Nolita (North of Little Italy)

December 28, 2012. Friday.

This is our first time to blog about this place, but this is our favorite BURGER and PIZZA joint ever since we had first dined here last April of 2012. Notice the caps on those two words? Because it is such a big statement to say "favorite burger and pizza" since those are like holy grails when it comes to food for us (or maybe it's just me and not Kim, HAHA).

Nolita is located in Bonifacio High Street Central. It is in the area on the opposite end of the Serendra side of BHS, just accross from ROX. BHS Central is quickly turning into our must go foodie place since it houses Nolita, Cue Modern Barbecue, and Lorenzo's Way. But I digress, so back to Nolita.

The place has an industrial/ pub/ homey look going on for it. Different lamps are used as decors all throughout the restaurant floor. It has that pub vibe with the common high table for everyone to stand and mingle with. Aside from the high tables, picnic tables are the main tables here. I like that it's a no frills, relaxed restaurant that is very casual yet offers some of the best food on this side of town. You walk up to the counter, order from the simple menu, pay, then take a seat and wait for your food.

We ordered the following for an afternoon snack:

Both of us had Pepperoni Pizza.



Pepperoni Pizza. 190php. Mobile phone not included, just for size reference.

Kim originally wanted to get the Shrimp Carbonara Pizza, which sounds lovely as it is but wait there's more --  it is effin' topped with an egg! But sadly there were no slices of that available when we arrived on that afternoon. All Nolita Pizzas are freshly made, so whatever is posted up on the chalkboard menu during the time you're there, that's what you can order. I like my pizzas simple, so I ordered a slice of Pepperoni. Kim had to settle for the same slice. But no worries, the Pepperoni was really good. Aside from the slice being bigger compared to most (20 incher!), the crust was not rock hard crispy but instead was very moist and a little chewy. It is very reminiscent of the pizzas from those old family- run by Italian pizzerias in New York.

And I also had an Angus All Beef Cheeseburger.

Angus All Beef Cheeseburger. 320php.

Look at how thick that ass.. oops, patty is!

C'mon go ahead, I know you want take a bite out off your monitor!

The burger was served on a chopping board and it might pale in comparison, diameter wise, to other premium burgers out there. But this was one thick and juicy burger, enough to satisfy a big man's appetite! I loved the freshness of the lettuce, tomato, and onion used. I also loved how the cheese melted from the heat of the patty. I also loved that when I took my first bite, a shot of patty juice caused a slight scalding inside my mouth. There's just no downside to this burger, and I'm saying that as someone who really loves burgers!

With those words, you would think that we would come back and order the same thing again. You are wrong. While we definitely would come back again (and again, and again), there's still a lot from Nolita's menu that we want to try. Aside from Kim's egg topped Shrimp Carbonara Pizza, the menu also has the Nolita Burger which is almost the same as my previous order except that instead of cheese, this is topped with some bacon and an egg! There's also a bowl of chili, mac and cheese, buffalo wings. I could go on and on and just mention the whole menu! I want to try everything here! And did I mention they also serve local and craft beers? Nolita, just the perfect place this side of Manila.

Nolita
UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central,
7th Ave Cor. 29th St.,
Fort Bonifactio, Taguig City
https://www.facebook.com/NOLITA.PIZZA

Other Nolita entries (updates after this entry):
Nolita (North of Little Italy) Again!
Nolita: Revisited with Friends

Choi Palace Seafood and Shark's Fin Restaurant

December 23, 2012. Sunday.

Aside from being total meat lovers, we're also suckers for Chinese food. So we really enjoyed the first time we ate in Choi Palace when we were with my parents. So for this time, Kim decided to tag her parents along.

For those who aren't familiar with Choi Palace, it might seem intimidating with its classy setting which is all clad in gold, white and red. The place looks expensive but the prices here are actually very reasonable for a legit and authentic Chinese restaurant. Even some of the servers have that Chinese accent (don't know if trained or authentic though, HAHA).

We started off our orders with soup, dimsum and seafood roll.

Hot and sour soup. 350php.

This soup is not for everyone. Kim hated every part of it but the rest of us enjoyed it since it was served really hot which was great since it was cold that night. The tofu and mushfroom were still a little firm which was really nice since it meant that they haven't been stewing in the soup all day long.

Hakaw. 110php.

Pork Siomai (4pcs). 100php.

Both were good but we should've gotten the Shark's Fin instead since it was sort of the restaurant's specialty.

Seafood Roll. 140php.

I actually ordered the Spring Roll, but the waitress must've gotten it mixed up and we ended up getting a plate of Seafood Roll instead. It's all good though. The rolls were really good, especially when dipped in the black vinegar. The thin wrappers were just crispy enough that you can bite through it without the whole roll coming apart.

For the main course we ordered the folliowing:

Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic. 450php.

This is sort of a staple for us when eating in a Chinese restaurant. And even when it's not in the menu, you can actually just describe it to the waiter and they'll make one up for you. It's a simple dish that never fails. The fish is steamed just right since it didn't turn into mush when putting your fork through it.

King Dao. 320php.

This sort of had a sweet and sour taste going for it, minus the sauciness of an actual sweet and sour dish. This is best served for those who don't mind having to sort of work for their food. Since the cut used here is spareribs, most of the meat are clinging to the bone.

Yang Chow Fried Rice. 320php.

If you're looking for authentic Chinese food in the area, there's really no better alternative than Choi Palace. You might have to shell out a little more, but then again the good food is worth it.

Choi Palace
3/F Eastwood Mall,
Libis, Quezon City
(02) 706- 7807

Mr. Kurosawa

December 19, 2012. Wednesday.

We don't really find the food in Mr. Kurosawa all that special, and to a certain extent we are actually weirded out by  some of the menu items (but then again, this is a fusion Euro- Japanese restaurant). But we are fond of the place just because we had our first date there. HAHA. So we have decided that we would only eat at Mr. Kurosawa once a year, just to commemorate our first date.

We've always liked the interiors of Mr. Kurosawa. From the faux brick walls, to the red curtain draped over the glass walls, and even the weird painting/ lights on the ceilings. It just makes the place that livelier and more fun to eat in.

 

We really weren't that hungry, so we just ordered the following:

Salmon Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi. 228php.

Kim is really not a fan of raw fish, so I ended up eating most of this plate. I'm no sashimi connoisseur, but I really like eating them. The sashimi was good together with the lemon and dipped in soy sauce. I just can't say it's really better than most sashimi's I've tried before.

Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Teriyaki. 298php.

We ordered safe since we really didn't want to be disappointed during that one time in the year that we would eat here. I don't think any self respecting Japanese restaurant can ruin a dish as common as chicken teriyaki. Safe order, but it was good nonetheless. The chicken was tender, and the teriyaki sauce was just sweet enough.

Ebi Tempura

Ebi Tempura. 368php.

Another safe order for us. The breading was fried perfectly. It was crispy and soft enough at the same time to hold the prawn inside, but not too crispy as it would be too hard to bite. The prawn was just the right size. You get a bit of the prawn and the breading with each bite. Perfect partner to steamed rice.

If you are looking for Japanese food, Mr. Kurosawa has you covered. It might not be that special Japanese meal you are looking for, but it is well prepared and well cooked food served on your table. We have never tried to order any of their fusion items, so I guess that's one thing we should take note off when we come back next year. Maybe the fusion items are what makes this place tick, until we try them out then we will never know.

Mr. Kurosawa

Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall,

Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City

(02) 901 - 0825

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Kurosawa-Euro-Japanese/177631448941095

Holiday Greetings from Us!

Outback Steakhouse

December 9, 2012. Sunday.

By now, you probably know that we really don't mind spending a lot just as long as it is on good food. So be forewarned, this entry/ dining experience constitutes the most we have ever spent on food together. But it was really all worth it, especially if you're a carnivore.

 

We originally planned to eat at House of Minis along C5 since I really wanted to get some steak. We were coming from Ortigas and there was some sort of rerouting being done right at the intersection of C5 and Ortigas Ave. I was forced to turn left towards the direction of Libis. But I was not be deterred in my quest to have steak that night. Luckily there's a steakhouse right smack in the middle of Libis. You may have heard of it; it goes by the name of Outback Steakhouse.

I know Outback and House of Minis differ greatly in price and the style of cooking. Outback is your upscale (very upscale, actually) steakhouse with aged and dry rubbed steaks, and House of Minis by comparison would seem more like your average mall steak on a hot plate. Still, steak is steak. And I really wanted my steak that night.

I haven't been to Outback in a while, but I must say not much has changed. It still has that old steakhouse vibe going for it, with the use of wood all throughout the resto's decor and furnishings, a bar in the middle, booths of varying seating capacity all around, an incandescent lamp above every booth and of course the faux retro Australian spread out all over the place. The place looks old, but I mean it in a good way. It still feels homey and welcoming.

We ended up ordering the following:

First we were served the traditional Outback Dark Honey Wheat Bread.

This has got to be the best complementary bread ever. It's served warm on a cutting board with a cupful of churned butter. The bread has a sweet cocoa taste to it that really goes well with the slight saltiness of the butter. A perfect meal starter.

Then we got Kookaburra Wings.

Kookaburra Wings (half). 279php.

We both love wings, so we got this for our appetizer. We had it only mildly spicy since we didn't want to wreck our taste buds for our main course. This is Outback's version of the Buffalo Wings. The wings were fried to a nice a crispy texture then tossed into their sauce. Really went well with the blue cheese dip it came with.

Kim ordered a half slab of Baby Back Ribs.

Baby Back Ribs, half slab. 659php.

The half slab was served with fries on the side. The meat easily slid off the bones, all while still being juicy. The barbecue sauce it was coated in was had a tangy taste to it, and it also had a nice little peppery kick to it.

And I ordered a 10 oz. Angus Ribeye.

10 oz. Angus Ribeye. 1455php.

Steak, finally. I like my meat cooked well done since I really don't want any pink left in them. I gauge how a good steak is by the amount of steak sauce/ gravy I would need to eat them. And with this one, I didn't even bother asking for any! I loved the marbling on my cut of ribeye, it just had the right amount of fat to it. Those we think fat is a bad thing, that's not entirely true for steaks since the fat really adds to the flavor of the meat. Despite being cooked on an open flame, my steak managed to remain juicy and tender. It was so good that I really couldn't remember how my sides of rice pilaf and baked potato went.

We both got Cokes.

We liked how they were served with chilled mugs.

We really enjoyed eating here that we are already planning on when to come back. The food might really be on the expensive side, but then again we think it is all worth it.

Outback Steakhouse
35 E. Rodriguez JR Ave.,
Libis, Quezon City
(02) 634 - 3801

Other Outback entries:
Back in Outback! Claiming Our Valentine's Freebies
Outback Steakhouse: Valentine's Date

The Flying Pig

November 30, 2012. Friday.

We love pork, so it's really a wonder why we haven't given The Flying Pig a try before. Maybe because it's always only sparsely occupied. And for us a restaurant not teeming with diners isn't a good thing. Anyway, on this night we decided to give it a go since we wanted dinner to be served quick.

The interiors reminded me of a New York City apartment with the faux red bricks and windows, and playful lighting. Different paintings depicting a pig in various costumes, which I assume is sort of the mascot, adorn the walls.

As is the usual with us, we over ordered again. There's just something about platters that we can't let go of. This time we ordered what is usually good for 4-5 persons.

We got the King Sampler.

King Sampler. 1,250php.

The King Sampler consists of a full slab of baby back ribs, half smoked barbecue chicken, and four sausages. It also comes with your own choice of 2 sides. We both got rice. Everything was tender and juicy. But everything also tasted the same, like it was marinated/ rubbed with the same ingredients. I really couldn't differentiate the taste of the ribs to the chicken to the sausage. Of course the texture of the meat varied but the overall taste was the same. Plus, the ribs was different than most ribs I have ever tried. It was tender, but the cut of it was weird, it was like it mostly consisted of litid or tendon. In conclusion, this meal would've been good if shared by more people because it's easy to get tired of the taste if there are only a few of you to finish the platter.

Overall, this was a just a mediocre dining experience for us. The quantity of food was enough to tide our disappointment with the taste. But the taste still left a bad taste in our mouth (figuratively, haha), as the dish really didn't offer enough variety to our tastebuds.

The Flying Pig
G/F Eastwood Mall,
Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, QC

(02) 900- 0886

Komrad - Mao's Hunan & Sichuan KItchen

November 20, 2012. Tuesday.

Chinese food has been a part of the Filipino diet for God knows how long. Chinese establishments are dime a dozen around the Metro. But we are only really familiar with the Cantonese side of Chinese cooking. That's where Komrad is different as it offers Filipinos a look into both the Hunan and Sichuan part of Chinese cooking.

Other than the difference in cooking styles from most Chinese restaurants, Komrad is also unique in its decor and them. There's nothing traditional about the place, and it is mostly a play on China's communism with a mural of Mao Zedong as a smiling chef its centerpiece. Majority of the place's color is red which is also the color of communism. Also, in line with the theme, red stars are can be seen all over the place.

We have been here before, so we know what to order and what not to order :)

We first ordered Komrad Steamed Siomai.

Steamed Siomai (4pcs). 120php.

Despite it being one of the priciest Siomai's I have ever ordered, I really don't feel ripped off. It's a little larger than your average siomai and definitely more packed. It's also more flavorful. I doubt everyone would feel comfortable shelling out this much for dimsum though.

We also had Kung Pao Chicken.

Kung Pao Chicken. 198php.

We have ordered this once before and really loved how it was sweet, spicy and crunchy at the same time. But for this time it tasted really different. It wasn't bad, but it didn't taste like the way we had ordered it before. It was sour more than it was sweet or spicy. Plus, it had more glaze/ sauce than it had before.

And Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs, all for sharing.

Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs. 265php.

This one's very basic but still a perfect partner for steamed rice. Pork seasoned in salt and pepper then deep fried to golden perfection. Some might complain about the cut of pork used in this since it is mostly boney. But I am perfectly fine with it as I have learned over time that usually the tastiest meat come from those on the bone.

If you are craving for Chinese but also want to try something different, Komrad is a good place to go. The place offers a relaxed atmosphere, excellent service and very good value for money. This definitely has been a go- to place of ours in Eastwood.

Komrad
2/f Eastwood Mall,
E. Rodriguez JR Ave., Libis, QC
(02) 921- 3440