KKK is for KainKainKain!

Bacon and Liempo are two of my favorite dishes. Did I just say dishes? More like cuts of meat dripping with fat! And so imagine my glee upon seeing Liempo, Bacon-Cut in the menu of KKK, this charming little nook in faraway SM Mall of Asia.

Someone clued me in on KKK serving fantastic Pampangeno cuisine. I really just like the interiors. They have this walis-tingting looking wall and ceiling installation that makes the place appear rustic and modern at the same time.



In a moment of caloric defiance, my companions and I ordered Kare-Kare, Bacalao at Ensaladang Talong, Tinapa Rice with red egg and tomatoes and Bacon-cut Liempo. To be washed down with Sago’t Gulaman. Heehee, I was beside myself in excitement. Oh, to be young and invincible (actually we’re not that young so let’s just pretend, shall we?).

Let me tell you that all the dishes we ordered were excellent. And reasonably priced too! The Kare-Kare is thick and peanut-y. I especially like it slathered on rice but for not for now because the Tinapa rice needs to be savored by itself. This Kare-Kare version does not stint on tripe and meat, unlike those in other restaurants. I watched in a mixture of horror and fascination as my friend Francis shoved a piece of tripe dripping with sauce into his mouth with a rapturous expression. Yeah baby, yeah.



Did I mention Tinapa rice? Oh it was heavenly. I’ve tried Adobo rice, pesto rice, yang chow and salted fish rice but this has got to be one of my faves. Not too salty, a nice bed to the viands. Actually I can eat it by itself sans ulam.



Nobody really paid that much attention to the Bacalao at Ensaladang Talong because everyone was busily spearing the wonderful ribbons of Bacon-cut liempo. Gigi and Francis were quick to the draw so I was only able to eat 2 pieces. Mental note to return with hubby so I can atleast partake of a half portion. If you want to be hypocritical about it, you can actually bring paper towels to sop up the oil from the liempo. It isn’t as fatty and oily though as its thicker, more traditional brethren. I would say that this is one of the better liempos that I’ve tried in a long, long time.





KKK has only one branch that I know of so you’ll have to make the trip to SM Mall of Asia. If you can, try to schedule your visits on weekdays, when the mall is relatively peaceful and parking-abundant. KKK is towards the IMAX area, by the bay. If you walk a little bit further you’ll see The Highlands Steakhouse (yes, just like the one in Tagaytay-hurrah!). Yippee on 30oz tableside steak cooking and all that jazz. I’ll write about this next so stay tuned kids.

And now for some responsible surgeon general-type warning (cue male announcer voice-over): Baboy is the generic name of Bacon-Cut Liempo and Kare-Kare. Always consume in moderation.

Sunday Buffet at Red Kimono

I’ve been wanting to try this restaurant ever since a well-meaning friend recommended it. And Sunday was a perfect day to have their P495.00 eat-all-you-can kamemeshi festival.




















Unlike other buffets, this one really gives good bang for the buck. Blair Mitch, Hubby Christian, Yaya Jazz and Baby Micky were inundated with platters of crunchy maki, mixed tempura, grilled miso chicken, grilled pork ribs, tofu steak, bowls of steaming Sukiyaki, sticky mixed kamemeshi – and we’ve only infiltrated 1/3 of the buffet menu! Micky opted for Nan 1HA milk while the three adults lost themselves to a dining frenzy.
















Special mention must be given to the Unagi Crunchy Maki. Hubby declared it worth the price of admission. Rolled with sweet unagi and deep fried to a delicious crisp. Whatever happened to the original maki?! Before you cry foul, Red Kimono serves modern Japanese cuisine. And really, this crunchy maki seriously rocks so set aside your purist Jap palate and give it a whirl.

Also liked the sukiyaki: tender beef with noodles, veggies, tofu in a sweet broth. Truly fortifying. It almost made me want to forego the kamemeshi (carb overload!) but the grilled miso chicken was practically begging for some rice action. And paired with tofu steak that had lovely slivers of asparagus and mushroom, simply divine.















































The Red Kimono buffet menu has a written funky rule that made me laugh:
“Food ordered must fit the table. New orders are taken only when the dishes are cleared.” You must be kidding me! Do we really need to have that stated in black and white? Are Pinoys barbarians when it comes to buffets? But then again I only had to recall the way people would pile up the goods in the defunct Wendy’s Salad Buffet – where the salad overflowed from the plate to the tray. Eeew.

Red Kimono is perfect for Sunday lunches with the fam. Good food, good value for money. And ample parking too!

Red Kimono is located at the Fort Strip, Fort Bonifacio. Gets crowded so come early.

Blog Intermission!

Would like to interrupt this blog to show you the Team Manila shirt gal pal Gigi found in Graphic Designed Lifestyle (Rockwell). Taste.Manila with a listing of all Pinoy meat-egg-rice combos (my favorite will always be Tapsilog). How cute is that?

Help... the shirt is getting me hungry and game for some late night Tapa King action.