TEXAS ROADHOUSE PRIME SETS!

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Morton’s The Steakhouse Brings To The Philippines “The Best Steak Anywhere”!

                    The Bistro Group finishes the year strong with the opening of Morton’s The Steakhouse on November 25 at the Uptown East Gate, BGC. The launch of this steakhouse founded in Chicago in 1978 is much-awaited by food lovers with a sophisticated palate who have travelled not only to the USA but in other countries as well for a taste their famed USDA prime-aged steaks. With its launch, The Bistro Group now has 27 restaurant concepts under its portfolio. This partnership is a significant part in Bistro’s expansion plans as it looks forward to celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

International Meat Cutter Challenge on December 7 at TEXAS ROADHOUSE !

Four professional Meat Cutters from Texas Roadhouse’s Metro Manila stores will compete in the first round of the qualifier International Meat Cutter Challenge on December 7 at the restaurant’s McKinley Hill branch. 

They are out to prove that they’re a cut above the rest.

AYALA NORTH EXCHANGE FOOD CRAWL | ITALIANNI'S, DENNY'S AND WATAMI

I visited the newly opened Ayala North Exchange along Ayala Avenue and visited some of their restaurants from The Bistro Group to try their food.. Including the new Breakfast menu of Italianni's, some of the classics of Denny's and the Tendon Bowls of Watami.. among many other items! Ayala North Exchange is located at the heart of Legazpi Village, making it a dream food hub for the working man! Please don’t forget to subscribe to my channel! Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickiesteater/ Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepickieste... The Ultimate Vlogging Camera: http://bit.ly/PickyCam

WATAMI JAPANESE CASUAL RESTAURANT: NEW DISHES AT SHANGRI-LA MALL

       Though it was my go-to restaurant for Japanese food for quite some time, I sadly hadn't been to Watami in quite some time. When my friends from the Bistro Group revealed that Watami was revealing no less than 12 dishes, I knew I needed to go back and check out their new offerings!

THE FIFTH BITE: TEXAS ROADHOUSE AT HIGH NOON

        I was invited to the VIP night of sparkling new Texas Roadhouse at BGC Uptown Mall, and here's a glimpse of what we had!

MURRAY AND D'VINE REVISTED

      Murray and D'Vine was one of the restaurants that I had targeted to visit during the early days of my blogging. I distinctly remember taking advantage of a promo from a group buying site, just so Rina and I could try it ("El Cheapskate".. That is I)! 

     Years later, I went back with my friends from KTG to see what was new with them, now that they were under the Bistro Group Banner. And we discovered that they maintained the old favorites, but added a bit of new stuff as well!

              

BUFFALO WILD WINGS: WINGS. BEER. SPORTS. NOW IN THE PHILIPPINES!

      Already boasting of 1,000 locations throughout the world, including outlets in every state of the USA, Buffalo Wild Wings finally opens in The Philippines! And what better way to celebrate its Grand Opening on January 29 than by giving away a year's worth of wings to the first 100 people in line when the doors open at 11am! 

MODERN SHANGHAI: A GRAND DINE-ASTY!

   Modern Shanghai kicks off the new year by adding some new, delectable items to their already mouthwatering menu! And what better way for me, Rina and my blogger friends to welcome 2015 (and my birthday) than trying Modern Shanghai's "Grand Dine-asty" dishes out for ourselves! 

MODERN SHANGHAI'S NEW MENU ITEMS! -RinaZ

          If you live for Chinese cuisine like Richie does, you might want to try out Modern Shanghai. They have good Xiao Long Bao and other classic Chinese dishes you might enjoy!

NEW BARBECUE SPECIALS FROM BULGOGI BROTHERS! -RinaZ

        I have a confession to make…

         I like watching Koreanovelas. Specifically the romatic-comedy ones. I think they write great plots and I get so kilig with those kilig moments. Kilig to the point that I have to cover my mouth with a pillow to scream. (I know). 

Family dinner scene from Golden Bride

From Full House. Rain eating kimchi rice straight from from a huge bowl

       Anyway, whenever I watch these koreanovelas, there are a loooot of dining scenes. And for me, how they eat is so appetizing. Like what they’re eating is really really good! They never fail to get my tummy rumbling! Especially how they eat steaming white sticky rice with that long spoon. Oh my golly! Really has a effect on my tummy!

Bulgoggi Brothers in Mall of Asia

              So when I went to Bulgoggi Brothers, I was so into the long-spoon-and-rice scenario that I ate 3 cups of rice!!! (No judging please hehe) Well, technically it was 2 and a half because I only finished half of my third bowl. But really, aside from the fact that I was having fun envisioning myself in Korea eating a lovely meal with steaming hot rice using a long spoon, the real reason which made me ate so much was their new Barbecue Specials Menu!

THE PICKIEST EATER VIDEO BLOG: TONKATSU 101 AT MA MAISON

                   Take a rare behind the scenes look at how Japanese-Western Fusion restaurant Ma Maison prepares one of their signature dishes.. Tonkatsu!

    Click here for the full story

MA MAISON PART DEUX & THE BISTRO GROUP GC WINNER!

         I had been to Ma Maison once before, and was more than satisfied with my order, the pork Tonkatsu. unfortunately, Rina was not with me, and I was forced to rely on my trusty Galaxy S2 camera for the pictures. Though it did a noble job, it really can't compare to the photos that Rina has taken in the past.

      Funnily enough, When I started the Bistro Group give away, Rina saw the pictures from my Ma Maison entry and reminded me that i still hadn't taken her to try their famed Japanese Western fusion dishes like I had promised many moons ago. I told her that by the time the winner of the giveaway has been announced, she would have tasted their innovative meals.

     I didnt realize time would pass by so quickly! So if the giveaway ended on Saturday, this was our trip to Ma Maison on the following Monday. 

        Oh and guess what? If you read on, you'll find out if YOU won the coveted P3,000 GC from THE BISTRO GROUP!

A MEMORABLE T.G.I.FRIDAY'S EXPERIENCE

       Do you remember when the first T.G.I. Fridays opened in Manila? I do. All of a sudden, when it came to dining out in Makati, T.G.I. Fridays became THE default choice of everyone. The line to get in was ridiculous. You would think that the Filipino people were once again holding a "People Power" rally to overthrow an evil dictatorship at the third floor of Glorietta 2. You'd never think that all these people would wait hours in line for some chicken fingers and burgers. 

      Whether you were with your friends or family, it mattered not. Forget Cindy's. T.G.I.Friday's was the place to be. 

THE STOCK MARKET CAFE REDUX

      Last weekend, Rina and I decided to take Baby Rain out for a stroll at Bonifacio High Street. Funnily enough, it was such a beautiful day when we left the house, we didn't even think to bring an umbrella anymore. Since we were with Baby Rain, going down from the car calls for the unloading of a stroller and baggage that would make one think that we're actually heading to Singapore instead of a local strip mall. Because of that, whenever we go to High Street, we find it easier to park at the basement of Serendra (also because it's covered, in case of the heat), and take a leisurely stroll across the street. 
   
      It was a little bit ridiculous because as soon as we crossed the street to High Street, we heard a thunder clap and within seconds, the rain began to pour. Realizing we were unprepared for the situation, I told Rina I'd take her out for lunch at a restaurant of her choice. 

    She immediately chose Stock Market Cafe. I asked if she would reconsider because we had already been there, but she was quick to point out that I went there with my Giant Joel and the lovely Donna.. My workmates.. without her. She let the guilt sink in me a little bit before she went all wife on me and said, "Where ever you want is fine."

    Two minutes later, we were standing in front of Stock Market Cafe, asking the hostess for a table for two.  

FLAPJACKS.. ROUND 2!

Where'd my breakfast go?? It was here just a minute ago!!

        For someone who doesn't eat breakfast on a regular basis, I sure do have a fondness for breakfast food. Though I had been to Flapjacks already and did a post on it in the past, I really don't count it because the photos were taken during my pre-blogger days with Rina's iPhone, hence the terrible quality. 

      During The Bistro Group's "Triple Treats Promo" that I participated in, I was given three amazing dishes to choose from that I could get at half price.. Fish and Co.'s Best Fish and Chips in Town, Ma Maison's Jumbo Burger Steak, and Flapjack's Original Hashbrown Burger. 

     Once I received the SMS from The Bistro Group, I knew That I had to try Flapjack's burger that caught my attention the moment I saw it when their first branch opened in Greenbelt years ago. 

ITALIANNI'S WITH MY GIRLS

     There are many special women in my life.. all of them members of my family (and yes, I consider my Yaya as "Family"). Naturally, the first two females that come to mind would be my darling wife, Rina, and my beautiful baby girl, Rain. Prior to Baby Rain coming in to my life, being a part of my niece Cara's growing up served as my "training" to becoming a dad. 

      I learned a lot from helping raise Cara.. Especially about how to deal with an adolescent girl. Though she wasn't by any means a bad girl, I couldn't help but become a protective (often accused as "overly") uncle. And I'd like to think some how she learned a lot from me too. 

    Cara. My "Little Star", as I used to call her, now lives in the United States where she's completing her college education. She's back to the country for her summer vacation, as well as to being her On Job Training at a prestigious law firm. 

    Since she's not going to be here for a very long time, I asked if she could join us for lunch, so she could spend more time with Baby Rain before she left. Since she the most convenient place for her to meet us was High Street, I decided that the best place to have a family style lunch would be at Italianni's. 

I LUV FISH & CO. !

You bet your butt I do

    Part of my being a "Picky Eater" is my aversion to seafood. With the sole exception of fish (which I actually love), I make it a point to stay away from creatures from the sea. There are a few incarnations of seafood dishes that I eat, but on the whole, it would be safe to say that i'm a carnivore, through and through. 

    I don't eat Squid (except Calamares from some restaurants), nor do I eat shrimp or prawns (except for tempura and more recently, the blackened shrimp of Village Tavern, mainly because you could pour the sauce on a rubber slipper and I would still probably eat it). And to date, there are only two crab dishes that I would be willing to eat willingly.. The Crab Wonton from P.F. Changs (which doesn't taste like crab) and the Crab Cakes of Village Tavern. 

     I don't eat clams, oysters, Mussels (yes, that includes baked tahong dripping with cheese), scallops and even lobsters. So as you can imagine, I'm no fun at Dampa and other seafood restaurants (I imagine it would be like taking a vegetarian to a place like Zark's Burgers or Brazil Brazil). 

    But there is one Seafood Restaurant that I can never say no to, because they have one dish that is a member of the "One of the Best Things Ever" Club. 


   True to it's name, Fish and Co. really does have "The Best Fish and Chips In Town".  

EPIC FIRSTS AT VILLAGE TAVERN

      Have you ever been to a restaurant, and the moment you open the menu, everywhere you look.. no matter what corner of the page you glance at, you see a dish that you just HAVE to order? 

     Well, that's exactly what happened to me when I went to Village Tavern last week. I swear, I was just staring at the menu, with my tummy growling at me and I just drew a blank. The dishes just sounded so amazing, I was completely overwhelmed. I honestly wanted to order practically EVERYTHING.

     Which is why I turned over the ordering reins to my friend Mitzi of The Bistro group, figuring since she has declared The Village Tavern one of her favorite restaurants to eat at, she wouldn't lead us astray. 

    Funnily enough, I was right. Everything Mitzi recommended knocked it out of the park. 

MAKING PEACE AT BULGOGI BROTHERS

        Over the past couple of years, I've shared with you my love-hate relationship with "The Bistro Group", the organization that has brought to our country some of the best restaurants chains from around the world, (Fridays, Italianni's, Fish and Co.,  etc..). 

        My love for them springs from the quality of their food and service. I can safely say that I haven't had any major standout problem with either. In fact, I would rate their service of their many restaurant as consistently excellent, and food.. well.. their restaurants would not have been successful had they been serving turds on a plate, right?

       The "Hate" in our relationship, comes from me hating the fact that I never got my hard card when I signed up for membership of the "Bistro Frequent Food (BFF)" discount card. Despite numerous follow ups via email and phone calls, I was forced to use a tattered up piece of card board for a year. Though they honored it just the same, I did feel a tad bit short changed  because I never received the actual card. 

       After the card expired, I didn't renew. Instead, I stood at the tip of a mountain top in the dead of the night and screamed at the food gods, swearing I would never EVER return to a Bistro Group restaurant until I they explained to me what happened to my card. 

         

         Yeah, that really didn't work out. 

      Much to the hilarity of the food gods, during the duration of my "boycott", I ended up going to each and every one of those restaurants at one point or another. Sometimes unwittingly (Pig Out, Ma Maison, Stock Market Cafe, Krazy Garlik), and the rest, it was more like.. After seeing a picture on display at the mall.. "Ah screw the boycott! I'm hungry!" (Italianni's, Flapjacks).  

            I recently found out that the Korean BBQ place I had been eyeing in Greenbelt 5, "Bulgogi Brothers", was also part of The Bistro Group. So as my way of "saving face", no matter how enticing the thought of their BBQ would be, I decided that would be my final hold out until I hear an explanation from them.  

     
         Man, was it worth the wait.