Abbondanza Bonanza!

We were incredibly stuffed the other night when we were invited to go and have a taste test at the Abbondanza Pizzeria Ristorante. It is located in the Entertainmant Mall of the Mall of Asia, across the San Miguel by the Bay.


I actually know the family that owns Abbondanza Pizzeria, they are not Italians but they sure serve food like one! Tito Donn and Tita Ginn were so gracious, taking care of us as if we were in their home. It’s a good feel inside the restaurant, because you don’t feel like eating in a fast food or somewhere that just serves food because it’s a business. They serve food because they want to serve you good food and genuinely wants you to have a good time. It is a good mesh of Filipino hospitality and great Italian food!

Now to talk about the food:

We were served 2 kinds of soup, Minestrone (P120) and Zuppa Rustica (P120). Minestrone you would probably be more familiar, stewed tomato vegetable soup which had very comforting taste; and Zuppa Rustica,a mushroom broth with spinach and more mushrooms, yum! Both soup were very flavourful, a tad bit salty for my taste, but they make everything from scratch so you can make them adjust according to your palette.


THEN! we were served to try the Abbondanza Pizza. This gigantic oblong pizza (around 27” in length!!!) with 4 different flavours for you to choose from. Thin, baked to perfection crispy crust and generous amount of cheese and flavour! The size of pizza is really true to their tag line: "for the Big Italian Appetite!" This is a great way for you to try different flavours to find out which one is your favourite or you come and eat as a group and couldn't decide which pizza to get!


Speaking of favourite, my favourite pizza of all time is the QUATTRO FORMAGGI! 4 kinds of cheese on top of each other, melting on the crispy thin crust and it was heaven in a pie! What made this pizza even greater than it already is is the fact that I made it! This summer, on weekends between the hours of 2-5PM, they open their kitchen to kids who wants to try making their own pizza! Last night, the owners were gracious enough not only to adjust the time that the kitchen is open but also the age bracket! Haha



We thought that was it, after 2 pizzas, we’re off to dessert, but nooooo! Next up was the Pollo Arrosto (P280) chicken roasted was so tender then simmered with tomato sauce.


Then came Salsicce al Vino Biance with Creamed Baked Potatoes (P280). I think the sausage may not be something I’d look for, because I’m more of the sweet Chinese-style sausage, but I think this is great with wine. The baked potato on the other hand, is another story. Soft sliced baked potato topped with melted cheese… how can you go wrong? I’ve actually sworn off potato for years now, but I eat it once in a while when it’s worth it, and this was EVIL.


By the time Calamari Ripieni (P280) came out, I was just full, I tried a piece of it and it had a very interesting texture. The middle of the squid was this yam-like (like the Taro Puff) consistency that I had a hard time deciphering what it was, but it was actually ground squid and its caviar stuffed back into the squid then stewed in tomato. YUM for squid lovers!


We thought, oh what a great night, great food, then BAM! Risottos came along!

First, the classic Risotto al Funghi Porcini (P260) the rice was al dente (is rich and creamy but still with some resistance or bite) and they did not binge on the mushrooms! I <3 mushrooms. Even though I was already full, I could not resist “tasting” it one spoonful after the other. It’s the last dish anyway… no!

Then Risotto con Osso Buco (P300), this was probably one of my favourite dishes next to my Quattro Formaggi. In Filipino, we call it UTAK or brain, and it was cholesterol fest! beef bulalo (bone marrow!) in tomato sauce and cheesy risotto… *sniff* (‘nuff said!)

Then, Quattro Formaggi Risotto….rice…cheese…cheese…cheese…cheese… by this time, I’ve already stuffed myself to death but I just HAD to eat this. I wasn’t wearing spandex pants so I had to unbutton my jeans just to fit a few more spoonfuls of this cheese heaven. Evil.


To top it all off, of course, there was dessert. All three of them! The tiramisu (P125) was good, it’s good to balance your palette after eating so many flavourful dishes, it was very moist and soft. Tiramisu is a tricky dessert to execute to get the perfect flavour, this one was okay but not the best I’ve ever tasted. The panna cotta (P95) was delish! Especially the fresh berries that looked like caviar, I love the contrast of the creamy panna cotta with the textured berries. As for the Crema Catalana(P95) is just like your regular leche flan but it was presented like a crème brulee with the sugar crust, it wasn’t sweet enough for my taste by the texture was very creamy.


All in all, it was great experience! It is a great place to spend time with your family and friends because it has great food while catching up.

“One of the delights of life is eating with friends, second to that is talking about eating. And, for an unsurpassed double whammy, there is talking about eating while you are eating with friends.”

Check out their eat-all-you-can pizza promo OR eat-all-you-can pasta @ 250/head includes bottomless drinks!


















ABBONDANZA PIZZERIA RISTORANTE
http://abbondanzarestaurant.multiply.com/

Ground Floor of The Crescent Condominium, Amethyst Drive, Ortigas
Store hours: 11am-9pm, Sundays-Thursdays and
11am-10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
DELIVERY: 6336336 (nearby areas only)

2/F Entertainment Mall, Mall of Asia, Pasay
Store hours: 10am-10pm

Blacksoup Cafe + Art Space

Unit G, Maginhawa Bldg., 154 Maginhawa St.
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel: 435-2549
This week's verdicts from:
banggigay, indayguapa, zara, and candie

banggigay:"Fish eggs and nori on Blacksoup Pasta made for a unique dining experience"

The café’s attempt towards an unpretentious setting was achieved through clean lines, warm colors, and basic patterns on the walls. But it wasn't what you'd call subdued either, being an art space too highlighted by photos displayed on tables, carefully chosen fabrics on chairs and benches, and mounted art pieces. Even corners get a treatment with a baby grand piano on one side and a musical and book collection on the other. Interiors/ambiance: 4/5 stars.

The newly converted pescotarian me took notice of the seafoods and vegetables on the Menu List. Blacksoup Pasta (bearing the café’s name) caught my eye not only because of its affordable price at P175.00 but also because of its listed ingredients: squid, fish egg with nori and Japanese mayo. Its spaghetti pasta was cooked al dente, mixed with Japanese mayo, giving the desired contrast to succulent squid slices. I actually thought the addition of fish eggs and nori was rather original and underscored the real Blacksoup Pasta experience. Verdict: 5/5 stars.

Blacksoup Pasta

Salmon Steak

indayguapa: "the juicy chicken in basil with stuffed cheese will make me come back"

i liked the repertoire of dishes on the menu. you get something as homey at kangkong in oyster sauce or have something sosyal like lamb chops with asparagus. they have interesting dishes - laing pasta, mango turon, "you won't be single for long"...yes they have a dish by this name which i avoided because i love being single! (But i digress).

the pasta named after the cafe, blacksoup pasta, is worth trying out. though it had me gagging after my first (and last) forkful because it had fish eggs and i am no fan of fish eggs, it actually tasted good and a very unique take on seafood pasta. they also had corn and malunggay soup which was literally, corn kernels and malunggay leaves - very different for me because malunggay i usually get in chicken tinola soup, while corn in bulalo soup and i would have never thought to combine the two.

what will make me come back - chicken in basil stuffed with cheese, which for me was especially tasty, juicy and overall yummy! drinks/shakes you only find here - kaimito shake and guyabano shake.

Chicken in basil stuffed with cheese

the place was interesting too: knick-knacks here and there, books on the shelf, cool picture tables...however (and unfortunately) i cannot avoid comparing blacksoup cafe to its next-door neighbor, van gogh is bipolar. for an 'artspace' it begs for more passion, a story and a personal touch - both in the space and the interaction.

2 stars - good and fairly priced food. 1 - menu surprises. 1 - over all feel of the place. in total, i give blacksoup cafe + artspace 4/5 stars.


Lamb Chops with Asparagus

zara: "Patience is required for dishes that are prepared individually like artwork"

As a semi-regular diner of Van Gogh is Bipolar, it was only a matter of time before i ended up in Blacksoup Cafe + Artspace. i’ve always been curious about their menu; the way i usually am about beer, which Jetro of VGIB always happily pointed out to diners who wanted one. (Yes, i am a fan of beer, so this is important.)

On my way to BC+A, i already thought about drinking at least one SMB Light as a perfect way to start a Friday night, and then maybe a second one to end it right. When i got there, people lying on banigs and mattresses on the pebble-covered parking lot with candles for lighting were watching “The Devil Wears Prada” screening. My taste buddies chose to eat inside which i figured was best for the people outside; we were too loud anyway for the people watching the movie.

Inside, the cafe was spacious and bright with fancy lighting fixtures to remind you that you are in an “artspace.” Apart from the indie movies on the shelf, the two goldfishes on the bar and the guitar with a missing string catching my eye, i also noticed another peculiar thing: none other than the sight of Kuya Bodjie of Batibot, tucked under the staircase playing on the computer. We probably made several nonsensical references to Batibot which i am sure he is already used to.



The cafe is, as it calls itself, also an artspace, so expect laid back service and be patient while waiting for your food as they are individually prepared like artwork.

The smell of corn and malunggay soup came first then after looking at the bowl, i noticed the generous portion of corn kernels. It was simple yet hearty, a homemade soup away from home. The soup was followed by the blacksoup seafood pasta, and my oh my, it gets my vote on the most ingenious pasta award. Who ever thought that fish eggs, wasabi flavoured nori, topped by squid bits and a little bit of mayo mixed in your pasta would work? Probably inspired by the Japanese gods! Need i say more? We tried several items from the menu but those two readily stood out for me.

Oh, and by the way, i didn’t get my beer, but the lovely melon fruit shake and Dave’s frozen yogurt (particularly the strawberry mango) half-way made up for it.


Candie: "Caviar in pasta? Genius!"

YAY!
The dish worth remembering: The BSK's BSK Pasta was amazing! I've always been a pasta lover, and I have never tried anything like it. It is original, it is flavorful, and most importantly, delicious. There was only a hint of Japanese mayo so the consistency of the pasta wasn't too oily (as you would fear a mayo-ed pasta would be), and who would've thought of putting caviar (and i think its Galunggong fish eggs) into pasta - it's GENIUS! It is heavenly; you just can't stop taking the next slurp until the plate is all cleaned out. 10/5 stars for pasta.

NAY!
Make sure you bring lots of patience with you when you dine as a big group in BSK. It's ambiance exactly reflects its cooking - homey. They cook each dish individually per plate which takes a long time to serve. Everything seemed like an appetizer because we have to eat each dish in small amounts. Perhaps you should call in your orders earlier if you're coming as a big group because this is definitely the kind of food you'll come back for and the kind of place you'd wanna show your friends.