Going Mad at Mad Marks!

Most people have their own set of comfort food.  It's that kind of food that instantly transports one home at a single bite, or sends rushes of endorphins and feel-good hormones at the mere sight of it.  Or that type of food that brings back memories, complete with a soundtrack playing in the background.

For me, my default choices are usually Japanese fare and American diner food.  So, it was just a matter of time, ever since I came back home, before I succumbed to my cravings.

I had been eyeing Mad Mark's ever since they opened in Kapitolyo just a couple of years back.  But I didn't get a chance to visit their flagship store then.  It was a welcome sight that I saw their signage radiating brightly from the windows of Glorietta 5 in Makati.  Images of greasy American food zipped across my mind.

Their branch in Makati was small but apparently larger than their original store. It was a weekday dinner and the place was packed, cramped, and noisy.  The smokey aroma from the kitchen was obvious once you stepped inside - a gripe for some people.  The menu was straightforward and familiar, a mix of Tex-Mex American food with a little twist.

Churrasco, P245 (+10% service charge)

The missus picked something light for dinner, the Churrasco, a soft shell-taco type of meal.  Two medium-sized wraps burst open with a colorful array of fillings.  The garnishing of green bell peppers, red onions, and caramelized onions made for an interesting zesty taste.  The wrap itself was soft enough and not tough to chew.

Something that we thought was light on the stomach was actually not.  The Churrasco was pregnant with meat and, lo and behold, rice!  The cheese was also distinct, and blended well with the overall theme.  The meat was USDA beef, and indeed it tasted high grade.  Tender and flavorful, I almost regretted not ordering the actual steak!

Surprise, surprise!  We weren't able to finish both wraps and had to bring home the rest.  Amazingly, the Churrasco tasted good the following day, even after reheating.

I went on to surrender to my whims - baby back ribs, of course!  Attractively priced at under 300 bucks, I had doubts about the quality of their ribs.

Johnnie Double Black Ribs, Half Slab, P245 (+10% service charge)

The half slab serving initially looked too small for me, but again, surprisingly, it got me filled up easily.  The ribs were generously glazed with their signature barbecue sauce, with just the right sweetness and tangy flavor.  The meat was fork tender, with a notable smokey flavor.  It was good and did not taste cheap.  But, it was not as superb as the more dominant restaurants serving ribs.

Interestingly, I adored the sides of corn and carrots and smashed potatoes it came with.  Not exactly a fan of potatoes (except french fries), I was pleasantly impressed by the salty mix of mashed potatoes and creamy gravy.  It was highly addicting, perhaps explaining why I became so full so quickly.  The corn also deserved praise, with its buttery delight and a secret powder (probably dry spice rub) sprinkled on it that made the difference.

Ragin' Cajun Wings, P150 (+10% service charge)

We were actually craving for buffalo wings that night before I spotted Mad Mark's, so I thought it was comforting to see this on the menu.  It looked and sounded nice, promising a sweet and spicy experience.  Sadly though, on my first bite, it was a salty and bitter bad memory.

The wings were overcooked and burnt!  Tell-tale signs of blackened outer coating left me gasping in exasperation.  The cajun sauce was a tad too sour and lacked the level of hotness I wanted.  It could not compensate for the bitter taste of burnt breading.  The exterior was crisp and the chicken meat was fine, but lacked flavor.  The chopped onion leeks did nothing to help save the dish.  It was almost painful to finish a paltry two pieces of wings.  When I pointed out this sacrilege to their waitstaff, their only excuse was that this kind of stuff really happens.  Really? How come I have never encountered burnt wings in my entire life in places like Buffalo's, Flaming Wings, Wingman, hell, even the budget B. Wings?  It was an utter disappointment.

Nevertheless, it might have been a case of right restaurant, wrong order.  Although, the Churrasco was a revelation and a hint that I should have ordered their best-selling steaks.  The ribs were fine and I would go back for it if I was craving for a quick escape for a budget homey meal of my favorite baby back ribs.  But, on a hungrier (and wealthier) night, I would return and sample their steaks.  The wings though, are an entirely different story.  Forgettable and regrettable, one would be better off skedaddling to the nearby Buffalo's Wings N' Things.  For a few bucks more, you'd get correctly and honestly done buffalo wings.  But perhaps for everything else (especially steak and ice cream), Mad Mark's should be able to deliver on their premise of honest good food.

Jones

Mad Mark's Creamery and Good Eats

2/F, Glorietta 5, Office Drive

Ayala Center, Makati City

https://www.facebook.com/MadMark.Creamery.and.Good.Eats

  

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Life of Pi: Pi Breakfast and Pies

All-day breakfast places are rapidly becoming the most popular trend in the country today.  What used to be the monopoly of Pancake House is now a wide open market, bolstered by an infusion of foreign brands (IHOP) and local concepts.  It has become so prevalent that even restaurants that don't usually serve breakfast suddenly modifies their menu.  As such, it is now a challenge to search and sift out the really good all-day breakfast joints.

Riding on this current craze, one of my favorite modern Filipino restaurants, Pino, decided to put up their own breakfast spot just adjacent to them.  Thus, Pi was born.  Occupying a small corner of their building, Pi humbly dishes out honest-to-goodness breakfast fare even with a rather limited menu.  Not to worry though, as they also sell baked goodies (breads, cookies) for those who prefer a lighter wake-upper.

But I didn't come here for their baked goodies.  I wanted a good homey breakfast satisfaction.  We perused their simple menu book, and the choices seemed few, particularly the pancake section.  Nevertheless, my eyes zeroed in on one of their best-sellers and it was an easy choice.

Wagyu Beef Sirloin Tapa, PHP 245

My beloved humble beef tapa deserved a little pimpin' with Pi's rendition of this cult favorite.  Tender slices of wagyu beef sat gloriously on top of garlic kimchi rice, served with a whole, soft boiled egg.

The beef was tender as advertised, with no trace of grittiness or toughness. I loved the level of sweetness it exuded, the way I prefer my tapsilog.  It's the Paranaque way, I believe, with the beef served with a hint of sugary glaze instead of saltiness a la bistek.  There were slivers of fat on some portions, cloying with its meaty taste.

The atchara soaked in mildly sour vinegar was perfect as both a dip and mix-in to the rice.  The rice itself was a revelation, with hints of spiciness from the kimchi.  Although I would have preferred a sunny-side up egg (in retrospect, I could have ordered it that way), the soft-boiled egg was perfect - runny yolk and smooth exterior.  The common man's hearty breakfast was now all dolled-up in meaty glory.

Banana Nutella Cream Cheese Pancake, PHP 145

The missus was in the mood for pancakes, but the options paled in comparison to other breakfast joints, such as Ally's just across the street.  Believe me, she would have easily crossed over had it not been the surprising sight of numerous parked cars outside Ally's.  Strangely, (perhaps sensing the rivalry), our waitstaff offered us the freedom of modifying this waffle choice into a pancake.  

And so, this creation came out.  Three average-sized flapjacks lathered with nutella and then smothered with chocolate syrup, all topped with fresh slices of banana and a dollop of whipped cream.  A pretty sight indeed.  The pancakes, however, seemed just simple and nothing spectacular.  It was soft but overcooked in some places.  The nutella, though, was generous, coating the layers in between.  But, the chocolate syrup was overkill.  After just a few minutes, it was a challenge just to cut through the pancake.  It almost became like eating a steak, probably because the syrup was too thick and quickly turned it into a coagulated mess.  There was an interesting taste at some bites, as the cream cheese suddenly bursts into your mouth with its distinct bitterness.  However, whatever flavor it had was overpowered by the chocolate syrup.

Mombana Hot Chocolate, PHP 75

As if we hadn't had our fill of chocolate, I picked a hot drink to go with my meal.  The Mombana Hot Chocolate was comforting and good.  It had just the right thick consistency and the perfect mix of sweet and bitter taste.

Breakfast of champions.

In keeping with the methods of Pino, Pi has admirably re-invented our classic favorites into their own quirky creations.  Although their pancakes are a tad behind other breakfast joints, the Wagyu Beef Tapa is enough to keep patrons coming back (and not settle for the rival across the street).  I would come back and try their other rice meals and their pies, which I heard are also best sellers.  But for now, look for Pi to keep the breakfast scene interesting and more vibrant than before.

Jones

Pi, Breakfast and Pies

39 Malingap Street, Teacher's Village

Quezon City

https://www.facebook.com/breakfastnpies

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Supper at the Shang: Kettle + Spatzle

Returning home after a year away, it was an exhilarating feeling to see the Philippine food scene more vibrant than ever.  Even with the influx of several foreign-based brands, it is indeed an encouraging observation that our home-grown food joints are keeping up with them toe-to-toe. 

At the center of this food rebirth are so-called lifestyle malls, sections of our well-loved stores devoted to more upscale fashion and food.  At the brand spanking new wing of Shangri-La Plaza along EDSA, the gustatory options are limitless.

All dolled up for Christmas.

Making waves in these shiny hallways for over a year already is the locally based restaurant, Kettle.  Earning enormous praise from both the ordinary hungry crowd and high-standard foodies, Kettle was perhaps one of the most talked about (and most Instagrammed) food find.  We finally had the chance to indulge in their comfort food offerings.

The menu book was rustic, printed on brown paper and devoid of any images.  Still, we came here well-informed and ready, with our goal to sample their now legendary Buttermilk Fried Chicken and the Potato Strips.  

Now that's what I call Bucket Fries!

The missus was very euphoric in picking the Pork and Potato Strips.  When it arrived, I was shocked!  I never knew it was this humongous. If there was such a thing as bucket fries (as compared to bucket fried chicken), this was it.  An imposing tower of crispy potato strips rested on a bed of crunchy pork belly cubes, the latter resting on, you guessed it, another bed of fries!

Pork and Potato Strips, PHP 339 (+5% service charge)

At first bite, the potato strips reminded me of our favorite snack, Pik-Nik.  But this was embellished with a sprinkling of cheese, and a drizzle of truffle oil whose saltiness was the key to this dish.  The fries were crisp all the way, there wasn't a single strip that was soggy.  

The challenge was how to consume this thing without scattering it all over the table. Remarkably, we were able to reach the bed of pork belly, a fitting reward for our effort.  The pork was deep fried to a crisp, reminiscent of chicharon belly commonly seen in some local pansit.  The dish would have been a perfect match for beer and chippy conversation.  We couldn't finish the entire tower, but surprisingly, a day later, the fries were still as crisp as new.  Although a bit pricey for an appetizer, the serving size was good for at least 4 people.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken, PHP 519 (+5% service charge)

I was giddy with anticipation as the Buttermilk Fried Chicken was set on our table.  Two huge cuts of chicken deep fried to perfection teased us with their aroma.  On the side were three piece of  cornbread, and two dips, the usual gravy and uniquely, Cajun honey.

The skin was perfect - crisp and crunchy in all parts.  But noticeably, the cajun rub added too much saltiness.  Thankfully, the gravy and honey mix doused some of the salinity. The meat within was tender and oozing with juices as I poked through it.  But the flavor seemed a bit lacking, as every bite needed a dip on the gravy.  Come to think of it, I've had more flavorful Southern-style fried chicken at Popeye's back in SG.  Was I missing something here, or did I set my standard too high because of the hype for this dish?

In fact, the saltiness became too overwhelming after successive bites.  I couldn't finish even just one piece. (Or maybe I was too full with the Potato Strips.)  The cornbread was soft but a tad dry, but a little drizzle of honey made up for it.  I still long for the original Corn Muffins from Kenny Roger's back when it first opened.  Kettle's version nearly duplicated it but not quite yet.  My bubble of eagerness was thus rudely burst by a bit of a disappointment with this dish.

Truffle Gorgonzola, PHP 289 (+5% service charge)

In an interesting twist (pun intended), the pasta dish was the saving grace for the night. As the Truffle Gorgonzola was laid on top of our table, the pungent smell of cheese emanated robustly.  It was a clear sign that this was really good cheese.

The spaghetti was cooked impeccably al dente.  The truffle cream and parmesan cheese were harmonious together, cloying at our palate with just the right saltiness and zest.  My only gripe was they scrimped on the sauce a bit, as it soon dried up easily and nearly coagulated in between the pasta.  

Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed this pasta dish.  And that says a lot, since I am not really fond of a lot of noodle dishes.

Peach Iced Tea, Carafe, PHP 149 (+5% service charge)

The carafe of Peach Iced Tea was more than enough to douse the strong flavors of the food.  Refreshing, but a little too sweet, the peach flavor was homey and instantly brings thoughts of garden picnics and such.

Our Kettle experience was quite revealing.  Their flagship dish failed to impress me, as it isn't something that I'll be coming back and craving for.  But, interestingly, the pasta and the potato strips were spot on.  Perhaps there is indeed more to Kettle than just the overly-hyped and attention-grabbing buttermilk fried chicken.

After a filling meal, we decided to grab dessert some place else.  Walking around the new wing, we spotted an enticing photograph of this cake.

The four layers of heaven.

It was enough to hook us and reel us in.  Spatzle Euro Market Cafe served European dishes in a very quirky and rustic atmosphere.  I liked the look and feel of their spot more than Kettle's.

The other menu items seemed interesting and worth a return ticket.  But for now, the Frozen Brazo de Mercedes was the centerpiece.

Frozen Brazo de Mercedes, PHP 220 (+5% service charge)

A hefty slice of four layers of heaven, this cake was stupendous.  I have always liked the usual Brazo, but freezing it and adding a base of Graham did wonders.  It was a journey of flavors as you slice into it vertically.  The upper-most layer was sweet and toasted, followed by an airy and fluffy texture.  The tongue is then spirited away by the soft creamy center, and then boldly brought back down to earth by the firmer lower layer of luscious cream and the nutty crust of Graham.

It was divinity in a cube, magic in four layers.  Definitely worth the calories and the price tag.  I'm looking forward to trying out their other dishes next time.

Our sojourn at the Shang was a memorable moment.  Clearly, one night is not enough to sample all the other establishments along its bright hallways. Main players such as Kettle are certain to draw the crowd because of its mainstream and social media exposure, but lesser known Spatzle is keen to carve a niche of its own.

Jones

Kettle

Shangri-La Plaza Mall

5th Floor, East Wing

Shaw Boulevard, Wack-Wack

Mandaluyong City

https://www.facebook.com/kettleph

Spatzle Euro Market Cafe

Shangri-La Plaza Mall

5th Floor, East Wing

Shaw Boulevard, Wack-Wack

Mandaluyong City

http://ifoodsgroup.com/spatzle

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Think Happy Thoughts: Food For Thought

Finally getting some downtime, I realized I still had one more backlog post from my stay in Singapore.  With breakfast being my most favorite meal of the day, trying out a brunch spot was a fitting finale for my food adventures in the sunny little island.

Come to think of it, Singapore seemed to lag behind the Philippines when it comes to all-day breakfast places.  (Wow, that's a first for my country!).  The "brekky" revolution was already sweeping the Philippines years ago, when almost every corner boasted of an all-day breakfast menu.  It came in all shapes and sizes: from the classic Pancake House, to the classy Breakfast Club, even to the downright dirt-cheap carinderia (hawker) style Kanto Freestyle Breakfast.

That's why it seems Singapore is poised for its own "brekky" revolution.  And I just had to experience it before it went full blast.  The difficulty in finding a brunch spot is that most places there offer a typical English breakfast, instead of the usual greasy American breakfast I was more acquainted with. Nevertheless, after scouring the web for hours, I found a good place tucked nicely in a botanic park.

Located right smack in the entrance of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Food For Thought boasted of a serene and tranquil dining experience. Unfortunately, we arrived on a holiday and quite late, so the place was absolutely packed. 

5 Steps to Success according to the gospel of Food.

The really long queue was both an encouraging and upsetting sign: it was evidence that the food should be spectacular, but the wait would be epic.  As with most shops in Singapore that don't charge for service, we had to line up before ordering, thus adding to the hunger pangs.  I just crossed my fingers and hoped it was worth all the effort.

Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork, SGD 9.00 (approx. PHP 310, GST included)

I was craving for brunch worthy burger, and the Slow-Roasted Pulled Pork seemed to fit the bill.  This huge sandwich barely kept itself together.  The pork meat was bursting out between the hapless buns, topped with a creamy vegetable slaw.

The messy, merry mix was draped in a sweet tangy barbecue sauce, and added both zest and body to the sandwich.  The pork meat was a bit inconsistent: soft in some parts, too big and tough in other portions.  The flavor also seemed to be concentrated in some morsels but lacking in other parts.  The slaw was a good contrast in flavor, adding a little sourness to it.  The potato fries (add SGD 2.00) that came with it were quite good - none of that fast food flavor, that's for sure.  

House Works, SGD 15.00 (approx. PHP 518, GST included)

A leveled-up version of McDonald's Big Breakfast, the House Works was a colorful and enticing sight to behold.  It served the whole package: carbs, proteins, and some greens.  The butter brioche was made in-house.  It was soft on the inside and toasted perfectly on its sides, slathered on the surface with butter and caramel kaya.  Being a fan of kaya toast, I absolutely loved it.

United colors of breakfast.

The bacon was also divine - it was pork, finally!  Crisp on the edges, it tasted more heavenly than before, perhaps because of our long separation anxiety from bacon.  The scrambled eggs were fluffy and had the right saltiness, although it seemed too watery.  Nonetheless, it paired well with the bread and bacon.  The greens were fresh and crisp and surprisingly enjoyable, drizzled lightly with sweet vinaigrette. 

The pleasant surprise, however, was the marble-sized hash browns.  It was quite unusual for these to be cooked like this, and it tasted fabulously.  Deep-fried to perfection, the inside was surprisingly mushy and salty.  It was a shame there were only a few pieces, since it was highly addicting and I could certainly eat a whole bunch of it.  The House Works was indeed the full package, and my only gripe was the butter they used was Anchor.  For this price tag, I would have preferred something like Lurpak.  Heck, the barbecue guys in Maxwell FC could serve Lurpak with their dinner rolls, so what's stopping Food For Thought, right?

Pancakes with banana and walnuts, SGD 14.00 (approx. PHP 483, GST included)

No all-day breakfast will be complete without your typical slappy cakes.  Sadly though, the choices were limited to two options, although one can add a few more toppings.  We went for our favorite mix of banana and walnuts.

One interesting variation in their pancakes is that they use gula melaka syrup instead of your run-of-the-mill, off-the-grocery-shelf maple syrup.  Their syrup thus was milder in sweetness, and felt healthier!

However, they seemed to have scrimped on the syrup as the pancakes felt a tad dry in some parts.  I usually prefer my pancakes nearly soaked in syrup.  The fresh cream compensated for the milder sweetness of the syrup.  The banana was also underwhelmingly flavored, perhaps not yet ripe enough.  The walnuts was a good contrast in texture, adding crunch to the fluffiness of the pancakes.  The pancakes itself were light and soft.  It was akin to the ones in IHOP, save for the milder sweetness.

Despite its farther location from the city center, Food For Thought in the Botanic Gardens is worth the trip.  Away from the hustle and bustle, the tranquility leads one to leisurely enjoy a hefty and hearty breakfast while taking in the sunshine and the breeze from the lush garden.  Prices are commensurate with the serving size, especially noting that service charge is nil. There were some hits and misses with our orders, but overall, Food For Thought is perhaps the best value-for-money for an all-day breakfast place.  It was a fitting finale as I closed this chapter of my life.  And whenever I want to reminisce on my stay in SG and think of happy thoughts, Food For Thought will always be remembered.

Jones

Food For Thought

Singapore Botanic Gardens

1 Cluny Road, Tanglin Gate

#B1-00

www.foodforthought.com.sg

https://www.facebook.com/FFTsg

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