OUR AWESOME PLANET

Callos Aussie Pies by Tina Raines

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0

"callos pie was very good"
"This is the best! Love the cheese and flaky crust!"

This is my favorite foodie discovery in the Ultimate Taste Test 2.0. I can relate with Tina's story of going after what you love -- no day but today, as they say. The Callos Pie was a certified hit and most of the foodies I talked to raved about it. Her product is unique, which is only a bit similar to Bag of Beans' pies. 

Manila deserves better Aussie meat pies, and it's good that Tina is filling that void. You've got to try this if you are craving for one. We are honored that she chose the Ultimate Taste Test as her debut into the foodie scene in Manila and let us be the messenger in announcing her savoury pies to the foodie community.

Go for it, Tina! You definitely have a winning product!

Gourmet Stuffers Yummy Spreads...

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.4 out of 5.0

"I love the Pesto Sundried Tomatoes, that was just awesome!"

There are numerous dips, spreads, and sauces out there, but Tin Gonzalez' Gourmet Spreads is ahead with 7 variants already, namely, Boursin (creamy garlic cheese), Three-Cheese Pesto, Pesto with Sundried Tomatoes, Creamy Spinach, Chicken Liver Pate, Spicy Sardine Pate, and Spicy Gourmet Tuyo Flakes. My favorite is the Three-Cheese Pesto, while other foodies liked the Pesto with Sundried Tomatoes. Some people argued that we already have a lot of these kinds of dips in the market with almost the same variants.

The Gourmet Spreads are good, though. You should try them if you are looking for one...

Chefs Garb Caviar Pie!

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.4 out of 5.0

The Caviar Pie by Chefs Garb's Marielen Adasa was a hit with most of the foodies during the Ultimate Taste Test. I liked it so much, I kept going back for it. This is perfect as an appetizer but it could be flexible enough to be a dessert item. It is a potluck favorite among Marielen's family and friends -- you might want to make it your potluck contribution too for the upcoming holiday season parties. It rated only 3.4, though (just barely passing the 3.3 mark), because some foodies tasted a better caviar pie. (Let me know if there are other Caviar Pie suppliers out there...)

Ang saWRAP by Minnie Puno

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0

Most health-conscious foodies loved Minnie's saWraps, especially the prawns and smoked fish. Each one is wrapped individually with care and style that sometimes you just want to look at it and appreciate it. Some suggested that it would be better to have the sauce inside instead of on top, while others found it an ordinary concept.

Minnie joined most of our culinary tours, and she is a certified foodie who knows how to create yummy food and present it appetizingly. In Legaspi market, she sells her Minnie Mousse signature desserts, which made her famous in 2007. She is also popular for her Asian Wraps (Thai Chicken Wrap - the best seller, Crabstick-Mayo, and Chicken & Pork Adobo) and Vietnamese rolls with chili bean sauce.

When people ask us for recommendations for a merienda caterer for parties, we usually recommend Minnie Puno. Check it out...

Cipolline's Chicken Burritos by Tanya Chua

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.8 out of 5.0

What people say about Cipolline's Chicken Burritos:
"It tastes really good and I love the flavors"
"I like the taste of the chicken, it was tender"
"love the tomato salsa! the flavors mesh very well"

This is one of the most raved about food suppliers in Ultimate Taste Test 2.0. The concept of the Chicken Burrito was very simple but Tanya Chua executed it so well with each ingredient -- carely selected, some cooked on the spot. The entire burrito is freshly assembled in front of you. She knows her food and is passionate about it. (She could also be voted as one of the sexy chefs out there.) We would certainly consider her catering services for our family events. Watch for Tanya's Cipolline Catering Services (I won't be surprised if she opens a restaurant/small outlet some day...)!

Leonardo's Chicken inside the Lechon

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.7 out of 5.0

What people are saying about Leonardo's Lechon:
"The meat was very tender and the skin is still crunchy."
"The herbs & spices of the lechon are very tasty and good."
"Chix stuffed lechon is ingenious! The skin was still very crispy and the meat moist & tender."

If you are looking for a unique lechon, you've got to try Leonardo's.  What makes it unique is it has a raw chicken cooked inside the lechon at the same time it is being roasted. They also use signature herbs and spices, which make it very tasty.  Most people raved about how good the chicken meat was inside the lechon and the taste of the lechon meat itself.

If I were to choose between Leonardo's and Sabroso Lechon, my vote goes to Leonardo's...

El Kapitan Food Enterprises

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.7 out of 5.0

"The Green Tea Frappuccino was most refreshing..."

Raymond So's passion for coffee -- specifically espresso and espresso preparation, led him to be one of the most promising Coffee supplies distributors in Manila. I love their Baristo Coffee Beans, which come in Premio Blend (100% Arabica), Netto Blend (Cafe Blend), and Ricco Blend (80% Arab., 20% Rob.). A lot of people loved the hot and even the cold frappuccino mix, particularly the familiar taste of Green Tea Frappuccino.

Joining the taste test was one way for Raymond to share his passion with others, and it's the closest thing to having his own coffee shop.

Supreme Brazo Bars by Ces Lopez Cafe

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 2.0 RATING: 3.8 out of 5.0

"Brazo was the best! Love the Walnuts on it!"

Supreme Brazo was the consistently raved about dessert in Ultimate Taste Test 2.0. Think of it as a Brazo sandwich with the meringue as the buns (shaped like a bar) and the different flavors as the palaman (spread inside the sandwich). The best flavors are the Walnut Wander and the Copaco-Mango. If you love Aurely's Special Brazo in Pampanga, this is 2x better because of the double layer of meringue and the 13 flavors to choose from. (Papayag ba ang mga Kapampangan?) Our foodie hearts now belong to Supreme Brazo...

Also during the taste event, they served a Freshly Squeezed Baby Lemonade that foodies raved about. It was a perfect complement to the different sweet desserts. Most people used it to clean their palate.