San Sung Korean Restaurant

I am loving a new Korean telenovela.....Daja's Spring! I will tell you all anout it when I am through with the dvd =)

How fitting it is to have a chance to dine in an authentic Korean Restaurant....while I am in my telenovela frenzy? Very! And I was ecsatic when my friend asked me to have dinner at San Sung (or is it Sun Sang? help me who ever knows the correct name of this resto! Korean mental block here! hahaha), located at near JP Rizal and Kalayaan avenue in Makati. I am so sorry, as I am really bad with Makati streets.

Anyhoos, the place is like a Korean house...with tables with grills and there is a part of the resto where you can sit on floors...like that of in Japanese restos.

What I love about dining in Korean restos are the nice free appetizers they serve =)

And they serve quite a number of small plates here. Kimchi, pickled veggies, mini omelets, delicious potato salad etc....which all happend to be quite delicious!

I can honestly get filled up by just eating these. I tried my best not to devour them all! hehehe =)

Pajeon
I love this! It's omelet made of veggies and sqiud. Sooo yummy! It's less starchy than the rendtion of this dish at Kaya


Chapchae

It's like Korean pancit, made with yummy and gummy glass noodles.


Now this facinated me a lot.

We ordered Korean BBQ and their table grill is fired up by charcoal! I think others use gas dire grill. I think this is cool =) Makes table grilling more exciting and gives that added smokey flavor! =)

We ordered Beef Ribs and Pork

I love this..you wrapped the grilled beef and pork bbq with fresh lettuce, garlic and bean paste

like so....

and so....

and enjoy! =) MASHINUN!

Uno Falafel

Just to share....

I am a real regular at Uno restaurant. I love the ambiance..the food..desserts and BREAD! =)

My frist time to the this appetizer....the Falafel...coarsely ground chick peas..made into little baby patties....so good. We had it with pasta and salad. Nice!!!

Lunch at Kikufiji

My first visit to Izakaya Kikufuji, I wasn't very impressed. I had dinner there with a bunch of friends and it was just ok Japanese. However, I have been hearing good things about the lunch experience here, so when my good friend Louie invited me to have lunch here, I was definitely delighted.

The placed was packed when we got there! We were seated at the sushi bar...since we were only two people and no tables were available. I think I even sa Mr. Market Man walk in...was it him? Can someone please ask if he had lunch there last week? ;p hehehe

The menu was limited dunring lunch hours...but they give a lot of freebies! =) Check it out...

Cabbage salad, Tuna, Sashimi and we asked for fresh wasabi!

I think I like fresh wasabi better as it is less potent than the prepared kind... =) I really like small plates of food to nibble on before getting into my mains =)

Bacon Asupara

Baby asparagus wrapped with bacon and grilled.....so yummy =)

Gindara Teriyaki

Perfectly grilled to a soft tender! We enjoyed this dish a lot and delicious with steamed Japanese rice (that is bottomless to boot!)

Tonkastu

This one I really liked, even the first time I tried it there. Thick pork...breaded and fried. I compliments our grilled Gindara. =)

To end our very enjoyable meal...FREE ICE CREAM OR ICED COFFEE!!! Guess what I chose? ;P

Love it! Sweet and kinda milky yet I could detect the brew is strong. Perfect ending!

Thanks Louie!!!! =)

Chelsea

Simple meals can be most pleasureable indeed! My second visit at Chelsea's with my friend and we decided to just have bread and pasta to share =)

We ordered the Sourdough loaf..which we only had half of which served..half to go....

It was served with butter and that superb roasted head of garlic spread, that accompanies their free bread..this was not free =) hehehe The sourdough was not very impressive..it tasted just like plain white bread. Mickey's sourdough is waaaay better! hahah

The Seafood Pasta

I forgot what this pasta dish is actually called...but its tomato-pesto sauce with mussels, prawns, squid and fish. This is just half a serving...so as you can see..an order is just perfect for 2 =) Really good and the seafood is fresh =)

A very satiating meal!

A Dessert Discourse

Delicious dessert is always in order..after having a great meal...its never perfect without a sweet ending.

On the look out for dolci...we went to Power Plant to scout for something to sweeten up our palate. I think its nice to look for desserts in nice restos for somethng with a bit more novelty and creativity, as opposed to just having cake at a coffeeshop or ice cream from a scooping station.

Last time I had dinner at Myron's...I didn't get the chance to have dessert...so now is the perfect time...or so we thought ;P

Mango Panna cotta

hmmm...well..it was ok but nothing great here....it's the milky kind..

Molten Chocolate Cake with Mantecado Ice Cream

This is by far.....the saddest molten cake I have ever had in my life =( I am so sorry...but its true..the cake..is like made of condensed milk...not at all molten...just gooey and not nice. Oh sadness! Even the ice cream atop didn't help much to make eating this enjoyable.

Take a closer look....


oh well...you can't win all the time =(

Crispy Pork Knuckles!!!

I can never say it enough..I LOVE MICKEY'S DELI! hahaha I have never brought anyone there who was not happy and satisfied with their food and beers =)

I think everytime I dine here. I always have the bread basket. This time I thought...why not just order an entire loaf and have it served...that way we get more bread right? Absolutely! hahah So here we picked a whole Rye Sourdough loaf and had it warmed and sliced =)

They charge Php 15.00 for extra butter...but I was able to convince our waiter to just give it t o us for free ;P hahaha Thanks!!!! As you can see..this is a whole lot more bread than just ordering the bread basket. The bread basket costs about Php 82.00 but you get pate and d butter with that. The loaf of Sourdough Rye cost Php 105.00 and a little charm for butter =) hahaha so I think it's a better deal, specially if the people sharing food are bread lovers. They have excellent sourdough here I might add....the best I have had...apart from the ones I make! bwahahha (love your own ofcourse ;P) hahaha The sour taste is very distinctive, indicating a well developed flavor during fermentation. The Rye gave the bread a nutty earthy tone...that I really, really LIKE/LOVE! =)

We thought it was ok that we didn't have pate with our excellent bread because we had....

the PORK KNUCKLES!!!

YUMMMMMMY!!! We are in FAT HEAVEN HERE! Crispy fried pork knucles...redolent of our native Crispy Pata. The skin is UBER CRISPY AND CRUNCHY! I tell you...no bite is without a CRRRRRUNCH! hahahahah And the pork meat...still tender and flavorful. I thought to myself..hey..despite it being fried this ain't oily at all...not bad a...then I GO POURING THE GRAVY ON THE KNUCKLES ON MY PLATE....then I thought to myself...yeah..sure..there goes the fat I was missing..right back on my plate! hahahahaha Welps...there is no escaping cholesterol here....what the hey...its mighty GOOD! hahaha

Sourdough bread and pork.....yum..yum..yum!!!!

Sharing Some Dolci =)

Cibo is indeed a fave of mine...for good ol' simple and reliable Italian food. On a nice shopping day at the mall...it's nice that you can run in to the Cibo branch there for a lottle break and for some brew and dolci!

That was exactly what I did once fine shopping day at Greenhills.

Cafe Americano

Good strong brew served with two delicate Palmiers =) A nice touch! I like delicate cookies with my brew =)

Panna cotta

A real fave of my sisters...the mango panna cotta. Simple and yummy.


My Torta Cioccolato-Mati


I am not so sure if I got the name right. It's flourless chocolate cake with walnuts and served with a dollop of Raspberry preserve. I love the chocolate-nutty taste of the cake. The sweet-tart taste of the preserve gave each bite a nice dimension =)

A nice after shopping treat indeed!

Emperor's Dimsum

Isn't dimsum just so wonderful? I thinko so =) Small serving of various steamed/fried treats in those cute bamboo steamer things...so nice!

My first time to try Emperor's Dimsum along Wilson St. in Greenhills. How about dimsum in the wee hours of the morn? Why not! hehehe

Chicken Feet

It is very unsual that I, being chinese, don't eat chicken feet!!! Never tried and never will! Sorry to those who adore this...I have personal reasons that explains why...wana know? hmmm I don't know of I have ever mentioned this, but I have a severe phobia for birds and anything bird like...eve feather duster! hehehehe Chicken feet just reminds me too much of the whole chicken ..as it was when it was living still...which scares the living daylights out of me...so pass on this.

Pork Siomai

This I like =) Good ol' siomai..dipped in a soy sauce with a little kalamansi...or I like it too with Hoisin sauce...yummmmm ...anything with Hoisin will absolutely turn out to be delish (for me)

Siaolong Pao

Delicate siopao like babies...that had that very nice soupy surprise upon bitin onto it. How do the chinese chefs put soup in these dumplings? Well, you know how when you make broth made of beef...and as it cools turns into gel from the gelatin obtained boiling the meat and bones...well, the soup gel is the secret! This is what is placed in with the filling and once the closed and sealed dumpling is steamed...the gel turns to soup...hence...the soupy surprise! Genius! =) hahahaha

Hakaw

My favorite! Clear rice paper like wrapped shripms steamed to a soft and slightly gummy goodness. I love this with hoisin sauce and nothing else =)

Yummy yum cha!

Brunch at Bizu

I love Sunday brunches! I can never say it enough =) No matter how late I get home from a Saturday night out, I can always muster an energy to get up and go out for a great brunch=) Well, it was a special brunch Sunday at Bizu! =) I've always dreamed of having delicious Eggs Benedict...but I have unfortunately (or fortunately for my body! hehehe) had this once in my life! Can you believe? Yes! True. I have tried and failed, to have my second Eggs B. at Apartment 1B...but sadly it's closed on Sundays (why o why???) Anyhoos, my first Eggs B encounter was quite disappointing..I had it at Grams diner at Rockwell (if you may...please check out my post on that)

I was more than excited for our brunch at Bizu. The first thing that I love about it? FREE COFFEE WITH REFILL!!! YEHEY!!!! That had me at hello =)

The second thing to love about bizu? FREE BREAD!!!! with butter and orange marmalade!!


Now that is actually breakfast already for me!! hahahaDo I really need to order??? hahaha Ofcourse! More carbs and fat to jump start a perfect day!!! ;P

Here is the French Toast

Ah..thick slices of whote bread..soaked in eggs and milk and freid to a crisp...served with MORE butter and maple syrup! hahaha This should definitely be eaten ONCE A YEAR ONLY...maybe once in a lifetime hahaha Was it worth the calories? hmmmm ..let me think...I think it was waaaaaaaaaay too buttery....sorry for butter lovers..I DO LOVE BUTTER...but it was just way tooo d*mn greasy for me =) Sorry...a bit lacking in taste..say needs a bit more salt and the maple syrup didn't help much...

look at that fat ladened cross-section! Will all go to the hips and thighs! hay-ayay!!! (note: kaya I didn't finish my half ;P hehehehe)


Now to what we came for...EGGS BENEDICT!

There was not one..not two..but THREE (3)! Yes...three eggs cooked over easy covering a huge slice of English muffin layered with Ham and all covred by the oozing yellow hollandaise sauce!
About 1,000 calories per serving (NO JOKE AH!) ....was it worth it? hmmmmsad to say a NO for me =( Not as WOW tasting as I thought it would be...but WAY better that the first one I had. It's over rated I think..or maybe I have yet to try a superb rendition of this brekafast fave. Maybe next year I'll try it in another resto =) hehehehe

It was a pleasing brunch, don'tget me wrong..maybe my expectations were just too much for that morning...maybe not. But I still love dining at Bizu...love the interios...love the service.....love that I am surrounded by cakes and breads (even if I am not much of mousse cake fan)

Maybe next time..I'll just have coffee and bread with butter =) .....I am just a simple girl perhaps no?

Tokyo Cafe

There is this cute Japanese coffe shop called Tokyo Cafe. I've seen this place so many times but just haven't had the chance to dine there...untill now. It's like UCC or the defunct Kohikan at Promenade, Greenhills (which I used to love and frequent). They have very inrestesting food..like Chicken roll with cheese!!! However, we had the

Chili Scampi Pasta

I know..I am no fan of spicy food....so why have this? Well, I didn't read the name while ordering..I just pointed at the picture because it did look soooo yummy. When it was served to us...yikes!!! uber HOT!!! Nevertheless...we managed to eat it anyway..so for spicy food lovers..this is pretty good =)

Margherita Pizza

What do you know...they have pizza here..and pretty ok too. Simple but good =)

Maybe I should try their coffee and desserts if I get to visit here again.

Dinner at Le Opera

I was really excited to have dinner at Le Opera once again...my first dining experience there was great...but I didn't have camera then. This time I told my self, my post on Le Opera will be great...I will have beautiful food pictures of their wonderful food.

Here is the bread basket...served with pate, butter and salsa-ish dip

...just as I was getting excited for our orders to be served....my camera batt went dead!

=( haaayy

So..please pardon my super dim and gloomy pics..I used my phone camera here....nevertheless...the food was great!!!= )

I got to sample an array of dishes for the evening....here is the Mixed Carpaccio Plate

Mussels, squid, salmon, artichokes etc...marinated with olive oil and vinegar and sprinkled with chopped herbs....a nice start to perk up the palate for a long dinner =)

Parma Ham with Mangoes

This is really supposed to be served with melons...the traditional Italian rendition...but the waiter was most apologetic as there were no melons for the evening...so mangoes took its place. It was good....but I think better with melons =)

Risotto Ai Funghi

My favorite!!!! The best risotto I've had....creamy and perfectly cooked arborio rice! Sooo good but very satiating...so I just sampled a bit to make room for the other dishes =)

The Pizza with Parma Ham and Anchiovies

The pizza was ok..the crust was thin but not thin, thin...like medium thin =) My only problem with this pizza?---the anchovies made my mouth itch! That has never happend to me before...hmmm I don't have food allergies (that I know of)..so that made me not enjoy this pizza.

The Breaded Veal Cutlet

I don't know if we were just sooo full already when we tried this dish...I think I only had a small bite...but my fave...as I don't fany beef being breaded and deep fried ...maybe grilled veal would have been better =)

Ragu Pasta

I'm not so hot over meat sauce...but I think it was good..just like good ol' spaghetti =)

The Seafood Soup


Light and delicious =) I like

Now for the most important part of the dining experiece...dessert sampling! hahaha yes, yes...don't think I ate all of these ok? I just had like a teaspoon...er...or tablespoon..or a bit more of each! hehehe ;P

Tartufo

I adore this! The first tarrufo I fell in love with was at Antonio's Garden. This is next! Deep dark and rock hard ice cream bomb..with a nutty and cherried center--surprise! =) YUMM!!!!


Panna cotta with Balsamic Vinegar and Walnuts
I am no fan of panna cotta right...but my friend really wanted to let me have a change of heart...so I tried this one. What do you know...I had more than just a teaspoon of this. I really liked the Balsamic effect on this creamy dolci. The tangy sour taste cut through the creamyness and gives that almost smoky tinge to the dessert...and the walnuts gave a crunchy dimension to the delicately soft panna cotta =) I think this is one of the best!


Tiramisu

We have to try the classics right? This was good...but I think I was more impressed with the Cafe Carusso rendition


What a degustation dinner it was! Having a little of everything was very, very satiating and a very enjoyable experience! I love Italian food and Le Opera serves great food and has a wonderful ambiance to boot! Oh and you are serenaded while you dine...how nice is that? =) Very.

Thank you!!! =)

Starbucks Bagels

Meet my new fave at Starbuck's! The Bacon and Egg Multigrain Bagel Sandwhich! Sooo good and only Php 95.00! hahah They also have Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil...which tastes like pizza! hahaha =) Do try it! A great meal with coffee! yummmm

Holiday Baking #3: Red Velvet Cake

My shobe's weres smitten by Cook Book Kitchen's Scarlet Cake. I have been on the cake making mood this holiday season so I decided to make Red Velvet Cake for our new year's eve get together.

I got the recipe from the awesome BETTER HOMES COOKBOOK given to me by my darlings Kitty and Sal for my 30th birthday =) I love it!

I preped the red velvet cake batter...but I was kind of scared putting in 1/4 c red food color in my cake! T thwarted the red color volume and just diluted with water to make up the1/4 c required....



well...my cakes turned our perfectly spongy and no cracks...lovely =) but I think reducing the food color called for made them turn faint brown as opposed to yummy muddy red....


the frosting here is made from fresh full cream milk, real butter and sugar...no powdered sugar here...and this is the cooked type =)

I cooled my cakes and frosting completely before assembling the cake. I love this part most..its fun =)

frosting the first layer...

sandwiching with 2nd cake layer

and frost all-over!!! I made swirl designs on top and combed the sids of my cake =)

Lovely!!!! =) I think this turned out pretty good. My sis and bro's in law liked it....my dad thought the cake looked too pale brown though!hahaha. I served it new year's eve after our dinner at Sheraton. Before midnight we went back to our house to watch fireworks and eat..eat ..eat...and drink...drink...drink as 2008 ushers in!!! It was a great new year's celebration.