Chasyu Pork, the Roast Chicken is also a great alternative if you're opting for a leaner meat.  The sauce and skin is so tasty and the chicken meat is tender.  Or better yet, you can order this as extra like we did so you can have both. =)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
The concept of Miso-Ten focusing on ramen and tempura which are popular Japanese favorites is brilliant.  I particularly like the customizable ramen option.  But, on my next visit, I'll probably try the Tan Tan Mien which I noticed is a fix deal.  I also find their pricing budget-friendly which makes it a great option when craving for Japanese fare.

Tsinoy Foodies Other Ramen House/Shop Reviews
Akira Restaurant 
Curry Bee Japanese Curry Shop
Hanamaruken Ramen 花丸轩  
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen
Kitchitora 1 | Kitchitora 2
Kokoro Ramenya
Menya Genki Tonkotsu Ramen
Miso-Ten
Mitsuyado Sei-Men
Moshi Koshi 1 | Moshi Koshi 2
Rai-Rai Ken Ramen House
Ramen Bar
Ramen Cool
Ramen Ichiban-Kan
Ramen Nagi
Ramen X (Closed)
Ramen Yushoken
Tampopo たんぽぽ Philippines
Ukkokei Ramen Ron
Wrong Ramen

My family frequently visit food expos and exhibitions but it was only this year that we found out about the International Food Exhibition or IFEX which was mentioned by a friend.  IFEX 2013 is scheduled on May 16-19, 2013 so we went on the last day.


We were quite surprised that it is such a big exhibition because the ticket price is only 50 php.

The whole exhibition took up two floors of the SMX convention center.

Aside from the map as an aid, it was very organized because the exhibitors are arrange alphabetically.

I also liked that it had spacious aisle and not cramped even with many visitors.

The exhibitors are also classified by the countries of origin of their products.


Our favorite is the Japan section.  Well, we also buy Taiwan products but none of them showed up.

The Department of Agriculture is also an active participant.

Aside from booths, there are cute stuff to see like this. =)

Pardon my ignorance but this is also my first time to view a whole Yellow Fin Tuna.
There were also cooking lessons, demos and raffle giveaways.

Aside from ingredients, there's cooked meals caters by Via Mare.

For the religious, there is a prayer room too!  I'm impressed that the organizers thought of everything for the convenience of participants and visitors alike.

This is what we got from IFEX 2013.  I can't wait till next year. =)

Being adventurous by nature, I usually go for foreign cuisine to try something new.  Yet, there are some days when I yearn for familiar Filipino dishes that are close to or even better than those we have at home.   Thus, one random night, I tried 1521 Fifteen Twenty-One to rediscover Filipino Cuisine at Burgos Circle Forbes Town Center.

It had a creative logo wherein the 1521 appears like a cup between a spoon and fork.  I presume it is named after one of the most important year in Philippine history where Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines.



Upon entering, I felt like being in an old Spanish home.  It had wood furnished fixtures with elegant wood carvings.  The paintings on its walls reflect the culture and history of the Philippines.  It occupies two floors so we were led to the upper floor which had more tables. 

Each dark wooden table has dinner wares set up with a vase and candle light.  I find the table setting appropriate as it adds charm to the nostalgic air that the place exudes. 

Food
Glancing at the menu, I can't help but smile at the creative play of words in the names of the dishes.  I thought it was an excellent display of how fun-loving Filipinos are.  As I read the menu, I tried to unboggle and figure out what it purports to be.  I'm not easy to catch up on those stuff so maybe you can help me out.

Mga Pamutat o Pamukaw-Gana (Our Appetizer)

♥ Dinamitang Keso (160 php)

The Dinamitang Keso has a double meaning.  It could be mean dynamite cheese or clothed cheese.  It is the classic cheese sticks with green chili.  What makes this special is their mango-wasabi dip that's sweet and sour with a subtle spicy kick.  As a cheese lover, I found this to be irresistible!

♥ Swak na Swak Chicharon Bulaklak (225 php)

I've always enjoyed the normal fried chicharon bulaklak because I prsonally prefer pork intestines over pork skin.  The Swak na Swak Chicharon Bulaklak which is an upgraded version with its rich taste and served with kamias and sinamak dip makes it a really "swak na swak" appetizer.

Pinalutik na Inantala (280 php)

 The Pinalutik na Inantala is huge chunks of super crunchy pork crackling from Nueva Ecija served with greens and three dip choices: Burong Tilapia, Sinamak and Pickled Kamias.  I loved the unique taste of buro so I devoured this with the Burong Tilapia.
 
Ensaladang Pampaseksi o Pampagana (Our Signature Fresh Salads)

♥ Ka-Musta-Cat Salad (235 php)

The Ka-Musta-Cat Salad is not your usual salad.  It has shredded mustasa leaves, sliced kamias, diced tomatoes and onions, catfish bits, green mango strips, cilantro with their special Thai-inspired dressing.  My dining companions had nothing but raves and compliments over this salad. 

Pork Entrees

Bonggang Bonggang Binagoongan (295 php)

I expect a binagoongan to be dominantly salty and that's it.  But the Bonggang Bonggang Binagoongan had a savory shrimp paste countered with the tanginess of the green mango strips.  The pork is very crunchy too.  I could here the crackles popping from my mouth as I bit this to pieces.

Vegetable Entrees

Talong Mo Kay Tulfo (280 php)

The Talong Mo Kay Tulfo is our semi-healthy dish for the night.  I say its partially healthy because its tortang talong (eggplant cooked with egg) filled with sisig bits.  The addition of the sisig works because it adds chewiness and flavor. 

Beef Entrees

♥ Potchero ni Tangkeko (450 php) with Talong Ranger (40 php)

The Potchero ni Tangkeko has definitely lived up to its promise by bearing the chef's name on it.  The humongous slowly-cooked beef chunks in a pool of rich tomato sauce was so heavenly that this platter was quickly emptied.  This was suggested to be paired with the Talong Ranger.  As suggested, the mashed eggplant with fresh garlic in local vinegrette dressing brings forth a nice refreshing interval for the palate.


Seafood Entrees

Busog na Bangus (335 php)

The Busog na Bangus which meant stuffed bangus was not presented as I expected.  Well, unless it was so stuffed that it exloded and unleased all the ingredients: tomato, onions, green chillies and salted egg.  I appreciate the mixture of textures and flavors though especially with the taste yolk of the salted egg.  Yum!


Kanin-Get it!

Ifugao Steamed Rice (155 php/Salo-Salo)

I'm glad to know that the Ifugao Steamed Rice is the same with our very own Manila steamed rice at home. =p On a more serious note, next time, I'll just add for the Bagoong Rice or Garlic Rice.


Sweetika (Our signature desserts)

1521 Leche Flan (285 php/salo-salo)

Looks can be deceaving as the 1521 Leche Flan had a really smooth and creamy texture that massages the tongue in every spoonful.  On some parts, it has lemon rind shavings that counters the sweetness of caramel.
 

Nilasing na Saging (85 php)

The Nilasing na Saging is banana and preserved jackfruit flambe'd and served in sweet rum-mixed caramel sauce.  This is good but I don't think its best to order this with the 1521 Leche Flan because they're a bit similar.


Mga Pampalamig

Kinadkad na Melon (Pitcher) (169 php)

For refreshments, the Kinadkad na Melon is served in a pitcher and is good for up to 4 persons.

Mga Pampainit

Kapeng Kapow (75 php)

Nothing but a hot cup of Kapeng Kapow to end the meal.  For tea lovers, they have Taragon Tea too.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
1521 Fifteen Twenty-One is an excellent place to rediscover Filipino cuisine.  It's the kind place where you can bring your foreigner friends or relatives from abroad to appreciate Filipino dishes for the first time or again.  Although it comes with their own twist, the way they use our local ingredients really reflects the Filipino heritage as their dishes captivates our taste preference.  It feels like luto ni lola (grandmother's cooking) for every diner.  The atmosphere is so cozy and homey yet elegant in its classic aged way too.