KAMS ROAST: NOW ROASTING IN SM MEGA FASHION HALL

My KTG FRIENDS AND I ABOUT TO PIG OUT!!

      It's not often that one gets to dine at a restaurant with Michelin Star lineage, so when Kam's Roast opened in our shores, I was absolutely ecstatic for the opportunity to see for myself why they got the acclaimed award in Hong Kong!

RIDING INTO THE WINGZONE, SM MEGAMALL ATRIUM

        There are times when I just look for a laid back place where I can enjoy a good burger and wings with my buddies over an exciting basketball game. I recently found a really fun place in Megamall that checks all those boxes for me.. Atlanta based Franchise, Wing Zone!

POUND BY TODD ENGLISH: MEGA FASHION HALL

         Since opening his Food Hall at SM AURA in 2014, the Todd English brand has continued to spread around Metro Manila. Given that the Burgers of Todd English Food Hall was the breakout items on their menu, it made sense that they would spin off "Pound By Todd English", which specializes in Burgers done by the celebrity chef himself.  

        Pound first opened at Bonifacio High Street, and was a major hit. Since then, they've opened two more branches, One in SM Mega Fashion Hall, and another in Robinson's Place Manila. Since Mega Mall is just a 10 minute walk from my office (Some do it in five.. I have short legs), I was able to drop by with the KTG to get a taste of these world class, and truly amazing burgers. 

PICKIEST VLOG: BAD BIRD AT SM MEGA FASHION HALL

        A great percentage of us Pinoys would never turn down a platter of delicious fried chicken. That's why when Bad Bird opened in Hole in The Wall a couple of years ago, it immediately became a smashing success. 

      Bad Bird became the breakout success of Hole in The Way, becoming the first purveyor from the famed food collective to branch out into its own brick and mortar store, with it's first stand alone outlet at SM Mega Fashion Hall!

       

NADAI FUJISOBA SM MEGAMALL: SOBA SO GOOD!

             With the Ramen craze alive and well in the Philippines, Soba, another famous Japanese noodle soup has flown under the radar to slowly emerge as a delicious alternative. And where in Manila can you find some of the best Soba Noodles? 

         With  Nadai Fujisoba branches quickly spreading around the metro like wildfire, it seems like the answer is clear. 

DOUBLE UP WITH YABU'S NEW KATSU PAIRS & TOFU DISHES

                If you're a reader of my blog, then I'm pretty sure you all know by now all about my love affair with Yabu: The House of Katsu. From the very first time I got a taste of these gloriously deep fried cutlets, I was a goner. My biggest problem with the menu, however was that I wanted to try every single item on the menu in one sitting, however I didn't have the funding nor the stomach space to do so. 

             Which is why I was ecstatic to find out that Yabu now has new Katsu Pair Platters that makes it easier for you to enjoy the wonderful variety of Katsu's they have! I still may not be able to eat everything in one sitting like I wanted to, but this helps me get awfully close! 

HANGING OUT WITH THE HALAL GUYS AT SM FOOD HALL!

        I have a confession to make. I wasn't excited about The Halal Guys coming to Manila.

         I mean, sure, I liked the thought of finally being able to try the dishes that thousands of New Yorkers line up for every day, but since pork is such a prominent part of my diet, I wasn't quite convinced on how much I would actually enjoy it. 

        As luck would have it, I was invited to the special taste test of the very first branch of The Halal Guys here in Manila. This was an incredible opportunity because only a select few foodies were invited to be the first to try The Halal Guys in the Philippines and for some reason, I was one of them hehe... 

     Anyway,  Rina and I went to the very first "The Halal Guys" outlet in the Philippines, located at SM Mega Food Hall. Like I said, I honestly had no expectations whatsoever, right?

    So I dug into my plate of Gyro Over Rice, scooped up some of the beef bits smothered in The Halal Guys trademark white sauce, with a spoonful of rice and nonchalantly chucked my pork-free dish into my mouth. 

   And just like that, I stopped mid-sentence and looked straight at Rina, and said to her, "Holy $***."

CHILI'S NEW SWEET, SMOKY AND HOT DISHES!

       Sometime in early May, our friends from Chili's graciously hosted The KTG's surprise baby shower for Mr. & Mrs. Food Alphabet. Unfortunately, this coincided with my family's trip to Baguio, so Rina and sadly missed the joyous event, 

    Though we weren't able to joy in the merriment, the other members of The KTG who couldn't make it to the Baby Shower were invited once again by our friends at Chili's to sample the new "Sweet, Smoky and Hot" menu that they served during the party.

    Since May celebrants Dude4food and Rina were present, our visit to Chili's turned out to be a double Birthday Celebration with some dear friends! 

HALF PRICE ON JUNE 12: ERI CURRY'S BLACK SERIES

        Good news, Folks! Eri Curry has just released their new "Black Series" dishes and on June 12, 2015, they will be selling them at a 50% discount! Then after that, on June 13, 2015, they'll be available at a 30% discount! 

      Lucky me, I got a chance to sample the dishes before the madness, and let me tell you.. It's worth it even at full price!!

     Here are some of the dishes that are in store for you!

SUPER BOWL OF CHINA: NEW LOOK & NEW DISHES!

        I remember when Super Bowl of China of China first opened in Manila, particularly the SM Megamall Branch. The lines were absolutely ridiculous, you'd think they were standing in line for One Direction concert tickets. Super Bowl managed to find a great mix of delicious Chinese Food, which has always been a hit with Pinoys, at an affordable price. It was their Honey Pork Spareribs (which is sadly no longer on the menu) and their signature Lemon Chicken that made me go back for more.

   

      Years later, Super Bowl Of China is still going strong, with the new Mega Mall location having undergone a little bit of a face lift, and with some new dishes to an already mouthwatering classic Chinese Menu!

IPPUDO PHILIPPINES': NEW AKAMARU MISO RAMEN

      Before we go any further, I would first like to apologize for the quality of the photos in the post. My trusty old DSLR camera threw a hissy fit and was not very responsive, so I decided to use my Phone's camera instead. Although I have to admit the quality isn't bad, it still is not on par with the photos of my previous posts, especially when it's Rina taking the photos hehe..

       But can you blame me? If your choices were "Use your Phone camera to take pictures of Ippudo's new dishes" or "Don't go to Ippudo at all", I guarantee you that the former will win every single time.

     With that being said, Check out the newest Ramen and appetizers to hit Ippudo Philippines' menu! 

          

TEPPANYAKI FESTIVAL AT OSAKA OHSHO!

        Although I maintain that I'm normally not a fan of Japanese food, that notion gets thrown out the window every time I visit Osaka Ohsho. Though the dishes are undoubtedly imbued with the amazing flair that makes Japanese food so popular, it also has a bit of a Western touch that makes its dishes friendly to even the Pickiest of Eaters. 

       Another nice thing about Osaka Ohsho is how they constantly keep their menu fresh with new dishes bring out the best of Japanese food, such as Teppanyaki. 

    Of course, Osaka Ohsho gives their own little spin to the classic Japanese way of cooking, and reveals the new items to their Teppanyaki Festival! 

TALK A WALK ON THE FIRESIDE BY KETTLE

       Like I've said time and time again, my palate is more particular to American style of cooking, so it should surprise no one that Kettle has become one of my favorite restaurants. It's exciting to see that they've opened a second branch at SM Aura, and I look forward to seeing that brand continue to grow. 

    Much to my elation, the brilliant minds behind kettle has come up with a new concept that further expands their takes on favorite comfort food..

   The newly opened Fireside by Kettle. 

OH NO THEY DIDN'T! OSAKA OHSHO'S BACON GYOZA AND OTHER NEW DISHES!

       When I first visited Osaka Ohsho, I was expected to be blown away by what they claimed to be "The World's #1 Gyoza". No doubt about it, it was very excellent Gyoza - definitely among the best I've ever had-, but to me, it wasn't really mind blowing. I realized the problem wasn't in their version of Gyoza.. It was Gyoza itself. I mean, as much as I enjoy Gyoza, how exactly do you elevate ground meat and cabbage in a pan fried wrapper, to the next level?

      Rina joked, "I'm sure you'd say it was "Mind-Blowing" if it had bacon in it, right?". I smiled back at her and winked, "Right". 

     I don't know if someone from Osaka Ohsho was listening, but months later, Osaka Ohsho has gone and done it. They made a Bacon Gyoza. Call me biased, but now, I'm on board. 

     To me, THIS truly is the World's Number 1 Gyoza. 

MAGNIFICO! LINGUINI FINI AT SM MEGAMALL

                When I was young, whenever people would ask me what my favorite food was, I was quick to answer, "Italian". Funnily enough, my claim was largely influenced by my favorite cartoon character, "Garfield", and his love for Lasagna. Truth be told, the only three Italian dishes I knew were Spaghetti, Pizza and Lasagna. I had yet to understand the gastronomic wonders of a creamy Risotto. Never had I experienced that immeasurable joy you get in every bite of crispy Porchetta.    

           As I got older and my aversion to tomato based dishes became stronger, I slowly strayed away from my "first love". Lasagna would be something I would have during family dinners, and I pretty much considered Pizza and Spaghetti as American fare than Italian. 

          It took a stroll down to Linguini Fini, the newly opened restaurant at SM Mega Fashion Hall to reawaken my senses to the awesomeness that is Italian cuisine. 

          And you know what they say.. First love never dies.

          

          Especially when it's covered in cheese.

RAMEN GET YOUR LOVE: IPPUDO RAMEN, NOW IN MANILA!

            Yet another global titan of the Ramen world has opened their doors in the Philippines.. And this is a big one! Since opening its first restaurant in Japan in 1985, Ippudo Ramen has been known for changing the direction of Ramen as we know it. 

         Ippudo has exploded with 80 restaurants in Japan alone, and international branches reaching across Asia, and as far as Sydney to New York.

      After becoming a must visit landmark for Pinoy travelers that visit Singapore and Hong Kong, Ippudo finally opens their very first branch in the country.. Right in the center of the metro.. SM Mega Fashion Hall!

GET CURRIED AWAY AT ERI CURRY!

            I really enjoy Japanese Curry. Truthfully, I enjoy Curry in general, whether it be Thai or Indian, but I find the heat of Japanese Curry the most manageable for my taste buds, not to mention, without it upsetting my stomach at the same time hehe. 

     I was elated to discover that a Japanese Curry House recently opened at the SM Mega Atrium. But more than anything, it was the concept of that Curry house that appealed to me most. A Curry place that lets you customize practically everything about your dish order, to the point that the only thing that seems to be lacking is the option to choose the color of your own plate. 

    Friends, prepared to get Curried Away at Eri Curry!

I FINALLY TRIED VIKINGS LUXURY BUFFET AT SM MEGAMALL

Trying to look like a Viking.. looking more like Asterisk The Gaul

         I have a confession to make. You would think that a big eater such as myself would jump at the chance to visit a food paradise such as Vikings, but life got in the way. It wasn't until a few months ago that I was able to dine there. 

     Vikings is one of the favorite restaurants of (of all people) my mother (I take after my momma), and she wanted to celebrate her birthday at the SM Marikina Branch (Birthday Celebrants eat for free). 

       Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy my experience. Not because of the food, but because I had an event that evening, and I was pretty much rushing the entire time. Not to mention, there were so much people it was hard to move around. So, it was safe to say that my first Vikings experience didn't have me rushing to go back to Marikina or Mall Of Asia. 

     I was elated to hear that Vikings opened their latest branch at the recently-opened SM Megamall Fashion Hall. I felt it was a good time to give Vikings another chance.. and see what all the fuss was about. 

    This time I didn't have a pesky event to get in my way. I had all the time in the world to eat as much as I pleased. I could- dare I say it? 

     EAT LIKE A VIKING!

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO TIM HO WAN MANILA

      It was May 20, 2014. 2 A.M. I was tossing and turning in bed because my cough and cold made it impossible for me to sleep. But apart from that, there was something clawing at me in the back of my mind. 

      This was the day that Tim Ho Wan would finally be opening their doors in Manila. 

       Memories of that moment my teeth sunk into that pillow soft BBQ Pork Bun began dancing once again in my mind. It seemed like it was forever, but it was only just three weeks ago when I finally made a visit to the most affordable Michelin Star Restaurant in the world, during our family visit to Hong Kong. 

     It was probably one of the most amazing pieces of food I've ever tried in my entire life. And now, it's available in Manila. 

     So I woke Rina up at 8 in the morning, telling her to get ready, because I wanted to be among the first in Manila to try the food of Tim Ho Wan in the Philippines. 

   Considering that the mall opens at 10am, and Rina, Rain and I arrived at Tim Ho Wan by 10:10, I thought we would be the first in line. I was wrong. 

     

   There were around 20-30 people ahead of me. This was a Tuesday and I was "coding", which meant I needed to get back on the road by around 3pm. I was a little concerned that I might miss out on my chance to try Tim Ho Wan on its first day..

    Then something funny happened. Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and RJ Ledesma appeared out of nowhere, and asked if I wanted to join their "Mega Food Tour", where we would be allowed access to Tim Ho Wan One Hour before it was to open to the public. 

    I would have been insane to say no to that! 

OSAKA OHSHO: THE GYOZA ELITE

        In one of my earlier posts, I wrote that I wasn't too fond of Japanese food. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but owners of Japanese restaurants seemed to take that as a challenge, and I've gotten quite a few invitations to dine at Japanese restaurants since then. 

     I'm honestly not into the hardcore Japanese food. My other food blogger friends roll their eyes at me when I tell them I don't eat Sushi, Sashimi, and practically anything with Nori. Quite unbecoming of a Food Blogger, I know, but what can I do? I don't call myself "The Pickiest Eater In The World" For nothing. 

     One of the reasons why I was looking forward to trying Osaka Ohsho was because I had seen the menu on a stroll around the then newly opened Megamall Fashion Hall, and it was one of the first restaurants that was already operational. What I liked about the menu was how it seemed to stay away from the more exotic dishes, and it stuck to the more commercial friendly Japanese food, such as Teppanyaki, Stir fry, Pork Cutlet, and Sukiyaki, to name a few. 

    But of course, the one thing that stood out was the bold claim that Osaka Ohsho makes to its customers..

      That they are the home of the "World's Number One Gyoza".