Stars and Spices!

My friends and I think that the best treat someone can give oneself after taking a hard and stressful exam is YUMMY FOOD! So one fine Sunday afternoon, right after our Economics long exam, Inna and I went straight to Katipunan, one of the nearest places in the university where one would definitely find a good place to eat.

During the entire jeepney ride to Katipunan, we thought of the possible places that we may eat in and finally decided to dine at Chubby Chicken and try the drinks offered by Starr's Famous Milkshake after.


1st stop: Chubby Chicken

Photo Source: Blogspot.com

Upon arrival, we were already assisted by a restaurant crew as he handed us the menu. As we consulted the menu, I noticed that the restaurant also offers a lot of other dishes aside from its signature chicken. Some of dishes available in Chubby Chicken are fish strips, tacos, pastas, and fries.

Photo Source: Cloudfront.net

As it was our first time to try dining there, I decided to order the restaurant's signature chicken, the "Chubby Chicken" with sweet and spicy sauce and rice while Inna ordered the "Chubby Chicken" with sweet sauce and fries. Although the chicken is too sweet and not really chubby as regarded by Inna, we were still satisfied with what we have ordered.

 2nd stop: Starr's Famous Shakes
Located right beside Chubby Chicken is the Starr's Famous Shakes. Honestly, I was really excited to try their so-called famous shakes because I am a big fan of shakes and desserts.

Photo Source: Blogspot.com

Upon arrival, we noticed that the place is really small but its style and coziness immediately captured us. After seeing the menu, we really cannot choose the flavor that we would order because we wanted to try it all but our money would not let us. After pondering for about thirty minutes, Inna decided to order the Strawberry Cheesecake while I ordered Caramel Cookie Dough!

Photo Source: Wordpress.com

Photo Source: Beeconomic.com

After having our first sips, we immediately felt pleased because the shakes are really delicious and worth the price. The shakes are really so thick like what we have expected it to be so we were really satisfied.

Truth be told, I almost forgot the horror that our exam has brought us because of the yummy food and good company that I have had for the rest of the day. I would really love to visit these food hubs again soon and I would really make sure that I'll bring lots of money and friends to make the experience more enjoyable. I hope to see you there too!!!

Gillian Gail: A Sweet Escape

It was around September when I first heard of Gillian Gail. I bought my UP Powercard and it came with a Gillian Gail dessert buffet gift certificate. It was actually the gift certificate that pushed me into buying the point card. Me and my friend kept talking about it and how we want to try the dessert buffet, because I mean, who doesn't like sweets, amirite? We kept scheduling it on the weekend yet it never happened. It was until I saw the ad for one of their promos on Facebook when me and my friend finally decided to go to Gillian Gail, with our broken hearts and the desire to mend it with wonderful sweets.

As soon as I opened the door, I felt a different kind of atmosphere. Yeah, it was colder inside compared to the corridor outside but it was the design of the place that got to me. I don't know why but the colors made me feel like I was a character in Alice in Wonderland. I liked how it was dainty, and it made me smile as soon as I stepped in. We were greeted by a girl as we asked for a place to sit. The tables were full so we were given seats by this counter-type thingy. It was around 10 PM when we came in and apparently you pay only P150 if you arrive 9 PM onwards. We couldn't wait anymore so we started as soon as they gave us the green light.

Tried my hand at plating. A for Effort.

The buffet was filled with an array of desserts, from your usual brownies to panna cotta. I was screaming inside. If someone told me that Gillian Gail is heaven, I won't even argue. I quickly filled my plate with one from each that they have out. I wasn't able to take note what I got since I was too excited, but there were definitely stand-outs for me. I really loved their panna cotta. It looked so simple yet it had lots of flavor, I think I had three servings of it. The red velvet cupcakes were to die for as well. They even had truffles too. I kept on putting everything on my plate. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Wouldn't I get sick if I ate this amount of sweets? Gillian Gail beat you to that. They also have nachos to balance your palate, don't go easy on the cheese I tell you, you'll need it. If that's not enough for you, surprisingly they have siomai, siopao, kikiam and some balls for your unlimited consumption as well. I love siomai so much that I had 10 pieces before I called it quits.

Nachos. CHEESE.

During the course of our stay, someone approached us and asked us if we wanted coffee or tea, which is, yes, you guessed it, unlimited as well. And since they are already on promo, they offered it for only P30 pesos. I love coffee so much that I couldn't say no to the offer. I swear, I felt like the place was made for me. If only they had unlimited pizza as well, or unlimited chicken, I wouldn't be surprised if the place was made for me.

Mango Cheesecake

A few minutes later, we were greeted by a girl in a purple top, and I guessed she owned the place. She asked us how we were doing and if we wanted to try their cheesecake. They didn't have it in small servings anymore so they gave us the one in a jar which we shared. The packaging was just too cute, never would I expect a cheesecake to be in a jar, I have to give them props for that.

Relationship goals.

Apparently, the girl in the purple top is the owner of the place, and I couldn't help but do an ambush interview since I was really curious about the place and how they came up with the idea of a dessert buffet. So I asked her how they came up with the idea with a dessert buffet. She told me that it was actually hers, and her boyfriend, Denise Choi's love for buffet and love for desserts that started everything. They would go to buffet places and they would somehow end up disappointed when it came to the desserts. So they made a buffet focused only on desserts, making them "yummy and not too sweet". Usually restaurants have this conception of desserts being super sweet and full of sugar and they wanted to showcase that sweetness isn't what always makes the dessert, it's just one part of it.

I was also curious about her favorite dessert and what she would recommend that we try from their selection. It was the red velvet cupcake, which they used real cream cheese to top it, not just some imitation. They really wanted to showcase that desserts could be relatively inexpensive yet still serve them with good quality. According to her, her boyfriend loves her so much he decided to name the place after her, Gillian Gail.
So I asked her as well why she chose to add nachos and those Chinese dimsum in their buffet. Apparently they didn't start that way. Around the first weeks of their business, they had instances where people would get sick after eating too much sweets and desserts. So they added nachos to remove the "umay". And then came August with the celebration of Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, they decided to jump in with the celebration and add siomai and siopao and the others during the duration of the festival. It was a huge success that they had to keep it.

I had a wonderful time at Gillian Gail from the time I entered through the doors to my last scoop of Mango Cheesecake. The only thing I did wrong is to eat dinner before going there thinking I wouldn't need as much space for dessert. Boy, was I wrong! I shall come back for more, maybe take better photos of their buffet and this time come on a slightly empty stomach so I could finally have space for their unlimited icecream as well.

For dessert lovers, like me, you should definitely pay a visit to Gillian Gail. You wouldn't regret it. Trust me.


Gillian Gail Dessert Buffet
3/F Oracle Residences, Katipunan Avenue
Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108

TORCH!

Food, food Food! Here's another restaurant you would want to mesh in - TORCH. Actually we're just trying out something new for us and viola, we found Torch at UP Town Center. 

At first,  I thought it is a restaurant that specializes on spicy foods because of its name. Fortunately, I was wrong, since I am not fond of eating spicy food. :)

I found their ceiling amazing and creative. Every time I looked up, I tend to just gaze upon it for about two minutes or so. 

They even have television available. 

Salpicao Tenders
(Sauteed u.s. Angus Beef tenderloin cubes, served with egg and buttered garlic rice)
Php 219. 95

U.S. Angus Beef Tapa
(Sauteed tapa slices of U.S. Angus Beef, marinated in Torch's original recipe, served with egg and buttered garlic rice)
Php 186

Uncle's 5-Cheese Pizza
(Mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, Fontina and ricotta cheese, topped with fresh basil strips)
Php 329.95

The meal we had was delicious and I highly recommend you guys trying out this restaurant. The ambiance inside the place was calm and relaxing, even the staff are friendly (though it kind of bothered me when they are standing and kept on looking at us as if they want to say something). Nevertheless, it was a good dining place and for sure, I'll be visiting Torch again. 

Slice N' Dice, repeat if desired.

There's no denying the fact that I love meat. (Pun not intended.) If it wasn't for my love for salad and rice, I'd think I am a carnivore. So just imagine my delight when I heard there is a place serving steaks for just P99, and the best part is, it is just a few meters away from the place I currently reside. I knew I had to try it, as soon as I can.

Slice N' Dice: Tender Steaks
100% tender; no knife needed

I could feel my heart doing somersaults as I take the steps towards the restaurant. As soon as I entered the place, they escorted me to where I could sit, asking me if I wanted to sit by the window or right next to their television. "Babe, I Love You" was playing and I knew where I would be sitting.

They gave me the menu and left me to decide on what to order. They had huge steaks around 230-250 grams around P200 for the T-Bone and P250 for the Porterhouse steak. I was somehow panicking since I clearly remember that they said it was P99. Alas, I flipped the menu and saw the promo. They had P99 meals: Junior T-Bone, Sirloin Salpicao, and Garlic Porkloin Steak, Grilled Chicken Steak, Steak Sisig (I had a "whoa" moment when I saw that) and Garlic Bangus steak. If you wanted to have unlimited servings of rice, you could add P10 to your meal and you could ask for as many servings of rice you can, as well as bottomless red iced tea for just P30. They also have cheaper meals if you're on a really tight budget.

I ordered the Junior T-Bone steak since it's what I came for in the first place, asked for a extra side dish of mashed potatoes, just because, and of course, ordered their classic Ceasar salad.

I loved how they tried to do a plating but somehow gave up half way.

So I had my Junior T-bone steak, and judging by the size, I got a pretty nice deal for P99. They have this guarantee that their steaks are 100% tender and you wouldn't need a knife to cut it, and surprisingly, they really do have tender steaks. They just gave me a spoon and fork and let me be. The steak was tender, well seasoned, and it melts in your mouth. They also (barely) added buttered corn and carrots as well, the usual side dish for a steak dish. Though I wished they had the gravy separated from the steak and not poured on top of it.

Their mashed potato was creamy and just the right amount of saltiness that would leave you wanting for more. Pairing it with the steak (and/or the gravy) just hits the spot.

Another "okay-I-shall-make-this-pretty-oh-shoot-I-ruined-it-ugh-who-cares-they'll-still-eat-it-anyway" kind of plating.

And last but not the least, I tried their salad. I had a hard time tossing the salad since it was served on a flat plate and the greens were just too large. It would have been better if they serve the salad on a bowl, so that the customers could easily toss the salad. It was an okay salad, would have been better though with a bit more dressing but I love salad so I still munched it down.

Slice N' Dice serves affordable steak meals that don't cut on the quality of their food just to make it cheaper. Whether you or you aren't on a budget, you would still get served well prepared steak meal.
I shall come back and probably try the premium steaks soon, (and as well as that steak sisig which intrigues me so much). See you soon, maybe?

Sukimoko? Definitely yes!

You know those moments when you and your friends decide to eat dinner together yet you can't decide on a place? It was one of these moments that led us to this building next to National Bookstore along Katipunan Avenue. The building is home to different kinds of restaurants but the one that really got our attention is the "food court" they have on the second floor of the building.

It was the typical type of foodcourt. It had tables and chairs and around it, you have these food stalls. The food court has four functional stalls: there is a stall which serves a Korean snack called hoddeok and waffles, there is also Magnolia stall serving icecream, banana splits, sundaes and milkshakes, Quickly, and of course, Sukimoko, which serves Japanese cuisine. I don't know if it was on purpose but the name seems like a witty wordplay.

So it was my friend who ordered first, asking for a Beef Gyudon, and the thing that caught my attention is that they have their kitchen just right next to their cash register, and it is an open kitchen so if you want to see how your meal is prepared, you can pretty much stand just at the side and watch. The beef gyudon costs P85 pesos and it was pretty much okay considering the price.

My other friend ordered their pork katsudon which is also P85. It had a pretty decent plating, compared to the beef gyudon. She partnered it with a P40 iced coffee and I swear it was one of the best iced coffee I have ever tasted, which I totally didn't expect from Sukimoko.

I, on the other hand, ordered from their Japanese Bento selection, asking for the Beef Tapa Teriyaki for just P85. The meal comes with a side dish of stirfried mixed vegetables which complimented the meat perfectly. Out of all the dishes that night I was happiest with the meal I ordered.

We also ordered a side of Tofu Salad for P75, so if you're vegan, they also got you covered.

The thing that I really like about Sukimoko is their unlimited iced coffee promo for only P80. As I've mentioned before, they have really good iced coffee and I was really excited when they offered the unlimited iced coffee promo. I had around 4 servings (and ended up pretty hyper throughout the night).

We also ordered the ice cream waffle sandwich and a sundae from the other stalls in the food court.

Looking at the prices in their menu, Sukimoko seems very affordable. So if you are into Japanese cuisine, but you're on a budget, you might want to pay a visit to Sukimoko. It is right next to National Bookstore. If you visit on a Friday night, you might even catch me and my friends there.

PS. Another food stall is opening soon, which serves Korean dishes, so be sure to check that out as well.

Winter Wonderland in Katipunan

My dream is to visit a place where it snows. When in fact, travelling to countries during winter are included in my travel wishlist. I want to experience smokes coming out from my mouth every time I breathe or talk. The truth is, we, Filipinos, get easily fascinated with winter because we are in a tropical country and we don't get to experience that cold weather here in the Philippines.

I honestly have a sweet tooth, and I love anything cold, be it the weather, drinks, and even food. Ice cream is always my choice when trying to cool down especially when the weather is hot. Even if the weather is cold, I still prefer ice cream as a dessert. If you love ice cream and you want to get a glimpse of winter, visit Winter Garden Desserts in Katipunan, Quezon City.

Winter Garden Desserts is hidden behind the Ersao restaurant, beside the National's Bookstore. They are open from 12 NN-10 PM, Mondays-Sundays.

This is what it looks like from the outside.

And this is what it looks like from the inside.

Can I just say that I already fell in love with the place itself even before trying their food? I love every piece! From the chairs and tables to the designs, everything compliments with the theme.

Took this photo because it's really nice.

Here's their menu

We can't wait to try the nitrogen so we ordered immediately.

Believe it or not, I was happy like a kid watching this.

Kuya preparing our garden party

Garden Party - Php175

Omnomnom (twin scoops) - Php195

I was trying so hard to make the smoke come out from my mouth perfectly. I did it, well somehow.

 And in case you ran out of nitrogen, refill costs Php20 only.

I would definitely come back with my friends. Thank you Winter Garden Desserts for such an awesome experience! 

For more details and updates, visit and like their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wintergardendesserts and follow them on Twitter and Instagram @wintergardendesserts