a bite of brownie

Aaaaand we have another Japanese restaurant to review: Osaka Ohsho: House of Gyoza. According to online reviews of other foodies not like me (LOL), they serve the best gyoza in town. I recently dined in Ippudo and had a phenomenal time with their ramen (which Ippudo was best known for) and their gyoza as appetizer which could also belong in the high rollers (I believe, was exactly what I said).

Of course I have to order gyoza, but I also wanted to try other items in their menu and the chicken karaage set caught my eye. Gyoza and karaage! So you’d expect it to be so good, because house of gyoza, you’d forget all other restaurants that served you your best gyoza. And at first look, perfectly steamed dumplings with supple wonton wrappers, glistening with oil and you pick it up with your chopsticks and feel it lightly. Its light golden brown underside looks somewhat inviting and promises crunch on top of soft and lightly flavored filling, the sweet soy sauce playing around your mouth, moistening your every bite. But no, sadly I didn’t forget Ippudo’s gyoza. Somehow that was crunichier on the underside and perfectly seasoned filling on the inside. Osaka Ohsho’s filling was forgettable and too badly seasoned, so that’s why I let the remaining gyoza swim in soy sauce.

But oh, for a dish they claim to excel at but not really, they redeemed themselves with their chicken karaage which was served on top of a contrasting green lettuce, sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds, served with a bowl of fried rice. The dipping sauce is teriyaki style but too much on the sweet side. The serving is large enough for one person, but don't take my word for it, I might have just been overwhelmed by the rice.


Verdict: 1.5/5 
All in all, the gyoza was such a let down I don’t ever want to go back here anymore. The karaage is nice but please only go here if you really have nowhere else to go. And don’t believe the sign at the door. Please, don’t fall for it. Just to be sure, it's on the 3F of SM Megamall, Fashion Hall.

Looking for a new place to try around in Alabang, we found this very quiet restaurant tucked in Commercenter, Kessaku. Yes, another Japanese restaurant! Wait, you didn’t get the memo that we’re going to slay all Japanese restaurants here?! Since I recently tried ramen, it’s time to switch things up. And since I’m a fan of kaki and uni, those are exactly the ones I ordered.

But before that, the servers gave me an appetizer, part of their outstanding service mind you, a medley of kani and mayonnaise on top of cucumber slices. Refreshing and enough to open up the palette for more surprisingly delicious dishes from their kitchens.

My first dish came and it was jaw dropping. 7 insanely huge kaki tempura served on shells with streaks of wasabi mayo. The batter was light and the oysters were fresh, I just had the mistake of not asking the server to separately serve the wasabi mayo, and yes, that’s on me. At first bite, it drowned the light sweetness of the oysters, so I knew what to do with the remaining 6. Nevertheless, they were all good.

And then my next and final dish, uni nigiri. Too bad they only had local (but fresh) uni. I had the most unfortunate experience of trying a not-so-fresh uni from a different restaurant, so I had the knowledge to nit pick my uni nigiri before I put everything in my mouth LOL and suffer the same fate. And it’s sweet! Melts in your mouth and very refreshing. So what followed? An empty plate of course! 


Verdict: 3.5/5 
This place deserves another visit or two. The ambience was quiet and intimate. The servers are very well behaved, and keep their distance so you can enjoy your food in peace. I’m sure there are lots of other good stuff they can offer from the menu. So next time, let’s try more!

I’ve come to develop a fascination with Japanese cuisine by watching a lot of animé shows. One thing I’ve noticed there is how they showcase ramen. It doesn’t seem to change, whatever show I’m watching. Served on a simple ramen stand or small restaurant with wooden chairs and tables. Shout one order of ramen and that funny looking old man who’s best known for his ramen does his magic, glistening broth, firm noodles, delightful toppings, and what’s even crazier is how one bowl solves every problem there is in the world (yeah maybe they went a little overboard there, haha). I’m really excited now to find such a place in Japan and just try it for myself! Ugh.

But for now, restaurants like Ippudo in 3F Fashion Hall in Megamall will have to do. I arrived early for lunch as usual to avoid the crowd, and it’s such a nice time to visit, because all the servers are very attentive to your needs. Like there’s always a 3:1 ratio. They were quick to give me my house tea and glass of cold water, just in case I change my mind halfway in enjoying my ramen. And every time an order comes from the kitchen, they shout it out and I jump a little. I wrote that naively in the comments section, and what do you know, my server went to my table and explained how it was the culture in Japan. Of course. See? Attentive.

I ordered the Karaka Special Ramen, with deliciously spicy tonkatsu broth, extra hard noodles, amazing pork belly slices, the epitome of soft boiled egg, sheets of seaweed, and spring onion greens. And I can’t stress enough how I can’t find a single thing to criticize in that bowl (oh wait, I remember saying, this egg doesn’t look soft boiled and it doesn’t have that earthy color after supposedly being soaked in broth - but when I halved it, that egg was to die for, yes I ate everything bad I said about it).

I almost forgot about my appetizer - Ippudo’s Hakata Style Gyoza which also deserves a place in the high rollers. Hailing from Hakata, another region in Southern Japan according to research, they have perfected making their plump gyoza on cast iron, making the bottom part so crispy you’d think they fried it. The filling is very satisfying with its subtle taste.

Verdict: 4/5
So yeah, I finished everything. And going back to that phenomenon I was talking about at the start of this review.. Did it solve all my problems? No, but it sure did make me forget about them for a good while. I still believe the best ramen can be found in Japan, so I’m putting a huge difference in scores when I put 5 on that some unassuming ramen stand.. But while that’s still in the future, can we go back here please?!

So that’s what I think of when I see this restaurant in Podium Mall. But whenever I pass it, I don’t get any strong odors, but they had the decors going for them. All those deep red, brown, and yellow shades just force you to think of Indian food. At my table and reviewing the menu, I ordered the Chicken Shahjani which is boneless chicken sautéed in masala, cooked with onion-tomato gravy, and finally topped with omelette.

Terry’s Selection is a hidden treasure tucked away in the lower level of Podium Mall. If it weren’t for poeticnook’s searching prowess, we wouldn’t be able to find this restaurant at all. It was even my first time going at the lower level of this mall, I always thought it was reserved for their underground parking. But I was surprised it was lined up with several utility and special services stores and at the very end, there stood Terry’s. When entering their store, you will be welcomed with top of the line products which are hard to find in your normal grocery store. It looked like a huge delicatessen for me, worthy of another visit. And then I turned right towards their restaurant section. It was a little early for lunch and I was the first customer there.

I ordered the Callos ala Andaluza right away. I’ve tasted poeticnook’s cooking and honestly, that one’s the one to beat (but yes, yes, I know we’re here for Terry’s). Terry’s Callos had soft enough tripe, Spanish chorizo, olives, chickpeas, and Jamón Serrano. Since I didn’t order any rice to accompany this dish, they gave me complimentary bread. I think the chefs here were able to make the tripe shine and be the star of the dish, as it’s meant to be. The only downside to this dish was its serving size. I guess it was for sharing.


By the end of the meal, my dessert, Flan de la Abuela, translating to Grandmother’s Flan, is a sweet, custard treat. I’m a snob when it comes to flans, since my mother happens to make the best flan I ever tasted. I get annoyed with the small bubbles stuck in the custard for cooking it on high heat. This one’s not perfect but it had great taste.

Verdict: 3/5

I did like the interior of the restaurant, intimate and cozy, perfect for family gatherings. The crew were all very attentive, but maybe because I was the only customer (yeah, nobody came in after me, and still noone after I left! Hmm..) Since I have tasted better callos and flan, minus 2 for those already. But I do want to go back to their delicatessen and check what’s out there. Maybe visit the restaurant again, but not anytime soon.

When I first saw this in Podium, I remembered that character from New Girl sitcom. I like his character because he’s funny and relatable even if he had really quirky pet peeves. So yes, I think I’m already biased with this one. Anyway, I’ve always wanted to try this but I guess I never had the chance to, until now.

Schmidt’s Gourmet Hotdogs is located on the 5th floor of Podium Mall (yes, you will see a lot of reviews coming from here and SM Megamall, because both are in close proximity of my office, so suck it up). I wouldn’t qualify it as a restaurant, it’s more like a glorified stand, really. Their kitchen is quite small and it’s just beside the counter, and their chairs and tables for dine-in customers are on the hallway. But the other restaurants beside it (there are at least 5 more), had the same set up, so I guess they were trying to go for an al fresco dining style, although they are inside the mall. Kudos to the glass ceiling, I’ll give them that.


When I asked for their best seller, they recommended the Coney Island Chillidog. I was torn between The Juilus (which had bacon) and this one, but since they recommended it, I went with that. The Coney Island Chillidog had a hotdog on a regular bun, with flavourful ground beef, sour cream, cheese sauce, and sliced jalapeños as toppings. I paired it with their house blend iced tea which is really refreshing! I couldn’t make out the fruity after taste it had. It went well with the hotdog, too.


Verdict: 3/5

Wasn’t a fan of the bun especially after hearing other reviews, I was a bit disappointed about it. I was expecting it to be crisp outside and soft in the inside. I think it was pedestrian or am I being too harsh, because it’s just a bun, hello. I liked the hotdog, maybe they could start offering hotdogs minus the bun! Could go back and try that other ‘dog, The Julius because bacon! And will order XL iced tea and another to go!

Japanese cuisine has a lot to offer the world and maybe one of my favorites to-date. I haven’t been to Japan to try the food there but I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot of places you could get good Japanese food, if you just know where to look. Being sent to Vancouver for work and spending most bingeing times with poeticnook, we’ve uncovered these gems all over the city. And for me, that’s the closest I could get to authentic Japanese food for now. I don’t even want to try any here in Manila, because I’m sure it will not be at par with the ones we’ve tried.

But then, Sushi Ninja came. And to my surprise, it’s just near the place where I live. It’s situated at Westgate Center, Filinvest Avenue, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, which is just a 5min drive from our place. At first, I was really on the fence in trying this restaurant because of concerns of taste, quality of handling, and overall cleanliness. I guess curiosity killed my doubts, i mean the cat.

To start, I ordered the Tuna Poké from their special menu. I know that’s not so Japanese, it’s actually a Hawaiian dish, haha! But might as well hit two birds with one stone. Maybe the poké bowl was too much for one person, definitely looks like it’s for sharing. Or if you really dig poké I guess this is alright. The salmon was fresh and was tossed in some light teriyaki sauce, garnished with black and white sesame seeds and onion leeks. Next I had the Uni Nigiri. Now I’ve tasted uni imported fresh from Japan and golly, I will bet my life that this isn’t one of those but nevertheless, it’s fresh and had that sweet, delicate taste. Better than your average local uni.

The place had a Japanese vibe to it. Decorations made from bamboo lined the walls reminiscent of the animé shows I love to watch. The servers were polite and were all attentive. Food came in fast. Value for money is fantastic, I just paid a little over 500Php for the two dished I ordered.

Update: 
Didn't I say we’ll go back here? During my 2nd visit, I ordered 2 new dishes. First, the Grilled Salmon Belly. I’ve had grilled salmon belly in other restaurants and the servings were small or limited. So I had to ask the server about how small their serving was, and he was taken aback and using his two hands, measured what looked like more or less a half ruler’s length, about 6in. And it was my turn to be taken aback, especially when he said they had two of those. So I said yes to it. And it did not disappoint. Enjoyed every bite of it!


And then came my Mentaiko Udon, made from spicy cod roe and Japanese flour noodle. The mentaiko was mixed with Japanese mayonnaise, topped with chopped chives, nori (dried seaweeds) strips, and bonito flakes. The serving is good for 2, so I had some to take away. Leaving the verdict the same for now.

Verdict: 3/5
There are a few others in the menu that needs to be tried like the mentaiko noodles and chirashi. And since this is just close to my place, I will definitely go back.

I’m going to come clean and say this out in the open: I’ve recently just started appreciating steak! Yes, I’m one of those people who orders well done steak and have the phrase “Order the chicken you steak hating bastard!” shouted at me. Probably because it’s not an everyday staple at home. Or beef’s just not my preferred meat. And to get really good steak served to you, you have to pay quite a price for it. I know, excuses. But it’s true! 4000Php for a meal?! Sheesh. Anyway, my credit card company had this promo of 50% off for House of Wagyu Stone Grill and after some egging by poeticnook, I decided to try it out.

I ordered the Wagyu Rib Eye Grade 8 Set Meal from the promo menu, because hey, if I’m going to splurge, then go for the best one, right? (Not my words haha) So the set includes soup of the day, Caesar salad, 220g Premium Rib Eye Wagyu Grade 8 on stone grill (yeah, I have to type all of that again haha) with vegetables, Creme Brûlée for dessert, and hot tea (to aid with digestion of this meal for two).

Soup of the Day. This lovely pumpkin soup was sweet and just right to greet my taste buds. It’s light and delicate and had herbed olive oil, croutons, and freshly cracked pepper (available upon request). I remember saying “hi there you pretty thing:” before i started taking it in haha.

Caesar salad. The salad was something you’d find served in any restaurants. Pretty basic with lettuce tossed in Caesar dressing, a little bit too much to my liking as it turned out to be on the soggy end, croutons, freshly grated Parmesan, and bacon bits.

Premium Rib Eye Wagyu Grade 8 on stone grill. Yes I did it again, it had to be done. The servers had this drill of explaining how to cook the steak in the stone grill. It was fascinating to watch them flip the meat after searing one side. I was entranced with the sizzling sound that I even had to record it while it was searing (Ack! What’s happening to me?!) The server did the initial searing and I was left alone to enjoy my steak. So this is how it looked like before i butchered it to pieces, did a few more searing, and devoured all that 220g of beef goodness. The steak itself was superb, I don’t know if you should take my word for it, but for a non-steak lover, I was able to finish all of it. *pats back* It had salt and pepper rub but I like to have food a bit on salty side, so they gave me extra salt. The vegetables that accompanied the steak were nice. I loved the mashed potatoes, found little chunks of potatoes which added texture to it. The rest were just blanched just right so they were still on the crispy side. I specifically loved the cherry tomato, eating it whole and bursting it in my mouth was a nice treat. Too childish, I know.

Creme Brûlée. And now we come to dessert! The ultimate test to this dish is to smack a spoon right in the center and hear that crack of the hard caramel. This Creme Brûlée passed that test, please check my Instagram post for the video. The custard base was delicate and held its shape and it’s just a delight to eat (under 5minutes? LOL)

Verdict: 4/5

All in all, it was a great dining experience. You just have to ignore the servers who are constantly eyeing your table like a vulture to take away any unused things in your table or offer you anything they have in the kitchen. I guess we can’t really blame them, they’re just doing their job. Value for money, I still wouldn’t go to it on a normal day, haha, but if the promo is still on, you could just convince me to go again. The restaurant had a very intimate feel to it, suitable for dates. Soft music is playing in the background and there were several paintings hanging on the wall, too! They display their “steak collection” in their refrigerator which lined the left side of the wall right at the entrance of the restaurant, similar to those steak houses in Vancouver. House of Wagyu Stone Grill is located at the 5th floor of Podium Mall in ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City, PH.

Determined to run through all restaurants here in Podium, we decided to take on The Blackboard by Chef Michel, a restaurant with intimate ambience serving international dishes thought of and created by renowned chef Chef Michel. What’s interesting in this restaurant? No printed menus! If you want something, you have to look up. Literally. Their menu is printed on the huge blackboard, which by the way, changes daily! Yep, everyday is a brand new day to whip something amazing from their kitchens. Wow, typing that down (writing this review a few months later) makes me want to go back there! Maybe they’ll have my initial order! Haha

There was a lot on that board from different cuisines, too. I remember ordering something that wasn’t available, uh-oh! So I settled for their Chicken Cordon Bleu with Potato Mash. Looking at my dish, the roll was evenly sliced. The meat looked tender and moist, The ham perfectly wrapped the oozing cheese. The 5 slices were expertly placed on top of a potato mash that looked and tasted good, not like mush, more on the rustic side with little lumps of potato to excite every bite. The gravy drizzled on top of everything, running down on the sides licking the plate. The overall taste and texture did not disappoint and it was very filling. The hosts were on the snobbish side, had a hard time calling their attention to give me something, like a refill of my water or my bill. Haha I know, little things. But no! I was the only customer in the restaurant, you would expect they would give you their superb attention to details.

Verdict: 2.5/5
I don’t know their bestseller, but from research, apparently Chef Michel would sometimes really be the one cooking your food! In the flesh! It would have been exciting to witness that, so that of course will be one of the reasons why we should come back here; apart from trying the rest of their ginormous menu haha