The Lesser Evil: Chuck's Grub

Whoever doesn't like fried food must be rather daft.  One of life's sinful pleasures, anything fried elevates me to a state of high.  That crunchy texture with just the right amount of grease and oiliness is like sweet nectar to my palate.  But practicing the art and science of cardiology has made me keenly aware of the evils of cholesterol.  So much so that I've begun to cut down on my pork intake (goodbye, lechon kawali).  Yet my insatiable hunger for fried food has led me to apparently healthier alternatives.

Of course, seafood should be the answer.  Fried seafood, that is.  Ever since I had my first dibs on Fish and Co.'s fish and chips aeons ago, I instantly fell in love.  I knew I had a less sinful alternative to my favorite fried chicken and pork chops and the like.  Still, given a choice between the former and the latter, I'd still pick the chicken and chops nine times out of ten.  However, it's quite an encouraging sight to notice that a few shops have jumped into the healthy bandwagon and now specialize in offering fish and chips exclusively.

I first noticed Chuck's Grub when I repeatedly passed by SM North's Sky Garden and they had this really big tarp.  That day, I was craving for something fried but I didn't want to splurge on carbs.  We headed out to their small shop right smack in the middle of Sky Garden to try out their offerings.

Called a "chippy" shop, it was anything but.  This quaint nook was fit enough to cram about 6 people or so and get a first hand breath of what's frying.  I was rather hesitant to sit inside, not wanting to smell fishy.  Yet the aroma of whatever it was submerged in their frying cauldrons was inviting enough to persuade me to stay indoors.  Their overhead menu was bright and straightforward.  There's even a short background information about the type of fish you were about to order.  Be wary of the more spunky variants, like the snapper.  Playing it safe, we went for two servings of cream dory.  Ho-hum choice, but wait till you see the servings.  Not seeing any spicy versions, we added another order to perk us up.

Funnel-shaped boxes are the true Brit way to go.

Cooking time was fast, not exceeding 10 minutes or so.  You might expect that the fish isn't cooked all the way through in such a short period, but surprise, surprise!  In a clever presentation, the fish and chips were enclosed by cardboard funnels resting within stainless steel holders.  I was sure glad to have picked dining in rather than taking out our orders.

Beer-battered Dory and Chips, Regular, P130

We ordered two regular-sized dory and chips, which included 2 pieces of fish and more than a handful of french fries.  Initially, I thought the 2 pieces of fish for 130 bucks was a highway robbery.  But then, I saw the fillets and these were two really large cuts, almost twice the length of the average male middle finger and twice the width of a really fat thumb (sorry, couldn't think of a better analogy as of yet).  Still a bit skeptical, I thought this must be bloated by the breading.  But with my first bite, my fears were instantly dissolved and transcended into heaven.  The breading was thin yet perfectly crisp!  The dory was smooth, moist, and hot - definitely cooked all the way through.  It was like 98% fish and 2% breading.  I know some fish and chips shops and even restaurants have proportions like 30% breading, 50% fish, and 20% AIR.  But Chuck's doesn't scrimp on the fish. 

The fries were true potato cuts, not your fast food lard imitations.  To attest to that, I was nearly full when I still had half of the fries and half of the fish left.  Talk about filling.  We picked Garlic Mayo and Tartare sauce for dips, just to enhance the somewhat generic flavor of the dory.  Both dips were perfect, though I would have desired more servings of the dips.  With those large fillets, I think we deserve unlimited sauces!

Jalapeno Poppers, P150

These perky dynamites were a sight to behold.  Fat and plump jalapenos embraced by a warm cheese filling, and then smothered in the same beer-batter.  Deep-fried to perfection, it was a spicy kick to our meal.  Still, the jalapenos seemed to lack the right oomph I was expecting. (Although I might be too tolerant of spicy food already in general.  So take that with a grain of salt. And chili.)  Also, the whole contraption appeared to crumble at first nibble, so it was really messy eating the whole thing bite after bite.  I hope they soon devise a way to stabilize the whole piece, so I could enjoy it slowly.  The tomato salsa dip complemented this Mexican overture.

Who says you get fat from fried food?

Chuck's Grub was a stunner.  The fish and chips were well-executed, even better than fancy restaurants.  It was surprisingly filling even with just the regular serving.  On a more famished day, I would pick the larger servings with 3 or 4 pieces of fish.  But more importantly, for such a supposedly boring and unexciting food choice (fish), I found munching on the dory enjoyable and pleasurable.  The same way I could enjoy a greasy, oil-smeared piece of chicken wing.  Another comfort food added to my list!  Moreover, priced at just over a hundred bucks for the regular dory serving, it is a certain steal.  Now, they even have rice meals to boot.  Rejoice!

I suggest trying out the SM North chippy shop, as I've seen in Chuck's Grub FB page some of the complaints about the other branches.  We were lucky to have experienced our first in their SM North branch, and pretty much met our expectations.  So, given a choice between Fish and Co. and Chucks' Grub?  On a special dinner, perhaps Fish and Co. would be best.  On most other days, when I feel like pigging out without fearing for my arteries, Chuck's Grub is the way to go.  And on those "other" days, that's practically 9 times out of 10.

Chuck's Grub Fish and Chips

Sky Garden, SM City North Edsa, North Avenue

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/chucksgrub

  

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Comfort Food Chronicles: Ritchie's Diner

Everyone has their own comfort food, the dish that instantly teleports you to another world, where everything is at peace, and every joy is sheer bliss.  Be it a simple small pasty treat, or as gargantuan as a whole lechon, it's what we crave for when we need to escape far away from our mundane lives even for just a few fleeting moments.

In my case, escaping is not too far away.  With practically just a hop and skip across to the beaming limelight of Aguirre Avenue, comfort food is literally just around the corner.  In this part of the famed avenue, several similar-themed shops have cropped up.  These joints primarily cater to families (unlike the hipper, noisier bars on the other side), offering predominantly American food: burgers, sandwiches, and chicken wings.  You guessed it.  Wings again.  One of my ultimate comfort foods.

However, on that Father's day pre-celebration night, we skipped the well-known wings restaurant for that gleaming shop right across it.  With its large bright yellow sign, it lures curious customers by riding on that American diner theme.  For sure, comfort food will be found here.  

Eat at Ritchie's

Ritchie's Diner actually stood on, should I say, hallowed ground.  Not so long ago, before food blogging and foodstagramming was unheard of, on this spot stood BF Homes' best kept secret.  Tarragon, a small restaurant cooking up classy dishes, used to serve here the best and most affordable lamb chop ever.  Gone are its glorious days, and another diner (South Diner) replaced its spot.  That diner did not quite pan out either, and it was recycled into what is now known by its incandescent sign.  Every night I passed by this shop, I noticed the number of cars parked in front.  Food must be good.

The place is well lit and inviting, with the typical American diner high-back chairs.  The wait staff are very amiable and accommodating, cheerful but not annoyingly so.  We picked a somewhat secluded spot on an adjoining room, and perused the colorful menu.

Like if you see Brad Pitt.

The selection was quite extensive, even offering Filipino favorites like adobo and tapsilog.  All 3 of us weren't in the mood for rice meals however, so we went American, in the spirit of the prevailing theme.  The orders were quickly served.

Fish and Chips, P130

I was feeling exceptionally healthy that day, so I went seafood.  Still, it was deep-fried anyway.  The Fish and Chips is classic diner delight, with beer-battered fish fillets partnered by crispy fries.  Sadly, both did not meet my expectations.  The batter was crunchy but rather thick, and the fish (I assume, cream dory) was nearly non-existent.  Nonetheless, whatever fish I could find tasted good and fresh.  If only I could find it.  The fries tasted like straight from the grocery frozen food stall.  It was not oily, but neither was it full and crisp enough.  If this was lard fries, I'd rather sin with McDonald's fries than this copycat.  At least that was infinitesimally better and more comforting.  The tartar sauce did not help in amping up the dish.  One may argue that at less than 150 bucks, what would you expect?  Well, Chuck's Grub serves up one mean fish and chips combo at near that price.  So go figure.

Macaroni, Sausage, Bacon in Mornay Sauce, P195

Mom picked a pasta dish, as expected.  This was essentially macaroni and cheese with, what pray tell, is Mornay anyway?  Whatever it was, this was adequately executed.  The sauce was thick and sticky, with the cheese gooey like mozzarella.  I could make out thin slices of sausages and a sprinkling of bacon, which gave body to this dish.  But, the sausages seemed like the local processed creations, while the bacon was wanting in amount.  The two halves of toast tried its best to complement the pasta, but the lack of meat, I felt, was a let-down.  Still, the sauce was superb.  I hoped they could improve on the sausages on this one, since this pasta dish is quite unique to their restaurant.

Southwestern Burger, P190

This bulky 1/3 pounder was Dad's choice, a meal fit for men.  Sandwiched in between the undersized buns was a thick all beef patty, slapped with a serving of beef chili, then a swish of tomato-cilantro salsa for good measure.  The beef was delectably filling, juicy and oozing with grilled flavor.  The chili, though, was nothing out of the ordinary.  The fries on the side were again, a forgetful experience.

So far, all three dishes seemed mediocre.  Luckily, I had ordered a fourth dish to share among us.  And this was my comfort food anyway.  And 'twas to be Ritchie's Diner saving grace.

Ritchie's Hot Wings (6 pcs), P210

I picked the 6 piece set, and once the dish was set on the table, I blurted out, "wow, ang dami pala!".  Unlike my other experiences with chicken wing joints, the 6 pieces really meant 6 pieces - the whole shebang.  Their version of buffalo wings glistened with red sauce screaming in hotness.  I hastily grabbed a piece and took a bite - the sauce was divine.  Their spicy soy mix was a wonderful blend of hot and savory, with a hint of mild barbecue sweetness.  With each successive bite, the spice kicks in and amps up.  More importantly, the sauce was liberally spread on every nook and cranny of each wing.  The meat though, was a bit dry and overcooked in some parts.  But the crispy chicken skin made up for it, with a crunchy texture in every bite.  This was the star of the night.  I almost couldn't restrain myself from ordering rice with this tasty treat.  Fortunately, although this was the appetizer, it arrived last, and I was already nearly full with that dastard fish and chips.  At just a tad over 200 bucks for 6 WHOLE  wings, this was a sure winner.  The chicken wing shop right across the street serves 3 pieces for nearly the same price.  So again, go figure.

Ritchie's Diner is a promising joint with a relaxing, laid-back, homey vibe, serving no non-sense comfort food at attractively low prices.  The familiar menu and the American diner feel are a definite plus, along with affordable price tags with NO service charge.  No wonder cars line up out front.  However, majority of the dishes we picked that night were misses than hits.  I hope they improve the fries, an ubiquitous part of a diner experience.  I've had better in fast foods.  Still, with an overall catchy theme and extensive menu, a few minor tweaks should get Ritchie's Diner booming in no time.

In the meantime, the Hot Wings should keep me coming back for more.  With a worthwhile price tag, hefty serving size, and not to mention just a stone's throw distance from my place, I now have second thoughts on going for the other shop across the street.  These Hot Wings will give Flaming Wings a run for its money.  No doubt.

Ritchie's Diner

303 Aguirre Avenue, Phase 3, BF Homes

Paranaque City

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ritchies-Diner/288996811228466

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