Froodie: The Cool and Casual Foodie

Having done my research on recommended restaurants in Baguio, our relatively lax Day 1 in the summer capital of the Philippines led us back to Session Road and into the unassuming two-storey establishment of Pizza Volante.
We were not expecting much but was delightedly surprised with their exquisite soft-crust pizza. I cannot remember having eaten bread as soft as their pizza crust. It contrasted well with the toppings of their 8" Kenny G. pizza (P162).

We also noticed that they favored white onions in their dishes. It was the first of several observations that led us to the conclusion that Baguio food is better because of the city's fresh supply of vegetables.
This is the same reason for their fresh-tasting Pasta Pomodoro (P79 small) and their white onion-ridden dishes.




We also had some great-tasting Fish and Chips.



If you want a satisfying and yet affordable Italian meal, Pizza Volante is the place to be.




Here's a picture of their menu:

We wanted to try something different that night so we decided to enter the first inviting/enticing resto we saw at the Trinoma garden area. It was the Asian cuisine-themed Banana Leaf that caught our fancy, with their clean but elegant looking interiors and warm lighting.

Our perennial dilemma when it comes to eating out is that we want to try many dishes but are constrained by our small appetites. My partner and I always find ourselves filled to the brim after having appetizers and a main dish so it's always a hit or miss for us.

So we hoped for the best and ordered crispy spring rolls Vietnamese style (P128) as appetizer. The wrapper was crisp and light, the insides soft but the vegetable pieces firm. The sweet chili sauce was ok.


We also shared a dish of Wok Fried Black Curry Lamb (P288). The slightly spicy black curry flavor explodes in your mouth with every bite. The dish, however, is known for being a little dry. We were also disappointed with the small slices of lamb that seemed to be buried in the seasoning. I saw other reviews where the lamb pieces were much bigger. I guess they're cost-cutting or something...


Nevertheless, we were sated by the end of the meal. I was content sipping on my delicious Iced Milk Tea Hong Kong style (P68). My partner had a tall glass of Iced Crisanthimum Tea Shake which had that floral cologne-after taste (not as bad as you think).

I've always loved Trellis. That's why when they came out with a 50% off promo through a group buying site, I immediately bought a voucher.

We arrived a little before lunch and were able to pick a quiet spot near the back, behind the pond-like area.

Perhaps we chose the bestsellers or maybe their meals are really good, but all the dishes we ordered were delicious and blog-worthy.

Their Pakbet (P160) was a little sweet, tasty and topped with sinful chicharon crumbs. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and seasoned. I'm not a vegetable person but this dish I could live with and eat regularly.


The Sinigang na Baboy (P240) had that "tamang asim" factor, especially since it's made from fresh tamarind. The meat was tender.


Surprisingly, the first one to go was their Pancit Canton (P265). I can't blame my family, it just tasted real good. The different flavors contrasted and at the same time complemented each other.


Then there's the Fried Chicken (half serving for P255) which looked quite dry but the meat was actually quite tasty, also the chicken skin.


Finally, there's the famous Sisig (P160). If you're going to eat at Trellis for the first time, make sure you order this one. It's not like my favorite crispy sisig variant but it's definitely delicious and flavorful. It would is also perfect for pulutan (especially since Trellis is more popular as a watering hole at night).


Two thumbs up for Trellis.

Location: 40 Matalino St cor Kalayaan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City
(02) 924-1056
* It's just at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and along the famous Matalino St. so it's very accessible. The sign, however, is pretty subtle but it's at the corner so you can't go wrong. Try to get there early since there are only a few parking spaces and they get easily filled up.

Hungry and anxious after a day of work-related training, we decided we wanted something Vietnamese but couldn't find Pho Hoa. We passed by Pho Bac instead, its white interior simple and inviting. The food was pretty good although not as expensive as Pho Hoa's.
We ordered Steamed Rolls (P120) for appetizer, the cold cuts complimenting the mild and refreshing taste of the rolls.



Their Kangkong with Panfried Beef (P130) was also fresh and tasty (my only preference when it comes to veggies).



Our light dinner (we were well-fed by our hosts earlier) was mainly a big bowl of noodles. Unfortunately, I couldn't recall the name of the dish but it was chicken-based.



Their pandan pudding (P45) was so much like our local kakanin, though much lighter with coconut cream and sesame seeds.



Happiness.



Location: Glorietta 3.

You may check their menu here.

Crispy Cream Dory

Location: Alabang Town Center
Like my penchant for crunchy sisig, I have this thing with maki. I've already been enamored by Rai Rai Ken's Super California Maki but Red Kimono's California Crunch was equally memorable.

One shouldn't also miss the opportunity to try their Crispy Cream Dory with Tartar Sauce (P195). If I'm not mistaken it's one of their bestsellers. They also offer it for free if you have one of those Smart Concept cards (thank you for discount cards!).
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Always on the lookout for great food deals, my officemates/friends and I invaded Tomato Kick yesterday to check out their Bring a Friend to Lunch promo.

Beef with Mushroom (P160). This I loved... Tender and tasty, it was my favorite dish

Location: Trinoma Mall
It's the month of sweets so I hope you don't mind if I write about satiating my sweet tooth. Last Saturday, we dropped by Conti's for a slice of my favorite Turtle Pie and Mango Bravo.


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Location: Timog Ave., Quezon City


I know, it's a seafood place but I tasted their sizzling bulalo steak (P255) and it was superbly delicious. The taste was just right, creamy, really really tasty, with the meat tender - and most probably fresh. The last time I tasted beef like that was at Tagaytay's Mahogany Market.

Location: Festival Mall, Alabang, Muntinlupa

I'm a sucker for Asian food so bear with me as I do another Japanese resto review. Fukuya is a low key restaurant tucked in the middle of fast food establishments in Festival mall. It's my second time to visit since I enjoyed it the first time and the food is relatively fairly priced.

Location: Greenbelt 5, Makati

As far back as ancient Egypt, garlic has been known as both a handy food and medicinal implement. It is said to help reduce bad cholesterol and threats of stomach and colon cancers. I don't know with you guys but I eat garlic because it just gives food that extra flavoring and kick. Please pass the fried garlic.

Anyway, I was surprised to discover Krazy Garlic, a hip restaurant in Makati (Greenbelt 5). The place is just so fun to look at. Check out WheninManila for pictures of the place. And the menu is mouthwatering. Of course, everything has a generous helping of garlic.

Location: Blue Wave Macapagal, Pasay City

Location: Arcade, University of the Philippines Diliman (across Ilang-Ilang dorm)

Khas Food House or what we simply call "Arcade" or "Persian" has been one of my favorite restaurants inside the UP campus. According to Diliman Diary, it has been there for more than a decade and is owned by Tony Raza, a former graduate student of UP who is from Pakistan.

Come to think of it, we have been wrong all this time for calling it "Persian." It is most probably of Pakistani cuisine. Anyway, there are a lot of similar dishes in Indian and Middle Eastern food. I still don't know how to distinguish...

What I do know is that they're delicious. :)  I love Ox Brain. Most Filipinos might hesitate at first, hearing the word "brain," but I think they'll find it palatable. Ox brain (P65 single order w/o rice) is usually partnered with ground beef. But even with ground beef, it is very tender.

Location: Mall of Asia

Just a matter of recording most of my dining experiences, I'd like to share what I think about Sbarro, at least during this particular visit.

We ordered Baked Ziti with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella and Romano cheeses as sauce (P96). Food facts: Ziti is a kind of pasta which is basically the same as penne (cylinder-shaped). Ricotta is made from sheep's milk. Though usually referred to as cheese, it is actually the leftover from cheese production.

Location: Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa

Giligan's is one of my favorite hangouts because the place is part restaurant and part bar. You get good (relatively affordable) food and entertainment. It's casual and laid back, a little noisy when the band plays but still not that loud.

Last Saturday, my friend celebrated her birthday at Giligan's. We bought her a chocolate mousse cake from Red Ribbon (we were ecstatic to learn that that was her favorite) and ordered the following:

Location: Aurora Blvd. (across LRT Anonas)

Want to try Korean food at affordable prices? We discovered a place near Anonas offering fast food Korean delicacies. Well, it's actually a noodle house/convenience store. Cool eh?


We tried their Pork Bulgogi (P69) which was deliciously spicy. I love that the veggies are crisp and the meat was very tender and savory. Of course, it was paired with kimchi (they also sell frozen kimchi in bulk).

Location: 116 Timog Ave., Quezon City

What better way to spend the rainy night than eating? We went here last week (just had time to upload the pics today). Thank you to Amy and Mike for the dinner. Lol. :)

We ordered a Forest Platter (P625; chicken, liempo, squid and the ubiquitous manggang hilaw). We loved their chicken. So tender and tasty. :)

Location: Krus na Ligas

I've been wanting to do a review on the popular eateries around the University of the Philippines - Diliman. I was lucky enough to have dropped by Krus na Ligas with my officemates last weekend, eventually having lunch at Carinderia Sefali.

Sefali offers various meals from sizzling plates to rice toppings. Half of us ordered big meals (P95) which in my opinion is more than enough for two people. See comparison between the big meal and the ordinary meal:


The breaded fish fillet (as seen above) was pretty good though a little salty. I love it's crunchy and light consistency. The grilled liempo was also tasty and tender.

Location: UP Ayala Technohub

We ate at Seafood Island a couple of months ago so I barely remember our visit. All I can say is that I ate a lot and that the crispy shrimps were really good. We ordered a boodle feast, forgot which kind exactly (check their menu online).

Location: Shaw Blvd.

I was lucky enough to get a taste of Panciteria Lido's famous Pugon Roasted Asado (P267) the other day. And it did not disappoint.


You could just taste the distinct pugon-roasted flavor. And the meat was so tender. I'm not a big pork-eater but I think I would be able to eat half a platter of Lido's.

Location: Shaw Blvd.

I was lucky enough to get a taste of Panciteria Lido's famous Pugon Roasted Asado (P267) the other day. And it did not disappoint.

Of course the whole platter was good enough for the seven of us. :)

We also tried their Pancit Canton (P185). I was not that impressed with the taste, though. But my friends said it tasted good. I thought it was a little bland. But that's just my opinion. Nevertheless, it was ok, just not up to par with what I expected.
And then there's the Steamed Fish Fillet with House Soy (P255). Now that I really liked. The taste was just right and the fish was so light (hey, that rhymed). It felt like it melted in my mouth.


Click on the images to check out their menu.

1. West Ave. - 374-7494
2. SM Fairview - 355-LIDO (5436)
3. E. Rodriguez - 414-LIDO
4. BF Homes Paranaque - 842-LIDO
5. Las Pinas - 873-LIDO
6. Shaw Blvd. - 725-LIDO
7. Visayas Ave. - 441-LIDO
8. Pasong Tamo - 811-LIDO
9. UN Avenue cor J. Bocobo - 254-LIDO (5436)
Addt'l Del#: 254-3378 & 0927-5637884

Anyway, we were all definitely satisfied. :D

One Response to “Panciteria Lido (Chinese Food)”

1. bet!
   Ivan Phell T. Enrile said this on May 14, 2012 at 2:40 am | Reply