Recipe1: Spring Asian Salad

I've been away for quite sometime and I have been busy with my other work --- designing clothes. Since designing clothes is somewhat seasonal, on my off days...I'd like to be in my garden. I have started gardening last August 2015. I was overjoyed that the first seed I planted after a long time, blossomed, it was a basil seed that I bought online! From there my I started growing different herbs --- coriander, paisley, oregano, rosemary --- and eventually ventured into flowers and fruit bearing plants! I even took urban gardening lessons last January 2016 just to learn more about gardening!

Coincidentally, Evan (my S.O) is turning into a vegetarian for health reasons and I fully support him! He doesn't stop me from eating my meat but at least, I'm incorporating more vegetable into my meals. Last 2 weeks, I bought a lot of "healthy-vegetarian" ingredients (I'll soon post about it and where I bought them) for some experimental cooking.

I guess that I'm turning old and I'm beginning to like some "adult" hobbies --- gardening and cooking! Hahahaha. Presenting to you a fuss free salad recipe that one can definitely do even if you are not a master chef!

I'm no chef or baker, so my terms aren't technical:) do correct me or if you have some thoughts and advice to share, I'd love to hear them! Let's learn from each other!

Serves: 1 bowl
Recipe:
4 leaves of Romaine, Sliced
1 Pickle Cucumber (small cucumber), sliced to round shapes
3 dwarf red Bell pepper
1 Banana (Variety: Lacatan), sliced to round shapes
a handful of raw cashew nuts , unsalted
Kesong Puti to top
Chia seeds to top
Sesame vinaigrette (Brand: Kewpie)

Hope you like it!

Tikim72: BIG 30 PIZZA

Who can resist a slice of pizza and a bottle of beer on weekends? This is a great satisfying sin whenever you want to crush your diet, when you smell the freshly baked pizza of BIG 30 located at Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Laguna you can't go wrong. Last weekend we opt to eat their 20" Bearnaise pizza, which is my favorite of all time because of its sumptuous sauce and toppings.

Bernaise / Bearnaise sauce is a French word means its sauce is made
 of clarified butter emulsified in egg yolks and herbs.

Thinly slice Bernaise pizza with ground beef, pork, herbs and cheese.

20" Bernaise Pizza 720php

a bottle of malt beer, great partner for pizza.:)

Taste: 3/5
Quality: 3/5
Ambiance: 3/5

BIG 30 PIZZA
Address: Paseo de Sta.Rosa, Laguna

Tikim71:Mongolian Rice Bowls (Mall of Asia)

A unique and great dining experience at Mongolian Rice Bowl, after watching and strolling around the mall, we opted to have our dinner in Mongolian Rice Bowl. We were so delighted with their very affordable buffet price range.

As we enter the restaurant, I immediately noticed their couches, it was really chic. The place is clean and cozy. The arrays of ingredients were all lined up, just grab your bowl and pick their finest ingredients all in their freshest look and taste.
                                                                 What's in your Bowl?

Pick from their finest ingredients

Their trademark sauces

Eat-All-You-Can Price: (with desserts)

280php-weekday lunch rate
Monday Friday from 10am-3pm

380php-regular rate
available every weeknights and  weekends

As you can see we grabbed a lot of sweets, and it was so delicious. They really cater good ingredients and services, though we find it hard to make our own sauces, because as we all know there's a lot of spices lined up. But then there's always one server who will guide you, and they have this prepared guidelines on how to prepare your sauces. From sweet and sour, sweet,hot and spicy and sweet and spicy. I prefer their sweet and spicy because that's what the server told me to do because that's their most recommended one, it's up to you how much you'll put on, based on your taste. So I didn't put too much Schezuan sauce and chili. My Bf also prepared his food which is a good one too, but too spicy.. That's we he prefers.

Mongolian Rice Bowl, if you want to have a sumptuous dinner or lunch. This is a good pick for you guys, and for those who have a big appetite there you may want to try and indulge with their Eat-all-you-can, you are free to grab and put an ample amount of ingredients that you want. It was really an awesome experience dining here, plus it was really affordable. Try it and have a good tastybuds experience!:)

Taste: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Ambiance: 4/5

Mongolian Rice Bowl
Address: Seaside Boulevard, Mall of Asia
Contact: 433-4200

433-4200433-4200

433-4200

Tikim70: Morihachi Yakiniku (Causeway Bay, Hong Kong)

I love everything about yakiniku! In fact, I always order Yakiniku beef sets at Japanese restaurants so when my friend from Hong Kong brought me to Morihachi Yakiniku place as a welcome dinner; I was delighted! I had an early dinner with my mom and this was my 2nd dinner. I actually planned on eating little but ended up a lot more than I planned because it was that good!  In all fairness, nothing in Manila tasted the same with Morihachi Yakiniku.

A hidden gem, Morihachi Yakiniku! 

The ambiance also is really nice. Very earthy with lots of wooden interiors to set a zen mood. Oh insider tip: when you eat before 6:30 and after 9:30 you get 20% tota food discount! But if you are eating dinner at the usual time, better make reservations!

Earthy Ambiance

Wood and Simple

Excited to show you what we ordered:

This is the house specialty, Wagyu beef that's so marble-y and tasty! The restaurant didnt put any marinate aside from salt and it's just heaven to taste! If you want to add more flavor, you just dip it with the sauces provided (I like to middle one!); any of the sauce provided does enhance flavor, the mildest flavor is the rocksalt water dip while the strongest one is the barbecue sauce on the left.

Blackmore Premium Australian Wagyu beef selection HKD188.00

Amin, cooked for the girls!

Bbq sauce, Lemon Sauce, and Rocksalt Water Dip

Also ordered other meat like pork and chicken! The marinates are really different. The fresh taste of the marinate gives a contrast with the heavy taste of barbecue.

Pork belly In salty lime sauce HKD63.00

The chicken with fresh basil sauce is my next favorite to the Blackmore Wagyu beef because again, marinate was so unique! ended up eating half of this and dipped it in the lime sauce in the middle.

Chicken with Fresh Italian basil sauce HKD59.00

For rice, my friend Rain, ordered Wagyu fried rice because it reminds me of the fried rice I ordered for her when she visited me back in March 2012.

Premium Wagyu fried rice HKD73.00

For our drinks, me and Rain ordered healthy Valois plus drinks. I am not sure what this is but it tasted like juice + soda water.

Peach Plus HKD35.00

Kyoto Grape Plus HKD35.00

I forgot to take down the name of this drink but it's a cocktail, and I remember a hint of alcohol taste in it (soju).

Cocktail

 Happy friends!

I am really thankful for this welcome dinner, the food isn't cheap but it surely is special and again, unique and yummy! I super love it! A first time for me to give a perfect grade for a foreign restaurant outside Philippines!

Taste: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

Ambiance: 5/5

Morihachi Yakiniku

Address: 3/F Ying Kong Mansion, 2-6 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Contact: 852-31060183

Tikim69: Watami is here in Manila!!! (Mall of Asia, Pasay)

I got an email from the Bistro Group Card that they're opening a new restaurant called "Watami" in Mall of Asia and the next day I immediately went to MOA to try Watami Philippines! :D I got super excited because I am a fan of Watami Hong Kong and it was my first article  here in Mytastybuds!

First branch of Watami Philippines

Watami is a Japanese casual restaurant that feels like an upgraded fast-food. From how I see it, they have a distinct interior that feels expensive and cozy at the same time. Their dark red/wooden modern oriental looks actually reminds me of how Watami Hong Kong looks like.

Watami Bar

I love their couches

Watami

With no further adue, this is what I ordered during my first visit in Watami Philippines.

Pepper beef rice in stone pot P190.00

I ordered their pepper beef rice when I was in Hong Kong, so I got curious if they have the same serving size and quality. The stone pot rice actually reminds me of Pepper Rice but without the sauce.

Self grilled short ribs P295.00

Self grilled short ribs P295.00

Obviously I am a meat eater, I then ordered short ribs just because there's the fancy of cooking your own food on your table! You'll definitely eat it while it's hot!

Tonpeiyaki (pork cheese cabbage and egg) P275.00

I don't remember much about this but it's not on my top list in Watami.

Pizza topped Wyre teriyaki chicken P275.00

Their pizza was unique; it has a crust much like of Pita bread. I like the sauce and the mayo combination but I find the chicken serving to be too little.

Mango yakult P150.00 Kiwi Tea with Agar P145.00

When I was in HK, I also ordered their Yakult drink. I love their Yakult drinks but Evan's order of Kiwi Tea with Agar was better because it has a refreshing taste with Nata Jelly on it!

Watami is one of my favorite casual dining places in HK. They have new menu from time to time and I do hope Watami Philippines will come up with new dishes from time to time just like in Hong Kong. I also hope they offer some cheese dishes that Watami Hong Kong have so that their restaurant would be more differentiated amongst Japanese restaurants in the Metro. One thing is for sure, I'll order their Shorts Ribs and Kiwi Tea with Agar on my next visit!

Quality: 4/5

Taste: 4/5

Ambiance:5/5

Watami Philippines
Address: 2nd Level, SM Mall of Asia (Entertainment Mall), 
               Pacific and Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia Complex,
               Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Contact: 836-7141

Tikim 68: Maria's Ilocos Empanada (Fairview, Quezon City)

Have you ever tried eating Empanada? or at least tasted Ilocos Longganisa? An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry, baked or fried. I have tried different kinds of it, but Maria's Ilocos Empanada gave me a different view of their one of a kind empanada.

A lot of my friends told me to go visit their place and try one of their empanadas for a change.

I ordered one of their best sellers The Double Longganisa with single egg (P80) since it is really recommended by many.

 

besides its famous empanadas, the place also sells Ilocos delicacies and items!

AND HERE IT IS! I was really surprised to see this BIG empanada served in front of me! it was really not what i was expecting since I have only tried a few empanadas in my entire life and they were the cute and tiny ones, just for snack time. Although this one's different since the coating was unusual, crunchy and tasted much better than bread or the typical coating of an empanada.

The inside part was filled with delicious Ilocos Longganisa and the egg made it taste even much better! 

Every bite was definitely worth it and now i know why this is highly recommended by many. 

If you're an empanada lover and would like to taste something different that the usual empanada, Maria's Ilocos Empanada will be a sure satisfaction for you guys! 

Quality: 3/5

Taste: 3.5/5

Ambiance: 2/5

Maria's Ilocos Empanada

Address: 41 Regalado Street, Fairview, Quezon City, Philippines

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mariasilocosempanada