Choco Overload Cake by Conti's

After what seemed like forever, I was able to meet up with my good friend Glenn yesterday for the food tasting event at Nasi Lemak in Robinsons Galleria (will post about this soon). As a fellow foodie, Glenn was the one who have encouraged me to put up this food blog. From then on, his unwavering support together with some of our friends never faltered.

Most of the time, when my beat up old Olympus Camera was nowhere to be found inside my bag (well, you see, I only use digital camera for the photos here in my blog), Glenn's baby, a Fuji Camera has always been there to the rescue. And since we have the same eyes for detailed photos, I trust him in taking some of the pictures for my posts especially if there's a lot of food to shoot. (I only have two hands and it really is a tedious task to take photos of 20 dishes without pissing every single hungry person at the table).

Glenn did some of the shoot for my early restaurant review posts such as at Arya, Fish & Co., and Bellini's, while the rest of the photos are taken by me having in mind all the pointers I have learned from him. Basically, he guided me until such time that I can do the shoot on my own. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Another thing that endears me to my friend is his love for Chocolate. It is our common ground. Whenever we are together, we are never without a chocolate in any possible form it has. And since he is migrating to Canada this year, I promised myself that despite our overly dramatic schedule, I will one day spend the entire day with him, over a cup of his favorite coffee and one of my very own favorite chocolate cake by Conti's. A cake that remind me of him.


Conti's Choco Overload Cake is one of the cake that a chocolate lover must not missed. True to its name, it is an overload of chocolate but as the cliche goes, you can never have enough of it.

A delectable layers of Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Creme, Chocolate Sponge Cake, Chocolate Mousse, Chocolate Icing, and Drizzle of Chocolate Syrup. Every sinful bite can send you to Chocolate Heaven and back to the comfort of your own chocolatey world. A mini size would cost you 450php while the regular one is 775php.

It is best served chilled with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea (let go of the sweetener, the cake will substitute it for your sweet tooth). Also, it is best shared with special friends, as special as this cake, while reminiscing the past, sharing the present, and looking forward to the promising future.

Conti's

#53 Connecticut St.

Greenhills San Juan City

744-4148 / 744-4208 / 727-6898

Sachi Japanese Restaurant

Some good things in life are not always for free. Sometimes you have to pay for it. But if you are as frugal as me, there isn't a snowball chance in hell that you wouldn't find good deals. And as a foodie, good food at a very affordable price is one of the good deals you wouldn't want to miss.

One great deal I discovered was a 149php worth of lunch at Sachi, a Japanese Restaurant in Araneta Center Cubao. The average dining cost for this resto is 400php per person, but with their promo, you'll get a set lunch consisting of an appetizer, entree, and a dessert for a peso short to 150 bucks.

Hare-Hare Salad

For the appetizer, the choices are California Maki, Hare-Hare Salad, and Miso Soup. Although I enjoyed their freshly made California Maki, it was their Hare-Hare Salad that captures my heart. The crispiness of fresh vegetables plus the sweet taste of kani compliments the subtle nutty taste of the salad sauce.

California Maki

For the entree, you can choose from Katsudon (Deep-Fried Breaded Porkchop), Tendon (Deep-Fried Shrimp Tempura with Tendon Sauce) and Yakisoba ( Stir-Fried noodles with Chicken and Vegetables)

Katsudon

I am not a big fan of Katsudon but I could say that Sachi's is the best I have ever tasted so far. It is crispy on the outside but the pork meat is soft, tender, and juicy on the inside. Plus the sauce they use is simply delectable.

Yakisoba

Their Yakisoba is also impressive. It is not dry as compared to other Yakisoba in some Jap Restos I have tried. Topped with generous amount of Vegetable and Chicken, it is far from being lame as I thought it was.

Green Tea Ice Cream

They only offer one dessert and that is Green Tea Ice Cream. I was ready to suggest to add another choices but when I tasted the Ice Cream, I was speechless. It was so good I was not satisfied with a scoop. Perhaps it is the best dessert to cleanse ones palatte after the meal that is why they are so confident having it as the only choice for the dessert.

Located alongside different restaurant outside Araneta Coliseum, has now become one of my favorite restos in that area aside from Cafe Adriatico and Italianis. Their Lunch Promo is available from 10am to 2pm only so be sure to be there within that timefor you to enjoy this one great foodie deal that Sachi has to offer.


Sachi
G/F Coliseum Center, Araneta Center, Cubao
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Contact no. (02) 911-31-01 loc. 8372

Everything At Steak (Family Steakhouse)

Do you believe that there are things in life that are worth the wait? I do. Holy Week has already passed and so are the meat abstinence days for some who are just like me, a born carnivore. As I have mentioned in my previous post, one of the things that I am sure of is that I couldn't give up on meat. So, you can very well guessed that the first thing that comes into mind after a week of no-meat-at-all, would be a feast of meat.

Here in San Juan City where I am currently residing, there is a little Family Steakhouse called Everything At Steak. It offers choices of steaks at a very affordable price. For 200php, one can already have a set of meal that is sure to satisfy a big appetite.

Everything At Steak Family Steakhouse's best sellers are T-Bone Steak and Rib-Eye. Ones visit to this resto wouldn't be complete without these two dish gracing the table by its enormous presence.

T-Bone Steak with Barbecue Sauce and Potato Salad

Cajun Marinade Rib-eye with Gravy and Chorizo Carbonara

Aside from the best sellers, among many other choices in their menu, it was their Barbecued Spareribs and their Grilled Boneless Chicken that captures our heart and tummys.

Barbecued Spareribs and Macaroni and Cheese

Grilled Boneless Chicken and Meatball Pasta

The meats are unnervingly succulent and tasty, and every bite screams flavorful concoction of herb and spices. Also, everything is so juicy and tender it melts in your mouth.

Another thing worth raving about are the side dish. Some of the choices are Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Potato Salad, Baked Potato with Bacon Bits, Chorizo Carbonara, Meatball Pasta, Mashed Potato, Buttered Carrot and Corn, and Coleslaw among many others. I noticed that each side dish are a meal in itself for its big serving, and it made me think that the resto owner is so generous for still including a cup of steamed rice in every meal.

Personally, the Meatball Pasta is my favorite side dish. It tasted like Macaroni and Cheese but with a hint of creamed mushroom that adds character to it. The juicy and savory meatball further intensifies the goodness of this dish.

Aside from the steaks, they also offer steamed fish, different soups, appetizers, and burgers which I will certainly try on my next visit.


Their branch in San Juan is fairly small but comfortably cozy. It can only accomodate certain number of people with its roughly 10 tables that is why most of the time, people are gathered outside to wait for their turn to be seated. Also, since the meals are freshly cooked when you order, you have to wait a considerable time before you can feast on it. Yes, there would be some waiting time once you decided to dine in this resto, but I can assure you that their steaks are worth it.

After abstinence, surely there are things in life that are worth the wait.


Everything At Steak, Family Steakhouse
#5 P. Guevarra St. cor. V. Cruz St., San Juan City
Contact No. 7262386