Tikim42: Be Bewitched at Gayuma ni Maria (Maginhawa Street, Quezon City)

This is a long over-due post. Ate here last year with friends for a mini reunion. I rarely go to Maginhawa street because I don't pass by the area but the travel time from my house to Maginhawa Street isn't far afterall. One can go to Maginhawa street either through Quezon City Circle->Maharlika->Masaya-> Maginhawa if coming from North, Edsa->Kamuning->Kamias->Annonas->V.Luna->Maginhawa if coming from the South. 

Gayuma ni Maria at Night

Halloween decors greeted me

My last visit to Gayuma ni Maria was October last year so in the parking area, we were greeted by a "floating" ghost; the ambiance was a bit spooky which by the ways fits the name of the restaurant (Gayuma meaning Bewitched/Charmed). Since Gayuma ni Maria is a concept restaurant, the best times to dine here is during Valentines Day and Halloween. I guess the owners really made the place look a bit mix-matched messy just like how they imagined a witching house would look like :) With all the spontaneity of the placement of decors,you'll feel right at home in Gayuma ni Maria. 

Mon-Sat 10am-12am, Sun-10am-10pm

Indoor Dining

Write your wishes/desires here

Outdoor dining for bigger groups

Room upstairs

Oh! You can rent a room upstairs (2nd floor) if you want to have a private celebration. There are also costumes which you can borrow or inquire about for your private function! From all the decors and gimmicks of the restaurant, my friends and I got hungry. The menu is really enjoyable to read through...the owners were really committed to stick with their concept of "Gayuma"/Bewitched or charmed. We ordered the following for sharing:

Lumpiang Barako P115.00

For the appetizer/attraction (teasers to whet the appetite) Lumpiang Barako is my bet.  I love spicy food so this is something for me. These cheesesticks are wrapped around a green chili pepper, so it's really hot, not for the faint of heart! 

Blushing Mermaid P325.00

Pan-fried pink salmon accompanied by signature mashed potato. Wasn't fan of the fish but my friends liked it.

Afternoon Delight P195

This is phased out in the current menu but I was lucky enough to try this out! This is their version of Pesto; cooked with tomatoes (didn't taste any tomatoes though :( ) and fresh basil sauteed in garlic olive oil topped with pepper flakes.

Please be Careful with my Heart P240.00

The name of the chicken reminds me of Sarah Geronimo' & Christian Baustista's version of "Please be Careful with my Heart." Anyway, why name a chicken like that? Maybe because it's a twice baked chicken in olive oil and garlic, a perfect cure for the heart that needs a little TLC. It takes time to prepare though but this is my fave dish amongst everything that the group ordered. It comes with a baked garlic (whole thing) that you can mix with your rice! It's so yummy but be sure to bring some mint candy so you won't have bad breath afterwards LOL.

Once you go Black, You Never Go Back P225

This dished surprised me because it didn't look appetizing but gosh tastes so good! Wasn't expecting that chocolate and fish goes well together. So what is this? It is a cocoa crusted cream Dory with chocolate sauce.

My verdict? Gayuma ni Maria is a fun restaurant, one should be open in trying out new things:) If you're up to trying out new things then why not :)

Taste: 3/5
Quality: 3/5
Ambiance: 3.5/5


Gayuma ni Maria
Address: 123 V.Luna Extension (Maginhawa Street),
               Sikatuna Village, Quezon City
Contact: 441-4872
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gayuma-Ni-Maria/148108488537188

Tikim33: Good Vibes at Van Gogh is Bipolar (Maginhawa, Quezon City)

I heard a lot about this feel good restaurant in Maginhawa Street; and so curiosity led me to try out Van Gogh is Bipolar on a special day. Indeed it was, the place was food-gasm and I was picture-happy to document this experience!

I got a bit lost going to the restaurant since there were no big signage. The restaurant is located inside a yellow building and when you enter inside, and you'll quickly notice the door entrance with many shoes and a garden area that reminded me of Alice and Wonderland.

Van Gogh entrance

A little sign that I am in the right place

At first, I was hesitant to enter the restaurant, I guess I got used to having guards and waiters invite or welcome me in their stores. The place is actual the quirky home of the bi-polar chef, Jetro.  He cooks happy inducing food and you get the food from the counter (self service). Sometimes he has a friend who helps out in guiding people how to order--- one can get a bit confused with the ordering process since everything is unconventional---self service from making your own tea to paying your bill!

The quirky interiors and what not toys you see inside are great for conversation starters

Self-service: Order and Check-out.
 See the board for the set menu

Honesty system in paying, just put money in the red box

Choose your teapot then...

choose a tea that suits the mood you want to achieve, their tea tastes well with honey

Got their famous Avocado Tea, my first time to try! 

For the special day that I am celebrating with Evan; we decided to order the 5 course meal (P999). Definitely "busog" and full-feeling after dessert, This set includes the following:

Courtney love drink

The Courtney love drink was like a four-seasons fruit shake, just this time I think different fruit combination was used ~ definitely green apple and a citrus taste was reminiscent. It is also a healthier version of fruit shakes because natural sugar, honey, is used as the sweetener! 

Wild Turkey Soup

This soup has an unexplainable "sopas" creamy citrus taste! Surprisingly, there's even a fried banana that complements everything!I don't know what is in the soup but I like it! 

This is how it was served.

Egg submer

This is the axel rose eggshot. You eat it by pouring the organic egg yolk in the fruit sauce that has blueberry. It was another first time for me to gulp a raw egg yolk with fruit sauce; Jetro helped me prepare this eggshot and he even gave a trivia (Egg is a stress reliever)! Evan and I toasted our eggshots!

Garden Salad

"Wow!!!" Cashew nuts, tomatoes, fried banana chips (my favorite topping!), Sun-dried fish, salted duck egg, sweet mango, pickles, basil, and a hot steamed 1 whole cabbage to wrap these toppings is just WOW! It was overwelhming at first because of the big plate but me and Evan ended up finishing this dish! You use your hands to do the wrapping and you have the option of putting the black vegetable sauce that has a spicy tangy taste. It was actually my favorite, why? I like salads, discovered that fried banana chips + mango + sun-dried fish goes very well with hot cabbage and tangy sauce, and that cabbage is said to be the best vegetable to beat depression!

Turkey with Black Mountain Rice

Fish with Mash Potato

Come main meal, Evan and I were already full but still it didn't stop us from eating the yummy black mountain rice from the turkey meal. The rice has a grape flavor that I eat it alone like Chinese fried rice. The black mountain rice is the rarest native rice in the Philippines that is rich in fiber and folic acid. After tasting the black rice, Evan bought a bag of it from Rustan's and it's the rice he eats now while I occasionally eat it at home too!

The fish (emperor) meal served with small potatoes mango green apple, basil, red beefs also tastes good. The banana chip, mango, and green apple added sweetness to the dark (blueberry?) sauce.

Mel Gibson's Dark Sin

Marilyn Monro's Ice Lolly

For dessert, Evan chose the Mel gibson dark sin; a chocolate dessert while I chose the other option: Marilyn Monroe's Ice Lolly. Evan had a wild and sinful dessert, as the picture shows, the dark chocolate was submerged in vodka. You first spoon out the chocolate from the vodka, then drink the vodka, and use the chocolate as a chaser. This is why it is sinful = vodka + chocolate! Evan got surprised with how good a combination it was and he felt the kick from the vodka...it makes me wonder if I can survive this shot without getting dizzy. As for my wholesome dessert, it was refreshing like halo-halo! I love how the "Carabao"/Water buffalo's milk complements the fruits.

Photo-op with the chef!

Reserve now!

The dishes speak for themselves! I can't further explain how good the set meal is but from ordering to eating the  is an EXPERIENCE TO TRY. The food trivia that I learned plus the personal touch and done by Jetro was heartwarming and sincere in getting to know his guests/visitors/diners :) It is very nice to meet a chef in person that is very humble :)! The  Unconventional space and the positive atmosphere created in Van gogh is a celebration of life itself! It is something to try out. Don't forget to make reservations because the restaurant only serves 12 diners per night! :)

Taste: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
***My first PERFECT rating restaurant!

Van Gogh is Bipolar
154 H Maginhawa Street,
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City 1103
Contact: 0922-8243015 for reservations. [Note:12 diners per night only!]
Website: http://www.facebook.com/vgibipolar