Kettle and Their Seriously Big Portions

Another late post.

So the Cheese and I decided to try this "American" restaurant in the east wing of Shangri-la Mall best known for their buttermilk fried chicken.

Boy were we in for a surprise. I sincerely did not expect to be handed down a towering serving of Potato and Pork Strips. Had we known we would've summoned friends from their hibernation to help us out.

The Cheese vs Potato & Pork Strips

I ended up taking it home munching it til my gums bled. There were still some left to be shared to my colleagues the next day! Grabe, it was that much.

Pork and Potato Strips. Crunchy pork belly and fresh potato strips, fried herbs, red pepper aioli. PhP339.00

When our main dish, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken (boneless!), was served our jaws dropped again (okay a bit lang). These are 2 huge chickens served with 3 corn breads on the side.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with honey glazed cornbread, country gravy, Cajun honey. PhP519.00

How we managed to finish those humongous chicken is beyond me. But we did it. And we loved it.

My only advice when planning to eat in Kettle: don't forget to bring family or friends to share those delicious foods! You won't regret it.

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Kettle
5/F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, East Wing, Shaw Blvd
Wack Wack, Mandaluyong
(02) 654-7077

Going Organic at Green Pastures

A couple of months ago I met a friend for lunch, and knowing he's a staunch vegetarian, I suggested we try this farm-to-table, organic restaurant at Shangri-La Mall's east wing called Green Pastures. 

The place was packed when we got there but a staff managed to find two seats for us quite quickly. When we were lead to our seats though, I knew it's not gonna be a quiet corner at all. It was an open area but the acoustics was really bad (in the whole floor?) we barely can hear ourselves over the buzz of conversations around us. Nevertheless, we didn't let this dampen our organic lunch experience.

Anyway, we immediately chose our orders. The nice thing about Green Pastures that I've learned from reading other blogs is their monthly change of menu. There's a high probability that you won't be able to order the same thing you had a month ago.

I ordered Squash Blossom.

Squash Blossom - homemade burrata cheese with creamy ricotta, grape tomatoes and basil

And this awesome, AWESOME smoothie called MGM Grand. MGM as in mango, ginger and malunggay! What's even awesome-r is this photo made it to their instagram account!

My friend Steve ordered the Vegetarian Burger That Doesn't Suck and based from his reaction, I guess it really did not suck :) I forgot what smoothie he ordered but remembered him liking it as well.

PS: The fries were absolutely divine!!

Vegetarian Burger That Doesn't Suck - 100% vegetarian burger made with organic chickpea, mushroom, leeks, celery and eggplant with homemade cheddar cheese.

Thanks for the organic lunch, bud! If vegetarian food are as good as these, I could totally do it. In about a month. I think. Because I can't quit meat!

Weird But Cute Pocky Design

I saw this weird-looking packaging of Pocky in Paseo de Santa Rosa the other day, one that totally screams I'm from Japan!

Tell me, what do you make out of it? Me, at first I saw a swine then upon closer look I thought it looked like a butt-cheek. Yes I know it's supposed to be a peach-flavored Pocky based from the design but it doesn't look like one to me lol.

Is this a limited edition? Oh Japan, how do I love thee.

Edited: Apparently, this weird looking guy named Kakuremomojiri is a character in the Kobito-Zukan (literally translated as dwarf encyclopedia), a very popular picture  book in Japan illustrated by Toshitaka Nabata. Since he is a peach, he lives in a peach orchard.

The Inspiration of My (Grand) Machu Picchu Dream

I was going through my old Machu Picchu related posts for blog migration purposes when it reminded me how and when the dream started. 

This Hallmark presentation was the culprit. Oh Max, how I've missed you. If only I could find a DVD copy.

Katsu Sora

The Cheese and I finally had the time (and moolah) for Katsu Sora's version of tonkatsu set. I could tell the Cheese was feeling extra gracious that day when he ordered the top grade and most talked about Iberico Pork and Kurobuta Pork. My, my, your tonkatsu perspective will certainly change after consuming the Iberico and Kurobuta. Mapapa-"Tokyo Tokyo whut" kayo. 

Katsu Sora is located at 2nd floor of the Promenade in Greenhills, sitting right beside Santouka Ramen (they both have the same owners). 

Before our finest tonkatsu sets arrived though, we had to deal with their salad and fruit bars first. And oh, let's not forget the soup too. You can get unlimited servings of both when you avail of any of their Tonkatsu Sets.

Katsu Sora serves 4 kinds of pork. There's the Iberico, Kurobuta, Shimofuri and Sakura. The Spanish Iberico pork is uniquely Katsu Sora's, the elite among the four. The Cheese got the Iberico while I had the Kurobuta.

Bite into a tonkatsu made with world's most sought after pork meat. It's so highly marbled, juicy, and sweet that it melts in your mouth. This is the height of the premium pork experience. PhP655.

It was my first time to have the kurobuta pork. Even Yabu's kurobuta I haven't experienced yet. Kurobuta is considered as Japan's most prized meat. If España has their pata negra, Japan has their kurobuta.

A tonkatsu made with the most prized heritage meat from Japan, Kurobuta is finely marbled, moist, and flavorful with a delicate meat texture. A solid choice for every pork connoisseur. PhP550.

I think ordering both Iberico and Kurobuta porks was a bad decision. I had no idea how to differentiate the two!! Although if compared to other tonkatsu sets we've had, these two are definitely topnotch.

They weren't exaggerating when they said how soft it was it actually melts in your mouth. It was really tasty. The Cheese, ever the kitchen master between us two, showed to me why it was so special. Look at the marbling! That is not something that can be easily achieved here on a regular basis. 

Our tonkatsu sets.

We both loved the Juugokokumai Rice - 15-grain rice - that came with our tonkatsu (regular Japanese rice when you order the Shimofuri and Sakura porks).

Juugokokumai Rice

The ritual of grinding the sesame seeds is extremely satisfying. At least on my part it is.

Thank you to my beneficiary! Til our next date, the tonkatsu war awaits.

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Katsu Sora

Greenhills Shopping Center, Promenade

Greenhills, San Juan

+639158741990 / 9251411

Today 11:00 - 23:00