ice scramble

Yesterday, I was looking for some sterling silver jewelry at the lower ground floor of SM North Edsa and saw long lines for a particular food cart. Yes, the lowly ice scramble has conquered the food carts. It’s called Icebreaker Scrambles, people will really line up for ice scramble because it’s cheap and clean.

yummy ice scramble

Prices for Icebreaker Scrambles are 7, 10, 17 pesos, you also have the option to put additional toppings like extra powdered milk, mallows and rice crispies.

ice scramble with toppings

The ice scramble tastes yummy and reminded me of the childhood ice scramble I tasted, and I can be sure of food safety. I find the ice not thoroughly shaved though, I’d prefer a smoother consistency for the ice but overall, it’s one of those yummy treats that I can eat while having my leisure walk at the mall.

Jeff and I also got interested to research about having and Icebreaker Scrambles franchise but upon reading from their Multiply site, they’re no longer accepting franchise applications. To know more about Icebreaker Scrambles, visit their Multiply site.

*photos are taken from Icebreaker site

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Estrel's Caramel Cake, Php 600

The dainty flowers at the center are adorable, makes me not want to slice the cake so that I won’t destroy them. The side part of the cake is laced with intricate lattice icing that makes the cake look so elegant. As expected from a freshly baked cake on the same date of purchase, it’s so soft when sliced.

Unfortunately, for someone who has a sweet tooth, I didn’t like the cake. Contrary to the raves of ALL the reviews in the Internet (I’ve never encountered negative review and mine might be the first), I think Estrel’s Caramel Cake was overhyped. My mother who likes chiffon cakes more also said that there’s nothing special about the cake. I expected a sinful sweet caramel but I didn’t see the difference in taste between the chiffon cake and the caramel icing.

Like:

- baked fresh, baked on the day of pick-up

- no preservatives added

- pretty and dainty cake design

- soft and melt-in-your-mouth chiffon cake

Dislike:

- lacks sweetness

- I can’t taste the caramel

- since it has no preservative, it expires the day after the date of purchase

Sometimes I think I have really weird tastebuds or maybe because of my pregnancy but for those who want to try Estrel’s Caramel Cakes, I copied their price list from the Facebook page.

Estrel's price list

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Beef Kebab Meal, Php 100

Korma meal is Php 120.

Beef Korma, Php 120

There’s nothing special about the Beef Korma, just like any ordinary curry dishes. Our staple order is the Beef Kebab, moist and soft beef. Of course, our kebabs are not happy without these two sauces…

garlic sauce and chili

They also serve side dishes such as Hummus for Php 25.

Hummus, Php 25

Grilled Tomato’s interior is simple, no fancy chairs and tables. Just plain good food, yes, that’s all a restaurant needs right. Their good food made them to be featured in various TV shows already such as MYX so food there is definitely a must try. The bulletin board also shows some happy feedback from satisfied customers.

inside Grilled Tomato

Grilled Tomato, Tomas Morato

Grilled Tomato has 2 branches, one in Tomas Morato and one in Banawe. The photo above is the Tomas Morato branch, just across Bubble Tea.

Grilled Tomato / (02)4150760

Website: http://grilledtomato.multiply.com/

100 Scout De Guia St. cor. Tomas Morato Ave.

Store Hours: 11:30 am to 2:00 am

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Kiss the Cook Cafe (59 Maginhawa St., UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City)

Kiss the Cook Cafe is near BPI and in front of Holy Family School, 2 years ago, Sisig Boy was in the same location but I assume SB closed down. Kiss the Cook Cafe’s interiors and ambiance makes you feel that you’re dining in an upscale resto in Makati. Kiss the Cook Cafe did not scrimp on designing the restaurant with its neutral walls, elegant lighting, wooden tables and comfy sofas.

Kiss the Cook Cafe signage along Maginhawa Street

Some dishes are highlighted in their menu, Jeff and I assumed that it’s their specialty so Jeff ordered the Five-Spice Pork Spareribs while I chose the Italian Shortrib Stew. They serve Lemon Iced Tea in carafe that’s good for 3 to 4 persons.

Five-Spice Pork Spareribs, Php 195

The Five-Spice Pork Spareribs is served with rice, cilantro corn slaw and vinegar dipping sauce. The pork chunks are crunchy with some kick of spiciness. The cilantro corn slaw is a fresh break from the spiced vinegar and pork. Personally, this is perfect as pulutan rather than a viand for my meal, but they don’t serve alcoholic drinks… =)

Italian Shortrib Stew, Php 295

Beef chunks slow-braised in wine and tomatoes, only the cook knows how long this was cooked to make the meat so tender I can shred it to bits and the sauce bursting with flavor. Take a closer look…

Italian Shortrib Stew, closer look

The shortrib stew alone is perfect, but the spaghetti pesto that came with it is too dry and bland. Maybe it’s intended like that to balance the flavors of the stew, but if given a choice, I’d like to pair this with rice. Jeff can’t help himself spooning the sauce in his plate, both of us really loved this dish.

For desserts, they have frozen yogurts served in cute little tasting spoons. You can choose up to 3 different flavors, I had dark chocolate, mango and vanilla bean.

Fro-yo love (mango, vanilla bean, dark chocolate)

Frozen Yogurt

For dark chocolate lovers like me, their dark choco-flavored fro-yo is like eating 70% cacao. It’s sinfully good! I can consume a dozen spoonfuls of their fro-yos.

Good food and nice ambiance without a hefty price tag, one will definitely kiss the cook!

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Spicy Cheese Rolls/Dynamite Sticks

Ingredients:

• lumpia wrapper
• Kraft Eden cheese (cut into thin strips)
• green chilis (siling haba, the one used in cooking sinigang)
• store-bought bottle of chunky salsa

Steps:

1. After washing the green chilis, remove the seeds by slicing it in half. Make sure to remove all the seeds and white part inside the chili. You only need the skin.

Spicy Cheese rolls steps

2. Put strips of cheese and green chilis in the lumpia wrapper and wrap them. Seal the edges with water.

deep-fry!

3. Deep fry them until golden brown. Serve the chunky salsa on the side.

Notes:

• Don’t use quickmelt cheese because it oozes out of the wrapper long before the lumpia wrapper is cooked. The only thing left inside is the green chili.
• You can use any brand of salsa, spicy or not. We used Tostitos, available in the grocery. You can also make your own.
• Enjoy this with an ice-cold beer! hehe…

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Banoffee Pie

Banoffee Pie (Php 90/slice, Php 540/whole), cheaper than Starbucks Banoffee Pie but taste doesn’t come short with Starbucks’. This one has chunkier banana slices, chocolate shavings and more icing. I still prefer the one from Starbucks because I want to dig into that chocolatey center and buttery crust.

Classic Pecan Pie

Classic Pecan Pie (Php 90/slice, Php 630/whole), viewing from their display window, my mouth-watered after seeing the rows and rows of pecan nuts on top of this pie. I find this too sweet, though. It really looks yummy but I only ate two spoonfuls of this and moved on to another cake.

Myster-reese's Wicked Pie

Myster-reese’s Wicked Pie (Php 90/slice, Php 680/whole), if you love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups like me, then you’ll definitely like this one. The toppings consists of chunks of, of course, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The middle part is where you’ll the peanut butter layer, followed by a chocolate layer at the bottom. Again, I’m not really fond of the icing, I find most icings sweet and fattening (hehe).

Super Caramel Fudge Cake

Super Caramel Fudge Cake (Php 85/slice, Php 780/whole), if the other cake is wicked, then this one’s super! Caramel and chocolate lovers will enjoy this. It has ample amount of caramel syrup on top, enough to send you to caramel bliss. Add to that is a moist and soft so-chocolatey cake.

Visiting Banapple for the first time? Try Banoffee Pie, Super Caramel Fudge Cake or Myster-Reese’s Wicked Pie and you won’t go wrong for your first order.

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Banapple, Il Terrazzo

The restaurant is quite small, there were only a few chairs inside so seating area is very limited. They have additional tables and chairs outside though for smokers. What I love is the homey and cozy ambiance, feels like your visiting a friend’s or your grandma’s kitchen.

Banapple, Il Terrazzo

We ordered 2 pasta dishes, and they’re both penne, Penne Bolognese and Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne (sounds delicious from the name itself!)

Penne Bolognese (Php 150)

Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne (Php 155)

Their pasta dishes are affordable and servings is good for two people already. It’s our first time to order so we’re clueless about their serving size. The pasta is cooked perfectly, al dente. Don’t you just love to dig in into that bowl of Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne? This is a must-try, serving it in a bowl made it feel like a comfort food you’d love to have at your home. The slices of toasted Pesto bread complete a very fulfilling meal.

Banapple became famous with their pies and cakes, they have their own Banofee Pie. I love Starbucks Banofee Pie so I just have to try Banapple’s version despite feeling satiated from the pasta.

Banapple's Banoffee Pie

Banapple’s Banofee Pie is cheaper for one, but it doesn’t have the buttery crust of Starbucks’. I don’t like cakes with too much icing too.

Banapple cakes

There are plenty of cakes worth trying so on my second visit, I made sure to take home 3 cakes! More on Banapple’s cakes on my next post.

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Ajisen Ramen (image from Myfoodtrip.com)

We happily ordered the Spicy Ramen and Kon Ramen….

Spicy Ramen

Unlike the one we ordered in Hong Kong which is extremely spicy, the spicy pork condiment that makes it spicy is served in a separate bowl so that one can control the spiciness of the soup, thumbs up! Other ingredients in the Spicy Ramen are hard-boiled egg, cabbage, a slice of tender pork and the brown thingie is what they call fungus, which is a form of mushroom.

Kon Ramen (Kon=corn???)

Kon Ramen consists of pork, cabbage, fungi, egg and corn kernels. The soup is on a sweet side but I added spicy pork to add a little kick. Price range of their Ramen is between Php 140-Php 190.

Jeff and I agreed that the taste is the same as their HK branch, and also the price. The ramen still comes with the to-die-for soup stock, which is made with secret spices and secret techniques. The noodles resemble a spaghetti which is also very tasty. When combined, a steaming hot bowl of this is a truly hearty meal.

Ajisen Ramen is one food discovery when we were in Hong Kong. The ramen and the
soup was so delicious that we dreamed of going back to HK just to have another round
of Hong Kong food trip. But one chilly morning a day after Christmas, we found
Ajisen Ramen at the Midtown wing of Robinson’s Place Manila. The food is simply
fantastic, and if we're ever anywhere else, like the UK, we'll be sure to give 118
118 a ring to find somewhere similar, as you just can't go wrong with ramen. We’re
not sure at first if it’s the same as the one in HK but after scanning the menu
proved that they’re the same.

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The Creamery is part of the Selecta Kids Universe in Mall of Asia. Kids Universe houses Cosmic Kidz, a five-story kiddie play area, largest play area in Manila as of date. Kids + playground + ice cream = A TREAT!

I prefer Selecta ice cream than other brands so I immediately looked for ice cream treats on the menu. I was torn between the Belgian Chocolate Mint and Ferrero Rocher ice cream, but the staff said that the latter is their bestseller so I ordered it.

Ferrero Rocher ice cream, Php 185

I expected something more fancy on this concoction, something like served in a marble slab, with some mouth-watering syrup on it considering its price for Php 185. And I thought it’s Ferrero Rocher-inspired so I expected a chocolate ice cream-based concoction. Aside from the wafer bits, there’s also chocolate cereals and nuts. Somehow, I wished I ordered for Belgian Chocolate Mint instead.

Chocolate Milkshake, Php 135

Jeff is in chocolate heaven with his Chocolate Milkshake. Brings back childhood memories with its chocolate-y goodness while cooling him down.

There are other treats at The Creamery such as ice cream cakes, burgers and fries and pasta.

The Creamery

Selecta Kids Universe

South Park Building, Mall of Asia

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Beef Chelo Kebab Solo, Php 295

Beef Chelo Kebab consists of one beef kebab and grilled tomato served with saffron rice. “Chelo” means cooked rice and “kebab” means cooked meat. What sets this dish apart is the saffron rice, fluffy and tender with just the right amount of butter and aroma. In other restaurants, I don’t usually order kebabs and prefers Beef Kheema (ground beef) because I hate tough meat sticking between my teeth. I was surprised with Shomal’s Beef Kebab because it’s so tender and flavorful.

Garlic sauce and chili sauce are also served but because the meat is really flavorful, I didn’t drown my kebab in garlic sauce, and the chili sauce is very veeerrry spicy!

Iced Tea, Php 80

I love the classy interiors of the restaurant, full of character and very relaxing. Especially when you can grab a spot with the hanging curtains with chandelier hanging above, romantic and serene.

Shomal restaurant interiors

hanging curtains at Shomal for privacy

I think there are 5 tables with this kind of setting, you can check if you can reserve for them beforehand.

Shomal Kebabs and Curries by Hossein

Thumbs up for customer service, ambiance and the food. Definitely a must-try for those who want to explore Middle Eastern cuisine, fine-dining style!

Shomal Kebabs & Curries

Unit 4005 Level 4 Trinoma Mall, EDSA North Avenue Quezon City

Contact No: 09178822056

http://www.hosseins.com/

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