Payday Lunch Series: Cafe Ysabel

It's another payday lunch and this time our curious tummies led us to Cafe Ysabel, this quaint restaurant hidden in San Juan area. This culinary gem has been a consistent recipient of awards both local and international for serving dishes that astounds any palate. I am so glad that I finally got to experience Chef Gene's magical abilities in the kitchen (labo).

These were on our table.

After taking our orders and a little bit of waiting time, we were served these delicious, fresh-off-the-oven complimentary breads. Tinapay pa lang winner na!

Dip thy bread on olive oil and balsamic vinegar

Chef's Pate, Onion Jam and Crackers. Needs more crackers!

Truffle Pizza. Eating food drizzled with truffle is becoming a habit in our small group of "gourmands".

Truffle shavings, white truffle oil, Gruyere cheese, bechamel, oregano and basil

Paella Sulipeña. Even though I had a hard time skinning the shrimp, I absolutely loved this paella, especially the burnt rice part!

Classic saffron rice with seafood and mixed meats

Penne Ala Gino. The gorgonzola on it was too strong for my liking!

Gorgonzola cheese with tomato cream sauce and prosciutto ham

Poulet Adolfo. This was a surprise hit for everyone, the sauce was really divine.

Ballotine of chicken stuffed with homemade sausage served with caramelized onion cream and apple tatin

Cafe Ysabel looks exactly like an old house in the quiet San Juan neighborhood complete with greeneries and fountain in the front yard. Very, very homey. The ambience inside? Even better.

But the biggest surprise of all is the modest price you'll have to pay for all the wonderful food experiences you'll have. Not bad at all, not bad. I suggest you dine with friends or go on a double date so you can split the bills. Although dining with your special someone here would be really, really nice and romantic. Whatever you choose, you'll still end up as a winner.

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Cafe Ysabel
455 P. Guevarra Street,
San Juan Metro Manila
Telephone Numbers: (632) 726-9326 and (632) 725-5089
For Reservations and Inquiries: reservation@cafeysabel.com

Payday Lunch Series: Poco Deli

End-of-the-month payday lunch was spent in Poco Deli located in my beloved Kapitolyo neighborhood (I just had to squeeze that, sorry!). They specializes in artisan sausages and deli products that are worthy of your hard-earned money. 

Whenever I eat in Poco Deli I usually end up ordering Aglio Olio and Pizza so this time I was really excited to try their other good stuff.

Wine bodega

Happily waiting for their food.

For the meantime, we busied ourselves in taste-testing 5 varieties of cheese before we made our final decision of 3 choice cheeses that would go along with our sausages.

Goat cheese, Gorgonzola, Emmental, Pecorino and Manchego (?!?)

But in the end, we were served two kinds of cheese, instead of the original 3. Yung hindi pa namin pinili hahaha. Labo!

German Sausage and Cheese Platter

Their Truffle Oil Pasta with Mushroom awakened our Mamou memories of their incomparable Lorenzo's Truffle Cream. This comes in second place until I find another better one hee.

It's my first time to try the Irish Beef Stew. It was a fusion of flavors  which I can't quite put my finger to what those are exactly. Basta, okay naman!

This however, I believe is one of the deli's bestsellers: Bacon Slabs with Eggs and Bacon Rice. You'll never have that "it's not enough" moment because IT IS more than enough! That's actually 2 huge slabs of homemade bacon goodness.

Bacon rice. There is nothing more to say.

For dessert, what else but The Blackout Chocolate Cake. Dig in to creamy and intense chocolate layers that are too sinful, not to mention bad for your curves. Chos!

When the bill came, everyone on the table was surprised at how it didn't cost us too much for such good food. Bimby, this is what sulit means!

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Poco Deli

21 East Capitol Drive

Kapitolyo, Pasig

(02) 477-4332

Postcard From Nepal

I love receiving, as well as sending too, postcards. I always ask friends going on an out of country (or even domestic!) trips to send me one if they can.

Here's the latest one I got. It's very special because it came from the rooftop of the world and a Sherpa wrote me a message too. If you don't know it yet I ADORE SHERPAS!

Adobo Run After Dark

This run was a last minute decision which we paid dearly for when we got stuck in the weekend traffic. We inched our way through the traffic, skipped u-turns and kept a pretty good record as we passed by annoying MMDA abangers before making it to SM MOA parking lot just in time for the gun start of  5k run. Our kit was for 15k. Haha.

This happened while I was busily lacing my shoes.

[Sweaty] Finishers! :)

Finishers: Jam and JC

Rovilson is one genuinely nice guy!

Thanks to our sponsor, Mitch!!

I have to have this shot in the finish line. PS: JC de Veyra was behind me mwahaha.

After the run, there was a mini concert in the parking grounds. We were able to catch 3 bands - Ernville, Pedicab and 6 Cycle Mind. Photo below is of Pedicab. Spotted: Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona 

After Pedicab's set I ran after RA Rivera and had this taken. Superb!

Free-flowing Manila Beer all night!

We left a little after 9 and was starving by the time we hit QC. We had a post-run feast at Behrouz to regain all the calories we lost. LOL. It was très bien!

Payday Lunch Series: 'Cue Modern Barbecue

It's another payday foodtrip post! This time, we trooped to Bonifacio High Street to come and see what the fuss is all about Cue, most especially the ever famous Bone Marrow and Steak Tacos.

From the outside

Interior

Menu (front)

Menu (back)

Ten ordered this Grapes N' Ginger Fruit Shake which has an interesting flavours. It looks and feels like a grape juice but the taste of ginger is stronger. I like it though. I wonder how the Green Mango N' Basil will fare :)

Here it is, the must-have-meal in Cue: Bone Marrow and Steak Tacos. If you want to have an instant heart attack, the portion is good for one person otherwise the four of us managed to share the cute portion between ourselves. I liked the salsa verde that went with it. But since the AC was on full mode inside the resto, the marrow naturally turned into sebo faster than you can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (haha, labo). So we requested it to be reheated (it came back sizzling!)

This Smoked Bacon Carbonara was a disappointment :( The pasta was devoid of any exciting flavor, it was the bacon who saved it.

Just Mac N' Cheese. The name of the food said it all.

Chicken Chipotle Chorizo Pot Pie. The surprise hit for everyone, especially Xan.

The Baby Back Ribs (Slow-baked then BBQ'D, Wet, house-made BBQ sauce) and 'Cue's Chili Monggo. They weren't kidding when they said that the monggo was spicy!

Naturally we always have our group photo after the meal has been wiped out :))

Food in 'Cue was alright, there were some hits and misses and that's fairly fine (although for its price, NOT). I think I'm good with just one try. :)

As a parting shot, took a photo of these nice chairs outside the restaurant.

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'Cue Modern Barbecue

Bonifacio High Street Central

G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock

 7th Ave cor 29th St., Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

(02) 621-4052