Picobello Italian Ristorante: Long Overdue Return

It's been years since our last visit to Picobello. You can credit that to the fact that there's a new restaurant shooting up in Davao almost every month that there are more to the city's culinary landscape to explore. But we cannot deny the fact that we still crave Picobello's authentic Italian, wood fired oven pizzas from time to time. There is some level of comfort and satisfaction that you can expect when dining at Picobello that is why it's not a surprise that business remains steadfast despite the array of new dining options.

The complimentary at Picobello is still one of my favorites. You are served with a basket of focaccia bread and a saucer filled with mixture of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Simplicity at its best. But you can get nothing better than this to whet up your taste buds!

To get a peek into our Italian rendezvous, check out our orders below:

Ravioli (P 205)

I've always been a big fan of Ravioli and aside from Swiss Deli's, this one is one of the best I've tried to date. This dish is made of pasta stuffed with ricotta in tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. This dish also nourishes your sense of smell as it does your taste buds!

Con Salsiccie (P 315)

When in Picobello, you can't afford to skip the pizza. We opted for one that is packed with all of the famous Italian pizza toppings - mozarella, tomato sauce, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and salami! Every bite is no doubt a taste of Italian heaven!

Despite all these years, Picobello Italian Ristorante remains a top favorite for me & E. The authentic Italian offerings and quality of food makes it the go-to option for those who would like to experience authentic Italian cuisine in Davao. And yet, their warm service and attention to detail is quite unparalleled too. As a bonus, we got a wonderful view of the city as we were dining!

Picobello is located at 5th floor of Gaisano South CitiMall, Ilustre St., Davao City.

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Freedom Fries from Army Navy

I've never been a fan of French fries, having vowed to stay out of fried or greasy food items much as I can. But on those rare occasions that I indulged in them, I prefer ones that were freshly made instead of the frozen packaged ones that you buy off the grocery. Army Navy's Freedom Fries is probably the most unique of them all that I've tried to date. In fact, I surprised myself that I enjoyed this one and E was all rave about it.

Freedom Fries is available for order as a side dish at Army Navy for P 75. Quite a great deal, if you'd ask me. Why? These are freshly cut fries that were thinner than the ones we're used to getting from other fast food chains. The texture is also similar to that of KFC's famous fries because it is clearly made from fresh potatoes rather than being stored on the freezer for days, or weeks even (who knows?). But I digress, the fries are coated with a light batter just so it turns crisp on the outside when cooked on a deep-fryer. But when you bite into it, the softness and richness is still retained on the inside.

Have you tried Army Navy's Freedom Fries? What do you think?

Army Navy has branches in Abreeza and SM Lanang.

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Lemony Chicken from Zabadani Cafe

Since I have been to Zabadani plenty of times before, I make it a point to explore other offerings on the menu. Of course, there are old favorites like the Pita Shateerah and Garlic Rib, but it pays to try something new because you'll never know when you'd stumble on to a new foodie favorite.

Such is the case when I've tried Lemony Chicken for the first time. Given that Zabadani is a Halal restaurant, it is not surprising to find plenty of chicken dishes on the menu! You will be surprised at the many different ways that you can enjoy your chicken!

Lemony Chicken consists of grilled Halal fillets of chicken breast. The chicken fillets are seasoned with a special mix of spices, American lemon, parsley, and sprinkled with more spices for that tangy, smoky and peppery touch to its flavor. The plating of this dish also deserves mention. When you have a dish that tastes good and served in a delectable manner, you can't wait to grab hold of your utensils and start to dig in! That's exactly how I felt when the waiter brought this dish to our table. You can order it for two serving sizes: P125 (sagheer or small) or P240 (kabeer or large).

Lemony Chicken is indeed a must-try at Zabadani Cafe, especially for all the chicken lovers out there!

Zabadani Cafe is located at G/F of The Peak at Gaisano Mall, JP Laurel Avenue, Davao City.

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Asian Fusion Treats

When you get a craving for a certain dish, what do you do? Head to that one restaurant/foodie destination that you know can satisfy that craving! This is exactly what I did one day when I can feel my taste buds yearning for one dish that only Asian Fusion can satisfy - Dinakdakan.

Dinakdakan is a popular Filipino dish that originated in the Ilocos. The dish is made from hog brain and head that is boiled in hot water until cooked then mixed with various spices before it is put onto the grill. Once it is crispy, they are chopped into bite size pieces and seasoned with onions, salt, pepper, and mayonnaise.

Asian Fusion's Dinakdakan (P 140) is as tasty as can be. Even though it might be popular as an appetizer or pulutan, after all MTS is a popular place for people who like to have some drinks while listening to some live musical performances, I like eating this with rice as a viand. The rich flavors from the hog head and brain, together with the spices, can truly revv up your appetite!

And in keeping with the idea of having pulutan as viand, we also ordered Chili Garlic Mushroom (P80). I knew that their Dinakdakan would be good, but this one is also highly recommended (whether as a viand or appetizer). The richness in garlic flavor might put off anyone who isn't into garlic, but I am so it's easy to tell why I enjoyed it. The flavor is a work of balance though such that it has retained its subtlety - think of Gambas except that you replace shrimps with button mushroom.

Asian Fusion is located at Matina Town Square, Mc Arthur Highway, Davao City.

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