Japok is a small, open-air eatery just across McDonald's E. Rodriguez. There was a long line at McDo's drivethru so we just crossed over to Japok.

Their menu is very simple and straightforward, in fact the whole thing is posted on the counter wall so you can tell the order-taker what you want right away. I opted for their Jappy Maki (P70/4 pcs), which is crunchy maki topped with mayo and shredded crabsticks. Hubby ordered the Gyoza Bento (P65), which was comprised of rice, veggies, and about 4-5 big pieces of Gyoza. We also got a Miso Ramen (P75) to share.

The food was okay in general, except for the Miso Ramen. Although it came in a huge bowl, they should really have called it Oily Instant Noodles because that was what it was. Shredded veggies and instant noodle-like noodles steeped in tasteless oily soup. Suffice to say we couldn't finish it.

If you're eating at Japok, forget the ramen. Get a bento meal, it's really cheap and satisfying. Plus points: The staff was honest enough to admit to serving tap water from the sink and using it to make their Japok Green Iced Tea. So we had C2 instead... better safe than sorry.

Please check out the link for your own safety.

Had a late but nice family lunch at Polu Kai Grill yesterday. We were there at about 2pm, and there weren't too many people at the restaurant.

There were so many things on the menu that hubby and I had to take extra time to order. Our kids were getting antsy so we asked the waiter if they had any kiddie activity sheets or crayons. He promptly took out some blank sheets of paper and a tub of crayons, and the kids immediately got to work doodling and scribbling.

We ended up ordering Kimo Korean Beef BBQ (P410), Fish and Chips (P340), Jamaican Jerk Chicken (P425), and two bowls of Seafood Chowder (P165 each). The food was generally okay, my only complaint being the chicken's skin was burnt and bitter. Our kids wolfed down everything we put on their plates, and I really loved the coleslaw and the yogurt sauce that came with the chicken. I find most coleslaws too sour or overly mayo-ed but this one was just right. We also took home an order of their Pineapple Fried Rice (P150), which we had for dinner at home. Portions are big and can be shared.

The place is great -- the tables and chairs are spacious and it's really conducive for family meals. They even had this big saltwater aquarium which our kids got a real kick out of. Service is excellent, the waiters were very patient with us (we took quite some time ordering) and gladly indulged hubby when he asked for more lemon slices for the Fish and Chips.

All in all we had a lovely afternoon at Polu Kai Grill.

The last time I dined at Bubba Gump was ages ago in Greenbelt. It was my first time at the Trinoma branch last night and all I can say is... great shrimp! My friend ordered Forrest's Shrimp Net Catch (P600), a BIG serving of shrimps steamed in beer and an assortment of vegetables for us to share. Oh it made me forget I was allergic to shrimp and I kept eating, thinking a dose of Claritin will solve whatever reactions I'll get thereafter... heheh. It's just that good, and I'm not missing out just because I'm allergic. Juicy, tender, smoking fresh off the steamer... YUM! We had a slice of their Chocolate Cake (P140) for dessert and it wasn't as great as the menu made it out to be. It was served cold, obviously just out of the ref, so it's on the hard and dry side.

The place is great -- bright and cheery, perfect for a night out with friends. Service is okay, and in general the food is good. It's just that Forrest's Shrimp Net Catch had the biggest impact on me out of everything that was ordered.

I hate Starbucks Frappuccinos with a passion. They're sickeningly sweet, grossly overrated, and expensive. When I saw the standee for Dark Mocha Frappuccino though, I was intrigued. The smallest size cost P140 but I had some GCs to blow so I thought what the heck.

The Dark Mocha Frappuccino was a pleasant surprise. It was rich in that dark chocolate way and not as sweet as their other frap flavors. I ordered a Vegetarian Jamaican Pie (P70) to go with it. It was pretty good, served warm with a variety of beans inside and it wasn't greasy. I'd say though that the flavor was more Mexican than Jamaican.

All in all I had a good coffee break courtesy of Starbucks Robinsons Galleria. They even gave me a computer code I can use to answer an online survey and be rewarded with another free drink. Nice!!!

While waiting for someone, hubby and I stopped by for drinks at Mocha Blends in Megamall with kids in tow. Mocha Blends is located smack in the middle of the mall's wide corridor. There were regular tables and chairs as well as couches and coffee tables.

I ordered their Iced Cappuccino (P95) while our son had the Cookies and Cream (P125) non-coffee concoction. The Iced Cappuccino was cold and creamy but it lacked that coffee kick. The coffee tasted watered down. Nescafe 3-in-1 has a more robust flavor than this, and that says a lot. Our son was pretty happy with his Cookies and Cream drink though. It tasted like Oreos blended together with milk and a bit of vanilla ice cream.

This is no place to get your caffeine fix.

The first thing that struck me about El Pollo Loco was how big and spacious the place was for a fast food joint. Since we got there before 11am, there were very few people eating. We ordered their 4-piece chicken combo for P270, which came with 4 pcs. of flour tortilla, 2 large sidings, and salsa. I also ordered their Arroz Caldo for P35 for my little girl and an extra siding of regular coleslaw.

The chicken is on the thin side. The Spanish rice siding was okay, the corn siding tasted like Del Monte Corn Kernels from the can, and the coleslaw was nakakasuya. The Arroz Caldo was probably the worst, it was swimming in sebum and the consistency was totally unlike a porridge. It was like sticky rice steeped in oil soup. The spoon was heavily coated with oil every time I dipped it in the bowl. We asked for mild salsa to accompany the chicken and the result was pretty much plain old diced tomatoes. No trace of spicyness or flavor anywhere.

Next time we're in Megamall we'll definitely pick another place to eat.

I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on glam fashion make-up at Center for Aesthetic Studies yesterday. CAS is where a lot of renowned make-up artists like Jigs Mayuga of L'oreal Philippines graduated from. A 4-hour workshop costs about P2.1k pesos, and they offer a full certification course on make-up artistry.

It was a great experience. CAS has a full staff of very knowledgeable and experienced instructors for both hair and make-up, and the school itself is well-equipped. They have a multimedia projector and whiteboard for their lectures and they have mirrors on almost all the walls so you can practice what you've learned. You have to bring your own cosmetics and model though.

Our instructor yesterday was Ms. Jennie Delica, who does make-up and training for Avon Philippines and other companies. She was a very clear and effective teacher and she had me doing smoky eyes and nude lips after about an hour. CAS is very particular about hygeine and would really train you to clean all your brushes and tools thoroughly on a regular basis. CAS also offers workshops on self make-up.

CAS is great for an exercise in creativity, self-enrichment, and maybe even an option for an alternative career.

Center for Aesthetic Studies
2/F Franck Provost Bldg., 120 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air Village, Makati City
897-0383

Spaghetti Factory kind of impressed us at first because the waiter said we could choose from any of the 8 pasta types available (spaghetti, spaghettini, capellini, linguine, fettucine, fusilli, penne, and farfalle) and then match it with our desired sauce. The seemingly endless list of sauces are classified according to base -- tomato-based, cream-based, etc. All the pastas cost P159 and are served with focaccia bread and grated parmesan cheese. It seemed like a good deal.

I ordered their Famous Sundried Tomatoes linguine, while hubby opted for their Italian Sausage Mafia Style spaghettini. Well, I've officially just had the WORST tasting sundried tomatoes ever. They were tasteless and seemed old and wilted and just plain gross, something like rubbery cardboard marinated in olive oil. I was imagining the people in the kitchen getting the sundried tomatoes from those decorative bottles filled with oil and assorted veggies. Eeew. Hubby's pasta was spicy and was ever-so-slightly better than what I had. The sausages in his sauce tasted like they had just come out of the freezer and the olives also seemed old and bland. The focaccia bread they served alongside our pasta were tough and not even toasted. We had a hard time biting and chewing the bread. Again, I suspect the bread is also old stock.

Service is kind of slow and dead, the waiters moved like zombies and the restaurant wasn't even half full. They have this ongoing Merienda Super Saver promo which you can avail from 2pm-6pm wherein you can order Birdy (chicken) & Spaghetti Bolognese which comes with a free drink for P89. We were there less than 10 minutes before 2pm and they would not let us order it.

I'm not EVER going back to Spaghetti Factory to spend money on OLD food, that's for sure.

The ultimate guide to places to go in Metro Manila.

I had always been under the impression that Red Box Karaoke is one very expensive place to go for karaoke, but I was wrong. Red Box has all these ongoing promotions that are too good to be true that even if you're not a karaoke buff you'd want to avail of them.

Like last Sunday noon my hubby and I along with two kids and a yaya availed of their Sunday Family Funday promo. For a net fee of P329 per head (except kids below 6 years old which are free), you get to eat-all-you-can, drink-all-you-can, and sing-all-you-can from 12 noon to 3pm. Lunch consists of a buffet with salads, soup, rice, pasta, around 3 viands, and dessert. Bottomless iced tea is served with lunch. The food is average but the whole experience was great! The kids had a blast belting out Disney hits from High School Musical, Hannah Montana, and even movies like The Little Mermaid.

The place was surprisingly packed (all the ground floor rooms were occupied by 12:30pm and they open 12noon) as they already have a lot of weekend regulars who avail of the P329 per head promo. It was a well-spent Sunday afternoon and we'd gladly do it again some time.

Restaurant 101 is much more clandestine than a hole in the wall, it's tucked away amidst one of the many anonymous rooms in an office building. Located at the 2nd floor of the Wynsum Corporate Center, you'd never guess that the small corridor lined with conference rooms would lead you to a restaurant.

Restaurant 101's dimly lit and quiet setting is ideal for dates and private conversations, we were actually the only ones present for dinner last night. This is as private as private gets. While the food choices are not as plentiful as those you'd find in other restaurants, each dish is well thought out and unique that you'd be hard-pressed in deciding what to order all the same. I had the Cream of Butternut Squash Soup (P90), which was simultaneously creamy and hearty and yet not tiring to the palate. It was served with a small pastry shell filled with chicken barbecue slices on the side. It was hands down the best squash soup I've had in a long time, and it cost only P90! For my main dish I settled for the Cream Dory Fillet with Silk Tofu and Garlic Puree (P450). It was good but it tasted like something out of a Chinese restaurant, I liked hubby's Baked Salmon with Porcini Mushroom (P420) better. They had a separate menu for dessert which I asked for and I ended up ordering the Vanilla Panna Cotta with Summer Berries (P150). I didn't like it much because it did not taste anything like Panna Cotta, it tasted like strawberry jelly topped with jam. The Dark Chocolate Mousse dessert was better received by our group.

Service is flawless, we never once had to ask the waiters to refill our glasses with water or to take care of the crumbs that littered our table. They were always alert and on call. Dining at Restaurant 101 was a very pleasant experience we'd love to repeat some time.

Love the place -- modern and classy yet comfortable and unintimidating at the same time. We ordered their promotional meal (available until May 31, 2008) which is a set menu for 4 people. For 999++ you get a 10" Barbecue Chicken Pizza, Beer Battered Fish Fillet w/ Madison Fries (aka Fish and Chips), Hickory Smoked Barbecue Ribs, and 4 tall glasses of iced tea. Alas they ran out of the Hickory Smoked Ribs and replaced it with Australian Beef Ribs instead, which is cheaper by nearly P100. Still, we took the promo meal because if you order all the said items it would normally set you back at least 1.5k++, so 999++ was a nice deal.

The serving portions are huge -- the family size of each dish can be shared by at least 3 people. Even the iced tea was served in a shockingly tall glass, the contents of which you can easily split between 2 regular glasses. They also give you complimentary hot freshly baked bread with a variety of spreads to tide you over while you wait. Service is great as food arrives quickly and they give you glasses of cold water without you having to ask for it.

The food? Well, it's a mixed bag. The Beer battered fish fillet tasted like it was coated entirely in beer and nothing else. All I could taste was beer. My kids actually tore away the crispy beer batter and just ate the fish inside. The fries were okay, but the red curry mayo didn't really complement the strong beer taste. I loved the buttered vegetables on the side though, the carrots and string beans were really crisp and fresh. Barbecue Chicken pizza was okay. I liked the thin, non-greasy crust but the pizza itself as a whole was just okay... nothing to write home about really. Australian Beef Ribs, although really tender, tasted strangely like buttered corned beef, I suspect the Hickory Smoked Barbecue Ribs would've been better. Oh, and the iced tea tastes like water.

It was an interesting and filling meal, but judging from the food we had I wouldn't call this the best resto on the block. It's pretty pricey to boot. Plus points for the interiors, ambiance, and service though. I rate Madison Grill 3.5 stars, but since there's no half rating... I have to mark down 3 stars.

More pics HERE.

We went to Manila Ocean Park yesterday and the kids liked it a lot, and they've been to Ocean Park in Hong Kong, Underwater World in Singapore, and Sea World in the United States. What I'm saying is that Manila Ocean Park is a nice place in its own right, and can make children oooh and aaah at all the marine life just as they would if you took them abroad. For 350-400 bucks per head, it's very much worth the experience especially if your kids have never been to such a place.

The place is clean and spacious. Even the bathrooms are nice. There are food stands and restaurants in the complex so you don't have to worry about going hungry. They also have glass bottom boat rides for an additional fee. I was surprised by the presence of a Fish Spa, where you dip your feet in a shallow pool while little fishies nibble on your dead skin. It costs P100 for 20 minutes. We saw something like this in Singapore and Singaporeans swear by it.

Well worth a visit, especially for families with kids. Much better than malling the weekend away.

More pics HERE.

I'd call this a hole-in-the-wall, except that it's not really a hole-in-the-wall... it's more like a secret garden hidden somewhere in the Katipunan area. Lucky us, one of our friends decided to celebrate his birthday here tonight and so the secret garden was revealed...

The first thing that struck me about the place were all the weeping willows that met me when I got down from the car. There were also numerous Koi on the fish pond / ground aquarium by the entrance. In-Yo is actually an old house that was converted into this charming little restaurant. The place is quite small, the ground floor has something like 2 big and 2 small tables. They have a second floor but I didn't get to see it. It's a very private venue, ideal for dates and nights when you want to catch up with old friends and do lots of talking.

We started our evening with their complimentary bread appetizer, which was nothing short of fascinating. It had a cake-like texture, cheesy yet fruity flavor, and tiny bits of pimiento. I swear I've never had free bread that tasted this good. I had to restrain myself from nibbling on it non-stop as we waited for our orders, hence I lose my appetite. Then came our oyster appetizers, which were simply divine. Wasabi Fried Oysters (6 pieces for P225) were oysters inside wasabi puffs topped with flavored Japanese mayonnaise and what looked like black sesame seeds. They really aced this dish, the wasabi was just right -- not too spicy but still had that distinct kick. So yummy!!! Then we had the usual Oyster Rockefeller (6 pieces for P255), which is baked oysters in creamy cheese sauce with little veggie bits. It was just as delicious... my friend remarked he can just have the oysters in this restaurant and be perfectly happy.

For the main course, I chose Mesquite Smoked Fillet of Halibut (P450). It was served with al dente aglio olio pasta, some mixed greens in raspberry vinaigrette, and a stick of pickled red ginger. The fish had this unique smokey and woodsy aroma. Eating it together with the greens and the pasta, and then biting off bits of the red ginger is an indescribable gastronomic experience. Hubby had the Honey Glazed Grilled Salmon (P440). The exceptionally juicy salmon was served on a bed of wasabi mashed potato, mixed greens with a bit of seaweed, and some citrus-based sauce. Heaven!!! Our friends ordered equally lovely dishes (which they also let me try, hehe), and all of us agreed that the food was superb.

We really went all out with dessert, ordering four kinds to share. Trio of Creme Brulee (P180) featuring three small containers of extra rich and creamy classic, espresso, and chocolate creme brulee, Vanilla Bean Infused Panna Cotta (P180, but was given for free as a birthday gift for our friend), What a Dessert (P180) which is a tart made of cream cheese mousse and peanut butter, and Mango Pavlova (P225), In-Yo's special summer dessert. Mango Pavlova is basically a light, spongy meringue topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh mangoes. Every single dessert tasted as great as it looked. So sinful but so good!

The prices are actually reasonable considering the high quality and the beautiful presentation of the food. They are specially prepared by a chef so there's a bit of waiting time (but not too long) for the main courses. In-Yo is a fusion restaurant, and I can say that they've really mastered the art of fusing ingredients together to create one delightful dish after another. I'll definitely be back for more!

We went to Zhu at about 10am yesterday since my mom-in-law wanted to have lunch out for Mothers' Day. The restaurant was still closed, and the waitress told me they were opening at 11am. I told her to reserve a table for eight for our group, and she said they were already fully booked. Anyways, they told us they would accomodate us if we went back at about 10:30am - 10:45am. Already I was giving them plus points in my mind for the extra service.

Everything would have been great except for the fact that almost everything we ordered was very salty save for 2-3 dishes. I felt that my kidneys were going to be shot after our meal. I kept reaching for my glass of water between mouthfuls.

For starters we had their Spinach Seafood Beancurd Soup (P68). Any potential it had was killed by the saltiness, I couldn't even finish half of the bowl. Next we had the Seafood Crispy Noodles (P202), which tasted like random bits of seafood, veggies, and noodles tossed in salt. We also ordered Shanghai Xiao Long Pao (P77 for 3 pieces) and Hakaw (P99 for 4 pieces), which were both okay but unremarkable. Then we had their supposedly bestselling Yangchow Fried Rice (P180), while it wasn't salty it was also nothing special. We then had the misfortune of ordering another bestseller, Stuffed Scallops with Wintermelon Slices (P269). It had a funny smell which made us suspect it was spoiled or "panis" somehow. Steamed Fish Fillet with Garlic Sauce (P252) was probably the best dish we had on our table. Sliced fish on top of tofu in delicious soya-based sauce... it actually tasted pretty good. We got a complimentary Deep Fried Spicy XO Radish Cake (P168) thanks to a coupon I got from the Spot launch. The radish cake was also lovely, too bad they used a really bad, cheapo grade XO sauce which tasted like it was made out of... you guessed it, salt! That ruined what could've been an excellent dish, they should rename it Deep Fried Salty XO Radish Cake instead. Last but not least, we had their Special Taho (P112, good for a maximum of 8 servings) for dessert. This is probably the best item on their menu, it was served in a wooden bucket ala Gloriamaris with tapioca and syrup on the side.

I was really disappointed with my Zhu experience today, and I thought I had researched the place well. I went online and looked for reviews prior to our visit and everyone had nothing but good things to say. I felt my tastebuds had been impaired for the rest of the day thanks to all the salt.

Boracay Peninsula Resort is not affiliated in any way with the Peninsula group of hotels. Anyways, being confined at St. Luke's Medical Center is so much better than checking in Boracay Peninsula Resort.

First off, let's start with the positive points. There are only three -- airconditioning, space, and location. The room's aircon kept us sufficiently cool and comfy, the room is spacious enough, and the location is a stone's throw away from the beach. You can step out of the lobby and go to the beach directly.

Negative points? Hmmm... the water supply is unstable. They actually RAN OUT of water while I was in the middle of my shower, and I had to use our drinking water to finish rinsing myself -- and this happened TWO DAYS in a row. It's bad enough that the water pressure in our bathroom is weak, but to have it actually run out??? Oh, and the bathroom looks EXACTLY like a hospital bathroom, only bigger. The sink is so NOT user-friendly, placed so high up that even I have trouble reaching it.

The refrigerator stinks, no words could describe the yucky smell. I was afraid to put anything in there. The pillows felt like they were stuffed with pebbles, and I woke up with a stiff neck every single day. The towels they provide are so thinned out and ratty I felt like I was using sandpaper. The sheets had telltale little rust stains I almost did not want to lie down. There's no intercom or telephone in the rooms so when the water would run out we had to walk down flights of stairs (we were at the 3rd floor) just to tell them there was no water. There were also little insects in the corners of the bathroom, was that a daddy long legs spider? Wow, it was and I hate spiders.

Their idea of cleaning the room is sweeping the floors, changing the towels, and making the beds. They gave us welcome drinks when we got there, 4 glasses of nestea, and wow, the glasses remained on our table till the day we checked out. Ants were already crawling there.

And breakfast? Our package included breakfast. It's a choice between a vast array of processed food -- luncheon meat, hot dog, or corned beef? Take your pick. I think the best thing about breakfast was the Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee they provided.

They have a swimming pool, which was unfortunately pretty murky when we got there. They cleaned it the next day and it became fit to swim in.

Anyways, this place sucks. Don't be fooled by the pictures on their website. Yes, it's cheap at 3.5k a night but it really takes a lot out of what could be a great vacation experience.

Amazing Cones is a quaint little pizza / ice cream parlor along Hemady St. in Quezon City. I've long been curious as to what a "pizza-in-a-cone" is so I decided to give it a try.

I ordered a Screaming Garlic Amazing Cone and it was good. A soft, chewy dough is molded into a cone and filled with different ingredients. In my case the Screaming Garlic pizza cone contained garlic, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. It cost something like 80+ pesos though so I could not help but think I may be better off ordering a full round pizza from somewhere to curb our hunger pangs.

My son had their gigantic Amazing Swirl ice cream cone. Basically you pick some ingredients and have them blended into vanilla flavored soft-serve ice cream. It cost a little less (60+ pesos if I remember correctly) than the Amazing Cone but I felt it was still a tad too pricey just for an ice cream cone. Hubby in the meantime had their Buko Pandan Ice Slush. The ice slushes are the least expensive things on the menu at 40+ pesos but they weren't really anything special.

Overall, Amazing Cones offers decent but overpriced eats. The bright and clean interiors are an additional plus though...

Sizzling Pepper Steak is brought to us by the same person behind the Teriyaki Boy chain. It is more or less based on the Japanese chain called "Pepper Lunch" which will open at the Power Plant in Rockwell soon. We couldn't get in the Pepper Lunch when we were in Tokyo because it was always packed full of people. When we saw Sizzling Pepper Steak in Trinoma today, we decided to give it a go.

I was struck by the bright, clean, and cozy interiors. There were LCD monitors and paper placemats demonstrating how you should eat your pepper rice and steak. Tables were also equipped with individual exhausts so you won't smell like food afterwards.

Anyways I order Beef Pepper Rice (P185), hubby ordered Saikoro Pepper Rice (P175), Kenshin had the kiddie meal with spaghetti bolognese, crisscut fries, fried chicken, and iced tea (P155), while our helper had the Pork Pepper Rice (P165). The pepper rice meals are served on hot plates with the meat only slightly cooked. You'll have to finish cooking it yourself before you can eat. After the meat is cooked you're supposed to mix it all together with the rice, and you can add sauces (available on your table) if you wish to make it more flavorful.

The servings are sizzling hot and hearty, you'll surely be satisfied after one plate. Very tasty! Service is also very good, the servers were very courteous, attentive, and quick on their feet. We were asked to fill out a feedback form after the meal and given a complimentary chocolate crinkle. We'll definitely be back

Pictures here - http://animetric.multiply.com/photos/album/37/Sizzling_Pepper_Steak