Lugang Cafe’s Xiaolongpao.

Unfortunately, this is the variety with shrimp inside - a misunderstanding between mutual epicurean colleagues. My dislike for seafood, however, doesn’t prevent me from enjoying the look of well prepared food. I hope you also share in my enjoyment.

Cafe Ysabel is the smallest of smallest comfort places tucked in the back of my residences in San Juan. What is amazing for me is how very little people outside of my neighborhood seem to know it exists - much less visit it. It was my understanding that this restaurant was one of the oldest and most classic relics of a time of extensively fine cooking, and Chinese businessmen sitting together smoking and laughing loudly to industry.

Aside from boasting a very robust dessert menu (supplemented by a cake bar), Cafe Ysabel’s choice of cuisine is simultaneously splendidly indulgent, yet rustically homey. While it would be a large egress for me to admit that Chicken Ballotine is a regular dish in the Chiusinco household, something very familiar is in the spirit of the ambience and the food in this restaurant.

It is my deepest opinion that a healthy amateur restaurant critic must first and foremost build his/her experiences of the food and restaurants they eat in. I find this observation even moreso true when handling bastions of comfort food such as Cafe Ysabel. 

If you happen to be in town, bring a cartload of cash (its pretty expensive to the normal college student budget), and a date. Enjoy a fancy fine dining dinner.

Omunoms is truly fantastic food. These photos alone should be convincing enough for you to leap down and try out my friends’ LS project in the form of a food booth.

If I recall correctly, their omelette-and-fried-rice delicacies will be up for grabs in this weekend’s Toycon. 

Best of luck to friends Brad and Pau and their friends, I hope you have a successful weekend.

Steamed fish! 

I must confess, the only real steamed fish I managed to eat was at Mr. Choi’s. And frankly, even I knew there could have been better out there. So it’s without need for emphasis that I proclaim that Eat Well’s steamed fish is something that you should pass.

Really.

The texture was abhorrent, the bad aftertaste of fish was barely taken out - which according to my parents is a solid measure of the chef’s skill. 

That’s about it. 

All chinese restaurants have Xiao Long Pao (well, most of them), and Eat Well is no different.

This one is… I’d put it at the level of Mr. Choi’s Kitchen ones. Not Choi Garden, Mr. Choi over at Robinson’s Galleria.

So its about 5/10 given all the other meaty wonders I’ve tasted in the greater Chinese countries.

So last week, I went out with my parents to eat at a restaurant along the Greenhills Shopping Arcade area - a Chinese restaurant called Eat Well.

While its choice of location leaves much to be desired (Can any other Chinese eatery here beat Gloria Maris?) 

Anyway, to the Dishes! This would be a pretty nice looking plate of Fried Tofu with Seaweed and Bailing Mushrooms. All in all, it doesnt feel particularly greasy or unhealthy, and your stomach would get along with it alright.

There’s this really old restaurant in the back portion of Mega Mall B (near Toy Kingdom) - unfortunately I forgot the name of the restaurant, but they do have a penchant for appearing like a New York Style Cafe - specializing in soups and sandwiches.

I’ve never really eaten here, but Shanty has been here a few times a long time ago. I could see how its easily overlooked, but I was very much surprised - the menu on this restaurant is staggeringly unique, in comparison to the other things served in the ginormous mall. 

They gave me a veal sausage SANDWICH! Which is already amazing in itself, but then toss in the fact that it came in *Rye Bread*. I have a soft spot for somewhat (i.e. Veal sausage isn’t really) healthy sandwiches, and I definitely am coming back here if I ever get the chance to. The place is a bit pricey, but it was definitely worth it.

On a last note, note Shanty’s extra special (and cool) Penguin earrings. I find them particularly charming, don’t you?

Rolex Watch~!

Obviously not mine. But I got the chance to take a photo of it.

Sue me, I was bored.

The Old Spaghetti House is a semi-favorite haunt along Katipunan. It’s not known for being the best of its kind, but it definitely has its perks - one of which is the fact that they have some mean and excellent dessert choices.

As for their regular food, it doesn’t always disappoint. I’d also like to point out that TOSH sometimes packs some kind of Whole Wheat pasta, so those who would be eager to keep their weights honest aren’t limited to looking earnestly at their seat-mates’ dishes. 

Poor lighting, however, keeps me from getting the really good shots. Though I think these have done just fine.

Clay Penguins! 

Shanty and I made these one day out of a whim - I didn’t realize that clay projects tend to accumulate over mold over time. I have to find an air-tight place to put it in soon.

Penguin sharpener, united with her boyfriend!

For some reason, I like this photo of Shanty.

I like to tell her she has a whole lot of different “looks” from the eyes of a camera. I have a number of assorted photos from the time we’ve been together, and you could swear that she was an altogether different person.

Mushroom Burger! The folks had a nice meal here - I hear the restaurant initially came from high up in Tagaytay, and it was definitely hotly anticipated here.

All in all, the burger was relatively inexpensive, but most people were not altogether impressed by the quality of the burgers here. As for whether or not they correspond over to the Tagaytay branch, not so sure.

Sisig! Rawr!

Its been forever since I last had some sisig, and this definitely didn’t disappoint.

Garlic Rice from Not-Dencio’s, it looks cool from the look alone.

I like that taking close up photos really changes the look of your object, that’s what makes food porn that much more compelling.

I should probably move out of taking food porn of carbs, though.