Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Emerrific!

Definitely one of my favorite Chinese restaurants... Emer's Food Center is a humble, hole-in-the-wall restaurant located in the basement of Makati Cinema Square. For a small establishment, it satisfies my basic requirements for a good dining place: delicious freshly-cooked food, courteous and attentive staff, and value for money. Thus, I give Emer's a five-star rating and my highest recommendation.


At first glance, Emer's is not the usual commercial or high-end Chinese restaurant that attracts people instantly. The ones who dine here are regular customers who have known the restaurant for years -- like me. It's interior is uncomplicated, but the menu offers a wide selection of lutong-bahay type of Chinese food. And yes, food is cheap, really.


 I'm basically a soup-person, so I always start my meal with a generous serving of hot soup. Most Chinese restaurants serve soup in big bowls, and they have no smaller orders. In contrast, a nice thing about Emer's is that they serve soup that is good for one person. In cup, that is. The photo shows chicken-asparagus soup. Plain chicken broth with chicken cubes, asparagus slices, and vegetables. Unassuming but very tasty, for only Php40.


This is Mom's favorite. Saucy pancit canton. Rightly cooked canton noodles with plenty of sahog: shrimps, pork slices, and fish balls. Serves 2, for only Php120.


One of their best, salted shrimp with vinegar sauce. Eight pieces of large shrimp plainly seasoned with salt and deep-fried. This is literally "sarap to the shell". As in I eat the shell, tail and head, and the flesh goes to Mommy. Good for 2-3 persons, for only Php180.


Mom and I savoring a very satisfying lunch at Emer's. Our total bill (inclusive of the drinks and the senior citizen discount): Php337.50

Thursday, October 25, 2012

BigBang Dinner

I love Korean food. Fortunately, Makati is studded with Korean restaurants. My favorite so far is located just along Malugay St., right beside the Ospital ng Makati Acute Care Center and Makati Golf Compound. Ara Korean Restaurant.

Ara, just like most of my favorite dining havens, is an accidental discovery, being strategically situated right beside the hospital where I work. The seemingly high-end appearance of the exterior and interior is a far cry from its reasonably-priced food selection, relative to other Korean dining places in Makati City. The place is neat and wide. The food servers are welcoming and polite. Even the Korean owners smile a lot to the customers and supervise in the serving.


As with most Korean restaurants, Ara serves a set of complimentary side dishes / appetizers. Although these vary from time to time, kimchi is a mainstay. What's more delighting? The side dishes, especially kimchi, are refillable. These side dishes are served immediately while the customers browse through the menu. Ara also serves pineapple slices and cold cinnamon tea at the end of the meal, also complimentary.


These are my much-loved dishes in Ara. In fact, the food servers already know that these are my favorite orders. Top photo: pork backbone broth -- two big chunks of pork backbone in chili-base soup, mixed with potato, onion leaves and cabbage. The broth is refillable. Bottom photo: seafood pancake. A simple but appetizing dish made of chopped squid and scallions.


Yours Truly feasting on a generous serving of pork backbone broth.


Mom and I enjoying a Korean dinner with Japanese touch -- tempura. Mom is not that into Korean and Japanese food. She's still in the process of "acquiring the taste". She loves prawns/shrimps, though. Thus, the tempura.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Shi Lin Chillin'


Mom and I were looking for a good restaurant for dinner in the Power Plant Mall (Rockwell Center, Makati City) when we decided to check the Archaeology wing, an area in the mall that we seldom visited. There we saw Shi Lin. Since it's the only remaining restaurant inside the mall that we still hadn't tried (being relatively new), we checked the menu and chose to give it a try.

The food selection looked Chinese but not exactly Chinese (I'm referring to the typical menu in most Chinese restaurants). It was, in fact, a Taiwanese restaurant. The place was neat and well-lit. The staff were all very courteous and knew what to suggest for first-timers like us. And most importantly, all the food we ordered were delicious and reasonably priced. It's getting our money's worth, so to speak.


Shi Lin Restaurant is located in the Archaeology wing of the Power Plant Mall. The establishment has a very nice red-predominant interior with beautifully-arranged Chinese ceiling lanterns.


Freshly-made and artistically-designed dumplings, ready for steaming or frying. Top photo: Mushroom & vegetable dumpling. Bottom photo: Shrimp & pork siomai.


Top photo: A hot pot of freshly-prepared, decaffeinated, tropical mango tea. Its light aroma and fruity taste are perfect complements to the strong flavor of the main dishes. Bottom photo: Our appetizer, Japanese cucumber. It's the usual pipino-sa-suka made spicier and more sophisticated.


Top photo: Noodles with shrimp and pork wonton. It's actually the broth that makes this dish special -- its light taste brings out the flavor of the meat. Bottom photo: To add soluble fiber to the diet... stirfry Taiwanese spinach, with just the right amount of garlic and oil.


 Top photo: Crispy prawn cake. This dish uses finely-chopped prawns, thus the fantastic "shrimpy" flavor in every bite. The sweet-and-sour sauce is a perfect match. Mom loved this dish so much. Bottom photo: For dessert... red bean pancake. Not too sweet, but so full of flavor.


Mom and I enjoying a fantastic Taiwanese dinner. Mom even requested for a food to go -- fried shrimp and pork wonton (bottom photo).

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Cool It Down

Summer na. Palamig muna.

 
Clockwise from upper left: Iced tea float, Boracay. House-blend iced tea, Kabisera. Tra da (Vietnamese tea with ice), Pho 24. Guyabano iced tea, Blackbeard's Seafood Island.

  
Clockwise from upper left: Thai halo-halo, Crustasia. Buko-pandan shake, Buko ni Fruitas. Tropical fruit shake, Dulcinea. Puto-bumbong shake, C2 Classic Cuisine.
 
 
Clockwise from upper left: Avocado shake, Dizon's. Strawberry float, Icebergs. Blueberry milk tea, Tea Tattle. Sago-gulaman, The Aristocrat.
 

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Mrs. Saigon

Tonight she was Mrs. Saigon.

They said Pho 24 served good food. I said it's time to eat. I needed to order fast, and I was not looking back. We'd devour 'em clean, that's what this dinner's about.

Ah, it's my Queen, ah yes! Lower your lips and let's sip. I paid the moon to get these fresh treats. Voila! At Powerplant Mall. Welcome to Pho 24!

The heat was on in Pho 24. The food was hotter than hell. All of these dishes would be Mrs. Saigon's. God, the craving was high. Was there a hunger strike going on? Don't ask, I ain't gonna tell.

See our soup bowls, they're just the right size. Didn't you enjoy how they filled up our guts? Look from above, they'd knock out your eyes. (Above: Pho do vien -- seafood noodle soup. Below: Pho tai gau -- beef tenderloin noodle soup with fat brisket.)

Let me buy you a tea (or coffee). Tonight we're out of our minds. Not to mention reasonable price. (Left: Ca phe den -- Vietnamese coffee. Right: Tra da -- Vietnamese tea with ice.)

We were satiating, and we came back here tonight. The village we came from didn't seem far away. All of our loved ones knew much more what to order. But I knew, I had stomach like the sea. A million calories were in me. (Above: Garnishes for Pho. Below: Cha gio -- deep fried spring rolls.)

Friday, February 24, 2012

Pathologic Eating

It was an ultra-busy day at the Philippine Society of Pathologists (PSP) Headquarters in Malakas St., Diliman. So, to replenish my energy stores and to refresh myself during this super hot and tiring day, I decided to have my lunch at Yviana.

Yviana is a popular refreshment spot among Filipino pathologists because it is strategically located right across the PSP Building in Malakas St, Diliman, Quezon City. It is a small cafe -- humble, I must say -- in a predominantly residential area. Situated near three tertiary hospitals: the Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center and AFP (V. Luna) Medical Center, it is a preferred dining venue for physicians and healthcare workers in the area. From the outside, it may look like an ordinary bakeshop, but this establishment offers more than just bread. They make really good muffins, food for the gods and butterscotch. (For my pasalubong, I actually bought a big bag of butterscotch slices for Mom). They also serve meals and snacks. And yes, oh yes, don't forget to try the chocolate cake! It's to die for.

 For today, I ordered one of my favorites: embutido. I love embutido, in general, but Yviana's version has its unique delicious taste. The consistency is soft, yet it is very meaty. It doesn't have that cereal-crumbs-flour-extender texture. Moreover, it is not the typical rod-shaped embutido -- the square contour makes it more visually appetizing. The egg is cooked the way it should be cooked... for me -- malasado. Yviana also serves really flavorsome la paz batchoy. The dinuguan is also a must-try.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Eating For Absolution

It was an iceberg that sank the Titanic. It's also an iceberg that's lifting me high.

Oh, Icebergs. The glucose rush releases too much endorphins and gives me that exhilirating, euphoric feeling.

Unluckily and oddly, my favorite, blueberry cheesecake parfait, was phased out. Scoops of creamy cheese-flavored ice cream topped with blueberry syrup and cheesecake cubes. Perfect. Almost heaven. But just like the Titanic, it's gone now. In all branches.

As the name implies, Icebergs is mainly an ice cream restaurant. They also serve meals, sandwiches and other non-dessert items. Interestingly, they taste good. So good you'll sink to the ocean floor. Mom and I always order club house sandwich, buffalo wings and halo-halo -- those are our favorites. Surely, ice cream, sundaes and parfaits are just the "tip of the iceberg".

More than an ice cream house. Icebergs is a place to be when craving for different kinds of good-quality food. There are several branches scattered in the Metro, but I always frequent the ones in Robinsons Ermita, Mall of Asia and Seaside Drive for proximity reasons.

The Queen with her favorite. Halo-halo. The 'tip of the iceberg' is really eye-catching. See those two big scoops of ube and cheese ice cream? Yummy! (Left: Icebergs Robinsons Ermita. Right: Icerbergs Mall of Asia)

Icebergs sizzling sisig is a contradiction. It's not fatty, unlike the usual sisig in other more popular restaurants which is composed of small cubes of fat floating in pools of animal oil. And I prefer the egg served separately, malasado. (Icebergs Seaside Drive, MOA Complex)

Mom doesn't eat buffalo wings unless they're from Icebergs. This one in the photo is a surprise pasalubong for her Majesty at 4:00 AM!

This is the embodiment of mortal sin. Strawberry float. It's like 500 cc of regular sugar-loaded soda with strawberry syrup, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and slices of sweetened strawberry. So sinful yet so divine. My mouth will go on.

Bench Body

Bench... my all-time favorite clothing line since high school. (You know, Richard Gomez and his famous rowing TV commercial in the early 1990's.) Just the perfect fit. Just the perfect size. Just the perfect comfort. And just the perfect price. I've tried several other local and imported clothing brands, but I've always ended up choosing Bench. Clueless. But yes, I am, in fact, the ultimate Bench hunk. Here's me, everything Bench.


Thursday, February 2, 2012

Sta. Cruzin'

Why I love going to Sta. Cruz in Manila.

Yeah, there is money there. I go to Sta. Cruz every week to collect specimens from my doctor friends. Aside from that, Sta. Cruz is a culinary sanctuary. The streets of Masangkay, Benavides and Doroteo Jose are studded with eateries, canteens and restaurants that serve authentic and delectable Chinese food. Here are some of the food spots that I frequent:

 
Wai Ying Fast Food. My all-time favorite Chinese fast food since medical school. Wai Ying is located in Benavides St., a short five-minute walk from the Metropolitan Medical Center (and a quick 10-minute drive from UST -- perfect for medical students who intend to have a "quickie" lunch). Every item in the menu is a must-try. I always order pata-bihon -- it's mami but bihon is used instead of the usual Hong Kong mami noodles, mixed with two big pieces of patatim. Their mami is best paired with siomai or shrimp chong fan -- chewy shrimps wrapped in ho fan sheets and immersed in asado soy sauce. In the photo: beef-bihon, shrimp chong fan and almond jelly. 

 
Heavenly Grace Vegetarian Restaurant. All flora, no fauna. This is a small restaurant along Masangkay St. right beside the Philippine Academy of Sakya. The food is comparable to the more commercialized vegetarian restaurants in shopping malls, only cheaper and more reasonably priced. One will be surprised to see high school students from nearby schools eat here for lunch -- definitely a good way to incorporate vegetables in the diet of the younger generation. In the photo: budget meal composed of two ulam (sweet-and-sour veggie meat and eggplant guisado) and rice with iced tea, all for Php 65.

 
Ha Yuan Fast Food. I was introduced to the best maki ever created at the age of 8 (circa 1984) when my aunt Flor brought me to Ha Yuan in the food court of SM Cubao (then, "Shoemart"). Maki became part of my culinary vocabulary eversince. Along Masangkay St., a few meters from Claro M. Recto Ave., is this old-fashioned Ha Yuan branch. Maki is actually bite-size pieces of breaded meat in thick, mucoid, soy-based soup and with scallion topping. Simple but totally pleasing to the taste buds. The establishment also serves noodles, rice meals and dimsum.

 
The New President Sharksfin Seafood Restaurant. An accidental discovery when my Mom and I arrived in Avenida and we were looking for some really nice restaurants in the area. "President" is situated in the ground level of the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, a neat 3-star hotel in the corner of Doroteo Jose St. and Rizal Ave., right across the Doroteo Jose LRT station. The restaurant provides a retro ambiance, as the walls are decorated with photos of movie stars and celebrities in the 1950s. Appropriately called, the hotel stands at the site of the historic Manila Grand Opera House. The restaurant serves the best-tasting chicken feet in the Metro.

 
Masuki. A lutong-bahay style Chinese fast food in Benavides St. towards Binondo. There are only three items in the menu -- mami, siopao and siomai -- and those are indeed the very specialties of the house. The mami and siopao taste like they are "traditionally" prepared, in contrast to the "commercial" taste of modern Chinese tea houses. Interestingly, Masuki is operated by the same group that owned the very famous Ma Mon Luk, claimed by my Mom to be the best mami house during her college days (circa 1950). In the photo: asado mami, special asado siopao and pork siomai.

 
Mom and I in one of our Sta. Cruzin' food trips. A hot and delicous serving of asado mami in Masuki.