Tokyo Grill SM Manila: Sumo Sam Made More Affordable!

Have you been to Sumo Sam before? Have you tried their delicious Japanese offerings that have this distinct flavor that you'd know that its from Sumo Sam? Well, here in Manila City, specifically SM Manila, Sumo Sam just gave birth to its first baby, and they call it Tokyo Grill.

A robust modern-style Japanese restaurant that offers nothing but our choice of delectable Japanese dishes, Tokyo Grill brings Sumo Sam closer to Manileños through the opening of its first store at the 4th Level of SM Manila.

My plate that day. ^_^

Turning Japanese-ah at Marriott Manila!

Do you love Japanese food? Those cute and the really tasty makis, those fresh and pinkish salmon and those rich in color and volume meals? Well, I do love them too, that's why when Marriott Manila announced that they are opening of their sizzling Teppanyaki Station, a Lafanggero must do what he must do - Lafang time!

Using the modern teppanyaki grills, which are propane-heated flat surface grills, Marriott Manila offers the typical selection that local and international guests can enjoy. There's the Gyuniko (diced beef tenderloin with vegetable in teppanyaki sauce); Tori (diced chickem with vegetable in teppanyaki sauce); Shake Teppanyaki (teppan salmon fillet with vegetable in special sauce); and Kaisen (mixed seafood with vegetable is sweet and spicy garlic sauce).

Marriott Café's Teppanyaki Station is the latest addition to the amazing buffet dinner offering of this five-star hotel. Priced at Php1750.00, their buffet includes this grilling that only serves the freshest and meaty choices of seafood, fish, beef, pork, and chicken. This star station of Marriott Cafe promises to give the tastiest and most satisfying grilled dinner that you've ever wanted.

Eating Organic? It's more Fun in the Philippines!

I drink, but just occasionally, and one of those occasions is videoke session with friends. That's why when we were invited by the Costales Nature Farms, which can be found in Majayjay, Laguna, to sing-along with them during our stay there, well, what better way to enjoy a night of music than with the freshest of the freshest of their bounty - organically, btw. 

And that night, aside from organic pulutan, it was also my frist time to try Lambanog!

I prefer red wine or tequila or beer, actually, but since Costales Nature Farms promotes nothing but our own gifts of nature in a VERY organic way possible, almost every food that I tried here were if not served fresh were cooked in a very different way to keep the taste, nutrients and wonderful look intact.

When we arrived there, since it was already lunch time, we were served with these really drooling Filipino dishes.

Staff said that their meals here in Costales Nature Farms were prepared in a very safe and healthy way. No preservatives, no MSG and gradual use of salt, which at first gave me doubt if they will taste good.

Kroketten: Dutch Potato Goodness, Pinoy Style

Last week, while waiting for Mall of Asia Arena gates to open for the staging of Cirque Du Soleil's Saltimbanco, I finally had my moment with these potatoes, which has been a topic on my Facebook wall for days. Basically a croquette of Dutch, these potatoes goodness that just came ashore our land is named Kroketten and they are serve Pinoy style! :-)

Located at the jeepney station fronting the SM Department Store building of SM Mall of Asia, this newly established kiosk is also available in selected malls in the metropolis giving the same crunchy Dutch potato snack that has been favorite by a lot.

On my first dibs on this healthy snack, I was surprised by how easy they are to prepare. If you want a quick bite, and you want it heavy and flavorful, this fun and rounded snacks are available hot and crunchy for you in less than two minutes. With 9 exciting flavors, including our very own Mango, Longganisa, Pork Adobo and Tuyo Flakes flavors, these delicious snacks are also gaining attention in other malls in the metropolis since it was officially opened due to its easy-to-eat approach.

Yabu at the Mega Food Sale

One tummy-filling happening this long weekend is the most anticipated installment of SM Megamall's ultimate food fair, the Mega Food Sale. And since last night was a Friday night, and Friday means dining out to me, I treated myself to a night of modern Japanese katsudon in no other than the House of Katsudon itself, Yabu!

Located at the 2nd level of SM Megamall Atrium, this new talk-of-the-town Japanese restaurant that specializes katsudon or rice bowl topped with pork cutlet, egg and condiments, has been the rave of Filipinos since it opened its doors a few months ago.

I was happy that they joined the fun of the Mega Food Sale and treated their new customers, as well their loyalists, to a dining experience that is sure to hit that katsudon craving.

To my surprise, by the time I got at their spot here at the Atrium, the place was already filled with excited customers who were eager to sink their fangs on to those meat. One in-demand pork meat that you can have here is their Kurobuta, which is a Japanese term for Berkshire Pork. They say that its has this very tender and juicy meat that it just perfect even if they deep-fried their katsudon.

Avalanche of Flavors by Figaro Coffee Company!

The sun is up again, and what way to celebrate the goodness of sun? Well, there's the newest delectable and refreshing treats from Figaro Coffee Company - a treat that will bury your taste buds to an Avalanche of Flavors!

Created to satisfy that sweet tooth, this Figaro's latest batch of satisfying swirlies are available in four delightful flavors that are a sure-hit to young and young-at-heart alike. I was able to taste four of them, and out of those four flavor , there's one that really stood out and made me feel the cool and arctic burst of its flavor.

The first flavor that I had from this batch was the White Chocolate Mocha Frost. The taste of this one is kinda ordinary to me, but if you love mocha, we'll this is the best for you. The sweet blend of milk and coffee  was really tasteful but since this is an ice blend, there was this like a minty kick to it. The white chocolate's purpose I think is just to make the swirl a little think. 

Clawdaddy's Harbor Point: Now Open!

To give that American dining feel that expats and local are loves enjoy. That's what Clawdaddy's aim as their promote the latest chain of this claw-likcing food store, Clawdaddy's at Harbor Point Mall, Subic Metropolitan Authority.

And with Mr. Raymund Magdaluyo, Clawdaddy's welcomed war veterans, locals, expatriate, tourists and many more to the blessing and opening party of the latest addition to the growing company of The Red Crab Group of Restaurants.

I, hailing from Manila, didn't miss the chance to experience a day of purely American dining familiarity, of course! And together with some friends, I indulge to a day of unique Western style dining that Clawdaddy's has to offer - and I honestly loved it!

BFast-ing with the Laudicos

Since the Ayala Triangle Garden food craze started, Chef Laudico's BFast has been there serving hungry employees of the Makati Central Business District with wonderfully made Filipino foods that are sure to hit the right spot in your heart and tummy. An all-day breakfast diner, BFast's is now happily serving lunch, merienda and dinner buffets that are the nirvana of Filipino dishes in this part of town.

Know from their awesome conceptualization of Filipino food and love to the locally produce ingredients, this husband-and-wife team, Chef Roland and Chef Jaqueline made sure that every visit here in their version of contemporary Filipino diner is as new as ever with their changing buffet offerings every single day.

With the Chef Jac and Chef Roland Laudicos

And last week, just before I go to work, I was happily invited to dine in in this lovely couple's restaurant to talk about the amazing offerings here in BFast as we all as how the two chefs prepare their organic dishes every single day.

Cabalen: Sharing Pampangga's Best All Day, Everyday

For 26 years, Cabalen has been there sharing Pampangga's best in their buffet-style dining. With numerous Kapangpangan dishes that are ready to suffice every Pinoy's craving on our belived Pampangga's dishes, this place has been a household name to every Pinoy no matter wherever you come from.

Inspired by the world-renowned Pampangga's dish, Cabalen has bee a center of gathering for years now to every Filipino who has Pampanggeno's roots in them. Filled with delectable and truly flavorful Pampangga's dishes, this has been my latest sanctuary to remember my lola, who introduced me to the world of succulent Pampangga's flavor.

Last week, amid my longing to my grandmom, who is a pure-blooded Kapangpangan, I found myself dining at his very elegant and classy Cabalen in SM Mall of Asia. If before Cabalen is only offering luncheon buffet, merienda buffet and dinner buffer, now they have this ALL-DAY BUFFET open to all!

Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 takes South via Storm

The crazy Storm Gener didn't stop me and the rest of the foodies from Southern Manila last Sunday as Soderno hosted the most tummy-filling and challenging food criticizing event of the year, the Ultimate Taste Test 9.0!

From its humble beginnings as a ‘taste test’ among friends and neighbors, the Ultimate Taste Test has become a sold-out event drawing in thousands of foodies eager to try the latest food discoveries. And last Sunday at The Soderno at Molito Lifestyle Center, hundreds of wanna-be food critics flock to the venue to have a sample of what's gonna be hit in a few weeks!

Believe it or not, this is my first Ultimate Taste Test and my first here in Soderno too. And even though, I'm not really prepared to eat a lot of food, I readied myself to an awesome experience that will mark as the start of my love to Ultimate Taste Test.

Each foodie-participants were given a passport where the names of the participating vendors where indicated. There was also a map in the passport for easy identification of the food stalls. The passport also served as our score sheet where we will put our score on every stall/food that we try. You don't necessarily have to finish all the stalls, but if you can make, well, good for you! At least you get the whole value of your money.