Perhaps one of the great trait of Filipinos is its family ties. The bond that is created whenever families get together, which is most of the time through a sumptuous meal. Having feast during fiesta or any other celebrations, or simply a dine out in a restaurant, or a salu-salo at the house. This is very peculiar in every Filipino family. It's more like a routine.


Of course every dining brings in a problem of what to eat and it is very important because that's where the bonding starts. It makes it more meaningful when everyone agrees to what they would eat together. Aside from the chit chat that everyone does.
Last weekend I had a chance to call my mother and.my siblings to have a luncheon at our house since my brother and his family will going back to Laguna. The get together will serves as our despideda for them. Of course, I love my family to taste a Taiwanese cuisine and since they loved it from the last time that we ate at the restaurant, we will be having it at the comfort of our home. I'm sure they weren't able to enjoy it that much the last time. At first they didn't believed me that we will be having our food deliver at our doorstep, so I told them that just be in our house and I'll handle it all.

Tien Ma's latest feature is that they now have their online ordering, they just launched it just last month. Making ordering more convenient and simple as 123. In my opinion their online ordering is client-friendly. It is very easy to navigate your way with what your ordering and what's even great is that they deliver fast.

Take a peek on our video while we does the online ordering at Tien Mas.





My family loved the food very much, specifically the Taiwan Style Fried Rice, the Stir and Fry SpareRibs and the Sweet and Sour SpareRibs. And of course the Siopao Asado I order 7 Siopao Asado, which is 14 pcs by the way and take note there were nothing left. My family loves Tien Ma's Siopao that much.

Thank you so much Tien Ma's Online Ordering you are truly make my ordering very much simple. I am so grateful that my family tasted again a Taiwanese cuisine and it is really hassle free, ever.
Now that school days are coming, Mommies if you need something new to serve for your family at the comfort of your house just log on to www.tienmas.com and they'll deliver it to your doorstep. But of course they only got three point of areas where they can deliver. You can check it their delivery areas.

When talking about simple and yet flavorful tummy-filling dishes we just found one place to indulge yourself. The restaurants name is Recipes and we had some of their best sellers and what's more enticing is their sweet desserts.
Recipes Restaurant has been around for more than a decade already and it has grown its number of branches in different parts of the metro. Mostly are located inside in some of the busiest mall in greater manila.
GISING-GISING - literally if translated in English this means "Wake Up, Wake Up" and with the ingredients that it has will surely make you awake enough. Gising-gising's ingredients are green beans and ground pork cooked with coconut milk. To make it spicy enough it is added with siling green (green chili pepper) and sometimes the wild pepper or siling labuyo to make it even spicier but for Recipes version of Gising-gising is just right for the common taste buds of the Filipino. This Recipes version of Gising-gising mixed the flavor enough to taste every ingredients that it has.
GENERAL'S CHICKEN - perhaps this can be considered as a version of Buffalo wings. Recipes' General's Chicken makes the sweet and spice complement with each other covering the tender chicken. Kids will definitely love this, I'm a mom so I should know.
KARE-KARE - I'm not a big fan of this dish but this particular restaurant, the Recipes, gives me a second thought about Kare-kare.
FRIED TILAPIA - this particular dish made me realized that I can play around with the dishes and be creative for the kids to enjoy their own foods. Presented in a french fries-like cut only much thicker. I think kids with problem eating fish will be enticed by this presentation.
With this dishes, your tummies will definitely be filled enough to skip a meal.  But wait we still have dessert and this is what most of us want to have just right after a full meal.
BARAKO MOOUSE - if you're craving something chocolatey and strong, this dessert is the one for you. Its even great if paired with a brewed coffee.
CALAMANSI TART - taste just great if you're into calamansi flavors.

These are some of the best sellers that we've experienced at the Recipes Restaurant. The establishment got a nice place to chill and relax a bit, though its capacity is not big enough for large groups. Try to visit one of their branches near your place and have your own experience.
RECIPES by Cafe Metro
Greenbelt 3
2nd Level
Ayala Center, Makati City
728-0920

RECIPES by Cafe Metro
Alabang Town Center
2nd Level , Corte de Las Palmas
Muntinlupa City
772-2216

RECIPES
TriNoma
2nd Level
Edsa cor. North Ave.
Quezon City
901-3686

RECIPES Modern Asian Bistro
Robinsons Place Manila
2nd Level, Midtown Wing
Ermita, Manila
567-1912

RECIPES by Cafe Metro
Shangri-la Plaza Mall
5th Level
Edsa cor. Shaw Blvd.
Mandaluyong City
637-4050

RECIPES
Resorts World Manila
4th Floor, Newport Mall
100 Andrews Ave.
Pasay City
822-1547


RECIPES
Nuvali
Solenad 2
(049) 302-0032

RECIPES
Fairview Terraces
2nd Level
Quirino highway corner Maligaya Dr.
Novaliches, Quezon city
956-8928

RECIPES
Greenhills
2nd Level, 8 Missouri
San Juan City
0923-520-6357

I'm a mom and I love to cook so I would definitely would love to be part of this cuisinera club and have a healthy lifestyle not only for me but for my family. Specially now that Holiday season is in the air. Enjoy the holiday season as the Doña Elena Cuisinera Club grow more with a community of individuals who champion healthy lifestyles without compromising the quality and flavor of food. Through the cooking classes, nutrition talks and food tasting activities, the community is able to learn, cook, and share tips on healthy living through eating.

On November 15, 2014 (Saturday), this coming weekend, Doña Elena Cuisinera Club will be featuring different topics and dishes in celebration of this festive holiday season! Accompanied by informative talks, this event will impart tips on staying healthy as we prepare ourselves for the busy “BER” holidays through good food and quality lifestyle choices.
There are four reasons why you should be in Doña Elena Cuisinera Club event...

1. Shop, shop, shop Doña Elena products at special discounted prices and know how you can instantly become an official Doña Elena Cuisinera Club member!
2. Discover four new recipes for the Holiday from Chef Golda Laurel-Liamzon!
3. Learn the nutritional benefits of Doña Elena products from Professor Luchie Callanta!
4. Join exciting games and get a chance to win lots and lots of prizes!

So, you still got few more days to set your schedule and be on the event.

photo from Dona Elena Cuisinera Club

DOÑA ELENA
Doña Elena Cuisinera Club
Date: November 15, 2014 (Saturday)
Venue: Hemady Square Events Place, Penthouse, 6th Floor
1193 E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, corner Doña Hemady St., New Manila, QC
Time: Registration and Booth Activities start at 1:00 p.m.
Program is from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Donaelenacuisineraclub
Twitter : @decuisineraclub
Instagram : @donaelenacuisineraclub
Youtube : http://www.youtube.com/user/decuisineraclub

Who loves Seafood here?

I think most of us love it very much. I am so proud as a parent that my kids love Fish more than meat. They eat lots of fish, really!  They always ask me to cook fish, they will eat any kind of cooked fish as long as you tell them what kind or the name of the fish.  I always laugh when my eldest call some fish depending on the color, like the pink fish which is called "Bisugo".

Fish and Co. invited us, bloggers to experience and have a reviews of their latest menu that is called “New Baits” but before that let us get to know first about Fish and Co. as this is my first time to meet them.

Fish and Co. was inspired by the South African fishermen who cook their fish right after they catch it, ensuring freshness and flavor.  This time around, the seafood restaurant brings it up another notch by using only the freshest ingredients and served in generous portions to satisfy a big appetite.  Expect the usual array of scrumptious dishes you fell in love with at Fish and Co, including signature dishes such as Seafood Curry, BBQ Pork Ribs, New England Clam Chowder, Fried Calamari and the crowd favorite, The Best Fish & Chips in Town.

Here are the new dishes of Fish and Co.'s New Baits.



Let start with Shrimp Popcorn served with baguette bread or dip into Smoked Fish and Crab Dip with Toasted Crostinis.  I love Shrimp very much!  So I enjoy munching those Shrimp Popcorn, even without sauce I really love it.  The texture and the looks, seems so inviting to taste, so I eat it up to the last piece of Shrimp.



Next is the Softshell Crab Pasta, which has the perfect blend of crab fat accompanying al dente spaghetti.  Oh this one I love it too! I almost finish the pasta and the half of the Crab, but since it is sharing, so I shared, but maybe when I come back I will definitely finish one order of it.



New Seafood Selections range from the hearty Fish & Co, Paella that is big enough to share. Yes, one of my blogger friends Jing Javier of amazingjingforlife.blogspot.com love Paella as she love her self. Well, I really enjoyed seeing her everytime we have a food review or an event when there's Paella in our table.  For me, it is worth trying to eat Paella, the looks so enticing and the taste is really good.



Finally, to end our meal, dessert time! Fish & Co's latest sweet bait, the Banana Caramel Pie, made extra special with a combination of dulce de leche and cream. The size is for sharing but my friend Bedalyn Aguas of mamiandfamily.blogspot.com eat much of it.   She like it very much.


So mommies bring your family at Fish and Co. to let them try the newest offering and new ambiance as well. They are also introducing the Happy Lunching Promo that gives you a full meal with drinks starting from only PhP295.  Enjoy choosing among the great tasting Chicken Parmigiana, Pork Chop Basilic, Fish and Chips or Quarter Peri-Peri all rounded up with side of soup and iced tea.

Visit their stores at SM Mall of Asia and Trinoma and like their facebook page at www.facebook.com/fishandco and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fishcoph

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of raw food and one of the well known of Japanese which is the sushi and sashimi is something I would just have a bite or not at all.  Even though, there still some of the Japanese Cuisine that I like and loved to eat as well.  A few weeks ago we were invited in one of the Japanese Restaurant somewhere in Malate and specifically along Adriatico Street.  Not very familiar with the place as I'm not very well versed in this side of the metro.  Anyway good that hubby is with us.

The place is called IZAKAYA KENTA.  Judging from the characters and name it is truly a Japanese Restaurant but what is surprising is that the restaurant is owned by Filipinos who happens to have loved the Japanese food and culture very well.  Their names are Dr. Sakura Medina and Mr. Erwin Medina, and they are siblings.  According to them, with their love for the Japanese food they were able to have this restaurant relived its glory days for they have been one of the fondest goers in this establishment before but when the owner declared bankruptcy, the opportunity hits them and took the to own it and register it under their names.


IZAKAYA KENTA can be translated as a place of drinking and unwinding for Japanese people.  They does this after their office work.  In the street of Adriatico there are plenty of Japanese restaurants with the IZAKAYA name but differs in the suffixes.  So, in order to not get confused always remember the KENTA on the end portion of the name.  I know you wont mistake that for something else already.



The place is big enough to accommodate customers.  Aside from the seats in the common area, there are also private rooms for family gatherings or friends and offices. The place is clean and cozy.  It maximizes the entire floor area of the establishment.

Since this is a restaurant, food is the reason we are here and right after these stanza you'll be reading details of my IZAKAYA KENTA experience.

Let's start with their drinks as this is what should be given first to customers before they get their orders.  Their version of Iced Tea, the Mugi Cha (cold tea) and the Ocha (hot tea).

Iced Tea

Ocha (Hot Tea)

Mugi Cha (Cold Tea)

First of the meal, the appetizers.  They served first the Supaghetti Sarada and the Potato Salad.  With crunchy vegetables.  Both are mixed with fresh and crunchy veggies.

Supaghetti Sarada

Potato Salad

The main course of the meal composed of  Santenmori and the Mixed Nigiro-jou in which I have mentioned earlier that I am not a big fan of these.  Aside from the two there were also the Tako Potato which is basically potato balls but what's intriguing with it is its flavor and the sauce used in it. An addicting flavor!

Santenmori

Tako Potato

Mixed Nigiri-jou

We also tried the Akimono Tori – Karaage, Gindara Teriyaki, Gyu Suteki, and Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza). It was really a tummy filling experience.

Agimono - Tori Karaage

Gyu Suteki

Gindara Teriyaki

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza)

Then one of my favorite in a full or partial meal course was the dessert, a mouthful and tasty Purin (Leche Flan) and the Mochi (green tea), which is just enough to balance the flavor.

Purin

Mochi (Green Tea)

There were also a sake available for drinking but I'm not a fond drinker so it is just hubby who took the shot of drinking sake or rice wine. 


IZAKAYA KENTA for me is a great place to visit and experience authentic Japanese Cuisines.  Just make sure to have enough budget for you to enjoy this Japanese experience.

IZAKAYA KENTA
https://www.facebook.com/izakayakenta
Unit B G/F Malate Bayview Mansion
1781 Adriatico Street, Malate Manila
(02) 523 1874