Kanin Club, Affordable Food Destination in the Metro!

Okay. Since I dedicated this month as a “Catch-up Month”, I’ll be writing as frequently my real world job permits. I’ve got loads of stuff to share, from food, destination, events, and food again (sorry, food is where I am best at. Hehehe…)

Recently, I was asked by my college friends to eat somewhere in Makati. They suggested Kanin Club. At first I was skeptical. Kanin Club? Will they serve unli rice or meals with lots of rice? But we still ate there.

While looking at their menu, I realized that it was called Kanin Club since they serve several types of rice; they have the regular white rice, brown rice, and many more rice which I can no longer remember. We ordered Crispy Dinuguan and Seafood Kare-kare.

Crispy dinugaan is a regular dinugaan with a difference on the way they cooked the pork. It’s CRISPY!

Seafood Kare-kare is cooked like your most loved kare-kare. The only difference is that, it is filled with muscles, crabs, shrimp, and I don’t know what else are there. But it’s good. I was just overwhelmed with the Crispy Dinugaan and forgot that we still have another dish to finish.

Sorry I wasn’t able to take a picture for Seafood Kare-kare. Anyway, with regards to Crispy Dinuguan, it’s a thumbs up. You could raise all your thumbs if you have more than two for this food.

After my heavenly experience with Kanin Club, I keep on pestering my officemates to eat with me at Kanin Club since it is just across our office. And of course, I won.

This time we ordered 3 set of dishes, my favorite Crispy Dinuguan, Itsi-bitsy, and Kare-kare.

 

Itsi-bitsy is a dish with sigarilyas, string beans, pork, and sesame seeds, I’m not sure if there are other vegetables included.

 

Kare-kare was a regular kare-kare with beef and all those vegetables. But I must warn you, if you are not a fan of having lots of peanuts in Kare-kare, think twice in having this.

If you are thinking that it will cost you a lot, hell yeah! You can’t finish the whole dish yourself. You need companions. And with all those companions, the meal will cost you around 150 – 250 depending on what dish will you order.

For me, it’s a must visit restaurant.

Food Trip: Big Better Burgers and ChicBoy

It was a one long Wednesday. I really wanted to eat the Turones con Leche of Chicboy but my friend who is my companion during that time is craving for a burger. So we ended up eating at Big Better Burgers. Since I haven't taste any of its food, I also wanted to try it as well.

BIG BETTER BURGERS

Since we are in Araneta, we went to its branch in SM Cubao. The store is quite small which I think could occupy only around 20-30 person. Before entering, we had a chance to see its menu which is being displayed outside the store.

By the way, Big Better Burgers is not a fast food chain. So when we entered the establishment, a female crew approached us and gave a menu. But since we already know what to order, we mentioned it at once.

One BBB Value Meal for me and my friend and it is only for Php140. It includes 1 quarter pound grilled burger, fries (this are no ordinary fries, they are fresh peeled potatoes), and a glass of iced tea.

For those who are used to eating burgers in fastfood chains, why don't you try Big Better Burgers. It will also cost you the same amount, but the taste is a lot better. They have a wide variety of burgers. The burger bun they are using were grilled and it complements to the taste of the patty.

With that, I'm giving BBB Value Meal 8/10.

On the other hand, after we ate in Big Better Burgers, we still went to ChicBoy.

CHICBOY

We went to its branch in Shopwise Cubao, just across SM Cubao. Since I was really craving for Turones con Leche, I ordered one for take-out. It costs Php30 per order which I think good for 2-3 person (or maybe 6).

They always serve this hot. Waiting time is about 5-10 mins. Its a small sized turon, a Filipino snack food which often sold in street. It is no ordinary turon since its size is smaller, just a few size larger than a shanghai roll, with a dip, which I think is a cooked condensed milk.

This snack I think will be rated 8/10 as well.

Eating the "Capricciosa" Style

Craving for some Italian foods? Try to visit Capricciosa. They currently have two branches, one at Makati and another one at Greenhills. Anyway, I was able to visit their branch at Greenbelt3. The crews were accommodating and the ambiance is good.

When you enter, some tables were set with wines (beware, they are not for free. hehe..). Next, waiters will hand you menus. For those who will ask for what is the store's best seller, or what will the waiter recommends, you may not do so. The menus have cute tomatoes on the side which distinguish what does the store recommends. Isn't it cute?

We ordered three dishes, the Capricciosa Pizza, Lasagna, and Spicy Grilled Chicken with Rosemary (sorry I was only able to provide the Lasagna for we were really hungry).Capricciosa Pizza
Since we could choose between traditional or crispy thin crust, we chose the later for we think that thin crust is enough since we still have two other dish. And we were right, we went home really full. But if you will to consider the traditional, they have very small difference according to Sophia, our personal waiter.

The pizza is indeed crispy. It has bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, and bellpepper on top. Put some spices to add some more flavors. By the way, there are seasonings in the table but hot sauce is not one of them but no worries, they do have hot sauce. You only have to asked for it.

Since we are four in the group, we had 2 slices each. Pizza alone was able to relieved our hunger but not that much. After we were finished with the pizza, the lasagna was served.

Lasagna Capricciosa Style
This is really something to be recommended. At first we were hesitant with this dish since lots of restaurant offer lasagna. But because we were attracted with the photo in the menu, we ordered one.

Anyway, it was worth it. It was no ordinary lasagna. It was indeed a "Capricciosa Style". With those over flowing mozzarella cheese you'll really be excited on having your portion for that dish. Maybe you have a second thought because of the overflowing cheese I am saying which you think you will get tired on eating it. But the answer is no! One ala carte of Lasagna is good for 4-5 or maybe 6 person.

Once you visit any branch of Capricciosa, remember to have their lasagna.Spicy Grilled Chicken with Rosemary
Sorry to say Capricciosa, but I didn't enjoy eating this one. It might be due to the fact that I am not familiar with this recipe but the taste of the chicken was very plain. We tried to eat the chicken as it is and we were not able to taste any twist from it. I tried to dip it in the sauce or I guess it was just a regular olive oil or what, and it made no difference with the taste.

Because there was a lemon, we tried to twist some of it into the sauce and even directly to the chicken. It made a difference, yes. But it was not the taste we wanted to have until we were able to finish it. That's the time we ask Sophia what would be the right seasoning for the chicken. And you'll be surprised. She gave us a Maggi seasoning. Funny. It will only be a soy sauce that made us satisfied.

Bottomless Lemonade
Ow, another disappointment. It was too sweet. We even asked for the waiter to add more water to the lemonade so that the sweetness will somehow be lessen but a few water isn't enough. We ended up asking for water instead.

To wrap it up, if I'll be rating Capricciosa from 1 to 5 and five is the highest, I'll be giving them 3.75. Above average but not so perfect.

Capricciosa, Greenbelt 3
3/F Greenbelt 3, Paseo de Roxas cor. Legaspi St.
Ayala Center, Makati City

Capricciosa, Greenhills
Ground Level, Fox Square Bldg.
53 Connecticut St.
Greenhills, San Juan