Juana's Budbod Now Available in Espana Manila

Hailing from Rizal, Budbod refers to a dish of either fried or seasoned riced sprinkled with toppings that ranges from meat and vegetables or other viand you can think of.  I have tried this before when I visited some friends in Rizal but I was surprised that Budbod is not really known in Metro Manila and luckily Juana's Budbod is bringing this amazing feast in Manila and has opened a new branch along Espana! 

Their interior is very homey and simple - just like being in the country side. There are pictures that adorn the establishment of food that they offer and they all look so delicious. 

So there is actually a way to enjoy budbod which is shown on the picture above. The coolest thing about this is you have the options to enjoy budbod with your hands! I actually love this idea because it brings us back to simple times when people won't judge you by using your hands in eating - because that is how our ancestors did it. Don't worry if you are not comfortable using your bare hands since Juana's Budbod will actually provide you with disposable plastic gloves. 

You can choose from a variety of sets they offer but personally I would say go for the Kombi-Budbod which is a mix of 2 budbod with a side of salted egg, banana and a drink. 

I picked shawarma and adobo flakes and it was awesome! And to be honest their serving was enough for me to be full which I am surprised because I love rice meals and I was amazed how big their rice portions are. So definitely go with this if you are a big eater. 

But if that is not your thing, Try out their Adobo melt but which is adobo flakes with cheese. This is actually quite big and affordable for 60 php you will get filled up with this. 

This is definitely one of my favorites - Lumpiang shanghai! They have bite sized lumpiang shanghai that tastes so good I was actually deciding to buy one of their Shanghai bucket for only 100 php to take home but I don't think it will make it home. 

One of the highlights for me was their dessert which is their Leche-ube Llanera! This is typically served frozen so better order this by the time you finish your meal because it taste so delicious. Its like an ice cream flan with ube that for sure everybody will absolutely love. 

And last but not the least I would like you to try their Iced Barako coffee which is made by order so be patient when you order this because they really take their time in perfecting this drink. 

Sa totoo lang mas matapang pa tong kape na to kesa sa ex mong di ka pinaglaban.

And yes I said it. napapahugot ako sa kape nila so dapat subukan nyo sila. 

Overall Juana's is definitely something you guys try and enjoy one of the best food experience Rizal that fortunately is in Metro Manila!

Check out Juana's Budbod on their social media pages too!

Much Love!
xx Alice 

Where to Eat in Ozamiz?

You will definitely know a place better by the food that they serve and Ozamiz is all about food. 

The street where we are staying is actually a foodie district because the restaurants are just next to each other! 

Say Hello Again to the Chef Next Door!

I am a big fan of food related shows, I can spend a whole day just watching them because I learn a lot from the hosts and also their adventures and I am so glad to see a one of a kind television show on its 2nd season!

The Group Entertainment together with Lifestyle Network channel welcomes another feisty, hot character on the block this July with Chef Next Door and its host Chef Jonas Ng. 

Being the head chef and owner of Huat Pot Hotpot restaurant in Greenhills and Le Jardin in Bonifacio Global City, Chef Jonas will take us on a whole new culinary journey to the intricate food industry not just by the food but also showing us the faces, places and stories behind the food we love and enjoy.

Just like any other culinary shows, Chef Jonas shares his tips on how to prepare food the easiest and most practical ways. There are also some chef hacks that he has learned over ten years of working inside the kitchen.

The whole media launch was held in Le Jardin in BGC last week. We were served a lot of delicious food from different establishments that Chef Jonas also loves that honestly if you ask me to prepare them, I might just say please help me chef! 

If you are like me - which has a bit knowledge but still does not know if I have the skills to be like the experts watching Chef Next door is possibly the best show I can recommend since each episode teaches us how to come up with restaurant quality output from modern urban limitation because lets face it - with the limitation of space, budget and materials some of us would break down in tears in recreating that restaurant favorites in the comfort of our home...or maybe that is just me.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Chef Jonas along with some bloggers during the press launch and I asked him what can he suggest for that ultimate comfort food for the brokenhearted ones - yes humuhugot ako guys pagbigyan nyo na! 

And it might be something you guys have to check out on the next episodes of Chef Next Door. 

Something that I can also say you need to check out is Chef Jonas' #ChefNinjaMoves as he is also known as the "MacGyver" (PS Google what that word means to the younger millenials *wink*) for his ways to come up with creative and informative solutions in every kitchen crisis that is thrown to him that we can also use when the time come. 

As I have seen the first and second episode I can describe the show in 3 words: Comical, Adventurous and Passionate. 

So make sure to check out Chef Next Door and be prepared to fall in love (sige na nga pa-friendzoned nalang ) with Chef Jonas' adventures! 

Chef Next Door Season 2 will air regularly on Lifestyle every Wednesdays at 9:30pm, Thursdays at 1:00AM, Saturdays 6:00PM, Sundays 10:00AM, Mondays at 3:30PM, Tuesdays at 12:00MN. The show is a joint production venture by the Group Entertainment and iSnap Creatives. 

So make sure to check out Chef Next Door on Lifestyle! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Food Review: Qubiertos Grill and Restaurant

Sometimes I like to treat myself with dining alone which is great because you get to enjoy your food more. There would be less fuss about what to order because you would just be ordering for one. 

That didn't sound great. It makes me sound that I am so bitter. 

Qubiertos is a grill and restaurant located in Kalayaan, Quezon City so if you are near the City hall its just behind it and its so easy to spot that you don't need google maps for this. 

The prices of this restaurant are actually cheap and they also offer student meals because there are schools near the establishment so this is definitely a place for students and young professionals to hang out in. 

What they do offer most is Filipino food, so if you have friends who are visiting the Philippines for the first time THIS is one of the places you should bring them. 

This is their version of sisig. Their version from the typical sisig is different because they use the brain of the animal which this is made from. I know it sounds gross but who cares they taste great! 

Their version of the pinoy fried rice is also amazing because its like a meal on its own. But being Filipino, even if there is something mixed in the rice, its still rice and we need our ulam for that! 

And for dessert, I had some suman crepe! 

Its sweet from the chocolate and peanut butter drizzle yet savory from the rice cake or suman. Its definitely something for the ones craving sweets because its so yummy. 

I really like Qubiertos and I would go back over and over because the food they serve is definitely Filipino with a very homey feel to it. Check out Qubiertos with your friends and family today! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Home Cooked Kapampangan Food in Makati at Apag Marangle

Looking for an authentic Kapampangan food restaurant is hard for some that miss home because Kapampangan food is known for its rich flavor and savory sauces so knowing one that is in Makati is definitely a foodie adventure to try. 

Be a Local eater at Locavore

Kapitolyo is one of the known foodie hot spots here in Manila in which its really best to check them all out. 

One of the first restaurants that I will be reviewing in Kapitolyo is Locavore. 

The term Locavore is actually a movement started in the United States which means that it is a person that is interested to eating food that is locally produced. Much like the name, Locavore boasts of an all Pinoy dish ensemble - with a twist. 

The interior of the restaurant is very modern. Much like those that are quite expensive. But at Locavore most of their dishes are not that expensive and also the serving is quite bit so sharing is no problem with their dishes

If you go here you might think that its cuisine is a fusion type but its not. It only takes on one specific dish and makes its cooking different from the usual way its cooked. Here are some that were served to us. 

Appetizers. 

Singkamas, Mangga at Bagoong (180php)

The presentation alone would remind you of after school vendors that flock near the entrance of your school enticing you to eat one for about 10php with unlimited pouring of bagoong or spicy salt. 

Its basically Mangoes and Jicama (pronounced as hee-ka-ma) with a side of fermented slightly sweet shrimp paste. The serving is just right for our table although most of them didn't touch this because I called dibs (yes its true..I LOVE these as appetizers as well)

Street food platter. (200php)

Again, another local staple. 

I remember one of my friends say this is the sosyal street food platter and I would agree to that. It has a heapful serving of fish balls, kikiam, battered and deep fried quail eggs or kwek kwek and squid balls. 

The only thing I wish is that they can put more dip in this because let's be real - little sauce to fish balls is like putting one drop of olive oil to your salad. But overall this is a great conversation starter because it will bring back memories for sure. 

Now for the entrees

Sisig Lechon and Oyster

 What would happen if you add pork and shellfish in a dish? Can't really describe it but when I saw this I was like WTF?! Seriously?? It tastes so great!

Lechon with the oyster is covered with a sauce that actually makes them perfect as a dish served with rice or if you are just looking for a perfect partner with your beer. The texture of the oyster and the lechon is really unique that you would want to have more in every bite. 

Next off is Tortang Talaba.

It is a mix of Kalibo Oysters with mushroom, togue, spring onion, Japanese Mayo with a side of arugula salad. 

This is something that I think is best served during lunch. It has a taste that is quite different to the regular omelette but it tastes great. Unfortunately its not really something I would want to have next time I'm at Locavore during dinner. 

Next off is Mac's Boneless Fried Chicken. 

I kid you not when I first saw this I was quite scared. It kind of reminded me of mutated chicken intestines that was deep fried and slathered in a sweet sauce. Not that I don't like chicken intestines so don't judge me. 

This is actually a house special glazed boneless fried chicken. If you dine with your kids here at Locavore make sure to order this because they will love it for sure. It has a savory-sweet sauce that is best eaten with your hands - and let's be honest, Fried chicken is best eaten using our hands anyway. A definite plus factor is it is boneless so if your kids will eat this you won't have to worry de-boning it first for them. 

Kare Kare wings

Think of eating Kare Kare but instead of oxtail you will have it in chicken wings - fascinating right?

Its a 6 piece chicken wings bathed in a Kare-kare glaze. It also have two dips which were the buttermilk ranch dressing and the usual shrimp paste because Kare Kare ain't one without the shrimp paste. 

It have a very nutty flavor because of the glaze and it is just right to eat with rice especially if you want to eat a lot.

Sugpo con mayonesa

This is actually my second favorite out of the bunch - Sugpo Con Mayonesa!

It is Jumbo black tiger prawns with Aligue (crab fat) butter, garlic and Japanese mayonnaise. First things first - this is one AWESOME dish I will recommend hands down because of how savory this dish is! The mix between the butter and garlic was pretty normal but when you add in Japanese Mayonnaise and crab fat it just explodes in your mouth. 

I am not exaggerating at this point because it is really that good. 

Last but definitely not the least we have my top item to try in their menu which is the sizzling sinigang. 

It is beef short ribs with sauteed french beans, sampaloc gravy and garlic confit. I know you will read the sampaloc gravy again and yes it is gravy! but not the usual gravy we have at the local fastfood joint. The sauce is very much like the one that we have in sinigang which is tangy. The meat though has a contrasting texture since its on a sizzling plate there are parts that is crunchy and there were also parts that were soft and tender. 

Now let's move on to the dessert! Who doesn't love dessert right?

We had three desserts that were served to us but I only tried one because I am too full at this point and I don't want to explode haha! 

I was able to try the Tortang Manga or in English Mango Torte. 

It has Mangoes, Meringue, Tablea and Dulce de Leche. It will remind you of a similar creation but this one has more texture than that. I love the dulce de leche because it reminds me of when my grandmother used to make one when I was younger. Making good dulce de leche is like knowing how to poach an egg. The taste is sweet but not too much for the palette. 

Overall Locavore made me revive my love to find all things new and unique in our local food. Price wise, Locavore is not that expensive and the ambiance is great especially on Tuesdays because they have Acoustic nights. 

Locavore is located at 10 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City.

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Saving Your Bagnet Cravings with Bagneto

Remember my recent post about Vigan? 

One of the things I love most about Vigan is Bagnet. Bagnet is deep fried pork that has been prepared for a week! A week my friend! Its way of cooking is really different because they also sun dry the pork then after letting it get some sun it gets fried again thus having that very crunchy but still juicy tenderness inside. 

Experience a Trip of Philippine Cuisine at Tambayan sa Kanto

If you want to taste the best dishes of the Philippines but don't want to spend time travelling to different parts of the PH for that I think I have a less stressful experience I can recommend you - Tambayan sa Kanto. 

Tambayan sa Kanto is situated at the Ground floor of Podium Mall. It has a modern yet rustic feel. 

Here are some of my food choices. 

Ensaladang Filipino (150php) is a typical Filipino dish with grilled eggplant, tomatoes, onions, green mango and shrimp paste. This is a typical Filipino appetizer that is best served with grilled or fried dishes. 

KBL or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka  is an Ilonggo dish that is a stew with soft texture with a contrast to the  Kadyos or black eyed peas. Its very mild to the taste but has a bit of sweetness which will make you go back for more. 

Crispy Bagnet (488php) is of course Ilocos' famous dish. It has a crispy outside but soft and juicy inside. 

coconut crusted prawns (438php) It has a very crunchy but flavorful batter in the prawn but added with the mango mint chutney it has a very refreshing taste to it. 

For dessert, we had Halo Halo turon. 

This is by far the coolest dessert I've tried because it is a fusion of two of my favorite afternoon delights - Turon and Halo halo! 

The turon contained sweet red beans, gellatin and other toppings. You can dip it in the ube ice cream for that cool sensation but even eating it without the dip is great. 

Those are just some of my recommendations but you can check out more at Tambayan sa Kanto! 

Make sure to like them on their Facebook page for more update! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Food To Eat at Vigan part 1

Having a gastronomic experience in a new place is something I could say that would sum up my whole trip in Vigan. 

Photoescape Foodie Adventure Featuring Mamang's Sizzlers and Grill

Food is something that most people take for granted. 

Most people eat food to suffice the hunger in the pits of their stomachs, only a little enjoy it. 

A-N-S-A-B-E-H??

Eastwood Food Find: Bone and Barrel Bistro

Hello guys! I am back with a new post! 

I'll be blogging a lot more so please be patient :) 

Okay lets begin! 

If you are in Eastwood either living there or working, we all know that this place is full with restaurants and places to hang out either during the day or after working hours. If you are looking for a great place to eat and have a good time I do have one place in mind. 

Bone and Barrel Bistro! 

My First Ever Ilocos Emapanada!

I like to travel and try food from the places I have visited, but I have never been to Ilocos ever! I have passed by Ilocos but not really stopped over and try the food. I was really hoping to go there this coming October but something came up and my buddies had to back out.

BUT STILL I was able to find a way to taste the infamous Ilocos Empanada! And it was actually just a jeepney ride away from my house.

I am talking about Farinas Ilocos Empanada!

But FIRST! What is an Empanada...mainly what is an Ilocos Empanada?

Ilocos Empanada is an Ilocano snack make out of green papaya, mongo, egg, and longganisa, enveloped in a crunchy orange-colored crust made out of rice flour with its signiture Ilocos vinegar as its condiment.  

I am part Ilocano thanks to my mother but I was not able to really embrace that side of my culture since I was raised here in Manila. I do know that Ilocanos are great cooks since I grew up mostly with Ilocanos as my housemates they cook delicious meals that not only are yummy to infinity but also healthy.

But yet again most of them did not grow up in Ilocos so I was really torn if these were authentic or not.

According to the owners of Farinas, Almost 90% of the ingredients that they use in their store are directly shipped from Ilocos to ensure the authenticity of the Ilocos empanada. Another thing I noticed is that the vegetables that they use are organic which is really great. They also use an organic munggo which is my first time to see as well.

I was able to try their tapa meal and also the infamous Ilocos Empanada.  

The tapa was specially marinated and the texture of the meat is exceptionally tender which is great because I don't really like to chew that much on my meat. The scent of the meat was really nice which did remind me of the ones I've tasted when I was young but that wasn't as tender as the one from Farinas. 

Now let's dig in to the infamous Empanada shall we? Since it was my first time to try it, I was a little scared because I don't know what to expect, but better dig in than never right? 

I was in a big surprise because at first bite, the taste just exploded in my mouth. It was like meeting a new friend in a way. The mixture of the vegetables and the meat was just right with the crunchy orange wrap. 

Other best sellers of Farinas is their ultimate empanada - why ultimate you ask? Because it has bagnet inside! 

Their store is quite small, but very homey. I remember a similar store I eat to that looks like this when I was in Highschool so this does remind me of my younger years. But even with a small store, they serve delicious food that I think both young and older generations would like. 

Its a must try if you ask me! You can have a taste of Farinas at 56 Visayas Ave, Project 6, Quezon City and also visit their Facebook page for more information. 

Have a safe and Happy Sunday ahead! 

xx Alice