Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Holdak: Boneless Korean Fried Chicken at Mezza Residences

Tuesday, June 18, 2013 Sumi Go Be the first to comment!

The Korean wave has already reached Manila! And I'm not just pertaining to the rise of KPOP, K-dramas and Korean barbecue houses that flock the Metro, but also of the continuously growing number of restaurants offering Korean-style fried chicken. And while I've had my fair share of these extra crispy treats, I recently came across one Korean chicken house called Holdak offering my kind of fried chicken -- boneless ones.

Located in Mezza Residences (SMDC's condominium development in Sta. Mesa), the fast casual restaurant Holdak is not homegrown but a franchise of a popular chain of restaurants from South Korea with branches all over Busan, Seoul, Daejeon, Chungnam and even China and Japan. And just earlier this year on January of 2013, Mr. Carl Tan who was himself a patron of the chicken offerings at Holdak, finally opened the first branch here in the Philippines to give Filipinos a taste of the real Korean fried chicken.

Miso-Ten: Ramen and Tempura Place + Giveaway

Saturday, June 15, 2013 Sumi Go 27 comments

The rainy days have already started, and what comfort food better fits the bill? I say a hot bowl of freshly-cooked ramen! So with a good friend in tow, we headed to the newly-opened Miso-Ten in Robinsons Magnolia to sample the miso ramen and tendon (tempura rice bowl) goodies this new ramen and tempura destination graciously offers.

Located at the second floor of Robinsons Magnolia's Veranda, Miso-Ten is a specialized casual dining Japanese restaurant from the same company behind Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken & Grill House, Tokyo Café, Stackers Burger Cafe, Kogi Bulgogi and Parmigiano Pizzeria Ristorante. And since I've loved the restaurants I've tried from IFoods Inc., I was sure excited to give their new ramen and tendon venture a try.

Lutong Bahay: Spicy Tuyo Aglio Olio with Super Tuyo

Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Sumi Go 15 comments

Lutong Bahay is a short tag on the title which I use to feature home-cooked food, either in our own home or at a friend's house, either my own cooking or not.

I've always loved cooking and eating pasta, but the usual carbonara or spaghetti had already got tiring for my taste buds. And then, I remembered a Pinoy fusion pasta I got to try from Chef Ivory Yat's The Sultry Chef stall in Mezza Norte. So equipped with a jar of Super Tuyo Famous Spicy variant, I thought of giving this dish a dry run in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

URBN Bar & Kitchen: Contemporary Comfort Food in BGC

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Sumi Go 27 comments

As a self-confessed party pooper, it was unlikely for me to visit one of the hottest bars in the Metro's party scene. But aside from being a destination for party-goers with a busy nightlife, URBN Bar & Kitchen is also a good foodie destination. And if you don't believe me, then let URBN's gastronomic and drool-inducing dishes convince you otherwise.

More Restaurants in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig:

Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge: For Modern Spanish Comfort Food

NACI: Revisiting The Improved Comfort Food Destination

Wrong Ramen: Not Your Conventional Authentic Bowl of Ramen

Sweet Bella Cafe: More Than Just Cakes and Pastries

Kuppa Roastery & Cafe: The Family That Knows Coffee

Bistro Filipino: Modern Filipino Cuisine by Chef Laudico

Toro Restaurant and Bar: A Fusion of Japanese and Mexican Flavors

Located in the 3rd floor of Fort Pointe II Building, URBN Bar & Kitchen is the new brainchild of the same brilliant people behind Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge. And similar to its bar and resto sibling, URBN Bar & Kitchen brings us yet another hip destination not just for clubbing, but also for palate satiation as expected from Chef Benjo Tuason.

King Chef Fine Dining: Revisiting A Chinese Feast in Banawe

Sunday, June 09, 2013 Sumi Go 18 comments

One of my earliest restaurant reviews back in 2011 was my visit to King Chef Fine Dining in Banawe, Quezon City. And while I didn't get the chance to pay it a trip sooner, it has remained to be one of my favorites when it comes to Chinese fare. Earlier this year, we revisited King Chef after futile attempts to eat at buffets during the Valentine's night. And while it was our last option, I gladly got to relive my adoration for King Chef Fine Dining.

Complimentary peanuts while we wait for our orders

Unlike most people who celebrated Valentine's night with their special someone, the beau and I didn't go out during that special day. Instead, I celebrated with the whole family who were craving for an eat-all-you-can adventure. Unfortunately though, the restaurants offering dinner buffet in the West Avenue and Banawe areas in Quezon City, were all overflowing with people. And since I can't bear to have my parents wait for hours and hours without the assurance of getting seated within the dinner service time, we just went straight to King Chef Fine Dining to try our luck, hoping they have free tables.

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina: A Taste of Fil-Mex in Kapitolyo

Tuesday, June 04, 2013 Sumi Go 21 comments

Our second stop for the POP Talk Kapitolyo food trip episode was this fairly new Filipino-Mexican restaurant along East Capitol Drive, called Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina. And while I was already getting full when we reached the destination, just the mention of one of my favorite herbs got me all giddy, excited and fully enticed to taste their offerings.

Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina Kapitolyo Pasig Pop Talk

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

I didn't get to take photos of Silantro Fil-Mex Cantina's interior, but I really like how intimate, cozy and laid back the place was. It had wooden table and benches perfect for a family-size Mexican feast or a dinner out with the whole barkada. They also have an al fresco dining ready when the restaurant's dining space gets full, or if you just love to enjoy your Pinoy-Mejicano treats with a refreshing view of the Kapitolyo neighborhood.

BULLCHEF: My Bulalo Chef Experience in Kapitolyo

Tuesday, June 04, 2013 Sumi Go 10 comments

Here's our last stop in POP Talk's Kapitolyo food trip episode. It's this hip and trendy bulalo place in East Capitol Drive called BULLCHEF which stands for Bulalo Chef.

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

On my POP Talk guesting last year, I got to try a really good bulalo place in Manila. Since then, I've started to become more and more of a bulalo fan, so you can just imagine my delight when I found out that we'll be visiting another bulalo destination for this episode!

Three Sisters': Budget-Friendly Filipino Restaurant in Kapitolyo

Tuesday, June 04, 2013 Sumi Go 16 comments

Even if I was on the set of GMA News TV's POP Talk when we went to Three Sisters' Restaurant, I still brought my food blogger self and shot food photos to my heart's content. So as promised, here's my review of Three Sisters' Restaurant, a time-tested Filipino food house which was the first stop in our POP Talk Kapitolyo food trip.

More Restaurants in Kapitolyo, Pasig City:

Located along the East Capitol Drive in Brgy. Kapitolyo, Three Sisters' Restaurant is probably, if not, the oldest brand of restaurant in the area. Established back in 1941, this homey panciteria-style food house went by the name Three Sisters' Refreshment Parlor and was serving in a different location in Pasig. However, even after over 70 years of existence, Three Sisters' Restaurant has still been serving hearty Filipino dishes from the founder, Lola Rosa's original recipes. And with such a long and colorful history leaving this food destination an important institution in the area, my fellow reviewers and I were surely excited to try out the time-tested Three Sisters' Restaurant's offerings.