Much Ado about StrEat Maginhawa Food Park

Much has been said about the StrEat Maginhawa Food Park in Quezon City.  The general impression is that it is a haven for good and affordable food.  Well, I love to eat so naturally curiosity got the better of me.  So a few days ago, me and my wife trekked for a food adventure at this much talked about food hub.

Maginhawa Street is a long stretch of road littered with a whole lot of food stops but for this blog I'm just concentrating with what's at #91 Maginhawa Street otherwise known as the StrEat Maginhawa Food Park.   

I was really looking forward to a real gastronomical treat with really high expectations in terms of taste and value for money.  Unfortunately, that was not the case on actual experience.

Me and my wife got to try four food establishments.  It was a pre-planned route based on my research and food preference.   But before I tell you about our dining experience, let me tell you about the food park in general.  

The place is a converted parking area with seven permanent food stalls made out of container vans while the rest were for food trucks.  It has a permanent dining area made of concrete in the middle with the rest were plastic or wooden mobile furniture scattered in the front of the various food stalls.  I reckon the eating capacity at 80 to 100 give or take. 

We visited on a Friday and being pay day at the same time the place was packed with customers.  All the favorable write up about this place have stirred a hornet's nest of curious gastronomists that the juncture of Mahusay Street and Maginhawa was a virtual gridlock. Good thing that a table was vacated not long after and averted having to eat standing up.

1.  Schmidt's Gourmet Hotdogs.  Among the list of food stalls in the food park Schmidt's Gourmet Hotdogs is the first that really caught my attention.  I'm really a burger guy so most of my reviews involved patty sandwiches.  But if I'm to rate my sandwich preference, hotdog comes in at a close second.

Actually, Schimdt's hotdog is not really a hotdog but a Polish sausage similar to that is sold in SM groceries.  That was actually a good surprise for me since I like Polish sausage.  

We got different orders so we can have a taste of two variants, Coney Island Chili Dog (Php 195) and Seattle Dog (Php 180).  Not sure why I ordered for the chili dog given that I'm not a chili guy.  I guess it was "Coney Island"  got me going.  Needless to say I took off the jalapeno since they look menacingly hot.  

Both were generally topped with their own dressing and really complemented the taste of the sausage very similar to a Jackson Pollack painting with all it's color unified to make for a work of art.

The size is a decent six inches which would satisfy a person with normal appetite but if you're big like me I think you need at least two or three to really make you full.

We also ordered for Nachos topped with cheese, onions, sour cream and jalapenos at Php 125 and a liter of Iced Tea at Php 90.  Based on Schimdt's online menu you can add Php 30 and Php 60 to any sandwich or pasta order to get a 16oz and 1 liter Iced Tea but when I asked for it the lady who took my order said that there was no such thing.  Well, that's minus pogi points for Schimdt's.

My verdict:  The dogs are novel enough to try but not made a part of your usual diet since the price is too stiff (even for a Polish sausage) to burn a big hole in your pocket.  Not much value for money to try a second time (unless you're not really after value for money).

2.  G.R.Eat Burger Truck.  I'll always be a burger guy so here's what I have to say about this burger truck:  too much hoopla so little "UHMP!"  For something that took more than 15 minutes to make it was but natural to expect a special treat.  However, when my name was called and the product presented to me, the experience was like expecting a Super Lolo BOOM and got a kwitis pop!

I ordered for the Bacon Burger (Php 160) thinking something big since it allegedly have a 1/3 lbs patty.  However, it came out looking like a regular size burger.  Taste wasn't that good either.  The patty didn't have much flavor and whatever dressing it had didn't amount to much.  The Flavored Fries (Php 90) tasted like your regular sour cream flavored variant but had nothing special going on there either to justify the price.

My Verdict:  At the price range of Php 160, I could have bought myself a Champ Burger Value Meal with fries and drinks which is bigger and by far tastes better.  Nuff said!

3.  Bricks & Copper.  This was not part of my original plan but seeing that they have shawarma I had to try it out for size.  Unlike the usual pita wrap theirs was a stuffed pita bread.  I ordered ala carte (Php 99) since we already had drinks and it took around 10 minutes to do (which I found incredulously long knowing that making shawarma is basically assemble to order with the ingredients already pre-preped).  Anyway, the order came ahead of the burger so we actually tried it first.  

The pita was thick and soft the way I liked it but the meat and sauce combination lacked that typical explosion of flavor that normally accompany my past shawarma experiences.  To further compound this matter is the lack of readily available garlic sauce to more or less mask the tasteless experience.

My Verdict:  Since I only tried the shawarma this review does not say the same for the rest of Brick & Copper's cuisine.  What I'm saying is---TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

4. Magpie Cafe. My idea was that this would be the coup de grace of our food adventure.  I was thinking coffee and pastry to crown what I expected to be a great food trip experience.

After staying under the humid  al fresco dining area going into an airconditioned room was a welcome change.  Magpie Cafe is one of the food stalls with their own in-door dining.  It approximately seats ten customers at any given time.  Good for up close and personal meet ups.  Nice interior decors and friendly service crew.

After going through a cholesterol rich binge I thought of ordering something hot.  My lady is a cold drinks girl so she ordered for a coffee-based Hazelnut Frosty Php 130) and I suddenly had a craving for a Hot Lemon (Php 90) (thinking that it was of the same taste as the Hot Dalandan Juice served at Kuya J's).  I had my eye on a delicious looking cake (I think if was White Chocolate Mousse) and ordered for a slice (Php 120) to share.

Press release says that Magpie's coffee beans are from the Cordillera which is a plus points for me; however, regardless of where the ingredients are from, it still boils down to taste.

Their frosty was typical of any coffee-based cold drink except that theirs was not sweet.  Health-wise this is good but if you're looking for something sweet, this isn't the drink for you.  The Hot Lemon was a let down in terms of size, price, and taste.  Maybe they used imported ingredients to justify thee price of such a small cup but the taste was...I don't want to be demeaning but let's just say it did not taste like lemon at all.  The cake gives credence to the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover."  It really looked great but it tasted nothing special.  The dough tasted like it came from a run off the mill bakeshop.

Another product got my attention.  Chilling inside their refrigerated display case was a bottle which at first I thought was beer but upon close inspection was actually coffee.  Grumpy No More looked interesting to try but after my lemon and cake experience I had my doubts especially with its Php 160 price tag.

My Verdict:  The place is good to chill in with its aircon.  Since I only got to have a taste of a couple of their products, it might not be indicative of the rest.  So, TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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Tornado Peri-Peri

This establishment is not part of the food park but is located along the stretch of Maginhawa Street.  If you're coming from Philcoa it's at the mid-point of Magiting and Masinsinan Street.  

My wife and I were already full but I was looking for a way to salvage the gastronomically disastrous night we had at the food park with one desperate hail mary of landing at a joint where the food was actually great; or, at least have a glimpse of Arianne Bautista (one of my favorite car show models) who partly owns Tornado Peri-Peri and who was said to frequent the place. We actually passed it on our way to the food park but skipped it since I already had an itinerary planned out for the night. 

Unfortunately, Arianne was not there so the remaining hope is that they have really good menu to offer.

We ordered for the 1/4 Chicken with a side and rice with the original sauce @ Php 125.  I have tasted peri-peri chicken before but this one is different---tangy in a good way.  I believe it was in their sauce.  And it went real well with their aromatic rice which had the consistency of a sticky rice.  It would had been a perfect except that their Corncob with Butter was forget-ably small.

For a store so small, it's a surprise that they have a dining area to speak of.  A six seater inside and eight outside.  If you're big like me I suggest you sit outside.  Would you believe they also have waiter service?  Yes they do.  Very friendly and accommodating staff (at least the one who served us).

My Verdict:  I'm coming back with my tummy ready to taste some more Tornado Peri-Peri menu!

iHOPing @ Fairview Terraces

For all of you food-trippers out there, here's one of the restaurant reviews that I did at Tripadvisor.  Pictures posted at the site.

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Finally, the long wait is over. I think it was early 2013 that my boss talked about this new pancake house which opened in BGC and wanted our team to try it out. Unfortunately, the opportunity to do so did not come up.

Early 2014, an iHOP sign was put up in what was soon to be a branch at Fairview Terraces. I was Pavlov’s dog again salivating in anticipation of getting my first bite of the famous pancake. However, it proved to be a long wait---until last May 23 when their branch finally opened for business.

I knew opening day would be a disastrous time to go for a visit (besides, it was not payday yet and I’m expecting a big hole in my wallet given iHOP’s prima pancake prices) so I bided my time for the right opportunity. Such opportunity came last May 31, when, during a bookstore run at Fairview Terraces, we found open seats at iHOP and immediately got ourselves a couch. 

I ordered for a New York Cheesecake Pancake (Php 245 VAT-in) with bottomless brewed coffee (Php 95) and my wife opted for a Strawberry Banana Pancake (Php 265) partnered with Iced Coffee Mocha (Php 145). It’s a bit stiff for a coffee and pancake trip but the redeeming factor is that the pancake portion was enough to really fill you up. However, it was not the pancake texture that I want. It kind of reminds me of the pancake plate of Seattle’s Best: big portion and filling but dry and hard. If I’m to score Seattle’s Best’s pancake as a 4, then iHOP’s is a 6. You’d be filled but you won’t really be satisfied. Personally, I like my pancake “soft and fluffy”. 

So, will I come back for second servings of their pancake? No (Unless curiosity would get the better of me to try their Original Buttermilk Pancake.). 

Well, the pancake may not have been a good experience but the coffee was not. First, their coffee is always freshly brewed. Second, it is served in a thermos readily at your disposal (Each thermos contains two coffee servings; so if you’re a real coffee junkie you can always order for another fresh brew for a wait time of two minutes). You can actually trip on their coffee the whole day while you work on an assignment (I’m not sure though if there’s an outlet that you can plug your device into to actually make it through the whole day.). If you’re going to do this, I’d also suggest you bring along a headset to cancel out the buzz of the almost always packed dining area. 

Service is also quite commendable. Very accommodating and genuinely engaging staff. 

Am I looking forward to going back to iHOP again? Yes. I would like to try their Sirloin Steak Tip Dinner and their Specialty Fried Chicken Dinner (I saw a customer order this and got a glimpse of how big the servings were. Looks delicious too!) but it would not be on the immediate future. The timing would be for a special date or when bonus comes. As I’ve mentioned, the bill can be a bit pricey.

http://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowUserReviews-g298574-d7380873-r277756754-IHOP-Quezon_City_Metro_Manila_Luzon.html#

Food Review: 8 Cuts Burger Blend

If you've been following my blogs by now it's quite apparent that I'm a BURGER lover!  Naturally, when I got a whiff of this new burger joint, I immediately informed my fellow carnivores and scheduled a product test.

 

We were originally scheduled to get our taste of 8Cuts Burger Blend during our lunch break last January 28.  It was their day 1 of operations at the third level of the newly opened Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall but the store's public opening was not due until 2pm so we had to cancel.  That day came last February 13.

First thing that you notice about the place is the open kitchen.  It's basically an aquarium where you can see how the staff prepares the food---a food factory line.  Kinda neat seeing that your food is not tainted by a mischevous kitchen crew, right? 

The ambiance is relaxing amidst its simplicity.   Not withstanding the sections of unpainted wall and bare ceiling, the place is cozy and refreshing.  I guess its rustic design is a welcome reprieve from the normal dining decor.  But what I especially liked about the place is their choice of music!  During our visit they were playing classic and punk rock reminiscent of my youth with Billy Idol, The Ramones, Queen, just to name a few.

 

 

Service was also exceptional.  The service crew were very engaging and accommodating to our requests (which reminds me of the customer relation of Starbucks).  But more importantly, our orders were served within commited delivery (10-15 minutes).

 

The food was served hot and freshly cooked.  I have had the pleasure of ordering the Cheese Burger and The Piggy in separate occasions and I must say that both were delectable treats!  The patty was thick, juicy, and flavorful and the vegetables were crisp to the bite the way I like them. 



 

Classic Cheese Burger @ Php 195.  Add Php 90

to complement it with skinny fries and soda.

 

 Yours to devour @ Php 285 ala carte.

 

 

 

The Php 90 add on can be with soda or

iced tea.

Draft Beer Battered Fish & Chips @ Php 190

 

While there is no doubt that 8 Cuts offers a variety of yummy gastronomical offerings I do have issues in terms of VALUE FOR MONEY.  Like any customer, I would like to get my money's worth; meaning, the offering should be both delicious and filling.  Personally, I think I was not able to get my money's worth at 8 Cuts.  With the proliferation of gourmet burger joints, competition will definitely be neck and neck.  Based on my previous dining experience at Zark's Burger, I was able to get one of their top of the line triple patty burger with fries and bottomless iced tea for only Php 270.   At 8 Cuts, The Piggy is priced at Php 285 ala carte.  See the difference? 

 

Another issue I had with 8 Cuts is the long wait for bill out.  I'm not sure why it took too long for them to  tender my order but it was at least a 15 minute wait and during this time the queue of customers waiting for a table is getting longer (I guess this is what happens when you get featured in Kris Aquino's morning show...really?).

 

Anyway...next stop---CALIBURGER!



My Zark's Burger Experience

I'm a burger guy and I have had a long infatuation with Zark's Burger.  I guess it's due to over exposure to watching Adam Richman's "Man vs Food" series on the Food Network. I have heard about the Jaw Breaker and the Tombstone Challenge and got even more intrigued.  I was actually under the impression that I can beat the two challenges---more meat, the better!  Or so I thought.  Anyway, my curiosity was finally answered when me and my team went out to get ourselves a taste of what Zark's Burger has got to offer. 

 

I was psyched!  I even tried to prepare myself by not eating my normal heavy breakfast knowing that we will be at Zark's by 10am.

 

We had originally planned to go to the Katipunan branch but then I saw on their Facebook page that there was an outlet at Eastwood, we opted to go there instead.  Unfortunately, none of us was familiar with Eastwood so searching for Zark's became a challenge in itself---even those we asked along the way did not seem to be familiar with it.  Hmmm...that's kind of odd since it was supposed to be a popular joint...or is it only in the Taft area?  Anyhow, we finally found the place tucked away at the entrance of the E. Commerce Plaza right smack at the middle of City Walk2.

 

The store is small and it's in-door dining can only seat approximately 15-20 people but they do have an al fresco dining area to accommodate other guests.  My only complain about it are the pestering flies attempting to get a taste of what we're eating. 

Upon our arrival the store was already half full with what I assume were call center agents (based on the chatter that I got to hear).  We found ourselves a nice spot at the al fresco area and got on the business of ordering.  I initially thought of going for the Tombstone but since it was my first time and wanted to savor the experience, I got the Jawbreaker instead.  Nope.  Not the challenge.  As I've said, I needed to savor every bite of this 1.5 pound behemoth  so I went with it on a leisurely pace.

As its name connotes, with 3 1/2 pound patties and the other garnishes, the Jawbreaker stands at 5 inches tall.  No normal human being can possibly get a bite off this monster with that kind of clearance.  Of course that did not stop me from trying by squeezing it in one tight grip.  However, that proved quite messy!  Patty juice began to drip as I opened my mouth at an attempt for a monster bite which actually ended up as a disaster when the other garnishes started to fall out.  Oh well...at Php 250 (meal with fries and bottomless drink) it sure packed some serious calories! (Not to mention maxed up my stomach capacity!)  I did not take a bite of food for the rest of the day after devouring the whole thing---oh and plus the half eaten Candy Bacon Burger that my companion did not finish!

The VERDICT:  Value for money to the max!

Caveat:  While the Jawbreaker will no doubt fill you up, there is nothing extra ordinary in terms of taste.  If Zark's can somehow put in Jollibee's smoked patty (used for Champ) and you've got yourself a perfect burger!  But that's just me.  I suggest you try it out and judge by yourself.




 

Peri-Peri: An Affordable Dining Experience

 

My wife and I went on a SatuDATE yesterday at SM City North Edsa and found ourselves famished by all the window shopping.  We were at the Annex going floor to floor trying to find a place to satisfy our growling stomachs when we found Peri-Peri at the ground floor level.  They cater to a Portuguese-inspired menu highlighted by their roast chicken.  It was the first time that I had a taste of Portuguese cuisine and I must say that I liked it. 

 

We ordered for a Seafood Marinara, Grilled Chicken Quesadillas, and half chicken of Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken.  It was a divine gastronomical experience at an affordable price!  To top this off, for a minimum of Php 150, you can avail of their bottomless drinks for only Php 49.  This is not an ordinary bottomless offer because it's a buffet drinks of juices, softdrinks, coffee, and soup!  Saan ka pa?!



 Half order of Lemon and Garlic Chicken

and Grilled Chicken Quesadillas @ Php 240

and Php 178, respectively.

Seafood Marina (good for sharing) @ Php 265.



Bakit Amoy Bagoong ang Cubicle Ko?

When we were doing our grocery the other day my wife saw that I picked up a bag of crispy fried pusit and told me, "Naku, mangangamoy ka sa office nyan!"  Not heeding her advise and giving in to my hankering desire to get a taste of this spicy treat I just shrugged and went on with the purchase. 

 

At the office a while ago, I opened my crispy fried pusit and just like what my good wife predicted, out came that mordacious smell!  And with impeccable timing an officemate of mine drops by my cubicle and hands me my day's worth of invoices to sign and says, "Bakit amoy bagoong dito sa cubicle mo sir?!"  I just had to smile at the comment and corrected her saying, "Actually hindi amoy bagoong---amoy alipunga!" 

 

Breath mints please.  :)