Mealosophy

Ah, and the backlog of Stops just keep on coming. Well, that’s good news for you guys, bad news for us trying to keep memory about the taste and ratings per shop. As we try not to think too much about the money we’ve spent on our meals, the tiresome days of Finals is now over and so see the continuous posts as an early gift for the Christmas Season. Hey, come 3rd Term you’d know where to eat ;)

Dats Mix is located near Burgundy Plaza, right sandwiched between Bench Fix Salon and Bean Hoppers (or to be more general about it, it’s around to the left of MetroBank Taft Ave.) For DLSU students it’s right across North Gate; they have a rather large sign, can’t miss it. Too bad we forgot to take a picture of it outside, “I think it was raining then” -PG#2, “Either that or I was too hungry to even take pictures.” -PG#2, still.

Here’s the look of the place when you enter it: 

To be really honest, Dats Mix is the place to run to when you’re really hungry—AND you have some cash on you to spend. As we were in our Hell Week then, we both had to hurry up the eating process and go to our respective meeting places (because we had a lot to do that day). We both thought of eating at a place that’s not too fancy, not too far-away and still cheap. PG#2 suggested Dats Mix because she was craving for their Bagoong Rice (PHP 95.00). Which, mind you, is also DM’s bestseller (well, one of).

The taste of this could be for the strong filipino tongue. IT’S DELICIOUS… in it’s own way. There’s the tang of green mangoes, the spicy kick of the bagoong pork, and shreds of scrambled eggs to the side to balance everything out, all served on top of steaming rice. PG#2 enjoyed it, however PG#1 has other concerns against the too-tangy mangoes. No matter, we would still average our ratings for Dats Mix, that’s for sure. Other than taste, it is really quite filling—it being a rice meal would connote that automatically. However, I (PG#2) did feel the need to buy 2 of it. The taste of it is sort of addicting in its subtle way—but doubt that stomach of yours! It’s a good meal, but too much of a good thing can turn bad. It’s a meal you can eat every once in awhile, but fear the calories and fat you’re about to take!

Here’s a look at their menu:

The place offers bright lighting, even wide-enough desks for group studying. There’s also a secluded portion a 2nd flr that can oversee the whole store. We didn’t sit there, as we were quite in a hurry that day. The place can pass for a good hang out, for 4 or more people, the bean bags and trays that are placed there made it intentionally for just hanging out.

So in summary:

• TASTE: 3 (we’re considering all the tastebuds out there, acquired taste people!)
• PLACE: 3 (Nothing too big, it’s really for the large crowds, after all.)
• PRICE: 3 (Affordable, but some things in the menu… er… yeah.) 
• OVERALL: 3 

Dats Mix is a nice place to go to if you’re feeling up to the rice-challenge, and are not cutting out on those carbs. If you are on a diet, please, take our advice and head your should be healthy eating body away from this place. :) You will get fat, I can assure you that. Eating 2 cups of rice? Yeah. Bring on the gym!

Eat healthy for both your pocket and weight always, 

Binalot is located at the second floor of University Mall, Taft Avenue, Manila. To be more specific it’s right across Stop #1: Goodles (seriously, you can see it out the window/wall).

Just a little background: I first heard of Binalot during a talk that I attended for one of my business subjects. The name of the restaurant came from the Filipino word meaning “wrapped”, which is how they serve their meals - wrapped in a banana leaf! (learn more about them here: About Binalot).   

So, to be completely honest, we were a bit hesitant to try this place out. From the outside, Binalot didn’t really seem like the kind of restaurant that would serve the kind of food that we (we meaning, the writers) would be into. But once we tasted the food, man we’re we wrong.

About the place: The University Mall is quite small and so is the restaurant (blink and you might miss it). The setting was pretty simple. There were large images of the meals available, and cartoon depictions of Filipinos enjoying their Binalot meals. 

About the food:So in this entry, Mealosophy will focus on two meals from their Meryenda and Panghimagas menu.

First up is the Banana Que (Php 13.00):

The Banana Que taste just like those that you would usually buy in other places in the Philippines. However, these are made fresh every time someone orders, so you have to wait for a little while for it. But that means that the banana is nice and soft when you get it, and the caramelized sugar is more of a sauce, as compared to the shell-like characteristics it usually has. 

Second would be the Leche Flan (Php 45.00): 

So this one is a winner for us! If you ever saw the two of us eating desert at Binalot one day, you would notice that we would eat in slow motion (as if we were filming some sort of commercial for it). This is served with the right amount of sweetness for both the syrup and the flan, so you won’t get tired of the taste after your third bite.

Cue the ratings:

• TASTE: 5 (need I say more?)
• PLACE: 3 (this is for the branch at the University Mall - it’s just too small)
• PRICE: 5 (ridiculously affordable meals - it’s what we love)
• OVERALL: 5

Thanks for reading through our post about Binalot’s desserts. We’ll try to post about their actual meals next time. That is, given we don’t eat our orders immediately after it arrives (like the last time)…here’s hoping for a miracle :))

Love,

Goodles is located at the second floor of the newly remodeled University Mall, right after Mcdo and before Torre Lorenzo. Though the cheap stores in the old UM have magically disappeared, new stores went to it’s place. One of them is Goodles. 

Let me tell you HOW exactly we ended up going to Goodles. First of all, WE ADMIT IT, the name got us hooked; thoughts like, what the heck does it mean? “Good+Noodles?” or something like that. Second, both of us (in our two years of staying in DLSU never ate there before). Upon reaching this point, we both decided to go on and attack the place for it’s bestsellers and whatnot. 

So, the place looked of a hangout place, more than somewhere you would focus on eating. I give them props for the HD screen, that I have the lack of pictures to provide. But fear not, it is there. The overall atmosphere of the place was that of a cafe. A less classy twist where in they don’t serve you food on plates, but they settled on cups. NOW, don’t get us wrong. WE do not have anything against the cups, they were a nice touch. Makes it a lot easier if by some unseen force, you have to go somewhere—it’s portable, quite handy.

As for the moment we have set foot here for; the food tasting. Well, as their name implies… all their menu presents us were noodles (pasta). Which is a point for one of us, since she loves pasta (which could either be good or bad for them, depending on the result.)

PG#1 got the Goodles Classic (Php 125.00):

It was described as: Freshly marinated tomatoes in olive oil is served over spaghetti noodles and topped with fresh basil and white cheese.

While, PG#2 got the Creamy Sausage & Mushroom (Php 145.00):

It was described as: A delectable mix of fusilli pasta, Italian sausage and fresh mushrooms simmered in a garlic cream sauce. Topped with bits of parsley and Parmesan cheese

For taste, we gave it a so-so… It’s goodles, it’s alright… nothing special. Like how Pasta’s supposed to be cooked. But Price…. WE have a problem with price -_- as a DLSU student, we know the pains of commuting… how long and tiring each and every loaded academic day is. How we go home using the public transpo that calls for a part of our allowance every school. The economy is not doing so well people, we know! And not everyone can drive to Taft (gasgasgasgas… prices, pleasseee.) So for a short:

• TASTE: 2 (Nothing amazing, just. Okay.)
• PLACE: 3 (It’s really a cafe type of place, anyway.)
• PRICE: 2 (Call us cheap, we know. We know.)
• OVERALL: 2.5

To say the least, we’re not thrilled to coming back here. It’s not something you must absolutely taste before you leave Taft Ave. It’s a so-so… Feel free to go and eat here. It’s just that our pockets, as we are getting poor and the economy is being a bitch, seems to have a hole in it. 

Hey there! You’ve stumbled upon our (yes, our, as we are two people) foodblog. We’re students from the DLSU community, and this foodblog is dedicated to the nearby eating establishments around the Taft area. :) if you’re new here, a frosh maybe, we hope our adventures would help you decide on the must-eats during your (1025-1465 days long)stay.

Because we all know you could lose a few calories, and you don’t need to try those food that does not taste uniquely heavenly. We would be happy to take on that sacrifice. Say goodbye to ‘freshmen 15’.

So enjoy scrolling through our trips, eats, and misadventures as we search for those worthy-to-spend-your-allowance meals as our schedule would allow it. :D