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Manos Greek Taverna

Unplanned trips, don’t you just love them?  I love receiving a phone call from some friends at an unlikely time of the day telling me to be ready as they will be at my doorsteps in ten minutes because everyone is up for a long drive somewhere.  The adrenalin rush beats the crap out of drinking a gallon of energy drink.  Yes, I am a sucker for spontaneity.

Having been stressed by work and some personal matters, it was one of those days when I couldn’t even think of a single thing to help me lighten up.  Then my phone rang, it was my cousin Anjo inviting me to go out for a coffee.  Hours after, I found myself taking photos of sunset while my cousin was manning the wheels.  The back seat was already full of different kinds of food we purchased from some random restaurants and stores we happen to passed by, so we just thought of having coffee in Tagaytay.  When we passed by Manos Greek Taverna, it’s a different story. “Light dinner?” we both agreed.



As my fork sinks into the dense layer of eggplant, potatoes, meats, and béchamel sauce, in a split second, my palate was blissfully covered by the meaty creaminess of Mousaka.  Although eggplant is the main ingredient for this wonderful dish, its taste was very subtle.  The serving was very generous; I could only finish half of it.

Mousaka

Souvlaki was also a filling meal which comprise of tatziki (greek sauce made of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, salt, and mint), cabbage salad, potato fries, and 2 sticks of pork.  Manos made their own yogurt which makes their tatziki fits to my liking as it doesn’t taste commercialized.  My cousin clearly had a great time feasting on this dish because of tatziki which perfectly goes well with the pork.
Souvlaki

The subtle crunchy sound of the phyllo pastry was music to my ear, as I was greeted with the beautiful shade of green brought about by the spinach.  The almost melting state of the feta cheese was not just a beautiful sight but a lovely creamy treat to the palate.  I was a little apprehensive about ordering Spanakopita thinking that my cousin wouldn’t like it, but he finished the dish in no time, raving how delicious it was.  You couldn’t go wrong with spinach and feta cheese after all. 

Spanakopita

I was about to order for their baklava but then I realized that we have tons of food waiting for us in the car so I just decided to skip it.  It was a light, and simple, yet lovely dinner.  The ambiance of the restaurant was downright simple but very clean.  The food attendants were very friendly and approachable, service was fast and accurate.

Manos Greek Taverna Interior
I’ve been planning to dine at Manos Greek Taverna for a while now, to no avail.  But this unplanned trip to Tagaytay brought me one of the loveliest dinners at that simply lovely restaurant.  Not to mention that I was in a company of my cousin who’s always been a brother I never had. 

My cousin Anjo, enjoying his share of Mousaka

After that we head straight to a coffee shop where the rest of the night was spent with thousand untold stories and catching up. 



Manos Greek Taverna
Calamba Road
Brgy. San Jose (Olevares)
Tagaytay City
Tel. No. (mobile) 0916 429 8358
Fax (046) 860 2559



Kashi Maki by My Pink Wasabi


They say it’s cute, for me that adjective is an understatement.  The intricate details that were carefully crafted by Chef Anna Marin Chua echoes a labor of love; therefore, it’s not just cute in my opinion.  Pink Wasabi’s Kashi Maki creations are aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and palates, yes, they are beautiful.



Kashi Maki are sweet hand rolled dessert cakes formed to resemble sushi.  This unique creation that Pink Wasabi is proud of was slowly but surely creating patrons who would constantly rave how unique and delectably satisfying these bite size heavens are.  First time I tasted it, I was smitten.




I was able to try four flavors; Midnight Mint, Choco Locco, White Matcha, and Cookie Kiss.  While the other flavors I have yet to try are Lemony P, Coconut Dream,  Momo Crunch, and Oolong Berry.  Although I enjoyed all the four variants, my palate favors the Midnight Mint.

Midnight Mint
Midnight Mint
The chocolate goodness of this tiny hand rolled cake dusted with cocoa powder was very comforting, almost homey. While the dark mint truffle inside only intensifies the luxurious taste of the chocolate as the gelatin on top tickled my palate.

White Matcha
White Matcha
The taste of infused green tea in creamy white Belgian chocolate was very apparent, giving the cake an invigorating kick. The white chocolate tablet on top was an added treat.

Cookie Kiss
Cookie Kiss
This dark chocolate cake with cherries Chantilly crème and rolled in crushed cookies reminds me of sweet memories during my childhood.  It was good and unforgettable.

Choco Locco
Choco Locco
Hand rolled cakes covered with nuts was just an outside appearance, wait until you get to the center.  The homemade cashew nut paste mixed with pure Belgian milk chocolate inside complete this little bite of awesome delight.

My Pink Wasabi at Mercato Centrale
One thing that you have to take note though is that these Kashi Maki are not as sweet as your usual desserts but it doesn’t mean that it’s not delicious.  Some of these hand rolled cakes were infused with tea so it can be a healthy alternative desserts.

Chef Anna Marin Chua of My Pink Wasabi

Available in Sampler (4pcs.), Bento Box (12pcs. and 16pcs.), and Sampler Tray (25pcs. and 50pcs.) these Kashi Maki can be purchased at Mercato Centrale Weekend Market and they also do delivery and pick up. My Pink Wasabi Kashi Maki are perfect as a gift, give aways, and party food.  This unique creation will surely be loved not just by people who loves sushi but by everyone who appreciates good food. 

Also, they are currently having a contest, “Kashi Maki Photo Contest” wherein participants can send in their most creative and wackiest photo while enjoying Kashi Maki with a caption indicating why they love Kashi Maki.  This contest will run until July 19, 2011, so hurry and visit their facebook page for more details.




My Pink Wasabi   
Website: http://www.mypinkwasabi.com/
Mobile No. 09062102966
Email:  mypinkwasabi@gmail.com       
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mypinkwasabi
Facebook:  http://facebook.com/mypinkwasabi.pastries



SHARE EAT, An On-the-spot Photography Contest and Interactive Cooking Demo by Clara Olé

Calling all food and photography enthusiasts!  Clara Olé would like to invite you to

SHARE EAT, An On-the-spot Photography Contest and Interactive Cooking Demo

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The event will be held on Sunday, July 10 2011 at Mercato Centrale, registration starts at 9AM.  The contest will have two categories: for food bloggers and other guests (non-bloggers and Mercato goers). 

Join Chef Eugene Raymundo and Appetite Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Nina Daza-Puyat as they share ways to enjoy simple meals through interactive cooking demo.

Snap and share your event’s photos depicting “Joy of Eating” and get a chance to win up to 10,000php

Mark your calendars and be ready to showcase your talent and appetite while enjoying everything that is good at Mercato Centrale with Clara Olé.

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