Romy’s Kitchen: Home of the Best Lechon Kawali in Makati
This is what was left of a wonderful lechon kawali (deep-fried pork belly) meal at Romy’s kitchen, a small canteen inside the Delarosa Carpark 1. I learn about this place when my office was still at the 27th floor of the Enterprise Center, Ayala Avenue cor Paseo De Roxas. I can’t remember who introduced me to this canteen, but when I do I shall mention that person here. Romy’s Kitchen is known to be the home of the best lechon kawali in town. I have tried others but they all pale in comparison to this. I had no intention of blogging about it so I didn’t bring a decent camera when I ate there. However, the crunch and punch of their Lechon Kawali was just to good I had to make a blog post out of it.
This is the kind of canteen that most Makati employees have probably tried already but hardly noticed how good their meal was, until it was all gone, burped and farted out. Those who do eat there probably don’t notice that they have not changed prices since 2007, if memory serves me right. A heaping saucer-full of freshly popped Lechon Kawali cost P60 per order. Each order is actually good for two people with mediocre appetites. However, upon sinking your teeth into the fat and crunchy rind, you will realize why you don’t want to share the P60 cost with even your faithful lunch buddy; you will love to just pop it in your mouth even when you have eaten all your rice. When I used to have lunch often at Romy’s Kitchen, an officemate of mine would ask me to buy her an order and she would eat it from a plastic bag like she was eating a bag of chips. No, she would not share with me so I made sure I had my own takeout.
If you work in the Makati CBD area, craving for Lechon Kawali and other delectable delights but on a very tight budget, Romy’s Kitchen is your best choice. Located on the second floor of the Delarosa Carpark 1, behind Enterprise Center building. Ask the guards if you don’t see it right away. Just make sure you are there before 12 because the lines get so long that the Conga line stretches from the food counters to the stairs on the first floor, outside the canteen. Best time to go there is 11 am. You also opt to go there after the lunch crowd has finished eating, but there won’t be too much of a choice in food when it’s past 12 pm.
January 5, 2012
· 
Arpee · 
No Comments
Tags: delarosa carpark 1, eating places at delarosa 1, lechon kawali, makati restaurant, romy's kitchen · Posted in: F&B, pinoylife, restaurants
Happy New Year to all!
Saying goodbye to 2011 was easy as pie. That year had been a complete roller coaster ride for me. Sobering up from the highs, lows and rock-bottoms had taken so much of my time and energy. That was mostly the topic of my conversations with my sister when we had New Year’s Eve dinner at Nihonbashitei. Not for any special reason, but this was the only restaurant open for dinner on the evening of Dec 31, 2011, aside for Hai Shin L0u Seafood Restaurant.
It was a good dinner. The service was good, as usual in a Japanese restaurant. Nihonbashitei looks like an 80s restaurant and for no uncertain purpose. When patrons walk into the restaurant, they will immediately notice the 1980s feel and the warm service. The prices are reasonable, perhaps less expensive than the neighboring restaurants along Pasay Road.
Like this really tasty roll from Nihonbashitei, I wish everyone a wonderful New Year, full of hope and good things to come. May 2012 be YOUR year and may you have A LOT on YOUR PLATE this year, a lot of love, happiness and g0od fortune.
January 2, 2012
· Arpee · 3 Comments
Tags: hai shin lou seafood restaurant, Happy New Year and Hello 2012, japanese restaurants in makati, media noche, nihonbashitei, spicy roll · Posted in: events, pinoylife, restaurants
Dinner at Dampa sa Riverbanks, Marikina City
Once in a while, I like get together with friends especially during the holidays. Problem is, we’re all a little low on cash because we are not children and we were the ones who had to give money away. It was all fun, nonetheless. So when it was time for us to meet and swap stories, we all decided that though we want to dine big, our wallets had become a whole lot smaller. Dampa sa Riverbanks, Marikina was our best alternative. Read the rest of this post »
December 29, 2011
· Arpee · 2 Comments
Tags: dampa, dampa sa marikina riverbanks, dampa sa riverbanks, dampa seafood restaurant, marikina city restaurants, market restaurants, paluto at dampa · Posted in: F&B, markets, restaurants, Uncategorized
NO TO MINING IN PALAWAN: Sign your support now
This initiative is to support the local agriculture, ecotourism and anti-poverty efforts for people in Palawan. I’m totally supporting this effort. The devastating effects of Sendong in Mindanao is just a sample of what is to happen to us if we let mining companies destroy the environment.
There is nothing wrong with mining. We need the minerals for our gadgets and life-saving equipment. However, this movement aims to STOP MINING IN PROTECTED FORESTS. Mining companies have encouraged corruption at the highest levels of government. Local officials are the ONLY ONES benefiting from mining operations in the provinces. As it was with logging concessions, only government officials stood to gain from it all. Mining does not help the local economy.
The Nauru example
The Republic of Nauru is a small island in the Micronesian Islands. British and German corporations jointly exploited the island for their natural phosphate deposits. Supposed they had money deposited for the islanders that amounted more than a billion Australian dollars, which had disappeared because of corruption. So now, no money, no resources and still wallowing in poverty.
We cannot let that happen to us. Unscrupulous mining companies bribe their way into mining into virgin forests, old-growth, those untouched for millions of years. These forests protect us from drowning in our own shit. If we let these mining companies dig and destroy our mountains, oceans and seas, we are giving up our only chance to get of poverty.
Ecotourism and the Puerto Princesa example
Puerto Princesa’s leadership has been strong enough to resist and say No to Mining and look at how it has affected the people? Ecotourism has provided income and livelihoods for residents of Puerto Princesa and has also given it a place in the books as one of the seven wonders of the world. Being in the exclusive list will bring in more income for both the country and the residents of Puerto Princesa, who stand the gain the most from these efforts.
Let us help our fellow Filipinos out of poverty. Say No to Mining in Palawan. Let your voice be heard by signing up here.
December 23, 2011
· Arpee · 12 Comments
Tags: bantay kalikasan, brooke's point, corruption in the philippines, ecotourism in palawan, evils of mining, mining companies in the philippines, no to mining in palawan, puerto princesa, save palawan, save palawan movement, Sendong in Mindanao, strip mining in the philippines, wonders of palawan · Posted in: non-food, pinoylife, rants
Diabetamil: Healthy Snacking for Diabetics
Diabetes is no laughing matter. As a food blogger with diabetes, I’ve cracked so many jokes about sweets and how I should be sponsored by a candy factory. Most of the time, I say these things to lighten the dreadful feeling that I can never enjoy my favorite doughnut or chocolate drink and pastry ever again. Really, it is as sad as a rainy Monday morning in August.
Good thing for medical technology, there are delicious substitutes around. While I was at the Makati Medical Center watching over my uncle, I saw a booth in the lobby. They were giving away samples of a milk and chocolate drink specially designed for diabetics. I gave it a try and, ugh, it tasted like grass. Sorry, but I held no punches and told them politely, though quite bluntly, that their milk tasted like shit and I would rather die of gangrene than drink that shit everyday for the rest of my diabetic life. I guess I said it in a way that made the promo lady laugh, to which she whispered “pangit nga ho lasa, eh gamot naman po ito sa inyo (it does taste bad but it is medicine for you).” That’s the thing with medicine, it tastes like crap, but we have to take it.
So imagine my surprise when a friend of mine recommended Diabetamil. She suggested I give it a try, even gave me a couple of the Diabetamil cookies and a free taste of the milk. Wow, it was good. I was dubious at first. Medicine can’t taste THIS good. So I looked at the box and looked it up in the Internet and asked a few other diabetic friends and, true enough, it is as effective as it is tasty. I was telling my diabetic officemate about it, a few minutes ago prior to posting, and he said he buys Diabetamil all the time, especially the cookies, which he keeps a small pack all the time in case he gets hungry.
At first there was Coke Zero, Pepsi Max, Sprite Zero and now Diabetamil milk and cookies! There’s sugar-free ice cream and sugar-free cake (Pasteleria Costa Brava makes those sugar-free caramel cakes) and now this! So when Diabeto asks his Mama for a cookie, no need to roll into the kitchen empty-handed.
December 15, 2011
· Arpee · No Comments
Tags: anti-diabetes snacks, cookies for diabetics, diabetamil, diabetamil cookies, diabetamil milk, diabetic alternatives, diabetic cookies, diabetic meal, family guy's diabeto, milk and cookies, sugar-free, sugar-free cookies, sugar-free snacks · Posted in: F&B, wellness
