#danielaeats: ooma

Finally got to try another Moment Group and Chef Bruce Ricketts restaurant that's been on my "to visit" list for a while now. Ooma, I finally got to you!

I've been hearing a lot about this place and have seen several photos of the different dishes on my Instagram feed, so when I got there I sort of had an idea of what to order. I went with Anton and we both wanted to try out different dishes so we decided to share everything.

A few things to know:
It's not as expensive as you'd expect (Php 200 - Php 500 dishes)
Unlimited white rice
You brush your kikoman on the maki. They served this sauce in a small cylinder with a brush, unlike other Jap restaurants where you dip your sushi in a small kikoman sauce bowl.

Salmon Skin Aburi Maki Php 265

We were choosing between this and another best seller with tuna, but since we were also getting the Spicy Tuna Maki, our waiter suggested we try the Salmon Skin Aburi.

I'm not usually a fan of complicated maki (I always go for the basic toro, shake or kani), but this one will have to be an exception. This maki contained torched salmon, crispy salmon skin, cheese, asparagus, and some sauce, and altogether it was actually really delicious. It looks a little heavy but the sizing of the maki just makes it right so that you don't get so stuffed from the dish.

Spicy Tuna Maki Php 245

This would have to be closest to the Nihonbashitei Spicy Toro Maki because of the sauce. It's a good thing that they don't make the maki drown in it so you can still taste the rest of the maki without the sauce overpowering it. It didn't really stand out among the dishes we had, but it was still delicious. I just always need my spicy tuna fix in any Jap restaurant so I had to order!

Uni Udon Php 495

This Udon is probably the most photographed dish from Ooma that I see on my feed. I was so curious about it so it was a sure order when we went. Upon getting the bowl, I was surprised to see that it's much bigger than it looks in photos. I wasn't surprised though that it was freakin delicious. No wonder it's a must have when visiting Ooma.

Note: It's also really heavy and rich. If you do decide to order this, it might be too much to have only this for your meal. I suggest you share it with 3-4 people while enjoying other dishes because with this alone, you'll be stuffed and probably tired of the taste before you're halfway.

Hanger Steak Php 495

My favorite! Because it has truffle, of course! The steak was so soft and the serving generous, I was absolutely happy upon seeing it because I thought it would come out small. Luckily it was just enough for Anton and I to share without feeling bitin. The meat's cut into small bite sizes and sightly thin, so it's easy to eat and doesn't make you feel heavy after several bites. A good main to have when visiting the place!

Another must-visit Jap resto, down. I don't live near the area so making the visit to Megamall is a bit of an effort (with the traffic nowadays, extra effort!). But it's a good thing the end of a trip was Ooma. I suggest you try it too when you're in the area.

Until next time #danielaeats!

l'officiel: philippine fashion fest

Did a mini editorial for L'Officiel's website last week to feature some of the pieces by talented Filipino designers for Philippine Fashion Fest. Head to the L'Officiel website to read more. 

Photos by JL Javier
Makeup and Hair by Byron Velasquez
Styling by Andrea Ang and Mags Ocampo

good eats and health talks

After today's yoga class at the neighbor's, we went to a classmate's house for some healthy eats and a talk by Dr. Escalona.

We were greeted by a generous assortment of greens, toppings and dressings, and a green juice shot of cucumber, pineapple, kale and turmeric.

Green juice shots

Healthy eating isn't always as appealing as full blown buffets, or meals of meat and carbo overload, but with hosts like Joy who are in the food business and know their way around the kitchen, you're surely in for a delicious healthy treat.

Today's talk was conducted by Dr. Escalona who shared with us the importance of overall wellness that most of us nowadays neglect because of the fast pace lifestyle that we keep. Some new things my ignorant self learned during this talk:

1. Milk is good to take when you're young. As you get older, it's something to avoid because our body can't absorb it as well. You can get your calcium from other fruits and vegetables, or take more healthy alternatives like almond milk.
2. What you do everyday is more important than what you do once a week. So 15 minutes of running everyday is healthier and more effective than one 10k run a week.
3. When getting a second round during meals, wait 20 minutes before you do. This helps your body digest all the food you're eating and gives it time to register in your head that you don't need more food, you've had enough.

Something to keep in mind the next time #danielaeats!

#danielaeats: halal guys

The wait is over. I finally popped my Halal cherry!

I was so intrigued by this "Halal Guys" I kept hearing about from my friends that lived or travelled abroad. It came up pretty often in our discussions about visiting NY or midnight snacks, and eventually I learned that it was a food cart that was everyone's go-to in NY for a delicious quick fix to a shawarma craving. And midnight munchies.

The famous food cart finally made its way to the Philippines, and yesterday, it officially opened its door to the public in Megamall.

He takes is Instagram more seriously now. Don't bother.

I got the opportunity to get a taste of it before it officially opened, and I ordered the regular Beef Gyro on rice because I enjoy beef more than I do chicken. It came with tomatoes, lettuce, the beef, slices of pita, rice, and a bag of white and hot sauce. 

The usual question you get when eating in Halal Guys is, "Is it the same as the one in New York?" Truth is i've never tasted the original one. This was my first platter of Halal ever, and what I can share with you is that people I know who have tasted the NY Halal say it tastes the same. This is because the ingredients of the Halal Guys in Manila are imported, and are exactly the same ones you get in the States. The only difference of Manila Halal over NY Halal is that they use Jasmine rice in Manila.

The critic from a first timer: I guess I was expecting the taste on the beef and white sauce to be a bit stronger. It's good, and I enjoyed my platter a lot but found the flavouring to be more on the safe side where it's not too strong that one can easily get tired of the dish. I place a lot of the white sauce for more flavor, and just a bit of the hot sauce because it's extremely strong. But also so good! The white and hot sauce come in packets bigger than your usual ketchup from Mcdonalds, so you get more than enough for your meal. In case you want more, you can just order extra packs.

Halal Guys officially opened last October 13, and plans on opening up more branches around Manila soon. Try it out when you're in Megamall! Definitely won't disappoint.

Until next time #danieleats!