a bite of brownie

Festival Mall has long since started its own makeover by adding more wings around their new activity center. There’s a long way to go to fill those new stalls but restaurants are slowly opening its doors to customers. The Cook by Hongleepark, a fusion restaurant (Italian-Korean), is one of those. I was with my parents then and we decided to eat here for lunch.

The restaurant was divided into 2 sections. On the right was The Cook and on the left was Ho Bing (hey, isn’t this the 1st review I ever did here?!). Since my parents already dined here recently (and they liked it), I chose the dishes they didn’t order so they could compare. I ordered the Seafood Tomato Spaghetti and their Bulgogi Pizza, so we could really scream Italian-Korean fusion! LOL just 2 dishes because the servings are good for 2-3 persons.

The spaghetti was served on a steel serving pan, pretty much giving off the Korean feel right away. I like the presentation, the pasta was swirled and on a heap at the middle and the garlicky squid, shrimp, and clams scattered around it. The seafood wasn’t overcooked, which is great. The pasta wasn’t al dente and the sauce was ok, nothing that will make you jump off your seat. The pizza I liked better. The dough was just the right thickness. Toppings were marinated bulgogi, bell peppers, and cheese.

Verdict: 2/5
Getting a 2 for the 2 dishes they served us. Excellent customer service, the crew was very courteous and helpful and always asked if we wanted refills of their pickled veggies sides. A downside to this place was their soaring high prices and even higher service charge. The disclaimer said the a la carte dishes serve 2-3 persons. We’re not really huge eaters, but I thought they were a little small for their price.

Linguini Fini is an Italian restaurant hailing from New York (what, not Italy?) that boasts of homemade pasta (and I’m a sucker for fresh pasta). But for now, I have to pass because we’re trying out this new diet of no carbs and sugar, so far it has worked, 5lbs less in more or less a week after I started. Haha on to the review.

I ordered Eggplant Parm which is a medley of breaded eggplant slices, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. So it’s like lasagna really, pasta being replaced by eggplant haha! They had to check the kitchens if that’s available and I was like O_O. (And because of that we developed this new rule that if our first and second choices are not available, we will walk out) Good thing it was.

First look, it’s quite rich and appetizing. The chopped basil was a nice contrast on the melted mozzarella (and is that some grated bits too?) and the crispy looking batter of the eggplant. Cutting through the plate however, almost all the tomato sauce has been absorbed by the eggplant slices and because it looked fried to me, oil has already seeped in the eggplant making it soggy. So imagine that being baked.

Verdict: 1/5
I know this isn’t a pasta dish, but if those eggplant slices were prepared properly (salted and rested), baked nstead of being fried, it would have made a difference. Oh and they gave me a disappointing bread, not focaccia (what happened to Italian?)! Maybe next trip here, we should try their fresh pasta so we can properly rate this resto.

Since my last visit to Cebu, ReiMart enrolled at this culinary school, International Culinary Arts Academy Cebu, aka ICAAC. And once in a while, when he’s not assigned as dishwasher (yeah, because apparently they take rotations on every station so they get to experience everything) or in any other stations, he get to dine in the restaurant! And as part of our bingeing for his special day, we had a meal in the restaurant to try the dishes prepared by his fellow classmates.

For appetizers, I had the Seafood Chowder and it was the bomb (saying that may trigger a funny memory for poeticnook haha)! I had chunks of every bit of seafood in there and it was such a joy to eat. The soup was thick and very flavorful. ReiMart got the (stacked) Onion Rings as tall as a 12in ruler. Perfectly crispy and light with a nice dipping sauce. And yep, you guessed it, we finished both plates haha!

Our entrees came and the serving size is huge! I really think they put 2 servings in my Blackened Seafood Pasta. The fresh pasta was was blackened with squid ink and it’s sitting on a seafood broth (yes, broth! I was a little surprised when ReiMart told me about it before my plate came) with clams and shrimp. I thought the pasta was al dente but unfortunately needed more flavor. With a broth, I’m not sure how to do that, haha! I finished all the seafood in it but had to leave behind some pasta (I know, the Pasta Gods are frowning down at me!). ReiMart had the Lamb Chop Risotto and if I felt my dish was huge, his plate was so enormous I had to take another second look and even uttered a “good luck” to him. Surprisingly, he managed to eat all of it!

Initially we thought of ordering 2 desserts, but by the time we reached it, we were so full, we had to share a Blueberry Cheesecake instead haha! The cheesecake was so so and light, but what I really loved here was the lemon and blueberry gelées on top. The lemon coulee particularly had a nice sharp taste to it which cuts through the richness of the dessert. We both thought that the nuts on the plate were a little out of place.


Verdict: 2.5/5 (don’t kill me, ReiMart!)
Maybe there’s more to like with the other dishes I haven’t tried. I heard they have an Unli-Steak Night that won’t hurt the wallet. Culinary students from this school should be proud for running the kitchen that night without getting yelled at. I would have liked to see ReiMart in there, I’ll definitely send one dish back, just to throw him off. Haha! Maybe next time.

Pigafetta

People relate heavy traffic to a curse.


I do too, especially when I'm in a rush going somewhere on a strict schedule. But when you pass by a restaurant that has just opened, chances are, your opinion on traffic will be different. Situated across the church along Escario street, beside another recently opened branch of a popular coffee shop frequented by folks, the restaurant boasts its modern design and pleasant ambiance despite the construction going on in the vicinity.

We were seated to a table for three and were handed individual menus to check what they have available. We were then given freshly baked bread and home made tomato dip, much to our surprise. For appetizers, we ordered Gamberri alla Padella, a shrimp lettuce salad with two sticks of bread, Insalata dello Chef, a chef salad with lettuce, egg, olives, tomato, olive oil and bacon strips, Vongole, pasta with clams, and a serve of Puttanesca. Our entree was salmon and asparagus pizza together with organic sparkling juice. To end the meal, mom, sis and I shared a serve of Panna Cotta. With preserved cherries and balsamic vinegar.



The service was prompt; the servers were attentive to our needs and were eager to give their customers the best possible experience.

By the time we got out of the restaurant, we've had our bellies filled for the journey back home.


Pigafetta
Axis Entertainment Avenue, Escario





Verdict:
A: 3.5/5

Gamberi was somewhat a disappointment because the bottom of the bowl was soaked with oil, making the dish soggy. The Vongole was a tad bit over seasoned, with too much salt in the sauce. The Puttanesca was spot on and the chef salad, though. The salmon asparagus pizza tasted good too. The Panna Cotta could use more acidity because it is simply too sweet. The balsamic vinegar on the plate was too small and could do very little to add tartness to the dish.

We visited this restaurant after remembering that Grand Convention  Center has once again opened its door to the locals after its very busy renovation that lasted for a few months. The new place had a contemporary new look updated to the times, with several lighting fixtures and a spacious parking lot.



We arrived here just in time before the throng of families arrived to dine at this place. Our timely arrival got us a comfortable couch seat facing most of the tables and a strategic view of the buffet arrangement by the northeast. They had a wide variety of dishes ranging from European, Chinese, and Japanese.



Compelled to sample each dish available at the present, it took me several trips to finally collect a tiny bit of each dish but giving particular attention to the sashimi bar where they serve thick tuna and salmon slices for those who requested.


I could definitely say that i was impressed by their Chinese fare as they had very exquisite tastes that were definitely true to their origins. Their dimsum were top notch, and so were their noodles that used traditional Asian herbs for spice. Alas, delicious their grub maybe, their international food were below the bar as most of them were too dry or over sauced. The desserts were also below average and tasted too sweet and tasted artificial.



Grand Majestic
Grand Convention Center, Archbishop Reyes



Verdict:
A: 3/5

i think the food was half exceptional, as there were several dishes of Chinese origin available for their guests. The price is a little too high for my tastes, and there are other restaurants that are value for money compared to this restaurant. I think the people who eat here are the loyal patrons of old coming from rich Chinese families who transact business at this place.

Soon after the arrival of our dearest mother, we came here one night to visit the newest branch of Italliani's at Ayala Center Cebu. Of course, I had class during that time so by the time I got there my mom and sis were already there.

As customary in every Italliani's branch, we were given a fresh basket of bread to be paired with a mixture of balsamic vinegar and olive oil as well as a few minutes to review the menu before we were attended to by someone from the staff. We ordered a pan of Quatro Staggiani (four seasons pizza: cheese, tomato, ham and vegetable) and a Country Combo platter comprised of a heap of smoked salmon spaghetti, roasted chicken, and roast pork (the package was supposed to be roast beef, but they ran out of beef, so we were asked if we'd like to opt for pork instead.) Before she left to relay our order, we were given another basket of fresh bread to pair with the dressing from earlier.
From what I read online and heard from people, Italliani's is known for its fresh food, their pasta and pizza, and last but not least, their steaks.


The four seasons pizza was delicious. Everything was freshly baked and the dough was no exception. The toppings didn't feel awkward unlike some haphazard pizza recipe out there. The smoked salmon could have been done better, though. The salmon was overcooked and became flaky as soon as we started dividing it among ourselves. The roasted fowl could have been done better too, something about makes me wish it could have done better. A little dry, maybe? Finally, the roast pork had its sauce interchanged with the chicken, who had its gravy placed beside the pork.




Italliani's
Ayala Center Cebu


Verdict:
A: 3.5/5.

Quite pricey. Service could still be improved. Food can be done better.

i always have this unexpected appetite for airport dining even after coming from international flights which offer heavy meals. i found myself at Wolfgang Puck after walking around SEA-TAC airport. a football game was playing with a big fan crowd. i ordered four cheese pesto pizza that came with mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, goat cheese and sun-dried and fresh tomatoes. it was a fresh change to the korean meals that i had in the long flights. it was so tasty. the two slices of left-over which i had on the last leg of my trip still tasted good considering it was already cold.

During Ayala's Midnight sale, we enjoyed our evening meal together at Don Henrico's, located at the Ayala Terraces, Cebu. The restaurant offers an affordable buffet table with a few but delectable choices. I spied the table and saw two pizza dishes, two pasta choices (white or red), a few appetizers, honey glazed chicken and dessert.
For groups on a budget, they can avail of packaged meals composed of pizza, a tower of iced tea, pasta and a plate of deep fried calamari. Of course, aside from those, diners can choose to order from their ala carte menu.



We had three pieces of their signature crunchy chicken paired with their heavenly gravy, seafood pesto and a 10-inch Rustic Italian Pizza peppered with meat, pepperoni, cheese and onions. The service was mediocre but the food is great. Since there were three of us, we were at first tempted to opt for the buffet table, but got discouraged by the lack of choices.



Pizza is outstanding, one of the best pizzas I've ever tasted (considering that this restaurant pioneers in making one of the great pizzas here in the Philippines). It's got a crispy crust that is baked just right to complement the pizza flavor's special blend. The toppings aren't too strong, and neither do they add up to make something salty. It goes well with the Caramba Hot sauce they have on the table. The calamari plate is a great choice of appetizer. Sadly, the tomato salsa doesn't match too well with it.

Their pasta is so-so, though their shrimp and squid serving size on top of the pesto is generous. You can't even taste the basil with too much flavor and toppings on the noodles. Their chicken is salty, so the skin should be avoided at all costs for those on a diet. The gravy is good, but deadly. I imagine they put a lot of butter in it to make it that delicious.


Don Henrico's
Ayala Center Cebu
Ayala Center Cebu
Cebu, Cebu, Philippines


Verdict:
A: 3.8/5
Service was so-so. Takes a while to get noticed. Trainees should be trained more. The trainee server picked up the fallen chicken off the table with his hand, a no-no when it comes to food serving.

After watching the movie version of Elizabeth Gilber's book, I had a sudden craving for Italian food - blame in on all the pasta and pizza Julia Roberts ate on that movie!

The Italian Kitchen was the perfect restaurant to satisfy that craving. I browsed the menu the night before so I knew what I was gonna order - now that's anticipation! I got the Penne Arrabbiata ~ that's penne with crispy pancetta, peperoncino, basil, tomatoes and burrata cheese. My friends ordered sangria and wine which invited my allergies back - but that's ok, nothing Claritin can't handle =)

N: 4/5 must try their appies and other entree next time

The Italian Kitchen
1037 Alberni St
Vancouver, BC V6E 1A1

i've already eaten at a number of steakhouses in chicago; chophouse, fugo's and morton's to name a few of them. together with my friends, we tried one of chicago's landmark steakhouse: "gene and georgetti."

the free bread and breadsticks were unremarkable. they were hard and bland.

we ordered assorted italian antipasto for appetizer. it consists of mozarella cheese, olives, anchovies, pepper and ham. i did not like any particular item in the collection.

i got the broiled small strip loin steak for main dish and potato chips as side. the steak is disappointingly dry and bland. no salt or pepper was added to it. i had to put some A1 sauce to make it taste good. it was way too bland from the steak i ate at chophouse. almost all of us in the group were disappointed. two friends ordered filet mignon which is expected to be tender and juicy but was nothing like that. the only friend, who was happy with her order, got the broiled pork chop. she said it's very delicious.

Verdict: 2.5/5 [-0.5 for the hard bread, -2 for the bland and dry steak]

Gene and Georgetti
500 Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60610

If you are ever up for a large plate of pasta and around an hour lineup, the you ought to visit this place. Anton's Pasta Bar is famous for the queues that form on its doorsteps starting 7pm. The only other place I tried here in Vancouver that has this long wait time is Stepho's Souvlaki Greek Taverna at Davie.

The great thing about this place is their big servings, I think they even hand out a prize for people who actually finish a whole plate by themselves. Seriously, the food is massive, it could feed 3 people.

On my first visit, I think I tried an oil based pasta sauce, and on the second visit I ordered the seafood risotto. This time I tried one of their specialty dishes, the Fusilli New Orleans, which was not as spicy as the pasta I cook, but it was ok, I finished maybe 1/5 of the plate. I also tried a bite of lasagna, and that was way better, I'm gonna order that next time. It just takes 30 minutes to prepare.

Our orders:

Meat Lasagna

Fusilli New Orleans: scallops, sausages, prawns, chicken, red & green peppers in a spicy Cajun sauce

Herb Penne Genovese: sun dried tomatoes & mushrooms in a tomato pesto sauce

Verdict:
N: 4.0/5.0 [-1 because of the lineup]

Anton's Pasta Bar
4260 Hastings Street Burnaby, BC

it was my last day with the team yesterday and my team organized a farewell lunch at "olive garden". we had calamari, garlic bread breadsticks and had a choice between soup and salad for starters. I chose garden fresh salad with fresh ground parmesan cheese. the salad tasted good and was crispy fresh. the calamari was just fine.

i ordered cheese-filled ravioli with marinara sauce topped with melted italian cheese for the main course. if you are a cheese lover like i am, you would love this. the type of cheese wasn't that salty and striking but the over-all taste of the dish was very good.

Verdict: 4.5/5 [-0.5 for the average calamari]

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
701 N Milwaukee Avenue
Vernon Hills, IL 60061