Thai Cold Noodle Salad

When it comes to my preference, some would say that I am a bit of a Western-centric. Sure, I would choose Italian or French cuisine over Asian cuisine any day (except for Japanese because I could eat that every single day!). Heck, I even avert Filipino cuisine when I am dining out. It’s just that it does not excite me as much as the next person.

But when I recently dined in my usual favorite spot, Grub Resto Café, I was offered a new item by the waiter. As a foodie, this was a huge challenge for me. I felt that it seriously threatened my status as a food writer to not be daring enough to give it a try.

Also Read: Comfort Food at Grub Resto Cafe

The dish itself piqued my interest – he said it was a Thai-inspired cold noodle salad. It turned out perfectly that I intended to have salad for dinner. So I figured, “why not?” Boy was I in for a surprise!

The salad is made with white Thai noodles, beans, tomato, onion, parsley, and ginger slices. It also comes with dilis, which helped to add the saltiness into the dish.

I have to warn you though – since most of the ingredients are added in fresh, expect really strong flavors and aroma. Thankfully, I am a big fan of ginger and onion so I handled this without any problem at all. In fact, I savored the fresh herbs and the scent from the parsley with every bite.

The vinegar can get a bit overwhelming, though, when you reach about halfway into the dish. But if you love fresh Asian flavors, then this might be the dish for you.

Also Read: New on the Menu: Grub Resto Cafe

Grub Resto Café is located at Duterte St, Davao City.

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Comfort Food at Grub Resto Cafe

What is your idea of comfort food? Mine is anything that reminds me of home with mom's home style cooking. Even though I am guilty of dining out to experience gourmet dishes, or the ones you don't normally eat at home, it is also nice to get a taste of home from your favorite restaurants. Thus, I order the occasional soup to warm up the tummy, especially when the weather is chilly.

You might have read my previous posts on Grub Resto Cafe and how I was all praises about their reasonably priced yet excellent dishes! However, they also have a huge selection of vegetarian and comfort food items if you are seeking variety.

One example is this Chicken Macaroni Soup. It is one of my favorite soups that my mother used to prepare for us, especially during rainy seasons. The use of milk and cream helps to add a rich flavor to this dish while the combination of vegetables and chicken makes it a healthy fare, too. Love that this soup tasted just like my mom used to make. The aroma from the ginger also help to liven up the flavor of the soup! I can eat this everyday!

For the veggie lovers or those watching their carb intake closely, this Veggie Wrap dish at Grub Resto Cafe is a must-try! This wheat wrap is a healthy alternative to pita bread without sacrificing flavor. Meanwhile, the combination of crunch and subtle flavor from the curly lettuce, carrots, and different kinds of vegetables as filling is bound to make any vegetarian go gaga over this dish! Each order comes with its own garlic and mayo dip. It is a very simple recipe that is delicious and quite healthy, too.

Have you had your taste of these dishes at Grub Resto Cafe?

Grub Resto Cafe is located at Duterte St., Davao City right across Shakey's.

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New on the Menu at Grub Resto Cafe

Finding a restaurant that you can rely on for quality food is a rare thing. Most of the restaurants that I've been to either go through a plateau or decline in terms of food quality and service. But I cannot say either of that of Grub Resto Cafe. They had maintained and even improved their quality of food. And for their customer service? All waiters are quick to respond to needs and are well informed about the dishes on their menu. The latter is particularly helpful when the restaurant introduces new dishes that I am not familiar with, and so the waiter can give me a sense of what a dish is about before I decide to order it.

On my recent trips to Grub, I've tried a couple of new dishes: Grilled Pork Belly and Grilled Chicken Salad.

The Grilled Chicken Salad is a fresh, new way to enjoy your salad. It comes with several slices of grilled chicken that are cooked until tender and seasoned very well. I appreciate the fact that the chicken meat is tender and juicy, not dry and overly cooked. If you are into vegetables, then you are going to enjoy this dish because there is a wide range of leafy greens tossed in here. I noticed that they added arugula as one of the ingredients, too. Loved everything else except for the arugula because it comes with a bitter aftertaste. That is simply my personal preference, though. If you don't like arugula, stick with their standard salad dishes.

Meanwhile, the Grilled Pork Belly is a sinful goodness that will surely treat your palate to quite an experience. This is a very simple dish. It got me curious how they are able to season the meat so it is neither overpowering nor too subtle, but you can certainly taste the fullness of the flavor!

If you ever find yourself near Grub Resto Cafe, I suggest you drop by and sample these new dishes.

Grub Resto Cafe is located at Duterte St. beside Barrio Bistro.

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New on the Menu: Grub Resto Cafe

On days when I can't make up my mind where to eat, I turn to Grub Resto Cafe. Time and again, I've expressed my love for this quaint restaurant because of its delicious offerings that never disappoint. On my most recent trip to the restaurant, I made an effort to try out something different since I've sampled nearly all staple items on the menu. Thankfully, the boyf is also up for something different and we are happy to report that the items we ordered were up to the standard that we've expected from Grub Resto Cafe. 

To learn more about these dishes, read on below...

Crispy Garlic Rib

This dish is true to its name - and that's why we liked it! The rib was coated with a special mixture to give it a crunchy exterior. There is also a garlic aftertaste, which is exactly what we wanted! If you're not a big garlic fan, though, don't fret. The garlic taste lingers in there but it does not overpower. Then again, Zabadani's Garlicy Rib is still #1 for me!
 
Beef Bulgogi

This beef dish is a modern twist to a classic Korean recipe made from grilled marinated beef. In Grub's version, the beef sirloin are sliced into small bite sized pieces and seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and pepper, along with sugar for that sweet after-taste. I love the combination of flavor in this dish, which is a cross between salty and sweet. It is also beautifully garnished with fresh slices of green onion and red bell pepper. If you're a fan of Korean dish, I suggest you try this at Grub Resto Cafe.

If you happen to drop by Grub Resto Cafe, be sure to check these new items out. 

Grub Resto Cafe is located at Duterte St., Davao City.

Like this blog on Facebook or follow on Twitter for more foodie updates and reviews.

New on the Menu: Grub Resto Cafe

Grub Resto Cafe has been a favorite of mine since I got to try this restaurant for the first time. I love the cozy ambiance and it has been one of few restaurants in the city that has consistently been good as far as the quality of food is concerned. I cannot remember one particular time that I dined here that I was disappointed with the food - it's been that good. No wonder it's my favorite!

Just recently, I dropped by Grub Resto Cafe once again for dinner. Just because we've been here several times before, we've tried almost everything on the menu. It is, therefore, a challenge trying to decide what to eat, especially during those times when I am looking for something new to excite my palate. Hence, I tried to experiment a little and opted for new items on their menu.

Sisig Triangle

This is a very simplistic dish. This is basically sisig served in a triangle wrap, which is similar to that of a lumpia wrapper. Hence, you can get a crisp and crunchy exterior with savory sisig on the inside. It also comes served with its own spicy and tangy dip to help bring out more flavor from the meat wrapped inside. You can order this dish at Grub Resto Cafe for only P95.

Buffalo Wings

This is my first time to try this at Grub Resto Cafe and I have to say - I'm quite impressed. Love the seasoning on the buffalo wings - I picked sweet, by the way, just because I don't eat anything spicy. This serving consists of 6 servings of buffalo wings and french fries that comes with a delectable mayo garlic dip. Ah, loving this dish for the dip alone!

Steak Sandwich

This is my least favorite of the three new dishes I tried. Wait, hear me out here. I love the pork steak that is used in this sandwich. It is well seasoned and the cut of the meat is pretty big for a regular sandwich. However, the veggies added on the side and its tangy sauce just does not sit well with the steak. The bread used for the sandwich is really good, too, but after a few bites, there is that overwhelming taste that goes into your mouth until you can't consume the rest any longer. I think this dish would be better off without the veggies so that the taste is concentrated on the steak. Besides that, though, the steak is really good.

Have you tried any of these dishes? What's your favorite dish at Grub Resto Cafe?

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Cure for Rainy Days

The southwest monsoon brought lots of heavy rain and cloudy days to Davao city over the past week. One night, in particular, I got stuck in the heavy rain and instead of trying to join in on the rush, I decided to drop by Grub Resto Café for a while as I wait for the rain to subside.

When the waiter handed out the menu, my initial thought was to order something that was perfect for the weather outside. At the same time, I wanted to try out something that I haven’t sampled before. It must have been my lucky day as my order, Chicken Pastel, meets both criteria.

Grub's Chicken Pastel

Glimpse at ingredients

The dish itself is a soup made with cuts from the chicken thigh, carrots, potato, and mushrooms in a warm and aromatic soup stock. It is then topped with mashed potato along with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

This dish totally won me over, but E wasn’t such a big fan. He thought it was just like a tinolang manok but I insist a gourmet version of the said dish. Ha! He also thinks it’s a little too overpriced for the size of the serving.

Hence, he opted for his favorite – Grub Spaghetti with Meatballs. Both dishes are priced at PhP 150.

Something Extra…

For all of those who wish to help out in the relief efforts for flood victims in Luzon, make sure to coordinate with the appropriate officials using the following numbers:

NDRRMC: (02) 911-1406; (02) 912-2665; (02) 912-5668

RED CROSS: 143; (02) 911-1876; (02) 527-0000

You can also send your donations by texting RED 5, 25, 50, 100, or 300 to 2899 (for GLOBE) or 4143 (for Smart). The denominations represent the amount of money you wish to donate to the victims.

You can visit this link to find out where you can drop off your donations or other relief goods. Stay safe, everyone!

Sources:

http://technoodling.net/emergency-info-philippine-flood-august-2012/

http://president.gov.ph/evacuation-centers-relief-operations/

Grub Resto Café: My All-Time Fave in Davao

Why I haven’t got around to writing a blog on my favorite place to dine in Davao is beyond me. Grub Resto Café is that one place that I go to again and again if I want to experience good food. And until today, it hasn't disappointed me.

I have a few favorite dishes in Grub Resto Café, which is a small restaurant located in Duterte St. (directly across Shakey’s). 

My first favorite is their Fresh Garden Salad. I always order this one whenever I get the chance. It is the perfect example that healthy does not always mean bland. But there is one element to this salad that I really dig – the vinaigrette. Hands down, this is the best vinaigrette I’ve ever tasted to date. E & I had been working hard trying to get the same results with our vinaigrette whenever we make a salad at home, but we couldn’t quite get there yet. Grub’s has the perfect combination of tartness and sweetness that compliments the crisp texture of the greens. It’s also got a generous amount of cauliflower and broccoli, which is a bonus.

Another dish unique to Grub Resto Café is their Grub Meatball Spaghetti. I bet you haven’t had spaghetti like this! The marinara sauce is well seasoned and sprinkled with all kinds of aromatics. The serving is also unique because it is served inside a round bread such that you eat the bread together with the pasta, instead of the usual wherein the bread is put on the side. And even the bread in itself is better than any other garlic bread you’ve ever had! If there is one dish that you shouldn’t miss at Grub, this is the one!

Here are our other favorites from Grub Resto Café, which I recommend you should give a try!

Chocolate Kiss

Dino Chops

Grub Ribs

Fish Parmigelliano

Pork Mexicali Style

Homerun Pie

 

These are just some of what we had sampled at Grub Resto Café. I highly recommend that you pay them a visit. They are open Mondays until Saturdays. And they have very friendly staffs too!

Vist their Facebook page for more info!