The Old World Revisited

Amidst all the hype and hullabaloo attached to the festive and high-spirited reputation Malate is known for, you will find right smack within it's center an intimate, fine-dining bistro that proudly stands as one of Manila's  foremost landmarks in the area. Serving satisfied clients since 1979, Cafe Adriatico is slightly reminiscent still of the warm and historic old  Manila abode it once used to be. 

                                               photo courtesy of m.spot.ph

Though I would love to frequent this cozy charcuterie in Remedios Circle, I couldn't due to it's location which is far from where I stay. I'd grab any chance I could, though, to go and just as promised, I so did when I got an invite from a friend to do an errand with her in Malate.

Making a rundown of the menu and with such a sensitive diet, I immediately went for the healthiest choices they had and that was their pita bread and hummus with a siding of gherkin-shallot-olive appetizer and my favorite, Caesar salad.

The delicately roasted pita bread was cut into two and served with a hefty ladle of hummus. Sprinkled with chickpeas, it came drizzled with olive oil and had a salty black olive as an attractive centerpiece.

The gherkin-shallot-olive appetizer was a blast on the palate. Soaked in what I think is vinegar and olive juice (something I'm not quite sure of), it was definitely tangy with a hint of salt, making it the perfect partner to the mild and creamy hummus and pita bread combo. 

I know this should've gone first but since it was the one I was really pining for, I ate the Caesar salad last. Very lightly dressed, it came with crouton cubes peeking through it's leafy mix. It also had a sprinkle of minced bacon that crowned this tasty delight. I had to, however, ever so gingerly pick out little bits of this succulent fried to a crisp pork belly strips for me to fully take on this fresh and crunchy plateful of healthy greens.

Their menu boasts of an wide array of authentic cuisine. Bestsellers include Lola Ising's Adobo Rice, Squid Tactics, Suman with Latik (well, a bestseller for me at least) and their famous Tsokolate Eh concocted with the use of a batirol, a small pot with a stirring rod that you rotate using your palms. It is used to make hearty chocolate drinks.

                                          photo courtesy of www.circuitmag.com

All in all, it was a dinner worth the travel. Good food coupled with a laid back yet classy ambiance that bridges the old world to the new is an experience everyone should, at one time, seek to indulge in if only to submerge oneself in a historical rendezvous with culture while enjoying superb Spanish-Mediterranean cuisine.

Sometimes, you need to go the distance for a feast that can fill the senses. 
Cafe Adriatico is one restaurant capable of just that. With it's relaxing, comfortable setting and delectable dishes that promise satisfaction to the hungry and curious passerby, it certainly is worth all the effort.

Max's Minus The Chicken

I'm currently on leave yet again (!) for a few days because of a temperamental back and a swollen foot that I need to rest so as per doctor's advice, I had to stay home and stay off my feet for now. My friend had graciously invited me to stay with her for a while a month ago which actually is to my advantage, so I am without company while battling my uncomfortable dilemma. Nights ago, we lost the lights to a power problem within the area. Being extremely warm, we decided on eating out.

Our pick for the night was Max's Fried Chicken and since we were both doing the healthy route, we scoured the menu for something we could stuff ourselves with and enjoy without feeling like we've sinned. We went for Max's Tinapa Fried Rice and Seafood/Veggie Lumpia that were both culinary masterpieces bursting with bright colors as well as flavors. 

The Tinapa Rice was a surefire winner.

That, in itself was one whole meal, considering it's serving proved to be humongous enough to satisfy more than two. Fried to brown delectable perfection, it had a merry mix of rough chopped tomatoes, onions, spring onions and water spinach or kang kong in it's more common name here in the Philippines. Served in a huge plate that could fill up four hungry people, it came with a generous peppering of lip-smacking and wonderfully salted tinapa flakes. Adding texture as well as heightened flavor, the tinapa sealed the score to this carbo fave crave. 

The Seafood/Veggie Lumpia was a delight to have. 

Partnered with brown peanut sauce that was a flawless mix of the salty and sweet and topped with  chopped garlic, it came openly served in a crunchy edible bowl. Completing it's artistic presentation was the hodge podge of colorful veggies that crowned this gorgeous culinary work of art, satisfying not only your sense of taste but your sense of sight as well. A totally filling and gratifying experience.

Max's  Fried Chicken is a restaurant well-known for its chicken, as made obvious by their name. But it certainly is good to know that they also cater to a population whose diets are sensitive and limited. Most dining places nowadays are. All that needs to be done is to know your diet and make a patient preview of their menus for dishes you can enjoy guiltlessly. It is, after all, really part of the adventure and my ultimate aim, as I go on exciting food trips to uncover good and healthy food finds. : )

Superb Sandwich and Salad Servings

Me-times are just about the most enjoyable indulgence I could ever grant myself and this is what I really look forward to during the weekends. Though it comes in different forms, my most favorite are the ones that would involve me outside on the streets aboard a bus to wherever. I like the adventure of not knowing where I'm actually heading deciding last minute where to get off and then starting my discovering from there. In the context of discovering, I always get giddy on the idea of exciting food trips to uncover great food finds. This particular me-time, though, saw me closer to home. The weather was a bitch again so I opted for the most convenient jaunt. A trip to the nearest shopping haunt.

Malls do have a lot of food stops to offer. But  what really floats my boat are the small, itty-bitty joints I happen to come across that are huge in ideas, servings and most of all, flavor. This me-time led me to an experience I found surprisingly pleasing not only because of the warm and efficient service I was given, but because of how their simple food concept was creatively presented, fulfilling you not only aesthetically but gastronomically as well. Say hello to The Sandwich Guy.

I found this tiny, intimate dining dive at the first floor of Robinson's Galleria amidst all the tech shops and clothing stalls. Though it was right smack in the middle of it all, I nearly missed it because of how oddly it was placed, passing it twice before actually seeing it. Since I haven't had lunch yet at 4 pm, I decided on something light like a sandwich or salad  or both in case I decide to fill in at night and The Sandwich Guy seemed like a great idea to me for my required serving but was I totally wrong about it. Checking their menu, I saw that they had a little bit of everything from sandwiches, which was their main feature, obviously, hence their name, to pasta, salads, desserts and even potato dishes. 

 Since I couldn't have any other meat but fish and since I was heavy into veggies, I decided to go for their version of Caesar's Salad and the Country Tuna sandwich. This is what I got:

A neatly wrapped sandwich in brown paper that opened up to

a humongous treat. Hexagonal in shape, their huge wheat bread sandwich was literally oozing with sinful goodness comprised of tuna, tomato and potato bathed in their lemon aoili dressing on a bed of lettuce. It proved overwhelming to me at first glance, what with all the dressing, but what's good about their restaurant is you could customize your sandwich by asking them to lessen or remove whatever ingredient you didn't see fit for your diet. In my case, it was their rich dressing. But of course, a snap of it's actual serving had to be done and this is how it is normally served.

It tasted whoppingly good because everything went together excellently. There was a bit of every flavor and texture: sweetness from the tomato, slight saltiness from the tuna, a little of tang from the dressing and the velvety feel of soft potato. A definite bite of delight.

The salad was a wonderful mix of romaine lettuce, tuna, tomatoes and cucumber presented topped with squares of melted cheese that, in my case, I had to do without, and served with, as per my request, a little of their very own special salad dressing that complemented well with the juicy crunch of their fresh vegetables. A mouthful of this healthy edible garden promises a party for the palate one will find definitely hard to resist. Having had this meal left me full and happily satisfied.

I placed an order for their Veggie Delight to be taken out but forgot to take a pic of it since it was devoured the minute I got home so you could check the menu for details on it. But I do have to say, it's perfect for vegetarians because it only holds lettuce, tomato, cucumber and cheese with a light brush of their very own dressing. Mine without the cheese still proved very filling and really is the perfect close to a busy day, with it being light and healthy.

Nowadays, in looking for food stops, you not only take note of what kind of food they serve. You also take notice of how it is served and what new innovations are added to make what we are traditionally used to look more interesting, both in sight and in taste. The Sandwich Guy has definitely revolutionized what we normally pass off as just a filler to tide you over to lunch or dinner. Now your once simple, ordinary sandwich isn't as simple and ordinary anymore. It can also pack you up good just as well as your typical everyday meal can. It's good to have options and this is one for the list of even the most ravenous of eaters, hands down guaranteed.

Homemade Veggie Goodness: My Ultimate Comfort Food

The weather outside is dark and overcast again, sign of impending rain and we all know better than to stay indoors and keep safe. So, what's a girl to do when she's given only the limited corners of a two-story condo unit to play in? Well, there really is a hundred and one you can come up with but in my case, I knew just the thing. Opening up the fridge and doing a double on my pantry, I check to see what I can find to come up with the  perfect partner that would compliment a good DVD. Lucky for me, I stock up well, compliments right there to my mom who taught me to always save for a rainy day, excuse the pun. Here's what I found and finally came up with: 

Pretty obvious now, isn't it? Yes, spaghetti is my ultimate comfort food. Just thinking about a plateful of this yummy slightly sweet, slightly tangy goodness brings a smile to my face. So I have the basics. But it needs a little more. Being part vegetarian, though, I realize I can't have meat. So, what do I pull out? This handy replacement that may not be as tasty as our farm-bred friends, but is a very good stand-in for what we may know to be as just veggies. 

I got this pack from monks I met in the past. They make these special veggie meat products to sustain their diet of pure vegetable and fruit and recently have introduced it to a very limited market. I was lucky enough to be one of the few to get some home. These tasty meat substitutes are bought already flavored so you get more than just vegetables in a bag. Saute them with a main dish or make them the star of your veggie creation. The possibilities are limitless. I made them the meat in my delectable treat

and I just can't wait to get it in my mouth.

Veggie meat isn't as scarce as it used to be. In fact, it can already be found in different specialty stores around the metro. Not only does it provide a healthy alternative to meat, it also discards that feeling of guilt whenever you take an extra bite or two of your favorite culinary work.

It's a weekend and rainy days may prove to be a party pooper but think about the party you can create if you will only look within your space. There's a downpour now outside and I'm sitting in front of the TV with a plateful of scrumptious meat-free spaghetti and  a bottle of iced tea on the side. Now who needs a party elsewhere? Definitely not me. Yum!

One Green Cafe

It was quite the day last Saturday as I was up and about earlier than I always am during weekends. After my successful meeting late in the afternoon, I decided to go to the mall and walk around a bit. Then as fate would have it, it started to rain again so to while the time away, I decided on early dinner. Comfortably located within the boundaries of the Sports Loop at the third floor of the Galleria was a little nook of a restaurant that catered to serving vegetarian cuisine. Called Cafeteria Verde, I immediately checked their menu and was surprised at the wide array of mouthwatering veggie dishes they had.

I was in the mood for Italian that night so the first thing that I excitedly took on was their Tomato-Garlic Spaghetti. Cooked using olive oil, its delightfully sweet and mildly tangy sauce is literally comprised only of tomatoes and  garlic. Served mixed in with the pasta noodles, it offers that slight garlic crunch with a sprinkle of fresh parsley on top that makes for the perfect finishing touch. I must say, for a dish with no meat in it, it was absurdly delicious.

My second palatable pick was one I really shouldn't have ordered because cheese is a no-no in my diet and I completely missed out on noticing it as I was so taken by it's description that said "roasted vegetables or margherita flavors atop crispy baguettes". It's a good thing the cheese was easy to peel off so I still got to partake of this healthy hearty half-wich. Called French Bread Pizza, its crunchy French baguette had a luscious slathering of tomato sauce and toppings that called for diced roasted eggplant, zucchini, carrots and tomatoes with a generous smothering of cabbage chiffonade. Its size was a filler in itself  and to have all the wonderful fresh garnish to complete this tasty number, I'd say you're in for the total treat.

 

 

Cafeteria Verde has a lot to offer the hungry vegetarian. I'm just sorry I was without company when I dropped by their neat little restaurant to sample their culinary creations. Theirs is a full roster of savory selections that not only leaves you full but guilt-free as well. All meals are served with their fruit slush of the day and prices, though a tad higher, are still at that range deemed affordable for all to enjoy. Hence, you get complete gastronomic satisfaction without any compromise to your health. 

Admittedly, vegetables are now getting into the heat of things. And though meat may still be the main choice of the vast majority, the veggie loop is most certainly inching its way to being it's toughest competitor. It's a close fight.

Rockin' Alternatives

I know they look like moon rocks. But trust me, they are as edible as the food inside  your fridge.

These unfriendly-looking things are actually one of the friendliest you can ever get into your body. These are balls of veggie meat and this is what they look like when they're raw. They were an unpopular household substitute for meat back in the '70s but have made a major comeback over the past years, offering more veggie meat variants to cater to even the most discerning taste bud.  Made from either soy or wheat gluten, these often misunderstood healthy replacements are, in fact, packed with high levels of protein, iron and calcium. They come in airtight bags and cost all of 70 bucks, a massive cutback from your regular meat budget. Soak them in tap water for around 20 minutes and use as an alternative to meat in whatever you wish to cook. I must say, though, for me, they taste especially great when used in tomato-based dishes like the Pochero and Kaldereta versions of veggie meat below.

Now this is my favorite. At first glance, would you really think this isn't meat?  

I wouldn't think so. Veggie meat in one of it's more pleasing forms, the Citrus Spareribs, I'd say, hits closest to home in the league of major meat fake-outs, appearance-wise and taste-wise, as compared to the rest of the other variants and there really are a lot to choose from. Slightly sweet with a hint of heat, it allows for easy labor and clean-up as well. All that needs to be done is to steam it together with your rice and you're set. No muss, no fuss. Now, if you're not one to slave over a hot stove to make an actual meal out of the raw veggie meat or steaming the pre-prepped sort just seems kind of a hassle, doing the rounds of mall food courts would be your next best option.The store to go to for all your veggie meat needs is Bodhi so you might want to just traipse over to their so many fastfood outlets and give them a whirl.

A lot can be said about this mean mock meat ball. And it may not really be for all. Many say they can still taste it's obvious difference from the real deal. But looking past all that, we all have to admit that veggie meat offers a fresh alternative and limitless options to the once limited list of vegetarian choices. I'm happy with that. 

  

**A FRIENDLY REMINDER: Veggie meat, though proven healthy for the body, is made up of either soy or wheat gluten, and people who are allergic to  these components might get a reaction upon ingestion. Please find out first if these are your kinds of allergens. It still, after all, is better to be safe than sorry.  

A New Beginning

                    "Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like    
                                     and let the food fight it out inside."

And Mark Twain couldn't have said it better. It goes without saying that no matter where you are, food will always be around to nourish as well as to comfort, and admittedly, I am a great lover of food. I'm not a picky eater primarily because my mother was a very good cook so I was okay with anything and everything she'd put on the table, except vegetables. I was a carnivore. That's why when I first got the news that I had to lay off meat because of the growing problem with my heart and basically my health, I felt like going on a fit. Don't ask what I couldn't have but what I could because my diet was limited to only three things: fish, fruit and dreadful, tasteless veggies. Everything else had to be low fat. Highly enraged with my sudden limitations, I vented out on a good friend for comfort and what I got was a boink in the head as he reminded me of the so many options available now to replace meat with. All he says I had to do was to open my eyes and actually see, for the only one limiting myself is really me. In all fairness, he's right. So 10,000 rants and over a year later, I now realize there really is a lot to veggie rave about. 

                 This is an almost all-vegetable blog with a dash of seafood goodness  all served on 

A Fresh New Plate.