Quiznos in Manila

Filipino people are not too fond of sandwiches. We go for rice on our main meals of the day. It wouldn't be a surprise that most restaurants in our country have at least 1-2 rice meals on their menu.

However, sandwiches, clubs, subs and panini will not remain unnoticed. Here in BGC (The Fort / Bonifacio Global City) we have a walking distance sandwich restaurant named Quiznos. Quiznos might be new to the Philippines and to our ears but they have been in the industry since 1981. The American way of eating is now here on our country, with the toasty sandwiches, leafy salads and hot soups!

When I was able to stay in the US for a month, I have observed the American's culture of eating sandwiches, breads, bagels and other pastries. They can eat them all throughout the day and on a daily basis. Okay, I'm missing living in the US. The comfort and simply just the way of living. So seeing Quiznos just around the corner is a simple means of me remembering how I lived in a foreign land of sandwiches. :) Here's a photo of the interior of the restaurant at G/F One Parkade, 7th Ave cor 28th St, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig:

Here are the sandwiches that we've ordered in different visits:

Classic Italian



Signature Pulled Pork with BBQ Sauce and Harvest Chicken Salad

Classic Club

Ceasar Salad

The sandwiches are all so yummy and it really does makes us full. The sandwiches above are Large in size which varies from Php225 - Php395 (for savory steak sandwiches). The salads are very affordable too for just Php85. They cheddar cheese on top of the Ceasar Salad is one of my favorites!

Naci: Buffet Breakfast

Working in BGC might have numerous incovenience for me. The fact that I need to wake up earlier, go to office earlier and pass through traffic for an additional 30 mins to an hour (one-way). And that adds up to at most 2 hours wasted time. Ugh! That's what I had in return for working in a brand-new state of the art office.

Despite these incoveniences, it opened doors to a whole new community to explore. Admittedly, the previous location was not too lavish. Now, where ever I walk I can see a lavish restaurant. Too hard on the pocket, but well, trying out something new is one of the thrills of living. As I always tell myself "I do not live to work, I work to live a life that I want" and this is my life - full of new things, challenges and exploration.

I've been constantly posting our BGC exploration photos for food, restaurants and whatnot on my instagram. Most were actually lunch or after office exploration. What we did though two mornings ago was different - to try out the Naci Comfort Food's Buffet Breakfast.

Most buffet breakfasts are only available on hotels so finding a restaurant offering a Buffet Breakfast was a great thing.

We were lucky to try them at 50% off from its Regular Price of 295+. The ambiance of the restaurant was great, with nice decors, green, yellow and orange designer chairs, and good ambiance music.

The food taste was okay but the food variety is quite less. Well, it was a small restaurant which might be catering to less people too, so it was expected. Here are some of the food that I got from the buffet.

 

 

It was nice trying out new things, new food, new ambiance. The food here was okay - of well good! They all taste good. Those on the photo above are cold cuts, chicken tocino, pork tapa, scrambled eggs and fried rice. They all taste yummy, believe me. They are worth the 50% off for a buffet breakfast, but it they might be turning back to its original price of 295, that will still have me think twice.

 

 

 



Mint M&M's

Okay, I feel like blogging today and the latest photo that I have on my phone is the photo of the mint M&M's that I got from our trip to Florida last June. I'm actually trying to post via my phone using the Bloggerdroid for Blogger (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.przemelek.android.blogger&hl=en)

Back to the chocolates, yes surprisingly, I have been very conservative on consuming all our chocolates in one go so I was able to keep some must try's that I got from our vacation. I got the two uncommon flavors the raspberry and the mint flavors. Below is the packaging of the Mint one.



This mint one has the crunchy green shaded candy colored coating protecting the delicious dark chocolate inside. It was minty and at the same time slightly bitter as what dark chocolates should taste like. This is a must try M&M's flavor!

Upside Down Coke!

Yesterday, I got my first Mc Donald's Upside Down glass! I, knowingly fond of collective stuffs, am so amazed that a new series of coke glasses are being released by Mc Donald's. The glass I'm using at home is even from Mc Donald's, when last year I got a hold of a pink colored London 2012 olympics glass. They are indeed made sturdy for everyday use. Take it from me who uses it everyday from breakfast to dinner (that's when I'm at home).

Should I be collecting the other colors? If you ask me, of course I would. For just Php 25 in addition to you value meal this is a very good buy. Unfortunately, my other half is protesting me on buying stuffs. =( We'll see. But if you ask me, I want them all! =)

To Indian Cuisine We Go: New Bombay

In 2010, I was able to meet some Indian Nationals during our project for work. We were able to work with them for almost 6 months. We were able to understand their cultures, castes, practices and most especially the food that they eat. Most of them are Vegetarians, and I can assure you that they really had a hard time being a Vegetarian in our country. I believe less than 1% of Filipinos practice that, some practice just due to sickness but not with their choice.


When I met these people from India, I totally admired their dedication to their religion. They could intake just a plain yogurt for lunch just to not feel the hassle of finding a veggie place here. So we got curious of what kind of food they eat - since Indian food are mostly composed of a lot - and I mean a lot of spices. 


Luckily, one of the Indian workmate treated us for a lunch at New Bombay in Podium, Ortigas. I was afraid to taste them at first. Why? Because honestly I have the impression of a not-so-good smell. I came to taste their samosa, curry, naan and even the much awaited lassi and it wasn't bad at all. In fact, I enjoyed the food since I am fond of spicy delicacies! (But yes, you have an option of having mild, moderate or super spicy flavoring to your dishes.) The taste of eating something from New Bombay was really worth going back. So, when this Indian friend introduced me to Indian Cuisine, I didn't hesitate to share it with my friends.


Up to date, I believe I've been to New Bombay for more than 5 times already just to have dinner. Good thing was that "Fiance" liked the type of dishes that they serve. For first timers, it's going to be a nice experience to taste something new and it is also a thrill to peek into the kitchen windows and see the Indian National chef cooking what you ordered. Enjoy Indian! :)


Here's the New Bombay sign at Podium, located at the uppermost floor just beside the Cinemas.

This is the ambiance at the open restaurant. The Aum Sweet Aum in the frame is the same AUM that we monks say when they meditate. 

Beautifully made dining tables and chairs:

Here are the dishes that we ordered:

Naan (or some flatbread)

Mutton Rogan Josh 

New Bombay

5/F The Podium, ADB Ave. Ortigas Center

Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 637-4367

Goto King Night

For the first work day of the year we went to Eastwood for a simple dinner. I'm not looking for anything fancy to eat so we went to a Goto King store at Eastwood Cybermall. We ordered some La Paz Batchoy (Php70) and Fresh Lumpia (Php45).


The La Paz Batchoy was okay. As compared to Ted's Batchoy, this is a no match. Ted's was really great. This one is kind of oily but is well okay to be eaten. The fresh lumpia was okay for its price. They serve it saucy unlike most commonly served in other restaurants. For its price I reccomend trying out the lumpia.

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Craving for Korean Food

When the Koreans started living at our country (mostly to learn English), it is no secret that a huge choices of korean restaturants have sprouted like mushrooms in almost every food district. Since the Filipino people easily adapts to any new influence, Korean Restaurants is one of the stops that Filipinos openly dines at. This time, I am the one craving for korean kimchi and side dishes (weird me, I am craving for the side dishes more than the main entrees :P).

One of my most recommended Korean Restaurants, as I've blogged before, is the Ye Dang at Metrowalk in Ortigas. The place is tidy and they serve authentic Korean Cuisine. We ordered some Pork Bulgogi than can be wrapped with the leafy veggies and of course, the much awaited side dishes! :)

 These pictures makes me crave for more. @_@.

Orchard Road Restaurant

I am not writing about the famous place for designer clothes and bags of Singapore. That is another Orchard Road. What I'll be writing is the Orchard Road Food Place that was built at SM Megamall. Honestly, I was not excited to share this food experience, but I know my readers have the right to know things about these food places.

We ordered a Laksa (Php175) and a Roti Prata w/ Curry Sauce (Php110).

The Laksa was awfully made. It was almost like a soup of boiling water with red flavoring. It wasn't spicy as expected for laksas. The Roti Prata was also a disappointment. It was so thin and it seems like a synthetically made roti prata. They are far from being the Roti Prata of Orchard Road - the real Orchard Road of Singapore. Yes, maybe I was a little too harsh for the restaurant but I can't help but comment of how expensive yet not tasty the foods they serve are. Luckily I was able to taste the real Laksa and Roti Prata in Orchard Road Singapore during my visit there at ION Shopping Mall. The food hall there that sells these Singapore authentic food are really the best. A 100% far greater than what is served here at Manila's Orchard Road version. It was really a thumbs down for this restaurant. You have been warned. :)

Here' their menu if you are interested (click it for a more clearer/bigger view):

Orchard Road
SM Megamall, Doña Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 470-4546

Biggest Burger at Bite Club

Since McDonald's and Jollibee's burgers become so little to satisfy the hunger for burgers, we craved to eat something sumptuous from a burger restaurant. We were then able to spot the Bite Club Food Store at Katipunan Ave. We ordered their biggest burger - a burger bigger than my face - about 8inches in diameter.

They also offer some normal sized burgers, but fully loaded ones.

What can I say? I was fully satisfied with it. One order can be cut into 4 pizza like slices that can be shared by four people. I just wonder why this store doesn't have any other branches, aside from the one in Boracay. It should be attracting more burger eaters for its delicious and huge serving of burgers. Try it, the burger is really worth it!

Bite Club
213-F Katipunan Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 911-0859

Italianni's Restaurant Eastwood

Early this year, when the sweetest proposal happened, I was able to spend some blowout dinner to celebrate our engagement with our close friends. We ate at Italianni's in Eastwood. We got the chance to eat the pasta sampler platter of 3 famous pasta dishes of the restaurant and other dishes.

I have loved most of the Italianni's dishes however, not at this branch. I found the Eastwood branch of Italianni's not too delicious. They are of the same franchise but the pizza dough here is a too toasted. The pasta is a little over-cooked. The Italianni's Trinoma branch was a lot better. Maybe they should look into how they cook their cuisine as this can drive avid customers away from the entire franchise. Sad, I hope next time that I dine in here, it would be more delicious!

Lola Idang's Famous Pancit Malabon

Yes, I already have a lot of posts about Lola Idang's but I have never tried and tasted what it was famous for, the Pancit Malabon. A lot of take home and made to order pancit malabon makers are all around the city. They can be ordered in different sizes of bilao (large native platters). Some famous others are Ninang's and Amber's.

So when I got to chance of taking another order from Lola Idang's I didn't hesitate to order the Pancit Malabon. We ordered the small bilao which is good for two for only Php120.

 

The verdict? It was delicious! The noodles are of the right softness and the sauce is not bland nor salty. It just taste right for a Pancit Malabon. Now I can proudly say that after a long wait, I have already tasted the Original makes of Lola Idang's. It was no wonder that this restaurant, though small, was able to cater to a lot of people and expand it's branches in the metro.

I also by the way have ordered some Sinigang na Baboy for the rice. It was okay. It was like the sinigang sa Bayabas kind of Sinigang - not the typical Tamarind Soup Base. It was simple yet it also satisfied my craving for something sour. 

 

Fairview Lechon's Crispy Pata

Have you ever craved for some mouth watering crispy pata on a Sunday evening? This is what I've experienced just a while ago so we didn't hesitate to drive by Fairview Lechon at Marlboro Street in East Fairview.

The store was already old and well-known. I remember seeing it when I was little, around my gradeschool years I believe. Their Crispy Pata is the classic deep fried pork hind legs (pata) in boiling oil. You can also accompany it with their special barbeques. Buy one Crispy Pata and 10 bbqs and you can dine with the family for only Php500. (This Is just what we did.)

When you drive by, alot around 10 to 15mins for waiting time as they fry, grill and chop what you've ordered.

UPDATE: Since the prices have been changed, I think it would be very helpful to just put their contact number here for your reference. You may even call them for advance orders. Fairview Lechon: 02 938 1871

Tender Bob's Promenade

During a graduation party early this year, we were treated to Tender Bob's at Promenade, Greenhills. We've ordered their famous Four Meat Platter. It is a sampler of pork chops, baby back ribs, chicken steak and domestic rib eye.

 

Also we've ordered some Baked Mussels, Grilled Salmon With Tropical Salsa and some Steak plates.

 

It was a delicious feast. The steaks were made fine with it's American touch of steaks and they truly use good quality meat. We were just a little sated immediately by the Four Meat Platter so as an advice if you ordered the platter order something else together with it to play with your taste buds.

Tender Bob's, Greenhills
Greenhills Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center
San Juan, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 726-2328

Toni's Grill at Pearl Drive Fairview

As one of the newest commercial areas in Fairview, Pearl Drive boasts of different restaurant choices to have your sumptuous lunch or dinner. Our stop this time is the new to the ears, Toni's Grill.

Toni's Grill occupies two floors on Pearl Drive. They offer Filipino cuisine that ranges from the bagoong rice to malagkit con mango desserts. We ordered the following:

bagoong rice

bicol express

inihaw na liempo

malagkit con manga

The restaurant is quite new, but the service was great. The waiters and attendants are very attentive to your needs may it be water, additional sauce or just for additional tissues. The food was okay. Nothing more distinct to it but still fulfilling to the stomach.

I will rate its food quality to 4 and service quality to 5.

Here's the menu of Toni's Grill (click on the image for a larger view):