I finally got to use one of the dozens of GCs that came with the planner.  After the Mamou dinner and chocolate/coffee at Cacao, Bubba and I passed by Cupcakes by Sonja and claimed my freebie!

Mocha Cupcake!!  YAY!

Saturday dinner was spent at Mamou’s with my high school friends.  It’s been a long time since I’ve last seen my PIQC friends.  The last time we sat down for anything was a potluck dinner at my place last December where I cooked new dishes like Cajun Chicken, Pizza Roll and Beef Crispy.  Mark and Anne missed that dinner unfortunately.  When we all decided to get together, I initially planned to bring them to Sanctuario Tagaytay in Metrowalk or Chelsea at Serendra.  Since we all haven’t tried Mamou, I suggested having the dinner there.

Sean and Angel arrived at 730pm.  Grace coming from work had to pick up Mark and Anne.  Since it was raining all day and traffic was bad, they arrived at 820PM.  My PIQC friends are almost always on time and are rarely late for our meet ups.  For something fortuitous like the typhoon and the heavy traffic it causes, the dinner schedule quite limits the dining time.  Good food is usually enjoyed slowly especially when dining with good friends. 

We already started eating before everybody arrived since I was really very hungry.  I was so excited to order this and have been craving for it since the last time I was at Serendra.  I’ve read so much about Mamou’s steaks.  I heard that even PGMA chooses to dine here with the 1^st family.  A 400g steak priced at almost PHP 1700 is quite steep for a non-steakhouse joint but I shrugged and gave it a go.

I debated whether to get medium or medium well and settled on the latter.  It was served with your choice of 2 sidings.  I decided to get the red steak rice and corn pudding.  I was so excited to eat the red meat and had to resist the urge to grab it with my bare hands.  Patience is a virtue after all.  It was served on a white plate slanted by a small bowl underneath.  The inclined surface allows the excess oil to slide towards the low side. 

CW on the other hand didn’t complain at all about the steak.  He enjoyed the side order of rice that came with it, while I instantaneously finished the corn pudding.  I really like corn and Mamou’s corn pudding had the right sweetness and creamy consistency.

It was also served on a white plate, 3 pieces of fish fillets in a light beer batter with 3 unsalted potato wedges.  The fish wasn’t oily and the golden crust had the right crisp as you take a bite of it.  CW also liked this dish a lot.

Sean and Angel ordered two dishes as well.  One was the Roast Pork and Chicken with Beans and Rice PHP595 (To share serving) and the other was the Beer Batter Fish with Potato Wedges as I recommended.  Whereas the three ordered the Roast Pork and Chicken too and Batac Bolognese.  However, instead of the Bolognese, it was some Clam Pasta in Olive Oil that was served by mistake.

It was good to see my old friends.  Anne kept the atmosphere light and fun as CW anticipated.  I was so happy to be sharing stories with Grace and Mark again, while we were all delighted to finally meet Sean’s girlfriend of 3 years, Angel.  We met with Grace’s aunt, who we all call Auntie, at Cacao after dinner for some coffee.

I haven’t been inspired lately to write about the restaurants I’ve visited the past two weeks.  I thought the visit to Mamou can spruce up the lull I’ve been experiencing in restaurants.  Too bad that I was really disappointed and I felt like having a second dinner that night.  Still, several good reviews of Mamou from other bloggers prompt me to give it another shot.

I haven’t seen my friend Kenny Flake (I love his name) in 8 months!!!  Good thing he called me up two weeks ago to schedule a dinner date with me, courtesy of him.  Is Bubba tagging along?  As Kenny said, “of course that’s expected!” 

Four-Cheese Pizza with Arugula salad PHP395++

The crust was not as crunchy and there were barely any mushrooms on the pizza.  But this was way better than the chicken letdown.

There were lesser vegetables for sure on the plate than last time.  I didn’t taste the rosemary and lemon at all (unless you actually eat the julienne cuts of lemon –but that’s bitter instead of tangy) and the vegetables didn’t integrate its flavor with the chicken.  The veggies were soggy and didn’t have a bite at all.  The worst part was, the chicken looked overcooked because it was dry.

It never arrived.  We were halfway through our pizza and chicken when I remembered the soup.  I asked one waiter where it was and he said it wasn’t in the order list.  I checked with the waiter I ordered it too and he gave me a sheepish grin.  I said it was okay since we were almost done.

Star World Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/421/08_0426-_Star_World_American_Idol_Contest

Brazil Brazil was a favorite of mine back in college days.  The first branch ever put up is located is Powerplant Mall and I would travel from DLSU Taft to Makati just to have lunch here.  I remember bringing Padi, a visiting friend from General Santos, at this Rotisserie and he really enjoyed the experience of getting your meat served to your table freshly grilled. 

Not only are Brazilian girls well liked in the country, Filipinos have also embraced Brazil Brazil, the popular Rotisserie restaurant, with so much gusto.  First, Pinoys absolutely love buffets.  2^nd, it gives a totally different dining experience.  The restaurant dropped its echo so now it’s known as simply Brazil.

Brazil serves different kinds of meat: porkloin, hanging tender, frankies, squid, spareribs, etc.  They even have grilled banana and pineapples –which is my favorite!  Grilled fruits are really delicious!

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/420/08_0425-_Brazil_Treat_for_Ma

I first fell in love with John Herrera… ‘s collection back in 2006.  I first saw his designs during the Fashion Week in April of 2006 (Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/100/YDG_Fashion_Week_2006 )  Many local fashion creators of the Young Designers Guild paraded their extensive design lines.  John Herrera was one of the few designers that really shone big during the fashion night.

John is now an instructor specializing in fashion design in Fashion Institute of the Philippines (FIP) where he was also once a student –then he was only but a beckoning designer, a jewel about to be discovered.  John’s twin on the other hand, Paul Herrera, is also making a name of his own in the accessories department.

John Herrera is tremendously gaining popularity in the field and rightfully so I should say.  Backstage, one of my favorite boutiques nowadays, houses John Herrera’s collection and as well as other local designers.  Dean and Trent and Team Manila are also available at Backstage.

John Herrera Black Gray Jacket PHP 1450 Original Price is PHP 3,000

Ming Ong -Jewelry-Sculpture Artist

Mobile: 09209521479

Tel: 9426219

http://mingkathangkamay.multiply.com

Email: minet_ph@yahoo.com 

Logic

www.logicclothing.blogspot.com 

JC Ulanday.  Managing Director.  09178198081 

Anthology: Second floor, Rockwell Powerplant

Backstage: Near in Different Books, Second level, Bonifacio High Street (but it’s actually in Serendra)

Top and Bottom: Nakpil St. Malate 

Fashion Week Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/100/YDG_Fashion_Week_2006

Backstage Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/422/08_0426-_Backstage

This restaurant has definitely become a landmark in Serendra.  Quite takes the spotlight in the strip of dining places with its deli type restaurant, Chelsea invites you for a comfortable sit down with its plush sofa which plays as the waiting area.  Wait staff are quick on their feet and pleasantly obliging (Not to mention, they kind of look alike).  They anticipate the patrons’ needs and are as accommodating as possible. 

Chelsea has a myriad of ingredients/produce they are selling in the restaurant.  They sell different types of salt (I didn’t know there were so many kinds!) among dried oregano and other spices.  You can also buy bottled fish products.  I guess this feature of the resto makes up for the name, as the element of market is present resembling the Chelsea market in New Yawk.

I’ve always wanted to try Chelsea but it’s always full during dinnertime that we end up going somewhere else.  I’ve eaten in Duo, Polu Kai, Zao, Conti’s, Xocolat, Abe, etc but Chelsea was really top priority for me to dine in.  That and Mamou.  Good thing that we started out early this Saturday evening and were ready to eat dinner at 630pm.

We decided to eat outside so we can also go people watching while eating.  We were able to secure the couch area near the entrance door.  I looked at the menu and find that the menu wasn’t complicated.  There were so many that I wanted to order, all a bit familiar but not so.  Owner Martin Wisniewski knows his food as I can imagine that everything was made in house, including the desserts.  Each dish is prepared to order using the finest ingredients. 

We were served with an amuse bouche of buttered focaccia bread and a clove of buttery soft garlic.  Bubba was eyeing me nervously as I place one whole pod of garlic on my bread where he had to half his.  He couldn’t help but ask, “are you really gonna use that much garlic on your bread?”  I gave him a confident grin and nodded yes.  I’d go for taste anytime over comfort.  On second thought, he has the right to be concerned because it is the companion who’d get the brunt of garlicky breath.  Quite surprisingly (and his lucky star was in the sky that night), this specific garlic didn’t leave an aftertaste nor did it leave a garlic odor in the mouth.

I wish the garlic had a stronger taste though, but I guess it being stronger applies to all including stench.

 On the Table: 

Cream Squash with Goat Cheese PHP 150

The waiter asked if we wanted to split it into two.  I hesitated.  Not because it was sweeter to eat from one bowl but in Katre, they charge extra if you split the dish into two.  I asked the waiter if there was an extra charge, and he said there was none.  Good, so we had it in two separate white soup bowls.  You’d think it would be a smaller serving but each bowl was good enough for one hungry person.

We just had squash soup the night before at Mogwai, which was really good, but for the money and taste, Chelsea became my favorite place for Squash soup.  The soup had the right thickness without making it taste like a puree or a mushy chunk.  The volume had the right consistency and the generous bits of goat cheese blended well with the sweet taste of pumpkin.  It was served with a dollop of cream, which I can only wish was crème fresh.  A soup cannot be anymore perfect than this.  I wish I didn’t ask it to be split into two so I could have cheated 2-3 more spoonfuls. 

Grilled Whole Rosemary Lemon Chicken PHP 495

Let me note that most of the dishes are served in a big cutting board, which is a distinctive idea.  I have tried this at my condo early 2007, because it looked so presentable (and because I lacked serving dishes at my small unit).  A whole medium sized roasted chicken was resting on top of the board with glistening vegetables –a mixed of green and red bell peppers, olives, onions and carrots. 

I’ve never had a soft moist fall off the bone chicken meat.  Bubba pointed out that different parts of chicken were infused with certain flavors.  One part, you can taste the rosemary lemon, other part you can taste the carrots on the meat of the chicken.  It was a delicious surprise to get all different flavors from one chicken.  The meat was so tender and cooked just right.  Four can easily share the chicken, which makes it so worth the buck. 

5 Cheese Pizza Thin Crust PHP 395

Bubba kept insisting that I ask what five cheeses are included in the pizza.  I was so hungry that I didn’t bother to ask.  I remember at this point, I stopped jotting down on my little notebook and gave my full concentration to chomping.  Mushroom in the pizza tasted like it was soaked in wine because it was flavorful.  Arugula leaves and apple slices garnished the crunchy pizza.  The Arugula made such a difference in the pizza.  It balances the saltiness of the cheese and clears the palate for another bite. 

Chic dining and great gourmet food rolled into my budding favorite place in Serendra, Chelsea Market and Café.  Contact 9097011 for reservations.  My only complaint with Chelsea is the small white plate which doesn’t give much room to maneuver.  Although we weren’t able to get desserts since we were trying to catch a movie in Greenbelt, their dessert selection was promising.  Their best seller is Toblerone Torte (which is my favorite in Mom and Tina’s).  I want to give it a try on my next visit, and that’s going to be this Friday when I treat my mom to dinner.  I simply cannot wait.

Next targets:

Jalapeño Ementhal Cheese Fondue PHP 395, A Rack of Baby Back Ribs PHP 650, Pizza Duck Confit PHP 395, Jackfruit Shake 

I’ve always liked the dishes in Kai restaurant @ Greenbelt 2. I love their lamb and duck dishes as well as their wasabi ice cream. This year, it’s a different Kai restaurant I have been frequenting. This one is in Serendra and it’s named Polu Kai, which from the outset looks like a Hawaiian/Polynesian resto. We always get the Baby Back Ribs and Grilled Chicken combo. And I like the fact that their dishes are served with grilled pineapple slice. I like grilled pineapples!!

We came from our Hospicio de San Jose outreach and when we got to Polu Kai, we were so famished that we forgot to take pictures of the food. The only thing I had any good picture of is this Fried Banana with Ice Cream and we actually got this for free by using the Citibank Femme rewards.

I was so happy to see Fay after so many years!!!  She visited from California in December 2007 and stayed in Manila for a few weeks. 

I would have wanted more sauce but the taste was superb nonetheless. 

Pastel de Lengua PHP 330 

Lumpaing Ubod PHP 129

Paolo’s order!  How corny! 

Squid Tactics PHP 196

It was quite a bit dry with some sweet sauce. 

Mungo Bean Soup PHP 95

Paolo’s order again!  Corny again! 

3 Rice PHP 180 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/314/07_1219-_Abe_Restaurant_Serendra