When in HK, eat local: Ending my 3-year fantasy at The Peak Lookout

Jake and I celebrated our seventh anniversary in Hong Kong last September. I've been meaning to write about the restaurants we've tried and new places we've seen in our go-to happy place but first, I just HAVE to share how I finally got to eat at The Peak Lookout!

Ever since I first saw that rustic straight-out-of-a-fairy tale structure three years ago, I have been constantly obsessing over the place. I even bought a magnet as pasalubong for Jake to remind him that HE HAS TO TAKE ME ON A DATE THERE. When we went for our sixth anniversary last year (yes, we know no other place but HK), the date didn't happen and I was left with another year of desperation.

On our last day for this year's trip, we finally managed to head up to The Peak to fulfill my cheesy dream. I skipped like a happy little fool from the terminal and crossed the road towards the facade to finally end my 3-year obsession.

I was like a child who finally saw Santa's workshop -- just gazing at my surroundings, soaking it all in. Three years of waiting to see the inside of a place can do that, I guess.

We went after lunch at around 3pm so we were lucky to have tables of our choice. Since I've been obsessively Googling the place (and emailing the very nice and patient concierge), I knew exactly where to sit - outside, at the corner nook with a view of the sea. 

And x marks the spot. I have no words to describe how perfect our view was, and how that moment felt so magical for me. You know how Alice (in the original movie) kept trying to squeeze herself into that tiny doorway with a view of the rose garden? This was exactly the same feeling. The Peak Lookout was my rose garden and I finally managed to enter it!

Since we were there for merienda, we only ordered desserts and lattes. I have to say, even if we didn't order from the lunch menu, the service was still impeccable and we were treated like we ordered a full-course meal. You'd expect a snooty vibe from such a nice place but the staff were all nice and friendly.

For our cakes, Jake ordered his usual New York cheesecake while I had the chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream and honeycomb. Consistent with all reviews I've read, the menu was pricey but then again -- you're paying for the ambiance and the view.  

This was sheer perfection, though.

I am definitely coming back! I'd love to see the whole place lit up at night. Must be extra romantic!

Can you imagine this garden all lit up with fairy lights? The Peak Lookout is definitely a must-try when in Hong Kong. You'd be hard-pressed to find a restaurant with a better ambiance and view for a romantic date!

Reservations are recommended, especially for peak hours:
The Peak Lookout
121 Peak Road, The Peak
Hong Kong
(take The Peak Tram or the minibus from Central)
info@peaklookout.com.hk

Turning 25 at Maria Luisa's Garden Room

Jake and I are always on the lookout for non-mainstream date places. There's something about well-kept secrets that I particularly love, especially knowing how the service and ambiance will always feel homey and personal.

For my 25th birthday, we went to Maria Luisa's Garden Room tucked inside the Makati Garden Club. We only heard about it from Jake's mom and instantly fell in love with the pictures she posted online. You have to be there to appreciate the charm and quaintness of the place where it feels like stepping inside a cozy, secret garden cafe. It's a Pinterest/Etsy dream come true.

I love the little details in every nook and corner. All the servers were also nice and attentive, given how it was a holiday and the place was nearly packed when we were there. I appreciate how they treat you like you're the only customer.

Given the menu, I couldn't decide whether it was a French or Spanish restaurant or a fusion of both. The whole menu had a European vibe to it so I'll go with that. For drinks, Jake and I enjoyed our lemon strawberry shakes which was a bit bitin since it was very refreshing that I couldn't help wanting more.

While waiting for our orders, we were given complimentary starters! Some restaurants will just send a basket of bread and butter your way for free appetizers, Maria Luisa's turns up the notch with a yummy plate of prosciutto on pumpernickel. 

Our entree was the artichoke and chorizo casserole in three cheeses served with a basket of the restaurant's signature homemade bread from their Baltazar Artisan Breads line. Jake and I loved this dish A LOT. It was cheesy, creamy, and had generous servings of chorizo. The bread was perfect for dipping into the casserole dish, in a P.G. kind of way.

While waiting for our main dish, I couldn't help but glance up occasionally at the Gatsby-inspired art deco chandelier hanging above our table. Somehow, it blends well with the feminine vibe of the place, giving it an old glamour kind of feel.

We initially ordered the filet mignon but was told later on that they ran out. Since we were already halfway into our Merlot braised oxtail main course, we had to quickly decide on an additional dish to avoid a long waiting time. This was a big mistake on our end since we chose the lamb shank that's also Merlot braised and didn't even think how it won't differ from our current dish.

I really liked the oxtail in fabada beans and (even more) chorizo. It was tender and perfectly cooked in a way that wasn't nakakaumay. The filet mignon would have complemented it well.

By the time our lamb shank in sweet beets and couscous arrived, I was already craving for another flavor. I wish we took the time to examine the menu when prompted to order a replacement dish early on. I would have gone for something seafood to counterbalance all the meaty flavors of our first two dishes. 

The lamb shank was good, though. I think Maria Luisa's Garden Room can pretty much deliver when it comes to exceptional food and service. I must make it a point to explore other items on the menu when we return (and we will!).

And honestly, there's no better place to celebrate my birthday! This place is so ME! All those years of obsessing about The Secret Garden have finally paid off, I found  the restaurant version of it!

Even the powder room entrance is perfect! It's a magic portal come to life! :-)

It's a bit hard to find the place if you don't have specific instructions. From EDSA, turn right at Ayala then turn another right towards the Urdaneta village gate. It's tucked inside Makati Garden Club and don't count on spotting any signage advertising the place. Oh, and bring loads of cash since they aren't currently accepting credit cards (and some items are quite pricey). I would recommend you make a reservation and call them in advance at +632-5527051 to secure a table, especially during peak hours.

The best onion rings at Nolita

The boyfriend and I love pizza dates. Therefore, we both love Nolita--the brainchild of the people behind Borough. We love their pizza by the (giant) slice concept, which gives more options for people who can't compromise on which pizza flavor to get (ehem). 

I already tried and loved their pesto grilled chicken with sundried tomato pizza so I chose the sausage pepperoni mushroom this time around. Jake, lover of all things meat and cheese, had the cheeseburger pizza.

The slices were a hit, as per usual. However, the highlight of our date was undoubtedly the beer battered onion rings. I swear, these are the best onion rings I have ever tasted in my entire life! Crispy? Check! Tasty batter flavor? Check! Deep fried to perfection? Check! Even the sriracha dip was perfectly sour and creamy.

Also, kudos to their version of stovetop mac n' cheese which I usually find nakaka-umay elsewhere. Nolita serves some serious comfort food here! It's the blue cheese, I tell ya. 

Already craving those onion rings!!!

Nolita

7th Ave. cor. 29th South

Bonifacio High Street Central

Spanish night at Calderon Cocina Tapas Y Bebidas

This is a long overdue post about our post Valentine's dinner at Calderon. Still on a paella high from Beso, Jake and I decided to give this quaint Spanish restaurant a try since it's located near his house right along the alley where Tori Box and La Creperie are located. I really love Little Baguio.

Calderon's a cozy little place perfect for intimate dates. I also appreciated how the owners were very hands-on, right from the table reservations to checking if guests loved the food.

For starters, Jake and I ordered the Bandeja de Jamon, Chorizo y Quezo with a carafe of sangria. It was a plateful of ham, chorizo, and cheese which went perfectly with the sangria. I suppose we were too hungry and felt that the serving was bitin. Between the two of us, the meat and cheese bandeja was gone in a couple of minutes.

We also tried their highly recommended Paella Negra which you have to order at least half an hour before arriving (I called ahead). I'm very fond of adobong pusit, and this version of paella was heaven for me. Of course, Beso will still be our benchmark for the best paella but I wouldn't mind going back to Calderon just for this dish. The rice was perfectly cooked and had generous servings of seafood.

A word of warning, though: don't try this on a first date! The black ink seeps through the teeth but provides plenty of comedy for photos.

Or in Jake's case, black lips are in.

We were still hungry after the bandeja and paella so we went ahead and ordered the chorito fritos for my chorizo monster. Jake loves chorizo and we both liked this sweet and salty dish. It's perfect with sangria or you can just eat it as an appetizer or a side dish to the paella.

Can't wait for another Spanish food date!

Calderon
F. Calderon Street
Little Baguio, San Juan
+623-2382264

Yakiniku experience at Urameshi-ya!

Jake and I are avid fans of the authentic Japanese restaurants in Little Tokyo. Kikufuji is a particular favorite for the crunchy tuna rolls and Seryna has the best beef teppanyaki around. Thing is, we always eat there at lunch time and have always missed the opening hours of Urameshi-ya.

We finally got to eat there last February for a pre-Valentine's dinner. I've always wanted to try the "real" yakiniku experience where you can grill your food with proper charcoal and none of that smokeless grill crap. I liked the dark and dingy ambiance where you get to take off your shoes and sit in your private nook surrounded by sake bottles, appliances, and Japanese manga.

Since we're not meat connoisseurs, we chose to get the Tarafuku set (Php 2100) which has five kinds of meat with rice, soup, and salad.

It was quite overwhelming when they served all the meat at once. I was still in the process of enjoying my cabbage vinaigrette salad. The waitress was kind enough to demonstrate how to properly grill the meat and how to tell if it's already cooked.

Jake and I took turns at grilling. The meat was fresh and well-marinated. We particularly liked the bacon-ish buta bara meat. I grilled it to crispy perfection.

I panicked when we tried to grill the harumon or intestines. Due to the fatty content, the flame went up and when you're sitting in an enclosed space it can get scary (well, for me). Being the perpetually clueless cook that I am, I called the waitress and she proceeded to put some ice on the grill and offered to grill the rest of the harumon outside. 

On the table: these are the tansio and karubi meat. Tansio is beef tongue marinated in onion, soy sauce, lemon juice, and salt. It was moist and juicy. On the other hand, karubi is short ribs usually served without the bones.

The meat on the white place is the dreaded harumon or offal. We hated it. Techincally, harumon comprises of the parts of the intestines that would be usually thrown out. We did not like the taste nor the texture.

The Rosu on the left side had excellent thinly sliced rib-eye cuts. Our favorite was the buta bara or pork belly. The perks of grilling over charcoal is that you get an amazing smoky flavor which brings out all the meaty goodness.

Overall, we enjoyed our yakiniku experience. It was fun and made us realize that we need to learn how to cook properly. I personally did not feel that full after the meal, as I usually get when I have to prepare or dissect my own food (when shelling crabs or shrimps). The Php 2100 set price was reasonable for quality meat but I'd rather splurge that much on Kikufuji or Seryna.

Urameshi-ya Yakiniku Restaurant
Little Tokyo
Pasong Tamo (beside Makati Cinema Square)
+6328132210 (call for reservations)

Opa! Greek fix at Greeka Kouzina

If Jake and I had our way, we would always eat at Cyma whenever we crave Greek cuisine. However, as we are mostly broke these days, we tend to search for alternative Greek restaurants with food at par with Cyma. Lo and behold, Greeka Kouzina opened in Little Baguio. This place is not hard to miss: it's just right around the bend in P. Guevarra coming from San Juan if you're going to Wilson.

We ate here before getting wind of the, ahem, "issue". Overall, the place was nice for dates and affordable. We both noticed the similarity of some dishes to Cyma's menu but chalked it up to being the usual, generic fare for Greek cuisine. Hey, we ain't Greek cuisine experts!

For starters, we ordered the usual: hummus! I prefer Cyma's for the taste. This was too bland for me. I liked how they were very generous with the pita bread!

We went there for lunch so the place was light and airy. My only beef with the place is that the tables are too close together. As in, the couple at the other table seemed to be eavesdropping on us because I was throwing a mini-tantrum fit when Jake refused to take my picture. Yes.

The Greeka baby back ribs was the highlight of our date! It was perfectly done in a fall-off-the-ribs tender quality. The sauce was perfect, too! I had no idea that this was standard Greek food. Is it? It was huge enough for the two of us at just P500 bucks. Solb!

We also ordered the Spanakorizo rice with spinach, mint and dill herbs, and a generous amount feta cheese. For someone on a perpetual half-rice diet, I am DYING to recreate this dish at home. Or rather, ask my mom to recreate it for me. I can eat this thing with no ulam!

If I can't have kebabs, then I always go for a Moussaka when going Greek. This was nicely done with a generous heaping of cheesy bechamel on top of the beef and eggplant. Again, the Spanakorizo rice was the perfect companion to lessen the umay factor.

The verdict? This is a recommended date place if it weren't for the originality issue surrounding the menu. We might eat here again if given the chance since it's accessible from Jake's and way cheaper than Cyma. Right, boyfriend? Haha!

Greeka Kouzina

285 P. Guevarra St.

San Juan

Tori Box and La Creperie cafes for a cozy date

Tucked in a quiet side street along Abad Santos in Little Baguio are side by side cafes and restaurants reminiscent of a quaint Parisian street. There are fairy lights, French windows, and the feeling that you're in a different place away from the busy streets of Greenhills. I still get a happy feeling whenever I think of our date here!!!

Topshop blazer, top, and daisy dukes. Aerosoles gladiators

Jake and I love to look for date places within Little Baguio. First, it's near his house; second, the place is yet to be discovered by the mainstream crowd. It's the next hip happening foodie place. Think, Maginhawa! We went to Tori Box to check out their katsus!

After our date, I realized that it's the same forever jampacked place at Little Archers in La Salle. The one in Little Baguio has a cafe style compared to the fast-food vibe in La Salle. Ambiance-wise, Tori Box Cafe is perfect for dates. It's homey, comfy, and has an intimate set-up since they have a limited space for diners. The warm lights and plush couches are also a big plus.

We ordered the cheesy mayo gyoza for starters. It was creamy and didn't have the pasty quality I hate in gyozas. For a cheap Php 120, we had a semi-huge serving of gyoza!

I really liked our drinks since I'm a big fan of Slurpees! I ordered the calamansi slush and Jake had the iced tea. 

I had the cheese chicken katsudon which I really liked! I'm a sucker for all things dripping with cheese. I think this was only Php 185 and came with a bowl of rice. Cheap thrill!!! It's no Yabu katsu but it'll do for such a cheap dish! The serving was also huge and not kuripot for such an affordable price.

Jake ordered the curry katsu which also did not disappoint. I actually prefer their katsus over Crazy Katsu in Maginhawa. The sauce was a real winner here and carried the whole dish. This is a place where everything is worth its price--and then some!

The problem about a cheap thrill date is that we don't feel that much full after a complete meal. For desserts, we just trekked over next door to La Creperie for our favorite crepes! This is probably the prettiest branch of La Creperie I've seen so far. It's all dainty couches, twinkling lights, and art deco. 

Right beside La Creperie are three other restaurants that we'd like to try in the future. I think I spotted a Spanish place and a buffalo wings place. I love this area!

Tori Box and La CreperieCalderon St. corner J. Abad SantosLittle Baguio(turn left from Wilson, it's near Ristras and Piandre)