Teriyaki romance at John and Yoko

It was a lazy sunday afternoon, perfect time to watch a movie and Life of Pi is showing in theaters. I BBMed a good friend from her rabbit hole and just like that, all was set. I tagged along with her and her little sister's Alabang trip and a company of three who loves to eat and watch good films made a Sunday afternoon awesome.

I can go on and tell you about how brilliant a film Life of Pi is, but this is a blog about my love for food so we are talking about my Chiken Teriyaki Roll at John and Yoko. It's Japanese food today, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's start with the restaurant name. I think it's pretty creative coming up with pop culture couple for a restaurant name. It gives it a good recall. When I first heard about it from a cousin, I wondered if it's a fusion of English and Japanese food but the emphasis was actually on Yoko. The actual feel inside the place was a bit eccentric with its dim red lighting and Safari-inspired chairs. Before you forget that you are in a Japanese restaurant amidst leopard, snake, tiger, and zebra prints on the chairs, you will have a hushed Japanese film flashed on the red velvet-covered wall. I realized that the red interior would stimulate appetite and conversation, according to the psychology of colors.

Japanese Safari?

Oh My Silindro!

Grilled foods ignite my appetite. I grew up with my father always preparing grilled fish such as "matambaka" ,"tulingan", grilled squid, and even grilled bat at some point. His legacy to me was I became fascinated playing around with barbecue marinade (since I am a meat-lover) that I already have my signature mix. I can talk about it in my future posts. In the mean time, I'll tell you about my guilty pleasure whenever I crave for grilled pork. With this kind of craving, one place is the default of my hungry tummy -- Faustina's, a quaint little food stop and my second favorite restaurant in Los Banos, featuring their Silindro Ribs. It IS my favorite grilled ribs in town.

Isn't it mouth-watering?

They come in small packages

One of the things I am fascinated about Korean food is how they would serve it in small saucers in small quantities and let you do the mixing and matching. I am not a fan of Korean food (nor KPop) but I am starting to educate myself with bibimbap and kimchi and yes, eating in extra-small plates.

I was tagged along by an Ate to her dinner date with another Ate and last night, the plan was Korean. We went to this place called 88 Spa, which is situated in the boundary of Calamba City and Los Banos, just before you pass by the "Welcome to Los Banos" arch.

We had two rounds of Sam Gyup Sal. The set came with several small plates containing one ingredient or recipe per plate. I give Koreans the credit for paying attention to details and for tricking my tummy into thinking that there are a lot food served on the table. Just by looking at them makes me feel full already.

So they served us with three different greens for which lettuce is the only one I recognized. They also have this fried thinly-sliced pork belly chopped to bite sizes. The other "ingredients" for the course were served in these little saucers. We had this one that's like the Pinoy's "piniritong talong" (fried eggplant), boiled string beans, fried tofu in egg, dried anchovies (my favorite in the bunch!), potato salad, and of course, kimchi. What is Korean dining without the kimchi, right? I am yet to learn how to like it though. The fermented odor and the funny taste doesn't excite my taste buds.

Sam Gyup Sal and my fresh buko shake

Tres Indios en Crisostomo

Last week was fast-paced as we had our first young scientists conference but there was a sense of accomplishment from all the finished tasks that a reward is inevitable. From here on, when I say "reward", I usually refer to treating myself with good food. It was Tuesday afternoon and off we went, my two friends and I, amidst the 5:00 PM rush and the threat of rain, to Nuvali, Sta. Rosa. Worn-out scientists definitely need a break. 

You must be lucky if you have friends who are also food lovers. Food and friends always make good combinations. Add good conversation and the whole dining experience will be perfect! And so the three hungry tummies decided to eat at Crisostomo. 

Crisostomo is by far,  the Filipino restaurant I've been to that has the most diverse food options with recipes named after characters of Noli Me Tangere (e.g. Crazy Sisa Squid, Achara ni Ibarra, Sisig Isagani, the list goes on). Crisostomo in itself is the name of the main character in the novel. It has a Filipino-Hispanic feel and the wooden tables and chairs made me feel like my mother is going to serve my dinner. I am a fan of "lutong-bahay" and I can't wait to place our order.