Dining Snippets: Ping Pong Diplomacy x Seared x Yaku
PING PONG DIPLOMACY
DAN DAN CHICKEN SKIN RICE (P335)
Belonging to the quirky Tasteless Group of restaurants, Ping Pong Diplomacy is expected to churn out food that is not only delicious, but attention grabbing. The restaurant latches on the concept of serving Chinese food typically served in New York, so don’t expect homey Chinese food like those served in Binondo and Banawe; instead, expect creative dishes that aim to recreate beloved favorites into refreshed and modern versions of themselves.
TRUFFLED MUSHROOM EDAMAME DUMPLINGS (P265)
Ordering this appetizer is coupled by a warning from the restaurant’s servers: This dish is messy to eat. The silky thin siomai wrappers used could barely carry the weight of the mushroom stuffed dumplings that merely lifting them from the plate will send the piece crumbling down. The first time we were served the dish; it tasted bland, and was a bit undercooked. The kitchen staff generously gave us a new improved batch, which weren’t just cooked well but seemed to have been packed with more truffle flavor.
NOT MAPO TOFU (P345)
Ironically, Ping Pong Diplomacy’s Not Mapo Tofu is now my standard for Mapo Tofu. The sauce is a beautiful nod to its Szechuan roots, its fiery notes are tempered by the savory ground pork. What sets this mapo tofu apart from the others is that it also comes with killer slices of gloriously fatty chashu and is topped by shoestring slices of crispy leeks which are to die for. We paired this with the Dan Dan Chicken Skin Rice. Tossing squash and peas in the rice gives the dish an interesting chewy texture. Fresh smoked mushrooms and fried chicken skin pieces lend flavor to the dish. If that’s not enough to temper the heat, a glass of their HK Milk Tea (P150) should do the trick.
Ping Pong Diplomacy
3F SM Aura, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
June 12, 2017 with Lily Chua
SEARED
A CHOPS (P385)
Seared prides on its use of the sous vide technique in most of its main carnivorous offerings; however, the best part about it is that their plates come in sharing sizes with affordable price tags.
COWABUNGA (P265)
We started off our meal with the Cowabunga, a platter filled with bite-sized taco chips made with wanton chips. It was filled with a rather mediocre blend of wagyu chili ground beef, béchamel cheese sauce, and tomato salsa. One thing I appreciated about it though was the sneaky spicy kick that hits at the end of each bite.
HANNIBAL (P455)
As each main dish came with a selection of two sides each, we decided to split two orders among the three of us. We first enjoyed the A Chops; a sizeable French cut pork chop which was served with a mouthwatering delectable gravy; but unfortunately its meat was quite tough. I enjoyed the Hannibal more, as it served melt-in-your- mouth beef brisket. It also came with the same delicious gravy, which made everything taste amazingly.
Pro Tip: Opt to have its Steak Rice as a side by only adding P30/order. It helps stuff you up when splitting the dishes with other people!
Seared played host to my sendoff dinner to one of my good friends, Jha, as she embarked on a new chapter in her life in Canada.
Seared Restaurant and Lounge
Unit 9 GF Ortigas Technopoint, Julia Vargas Ave, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
May 18, 2017 with Janelle Julaton and Ton de Jesus
YAKU
YAKU PLATTER (P229)
If you need to grab a quick delicious lunch in the Ortigas area, you should definitely consider Yaku. This unassuming under-the-radar restaurant offers reasonably priced Japanese fare, and has a wide range of Japanese favorites for you to choose from. From donburi, sushi, yakitori, to ramen, Yaku definitely has something for everyone.
GYUDON (P239)
Initially, my friend Camille and I decided to order one donburi each. However, when we found out that we were both eyeing the Yaku Platter, we decided to share this as an appetizer. The platter featured Gindara, Butabara (Pork Belly), Asparamaki, Uzura (Quail Egg), Okura (Okra), and Negima (Chicken with Leeks). I applaud it for the variety in ingredients featured in the platter; unfortunately most of these were overcooked. However, with each Yakitori stick averaging P30, it’s still pretty affordable compared to other similar concepts. Fortunately, its Gyudon didn’t disappoint one bit. Apart from its generous serving of rice, its beef strips were tossed in a delicious sweet and tangy yakiniku sauce. The egg yolk and caramelized onions were welcome additions to the reasonably priced dish.
Yaku
3F The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
June 8, 2017 with Cam Carino
