Indian Lunch at Assad Cafe, UN Avenue

I've long wanted to eat at Assad Cafe, a small Indian resto on UN Avenue, Manila. I finally did last month with the hubby. We were running some errands then and I suggested we go there for lunch. It was one delicious and affordable lunch that I'd like to have all over again.




Assad Cafe has a very straightforward menu. Ordering is easy as the wait staff know the resto's offerings well. The food takes time to arrive (around 30 minutes during our visit) but once it lands on your table, a pleasant gastronomic experience ensues.

Below were our orders:



The Beef Quorma, P170 was delicious. The curry flavor was mild, just like how it should be. There were four small pieces of fork-tender, lean beef in our order and the hubby paired it with rice because he's a rice person. Haha.



Paneer Matar, P145. This vegetarian dish consisting of green peas and Indian cheese was a revelation. It looked so simple when I saw it but when I tasted it, it packed a lot of flavors. The cheese's texture and taste is similar to that of feta. Along with the soft green peas and the rich curry-based sauce, this dish is best-paired with a Nann (P17 per piece) or a Parata(P39 per piece).


Nann

My personal choice is parata because it's sweet, buttery and chewy. It's so good I can even eat it on its own.


Parata



Even their Sweet Lassi (P60) was good. The hubby isn't a fan of yogurt-based drinks, but I am, so this went to me. I loved every sip of this refreshing yogurt drink which complemented the heat and rich flavors of my food well.


with my fave food buddy a.k.a. the hubby

Assad Cafe isn't your posh and dainty resto. The interiors are plain and old-looking and there's minimal ventilation provided. It's the kind of place where you come for the food and nothing else. But if you're looking for some cheap yet authentic Indian food, then this is the right place for you. :)

Assad Cafe
1268-D Midtown Executive Homes
U.N. Ave. Paco, Manila

(+632) 404-0319


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Late Lunch at Casa Verde, UP Town Center

Last Sunday, the hubby and I, along with my SIL Albie, found ourselves driving to UP Town Center after our visit to St. Pio Shrine in Eastwood. We eventually decided to have a late lunch at Casa Verde. This restaurant originated in Cebu (I even blogged about their famous Brian’s Ribs here) and is now in Manila to serve good food to its Manila fans.



I wanted to order their Chicken Raffitas (their deconstructed version of the Mexican favorite Chicken Fajitas) but got sad when I saw the sign “coming soon” beside it in the menu. The hubby and Albie were already decided in ordering the Brian’s Ribs so I chose a different dish for myself which was Tenderloin Tips and Eggs.

As expected, Casa Verde’s Brian’s Ribs (P250) were huge! The hubby’s plate had three slabs of baked pork ribs marinated in a sweet and tangy piquet sauce. They also came with a cup of rice and some corn and carrots. He said the taste and flavor of the ribs hit the spot and the tender meat was moist and juicy, too. Just like how they were when we had them at Casa Verde, The Walk in Cebu in 2009.


the all-time fave Brian's Ribs

My Tenderloin Tips and Eggs (P198), on the other hand, was a delight in its own right. It’s actually their take on the popular Pinoy fare “Tapsilog” except that this had two eggs (done your way) and the rice used wasn’t fried but steamed. The USDA beef used was perfectly seasoned with hints of sweetness, sourness and saltiness (and slight bitterness from the garlic) that worked together to give out a burst of flavor in every mouthful. I loved it!



We availed of their bottomless iced tea (P75) for drinks. They had two flavors: Panama Orange and Raspberry which you could have alternately. Both flavors were sweet and refreshing but I liked the first one better because its citrus-y flavor was just perfect.


Panama Orange Iced Tea

with my two hungry companions

We got full after finishing our meals that we forewent our desire to have cupcakes and ice cream for desserts. The long wait for our table (we were 7th on the list and that was already past 2:00 pm!) was worth it. Casa Verde, we are definitely coming back for more!


some happy diners at Casa Verde

Casa Verde
2L Ayala-UP Town Center Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City


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Quick Dinner at Yoshinoya

One random weeknight and the hubby and I found ourselves dining at Yoshinoya-SM Manila branch. It was our first time there and we knew nothing about their food except their popular Gyudon beef bowl. So, that was exactly what I ordered while the hubby, who’s starting to be a ramen fan, tried out their Chasu ramen.


Yoshinoya interiors

Yoshinoya’s Gyudon beef bowl, true to the positive reviews I read online, was delicious. The beef was lightly-seasoned but was very tender and the sweet-salty sauce with onion slices added richness to its taste. The rice that went with it was soft, sticky and firm, making each bite of the rice-beef-sauce mix a delightful experience.



The hubby’s Chasu ramen, on the other hand, was just okay. The chasu (pork slices) were tasty and flavorful (plus points). The noodles tasted like the instant variety, though. Good thing they were cooked well. The sauce was more on the sweet side according to the hubby and when I took a spoonful of it, it tasted a lot like my beef bowl’s sauce although I could still taste some good broth flavor in it.



OTHER RAMEN PLACES WE'VE TRIED:
Ramen Kuroda, BF Homes
Ramen Yushoken, Molito-Alabang
Kokoro Ramenya, Roxas Blvd.
Yasuo Japanese Restaurant, Robinsons Place Manila
Izakaya Den Japanese Restaurant, Malate
Rai Rai Ken, Finlandia
Ume-ya Japanese Restaurant, Bacoor
Erra's Ramen, Malate


Overall, we liked Yoshinoya’s food. The prices (less than P150 each for our orders) were quite affordable, too, for a fast food.

Yoshinoya 4L SM City Manila
(beside Bon Chon)


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Panizza and Gelato Night at My Kitchen by Chef Chris

My Kitchen by Chef Chris is one of the most popular restaurants in Manila. Why not when they serve top-notch Italian fares including the much-talked about panizza invented by Chef Chris Locher himself (which they now prefer to call The Original because a lot of other restaurants have made their versions of it)? It's housed inside the Oasis Hotel in Paco, just a stone's throw away from the historical Paco Park and Cemetery. Last November 6th, I went there with the hubby, my PILs, my SIL, my mom and my two sisters for a night of panizza and gelato which turned out to be fun and memorable.




The cozy ambience at My Kitchen is very suitable for dinner dates and family gatherings. During our visit, there were only a few groups dining in which made the place more cozy and romantic. I may have not liked the dim lighting so much because our pictures turned out dark and not so photogenic, but I went there for the food so no worries.



We ordered four different kinds of panizza (whose names I forgot to take note of, my bad). These were from the six new flavors offered by the restaurant exclusively to its Deal Grocer clients. Yes, we used four Deal Grocer vouchers which were gifted to us by a generous soul. We also got some desserts to enjoy after: three kinds of homemade Italian gelato and a creme brulee.



Each panizza can be shared by two to three people. Since we were eight, we had more than enough panizza to share we even had leftovers to take home!



True to what the online community has said about My Kitchen's panizza, they were awesome! Each roll of the panizza with the fresh arugula and alfalfa sprouts was a delight to our palates. There was a burst of flavors in every bite. All of us loved 'em panizza!


this panizza with tender and succulent beef sirloin was a winner!

Among the four panizza, I liked the one with beef sirloin, spinach and artichokes best. I appreciated that My Kitchen did not scrimp on the toppings. I could also taste their quality and freshness. The thin crust, on the other hand, had a nice, flaky texture. I think I ate a total of 6 rolls and yet my tummy still had room for desserts. Sure, the panizza was filling but it was also light enough that it won't make you guilty of overeating or ruining your diet (if you're on one).

As for our desserts, we also liked them all. The creme brulee was superb. Very rich but not too sweet.


this creme brulee is reasonably priced at P195 (plus 10% service charge)

The three kinds of Italian gelato were as creamy and sweet as we imagined them to be. Among the three, the leche flan blew me away. It was just heavenly!


leche flan, coffee and chocolate gelato at P100 per scoop (approx. 100 grams)


our group with the look of satisfaction on our faces

The menu of My Kitchen may be intimidating (with prices of dishes ranging from P600-P2,000) but if you want good Italian food, this should be on top of your list. Good food + good service = pleasant dining experience. My Kitchen by Chef Chris definitely has both and a few desirable add-ons. I won't mind going back there again. :)

My Kitchen by Chef Chris
(Main restaurant of the Oasis Paco Park Hotel Manila)
1032-1034 Belen St.
Paco, Manila

(+632) 521-2371 to 75


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Dinner at Uncle Cheffy's - Lucky Chinatown Mall

I had a date with my mom and my sister last Monday night. It was the spur-of-the-moment kind. We braved the traffic and went to Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo. I had long wanted to try the popular panizza at Uncle Cheffy's and that night, I did. Aside from the panizza, we ordered a few more food which were all delicious. I'm happy to report that the restaurant has nice ambience and serves good food at friendly prices.





It also helps that they have warm and friendly staff who would really go the extra mile to make your dining experience more satisfying. During our visit, we got a table for three and Chad the waiter gave us a table with cushioned chairs near the entrance. After several minutes, our orders arrived.



We started off with the Spaghetti Alejandro (P185) which was Spanish-inspired pasta with tomato sauce, smoked chorizo, pimientos and Edam cheese. We loved its sweet, salty and rich flavors which awakened our taste buds.



When the Uncle Cheffy Favorites panizza (P200, medium) was served, initially I was wowed by the nice presentation. I was more wowed when I tasted it after doing the basic of putting some alfalfa sprouts, tomato salsa and lettuce to the pizza and rolling it up like what you would a shawarma or a pita wrap. The combination of the oven-dried tomatoes, mushroom, garlic, anchovy, chili flakes, basil and three different cheeses was a delight in the mouth. I would have eaten the entire panizza if not for the fact that I was with two other persons who were liking it as much as I was. Haha.







We also had the Asian Fried Rice (P220) and the Garlic Studded Pork Belly Lechon (P190, 200g). The fried rice was big, I thought it could easily feed three to four persons. It was on the sweet side and the rice grains were a bit soggy but it went perfectly with the pork belly lechon which was really tasty and had crispy skin. My mom loves lechon so she finished most of it. Haha.







To wash down everything that we ate, my mom and I each ordered a glass of fresh lemonade (P90) while my sister didn't order any drinks and just settled for water. The lemonade was okay we could really tell it had fresh lemon juice in it.



We capped off our dinner with a slice of Cheffy Cheesecake (P150). It had two layers: chocolate on the base and cheese on the top. Above them were a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry. The chocolate on the base tasted like flourless chocolate cake to me (smooth texture, chocolatey goodness and all) and the cheese on the top was, well, tasted like your good 'ol cheesecake (creamy and fluffy). The whipped cream did a great job at balancing the two flavors (chocolate and cheese). I think the best thing about this dessert is it's uniqueness. It satisfies your craving for chocolate and cheese in one go.



Overall, it was a good meal for us. I can't wait to bring the hubby to this resto so he could try their panizza, too! :)





P.S. Uncle Cheffy's food prices already include VAT. But expect a 10% service charge to be added to your bill. :)

Uncle Cheffy's
3/F Lucky Chinatown Mall
Reina Regente cor. Dela Reina Sts.
Binondo, Manila
(+632) 708-9576


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Enjoy the Flavors of Japan at Shiro Shiro Japanese Restaurant

Finally, the fiancee and I were able to use the Shiro Shiro Japanese Restaurant voucher we got from Metrodeal.com. It was a set lunch for two persons and we thought of no better day to use it than on a Sunday noon right after hearing mass. I made the reservation a few days before so we got seated in no time. The friendly staff at the reception counter informed us that we could choose to seat in one of the traditional tables and eat the Japanese way. We liked the idea and so we followed his advice.







Shiro Shiro Japanese Restaurant is located inside Boulevard Mansion, one of the hotels facing the beautiful Manila Bay on Roxas Boulevard. It is a well-lit dining place with a very relaxing ambience.



The dominating element of dark wood and the big bamboo ornaments on the wall added a zen-like feel to the spacious room. We were the only group that time and we had the entire place to ourselves. Cool.





The fiancée wanted to try their maki and since it was not included in the set lunch, we had to order it additionally along with our drinks. A plate of Shiro Shiro’s California Maki Manila Style (P140) had a total of six fresh and yummy maki rolls. I found out that for it to be called plain California maki, avocado is used instead of mango.



By the way, he had fresh mango shake while I opted for iced coffee.


her drink


his drink

One by one, the four-courses that made up our Tokyo set lunch were served on our table.

We started off our meal with the BLT Salada. This was bacon, lettuce and tomato salad with a Japanese twist. The fiancée wasn’t really into salad but he liked it. It was as light and fresh as a salad should be.





Menchi Katsu. This dish had two breaded and deep-fried ground pork croquettes on a bed of sliced cabbage leaves. The croquettes were perfectly cooked but I found nothing special about them. The sweet dip that came with it was okay, though.



Their Tamago Soup (soft egg soup) was tasty and filling. I liked that they served it really hot in two small individual bowls.



Shiro Shiro’s Kamameshi was a kettle rice dish made with squid ink and seafood. I liked it a lot because I was a squid lover. It was yum in every bite. Poor fiancée, he’s allergic to seafood so he didn’t dare to touch this dish.







For desserts, we were served with Tempura Ice Cream. It was plain Vanilla ice cream deep-fried in tempura batter on a bed of baked apples with chocolate and grenadine sauce. I wonder how they maintained the texture of the ice cream while cooking the tempura batter! Anyhow, the taste was brilliant. The apple slices despite having been baked were still crispy, too. This dessert gave a sweet ending to our meal.





All in all, our lunch at Shiro Shiro Japanese Restaurant was memorable and satisfying. Its location being just a 10-minute car ride from our place is a plus point to me. Next time, I’d love to try their bento meals.





Shiro Shiro Japanese Restaurant
G/F Boulevard Hotel & Residential Suites
1440 Roxas Blvd. cor. Salas St.
Ermita, Manila

(+632) 353-1179


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