NO CLOWNING AROUND AT PAGLIACCI, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD - RINAZ

It has been years since I last stepped my foot inside the Podium. I don’t even remember the restaurants that I have tried there. I think there was just one and I don’t even remember the name. It was only until a few days ago when I came back to have dinner with blogger friends that I realized how many establishments were there already, and how much I have been missing, particularly a little Italian cuisine heaven called Pagliacci.

SOMETHING SPECIAL BREWING AT BO'S COFFEE! - BY Rina's Rainbow

"Let's meet at (insert coffee shop name)"

        "Let's hang out naman and have coffee at (insert coffee shop name)"

                            "Craving for Caramel Macchiato"


          These are the usual phrases we use nowadays when meeting up with friends or even holding client meetings. And I am guilty as charged. As I mentioned in my previous post, hanging out at a coffee shop is perfect because it has the perfect "chill" ambiance, complete with cozy couches, yummy pastries, and good coffee. It's the perfect me-time venue for me where I can write. Away from the chaotic (but happy) life of a SAHM. And as we all know, the default coffee shops are those that are owned by international companies. 

          Now, I'm not a coffee expert. And not that there's anything wrong with supporting international coffee shops. I am one of those people who enjoy the casual Starbucks Frap and or her Coffee Bean and Teal Leaf White Chocolate Dream Ice Blended Drink (That's a mouthful!). But one thing I realized when I attended this event in Glorietta, is that we should ALSO support our country's coffee industry.

          It is comforting to know that Bo's Coffee (a coffee shop that originated in Cebu), is joining a cause to promote the Philippine coffee industry! 

PIZZA HEAVEN AT NOLITA BONIFACIO HIGH STREET

     Time and time again, I often repeat my frustration with the culinary wonder known as "Pizza". I love those glorious oven baked pies, but more often than not, it triggers my hyper acidity,and the results aren't pleasant. As much as I would love to be able to indulge in a stunning, thin crust pizza, topped with a double helping of mozzarella cheese and bacon, ham, and pepperoni, I would never do so at the expense of possibly having a brown baby boy in the middle of an important meeting. 

     Which is why It took me so long to visit Nolita. 

     A couple of months ago, as I made plans to meet up with my college friends, I suggested to my friends that we check out Nolita, thinking that I could taste one of their pizzas and realize that it wasn't something I would crave for, and my tummy would not be in jeopardy. Basically get the whole thing over with.

    As my teeth dug into my pizza, the first thing that came into my mind was, "Uh-oh".  

A NIGHT OUT AT URBN BAR & KITCHEN

             I am a notorious introvert. The only way you could get me to go out past 7 or 8pm, is if there was a promise of amazing food or a much awaited event movie (Possibly based on a comic book). Other than that, in my house, the lights are out by 10pm. The only time in my life that I would willingly go out at night was during my college days, when my sister introduced me to the awesomeness of rock bands such as Wolfgang, Razorback and Advent Call.. And even then it didn't last very long. 

       Call me an old fogey, but I don't enjoy the concept of "clubbing" at all. I don't drink, and I don't smoke. I have a disdain for loud booming music. 
And because of that, I will admit that URBN Bar and Kitchen is a place that would not have caught my attention on the onset. 

     But thankfully, my eyes and taste buds discovered that this place was much more than just a place for these young whippersnappers to unwind with a few drinks. 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CHICKEN CHARLIE! - RINAZ

This laid back fast casual restaurant is already on its third year, and still going strong! And you'll taste why when you get to try some of our simple yet favorite dishes cooked the Charlie way. And to celebrate their third anniversary, they are holding off amazing contests until their real anniversary date in April 20. If you have liked their Facebook page already, for sure you have seen the contests they have been posting. And if it's the first time you have heard of Charlie's Chicken for sure your mouth will water when you see their menu!

Rina's Rainbow at Sabrina's Kitchen!

       My beautiful wife Rina, got starstruck when she met the lovely TV Show Host, Sabrina Artadi, who let her into her home, and more importantly, her kitchen! 

     Check it out!

MEET BIG DADDY JAY'S, ALL AMERICAN BBQ!

           I really enjoy hearing about food success stories. Restaurants, such as Manang's Chicken, that began as humble food stalls in Mercato Centrale, and quickly evolved into a Filipino fast food Chicken powerhouse. 

        I would honestly love to see the same level of success happen to Big Daddy Jay's All American BBQ. I first discovered Big Daddy Jay's last year at Soderno, where I was immediately blown away by how incredibly tender their ribs were, and how every bite was packed with an intense smokey flavor. It's almost as if this is what all ribs want to be like when they grow up. 

       A few weeks ago, I found out that they had opened a little restaurant at the Cubao area. When I got an opportunity to visit them, I tagged my other blogger friends along with me, because I felt it was imperative that they get a taste of Big Daddy Jay calls, "The Best 'Cue in town". 

     And you know what? They really make a VERY strong case. 

A MITSUYADO SEI-MEN GIVEAWAY :)

It's not everyday that someone gets photobombed by one of their "blogger idols"

        For someone who keeps saying, "I'm not too big on Japanese Food", it's funny that I'm writing about the fifth Japanese restaurant that I've visited in the first four months of 2013. I can't explain it, but there just seems to be something about that cuisine that serendipitously finds me sitting in front of a plate or a bowl, and enjoying a dish that I could have sworn I wouldn't care for just days earlier.   

     But this time it was different. This time, I was a man on a mission. I had a couple of opportunities in the past to visit Mitsuyado Sei-men along Jupiter Street in Makati, but scheduling conflicts would constantly keep us apart. 

     Finally, I had my date with destiny just before Holy Week, when Rina and I got together with some friends to finally try some of their new dishes. But I had my eyes set on the one dish that many have been talking about.. The Double Cheese Tsukemen. 

A G'DAY FOR OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE'S LUNCH SPECIALS!

                It's been years since I had been to Outback Steakhouse. As in, I can't remember the last time I was there. I think it could have been during my college days, when my then-girlfriend and we would sneak out of class, and take an LRT Ride to Robinson's Place Ermita to watch a movie. I would then try to impress my ex by taking her to Outback. Unfortunately, since I was still on student allowance, she and I had to split a "Jackaroo Chop" (And when I say "split", I was fine with giving her all the meat as long as she gave me all the fat hehe)  

           I've always loved the food, but for some reason, I had never gotten around to making a return (Which is weird because, although i'm not exactly Mr. Megabucks either, I'm fairly certain that I can afford more than just half a Pork Chop by now hehe). 

          When an opportunity came along to try Outback's New Lunch Specials, I felt like a giddy college kid once again! 

THE LEGEND OF SUZU KIN LIVES ON

             I had heard the legend of a small, hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant, so unassuming, that there's a good chance you would drive past without a second glance if you were driving down Kamagong Street in Makati.

        The legend tells of Prawns, covered in Japanese Breadcrumbs, and deep fried to a perfect crisp. Value Meals  filled with delicious Japanese food yet so unbelievable cheap, you're left in awe at how you're not arrested for grand theft. And how a classic Filipino dish, was given the Japanese treatment, giving it a new oriental spin. 

        That legend has grown to different locations, spreading out to different locations in the metro. I was fortunate enough to be able to finally visit one of the locations, conveniently located in Edsa.

       This is the legend of Suzu Kin. 

RACKS RIBS: FALL OF THE BONE GOODNESS - RINAZ

         “Ang swerte ni Rina!” (Rina’s so lucky!) Richie frustratingly tells my sister last week. “Since I have work, she’s going to have lunch with a few blogger friends to cover Rack’s new Pork Belly dish!” I can understand how frustrating this can be for Richie. You hear bacon / liempo / and other pork dishes, you immediately think “Richie!”.  To a point that friends and acquaintances often tag him to any photo or meme about bacon in facebook. 

         And the funny part is he’s loving it!

GRANNY'S BURGER... VERY BIG AND VERY TASTY

      I've noticed that my past few posts have been of bigger brand named restaurants, and that I've seemed to have gone astray from my original mission of helping out small, fledging businesses. There are literally hundreds of hole in the wall restaurants in the metro just waiting to be discovered, and I happened to chance upon one that- with its 1/3 Pound Australian beef patty burgers and other classic menu items, immediately caught my attention:

     The name said it all: Granny's Burgers.. Big and Tasty! 

THE HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

             After blogging for nearly three years, I can say that I'm very pleased with the upward trajectory my blog stats has steadily gained. Despite the positive increase in numbers, I realized that the biggest mistake I could make is to be complacent, and not allow - not just my blog- but myself to evolve. 

          In case you missed it my wife Rina, who happens to be the Photographer of The Pickiest Eater, has started her own Mommy/Lifestyle blog, called Rina's Rainbow. There, not only does she share her learning experiences as rookie mom, we now also have a more detailed chronicling of our daughter Rain's growing up. 

        When she started her blog, it gave me an idea on what I could do to help me grow as a blogger. Since The Pickiest Eater covers food with a bit of travel, and Rina's Rainbow handles the Home/Living/Lifestyle topics.. I decided that I would expand my horizons, and create a new Blog, covering a totally new landscape for me.

       This is a bold venture, because it is something totally out of my element, but I do want to give it a chance and see where it will go from here. 

      So my "Huge Announcement" is that I'm starting a whole new blog, and I hope you will all continue to support me, as relentlessly as you have my original blog, "The Pickiest Eater In The World".

      Without much further ado, I present to you a teaser from my newest blog.....