Aomori Ichiba

 About the food:

After trying one of the best macarons (not macaroons), which is from La Maison du Chocolat, I started looking for other places which sold macarons asl well.

One place I found was a small cafe named Aomori Ichiba.  

 Not only did they have macarons, they also had a lot of Key Coffee merchandise for sale.

mochi polo bread (PHP45)

 They also had fresh breads/pastries. I tried their mochi polo bread at the time and it was fairly good. It was their soft opening at the time and hence they had no heavier breakfast available yet.

royal milk tea (php118)

 Together with the bread, I also got the royal milk tea. When served it has zero sugar, which is good for those concerned with sugar count. If you don't like the bitter taste of tea, instead of adding sugar, you can help yourself to a heap of sugary crystals (first time I saw these kinds of sweeteners). 

Finally, I tasted their macarons (not all in one sitting). They have a variety of flavors there. I got it the colorful ones such as peach, red bean, green tea, and strawberry. Their macarons are fresh and didn't taste that sweet. Their pricing is quite competitive with the local restaurants that offer macaron. Compared with La Maison du Chocolat however, La Maison's fillings are a notch higher (and their price several notches higher), so its not proper to compare the two. They're catered to different markets.  

macarons (PHP38 a piece)

Where to buy:

Aomori Ichiba is located at the lower ground floor of NorthEast Square Building, along Connecticut St., Greenhills. They are in the same building with Yumemiya Cafe, Cold Layers, and Ajisen Ramen.


Rating : to be determined

At this time, I'm unable to give a proper rating because I havent yet tried their full meals, only their breads and pastries.

But if you're looking for a lively ambiance full of rich colors, then you should hang out this place at least once.

Chicken BonChon

About the food:

I've been hearing a lot of reviews about Chicken BonChon and one day, I had to just try it.

Where to buy and how much:


I ordered six pieces of drumsticks for PHP365. You also have the choice of ordering either wings or chops. The flavor I got was the soy garlic. I tasted it myself and let my family taste it too.

Based on what we tried, the chicken skin was indeed crispy, maybe it would be crispier if it were dine-in. However, the meat tasted bland. The sauce or marinade did not seep in enough for the meat to have more flavor. Perhaps I should have gotten the wings or the chops instead. Perhaps the result would have been different.

I bought my BonChon at Greenhills Promenade. Currently they have a new branch just opened along Katipunan Ave. as well. They also have  a branch along C5 Libis.


Rating: 7.5/10

Breakfast at FlapJacks



american breakfast

It's so fluffy I'm gonna die:) I am saying such out of the sheer enjoyment of looking back at the hotcakes in FlapJacks.

Flapjacks has been open for quite a while and its only been a few weeks back that I tried their breakfast options. I got the American Breakfast meal, which came with a free hot tea/coffee.

the pancakes were simply fantastic.

Adding hotcake syrup makes it even more delightful.

The sausage and bacon were also a good addition to the meal, as well as the fruits.


Where to buy and how much:

The above breakfast set costs PHP408.48 (including service charge). FlapJacks is located at the ground floor of Theater Mall in Greenhills Shopping Center.

Rating: 8/10

 

Breakfast @ Bizu

About the food:

Are you tired of having instant noodles, hotdogs, or plain pandesal for the most important meal of the day (breakfast)? Or do you have an important breakfast meeting outside? If your answer is yes, then why not give Bizu a try.

The above Eggs Sole Benedict is really amazing. The bread is soft and fresh. The eggs match well with the sauce, and in between the eggs and the bread is a sole fillet of fish.

If you order this, it already comes with a complimentary coffee or chocolate.  I, of course, wanted the warm chocolate.

Where to buy and how much:

For a price of PHP434.50, this breakfast might give hunger pangs to one's wallets. However, you are paying for a quality breakfast meal. If you want to start the day right, you can treat yourself to a great breakfast or brunch start.

Rating: 9/10

Cafe Xocolat

frozen hot chocolate (php110)

About the food:

One of my favorite places for dark chocolate treats is Cafe Xocolat. Their frozen hot chocolate balls are one of the best I've tasted.

It's also good for sharing.

Likewise, their milk chocolate shake with chocolate buttons at the bottom is a must-try.


Where to buy:

Cafe Xocolat has venues in Katipunan Ave, Eastwood CyberMall, and inside Greenhills Promenade near the exit door.


Rating: 8.0/10

This is a good dessert place if you're tired of tea-based drinks. In Cafe Xocolat, you'll have lots of cocoa dishes and drinks to choose.

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

soup noodle with fresh shrimp wanton (php280+)

About the food:

With the crazy weather we are having right now (from hot and humid to rainy and cold), it's not a bad idea to eat soup noodle with fresh shrimp wanton at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao. The noodles are very firm in texture and hand pulled. Likewise the dumplings are really fresh and the serving size good enough for sharing.  

xiao long bao (php 158+)

If you don't want noodles or lots of broth, you can try their xiao long bao. The dumplings retain much of the soup inside and tastes good with ginger, soy, and black vinegar.

grass jelly and beancurd jelly (php198)

Finally, for a unique treat, you can try their grass jelly and beancurd jelly dessert (gulaman at taho). Their colors and textures complement one another perfectly.



Where to buy and how much:

Crystal Jade is located at Greenhills Shopping Mall near the Haagen Dazs store, Milky Way, and Watsons. It is near Virramall.  Prices are indicated in their respective captions below each photo.

Rating:  8/10

Crystal Jade is a must try for the quality of their hand pulled noodles and xiao long bao.