Discoveries and old reliables

First, we are happy that where we are based, there’s a restaurant where we can dine at times when we want to take a break from cooking at home. This is the Buona Vita (Good Life) Ristorante Italiano, located on the ground floor of Greenboro building, Verdana Village Center, on Daang Hari, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite. We thought we’d try it one evening, perfect since we are all pasta lovers. They have an extensive menu, ranging from appetizers to pizza, meat dishes and desserts. A Filipino chef mans the kitchen and we must say he is doing well. We started by ordering proscuito ham with thin slices of mangoes (P250) and a set of three mini pizzas with different toppings (P270). That began a good epicurean experience. Individually we ordered different main courses – pasta marinara (a huge one for P300), fileto de manzo alla marsala – veal slices in wine served with mashed potatoes (P300) and salmon with garlic bathed in white wine cream sauce (P220). There was no more room for dessert after!

The other discoveries were in a Saturday market. We went to the Delimondo (887-5168) stall, knowing that the specialties are creations of our friend, the very innovative Ed Quimson. He has a particular talent to blend flavors, like garlic and chili corned beef, with the meat cured with garlic and spices that gives it a distinctive native taste. A can of 340 gms costs P130. They have what they call gourmet sausages complete with tips on how to steam, grill, poach, bake or fry them. The product line also includes cooked food – bacalao ala vizcaina and callos al estilo morado, marinades for pollo iberico, sardine pate and fresh bacon.

R & R Yummy Treats (807-8880), based in Tahanan Village, has a very varied food selection, including frozen meat like rib-eye (P550 a kilo), prime rib (P550) and lamb chops (P600); sausages, tocino, bread sticks with filling, chocolate chip cookies, cream dory fillet, nuggets, barbecue, siopao and siomai.

Neil’s Kitchen (809-5050), 300 Makiling, Ayala Alabang Village, offers packages for parties or for families who want to order. The choices include Filipino Fiesta, consisting of rice, mango bagoong salad, kare-kare, rellenong bangus, lumpia, pancit bihon, and cassava cake, leche flan and ginataang halo-halo. Cost is P550 per person for a minimum of 12. Other packages are Spanish Flair, Asian Fusion, Kids’ Favorites, the intriguing Thai Typhoon and the exotic Turkey Feast.

Although we stay away from pork as much as we can, we could never resist the bagnet of Winston (807-1354). The packs range from P250 to P350 per. Simply re-fry before serving.    

The old reliables which, through time, have maintained the quality of their goods include Estela whose fresh seafood prices have not changed; the processed meat from Roger and his son in BF; and the bakery products of Bread Monster of the Echevarias. We would never miss getting the foccacia (P60). 

We were at Rockwell Power Plant mall to check the fruits sold on the middle aisle of the ground floor. Unlike previous weeks, there was only one fruit stall that day, with an arrogant man who sort of scoffed at us when we said their prices were much higher than elsewhere – mangosteen at P250 a kilo and mangoes at P120. He must be out of touch with current prices. We get our mangosteen at P120 kilo and mangoes from P90 to P100. We can assure him that what we get from our usual suppliers are also of good quality.        

Do food outlets train their staff on consumer relations? Apparently Bread Talk is amiss in this. A mother of two went to buy some bread at their store in the Mall of Asia. Young children being very curious, the little one peered into the rack where some of the offerings were. The pastry chef, instead of politely requesting the child to move away from the display, went to him and shooed him away. The mother, being a lady, still paid for what she got, instead of simply dumping them back into their racks, but outlets should remember that good service also counts and brings back customers.

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