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Let's Eat! I'm Shak, old food blogger trying new things. I'm giving honest reviews unless sponsored. 😂😂😂 Pics are taken with an iPhone 6. 🍕📱

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Paper Moon | November 10, 2015 Okay, so we've heard of crepes but crepe cakes? Basically just crepes that are stacked on top of each other with luscious cream in betweens. I had the chance to try Paper Moon's original flavor Mille Crepe and it was heavenly. For 225 pesos a slice, I thought it was another overpriced, overhyped novelty food. But up close, I saw and tasted all the effort put into making this dessert and definitely would price it the same way. It was so delicate, and soft, and egg-y. I love eggs! I can't compare it to a cake. Not even a crepe! It was like a flan. I don't know. I guess it's a whole different class on its own. It wasn't too sweet nor too fat. It was really good for my taste. But it lacked personality. By that, I mean it did not keep me up at night- tossing and turning and craving for more. I don't know how to gauge crepe cake perfection because this is the first and only one I've tried. Let me get back to you when I find something else. 🍮 Paper Moon is located at the Ground Floor of Glorietta 3 and 4th Level of Trinoma Mall.

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Cafe Seolhwa 🍧 | October 20, 2015 This post is quite image heavy. Just because! Look at this majesty! If you ask how much Cafe Seolhwa has set the bar for iced desserts for me, I would say pretty damn high. The decadence of the chocolate and cheesecake, the freshness of the fruits, and the delicate taste of the shaved iced milk never left my mind to this day. It was my first time there, last month. In the midst of all the food we've had, we made it to this unassuming little spot in Fort Bonifacio. It is not very popular but to those who have tried it, it must have become a staple dessert for most because the place is packed even on weekdays and there is no surprise why. Everything about this bingsu is perfect. Bingsu is a popular Korean dessert with ice shavings as base, topped with condensed milk and various sweet ingredients. At Cafe Seolhwa, from the fruit flavored bingsu to yogurt to chocolate and even green tea (matcha) ones are all amazing and huge! Ranging from 190 to 360 pesos with solo and share sizes. The ones in the pics are for share but we kind of got carried away. (Who wouldn't be?) There is a special thing about their bingsu. The ice shavings isn't ice but frozen milk! The ice on their Brownie Bingsu is frozen chocolate milk shavings. Omfg. I'm depressed now. I have to go back soon. 😭😭😭 The store also offers cakes, pastries, pancakes, rice cakes, sandwiches, and coffee drinks (hot, iced, frappes). One thing though, I ordered their Red Velvet cake and it was very dry and quite pricey so I do not recommend that one. 🍨🍨🍨 Cafe Seolhwa has branches at: The Forum, Bonifacio Global City Commerce Center BF Homes Century City Mall

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Klondike Krunch | October 15, 2015 I was pacing the ice cream section of Rustan's the other day and I just had to get this instead of the the Twix or Snickers ice cream bars. I never had one and it's the first time I saw this. Maybe I wasn't looking too hard! I know Klondike ice cream has a cult-like status in the states. I had comic books when I was little with ads of Klondike in the pages. So what can I say? It is too sweet. The vanilla ice cream itself is too damn sweet for me, the kind that would give you a pinching migraine afterwards. It wasn't as creamy as a Magnum. It tastes a bit rough and icy. The chocolate coating is twice as sweet as a Crunch bar. But weird enough, I finished a bar without struggle. It probably has drugs in it. Who knows? Rustan's sells Klondike Krunch in packs of 6 for 296 pesos. The original Klondike Bar sells for 290. If you're a sweet tooth, I don't think you need to look for anything else than this!

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YOSHINOYA | October 13, 2016

First time foodie at Yoshinoya (Glorietta 1) and I’m totally sold all because they serve hearty meals at a reasonable price.

Japanese food is tricky. I’m a lover of it although not an expert. I look for that authentic taste and freshness every time but most restaurants fail to deliver and when they do, they charge an arm and a leg for a small ass portion. This makes Yoshinoya special. Share portions at an okay price, fresh ingredients, and very tasty!

I’ve tried fast casual Japanese restos and this spot definitely tops my list now. I highly recommend their Jumbo plates wherein you can choose two mains on top of rice and vegetables for only 205 pesos (good for sharing) and their ramens all at 129 pesos per bowl. Their wide variety of bento boxes and tempura bento meals range from 159-179 pesos only!

One item in their menu that I totally miss now is their fresh Kani salad. It is delightfully fresh and crisp with such a delicious dressing of what I think was seasoned kewpie mayo. I’ve never had such a great salad in any Japanese resto I’ve been to! And if I remember well it was only 79 pesos per serving.

I would so go back!

Yoshinoya is located in SM MOA, North Edsa, Megamall, and Manila, Ayala Fairview Terraces, Glorietta 1, and Robinson’s Galleria.

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Conti's | October 6, 2015 Still a part of the Manila food experience, it is my first time to eat at Conti's and it probably will be the last if it's not free. Shoot me. I probably ordered the wrong stuff but I was unimpressed despite the good reviews I've seen and heard about it. What really turns me off about a restaurant is when the taste does not match the price. Another one, is when the food is not warm enough when served. We weren't lucky that day. The branch in Serendra was understaffed when we went there. It took them 15 minutes to give us water and when we got our food 30 minutes later, they forgot to give us our utensils. Okay. We were sitting outside so Elle had to go inside and look for spoons and forks. That did not throw me off my excitement to eat our orders (because I was starving) but our orders did. Mirza ordered the Chicken ala Kiev (305) which is stuffed chicken breast, deep fried and topped with white sauce and the Gambas Y Champinon Al Ajillo (180) which is basically spicy gambas with mushroom and for me, it is the winner in that dinner. Very tasty but the price should come with rice at least because the portion was very small. Since it's an appetizer, they didn't have to. The chicken is alright. The sauce is meh. I have to say for 305 pesos? Never again. Elle and I had Paella Madrilena which is paella rice with prawns and chicken. I couldn't find the price online but it should be 200+ for a single serving and their Siomai dumpling which is if I remember correctly, 90 pesos more or less. Our meal was probably the biggest disappointment because the paella was like a cup of rice with toppings. It tasted bland and dry and I made better tasting paella and I don't even know how to make paella. Damn. And let's talk about the siomai. Master Siomai is tastier siomai than Conti's siomai. Let that sink in. Anyways, the only thing we did not order there was the most popular item in their menu which is the Mango Bravo (165 per slice). According to Mirza, people line up to buy that cake during the holiday season. It is a popular gift or potluck "bitbit" as well. So maybe, if I find myself in a Conti's next time, I'll get that one instead.

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168 Mall Foodcourt | October 2, 2015 Cravings break my heart because when they happen to me, I never have access to the food in question. I'm lucky to be living downtown where everything is pretty much accessible but there are times when I have to go out of my way to find gold. A week into the Manila trip and I already was looking for street food. Elle and I made a pact that we will only eat stuff we can't find at home or restaurants without branches in Cebu (yet). In Divisoria, there are if I'm not mistaken three big shopping centers connected to each other. We went straight to 168 mall and haven't gone to the others because this one is already way too big for my lazy ass anyway. I have been craving for fishballs and tusok tusok stuff, dumplings, siomai, and ramen! So when we took a break from shopping we went searching for a chinese type stall in the food court and hells yeah we found a couple next to a Singaporean/Chicken rice food stall as well. I'm sorry I forgot what the stall is called it is right across the BonChon there and you won't miss it. Everything was sooo good I swear! Look at that picture with everything on the tray that is only 400++ pesos our greedy pieholes weren't able to finish it all. The shame. I wanted to go walk around Binondo because I'm pretty sure we could have found more food places that are so worth the trip too but we ran out of time. My God. Time flies when you are haggling prices. Haha. I shall return! 😎🍴

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Happy International Coffee Day! (2015)

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Staple and Perk Bakery | September 30, 2015 One of the unexpected food places we tried out during our Manila trip was this bright little space in Eco Plaza, Makati called Staple and Perk Bakery. As one of the newer spots in the metro, it is not just a bakery/cafe but has also become a popular place for events such as art workshops, stand-up comedy nights, and gatherings. Elle and I tagged along with my bestie Mirza to attend a K-Pop birthday bash for the Bangtan Boys. Their fan club held a simple program there and so we got to try their food out. We got the Toast with tomatoes, pesto, and kesong puti (goat cheese) and their Bacon Zitti pasta. Their sandwich was tasty with a good amount of kesong puti and pesto which was a good sweet-salty-tangy mix that I love. The pasta was perfectly cooked al dente and the sauce so creamy. What I definitely love about it is how I can tell they used bacon fat for the sauce. Every bite is a smoky creamy goodness that destroys every bit of will to watch your diet. If you're trying to stay away from carbs, stay away from this place at all costs!

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BACONFEST Manila | September 30, 2015 I was there! For like 10 minutes and then left with the squad because the heat was unbearable. People were grilling, frying, roasting, etc. in huge ass tents but the weather was extra humid that night and there were tons of people we couldn't breathe. All I can say was all that food looked delicious af. The girls bought non-bacon food. I wasn't able to eat any bacon that night because I ate too much before going to the fest. I hope that they bring it to Cebu soon. We do have a Mercato type deal here which is held in Banilad Town Center. I haven't been to those events yet and I'm not so sure if it happens weekly or monthly but maybe the hype will catch on. After all, everyone is crazy about bacon!

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Nihonkai Tsukiji | September 26, 2015

Last weekend, our sweet friends Viel and Jerald treated us to dinner at Nihonkai Tsukiji in McKinley Hill, BGC.

It’s a small place with a good number of guests considering it was already late (10-ish). We were supposed to go to the other Ramen place (I forgot the name) in that same strip because Viel said it’s her fave but it was already closed.

This one isn’t bad. And the price is alright! Elle ordered the Shoyu Ramen (250) good for share and I ordered Chicken Karaage (250). The ramen has a light fish-based broth that really pleased our palate. The pork loin in it is melt-in-your-mouth delicious and I love how it is balanced by the fresh greens in it. Such a simple dish but quite unforgettable just like their Chicken Karaage. It reminded me of Bonchon but darker and the sauce has a sharper taste. Sweet savory and the meat very soft.

The couple got beef and mackerel dishes that are just superb. The fish is super fresh and sweet. The beef is tender and leaves a lasting impression in your mouth. Like say… Bacon! I know when food is great when I start wondering how it’s made and when I almost forget to take pictures of it for this blog. I do try my best though so forgive me!

As the second Japanese restaurant I’ve been to this month, it tied up with Izakaya with its food. I would go back but I would try the sushi next time!

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Wildflour (Patatas Review) | September 22, 2015

If a store has good fries, it should be worth going back to. I tracked down Wildflour because I’ve seen it in the Booky app’s monthly Top 10 as well as some other food blogs and by track down, I meant dragging Elle 5 blocks on foot to Net Lima Bldg. in BGC. Haha! ✌🏾️

We went in a weird time because we made dinner plans with our friends for later that day so we did not want to be too full but it was late so we were also starving. We decided on drinks and appetizers.

The waitress set down complimentary bread and butter. Elle got the Crimson Berry Iced Tea and I ordered the Agua Fresca with cucumber, lime, and mint. The drinks were delicious, refreshing, and satisfying. Not too sweet, just the way I like it. I love my drink. Elle’s is good, too but I like the minty ones better.

I’m surprised with their Fries! Not the usual strips, shoestring, or wedges but cut in thick cubes or bunches. With the skins on, it is lightly salted, crunchy on the outside and mushy inside. I wondered what the cooking process was like as I munched on. I could not stop eating it! It is quite pricey at 185 pesos a plate and so is the rest of the menu. Meals range from 300-1000 pesos (steaks). They serve breakfast meals until 3pm and wine and cocktails all day.

I will definitely go back for more! Fries and other things!

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Tim Ho Wan | September 21, 2015 A few days ago, Elle and I had the chance to wander off the hotel and so we found ourselves in the nearest mall (Robinson's Place Manila) in search of a Jamba Juice. We were walking around at 6-ish and saw a Tim Ho Wan. A Tim Ho Wan is something I've seen so much all over the internet. People raved about it. Something like a Yakimix - where people line up and spend time waiting outside just to eat there. I wasn't too aware of that detail until after we left the restaurant and saw a long line of people outside, mostly in groups. It seems no matter where you are there will always be this group of people who are cray about good dimsum. Including us. 😏 Their menu is on the table in the form of a paper placemat. Cool. Everything looks a lot pricier than the usual Chinese fare. Think 4 pieces of dumplings for 150-180 pesos. I was thinking if I ate my usual 3 orders of that stuff, we would be eating 7-eleven siopao for the next 3 days. So we looked at that paper menu for awhile and chose what we were craving for. And for the sake of this blog, it was worth it. Elle loves congee. We both do but she more than I. We can not explain in words how much we miss Chowking congee and how much we hope they bring it back even if they had to phase out the noodle soup. Haha. Haters. Anyways, we got one serving of Congee with Lean Pork, Century Egg, and Salted Egg for 140 pesos. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. Sorry, Chowking. For the price, my mind was blown. I was like so that's why it's 140. There is more "sahog" than rice in that bish. Hahaha. I think there are 3 century eggs smashed in there more or less. We ate like savages. When the Prawn Dumplings (160), the Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin (120), and the Vermicelli Roll with Pig's Liver (150) dishes were served we were already a bit more human. First off, the beef ball is amazeballs. I tell ya. I think there is a good amount of ginger and salted black beans in it and I love it! I do feel it's some weird part of the cow because of the smell and aftertaste but I don't care so much. I really like it but I think it's not for everybody. The vermicelli roll is so-so. I regretted that. It tasted a bit doughy and bland. The liver was chopped into small rough bits. Their sauce saved it somehow. Don't buy it. Last but not the least... the Prawn Dumplings!!! It was DELICIOUS. Not superb. Not Crystal Jade superb. But really good. Fresh, tasty, fat. Fat prawns are best prawns. Fat seafood is best seafood 5ever. It made me wish we canceled the rolls for two servings of those or the ones with spinach in it. Sigh. Anyways! Another regret is that I did not order the Baked Bun with BBQ Pork which is a bestseller. I love meat buns and pies and so I swear I'm getting those the next time I go. I hope Tim Ho Wan makes its way to Cebu soon so every dimsum-obsessed Cebuano can try it. 🍚 Why is there no chopsticks emoji? 😕

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September 16, 2015

Last night’s dinner was bomb. If it wasn’t for my hyperacidity, it would have been better. To celebrate our first night in Manila, we went over our daily food budget to try one of the many Japanese restaurants in Ermita.

We picked the place where there were no servers standing outside calling out people handing out menus because I feel violated by that. 😂

In Izakaya Steak/Nihonbashi Tei, we ordered the cheapest bento at 350 pesos to share. It did not disappoint. It’s got beef steak, soy pork, fried salmon, breaded chicken breast, tuna sashimi, pickled vegetables, Tamagoyaki, and silken tofu. In Cebu, that would be already 500++. Served with rice and miso soup, food was served delicately but it took awhile because there were a lot of people, mostly Japanese customers drinking wine and munching on edamame.

Elle tried the Natto with raw egg yolk (80 pesos). It’s fermented edamame seeds and quite silky, took awhile to appreciate that because it reminded me of okra and me no likey okra. I found it a good way to practice my dumb chopstick skills though. Haha.

I have an obsession with Takoyaki. Like pees pants squee squee love for these octopus balls and I ordered a set of 6 for 165 pesos. It tasted so-so and I was quite disappointed with how small the octopus is in the batter like I couldn’t even find it in some balls. The best part was the generous toppings of Bonito flakes. 😅 I loved that! It looked pretty, I give it that.

All in all. It was a good meal. I would like to say the ingredients tasted fresh. Customer service, not so good but the price was worth the portions. I would like to try other places on that strip for sure.

Izakaya Steak and Nihonbashi Tei is in Adriatico St., Malate, Manila

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September 15, 2015

It’s 7 in the morning and I’m at the airport with my sissy Elle for our trip to Manila. Woke up at 4 to get ready and arrived here so hungry. My plan was just latte because I’ve cut out my carbs for three days now but here we are at the new Bo’s outlet right across the check-in counters.

I have always loved their sausage and egg sandwich because it has no dressing! Just plain good salty crunchy good goood gooood. First time to try their bolognese pasta. This one was Elle’s but I probably stuffed my face half of that platter hahaha! Damn.

This pasta dish is perfect for me! I was expecting the standard soupy bolognese pasta I always get from other places but this was meaty, cheesy, with the right amount of tomato sauce. The herbs are not overpowering either. I love it! For the price of 185 pesos a plate, it comes with a big hunk of garlic bread. The breakfast sandwich is 145 pesos. A bit overpriced but that’s because my 145 pesos can probably make two sandwiches at home. 😂

Shut up, Shak.

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September 12, 2015

I went to The Social in Ayala a couple of nights ago to have a bottle of apple beer with Sephai. We decided to kick it after a visit to our gynecologist and talked about our health issues.

Pretty much, after paranoid rambles and my hypochondria at an all time high, I picked their vegetarian pizza because health. It’s 375 pesos at 12 inches. The apple beer is 95. There is nothing special about the pizza just that the crust is the perfect thin for me. It’s not tasty, but the ingredients seem fresh and they served our food piping hot! My weakness! I don’t get their mozzarella. It tasted kind of bland. Or maybe that wasn’t mozzarella? I should have asked the chef.

I’ll try their other pizzas next time.

The Social is in the garden row of Ayala Center, Cebu City

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September 11, 2015 Prawns as big as chicken legs! Got me writing about food once again. The last time was December of 2011 in Blogger platform. Some people still come up to me and ask what happened to that. It was more of a recipe guide. I don't cook as much as I eat outside so I guess this blogging will be a bit more micro. Gonna get me a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate my first gastrorgasmic post! 😋