Sunday, December 8, 2013

Tampopo: The new Ramen-Katsu Craze


Singapore-based Tampopo Restaurant finally agreed to branch out to Manila! Tampopo's known as the Japanese restaurant serving ramen, tonkatsu, Sushi and Kurobuta dishes which I think was named after the Dandelion flower, seen on their logo.

 Mr Takagi “Father of Tonkatsu” the man who turned simple foods to unusual ones. 

Lucky to try out the said resto located at Promenade Greenhills and to have been invited by one of the franchise owners. =)

Well, if you know Yabu, I would strongly recommend Tampopo!! Aside from having a better taste of tonkatsu which uses only high-quality breadcrumbs from Hokkaido and well recognized for its juiciness, flavour and ternderness... There's their R-A-M-E-N, I should say, is award winning!!


Let me share with you my Tampopo experience...



Even though it hasn’t fully opened, Tampopo has already attracted diners by their luminous and natively-sophisticated ambiance using a "bamboo themed" wallings and handrails. Upon entering, staff happily welcomes guests with a Japanese greetings.
 




You will surely not be intimidated of the place since it’s for Casual dining.

The menu is quite extensive so we found it hard to decide what to order since everything seemed uniquely yummy.


**click here for the Menu**




So, what do we got? :)


Mini Pork Rice 150php
Don't under estimate this Mini Pork Rice, it might be mini on looks but deliciously heavy on the stomach



Deluxe Tampopo Black Pig Shabu Ramen 420php
Served with tampopo, corns, bamboo shoots, slices of black pig and lettuce. Topped with lots of chilli powder and sliced onions spring. Since I am no fan of chilli, I requested to lessen it..hehe. Though, the spiciness lessens it's still tasty and flavourful. The ramen was well cooked. And what I really enjoyed was the taste of the offbeat egg in it. I asked the staff what kind of egg was it, then he told me that it was a "Golden Egg"




The Tamago (Japanese half boiled egg) was excellent. A firm and nice consistent dark brown colour on the outside. And soft inner runny egg yolk. I swear, I super liked it! HAHA.

Oh, by the way...you can add Tamago by ordering just the egg itself (separately served). If you too liked it just what I did.



Hakodate Original Ramen 370php
A must try for soup lovers! In my opinion is milk-savory and enticing. Perfect for cold weather and a good alternative if you're not in the mood for black pig shabu ramen


Premium Loin Katsu Set  390php
When the Premium Loin Katsu set arrived, might be ordinary on looks and won'trealize any difference unless you take a bite! Crisp outer covering that melts in your tongue while eating, tender pork fillet, with just the right amount of marbling to make it tasty without being fatty and oily.
 
As for the deserts, Red Mango's present! From yogurt, waffles to healthy fruits and parfait green tea.



Overall, I enjoyed our Tampopo experience, especially their scrumptious ramen and succulent tonkatsu with unique Japanese dishes on sides. 

Will be back to try the wide-ranging array of Katsu! It definitely has one of the best vibes among Japanese restaurants in the Metro.
So, great job to the "masterminds" of bringing Tampopo in Manila. More branches and ventures to come!!

The ever hands-on boss of the day, Chris Tiu




Waaaaay to go Chris and co! =)


Tampopo Greenhills
Unit 115 Ground Level, Greenhills Promenade 3
Greenhills San Juan City 1502
Contact No, 0917-854-7440
Visit their website: http://tampopo.ph/

----------------------
Singapore Outlets:

Tampopo (Liang Court) 177 River Valley Road, #01-23/24, Liang Court, Singapore 179030
Tel: (65) 6338-3186 Operating Hours: 1130-2230

Tampopo (Takashimaya S.C.) 391B Orchard Road, #B2-33, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872
Tel: (65)6235-2318 Operating Hours: 1100-2200

Sunday, May 12, 2013

PBA ALLSTAR 2013 / DAVAO TRIP

Day1

05.03.2013 – This was the second time to travel just to watch basketball. (one of my major reason why I booked a flight here). Davao City, don’t know much about it aside from their popular Durian. Plus it’s the home town of my fave san mig coffee player PJ Simon. (So, I really need to love Davao! hehe) I’m travelling with my family and 2 of my basketball lover-friends Anna and Sherwin, though they’re not on the same flight with us.

Boarding MNL-DVO flight via PR. Yey! Flight was smooth and on time! :D



First things first, checked in at our hotel. Hotel Uno, the nearest place we’ve got from Marco Polo hotel with just 3mins walk and of course affordable rates.



Felt hungry coz we haven’t eaten any from an early flight so we’ve decided to eat breakfast out at Gaisano mall which is very near our place. Sad thing was Gaisano’s still closed!!. :/ So,we've chosen to eat at KFC nearby. We’ve roamed around the mall for 3hrs just to kill time while waiting for my friends (who got their flight delayed).  

Lunch time and an invite for lunch thru sms came. Whew~ Lucky us! We were on the right time and on the right place. It was lolo!! wanted to treat us for lunch at Pepper Lunch Gaisano Davao who just did his store (Happy Lemon) rounds. Actually, that treat was meant for my friend Sherwin, the birthday boy. He introduces me to his friend and business partner “RJ”. At the same time, I introduced my parents to him. Quite hesitant on the invite coz my friends are not yet around, but my good lolo insisted. I was too shy that time and forgot to utter words in front of him! #epicfail He’s the one who picked out our orders. He’s very accommodating as he kept on checking the place, the service, the ventilation and how we’re eating. My mom’s very kilig on that moment on…



After lunch, he handed us the tickets for all-star game stalwarts vs greats then hurried back at the hotel.

Yummy foods at Pepper Lunch. Healthy and delicious. Overloaded. Big thanks to lolo, for the lunch treat and for the tickets...d'best ka talaga!! :D


On our way to Digos (where the PBA AllStar events were held) took us 1hr and 45mins road travel to reach the Digos Coliseum. Man, told you that was a bumpy ride!!! Can’t afford to fall asleep due to overexcitement!

Event started, Chris Tiu won and crowned as the new 3pt king. He banked 21pts for the record and for the win!! Crazy heart-attacked! Jonas for the obstacle and Ellis for the slam-dunk contest.



Main event, Stalwarts vs Greats. Yea I know, it’s Chris Tiu vs PJ Simon again. Though, cheered for them (both) hahaha. Stalwarts won! 


Back to Davao city proper, can’t believe we did rode the bus, the same bus of the players!! WAAAAAH We never planned that but that’s the only way we can drive down the city, safe.




Day2 –Samal Island, Paradise Island


Our vacation day, day off from basketball. Headed to Paradise Island Park and beach resort, Samal. An eight-peso multi-cab ride from our place to the ‘pier’ or drop off place for a water adventure ‘cruise-ferry’ haha.



Indeed, Paradise it is! Availed a day tour trip at the island. We’ve got no baons at all. We only have instant noodles and biscuits for snacks. What we did was just swim-all-we-can. Clear blue water, white sands, no waves, just a bunch of people. Nothing more to ask! A perfect place to relax and unwind! A place to recommend for…

Hopped on the last trip back to the city at 5pm. All of us were hungry knowing we only ate brunch at the hotel that time. Stop over at Penongs! Barbestque native  food I ever tasted at Davao! :D
Across the street is SM Lanang, we really planned to go there just to visit the Happy Lemon branch! HAHAHAHA.



Big Beau texted and looked for us so we shook and hurried back, I mean fast! Dropped of things at our hotel then gone straight to Marco Polo to meet him up. After fun stories, he left us and we’re supposed to leave too but I texted JVee to give him a food I bought. Then, Jvee arrived at the lobby together with Kuya Luis who invited us for dinner at their place. Yes, we’re with the aces team that night. No dull moments on the road. Pero mukhang ako yung napagtripan nilang asarin!



Whoa~ didn’t expect those plenty foods awaiting us. I’m so full!! A lot of stories while eating, stories happening on and off the court….kasama na ang pang aalaska sakin ni Jvee na.. I’m booing him daw everytime si Chris Tiu ang kalaban nya. Na hindi naman daw talaga sya ang pinapanood ko kundi si Tiu. Blah Blah Blah. So hot seat and peg.

Tired but fun. Bloated but enjoyed. It was a day to remember!!!



Day3 – PBA All-Star vs Smart Gilas.

Yes, it is a Sunday. Put God first, went to church with family. Afterwards, off to Gaisano mall to eat at pepper lunch again with Anna and Sherwin, Happy Lemon store check-up next.



We were taking advantage of the time and patching things up since we know don’t have tickets for PBA All-Star vs Smart Gilas game so we decided and planned to buy pasalubongs instead and take a city tour. Not until, we’re dumb founded to a message from kuya Jeff and we began to startle that he got us tickets na! Panic attacked, bought pasalubongs for an hour and kicked off to Digos city. This time, a laid-back travel… I was able to sleep at the van with no worries.

Caught up at the coliseum while Jvee’s having his shooting-with-the-star portion. He won! :D
Head to head dance battle between the PBA All Star against Smart Gilas National Team. Laughed out loud!! Nice to see basketball players dance and doing NOT their thing. Gilas did Psy’s gentleman with cha-cha wearing cool shades while PBA Stars gangnam style.  PBA Allstar nips the dance trophy.


The game itself, craziest last shot by kuya Jeff! Amused and he got to bring home the AllStar MVP trophy sharing it with Arwind Santos.

Rode PBA Allstar bus back to Davao city, thanks to Beau for making it possible.

This day’s awesome!! Thanks kuya Jeff Chan for the tickets. And Beau for the hitch. 



Day4 –Last day!

Last stay at DVO, check out day. Woke up early to buy pasalubong of fruits and souvenirs again. Left the hotel after brunch for a noon flight bound Manila.




That’s a warp!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

22ND FIBA Asia: 22ND Floor
















22ND FIBA Asia Champions Cup: REST DAY

06.02.2011 Lunch @Discovery Suites 22nd Floor

Nothing more to say when it’s Chris Tiu himself who offers you and ask if he could play some songs for you while having Lunch #caninowdieatinstant What is more when the songs he’s playing are Jay Chou’s! #canisayimspecialORsuperlucky??? LOL.



Challenge: Lets see how sharp my memory is... allow me to recall the songs he played that day…

J 說了再見 (Said Goodbye) (shuo le zai jian)

J 超人不會飛 (Superman Can't Fly) (chao ren bu hui fei)

J 給我一首歌的時間 (Give Me The Time For One Song) (gei wo yi shou ge de shi jian)

J 稻香 (Fragrance Of Rice) (dao xiang)

J 說好的幸福呢 (Where's The Promised Happiness) (shuo hao de xing fu ne) + 青花瓷 (Chinese Flower Pot) (qing hua ci)

J 陽光宅男 (Sunshine Homeboy) (yang guang zhai nan)

J 最長的電影 (The Longest Movie) (zui chang de dian ying)

J 蒲公英的約定 (Dandelion's Promise) (pu gong ying de yue ding)

J Step Back (退後) (tui hou)

J East Wind Breaks (東風破) (dong feng po)

J Tornado (龍捲風) (long juan feng)

J Silence (安靜) (an jing)

J Simple Love (簡單愛) (jian dan ai)

The two English songs that I could remember:

J On my own

J Disney’s Part of your world

Since he's playing our idol's song, I cant help to hum and sing! haha

I dont know if i still lack 2 or 3 songs...but those were the songs that my memory serves me right.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

NOVEMBER 6, 2010

This day, my day, my birthday. Really is a day to remember.
LONG STORY. try to blog if not busy and idle. let me first post a birthday greeting from EHEM.


Its famine day too!

Monday, October 18, 2010

FROM HONG KONG WITH LOVE.

My Jay Chou's lalalalove adventures at Hong Kong.

September 17 2010 - my departure at exactly 5am, I am ready to board at the airport but everything changes, when my flight was adjusted due to computer malfunction... i was the only one to board the plane, take off time was 8:15 I think, i just slept all the way and landed HK international airport by pat 10am. At last! I had no where to go, i did a lot of exploring all by myself until i reached tsim sha tsui... our hostel and look for ate yolly as to what ate sunshine told me to do, (im good on following directions)

Monday, October 11, 2010

For a friend from a friend. Tears fall.

Dearest mike (haha)
It’s been almost 4 years of friendship with you, thanks to chris tiu if not for him hindi kita makikilala. Credits to Jane din! True that I have made lots of friends because of my fan-girling experiences, I don’t deny myself being a tiunatic or a jay chou addict. I’m glad to meet you and other tiunatics, say g sa clan at saang panig pa ng mundo. It’s fun to know that people were bound to meet because of one person. Basketball at si Chris Tiu ang dahilan ng lahat. Mabuhay sya! Chos. Lets go deeper.
Ate Ana and I really love your accompaniment most especially when we chat things about sunget…if you know what I mean. You’re the best-est friend anyone can have. Thanks Mike, you’re always there when I needed help or someone who can pay attention to a bragging kiddo like me, even though you’re not interested with Jay, you still bother to listen and even in the middle of the night you’re a friend to cling on just to say I feel sad or mad or happy or what. One of the people in my list is you that I am grateful to that God blessed me with. No moment is dull when we’re together. Singing, laugh trip, food trip any trip that we could ride on kahit MRT, bus o Volvo trip pa! HAHA. Ikaw nang mayaman, ikaw na nagtataxi, ikaw na ang may itouch pero isang tawag lang pag kailangan andyan lage yan, hindi ka kasi yung tipong nangiiwan sa ere. Naks. Kahit saan pang game or venue yan basta andyan ang tropa walang hindi Masaya. *oh bongga! Pasok sa banga!*. Pag nagtext “manunuod daw ng practice” pero pag dating sa arena or sa ynares kwentuhan ever lang…dun lang naman kasi tayo nagkikita at nakakapagusap, in short that’s our bonding moment. I do enjoy every humorous jokes you throw lalo na kung nakakarelate kay lolo, soooper magkakaabs ako kakatawa. You’re a good person! Pagkinumpara kay bitch na napakakapal ng feys. Hahaha. Aaminin ko na totoo mabaet naman si lolo –MINSAN. Haha nafefeel ko ang from-the-heart na sinasabi nya –MINSAN pag nasa mood. Hahaha. As usual, whatever happens hindi natin iiwanan yun kahit pagtabuyan pa nya tayo. EHE. Kung alam lang nya mga hirap natin. Maiiyak sya!!! Kasi ang the bottom line naman lagi pagdating kay lolo is…. ‘we ALWAYS understand’ ‘lagi naman’ ‘di ka na nasanay’ HAHA. Thanks mike for sharing your life to us. To a friend from a friend, to an idol from an idol, wala kang kupas. Oops muntik ko na makalimutan na birthday mo pala nung isang araw kaya I would like to greet you a very happy birthday. Tumanda ka nanaman. I wish you all the best that God will give. Tama na baka ma-Tears Fall ka pa dyan. Enuf. Haha. Whenever wherever you need help andito lang kami ni ate anna, one text/tweet away..sabihin mo na anything wag lang about pera pera. hahaha.
Pakapagod ka para sa Jones Cup. Ako, magoopen ng bank account as for my Jay Chou fund. hahaha