8065 Bagnet (Malate): Sinful Delight Inside a Tricky Exterior

Posted by Jane Castandiello

8065 Bagnet, located at Leon Guinto St., Malate, Manila (Contact #: +632 519-6511) and at 8065 Estrella St., San Antonio Village, Makati City (Contact #: +632 519-6511)

Date: August 3, 2012

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For our second “Calorie Friday,” Meeks and I decided to try some of the “delicious meals” of this simple eatery known as 8065 Bagnet. There’s one branch near my place (Estrella st., SAV Makati) but we opted for the other branch (Leon Guinto st., Malate) since we’re currently on our “Taft Invasion.” (Well, okay this is not really within Taft but… never mind. ^_^)

I’ve been hearing (and reading!) a lot of positive reviews about their main star (which is Bagnet, of course), and when Meeks suggested this place, I didn’t hesitate. I was very curious by how their “double-fried crispy pork specialty of Ilocos” tastes like, and so our adventure began.

(Oh BTW, this cozy resto is owned by Alain Nadal, brother of singer Kitchie Nadal ^_^)

Okay, I’ll go straight to the point: I didn’t notice the resto at first. It looks just like a simple house with chairs and tables outside. But good thing there’s a big sign on top that says “8065 Bagnet.” If you’re weak and picky, its exterior can really deceive you. So a piece of advice: explore and take the risk

When we opened the door, we were kinda surprised by the ambiance: super laid-back, chillax, and very artsy. There are so many artworks hanging on the walls and other knickknacks that are just too cute to be true. The place is kinda dark, but the small light is enough to make decent photographs (and to see everything). One more thing: the resto made me feel like I’m in an acoustic bar.

(Some of the displays and paintings inside the Malate branch. Cool!)

Aaaand… here comes the food.

(Sisig Bagnet! )

I ordered Sisig Bagnet (Php 110) for a challenge. (Meeks tried the original and we slightly shared the Kare-Kare Bagnet) Well, it was good, in fairness. The crispiness of the pork is just right, the sauce is good (though kinda spicy), and the whole viand is just so satisfying )) Really, it made me so full that I wasn’t able to eat half of the Kare-Kare Bagnet. Hahaha!

But I must say, I tasted a little bit of the latter dish, and it was really good too! Take it from me guys; I don’t eat Kare-Kare but if this is the dish, I’ll put my plate down very neat! The peanut hints of the sauce is just right, perfect for those who don’t want their Kare-Kare strong in flavor. It’s just subtle and taste buds-friendly, I could eat it all day.

(Kare-Kare Bagnet! :>)

It was a great bargain all in all The super yummy and tummy-filling viand with rice and a very delicious soup– swear I can come back there as many times as I can. Hahaha! Though I’m still watching my weight and knowing that oily fried pork is a very deadly food… oh, who needs diet? Life is too short to deprive myself of good things! (Nah, just kidding. Of course it’s bad to indulge on cholesterol-packed foods.)

Feeling your mouth water? Why don’t you go ahead and give this “hole in the wall” resto a try? Swear, you and your taste buds won’t regret it.

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This blog entry can also be seen here: meekalexyproject.wordpress.com. Follow us there! 🙂

Cafe Noriter: A Cutesy, Relaxing Haven for the Artsies

Posted by Jane Castandiello

Cafe Noriter, located at 2nd flr. Reyes bldg., Estrada st. cor. Taft Ave., Manila (Contact #: 489-5223)

Date: July 27, 2012

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I’d totally say that this café really swept me off my feet. From the entrance to the little knick-knacks to the beverage– oh my mind just blew up! Hahaha.

No, seriously speaking, Café Noriter is definitely a must-visit for every artsy people out there. This quaint coffee shop literally made my jaw drop with its cool vintage-y displays (if you know me, I love everything vintage). As soon as you open their door, you’ll be instantly greeted by the welcoming vibe and the pastel colors scattered everywhere– from the counter to the chairs– will surely give you a very calming feel.

(Awesome spot ever ;>)

And don’t even get me started on the beverage!

(Meeks’ Iced Mocha and my Iced Chocolate <3)

I ordered a simple Iced Chocolate (contentment at Php110) and, promise, it was really good. After the first sip, I literally blurted out, “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die!” ^_^ It’s maybe a little OA but it’s true. A sip is all it takes for you to be transported into chocolate-y heaven.

Okay, back to the chic ambiance of the place (hahaha!) This “99% coffee, 1% Korean” shop is like a gentle massage– it’s just so comfortable and soothing there. You can laze up all day and just bum around (of course, with something from their menu, which we’ll try real soon). The music is very relaxing (yay for old songs!) And there’s a bonus fun activity: you can design your very own “doodle cup!”

Yezz, they’ll provide you with cups and markers and, from there, you can draw or write anything you want. Who knows? It might get included in their display of other doodle cups!

(Yea, that’s us… too busy with our “masterpiece!”)

(Aaand… the result. Lol.)

“Small details make a big difference,” This is very true with Cafe Noriter. You won’t just be coming in for the food/drink, but for the place as well. If our words are not enough, feel free to visit this adorable and charming-to-the-last-furniture coffee shop.

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This blog entry can also be seen here: meekalexyproject.wordpress.com & meekalexyproject.tumblr.com. Follow us there! 🙂

Zark’s Burgers: Awesomeness in Greasy Heaven

Posted by Jane Castandiello

Zark’s Burgers, located at 2nd flr., Archer’s Nook bldg., Taft Ave., Manila (Contact #s: 09237372517, 392-12-11) and at BF Homes branch, President’s Ave., Paranaque (Contact #: 09237372515)

Date: July 27, 2012

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“It’s Fresh. It’s Huge. It’s Great.” – Official Zark’s Burgers’ slogan

Well, I can’t say that I’m a newbie with this famous “crowd-drawing” burger joint (this is my 3rd time), but the excitement of sampling their grubs is still there. So you can’t imagine my face when Meeka and I agreed to go here for our first ever blog entry. Spell “totally cool greasy awesomeness, yay!”

Okay, for starters, Zark’s Burgers is a cool burger place that college students (or not, actually, people of all ages) often visit. And why wouldn’t they? I’m not really a burger person, but honestly, they serve some of the finest (and not to mention greasiest) burgers in town– freshly done, put together by hand, and served with uber yummy fries and iced tea. They also offer different goodies aside from burgers, but really, these mouth-watering, fatty goodness in a bun are the stars of every patron’s plates. (And oh, they have some fun– but real deadly– contests; like if you finish a Tombstone burger within 10 minutes, you won’t have to pay for it anymore <Php500> and you’ll get a free “I survived the Tombstone challenge!” shirt, AND finish a Jawbreaker burger within 5 minutes and it’s free! <Php250>)

I’ve actually tasted two of their awesome burgers (Strikeout and Ultimate Burger, all with mushrooms), and since I love mushrooms, this time I chose to munch on their “Bourbon Burger,” filled with a 1/4 pound patty, lots of mushrooms, moist tomatoes, crispy lettuce, yum cheese, and bourbon sauce.

The end. (Lol, just kidding ;>)

Zark’s Bourbon Burger

It was so greasy-heavenly! The sauce surprised my picky taste buds (’cause it’s my first time to taste bourbon sauce) and, yes, I gladly took every calories that’s in there. I have no regrets, as always. A great lunch-up-to-dinner meal for only Php150 (inclusive of fries and iced tea)! Greasy but not pricey!

Two almost-clean plates! :9

No doubt about it– Zark’s is really the place for every burger-hungry folks out there. If you want different awesome takes on burgers, well head on over at Taft or BF Paranaque for some of that yummy dose of calories.