The newest concept in food parks: The Yard Street Food Cinema
I started this week by doing something that scares me: meet strangers. I've been getting invitations from a guy named Aldous, who turns out to be some ringleader of bloggers that gets people together for events. As a freelancer, my schedules are fluid and I had been unable to join his group until this Monday. It was a chance to check out the latest in the food park industry: dining with an open cinema.
Movies were projected one after the other on the large screen
I immediately liked the place because parking was easy, and the space can accommodate about 12 cars. It has an industrial design that somehow feels homey; it looked and felt like going to a friend's house party. Upon entering, my eyes were immediately drawn to the big screen in the middle, as it was flashing a chaotic chase scene from an action film. Looking around the three-storey warehouse, I noticed that some of the merchants had movie-related names: Godpasta is a play on the Godfather, and they claim they'll "make you a pasta you can't refuse," while the Lord of the Ribs is pretty self-explanatory. Upon closer inspection, one restaurant used puns of celebrities' names on their menu, with offerings like an Egg Sheeran pizza.
Buffalo Wings and Mac 'n Cheese
I met with three bloggers at Mac 'n Chicks, and started off with small talk as we waited for the food. Despite my awkwardness, I enjoyed talking about our common interests -- mostly food -- and, with this other girl, Tin -- hiking.
Half a dozen wings per variant: clockwise from top are garlic parmesan, honey sriracha, soy garlic
Honey Sriracha Wings: I like my heat, but if you can't take it, this sweet blend is for you
Garlic Parmesan Wings
I liked the Soy Garlic Wings
Mac 'n Cheese Balls
Melty cheese in each ball
Lasagna
When the food arrived, the conversations dwindled as we scarfed down three orders of wings with potato wedges, a plate of lasagna, and some bite-sized mac and cheese. The chicken was tender, and the mac and cheese balls were cheesy, easy pickings. With prices ranging from P120-180 per dish, this joint can get you stuffed with a couple hundred bucks.
Game of Thrones-themed House of Griddle
Among the restaurants that were influenced by on-screen titles is House of Griddle, with its playfully accurate Game of Thrones-theme. I didn't read the books nor do I follow the TV series, but talking to the chef and owner made it clear how big of a fan he is of the franchise. He takes pride in every detail, from the logo to the banners fronting his establishment, and every reference he makes to the epic saga.
Even more impressive was his dedication to the food. Having worked at a top restaurant before starting his own business, he got a taste of other cuisines that broadened his culinary horizon. Aside from giving these dishes his own spin, his interpretations have made them more affordable, and thus accessible, to even the Piso-pinching Filipinos. The price is comparable to other fast food chains, but you get a meal made from scratch. All orders come with their signature fried rice with meat trimmings, string beans, and corn bits. It's a good way to sneak in those veggies into your diet!
Instead of Spanish, this is a French take on Gambas
Bunless Burger with hickory barbecue sauce and melted cheese
Bulgogi Beef Sirloin
Herbed Pork with mushrooms and gravy on the side
This well-seasoned pork belly was my favorite that night
There were heaps more places to try, and I'm especially curious about the fried pizza place, a stall that offers a sushi donut, and two dessert bars that both have a variant of fried bread. This is telling -- yes, I have a thing for fried bread.
Water and Info
The Yard Street Food Cinema is a good place for the barkada who have a hard time agreeing on where to eat, fun for people who love to eat while watching a movie (or love to watch a movie while eating, which I do a lot at home,) or whatever -- if you just want to go on a food trip.
After work last Tuesday, I had late lunch at Kko Kko in Kapitolyo, which has only been open for a month. The newest of five other branches (Sapphire Bloc, Market! Market!, Paseo Center, and UP Town Center), I got a table through Booky, which promised P500 off a P1000 bill. I'd been wanting to try the Chicken Cheese Fondue since I saw it on a friend's feed, and my mind was set for beautiful cheese pulls.
I ordered it as soon as I had settled in my cute booth by the wall, because the menu warns it could take 20 minutes to prepare. The fondue comes in a bread bowl, with chicken, onion rings, and fries as dippers. There were choices to be made as regards the cheese, fries, and chicken because they had several ways of seasoning them. I got my mozzarella in garlic-mustard, my fries with chili powder, and my chicken in Oh My Garlic.
To while me through the wait, I wanted to get some Mandoo, but it wasn't available. Such is my life eating out, unfortunately. I settled for their complimentary appetizer platter, of which I could only eat the kimchi; their delicious home made raspberry tea helped with the anticipation.
Kko Kko Home, Kapitolyo
Digital menu on an iPad
Home made raspberry tea
Chicken Cheese Fondue, half order (P658)
Oh My Garlic chicken with garlic-mustard mozarella
I got my cheese pulls and so much more. The chicken was perfectly done, juicy on the inside with a crispy exterior, despite being drenched in a flavorful, sticky sauce. Calling this a dipper is an injustice, because it can rightfully stand on its own; and yet somehow it goes remarkably well with the cheese. The fries and onion rings were carb stuffers to enjoy the cheese with, but the bread bowl beat them both, tasting like a sourdough (was it?) I guess it's clear I loved it, and I'll be back to try different combinations next time.
Grabbed from FSM Media, the poster I like best from all those released
After Kko Kko, there was its homophone, Coco. For the sake of all those who haven't seen it and happen to stumble on this entry, I'll keep it spoiler-free. All I'll say is WOW: visually arresting, the colors as vibrant as the culture and heritage of its characters. I consider it timely, when it's becoming easier to get more and more disconnected from the songs in our hearts and those we should hold dear.
We had time for one more movie, so we bought tickets to Murder on the Orient Express on its first day out in the theatres. We had just enough time for a quick coffee break at Toby's Estate before heading back to the cinema. With an all-star cast, many of whom I am gaga for, I didn't expect anything less than stellar performances... and I wasn't disappointed. It was thrilling, thought-provoking, and despite having read the book decades ago (and remembering absolutely nothing), still left me baffled. I can't put my finger on it though, but I wasn't blown away. So it was a good mix of new things, but as the title suggests, my Wins of the Week were Kko Kko and Coco. Thoughts? Let's discuss!
Since Masungi opened its gates to the public in December of 2015, I've been intrigued by the photos on my social media feeds. Visits are by reservation only, so after two foiled plans of going, I was invited by fellow Mabuhaykers with only two days notice and finally went. Lately, spontaneous has always worked out the best for me, despite my propensity for thorough research and detailed itineraries.
Located in Baras, Rizal, it was just a surprising hour and a half away from my part of the city, even on a Wednesday morning. We left at roughly 6:30 am, and arrived at San Andres, Tanay by 8:30 am -- we had apparently gone past it on the highway for several kilometers at that point. With time to kill until our 12:40 pm tour, we decided to look for Kinabuan Falls, which was said to be nearby.
Entering through the same arch as I did a month ago en route to Mt. Batolusong, we asked around for Kinabuan on Mt. Ibid, but received mixed information. To cut this part of the story short, it turned out it was at least 10 km away from the highway on very rough roads, and the hike a good 14 hours to and from the falls, so we knew it was an adventure for another day. Even the alternative Mt. Maynuba and Mt. Cayabu with its "8 Wonder Falls" would've had us pressed for time, even if it was much closer to where we were.
Idyllic landscapes and cool, crisp air
Crispy Talong & Calamari at Cafe Katerina: delicious food, beautiful view, and golden retrievers
We killed time at Cafe Katerina, a restaurant by the highway further down, and apparently frequented by cross-country bikers. Our al fresco table had a killer view of the mountain ranges, the winding road below, Laguna de Bay in the horizon, and even the windmills of Pililla to the far right. It was cool enough for my companions to sport their jackets and leg warmers.
We were greeted by a friendly Golden Retriever, and as it led me in, I saw that they were a pack of about 6 dogs! Anyone who knows me can guess what happened after that... I played with all of them, except a black retriever, who was chained up, looking moody. The staff warned that he was known to snap at people on "off days." Oh yeah, we were talking about the restaurant, count on me to get sidetracked by dogs. Ate Isay ordered longganisa with garlic rice and a side of crispy eggplant, Kuya Robert got some sort of beef stew, and I got the calamari and crispy talong pictured above. All the food were well seasoned and prepared, with hefty servings good for sharing, and prices ranged between ~P90-200 only. Certain value for money, and I'd definitely eat there again next time.
Photo grabbed from https://elmoresylvan.wordpress.com
I was introduced to the rest of the group when they caught up with us there for lunch, and then we convoyed to Masungi. The entrance to the place is easy to miss with its classy minimalist sign bearing its logo and the words "KM47 Baras, Rizal." From the highway, only a small parking lot is in view; and it's not until you take a short walk down a path past a tower with buzzing power lines that you will see the receiving area. They had tables to gather people for the welcome orientation, shelves for bags and helmets, and clay pots to refill bottles with mineral water. The paths were lined with colorful flowers and marked with sketched wooden signs.
Wild tomatoes by the path that a caretaker gave me to plant
We were assigned a tour guide who took us around the trails and gave a little information about each highlighted area. From the top of my head, she took us through 3 hanging bridges, the famous spiderweb, 3 prominent peaks nicknamed Tatay, Nanay, and Ditse, a small cave with great natural light (yes, good for pictures), and numerous hammocks of different sizes, styles, and shapes. She coordinated with the other guides to ensure well-timed stops at each location.
Labeled as Suotan, loosely translated as pathway or somewhere you can squeeze into
One of several hanging bridges
Could this be the biggest hammock in the world?
Swings inside a hut: unusual but fun
Mosaics that feature some of the endemic animals found in those mountains: this one is the mouse deer
After descending a rope section, it extends to the other side of the forest
I took this from the highest point of Tatay, my companions on the way up
Sunset of a really good day
SaveSave
LOVE the entire project, from its beginnings of stepping up against illegal loggers and miners, to their dedication to the conservation of the environment. Their values really reflect in the guide's opening spiel about respecting everyone and everything in the mountains, which you can hear a snippet of in the short video below. I'd love our hiking guides to say a similar spiel in all the destinations in communities around the country. I wish all people could hear it and live it. LOVE the bathroom facilities, built into the natural rock of the mountains, with amenities like sunscreen, lotion, and mosquito repellant. LOVE the many hammocks, but being a timed visit, we couldn't really stay and lounge in them for very long. LOVE the cleanliness and maintenance of the trails, it's a really good way to ease new hikers into going outdoors. LOVE the included snacks at the end of the hike, so thoughtfully packed under a net; it was like opening a gift to reveal a loaf of bread, lettuce, tuna salad, bananas, and calamansi juice.
LUKEWARM about the cave scented with ylang-ylang, although it did mask the smell of guano that I despise. LUKEWARM about our guide who came late and who, in the end, seemed very irritable toward us (though she told a story about visitors that appreciate the surprise appearances of wild animals that I liked).
Overall, it's a safe and wonderful place to re/introduce nature to city-dwellers, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a couple of free hours -- because really, that's all it takes. A short drive to Rizal and 3-4 hours of walking = breathing fresh air, appreciating birdsong and silence, and burning a few calories in the process.
2. We paid P1,500/person for a group of 7. Accepted group sizes are 7 and 14, no more and no less.
3. Check the weather to dress accordingly. I was in shorts and a tank top, and it was fine; but I can imagine it getting nippier in the rainy season or in our cooler months. Wear comfortable walking shoes or sandals, though I discourage slippers (I don't know if they have official regulations against it). No need to worry about scratches, as the trails have been well-manicured, though for those who want extra protection from stray branches or itchy tree trunks, you may want to wear pants and gloves. They provide helmets, and because the trails weave through the many rock formations, you will really need it. They sanitize them, and in fact, we saw them out drying under the sun after a wash.
4. Must be fit enough to walk up to 4 hours, though there are many resting areas along the way; and rope sections need some sort of upper body strength and good grip.
5. Always be aware of your surroundings, look at where you are going and stepping.
6. Listen to your guides and adhere to their rules. Some photos are not worth stepping (or jumping!) into danger for.
I'd love to hear what you think, and hope to see you out there soon. That's a lot of things done, just in One Day,
Maybe it’s all the time I’ve been spending in nature lately that has catapulted me into this, but I’ve become increasingly interested in the idea of living off the earth, planting my own food, and eventually feeding many mouths from my crops. My parents have a garden, but it’s landscaped for decorative flora. When I was given the weekly task of mowing the lawn, I took it as a sign to start with my new project.
It’s been 6 weeks since my first visit to the nursery, where I bought my first seedlings: 2 different kinds of sili (chili,) eggplant, and avocado. Since then, I’d attempted to care for chives, a Malaysian chili plant, and most recently planted passion fruit seeds from my trip to the mountains, where I saw them crawling lazily on other tree trunks.
I joined a gardening forum I found online, and I’ve learned so much off the internet; but the best teacher has been every single day of sun and rain, observing what my plants like and don’t like. Unfortunately, I also learned the hard way, and that was watching some of my plants die. The biggest lesson so far has been to plant seeds and tiny seedlings in pots first. I think most of them drowned from the heavy rains, and I’m guessing my soil needs to be better prepped. I’ve been reading up on composting, and I love that it also functions as organic waste disposal.
Losing some of my plants was sad, but I don’t give up so easy. My eggplants, one chili, and avocado are thriving and are growing new buds every week. I’ve replanted some of my chili seeds in pots (instead of directly on a garden plot,) and some have grown into seedlings.
There is much to be learned, and I'm a willing tudent. Barely a month into it and I’ve already been rewarded with some fresh chives that I was able to share with my my two girlfriends. Best feeling.
The late sunrises and cool evenings have come to pass. I don't know what the weather bureau has to say about it, but I think summer started on Monday. It's not so much the sun -- we have that all year round -- but the humidity feels like a sweater I can't remove. In this heat, all I do is daydream about being by the ocean. There, my body will match the brine, and I will float aimlessly... On Friday, I'm going to visit a friend in Hawai'i. We've been planning this trip together for months, listing down all we want to do, eat, and accomplish. Once we started making plans, I found it harder and harder to concentrate on my daily routine (thus, this extremely delayed post!) I think the anticipation of a vacation is one of the things that heighten the overall experience.
I love making plans, especially on my cute Kikki.K planner with stickers
The friend I'm staying with in Honolulu is a yogi, and she has prepared a pretty packed itinerary filled with the things I love most: food, nature, and fitness. She and her husband have also graciously included a trip to Kona and Kauai, after having mentioned that I'd never been and have always wanted to go. On top of my excitement to explore another side of the world, I'm looking forward to being in the company of two strong ladies I'm proud to call my friends. That in itself will make this a great vacation. I'm so grateful to have found people with the same thirst for adventure. By my next post, I should already be on another island, miles away from my beloved, native islands.So, so long, farewell, Manila! See you soon!
It's been two weeks since my last post, and I've been at a loss for words over the amount of life I've been living. This month, I visited an art fair, celebrated Sandwich Day, attended a brunch party, tried new dishes and/or restaurants, styled another product shoot for the holidays, became a godmother for the fifth time, took a tap dance refresher and learned a new routine, hoarded Mario Kart toys, memorised lines for a corporate musical, and spent time at my best friend's going-away garage sale.
In my previous blog, I used post "storybooks," especially when photos could tell the stories better than words in a short amount of time. Mostly, I made them to recap a trip, to show photos of food, scenery, people, years before the age of Facebook and Instagram. Now, I'll start a storybook series: pic-heavy and as word-sparse as I can manage. Catch up with me :) November 3 - Sandwich Day at Mr. Graham's Sandwich Shop #SandwichDay #MrGrahamsSandwichDay On top of offering some of their sandwiches at Buy 1, Take 1, they had live performances by local singer-songwriters, and a sandwich eating contest. That last one must've been the highlight for me; we were all blown away when a professional competitive eater inhaled the 14" Cebuano (Lechon) Manwich in 1 minute and 13 seconds! 0_0 (Click the link to see his Facebook fan page, but I'm warning you, they videos are not for the queasy!)
November 4 - A Birthday Brunch We surprised our Coffee Crew buddy on his 25th birthday, with a beautiful brunch spread by his wife: bagels, bacon, bananas, butter!
This raspberry-rosemary iced tea was a balm on that hot day
Crispy, light, perfectly seasoned Shiitake make these the healthiest chicharon you'll ever have
I couldn't decide if I liked the Peanut-Plum or the Basil, Cilantro, and Mint dressing more -- so I just enjoyed both with this CK Chicken Salad
My favorite dish from lunch was this Spicy Arrabbiata & Ricotta Cottage Cream Rigatoni. The tomato sauce was velvety smooth, the basil gave a fresh bite, and the ricotta balanced the heat
This hot tapa sandwich came with an Au Jus and Dijonaise, and the most flavourful caramelised onion "French Dip"
Something moist and salty sweet for dessert? Try the artisanal salted caramel cake
Chewy and filled with dulce de leche, these Donut Holes with a warm chocolate dip was perfect with my afternoon coffee
They offer Illy and Yardstick coffee, but I opted for the stronger Americano
November 9 - Artists' Buffet Spread at M Cafe #LoveMCafe #RaintreeRestaurants We had a gig for the company that I used to work for, and our holding area was at the Museum Cafe across from the venue. We love gigs that feed well!
Not sure if this semi-naked vegetable lumpia was from the M Cafe menu or Kabila's, but I loved its flavour and ingenuity
Not bacon bits, but bacon slabs on this creamy carbonara!
Steamed juicy Hainanese chicken...
... best paired with this fragrant Hainanese rice, and mixed in with ginger and chili condiments
With the iconic M of M Cafe
Post-show night cap with my favourite M Cafe cocktail, the Sunset Session: berries, lemongrass sake, chambord, dalandan
November 10 - Hors d'oeuvres after our show in Solaire #Solaire #MomentsAtSolaire I loved the selection they had from the smoked salmon bites, mini paté bruschetta, to the surf and turf skewers, and super cheesy spinach lasagna.
Grissini wrapped in parma ham, with grana shavings
They didn't scrimp on the imported scallops!
November 11 - Ooma Japanese Rice Bar at the Fashion Hall, Megamall #OomaJapaneseRiceBar #Ooma I was shopping for a shoot, which brought me to Megamall after scouring two other places. Decided it was time to try this out, since we loved Sensei in the South so much. Sadly, the Gyudon and Ebi Tempura Maki were underwhelming; the former was served room temperature instead of warm (which I expected from a freshly steamed rice dish) and the latter didn't have much flavour. While we did like the Corn and Oyster Kakiage and its dipping sauce, it was not photogenic.
Torched Scallop and Tuna Aburi Maki was the only thing we really liked
November 14 - Trying the New Caffè Pascucci, Robinson's Galleria #Coffee #Caffe #Pascucci
Good coffee at Pascucci, Robinson's Galleria before a gig
Macho Nachos (?) with sous vide egg from Taco Vengo was just alright. Anna has been raving about their fish taco, but it was unavailable that night. Ended up getting the shrimp which was also just alright. Now I'm really curious about that fish taco, so it warrants a revisit.
Milky Strawberry 3-layer pancake stack from Ally's All Day Breakfast on Malingap St. reminded me that they have the best pancakes in the country: fluffy, soft, and melts in your mouth, absorbing everything you put on it. I still prefer their Tiramisu and Chocolate, though.We also tried the 3-cheese waffle, but it had nothing on Pancake House's.
November 19 - Podium Grub Chicken and Pumpkin Waffle from Borough #BoroughPodium
It doesn't look great, but this sweet tea infused fried chicken from Borough just made it to my top 5 fried chickens in Manila. The pumpkin waffle was a little bland, but was a good complement to the chicken; it would've been nice if the butter were more flavourful.
Deliciously different: Green Mango Sorbet with Nam Prik (Thai Chili sugar.) I prefer this over the bagoong variant from the ever inventive Sebastian's Ice Cream
What have you been eating lately? Leave me a comment or Tweet me on the sidebar and show me pictures!
