Zubuchon : Not Everything It's Cracked Up to Be

Last month, I had to fly to Cebu for work. I took the opportunity to try Zubuchon, touted as the "Best pig ... EVER!" by chef/critic Anthony Bourdain.

Lechon, for those who don't know (where have you been, people?) is roasted pig. In the Philippines, it's cooked over an open fire pit and rotated slowly for several hours. Zubuchon lechon, I was told, is bathed in coconut milk and rubbed with different spices such as lemon, thyme, olive oil. No MSG. While roasting, the skin is pricked so the flavor of the rubs penetrate the meat.

Who says pigs can't fly?

There are about 4 outlets of Zubuchon in Cebu. Since we came from Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, it was easier to go near the one at Capitolyo building on Escario Street just beside 7-11 and before McDonalds. It's less than 2km away from the hotel but with traffic it took about 20 minutes. 

Nice, clean and cool restaurant

There were plenty of tables on a Tuesday afternoon. The restaurant was nice, clean and had big floor to ceiling windows on 2 sides. Even though it was located just along a busy street, the bamboo trees outside gave the customers some privacy. 

Some items on display:

Chicharon galore! P100 for 100 grams and P200 for 200 grams

they sold some marmalade as well

looks interesting

At the end of the restaurant is the room where you can see your lechon being chopped up. White, easy to hold boxes are ready for those who want to take some for pasalubong.

Kamias shake P95

My friend Ana insisted that I try their Kamias drink. Despite the fact that I don't like sour drinks, I decided to try one and boy, was I glad I did. Really refreshing, right amount of sweetness and did not have the cringe tingling sourness of the raw kamias fruit. There is some sourness but it was not too much that it overwhelms you. Really, really excellent.

Of course, we were there for the lechon. 

which to choose? 

Aside from the obvious, the waiter couldn't tell us the difference between boneless and with bone-in Zubuchon. I gather it has something to do with "dark meat" vs "white meat"? Nevertheless, only the Boneless Zubuchon was available so that settles that. 

Zubuchon Rice Meal P160

The lechon meat was not as salty as the other ones I tasted in Cebu. The skin was a bit thick but still crunchy and nicely flavored. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the layer of fat sticking to the skin. It was oily. I couldn't help but compare it to another store selling lechon which is CNT. At CNT, the skin is like really sinfully bad potato chips with little fat. Maybe the fat on Zubuchon lechon has something to do with the pigs coming from non-commercial piggeries?

Mungo with Zubuchon Meat and Chicaron Bits P190

The mungo is good for 2, packs a good flavor and plenty of meat but a bit watery.

Slow Cooked Adobo Rice Meal P110

Nicely caramelized bit of pork. Reminds me of my mom's adobo when she would simmer it low for a couple of hours until all the sauce is cooked out. Unfortunately, it was too much fat that you really couldn't taste the meat itself.

Sylvannas

I couldn't remember how much the Sylvannas were but it was really nice. I like the original one - not too sweet and just the right amount of crunch. The oreo one was also good but the original one was the best. 

rice meals good for 1

The Verdict? 

For the ambiance, cleanliness and variety of the food not to mention excellent Kamias shake, I would go to Zubuchon. For lechon pasalubong? I will still go to good ol' CNT. 

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They have 4 branches throughout Cebu for dine in or just to buy kilos of lechon for pasalubong. However, if you don't have the time to go, they have a small kiosk at the pre-departure lounge of the airport where you can buy pre-packed 1 kilo lechon to take home or eat a simple meal like the one above. They would even pack the meal for you should you want to eat on the plane. Note that the prices at the airport is about 30% more. 

Location: 

Zubuchon Escario

Escario Bldg. Escario St.

Cebu City

Tel #: (032) 583 – 5699

Zubuchon Capitol

Capitol Site, Cebu City

Tel #: (032) 254 – 7342

Zubuchon Mango

Mango Ave. Bldg

Cebu City

Tel #: (032) 239 – 5697

Cru Steakhouse At Marriott : Swankiest Yet

I don't usually eat at hotel restaurants because, well, it's freaking expensive :-) So when I found myself at Cru Steakhouse Restaurant at Marriott Hotel located at New World Resort, Pasay on a Wednesday night, it was courtesy of a generous friend.

First impression? Swanky! The interior is very dark and luxurious, the banquet seating was very very comfortable and curved just right at the back, menu had leather covering and the stiff paper inside feels like it was just printed that day. There is an open kitchen in the middle where you can see all your food being prepared. 

Complimentary bread

The complimentary bread was very generous and had three flavors; spinach, herb and cheese. Very soft and freshly baked. It was accompanied by a soft cheese with red peppercorn and butter. Yum! 

French Onion Soup with Gruyere Toast- P350

The French Onion Soup was served in a shallow bowl with a crusty bread and shredded cheese on top. First time I ate French Onion Soup so forgive my ignorance when I was so surprised that you could hardly taste the onion. The broth had deep flavor, robust and did not need any adjustment at all. Very good and it was enough for two ... or one hungry customer. 

Shrimp Gumbo with Long Grain Rice - P350

I liked the grilled prawn on top of the Shrimp Gumbo with Long Grain Rice. The grilling really adds something to the seafood base. I like the grittiness of the vegetables and the broth itself was superb. There were some white rice which I found odd but hey, it works. Very nice comfort soup especially on a cold night. 

Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Asian Slaw and
Warm Potato Salad - P1,100

Sadly, our budget was limited so we weren't able to order the steak which starts at about P2,500++ (that would already be my family's market budget for the week). Instead, we ordered the Bourbon Glazed Salmon and Barbeque Ribs.

I have never been a fan of Salmon. The only one I tolerate is the Baked Salmon at Conti's and only then because it has the garlic/cheese topping. May I say now that the Bourbon Glazed Salmon at Cru's blew me away! First, the size was big - about 250 grams. It was more than enough for 2 person. They served it to us very hot (even at the center) but not overcooked. The taste is amazingly fresh. Although the potato salad was okay, the Asian slaw had that right combination of sweet and sour. A week later and I am still raving about it and want to order it again. This will be the salmon which I will gauge all salmon from now on :P hehe. 

Full Rack of BBQ Ribs with Asian Slaw - P1,300

Since we were so enamored with the Salmon, we didn't get to the BBQ Ribs until very much later and unfortunately it got cold. Nevertheless, it was still good. Could be better since they were so stringy with the sauce. We had to ask the waiter if we can have more BBQ sauce and it was a bit of a wait since they had to make it from scratch. Unlike the other ribs were you have to scrape the bones to get some meat, this one had a good amount of meat on it. Big enough for 3 person. You can choose 2 side dishes with the ribs.We ordered baked potato (the sour cream, chives and bacon bits are on the side) and grilled Portobello Mushroom. First time I tasted Portobello Mushroom and again, amazing. I could have put that mushroom on a burger bun and called it a day. 

We skipped dessert because we were already full and all the ones with chocolate were not available. 

The Verdict?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of my budget. You eat here if you have something special to celebrate or you have monstrous discounts (like my friend). But if you have the means, then definitely splurge. The quality and quantity of the food is superb. For me, I would definitely save up and try their steak next time. 

Our total bill was around P4000 ++ (with a glass of sparkling wine for my friend). With the 50% membership discount and P1000 discount coupon, my friend only paid about P995. Score! For regular meals, expect to shell out P2,000 - P2,500/person.

Reservation is a must.

They have set menus that the waitstaff said was especially created by the Executive Chef to make a perfect meal. Find the complete set here. 

Cru Steakhouse - Marriott Hotel

Resorts World

Newport, Pasay

Tel 63-2-9889999

Va Bene Pasta Deli : Sosyal Gas Station Food

Gone are the days when a gas station is where you get, well, gas and maybe grab a quick snack from the convenience store. Now, we have super gas stations with fast foods, outlets stores and small playground for kids. But high end food establishment? This I got to see.

At the second floor of a building inside Petron gas station at Pasay Road corner Edsa (right across from Dusit Thani Hotel and beside MRT Ayala Station) in Makati is this small food establishment called Va Bene Pasta Deli.

simple sign 

Although small and unassuming, it hides an impressive lineage. Opened by Chef Massimo, the former Chef de Cuisine of Mi Piace of Peninsula Manila, their website calls this the "only Italian restaurant in the Philippines who serve all fresh pasta everyday - no boxed pasta!". Our Awesome Planet says its "Best authentic Italian place in Makati". Really? Well, with that come-on, of course we had to try it.  

very small space - probably good for 20-25 people 

We came in the night before a holiday. Traffic was crawling, as usual, but we were able to arrive at 6pm. Good thing we called in for reservation since the space was small and it quickly filled up. 

complimentary bread with tomato and EVOO dip

Started with complimentary dip - nothing special but we were already hungry so this was gone in a nanosecond.

Polpette which is traditional Italian meatball cooked

in tomato sauce with ricotta cheese in thyme crostone - P390

The Polpette were huge!  The picture above didn't do it any justice but each one is the size of a small closed fist. Each serving had 4 meatballs (!) and could easily be shared by 4 people. No kidding. The sauce was really really good - not too sour like some other tomato based sauce -  with a hint of sweetness. The meatball did not have any extenders like carrots or whatnot. It tastes like good meat loaf. The ricotta cheese on the bread was a bit bland. I wanted to ask for salt or pepper but was afraid that it might insult the chef.

Paperdelle with chicken bolognese, fresh tomatoes and
pecorini cheese- P450

Paperdelle are these long, very broad pasta noodles similar to wide fettuccine. The dish may sound and look simple but it was packed with really nice flavor. I thought they'd use the same sauce as that on the Polpette but thank the heavens they didn't. I hate having 2 dishes taste the same. The paperdelle sauce had a more subtle taste but the noodle is the star. Cooked al dente, it tasted light and fresh. Did not have that starchy aftertaste that some pasta dishes have. Maybe making the pasta from scratch does make a difference.

Crab Tortelloni with prawns and zucchini in safron
seafood sauce - P450

This one is my favorite. Tortelloni are pasta shaped like belly buttons and usually stuffed with meat or cheese. At Va Bene, they stuffed theirs with crab. I was pleasantly surprised that the crab meat seemed fresh and they were quite generous. Safron seafood sauce was soooooo good. Sosyal or not, I had to scrape the last bit of sauce. Love, love, loved it! Good, earthy flavor which has the making of a good soup.

the best according to Esquire

Lemon Tart with Coffee Ice Cream and Fig Compote - P190

This dessert had a crusty layer on top that had the quality of a creme brulee. The tart itself was too lemony for my taste (not too fond of sour desserts) and the crust was very good although a bit thick. The fig compote was okay. The ice cream was the best (Selecta, I was told). Combine everything and it was a very nice dessert. 

at night

The Bad and the Ugly

*  Space is limited so better make reservation. You can still take your chances by getting there early and the waiters will usually accommodate you up to a specific time. Limited space means limited place where you can put your bags :( 

* Parking area is almost non-existent and very hard to navigate. Expect to double park and pay a parking fee. Va Bene does have parking validation for only up to an hour. Parking fee is P30/hour. No other place to park in that area. Well, unless you live in Dasma (good for you, lucky *).

* Even though the food and prices feels like high end dining, the interior is not. Not a fan of canteen- like tables (similar to what you find in food courts) which wobbles and isn't a great height to eat since you have to scrunch down low. Uncomfortable plastic chairs.

* The staff were friendly but could use a little bit more training. When a customer complained that the risotto was too salty, the waiters didn't offer to do anything. The customer complained to 2 or 3 times before the manager came over and asked if they wanted to have it changed. He shouldn't have asked and just offered to replace it.Also, found it a bit annoying that they tell all walk in customers up to what time a specific table is only available. Which means this is not a good place to have a romantic, lingering dinner.

* The menu doesn't have pictures. Sorry, what can I say? I'm a visual person.

* Price is a bit steep - expect to shell P600-800 per person. But based on the quality and quantity of the food, I say this is very reasonable. I grumbled only once about the price. 

After the bad comes the good

Food was very very good. Nice and flavorful.  Best of all, they served all the dishes very hot (temperature) which I liked. They also served the 2 entrees together which I appreciated. The servings is good for 1-2 person. If you are a group of 3-4, 2 entrees and 1 appetizer is really enough. Although the prices were a bit high, I believe that the quality of the food as well as the quantity makes it worth the price.

The Verdict?

Liked the fact that it's accessible to the public and so quirky that it's inside a gas station. So far, I loved the food that I have tasted. I would definitely go back to try other things on the menu. Based on the sosyal people dining that night with a lot of foreigners mixed in, it looks like they were all really impressed about the food. Even the complaining risotto customer demolished all his pastas.

Although there were lots of minuses (price, parking, space, staff),  the taste and quality of the food gives it a slight edge over the negative. You could easily see the dishes being served in a hotel and getting a bill 2x the amount they were charging.

Good food and worth coming back. 

PS. There is a good lechon stall beside Va Bene which serves Negros Occidental garlic lechon. The skin is thicker than the Cebu lechon but still very crispy. The meat really does have that great garlic flavor. Good vinegar sauce that packs a punch. Worth trying. Too bad we were really full from dinner when we passed by but they graciously offered us a taste. Name of the store is General's Lechon tel 4086850 / 9665099/ 09178532466 www.generals-lechon.com

Va Bene Pasta Deli
Tues- Sundays

Lunch - 11:30am to 2:30pm
Dinner - 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Available for delivery/pick-up

Telephone:
02-5569442 / 6227373
09175503817

Recommendation of the Week: Mocha Mudpie

Hands down my all time favorite dessert: Mocha Mudpie from TGIF Restaurant.

Mocha Mudpie - P295

Their menu shows this as a "rich chocolate almond mousse and coffee ice cream frozen in a chocolate crumb crust topped with hot fudge and almond slices". NOT your ordinary ice cream cake. The mousse is a perfect accompaniment to the soft yet still firm coffee ice cream. The hot fudge is very thick and not your usual Hershey's chocolate syrup in a bottle. The slivers of almond is generously added on top and adds a nice crunch to the dessert.

Price is a bit steep but this is good for 3-4 person (skip the overpriced drinks ;p). Trust me, no matter how full you are, order this one for dessert.

Food Porn

An unfamiliar term that I encountered recently in an episode of the TV show "Ang Pinaka". They were doing a countdown of the most popular picture trends right now and number 4 on their list was Food Porn. I was like, wth?

According to urbandictionary.com, Food Porn is:

"Taking mouthwatering pictures of delicious foods and proliferating them throughout various social media websites as status updates, thus tempting all those not even currently hungry into getting a food hard-on and getting food-horny and blowing all of their heroic dieting efforts to hell."

Can't be more graphic than that :D

If I take food pictures with the primary purpose of arousing one's desire for food, does that make me a food pornographer? Hmm .... certainly food for thought. Anyways, here are some of my food porn collection. 

Tamarind Shrimp from Bawai's

Buon Giorno Salad

Eggs Benedict from Breakfast at Antonio's

Sausage Platter from Poco Deli

Devil's Pancake from Breakfast at Antonio's

Frozen Margarita from Mesa

Prosciutto El Funghi Pizza from Buon Giorno

Lasagna from Buon Giorno

Pistachio Sansrival from Buon Giorno

Hope to add more in the future!

Zark's Burger : Bigger is Better?

I love living in Paranaque these days. A lot of food establishments have been opening up lately especially in the BF Homes area that there is really no need for me to go anywhere else. So, with the willing help of my family and close friends, I have resolved to try the different restaurant/cafe/kiosk  in this part of the South.

First up is Zark's Burger which is located along President's Avenue.

We came in Saturday morning around 11am. No one was there but by lunch time, all the other tables were occupied. Place was very simple, clean and unassuming. Had a little bit of cafeteria vibe.

Nachos - P85

Their Nachos, which is P85, was good for 2-3 person. The chips were ordinary, the cheese was not cheez whiz (thank God), there were a good amount of real bacon bits and the salsa was freshly made. The only weird part for me was the white sauce which tasted like mayonnaise. Additional salsa is P15. 

Zark's Burger : 1/4 burger with cheese sauce in a bed of veggies topped
with mushroom and bacon - P130

Philly Cheesesteak Burger : 1/4 burger with chopped onion, sirloin strips
and cheese sauce - P180

Burger from Hell : Cayene burger topped with onions and chili,
chili garlic oil and chili cheese sauce - P135

Double Bacon Cheeseburger - P185

The more bigger burgers (more expensive) already have fries and ice tea. But for the others, you need to pay an additional P25. Their burger patties are big and doesn't taste like they put in a lot of  extenders. The bun was beautifully grilled and has that nice toasted texture. The cheese sauce was plenty. However, aside from the Burger from Hell, the taste of the burgers were a bit bland. Kudos for them, though, for providing mustard condiment. 

Fried Snickers with Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce - P125

Not-so-little sis was inordinately fascinated with the Fried Snickers. I was expecting a very hard and oily chocolate candy. Happy to find I was wrong. The heat melted the Snickers bar enough so that the chocolate was soft but not melted and the fried batter was not oily at all. Ice cream on top was perfect. 

happy family

Zark's Burger is at a 2nd floor of a building located along President's Avenue just a couple of minutes from the BF entrance. It's on the left side across from A1 Driving School. 

The Verdict? 

Burgers were definitely bigger than those from most fast food restaurants, lots of different kinds to choose from, ingredients seems fresh and plenty but the burger patties itself is a little bit shy on the flavor side. Still, overall, their burgers were not bad for the size and price. 

*********************

Although already full, couldn't help but be tempted by the cake shop a couple of doors away titled Cake 2 Go. 

Not-so-little sis recommended I try their Dulce De Leche Cheesecake. I wasn't that impressed at first taste but then as I ate more, I began to like the fact that it wasn't too sweet. It had that delicate leche flan flavor and not too dense cheesecake texture. Overall, this makes me intrigued to try the other cakes as well. Thankfully, they sell their cakes per slice as well. Will definitely try more when I pass this store again.