Shoot First Eat Later

Akiba Cafe

I like December and all the food that comes with the holidays. The only thing I dislike is shopping for my godchildren. It was easy when they were kids and any toy would make them happy. Now that some are in their pre-teens and others are teenagers I didn’t know what to get them for Christmas. I went to SM Megamall to do some shopping and after going in and out a couple of stores without any results I needed a break for lunch.

I saw Akiba from across the hall and went to check it out since it was the first time I’ve ever seen that brand.

Looking at their menu I was pleased to see they had a variety of hot and cold coffee, tea and chocolate beverages. Imagine my dilemma on what to try since I love all three drinks a lot.

Since they had this huge sign promoting their trifle tea I decided to order that to find out exactly what trifle cream was.

creamy banoffee P80

I haven’t had lunch yet but when I saw the green tea cheesecake I knew that dessert would precede lunch.

green tea cheesecake P130

I LOVE matcha thus the all green choices on the table.

green tea cheesecake & matcha trifle

I was instructed by the staff to drink my tea without stirring the cream first. Strong, milky green tea passed through thick sweetened cream straight into my mouth. I tasted similar to my favorite Gong Cha milk green tea specially the cream part. While Gong Cha used green tea leaves Akiba used matcha powder for their tea. I couldn’t resist mixing in the cream after. I felt guilty after drinking what tantamounted to a milk shake with all the cream. This trifle tea was definitely better than the other milk tea brands I’ve tried in Manila except Gong Cha which is still my favorite.

matcha trifle tea P120

Finally, a green tea cheesecake that I really, really like. Thick, creamy cheesecake just like New York cheesecake and not the light, airy Japanese cheesecake which I dislike. The matcha flavor was strong but not overpowering. It was really a match-a made in heaven. I have to go back to SM Megamall soon for another slice. Yummmmmmm!!!!!

green tea cheesecake P130

Akiba Cafe
SM Megamall 2nd floor building A Hallway
telephone: +63947-344-1025

Philippines Office:
Unit 405 The Taipan Place F. Ortigas Jr. Ave, Ortigas Business Center, Pasig City, Philippines 1600
telephone: (+632) 910-5131
website
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Lunch at Apartment 1B Rockwell

Last month I had minor eye surgery at Asian Eye Institute and it involved fasting from food and water for many, many hours. As soon as I left AEI I needed comfort that only food can provide so my mom and I went to Apartment 1B for a quick lunch since I was supposed to be at home for some rest.

This was an expensive wall of digital picture “frames”.

We had a hard time choosing what to eat since there were many things in the menu that appealed to us. My mom chose the baby back ribs which she enjoyed. The sauce wasn’t too sweet and the meat was very tender and not too fatty.

baby back ribs P630

Comfort food to me means sandwiches which I love more than rice meals, well except for paella, risotto and fried rice. I was so happy to see Reuben sandwich on the menu but I wonder why it was so expensive. It cost even more than the baby back ribs.

The staff was kind enough to substitute french fries with a salad.

Reuben sandwich P680

Reuben sandwich is made with fresh corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on my favorite rye bread. I liked that the thousand island dressing was on the side instead of in my sandwich. The amount of corned beef wasn’t that much unlike the generous slices served in sandwiches in the US. But it was enough bite and flavor for my sandwich to be a delicious and filling meal. Thanks Apartment 1B for my authentic Reuben sandwich!

Apartment 1B’s menu

Apartment 1B
Ground Level, One Rockwell East Tower
Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center
Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
telephone: (632) 869-3530
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Brownies – Ms. Polly’s & Xocolat

I knew Ms. Polly’s was famous for their chocolate cake but I didn’t know they had equally good brownies until my friend Mila sent me a box for Christmas. Thanks again for the yummy gift Mila!!!

I ate a couple of brownies and kept the rest in a zip top bag in the freezer or else I would have finished all in one sitting. The brownies were good straight from the freezer too. I liked the texture of the brownie. The top had a slight crunch and the interior was a perfect combination of cakey and fudgy.

Ms. Polly’s Cherry Brownies 12 pcs for P240

Whenever I watch movies at Promenade in Greenhills I would pass by Xocolat and walk quickly pass it so I can resist temptation since I love their hot chocolate. When I watched Skyfall I gave in to my desires and bought a peanut butter brownie.

Xocolat’s peanut butter brownie P85

From the looks of it I thought I’ve found the holy grail of brownies.

Alas, I found the brownie too fudgy and at times it tasted like undercooked brownie batter. The peanut butter flavor wasn’t as prominent as I liked either.

Ms. Polly’s Specialty Cakes and Desserts
4th Floor Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas
telephone: 703-5058
commissary’s telephone: 824-7612
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Xocolat
Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center
Ortigas Ave., Greenhills
San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines
telephone: 514-3862
website
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chez karine

We actually brought our goodies from Gourmandise Patisserie and ate them at chez karine where we ordered macarons and coffee.

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I wish I bought a pack of chocolate sablé to try

I want to try the créme brûlée apple tart next!

I liked the chewy texture of their macarons. I did find it just a tad too sweet though. My favorite flavor was the earl grey which had a prominent tea flavor.

macarons P50 each

This is my friend Pat who gamely posed on Serendra’s rocking chair.

chez karine
1/F Serendra Mall
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
telephone: +6391-3232845, +632 804-1889
Sun-Thurs: 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm
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Gourmandise Patisserie

We wanted to have mango sticky rice for dessert at Mango Tree but they ran out of mangoes so we walked to nearby Serendra to buy from two of the French pastry shops that I’ve been wanting try.

First stop was Chef Sunshine Pengson’s ode to French eclairs.

The small patisserie was beautifully decorated and it felt like I was back in Paris.

They sold other cakes too and my eyes quickly latched on the the matcha & yuzu opera cake.

The hardest part was choosing the flavor for eclair, from unusual combination like raspberry dulce de leche to mont blanc and blueberry cheesecake and favorites like chocolate, coffee, salted caramel and lemon.

I immedialtely selected the chocolate covered salted caramel macaroon (macaron?).

I just loved their packaging!

We took the goodies we bought to chez karine and ate it there. The French style of éclair is not the same to the eclair I remember buying at Dulcinea which had a soft choux pastry and filled with lots of creamy custard. This eclair had a stiffer choux pastry with just enough filling. The flavor of the salted caramel was good but I realized I wasn’t a big fan of this type of éclair.

salted caramel éclair P100

The matcha flavor of the opera cake was there but not as strong as I like and I didn’t really taste the yuzu flavor. I found the cake layers a bit hard and dry. I liked the versions of Sinfully (Makati Shangri-La) and Karen’s Kitchen better.

matcha & yuzu opera P200

chocolate covered salted macaron P65

I did enjoy the chewy macaron with a thick salted caramel filling and dark chocolate coating. This I would go back for.

Gourmandise Patisserie
Ground Floor, Serendra, McKinley Parkway, 1634 Fort Bonifacio
telephone: (0917) 704 7119; 804 2568
Mondays to Fridays – 11 a.m. t0 10 p.m.
Saturdays to Sundays -11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Lunch at Mango Tree

The best times to eat out with good friends are those that are unplanned. It took only one text message a couple of hours before lunch to get the four of us together at Mango Tree in Bonifacio High Street.

It was my first time to try this Thai restaurant located at a prominent location in the corner of Bonifacio High Stree in The Fort.

I was surprised at how beautiful the restaurant’s interiors were. It felt like I was in another country. Well known couturier Cesar Gaupo was one of the designers behind the look of Mango Tree. My pictures don’t do the place justice.

It may look like a giant loofah but it was a delicious and super crispy mass of catfish meat.

Yum Pla Duk Fu (crispy catfish & mango salad) P380

Shredded green mangoes in a tangy vinaigrette was a good topping for the mild flavor of the fried catfish.

It’s hard not to order the same Thai favorites but it was also a good way to compare the quality and taste of the food with other restaurants. These shrimp cakes were fried well and generously sized.

Tod Mun Goong (shrimp cakes) P450

I’ve tried much better pomelo salad from Azuthai.

Yum Som O (pomelo salad) P380

Tom Kha Gai is my favorite Thai soup and I liked their version.

Tom Kha Gai (chicken coconut soup) P380

Based on the waiter’s suggestion we ordered the steamed sea bass or Apahap. We all loved the simple sauce made with fresh garlic, chili and lime juice. The fish was perfectly cooked and very fresh.

Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now (steamed sea bass) P850

Their chicken with green curry sauce is a must order! I enjoyed the sauce so much I literally drank it with the chicken since I didn’t order rice. I gave in to temptation and got a couple of spoonfuls of rice from Elisa just to put curry sauce on it.

Gaeng Kiew Wan Gai (chicken in green curry) P450

I don’t know what these veggies are called in Filipino. Anyone know where I can buy these locally? I loved the taste of these veggies even though it was just sautéed in garlic and light soy sauce. It tasted more exotic than that.

Phad Phak Ka-Na (stir fried kale) P320

We wanted to be adventurous and order noodles that weren’t Pad Thai even though that’s my favorite. The waiter suggested the Phad See Iw Goong. It tasted so ordinary like it was seasoned with just soy sauce. When I checked the menu after eating I realized it was just that – noodles cooked in soy sauce. I’m going back to Pad Thai.

Phad See Iw Goong (noodles in soy sauce) P450

Our bill seemed expensive because we ordered so much food just for four people. I’m ashamed to say we had very little left overs. If you’re wondering what khao suey is on the bill it’s unlimited white rice. Not bad for P70.

If you have guests and you want to impress them take them to Mango Tree. Beautiful ambiance and good food.

Mango Tree’s menu

Mango Tree The Fort
7th Avenue, Bonifacio High Street Central, Global City, Taguig
telephone: (02)6213233, (02)2172367, (0917)5349145

Sundays to Thursdays:
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM,
5:30 PM – 11:30 PM

Fridays to Saturdays:
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM,
5:30 PM – 1:00 AM

website
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Dessert at La Crêperie

We had an unsatisfactory dinner and shawarma was a bust and my young godson and his brother refused to go home without dessert. We all racked our brains on where to have dessert until Vivian remembered La Crêperie in F. Calderon St. in Little Baguio. To top it off I also had a Deal Grocer coupon for that branch.

To get there go to J. Abad Santos (Alex III) and turn right after Nail Loft. There’s also Tori Box, Eat MY GF and Calderon (tapas) on this strip.

This is my godson Zak who’s nice enough to carry my bag while I take pictures. Zak followed his ninang’s footsteps and also has is own blog. He’s a good writer for such a young man.

2nd floor dining area

La Crêperie menu

Their coffee is not bad at all!!

coffee P85

This was my third time (and 3rd branch) to eat at La Crêperie and it’s been a great experience each time. The staff were kind enough to give in to my request of turning down the lights so I can take a picture of the flambéed crepe. Of all the delicious crepes we had this simple buttery orange flavored crepe was my favorite. Since the flame evaporated most of the alcohol content of the Grand Marnier liqueur it was suitable for kids too.

Crepe Suzette P155

Zak chose the apple crisp crepe and it was a good choice.

Apple Crisp a la Mode P245

Tender, crisp slices of cooked apples with oatmeal walnut crisp filled the perfect crepe. The vanilla ice cream just brought everything together.

Our third crepe we decided to build our own creation.

Our crepe was filled with bittersweet chocolate and strawberry slices and topped with sliced almonds (P210).

Whether it’s sweet or savory crepes La Crêperie will definitely fulfill your cravings.

La Crêperie Eastwood and Robinson’s Galleria

La Crêperie
403 F. Calderon St., Bgy. Little Baguio, San Juan, Metro Manila
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Dinner at Lombardi’s, Robinson’s Magnolia

We were supposed to have our Christmas dinner at Greeka Kouzina but it was full that Saturday night so we went to Robinson’s Magnolia and chose to eat at Lombardi’s.

I was with the same group of friends and kiddies who ate at My Kitchen where we had an excellent meal that we still had a pizza and pasta hangover. We were dreaming of recreating some of that joy in Lombardi’s.

You can see their faux brick wood burning oven from the dining area. They used gas. Well, it did look nice.

We will tear down your ice cream plant but we will give you an excellent location for your ice cream house. Indeed it was a prime location.

Chef David Lombardi

bread & olive oil

Quite costly for a few pieces of squid. Not my favorite.

Calamari Fritti with Aioli Sauce P365

This was in the appetizer category in the menu so I was surprised when a grilled cheese sandwich came out. We did enjoy it specially with the tomato dip.

Mozzarella in Carrozza P230

I guess their pizza was authentic in the sense that there was LITTLE toppings on it just like most of the pizzas I ate in Italy. The basil wasn’t even worth 1 leaf. When the pizza was hot it was pretty good. Even though the crust wasn’t as thin as I like I managed to eat 1 an entire slice edge included. When it cooled down the crust became hard and I basically just ate half the slice and left all the parts without sauce and cheese behind.

Rustica P440 – pancetta, salami, mozzarella, basil

You have to look really close to find the teeny weeny pieces of salmon. I think ordering their cheapest and simplest pizzas would be a better deal since paying a premium for better ingredients was not worth it.

Salmon Affumicato P420 – salmon, mozarella, basil

The penne was ok. It was al dente and the tomato sauce was pretty good and NOT sweet.

Penne Pomodoro Fresco P210

I also liked the lasagna which had a balanced amount of ground beef to sauce ratio. I dislike too much ground beef in my lasagna.

Lasagne della Casa P290

Spaghetti Ai Frutti Di Mare P310

While the other food we had could be called ‘authentic’ with a stretch of imagination and wasn’t too awful I just have to rant about their risotto which was one of the side dishes offered with their meat entrees. The other alternatives were baked mashed potato or salad.

If you’re old enough you would probably remember the Star rice commercial. Well this risotto is it! I don’t think anywhere in Italy do they use margarine in their risotto. For heaven’s sake only a little butter is used for risotto. If you can’t afford butter then skip it. But to use margarine? It was beyond awful!!! The pork wasn’t bad at all but the piece below was contaminated with the margarine so we couldn’t eat that anymore.

Scalloppa dela ‘Milan’ with risotto a la Milanese P390

Lombardi’s menu (click to enlarge)

I couldn’t help but compare the food of Lombardi’s with Amici since they have a similar price point. Amici’s pizzas also have few toppings but it just tastes better. I also like their pasta much better.

Since the 5 adults in the group weren’t full or happy we decided to go to Manda Centrale for shawarma but when we got there it was closed. I forgot they were open from Wednesday to Friday only.

Lombardi’s
2nd Floor, Al Fresco Robinsons Magnolia
Aurora Blvd. cor. Dona Hemady St. Quezon City
telephone: 623-6901
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Mochicream at The Podium

After my lunch at Madeca I was about to go down when I saw Mochicream, a Japanese sweets deli from Japan. I tried Mochicream the first time in Hong Kong and I loved it. Too bad their store in Sogo Causeway Bay has closed and I don’t know where their store is located now. I’m happy that it’s now in Manila.

Don’t you just love their super realistic faux mochi display?

There are so many flavors that I wanted to try.

Mochicream menu (click to enlarge)

They keep their mochi in the freezer despite filling being cream and not ice cream.

The two sales ladies were amused when I quickly ripped the bag open to eat my mochi on the spot.

Naturally I asked for the green tea flavor first but they just ran out. Since I’ve tried the chocolate and cafe au lait flavors in Hong Kong I tried my next favorite flavor – orange and cheese. It was a good thing that the mochi was well wrapped in plastic because the exterior of the plastic was wet and had chards of fine ice clinging to it.

orange cheese mochi P100

Even though the mochi came straight from the freezer it was easy to bite into. My first bite was heavenly. The strong flavor of orange burst on my tongue and I enjoyed the wonderful chewy texture of the mochi (made from glutinous rice flour) and creamy ice cold filling. I didn’t really notice the cheese flavor since I was ecstatic with the orange flavor. It tasted even better than orange ice cream.

I ate the darjeeling mochi maybe 30 minutes later and it was still good although I found it sweeter maybe because it wasn’t as cold anymore? I liked the strong taste of darjeeling tea. I can’t wait to try their green tea mochi as well as the apple pie & caramel machiato.

darjeeling mochi P80

Take note that Mochicream is different from Mochi Creme located one level below which sells mochi filled with ice cream. I’d choose Mochicream’s mochi over macarons any time.

Mochicream
5th Floor Podium Mall, 18 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
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Branches:
SM The Block
Robinsons Magnolia

Lunch at Madeca at The Podium

Yesterday I went to The Podium for a simple errand for my cousin Sha who asked me to buy her a few bottles of squid ink from Terry’s Selection. This quick shopping trip led me to the 5th floor for lunch at Madeca.

Madeca is located at the 5th floor cinema level of The Podium mall. It had a quick service format. You go to the counter to order and pay for your food and wait for the server to bring the food to your table.

Their menu is typical for a Mexican fast food place but what made it unique was the use of Filipino fillings like sisig, lechon kawali & salpicao for the soft tacos and burritos. You can also have it with rice or Mexikanin as they call it.

Madeca menu

I wanted a light lunch so I ordered soft tacos instead of the heavy burrito stuffed with rice. A regular order included 2 soft tacos with the SAME filling. I wanted to try different fillings and luckily I ate past 2:00 pm and was able to avail of their happy hour promotion. I ordered two single tacos.

I first ate the sisig taco. I really liked the thin and light flour tortilla. The flavor from the pieces of sisig (pig’s snout, cheeks, and ears, liver, etc.) really stood out. There were some crunchy pieces while others were chewy. It seemed like pairing sisig with mashed beans, salsa, sour cream & cabbage was a perfect match. I liked it so much I suggested to the manager that they also make sisig nachos like the one I ate at Señor Sisig’s food truck in San Francisco.

sisig soft taco P85

You can’t really see the sisig in the picture but I promise you that you will taste it.

I wasn’t as impressed with the nondescript beef salpicao. It was tender enough but I wasn’t fond of the texture and flavor of the beef. I did like their salsa which had a strong tomato taste which I suspect came from a little tomato paste. It was a little spicy too.

The chips that came with my soft taco were fried flour tortilla and not corn tortilla. It was very crisp although it had a little oily aftertaste after I finished all 8 chips.

salpicao soft taco P95

Madeca
5th Floor Podium Mall, 18 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
telephone: 234-5233
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