The Rockwell’s 4th Ultimate Taste Test 2014: Join the Gastronomic Funfare!

Hey foodies! It’s the time of the year once again to put on your food critic hat and enjoy variety of food samples as Our Awesome Planet and San Miguel Lifestyle Brews presents Rockwell’s 4th Ultimate Taste Test 2014. This food tasting event will feature 50+ home-based food businesses alongside some food establishments under Power Plant Mall’s umbrella. Needless to say, it is going to be a day filled with gastronomic funfare.

I have been supporting Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test since 2011 and until now, theirs is definitely one of my favorite food fairs that I love to attend.  While I have been a fan of the entire Ultimate Taste Test series, the experiences and the food finds I encountered at their Rockwell UTT proved to be incomparable ( Thanks to nice location and comfortable tent set up).

So, if you are as excited as I am to be a food critic at Rockwell’s 4th Ultimate Taste Test 2014, here are the details.

Sizzlin' Steak (Formerly Sizzlin' Pepper Steak) #SizzlinSteak @sizzlinsteak

Sizzlin' Steak is not a new concept in Philippines restaurant scene. It used to go by the name Sizzlin' Pepper Steak which most of us are familiar with giving their years in the business. They are known to serve variety of food choices on a patented hot plate system wherein diners can cook their own food, particularly steak, in no time. The slight change in name was brought about by the restaurants re-branding in keeping with the ever changing needs in the market.

This re-branding is slowly being rolled out in every Sizzlin' Steak branch nationwide. With this re-branding, new items like the Sizzlin' Pasta and processes such as the customizable sizzlin' plate are being slowly introduced to the market.

Recently, I went to check out their branch at Greenhills, Promenade to try some of their specialties and to experience the new ordering process they are now rolling out which is the make your own sizzlin' steak plate. While Sizzlin' Steak is not foreign to me, the customizable plate was.

Genuine Broaster Chicken® at Robinsons Magnolia: The Healthy Alternative to Fried Chicken is Now in The Philippines

My visit recently at Broaster Chicken located at Robinsons Magnolia opened my eyes to a new world of well-loved comfort food, fried chicken. The fact that Broaster Chicken is all about providing healthy alternative to the usual sinfully delicious fried chicken, made me embraced this new world without hesitation.

Broaster Chicken is known for their crisp, light, and juicy chicken cooked through Broasting. Most of us may not be familiar with the term Broasting, I myself has little knowledge of it prior to my visit at Broaster Chicken. But if you have seen the episode of Travel Channel’s Man Vs. Food wherein the host, Adam Richmam featured Broasted Chicken, then you’ll have an idea. So yes, we are not talking about straight up fried chicken here, this post is all about the healthy option for the fried chicken lovers in all of us ~ broasted chicken.

By definition, Broasting a chicken is a cooking method made possible by using a pressure fryer and special condiments. This pressure fryer used in creating genuine broasted chicken is not just anything you could grab at any appliance store. It is an equipment manufactured by Broaster Company based in Beloit Wisconsin, licensor of Genuine Broaster Chicken.  So, unless a store is using this Broaster Pressure Fryer from its license manufacturer, the authenticity of broasted chicken may be questionable.

Osaka Ohsho at SM Megamall: New Dishes on the Menu

We recently visited Osaka Ohsho in SM Megamall to try new dishes on their menu. Osaka Ohsho is known for their gyoza tagged by many as "World's No. 1 Gyoza" but they also offer other great tasting dishes well worth one's hard earned money. The newly added dishes on the menu are variety of Fuwatoro Tenshin Han which can be availed ala carte or through Fuwatoro sets.

For those who is not familiar, Fuwatoro Tenshin Han is one of Osaka Ohsho's best sellers that is made of soft and fluffy Koshihikari rice covered with equally fluffy and velvety scrambled egg. It is sort of like omu rice, only better.

Although with limited choices, Fuwatoro Tenshin Han Set is already available at Osaka Ohsho when it opened here in our country. Now, Osaka Ohsho expanded the choices for this set by adding four new options; Ebi Tempura, Chicken Karaage, Curry Cheese Tonkatsu, and Mabo Tofu. 

Zabo Chicken at SM Jazz Mall: 18 Spice Chicken, Rice Buffet, and Affordable Mediterranean Dishes

Zabo Chicken is a restaurant at the new SM Jazz Mall in Makati that specializes in slow-roasted 18 Spice Chicken alongside other affordable Mediterranean inspired dishes. This new player in Manila restaurant already established itself enough that within three months of operation, they have already managed to branch out to different locations with four branches all in all as of the time of writing. 

Their slow-roasted Mediterranean style 18 Spice Chicken which recipe they developed for 8 months prior to the opening of their first branch is the pride of Zabo Chicken. Rightfully so, since its flavor is a treat in itself. Zabo's Menu leans heavily on Mediterranean without disregard to Filipino market. That is why they offer Rice Buffet wherein diners could feast on as much rice as they want. The affordability of their price range is another noteworthy thing about Zabo Chicken.

Their branches are located at SM Jazz Mall in Makati, SM BF Paranaque, SM North Edsa, and at Glorietta 4 Food Choices. Being the flagship store of Zabo Chicken, I decided to pay a visit at their SM Jazz Makati branch to check out some of their offerings.

Yumi Japanese Restaurant at Promenade, Greenhills

Yumi is a Japanese restaurant located at the new Promenade building in Greenhills. Owned by the same passionate foodies behind Munchtown and other group of restaurants, Yumi serves Japanese dishes with main focus on the aesthetics of the food from the plate to the palate. With chef Robby Gocco on its helm, one can expect freshly prepared Japanese food which are reasonably priced.

Yumi's menu suggests that it specializes in ramen, sushi, and teppan. Yet, amidst these three well-loved Japanese dishes, there are other items on the menu that are all well worth trying out.

Some of the foodies I know have raved about Yumi way before I have tried it myself. I had a high expectation not just because I trust the judgement and the palates of these foodies but also because it is a restaurant by chef Gocco. I had a chance to visit Yumi when they launched new varieties of Chirashi on their menu. Some of my luncheon mates called the gathering "Chirashi Feast." I, on the other hand call it "An Introduction to a New Favorite Japanese Restaurant." 

GIVEAWAY ALERT: I am Giving Away Buffet for 2 at Sabato Cena Italiana of Oakroom Restaurant, Oakwood Manila

Remember when I wrote about Sabato Cena Italiana Buffet at Oakroom Restaurant of Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila? Yes, the Italian Buffet Feast happening every Saturday night at Oakwood Manila. Recently, I was given a good news that this themed buffet at Oakroom Restaurant will be extended for three more months due to popular public demand. Well, it only goes to show how good the Italian dishes they are serving at Oakroom. I couldn't agree more because I myself, was deeply impressed with their Italian dishes offerings.

Another good news is that our friends at Oakwood Manila is sponsoring another giveaway for YedyLicious readers! Yay! This time, we will be giving away 1 Sabato Cena Italiana Buffet for 2 Persons. This is going to be a quick giveaway because we want the winner to experience the buffet within the month of September. That's how we are excited for you to try the Italian Buffet Feast at Oakroom Restaurant.

We are all happy and really thankful to those who joined our contest for Oakwood Manila's Tex-Mex Fiesta Grande Buffet Giveaway. Now, we are excited to share with you another chance to win buffet for two which you can share with your loved one.

Teddy's Bigger Burgers in Greenbelt 3, Makati City: Hawaii's Number 1 Burger, Now in Manila Philippines!

Teddy’s Bigger Burgers is Hawaii’s top burger joint that is set to open its first branch here in Manila Philippines, located at Greenbelt 3 in Makati City this Saturday, August 23, 2014. You may have noticed that a lot of Manila Food Bloggers have been raving about Teddy’s Burger Philippines, a new addition to Manila’s burger joints. Well. We couldn’t really blame them; Teddy’s Bigger Burgers wouldn’t be called the number one burger chain for nothing.

To celebrate their opening this Saturday, Teddy’s Burger Philippines prepared something special for those who will be joining them in opening their door to the public. First 100 customers will get free burgers, first 5 customers in line will get one year supply of burgers (one burger per week), sixth to customers in line will get six months supply of burger (one burger per week), and eleventh to twentieth customer in line will get three months supply of burger (one burger per week). So, they strongly suggest that you fall in line early at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers this coming Saturday to be one of the lucky customers who will get free burgers.

Teddy's Bigger Burgers, Greenbelt 3 Makati City

Last Tuesday, we were given a preview of what Teddy’s Bigger Burgers will be offering to the public once they go full operation. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers founders Ted Tsakiris and Rich Stula welcomed us by sharing a little bit of history as to how Teddy’s started and by giving us the chance to try the burgers and other products they are most proud of.

Eri Curry in SM Megamall

Eri Curry is a new restaurant that opened recently at Atrium of SM Megamall which specializes in Japanese curry. There are plenty of Japanese restaurants in Manila but only few carries, if not specializes in this particular dish. This fact makes Eri Curry a welcome addition to Manila restaurant landscape.

History dictates that curry originated in India. They are the culture who popularized this dish using the impressive spices that they are known for. Japan however was introduced to curry during the time when British colonized India. Since its introduction, Japan adapted curry and made their own variation that suits their palates hence, the Japanese curry was born.

Eri Curry, SM Megamall

Japanese adaptation of Indian curry includes reinvention of the sauce by adding fruit stock that lends sweeter taste to it in contrast to the usual spicy and spunky flair of Indian curry. Eri Curry's chef Erica, the mind behind the menu and the face behind the logo, stayed for good many years in the Land of The Rising Sun where she learned to loved Japanese curry. Equipped with her love for the said dish and the passion to create good food, she developed Japanese curry recipe fit for Filipinos, in which is now being used at Eri Curry.

Munchtown in Promenade, Greenhills: Elevating Your Cinema Snacking Experience

Friends told me that snacking inside the movie house while watching new flick will never be the same again once you tried the food at Munchtown located at the new Promenade in Greenhills. Having one of the geniuses in Manila restaurant scene. chef Robby Gocco under its helm, I could not argue. I, myself is a fan. Turning the usual movie snack into a gourmet delight is something only a passionate chef could muster to do with impeccable swag. Chef Gocco, did just that.

Munchtown menu consist primarily of food that is perfect to be eaten on the go, making it convenient for people to eat the goodies inside the movie house. Yet, whether you opt to feast on their offerings while watching movie or not, their location can accommodate good numbers of diners.

Munchtown boasts of offerings such as burgers, fries, pizza, chicken wings, nachos, and hotdog sandwich.  I cannot remember how many times have I declined invites to visit Munchtown and try their food due to my schedule. Good thing that one time I was free, my friend Richard tagged me along for some Hotdog Sandwich Feast at Munchtown. Our group feasted on different variants of gourmet hotdog sandwich that I lost count of how many variants were there. Trust me, there were too many that I was not able to try all of them, so I've only written those which I've tasted.