I Got Free Jollibee Chickenjoy Thanks to My BPI Credit Card

I have a BPI Mastercard credit card. I don't use it much but since mid-2013 I've been paying my dentist P2000 every 4-6 weeks for my braces. I use my credit card for that and have received free food in return. Last November, I was able to claim 3 orders of Chowking Halo-Halo. Last week, I got 2 orders of 1pc Jollibee Chickenboy meal (drinks not included).

katas ng BPI credit card

LJC Restaurant Group's 35th Year Anniversary Celebration at Cafe Adriatico in Malate

Last Thursday night, we were invited to celebrate with the LJC Group's 35th year in the restaurant industry. The event was held at the group's flagship restaurant Cafe Adriatico in Malate, Manila.

The restaurant has become a landmark location in Malate and now has branches in Gateway Mall and SM Mall of Asia. It serves a full menu of Filipino, Spanish, and Mediterranean inspired dishes.

Greenwich's Macaroni Salad is Terrible

My aunt arrived with a Greenwich takeout for me. Included was a small cup of macaroni salad as an add-on to the meals. I have not eaten at Greenwich for years but from what I remember, the food tasted decent though I found the serving sizes too small for me. I love macaroni salads so I assumed that I would like Greenwich's version as well. Unfortunately, bleh! It was terrible.

Playing with Kendama at go-en the Japanese Ramen Shoppe Plus

After finishing my chicken teriyaki and matcha pudding, we got to playing with kendama.

A kendama is a traditional Japanese wooden toy. It has two parts: the ken (the hammer-looking part with a pointed end) connected by a long string to the tama (the ball). The ken has several concave surfaces (called cups) where the player is supposed to catch the ball. The spike can be used to spear through the hole of the ball. In a way, a kendama is similar to a yoyo since they both have long strings and the player can do several tricks with them. Here's a guy explaining the basic tricks with a kendama:

When I first heard that go-en would import and begin selling kendama, my reaction was 'meh'. I was not interested in a wooden toy. Even after I saw some exhibition videos, my reaction was best explained by this meme:

Chicken Teriyaki and Matcha Pudding at go-en the Japanese Ramen Shoppe Plus

We were at go-en Ramen two weeks ago. It had been more or less a year since our last visit. I was glad to see two new things at the restaurant: a shelf full of manga that customers can browse while eating or waiting for their food and some kendama pieces that customers can play with while at the resto (more about kendama in my next post).

I ordered the teriyaki chicken.

Unlike other Japanese restaurants, where chicken teriyaki is served as a rice bowl topping, go-en's Chikinteri does not come with rice so if you want to pair the chicken with rice, you will have to order the rice separately. It does come with a serving of fresh vegetable salad. I rarely order veggie salad when dining out because I dislike the miniscule amount of dressing I get, but go-en's salad is a pleasant surprise. The dressing is more than enough and tastes really good.

Davao City Series: Mamma Maria's Pizzeria

Mamma Maria's Pizzeria is one of the restaurants on the ground floor of the Courtview Inn building, along Quimpo Blvd. in Davao City.

This pizza place serves pasta and more than 20 kinds of pizza. The pizzas come in five sizes: single (8"), regular (11", good for 2-3 people), family (15", good for 4-6 people), XL family (21", good for 8-10 people), and XXL party (30", good for 12-14 people). So no matter what your preferred toppings are or how big (or small) your group is, there is something here for you.

go-en's Ramen Burger and Zark's Burger featured in Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho

At the end of 2012, the owners of go-en The Japanese Ramen Shoppe asked us to drop by and sample their new offering: ramen burger. When I first heard about it, the idea seemed, well, weird, but after a Google search, I learned that ramen burger was becoming popular in Japan, so off to go-en we went to try this exotic burger.

 

Nowadays, ramen burger seems to be the newest craze in New York City and other parts of the USA. From what I can tell, though, NYC's ramen burger seems to be a fusion of American and Japanese styles: a beef patty sandwiched between noodle buns. go-en's version, on the other hand, is similar to the ones I saw (online) being sold in the streets of Japan: no beef patty; the meat slices and other solid ingredients are the ones in the middle of the buns.

Eating ramen burger was a novel experience. I expected the noodle part to be hard and crunchy but the buns were soft and only lightly toasted. The fillings and the sauce gave the burger an interesting taste.

Last Sunday, go-en's ramen burger was featured in the "Pa-Burger Ka Naman" segment of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho. Zark's Burgers, another restaurant that we have reviewed before, was also highlighted in the show. Please fast forward to 23:25 if you want to go straight to go-en's and Zark's parts (I'm encountering a glitch when embedding with a time stamp).

Video credit: GMA-7 Kapuso Telebabad | Youtube

Dunkin' Donuts Lucky Chinatown Mall

There are now many donut shops here in the Philippines, but as a child of the 80s, when donuts are concerned, Dunkin' Donuts has a special place in my heart. When I imagine donuts (and yes, I daydream about food -- a lot), it's the distinct flavor and aroma of classic Dunkin' Donuts flavors that come to mind.

Nowadays, I notice that many DD branches and outlets look outdated compared to their newer competitors. A shame, really, so I was glad to know that the branch in Lucky Chinatown Mall looks modern and hip. The place is well lit and has a relaxing, positive vibe typical in modern coffee shops.

We ordered the Blueberry Cheese donut (P35), Choco Mint muffin (P45), yummy loaf (P40), and hot chocolate (P40). We actually wanted coffee but DD ran out of coffee that afternoon. That was a surprise since according to some things I had read online, DD is increasing their efforts lately to make their coffee drinks more popular.

Anyway, the yummy loaf was good but I can't really say more about it because it was not mine and I only got a teeny tiny bite of it. The blueberry cheese donut is a premium donut but it did not appeal to me much because I found it too sweet. It might have been better paired with brewed coffee; with hot choco, the sweetness was a little overwhelming for me. I prefer the classic donuts.

I don't eat a lot of muffins since some of them are dry and too crumbly and I end up with crumbs all over, but the choco mint muffin was seductively calling my name while I was browsing the neighboring donuts. I was happy that I got the muffin. It was moist and its sweetness was just right. There was also a good balance of the chocolatey taste and the mintiness.

Dunkin' Donuts

Unit FS 504 Lucky Chinatown Mall
Reina Regente St. cor. Dela Reina St.
Binondo, Manila
Metro Manila, Philippines
Web site
Facebook page

Kusina ng Gerry's: Faster, More Affordable Version of Gerry's Grill (Lucky Chinatown Mall)

We like Gerry's Grill. Whenever I crave sisig, we usually troop to Gerry's. However, since Gerry's items are good for sharing and bf and I usually go out just by ourselves but want different dishes, we tend to order too much food for two people, which leads to overeating and overspending.

So it was a delight when we tried out Kusina ng Gerry's at Lucky Chinatown Mall.

Kusina ng Gerry's is a smaller, more casual version of Gerry's Grill, a bit like a fast food restaurant. Customers place their orders at the counter then the food is served at the tables.

50% off Ramen at Rai Rai Ken - Lucky Chinatown Mall

We were at Lucky Chinatown Mall two weeks ago when my ramen-loving bf saw an advertisement about half-priced ramen at the mall's Rai Rai Ken. It was just 5pm -- too early for dinner -- but bf was determined to grab a bowl.

The restaurant was pretty inviting with its bright and colorful interior. Everything looked clean and orderly.

Mexicali @ Robinson's Place Ermita

Yes, my fourth Mexicali post. But I love Mexicali, so, yeah! :D

Mexicali in Robinson's Place Ermita was the first Mexicali branch I had been to. That was 7 or so years ago. I have not been here for quite some time since they opened branches nearer my place. The restaurant now looks different from my previous visit but the food is still good.

Taste 

We ordered the Hot and Crispy Chicken Skin Chicharrones, a cup of Sopa de Tortilla (tortilla soup), Ground Beef Burrito, and Solo Nachos.

Hot and Crispy Chicken Skin Chicharrones - P94

It was a satisfying dinner. The chicken skin was okay -- not the best I've had but good enough and the serving was big enough for two people to enjoy.

Dimsum Break (SM North Edsa)

Bf got a Dimsum Break gift certificate from Badudets last Christmas. Of course I tagged along when he redeemed it because...food! We enjoyed our first visit so when we came back to SM North a few weeks later, I suggested we dine at Dimsum Break again. This review covers our two visits.

Dimsum Break offers fried dim sum, steamed dimsum, rice pots, vegetables, noodles, soups, shaopao (siopao), desserts, and beverages.

Taste

So far we have tried the following Dimsum Break items: Bacon Shaomai (siomai), Shaomai, Quail's Egg Shaomai, Empress Roll, Mushroom Shaomai, Crab Pincers, Stuffed Shrimps, The Original Steamed Fried Rice, Beef Sate Noodles, and Lomi.

The steamed dimsum we had (bacon shaomai, shaomai, quail's egg shaomai, empress roll, and mushroom shaomai) came in two or three pieces per kind. Except for the shaomai, they were placed in saucers with a little water instead of directly on the steamer basket. I was not impressed with the shaomai but I liked the others. They were all meaty, juicy, and yummy.

Bacon Shaomai - P65

Mushroom Shaomai - P65

Wanchai at Lucky Chinatown Mall

We dropped by Wanchai for a light late-afternoon snack. Wanchai is a small Chinese restaurant in the Food Junction (small food court) of Lucky Chinatown Mall. I haven't been to their other branches but as far as I know, their other branches are full-sized restaurants while the one in Lucky Chinatown is more of a food stall with a limited menu.

This "express edition" foodie place serves dimsum (P60-85), congee (P110-P120), noodles (P120-P135), rice meals (P120), and rice bowls (P55).

We ordered their Asado Congee, Hakaw, and Shrimp Siomai.

Larry & Mau Diner (Eton Centris, QC)

Larry & Mau diner is a 24-hour self-service restaurant in ETON Centris Walk. This diner serves burgers, rice meals, meats, tortes, spaghetti, salads, desserts, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

Taste

Our group ordered the following: Fish Curry Sambal, Sizzling Sisig, Smoked Boiled Bacon, Seafood Marinara Spaghetti, Fries, Banoffee, and Chocolate Mousse.

The dishes were served in individual bowls and plates. I only got to taste the seafood marinara, fries, choco mousse (my order), and smoked boiled bacon (bf's order) since I felt that it would be improper for me to mess with the food of the other people in our group, given that the servings were good for one only. For those other food, I only have my groupmates' feedback.

Fish Curry Sambal - P110

Chowking's Wintermelon Pearl Milk Tea

I finally got to try Wintermelon Pearl Milk Tea at Chowking Araneta Square last month. The product seemed like the resto just getting on the wintermelon milk tea craze that's sweeping the country, but I've loved Chowking's Naicha since that one came out on the market, so Chowking's new milk tea was a welcomed move for me.

The wintermelon milk tea I got looked promising due to the nice creamy froth on top. The rest of the drink was lackluster though. The milk tea was not sweet enough and did not taste much like tea. It did not taste much like anything, actually, and gave me the impression that it was very much watered down. The pearls were just ordinary, not the chewy and sticky ones that are enjoyable to eat.

I wished that I had just ordered nai cha.

NaiCha Milk Tea (Sgt. Esguerra, QC)

NaiCha is a nice little milk tea place along Sgt. Esguerra in Quezon City. They have naicha, plain teas, milk teas with jelly, and fruity juices.

I got to try three of their naicha specials -- Caramel Naicha, Wintermelon Latte, and Matcha. All were good; the best among the three for me was the Wintermelon Latte.

Prices are pocket-friendly. The drinks are available in three sizes: 16oz, 26oz, and 32oz. Add-ons (pearls, pudding, coffee jelly, almond, and rock salt & cheese) go for P15 each. For some reason, the 26oz drinks are just P10 more than the 16oz versions yet the 32oz ones are P20-P40 higher than the 26oz ones. I don't get the logic in the pricing, but that's how NaiCha's drinks are priced.

Packo's Restaurant and Bar

Packo's Restaurant & Bar (aka Packo's Grill) is a restaurant/gimik place in Quezon City. Due to its proximity to several business establishments, it is a popular choice for office workers who want to unwind during the weekends. This resto is accessible via private vehicles and tricycles.

The resto offers a wide range of food -- they have appetizers; soups; pork, beef, chicken, vegetable, and seafood dishes; salads; noodles; rice; and desserts.

Taste

Our group ordered the following: Mixed Vegetables in Garlic Sauce, Nachos with Beef, Pork Sisig, Boneless Crispy Pata, Sago't Gulaman, Four Seasons, Bottomless Iced Tea, and bottles of beer.

Mixed Vegetables in Garlic Sauce - P198

Boneless Crispy Pata - P458

Lunch Buffet at Cafe Ilang-Ilang (Manila Hotel)

First things first, if you're going to the Manila Hotel in the next few days and will be coming from the northern part of Metro Manila, please allocate at least 30 minutes more travel time. I went last February 25, coming from south Caloocan, and got stuck in heavy traffic between Intramuros and Manila Hotel. There were lots of big trucks that late morning and half of the road was under construction (you know how it is when election time nears), going from Intramuros to Manila Hotel took longer than the travel from Grace Park to Intramuros.

But of course the annoyance I felt because of the traffic went away once I saw the food at Cafe Ilang-Ilang. Nothing soothes the soul quite like good food.

The buffet at Cafe Ilang-Ilang has several sections, such as the Chinese, Filipino, Thai, Korean, Mediterranean, Italian, Churrasco, and Japanese stations.

Some of the food offered in the lunch buffet:
 

siomai / dumplings

Moonleaf Tea Shop @ Katipunan

After gorging on chicken wings and bagnet at B. Wings, we stumbled upon a nearby Moonleaf Tea Shop branch. I'd been meaning to try Moonleaf but never got around to doing that, so seeing this branch was a good opportunity.

yogurt milk tea - P85  ||  vanilla milk tea with pearls - P85

We tried the yogurt milk tea and vanilla milk tea with pearls. I was glad to learn that Moon Leaf's milk teas have a good strong taste, compared to other milk teas where the tea seems to be only an afterthought. Of the two flavors we ordered, I prefer the vanilla milk tea.

Moshi Moshi Japanese Fast Food Restaurant (Katipunan)

Moshi Moshi is a Japanese fast food joint located in Regis Tower in Katipunan, sharing the same floor with Saint's Alp Teahouse and other foodie havens. This resto serves various rice bowls, bento boxes, snacks, vegetable salads, drinks, and desserts.

moshi moshi = "Hello" or "Hi" when answering the phone

Taste

I've read good reviews about this place so we decided to go here for a light dinner. We ordered Takoyaki, Tendon, California Roll, Shoyu Ramen, a slice of cheesecake for dessert, and Lemon Iced Tea and Apple Iced Tea to wash them all down. I was hoping to try their Okonomiyaki; unfortunately, it was not available during our visit.

I liked the takoyaki. Not much octopus inside but the balls were soft and the sauce, mayo, and bonito flakes boosted the yumminess. I should have ordered the bigger set (10pcs).

Takoyaki (6pcs) - P55