Alfahkr's Persian Food: Same Old Fave with a New Twist

If you say Italian food, we run to Sbarro.  If we want Japanese bento, there’s Tokyo Tokyo.  If we want something extraordinary, Banapple is the place to be.  And if I crave for Persian food, we just go to Rehman Persian Grill just behind our office in Jupiter Street (but that was before).  Since Rehman had closed, no more samosa (Persian empanada) for us until we find Alfahkr’s.  It’s not the newest kid in the Maginhawa St. Strip but under its new management, Alfahkr’s added a number of Persian fave with a Filipino touch in its menu.

We begin the Arabian nights with a sampling of Alfahkr’s starters such as hummus, chicken, liver, grilled tomatoes, falafel, ox brain all served with pita bread.  Starters price P90 and below and P10 for the pita bread.  I love the Persian chicken as it is cooked right.  The ox brain, though it’s not my first time to eat this, really sticks to my head.  I love it with calamansi!

For the rice flourish, beef and chicken kebab with buttered rice, but I much prefer Ms. Sire’s order, beef and chicken curry kebab.  The Filipino twist here is that the curry has coconut milk with makes the taste lighter.

For lambchop lovers, it only costs P165 here at Alfahkr’s.  If you’re on a diet, you can substitute rice with pita bread.

And the Persian experience is not complete without yogurt drinks.  You’ll definitely get hooked with the one that has strawberries.

The drawings on the wall caught my attention especially this one.  It says gugma.  For I know, gugma means love in the Visayas region.  And of course, this Indian man in his castle which says “Welcome to our Home”.  How cute.  This wall design is drawn by pentel pens.  I wonder how many pentel pens were used here, haha.  The new owners decided to retain the wall drawings.  Good thing as this one sets it apart from the other restos.

Alfahkr’s also serves party food to go packages for as low as P3500 for 15 people.

Add Alfahkr’s now to your list of must-eats!

Alfahkr’s Persian Food

79-C Maginhawa St. Bgy. Teacher’s Village, Quezon City

6979061

09223043634

Dali Restaurante y Bar de Tapas: A Touch of Spain in Quezon City

When bloggers cover stories, we can feature different sides other than the event itself.  We can blog about the prominent personalities present in the event, the venue, and of course, the food.




During the launch of NOVUHAIR with its new endorser, Fanny Serrano, we were taken to the very romantic, scenic Dali Restaurante y Bar de Tapas.  My first impression upon entering the wooden door and then the glass door (yes, two doors in a row as you enter) is how different it looks from the inside -- it's like you're nowhere near Quezon City.

Photo Credits:  Ning4U.blogspot.com

With its floor-to-ceiling windows, brick walls, wooden furniture, and framed paintings, you'll instantly be reminded of telenovelas from Spain.

Its sumptuous repertoire of Castilian-inspired dishes like paella entice many a palate of working professionals at noon and came nightfall, the restuarant is filled with employees, groups of friends, and residents around Quezon City who drop by for a few glasses of wine as there is a wine lounge where you can enjoy superb selection of cocktails and wine.  And a visit to Dali Restaurante y Bar de Tapas is not complete with the bite-size appetizers or "tapas".


We were served buffet style so I do not have photos of the actual servings.




I sinked my teeth into fresh oversized chicken slices called Pollo con Perijil y Pimientos and the buttered fish fillet that goes well with the green pesto sauce.

I enjoyed the timeless food favorite, Dali's Paella Valenciana.

And one of the tapas I tried was the croquettas that is small but big in flavor.

And to cap it off, freshly-made churros with chocolate dip for a complete Spanish experience.


Its high-end Spanish ambience also makes it the latest place for corporate meetings, launch (just like what NOVUHAIR did), and business or family affairs.

Facebook Page:     Dali Restaurante y Bar de Tapas

Location	40 E. Lopez Drive Corner Sgt. Esguerra, 1103 Quezon City, Philippines

Accepts
Chef	Pia Abadesco
Services	Takes Reservations Walk-Ins Welcome Good For Groups Good For Kids Take Out Catering Waiter Service Outdoor Seating
Specialties	Lunch Dinner Coffee Drinks

Email	dalirestaurant@yahoo.com
Phone	9280971

BANNISTER ACADEMY: Learning One-on-One

June is near and I know some parents are now scouting for schools and evaluating different institutions for their kids. The wise parent knows that preparation is the key to preventing the stress and hassle of a last-minute enrollment.

The choice of a grade or high school is critical since these institutions will have a lasting impact on the intellectual and personality development of your son and daughter. After all, aside from the home, most of their time will be spent in school, interacting with their teachers and classmates.

For those looking for a fresh alternative to education, Bannister Academy is the perfect school.






Bannister Academy offers personalized education through its unique system of mentoring. The school balances its dedication to academic excellence with an emphasis on social intelligence in students, allowing them to realize their full potential.

Bannister Academy was founded on the principle that a liberal education—which balances science, culture, and society—is the best way to prepare young minds for the relentless pace of the 21st century. Students learn to see the big picture without sacrificing depth. They practice creating relationships between specific areas of knowledge and solve problems in original ways. This approach empowers the Bannister student with the ability to deal with complexity, diversity, and change.



Bannister's high standards make it an attractive option for students with average and above-average skills. At Bannister, students are allowed to stand out, be confident, and acquire learning habits that last a lifetime. Students are taught "how to learn" so they can develop excellence in their own individual way without sacrificing quality. They become passionate about transcending their limits.

Bannister Academy integrates character education in all subjects and extra-curricular activities, making sure these values (maturity, freedom, and responsibility, and spirit of service) are consistent with the developmental stages of the child. A one-of-a-kind teacher-student mentoring program gives education a personal touch. Students aren't “instructed,” they are nurtured and guided. It's not Subject 101, it's Learning One-on-One.

Yes, we were told about it when we attended the Open House of Bannister Academy before summer started.  The ratio of student to teacher is 1 is to 1.  Yes, you read it right!





"We promise parents three things," Dr. Antonio Torralba, co-founder of Bannister Academy, "First, we focus on practical education.  We want students to become books-smart and street-smart. Second, through our mentoring program, we keep pace with the kids, and we can be as crazy and fun as they need us to be. Third, we encourage parents to be involved with their child’s education, to share the responsibility and help their child explore and develop their social intelligence."

 Give your child a head start!




Bannister Academy is located inside Circulo Verde subdivision, Calle Industria, Quezon City. Find out more by visiting http://bannister.edu.ph/ or call (+632)975-9625 or mobile (+63917)711-0100.

Joseph and Jamemark’s Family Grill: Out of the Usual Ways of Preparing Restaurant Staples

First impression? I initially thought Joseph & Jaemark’s was just another bar and grill restaurant, but upon entering it seems like a classic Filipino dining area because of the materials for its décor: colorful glass windows, paintings, wooden furniture, and low lighting.

And the food? Again, Joseph & Jaemark’s proved that we have a wrong impression of them being just an ordinary bar and grill restaurant. It has a healthier and unusual take on preparing the timeless food favorites.

Catfish Salad

A healthier alternative to chicharon as an appetizer. It is shredded until the desired texture and deep fried into perfection making its crispiness lasts for hours, and served with tangy mango and vinegar combo.


Crispy Buntot ng Tuna

Our favorite sinful dish, crispy pata is given a new healthier twist by switching pata with tuna. The tuna was cooked just the way I like my crispy pata. It’s crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Much yummier when dipped in their soy sauce + butter sauce.

And another way of eating it? I dunked it into my Salmon Sinigang (another yummy dish offered in this restaurant). Heavenly!

Stuffed Pechay

If other restos just serve you boiled greens plus bagoong, well, Joseph & Jaemark’s packed the bland-looking pechay with tinapa (dried fish) and other ingredients smothered into a special sauce. You can’t see what’s inside, but as you have a spoonful of it there’s a burst of flavors.

Bicol Express

At first, I thought it was pinakbet because in other restaurants, bicol express is just plain pork with chili peppers. You can request if you want it spicier or less as Joseph & Jaemark’s adjusts to their client’s need.


If you’re craving for beer, then most probably, you’re looking at the wrong menu because they emphasized it as a “family” grill. Although they have it in the list, they just want to create a healthier environment for family and kids.

The man behind the very satisfying meal? Chef Mars Reyes. We caught up with him and asked to tell us about Joseph & Jaemark’s history (and the secret behind his dishes, haha).

Chef Mars definitely has gone a long way since proving their naysayers wrong many in a row about a good location for a restaurant (we found out that they have transferred to different sites: Cuneta Astrodome, Magallanes, etc.). Indeed at least in Joseph & Jaemark’s case, the formula for success is not the location. Rather, it has been the combination of fresh ingredients (chef does the marketing and cooking himself); patience (a lot of trial and error especially with crispy buntot ng tuna); affordable price; and research & development (adding twists to their dishes) keeping Joseph & Jaemark’s interesting and ready to compete with the big grills.

Joseph & Jaemark’s Family Grill
#5 Sgt. Esguerra, Diliman, Quezon City
410-TUNA (8862)

Top 20 Simple Joys of Being an Eastwood City Fan

I am Ann.  I'm from Las Pinas City.  Yes, I'm from the South (ang layo, you might think, hehe) but I keep coming back to the East... Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City.

Why?

Well, here are my top 20 reasons why I am a fan of Eastwood City.  And to be more particular, I divided them into four categories:  food, activities, places and things.  Hope you love 'em too, guys.



Top 5 Yummy Eastwood City Stuffs

1. A cup of Golden Spoon’s frozen yogurt








My Fave: Vanilla flavored frozen yogurt
Alternative to: A scoop of ice cream

Best Shared With: Close Friend

Perks/Thrills: They have free taste of all the froyo flavors if you still can’t decide.





2. The Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak

My Fave:  Meatball Pepper Rice

Alternative to: Rice Meals

 

Best Shared With: Barkada


 




3.   Red Mango

My Fave:  Original Frozen Yogurt + Almonds + Mochi + Mochi + Mochi!!!
Alternative to:  A bowl of ice cream
Best shared with:  A child who hates tangy yogurt









4.  Xocolat

My Fave:  Frozen "Hot" Xoco - Xocolat Sherbet Balls
My Fave:  Churros







5.  The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

My Fave:  Banana Chocolate Ice Blended
Best shared with:  Officemates
Perks/Thrills:    Free drinks if ever they have an "Open House"









Top 5 Cheap Activities I Love to do at Eastwood City

1. Watch a dance water show for free and get into the groove at the same time.

 2. Be amazed with the fireworks display.



3. Step into fitness while walking with furry pets.



 
4. See the hottest celebrities and most popular bands perform at the Central Plaza.

5. Bring camera and take unlimited photos with my buddies at the Eastwood City’s beautiful spots.

Top 5 Coolest Spots at Eastwood City

1.  Water Fountain - My friend and I love to play with the hydraulics near the dancing fountain.

2.  Big Ben-like clock tower - It seems like it tells me, “You have all the time to roam around Eastwood City

3.  Ultra 7 Cinema - Movie + Bottomless Drinks + Refillable Popcorn + Twin Seats + Relaxation and Comfort = P400 ONLY

4.  Events area - My first event here was the Belle de Jour Power Planner Launch last October.

 I met new friends...

 Experienced free salon and spa services...

 

Got a lot of freebies... and have been empowered by the talks at the event.

 5.  Chic party hubs

  Open bar courtesy of "The Bar" at the BDJ Launch, Eastwood City

Top 5 Things Eastwood City Have that Other Malls Don’t Have

1. Romantic lighting and star-lit dining during the night at Eastwood City Walk

2. Paris-like ambiance.


3. Grand piano plays to accompany Eastwood City patrons.

4. Excellent butler service.

5. WiFi City.

I  

   

EASTWOOD CITY