Piaya Diary: food

Din Tai Fung's Famous Steamed Buns: My Own Experience with their Xiaolongbao

12:24 AM

I admit that SIOPAO is something I consider life's simple pleasures. I loved SIOPAO. For those who do not know what it is, it is a steamed bun that has a meaty stuffing--usually pork or chicken.

This post is about my very first encounter with Din Tai Fung's famous Xiaolongbao.

The buns were perfectly made. Soft, warm, tasty. The filling was a surprise though.

Anyway, you know how people would share food pics and pages on Facebook? That is how I learned that there is this restaurant called DIN TAI FUNG that is known for their world famous xiaolongbao.

Please do not hesitate to correct the probinsyana in me...but I have my own expectations of the steamed bun given my experience of SIOPAO buns--all shapes and sizes and stuffing--that are sold in many places here in Bacolod.

Anyway, seeing DIN TAI FUNG's Facebook page, I told myself "That I have to try!" Unfortunately, they do not have a branch in Bacolod because of that, I did not bother anymore to check where DIN TAI FUNG is in Manila.

FAST FORWARD...

So when, my husband and I found the opportunity to go to Manila we were surprised that we found DIN TAI FUNG in SM Mega Mall. We were not hungry but one thing crossed our mind. Let's try the world famous xiaolongbao. At first we just wanted to order the bun for takeout but we decided to sit in and enjoy the buns there.

Okay...so here are the details and a little disclaimer...this is just a review of the xiaolongbao, not the restaurant, nor the other items on their menu. We did not order anything else because we wanted to eat lunch somewhere else.

The buns were served in three's in a wooden steamer for the price of P140 with each bun no bigger than the size of my palm. The smell was really good. Needless to say, we ordered two servings so that was a total of P280--not so bad but read on.

My husband had already snatched one before I took a snap

What do I have to say about the steamed meat buns..?

The bun was PERFECT! Soft, pillowy, well-crafted. On the other hand, the stuffing reminds me of pot stickers. I must admit that I was a little disappointed with the steamed buns and it was nothing I expected. Overall, It was not so bad.

I must also say that bun and the garlicky meat stuffing combination was a bit new to my taste buds, frankly, unexpected. Nevertheless, it was a good combination.

But if I were to choose between DIN TAI FUNG's xiaolongbao and the siopao I am always familiar with--Ahem, the siopao from City Lunch here in the Bacolod, I would choose the latter.

Now, about Din Tai Fung restaurant...

Like I said earlier, this post is only about the steamed buns, not the other items in their menu. I should however say something about the restaurant.

Every unoccupied table was set up nicely with plates, chopsticks, condiments and etc.

The service was great. The waiters were very polite and attentive. They even offered this nice foldable and neat thing in which a diner can put their handbags or purses so they are out of the way. I really liked that part. Such ingenuity truly helps a customer enjoy the dining experience even more.

The place was clean and organized. At that time, the place was buzzling with customers but the restaurant did not feel crowded because it was spacious enough to accommodate a lot of people. So I would give 5 stars to how the restaurant was set up.

Let me end this article by saying that if we had more time in Manila we would definitely go back to Din Tai Fung at SM Mega Mall and try the other food items that they offer as they really look enticing and delicious. When I get that chance, I will update this post.

Other must-read pieces for every-food lovers and food adventurers:

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

bacolod city

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

1:31 AM

Elegant, romantic and tranquil...

That was my first impression of Café Mina the moment I stepped inside.

This dainty restaurant is a gem situated in an unlikely spot along Bacolod's Circumferential Road. More surprisingly, it is next to Star Oil gasoline station that is several meters away from The New Government Center.

That said, Café Mina is a bit far from the rest of the bistros and shops that people often go to in the east side of the city. In this case, being away from where most of the action takes place is not bad. If you are looking for a more quiet but very pleasant place to enjoy a cup of coffee by yourself or with some company, this place is the perfect choice.

The café is decorated with eye-catching novelty items. I am sure that these items are not so rare, but they are something you do not usually see in other places. I could not stop looking around. I secretly did an ocular inspection of every decor that is in there while waiting for our food and drinks.

Take a look at some of my snaps:

Seeing the sweets inside the refrigerated pastry display makes me think about having dessert already when our food order has not yet arrived on our table.

The walls are ornamented with interesting novelty pieces that are refreshing to look at.

Sorry for the bad shot but in reality the restaurant has good ambient lighting.

You will certainly appreciate the dark ceiling if you have sensitive eyes like me. The lighting is modern and ambient.

I wished I was able to take more pictures but I could not leave unattended my 3-year-old hyperactive son who could not stop looking at the die-cast metal cars that were on the wooden shelf on the wall.

The café served meals as well and Café Mina has an interesting selection of dishes. Looking at their menu, I could tell that the owners took a really good time in carefully selecting the menu items. The choices are unique and classy. I am positive that the dishes carefully picked and meant to tickle the palate of people who know how to appreciate good cuisine.

Prepare to spend more or less Php 250 per head for a meal and around a hundred more depending on the drink you choose to pair your food with.

Don't worry about the prices sounding a bit expensive. Wait until you actually see the food portions. And you will see that it is super worth it. The serving sizes are generous and on top of that they are very flavorful. Good Job, Café Mina!

Here is a peek at what we had for lunch.

I am a big fan of sausages so I ordered this dish that consisted of three types of sausage. I should have taken note of the name and the price but I did not. I was expecting that the sausages will arrive as logs with either mustard or ketchup but I was delighted to see that they had sliced them. The sauce was sweet and spicy and it went well with the taste of the sesame seeds.

Look at the meat! I love the little flags that were on top of the burger. This meal can satisfy any gastrophile. Here is a closer view.

And the food indulgence would not have been complete without chips.

I love how artistic they are when it comes to food presentation. I have never thought of thing that you use to deep fry food as a pretty serving vessel for fries or chips.

I wanted to have a cheesecake for the grand finale but, we were so stuffed that we decided to settle with coffee.

What can I say about this cup?

Aromatic, and flavorful with the just the right amount of bitterness that I want from a strong coffee. It was exactly what my cup of coffee should be.

To end this post, I say that you should come to Café Mina. A blissful and classy dining experience is guaranteed.

One last thing...

Its worth mentioning that I super love the tasteful silverware.

Have you been to Café Mina? Share your thoughts below. If you haven't gone there yet, below is information on how you can find that place:

Cafe Mina is located at the Star Oil Gas station, a few meters away from Bacolod's New Government Center. You may call the café at (034) 713 8833. They open daily from 8AM to 12 Midnight.

bacolod city

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

4:26 AM

This post is super late but I really have to tell you, dear readers, about this restaurant that serves the best backribs in the city.

I am talking about none other than Lord Byron's Backribs. The first time I tried their amazing, mouthwatering, cooked-to-perfection Baby Back Ribs was at the branch across the famous Riverside hospital.

I have tried other versions in other restaurants but nothing can compare to the soft and juicy with a "sarap-to-the-bone, melts-in-your-mouth" backribs experience that only Lord Byron's Backribs offers. The best part is that they are consistent with their recipe so it is the same good back ribs whether you go to the first branch or the one behind Luxur Bacolod. What can I say?--Nothing is as good as Lord Byron's Backribs.

Okay, I know what you are thinking, so let me stop you there. THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED post and I am not a FOOD BLOGGER. :) I am a lifestyle blogger--*wink, wink*--who has a very adventurous palate. Now where did that come from?

Anyway, I am not exaggerating, but there are only two ways I enjoy baby back ribs. One is when I cook back ribs myself but it takes a lot of hard work for me so that rarely happens. Two, and the best way, is that I simply go to one of Lord Byron's branches and enjoy a plate of that scrumptious dish.

Let me show you the one and only picture I took the last time I ate there.

For Php 159, Byron's Backribs is served with Garlic Rice topped with Fried Garlic and Atchara. Mouthwatering, isn't it?

There are two branches of Lord Byron's Backribs in the city. I have visited the one near the hospital a couple of times, while I was only went to the other branch just once. They also serve other Bacoleño favorites like cansi and sisig, but it's their back ribs that you should never miss.

And there is something important that I need to tell all of you...

Or should I say a heads up to all of you. There are two places--the store at HOMEGROWN (across Bob's Lacson) and the one that newly opened at SM--that spell something like "Byron's Backribs" on their shop signs. Those places may also, at the time of writing, bear the same logo. But please be aware that those places are not related to the Lord Byron's Backribs that I am talking about in this post. Also, the one at Homesite, belongs to a different management.

So to avoid any more confusion here are the official branches in Bacolod City:

Magsaysay Avenue
(behind the Luxur Place Hotel)
Contact # – 034 4312411/ 09334885366

San Agustin St. – Bs Aquino Drive
(beside the Riverside Hospital)
Contact # – 034 2138499

Other places:

courtesy of Lord Byron's Backribs

You can also check out their Facebook page for more information:

https://www.facebook.com/lbsbackribstheoriginal/

I hope to see you there on my next visit. In the mean time feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Love,

Red

Please don't forget to check out my other articles:

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

bacolod city

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

7:36 AM

If you are looking for a nice place to relax, dine or have a bucket of beer--or two--with your significant other (or friends) then this might be a great place for you.

Every now and then, my husband and I would have a "chill" night either just the two of us or with a friend or friends...I need not explain. Typically, the long night would start in a restaurant where we can eat and have the first round of drinks. So, for this post, I will be talking about our recent experience in this new bistro in the city of Bacolod.

Located on the second floor of Hi-Strip 5, that is in front of Panasiatic Building, SlipTalk Bistro has a nice and cozy, contemporary semi-industrial atmosphere.

If you prefer a good view of the rest of the Hi-Strip building (and the long line of big trucks carrying tons of sugar cane that drive by from time to time) then you can choose one of the tables at the balcony. On a more serious note, the outside area is great at night time when the air is cooler.

On the other hand, if dining in a cooler environment is what you are after, then you can choose to be seated inside. If you are lucky, you have three choices: there is a high table with high bar chairs by the glass panels near the entrance, there are a couple of tables on one side where there is long built in bench by the wall and at the opposite side are tables with individual chairs. Regardless of where you choose to be, the tables and chairs are arranged neatly with enough spaces around them. If you want to know---for us, the bigger the table the better.

Pardon the mobile phone pics. For a better view, here is a picture from their Facebook page.

Moving on, the menu has a great selection of affordable meals. In fact, it took a while for me to make up my mind.

Between the time the owner took our order and when the food was finally on our table, I must say, the wait time was a quite long. It was a good thing that we were preoccupied with talks about this and that. But, I guess the wait time was forgivable considering that they had newly opened. The bistro was only 3-days old when we visited. I am sure that they had noted this already.

When food finally came, the wait was worth it. The serving was very generous, generally speaking, and very tasty. I like the way they arranged the food items over clean wooden chopping boards. Well I guess food on wooden boards is the trend these days because I see that style in a lot of place. I should say, though, that they had a unique way of arranging meat and rice and the condiments so you have to give SlipTalk Bistro KUDOS for that!

My husband and his friend ordered steak, or was it some ribs...oh well, here is the picture.

I went for the Bangus (milk fish) sisig and was happy that I did. I was really surprised with how it was presented. The chef had spooned the fish meat out of the its fried skin, tossed it around in a hot pan with spices and other ingredients before putting it back on. The sisig looked cute with the two calamansi on the fish head, where the eyes are. I must say, though, that my order took the longest time to arrive. Other than that, I can't complain. Boy, it was very delicious!

Of course, because this is not really a restaurant review I did not take a lot of pictures. So, I am just going to embed another picture from their Facebook page:

We concluded our visit with a round, or two, of beers. Along with the bucket, they gave us mugs and ice. It made my hubby a happy camper.

I am really counting on them to make their food prep time a bit shorter, but other than that their food was served in generous portions that are very delicious and affordable. I can't say much about the alcoholic drinks that they serve because it isn't really different from what other bistros offer, but the place was clean with a nice and classy ambience so it is a must-go.

Let me end this post by saying that SlipTalk Bistro is a good place to hang out with your partner or with friends. It is also a walking distance to other watering holes in the area if bar hopping is kind of your thing.

If you ask me, I definitely would go back to SlipTalk Bistro.

See you again on my next post.

In the mean time, here are other places in Bacolod City that you might want to know more about.

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

Toast Box: Magical Food, Amazing Homelike Ambience

Vikings Buffet: Everyday is a Feast

Sofia Bread & Pastries: Freshly Baked Godies Daily

beef

Bistek Tagalog Recipe: So Tasty and So Easy

5:44 AM

bacolod city

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

10:00 AM

Oh, I am glad that Brewery Gastropub is finally here in Bacolod. If you want to know why read on.

Last, last weekend, I had some chill time with my husband. We often go on dates, but that night, after dinner, we stopped by this new pub in Bacolod: Brewery Gastropub. This place opened just a few weeks ago and they are located in the northern side of town. They serve imported beers! Different brands from different countries. They have Oettinger--the tall yellow one, which is my favorite. Woohoo!

The place was packed when we arrived. Luckily, we were able to get a table. The only one available. What I like about the place is that, they did not play loud music. Therefore, if you are looking for a place to have a few drinks over a good conversation with friends, or tête-à-tête with special someone its a good place to go.

It is also a good place for families. It was basically a bar, but because it was not like the typical watering holes in the city, I can say the place was family-friendly. I would not mind taking my parents there. You know that awkward feeling when you have a beer with a parent? I think it would be less awkward in that place.

I saw a number of kids hanging out with their parents that night. Of course, alcohol is off limits to those below 18, but the young one can indulge in the great gourmet food that Brewery Gastropub serves.

The pub was brand new inside and out. The main area is ar-conditioned. One side, had wooden panels which had the names of different types of alcoholic brew or brands that they offer. They also have chairs and tables outside, and I was glad that no one was smoking or vaping. I have nothing against smokers or those who vape--I, myself, used to smoke cigarettes, but I would prefer a place has less smokers or "vapers" if I have the choice.

Moving on, the price, well, be sure to come prepared. Their imported drinks range from Php 150-250+. However, I can say that for the ambience, the crowd and the quality of the drinks, the price was worth it. Anyways, one can is typically more or less 500ml and I don't think it would be nice to get drunk and wasted in a classy pub like that so two cans of Oettinger for me should do. *wink,wink.*

Well, I have nothing negative to say. Lest I forget, hands down to the amazing waiters of Brewery Gastropub. I really appreciated the waiter for politely helping me pronounce the names of some of the imported beers. haha. I want to commend him for nicely telling me how to pronounce correctly the German pilsner, "Fucking Hell."

Anyways, here are some of the pictures for you to look at.

The last time I had this beer was five years ago during a party in the house of my Filipino friend and her German partner. This beer has a smooth rich taste. You can enjoy it sans pulutan.

This food looks simple but the taste is heavenly. The sweet salty meat plus the delicate cheese on this baby is awesome combination. I also like the paper they used to line the serving plate, very informative.

Heineken tastes a stronger taste than Oettinger.

I don't know with other people but for me this one taste like wine but it is definitely a Lager.

I am not a "drinker" but I will definitely visit the place again, well, one of these days. So, for those who are into international flavors, including drinks, this place might is a must go.

Brewery Gastropub is located at Paseo Verde, Bacolod City--just a little past City Mall. The first branch was opened in Iloilo City.

featured

I Tried Copying Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino and This Is What I Got Instead

7:28 AM

When Starbucks announced that they are coming up with Unicorn Frappuccino, it was hard not to get excited. Who would want to miss the magical purplish or pinkish sprinkles on top of whip cream that sits on a cold purple and blue treat from the coffee giant?

When the kids saw the pictures online, they could not hide their delight for the brightly colored limited edition drink. Unfortunately, it was only intended for selected Starbucks stores in the US, Canada and Mexico. Oh, boy! the Unicorn Frappuccino is merely a dream for those who are living in the Philippines.

So what would a mom do to make the kiddo's happy? No, taking them to those regions is not my answer. I cannot afford to do that. My answer is to make my own "Unicorn Frappuccino" at home--or at least come up with something similar.

Okay, before Starbucks lawyers come knocking at my door for copying their creation, let me say, I did try to copy the drink but I failed. The good side is that my failed attempt to imitate the Unicorn Frappe resulted to a nice cold treat for the kids. It was scorching hot that day so anything cold was a lifesaver.

Before I proceed with my story, I must tell you that I did a little research on what the famous drink is made of. According to abc.com, the ingredients are:

Ice
Milk
Cream Frappuccino Syrup (a concoction of sugar, preservatives, thickeners and artificial sweetener)
Mango Syrup-they say the Unicorn Frappuccino has a mango base
Blue Drizzle (More sweets! It is white mocha sauce that can be created by mixing condensed milk, cocoa butter and coconut oil--with blue food color)
Pink powder (long story short--I don't know where to find it here.)
Sour Blue Powder (Can't find this one here, either)
Whipped Cream
Vanilla Syrup

Eeek! That is a hell lot of sugar, food color, preservatives and artificial sweetener. It feels kind of scary. Okay, there probably is a good side to not being able to give the kids the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino. But, it still looks so interesting, right?

I, someone with no professional experience in making smoothies, shakes more so frappuccinos, tried to improvise. I made use of ingredients that are found in most groceries here in the country.

First and foremost, ice is obviously the ingredient you cannot replace in this recipe. So i made icecubes hours ahead.

For the milk, I used a local brand of powdered full cream milk. To be exact, I used a glass of milk with the usual formula. Then, I bought a dozen "litro packs" of guyabano flavored juice. This instant guyabano juice has a sweet-sour flavor that kids can tolerate. By the way, Guyabano is called soursop in other countries.

Next, I bought Clara Ole's Truly Fruity blueberry flavored syrup, hoping that it would be a good shortcut for the blue syrup that you put on the side of the glass before you pour in the blended mixture. Later on, I realized I should have made syrup out of condensed milk, cocoa butter and blue food color instead. I got lazy on this one.

Then for the whip cream, I bought the boxed kind from Elle and Vire with no idea how to use it.

Luckily, I already have the necessary food colors at home so I did not have to buy them.

And to have something to sprinkle on top, I took out 2 packets of sugar from my cupboard. I got them from Seven Eleven. They give this to you whenever you buy their City Blends Coffee. I never use them on their coffee so I have a stash of these sugar packets.

I opened a sachet, and poured the sugar on a bowl. Then I added a drop of red food color. I mixed it well and voila! I got myself red sugar sprinkles.

Lastly, to give my smoothie or fake frappe a restaurant feel I used mason jars.

Okay, so now the bloody part. Pardon me, I mean the procedure.

Steps:

I tossed a lot of ice cubs into my blender, added a glass of milk and emptied 2 sachets of Tang "litro pack" Guyabano. I blended them on high setting until smooth. No need to add sugar.

Because it was white, I added a few drops of violet color--add more for intensity. Blended again until the mixture became a nice deep shade of purple.

I squeezed the blue berry syrup around the inner side of each the mason jar. The syrup was too runny that it all settled at the bottom. Sigh! I knew I should have made the mocha syrup instead.

Moving on, I divided the blended mixture into four mason jars, topped them with whip cream, sprinkled the colored sugar over and then added straws.

One mason jar for each kid and one for me. The hubby passed on this one, he is not a big fan of sweet drinks.

And although, it was not even close to how Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino looked like, my creation tasted delicious anyway. We may not get the chance to experience the Unicorn Frappuccino but we got ourselves something delicious and cold that very hot day.

I made something different. Well, hey, a different kind of unicorn inspired my homemade iced concoction. And what is important is that the kids were happy.

Got a tip to share? Comment below. Until next blog. :)

Din Tai Fung's Famous Steamed Buns: My Own Experience with their Xiaolongbao

Café Mina: Great Coffee, Great Food, Unforgettably Good Dining Experience

Lord Byron's Backribs: Still the best in the City

SlipTalk Bistro: A New And Cozy Place For Chillin'

Bistek Tagalog Recipe: So Tasty and So Easy

Ingredients:

Steps:

Brewery Gastropub: Where Beers From All Over the World Can Be Found

I Tried Copying Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino and This Is What I Got Instead

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