The Battle of the Toilets

Note:

How apt that Toilet Thoughts should review two famous Toilet restaurants, one in Taiwan (Modern Toilet) and the other in Malaysia (T-Bowl Concept Restaurant). But to give you a more detailed description, I’m letting my guest food enthusiast JD Cruz to give you her review.

Modern Toilet was pretty hard to find , or maybe we were just Mandarin-impaired. As per instructions, we walked around Ximending until we saw a giant toilet hanging out of a building.

On the outside, it looks like a hole-in-the wall restaurant. The place is pretty small compared to some restaurants I’ve been but that’s probably due to the space issue in the Ximending Area.

Inside, tables are propped on sinks and bath tubs. As as the name implies, there were a lot of toilet bowls around, for they are used for chairs in this place.

They have an English menu for those who cannot understand a word, like me. They have the basic Chinese food fare like noodles and dimsum, as well as the hamburger and pasta of the western world. I looked around and saw that people keep on ordering this hotpot thing, so I decide to try that as well.

Yep, your food comes in its very own toilet bowl as well. Talk about mixed feelings. The hotpot was very good though and pretty cheap at around 150TWD (225Php). Also, you can choose to get your drink served in a urinal for only 30TWD.

The best part of the meal is always dessert. Which comes with every meal you buy as part of the set.

Yum.

Modern toilet can be found at the following address:

Name: Ximending Store, Taipei

TEL: 02-2311-8822

ADD: 2F., No.7, Lane 50, Sining S. Rd., Wanhua District, Taipei City

The week after, I went to KL for business. I knew I just can’t pass up going to the T-Bowl concept restaurant, especially after dining at Modern Toilet in Taiwan.

The restaurant is located inside the Sunway Pyramid mall, second floor in the Orange Atrium. Interior wise, T-Bowl is definitely one up against Modern Toilet. It’s newer, cleaner and well… cuter.

As with Taiwan’s resto, tables are mounted on sinks and bath tubs. Chair are toilet bowls, although there are some normal tables and chairs scattered about. Probably for those who aren’t really into the “toilet” experience.

Food was pretty expensive, as this dish cost about 25RM (375Php) and it’s not part of the set yet. Also, taste wise Modern Toilet’s food is definitely superior for me. I guess what they lacked in flavor they made up with cuteness?

The ice cream, however, is way better than Modern Toilet’s. It’s also more expensive as it isn’t part of the meal.

T-Bowl Concept Restaurant can be found at the following address:

Orange Atrium Lot 1F-96-97, First Floor, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, No. 3, Jalan PJS 11/15, Bandar Sunway 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

website: http://www.t-bowl.com 

I can’t really say which one’s better. They’re both equally good in their own way. Food wise, it’s the Taiwan Resto. But for atmosphere and convenience, T-Bowl wins hands down. Plus, they got the better ice cream.

Top dish

I was not a fan of Korean food, but there’s something about top dish that makes me come back often. Maybe because I never really enjoyed Korean dishes served in posh restaurants. I liked it better in a cozy place that seemed only like a family ran carinderia.
Top dish is situated in somewhat Makati’s version of a red light district. It’s weirdly placed next to a massage parlor, almost inconspicuous if not for the continuous inflow and outflow of Koreans and locals in its shop.

One thing I’ve noticed is the free appetizer set served at start, which by most of us Filipinos would already consider as main course, ang dami kasi. I think most Korean restaurants would have the same set of free flowing appetizers, a selection of sweet spicy dilis, kimchi, etc.

For the entrée, each dish is a must try, and if you’re a bit adventurous, you may want to try their silk worm preserved in a tin can (de latang silk worm kung baga, though I think appetizer sya haha ang ironic lang).

Top dish is located at:

4890 Durban Corner P. Burgos Street
Makati Metro Manila Philippines
Tel no: +63(2)7581122

Yummy Big Roberto's

I know you want ‘em big. And Roberto’s can give you “big”. Queen big.

That didn’t sound all too right. Haha! But heck, that’s what came to mind when dear ol’ Geek brought me siopao at work.

I’m a big fan of siopao, but experience taught me never to expect too much with siopao’s. Even Siopao factory doesn’t measure up to what siopao should be.

All bread and nothing inside.

So you’ll have to forgive me if I rave too much about this local siopao. The Queen siopao had half a boiled egg inside – half, not thin slices of, it’s freaking HALF. And the meat, they could have been one small plate serving of your meat (pork/ chicken) viand. And it doesn’t need sauce to make it all too yummy. The size of the queen siopao covered more than half of my laptop. That big.

So despite my unending battle and resolve to get that much attained Orosman abs, I just can’t say no to one Queen Roberto’s siopao. And eating Ministop siopao would never be the same again.

And that’s why I half hate and love going to Iloilo.

Cheap delicious food.

Friends and colleagues who feed you like pig.

Iloilo = fat me. This is now the start of my Iloilo food posts. I just can't help but eat whenever

Roberto’s
#61 J.M. Basa Street, Iloilo City
Telephone No. 3350484, 3371595

http://ilonggos.net/iloilo/iloilo-food/robertos-siopao-iloilo

Qoola is Cool

I have a new hiding place. And since I'm really really busy, I'll just let the pictures do the talking.


"Authentic, all natural, fresh frozen yogurt packed with beneficial cultures.
Lowers cholesterol and improves metabolism.
High in calcium, protien and potassium.
Estimated 100 to 500 millon probiotic cultures per gram, compared to only 1 million for a powdered alternative.
Helps overcome lactose intolerance".

Step 1: Pick your favorite yogurt flavor (Classic, vanilla, wild berry, strawberry)

Step 2: Choose your desired toppings (all sorts of fruits, candy chips, chocolate, gummy bears, nuts, etc.)

You may opt to look into the suggested "theme flavors" displayed.

Step 3: weigh your master piece at the counter and pay the nice lady (price ranges from 100-500, based from cup-bulk experience).

Step 4: Enjoy your yogurt upstairs where green is heaven. I actually like hanging around the second floor area. I personnaly like the color of the place. Minty and cool. A good relax place after a tiring day at work.

Qoola is located at Greenbelt 1 near National Bookstores and the restaurants in Greenbelt 3 (?)

Qoola is love.

Yakimix Jap overload

I grew up with only Kamayan as my only choice of buffet restaurant. Then came its triple V alliance (parang voltes V lang). Of course there’s Cabalen which I think is getting better than Kamayan. The triple V group however is losing its magic on me already. I’ve already memorized the taste of their food and they don’t anymore bring me to that gastro orgasmic frenzy like they used to. Manang’s menu over at Rufino’s jollijeep sounds more exciting even.

Then I was introduced to Yakimixx by an online friend. The mere thought of Jap on buffet already gave me heavenly tummy spasms from all the craving.

For only 550 Php (with bottomless drinks) for lunch, Yakimixx sounded like a hoax, it was simply too good to be true. I doubted its quality as a Jap restaurant and dared try it with friends just for the heck of it.

But I almost went on a happy excited crazy bawl over what I saw at yakimix. Fresh Japanese food, with a wide selection of your favourite sushi, from your usual maguro sushi, you also have your chicken and apple, spicy salmon, unagi and many others. But that’s just one buffet table. Another separate long table would have your salad bar, a Chinese-Jap viand collection (fried rice, soup, tempura, etc.), an appetizer bar and a dessert bar.

Animetric would describe one section as his “anti-umay bar” laden with your atchara, kimchi, spinach and pickled vegetables. The dessert part would feature a wide variety of pastries, cakes and ice cream.

But I guess what would keep one from coming back is Yakimix’s wide variety of meat seasoned in many different ways possible (beef pepper steak, spicy HK chicken, pork barbeque, and even some of your white meat seafood selection). This part one would enjoy as you’d have to cook them on your smokeless griller placed at the center of your table. This way, you have complete control on how you’d love your meat whether cooked easy or well done.

I just hope they could maintain the quality of their food with the same price. As I would like to keep on coming back.
For now, I’m giving them ten thumbs up! I’m definitely recommending this to my friends.

More reviews at http://animetric.blogspot.com/2009/08/eat-all-you-can-at-yakimix.html
More pictures at http://docgelo.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/smokeless-grill-sushi-and-more/
YakiMix

BC 25, Hobbies of Asia,

Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. Pasay City,

Metro Manila

387-8120

*Update: They now have their MOA branch and i think the Tomas Morato branch is opening as well.)

Pasta craving satisfied by Pasta Bibiana

A tally of what usually comes to mind every second would prove “food” to be the winner. Not owing to the fact that every commercial break would have food in it, every TV show would have food featured in it (whether being cooked, thrown at or just merely ogled at), food is, and will always be, the most mind permeating thing in the world (crossing blood brain barrier and all).

Growing with my dad and his two-food-menu-list: Take it or leave it, I’ve come to appreciate real food and marvel at how it is prepared. And having Pasta being on top of my faves, I think it is just right for me to get all excited at a new business venture by a friend (of course, involving pasta).

Withstanding the recent storm, good friend and blogger, Kuya J, treaded on with pursuing his endeavour and opened his new business in Robinsons Place Imus on October 2, 2009.

Ferdinand Point, father of modern French cuisine, once quips, “

If the divine creator has taken pains to give us delicious and exquisite things to eat, the least we can do is prepare them well and serve them with ceremony.” Of course I should be talking Italian rather than French, but food is God's gift, Italian or French alike.

Indeed, what makes Pasta Bibiana different is the “ceremony”. You’d be sure that Bibiana’s pasta is cooked with much attention and love. Months prior to the birthing of this new pasta haven, I’ve had the chance of sampling several of kuya J’s pasta recipes, cooked specifically for Mamang Bibiana. A delicious treat indeed. And with Red designing the kiosk for this pasta treat, Pasta Bibiana became a history of family and friends.

Named after kuya J's Mamang, Pasta Bibiana proves to be more than just a pasta place. It is the marriage of your choice of sauce poured over your Semolina pasta made from Durum wheat, enriched with vit B complex, fiber and protein, a mere 99 calories with less than half a gram of fat. you have the choice of red or white sauce topped with pork, beef, or tuna, or you could also have your pasta salad dressed with fresh fruit, tuna corn, or crabmeat sauce.

Easy nuf? I think so, too.

Partner your pasta with your choice of sandwich, I’d suggest you try the Tofu sandwich. I’d say, Yuuummmie!

Priced at 29 Php for the sandwich and 41 Php for your pasta, plus your free pandan water to go with the pasta, you already have easy access to home cooked gourmet.

Delicious. Affordable. Healthy. Plus a loving pasta history.

Those are what Pasta Bibiana is all about.

Visit this new find at 2nd Floor, foodcourt @ Robinsons Place Imus.

Remember… A healthy life, is a full life!

Craving for Pancit Luglog

Kapampangans are known to be such good cooks, though I think people overgeneralised since most kapampangans I know don’t really cook. (haha) Maybe it’s the generation gap (since their parents would possibly be the “best” cook there is) I really do not know.

Nevertheless, the reputation must have sprung from actual evidence. One of these would be Susie’s Cuisine. Established by Alicia Ayson, Susie’s has stood out to be one of Pampanga’s must go to places to eat. For almost 40 years, Susie’s has retained its taste and quality.

Currently being run by Alicia’s children, most specially by Jesusa Ayson yabut, Susie’s now has 7 branches (all in Pampanga), but has never opened for franchise (to outsiders) thus retaining the secret and quality all through out the years.

Visiting Pampanga wouldn’t be complete without at least trying out dishes from Susie’s. If you are from Manila and are a fan of Razon’s pancit luglog, you should try the original from Susie’s. I did, and my standards for the luglog have sky rocketed all of a sudden. Its thin white pasta poured with a generous sauce topped with A LOT of their local chicharon, egg and vegetables of sorts, would keep me coming back for a second serving. And I haven’t even pinched calamansi over it, and I’m a calamansi person.

Another must try at Susie’s is their tibuk tibuk, or maja Blanca for most of us Manileňos. Tibuk tibuk is different from the usual maja Blanca that I’ve tasted. It is softer than the regular maja Blanca and is creamier in taste. Its milky soft creamy texture would always put me in a kiddie frenzy with matching kilig on the side. I didn’t like it at first since It looked more like pudding and I’m really used to the hard gelatine like maja Blanca, but tibuk tibuk separated itself from maja’s stereotype.

Other must try’s are their empanada’s, leche flan made from carabao’s milk, all of their kakanin, viands like their dinuguan which is best paired up with their special puto and a whole lot more. Also try out their Sansrival for comparison to the commercial ones, but be sure to ask for the one that was not placed in the ref too long, if not, it would be chewy rather than almost crunchy.

Prices are very cheap considering the high quality of their dishes. A Bilao of any of their specialties (tibuk tibuk, luglog etc) would be priced at 350 to 400 pesos. Single serving of their kakanin would usually be at 20 pesos.

Visit one of their branches at 36 Hilda St. Nepo Mart I, Sto. Rosario, Angeles City (near Robinson’s Nepo).

I’m giving this resto four thumbs up for their luglog and tibuk tibuk (two from my hands and two from my feet).

Happy eating!!!!!

thanks to http://wyattbelmonte.blogspot.com/2007/09/pampanga-food-trip.html for the tibuk tibuk pic.

Going Greek in Tagaytay

With the full moon and the humble white stone tavern, I was subtly reminded of a scene in Mama Mia with all those simple white houses almost stair-stacked on a mountain.

Manos Greek Taverna had this cosy atmosphere with its simple greek design, white with windows and tables arranged as if you’ve got a greek mother designing your house. I then listed Greece as one vacation spot I have to go to. I’m giving the place an 8.5 for ambiance, and at a cold night in tagaytay, it was a perfect place to drink and chat with friends.

The place at that time was filled with greek patrons drinking outside the Hellenic Tavern, with Manos and his wife attending to guests.

I first sampled their red wine to go along with my lamb for the main course. I think wine drinkers will find delight the strength of this greek red wine with a tinge of sweetness. Non alcoholics will find themselves a bit tipsy after half a wineglass, or maybe I was just overly dramatic.

With most Greek dishes, you’ll find Greek Virgin Olive oil a common ingredient.

Appetizers are priced from 90 to 230 Php. I tried the pita bread with tzatziki, made from home made yogurt, garlic and olive oil. But I’d recommend the saganaki which is a combination of baked shrimps, fta cheese, fresh tomato sauce, olive oil and bread cubes.

Main course ranges from 130 to 450 Php. I tried the Mousaka which had olive oil, eggplant, potato, zucchini, onions, minced meat, white wine, béchamel sauce, topped with parmesan cheese. Mousaka resembles your usual lasagna with a twist. This by far is my favorite in Manos. Remember the movie Ratatouille where the best food served was a home evoking dish? That was how I felt with Mousaka. The eggplant taste blended well with the minced meat, almost like spaghetti but better.

We also sampled the Grilled Lamb Shoulder which I liked because it was perfectly cooked, tender with the right amount of salt seasoned with herbs and spices. It’s however one of the most expensive in the main selections, but not necessarily the best in the list, but still worth tasting.

I haven’t really tried all of their special dishes, so for now, I'm giving them 7 out of 10 for taste. Definitely not bad, but still haven’t reached heaven. I still reserve being blown away on my next visit. Hopefully I get to try more.

Manos Greek Taverna
Authentic Greek Cuisine
Manos Sapountzakis
Calamba road, Olivarez, San Jose, Tagaytay City
Contact nos: 09164298358, 09173484935
Email: masnosclub05@yahoo.gr

Spice Fusion, Cebu

On my usual sojourn again to the danggit and dried mango island tomorrow. I guess time and distance are helping me out…. In this time of getting miserably fat.

This food post is about one fave restaurant I have in Cebu. I remember on one trip in Singapore, I was wishing I could find a good fusion restaurant back home. But I never thought I’d find one in Cebu. We don’t have the sting ray though. But still, Spice fusion offered to be one of the best Asian fusion I’ve been to in Cebu and (some parts of) Manila. The right amount of spice, a bit of Filipino to suit our taste buds, but still was able to retain the authenticity of other Asian countries’ dish.

Read on to know more. More pictures posted at Multiply account.



Name: Spice Fusion
Where: Banilad Town Center (BTC) Cebu
Contact details: (+63) (32) 344 29 23
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Food rate: 8.5 out of 10
Ambiance: Your usual resto, but food taste compensates for the lack of ambiance

Service: Even on a busy day, I’d still say they give good attention to customers. From ordering, to the arrival of your dish, to billing out, things turn out unusually smooth. A refreshing feat from most restaurants that I’ve been to.

Cost: Cebu is Cebu. You can’t have the same price in Manila, thus food trips are so much inevitable in this place. Crab would cost less than 500 Php (the heaviest weighed), main dishes would range from 150 to 300 Php. And they have a substantial serving amount good for 3-4 people.

Some Recommendations: I’d recommend Roti and pork/ chicken satay for your appetizers; Chili crab, chili prawn, and cashew chicken for your main dish and finally, banana fritters for your dessert.

Overall Assessment: A place worth coming back to. They’ve opened more branches in malls around Cebu, but I’d still recommend their cook in BTC (unless he got transfered).

If you can recommend a good Asian Fusion in Manila, I’d definitely want to try ‘em. Cheers! Happy eating during this Love Month!

More pictures at my Multiply account.

Golden Cowrie, Cebu

Define Filipino in tummy language. I’d say Golden cowrie.
Name: Golden Cowrie, Native Restaurant
Where: Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu or Lower Ground Floor, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Are, Cebu City
Contact details: @ Lahug: (+6332) 233 4243; +63917 627 2551; @ SM: (+6332) 231 8530; +63917 627 2553
Cuisine: Definitely Filipino with a twist of Cebu, Bicol, Batangas and a whole lot more…
Food rate: Definitely 9 out of 10 if you’re a big fan of Filipino Food


Ambiance: Wood. You’d never go wrong with wood. Plus the place is surrounded with paintings for sale. No need for too much décor. But you’d definitely feel the Pinoy style in the place. Upon ordering, they’d give you your plate… a flat rectangular piece of capiz curved upward on two ends, laden with slightly heated banana leaf. One of a kind. Definitely sets the mood for much eating. But if you’re a person who drowns his rice in soup, better use the soup bowl, the capiz plate is just too flat to hold any liquid around.

Service: Everything is almost perfect. Except for the slow paced service. Though at least food usually comes at one go and not in staggered portions. Waiting for your bill may take a while. Never fails. So I suggest you come here with a friend to chat with.

Cost: What’s that word in tagalong? “Sulit.” Again I say “Sulit” (Worth every penny). The price is not just reasonable, its cheap. And the taste? Yuummm yuum yum!


Some Recommendations: If you’re into adding spice into your life? I’d recommend Chicken Halang haling, Bicol express. You can never go wrong with the classics, baked mussels/ clams, kangkong, crispy pata, and of course the sinigangs. The langka (jackfruit in coconut milk) and the laing is also a top choice for the veggies.

Overall Assessment: If you’re less adventurous in the small restaurants around cebu, this is definitely the place to go.

Note: My external harddrive died. So still have 20 restaurant reviews but I have zero pictures (yeah, it sucks really. It took me 3 years to collect those pictures). So for now, I would like to thank the following links for letting me borrow some of their uploaded pics:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/524611105_f9d08a669d.jpg?v=0
http://picasaweb.google.com/erwong/AsiaTrip
http://soloflighted.com/foodtrips/

Looking for Durian in Davao?

D’ Farmers Market

Pryce Road F. Torres St. Davao City
Telefax: (+63 82) 225 4861

Looking for Durian to bring along to the airport? What if it’s not in its season?

Better look for Farmers Market. There you’ll find a wide variety of durian. You want the whole fruit? They have it. You want ‘em opened and packed? They got it all packed and airport friendly for you.

Worried about the smell? They have them frozen and placed in a plastic container (those microwaveable dish pans). Freezing the durian keeps the smell at a minimum. They’ll place it in a styro box to keep it cold and seal it with a tape to keep the odour out.

How to get there?

Tell your cab driver, you’re going to Farmers Market to buy Durian. Along Torres St., passing by the convention center, turn left to Pryce road and you’ll find Farmers almost in front of Landco.

Price range?

The D101 is the type I like. It’s sweeter and creamier than most variety. It’s priced around 120-150 a kilo (just the fruit without the tough exterior).

The native one is the strongest in smell and taste. If you’re a die hard fan of durian, you’ll probably love the bitter sweet taste of this durian variety. Its priced at around 180 per kilo.

The small styro box costs around 50 pesos. The big one, just slightly higher (60-70 pesos).

Other varieties are priced at 120-180 per kilo. The native one is the most expensive.

If you want durian Jam, it’s priced at 60 pesos per small container.

Support Philippine Tourism

Mabuhay Toileters!

Chateau Verde, UP Diliman

“Where the food and ambiance is an experience”

Name: Chateau Verde
Where: Apacible St., UP Campus, Diliman Quezon City
Contact details: (+632) 928 81 80/ (+632) 927 30 35 (They accept catering services and party planning)
Cuisine: Spanish and Continental Cuisine
Food rate: 8.5 out of 10, this is one of those places where simple food is transformed into an art. I’d have to give them two thumbs up for presentation

Ambiance: I’d say 9.5 of 10. I liked the place. Aside from the garden effect the place gave out, meeting up with Tita Goring Cervantes (The owner of Verde, I assume) is such a feat. She’s such a bubbly woman, chatting with those who dined at her place. And it’s no surprise that she knows most of her patrons. You’d probably hear her tell stories from the eighties. If you find a foreigner, you’d probably expect her to chat a bit of the places she’s been to. It makes you feel at home, with a very gracious host to liven up the day.

Service: I haven’t been at a time when “busy” is an understatement so, I’d say, the service is good, for now. Though some of the waiters were chatting much, but they were easy to call on anyways.

Cost: It’s a restaurant. Not fastfood. So expect prices ranging from simple 150 to 300. Dessert is at 70-150. But still relatively reasonable if not cheap.

Some Recommendations: Mango crepe. Mango crepe. Mango crepe. Ok, try also their grilled chicken, their beef tenderloin, fish. Then mango crepe.

Overall Assessment: A must dine-in place in UP Diliman. And if you’ve studied in UPD and have not graced the serene garden of Chateau Verde, I say shame on you.

Note: I'm still trying to fix my blog. hehe. so I'll just fill in some food post for your tummies, I took pictures of the main dish, but sadly, I couldn't find it in my saved folders, aarrrgghhhh!