Ramen Cool

There's a new ramen place in Kapitolyo called Ramen Cool.  

Really nice interiors!

Don't expect so much in their ramen offerings. You could tell from the get go that this is not really a ramen house. If you like good ramen, skip this one. Their other dishes might be good (like sushi and dimsum) but we'll leave that to other bloggers since it's unlikely that we'll ever go back to this place.

And besides, there's nothing cool about your ramen being cool.

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Ramen Cool
25 East Capitol Drive,
Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City

CIBO: The Ultimate Comfort Food

CIBO is one of our ultimate sources of comfort food (along with these off the top of our heads: Pepper Lunch, Manang's, Wings N' Things). We decided to have dinner here before going to the much-awaited concert of Snow Patrol.

You could opt to have your meal in the Oasis, the circular space/garden in the middle of Gateway mall, which we think is an experience you should try out at least once. But your dish would still have to be cooked and delivered all the way from the 3rd floor. Not sure if it will affect service time but we decided to forego the 'nature' experience and just head over to the restaurant.

Broccoli, Pomodoro, Secchi - P230

Of the numerous times we've eaten in CIBO, we always, ALWAYS order the Spinaci Zola for our antipasti. However, we decided to take a leap of faith (ala-Inception) and order something else for a change. Was it worth the risk?

..sadly, no. How could this be the bestseller?? It was good, but the spinach artichoke will always be our favorite! <3 TIP: You could always ask for some more Bruschetta for free :)

Rigatoni All 'Alfonso - P325

Aside from the Spinach dip, another staple in our CIBO experience is this pasta dish. Rigatoni All 'Alfonso. Please remember this dish and order it when you go to Cibo. Not ever doing so IS A CRIME.

It deserves being a bestseller (we overheard the other table ordering it hehehe) because it's just too damn good. The stewed tomatoes, the creamy, flavorful sauce, the al dente pasta - everything just goes together so well.

This is the best tomato-cream-based pasta we have ever tasted. Ever.

Costolette D'Agnello - P420

We've been craving lamb for quite some time now so we decided to order this meal. The dish has a generous serving of lamb chops. The lamb was very tasty! While other parts of the meat were a little bit dry, it wasn't that noticeable because of its red wine mint sauce companion, which was delicious as well.

We went to Cibo for a feel-good dinner we didn't have to think about and as always, it did not disappoint :)

PS: CIBO is celebrating its 15th Anniversary this coming August 22, 2012 by donating 15% of its sales to the flood victims of the recent unnamed habagat to hit the metro.  

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Cibo

3rd floor, Gateway Mall,
P. Tuazon Ave.,
Cubao, Quezon City

Buffalo's Wings N' Things: Home of the Best Buffalo Wings

The home of THE BEST buffalo wings. This restaurant is very underrated in terms of the quality wings it produces.

Metrowalk branch! We were there during the first hour that it opened for the day :D Eager beavers.

A Love Story

The place is spacious. There's a second floor as well as an outside area.

Chili N' Cheese Nachos - P139

Something to munch on while waiting for our wings. We had the chili and cheese separated in case the chili was really spice. We found out that it's not.

New York's Finest (1/2 lb.) - P134

Crisp, flavor and spice! And everything nice! This is what real Buffalo chicken wings are made of. This is not over-the-top spicy though, just the way we like it. It also has that tang-y taste to it.

Garlic Parmesan (1/2 lb.) - P134

Our favorite flavor. We can't seem to ever not order this variant every time we come here. In fact, we've tried cooking this at home whenever we can't visit Wings N Things. Yes, it's that good.

Armageddon - P134

I almost never back down from a challenge and while I think Flaming Wings's Wild variant is NOT as hot as everyone makes it out to be, these made me sweat and my nose, runny. I think the spiciness was too much not only because of the sauce but also because part of the breading was small raw chili thingies. :(

I like spicy stuff, but I have to be able to appreciate the flavor too.

I DARE YOU to try these wings.

NY dirty rice - P34

This one's also a staple every time we visit.

You really have to go visit Buffalo Wings N' Things if you haven't yet. We promise they serve the best wings in the Metro!

+++++
Buffalo's Wings N' Things
Ortigas Home Depot, Food Street,
Dona Julia Vargas Ave Ugong, Pasig

Sentro 1771: The Upscale Turo-Turo and Sinigang Bar

'Twas a very weird night because we were craving for... guess what? Filipino food!

Confessions. We are:

1. Not fond of repeating restaurants
2. Not comfortable not knowing where we're going to eat, and
3. Not frequent diners of Filipino food

So during one of our rare cravings, we were desperate to look for a good place to eat Filipino food. We were dismayed by the thought of eating at Gerry's Grill because it would be such a waste to have traveled all this way to Greenbelt (we were there for Cinemalaya) and then eat in a resto which we could find anywhere else. Thankfully, we chanced upon Sentro 1771.

Main reason why we considered dining here? Lourd de Veyra.  And well maybe the fact that it belongs to the Chateaus 1771 group of companies.

 

Cucumber lemonade (P120) and Lemon grass iced tea (P110)

The tables inside were already full (around 7pm) so we were seated outside. Smoking is prohibited in the al fresco area so you'll be assured it won't ruin your dining experience. Also, the fact that they served these drinks early on made our wait more bearable.

Before our order for sinigang came, they served a sample of the broth to be used. They asked us if the sourness was okay so they could adjust it to our tastes. How considerate :)

Corned Beef Sinigang (Solo) - P310

The specialty of the house: short ribs and boneless shanks, mixed with vegetables in a sour tamarind broth

So ito pala yun - real corned beef, outside the canned ones. Do you know the feeling when you crave for something, get that something, and find that it doesn't satisfy you? Well, this is not it. This was just perfect, just what we were looking for. Come to think of it, there are only a few ways one could screw up sinigang. And I'm glad they didn't ruin this classic Filipino dish.

On this point, we'd like to say that their service is commendable. They were very responsive to our needs. You could ask for a refill of the soup/sabaw, it's free.

Rated GG (Solo) - P230

Galunggong fillets, deliciously fried in garlic oil and invitingly arranged on a carved wood plate and topped with a generous line of browned garlic, can whet the appetite of any serious gourmand

Galunggong is arguably one of the most common fish served in a Filipino home. Rated GG gives this fish the revamp that it deserves! In retrospect, this is probably the best galunggong I have ever tasted. It was boneless, it was very fresh, and it was oily but didn't feel yucky. Sarap :D 

They are celebrating their 10th anniversary! Wish we had availed of their promos :(

PS: When the galunggong came out, I had to go back to the menu and see how Sentro suckered us into ordering galuggong. I'm not saying it didn't deliver - galunggong just isn't a very restaurant-y thing to order. I'm just amazed by the way words affect us, it's nice. That's all :)

+++++

Sentro 1771

2/F Greenbelt 3 (beside the fountain), 

Ezperanza St., Ayala Center, Makati

SLICE: Dessert Comes First, but All the Rest Come in Close Second

It's no secret that Slice is the brainchild of Senator Pia Cayetano. We have always noticed this restaurant whenever we get our Jamba Juice fix and it's about time we give it a go. Although famous for their desserts and pastries,  we decided to have lunch here so we could try their other offerings.

The entrances welcomes you to an array of pies, cookies, revel bars, muffins and cupcakes. What a sweet welcome it is.

   

 

The restaurant had many customers even if it was already around 2pm. There were also a lot of people getting take out orders for cakes and pastries alike.

Beef Rice Melt - P420

Pulled apart beef over a bed of brown rice topped with melted cheese

The waiter actually recommended the Barbecue Chicken Rice Melt but being the carnivores that we are, we decided to order the beef version of the dish. (It said Angus on the menu! Who are we to refuse)

We usually feel restaurants scrimp us on the ulam and try to fill us up with rice but this was not the case. The dish had a generous serving of beef and cheese, to a point that we found it a bit overbearing. We would have preferred more rice. Nonetheless, it was really good. The melted cheese was stringy and gooey. The beef was well-seasoned. And the brown rice, well, it was a healthy plus.

Best to eat it with something else though. It might come off as nakakasuya because of the abundance of cheese.

Aglio Olio - P380

This seafood pasta dish is very simple yet delicious. I don't think I've ever eaten shrimp this fresh. I could practically hear the shrimp crunch inside my mouth. This was already good, but it would be better less dry (parmesan cheese was too much) and with more asparagus (to add to the freshness of the dish) :)

   

Choco Yema - P60

We were very apprehensive that we might find this cupcake too sweet but guess what, it was perfect! The combination of the sugary sweetness of the frosting and the moist cupcake was very pleasant. We know, we know. Yet again, we were too busy enjoying ourselves with lunch we forgot to leave room for more dessert :( 

What can I say, dessert may come first in Slice, but the rest sure come in very close second. I guess we'll just have to go back and try the muffins and coffee we've been hearing good things about!

+++++

Slice

G/F Bonifacio High Street Central,

West Superblock, 7th Ave. cor. 29th St.,

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig 

Boulevard Diner

Tucked in a little corner along Xavierville Avenue is this little burger joint (or diner, if you will). Having decided to eat burgers for dinner, we decided to check this place out as this has been recommended by most food blogs we've come across in recent time.

The place is actually a bit small (5 tables, 2 chairs each). It seemed comfortable at that time we dined here because there were only 6 of us but I wonder if we could say the same if it's full.

There was a wall dedicated to food blog reviews, which could be a double-edged sword if you ask me. It could really raise your expectations while waiting for the food to come. 

Cheddar Charles - P170

First to arrive are these cheesy spuds! While having a crunchy exterior, upon first bite, it becomes a gooey and mushy interior with the shredded potatoes and cheese.

Foodies we've read say they couldn't stop eating this, but we don't get why. While the outside seemed like regular fries, the inside was very much like hash browns. The difference in texture didn't appeal to us but I guess it just depends on your preference. I could very well see this dish as a comfort food for some people (i.e. munching on these while doing a Suits marathon).

Gorgonzola burger - P185

Lettuce, tomato, beef, sauteed oyster, mushrooms, Gongonzola dressing

This is a hit among some of the reviews I've seen in the net. But I'm not sure I entirely get it. It has that blue cheese taste brought by the Gorgonzola dressing. This definitely gives a unique twist to the burger. However, as ingenious this concept might be, I think this might be a matter of acquired taste. 

Sha-Zam burger - P195

Lettuce, tomato, beef, eggs-over-medium, cheese, bacon, hickory sauce, crispy potato strings

Crispy potato strings on top of my burger sounded exciting to me! But the patty was not good. The burger was just okay. The only redeeming quality was that it was better than the Gorgonzola burger.

I don't know how it didn't deliver but it didn't. Or maybe I expected too much?

Wings (1/2 lbs.) - P130

They had a spicy meter scale for the wings. We got the Smoked ones, just above the Love level and below Fury. We were a bit disappointed with the wings. The skin was a bit soggy and not crispy at all. The spicy sauce was just drizzled over the wings, which meant it was not incorporated to the chicken. 

I'm saddened every time a restaurant serves bad chicken wings. Since it's one of my basic food groups, I see it as foregone opportunity to make something great and yummy. Haha.

Overall, we think their patties aren't high quality. As in fastfood joints (read: McDo and Jollibee) seem to use better quality beef than they do :/ 

If you're like us, who want straight out meaty burgers that taste like real beef and can stand alone (not those feeling gourmet and fancy), we highly suggest you eat in Crave burger or Charlie's Grill & Grind or GoodFella's.

We wonder if the food has deteriorated over time. It was definitely not the kind of establishment that the raving reviews claim it to be.

+++++
Boulevard Diner
91 Xavierville Ave.,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City

The Cake Club

The rain was pretty bad last weekend but we've been wanting to try The Cake Club since last month. Sooo we went ahead and braved the weather (and the flooded areas) just to do so. Thankfully, we didn't get stranded or anything, but more than that, the food was definitely worth taking the risk.

Truffle fries - P180

These fries provide a different experience especially if you're not used to eating food cooked in truffle oil. The aroma of these fried wonders just hmmm :)

Slow-roasted Beef Belly - P395

Literally falling off the bone!

US Angus Beef Burger - P410

Forgot to take a picture of our burger because the red beet bun got me excited :( This image is taken from Run Around Girl. This is probably the burger that I had the easiest time slicing through in my entire life. The bun was soft, the beef patty (medium rare)  was really moist and flavorful. Even the tomatoes I loved! The bun tasted like an average bun but it's just a bit more dense.  The color didn't add anything new to the flavor except perhaps presentation. 

Baked Cheesecake ice cream

And for dessert. Two scoops of ice cream for P150! The Baked Cheesecake was really rich and creamy. It had chunks of cheesecake which added texture to the creaminess. Sorry for the bad picture. Couldn't resist scooping in :p

Supermoist Chocolate Cake ice cream

A bit bitter for my taste. But probably because I tasted it after the cheesecake ice cream.

We'll probably go back to have a go with their famous cakes. After all, it's not called The Cake Club for nothing :)

PS: I really can't believe we went to The CAKE Club without eating cake... lol

+++++

The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel

7th Ave., corner 29th st. south,

Bonifacio High Street Central,

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Ukokkei Ramen Ron

Ukokkei has done for Ramen what Yabu has done for tonkatsu (or katsu). I've never been a fan of either one but these two restos have made me rethink my outlook on life.

Yaki Gyoza - P120

They are perfectly pan-fried; slightly crunchy on the inside, soft on the inside. They complement the ramen well.

 

Japanese Eggs

Creamy inside! But doesn't offer anything new to the table.

Ukokkei Miso Chasu - P380 

This is our second time to dine in Ukokkei Ramen Ron and I regret ordering the Shoyu ramen last time.  

Actually, there are 3 types of ramen to choose from: Shoyu (soy sauce-based), Shio (salt-based) and Miso (Miso soup-based). I believe Miso is the most flavorful among the three although some people think it's too oily for their taste. And to that I say, to each his own!

 Ukokkei Miso Butter Corn - P360

I really should try something else the next time I eat here. The pork, the corn, the butter, the miso... they just go so well together it's difficult not to order it again and again.

Best time to come here is during lunch time. The lunch sets are super sulit because they are inclusive of ramen and gyoza (for the same price of an a la carte ramen) :D However, we have yet to try the much-hyped Tan Tan Men. Legend says that only 10 bowls are served everyday, starting at 6PM.

We didn't have any bad encounters with the Ramen Nazi that everyone's been complaining about. We just came there and ate our ramen in peace (and delight). 

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Ukkokei Ramen Ron

Tesoro Bldg. 822 A. Arnaiz Ave.

San Lorenzo,  Makati

Hours:  

MTWThFSat: 11am-10pm

Sun: 11:30am-2:30pm 

Small bites: J.CO Donuts & Coffee and Xocolat

(Small bites refers to our short visits to certain restaurants. Usually for a quick stop for a snack. Or to pass time while waiting for a movie or an event to start.)

J.CO Donuts and Coffee

I know, I know. It's weird that we're blogging about a donut place without the donuts. In the future perhaps! But while you're at it, try the Alcapone flavor.

Iced Americano (12 oz) - P110

Just my normal Iced Americano.

Yogurt (Couple) - P140

Reminds me of White Hat. It doesn't have that tangy taste that I prefer in yoghurt ice cream (you're still the one, Red Mango). 

Xocolat

Xocolat Chicken Pasta - P175

Finally tried their famous pasta dish. The chocolate flavor is in there. It's not overpowering though and you might be surprised how well the chocolate blends in. It's an interesting mix and it sure works. It's like carbonara because of the cream base. The mildy-salted chicken balances the sweetness of the dish. (But if you want something salty, skip this one.)

Cool Xoco Mint - P115

The drink doesn't have a strong mint flavor like most mint drinks have. But the chocolate flavor is not that strong either. It's a steady chocolate drink, not too sweet, not too creamy.