Sushi Master: Authentic Japanese Food in Malabon City

Whenever Mhel and I are badly craving for some quality Japanese food, Malabon City has never been the first place that comes to our minds. But all that has changed when we’ve finally discovered the newly opened Sushi Master right at our hometown.

Facade of Sushi Master Restaurant in Malabon City

Sushi Master, which opened June of 2015, stands along what I call the “foodie avenue” of Malabon City, where big-name food businesses like Nanay’s Pancit Malabon and Dolor’s Kakanin are also strategically located. The restaurant is jointly owned by the foodie couple Nolenz Evanglista and Emily Panganiban. Nolenz has worked in Japan for a few years, so he has first-hand knowledge of the flair and flavor of authentic Japanese cuisine.

They have been inviting us to visit their restaurant even before they have first opened their doors. One long weekend in August, we finally gave in to their request, and now we’ll tell you how our dining experience went.

For our drinks, we ordered a glass each of their Iced Tea, Pink Lemonade, and Mango Shake. Their Pink Lemonade (Php 50) has the right balance of sour and sweet that I particularly loved, while the Iced Tea (Php 30) was not too sweet or bland. It was a cold day but it didn’t stop our Nanay from enjoying their perfectly refreshing Mango Shake (Php 75).
Beverages at Sushi Master Japanese Restaurant in Malabon City

I’ve heard only good things about Sushi Master’s Gyoza (Php 95) when my friends visited a few weeks earlier, so I was really curious to get a taste of it. The wrapper was a little thicker than most gyozas from other Japanese restaurants, but the filling was one of the most flavorful we’ve had.

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Clara Ole Baby Back Ribs with Beef Steak Rice and Caesar Salad Recipe

A few weeks ago, I reached a major milestone in my life – I have successfully survived a challenging year at my new office job and living independently in my Makati condo. When I moved in here, I promised myself to cook more and not resort to food delivery. In celebration of this important milestone, Ken decided to whip up a fancy meal for the two us despite the limited kitchen space and equipment at my place. With the help of Clara Ole products, he showed me you don’t have to spend a lot to come up with a restaurant-quality dish that you can make any time, starting with these mouth-watering Barbecue Baby Back Ribs. 🙂

BBQ Baby Back Ribs using Clara Ole products

If you’ve been following our blog, you know we are meat lovers. It was easy to decide which dish we want him to cook for this night. He made our meal extra special by also preparing Beef Steak Rice, with Caesar salad on the side. This recipe is easy to cook and budget-friendly, but the flavors and texture are on point; smoky, sweet with that subtle tangy taste. The meat? Falls off the bone. To fully enjoy the meal, we suggest you eat the ribs with your hands so you can lick off the sauce from your fingers afterwards. 😉

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San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines : A Newfound Favorite

Ever since I started living on my own, I’ve made sure to stock my little kitchen with different groceries, ranging from meats and vegetables for when I’m in the mood to prepare special meals, and ready-to-eat food items for times when I’m exhausted from work and have no energy to cook. Just recently, I added a new favorite: San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines.

San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines

Sardines have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I can polish off 1 to 2 bowls of rice in one sitting with just one can of sardines. When I was in high school, I got exposed to Spanish Sardines for the very first time and I got hooked ever since. 😀

I love San Marino’s Corned Tuna, and I use it in my sandwich spreads, pasta dishes (I love it spicy!) and tuna omelet. So when I found out they also have their own Spanish Sardines, I just had to try it!

Upon opening the jar of San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines, I felt my mouth watering as the aroma of the sardines inside tickled my senses. I was surprised to see that there were more than 10 pieces of sardines inside. I can enjoy 1 bottle for lunch AND for dinner. Indulge yourself to a luxurious dining experience without breaking the bank – Php 95 for a 240g bottle. Sulit, right? 🙂

I emptied the jar of sardines onto a plate. Inside, you’ll see slices of pickled cucumber, carrots, hot pepper and peppercorns soaked in corn oil. They don’t use preservatives, so you should refrigerate the bottle as soon as you open it.

San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines - extra rice pa!

Their Spanish Sardines are made with select freshly-caught herring fish, with intact scales that you won’t even feel when you eat them. I love spicy anything, and this Spanish Sardines had the right amount of kick and flavor that made me eat more rice than usual. 😀

Our nanay actually haven’t had sardines for quite a long time. She said she didn’t like them ’cause of the scales and they taste too malansa for her. I asked her to try the San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines, and she loved it! She even asked me for extra serving of rice. We both agreed that it’s the best-tasting Spanish Sardines we’ve ever had. 🙂

I especially love the fact that it has Omega-3 that helps lower one’s blood cholesterol level, which aids in reducing risks of heart problems. It’s also a good source of protein and energy; perfect for someone like me who usually eats quick dinners when I come home after a tiring work day and needs the energy to head to the gym or work on my other hobbies afterwards. 🙂

San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines - best enjoyed with a big serving of steamed rice

Have you tried San Marino’s Premium Spanish Sardines? Visit their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SanMarinoCornedTuna – for more information. 🙂

Champorado and Bibingka with Toblerone & Cadbury – A Sweet Twist to Your Favorite Pinoy Merienda

Whenever the clock hits 3 o’clock in the afternoon, it’s like our bodies are programmed to want to have merienda. We grew up like this, and I still remember our nanay knocking on our doors at 3pm, announcing it’s merienda time. When we follow her to the kitchen, we’ll be delighted by the spread of different snacks she bought or prepared for us. You’d usually find pansit luglog or Pansit Malabon, lugaw with tokwa’t baboy, turon (we call it valencia), sopas, ginataan, ensaymada, bibingka and, my favorite, champorado.

Champorado recipe made with Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate and Eden Cheese

Yes, champorado. Some may think that it’s better enjoyed for breakfast, but I beg to disagree. 😀 I love champorado for merienda because it gives me a much-needed boost in the middle of the afternoon that’ll last until the end of the day. 🙂 I also love turon, ginataan, peachy-peachy, and, of course, Pansit Malabon.

Ken’s merienda favorites are lugaw, Pansit Malabon and bibingka. The latter, you’d think you can only find people selling them during the holidays, but in Malabon, it’s a regular snack choice because it’s readily available all year round (that’s why we LOVE our home town 😀 ).

If you’ve seen our past recipes, you already know how we enjoy adding our own twists to usual dishes. This time, Ken came up with 2 Pinoy merienda recipes with a sweet twist that we’re sure you’ll both love. He used products from Mondelez Philippines.

Mondelez Philippines, formerly named Kraft Foods, has been around for over 5 decades. They’re the authority when it comes to snacks. Don’t believe us? Under their belt, they have Oreo, Toblerone, Cadbury, and Tiger Enery Biscuits. Their Eden Cheese is a regular when we prepare spaghetti. We also add cheesiness to our ‘flying saucer’ sandwiches with Cheez Whiz. Merienda won’t be complete, especially for our nanay, without a pitcher of her favorite Tang.

Mondelez has been constantly innovating, coming up with new flavors that us Filipinos love. Have you tried their Oreo Coconut Delight? You must! How about the Tang Dalandan, Honey Lemon and Calamansi? 🙂

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Our #ClaraOlePotluck Fiesta, Boodle Fight Style!

We’re from Malabon, and if you know anyone from there or you’ve attended at least one fiesta or party hosted by someone who lives in our hometown, you know how festive our celebrations could be. And if you’ve been to one of our parties at home, you’ve seen how lavish we are when it comes to preparing food for our guests. We did just that when we hosted our own Clara Ole Potluck Fiesta party a couple of weeks ago.

Our Clara Ole Potluck Fiesta Boodle Fight spread!

The party took almost a month to prepare. The Clara Ole team gave us one task – to prepare a menu showcasing the wide variety of dishes you can make using their products, and how convenient and easy it is for anyone to serve delicious dishes, whatever level your cooking skills are and however small your kitchen is. We personally use Clara Ole products in my little kitchen in my Makati condo, and I tell you, everything I cook with their products come out perfect. 🙂 My favorites would be their pasta sauces and marinades.

Going back to our party, Ken and I thought of hosting a boodle fight, and we all agreed on the Pinoy Fiesta theme for our friends. Since it’ll be a boodle fight, Ken knew serving a couple of dishes won’t be enough. So, he came up with a menu composed of 14 dishes + the punch, which serves as my only contribution. 😀 All of the dishes were made using Clara Ole products, as listed below.

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Filipino Food Festival at Fresh Restaurant in Solaire Resort and Casino

It’s about time Filipino food got its well-deserved spotlight in the international culinary scene. More and more countries and word-famous chefs are getting interested with our diverse and rich cuisine. Fresh Restaurant at Solaire Resort & Casino has decided to grab this golden opportunity to highlight our culinary heritage by launching their month-long Filipino Food Festival with Chef Sau del Rosario.

Chef Sau del Rosario for the Filipino Food Festival at Fresh Restaurant Solaire Resor and Casino

 

Chef Sau del Rosario x 20 Years of Love & Cooking Book

You’re not a true Filipino foodie if you are not familiar with Chef Sau del Rosario. He’s practically everywhere – from TV shows, magazine covers, newspapers, and even online. Coming from four generations of native Kapampangan chefs, it’s no surprise Chef Sau pursued a culinary career as well. And by ‘pursued,’ we mean fattening his resume with local and international stints and working with Michelin star chefs like Christian Plumail, Jacque Divellec, and Bruno Loubet. He delves deeper into his 20 years of culinary experience in his recently launched book, “20 Years of Love & Cooking.” If you happen to visit Fresh Restaurant during Sunday brunches, they’re selling copies of his book, which Chef Sau would be more than happy to sign for you!

20 Years of Love and Cooking Book by Chef Sau del Rosario

 

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Baon Ideas with Oreo and Tiger Energy Biscuits

I remember when we were still kids, our nanay wakes up really early in the morning to prepare our baon for school. Ken and I usually didn’t know what she prepared for us, and we’ll just be pleasantly surprised come recess time. I guess that’s why we always look forward to opening our lunchboxes during our breaks. She always makes sure we have something to eat that’s not just delicious, but will also energize us for the rest of our school day.

Oreo Rice Krispie Bars recipe

I’m sure many moms would agree that a good baon is vital during school days. I’m seeing a lot of moms getting creative with their kids’ baon nowadays. If you’re one of them, and you need a little inspiration, we’ve got a few ideas for you. We used 2 well-known products from Mondelez Philippines for these recipes.

If this is your first time hearing about Mondelez (pronounced ‘mohn-dah-leez’, meaning ‘delicious world’), their company was formerly named Kraft Foods. The company has been around for decades and they’re behind familiar brands like Oreo cookies, Tiger Energy biscuits, Tang, Eden Cheese, Cheez Whiz, Cadbury, and Toblerone. If you check their website, you’ll find delightful recipes for fun baon ideas for your kids.

Ken and I love putting a twist on our favorite dishes, and we did exactly that with the recipes below using Tiger Energy Biscuits and Oreo cookies, which are already good baon as is, but we thought of other creative treats you can make with them. These snacks / baon bites will surely give you a boost of energy, so it’s not just great for kids, but also fun snacks to take with you to the office or as merienda at home. Let us know once you’ve tried these recipes, okay? Enjoy! 🙂

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Highlands Prime Steakhouse Now Grilling at Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons

Ribeye Steak 14-Ounce from Highlands Prime Steakhouse at Estancia Mall Capitol Commons

“Is this the same Highlands as the one in MOA?” asked one of the four undecided women who walked into the restaurant while I was busy taking pictures for the blog. After the server who opened the door said yes, the ladies promptly requested for a table for four. – Well, that’s the kind of marketing no money could ever buy!

Highlands Prime Steakhoust at Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons

Highlands Prime Steakhouse at SM Mall of Asia has already established its name as one of the best steakhouses in the Metro, so it’s no surprise that expectations were ridiculously high when they decided to put up a second branch. Fortunately, their newest branch at Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, Pasig City did NOT disappoint.

 

Highlands Prime Steakhouse at Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons

The new place is not as spacious as their MOA branch, but they both sport a laidback country house vibe. It has no direct entrance from inside the mall, so you have to brave the heat outside to get to their restaurant – a minor inconvenience easily compensated by their great food and service.

Interior of Highlands Prime Steakhouse at Estancia Mall Capitol Commons

Their dining area is divided into 4 sections. Coming in from the main entrance, you will be welcomed by tables with cushioned seats on the left and a big display of imported wines on the right. At the far end of the room, stands a fireplace that adds to the modern cabin theme of the restaurant. If you take a left turn from the main entrance, you’ll find a small dining area where the restroom and the kitchen are located. The wall leading to the kitchen is made of glass, which gives you a good view to leisurely watch the chefs in action.

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Sambo Kojin in SM Megamall: Authentic Japanese and Korean Food Heaven

A few weeks ago, we were invited by Sambo Kojin to try their authentic Japanese and Korean dishes at their newest (also the biggest) branch in SM Megamall. Unfortunately, Mhel was unavailable that day because of work, so I asked my longtime foodie friend, Innah, who just came back from Dubai, to join me instead.

Sambo Kojin New SM Megamall Branch

 

Sambo Kojin at SM Megamall

The façade of Sambo Kojin’s branch in SM Megamall leaves little clue how spacious and well-lighted it is inside. Once you come in, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many tables and seats there are. I honestly got lost a few times, trying to get back to our table. That’s how big the place is!

Seats and Interior of Sambo Kojin Restaurant in SM Megamall

All tables are also equipped with smokeless yakiniku grills. How are they smokeless? These grills have special exhausts located at the sides of the grills, which suck the smoke out before its smell sticks to your clothes.

It’s also important to note that Sambo Kojin is open the whole day from Friday to Sunday and during Holidays. This means there will be NO breaks in between their lunch and dinner services, making it the perfect venue to celebrate a birthday, a graduation, or an anniversary (or any occasion, really) with your friends and family.

Chefs Live Cooking at Sambo Kojin SM Megamall

Here you can see the chefs busy at work to make sure all the food on display are replenished in real time.

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How to Cook Up Some Creative Treats

We all need food in order to function and the busier we are, the more we need to fuel us! However, some food can be really boring and just the way it looks can be off-putting. It is important to have a well-balanced diet, so you need to find ways to have more fun with your food. Everyone from parents, food fanatics and chefs are being more creative with the way their serve food in order to make meal times more fun for everyone. Eating is supposed to be enjoyable, so instead of looking at food as something you need, turn it into something you really want and coming up with fun ways to serve boring food is perfect if you have fussy children, a picky partner or choosy customers.

Here are some fun ideas on how to be more creative with your meals:

Pancake Shapes

One of the simplest ways to make breakfast pancakes more fun is to put the batter into cookie cutters, so the pancakes come out in different shapes. This is also easy to do with fried eggs and they are great for entertaining children during meal times.

Pancake-shapes

 

Potato Casino Chips

We all like snacking on chips. In fact, chips are a popular way to serve potatoes with all kinds of meals from meat like steaks and sausages through to vegetarian dishes like fried eggs or as a chip butty. With May being National Burger Month, the chips were created from red and white potatoes to represent casino chips – a simple way to make a common food more fun.

Potato-casino-chips

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