Kainan Korner

C2 Milky Tea

2012-02-14T17:44:00.002+08:00

Tastes like bad cough syrup. Ewww!

Mary Grace's Velvet Cake

2012-02-12T16:13:00.003+08:00

The cake is moist and delicious. But the cream cheese icing? Too thick, too sweet. Nakakaumay.

Try it and judge for yourself.

Tea-rrefic's Wintermelon Milk Tea

2012-02-09T16:09:00.003+08:00

It's delicious, refreshing, fun, and it has the right amount of sweetness. The thing is, it doesn't taste like milk tea. It's like a cross between taho and sago't gulaman. Weird, we know. But that's what we sensed.

Try it and judge for yourself.

First time: Lutong Hinirang & Hyphy's

2012-02-07T15:03:00.011+08:00

One day, we tried a restaurant at Robinsons Galleria. It's Lutong Hinirang, a place that serves Filipino food with a twist. We're surprised to find out though that another restaurant is adjoined to it, and this other restaurant is Hyphy's, which serves American food.

We ordered two dishes from each restaurant: from Lutong Hinirang, the Sisig Pasta and the Banana Duo, and from Hyphy's, the Cobb Salad and the Sloppy Joe's.

The Sisig Pasta was DELICIOUS! Angel hair pasta, smothered with a savory, oil-based sauce teeming with well-seasoned pork bits. The noodles were well-cooked, the sauce had a good marriage of flavors (nothing pungent), and the whole dish, hearty. It's a MUST-EAT!

The Banana Duo: three small pieces of turon (banana slices rolled in spring roll wrapper) served with saba slices submerged in light syrup, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The turon slices were a tad too sweet, and overpowering because of the presence of cinnamon. And they were too sticky, difficult to eat. What we enjoyed eating were the saba slices in light syrup, combined with the vanilla ice cream. The banana pieces weren't too firm nor too mushy, and the ice cream wasn't too sweet.

The Cobb Salad had fresh, crisp vegetables, well-seasoned chicken slices, and a tangy dressing. It's a good choice for a light yet satisfying lunch.

The Sloppy Joe's had a ground-beef-tomato-sauce concoction served between toasted hamburger buns, with cheese and crisp greens and tomatoes. The sandwich was served with french fries. The ground beef filling was sweet, its taste akin to a spaghetti meat sauce for kids. Good thing that cheese was salty enough to provide balance. We liked the bread and fries more though.

We hope for another chance to visit Lutong Hinirang cum Hyphy's to try other interesting dishes and treats.

Delicious dishes from Lemongrass

2012-02-05T03:27:00.004+08:00

Custaroons

2012-02-02T14:45:00.007+08:00

By Gigi Gaerlan.

Macaroons on top, custard at the bottom. Both layers delicious, both layers delightful to eat.

The custard part of each Custaroon wasn't too sweet and its taste wasn't overbearing to the palate. And the macaroon part? We loved it! We couldn't get enough of the roasted coconut flavor. Twas so appetizing!

We were also amazed by the look of each Custaroon, particularly the uniformity in color of both layers. We couldn't see a custard and a macaroon, but ONE delicious treat.

And the packaging? Cute and classy!

Gigi Gaerlan's Custaroons should be enjoyed by all!

Pan de Amerikana

2012-01-31T12:00:00.014+08:00

Place: We loved the rustic decor of the place: suspended tree branches, potted plants, a small wooden bridge over a wishing pond. We also appreciated the tinge of quirkiness, what with the upside down piano, chairs, and tables stuck to the ceiling, as well as the inverted facade of the restaurant. We just wished that the dining chairs and tables were more stable and spacious.

Food: Food was generally delicious and fresh. We ordered the Everlasting Llanera (Php 170), Fresh Lumpia (Php 40), Pinaputok na Tilapia with Rice (Php 75), and their famous 1950s Pan de sal.

The Everlasting Llanera was O-K. It was a tad too moist, a little watery. And it crumbled too easily. And it lacked some ingredients that an authentic Everlasting has: hardboiled eggs, sausages, and bell peppers. Its taste was amply satisfying. It made for good filling for the pan de sal.

Speaking of filling, the pan de sal was the one that gave us satisfaction. Just one piece of this delicious pan de sal, which is made of wheat flour, brown sugar, and organic salt, made our tummies full and happy. Baked with firewood, the bread had hints of that rustic, burnt taste. Its softness was also just right.

Another dish that made us happy was the Pinaputok na Tilapia with Rice. Imagine, for Php 75, we had a perfectly cooked fish with a VERY TASTY fried rice. That's what we enjoyed eating actually, the fried rice. Its taste was punctuated and it wasn't too oily.

Lastly, the Fresh Lumpia. The nutty, soy-based sauce was delicious, so was the ubod-based filling. We wished though that there were more filling and less of the wrapper. The lumpia wrapper just was too thick!

Must-eats: Fried rice, pan de sal

Price: Considering serving size, taste, and quality, food here is pretty cheap.

Service: OK. Wished that the waiters would smile though.

Pan de Amerikana is located along Katipunan Ave., Quezon City (going to White Plains).

Linamnam

2012-01-29T15:00:00.001+08:00

Grab a copy!

First Time: Chatime

2012-01-28T16:37:00.005+08:00

Finally, we got to try Chatime milk tea. We chose the Pearl Milk Tea as our virgins' drink, and we ordered one of their latest offerings, the Banana Milk Tea.

The Pearl Milk Tea was delicious. There was a good flavor balance between the milk and the tea; the tea flavor wasn't too strong nor too deep to overpower the milk and the whole drink.

The Banana Milk Tea was a delight to sip. The concoction was bursting with natural banana sweetness. It reminded us of breakfast (Cereal, banana, and milk. Right?). YUMMY!

Hopefully we can go back to Chatime to try the other things on the menu.

Chatime is on the ground floor of Robinsons Galleria.

Amande Chocolat

2012-01-27T14:17:00.004+08:00

By Royce'.

Fresh, crisp almonds, coated with REALLY GOOD milk chocolate, dusted with cacao powder.

We love the beautiful marriage of flavors present in each piece: mild sweetness from the milk chocolate, subtle bitter taste from the cacao powder (balancing the sweetness and adding depth), and a tinge of roast flavor from the almonds. DELICIOUS!

We also like the fact that the chocolate coating is not thick, giving us a good chocolate-to-almond ratio with every bite.

Pay a visit to Royce' and try these treats. Now!

Moonleaf Milk Tea

2012-01-25T14:11:00.004+08:00

Finally, we got to try Moonleaf milk teas!

We tried the Wintermelon, Oolong, and Yogurt milk teas.

We loved the Wintermelon (left) ! We enjoyed the fruity sweetness, complementing the earthy tea flavor. The Oolong (middle) milk tea had the right depth and strength, flavor-wise. This drink is for those who want their tea with a very pronounced flavor. The last one, the Yogurt (right) milk tea, had the ample amount of tartness, adding a welcome layer of flavor to the milk tea drink.

We chose pearls (taro balls) as our sinkers and enjoyed nibbling at them. We also found these pearls cute as they are green, unique, unlike the ones we usually see with the concoctions of other milk tea places.

Moonleaf is along Esteban Abada Ave., Katipunan, Quezon City.

Frozen Yoh-Gurt Bar & Frozen Mochi

2012-01-23T15:19:00.007+08:00

From Yoh-Froz.

The first is a Classic Yoh-Froz Yogurt bar covered with milk chocolate and crispy rice puffs. We loved the play on texture: smooth yogurt, crispy rice puffs, rough chocolate shell. What we didn't like though was the chocolate itself. It was too milky. We prefer our chocolate bittersweet.

The Yoh-Froz Frozen Mochi was a winner! The Japanese rice ball itself had good, manageable stickiness (it wasn't hard or tricky to eat). It also had the right amount of blandness to showcase the frozen yogurt filling. There are many yogurt filling flavors to choose from: Classic, Strawberry, Red Mongo, Green Tea, etc. We chose the Classic.

Go to Yoh-Froz and try their new dessert offerings.

More bottled Frappuccino

2012-01-21T04:07:00.006+08:00

From Starbucks, of course.

We tried the Mocha Frappuccino a few months back, and didn't like it. Now, we have the Caramel, Vanilla, and Coffee variants to judge.

The Caramel Frappuccino is O-K; it's not bad sure, but it's not great either. We think the caramel flavor is not deep enough, does not have enough burnt taste. That's why it is easily drowned by the milk.

The Vanilla Frappuccino. Now this one, we like. It's like drinking ice cream. The vanilla flavor is a perfect complement to the milky one.

The Coffee Frappuccino isn't bad. There's enough coffee depth and bitterness (not to mention good Starbucks coffee taste) to balance the dominant milk flavor. But we don't find the drink exciting; it's forgettable.

The Starbucks bottled Frappuccino is available at Rustans Fresh and SM Hypermart.

Primablend Bakeshop's Leche Flan

2012-01-18T15:01:00.005+08:00

A smooth, well-set custard, oozing with the perfect marriage of egg and milk flavor, topped with a caramel sauce that's not-so-sweet and has enough burnt flavor.

Tempted? Drooling? Then call Primablend now and try their leche flan.

Perfect partner: coffee

More, more Dunkin treats!

2012-01-16T17:48:00.006+08:00

The Choco Wacko and the Coffee Crumble!

The Choco Wacko (Php 15) is a small honey-dipped chocolate doughnut with a delicious chocolate shell. The said shell is not too sweet, with a hint of bitterness. YUMMY!

The Coffee Crumble (Php 45) is from the Premium collection of Dunkin Donuts. A doughnut with mocha cream, chocolate swirls, more cream, and crunchy caramel-covered bits. The doughnut is delicious, and the cream's mocha flavor is pronounced but not overpowering. We just wished for more of those crunchy bits, for texture.

Perfect partner: good coffee.

Try them now!

Truffino Chocolat Noir

2012-01-14T10:27:00.004+08:00

Milk-chocolate-covered wafers with hazelnut filling, by Swiss Delice.

Basically, they're elongated Ferrero Rocher chocolate. Haha!

The sweetness is just right, the chocolate flavor is satisfying, and the combination of textures makes these treats fun to eat.

Perfect partner: Coffee. Or vanilla ice cream. Yummy!

Kangaroo Jerky

2012-01-10T16:49:00.005+08:00

Yes, you read it right: kangaroo! Cured kangaroo meat from Australia! By Mariani Foods.

How does it taste? It tastes weird. It tastes like ham with hints of hotdog and squid. Yes, squid! The first bite gives the meaty, slightly sweet flavor. Then comes the pungent seafood aftertaste. It's really weird!

Though we're happy to have tried something new, eating kangaroo meat is something we won't repeat anytime soon.

Dunkcoctions: Café Mocha Shake

2012-01-08T15:04:00.005+08:00

Dunkin Donuts unveils its new set of hot and cold drinks.

We asked the attendant which cold drink is the bestseller. She said Café Mocha Shake, so we tried it.

Well, it didn't taste like mocha. It tasted like liquified brownies, but good brownies, to be fair. The chocolate flavor was more pronounced than the coffee flavor. What we liked were the bittersweet chocolate chips used as toppings. They added the needed depth and bitterness to the drink.

Go to a Dunkin branch and try a Dunkcoction and judge for yourself.

Eating. It's More Fun In The Philippines!

2012-01-06T20:04:00.000+08:00

Torones de Saba

2012-01-06T15:54:00.006+08:00

Banana spring rolls!

Cardaba banana (saba) slices nestling inside spring roll wrappers, then coated with sugar and sesame seeds.

These treats by Victoria Food Products are a tad too sweet. Maybe they should go easy with the sugar coating. And the banana slices are too firm to be used for turon. But we like the sesame seeds; they add a layer of texture and nutty flavor.

Perfect partner: coffee. Or good vanilla ice cream.

Tea-rrific Mango Smooth-Tea

2012-01-04T14:36:00.009+08:00

We came back to Tea-rrific to try a Smooth-Tea, a concoction of fruit and oolong tea. We picked mango for our fruit, as it is highly recommended. We also requested for just 50% sugar.

We loved the drink! We liked the delicious marriage of flavors between the sweet ripe mango and the earthy tea; they were perfect together. Of course, we again enjoyed chewing the taro balls. The best part, we paid only Php 39! Sweet!

And yeah, we love the yellow and black color combo of the drink.

Try Tea-rrific now!

Tea-rrific is on the 2nd floor of SM City Masinag.

Mini Coffee Cupcakes

2012-01-02T09:25:00.003+08:00

They're by Sugar Fairies.

The cake itself is moist and flavorful. The coffee icing has good texture and the right amount of sweetness. The coffee flavor though is a little too subtle; a little more depth and bitterness would've made the frosting better. The coffee bean candy topping is too sweet, cringe-inducing.

These mini coffee cupcakes are cute and fun to be given as gifts.

The Laughing Cow cheese

2011-12-31T14:10:00.005+08:00

Nice name for a cheese brand, right? The Laughing Cow. But, is it fun to eat?

Well, no. We didn't like it. We found it too milky and sugary. It lacked the saltiness we always look for in a good grocery-store-bought cheese. Then again, we are not part of the brand's target market; we think it's peddled for kids. Well, with the white sugary sweetness, kids might like it.

We loved the texture though; the cheese was buttery smooth, easy to spread on hot bread.

The Laughing Cow cheese is available at leading supermarkets.

Carb Trim

2011-12-26T16:25:00.006+08:00

It's a drink that supposedly blocks up to 66% of the carbs that we eat. It's iced tea that comes in two flavors, lemon and apple. Its main ingredient is white bean extract, a preparation that, according to studies, prevents the enzyme Amylase from breaking down carbohydrates into absorbable glucose components.

We tried Carb Trim and drank a glass everyday for 10 days, before a carb-filled meal. We were expecting something to happen to our poop (where else will the unbroken carbs go?). Surprisingly, we saw no change. We just became gassy and peed a lot.

Did we lose weight after drinking Carb Trim? No. Not a single pound. So we wondered: does Carb Trim really work? Is the ten-day period too short? Or maybe we're eating just the right amount of carbs, that there's nothing to block? We must admit, we became suspicious.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed drinking Carb Trim. Both flavors were delicious. The fruity flavors were pronounced. The sweetness was also just right.

Carb Trim is available at leading supermarkets and drugstores.

Chef Tony's Pop Corn: Southern French Herbs with Cream Cheese

2011-12-21T07:56:00.007+08:00

Some fancy tasting popcorn y'all!

But what are the French herbs really? Well, they are basil, thyme, lavender, fennel, and savory. But we doubt if they're all present in this snack. Sure, the morsels have green specks and they have a generally lemony taste, but we don't think all the herbs are there. No doubt though that this variant gives a burst of flavor.

The cheese component adds the right amount of salt and smooth texture. But cream cheese? No, we don't think so.

Chef Tony's Pop Corn: Southern French Herbs with Cream Cheese is available at SM Department Store.

Giligan's

2011-12-19T14:21:00.011+08:00

Place: The area is clean and beautifully furnished. The fishing-related decor adds charm and fun to the place, especially the fishing net ceiling. The dining tables are not that spacious and sturdy though, so are the chairs.

Food: Generally delicious. We ordered the Giligan's Grilled Platter Special, Giligan's Combo Platter, Boneless Crispy Pata, Chopsuey, Kare-Kareng Gulay, Mango Float, Leche Flan, and Buko Pandan Salad.

Giligan's Grilled Platter Special (Php 575) had different kinds of meat, all grilled with the same tasty, slightly sweet marinade. The platter has tuna belly, squid, pork belly (liempo), chicken barbecue, and some relish. The grilled pork belly was delicious, juicy, and tender. The tuna belly wasn't fresh so its flavor wasn't clean. Same was true for the squid, although the pieces weren't tough. The chicken was juicy and perfectly grilled. Its flavor however wasn't punctuated (we thought it was inasal).

Giligan's Combo Platter (Php 495) had different fried goodies: lumpiang shanghai, calamares, and fried chicken. Plus, this platter also had grilled pork belly. Now this one we liked. The fried food was cooked perfectly; each piece was golden and crispy. Each was also well seasoned. The lumpiang shanghai's our favorite!

The Boneless Crispy Pata (Php 210) was disappointing. Sure, the pieces were crispy and juicy, but they were bland.

The Chopsuey (Php 105) was OK. The vegetables were fresh and well sautéed, and the sauce was flavorful and sweet (maybe they put coconut water).

The Kare-Kareng Gulay (Php 132) was a winner! The sauce had the right creamy consistency and the right amount of peanut flavor. We couldn't stop pouring it over rice! The vegetables (eggplant, pechay, and puso ng saging) were fresh and not overcooked.

Then came dessert. The Mango Float (Php 55) was delicious. The mango cubes were fresh, the cream wasn't too sweet, and the crust wasn't bland. The dessert was served too hard though. The Leche Flan (Php 35) was equally delicious. The caramel had the right sweetness and the flan itself was smooth. Finally, the Buko Pandan Salad (Php 55) was O-K. The coconut meat was fresh, the jelly cubes were fun to eat, and the sauce had the right consistency. Problem was, the dessert was a tad too sweet because of the nata de coco pieces mixed into the thing.

Must-eats: Kare-Kareng Gulay, Giligan's Combo Platter

Price: Considering serving size and food quality, prices are reasonable. There's no service charge, by the way.

Service: OK. The waiters were attentive. Wished they were neater though, and friendlier.

Giligan's is on the 1st floor of SM Masinag.

First Time: Tea-rrific!

2011-12-17T14:29:00.007+08:00

From the company that gave us the fruit shake stand Fruitas comes Tea-rriffic!, the newest place to get milk tea.

We asked the attendant what milk they use for their drinks. He said that they don't use milk but a non-dairy creamer (love that!). We ordered a small cup (Php 39) of their bestseller, Oolong (black tea). So it's black tea, creamer, tapioca balls, and ice.

How was it? It was good enough, delicious enough, considering the price. A little more tea flavor would've made the drink perfect but we were satisfied anyway. We liked the good consistency of the drink, and we loved those tapioca balls. The balls were well cooked, of good quality, and fun to chew!

Our first Tea-rrific experience made us want to go back and try more drinks. We're setting our eyes, and mouths, on the fruity teas...

Tea-rrific! is on the 2nd floor of SM City Masinag.

Cornetto Disc

2011-12-15T16:35:00.008+08:00

It's the new Cornetto variant of Selecta. There are two flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla. We chose the latter.

The Cornetto Disc is ice cream topped with an amply thick semi-sweet chocolate disc, and chopped nuts. This same ice cream hides a bittersweet chocolate sauce surprise. All this goodness is then placed in a crisp cone with a delicious milk chocolate tip.

The vanilla ice cream was creamy and not too sweet. The chocolate sauce provided good contrast to the for-kids sweetness and taste of all the other chocolate components. YUMMY!

The Cornetto Disc costs Php 25. Try it!

Pinyo Chef in Canada

2011-12-14T19:49:00.002+08:00

Mabuhay, Pinoy chef Antonio Martin of Fray!

Century Corned Tuna Inasal

2011-12-13T17:22:00.006+08:00

It's the latest offering of Century Tuna.

It's corned tuna flavored with that distinct inasal marinade (vinegar with spices, unpunctuated, vinegar-dominated taste). One would think that the saltiness of the corned tuna would complement the bitin inasal taste. But no! This product is all about the fishy, sour flavor! We didn't taste inasal; it's more like kilawing tuna.

If we wanted sour fish, we would order paksiw.

Skip this one folks!

P.S. We heard that the Century Corned Tuna Inasal is endorsed by KC Concepcion and Piolo Pascual. Hmmm, no wonder it tastes bad. As fishy and sour as their sham romance.

Lemongrass

2011-12-11T13:43:00.013+08:00

Place: Clean and beautifully furnished. We liked the good lighting and cool colors of the restaurant. Chairs were comfortable and the tables were spacious.

Food: Delicious! We ordered some of their specialities and bestsellers. We had the Chicken and Corn Soup, the Minced Curry Chicken Cake, the Stir-Fried Ho Fan with Assorted Meat, and the Baby Back Ribs BBQ with Rice, plus the Lemongrass Tea to drink.

The Chicken and Corn Soup (Php 175) was good, hearty. It had the right thickness and the good balance of flavors, of sweet and salty. We loved the fact that the soup was teeming with fresh and crisp corn kernels and well-seasoned chicken bits.

The Minced Curry Chicken Cake (Php 195) was a good appetizer. Each cake was perfectly fried, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And each one was perfectly seasoned. The curry flavor wasn't too strong and was complemented by cilantro. The dish came with a sweet chili dip that went well with the cakes.

The Stir-Fried Ho Fan with Assorted Meat (Php 305) was O-K. The wide rice noodles were sautéed with bean sprouts, carrots, pork slices, shrimps, chorizo, and a savory sauce, then topped with scrambled egg. The sauce's flavor was a little too subtle, and the bean sprout taste overpowered the dish. We loved the noodles though for they were of good quality.

The Baby Back Ribs BBQ with Rice (Php 295) is a must-eat! A big serving of well-marinated, perfectly grilled baby back ribs, nestling on fluffy rice, served with very tasty barbecue sauce and buttered vegetables (corn, carrots, and cucumber). The meat was really tender and delicious! The sauce was the one that made the whole dish exciting to eat. It's savory, just a tad sweet, and not spicy. Really, this dish was perfection on a plate!

The Lemongrass Tea (Php 105) is the restaurant's own concoction. For the drink, they mixed lemongrass and pandan. It's served hot or cold. We had it cold, and it was served to us in a tall glass, with slices of fruits (pineapple, dragon fruit, calamansi, lime). We liked it. It was refreshing, flavors were subtle, and it wasn't too sweet.

Must-eats: Chicken and Corn Soup, Baby Back Ribs BBQ with Rice

Price: Considering food quality, taste, and serving size, prices are reasonable.

Service: OK. The servers were cordial and knowledgable about the dishes. Waiting time was acceptable.

Lemongrass is on the 1st floor of the Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Kettle Korn

2011-12-08T16:19:00.005+08:00

After a few years of not eating this popcorn, we finally had the opportunity to buy some Kettle Korn. We chose the Cheese variant (there's Sweet Corn, Sweet and Salty, and Barbecue).

We were a little disappointed: sure the kernels were cooked well, popped perfectly. The popcorn however was a tad too sweet; the caramel flavor overpowered the cheese one. A little more saltiness could've provided the needed balance. Sayang.

A regular pack of Kettle Korn costs Php 50.

More chocolate Dunkin' Donuts!

2011-12-05T17:22:00.005+08:00

First, the Choco Nutty Choco. It's the classic Nutty Chocolate (chocolate frosting and chopped peanut toppings) but with a honey-dipped chocolate doughnut. It's DELICIOUS! And it ain't too sweet.

The other, the Choco Wacko, from the Premium Donuts collection. Chocolate doughnut, sitting on a mildly sweet chocolate base, topped with tons of chocolate shavings, and white frosting stripes. Chocolate overload! It's a must-eat! And just like the Choco Nutty Choco, the sweetness is just right.

Troop to Dunkin Donuts and try these chocolatey treats now!

Highlands Corned Beef

2011-12-04T18:04:00.006+08:00

It's by CDO.

A TV ad says that Highlands Corned Beef is the premium breed of corned beef, that it is a breed apart, different and better than all the others available in the market. Its selling point? It's made from Angus beef, making Highlands meatier, juicier.

To be fair, Highlands Corned Beef really is meatier and juicier than the other corned beefs we've tried. Unfortunately, in the taste department, it falls short of being the best one. Its flavor is not punctuated, leaving one unsatisfied. And it has a hint of sweetness that we find weird to taste in corned beef.

If we have to be blunt about it, Purefoods Corned Beef is the best corned beef in the market.

Zinger Double Down

2011-12-01T14:16:00.004+08:00

It's by KFC.

Bacon strips, cheese, and mayo, all nestling between two perfectly fried chicken fillets. The bacon strips are half cooked, producing more smoky sweet flavor. The cheese isn't sharp, and the mayonnaise is delicious! And of course, the Zinger chicken fillets are crispy and have more than enough heat to whet the appetite. Whew!

Go to KFC and try the hot Zinger Double Down. It's SOOO good!

S&W Fresh Pineapple

2011-11-30T16:26:00.005+08:00

One afternoon, while doing some grocery shopping, a promo girl approached us and asked us to try a chunk of S&W Pineapple. It was sweet, juicy. So we were sold and bought a pack of sliced pineapple.

When we got home and had the pineapple slices for dessert, we were surprised because the pieces were not as good as the one with sampled in the supermarket. The core wasn't chopped off (tough!), the sweetness was uneven, and some slices were downright sour. Shortchanged, we were!

Skip this one folks. It's not worth your money.

Tokyo Tokyo Bento

2011-11-28T13:20:00.005+08:00

Want a satisfying lunch that's also easy on the pocket? Then try Tokyo Tokyo's Bento meals.

A Bento meal comes with miso soup, unlimited rice, buttered vegetables, a glass of Red iced tea, coffee jelly dessert, and your viand of choice. And there's so many viands to choose from! Once can have a Beef Stew Bento, Honey Chicken, Chicken Teriyaki, Ebi Tempura, the list goes on. Talk about a complete meal!

We chose the Prawn & Vegetable Tempura (Php 195) for lunch.

The miso soup was OK, flavorful and served warm. The buttered vegetables were delicious; the veggies weren't soggy and too oily. The coffee jelly dessert was a delight to eat; it had a good balance of sweet and bitter. And the tempura pieces were perfectly fried; the batter was light, the prawns were fresh, and the vegetables (carrots, onions, and potatoes) were crisp.

All in all, the Bento meal left us very satisfied. And for less than Php 200, that's not a bad feeling to have.

Go to Tokyo Tokyo and have a hearty Bento meal now.

Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha

2011-11-27T14:08:00.002+08:00

It's a new drink by Starbucks for the holiday season.

We ordered it hot, non-fat, no whipped cream. We like the contrasting flavors of the sugary sweet white chocolate and the deep, slightly bitter mocha. The drink also has chewy bits of cranberry, for texture and hints of tartness. We thought the drink would be too sweet, but it turned out OK.

Go to Starbucks and try the Cranberry White Chocolate Mocha.

Lucky Me Special pasta

2011-11-26T09:28:00.011+08:00

Instant pasta from Lucky Me!

There are three variants: Curly Spaghetti, Baked Mac, and Mac & Cheez. Of course, we tried all three. And we liked them! All of them!

The Curly Spaghetti boasts of its yummy red sauce, and it should because the sauce is delicious. The sauce [almost] tastes like home made Bolognese, meaty, comforting, flavorful. The Curly Spaghetti also comes with a pack of dried red cubes resembling and replacing ground meat. These cubes are actually chewy when cooked, adding texture to the whole dish.

Next, the two macaronis: Baked Mac and Mac & Cheez. The first is delicious. The sauce is similar to that of Curly Spaghetti, only it has more cheese flavor. The second one is cheese overload! But the good thing is, it's not salty; only good cheddar flavor. And, surprisingly, it has a subtle smoky flavor. Maybe Lucky Me is going for bacon & cheese...Yum!

Of course, because they're from Lucky Me, these pasta dishes come with high quality noodles. We only wish they come in bigger servings.

The Lucky Me Special pastas are available at leading supermarkets.

Food fix

2011-11-24T16:00:00.003+08:00

Puto

Whatta Tops!

2011-11-22T15:24:00.005+08:00

Chocolate cupcakes by Lemon Square.

Moist chocolate cupcake, with chocolate filling, and a hard chocolate topping. Chocolate overload! Talagang chocolahat!

The cupcake is O-K, yummy enough. And it's not too sweet. The chocolate filling though is a tad too artificial for our taste. So is the hard chocolate top. But that not-really-milk-chocolate and not-really-dark-chocolate artificial flavor may be a hit with kids (Yikes!).

Whatta Tops cupcakes are available at leading supermarkets.

Italian eats from Cibo

2011-11-20T15:16:00.005+08:00

Chicken Puff

2011-11-19T08:31:00.006+08:00

"Tempura Style" chicken nuggets from Bounty Fresh.

Frankly, we don't know what's "tempura" about these nuggets. Definitely not the coating, for the coating is not airy and light. Also not the color because we have yet to see orange tempura. Hmmm, we're baffled.

To be fair, the Chicken Puff nuggets are delicious. Actually, compared to the many chicken nuggets out there, these are probably the only ones that taste like chicken; the others taste like seasoned tofu. The Chicken Puff nuggets are also well seasoned, not too salty. They're also packed, very meaty.

We tried the Cheese variant. Too bad the cheese flavor is too subtle to be enjoyed.

The Chicken Puff nuggets are available in leading supermarkets.

An Authentic Filipino Restaurant in New York

2011-11-17T13:34:00.002+08:00

The New York Times reviews the restaurant Maharlika.

Click HERE.

Corioso

2011-11-15T14:23:00.007+08:00

They're butter cookies from Samar, by Charito's Delight.

The cookies are not too hard and not crumbly. And they're delicious! The sweetness is just right, and one can really taste the butter and egg flavors. We personally enjoy eating the slightly burnt ones because the charred flavor adds some depth.

Perfect partner: coffee.

We got the box of Corioso as a gift. If you want to know where to buy these yummy cookies, contact Charito's Delight.

More dishes from Crisostomo

2011-11-14T03:35:00.006+08:00

KFC BBQ Rods

2011-11-12T15:31:00.006+08:00

They're skewered Fun Shots, served with java rice and barbecue sauce.

The barbecue sauce was delicious; it wasn't too sweet and had the right amount of smokiness and spiciness; it's like the Barbecue flavor of Lay's Potato Chips. The java rice was also good and came in one generous serving.

A serving of the BBQ Rods costs Php 70. Visit KFC and try their chicken barbecue now!

Good Time Snacks Fish Crackers

2011-11-10T12:57:00.005+08:00

They're by CVC Supermarket.

Perfectly seasoned, not too salty, not too peppery. They're also perfectly cooked, with the right balance of puff and crunch.

Perfect partner: ice-cold soda.

Go to CVC Supermarket and ask the cashier for Good Time Snacks Fish Crackers.

Must-eats from Recipes

2011-11-08T17:19:00.003+08:00

Chinese concoctions from King Bee

2011-11-05T07:39:00.008+08:00

Food fix

2011-11-03T17:09:00.001+08:00

Red Ribbon's Palabok

2011-11-02T17:27:00.006+08:00

It's meaty, tasty, and really good. We loved the strong chicharon flavor and the very subtle seafood taste. We also liked the ample amount of meat bits and cubes to munch on, adding texture to the dish.

We just wished though that a serving didn't have too much sauce, making the noodles a little too soggy.

Perfect partner: Yummy Cheese Roll or Ensaymada.

Nestlé's Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly, part deux

2011-10-30T13:58:00.011+08:00

Here are the other flavors of the yummy yogurt snack from Nestlé.

First off, Buco Pandan. It really tasted like the ubiquitous creamy restaurant dessert. There were times when we forgot that we're eating yogurt. The flavors were really authentic.

It was the same story with the fruitier flavors, Peach Mango and Melon. Natural flavors, perfectly complemented by the tart yogurt. Yummy!

All of these variants come with a big, firm, fun jelly, and bit of nata de coco for some texture.

Nestlé's Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly is available in leading supermarkets. Try all the flavors!

20 Best Desserts of 2011

2011-10-28T07:35:00.006+08:00

Click HERE!

Lucky Me Spicy Hot Beef Mami

2011-10-27T11:17:00.005+08:00

It's dubbed as the hottest noodle soup from Lucky Me. Or is it?

It's not as hot as Sharon Cuneta claims in the TV ad (with the dozens of fans). The heat is bearable, comforting actually, perfect for those cold rainy nights (and we have low tolerance for hot and spicy food). It's just hot enough to whet the appetite. The broth is teeming with good beef flavor. And, of course, because it's from Lucky Me, the noodles are of high quality.

The Lucky Me Spicy Hot Beef Mami is available in leading supermarkets. Try it!

Kuya's Lumpiang Sariwa

2011-10-25T15:05:00.008+08:00

How is Kuya's Lumpiang Sariwa different from the rest? First, its wrapper is green, because of pandan. And second, his vegetable filling (main ingredient is ubod) has nori. Yes, nori for sushi. The nori gives the lumpia a slightly more pungent taste.

One can have the lumpia with a soy-sauce-and-cornstarch concoction, with or without garlic.

For those who want lumpiang sariwa with a twist, try Kuya's Lumpiang Sariwa. It's found on the 3rd floor of SM City Marikina.

Max's Corner Bakery Chocolate Cake

2011-10-24T12:42:00.005+08:00

It's your good old fashioned chocolate cake: moist chiffon, slathered with bittersweet chocolate.

Max's Chocolate Cake has the right amount of sweetness and is oozing with good, chocolate flavor. Perfect partner? A cup of good coffee.

It's simply delicious.

Go to the Corner Bakery of Max's Restaurant and try this cake.

Chocolate Rhum Cheesecake

2011-10-23T12:16:00.003+08:00

It's by Starbucks.

We loved the depth of the flavor of this dessert brought about by the delicious combination of rum and dark chocolate. Plus, the sweetness is just right, enough to sufficiently balance the bitterness and the liquor flavor. But what we really enjoyed eating was the gooey rum-chocolate truffle on top of the cake. Bittersweet chocolate par excellence. YUMMY!

The cheesecake also had good integrity and texture. It wasn't too messy to eat.

FYI: when you order the Chocolate Rhum Cheesecake, look at the ganache closely; it has gold specks. Luxurious!

Strawberry Sundae

2011-10-23T04:24:00.005+08:00

It's by Jollibee.

Creamy, delicious vanilla ice cream smothered with strawberry sauce.

We liked this new dessert because one, we love Jollibee's vanilla ice cream, and two, the strawberry sauce didn't taste like cough syrup but jam. Yummy!

Go to Jollibee and try the Strawberry Sundae.

Jollibee Grilled Pork Tenders

2011-10-22T18:48:00.005+08:00

The latest dish from the leading fast food chain.

Juicy, tender pork slices, perfectly grilled, perfectly marinated with a sweet salty sauce. It's Jollibee's version of pork barbecue.

We liked the Grilled Pork Tenders; they're delicious. We also liked the toyomansi dipping sauce because the soy sauce wasn't too salty. We just wished that the dish came with java rice.

An order costs Php 65. Try it now.

Hacienda Macalauan Live Yoghurt

2011-10-19T06:06:00.008+08:00

We were in the grocery one Sunday and a promo girl asked us to try this new brand of yogurt: Hacienda Macalauan. She boasted that the new brand is all natural and has no preservatives (read: the yogurt goes bad after 5 days). After much prodding, we got two flavors: Nata de Coco and Blueberry.

The yogurt itself was tart and had the authentic milk-going-bad flavor. The Nata de Coco had chewy nata de coco bits. Problem was the taste of this variant was bitin. We were left well, unsatisfied.

The Blueberry had blueberry bits, and these bits completed the taste of the concoction. The fruit complemented the yogurt, brought the punctuation to the flavor. We even liked nibbling on some blueberry pulp.

Hacienda Macalauan Live Yoghurt is available at SM Hypermart.

Mango Yogurt Cheesecake

2011-10-18T06:16:00.003+08:00

It's by Starbucks.

In terms of texture, the Mango Yogurt Cheesecake was a winner: the topping of crumbs and nuts and the bottom crust provided good contrast to the smooth, velvety center. But in terms of taste, this dessert was O-K. The taste was not punctuated, leaving us unsatisfied. Plus, the mixture of tart yogurt and slightly sour mango made the "cheese"cake weird. And dessert should not be weird but wonderful.

Try it now and judge for yourself.

McDonald's Premium Roast Coffee

2011-10-17T05:25:00.004+08:00

McDonald's Premium Roast Coffee is a must-drink for coffee lovers. Made from 100% Arabica beans, its depth and bold flavor will surely perk up one's morning and breakfast palate.

We prefer it with two sachets of sugar for a punctuated taste.

Perfect partners: Big Breakfast with Rice and two Hash Browns.

Crème Brûlée Frappuccino

2011-10-16T15:08:00.004+08:00

A refreshing coffee drink from Starbucks.

This one exudes authentic crème brûlée flavor. We especially love the depth added by the burnt sugar taste. Surprisingly, the drink's sweetness is just right, and the marriage of flavors is perfect.

Try the Crème Brûlée Frappuccino now.

Food fix

2011-10-15T05:22:00.002+08:00

Cappuccino (Mc Café)

Bon Chon Chicken

2011-10-14T15:43:00.007+08:00

A lot of people have been talking about Bon Chon Chicken, like it's the best thing to happen to fried chicken. So we tried out some. We bought a box of 6 drumsticks. Our verdict...

It's OK. The chicken was tasty, juicy, and crispy (it's doubly fried). We chose the Soy Garlic sauce to coat our chicken (the other option was Spicy). You see the sauce is not for dipping; it's already part of the fried chicken. And the one we chose was good, flavorful, had a hint of sweetness, but very subtle garlic taste.

What we didn't like was the price; the box of 6 was more then Php 300 (365?). For fried chicken?! For that price, one can buy two whole chickens! Sure, the chicken was good but not good enough to be that expensive.

Bon Chon Chicken is at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

More Dunkin' Premium Donuts

2011-10-11T14:24:00.005+08:00

This time, we tried the Chococcino and the Dark Crunch.

The Chococcino is a glazed doughnut with a dark chocolate frosting and white chocolate chip topping. The doughnut is then cut in half to give space for the mocha filling. What we didn't like was the filling. Sure, the coffee flavor was there, but it was too rich; it made finishing the whole doughnut incredibly difficult. After finishing a piece, we felt like we couldn't eat another one again.

Next, the Dark Crunch: chocolate doughnut topped with vanilla frosting and bits of crunchy chocolate. Now this one's a winner! It's not too sweet, there's a perfect marriage of flavors, DELICIOUS! Best enjoyed with a good cup of coffee.

There, two more variants of Dunkin' Donuts's Premium goodies. Try them now!

Nescafé Sweet 'N Mild

2011-10-10T17:32:00.005+08:00

Diabetes alert!

Nescafé's new 3 in 1 variant, Sweet 'N Mild, is so sweet, it will make you cringe! There's no other flavor other than white sugar flavor! The coffee flavor is so mild, it's non-existent. Gosh, even caramel has more depth, taste wise.

So unless you're an ant, skip this one!

Food fix

2011-10-07T05:42:00.003+08:00

Baked mussels and shrimps (Tender Bob's)

Yoh Froz Parfaits

2011-10-05T14:56:00.006+08:00

Delicious, filling, and refreshing desserts/snacks from Yoh Froz!

Parfaits, made up of layers of frozen yogurt, cornflakes, fruit of choice (mango, strawberry, or blueberry), banana, granola, and almond slivers! Yummy!

We ordered two parfaits, mango and blueberry. We loved the freshness of the fruits, especially the banana's! And the almonds...fun to munch on! Of course, Yoh Froz's Original frozen yogurt was a good background to feature all the divine ingredients.

For those who like a lot of texture with their food, well, the Parfait has it all: crunch, creamy, and chewy!

An order costs Php 175. Try it!

Pic A' Pie Black Forest

2011-10-03T10:43:00.007+08:00

It's chocolate cake layered with whipped cream, and topped with chocolate shavings and cherries. A lot of bakeshops have their versions of this classic cake, and a simple bakeshop from Marikina offers its own.

Is Pic A' Pie's Black Forest good?

It's O-K. The cake itself is not too sweet, which is good. It's also moist and has good integrity. However it needs more chocolate flavor. The whipped cream topping is a tad too thick, making the cake a little nakakaumay to eat. And for those who love more-than-a-hint of cherry flavor in their black forest, you'll be disappointed because the taste you want can only be found on the top layer with the sliced cherries.

What we love about the cake are the delicious chocolate shavings. Bittersweet chocolate yumminess!

All in all, this Black Forest cake is a good enough dessert. Try it.

Nestlé's Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly

2011-09-30T15:33:00.006+08:00

Yes, you read it right, yogurt and jelly.

It's an innovation from the maker of "good food." It's a big jelly submerged in yogurt. We can't say it's something we hear everyday...

Was it good?

Yes! It had a nice, refreshing, not-so-artificial strawberry flavor. It had a good balance of sweet and tart. And it was fun to cut up the big jelly into smaller pieces and to eat such pieces with the yogurt.

Fun and delicious. What more can you ask for from a dessert snack?

The Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly is available in leading supermarkets.

Food fix

2011-09-28T04:46:00.002+08:00

Empanaditas

2011-09-26T14:23:00.007+08:00

They're by Lucky 21 Food Products. They're cute, miniature versions of the empanada (stuffed baked/fried pastry), a famous snack item.

These Empanaditas (Php 10/piece) are delicious! The crust, which we LOVE, is perfectly cooked, has a good balance of chewiness, flakiness, and crunch. It's also bland enough to be a good shell for the pork filling.

The pork filling has ground meat, potatoes, and minced vegetables for main ingredients. It's well-seasoned and has a hint of sweetness to appeal to the Filipino palate.

All in all, these Empanaditas are great for nibbling and snacking. With a glass of cold soda, of course.

Lucky Me Pancit Pares: Beef Asado

2011-09-23T13:15:00.008+08:00

It's Lucky Me's latest addition to its line of instant noodle dishes.

It's instant pancit made even easier to prepare. How so? There are no more separate flavor packs, i.e. the oil pack, the soy sauce pack, and the powder pack. The new Pancit Pares comes with a Sarsa Pak, or a sauce pouch, the contents of which you just pour over the noodles. Thus, no more messy mixing!

The Beef Asado tasted OK. It's beefy and savory. We just found it odd though that the sauce mix had hints of ginger flavor (do we put ginger in asado?). Nevertheless, the taste was satisfying punctuated. And because it's Lucky Me, the noodles are of high quality.

The Lucky Me Pancit Pares: Beef Asado is now available in leading supermarkets.

Dunkin Premium Donuts

2011-09-22T05:26:00.010+08:00

We're so happy to know that our favorite doughnut store has taken their goodies to the next level. Presenting, the Premium Donuts.

We tried three flavors: Quezo Duo, Blueberry Cheese, and Black Forest.

The Quezo Duo: freshly baked doughnut with butter cream frosting, topped with delicious salty cheese (parmesan or cheddar?). The frosting and cheese complemented each other well. And the doughnut itself, delicious! Classic Dunkin!

The Blueberry Cheese is a glazed doughnut breaded with crushed Graham, then topped with cream cheese frosting and blueberry preserve. DELICIOUS! The sweetness was just right and the blueberry preserve is not too tart. It's perfect with coffee.

Lastly, the Black Forest. Our favorite! The classic Dunkin chocolate doughnut topped with cream and bittersweet chocolate shavings. Heaven!

There are many other flavors to try and enjoy. And we can't wait to do so.

Monterey Sisig

2011-09-20T19:06:00.005+08:00

Monterey offers a ready-to-cook version of one of the best dishes to be partnered with beer. No need to slave for hours boiling pig cheeks, chopping those cheeks, along pork liver, and other ingredients, then sauteing them all to the point of crispy. But the question: is Monterey Sisig as delicious as a home made one?

No. There's too much pig liver flavor in it! The liver taste is overpowering! Plus, when cooked [according to package directions], the sisig gives out a lot of liquid, making the whole dish almost mushy and a tad too wet.

The only thing we liked about this Monterey product was the heat; it's hot enough to whet one's appetite, but not too much to burn the tongue. But all in all, if you want delicious sisig, make one yourself. Or better, go to a restaurant that cooks it well (we suggest Sisig Domeng of Ken Afford).

The Monterey Sisig is available at leading supermarkets.

Stuffed Nuggets: Chicken and Cheese

2011-09-19T14:11:00.006+08:00

They're by Purefoods.

We found the Stuffed Nuggets odd, for they taste OK, sure, but the they didn't taste like chicken. We actually felt like we were eating nuggets of amply seasoned extenders (tofu, bread, etc.). No chicken flavor! Plus, there was too little cheese. We expected cheese to ooze when we cut the nuggets, but it came in trickles.

Based on what we experienced, we say these Stuffed Nuggets should change its variant name to "Kinda Chicken and [little] Cheese."

KFC Streetwise Spoonfuls

2011-09-18T14:06:00.004+08:00

Four desserts in little cups, each costing Php 29.

First off, the Chocolate Mousse. The pasty chocolate cake bottom has a slightly deep chocolate flavor, providing a good contrast to the subtle chocolate mousse middle layer. The creamy top adds the needed bland component to bring home the flavors of the dessert.

Next comes Chocolate Tiramisu. It's like the Chocolate Mousse with coffee. Too bad, the coffee flavor is not that delicious. But the consistency of the different layers are good, smooth.

Next, the Mango Cheesecake. The Graham crust bottom is delicious and provides the rough texture that complements the smooth cheesecake layer. Unfortunately, the mango topping is not good; its taste is artificial.

Last, the Choco Banana Pie. It's the best among the bunch. Every component is good, from the Graham crust, to the bittersweet chocolate, to the banana concoction. Delicious!

For those who want to indulge without spending a lot, try these Spoonfuls from KFC.

Caramel Cheesecake Ice Cream

2011-09-17T07:57:00.007+08:00

It's from the Selecta Gold Series. It's vanilla ice cream with cheesecake cubes and caramel swirls.

The vanilla ice cream base is delicious, flavorful. Its texture is divine, velvety, smooth. It's the perfect canvass for the fun, truly cheesy, cheesecake (or just cheese?) cubes, and the yummy caramel sauce. We like the fact that the caramel swirl doesn't hurt the throat, as is the case with badly-made, too-sweet caramel.

This latest flavor from Selecta was concocted by Annie Tanco of Bizu Patisserie, for your information.

The Caramel Cheesecake ice cream is available at leading supermarkets. Try it!

Food fix

2011-09-15T18:12:00.002+08:00

Clam Pasta (Cyma)

Jollibee Hash Brown Burger

2011-09-14T14:25:00.006+08:00

It's basically Regular Yum w/ Cheese with baked hash browns for buns. No need to order fries and a burger separately. Sounds exciting, not to mention delicious. But was it...

It's OK, it didn't taste bad, but it didn't taste great either. We would've preferred a juicier, more flavorful beef patty (the Champ patty, perhaps?). But we liked the hash browns; they were crunchy but not greasy. Oddly enough, the thing we loved about the Hash Brown Burger was the ketchup. Its sourness was just right; it fit the patty and it fit the hash browns. Heck, its taste even fit the store-bought cheese of the burger. The ketchup was that good!

All in all, we weren't very happy with the latest Jollibee offering. We have a feeling however that this Hash Brown Burger is going to be a hit with the kids.

An order costs Php 64. With a drink, it's Php 80.

Lady's Choice Crispy Peanut Butter

2011-09-14T05:59:00.004+08:00

Crispy?! Yup, you read it right. Crispy peanut butter.

It's peanut butter with crisped rice. Imagine this: Lady's Choice's delicious, velvety, peanut spread, made more interesting and fun with bits of crunchy rice. Yummy!

Try Lady's Choice's Crispy Peanut Butter now!

Century Bangus Sisig

2011-09-13T16:09:00.006+08:00

It's basically minced milkfish with pork liver and chili.

It was O-K, taste wise. The liver flavor was too strong that it overpowered everything; we could barely taste the fish and the other spices and ingredients. The heat of the sisig though was just right, enough to whet the appetite.

Also, the bangus sisig was a tad too wet, making everything almost pasty. Whatever variation in texture was lost in all that liquid.

Then again, we can't deny that this product is a healthier alternative to the common pulutan out there.

The Century Bangus Sisig is available in leading supermarkets.

Caramel Biscotti

2011-09-12T13:07:00.006+08:00

It's by Max's.

The Caramel Biscotti is the hard version of the Caramel Bar you get when you order a Max's set meal.

The biscotti is actually delicious. The caramel flavor is really pronounced, yet its sweetness is just right. The only problem, the hardness of the biscotti is not uniform. Some were harder to bite into.

Perfect partner: Coffee.

The Caramel Biscotti is available at Max's Corner Bakery.

Pepper Lunch

2011-09-11T15:41:00.009+08:00

Place: Clean and pretty. We loved the cool orange colors and the modern, sturdy tables and chairs.

Food: Delicious! We ordered the two bestselling dishes, Chicken Pepper Rice (Php 215) and Beef Pepper Rice (Php 215), and we ordered Salmon Pepper Rice (Php 275).

The Pepper Rice dishes were delicious. The sauce had a good balance of sweet and salty; it was very flavorful but not overpowering. We're guessing it's a combination of good soy sauce and brown sugar. It went well with the cracked pepper. The meat slices were fresh and, when cooked, very tender and juicy. The chicken pieces for the Chicken Pepper Rice came pre-cooked (to avoid Salmonella contamination). The salmon slices were fresh and had no fishy taste.

The rice used for the dishes was of good quality. And of course, we loved the crisp corn kernels!

Service: The staff members were neat looking, nice, and knowledgeable about their products. They were also attentive. Two thumbs up for them!

By the way, Pepper Lunch does not charge for service. Kudos to them for being fair!

Pepper Lunch is located on the ground floor of the Shangri-La Plaza.

Smoked Turkey Premium Franks

2011-09-10T15:28:00.008+08:00

They're from the Purefoods Premium Franks variety.

These Smoked Turkey hotdogs are flavorful, very tasty. They have no strong, distinct, artificial flavor, and they're not salty either. Problem though is the hotdogs tend to dry out. Turkey meat is lean after all. Our advice, don't fry these franks for too long. Better yet, steam them.

The Purefoods Smoked Turkey Premium Franks is available in leading supermarkets.

Starbucks Ham & Cheese Croissant

2011-09-09T14:32:00.006+08:00

One afternoon, we ordered the Ham & Cheese Croissant at Starbucks. We figured it would be a great snack to go with our coffee.

So was it great? No.

The ham and cheese were good together; the cheese (Swiss cheese?) was amply salty while the ham (Forest ham?) was a little bland. The problem though was the croissant itself. It was flavorless and a bit dry. Good croissants are buttery, flaky, and just a tad greasy. Starbucks's was not; it was kinda sad, actually.

An order of the Ham & Cheese Croissant costs Php 75. But we say, skip this one.

Dishes from Crisostomo

2011-09-08T04:28:00.005+08:00

Pulutan from Gerry's Grill

2011-09-06T17:17:00.005+08:00

Tokyo Tokyo's Fruit Jelly

2011-09-05T14:08:00.004+08:00

It's the Japanese food chain's version of the Cathedral Window.

The jelly was well set, the sweetness was just right, and the gelatin cubes were fun to eat. It's actually addictive.

We just wished though that for Php 25 an order, we got a bigger serving.

Try the Fruit Jelly now.

Donburi Meals

2011-09-02T14:25:00.007+08:00

They're by Tokyo Tokyo.

The Donburi Meals are rice bowl dishes: rice coated with a flavorful sauce, which is a mixture of soy sauce, stock, and mirin, topped with your meat of choice.

The sauce was delicious; it had a right balance of sweet and salty, and the mirin flavor was not too strong. And the meat toppings were cooked well.

We tried three variants. First off, the Katsudon. The meat on top was a perfectly fried breaded pork chop. DELICIOUS! The pork chop was well-seasoned and didn't have a lot of fat.

Next, the Oyakudon. This time, the riced was served with breaded fried chicken chunks. DELICIOUS! Just like the pork chop, the chicken pieces were flavorful, meaty, and juicy.

Last, the Beef Sukiyaki. It had stir-fried beef strips, vegetables, tofu cubes, and vermicelli. Not so delicious! It was actually bland and boring to the palate. The beef slices though were tender.

Tokyo Tokyo also serves Fish Donburi and Crab Stick Donburi. We didn't try them because we're not fans of seafood.

An order of a Donburi costs Php 85. Try them.

KFC Snack Box

2011-09-01T16:49:00.002+08:00

It's a box full of goodies!

Imagine this: crispy fried chicken and french fries, all nestling inside a cute box. Plus, a cup full of gravy. YUMMY!

The best part? KFC's Snack Box is just Php 50! And we all love delicious, inexpensive food, right?

Troop to KFC and grab your own Snack Box!

Jollibee Beef with Mushrooms

2011-08-31T16:34:00.003+08:00

Stir-fried beef slices and button mushrooms, topped with fried garlic bits.

The dish was delicious, very flavorful. It really went well with rice. Problem was, a lot of the beef slices were tough to chew, for most of them were actually ligaments. It was like eating leather. Not that we've eaten leather...

An order of the Beef with Mushrooms costs Php 39. Not bad, considering serving size and taste...

Starbucks Hazelnut Mocha Frappuccino

2011-08-30T13:17:00.004+08:00

It's like ice cream in a cup!

Who knew that putting hazelnut syrup would turn the Mocha Frappuccino into a DELICIOUS drink that tastes like double dutch ice cream?!

It's not too sweet, the chocolate flavor is just right, and the creaminess makes the whole thing a pleasure to drink. It's our new favorite.

A Grande Hazelnut Mocha Frappuccino costs Php 165. Try it!

Chocolate Cakes from Red Ribbon

2011-08-29T15:47:00.008+08:00

First off, the new Triple Chocolate Roll.

It's chocolate chiffon covered with milk chocolate. It's O-K; it's not bad, but it wasn't great. The chiffon was too soggy, and the frosting was a tad too sweet. And we expected to taste 3 distinct chocolate tastes, but it's the same milk chocolate taste all over. We were a little disappointed but we think kids would like this cake.

Next, the Chocolate Fudge Cake.

It's a chocolate pound cake with a ganache filling and frosting. This one's better than the one above. The chocolate was bittersweet, and had a deeper flavor. Plus, the cake was firmer. Nevertheless, just like the first cake, this one's not great.

A slice of the Triple Chocolate Roll costs Php 29.50 while a slice of the Chocolate Fudge Cake costs Php 52.

Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie

2011-08-28T14:08:00.002+08:00

It's by Starbucks.

Moist brownie, rich bittersweet chocolate, lots of chopped walnuts. Delicious! What more can you want from a brownie, right?

The Double Chocolate Walnut Brownie goes perfect with your coffee, hot or cold.

An order costs Php 50. Try it. And enjoy.

Jolly Crispy Fries

2011-08-27T05:37:00.005+08:00

Crispy, crispy flavored french fries from Jollibee.

One can enjoy these perfectly fried potato treats either in Four Cheese flavor or Sour Cream. The Four Cheese one was good; it had the right amount of saltiness. I highly doubt that the flavor cheese powder contains four kinds of cheese but hey, it's cheesy enough and delicious.

The Sour Cream was a little odd. It didn't taste like Sour Cream but sweet & spicy onion. No sour, no cream, just hints of strong, pungent onion. Weird.

Try the Jolly Crispy Fries now at your favorite Jollibee branch.

Perfect partner: ice-cold Coke.

Jollibee's Chicken & Mushroom Pasta

2011-08-26T17:39:00.006+08:00

It's Jolly Spaghetti for adults.

Spaghetti noodles coated with a spicy tomato sauce. The sauce actually tasted like your typical meat sauce sans the sweetness. Nevertheless, it's good, very tasty. And the grated cheese provided the subtle, dairy flavor that's a good contrast to the strong flavors of the sauce.

The Chicken & Mushroom Pasta also had a generous serving of button mushrooms. I just wished it had an equally generous amount of chicken; that would've made eating the dish more pleasurable.

An order of the Chicken & Mushroom Pasta costs Php 55. Try it.

Bibingkinitan

2011-08-24T15:10:00.005+08:00

Bibingkinitan. Or small, cute, and delicious rice cakes or bibingka.

Bibingkinitan rice cakes have the right balance of air and cake; they're not too dense nor too light. Also, these cakes are delicious! They're buttery, have the perfect saltiness from the cheese and salted egg, and have the right amount of that rustic, burnt flavor from the charring and banana leaves. Yummy!

A box of 6 costs Php 120. Try Bibingkinitan now!

Perfect partner: a good cup of coffee.