Getting Fat With Pata

Today I decided to cook estofadong pata for lunch, the way my Mom cooks it.

Estofadong Pata is basically slices of pork leg (trotter) cooked in soy sauce. Tradition dictates that it should be sweet and have strands of dried banana blossom. The taste is somewhat a fusion of adobo, patatim and pinaksiw na pata. This particular anatomic part is ideal for estofado because of the abundance of chewy skin and sticky fat/soft tissue. My recipe (or more appropriately, Mom's recipe) also has chicken liver, pineapple chunks and saba banana slices added. As for the sauce (and the way we cook it), that's our family's secret.

Estofadong pata is best served hot with freshly-cooked steamed rice.

Gelato Love

Mom and I love ice cream.

After a very tasty Chinese dinner tonight, we decided to cap off our meal with something cold, sweet and simple. And so I brought her to Caffe Ti-amo.

Caffe Ti-amo Italian Gelato & Coffee is located at the ground level of Greenbelt 5, Makati City. Cozy, that's the simplest word that can describe this cafe -- dim lights, pleasant interior, comfy chairs, and, yes, a tree in the middle. But this establishment's design is actually an eye-catcher... a blend of the casual and the classy, as well as the classic and the modern; more French or English than Italian.

This cafe boasts of its colorful collection and wide array of gelato (that's Italian for ice cream), artistically sculptured and displayed in a very inviting fashion. This is temptation literally in the form of an ice cream. Other items are also present in their menu, namely, cakes and waffles -- Waffle Gelato being one of the bestsellers.

Mom and I chose our all-time favorites: pistachio and tiramisu gelato. The former was perfect for Mom, as the sweetness was just right. Hindi nakakaumay. The latter tasted like Bailey's ice cream (that's why I chose it), a pleasing and delicious deviation from the traditional, plain coffee-cocoa flavor.

There. The diabetic mother and diabetic-to-be son, enjoying the dessert moment, savoring a single-serving each of heaven. Ice cream is love.

Crepe Est Bonne

Mom and I wanted something light and sweet for lunch today, so I brought her to my newly-discovered and now-a-favorite dining place in Edsa Shangri-la Plaza Mall. La Creperie.

La Creperie is located at the 2nd level of the Edsa Shangri-la Plaza Mall. The place is cute and simple -- a stand-alone dining area along the mall's corridor. The interior and design remind me of the beauty of a prarie-style kitchen. Although seemingly simple, this small restaurant prepares fantastic crepe varieties that outstand and/or compare to the more popular crepe restaurants in the Metro. In fact, I myself am not that much into crepes, but La Creperie made me change my mind. Oui?

La Creperie's menu offers a variety of crepe choices that look totally appetizing but surprisingly have reasonable prices. Dessert or entree, snack or main dish... their crepes are designed to satisfy any form of craving. They also serve soups, pastas and meat dishes, as well as coffee and tea to complement the meal.

My first love... The Salidou. This is their simplest crepe, smothered with salted butter, topped with whipped cream, and drizzled with caramel. That's all. No fruits, meat or any other inclusions. The crepe, made from buckwheat flour, is moist and creamy. This is a must-try for any first-timer in this restaurant (like Mom!). Simple but tasty and full of elaborate flavors. For Mom, however, I added a few slices of banana for a healthier touch. Php 180.

For my order, I chose one of their best-sellers, Mango Hazelnut au Chocolat. Bitter-sweet chocolate-flavored crepe with thick chocolate syrup and mango slices, topped with whipped cream, drizzled with caramel and sprinkled with thinly-shaved almonds. The photo speaks for itself. This dish will make your "taste buds fly to the stratosphere", the very descriptive words used by my friend and fellow gastronome Tisay Buenaflor who recommended this place to me. Php 185.

C'est si bon. Mom and I feeling excited like kids, so eager to devour their snack. Mom's picky taste for food was limited to the conventional and traditional, but I was pretty sure she would love the food in La Creperie as much as I did. And I was right. Our bill: Php 330 (inclusive of the senior citizens' discount). Bon apetit!

Maki-Kain

After watching a play at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza, Mom and I checked the restaurants at the 3rd level for dinner. Since Mom is into Chinese food, we decided to try Manosa Noodles, Seafood, & Chops. (Chinese food is always the safest choice when addressing her cravings and hunger.)

Manosa Noodles, Seafood, & Chops is located at the 3rd level of the Yuchengco Tower, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. The food court of RCBC Plaza is studded with good restaurants and has been one of my favorite dining places since the year 2001. The original and parent Manosa restaurant is located in Ongpin, Binondo and was built in 1940. It is delighting to know that there is a branch of this authentic Chinese restaurant in the heart of Makati. Thus, I can enjoy their dishes without having to travel all the way to Binondo.

The interior of the restaurant is simple but appealing. The walls are decorated with sepia-toned photos of Old Manila. The chairs are made of woven rattan -- a subtle contrast to the modern-designed tables, and gives the ambiance of fusion of the old and the new -- thus bringing and adapting traditional Chinese flavor to contemporary and urbanized Makati taste.

Manosa is known to serve delicious maki, just like Ha Yuan and Maki Haus. Maki is a humble dish that is full of flavor. It is made simply of breaded pork slices in thick, gooey, soy-based soup and topped with chopped scallions. This big bowl of maki serves 2 and costs only Php 100.

Chinese food is not Chinese food without noodles. The one in the photo is pancit bihon, a popular Filipino-Chinese dish composed of rice noodles cooked in soy sauce and mixed with meat (usually pork) and vegetables. The aroma of this dish is distinct and really appetizing. Serves 2-3, only Php 125.

Mom is so in love with this one -- kikiam. The real Chinese kikiam, as depicted above, is a large pork roll filled with ground meat and spices, a far cry from the more popular and cheaper "kikiam" that is made almost entirely of flour and flavorings, and shaped into shriveled spindle-shaped nuggets. Manosa kikiam is fried-toasted and served with sweet-and-sour sauce. I can't remember the price, but it is less that Php 100. Also serves 2.

Our pantulak, generous servings of iced tea and watermelon shake in big glasses, each costing less than Php 60.

Mom and I living the infamous line of food bloggers, "click before you eat". All in all, we spent approximately Php 400 for our dinner, and that's still exclusive of the senior citizens' discount. And as for the food, yummy. No need to go to Binondo. Manosa (RCBC Plaza) is just a quick 10-minute ride away from home.

Bienvenido A Barcino

Me encanta el idioma espanol, y me encanta la comida espanola.

And that explains why I frequently visit Barcino, officially my favorite wine and tapas bar. I'm not really a wine connoisseur, so I will focus more on their fantastic food (and certain drinks). Interestingly, I always order a glass of wine to accompany my food, based on the recommendation of their very accommodating waiters and waitresses.

According to their official Facebook page, Barcino was established in 2004 to "answer the need for an authentic Spanish wine and tapas bar". To date, they have six branches all over Metro Manila. I always visit their branch in the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center (and occasionally, The Fort and Greenbelt 2 branches) for proximity reasons. Since I prefer resto bars with light and cozy ambiance, Barcino is a perfect place to unwind and chill-out, either alone or with friends. The food and drinks are relatively pricier, though, because they are imported from Spain. Nevertheless, I get what I pay for.

It takes several minutes for the ordered food to arrive, so they serve a complimentary "bread basket" with tomato salsa. Something light to jumpstart the appetite. I have to add more salt though, because I have a preference for the saltier.

Paella is a hallmark of authentic Spanish cuisine, and so it is a must-order in Barcino. The variant that is close to the Filipino taste is paella de marisco (seafood paella, top photo). Well-cooked mussels and prawns, and risotto-like rice... this is a perfect entree. To add, this dish is served in just 10 minutes! Php 595

My favorite duo. Chorizo picantes frito and Estrella Galicia Light. The former is salty-and-spicy Spanish sausage, perfect for my taste buds. It's oil can also serve as a tasty dip for the bread. The latter is one of my much-loved beers -- smooth and kinda fruity. And I don't get that morning-after, hang-over effect. Chorizo: Php 185, Estrella Galicia Light: Php 200.

One of Barcino's signature drinks, the Sangria. It's an addictive wine-and-brandy fruit punch. Light, refreshing, anti-umay. I'ts a big glass, by the way. Php 280

A strong shot of caffeine after a muy delicioso dinner. Cafe bombon -- espresso served with condensed milk. It's actually a good after-dinner treat, especially with alcohol. Php 120

A delightful Spanish dinner-date with my favorite food partner after watching the musical drama film Les Miserables. Mom is not much into the "not so conventional food" unlike her traditional favorites, ie, Filipino and Chinese dishes. Thus, I knew I was right in bringing her to Barcino when she gave me that comment after her first spoonful of paella: "Naimas!"

I Should Be So Lucky

I was in Sta. Cruz. After collecting specimens from my colleagues, I decided to visit Lucky Chinatown Mall -- the first high-end shopping mall in the heart of Binondo. As it was my first time in this establishment, I took time to walk around and scan the place. And then, I saw it, like an apparition -- Kogi Bulgogi, a Korean restaurant.

Kogi Bulgogi Korean Cuisine is located at the third level of Lucky Chinatown Mall. There are only two branches to date, the other one being in Eastwood City. This restaurant has an intimidating facade and gives a false impression that it serves pricey Korean dishes. On the contrary, all the items are reasonably priced. The average amount per person is approximately Php 200.

Free Banchan. As with other authentic Korean restaurants, Kogi Bulgogi serves complimentary (and refillable) side dishes. The kimchi is fantastic. It has a bit of syrupy sweetness on top of the usual salty-and-sour fermented taste.

Kimchi Jeon (Kimchi Pancake). This is the reason why I instantly decided to try Kogi Bulgogi. I am into Korean pancakes (and most are actually seafood pancakes). This one looks totally different and, of course, appetizing. Indeed, the pancake is true to its appearance. Big serving, and with just the right hotness. Serves 2-3, only for Php 138.

Kalbi Tang (Beef Short Ribs Soup). This one is weird because its soup base smells like the one being served in Masuki. In a way, it is predominantly Korean with a touch of Chinese. But still, this dish is heavenly. Four big chucks of beef ribs with well-cooked meat. Perfect for soup lovers like me. Serves 2-3, only for Php 285.

Yours Truly. Enjoying a hot serving of beef short ribs soup to boost my appetite before devouring all my orders. All in all, I had a totally satisfying culinary experience in Kogi Bulgogi, for a reasonable price of only Php 423 -- and that's good for 2-3 persons.

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