Sugar High at Cafe Shibuya

Despite (or because) of our strong family history of diabetes, I was born with a sweet tooth.  I grew up snacking on anything sweet - candies, chocolates, anything with icing and whipped cream.  I often cannot put a closing punctuation on a meal without munching on something sugary.

And so, after a hearty meal at home, we found ourselves hunting for a sweet escape.  Good thing that U.P. Town Center was just a stone's throw away from the missus' place, and she was raving about this quaint cafe she tried out previously.  Tales of a tall loaf of bread smothered in saccharine goodness echoed in my ears.

This.

The place was packed by the late lunchtime crowd on a cloudy afternoon.  We found a cozy corner table and wasted no time ordering the famous shibuya toast.  The cafe had a homey vibe with wooden tables and fixtures and pastel themed walls, but the crowd was a bit rowdy, negating the idyllic atmosphere. 

Apparently popularized in Japan's famed busy district, the shibuya toast consists of a tall slice of loaf bread topped with anything possible.  For this visit, I succumbed to the tempting visions of Ferrero Rocher as the crowning glory for my toast.

Ferrero Hazelnut, Baby P225 

Feeling a bit guilty, I ordered the baby version instead of the regular behemoth size.  Still, there was nothing diminutive about the 'baby' size.  It was still hefty and imposing.  Don't let the thick loaf fool you, as the bread is indeed pillow-soft within.  This isn't your regular panaderia bread either.  They bake their own in-house to keep matters fresh.  The exterior is crunchy and crusty, although it was a tad inconsistent.  Only the top portion was crisp throughout, as the sides were unevenly crisp.

The toppings were generous.  A large scoop of vanilla ice cream rested on a bed of nutella spread and showered with chopped nuts.  The ice cream was remarkable - it was good in itself (as evidenced by our nephew who ate more than half of it.)  It wasn't overpowering yet it lent the right amount of sweetness to the loaf.  The hazelnut spread was smothered on top evenly, though I would have preferred a bit more generosity.  Still, the four halves of rocher sticking to the scoop of ice cream added another level of saccharine goodness.  You can never go wrong by adding a dollop of whipped cream on the side.  It was an interesting experience of contrasting textures - soft and mushy, crisp and crunchy.  All wrapped up in a sugar high.

Original Dark Chocolate Molten Cake, P175

For those wary of the impending carb overload of the humongous toast, fret not.  There are other dessert options.  She picked the cafe's version of the ubiquitous lava cake.  This version came with two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream, thankfully.  Our nephew just couldn't get enough of this.

The lava cake was small, compared to the ones we usually got from S&R.  Still, it had a crunchy, toasted exterior that lent a contrast in texture.  Its innards were soft but a bit dry.  Consistently, it was bitter more than sweet, including the molten chocolate filling.  Nevertheless, the vanilla ice cream provided the necessary sugary taste, along with a dash of powdered sugar.  Again, I could have the ice cream on its own.  It was that good.  Pity that it melted too fast.  Overall, the lava cake seemed subdued and not as explosive as I wanted it.  Although, some people would prefer this more subtle taste.

Chocolate Green Tea Latte, P155

I paired my sweets with the Chocolate Green Tea Latte, in a bid to suppress the overwhelming sugar.  It cam in a large red cup, warm and hearty.  The concoction had an unusual taste.

The leafy taste of green tea clashed with the distinct chocolate flavor.  I couldn't make out what was going on in this single cup.  It was sweet but the herbal taste was dominating.  Good thing I skipped on the whipped cream topping or this would have been war of the worlds.  Still, I finished the cup since towards the bottom, it's almost all chocolate.

Thus, there seems to be a pervasive theme in Cafe Shibuya's offerings, the desserts, in particular.  It is a contrast in flavor and texture all in a single dish.  The pillow soft interiors complementing the crusted tops of their shibuya toasts. The deep dark bitterness of the molten lava with the light sweetness of the vanilla ice cream.  Save for my green tea latte, they seemed to have perfected the eclectic mix.  

Cafe Shibuya offers more than just desserts, with some savory dishes, crepes, and pasta.  I would certainly come back and sample their other offerings.  With a bevy of variations for their toasts, Cafe Shibuya is poised to be the legendary pioneer for this dessert, this side of Asia.

Jones

Cafe Shibuya

U.P. Town Center

Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/CafeShibuya

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Hopping Back to IHOP!

One of the main instigators of the all-day breakfast revolution, IHOP has spread its influence far and wide across the metro. A couple of years after the hype and publicity,HOP manages to maintain prominence as the go-to spot for one's breakfast fix.  We recently returned to IHOP after missing their delicious pancakes for a year.

Malagos Hot Chocolate, P145 (+10% service charge)

First off, I have to credit IHOP for tweaking their international menu to offer more local delights.  They currently offer the Filipino favorite silog meals, but I chickened out in trying their versions, for fear they might not get it right.  Nevertheless, one other perfect example is their Malagos Hot Chocolate, made from cacao beans sourced locally from Davao.  Priced similarly with their regular Hot Chocolate, this version is a steal.  Deep and dark yet with light sweet overtones, the Malagos Hot Chocolate was the perfect upper for our meal.  Sip away the holidays, as I believe this is available only for a limited time.

Quick Two-Egg Breakfast, P295 (+10% service charge)

I quickly settled down for a Quick Two-Egg Breakfast, served with 4 pieces of toast.  I picked bacon (finally, real pork bacon after enduring a year of nearly no pork bacon in Singapore) instead of sausages.

The hash brown seemed more generous than the first time I tried it here in the country.  Also, it had a more even crispy exterior than before.  Better than the first time, definitely.  The bacon was heavenly, or seemed so.  Maybe it was because I missed it so much.  Still, after a few minutes it had gone cold and a bit chewy.  Nevertheless, the fat and meat ratio was acceptable.  The eggs were just the usual sunny-sides, done the way I like it - a bit burnt on the underside.

The toast that went with my order were nothing spectacular, and I would have preferred more generous slathering with butter.  Maybe I miss kaya toasts already.  The jam was the grocery staple Smucker's, so nothing fancy here.

Double Blueberry Pancakes, P275 (+10% service charge)

The last fruity pancake we had at IHOP was a disaster - the strawberries were soggy and sad.  Wary of this, she picked the blueberry variant instead.  As always, the pancakes are huge, but appears thicker than previously.

A pleasant surprise was that the pancakes were filled with actual blueberries!  Hooray!  The berries were fresh and lightly sweet.  Topping the stack of flapjacks was blueberry compote, again with real blueberries.  The compote was light and not overpowering, but the whipped cream may have added too much sweetness.  The pancakes itself seemed airier than before, but because of its relatively thicker size, it appeared less fluffy than Pancake House or even the budget favorite Ally's. 

Reunited and it tastes so good...

After the hyped had died down and receiving mixed reviews, IHOP still has steadily spread its sphere of influence.  However, the consequence of jump-starting the all-day "brekky" revolution was that some places now offer better and more varied pancakes at a more reasonable price (think: Ally's).  Still, IHOP's pancakes remain one of the fluffiest (and largest) and pound for pound, better than most for this price range.  With the flexibility to tweak its menu and keep serving sizes Americanized, IHOP is clearly here to stay.

Jones

IHOP (International House of Pancakes)

Ground Floor, U.P. Town Center

Katipunan Avenue, 

Quezon City

(multiple branches across Metro Manila)

https://www.facebook.com/IHOPPhilippines

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Chubby Chicken: Chubby is the New Sexy!

Big is beautiful.  Especially when it comes to food, the heftier the serving, or the bigger in taste, the more people will surely be enticed.  When it comes to chicken wings, I always scrutinize two quintessential features: the size and the flavor.  Yes, this blog is about wings again: my habit-forming comfort food.

Katipunan Avenue is replete with chicken wing shops.  There's Flaming Wings for the traditional buffalo version, the Korean invaders Bon Chon, and the local twist Manang's Chicken.  But tucked ostensibly along the back-streets is a quiet favorite among students and foodies alike.  Away from the brighter and busier main street, Chubby Chicken occupies a small spot in a building it shares with a convenience store, a classy shawarma shop, a frequently visited steak joint, and then a tea spot.  On a usual school day, it's pretty obvious which gets filled up first.  Not the convenience store, of course.

The Cheeky, er, Chubby fellow.

I got my first dibs on Chubby Chicken even before I found out they had a stand-alone branch.  In one of those bazaars at Rockwell, we were looking for a cheap and quick dinner after shopping around the stalls.  The scent of fried chicken and the sight of gleaming drumsticks were enough to tempt us to try out this hitherto unknown brand.  We were already fond of Chicken Charlie and Bon Chon and the like, but we were quite curious about this homegrown brand.  What's more was that we noticed that the servers were very liberal with the sauce, scooping it freely onto the steamed rice.  We thoroughly enjoyed our little discovery that night, hoping to chance upon that wondrous chicken again someday.

Until one night on the way home, we saw the familiar sign of a chicken with chubby cheeks.  I looked it up on the net and soon concluded it was the same chicken we had tried months before.  And so, on a rainy late night, we dropped by their small shop.  It was almost 9PM on a Saturday, and the place was nearly deserted.  Perhaps, since it was May and classes had not yet resumed, so it felt relatively empty.

The most wanted list. Reward: lifetime supply of Chubby Chicken.

The shop was quaint and cozy, but didn't feel like a fast food joint.  There were montages of simple art decors and a bulletin board studded with satisfied customers, mostly students of the nearby schools along Katipunan.

Living up to its claim as Katipunan's best!

It was almost closing time, yet the wait staff was still eager in taking our orders.  We weren't too hungry to order rice with our chicken, so we wondered if we could have it ala carte sans the carbs.  Surprisingly, they obliged even if it wasn't even allowed on the menu.  They willingly deducted the charges (15 bucks) for the rice.  The chicken comes in only two mixes: sweet or spicy.  Naturally, we went for the latter with a special request of overflowing sauce and amped up kicks.

Oozing with sex appeal.

We actually ordered for the two-piece set (which should have consisted of a drum and a wing), but we were delightfully surprised to be served with three wings instead.  So now it really felt like a chicken wing joint.  

For a shop that labels its chicken "chubby", the sizes of the wings were anything but.  I wonder if  the drumsticks they dished out here were diminutive as well.  I could distinctly remember that months ago, the size of the drums we had were fat and plump.  So I was excitedly expecting huge wings.  I was taken aback at first sight of these.  However, at first bite, I realized where the "chubby" part was.

Chubby Chicken, 2-piece, P118 (with rice; if without rice, P15 deducted)

The wings looked glorious as it bathed in its glistening spicy sauce.  The sprinkling of chili on top was a hint of what to expect with a mouthful of these delectable wings.  The skin was impeccable: deep fried to a crisp.  The breading was light, just enough to give a crunchy texture.  The meat remained juicy and oozing in its natural  flavor.  The liberal ladle of spicy marinade penetrated the meat within.  It was reminiscent of the sweet chili sauce commonly present in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants, although this mix was tangier and exuded a home-made vibe.  And in case the flavor dampened a bit, there was more than enough to go around.  Talk about finger lickin' good.

But the superlatives don't end with the wings alone.  We ordered for a side of Chubby Fries, which was available in Cajun and Cheese flavors.  It goes without saying which variant we picked.

Chubby Fries, Cajun Flavor, P78

The fries were cut thick from true potatoes.  No lard here, I can assure you.  However, the secret  to this marvel was the cajun powder.  It was similar to a dry rub on barbecued meat, with its fine sandy texture and the zest of the different spices.  Nowhere have I tried anything like this. It had cajun written all over it, the taste of New Orleans exploding with each piece.  It was highly addicting, and I wished I could take home a jar of that magical powder.  A definite steal at less than 80 pesos, the Chubby Fries upends my other favorite Potato Corner barbecue fries on all counts.

Fries like no other.

To dissipate the intense flavors, Chubby Chicken offered imported sodas like Dr. Pepper.  Too bad for us that it was out of stock that night.  It would have partnered well with the kicks we got from the wings and fries.  We ended up with a glass of root beer.

He's not happy.  But I am.

Chubby Chicken is the perfect example of the phrase "more than meets the eye", or "don't judge a book", and other cliches.  Even if the size of the wings were average, they were fat with flavor and pregnant with oomph.  This was not a dedicated chicken wing shop anyway, so it is forgivable that they only offer two basic flavors.  Although I may suggest that they should come up with third one, using a concoction of that magical cajun powder.  I certify it will become a hit.  At least for me.

One thing sure though is that Chubby Chicken has been a blockbuster among students on a tight allowance and foodies looking for no-frills fried chicken.  For less than 120 bucks, you already get a value meal with 2 piece of chicken.  Not bad, considering the colonel's fast food joint nearly costs the same but with an already boring flavor.  The flexibility with the menu they showed that night is a downright plus factor in service.  There's free wi-fi so you can slowly ruminate your chicken while browsing the web.

Chubby Chicken offers a whole array of stuff, from pasta to ribs, and even all-day breakfast!  I would definitely return and try out their other offerings.  But those fries have been the object of my fantasy ever since.  I do hope they find a way to expand to other areas.  Now green-blooded Lasallians have something to envy from their arch-rivals other than somebody named Ravena.  And with the difficulty in locating this hidden gem, you'd think those Eagles were concealing it on purpose.

Jones

Chubby Chicken

1B Xavierville Residences

Esteban Abada corner Rosa Alvero Street, Loyola Heights

Katipunan, Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/chubbychickenph

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Light It Up! Flaming Wings

If there's something that I can't ever get enough of, it has to be fried chicken wings.  Korean, buffalo, or just plain fried, these pocket-sized dynamites are the surest way to perk up my otherwise ordinary day.  I could nibble on these members down to the bone that Bantay no longer has anything to chew on.  Maybe someday I'll grow my own wings!

And so, on a hungry drive home, there was absolutely no question when she suggested to try out another wing joint.  Flaming Wings had long stood amidst the restaurants that came and go along Aguirre Avenue, near my home.  But surprisingly, in more than 10 years that they have developed a loyal following, I had never set foot on their BF Homes branch even if it was just a stone's throw away.  Destiny dictated that I experience my first Flaming Wing encounter in a relatively newer and hipper branch along Katipunan Extension.  And so it was.

The picture says it all.

The shop was larger than the one in BF Homes, with tables also arranged out front for an al fresco feel.  The place was nearly packed that night, but luckily we found a comfortable spot near the glass panel windows.  The interiors were brightly lit and cozy, exuding a neighborhood diner vibe.  It felt a little cramped though, with the wash area literally beside a dining table.  Too bad for those seated there.

Surprisingly, they had a full-board menu, replete with pasta choice, rice combos, and even salad!  But we were here for one thing alone of course.  We quickly ordered two sets of 3 wings, with different flavors.  There were 6 flavors to choose from, rivaling that of Buffalo's Wings and Things.  Naturally, we opted for the spicier versions.

Original, 3 pieces, P147

After we placed our orders, I thought the 3 pieces were too few and too shabby.  It might not even tickle my stomach.  But when it arrived, I was delightfully surprised.  These were 3 whole pieces of wings - not the chopped up versions (the pointed part and the mini-drumstick) cooked up in some wing joints.  Although, these wings were a tad smaller than those I have tried in B.Wings and Ritchie's Diner.  The wings were perfectly deep-fried to a crisp, with the breading thin and light.  The meat was soft but rather dry.  The sauce which draped these was flawlessly tangy and had a slight kick, staying true to the original buffalo wing flavor.  Sadly though, the wings were coated too sparingly with the signature sauce.  By the time you get to the meat inside, the flavor was no longer there.  The only saving grace was that the garlic aioli dip I ordered with this was enough to rescue the lost quintessence.  Perhaps that's why the dip comes free with each order.

Wild, 3 pieces, P147

On the other hand, the Wild version amped up the flavor a few notches higher.  It had a bolder flavor, a stronger and spicier kick that tends to slowly release the pain with each successive bite.  The tangy overtones of the buffalo recipe was still present, although the spice level was overpowering.  Nevertheless, the kick was nowhere near the level of Buffalo's Wings and Things' Nuclear.  Again though, it seems they scrimped on the sauce.  I could barely taste it once I got to the meat inside.  The chicken itself was firm and thoroughly cooked, although a bit dry.  The ranch dressing we requested again rescued the wings from my total lambasting.

Flaming Wings was spot-on in its flavor, staying true to the Original buffalo tangy sensation while leveling up with its Wild version.  Strangely enough, at first bite of the Wild flavor, it tasted nearly the same as the Original, until you bite in succession and then that's when the spunk bursts forth.  I hoped that their thrifty sauce was just an aberration that night, rather than their usual mix.  It leaves me to wonder why would they scrimp on flavor when they actually have the right blend.  A few scoops of more sauce wouldn't hurt.  Some people just love licking the sauce off their fingers.  Like me.

Sipping the night away.

Nonetheless, the big 3-piece serving is enough to keep me coming back and craving for more. What with their nearest branch just a hop and skip from my home.  Hopefully, that branch serves  more sauce than the one along Katipunan Extension, which is relatively new.  Still, the latter branch deserves praise with a larger shop, more parking space, and a quieter atmosphere.  Service was prompt too.

Through the years, Flaming Wings has remained atop the battle for the best wings in the metro.  With its strategic locations across schools (rivals DLSU and Ateneo) and within swanky subdivisions, it has developed a die-hard following.  Rivals have arisen though, challenging for the top spots.  But with its refined original buffalo wing flavor and just a few minor tweaks, devoted fans are likely to still pick Flaming Wings over the others.  I, however, am more adventurous and would love to try a broader range of flavors and more creative concoctions.  Still, for that no-nonsense straight-up buffalo wing experience, Flaming Wings will surely light me up.

Flaming Wings

Katipunan Avenue Extension (right past Pinesville Road in White Plains)

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flaming-Wings/265052803521204

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Wingin' It at B. Wings

I hate Fridays.  No, not the resto.  I hate Fridays because of a single reason: traffic!  It's quite a spectacle here in the Philippines whenever the week hits Friday, most of the metro's main thoroughfares become one humongous parking lot.  So, on a usual Metro Manila Friday, we braved the traffic of C5 (oh SM Aura, what a wonderful location you have) to seek that one comfort food to soothe our week.

Everyone has their own comfort food.  I have quite a handful, but nothing quite hits the spot right on than a crunchy and tangy piece of buffalo wing.  Countless joints specializing on buffalo wings have sprouted all across the metro, each branding its own unique twist.  I chanced upon B. Wings when we curiously tried out the food truck bazaar Cucina Andare at the Glorietta.  This small stall was abuzz with life, and their chicken wings was shouting with flavor.  No wonder it was, and remains to be, one of the best-sellers at Cucina Andare.  Soon thereafter, I happily discovered that B. Wings had an actual restaurant along the back-streets of Katipunan.  Armed with my Google Map, I searched for the elusive home of one my favorite comfort foods, perfect for this infuriating traffic.

The B. Wings main branch wasn't too hard to find, but their shop was unassuming and simple.  No big signages, no screaming advertisements.  Just an air-conditioned nook, with mundane black chairs and boring stainless steel tables.  No matter, the wings was the star of the show anyway.  Settling down on our seats, we quickly ordered half-a-pound of one of our favorite flavors, the Black Mamba.  For the other half, we opted for a stronger punch with a medium spice Original Buffalo Wings.

Black Mamba (left) and Medium Spice Original Buffalo Wings (right)

P230 (1/2 lb. each flavor, total of 1 lb)

I know the pieces look small, and I agree.  Other buffalo joints would serve larger portions (at a heftier price of course), but size isn't all that matters.  In fact, you'd be surprised that a half pound is enough for the average sized Pinoy.  We already knew what to expect with the Black Mamba, having tried it at Cucina Andare.  Each wing was oozing with a delectable mix of flavors, a triad of sweet, sour, and spicy.  The glistening brown glaze was packed with a distinct taste, it was hard to distinguish what was in the concoction.  Not to mention, the wings were perfectly deep-fried to a crisp, I nibbled it down to bone.  No wastage whatsoever.

The medium spice Original Buffalo Wings supposedly had a hint of cheese flavor, but I only got wind of it at the bottom of the plate.  Nevertheless, the spice level was just right to leave a tingling and burning sensation on your tongue and lips that lingers and tickles your taste buds, tempting you to devour piece after piece.  Don't chide me for not going for the highest spice level.  Believe me, medium is already hot (and I eat green chilies, so go figure), but not comparable to the Nuclear level of Buffalo's Wings and Things (that was a painful experience).  Again, each wing was impeccably fried, with the meat beneath remaining juicy and tender.  Each order of a pound of wings comes with a single dip, but the flavor of the wings itself was already prominent.  We hardly noticed the garlic aioli dip.  Both flavors should have gone well with rice, but I was watching my weight so I skipped the carbs.

On second thought, my body needs a few calories from carbs.  So I ordered an extra side of french fries.

French Fries, P40

Crisscross-cut potato fries was a good combination and neutralizer for the overpowering flavors of the wings.  These aren't your fast food lard fries either.  My only complaint was I hope they served a larger portion, as you can't stop eating these with the wings.

All these wonderful flavors for just under 300 bucks?? A definite steal.  I won't ever go to Chili's or Friday's for my buffalo wing fix, that's for sure.  B. Wings also offers value meals (wings + rice, even bagnet + rice!!) that are easy on the pocket and heavy on the flavor.  Some buffalo wing joints are also too flashy and expensive, but fall short of flavor.  B. Wings, on the other hand, hits the mark with flying colors.  It's small wonder why they often sell out in Cucina Andare (and Levante in Eastwood).  Cooking times at these bazaars often exceed 30 minutes because of the really long queues!  So, if you're in the QC area, better troop to their main branch instead for a more relaxing dine-in.  Without the sweat and smoke of bazaars.  Just you and your comfort food.

B.Wings

Loyola Heights Condominium

Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, QC

https://www.facebook.com/B.WINGSRESTO

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