Tutto Domani's Club Sandwich!

Tutto Domani @ Store 9, New World Hotel

Oops, Chef Anthony... we think that this one should be taken out from your menu... not to mention, from anyone's memory who had the unfortunate experience of ordering and actually eating it (reminds me of Grace Park's OMG Burger but don't worry, the Club is still a few notch higher in the rating scale). 

The Club Sandwich (P260) has chicken, bacon, egg and yes, cream cheese sauce. It was this cream cheese sauce that made this Club so rich that after the second bite, "sobrang nakakasuya na."  Or maybe I just don't enjoy sandwiches with sauces splattered on them (they look inedible). Probably. But that sandwich has to go. Paging Chef!  

Pizza Combination at Tutto Domani!

Tutto Domani @ Store 9, New World Hotel 

Tutto Domani is still our favorite place to while our time away. We do a lot of eating, talking and still more eating every time we're there. After the Roasted Crispy Chicken, I could say that their Pizza Combination (P250) is a second favorite. Customers choose from a list of combination of toppings like that day, we ordered for Comination 3 which had tomato sauce, three kinds of cheeses, black and green olives, capers (I love them!), anchovies and mixed herbs. 

Well, what can I say? Kudos, Chef Anthony! 

Inconsistent But Good Enough, Romulo!

Romulo Cafe @ Jupiter, Bel Air Village

It took this long for me to finally eat at Romulo. Good thing that a good friend, Dr. Bombet, made plans to host the dinner there in honor of Leonel Escota who flew in from Las Vegas (attendees are from the Cafe Juanita Group of the Ateneo High School batches '85 and '86). As usual, we had a blast. The night was spent laughing and recalling (naughty!) things we did in high school. I love these guys.

About the food. I've heard so much of Romulo. Yun ang mahirap. Tumaas ang expectations ko.  

They serve good food, that much is clear. But can I say that they're not consistent? We commend that they gave twists to popular Pinoy dishes like the Bagnet Pakbet (P200) and the Boneless Crispy Pata Binagoongan (P650) which I didn't much enjoy... and that goes for the Spicy Tuyo Rice (P145). It was too overpowering which almost killed the taste of the viands. 

The Tinapa Roll (P145) was something new for me though not memorable enough to recommend to friends. It was too dry. I guess my favorite would be the soft-shelled Crispy Crablets (P165) and the Pomelo Salad (P250). The greens, Pomelo and salted eggs went well with the Strawberry Vinaigrette! It was simply magical.

I also liked the Mongo Soup (P130). Very flavorful and the crunchiness of the chicharon gave it THAT delicious texture. 

So-So Sans Rival at Romulo!

Romulo Cafe @ Jupiter, Bel Air Village

After that (satisfying) dinner of Pomelo Salad, Mongo Soup, Crispy Crablets (among others), we ordered for dessert. We had Sans Rival and Salted Caramel Ice Cream (sorry, no photos). No one liked the Sans Rival. Personally, I like the meringue layers to be makunat, not crunchy (and mahangin). Goldilock's and Conti's still make the ideal Sans Rival. Anyway, okay lang... company that night was more important than nutrition and pleasure. 

Ateneo High School ('85, '86) Best Friends...

Leonel, Nicolo, Alfred, Dr. Bombet, Dr. Giovanni 

at Romulo Cafe, Jupiter Makati

Shrimp Ratatouille at Celi's!

Celi's Restaurant @ Hotel Celeste, Makati

Forgive me but I've been wanting to re-post (from Facebook) my birthday dinner pictures (at least the food) taken two years ago. It was memorable, that's why. There were only the three of us (I was with Tita Nelia and Tita Susan) that night who had a great time... we merrily sang along with the lounge singer while enjoying the wonderful food and bottles of wine (I had too much). The Quadruple Chocolate Cake which Tita Nelia baked for me, I think, was the real star of the night. She surprised me with it. Everyone in the dining area who sampled the cake had only praises for the home made masterpiece. 

It was my first time in Hotel Celeste in San Lorenzo, Makati. It's a quiet little place. Food was heavenly, place warm, servers attentive. They're the type of waiters who know when to appear and disappear. 

Food? We had Caesar’s Salad and Grilled Salmon with Shrimp Ratatouille, which I really, really loved. Just like the service, the food was perfect.   

Spinach Speckled Lumpia by 'Let's Cook My Way!'

'Let's Cook My Way' @ Urdaneta Village

It's a world away from the very popular Goldilock's Sariwang Lumpia. Though, I do enjoy that P50-peso-or-so-Lumpia, tasting my Tita Nelia Sison Silverio's tweaked version made me go back to the buffet table for a second serving and a third.

Her special recipe uses Vinaigrette of peanut and sesame oil and balsamic vinegar which is perfectly partnered with an assembly of fresh greens and topped by yes, friends... mini-beets! 

What are mini-beets? Well, they are mini versions of the beets. Where do you get them? Well, you have to attend the Tuesday classes at Urdaneta Village to know. We'll see you there! 

P.S. I also have an amateur video of Tita Nelia rolling a Spinach Speckled Lumpia.

Sweet, Creamy Prawn Salad!

Peking Garden @ Greenbelt 5

Much has been said of Peking Garden. It has been reviewed over and over by different food bloggers that another one would not matter anymore. Well, I found the photos I took when Tita Nelia (of "Let's Cook My Way") and I had lunch with her good friend that supplies her with jewelry. While enjoying lunch and the company, I remember my youngest sister who'd always eat at the Trinoma branch and would request that hubby to have his business meetings there while she gorges on Wanton Chips. She treated me here twice many months back.

Anyway, for me, wala ginawang mali ang Peking Garden (except for their watered down Iced Coffee). Their food has been consistently excellent (though I haven't tried their Sweet and Sour dish... EDSA Shangrila's Summer Palace's Sweet and Sour Pork remains to be the best!) especially the Prawn Salad with its sweet cream. Love it.

Jipan's Classic Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce!

Jipan @ Glorietta 

Jipan’s a quiet bakery/café selling really soft bread and very good ramen. Why quiet? Well, hindi siya magulo. Never aggressive in promoting their food (their menu is just computer printed and laminated). 

While most stores are busy attempting to look (artificially-)beautiful, Jipan opted to just keep a low profile and was content in churning out what they're excellent at doing – good food.  
At isa na dito ay ang Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.  

Baked Spaghetti Meat Sauce

with Mozarella Cheese (P260) 

Meat sauce is really flavorful. A bit oily 
but that I don't mind, that's where the beefy-flavor 
comes from. And the mozarella... hindi tipid. 
Just a suggestion: forget about the parsely. 
It's so '90's.  

Jipan Japanese Bakery
Glorietta, Makati

Crustasia's Crab: Delicious & Dangerous!

CRUSTASIA ASIAN BISTRO @Power Plant, Rockwell.

It was one of those days when things were just ordinary (dull). Nothing was happening. So, what to do? 

What else but eat!  Tita wanted Crustasia in Rockwell. Why not? We had very good iced coffee with Calamari and of course, the popular and (very dangerous!) crab in oil with lots and lots of toasted garlic & chili!  At siyempre, lots and lots of juicy gossip on the side. Now, that’s LUNCH!

That lunch was a bit expensive (P3k+ to think there were only the two of us) but we definitely enjoyed it. We haven’t gone back there and it's almost a year ago.  If ever we do, iba na siguro ang magiging order namin. We survived that lunch. No use in tempting fate again.