Caffe Ti-amo (Italian gelato and coffee)

Waffle Gelato

It was Caffe Ti-amo - Italian Gelato and Coffee, Greenbelt Branch that I visited this week.  I usually pass by this coffee shop on my way home never did I encounter it with "zero" customer.

Caffe Ti-amo serves Italian ice cream with 90% less fat.  The ones I have tried are: Vanilla almond gelato which tastes and milky and sweet. The Ube tastes really ube! Actually I co-related it with the taste of Ube dirty ice cream. I recommend this for Ube lovers. Then for the Dark chocolate, its really what it says it is. I find their gelato good since its rich in flavor.

I noticed that there are yogurt flavored gelatos. Now, I am confused what is the difference between yogurt gelato and 90% less fat gelato.  Next time, I will try a yogurt-flavored gelato and see if there is a difference in taste and texture.

I wasn't able to try their coffee since I ordered the gelato. I am the person who can't drink hot coffee with ice cream. I just find it an extreme combination. While drinking iced coffee and eating ice cream will give me the chills. Brrrrr. Too cold especially their air-conditioning was already cold enough for me.  Hopefully they will also serve cakes soon since I am a cake and hot coffee dessert person.

Vanilla Almond - Ube 

I also like their ambiance. It gives an "outdoor-look set-up", with the red brick walls and a potted trees yet you are actually confined in an air-conditioned area.  I find the place very inviting to laze around and hang out. Plus they have free wifi access and electrical outlets. This will definitely attract customers. 

When I surfed about Caffe Ti-amo, I learned its originally from Korea franchised by Jollibee Foods Corp here in the Philippines.

Another interesting in their menu at which I haven't tried are their Gelato Specials. They mix and match gelato with waffle or bread, fruits, different coffee flavors and even cereals. This is the answer for weight watchers who are ice cream lovers!

wide section of gelato flavors

Branches: (1) G/F SM City Annex, North EDSA, Quezon City, (2) Emerald Street, Ortigas Center and G/F Greenbelt 5, Makati City.  Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/CaffeTiAmoPH

Manna Korea Garden

This time we tried Manna Korea Garden this is located near Min Sok Restaurant. Its also another 'hole-in-the-wall" Korean restaurant.

What I like about discovering hole-in-the-wall restaurants, it makes your trip worth it. Most often the owners personally assist you. The one seen on the photo is actually the owner. She speaks little English, but she smiles and smiles as she nods her head.

I can't remember the names of the dishes we ordered. Aside from the fact the menu was in Korean, I just let my friends to do the ordering since I was sooo hungry already at that time.  Again, thankful to their refillable appetizers, it was served fast. 

What I find interesting about Korean cuisine is it has a lot of condiments / side dish then the idea of cooking your own meats. In that way, you don't have to blame the chef of cooking your meat too long or too raw.  Though this becomes a disadvantage if you are already hungry, seeing your food cook in front of you makes the cooking longer than you think. hee hee. Overall, I still love the idea.

Manna Korea Garden is located at 5650 Don Pedro Street, Makati City. Tel Nos (63-2) 897.8552, (63-2) 897.6799, (63-917) 525.6150. To get there, from Rockwell Powerplant's main street, turn right to Kalayaan. From Kalayaan, turn right on Don Pedro Street. The landmark of knowing which Don Pedro Street is when you see Ministop store. (Its after Grilla restaurant. If you reached the traffic light, you've passed it already). From Don Pedro Street, go straight until you see Manna Garden signage on your left.

Min Sok Restaurant

We discovered Min Sok Restaurant when I was craving for Korean food. I just googled on the net which Korean resto to go to around Makati. With the knowledge that there are a lot of Korean restos around P.Burgos / Makati Avenue area, we picked Min Sok.  It was even challenging to reach this place. Definitely a hole-in-a-wall restaurant!

A typical me when I visit an unfamiliar cuisine, I ask what the locals eat. The waitress recommended to us Bossam Jeiongsik and a noodle Nakji Myeon. When our orders came -- Whoa! the Bossam Jeiongsik  was a big serving. All the small bites (appetizers) are even refillable, even the veggies but am not sure about the pork. Even the soup was included.  We noticed in 2 other tables, this is the only thing they ordered plus beer.  

For the Nakji Myeon noodle order, the spicy level of it was just too much for us. Recommended only for high-level spicy taste buds.

A plus for this place is the Korean owner personally showed us how to go about in mixing and eating the food.  Basically get the leafy veggie, add in the pork, the paste, and any of the small dishes. Wrap it like a bun, then bite.

I enjoyed experimenting, for every leaf,  mixing and matching.  Each taste would come out differently combining the spices and the small bites. I realized the paste makes up for everything.

Minsok Restuarant is located at 5655 Don Pedro 23 Street corner Jacobo Street, Poblacion Makati. Tel No: (632) 895.95.86. Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm.  To get there, from Rockwell Powerplant's main street, turn right to Kalayaan. From Kalayaan, turn right on Don Pedro Street. The landmark of knowing which Don Pedro street is, when you see Ministop store. (Its after Grilla restaurant. If you reached the traffic light, you've passed it already). From Don Pedro Street, go straight until you see Min Sok signage. The Min Sok is located at the corner.