Therese in Taiwan: Macho Tacos 瑪丘墨式餅舖

In a previous post, I mentioned this Mexican restaurant called Macho Tacos that is also located around the Shida district. I've eaten here twice, once during my birthday (last December), and another last May!

There aren't a lot of Mexican restaurants around Taipei, so coming here to satisfy our Mexican food cravings is perfect! It's also near our place, so that's a plus!

Chicken Bowl 160NT (~232PhP)

Pork Nachos 215NT (~312PhP)

Quesadillas 165NT (~240PhP)

Burritos

Pork Burritos 140NT (~203PhP)

You can check out their website and their Facebook page for more information.

Modern Cookbook: Yummy Filipino Recipes iPad App

Marielle Ebao

I enjoy watching cooking shows and occasionally browsing through recipe books to find dishes I can try out for myself. I look for ones that are easy to prepare, since I am usually a disaster at the kitchen. The problem is, once I see something I'd like to try, most ingredients cannot be bought locally, or are too expensive for everyday meals. Luckily, Summit Media recently released its first ever iPad app, which contains Filipino recipes with easy-to-follow steps and uses ingredients that can be found in local grocery stores. 

This is a screenshot of the app's home page. The app takes after the vibrant Yummy magazine color scheme and engaging layout, only now, made easily accessible to techie Filipino food lovers whenever, wherever. 

Even the not-so-techie moms/dads can enjoy this app, because it's so easy to use, it even comes with a "How to Use this App" feature and handy navigation bars.

Recipes are grouped under these categories: Salads and Vegetables, Noodles and Rice, Fish and Seafood, Meat, Poultry, and Desserts and Sweet Snacks. Just choose a category, put on your apron, and raid your kitchen! 

I'm tempted to share screenshots of the actual recipes, because they all look so good! I'll let you find out for yourselves, though. So go ahead and download this app which retails at $3.99, by going to this App Store link: http://bit.ly/MzrLtv. Enjoy!

Thanks to the Summit Media team, especially to their Media Relations Associate, Ms. Charlotte Catapang, for introducing us to this app! :) 

Do leave your comments about the app here, and maybe share your favorite recipes! 

Therese in Taiwan: Rabbit Rabbit 兔子兔子

My cousins and I love going to Shida night market because we like how despite it being not too tourist-y, there's still a wide variety of yummy food, and the clothes are pretty (and there's a good mix of expensive and inexpensive ones) too!

One night, before heading to the night market, we wanted to have a sit-down dinner. I wanted to try Rabbit Rabbit because they serve Eggs Benedict and that was on my to-eat list. The restaurant is located across Macho Tacos (more on that in another post), around the Shida district.

Here are pictures of the food we ordered:

Eggs Benedict 班尼迪克蛋 (220 NTD || ~319 PhP)

Beef Eggs Benedict 匈牙利牛肉 班尼迪克蛋 (250 NTD || ~362.50 PhP)

BBQ Bacon Cheese Burger BBQ憂威夷起司碳培堡 (250 NTD || ~362.50 PhP)

Peanut Butter Burger 吉米愛吃漢堡堡 (240 NTD || 348 PhP)

Tornado Beef Burger 龍捲風牛肉起司堡 (250 NTD || ~362.50 PhP)

Yes, they're a bit expensive (in my opinion) but they were all delicious, and the big servings make up for it, I guess. We weren't able to bring cameras (because we thought that the other person would bring one, haha) so these are all pictures from my cousin's phone.

Address: 蒲城街4號 (No. 4 Pucheng St. Shida)
Operating hours: 11AM-10PM
Telephone number: 02-2368-2338

You can also check out their website and their Facebook page for more information.

Update: This branch has closed down operations starting today. :( This is so sad! There had been an ongoing "argument" between the residents of the area and the businesses operating there, so... yeah. You can check out their other branches!

Happiness In Cupcakes (H.I.C.)

Yesterday, I received a sweet surprise! Guess what this box contained.



This box was sent to Manila Foodistas by Meg from Happiness In Cupcakes. Happiness in Cupcakes, or fondly known as HIC, is a home baking venture selling cupcakes that are infused with alcohol. Yes, you heard it right!





It was the first time I saw a cupcake with a bacon topping! (Above)

Their cupcakes are available as either alcoholic or virgin. The former contains hints of alcohol like Cerveza Negra, Kahlua, Cuervo, etc, while the latter has no alcohol at all. It's funny how they have disclaimers that don't usually come with your ordinary cupcake box: "We don't sell alcoholic cupcakes to minors." & "Lightheadedness is a popular experience."


Here you go! In the box were 6 tasty-looking, unique cupcakes. Flavors are: The Elvis, Mojito, Car Bombs, Food For The Gods, Red Hot Choco Peppers and Margarita.




I got to share it with my friends, and they liked Red Hot Choco Peppers the most. It was spicy and chocolatey, a twist to your usual cupcake experience.



My favorite however, was Food For The Gods, which had a distinct walnut and caramel taste.



And yeah, here is The Elvis! It's peanut butter banana bacon-flavored goodness with bacon topping!



What's special about these cupcakes (besides the alcohol) is that their icing or cream are really delicious.

To order, you can contact them at 09175362770. Like their page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Happiness.In.Cupcakes.


One dozen's order is P650. 3 days lead time for orders!

Many thanks HIC!

Danne

Tiffy: Picnic at Odaiba

Remember back in August 2009 when Gundam was in Odaiba, an artificial island in Tokyo Bay? 

Back then, my friends and I were pretty lucky to be able to see it before they took it down. But guess what? They put it back up again, this time in DiverCity Tokyo, a new shopping mall. 

The rainbow bridge looks amazing.

I went back to Odaiba this time with my new friends--schoolmates from the University of Tokyo. This time, however, we didn't get to see the Gundam. 

Spot the lady in the wedding kimono under the replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Coca Cola Store at Aqua City Odaiba

I was supposed to buy something for Bong but didn't know which one and I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to give it to him anyway this year! Sorry buddy. 

 

We also saw this street performer who would change his position if you changed the position of the doll in front of him. My friend was mischievous and he made both of the doll's legs extend out in front of it. No worries--I put it back in a comfy position before we left. And one of my friends left some change for him. He gave us a thumbs up when we left. 

The beach in Odaiba

We then bought some food from the convenience store--cheapskates that we are

And had a picnic in a hill with an awesome view of the beach

Papa John's Pizza

Papa John's
by Nicole


Hungry for pizza? Head over to the nearest Papa John's! Hands down, the pizza here is definitely BETTER!

We all know that pizza is junk food but here in Papa John's, their pizzas are certainly not junk (unless of course you eat too much and you don't exercise to turn all the carbs you ate into energy instead of storing them into fat). Papa John's pizzas are first of all not oily (standing ovation y'all :D) and the dough is perfect - chewy, not over or under baked, and not bland. Papa John's boasts of serving only "fresh, never frozen, original dough" which, in my opinion, is evident in the taste and the texture of it.

Every time my folks and I go here, we always have this salad. In my family, we always see to it as much as possible to eat something raw before devouring anything cooked because raw food is great for digestion compared to cooked food for heat destroys the enzymes in the food. Enzymes are necessary for digestion and you get enzymes on raw food. Anyway, going back to the salad, I like this because the veggies are fresh-tasting.

Chef's Salad

For starters, I highly recommend these cheese sticks! They call them cheese sticks but they don't look like sticks, right? Anyhow that is not important because these, THESE ARE DELICIOUS!!! If there's one junk food that I could only eat for the rest of my life, these would be my number one pick. Make sure you don't leave Papa John's without trying these cheese sticks. They are served with two kinds of sauces - one butter and some tomato sauce.

Cheese Sticks
Php 99.00

Before we go the the pizza, let's explore a little bit on Papa John's pastas. First we have the seafood marinara. Just by looking at the photo, you know that it's real seafood. I mean, there are some restaurants where on their menu it says "seafood" but when they serve you the food, you only get two/three pieces of shrimp, a tiny slice of squid and that's it. I'm just happy that this pasta does not disappoint. I like the sauce of this pasta too - just right for my taste.

Seafood Marinara
Php 190.00

This carbonara is my ever-picky sister's favourite. She ate it all! That sister of mine is so picky with food she should be in the Guinness World Book of Records so if she's able to finish a plate of food, then that food sure is good. Trust me on that.

Seafood Carbonara
Php 180.00

Now let's get down to business. Presenting the pizzas! Each pizza comes in different sizes. They have the 6" (4 slices), 9" (6 slices), 12" (8 slices), and 14" (10 slices).

Pepperoni pizza comes first. This never misses our table.

Papa John's Pepperoni
Jr. Papa (Php 160), 9" (Php 315), 12" (Php 450), 14" (Php 555)

I'm not sure if you've already noticed but that day, it was seafood overload for us ha ha! Not complaining though because all of the food was good! I've never eaten a seafood pizza filled with much seafood as this in any other place. Thumbs up to Papa John's!

Papa John's call their seafood pizza "Fisherman's catch." This pizza indeed has plump shrimps and calamari, green peppers, and onions. It is served with garlic sauce too but I wasn't able to try that on this pizza.

Fisherman's Catch
9" (Php 315), 12" (Php 450), 14" (Php 555)

This is the most unforgettable pizza I've eaten from Papa John's so far. They call this "Super Papa" and their menu says this is the ultimate combination of tasty toppings - pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and black olives. Pepperoni is my number 1 favourite pizza but this Super Papa, super beats pepperoni! Super Papa is super GOOD. I love the taste - the flavours go so well together, it has a hint of sweetness in it because of the onions, then a strong flavour from the Italian sausage and olives, the cheese and the tomato sauce are wow and the dough is perfect!

Papa John's Super Papa
9" (Php 340), 12" (Php 475), 14" (Php 580)

With all that I ate that day, I told myself I'd never eat pizza ever again but then again, I already said that a couple of times before. Hence, I guess I'll never give up on you, pizza! By the way, if you can't get enough of Papa John's pizza, you may want to take advantage of their UNLI PIZZA every Tuesdays, from 6PM to 9PM for only Php 199! Promo runs until 24 July 2012.  Go, go, go! Careful with the carbs though.

Papa John's Philippines:

1. Robinsons Galleria Veranda (631 8689/ 736 0570)

2. University Mall Taft Ave (536 5434 / 536 4612)
3. Greenhills (721 9676 / 722 2612)
4. SM Megamall (634 0966 / 637 5299)
5. Brick Road, Sta Lucia (645 7272 / 681 4147)
6. Tomas Morato (921 7272 / 921 7590)
7. BF Homes, Pque (519 7272 / 478 1171)
8. SM Fairview (921 7764 / 921 8423)
9. SM North EDSA (921 8263 / 921 8321)
10. Arnaiz Ave (887 7272 / 822 5272)
11. Greenbelt 3 (919 4925 / 919 4926)
12. Jupiter, Makati (890 7272 / 836 2096)
13. Waltermart Sucat (801 7272 / 801 6615)