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 

Korean Seoul Food at Jang Geum Kitchen

Korean food is slowly emerging as a favorite for all Filipinos and its also become my favorite too so I am very excited to share to you this restaurant I checked out at Met Live Mall in Pasay City - Jang Geum Kitchen.

Compared to other contemporary Korean restaurants who offer unlimited food, Jang Geum is more on the traditional way how restaurants are and their price range is a bit more than the usual range I would go for but the food is super worth it I promise you and great to share with the fam or with your friends.

One thing I can say with this restaurant is the aesthetic is on point! One thing I do love about the interior of Jang Geum Kitchen is that its like you are in a modern take on a mom and pop or family owned Korean restaurant. Another thing I liked in their interior is most of the things in their menu is written in Hangul so if you are studying Korean you will get a knack in translating the menu. But there is also an English translation in their menu.

They also have an open kitchen concept which is cool because you can see the kitchen staff work and create amazing dishes. The coolest part of this restaurant is the owner is also the head chef so you are assured of the quality of the food being served to you.

Here are my recommendation from Jang Geum Kitchen

Mix Meat Plate (Medium 1500 Large 2200)

I know what you are thinking - ITS TOO EXPENSIVE! But here is the catch if you order this with about 5 more for the large serving you will actually get more because they have huge servings. The Mix plate platter comes with pork belly, beef shoulder blade and spare ribs along with some vegetables and it has been pre cooked so when they serve it, you just have to cook it more to your liking. This also comes with side dishes that are uniquely Korean and can fill you up too. I would suggest getting the fried rice or the rice ball for side dishes because it complements the taste of the meat.

Ddeok bok gi (950 pesos)

This is by far my favorite Ddeok Bok gi! This is not just a spicy rice cake but is a whole meal if you ask me. It has thick cut rice cake, dumplings, fish cake, hard boiled egg and pork katsu with cheese sauce. lowkey I am craving it while writing this because its sooo good! If you are not a fan of spicy food you might not like it but if you want to try authentic Korean spicy rice cake I would suggest you give this a try. And don't come at me in the comments on how steep the price is because I would tell you that this is worth every peso and can feed about 4-5 people. So don't come at me and try it first okay?

Rice ball

I actually love this one because this one is cool to eat because you can do a rice ball in it. The serving is enough for two and its fun especially for kids. This comes in two flavors: Naichi and Tuna. Its like a bibimbap but is much more fun to eat.

Aside from the aesthetic, Jang Geum is really a restaurant I would recommend this restaurant if you want to try Korean comfort food with your friends and family.

Much Love!

xx Alice

Caffeine Boost with Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea

I. Love. Coffee.

I have an article solely dedicated to one! And I know most of you also love it. Heck it probably makes your day a whole lot better having a cup and lately I discovered a new cafe that serves a different kind of coffee which I know some of you will like - Nitro Coffee at Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea.

What is Nitro Coffee? 

Nitro Cold Brew Coffee is a coffee charged with Nitrogen which gives it a rich, creamy head similar to other nitro draft beer like Guinness. And if I explain further you would think this is about science so let's move on okay? haha

Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea is actually one of the first establishments in the Philippines to produce this in the country and they currently have 17 branches. Being the first in the Philippines market, its definitely a great achievement if you ask me.

And if you need a caffeine fix I would suggest you try it here since its also low acidity which means that it won't give you acid re-flux which tends to happen if you drink too much caffeinated beverages. I know most of us do wag na kayo mag deny.

Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea actually serves them in different and I was able to try two which is Nitro Black (120 pesos) and Strawberry Creme Nitroccino (160 pesos) So here are my thoughts about these two.

Black Nitro (120 pesos)

This for me is an Iced Americano on steroids and yes I said it! Its full on flavor and has that sharp bitterness but doesn't go on overdrive on my taste buds. I do love my coffee black with no sugar or any other added on to it which makes you experience the full flavor of the coffee... and here I am talking too much about coffee haha

Overall I love this! If you buy this and just look at it you will think it is Guinness but its not.

Strawberry Creme Nitroccino (160 pesos)

This one is actually the counterpart of Nitro Black in my taste buds because its super sweet for me. Its not something I hate but not usually what I will get in a cafe. The strawberry taste is like real strawberry which is sweet with a little tartness into it, I do like there is some creaminess into it which slices the sweetness for a bit. Its the kind of drink I think is best to have if you need a sugar boost for the day. This drink is not for me but I think others will like it.

And besides from the drink I was also able to try their food and their food is GOOD. Period. nah just kidding I know you want to know more LOL

PIZZA

Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea also serves pizza. I was only able to try two out of the four flavors that they offer: Pepperoni and Garlic and Cheese. The other variants are Italian Sausage (335 pesos) and BBQ Chicken (350 pesos). 

The Pepperoni pizza (335 pesos)  is nice because its thin crust and they didn't scrimped on the toppings. The taste is quite salty but if you pair it with the Nitro Black it actually cuts the saltiness which I like. 

The Garlic and Cheese (320 pesos) is actually my favorite because its flavor is just perfect for me. I love how the pizza has a little smokiness in it which I love the most. 

Wrap n' Roll

This is the Frank n' Cheese (125 pesos)  which is one of the latest addition to Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea food servings. Its a Frankfurt sausage and cheese wrapped in a soft tortilla and toasted to its cheesy and chewy goodness. This is actually great to enjoy while its quite warm because the cheese pull would definitely be amazing. 

eto na yung last item guys wag na kayo magalit sa gutom nyo ha. sorna labyu

Hot Pressed Sandwiches 

And the last item on the menu I was able to try is their hot pressed sandwiches that comes in four variants: Three cheese (115pesos), Corned Beef (115pesos), Tuna and Cheese (115pesos), and lastly Ham and Cheese (125 pesos).

I was able to try the Ham and Cheese and 3 Cheese. And oo gusto ko ng cheese wag na kayo magulat The hot pressed sandwiches are actually one of my go to food when I am at a cafe because they look so delectable and they also taste amazing. The Ham and Cheese didn't failed my taste buds one bit and I would definitely go back next time just for the sandwich and Nitro Black because they fit together. I can only describe 3 cheese as the kind of sandwich I would get if I want to have my cravings satisfied. The creaminess and sharpness of the cheese is a perfect combo with the Strawberry creme Nitroccino.

Overall my experience at Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea are amazing. Another reason why I would go back to Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea is they are affordable compared to other coffee shops in the metro that usually would cost me half an arm and some toes to afford. I will go back if given the chance and luckily they have 17 stores around the metro so I will surely grab a bite from them very soon. 

Check out their Social media pages too for more updates and information.

Much love!

xx Alice  

Going Crazy For Takoyaki at Crazy Tako

One thing I haven't told you guys is I grew up eating a lot of Japanese food because of my mom's work and I am so happy that one of my favorite Japanese snack is locally available and I think I have found the perfect place to get it from and the place I am talking about is Crazy Tako!

But before we go on to Crazy Tako let's define first what is Takoyaki.

Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese snack or appetizer made of wheat flout-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. Usually it is filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion.

And one of the best places I have tried takoyaki is at Crazy Tako in UP Town Center. To be honest, UP Town Center is quite far from where I live but I am willing to commute there or to any location to have this. 

The reason why is because their Takoyaki reminds me of the one I had as a child that was prepared to me by my second Oka san or mother Ayumi. The batter to octopus ratio is just right and it was cooked to perfection. As someone who has eaten authentic Japanese food from childhood I know that this was made from products from Japan o sadyang perfected ko lang tastebuds ko sa ganitong bagay.

 With Crazy Tako, most of the ingredients are imported from Japan, not including the octopus which is locally sourced. Another thing that makes me like Crazy Tako more is their special sauce that is also homemade which is quite hard to perfect. 

Aside from Takoyaki, Crazy Tako also serves octo fingers which are deep fried octopus tentacles and I will tell you even without the dipping sauce it is so good! this was actually the first thing that I first munched on was this and I honestly got addicted to it that I have actually went back a couple of times this week just for that. By the way you can try the octo fingers for only 99 pesos which is well worth every piece. 

And if you are also wondering Crazy Tako's Takoyaki is available in 4pc for 58 pesos and 8pc for 99 pesos so its definitely not something to break the bank.

For more info you can check out Crazy Tako's official Facebook account here for more information and also their locations (Which is 10 and counting!!) 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Top 5 Treats You Should Check Out at the Corner Market

Yesterday I attended an event for the Corner Market. It was a private function for other media outlets to be able to try the merchants' offerings at Corner Market.

As much as I want to say everything there is amazing, I actually picked five of the places and food you should check out at Corner Market.

These are in no particular order guys so don't expect there is a ranking.

Yummy lunch at Kuyang's

One of the places we ate during our day tour was Kuyang's in Ligao. 

The whole place reminds me of a family restaurant in Manila which I will not name here because there are lots that I absolutely love. 

Kuyang's also offers catering services and most of their cuisine is Filipino and International cuisine based. Here are my favorites. 

Szechuan chicken. 

Its a bit on the savory and spicy side but still great on the palette. Great to share with friends and family for sure. 

Another thing I want to recommend is Kuyang's Chicken. Its actually a specialty they have so make sure to order this! Is sweet and savory and I love it! 

Honestly if I make this post reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyy long I might eat my own stash right now. And your girl is not financially for that so yeah. 

I promise to make it up on my other posts! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Trying out new food! 1st Colonial Grill in Albay!

Touring around Albay will make you hungry. Like REALLY hungry. 

With additional of the heat from the sun which made us crave ice cream so we went to 1st Colonial Grill! 

Me and the group tried out a bunch of ice cream so here are some of the notable ones. 

Tinutungang Bigkas. 

This is really creamy and also nice to the palette. I actually prefer this one aside from the rest because its just something that reminds me of when I was younger.

We also tried level 1 and 2 of the Sili Ice Cream. 

Level 1 was okay but level 2 kind of tipped me off the wrong way. It would start as sweet and creamy but then the spiciness will just punch you right in the throat but it would go away after a few minutes. It wasn't like when I eat a real chili but it was close to it. 

We also tried some kalamansi ice cream which was amusing to the tastebuds because its not as sour as I expected it to be. It was actually a WTH kind of taste until now I can't even decipher what it is. 

It is something to try out nonetheless. 

I will recommend you guys to try these out at 1st colonial grill if you are in Albay because its an experience to definitely try, 

Much Love!

xx Alice

Spend your special moments at Burgoo

It's not a typical scenario that me and the Fam go out to eat UNLESS it is a special occasion. 

With that being said, yours truly and my family go out and try new restaurants because we prefer to try new things once in a while.

And if you hatight-knit knit family or a big one that loves food, try out Burgoo's newest offer!

For 1995 pesos you get a meal good for 8-10 people!

It includes 2 pitchers of iced tea, a large serving of pasta, rice, 24 pieces of wings, a plate of fries and a rack of ribs. 

I am actually full from this treat I had with some media friends and I will definitely recommend this to you! 

It is definitely a great savings you will get because it can feed 8 to 10 people. This is especially great because the serving is just enough for a family so make sure to get this deal until it lasts. 

You can check Burgoo out for more family treats this summer season! 

Much Love! 

xx Alice

Let Chef Thomas Take You on a Wild Ride in Wild Juan

April is a busy month for a good number of people in the food service industry as Madrid Fusion 2017 takes place.  From April 6 – 8, 2017 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, people from near and far places come together to share their passion for food.  Part of the delegation representing Calabarzon is the chef behind the placed tagged as “definitely not your ordinary food find among the rising places at Tagaytay Ridge”; this is Chef Thomas Murillo of Wild Juan.

As a food lover as well, We usually start young in appreciating food. His love for food started young and he took his first step towards it during his sophomore year as a Consular and Diplomatic Affairs student at the College of Saint Benilde.  He decided to take commercial cooking and culinary arts at First Gourmet Academy and had his apprenticeship at 2nds after.  This lead him further by becoming one of the pioneering member behind Paprika PH and years later his own restaurant at a family-owned place at Tagaytay Ridge.  Wild Juan is born.

Wild Juan bears the concept of East meets West and is delivered with the hospitality of Filipinos in the Southern part of Luzon.   His food creations are something that we are all familiar with but are delivered with a twist and flair.  Perfect sample are the Sisig Paksiw, Krispy Kasoy Kare-Kare (KKK) and Gumbulalo.  Three common dishes but comes with a new level of flavor and goodness due to techniques and passion.

Learning never ends for Chef Thomas as he earns his NCII Commercial Cooking and ServSafe:  Food Safety & Sanitation certificates.  He pushes himself to be the best and at par to the world, thus making his quality for food high and passion much higher.  He doesn’t stop there as he then shares his knowledge and passion this coming Madrid Fusion 2017 to foreign delegates and proudly represent Calabarzon.

Chef Thomas Murillo, stays humble yet proud of his craft thus from love of food it now is a burning passion.  Come at the biggest food event this season at the SMX in Pasay or visit Wild Juan located at KM 68 Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway and experience the comfort and passion that he shares at every plate served.

The Wild Juan is located at KM 68 Pinesville, Tagaytay- Nasugbu(National) Highway, Tagaytay City, 4120, Philippines

For Inquiries/reservation: +63 9154324196    +63 9178404211

Much Love! 

xx Alice