Cyma ♥ ♥

 

We don’t see each other as often as we want, or rather as often as I want. But when we do, it’s like we are back in high school again, our chairs facing each other as we share our baons and stories (read: gossips) over the 40-minute lunch break. Except now we are not anymore in our khaki Jubilee uniforms with maroon neckties, and some of us are already mothers while some, like me, are old maids in the making.

 

Jen (mother of 2), Sherylou (old maid), Me (old maid), Sheryl (old maid),
and missing in the photo is Elisa (very strict mother of 2)

 

Cyma Original Saganaki – mozzarella, parmesan and extra virgin olive oil. Just okay.

 

Roka Salata – this is the reason why we are here, because Sheryl’s heart aches for this salad. Fresh arugula (which they don’t have today of all days! Boo!!!), chopped Romaine lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, candied walnuts, shaved parmesan in traditional Greek vinaigrette.
Not the same without the arugula.

 

Paidakia - chargrilled lamb ribs served with Greek roasted potatoes. Pretty good.

 

Baby Clams Angel Hair – Pacific baby clams, white wine, lemon, parley, grated parmesan cheese and garlic butter. Flavor is alright, but pasta is overcooked.

 

Moussaka – layered seasoned ground pork and beef, toasted Japanese eggplant and Greek bechamel sauce. Greece’s national dish. Blah.

 

Come to Cyma for the Roka Salata.

Just make sure they have arugula.

 

Cyma: 6/F, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Tel: +632-637-3090

jin loves to eat at home, December 20-26, 2010

Life’s simple pleasures…

A box of Baci!!! One of my favorite chocolates! Thank you, Auntie Cita!

 

Each piece of this luscious dark chocolate with roasted hazelnut comes with a romantic love note inside. See what I got:

 

“Jupiter from on high laughs at the perjuries of lovers”

 

Hmmm… Glad that part of my life is over.

Next note, please!!!

 

December 20, 11:22am

Dinuguan, pechay, corn and crabmeat stir-fry, snap peas, mushrooms, okra, rice

Pomelo, mango, apple

 

December 20, 7:06pm

Grilled chicken, chayote, sautéed red and yellow peppers

Chocolate cake. Thanks, Dad!

 

December 21, 12:53pm

Braised pork knuckles, butter shrimps, boiled Chinese pechay, rice

Red cherries, orange, pomelo, apple

 

December 22, 10:37am

Melon, persimmon, apple, pomelo, guava

 

December 23, 9:15am

Chicken pie. Thank you, Lola Be-eng!

Apple, guava, melon, persimmon, orange, pomelo

 

December 24, 12:21pm

Milkfish belly, fried egg, pumpkin, boiled pea sprouts, rice

White cherries, pomelo, orange, apple, persimmon

Carrot cake. Thanks, Kim!

 

December 25, 12:36pm

Native chicken soup complete with the works – hearts, gizzards, goji berries

Chico, guava, persimmon, pomelo

 

December 26, 1:28pm

Herbed sea bass, cauliflower and black fungus, spinach, mushrooms, chayote and shrimps

Persimmon, pomelo, guava

Fresh apple and pear juice

Inagiku ♥ ♥ ♥

I love the smell of Shangri-La Hotels.

Do you know that you can actually buy the fragrance at the hotel gift shop?

Essence of Shangri-La. That’s the name of the scent.

 

I love the smell of Shangri-La Hotel even more when there are pretty Christmas trees lining the lobby and a choir singing beautifully on the staircase, serenading hotel guests with sweet, angelic voices. Such joyful Christmas spirit in the air.

 

We celebrate the birth of baby Jesus with a delicious and big Japanese meal. The food is so heavenly I am sure Papa Joseph and Mama Mary will forgive our gluttony.

 

Hello there, yummy creatures of the sea!

 

See you later at the dining table!

 

4 Legs of Hokkaido Crab
Unfortunately, our first dish is a disaster. The crabmeat is so mushy it disintegrates as soon as it touches the dipping sauce. We are not paying a fortune to eat mashed up crab here (and it’s really no way to celebrate Jesus’ birthday) so we call the manager’s attention and soon the Japanese chef is at our table, apologizing sincerely for the crab boo-boo and promising not to bill us for the legs. He comes back in a bit to announce that he just cut up a new crab with better meat and asks if we’re interested to order some. 

 

1 Leg of Hokkaido Crab Leg
“Okay, we’ll try one,” I say, not really too excited about crab legs anymore after having had 2 pieces of the quaggy ones. It is like what the Chef has promised, the meat from this leg is firm and sweet, like how Hokkaido crabs are supposed to be. Although still a far cry from the best I’ve had, I guess this will do for now.

 

Ama Ebi and Hamachi – the freshest and the sweetest

 

Deep Fried Ama Ebi Heads – I don’t know why other people just throw away the heads. Hello?? Have them fried and munch on them (yup, the whole thing!) for the ultimate shrimp chicharon experience.

 

Uni – fresh, sweet and buttery. I notice, however, that the wasabi they use for the sea urchin is not fresh like the wasabi that comes with the hamachi and ama ebi. Our waiter explains that this is because the sea urchin is sourced locally and is relatively much cheaper than other sashimi so they use a cheaper wasabi with it. Ngek.

 

Soft Shell Crab – amazing how light the batter is. Crunchy and sinful.

 

Suzuki Miso Yaki – the grilled sea bass with miso paste tastes wonderful even if it is slightly overcooked and dry at the edges.

 

Foie Gras Steak Teppanyaki – OH. MY. GAAWWWD. Can I just say, next to Antonio’s,
this is the best goose liver in all the world. So good it’s deadly.

 

Wagyu Sirloin Steak Teppyaki – now I know why they serve this in tiny 200g portions.
No, not just because the meager size already costs a whopping five-something grand, but because this beef is so rich and fatty you can only eat a few cubes before your arteries clog up and you die happily in heaven. Japanese Wagyu. This is what I live for. 

 

Black Sesame Ice Cream – good but can be great if there is more sesame flavor

 

Coffee Jelly – I don’t taste no coffee. Please contact Starbucks’ supplier NOW.

 

Happy birthday, JC!

 

Inagiku: Level 2, Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines. Tel: +632-840-0884

La Tienda ♥ ♥ ♥

What I love about eating with my girls is that even if it’s not August when Sherylou and I celebrate our birthdays and take care of the bill, they let me pick the restaurant each time and give me free reign with the ordering, too.

The perks of being a food blogger. Ha!

 

Salpicado – the tenderloin tips are hard and chewy but the garlic-and-beef-infused oil 
is very delicious

 

Gambas al Ajillo – the shrimps are just shrimps, nothing to rave about, but the oil,
oh my god, the tasty, garlicky, spicy olive oil is just. Out. Of. This. World.

 

Make good use of these breads for mopping up the sauces. Be sure not to leave one
garlic bit!

 

I enjoy a glass of sangria while waiting for our food

 

Holy moly! If I finish a glass of sangria for every 5 minutes of wait, I would have been disastrously wasted by the time our food arrives.

Forever. And a day. That is how long it takes our pre-ordered paella to arrive.

Truly, madly, deeply unacceptable.

 

Paella de Verduras con Arroz Basmati – vegetable paella with basmati rice
Good thing this fragrant, fluffy and very healthy vegetable paella doesn’t disappoint me. Squeeze some lime on it, put a spoonful in your mouth, close your eyes and relish the flavors. I don’t think the girls share my love for this one though.

 

Besugo al Horno – sea bream baked in olive oil and garlic
Unfortunately, the fish is a bit overcooked this time. Love the garlic slices the most.

 

Chuleton – rib eye steak
Medium rare for me, medium well for everyone else. The meat is very tender, the knife cuts through it like butter. Just a sprinkling of rock salt and I am in steak heaven. 
Listen to the food blogger. Have it medium rare.

 

Blueberry Cheesecake sans the blueberry syrup, because Jen doesn’t like blueberries.
Sweet and creamy. Nothing to tell your mama about.

 

The ice cream style Tiramisu looks like its been hit by a tornado. Not authentic,
but still pretty good.

 

Thanks for the treat, Jen and Sheryl! Already looking forward to next December!

 

Jen, Sheryl, Me, Sherelle, Sherylou

 

La Tienda: 43 Polaris Street, Bel-Air Village , Makati, Philippines. Tel: +632-890-4123