Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Payday Lunch Series: Cafe Ysabel

It's another payday lunch and this time our curious tummies led us to Cafe Ysabel, this quaint restaurant hidden in San Juan area. This culinary gem has been a consistent recipient of awards both local and international for serving dishes that astounds any palate. I am so glad that I finally got to experience Chef Gene's magical abilities in the kitchen (labo).

Cafe Ysabel

These were on our table.

Cafe Ysabel

After taking our orders and a little bit of waiting time, we were served these delicious, fresh-off-the-oven complimentary breads. Tinapay pa lang winner na!

Dip thy bread on olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Chef's Pate, Onion Jam and Crackers. Needs more crackers!

Cafe Ysabel's Chef's Pate, Onion Jam and Crackers

Truffle Pizza. Eating food drizzled with truffle is becoming a habit in our small group of "gourmands".

Cafe Ysabel's Truffle Pizza
Truffle shavings, white truffle oil, Gruyere cheese, bechamel, oregano and basil
Paella Sulipeña. Even though I had a hard time skinning the shrimp, I absolutely loved this paella, especially the burnt rice part!

Cafe Ysabel's Paella Sulipeña
Classic saffron rice with seafood and mixed meats
Penne Ala Gino. The gorgonzola on it was too strong for my liking!

Cafe Ysabel's Penne Ala Gino
Gorgonzola cheese with tomato cream sauce and prosciutto ham
Poulet Adolfo. This was a surprise hit for everyone, the sauce was really divine.

Cafe Ysabel's Poulet Adolfo
Ballotine of chicken stuffed with homemade sausage served with caramelized onion cream and apple tatin
Cafe Ysabel looks exactly like an old house in the quiet San Juan neighborhood complete with greeneries and fountain in the front yard. Very, very homey. The ambience inside? Even better.

But the biggest surprise of all is the modest price you'll have to pay for all the wonderful food experiences you'll have. Not bad at all, not bad. I suggest you dine with friends or go on a double date so you can split the bills. Although dining with your special someone here would be really, really nice and romantic. Whatever you choose, you'll still end up as a winner.


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Cafe Ysabel
455 P. Guevarra Street,
San Juan Metro Manila
Telephone Numbers: (632) 726-9326 and (632) 725-5089
For Reservations and Inquiries: reservation@cafeysabel.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Payday Lunch Series: Poco Deli

End-of-the-month payday lunch was spent in Poco Deli located in my beloved Kapitolyo neighborhood (I just had to squeeze that, sorry!). They specializes in artisan sausages and deli products that are worthy of your hard-earned money. 

Whenever I eat in Poco Deli I usually end up ordering Aglio Olio and Pizza so this time I was really excited to try their other good stuff.

Poco Deli

Wine bodega

Poco Deli wine selection

Happily waiting for their food.


For the meantime, we busied ourselves in taste-testing 5 varieties of cheese before we made our final decision of 3 choice cheeses that would go along with our sausages.

Goat cheese, Gorgonzola, Emmental, Pecorino and Manchego (?!?)
But in the end, we were served two kinds of cheese, instead of the original 3. Yung hindi pa namin pinili hahaha. Labo!

German Sausage and Cheese Platter by Poco Deli
German Sausage and Cheese Platter

Their Truffle Oil Pasta with Mushroom awakened our Mamou memories of their incomparable Lorenzo's Truffle Cream. This comes in second place until I find another better one hee.

Truffle Oil Pasta with Mushroom by Poco Deli

It's my first time to try the Irish Beef Stew. It was a fusion of flavors  which I can't quite put my finger to what those are exactly. Basta, okay naman!

Irish Beef Stew by Poco Deli

This however, I believe is one of the deli's bestsellers: Bacon Slabs with Eggs and Bacon Rice. You'll never have that "it's not enough" moment because IT IS more than enough! That's actually 2 huge slabs of homemade bacon goodness.

Bacon Slabs with Eggs and Bacon Rice by Poco Deli

Bacon rice. There is nothing more to say.

Bacon Rice by Poco Deli

For dessert, what else but The Blackout Chocolate Cake. Dig in to creamy and intense chocolate layers that are too sinful, not to mention bad for your curves. Chos!

The Blackout Chocolate Cake by Poco Deli

When the bill came, everyone on the table was surprised at how it didn't cost us too much for such good food. Bimby, this is what sulit means!

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Poco Deli
21 East Capitol Drive
Kapitolyo, Pasig
(02) 477-4332



Saturday, November 03, 2012

Postcard From Nepal

I love receiving, as well as sending too, postcards. I always ask friends going on an out of country (or even domestic!) trips to send me one if they can.

Here's the latest one I got. It's very special because it came from the rooftop of the world and a Sherpa wrote me a message too. If you don't know it yet I ADORE SHERPAS!


Thursday, November 01, 2012

Adobo Run After Dark

This run was a last minute decision which we paid dearly for when we got stuck in the weekend traffic. We inched our way through the traffic, skipped u-turns and kept a pretty good record as we passed by annoying MMDA abangers before making it to SM MOA parking lot just in time for the gun start of  5k run. Our kit was for 15k. Haha.

This happened while I was busily lacing my shoes.


[Sweaty] Finishers! :)

Adobo Run After Dark
Finishers: Jam and JC

Rovilson is one genuinely nice guy!


Thanks to our sponsor, Mitch!!


I have to have this shot in the finish line. PS: JC de Veyra was behind me mwahaha.


After the run, there was a mini concert in the parking grounds. We were able to catch 3 bands - Ernville, Pedicab and 6 Cycle Mind. Photo below is of Pedicab. Spotted: Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona 


After Pedicab's set I ran after RA Rivera and had this taken. Superb!


Free-flowing Manila Beer all night!


We left a little after 9 and was starving by the time we hit QC. We had a post-run feast at Behrouz to regain all the calories we lost. LOL. It was très bien!

Chelo Kebab, Behrouz

Payday Lunch Series: 'Cue Modern Barbecue

It's another payday foodtrip post! This time, we trooped to Bonifacio High Street to come and see what the fuss is all about Cue, most especially the ever famous Bone Marrow and Steak Tacos.

'Cue Modern Barbecue

From the outside

'Cue Modern Barbecue

Interior

'Cue Modern Barbecue

Menu (front)

'Cue Modern Barbecue menu

Menu (back)

'Cue Modern Barbecue menu

Ten ordered this Grapes N' Ginger Fruit Shake which has an interesting flavours. It looks and feels like a grape juice but the taste of ginger is stronger. I like it though. I wonder how the Green Mango N' Basil will fare :)


Here it is, the must-have-meal in Cue: Bone Marrow and Steak Tacos. If you want to have an instant heart attack, the portion is good for one person otherwise the four of us managed to share the cute portion between ourselves. I liked the salsa verde that went with it. But since the AC was on full mode inside the resto, the marrow naturally turned into sebo faster than you can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (haha, labo). So we requested it to be reheated (it came back sizzling!)


This Smoked Bacon Carbonara was a disappointment :( The pasta was devoid of any exciting flavor, it was the bacon who saved it.


Just Mac N' Cheese. The name of the food said it all.



Chicken Chipotle Chorizo Pot Pie. The surprise hit for everyone, especially Xan.



The Baby Back Ribs (Slow-baked then BBQ'D, Wet, house-made BBQ sauce) and 'Cue's Chili Monggo. They weren't kidding when they said that the monggo was spicy!


Naturally we always have our group photo after the meal has been wiped out :))


Food in 'Cue was alright, there were some hits and misses and that's fairly fine (although for its price, NOT). I think I'm good with just one try. :)

As a parting shot, took a photo of these nice chairs outside the restaurant.



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'Cue Modern Barbecue
Bonifacio High Street Central
G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock
 7th Ave cor 29th St., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 621-4052