Over The Moon with Moonleaf

Milk tea. This might be the most popular word nowadays (Anne Curtis being the second one). If you don’t know what it is and the craze it’s been causing Metro Manila, then it’s safe to assume you’ve been living inside a cave. With the plethora of choices where one can have their milk tea fix (see our Happy Lemon and Serenitea review here), differentiation can be very difficult for milk tea entrepreneurs.

Not for Moonleaf Tea Shop.

Starting in Maginhawa Street, UP Village, this once humble tea shop gained fame from college students who frequented the place and has become one of, if not, the fastest growing milk tea place in the country. It is also the first one to have ventured outside Manila (they have stores in Pampanga and Naga). Moonleaf also diversified its offerings; aside from teas, they now have their own planner which sold like hotcakes last Christmas season.

Delish-ious!

When you're looking for a place that's got a lot of good food places, there's definitely no doubt that Teacher's Village would be a great suggestion. The long and winding Maginhawa street alone offers lots of good choices, whether it be for a sumptuous meal or for a simple yet yummy snack. Whatever food place you crave for - Italian, Filipino, Persian, Mexican, even the yummiest carinderia - Maginhawa street has it all. It wouldn't be a surprise that our next food trip would again (yes, again hahahaha) be here.

We found a food place that we felt would appease our palates - Delish. It's along Maginhawa street, so it's very easy to find. Besides, there's a big signage of the food place, so difficulty in finding it is really not a good excuse. From the outside, actually, it doesn't look much of a restaurant. But if you're kinda used to Teacher's Village, then it's good to try this place out. The inside looks more of a bar. There are also paintings displayed on the walls, which are for sale. The good part is that you can't remove the fact that they serve scrumptious dishes at very affordable prices.

Here's what we got:

House Iced Tea, 45 php


Glutton Guy and Glutton Girl: A different take on iced tea. It had a fruity taste, which made it more refreshing. It wasn't too sweet, which is another good thing. Placing it in a beautiful glass makes it more inviting to taste. For 45 pesos, it's worth a try. : )

Mushrooms in Garlic ala Pobre Style, 165 php

Glutton Guy: I liked this dish. It had a spicy taste which really hyped up the flavors. You could really taste the garlic in the dish. The oil added more flavor, which I also liked. The mushrooms were perfectly cooked. It was also served beautifully. The servings were also a lot. For me, it's a must-try dish. : )


Glutton Girl: It's a yummy dish. I just felt that there was too much oil in it. I'm not much of a fan of oily foods. However, I liked the spiciness of the dish. The mushrooms were soft and delicious. I liked the garlic, too. However, I thought there was also too much garlic. I agree with Glutton Guy, though, that this is a must-try dish.

Crispy Shrimp and Potato Fritters, 160 php


Glutton Guy: Delish's take on our crispy Okoy. I have to admit, though, their version is much, much better. It's just potato and shrimp, but wow, it does pack a punch! Dipping it in the vinegar makes it more delicious. I'd have more if I wasn't full. It really is delicious! I'd definitely order more of this on my next trip to Delish. : )


Glutton Girl: I love this dish! It's very crispy and very delicious. The potato fritters were fried to perfection. The shrimp also tasted good. And I just love the vinegar dip. It really gives the climax to the dish. The vinegar was mixed with red pepper slices that made it spicy. It really accentuated the dish. I just found it hard to eat at some point since there were strands of potatoes which were too long so you had to break them. Overall, I think it's a very yummy dish.

Baked Oysters with Garlic and Cream Cheese, 225 php


Glutton Guy: Talk about delicious seafood! This really is a wonderful treat. Like I've said in our previous blog entries, I'm a die hard fan of seafood. This one made my day (really...hahahaha). The oysters were baked perfectly well. The cream cheese was just delectable. You can taste the freshness of the oysters. Presentation wise, the dish was served beautifully. I don't care if I sound redundant, but this dish really is delicious. : )


Glutton Girl: Another dish that's worth trying. It's comparable to the expensive oyster dishes that you find at fine dining restaurants. The melted cheese was simply delicious. The oysters were baked well and they tasted great. I think it would be better if there would be a splash of citrus, like lemon, perhaps.

Golden Fillet of Fish Escabeche, 95 php


Glutton Guy: I ordered this dish because I preferred fish rather than pork or chicken during that time. The fish was soft on the inside. There was a bit of crunch on the outside from the crust. The sauce was sweet and lemony. It tasted like sweet and sour fish fillet that we usually eat at Chinese restaurants. For me, though, it lacked some taste. : )

Crispy Honey-Garlic Chicken, 89 php


Glutton Guy: For me this dish tastes like normal, home-cooked fried chicken. The difference was that there was a bit of sweetness from the honey. The chicken, though, was crispy. Plus, it was perfectly cooked, it was soft on the inside. It was an okay dish for me, overall. : )


Glutton Girl: I liked this dish because it was crispy. I just didn't like the part that was served to us. I'm not much of a fan of the wing part. The honey gave the dish a different yet delicious taste. I also liked the crispy garlic on top of the chicken. For me the blending of tastes worked perfectly well.

Crispy Binagoongan with Green Mango Salsa, 89 php


Glutton Girl: This dish was really good. The pork was really crispy. The bagoong on top added flavor to the pork, which really worked for me. The mango salsa complemented the dish very well. The mix of mangoes and tomatoes was really good. It's another dish that's worth-trying.

Apple Pie ala Mode, 125 php


Glutton Guy: I'm really not into apple pies. This one was delicious at some point. However, I probably wouldn't be able to finish the whole slice. For me it was too sweet. I liked the ice cream, though. Plus, the pie was hot when it was served, which is a good thing for me. : )


Glutton Girl: For me it also was too sweet. It would probably be best for sharing, since I would also not be able to finish the slice by myself. The pie and the ice cream were a good tandem. The hot pie and the cold ice cream was just perfect. I liked the presentation of the dish as well with the cherry on top.


Delish is a good place that offers good food. It's also a nice place to hangout with friends, since it's an 'inuman' place at night. They are also open for catering and exclusive functions. With the delicious food that they offer, who wouldn't anyway? Delish is a great food place worth trying at Teacher's Village. The place is accessible, offers great food at an affordable price, what more could you ask for? For us, there would only be one word to describe the food - Delish-ious!

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Delish Restaurant and Catering is located at 103 Maginhawa street, Teacher's Village, Diliman, Quezon City. It's just beside BDO.)

 

Kiss-ing the Cook makes a Yummy Meal

We stumbled upon this newly opened place in Maginhawa Street in UP Village. We have heard a lot of notable things from people who gave this place a shot. It was also featured in Mel and Joey. So, we've decided to visit and see for ourselves what makes people come back to the place. 

The place is called Kiss the Cook Cafe. If you don't have a good eye for spotting places, you'll have a hard time looking for Kiss the Cook because it is barely noticeable. The sign cannot be seen from afar and it's not totally readable. Plus, the place is covered by trees from one side. The first time we looked for Kiss the Cook, we gave up looking for it. We covered the whole Maginhawa Street and still we couldn't find it. Good thing the second time around it wasn't that difficult to find.

The place is small yet comfortable. You'll really feel the fine dining ambiance upon entering the place. We did find the place a little small for a cafe that's kind of popular in the area. The place is nicely designed, and it will give you that homey feeling. The people there are nice and accommodating. We were even lucky that the manager was there to give a little chat about the place. She's the owner's sister and she was really nice. She even suggested some dishes which we should order and try. Some celebrities are common visitors of the place like Eugene Domingo. So, it wouldn't be hard to believe when people say that this place is really worth the try, especially for guys like us.

Here's what we ordered:

Ginger Lime Tea, 100 php

Glutton Guy: I really had doubts in ordering this. I really hate the taste of ginger, so for me, it wasn't a good idea to order a ginger drink. The manager recommended that we try it. She said that it's a good summer chiller. So we gave the drink a shot. And you know what? It wasn't what I was expecting to taste. There really was just a little trace of ginger. All I could taste was the citrus flavor from the lime and some sweetness, probably from a little sugar. There was a ginger flavor after-taste, but it wasn't a bad thing at all. It was really a thirst quencher, especially this summer. Never knew ginger could be that good. : )

Glutton Girl: I’m not a fan of ginger flavors so I was hesitant to try it. But the manager suggested it so yeah, we ordered. It was very refreshing but I had a hard time finishing it. It’s best drank ‘super cold’ because the lime and ginger flavors were strong for my taste.

Oriental Duck Rolls, 185 php

Glutton Guy: I've already tried this, but in a different restaurant. This was also good, but it had a different version. The one I tried before also had the same vegetables, but used the skin of the duck. Kiss the Cook, however, uses the meat of the duck. The one I tried before had a more delicious sauce than Kiss the Cook's, but I'm not saying that Kiss the Cook's sauce is not good at all. Basically what I'm saying is that there's a better version of the dish. But it's not a dish that I wouldn't recommend. I mean, every dish is worth trying at Kiss the Cook. : )

Glutton Girl: My first comment after taking a bite was "lasang damo". Haha I think it had so much vegetables, you’d have to be very observant to taste the duck. It’s a single sliver of duck meat surrounded by greens. The duck was dry. Thankfully the sauce was very savory- I guess it’s the best part of the dish. But for 185 for four rolls, I think it’s overpriced. 

Five-Spice Pork Spareribs, 195 php

Glutton Guy: I was given the opportunity by Glutton Girl to taste her order. It was good, but according to her, it was really spicy. When I tasted it I didn't feel the spiciness of the pork. Of course I only tasted a bit, so couldn't really tell. But, I have to say that this really is deserving of the best-seller title. : )

Glutton Girl: Meat is my default choice anywhere so it was a no brainer to pick the Five-spice Pork Spareribs. It had this right crunch, the meat is tender and it had the right amount of spice. The cilantro-corn slaw was flavorful. I liked it!

 

Moroccan Fish Fillet, 245 php

Glutton Guy: This was my order. For 245 php, this dish is overpriced for me. The amount of fish in the dish was small for the price (or probably the plate was just big hahaha). I couldn't figure out the taste of the dish, and I have to admit, the taste is quite forgettable. However, the fish is really crispy outside yet soft and fluffy-like on the inside. The salad that comes with it is really good. Every ingredient looked fresh, especially the greens. : )

Glutton Girl:This was Glutton Guy’s order. It was very good. The fish was cooked perfectly and the flavor complements the fish just right.

Truffle Mushroom and Cheese, 165 php

Glutton Guy: A friend of ours was with us and she ordered this dish. She did let me taste it, though. It was really good. It's a sandwich that's not ordinary. The bread was semi-crunchy, making it very good. The melted cheese inside the sandwich is really good as well. I would really recommend this one to you guys. : )

Espresso Panna Cotta, 75 php

Glutton Guy: This was also ordered by our friend. Sad to say, I'm really not a fan of coffee. So, I didn't like it. Don't base the dish on my comment, though. It's just that I don't really like coffee, so I wrote this kind of comment. It was creamy though and it tasted really light. : )

Glutton Girl: This was an okay dessert for me. The texture was like Jell-o but the flavor was light cappuccino, which is good. I was expecting it to be creamier.

Choco Lava Cake A La Mode, 120 php

Glutton Guy: Sinfully good. It was really chocolate heaven for me. The cake was still hot when it was served. It was topped with a cold and delicious Vanilla Fro-Yo that complements the cake. You wouldn't like it at first because Fro-Yo is used rather than the traditional ice cream. But, I still like it (probably because I'm a Fro-Yo lover hahaha). It's a must-try for you guys who would want a delicious and a sweet end to your meal. : )

Glutton Girl: The cake was good but the yogurt sort of contradicts the sweet cake. The yogurt was too sour for me. It would have been better to use traditional ice cream.

Banoffee Pie, 140 php

Glutton Guy: When I saw this and tasted it, I automatically compared it to Banapple's Banoffee Pie. The taste was delicious. However, I did find the servings small for 140 php. It would be a good idea to make the pie a bit bigger. : )

Glutton Girl: This is my order and it’s my favorite of the three desserts too. My benchmark for a good banoffee is that of Banapple’s so I have high expectations for this one. And it was good! It had a texture like tart, but the bananas and cream were perfectly sweet. My only problem was it was so small for 140 pesos. Pretty expensive if you compare to Bannaple’s generous 95-peso slice.

 

So there you have it, our Kiss the Cook experience. All in all it was a cozy, delicious, and satisfying experience for us. It's safe to say that having a hard time looking for the place is really worth it. Next time you're near the area, give this place a shot. You'll definitely be one of those people who'll say loud and proud, "I just Kissed the Cook!"

Rating: Buddhalicious!

(Kiss the Cook Cafe is located at 59 Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City. It's just beside Tomato Kick.)

Friday, February 19, 2010

Blacksoup Cafe+Art Space: "Arty" Meals for Hungry Peeps

We first heard about the art-cafe Van Gogh is Bipolar from the review in Philippine Daily Inquirer. It sounded like eating there was a quirky experience -- visitors are required to take off their shoes, to pick their own teapot and may write random scribblings on a red wall.

However, this is not a review for Van Gogh is Bipolar. That's for another post. It was closed when we got there, because they were shooting their new restaurant menu. So, we tried Black Soup Cafe+Art Space instead, which is owned by the same owners.

The place was a treat to look at. Photographs of landscapes were spread on the walls. There was a photo tree behind the counter. Even the rest room was decorated with photographs. The chairs were mismatched, and so were the tables. There was a spread of used books, DVDs and mix CDs, the latter with personally mixed selections by the owner. A guitar and a piano was on one side.

The service was really slow, as there was just one waitress/cashier, and one chef. Our food took about 30 minutes to arrive.

Here's what we tried during our visit:

(Oh, can just give special mention to their water. We really like the bottle idea. It's like we're drinking champagne or wine. It's super unique and cool. ^_^)

Lemongrass Tea, 30 php

Glutton Guy: It tasted ok for me. It's not the usual tea that is being served elsewhere. But I also think that the it tasted kind of weird. However, for 30php it's not so bad. It's nice to try something different once in a while anyway. I would recommend that it still be served as a hot tea rather than a cold tea. I think, at least for me, that it's more refreshing and soothing that way. : )

Glutton Girl: I also ordered lemongrass tea. Just like Glutton Guy, it was kind of off for me. It wasn't what I expected it to taste like. This lemongrass tea could be more flavorful. It really tasted bland for me. In my opinion, if it's iced tea, it should be more tasty. This, however, was not. You still have to try it though to see (or taste) what I mean.

Nachos, 85php

Glutton Guy: It was just like ordinary nachos with additional ingredients. Yep, this is a delicious appetizer, especially because of the tomatoes, onions, and balsamic vinegar. The nachos were crunchy and the beef was cooked really well. The tomatoes and the onions give the nachos an added kick. The cheese was just heavenly an it blends perfectly with the nachos. It's one of those dishes that even though you've already tasted a version of it somewhere, you just have to try their version here.

Glutton Girl: I super love the nachos a lot! It has a big serving, and a lot of tasty toppings. It's really worth the price for you food addicts out there. Why not go and try it out next time you go out with friends? It's really one of their must-tries.

Chicken with Basil and Cheese Stuffing, 150 php

Glutton Girl: I ordered chicken with basil and cheese stuffing. It didn't taste as good as I expected, although it was decent. I didn't have to go to the restaurant to taste something like that, because we already buy frozen chicken cordon bleu from the supermarket that tasted somewhat like it. The marinade on the chicken was okay... but I just was expecting something special and out-of-the-ordinary from a place like this.

Adobo Flakes Pasta, 130php

Glutton Guy: Well, it wasn't the best pasta I've tasted, but it's worth the try. The waitress did say it was one of their best-sellers, so I gave it a shot and ordered it. However, it did not excite me that much. Sure, it was different. But, there's just something about it that didn't quite hit the spot. It did not have a lot of flavor, so I had to add some salt and pepper to make the flavors work. And believe me, it took quite a lot of salt to finally get the taste I wanted. Still, I would have to say that you still have to try it out for yourself. I think that not being able to taste this or any other pasta would make you miss the Blacksoup experience. : )

Pasta Ala Victoria, 120php

Glutton Guy: This wasn't my order because we had a friend with us that time. He ordered Pasta Ala Victoria since I think it is another best-seller of the place. I got the chance to taste his food and it was just the same comment as my pasta. It also needed some more flavor since what I was tasting wasn't enough (That is, if I was really tasting anything). It was like carbonara, but with carrots, grean peas, and corn. With regards to the pasta, it was cooked nicely. It wasn't overcooked so it wasn't too soft. It was a little bit dry, though. Why not try it out? You might have a different opinion from mine. : )

Grilled Tuna Sandwich, 40php

Glutton Guy: This was also our friend's order. But, I also got the chance to taste it. For me it was just like normal tuna sandwich. Nothing special about it. Just normal tuna spread (I think they made this) in two bread slices then grilled in a saucer. It tasted good, though. Well, probably because I'm a tuna sandwich fan. : )

Guyabano Shake, 60php

Glutton Guy: I have to say, this is one unique and delicious shake. I've never tasted Guyabano shake before. My friend had me taste this drink of his and it really was good. (I would gladly swap my lemongrass tea for this hahahaha) If I had known that their Guyabano shake was this good, I would've ordered some for myself. This is a must-try for you guys out there, especially during hot times like this coming summer. : )

Go to this cafe for the novelty of the place and, well, if you want to be somewhere different, but if you're craving for food that's more than "pwede na", go somewhere else. We will try Van Gogh soon and report if it's any better.

Rating: Buddhalicious!

(Black Soup Cafe+Art Space is sneakily located in the courtyard of a yellow building on 154 Maginhawa St., Sikatuna Village. It's just before you pass Good Burger.)

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