Pinac: Pampanga cuisine for a chic and stylish venue

Pampanga has been known for its delectable indigenous cuisine. It is thus no surprise that Pinac offers the best of Pampanga's flavors. Located at the second floor of the UP Town Center beside SNR Dining, this new restaurant is gives us old world Filipino charm perfect for those families who want an experience reminiscent intimate family dinners.

I had a grand time in this place. Also, the pictures will show you what their food has in store. 

Hipon with Talangka. Don't let the orangey look fool you. The shrimps are brimming with flavor due to the Talangka (Crab fat) the shrimps are truly fresh with every bite. I love the fact that this all seafood dish has this mild, salty flavor.

Turon with Dulce de Leche. At Php 155, this dessert is an old Filipino favorite redesigned to fit a fusion cuisine style. The design is very stylish for a dessert dish.

Lemon Cucumber Cooler. The sweet taste was accentuated by the sharp flavor of cucumber.

Baked Oysters with Crispy Kangkong. The oysters were baked to perfection with a helping of cheese, butter, and kangkong. At 235 Php, the dish is a pretty good appetizer. The kangkong reminded me of those spinach dishes we used to cook at home.

The overloaded pinoy paella. This dish is pretty pricey at Php 645; but the price is worth it. The meal is composed of pan fried rice topped with the typical paella toppings such as squid, mussels, eggs, and peas. But this one has chunky slices of bagnet with it. Talk about toppings!

Pinac's Crispy Pata. At Php 645, this dish is the creme de la creme of their viand menu. The chunky pork leg is boiled then fried to a crisp. This generous helping comes with soy sauce and eggplant. I enjoyed the crispy and not-so-oily skin.

Deep Fried Chicken with Potato Crisps (Php 325). I initally thought that this was chicharon. The crispy skin and fatty goodness reminded me of the latter. Add to that a generous helping of potato chips; and this dish is already good with beer.

Crispy Hito Balls, Mustasa at Buro (Php 235). Catfish isn't the most appealing of dishes in pictures. Hence, the owners thought of grinding the meat into balls, putting crispy breading on it, and accompanying it with mustasa and a special sauce.

Flat Top Smores. At Php 255, this delectable dessert is composed of pan heated marshmallows with curly tops filling. It is accompanied with a fresh helping of graham crackers. It is also good for sharing. Upon tasting, I found the dish to be filled that chocolate goodness I never thought was possible with locally made chocolate.

Pinac truly gave me a different perspective on Pampanga cuisine.

Manila Creamery Co. Food Tasting Event at UP Town Center

At about the same night when we reviewed Shawarma Bros., our group also got a taste of the sweet flavors of the Manila Creamery Co., an up and coming gelato brand in UP Town Center. According to the owners, they studied the art of making gelato in a specialty school in Italy. The owners told us the difference between ice cream and gelato. According to their poster:

They were truly passionate about the dessert; so they used their knowledge to create a product that will surely cater to everyone's sweet tooth. The prices are currently discounted at Php 85 pesos for regular flavors and Php 120 at signature flavors.

The pictures will show you the creamy and delectable selections of this premium brand.

We first had the Truffle and Fresh Marcaspone Gelato. This sophisticated flavor is for those who appreciate the uniqueness and rarity of truffles. The cone topping is excellent for scooping up the gelato.

The blueberry cheeseckae gelato and the vanilla almond gelato

The ice cream freezer

The mango gelato has a strong, sweet flavor that reminds me of mango sago dessert. While the mango comes off as a bit strong, I still appreciate the fact that it tastes fresh.

The stall.

Mangga't Suman. This indigenously themed gelato takes its roots from the popular Filipino dessert.

The mango gelato, vanilla almond, mangga't suman and blueberry cheesecake flavors.

The blueberry cheesecake gelato and the manggat suman gelato. The blueberry cheesecake gelato is my utmost favorite. This flavor exactly replicates the taste and texture of blueberry cheesecake down to the graham crust.

The vanilla almond gelato. While having a mild taste, this flavor embodies the milky and creamy sensibility of its flavor base.

The Manila Creamery Co. is located at the movie house area of the UP Town Center.

Shawarma Bros. UP Town Center Food Review

A month ago, Mr. Aldous Calubad invited me to the restaurant review of Shawarma Bros UP Town Center. The event showcased the selections of the same restaurant and the same flavors that I have tasted before. The selections include:

Pita Tostadas with Garlic Hummus. At Php 80, this tasty and flavorful appetizer is the newest addition to their menu. These are crispy toasted corn chips with a thick garlic sauce on the side perfect for whetting your appetite.

Keema Nachos at Php 150. This overload of nachos, ground beef, cheese and tomatoes differs from the ordinary nacho selection with its tangy and edgy taste. It's a bit spicy and peppery. Add to that the sweet cheesy taste.

Keema. At 60 pesos, this platter of ground beef is a bit oily and spicy. It is usually perfect as a sauce for the nachos or the Pita Tostadas.

The pita tostadas with their signature iced tea.

The Beef Shawarma Rice Plate is a satisfying meal. At Php 159. This mixture of biryani rice, beef cuts and vegetable salsa is a true testament to a delicious Persian meal. The over all flavor is a mixture of herbs and spices generously poured on to these premium ingredients perfect for those thrill seekers who want exotic flavors.

The Lamb Steak Rice Plate is the most expensive item on the menu. At Php 199, this generous helping of chopped lamb shanks coupled with the standard biryani rice and the vegetable salsa will get a taste of one of the rarest meats in the country. The lamb has its own unique and strong taste perfect for those who want a little extra flavor from their dish.

The signboard

The digital menu.

Shawarma Bros. is located at 2F, UP Town Center.

Lucky Chick UP Town Center: your go-to place for American style fried chicken

          A month ago, the esteemed restaurant blogger named Aldous Calubad invited me to savor the American style offerings of Lucky Chick, located at the second floor of UP Town Center, Diliman, Quezon City, beside Wingman and Casa Verde. The restaurant interiors remind one of a homey and upbeat ambiance that caters to families and kids who want to bond over home-cooked meals. The place has actually been around for less than a month in the area.

        Whats's interesting about the menu is that it gives the diners a taste American home-cooked meals. The food carries a diverse selection that includes sandwiches to salads, as well as its flagship chicken dishes. Let's start with the chicken. As the restaurant's specialty, the impeccable friend chicken comes in its golden brown skin fried to a satisfying crisp. The recipe follows an American southern style blend that has been passed on from generations and has filled homes countless times. This recipe has been a mainstay, then. The authentic taste is a sure hit for people who want an excellent-tasting chicken dish that can easily outclass the local fried chicken offerings. Add to that a wildly variegated selection of side dishes, and one can experience the unique taste that comes into play with every meal. At 138 pesos, a one piece chicken meal with rice and drinks is enough to satisfy a hungry boy. For those who want more, a two-piece chicken with a side dish complete with rice and drinks is priced at 308 pesos. Hungry families can get a meal with 4 pieces of chicken coupled with 4 cups of rice, 4 glasses of iced tea, and 2 sides at 688 pesos.  I'd say its pretty reasonable given the quality of the dishes served.

          As one of the bloggers privileged to attend the foodie event, I was able to taste their one piece chicken meal coupled with a mashed potato side dish. I can attest that the chicken was unlike any local fried dish I have ever tasted before. The chicken is one of the best I have ever tasted. It wasn't too oily and greasy. The tasty deep fried skin can easily be taken away from the meat and eaten alone or with their special gravy which comes in Original, Honey, and Apple Cider variants. Furthermore, the meat was cooked just right. There was no blood or dark meat patches in it. It also tasted fresh and well-cooked. I liked the fact that the meat and skin never tasted salty. 

           The side dishes include garlic rice, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, biscuits, mac and cheese, corn muffins, corn in the cob, fries, green peas, and hashbrown casserole. I took the mashed potato owing to my childhood preferences. The side dish exceeded my expectations. I initially thought that only the chicken would have that premium, exquisite taste. The mashed potatoes were also of high quality and well-prepared as well. It wasn't bland or salty either. It simply had the sweet taste coupled with a spiced up flavor from the gravy. I'd love to come back to this place to taste their delectable array of side dishes.

        For your home-cooked American fried chicken cravings, try Lucky Chick. Its tasty offerings will surely leave you wanting more. It is located at 2F UP Town Center. You can visit their Fb page at https://www.facebook.com/luckychickph

The story in pictures:

The ambient counter

The Menu

The logo

One of the unique interior decors.

The sumptuous one piece chicken meal with mashed potato side dish at 198 Pesos

Another shot of the meal

Quiz Night at Wingman Restaurant (UP Town Center)

Last November, the generous Aldous Calubad invited me to Wingman Resto's Quiz Night. The establishment has been in UP Town Center for quite a while now. While I get to enjoy the food and drinks from the resto, I also acquired the opportunity to participate in one of the most thrilling events in my blogger life. 

According to the owner, his decision to invite bloggers stemmed from the fact that he had customers going in and telling him that they found his resto from some blog post. The convinced him to try out digital media as a promotional tool for his business. Also, he launched the project to encourage fun and friendly interaction between customers who definitely want to test out their knowledge of trivia and facts. The bloggers were divided into 4 teams, with Aldous and me being in the same group. The quiz had four rounds, each with its own set of challenges and twists, surely made for the individual who loves a good game. 

The first round was composed of general knowledge questions. These weren't too challenging, I knew majority of the ten questions that were asked. The second round was full of 90's music questions that I was weak in. I entrusted my teammates to make the right decisions in answering, though. The third and fourth rounds were exciting. We had a dose of geography and history as we did our best in answering the questions. It was a close fight to the finish as our team continued to breeze through the rounds. However, our team lost by 1 point to the champion. So much for effort, then.

The event wasn't complete without a generous serving of Wingman's 1 dozen wings (priced at Php 410) and onion rings and shoestring fries (Php 150 and Php 150, respectively) for sides. I loved the taste of the Garlic Parmesan and Jamaican Jerk Wings. Both were had flavorful skins with their own unique tastes while the meat was juicy and tender. The Jamaican Jerk even had this thick sauce that brimmed with flavor and was so finger-lickin good. The Wings were truly fried well. The sides were also generous in servings and great for barkadas looking for good finger food. I could surely see the faces of my fellow bloggers that time as they enjoyed the food. I will be definitely come back for more.

Wingman restaurant is located at 2/F UP Town Center, Diliman Quezon City. You can visit their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/wingmangrill/?fref=ts

The story in photos:

The owner explaining the rules of the game

The teams eating while answering questions

a handful of onion rings and shoestring fries

The Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings

Hickory Barbecue and Garlic Parmesan Wings

Another shot

The facade

Question time!

That's what the wings are for!

A gc to cap the day

some dessert to end the day

The scores. We got second place.