Sunny With A High of 75: Milky and Sunny!

There's something about having a big breakfast on a lazy weekend.  Somehow, it gets one rejuvenated and re-energized after a long boring work week.  Other times, it's the perfect wake-me-upper for a whole night of Friday partying.  Still in some, it's just plainly something to fill the starving stomach and appease the voracious appetite.

No question about it, we love breakfast.  And with the food fad nowadays centering on all-day breakfast joints, it helps to carefully select which shop to choose.  Some offer unique creations, while some choose to stick to the basic staples, like silog meals.  Of course, there are those in between, twisting and manipulating the common breakfast meals into a crafty masterpiece.

I have long planned on dropping by Kapitolyo in Pasig to just try any of the restaurants and shops littered along the whole stretch of the street.  What better way to start my food trip with a big breakfast at Milky and Sunny.  This quaint shop has often been the talk of food blogs, earning both praises and criticisms.  I had to try it for myself to see what the fuss was all about.

As always, pastel colors mean delicious food.

To start off, indeed there was a lot of fuss.  We got there just past 11AM on a Saturday, but the place was already packed!  Luckily, one table became available just when we arrived.  The place was really small and felt cramped, but could comfortably seat 35 people or so.  The pastel blue colors contrasted by white was a welcome treat for the eyes, as well as the big photos of their breakfast selections.  The fixtures were simple yet colorful.  It almost felt like a pre-school classroom turned restaurant.

Eat, drink, and be chubby.

The food is the star.

I hope the serving size is as big as that.

The menu was straightforward yet extensive, offering the typical Filipino breakfast silogs, omelettes, pancakes, and even pasta!  But, a major letdown was that they did not have hot chocolate on the menu.  Who doesn't love hot choco in the morning?  Beats me what kids get to sip here.  It's almost a crime not to offer a piping cup of hot chocolate in a breakfast joint!  There are milkshakes on the selection, but not everyone can tolerate a cold drink for breakfast.

Having no hot chocolate is a crime, nay, a sin!

Nevertheless, we sought to compensate for our disappointment by ordering a lot!  It took us a while to pick our orders.  It would have helped if the menu book had nice pictures of the food they served.  I imagined Banana King Kong to be a heaping pile of chocolate french toast in the mold of a gorilla.  Of course it wasn't.

Blueberry Honeypie Pancakes, P140

First to arrive was the Blueberry Honeypie, a stack of hotcakes sandwiching a thick blueberry spread.  For that price, you get enough bang for your buck.  Each cake was large and perfectly round and thick, a pleasing treat to the eyes.  However, the cakes were not fluffy like that of IHOP or Pancake House.  Hell not even close to McDonald's.  There were sections that were too thick and a bit tough.  The saving grace though was the blueberry.  This was not your run-of-the-mill straight from the bottle jam.  It tasted homemade, and there were real whole plump blueberries in it.  I had never tasted such a blueberry spread before.  Often the berries were turned into mush by food processing.  But this was way different.  Another plus was that in between each layer was a generous spread of blueberries, plus you get a shot glassful of maple syrup to suit your sweet desire.  This would have been the star if not for the thick and tough pancake itself.

Banana King Kong, P150

This glorified French toast was a delectable treat.  Two large slices of white bread done in the usual French toast way, but slathered with a thick banana compote in between.  A drizzle of chocolate syrup adds a touch of sweetness.  The bread was good and sweet but not overpowering.  Some parts though had a burnt taste.  I was a bit surprised to find a banana compote filling instead of real fresh bananas.  Not that the filling was not okay, but it might have been better to use fresh ones.  The filling had a texture of mashed sweet saging na saba, which I'm not really a fan of.  Despite that, this dish was more hits than misses.

Bacon, Mushroom, and Cheese Omelet, P150

This trio of bacon, 'shrooms, and cheese was a perfect mix of flavors and texture.  The omelet was large enough to accommodate all three, and it was stuffed to the brim.  They did not scrimp on the bacon, although it was not crisp as expected.  It was rather soft and chewy.  I preferred the crunchier variant.  Although we could have ordered it the way we wanted it.  Also, some of the mushrooms included were old and tough and fibrous, questioning the freshness of the ingredients.  More so, it wouldn't have been too much to serve a slice of toast to along with this omelet.  But for the generous amounts of bacon, this was already a good meal in itself.

An explosion of flavors.

I was torn between the tapsilog and tosilog, but in keeping with the sweet overtones, I chose the tocino instead, expecting a sweet savory blend.  Bad move.

Tocino, P130

For some strange reason, despite its temptingly sweet appearance, it was not.  Instead, the tocino was garlicky and mildly salty.  I picked at each piece, trying in vain to perhaps get a bite of a touch of sweetness, but there was none.  Not even a trace.  You know how a good tocino with its crisp burnt caramel edges should taste like?  Well this was the exact opposite.  I was fooled by the burnt appearance and the glistening coat.  Still, the meat was pink and fresh, and the serving just enough for the cup of garlic rice.  However, I for one believe that tocino should be made on the sweeter side.  If I want garlic I would have chosen the tapa instead.  On second thought, maybe the tapa here was sweet, which is how I prefer that to be.  On all accounts, several other tosilogs out there best this version handily.

Breakfast is always the biggest meal of the day.

Milky and Sunny clearly has all the right formula for success: a tantalizing mix of savory dishes and sweet blends.  Its homey feel and laid-back vibe appeal to the surrounding neighborhood and offices.  As evidenced by the early Saturday crowd, it already has its loyal fans trooping from even the far reaches of the metro.

Understandably, it also has its critics.  Milky and Sunny is probably not at par with the big shots IHOP and the like, but for this price range, the food is quite good.  Still, it would help to tweak some of their recipes, aiming for a fluffier pancake or fresher fruits and such.  Oh and that hot chocolate should be added. No excuses.  Despite all that's been said, the forecast for Milky and Sunny remains bright, a gratifying getaway on a rainy day.

Jones

Milky and Sunny

9 East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo

Pasig City

https://www.facebook.com/milkynsunny

Flying High with Wingman!

I'm in a rut.  Sometimes life tends to go by agonizingly slow.  It is during such long lulls and blank stares into space that this thought crossed my mind. 

Comfort food beckons.

I have long heard local foodie lore about this tough-to-find joint tucked somewhere in the back pockets of Makati.  Yet, this place is so famous by word-of-mouth (and by blogs, for that matter), that it ranks number one in TripAdvisor.  Seriously.  For such an unassuming shop, it was making its own legend.  And having fallen in addiction to the wings craze, this was soon on top of my list just begging to be checked out.  On a perfect warm Saturday noon, with the Makati traffic wanting, we set out in our journey for this critically acclaimed wing joint.

Wingman has long been in seclusion in a warehouse turned commercial space along a side street.  The Collective houses a few good restaurants and a slew of other art shops and clothing store.  But, I can bet a hundred wings there's only one place here that gets the greatest mileage.  Armed with my Ipad map, it was easy finding the place.  But it was tougher to grab a parking spot, let alone parallel park!  The wings better be good, I thought, as I squeezed my sedan in between a dilapidated police van and a beat-up pedicab.

The bar is the best place to catch up on NBA news. And a few shots.

Let them do the talking. 

Wingman opens at 12 noon on a Saturday, and we arrived on the dot.  Yet there were already a few customers inside, a testament to the goodness it serves.  The place was well-lit with the walls draped in its signature red. A few World War II - Korean War era posters of war planes decorated the walls, in obvious reference to their name.  Wingman is also a frequented watering hole, with a small bar offering a collection of liquor.  There were a few tables for dining al fresco, but it was rather humid that day.  So we picked a bright spot inside, along the window panes, and then settled in to browse the menu.  Surprisingly, for a dedicated wing joint, they offered other comfort food items such as big burgers and matching fries!

A crumpled menu is always a good sign.

But we were here for nothing else but the wings.  After pondering a bit, we elected to choose the original Buffalo flavor and then tried out a concoction unique to Wingman.  But first, we also picked something on the side to complement our main order.

Onion Rings, P130 (+4% service charge)

When the Onion Rings arrived at the table, we were stunned.  The rings were huge!  The size was reminiscent of the giant rings served at Nolita, although this was way cheaper.  Furthermore, the serving amount was beyond that of Nolita.  The bread crumbs coating the rings were akin to that of katsu, a bit spiky yet still gentle to the palate.  The skin was crispy like no other, while the rings within were kept fresh and moist.

Deep fried to perfection, the onion rings came along with a tangy mayonnaise dip.  They serve free refills of the dip, so don't fret.  With the amount of this serving, the dip runs out pretty quick.  One of the best executed onion rings I have ever had, it was highly addicting.  I would have consumed this on my own, yet I was highly anticipating the wings.

Dozen Wings, P330 (+4% service charge)

At first glance, the wings seemed diminutive.  There is an unending debate whether serving by the piece or by the pound is better.  One thing against serving by the pound is that the bones add to the weight, so you may get less than your buck's worth.  On the other hand, going by the piece makes sure you get the right amount, although sometimes, the wings are smaller.  At Wingman, the wings did appear smallish compared to what I've previously had.  But you get 12 honest pieces, and believe me, we were stuffed by the time we got to eight.  

You can split the dozen into two flavors of your liking.  And Wingman does have an extensive flavor selection, rivaling that of Buffalo's Wings and Things but still a few paces behind Sunrise Buckets.  We always went for the original Buffalo flavor, so as to compare to other wing shops.  The level of hotness can be tweaked however, so we opted for Apocalyptic.  No waivers needed though.

Original Buffalo, Apocalyptic!

What was striking is that the wings were oozing with sauce.  The buffalo sauce was liberally draping these adorable babies, with every nook and cranny accounted for.  The tell tale signs of chopped chili and the spunky aroma was screaming HOT all the way.  At first bite, it hits you with a little jab.  In succession, the pain kicks in.  A delicious kind of pain.  The sauce was tangy, just like the good old buffalo mix.  The skin was crisp but there were portions that were soft, clearly dampened by the overflowing sauce.  Nevertheless the meat was juicy, with the flavor seeping into every sinew.  A few traces of chopped cilantro offered additional zest to the already flavorful mix.

Who bit my wing??

It was our first time to test the Honey Garlic flavor, and we never regretted it after our first bite. The mild and refreshingly sweet honey blended well with the garlicky taste, offering a contrast as the flavors burst into your mouth.  Again, there were no holds barred as the sauce embraced each wing lovingly.  It was a relatively novel flavor, but it grew on me as I gobbled up wing after wing.

Honey Garlic

Despite its meager appearance, the wings were surprisingly packed with meat.  By my 4th piece, I was nearly full.  The ranch dressing comes free with each order, but additional sauces come with a price.  Nevertheless, the wings are already gushing with flavor, so we didn't order for more of the dip.

Another happy customer. And a new Wingman convert.

Now I understood all the commotion and hype about Wingman.  The flavors were spot-on, and neither did they scrimp on the ingredients.  What you see is what you get, and you get every penny's worth.  The vibe of the restaurant adds to the overall experience, with a homey feel, like a corner diner or a cozy bar.  The menu is expansive, an assurance that one will never grow tired of Wingman.  The onion rings alone left me dreamy, and the wings will surely make me come back for more.

One happy man in Wingman.

The only sad part is that Wingman is difficult to reach for people living outside Makati.  For those bringing their own cars, it's a test of orientation and map-reading skills.  Not to mention, you should have cat-like talents in parallel parking.  One might have better chances commuting, but then again, its a long walk from the main jeepney route.  Apparently, the place gets packed once the sun goes down, especially on weekends.  But that should not be a deterrent from trooping out to Wingman.  The wings are worth it.

The good news though, is that they are poised to open two new branches, one in Newport, and another somewhere near C5 in Taguig.  Beats me why they always choose a far-off place.  Newport?  Who goes there anyway.  Taguig?  Tough to find also.  Maybe it's because they want to preserve the sanctity of their legendary image.  Although I would prefer a branch nearer the south (greedy me!)

So does Wingman deserve its lofty top spot?  That remains to be debated and argued violently by wing lovers.  (Stay tuned for my upcoming head-to-head review of wing shops!)  Clearly though, it merits all the superlatives and accolades from foodies and even just plain hungry people.  With a growing patronage, Wingman will always be flying high. 

Jones

Wingman

The Collective

7274 Malugay Street 

Makati City

https://www.facebook.com/wingmangrill

Lost In Translation: Mr. Kurosawa

Combining two good things should produce one great product, right?  Not entirely true.  I'm always skeptical whenever I try a "fusion" restaurant.  Sometimes, too much creativity ruins the idea.  Other times, the marriage of two different cuisines results in one overpowering the other, such that the great flavor of one dissipates altogether.

But then, the essence of fusion is coming up with an entirely unique menu.  So why Mr. Kurosawa serves a familiarly Japanese line-up is beyond me.  Nevertheless, it leaves that part of their cuisine open to scrutiny.

Culture fusion.

Mr. Kurosawa is the brainchild of the same group who brought Sumo Sam.  The latter is a straightforward Japanese joint, but with a few hints of Westernization.  Nevertheless, its modernist approach has won over a lot of fans.  Mr. Kurosawa seeks to take that a notch higher, with higher-end items and a hodge-podge of fusion inventions.

From its outward appearance, Mr. Kurosawa seems like a modern hip resto-bar.  Dimly-lit interiors, neon signage, and sleek fixtures exude an Euro gastro-pub feel.  In fact, the only traces of Nipponese were the pictures of samurai and kabuki dotting the walls.  It was a special night, so the place was packed.  Luckily we grabbed  a cozy nook by the window panels.

At first glance, the only Western pieces that I noticed were the pizza selections and the burger concoctions, and of course the steaks.  We weren't in the mood for that, so we picked the Japanese menu, expecting a tweak in flavor and a twist in taste.  This was supposed to be fusion anyway.

Bacon Asparagus, P289 (+10% service charge)

A staple in most Japanese joints, we started off with the Bacon Asparagus.  I distinctly remember John and Yoko's version which was perfectly executed.  I was expecting the same talent here.  Although the serving size was larger, the dish failed horribly.  The bacon strips were sad and tired and not grilled enough to give a smokey flavor.  Some of the asparagus tops were too old and tough, I couldn't nibble them at all.  Nevertheless, the sauce was just right with a sweet and tangy flavor.  This could have been better.

Raging Tuna, P299 (+10% service charge)

Craving for a spicy kick, it was a tug-of-war between the Raging Tuna and the Dynamite Roll.  Since we've tried a number of versions of Dynamite Roll in other restaurants (I loved Omakase's version), we picked the novel sounding item instead.  How wrong we were.  The Raging Tuna consisted of raw tuna bits on top of a traditional roll, and then drizzled with a tangy sauce.  The rolls itself were diminutive.  The tuna was fresh but average, while the sauce completely lacked the spice our palates longed for.  We were the only thing raging (in disappointment) after sampling this.  Jozu Kin's Maguro Togarashi was light-years ahead.  Even Sakura's Crunchy Tuna Maki was way better than this fusion version.

Chicken Teriyaki, P268 (+10% service charge)

For the mains, we picked another favorite, the chicken teriyaki.  The skin was grilled to a light crisp with a smokey taste.  Makes me wonder why the Bacon Asparagus wasn't similarly done.  The meat itself was tender and juicy, and the sauce had the right blend of sweet and salty.  This was the only satisfactory item that night, yet the serving size was still a let-down.  For the same price, you could get a heftier serving at other authentic Japanese shop.  In addition, they could have been more liberal with the sauce, as it had a good mix of tastes.  The dish thus comes out dry in the end and lacking a bit of pomp.  Where was the unique fusion here?  Beats me.  Little Rio and Kenji Tei have more ingenious takes on the chicken teriyaki, making it crispy unlike any other.  Now that's inventive.

Ebi Tempura, P368 (+10% service charge)

Hoping to save the night was the Ebi Tempura, another ubiquitous item on any Japanese dinner.  But it fails miserably much the same way.  First off, you don't get a choice to select a 3-piece or 5-piece set.  Strangely, if I recall it right, it came in a 4-piece set.  The prawns were dwarfish and pathetic.  The breading was thin, too thin to get one excited.  I like my tempura bursting with coating yet housing a bigger surprise within.  This one got it all wrong.  Nevertheless, the batter was crisp and the prawn was fresh and juicy.  If not for its puny size, and that exorbitant price tag, this could have been the savior.

Dalandan Shake, P108 (+10% service charge)

Watermelon Shake, P108 (+10% service charge)

Good thing we ordered their fruit shakes, which were comfortingly good and refreshing.  At least our frustrations were washed down.  Maybe Mr. Kurosawa should be better of as a bar.  Or just a steak and burger joint. Or maybe I should just kick myself.

Almost predictably, despite the change of name, their menu was quite similar to their sister shop Sumo Sam, albeit with a heftier price tag and hipper feel.  We didn't try the Western cuisine, which might have been spot-on.  But then again, this was supposed to be Euro-Nippon fusion, and I mistakenly expected a twist in flavor.  Instead, the Japanese comfort food were lost in translation, forgetting the authenticity and missing out altogether.  Compounding its woes were the price tags that could fetch you more in Little Tokyo or some cozy Japanese nook that preserved tradition.

Still, Mr. Kurosawa is a brave attempt in merging two contrasting tastes and cultures.  It appeals more to the innovative and adventurous, much less to the traditionalists and purists.  The Western selections deserve a second look and some of the more unique Japanese rolls may rival that of Omakase's selection and are worth another try.  If I get one more chance.

Jones

Mr. Kurosawa Euro-Japanese

Ground Floor, Eastwood Mall

Libis, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mr-Kurosawa-Euro-Japanese/177631448941095

Food Is A Love Potion: Gayuma Ni Maria

Maginhawa Street is a treasure trove of food finds.  Going along that stretch of road is like embarking on a culinary adventure of epic proportions.  Name it, the street has it: burgers, Japanese food, all-day breakfast, Tex-Mex, and the list goes on.  If one begins the adventure at the intersection with Anonas Street, there is one peculiar restaurant that is often overlooked solely because of its unassuming facade and the bundle of trees obscuring it.

Its dimly lit, faintly neon signage would however attract any passer-by with its eye-catching name, and then subsequently mistake it for an adults-only store.  But that is the concept and the aura that Gayuma Ni Maria intends to reflect.  Yes, this is actually a full-board restaurant dishing out a unique and cleverly crafted menu.

The interiors look a bit shabby, like any grandmother's old house.  The pastel colored wallpapers attempt their best to uplift the dim lights and the faded curtains.  The whole place feels like a gypsy shop, minus the crystal ball and manghuhula. (I found out they actually have an in-house tarot card reader.  That explains the strange theme.)  However, the table settings appeal to any couple on a date, complete with a flower centerpiece and floral table tops, setting the mood for a bizarre romantic night.

Guaranteed to crack a smile.  And a giggle or two.

The menu book was a simple laminated paper, but what's written is an imaginative play on words guaranteed to make even the most stoic laugh and the most purist giggle naughtily.  With items named like "Lumpiang Excited", "Rock Me Baby", "Size Doesn't Matter" and my hands-down favorite "Fishy Poque Poque", I'm pretty sure you'll find something you like, whether to order or just to laugh at.  But these monikers actually describe the dish quite accurately, and adds to the charm of Gayuma Ni Maria.  After a bit of teasing and giggling, we tried out a few of their mains.

Lumpiang Barako, P125

To fire up the night, we started off with these dynamite sticks aptly named Lumpiang Barako.  These sticks were filled with gooey cheese and green chilis wrapped in a lumpia skin and then deep fried.  There were some parts that were not crispy and unevenly fried, which was a bit of a letdown.  Also, there was an apparent lack of kicks, although both of us were used to spicy food anyway.  I was expecting quite a firestarter but this one failed to live up to its name.  Even the sissy could consume this thing.

Mi Amore, P215

She ordered a pasta dish that caught her fancy.  The Mi Amore was supposed to be an Italian spaghetti but it had clear overtones of Pinoy-style infused in it.  The sauce was mildly sweet typical of our local variants, except that there were no hotdogs to be seen.  The noodles were al dente and well executed.  The order came with two piece of buttered garlic bread, which were rather forgetful.  They were tough and chewy and a tad overdone.

Rock Me Baby!, P265

For my manly order, I selected one of my favorite cuts of meat.  The Rock Me Baby! was served with two large cuts of hickory barbecued pork ribs, with a side of corn kernels and your choice of mashed potato or rice.  Naturally, I went for the rice pairing.  The marinade was too sweet for my liking, almost tasting like pancake syrup.  There was a glaring lack of zest and spicy smokey feel, which was a bit distressing.  The meat though was soft and fork-tender, with the taste seeping well into its inner sinews.  I would have loved this dish if it imbibed a more grilled and smokey taste, the way a man wants it (pardon the pun, the theme is quite infectious).  But the sweet hints were too sissy.  Also, I would have preferred a more generous serving for that price tag, although the cuts that were served were plump and juicy.

Gayuma Ni Maria will not fail to surprise any curious foodie.  Despite its Filipino tag, the restaurant offers a wide array of choices and whole line-up of cakes and desserts (which we should have tried!).  Its peculiar and inventive theme and vibe and its fancifully branded dishes are enough to spark a dinner conversation and unending laughter.  The dishes themselves however, fail in certain striking aspects, owing probably to cooking technique and attention to detail.

But, just because of its eccentricity, I would go back on the right occasion, perhaps just to tease friends or have a good cozy dinner.  I sure hope they would improve on their servings and tweak the taste on some of the dishes.  For its charm alone, Gayuma Ni Maria should deserve a second look, and perhaps its potion might get one hooked.

Jones

Gayuma Ni Maria

123 V. Luna Extension (near Maginhawa Street)

Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gayuma-Ni-Maria/148108488537188