Mad about FOOD

Here’s another thing about me: I’m not very adventurous when it comes to pasta dishes. My tastebuds are so accustomed to the sweet Pinoy-style spaghetti that is a common treat in kiddie parties. There was a time when I considered Jolly Spaghetti (from Jollibee) as my comfort food. I don’t particularly fancy sauces like puttanesca, arrabiatta or pomodoro, and I probably couldn’t tell rotini from fusilli. But on rare occasions, I let the foodie in me take over so I try different kinds of pasta specialties.

It seems that everybody is raving about Amici di Don Bosco so, one day, off my Bea and I went to Don Bosco in Makati. As expected, there was a long list of pasta dishes to choose from. My head reeling in confusion, I ordered the tagliatelle ai funghi misti (P180) since we both love mushrooms. It has mixed mushrooms in red sauce, and is served with a piece of bread smeared with pesto. We also had a prosciutto pizza (P250) and orange juice (P75/carton) to wash them down. Honestly, I don’t think we will be going back to Amici after sampling the pasta, which tasted as flat as the noodles. It’s so bland that I wondered if they’ve ever heard of ‘herbs and spices.’ I’m sure a lot of Amici fans will disagree about that, but, as I always say–to each his own (taste).

For many of us, it’s a little-known fact that Yellow Cab Pizza Co. is an original Filipino business venture. Since its inception in 2001, we’ve always assumed that it’s an international franchise, given its name, the modern minimalist interiors, and the images of the Big Apple displayed in all of its stores. So it comes as a surprise to learn that the chain is actually as Pinoy as Jollibee.

Now this one I know many will agree: the Charlie Chan chicken pasta (P185-regular order; P95-half order, available in selected branches) from Yellow Cab is a real delight! Full-packed with flavor, it has chicken strips, shiitake mushrooms (YUM!) and roasted peanuts in a mildly spicy oriental sauce. I have actually elevated it to my list of feel-good foods. It’s so delicious that I have an insatiable appetite for it. I crave it day after day. Whoever came up with this recipe deserves my gratitude.

Sometimes, one finds something good from an unlikely place. At best, one would expect excellent cakes and sandwiches from a coffee/espresso shop. But aside from great cakes, sandwiches and its signature drinks, the pasta marinara (P200) from Mocha Blends is also a smart choice. It has hefty potions of seafoods like squid rings, mussels and shrimps. The sauce is a nice blend of sun-ripened tomatoes, herbs and parmesan cheese. The pasta goes really well with the garlic bread that comes with it. Actually, the Mocha Blends garlic bread basket (in the background - P70) is one of my Bea’s favorites. She’s crazy about it!

What they say is true: you’ll never know if something is good unless you try it. So who knows, maybe one day I will be harping on the best puttanesca in town?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 2:53 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.