Restaurant Review: Ogetsu Hime at SM Aura Taguig

Ogetsu Hime is Japan's food goddess.

She offers life-giving blessings to ensure bountiful harvest, abundant catch, fertile pasture and healthy farm.

Ogetsu Hime the restaurant was named in honor of Japan's food goddess ~ such a tough name to live up to. 

Let us taste to see if Ogetsu Hime was able to live up to its namesake. 

I must start by saying their plating is elegant. 

My mouth watered at the first sight of the dishes we ordered.  I love them all, especially the Tempura Soba (I took a mental note to remember to order this on our return) . 

We started with an order of Ogetsu Hime Salad (P280)

Serving was hefty and good for sharing. 

Gyoza (P165)

Japanese Pork Dumplings

These were really tasty and delectable.

Kaisen Fried Rolls (P270)

Bread Crumb Crusted Fried Roll with Spicy Tuna, Salmon, Cream Cheese, Topped with Wasabi and Mayonnaise and Unagi Sauce (I know it was a mouthful, but it taste awesome with all the flavors coming in together with the spicy tuna as the final kick). 

Tempura Soba (P280)

Buck Wheat with Ebi Tempura

This is by far my favorite dish from our order.  It is embarrassing but I cleaned this bowl (with very little help from my hubby); And it is a rather huge bowl :P

Tofu Steak (P190)

Deep Fried Beancurd with Subatsu Sauce

The tofu was perfect with the flavorful garnishing. 

Hungry for Japanese Cooking?

Visit Ogetsu Hime and have delectable -authentic Japanese cuisine at really modest price. 

Ogetsu Hime is located at the Level 5 of SM Aura.

For inquiries and reservation call:

(02)519-9840

(02)519-9740

0917 8096585

Like and Follow

Ogetsu Hime in Facebook: OgetsuHime 

(My) Slappy Cakes ~ where it is fine to be SLAPPY: Restaurant Review

  Our first taste of Slappy Cakes was at the Resorts World Singapore.  My boys had fun making their own pancakes, that we were excited to visit the SM Aura branch.

 

The restaurant theming is standard for Slappy Cakes franchise ~ orange painted ceiling with a bit of modern and industrial feel to it. 

 

 

Couch seating gives a bit more privacy (important, when you start making your own pancake)

 

Table top griddle, for making your own pancakes. Careful as this gets real hot when cooking.

 

If you are making pancakes, you have the option of ordering separately the batter, fixins, toppings. There were so many choices it became hard to choose!

 

So we eventually decided on a Pancake Sampler (P350). 

 

The sampler comes with 3 bottles of 5oz of batter: red velvet, peanut and buttermilk.  For fixins we ordered banana and chocolate chips. Fixins cost about P50 per order.

 

My son as expected, rushed to making his pancake (he was obviously more excited preparing the pancake, than eating them).   

My little chef in the making (he was so serious too)! 

 

He did allow me to help in turning the pancakes to the other side.

 

 

He eagerly decorated the pancakes and  grinned widely as he served his kuya, his papa and me. 

 

We also ordered Potato Wedge Salad with mayo dressing topped with bacon bits (P160)

 

Pop's Pot Roast (P390), slow cooked beef with sautéed vegetables and gravy.

 

 

American classic Cheese Burger served with potato wedges (P170)

 

 

 VERDICT:

1. Slappy Cakes is quite expensive.  But we were fine with it as my son seemed to have enjoyed playing Chef. I will not be surprised, however, if one gives it a pass and just decide to recreate their own Slappy Cakes experience at home.  
2. With the exclusion of the pancake mixes, which we really liked, I find our other orders a bit bland. I appreciate, though, that they have been adding new meal choices to their menu. 
3. We would gladly come, but would think twice before ordering anything else other than their pancakes and their other best sellers. 

 

The Slappy Cakes branch we visited is the one located at the ground floor SM Aura Premier, C5 Road corner 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

 

Toby's Estate ~ Specialty Coffee

 

Me and my hubby are always on the look out for the best coffees in town, it was no surprise that our coffee addiction led us to Toby's Estate World of Specialty Coffee at the SM Aura in BGC Taguig.

 

 

We were served rich flavorful long black coffee, with such a distinct aroma.

 

 

 

...partnered with Pistachio Cheese Cake (P250). 

 

 

This is my first pistachio chees cake and found it very good. It was a delicate mix of cheese cake and pistachio that went well with our coffee.

 

Toby's Estate serves pastries, meal plates and pasta, unfortunately we were unable to check them out. 

 

 

VERDICT

Toby's coffee experience:  Thumbs Up!

 

 

Learn more on Toby's Estate Coffee through these links:

website TOBY'S ESTATE 

instagram @tobyestatePH

twitter account @tobysestateph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coca Restaurant ~ In the hunt for authentic Thai

 

I was in a mood for something fancy and different for a lunch date with my family and found this swanky looking restaurant named COCA Restaurant.

 

Coca is a Chinese and Thai restaurant famous for it's "suki-style cooking (mixed vegetables, meat or dumplings simmered into a pot of broth)". Unfortunately the kids were not in the mood for suki, so we ended ordering other house specials instead.

 

 

 

 

I have read that COCA was derived from the Mandarin word "Kekou" which means "appetizing,"  so yes, I was expecting really tasty cooking.

 

 

FOOD

 

For appetizers we ordered "melt in your mouth" Crispy Roasted Pork Belly. 

 

Warning: this  is sinfully delicious.

 

 

 

Coca Noodles was very good. 

 

Stir Fried Squid with Garlic and Chili.  It is flavorful and savory.  I especially love the  garlic garnishing.

 

 

Coca Yang Chow Fried Rice.  We find this rather salty, so we ordered extra steamed rice to mix ~ which we liked better.  

 

 

The total meal for four (2 adults and 2 kids) costs us approximately P1200 (including service charge).

 

Note: Since we were kids, we requested for toned down spices on our orders.

 

 

AMBIANCE

 

The restaurant is spacious and beautifully decorated in rich Chinese-Thai design and embellishment.  Ambiance is restful and perfect for dates with your special someone.

 

 

 

 

 



VERDICT

 

Price may seem a bit steep, but I think it was reasonable, considering the ambiance, fine food and impeccable service.  This would be a good place to celebrate a special occasion.

 

The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes to choose from. 

 We were only able to sample some from their menu and everything that we had worked well to our tasting. 

 

Food is hands down flavorsome and really delicious. 

 

I would gladly come back for more of that crispy roasted pork belly and a taste of their famous suki.   

 

 

Coca Restaurant is located at the 5th Floor SM Aura Sky Park, Taguig. 

Open daily from 10am to 10pm.