Todd English Food Hall Vongole and Hanger Steak

Went with a friend this time. We shared on an order of Hanger Steak, Vongole Pasta and S'mores and Salted Caramel Macarons

We both loved the steak, which were very tender and its sauce were really good, like the ribs sauce of Tony Roma's.   The vongole was also good. The s'mores macaron was very dry, while the salted caramel was soft and not too sweet.

Happy Eating!

Sweet Bella Cafe

I wanted to eat the shroom burger with truffled cream cheese of burger bar (my favorite burger)  but since I also wanted to try something new, I dined instead at Sweet Bella Cafe.

I wanted the truffle pasta or the croque monsieur, but the waiter was adamant on  saying that the monster burger is their bestseller and that's what I should order. I regretted listening to him.

The burger was big but I didn't like the taste of everything on it. From the buttered bun up to the not-so-fresh lettuce.  

For my dessert I ordered the hazelnut crunch. The cake was small but dense and is chocolate all over, with just a hint, rather a crunch of hazelnut (like ferrero). I didn't know that something that small could be so filling. 

To go I bought a salted caramel macaron to try. Not good though.

Happy Eating!

P.S. There's a lot of flies inside the restaurant or maybe just my corner, that they automatically put a small candle on my table. But I do love their choice of music. I felt like I was eating inside a parisian cafe. A lot of Edith Piaf. Would I be back? I don't think so. But maybe, just to buy a hazelnut crunch to go.

Kitchen Best and Empire Macarons

I didn't have dessert at Bistecca because I have read that they don't serve good desserts but only expensive ones. Also, when I asked the waiter what's for dessert, he told me that they only have two available that lunch, the chocolate lava something and bread pudding. They both didn't excite me ( I'm still off chocolates, and with the pudding- I just ate bread for starter and main, I don't want to have it for dessert also).

I decided then to have dessert outside Bistecca, or inside Powerplant Mall.

I look first at the basement and to my surprise found the whole aisle filled with dessert booths (like the Baker's Dozen, available during the "BER" months).
I visited each booth, availing first of their free taste before deciding on what and where to buy.

I've chosen to buy at Kitchen Best of their White Chocolate Macadamia Brittle Cheesecake and at Empire Macarons of their Salted Caramel and White Chocolate Macarons.

First, the White Chocolate Macadamia Brittle Cheesecake (P180/slice),
Touted as one of the 24 Best Desserts by the Philippine Daily Inquirer for 2009.





White chocolate cheesecake on top of a macadamia graham crust, finished with whipped cream and macadamia brittle.




The cheesecake itself was as creamy and sweet as the custard of Beard Papa's puffs, the crust taste like Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chips Cookies, And the macadamia brittle was just a chocolate short of the Almond Crunch of Classic Confections. I like. Although, they can taper down the sweetness a little, because it was top to bottom sweet, and then it will be, I love.



I don't like eating french macarons that much even Bizu's. So it was a surprise of sort that I happen to like Empire Macarons the first time I tasted it. I bought one each of Salted Caramel and White Chocolate at P35 a piece.



I were told that their best sellers were the Hazelnut (with nutella), Pistachio (sold out already) and Cookies and Cream. I didn't buy any of the three but instead bought what piqued my curiosity.




Just the name itself, Salted Caramel, seemed delicious. Well, it was indeed. Compared to the White Chocolate which was like a soft chocolate bar, but still firm, the Salted Caramel was a little bit soft to the touch. The filling or what's in the middle, that the sales attendant said was like a yema, was just a thin and less sweet version of it, but more than suited the overall taste and appearance of the macaron.




After my Empire Macaron experience, which I ate while walking and shopping around Powerplant Mall, I think I am starting to like french macarons.












Happy Eating!

KITCHEN BEST
EMPIRE MACARONS

* both have booths at the basement of Powerplant Mall every weekend