Hubby and I had lunch at John and Yoko at Greenbelt 5. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this restaurant so we decided to give it a whirl.
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I don’t know how I ended up eating in two unassuming restaurants last week, but I’m very glad anyway that I did.

The Outback Café in DOT-accredited Swagman RPL Hotel Manila should be one of the best and most authentic Australian cuisine specialty restaurants in town. It’s not first-class at all. Located on A. Flores Street at Ermita, the place feels rather like a pub in a foreign country. Very cozy. Subtle lighting. Great location. When I went there, I saw a nice little poster of Steve Irwin (who must be a hero in his country), a huge crocodile replica beside the versatile bar, two big-screen TVs playing The Australian Open, and a two-member band playing the requests of a thick, expat-filled crowd. There’s also free Wi-Fi Internet access for those who have to send E-mails while knifing away at the fabulous steaks.
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My family and I were looking for a no-fuss eating place when we got to Serendra yesterday. We weren’t in the mood for formality — we just wanted to enjoy being together and be able to laugh heartily over a spread of good food. When we spotted The Polu Kai Grill, we knew it would be the perfect place for our family lunch.

It’s a Hawaiian-themed restaurant, so don’t be surprised when you’re greeted with Aloha’s and huge tiki figures here and there. Our sights set on an aquarium in the middle of the room which kids were gravitating to — there were little happy shouts of “Dory!” and “Nemo!” as they pointed at the fish. We were led to the center of the restaurant. I have to admit I was a bit surprised that it didn’t look as roomy as I expected it to be. But that wasn’t a problem. From the doorway, the tables look cramped. But when seated, there was enough leg room and enough space to push your chair out of the table without having to knock over a neighboring diner. Good layout!

The food was very interesting; I’ve never really had Hawaiian food. Upon hearing the waiter’s recommendations, we had the following:
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My hubby and I found ourselves near the former Magnolia House last weekend. Feeling sentimental, we made our way towards the ice cream house which is now called The Nestle Creamery.

I remember sitting in huge dark green seats as a kid. I remember ordering strawberry ice cream, and that the scoops would be decorated like a clown! The cone would be the clown hat, candies would make up its eyes and mouth.
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I finally got to go to the much talked-about TriNoma mall in Quezon City. Getting there was a breeze… but maybe it was because we were there very early! I’ve seen the traffic around the mall get really bad on weekend afternoons. Last Monday, June 11, we made sure we were in the mall’s area by the time it opened.

The way to the parking lot was a bit confusing. If you’re coming from the south, keep going straight past Quezon Ave. until you see “Central Mall.” Turn right after that and you will be led to the TriNoma parking. There were a lot of guards when we arrived who helped in navigating. That was really helpful!

More pictures and stories after the jump.
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1. Try a green tea dessert from Kozui as reviewed by Dessert Comes First. Check it out at Tomas Morato corner Scout Fernandez in QC.
2. Forget about your diet for a while and try this hearty Sisig from Razon’s as reviewed by our very own Toni.
3. Eat a hearty lunch of Paella Velanciana from Mom & Tina’s Bakery Cafe across SM Pasig Hypermart along E. Rodrigues/C5 Extension (not that far from Eastwood?). Watch out for our complete review soon!
4. Try the ultimate Filipino soup, sinigang na bangus at wherelse but Bangus Republic in Greenhills. Check out Clickthecity.com for complete branch listing.
5. Treat your dad out to Spirals in Sofitel Philippine Plaza and try out the uber good lamb chops from the very long buffet. This place is not cheap but hey you only treat your dad once in a while?

If you happen to be in Bindondo, do visit one of the longest-standing and most delicious food haunts there: Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant. Upon entering the cozy food dive, go up to the counter and check out the different dishes spread out for you, or ask the staff for recommendations. Here are some of my favorite dishes that can help you get started:

Fried Chicken. Oh so yummy. Very flavorful and a sure hit with the family.
Oyster Cake. Delicious with catsup and a little bit of Knorr seasoning.
Kyampong. I’m not sure of the spelling — this is a rice that is stickier than white rice and served with peanuts.
Sauteed Spinach. Hopefully it satisfies even the pickiest veggie eater.
House Tea. But of course! Drink their hot tea to wash down all that delicious food.

It’s a great place to have lunch with family and friends. The atmosphere is casual and friendly. A trip to Chinatown isn’t complete without a warm filling meal from Sincerity.

Sincerity can be located at:
497 E.T. Yuchengo St. (formerly Nueva St.)
Binondo, Manila

Recipes is one of my favorite restaurants. They serve delicious Asian fusion dishes… I’ll keep this entry short and simple. What I like about Recipes: Spicy Squid Appetizer with sweet chili sauce. Dinuguan. Gising gising (or as the waiter called it, “Wake up Wake up”). Calamansi shake. Crispy Tilapia. Kare-kare. Click the picture to enlarge. I have more reasons by the way. Bistek Tagalog. Crispy Tadyang. Chicharong Bulaklak. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices. Have I said Gising Gising yet?

Recipes can be located at:
- Greenbelt 3, Makati
- Megastrip A SM Megamall
- Corte delas Palmas, Alabang Town Center
- Citywalk 2, Eastwood City

i got an email from a friend just today. it’s a warning when you are planning to take a cab in makati. i think it is better that we are aware of these incidents.

please read after the jump….
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Inside the maze of toy and clothes stores on the 3rd level of Shoppesville Arcade one can find several food kiosks. My favorite food place is a home-style eatery the tenants fondly call Manang’s. That is not the store’s actual name but almost everyone has christened it Manang’s.

Manang’s is a family-run business. Manong, the head of the family, cooks the dishes at home. His two eldest children, both young men, help him prepare the day’s menu. They cook a wide variety of viands for that day’s feast. Manang is not a cook but does make a great fruit salad and helps in packaging the food. They usually arrive at their food kiosk at 12 noon. It’s fun seeing them arrive! It’s a family production number. The sons come in carrying huge cauldrons of soup, a bag full of individually-packed viands and rice, then the parents Manang and Manong come after. They immediately set out plates, utensils and napkins for their eager customers.
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