foodcourt, a set on Flickr.
teasing your palates…
(If I can’t be slim, just make everybody else fatter!)
11 Mar
Oceanside Bar n’ Grill: Bringing oceanside flavors to Saipan
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THE new sign “Oceanside Bar n’ Grill” intrigued me after it went up a couple of weeks ago, raising questions about using that name when it was not at the ocean’s side.
My question was answered when I and three buddies checked the place out on Saturday evening. The restaurant owner came from Oceanside, California and wanted to bring the same atmosphere here.
We entered the Oceanside bar n’ Grill and were greeted with a brightly-lit restaurant setting with all the tables ready for diners. A few customers were playing darts, while some were seated on the bar enjoying their drinks.
Marilyn Ronquillo, Oceanside Bar n’ Grill’s owner showed us to a table for four and brought us menus. She convinced us to try their cocktails—which we did while we waited for what the restaurant has to offer in culinary showcase.
Monthly Red
baked mussels
I ordered the Monthly Red from the cocktail menu—a pleasant blend of vodka, pineapple juice, coconut and strawberry in a tall cool glass topped with a slice of orange. My buddies ordered the Saipan Sunburn, which turned out to be a delightful blend of Malibu rum, banana, pineapple juice, cranberry and grapefruit, mango juice and Corona.
While waiting for our food, staffers served us nacho chips to nibble on but we pushed it aside when our first appetizer came—a flaming dish of baked mussels and a special sauce to go with it, an appetizer which Ronquillo said is one of the early favorites of diners. The flame had not died out yet when a delectable dish oftuna sashimi was served on a bed of fresh greens.
loco moco
A big plate of seafood linguini with cream sauce followed, which we all shared. What makes Oceanside’s seafood linguini stand out from all the other pasta we had tried before was a distinctive flavor of herbs and cream sauce with each bite we took. Served with toasted garlic bread and a variety of seafood for $9, this is something pasta lovers will come back for. Marinara sauce is another option.
Loco Moco, a rice-based Hawaiian inspired dish topped with a thick slab of hamburger patty and a sunny-side egg with rich, thick brown gravy was our next course. We were not yet halfway into it when staffers served us a plate of grilled beef short ribs with a serving of rice and salad followed by another dish with a huge slab of juicy chicken teriyaki bathedin a heavenly-tasting sauce.
seafood linguini with cream sauce
Everything looked and smelled heavenly.
No one touched the rice—we had no more space in our stomachs, but we attacked the food with gusto. It was almost scary to think we almost finished everything when we just came from a wedding reception. We felt guilty like we were eating our last supper.
Oceanside Bar n’ Grill had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago, but they will have a grand opening on March 17. The growing list of sumptuous selections on their menu is definitely something to try.
“We are serving an international fusion to cater to the varied tastes and preferences of our diners,” Ronquillo said.
Check out the other appetizers in Oceanside Bar n’ Grill’s menu such as buffalo wings, calamari, chicken kelaguen, French fries, fried chicken wings, hot pepper poppers, onion rings, poke, tuna, cheese quesadilla with chicken, and nachos con Pollo, all within the $6 to $8 price range.
A wide selection of Oceanside’s original cocktails and traditional cocktails, shooters, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and shakes are also available. Darts and a pool table are available for sports enthusiasts. Wi-Fi is also available.
Oceanside Bar n’ Grill is located at the former Flair Bar in Garapan and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight, and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Food items at the Oceanside Bar n’ Grill fall below the $10 mark and the servings are generous.
Happy hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. where domestic beers are only $2.50 and imported beer costs $3.50 per bottle.Only cash is accepted for now. For reservations/inquiries please call 233-6724 or email osidebarngrill@yahoo.com.
5 Feb
Say cheesecake
WHEN you hear the word “cheesecake,” two popular destinations would immediately pop up that serve the most sought-after cheesecake on Saipan—Hyatt Regency and Shenanigan’s Restaurant, both in Garapan.
An hour of unadulterated indulgence over cups of coffee and heavenly slices of cheesecakes for two consecutive nights at these two outlets rekindled the sweet cravings that I have shelved for some time.
Shenanigan's cheesecake
One night last week took two buddies and me to Shenanigans Restaurant for coffee and a slice of the restaurant’s most popular and addicting cheesecake. It was not my first time to try their cheesecake which come in several variations but with cheesecake, one could never have enough.
Shenanigan’s cheesecake comes in a heavy rectangular platter with splashes of chocolate syrup, whipped cream and orange slices—presented in such a way that would make you forget how to say no. Shenanigan’s cheesecake is made of chocolatey and fluffy soft sponge cake topped with a thick layer of fresh cream cheese. My buddy finished his cheesecake and wiped the whole plate clean down to the last morsel in minutes.
Shenanigan’s cheesecake variations are Pana Cotta cheesecake and Mascarpone Cheesecake with blueberry sauce, for $6.
On Friday evening, my two buddies and I sampled the Hyatt Regency’s famous cheesecakes with coffee at the Lobby Lounge. My buddies opted for one slice of the hotel’s blueberry cheesecake each, while I decided to have the Bailey’s cheesecake. A cheerful staffer from the DJ Corner delivered our cheesecakes at the Lobby Lounge where we were comfortably seated and we lost no time in digging into it.
The blueberry cheesecake dripped with a generous topping of blueberry puree, its sweet taste blending with the light and fluffy texture of the cake and making every bite melt in your mouth.
My Baileys cheesecake told a stronger story. Topped with macadamia nuts, each bite of the sumptuous velvety Baileys cheesecake gives you a slight flavor of Baileys in every bite—not overpowering but just a tinge of Baileys.
Cheesecakes have become a special favorite for all occasions and are available 24 hours a day at the Hyatt for $6.
Check out Shenanigan’s Restaurant and the Hyatt Regency Lobby Lounge to get a heavenly bite of cheesecake and join the growing throng of cheesecake addicts in the island. For inquiries, call Shenanigans at 233-8324 and Hyatt Regency at 234-1234.
Published here http://www.mvariety.com/2012020543739/out-to-eat/say-cheesecake-43739.php
26 Jan
puto (steamed rice cake)
If you’re not from the Philippines, this might be a stranger to you but this is an Filipino all time favorites best paired with dinuguan, or pork blood stew. Yuck? ok i get you there. I don’t eat dinuguan too, just puto.
22 Jan
Ossobuco: Now you know
WHEN I walked into the cool confines of Giovanni’s Restaurant at the Hyatt on Friday night, I had no idea what I was going to have.
All I did was repeat the name ‘Ossobuco’ over and over in my mind until it easily rolled off my tongue. I did not do any research earlier to get an idea how this — one of the most counterfeited dishes in the Italian cuisine — looks or tastes like.
Giovanni’s cheerful food staffers led me and buddy Luis to a corner table and asked what we would like to drink. I opted to have coffee first while Luis asked for a tall glass of iced tea.
With our drinks, the food staffers served us the usual bread stick and Italian bread with a pesto dip.
Very soon, the main course arrived and I was in for a real surprise. Served on a hot platter of mouth-watering cross-cut veal shanks garnished with gremolata, the Ossobuco was an irresistible temptation at first sight.
Slicing off a bite-sized portion, I took my first bite and stopped. The veal is tender and well cooked, its buttery and rich flavors blending right to the core, and its incomparable flavor leaves you with a desire to have more after you swallow the last bite.
Ossobuco, or osso buco is the Italian term for “bone with a hole” and refers to the bone marrow at the center of the cross-cut veal shank. The tender meat at the center of the bone marrow is equally flavorful that the dish was reduced to a memory minutes later.
The Ossobuco came with a side dish of Parmessan Risotto and sautéed green asparagus which we also cleaned up in no time.
Hyatt executive chef Gabriele Colombo said that the veal they use for Ossobuco is very young, just a few months old.
He said the Ossobuco is the official dish chosen for the 5th Edition of the International Day of Italian Cuisines and will be served for dinner at Giovanni’s Restaurant until January 31 only.
“We invite all of you to try the classic dish — Ossobuco in Gremolata alla Milanese, a celebration of authentic and quality Italian cuisine all over the world,” Colombo said.
Giovanni’s Restaurant recommends Santa Cristina Toscana or Danzante Chianti as the ideal pair for this delectable Italian dish.
We decided to try one of Giovanni’s famous desserts — a serving of warm dark chocolate with a scoop of walnut ice cream and garnished with slices of orange, kiwi and strawberry splashed with chocolate streaks, another must-try heavenly concoction that only Hyatt’s culinary experts can bring to your table.
The next time you hear the word Ossobuco, now you know that you share something special with over 1,700 culinary professionals working in 17 countries and the millions of food lovers who have the chance to try this famous tender, juicy symbol of the most tempting Italian cuisine.
Taste it for yourself and see why it’s one of the most counterfeited Italian dishes in the world.
The Ossobucco in Gremolata alla Milanese served with parmesan risotto dinner is only $30 per person. Giovanni’s Restaurant opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For inquiries or reservations, please call 234-1234.
19 Jan
Saipan’s first Shrimp Shack opens
IT’S finally here! Saipan’s first Shrimp Shack will officially open this afternoon at the Star Sands Plaza in Garapan.
The Saipan Shrimp Shack will be selling locally grown sweet shrimp from Anthony Pellegrino’s shrimp farm in six mouth-watering plate variations. Saipan Shrimp Shack manager Prinze Joel Salvosa, who is more popularly known as “Prinze the Magician,” said they decided to offer the shrimp plates to entice more locals and tourists to patronize locally grown products.
Salvosa said that since they started offering shrimp plates to their customers, it has started to become a household word and they have increased their shrimp consumption to about 30 pounds a day.
“Every day we get lots of orders for fried shrimp, and this will also pave the way for people outside the Marianas to hear about our locally grown shrimp here,” Salvosa said.
Star Sands Plaza president Alex Youn said the concept of Saipan Shrimp Shack is to give their customers, especially tourists, something that is from here and something that is available every day.
“People can find barbeque and sometimes shrimp at the street market on Thursdays only, but we want to offer something where customers can eat any day they want to,” Youn said.
From the aquarium to the pan
Have it fresh, have it crunchy and have it crispy. At the Saipan Shrimp Shack, diners are assured of eating the freshest shrimp found on island.
Shrimp are delivered fresh and live everyday from the farm to the aquarium at the Saipan Shrimp Shack and kept fresh until ready for frying.
“This is what makes our shrimp dishes different — we don’t buy frozen ones. You see them swimming in the aquarium at a maintained temperature, then see them at your plates next — all ready to eat,” Salvosa said.
For $5, you can have half a pound of deep fried crispy shrimp — about 15 to 20 pieces for the smaller ones, or 10 to 15 pieces of the bigger shrimp.
Salvoza said they are now offering six variations of shrimp menu. Try the sweet chili sauce shrimp, steamed shrimp with oyster sauce, sautéed shrimp with oyster sauce, and shrimp fried rice — all for $5 per order, and shrimp and jumbo fries for $6.
Another bestseller of the Saipan Shrimp Shack is the shrimp fried rice — the only fried rice where full-sized shrimp are mixed and blended along with the flavors of the fried rice.
The shrimp plates are the newest addition to the regular servings of hot sandwiches, hotdog, hot pockets, and chicken and pork barbeque. Salvosa said he owes everything to his expert culinary team including Sam, Caloy, Shela, Marissa and Monet and their paint tattoo artist Ruby.
Saipan Shrimp Shack provides an ideal spot to hangout, drink your favorite beer or beverages at very affordable prizes, enjoy the fresh air outside, watch the shoppers or go shopping inside after a satisfying meal, enjoy the magic performances of Salvosa and the local dancers, get entertained by the appearance of Spiderman and the two bears, and see the street spring to life in the early evening hours.
In short, the Saipan Shrimp Shack is where you “eat, drink, and enjoy life around you.”
For its grand opening today, Star Sands Plaza has invited the famous Manta Ray Band from the Saipan Southern High School to perform for the special event.
Everyone is invited to dig into the delicious bites of deep fried shrimp and watch Salvosa weave his magic performances for the grand opening tonight, and for every night after.
The Saipan Shrimp Shack can accommodate up to 50 persons. It is open every day from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Major credit cards are accepted. For inquiries, call 233-3131.
16 Jan
Of steaks and bottomless wines at the Costa
DO you want it raw, medium, medium rare, or well done? Have you experienced closing your eyes and getting lost in the wonderful flavors of succulent slices of steak dipped in a special sauce? You don’t have to go far to experience it.
At the Costa Restaurant at the Aqua Resort Club, you can have your steak and eat it too—just the way you want it.
The sizzling sounds of the juices dribbling into the fire and the mouth-watering aroma emanating from the grills as expert chefs flip over juicy pieces of 7-oz steaks is a common sight at the at the Costa Restaurant of the Aqua Resort Club on Saturday nights—the special night of the week when everybody heads out to the place for a taste of the island’s best Certified Angus Beef Rib Eye steak.
Aqua Resort Club overall restaurant manager Rom Manzon said that since July last year, the Steak Dinner Buffet on Saturday nights had been a regular hit with locals and tourists alike.
“Give your Saturday nights a whole new delightful meaning by digging into our eat-all-you-can and drink-all-you-can buffet highlighting our special rib eye steak,” Manzon said.
Always a fan of well done or overcooked steak, I dared to try a medium rare steak on Saturday night while my two buddies went for medium.
While waiting for our steak, we roamed around the huge restaurant, too confused what to pick up and where to start. Everything looked and smelled heavenly. Picking up a plate, I scooped a ladle of mashed potatoes and some slices of beef mechado before going back to the table.
Minutes later, our steak was delivered to our table—two orders of medium rare, and one medium steak. Picking up a fork and knife, I sliced off one end of one bite-size portion and took my first small bite starting at the reddish pink center of my steak. It was perfect, with the flavors blending all the way into the tender meat.
The special pepper corn sauce Aqua Resort specifically made for the steak added more to the flavors. A glass of Robert Mondavi wine complemented the steak perfectly.
To pair off with your steak, Aqua Resort Club has teamed up with Pacific Wines and Spirits who provides bottomless red and white Robert Mondavi wines, or beer. If you want more, it is not a problem. You can order as many steaks as you can eat, and drink as much wine or beer as you can take.
Check out the appetizers which varies from time to time, the salad bar which boasts of the restaurant’s famous Caesar Salad, the main dishes, the coffee station, the beverage station where you can have juices and soda, the must-stop-over dessert section which displays sumptuous cakes, leche flan, pies and other irresistible desserts, and the special wine section where you can have glasses of ice-cold Robert Mondavi wines and beers.
The all-you-can eat and all-you can drink Steak Dinner Buffet at the Costa Restaurant is only $24 per person for locals which is 20 percent off the regular rate.
Costa Restaurant’s huge glass windows provide diners with a fantastic view of the pool, colorful flowers and lush greenery, vast blue skies and the ocean beyond.
Costa Restaurant can accommodate up to a hundred individua
ls. All major credit cards are accepted.
On Saturday nights, make the Costa Restaurant your destination from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for all the steak and wine you want.
For inquiries, please call 322 -1234, reservation direct line 322-1222 or email info@aquaresortsaipan.com.
This article was first published HERE
4 Dec
Irresistible temptations at Sweet Escape
A TEXT message from a friend on Friday night directed me to this newly opened cove which is Saipan’s newest destination for people with a sweet tooth.
Saturday afternoon saw me and a buddy heading our way toward the white imposing Chamorro House in Garapan looking for this particular food stop named Sweet Escape. We were about to give up when we spotted the small sign above a wrought iron gate almost hidden by tall shrubs on the ground floor of the building. Picking our way in the grassy area instead of using the paved pathway, we reached a somewhat deserted but very beautiful patio with wrought iron chairs and tables.
We located the front door on the side of the building and pushed open the door to discover a quaint shop decorated with attractive coffee cups on the shelves, dried twigs and tree branches, and small picture frames of coffee on the walls.
I decided to have a go for a glass of iced coffee, and a caramel cupcake to go with it. Not a coffee drinker, my buddy opted for the $3 ice cup combo — a mouthwa
tering scoop of vanilla ice cream served with the cupcake of the day which was the same as mine.
Not a sweet-toothed individual, I had qualms about the cupcake but when I took my first bite, I changed my mind. The caramel cupcake, topped with cream and strips caramel was a delight — fluffy on the inside and crispy on the edges. I easily finished my cupcake, but had to take home the strawberry cupcake for later.
Sweet Escape offers specialty cupcakes at $1.50 each or $15 a dozen. Take your pick from the various tempting choices of flavors you simply can’t resist —Chillin’ Choco Chip, Chocomallow heaven, Cruzin Karamelu, German Chocolate Euphoria, Go Nuts n Bananas, Lemony Meringue Getaway, Maple Pound Paradise, Peanut Butter Choco Bliss, Red Velvet Dream, Simple & Sweet, Snickerdoodle Serenity, and Strawberry Eutopia.
For desserts, you can go for an ice cream sundae, traditional root beer float, caramel apples, and scoops of Dreyers ice cream with various toppings.
For beverages, you can try the fruit smoothie, hot coffee, and assorted soft drinks.
Sweet Escape’s unique feature is its charming wall decorations, a plush sofa where you can recline, comfortable chairs, a chessboard to while the time, glimpses of flowers and the lush greenery outside. You can also take your coffee and cupcakes at the patio outside and enjoy the fresh air, or at the tables ensconced near the walled gardens for more privacy.
The afternoon light streaming in through the huge picture windows providing a romantic and cozy atmosphere inside the shop — a photographer’s dream.
Behind Sweet Escape’s irresistible temptations are sisters Jessica Sonoda and Erica Thornburg who decided to create a haven for sweets and cupcake lovers.
“We want to specialize in something unique for our clients that we too love and what else than cupcakes,” Jessica said. She said her family had been in the restaurant business decades ago and used to run the now defunct Chamorro Restaurant in Garapan.
Sweet Escape caters to cupcake orders for all occasions. Orders must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
Free wi-fi is available. Sweet Escape is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Only cash is accepted for now. For orders, reservations and inquiries, visit Sweet Escape on the ground floor of the Chamorro House near Kristo Rai Church in Garapan, email sweetescape670@gmail.com or call 233-3657.
(Article first published Irresistible temptations at Sweet Escape)
30 Nov
When the going gets tough, get the coffee going
Kafe Macadamia nut latte and Caramel Moccha latte
Mental blocks, those huge boulders that prevent your fingers from hitting the keyboards when deadlines are pressing in, does not choose a time and place to attack. Yesterday was no exception. Doodling on pieces of paper or browsing the internet for nothing in particular did not prove any help at all, until coffee buddy Alexie arrived and told me we just can’t start writing without the elixir of the gods.
Who am I to refuse or question her beliefs? So off we sneaked out and drove to the second floor parking of the Hard Rock Café, rode the elevator one floor down and sought refuge from the cool confines and oh the glorious smell from Kafé Pacifica at one corner of the Duty Free Shopping in Garapan.
I ordered the tall Caramel Mocha latte for me, and tall Macadamia nut latte for Alexie. We browsed by turns through a copy of the Economic Forecast but I lost interest. I wouldn’t want to interrupt the bliss my coffee gave me with thoughts about the economy (which as expected turned out as gloomy as can be by the way).
Too much in a hurry to wait, I took that first giant sip, glorified in the delicious froth and burned my tongue. Talk about impatience! Here’s our coffee, cheers to all coffee lovers!
Parting shots:
When the going gets tough, get the coffee going.
29 Nov
Coffee stops: Have it hot or cold
Irish Latte
UNABLE to summon enough appetite to eat a hearty meal over the weekend, I opted to scout for coffee stops.
With my official coffee buddy on a “flu leave,” I ventured out alone on Friday night and ended at the recently opened Zoom Café across from the Saipan World Resort in Susupe.
The spacious café was deserted except for a group of four customers when I came in.
I was halfway through my iced Blueberry Latte when buddy Andrew arrived to rescue me from being alone, but he’s not a coffee drinker.
Zoom Café serves a selection of hot or cold espresso, special latte, frappeno, Bingsu and fruit drinks for non-coffee lovers like yogurt smoothies and fruit juices.
Zoom Café also serves signature chicken delights such as sweet and sour chicken, soy sauce or hot sauce chicken (my favorite).
Kafé Pacifica
At past 2 p.m. yesterday, I dragged officemate Junhan to try out a coffee shop I had not tried before.
Tucked at one corner of the DFS Galleria is a brightly lit, cozy coffee shop which provides shoppers (or non-shoppers) an ideal place to hang out, sip their favorite coffee or tea and have their favorite sandwiches and snacks.
Browsing through the menu, I settled on a hot cup of regular Irish Latte. Health-conscious and non-coffee Junhan ordered a cold bottle of green tea despite my extolling the virtues of coffee.
The heavenly aroma of Irish Latte soon wafted in the air as I anticipated the first sip of the hot and foamy liquid elixir that would officially start my day.
Kafé Pacifica, with its beige and cream tables, ceilings and walls, is a welcome respite for anyone who wants to enjoy his coffee in a pleasant environment.
Kafé Pacifica serves a wide selection of hot or cold coffee — including espresso, Americano, cappuccino, latte, vanilla, almond latte, macadamia latte, hazel nut, and more flavors from $3.50 to $5.25 a cup. Brewed and decaf coffee is also available.
Kafé Pacifica also serves special pasta delights like spaghetti Italian meat sauce, carbonara and chicken Alfredo, a variety of sandwiches, pastries and croissants, fruit smoothies, juice, a sumptuous selection of waffles, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, milkshakes and more. Free wireless internet is available.
Coffee, taken with the right company, has more satisfying flavor. On both of my weekend coffee escapades I was with non-coffee drinkers, but wait till Alexie is on her feet again or Alan, who describes coffee as “the elixir of the gods,” but alas, he’s 10K miles away!
Join us as we continue scouting for the best coffee shops on island in the next issues.
Kafé Pacifica is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Zoom Café is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Major credit cards are accepted at both coffee shops. For inquiries and reservations, call Zoom Café in Susupe at 234-1010 or Kafé Pacifica at 233-7274.
This article was first published HERE
