Giligans: Delicious Pinoy Dishes

Giligans 
Delicious Pinoy Dishes

Giligans’ is one restaurant that keep us coming back
either to SM City Naga or at Robinsons Place Naga,

 

…as the food is delicious,



 
…and the ambiance, especially at their branch in
Robinson’s Al Fresco section is really awesome.

 

We feasted on Sinigang na Hipon and they seem
to have already perfected dishing out the right degree
of sourness of this popular Pinoy sour soup. Not sour
enough to wrinkle your face to a dreadful revulsion. 

 

Kare- kareng Gulay is a guilt free vegetarian version
this otherwise  unhealthy, fat laden yet delicious dish,
which we all liked as it tasted just like the  real thing .

 

…and it was served with bagoong as a side dish.

 

No dinner is complete without a Crunchy Sisig 
as this is probably the best tasting sisig in Bicol.
It is a must try dish to anyone dining in Giligans.

 

Of course, the Grilled Tuna Belly should also
not  be missed in this restaurant. The fish was
fresh and sweetish, grilled to juicy perfection.

 

The Binagoongang Lechon Kawali with Kangkong 
was a fusion of two all time Filipino favorite dishes.
The lechon kawali was servedi n a bed of chopped
kangkong. Adding the bagoong was a brilliant idea
as both the crispy fried pork belly and the crunchy
swamp cabbage went well with the briny shrimp paste.

 

It has always been a joy for my family to dine at Giligans,

 

.. as they serve delicious Pinoy dishes that 
are budget friendly in an awesome ambiance.

Read the links below for related posts:

Giligan’s SM City Naga
Gilligan’s Restaurant: Unlimited Pinoy Favorites

Gilligan’s Robinsons Place Naga: Bright and Airy Marine Themed Restaurant

 

JPY Juan: Divine Kakigori

JPY Juan
Divine Kakigori

We were tempted to dine at JPY Pinoy again

as we saw several new entrees in their menu.

 

The restaurant is located at the second level of

the al fresco section  of Robinsons Place Naga,

that offers Japanese dishes with a Filipino twist.

Believe it or not, they are now offering Bento Box Meals  

that goes with unlimited rice popularized by Mang Inasal.

JPY however used native Filipino wooden bento instead

of the traditional plain black or red Japanese laquer bento.

The Chicken Teriyaki Bento was delicious.

It was much sweeter the regular Japanese fare

as was fused to have touches of Pinoy inasal.

 

The same thing is true with the Pork BBQ Bento.

It tasted like a 100 % sweetish Pinoy Barbecue with

no hint of being a Japanese inspired dish. It was also

served on an wooden bento and with unlimited rice.

The Adobo Ramen’s adobo inspired soup was

a bit salty, and also didn’t have any hint of being

a Japanese inspired dish. It was as Pinoy as it can

be, as it tasted just like a soy sauced laced mami.

 

The Japanese shaved ice or Kakigōri was divine.

The snowy mound of flavored finely shaved ice

was made to appear like our very own halo- halo

but fused with different non- Pinoy toppings like

blueberries and caramel that surprisingly went

well with the two scoops of classic ube ice cream.

 

It was so good that we returned the next

day at JPY Juan to enjoy the Kakigori

on hot and very humid Sunday afternoon.

 

For the Kakigori- alone, 

 

...it is worth coming back to  JPY Juan again and again.

Read the link below for related post:

 JPY Juan: Japanese- Filipino Fusion Cuisine

Molino Grill’s Kapamilya Meal: Robinsons Place Naga Al Fresco

Molino Grill’s Kapamilya Meal 
Robinsons Place Naga Al Fresco 

Molino Grill is a popular Naga based restaruant
whose original branch  started in Magsaysay, 



…which later branched out in SM City Naga,



…and we were happy when they finally opened a new
branch at the awesome Robinsons Place Al Fresco area.

 

We were in a hurry and didn’t had
enough time to browse the menu,

 

…so we ordered a group meal called Kapamilya Meal. 
For not perusing the menu well, little did we know that
included in the meal deal are  some of the most delicious
yet deadly dishes- a Metabolic Syndrome Meal in disguise.

 

Our family loves this native Filipino sour soup and we were happy 
the  Sinigang Na Baboy was included in the meal deal. Just like
 during our previous dinners in Molino Grill, the soup had just the right  
sourness that would not make you wrinkle you face in acerbic disgust.

 

The Chicaron Bulaklak was served as an appetizer
and it was addicting and very tasty. It was crunchy
on the sides and chewy but tender on the inner core.

 

The Adobo Rice was also very delicious.
The rice was bathed with adobo sauce and
topped with bits and pieces of pork adobo.

 

When they served the Sizzling Pork Sisig, which we also
 found to be very delicious, we came to realize that what
 was includedin the meal deal were food high in grease.

 

The Pinaputok na Plapla  would have neen a healthier alternative, 
but to our horror it was served bathing in butter.  It was a tasty yet
 unhealthy twist to this classic steamed fish. The butter added texture to 
what was supposed to be a bland tasting, yet hale and hearty dish.

 

After being served with delicious heart attack in several platters and 
a tasty stroke in a bowl the Chopsuey was our ultimate  lifesaver literally  
and figuratively. The veggies were fresh  crunchy and not overcooked and
 made us eat to our heart’s desire without the fear of being rushed to the ER.

 

The meal came with Iced Tea Tower 
which was more than enough for us.



The dishes included in the Kapamilya Meal Deal 
were all delicious, as expected with Molino Grill.
I would however be ordering a’la carte next time
we dine to a healthier and more balanced choices

Read the links below for related posts:

Molino Grill, SM City Naga 
Molino Grill  Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City 

Via Mare: World Class Filipino Cuisine

Via Mare
World Class Filipino Cuisine 

One of the perks of staying in Edsa Shangrila Hotel,

our favorite residence in Manila, is it’s close proximity

to Shangrila Plaza, where there is a Via Mare restaurant,

right at the threshold of this upscale shopping center.

We always make a point to dine with the kids at Via Mare,

as this is the best place to enjoy old- fashioned Filipino

dishes that has been forgotten in this fast- food generation.

Via Mare has an impeccable reputation of showcasing

world class Filipino cuisine to visiting world leaders,

royalties and dignitaries. It also played host in some of

the most important historic social events in the country.

 

We overslept in the hotel and missed the

breakfast buffet, so decided to dine here.

Vigan Longaniza is the kind of local sausage delicacy

that we love. It is a bit spicy, tangy and garlicky. It did

not have a disgusting caramel coating, like other longaniza

versions that are too sweet and taste like repulsive meat

candies. Via Mare take of this Ilocano dish is not as

salty and that is good, as you get to savor the flavorful

sausage, that would have been masked up by the brine. 

 

The Tapa was also very delicious. It was very

tenderand it wasn’t  salty at all, so you also get

to savor the flavorful cured thin slices of beef.

Via Mare’s Chicken Pork Adobo is a brilliant culinary creation.

The meat was pre- marinated, fried and bathed with just the right

amount of adobo sauce. It wasn’t the typical nauseating adobo

that is virtually swimming in ghastly, salty dark sauce. Some

consider Adobo our country’s unofficial national dish, and they

might be referring to Via Mare’s version of this iconic Pinoy dish.

This Spanish inspired Pinoy congee- Chicken Arroz Caldo

is our favorite comfort food. With generous amount of chunks

of chicken, served in a huge bowl, it is a tasty meal on its own.

It is for flavorful and there is no need to add any condiments.

They also offered native desserts and their Bibingka

was one of the best tasting versions that we have tasted.

It is best eaten just with butter or margarine on to and

be sure to instruct the waiter not to add those repulsive

grated coconut and brown sugar as it would ruin the

otherwise neutral taste of this delicious rice cake.

The Puto Bumbong was just as good. This sticky

rice cake made from native purple  glutinous rice

called ‘pirurutong’is so good. Just like the Bibingka

also ask not to add those nasty grated coconut and

sugar and enjoy it unsweetened and unadulterated.

 

Via Mare is a pioneering restaurant that modified some

Pinoy dishes that might have been unpalatable to other

people to something the could be showcased globally .

MCM Restaurant: Iriga's Traditional Chinese Resto

MCM Restaurant
Iriga's Traditional Chinese Resto
 

The MCM Restaurant located just in front of the city park 
caught our attention as it had a vacant parking so we decided
 to dine there. Tired and hungry from the long drive to Buhi from
  Naga to was a welcome respite to find a restaurant that fast.

 

It was an old fashioned. no frills Chinese restaurant,

…that still utilizes the thick- lipped glasses

for drinking water and serving beverages.

 

This restaurant serves what is probably the

 most delicious Mushroom Soup in Bicol.

 

It not the usual thick and creamy type, as the broth appeared 
watered-down but was  tasty and pretty healthy. It had a subtle 
hint of herbs and had generous amount of varied vegetables. 
This would be perfect on lazy days when the weather turns colder.

One of the best tasting Chop Suey Guisado  that we have tasted.
 It has been beefed up with  chunks of liver, tofu, seafood and  vegetables.
 It has a savory Chinese seasoning aftertaste, very delicious and filling,

 I am not aware what fish they used in the Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet.
but we totally enjoyed the dish. It wa  coated with flour and fried to
 perfection. It was later bathed  with just the right amount of sweet 
and sour sauce with  a mélange of vegetables like tomatoes, 
carrots, red onions, and bell pepper with a mixture of pineapple.

The Chinese Pork Steak was a revelation.

It appeared like a sweetened but more delicious

and chunky pork asado. My young son loved it.

 

The Camaron Rebosado was excellent. A Filipino version

of the iconic Japanese Tempura, it is made of fresh shelled

shrimps,battered and deep fried and served with tartar sauce.

We ended our dinner with Halo- Halo for dessert.

I loved the shaved ice that they used as I could still

bite the bits and pieces of crunchy, ice making it

more refreshing as compared to other creamy and

milky versions and tastes more like a smoothie.

 

MCM is neat and tidy budget traditional Chinese restaurant

in Iriga City that serves very affordable, yet delicious dishes.  

 

Worth the drive from Naga City to Rinconada.