The Chillout Project: a new hangout place in Taft, Manila

Last week, the generous Aldous Calubad of aldousatetheworld.com invited me to try out one of the newest hangouts in Taft called the Chillout Project. This new joint features a lot of pulutan favorites and fine tasting alcohol drinks for the enjoyment of barkadas and students staying in the area. The place itself is reminiscent of a rooftop bar in other areas of NCR where the cool breeze and the night sky is the diner's constant companion. Apart from that, the place exudes a vibe that is so common among college-situated bar and restos. The place is highly conducive for chill drinking, barkada get-togethers, or dates with someone special. According to the owner, the place has a strict no drugs policy along with strict regulations against carousing and other inappropriate physical activities. Even so, this place is becoming a fast growing spot for the students of DLSU and other neighboring universities. Add to that a competitor is just in front of their venue.

The menu offerings that we tried out included meat dishes such as the signature ribs, the tacos, chicken wings, bacon chicharon, and pizza, The drinks, on the other hand, included an alcoholic selection of beverages definitely suited to get someone worked up or drunk. First, we tried the smoked ribs. According to owner, the ribs are prepared for about more than 4 hours then cooked through smoking. This unique preparation style gives the meat a very tender texture with strong barbecue taste to boot. Our serving size, called the wolf pack, served 5 hungry bloggers eager to give it a try. Priced at 619 pesos, this platter didn't disappoint us.

We then tried the Let's Taco About It. This appetizer/pulutan is a taco dish that served the taco shells in the form of tortilla chips topped with saucy ground beef and a generous helping of lettuce. I enjoyed this dish so much due to my newfound love for vegetables. The beef taste wasn't overpowering. Priced at 120 pesos, the size was pretty reasonable.

I then proceeded to take a bite out of the bacon chicharon. According to the owner, the bacon is actually dried liempo that was fried to perfection. Upon testing, I found it to contain all that pork goodness without too much salt. I would say that it's a bit steeply priced at 199.00. Maybe you really are paying mostly for the taste.

The meal wasn';t complete without the pizza. The entire pan, priced at 299 Pesos for the Truffled All Veggies, is enough to feed four people with aplomb. The pizza, even though thin crust, was filling enough for that number of people. As for the taste, I'd say that it met my standard of well-crafted pizza. The cheese was pretty tasty even at small servings, and the veggie complemented the cheese well. Lastly, I gorged myself on the chicken wings priced at 199 pesos. Nothing special, but the wings were enough to satisfy my craving for chicken. I'd say the sauce was pretty tasty. 

As for the drinks, I'd say that the few I've tasted were top notch. First I start with the pink lemonade. At 55 pesos, this generous serving was enough to keep you hydrated while trying out all the dishes. It wasn't too sweet and wasn't too sour either. It was served the way I like it - balanced. The next drink I tried was the Voodoo. At 329 pesos, this deadly concoction of tequila, orange grenadine, rum, and vodka takes the term "hangover" to the next level. Initially served with variegated colors, this huge pitcher will turn black when mixed. The drink is pretty smooth on the throat. However, the enormous amount of alcohol can get one easily drunk without him knowing it. 

In sum, I do love the Chillout Project's take on the word "chill": good food, good ambience, and the company of good friends in a cozy rooftop bar at the heart of Taft Avenue, Manila.

The story in pictures:

The venue

The smoked ribs

The truffled veggie pizza

the signboard

the beach bunny cocktail

pink lemonade and the beach bunny cocktail

The sunset haze cocktail

the bloggers enjoying the meal

the wall decorations

the Let's Taco About It

The voodoo before mixing

The ever so yummy bacon chicharon

The menu

building-filled ambience

a hearty meal

the well decorated bar

No to drugs

the venue

The signboard

Special thanks to:

Aldous Calubad of aldoustheworld.com

Shawarma Bros in BGC Stopover: a unique twist on Persian cuisine

Last September 13, 2015, the hardworking Aldous Calubad once again invited me to another food tasting event. This time, it was in the urban jungle of BGC. The subject of our invite was the newest contender in Persian cuisine: Shawarma Bros. The restaurant, came about as the result of the efforts of the enterprising founders composed of Abraham Castro, Gabriel Sobrepena, Joey Reyes, Rammy de Claro, and Paolo Layug, all of whom are graduates of the Ateneo de Manila University. They became part of H2004 Ventures, which then created the concept for Shawarma Bros in 2012. 

The partners admitted that they initially wanted to franchise a buffalo wings place. However, they changed their minds and instead chose to sell meals from a food truck. They also modified their choice of food from sandwiches to shawarmas due to the fact that most Filipinos love rice. They also admitted that the business also taught them how to cook and create recipes. They also sought the expertise of a skilled chef who taught them the ropes. 

In sum, the name Shawarma Bros resonates from the founders' identity as bonded brothers who have the love for shawarma. It captures the distinct taste and strategy employed by the founders to express their quest for “A Different Shawarma Experience.” Hence, they focused on serving rice plates more instead of shawarma wraps. Also, they serve the meals in special biryani rice. They also include lamb and special sauces in their menu such as chili tomato and cheese. Lastly, their dishes have mango salsa with it. In total, these combinations have been well-received among Filipinos.

The brand already achieved success with their food truck. However, not being content with their venue, they decided to launch a brick-and-mortar store in Bonifacio Stopover as a way to capture the target market. 

My experience in this vibrant dining place was pleasant, to say the least. The interiors had the feel of a an industrial park interspersed with signboards and quotations signifying etiquette for "Bros" (You can see it in the pictures) The spirit of friendship and camaraderie is truly evident in the choice of signs in the area. Apart from this feature, the venue was well-lit and vibrant. Brash and bold colors such as yellow and orange made up the motif. While metallic-coated tables made up the dining spaces. I also love their use of those electronic waiting counters that light up when you order is ready.

Their menu concentrates on three types of meat: lamb, chicken, and pork. They serve it in two type of carbohydrate goodness, particularly wraps and rice. Even with a very simple menu, the selection still is very attractive to the discerning customer who wants a taste of meat-filled goodness.

I had their Lamb Steak Rice with Keema Meal, which is part of their Big Bro series. I'd say that the food was well cooked and generously served. The Php 279 meal consisted of a helping of well-done grilled lamb coupled with turmeric-seasoned biryani rice and the mango salsa. Mine also came with saucy ground pork called Keema. The meal was a truly meat-lover's paradise. One can savor the tenderness of the meat involved and marvel at how much effort their crew gave into making this dish. The seasonings, particularly the cheese and garlic sauces, were prepared fresh. There wasn't any bad or particularly strange smell with them. They also complemented the meat by giving it a tangy and zesty taste. The same goes for the mango salsa. It added so much variety to the meat filled meal and was fresh at the same time. To top it off, the meal was also complete with refreshing iced tea.

I'd say that the meal satisfied my lamb cravings. My belly was really filled after that sumptuous feast. Furthermore prices are very affordable. One can get a basic lamb meal for only 220 pesos. Other items on the menu are at the 150-200 peso price range.

For those interested, you can visit Shawarma Bros at 2/F BGC Stopover Pavilion, Rizal Drive Cor. 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City. Their number is 0977-325-7032

The story in pictures:

Beef Shawarma Bros

Chicken Shawarma and Lamb Shawarma Rice Plate

The food truck! Their first venture!

The menu

A visit of the venue at Bonifacio Stopover BGC:

The well-lit place is vibrant

The interiors resemble have a modern industrial facade

Notice the container van walls

The freebies that came with the visit

Share a Seat, Meet a Bro. Hats off to that quotation!

The wallpaper for one of the interiors

The serving area

Fist bump bro!

The logo and entrance

 The sumptuous Lamb Steak Rice with Keema

Lamb Steak

The Keema

Going

Going

Gone!

One of the walls with pictures of their visitors

The menu

That shiny waiting counter

plus the press kit

Photos courtesy of:

Shawarma Bros Press Kit

Event Post: Uncle Cheffy Unlimited Chicken and Pork Cracklings Food Review at Venice Piazza (August 8, 2015)

 

Aldous Calubad, an esteemed food blogger and well-connected PR person, invited me to try out one of the restaurant offerings at the semi-clandestine Venice Piazza, Bonifacio Global City. The area is a quaint mall owned by Megaworld Properties Inc. The logistical difficulty of getting to the place was remedied by the sumptuous serving of food given to us by Uncle Cheffy, a restaurant that mainly serves Italian fare such as pizza and pasta.  

For those who don't know, the establishment was popular in the past years for offering a Php 199 promo for its unlimited pizza and pasta. Now, however, their seasonal gimmick is an unlimited fried chicken and pork cracklings promo to be offered from July 29 until October 31, 2015. This is a refreshing variety to their normal Italian fare. 

When some bloggers asked the owner on what he had to say about the food, he had three words: Mura. Mabango. Masarap. According to him, this new promo is a testament to his claims about the freshness and taste of the food.

Upon testing, we found that the food accurately demonstrated the 3 M's the owner had been claiming. The high-fat fare was well-cooked and tasty. It wasn't too salty; and the meat wasn't tough and dry. Even with a single serving of rice, one can savor the copious amounts of chicken and pork being served because there were tender and juicy. The female diners, for some strange reason, enjoyed the unlimited meat which was the stereotypically typical Pinoy male pulutan (usually complete with beer). Its surprising to know that the dish caters to diners of different genders and age groups.

 

The meal wasn't complete with the meat. While not part of the promo, we also had a generous helping of their Anchovy and Mushroom Panizza. One can enjoy it by rolling it together with tomato salsa, alfalfa, and lettuce. The pizza was cooked well and wasn't too salty too. The mushroom and the veggies provided us with a wonderful alternative to all that meat served earlier.

Lastly, the buffet wasn't complete without the much needed dessert. We were given not one, but two servings. First was the leche flan; and the second was the brownie cheesecake. I gladly approve of these two dishes due to their focus on a variety of flavors and not merely an overload of sweetness. These were not merely sugary treats; they also had an emphasis on the presentation and balancing of flavors. Both desserts were not bland, either.

According to Uncle Cheffy, the buffet rules are:

1. The buffet is for 90 minutes per person only

2. Any excess in eating for 90 minutes be charged another Php 199 for another 90 minutes

3. There is no sharing, no leftovers and no take out

4. Left overs will be charged 300 per head

5. Refills will only be granted to those who have cleaned their plates.

Only certain branches of Uncle Cheffy offer this promo. These are:

Bluewave Stripmall, Marikina
Robinsons Metro East, Pasig
Venice Piazza McKinley Hills, Taguig City
Solenad Nuvali, Sta Rosa Laguna

Do check their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uncle-Cheffy/195383127315?fref=ts

And that is all. Stay tuned for my next post!

The meal in pictures:

The flagship dish of the promo: the 199 eat-all-you-can crispy fried chicken and pork cracklings of Uncle Cheffy. This is truly a high fat delight for people who enjoy such fare

Although not part of the promo, we were given their complementary Mushroom and Anchovy Panizza which can be rolled into bite-sized chunks with alfalfa, lettuce, and tomato salsa. It was a refreshing dish after all that fat

 

We even had two servings of dessert: the leche flan which had a tempered sweetness - the syrup was not too overwhelming for the taste

and the brownie cheesecake which was fully loaded with all that cheesy and creamy goodness together with a sweet helping of brownie chunks, syrup, and a cherry

Special thanks to:

Mr. Aldous Calubad of http://www.aldousatetheworld.com/ for the invitation
Ms. Gladsy Gozon of http://www.flywithg.com for the invitation.
Ms. Lina Peralejo of https://thebackpackingballerina.wordpress.com for the pictures.