A Bad Angel in One Rockwell!

AK Bistro of Angels’ Kitchen @ One Rockwell

Tita N told me that years back when it was owned by the Chef Joy (a close family friend who sold the business eventually), Angels’ Kitchen in Greenhills used to serve very good food. So, we had to try out this AK Bistro by Angels’ Kitchen in One Rockwell. We expected so much.

Only to be massively disappointed.

The Bistro has a limited menu. Fine, no problem with that. It’s just that there’s so little to choose from. One thing, they don’t serve sandwiches and to think that they are open for meryenda.

The taste. How’s my CHORIZO BOLOGNESE SPAGHETTI (P358)? First of all, P358 is expensive for a pasta meal that is so boringly plain. There’s nothing in that spaghetti that’s extra-ordinary. Secondly, I was expecting for a strong chorizo flavor. There’s none. Nada.   

Tita N ordered for a GARLICKY, EGGLESS CAESAR SALAD (P288). Sounds interesting, no?  But she said otherwise (Tita went to a culinary school in San Francisco and used to own six restaurants; currently, she teaches cooking to groups of young and matured ladies).  Asked how she finds her salad she answered with the expected poise and class… "pangit." 

With that, I rest my case.

AK Bistro of Angels' Kitchen
Unit W105 One Rockwell
Poblacion, Makati City

Ryzza Mae is Getting Ready for School!

 Masipag talaga itong si Ms. Ryzza Mae!

After making us fall in love with her cute antics for almost three hours and after gleefully posing with her horde of fans for picture taking, heto naman siya ngayon sa loob ng recording room (together with the staff, writers, production assistants! getting ready for school!  Look at her!  Walang pagod!

Angel Hair w/ Smoked Salmon is Good Pasta!

Oyster Bar @ Greenbelt 3

I reposted my Via Mare entries a few days ago because I've been missing the place. It’s been a few months since the last time I visited. Then, two days ago, after having a Cinemalaya Marathon in Greenbelt 3, we decided to have an early Via Mare dinner. Actually, we went to Oyster Bar. What the heck… they have the same menu (with the Oyster Bar menu).

Tita N had her usual order of Pancit Luglug (good, as usual!) and I well, wanted something I haven’t ordered here. Tita N suggested Angel Hair with Smoked Salmon. I’m not a pasta-lover but I trust her. And it was good that I listened to her. I just loved it.

The Angel Hair Pasta with Smoked Salmon is light meal with slices of salmon, arugula, cheese and fresh tomatoes.  I didn’t taste the anchovy though. But the just the same, it was good, good dinner.    

Ground Level Greenbelt3
Makati City

This Is Not Another Concert!

Is it true that Jose Manalo is having a concert (again) on Saturday, July 28, 2012? I don't know. Mas lalo namang hindi totoo na contestant siya sa Mr. Pogi... because he's not.

Now, this is a concert.

Lunch at the Eat Bulaga Backstage!

Some eat before the show while others eat during (commercial gaps) the show. Some review their scripts while munching on something while some enjoy their lunch after memorizing their lines. What they say, different strokes for different... yeah, that.

Have you ever wondered what the Eat Bulaga hosts eat for lunch backstage?   

One day last week, I entered the well-guarded holding area/make-up room/dining area a few minutes before the show opened and saw the neatly lunch spread in one corner.  I lifted the glass covers of the round chafing dishes and started clicking away. 

That day, lunch was: Beefsteak (with lots & lots of onions), Ginataang Kamansi (with green chillis) and Fried Tilapa! Yum! 

Via Mare (Comfort Food) Classics!

I grew up with Via Mare.  We find ourselves eating here every time we crave for meryenda staples like Halo-halo, Puto Bumbong, Bibingka, Ginatan.  And of course, there’s the comfort food classics: Arroz ala Cubana and yes, Sun-Dried Crispy Tapa!

And lately, I have this special liking for Shooters! Don’t ask me why. I just love them. 

Usapang Fried Chicken #10: BUDDY’S

I don’t particularly like the food in Buddy’s except for their Pancit Lucban. And I wasn’t in the mood for pancit that day. In fact, I wasn’t in the mood for anything that day (client cancelled editing on the last minute of their television commercial in nearby production house!). People from the office decided to just meet up in Buddy’s instead. No choice. I followed.

When I arrived, they were already feasting on their Embotido and Fried Bangus. Their food wasn’t exactly nice to look at. Asked for the menu and ordered what I normally have when I’m in a restaurant which I don’t have any liking for. I ordered for Fried Chicken. Kasi kahit hindi masarap, alam kong kakainin ko pa rin.

Well, hindi OA ang breading (to make the chicken parts seem bigger), at hindi maalat.  It was juicy and hindi matigas. It was good Fried Chicken. When you think about it, how can you go wrong with Fried Chicken?  

Earth Hour 2012: "I Will If You Will" Video!

Discovery Channel (headed by Mr. Jacque Ruby), the SM Supermalls, GMA and Kapuso ng Kalikasan have come together to produce a video for this year’s Earth Hour 2012! 

This video stars journalists and popular celebrities who have joined together to support this year’s battle cry to save Mother Earth. Volunteers include: Kara David, Kiko Rustia, Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Sam Pinto, Michael V., Ogie Alcasid and many more!

Our Team thanks everyone!  See you again next year!  

I Will If You Will Video

Pazzo Rollio at Focaccia!

Focaccia @ A. Venue

A. Venue along Makati Avenue didn’t use to be like this, as I recall. It used to be a lively place and an even livelier place at night. Gone are the small bars that we used to hang around in.  Now, A. Venue is an almost dead place. It currently houses an SM Hypermarket which they call the Market Place, a floor of clinics, salons and sad restaurants whose staff literally begs passers-by to come in and patronize their establishments.

Well, while waiting for Tita N to who’s having her hair dyed, I went around the Market Place, bought some buy-one-take-one chocolate candies and went to have a burger at Burger Avenue. It was a petite P98 peso-Junior Cheeseburger.  I was reserving my appetite for Focaccia which I saw earlier. It’s better that I don’t say anything about the cheeseburger.  

Anyway, as planned, we took our dinner at Foccacia. Tita had her Arugula Shrimp Salad (P250) and I had the Pazzo Rollio or Crazy Rolls (P280, solo). Pazzo Rollio is just like the Darla of Yellow Cab or the Panizza of My Kitchen by Chef Cris or Mona Lisa of Alabang (the better ones). It's a pizza wrap with Arugula and Alfalfa.

The Pazzo Rollio's crust was deliciously thin, crispy and had this oh-so-slightly burned taste which I didn’t mind at all. My problem was with the salami and the bacon. They tasted (specially the salami!) old (might have been sitting in the freezer far too long) and yes, they tasted “generic.”  Well, what do you expect with the price?  

And what's with the "free" bread with olive oil, parmesan and Balsamic vinegar?   Pang-ilang microwave reheating na ito?  Didn't touch and just enjoyed by "generic" tasting Pazzo Rollio.  By the way, Tita N seemed to like her salad. She didn't say anything. 

Ham, Bacon, Salami

caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheese sauce

Mix of Arugula, Onions, Shrimps

Tossed in Lemon Vinaigrette 

Don't bother with the bread...

It's not fresh.

Jose-Wally-Paolo Trio: Eat Bulaga Indonesia's Version!

Eat Bulaga, your Favorite Noontime Companion 

has gone global... it is now
the First Pinoy show with an

International Franchise! 
 

After months of careful planning with our local bigwigs at TAPE to come up with a perfectly entertaining program, Eat Bulaga Indonesia had its premiere last Monday (July 16, 2012) over SCTV, Indonesia's undisputed number one television network!

Everything you see in the Manila version you will see in the Jakarta version which runs Mondays to Sundays! They have their version of the immensely popular Juan for All and All for Juan, Pinoy Henyo, their Jose-Wally-Paolo Trio and yes even, si Bossing na kung tawagin nila ay Boss!

This Saturday, Eat Bulaga (Manila) will be showing behind-the-scenes of Eat Bulaga Indonesia! Don’t miss it! 

Just wondering… meron din kaya silang counterpart ng ating LMP winner na si Ms. Ryzza Mae?  

Find out on Saturday at 12:00 noon!

Satu Untuk Semua!

Ang Totoong Kwento! 

Eat Bulaga Indonesia's

Version of 

"Juan for All

All for Juan"

Presenting... Eat Bulaga Indonesia!

Eat Bulaga, your Favorite Noontime Companion 

has gone global... it is now
the First Pinoy show with an
International Franchise!

After months of careful planning with our local bigwigs at TAPE to come up with a perfectly entertaining program, Eat Bulaga Indonesia had its premiere last Monday (July 16, 2012) over SCTV, Indonesia's undisputed number one television network!

Everything you see in the Manila version you will see in the Jakarta version which runs Mondays to Sundays! They have their version of the immensely popular Juan for All and All for Juan, Pinoy Henyo, their Jose-Wally-Paolo Trio and yes even, si Bossing na kung tawagin nila ay Boss!

This Saturday, Eat Bulaga (Manila) will be showing behind-the-scenes of Eat Bulaga Indonesia! Don’t miss it! 

Just wondering… meron din kaya silang counterpart ng ating LMP winner na si Ms. Ryzza Mae?  

Find out on Saturday at 12:00 noon!

Eat Bulaga Indonesia!

Katsutei: Expect Nothing.

I was on my way to the bank (in SM North Edsa, Annex near Save More) when I saw Katsutei.  I haven’t been to this part of The Annex for a long time. I haven’t kept track of which stores had already closed down. What I know is that one of my favorite coffee places (not for their coffee nor for their service but wala kasing taong napupunta doon) has already been replaced by this Japanese Quick Service Establishment (new term for Fast Food).

I entered. There were a few customers and too many servers who are too-eager to well, serve. You know that most of them are greenhorn (ask them the meaning of Katsutei... have fun!). The type I don't have the patience for. 

Anyway, I talked with the Manager. Her actions were quick and she had this painted smile on her face. Memorized answers. I knew it. Galing sa mundo ng Fast Food.

I ordered. I was still full from a good lunch at home so I just had dessert and appetizer and non-soda beverage: TOFU FURAI (P85), CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM FURAI (P45) and LARGE GREEN ICED TEA (P45).

Verdict? Well, it was a world away from being average. Pretty bad. Sayang. They should exert (double time!) effort at presenting something that would make the customers come back. Take the soda cups for example. They use plain, white ones (they haven’t heard about branding?). How about a soda vendo machine? Matagal nang nauso yan tuloy para silang canteen sa school na binubuhos lang ang softdrinks sa plastic cups!         

And the food... Babalik ako this week to try the best sellers. But from what I’ve seen and tasted, I already have an idea as to what to expect... nothing. 

Good luck to me. 

Ryzza Mae While Waiting for Her Cue!

Eat Bulaga @ the Broadway Centrum

Good thing that I was positioned at stage left where Ryzza Mae stayed while waiting for her cue. She was a few steps away giving me ample time to take meaningful pictures while she practices her lines and her “song number” (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) assisting her was the very patient, Jack, one of Eat Bulaga’s staff members. 

Ryzza Mae is such a child… in-between singing and delivering her lines during rehearsal, she played with a cell phone; smiled, posed and stuck her tongue out for the camera.

Simply adorable!