Adventures of the Happy Tummy

Banawe Street in Quezon City is the place to go if you are craving for Binondo-type of Chinese dishes but find the travel downtown too tiring. Sincere Restaurant is an offshoot of our beloved Sincerity Restaurant along Nueva. They are famed for their mouth-watering staples: Kiampong, Sincere Fried Chicken, Oyster Cake. Chinese Kikiam is the bomb! Authentic and will make you avoid the flour-ful kikiam sold on streets. Dip these on the gravy and your rice bowl will be gone in no time! Chinese atay and kidney dish... I don't know a better way to call it but in Chinese maybe? "Cha Yo Tsi and Ti Kwngwa" A closer look at the kiampong or sticky adobo rice mixed with meat and gabi topped with adobo peanuts. The star who sits on the throne together with the sweet fried chicken: Oyster Cake. Yes, they're all oily so better pair 'em with tea! Best is, your p1,000 feeds 5 people already! Enjoy!

Country style comfort food on a surprise pocket beside Lacoste at Eobinson's Magnolia. Fam loves it here! Get a carafe of iced tea too!

Fisher Mall is open! Not much to see yet but there's a home-grown favorite calling us to its humble nook: Mister Kabab! The oriinal place is now at West Avenue and is always packed. The branch here at the mall has so-so # of customers.  Missed these! Keema Chelo kebaba But where's the shawarma plate!??? Nice lights!  Er... what a view... We still prefer the big, almost al fresco setting. We'll soon go back there! Mister Kabab 3rd floor Fisher Mall Quezon Avenue cor Roosevelt Ave, Quezon City Original: West Avenue, Quezon City

Dulcelin! Finally a cafe in the heart of QC to showcase more than just their popular desserts! Me and my girlfriends wanted to try something new anyways so here goes: SALAD: Interesting. Have to commend our server for recommending this rather than the usual house salad. Alrhough we were shocked that the serving is just 4pcs. That means there's just one for each. Haha.  Lovingly presented individually on Shiso(?) leaves, it was topped with some creamy rice, seared meat (shrimp, beef or tuna) and a mushroom-looking quail egg. It was a surprisingly good dish, actually. You grab one piece and shove it all in your mouth... the leaves give a crunchy, minty feel... rice and meat soft, and the flavors well put-together. Will definitely go back for this. PASTA:  Meatball fettucine. Unremarkable. I'd put chilli flakes to kick some edge to this. RIBS: Looks really dark here but it's due to the sauce and photo filter. Not so tender but the peppery taste is good. Rice with corn on the s...

Brunching at U.P. Town... thank you, WAZE! You're so smart now! Quick drive from Quezon Ave to Katipunan... u-turn near Rustan's Supermarket, go past the church and keep right! Then go past the compound to park. Papermache installations greeted us... and so did a slew of new restaurant concepts... Bakeshop... Cupcakes... Tonkatsu... Pancakes... + a few more upscale ones upstairs but we were famished so... We headed for Cafe Shibuya because it looks more brunch-friendly. (Food review to follow) Then off to Cotton On to shop. They'll add more shops soon! Bitin for now. Cheap thrills for dessert! Php25 twirl-all-you-can green tea soft ice cream!  Better ask the server for help if you want it perfect like so:

Eat the pork from SNOUT to TAIL! That's what they're known for. I can try but just the middle please? Richwell Center is one of the headquarters of the well-known and respected names in retail. The building houses a beauty clinic, a bank, and several corporate offices... and a farm-house inspired restaurant. It's mildly off-radius from all the food places in this side of town but it's an ideal place to hold private dinners and gatherings. Just not for seniors or anyone with heart/ cholesterol issues! These are the must-try's: Wild mushroom soup Crispy Pata Pork Barrel with herbs Osso Bucco I was dizzy with cholesterol taste after 3 bites of the crispy everything, but my golly, it was so good! I think you have to have hot tea to counter it but I just opted for warm water. Go try! 1st floor Richwell Center, Timog Ave., across Caltex Quezon City

Happy birthday Shoti! :) That's Fookien for li'l brother :) All 5 of us went to celebrate at Chili's Tomas Morato branch. It's just near the QC Scout circle and a big chili welcomes you on the front door. Parking is a bit tricky. Lucky we were there by 11.30, begore the lunch crowd sets in. Cheerful and efficient staff greeted us from the door and even at our seats. The air is so inviting: screens showed either cartoons to tame the kids or sports for the men. Here's what we ordered: Hearty Chicken Salad for starters Chicken Crispers with Fries Fajita Trio (served w/ 3 pitas but they gave us two more for free!) The famous Baby Back Ribs w/ shredded corn and we still had left-overs! Everything at less than Php 2,500 including two refillable glasses of iced tea for bro and sis. And the staff sang the chili's birthday song and gave my brother a crisp taco sundae! How sweet! Hearty birthday lunch treat from a loved one is always good!

Hmmm... Just for my personal record: Small serving. Big bowls. Not enough to whet the appetite. Ramen Bar Robinson's Magnolia New Manila, QC

Yes, this time I brought the whole family! Famished after a day of shopping, I know the bellies are eager for a hot, hearty meal. 3 points for us: -Good that we came a few minutes earlier than the slew of hungry groupies who trooped to where we're at. -Good that wecalled in to say we need 5 seats and we'll be there in less than 15mins! -Good that we ordered the mushroom gyoza in advance so we had something to chomp on before the real deal 7 points for nomama: -Pick-up something to read: various publications which features Chef Him/ nomama while... -Others can tinker with their gadgets plus the resto have free wifi with a cool password -Fast, very attentive staff: warm water and cold water for different people were timely replenished -Staff does not look harassed even if the clients keep on pouring in -Chef Him is in charge and his presence sets a responsive alertness to the team as evidently seen in their open kitchen -Very good food, been here 3x and the taste is ...

Pair it please with cocktails and mocktails :) Pastries meant to be shared and enjoyed with various drink-up concoctions. Good thing the partners came up with creative partnership of such or I'd be at a loss! Green Tea Temple (Mocktail) - served in a flute glass, light. Mad About Sugar - rich, peanuty-midnight espresso cake and lychee-almond cocktail meant to be taken simultaneously to let the flavors blend and melt in your mouth. Heavenly. Tip: Check-in at Foursquare and you'll get freebies! We got a whole Hungarian Sausage platter with a small bowl of cheesy dip - best paired with beer :) Paire pastries and cocktails Cocoon Hotel, Sct. Tobias cor Sct. Rallos Sts., near Timog, Quezon City +63-2-5791555

Must try! Must visit! We held a few get-together parties here and Nomama has been bery consistent with bringing quality food and service to the table. Try everything! Mushroom gyoza 125 - shitake, ouster, button, shimaji mushroom Raw salad 210 - corn, french beans, mixed greens, cherry tomato, edemame tossed w sesame miso dressing Thai green curry ramen 322 - home-made green curry paste in coco broth seared chix fillet, bokchoy & peas Ox tongue and chili tofu 322 - braised ox tongue chili tofu saice house pork stock Spicy tongue dry noodle 345 - big serving! Nomama Ramen 355 - best in the house! request for really soft boiled eggs :) Flourless chocolate cake with salted caramel is soooo good! The caramel sauce is much too salty for me though. But you can always dillute it with the cream on the side :) Assorted Japanese beer are also available. Have a hearty ramen break and have it here at nomama! Nomama Artisanal Ramen Php 350 - 500/pax Scout Tuason, ...