DIMSUM BREAK NOW OPEN AT SM NORTH EDSA ANNEX!

     If you haven't read my post about one of my all time favorite restaurants.. Cebu's "Harbor City", I suggest you do first. That way, it might be easier for you to grasp just how deep my love for their dimsum goes. Regardless of their incarnation, whether they were called "Ding How", "Ding Qua Qua", "Harbor City", and the most recent, "Dimsum Break", their Sweet and Sour Pork and Steamed Rice has been a staple in my diet since I was a child.    

       When a fresh graduate of High School from Cebu leaves for Manila, one would think that he would miss his friends most. Call me a horrible friend, but forget them.. Leaving Harbor City's Sweet & Sour behind was one of the most heart wrenching experiences of my life.

      I always had a dream that someday, we would all live in peace and harmony.. And that Sweet & Sour pork that I grew up with would be easily accessible to me.

     Finally, that day has come. 

     On September 29, 2012, Dimsum Break opened their first branch in Manila, at SM North Edsa Annex. 

COOLING DOWN AT MASATAMI SHAVE ICE

       A couple of months ago, on a hot, sweltering day, I asked my followers on twitter to name their favorite dessert or dessert places.. Particularly something that would help beat the heat. I got a lot of fantastic suggestions.. from recipes, ice cream parlors and simple ice candy recipes..  

     One of my favorite Mommy bloggers, My Mom Friday, mentioned one of her favorite spots for a great dessert.. "Masatami Shave Ice". She was very specific about what I should try.. The Swiss Cheese Flavored Shaved Ice. Rina is a lover of all things cheese, so it immediately got her attention.

       A few weekends later, when the heat was once again becoming unbearable, Rina reminded me that we hadn't tried Masatami yet. The thought of Shaved Ice in my mouth in the midst of the heat wave was too good to resist, so we decided to go to Robinsons Galleria for the day. 

THE HEIR TO THE RAMEN THRONE: KOKORO RAMENYA

        A few months ago, I got one of the nicest invitations I've ever received as a blogger. It was an invitation to dine at Kokoro Ramenya, a Japanese restaurant that had opened a few months ago along Roxas Boulevard. I say it was one of the nicest invitations to eat at because the invitation was basically, "Go with a friend with a friend at your convenience, and order whatever you want". Who can say no to that, right? In return, all they ask for is an objective blog post.. If I didn't like the food, it's ok to say it, because the management of Kokoro Ramenya would take it simply as "Constructive Criticism". 

       Here's the thing.. There wasn't really anything to criticize because the food is fantastic. 

FEELING THE HEAT AT FOODGASM

Being a food blogger hasn’t earned me a single cent, but I do it for three reasons. First is because of my sheer love for food. I may use nifty terms and talk about nifty techniques, but I assure you, apart from how to use a spoon and fork, I have absolutely ZERO training in culinary arts. Which is precisely why I don’t consider myself a “Critic”.

 The second reason I food blog, is because I love to write. I consider my sitting down in front of my computer and locking myself in my study room  for an entire afternoon truly therapeutic. An escape to a better time, away from any problem I may have in the world, even for a short moment in time.

 The third reason, is simply because I like to entertain people in my own simple way. I’m fully aware that I look like an idiot in many of my pictures that chronicle our adventures, but if it made you laugh or if a picture of a piece of pork made your mouth water even the teensiest, tiniest bit, then to me, my effort for this blog were totally worth it.

Something that truly warmed my heart, was being selected as a Blogger Judge for the UP Economics Society’s food tasting event, called “FOODGASM”. Out of nowhere, a University organization contacted ME, to be one of the people who’s opinion would matter, for the final decision of...  Even though there would be hundreds of people who would be “judges” as  well, It was a nice feeling to know that the word on “The Pickiest Eater In The World” blog is getting out there.

So how do you do repay a nice group of people for inviting you to their food event?

You eat everything in sight, of course!

THE BETRAYAL AT RESTORANTE PIA Y DAMASO

What devious plan am I concocting with this piece of Crocodile Meat?

           During my years as a resident of Makati, Rina and I made a trip to Greenbelt a weekly tradition. Admittedly, Restaurante Pia y Damaso was a restaurant that wasn't quick to catch my attention, because I thought it was a Spanish Restaurant. As I've mentioned in the past, I have a high standard for that Spanish food, because my mother's side of the family is extremely adept at coming up with restaurant quality dishes from Spain. 

       In a classic case of my calculus teacher being totally right about my attention span, had I read their signages further, I would have seen that their tagline is "Subversive Filipino Cuisine". 

THE PICKIEST EATER & CARLO'S KITCHEN GREAT GIVEAWAY

         

       One of the most sought after stalls in the food market scene has got to be Carlo's Kitchen. Whenever you pass by their stalls, its virtually impossible to not stop by for a second and gaze at the stunningly sinful sight of their trademark dish, The Crunchy Belly. 

       The beauty of its dish is in its simplicity. It's basically thinly sliced strips of pork belly, dusted with a bit of seasoned flour, and deep fried into a beautiful golden crisp. Every bite lets out a wonderful crunch, and you'd be surprised is how it isn't as oily as you would expect it to be. Whether with rice, or 

       As a way of thanking their loyal customers for their support, Carlo's Kitchen has asked my help to hold a giveaway for them. 

What's up for grabs, you ask? 

Some of their Crunchy Belly? Definitely.

A taste of their new Rib Eye Steak? Certainly!

And for the Grand Prize?

How does a Gift Certificate for a Three Days and Two Nights Stay 

at a beautiful hotel in Boracay sound?

Yeah, that's what I thought ;)

THE PICKIEST EATER VIDEO BLOG: TONKATSU 101 AT MA MAISON

                   Take a rare behind the scenes look at how Japanese-Western Fusion restaurant Ma Maison prepares one of their signature dishes.. Tonkatsu!

    Click here for the full story

DA.U.DE TEA LOUNGE: A WORLD OF POSSIBILI-TEA!

           I'm not going to lie to you. When I first heard about Da.u.de Tea Lounge, I was just about as enthusiastic as a husband holding his wife's purse for three hours during a sale at the mall. The first thing that came into my mind was, "Oh Great, yet ANOTHER one of those Milk Tea Places". As I read up more about it, I turned out to be wrong. 

          In fact, NOTHING could be further from the truth. 

       You see, although Da.U.De does have the "Tea Lounge" tag emblazoned on its signage, as I found out for myself one fine Saturday morning, that this is far more than just that. 

       I'm never one to toot my own horn, but I have to say.. I think I was the perfect type of customer that Da.U.De. needed to try their restaurant. Why? Because I don't drink tea. '

     Now, Da.U.De. Tea Lounge Made me a believer. 

AND THE WINNERS OF MERRY MOO PINTS ARE..

            Once again, thank you to everyone who participated in my Merry Moo Giveaway! Five lucky winners are going to receive one pint of their favorite flavor each! 


        Wondering if you won? Read on to find out!