Friday, April 26, 2013

Watami

What brought me to Watami at Glorietta was the voucher for Shrimp Irodori Sushi (PHP195) from the Bistro Club privilege card. It was good especially because it was free.

Shrimp Irodori Sushi
I ordered Pepper Beef Rice in Stone Pot (PHP190) to see how it compares with what I consider comfort food, Beef Pepper Rice from Pepper Lunch. I think I would stick with the latter as far as pepper rice goes. Watami's version lacked beef and was bland, I felt it was missing an ingredient. The rice also tended to stick to the pot and got burned in the process.

Pepper Beef Rice in Stone Pot
 A can of Coke Light cost me PHP75.

I was impressed with the ambiance and the service although the lady promoting the Premiere card was a little pushy.

I would like to try the other items on the menu because they look good in pictures and in other diners' tables and because the prices seem reasonable.

PS. My bill was discounted by 20% because of the Bistro Club card. I'm not sure about upgrading to the Premiere though because they change rules every year.


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Wedding Night

It was Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic which opened me to the world of chick lit. SInce then, I've read other authors and snapped up all of Kinsella's books including those she wrote as Madeleine Wickham.

I've been looking out for Wedding Night, her latest, since hearing of it. Checked out local stores in case it was released early but when it wasn't, downloaded the e-book version as soon as it became available at Kobobooks.com.

Wedding Night is spoken from the point of view of two women, Lottie and her bitter divorcee sister who is pulling out all stops to stop her from having sex on her honeymoon.

Because it dealt with issues such as sex, divorce and annulment, it wasn't funny at all. I felt that it should have been published under the name Madeleine Wickham. But then again, if it were, I don't think it would be selling as many copies.

For Sophie Kinsella fans looking for something light and funny, this isn't for you.

Image from this site.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Iron Man 3

Tony Stark/Iron Man starts and ends Iron Man 3 with a commentary about actions, reactions, change and what remains essentially the same.

Of the three movies in the Iron Man series, I like this one the least because it took me a while to comprehend the story, particularly the backstory about the villain. When I did, I thought that the theme has een played out before in Spiderman, X-Men and Incredible Hulk. It also seemed that the transformation made those affected unkillable. Their defeat at the end was not believable. Nor was it explained how Tony Stark reversed the process.

Robert Downey is a joy to watch as Iron Man, arrogant yet lovable and charming at the same time. I don't think anyone else can play the part as well. I particularly enjoyed his scenes in the workshop at home and with the kid who helps Iron Man out.

Stan Lee always appears in a cameo in Marvel movies but I did not catch his appearance in this one. Stay until the end credits to see Bruce Banner in a cameo.

PS. In case you didn't realize it, even Tony Stark's choice of sandwich has changed. In Iron Man, shortly after his escape from his terrorist captors, he asked for an American cheeseburger. Here, he asks for a tuna sandwich.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Krazy Garlik

To take advantage of the perks offered to members of the Bistro Club, I headed to Krazy Garlik Greenbelt 5.

My companion and I were both first timers at the restaurant and so had no expectations save for the obvious, which is garlic.

At first bite, my companion noted that the free appetizer Garlik and Anchovy Affection, a flavorful combination of roasted garlic cloves, peppers and anchovies on crostini bread, was good. I thought it was too salty. I ate just one, she had two and relented that while it was good, it should be eaten a few at a time. She took the rest of the dish home.

Garlik and Anchovy Affection
She ordered soup of the day too which came hot in a small bowl. While rich and creamy, we both felt that it was overpriced at PHP140.

The same could be said about the garlic rice priced at PHP65. Maybe we expected more from a garlic themed restaurant but other restaurants do garlic rice much better.

She likewise ordered Fried Calamari, deep fried calamari rings served with homemade salsa. We both found it ordinary. Store bought chili sauce actually tastes better than the homemade salsa.

Fried Calamari
We also shared Pork Chop, 1 pc at PHP295, thick and juicy grilled pork chop served with mashed potato and buttered french beans in creamy mushroom sauce. Of the dishes we had, this was what I appreciated the most but again it was nothing extraordinary. The meat was tender and juicy but that's how it should be. I think though that the dish offers good value for money as it is a complete meal, a combination of carbohydrates, protein, fat and fiber.

Pork Chop, 1 piece
For drinks, we had Coke Zero in can (PHP85) and Fresh Ripe Mango Shake (PHP160).

Service wise, the staff were very attentive. At least three people checked up on our meal.

We agreed that Krazy Garlik is pricey considering that there was nothing extraordinary about the food that we tried. Our bill came out to PHP930 and that's even after discount (20% from Bistro Club) plus the appetizer was free. We both feel the place doesn't deserve a return visit. We're not crazy for Krazy Garlik.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen tells the story of a direct assault on the White House and how a disgraced exSecret Service agent rushes in to save the day.

It was unpredictable in the sense that no one has dared to present a story about the White House being taken over completely before. While other movies have shown the White House being vulnerable to some extent, the magnitude of the takeover was incredible and somewhat hard to believe, considering the pains America takes to protect its national security yet we've seen its vulnerability in 9/11 and the Boston Marathon bombing.

In the days following 9/11, Hollywood made a conscious effort to limit images that would spark memories of or fan terrorism. I was surprised that this movie does the opposite and more. It showed monuments being destroyed in an aerial raid and civilians and government enforcers dying as a result and foreigners, this time Asians, as responsible for the attacks.

I am amazed at how they managed to film the movie. Was a life size replica of the White House made for the exterior shots? The detail in the interior shots was also incredible.

It was hard to believe that one man, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time, can reverse what terrorists have long planned. Even if the actor playing him is Gerald Butler, it was hard to believe that a Secret Service agent off the field for 18 months could do all that and have access to the White House. I assume the White House changes its passwords, access codes all the time. But I guess we just have to leave it up to Hollywood and its concept of Action Heroes.

It was entertaining because the concept was new but it was also disturbing because of the violence, especially in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

TGI Friday's

I think the best way to check out a restaurant is to try the particular cuisine's signature dish. In the case of American, the cheeseburger.

TGI Friday's restaurant menu describes Friday's Cheeseburger as chargrilled with two slices of melted American cheese, the classic fixings and crispy seasoned fries. That does not give the dish justice as it neglects to mention the size of the patty and the abundance of garnishings.

Friday's Cheeseburger
The huge beef patty is served sandwiched between soft, lightly toasted hamburger bun with the botton portion thinner than the top to make room for the mix of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. huge beef patty is served sandwiched between soft, lightly toasted hamburger bun with the botton portion thinner than the top to make room for the mix of lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles.

The fries deserves special mention as it's the best I've tasted. They were crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and not oily at all.

The dish is worth its PHP395 price as it is big enough to share. Do watch out for restaurant promotions too like I did as I got this dish at half the price.

Other must trys at TGI Friday's are the nachos, ribs and desserts.

About this Blog

Project Em Dy is where I express my opinions on movies, meals and more.