The Swiss Deli Restaurant in BF Paranaque

Some of us maybe familiar with Swiss Deli, having been a favorite restaurant and deli place in Davao City for some years now. Plus, Swiss Deli meat products such as sausages can be bought in select supermarkets nationwide.

Fortunately for us Metro Manila, Chef Jeffry Lua and wife Chef Rachel (daughter of the Swiss butcher who partly owns The Swiss Deli and Restaurant in Davao) opened The Swiss Deli Restaurant in BF Homes, Paranaque City last October 8, 2013.

The Swiss Deli Restaurant mainly serves Swiss cuisine and a host of European dishes that several bloggers, myself included, were able to sample last November 20, upon the invitation of the jovial Mr. Lua.

When the Cheese Fondue was brought to our table, I can smell the aroma as bubbly melted cheese was served in a pot over a small burner. I felt like a kid again as I excitedly dipped the long-stemmed fork with bread onto the warm concoction of Swiss appenzeler, emmenthal, gruyere cheese and wine (you have an option to order this without the wine). This is a perfect treat for a cheese lover like me!

Cheese Fondue, PhP 650 (serves 2-4)

We were given two kinds of salads—Swiss Sausage and Cheese Salad and Mediterranean Pasta Salad. The first salad, Swiss Sausage and Cheese Salad is made of seasonal greens, and numerous slices of Swiss sausage and gruyere cheese. The flavors of both sausage and cheese complement each other.

Swiss Sausage Cheese Salad, PhP 290

On the other hand, Mediterranean Pasta Salad is composed of seasonal greens, tube pasta and loads of tuna chunks served with Italian dressing. This is really filling and the tuna is appetizing.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad, PhP 175

We also had Aglio E Olio with Mixed Seafood.  Swiss Deli Restaurant used tube pasta and topped it with seafood for their take on this classic pasta cooked in olive oil and garlic.

Aglio E Olio with Mixed Seafood, PhP 270

Of course, never leave Swiss Deli Restaurant without ordering their Sausage Platter, consisting of veal bratwurst, Hungarian sausage, frankfurter and English beef banger. Among the four, my favorite is the frankfurter (really tasty!) while I find the Hungarian sausage too spicy. You can also dip these sausage slices on the cheese fondue for an added food adventure!

Sausage Platter, PhP 400

Among those that Mr. Lua recommends for the main dishes is the Marinated Beef Ribs. The succulent beef ribs is cooked in flavorful sauce and served with mashed potato.

Marinated Beef Ribs, PhP 315

Next is the Salmon. The white wine sauce complements the perfectly grilled salmon. It is served with spatzle. Spatzle is soft egg noodles or dumplings traditionally used as side dish.

Salmon, PhP 355

Another must-try is Chicken “Zurich Style”. This is bite-size slices of chicken breast cooked in creamy mushroom sauce and served with English fries.

Chicken “Zurich Style”, PhP 220

This is my favorite main dish—Pork Knuckle. It is Swiss Deli Restaurant’s version of the crispy pata. The skin is crispy whilst the meat is tender. It is served with potatoes and sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is shredded cabbage that is fermented. It is crunchy and sour—a fitting condiment for the pork knuckle.

Pork knuckle, PhP 395

For dessert, we had Apple Strudel (served a la mode), Caramel Cake (topped with whipped cream and pistachios/almonds) and Creme Brulee Cheesecake (crème brulee and cheesecake in one!). But what I liked best was the Fire and Ice Bread Pudding. The play of warm pudding and icy vanilla ice cream in my mouth is irresistible. These desserts are not too sweet, which is just right for me.

TOP: Apple Strudel, PhP 120 & Caramel Cake, PhP 120

BOTTOM: Creme Brulee Cheesecake & Fire and Ice Bread Pudding, PhP 130

For the drinks, the other bloggers chose Four Seasons, House Blend Iced Tea (home-made iced tea with lychee), and Pomegranate Mojito. I opted for the refreshing Cucumber Lemonade. I was also able to take a sip of the Basil Lemonade—interesting and light combination. As a nightcap, we also had Cafe, though this one’s made from barako coffee.

FROM LEFT: Four Seasons, PhP 145; 

House Blend Iced Tea, PhP 145 & Pomegranate Mojito, PhP 120

Cucumber Lemonade PhP 120 & Basil Lemonade, PhP 120

BOTTOM: Cafe, PhP 65

Of course, Swiss Deli Restaurant also sells their very own made sausages, cold cuts and other deli meats (their factory is in Davao) plus, imported European cheeses and other delicatessen. 

We tried their Pesto Gouda Cheese--creamy cheese jazzed up with the distinctive pesto taste. 

cut slices of Pesto Gouda Cheese

Thank you Mr. Lua for letting us discover another culinary gem along this restaurant strip of Aguirre Avenue. For store hours, contact numbers and other information, check out the following:

Web: http://www.swissdelirestaurant.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/swissdelirestaurantbfTwitter: https://twitter.com/swissdeli_bfIG: http://instagram.com/swissdelibf

Ramen Bar at The Hub

The recent ramen craze has spawned a number of ramen restaurants in Manila. But it was only last November 3 that I was able to get a taste of this Japanese noodle soup (better late than never!) at Ramen Bar’s latest branch in Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.

My companion and I ordered R.B.S. # 1, which I suppose means Ramen Bar Specialty. The menu said that is tonkotsu, shoyu, chasyu, kakuni, negi and naruto. From my research, I found out that tonkotsu is pork bone soup, shoyu is soy sauce, chasyu is thin pork slices, kakuni is braised pork belly, negi is spring onion and naruto is fish cake. The serving size is quite big so we requested the waiter to split it. It also has ajitsuke tamago (soft-boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce) and plenty of nori (seaweed). The broth has a rich, meaty taste and liberal amount of pork. The pork has a melt-in-your-mouth quality.

R.B.S. # 1, PhP 380
(this is already half the serving size)

Since I love everything with cheese, we ordered Cheese Gyoza as our appetizer. I just love the combination of ground meat, vegetables and various seasoning. It is crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside. It is served with a mayo dip.

Cheese Gyoza, PhP 180
(already ate 1-piece before photo was taken!)

We also had Ebi Tempura. I did not taste this since I’m not a fan of ebi. But I noticed that their prawns are quite big and has a light and crispy batter. It comes with a tempura sauce.

Ebi Tempura, PhP 380

For dessert, we really don't have much of a choice as only Tempura Ice Cream is available. It is vanilla ice cream thinly wrapped in fried tempura batter, topped with chocolate covered cereal and chocolate wafer stick then drizzled with chocolate syrup. I liked the presentation and it is not that sweet.

Tempura Ice Cream, PhP 150

I was a bit surprised that their ramen and ebi tempura are relatively expensive since the restaurant doesn’t look pricey-- interiors are fairly plain and low-key. Also, Ramen Bar’s air-conditioning system has a problem that day because the place is quite hot--they added electric fans at the dining area to lessen our discomfort. But anyway, Ramen Bar’s staffs are friendly and accommodating. They explain the menu well and allowed us to plug our laptops (plus points!).

Ramen Bar’s menu may only have a few selections, but I guess I'll just go to Ramen Bar to satisfy my ramen craving, which they have successfully done.

For more information, like Ramen Bar The Hub’s official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/RamenBarTheHubGreenfieldDistrict

Chairman Wang’s Prime Beef Noodle House

Chairman Wang’s Prime Beef Noodle House might look intimidating--with its high ceiling, stone walls, Chinese art mural, intricate wood decor and dark wooden furniture--but it captured the look of ancient China with a contemporary feel.

Opened in Molito, Alabang February of this year, Chairman Wang’s offers predominantly Schezuan-style cuisine. I’m a Chinese food fan but I’m used to Cantonese-style so Chairman Wang’s is like a “breath of fresh air” for me. It is actually my second time here (at three weeks interval), and this time, for my friend’s birthday celebration.

Here's what we had:

Beancurd Roll- Steamed beancurd rolls filled with ground pork and mushroom and topped with sauce. I think Chairman Wang's version has shrimp. This dimsum classic is also one of my favorite items on their menu.

Beancurd Roll, PhP 150

Fragrant Chicken with Spicy Eggplant – Salty (soy sauce), sour (vinegar) and spicy (chilli, pepper) come together in this dish. 

Fragrant Chicken with Spicy Eggplant PhP 280

Chairman’s Braised Beef with Garlic Coriander – I also had this last time and it has became a favorite because I like the tenderness of the beef. It has a bold garlic flavor.

Chairman’s Braised Beef with Garlic Coriander, PhP 350

Five Spice Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs- Boldly-flavored pork ribs marinated in salt, pepper and five spice, a popular Chinese seasoning.It also comes with a dip.

Five Spice Salt and Pepper Pork Ribs, PhP 320

Chinese Sausage Fried Rice - I’m fond of anything with Chinese sausage (chorizo) and this one has plenty of it!

Chinese Sausage Fried Rice, PhP 280

Iced Lemon Tea – A refreshing blend of black tea, lemon slices, honey and mint leaves.

Iced Lemon Tea, PhP 180 per carafe

Chairman Wang's staffs were so nice that when they heard that my friend is celebrating her birthday, they gave Chilled Coconut Milk Soup with Sago and Fruits. It is coconut milk mixed with tapioca and various fruits like mango, etc.

Chilled Coconut Milk Soup with Sago and Fruits, PhP 95 per bowl

And I just have to add this—Braised Beancurd Skin with Soy Tofu. I had this appetizer the first time I dined at Chairman Wang’s. It is quite interesting to eat—wrinkled sticks that is crispy, a little bit spicy and has a meaty taste.

Braised Beancurd Skin with Soy Tofu, PhP 150

Prices are reasonable but I find Chairman Wang's serving size “small.” An order of a dish could only serve one to two persons. Chairman Wang's lay-out is “narrow” and tables are “too close” to each other. Good thing they have a second floor for small private functions.

I’ll definitely come back here as Chairman Wang's has interesting dishes that tastes good, plus I haven’t tried their signature dish yet--the Chairman’s Prime Beef Noodle Soup.

For more information, like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chairmanwangs

A coffee shop or a Thai restaurant? It’s Black Canyon Coffee!

When Black Canyon Coffee, a popular chain in Thailand, opened in the Philippines two years ago, my friend kept on prodding me to try it out since it is one of her favorite restaurants. Finally, last October 25, I was able to dine at Black Canyon Coffee’s first branch in the country—at the Food Strip area of SM Southmall, Las Pinas.

Inside, there’s a relaxing and comfortable ambiance of a coffee shop. But looking at the menu, Black Canyon Coffee has the "extensiveness" of a restaurant. Aside from various coffee concoctions and beverages, they also have ample Thai international cuisine to choose from.

My friends and I ordered the following:

Chef Salad – Nice combination of greens, carrots, shrimps, slices of boiled eggs, green apples and cheese. It came with a Japanese sesame dressing. Other dressing options are chili lime or salad cream.

Chef Salad, PhP 206

Spicy Glass Noodles with Grilled Salmon Salad – We asked the water to have it served “less spicy.” The combination of glass noodles, grilled salmon, peppers, peanuts, onions in a vinegar-based dressing creates a play in your taste buds.

Spicy Glass Noodles with Grilled Salmon Salad, PhP 242

Stir fried Pasta with Ham and Tomato Sauce – I was supposed to order Fish Steak but when I saw the photo of Stir fried Pasta with Ham and Tomato Sauce, it looked so enticing so I changed my mind! It is fusilli pasta loaded with mushroom, ham, green peas, onion, bell pepper and what seemed like scrambled eggs in tomato sauce.

Stir-fried Pasta w/ Ham & Tomato Sauce, PhP 212

Grilled Salmon with Spicy Apple Salad and Coconut Rice – As my friend said, “you can never go wrong with salmon” and their tender salmon tasted just right. I liked the combination of peanuts and apples on the salad. It was also my first time to try coconut rice and I loved it!

Grilled Salmon w/ Spicy Apple Salad & Coconut Rice, PhP 242

For the drinks, we had Lemongrass Juice, Blueberry Delight and Thai Iced Tea with Milk. Even though the Lemongrass Juice tastes weird, it is refreshing. Blueberry delight is blueberries mixed with yoghurt. Thai Iced Tea with Milk is one of Black Canyon Coffee’s popular drinks.

Lemongrass Juice PhP 80, Blueberry Delight PhP 130, Thai Iced Tea with Milk Php 90

Our total bill was PhP 1,405.04 (inclusive of 5% service charge) so I can say prices are reasonable. The downside is, their serving size is really small. But definitely, Black Canyon Coffee will be on my list whenever I just want to have coffee or maybe, even have a full meal.

Black Canyon Coffee Philippines official website: http://www.blackcanyoncoffee.com.ph/

Robinson’s Place opens in Las Pinas City

I was among those who braved the heavy traffic along Alabang-Zapote Road last October 25, 2014 for the opening of Robinson’s Place in Las Pinas City. As expected, the place was jampacked.

When I arrived at the mall’s Grand Atrium (at Level 1) by 11.30am, actor Paulo Avelino was singing onstage followed by Robinson’s ambassadress, Maja Salvador. I also spotted current Bb. Pilipinas-Universe MJ Lastimosa at David’s Salon’s ribbon cutting.

Other opening gimmicks include stilt walkers and mascots, dancers, candy giveaways and of course discounts and freebies for shoppers!

While waiting for my friends to arrive, I explored the area. On the ground floor, they have Mercury Drug, Toys R Us, Aji Sen, Van Heusen, Izod and Robinson’s Supermarket. Set to open are Jollibee, Chowking, Payless and Bench Group. Robinson’s Department Store occupies two floors.

At the second level, I saw Robinson’s Movieworld (with 3 digital cinemas & one 3D), Robinson’s Appliances, Food Court, The Pink Salon, Skin Perfect, Daiso Japan and Fone Bytes. Still to open are Cerealicious Cafe and Lenovo, among others.

The Robinson’s Department Store occupies two floors. 

Aside from these tenants, they also have kiosks like Lighters Galore and Unisilver, among others. Also food stalls like Kettle Korn and this cane ice cream that made quite a beeline:

Php 35 per “cane”

Robinson’s Place Las Pinas also has a nature-themed al fresco area. The ground floor houses mainly restaurants such as The Urban Farm, Kat’s, and Jet Ham. I’m not well-acquainted with these restaurants, but they seem interesting. The only restaurant I was familiar with was Classic Savory. There is also a South Star Drug branch and a soon to open Robinson’s Bank.

Upstairs, there’s Quantum, Dermcare and David’s Salon.

The mall has a Lingkod Pinoy Center for Philhealth, Pag-Ibig, NBI, LTO and passport applications, among others. Robinson’s Place Las PInas also has basement and open parking slots.

The welcoming facade and interiors are unlike the usual box-type malls and it utilizes huge stretches of glass. Since it is just their opening day, a lot of establishments are still closed. Here’s a complete list of the tenants at Robinson’s Place Las Pinas:

Here’s the location via Google maps:

https://www.google.com.ph/maps/place/Robinsons+Las+Pi%C3%B1as/@14.442381,120.998174,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xeef5c7aedd274f9d