Oliboy's Adventures

Ma-Oli Ang Pasko 2009

2009-11-10T16:16:00.003+08:00

The season of Christmas has started...

It's Ma-Oli Ang Pasko once again!

Stay-tuned for upcoming prizes/surprises from Oliboy's Adventures...

Faux Asian Food

2009-11-02T11:03:00.004+08:00

November 1, 2009
Makansutra Asian Food Village
Manila Ocean Park, Manila

5 words: Nothing beats the real thing.

Even after reading mixed reviews on Makansutra, we still decided to give it a try. Frankly, all that hype was for nothing. The only thing good about the experience was the ambiance/design of the place and the pricing.

Having been to Singapore and Malaysia, we decided to try out their specialties:

Teh Tarik - is literally "pulled tea" and I first sampled it when I was in Malaysia. We went to the country's "Little India" to try it in one of those side-street stalls. It was really nice , the tea was strong enough and the combination with the condensed milk was heavenly! What I loved about teh tarik was the frothy texture of the end product which was a result of the pulling process. In Makansutra however, the tea was a bit weak. At least, the mixture was prepared as authentically as possible.

Chicken Rice - the best is a close call between Singapore's and Hong Kong's... Makansutra's, on the other hand, is just so-so. Nothing really special. The only part of the meal that stood out was the rice itself. It was really flavorful and fragrant. That's it!

Ba Kut Teh - didn't taste AT ALL like original Ba Kut Teh. Can you imagine the free soup they give away in mall food courts when you order a sizzling meal? Like that, but worse! I even thought during the meal that they used the same soup base for all their soups here in the "food village".

Chicken Satay - the satay was very tasty but the curry was a bit too runny. We all were unanimous that this was the best dish on our table that night.

Nasi Lemak - was just ok and really far from it's authenticity. The chicken wing was really skinny and the meal looked really unappetizing. Mixing tiny samples of all the ingredients into one spoonful was really good though. It made you experience all the contrasting flavors in the dish in one bite. Individually nothing special but surprisingly nice combined.

Roti Prata - was not at all flat. In fact, it was quite thick. Not really a plus to a dish like this since roti requires the pancakes to be flat and flaky. The curry sauce was also a too runny and lacked the strong curry flavor.

Char Kway Teow - was (pardon the term) a poorman's version of the dish. All the classic ingredients were there but the dish tasted really different from what I had in Malaysia. This one tasted a bit too structured. A bit too "by-the-book". It was stir-fried noodles! When you eat it, the flavors should be all bonded together in one whole mess. This was the magic of true Char Kway Teow. Makansutra's version tasted like sweet soy sauce and it seemed like each ingredient had a world of it's own.

We also sampled some of the Thai cuisine, which was a huge mistake:

Tom Yum Soup - soup base was like the Ba Kut Teh but with a sour and fishy twist. Ordering this was a big waste of money.

Pad Thai - there are better Pad Thais out there than this one. Don't bother with this...

Come to think of it, Makansutra was not a complete waste of time... It was not a complete loss... Being disappointed with their dishes made me realize that I have indeed tried the best during my visits to Singapore and Malaysia. Thus, It is pointless to try it anywhere else...

Macau Series: Egg Tart

2009-10-24T12:39:00.003+08:00

October 24, 2009
Streets Of Macau
(Adjacent to the A-Ma Temple)

When in Macau, you have to sample their famous

Egg Tarts

It's the best you'll ever taste,

I promise.

Hong Kong Series: Hotpot Dinner

2009-10-23T21:29:00.002+08:00

October 23, 2009
He Xing Hotpot (Woosung Street)
Jordan, Hong Kong

This is the favorite hotpot place of our family whenever we would go to Hong Kong. They serve one of the best geoduck sashimi/hotpot in town. 10 of us once ate HKD 3,000 worth of food from this restaurant in one sitting.

The last time we were in Hong Kong, we thought this restaurant had closed down but they told us that they were closed for operations once a week in order to cut costs. Hotpots are usually at their peak during the cold seasons so during the summer, this was how they would lower operating expenses.

We just got off the plane and met with one of my dad's oldest friends so we decided to have a light dinner. The ingredients of our hotpot night were as follows:

Biggest (damn) oyster I've ever seen - This was even bigger than the one we had in Tuen Mun! And I thought the oyster we had then was huge. This time, a piece almost occupied half of the plate. Crazy! I wonder if I'd see an even more gigantic oyster the next time I'm back in Hong Kong.

Lamb - Dad doesn't eat beef so he opted for lamb. Equally as good so I can't complain.

Tofu - For (healthy) protein, we decided on the tofu. It was very good with the soup we had. It added a different dimension to the soup which was in itself already flavorful.

Geoduck Sashimi - The geoduck's snout. It can be eaten raw and dipping it in Kikoman (with Wasabi, of course) or it can be ever so slightly blanched in the boiling hotpot. Eating is raw makes you taste all the natural flavor of the geoduck but blanching it in the hotpot makes it cook al dente. Any which way you prefer, it's still one of the best exotic delicacies found in Hong Kong.

Geoduck Hotpot - Innards of the geoduck that can be found inside the shell. This has too be cooked to kill of any bacteria consumed by the creature. It is almost the same in consistency with the roe of the scallop. The meat is sweet and very tender.

Hotpots are always great, not entirely 100% because of the place, but because of good company. And for a foodie like me, good food + good company is always gonna be a good experience that you will never forget.

Typhoon Ondoy

2009-09-26T21:43:00.008+08:00

September 26, 2009

Philippines

Worst flooding in years here in the Philippines.

And it's just signal number 1... the lowest...

Now in the state of calamity.

Mom and my sister are stuck in Marikina City... one of the most flooded cities right at this very moment of posting...

I blame people, I blame us... nature is getting her revenge!

I blame the government... drainage system here is the worst! It hasn't changed in years! It just got worse!

Sad thing is, I can't do anything but wait for the aftermath and try to help in any way I can.

Hopefully, we learn something from this tragedy... Hopefully, we start caring about the environment... Hopefully, we get our drainages fixed... Hopefully...

My Ass' Split Second Of Fame

2009-09-24T15:49:00.005+08:00

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/172728/clearing-the-coast-a-born-to-be-wild-special-coverage

“Clearing the Coast" (A Born to be Wild special coverage)

Episode on September 23, 2009
Wednesday night, after Saksi

Each year in September, groups of people flock to the shores for a common purpose. Wearing shorts and wetsuits and carrying bags and tongs, they head out to the beach – not to swim or sunbathe – but to clean up the coast.

It’s coastal clean up month once again and the “wild boys" are off to another mission. This time, three adventurers hit the eco-trail. Doc Ferds Recio and Kiko Rustia are joined by non-other than fellow “wild man" Romi Garduce for an all-out clean-up of the ocean. Deployed to different coastal areas, they take part in making the seas a little bit cleaner, and a little bit safer for its residents.

They also trace the roots of the coastal problem and investigate the different sources of pollution in the water. What they find are shocking and challenging realities which will continue to threaten our seas long after each clean-up is done.

Don’t miss this special episode of Born to be Wild airing on Wednesday after Saksi!

From the GMA Channel 7 program Born To Be Wild: Clearing The Coast Episode

Dive Acacia: Clean-up 2009

2009-09-14T14:31:00.002+08:00

September 12-13, 2009
Acacia Resort And Dive Center
Anilao, Batangas City

Dive Monsters Inc.,

Project Aware,

Acacia and many other sponsors

just concluded

The International Coastal and Underwater Clean-up 2009

A weekend of giving back to the sea...

Giving back to the environment...

While having fun doing it!

The Aquino Legacy

2009-09-09T09:35:00.006+08:00

They say the number 9 symbolize change.

Today September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the eldest son of Ninoy and Cory Aquino announced his candidacy for the Philippines' 2010 Election.

I'm a great admirer of the Aquino legacy (except for Kris) but I'm not that big a fan of Noynoy. He really did nothing as a senator. But we all know that he will ride the Aquino name to the presidency and he will win.

I guess I've got nothing to do but hope for the best. Hope that he doesn't become another rat. Hope that he inspires change.

And these questions lie: Who will be seated as the Vice President? Given the track record of the Philippines, that is the most powerful position one can have (after an impeachment). Will Noynoy beat his mother's record for the number of coup attempts? What will Kris Aquino's position be? Will his administration be another Kamag-anak (Relatives) Incorporated like what happened during his mother's administration wherein relatives get all the big contracts/businesses?

Kidding aside, I'm being pessimistic but deep inside I try real hard to still have faith. Faith that this country will eventually be at its potential. I love this country and I want the future generation to be proud of it also. Noynoy, you have the power to make this country great. Don't fail us. The whole country's hope lies on you.

Smash And Run

2009-08-30T16:34:00.005+08:00

August 30, 2009

Greenhills

San Juan

Just got back from a good run around Greenhills for the Smash And Run sponsored by Sun Cellular together with Greenhills Shopping Center for the benefit of the St. John the Baptist Educational and Scholarship Foundation, Inc.

It was nice to see some Vmall tenants and GSC employees join the run but it would have been better if more people had registered. I had an unofficial time of 35 minutes 26 seconds for a 5k run and I'm glad I improved a little bit compared to the last race. The event could have been organized better but at least it was a change in scenery from the usual races at the Fort and UP Diliman.

I can't wait for the next race: the New Balance Power Run at the Fort on September 27, 2009. Hopefully, I'll improve my time once again. See you there! :)

Snakes On The Plane

2009-08-14T16:49:00.006+08:00

The internet has been abuzz with scandals, million-peso dinners, and corruption...

But is she the only one to blame for the unchanging sad state the Philippines is in?

Or have we forgotten how she got there in the first place...

So vote wisely on May 2010...

Be it for the President, the Vice-President, or anybody in power...

We sure don't need any more snakes on the plane, right?

This Is Keema

2009-08-04T23:00:00.008+08:00

August 4, 2009

Keema Keema

Madison Square Pioneer

Mandaluyong City

It's been a staple on those spontaneous cravings of kebab to immediately proceed to our neighborhood Persian restaurant, Behrouz. In my opinion, they serve the best! Many kebab places have recently sprouted in different areas of the metro but nothing actually compares to Behrouz. Keema Keema is one of the new kebab places out there but instead of concentrating on their kebabs, their speciality is actually their keemas. Keemas are simply unformed kebabs which are sometimes used as fillings but served with rice in Keema Keema. Sadly, they were in the process of rewriting the recipe that the owner suggested not to order it yet, not until they have perfected it. We opted for some shish kebabs, ox brain, and some classic kebabs instead.

Shish Kebab Platter - A very affordable dish when you want to try everything. A smorgasbord of meat. The only downside to this order is that there is no "bottomless" rice included... The best meats here are the Chicken Shish Kebab and the Beef Kebab. The other meats could use a little more adjustments in taste but good nonetheless.

Ox Brain - The favorite dish of the evening. Well, actually my favorite dish in these types of establishments. Tried it once in Behrouz and immediately got hooked. This is amazing with the long-grain rice that they offer. Too bad Keema doesn't offer the long-grain rice in any of its dishes. Ox brain in Keema is kinda different because it is fried almost to a crisp. I personally like it softer and not really crispy. I prefer the more delicate and creamy texture. It tastes better that way.

Beef Kebab - I like Keema's version because the kebab is more formed compared to Behrouz. Behrouz's version is more crumbly which I really don't like. The taste is practically the same and the sauces that accompany it adds that extra punch. Again, the garlic sauce could use a little bit less sweetness for the garlic taste to come out. The rice they could replace with long-grain also to keep up with the overall theme.

Keema Keema was not bad. An affordable alternative to Behrouz. It may not exactly be AS GOOD AS but it was as close as one can possibly hope for. A few more tweaks on the recipes and the perfection of the keema recipe (which we'll try next time) would make this up-and-coming restaurant one of the premier destinations for those late-night alcohol-fueled food-lusts...

At the end of the meal, take one for the road...

They also serve imported beers, FYI! :)

On Unity And Change

2009-08-01T03:18:00.000+08:00

Look at the stars,

Look how they shine for you,
And everything you do,
Yeah they were all yellow...

Your life was an inspiration for democracy...
May your passing inspire UNITY and CHANGE in the Philippines once and for all.

Rest In Peace, Mrs. Cory Aquino
(1933-2009)

Run For Home

2009-07-20T10:51:00.007+08:00

July 19, 2009
The Fort
Taguig City

Run for Home will help fund Habitat For Humanity’s on-going construction of houses in "Bayan Ni Juan in Calauan," a housing relocation site in Brgy. Dayap Calauan, Laguna under the Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig Project of ABS-CBN Foundation.

Run for Home is made possible in cooperation with Ayala Land and Bonifacio Global City, and supported by major sponsors Philippine Star and Adidas, as well as by 100 Plus, Fitness First, Intercontinental Manila, Photovendo and Timex. Run for Home's media partners include ABS-CBN, GMA, Barangay LS 97.1, 99.5RT, Wave 89.1, Monster Radio RX 93.1 and Jam 88.3, and the race is organized by Finish Line Inc.

Probably the most well-organized, most technologically-advanced run I've joined... It featured a timing chip for accurate time readings. So cool! :) It's really a different thing when big companies are sponsors of an event huh?

I did better on this run: 5k at 36 mins 24 secs (UNOFFICIAL)

Update:

Wow! The Globe Run website is awesome! You can easily find race photos and results just by typing your last name or bib number. Click here to see it.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

NAME: Oliver Castro
EVENT: 5 Km Run For Home
DATE: Sunday, July 19, 2009
BIB/DIV: 2806 / M 30-39
TIME: 37m:11s (gun) / 36m:40s (net)
AVERAGE SPEED: 8.2 KpH (5.1 MpH)

The Next Best Thing

2009-07-17T11:19:00.009+08:00

July 16, 2009
Aubergine
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

The art of cooking. The beauty of presentation. The dining experience...

Creamy Mushroom In Puff Pastry (complimentary)

The appetizer reminded me of the cream of mushroom soup that we usually had canned in the sense of how it was really comforting. This time however, the mushrooms were fresher and the herbs infused made it really haute.

Buffalo Mozzarella, Sliced Parma Ham And Cantaloupe Melon
served with arugula and assorted summer leaves tossed in balsamic dressing

How can you go wrong with mozzarella and parma ham? Well, you can't! That's why the salad we had was to die for. The parma ham and mozzarella were amazing on its own but it steps on to another level when you put everything together. It was like all the different tastes and textures paraded inside my mouth like there was no tomorrow.

Prawn Tagliolini
with zucchini and tomatoes in a light mascarpone cheese sauce

This was one of my favorite dishes of the night. Everything blended perfectly. The pasta was al dente and I loved how it tasted almost like my favorite e-fu noodles. I just love biting into a piece of pasta that has texture and toughness. The prawn was as fresh as it can be and it was cooked consistently and without error. They were also surprisingly abundant in the dish. I remember asking myself: "Fine dining doesn't usually have this much ingredients?" The sauce was also lovely. It had bits of zucchini which was perfect because I was craving for them for quite some time now. It also had this light sweet taste from the mascarpone cheese. This was a pretty unforgettable dish in my book.

Trio Of Grilled Australian Mulwarra Beef Tenderloin, Braised Veal Cheek, And Pan–Seared Duck Foie Gras
with Port wine glace, served with mousseline potatoes and vegetable cassoulet

Two things I liked about this dish was the tenderloin and of course, the foie gras. The beef was really tender and not at all stringy. Can't say it was that perfectly cooked but at least it was not THAT overcooked. Now foie gras (cooked well) is always good. The foie gras we had was not at all different. It was its usual buttery-delicate self, just the way we liked it. On the other hand, the veal was a bit stringy for me. The taste was great but the meat was kinda tough given that it was indeed veal. I guess the trio was just a duo for me...

Warm Chocolate Fondue Cake With Rosemary Ice Cream

The cake pretty amazing. The chocolate syrup oozing out of the warm fondue was a very appetizing sight. The warmth of the cake also contrasted with the frozen homemade ice cream which gave the dessert personality. The rosemary ice cream was a bit weird for us since we were used to rosemary in meats. Every spoon of the ice cream tasted like lamb chops or roast chicken to us. It definitely needs some getting used to but it's good.

After asking for the bill, we were greeted with a small plate of colorful macaroons as sort of like a parting gift. Thanks and complements to the Chef.

Aubergine is no Lolo Dad's but it surely came really close to it. The next best thing, wherein the food was superb and the service, excellent. And did I mention, it's less overpriced and much nearer (for us) compared to Lolo Dad's? After the whole experience, Aubergine is now one of my favorite restaurants in the metro.

Ako Mismo!

2009-07-13T13:45:00.005+08:00

Finally got my Ako Mismo! dog tags...

Thanks love! :)

For my pledge:
Ako Mismo ang gagawa ng mga paraan upang alagaan ang ating kapaligiran at karagatan.

For more info on the Ako Mismo movement visit them at http://akomismo.org

Can A Table Make A Difference?

2009-07-02T22:25:00.007+08:00

July 2, 2009
Mesa
Greenbelt 5, Makati City

Finally got the chance to do the write-up for this resto. Been quite busy with work and microblogging. This is way overdue.

Mesa is a new dining experience from the La Mesa Grill Group in Greenbelt. It is purely a Filipino/Asian inspired restaurant with all the basics. Sometimes they also offer very different and very unique takes on classic Filipino favorites. Like the HANGED Fried Chicken and the FRIED Lechon. Since we were 10+ in the table, we all decided to order for sharing. We just made sure that the viands were a good mix of veggies, meat, seafood, and soup:

Tinapa Spring Roll - A very Filipino take on the classic spring roll. It could have used a little more tinapa (smoked fish) but it was overall very good. I think the smokey flavor gave another dimension to the already perfect roll. The roll was also plated nicely giving it the illusion of quantity and elegance.

Boneless Crispy Pata - This was probably the best dish of the evening. The skin was very crispy but it was not at all bland. It was very tasty and perfectly seasoned. The meat was moist and very tender. They did a good job on this since most of the time, the meat of the pata are usually a tad bit overcooked. Overcooking leaves the meat dry and stringy. Mesa's version was so good it disappeared from our table so fast... Everybody loved it! :)

Baby Squid In Olive Oil And Garlic - Mesa's haute cuisine version of the Adobong Pusit. This was also very flavorful and we could not help but spoon some of the sauce and drippings on top of our rice. The squid were cooked pretty well and consistently all throughout the dish. A nice seafood addition to our great meal...

Until the Pochero got in the way of an almost perfect meal... To put it bluntly, it was weird! Isn't pochero just stewed pork or beef with tomato sauce? How could they have gone wrong with that?!? The soup was a bit too gamey for me... I think it lacked some herbs or spices to at least mask the strong meat flavor.

The night almost ended in failure with the Pochero... Good thing our last dish, the Stone Grilled Shrimps, were amazing. Still alive, they were placed inside the clay pot containing stones that were heated above boiling point. The shrimps were cooked really fresh and thus maintaining its sweetness. They were so perfectly cooked that I personally could not get enough of it. It actually didn't require a dipping sauce to further enhance it. It was far too flavorful in itself.

I don't know how long Mesa has been in the Greenbelt area but I'm glad there is a new Filipino restaurant in town. Finally, another place that offers good food at an affordable price and yet not that commercialized. Some establishments have shifted gears towards the alcohol-fueled public and concentrated more on the number of buckets than the number of plates. Mesa is a breathing space between that and the high-end. A last breath of oxygen for the dying Filipino restaurant.

Imelda's New Shoe

2009-07-02T13:45:00.004+08:00

July 2, 2009
Sofitel

Mrs. Imelda Marcos turned 80 today and as a gift, Mr. Bayani Fernando gave her a pair of custom-made Gibi shoes during her birthday celebration at Sofitel.

It's so cool that this Gibi shoe will now be a part of her huge shoe collection.

I think we have a video of the actual handing over of the gift. Will post it soon once we get a copy.

End Of Season Sale 2009

2009-07-01T09:00:00.000+08:00

TIMBERLAND END OF SEASON SALE!!!

From July 1 to 31, 2009 Only! NO DELAYS AND NO EXTENSIONS!

30-50% Off On Selected Items! :)

Participating Branches:
Shangri-La Plaza Mall (3rd Floor)
SM Cebu North Wing (Ground Floor)
SM Marikina (2nd Floor)
SM Megamall Building B (2nd Floor)
SM North Edsa Annex (2nd Floor)
Amigo Mall - Iloilo
Gaisano City Mall - Iligan

Run For The Forest, Run!

2009-06-28T10:17:00.004+08:00

June 28, 2009
UP Diliman
Quezon City

The 2009 GIG Run. A run for the benifit of the Ipo Watershed Project and the Padyak Project Foundation of the UP Mountaineers.

(L-R) Patrick, Warren, Aileen, and I

5 km in 37 minutes 33 seconds. Will do better on the next run, I promise! :)

Thriller In Manila

2009-06-27T16:50:00.003+08:00

I spotted this guy at the airport on June 26, 2009 (Philippine Time). The same day Michael Jackson passed away. Eerie Coincidence or Personal Tribute?

Rest In Peace, King Of Pop!

Half-y Father's Day

2009-06-21T10:02:00.003+08:00

For every purchase of two (2) REGULAR items, get 50% off on the cheapest item.

Participating Branches:
Shangri-La Plaza Mall (3rd Floor)
SM Cebu North Wing (Ground Floor)
SM Marikina (2nd Floor)
SM Megamall Building B (2nd Floor)
SM North Edsa Annex (2nd Floor)

Promo runs June 19-21, 2009

Thai Patio

2009-06-19T19:54:00.006+08:00

June 19, 2009
Thai Patio
Greenbelt 5, Makati City

One of my favorite cuisines in the world is Thai. I still have yet to try the REAL THING in Thailand but I guess I have to settle for our restaurants here in the Philippines (for now). Hopefully next year, I get the chance to go to Thailand and experience their cuisine firsthand.

Thai Patio is a fairly new restaurant that opened in Greenbelt 5. It caters to the AB Market and reminded me of People Palace minus the dark ambiance. The atmosphere of Patio is a bit more bright and had a more hole-in-the-wall feel to it. Even the design of the kitchen window/divider was likened to hawker carts/shops. The place was pretty modern and minimal with some touches of the classics here and there.

One of the classic dishes is Tom Yum. Their version, however, was a bit TOO classic. The soup had no identity and I personally couldn't figure out if it was sour or bland or what! The serving was a bit small for the price. It was actually ONE serving for a price that could accommodate the whole table. I mean, setting the price issue aside, I expected a more special Tom Yum.

Breaking the normal routine of ordering the basics, we decided to try out the Roasted Duck In Red Curry instead. We were still hungry from that "cup-of-soup-for-two" that we really hoped for the best this time... The duck was very succulent but the cooking was a bit inconsistent. A few duck pieces were a bit tough while the others were cooked perfectly. The roasted duck added a new dimension and flavor to the dish. The red curry sauce was amazing. I love how the sweetness of the sauce was pretty evident amidst the smoky curry flavor. I was surprised at how the duck blended perfectly with curry. This is definitely a must-try at Patio.

Some of our friends ordered Pad Thai so we had a chance to sample some also. Presentation was kinda cool as they placed a net made from eggs over the noodles. A pretty good use of egg plus the waffle maker, don't you think? The Pad Thai was pretty good. Basic, but good.

Eating at Thai Patio made me realize more how important the balance between steep price, good food, and serving size is. I wouldn't mind paying a lot as long as the food is great and (not or) the serving size is ample. I think the restaurant has good food but they should revise their recipes a bit in terms of flavoring and serving size. Being pretty close to rival People's Palace doesn't really help since they have bigger servings there for the same price.

Burrito Heaven

2009-06-02T21:30:00.008+08:00

June 2, 2009
Ristras, Mexican Grill
J. Abad Santos Street, San Juan

We decided to try this newly opened resto by Chef Robby Goco and partners called Ristas, Mexican Grill. Chef Robby is known for his creations like Cyma and Charlie's Grind & Grills. I've been hearing and reading raves about Ristas from fellow bloggers like Fran and Anton so even if Mexican food is not necessarily the healthier option after a round at the gym, we (against better judgement) followed our stomachs instead. Thanks to Philip (manager) for accommodating us and for being a gracious host. He told us which dishes were the ones to order.

Steak Burrito - The meat was really tender and was not stringy. The serving was really big and the burrito itself was jam-packed with other fixins. The initial thing I liked about the burrito was the fact that you could choose what you actually put inside your meal. Having control over your dish is a pretty good thing, since people are very particular with specific ingredients inside the burrito like beans and/or jalepeños.

The burrito was their best seller and now I know why. It was best I've ever tasted, even surpassing Zapatas. As I experienced every bite of my order, I thought to myself: At least, I don't need to go to Pampanga anymore to get some good Mexican food. Every bite seemed better and better, the burrito had so much complex and contrasting flavors. It was really an explosion of flavors in one dish.

Soft Tacos with (1) Chicken, (2) Carnitas, and (3) Barbacoa - The soft taco was amazing. The Carnitas (pork) and Barbacoa (beef) had pretty strong flavors compared to the mild Chicken. This may be the main reason why I liked the Chicken more because it absorbed the other ingredients from the taco instead of changing the dimension of the taco, overshadowing its overall flavor. Generally, it was a good sampling of the soft tacos and I wouldn't mind ordering it again. Next time I'm ordering ALL chicken! :)

I was really hoping to find some fish tacos though but unfortunately it wasn't part of the menu. Fish tacos are a classic in Mexico. Maybe they can have some here at Ristras next time, what do you think?

Albondigas Soup - Their version of a classic soup dish was very very good! It was very hearty and flavorful. The meatballs were amazing and excellently prepared. As I sampled the soup, I couldn't help but feel comfort from it. The timing was perfect. Nothing beats sipping on some warm and hearty soup on a cold and rainy night.

This new creation of Chef Robby is really sort of a Mexican taco/burrito bar that really requires no complex descriptions. It is as straightforward and direct as it sounds. Currently on their soft opening, the service is impeccable and the food great. Keeping it as straightforward and direct myself, Ristas definitely holds the record as the biggest, baddest, best burrito I've ever tasted!

Bicol Specialties

2009-06-02T16:52:00.004+08:00

Thanks to friends Jarvey Belo (not related to Vicki, FYI) and Ann Benwick for the

Sizzling Hot Bicol Express

Oh La La Laing

They got us from their Bicol trip. It was Y-U-M-M-Y!

Autoreview Run

2009-05-24T10:00:00.003+08:00

May 24, 2009
Mckinley Hill
Taguig City

3rd Auto Review Run for Road Safety & Courtesy.

Finished an hour plus plus. Very bad time.