Pinay Food Junkie: review

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Hanging out at UCC: Starbucks is too mainstream

7:02 PM by Jien

Click on image for bigger size

Now is the perfect time to post my UCC review / food experience. Even I haven't updated the blog for a long time, I received continuous likes on my Facebook page. Thank you to the ones who genuinely (also humanly) liked my page! Too bad, I didn't gain likes on my latest Spaghetti Carbonara photo but the good news is.. my photo gained many likes (even with people I don't know) in my personal Facebook page.

I went to Malaysia and Singapore last November and to Baguio this year, 2015. I enjoyed my vacation a lot, that's why I procrastinated after the trip. No worries! I'll still continue to record my food journeys. I'll just post my Southeast Asian food experiences on Wednesday or within this week.

After my Baguio trip, I seldom eat at restaurants. To motivate myself to continue updating my blog, I just want to go to a cafe within Trinoma. Since going to Starbucks and Coffee Bean in a weekend means having to fall in a long line to buy an expensive coffee and act as a lookout whenever one vacates his, her or their table which is very rare, I decided to hang out, eat and drink at UCC Cafe Terrace. I ranted before how small is a cup of chamomile tea there but I thought, I'll try UCC again and I don't want to go to Starbucks and Coffee Bean looking like an idiot and social climber waiting for a vacant table, sipping iced coffee and taking selfies. I don't say that people going there are social climbers but there are too many pretentious people arrogantly ordering and hanging out there. Designer coffee is a status symbol before but now, the supposedly expensive cafe is now a "tambayan" of annoying social climbers and jejemons in weekends. If you really insist on going there in weekends, just make it earlier and hang out on stand-alone Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branches. Avoid going to malls.

If I will choose a cafe to buy expensive drinks and snacks for a while, I'll go to a more sophisticated and quiet place. UCC (Ueshima Coffee Co.) is a Japanese coffee and tea manufacturer that has developed its business into canned coffees, cafes, products, etc. since its founding in 1933.

Aside from coffee, tea and Japanese food, this coffee house also serves waffles, bread, pasta, parfait and fruits. I asked the waitress first if what's there on their cocoa drink, she said it is served in a cup with whip cream on top. Since I prefer a meal with a large drink and fruits, I ordered Hot Hong Kong Milk Tea (159) and Cereal with Fruits (P229). Service charge is P34.64 (more than 8%) which makes a total of P422.64. I asked another waitress, if can I take pictures of the place, she said I'll just wait. After that, I assumed that they don't allow someone randomly taking pictures because whenever I search for UCC Trinoma, there are only a few pictures (even caught by DSLR) in Google images.

UCC cereal with fruits and Hot Hong Kong milk tea

Aha! I now have an idea how to have a nice home breakfast. With a small pack of corn flakes, milk and fruits from our bayan (town), I can serve my family a merely sophisticated breakfast within a small or medium budget.

The Hot Hong Kong Milk Tea taste more like a slight bitter tea leaf but still, it's delicious but more delicious when syrup is added. As for Cereal with Fruits, the fruits are okay, the fresh milk's a good combination with cereals and raisins. I did not pour all the milk and used the remaining for dipping fruits later.

I like the ambiance because there are couches, electric sockets and a free WiFi (Although, I was using my own pocket WiFi). You don't even have to ask for the password since it is already posted on their small promo stands on the table. The wall's decorations are maps, images, all about UCC blah blah research and Japanese characters Unlike in other coffeehouses, they have male and female comfort rooms. Plus, the women's comfort room is clean and has a bidet.

As a "tambayan", it's a nice place. It can also be a good place for doing virtual work and for studying because I don't even need a headset to minimize distractions. Like Seattle's Best, there's an indoor area for smokers. Ask first if their WiFi's working and test this out so you can decide to not hang out there if it isn't working. If you aren't planning to stay longer and want to try tasty and delicious drinks, you better try other famous milk tea places and cafes.

Staff are polite. When I entered the place, they assisted me immediately and you can ask any of them.

Rating:

Delimondo: Tanda's own corned beef

10:01 PM by Jien

Long long time ago... I'm very busy and now I'm back. Tonight's entry is about the Delimondo corned beef. I guess many will wonder why on earth did I include Juan "Tanda" Ponce Enrile in this food review. Well, the latest news, ( I don't think there is a word called "newest news") is an opportunity for me to have a motivation to write this.

Corned beef is being consumed both by the rich and the masses. Many brands of corned beef are available everywhere but with this one, I can only see this being sold in Trinoma Landmark and other "sosyal" grocery chains such as Rustan's, Cherry Foodarama, etc. Enlighten me if I'm wrong, no one can buy this on biggest food chains. I did not see even a single can of this Delimondo corned beef being sold in SM, Robinson's and 7-11 stores.

I came to know this corned beef because of comments in forums and Senyora Santibañez page. I tried to buy one and then....I'll just post my review later. :)

Many don't have a clue that the manufacturing company behind this corned beef, JAKA Food processing corporation is owned by Juan Ponce Enrile and currently, his daughter, Katrina, is the CEO of JAKA Group. I came to know this information from my father and searched the web to confirm this.

Despite of knowing this, I cannot say where did the funds to start his company, JAKA corporation, came from. What I think is he's really guilty of graft and corruption and I don't think that he must be allowed to have a bail for the reason that he is very old. Come on! he is really though to make this crime because he knows Filipinos are very "maawain" (tender hearted) and I find this unacceptable. Ehem.. so my advice to the thieves, just run for a public seat or steal millions of pesos so you can still have a comfortable life being sentenced by the court wandering outside prison cells or staying in a vacation house. The best advice that I can recommend is to bribe the jail guards, public officials and the court. (Okay my sarcasm ends here).

This is what you are waiting for, my review for this corned beef.

My sister's own recipe. corned beef combined with egg, garnished with cabbage leaf and whipped with mayonnaise.

Sorry if I weren't able to capture an image in its raw form. Anyway, I heated this food first through cooking it in a frying pan. I tried eating this without rice and then.. boom! The Delimondo Ranch Style corned beef flavor tastes good and not salty unlike eating Argentina corned beef where it tastes good with rice but not on eating it solo.

Still, to have a greater dining experience, eat this with rice. I bought this at 110 pesos. The food is very delicious and not so dry nor not so wet but a bit expensive.

Rating:

I want Made in Candy at SM Megamall

3:23 PM by Jien

Thank goodness! No one is still playing "I want candy" by Aaron Carter.

I am not a fan of candies except for Potchi and gummy bears. When we passed the "Made in Candy" store in SM Megamall, my friend Mallix mentioned that candies there are really good.

I hesitated at first because these are rock candies but hey, I just wanna see how candy artisans make candies.

Sadly, pictures of them making candies were gone. Well, thanks to Mallix of Nendo Shelf that he provided pictures captured by his DSLR and for introducing Made in Candy to us.

Everyone can choose bottled or packed candies. I bought a P100 small pack containing assorted candies.

I like the taste of brown candies

My Made in Candy review begins here:
What I really like with the packaging is everyone can decide if they can eat the candies later by zipping the packaging again with the help of the built in zip lock.

Upon chewing the candy, the design and flavor are still there inside.

One assumes that assorted candies in a single pack taste the same but nope, candies here taste different.
All the candies tasted good. If ever I'll pick one, my favorite candy is the cola (brown candies).

I browsed their FB page and I found out that Made In Candy started the fun in Singapore and this rock candy kitchen has spread its sweetness in other countries.

Eating Made in Candy candies will be more fun if shared to your loved ones :)

Rating:

Made in Candy official site
Made in Candy PH
Made in Candy SG

Hanamaruken : New ramen in Trinoma

4:32 PM by Jien

Hanamaruken 花丸軒 is now in the Philippines!

I was shopping for gifts three days ago in Trinoma. After I've done shopping, I was planning to eat at SM North. Upon, reaching for the exit, I passed by the ads standing on the middle of the hallway, I saw a ramen ad and I thought Santouka ramen will be the first quality ramen (except Ramen X) to open in Trinoma but when I looked again at the ad, it's not Santouka. I began craving for a new ramen. I went to the 2nd level, Trinoma Garden restaurants to search for this new ramen restaurant.

I am glad that it's easy to find this ramen restaurant. It looks nice. I did not hesitate to enter the restaurant.

Going to Hanamaruken in Trinoma Philippines

To enlarge photos, please click the pictures.

While waiting, I asked the staff if when did Hanamaruken opened in Trinoma. She said it was about 3 months ago. I thought that Hanamaruken has other branches in the Philippines because it is rare that shops in Trinoma will be the first branch. I was wrong. Hanamaruken in Trinoma is the first branch of Hanamaruken outside Japan.

Even this restaurant is not that big, the decorations and interiors are simply stunning. Japanese ancient music is being played in Hanamaruken restaurant.

"Hanamaruken has over 40 branches in Japan. Osaka locals religiously line up for everyday."

Here's Hanamaruken's menu / price list:

I ordered Signature Happiness Ramen for P480 and Gyoza for P150. I felt overwhelmed that I found a nice ramen place again. While waiting for my ramen, the gyoza was served and I ate this dish immediately.

For me, the gyoza has a really good quality wrapper and meat for its price unlike others including the ones in Taisho Ramen where gyozas tend to stick with each other and the taste is somewhat salty. Hanamaruken's gyoza is a bit oily. Never mind the little bit of oiliness, important is, it's delicious and its meat and vegetables were fully stuffed inside.

Chili and soy sauce

I ate all including the green vegetable decor.I felt somewhat full after eating. Then, here comes the Signature Happiness ramen.

Cholesterol warning: Hanamaruken's Signature Happiness ramen has some lard floating

As you can see, the ramen has some lard floating but not to the point that it is disgusting to eat. The ramen actually contains 2 thin spiral condiments (naruto). On the picture below, 1/4 of this cooked spare rib is still in deep soup. :)

The noodles is not too thick. The pork can be taste on its noodles. It's like the noodles sipped the pork meat and soup. Even with some lard, the soup still tastes like pork spare rib. The two eggs were half boiled but still solid and no yolk spilled on the soup. I felt like slurping this whole bowl of ramen just like what I've did in Kichitora of Tokyo's Paitan Zenbu no Se.

Before I end this Hanamaruken review, I want to share that the two eggs (tamago) were really an additional and is usually not included in the ramen unless you requested these. Upon billing, I just remembered again that the two eggs are just additional. What I don't like is that the staff did not ask me first if I wanted eggs or not. To be honest, I also did not remember if I requested it. I just confirmed the orders before serving that's why I did not complain about it. They also did not bid goodbye or thanks to the customers exiting the restaurant.

For me, I cannot decide now which is delicious but I still choose Kichitora of Tokyo's Paitan Zenbu no Se because it has less oil and no lard's floating on that ramen. I'll definitely come back in Hanamaruken even though it's pricey because it is still nearer to my house compared to Kichitora of Tokyo. I hope Ramen Santouka will open asap in Trinoma. This is the end of my Hanamaruken restaurant review.

Rating:

(Staff is polite but still needs additional training)

Hanamaruken Philippines
2nd Floor Garden Trinoma Mall
(02) 720 9283 / (02) 628 1603
11:00 am - 10:00 pm

About Pinay Food Junkie

7:17 PM by Jien

Hi everyone!

I began blogging when social media wasn't yet the medium for expressing thoughts and sharing experiences.

Google Docstoc was my first medium in sharing personal files. Ever since 2011, I did not have news updates about this.

Wanting to express and share what I like whether it is about celebrities, politics or shows, on 2010, Sari saring isip is my first blog. Overwhelmed that somehow a few people visited my blog, I continued to share my posts until thousands can read my shared articles.

Now, this year 2014. I created this site, Pinay Food Junkie, to exclude my honest food reviews from Sari saring isip.

I am also a contributor to boring.ph and astig.ph

I hope you can enjoy your food trip.

To know more about me, you can visit my Google+ page or my professional website for online freelance work, http://jienruiz.wordpress.com

Thanks for visiting! (◕‿-)

Tous Les Jours: Apple Inspiration Cake review

3:42 PM by Jien

Tous les jours is a French word which literally means All the days but it really means "Everyday"

Since we are already in SM North Annex for a family celebration. My sister bought a cake from Tous Les Jours.

Tous Les Jours is an Asian-French bakery. It served bakery goods and beverages in several countries. Here in SM North Edsa, they have branches in The Block and Annex.