Miyabi at Pan Pacific Manila, Revisited ♥ ♥

 

You know how some places serve better food at dinner than at lunch?

I think Miyabi is one such place.

Remember my luncheon sometime ago?  Tsk.

… Or maybe I just have more sophisticated ordering skills after 7pm.

 

An Encyclopedia Britannica of a menu

 

Kimpira Gobo – very addicting stuff

 

Kimchi

 

Special Kani Salad – love the sprinkling of sakura powder

 

Umaki Tamago – Beware! Those tiny pieces of eel got way too many bones!

 

Unagi and Inari Sushi – again, be cautious of them little unagi bones

 

Unaju

 

So you noticed. We love unagi.

We ordered manymanymore dishes that night, but the waitress prohibited me from taking photos and stood close to our table to watch me the whole time.

Restaurant snootiness still exists?!

 

Anyway, 12 days later I am back with my weapon – Ahia Nichol, my cousin and a very important person at Miyabi.

Hey waitress, watch and weep!

 

We each order a dinner set which consists of a main dish of our choice, 2 mini appetizers, miso soup, rice or noodles, ice cream or fruits.

 

Ahia Nic has 2 orders of Tamago Tofu for his appetizer

 

I have Tamago

 

and Agedashi Tofu

 

He orders US Beef Teppan for his entrée. I steal a piece. It is soft and flavorful.

 

I order a Mini Sukiyaki which turns out to be more maxi than mini. The beef is tender and the soup very tasty, but I can’t possibly allow myself to finish this giant bowl that is good for two. I beg Ahia Nic to share it with me.

 

But minutes after he turns me down, I find myself slurping up the last strand of noodle from my bowl, and I catch my date smiling amusedly at me.

Oh come on, Nichol Yap, wipe that nasty grin off your face!

 

We upgrade to fried rice instead of steamed. Gotta level up.

 

Miso soup

 

Green tea ice cream – didn’t they say it’s good to have green tea after a very big meal?

 

Another night of gluttony. Thank you, Ahia Nic!

 

Miyabi: 2nd Floor, Adriatico Square, Pan Pacific Manila, M. Adriatico, corner Gen. Malvar Streets, Malate, Manila, Philippines. Tel: +632-536-0351 to 54

Pinoy Eats World Guerilla Dinner 7: Last Chukker

 

There used to be a time when I was more spontaneous and loved surprises.

But at 31, not anymore.

Except of course when it comes to food, then I am still all game and spunky.

So imagine my excitement when the big night finally arrives.

Pinoy Eats World’s Guerilla Dinner 7. Surprise, surprise!

Meeting time and place is 7pm, Manila Polo Club lobby.

I drag my cousin Frances and good friend Jerms.

And wear my pointy-toe black patent heels.

 

And then I overhear someone say we’re walking to Greenbelt.
Oh dear God, please be kind to my feet!

 

Almost immediately my prayer is answered as we arrive a few seconds later at
tonight’s dinner venue

 

Last Chukker

 

The main dining room

 

BUT we are dining under the stars tonight ★

 

Everyone gets seated as I make my way slowly to the table, struggling to keep the earth from swallowing my heels. Tip toe. Tip toe.
Hi J-Lab!  Hi Sanj!

 

Welcome message and introductions

 

Tonight’s menu clue card. I’m embarrassed to say I’m not able to guess any.

 

And no wonder. Because back in the 90s when Namee was being chased by Kapampangan boys and JJ was dating girls at Vanna’s restaurants, I was being the geeky fat kid who played jackstones all day and ate two fillet-o-fishes and a milkshake each meal. (Me in 2011: still a fat kid, still eat two fillet-o-fishes, but now I have chocolate sundae instead of milkshake)  

 

Fat kid with THE JJ Yulo

 

So you see, I am totally clueless.

 

Clue: "There's Something Fishy"
Bagna càuda, salami, crudités. A delicious way to eat your veggies.

 

Looks so much prettier on my plate

 

Clue: "HAY Naku"
Watercress, quesong puti, potato hay, raspberry vinaigrette

 

Me loves potato hays

 

Clue: "The Anti Romance Special"
Squid ink pasta, squid rings, garlic slivers, basil. Nice and tangy.

 

Clue: "Meltdown"
Spinach linguine, pancetta, mushrooms, tomato, mozzarella. This is MAJOR comfort food.

 

Parmesan bread

 

Clue: "Pinison na Nokma"
Wood-fired chicken cooked under a brick. I tell you, you gotta eat the skin.

 

Clue: "Season’s Best"
Ribeye steak, sage butter. The taste is OMGperfect. Now if only the steak were medium rare…

 

Roasted potato wedge with rosemary

 

Potato risotto

 

Decadent chocolate cake with caramel sauce

 

Namee and JJ trying to look as sultry as the pizza

 

Clue: "Vanna Vanna Bobanna"
Nutella, bananas, rocky road wedges, parmesan, mozzarella. I am in love with anything and everything nutella.

 

Mangoes and cream pizza

 

Our end of the table
(Patient peoples, lighting directors… Sorry! Thank you! I love you!)

 

The other (and luckier) end of the table
Happy Birthday, Vince!  Happy Anniversary, Mench and Gabby!

 

Little surprises for the celebrants

 

Pinoy Eats World team and PEWkers with tonight’s featured chef, Vanna Calalang Severino

 

As I wipe off the soil from my shoes that night, I reminisce about the food, the people, the conversations (about food), and I smile.

 

Yes, this is what life is all about.

 

Pinoy Eats World: Contact JJ Yulo at jjyulo@pinoyeatsworld.com or +639175301160

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Ukokkei Ramen Ron, Revisited ♥ ♥ ♥

 

At 4:32pm, I text Auntie Babyruth, “Auntie! 5:45pm, right?”

She calls me right away. “Noooooooooo!!! I’ll pick you up around 5:15 because we have to be there at 5:45pm.”

“Okay, I’ll get ready right away!”

And I excitedly get ready for tonight’s indulgence – Ukokkei  Tan Tan Men.

Only 10 bowls a day, dinner only.

 

Boys with twalya-bandannas in the kitchen

 

Girls with black bandannas in the dining area

 

After my very first time at Ukokkei, I’ve returned quite a few times and finally found my soul mate in its Karamiso Negi, level 3. It has been my Ukokkei staple ever since.

 

Because I am a Ukokkei Tan Tan Men newbie, I follow The Expert’s eating method. (Yes, Auntie Babyruth, you the expert!)

 

Ukokkei Tan Tan Men

+

Japanese Eggs

=

 

OMG THE BEST RAMEN EVER!!!

 

The richness of the miso plus the nutty-creaminess of roasted sesame plus the perfectly al dente noodles plus the gooey golden yolks, they make little red hearts pip-pop up around my head.

I swear I want to swim in this soup forever.

 

The Expert goes a bit further by asking for extra corn and butter and mixing them all into her tan tan men. I stop mirroring after the 2 eggs. With my cholesterol now over 200, I kinda chicken out.

 

“When you see the "chicken" at the bottom of the bowl, you've just had an
Ukokkei Ramen Ron full experience! :-)” - Auntie Babyruth

 

Only someone who adds corn and butter into her tan tan men and finishes it until the very last drop, only she can make the Soup Nazi smile like he’s smiling now. (That guy in white is a Soup Nazi-in-the-making. Yes, they’re opening a branch in Manila soon!!!)

 

The original Nazi trying to look all Nazi. But fails. So priceless!

 

That’s The Expert taking a photo of her favorite lucky cats.
Thank you for the delicious dinner and for the one in a million chance photo op with
The Soup Nazi!  

 

Ukokkei Ramen Ron: Unit 1-2, Upper G/F, Tesoro Building, 822 A. Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay Road), Makati City, Philippines. Tel: +632-856-4588