Food
IN OUR fourth installment of the JSEC Challenge Roundup, Vantage Magazine ventures into the unique and festive fusion of Western and Asian cuisines—from American and French to Filipino and Mexican. Check out our reviews below to see which ones are Vant-certified and worth the hype!
SMOOSH: The SMOOSH (Php 150)
SMOOSH brings the bold, smoky flavors of a classic American smash burger and gives it a signature Filipino twist with subtle sweetness that balances the savory richness!
The first bite is a burst of flavor, with a slight tang from the beef that gives way to the sauce’s sweet finish. SMOOSH manages to bring out the familiar, comforting taste many Filipinos enjoy in their meals. The smoky beef, sweet sauce, cheese, and lettuce all come through without overpowering each other. Rather than the flavors competing, they perfectly blend together, making every mouthful more satisfying.
The sauce ties everything together with a rich, savory depth, while the light, airy bun is a thoughtful choice that prevents the burger from feeling too heavy while holding everything together. Admittedly, not much is dazzlingly elaborate about it, but that’s what makes it work. Every bite allows the flavors to shine through without any component feeling out of place.
However, for the price, The SMOOSH leaves you wishing for a bigger portion, but what it lacks in size is redeemed by its harmonious flavors. For those craving a straightforward yet satisfying burger experience, The SMOOSH stands as a solid grab-and-go option.
4/5 🍔🍔🍔🍔/🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔
Casa Mano: Tita Ganda’s Inasal Fajitas (TGIF) (Php 130)
Packed with the earthy, vibrant flavors of Mexican fajitas and the umami goodness of Filipino Inasal, Casa Mano’s spin on the classic grilled chicken meal strives to integrate the bold and tropical blend of Filipino-Mexican cuisine. With the aromatic stir-fried bell peppers, savory marinade, and overall pop of colors, the dish is visually enticing—seemingly capturing the festive essence of both culinary traditions. Unfortunately, the dish may have fallen short in maintaining the same thrill in its taste.
Despite the soy marinade and the golden splash of sauce on top, the chicken lacks richness and succulence, with only a strong salty kick being recognizable in the dish. The sautéed peppers, on the other hand, provide a burst of tangy sweetness and toasted undertones that overshadow the entrée. Still, the dish offers a generous serving size that justifies its price while satisfying an empty stomach.
While TGIF lives up to its bold taste and mouthwatering visuals, it lacks the layers of taste, with only the sharp soy and peppery flavors cutting through with each bite. Had it been executed better, Casa Mano’s spin on the hearty household Filipino and Mexican meals could have been a fiesta of rich, multicultural flavors.
2.5/5 🍛🍛/🍛🍛🍛🍛🍛
Maison: Spice-Crusted Chicken (Php 150)
Upon arrival, Maison greets its customers with a “Bonjour!” and the rich aroma of their spices, pulling you into an experience that’s exquisitely French. Maison offers its customers the option to select three entrées and three sauce options. Their Spice-Crusted Chicken flavored with Cajun promises a fusion of French, American, and Filipino cuisine. Expecting chicken slices drenched in a peppery and earthy taste, we paired the dish with a “tangy and sweet” Honey Mustard sauce to complement the meat’s boldness.
While the meal looks and smells appetizing, the magic stops there. For the price, you receive a serving size that’s sure to fill your stomach but leave your taste buds longing for more. The Cajun flavor is impressively unnoticeable, and the Honey Mustard lacks sweetness and overall flavor. Although the chicken is not drowned in oil nor inadequately cooked, it’s not particularly special without the rice. The sauce isn’t also doing the dish any favors given how unbalanced it is to the amount of meat in the meal.
Ultimately, the meal is filling but fails to deliver the rich taste and personality of French cuisine. Perhaps with slight adjustments to the amount of spices and a better blending of the sauce, Maison has the potential to transform its Spice-Crusted Chicken into a dish that truly comes with depth and flair.
2/5 🥖🥖/🥖🥖🥖🥖🥖
FUEGO: The Double Burger (Php 170)
What’s better than one burger? A double burger! With its umami-rich flavors, FUEGO’s Double Burger proves to be one of the best burgers by the ton. Through their delectable take on classic American smash burgers, they were able to create a high quality, well-layered, meaty, and filling burger.
From the moment you dig in, the individually shaped patties burst with strongly seasoned savoriness that lingers on the tongue. While the sharp salty taste of the beef instantly takes over with the first mouthful, the tangy zing of the pickles—followed by the taste of the soft, sweet brioche bun—brings everything together, ultimately creating a comforting burst of flavors.
FUEGO’s balanced use of charred spices and freshly sourced ingredients enhances both the presentation and layering of the burger. The gooey slices of cheese, the tender and perfectly seared ground beef, and the light pillowy texture of the buns can make you realize how the hefty price of Php 170 can be worth it.
While its cost is reasonable, FUEGO’s waiting time was not, as the burger takes a whopping 35 minutes to prepare. For a brand focused on convenience and practicality, it is unable to live up to its goal of making food convenient to students who are looking for a quick bite.
Overall, FUEGO brings to life a seamless blend of Mexican-American cuisine, and its food does indeed encapsulate the flavor dimensions of their culinary fusion, but it falls short of capturing the grab-and-go aspect they aim for.
4/5 🍔🍔🍔🍔/🍔🍔🍔🍔🍔
Spudnik: Hernandez (Php 150)
Spudnik puts the spotlight on potatoes, using them as a base to explore the versatility of this simple and comforting staple. Named Hernandez, their Mexican-inspired baked potato with chili con carne and cheese, showcases how potatoes can carry bold, versatile flavors. However, the execution didn’t quite live up to the vision.
At first glance, the dish looks loaded with a generous serving of chili con carne that matches the potato’s size, but it lacks the visual appeal. Instead of coating the potato, the thin and watery sauce pooled at the bottom, while the cheese was unevenly scattered on top, looking out of place rather than incorporated into the meal. After waiting 30 minutes despite ordering in advance, one would expect the dish to be better assembled, with better attention given to the presentation and consistency.
Big but bland, the greatest letdown was the potato itself, with no seasoning to create any interesting flavors. At the very least, the chili con carne had enough spice and tanginess that distinguished itself, but it still wasn’t enough to redeem the dish. Instead of coming together into a hearty, comforting bite, everything felt separated, almost like a last-minute college meal made from whatever was left in the fridge.
For the price, you get the portion you paid for, but not the taste or quality. Given Spudnik’s goal of celebrating global flavors through the humble potato, Hernandez misses an opportunity to truly capture the richness of its intended cuisine. With some adjustments, however, Spudnik can turn this great dish into something worth coming back for.
2/5 🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Blind Boks: Blind Boks (Php 150)
Riding on the recent hype of blind boxes, Blind Boks welcomes customers with the warm and familiar fragrance of a comforting chicken rice meal being prepared in their simple yet appealing stall. Their blind box system requires only three simple steps: pay Php 120, choose your sauce, and choose your sides (which cost an additional Php 30 each).
Their chicken fillet with creamy pesto comes in a jiffy, perfectly satisfying customers who are looking forward to being surprised. While the chicken fillet isn’t as groundbreaking as one would expect, the creamy pesto lives up to its name. At the onset, the pair feels hearty: chicken covered in the flavor of mushroom soup and pesto blended together.
Complementing the creamy pesto sauce’s balance of sweet and savory, Blind Boks’ spinach mashed potato provides a nutritious side that doesn’t disappoint. The garnish melts in your mouth and opens a new way of eating your usual mashed potatoes, especially with the perfect amount of spinach mixed in.
Blind Boks’ meal is truly simple and familiar, akin to a family meal on a normal day, and reminiscent of the famous Filipino Chicken ala King. Though the fillet is processed rather than fresh whole chicken, the generous serving and the sauce and side make it quite forgivable. For Php 150, you get your money’s worth with a rice meal that gives you enough energy to survive a long day, and for a moment, feels like coming home.
4/5 🐔🐔🐔🐔/🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔
