Troy in New York: Toni Pepperoni

I have always been a fan of buffets. So when I got my first ever paycheck from school, I did not hesitate going to this Italian restaurant at 4224 Maple Road, beside the North Campus of SUNY-Buffalo.

I saw this small advertisement of Toni Pepperoni during my first week in Buffalo: all you can eat buffet for only $ 6.25. This very student-friendly price offers a large selection of over 15 different pizzas (I looove the dessert pizza!), chicken fingers, meatballs, fried dough, and garden salad. (And don't forget the soup!)

I forgot to tell about the additional tax (yeah, prices here in the United States are always before-tax): $ 0.55. But hey, for $ 6.80 I got my more than my money's worth. Like I promised the cheery owner, I am definitely going back. You should go too, when you visit the Queen City of the Great Lakes.

Visit their websites at:
Amherst/Buffalo branch: http://www.toni-pepperoni.com/
Lockport/West Seneca branch: http://www.tonipepperoni.com/

Therese in Taiwan: Skylark California Steak and Grill 加州風洋食館

When one of our uncles came to Taiwan for a short vacation, some of my cousins and I took the opportunity to try out new restaurants. One of the places we went to is Skylark California Steak & Grill 加州風洋食館.

For dinner, you can choose to upgrade an a la carte order to a set meal by adding 110 NTD (~165PhP). You get soup, bread, and a drink with that. You can also add another 50 NTD (~75PhP) for dessert.

鮮菇培根炒時蔬 Sauteed Green Vegetable with Porcini Soy Sauce and Mushroom

Different types of bread

百香芒果氣泡飲料 Passionfruit and Mango Lemonade

蛤肉巧達湯 Clam Chowder

香辣咖哩海鮮炒飯 Seafood Pilaf Curry Flavor | 180 NTD (~270PhP)

日式咖哩牛肉焗飯 Curry Doria | 190 NTD

雞肉焗飯 Chicken Doria | 150 NTD (~225PhP)

莫札瑞拉漢堡排 Hamburg Steak with Mozzarella Cheese

紐約起士蛋糕 New York Cheese Cake

You can check out their website here.

Therese in Taiwan: Dazzling Café

Have you ever heard of honey toast? A better question is, have you ever eaten honey toast? If you haven't, head on over to Dazzling Café and order one!

One of my classmates posted a picture of her eating honey toast, and because it looked really good, I invited my cousins to eat out with me. The good thing about Dazzling Café is that they accept reservations (although you might have to wait a couple of months before your turn), and when you fall in line, you can leave your number, walk around, and they will call you up when it's your turn to go inside. There are some restaurants here in Taipei that don't do that. I'll blog about such restaurant next time. Each table has an allotted time of 90 minutes inside the restaurant. The servers tell you when your time is almost up, and then you have to leave after that.

 

We went to Dazzling Café Mint in Zhongxiao East Road (忠孝東路), and we had to wait around an hour maybe before we were seated. We passed the time in Uniqlo!

Smoked Chicken and Mushroom Panini

Strawberry Lover Honey Toast 就愛草莓蜜糖吐司 | 250 NTD (~375PhP)

How the inside looks like

Banana Chocolate Honey Toast 香蕉巧克力蜜糖吐司 | 220 NTD (~330PhP)

How the inside looks like

Mentaiko Spaghetti with Cream Sauce 明太子義大利麵 | 260 NTD (~390PhP)

We were really satisfied with our orders because they were delicious, and we could share them with each other. I must admit that the prices are a bit on the expensive side, especially for students like us. It's worth trying at least once though!

You can check them out here.

Chocolate Mochi is Back at the Soul Shop

Chocolate Mochi is Back at the Soul Shop
by Nicole


Want mochi? I've just got the perfect mochi balls you'll love for sure!!! P-R-O-M-I-S-E!

Soul Shop's Chocolate Mochi Balls
Php 25.00 each

These are the chocolate mochi balls sold only at one of my favourite places, the Soul Shop. The pictures are no lies; they are huge (way bigger than the mochis I've seen at the malls and, not to mention, cheaper!). Each mochi ball has dark chocolate inside and it's covered with chocolate truffles. These are not fried but only chilled. The taste is suuuuper yummy - really, really, REALLY GOOD!

Last summer, these mochis also took a vacation so I'm just sooo happy, sooo stoked to have them back! I waited for them all summer! When I learned they're back, I went to Soul Shop the following day and right before I said anything, the lady asked me, "mochi?" Oh the joy!!! Welcome back mochi balls!

UPDATE (November 2012):

Soul Shop's mochi balls now have faces! :D There are now coconut covered mochis too - still at Php 25.00 each! Call 352-1207 or 374-4811 before going to the shop because these mochis are easily sold out. TRUST ME!

Still the best tasting mochi!

Soul Shop

Crossroad 77 Bldg. #77 Mother Ignacia Avenue Corner Scout Reyes St. 

Brgy Paligsahan, 1100 Quezon City

(+632) 352-1207 / 374-4811

Visit Soul Shop's Facebook for their menu and how to find them. Click here