jin loves to eat: cheese

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Green Cheese at Hole in the Wall ♥ ♥ ♥

I've never been a big fan of cheesecakes, especially Japanese cheesecakes, which I think are too light, too airy, too eggwhite-y. I mean they're okay as long as I don't have to eat them for dessert. Because they are NOT desserts.

They are… ummm… bread. Or something.

That is, until Green Cheese.

Green Cheese uses Japanese techniques, but makes its cheesecakes a bit creamier
and just slightly sweeter, so they don't taste like… ummm… meringue.

All cheesecakes are baked in-store everyday so you get them fresh all the time

Original Cheesecake. Look, it's smiling!!!

It truly is, as the box claims, the happiest cheesecake in the world :)

The happiest cheesecake is also so light and fluffy, like creamy puffs of clouds!

The Green Tea Cheesecake is equally addicting

So light and fluffy and grassy, the way real Japanese green tea cheesecake is supposed to be!

I could have finished both cakes easily, but it was past midnight so I didn't dare eat
more than their chins. I was also too lazy to grab a knife and plate so I ate them
with a fork, out of their boxes. :P Believe me, it was hard to stop.

The next morning, when I was ready to eat the rest of their faces, this was what I found in the fridge:

OMG!!! MY MOM!!! SHE'S A MURDERER!!!!!!!!!
Click here to see what she did to my mooncakes and chocolates! Arrrrrgggghhhh!!!

So my massacred cheesecake didn't look all that joyful, but if you saw my face, it was as happy (and okay, fine, as round) as the happiest cheesecake on earth! :)

Congratulations, CJ!!! :)

Instagram: @greencheeseph

Green Cheese: Hole in the Wall, 4/F, Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue corner Salamanca, Makati City

Tel: +63917-8919595

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Town & Country Fabulous Food Affair 2014

One of the few things I look forward to in September, aside from flying to Hong Kong for the annual Shaw Prize Award Presentation AND the start of my favorite hairy crab season, is Town & Country's Fabulous Food Affair.

Every year, Town & Country brings together the country's best chefs and all the food-loving people of Manila to experience a night of gastronomic pleasures.

Click here to see last year's affair.

Guests were greeted by these absolutely adorable carts at the cocktail area

I was more interested in the contents of the carts. This one displayed an array of Asian
street foods like duck rice, crispy prawn satay, squid stuffed with beef rendang. Yums.

The flavors and colors were so vibrant

The cheese cart was probably the biggest hit of the night

Everyone I saw was like, "Did you see the cheese cart already?" "You must try the cheeses!"
"The cheese cart is amazing!" I FULLY AGREE.

The biggest hit for me though was this incredible creation by Chef Miko Aspiras called
The Chocolate Galaxy.

I took so many photos of it from different angles!

Of course, I grabbed a piece or two every time I paused to
take pictures

I wanted so much to get that blue and brown "planet" but didn't know
how to eat it without getting chocolate all over my face. Lol. :D

The Coyiuto sisters and Ngan sisters were also fans

Stenie with husband Joseph, our trusted photographer that evening ;)

The ballroom was transformed into an elegant… JUNGLE!
I say jungle because all the delicious offerings made me feel like an animal.
I had no shame.

I was most excited to try Tonyboy Escalante's creations for Antonio's

How cool that he used this framed mirror as serving tray

Smoked Salmon, Mesclun Salad and Herbed Mousse on Almond Lavosh

Mayura Beef Steak Tartare

Olive Sorbet with a generous drizzling of olive oil

Chele Gonzales of Vask with JC de Terry of Terry's Selection

Terry's Laguna de Bai Duck Confit with Queso de Bola Risotto

On the left is Bacalao en Pil-pil de Aceltunas Negras

Walter Manzke and the Wildflour Cafe + Bakery Team

Duck Pate

I had the Rabbit Pate, Foie Gras Mousse, and Goat Cheese with Pistachios.
I tried to run away with a jar of foie gras mousse but someone caught me in the act. Oops.

Your Local

Foie Gras Satay

Phat Pho Team

Fresh Spring Rolls

Suzy Lee of Spring by Ha Yuan

Imperial Lumpia

Pork Cheek Cua Pao Slider

Chef Markus Gfeller of Gaucho and his lovely wife

Gaucho carving station

I love my meats

Chef JP Anglo of Sarsa Kitchen + Bar

Sizzling Kansi Amuse Bouche

Suckling Pig Pritchon

Kashmir

McGuigan Black Label Shiraz

Benjie Ong and Roxanne Lee of Artisan Cellars & Fine Foods

I had so much fun eating it took me forever to get to the dessert station.
I heard there was a total of 151 different creations! Whoa!!!

Mike's plate

My plate. I was so happy I got the very last piece of my favorite
Matcha Black Sesame Opera! We were truly meant to be. ♥ Hahaha!
The tiramisu was heavenly, too. I inhaled the whole plate.