I’ve been always wanting to visit the beautiful city of Mati when I just can’t find that perfect time. It is the only city and the capital city of Davao Oriental known for their powdery and white sand beaches.

Aside from the marvelous beaches, they always say that your Mati trip won’t be complete if you’re not going to dine at Seaside. It’s one of the pioneering restaurants in the place owned by one of the pioneer families as well.

Lucky for me because the son of the owner is one of my closest friends and I’m assured that the best dishes would be served the time I’d visit.

During college days, my friend’s mom has been always sending us their signature empanada (meat pie) and fried lumpia (spring rolls) for snacks. They are just among their pre-ordered delicacies. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take pictures of it because the moment it was given, we were like poor children who haven’t eaten for weeks and consumed everything in an instant.

My friend accompanied us to our early beach tour and when it’s almost lunch time, my friend called their resto to prepare our grand lunch.

The moment I stepped in the place, I already felt the relaxing and “homy” ambiance. We were greeted by his mom and I noticed that our food is ready.

All I can say is WOW! Our table is filled with seafood delicacies. I couldn’t describe how delicious the food was as they’re all perfect. Maybe I can just place the pictures below and trust me, if it looks delicious to you, then that’s definitely the taste of it.

Crispy Fried Shrimps

Grilled Tuna Panga (Jaw)

Chili Garlic Shrimps

Fish Kinilaw (Ceviche)

Battered Pork Chop

Calamares

Fish Tinola (Stew)

They indeed look delicious right? But that’s not all, because after we had everything, my friend served his home made ice cream for dessert.

Homemade Coffee Crumble

Isn’t it a grand lunch? This is the very reason why I’m looking forward to visit Mati particularly Seaside once again.

The Grand Lunch At Seaside is a post from: Patay Gutom

I’ve passed by Mangan so many times when I’m in MOA, but was never really enticed to walk in, grab a seat and eat away. Actually, I secretly stay away from Filipino restaurants because that’s what I/we eat at home anyway. It’s a shallow excuse, I know.

But yesterday, while the boyfriend and I were waiting for someone to deliver a pair of sneakers for him, I saw Mangan and quickly blurted out “dito na lang tayo kumain.” I actually had to walk into the restaurant by myself and order for the two of us because the person we were supposed to meet up with was obviously taking baby steps to the meeting place.

I like the ambiance a lot, which is like having a meal at somebody’s ancestral house. The tables however, were too close to each other it was suffocating. One could easily ogle at what the table next to you is eating even if you just slightly move your head towards that direction.

I liked this corner a lot. Wonder why I didn’t pick this spot though. Oh right, because there was a cheesy foreigner-and-Pinay couple canoodling beside that table.

We were given this complimentary plate of, what we assume is, camote shoestring fries?

So, on to what we ate that day. I ordered Adobong Pusit (Php300), which is a huge serving good enough for three persons methinks. It tasted good (not great), and  it was paler than how my mom would usually cook Adobong Pusit. The broth was a bit runny though, which I didn’t like.

Squid, by the way, is one of my favorite food. I don’t care if it’s adobo, dried or stuffed for I’ll happily devour it. The boyfriend however, is a bit iffy about this dish thus leaving me to eat  more than half of this dish.

The boyfriend’s request–Sisig. The presentation made the dish look like it was only good for one person, but when we unraveled the banana leaf, here’s what was inside:

Sisig overload! Babe took charge of finishing this dish, since I was tasked to eat the pusit dish. Haha!  I did grab a spoonful of this though. It was pretty good, very meaty and flavorful!

Let me quickly share my Calamansi Juice drink, which I thought had a bitter aftertaste.  I bet it’s the fact that they threw in two sliced calamansis in the drink.

Service was fairly quick until the tail end of our meal. We had to follow up B’s order of extra rice three times, wait for the bill longer than usual, and scour the floor for any sign of customer assistance because there was one time when we couldn’t find a single waiter. Those aside, it was a good dining experience. It’s nothing I would come back for however.

A Mangan Saturdate is a post from: Patay Gutom

I don’t know how to roam around Makati so I just tagged along with my friend as we roam around the city. We stopped at The Link and decided to eat our breakfast at Buddy’s. I found out that the place was originally from Lucban, Quezon.

Lucban Longganisa With Rice and Egg

Pancit Habhab

Pork Sisig

To be honest, that was the heaviest meal I had for the day and I can afford not to eat until midnight.

Breakfast At Buddy’s: Pancit Lucban & Longganisang Lucban is a post from: Patay Gutom

Imagine my surprise when I saw my workmate walking up to our table at the GT Tower with this tray and a big plate of pasta. Immediately, I asked where he bought his lunch ’cause it was an unfamiliar dish. We’ve been dining far too often there, obviously, that’s why.

The second he mentioned Green Tomato, I flipped out in excitement.

The first (and last) time I got to experience Green Tomato was when I was working in a building along Paseo de Roxas. One of the nearest food corners in the area is The Galleon. Green Tomato had a small stall there that wasn’t too popular among the lunch-goers, I assume–or perhaps the rent was too steep–that’s why they moved out. Ever since, I’ve been waiting for them to pop up and alas, they did!

Last week, they were running a 50 % off promo which we minorly abused. I however, did not have a camera with me then so I wasn’t able to blog about that. Today however, I made sure I had a camera or at least my phone with me to take pictures.

Here’s what I (and the boyfriend) had/shared:

Puttanesca. I don’t remember ever trying this dish before so I ordered one. While I commend their really generous portions, I wasn’t even able to finish half of this bowl. It was really flavorful, perhaps too flavorful. I thought the olives were too overpowering for me. The bread they serve is really thick, too. A tip: they should cut down their portions and bring down their prices a bit. My Puttanesca, which costs Php140, is good enough for two. Even the boyfriend, who is such a heavy eater, thought they should do that too.

Pizza is my favorite item in their menu so we had to order one. The boyfriend and I shared a regular-sized Four Cheese Pizza (Php150), which had the perfect crust–thin, crunchy and toasted. I loved this pizza a lot. Too bad the boyfriend drizzled it with way too much hot sauce it literally burned my lips.

Chicken & Mushroom Pasta. The boyfriend asked the Green Tomato attendant their recommendation and she suggested this. Next time, I think I’ll order penne pasta instead of the spaghetti ones. It looks more manageable on the tummy.

We had lunch with two friends who were also “Green Tomatoed,” and their pizza looked really yummy. Well, it really was the name that got to us–Good Earth. The name carries a lot of impact, don’t you think? That better be good.

Welcome back, Green Tomato! is a post from: Patay Gutom

Oh, did my title sound like Mo Twister’s show? Erm, just for the record, I am not copying him. Okay, moving on to this awesome cafe! There aren’t that many Cavite-based restaurants being blogged right now that’s why I’m happy (and eager) to be writing this piece.

After a tiring day playing Badminton in Dasma, driving to Alabang for lunch and a round of drinks, we returned to Imus to go home. Well, that was until I had a sudden craving for coffee and thought that we should perhaps drive by Healthy Grounds Cafe.

Although the cafe’s just along Aguinaldo Highway, it’s easy to miss in the morning since it stands beside an auto mall (or perhaps car shop is the better term). At night however, the place lights up making it easier to spot. I didn’t think the cafe would have any customers since it was Sunday, and way past yuppies’ bed time. But surprisingly, there were a handful of people there–and even more were arriving by the minute.

I let my friend guide me on what to order since she frequents this place a lot. She suggested the Carbonara, which I promptly ordered. There are two things I love about my plate of Carbonara:

• the most delicious garlic bread ever
• the perfect sauce + pasta combination.

I honestly had a little trouble finishing this plate (but I did, eventually) because I already ate far too much than what my tummy can accommodate hours before we arrived here. I cook Carbonara too and found Healthy Grounds’ version leaning creamier than how I would usually do mine. Setting that minor comment aside, I’d be happy to eat this the next time I visit.

What would a visit to a coffee shop be without ordering something caffeinated? I’m a sucker for anything that has caramel so obviously I had to try their Caramel Frappe. Frappes are served in a fairly big glass–a plus. I just don’t know if they have take-away cups.

Here’s what a friend ordered, Choco Chip Frappe! I know I should have taken a picture of it, but when he was halfway through his glass, he found a gold-mine like crevice in the middle filled with chocolate chips! It was amazing. All that chocolate chips for less than what you would usually get at that coffee-shop-that-must-not-be-named.

Healthy Grounds Cafe had just launched a new menu item, the Cheesesteak Panini, which my friend tried. He loved it, though it does look a bit overdone. I think they should add more chips too!

We were all done eating when we received this plate of blueberry cheesecake from the owner. Needless to say, we devoured–yup, I just had to emphasize that–this slice. It was heaven in my mouth, seriously. It wasn’t disgustingly sweet, but was just perfect and delicious and divine. I will definitely have this again when I get the chance to visit Healthy Grounds again.

Patay Gutom readers who live near/in/around Cavite, you must check out this place. If you’re coming from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, the cafe’s to your left, about 50 meters before Robinson’s Imus.

Good Times at Healthy Grounds Cafe is a post from: Patay Gutom

Friday’s is one of those many restaurants that I avoid simply because I tend to overindulge whenever I’m here. Food is always great here (so are the Mojitos!) so I usually lose all sense of control, forget about my diet and feel so terribly bad after. In fact, the last time I dined at Friday’s was with my best friend–some two years ago. Yes, it has been that long.

It was one fateful Tuesday however, when the boyfriend and I found ourselves in the comfortable booth seats of Friday’s. Wow that sounded dramatic. Too dramatic.

For starters, we had this amazing plate of Chicken Fingers, which is basically a meal in itself. The chicken fingers were big and yummy, and the fries we’re perfectly seasoned too. With only two people tackling this big plate, we were still able to bring these home.

The boyfriend had this Broccoli and Cheese Soup, which I didn’t try for fear that I wouldn’t be able to eat my pasta plate after.

My love affair with pasta continues at Friday’s, where I had the Cajun Shrimp & Chicken Pasta. Although this didn’t blow my mind like their Mojitos do, I still liked this even though it needed a lot of salt.

Hmm, looking back though, I wish I added hot sauce. I bet this plate would have been doubly savory. As usual, I  wasn’t able to finish this even though I already ordered the smallest plate. Hmp, typical.

The boyfriend, on the other hand, went down the Pinoy route and ordered Filipino Liempo. Judging by how fast he finished his plate, he enjoyed every bite.

P.S.
We only had less than an hour to have dinner before the movie (Battleship) was to start but for some reason, we decided to eat at Friday’s. I know service is awesome here but I was pretty sure we would be missing the first 10 minutes of the movie since we usually take about an hour to order, eat and leave a restaurant.  To our surprise, we made it to the cinemas in time–with a couple of extra minutes to boot! Quick, efficient and awesome service as usual, Friday’s. Bravo!

Friday’s, I’m In Love is a post from: Patay Gutom

I know Sinangag Express has been a favorite of many men. I guess it’s their, hmm, highly-appealing name (sEx or S.E.X. or however you guys want to abbreviate it) that made it so popular. But even though I practically grew up hearing about this curious little chain, I’ve never had the chance to actually eat here–until my workmates and I decided to venture out and drive from Valero (where our office building is) to the Sinangag Express branch in Malugay Street.

Early birds!

Arriving at Sinangag Express, we were elated to see a sea of vacant tables. Somehow, I was expecting this place to be filled to the brim with lunch-goers. But realizing that they’re a bit far from all the yuppie action in Ayala, most of the diners here either brought a car or were simply conveniently closer to Malugay Street.

In terms of the ambiance, I was immediately reminded of Chicken Deli in Bacolod. I thought they looked the same, though I like the rustic vibe at Chicken Deli more.

Bangsilog | Php65

It’s a welcome change from our usual (expensive) lunch fare and I love it! It doesn’t hurt that they’re comfortably Pinoy too. Although most people would quickly order Tapsilog, I almost always order Bangsilog when available and so that’s what I had for lunch. Service was fairly quick, which was good even though people were starting to fill up the area.

That piece of bangus may look small, but it was more than enough for me. Crispy and crunchy, I savored every mouthful since I don’t regularly eat rice anymore. Meanwhile, looking so depressing is the egg. Apparently they don’t do round eggs. Haha. I kid, I kid.

Tokwa

While I would usually gobble up any bowl of tokwa that is laid in front of me, this one had an unfamiliar aftertaste that turned me off. I don’t know if it’s the lack of flavor in the sauce or the tofu itself, but it does look good. Too bad it didn’t pass my taste.

Chilled Taho

Half of the table ordered chilled taho too! It’s not served like this, okay. I took this photo after my friend poured the syrup. According to my workmates who had this for dessert, it was pretty good. Well, I guess seeing them quickly finish their cups was a sign that they were having a delightful dessert.

Sinangag Express Newbie No More is a post from: Patay Gutom

Anyway, it’s worth the wait and that’s why I came for! Haha!

Here’s what I ordered. 1 Steel-Cut Oatmeal Banana, 1 Spinach N’ Cheese Wrap, and 1 Strawberries Wild Smoothie. I should have ordered my ever favorite Orange Dream Machine, but too bad, they ran out or oranges.

Stawberries Wild Smoothie

Steel-Cut Fresh Banana Oatmeal

Spinach and Cheese Breakfast Wrap

That’s all for now! Advance Happy Easter everyone! Yay!

Jamba Juice To-Go is a post from: Patay Gutom

It was such a rainy night when me and my two friends looked for a place to have dinner. We drove along Torres Street of Davao City and checked the array of restaurants to find a decent place to eat. We chose to dine at Trellis N’ Vines after seeing that among the restaurants, it was one of those not fully packed. We haven’t seen each other for quite some time and being in a crowded place was really not an option for a chitchat.

I’ve heard about this restaurant before from my other friends and most of them are telling me that one of their best sellers is their baby back ribs. I really want to try it but since I’m on a no-pork diet, we decided to exclude it from our orders at that time. The waiter suggested to us their Chicken Biryani with Cucumber Raita and Mango Chutney. He said that one serving is already enough for the three of us. Indeed, the serving is huge. I don’t know if it just me or what, but I find it with too much spices thus making it very piquant. I know some people would prefer to have the taste like that but it is a kind of meal that you wouldn’t want to eat a lot. In fact, we were not able to consume it.

Since we do not want to have just one variety of food on our table, we ordered Sizzling Mixed Seafood as well. The presentation didn’t impress me though but it tastes good. You will have a hard time identifying the seafood because they look exactly the same with the spices.

For our dessert, we ordered the Fresh Fruit Crepe which is again good for 2-3 persons per serving. Maybe we’re not heavy eaters because for me it’s just enough. It is very mouth watering, and the sweetness is just right.

All in all, the dinner that we had turned out good. We enjoyed the meal though we were not able to consume the Chicken Biryani.

The waiters were nice too. I would also commend them for their honesty because I happened to left one of my phones on their sofa and they immediately called my attention before we left the place.

Dinner At Trellis N’ Vines is a post from: Patay Gutom

I know I’ve blogged about The Happy Bakery before, but they just can’t stop coming up with these awesome new cakes–which means I can’t stop sampling everything that catches my eye too.  And they serve the best lunch soups around Makati, too.

The summer season almost always means that I cut back on my rice consumption and eat more boring food, which is the reason why I’ve been frequenting this not-so-little corner a whole lot lately. The boyfriend and I are a fan of their soup because they’re really thick, chunky and flavorful.

The photo above is their Broccoli and Cheese soup, which is my favorite soup from them. This is not a “fake” Broccoli and Cheese soup! It has real broccolis and cheese cubes that are just a joy (literally!) to eat. You’d be surprised to find out how filling soups can be–The Happy Bakery soups, in particular. They usually serve two or three variants per day, but you can sample each one of them if you’re not in a hurry.

This cake stopped me dead in my tracks. My photo does not do the cake’s visual appeal any justice, but up close it’s so vivid and colorful–truly enticing to the senses. The server was wheedling me into trying this, saying this is a new addition to their menu and whatnot. I deflected with a “I’m on a diet” remark, but within 5 seconds saw myself paying for a slice. Me and my restraint. Go figure. Haha.

I was pretty happy visually, but as soon as I dug my fork into the cake, I was bitterly disappointed. It was dry–too dry. The flavor is dull and boring too–I could barely taste the icing/glaze on top. It could use more icing or sugar for that matter. I took about four bites of this, shared this with the boyfriend who didn’t like it, and didn’t bother taking the leftover. It was so sad because I had high hopes for this cake especially since it looked particularly delicious.

Hmm, maybe I should stick to my yema cake.

The Happy Bakery Tales is a post from: Patay Gutom