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Showing posts with label comfort food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comfort food. Show all posts
Saturday, March 10, 2018
NONO'S NOW OPEN IN THE PODIUM: COMFORT FOOD ALL DAY

 The first time I learned about NONO'S was when I walking around UP TOWN Katipunan and saw this busy restaurant. It seemed well lighted and welcoming to its guests. Fast forward a few months after, NONO'S recently opened another branch in the new Podium Mall in Ortigas.
 Located on the second floor and just beside one of my favorite Chinese restaurant, NONO'S puts a premium on all day comfort food. It might sound cliche but it sure delivers.
Starting with something small but terrible, the cheese wanton puffs with truffle is hands down addicting. There's something about having them warm with some drizzle of honey. Yummy!
Another dish that is not to be missed would be the shrimps with the candied walnuts. It's basically a make your own dip. Remove the word dip and change it with shrimps! Deep fried wanton wrappers plus shrimps and a bit of nuts can make anyone crave for more.
 For someone health conscious, they have a some salad just for you. These watermelon and greens plus grapes is refreshing. With balsamic dressing and nuts, everything is complete.
 One might say that the mac and cheese of Nono's might lack the wow factor at first look but when you have a bite, it is darn cheesy! Using a combination of cheeses, it makes cheese lovers ask for more.
 Giving it a twist, this ROASTED BEEF BELLY is just hands down perfect with rice. I know it was served with mashed potato but it's indeed something that any Filipino would love with rice. It's drizzled with balsamic to give it a different flavor profile.
One dish that Nono's is known for would be their homestyle fried chicken. The meat is moist and the coating crunchy. Special mention has to go for their fries. There's a bit of bite when you go for the fries. I found myself asking for more.
 Since it is the Lenten season, NONO'S went out of its way and offered some shrimps thermidor. A mixture of cheese and special sauces are combined with the huge shrimp. This would definitely fulfill that no red meat rule.
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NONO'S is actually the brainchild of Classic Confection. It's no wonder why they have mouth watering desserts on the menu. If ever you do get to visit, I would suggest going for this classic. It's moist, not overly sweet and could make your day.

Nono's is located on the second floor of the new Podium Mall.


Related Links:
Nono's Up Town Center
Paradise Dynasty in Podium

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Monday, May 23, 2016
13 UBAY St., International Comfort Food in Banawe, Quezon City

Just a street off BANAWE in Quezon City lies a very artsy yet casual place. 13 UBAY might seem intimidating outside but it is very homey and has delicious dishes to offer to its visitors. Everything is simple and spot on.
 Chef Zaza Sarmiento or Corazon Esperanza as we fondly called her spearheaded this project alongside with a couple of partners. According to her, this place used to be a printing press that they transformed into a restaurant. With years of experience under her belt from working abroad, she made one of her dreams come into reality. Her restaurant is now part of the growing food business in the metro.
 One quick look at the menu and you could definitely see some eye catchers.
An interesting starter from 13 UBAY'S lineup is the FRIED TRIPE (150Php). This deep fried honey comb tripe is addicting. Having vinegar as a dip for this munchie just makes it perfect. Be sure to try the spiced vinegar as it is hotter and definitely my choice as well. For some, it may be a little bland but a dash of salt would quickly fix it. On the other hand though, I liked it.
The restaurant also converts itself into a mini-bar at night. With a lot of signature cocktails to choose from it would be a crime not to have delicious bar bites.
 For 13 UBAY, there are two must tries. The LIVER and BANANA and the GRILLED CHEESE. 
The liver and banana surprisingly works well together. Having a balsamic glaze gave it a sweet touch. The liver was thoroughly cooked as well that it worked. For me though, I enjoyed the GRILLED CHEESE more. A mixture of cheese is wrapped with bacon. It is accompanied by poached pear. This is sweeter but definitely perfect with a glass of alcohol. Definitely my top pick as well.
 Their DIRTY MASH POTATO is also pretty good. Accompanied by their home made bacon, the chunks of potatoes are also present. As such, it gives a bite. The bacon isn't too salty as well so they blend well together.
 One of the chef's specialty, the GRILLED CHICKEN HARISSA is a must try at 13 UBAY. A North African chili pepper paste is used to marinate and cook the chicken. IT gives it a somewhat reggaeish feel and taste. A little smokey and great with rice. 
 A safe choice would be their Fried Chicken with Tamarind Ketchup. The Chicken is perfectly cooked and deep fried to perfection. The Tamarind ketchup has a little zing to it because of this fruity delight. One thing though that they could improve on is to make the ketchup thicker. Everything else is delicious.




For dessert, 13 UBAY has a decent spread. One could go for the safe bet of DALANDAN TORTE. It has the right sweetness and has a dalandan custard to give it that citrusy taste. MY pick though would have to be the UBE PIAYA that is home made and is from scratch. This is also a personal favorite of the chef as it is the only UBE she eats. I got to say, I LOVED THIS!!!
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13 UBAY is a hidden gem for me. Their take on comfort food and the dishes they serve can really compete with veterans in the food industry. I really enjoyed the skewers and the dirty mashed potato and the UBE dessert. Delicious. Check out the different masks on the wall as these were bought from different countries. There are also blown up photos that were taken by the Chef's Grandfather. Very powerful shots.

13 UBAY RESTAURANT
#13 Ubay St., Sta Mesa Heights
Banawe, Quezon City.
Metro Manila

TIP: There is parking in the building compound itself.
Open from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 11pm


Disclaimer: wrote this based on my experience. was invited to try out the dishes in 13 ubay.
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Monday, August 10, 2015
THE FRAZZLED COOK: A mix of flavors

One of the things that draws us to visit a restaurant is their ambiance. The FRAZZLED COOK definitely has a high mark for this.

THE FRAZZLED COOK recently moved to its new spot in TOMAS MORATO, QUEZON CITY. Once you enter, you are greeted by a playful theme. The sides of the place are small nooks that turn into small function rooms like this one. Everything is instagramable.

 Everything is instagramable which we definitely love to do.
First dish that came out was sort of a pleasant surprise. The SIZZLING SQUID (495Php)
 Squid cut into bite sized pieces. The sauce was sweet and might be a problem for those not really into teriyaki flavors. BUT make no mistake, the squid was soft and perfectly cooked.

 The TRUFFLE PASTA (295Php) is something that I would like to have again. It's basically sauteed portobello mushroom and home made white truffle sauce. Perfect for a little snack.

 PIZZA CAPRESE (295Php). Herbed crusted pizza. Freshly grilled tomatoes and kesong puti.

Another pizza dish that you may want to try would be the TENDORLOIN and SAUSAGE PIZZA (380Php). Herbed crusted with beef tenderloin salpicao, onion and kesong puti.

 The sauce on the mini pitcher is their HOT CHILI sauce. It has a huge garlic inside. I believe they should crush it first and let the flavors sip and be absorbed by the chili sauce.

Honestly speaking, THE FRAZZLED COOK's version of pizza is not for me. It was definitely home made and it was like those pizzas I had when I was in grade school. The crust was a little too bready. It would have been better if the crust were thinner.  

The WAGYU SALPICAO (595Php) had mixed reactions. I know for a fact that this was a best seller but the meat was somewhat different when it was served to us. It might have been due to a bad delivery but it lacked flavor and texture. It was somewhat different from the usual wagyu. The meat didn't exude that garlic flavor that you would have from a salpicao. I will return to try this again and give it another chance.

The next dish though was a winner. The PAELLA NEGRA (375/635Php) was the dish to get. Squid ink used to to coat every piece of rice. It had squid, shrimp, sausage and bell pepper. The smell of the squid was evident even from a far. I liked it. It was the CROWD FAVORITE.

 Another dish that made my day was the GRILLED BBQ SHORTRIBS (465Php).
 The meat was tender and the sauce was sweet. Definitely more rice for this.

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Although there were some misses, some of the dishes are worth returning for. Like the Squid, Paella and the pasta. The prices are generally affordable and the quantity are definitely for sharing. The FRAZZLED COOK is celebrating their anniversary this month so let's greet them and enjoy the food they offer. Cheers


THE FRAZZLED COOK
Sct. Gandia, Tomas Morato
Quezon City, Metro Manila.

Coming from the rotonda on Tomas Morato,
turn right at Sct Gandia. The Frazzled cook is on your
left. Parking is available.





Disclaimer: Wrote this based on my experience. Was invited to try out this restaurant.
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Friday, June 27, 2014
Giving Detalle

Secluded and hidden. I had to go around in circles just to get to this place. Was it worth it? I don't know. You tell me.
Located in a compound that sells cars and a few hole in the walls, I believe DETALLE definitely stands out.
To welcome my friend back, she and I went out to have dinner on a lazy night. We were the first one in and the place was definitely small. Around 25 people could fit in the first floor and they had an alfresco place up top which could accommodate a few more guests.
Its a dream to have a restaurant slash bar in a somewhat secluded place as it gives out a chill vibe. 
Since my friend K went out late till the wee hours of the morning, she had wanted to have something to smooth her throat. She had a glass of LEMONADE (120Php). I actually wanted to get her drunk just like one of those drinking sessions we used to have but she was too tired and wasted from the night before so this was an all right choice for her. 
While looking at the menu, I figured that most of their offerings are pica-pica.  I guess these are their specialty. We had the Housemade Ricotta (260Php)
These were by far one of those dishes that I liked that night. It had crispy prosciutto, orange marmalade and supposedly crispy basil. Great for kungfu aka kungpumulutan. LOL!

We wanted to try almost everything on the menu since well, its one of those nights that we had all the time in world to chill and relax and experience everything. 
For pizza, we got their Meathouse (440Php)
Honestly, I would have liked a margherita instead. this pizza tasted ordinary. It lacked oomph! Just meat, cheese and tomato sauce.
The Truffle Penne (340Php) lacked the truffle flavor. It wasn't oozing with truffle like with other dishes from other restaurants. The mushrooms' flavor and the cream were more present than the "truffle".
Since my mom would always push me to eat healthy, we got the grilled salmon (400Php)
The salmon was definitely normal. The risotto well definitely made the dish better. I liked the tomato flavor.
Unfortunately, we didn't enjoy the last dish. The D Burger (380Php) was supposed to be the best seller but it is a weird burger.
The blue cheese didn't go well with the meat and the bacon jam made it worst. Maybe they need to tweak this some more. Even if the inside were reddish, I could say that it wasn't that tender. Better to go to a different restaurant if you are up for burgers. I liked the fries though if that counts.
Even if the taste of some the dishes were somewhat off, I really got to give props to their service. The staff was attentive and gave their best in giving into our needs. I guess this is more of a chill place to have a drink or two with friends and get some bar bites or appetizers to go with them. I would not go back for the mains but if I am a drinker, I would go for their cocktails and mixes. 
Budget around 400-500Php. Better to call in for a reservation as they easily gets full during the weekends. Parking could be a hassle. Maybe 6-8 cars at most.

DETALLE
Opens at 5pm to 4am 
0917 560 0988
88 Meralco Avenue Corner Julia Vargas, 
Ortigas, Pasig
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