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Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 @Soderno - Successful First UTT in the South (despite the Mesocyclone)

(ATTN 8/9/2012: Mezza Norte@Ayala Technohub will  be closed today Aug.9  to give time for the vendors to recover and to give way to relief efforts. Distrito in Makati will resume operations this Thursday (Aug. 9) and Mercato Centrale will resume operations tomorrow Friday (Aug. 10).  We are also accepting donations (non-perishable food and clothes) for the flood victims in Mercato and Soderno as of August 8. Soderno@Molito will be closed for tent maintenance because it was damaged by the heavy winds and rains last weekend.)

Read First: UTT 9.0: Tips To Have An Awesome Ultimate Taste Test Experience @SODERNO!

Thank you to all the food vendors and foodies who attended and made Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 @ SODERNO a success despite the Mesocyclone that hit Metro Manila that night.

Here is a photo essay summary of what happened in UTT 9.0: 

Related Posts on UTT 9.0:
ABS-CBN News | 'Mesocyclone' hit Metro Manila, expert says 
Pinoy Life At Large | Ultimate Taste Test 2012 rocks Molito in Alabang
GMA News Online by Patricia Calzo Vega | Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 makes the grade 
Lafanggero | Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 takes South via Storm
Adian Benipayo's The Feed

• The Ultimate Taste Test Challenge Part 1- Sisig, Bagwang, Chorizo and Pulled-Pork
• The Ultimate Taste Test Challenge Part 2- Crunchy Belly, A Happy Panda, Nihonjin Delights and Street Food
• The Ultimate Taste Test Challenge Part 3: Pocket Pies, V.I.P.s And Some Chinese Cuisines
• The Ultimate Taste Test Challenge Part 4: Dessert Galore!

UTT 9.0: Tips to have an Awesome Ultimate Taste Test Experience @SODERNO!

 

3 days to go to the first ever Ultimate Taste Test in the South! 

Here are some tips to have an awesome Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 Experience in Soderno:

◯ Decide who would you like to enjoy the UTT experience with? Family or Foodie Friends?

(Note: We will continue to sell tickets this Sunday during Ultimate Taste Test 9.0 @ SODERNO.)

◯ Practice rating your food that you like from a scale of 1 to 5:

1- Thank You but I had Better. (If you don't like it at all, rate it 1)
2- It is OK. (If it is good but not memorable)
3- We had a good time.  (If you had fun eating it)
4- I love it! (If the food is really good and you would order it)
5- Awesome! I would recommend it! (If the food is really good that you would tell everyone about it or give it away as Christmas gifts to your friends and family)

P.S. Bring a pen or two for you to scribble down your comments!

◯ Strategize how to successfully taste all the food (starting with the ones you like).

Here is the list of confirmed vendors so far:

JAM FOODS' Angus Beef Salpicao!

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #1:
JAM FOODS

^4.58

217 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
  61 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  32 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
     2 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
     0 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

 

We've loved JAM Foods Tapa ever since we discovered it in Ultimate Taste Test 4.0 (read:  Oh, Tapa of My Dreams!), where it was the overall winner.

Numerous foodies regard it as the Best Tapa in Manila because of its flavorful, bacon-like taste. They also now have the lean tapa version, but we like our tapa with little strips of fat. :)

They introduced their latest innovation in UTT 8--the Angus Beef Salpicao, which are chunks of beef cube goodness. They are sold as pre-packed Salpicao that you can cook and enjoy at home with your family.

The foodies have spoken... It's the best food in the Global Gastronomy Event! Congratulations to the two-time Overall winner of the Ultimate Taste Test Challenge! Congrats, JAM Foods!

Related Blog Post: Ultimate Taste Test 4.0 Overall Winner:  Oh, Tapa of My Dreams!

MASATAMI's Rainbow & Swiss Cheese Shave Ice!

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #2:
MASATAMI SHAVE ICE

^4.39

194 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
  60 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  38 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
  12 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
    4 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

Masatami Shave Ice offers really fine ice shavings (finer than the crushed ice used in snow cones). The concept was inspired by the shave ice desserts in Taiwan.

Their equipment creates flavored ice blocks, and the best I've tasted is the Swiss Cheese flavor. You can really taste the cheese and creaminess in the ice itself. It's already like ice cream in consistency but with the texture of shaved ice. Kids would love the playful colors of the rainbow shave ice.

A lot of foodies enjoyed Masatami as evidenced by the long lines during the Global Gastronomy event. Congratulations to Masatami for winning the Top 2 spot in Ultimate Taste Test 8.0!

HAPADOG's Californippon Dog, Kat's Meow and Shifudo Pasta :)

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #3:
HAPADOG!

^4.32

106 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
122 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  90 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
  28 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
    0 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

 
CALIFORNIPPON DOG (P175 and P90 half-a-hapa). California roll toppings - avocado/mango, cucumber, tamago, kani, ebiko, nori flakes with a choice of Japanese or Wasabi Mayo.
TEMP-TATION DOG (P175 and P90 half-a-hapa). Tempura hotdog, grated Daikon radish, Tentsuya sauce, Green Onions.
KAT’S MEOW (P175 and P90 half-a-hapa). Tonkatsu hotdog, bonito flakes, pickled radish, choice of Japanese or Wasabi Mayo.

HAPA is "a slang of mixed racial heritage with partial roots in Asian and/or Pacific Islander ancestry".  So, HAPADOG is a gourmet hotdog that is 50% Japanese and 50% American. The combination of Asian flavors and toppings with really good hotdog and bun can be very addicting.

We love the Californippon, which is a cross between a California roll and a hotdog, and Kat's Meow because of the bonito flakes and tonkatsu-style hotdog. But we are just addicted to the taste of the hapa-pasta--and the best for us is the Shifudo, which is a seafood, Japanese cream-based spaghetti.

Congratulations to the Hapadog team of Khristine Ong, Karen Ong and Ray Serion for making it to the Top 3 in Ultimate Taste Test 8.0!

THE CHEESE STEAK SHOP Philly Cheese Steak!

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #4:
THE CHEESE STEAK SHOP

^4.21

198 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
120 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  82 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
  14 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
    0 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

 

The Cheese Steak Shop is our favorite Philly Cheese Steak place in Manila because of the tasty steak meat, topped with sweet and hot peppers, enveloped in Amoroso rolls. We think it's just awesome.

Related Blog Post: The Cheese Steak Shop: Authentic Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Anyone?

Foodies at the Ultimate Taste Test 8.0 agreed with us. It's no wonder then that the top 4 spot in the Global Gastronomy challenge went to The Cheese Steak Shop. Congratulations!

BLUE TOQUE's The Ultimate Mousse Cake!

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #5:
BLUE TOQUE

^4.1

142 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
  98 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  66 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
  10 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
   2 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

The Ultimate Mousse (a Blue Toque Special).

The moment I tasted Blue Toque's THE ULTIMATE Gourmet Mousse Cake, I knew it would win a spot in the Top 10 of Ultimate Taste Test 8. It was so smooth; its Belgian Chocolate had a yummy nutty and chocolate-y taste; and it had a balanced creamy and crunchy texture.  Di nakakasuya -- a great product indeed from Blue Toque!

Some foodies also liked their Cream Cheese Brownies that had a generous cream cheese topping.

(Read this back story from Anne: Anne's Lab Life | Ultimate Taste Test #8: Global Gastronomy)

Congratulations, BLUE TOQUE, for winning the #5 spot in Ultimate Taste Test 8.0! Blue Toque is also the overall winner in the dessert/cakes category. :)

BARNEYS BURGER - Legendary Pampanga Burger Since 1988

UTT8: Global Gastronomy Winner #6:
BARNEYS BURGER

^4.1

188 foodies rated 5- Awesome! I would recommend it!
158 foodies rated 4- I love it!
  88 foodies rated 3- We had a good time.
  26 foodies rated 2- It is OK.
    0 foodies rated 1- Thanks, but it could be better.

I first tasted Barneys Burger at Midnight Mercato. One thing that stood out about it for me was the burger patty -- malinamnam.

There are a lot of burger sellers applying in Mercato Centrale, but most of them get rejected because of their mediocre taste, but not Barneys. (Although the burger bun they use can be improved. Right now, it resembles the local monay bread that can't hold the patty well.) It has an interesting history, which started in 1988 in Guagua, Pampanga.

Congratulations, Barneys Burger, for winning Ultimate Taste Test 8.0: Global Gastronomy Top Spot #6!