Dining Snippets: Hatsu Hana-Tei x The Frazzled Cook x Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse
HATSU HANA-TEI
Countless friends have urged me to drop by Hatsu Hana-Tei, instead of the ever-crowded Little Tokyo; however, I was only able to try it during my farewell lunch in BPI. The cozy restaurant offered private rooms, but I’m pretty sure our table’s endless gossip and laughter permeated the entire restaurant.
SASHIMI SET (P460)
I knew I wanted a lunch set; but the question was which one. As I’m eternally craving for sashimi, it made more sense to opt for the Sashimi Set; which boasted of vibrantly fresh tasting sashimi, a cup of rice, a cup of miso soup, a cup of hot soba noodles, a pickled side, chawanmushi, an appetizer, and a dessert of your choice. All of these came at a pocket friendly price of P460. Prior to this meal, I’ve always seen Seryna’s Kaisen Gozen as a brilliant deal; however, Hatsu Hana-Tei’s Sashimi Set definitely wins. Not only does it deliver on quality, its multiple plates would definitely make your money spent worth it. It definitely made me regret not maximizing its accessibility back when I was working in Makati.
Hatsu Hana-Tei
2F Herald Suites, 2168 Don Chino Roces Ave., Pio del Pilar, Makati City
Date of Visit: August 18, 2017 with Den Avis, Gwen Chuahiock, Michelle Cruz, Hershey Rufino, and Tikay Yu
THE FRAZZLED COOK
ALAMID COFFEE (P325)
Despite being a coffee lover, I was very apprehensive in trying out the . Not only was its price point a bit on the high side, but the fact that it was made by excrement definitely doesn’t help its cause.
The restaurant offers two methods of brewing the coffee. A stronger flavor is enjoyed when done via the French Press method; while the Syphon method has more pizzazz in its presentation. The set-up of the Syphon method resembles that of a high school Chemistry experiment; as it comes with a Bunsen burner of its own.
The effect is an insanely smooth and subtle tasting cup of coffee. I didn’t have any regrets trying out its Alamid Coffee; although, I’d probably go for its French Press method next time as this cup was too light for my liking.
Alamid Coffee
78 Scout Gandia cor Tomas Morato, Laging Handa, Quezon City
Date of Visit: August 29, 2017 with Lily Chua and Jem Chua
FAT DADDY’S SMOKEHOUSE
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse boasts of a variety of smoked meats so if you’re looking to try a handful at a time; the most efficient way is to opt for its Meat Platter. An order comes with a portion of their Smoked Beef Brisket, Chicken Barbecue, Hot Links, Pork Ribs, Pulled Pork, and 4 cups of rice. Added to these would be individual servings of side dishes such as its Sesame Coleslaw, Chiquito’s Grilled Corn, and Bacon and Chives Muffin. To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed by the size of its platter and feared that it wouldn’t be enough to serve a family of five.
MEAT PLATTER (P2400)
Once we were going through it though, the platter filled us up quite quickly. I enjoyed eating all its meats as each boasted of a perfectly charred flavor; however, the standout for me would be the Smoked Beef Brisket as it wonderfully melts in your mouth. I also had fun concocting different combinations of its sauces too which paired well with the already flavorful meats. Among its sides, the Sesame Coleslaw was a table favorite. I wouldn’t mind replacing the muffin and the corn for more servings of this. The Coleslaw was crisp and came in a balanced sweet and tangy dressing. It was definitely one of the best coleslaw sides I've tried.
CHICKEN SKIN
During the time we visited, the restaurant was offering a complimentary plate of Chicken Skin as appetizer. It looked amazing; but sadly it significantly lacked crunch and seasoning. It definitely ruined the fun that typically comes with eating chicken skin.
MAC AND CHEESE (P170)
Its Mac and Cheese came served in a beautiful skillet. The sight of its generous bacon toppings made my mouth water; but unfortunately it tasted too sour owing to the decision of the restaurant to mix in its barbecue sauces. For your Mac and Cheese craving, it’s still best to satiate it with Le Petit Soufflé’s Foie Mac and Cheese or Spice and Cleaver’s Triple Bacon Mac.
Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse
GF Phase 1, UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave., Diliman, QC
Date of Visit: September 1, 2017 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua and Jem Chua
