Tikim39: Garden Dining at Basil (Katipunan,Quezon City)

I learned about Basil through Evan's friend and the thought of trying out a new Thai restaurant  made me excited. Why? My go-to Thai restaurant is Thai Pan and because of the great experience I had in Basil, I now have 2 favorite Thai restaurants.

Basil is just easy to find. If you know where Corinthian Gardens (White Plains Avenue) is, you'll have no trouble looking for the restaurant because it is literally just a corner away (Katipunan Avenue). Keep an eye for the first establishment on the left if you're coming from EDSA or Mandaluyong because you might think that Basil is a garden shop.

Basil

The interiors inside the restaurant scream indoor lanscaping. Wooden chairs, a lot of plants, and even an indoor pond complete the serene and earthy feel of Basil.

Inside the restaurant

Indoor Pond of Basil

Their menu is pretty simple. I wish they had pictures of the food so that you can see what you'll be ordering. Ordered the following on our table:

Menu

Fresh spring roll por pie koong sod P220

The fresh spring rolls is composed of prawns and ground pork with fresh vegetables rolled in rolled in rice paper, served with a tamarind sauce. It's the healthy kind of spring roll since it isn't fried.

Prawns wrapped in noodles going sarong P395

Going Sarong are deep fried prawns wrapped in rice paper and crispy rice noodles, served with a tangy dipping sauce. This kind of reminds me of lumpia shrimp rolls that my mom cooks at home.

Wagyu beef with holy basil pad gra-prow nua P325

The Pad Gra-Prow Nua are slices of Wagyu beef that are stir fried with Thai wild basil, chili, and garlic. This is my favorite dish that was on the table. It tasted like beef with broccoli in Chinese restaurants with a Thai twist. Also, the beef is tender (should be because it's Wagyu)!

Thai bagoong rice khao kluk gapi P295

I always order Bagoong Rice in Thai Pan, to have a point of comparison I ordered Basil's version of Bagoong Rice. My verdict: Thai Pan's Bagoong rice wins! Basil's version had too many chili in it and it was hard to taste the flavor of the shrimp paste when your tongue is burning :(.

*Bagoong Rice: rice flavored with Thai shrimp paste, thin sliced fried egg, fried dried shrimp and meat (pork/beef/chicken), sometimes slices of green mango.

Thai Ice Tea P95

The Thai ice tea was just like a fruit shake, too much ice (half of it was crushed ice). Nonetheless, the thought of coconut milk infused in this ice tea made me so relieved. I drank half of it to neutralize the spice after eating a spoonful of the spicy bagoong rice. 

Bill

Bill

When you ask for the bill, it will come in a pot! The presentation was amusing!:) All in all, the food and ambiance was great! For sure, I will go back to taste their other specialty dishes.

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

Basil 
White Plains Avenue corner Katipunan Avenue,
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 911-4158

Tikim38: Xtreme Pizza at Xtremely Xpresso Cafe (Subic)

My Hong Kong friends recently went here to visit me and I thought of bringing them to Subic to have an adventurous experience (Treetop Subic and Ocean Adventure). In our last dinner in Subic, the group decided to eat at Xtremely Xpresso Cafe. The restaurant is so popular that my Hong Kong friends even know about Xtremely Xpresso.:) When the group arrived in restaurant at around 7:00 pm, we ended up sitting in the open air area since it was full house!

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe

My friends

At the back of their menu, there were brain puzzles to keep you company while waiting for your order. I really find it good way to wait for the food, Plus points for their entertaining menu/game menu!

Menu

Brain Games

Hungry from all the activities the group did for the day, we ordered the following...

Garlic and Cheese Quesadilla P150

For starters, the group had garlic and cheese quesadilla which was a chef's recommendation. The  quesadilla was cheesy which blended well with the mayo but garlic was over-powering! You will definitely need to eat some mint candy after to wash out the garlic after taste.

All meat pizza xtreme size P699

Up close

The pizza in the photo looks small but WOW the size was really overwhelming, it took half of the bench table. The 'xtreme' size pizza was good for 8 and it's really worth it!

Chicken Walnut Salad in Curry Dressing P180

A unique salad the group ventured in ordering. For me, the salad is a bit bland for me. The curry dressing didn't mix well with the other toppings plus the dressing was just like mayo+water+curry powder. It wasn't what I expected to be. :(

Thai Shrimp Salad P160

The Thai shrimp salad also had a chef recommendation icon; this salad is perfect for spicy eaters. I like spicy food but the shrimps were so spicy that it made me ask for another glass of water.

Spinach Mushroom Lasagna P200

The spinach mushroom lasagna is a favorite of mine. I think the cheese factor made me eat vegetables. Note that the lasagna isn't good for sharing, it is only good for 1-2 persons.

Spicy Oriental Shrimp Spaghetti P200

Another spicy dish ordered, the spicy oriental shrimp spaghetti can make you sweat!  

Specialty Drinks

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe offers a variety of drinks. My HK friends ordered a Baby joe flavored frappe P90 and a Raspberry avalance P90. They didn't say anything else except that it's good. 

Taste: 2.5/5

Quality: 3/5

Ambiance: 3.5/5

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe

Subic Bay Freeport Zone,

#1 Dewey Avenue, Subic Bay Freeport Zone,

Olongapo, Zambales

Telephone: 047-252-3681

Website: http://www.facebook.com/xtremelyxpresso

Tikim37: Seaweed Snack Tao Kei Noi

I've been munching on seaweed snacks lately. I like eating this Tao Kei Noi seaweed snack brand because its a healthy alternative to chips and they specialize on seaweed snacks --- lots of variety and flavors.

Original Flavor of Seaweed Sheet

Garlic Flavor os Seaweed Sheet

I bought these giant sheets at Subic freeport Grocery and it's a good buy! Each pack has 8 giant sheets in a resealable pack so when you can't finish it; the seaweed stays crunchy! Tastes great for snack! I also tried their crispy and tempura seaweeds and they taste great. The availability of flavors and seaweed variety (sheets/crispy/extra crispy/tempura) is an innovative way of introducing seaweed in a new light--- that is seaweed as the healthier alternative to junk food. 

Taste: 4/5

Quality: 3.5/5

Website: http://www.taokaenoi.co.th/product_en.php?page=30&lang=en

Tikim36: Cookbook Kitchen Love (L.Mencias, Mandaluyong City)

When I think about Cookbook Kitchen, the things that come into my mind are: home cooked meals, comfort food, Gambas,  and their Adobo Pasta. Already ate at Cookbook Kitchen (main branch) quite a few times and the dining experience was superb! The server engages in small talk; he even remembered me and asked how I was in my second visit.

Alfresco dining

Cozy inside

My latest dining experience became even better because the restaurant is pet friendly! I ate my lunch beside Sophie, and was so happy that my dog seems comfortable in the restaurant (not noisy, not uneasy, and her tail was wagging).

Sophie likes it here!

On our table:

Garlic Shrimps P165

I ordered my favorite dish in Cookbook Kitchen - Garlic shrimps are shrimps sautéed in chili and garlic. It is like just like Gambas, with less ketchup in it. I really like this dish, it is actually an appetizer but I like it with rice.

Ilocos Pasta P250

The salt and pepper vinegar

A best seller according to the server. The Ilocos pasta (P250) is a vigan longanisa pasta topped with spinach and served with salt and pepper vinegar. What makes this pasta different is that the longanisa is home made! Tastes perfect with the salt pepper vinegar when mixed.

Pasta Al Adobo P280

A Filipino favorite and another favorite of mine! If I have to choose between Ilocos pasta and pasta al adobo; I'll choose the latter.

Pam Fried Chicken Breast Fillet w/ Lemon Cheese Sauce P260

Chef gen's treat. It's like a roasted-fried chicken according to Evan. For me, it needs more lemon cheese sauce.

Chicken Zucchini P350

Chicken fillet in creamy  white wine sauce with zucchini  bacon bits. Not a fan of this one; more bacon bits please.

Beef Salpicao P280

This is pan fried tenderloin  beef strips reminded me of A1 sauce. At first the meat served was veiny and hard to eat. I had it changed and the meat became more tender 


Taste: 3.5/5
Quality: 3.5/5
Ambiance: 4/5


Cookbook Kitchen
8 Socorro Fernandez Street,
Mandaluyong City
Telephone: 724-3595/381-5935
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cookbook-Kitchen/84763924654?sk=info
              :  http://cookbookkitchen.multiply.com

Tikim35: Read and Brew Coffee Shop (Pontiac Street, Fairview)

After a tiring day from school, I felt like eating some sweets since I already ate dinner out. I tried to visit a coffee shop near our place called Read and Brew. Read and Brew, or most commonly known as RnB offers really great pastries and coffees, but not only that! They offer different Pastas to Milkshakes! 

Here's their menu set. Blackboard with colorful chalk writings!

their super colorful counter.

                                                                      

and as you can see below, they have a white boad which you can write about anything (even your secrets or contact details if you like. HAHA.)

their wide variety of flavored tea.

and since I'm still full that time, I just ordered BANANA CUPCAKE which I haven't tried yet.

it's crunchy on the outside but really soft and chewy on the inside! considering I haven't eaten Banana cupcakes for a long time, i think it's really good to eat something like this after a long and tiring day. 

They offer great and yummy delights for affordable prices. :)

Taste: 3/5

Quality: 3/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Read and Brew Coffee Shop

Pontiac Street, Fairview, Quezon City.

Facebook page: facebook.com/pages/Read-and-Brew

Tikim34: I am The Frazzled Cook (Addition Hills, Mandaluyong)

Every time I go to SoFA, I pass by L.Mencias Street and see The Frazzled Cook restaurant. For about a year, I just pass by it until cashcashpinoy.com, a coupon deal site, gave  me a reason to try try out the restaurant. I bought a coupon for P300.00 that is worth P600.00 of food, this means a dinner date for me!

The Frazzled Cook

The restaurant is so cozy with quirky interiors of mixed matched tables and chair. It is like an old house stuffed with collectibles; there's a wall of gold money cats  with their hands moving up and down all at the same time...so amusing! The mix and match or "frazzled" theme of the restaurant shows through its interiors and interesting collectibles (gold money cats, old type writers, abacus, trolly doll, Karl Lagerfeld coke, and what not.

On our own version of round table, Evan and I ordered the following:

Cheese Roll in Blue Cheese Dip P150

Ordered cheese roll for appetizer and thought the bread was a delight! Evan liked the dip while I didn't :l 

Tenderloin Nuggets w/ Mashed Potatoes in Flat Bread P350

This is my favorite dish of all that was served. I initially thought these were like chicken nuggets but with Tenderlion beef as the meat but when it was served it was like an upgraded version of Tenderlion cubes/"Salpicao" with mash potato. I don't really like mash potatoes but the restaurant's version was tasty and creamy with a hint of crunch from the fried/toasted bread! It's really a good combination!

Tenderloin nuggets with mashed potatoes In flat bread 350

Scampi Pasta P275

 I didn't eat much pasta as I as munching the Tenderloin nuggets but this is the second time Evan ordered this dish so it must be good! The seafood that topped the pasta was served proportionate with the tomato based pasta so it is a worth-it pasta.  

Latte P90

For our dessert, Evan decided to try their Latte. Nothing really special just a so-so from him. For coffee lovers, the restaurant serves Alamid Coffee (Civet cat coffee poop ^.^) which is around P275 per cup.


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


The Frazzled Cook
916 L. Mencias Street, Addition Hills,
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
Contact: 782-5980
Website: http://www.thefrazzledcook.com/