a matter of teys.t

Food pics for foodies out there! These are some of the food escapades we did with the grandparents during their stay with us early Feb. this year. The kids love it when the grandparents come because part of the fun is finding new places to eat around town.

First stop, TRAVEL CAFE PHILIPPINES - Greenbelt 5

Kids are the best sales people you  can find. We had tried Travel Cafe for a quick snack of pandesal and tsokolate é a couple of years ago so when we passed by the resto with the grandparents, they enthusiastically recommended the place to them. Of course, how could the old folks decline with two persuasive adorable little sales tots. Ü Lunch it is!

My son ordered the tomato soup in a bread bowl…

… while the old folks ordered this deconstructed kare-kare dish. In contrast to kare-kare being served stew-style, the meat and veggies were served on a plate with the kare-kare sauce poured on top like gravy. Quite interesting. I liked the flavor although I would have preferred it to be drenched with more sauce.

Aside from the above we also sampled their adobo and beef ( I forgot the name of the dish but it was yummy and it was gone before I could take a pic). The old folks ended the meal with a hot mug of Cordillera Coffee served in a clay mug with a cute little “pitsel” for the milk- extremely hot and a bit pricey. I’m no coffee drinker but I  sipped a little bit just to taste and boy! it was a like a shot of nicotine straight to my veins! (barako sa tapang! very brave - joke Ü hehehe)

Next stop, MINI SHABU-SHABU - Bonifacio Hi Street

I took a shot of the interiors, nope, these are not cardboard displays…

… this geisha was directly above me Ü

Finally, the food… healthy and guilt-free…

…. a little bit guilty

Über guilty!!!!!!

… prepare to meet thy maker!

awww…

The kids had fun cooking their own food, although the little one had more fun cooking than eating.

You can almost smell it right?

One last look before they go into the hot pot!

Happy and satisfied! Ü

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Crisostomo is one of the latest additions to Solenad, the commercial area of Nuvali along the Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road…

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If you want to try affordable Wagyu beef you can order them at Harana, Sarungbanggi or Bistro Rosario along Torres Street in Davao.

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I was watching the Oprah show earlier today. She had as guests, Dr. Oz and David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine and author of  ”Eat This, Not That!” series. Their topic was about obesity in kids and the discussion revolved around the how’s and why’s kids end being so overweight. David shared a lot of information about the food choices that are out there in the supermarkets and how to choose wisely.

As parents, we all want to raise normal, healthy kids and sometimes our food decisions aren’t always the best ones simply because we lack information. We have evolved into a “fast-food” generation where everything is quick and easy but not necessarily healthy. Hence, the rise of liposuction, diet pills and all sorts of weight-loss products. Although, these books are geared more towards the American consumer, still, there is much to be gleaned from them because a lot of these products are now available locally in major supermarkets. If you want to know if ‘regular bacon’ is healthier than ‘turkey bacon’, you gotta read the book. You’ll be surprised. So before you reach out for that bag of chips and that box of “multi-grain’ something, read the back label or better yet get yourself a copy of these books.

Check out these books. They are available at Amazon.com and you can read more reviews by those who have bought them. You might even qualify for their Free Super Saver Shipping. (Click on the links to get there)

Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds–or More!

Eat This Not That! for Kids!: Be the Leanest, Fittest Family on the Block!

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It’s a Friday night and usually we don’t cook on Fridays because after the kids are done with Kumon (they go to the last batch for the day) we usually have roasted chicken and barbecue or grilled porkchop from Jimanji, the local village store. But tonight, instead of our usual ‘Jimanji’ chicken and barbecue dinner we had to look for an alternative because the hubby arrived late and missed the 6:30 pm window to place our order. Oddly though, they only cook  a maximum of two roasted chickens a day so if you don’t place your order early, chances are you won’t get any. And so we did. We missed the ‘cluck’ - get it ‘cluck’? Nah, nevermind. LOL

So off we go to Paseo de Sta. Rosa to check out our options. Of course, the kids knew what they wanted. Kanin Club!!! Well, we were doubtful we could do that because the hubby and I knew that it’s usually full and bursting at the seams especially during peak hours. True enough there were groups of families waiting to be seated. But the kids have spoken and value for money wise, it was still the best choice plus you can’t beat the taste, that’s for sure. So wait we did until it was our turn to be seated. 

Now what do you order when you are in Kanin Club? Everything! Well, not in one sitting though. You have to keep coming back to try everything on the menu. Of course, the kids have their “walang kamatayang” crispy tadyang while we tried something else. Normally, we would order the Thai green mango salad, crispy tadyang, sinigang na bangus. Tonight, I wanted something different - I wanted the kare-kare! The hubby went for the lemon chicken and brown rice while the kids, well, you know what they had. So ‘galit-galit muna’. :)

We don’t normally order dessert but because we were seated at a table where we saw all the food that was coming out of the kitchen, when the hubby saw the ‘turon ala mode’ sitting on the counter waiting for the waiter to serve it to one soon to be very happy customer he turned to us and told us that we were having dessert. I said “huh?” Oh well, I’m not going to argue about that, no sir. The hubby asked for the menu again and ordered our dessert. As soon as it arrived the ube ice cream parted into four directions and the turon was divided among the four of us. Fortunately for the hubby, the kids weren’t that taken with the turon, he was just so glad to relieve them of their predicament. hahaha

And so the meal ended with a smile on our faces and on our tummies too. On our way out the hubby stopped by the door and called me to check out the sign posted on the door. I took a closer look and what I saw put a smile on my face. It was a certificate given by The Miele Guide, purported to be the first, authoritative and truly independent guide to Asia’s finest restaurants, stating that Kanin Club was  recognized as one of the finest restaurants in Asia for 2008-2009. Isn’t that amazing? and what’s more fun is that it’s just a 5-minute tricycle ride away from where we live. I think diet pills would be a sellout here if Kanin Club was my next-door neighbor… then I wouldn’t have to worry if I ate there every single day.

Here’s to Kanin Club! Cheers!

p.s.

I know there are a lot of Kanin club fans out there - why not leave a comment and share your favorite dish right here. I’d love to know why you like it and why I should try it. Really!

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coffee break ver. 1.30

After a long hiatus from Jan’s coffee break, I’m slowly getting back to my blogging groove. I really like this week’s topic because it’s a topic close to our tummies. However, it’s a bit difficult to narrow the foodie choices down to just three so I’ll choose three categories - high end,  middle of the road and  ’pocket’ friendly dining places.

HIGH END 

CIRCLES at the Shangri-la Makati :

If you are a buffet and eat all you can type of foodie then one of the best places to pig out is at the Circles located at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati. International cuisine is their strength so there are numerous choices to satisfy whatever craving you have. Indian, Japanese, Chinese, a lot of Western dishes and desserts that keep calling your name to fill up your plate over and over again. It was our second time to dine there last week and fortunately the service was much better than the first time. As far as cleanliness is concerned, the proof is in the bathroom and so far I have no issues with them. When it comes to the price however, you better go there really hungry because it will set you back at approximately P1,600 ++ per person. Fortunately for us, somebody footed the bill so all we had to do is relish each mouthful with gusto. But if you’re planning for a really special occasion then, hey, go ahead. You can always hit the treadmill the next day.

The Manila Peninsula 

One of my all time favorite hotels is the Manila Pen. I actually felt so bad when it got wrecked during the Trillanes takeover last year because I really like Manila Pen. We haven’t been able to dine there for years already but my most unforgettable memory about them is their “Baked Alaska” which I tasted more than ten years ago. I don’t know if they still serve it today but I still have to find one as yummy as the one I had years ago. Unforgettable. Really.

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

Kanin Club at Paseo de Sta. Rosa or Westgate Alabang

If you prefer Filipino cuisine with that home-cooked appeal then Kanin Club is a must. Their signature ‘crispy tadyang’ is our favorite aside from their yummy gourmet ‘turon’ and practically everything on the menu is a must-try. The first time we ate there, I felt like a judge on Iron chef tasting and savoring every dish they served. The servings are generous, enough for a family to share and the price is just right.  Don’t forget to try their Thai green mango salad!

SONYA’S GARDEN in Tagaytay

If you like it light and healthy, then Sonya’s Garden is where it’s at. Freshly picked greens from her garden sprinkled with edible flowers is a romantic, yummy treat to try. They usually serve a set menu at approximately P500 to P600 per person. I love their dalandan drink. If you go during the day, you can also snap some shots around her lovely garden.

“POCKET” FRIENDLY

MAX’s Fried Chicken

Now here’s an ever reliable place to dine, affordable and always yummy. Their chicken is true to form “sarap to the bones” talaga plus the price is absolutely pocket-friendly. Sulit sa bulsa.

Chow King

You can’t beat P39 Chao Fan anytime. Busog kaayo!

I have so many more but I’m getting hungry already so I’ll leave you with those choices to drool over. I need to grab a bite, hubby just came in with our village’s Jimanji roasted chicken.

Chao!

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We went to the supermarket the other night and upon the request of my little boy we bought more veggies and fruits rather than those dehydrated air-filled foil snacks. (Take note, I didn’t say we didn’t buy any, we just bought more of the real food than the processed ones… shhh, I’m the guilty one who sneaks in those chips). Anyway, we are trying to eat more healthy as a family and I’m just glad that the kids’ go-to snacks are apples, bananas and oranges. You are what you eat, so they say. (Oh no, I don’t want to have orange peel looking thighs!) Anyway, I checked out this site that talks about the Top Ten Superfoods. Quite interesting actually. You can read more about those Superfoods at Orovo to learn more. You might be surprised that they are already part of your regular diet. Check it out.

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