Dining Snippets: Cocina Peruvia x Birdhouse x Restoran Garuda
COCINA PERUVIA
Cocina Peruvia has been around for a while but it never really struck me as a must-try restaurant. It just so happened that I took advantage of the lack of queue outside the then-newly opened Xing Fu Tang in Podium that my mom noticed Cocina Peruvia nearby and suggested we try it out.
ADOBO PERUVIA (P400)
I would always have a soft spot for grilled or roasted pork belly so as soon as I spotted the Adobo Peruvia on the menu, I immediately wanted to have it. We were served with a brightly colored bed of pork belly slices layered with a delectably light cream sauce with fresh tomatoes and onions as garnish to lend the dish that extra crunch. The pork belly slices were tender and boasted of a gorgeous charred flavor. It’s a bit on a salty side but the cream sauce and the garnish help balance the flavor out. A larger serving size can be opted for this dish which fetches a price of P1190.
ARROZ CON MARISCOS (P450)
We also had the Arroz Con Mariscos which was a skillet of spiced rice topped with well-seasoned shrimps, mussels, and squid rings. This rice dish was actually really tasty but should come with a warning sign as it unapologetically packs in a strong cumin flavor; which is an extremely acquired taste. A larger serving size can also be opted for this dish for a price of P1190.
Cocina Peruvia
5th Floor, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Date of Visit: March 16, 2019 with Lily Chua
BIRDHOUSE
We’re undeniably a nation addicted to good old fried chicken; but if you’re looking for an alternative to our beloved fast food fare, Birdhouse spices things up by pairing their poultry with an interesting assortment of sauces and sides.
BARNYARD B (P175)
Meals are competitively priced at less than P200, which makes it for a good lunch alternative during no-baon work days. I opted for the Barnyarn B which came with one piece of chicken, your choice of side and dipping sauce, and crispy chicken skin. Since it was my first time in Birdhouse, I opted for the original variant (they do have a spicy version), and paired it with their Korslaw (their version of coleslaw) and Peach BBQ Sauce. The chicken was freshly cooked and came with an amazingly crunchy skin. The coleslaw was passable; while the Peach BBQ Sauce was too sweet for my liking. Fortunately, the chicken was well-seasoned on its own that it didn’t need any sauce to hype up the flavor. Ultimately, it was a good meal but still has a long way to go if you compare it to Bad Bird.
Birdhouse
2F Veranda, Robinsons Galleria, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
Date of Visit: March 14, 2019
RESTORAN GARUDA
One thing I love about Singapore is that it’s a melting pot of various cuisines. During my four month stay in sunny Singapore, I didn’t just fell in love with Singapore and Malay cuisine; but I also developed an affinity for Indonesian cuisine. I used to frequent Riverside Indonesian BBQ, a mainstay in KopiTiam branches which specializes in the Indonesian style of barbecued protein such as the Ayam Panggang (Chicken), Sotong Panggang (Squid) and Ikan Panggang (Fish); all of which are clothed in a tasty and addicting thick black sauce that you’d simply love to soak your rice in and pair your chili sauce with!
AYAM PANGGANG (P325)
It’s rare to see an Indonesian restaurant in Manila; and it’s an even rarer feat to see Ayam Panggang on the menu; so I felt like the stars aligned for me to be in Restoran Garuda. One glance at the dish though was all it took for my heart to sink. The chicken resembled a Chicken Teriyaki dish more than the Ayam Panggang in my mind. Objectively speaking, it was a decent chicken dish. It was juicy, it came with a nice charred and torched skin, and its sauce was palatably sweet. It just was a complete departure from what I had in mind.
TRUFFLE FRIES (P99)
Obviously not Indonesian in descent but I always have a penchant for fries. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a brilliant choice as the wedges weren’t crispy, were served with ketchup (I’m really not a fan of this condiment), and weren’t even seasoned well. It served as a nice meal filler; but nothing more.
DAGING RENDANG (P360)
Interestingly, the restaurant serves a variety of Rendang; also serving up vegetarian and chicken variants in its menu. However, I opted for the traditional Daging Rendang (beef sirloin) which came in an earthy spiced sauce which paired well with rice. Unfortunately, the beef sirloin was a bit on the tough side.
NASI GORENG SPECIAL (P270)
You can’t have an Indonesian meal without the ubiquitous Nasi Goreng. Again, Restoran Garuda gives you the option of topping your fried rice with chicken, beef or vegetarian. It was a pretty decent rendition of such a classic Indonesian dish. It was flavorful, it came with the works (fried egg, sambal chili and prawn crackers), and it was reasonably priced.
Overall though, I wasn’t impressed with Restoran Garuda’s dishes. They were decent-tasting and filling but nothing was spectacular about them.
Restoran Garuda
166 Salcedo Street, GF, Beneficial Life Building, Legazpi Village, Makati City
Date of Visit: March 16, 2019 with Lily Chua
