Manila Bay Sunset

The Filipinos are proud of the Manila Bay sunset. And for good reason. Check out these photos:
Read more!

Chi's Brick Oven Kitchen

209 Aguirre Ave., B.F. Homes, Paranaque City, Philippines

Its unique selling proposition is that every dish comes out of their brick oven. And you have to go all the way to BF Paranaque to have some. I read about it from a blog post by my friend Jag. The USP stated above was intriguing enough, but oh, how he waxed and profaned about that chocolate dessert and we knew we had to try it! And though I no longer profane these days, I understand the role of profanity as a figure of speech for emphasis. Especially for food. But before we talk about the dessert, let's begin with the appetizers. There's no way baked potato can fail, and the Stuffed Potato Marbles (P110) are winners. I'm a big fan of potato skins, and this one had the skin, the flesh, and bacon and cheese stuffing, and sour cream dip. Everybody around the table liked it. The Wood-Fired Buffalo Wings (P175) failed to leave an impression on me. Mainly they failed to stay on the plate long enough. While I was taking pictures of the oven, my dinner mates attacked and left me with a ravaged platter not fit for a picture. I had a piece to eat though, but it really wasn't very memorable in flavor. What is memorable is the Puchon! (P295) This is pork na nilechon sa pugon served with soy vinaigrette. Crispy goodness. And we tried to convince ourselves that it's healthy because it was baked. None of us was convinced, but all of us were satisfied with this dish. Somebody ordered Buffalo Chicken Pizza (P315). Though that seemed redundant given that we also ordered Buffalo Wings, it deserved a place on the table. The thin crust was good. The tomato sauce and mozzarella blue cheese topping even better. I'm not a connoisseur with a palate that can differentiate brick oven pizza, but I can tell that this was very good pizza. I expected more from the Rigatoni in 3-Cheese Sauce (P235), but maybe mozzarella, cheddar, and quezo de bola are meant to be enjoyed not mixed together in one sauce. It was good, but not exceptional. And finally, the Brick Oven Chocolate Cake Ala Mode (P120). It's as good as Jag says it is. The difference with other Lava or Molten cakes is the texture of the outer layer of the cake. It looks as if it were coated with white flour and there's a mildly burnt and yummy flavor to it. Maybe that's the effect of brick oven baking. As for look and ambiance, the place is tastefully done with a homey quality apt for its being a village resto. I like the malaga tile look on the ceiling. And of course, that great looking brick oven at the center is a commanding visual presence and gives the place warmth. Bottomline, Chi's Kitchen is worth the trip to BF. To see is to believe: http://islandhopper.multiply.com/photos/album/30/Chis_Brick_Oven_Kitchen

Read more!

Terry's Selection

Unit 2, Bldg. B Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Pasong Tamo Extension and The Podium, Lower Ground Level

The best time to go to Terry's is when Mr. de Terry is cooking in the kitchen and his gorgeous son is in the dining area. That way, you get yummies for your tummy and for your eyes, candy.

We've eaten at both the Makati and the Podium branches, but we had our best meal when Mr. de Terry was performing chef duties. That was several months back so I can't remember everything now except for the fritata, which was heavenly fluff, or fluffy heaven. We had a lineup of tapas with great wine, all recommended by the younger Mr. Terry. And don't bother doing the beautiful eyes at him while you ask him the difference between chardonnay and pinot noir; from what I heard he's taken.

The ambience was casual, and even though the place was crowded and overbooked that holiday evening, service was efficient.

One of the place's attraction is the deli and wine store filled with all sorts of gourmet goodies and cook's gadgets like gorgeous paelleras and party pottery. One time I was at the Podium and it was all I could do not to open a bottle of wine and sit down by the olive taste test counter. I also loved it when I went there one time desperate for something to bring to a pot luck dinner, and they were friendly, not snooty at all, in accommodating my request for the cheapest possible, but not cheap looking cold cut and cheese platter.

Terry's is guaranteed to be a favorite. Read more!

La Cocina de Tita Moning

http://www.lacocinadetitamoning.com/
315 San Rafael St., San Miguel
Telephone: (63 2) 734-2141, (63 2) 734-2146, 0917-5383490

This is a truly spectacular dining experience. And really, I usually try to keep the superlatives away, but this is one of the finest Manila dining experience. Okay, so you cough up at least 1.5k per pop, but you get quite a lot out of it: an al fresco start of baked queso de bola, a tour of the house that brings out the illustrado-wannabe in you (gawk enviously at the Lunas and Hidalgos), and dining on turn-of-the-century, homemade cooking served on the plates the Montinolas and Legardas ate on. It feels so authentic you start looking for Dona Victorina and craving for tinola. No tinola, though. But I will not complain about the paella and the bread pudding. Memorable. Delectable. At kung ano ano pang ble.

I loved the washroom and the adjoining bedroom. Of course, your friend with the third eye will tell you that you weren't alone there. Which is part of the charm, isnt' it?

Reserevations required. Check out the website for menu and photos. Read more!