Wafu 和風 Greenhills - A New Japanese Style Dining in Town

Wafu is this new restaurant in Greenhills that offers Japanese Style Dining. I was so intrigued on what Wafu has to offer and initially thought that it was a sister company of the new Gloria Maris beside the establishment. 

The place seemed intimidating from outside with sophisticated glass walls which gave us a glimpse of the elegant and modern interiors. Still, we decided to go in and try it out for ourselves.

We can't help but adore these Lily Pod seats surrounded with water which were especially designed by Ann Pamintuan. You may always request to sit on these tables as long as they are available during your visit. It is one of the most sought after seats so better request for them upon reservation. Since we didn't made a reservation that night, we settled on the couch area just below these artistic wire mesh-designed seats. 

Browsing through their menu, we noticed how prices were on the the steeper side with entrees ranging from P300-P1200. As much as we want to try the Omakase Chef's Tasting Menu, we were not prepared to spend P2,000-P3,000 for the course. 

We decided to opt for the classic and less expensive menu items which Wafu fortunately has. 

Agedashi Tofu (P145)

Thai Resa Quezon City- Hole-in-the-Wall Authentic Thai Cuisine

I love Thai cuisine as seen here, here, here, here and here.  I've tried a few Thai places yet I'm still on the quest to find more. Fortunately, we discovered a new one called Thai Resa.

Thai Resa is owned by couples Wilfredo and Theresa Yu who initially started selling RTW clothes from Thailand. Their frequent visits suddenly made them appreciate Thai culture especially their food. With that, they decided to learn and master the fundamentals of authentic Thai cuisine and finally bring their passion for Thai food to life. Hence the establishment of Thai Resa. 

Catfish w/ Green Mango Salad (P180)

We started our authentic Thai adventure with this crispy Catfish with Green Mango Salad. We just love how crispy the catfish shreds were with a nice balance of sweet and tangy kick from the green mango salad underneath. 

Blue Toque- Gourmet Mousse Cakes and "Ultimate" Desserts

Blue Toque is a a fairly new food business started by my former batchmate in highschool, Mary Anne Ramos. After graduating in Ateneo, she pursued her passion for baking and studied Baking and Pastry Arts in ISCAHM, hence the name Blue Toque that signifies both institutions. 

Blue Toque has been actively participating in food events and weekend markets and has then gained a number of loyal customers who just couldn't resist all of Blue Toque's creations. 

The Ultimate (P150/slice- P625/6"- P1195/9")

One of Blue Toque's best-sellers is "The Ultimate" which is a multi-layer of Belgian mousse cake with a nice medley of textures and flavors. 

The Ultimate was showcased during the Ultimate Taste Test 8.0 and Foodgasm 2012 where it was awarded as UTT's Overall Winner on Dessert Category, and Foodgasm's Grand Champion and Experts' Favorite.

Giveaway Ended: Chubby Chicken Katipunan- 100% Chubby-fied + Giveaway!

A new player in the chicken restaurant business has been making name throughout the food central district of Katipunan. Yes, the same area where the "big" players like Bonchon, Chicken Charlie,  and Manang's Chicken decided to make into a battleground. 

Chubby Chicken is the brainchild of siblings EJ and Raine Santos who partnered with their longtime friend Chef Aone Rebueno. 

After several event participation in various colleges and universities, Chubby Chicken has already gained a number of  followers from the student sector. 

A regular weekday at Chubby Chicken includes group of students who would willingly occupy the last available table for two and long lines of customers who patiently wait for their turn to be chubby-fied. 

To avoid the Chubby Chicken rush, we decided to visit on a Sunday afternoon when there's no classes.

Chubby Chicken w/ Rice (1pc.-P78/2pcs.-P118)

The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel- Weekend Brunch Specials in Fort

I've always been intrigued on what The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel in Bonifacio High Street has to offer. The first time I've seen the place, it was like a luxurious jewel shop with glass showcase display of beautifully crafted cakes instead of diamonds. 

But The Cake Club is not all about cakes alone. Recently, they launched this Weekend Brunch Specials that can be availed Saturdays and Sundays from 9am-3pm. Another reason for the whole family to wake up early and head over to Fort for a long bonding session over brunch. 

What's great about The Cake Club's Weekend Brunch is that it's especially made for everyone with a wide variety of breakfast choices for the whole family. 

Pan Fried Foie Gras (P365)

What could be more luxurious and grand than a plate of Pan Fried Foie Gras for brunch. A savory chunk of seasoned foie gras served with creamy scrambled egg, fresh herbs and truffle oil is paired with fresh greens and toast for a deluxe and fancy meal. Perfectly fit for the family's King!

Red Garlic Bistro Cafe- Read. Eat. Drink in Katipunan

Red Garlic is a bistro cafe in Katipunan that we've always wanted to visit. RED actually stands for Read, Eat, Drink where diners could browse through magazines and read them while eating and drinking. They have a wide variety of magazines that suits every type of person from sports magazine for sports enthusiasts, home and living magazines for moms, business magazines for entrepreneurs,  gadget and technology for men and fashion magazines for the ladies. 

Angel Wings (6 pcs.-P280)

Press Release: Kusina ng Gerry's Opens at Harbor Point Subic

Kusina ng Gerry's Opens Up Second Branch in Subic

Prime Pacific Grill Incorporated (PPGI), operator of popular grill chain Gerry’s Grill, has opened a second “Kusina ng Gerry’s” at the Harbor Point in Subic.

“This is the first branch of Kusina outside Metro Manila at the first shopping mall of Ayala in Olongapo,” adds Apolinario.

A do-it-yourself/fast casual restaurant, PPGI’s progeny opened its first branch at the 3rd level of Lucky Chinatown Mall at Regina Regente Street in Binondo in March this year.

“We hope to reach more markets with the development of more shopping centers around the country,” says Gerry Apolinario, PPGI president and CEO.

Saizen Goodwill Program: 3 Ways to Save

Saizen Philippines, in partnership with The Philippine Star,  is coming out with their month-long program and campaign to help save the environment staring this September 16, 2012.

Campaign Name:

 3 Ways to Save: Save the Environment, Save Money and Save Lives!

With this campaign, Saizen aims to generate funds and resources for CHILD Haus- a temporary shelter for indigent patients from different provinces who have cancer and other dreaded diseases. 

You too can help contribute to this project by supporting this campaign and participating in the 3 Ways to Save!

How?

Yen Yen 圓圓 Taiwan Street Food-Wilson,San Juan

Remember my post about the small eatery along Gilmore Ave. called Yen Yen Taiwan Street Food? Well, they now moved to a bigger and better location at Wilson St. San Juan, which has more parking space in the basement area.

Aside from the location, their menu also improved by tweaking some recipes to make their food even better and tastier.

Just a quick trivia about the restaurant- Yen Yen Taiwan Street Food started as an exhibitor in food fairs and expos selling Taiwanese sauces to the Philippine market. The owners suddenly thought of  incorporating these to actual dishes so that people could appreciate these sauces even more, hence the start of Yen Yen Noodle Cart in Shaw. Slowly but surely, they captured the hearts of the Filipinos that helped them build their first store in Gilmore. With more patrons and loyal customers, I guess the space was not enough so they decided to relocate to a bigger area in Wilson.

Kokoro Ramenya- Newest Ramen House in Roxas Boulevard, Ermita

Kokoro Ramenya is a new Japanese restaurant along Roxas Boulevard that features a wide selection of  ramen specialties and other Japanese cuisine classics. With the culinary team helmed by Chef Susumo Murata, it is guaranteed that their dishes are of high grade ingredients with noodles made fresh everyday. 

Hakata Classic(P325)

Kokoro Ramenya's best-seller for noodles is this rich and creamy tonkotsu noodle soup boiled for 18 hrs. topped with kikurage, chasu and soft boiled egg.

A bowl of ramen that brings comfort and warmth any time of the day. The light milky broth was complemented by the earthy flavors and crunchy texture of the toppings with firm and chewy noodles. I love how the noodles retained its al dente texture even up to the last bite.

My Foodgasm 2012 Tasting Event and Competition Experience

Last August 25, I attended Foodgasm's food tasting and competition as one of the blogger judges, held at the Mercato Centrale, Bonifacio Global City. 

We arrived around 7:30pm and the place was already packed with foodies who were all excited to sample few of the upcoming food businesses' products and rate them from 1-5. 

With our score sheets in hand, we started to roam around and try some of the concessionaires' products.

Updated: Rockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test- September 15, 2012

Update: Ultimate Taste Test will only be on September 15 (Saturday)

Organizers of Rockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test announced that it will only be held for one day which is September 15, 2012

See you There!! :) 

Once again, it's the time of the year foodies have all been waiting for! Presenting Rockwell's 2nd Ultimate Taste Test brought to us by Our Awesome Planet and San Miguel Lifestyle Brews. 

The famous food tasting event where you can be a food critic for a day will now be held for 2 days- September 15 (Saturday) and September 16 (Sunday) at the Rockwell Tent from 11:00am-9:00pm. 

The event will give you a chance to judge the latest and upcoming food discoveries just in time for the BER months. Critics will rate the food and food concessionaires on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest. 

Top participants will get a chance to be featured in Our Awesome Planet which will help them market their products, gain popularity and boost their sales as well.  

Tickets are priced at P585/person/day or P1000/person for 2 days.

It would include food tasting samples from a minimum of 40+ home-based food vendors and Powerplant Mall Restaurants for the entire Saturday and Sunday. A bottle of San Miguel Super Dry, Premium All-Malt or Cerveza Negra would also be given to foodies 18 years old and above.

The event will be exclusive to a maximum of 1,000 foodies/day with limited sit-down capacity, so it is advisable to buy your tickets now.

You can buy the tickets from Rockwell Customer Care (Tel. # 8981702) during mall hours or Creative Juice Office (Tel. # 5707827) during office hours.

Food suppliers are also welcome to join as concessionaires without registration fees. All they need to do is provide sample portions of their products enough for 1,000 foodies.

If concessionaires intend to join the 2-day event, they need to provide different products each day. 

Top food suppliers who meet the average rating of 3.8 and above will also be featured in the website by October. 

To apply as a Food Supplier, fill up the Rockwell UTT Application Form and submit  via email to admin@ultimatetastetest.com. 

Hope to see you there!!! :)

Epicurean Cakes- Spread The Taste of Sweet Pleasures

Epicurean- n. a person devoted to sensual enjoyment, esp. that derived from fine food and drink

                adj. relating to or suitable for an epicure

What is Epicurean Cakes?

Epicurean Cakes is a product of sheer fascination for baking and love for sweet and yummy treats- cupcakes in particular. Epicurean cakes promises to serve nothing but delectable homemade treats that are baked fresh with the finest ingredients in the most meticulous way. 

What Makes Epicurean Cakes Creations Stand Out?

Fresh Ingredients, Passion for Baking and Sprinkle of Happiness are the secret formula for making Epicurean Cakes creation exceptionally good and yummy!

Who is Epicurean Cakes' Market?

Epicurean Cakes caters to all epicureans who crave for fine cupcakes and desserts. Basically, Epicurean Cakes is for students, young professionals, dessert lovers, kids and kids at heart. 

Epicurean Cakes is an upcoming dessert shop that will soon bring something sweet and yummy on your way. Established by the Buenafe sisters, Epicurean Cakes is set to launch this September 7, 2012. 

As a dessert lover (especially cakes and cupcakes), I had my share of good and bad experiences. Nevertheless, I'm still on the quest to find the perfect cupcake. Fortunately, I was able to try two of Epicurean Cakes' cupcake creations which Kim Buenafe, one of the owners, personally gave me. 

Red Velvet (P35)

Saving Money on Travel

Saving Money on Travel

Everyone loves going on vacation, but I’ve yet to meet someone that enjoys travelling.  It can be such a hassle dealing with airlines, security, and hauling luggage around.  But just because it is a hassle, doesn’t mean that it also has to be super expensive.  Here are some easy tips and tricks to save money on your next trip. 

Bulgogi Brothers Korean BBQ Restaurant- Classic Favorites and New Menu Additions!

Bulgogi Brothers is a Korean franchise brought to us by The Bistro Group and Creative Restaurant Concepts Inc., who also operates Flapjacks, Pig Out, Krazy Garlik TGI Friday's, Italianni's, Fish & Co., The Stock Market, Bulgogi Brothers, Ma Maison and Village Tavern. To date, Bulgogi Brothers has branches in Greenbelt 5, Alabang Town Center and SM Mall of Asia- their newest branch in the Metro which we were privileged to try out. 

Upon entering the place, we were greeted by courteous and friendly staff who also ushered us to our seats. The interior and lighting renders a warm and cozy feel coupled with colorful Asian paintings on the wall. 

As we settled comfortably on our seats, we were served with a complimentary platter of sweet potatoes, quail eggs, and sweet corn.

Press Release: Soderno Molito in Alabang Re-Opens This Spetember

SODERNO, THE MERCATO CENTRALE OF ALABANG, RE-OPENS THIS SEPTEMBER!

For food lovers based in the South, we've got great news for you! Soderno returns just in time for the Holiday season! 

From the same organizers that brought to you the highly successful Mercato Centrale at Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, the Soderno Night Food Market in Molito Lifestyle Center, Alabang (corner of Commerce and Madrigal Avenues, in front of Alabang Town Center) serves the vibrant night food community of the South every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6pm to 12mn. 

Soderno Night Food Market brings together food and dessert finds from the all over the South like Rice Pots, Tong Baracas barbeque, Elle’s Torta, Piper’s Pan pasteries and more, along with the favorite food and dessert stalls from Mercato like Big Bob’s fresh char-grilled burgers with mozzarella, Juana Bowl’s juicy rib-eye steaks, Manila Q’s ‘Bagwang’, Pinoy street foods, Med Chef’s revel bars and pastries, Mio Gelato home-made Italian ice cream and Serendipitea Milk Teas. Soderno marketgoers can also take in the great food and lively company while enjoying the free wi-fi, live sounds and air-conditioned tent.

PLDT MyDSL - Derek's Search for the New Anna Banana

Do you remember the cute video of Derek Lorenzo for Anna Banana that I've posted before? 

If not, you can check the video again below:

Awww.. Isn't Derek sweet? 

The viral video gained followers and people wondered who this Anna Banana was. 

And now, Anna Banana responded to Derek by making a video of herself.. 

Check it out here: