Uncle Cheffy: Go roll that panizza!

For some reason when I think about family, I almost immediately associate it with Uncle Cheffy. Probably because their serving is huge and ideal to enjoy with the family. So last Father's Day (ahem, yes late post) we decided to go there and celebrate with my mom (who is also my dad) and grandma. I was really glad they accepted my invitation to treat them for lunch.

[caption id="attachment_826" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Mum and mama :)[/caption]

Going there during lunch time and on Sundays, AND on Father's Day means falling in line and counting the passers by outside. The place was packed! After several minutes we finally got a seat. This was probably the only time I didn't quite appreciate Uncle Cheffy because of the seat they gave us. I noticed that the exact spot of our table was uncomfortable. We were in the aisle and in the first table you'll see in front of you as you walk in the main entrance. Waiters with huge plates and trays passed by us and I was a bit scared because of the busy-ness there, that it would accidentally fall on me. (You see, I don't know why I'm attractive to those kinds of mishaps). The aisle was narrow and it was easy to trip or lose your footing.

But anyway I tried not to let that get to me. Cheers to Pineapple shakes that eased some anxiety. :)

[caption id="attachment_820" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Pineapple shake[/caption]

Maybe because it was Father's Day that it took an unusually long time for them to serve the food. I remembered it was close to 30 minutes when they served us our orders.

[caption id="attachment_824" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Memphis Barbeque U.S. Beef Rib Finger (Php595.00)[/caption]

I know I should be grateful but I was quite disappointed with this one.  It was served with salad and marble potatoes and aside from that it was also served cold. I presume they forgot to serve our order right after it was cooked and left it in the kitchen. Though the meat was tender, it could be better appreciated if this was served fresh and hot. It was also very soggy, maybe because the meat soaked it up while waiting for it to be served to us. =/ It wasn't appetizing.. =( I didn't want to return it - we were beyond famished the time it arrived. It was good enough for me.

[caption id="attachment_825" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Asian Fried Rice (Junior: Php110.00)[/caption]

Asian Fried Rice was okay. It had tomatoes, eggs and java sauce. It was plenty for a Junior sized order good for 2-3 persons. :)

[caption id="attachment_827" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Spatchcocked Chicken (Php295.00)[/caption]

This one was a bestseller among us 3. It had walnut-dilli pesto and potato salad. We attacked this chicken like anything else and left only its thin bones to dry. It wasn't too salty and the potatoes were a good combination for this.

Of course we didn't pass up the chance to order what they're known for - PANIZZA.

[caption id="attachment_828" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Uncle Cheffy Favorites (Php395.00)[/caption]

We had the Uncle Cheffy Favorites - with oven dried tomatoes, mushroom garlic, anchovy, chili flakes, basil and 3 cheese. There was a way to eat the Panizza. First was to get a slice of panizza then put onions, alfalfa and the greens. Roll it and start munching. There was no other way to enjoy it but to keep on rolling. Good thing there was panizza to cover up all the boo-boo's. I still enjoy this "ritual" before having my panizza because it seems more satisfying that way. I mean the anticipation of waiting until you finish the "ceremonies" just to have that bite. If it was worth the waiting and all that rolling - I'll be coming back to try out their other flavors :)

I still remember the dishes and the experience like it was yesterday. But getting to bond with my family beats the quite unfortunate experience that day. :)

[caption id="attachment_829" align="aligncenter" width="225"] mum and i :)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_830" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It's not seasonal, it's year round - to pay tribute to all the single Moms who trusted in God to sustain and who stayed strong all throughout :)[/caption]

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You might ask what's the secret to enjoying food? Regardless of what it is.

I'm suddenly reminded of this whenever I eat and find that it didn't quite meet an expectation.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these

pleasures are from the hand of God, for without him who can eat and find enjoyment?

Enjoyment in anything is from God, whether it be food or drink or work. Everything may be routinary - eating, drinking, working. But these routinary things become more pleasurable with God, the provider - the giver of life. Without God indeed, who can find enjoyment in anything? :)

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Uncle Cheffy

2/F Eastwood Mall, Veranda, Eastwood AveBagumbayan, Quezon City

(02) 383-7215

Cooking with the Athlete Chef: A Delicious & One-of-a-kind Reunion Night

Cooking - it's one of my frustrations. So I was more than happy to volunteer myself to cook with one of my favorite chefs, Anje in one of our hopefully quarterly reunions. Yes I insisted and begged to help her cook coming in an hour earlier than expected. And Yes it was because I couldn't forget the creamy tuna pasta she made years and years ago and wanted to learn how it was made. It was one of the best.

Thankfully she obliged to my request and soon enough I found myself in her favorite (I presume) spot in her home - the kitchen. There she gave me the task to butter the bread and toast it. So ok that was my participation. Thank you.

[caption id="attachment_744" align="aligncenter" width="510"] See the bread I buttered and toasted? :)[/caption]

Everything happened so fast! Anje was already frying the beef patty while I was only given the time to sneak in some bites of the cajun fries.

[caption id="attachment_745" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Home of the Good Burgers[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_748" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Melted cheddar cheese on our burgers. *smacks lips*[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_746" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Cajun Fries - who could resist this?[/caption]

Next on her to do list was to prepare the salad. One thing I learned was to use your hands in tearing the lettuce apart. Because if you use knives the leafy greens would turn bitter. Grateful for this little reminder for my future use.

[caption id="attachment_747" align="aligncenter" width="250"] Freshly grated cheese on our salad. deelish :D[/caption]

The table was set and then we were done. It was time to taste test this dinner masterpiece and oh yes, my buttered bread too.

[caption id="attachment_749" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Table set for four - missing Karla bru[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_750" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Greek Salad with Yogurt Balsamic[/caption]

First treat to my tastebuds was Anje's Greek Salad with Yogurt Balsamic Dressing. Her inspiration for this was Cyma's salad. I'm not sure if I have tried it but for me this was the benchmark already.

[caption id="attachment_751" align="aligncenter" width="510"] My first round[/caption]

It had grilled chicken paprika and sweetened pecans and it was topped with freshly grated cheese. By the taste of it, it seemed like much time had been devoted to it. I love nuts in my salad so the sweetened pecans pretty much did the trick. It tasted indulgent but it was actually pretty light to the tummy.  I had another more portion of this before I went on to the next part of the meal.

[caption id="attachment_752" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Cheddar Burgers in Whole Wheat Bread[/caption]

Next treat was my buttered bread.  Cheddar Burgers in whole wheat bread with caramelized onions. On the side we had Cajun Oven Fries with BBQ Chicken Liver Bits. Just the name of this meal is making my stomach growl at the moment.  The burger might I say was absolutely delicious. The onions didn't leave the "oh I had a burger today"  breath and the butter on the bread (ahem!) contributed to the flavors of the burger patty and the onions. I'm craving for one more of this please!

[caption id="attachment_753" align="aligncenter" width="510"] This is the real yum burger[/caption]

The Cajun Fries was really interesting. Who would have known that adding liver bits to it would make it more than just your regular fries. Plus the Roasted Garlic and Parmigiano Regiano Dip on it made it truly lip smacking and one-of-a-kind. Not like any that you would order in a fast food or a diner. My love for fries just got deeper.

This special dinner was also just in time set for Ria's 25th birthday. We had cakes, coffee and French pressed coffee after.

[caption id="attachment_754" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Happy Birthday Ria :)[/caption]

And what better way to end the night with loads of catching up and a toast to almost 12 years of friendship with Ria's Camembert Red Wine and Mangga wine (which she discovered needed ice to be able to bring out its easy and real flavor)

[caption id="attachment_755" align="aligncenter" width="245"] Nuts and Wine[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_756" align="aligncenter" width="235"] Mangga Wine[/caption]

It was really nice to see you girls, looking forward to our next catch up afternoon/night :)

With all the cheese I've eaten that night, I guess it would just be right to say that these girls have been my 12 year friends and even friends for life. <3

The Chef Jessie experience

Last March, it was our pleasure and honor to be invited to the graduation celebration of my second cousin Makee in Chef Jessie at Rockwell Club. She graduated in Assumption College Grade School in Makati with Academic Honors.

Chef Jessie is an elegant dining restaurant that houses the finest in international cuisine. And guess what, our menu for that day was prepared by no less than Chef Jessie herself. By the way, she also runs Le Souffle in The Fort with 3 partners. What a treat it was for a graduation celebration.

[caption id="attachment_719" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Chef Jessie Restaurant[/caption]

There was already a set menu for the graduates and everything was ready to serve the moment we got there.

First to be devoured was Sauteed Mushrooms and Smoked Salmon Salad.

[caption id="attachment_720" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Sauteed Mushrooms and Smoked Salmon Salad[/caption]

Drizzled in creamy balsamic dressing and served with assorted lettuce. The presentation was really enticing and it kept me salivating. So when our Cioppino was served, I immediately attacked it and realized later on I wasn't able to take a photo of it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Cioppino[/caption]

The tomato based seafood soup stain described how eager I was to down it. It was a bit sour but it was just right for my taste. Next on the menu was our main course that really hit the spot.

[caption id="attachment_723" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Grilled US Black Angus Beef Tenderloin & Grilled Tiger Prawns[/caption]

Grilled US Black Angus Beef Tenderloin that was really tender and flavorful. The creamy berlinoisse sauce complimented the tiger prawns very well and the mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables offered a relief from the rich flavors.

[caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Wild Rice Risotto[/caption]

Filipino meals aren't complete without rice. So along with our main course, we also had risotto to go along with it. Must I say this was really delicious and I would highly recommend this dish. There was no guilt trip in my no rice diet because every grain was absolutely worth it especially in this dish.

Surprisingly the meal wasn't too heavy we had just enough room left for my favorite part of the meal.

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="510"] Chocolate Coffee Crunch Souffle[/caption]

I immediately devoured this dessert, it had two of my guilty pleasure - coffee and chocolates. It was really smooth, creamy and it melts in your mouth too. With coffee to go with it, I could not ask for anything more.

But in the fellowship along with this sumptuous feast, we definitely had our fill of how life is supposed to be lived - in love,  in hopes, dreams and faith, and in fostering relationships. The Chef Jessie experience was able to make these all happen. :)

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Chef Jessie at Rockwell Club

Makati City, Philippines

(+632) 8906543

website: http://www.chefjessie.com

Pipino: Indulging in a guilt-free (and a major withdrawal) green lunch

Go green. go organic. go vegan.

Okay so maybe I was too engrossed with the go green campaign I've been working on for 2 weeks now and it's been haunting me everywhere!

And the culmination of those 2 weeks was... Pipino! (it couldn't get any greener than this)

Last Saturday we found ourselves in a cozy vegetarian restaurant in Malinap Street, Teachers Village. It housed 2 restaurants where Pino served "normal food" and Pipino, well for the health enthusiasts. A few minutes after I took this photo, people piled in and minutes after Pipino was packed!

With the place filled up, I was excited to see if Pipino was really as promising as it looked. I wondered how they would create their dishes and if it could measure up to Greens which was the first vegan restaurant I've tried.

[caption id="attachment_685" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino"][/caption]

Good thing we just ordered one Pipino special iced tea. At only Php35, their serving was huge and their blend was refreshing too. Its mix reminded me of carrots.

[caption id="attachment_686" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Pipino Iced Tea (Php35)"][/caption]

Then we had the Fresh Vegetable Lumpia which tasted normal too. I've had better though but by far this was the best part of my Pipino dining experience next to their iced tea.

[caption id="attachment_689" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Fresh Vegetable Lumpia (Php120)"][/caption]

They used an egg-less crepe which had quite an interesting texture to it and it was a bit chewy too. Topped with peanut sauce, toasted seaweed and fresh garlic. It was also served with crispy rice noodles that I enjoyed nibbling on. (There was not a pinch of saltiness in it, mind you)

My choice of greens was Pipino's Garden Burger. The "pattie" was Carrot Bacon in Chili-Garlic Sauce on Whole Wheat Bun, served with Kamote (Sweet Potato) Fries.

[caption id="attachment_691" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Garden Burger (Php155)"][/caption]

Did I enjoy it? I wanted to run to the nearest Mcdonalds. I hate to admit it but I'm a fastfood / junkfood junkie. The moment I had a bite of the pattie, I wanted to run into the arms (if it had any) of a quarter pounder or a double cheeseburger.

[caption id="attachment_692" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="The carrot-bacon pattie"][/caption]

Don't get me wrong, it might have worked for those on a Vegan diet. It was guilt-free alright but I was suffering from major withdrawal after.

Jason's choice was Squash Risotto. It had Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Vegan Sausage, Cashew Cheese Nugget and it was peppered with Fresh Ginger.

[caption id="attachment_693" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Squash Risotto (Php220)"][/caption]

It looked pretty appetizing. But as Jason had a spoonful of it, I couldn't paint the expression on his face. When I had a bite of it, well... it wasn't so cruel. You really have to get used to the taste. At first it was a bit difficult to swallow. The rice was sticky and soggy, (thanks to the ginger, I could imagine myself having Hainanese Chicken with it) and it was really hard to appreciate. The Vegan Sausage was  okay though and the Cashew Cheese Nugget. But if you eat them together with the rice, the latter's taste would overwhelm the former.

It also had an aftertaste of garlic sauce so I pretty much imagined myself chowing down on shawarma / kebab.

At that point I was thinking of children being forced to eat their greens where mom would say "Mmmmmm...." to stimulate the poor kid's appetite after feeding the kid a spoonful of ampalaya.

I'm not cut out for this diet really. I could only fool myself into a green and healthy lifestyle for an hour or two. But on the other hand, I lasted a week living only on broccoli and cauliflower.

I hope though their quite normal counterpart (Pino) is a lot better than this. After that guilt-free lunch, I'm sorry but I had to rush to the nearest Dairy Queen (in Katipunan) to reward my major craving. I had their Oreo Cheesecake, as Oreo is their featured flavor of the month and dare I say, it was the highlight of my green day. :)

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Pipino Vegetarian Food by Pino

 2F 39 Malinap Street, Teachers Village

Quezon City, Philippines

Dairy Queen

Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

Philippines

A hearty and memorable lunch at Olives Restaurant

Perfect ambiance, check

Breathtaking view, check

Great company, check

Appetizing food, check.

Lunching at Olives Restaurant in Thunderbird Resorts, Poro Point La Union could go down on the memorable ones.

After more or less 6 hours of travel, we were famished beyond measure.

So there we went straight to Olives Restaurant which we had all to ourselves for quite some time.

[caption id="attachment_637" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Bringing Olives Restaurant to life"][/caption]

They had a lot of attractive choices on the menu - it was difficult for us to identify what our taste buds would be up for.

[caption id="attachment_640" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Found anything you want yet Henson? :)"][/caption]

Price range was from 400-700 except for the steak menu it was about 1,400-1700.

Service was quite fast, our drinks were concocted and served in less than 10 minutes.

[caption id="attachment_641" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Calamansi Juice (Php140)"][/caption]

Can't I have this when I'm not sick? :( When my drink came, Jason teasingly asked if I was. Well I just felt it was the best low-calorie choice... wasn't it? :( Ok nevermind. I found it refreshing anyway. :)

[caption id="attachment_642" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Cherries Milk Shake (Php200)"][/caption]

Julz had Cherries Milk Shake which was served pretty in pink perfectly matching the owner of this drink.

[caption id="attachment_643" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Iced Queen Dance (Php150)"][/caption]

And guess whose beautiful ladies mix was this? The one who poked fun at mine - Jason no less. :P I can't have my Calamansi Drink while he can have this gorgeous Iced Queen. Coffee lovers would adore this - the caffeine was a bit strong, I liked it. But for some it might cause some palpitations so maybe you can request that they go easy on the espresso.

When our orders were served, we couldn't wait to attack it. Sorry guys for holding you off, I couldn't resist taking a few snaps of it. :)

[caption id="attachment_649" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Steamed Dory Fillet (Php480)"][/caption]

You couldn't get guilty over this dish. It looked healthy with all those greens - spinach and broccoli, and it tasted healthy too. According to Julz, she was reminded of airplane food...  Good? Bad? it depends on how your experience of airplane food is. :) Mine was decent  except that it was a little bland.

[caption id="attachment_651" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Bolognese Lasagna (Php270)"][/caption]

I love lasagna but this one I wasn't much of a fan. It was just okay for me, not one of the best I've tried. It had a tangy bite to it - Henson said it tasted like mustard.

[caption id="attachment_653" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Greek Lamb Stew (Php460)"][/caption]

I guess this was the only Mediterranean meal we had on the table. Jason's Greek Lamb Stew was memorable. Why? It had our favorite spice - cumin. Okay I was being sarcastic. You know how cumin can get aromatic and intoxicate and drown you. At first we couldn't help but cringe, but the after taste wasn't so bad. You just had to get used to it and soon that cumin won't be such a struggle to swallow.

[caption id="attachment_654" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Steak Sandwich (Php360)"][/caption]

Oh the comfort of familiar food. Julz's steak sandwich was the most normal one I suppose. It was sirloin steak, fried onions, lettuce, tomato and mustard sauce on the side also served with fries.

I'd say that we were filled after - with all the cheerful banter here and there, side stories left and right. Because of the company this quite satisfactory lunch turned out to be quite all right.

For dinner, we decided to pass on Olives. Maybe Mediterranean isn't my thing so to Olives Restaurant, I'm glad to have tried it once. :)

P.S. Their all you can eat breakfast buffet is a different story. :)

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Olives Restaurant

Thunderbird Resorts - Poro Point
VOA Compound, Pennsylvania Avenue
San Fernando City, La Union

Philippines

Tel No: (+63 72) 888 7777

Cibo: Perfection of al dente pasta and pizza deliziosa!

You'll never go wrong with Cibo and on their 15th year this August, I can't wait what they'll come up with!

You see my favorite cuisine is really Italian (next to Filipino of course) and Cibo has satisfied my taste for the deliziosa!

It was our first time to supposedly attend the Sunday service in CCF Eastwood, but we weren't aware of the time THEN, so we missed it. =( We just decided to have lunch instead. In the new Eastwood mall, it was a no-brainer to pick Cibo.

Spaghettini Alla Romana (P225)

 To get our fix of al dente pasta, we tried the Spaghettini Alla Romana. It was sardines, extra-virgin olive oil, fennel, chili peppers and red pesto. Absolutely delicious!

I read an article in PhilStar that years back, clients of Cibo chef and owner, Gaita Fores would complain that the sauce of the pasta was too little. She would often reply that the Italians equally celebrate the flavor of the pasta itself and its sauce. And true to what she said, the pasta in itself was already a delight and the flavor of the sauce was rich in taste complimenting it very well.

[caption id="attachment_573" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Prosciutto Di Parma (P358)"][/caption]

 This was their bestseller I suppose as it's the lone pizza that occupied 1/4 page of the menu, YOU WOULDN'T MISS IT. If you can't say it nor spell it (I had to double check their menu twice to make sure I spelled it right), you're sure to find it anyway. Prosciutto Di Parma had a generous amount of tomatoes, Parma ham, aromatic arugula best mixed with slices of mozzarella cheese.

 For some reason, even if I chomped down the whole thing I don't feel the least bit of guilt. It probably had to do with the arugula greens on it. And besides, cheese is healthy right? It gives us calcium.... for strong bones. :) Ok I'm justifying so I could eat the whole piece. And yes my appetite is that huge.

Cibo  definitely did satisfy my Italian cuisine craving. So if you're up for some Italian lovin', and there isn't a warm-blooded, all Italian male hungry for and generous on amore around. Think Cibo. Hunger no more, Italian lovin' is right at your door! :)

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Cibo

2nd Flr. New Eastwood Mall

Libis, Quezon City

470-2426

 

Ramen Bar, Eastwood: The perfect cure to Rainy Days and Sundays..

This rainy season...

Think about HEAT.

 SPICE.

NOODLES.

And spoonfuls of STEAMY BLISS all in a huge bowl!

For your delicious Ramen fix, you've definitely got to visit Ramen Bar.

In my second visit to Ramen Bar in Eastwood, Jason was a bit under the weather so he just wanted soup to cure those sick blues. Here at Ramen Bar he didn't just get soup, he got better THAN soup! Sapporo Miso Ramen was his choice poison (and potion). I couldn't say he snapped out of his sickly mode instantly, but it lifted his spirits and that's good enough (for me) :)

Well whose spirits wouldn't after Sapporo Miso Ramen? It was served fresh and steaming hot! The noodles were cooked perfect and the soup had a great flavor to it. Topped with tamago, naruto, negi, chasyu, butter and corn, the soy infused Tonkotsu Ramen had the perfect Ramen mix.

It couldn't get any more Japanese than this.

Sapporo Miso Ramen (P320)

For the lady, yes, me. I had their Yakiniku Beef Rice Topping for a change. Both of us had Ramen on our first visit so I wanted to try something new. Was I happy with my new pick? Well... not quite. I am a rice person if you're wondering. But the rice on this plate was really overwhelming.

[caption id="attachment_389" align="aligncenter" width="510" caption="Yakiniku Beef Rice Topping (P165)"][/caption]

 

Found the serving of beef quite little - disproportionate to the rice but then again I could lose the carbs all together right?

At least I tried something new. But next time I think I'd rather stick to their specialty, Ramen. The thought of Ramen in this weather is kinda making me hungry actually.

 

Okay so shoot me, I have a big appetite. 'Coz I wasn't that full yet after that bowl of beef and rice. I just had to get dessert to fill in that little space I had left.

 We tried their Tempura Ice Cream. Which is now one of my favorites <3

Tempura Ice Cream (P120)

It literally is ice cream cooked in yummy tempura batter. Jason wasn't a fan of sweets but with this dessert, I kinda noticed he was spooning much too much for the good of his sickly throat. It wasn't too sweet and the combination of soft and chewy definitely hit the spot. It was  irresistible!

So still got those Sunday blues?

 

And those rainy day glooms?

 

Look no more, the cure's all here at Ramen Bar. :)

 

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Ramen Bar

 

Unit 1880-4A, 1880 Building

G/F Eastwood Mall, Quezon City

570-9457