My APEC Experiece at GoodAh!!!

While many Filipinos and foreign observers from differet parts of the world are all eys on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperatio (APEC) Summit, I decided to avoid the Manila area and went to the “only” 25-hour food establishment in the world --- GoodAh!!! in Metro Walk, Ortigas, Pasig City.

I case you don’t know yet, GoodAh!!! has its own APEC--- Appetizing Plates Eating Challenge, that is.

I was ready to take on my usual order of the Original Tapsilog when I was informed that there are two new appetizing plates in the menu that are sure to challenge the taste and want of any foodie in town. Welcome their latest offerigs Tapa Flakes and Tapa Bacon. Collectively, the three irresistible meals are dubbed as “Tapa Festival.”

Choosing just one among the three beef treats was a not an easy decision. I have one hungry to feed but my taste buds seems can’t decide which one should I order since all looks equally delicious.

In the end, I accepted the challenge of taking on the three said meals in one sitting. After an hour of munching, I want to share my short yet honest review of each plate.

Original Tapsilog (P114) is 100% marinated beef sirloin served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg with atchara. It’s an all-time favorite that  in every munch I’d subconsciously utter, “Iba pa din ang orig!”

Tapa Bacon (P199) is served in strips of pork belly marinated with powdered smoked flavor and spices served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg and atchara. It is heavenly crispy and yummy that gives me a new reason to come back to GoodAh!!! more often.

Tapa Flakes (P129) are shredded beef flanks cook adobo style and dip fry served with garlic fried rice, sunny side-up egg and atchara. It is a delight in the mouth in every bite.

 

GoodAh!!! is open anytime of the day from Mondays to Saturdays. Visit any of their six locations namely Metrowalk, Eastwood, Gate 5, Market Market, Bicutan and Sucat. You can also order via 470-7070.

Now who says the APEC fever is just for those who have access to the special lanes along EDSA or head of states and the authorities. Experince APEC at GoodAh!!! and have one happy tummy like mine.

It’s hip, it’s hop: The Kogi Ssam Wrap

Korea will forever have a special spot in my heart.

It’s one of the three countries my passport got stamped during my first ever overseas trip a decade ago. In that month-long away from home experience, I was able to embraced things that I just see on TV and magazines then. Well, it’s one cool experience to be a foreigner.

I became an instant fan of Kimchi, I had a big crush with Sandara Park before, I like the beat of K-Pop music, and their movies and TV series (Tagalog-dubbed or with English subtitle) bring fresh air in the commercially-polluted local films offered all year round.

A couple of days ago, I was able to taste again, literally and figuratively, Korea during the Kogi Bulgogi’s bloggers event held at their Gateway Mall branch. (They also have branches at Greenhills Promenade, Eastwood Mall and Lucky China Town Mall.

Bloggers were treated to an afternoon of Korean munching and gulping. Among the many yummy delicacies, I spent savouring the plates of Kogi Ssam Wrap.     

Just a little backgrounder:  Ssam, literally meaning "wrapped", refers to a dish in Korean cuisine in which, usually, leafy vegetables are used to wrap a piece of meat such as pork or other filling. It is often accompanied by a condiment known as ssamjang or gochujang and can also be topped with raw or cooked garlic, onion, green pepper, or a banchan (small side dish) such as kimchi. Ssam is usually bite-sized to avoid spilling out the fillings.

In the past, it is believed that on full moon days, people wrapped rice in leaves of cabbage or dried seaweeds. Back then, when rice was often not readily available, it was the precious commodity for commoners. Eating clumps of rice wrapped with fresh greens have been regarded as “eating wrapped luck”. Since then, it has been a culinary custom of eating ssam as a kind of ritual appeal for good fortune. Even today, in terms of its nutritional value, having a meal of ssam can be seen as an act of “eating luck”.

Upon eating, the meat and sides are often wrapped in vegetable leaves such as lettuce (which is a good source of vitamin a, vitamin k and potassium) or sesame (that is rich in dietary fiber and has vitamin a, vitamin c and riboflavin), hence the literal meaning of ssam: "wrapped" or "packaged."

Personally, I find Kogi Ssam Wrap as hip and hop. Hip because it’s like “styling” your wrap with filling, condiments, and raw and/ or cooked veggies before you gobbled it. Well, food taste better when they are good-looking, you know. It is also Hop because you can make it as spicy as you can that it can kick your taste buds to jump a bit with that delicious fiery taste. Plus, it’s like a hop closer to Korea with every wrap.  

 

There are 4 types of Kogi Ssam Wrap. Each serving/ order are good for sharing:

1. Bo Ssam (with pork, boiled in spices and thinly sliced) – P365

2. Dak Gui ( Dak means chicken in korean while Gui means grilled dishes in Korean cuisine; and Grilled chicken in a chili sauce) - P385

3. Suygogi Gui (Grilled beef) - P420

4. Black Angus (Korean steak. Available at Promenade only) - P795

Try now! Eat any of Kogi Bulgogi’s Ssam Wrap choices and still have a healthy balanced meal as you explore the flavors of Korea!

The experience even gets better if you get to try Kogi Ssam Wrap beside a Korean-looking head-turner.

Wrap battle with with Hana Abello of Dollhana.com. Photo credit: Ryan San Juan of AnakngPasig.com

Dine like a King at King Bee

I usually spend Sunday with my family for a stroll in a mall or a fun activity after attending mass in the morning. But last February 16, we had to scrap our routine and decided to stay at home to rest after a busy week highlighted by a week-long Family Day celebration in my son’s school and a get-together with some high school buddies.

However, the mole on my right foot was that itchy that I could not stay firm lying on a sofa. Come lunch time, I found myself inside the newly constructed behemoth Fisher Mall in Quezon City to attend the soft opening of the latest branch of King Bee Chinese Food restaurant.

King Bee is a modern, contemporary yet authentic Chinese restaurant with eight branches in to date. They have two outlets in Cavite, one in Laguna, one in Antipolo, one in Las Pinas, and three in Quezon City including the newest addition to the growing food venture.

As you enter the restaurant, you will take notice of the decoration that gives a unique ambience t and warm relaxed atmosphere. Indeed, a culinary escape from the daily hustle and bustle of daily life. It is just the place to have a luxurious bite, thanks to the accommodating and friendly staff. Well, personally, it felt like I was treated kingly while dining in.

Whether you’re a Chinese food lover or not, you are sure to be captivated by the aromatic flavors and distinctive blend of galangal, lemongrass, lime Leaf and coriander that spice up some of the dishes at King Bee.

Choose from the delectable dishes such as Dimsum Platter and Yang chow rice. Delight in the delicious flavours Chicken with Asparagus and take a hefty bite of tasty Roasted Chicken with Beef Fried Rice. Perhaps you prefer Sweet and Sour Pork with delectable Yangchow Fried Rice.

Come next Sunday, my wife and I plan to have lunch at King Bee to spend a post Valentine date. This time, it’s just the two of us. And I will definitely bring a camera with fully-charged battery so I can finally take photos of the food that should be appearing (and teasing) in this post.

Thanks for my friend and fellow blogger Marco Demo for the invitation and the privilege to be one of the first to dine-in at King Bee – Fisher Mall. Check their menu Facebook.

8 Slices and Tidbits about Project Pie

Growing up (or getting old, the moment you get in your thirties), there are only few things in life that is equally worth experiencing when hot or cold--- water, the weather, chocolate and pizza!

It’s pretty obvious that I’ll be talking about pizza in this post since I mentioned it last in my enumeration.  Pizza, of course, will forever have a special place in my heart (aside from my tummy) since the first meal I shared with my ex-girlfriend and now my wife Leah is a round of thin crust pizza more than eight years ago. 

Thus, it has been our tradition that in every special occasion, especially on our anniversary, we have at least a slice of this tasty treat, which originated way back 997 AD from the Italian town Gaeta, for us to share. Every year, we also look for a new restaurant where we can have a pizza feast to celebrate. The Pizza god might have been a fan of our love story that he (or she) paved way for an amazing food haven like Project Pie to be situated just a few meters from my office.

I came, I saw and I conquered a whole pizza all by my self for the very first time and I am sharing eight slices of things you might want to know about my new favorite restaurant in this side of the city.

One outlet is already conquering thousands of taste buds and tummies. Project Pie, an artisan-inspired create-your-own-pizza opened its first and only (as of today) outlet at 515 Shaw Blvd., corner Laurel St, Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City. It’s right in front of the new site of S&R which replaced the iconic Cherry Foodarama. It opens and closes at 10 everyday.

 Two ways to order pizza. First option is to build your own for only P285 and be the boss in choosing what cheese to put--- gorgonzola, mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and feta--- to go along with any or all the other toppings available: pepperoni, crumbled meatballs, chicken, prosciutto, Italian sausage, bacon, Canadian bacon, green bell peppers, jalapeños, roasted red peppers, red onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, black olives, garlic, pesto, pineapple, cilantro, fresh chopped basil, artichokes, rosemary and sea salt. Twenty nine toppings on your pizza if you want.  The second option is to order by number for P245. Please refer to entry number 7 below for the details.

     Three healthy salads available for the green ones. Health buffs (who can’t resist the scent of a freshly-baked pan pizza) can grab a slice or two and order some side salad. You can have the (a) Classic Caesar composed of romaine, parmesan, croutons and Caesar dressing; (b) Mixed Greens with grilled chicken, feta, craisins, candied walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette; ot (c) Pizza Salad that contains mixed greens, grilled chicken, feta, mozzarella, tomatoes, Balmasic dressing on warm pizza dough.

      Fourth branch of the franchise and first outside USA. That’s how special this store is. The first three are in Las Vegas, San Diego and Colorado. Probably the first time an international franchise opened in Manila ahead of cosmopolitan cities like Hongkong or Singapore.  You might be salivating by now that’s why I inserted an inedible trivia in the middle of the list. 

      Five other awesome eats you can order. Parmesan & Garlic is P145 per order so does yummy desserts like Banana Nutella, Peanut Butter Nuttela, and Cinnamon Sugar. If you had too much banana lately (maybe because of too much Minions stuff), I suggest you try the Strawberry Mango Nutella which is still reasonable at P195. 

      Six ways to quench your thirst here. I will be enumerating the drinks for sale at Project Pie from the cheapest: (a) bottled water (P50); (b) bottomless Coca-Cola, China Mist iced tea (P65); domestic beer (P65); Perrier or San Pellegrino (P100); imported beer (P150) and Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay (P250). I bet my boys stopped reading at "domestic beer."

       Seven guaranteed-to-make-you-crave-for-more pizza creations that you can choose from for P245 only per whole pizza: (1) classic cheese pie; (2) signature red sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, Italian sausage, garlic and crumbled meatballs; (3) tomato, artichoke, red onion, pesto, feta, mozzarella (white pizza); (4) sliced tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, mozzarella, parmesan, garlic (white pizza); (5) mozzarella, ricotta, gorgonzola, parmesan, cracked black pepper, olive oil, garlic, fresh chopped basil (white pizza); (6) grilled chicken, sliced red onion, cilantro, mozzarella, gorgonzola, barbecue sauce;  (7) prosciutto, caramelized onions, mozzarella and parmesan.

      Eight slices of pizza are not enough. This will probably be the words that will form in your head if not come out from your mouth after finishing your meal, while looking at the other customer at Project Pie still enjoying a few more slices on their plates.

   

Now, if you’re thinking of going out with your family, friends or officemates anytime, you might want to consider Pizza Project. Build your own pizza as you like it for a price that is friendly to your pocket.

  

Buckle up for Sunrise Buckets

Every weekend, my family and I
pass by The Grove by Rockwell,
a residential and commercial space along C5 Road amidst the Ortigas cityscape, as we trek our way to my in-laws’ home in Proj. 4, Quezon City.

My wife and I would usually talk about how cool it might be to live in such a well-maintained area.  I told her that we can visit the place one of these days for at least a lunch or dinner since there are a few restaurants already opened there.  After all, it would just be a 30-minute drive from our place.

Well, I have a little confession to make.  I actually went to The Grove and did not bring my wife with me one rainy night.  I just wanted to try one restaurant who’s been making waves or should I say soaring in foodies radars with their tasty buffalo wings (no pun intended).

I am a chicken person. No I am not yellow.  What I mean is that I just love anything chicken --- arrozcaldo, fried, tinola, grilled, barbeque and whatever chicken dish my wife can dig from her favorite cook book, I’ll eat it.

That’s why it’s just a must for me to try a bucket of buffalo wings (yes, they come in tin containers) from Sunrise Buckets.  Among the fifteen flavors in the menu, I chose the entry Juan, not only because it was made to suit Pinoy taste but more for the reason that I need a reminder that I should be home not later than 1 o’clock or else.

Now here's what a bucket meal is all about

Here are the words that I uttered in every bite of the chicken-flavored Juan:

Juan-derful!  Juan-tastic! Number Juan!

How I wish that it was Juan-to-sawa but I have to leave some more space in my stomach for other Sunrise Buckets treats... and for a couple of bottle of beers, of course.

I don't dread this bone collector

The next weekend we visit my in-laws, ur route might be a little different than the usual. Well, we will still pass by The Grove since C5 is the most convenient way for us.  But this time, I would ask my wife and son for a family lunch date at Sunrise Buckets first before we head on to our destination.

So here’s my advice to my friends who are looking for that one great chicken experience (yes, there is such a thing)--- check out www.sunrisebuckets.com or call 477-7636 and buckle up for Sunrise Buckets!