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Chef Peter Ayson and Raymund Magdaluyo's Texas Smoke 'Em

Texas Smoke 'Em Menu: TSE Smoke house, Wraps, and Lucks | Small Blinds, Bonus, Drinks and Cocktails

Texas Smoke 'Em (or TSE for short) is the newest BBQ/ Mexican Fast Food Restaurant in town by Chef Peter Ayson (of Red Crab fame) and Restaurateur Raymund Magdaluyo. I'm not really a fan of any of the restaurant chains of Red Crab, Claw Daddy, or New Orleans. We decided to give this a try because we are looking for a good barbecue and mexican place in the Metro.

Manila Grand Opera Hotel and the New President

We are excited and finalizing our plans for the Ultimate Tagaytay (10 days to go) and Pampanga Tours (24 days to go). Spanx's Uncle sponsored our meeting in the newest hotel in the heart of Manila -- Manila Grand Opera Hotel. One of its main attraction is the New President's Sharks Fin & Seafood Restaurant and Circa Bar & Restaurant. You might have heard the news that President's Restaurant along Ongpin in Binondo closed down recently because of internal problems. The two restaurants have no connections whatsoever. I was even surprised that they were able to reuse another restaurant name by just putting in "New".

I was surprised to see an 8-storey elegant hotel in the middle of all the old houses and buildings. The hotel is located at the corner of Dorotheo Jose and Rizal Avenue where LRT1 is located.

The Manila Grand Opera Hotel is significant because this is the place where the First Philippine Assembly was inaugurated on October 16, 1907.

One of the interesting restaurant is the Circa Bar and Restaurant at the first floor. The actors who started their career and performed in the Manila Grand Opera were honored with a big portrait surrounding the restaurant.

In each of the floor, you'll be greeted with panels showcasing the significance of the Manila Grand Opera in Phil history.

This is a sample of the rooms in Manila Grand Opera Hotel. Spanx was right to compare the rooms with Tides Hotel in Boracay or G Hotel in Roxas Blvd. One thing I noticed was the absence of a window in the room but I don't think there is even a good view out there, if you are familiar with the location. The curtains creates an llusion so that you don't get claustrophobic. Take advantage of the P1,500/ room opening promo rate!

The 8th floor houses the ballroom where you can reserve it for weddings and grand functions.

General Manager Lawrence Li Tan showed us how high tech their kitchen is, particularly their oven wherein you'll just choose what type of cooking you'd like to have. The young GM's claim to fame is that he started Club Ultima in Cebu, Avenue Hotel in Naga City and now Manila Grand Opera Hotel in Manila.

Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!

A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall

I'm surprised why Gasthof is not taking off well in Avenue in Makati. With a heritage of serving good baby back ribs in Boracay and a branch in Legaspi City, I would have thought Manila would welcome it with open arms. Gasthof is owned by a German with a Bicolana wife so expect a Filipino-German mix in the cuisine. I've been going back to Avenue for some time now to complete my AVenue series and Gasthof is nearly empty during Lunch time. Maybe because they are still constructing it, most people think it is close or the prices are too expensive. (What do you think? )

Baby Back Ribs Half Order (P450). The dish that started it all and became the all-time favorite of Boracay's for local guests and tourists. Succulent pork back ribs marinated in our special Gasthof sauce.

The only reason I included Gasthof is that there are a lot of people of who love Gasthof ribs. You don't have to go to Boracay to satisfy your craving. Although I heard lately that the Boracay branch is declining in popularity (not sure also what is the reason? any comment?).

Spicy Fingers Laffamania

Related Posts: The Comedy Cartel - The Best Stand-Up Comedy Act in Manila!

Your Monday Nights will never be the same with Laffamania @ Spicy Fingers in Greenbelt 2. The show starts promptly at 8pm with entrance fee of P150. Better reserve a table with Spicy Fingers and be there by 7pm. The food is OK and nothing to rave about. Don't bother to ask recommendations from the waiters because they would often say, "Lahat po sa menu ay masarap." That is one sign of either the waiters are not trained very well (and have not tasted the food yet) or there is nothing remarkable about the food. Better check out the menu already and order based on your personal preference. Budget P500/ head for your Spicy Fingers dinner.

Spicy Fingers Menu:
Starters & Soup | Pasta, Burger Platter, Sandwiches | Specials Grill and Steaks | Spicy Fingers Snack Menu | Desserts | Spicy Fingers Drinks List #1 | Spicy Fingers Drinks List #2

Tim Tayag @ Laffamania in Spicy Fingers.

Tim started performing stand-up comedy in 1997 in a little cafe in San Francisco. In a few years, he developed his act and showcased it in world famous comedy clubs such as Punch Line and Cobb's where famous comics like Robin Williams, Chris Rock and Drew Carey took their first comedy steps.

In 2002, Tim decided to go back to the Philippines and share his style of comedy with Filipinos. (Hooray! We should always celebrate when Filipinos decide to go back to the Philppines :)

Mike Unson @ Laffamania in Spicy Fingers

Mike first started with an improv theater group Big Bang Cheery, and once the bang fizzled out, he moved on to going solo. From there, he's opened for Rex Navarette on numerous occasions during his Philippine tour of duty, and even taught Stand-up comedy courses at the Ateneo law school in Rockwell. His next big break was when he performed in "Jojo A. All the Way" and "Men's Room" on Channel 23. In 2005, Mike out-laughed his contemporaries at a stand-up comedy stand-off, to take home the grand prize.

Healthy Kitchen, Serendra

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.

Fluke, a Stroke of Luck

A.Venue Restaurant Reviews in OAP
Fluke
A Tale of Two Art Cafes in A.Venue
Gasthof - Home of Boracay's Famous Baby Back Ribs!
Burger Avenue's Ridiculous Challenge
Foccacia, A Slice of Italy in A.Venue Mall

I must admit that the name of the restaurant is catchy but it has a negative connotation. Fluke (pronounced as flook), literally means a stroke of luck. It is usually used to describe a one-hit wonder or in Filipino, I guess the closest word I could think of is chamba. From a home-based Miniatures Bakeshop and catering service, the Palanca family decided to setup their first restaurant at the A.Venue Mall along Makati Avenue.

I liked their best sellers -- Beef Salpicao, Three Cheese Lasagna and especially the mini-eclairs and mini-cream puffs. No doubt that this home-style cooking resto would be a hit and won't be a fluke!

Fluke Soft Opening Menu:
All Day Breakfasts, Picas and Soups | Salads, Pasta, Beef, and Pork | Chicken, Seafood, Rice Bowls, and Snacks/Merienda | Drinks, Desserts, Others

Flapjacks

Flapjacks is a thin, crisp but chewy pancake with a large diameter. This is also the name of the first local venture of Bistro Group of Companies located in Greenbelt 2. Bistro Group is known for the popular International restaurant franchises in the Philippines. This includes: TGI Fridays, Italianni's, Outback Steakhouse, and Fish & Company. We were mesmerized by the orange-yellow-purple color combination with repeating shapes combination that hypnotizes you to go in. Spot.ph Editor described it as homey, retro and psychedelic like in an Austin Power movie.

Flapjacks Menu
Flapjacks Good Food All Day Menu | Ultimate Omelettes, French Toasts & Waffles | Filipino and International Favorites | Burgers & Sandwiches, Fruits and Cereals, Sides | Griddle Combinations and Hearty Soups & Salads | Desserts, Fruit Shakes & Smoothies, Maltshakes, Sodas, Floats & Ice Tea, Chilled Juices and Coffee & Tea

The food is overrated but the service is outstanding. I was hoping that this would replace our favorite breakfast place - Country Waffles, but it failed our foodie expectation.


Endless Flapjacks Blend (P85) with FREE Wifi. Coffee served in tea pot.

Despite the food, we love to hangout in Flapjacks because of the endless coffee, free Wi-fi, cozy couches and uber friendly service. Rache and I did our family planning meeting in Flapjacks for 8 hours.

Light Fluffy Pancakes stacked in 3's (P245). Whipped Butter and Maple Syrup on the sides. You have to eat the pancake with the butter and maple syrup because the taste of the pancake cannot stand on its own.

Myron, Zuni or Felix? The Battle for the Best Greenbelt 5 Restaurant

Have you ever wondered which is the best among the high-end restaurants in Greenbelt 5? Do you love Myron's Place, Zuni or Felix? If you can only spend on one restaurant, where would it be? Let me know your thoughts on this...

MYRON'S PLACE, GREENBELT 5

Mon Eugenio's Myron's in Rockwell created a blogging controversy in 2006 that generated significant profits to fund the new Myron's Place in Greenbelt. Named after his father-in-law, Myron's place is receiving good karma these days. They enjoy a unique nice location at the ground level of Greenbelt 5 where they have a convenient access to the basement parking and a nice view of the GB5 gardens. We love the dramatic view of the garden vista and we are quite impressed with the Noel Bernardo's interior design. Noel designed the high-end restaurants of Elbert's, Myron's, and CAV (would you know where else?). We love his dramatic, young and unique restaurant designs. You need to see and be impressed with the simple restroom of Myron's.



Myron's Place,
Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street
Telephone: (+632) 757-8898, (+632) 757-9898

Sandwiches, Burgers, Ribs, Roast Beef, Seafood, House Favorites, Desserts | Small Bites, Spreads, Oysters, Salad, Soup, Pasta | Beverages and Wine


In-Store Theater drama inside Myron's. I love just seating here with a grand view of the garden vista. If you plan to reserve a table, specify that you'd want the spot with the couch area facing the garden.


Gordon Biersch Wheat Beer (P195 + 10% SC). I'm adventurous with food and I'm experimenting these days with food and wine or beer pairing. Myron's have unique grade A beers you can choose from. (Frankly, I'm not familiar with the grading system of beers. Would you know?). I tried the wheat beer and it was very interesting with my meal.

I don't want to rely on restaurant's pairing recommendation, any idea on where can I get training on pairing food with wines or beers?


Moroccan Lamb Shank with Apricots and Almond (P450 + 10% SC).

Rache loves to eat meat these days and this time, she tried Myron's moroccan lamb shank which was quite memorable. She had to use her hands to clean off the lamb shank with a bubble thought saying, "Sarap to the bones...".
Myron's is criticized for using cookbook recipes to serve in his restaurant in Rockwell but I do hope it's not true. Mon is a great cook but he chose to just create the recipes and menu, supervise the kitchen and manage the restaurant. They are coming out with a whole new menu in the next two weeks.



ZUNI, GREENBELT 5

Nand Prasad's Zuni executed their concept really well. They delivered their promise of an elegant dining venue with a relaxed and informal ambiance. They delivered their promise to serve creative continental and mediterranean entrees with meat and seafood cooked to perfection. They have the best restaurant service in Greenbelt 5 that I don't mind paying more than 10% for the service charge. Kudos to Chef Ding Lazona for a job well done in the kitchen. The paintings on the wall and roof, the uniforms of the waiters, and the overall ambiance would remind you of their sister company Duo in Serendra or Chef's Quarters in Malate.



Zuni Restaurant and Wine Bar
Greenbelt 5, Legaspi Street
Telephone: +632 467-3931, 757-0361, 757-0362

Appetizers and Salads | Create Your Own Salad, Soups, From the Grill, Seafoods and Meat | Zuni Specials-Seafoods and Zuni Specials-Meat Pasta, Rice, Desserts, Souffle | Wines Page 1, Wines Page 2



Norwegian Salmon (P485 + 10% SC) with Hollandaise Sauce. I like my salmon to be crispy with no black edges outside, and soft but juicy & flavorful meat. They cooked my dish to perfection in a reasonable amount of time.


Baked Roulade Sole Fillet (P425 + 10% SC) in nantua sauce, stuffed with mushroom, spinach and cheese, served with mashed potato.

Zuni likes to play with the sauces from Nantua Sauce to Ponzo-Wasabi Salsa to Port Wine Jus. Don't be intimidated by their food names. The Nantua sauce, in particular, is the same as the Tomato and Prawn Bisque Soup in their menu. We regretted ordering that soup because we got to taste it in our Baked Sole fillet. Anyway, we enjoyed the play of taste with this sole fillet.