Monday, July 28, 2014

Bigger and Better Gerry’s Grill Magsaysay

Bigger and Better Gerry’s Grill Magsaysay


We have been a regular costumers and fans of Gerry’s Grill  
even before when they were still in SM City Naga.



So when they moved to the Piazza in Magsaysay Avenue,
 we were pleased to see that they have a bigger,


…more spacious,



…and beautifully designed restaurant.



It’s been a while since we last visited the restaurant in SM City and this was our first
time to be in their new Magsaysay facility that comes with a fast and  free WiFi.


We started our diner with their new  Oriental Tuna Sashimi.
This is a new  take of the classic Sashimi, where the  fresh raw
tuna nuggets were marinated  in light soy sauce and had an  after
taste of a sesame oil that lingers in your mouth for a long time.



My wife and daughter who are great Sashimi fans found
this version repulsive.  So, I consumed the dish by my
lonesome,  not because  loved it, but for the reason that
nobody wants  to eat it, and I didn’t want  it go to waste.



We ordered their tasty Bulalo  for a soup
starter, and we have always  loved Gerry’s
Grill version of this classic Pinoy dish. 



Gerry’s Grill  Sisig version may oily but
their version pf this popular Kapmpangan
dish is one of the bests in the Naga City. 



No meal in complete without a healthy vegetable dish
and their delicious Chop Suey is just the perfect choice.



And of course, how could one forgo their grilled
specialties like the perfectly cooked, tender and  tasty 
Grilled Liempo served with Atcharang Kangkong, 



…and the delicious Grilled Tilapia with 
Ensaladang Talong, made of grilled eggplant
topped with fresh tomatoes, chopped onions and
bagoong,  served as a side dish which is so delicious
and could stand as a  main dish of its own.



We concluded our dinner of Fried Ice Cream,
a novelty dessert where the vanilla ice cream
is wrapped with soft crepe, fried lightly without
melting the ice cream inside and served hot.

 

We always look forward for family dinners
in Gerry’s Grill, and with their new bigger
and more spacious restaurant in the famous
Magsaysay Strip, dining here is a notch better
compared their cramped SM City restaurant. 



Read here for More:

 Gerry’s Grill's Adobo Pork Ribs 
Gerry's Grill: Hearty Pinoy Food Feast 
Gerry’s Grill, SM City Naga

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes by Glykos' Patisserie

Sugar Free Chocolate Cupcakes 
by Glykos' Patisserie

 I received several cakes as  gifts during my birthday,


 ….and the one that really stood out and caught my attention  
was a box  that contains a dozen  of apparently,  sugar- free  
chocolate cupcakes   made by Glykos' Patisserie

Used  to be known as Whisks and Confections- the name may
have changed, but their contact number in the photos did not..


 Since it was a gift, I asked the permission 
of the gift giver if it is okay if I make a 
food review of the cupcakes in my blog.


...and he said yes, and he wouldn’t   
be offended at all even if it would   
turn out as a negative review.


I would not want to sound thankless
for this gift- I appreciate it very much.
It is the thought that counts- not the cake.


For a sugar- free cake looked really 
good  and moist on the outside,

 

 …just like any other sugar free product you do not immediately taste 
the sweetness of the pastry.  You had to let it linger a little bit in your mouth.
 As your saliva starts to digest the starch into simple sugars- they add up
 to the  sweetness of sucralose or saccharine that was used in baking.


It was devoid of that melt in the mouth chocolatey feel of 
a regular cake, as it was chewy and gristly to bite-  but it still 
 tasted delicious considering that this is a sugar- free version.


The icing was buttery and tasted very good. 
One really had to eat the icing to lubricate
together with the cake  the sugar free cupcake.


This Glykos' Patisserie sugar- free chocolate 
cupcake is a healthier but tasty alternative to regular
chocolate cupcakes and could be eaten with less guilt.


I would just need to know the approximate calories
per serving of the cake, and as an Endocrinologist
I may even endorse this to my diabetic patients.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Giligan’s SM City Naga

Giligan’s SM City Naga

 We have long been planning to dine at Giligan’s in SM City Naga but the 
mall’s multi- level parking has always been full packed every weekend.


 We finally got to dine when we 
chanced upon a vacant parking.


 The marina- themed restaurant
 was full packed that night,



 …and since we were in a hurry, we didn’t have time to browse 
the menu- and we just pointed out a Packaged Group Meal.




 It consisted of six glasses of Iced Tea
and two platters of white rice ,


 … a Vegetarian Kare Kare, which we all liked as it tasted 
just like the  real thing but a healthier version as it did not use 
any meat on it, and it was served with bagoong as a side dish.



It also came with Grilled Bangus, that was perfectly done, it was very 
 delicious but nobody wanted to touch  it as it was not the boneless
 variety, it was very thorny making it very dangerous for the kids to eat.


 Their Sisig is one of the best versions that me and my family tasted so far. 
It wasn’t reeking or bathing in oil and lard, it wasn’t as mayonnaisy  like the 
other local versions, it was tasty, not vinegary and it was delightfully crunchy.


 The Giligan’s Crispy Pata is to die for,


....literally as it is fat and cholesterol laden, and figuratively as is was
  delicious and crunchy on the outside, chewy  and  tasty in  between; 
that you wouldn’t mind eating the subcutaneous fats at all, 

 

... very succulent, flavorsome 
and tender on the inside.


We enjoyed the food on our first 
dining experience at Giligan’s 

 

...and we are looking forward on trying 
other delicious dishes they offer, as well 
on our future visits to the restaurant.


Saturday, July 12, 2014

Best Places to Give in to Your Cravings in Naga City .

Best Places to Give in to
 Your Cravings in Naga City .

 Cinnamon flavored rolls, soft baked pretzels 
 sugar raised donuts and candied apples- these are
some of the favorite things that my family craves.


 Who could say no to a freshly
baked Cinnabon Classic Roll?


 The musky- sweet aroma, the warm chewy bread 
topped with thick and rich cream frosting would 
make one slow down to stop and enjoy the smell
of cinnamon let it linger in your senses for a while.


 Pretzels! Glorious Pretzels! We could never
resist the temptation of soft baked twisted bread
anywhere we are,  in any part of the world.



It could be enjoyed to go…





…or in the comfort of
any Auntie Ann’s outlets.



Delicious Sugar Raised Dunkin Donuts and
piping hot coffee on cold autumn weather.





Unfortunately most of these, except for the  Dunkin Donuts are 
not available in Naga, which has several branches all over the city,


…and we could just drive and stop for a
while to enjoy their fluffy donuts anytime.



…the local version may not be as large as its foreign counterparts 
 but they taste exactly the same, and just as satisfying.


Auntie Anne’s so far is the best source of soft baked pretzels in the country and
although they have numerous branches in the Philippines , they have none in Naga City.



But Yellow Cab’s Twisted Bread is a very
tasty alternative so there is really need to worry.



It comes in three different flavors,
like Tomato Basil Twisted Bread,



Roasted Garlic and Cheese,



source: http://yellowcabpizza.com/news

…and my family’s favorite
is the Four Cheese Flavor.



Just like Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon  have several stores 
in the country but they have none in Naga City,



…but luckily, we have Starbucks 
and it is very good alternative.





Starbucks may not have the sweet
and spicy smell of cinnamon as the
store smells more of roasted coffee,






…but Starbucks Cinnamon Swirls are
just as delicious and a perfect substitute
when we are craving for the real thing.



 Incidentally, Starbucks serves yummy  
Honey  Raised Donuts although not the chewy type 
as it tastes more like a Krispy Kreme variety, it is an 
excellent alternative for Dunkin's sugar raised donuts.




For the Candied Apples

 

Although staple in most fairs of the western countries,
I have yet to find an alternative in Naga City.  We may have
 to settle for home made ones if we have time to prepare one.



A friend suggested an alternative-   

Mango Slices Dried Sweetened
Source: http://www.niftynuthouse.com/product.php?productid=505 

Preserved Mangoes, perhaps?