Galileo Enoteca an Italian Hideaway

I've always believed that a good restaurant shouldn't only be about good food -- it should have great ambiance to match. Galileo Enoteca in the Boni area is a fine example of this winning combination. The interiors are dimly lit and encased by brick walls. Long wooden tables and stools fill the place, capturing the essence of a cozy yet festive Italian family dinner. Rows and rows of wine bottles beckon you to drink to your heart's content, while a wall adorned with a large colorful mural brings life to the entire establishment. It's the kind of place that invites you to take your time and enjoy all the courses. I gladly did, starting with an assortment of cold cuts and cheeses. These items can be ordered a la carte, but there are set menus (P600 per head) that include them as well, along with a glass of the house wine selected accompany the platter perfectly. When my appetite had gotten the jumpstart it needed, I dove into the main courses, beginning with the Quattro Stagione. This pizza is bathed in tomato sauce and topped with ham, artichokes, mozzarella, mushrooms, and black olives. It was served very hot on the table so that when I pulled a slice, the cheese stretched into sticky strings--a clear indication of a freshly prepared pizza. Among all its notes, I best loved the dominant liquor-like taste of the olives. We also had a plate of Penne con Porcini Secchi and Tartufata, a pasta dish cooked with a delicious creamy mushroom sauce and drizzled with truffle oil. For amore robust main course, I pointed my dining companions to the Seared Chicken Piccata in Lemon Sauce. It's a generous chicken fillet served then infused with the flavors of herbs and lemon zest. I particularly admired how the meat was seared--the edges of the fillet were crunchy but the meat retained its moisture. Citrus flavors are lightly infused in the meat, but lemon lovers can opt to heighten the intensity by squeezing more juice from the lemon wedges served on the side. A word of caution. The chicken can be quite peppery. I hope you'll go and experience these authentic Italian dishes for yourself. Here are the must-order menu : Assorted cold Cuts (P150), Assorted Cheese (P190), Quattro Stagione Pizza (P190; P420 for sharing), Penne con Porcini Secchi and Tartufata (P330), Seared Chicken Piccata in Lemon Sauce (P320). Buon appetito! Address : G/F Reyes Gym, Calbayog Street corner Malinao Street, Mandaluyong City Tel : 552-0482 Rating : 3 star

Mandarin Oriental Cafe

Whenever I am in Cubao area, I always find the opportunity to drop by Mandarin Oriental Cafe inside Gateway Mall. It remains to be my favorite stop for either a simple afternoon cup of coffee or an indulgent dinner. I also can't seem to get enough of the cafes interior - the place looks like a well designed home, combining contemporary design with Oriental pieces. What's more, the cafes provides a great view- whether you're sitting beside the open window overlooking the traffic below or in the enclosed garden extension across the cafe. For a great afternoon treat that's light on the stomach, I am devoted to the Seafood Triple Decker Sandwich served with a salad with balsamic dressing (P365). This is a hearty sandwich packed with a generous filling of grilled prawns and crab meat salad. The black pepper brioche is slightly toasted, contrasting perfectly with the moist filling and chewy seafood morsels. When it comes to a complete dinner, the standard menu has an assortment of gourmet dishes guaranteed to satisfy discerning palates. My recommendation: the Cashew-Crusted Russian Cod filled with Black Olive Gnocchi and Basil Cream (P599). I admire the soft, flaky quality of the fish and how the cashew crust adds a brittle texture, while the basil cream imparts smoothness to the dish. The best thing about it? The gnocchi! This Italian pasta may not appeal to a lot of people but there is such an elegance and refinement to the gnocchi that you'll discover once you have the dish. Another one to try is the Crab Fat Rice with Grilled Prawns (P499). Most version of crab fat rice I've tried come with flavors that are too overwhelming. The cafe managers to keep light yet still flavorful, allowing the flavors of the finely grilled tiger prawns to shine through. Don't miss out on the cafes daily cyclical dish offerings, priced at P699each. On Mondays, they have Pan-fried Halibut with Basil Ricotta Polenta and Sauteed Spinach while on Sundays, they offer Lapu-lapu Fillet with Caper Calamansi Butter. And because hotel buffet set-ups are never without them, the cafe offers a daily carvery where you can sample Honey Glazed Ham in Port Wine Sauce for P999. This way, you can enjoy the best of fine hotel food and service within the relaxing embrace of a cafe. Address : 1/L Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Quezon City Tel - 913-5505 Rating : 3 star

Adam's Pick

Adam Richman has been eating his way across America, and there are more than a few famous food spots that he thinks should be at the top of your list. Here’s a taste. The White Spot Cafe, Anchorage, AK My Anchorage makeup artist Amber recommended The White Spot Cafe. In particular, "their double stacked, fried Halibut sandwich which is to die for." It's also one of the oldest restaurants in the whole state. Sidecar, Brooklyn, NY Opened by the brothers DeCoursy (of Blue Ribbon Bakery and O'Connors), this place has phenomenal food served until 4 a.m., signature drinks and what some people call the best fried chicken in NYC. I love the Brandade and the Banh Di (their version of the Vietnamese sandwich). Alchemy, Brooklyn, NY Seven words: white chocolate and sweet pea creme brulee. Plus 11 bucks gets you a great burger with fries, a small salad AND a beer! Franny's, Brooklyn, NY My friend John is the chef here. He’s taken his haute roots from Per Se and created amazing pizzas, pastas and house-cured meats. The eggs and spicy pickles and the prosciutto are not to be missed. Ask your server anything -- these guys are among the best in the city. Char No. 4, Brooklyn, NY The best bourbon selection ANYWHERE plus great pork nuggets, cheese curds, pulled pork sandwiches and BLTs. All meats are house-cured, and they have great sides like warm baby beets with bleu cheese and pecans. Press 195, Brooklyn, NY A phenomenal sandwich place that recently remodeled and came back with a vengeance with Belgian frites, homemade lemonade, a full bar and salads, plus their famous maple- syrup pesto. G&M Crabcakes, Baltimore, MD I found out about this one from one of my most reliable sources: LOCALS, bellboys, busboys and parking attendants. It’s located in Linthicum, just outside Baltimore, but they even ship their crabcakes nationwide. I like the quiche with crab in it and the more informal dining room on the right. Faidley's Crabcakes, Baltimore, MD I have to admit, I know about this place from watching HBO's "The Wire". Both the good and the bad -- both McNulty and Omar -- ate these cakes. And for me, that's all I needed to know. Best advice: go early. They get crowded, and their hours are unusual. Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington, DC Great for late night bites, half-priced oysters and a dining room that screams history. The Eastern Market, Washington, DC This historic market offers amazing softshell crab sandwiches and crafts for about a zillion square miles. It's recovering from a fire a couple of years back but is still awesome. TenPenh, Washington, DC This upscale, Southeast-Asian-inspired restaurant is sexy, expensive and totally worth it. The address is 10 Pennsylvania Ave -- hence the name. Basque Festival, Boise, ID We found this by accident, and I fantasize about this street food at least once a week. High Cotton, Charleston, SC The flagship of the Maverick restaurant group. Ordinarily, any corporately owned place makes me cringe, but High Cotton gets it right -- from decor to grits. Awesome. Taco Boy, Charleston, SC Taco Boy’s newest location in downtown Charleston (the other is on Folly Beach) still packs enormous flavor. Great drinks and a huge patio with both food and drink service -- plus free fake tattoos! Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Kahuku, Oahu, HI There are a ton of places on the North Shore, but Kahuku has the sweet corn and fresh shrimp that are the stuff of legend. While Opal has a huge following, Giovanni's is the oldest truck, and the garlic shrimp and spicy shrimp are not to be missed. Shiao Lan Kung, Philadelphia, PA Specializing in stir-fries, steamed meats, poultry and seafood, Shiao Lan serves up amazing eats in the heart of Chinatown. Lolita, Philadelphia, PA A fun BYOB place with a distinct South American feel to its dishes. Seating is tight so try to avoid the 2-tops in the back. Instead, get a table by the wall to the left as you enter. Tu Lan, San Francisco, CA Basic, no frills, awesome Vietnamese that has been sampled by everyone from me to Julia Child. Delicious. Dain's Place, Durham, NC Dain’s was featured in our “Doughman Challenge” episode. Dain is the perfect bar owner: interested but not too in-your-face with a great menu of food that is just a slight cut above typical bar fare. Great beers, great tater tots and great service. Zankou Chicken, Los Angeles, CA So Amazing. Middle Eastern fare: the chicken shawarma platter is just perfect. Get extra garlic sauce and extra meat. Perfectly made pita, hummus and tahini. Flavorful, moist roasted chicken straight from the rotisserie. Mayflower, San Jose, CA Hidden at the back of the Milpitas Mall, delicious dim sum served from carts and times finished up right at your table. Gets crowded, so come early -- and hungry. Get the banana-leaf-wrapped chicken and any of the har gow and fried dumplings. Ted Drewes Custard, St. Louis, MO For almost 80 years, Ted Drewes Custard has been warming the hearts and freezing the brains of St. Louis natives. The specialty of the house is the “concrete” – a combination of dozens of toppings that are blended with the custard until it is so thick it will not fall out of a cup that is turned upside down. Get a pumpkin pie concrete and watch the world fall into place. Delicious, historic, and perfect for a summer day in the Gateway City. The Angus Barn, Raleigh, NC Come hungry and come often. My cousin, Keith, who went to UNC, took me there with his family. Just amazing ribs, steaks, phenomenal appetizers and desserts, plus the dining room is cozy despite its vast size. Great olives and cheeses in waiting area where you wait in plush, wing-back chairs. Isle’s Bun and Coffee Company, Minneapolis, MN Cinnamon rolls the size of a shot put, and icing so perfectly decadent that some have said it was secreted by a divine being. Delish!

Mini-Hot Dogs With Brown Sauce Boost London’s W8

Sometimes, a dish may stop you in your tracks for the right reasons: cutting through the small talk, pulling your wandering eye back to the plate and causing an involuntary movement that returns wine glass to table. Game consomme with bacon cream and a small game hot dog --a starter at Philip Howard’s informal new west London venue, Kitchen W8 -- take a bow. (The kitchen is headed by Mark Kempson of the Vineyard at Stockcross, so he should take one, too.) The consomme comes in a mug, and I confess I’ve asked the restaurant what’s in it, rather than just identifying through taste the grouse, venison, pheasant and mallard that have gone into it. It’s topped with thick and creamy bacon foam. The texture is like an old-fashioned Irish coffee. It’s richly flavored and comforting on a cold day and the gourmet mini-hot dog served on the plate alongside the mug may raise a smile. It’s venison, hare and pork and comes with a sweet-and- sour brown sauce with onions, spices, malt vinegar and beer. I’m not sure where I last had so much pleasure for 8 pounds ($13) but it was probably late at night somewhere exotic in Asia, rather than at a smart London neighborhood restaurant. Howard is best known for his fabulous food at the Square, which holds two Michelin stars and attracts a corporate crowd. His business partner here is the restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas. Crab Ravioli The seasonal modern European menu employs mainly British ingredients and is full of reasonably priced tempting dishes, with eight of the nine starters costing less than 10 pounds, 12 of the 13 mains costing less than 20 pounds and all of the desserts at 6.50 pounds. The top-priced dishes are ravioli of crab & red mullet with squid, cuttlefish, octopus and lemon (10.50 pounds); and fillet steak with red-wine butter at 12 pounds. There’s a foie-gras mousse starter with raisin puree, crisp fruitbread and parmesan that I would order repeatedly if I didn’t like the hot dog so much, and if you like game as much as I do, you may love the hand-rolled pappardelle with rich game sauce. This uses meat from a braised hare leg, with a red wine and port sauce. It’s finished with diced carrot and swede. The current bestseller in these early days is fillet of halibut with Beaufort (cheese) crust with melted onions and chanterelles, according to Simon Freeman, the former sommelier at Hibiscus who oversees the wine list. There are about 120 wines on the list, which starts at 14.95 pounds a bottle and includes a reserve section. The house wines (a chenin blanc-semillon from Argentina and a French Cabernet Sauvignon) are fine by the way, and the list -- chosen by the excellent Freeman -- merits exploring. Citrus Crunch Among the desserts, the rice pudding comes awash with Pedro Ximinez sherry -- which is a good thing -- and the passion fruit & lime mess with Brillat-Savarin cream comes in a glass: light and citrussy with a satisfying crunch. Howard is known for the Square. Its corporate feel belies the passion of the chef, who has battled his own demons to overcome drug addiction and to win the admiration of his peers. While Kitchen W8 is more relaxed, the professionalism is the same. In attempting something similar to his protege Brett Graham of the Ledbury -- who last year opened the wonderful Harwood Arms in Fulham -- Howard has revealed more of his own talent and made the London dining scene that little bit better. Kitchen W8, 11-13 Abingdon Road, London, W8 6AH. Tel. +44- 20-7937-0120 or click on http://www.kitchenw8.com/. The Bloomberg Questions Cost? The lunch and early dinner menu is 19.50 pounds. Sound level? Pleasantly quiet: about 70 decibels. (A London park is 50 decibels and a subway train 90 decibels.) Inside tip? Tables at the front are best. Special feature? The Sunday lunch is a bargain. Will I be back? yes. Date place? Yes. Rating? ***