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

Tikim67: Don't miss the Local Streetfood in Hong Kong

When you are already in Hong Kong, don't forget to snack on some authentic local street food! You can just find them anyway but I ate mine in 2-3 stalls in Causeway Bay. Here is my list of what streetfood to eat!

1.Siumai, these are fish dumplings and they cost HKD12.00 for about a dozen. If you are a spice fan then go for the spicy sauce, I have to drink yakult after because it's too spicy for me but I like it! 

Siumai

That's the spicy sauce

2. Hong Kong egg pancakes are round that looks like a flat beehive. It has a crunchy skin and soft bread when you bite on to it. I didn't know that they now offer chocolate and mocha flavored pancakes! I got the half chocolate-original. This snack costs HKD12.00.

check out the various flavors

Best eaten when warm

3. I also tried the their version of a waffle. I like it because they put some peanut butter filling and some sort of syrup that makes the waffle tastes crunchy and sweet! I bet peanut butter sandwich fans will love eating this! Also, this snack costs HKD12.00

Sorry no other picture of the waffle I was too eager to eat it

4. Lastly, I tried their Takoyaki for the first time. Their octopus balls were big  and the sauce and seaweed were generous! Again, only HKD12.00!

Takoyaki Balls!

Tikim66: Eat Big at Hungry Hippo (SLex)

Have a big appetite and cravings for a big burgers and classic BLT? Here's another food getaway down the South to serve you their rustic and juicy patties....

If you happen to go and take the long highway of SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) you may want to stop by at Hungry Hippo and have a big bite of their famous burgers!

       They served some sumptuous gourmet sandwiches that can satisfy your appetite from a long drive...

Their sandwiches are sooo affordable yet worth the price, nothing fancy at all, it's so rustic and comforting...

EAT BIG! :D

Hungry Hippo wearing Santa Hat :)

                                               

Waiting... Food will be served in a while....:D

While waiting I noticed that the place was so nostalgic as if like you've taken to a kid's place, the colors are so inviting their seats and walls are all violet with different shades.. I love it! And look at those hippos painted on their wall... :)

Here's the food!!!! Wrapped in foil...:D

Bacon Burger w/ Cheese  (146php/meal)

EAT BIG! This is their bestseller and a favorite of their loyal customers, since this is our first time to try out their burgers we opt to have the best one! They topped it off with a generous amount of bacon and juicy patty, cheese and cucumber!

BLTC (Bacon + Lettuce+ Tomato+ Cheese) 126php/meal

I decided to ordered their classic BLTC, this is their own version of BLT they topped it off with their cheese!

Hungry Hippo, I should've asked to make our bacon more crispier, it may add more texture to our sandwiches, next time I'll ask for it :) this is another newly open fast food chain on the road.. A great place to stop over and grab some great foods to satisfy your appetite, you'll not wait for a long time to have your orders, their service is so quick, yet their food is so rustic and comforting that makes it no difference with other burgers or sandwiches, I wished that they can come up with new flavors and new ways to eat their sandwiches since their concept is so inviting, maybe they can put more fun to their food and I hope they can branch out in some malls so kids and young at hearts can enjoy their place and foods. Still, they served good foods and good services to their customers!

Quality: 3/5

Taste: 3/5

Ambiance: 3/5

Hungry Hippo

Address: South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Shell Station

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hungry-Hippo

Website: www.HungryHippo.com.ph

Tikim 65: Villa Tortuga (Taal, Batangas)

Krisha and I are so lucky to had a chance to take tour and experienced the Colonial experience at the Heritage Town of Taal, Batangas and taste their best foods in town at Villa Tortuga.. Another getaway foodies at the South...

Villa Tortuga, Calle M. Agoncillo Street

Long table for family and friends

Detailed plate with vintage napkin cloth

Vintage Details on utensils

We have a 5 course meal for lunch, so.. We started off with their nutritious vegetable soup.. It was really good! The broth is so tasty plus the vegetables that they used is so delicate, malunggay and pechay "bok choi"

Spring Onion Rice

Famous Tapa

Their famous tapa was so delicious, the pork was so soft and cooked well.. 

Adobong Dilaw

This is another way of cooking adobo, it really looks like chicken curry but it's not.. They used a lot of luyang dilaw "turmeric" that's why its color is yellow obviously.. One of my favorite dish that they served...

 

Pininyahang Baboy

Another delicious food served to us, the sweetness and the citrusy taste of the pineapple blends well with the pork. Well balanced meal.

Atlantic Mackerel or La Caballa in Spanish

The fish was so good, so delicate and tasty. It look so simple yet the taste was so rich and succulent...

Suman "Sticky Rice" for dessert

Rich Local Chocolate

We enjoyed our dessert.. So Filipino... The rich chocolate is a must! I love the bitter sweet taste of the cocoa with milk.. The suman is not that sweet, it comes with the the rich chocolate, taste good  together..

Villa Tortuga, for those who want to go back and experience the Colonial Period, you can now experience it in Villa Tortuga you can enjoy their vicinity, the food,and their rich culture.. You can also wear some costume and take photos with your family and friend, this will be a surreal time for you guys! A throwback in the South..

Maximum capacity for Lunch/ Dinner- 50 pax.
Maximum Capacity for Overnight Stay- 10 pax. (2 rooms available)
Rates:
A. DAY TOUR PACKAGE (10AM -4PM)
- Lunch (5 Course Meal)
- Costume for each guest.
- Photo Pictorial
- Free 5”x7” Sepia Photo ( to be mailed)
- Guided Tour of Taal
Price: P1,500.00/ Adult
P750.00/ Child below 10 yrs
- Includes Breakfast
- 2 Rooms available
Price: P850.00/ person
B. Full Day Tour with Overnight Stay
- Includes Day Tour ( Starts at 1:30PM)
- Costume for each guest
- Dinner ( 5 Course Meal)
- Overnight Stay
- Breakfast
Price: P 2,000.00/ Adult
P 1,000.00/ Child below 10 yrs
C. House visit only – Entrance Donation is P50.00/ person
http://www.pinoyalloccasions.com/2011/09/the-colonial-experience-villa-tortuga/ 

taste: 4/5
quality: 3.5/5
ambiance: 4/5 
 
Villa Tortuga
Address: Calle M. Agoncillo, Taal, Batangas
Contact: 0917 824-6900 / 0927-975-1683
Contact Person: Lito Perez
E-mail: lito_pperez@yahoo.com

Tikim 64:Back to back with Toribox and Eat My GF (Little Baguio, San Juan)

I feel like celebrating today because my internship hours is finished and I can finally process my diploma! For this occasion, I ate 2 things that I really like: Katsu and Potatoes! If you know where Serenitea in Greenhills area is, you'll notice that the street has been offering more hole-in-the-wall choices than before! One of the newest addition is Toribox Cafe!

Toribox Cafe

Toribox cafe has really nice interiors and it gives some sort of Japanese vibe with its comfortable seating and wall decors. This is actually a good date place because its quaint and "hidden"! You'll have a chance to have a great talk over katsu and coffee!

Comfortable seating

Wall furnishing

They have a nice menu where it has pictures for easier ordering! I immediately ordered their frozen ice-tea 'coz I was so thirsty when I got there. Oh! I can't help but feature their condiments organizer...I really like the garden feel of it! I hope they put on a katsu sauce bottle in there and Japanese chili powder so it would complete the idea of a Japanese Katsu cafe.

Their menu

Frozen brewed Iced tea P65.00

Toribox's condiment organizer

For the main course, I ended up ordering a cheese chicken katsu! Katsu sauce is served on the side and I suggest you try eating it with the sauce! The dish is okay, just need more cheese to it or even better have some actual cheese sauce because this is just a fried chicken fillet with Quickmelt on top of it.

Cheese chicken Katsu P195.00

Up close

My date, Evan, got a Mapo Katsu! It has spicy tofu (tokwa) with minced pork. Reminds me of curry! Evan, a tofu lover noticed that their tofu isn't soft like the white ones in Miso soups. I suggest they use the Japanese tofu not tokwa to again be authentic in their Japanese cuisine.

Mapo Katsu chicken P195.00

After dinner, I was craving for some french fries and what a great way to end the night than eat garlic fries! hahaha Just need to eat a strong mint to remove garlic breath! (LoL). Walk a few steps from Toribox, and you'll see Eat my GF!

Eat my GF!

The theme inside the restaurant is very sporty with orange dominating the furniture color. I think it'll be a nice hang-out place for guys!

Baseball sporty feel

Choose from their burgers to hotdogs to their various take on garlic fries! I always order a large virgin chips for P195.00 when I pass by the area, unfortunately I was very excited to eat the chips that I forgot to take a picture! Well, it's for you to find out!

Menu

The celebration night was a success! I get happy when I eat my favorites :) If you are a kastu fan, head over to Toribox! You'll be carried away with their nice ambiance that's friendly to the wallet; a suggested date place for me!  And for french fries lovers, I am happy to give a shout out to Eat my GF!

Toribox
Quality: 3.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5

Eat my GF

Quality: 3.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5

Tori box  and Eat my GF

403 F.Calderob St; Corner J.Abad St; little Baguio San Juan