Tiffy in Nagoya: Unagi Hasshou うなぎ八勝

Tiffy in Nagoya: Unagi Hasshou うなぎ八勝

There's so much I haven't written yet (Nigeria, more of Korea, yadiyadiya) but I just want to share my favorite local food in Nagoya: hitsumabushi ひつまぶし

今までまだブログしていないことが沢山あるけど（ナイジェリア、韓国の旅行など）、一番好きな名古屋名物のひつまぶしを紹介したいと思います。

tororo hitsumabushi ・とろろひつまぶし・ PHP 1414・ JPY 3200 

It's basically fried eel. Fried so that it's just the right amount of crunchy. I wasn't able to take a picture of the whole tray because it was HUGE but it comes with broth and some seasonings (wasabi, seaweed, spring onions). I ordered the one that comes with tororo (for an extra 400 yen) because I love the taste and texture of sticky gooey yam.

I didn't know how to eat it at first so I just watched my boyfriend eating it first. It's really up to you how you want to eat it but if you want to maximize the whole experience, here's my guide to eating hitsumabushi:

1. Use the smaller bowl (not shown in the photo) and put a portion of unagi and rice from the bigger bowl. Eat it as it is to have a taste of the original flavor
2. Get another portion and put in whatever seasonings you want in. On my next serving, I put in some seaweed, lots of wasabi and poured in some of the broth
3. My third portion had me mixing the tororo in (sooooo good and sooooo healthy!)
4. Go crazy

Whenever I'm in Nagoya I go to Unagi Hasshou because it just serves great quality eel that I don't mind how expensive it is.

Photo from a random guy from the interwebz: anton

うなぎ 八勝（はっしょう）
名古屋市守山区上志段味東谷２１０９－１４６
０５２－７３６－４８７５

Wrong Ramen, it's so right!

Wrong Ramen
by: Brian Ong

Wrong Ramen is one of the must try ramen places in Manila. Not only does it offer mouth watering ramen concoctions you would crave for, it also offers a sleek ambiance you would wish it was the interiors of your own pad.

Going back to the mouth watering ramen concoctions, Wrong Ramen's Tonkotsu Ramen is something that would blow your mind with its rich, deep and milky pork bone broth, served with sliced pork chashu that melts in your mouth. For me, this seals the deal!

If you love something spicy, the classic Tantanmen Ramen is for you. It is made of a bold sesame broth with ground pork and shredded chashu. What's there not to love about this spicy heaven in a bowl?

If you are looking for an appetizer, try Wrong Ramen's Chicken Akuma, Japanese fried chicken in asian buffalo sauce. It is sprinkled with sesame and gives a kick in every bite. 

Something different but breaks the taste of your food is their Sweet Potato Iced Tea. Yes you read it right. It has a hint of taste of that of a sweet potato but it is also sweet and refreshing. A must try! :)

For Wrong Ramen's menu, check out the photo below.

Wrong Ramen
Burgos Circle, 1634 Fort Bonifacio
+63 2 823 8249

In Makati: Little Tokyo

In Makati: Little Tokyo
by: Nicole

Want to experience Tokyo without having to shell out thousands of pesos? You don't really need to apply for a Japanese visa, ride an airplane to have a little taste of Tokyo. Just go to Makati and say konnichiwa to Little Tokyo!

Yes, folks! That picture above is in Makati City, Philippines! :D Little Tokyo is comprised of Japanese restaurants which serve authentic Japanese meals. What makes this place authentic? Well, the owners of those restaurants and the people who cook the food they serve are Japanese!  These place is packed with Japanese people too! Now you know where to go to practice if you're learning ze language. :)

Little Tokyo is an awesome place for food trippin'! Our first stop: Okonomiyaki in Kagura Restaurant.

Okonomiyaki with squid (Php 230.00)
Good for 2 servings

Cooked by, I believe, the owner himself (the guy on the right in the photo below). One order of this is already filling for two. My friend and I ordered the okonomiyaki with squid - yummy! Next time, I'm trying the one with noodles!

Interior of Kagura Restaurant.

Lemme guess. The owner is a huge Tigers fan - a Japanese baseball team, obviously! The place if filled with all sorts of Tigers' knickknacks; even the TV screens are tuned in a Tigers' exclusive cable channel. :D

Oh look!  I don't know what this is called so let's just call it " traditional Japanese dining table." You know, where you have to take your shoes off and sit or kneel on those pillows. :)

After the okonomiyaki, our next stop was the Hana restaurant for takuyaki, ramen, and the super yummy Ramune shaved ice.

We chose to have the shaved ice first since it was the quickest one to prepare. BOY OH BOY OH BOY! THIS IS ONE OF A KIND! A really must try! It's flavour is so unique that I'm coming back to eat it again! It's so yummy -- an ultimate summer dessert! So happy eating it! Oh those scenes in the anime where the characters are eating this flash in my mind ha, ha!

Ramune Shaved Ice (Php 80.00)
with milk (Php 90.00)
Good for 2 servings

Then came my ramen. I told my friend I was not leaving that place until I get to eat a bowl of ramen! Ha, ha! I chose their bestseller - the shoyu ramen. It has pork slices, naruto, seaweed, and egg. I've never been so satisfied in a bowl of ramen until I got to eat this!  BURP!

Shoyu Ramen (Php 200.00)

Good for 2-3 servings

When I was about to finish my ramen, our takuyaki balls were served. My friend and I were already so full that we only got to eat one takuyaki each! We took home what's left. :) Just in case you're wondering what's inside each takuyaki ball, it's got squid, onions, and orange-colored ginger (which I thought carrots but the lady who's cooking told me those were minced ginger). :D

Takuyaki (Php 120.00 for 6 pcs)
My friend describes each piece as big as a baby's fist :D

 One of the things I like I about Little Tokyo is that each restaurant has its own specialty which you might not order from the other. I've tried two of Little Tokyo's restaurants so far - the okonomiyaki resto and the takuyaki one. Next time, I'm trying the one which speciality is sushi, the one on grilled stuff, and etcetera. Awesome place to hang out with friends and colleagues on a Friday night after work!

How to get to Little Tokyo? Click here for the map. Your primary landmark, there's McDonald's in front of the entrance.

Little Tokyo

2277 Pasong Tamo Corner Amorsolo Street, Makati, Philippines

Tokyo Bubble Tea's Milk Tea Tower

Marielle

The milk tea craze hit us hard this year, with various milk tea brands popping out of nowhere with flavors you never knew could go with tea! Tokyo Bubble Tea, however, has been around longer than most milk tea establishments. I frequent TBT for their yummy katsudon and Yakinuku Beef Rice, perfectly paired with any cold milk tea drink.

Last Month, my friends and I decided to try their Milk Tea Tower with three flavors to choose from - royal, pearl, and chocolate milk tea. The tower is PhP699 and is good for 6 – 8 persons. We chose Royal Milk Tea, a right level of sweetness that goes well with the salty and tangy taste of most of their jap dishes. They gave us glasses with ice, and served the pears separately. 

We didn’t think we could finish the whole thing, but we ended up savouring it up to the last drop! Perfect for barkadas catching up on a lazy afternoon. Cheers!

Tiffy in Japan: Burdock-flavored Rice

Tiffy in Japan: Burdock-flavored Rice

ミツカン 釜めしの素 香りごぼう (208g)

The truth is, I'm not really very experimental when it comes to buying stuff from the supermarket. It's mostly because my boyfriend helps me do the grocery and his mom sends me a lot of foodstuff. This was one of them. 

2-3 cups of rice and add the stuff in. I usually make 3 so that I can put everything else in the fridge and eat it for the next 2-3 days. 

After 15-30 minutes (depending on the setting I choose)

Mix it all up and you're done.

It has a chicken-something taste to it and it smells REALLY good. Sometimes, I make onigiri for breakfast using this rice. 

Therese in Taiwan: Saizeriya 薩莉亞

One day, while my classmates and I were walking around Taipei City Hall, we saw this restaurant called Saizeriya. According to my Japanese classmate, it's a Japanese owned chain of restaurants that serves Italian-inspired dishes. Since we were hungry, and the food was reasonably-priced, we entered the restaurant.

Here are a couple of shots from their menu (pasta selection):

I was in the mood for pasta so I went for the Spaghetti "Nero di Sepia" 墨魚義大利麵 (which I think should really be spelled as "Nero di Seppia"), or otherwise called spaghetti with cuttlefish black ink. I wish it had more cuttlefish, and that it was a bit more... moist. Other than that, I liked it.

Spaghetti "Nero di Seppia" 墨魚義大利麵 | 90 NTD (~131 PhP)

If I remember correctly, you get unlimited drinks for an additional 30 NTD (~44 PhP).

One of the pizzas we ordered. I forgot what it's called and how much it is! >___<

One of my classmates had Spanish paella || 120 NT (~174 PhP)! Looks yummy!

The branch we went to is located in the mall beside MRT Taipei City Hall:

阪急店
Operating hours: 11AM-10PM
Telephone number: 02-2723 2339
Address: 台北市忠孝東路5段8號B2樓 統一阪急百貨B2

There are also branches in Ximen 西門店, Zhongxiao Dunhua 忠孝敦化店, and Zhongxiao Fuxing 忠孝復興店.

Official website: www.saizeriya.co.jp

Royal Family: Mochi Series

Royal Family: Mochi Series

Taiwan brand Royal Family is now available in the Philippines (has been for a while now, actually). The brand features their bestselling mochi series.

When my friends and I found out that my friend's family is the one who are importing these from Taiwan, we ordered some to give away last Christmas season.

Since it was fairly new that time, my friend gave me a couple of boxes for free!

Mochi and green tea? YAY.

Green tea mochi

I'm also a big fan of sesame anything so I'm hoping to buy this next:

Royal Family Mochis are currently available at these locations:

1. Rustan's Supermarket MAKATI
2. Rustan's Supermarket ROCKWELL
3. Rustan's Supermarket GREENBELT
4. Rustan's Supermarket MAGALLANES
5. Rustan's Supermarket SAN ANTONIO
6. Rustan's Supermarket SHANGRILA
7. Rustan's Supermarket CORINTHIAN HILLS
8. Rustan's Supermarket KATIPUNAN
9. Rustan's Supermarket GATEWAY
10. Rustan's Supermarket TOMAS MORATO
11. Rustan's Supermarket FAIRVIEW
12. Shopwise LIBIS
13. Shopwise ALABANG
14. Landmark MAKATI
15. Landmark TRINOMA
16. Ken Gift Express Store at Market Market
For orders:
(+63)9167186956
royalfamilyph@gmail.com

Tiffy Learns How to Cook: Minced meat and Spinach Curry

So as I was saying, my boyfriend's mother taught me how to cook. One of his sisters has actually been working at a pastry shop for years now. From what I hear, she's a great cook. And since she's got married and moved to Tokyo, she left me some of her old cookbooks. One of them's titled １０分でごはん (10-minute meals):

Looking back, either I'm really an inefficient cook or the book was lying when it said 10 minutes.

Note: The steps I write down next are not translations of the instructions above.

You will need (good for 2 people):
salad oil
2/3 bundle of spinach (cut into 1-3 cm)
1/2 onion (diced)
1 large tomato (diced)
150 g minced meat
1 cup water
50 g curry cubes
20 g pizza cheese

I just followed the pictures, really.

1. Cook the spinach in salad oil (you'll know it's cooked when it goes all soft)
2. Take out the spinach
3. Add more oil and cook the onion and meat in medium heat
4. When the meat's done, pour 1 cup of water, and add the tomatoes. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and put in the cubes. Let it melt before turning on the heat again.
6. Once nicely mixed, add the spinach and mix.

Here's how mine turned out.

How to cook the egg:
1. Let the water boil (do not put the egg in yet)
2. Put in the egg and leave it for 5 minutes


My boyfriend has to work until 8 PM so he usually gets home at 8:30. He got home at 9 that day. We didn't add the cheese until we heard his car pull in the driveway.

I just cut generous slices of cheese (definitely didn't follow the recipe there) and put it on top of the curry and let it melt. I didn't mix it or anything. When it melts and when you transfer it to a plate, the lumps of melted cheese make it so much more appetizing.

I could never get the egg to be like in the picture.

(Notice the mats? They're my pasalubong to his family)

Without the cheese and half eaten.

I made this dish twice. I was told that the more times I did it the easier it will be for me.

O, puede na ba ako magasawa?

Moshi Moshi and Red Mango in Katipunan

Moshi Moshi and Red Mango in Katipunan
by Nicole

On a fine Tuesday afternoon, I went to Katipunan with one of my awesomest pals. We went to check some books for our reading list. (Hello Fully Booked!)

For those of you who have not been to Katipunan for ages, there's a new commercial building in the area and it houses Fully Booked, Coffee Bean, aaaand new eating houses!

Right before browsing books, I got hungry so my friend and I had our early lunch at one of the restaurants there. I actually wanted to try Saint's Alps Teahouse because of Bong's post about it but we decided to try Moshi Moshi instead.

What a homey, cozy place! I liked how spacious this restaurant was and I was so pleased that it was not crowded.

Moshi Moshi is a Japanese restaurant and their menu has the typical japanese dishes - they've got takuyaki, okonomiyaki, and donburi among others. Donburi is very much like the Filipino rice topping (rice plus ulam on top) and in Moshi Moshi, you can make your own Donburi by choosing what you want to have in your rice bowl. Top it with meat, egg, kimchi (I think I saw kimchi there), etc. - you decide.



Moshi Moshi's Menu

My friend and I chose two of their "special" donburis - the chicken teriyaki don, and the curry don. I had the curry don - all vegetables; no meat - hooray! I was very happy that I was able to choose weather I would like my curry don with or without meat.



All Vegetable Curry Don (Php 105)

This curry. . . it was just okay. It was a little bit spicy (I could taste they put quite a lot of black pepper in it.)



Chicken Teriyaki Don (Php 135)

 The serving was rather small and according to my friend, their chicken teriyaki was salty (she asked me to taste it but I wasn't able to because I was busy talking so I forgot ha ha!). Anyway, I really liked that the rice was perfectly cooked!

We didn't order any dessert in Moshi Moshi because I wanted my friend to try my favourite yougurt place, Red Mango! We tried their waffles.


Banana Almod Waffles (Php 85.00)
Extra Yogurt (Php 40.00)
Blueberry toppings (Php 5.00)



Green Tea Waffle (Php 85.00)
Extra Yogurt (Php 40.00)

WE LOVED RED MANGO'S WAFFLES! They were reaaaaallly yummy! I thought the green tea waffle wouldn't taste that good but it was soooo goood! Top it with Red Mango's original yogourt - hands down super d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! My friend and I really enjoyed our dessert time here in Red Mango Katipunan. The place is perfect for students who want to munch something while studying. :) I'm absolutely going to get my sisters and my friends to try Red Mango waffles!



Address and Telephone Number

Moshi Moshi
2/F #327 Katipunan Ave.
Loyala Heights, Quezon City

Red Mango
2/F #327 Katipunan Ave.
Loyala Heights, Quezon City
+63922 820 8456


P.S.

I'd like to thank my friend Jad for all these photos and for an awesome day! Weeee!

Danne: Ramen / Ramen Bar Eastwood

When I was living in Japan I got the chance to eat authentic Japanese cuisine-- those in side streets, prepared by seasoned cooks, those that weren't necessarily expensive but you'd know they're authentic.

One of the best (if not the best) ramen I've tasted is Ippudo Ramen, which is located just outside our dorm (but they have several stores around Japan). It was very tasty, rich, authentic! You should try, if ever you go to Japan.

And then there was the Ramen Museum in Yokohama, which deserves its own post! (Perhaps I'd write about it one of these days!)

Last week I got to reminisce my love for this Japanese noodle dish when I ate at Ramen Bar in Eastwood.

This was their ramen selection.

First order that came out was the Shoyu Ramen (PhP 280), which was soy infused tonkotsu ramen topped with tamago, naruto, negi, chasyu, butter and corn. If you see the eggs beside it, it's an order of Tamago (PhP 50).

Next up was an order of Chasyu (PhP 120), which very much resembles the Chinese Cha-sho (Asado).

We also tried the Yakiniku Beef Rice Topping (PhP 165), which very much tastes like Japanese gyudon to me.

This is the Spicy Kakuni Rice Bowl (PhP 185), which is pork belly with rice.

Overall, the eating experience reminded me of how we used to enjoy Japanese cuisine in Japan, probably one of the best types of food around.

There's more kinds of ramen to try. Not only from this restaurant, but also from others. I'm looking forward! If you'd like to recommend any ramen restaurant, kindly comment in the comment box at the end of this post and I'd be sure to try.

Danne

P.S. Check out my new site, http://dannelim.com if you have time. In there is my graphic design folio, blog, among many other things!

Ramen Bar Eastwood

Telephone no. (02) 570-9457

Address G/F Eastwood Mall , Libis, Quezon City, Philippines

http://www.facebook.com/ramenbar