Dining Snippets: Green Pastures x Hukad x Chibo Okonomiyaki
GREEN PASTURES
ALL MEAT QUINOA PAELLA (P1500)
It’s been a while since my last visit to Green Pastures. This restaurant was one of the pioneers in making the farm-to-table movement mainstream. I can't help but shudder at the thought of the notorious one-hour waiting time it used to have. However, with organic and wholesome concepts sprouting across the metro, getting a table isn’t as cut throat as before. To keep itself relevant and interesting, new items were fortunately added to its menu roster.
BURRATA (P420)
Freshly made burrata has become more accessible in these type of restaurants; however, The Wholesome Table’s Burrata is in a league of its own. Although, Green Pastures’ Burrata seem to be able to hold its own; serving it with fresh strawberries rather than grapes definitely helps it earn brownie points!
SIZZLING SHRIMP (P550)
If you’re into Gambas al Ajillo, the Sizzling Shrimp is a must-try! This heaven sent Sizzling Shrimp oddly beats out all the other Gambas dishes I’ve tried from Spanish-themed restaurants (yes, even the one served in Terry’s Selection)! Pair this with the Cacio Y Pepe (P395), a simple oil-based linguine pasta with pecorino shavings and black pepper, as this noodle dish is underwhelming on its own.
DUCK FAT FRIED CHICKEN (P400/P650)
The Duck Fat Fried Chicken elevates the classic fried chicken, as well as the ubiquitous buttermilk fried chicken by making it a guiltier pleasure to enjoy as you can't help but smear the chicken fillet with its delicious honey butter. It still toys with the formula of marrying sweet and salty, but it does so in a classier manner. To make up for the guilt, opt for the All Meat Quinoa Paella. Okay, admittedly, it’s loaded with tons of red meat like fatty bacon, juicy roasted pork pieces, succulent tenderloin pieces, and duck confit, but it uses quinoa instead of Arborio rice; which undoubtedly makes it tons healthier right?
Green Pastures
4F Shangri-la Plaza Mall, East Wing, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: October 9, 2016 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua, and Jem Chua
HUKAD
Hailing from Cebu, Hukad aims to make a name for itself by offering classic Filipino fare at affordable prices. Building on the brand equity of its sister restaurant, Golden Cowrie already helps its reputation. Add the fact that it offers droolworthy Cebu Lechon also goes a long way. Sadly, they ran out of this coveted meat when my friends and I decided to try it out first time.
CRISPY PATA (P410)
If you can’t have lechon, you go for the next (deadly) thing on the menu, the Crispy Pata. The small serving looked scrawny and sad; but there was more than enough tender meat to split among ourselves. It also successfully passes the crispy-juicy-tasty trifecta!
SQUID (P245)
Hukad allows for a degree of customization in its seafood offerings. You pick your sea creature of choice; how it’s cooked (steamed, fried, or grilled), and if you’ll serve it sans sauce, ala pobre or with coconut cream. We opted for a classic grilled squid; and boy was it perfectly tender! Other good seafood options would be their Baked Bantayan Scallops (P199) and their Baby Prawns Sinigang (P255). Tip: To get the most out of their unlimited rice offering, request for garlic rice as your first scoop as all refills are strictly just plain steamed rice.
Hukad
GF Garden Restaurants, Trinoma Mall, EDSA cor North Ave., QC
Date of Visit: September 30, 2016 with Dolf Constantino and Kerwin Chua
CHIBO OKONOMIYAKI
Whenever faced with a daunting menu, there’s nothing more comforting than a set course meal. Mom and I opted for the Okonomiyaki Yakisoba Set for 2 (P980). We were seated in front of the grill which allowed us to see all the preparations up close. However, as the chefs service a number of diners at the same time, your orders won’t necessarily be prepared by the chef in front of you. On the flipside,, their exhausts work efficiently that you won’t have to worry about your hair smelling like grilled food afterwards.
CHIBO SALAD
The Chibo Salad came with a refreshingly light semi-sweet sesame dressing and a generous serving of hefty chunks of deliciously smoked bacon.
TONPEI YAKI
We were also served with a plate of the Tonpei Yaki, thin omelettes which envelope tasty slices of pork. Japanese mayonnaise and a sweet teriyaki glaze are drizzled on these triangular bite-sized pieces to complete the dish.
YAKISOBA
Its Yakisoba may have been plated sloppily, but it’s one of the best ones I’ve tried! Even if it’s not completely covered in bonito flakes, the perfectly coated noodles are tasty on their own. Of course, it helps that the noodles smelled and looked so good while being prepared in front of our eyes. It was definitely difficult not to get excited over it.
OKONOMIYAKI
The highlight of the meal is obviously the Okonomiyaki; and boy was it killer! It was crunchy on the surface, and was filled with meaty seafood bits. Of course, one can’t help but compare it to fellow okonomiyaki chain Dohtonbori. It clearly wins on taste, but Dohtonbori easily when it comes to variety (both in filling and in its menu items), accessibility, and how filling the okonomiyakis are.
Chibo Okonomiyaki
Level 2, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard cor Coral Way, Pasay City
Date of Visit: October 22, 2016 with Lily Chua
