Stevenson: Manila

Showing posts with label Manila. Show all posts

December 3, 2020

City of Dreams Manila - Timeless Thursdays 27

It makes me so much at awe whenever I look at these pictures from 5 years ago with me having lots of hair! HAHA I started to have my hair declining in the past couple of years. It still gets longer but on a very slower pace but it's too thin that I just want to buzz it off again because it looks too thin and my scalp is already showing. But I'm not saying this because I feel depressed about my hair, it's just that I felt like a completely different person now without lots of it haha.

Here is a simple weekend I celebrated with my friends' family when they went on a Casino trip in Manila. I did not play but I had an amazing time seeing City of Dreams with my high school pals.

Me and my friend R-Jay, Lea, and Myrcel at City of Dreams Manila

Located at a 6.2 hectare area of the Entertainment City of Aseana Avenue, Paranñaque City is City of Dreams Manila, the first and only Philippine franchise of this multinational luxury resort and casino complex.

R-Jay, Me, and Myrcel at City of Dreams Manila

R-Jay, Me, Myrcel, and Lara at City of Dreams Manila

Lea, R-Jay and Myrcel are par of my Circle of friends. We have been classmates since Kindergarten up until High School. So we are literally like brothers and sisters and we stuck together up until now.

Me, Myrcel, and R-Jay at City of Dreams Manila

R-Jay, Myrcel, Me, and Lea holding her Mooncakes

Me, R-Jay, and the Legaspi's

Right after all the games and the winnings, the fun just never stops and sent us all the way to Army Navy at Blue Bay Walk in Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City. It was so much happiness and fun! I can't wait for our next Casino trip with this family.

Me with the Legaspi's on an Army Navy Dinner

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I would love to welcome and invite everyone to join Timeless Thursdays.

Timeless Thursdays is open for anyone who wishes to share old photos or old thoughts that you would like to share as beautiful memories with everyone. This can be from yesterday, a year ago, or something from your grandma's treasure chest.

This runs every Thursday at 12 am (Manila/Perth Time) until Sunday at 11:59 pm (Manila/Perth Time)

July 30, 2020

Super Chashu Ramen at Yushoken - Timeless Thursdays 11

Last February, just months before the unknown that was coming, I and my sister decided to treat our cousins to a Ramen Night in Muntinlupa, a city in Metro Manila. Our younger brother cousin Carlos has just got married and to celebrate that, we brought him, his wife Jean, and our niece and nephew with us that night. We arrived after an hour of early evening Saturday traffic at Ramen Yushoken and yes, we had to wait outside for another hour and a half to be seated. We know the place and had dined there before so we know the wait would be so worth it.

Two and a half hours of driving and waiting, we were then seated, and again wait for another 40 minutes. Imagine how hungry we were, we can start to munch on those little plates of only our teeth would permit HAHA. Lesson learned for us to bring a snack if we were to eat there again. When our bowls were served, the smell is murderous to say the least.

It was an unusual night with unusual waiting so it was just right we ordered something unusual. We all decided to get Super Chashu, each for ourselves. It is part of their Secret Menu and is not listed on their regular Menu. The main difference of this one to with their classic Ramen lists is the pork cutlet. I think it is twice or even close to three times the thickness of the regular chashu that goes with their regular bowls. And yes, it was not just thick, the flavor is even tripled because it has been marinated and cured longer than the regular ones, that is why they only serve a limited number of these bowls a day (We were so lucky that day that even if we were late, not much guests ordered it so there was enough for the six of us).

Yushoken's Super Chashu (Php 520)

It was not just a bowl of ramen, it was not just a good meal, it was a magical experience! We are big lovers of Ramen, well I guess because it's obviously Asian? But this was really different. That pork chashu cutlet for me was Japanese Noodle House meets Texas Steakhouse. It has this rich, umami taste with hints of hickory and charcoal that I just can't explain, especially on an Asian dish.

This dish is super rich and creamy (a small warming for people with hypertension as a huge portion of the flavors are of course from pork fat in the chashu slice and the broth itself) plus it is topped with spring onions, bamboo shoots, kikurage or wood ear mushrooms, and sesame seeds. Some of my cousins were not able to finish their bowls even if they tried their best because it was just so many for them. I on the other hand, of course, feasted till the last drop. I did feel a little groggy right after though.

My Sister Judy, Niece Abrielle, Nephew Charles, Me, and the Newlyweds Carlos and Jean.

Aside from our Ramen bowls, we also ordered some signature Japanese side dishes. On the above picture is the Gyoza which is similar to what is known as pot-stickers in the US. It has minced pork and vegetables inside this pan fried/toasted dumplings. Dipped in soy sauce, they are so good!

Gyoza (Php 215)

Karaage are deep fried chicken cutlets, usually the deboned leg and thigh parts (yes, the tastiest ones!) and then served as is. What makes Yushoken's Karaage different from the rest is that these are larger balls and are cooked tender and not dried through frying. So they are not just flavorful, they are loads of juiciness.

Karaage (Php 280)

Writing about this post is bittersweet because this is something that we cannot do anymore for quite sometime, to dine together outside on restaurants. I do know that some restaurants now are open and allow dine in with physical distancing, but still with the cases of around 2,000 new infections per day, I don't think it is worth the risk. So for now, we'll settle for these memories that brings back the feelings of joy and happiness, and tastes that are beyond remarkable to forget.

Ramen Yushoken

Molito Commercial Complex,

Alabang, Muntinlupa, 1781

Metro Manila, Philippines

+63 2 8808 7424

My kids (Okay I'm just their big brother but their like my kids, Love them!)

Never Stop Hoping for Outside Dinners

Stevenson

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I would love to welcome and invite everyone to join this new Linky that I thought of starting - Timeless Thursdays.

This runs every Thursday at 12 am (Manila/Perth Time) until Sunday at 11:59 pm (Manila/Perth Time)

May 23, 2018

Flatterie at the Mall of Asia

Flatterie at the Mall of Asia

It was just a normal Sunday that weekend that passed but me and my cousin Judy decided to go to SM Mall of Asia with my best friend Rjay to register on the upcoming Runrio race happening this June 3rd. Me and my cousin will be running the 10K while Rjay will take part on the 21K half-marathon. We were supposed to grab some fastfood for dinner but we passed by this cute fancy place at the edge of the right wing, Flatterie.

The greeter walked towards us and led us to the high chairs at the center. It's just a tiny restaurant but it looks really posh I must say. I know, I should have taken shots of the interiors but we were just really hungry that time haha. So we scanned through their menu and basically they serve flatbreads (smaller versions of pizza), pasta, and chicken and rice dishes. Here are the goodies that we enjoyed.

Truffle Flatbread (Selfie - Php220, Groupie - Php320)

Available in two sizes, their flatbreads can be ordered as a selfie (for one) or groupie (two to three). As a sucker for truffle, I really did enjoy this flattie. Unlike other pizzas where you can see big chunks of toppings, the truffle has been creamed together with other ingredients and placed neatly under a blanket of cheese. the taste of the truffle is very extravagant but not overpowering. Anyone cooking with truffle must be very careful because it has the tendency to be too strong for any dish, but this one, perfection. And to tell you about the crust, it is more on the gummy area and not flaky.

Carbonara (Selfie - Php 200, Groupie - Php 300)

We had the selfie sized carbonara. I must say that they do know what carbonara is. Because mostly here in the Philippines, they think that carbonara should be flooded with white sauce. That is actually alfredo, not cabronara. Carbonara is tossed in eggs and cheese and definitely not saucy, just like this one. They made the pasta with perfect firmness (to my liking) and tossed it over rich cream and egg yolks. Topped with savory bacon and delicious Parmesan, this may be a hint of heaven for me.

Rosemary Chicken (Php 290)

This dish is a vacation from the first two we had because this is a definition of comfort food. Roast chicken thigh and a fillet breaded and deep fried all over a bed of rice pilaf. Topped with onion rings and a cute little fried egg, it's our usual chicken and rice dish. Nothing glorious to be honest but not until you taste the gravy. Their gravy probably was made of roast beef drippings, not really sure except for one thing, it was phenomenal gravy.

S'mores Flatbread (Php 270)

Can any meal be complete without something sweet to cap it? Well not for us! It may be another flatbread but this one is a delight to your sweet tooth. The bread on this one is not as toasted as their savory flatbreads, then topped with a special chocolate sauce, drizzled with chocolate syrup, and yes, I swear there's also a raining of cocoa powder which gave it a different kick. Toasted marshmallows like boulders on graham sands just fixed the whole thing into a dessert dream. I suggest that for every bite, make sure all the components will be on it so you can enjoy the magical swirl of flavors.

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Even before we got down from our high-chairs, we told each other that we'll be coming back to try other dishes at Flatterie. We may be easy to please but I'm sure we really did enjoy the food and not just because we were too hungry. So to pizza lovers, pasta lovers, and foodies like me, come and try flatterie, for it will surely flatter your senses.

Me, my best friend Rjay (thanks for the pictures!), and my cousin Judy at Flatterie

Never Stop Flattering!

Steve

April 16, 2018

Another Story

Another Story, EVIA Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Las Pinas City

People share a lot of things to each other - clothes, gadgets, bags, and most frequently, stories. May it be about how their weekend was, or how I lost my way around Ayutthaya while I was on a bike ride last January, and then there's stories close to our hearts like food.

Curated by Ica Manalo Sebastian, also the owner of Tagaytay's Café Viola, this beautiful museum of taste is a delight for partners, families, and in our case, my circle of best friends. One of my friends Ferdie got us here through his eatigo app which entitled us through a reservation of 8 for a 50% off on all their menu at a given timeframe. It became my thrill of the week because I don't just get to try delicious food, I get to do it with them.

Another Story, EVIA Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Las Pinas City

The first thing that you will definitely notice are the interiors. It is something to really mention because personally, I really dig their whimsical themed design which gave me both a feeling of enchantment and a feeling of home. I myself collect a lot of stuff from my trips and travels and they do have little trinkets and fine ornaments on display.

Me, Rjay, Ferdie, Faith, Marvin, Myrcel, and Judy

Me and my friends had an amazing time together. To those who haven't known us yet, we've all shared a classroom since Kindergarten until we graduated High School so we're basically not just friends but a family. We see each other so often but yes, even if we get to meet almost every other week, it will never be enough for all of us.

Forgive our plates because we somehow murdered our meals even before we thought of having a photo taken. And yes, I know you've been waiting for their dishes so let me do a rundown of when we ate and how I personally find it. (You can find their detailed Menu at the end of this post) Of course let's start from their rolls.

Rolls with Tomato Salsa

I'm a sucker for rolls and especially now that I am on a Keto diet (Well I can get to eat a cheat or three on weekends) and yes, these are quite good. Their salsa is a little bit bland though for it is very lightly seasoned so all you can really get to taste is the parmesan cheese. But who says no to freshly baked bread?

Another Story Pizza (Php 495)

We're not really accustomed to rectangular pizzas here in the Philippines but I find this one very cute and a lot easy to share with your group. It was cheesy and I love how strong their olive tastes. This also has salami, pepperoni, bacon, ham, and all those delicious produce which gives a vacation of tastes. For me, one thing you can differentiate pizzas on are their crust and I can tell that this one is good. Not too flaky, not too chewy, just right.

Angus Belly of Beef (Php 595)

This was my sister's order. She got this slow cooked Angus beef which was really delightful. I give this a top prize ribbon because not just because the meat was so tender, they get to cook it for a lonbg time but still maintaining the natural flavor of the beef. Some of us know how hard that is especially if you are slow cooking with so much seasonings that you get to mask out or worse, take out that real natural flavor. But on this dish, it is really the beef that's the star. The gravy even brought in the taste that I was talking about instead of fighting it out.

Another Story Salad (Php 395)

I'm a big fan of salads but to be honest, not much of this one. I know that bringing out the natural flavors of ingredients is very important but salads are really about the dressing, well, when it comes to taste. For this one, I must say it did not really mixed well with the nuts and cheese so, I just took a forkful with all of these little things and gave it a pass. Their salads are also available on 'to share' servings.

Oven Roasted US Prime Beef Brisket w/ BBQ Sauce (Php 595)

If you guessed that this one was my choice, you got that right, even just from that 'BBQ Sauce' part. Really good, this was! I know that good cuts of meat has something to do with marbling but this one has magnified the marbling HAHA thick portions of lean meat and thick portions of fat gives an explosion of flavor to my palette. Not really a fan of their mashed potatoes but screw that, this BBQ Steak took me to Texas at the comfort of my seat!

Seafood Paella (Php 395)

Okay, I know I kept telling a lot of dishes to be so good but I don't care because this Paella, is Another Story. Our family's specialty is the Arroz a la Valenciana which is a brother to the Paella but has chicken and pork instead of these sea creatures. We take pride in it. But yes, I'm not telling that ours lost to this Paella, but theirs is just so perfect! To be honest, I'm not really sure what flavors they used to have this final product but the perfect texture of their rice, the right amount of saltiness and yes, that creaminess that I am not sure if it comes from butter or aligue (if there is aligue or crab eggs on this dish). In the end, I stopped thinking about it and just enjoyed every spoonful of it. I think I had three spoons of rice (Again, I'm still on keto). If there's a big reason I'll come back to Another Story, that's because I'll have another of this Paella :)

Hanger Steak (Php 595)

Just your usual hanger steak cooked medium rare as requested by my friend RJay. Paired with their Mashed Potatoes and Veggies, I know anyone would like this tender goodness.

Vongole Manila Clams Pasta ((Php 395)

Can also be ordered to-share at Php595. This dish features open clams, well, vongole right? Simmered in broth and white wine, this dish is very light. the only heavy part is the linguine pasta itself. I adore the plating on this one.

Braised US Short Ribs (Php 595)

After we tasted every dish (we love to order different things and try each others plates, just like any other barkada) we took a vote on who wins and this was the winner. Cooked in red wine sauce, inspired by The Julia Child as the menu says, The meat was so tender yet so flavorful. Let's be honest. As much as how soft we want beef is, we don't want something that just grates inside our mouth right? We want something we can still munch on and effortlessly chew. And this was it. I guess it won all the votes because of the perfect mix of all the flavors, but my champion is still the Angus Belly.

That Sunday, we had Another Story

It was definitely another story. The staff were nice, the place was magical, and the food was magnificent. As cliché as it may sound, no matter what you eat, whether it's a prime cut of steak or a bag of chicken ramen, as long as with you're having it with amazing people, it will truly be a good meal. Thank you to these amazing people. Special thanks to my best friend RJay who lent me some of his photos to make this post possible and to Ferdie, our food hunter, for taking us to this direction. Cheers to good food, cheers to lifelong friendship!