TO EAT OR TO EAT, THERE IS NO QUESTION!

Please do not be food... *excuse me* fooled by the façade. After all, it is just a façade. Don’t be fooled by the fancy name either (although I just made it up myself).

This haven of street food was discovered by one, Chay Ama (my girlfriend <3), local and loyal foodie. She and her friends have been ransacking the place since high school.

Isaw @ 48th (get used to it) is located along Road 8 near Visayas Avenue. Perhaps the easiest landmark would be the 7-Eleven at the corner as you turn left at Road 8 from Visayas Ave (coming from Elliptical Road) and head towards Mt. Carmel Parish Church.

Once you arrive at Road 8, watch out for this plain white building on your left with a mountain load of barbecue, gizzards, intestines or what we like to call isaw! 

And this little plaque that says 48. *Badumtss*

Look at those. Beautiful. If you thought I was exaggerating with it being “a mountain load”, well, I wasn't.

Beautiful, isn't it?

As they say, choose your poison!

Like any other isawan, they have a wide array of choices. 

For the conservative: Pork barbecue

For the brave and the bold: Pig ears, Chicken gizzards and intestines, Pork gizzards and intestines, Liver, hell there’s even Pork blood (aka Betamax).

We’ll get to that sauce later. Pick your munchies first and send them to the grill!!

Listen and watch them sear.

Mhm zoom that baby in. MMMMMMM-MM!

Once they’re done, you have two sauces to choose from. 

To the left, you have their special beer-chilli sauce. It’s smokey, adequately spicy, hot, and beery <3

To the right, they have their own mix of the vinegar-onion based sauce. A perfect blend of smokiness, sweetness, and sourness. 

Unfortunately, the recipe to their sauce is classified.  

Once you’ve taken a dip, there’s not much to say except... EAT DAT SH*T!

And get another one.. or two.. three?.. maybe four.. Hahaha I’m on a diet make it FIVE.

Oh.. it’s budget friendly too! P5-P10 depending on the meat you want.

So enjoy, go ahead and make that 10! 

Whether it be summer or winter (in the Philippines? yeah right…), a holiday or a regular weekend, Tagaytay and Nuvali are the nearest go-to destinations near the metro. With Tagaytay offering stunning views, lower temperatures, and delectable establishments; Nuvali bringing you cozy and spacious landscapes for fun activities and water sports, your itinerary is sure to be anything but boring!

Allow this humble establishment to squeeze in your itinerary and serve you good ol’ Filipino food before heading out or heading home from your destination.  

TBS Blue Corner is located in Paseo de Sta. Rosa Market. 

Not your ordinary turo-turo (point-point).

photo by Diaz, Anton. https://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/6936245124/

Yes it is along the corner of the market with a blue details.

TBS Blue Corner specializes in sizzling, ihaw (grilled), and lutong bahay (traditional home filipino cooking). Now imagine all that variety in your mouth. 

So let’s get started, shall we? 

Sizzling Liempo - The pinoy ihaw staple. 

Verdict: 5/5

Sizzling Squid - Its never too early for a pulutan favorite and why not pair it with rice? 

Verdict: 5/5

Sizzling Sisig - Some sisig are worth going the distance, this is one of them.

Verdict: 4/5

These are just the tip of the succulent food-berg known as TBS Blue Corner. Plenty more of filipino favorites to try and enjoy. And most importantly, its budget friendly too!! 

So let me stop now and let you fold your laptop, lock your phone, stick your keys into the ignition, and drive south!

A plane headed to Tokyo costs about an average of Php. 12,799.00 (Based on Cebu Pacific Prices). Why go spend that much on a plane ticket back and forth? One word. Ramen. Yes, one of the best creations of the Japanese aside from the Katana and Sony Electronics. A creation that requires either soy sauce or miso mixed with meat/vegetable/chicken/fish/beef-broth, sliced meat, green onions, and dried seaweed.

(The one on the big bowl on top)

Yes it sure looks mouth watering isn't it. No instant cup noodles could ever replicate THE Yamazaki Special Shoyu Ramen's authenticity and plating. Not N****n, L***y M*, hell not even P***ss Pansit. None of those stand a chance against the masterful chefs trained in Japanese cuisine. Those hands only touches the freshest ingredients in order to deliver a perfect, well cooked ramen. 

I know you might be wondering what that cup of rice is and what that colorful vegetable dish tastes like. Just keep on reading. You wont be disappointed.

Luckily for me, it only cost me and my fiance Php. 8.00 each to indulge ourselves in one of Japan's delicacies. Just a few blocks and a jeep ride. Yes, I dont have to spend on a Php. 12,799 plane ticket to Tokyo just to get my mouth bathed in ramen broth. Yamazaki offers one of the best, affordable, and most authentic Ramen you could ever get your taste buds on outside of Little Tokyo, along Pasong Tamo in Makati City.

The Chahan (Japanese Fried Rice) goes perfectly with the ramen. Why is it you ask? Because its not any fried rice. Its THE FRIED RICE that....... It may only be a cup of rice but its packed with authentic flavor and the freshness in the ingredients are very evident.The first bite could send you screaming for more already. But you have to tell yourself to stand your ground, because you haven't eaten anything yet (well not technically).

Another way to accompany a hot and flavorful ramen is a plate of Yasai Itame. Stir fired vegetables full of color and flavor. The infusion of Kikoman and Tonkatsu sauce (May not be the actual sauces applied in Yamazaki) perfectly captures the flavor of the carrots, bean sprouts, bok choy, and mushrooms all together in one plate. For me, a Yamazaki experience wouldn't be complete without an order of their very own Yasai Itame.

Having the Chahan and Yasai Itame complimenting Yamazaki's Special Shoyu Ramen, you will very much end up with a big smile in your face and in your comfort seeking stomach. Yamazaki also has a grocery to accommodate your refrigerators, freezers, and of course your stomachs as well. It looks like you wore your sneakers and prepared your spare change for the commute.. Here's where you can find Yamazaki Grocery and Ramen House:

The hunt for the Treasures of Yamazaki Grocery and Ramen House continues..... Til next time, hope you all enjoyed my first food blog. :) Live Love and Eat! - Wolfgang Puck.