Kimpura and others

Makati is like a ‘super no-no’ for us who live in the serene South. But a sister was visiting and amid all the fusion cuisine of many choices, the family decided to take her to a tried and tested restaurant. What better place than Kimpura in the Makati Commercial Center. We settled ourselves around a teppanyaki table and ordered what was to be a fabulous meal. There was, of course, the usual little offerings of crispy dilis with pickled veggies, but what made the day was the very thinly-sliced rolled beef which, if we heard correctly, was called Toshiyaki. We failed to ask if it was Kobe beef. What we had was definitely of premium quality. The Chef had a mound of leeks and garlic, laid the beef on the hot stove, and rolled them with the filling. Careful not to over cook, he served this with a special sweetish sauce. Perfect! We reckon that amid all the new eateries around it, Kimpura has kept its clientele, judging from the quick table turn-over. Well, you can’t knock down a good one, right?

Over at the Mandarin hotel’s Tin Hau, we had another delightful meal of special dishes featured in their recently-concluded hairy crab promotion. We actually "braved" the crustaceans, considering our delicate health. But with our good friend Charisse for company and the hotel’s Ernest Lau and young chef Chen Hann Furn giving us the savory commentary, we could not do anything but indulge. There was crab in practically every dish but they were not too filling. Furn did magic with egg whites mixed with crab meat, one was done in a soupy consistency and the other was a creamy number laid on a ‘basket’ of crispy potato fingers. One unique ingredient was the small red Chinese dates, which has a sweetish flavor, much like raisins. A friend told us these berries, as she prefers to call them, are not only flavor enhancers, but medicinal as well. Visit Tin Hau, surely the chef will only be too glad to do this for you, even though the promotion has ended.

For your Christmas gift list, in case you have not done it: A trio of ladies who love to bake–Jeangay, Beckee and Monica–are offering some goodies you might want to consider for your family or to give as presents. Labelled Sandy’s, the main products are rum cakes, in three sizes–mini, small and big–from P150 to P595 per. They also bake loaves–small and regular at P220 to P370; food from the gods, P250 for 12 pieces or P350 for 24; as well as chocolate chip cookies (oatmeal or walnut) and butterscotch bars with mango or cashew bits, also between P250 and P350. Each is beautifully packed in papier mache or hand painted material. You can call the ladies at tels 826-0552, 0917-538-8195 or 723-5218. Let them solve your gift-giving needs.

Our friend Cherry referred us to this small earth-colored store called Sugarnot. As the name suggests it carries a variety of sugar-free items. They are located in Westgate. Alabang. Unfortunately no phone lines have been installed yet in the outlet, but they have a contact number–889-3427. You can ask the security guards posted at various corners for directions. The goodies are not cheap, but you are paying for quality (all ingredients are imported). Their most popular product is the Last Temptation, a chocolate cake that goes for P128 a slice, thick and square-shaped. They have a loft where snacks and light meals are served, such as soups, salads, pasta dishes and sandwiches with either teriyaki chicken, tuna or turkey ham or cheese as filling. Their deli has Hungarian sausage, frankfurters and schublig. You can get a good cup of brewed coffee–espresso, iced or frappe–from Il Café di Caffe Mauro, a leading Italian brand. The young ladies and young men serving are gracious and helpful. Enjoy a quiet afternoon sipping your favorite brew.

We made it to S&R in Alabang on the day it formally opened. Among the staff, there was Emmy, one of the oldtimers who always remembers regular shoppers.This store sells by bulk, so if you are a small family, it is not a very practical place to shop. Anyway, we noticed the good meat and are happy about this. Price-wise, they’re not much cheaper than in other outlets–brisket at P224, T-bone at P404, roast strip loin at P414.95. Norbest turkey breast sells at P814.95, duckling at P679.95 and whole Butterball at P199.95 a kilo. Native garlic is priced at P224.94 (a few pesos more than where we get our supply) while Sinandomeng rice is P249.40 a pack of 10 kilos. The seafood includes squid at P234.95, prawns for P594,95, tilapia at P97. Cantaloupe is tagged at P59.95 a kilo while their popular rotisserie chicken sells for P199. Yes, they have the pizza and hotdog counter. And for Christmas décor, they have some of the loveliest arrangements.

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