22 PRIMES'S FATHER'S DAY MENU

       Whenever I dine at 22 Prime, i'm always certain i'm in for an amazing meal. Although they are best known for their selection of premium quality Steaks, 22 Prime is more than just a world class Steakhouse. Recently Discovery Suites' Executive Chef Gerwin Bailon developed a menu for Father's Day that showed the finesse and execution that he and his staff possesses, that made 22 Prime the highly regarded restaurant it is today.

   And being a father myself, I was the perfect person to try out the new Father's Day Menu! 

CHIBO OKONOMIYAKI AT PODIUM MALL: PREMIUM EXECUTIVE SET MEALS

         Whenever I'm at the S Maison area, it's quite likely that I'll dine at Chibo Okonomiyaki. Knowing that it's a little bit out of the way for me, I always try to make the most of the opportunity to feast on their delicious Okonomiyakis. You have no idea how excited I was when I found out that Chibo would be opening a branch just two blocks away from my office, at the new Podium Mall! 

      As soon as it opened, I found myself there three times in the span of two weeks, bringing some officemates with me, so they could experience the awesome food for themselves. 

      Now, Chibo  raised their game by beefing up their menu to feature more than just Okonomiyaki.. But Set Meals featuring some Japanese cuisine favorites as well!

THE CORNER MARKET PODIUM: BIRDHOUSE

  The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!    

            I've heard good things about Birdhouse since they opened at Uptown Mall in BGC a few years back, but unfortunately I had never gotten a chance to try it. However, since they opened a branch at the new Corner Market at Podium, which is just a few steps away from my office, I would soon rectify that situation.. and find myself kicking myself for not going sooner.. Because the food I discovered was spectacular. 

THE CORNER MARKET FOOD HALL AT PODIUM: MEAT DEPOT

      The sparkling new renovation of Podium Mall opened up opportunities for more shops and restaurants to settle into the bustling Ortigas center. Recently, a sprawling Food Hall opened, named, "The Corner Market". Spanning roughly around 1,200 square meters, The Corner Market is set to house 17 food establishments in its massive halls.  

      Though not all 17 are operational yet, your friendly neighborhood Pickiest Eater made the ultimate sacrifice for his beloved readers, to try the food stalls that have opened their doors at the Corner Market.. Where good food is just around the corner!        

          As I entered The Corner Market, it was The Meat Depot that immediately caught my eye. The sizzle of the steaks could be heard from where I was standing, and the aroma of cooked meat was undeniable. 

A BIG YES TO NONO'S BY CLASSIC CONFECTIONS

    I was invited to Nono's by Classic Confections a few months back, when they opened their first branch at U.P. Town Center. Unfortunately, since I rarely frequent Quezon City, I as unable to visit them. Thankfully though, the opening of the newly renovated Podium Mall has helped create room for more restaurant establishments, paving the way for Nono's to find another home in Ortigas!

FAT FOOK AT ROBINSON'S GALLERIA

          Ever since I first tried Fat Fook at SM North Edsa, I've been a fan. Whenever I find myself at Quezon City, Fat Fook always comes up as a dining option. I always hoped that Fat Fook would expand to somewhere in the Ortigas or BGC area, making it more accessible to me. And as luck would have it, Fat Fook opened a branch at Robinsons Galleria, just a few blocks away from my office, with plans to open another branch at BGC very soon!  

A CHRISTMAS WISH: RACKS' BACON CRUSTED PORK RIBS

          The year 2017 marked the year where I returned to working full time once again, effectively limiting the media events that I can attend. I honestly don't mind because I really love my job and the company I work for, not to mention media events have lost the sense of "exclusivity" it once had. In lieu of going to media events, I just try to find places around Ortigas Center (Where I work) that I feel is worth blogging about. 

         The El Pueblo branch of Racks is walking distance from my office, and there's yet another one at Megamall so when i'm in the vicinity of either, I never hesitate to drop by for a quick bite. During one of my strolls around the area, I saw a sign advertising their new Bacon Crusted Pork Ribs.As you can imagine, my leisurely stroll with my officemate Dian, ended up becoming a full on pig out session of Porky Bacony Goodness!

TRYING RACKS' NEW SMOKED CHIPOTLE RIBS

             Many Rib shacks have popped up in the country, all claiming they have the best ribs in town. However, if there is one establishment that has withstood the test of times, it has got to be Racks. Their "Flame Grilled, Fall of the Bone Ribs" have been enjoyed by its customers for roughly 25 years, and manages to keep its menu fresh by offering menu innovations that are often irresistible to the public. 

         One such dish is the new Smoked Chipotle Ribs!

MARCO POLO CUCINA: FESTA ITALIANA

       Marco Polo always finds ways to keep its flagship restaurant, Cucina, on the top of its game, by conceptualizing various international food festivals, and inviting some of the most acclaimed Chefs to elevate the dining experiences of their guests. 

     Their latest food festival, raises the bar once again. Invoking the bold flavors of Italy, Marco Polo has recently launched their Festa Italiana festival, which is spearheaded by Award Winning Chef, Andrea Delzanno, a native of Italy who now calls Marco Polo Hong Kong his home. 

    I was fortunate to have personally witnessed the amazing spread that Chef Andrea prepared for his guests, exemplifying the excellence that the Marco Polo name carries throughout the world. 

LUNCH AT THE AWARD WINNING LUNG HIN OF MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA!

       I've mentioned a few times how I was blown away by the quality of food served at Marco Polo Ortigas' Flagship Restaurant, Cocina. However, little did I know, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Housed high up at the 44th floor of the magnificent hotel, is Lung Hin, Marco Polo Ortigas' restaurant that specializes in the culinary wonder that is Chinese Food. 

      Just last March of this year,, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila was awarded the prestigious China Hotel Industry Golden Horse Award, proving that their excellence in the preparation of Chinese Cuisine is among the best in the world. 

    Never one to rest on their laurels, Marco Polo Ortigas acquired the services of renowned Chef Leung Chi Kwan, more lovingly known as Chef Ken, to spearhead the Chinese Kitchen of the hotel. 

   Given all the accolades that has been showered upon Marco Polo and Lung Hin, I would be a total fool to pass up an opportunity to visit this acclaimed restaurant, and try the new dishes of Chef Ken himself! 

A WEEKEND FIESTA AT MARCO POLO ORTIGAS' CUCINA!

        I think I've mentioned quite a number of times that Marco Polo's Cucina is one of the finest hotel buffets out there in the metro today. Instead of dazzling you with a vast array dishes from a variety of stations, Cucina's selection is rather modest when compared to other hotel buffets, However, Cucina proves that it should always be more about quality, and not just quantity, because each dish that is carefully prepared by the outstanding culinary team of Executive Chef  Lluis Pesarrodona is of the highest standards of excellence. 

   

      After a successful Weekday Craze promo, Marco Polo has a little something special for the Weekend Warriors.. A Weekend Fiesta at Cucina!    

BON APETIT! NOSTALGIA LOUNGE'S FRENCH CLASSICS AT OAKWOOD!

        Whenever I get invited to eat at Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila (It's a mouthful, I know) I'm always on the edge of my seat. I've dined at The Nostalgia Lounge numerous times before, and it hasn't failed me yet. From an Indonesian food showcase to the Dinner Classics, I have no doubt in my mind that Oakwood's Executive Chef, Chef Jerome Cartailler, will take our taste buds for a gastronomic adventure. 

     After trying his takes on different cuisines in the past, I was ecstatic to be invited to try his limited time only Nostalgia Weeks French Classics Menu at Nostalgia Lounge!

MARCO POLO'S MARCH MADNESS: 7 DAY WEEKDAY CRAZE!

             I'm gonna just say it. Marco Polo's Cucina has one of the best buffet spreads in Metro Manila. Admittedly, they won't wow you with an abundance of selections, but let's face it.. How many dishes do you actually eat in a buffet any way? What Marco Polo does is provide a satisfying amount of choices of different cuisines, each of which will most assuredly blow your taste buds away. 

     If you're never been to Cucina, then this is the best time for you to visit, because Marco Polo has launched a new series of themes for everyday of that week, including a Week Day Craze promo that gives diners an amazing discount from Monday to Thursday! 

CUCINA AT MARCO POLO ORTIGAS OFFERS A FINE GERMAN FEAST

          In my life, I've had the pleasure of experiencing the world renowned Marco Polo Hospitality twice in my life. The first during a trip to Hong Kong almost 20 years ago (Geeze I'm old), and more recently in 2013, when we visited Marco Polo Davao for the Kadayawan Festival. Marco Polo Manila opened their doors in 2013, finding a home in the heart of the bustling Ortigas Center, walking distance from some of the country's most popular malls. 

     And nestled in the 24th floor of the towering hotel, is their flagship 24 hour restaurant, Cucina, which features themed buffets for their guests. 

        Given the amazing experiences I've had in my first two visits, I was curious to find out  how the Ortigas branch's food fared in carrying the prestigious Marco Polo name.

      To my delight, I discovered that Cucina's buffet is undoubtedly among the best in the metro today!

NOSTALGIA DINING LOUNGE: FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS

      It's a Friday night and you're thinking of where you could take this girl that you've been trying to impress for the past couple of months. Perhaps a place with a live pianist who can set a romantic mood. An elegant, classy place that serves exquisite food, but at the same time, you don't want to go overboard in your budget, leaving you to have to catch your own food until the next payday. 

    Well, you can put that spear down because Oakwood Premier Hotel has got you covered! 

    Nostalgia Dining Lounge's Friday Night Classics Menu offers you a mouthwatering selection of Steaks and world class dishes to choose from, at very reasonable prices!

NOMAMA: RAMEN LIKE NO OTHER!

       I'd like to know how Chef Him Uy de Baron's mind works. His understanding of the intricacies of various flavors is nothing short of otherworldly. His masterful use of ingredients that I often had never heard of before (well, mostly the vegetables at least), makes every visit to his restaurant, Nomama, a new gastronomic adventure.

      Nomama has made itself for it's artisanal Ramen dishes, but believe me, Chef Him's culinary skills go far beyond delicious hot bowls of noodle soup. 

       And since they opened a new branch in Capitol Commons a few months back which is so much nearer to me, I dropped by with some of my food blogger friends to get a firsthand taste of the new Nomama experience!

7 FLAVORS, 25 LAYERS OF PORK CUTLET FROM KIMUKATSU!

        There have been are some very good tonkatsu places that have sprouted in Manila, each having their own fans. And they have been battling neckand neck, but just when you thought the tonkatsu wars could not be settled, in comes another very good one!  

        Kimukatsu is a famous tonkatsu place in Japan that has now reached the Philippine shores. Famous for its 25 layers of thinly sliced pork cutlet stacked and pampered up with their special bread crumbs, and 7 amazing flavors of tonkatsu, Kimukatsu has been making a buzz in the tonkatsu world 

UNLIMITED DIMSUM BUFFET AT XIN TIAN DI AT CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL GALLERIA

         During our amazing Staycation at Crowne Plaza a few months back, Rina and I capped off our epic weekend with a late lunch at the Hotel's resident Chinese Restaurant, Xin Tian Di. Although Rina and I were seriously contemplating ordering a whole bunch of Chinese dishes, the instant we found out that they offered an Eat-All-You-Can Dimsum feast, we dropped our menu and told the restaurant manager (who was kind enough to welcome us to the restaurant), "GIMME SOME OF THAT!"

BROTZEIT OPENS AT EDSA SHANGRILA MALL

One of my best friends in High School, Thomas, was a German national. His father was an expat, and his mother was a home maker, and they settled in and made the Philippines, Cebu in particular, their second home. During my High School days, it was usually me that was doing the hosting of sleepovers, but there were a couple of times that I crashed at Thomas' house after a night of.. umm.. As much as I would love to say "hard partying with some hot chicks", it was more like "A super cool night of Dungeons and Dragons".

Something I always looked forward to, was breakfast in Thomas' house. Thomas' mother, always made sure that despite the fact they were living in a country so different from their birthplace in so many ways, their original culture would not be forgotten by her son. And she did so in simple ways - one was their food.

Sure, after hanging out with us, Thomas got the hang of eating rice with every meal, but at home, when his mom would prepare breakfast, It would be the good old fashioned German way. I was treated to an array of sliced sausages that I had never tried before, different types of breads, and a whole slew of cheeses to choose from, all served up on wooden boards. That was a mere glimpse of how amazing German Cuisine could be, but ever since then, their food kept me enthralled.

There aren't very many German restaurants to choose from here, so hearing about Brotzeit German Beir Bar & Restaurant opening in Manila brought music to my ears.

(Cue in "99 Luft Balloons" here.. Sorry that's the only German song I can think of right now).

NO CLOWNING AROUND AT PAGLIACCI, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD - RINAZ

It has been years since I last stepped my foot inside the Podium. I don’t even remember the restaurants that I have tried there. I think there was just one and I don’t even remember the name. It was only until a few days ago when I came back to have dinner with blogger friends that I realized how many establishments were there already, and how much I have been missing, particularly a little Italian cuisine heaven called Pagliacci.