Foodie Goodie | Porchetta Restaurant.

Save for the occasional take-outs at the nearby McDonald's or at the pizza and chicken joint two blocks away from home, we hardly eat at restaurants here in Korea for two reasons: 1) my son can't handle the spiciness of traditional Korean food, and 2) we cook at home, and it's cheaper that way. Plus, my husband's cooking is the bomb!

On Mother's Day, however, we decided not to scrimp because what the heck - it's a special day, and it's the first time in six years that I'm celebrating my 'motherhood' with both my son and my husband. And so after our tour of the COEX Aquarium, the boys and I went searching for a nice restaurant that's neither a fast food chain or a pizza joint. We were literally all over the place, as COEX is a pretty huge mall, and the restaurants are not lined up in one floor like they do in Philippine malls.

Porchetta.

We somehow ended up at Porchetta, because Yue saw something very tempting called 'Chicken Finger Fries' on their menu.

The counter, where you place your order and pay for your bill.

Named after that fatty, savory, and boneless pork roasted in the traditional Italian way, Porchetta is a casual dining fusion restaurant famous for their ciabatta sandwiches.

Sandwiches on their menu.

They also serve pasta and steak - which we ordered, soups and salads, dessert, and even alcoholic beverages.

Yep, they serve beer. And wine, too.

We were able to get a table right away, as there were quite a few empty seats when we arrived. Halfway through our meal, I noticed that the restaurant was already quite packed.

Diners at Porchetta.

Here's what we had for dinner at Porchetta.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries, 11200 won. The three of us enjoyed this dish a lot. The fries were crunchy and flavorful, and were neither overcooked nor soaking in oil. Same goes for the chicken - crunchy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. Considering that this dish is good for sharing for up to four people, paying more than a man won isn't so bad.

Bacon Carbonara.

Bacon Carbonara, 15900 won. My son is a huge fan of white sauce pasta, and he loved this carbonara a lot even if the sauce, according to him 'looks more yellow than white'. This dish didn't scrimp on bacon, as it came garnished with generous portions of meat.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto, 18400 won. Husband and I ordered a serving each of this dish, and boy, was I surprised to see not just one, but two thick slabs of porchetta on the hot plate. Aside from the risotto, which lies at the bottom of the plate, this dish also comes with cherry tomatoes, potato wedges, and greens on the side.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

I love that the meat was cooked and flavored to perfection, but eating two slabs of it was just way too much for me. I only ate one, and gave the other piece to my husband, whose appetite was heartier than the usual that day. Maybe because we're eating as a family, which only happens when we're in Korea. :)

Mother's Day dinner at Porchetta.

Many thanks to the friendly waitstaff of Porchetta for taking this photo! They understand and speak English, so no need to worry about the language barrier. Oh, and if you ask for it, they'll give you their wifi password, because the free wifi at COEX Mall is a bit weak in this area.  :)

Porchetta

159, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, COEX Mall I103
+82 2 551 8808

Foodie Goodie | Pepper Lunch.

33 days to go 'til Christmas, and I've crossed out almost all of the items on my Christmas shopping list. Thanks to our Binondo/Divisoria shopping trip last week, I was able to accomplish almost 80% of this Herculean task within the span of ten hours. Crazy, I know!

My friends and I arrived at Lucky Chinatown Mall a few minutes after its doors opened, and from there we spent an entire day walking, haggling, and shopping along the streets of Binondo and at the 168 and 999 Mall. The only time we took a break from all that walking and shopping was when we had lunch at Pepper Lunch Express, located at the 4th floor of Lucky Chinatown Mall. I fell in love with their Beef Pepper Rice the first time I tried it (that was around four years ago, if my memory serves me right), and I've been a fan of their food ever since.

Founded in 1994 with its first establishment in Tokyo, Japan, Pepper Lunch now has over 200 restaurants all over Asia, including South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Its founder, Chef Kunio Ichinose had this business model in mind when he was conceptualizing the restaurant - provide tasty steak in fast food style at a reasonable price. And from there, the idea of 'sizzling it your way' (aka cooking your own food) was born.

At Pepper Lunch, meals are served on sizzling plates, which are actually electromagnetic cookers. They heat up to 260 degrees Celsius, which allows you to cook your raw meat within minutes.

Beef Pepper Rice, Php 198.

No worries about the meat being undercooked as they're sliced very thin, like bacon. When the meat is ready, mix it with amakuchi (honey brown sauce) or karakuchi (garlic soy sauce), or a combination of both.

Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice with Egg, Php 235.

Some dishes are served with an egg, like the Teriyaki Beef Pepper Rice which my friend ordered. You mix the egg and the beef together, but before you do, make sure both of them are cooked all the way through. Then you mix in the teriyaki sauce.

Aside from beef, Pepper Lunch also serves fish and chicken. These dishes are served with vegetables on the hot plate, with the rice in a separate bowl. You can put the rice into the plate after you've cooked the meat, or you can just take spoonfuls from the bowl as you eat.

Teriyaki Double Salmon, Php 325.

Teriyaki Pepper Chicken, Php 325. 

Also on the menu are salads, soups, and desserts. My friend ordered a Kani Salad, which was served in a cup. Apparently, they're called 'Shake Shake Salad', which you have to shake (to mix the dressing and veggies together) before you eat it.

Kani Salad, Php 99.

If you're dining at Pepper Lunch for the first time, here are some tips:
1) Keep your hands off the electromagnetic cooker. They're extremely hot.
2) Cook your raw meat at once to maximize the heat of the electromagnetic plate. If you must take a photo of your raw food, do it within seconds. Or you can save the picture-taking for later, once the meat is cooked. :)
3) Season your meat with sauce. You can season them while turning the meat over, or after the meat is cooked. 

Pepper Lunch is love!

There are about ten Pepper Lunch restaurants in the Philippines, and six Pepper Lunch Express branches. They do takeaways and deliveries, and they accept group bookings and party reservations, too.

Pepper Lunch Express
4F Lucky Chinatown Mall
Binondo, Manila

Solaire Exclusives for Mother's Day 2014!

On Sunday, May 11, we celebrate the day of the most important women in our lives - our moms.

And our friends from Solaire have came up with the best treats to honor our beloved moms. From the special discounted rates in the ultimate family staycation, to the exquisite set menus in our fine dining establishments, they’ve made sure that this will be one unforgettable Mother’s Day.

On Mother’s Day weekend, bring your entire family to Solaire and stay in one of their luxurious suites with discounted rates. Under the Summer Family Getaway packages, their rooms go as low as PhP6,000++ for Deluxe Room Cityview and PhP7,000++ for the Deluxe Room Bayview. The special rates are also available in Grand Deluxe Cityview (PhP8,000++), Grand Deluxe Bayview (PhP9,000++) and 2-Bay Suite (PhP12,000).

Amazing accommodation at Solaire.

Their amazing staycation packages come with an impeccable buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids age 6 years and below. For kids who are 7 to 12 years old, they offer a 50% dining discount. Your stay also includes free use of the swimming pool and the fitness center. To test your luck, the package comes with PhP500 worth of gaming credits.

If you opt to celebrate mom’s special day with a lavish dinner, they have set menus in Fresh, Yakumi, Finestra, Red Lantern and Strip. Everyone in the family can enjoy their mini pizza creation of the day (Roasted Branzino in potato crust, Versuvio tomatoes, white wine and Gamberoni), Pasta Carbonara in rich and creamy sauce with pancetta bacon, Limon Cello lemon and Chicken Parmigiano at their Italian restaurant Finestra.

Pasta Carbonara from Finestra.

For the lovers of Japanese cuisine, Yakumi offers a special menu that includes Gyuniku Tataki (Seared beef strip loin with onion dressing and micro herbs), Yakumi Sushi and sashimi sampler, Lobster mini soup, Ebi tempura, Chilean Seabass teriyaki and Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras.

Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras from Yakumi.

Red Lantern also offers a sumptuous set menu for those who prefer Chinese dishes. The family can feast on Hand rolled Beijing duck, Pumpkin soup with seafood and white fungus, Deep fried crispy shrimps with sweet mayonnaise, Wok fried prime beef black pepper sauce, Steamed sliced fish with Tofu in black bean sauce, the season's best vegetables with oyster sauce, and Braised noodles with spring onions and ginger sesame oil.

A sample of what Red Lantern has to offer.

Strip, the hotel's steak house, also offers a Mother’s Day menu consisting of Green Pea sphere and crisp ham; Tomato salad dried olive oil and goat’s cheese; Foie gras crumble mousse with candied fruit and nut; Seared tuna blood orange sponge, watermelon and labuyo chili crust; Pork belly beer braised and tomato relish; Smoked Angus beef and Caramel Sand torch banana. All of the set menus are priced at PhP1,900 and all come with the Solaire Mother’s Day creation, the Caramel cheesecake with red berries and white chocolate silk.

Sumptuous food from the Strip.

If you want to go all – out however, their buffet outlet Fresh is ready with Lechon (Charcoal grilled suckling pig), Roasted prime rib of ‘Gold Label’ prime beef, Brioche baked whole salmon Coulibiac, seafood delights and a long list of desserts which include tarts, cupcakes, cookies, parfaits, doughnuts, puddings and cakes.

May it be the ultimate staycation or a gastronomic adventure in one of our first-class restaurants, Mother’s Day at Solaire is definitely a great bonding opportunity for the entire family. For reservations, call 888 8888 or log on to www.solaireresort.com for more details.