Cheap and Class for July: Hot Rocks and Contempo (Our New Rave Faves)

July was a month for me to try out many things which I normally would not.

Well, so far so good... I started with a sport....

1. Badminton - For those living at the East, I'm sure there are a number of badminton courts accessible to one's village. However, even if I am familiar of three badminton courts near my place in Cainta (Myan's at Valley Fair, court near LTO office. court along Imelda Ave. and a court near Sta.Lucia Mall), upon discovering this badminton court located at the boundary of Cainta and Pasig, I thought I found a jewel. This Greenpark Court offers the cheapest rates I've ever encountered. Every weekend, with my newly founded Badminton Club, we take advantage of their "Play-All-You-Can" promo of 50/head (Cement) and 80/head (Taraflex). We all agree in the club that even if this place is not air-conditioned and does not have spacious bathrooms like in Club 650, this still remains to be a badminton enthusiast's treasure.

2. Hot Rocks along Libis - This place is one of the greatest discoveries I've had in my entire life due to their cheap price and succulent steaks. However, we consider this a bane as this is a definite weight-watcher enemy. This restores all the calories we burn each time we go to Club 650 which is a walk a way from this meat-lovers haven. They have great desserts too. Our favorite is the cheap Ice Cream bucket we can share amongst the team. 100 ++ pesos for steak and rice, definitely worth it.

3. Contempo Cuisine at A. Venue Mall - This is just fabulous. For me, food quality and the taste of the fine ingredients used in the dishes surpass that of Le Souffle. Although my friends and I initially gulped air upon reading each entree (with the price!) we all conclude that this place is a winner especially for a dinner date.

We enjoyed the dishes a lot....

The Seafood Bisque (Php 265) The thick-just-right texture of this appetizer is delicate yet filling. The taste of the base definitely merges well with the soup base. It is a perfectly blended homogenous mixture, but the traces of the fine ingredients are something a trained tongue would definitely be able to identify. It's full of flavor but not too strong that it would leave you not wanting to eat dinner anymore. It is definitely a good way to start a meal.

The Braised Short Ribs (Php 680) My friend Sherlene tried this to try to satisfy her meat craving for the night. Just the sight of it made her full already because of this big, artsy bowl which contained the entree. I had a taste of her ordered food, and the harmony of flavors is perfectly achieved in this entree - sweet, spicy, bit salty. No flavor was too overpowering over the other. It was perfect for her rice pilaf. Meat was tender enough for lazy jaws to chew. A big serving probably fit for a big eater.

The Sake Salmon (Php 680) My friend Meg tried this one even if she was more of a meat person. The salmon which was as soft as the "falling-off-the-bone experience with ribs" had the taste of flavor, spice and hints of sake. Just enough, not overbearing as if enjoying a perfect rum cake. The noodles which accompanied the tender salmon was not bland but not too flavorful that it didn't outshine the main ingredient of the dish - the fish.

The Thai Surf and Turf (Php720) I initially thought this main entree was only as good as an appetizer sampler. The four small sections of the dish appeared as if it would not be able to fill the very hungry me. I was wrong. It was bursting with flavors - mostly tangy and spicy. The shrimp serving was the best shrimp recipe I've ever had.

The Seared Tenderloin (Php 920) This was a big dish ordered my friend who has a small appetite.... She finished the entire dish anyway... Need I say more?

Oh yeah, and my usual meter stick for a worth-it pricey restaurant is the free bread and the pate... Oh boy, they didn't fail me....

And the ambiance? Their glass kitchen, was sort of like a showcase kitchen. They also have a wine bar lounge area, a floor for functions and of course, a spacious dining area where we had dinner.

Oh yes, the decadent desserts. I liked the chocolate ganache mousse over the creme brulee. It was good but I say the food was great (comparable to hotel food), the desserts, hmmm.... Well, I've tried other better desserts in other places.

Go cheap or class? Depends on the mood.