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House of Wagyu Heaven

Rache and I went on a date in wagyu heaven last Friday. We decided to try the Premium Rib Eye 8oz Grade 8 Wagyu of House of Wagyu in Podium. Most of the wagyu we tasted before are only Grade 5 and these are usually the ones available in Manila. The highest grade is 12 or 13 (I think) which is only available in Japan. We were so excited to try out a Grade 8 wagyu for the first time in our life!

House of Wagyu serves Wagyu steaks exclusively and associated with Melo's steakhouse. The wagyu steaks are imported from Australia. If you are a Wagyu fan like me, you should try the House of Wagyu in Podium.

Wagyu (和牛 wagyū?) (source: Wagyu on Wikipedia)
" refers to several breeds of cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous unsaturated fat. Also known as Kobe beef or Mishima beef, the meat from wagyu cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness, and thus a high market value.... Because of the wagyu cattle's genetic predisposition wagyu yields a beef that contains a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids[1] than typical beef. The increased marbling also improves the ratio of monounsaturated fats to saturated fats."

Related Posts:
Walking Tour of Wagyu Beef Fest & the P120,000 Wagyu Fantasy Meal
Malcolm's Place and Wagyu Rib Eye Steak!

I must admit it is very intimidating to go to House of Wagyu because of the steep prices of the steak and other dishes. If you decide to go on a date here, please check out the menu in advance so that you already know what you will order. (and importantly, your budget :)

House of Wagyu Menu
Appetizers and Salads | Wagyu Beef | Fish & Shellfish and other specialties | Desserts, Beverages and Wines

Yogurbud

Yogurbud is the latest dessert place capitalizing on the healthy benefits of yogurt. Surprisingly, they now have three branches in Metro Manila - Megamall, Podium and Tomas Morato. You can really taste the sourness of the yogurt. The frozen mango topping was a turnoff for me and how I wish they provided fresh ingredients instead. For P90, the entire cup is not full and we were disappointed that there is so much air inside the cup.

I haven't tried the other yogurt offerings. Have you tried yogurbud?

Related OAP Posts on Frozen Yogurt:
Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt - The Next Dessert Craze in the Philippines!
Sorry Ice Cream, I'm On My Way to Pinkberry!
Red Mango-licious
I Love Berries Frozen Yogurt -- The Best Froyo so far in Manila...
Ice Cream Bar (Flavors by FIC)
Yogurbud
The White Hat - Let the Fro-Yo Wars Begin in Manila!
The Buzz About Froyo's
California Berry Frozen Yogurt
Lulubelle
After Lego Island, Enjoy Yoh-Gurt Froz!

In Megamall, they are located in the 2nd floor above the skating rink. In Podium, they are located in the 3rd floor. In Tomas Morato, they are located in the ground floor 170 Tomas Morato corner Scout Castor Quezon. I'm glad that we are starting to have healthy dessert options in Manila.

Yogurbud Menu. More info: www.yogurbud.com
#3 Francis Court M. Paterno St. San Juan, Metro Manila
+632 723-6333

This is still not exactly the frozen yogurt I was craving for. I'm still waiting for the day, Pink Berry and Red Mango will open in Manila.

Angelati Italia in Megamall

Angelati Italia - One of the best gelato in Manila opened their first store in Megamall. We love their Hazelnut, Pure Pistachio, and Mascarpone Crumble flavor.

Angelati Italia is located in the ground floor of Megamall A (this is where the skating rink is located).

Here is the retail prices for Angelati Italia. You can Text or Call them for delivery @ +63917-889-0110.

I'm planning to do a posts on the top 10 ice cream of Manila. What is your favorite ice cream/gelato/frozen yogurt secret in Manila?

OTOP Food Trip

Most of the foodies in Manila are raving about the One Town One Product (OTOP) Fair in Megatrade Hall in MegaMall. After doing an OTOP food trip, we can't stop raving about it! Let me share with you our discoveries when we went around. The fair runs until tomorrow, Sunday and you should not miss it.

To start off the food trip, have a taste of Bing Angeles' Tahong Chips (P20/P45)dipped in their own version of Sinamak. Tahong Chips is an OTOP product of Bacoor, Cavite. Then visit Teresita Verano's colorful brooms which is a proud OTOP product from Caramoran, Catanduanes.

Check out the innovative C&C foods' traditional Kesong Puti Dips and Spreads (P100), a product OTOP of Nueva Ecija. Usually there is a crowd that forms around this booth to taste the different flavors of Kesong Puti Dips and Spreads. Most of the people who tasted it, end up buying the product.

We don't really need a hat but the Aurora Hats were so cute that we ended up buying one. The one that Rache bought costs P150.

Fly over to La Trinidad, Benguet and have a wine tasting at Jason's Quality Wines. Check out their Strawberry, Blueberry, Yacon and Bugnay Wine. Bugnay Wine is our local red wine. I liked the blueberry and yacon wines.

The No. 1 Foodie Secret in the OTOP Fair is the Okey na Okoy booth. It serves the best Kalabasang Okoy (P15) which is a proud OTOP product of Baliuag, Bulacan.

Healthy Kitchen, Serendra

Update 4/17/12: This restaurant is now closed and replaced by Chuck's Deli.

The newest kid on the Serendra block is the Healthy Kitchen restaurant in between Cafe Via Mare and Guava. Most restaurants in this Serendra driveway area facing Market Market are struggling and they only survive because of the weekend crowd. Healthy Kitchen's formula for success is providing yummy healthy food + nice homy ambiance + FREE wifi. They have an extensive selection of salad, innovative healthy appetizers, signature brown rice toppings, healthy burgers and satisfying whole wheat pasta assortment. If you love tofu, they serve Tofu Sisig, Tofu Steak Salad or Tofu Adobo Brown Rice. The only downside with Healthy Kitchen is that the main dishes cost around P200-P300.

I love the entire concept of Healthy Kitchen including the FREE wifi! We sincerely hope that more people will patronize Healthy Kitchen.

Healthy Kitchen Menu Cover | Appetizers and Salads | Whole Wheat Pizza, Whole Pizza Pasta, and Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers | Brown Rice and Beverages

Lory Petry-Tydingco owns the successful chain of Brown Bag restaurants in Guam. She first opened Brown Bag in Eastwood but it was not successful because the term Brown Bag is an American concept that was lost in translation in Manila. She opened Healthy Kitchen less than a few weeks ago in Serendra. You would often see Lory in the restaurant. She would always strike up a conversation after you finish your meal to get feedback and suggestions.

Edamame Pate (P130). A flavorful pate made primarily with soy bean pods. Served with red and blue corn tortilla chips.

Replace your creamy dips with this soy beans pate. They have a way of making ordinary healthy food like this taste and look great. It was surprisingly small and how I wish that they could add more chips into the serving.

West Side Story Manila - 10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date

Christian Bautista invites you to watch West Side Story Manila!

Our Awesome Planet in partnership with Ticket2Me invites you to the Saturday Opening Night of West Side Story Manila!
September 6, 2008,Opening Saturday Night 8pm at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas, Pasig

Buy Your West Side Story Tickets Now from OAP!

West Side Story Manila. (Click-->Seat Plan) Reserve Your Best Seats Now!

Orchestra and Loge Center ($26) ~ P1,200
Orchestra and Loge Sides ($22) ~ P1,000
Balcony Center ($15) ~ P 700
Balcony Sides ($11) ~ P 500
It is cheaper to buy online! All Major Credit Cards accepted.
Credit Card charges would be based on prevailing exchange rate. (see BSP Exchange Rate)

Email me: anton@diaz.ph or call me +63917-LOVEOAP (5683627) to order and pay via Bank Deposit

Related Posts: West Side Story Complete List of Direct Show Buyers

10 Things You Should Know Before Going on a West Side Story Romantic Date

1. First, one should know what West Side Story is all about.
West Side Story is one of the most popular storylines based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Two feuding street gangs – the Jets and the Sharks – are on a collision course in the gritty slums of New York City. Out of the chaos, a passionate romance blooms between Tony and Maria, teenagers caught on opposite sides of the turf war. But can they find a place for their love amid the prejudice and turmoil that surrounds them?

2. Why should you watch it?
"West Side Story" is one of the greatest musicals of all-time with music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It is a beautiful, dramatic dance musical with many show-stopping numbers and immortal songs like “Maria,” "Somewhere," "Tonight," "One Hand One Heart," "America," and "Something's Coming." It was the winner of 10 Academy Awards and two Tony Awards.

3. Why are people raving about the cast members of West Side Story Manila?
"West Side Story," STAGES' major musical offering in 2008, is all set to go on stage with an assembly of a strong cast headlined by Christian Bautista, Karylle, and London West End's Joanna Ampil; and a first-rate artistic team with Audie Gemora as executive producer, and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as director.
Balladeer Christian Bautista is given the role of Tony. He is tall, handsome, and has the makings of a perfect romantic leading man. Singer and actress Karylle could match Natalie Wood's film version of Maria. She is young, beautiful and sings her songs with utmost conviction. Meanwhile, the Philippines will get the rare chance to watch Joanna Ampil in her first musical theater assignment in Manila after sixteen years playing lead roles in London.

4. Why are people excited about Joanna Ampil?
Just think about Lea Salonga is to Broadway while Joanna Ampil is to London's West End. Joanna has agreed to share the role of Maria with Karylle because she has long wanted to perform for her “kababayans” who cannot easily afford to go to London to watch her in a musical. She just finished her stint in Les Miserables in London's West End. Local audiences have to see why Joanna is a favorite of British producer Cameron Mackintosh. Joanna, at one time, was even handpicked by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Mary Magdalene in "Jesus Christ Superstar." (Nobody knows which dates she will be playing.)

(Related Posts: Audie Gemora explains How West Side Story Manila Cast Joanna Ampil .)

5. This is the second time West Side Story is played in Manila.
"West Side Story" was first staged in Manila back in 1982 with Audie as Riff and Menchu as Maria. This Manila re-staging will precede a Broadway revival in 2009. 2008 is the 50th year anniversary of West Side Story!

Ensaymada Factory, Savanna Market

After eating in Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express, don't miss ordering desserts or pasalubong from Ensaymada Factory next door. Ironically, the Ensaymada Factory is known for their big cheese rolls, chicken empanada, caramel cake (with yummy toppings), and canonigo instead of the ensaymada. You got to try their new flourless cookies. Most of the goodies are baked fresh from this main store. They also sell their goodies in the Salcedo Saturday Market.

With only three tables-for-two inside the resto, the Ensaymada Factory also serves lunch meals. Check out Ensaymada's Factory lunch menu.

Make sure to greet and have a chat with the owner, Josie Illesias.

The Ensaymada Factory,
Savanna Market (Beside Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express and infront of Shopwise Makati)
Telephone: +632 895-9476
Mobile: +63 917-834-7198
Email: josie_illesias@yahoo.com

Bacolod Chicken Inasal Express - The Best Bacolod Chicken Inasal Place in the Heart of Makati

8 Secrets of the Authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal

Paa (P88) or Pecho (88) Authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal.

Do you know that there is an authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal in the heart of the Makati District? Two of the authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal places in Manila are Joel Torre's (JT's) Manukan in Greenhills and Bacolod Chicken House Express in Makati. These are the two places where people from Bacolod satisfy their craving for an authentic chicken inasal. Here are the 8 secrets of the authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal:

1. The authentic Bacolod Chicken Inasal place cooks the chicken 100% raw which makes it juicier than the commercialized version. Some of the commercialized Bacolod Chicken Inasal places use chicken that is already half-cooked (or worse cooked already and just reheated).

2. The secret in the flavor of the Chicken Inasal is in the orange atsuete oil sauce.

3. One of the Bacolod favorites is the Isol (P38). In Bacolod, Isol means atras and it refers to the chicken ass. The right way to eat isol is to put everything in your mouth and eat it (including the tail bone).

Other Bacolod favorites are the Baticolon (P30) and Atay (P40).