Mr. and Ms. Saigon

The yumyum monsters gathered one Saturday afternoon for a much needed stress buster...foodtrip!  Some go shopping, some go to salon and spa, some watch movies to unwind but yumyum monsters happiness is eating!  Yes matatakaw sila!  We are also very glad to be joined by the newest members of our group, Ms. Joy of Joyride and the newly appointed president of the club, the cutie Bea.  Also joining us is the youngest member of the club, Raymund.

We all agreed to try Ba Noi at Perea street in Makati.

Found this tabletop with instructions on how to fully enjoy Vietnamese food.

On the table

• Goi Cuon

Pork, shrimp, and vermicelli rolled in rice paper served with peanut sauce.

This appetizer tastes so fresh, a great way to start the meal.

• Cha Gio

Ground pork, shrimp, taro, and black fungus wrapped and deep fried and served with fresh greens and nuoc mam dipping sauce.

I can't deny I like this better than the fresh one.  The fried spring rolls are bursting with flavors.

• Pho Ba (Beef noodle soup)

Beef noodle soup served with fresh herbs and spices.

Hallelujah!  I love Ba Noi version of Pho Ba.  I added the basil and bean sprouts, squeeze the lime, and sprinkle some fresh chillies on the noodles.  The soup had the perfect beefy, citrusy, minty with a hint of spiciness flavor.  Also worthy to mention is the very tender beef in it.

 

• Pho Hai San (Seafood noodle soup)

Shrimp and squid noodle soup with fresh herbs and spices.
 

• Ga Nuong

 Grilled chicken in lemongrass marinade.

• Bun Thit Bo Xao

 Grilled beef in rice noodles.

• Ga Kho Kari Xa

Braised chicken slowly cooked in lemongrass and curry powder, infused with fresh chillies, shallots and spring onions.

• Banh Dan Long

Pandan cake filled with mung bean, drizzled with coconut cream and toasted sesame seeds.

Overall, I had a good experience in Ba Noi.  Although I find the prices a little costly considering serving portions are small.  Nonetheless, I recommend this resto for a quick fix of Vietnamese fare.


BA NOI
G/F Greenbelt Mansions, Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City

(02) 893-7359

Knuckle Knockout

One busy busy day, fiance and I found ourselves in gateway mall around lunchtime.  I told him I would take him on a lunch date to one of my must try resto in Manila.  I took him to Cafe Adriatico for some savory dishes.

Cafe Adriatico is a part of the LJC restaurant group.  It serves a full menu of Spanish-Mediterranean and Filipino dishes and a variety of light options such as salads, sandwiches, omelettes, and fondues.

On the table

• Prawn crackers

Deliciously hot and crispy shrimp crackers

• Knockout pork knuckle

aka crispy pata, a whole leg of pork deep-fried in garlic and chilies.

I was eyeing on ordering Lola Ising’s pork adobo as I read it is one of their best sellers.  I wonder if it will surpass my own lola Ising’s adobo!  Yes, lola’s nickname is also Ising.  Looking at their extensive menu, fiance couldn’t choose what he wanted to eat.  He suggested we order crispy pata but told me he couldn’t finish it on his own.  He kept insisting we just order the crispy pata and order whatever dessert I want .  Hesitant but then I gave in...masunurin naman ako at giving lol!

I could give him a thousand kisses for insisting that we order crispy pata, as it is the BEST CRISPY PATA I tasted my whole life!  Huge serving, super crunchy skin, soft and tasty meat with a hint of spicyness.  I have nothing but praises for this new found love.

• Suman sa Lihiya with Salabat

Sweet sticky rice with coconut jam.  I like the softness and sweetness of it.
 

The ginger tea is very soothing and is very suitable after such a heavy meal. 

My foodtrip buddy of the day munching on some prawn crackers.

I would definitely brave Cubao traffic again to get a taste of Cafe Adriatico’s Crispy Pata! 


CAFE ADRIATICO
Ground floor of Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City

(02) 913-8736

Snow White in 6 little balls

Papa brought home this YUMMY dessert one evening just when I was about to go to sleep.  How can I say no?  

The much awaited snow lady from Golden Bay Seafood Restaurant that I've been bugging him for months.

Snow lady is like mochi ball except it use whipped cream instead of ice cream.  It is a small round ball consisting of a soft pounded sticky rice cake on the outside and whipped cream with mango bits on the inside.  The mangoes are so sweet.  The rice cake has a soft and chewy texture.

It is best eaten cold as it melts quickly on room temperature.  It costs around 280+ pesos, quite pricey for six pieces but I’ll say all worth it. 

Thanks father goose sa uulitin...samahan mo na ng siomai at hakao next time para di bitin.

GOLDEN BAY FRESH SEAFOODS RESTAURANT

Block A2, CBP, Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard Pasay City

(02) 556-7525

Booze the night away

Saturday night is gimik night.

Ordered some booze
 

Breaded garlic chicken

Crispy pata

And the best beer chow in the world...pork sisig!

I love Katips' pork sisig so much I can have it on every meal of the day. 

 
Great night, great food, and great company 


KATIPS BAR AND GRILL

209 Katipunan Ave Quezon City

(02) 912-9437

Manang's Chicken

There's a buzz going around about this chicken with the tagline saying, "ang bagong fried chicken ng pinoy."  After the craze for Bonchon and Chicken Charlie, here's another promising resto that serves Pipai's everyday staple food, chicken!  Story is that the original recipe was created by the mother's owner but it was the house helper, who they call Manang, who always cook it with the special sauce.  Thus, later on they called it Manang's chicken.

Image grabbed from web

Because the chicken was always a hit in their gatherings and potlucks with friends, they thought of making a profit of out it.  They shared it to the public first by joining Mercato Centrale, which became an instant success with so much raves and praises for their chicken.  Therefore, they decided to open up chain of restaurants within the metro.

Image grabbed from web

Manang's chicken is double deep fried chicken with soy garlic sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds.  It is available in original, mild spicy, and extra spicy variant.

A Manang's chicken flyer luckily found it's way to our office one day and with all this hype, we decided to order by delivery in their nearest branch from us at One Archers Place at Taft Avenue.

I ordered 4 pieces chicken wings in original flavor and 4 pieces chicken wings in mild spicy flavor.

Chicken was okay.  I like the mild spicy better than the original flavor although I wanted it spicier.  I should have ordered the extra spicy flavor but was too afraid because of the word "EXTRA."  Price wise, I think it is a tad overpriced considering it is actually 2 pieces chicken wings combined, just my 2 cents.

MANANG'S CHICKEN
One Archers Place
Taft Avenue, Manila


OFF TOPIC:  Jessica Sanchez singing And I am telling you I'm not going






I really think she's not going anywhere after this performance...FANTASTIC!