Feta - Turkish.Greek.Mediterranean - by Chef Ibrahim Keskin

Annapolis Street in San Juan is known to be a 'mini-hub' for restaurants namely Choi Garden, Uno Seafood Restaurant, Papa John, Brasserie CiCou, Everything at Steak, Deli Master (which I still have to try), etc. I pass by them everyday when I get off at MRT Santolan-Annapolis Station. A month ago, a friend and I discovered a new place being built beside One Beverly Place and we both wondered what cuisine they will be serving. The place is called Feta and all I knew is that it was a type of cheese. When my dad and I visited my uncle who lives near the area, we both decided to drop by.

Upon entering you will see their small deli where you can buy some Greek goods and freshly baked bread.

We wanted to buy Simit unfortunately, they were sold out. 

We asked for their best-seller and they it was the Lahmahcun (pronounced as "Lamajoon") which is a thin piece of dough topped with minced meat and mixed vegetables baked on wood fire served with salad and a slice of lemon. [Price P120]. It is commonly called 'Turkish Pizza' and it was really good. It is the first time I have tried it and I'm glad I did. It's my new favorite! The dough was perfectly baked and it was full of toppings. It was already good as it is but our server taught me the 'Turkish Style' of eating it which is pouring the salad on top and rolling it to a wrap (see photo below).

 

We ordered Penne Arrabiata [Price P249] which is a simple pasta dish full of tomato flavor and just the perfect hint of chili. I think I had a bad angle, the plate looked too big but it had the right amount of serving.

I love Kebab and they have a lot of meat entries. We had a hard time deciding and ended up with Sis Kebab (Cube Meat Kebab) [Price 300 -Beef]. It is originally from Persia. Kofte (Sis) kebab is made of minced beef meatballs mixed with parsley and mint and grilled on a stick. Served with rice and salad. By the way, sorry I wasn't able to remove the pita bread on top of the kebab when I took the photo. I also had to ask for some 'garlic sauce' or yogurt. It just seems incomplete without it. The meat was tender and tasty.   

After our meal, we asked for their traditional Turkish Tea (free only for your first glass). I watched as their staff poured it from the caydanlik (aluminum kettle) and served it in a small tea cup. Tea has been a part of Turkish culture. They usually offer it to guests as a sign of their hospitality. It was a perfect way to end my meal.

I was curious on how they make their bread and the lovely Ms. Skeeter of Feta allowed me to take pictures of their beautiful oven and we also had a quick chat on their best-sellers.

I wanted to try Baklava which is a famous Turkish dessert but I was too full with all the rice, pasta and bread  that I ate (#carboload). They had Pistaschio and Walnut Baklava (priced at P180 for 3 slices).

I'm not sure if they had Borek but that would definitely be in my list to try when I get back.

This is definitely one of the best Mediterranean restaurants I've tried so far. =)

Wait, there's good news! If you happen to live along Annapolis Street, they offer free delivery but for a limited time only. Call them at 7057238 to check if the promo for free delivery (annapolis only) is still on.

Feta is located at Ground Flr. Intrawest Building, (Between Atlanta Center and One Beverly Place) Annapolis St. Greenhills, San Juan City. 

They are open from 10am to 10pm.
You can also visit their FB page here.

Love at First Bite: Segovia's Cakes and Recipes

I once got a taste of this super yummy mamon baked by a family friend, and I never forgot it. Finally, after months of craving, my folks and I finally dropped by their cafe - Segovia's Cakes and Recipes along Vicente Lim St. in Little Baguio, San Juan. 

 

I finally found a place where I could chill and enjoy my 'alone time'. 

They offer pasta, rice meals,sandwiches and desserts and they have affordable prices.

I liked their customized furniture with the owner's old Archie comics collection. It brought back childhood memories.

They prepared for us a very delicious snack- tuna sandwich and their best-selling chicken sandwich which is REALLY REALLY GOOD. The secret is that they make their own special bread for the sandwiches.

With all the food that I ate, unfortunately my tummy didn't have space for dessert =(

But I have already tried their chocolate cake and their cheesecake before and they are both good.

 

I have to try their custard cakes next time.

It is a perfect place to enjoy a quiet Saturday afternoon. It is tucked away from the busy streets and it's not crowded like the usual coffee shops.

Ofcourse I wouldn't leave without ordering their melt-in-your-mouth and famous mamon. 

In fact, it just came out of the oven when we arrived and the place was smelling like butter.

Since a piece wouldn't be enough, we bought a dozen. (#takaw)

It was really soft and tasty and it is perfect with a good hot cup of coffee. I brought some to our office and everyone who got a taste of it was instantly hooked.

I will definitely be back for the pasta and more cakes. Special thanks to Tita Carmen Segovia for the delicious meal. 

Visit them at #28 Gen.Vicente Lim St. Little Baguio San Juan City (near Xavier school)

or if you wish to order their cakes and super delicious mamon, call them (preferably a day before) at 7252849/ 7274616/ 4772229 

The Tipsy Pig

First of all I would like to thank my best friend Monica who introduced me to this awesome place and took the photos. After going to a bridal fair at MOA, we went to Capital Commons (near Kapitolyo) and had a late lunch at Tipsy Pig.

Address: Capitol Commons, Meralco Avenue corner Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City
Tel. No. 570-4620
Open from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Monday to Friday) and until 4 a.m. (Saturday to Sunday)

My favorite was the Belly Sisig Tacos (P280). It was really unique and surprisingly good. I was expecting to see the usual sisig (swimming in oil) but this one was creamy. I loved that it has some chopped pork belly which added crunch and it had sauce for more flavor. THE BEST!

We also ordered Flaming Wings (295), which was really spicy. I wasn't able to handle the 'hotness' but with the dip, it was a good combo.

My second favorite would be The Dirty Mexicana (360) which is perfect for sharing. I loved the tortilla chips (thin and crispy) and how soft the beef is. The cheese and sour cream on top just made it addicting. 

We also tried the Rigatoni Pasta with Spicy Shrimp (P260) which is a tomato-cream based pasta. If you're the type who likes their pasta plain and simple (like me), then this one is for you. You might like to share it with someone because you might find the sauce too rich in flavor and not be able to finish it.

To cap off our meal (and to tone down the spicyness), we ordered lemonade and red iced tea. (Can I just say I also love their mason jars?) =)

While Tipsy Pig is known for their signature drinks (their salted caramel beer got me curious), I must say they also have good food and nice ambiance. This place is packed 8pm onwards, especially during weekends. Good thing they are still open until wee hours of the morning (habol pa). I'll definitely be back and try their salmon steak and some cocktails.

Project Pie

I've always loved pizza but I have this bad habit of removing the toppings I don't like (pineapple, pepperoni etc) So when I heard about Project Pie is opening in Manila, I knew it must be for me.

My friends and I went there one Saturday morning around 11 am. Good thing there were still available seats.

I loved how this place was designed, from the quote-covered walls, to the hanging lamps and the simple yet modern interiors.

Design. Build. Eat - Project Pie allows you to pick from their set meals or start with a bare base then customize it to your own taste. 

This was the most time-consuming part - deciding what to get. Everything in the menu looked yummy. 

I decided to create my own pizza, using #4 as the set toppings (sliced tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, mozzarella, parmesan and garlic) with more cheese and more mushrooms (customize part). While you're picking your toppings, you could watch their staff create your meal thus assuring that it's super clean. I would also like to commend how friendly their staff was. They even suggested other toppings that would go well with my pizza.

I also ordered their traditional sweet China Mist tea which was totally different from the usual ones you get from restaurants. You could taste that it's really tea and not powdered. They have traditional sweet, sweet peachy green and freshly brewed unsweetened black tea. I'm not really into tea but I surprisingly liked it. I tried both the traditional and peachy one but I couldn't really say the difference. My bill was P 350.00

After a few minutes my name was called and my lunch was served hot and crisp, fresh from their oven.

This was my friend Kai's own mix.

and my friend Victor's.

By the entrance, they have a little photo booth and I told my friends we couldn't leave without a souvenir. You could immediately tag it to your twitter/IG account.

This was actually our first shot but I think the guy at the back wasn't too happy about it. =P

One order is just perfect for me. (Sorry Kai there was no more room to try the Nutella pizza) I'm glad to see that after finishing my meal, my plate/tray was empty and there were no topping leftovers.

Project Pie is located at 1555 Laurel Street cor. Shaw Boulevard Brgy. Wack Wack Mandaluyong Metro Manila (beside Lee Gardens)

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new" -Einstein

(one of my favorite quotes on the wall of Project Pie)