Marufuku Japanese Restaurant in Ortigas

I have always wanted to try Marufuku Japanese Restaurant in Ortigas which is said to be one of the Best Japanese Restaurants in Manila by some food enthusiasts I know. Despite the itch to take the road less traveled - at least by me - I was not able to do so until a friend invited me for a quick lunch and a little catching up. 

Aptly tagged as a "hidden gem" or a "secret" Japanese restaurant, Marufuku is tucked in a nondescript place that can be easily missed if you are not familiar with the area. Yet if you know that it is located at The Crescent Building facing San Miguel Ave. and the entrance is located in Amethyst St. at the back side of the building, it shouldn't be hard to locate. It's near UA&P.

Parking area is decent enough to hold several cars but during busy days, finding a spot can be quite a challenge. Nonetheless, the challenge will be worth it if you get to try the amazing Japanese that Marufuku serve.

Deal Grocer Experience

Let me say this from the get-go, before trying out Deal Grocer, I am skeptical when it comes to group buying sites. Case in point, during the time when majority of the food bloggers I know were writing about their dining experiences made possible through the vouchers they bought at some group buying site sprouting those days, I got nothing to contribute. Simply because I do not patronize such.

Those horrifying group buying sites experiences documented on blog posts you can find all over the internet also didn't help. So, call me a less than smart consumer if you must, but I will still stand firm on my belief that if I want good quality food and service, I must pay it with fair price.

I have been blogging about restaurants for nearly eight years now, that cliche that says "You get what you pay for" holds truth in it. So, I would rather work hard and save money for those experiences which will guarantee a good quality food and service instead of pushing my luck that my vouchers will not disappoint me. It's food that nourishes the body we are talking about, I hate being disappointed when it comes to that, so I don't mind spending.

Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe

Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe is a new coffee shop / restaurant in Antipolo that specializes in cakes, coffee, and home cooked meals. Located at the lower part of Antipolo, specifically in Marcos Highway / Masinag area, Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe used to be just an online store that caters to those who needs downright impressive customized cakes.

It's success led into a full blown coffee shop that serves all sort of delicious things including one of their specialties, cupcakes. But trust me, there is more to Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe than cupcakes.

I am still on a roll for my Antipolo Food Trip Blog Series and while I went down further Antipolo area than my usual route which is near the city town proper, Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe is a welcome addition to my series. 

Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant

I went to Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant located at the Mega Fashion Hall of SM Megamall recently to check out their Kaminabe and Tobanyaki offerings. While it was my first time to dine at Rosanjin, it was not really my first encounter with Tobanyaki and Kaminabe as I was previously introduced to these way of cooking and serving food by a Japanese friend.

Tobanyaki and Kaminabe is both an Art and Science in itself. Art in a sense that it involves aesthetic presentation and process. It is also considered as Science by the virtue of the foundation the process is executed. No, you do not call a paper holding liquid over fire and don't get burn just pure Art. Obviously, there is Science behind that.

Located near Osaka Ohsho, Alqueria, and Linguini Fini, Rosanjin Japanese Restaurant's menu holds an impressive number of Japanese dishes. From sushi to ramen to rice toppings - the whole nine yards. But that day of my visit, I was a woman on a mission - to try the Tobanyaki and Kaminabe dishes.