January is for Japanese BGC hits

Happy New Year dear friends and fellow gourmands!

I know I have been remiss the past year, my last post being July 2010 (I'm terrible and useless, yes, I know). I have been to many a restaurant last year without any intention of blogging about it.

Did you know there was such a thing as blogger's fatigue? Much like writer's block, it became very annoying to me when, after taking the photos of the food, I began to dread having to clean the photos, resize them etc etc then upload them. Then, I would find myself with hardly any energy to write about the food!

So, I stopped blogging altogether.

I even grew weary of having to photograph the food and I would purposely forget to even bring my camera!

On the opening day of Wee Nam Kee, which I only found out I was going to attend 5 minutes before the thing itself, I was a bit tired from the festivities of the evening before. When we arrived at the restaurant, which is only a little bit bigger than a bathroom, it was a media circus and an extra headache to a hangover.

All sorts of media were there, most specifically, fellow bloggers. Now, I was not there for this blog, I was there for my day job, and seeing a gazillion bloggers in one big blogstravaganza was a first for me.

They oohed and ahhed over the kinds of chicken (soy, steamed and roasted).
I just ate whatever had some skin and didn't look like an ass or a neck.

When the cereal prawns came, they giggled like children at Christmas. And even while the prawns were gone, they ate the cereal by itself.
I found the cereal prawns a bit dry, now what cereal without milk in God's good world wouldn't be?

So after watching everyone indulge in this chicken-rice fest, I did feel better after eating the greasy, salty, spicy chicken and its rice counterpart. But I slipped away and did my day job without. blogging. once.

We tried to go back to Wee Nam Kee but were number 50 on the frigging waitlist. 50???? The next morning we would get a table you mean????

We No Like Wee Nam Kee No More.

But one of my New Year's resolutions is to "blog more," so here is a feast of all things yummy and Japanese. And it being my son's 6th birthday, I am taking him to Sugi with his Dada and Lolo Manito so he can eat his favorite beef teriyaki.

Enjoy and Banzai!

The first:
Jozu Kin, located at Burgos Circle Fort Bonifacio Global City.
Fusion Japanese.
Affordable.
Service, could be improved.

 Grilled prawns

Tempura sushi

 Spicy tuna with wasabi mayo and tempura flakes (aka the Bomb!)

 Seared scallop with truffle oil

 Foie gras sushi with mango

Steak teppanyaki

When Jozu Kin first opened, we couldn't get enough. Umami was seeping out of every food item. Even things such as pasta with Parmesan black pepper sauce that seemed out of place still had the umami factor. When a restaurant is new, flawed service is pardoned. As time goes on, it is unforgivable. The food remains the same but there is nothing like good, old fashioned Japanese dining. Forget the fusion.

Next: Toki
Fusion Japanese, located at Fort Bonifacio Global City.
Set meals a good value.
Weird things such as pizza tonkatsu available too.

 hamachi sashimi

 set menu for Php470: Tempura, hot soba, fruits and pickles

Toki seemed ideal with its nice location and top reviews. Unfortunately, during the holidays, it had funky karaoke house kind of Christmas decor going on. Also, my Japanese food partner Amy and I opted for sushi and set menus instead of the ala carte. Pretty reasonable.

Next: Keizo, at Burgos Circle, BGC.

Affordable.

Authentic hole in the wall type place, but clean.

Get the specials on the white board.

 Edamame appetizers

 free kani salad amuse bouche 

my favorite: ebi fry curry

Perfect for a rough night of drinking, I always enjoy Keizo, both for its authentic flavors and Japanese chefs behind the counter as well as its hole-in-the-wall-yet-air-conditioned appeal. I used to eat this kind of cuisine when I was living in LA. There are small restaurants, usually serving only one type of food, such as sushi, curry or soba. But all are yummy and usually very affordable, just like this place. 

The last time I ate here was right after elections. The joint was jumping (there are only few tables after all) and when we stepped outside, who should we see eating in the dark on a table for two was Manny Villar. Hey man, if I had registered, I would've voted for you!

Jozu Kin: +632.403.1875

Toki Japanese Fusion and Fine Dining: +632.856.7295; 856.9528

Keizo: +632.403.3939