Poptalk Review

 

 

"Poptalk"   featured three  24-hour breakfast places  (August 27 episode)  that offer different  meals.   I was one of the reviewers together with GMA celebrity,  actor and model Carl Guevarra,   and a student of  De La Salle - Saint Benilde and food enthusiast,  Nadia Lei Macaya.  Poptalk  is  a  30- minute weekly  news magazine  program  that  features places,  restaurants, gadgets  and more  hosted by  Tonipet  Gaba.

Our first stop was Tapsilog Centrale where reviewers savored  the original,  authentic and organic  US Angus Tapa.  We then proceeded  to  Borough,  a hole in the mall   that offers    American  breakfast.  Our  last stop was  Kanto Freestyle,   a  very accessible  restaurant that offers  not only Pinoy  meal but also   western food  with its  price lowered   to  carinderia  level.

 

Tapsilog Centrale 
11th Jamboree cor. Kamuning Rd.
Quezon City

The above photo with  the  sign, "US  Angus Beef"  is very catchy  that  would  make one to  stop  at the restaurant to satisfy craving with its  unusual  meal.   This is the first restaurant that we reviewed which is  just near  GMA..  It is  located in the busy corner of  Jamboree and  Kamuning  streets  where  motorist,  if not always,  are  lined in  traffic.

They  offer the  best seller US  Certified Angus beef,  Wagyu Beef,  Sausages, Cakes and more.

Before we ordered the food,  I already noticed the menu chart  indicating  their special marinate that  has no MSG, no food coloring, no tenderizer and no  artificial flavor.   I ordered  Wagyu Beef  which  made me  prove   its  claim.     There was a natural taste suggesting that the meat itself is authentic and  is really  tasteful  not  because of  artificial flavor enhancers.

Salmon Steak is served with seasoned mixed vegetable.   For the price of P265,  diners would enjoy   imported Norweigan Salmon, a luxury fish,  that is very affordable wherein if you order in a  five star hotel,   the  price  is expected to be way up  higher.

Aside from Angus beef and other  Tapsilog  meal,  they also offer
tempting desserts such as Frozen Mango  Brazo de Mercedez, Classic  Sansrival and
The Dome.

They also serve  regular Tapsilog,  Pares, Porksilog, Chicksilog  for a  price  between P55 to 60.

Carl Guevarra, GMA's actor and model with host Tonipet Gaba as they savor Angus Beef from Tapsilog Centrale.

I was quite impressed with the food servings but they served
them  in  big plates that make the food looks  a  little less.   It could mean comfortable eating for us   but for others,  it could be the  other way  around.    Nevertheless, it
was awesome and the food is flavorful even without artificial flavoring.

Frozen Mango Brazo  de  Mercedez is a delight to the eyes and even more delightful when you taste it.   This is not the typical Brazo de Mercedez  because it has Frozen Mango that puts this  dessert  into a higher level.  Salivating it is!

While for  Sansrival,   I could taste crunchy  cashew  nuts.

The Dome  is  really fantastic with its creamy nutella chocolate,  covered  with dark chocolate ganache  and surrounded with chocolate chips.

 

For desserts alone,  diners would really come  back for more.    It is usual  to recommend  the best seller,  the main course and what you think is  best for your own taste bud,    but  when you  recommend  the dessert in a Tapsilog resto,   that means it is really  extremely   delicious!

Overall, the food was great. However I felt  uncomfortable with the place.   Maybe because it is   literally open where pedestrians or even bystanders  can easily  get there and go.  Security is my  concern here.   On  the other  hand,   the place is a big  pop to all motorists  who  are looking  for  some kind  of   unusual  Tapsi meal.    They can just pull over onto a side street  for  a  heavy  breakfast   anytime  of  the day.

Tapsilog Centrale  got  7/9  Pop scores from reviewers.

 

 

Borough The Podium
G/F The Podium, 12 ADB Ave 
Mandaluyong City
 (02) 570-8906

Our second stop is Borough which is located inside  the mall,  The Podium.   Borough is a hole in the mall that serves breakfast  24 hours  a day.

As soon as we entered the restaurant,  I noticed  the  nice  interior design and  the ambiance that made  me feel very comfortable and relaxed.  I love the high ceiling  opposite the mezzanine floor  and I love  the smell of the restaurant.

They serve Omelet, Steak n Eggs,  Amaretto French Toast  and other  breakfast items.

Steak n Eggs is served hot.  Meat is tender  and sunny side up is  done  nicely.   I could tell it is yummy even before eating and the food  presentation  got  me  hungry  even if we just came from full  breakfast  meal.

If you are a first timer in a restaurant with a group,. try to order a different variety of food  and taste a bit of all  the food.  Check the embed Youtube  that I provided  below.  The  video with Carl Guevara at Borough says it  all.   Bagel is such a pleasure that Carl couldn't stop eating.  Such a great food filled with yummy goodness!

Riker's Island Breakfast, with baked beans mixed with bacon bits and sunny side up eggs  is perfect cure for  hangover according to Chef Kaufman.   I think that it's the runny yolk that makes the Riker's Island more  appealing  with its   overloaded cheddar cheese topping.  Just perfect to start  a day!

Amaretto French Toast.    With Chef Cuit Kaufman,    Carl and  Tonipet  prepared  Amaretto French Toast.  The  bread was soaked in custard and toasted in butter with sliced banana,  topped with drooling amaretto caramel flambe.  The taste is heavenly.  Surprisingly,   Amaretto, by which I thought is a dessert,  is  listed as  main course in the chart menu.  The serving is so big  and could share for two or three depending on how big you could eat.     When I said yummy,   it's  really  yummmmmy!   It is more of a  dessert for  me  and  is  perfect  with  hot coffee.

I will definitely  come back to try  their  cheesecakes and other sweets aside from this salivating  Amaretto French Toast.

Borough,  The Podium  price range between  P250 - 400  is  just  right  considering  that  I  could taste a bit of  New York's  comfort food in our own  country.

Borough  is  perfect place  for foodies who are craving for some food  even in the wee hours  of the morning  and yes.. any time of the day.  It is conveniently located inside The Podium but also  has separate  entrance  near the parking.

Borough  got  9/9,   perfect Pop score from  reviewers.

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast
San Joaquin St., Plainview
Mandaluyong City

According to Peter Juanchon,  Kanto Freestyle Marketing Manager,  the restaurant  opened two years ago  bringing in  western food  like pancake and  other  breakfast  item  but is priced lowered to carinderia level.    Since then it becomes phenomenal  that until the time of our  visit,    we could still see customers  lined  up  for their order.

We  ordered  the bestseller Pancake,   Beef  Tapa,  Champorado  and Eggs  Benedict.   We dined  in   between   7 to  8pm   and our  meals..  still..   yes..   BREAKFAST!

Kanto  Freestyle is very accessible to everyone.  The food presentation is quite impressive like you are dining at  fancy restaurant.

Tempting Pancake that even makes  me reach  the spoon in my own post!  This is just so inviting! Can you imagine this?  Meron nito sa KANTO!  Sarap talaga!

French Toast with Bacon and Eggs

For P60,  you 'd   enjoy  Beef Tapa   while  Pancake for only  P90 which is  also  good for sharing.

If you are an  insta-addict, Kanto Freestyle is ka insta-instagram talaga  with  hashtag  from  Kuya Tonipet   #sabiksatsokolate  and if I may add  more  #babalikbalikan    #wowsakanto    which just fit  with  its hotel-like food presentation.   Definitely,   I will go back to try more of their  gourmet servings.

This is the typical carinderia style but in a higher level.  If you are planning to dine here, please check the Google map first  for your own convenience  and find the nearest  landmark so you won't get lost.   But  if you are familiar in this area,  from San Joaquin St.,  you can just  hire a pedicab and ask the driver to bring you,   "sa Kanto lang po!"

Kanto Freestyle Breakfast got  9/9,   perfect score from Poptalk reviewers.

After I  watched and   reviewed  the video,  I told myself that I should just blog.    Honestly,  I had a lot more to say  during the review   but my mind thinks faster than my mouth could  speak , so  I   just  chose not to say more and  stopped.  Moreover, it  was my very first on cam and need a little more time to be at ease and  comfortable  for on  the spot review.

Let me end this post with a big THANK  YOU  to  GMA News TV's  POPTALK   for inviting me to be a guest reviewer in this particular episode.

Here's the video that I embed from YOUTube of  Poptalk's  24-Hour Breakfast last August 27. .

 

Please follow  Poptalk on Social Media for more update:

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My POPTALK Experience

When Poptalk invited me to be a guest reviewer I  was  hesitant to accept it at first. I  am a kind of  person who would rather write than talk,   keep silent than shout out.  That explains why I  blog  a lot  to express myself.  I have a fear  of  talking  in  front  of  the  crowd.. I  seldom post  a photo of  myself  even  in my own site because  I am  very conscious of  my  look.  Opportunity  only   knocks once so  I  grabbed  the chance because not  everyone  is  offered  to be a guest reviewer  anyway.   I  believe I can make it  just  like how I did  when   I conquered  my  greatest fear,  jumped off the cave  and dived.   I  wouldn't know  my  capability  unless  I try  it.    It's a review anyway that even the kids can tell how  they  taste  the food whether delicious,  sweet,  salty or  whatever adjective  they can describe it.   I know  it would be easy  for me.  I've attended  a  lot  of  events,  tasted  a lot  of   food,   blogged about my  food  review,  so this would  be  easy  peasy   for  me. 

But  it was  a different story,   far from my thoughts.  When the camera started rolling,  I  was blanketed with shyness. I thought  that the less I  speak,  the less mistake I would make. I was not at my best.   I gave my own  insight and shared my  input but I should have said a lot more.     

In our  first  restaurant location,   I already noticed the chart  menu  that  says.. No MSG,  No artificial flavoring, No food coloring..etc. and  thought this is  what  I always look for  as  part of   my review.  But  when the camera started to roll,  I couldn't tell anything  about  it and said  other point instead.  Okay,  things like these  really happen sometimes.  I was  like dosed up  with a lot of caffeine in my body.   I  was bit nervous.


EXPERIENCE

Yes, I enjoyed a lot albeit stressful in front of camera. It was my  first time and everything was impromptu.  There is no script to read,  no drama, no director to tell me what to do.   Just on the spot review!   

My first experience to share the camera with celebrities  was overwhelming.  I am waiting till the airing time of the  episode.   I guess I will loose a lot of pounds on my weight  for that  waiting  period  anticipating  how  I  would  look on TV during  the verdict more so,  figuring out what I actually said during the food chat.  Though I know  I wouldn't have the same  exposure,  I was there as part of the episode  and  a glimpse of  me on the camera  would mean  a whole  lot  to me.   The host,  KUYA TONIPET  is  very articulate and spontaneous.  He's  really  a good host!  And by the way,  he's more handsome off  screen.   than on TV. 


Other reviewers  are  Carl Guevara, a  model and actor of   GMA and  Nadia Lei Macaya, a student and  fashion enthusiast.

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POPTALK REVIEW

What you see is what you get.  I gave a  "Flop" score in one of  the  restaurants  that  I  reviewed,  so please  watch   and  find  out  the final verdict  of  other  restaurants.  I  will  post   my  own  blog  review at  FLAKESANDNUTS.info...soon.   I guess  I also  flop when I said,  Rocker's Island  instead  of   Riker's.  So what?   I am not  perfect   who knows  all.  Even  the experts flop too. 


The  STAFF

All the staff of   POPTALK were all kind to me especially the Segment Producer   who's very accommodating.  At the end of the taping she asked me if I  enjoyed  the experience and I said  yes, a  lot   but   I  am  sure  though,  a very  uncomfortable  me  would  register on the screen.  After all the nervousness and awkwardness,  it's the experience that counts.  For once in my life, I've guested on TV.

Mamarhaye,   GMA's  Make up Artist,  was so kind for keeping me look good  during the entire taping.  You're the  best   Mamarhaye!  See the transformation of  myself when aired,  at least at  this  point,   I  pop. Haha.   Yes!   I was totally pampered  with all the retouch  during the taping.  Thank you so much Mamarhaye. 

With  GMA's  Make  UP Artist  Mamarhaye

This is it for now.  I will post a lot  more later.  The photos above were taken by my friend Joy Mendiola who was  there with me during the taping.  I  know this is just a very quick appearance and I sounded like I am launching a movie,  but  hey,   this  is such  A  BIGGIE  MEAL  thing  for  me.


This  episode, POPTALK   All  Day Breakfast   will be aired  on  GMA NewsTV,  August 27, 2013  at  10:00pm.   


To keep you updated,  please  like Poptalk Page:   Poptalk  Show
Facebook:   PopTalk Fan Page



Updated:

My  POPTALK  review is posted   here.