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Food Trip Tayo!

• Paul Calvin’s Deli @ The Fort

  22Aug
  Categories: Desserts, Italian dishes, Western cuisine Comments: 5

  For those who work near the Fort area, you might want to drop by Paul Calvin’s deli at Rizal Drive for some affordable, but delightful lunch/dinner/snacks.

  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

  Tags: malunggay loaf, paul calvin's deli

• A Taste of Mexico at Jalapeno Cantina Mexicana

  16Aug
  Categories: Desserts, Mexican food Comments: 2

  

  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.

• Green Tomato’s Vegetarian Pasta

  04Aug
  Categories: Beverages, Desserts, Italian dishes, Pasta dishes Comments: 2

  I know most of the time, my carbo cravings lead me to Pepper Lunch.  However, pasta also is one of my favorite sources of carbs and I’m always in the lookout for tasty new servings.  And being the Shangri-La mallrat that I am (that is, whenever I get home early from the hospital), I ended up giving Green Tomato a try.  And I’m sure the first visit won’t be the last.

  

  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:

  

  Tags: dark chocolate orange with almond gelato, Green Tomato, raspberry iced tea, Shangri-La mall, vegetarian pasta