12 scoops of ice cream!!!! Yipeeee….wait, how am I gonna finish this?

There are days when one just has to have his daily dose of ice cream.  But there are days when one wants MORE than his daily dose of ice cream.  Or when one is feeling depressed.  When you are having those days, I suggest you go to Art’s Cream Gallery and get yourself (and hopefully, your friends) a giant martini glass full of gelato, like the one I’m holding in the picture above.

Mango is love while the Tiramisu flavored gelato tastes funny

More flavors…kahlua with cookies should be the bestseller, not the chocolate one!

Now look at all those flavors!  Yum!

Good thing my friends didn’t like the strawberry-flavored gelato so I could have it all for myself.  Hrhrhrhrhr.

And the towering scoops of gelato also give me an excuse to take photos of my friends with our “trophy ice cream”…

The best flavors so far are Mango, Strawberry, Kahlua, and Formaggio.  I suggest you stay away from Peppermint because if you don’t like the flavor, you’re gonna have to put up with it for quite a while.  The taste doesn’t easily get washed away and you’ll still be able to taste it in your mouth, even if you eat another ice cream.

Art’s Cream Gallery can be found at the Sky Garden of SM North EDSA and at Robinson’s Place Manila.

Look what I’ve got in my bag…

This is definitely one of the yummiest creations by Nestle.  Imagine, chocolate ice cream on a cone with bars of Kitkat chocolate in it!

Luscious!

Of course, this would only taste so amazing if you like Kitkat chocolates.  Harhar.

My rating:

…and eat it with a “golden spoon” at the Golden Spoon!

It’s a curious little new place just beside Starbucks coffee shop at the ground floor of Shangri-La mall.  The space actually used to be part of Starbucks before it went under renovation.

What makes the Golden Spoon yogurt different is that it tastes almost like premium ice cream.  It’s that creamy.

Strawberry yogurt with cornflakes and white chocolate bits in a mini cup,  P125

And perhaps, the sweetness and taste was due to the flavorings added to the yogurt.  Its strongest trait may also be its weakness, depending on how you like your yogurt.  I think it is too sweet and I’m missing that sourness I usually associate with yogurt.  But for those who wants ice cream goodness without the calories, fat, and the guilt, then perhaps you could try this one.  One could choose the flavor of yogurt (vanilla, strawberry, etcetera) and then choose as many toppings as you like (one kind of topping is P20), from caramel bars to candy rainbow sprinkles to chocolate chips.

However, I still think yogurt should taste like yogurt and not like ice cream.  But each to his own.

My rating:

See what I found here? I thought this one ain’t going to happen. Why? Because having kitkat wafer plus cookies just seemed too much for me. Whenever I eat chocolate bars, I want to taste the chocolate more than the bread or wafer or cookie.

I guess that’s 50% Kit Kat chocolate and 50% wafer and cookies. But surprisingly, it tastes great! I thought Kitkat is going to lose its signature chocolatey goodness because of the cookies and cream (I think the cream would be more of the culprit, if that was the case). However, in a strange way, they do mix together quite good.

Maybe you should try and taste it for yourself.

My rating:

Though I love chocolate, I appreciate how this cake isn’t that much chocolatey. I like that I can really taste the smooth texture of the egg crepe. Nomnomnom! And, of course, I love to nomnom it with my favorite espresso frappuccino, though, it works well with tea, too.

My rating:

I’m actually surprised when I learned that Paul Calvin’s Deli is 100% Filipino owned company.  Judging by the name, I thought it was American.  It’s actually a restaurant, bakeshop and catering company all rolled into one.

One of my favorites is the Baked Sweet Potato with pineapples.  I didn’t expect much that sweet potatoes and pineapples would make a good combination.  It’s not that sweet and can be eaten as lunch or dinner.  I like it eaten with fried rice, actually.  Too much carb?  I don’t really care.  Haha.

My rating:

Part of the buffet is an opportunity to have your pasta cooked the way you want it.  Just looking at the sauces, herbs, and the spices already makes my mouth water.

I just asked the chef to make my pasta mildly spicy, yet creamy, and he was able to cook one that really tasted like how I wanted it.  Amazing!

I should have asked how he did it.   But I guess I was too busy pigging out on this delicious pasta.  Maybe next time?

My rating:

This must be one of the best tarts I’ve ever tasted.  Plus the fact that I love how the fruit and cream was arranged on top like a flower.

My rating:

Now this one’s a novelty.  I’m not really a fan of malunggay and it amazes me how they could have put it in bread and made it into a delicious piece of loaf.  But then, it’s maybe because it taste like banana loaf.  Hmmmm.

My rating:

Paul Calvin’s deli offer a lot more dishes and if you want to try some, just visit:

Unit F 111 Forbes Town Center, Rizal Drive Bonifacio Global City
Near Mcdonalds and Forbes Wood Heights
Take Out. Grab and Go. Call Order.
Delivery. Call: +632 856-5900

I haven’t really frequented Ortigas Home Depot, though it’s only a few minutes away from where I work.  But since having a taste of Mexico at Jalapeno Cantina Mexicana, I might just drop by more often soon.

I like how everything looked made of wood and the way they were struck by yellow lighting, as it reminds me of warm, raunchy bars where one need not have to be so socially apt all the time (but, of course, it’s just a suggestion).  More importantly, though, it seemed like a relaxed, casual place designed for enjoyment of good food, drinks, and healthy conversations.

When one says “Mexican food”, first words that come to mind are: beans, nachos, and chili.  Well, I wouldn’t think of “soup” as being Mexican.  But the Mexican bean soup by Jalapeno convinced me otherwise.

Mexican bean soup, P80

The soup is made of bellpepper, corn, and beans in tomato soup.  And cheese!  I wish though it had more cheese and it’s a bit more spicy.  But then, I guess it’s okay that the soup would be a bit more neutral since main course could get spicier.

My rating:

Baked Jalapeno cheese dip with nachos, P140

I just can’t stop dippin’!

Now this one, I believe, a group of friends would enjoy having while having their tequila or beers.  The cheese dip is spot on, not too salty and the sour cream and jalapeno spice just gives it a bit of interesting taste.  I think I could even eat all of the dip without the nachos.  Nomnomnom!

My rating:

Grilled Chicken Mexicana, P175

Because I’m a rice person, I ordered this with Mexican rice and I love how the chicken was tender and tasted great even without putting sauce on it.  The fried beans could use some more spice, though.

And to remedy such a situation…

Hot sauce for the win!

I really truly believe the resto should brand and market this.  It tasted sweeter than most hot sauces, but still spicy to the right degree.

My rating (for the Grilled Chicken Mexicana):

My rating (for the hot sauce):

Herbed lemonade (I forgot the price, sorry…)

And to wash away the tasteful spices, it’s refreshing to sip some lemonade with basil on it.  I’ve never seen a lemonade with basil on it, actually, until I ate at Jalapeno.  It’s a novelty and I think I’m going to come back for more.  Not too sweet, just the way I like it.

My rating:

Banana Nutella Tortilla, P140

I guess I never knew tortilla could be used in making desserts.  Well, this dessert tastes like a crepe except for the tastier tortilla.  Interesting, but I think I’d eat this as a snack more than eating it as a dessert.  Or maybe you can have a buddy to split it with.  It’s a bit heavy in the tummy, perhaps because of the tortilla (or because I’ve eaten too much Mexican rice haha).  I wish though there’d be more flavors available.  Perhaps, in the future?

My rating:

WTH,  I have to get my friends together and have a smoking conversation over nachos, cheese, tortillas, and burritos soon!  And maybe re-learn how to go back to Ortigas Home depot.  Haha.

By the way, Jalapeno Cantina Mexicana is located at:

FoodStreet, Ortigas Home Depot,

J. Vargas Ortigas

Unfortunately, it’s only open from 6pm until about 2 am.  Maybe soon we’d have Jalapeno open by lunchtime too, for satisfying noontime cravings, you know.

Vegetarian Pasta

And for my first meal there, I ordered Vegetarian Pasta: a tasteful combination of juicy eggplants, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms and penne pasta drenched in olive oil with herbs (I think I tasted rosemary in it).  Damn, it was hot!  Deliciously hot!  I love how the olive oil complemented the taste of the veggies.  And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a very generous dash of parmesan cheese!  The dish is available for P215 only, if I’m not mistaken.

Raspberry-flavored iced tea

I think adding flavors to iced teas is great!  It may be increasing sugar load for the meal, but it makes the drink more exciting.  I’m kinda tired of the boring regular iced tea.  The drink is available for P55.

And, of course, dessert time!

Dark chocolate orange gelato with almond

I know some chocolate purists wouldn’t want to put “poison” their chocolates by putting in other flavors, however I find that the contrast orange provides is a delicious alternative to having pure chocolate ice cream (or gelato).  I’m still looking for the almonds, though.  But overall, I enjoyed the dessert enough.  It’s available at P70 and has different flavors such as cherry vanilla and strawberry.

It’s good that I found another food hangout at Shangri-La.  Been quite guilty of hanging out at PL lately.  Haha.  And pasta cravings are insatiable, really.

My rating:

Strawberry and Banana Yoghurt Krush

I don’t know when KFC came out with the Krushers, as I’ve only noticed them a week ago.  Nevertheless, I’m still eager to try them all out.  So far, I’ve only tasted Strawberry and Banana.  And damn, I love the combination!  I love it with my KFC chicken meal, as I’m already tired of drinking softdrinks.  It’s a bit too sweet for a “yoghurt” drink, but still hey, you can consider it as a dessert beverage.  And friendlier to those who have a tendency to be hyperacidic.  The drink would have been better, though, if it had more bits of strawberry and banana.  I didn’t want it to be too “smooth” like a milkshake.

But still, I’m definitely going to come back for more.  And of course, I want to try out the other two Krushers: Cookies ‘n cream and Karamel Krunch.

My rating:

Tortang Talong Maki, 6 pcs for P90

This dish just proves that you could make anything into a maki.   This is actually pork and eggplant omelette rolled in sesame-sushi rice and then drizzled with teriyaki sauce.  And because I love eggplants and makis, certainly this is a winning combination!

My rating:

Veggiedon, P130

Ah, this one tastes like a fusion of Chop Suey and an Oyakudon, only that it doesn’t have chicken.  This one’s composed of mixed veggies, egg, kani, nori, and a special sauce.  Didn’t like it that much, though.

My rating:

Green Tea Guinumis, P120

Now this one’s an original of Pinoydon.  It’s a combination of pandan jelly, sago, coconut milk, crushed ice, green tea ice cream and pinipig.  Though I’m not much of a fan of green tea ice cream, it tasted great when combined with coconut milk.  Definitely a must-try if you’re dining at Pinoydon.

My rating:

Overall, it’s an interesting concept, having a Filipino-Japanese fusion of dishes.  However, there are just some dishes that just doesn’t click really right.  Also, don’t expect the same atmosphere in a Japanese fine-dining resto here.  This is more casual, Pinoy diner, almost like fastfood restaurant, complete with the loud tsismisan by the crew over the cash register.  But still, they serve good food and it’s a place definitely worth visiting.