Mad Mark's Creamery & Good Eats

Jumping on the Mad Mark's bandwagon has been on my to-do list after reading great reviews about its affordable and delicious food. I remember dropping by their Kapitolyo branch and always come out disappointed with having to go to another place for dinner. That branch was always packed that we never really got the chance to try it out after numerous attempts. We have never been to Kapitolyo for months now so I was excited to see the familiar logo at Central Square, BGC.

Unlike the Kapitolyo branch, this one is spacious and has lots of room to move around. CS and I got there past lunch time so there were only a few occupied tables but the service was so slow.

What we ordered

Zing Wings - Php170.00

Thirty minutes has passed and all they served us was the extra spicy wings. It was too dry and came out cold. I wonder if it was sitting at the counter for way too long and no one bothered to check to which table it belonged to. I suggest passing on this if you see it on the menu.

Johnnie Double Black Ribs - Php305.00

One of the popular and bestselling dishes at Mad Mark's is the Johnnie Double Black Ribs with 2 sides. The meat was tender, smoky and flavorful - a must order if you're a meat lover!

Creole Grilled Chicken - Php245.00

Chicken has been CS' staple order since he started his no beef diet. I love the presentation of the mashed potato and the taste of the grilled chicken but it was quite overpriced for its size.

After months of chasing Mad Mark's, it was disappointing to realize that it did not live up to my expectations with all the hype on the quality and affordability of its dishes. If you're looking for value for money steaks, my money is still on Snackaroo and Rub Ribs for fall-off-the-bone ribs!

~o~o~o~

Mad Mark's Creamery & Good Eats

3F Central Square

Bonifacio High Street

Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (63917) 341-7576

Sunday Treats No. 57

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (3 pcs.) - Php145.00

~o~o~o~

Tim Ho Wan

G/F North Wing, Mall of Asia

Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 246-9069

Duck & Buvette at the Shangri-La Plaza

One of the rare times when CS gets to choose where we'd dine brought us to Duck & Buvette at the Shangri-La Plaza. France has been on my travel bucket list for the longest time but my knowledge on French cuisine is quite limited. Glad to see that D&B's menu is simple and easy to understand with specific description of each dish on the menu. Restaurant interiors was rustic, chic and bright, reminiscent of the French countryside homes I see on TV and magazines.

What we ordered

Duck Ragu Pappardelle - Php380.00

D&B's Duck Ragu Pappardelle was a delicious combination of fresh made pasta with Spanish onions, fresh mushroom, duck confit, tomato and red wine. It was actually CS' order but it was so tasty that I can't resist getting more off his plate. I would love to order this again and won't share!

Bikini Sandwich - Php270.00

We were off to dinner in a couple of hours so I thought of ordering a light snack until I got a forkful of the pasta dish. My Catalan-style grilled sandwich with Parma ham and black truffle spread was equally enjoyable but a little less black truffle flavor would do the trick of not overpowering the ham and the cheese in the sandwich. Serving is good for one person only.

I'd definitely drag CS back to try their bestselling Duck Confit!

~o~o~o~

Duck & Buvette

Level 2, Main Wing, Shangri-La Plaza
EDSA corner Shaw Blvd.

Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong

Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 631-0675

My Weekend in Photos: Maldives

Manila's Finest: Yuujin Japanese Restaurant

Did you know that Japanese women have the longest average life expectancy in the world? Because their traditional diet is known for being high in fish and low in fat, majority of these women tend to live until 87 years old, that's 15 years more than the average life expectancy of Filipinas! While I still have more than half a lifetime left in me to travel the world, who wouldn't want to have that extra 15 years? I guess that's more than enough reason to eat Japanese food everyday!

My journey to a healthier and longer life resumed with CS' suggestion for us to dine at one of the most underrated Japanese restaurants in Metro Manila - Yuujin. The place has been around since 2012 but it was only recently that we were able to try it ourselves. The place was packed when we arrived on a Saturday night, a great indication that we made the right choice.

We opted to take the seats by the sushi bar instead of waiting for a table to become available as we were too excited to try Yuujin's delicious offerings. Besides, it was amusing to watch the chef and the staff do their magic right in front of us, makes the waiting even more bearable.

What we ordered

Complimentary appetizer

It did not took long enough until the staff handed us bowls of stewed ground pork with potatoes, bell peppers and carrots. The savory starter was an unexpected but a welcome treat to condition our palate to a delectable evening. And who even says no to free, right?

Salmon Sashimi - Php265.00

We made sure to order the Salmon Sashimi upon seeing that all tables have at least one plate each. The price may be standard for any Manila-based restaurant but look at that thickness! I know that sashimi should be consumed as a whole but it was a mouthful that I had to bite in the middle to fully enjoy it. The freshness of the salmon was also exemplary as evident in its vivid color.

Saba Sashimi - Php245.00

CS saw how fresh the Saba is from our seats which made it even harder for him to resist after seeing it on the menu. Another steal for its quality and the generous cut of the sashimi.

Crazy Maki - Php295.00

The server recommended their bestselling Crazy Maki with insane toppings of shredded kani and rolled in tempura flakes. I usually prefer my maki with raw fish but this one's hard to forego with its tasty flavors and crunchy bite. Such a fun treat for customers who prefer cooked dishes.

Spicy Tuna Maki - Php215.00

Anything with spicy tuna and I'm sold! Seeing that Yuujin offers it in maki form made me curious and thrilled at the same time. Not only are the ingredients topnotch, but all our orders are filled with huge cuts of raw fish including this Spicy Tuna Maki.

If you live and breathe Japanese food like us, it would be a shame if you've never heard of or haven't been to Yuujin at least once in your lifetime. So save yourself the trouble of going around town to look for the best because we've got it covered!

My Top 3 Japanese Restaurants in Manila are:

1. Asunaro Express at Pan Pacific Hotel, Manila
2. Haru Sushi Bar and Restaurant in Kapitolyo, Pasig
3. Yuujin Japanese Restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan

~o~o~o~

Yuujin

221 Wilson Street

Greenhills, San Juan

Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 706-0626