Apo asked for this. For MERIENDA!
Can you beat that?
And he got his wish. After all, it was his birthday!
Heaven & Eggs. Glorietta 4.
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Amicí has been part of our lives. Even back when it was still a "carinderia" with an ambience. At the time, I would still order sinigang or dinuguan but invariably take out an order of roast turkey. Yes, turkey! Then finish off with our favorite gelato flavors. At 35 pesos a scoop!
Since Amicí was bought by the former owner of Red Ribbon (which was then sold to the Jollibee Group), there are more cake selections. Love the red velvet cake and mango pie but I'm missing my 50 peso cappuccino!
The pizza, gelato and cakes are priced higher now but for my elves who grew up on these snack foods, it's hard to stay away from Amicí. My only complaint is that my favorite Aglio Olio Pasta and Carbonara are NOT as good as before.
I know my Aglio Olio and my taste buds remember how good it tasted before. A tad dry now, and i think they scrimped on the anchovies. Dear Amicí or Dear Cara Mia, please do bring back my favorite pasta!
Whenever we're in Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, my apos would invariably drop hints (the loudest!) to dine here in Zaifu. Thank God it's one place offering reasonably-priced Japanese comfort food!
We're a ramen, Gyoza and maki family so these favorites would almost always grace our table. Last visit was no exception.
Patricia would always order her salmon sashimi but you'd be lucky to snap a photo of that before she devours the entire appetizer. Martin loves his gyudon while his grandma never misses an order of her fav veggie Rebanira (Kutsay with slivers of liver). Yum!
You can order your ebi tempura or bento boxes too which includes miso soup, sashimi, some bean sprouts and your main dish.
Location: Basement. Power Plant Mall. Rockwell Center. It's not downright cheap. But if you're lusting for a decent crepe, this is one of few that's top of my mind.
Can't blame my Apo for choosing Cafe Breton for a crepe and gallette lunch. As for this lola, I was hankering for a cup of my favorite brew and a plate of pasta.
Next time you're in Greenbelt 3 area, check out this place that grew out of Boracay to claim fame in the city.
If you don't care much for French crepe or gallette, you can order a burger and pasta. Or simply go straight on to crepe desserts and coffee!
It was the last day of school for these teenage girls so we kinda felt like celebrating. Off to Rai Rai Ken in Paseo Magallanes then, before heading home!
My Apo ordered her usual salmon sashimi. Her teenage friend had Ebi tempura while I ordered a bowl of seafood udon and Gyoza.
I shared my 6 piece Gyoza and full bowl of udon with these teenagers. They loved it! Not one piece of the salmon was shared :-( and apo's friend didn't enjoy her Ebi tempura. Could have come crispier if you ask me. But all's well!
No, I'm not saying it's bad, but it was certainly tons better before. For nearly 300 pesos per pax for a buffet lunch or dinner, it was a favorite buffet destination whenever I entertain "balikbayans".
We always go to either the one in Glorietta or the branch at Market, Market. Each time I went, the buffet spread kept getting less and less. Even the desserts section seems depleted and begging for replenishment each time I got up to have my fill.
There was always an abundance of marshmallows (which you dip on chocolate) and kakanin, but I felt like I'm being discouraged to have my favorite halo halo :-(
As for the viands, it's a vegetarian's feast (the cheap veggie dishes) but the grilled tilapia don't taste fresh.
There's lechon but the refills are few and far between. And if you order the famous Kapampangan sisig, please remember that they come in small portions. I do recommend the Kare Kare. As for the sinigang or bulalo, do mind the tiny bone bits. You don't wish to choke on those!
It would STILL be good value for less than 300 pesos. Especially if you don't care much for meat dishes. But I do hope they serve fresh fish and that there's always available ice shavings and ready fruits in syrup fit my halo halo!
The music from the lobby of some (favorite) hotels in and around Makati lure me to many afternoon teas or early evening cocktails. It helps too that the seats are comfy especially on zonked out days.
Have a drink -- a martini or piña colada -- order a club sandwich to share, if you care. Close your eyes and listen to old classics. Whenever I'm meeting friends here in Makati Shangrila, I love coming an hour early just to enjoy this.
Zonked out or not, it's a very pleasant place to unclutter one's mind. The chairs are very comfortable and there's a good distance between tables, which I like.
What's best.... The music puts you back in harmony after some stressful episode. So YES, peace and solitude have a price ;-)
When I was still working, my colleagues and I would always find ourselves slurping some ramen dish here. We each had our favorites. Mine's Gomokumen, which I'd always share with my buddy, along with an order of those yummy gyozas.
Call it comfort food, if you like. When we trooped back to this old favorite -- we'd always go to the original near Makati Cinema Square -- we ordered the same : Gomokumen, Gyoza and Ebi and Vegetable Tempura.
The place doesn't look much from outside, as do many like Japanese restos here in Little Tokyo in Pasong Tamo (now Chino Roces St). But it is surprisingly spacious inside.
In my book, Shinjuku is STILL my go-to place for my ramen fix.
You'll find it on the 2nd floor of Greenbelt 3 just before the bridge connecting to the Car Park. Passed it many times but the idea of a Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine didn't appeal to me. So it took a while before I finally decided to check out this place.
I asked for the best seller pasta dish. We were served a bowl of tasty miso soup before being served the Mentaiko Shrimp and Japanese Herb Pasta (#11) and the Avocado, Bacon and Shrimp Pasta in Cheese Cream Sauce (#26).
The Mentaiko (Cod Roe) Shrimp & Herb Ao-Shiso Pasta came garnished with seaweed and had a "simple" taste. Sadly, the shrimps were far from fresh and even tasted recently-thawed. A tad dry too even after I tried mixing up the pasta to get the "full flavor".
As for the other pasta dish, it was swimming in the cheese cream sauce such that it "drowned out" the avocado, IF THERE WAS ANY. When this resto guy asked how our food was, my friend pointed out her soaking pasta dish. We were told "that's really how the dish is done."
When I asked if I could have more of the soup, I was politely (at least) turned down. Yet the guy kept reminding us to tell him if there's anything we need. Duh?
If I were a reluctant diner before this, I am now more convinced that we should leave to the Italians this business of making pasta and pizza. Sorry, I don't think I'd even give this a second go. Besides, it's not cheap!
You'd normally find us Sundays in this Mall. We like it here. And I suspect that while Sunday Mass is ongoing in the Mall's Chapel (or Tent), my elves are secretly plotting where to take us for early dinner.
Our 12 year old boy would not waste time ordering a meat dish. Beef Salpicao here never disappoints. Our teenage girl loves her pasta and pizza margherita and again, Cucina Victoria delivers!
There's enough pasta & pizza to share but another dish -- Arroz ala Cubana -- won't hurt. :-) Buon Apetito!
Cucina Victoria is in the Basement Level of Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Center.
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