Kos Greek Ouzeri!

Kos Greek Ouzeri 
UP Town Center, Katipunan, QC

Grilled Salmon Fillet Ladolemono (P350)
Grilled herb marinated salmon fillet
on roasted vegetables with lemon oil

Kos Greek Ouzeri is a new restaurant that has been enjoying good business in the UP Town Center (the area used to be the playground of UP Integrated School. I used to watch kids my age as we pass along going home from the blue school. Well, that was so many moons back). 

Simply stated, Kos Greek Ouzeri is a small restaurant with a promise. As Chef Yoli Naluz admits, they never scrimp on the ingredients which undergo meticulous quality inspection (you will never capture the delicate taste of Salmon if not fresh). My Grilled Salmon Fillet was perfectly grilled and seasoned right that nothing was left on my plate. Their version of Moussaka was on the "saucy" side but still unforgettable. Before I forget, they serve free warm bread for which we ordered the Artichoke Spinach spread. And yes, we finished everything.  

'Til our next visit, Chef Yoli! 

Artichoke Spinach (P165)

Moussaka (P260) 

Potatoes and eggplants in layers 

with minced meat sauce and bechamel

KIMUKATSU!

Kimukatsu
5th Level, East Wing
Shangri-la Plaza

"Kimukatsu is the most famous pork cutlet in Japan with branches in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Sendai. The secret of our popularity is the combination of a crispy, texture-rich batter surrounding a juicy flavorful 25-layered pork cutlet."  

"This layered cutlet is covered with fresh breadcrumbs and fried slowly for eight minutes. It is then, set vertically for two minutes to steam allowing the heat to spread evenly."

Kimukatsu: Ebi Mayo & Kimutaku!

Kimukatsu 
Level 5, Shangri-La Plaza
East Wing (#727-0333) 

Unlimited: 

Kimutaku

Cabbage Salad

Misu Soup

Rice   

 

Ebi Mayo

I must admit that even before we started on the Kimukatsu, we were already stuffed with the best selling appetizers/side dishes our host, Mr. Kenji Komuro (Director of Public Relations) ordered for us to try. I liked the Ebi Mayo (plump shrimps with sweet Japanese Mayo!) the best followed by the Cabbage Salad with the Sesame Dressing.

Kimutaku

(Japanese Pickles)

White Misu (Sweet)

Red Misu (Strong)

Cabbage Salad

with Sesame Dressing

Alex III: 50% Off Barbecue Treat Promo!

Good news to Barbecue lovers! 
 
All five Alex III Restaurants (Tomas Morato, Matalino Street in QC, Wilson Street in San Juan, Robinsons Galleria and Fairview branches) are giving away this Barbecue Treat Gift Certificates (valid on their next dine-in visit) to every guest who orders Pork Barbecue and Spareribs Barbecue! An early Christmas treat from Alex III!

Please ask the branch manager for more details.   

a-gantea: Lifestyle Tea Cafe!

Cranberry Fruit Tea & Chocolate Milk Tea

BreadTalks @ Ayala Triangle Gardens

a-gantea is conveniently located inside the BreadTalk store in Ayala Triangle Gardens, a win-win set-up for both businesses. One can order his Large Cranberry and while waiting, may window shop around the bake shop side of the store and maybe settle on a chocolate muffin. The very accommodating (and generous!) Brand Manager, Ms. Joy Gomez, who's open to having a tie-up with the BreadTalk people, sees this rare chance. Soon, she said (personally, it's just too delicious-an-opportunity to pass up on). Anyway, I should say that a-gantea is a cut above the other milk tea brand. One, it's priced a little lower. Two, the choices, more varied. And three, the processes involved are genuinely scientific. I kid you not. 

 Hawaii Fruit Tea 

"Filled with tropical fruits, giving

a mix taste of sweet and sour"

Take for example the size of the ice they use. a-gantea only uses a particular size, meaning, not too big, not too small. And everything is measured and precise to the minutest detail. No wonder that this brand is one of the best and popular in Taiwan, from where it originated. And where do you think their tea leaves come from? Well, one thing for sure is that the tea leaves do not come from anyone's backyard but from the world famous Taiwan Ali Mountain that have the natural conditions much like the best wine vineyards. Again... I kid you not.

Taro Milk Tea

"It has a fine, lingering taste with

sweet taros" 

I almost finished 7 (yes, 7!) a-gantea preps with the help of my videographer/friend. It's that good. None of the powdered-mix taste (Zagu?) which I associate with cancer. None of the water-down taste (a large order of Tube Ice to go, please!). And definitely none of the artificially fruity flavors that is capable of blessing our stomachs with toxic acid and more toxic acid.   

Bubble Milk Tea

"Brewed using a special recipe

with chewy white tapioca"

Pear Fruit Tea

"With alpine tea (tea base)

with pear pulps and low-calorie

agar bits 

My favorite? I have two: the Hawaii Fruit Tea and the Bubble Milk Tea. They're sinfully good. By the way, the name, a-gantea is combination of: 
a, meaning "sweet" + gan, "refreshing after taste." Do the math.

a

QQ Milk Tea

"With chewy black tapioca and pineapple nata"    

Ms. Riza Meriado

Marketing Officer

Ms. Joy Gomez

a-gantea, Brand Manager

"The Coolest Way To Enjoy Coffee!"

Shakey's @ Eton Centris, QC

It's my second time to be visiting this particular branch of Shakey's and like the first one, I used the Gift Certificate they gave me. 

I ordered my all-time favorite pizza: Manager's Choice. I remembered telling Mr. Koi Castillo (Shakey's Brand Manager) during the Bloggers' Event how I grew up with Shakey's (like all Ateneans my age!), Katipunan branch. It was the only restaurant along that strip that gave free birthday blow-out when you're a club member. And our favorite? Manager's Choice!

Anyway, going back, the staff of Eton Walk branch is one of the most accommodating with special mention, Gerby Manzano (Party Coordinator), Michael Maranan (Captain Waiter) and Sheila Espiritu (Manager). They're genuinely friendly and attentive to the needs of the guests. 

Ms. Sheila even gave my friend and I, Iced Cafe Latte and Iced Cafe Mocha (on the house! Thank you!) when I recounted to her my disappointment the first time I had those coffee preparations in another branch.   

This Eton Walk branch version of their Latte and Mocha was much, much better. Both had this very slight coffee bitter after-taste na talaga namang  kapeng-kape!.  In short, they're how a Cold Latte and Mocha should be. By the way, it's affordable at only P85!

Again, thank you, Ms. Sheila Espiritu! She proved that Shakey's cool coffee preparations are really the "Coolest Way to Enjoy Coffee!"  

Paging Mr. Kois Castillo! Your Eton Walk branch deserves commendation! 

Usapang Fried Chicken #24: CHICKEN N' MOJOS!

Bloggers Event @ Shakey's Quezon Ave.

Shakey's treated us (bloggers) to a lunch of chicken and potatoes the other week. The event was held at the Quezon Avenue branch to celebrate the coming of the latest Shakey's product... CHICKEN 'N' MOJOS Blow Out!  

Jam Evaristo

PR & Events Officer

The afternoon affair began with a short introduction and an even shorter video presentation of the latest TVC currently having its run in the local networks. Mr. Koi M. Castillo, Shakey's eloquent Brand Manager, gave the bloggers a brief talk on the product that invites everyone to TASTE THE TERRIFIC TANDEM OF THIS TEMPTING TWOSOME!

Don't worry, I've already gave in to the temptation years ago. 

Koi M. Castillo

Brand Manager

What's good about Blow out? Well, it  comes in a box. Very handy. Convenient. It's made carton and not styrofoam. Secondly, an order of Blow Out has 20 pieces of beautifully fried chicken thighs and drumsticks with slices and slices of Mojos! Thirdly, its really affordable. It costs only P1,595. What can you say about that?

 
I was telling the Brand Manager, Koi, about my special relationship with Shakey's. You see, Shakey's was the very first fast food joint along Katipunan. I repeat, the very first. I remember being a member (just like all Ateneans during that time) of their birthday club where you're treated to a pizza and rootbeer (and a cool hat made of styro!) on your, yes, birthday. The funny thing is that the chicken and the mojos tasted just the same as it did many, many moons ago. Now, that's cool.

Another New Product:

Iced Cold Mocha

Fried Chicken Fans

Thanks, Shakey's! 'Til the next time!