BBQ Addiction: Maru

Okay okay, first of all, this a completely different barbecue. It's one of the now slowly being popular bbqs amongst Filipinos.

Yes, it's the Korean Grill!

For my first Korean grill adventure, my friends suggested I try Maru in Macapagal Ave. And so I did.

(Sorry in advance for the shitty phone cam photos hihi)

We decided to sit on the side where we had to remove our shoes and sit while crossing our legs. I thought: "If we're gonna eat Korean food, might as well eat like them!"

On to the menu!

I'll give you a free view of some of the items on their menu (don't worry. I asked permission)

We then proceeded with our order.

I know most people really prefer Samgyupsal (Pork belly, think of bacon) I really like beef over pork so I ordered Galbisal (boneless beef ribs) and just to satisfy my curiosity, I ordered Samgyupsal too.

Left: Galbisal (P350)

Right: Samgyupsal (P280)

Oh, and each order comes with free UNLIMITED refills of side dishes! My favorite part of Maru!

Side dishes ( I know, plenty huh?)

I love the kind of lettuce they use! Crunchy and sweet. Unlimited too!

Dips: Sesame Oil with salt & Pepper, Ssamjang

Oh! And before you wrap those delicious meat in some lettuce, you dip it into these awesome paste and oil! They really enhance the natural flavor of the meat and gives it the addictive Korean taste!

Grilling time!

Tip: don't play with your meat! Let them cook before turning them. Turning them over and over causes the meat to lose it's flavor. So be patient :)

And since we want to get the whole Korean experience, we ordered some extra dishes.

Dolsot Bibimbap (P350)

It's like a Korean rice topping dish served in a hot clay pot. You get to mix all the ingredients into the rice! It wont be pretty but it's definitely super good!

Bulgogi (P300)

I'd love to marry the marinade! Awesome flavor, but really small serving :(

Sundubu Jjige (P350)

Hot tofu soup with some meat and seafoods. A must try for me! I love that it's spicy and the tofu is really silky and soft! 

Overall, Maru gave me the Korean Experience I was looking for!

I have no other experience so I really can't compare it yet, but as long as my tummy is satisfied, I think I could recommend this to Korean food virgins out there! 

I have always loved Japanese food & I never thought I would be craving for Korean as well!

We all really have to get out and try new things once in a while. :)

Check out Maru Korean Grill soon and tell us your experience! 

Food Junkie,

Marnelli Gaerlan

Cute lil' Café along Taft: Noriter

Since we're always around Taft Ave., we want to share with you guys where we usually hang out (for hours and hours)!

Noriter is a super cute café in front of La Salle University Manila (above Tapa King). It's probably the chillest café where in you can even lie down and sleep or express your creativity in paper cups to be displayed in the café itself!

Not only that, they have some delicious coffee blends and fraps perfect for long talks or even sweet dates.

If you're hungry, you can check out their menu composed of sandwiches, pastas and waffles!

So if ever you're in Taft, with a group, a date or a book, and you need a place to just "chill", check out Noriter and tell us about your experience! :)

Food Junkie,
Marnelli Gaerlan

Barbecue of the South: Mang Raul's

It's cheap, it's good and it's totally addictive!

Not all are aware (even other fellows from the south) about this awesome foodgasmic spot in Las Piñas.

Mang Raul's is a small bbq spot in BF Almanza started by no other than Mang Raul's himself. It's even amazing to see him still "cook his craft" while taking orders till this day.

I don't know the secret as to what makes the "ihaw ihaw" so special.

All I know is that people from different status (yes, I mean from yayas to international school students) line up for hours just to literally hoard bbqs (isaw, adidas, balat, etc.).

And hoard, we did!

We had to wait for about 40 minutes (not cause they move slow, but cause of the crowd, we were number 29) so we ordered something from the "pansitan" (btw, the Pancit Canton is a must try) beside Mang Raul's which even has a sign that says: "BBQ allowed". Well, as long as you order rice from them.

Then our 50++ sticks of grilled insides and meat arrived! 

Complete with a generous serving of their sauces: Sweet, Sweet Spicy and Spicy! The best companion forever!! 

It's really the sauce that makes Mang Raul's stand out from the other bbq shacks!

In 30 minutes, all that's left were sticks. Talk about pigging out!

So if ever you're in Las Piñas, please put Mang Raul's in your Must Try list. 

PS: If you're eating alone, a hundred pesos is already enough. Yes, it doesn't get better than this.

Oh, and they are closed on Mondays! 

Also, like their Facebook page for updates! (Yes, you read that right) Mang Raul's BBQ

Now Craving for isaw

Food Junkie,

Marnelli Gaerlan 

Foodtruck Escapade 5: Amazing Cones

Still hungry for more, I decided to continue with my food truck escapade. My hunger led me to yet another truck with a bunch of people lining up. Now, this is not my first encounter with a pizza rolled into a cone, I have seen it a thousand times on Tumblr and Facebook, but this is the closest I got to tasting it. And sweet heavens, the idea of a pizza cone is a genius! I tried hard not to find ways cut in line so that I can finally taste it.

They had the prettiest and tastiest menu. I really couldn’t decide, I wanted to taste everything but..well.. let’s just say that I was broke. So I ordered Everything but the Sink. Okay, don't take that literally. It's actually the name of one of their best selling pizza cones!

Everything but the Sink (60php)

Moment of truth. The genius creation for mankind.

Can I just say that I finally understand why the truck is named “Amazing Cone”? There is no word to describe it but A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

(I think my friend who took this photo can't focus cause she's already ready to bite! haha!)

I mean, c’mon, think of dough for a cone, then the perfect pizza sauce, a generous amount of Mozzarella and toppings of your choice as the Ice cream. Now isn’t that just heavenly? (I found it so hard to share with my co-foodies L) It’s a bit small but is really fair for its price.

Also, I found it unfair to not try one of their rice meals since I saw the guy in front of me have this big ass paper box which my guts tell me is gonna be awesome.

So if you wan't something heavier and just as good, try my pick, THE Chicken Rice. 

Chicken Rice (135php)

I can’t decide which is better anymore. Amazing Cones is far too generous with everything. Look at the size of that thing! Chicken, yellow rice, garlic sauce, and they know a few extra carbs won't hurt, so they added some pita bread in there too. And oh, some shredded cabbages to balance it off. This is a meal for champions. A definite must-try! 

Amazing Cones Menu

Just please do understand that I rewrote this post a lot of times so that I won’t sound too exaggerated, but I can’t omit words that deserve to be here. 

To know more about Amazing Cones, like their page on Facebook! Click Here

You may also find them in some malls! Visit their website here!

*Burp*

Food Junkie, 

Marnelli Gaerlan

Foodtruck Escapade 4: Truck Bun (The International Food Truck)

         We went to a food truck park for the first time last week for our thesis. We spent around two hours getting lost while trying to find the place. Good thing, we were able to go there and tried some of their stuff. I'm glad that I was able to experience such thing. It's a new trend that every foodie should try. 

        Soon enough, we found a number of food trucks parked along Capitol Commons, and out of all the food trucks there, Truck Bun caught my attention. It was giving off Manhattan-esque vibes and so I chose to try their food out.

Truck Bun's theme is to serve different cuisines from different countries in a bun way

The truck is relatively new. Having started just over the summer, the chef/owner wanted to allow local foodies to have an international food experience.

I ordered one of their bestsellers, the BBQ Pulled Pork Bun. It took just about 15 minutes for my order to get ready and from the picture below, let me tell you this: It's worth the wait!

  

The BBQ Pulled Pork Bun (P 175)

Here's what you get in every mouthful: flakes of slow-roasted pork in hickory barbecued pork shoulder, light and crisp breaded onion rings, soft sweet corn kernels and a triple cabbage coleslaw that blends all these wonderful flavors together. But don't take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Truck Bun's Food Choices
photo from Truck Bun

What are you waiting for! Visit them now at Capitol Commons.

Food Junky,

Flery Robles

For more details on Truck Bun's whereabouts, click here.

To know the schedules of the food truck park, click here.

Foodtruck Escapade 3: Jasper's House of Chicken

Last week, we went to Capitol Commons to try and see what's so special about these food trucks. Well, now I know why. Not only do they offer food that you don't normally see in restaurants, but also the idea of a literal picnic party makes it a whole lot cooler. 

Who doesn't love chicken, right? It's like one of the most wanted food in the universe. No matter how old you become you will always love chicken. So, when we were deciding where to eat, I quickly called dibs for Jasper's House of Chicken. 

I did my little research about Jasper's House of Chicken, because you will come to think, who is Jasper anyway? Well, Jasper is the son of the owner and the head chef Joseph Pe. When I fell in line to order, I saw how hands-on Chef Joseph is in their family business. 

Jasper's House of Chicken Menu
photo from JaspersHOC

I was gonna order Bacon, Mac and Cheese but I decided to order Jasper's Chicken instead, a must try signature dish. A juicy and crispy combination of  fried chicken fillet pieces. I am not a fan of barbecue sauce, but it blended so well with the slight salty taste of the chicken breading. I guess I am loving barbecue sauce now. It had sesame seeds on top to add a distinct aura and taste of THE Jasper's Chicken. (yes, capitalization is needed)

Jasper's Chicken (P120)

Chicken Karaage (P95)

I also ordered Chicken Karaage. It caught my attention because almost every customer ahead of me ordered this as well. So I followed my heart and ordered that too - a tub of bite sized chicken meat and chicken skin seasoned with barbeque powder (well, I am not a fan of barbecue sauce but I love barbecue powder, what weird taste buds I own). In every bite, there's a fight between chicken meat and skin. It comes with other flavors as well: Cayenne Hot Chili, Sour Cream and Wasabi. 

If you've always loved chicken, then you will love it even more. Everything is well blended, how juicy and tender every chicken slices are!

 I hope you go out and try it yourself. You will not be disappointed.

Also, you can close your mouth now, you're starting to drool.

Food Junky,

Agel Sy

For more details about the schedule of food truck park ph, click here

Foodtruck Escapade 2: Hungry Rover

Food trucks are a new food trend here in the Philippines but it's not so much of a surprise that they are already popular with foodies.

I mean, it's fast food, Starbucks and just plain satisfaction rolled into trucks!

You order, they call out your name (the Starbucks part), you go get your food and enjoy it.

Last week, we went to Capitol Commons in Ortigas to experience what all the fuss is about. And I'll tell you, we were not disappointed.

Not only were there food trucks everywhere (this made it hard for us to decide which ones to choose), but there was also good music and good ambiance. Throw in good company and the venue was a complete haven. It was a picnic (literally).

When we split up to order, I quickly recognize this one food truck where people are lining up. So I go tell my friends that I'll "take" this one.  

HUNGRY ROVER

Boy, was I right (and a bit proud) of my decision.

The menu itself is overwhelming. I mean, I didn't know that food trucks serve Angus Beef. That's kinda like a fine restaurant stuff, right?

photo from hungry rover

I was gonna order some Fireballs (one of their best sellers, P200) but sadly, they were already sold out. :(

So I went with Angus Beef Tapa (P150). Don't let the price fool you, it's actually quite reasonable. It's Angus beef and you won't even have a problem with the serving size. All so sulit.

Angus Beef Tapa

The king of all Tapas

Can you look at that and tell me you don't want to try it?

It's so good without any exaggeration whatsoever. The beef melts in your mouth (I swear) with just the right seasoning! It's Tapantastic! (I knew I had to create a word to describe it eventually)

We are not done with our Hungry Rover escapade yet.

We got the chance to interview the guy behind Hungry Rover (who coincidentally is also the organizer of the event), Mr. Romeo Nacpil, Jr. 

MFJ: Where are the other foodtrucks located? 

Mr. Romeo Nacpil, Jr. : This is the first time we organized Food Truck Park PH here in Capitol Commons. We all belong to the Metro Manila Food Trucks Association of the Philippines. We're here Tuesdays to Sundays. Usually, Fridays we're complete, but today four food trucks have some events to attend to in La Union.

MFJ: When did you decide to collect all the food trucks and stay in one place? Why Capitol Commons?

Mr. Romeo Nacpil, Jr,: We want to promote food trucks and we want to stay away from food bazaars and night markets, there are so many food choices and the tendency is food trucks became an attraction to some. Separate industry from food bazaars.  It's like a joint project with Capitol Commons since, Capitol Commons is a big place and it's newly opened so we collaborated with them and they liked the Food Trucks concept. 

He was kind enough to give us another one of their best sellers, THE Turkey Pepper Steak, on the house. (P170)

Turkey Pepper Steak

A  forget-chicken-for-a-little-while-cause-I'm-awesome kinda bird

It pains me so much to look at it and... 

I just totally lost my train of thought.

Don't you just hate it when you order chicken or whatever poultry and it's just so dry you wanna throw it in a pond to hydrate it?

Well then you can leave the pond alone cause you'll have no problems with this turkey!

It's so tender and juicy and is seriously making me crave for it more right now. If you like it a bit peppery like I do, then there's no contest that you'll like this. The sauce has this balance of sweetness and tanginess that doesn't overwhelm the taste of the turkey itself. It's Yin and Yang. 

I'm no chef, but I know a good food when I taste it. And, dear readers, this is good food.

Food Junky

Marnelli Gaerlan

For more details on Hungry Rover's whereabouts, click here.

To know the schedules of the food truck park, click here.