Il Ponticello's Back! (This Time You Can Bring the Whole Fam)

Because I have always been a lola at heart, and would rather read a book, leaf through Vogue, or critique the fashion in an MTV music video than go out at night (this was during the dial-up internet days, in my early 20s) I wasn't much of a regular at Il Ponticello, or "Ponti" as everyone likes to call it.

But when my friends could manage to pull me out at 10 in the evening to go out, we would somehow end up there, even to just drop by for a quick drink.

I have actually come to forever associate the place with smoke and a room full of happily inebriated people standing and talking, or rather shouting into each other's ears.

I don't even remember how it actually looked like, if there were any seats at all. And not because I was buzzed, drunk or anything. Honestly, I'd rather spend on shoes than a drink I'll end up puking out.

So it is very clear in my head that the place was always shoulder to shoulder crowded, smoky and dark. Very dark. A great ploy to bump into somebody you were crushing on actually, come to think of it.

It was a whole lot darker than this, which is Ponti's new lounge area today by the way.

So when my mommy group decided to celebrate our send off for our friend Jenny Reyes aka My Mommyology at her in laws' Il Ponticello, the first thing that popped into my head was the smoke and packed room.

"It's different now, it's a gastropub, with good Italian food!" Jenny said.

The mention of good food to 30 something moms, is like telling your 20 something friends that there's an open bar.

Of course, everybody made arrangements to leave the kids at home on a week night, with the perfect excuse to the husbands, "Jenny is leaving in 4 days!"

Of course, some of us, I shall not name names, were also secretly hoping to sneak in a few drinks. Hahaha. Successful naman.

the Ponti Spritz

And the food, as Jenny promised, was excellent! I don't have the actual photos because my photos came out too blurry from lack of light, but Ponti is indeed now a full-fledged restaurant with appetizers, pasta, pizza, main courses, dessert and all.

Penne Pomodoro Salsiccia 

Pizza Maccelaio

Rack of Lamb 

Lasagna Carbonara

You can in fact go to Ponti during lunch with your parents and kids, and they'd have no idea that you spent a portion of your drunken youth there.

Great to know Ponti's back. Why not invite the gang for old time's sake? Get those arteries pumped up with cholesterol from the porchetta, instead of the usual alcohol. Or both. Because you can. Hey, why not.

Il Ponticello
Second Floor, Antel Corporate Center
121 Valero Street, Near V.A. Rufino Street
Salcedo Village, Makati City
Tel: +632 5539971, +63 9497608731

Hong Kong with Dada + MUJI to Go

Late last month, my favorite travel companion – Dada, and I flew to Hong Kong. 

We stayed at our favorite hotel in Central, JW Marriott, because it’s just so accessible to our favorite neighborhoods. 

Not that we needed to be anywhere fast. It was the kind of journey where we had no set agenda. 

Call it a babymoon/inspiration seeking/food trip kind of thing where we just let our feet take us where they wanted to go, where we kept our eyes open for new business ideas, and armed with a list of must try restaurants from HK-based friends, let our hungry tummies lead us to the nearest must-try spot. 

Yup, what was certain about this short vacation was that Dada & I wanted to eat well. Not necessarily the fancy “eat well” sort of thing, but we wanted to check out those hole-in-the wall kind of places that locals frequent and love. 

They’re so good, I really ought to share them with you, so here goes: 

Mak’s Noodles 

77 Wellington Street, Central 

 

We already had dinner, but Mak’s Noodles was in the area, and we just had to try their dry noodles sprinkled with prawn roe, and soup of wontons stuffed with saltwater prawns. Small on serving size, but big on taste! Definitely a great place for a late night snack. 

Yardbird 
33-35 Bridges Street, +852 2547 9273

Don’t let their bite size servings of chicken yakitori fool you. Give everything that’s highly rated on their menu a try, and you might just have to roll yourself down the steep climb to Bridges Street to get back to your hotel. You must order their heavenly sweet corn tempura, chicken oysters, Korean fried cauliflower aka KFC, chicken meatball yakitori with egg yolk and finish this off with their chicken and egg rice. If these don’t hit the spot, I don’t know what else will. Warning: we came by on a Monday night and the place was packed. They don’t accept reservations so just go early!

Yardbird's chicken meatball yakitori

Yat Lok 
G/F, 34-38 Stanley Street, Central

If you’re a huge fan of goose, duck or BBQ pork meals, then your goose is cooked at Yat Lok. Dada had roasted goose with noodles for afternoon merienda and he says the goose was perfectly cooked. He’d want to go back and try it with rice next time. The couple in front of us (yes we were seated across complete strangers) had BBQ pork with rice and that looked good too. This is a place that’s definitely worth coming back to.

Dada's roasted goose with noodles

Tai Cheong Bakery 
35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, +852 2544 3475

Two words: egg tarts. Theirs are said to be the best in Hong Kong.

Tim Ho Wan
Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station, IFC Mall, Level 1, +852 2332 3078

Yes, we have Tim Ho Wan in Manila, but still, HK is the birth place and nothing is more convenient than checking in your suitcase early at the Airport Express in IFC and then killing time waiting in line at Tim Ho Wan. Of course, the food does not disappoint, so what’s not to like?

JW Marriott Room Service 
One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong

Even room service at our hotel did not disappoint. It was 2 am and our tummies were grumbling (granted that we were eating practically non-stop the entire day) so Dada and I split JW Marriot’s bacon cheeseburger and fries, and it was divine!

Kau Kee
G/F, 21 Gough Street, Mid-Level, Central

Honestly, we didn’t really get to try this place, but we hear their curry noodles and beef brisket noodles are legendary. The line outside tells me there is truth to the legend, so we are definitely coming back to get a taste of their noodles on our next trip.

While disappointing to miss out on Kau Kee, and ten more different restaurants on our list, the upside is, this gives us all the more reason for Dada & I to plan our next adventure! But after I give birth na, heehee. 

Speaking of traveling and planning adventures, I might as well let you in on MUJI's latest campaign, MUJI to Go! 

 

Japanese lifestyle brand MUJI launches MUJI to Go, a campaign that puts the spotlight on MUJI's unique, functional travel items - from hard and soft carry-on cases, to portable bags, compact garment, toiletry and passport cases, neck pillows, notebooks, pens even mobile speakers and a portable washboard!

There’s no need to worry about baggage weight restrictions with these portable and compact travel tools and organizers from MUJI. They’re the perfect travel companions, next to your favorite travel partner of course!

As if these chic and practical items are not enough reason to shop MUJI now, customers get 15% OFF on their total purchase when you buy any Muji luggage and 2 or more selected travel items this month of August!

Perfect to have them ready now, for when you’re feeling spontaneous. With these on hand, you can just always pack up and leave!  

For more on MUJI and MUJI to Go, Like the MUJI Philippines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/muji.ph

Steveston Pizza

Whenever we are in Richmond, BC we also make it a point to drive to picturesque Steveston just to soak in the scenery. I never realized it was home to a great pizza place called Steveston Pizza! Maybe because we always eat at Chinese, Korean or Singaporean restaurants when in Richmond heehee.

My friend Karen Wu invited me and the SoMoms for chikahan over pizza at UP Town Center, where she shared that her family partnered with the owner of Steveston Pizza in Canada, Nader Hatami, to put up Steveston Pizza here.

It was a pizza concept they enjoyed back in Canada, in fact bestowed upon the honor of Best Pizza by the Richmond Review from 2008 to 2011. Incidentally, Nader Hatami is also the world record holder for creating the most expensive commercially available pizza in the world, the $450 pizza made of lobster thermidor, Alaskan black cod and a side of Russian osetra caviar, called C6.

You'd have to order that a day ahead though. Nevertheless, while we did not get to try the famed pizza, haha, we all left with happy tummies, already looking forward to our next visit.

Because unlike most pizza chains, Steveston's gourmet pizzas have generous toppings, are made from the freshest ingredients (no canned or frozen toppings here), and the crusts are crispy on the edges, fluffy in the center.

We started off our pizza fest with their Flying Ceasar salad, which is basically ceasar salad with paprika coated, lemon scented chicken.

While waiting for our pizzas to be served, we also had some of their Angel chicken wings which come in dark, sweet and spicy flavors.

I am not exaggerating when I say how generous the toppings are. It's practically a salad, even a dish on a 12" pizza crust.

C2 is topped with prosciutto ham, brie, semi-dried Roma tomatoes, dollop of roasted garlic mousse (Php1299)

Black and Blue Pizza - yes you may split your pizza into two different flavors. Black is topped with honey glazed chicken breast, fig Gorgonzola, mascarpone mousse, walnuts and arugula julienne (Php699) and Blue has rosemary smoked bacon, caramelized onion, mushrooms, baby spinach and stilton blue cheese mousse (Php699)

Pink & Green pizza - Pink has smoked salmon, asparagus, bocconcini and onion with pesto drizzle (Php699) and Green is topped with herb pesto butter, shrimp, brie and scallions (Php699)

We also had a cheese pizza, but that was the first that came to our table and was devoured in record time. We shared a total of 4 pizzas that day, and I think we left with only 5 slices remaining. That was how much we enjoyed our food. 

Bring the family or your friends over to Steveston Pizza when you're craving for pizza that's out of the ordinary. You will enjoy it, especially if you like thin crust pizzas!

Steveston Pizza UP Town Center
Ground Floor UP Town Center
Katipunan Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Tel +632 955 2273
Mobile +63 917 904 3428

Steveston Pizza Tomas Morato 
186 Tomas Morato cor Sct De Guia
Laging Handa, Quezon City
Tel +632 921 9898

Cafe Shibuya at UP Town Center

Our friends Jon & Cathy, Berry's Ninong & Ninang, and their in-laws opened Cafe Shibuya in UP Town Center back in October, and we've been meaning to go ever since, except that something always turns up and our plans to go to Quezon City always gets foiled.

So by the time we finally made it there, I had already heard so much about Cafe Shibuya, I knew we were definitely in for a treat! 

Cafe Shibuya is named after their Shibuya Toast, which is a Japanese version of a French toast. Decadent and indulgent when eaten with ice cream & fruits on top, slathered with Nutella or drizzled with honey, Cafe Shibuya's bread alone is so soft, and tasty, it can stand by itself. It's that good.

I told Jon they should start selling their bread, I would happily eat it for breakfast everyday.

It is not surprising that most people I know who have been there think of it as a dessert place, especially since their "There's always room for dessert" wall is the most photographed corner in almost all the blogs and Instagram photos I have seen.

More so because people often stop by after lunch or dinner, for their best seller, the Ghirardelli Triple Dark Chocolate Frappe.

Ghirardelli Triple Dark Chocolate Frappe

Yes, they have the license from Ghirardelli to use and prepare their hot chocolate and coffee drinks the Ghirardelli way.

But more than just sweet drinks and desserts, Dada & I loved their savory dishes as well. You really do have to try their Savory Toasts, as the chalk board suggests.

This, we loved. The fried poached egg with smoked salmon. O.M.G. This is what brunch is all about.

Berry had the Spaghetti al Tonno - tuna, capers and olives in a tomato basil sauce. Healthy and delicious.

But I really have to direct you back to their fried poached egg on Shibuya Toast. That, with a Cafe Shibuya Latte, are what Saturday brunches are made of. 

Cafe Shibuya
UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 722 2237
Mobile: +63 947 221 3836
Sunday to Thursday 10:00 am - 10:00 pmFriday to Saturday 10:00 am - 12:00 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CafeShibuya

Bon Chon Delivers!

When I was pregnant with Berry, I was crazy about Korean fried chicken.

It was the original Bon Chon in Koreatown in Manhattan that got me hooked, and while they never served their chicken with rice, I learned to eat it with a siding of pickled radish cubes that still makes my mouth water at just the mere idea of it. OMG.

So when Bon Chon miraculously opened in Manila, it was just wow. What's doubly wow is that Bon Chon delivers now!

I had an impromptu lunch at home the other week, because my friend Gretch was in town and only had an hour to spare for lunch. Then Kris aka OC Mom in Manila and I made plans to check out our neighborhood pilates studio before she had to go to another meeting. With little time to spare, it was a relief that Bon Chon came to my rescue!

BonChon here in Manila is so different from the Bon Chon I knew in New York. Back there, Bon Chon is more of a bar that serves chicken, while here, it's a full on fast food concept that features not just their delicious double fried chicken, but also deep fried seafood, japchae, bulgogi, soups, sandwiches and salads, as well as the new Crispy Crepes.

Whether you are in Manila or in a city where BonChon is at, there's a delivery hotline that you can call when that Korean fried chicken craving starts kicking in.

Just make sure you order a minimum of Php300 and expect to pay a 10% delivery charge. Craving solved.

Bon Chon Delivery Hotlines:
Metro Manila - 633-1818.
Marilao, Bulacan - (044) 815-1818
Baliwag, Bulacan - (044) 761-1818
Cavite - (046) 424-1818
Central Cebu City, (032) 266-0488
Davao, (082) 285-1704 *charges a flat P40 delivery fee

For more information, log on to www.bonchon.com.ph

Singapore Food Fest: Day 4

By Day 4, despite the fact that we've been enjoying all the great food we've been missing, Dada & I just wanted to go home and see Berry & Xavi. We had an afternoon flight to catch so we wanted to go for quick meals that were still authentically Singaporean.

For breakfast, we ate at Ya Kun Kaya Toast. We had the usual kopi tiam fare - perfect runny soft boiled eggs, coffee with condensed milk and a French Toast with kaya for Dada and Kaya Toast with butter for me.

After breakfast, we decided to kill time at ION Orchard, where we ended up having lunch at  Imperial Treasure Noodle & Congee House.

We ordered radish cake, hakaw, duck noodles and my steaming bowl of beef noodle soup, washed down with what seemed to be 5 pots of hot tea. Yum yums!

And this is why I needed to do a juice cleanse the week after we got back. Teehee.

Imperial Treasure Noodle & Congee House 
ION Orchard, #B3-17
2 Orchard Turn
Tel: +65 6509 8283

100AM, #02-10/11
100 Tras Street
Tel: +65 6543 6668

Jasmine at New World Makati + Unlimited Dimsum for Php660

Yes honey-soy chicken loves, you read that right. We're all in for a mid-day treat via unlimited dimsum for only Php660 at Jasmine, the Cantonese restaurant at the newly renovated New World Makati. But more on that later, background kwento first ;)

When Patty Balquiedra of Non-stop Babble and Nini Icban, Director of Communications of New World Makati, invited the SoMoms to New World Makati, I didn't realize we we're in for not just one, but a couple of pleasant surprises. For one, New World Makati has undergone quite a facelift. The lobby looks so sleek and modern, it's like stepping into a new hotel:

Second, they have great spaces for parties! I love the open kitchen in the area that used to be a restaurant. The name escapes me now, but it has an adjoining function room which is great for an event that fits 100 people.

 

Third, back to Jasmine. It's a whole New World, a new fantastic point of view. *Get it? Heehee.* It looks a whole lot different from the last time I was there, when it was still Emperor Court. There's a chic, modern chinoiserie vibe to the place, and overall, I find it a great place for a lunch meeting, family gathering or a pig-out date with the hubby or with the girlfriends.

I won't describe each dumpling, puff and bun we had in detail, but just trust me when I say everything is delicious! Enough to warrant repeat visits and tell everyone I know, it's a must go!

A selection of xiao long bao, spinach dumplings and shrimp dumplings

pork & vegetable dumplings

shredded radish puff

pan fried chicken bun

Your Php660 net for unlimited dimsum includes a choice of tea or soda. On weekends, you may opt for your dimsum to go with sparkling wine instead at Php950 per person.

We also got to try dishes that are not part of the unlimited dimsum menu, but are chef specialties that are also worth a try!

bai ling mushrooms, shrimp mousse, white sauce

wok fried beef tenderloin, ginger, green peppercorn, spring onion

cod fish, ginger, leeks

egg white fried rice w/ seafood topped with shredded dried scallops

We capped our excellent meal with mango cream, pearl tapioca and walnut cookies. This dessert alone is worth going back for.

Jasmine at New World Makati is helmed by Chef Wong Kam On (below, right). His dimsum chef is also named Chef Wong, and you know what, these Two Wongs, they make a right ;)

Jasmine is open daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm for lunch/unlimited dimsum and from 6 pm to 10:30 pm for dinner. For more information and reservations, call 811-6888 ext 3338.

Jasmine at New World Makati

2nd Level

Esperanza St. cor Makati Ave.

Ayala Center Makati City

www.newworldhotels.com