Luncheon at Chili's

We were still on the road today by 12 noon and decided to get something to eat.  We stopped by at Chili's and had some light lunch.  It has been a long time since my last Chili's meal.  Their restaurant is still as homey as the last time.  And the service is still surprisingly better than their counterparts. 

We ordered Southwestern Vegetable Soup for starters.  The crunchy tortilla strips made it fun to eat.  But the gooey mozzarella cheese made me want for more.  Of course, it had beans in it to make it more Mexican or Southwesternish.  I haven't enjoyed soup as much as this did for a long time now.  Definitely, something to go back for in Chili's. 

We wanted something light so we ordered another appetizer to include in the main course.  No, we are not on a diet.  I forgot what it was called but this had tasty chicken strips on top of a mixture of vegetables.  (Note: I remember an article in Yahoo of meals we should avoid ordering because it was loaded with calories hiding under the facade of a salad.  And I remember looking at a picture of something that resembles the salad below.)

Another appetizer for the main course was Triple Play. (Good thing, I still remember the name of the dish.)  This contained soft chicken strips that I initially mistaken as fish fillet, fried burrito-like cones with corn and beans in it (LOL!  I really don't know what it's called), and buffalo-style chicken.  Along with it are three dipping sauces which include tartar sauce, creamy mushroom sauce and one that probably contained mustard.  And there were also celery sticks that I didn't bother eating.

It was supposed to be a light meal until I had Molten Chocolate Smoothie for my drink.  I'm trying not to think of around a thousand calories that is probably in that smoothie serving.  (Hope I burn it off by carrying my baby day in and out for the rest of the week.)  I requested it to be placed in a to-go cup because I was sure I wouldn't be able to finish the whole thing.  And so they obliged.  I just wondered if I got a lesser quantity because I had it on a cup instead of their big glasses.

All in all, the dining experience were still as good as before.  It's better than most of it's Southwestern or Mexican restaurant counterparts in the country.  There's still a lot to come back for so hopefully, I could visit again.

Racks' Ribs

The first Racks restaurant I know is in El Pueblo in Ortigas.  That was around 15 years ago.  Until now, it is still standing on the same ground although they made it smaller and rented out the other parts of the building.  It was a hit when it first opened but after a couple of years or so, nobody bothered to eat there anymore.  I thought it was going to close down.  But even at a time when they seem already hanging by a thread, our family still ate there because the food has not changed.  The meat are still tender, seasoned and cooked just right. 

After time, they made an overhaul of their establishment.  The interior is much smaller but cozier and classier than before.  The patrons like us appreciated their comeback.  They even opened a branch in the nearby mall (Megamall) but I still prefer dining in their El Pueblo branch if we're not having them delivered in the office for lunch (which is most of the time).

I ordered savory chicken and baby back ribs for myself.  I wasn't able to finish the whole thing.  Actually, I left the chicken behind. Teehee!  I gobbled the ribs without bothering eating rice with it.

I love their coleslaw.  The veggies are coarsely shredded unlike that of KFC's coleslaw but just as good.  I think they serve a healthier salad since you can identify what's in it (unlike that of KFC's). 

By the way, I used to love ordering their loaf of onion rings.  Unfortunately, I noted that it has become too oily for my taste the last time I ordered it.  Therefore, I don't recommend it for anyone who prioritizes their health.

Dining in Romulo's

Awhile ago, we had our dinner at Romulo's.  We knew reservations were necessary but because everyone was craving for Filipino dishes, we opted to try our luck.  And we were so glad when a table for eight people were available.  We were seated in the non-airconditioned area of the house-turned-into-a-restaurant establishment along Scout Dr.Lazcano in Timog. 

We ordered dishes that we haven't tried before. 

For starters, we ordered Pinoy Nachos.  These were sweet potato aka kamote chips topped with cheddar cheese, goat's cheese, tomatoes and more.  The kamote was sliced thinly and fried to a crisp but not burnt.  The best thing about this dish is that even though the slices were fried, there was almost no trace of oil.  And that is why I was having second thoughts if this was really fried or it was baked instead.
 

Another appetizer was the pomelo salad.  I truly enjoyed this one.  There were pomelo bits everywhere.  The pomelo was ripened just right hence, it blended well with the dressing.  It was topped with slices of salted eggs and poured with strawberry salad dressing. By this time, I was already feeling almost full. 

My friend and I ordered binagoongan rice while the rest ordered pandan rice.
Just a thought: I never got to eat again my favorite spicy Thai binagoongan rice along Pearl drive in Pasig anymore.  I have been settling for different substandard versions of binagoongan rice. 

Laing topped with  adobo flakes.  It's too bad that the taste of adobo flakes gets lost in the laing.  I would have loved it if it was in a separate dish instead.  Laing is always good.  It's a rice magnet, if you ask me.

I ordered beef kaldereta topped with grated queso de bola.  The beef was good although I prefer it more tender.  Again, the cheese got lost in the tomato-based sauce of the beef.

I don't know what this is called.  Someone ordered it and kept calling it galantina.  It would seem you're eating steak but it's not heavy on the tummy as an actual steak.  This one you can eat without rice.  The dipping sauce is also good. 

I ate the crablets last even though it was supposed to be an appetizer.  I'm not a fan of munching on shells.  It's more bothersome when you're swallowing it.  But this was a good dish, nonetheless.

 

All in all, the dining experience in Romulo was satisfactory.  The dishes lacked the wow factor.  I wasn't at all gushing at the food after every bite.  Somehow, the dishes seemed ordinary.  But I have to say differently about the ambiance and the service.  They have somehow lived up to the expectations of a highly rated restaurant. 

The price was more than satisfactory.  It was relatively cheaper than expected from a restaurant of their stature.  Diners will be able to eat to their heart's content without the usual worry on how it was costing the diners.

Turo-Turo Style

The other day, while on a road trip up north, we ate at a roadside restaurant.  The place looks clean and well-maintained.  I noted that most of the staff running the place were teenagers.  So I was wondering if it was some kind of barkada business. 

We ordered sizzling tuna, beef mami (for me), sizzling daing na bangus and sinigang na hipon along with several cups of rice and ice cold 7-Up bottles.  I noted that everything was less than 100 pesos.  So we were all wondering how big the servings were. 

While waiting for our orders, they served small cups of warm clear soup.  I always enjoy this part of the meal everytime I eat in a Filipino eatery.  It's our version of warm rolls served in a more classy restaurant.  I prefer the free soup than the free rolls anytime.

I was the one who ordered tuna sisig.  I was disappointed when they served me (?Century) tuna that was probably straight from the can.  I then hoped that the next would make up for this one. 

We were used to big servings that is why we got a laugh at the size of our order of sinigang na hipon.  Well, we shouldn't have expected much because we were paying around P50.00 for this one.  The taste though, was priceless.  It was really delicious.   Hence, we ordered more of this.

 I ordered myself a bowl of beef mami.  Even though it wasn't as good as beef noodle soups from restaurant we are used to these days, it definitely brings back memories.  I used to eat this kind of beef mami when I was little.  We buy these in canteens before where it was placed on display in glass cabinets and when someone orders it, they put soup on it and it's ready to serve. 

I wasn't able to appreciate the taste though.  Maybe because these days, I'm used to eating very salty and spicy cup noodles.  And this bowl of beef mami had probably only salt to taste. 

Tomatoes are mainstays for daing na bangus.  I'm not sure why the salty crispy daing goes well with the refreshing somewhat-crunchy fresh tomatoes.   No added soy sauce needed.

The establishment was up north and there is one down south (in Quezon) and is located by the sea.  The seafoods served were the best so far and put them in the top of my list.  But that is another blog post in the making.

First Visit to A Taste Of LA

Two nights ago, I was able to visit A Taste Of LA in Roces Ave., QC for a light after-dinner meal with family and some friends.  Even though, the restaurant has been there for a long time already, it was my first time to visit them.  The place was dark and cozy.  There was minimal lighting.  Most of the light in the room came from candles set on tables.  My eyes needed to get used to the dark for a minute or two.  That was how dark the place was.

The interior was somehow rustic. We chose to sit in a long and heavy wooden table that you would have seen in a kitchen of some old western home.  Wines were placed in an old fashioned cabinet that made up the counter of a bar.  I believe they were about California wines which unfortunately, I wasn't able to try out.

Note: I've always thought that wines from California came mainly from Napa because that was what I was told during a visit in that area years ago.  Well, maybe wines from Napa are mostly sold to LA.  Well, I can't really be sure. 

It wasn't for a family dining experience though.  It was more like a place for couples because the place was just too romantic with the candles and the bunch of deep red roses placed on the tables. 

Someone ordered buffalo wings, pasta, salad and pizza.  The pizza was more than delicious.  I think it was made of pepperoni, anchovies and a lot of cheese.  (I wasn't able to take good pictures of it though because it was just too dark.) 

I ordered oysters.  (What is with my obsession with oysters these days?)  I ordered the Formaggio from the list they gave me.  And enjoyed the baked preparation immensely. 

I ordered Orange Fizz for my drink that night.  Non alcoholic, of course. 

Service wasn't too bad.  It took a long time to serve the food though.  Probably because clients were not supposed to rush through their meal.  It was a good place to spend a couple of hours dining over well-prepared food and fancy wines.

Tong Yang's Grilled Oysters and Noodle Soup

What I love about Tong Yang's buffet is that I can cook and eat all the oysters that I can eat.  I love it grilled and well-done.  I tried grilling it in their sate sauce and afterwards dipped in Yakiniku sauce before letting it ooze inside my mouth.

 

I also tried the Taiwan-style sate.  But it wasn't as good as the regular sate the restaurant prepared. 

Along with the oysters, I grilled my regular favorite, lamb skewers.  I know some people who can't get used to the smell of lamb, more so the taste.  But for me, lamb meat is so good to eat and that goes the same for goat's meat.  LOL! You got that right.  I love eating them both.  I've always thought they're more safer to eat because they're two of the cleanest animals. 

(Off topic:  I visited a seminary up in Antipolo and they had lamb running all over the place.  My father was laughing at me for being scared of them because they're one of the meekest animal on earth)

I'm used to eating instant cup noodles.  Soups are my thing.  And in Tong Yang, I get to cook my own bowl of noodle soup.  It makes me feel like I'm a cook even if I'm really not. 

We usually enjoy the shabu-shabu with two types of broth: sinigang and spicy broth. I usually eat the corn on the cob at the end of every meal.  I like it much more if all the flavors of the vegetables and dimsum and broth goes into the corn and that would only be possible they are submerged in the pot for a long long time.

And that's another gratifying visit in Tong Yang (Megamall Branch).

Red Ribbon's Palabok and Empanada

I have always been fond of Red Ribbon's chicken empanada.  I like it especially when it is freshly baked and still warm.  One piece is a meal in itself - very heavy on the tummy.  The bread is so soft and creamy to taste that meshes well with the savory meaty filling.  The other chicken empanadas do not taste as good.  Most of them are a little bit dry and a lot more expensive.

One of the best noodle preparation here in the Philippines is the Palabok.  And Red Ribbon has proven that.  It is made of miki noodles that are cooked thoroughly to digest it easily.  The sauce covers every noodle bit and make you somehow slurp while you eat.  You also get to taste some of the egg and the chicharon (ground pork rinds). 

I don't often get to eat palabok because people prefer to serve the less expensive Pancit Malabon or good old Filipino style spaghetti.  Maybe that is what makes palabok more special - the rare encounters. 

C2 Classic Cuisine

I have considered Classic Cuisine a.k.a C2 as a family restaurant.  We have been visiting their Shangri-la branch for the past two years.  And now that they have opened a branch in Megamall Atrium, there are more chances that we are likely to dine over and over.

Food:  5 out of 5

This restaurant serves the best of Philippine cuisine.  It serves meals that even most Filipinos haven't encountered yet unless they have been all over the country and get to taste each one of the delicacies.

My ultimate favorite is the Crispy Kare-Kare, although it is an ultimate no-no for those who are trying to lose weight or starting a healthier lifestyle.  The traditional crispy pata is served in a large plate with the kare-kare sauce separate from the rest.  The vegetables are also good if you can find them underneath the crispy pata. 

Also, it is frequent that I order something healthier like fish.  They include in their menu (boneless) Tilapia seared in coconut oil immersion.  It is best eaten when the fish has just been cooked.  The fish is tasty on its own.  It gets better when it has some gata on it.  There are also crunchy potato strings on top of it that you can start to chew on.  It is the only plate wiped clean in every visit.

A Filipino meal wouldn't be complete without good old warm rice.  C2 kicked it up a notch when salted egg is mixed with it.  It is only in C2 that I know that serves salted egg rice.  There might be others but I haven't had the chance to visit them.  The salted egg rice is good to eat on its own. 

In this particular visit, we were able to order Tokwa't Baboy but I wasn't able to try and taste it myself.  I'm sure it taste as good as it looks. 

I ordered Tsokolate Eh for myself.  I have never tried it out before.  Instead of the usual preference for cold drinks and fruit shakes, I opted to try something different.  I wasn't able to finish the whole cup.  I thought it was too sweet for my taste.  There were also lumps of undissolved cocoa that you get to dissolve in your tongue.  I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way but it made it more interesting.

For dessert, leche flan is our top choice.  The serving is relatively small but it didn't matter because it was so good that you get more than what you need in a bite.  It's one of the softest leche flan there is.  For something that could melt like that in your mouth, you'd wonder how it hold up in the first place.

Service:  4 out of 5

There is nothing bad that I could say about the service in both C2 branches that I know of.  They make you wait for as little time as possible.  You can not also complain of them being undermanned.   

Price:  2 out of 5

The price of their food ranges from around Php100 to Php700.  I thought it is was too pricey for my usual budget.  Hence, if I was paying, I would reserve dining in C2 for special occasions only.

Ambiance: 3 out of 5

The branch in Shangri-la is a bit noisy especially during lunch time.  Sometimes, it would seem that you're dining in the food court.  On the other hand, Megamall Atrium branch is a bit quieter because you get to eat in an enclosed area.  Their restaurants are not cozy like some other restaurants of the same rank but still provides a place for a pleasant conversation over really good food for any group of diners.