Food and Drink to Try Out in Singapore

notes in Food and Travel by Renzie Baluyut.

I miss Singapore. Cristina and I flew in for a visit early last year, and now that we finally have some more free time to ourselves, another quick visit just might be in the works.

It might look laid-back at first, but you know there's a bustling city in there somewhere. The people are some of the friendliest I've ever met, and there are just so many places to see. As for shopping-- well, Singapore is probably one of the best places for shopping anywhere in Asia, or perhaps even the world.

In the event that you do get a chance to check out Singapore, you might consider trying these ten Uniquely Singapore food and drink experiences:

1. The SGD 5 Beer at any Changi Airport Pub – the cheapest in town. Cheers!

2. The Imperial Golden Fried Rice from Chen Fu Ji Noodle House at Terminal 2, Changi Airport – this particular dish was perfected by the imperial palace chefs in China thousands of years ago.

3. The Chili and Pepper Crabs at East Coast Seafood Centre – one is cooked in a sweet, spicy gravy with lots of garlic while the other is stir fried with crushed black pepper. Both are equally tempting!

4. Char Kway Teow at Maxwell Market in Chinatown – a combination of rice noodles fried with eggs, fish cake, bean sprouts, cockles and a dark sweet sauce.

5. The Fried Carrot Cake at Tekka Centre in Little India – this white radish cake is first steamed, then fried with eggs, garlic, pickled radish and dark sweet sauce.

6. The Hainanese Chicken Rice at Chatterbox @ Meritus Mandarin Hotel (Orchard Road) – tender poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock and served with chilli, minced ginger & dark soya sauce.

7. Laksa at Katong – thick rice noodles cooked in coconut gravy and topped with shrimps, egg, chicken and cockles.

8. Rojak at Chinatown Food Street in Chinatown – a tasty salad of cucumber, bean sprouts, pineapple, white radish and fried dough fritters, tossed with prawn paste and topped with peanuts.

9. Roti Prata at Prata Cafe (26 Evans Road) – multi-layered crispy pancake that is served with curry.

10. Satay at Lau Pa Sat – skewers of marinated meat dipped in gravy and served with rice cakes and fresh slices of cucumbers and onions.

So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. Ten food experiences you have to try out the next time you visit Singapore. For more food and travel tips on Singapore, you could check out the Uniquely Singapore website, or Lonely Planet's very own Guide to Singapore.

Cheers, everyone!

Great Food at... Red Box?

from the Food and Travel notes of Renzie Baluyut.

I was sorta surprised about it myself. But yes, Red Box does serve some pretty good food. Not just "good-food-for-a-karaoke-bar" kind of good, but we're talking about some honest-to-goodness delicious dishes.

The fact is this: most karaoke bars don't put another thought to beefing up their food and drink offerings. It's true. For those of you who do frequent karaoke joints, the stuff on the menu isn't really all that spectacular. It's probably OK, but it's definitely not worth talking (or blogging) about.

Enter Red Box karaoke. Now here's a karaoke place that takes as much effort coming up with all kinds of great food experiences as they do building up their song library (which does have a rather extensive song selection, I might add). You can easily expect then, that Red Box's dining experience and menu is at par with the best restaurants in the city.

So, if you're going to hang out someplace where you can sing, play billiards, and even get a few rounds on a Nintendo Wii, then you might as well get some good food while you're at it.

You have got to try their Gambas al Ajilio-- shrimp sauteed in garlic, spices and olive oil, the Potato Skins, the Lechon Kawali, the Onion Rings, or their very own Buffalo Wings.

Red Box is also the first karaoke bar to open at lunch time, and has a whole lot of packages available for anyone who'd like to throw a party for family or friends.

Red Box has branches in Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma. For more information and inquiries, please call 757.6188 or visit their website here.

Cheers, everyone!

Secret Passion Apple Pie: All I Need Now is Some Vanilla Ice Cream

There's some Apple Crumble Pie in my fridge- and I can't wait to have me some of that. Doesn't that baby look gorgeous? Mmm-mm!

I dropped by Rockwell Powerplant last Sunday- nothing special, just the usual Sunday dinner and groceries- and I was delightfully surprised to find a cake fair going on downstairs. There were maybe ten or twelve cake and pastry merchants set up right in the middle of the busy concourse level, with people crowding around the stalls, helping themselves to some free samples, then taking away whatever baked goodies they fancied.

One of these stalls had among other things, this impressive-looking Apple Crumble Pie (as you can see), as well as other baked goodies. They said they used to be known as Tiny Blessings, mainly because they started out with small, home-made goodies like cookies, cheesecakes and other sweet treats. But with the massive apple pie that turned out to be a surprise best-seller for them, they decided to rename themselves as Secret Passion.

Secret Passion cakes are baked using only the finest and purest natural ingredients- much better than your regular mass-produced, mass-market cakes. I might come back for their Quezo de Bola Taisan. Or any of their cheesecakes. Or cookies. So many goodies, so little tummy space.

In any case, I recommend you get in touch with Tin of Secret Passion, and ask for a menu of their cakes, pies and other baked goodies, right here on their Multiply site. They also have other dishes you might want to try out if you're not into sweets- try their Beef Caldereta, the Penne Shrimp in Olive Oil, or the Lemon Roast Chicken, among others.

Go give em a call at (+632) 571.2384 or (+63917) 700.5659.

As for me, I gotta get me a tub of vanilla ice cream to go with my Apple Crumble Pie!

Cheers, everyone!

A Leisurely Lunch at Linden Suites

Having been a radio executive for several years, laid-back leisurely lunches weren't a common thing at all. In fact, you usually would want to have your lunch (or any meal for that matter) as quickly as possible since you're chasing deadlines, media buyers and account executives most of the time.

As some of you already know from reading my blogs, I'm more of a work-at-home advocate and online entrepreneur these days. Which means a great deal of flexibility- so when a good friend of mine, Kristine, called for a lunch meeting to toss a few ideas around, I was pretty much good to go.

We had lunch at the Azzurro Bistro and Bar, at the second level of The Linden Suites in Ortigas Center. It isn't my first time at Azzurro. Whenever I'd come to Linden Suites, whether for meetings, or for business, or when I'm checked in, I always make it a point to visit Azzurro.

Kristine and I started off with some appetizers- we had the Mushroom Bruschetta. Creamed shiitake and button mushrooms topped with Serrano ham.

I also had a serving of pumpkin soup. Specifically, this is Azzurro's Cream of Roasted Pumpkin & Root Vegetables. It's a light cream soup of pumpkin, carrots and onion pureed just nicely in chicken stock.

For my main course, I had the Herb-roasted Chicken. A tender roasted spring chicken with olive oil on a bed of mashed potato and contemporary Mediterranean ratatouille.

It was a very hearty, leisurely lunch- the setting was very conducive for tossing a few good ideas around, with lots of good conversation over good food. I'm sure glad we had this meeting.

If you haven't yet, go head on over to Azzurro at the Linden Suites. The restaurant itself is at the second level, and on top of a pretty solid menu, they always have something going on. Check out Azzurro's Multiply page for their menu, special events and ongoing promotions.

As for The Linden Suites, they're located at #37 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center in Pasig City. The Linden Suites are managed and operated by Swiss Belhotel International, which is based in Hong Kong. For inquiries and reservations, you may reach them at (+632) 638.78.78.

Cheers, everyone!

Renzie Recommends: Banapple

Shortly after arriving from Los Angeles, my friends suggested we all get down for some coffee and cake and swap stories. Banapple had always been a favorite place of ours- since Tish (one of my friends) recommended we try the place out.

At the time I had heard about Banapple, it was already having quite a deal of good word-of-mouth. The cakes, I heard, were excellent, and so was pretty much everything else in there. The hype at the time (around August or September of last year) was such that even if it had a sole branch down Katipunan Avenue (near where all the other drinking spots, nightspots and restos are located), it's definitely worth the effort.

We come back to it everytime, at least whenever we could manage.

Banapple's name comes from their two specialty treats: The Banoffee Pie (pictured above; forget that commercialized crap they make at other bakeshops- this one's the real deal!), and their signature Apple Caramel Crumble.

This quaint little coffee shop/bakery started out in 2000, at first churning out nice little pies and cheesecakes for family and friends, but now it's gained an impressive legion of devotees- loyal patrons- who stop by for a quick take-out or to even stick around for a hearty meal and dessert.

Banapple is a rather small place- which can only accommodate about 20 sit-down customers at a time. But it does have a certain appeal- welcoming, pretty much like home- even when there's a line of people out to get some muffins, slices of pie or sandwiches to-go.

What To Have at Banapple

You know you have to leave some room for those much-raved about pies. Banapple has enough to offer you- whether you're looking for a sandwich, a pasta dish, or a rice meal.

If you feel like having something light, ClickTheCity.com recommends you try Banapple's Terrific Tuna Sandwich, or you can also go for the Awesome Blueberry Pancakes (a stack of three mean-looking flaps which are indeed, awesome!) or have the Creamy Chicken Pie- which comes with a generous side of coleslaw.

Banapple also has a selection of must-try pasta dishes: slightly heavy, but you don't exactly go to a place like this to watch the calories, right? Check out their Fettuccine Jacintha- their own version of creamy carbonara, or you can also try the Pasta Verde- which is a penne dish with their special pesto sauce. Both dishes come served with bread which they made themselves.

For dinner, you may want to try their Salpicao Rafael- essentially rib-eye beef cubes stewed in a special sauce of garlic and mushrooms, and then served with rice. For your next visit, you can try their Chicken Breast Parmigiano- tender chicken breast fillets in a parmesan-crusted breading, then smothered in a chunky tomato sauce and topped with mozzarella.

For your dessert, you can also try some of their Chocolate Chip Walnut Pie, the Cadbury Old Gold Oreo Cheesecake or another customer favorite, Banapple's own Blueberry Cheesecake. Grab a slice, and you're guaranteed to bring home an entire box home- unless some other customer beats you to it. Yes, they run out of pies sometimes- so you know it's real good.

Speaking of take-home, consider raiding their shelves for the Banana-Apple Sweet Bread, my personal favorite. Help yourselves to some of their muffins, meat pies and cookies- which is great if you want to bring some Banapple goodness into the office, take it out-of-town, or just have a ready stash of goodies at home.

In our next post, we'll talk more about the legendary Banoffee Pie.

Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes is located at 225 Katipunan Avenue, in Blue Ridge, Quezon City. They're open Monday to Sunday from 7:30am to 11:30pm. For advance orders and inquiries, give them a call at (+632) 439.2675 .

Some pictures are from ClickTheCity.com. Check out their very own review of Banapple here, and their own gallery of Banapple photos here.

Renzie Recommends is a continuing series of personal reviews on this blog, Renzie on Food, featuring restaurants, food items and other dining experiences I personally think you should try out, given a chance. For me, eating is one of the simpler pleasures we enjoy, wherever we go- and good food is definitely the the way to go.

Cheers, everyone!

10 Must-Visit Restaurants While In Metro Manila, According To Yahoo!

Interestingly enough, Yahoo! has a travel guide to the Philippines and Metro Manila. It's rather informative, and I would imagine particularly so for foreign guests, as it has recommendations on what to do, where to check in, where to go, etc.

For me though, I'm rather interested in knowing what Yahoo! has to recommend in terms of dining and eating out. So, we're featuring that list of the Ten Most Recommended Restaurants in Metro Manila, right here on this blog.

Here we go...

First on our list of Yahoo's Most Recommended Restaurants in Metro Manila, at number 10 is the Outback Steakhouse, located at Glorietta 4 in Makati.

The theme is Down Under, with boomerangs, kangaroos and koalas as the pervading motif. Steaks are the main fare, complemented by chicken and some seafood. Do not, however, expect any kangaroo steak--it is all beef (Australian, naturally). The atmosphere is casual with a touch of contemporary sophistication (not exactly one's usual image of the Australian outback). Hearty meat eaters and beer drinkers will feel very much at home here. The bar also stocks wines and spirits.

Next on our list at 9th spot is Cafe Breton. Known for their crepes and coffee, you can find their establishments at the SM Mall of Asia, Greenbelt 3, TriNoma, The Podium, Tomas Morato, as well as in Ma. Orosa Street in Malate and in Westgate in Alabang.

When you walk into this cafe, you might feel you have been whisked off by magic to some small cafe out in the countryside of Brittany. The decor is French provincial, with rustic furniture, moss-green tile flooring and earthen pots on blue-painted shelves. Adding to the ambience, members of the staff sport red berets. For something really rich, order the Funtastic crepe--banana and Nutella crepe topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, and flambeed in Grand Marnier. Have it with cafe au lait, cappuccino, or espresso.

We now have our 8th most recommended restaurant in Metro Manila, according to Yahoo!- an old favorite, The Aristocrat. It has establishments at Jupiter Street in Makati, Roxas Boulevard, as well as in SM North EDSA, SM San Lazaro and SM Mall of Asia.

There was a time when The Aristocrat was a household word for eating out in Manila--so much so that it could justifiably call itself "The Philippines' Most Popular Restaurant." As befits a restaurant that has been synonymous with Filipino food, the decor revolves around a native motif, while the menu brings you the joys of Filipino cooking in such traditional fare as sinigang (sour soup) and crispy pata (deep-fried pig's knuckles). Honey-cured chicken barbecue, the house specialty, has been a favorite of generations of Filipinos. Drinks include beer, juices, soft drinks and mineral water.

The seventh most recommended restaurant in Yahoo's Top 10 Restaurants in Metro Manila is Kamayan- with branches at Alabang Town Center, EDSA, SM Megamall, Glorietta 3, West Avenue, Pasay Road and along Padre Faura, Manila.

Opened in 1977, Kamayan (kamay means "hand") has elevated the practice of eating with the hands into a respectable art form. Spoons and forks are available, but why spoil the fun of this unique 'hands on' experience? House specialties include Roast Suckling Pig, Seafood platter (crabs, prawns, mussels, squid), Spicy Bicol Express and Pinakbet (stewed okra, string beans and other vegetables). For dessert, try the Caramel Custard or Halo Halo. Beer and wine, as well as fresh fruit juices and soft drinks, are available.

At number six on the Top 10 Must-Visit Restaurants in Metro Manila according to Yahoo! is Conti's Pastry Shop and Restaurant. There's one in Greenhills, another in Serendra, one at TriNoma, and another in Paranaque- at the BF Homes Commercial Center.

Despite the name, and though it does serve good pasta, this is not an Italian restaurant. Managed by three sisters surnamed Conti, the restaurant features an eclectic mix of Filipino, European (the lengua estofada and calamari are winners) and a few Japanese dishes, along with sumptuous pastries and desserts, the house specialty. Conti's also offers catering and banqueting services, with function rooms for up to 100 persons. The simple decor is highlighted by a glass-enclosed garden corner with cascades. Fresh fruit juices in addition to soft drinks and beer.

Ranking fifth on this list is Red Crab Seafood and Steaks. They have a restaurant in Tomas Morato in Quezon City, and at the Alabang Town Center. They also run The Seafood Club in Greenbelt 3.

Most customers come to the Red Crab to savor the house specialty - crab served in a dozen culinary preparations. Here are your 12 options: steamed, deep-fried, Sichuan, Singaporean, Lungkow, Adobo, Maritess, Tauchi, Lilian, Relyeno (stuffed), claws and Miswa (angel hair noodles). Too much to handle?Settle for a more familiar steak instead. Or have a drink (much easier to choose from the list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) while you think it over. The decor is modern Western-style.

The fourth most popular restaurant in Manila according to Yahoo! is one of my personal favorites, Dome Cafe. Dome Cafe is located at The Podium, Shangri-la Mall and along Ayala Ave. in Makati.

Dome originated in Australia but is now becoming a well-known name throughout Southeast Asia. Dome not only serves good coffee, but it also features a European-style menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pizza, pasta and salads are served, along with daily specials, vegetarian dishes, sandwiches, a special menu for kids, and desserts. Continental cafe decor and ambience, with tables outside the air-conditioned dining area for smokers and other patrons who prefer to sit outdoors. Dome's own coffee comes in espresso, cappuccino, macchiato, mocha or cafe Vienna. Other beverages are available.

At number three on Yahoo's list of must-visit restaurants in Metro Manila is Saisaki. Saisaki's restaurants are located at Padre Faura corner Adriatico Street in Ermita, as well as in Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall, West Avenue, Glorietta 3 and EDSA.

Saisaki is part of the Triple V food group, which is known for offering buffets at very reasonable prices. Attired in traditional kimono, female servers bow and welcome guests the Japanese way. The atmosphere is laid back and casual, and the restaurant is filled to the rafters at meal time. Book in advance if you can. Saisaki offers Japanese cuisine such as tempura, teppanyaki, sushi, sashimi, teriyaki and tofu dishes. Also included as an extra treat are Angus beef and salmon cooked in many delicious ways. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available; buffet price does not include drinks.

The second most popular must-visit restaurant is Cafe Havana along Adriatico Street in Ermita, Manila. There are also Cafe Havanas in Gateway Mall and in Greenbelt 3.

The atmosphere here is decadent Havana, just before the fall of the city to Castro. The food is allegedly Cuban/Caribbean, but that is almost incidental; most people come here just to party. There is a stylish cigar bar and lounge (aptly named after Hemingway) on the second floor; ask the management how you can become a member and be allowed to spend a neat sum for the prized Havana cigars in stock. Downstairs in this restored old house, the lively proceedings can sometimes spill out on the street in a spontaneous party.

At the top of the list of must-visit restaurants in Metro Manila according to Yahoo! is Sala. Sala is located along J. Nakpil Street in Manila.

Sala serves modern European cuisine, which doesn't mean either nouvelle or fusion. As the owner puts it, the food consists of "classic European dishes prepared for contemporary tastes." Muted colors and subdued lighting combine for a warm, eye-pleasing glow, highlighted by floral arrangements. A look at the menu yields such offerings as Sesame Crusted Seared Tuna with Crispy Asian Coleslaw, Porcini Mushroom Risotto Cake with Brie and Roast Tomato, and Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Mash and Red Pepper Chutney. The wine selection is geared to discriminating wine drinkers.

So there you have it. Special shout out to Wcities and ClickTheCity.com for the information and pictures on this blog entry. Personally, I like checking out ClickTheCity to find out what's new and what's going on in the local scene- and maybe you should too.

So what do you think about the list? No idea how Yahoo! was able to rank them up, but I plan to look into it a little bit more.

In any case, some of these restaurants are already favorites of mine, and the rest are definitely worth checking out. Then I'll probably have a more indepth review of my own.

'Til next time. Cheers, everyone!

Great Snacking: Lay's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips

This post was initially published on Renzie's Online World of Awesome, which at the time was known as Renzie's Rants and Raves. I have since then decided to make a separate blog on food, cooking and all sorts of dining experiences (this blog, Renzie on Food), and so transferred this post from its original location. Read on!

Alright, I know it's not exactly healthy to over-indulge your snacking habits. But my girlfriend and I can't help it: we feel like we work so hard over the week so when the weekend hits- we spend our sweet time lounging around in bed, order lots of take-out and catch up on our shows. You know, be the complete opposite of what we are at the office.

It's the catching up on the shows that sort of throws a wrench in our plans to work on our health and fitness. Sure we hit the gym every now and then, dig into a salad when we feel like it, or watch our carb intake, but when we have lazy weekends like the past several ones, we find ourselves stocking up on these new Lay's Potato Chips.

Yes, it's that new Kettle Cooked variety. At first, it was really more an act of curiousity picking up that first bag, tossing it in with the rest of the groceries for the weekend- I think I grabbed the Original flavor that first time.

Kettle Cooked Lay's are a lot way crunchier than the usual Lay's. Not that I don't like the earlier versions of Lay's- they're really more of my favorite potato chips- but a bag of Kettle Cooked chips seems to have a relatively shorter lifespan in our hands once opened.

So the next time we did our groceries, we thought, "Hmm, maybe the other two flavors taste good too- we should give em a try..." Which we did, see- like this time we got all three varieties- Mesquite Barbecue, Jalapeno and that Original variant.

From what was supposed to be an experiment to see which flavor we liked best, it ended up being a weekly ritual of grabbing all three to satisfy our need for nibbling while watching our latest batch of TV shows or DVDs.

And it looks like a continuing trend. At least until we have another strange food craving come into play. For now though, it's Kettle Cooked Lay's Potato Chips for us. We absolutely love it.

Cheers, everyone.

Renzie Recommends: Abe

This post was initially published on Renzie's Online World of Awesome, which at the time was known as Renzie's Rants and Raves. I have since then decided to make a separate blog on food, cooking and all sorts of dining experiences (this blog, Renzie on Food), and so transferred this post from its original location. Read on!

From the same group (the LJC Restaurant Group, that is) that gave you other great restaurants like Cafe Havana, Cafe Adriatico and Bollywood, comes another great dining concept: Abe.

Abe first opened its doors in Serendra, and now another branch has opened in TriNoma. I was fortunate enough to be able to check out Abe as part of a group of bloggers at last Wednesday's Bloggers' Food Tour (organized by the good people of Yehey.com). The event saw us sampling food from these fine food establishments and restaurants, as well as taking pictures and writing up reviews.

Abe is definitely one of those restaurants that I've got to check out next time I'm at TriNoma.

The Man Behind The Name.

Abe is a kapampangan word for 'friend' or 'companion'. Incidentally, it's also the nickname of renaissance man Emilio Aguilar Cruz (1915-1991), father of Larry J. Cruz (who owns the restos, thus the LJC group, get it?).

Abe Cruz had been known to have traveled a lot, not just within the country, but all over the world- partly because of his position as ambassador for the UNESCO in the 70s. His travels have been the inspiration behind the various food dishes featured in the restaurant- so you'll be treated to a wide selection of Abe's favorite dishes from Binondo, Europe, the Ilocos, Chinatown or from the recipes of family friends.

Giving the restaurant its unique personality and ambiance are selections of Abe's artwork and memorabilia- drawings, old photographs and collected pieces, mostly. So the resto has a warm, welcoming Filipino feel to it, nostalgic yet relaxing.


Specialties of the House.

Abe, for the most part serves favorite local dishes from the region of Pampanga: the Binukadkad na Crispy Pla-Pla (a large deep-fried tilapia fish splayed wide open), Kare-Kare (a tasty oxtail and tripe stew served with shrimp paste- great with lots of rice), Pastel de Lengua (tender and savory ox tongue cooked to perfection- matches very well with its pie crust topping), and Spicy Sisig Pampanga (minced pork jowl and chicken livers sautéed in garlic- accompanied nicely with ice-cold beer and good conversation).

From other regions comes the Gising-gising from Bicol, the Pinakbet from Ilocos, the Black Pata and Crispy Salted Shrimps from Chinatown, and the Cocido and the Morcon from our old Spanish past. Also included in the menu are really interesting dishes such as Gilda Cordero Fernando's Lumpiang Pica-Pica and the Rellenong Mais- from a recipe shared by Thelma San Juan and her mom.

(We were fortunate to have sampled what Abe had to offer at the Bloggers' Food Tour- my personal favorite is the Pork Binagoongan which I had with some rice, and with some of the lumpia and rellenong mais on the side.)

Where to Find Abe.

We visited Abe's restaurant located on TriNoma's third level. Aside from all the great food mentioned above, Abe also serves a variety of Filipino merienda favorites. The restaurant is open from 11am to 12 midnight. For reservations and inquiries, call them at 901-5691 to 92.

Alternately, you may want to visit the Abe at Serendra- located at the ground level of the Serendra Court. The number there is 856-0526.

Renzie Recommends is a continuing series of personal reviews of restaurants, food items and other dining experiences I think you should try out. Eating is one of the simpler pleasures we enjoy, wherever we go- and good food is definitely the the way to go.

Cheers, everyone!

Renzie Recommends: La Maison

This post was initially published on Renzie's Online World of Awesome, which at the time was known as Renzie's Rants and Raves. I have since then decided to make a separate blog on food, cooking and all sorts of dining experiences (this blog, Renzie on Food), and so transferred this post from its original location. Read on!

I was fortunate enough to have been given the chance to check out several restaurants in TriNoma at the Yehey.com-organized Bloggers' Food Tour. Some thirty-four restaurants signed up for the event and opened their doors to more than a hundred bloggers to sample their wares and get them to be happy enough to blog about- which is pretty much what I've done for several blogs of mine.

I have to say though, out of the thirty-four restaurants I tried out that afternoon, there were only a few that stood out. One of them was this cozy little spot on the second level- La Maison.

"La Maison" is actually French for "the home"- which is pretty much what the restaurant is trying to go for, and you can see the effort put in to making the place feel more casual and relaxed. So you still have a fairly classy place, but then you notice the denim placemats on the table and the umbrella-looking ceiling lamps above you- and for some reason, the combination of design elements makes you feel comfortably laid-back.

Recommended Eats at La Maison.

The restaurant officially positions itself as a "modern cosmopolitan brasserie-style restaurant and cafe"- so they have this edgy mix of classic and modern tastes. Dishes are served to encourage sharing- with generous portions enough for you and your friends to try out.

The menu features a fairly wide selection of meat, fish and fowl, but also has gourmet sandwiches, pasta, salads and dessert. They pride themselves as the home of best ribs, steaks and seafood. My fellow bloggers and I were given the chance to sample some of their best-sellers, but personally, two things really stood out for me: The Barkada Ribs, and the Dover Sole Fish Fillet. Absolutely love 'em. I've had the pleasure of trying them both out, and- I gotta say it again- I absolutely love 'em.

The good people at La Maison brought out a few kilos of the Barkada Ribs- which was a good move on their part, I must say. Every blogger at that event must have had seconds (or thirds, in my case)- easily finishing off the whole tray. Fortunately, I was able to take a picture of the impressive amount of meat set in front of me, just before everyone had their way with it.

Beef ribs are beef ribs, you'd think- but these ribs are so tender, they're falling off the bone. It comes served with honey chili sauce, which adds a delightful flavor to the beef.

Another easy favorite was the aforementioned Dover Sole Fish Fillet. I thought I was already happy with the beef, but I had to try some of the fish when the staff brought it out.

Chef Myra, one of the bloggers, I remembered, was one of the first to try the fish as one of the store supervisors was talking about how the fish guarantees to "melt in your mouth." She obviously was impressed. I didn't think it's easy to impress a chef, so I tried some myself- and was instantly bowled over.

I'm not a huge fan of fish personally, but if I had to have some, I'd say this is how it should be prepared- soft, flavorful and well, they said it: melts-in-your-mouth.

I've already been sold on two of the dishes they presented to us that afternoon, and I would suppose that their other bestsellers are worth coming back for. Next time we drop by, they recommended we try their Chef's Duck Liver Pate, the Quesadillas, the Salmon and Mango Salad, the Blue Cheese Steak, the Fillet Mignon and the Fillet Oscar. For dessert, they said we should go for the Choco Lovers' Cake and the "to die for" Creme Brulee on our next visit.


Where to Find La Maison.

I visited the La Maison establishment at TriNoma. You can find it on the second level, along with a few other restaurants. I've been told by branch manager Robi Caguiat that there's another one in Greenbelt 5. So whether you're in Quezon City or in Makati, there's a La Maison in an Ayala Mall near you.

Besides, it gives you a chance to visit TriNoma or Greenbelt 5 while you're at it.

Renzie updates (19 July 2008): You can also visit the newest La Maison branch at The Podium!

The Bottom Line.

You gotta love La Maison. For such good food, it's more than reasonably-priced. The dishes are presented fairly well- just enough for you to appreciate the food in front of you, and give you a tease of what you'll be eating soon enough.

The menu has a wide selection of meal plates or dishes to share, many of which are easy favorites. A great dining experience not just for those on low-carb diets like Atkins and South Beach, but for just about anyone on the lookout for something out-of-the-ordinary.

Easily, La Maison could very well be my favorite restaurant in the TriNoma area, or at least one of my few new favorites.

La Maison is definitely a place you'll want to keep coming back to. You could easily drop and relax with a date on a weekday night, and then go try a different set of dishes with family on the weekend. It's a place you'll want to recommend to your friends and colleagues, and you know for sure that they'll be having a good time as well.

Renzie Recommends is a continuing series of personal reviews of restaurants, food items and other dining experiences I think you should try out. Eating is one of the simpler pleasures we enjoy, wherever we go- and good food is definitely the the way to go.

Cheers, everyone!