foodie – Page 6 – Author Carlo Carrasco

HOT STAR Large Fried Chicken in Alabang

December 7, 2020December 6, 2020carlocarrasco

If you are looking for fried chicken to eat here in South Metro Manila, there are plenty of places to find them such as Jollibee, KFC, Popeyes and McDonald’s among the many restaurants. You can even find fried chicken meals served in convenience stores like Ministop, 7-Eleven and FamilyMart. Rest assured the mentioned business joints provide a lot of fried chicken whenever you are in Las Piñas, Parañaque and Muntinlupa.

There is one food joint that stand out among them all – HOT STAR Large Fried Chicken Philippines. With its newest branch located inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang, HOT STAR is making a comeback here in South Metro Manila. Previously they had a branch along Presidents Avenue, Barangay BF Homes in Parañaque City and I ate there a number of times while they lasted. That particular branch closed down a few years ago so it was nice to see them open a new one in Alabang (note: their space is shared with Dakasi).

*The commercial space of HOT STAR with Dakasi.*

For the newcomers reading this, the HOT STAR business started in Taiwan and has overseas branches. They are best known for selling the 12-inch fried chicken which has a nugget-like shape but really large and quite filling.

At their Festival Mall branch, I had two stops there. The first time I was there, I joined the line to order myself a meal composed of their signature 12-inch fried chicken (referred to as the Signature XXL Chicken), rice and a drink. When asked for what type and what flavor the chicken should be, I chose the original type flavored with salt and pepper. Soon enough I got served and went to a vacant table.

*The 12-inch signature fried chicken of HOT STAR.*

Looking at the 12-inch original, salt-and-pepper fried chicken, it really was exactly as I remembered what was served to customers at the previous branch in BF Homes. It was also a bit challenging to cut into pieces given its formation and texture, so there were moments when I had to take the chicken by hand and pull it apart before trying to cut it into pieces with the plastic utensils.

As before, the 12-inch signature fried chicken is pretty tasty on its own. It was tasty enough, I did not bother to use any condiments. What is also notable about it is that it sure has a lot of content of chicken meat to consume. In fact, it was more than enough to fill the stomach. While this might sound unusual to you, this is pretty normal given my previous dining experience at HOT STAR BF Homes. That being said, I had a tasty and really satisfying meal there at HOT STAR Filinvest.

A few weeks later, I returned to the Festival Mall branch mainly to take home one of their newer foods – the Cheese Bomb. After driving home with the chicken from the mall, I got home and placed it on a plate.

*This is what the Cheese Bomb looks like on the outside.*

On the surface, the Cheese Bomb fried chicken has a different shape compared to the signature fried chicken. It looked ordinary on the outside but it is the cheese content inside the makes the big different not only in terms of content but also on flavor. As I ate the Cheese Bomb, I really felt that fine combined taste of fried chicken and cheese in my mouth and it only made me want to keep consuming until it all ran out. I got my money’s worth.

*A closer look at the Cheese Bomb. The cheese itself is tasty.*

To put it in short, I can say that the 12-inch signature fried chicken and the Cheese Bomb were both well cooked by HOT STAR Festival Mall and were properly prepared. It is notable that the two fried chicken variants were pretty flavorful respectively which shows that the cooks made them with the utmost care for me. As such, I highly recommend the 12-inch signature fried chicken and the Cheese Bomb to anyone who loves fried chicken. I got my money’s worth and so should you.

So if you happen to be in the Alabang area and you crave for fried chicken, you should visit HOT STAR at Festival Mall. They are on the ground floor level of the mall. Keep in mind that HOT STAR has several other types of food to offer such as spaghetti, rice bowl meals, burgers and fries, and chicken wings to name some. HOT STAR is a standout among the sellers of friend chicken here in South Metro Manila.

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My Observations: You should visit Matty’s along Tropical Avenue, BF International

September 4, 2020September 28, 2020carlocarrasco

Hey everyone! Are you looking for something new to visit within South Metro Manila, and find something so delightful you will get good value in return for your hard-earned money? Specifically there is a place along Tropical Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas that my friend and I visited and we enjoyed very good drinks and tasty food plus a nice ambience. That place is a new café called Matty’s.

*Matty’s cafe is just steps away from Mang Pandesal.*

*This is the exterior of Matty’s along Tropical Avenue very near the corner with El Grande Avenue.*

Located very close to the corner of Tropical Avenue and El Grande Avenue, Matty’s is a café that happens to be a related business to the great bread seller Mang Pandesal which is just a few steps away at the said corner.

As soon as my friend and I entered Matty’s, there was this peaceful and relaxing atmosphere inside that welcomed us. The interiors really looked nice and there was a large wooden table (good enough to accommodate some customers who sit by) plus a few smaller tables with chairs. There is also a hanging monitor where you can see some cable TV movies or news feed shown. Wifi is also available. Further inside is the counter as well as a selection of beverages and prices displayed on the nearby wall. There you can make your choices and order over the counter. Oh yes, like Mang Pandesal, 1 Corinthians 10: 31 is displayed clearly. For your reference, the scripture reads:

Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 (TPT)

*Tables and chairs await customers. Matty’s also has TV and wifi as well. (note: this photo is a property of Matty’s and permission was granted to use it for this article.)*

*A very nice looking counter and menu-on-the-wall inside Matty’s. Displayed on the counter is 1 Corinthians 10: 31.*

*Pandesal from Mang Pandesal and chilled coffee from Matty’s make a GREAT combination!*

My friend and I had a nice time talking while enjoying the really tasty drinks we ordered: a Matty’s milk tea and an iced coffee with jelly. There was also smooth music played which added more to the relaxing atmosphere. I also noticed while inside, we had a view of the road outside as well as the nearby corner of Tropical Avenue and El Grande Avenue where vehicles pass by all the time.

For those of you who love drinks, Matty’s has nice selections of milk tea (multiple variants), fruity drinks, hot coffee and iced coffee. Good food? They have it too such as their specialty Sylvanas and the Rich Leche Flan in jars to name a few. I brought home Sylvannas and the leche flan and they both really tasted good! In fact, I highly recommend them to you all! Through their website, you can even make orders in advance before visiting Matty’s to pick up. By the way, I must state that Matty’s in-store personnel are very helpful and attentive.

*Two great tasting products of Matty’s that you should try: Rich Leche Flan in jar and Matty’s Sylvanas.*

*and a closer look at one of* the Sylvanas. *Each one tasted really good!*

*Matty’s Rich Leche Flan in jar is indeed rich and delicious!*

Right now, I can say that Matty’s opening and commercial presence is indeed a blessing not only to the residents of BF Homes and BF International, but also to food and beverage enthusiasts from outside of the said communities who have the means to enter the subdivision and visit their café along Tropical Avenue (note: there are a few parking slots across the café). Considering how good the place is, how helpful the in-store personnel are and how good their food and drinks are, I can say that Matty’s is highly recommended. Oh yes, after leaving Matty’s, you should not forget to buy and take home great tasting bread from Mang Pandesal just a few steps away. You can’t miss it!

For more information about Matty’s, visit their website at https://www.mattys.ph/ or call them at landline 7217-6263 or mobile 09176858188. Visit and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mattysph

*Read 1 Corinthians 10: 31 in the Holy Bible.*

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: Mang Pandesal with SPAM

August 10, 2020August 9, 2020carlocarrasco

Let me start by making clear to you all that I love eating the pandesal (a roll of bread common in the Philippines) sold by Mang Pandesal located at El Grande Avenue corner Tropical Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas City. Every day they sell freshly baked pandesal that is both affordable (at P2 each as of this writing) and very delicious. Mang Pandesal is so good, many times lines of customers are formed just outside of their store, as well as vehicles suddenly parking nearby with a driver or a passenger coming out to line up and buy pandesal. If you are not familiar with Mang Pandesal, check out my opinion piece.

This past weekend, I passed by Mang Pandesal to take home freshly baked bread. Look at the pic below…

*Freshly baked pandesal at Mang Pandesal! Highly recommended!*

Normally, I ate Mang Pandesal’s bread standalone because each and every pandesal tastes great. There never was a time I had any bad bread from the BF International baker. This time around, I decided it was high time to experiment something that could be very enjoyable. As such, upon arriving home, I placed the Mang Pandesal bread on the table and pulled out a can of the worldwide favorite meat SPAM.

*The world-famous SPAM canned meat, just with less sodium.*

*Some of the Mang Pandesal bread arranged on the small plate for SPAM.*

So step by the step, I pulled out some pandesal and carefully cut out slices of SPAM and divided each slice of the meat into three. Each pandesal from Mang Pandesal were cut into half to resemble clamshells. Then carefully I placed each SPAM portion into each pandesal.

Mang Pandesal’s bread with SPAM meat inserted.

With the best tasting pandesal and the best tasting canned meat combined, the result was, unsurprisingly, a very delicious experience and totally enjoyable eat! This is an experience that food enthusiasts should have whenever they have Mang Pandesal bread and SPAM available!

And then out of curiosity, I decided to try another experiment…I decided to try pandesal with SPAM with a thin layer of white cheese added.

The result? A very creamy taste that’s also very nice for consumption!

Depending how you like your Mang Pandesal bread and SPAM together, you will definitely get a great taste of the two. If you want the cheesy or creamy taste, that is what you will get with pandesal and SPAM with white cheese added.

As such, having Mang Pandesal’s pandesal and SPAM’s meat together is highly recommended! That being said, whether you like meat with your pandesal or you simply want the best pandesal around, I recommend you to go to Mang Pandesal in BF International now and buy.

Let me end this piece with a scripture from the Holy Bible, the Passion Translation to be precise.

Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 (TPT)

My Observations: Pizza Telefono’s Pepperoni & Mushroom pizza and Super Telefono pizza

May 12, 2020carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from consuming the featured food from Pizza Telefono. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Firstly, I want to thank the Lord in Heaven for the recent re-opening of the Alabang (Westgate, Filinvest City) branch of Pizza Telefono which was a very welcome development during this time of COVID-19 crisis. I’m really happy they resumed operations here in Alabang which should interest not only residents of Muntinlupa but also those in BF Homes (via Concha Cruz Drive).

Secondly, I want to thank the people of Pizza Telefono Alabang branch for fulfilling our family’s take-out orders of a thin-crust and a hand-tossed pizza even though they had a very hectic day last Sunday…Mother’s Day 2020!

On the topic at hand, here’s a look at the two pizzas we ordered from Pizza Telefono: the thin-crust Pepperoni & Mushroom pizza and the hand-tossed Super Telefono pizza.

*Thin-crust Pepperoni & Mushroom pizza. Quite noticeable was the lack of mushrooms prepared by the Alabang branch.*

The Pepperoni & Mushroom pizza came with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and mushroom in fresh button form. Upon first bite, it was tasty and somewhat crunchy. I could tell it was well cooked. However, the mushrooms were lacking due to a lapse on the part of the people who prepared it. Even so, this pizza proved to be good enough and I should say that I myself am not even fond of pepperoni. Someone else is.

Next was, literally, the heavy hitter…the Super Telefono pizza. This one was loaded with ingredients composed of salami, pepperoni, Italian sausage, sweet ham, ground beef, bacon, parmesan and some vegetables!

*The hand-tossed Super Telefono pizza. Look at all the toppings and cheese!*

As it was a hand-tossed pizza, each slice of Super Telefono was not only very delicious but also quite filling on its own. That clearly is not surprising because hand-tossed pizzas are thicker and richer. Take a look at the pic below.

*A closer look at the Super Telefono slice. Each bite of this is rich, flavorful and filling!*

I should mention that I love the dough Pizza Telefono used on the Super Telefono pizza. It has a nice texture that can be felt when chewing on it. The slice soft enough for ease of chewing.

When it comes to pizza goodness and satisfaction, I will say that the thin-crust Pepperoni & Mushroom pizza is good but I’m not convinced to choose it the next time I order a thin-crust pizza at Pizza Telefono. I will recommend it, however, to anyone who loves pepperoni on their pizza.

As for the hand-tossed Super Telefono pizza, I highly recommended it to all you who read this. Even if you’re not the kind of person who is into pizza with multiple ingredients on it, I still recommend eating it at least once. I had a great satisfaction with Super Telefono pizza for its taste, very good dough and got filled. Definitely Super Telefono is something I would not hesitate to order again in the near future.

In case you are interested with Pizza Telefono, visit them at https://pizzatelefono.com/

Also check out my previous article of their Alabang branch and my first dine-in experience with them right here.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: The UJT Burger from Union Jack Tavern

August 13, 2019August 13, 2019carlocarrasco

Burgers have long been popular here in the Philippines and they can be bought from several makers like the fast food joints which are quite numerous.

At the expanded area of Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Union Jack Tavern has been selling and serving burgers to customers. Just open the menu when you visit them and then you will find the UJT Burger.

*The UJT Burger served to me in open sandwich fashion.*

Sold for less than P300 as of this writing, the UJT Burger comes with a large plate filled with fries (which are thicker and less greasy compared to the fries sold by others) and the open sandwich with one half of the bun with the vegetables on top and the other half with the onions and beef covered with melted cheese.

In my recent stop at Union Jack Tavern, I had the UJT Burger and I started first with the fries which are quite filling and I like the fact that they are not too greasy to handle.

With the burger itself, considering the size, I took me a little effort to put the two buns (with their respective toppings) on top of each other to form the burger.

Then I took a bite on what parts are suitable for biting because this one is not the usual burger. The burger patty itself is quite thick and certainly not flat. After biting down the bread with the vegetables, I finally got to bite the cheese-covered burger patty. The result? The burger patty was quite tasty on its own and definitely worth going for. Then there is also that nice taste when biting the bread, the burger patty, the cheese and the vegetables altogether.

It may not be too visible for those who like burgers but failed to check Union Jack Tavern’s menu, but there is no doubt that the UJT Burger is a delicious and filling burger meal just waiting to be discovered.

The UJT Burger is highly recommended and I encourage you visit Union Jack Tavern at Festival Mall.

My Observations: Fatmelts Diner is Back and Now Has a Cafe

June 4, 2019carlocarrasco

If you enjoy eating within the BF Homes community in Parañaque City, then you should know that Fatmelts Diner just re-opened (or soft opening) after going through a renovation and expansion of its place for the past few weeks at the ground floor of the Pergola Mall along Aguirre Avenue.

While the exterior and interiors looked very similar to its usual look, Fatmelts Diner now has a cafe at the far end (which was a commercial space previously occupied by a pizzeria).

*At the cafe section of Fatmelts Diner.*

Inside the cafe of the restaurant are brand new seats and tables as well as a nice looking interior (with bricks on the walls) laced with some decorations that give it a unique look. Also there was a hanging TV for customers who like to watch while having a meal. For sure, the expanded area means more places and opportunities for people (specifically families or groups of friends) to come in and eat comfortably.

And here is something interesting. Fatmelts Diner now has a brand new menu reflecting the cafe’s theme. There are now brunch meals and, of course, new coffee to select. Out of curiosity I ordered a fried chicken meal (P275) and a cappuccino (P135).

*The 2-piece fried chicken meal with scrambled egg, rice and gravy.*

About the meal I had today – the fried chicken was well cooked and was not too greasy which I like. The chicken was tasty on its own for me. The rice is very similar to what was served in the restaurant’s other rice meals. Waiting time for the meal was around ten minutes.

The meal and the coffee were satisfying and my first time at the cafe of Fatmelts Diner was a comfortable and pleasant experience. I look forward to returning there to try their other meals and coffee using their brand new menu.

I suggest you readers who enjoy food tripping in the BF Homes community should visit the expanded Fatmelts Diner at Pergola Mall when you have the chance.

My Observations: Sigekiya Ramen’s Chicken Teriyakidon Set

May 13, 2019May 16, 2019carlocarrasco

A few months ago, I had lunch at Sigekiya Ramen inside Commercenter, Filinvest City, Alabang. Many times have I been consuming Tsukemen or ramen at that restaurant which has been operating since April 2016. The notable thing about Sigekiya Ramen is that they maintain a high level of quality on their food (which explains why they use many imported ingredients) which, in my opinion, justify the prices.

After some thinking during my visit, I decided to try, for the first time ever, one of their rice meals and I ordered their Chicken Teriyakidon Set.

IMG_20190323_114823~2 — *The Chicken Teriyakidon Set.*

It did not take too long for them to serve me the meal which came with a bowl of rice topped with chicken laced with teriyaki sauce and some sesame seeds, a cup of miso soup and a small serving of salad.

Slowly I took a sip first of the miso soup which tasted good. Then I examined the chicken on the rice bowl which turned out to be boneless. In terms of serving, the amount of chicken was generous.

Using chopsticks, I went for a portion of both chicken and rice. The result? A delightful taste! I can say that the chicken and rice were both well cooked and the teriyaki sauce prepared was pretty flavorful. Slowly, I kept consuming more of the rice and chicken, alternating with the soup and the salad.

To put things in perspective, teriyaki refers to a Japanese dish consisting of fish or meat marinated in soy sauce and grilled.

Overall, Sigekiya Ramen’s Chicken Teriyakidon Set was a nice hit and I can say that I got my money’s worth.

Thank you for reading. If you find this lifestyle article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

My Observations: Lunch at Toucan Brazilian BBQ Buffet Restaurant

April 18, 2019April 18, 2019carlocarrasco

Here in the Philippines, finding a place that serves Brazilian food is quite challenging. For those who live in South Metro Manila, the good news is that there is a new restaurant at the expanded area of Festival Mall, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, and it’s called Toucan Brazilian BBQ Buffet Restaurant.

As of this writing, the restaurant charges P430 per customer for lunch (I forgot their rate for children, sorry) and P730 for dinner. Out of curiosity, as well as my previous high interest on visiting Brazil for the Rio Carnival and discovering their culture and norms, I tried out their lunch buffet.

As soon as I entered, I saw the buffet table and I took a seat by the wall. The interiors were nice and very notable is the use of the colors yellow and green (plus blue) which easily reminds me of Brazil.

The restaurant really made a lot of efforts emphasizing Brazil to the customers. For decorations, they posted several framed pictures on their walls.

IMG_20190417_130807~2.jpg — *You like Samba and art?*

IMG_20190417_130958~2.jpg — *At the other wall.*

THE FOOD

How about food? On my trip to the buffet selection, there was a mix of meat, vegetables, rice, salad and free flowing drinking (by the wall). What surprised me was the presence of Chinese-style noodles (are those really part of Brazilian cuisine?). For my plate, I decided to have more vegetables than meat. Picture below.

IMG_20190417_123357~2.jpg — *Pork with caramelized onions plus cabbage and potatoes.*

As I started enjoying my drink and meal, the restaurant had personnel walking around carrying metallic sticks (from the grill) with meat attached to them. Because there was this wooden object with its green end on top (red end below), one of the carriers approached me and asked if I were interested to try a slice of beef cattle tongue which I accepted since I wanted to try it.

I had not touched the slice as I was focused on my vegetables and pork. Some minutes later, another guy carrying meat approached me and asked if I were interested in chicken. I asked him to give me some and just add it on the small plate carrying the still untouched slice (beef cattle tongue). Then I took a picture.

IMG_20190417_123956~2.jpg — *Two different servings of chicken with the slice of beef in the middle.*

I finally decided to try out the slice of beef. It was pretty tasty and there was no need for condiments to add flavor. I slowly ate it and then I tried the gold-like colored chicken which, in my view, seemed fried. It turned out, it was very well cooked and was even more flavorful than I expected.

Eventually I got satisfied and decided to flip the wooden object’s red end to the top to signify to the restaurant personnel I don’t want anymore servings. I took my last drink. It was time to cool down, rest and then prepare to pay the fee. When I saw the bill, there was a service charge of P38.36 on top of the buffet fee which I paid.

While waiting for my change to come, I took another picture of the wall decorations nearby.

IMG_20190417_130937~2.jpg — *More than a dance and a showcase of skin, Samba is a Brazilian musical genre and its most notable music feature is the use of drums done the African way.*

Overall, I enjoyed my lunch at Toucan Brazilian BBQ Buffet Restaurant and it was good taste and good value in return for my money. Definitely it is the place to go if you are looking for Brazilian cuisine or if you are looking for a different kind of buffet experience in Alabang. If there is anything lacking, I forgot to ask for their menu for other selections (I always wanted to try Brazilian coffee). Also there were lots of other grilled meats that I have yet to try. Eventually I’ll get them next time.

Toucan Brazilian BBQ Buffet Restaurant is recommended.

Thank you for reading. If you find this news article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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