Having a G’ day at Aussie Cafe

Aussie Cafe and Resto Pepper Tenderloin Steak

Apart from the food offerings of longtime stalwart, Outback Restaurant, we admit we’re not that exposed to Australian cuisine. Oh, we have images of Australian icons in our heads but still, we asked ourselves, “what is Australian cuisine?” Googling the topic reveals a bit of insight like the fact that traditional Australian cuisine borrows heavily from the British tradition (think fish and chips, pies, et al). The modern iteration, however, is not as easy to define as understandably, their cuisine is influenced by and infused with other cuisines, especially of the people who have been transplanted to the continent like Asians. Follow the Happyfoodies as they venture to the southern part of the metropolis to get a taste (and a flavorful idea) of Australian cuisine at the appropriately-named Aussie Café and Resto.

Affordable lunches are big at Italianni’s

Affordable lunches are big at Italianni’s

Right from the start, Italianni’s was among the casual dining restaurants that have become synonymous with big servings. Not to say that the food isn’t good because it really is; it’s just that people with bigger than usual appetites have always been drawn to

it because of the very generous servings. The price point is okay for the kind of food and service; however, it is a bit pricey for regular dining. Italianni’s makes amends with five new menu additions just for this summer. The formula is simple: filling weekday lunch entrees and big servings (fit for sharing) complete with pasta and veggies at more affordable prices – how can you go wrong?

Vietnamese with a fine dining twist at Aquaknox

Cua Rang Moui Toi Chef Danny's Special Crab

Vietnam may be our Southeast Asian neighbor but our cuisines seem to be poles apart. Pinoy food is typified by very rich flavors, often subscribing to the idea that “if a little is okay, more is better”. On the other hand, Vietnamese food is more about the subtleties of flavors and the prudent use of herbs and spices. This may explain why Vietnamese food is nowhere as popular as say, Chinese or Thai cuisine, over here. Perhaps, the key is to strike a happy medium between subtlety and saturation – the formula that Aquaknox, Manila’s newest Vietnamese Contemporary restaurant, is using to catch the fancy of Pinoy diners. The operative word is: “contemporary” meaning authentic and yet updated. Come with us for a taste of Vietnamese with a fine dining twist.

Something is cooking at Max’s (and it’s not just chicken)

Maxs Crisp Tinapa Dumplings

Long, long before KFC Original Recipe/Hot & Crispy Chicken and Jollibee Chickenjoy, there was Max’s Fried Chicken. This enduring brand has been part of the Pinoy consciousness for generations, many thanks to the superlative taste of its chicken. So much so that diehard loyalists would say fried chicken is Max’s and Max’s is fried chicken. This is well and good but as with any aging food establishment, it is wise to keep offering something new to appeal to the younger, more fickle diners while providing a welcome surprise to diners like us who’ve grown up eating at Max’s.

The Max’s strategy it seems is to come up with dishes to complement its famous fried chicken. Happyfoodies think it’s a swell idea as Max’s will always be about chicken first, other dishes second. We recently paid a visit to this old favorite and see what’s new on the menu that’s worth trying.

Sumptuous dining at Seryna

Seryna Spicy Tuna Maki (Php 170/ 6pcs)

We venture to Mile Long and Makati Cinema Square every now and then and pass the small road leading to Makati Square. We often see the SERYNA signage flanking the side entrance to the Little Tokyo complex and wonder what’s there inside. Not that the place has received little media publicity but we always wanted to sample what’s been written about and what a steady stream of diners (evidenced by the endless flow of cars parked on the strip) has been dropping by for. Last weekend, we got a chance to do just that when a trip to another restaurant didn’t go as planned.

Finding comfort at PenPen

PenPen Crispy Liempo

The newspaper headlines. Global recession. Inflation. Times like the present calls for some relief. Now more than ever, we ought to get comfort where we can find it. If it’s spa for the body and music for the weary soul, then it’s comfort food for the weary spirit. So when we heard of PenPen, we took a chance on the Saturday traffic and went to Timog for a late lunch for a serving of comfort food. The place has received some media mileage owing to the fact that it is owned by the wife and son of veteran actor, Pen Medina (hence the name, PenPen), but we want to find out if the comfort food lives up to the publicity.

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