A Really Confusing Dinner

this place I think, used to be a car repair shop

ChickBoy is not a boy who has a lot of chicks (girls) or neither is it a half boy and half chick (again, girl). This is actually the name of the restaurant. They rode on the name's loaded meaning to probably try to jump start their business' notoriety and therefore it's popularity.

We've been passing by this restaurant for quite sometime now since it's very close to our home. We just never really got to going in because of 1) the parking is always full, 2) restaurants that use puns are usually cheap and disgusting, and 3) the restaurant was formerly a car repair shop (if I remember correctly). This time we got a parking (sort of) and I was feeling curious.

Their specialties are chicken (Chick) and pig or baboy (Boy) in Filipino but they also have seafoods and vegetables. This restaurant also offers liquor which suggests that this is a sort of hangout place for drinkers on a Friday night.

For this visit we tried their Lechon meal, calamares fritos, eggplant and, the ever present, iced tea.

not so 'fatty' lechon bits

Location: ChickBoy, Timog Ave., Quezon City

Food Ordered and Cost: Lechon Meal P99, Calamares Fritos P150, 

Eggplant P25, Iced Tea (bottomless) P35

He says...

side-street calamares tastes even better :( 

I was a bit panicked when ordering because there was so many food and Anne was already pressuring me to pick an order so I ended up choosing the calamares fritos. The calameres itself was cooked well and the quality of the squid was excellent because it didn't feel like I was eating rubber but calamares is usually complimented by its sauce. This wasn't. We were given mayonnaise for dip. It's disgusting.

The lechon on the other hand was great! It tasted like it came from a freshly roasted pig unlike most grilled or roasted pork meat I've tasted so far. It was well matched by the sauce -- a semi-sticky mix of I-don't-know-what-but-I-like-it. It's the best lechon I've tasted ever and I regret not ordering two of this.

I did't taste the eggplant because it didn't look inviting so only Anne ate it (also because it was her order). The iced tea was very regular and no different from the ones you can make at home with ready to mix iced tea.

He rates: 5/5 lechon; 2/5 calamares; 3/5 iced tea.

he says this tastes like 'sock soup', I beg to disagree

She says...

I like how fast they served the orders. It was really amazing. If you're so hungry I guess this is the place for you. Apart from that I think they do offer unlimited rice (something which we didn't avail as "we're on a diet").

As for the food we ordered, the lechon was really yummy. I like how flavorful the roasted pork meat tasted. It also had an easy to chew-on consistency which is a major plus factor. I initially thought I would need a vinegar-garlic-salt combo for the dip but then when I tried out their sticky and clear looking sauce, it was perfect! It had the right amount of vinegar and condiments that truly made the lechon even more yummy.

pure sugar iced tea, no need for dessert!

The other food we ordered we really disappointing though. The calamari was soft, crunch and easy to chew but it merely tasted like fried flour. Even with the mayo siding, the taste did not improve.

The eggplant with bagoong on the side was alright. I looked boiled but it appeared oily. They didn't use fresh eggplant. I know this because the eggplant's texture was really rubbery.... really awful.

The free soup on the other hand was tasty. It was just a simple meat broth that reminded me of the soup my mom prepares when I'm sick.

Lastly, I really don't like their iced tea. It's so sweet. It had too much sugar in it.

She rates:  5/5 lechon, 2/5 eggplant ,  1/5 calamari,  2.5/5 iced tea

Ante-dinner Pancit Lucban Affair

a take-out food from Buddy's

Dieting is really tough when people around you tempts you with food you surely can't refuse. Yesterday, his mom brought home a box of Buddy's Pancit Lucban! Yes, indeed! It was in a box, like all other take-out food. No longer fo they serve them in bulky bilaos thus sparing them from too much foil and banana leaves!

We used to eat at Buddy's located in the open-air food plaza in Market!Market! when we visit the condo in BGC but I think it was only last year when they had opened a branch along Timog. We'd usually eat the pancit with a dozen on longganisa. Anyway, last night, we just had the pancit.

a hearty serving of pancit Lucban

Location: @home, take-out food from Buddy's

Food Ordered: Pancit Lucban

Cost: not sure

She says...

chomping on another spoonful of pancit!

This pancit from Buddy's is quite yummy. It really carries a different taste as compared to the usual pancit Canton or bihon that's traditionally served every birthday "for long life. Indeed Filipinos have such a number of beliefs and pamahiin. Going back to Buddy's pancit Lucban, it was tasty. The meat in it had bigger slices compared to the usual bits and pieces noted in commonly served pancit. It also had plenty of vegetables in it. It was really flavorful but quite oily at the same time. The pack came with vinegar and adding the vinegar into the pancit lessens the oily, greasy feeling on the palate. I really like this noodle treat. It's really something worth considering when planning the menu for my next birthday.

She rates:4/5

He says...

Buddy's restaurant has really great food and one of their specialty is the Pancit Lucban -- a noodle-type food with lots of toppings. This pancit has a lot of toppings and also varied in types. There are different vegetables and meat in it.

The oil and other seasoning give this food a very strong flavor. It's so strong that even old person can probably taste them.  If you're on a diet. This is not for you. The oil in this thing is so thick that the box it came with is soaked in it.

However, as delicious as this is, this is still not the best pancit out there.

He rates: 4.5/5

Arabian Nights Food Fest (Part2)

Falafel @Shawarma Snack Center

Another food on the menu that we tried at Shawarma Snack Center was their Humus with Pita Bread and their falafel. It was a year ago when, after that trip to Kuala Lumpur, we had been hooked into trying out food of middle eastern cuisine and the search for the best tasting humus.

plateful of humus variants and falafel balls

Location: Shawarma Snack House

Food Ordered: Humus and Falafel with Pita Bread

Cost: around P200 each

She says....

This perhaps was the best tasting humus. We got to try out 3 humus variations in this restaurant and I was overwhelmed at how tasty they were. It just had the right amount of spice and olive oil that blended perfectly right to the slightly rough texture of grounded chickpeas. Eating it with the pita bread and adding in their special garlic and chili sauces made this dish something to go crazy for. It was just so so yummy!

The falafel on the other was weird looking. Dark brown in color with the shape of a flattened ball with a hard crust (maybe this was deep fried), but with a really soft and mushy center. I believe this is made of ground vegetables and potatoes and rolled into a ball. Together with the yogurt dip, this was truly a meal  worth the second helping.

"I will consume thee!!!! Nomnomnom" - Alain

She rates: humus 5/5, falafel 5/5

He says...

When I first heard about Humus (from the move You Don't Mess With The Zohan by Adam Sandler) it sounded like some pasty stuff middle easterners just like to put on their food. Kinda like rice for us Pinoys. Since it was portrayed comically, I never had an inkling to even try it but after actually trying it out, we actually liked it.

We've tasted humus across different Middle Eastern restaurants but this restaurant has the best one. They carry three flavors and all are excellent.

The falafel was different. It was my sister's suggestion. She said it was good but she was wrong. She totally under-rated it. It was very good. It's the first time I've eaten it yet I've already fallen in-love with it. Just so yummy!

He rates: 5/5