MR. D'S ARTISANAL PHILIPPINE WAGYU CORNED BEEF

            

        I remember the first time I saw a Corned Beef Brisket. I was a child- Either in the fourth or fifth grade- living in Cebu, and my father took us to a family dinner at one of his favorite restaurants.. "Eddie's Log Cabin". My dad would keep going back there for their Fresh Corned Beef. Even my sister would rave about it. 

      During my first time there, I was a bit surprised when I saw the plate the waiter placed in front of my father. I was expecting to see some shredded meat, sauteed with garlic and onions. Instead, it was a big hunk of beef, placed beside some potatoes and cabbage.. and oddly enough.. there was no "corn".

      Maybe it's because it was my first time to taste corned beef that didn't come from a tin can, but Eddie's Log Cabin was my benchmark for fresh corned beef. But that was until I got my hands on some of Mr. D's Artisanal Philippine Wagyu Corned Beef.

      Let's just say that bar has now been raised. 

ROCKWELL'S 2ND ULTIMATE TASTE TEST PICKS!

       The last time I went to Our Awesome Planet's Ultimate Taste Test in Mercato Centrale, I really didn't have a good time. Since the taste test would only last from 7pm til around 11pm or so, people were scrambling to get a chance to sample some of the country's best kept culinary secrets. It was honestly a bit too crowded and it became ridiculous to line up for around 20 minutes and come out of the tent all sweaty, with half a brownie in your plate. 

      During the course of one of his blogger gatherings, I told my blogger friend Spanky Enriquez, who happens to be a good friend of Anton Diaz, the man behind Our Awesome Planet and the Ultimate Taste Test, and he just replied, "Wait for the one in Rockwell". 

     A few months later, I realized what he meant. The Ultimate Taste Test X held in Rockwell was far more orderly than the one I attended at Mercato Centrale. Since it was a whole day affair, it had a relaxed atmosphere, and I didn't have to clothesline an old lady for a piece of a chicken wing.

    (Never happened, by the way)

PLEASE WATCH THE FILM "GIVE UP TOMORROW"

         I watched a movie the other day that totally blew my mind.. A movie I had been wanting to see for so long.. The documentary, GIVE UP TOMORROW.

         Give Up Tomorrow is the story of how seven men were screwed over by the Philippine justice system. Basic civil rights and judicial procedures were cast aside just to satisfy the public's cry for blood and vengeance. The movie really hit me really hard for a simple reason.  

       The man in the movie, the person tagged as the "leader" of the "Chiong Seven", Paco Larrañaga.. is a friend of mine.

YOOGANE, YOU GOT IT BAD...

        I first heard of Yoogane from my blogger friend Richard, the man behind the food blog, Tales From The Tummy. During a trip to Korea earlier this year, Yoogane was one of the places that he had visited, and mentioned that they would be bringing their famous signature dish, "Dak Galbi" to the Philippines. 

       A few days after they opened their doors to the Philippine public, my blogger buddy Glenn Ong asked if I wanted to join him and other bloggers for a taste of what Yoogane had to offer.

      I hadn't had Korean Cuisine since my delicious trip to Bulgogi Brothers , so I was more than happy to go! Not to mention I had never been to Il Terrazzo, and I was hoping to add more entries to my "Quezon City" Label..

      And I wanted to make my mom, a Koreanovela fanatic that made her obsessed with anything to do with the country, jealous hehe.. 

       

BRUNCH AT THE CAKE CLUB: PART I

          On weekends, there's a very good chance that I would skip breakfast and just have a heavy lunch. If it were up to me though, I would always start the day with Brunch. Maybe something in the mid-morning, around 10 or so.. Not too heavy (Definitely no rice).. So that by 1pm or so, I could have a heavy lunch, then a light dinner in the evening.

      Of course, that would be in a perfect world. One that I don't live in.

      But I did get the chance to try the new Brunch Menu of The Cake Club By Diamond Hotel at Bonifacio High Street, and it gave me a glimpse of what that perfect world would be like. The array of choices were impressive, and I could definitely see myself starting off my day with these mouthwatering dishes. 

DIMSUM BREAK NOW OPEN AT SM NORTH EDSA ANNEX!

     If you haven't read my post about one of my all time favorite restaurants.. Cebu's "Harbor City", I suggest you do first. That way, it might be easier for you to grasp just how deep my love for their dimsum goes. Regardless of their incarnation, whether they were called "Ding How", "Ding Qua Qua", "Harbor City", and the most recent, "Dimsum Break", their Sweet and Sour Pork and Steamed Rice has been a staple in my diet since I was a child.    

       When a fresh graduate of High School from Cebu leaves for Manila, one would think that he would miss his friends most. Call me a horrible friend, but forget them.. Leaving Harbor City's Sweet & Sour behind was one of the most heart wrenching experiences of my life.

      I always had a dream that someday, we would all live in peace and harmony.. And that Sweet & Sour pork that I grew up with would be easily accessible to me.

     Finally, that day has come. 

     On September 29, 2012, Dimsum Break opened their first branch in Manila, at SM North Edsa Annex. 

COOLING DOWN AT MASATAMI SHAVE ICE

       A couple of months ago, on a hot, sweltering day, I asked my followers on twitter to name their favorite dessert or dessert places.. Particularly something that would help beat the heat. I got a lot of fantastic suggestions.. from recipes, ice cream parlors and simple ice candy recipes..  

     One of my favorite Mommy bloggers, My Mom Friday, mentioned one of her favorite spots for a great dessert.. "Masatami Shave Ice". She was very specific about what I should try.. The Swiss Cheese Flavored Shaved Ice. Rina is a lover of all things cheese, so it immediately got her attention.

       A few weekends later, when the heat was once again becoming unbearable, Rina reminded me that we hadn't tried Masatami yet. The thought of Shaved Ice in my mouth in the midst of the heat wave was too good to resist, so we decided to go to Robinsons Galleria for the day. 

THE HEIR TO THE RAMEN THRONE: KOKORO RAMENYA

        A few months ago, I got one of the nicest invitations I've ever received as a blogger. It was an invitation to dine at Kokoro Ramenya, a Japanese restaurant that had opened a few months ago along Roxas Boulevard. I say it was one of the nicest invitations to eat at because the invitation was basically, "Go with a friend with a friend at your convenience, and order whatever you want". Who can say no to that, right? In return, all they ask for is an objective blog post.. If I didn't like the food, it's ok to say it, because the management of Kokoro Ramenya would take it simply as "Constructive Criticism". 

       Here's the thing.. There wasn't really anything to criticize because the food is fantastic. 

FEELING THE HEAT AT FOODGASM

Being a food blogger hasn’t earned me a single cent, but I do it for three reasons. First is because of my sheer love for food. I may use nifty terms and talk about nifty techniques, but I assure you, apart from how to use a spoon and fork, I have absolutely ZERO training in culinary arts. Which is precisely why I don’t consider myself a “Critic”.

 The second reason I food blog, is because I love to write. I consider my sitting down in front of my computer and locking myself in my study room  for an entire afternoon truly therapeutic. An escape to a better time, away from any problem I may have in the world, even for a short moment in time.

 The third reason, is simply because I like to entertain people in my own simple way. I’m fully aware that I look like an idiot in many of my pictures that chronicle our adventures, but if it made you laugh or if a picture of a piece of pork made your mouth water even the teensiest, tiniest bit, then to me, my effort for this blog were totally worth it.

Something that truly warmed my heart, was being selected as a Blogger Judge for the UP Economics Society’s food tasting event, called “FOODGASM”. Out of nowhere, a University organization contacted ME, to be one of the people who’s opinion would matter, for the final decision of...  Even though there would be hundreds of people who would be “judges” as  well, It was a nice feeling to know that the word on “The Pickiest Eater In The World” blog is getting out there.

So how do you do repay a nice group of people for inviting you to their food event?

You eat everything in sight, of course!

THE BETRAYAL AT RESTORANTE PIA Y DAMASO

What devious plan am I concocting with this piece of Crocodile Meat?

           During my years as a resident of Makati, Rina and I made a trip to Greenbelt a weekly tradition. Admittedly, Restaurante Pia y Damaso was a restaurant that wasn't quick to catch my attention, because I thought it was a Spanish Restaurant. As I've mentioned in the past, I have a high standard for that Spanish food, because my mother's side of the family is extremely adept at coming up with restaurant quality dishes from Spain. 

       In a classic case of my calculus teacher being totally right about my attention span, had I read their signages further, I would have seen that their tagline is "Subversive Filipino Cuisine".