Category: Lifestyle

We planned to have dinner at Nomama Artisanal Ramen the other week.  However, due to heavy rain in the Metro, we had to cancel.  Considering the Deal Grocer coupon would expire on September 29, we had to reschedule it ASAP or else, we would have thrown away Php 1,000 worth of Nomama food!

Today, rain or shine, we went ahead and stormed our way to Nomama Artisanal Ramen.  Several friends were actually surprised that I haven’t tried the food at the restaurant.  I must admit I have this habit of trying out every new restaurant that opens in the Metro.  Well, it’s better late than never!  It was such a good timing as Nomama was celebrating their 1st year anniversary!  They currently have a promo.  Can you believe that you only have to pay Php 1.00 for your second ramen?  This is available Mondays to Saturdays throughout the month of September 2012.

Since we got ourselves Deal Grocer coupons, we couldn’t avail of the Php 1.00 ramen promo.  It was totally okay though as we wanted to try out Nomama’s non-ramen items.

I wondered what Nomama and Artisanal meant (Ramen is pretty self-explanatory) so I researched via the net and found this:

• Nomama means ‘not your mama’s ramen’ – I guess what the owner, Chef Him Uy de Baron, wanted to tell us is that Nomama Artisanal Ramen is different.  It’s new and it’s not familiar to us.
• Artisanal means crafted in a traditional manner – Nomama Ramen prides itself for only using fresh organic products located in the Philippines.  The chef doesn’t produce ingredients in bulk.  They carefully prepare each ramen bowl as it should be (with care and with attention to detail).

The attention to detail can also be seen at the interior of the restaurant.  Kids will definitely love looking on top as there are various toys hanging on the ceiling of Nomama Artisanal Ramen.

And yes, even the menu is super fun!  You can turn the three different magnetic balls around while searching for food to order at the restaurant.

Siobs Debbie and I were supposed to eat lunch by ourselves but luckily, we saw sister Jocelyn and her family across our table!  We joined them and we ended up eating a lot, lot more because they shared their food with us.

• Tofu Fries (Php 110)

I asked siobs Debbie if we can order tofu fries because I was really curious what it would look like and taste like.  I initially thought that it would be super thin strips of tofu that will look exactly like traditional french fries.  Apparently, I was wrong.  It was as simple as rectangular shaped tofu fried to a crisp!  The tofu fries was served with sweet chili sauce that complemented the tofu very well!  This is a must-order!

• Pork Gyoza (Php 125)

“Ang sarap!” – those were the words that I heard from sister Jocelyn’s kids when they took a bite of Nomama’s classic pork and cabbage dumpling.  Kids do not lie, right?

• Yasai Korokke Salad with Yuzu & Chili Aioli (Php 225)

There’s a surprise in every bite of these Japanese croquetes stuffed with white cheese.  I do not want to expand further as not to ruin the whole experience in eating this refreshing starter.  It’s a great salad and I must say, that I loved not just the taste but also the presentation.  Lovely!

• Seafood Kilawin ala Japonaise (Php 320)

Fresh tanigue, prawns, cherry tomato, ginger and finger chili, coconut citrus dressing.

I don’t eat raw food so I wasn’t able to try this Japanese-style ‘kilawin’.

• Teppanyaki Vegetables (Php 230)

A vegetable dish order was our proof that we wanted to eat healthy 😛  Nomama’s Teppanyaki vegetables consisted of zucchini, asparagus, bok choy, cabbage, and carrots.

• Nomama Seafood (Php 360)

I enjoyed the tempura from Nomama especially the soft shell crab that was included in the order.  I liked the lightness of the batter because it brought out the flavors of the main ingredients of the dish.  Other items included were snapper, prawns, and eggplant.

• Nomama Ramen (Php 337)

Nomama’s signature dish is called Nomama Ramen.  It was made of pork stock (cooked for 8 hours), chashu slices, two soft-boiled eggs, cabbage and seaweed.  The ramen tasted just okay.  However, I didn’t like the noodles because it was a bit tough.  I must say that the soft-boiled egg was the star of this dish!

• Chicken Wings Ramen

While Nomama’s specialty is their Nomama Ramen, we all enjoyed the chicken ramen more.  I guess the flavours were much in line with our tastebuds.  This reminded me of the Chinese herbal soup commonly known as ‘sibut’.

• Kitayama Rib Eye (Php 2,300)

Yes, you read it right.  This Japanese steak & fries was worth Php 2,300!!!  It’s very expensive and no, I didn’t order it.  I was able to eat a big portion of it though as sis Jocelyn put it on my plate.  Who am I to refuse?

After having eaten it, I must say that the steak (200 grams) was perfectly cooked.  The meat was very tender and I loved the miso butter flavour in it.  I still think the rib eye was priced high and I wish they could offer it at a lower price.

Finally, I can say that I tried out Nomama Artisanal Ramen!  I sometimes feel obligated to try out as much restaurants as possible because people tend to ask me for restaurant advice.

I liked Nomama and I think I will be back (especially for their tofu fries)!  I wish to meet Chef Him Uy de Baron in the future.  It’s always nice to hear stories from owners on how they made their businesses successful.  Happy 1st anniversary Nomama!

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Nomama Artisanal Ramen
G/F FSS Bldg. II, #18 Scout Tuason corner Scout Castor, Quezon City, Philippines
+63-2-9214913 / +639165504373

“Binalot ka ba kasi pag binuksan ka, busog na ako.” said a blogger during the Binalot-Multiply launch two months ago.  When I think about it, it actually holds true to the company, Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc.

The name Binalot is a tagalog term for wrap.  Binalot wraps all their food items in banana leaf, a unique concept in the food industry here in the Philippines.  I remember that I used to see Binalot in mall food courts.  I’m glad that through the years, they expanded into a full restaurant.

This year, Binalot has achieved another milestone!  Binalot is now available for delivery online!  It’s a partnership between Binalot and online shopping site, Multiply.com.  Executives from both companies explained what the partnership is about and how they came into it.

Binalot

Binalot CEO Rommel Juan explained the history of Binalot.  Binalot started 1996 when Rommel and his 2 friends decided to open it up after getting tired of the usual fast food choices in the metro.  Their first branch was in Jupiter which coincidentally is where the Binalot-Multiply launch was held (maybe the owners are sentimental :P).  Real success happened when they started opening Binalot in mall food courts.  From there, they started to offer franchises as well as expanded to more Binalot branches.

I especially liked when Rommel shared Binalot’s vision:

I appreciate the advocacy of Binalot’s team.  They provide our favourite Filipino food yet they also help out in the community by using environment-friendly packaging.  Apart from that, the advocacy also supports 50+ families in Laguna, Zambales and Albay.

With regards to their new food delivery service, Rommel had this to say, “We are excited about this new innovation for Binalot. Binalot is the first fast food delivery service to partner with Multiply and take advantage of their advanced ordering systems and vast online reach. We believe that with this partnership Binalot’s customers may enjoy a faster and more convenient way of ordering their favorite Binalot meals.”

Multiply

Meanwhile, Multiply’s Senior Manager for Merchant Relations Raffy Maramag introducted Multiply.com.  Multiply launched in 2004 and was a social networking site with people sharing blog entries, photos and videos.  However, the company dropped the social network aspect of Multiply completely and shifted to E-Commerce in 2012.

Raffy provided a demo of the Binalot ordering process.  He also answered questions from the audience about the service.  Binalot made use of the Multiply e-commerce platform which a lot of people are familiar with.  This is definitely a step to the right direction considering the numerous advantages of ordering online versus calling the delivery hotline.  Payment is also made easy since customers can pay online with credit card, debit card or Paypal.

Binalot on Multiply is focused on bulk orders.  We were given a chance to try out some of Binalot’s bilao meals available for delivery on the Binalot-Multiply site.  We were all so excited to try out the food!  It’s Filipino food at its best!  Eye candy all around!

* Legend: Medium-sized Bilao meals are good for 10 pax & Large-sized Bilao meals are good for 15 pax.

• Vivo Tocino

Sweet pork but immersed in oil… wahhh… I guess that’s really the ‘appeal’ of this popular breakfast dish.  This is best eaten with rice.  A small serving of Vivo Tocino is already good for one whole cup of rice.

• No Bones Daing na Bangus (Medium – Php699/Large – Php999)

I loved that the bangus bilao that Binalot served was boneless!  This is one dish that’s so exciting to eat especially if you eat it with side dishes like salted egg and tomatoes (additional Php15 per pax).

• Bistek Walastik (Medium – Php679/Large – Php 969)

Bistek Walastik is commonly known as bistek tagalog.  It is beef strips in tasty sauce.  The onion rings are one of the obvious signs that you’re looking at a bistek tagalog.  However, the super delicious sauce is what made me really like the dish.  I’m just glad that Binalot has included this dish in their bilao lineup.  This will surely be a hit!

• Pork Barbecue (Medium – Php699/Large – Php997.50)

Some are picky with Pork barbecue.  They only eat the meat part!  I, on the other hand, was looking for the pork BBQ stick with the most fat, hahaha!  Oh well, the deadliest part of a yummy dish is always the best part!  Binalot’s pork BBQ can be eaten as is or partnered with rice or fried noodles.

• Tapa Rap Sarap (Medium – Php739/Large – Php1,054.50)

Among all the dishes that night, I enjoyed Tapa the most.  I was going for seconds as I loved the sweet and spicy taste of the dish.  According to Binalot, the Tapa Rap Sarap is considered as one of their best-sellers.

Hungry yet?  I surely do!  It’s nice to enjoy old-time Filipino favorite food items done traditional style!  I shall order some Binalot meals to bring home.  I plan to eat them using my own bare hands (true Filipino style)!

Why don’t you gather your colleagues, friends and family for a fiesta-style meal?  You can order in bulk through the new Binalot-Multiply site located at http://binalot.multiply.com!

Order in 6 Simple Steps:

1. Select PRODUCT from the MENU list
2. Choose the QUANTITY and click the BUY NOW tab
3. Provide your EMAIL ADDRESS and SHIPPING ADDRESS
4. Choose your PAYMENT OPTION and PLACE YOUR ORDER
5. Put DATE/TIME of delivery in the COMMENTS BOX
6. Wait for Binalot’s call to confirm your order

More information about Binalot Online Ordering System:

• BINALOT will ONLY process bulk-order in their online ordering facility.
• A minimum order amount of Php 1,000 shall be strictly observed.
• 1-day order lead time required. 2–3 days order lead time for orders above Php 5,000/to more than 200 persons
• Order Cut-off Time: 4pm.
• Orders received after 4pm will be processed the next day.
• A minimum 24-hour notice for changes in orders.
• Delivery Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 8am – 8pm.
• Delivery to Valenzuela/Muntinlupa/provinces is subject for Binalot’s approval

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Binalot on Multiply
Minimum Order: Php1,000
1 to 3 days order notice
http://binalot.multiply.com

Kokoro Ramenya is a newly-opened Japanese ramen restaurant located in Manila.  I remember seeing the restaurant along Roxas Boulevard while I was driving my way to the airport one time.  I said to myself that I would try it out one day.

Last Sunday, it was raining hard and I was craving for hot noodle soup badly.  I decided that it was time for me to try out Kokoro Ramenya.  There are a lot of ramen places in Metro Manila already, but trying out new ones still excite me a lot!

We parked in front of the Avenue of the Arts building, and took the stairs going to the 2nd floor.

Kokoro Ramenya is huge!  It can definitely cater a lot of people.  It can also be a good venue for intimate birthday parties or school reunions.  Considering the modern ambiance of the place plus the great selection of food, I believe people would enjoy it at Kokoro Ramenya.

I sat facing the kitchen but on the other side, you’ll get a good view of Manila Bay.  The restaurant’s cozy interior combined with a view of nature definitely gives a relaxing effect for the dining public.

Kokoro Ramenya was put up by two Japanese friends who merely had the idea when they were chatting over their Japanese instant noodle lunch.  They did research, cooking experimentation and food tastings for one year.  They got themselves support from a few of their Filipino friends and then they put up the restaurant.

It’s nice that the ramen that we are having here in Manila is getting authentic considering that the chefs that cooked the food are real Japanese.  In Kokoro Ramenya’s case, it was Japanese head chef and ramen connoisseur, Chef Susumo Murata.

While I browsed through the restaurant’s menu, I noticed that Kokoro Ramenya prides itself for its selection of popular regional Japanese ramen.  The pictures alone made my tummy yearn for the food!

Apart from ramen, Kokoro Ramenya also has good selection of sushi, appetizers, ala carte dishes and desserts.  I tried to order as much as we could so I can share with you more dishes that you can get when you visit the restaurant.

• Kokoro Ramenya Beverages

First off, we ordered drinks.  I’ve chosen Matcha Milk Shake (Php 85) because tea is getting so popular these days.  I couldn’t help but get myself at least one glass of it in Kokoro Ramenya.

My friend ordered Kokoro Iced Tea (Php 50).  I was also able to taste it and I’m glad that the iced tea was freshly brewed and not powdered.

Two thumbs up for both drinks!

• Gyoza (Php 155)

I never fail to order gyoza whenever I’m in a Japanese restaurant.  I somehow felt that this was a bit expensive considering the number of pieces in one order.  However, as soon as I tasted the gyoza, oh my gosh, it tasted soooooo good!  You can even see through the picture above that the dumpling skin was toasted!  When I took a bite, it was even better!  The gyoza was juicy and it also helped that the dish was newly cooked when it was served.  A must-order!

• Beef Teppanyaki (Php 445)

The beef teppanyaki dish was such a mouthwatering dish!  I think it only took us approximately 8 minutes to finish this dish.  The meat was on a buttery side but I didn’t mind.  The bean sprouts covered with corn was a nice touch!  This is another successful dish for me!

• Crispy California Maki (Php 195)

Crispy california maki is not a new kind of dish but what I like about Kokoro Ramenya’s version is that they took a unique twist to it.  First, the california maki wasn’t really fried, but it was rolled with tempura skin.  Next, the sauce that came with it was perfect for the dish.  The sauce was a combination of mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce.  Lastly, there’s more than enough california maki in each order (8 pieces).

As soon as we finished this dish, I was already a bit full.  However, I knew that I need to have more stomach space for Kokoro Ramen’s specialty, the ramen…

• Kokoro Ramenya Ramen Noodles

Kokoro Ramenya pride and glory is its selection of Ramen noodles.  What I appreciate on their preparation is that the noodles are freshly-made everyday.  Apart from that, they even have their own Japanese noodle-making machine to ensure the noodles are of the highest quality.

We ordered two of their bestsellers – the Hakata Classic and the Gekikara Ramen.  Other recommendations by Chef Murata include the Karakuchi-negi, Seafood Sapporo Ramen, Gomamiso, and Kokoro Ramenya original.

I ordered Gekikara Ramen (Php 275) because I love spicy food!  This particular ramen is miso-based noodle soup with chashu and breansprout, made extra spicy.  The bowl was filled with tons of vegetables and chashu that I ended up taking home half of the ramen noodle.

Guess what?  I had it for lunch earlier and my officemates were asking me where I got the Gekikara ramen.  The dish still looked so good that they had to find out where I got the ramen.  I let a colleague taste it and she was raving about it the whole time.  It further confirmed my fondness for the dish.  It was yeah, delicious!

Rich and creamy tonkotso noodle soup boiled for 18 hours topped with kikurage, chashu and soft boiled egg.

The Hakata Classic is Kokoro Ramenya’s specialty and this is a MUST-ORDER!  It’s available as a single-order (Php 325) and Sumo bowl (Php 525), good for two.  My friend was so satisfied with the dish that he kept raving about it the whole time he was eating.  And when we got home, he even had to post a photo of the noodle with a description, “YUMMY!”.  Now, do I even have to describe how good this dish is?  I suggest you just order this dish when you get the chance to visit Kokoro Ramenya.

• Kokoro Ramenya Desserts

The Uji Kintori (Php 95) – green tea ice cream topped with sweet adzuki beans.  This tasted similar with the matcha green tea drink that I ordered.

Japanese coffee jelly & ice cream (Php 85).  The coffee jelly was made from real coffee!  Best to eat the dessert as soon as it’s served.

Since it’s rainy season, now is the best time to dine at Ramen places.  One of those that I can recommend is Kokoro Ramenya.  Make sure you order their gyoza and Hakata classic.  Time to warm yourselves up with yummy ramen!

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Kokoro Ramenya
2/F Avenue of the Arts Building, Sta Monica cor. Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines
+63-2-2549716