Eats @Nostagic Magnolia Ice Cream House

Back in the days when artisan gelatos are not yet known in Manila, this house of chocolate was a wonderland for kids and adult alike. The refreshments are top-notch and delicious. I remember how I happily anticipate the stop-over each time we're staying in Manila for summer break. On a great day, I'd get a banana split as a reward for a good deed. Nonetheless, ordinary days meant having ube or strawberry cups. The original site was located along new manila, near Jubilee School and Aurora Blvd. If you can't still map it mentally, it is where Robinson's Magnolia stands tall today. Hence, the name Magnolia from the famous Magnolia Ice Cream House.

Although I live a few hours away from Manila, I was saddened with its closure because that place reminded me a lot of happy memories and remarkable stories with exceptional people and so on..

You know if he or she is a regular customer immediately upon seeing how they opened the old door. You know it's a regular customer if they head straight to get the ice cream from the chiller on the side and consume it before paying for it. A lot had been said about this noble place, but it remained a humble, simple and quaint place to eat ice cream at. I loved it!

Today, I guess, there were other kids from the 90s or even earlier, who had the same thoughts as mine because the people from Magnolia had decided to carry on the operation of the shop (yay!) just minus the big space. They still serve that lovely banana split.. try it yourself :) and more..

They also serve rice dishes and pasta dishes. Check the menu here. 

Ice cream in edible sugar cups

the Ice Cream specialties: I think they should tweak some more exciting combinations.

They also have meat dishes for the carnivore in you.

Pasta dishes looked tasty. Simple variants.

seafood and other dishes plus sandwiches. 

I also like their colorful and yet, comfy chairs ans couches :) Chevck the flower-like cushions.

coffee and shakes?

the icing on top is getting a free ice cream-- 1 scop on a

sugar cone. How?  All you have to do is like their facebook page online, write to log your name and signature and photo o with a crew :) I got Ube for free since i already had chocolate, strawberry and mango before that. Visit a branch now :)

enjoy eating

xoxo 

M.

Cooks @ Sweet Chocolate Rice Porridge or Champurado

Whenever it's raining hard, my cravings turn to my childhood favorite comfort food for snacks. Rainy season here in the Philippines usually start in June and ends in August or September. It's when the monsoon rains come by the most causing heavy rains and even thunderstorms. During this challenging ti, it is comforting to snack on something familiar, sweet and simple. My rainy season snacks include creamy macaroni soup (sopas) and sweet chocolate rice porridge (champorado).

There are different versions of this. Known to me are Spanish, Filipino and Chinese versions. I've grown to modify my own version so as to suit my taste and my changing food choices.

So for today, I'll be sharing with you my version's recipe that is so easy to do and so yummy tasting.

ingredients:

5- pcs tablea chocolate rounds

1- cup of sticky rice ( I use japanese rice)

3-pcs kisses chocolate

4-tablespoon sugar (adjustable to taste)

1/2-cup oats (I use quaker oats quick cook)

7-cups of water

1-cup of evaporated milk

Procedure:

1. In 1 pot, boil 5 cups of water.

2. Throw in the tablea chocolates. 

3. Stir & dissolve.

4. In a 2nd pot, bring to boil the washed rice with 2 cups of water. Set the heat to medium.

5. When you see it boiling, transfer the rice to the tablea compound.

6. Constantly stirring to

avoid burning the mixture for 15 minutes.

7. Add the oats, sugar and the chocolate kisses and let it simmer for 5 more minutes. Set the heat to low.

8. Transfer to individual bowls and add evaporated milk on top.

9. Serve & share.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6 cups

I added oats for fiber and lessened sugar level. You can add more if you prefer it sweeter.

*Now all you have to do is check your pantry and cook.:-)

Cheers.

M

Eats @ Saboten: Manila, Philippines

Saboten is originally from Japan. It opened its doors to tonkatsu lovers on year 1996. Since then, they have been serving from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. Just recently, they opened one here in the Philippines. 

I know it's just a deep-fried porkchop labeled with a "signature" fancy name-- another Yabu. But then, I say it's worth a try. In passionate search for a tonkatsu closest to my Japanese experience within the Metro can be comforting too.

We went there at 5:45pm to check out the place and we were welcomed by groups of people lined up towards the entrance. The facade is wide and well-lit as outsiders can already see the dinners clearly. it was already packed at pre-dinner time. What a fad! So along with the waiting groups, I lined up for reservation. 

I like the fact that they offered to call us when our table is available. It gives us time to roam around or do something else. So after some time, I received a call at 7:00pm. Our table is ready, and I had to hurry back thinking that we might miss our chance.

At 7:15pm, we were seated and ready to order. Menu was of course in set meal format. They have unlimited cabbage salad, rice and miso soup.

We had cabbage with sesame dressing and/or citrus dressing for starters. 

It is simply shredded cabbage but the dressings made it special. We had to refill even before the main dish was served.

The side dishes came in next. We had pickles, raddish, raddish salad with plum dressing, and chicken salad with bang bang ji dressing.

It suits you if you have an acquired japanese tasteor if you're eating these with the tonkatsu. By itself, it can be a little too strong for your soy-based taste buds. But then, I liked them!

We paused to make the sauce for our tonkatsu. Here are the signature black and white sesame seeds. Crushed using the individualized mortar and pestle.

Then we added the sauce.

It's a thick pre-mixed sauce for the tonkatsu. Mix and dip.

Here's the star of the meal. A slab of deep-fried-breaded and tender golden brown tonkatsu. It was juicy and tender inside. Every bite is a morphic crunch. Although, one piece seemed to be too small for a too-big-of-a-foodie-apetite, the taste sufficed. In comparison, Yabu has a bigger serving.

I also liked the crispy rolled cutlets. Here are the asparagus and cheese. But you can also choose the plum variant.

This is a sample set for two (sharing). Cabbage, miso soup, 2 appetizers, rolled cutlets (asparagus, cheese or plum), tempura, and tonkatsu.

*Side dishes not included in this picture.

The meal will not be complete without desserts. Can you guess what they served?

Correct! No other than green tea ice cream. The consistency is nice when eated frozen. The taste is authentic. The texture is just somewhat "icy." Not bad for here. I've always liked my green tea strong and fragrant.

Overall, I liked the food and the dining experience. The zen feel + comfort food is a good combo. Also, the management made ways to make the dining experience comfortable amidst the long wait to be seated and the wait to be served. They called us when the table is available, offered tea and cabbage refills frequently. 

Financial Damage: P500+ per person.

Address: 

G/F Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Philippines

(Right across Contis and beside Mamou)

For inquiries, call them at: +6326252000 

Store hours: 11:00am to 11:00pm daily 

*But we left at 11:30pm and they did not kick us out.

Note: The place was packed, I was not able to take decent pictures of the interior. Will do that next time.

Let me know your experience too. :)

Cheers!

M.