Yummy Date Night

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   For the Chinese food addicts out there, I think you’ll be delighted to know that Shanghai-based Bellagio Restaurant is now in Manila. They changed their name to Lugang Cafe, though, because “Bellagio” is a registered name here in the Philippines. 

    Lugang Cafe is definitely more modern than the traditional Chinese restaurants out there in terms of ambiance and style. There are tables set for smaller groups, and the servings are also generally smaller, allowing you to try a wider variety of viands if you’re eating in a small group. Finally, there’s a good Chinese restaurant in town that can also serve as a date place.

  I was lured to this place by the rumor that their Xiao Long Bao rivals that of Crystal Jade’s.

    Douglas actually visited this place a few months before we went there together. He said that their Crab Roe and Pork Xiao Long Bao (P198) is better than their Pork Xiao Long Bao so we got that instead. 

   I must admit that the structure of their Xiao Long Bao is good—the skin does not get punctured easily, and it has a healthy amount of soup inside. However, the taste of the soup was definitely not better than that of Crystal Jade’s. In my humble opinion, I think the taste was too subtle. Crystal Jade’s Xiao Long Bao has a more definitive, pronounced taste.

  I liked the Steamed Shrimp and Pork Shiao Mai (P188) over the previous dimsum order. The first time I saw them, I thought they looked strange—but don’t let looks deceive you. They’re really tasty because the flavor of the shrimp was well pronounced. They also have soup inside, by the way. 

  I normally don’t like drinks with solid particles in them (jellies, bubbles, etc.). I think they’re a hassle. I didn’t mind the ones on my Cranberry Juice w/ Mango (P130), though, because they were soft and they dissolve easily. Most of their drinks are on the sweeter side, so I got this one because I don’t like sweets :P

  As you can see, it was also served on a really tall glass, so I think the P130 price tag was justified.

  This was Douglas’ Mango Jelly in Mango and Coconut Milk (P130).

   The Taiwanese Stewed Minced Pork (P160) was really tasty, although I must admit you won’t be able to appreciate this without rice because the flavor of the sauce is strong. This isn’t the kind of food for dieters :P

   Douglas said that the Stir Fried Beef with Chili Peppers (P280) wasn’t as spicy as the one he tried in Shanghai. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this dish very much because of the unique flavor and the tenderness of the beef.

The Verdict: Lugang Cafe is not really the most authentic Chinese restaurant out there, probably because it’s more designed to be a cafe. However, it’s pretty good in its own right. The cooking style is refined and the food is delicious. I heard they serve the best desserts, although we were too full to try them. If ever you stop by, I’m sure you’ll also be impressed by their extensive menu, food quality and service.

Lugang Cafe
116 Connecticut St. 
Northeast Greenhills, San Juan
Metro Manila
telephone: 721-9100, 570-9011

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  I’m not sure if you remember the last time Douglas and I went to Charlie’s, but I think it’s obvious that we instantly fell in love with the place. We came back last week to try the other things on their menu.

  I got their USDA Prime Cheese Steak Hungry Portion (P395). We also upgraded the cheese to Provolone Cheese (P70), although I personally think that was a bad decision since the provolone was overpowered by the caramelized onions. I think the default chiz whiz cheese would’ve given the sandwich stronger cheesy flavor.

  The Fish and Chips (P220) was well cooked. It wasn’t greasy, and the fish was perfectly crunchy on the outside, while it was smooth and soft inside. The fries were also much better this time around.

  We went here specifically to try their new Punyeta Wings (P190). I got really interested when I found out that they even make their customers sign a waiver form before allowing them to consume these wings. They’re that spicy. 

   The actual taste of the wings is just similar to the wings we got last time—but with the Punyeta wings, the spiciness is leveled up a few notches.

The Verdict: Although I liked everything we ordered, I still think that to fully appreciate a visit to Charlie’s, you will have to order a Charlie’s Angus Burger. That doesn’t mean that the other food offerings aren’t worth trying, though. 

  Needless to say, Charlie’s has won my heart and it’s now on the list of restos I will never stop returning to.

Charlie’s Grind and Grill

 Ground Floor

 Ronac Art Center along Ortigas Avenue, San Juan City.

They also have a branch along East Capitol Drive, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City. For advance orders you may call them at 0923-4964747.

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  I’ve been wanting to eat in Cyma for a long time now, because the last time I ate there was around three years ago, if I remember correctly. The first Cyma I’ve ever seen was in Boracay, their pilot branch. It was strikingly unique back then, because Greek cuisine was relatively unknown in the country. 

  Years later, as you probably all know, Cyma is now one of the leading restaurants in the country. It has expanded to the metro, having many branches all over the city to show us what Greek cuisine has to offer.

  We ordered a platter of Spinach and Artichoke Fondue (P350) mainly because we heard that this was one of their bestsellers. We must admit that this dish has its merits in terms of taste, but in our humble opinions, we think that this is hugely overpriced. 350 for spinach and cheese—and some reheated flat bread? No way. 

  Their Bottomless Iced Tea (P95) was freshly brewed, with a strong lemon essence.

  We ordered a Paidakia (P630) because we wanted something more interesting than a gyro or a souvlaki. Cyma’s version makes use of charbroiled lamb ribs. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The herbs also brought out the flavor of the meat. It was really tender, such that I can rip the meat off the bone with my knife and fork with only little effort.

  As you can see above, the serving was hefty as well. It was enough for the both of us (although I think we weren’t too hungry at that time).

The Verdict: I will not pretend to be a Greek cuisine expert—in truth, I know very little about it. So I’m not really qualified to make a statement about Cyma. But from what I had so far, I’m saying that this restaurant is interesting enough to try. If you want another Greek restaurant for comparison, try going to Manos Greek Taverna in Tagaytay.

Cyma,

Eastwood Mall
Eastwood
E. Rodriguez Ave. (C-5), Bagumbayan
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  Red Kimono is a popular restaurant chain that serves modern Japanese cuisine. That means only one thing: fusion food. I know, I know, we all have our qualms when it comes to Japanese fusion, but I think Red Kimono is a pretty good contender in the business. 

  Customary for almost all modern-themed restaurants, the design is clean and simple. I like the black and red motif.

  I like ordering mocktails because I think they’re interesting. Plus, I don’t drink alcohol so this is the next best option. I got a Cranberry Cooler (P100), pictured above. I think the flavor of the berries in this drink meshed nicely. However, the ice was not crushed as fine as I had hoped—it was hard to slurp it up the straw. 

  The Red Rush (P165) had a far more interesting combination—strawberry, banana and pineapple. I personally found the combination a bit strange, but Douglas seemed to like it.

  We couldn’t decide which rolls to get, so we ended up with a Maki Sampler (P595) instead. When it comes to commercialized restaurants, it’s always better to order from the fusion rolls menu rather than the traditional nigiri sushi menu. The quality of the nigiri won’t be tops anyway, so I guess it’s better to just try the restaurant’s innovative fusion creations.

  The Maki Sampler was a good choice, since I think their best rolls are in the sampler. It contained four pieces of Crunchy Tuna Maki, Crunchy Ebi Maki, Red Scorpion Maki, Red Monster Maki and Salmon and Cream Cheese Maki.

   My favorite was the Salmon and Cream Cheese, maybe I’ll get a separate order of that next time.

  Red Kimono has a very unique take on Tonkatsu (P220). Instead of being served as rice toppings, the Tonkatsu was served with garlic butter mashed potato on the side. The sauce was also separate, served in a dipping dish. Needless to say, this is a very deconstructed version of the dish. 

  How did it fare? Well, for one thing, the serving of the tonkatsu was generous. However, the consistency of the sauce was a bit thick—I don’t know if you’ll like it that way. Personally I found it interesting, but I wouldn’t like it over the traditional tonkatsu. Taste-wise, it was alright—nothing special.

  We ordered some Curry Sauce (I forgot the price) for the tonkatsu. This was a good call because it tasted better than the tonkatsu’s default sauce. The curry sauce was chunky, with bits of carrots and potatoes.

  We ordered a Banana Katsu (P135) for dessert. Note: this is far more worth it than tempura ice cream because their tempura ice cream has only one scoop of ice cream priced at P125—and it’s only battered ice cream!

  Banana Katsu is served with thick chocolate sauce and one scoop vanilla ice cream. It was a bit hard to dip because the banana kept on disintegrating under my fork. It was delicious, though. This is big since I’m not a chocolate lover.

The Verdict: I have to admit that I’m a regular at Red Kimono, probably because this restaurant is my family’s favorite. Biases aside, I think that when compared with its competitors, it puts up a fair fight. I wouldn’t say it’s the best, though. It’s just alright.

Red Kimono has various branches all over the country, this one in particular is in AyalaLand Technohub, Commonwealth.

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  Despite being struck by the Korean wave, Filipinos are still a bit in the dark when it comes to Korean cuisine. Lately, though, more and more locals are gaining interest when it comes to Korean culture, and it’s no wonder that the market for Korean food has increased in number. 

   Kogi Bulgogi is a Korean Restaurant resting on a prime location in Eastwood City, Libis. It’s a bit rare to find a Korean restaurant nestled within a mall setting, and I think this location is an easy and accessible place for people to discover Korean cuisine. 

  Like most restaurants in malls, the setting is very modern and minimalist.

  Most tables don’t have the grilling machines for the barbecue. I think they should add more of those.

  Korean restaurants often serve complimentary appetizers such as these. Kimchi is my natural favorite (although I admit that it may not appeal to everyone’s taste).

  Try an order of Kimchi Rice (P90) to deepen the Korean experience. It has the distinct flavor of Kimchi, although not too strong to overpower your viands.

  Woosol Gui (P248) uses Grilled Ox Tongue served on a hot plate. The cuts were thick. We suspect that the ox tongue was overcooked because of its rubbery texture. 

  This was the better choice: Kalbi Gui (P345). Although the quantity is a bit disappointing for its price, it’s much more flavorful and juicy. It’s the marinade I suppose.

  The Iced Tea (P65) comes with one free refill.

  We were told that the Deungshum Gui (P522) made use of meat with higher quality, but unfortunately, the difference was unnoticeable. Again, the meat was dry and tough. This was a disappointing order considering the price tag.

  There were a few more pieces in the serving, but we forgot to take pictures until we ate around four pieces.

   These condiments for the grilled meat made up for the meat’s overall quality, though.

The Verdict: Since Kogi Bulgogi is owned and operated by Pepper Lunch Food Co., I’m tempted to say that they should always just leave the cooking with their customers. Serving hard, dry, tough meat does not merit them a further visit. If you’re a fan of Korean food, I’m sure you can name a number of better Korean restaurants out there.

I think the resto actually ruined our mood for the day, considering we should be in a lively mood because it was our monthsary. 

2/F Eastwood Mall Veranda, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Bagumbayan, Libis

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 470-6884 to 85

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With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  KAI Neo Japanese Restaurant is a Japanese-American Fusion restaurant located in Greenbelt 5. It is a nice restaurant to try because the prices aren’t too steep compared to other establishments within the area. The setting is stylish and chic, although I find the space a little bit cramped. It’s still good for dates, though, just like most Japanese restaurants are.

  Sorry for these pictures, my awesome boyfriend forgot our camera.

  We ordered their Uni Sushi (P120), although I’m not really in a position to judge its quality since it was my first time trying it. 

  The Spider Roll (P330) is a bestseller, and it’s not difficult to see why. One order of this could actually fill me up. As you can see, the pieces were huge, and there were plenty of them. The soft shell crabs were really crunchy and sweet.

   The Wasabi Oysters Tempura (P200) was very good because the oysters were big. I liked the interesting batter, although I would’ve wanted it to have a stronger wasabi taste. It’s good value for P200.

  The Asian Scallops (P220) was composed of a bowl of scallops coated in chili sauce. It’s a great appetizer for sharing.

   We had this  Unagi Donburi with Japanese Seasoned Rice (P450) to share. There wasplenty enough Unagi (eel) in the serving. It was flavorful, and the fish was perfectly deboned. I found the rice a bit dry, though.

The Verdict: I think it’s unfair to judge KAI based on the dishes we ordered because we did not get the hardcore fusion ones. However, we did like the ones we’ve tried. It’s still a great place to eat, especially if you’re in the area and you don’t want to blow your money away.

Unit I-112 Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center

Makati City, Metro Manila

Philippines

(02) 757-5209

With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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  To be perfectly honest, it’s actually quite a hassle for us to go to Makati. The traffic is unbelievable and the distance is discouraging. However, we have been meaning to visit the city again one of these days because of its unique and delicious food offerings. 

   Last Tuesday, we were finally given the chance to revisit Makati. I suggested we dine in Wee Nam Kee, one of the newest and most talked about restaurants in that area. The Wee Nam Kee Philippine branch is only the second Wee Nam Kee branch in the world. Yes, people, we’re the first country in Asia or in the world to have a Wee Nam Kee branch right in our own homeland, apart from the original one in Singapore.

  Of course, you come here for the Hainanese Chicken.The prices are as follows:

Personal Set (P168) served with Chicken Soup.
Small - Quarter 2pax (P248)
Medium - Half 3-4 pax (P488)
Large - Whole 6-7 pax (P888) 

   We got two personal sets, one for me and another for Douglas. The personal set comes with one part of the Hainanese Chicken, a cup of Chicken Rice, and a small bowl of chicken soup. You can have it either steamed or roasted. We had one of each. What you see above is the steamed one. Whether you eat this with your own mix of condiments (Singaporean chili, pounded ginger and soy sauce) or on its own, I’m sure it’ll make an impression because of its juicy texture and overall quality.

  These came with the Personal Set. The soup was basically chicken broth with some spring onions, and the rice was generally good. The serving is enough to fill you up, but maybe not if you’re really hungry.

  You can opt to have Roasted Chicken instead of the steamed one. It has more flavor on its own, perhaps because of the cooking style. We liked the former over this one because this one didn’t agree too much with our condiment mix :P (But that’s just us, I think.)

  We tried out their Barley Juice (P55) out of curiosity, because the waiter said it was something like rice tea. You can have it hot or cold, but I honestly cant imagine it hot. It’s refreshing and only mildly sweet, which made me happy, because I normally don’t like anything too sweet. I actually giggled when I had my first taste of it because it felt like liquefied suman… 

  Even if I did mention above that I hate sweet food, nothing could keep me from wanting to order these Cereal Prawns 4pcs (P375). Don’t let the haphazard appearance fool you—they’re actually prawns under mounds of cereal. The winner was really how the cereal added so much texture and flavor to the dish. It’s sweet, with a little bit of a buttery taste. The prawns were only medium sized, though.

Overall Verdict: Wee Nam Kee is a very successful restaurant, and it is not difficult to see why. It has a compelling restaurant story, and owners who truly have a passion for the food service industry. The food quality and overall value was well worth the trip. I’m also happy that the service held up, despite the countless customers pouring in. I still have a few dishes I wanna try, but that will be for next time. Note, next time. ;)

Tip: Come early especially during dinnertime. Roasted chicken is subject to availability after 8pm. 

Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
Restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Gardens
Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 846-8924
Operating Hours: Everyday 11am to 10pm (9pm last call)
Reservations are accepted on Weekends & Public Holidays only

With and For Love,

Rina Caparras and Douglas Chong

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