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

We had dinner with my in-laws at Fire Lake Grill located at the exclusive Cliffhouse Tagaytay last night. We were already in the Alabang area earlier and had planned to have dinner at Melo’s but we had a change of plans because my FIL wanted to eat somewhere closer to home. They had an early flight the following day and he didn’t want to be caught in traffic on the way home. So off we trekked back to Sta. Rosa, Laguna. I told the husband that there was a restaurant I watched on ANC’s Shoptalk that they might want to try. I watched Chef Paul Huang being interviewed by Pia Hontiveros (a distant relative of the husband’s family according to my in-laws) and during the interview, it was mentioned that Fire Lake Grill was another one of those awarded restaurants much like our hometown fave Kanin Club. My MIL had a steak craving so I thought this might be a good place to try out.

We arrived at Cliffside Tagaytay a little over 8 pm. The sign said that parking cost P100 pesos. I was quite surprised cause that’s a little bit expensive for parking but they do waive that if you get your parking ticket validated at any of the restaurants inside. It was a bit rainy and windy because the storm was just blowing over and exiting the country but nevertheless who’s to stop you from having a good meal with the family.

Tucked away inside Cliffside Tagaytay, we were greeted with cool, modern interiors inside the restaurant with a view of Taal Lake outside. Of course it was dark so we didn’t get to see the lake but I can, from memory, imagine seeing it even in the dark. I love the chairs! Mine was sooooo comfortable I couldn’t help but comment to the head waiter David about it. My MIL stepped outside to enjoy the cool wind. Chef Paul, owner and executive chef of Fire Lake, was outside as well and he and my MIL started talking. Soon, my 9-yr old son joined their conversation which is not unusual. LOL  They came in and MIL introduced me to Chef Paul. I mentioned to him that I had watched him on Shoptalk and that’s what brought us to his restaurant. He started out as a corporate guy who left the corporate world and pursued his passion for food. Reminds me of  that saying “Do what you love doing and you’ll never work a day in your life.” In my opinion, one of the best business insurance for your business is to love what you do and enjoy doing it because if you do, success is just a by-product. You can find out more about him on his website Fire Lake Grill.

Okay, okay I’m sure you are curious about the food so here’s the tell-all. This is what we tried on the menu:

1. For starters we had nicely warmed bread and butter. I like the bread because it was sort of crispy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside. You can ask for more if you want. Great way to start a meal.
2. Cappuccino of pumpkin with cinnamon froth and rare beef slivers served in little espresso cups  - reminded me so much of those Iron Chef creations; very creative use of the pumpkin; my MIL loved the idea!  I think I’ll give it :   **** stars
3. Fresh salad of assorted Tagaytay greens, julienne carrots and capsicum, sliced cucumber and tomato wedges with your choice of dressing - we chose the raspberry vinaigrette. For me salads are mostly the same but what makes it stand out is the dressing. I love how he used the raspberries in the dressing and the greens were crisp and fresh… no brown spots! The husband and I split the salad and we both give this refreshing dish : *** stars
4. Grilled C.A.B. rib eye steak served with the cutest little Bugs Bunny carrots and french beans sauteéd in butter and with a side dish of your choice – we chose the roasted garlic mashed potatoes upon recommendation of head waiter David and it was sooooo good. I’ll give it : **** stars
5. Citrus-lemongrass marinated Australian lamb chops (3 pcs) served with those cute little veggies again and with french fries on the side for the kids –  the lamb was tender and juicy (sounds like a hotdog commercial lol), a little fatty though but that’s lamb so… the kids loved it anyway. My son couldn’t help but smile and in the middle of all that yummy goodness he said to me “Mom, this is so heavenly!” So for making my son smile from ear to ear alone I’ll give it : **** stars
6. BBQ pork loin with fresh cilantro and tomato-jalapeno relish served with rice for Yaya. She was quiet the whole time she was eating and so concentrated on her food. So for making Yaya speechless I’ll give it : **** stars
7. For drinks, the husband and I had the Fire Lake Grill Iced Tea which is their own house blend of iced tea and local fruits, pineapple being the most abundant in the area. For using local resources and helping reduce carbon footprint I give it : **** stars
8. Finally, pineapple carpaccio poached in Malibu rum and served with pink peppercorn, candied lime peel and home-made coconut ice cream in a brandy snap basket was our dessert highly recommended by head waiter David. I took a bite and I was surprised to taste something familiar in the dessert that I  normally use in regular cooking. It had peppercorns! I asked David if they were real peppercorns in the ice cream and he said they were pink peppercorns… not as spicy as the black ones but it added that little something to the dessert. Awesome and unique! For being creative I’ll give it : **** stars

Service was awesome. My FIL was happy to meet Chef Paul. Head waiter David was cheerful and attended to our needs and little requests. Our tummies were quite happy. How much did the whole meal cost – approximately 5k++ for 7 people. So it’s roughly around P700 to P900 per pax.  Overall, it was a pleasant and delightful experience to dine at Fire Lake Grill. No wonder it’s consistently been on the Philippine Tatler’s best restaurants list. Check out this little secret and find out for yourself!

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!