Hanaichi

Nanohana was our neighborhood Japanese restaurant.  At least it was until it closed down.  


Then it reopened as Hanaichi far from us at ugh  the fort.  Fantasic!


After yesterday's Bale Dutung bacchanalia, we said today was going to be sushi day.


What we ate: 

Spicy Tuna Harumaki.  It tasted a little different from what we were used to, but still good.

Spicy Tuna Maki

Spicy Tuna Maki (again).  They didn't scrimp on the tuna.  There was tempura batter on the rice, within the maki and on the tuna. Never thought I'd say this but I think this trumped the harumaki.

The very exciting, wait for it...Salmon Sashimi.  The calamansi had Mickey Mouse ears.

See, Mickey Mouse ears.

Seaweed Salad.  Quite good, but needed more seaweed.

A clean plate!

Hanaichi is at the G/F, The Luxe Residences at the Fort.  (02) 556-0070


Hanaichi details and menu

Bale Dutung

Bale Dutung has been around for a while and tons and tons of stuff has been written about it.  


With our beach trip cancelled, Portia and I decided to drive to Angeles, Pampanga to see what the fuss was all about.


When we called we were asked to choose between the Kapampangan menu or the Lechon Menu.  The lechon menu won.

I liked this about the place almost instantly:

The welcome drink was:

Fresh Dalandan Juice with frozen muscovado sugar.

And the drinks we were served with the meal:

Water (duh) and Damn Good Salabat.

And this was what we ate:

The Menu

3 Dips - Balao Balao, Taba ng Talangka and Pesto

Eating the dips with crackers.

Pako Salad

Pako Salad Close Up!

Satisfied customer 1

Satisfied customer 2

Fried Lumpiang Ubod

Chicken Inasal and Taba ng Talangka Rice

Talangka and Hito/Balao Balao Sushi

Let there be Lechon!

Claude carving the Lechon.

We were served Lechon 5 ways:

First way :Balat ng Lechon.  Ay Dios Mio.  Good sauce too, puto seko was mixed in the sauce to thicken it.  I also loved the big chunks of garlic in the sauce.  Langit.

Por and her share of Balat!

Second way :  Lechon Tortilla.  Deep fried lechon belly, shredded and served with kimchi and onions on a tortilla.

The second way deserved a close-up.

How we ate the 2nd way lechon.

Third way:  Inihaw na tadyang ng lechon with eggplant.

Fourth Way:  Sinigang na Lechon.

Fifth way:  Sisig with (optional) pig brains.

And just when all that lechon was knocking us down, out came the dessert:

Paradiso:  Thick custard brûlée, with macapuno, yema and ube halaya.

Dacal a salamat,  Claude and Mary Ann!  That 10-course meal was ridiculously good.  Methinks Bale Dutung lived up to the hype.

Mary Ann, Portia, Me (Sunny) and Claude.
All the guests get to sign a guestbook, and are given the chance to camwhore with the chef.

  * We went to Susie's to buy packs of Tibok-Tibok after Bale Dutung.  But that is another story.


                                                                     

Mamou

When I need steak, my go-to place is Mamou.  

So when Mamou came up in a conversation between me and Vanessa yesterday, it was decided.  A sunday lunch-date was set.


What we ate:

Bottarga Pasta

Steak!  (Cannot visit Mamou and not have Steak)

Sides (Creamed Corn and Baked Mashed Potatoes)

Steak and Sides together!

Kurobota Pork Sinigang (Yeah we had Sinigang and good Sinigang at that!)

Key Lime Pie

Crispy Milk

The folks who lunched:

La Tienda

The last time I ate at La Tienda was in 2001 i think.  I was with a rowdy group of friends and we had tapas and paella.


The other night, after a hankering for good Español food tapas, Portia (the best eating buddy in the world) and I headed out to La Tienda after my shoot and pigged out.


And this was what we ate:

Breadsticks

Spanish Chorizo

Aceitunas con Anchoa (Anchovy stuffed Olives)

Croquetas de Jamon

Calamares Fritos (of course!)

Almejas al Ajillo (this should not be missed)

Sadly, the didn't have the Boquerones con Vinagre (Anchovies in Vinegar and Olive Oil).  Maybe that was meant for another time.


Vamos a comer, I always say! 


I don't think La Tienda has a website, but click on this link for all the details you need: http://www.munchpunch.com/4666/la-tienda-bel-air/menu

Incidentally, La Tienda also has a small deli and a store that sells paelleras in various sizes and those terra-cotta tapas serving bowls.