Bacolod Chicken Inasal

We were in Metrowalk to go to a bazaar one weekend. But since we haven't had lunch yet when we arrived there, we decided to eat first. We settled for Bacolod Chicken Inasal since it was one of the few restaurants that was open early, and had air-conditioning.

We're big Mang Inasal fans 'cause we're fastfood dorks that way, haha. We know that the inasal from Mang Inasal is a little way off from the authentic ones, so eating here at Bacolod Chicken Inasal provided us a good comparison of fast food inasal and authentic (or so they say) inasal.

Bacolod Chicken Inasal's walls are plastered with Bacolod's Masskara festival. Having the dominant color yellow, it brings out a certain cheery vibe to the whole place.

We ordered the following:

Petso and Paa. 99.50php each.

Kim's first reaction was, "where's the chicken oil?" Haha. We have gotten so used to Mang Inasal's chicken oil that we assumed that it's a standard for eating inasal. We found Bacolod Chicken's version of inasal a little too dry. It tasted good, but not as flavorful as we expected it to be.

Sizzling Gambas. 197php.

The gambas had a nice sweet and spicy flavor to it. Really great with a spoonful of rice.

We plan on going to Bacolod soon, and we hope that the inasal there is better than what we had at Bacolod Chicken Inasal. It's not that it was a bad meal, we just expected something more. Overall, the food was okay and the price was okay. Service was great, though.

Bacolod Chicken Inasal
Metrowalk Commercial Complex
Meralco Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast

We just finished walking around the massive grounds of a carshow for the last 2 hours, and we are very tired and hungry. Naturally, same as everyone, we wanted some comfort food. Coming from the Manila International Autoshow held in the World Trade Center in Pasay, we traveled to Kapitolyo, Pasig just to have some breakfast grub which to us is one of our comfort foods.

Kapitolyo has become a foodie hub in the past few years. But one of the newest kids on its block(s), is Kanto Freestyle Breakfast. While not a new establishment per se, this is Kanto's newest branch. We have eaten at the Libis branch before, but this is our first time here.

Kanto serves breakfast food (duh).. but with a twist. I've heard someone describe their food as gourmet carinderia. Calling it gourmet might be pushing it a bit, but this is certainly not your ordinary carinderia fare either. For starters, I'm sure there's no other roadside eatery that puts tomato pesto as a side to their rice meals. Moreover, they plate the food. Sure you are having a simple tapsilog meal but it doesn't hurt that it looks just as nicely as it tastes right? The price might not be as cheap as Manang's little hole in the wall down the road, but with most meals pegged at under a hundred bucks it's still cheaper than going to a fast food chain.

We ordered the following:

Kim got the Breaded Pork Chop.

The breading wasn't as crispy as Kim would've liked, but it tasted good nonetheless. It came with a sweet/sour sauce, but it really should be paired with Mang Tomas which is what Kim did.

I got the Crispy Pork Belly.

This was just heaven in a plate. Crispy, crunchy and juicy. Perfectly fried pork belly that really went well paired with Mang Tomas and steamed rice.

For dessert, we shared an order of the Deep Fried Oreos.

Nothing surprising, as we already have had this previously and also know how to make this at home. But it's still a great dessert, especially when consumed while it's still hot and the insides still gooey.

Breakfast food is nothing fancy, but it doesn't need to be plain either. For those looking for some comfort food, trek on to Eastwood, Kapitolyo or Mandaluyong to have a first hand taste of Kanto's gourmet carinderia. They serve more than your average breakfast food, and I'm sure there's something for everyone in their menu.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast
1st Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
https://www.facebook.com/kantofreestylebreakfast

Green ATS

This will be our first post in a while since I dislocated my shoulder last December.

We celebrated Valentine's in Tagaytay and we stayed at the T House. But that will be for another post, as this post will be about our post Valentine's lunch last Saturday at Green ATS, also in Tagaytay.

*Some of the pictures are in night time (during our first visit) because Kim forgot to take some pictures in our recent visit because as usual her hunger got in the way. :/

View from our seats

There are a lot of places in Tagaytay that serves bulalo, some on the affordable side and some on the higher end of the price spectrum. Green ATS falls under the former.  Green ATS also is a little further than most of the restaurants in Tagaytay. So, why travel further just for some bulalo which can be found in other restaurants too? Simple. Bulalo with Fillings.

Bulalo with what? Bulalo with Fillings. 470php.

This is Green ATS specialty and take on the popular beef soup that Pinoys love to sip on during cold weather. They still have the normal bulalo on their menu, but when you dine here, you have to try this! We promise, you won't regret it.  Well, your heart probably won't but hey we're only young once! So what's so different with this bulalo? For starters, it has "fillings." There's chopped up greens, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms with it. Okay, so it might have a little extra to it other than the normal lettuce but what makes it really special is that the beef shank is deep fried! Yes deep fried! So this makes a little more deadlier than your normal garden variety bulalo but also makes it that much more special. The deep fried shank and it's fillings are served separately from the broth. The beef was so tender that it almost melts in your mouth! It is also seasoned perfectly. The broth was very flavorful since the beef shank was cooked in it until the fat has melted into it. And of course the bone marrow! No bulalo would be complete without bone marrow. It's sinful but it's also the single most flavorful and richest part of this dish. Best to eat it with rice while the soup is still piping hot.

We also ordered Crispy Tawilis. 150php.

Tawilis is a freshwater fish native to the Taal Lake. They are small but they pack flavor. The saltiness of it is a perfect complement to the richness of the bulalo. It also can be perfectly eaten on its own, together with steamed rice and dipped in white vinegar.

Green ATS provides a great view of the Taal Lake, and also very good food at affordable prices. It might be a little further down the road than most restaurants, but since you've already made the trip to Tagaytay what's a few more kilometers?

Green ATS
Tagaytay - Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay City
(It is after Taal Vista and right before Breakfast at Antonio's.)

Boracay Trip

Kim and I went on vacation in Boracay last September. I don't know why but we haven't gotten around to sharing some of the good eats we had in the island. So we're doing that in this post. Nothing in depth, just a quick description of each dish and food spot we decided to show you (we're not posting everything, just the ones that caught our fancy).

We arrived at around lunch time and our room in Nigi Nigi Too in Station 1 wasn't ready yet because it was still early for check- in. Rather than wait to be checked in, we just left our bags with the front desk and walked over to Station 2 to grab lunch. We decided on eating at Titos (yes, Titos and not Tito's) which is just a few steps away from D'Mall.

 

We were really hungry since we had a very early breakfast. We usually take our time in scanning through the menu of every restaturant but this time we ordered the first menu items that caught our fancy.

Sugpo sa Aligue.

Kim likes shrimp, so she ordered this. This looked like a winner based on the menu's picture and description. Who wouldn't be excited for some good sized Tiger Prawns in crab fat? In reality, it only tasted okay. It seemed like it lacked a little something, like that finishing touch to make this a really great dish.

Adobo with Kesong Puti.

We ordered this because we love trying out new food. This is the first time we ever heard of kesong puti being added to adobo, so we were really excited to see how it would taste. The kesong puti added a subtle saltiness to the adobo and it also had  a nice soft texture that went well with the pork.

Boracay Rice.

This is their version of the fried rice. It is mixed with Chorizo and beautifully topped with scrambled egg. This can actually be a meal in itself since it was really packed with the chorizo.

The price in Titos is not for those looking for some cheap eats in Boracay but I think it's more than justified. The food is great (especially the presentation!) and the servers are attentive and friendly. They place is also very nice and relaxing.

   

Titos Resto and Grill

Station 2 Beachfront
https://www.facebook.com/Titos.RestoGrill

After lunch, we walked back to Nigi Nigi Too. They have some of the best staff we have ever met! Always very attentive to your needs, and always cheerful to greet you when you pass by them! Anyway, we checked in and settled into our room then changed clothes to hit the waters afterwards.

Thank God the weather cooperated and we had a sunny day at the beach! But since it was well into monsoon season, the waves were pretty gnarly out there. So after about an hour of battling it, we went back to the resort to enjoy a well deserved meryenda.

We shared a meal of Nigi Nigi's famous burger which is supposedly the best in the island.

The meal came with onion rings, potato wedges, 2 smalls watermelon slices, a drink (we got beer) and of course their burger! The burger was packed! I'd say it's a good 1/3 pount patty topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles. The patty was really juicy and flavorful that there was really no need to add condiments to it.

We woke up next day to a very heart breakfast from the resort. It wasn't a buffet breakfast, but you can get anything from the menu provided it is worth 300php (per head). Anything in excess of that, you would need to pay. But almost all of the breakfast fare is under 300 so it really wasn't a problem ordering.

Kim ordered Tapsilog.

All of their breakfast meals came with unlimited eggs. Kim just ordered a scrambled egg to go with her meal. The tapa itself was just right. It was cooked well. The tapsilog also came with a drink -- Kim ordered iced tea.

I ordered the Longsilog.

I took advantage of the unlimited eggs and had 3 sunny side up with my meal. It was definitely a hefty meal to start the day with!

Nigi Nigi Too
Station 1 Beachfront
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nigi-Nigi-Too-Beach-Resort/106020676130897

After breakfast, we rode on ATV and walked up the Mt. Luho viewpoint which had a great view of the whole island. We also went around D'Mall and a few of the shops around it to check out if we can take home anything for our family.

For lunch, we went to Aria. I know there's already an Aria in BHS, but we just had to dine in the original one. We ordered the following to share:

Aglio Oglio

This simple oil based pasta always hits the right spot. I haven't had any bad experiences ordering this from any restaurant, maybe because it is so simple to make. Simple it maybe, but it's still a really good dish.

Costata di Manzo

This was a grilled ribeye steak, and came with a side of some veggies and potato wedges.We had it done medium well. It didn't seem like much when served, but it was really filling! Good thing I didn't order another meal since this was more than enough already.

Aria
D'Mall, Station 2 Beachfront
https://www.facebook.com/AriaBoracay

Of course no Boracay trip would be complete without eating those side street cart delicacies known as chori burger. Kim liked it so much that she had a couple of them just by hersefl! We also ordered some isaw, barbecue and tenga to go with it. Sarap!

Boracay might be known for their powder perfect beaches and clear waters, but this island also houses a lot of great restaurants and food joints. I'm everyone has their favorite when they go here, but each visit also entails the chance to try something new and different.

KKK Pinoy Food Revolution

September 7, 2013. Saturday.

It was a gloomy and drizzling Saturday and we were already both very hungry. So we decided that we would eat at the first restaurant we see that agree on. We passed by a handful of different restaurants, but nothing caught both our fancy. Thankfully, we came across KKK Pinoy Food Revolution and immediately agreed to try it out.

KKK Pinoy Food Revolution serves traditional Filipino fare in non traditional ways, thus the name. Not quite fusion food, but more of Pinoy food with a twist. The restaurant's interiors is of course Filipino themed, with the use of local materials seen all throughout. The servers are dressed in traditional Filipiniana, making you feel really at home. And there's even half a jeep displayed in front!

 

 

We ordered the following dishes to share.

Ilokanong Bagnet. 290php.

I don't get why there is a need to label their bagnet as being Ilokano, since it is a dish already known by most as being Ilokano. Little puzzled look on my face aside, this was fried to crisp and oily perfection! The KBL (kamatis, bagoong, lasona) was the perfect partner for this, as it tempered the fatty richness (and goodness!) of the bagnet. Take a piece of the bagnet, couple it the KBL and hot steaming rice -- mmm, this is what dinner dreams are made of!

Kare- Kareng Baka. 380 php.

It might not have looked much when it was served, but the serving size of this one was surprisingly big! I'd say it would even be enough to be shared by 3- 4 people. They were generous in the amount of beef in it, and the vegetables too. The beef was tender and the veggies still had the right crunch to them (as there were some that were separated and not put directly in the pot).

For drinks, I had their Calamansi Juice while Kim had Sagot' Gulaman.

Calamansi Juice. 75 php; Sagot' Gulaman. 45 php.

So we went a little safe and ordered two very traditional dishes that any good resto can't possibly mess up, but we don't regret it one bit. Both were cooked excellently. The service in KKK was great; the waiters were attentive and courteous. The food is also priced just right, because the servings were generous enough. We will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes that take a spin on our local faves.

KKK Pinoy Food Revolution
G/F Annex, SM Fairview,
Qurino Avenue, Greater Lagro,
Quezon City
(02) 351-6131

Jek's Kubo Bulalo at Ulo- Ulo

August 13, 2013

By now everyone knows that Maginhawa Street (and it's neighboring streets) is a great stretch of foodie heaven. You have your katsu, pizza places, burger joints, milk tea shops, tex- mex restos, etc. But what I have noticed is that there seems to be a dearth of Filipino food themed restaurants. Sure there's your standard carinderia's here and there, but aside from Pino there's really no other nice restaurants that serve mostly local fare.

Enter Jek's Kubo Bulalo and Ulo- Ulo.

We forgot to take a photo of their actual signage up front!

We have noticed this "eatery" since last year, but haven't had the chance to eat here before since it was always full and parking is sometimes a b*tch in Maginhawa. I use the term eatery loosely because it's not your average kanto carinderia but more definitely more affordable than most upscale restaurants. Hmm, maybe we can call it a high end eatery.

You order from the counter like most eateries, and pay there also. Their menu consists of three groups: Specialty, Kubo Favorites and the daily menu. Their specialties are the two dishes mentioned in their name -- Bulalo and Ulo- Ulo (Sinigang sa Miso). Both are good for sharing for two people, but can also be manhandled by one hungry person on his own with no problem Then the Kubo Favorites, in which all menu items already come with rice. Then there's a daily menu that changes from day to day (duh). After ordering, you can take a seat in their yellow and gray themed tables and chairs, either inside or outside. We found it more refreshing to seat out and eat al fresco since the place isn't equipped with an AC inside. Then you wait for them to serve you your food!

We ordered the following:

We shared an order of Bulalo.

Bulalo. 150php.

Okay we really didn't share since I ate most of this with my plate of rice. For 150php, this is really good value for money! The beef was really soft with just the right amount of fat, and came with a piece of bone with bone marrow in it. It also had corn and some vegetables. I loved how the veggies were still very firm and had nice snap to it. Of course, a good soup is what make a good bulalo. And Jek's Bulalo broth is very tasty.

Kim ordered her own Salpicao.

Salpicao. 90php.

At first glance the serving might seem small, but this is a single serve dish meant for one person and not for sharing. The beef is served with some finely chopped garlic on top, and with salpicao sauce/ sarsa on the side. Aside from the rice, it also comes with some carrots and baguio beans. Kim loved that the beef was tender and not rubbery. She also noted that the garlic flavor was just right and not overpowering. Having the sarsa separate from the beef meant that the customer has control if she wants to add some more to the beef. Kim only tried to put some to try it out, since the beef was already flavorful.

For drinks we opted to get a Buko Shake from their own stand, Jek's Bu-ko.

Buko Shake. 30php.

This was really good considering how cheap it was compared to most mall buko stands. And the bottle reminds me of those buko shakes prevalent in Boracay.

Cleaner than your average carinderia and the food definitely tastes better. It might be more more expensive, but the prices are justified with the food they serve. So if you're looking for a hearty Pinoy meal, Jek's is your best bet in the Maginhawa area.

Jek's Kubo Bulalo and Ulo- Ulo
#77 Maginhawa St., UP Village
Quezon City
(02) 434 7362
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeks-Kubo-Bulalo-at-Ulo-Ulo/445767328790161