Recipes 8 Missouri Specialities and Sweets Food Review

Your family can dine like royalty in Recipes 8 Missouri Specialties and Sweets. Their friendly staff is ready to attend to all your needs, and they’ve got an exciting array of dishes you’d normally see in fine dining restaurants but served at a more affordable price. And recently, they’ve also come up with special desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth in you or to simply cap off that awesome meal. And because they’re from the same people that brought you the well-loved Recipes by Metro group, you can be assured of the same quality and service.

Getting to Recipes 8 Missouri Specialties and Sweets may be a bit of a challenge especially for first-timers who’d come to visit. It’s actually strategically located at the second level of the 8 Missuouri building just across Gloria Maris and right behind Promenade in Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan. But let me tell you, it’s worth all the effort and the trip. 

Crispy Tilapia

Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries with Dips Review at Promenade, Greenhills

I was out on errands with my nephew whom I consider as my son, Kyle, when he suddenly said he was hungry. It was a good thing that we're near Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for us to discover new foodie joints in the area. So we went inside the said mall and we ended up at Slammin' Mini Burgers. We were attracted with the visually pleasing and colorful designs on its walls. They seemed to have a very cool + fun ambiance. I was looking forward to sample their take on the American burger classic in miniature version. However, don't underestimate these burger sliders as they are all made from 100% pure beef patties. Sure, these goodies may be "small" in size but they're certainly big on taste. Two Slammin' Mini Burgers actually add up to more than the average quarter-pounder, and a triple order is more than 1/3 pound burger. 

The genesis of Slammin' Mini Burgers was owner Patrick Dy's quest for a truly great cheeseburger. After seeing the comedy film Harold and Kumar's search for the White Castle burger in the movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Dy thought it would be nice to have something similar here in the Philippines. Hence, Slammin' Mini Burgers was born. Eventually, they aim to become the number one mini burger concept in Asia. With all of that said, did the mini burgers live up to the high expectations? Yes, it did. It was as good as I had hoped and better than I had anticipated. 

Slammin' Mini Burgers are absolutely the cutest and irresistibly tastiest burgers I've ever had in this side of town. It's easy to fall for those cute little buns, as they are so innately lovely, taking pictures before biting into one becomes mandatory. Even at times when Kyle and I find ourselves in hunger, we both take patience as he understands that his aunt was simply doing her 'job' as a "food blogger". 

I opted to try their Black Box creations comprised of John Candy, Big Kahuna and Romeo + Juliet. The meal came out quickly as expected, and we grabbed a seat inside to see what we've got. We've had the Black Box limited edition creations, it had mini burgers with catchy names such as John Candy, Big Kahuna and Romeo + Juliet. We've ordered a triple and among the three, I so loved their John Candy Slammin' mini burger. It's made of 100% all-beef patty, oozing cheddar cheese, candied honey cured bacon, sautéed onions, and salted caramel. I wish they'll be having this as a regular thing on their menu.  Big Kahuna, on the other hand had the same 100% all-beef patty, cheddar cheese, honey cured bacon, pineapple chunks, Sriracha mayo and teriyaki glaze. Romeo + Juliet had 100% all-beef patty, cheddar cheese, honey cured bacon, strawberry jam and salted butter. 

The Burger Breakdown...

The Beef: Quality beef is where it starts with any burger for that matter. I forgot to ask if they locally sourced their beef or they use imported ones. While the blend was proprietary, it tasted and felt like a blend of Brisket, Sirloin, and a bit of Chuck. It had a pleasant, but not overbearing taste. The beef was richly beefy with a strong presence of iron and complex steak flavors. Each patty was perfectly juicy. It delivered a savory rush of wet awesomeness with each bite. Burger was lush and dense while presenting just the right amount of chewy resistance. The quality of the beef was simply exemplary and as good as any of the best burgers that I have sampled. I was astonished to get mini burgers of such high quality in such a small food kiosk. 

The Seasoning: Salt and pepper were applied liberally, and in perfect proportion, to the exterior of the thick, pub-style burger patty.

 The Sear: The beef was very juicy, and this resulted in a sear that was less than epic. Still, the sear provided crispness and a nice shift in texture. The flat top was hot enough as evidenced by the thin layer of Well-Done beef enveloping the remainder of the patty. The beef was so flavorful and well-seasoned that a crisp sear was not missed or even needed.

The Preparation: There was a precise level of care, which was apparent in everything about the burger. The handling, the cooking temperature, and the presentation all suggested that great care was given to detail and the kitchen maintained high standards.

The Cheese: It was gooey, savory, and served to lend a creaminess to the already decadent bite.  

The Bun: The bun was a proprietary brioche-esque affair. It was moderately yeasty and just a little savory. The bun was otherwise relatively invisible, and it got out of the way to let the spectacular beef be the star of the show. The bun was nicely toasted, and it lent a bit of crispness to the edge bites.

I fell for Slammin' Mini Burger's John Candy at first bite. These had a lovely combination of honey cured bacon and caramelized onions + salted caramel with sweet and smokey flavors. They were perfectly flavorful. I happen to really enjoy these awesome Slammin' Mini Burger's John Candy mini sliders and I found these to be truly exceptional. It was terrific! 

The two other flavors from the Black Box Limited Editions had the same patty and bun but with a host of other toppings. Big Kahuna had pineapple chunks, Sriracha mayo and teriyaki glaze. The pineapple chunks balances the spice of Sriracha mayo, the crispy candied bacon on a slab of creamy cheddar cheese, all straddling on a small pound of ground all beef patty, grilled for medium to maximum tenderness and for optimum juiciness. 

Meanwhile, Romeo + Juliet had strawberry jam and salted butter to provide other flavors and textures. Kyle enjoyed this one because it's got the sweet yet tangy taste of the strawberry jam and a bit salty too. Both were spectacularly complex and wet mouthful as well. But sorry because I simply just couldn't get over with John Candy. 

The Fries: Slammin' Mini Burgers' thick cut fries are available in four kinds: For plain fries, Big Dipper (Php85), Double Dipper (Php115), while loaded fries consists of Beefy Supreme (Php125) and Mighty Mushroom Bacon (Php125). I was kind of expecting their fries to be a bit tad oily since they were deep friend. But I was wrong. The fries were nice, peel-on, standard-cut fries. They were earthy, crisp, well-browned, and perfectly seasoned. They were cooked in properly hot oil. The centers were creamy, which suggested that the fries at Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries were par-cooked. They go perfectly well with an array of dips such as good ol' Sour Cream, Creamy Barbecue, Honey Mustard, Roasted Garlic, Jalapeño, Cheesy, and Hot Bell Pepper. 

Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries + Dips had a roster of bestsellers on their menu. The All American Slider (Php145, double/Php215 triple) had "onion confit which was steam grilled" to perfection. They also have basics such as Slammin' Mini Cheeseburger (Php125, double/Php185 triple) as well as the popular Bacon Mushroom Melt (Php 175, double/ Php255 triple). If you can't decide on what to order, you can get all three in one plate via Slammin' Trio (Php225) or try The Farm (Php215) which gives you a Slammin' Cheese beef mini burger, Beer Battered Go Fish with Sour Cream and Crispy Chicks with Barbecue Sauce. 

 Kyle and I also had Beer Battered Fish and Chips with Honey Mustard dip. They are deep fried to crispy golden perfection with soft and delectable fish inside. We could've further enjoyed this meal. But I was a bit disappointed after taking a bite though, because the batter instantly separated from the fish right away. Perhaps they should use fresh panko breading instead to somehow hold the fish properly. Nevertheless, it's worth giving it a try. 

Another worth mentioning are Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries + Dips' line of beverages. They have red raspberry, signature lemon iced tea and blue lemonade in cute little bottles. I love their Blue Lemonade because it had some 'cooling' properties with it. It's refreshing and complements any order from Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries + Dips menu. 

Cap off your meals with Slammin' Ice Bergs. Kyle and I pretty much fell in love with these colorful ice cream mini buns. What? Yes, they made their own dessert using mini burger buns. It certainly can make you cool down and chill for a while. And at Php55 per piece, it's a sure winner indeed! You can choose from gooey cool chocolate, vibrant vanilla and sweet strawberry flavors. It was sooo good that the ordinarily chatty Kyle went completely silent on me. 

We walked in hoping that we'd get something to fill up our empty stomach and satiate our hunger pangs. We walked out stunned by the fact that a world-class mini burger was being offered to an audience that probably lacked the experience to understand their remarkable good fortune.Insanely good beef prepared meticulously and with passion was at an amazing value. The burgers are a non-fussy result of endless experimentation to achieve a superb level of flavor and quality.

 

I am planning to return to Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries + Dips in Promenade, Greenhills soon because I am glad to know that there's a remarkable mini burger waiting for me, all I need to do is to show up. 

Slammin' Mini Burgers + Fries + Dips is located at the new wing of Promenade Mall in Greenhills. You can also find them at Food Choices, Level2, Trinoma Mall; on the 5th Level of Market! Market! (near the Cinema) and soon at the Robinsons Magnolia. 

For more information, follow the, on Instagram @SLAMMINMINIBURGERS and Like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Slamminmb

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for tis post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

BRASSERIE CICOU: Modern French Dining for Family and Friends

 

I didn’t have to go far to get a taste of France. It took just two rides to get to Greenhills to discover the spirit of a hearty French meal in Brasserie CiCou Restaurant. Situated in the bustling commercial center of San Juan, Brasserie CiCou is what it markets itself to be—a perfect place for gatherings French (or you could say, Filipino foodies who crave for the exquisite French cuisine).  In fact, the place can also be reserved for parties, business meetings or company functions even catering.

One thing about Brasserie CiCou, you’ll love the fact that French food did not received a tweak to suit the Filipino palate. I have some friends who have traveled to France and have eaten in the best restaurants there, they know what the original taste is supposed to be like and that is what they offer here at Brasserie CiCou. Too often, my friends would get disappointed once they know that a certain dish had been ‘modified’ while the restaurant continues their claim to be ‘authentic’. Fortunately, here at Brasserie CiCou, the menu captures the essence of an authentic French meal—helpings of delicious, no nonsense French food.

 

Brasserie CiCou’s ambiance may seem a bit formal just as it is in any typical French restaurants, but it has a homey and more comfortable dining set-up. Moms in particular would be happy to know that the restaurant created a corner meant for customers with kids to enjoy—colorful throw pillows, a huge giraffe and graffiti on the walls along with a stack of Lego bricks they can play with while waiting for their meals.  They even have an open/transparent kitchen so people could see everything what’s going on and how the food’s being prepared. 

 

Every element in the restaurant reflects France. It had created a French country look and feel. You can try French provincial food such as full flavored soups, stews, casseroles and roast in ample portions, served with hearty fruit and cheese salad (watermelon, avocado, melon, local goat cheese, arugula and herbed vinaigrette) salads and good table wine. If you’re in for something flavorful, try the kadaiff cones, prawns in lime and coriander, cucumber and yoghurt salad and orange foam or you might want some baked red mullet wrapped in herbs and filo pastry, broccoli-cheese soufflé and potato boulangere. And for the more adventurous, there’s braised rabbit in cider served with sweet potato homemade fries. With these kinds of foods, it is perfectly acceptable for diners to mop up their sauces or spread start their meals via spreading their choice of pate on their slices of baguette—just like the French do.

 

For starters, we were served with assorted Pamora Pates such as chicken liver pate, chicken breast and liver pate, chicken gizzard pate, chicken liver and gizzard pate, chicken breast pate, chicken breast and gizzard pate with some breads, along with a hefty of green salads, pickles and mustard and washed them down with white wine. The simple green salad makes a delectable light appetizer or entrée.  Pate is a rich savory paste made from finely minced or mashed ingredients typically seasoned meat or fish. It is from French origin and is a staple in French cuisine.

 

It was followed by our main meal, a roasted coquelet rubbed in rosemary and garlic on a bed of mashed potato. It’s made with free range and high quality chicken from Abra’s Pamora Farm. Roasted Coquelet is served warm with the savory of the gravy playing against the rosemary herb and the soft buttery taste of the mashed potato. The chicken was moist and juicy, not to mention really tasty and filling.

The dessert is quite impressive with the Trio of Crème Brulee: Vanilla, Chocolate and Green Tea. They have just the right amount of sweetness and have textures that are quite lovely. The green tea crème brulee is such a revelation while the chocolate’s made from rich dark chocolate. 

 

There are still a lot of dishes to sample on Brasserie CiCou. But I reckon you’d better want to check it out yourselves. Come and visit the restaurant yourself for more tasty surprises. The service at Brasserie CiCou’s friendly and cordial and the food, tres tres bon.

Indeed, Brasserie CiCou succeeds in bringing out the best flavors in their dishes, allowing each ingredient to shine through. A French food writer once said: “La cuisine, c’ est quand les choses ont le gout de ce qu ‘elles sont.” Good cooking is when things taste of what they are. So if you’re looking and craving for authentic French cuisine, Brasserie CiCou’s the place to be. It’s where you can enjoy simple, hearty French food without having to travel to France. As they claim, “Be in France for the price of a meal.”

Brasserie CiCou Restaurant is located at 57 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan (just beside OB Montessori and Instituto Culinario, across Promenade)

+ 632 661-9200

+632 917.885-8841

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.