Just had to update you guys on my third visit to People Palace last week. I was rereading my first article on the restaurant and I must confess, it was probably my orders which accounted for the unenjoyable experience.
Subsequent visits since that first time have been more than fine. Most dishes ordered were quite good, substantial, although prices remain quite daunting. And I think they have the best sticky rice with mango.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A Tale of Two Meals: Apahap sa Azuthai
The second meal was lunch at Azuthai, the new Thai restaurant at the ground floor of the Milky Way building along Pasay Road. I had also heard many good things about the restaurant, so I was pretty excited to try it.
I wasn't disappointed. We had the papaya salad, the pomelo shrimp salad, apahap in tamarind sauce, penang beef curry, morning glory (kangkong!), and the ever reliable, ever present pad thai. I loved the salad and the apahap. The sauce of the curry was excellent but the beef was rather tasteless. The kangkong was also a winner. I do recommend one orders plain white rice, better to sop up the sauces.
I just had to try the desserts. The water chestnuts in coconut milk was a streamlined halohalo with the dyed water chestnuts providing crunch. The mango with sticky rice was also quite good (but I thought the one in People Palace was a tad better). I didn't care too much for the Tako, but it might appeal to the less sugar-inclined.
Prices are on the steep side but not to heights set by PP or Silk. Service was excellent; but don't believe the nice serbidora when she says mild is spicy enough. I was skeptical but unfortunately, she did manage to convince us to stay on the safe side.
I almost forgot, we had Thai take out a couple of weeks ago; equally good and loads more inexpensive. More on the next blog.
I wasn't disappointed. We had the papaya salad, the pomelo shrimp salad, apahap in tamarind sauce, penang beef curry, morning glory (kangkong!), and the ever reliable, ever present pad thai. I loved the salad and the apahap. The sauce of the curry was excellent but the beef was rather tasteless. The kangkong was also a winner. I do recommend one orders plain white rice, better to sop up the sauces.
I just had to try the desserts. The water chestnuts in coconut milk was a streamlined halohalo with the dyed water chestnuts providing crunch. The mango with sticky rice was also quite good (but I thought the one in People Palace was a tad better). I didn't care too much for the Tako, but it might appeal to the less sugar-inclined.
Prices are on the steep side but not to heights set by PP or Silk. Service was excellent; but don't believe the nice serbidora when she says mild is spicy enough. I was skeptical but unfortunately, she did manage to convince us to stay on the safe side.
I almost forgot, we had Thai take out a couple of weeks ago; equally good and loads more inexpensive. More on the next blog.
Take Out Thai from SOMS
I had almost forgotten about our Thai take out from Soms (somewhere near the dog and cat hospital, going to Rockwell) some weeks back. If you are looking for five star taste at three star prices, Soms is for you.
We had a ton of food and I don't think it was all that expensive (sorry folks, libre kaya I don't know the actual cost). Two curries (beef and chicken), bagoong rice, kangkong, and the (oh no, its...) pad thai (dramatic pause), in a bilao!
Soms is supposedly a small carinderia-type, owned by a Thai transplant. I must confess I haven't been to the restaurant but I have heard it described as tables spilling onto the sidewalk and street. It's a BYOB kind of place, but the price can't be beat.
We had a ton of food and I don't think it was all that expensive (sorry folks, libre kaya I don't know the actual cost). Two curries (beef and chicken), bagoong rice, kangkong, and the (oh no, its...) pad thai (dramatic pause), in a bilao!
Soms is supposedly a small carinderia-type, owned by a Thai transplant. I must confess I haven't been to the restaurant but I have heard it described as tables spilling onto the sidewalk and street. It's a BYOB kind of place, but the price can't be beat.
A Tale of Two Meals: Steak at Mamou
Had two very good meals recently. First off was dinner at Mamou; I had wanted to try this restaurant for a very long time now. Good reviews all around, and everyone recommended the steak. It didn't disappoint, the serving was substantial with five of us sharing the twin. However, I was not that impressed with the sidings.
We also shared two pastas, the alio with labuyo flakes (spaghetti al dente swimming in a pool of garlicky olive oil and specked with chili - my personal favorite) and the Batac Bolognese (also very good, tomato based with batac longanisa).
The desserts, however, were not up to par with the main courses. I didn't care too much for the pecan pie (the corn syrup center was too thick and gummy); the dark chocolate sans rival also didn't inspire. The key lime pie was okay, just a tad sweet. Desserts came with schlagsahne (german whipped cream); we failed miserably trying to pronounce the word correctly, but it did provide hours of entertainment.
The restaurant isn't very big so reservations are a must. On a Tuesday night, the place was packed. The owner did tell us her personal favorites, namely the steak (which we tried), and the roast chicken and pork. At least I have a reason to go back.
We also shared two pastas, the alio with labuyo flakes (spaghetti al dente swimming in a pool of garlicky olive oil and specked with chili - my personal favorite) and the Batac Bolognese (also very good, tomato based with batac longanisa).
The desserts, however, were not up to par with the main courses. I didn't care too much for the pecan pie (the corn syrup center was too thick and gummy); the dark chocolate sans rival also didn't inspire. The key lime pie was okay, just a tad sweet. Desserts came with schlagsahne (german whipped cream); we failed miserably trying to pronounce the word correctly, but it did provide hours of entertainment.
The restaurant isn't very big so reservations are a must. On a Tuesday night, the place was packed. The owner did tell us her personal favorites, namely the steak (which we tried), and the roast chicken and pork. At least I have a reason to go back.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Fish out of Water
Fish Out of Water is one of the new restaurants in Greenbelt 5. As the name suggests, it specializes in seafood given new twists (fusion cuisine). The restaurant is part of the Red Crab group, of the famed crab buffet in Greenbelt 3. Apparently a good number of the restaurants in Ayala's new mall have more pedestrian pedigrees. Pia y Damaso is really Kookie Luscious in Rizalian clothing (I think the same desserts are available in KL at lower prices). John and Yoko is Sumo Sam all dressed up (I found this out when we passed by the restaurant just as the waitstaff were bringing out take-away in Sumo Sam plastic bags). Zuni is Duo.
We had danggit salad, stuffed kalabasa blossoms, lapulapu filet, and twiced cooked pork belly. Don't laugh, but the dish that stood out was the pork belly, in a seafood restaurant!
The danggit salad was an ordinary salad with danggit pieces thrown in. Cascada actually has a better version with tinapa and mango. The squash blossoms would have benefited from a lighter batter; as it was served, it was heavy and a bit oily. The lapulapu filet was roundly ignored (it was rather bland).
We had danggit salad, stuffed kalabasa blossoms, lapulapu filet, and twiced cooked pork belly. Don't laugh, but the dish that stood out was the pork belly, in a seafood restaurant!
The danggit salad was an ordinary salad with danggit pieces thrown in. Cascada actually has a better version with tinapa and mango. The squash blossoms would have benefited from a lighter batter; as it was served, it was heavy and a bit oily. The lapulapu filet was roundly ignored (it was rather bland).
Solihiya
Solihiya is one of the new restaurants in Greenbelt 5 and specializes in fancified panciteria food. I am a great fan of good panciteria food, and I really wanted to like the restaurant (I had been batting almost zero in my food trip in Greenbelt 5; with most restaurants I've tried having been expensive and not really that good).
We ordered the shrimp diablo (my memory gap is widening); I do remember the diablo part since the dish was covered with sauteed chilies. Supposedly spicy shrimp popcorns (cornflour battered pieces of shrimp), the dish had neither shrimp nor spice. It felt like we were eating fried batterballs.
We also ordered kangkong with chinese bagoong; I found it salty but then again, what would you expect with bagoong. But my friends liked it.
Our last dish was steamed fish fillet. It came late, like thirty minutes after we had almost polished off the two orders which came ahead. It was very apparent that the waiter had forgotten to put in the order in the first place; the dish could not have taken more than five minutes to cook. The waiter gave some flimsy excuse that the fish delivery was late that day (a likely story). What was disappointing, however, was that the owner or manager was right beside us when all of this was transpiring (our table was next to his hidden office) and he pointedly ignored us. No apologies, no we'll do better next time. Just as disappointing was that the fish was not worth the wait; bland and pasty white, it lacked the umami usually found in chinese steamed fish. (We slathered on the soy sauce and sesame oil to no avail; the fish was internally bland).
While waiting for our orders, we were served a trio of appetizers. Pickled singkamas, spicy sweet dilis, and pickled quail egg. It is a testament to the restaurant that the appetizers were the highlight of our meal.
Solihiya is just one of a long list of restaurants in Greenbelt 5 that have failed to live up to expectations. It should not come as a surprise now given the mall's fantastically low batting average for its restaurants (expensive but unsatisfying food, more pretention than substance).
BTW, solihiya apparently means the woven rattan used to cover chairs. The restaurant used woven plastic strips to evoke the natural wicker, a foreboding of things to come?
We ordered the shrimp diablo (my memory gap is widening); I do remember the diablo part since the dish was covered with sauteed chilies. Supposedly spicy shrimp popcorns (cornflour battered pieces of shrimp), the dish had neither shrimp nor spice. It felt like we were eating fried batterballs.
We also ordered kangkong with chinese bagoong; I found it salty but then again, what would you expect with bagoong. But my friends liked it.
Our last dish was steamed fish fillet. It came late, like thirty minutes after we had almost polished off the two orders which came ahead. It was very apparent that the waiter had forgotten to put in the order in the first place; the dish could not have taken more than five minutes to cook. The waiter gave some flimsy excuse that the fish delivery was late that day (a likely story). What was disappointing, however, was that the owner or manager was right beside us when all of this was transpiring (our table was next to his hidden office) and he pointedly ignored us. No apologies, no we'll do better next time. Just as disappointing was that the fish was not worth the wait; bland and pasty white, it lacked the umami usually found in chinese steamed fish. (We slathered on the soy sauce and sesame oil to no avail; the fish was internally bland).
While waiting for our orders, we were served a trio of appetizers. Pickled singkamas, spicy sweet dilis, and pickled quail egg. It is a testament to the restaurant that the appetizers were the highlight of our meal.
Solihiya is just one of a long list of restaurants in Greenbelt 5 that have failed to live up to expectations. It should not come as a surprise now given the mall's fantastically low batting average for its restaurants (expensive but unsatisfying food, more pretention than substance).
BTW, solihiya apparently means the woven rattan used to cover chairs. The restaurant used woven plastic strips to evoke the natural wicker, a foreboding of things to come?
Flopjacks
The restaurant's real name is Flapjacks and it's one of the newer restaurants in Greenbelt (where good restaurants go to die). As the name suggests, it specializes in pancakes and diner food.
I am big fan of breakfast food; I honestly think breakfast should rank among the world's great cuisine. So it was with great anticipation that I set lunch at Flop... I mean Flapjacks (having a coupon for free pancakes also figured highly in the decision-making process).
We ordered salpicao, pork chop and country fried steak. I would have wanted to say that the food was great; but I would be fibbing. The salpicao was tough and bland, lacking the strong garlic taste; the pork chop was tough and bland (clearly overcooked, which was not hard to do since it had been pounded thin in an effort to extend a small cut of meat into something grander); the country fried steak was bland and lacked steak (really, it tasted more like breaded breading). Blandness seems to be an unhappy trend (which we banished with liberal doses of salty seasoning).
I'd give Flopjacks a good six months or as a good friend of mine would put it, a good candidate for closure.
BTW, the flapjacks were fine.
I am big fan of breakfast food; I honestly think breakfast should rank among the world's great cuisine. So it was with great anticipation that I set lunch at Flop... I mean Flapjacks (having a coupon for free pancakes also figured highly in the decision-making process).
We ordered salpicao, pork chop and country fried steak. I would have wanted to say that the food was great; but I would be fibbing. The salpicao was tough and bland, lacking the strong garlic taste; the pork chop was tough and bland (clearly overcooked, which was not hard to do since it had been pounded thin in an effort to extend a small cut of meat into something grander); the country fried steak was bland and lacked steak (really, it tasted more like breaded breading). Blandness seems to be an unhappy trend (which we banished with liberal doses of salty seasoning).
I'd give Flopjacks a good six months or as a good friend of mine would put it, a good candidate for closure.
BTW, the flapjacks were fine.
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