by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 23, 2019 | Yummy Reviews
Yakikai, what a funny name to say. 🙂 ‘Tis the season to forget about that diet and indulge, as they say, and Yakikai is definitely a place to indulge our appetite. 🙂 A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to eat at Yakikai Grill and Fusion Buffet located at Scout Dr. Lazcano Street near Tomas Morato in Quezon City. For those who can’t quite imagine where this is, your nearest landmark would be Starbucks Reserve across from BPI on Tomas Morato Avenue. Yakikai is on the block where Starbucks is. 🙂
This restaurant was easy for me to find for these reasons:
- I live nearby
- this used to be Bagoong Club which I once frequented
- it is a stone’s throw away from my favorite Starbucks branch, the Starbucks Reserve Legacy Store on Tomas Morato. 🙂
For people with cars, if you arrive early enough you can park right in front of Yakikai, otherwise, your next available parking will be on Tomas Morato. Not to worry, though, as Tomas Morato is a very short distance from the restaurant … very walkable.
The first time I heard about Yakikai I couldn’t help but wonder if this was going to be any different from other samgyupsal restaurants I have visited in the past. While there are definitely similarities, the owner, Ms. Sam, introduced us to some features that make this restaurant stand out. FYI, Ms. Sam used to be the owner of Sodam, a samgyupsal restaurant in Greenhills, which she has since sold before she opened this place.
Dining Area
Since I have been to this building before when it was a different restaurant I was interested to note if they changed anything about its appearance or layout. So far, they have made the dining area brighter and, of course, there is the addition of the ventilation pipes for the hoods over each table.
There are three dining areas on the ground floor: the main area near the buffet which can seat approximately 24 or more people, another one just to the right of the main dining area which can comfortably seat 30 people, and an outdoor seating area at the lanai which can comfortably seat another 24 people.
On the second floor, there are two rooms. The room on the right could possibly seat around 20 people while the room on the left could possibly seat 50 people. This set up makes Yakikai ideal for big groups. While their Zomato page says they do not take table bookings, I think they do take reservations for special events.
Restrooms
It is important to note that there are two gender-neutral restrooms, one on each floor. This is a carryover from Bagoong Club. However, I wish they could maintain it better. One tip I would possibly give them is to have one of their staff check the restrooms every 30 minutes or every hour to make sure it is still clean (and not stinky) and clean it when necessary.
The Menu
As with other restaurants they have an ala carte menu and an “eat all you can” menu. In this review, I will focus on the latter because this is the menu that they really want to push. That is my gorgeous sister holding up the menu for me. 😀
They only have 2 sets to choose from. The premium set and the emperor set.
Premium Set
The first is the PREMIUM SET. This was originally priced at P499 but, at the moment is available for P339. Unlike other restaurants, this package is composed of chicken, pork, beef, and shrimp, cheese, plus the buffet! Talk about value for money.
The meat selection is basically the same as what you would find in every other samgyupsal place but the addition of the shrimp and cheese (which is a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese) at no extra cost brings them up a notch. I even noticed that there was one table that ordered just the fresh shrimp! That was so smart! I should do that next time.
Emperor Set
The second set is called the EMPEROR SET and is, of course, the one they highly recommend. Originally priced at P699, it is currently available for P599. The emperor set is composed of chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, fish, Jjampong nabe soup, and cheese! Specifically, what makes the emperor set are the following:
- salmon sashimi
- chuck eye steak
- shrimp tempura
- and Jjampong Nabe
When cooking any kind of meat (and steak especially) it is important to know when to stop cooking it so that the meat is still edible. When it comes to the steak which compared to the other meats served is thick, cooking it too long will make the steak hard and dry. Your goal should always be medium. Some like it medium-rare, others medium-well.
We asked Ms. Sam if they served tuna sashimi aside from salmon sashimi and she said that they don’t serve tuna as it spoils faster so if it is not consumed quickly they end up throwing it away. Salmon, on the other hand, handles better and lasts longer. I love salmon anyway so this was no hardship for me. 😀
The Jjampong Nabe might be removed from the menu as they have received feedback that many patrons find it too spicy. They are still thinking about what to replace it with if they decide to remove it. Any suggestions?
Buffet
Both the premium and emperor set comes with the buffet which is self-service and you can go back as often as you want and get as much as you want.
At first, it would appear as though the buffet offerings are limited, but as each dish is emptied, it is replaced with a different dish (if similar) dish, which makes for an almost limitless buffet.
In this photo here you can see that the options have already changed. The dishes that I kept going back for are the shredded sweet Japanese corn and the japchae. For those who do not know, japchae is a Korean noodle dish made with vermicelli noodles with vegetables and beef tossed in.
Sushi options at the buffet
On the far left of the buffet is a selection of different kinds of sushi from the all-time favorite California Maki to salmon, shrimp, and tamago (egg) variations. At the window above the buffet are the chefs who were busy preparing refills of all the dishes in the buffet.
I am very keen on anything spicy I sampled the spicy tuna. The sushi tasted as expected, which is a good thing. 🙂 I had a few pieces of spicy tuna and tamago sushi. 😀
Is “buffet only” an option?
We asked Ms. Sam if it were possible for guests to order just the buffet and no grilling and she said no. When I think about it, though, that really isn’t too bad since the price of their premium set is not really that expensive.
Dessert and drinks
For dessert, you can ask for any of the Korean ice cream available from the freezer at an additional cost (they are not part of the package). Same with the drinks, the packages only come with water but you can order soda or juices from the menu at an additional cost.
Eat-All-You-Can
I ate all I could and there were still so many dishes that I was not able to taste. A tip to beginners, make sure you are hungry when you go here because I promise you, there is almost no waiting time between sitting at your table and eating. While they set up your table you could already start on the buffet.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 20, 2019 | Lifestyle
After a long, stressful week at work, there’s nothing like using that hard-earned time to kick back and enjoy the best in life. For people who live and work in North Makati (NOMA), Assembly Grounds at The Rise offers a bunch of ways to chill and relax, enjoying the best food and pampering treatments.
Enjoy unlimited Korean BBQ at Premier the Samgyupsal.
The meat is succulent, the side dishes are limitless, and there are enough flavors and textures to keep taste buds occupied for a long time. Diners can get premier-grade meats, imported melted cheese dip, and more authentic dishes. Bring the entire barkada for a fun weekend feast!
Take some time for self-care!
Focusing on appearance isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good, restoring a sense of self after a debilitating week behind that office desk. With /nook/ urban family salon + spa, both men and women can avail of top-notch pampering treatments, from facials to haircuts!
Chomp on some cheesy, meaty meals.
When craving for a juicy steak, crunchy nachos, and a dash of lime, head on over to Fiery Style Southwestern Flaming Grill, the place to be for Southwestern Tex-Mex food.
This perpetually festive restaurant is always alive with a vibrant cocktail bar or a live acoustic set, and when the most important thing in the world is a Friday night agenda, you can always rely on a hefty drink and a sizzling plate of spiced steak.
Set an appointment for a gentleman.
Got a bunch of fun engagements this weekend? Then looking dapper is a must. At Sanbry Men’s Grooming House, every guy becomes a gentleman, what with their bachelor-pad setup and expert grooming skills. You’ll walk out looking like the toast of the town.
Savor a hot bowl of ramen.
Is it a rainy weekend? Want to just stay in the area and enjoy something toasty and perfect? Then get a seat at Ramen Daisho, an authentic Fukuoka ramen restaurant that uses ingredients sourced directly from one of Japan’s Ramen Masters. With chewy, slippery noodles swimming in a bowl of savory broth, a rainy weekend will always be a happy weekend.
With all these things to do right in the heart of NOMA, Assembly Grounds at The Rise is the ideal place for the thriving community to make every minute of the weekend worthwhile!
For inquiries, call 8-298-8000 loc. 4 or visit www.assemblygroundsattherise.com. Follow Assembly Grounds on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @assemblygrounds.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 18, 2019 | Yummy Reviews
Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea is not new to me. I have been to Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea at Robinsons Magnolia at the Foodcourt before and I have tasted their cold brew coffee and I liked it but this was the first time I was able to go to the branch at Robinsons Manila and let me tell you, it is not easy to find.
Finding Nitro
- The layout of Robinsons is already confusing, everything just kind of moves around in a circle (or series of circles) so you could be in one wing and then suddenly find yourself in another wing without realizing how you got to that wing.
- Nitro 7 Coffee is not even in the mall directory.
- Google maps do not say what floor it is on so relying on Google Maps will just make you go around and around unless you do a Google search (and not use the map) and you will then see that it is not on the ground floor.
Eventually, I just had to rely on my navigation skills and just crossed my fingers that I would not get lost. On the upside, my fitness app was happy! I got a lot of steps in, lol! Here’s a tip if you want to know where it is, look for Toys R Us on the mall map, Nitro 7 is in front of it. Right now I cannot even tell you what floor it is but it is most certainly not on the ground floor.
Nitro 7 Coffees
We got to try the bestsellers, Irish Creme Breve, Black Nitro, Hazelnut Caramel Mocha, and Chocolate Macadamia. Because we didn’t want any of the coffee to go to waste we asked the barista to just give us dixie cups (which they called sample cups) so that we could just pour out a little of each flavor and taste it all.
The Chocolate Macadamia and Hazelnut Caramel Mocha are very similar in flavor, with the Hazelnut Caramel Mocha being slightly sweeter. The Chocolate Macadamia had that distinct macadamia flavor that instantly made it my favorite of the four. Have you ever tried Hawaiian Toast chocolates? That is what it tasted like. 🙂
The Irish Creme Breve was quite creamy and had that slight alcohol taste we tend to associate with anything Irish.
The Black Nitro, which is their base drink, was just way too strong for me, so no. I like my creams and sweeteners. 😀
Sandwiches
The highlight for me would probably be the grilled sandwiches. Here’s a spoiler … they all have cheese in them. 😀
None of these sandwiches are difficult to make as I’ve made my versions of them at home. But not everyone likes to cook so for those who like to eat out or eat and run, these sandwiches are good options. While we were there we were able to taste the following in the order they were served to us:
Ham and Cheese
This ham and cheese sandwich is easily a favorite. There were no surprises when it came to the taste but the ham slices were thicker than can usually be found in ham sandwiches sold in cafes and the cheese is ooey-gooey. This made us feel that the customer would be getting good value for their money.
Three Cheese
The three-cheese sandwich combines three different kinds of cheese … they didn’t tell us what they were but my tastebuds and eyes say they are cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack. It was delicious! It has the right balance of saltiness that we look for in cheese without being overpowering. The combination of cheeses was just perfect.
Just like the next normal person, I like cheese, but if you are lactose intolerant or on a diet then this might not be the sandwich for you.
Corned Beef
Yes, the corned beef sandwich still had cheese there was more corned beef than cheese. The cheese acted as more of a binder. Tastewise, it was good. Probably nothing to write home about but ok.
Tuna and Cheese
The tuna and cheese sandwich was the most disappointing of them all for me, probably because I know I can make it better. It was bland. I think they could have improved it by using spicy tuna instead.
With the addition of the cheese, the spice would have been negligible but enough to give this sandwich a little kick which I felt that it needed especially as tuna is the obvious choice for those who are trying to avoid red meat.
The Holiday Offerings
We had the opportunity to try their holiday offerings, namely:
- Black Cherry Mocha
- Chocolate Berry Snow
- Orange Joy Milk Tea
The Black Cherry Mocha tasted like a black forest cake in a cup.
The Chocolate Berry Snow had a similar flavor but in frap form. To me, it tasted like a high-end version of Scramble, that shaved-ice concoction we used to eat after class that was sold from a cart from the vendor outside school. 🙂
The Orange Joy Milk Tea is probably not their best seller because it is hard to explain how it tastes. It tastes good, don’t get me wrong, but describing how it tastes is quite challenging.
I don’t know that I would get any of these drinks in the future as I am not a fan of berries, but I can see that there would be an audience for it.
We don’t know what happened, there was probably a miscommunication but for some reason, we were not served as much food and drink as we were promised. In a nutshell, we were cut off! Lol! But we decided not to take offense and just give our honest review.
We were able to taste everything we were served after all, even if we had to share everything. Meaning, everything was split 5 ways. 1 sandwich divided by 5, 1 drink divided by 5. We all got a bite or a sip of everything we were served and that was enough for us to have an opinion.
But because we were cut-off just like that I find it difficult to rave. Nonetheless, do consider Nitro 7 Coffee and Tea when looking for a new place to enjoy cold brew coffee.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 11, 2019 | Lifestyle
TVS Motor, one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in Asia, stuns Filipino riders with the release of the new TVS Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium motorcycle units and decals in a recent launch and workshop in Batangas Racing Circuit.
Guests were able to try out the new Dazz Prime and XL100 Premium units first-hand and experience TVS’ innovative design of the new motorcycle units.
Ride in this street stunner, TVS Dazz Prime in black and red.
The Dazz Prime units boast a sleeker look with a new embossed-type emblem, sharks fin design, and color variations in stylish white and red, daring black and red, or attractive gray and red. Dazz was the first to incorporate a mobile charging port in its scooter and has maintained it to allow the rider to charge a mobile phone on the road.
The new Dazz Prime also comes in a powerful engine with 8.34 horsepower at its maximum and can store 5.3 liters of fuel, giving the rider a powerful and stylish ride. In addition, tubeless tires are now in every Dazz Prime. No more worries about flat tires. The new upgrades give it a more expensive look that every smart rider would want.
Dazz comes with a best-in-class engine warranty of 3 years / 30,000kms adding assurance to its customers.
Ride with style on the new TVS XL100 Premium in army green.
XL100 Premium is a single-speed automatic that comes with a new mobile charging port, sync brake that allows the rider to stop faster when carrying heavy loads, and now an ES with an i-Touch technology that gives it a noiseless starting. XL100 Premium is available in army green, metallic black, and Vulcan red colors. XL100 Premium comes with a warranty of 1 year / 12000kms.
All TVS customers are always backed up with after-sales support through its wide network of over 300 service outlets in the Philippines. With innovative solutions like Lazada Online parts with free shipping and dedicated iCare helpline, customers are assured with the trouble-free ownership experience.
New decal sets were also introduced in a fun workshop where guests competed by styling Dazz units with TVS decals within the given time limit, and by personalizing a Dazz motorcycle with the bare decal sets showcasing creativity and style.
TVS Philippines is currently one of the largest manufacturers of two and three-wheeled vehicles in Asia which entered the Philippine market in 2016. Aside from excellent customer service, the company also boasts of its innovative designs, easy-to-handle, and environment-friendly products.
To know more about TVS and its products, visit https://www.tvsmotor.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 9, 2019 | Bon Appetit
Coffee aficionados were treated to an exclusive Coffee Exploration session with renowned Coffee Man and 2015 World Barista Champion, Sasa Sestic. The curated event was hosted by homegrown coffee company Henry and Sons and the luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Manila.
The Coffee Man experience brings to the Philippines Sestic’s amazing journey to becoming a champion barista and the lengths he went to in search of the perfect cup of coffee. More than a barista, Sestic is also a passionate and knowledgeable coffee-grower who constantly experiments with techniques and methods.
Among his experiments is the post-harvest method called Carbonic Maceration. One of the specialty coffees processed under this method is the Jasper Coffee from the Masina Village in Ethiopia, which is now available at Florentine, Grand Hyatt Manila.
More importantly, Sestic also believes in putting the welfare of coffee farmers first while growing sustainable, world-class beans.
“Showcasing Sasa’s talent to the Philippines allows our local baristas to draw inspiration from his experience and story. He has infinite knowledge and learning that baristas, farmers, and even us – coffee distributors – can learn from,” says Michael Harris Conlin, President & CEO of Henry and Sons and 2019 Philippine National Barista Champion.
To say that Sasa Sestic is “driven” is like describing Mt. Everest as “high.” Sasa (pronounced “Sasha”) has been pursuing the perfect cup of coffee for more than 15 years. He started pushing the envelope on coffee tastes when he became a barista in 2003. His drive took him to study where a region or country yields their best coffee.
His passion is insatiable. Not only is he interested in coffee knowledge, but he also intends to teach what he knows, as well as help coffee farmers improve their lives and communities.
The Coffee Man
According to Sasa, helping coffee farmers ensures the quality of produce is elevated. Understanding a region’s climate and planting cycle led him to know when a region’s coffee would be best. A book about his journey is a forward intention especially considering that he was halfway into the book when he won the 2015 Barista Championship.
The best-selling book “The Coffee Man” narrates his journey to becoming a barista, how he went to the coffee farmers in search of the best coffee beans, and the new methods to bring out the flavors of coffee. The “Coffee Man” has also been created into a movie.
It took him 7 attempts before he won the Australian Barista Championship in 2015. That same year, he won the World Barista Championship (WBC) held in Seattle. In the dozen years prior to winning the WBC, his career has expanded from a barista to becoming the head of ONA Coffee Wholesale, and a couple of cafes which include The Cupping Room, ONA Coffee House, and ONA Manuka.
He has also been helping farmers with Project Origin, an ethical green bean trading company which has so far created long-term mutually rewarding relationships with more than 100 growers in coffee-producing countries.
Project Origin has helped pave the way for farmers to earn more and improve their crops, livelihood and their financial status. The organization has also raised funds for livelihood, health, education and community projects which benefit the coffee farmers.
It is no wonder that Michael Harris Conlin found him to be a kindred, coffee-loving spirit. The Foundation for Sustainable Coffee Excellence (FSCE) which Conlin began, aims to help local farmers produce sustainable and world-class coffee for Filipinos to enjoy. In achieving this goal, he helps the farmers by buying their coffee and then giving back proceeds from the sale to train farmers and give them the right tools to become better coffee producers.
Besides their efforts to reach out to farmers in Benguet and other coffee-growing areas in the Philippines, the FSCE also wants to hone the skills of current and future baristas. Conlin founded the Institute of Coffee Excellence, right across the popular The Giving Café (TGC) which was opened earlier.
The two-story Institute is a laboratory and creative playground for Conlin and his team. It houses classes for baristas, brokers farmer-trader deals and discussions while finding innovative ways to make Philippine coffee beans more accessible to an international audience.
Earlier this year, Henry and Sons brought coffee expert Mokhtar Alkhanshali and his high-rating coffee from Yemen, Port of Mokha, to the Philippines for a similar event.
To know more about Henry and Sons, visit henryandsons.ph.
As with other restaurants they have an ala carte menu and an “eat all you can” menu. In this review, I will focus on the latter because this is the menu that they really want to push. That is my gorgeous sister holding up the menu for me. 😀
In this photo here you can see that the options have already changed. The dishes that I kept going back for are the shredded sweet Japanese corn and the japchae. For those who do not know, japchae is a Korean noodle dish made with vermicelli noodles with vegetables and beef tossed in.
On the far left of the buffet is a selection of different kinds of sushi from the all-time favorite California Maki to salmon, shrimp, and tamago (egg) variations. At the window above the buffet are the chefs who were busy preparing refills of all the dishes in the buffet.
The meat is succulent, the side dishes are limitless, and there are enough flavors and textures to keep taste buds occupied for a long time. Diners can get premier-grade meats, imported melted cheese dip, and more authentic dishes. Bring the entire barkada for a fun weekend feast!
Focusing on appearance isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good, restoring a sense of self after a debilitating week behind that office desk. With /nook/ urban family salon + spa, both men and women can avail of top-notch pampering treatments, from facials to haircuts!
When craving for a juicy steak, crunchy nachos, and a dash of lime, head on over to Fiery Style Southwestern Flaming Grill, the place to be for Southwestern Tex-Mex food.
Got a bunch of fun engagements this weekend? Then looking dapper is a must. At Sanbry Men’s Grooming House, every guy becomes a gentleman, what with their bachelor-pad setup and expert grooming skills. You’ll walk out looking like the toast of the town.
Is it a rainy weekend? Want to just stay in the area and enjoy something toasty and perfect? Then get a seat at Ramen Daisho, an authentic Fukuoka ramen restaurant that uses ingredients sourced directly from one of Japan’s Ramen Masters. With chewy, slippery noodles swimming in a bowl of savory broth, a rainy weekend will always be a happy weekend.
This ham and cheese sandwich is easily a favorite. There were no surprises when it came to the taste but the ham slices were thicker than can usually be found in ham sandwiches sold in cafes and the cheese is ooey-gooey. This made us feel that the customer would be getting good value for their money.
The three-cheese sandwich combines three different kinds of cheese … they didn’t tell us what they were but my tastebuds and eyes say they are cheddar, mozzarella, and Monterey Jack. It was delicious! It has the right balance of saltiness that we look for in cheese without being overpowering. The combination of cheeses was just perfect.
Yes, the corned beef sandwich still had cheese there was more corned beef than cheese. The cheese acted as more of a binder. Tastewise, it was good. Probably nothing to write home about but ok.
The tuna and cheese sandwich was the most disappointing of them all for me, probably because I know I can make it better. It was bland. I think they could have improved it by using spicy tuna instead.
We had the opportunity to try their holiday offerings, namely:
More importantly, Sestic also believes in putting the welfare of coffee farmers first while growing sustainable, world-class beans.
According to Sasa, helping coffee farmers ensures the quality of produce is elevated. Understanding a region’s climate and planting cycle led him to know when a region’s coffee would be best. A book about his journey is a forward intention especially considering that he was halfway into the book when he won the 2015 Barista Championship.
Project Origin has helped pave the way for farmers to earn more and improve their crops, livelihood and their financial status. The organization has also raised funds for livelihood, health, education and community projects which benefit the coffee farmers.
Besides their efforts to reach out to farmers in Benguet and other coffee-growing areas in the Philippines, the FSCE also wants to hone the skills of current and future baristas. Conlin founded the 
Earlier this year, Henry and Sons brought coffee expert Mokhtar Alkhanshali and his high-rating coffee from Yemen, Port of Mokha, to the Philippines for a similar event.
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