Agahan

I know some people who like to have breakfast all day. The kind who wish to have tuyo for breakfast, spam for lunch and tapa for dinner. I don't belong to that category but from time to time, I want to have pancakes and bacon. I also crave for tapa from Rodic's and yes, I can have spam all day. If not for the salt and calorie factor, i will have it every day. You get it right, marami akong favorite food.

In those many instances that I browse whatever magazine that I can lay my hand on while waiting for my food, services or whatever, Southern Living featured an all-day breakfast place in Makati: Agahan.

The Place

The restaurant is located in small restaurant complex along Metropolitan Ave, San Antonio Village, Makati. It is a 50-seater place decorated in a perky mood: the way we should all wake up in the morning. The walls are painted blue, green, red and yellow and chairs in red. There's a yellow breakfast nook for solo diners. The whole theme is a well-executed modern take on the 50s diner vibe.

The Food

As can be expected, menu is breakfast fares: silogs, pancake sets and hot chocolate/coffee/orange juice.

Ligaya's Tapa (PhP 150)

Beef tapa, egg and rice with coffee or tea. You can have the egg sunny-side up or scrambled. The beef tastes like your regular carinderia beef. It tastes okay and a bit hard. Rice is also not of good quality. You can easily make this dish at home.

Tinapa (PhP 110)

Tinapa with garlic rice and salted egg. Same as the tapa above, it's your typical tinapa cooked at home. Nothing fancy. The tinapa is standard grocery/palengke kind, you can't get too creative with the salted egg and the rice is also not great.

Hot Chocolate (PhP 60)

Hot chocolate made from tablea - minimally processed cacao. It's thick but can get thicker considering that tablea is used. The good point is they've been generous with milk - or that's how it tastes like. Again, nothing special.

Cranberry Juice (PhP 50)

Powdered or some form of artificially cranberry juice. It's refreshing enough, not too sweet. It's okay, nothing spectacular.

In Summary

1. The vibe of the place is awesome. You can have meetings, quiet morning reading the paper or a casual breakfast date any time of the day. WiFi is also free. There's not much place in Makati which is marketed as an all-day breakfast place. 

2. In my personal opinion, the restaurant should improve on their food to stay long in the market. The food tastes something you can quickly whip up at home. I think that's okay if you want your place to be carinderia-type. However, if you want diners to shell out, you should have something special in each dish.

3. Price is ~PhP 150/ dish. Relatively cheap for Makati. If they will improve the taste of the food, then this price point can seal the deal.

Agahan

102 Metropolitan Ave

San Antonio Village, Makati

63.2.822.5057

63.928.504.7058

Tonkatsuya: The Best Katsudon in Town

I love Japanese cuisine.

It generally tastes delicate and not too flavorful. I especially like ramen (or whatever Japanese hot noodle), it's my ultimate comfort food. I eat ramen when I am sad and I eat ramen when I am happy. 

I love Japanese TTTTHHHHIIIIISSSSS much that our default Friday night date place is Little Tokyo near Makati Cinema Square. 

I am yet to try most of the Japanese places along Pasay Road. 

Apart from noodles, katsudon is also a staple during our mini Japanese feasts.

Katsudon is a popular Japanese rice bowl topped with deep-fried pork cutlet, egg and condiments. Its name is derived from tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and donburi (rice bowl dish). 

It has become a modern ritual for Japanese students to eat katsudon before an exam because the work "katsu" is a homophone of the verb "to win".

I am especially lucky since my neighborhood Japanese restaurant serves the best katsudon in town: Tonkatsuya. The place is in an obscure condo building in San Antonio Village, Makati. 

The pork cutlet is exceptionally soft while the condiment flavor has the right sweet and salty mix. Like no other! Most restaurants either get the pork right or the condiment great. Not together. 

An order costs PhP 220. 

Bloggers have been talking about this hole in the wall restaurant, some even consider this as the best Japanese place in the metro. I am not ecstatic about the Chasue Ramen (pictured) but I go crazy with their Udon - noodles with egg. Perfect with katsudon!

The place can only sit around 30, has a carinderia feel and prices are ~ PhP 200 per dish.

I also read that the Katsu Chef (he's Japanese, btw) can cook for you for a very reasonable price. Imagine the possibilities!

In case you are interested.

Tonkatsuya

LG, Palm Tower - B,

7706 St. Paul Road

San Antonio Village

Makati

63.2.896.1990

Mon-Sun, 10AM - 9PM

Villa Cafe

Do you ever wonder why I haven't featured any Filipino restaurant? The honest reason is I am not a big fan of spending on Filipino food. Since I am Pinoy, I get to have Filipino food on a daily basis at a fraction of a restaurant meal. Second, the good Pinoy fares are cholesterol-laden and too flavorful for my taste, hence Person A has to find a good selling point to take me to a Pinoy restaurant.

In the case of Cafe Villa, Person A highlighted that it is run by one of the 2 Green chefs in the country - Chef Sau del Rosario.  Green chefs promote sustainable and locally-sourced,  organic ingredients. On top of that, he has cooked in international kitchens: Le Devellec in Paris, Raffles Hotel in Singapore, and Luna in Shanghai. He made waves locally  working the kitchens of Edsa Shangri-la, Manila Peninsula and my favorite restaurants M Cafe and Chelsea. 

So Who am I to turn down a dinner invitation at Cafe Villa?

The Place

Located in the growing foodie street, Yakal in Makati, Cafe Villa is a small place that can sit around 30 people in its ground floor space. It has a casual vibe with light-toned interior, warm lighting and homey furnishings.

The Food

Like in most restaurants, complementary bread is served once order has been placed. In this case, this fresh toast and tinapa pate.

The pate has a nice moist yet crumbly texture. The tinapa flavor makes the lightly-salted pate great with the fresh bread.

Tinapa Caper  Pasta (PhP 375)

The restaurant serves pasta dishes with Filipino sauce. This is what I fancied the night we dined.

Fettucine with garlic confit and fried tomato sauce. The pasta is al-dente, cooked to the right texture. The sauce tastes like fresh tomato, with just the right saltiness from the tinapa while the capers and olives add the occasional interesting flavor. All in all, the flavors are subtle taking away the "umay" factor. 

I recommend this. Serving size is good for one person.

Boneless Crispy Pata (PhP 495 )

Pork with farm vegetables and drizzled with kare- kare sauce.

The pork is tender, juicy and fried just right. The texture doesn't taste like it has been deep-fried in oil but it has all the goodness and more of a good crispy pata. Without the rest of the garnish, the pork can stand on its own. I do like putting a bit of the kare-kare sauce. It tastes very peanut-y bordering peanut buttery. It's good on its own. Again, it's good even without the bagoong.

The serving is huge, good for 2-3 persons. I recommend this.

Strawberyy Lassi (PhP 165)

Now onto the Indian twist. Lassi is tricky to make as it tends to get too sour. Presenting the best Lassi I've had so far. 

For those who are not familiar, Lassi is an Indian traditional drink made by blending yogurt with water and Indian spices. In this case, instead of putting in spices and roasted cumin, strawberry is added. It still has that sour taste but enhanced by the strawberry and tempered by the milky undertone. Very refreshing. 

A must try!

Watermelon Silken Tofu Smoothie (PhP 145) 

Person A ordered the previous drink, which I immensely enjoyed, I made gaya-gaya so I requested another red-colored drink.

If you love watermelon, this is a good try. The fruit dominates with the coolness of the smoothie. Not too milky.

I like the lassi more. That's just me.

Pandan Sansrival (~PhP 150)

The dessert is gotta be a fusion.

This is predominantly sansrival sans the sweet, umay taste. Add the undertone of pandan, I say this is great!

In Summary

1. Cafe Villa is one of the best Filipino fusion restaurants in Manila. All the dish we ordered tastes great if not awesome. The crispy pata and lassi are a must try. We're coming back for the lamb calderata, it wasn't available when we ordered it.

2. The place is small, but I overheard Chef Sau (he was at the restaurant when we dined) that he's expanding. It is perfect for a casual date, catching up with friends and a small family gathering.

3. Prepare to shell out at least PhP 300 per person excluding the drinks. Considering the taste and the portion size, I say it is reasonable.

Villa Cafe

7427 Glory Building

Yakal St., San Antonio Village

Makati

63.2.478.2659

Monday to Sunday, 10AM to 10PM

Va Bene Pasta Deli: Fresh Pasta Goodness

"That right by the corner place serving great and authentic Italian food" is how I'll describe Va Bene Pasta Deli. First, it is situated inside a gasoline station which is perfect for hiding a quaint restaurant. Second, it is run by an Italian Chef who once headed Mi Piace in Manila Peninsula. Third, the food is really awesome. Hence I couldn't agree more to the name of the place: Va Bene, which means"Very Good!" in English.

The Place

I read the place opened in late 2010 and selfishly, I am happy to know that it hasn't gone mainstream yet. It's always nice to have your own little secret. Since the time it was recommended to us by friends, we've tried dropping by the place numerous times but the actual dinner happened only on Valentine's Day: it's either the place was full or it was a Monday when they close the restaurant.

Va Bene is not a fancy restaurant. It's a small place with casual ambiance that can fit around 50 diners. It is dense that private conversation may be impossible; the other table will most definitely hear your discussion. Due to its proximity to an exclusive subdivision, it won't be rare to find some well-heeled crowd.

The Food

Their website proudly heralds that they're the only place in town which serves fresh pasta in all their dishes. Nothing boxed! The menu is also straightforward. A few appetizers, some main course, around 5 desserts and a short list of drinks. It's not difficult to order once you have decided what you want to eat.

Complementary bread  is served once you've placed your order. 

It comes with fresh tomato, olive oil and some herbs. 

A good replacement to the typical olive oil-balsamic vinegar dip. I like the flavors of the dip married with the crunchy texture of the tomato. 

Pasta in cream sauce (Php380)

Of course, a fresh pasta order should be made. Organic eggs tagliolini with portobello mushrooms in white cream sauce and truffle oil.

Tagliolini is the cylindrical version of tagliatelle pasta. Due to its rough texture it is great with thick sauces. The fresh pasta has indeed a distinct rough texture as compared to the boxed ones which usually glides smoothly. This is done al dente so no issues there. It is also more wheaty-tasty than your regular pasta. The sauce is awesome. I can't taste the egg but I suspect it contributes to the mild creaminess of the sauce. Also, the flavors are very subtle, mainly dominated by the mushroom and truffle oil. I recommend this.

Arbori Risotto with Rosso di Puglia Wine, Italian Sausage and Radicchio Salad (PhP 550)

When i laid my eyes on the plate I was looking for the sausage and salad but I couldn't find them. 

There were just bits and pieces on the entire rice plate. Fair enough considering I ordered risotto and not sausage. I can't remember the flavors but I do remember that the rice was done to perfection and that it was good too. 

The only issue I got with the dish is how it is presented. Parang biko lang. It can still be improved.

Strawberries A La Milena (PhP 190)

Marinated strawberries in balsamico with vanilla ice cream.

The strawberries are crispy and bigger than the Baguio variety we can buy from the supermarket. I also like the sourness of the strawberries with the balsamic vinegar. I think sugar is added to the marinade to temper the taste. Of course, vanilla ice cream completes the sour-sweet mix making this dessert great if you crave for something sweet, sour and unique. I also recommend this.

Iced Tea (PhP 190)

Brewed iced tea with fruit juice. 

I find the mix too fruity considering that I like my tea to taste like tea.

In Summary

1. With its neighborhood restaurant feel, the place is perfect for casual dining with family and friends and anyone who can enjoy good food. It can also be a date place with your special someone as long as you are not expecting for an all the way fancy experience.

2. Food is great in an authentic and non-commercial kinda way. I can say it can be my best Italian restaurant in Manila. Person A is not so sure. We both agree that we still go for Amoroma if forced to choose between the two. I can say it's worth a go.

3. Price slides to the expensive side but considering it's in Makati and the quality of the food, I can report it is competitive.

Va Bene Pasta Deli

2/F Petron Gas Station Dasmarinas Village

Pasay Road cor. EDSA, Makati

63.2.556.9442

Open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.; 6:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.

Apartment 1B Gourment Comfort Food

In every neighborhood, there's always this restaurant which offers the best comfort food. I am lucky that I reside in Makati and within 2-km radius I can name a handful of restaurants that serve the best comfort food in town: JT Manukan, Kitchen's Best, Earle's Deli, and Mr. Jones. Now, I am adding Apartment 1B to the list ... albeit the upscale kind.

Situated in Salcedo Village, a bunch of professionals, expat wives and society's who's who were in the restaurant the night we ate. Don't get intimidated, everyone was in a very relaxed mood, nakadaster pa si ateng Koreana. Oh, the bored life of expat housewives.The atmosphere in the restaurant is very relaxed. Wood and warm-lighting dominate the small space downstairs.

Artworks for sale adorn the walls and beautiful flowers accessorize the tables.

The busy kitchen greets diners upon entering the restaurant. 

It is usually packed during evenings, hence i suggest you get a reservation. A tip, it is always good to get a reservation lest you risk the chance of being turned away.

The menu is a mix of American, Italian and Filipino goodness, fits comfort food to a tee. Serving is enough for one not-so-hungry person.

Macaroni and Cheese (PhP 490)

Smoked ham, American Cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan. The pasta is nicely done, al dente. The flavors of the cheeses go well together and it's not overpowering (read: hindi nakakaumay), which is very typical for this dish. For this reason, Apartment 1B's mac 'n cheese is a winner on my list, if not on top of my list. If the restaurant doesn't mind, they can add a dash of truffle, that would be awesome.

Baby Back Ribs (PhP 630)

Honey bourbon marinade, garlic mashed potatoes, corn and vegetables. We went all-out American! The meat is soft, the marinade is good, not too sweet. I can't tell it apart from Rack's fare though. 

Raspberry Cheesecake (~ PhP 200)

The base is delicate has a nice feel to the tongue. It tastes good. Miniscule amounts of raspberry complements the cake. There's just too much whipped cream going on. I am good without it.

Cookies and Cream Milk Shake (PhP 140)

We love milk shakes with our mac 'n cheese. We will always be kids at heart. This one tastes milky over the cookie. If you like milky milk shake, then this would be your cuppa. 

In Summary 

1. Apartment 1B serves one of the best comfort foods. Each dish we had were nicely executed and presented. 

2. The ambiance is very relaxed, perfect for rolling your sleeves up after a hard day at work. A candle-lit date might be impossible but the place is perfect for a fun date. It is also good for meals with friends and families. 

3. Price slides to the expensive side but this is to be expected in Makati. Also, food is good so it's typical to pay this much for the quality of the food.

Apartment 1B

Unit 1-B, 132 L.P. Leviste cor Sedeno St.

Salcedo Village

Makati

63.2.843.4075

The Zone's JT Manukan and Happy Cream Puff

I grew up in a small provincial town where crabs and lobsters are the freshest, the lechon (roasted suckling pig) is the tastiest, and the chicken inasal is purely succulent.

One of my fond childhood memories is when my Papa buys me “ barbeque pa-a” from Nikka’s Lechon Manok. This is charcoal-grilled chicken leg that is marinated in special spiced sauce. I love it so much that 20 years later, I am on the constant look-out for the taste-of-home chicken inasal in the big city.

Despite of the chicken inasal places sprouting all over Manila, it is rare to find the authentic taste that is served in Visayas and Mindanao. That is until, I gave in to trying JT Manukan along Malugay St. in Makati. For some years, I did not try it thinking that it is the usual inasal-wanna-be place.

Boy, I was wrong.

Their chicken inasal is really good and has that taste of home. For the uninitiated, chicken inasal is a popular dish from Bacolod and all over Visayas and Mindanao (where I am from). Chicken parts (breast, legs, wings) marinated, skewered in bamboo sticks and grilled on charcoal to imbibe the smoked flavor. It has a distinct reddish-yellowish color from the achuete or annatto oil.

This is the JT pa-a inasal. At PhP 90, it is affordable. I like the pa-a since it is the tastiest part.

Most people prefer the breast part being it a larger serving. This goes well with salted egg salad and a glass of cold tea.

The place is a simple eatery, mimicking that of a provincial inasal place.

What sets this apart is the interesting framed arts on the wall. A last-supper-inspired painting.

Some movie  posters.

After you’ve washed down your inasal, we normally head to the adjacent store, which sells cream puff.

Inside this box is one of the best desserts I can recommend to anyone: pastry with cream filling.

The  pastry has the crusty, fresh taste and is well complimented by the cream filling which has a very subtle flavor. Not overpowering at all. It also has that mild flavor of vanilla. Marry all these flavors and you get one of the best desserts to a cap a meal.

At PhP 20 a piece, you can go for plain

Chocolate powder-dusted or strawberry-covered

I prefer, the plain or sugar-glazed since the dessert itself has a very subtle taste and the caramel gives the dessert a kick.

So if you are craving for a good provincial meal, capped with the neighborhood pastry shop, it is best to head to The Zone in Malugay and order a chicken inasal and happy cream puff.

JT Manukan
The Zone
Malugay, Makati
63.2.813.0106


Happy Cream Puff
The Zone
7224 Malugay Street
Bel-Air Makati
63.2.707.1263
63.2.817.4234

Kitchen’s Best Home Patisserie

We had no idea what this restaurant has to offer since this is a random stop from our let’s explore Pasong Tamo Extension afternoon.

Going inside the red and white interior gives you a quaint, homey feel. The pretty, white wooden chairs and red accents whispers "I am a nice little place for brunch". The walls are adorned with food reviews of the place and the awards it garnered.

That says a lot.

The menu is straightforward: soups, salads, appetizers, pastas, chicken fares, red meat and fish dishes , and drinks. There’s no dessert menu, you head to their display to see what’s available and the distinctions each dessert has been awarded.

Wild Mushroom (~PhP 250)

Spaghetti in white sauce with 3 types of wild mushrooms.

The cream-based sauce has the subtle taste of mushrooms. In fact, it’s close to the truffle taste. I recommend this.

40 Cloves Chicken (~PhP 300)

Slowly cooked chicken with secret herbs, olive oil and baby potatoes.

A phrase to describe this is gourmet adobo. It has tons of garlic, generous olive oil, and the chicken is very tender. It tastes great, especially with rice. This order comes with rice, by the way.

The only comment I had: the office canteen serves adobo with the same taste at PhP 40/serving. It's made with coconut oil not with olive oil.

White Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake (PhP 165)

As described here, the cheesecake base is very creamy, sliding to the sweet side. It can stand on its own.

Worth coming back for more.

Iced Latte(PhP 105)

Coffee is strong and the whipped cream topping is milky. Great with the pasta, not so much with the adobo.

In Summary:

1. Kitchen’s Best goes to my comfort food list. It’s one place you can go back to anytime. The food tastes great, the place is pretty.

2. It is great for brunch, afternoon tea, date with the special someone, catching up with friends and family gatherings. Yes, it’s first and foremost a dessert place.

3. It’s not too expensive considering that it is in Makati and most of its desserts have been awarded some distinctions.

Kitchen's Best Home Patisserie
Unit 5B, Karrivin Plaza
2316 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati
63.2.381.8518