Buddha-Bar was first established in Paris. In 1996, Buddha-Bar Pariswas envisioned by Raymond Visan, owner of the famous Barfly in Paris with his concept of true "Art of Living", with confluent influences from the Pacific Rim. With new ideas he gathered during his frequent trips especially in California, Buddha-Bar Paris instantly became a mecca in the French Capital.
Buddha-Barhas gained more popularity as it opened in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Mexico, Monaco, Sao Paolo, London, Kiev, Prague, Washington DC and Jakarta. Among its loyal clients who visit Buddha-Bar whenever there is one available are famous celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Jonas Brothers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Eva Mendes, Paris Hilton, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.
Since its opening last year, I've been eager to visit Buddha-Bar Manila. Its certainly a twin of its other counterparts around the world in terms of interior and music.
I'm completely enchanted at the size and elegance of the place. Each section has its own style of comfort. There were also several VIP rooms. The eclectic sounds by George V Records as well as the artistic artifacts offers an experience of a lifetime.
As I searched for the restroom, I was directed to the basement. I was once again in awe as I passed by the Asian paintings along its red hallways. It felt as I was touring a private art gallery. The restroom was as dazzling as the rest of the place. The walls glittered and even the sink is a beautiful artistic glass basin.
I'm told there is an elevator leading to the terrace which is where another party experience takes place.
The Pink Lady is a sushi with breaded shrimp and avocado within its rolls and surimi mix on top. It had unagi sauce whcih is their default buddha bar sauce. Since I love sushi, I found it quite enjoyable.
I prefer the Crunchy Rice Shrimp Jalapeno than the Pink Lady because of its fun play of textures. I enjoyed the tenderness of the shrimp, crunchiness of the rice followed by its soft stickiness. The added zing from the Jalapeno also made it a bit more interesting.
The Boneless Chicken Wings were cooked deep fried in Chinese wine topped with shallots and red and green bell pepper. It was an Asian version of fried chicken wings because it was more fragrant and served with Spicy Thai Ginger dip. It failed to leave a distinctive impression upon me.
The Sea Bass Tamarind is roasted sea bass marinated in ginger, lemon grass and cumin and served with sweet tamarind sauce. The sea bass is cooked wonderfully that it melts in the mouth exploding with its fragrant spices and natural oils. A hint of its sauce was enough for me.
The Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad is grilled chicken strips topped with Buddha-Bar chicken dressing, sesame seeds, shredded Chinese cabbage and crispy wanton bits. This is a chunky salad. The chicken strips were tender and succulent as well as the other crunchy components made it quite enjoyable to feast in.
The Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil failed to meet my expectations. The meat was tough and the black pepper sauce is tad too salty for me and my companions.
I loved the way the Thai Curry Prawns was served. It came with curry sauce and Coconut and Lemon Grass rice. The Thai curry sauce is mild but I liked it that way so I can appreciate the natural sweetness of the prawns.
My favorite part is the dessert. The Chocolate Sesame Bars is a must try! It a sophisticated crunchy base of wafer and sesame seeds topped with smooth and rich dark chocolate. The vanilla ice cream is even an added bonus. My mom sometimes teases me to go and visit Buddha-Bar Manila just so I could bring home some of these.
The Chocolat is a moist dark chocolate cake topped with a rich Varlhona gnache. It's a bit sweeter than the Chocolate Sesame Bar and is an excellent choice for chocolate and sweet tooth lovers.
I'm not a fan of ordering iced tea because I usually find them too sweet for my taste. But, the Buddha-Bar Iced Tea is definitely a pleasure for me to drink despite being served in a large glass. This brewed tea with a refreshing mix of kiwi and lychee syrup is amazingly smooth and quenching.
The cake displays were the first thing I noticed when I entered. I'll come back and try more of the rest on my next visit.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict We're fortunate to have Buddha-Bar Manila. We don't need to ride a plane to get unique "Buddha-Bar" experience it . I think that alone makes its luxurious pricing worth it. But, I somehow felt that the improvisation of some dishes can even take it up by another notch.
Despite it being my finals week, I just couldn't say no to my mom's bright excitement to watch Pyromusical Competition while dining at Movie Stars Cafe. After almost two hours of lining up for a parking slot, we reach made our way to Movie Stars Cafe which had closed their doors and were declining to take in more clients. Fortunately, we somehow managed to get in.
The Movie Stars Cafeis difficult to miss with its huge lighted sign and the large crown peeking through its glass windows. The movie geek in us were all squealing with glee.
As its outside centerpiece, there is a display of Jack and Sally of Nightmare Before Christmas. Seeing this reminded me of the time I watched this Tim Burton movie with my siblings and cousins when we were little kids.
The dining area is really grand. There are tv screens everywhere. It shows only three channels though. The orange cozy seats, the costumed servers, posters, life-sized statues memorabilia transports you to a whole new world indeed.
They also have an al fresco area. They have a separate buffet table and stage there too.
Here's The Joker, a role excellently played by the late Heath Ledger. He may have been gone, but his character is pretty much alive in our memories right?
My family is a huge Star Wars fan. We must have watched a marathon of the two trilogies at least twice after seeing them in the movies. C-3PO has consistently appeared on all of them. The details of this C-3PO is impressive.
The life-sized Iron Man Mark VI Armor from Iron Man 2 brings back memories of Tony Stark scenes where Robert Downey Jr. excellently displayed his character of being cool and bad-ass right?
And, who doesn't love Shrek? It's one of the most memorable fun and entertaining animated films of all times. The movie made use of various kinds of humor that will certainly leave you bursting in laughter.
This Spider-Man is from the Spider-Man movie of 2002. I personally prefer this over the new costume in The Amazing Spider-Man Movie.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Sandtrooper from Star Wars IV: A New Hope
Basing on its armor, this is a Sandtrooper from Star Wars IV: A New Hope. A Sandtrooper is a Stormtrooper in that are specialized in dessert environments since they are equipped with cooling systems. Thy can be distinguished from the Stormtroopers by their pauldron on their right shoulder, chest armor and diamond kneeplate.
Watching the Movie Stars Cafe Performance Show while enjoying your meal is an awesome experience. All the servers are called to the stage and they will performed dance numbers. They are very lively so its fun to watch. There are over 30 servers in costume out there. There's Optimus Prime from Transformers, V from V for Vendetta, Spider-Man, Snow White and more. After the show, the large screen is turned on and there is also a live band on the side by the bar. Servers I tried to capture some shots of the servers. They were very friendly and accommodating when it comes to photographs.
The salad is fresh so its pretty good. The burger has got to be the worst I've ever tried. It doesn't even taste like meat. I really wished I skipped it. I've had four types of sausages. Some were good while some were so-so. My steak was tough but according to my family, you can request a newly cooked batch so its tender and juicy. The breaded chicken fingers and the fish fillet were also okay.
I got everything from the dessert selection. The Banana Cake was good. The cakes are random. The Chocolate Munchkin was okay. The Jelly with Corn was pretty good. But if you want to play it safe, I'd go for the Fresh Fruits.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant is a fun place to be. The friendly and lively staffs as well as the grand movie memorabilia studio and dining area is superb. The food is quite pricey for its so-so quality but I think its worth it because along with that price is the awesome experience. If you think about it, its like paying for the an entrance to a performance show, live band, museum plus you get to dine and have fun.
We've already reserved our dinner at someplace else when I hinted to my mom that the IHOP Restaurant is just around the area. I thought she was kidding when she told us to go eat there after because she's been seeing it on Facebook a lot.
So after dinner, we shifted parking and went on over to IHOP (International House of Pancakes). It was nearly 10 in the evening on a Saturday night and we were told that we were 34th in line We didn't mind the wait because we it was within the Bonifacio High Street area so we took our time shopping. We returned a hour later and we were just in time.
We were ushered to the second floor just by the staircase. We could see that the diner was packed from booths to small tables. We were introduced to our server named "Cherrie" who took our orders as well.
♥ SIMPLE & FIT Spinach, Mushroom & Tomato Omelette (comes with Buttermilk Pancakes) (325 php)
We chose the SIMPLE & FIT Spinach, Mushroom & Tomato Omelette because thaccording to the menu, the SIMPLE & FIT is a smart selection.This is the best among our orders. This had generous proportions of spinach, mushroom and tomato bits along with delicious hollandaise sauce, light and fluffy omelette and melted swiss cheese.I'll probably order this again on my subsequent visits.
Buttermilk Pancakes (195 php if ordered separately)
Our server Cherrie informed us that our SIMPLE & FIT Spinach, Mushroom & Tomato Omelette comes with Buttermilk Pancakes. Good thing she told us that because we would've order another pancake. The pancake looks thick and fluffy. I spread the buttermilk and tried their four types of syrups. Sadly, the consistency of this pancake failed to impress me. It was thick and fluffy but it was definitely not light. It was not served warm and the taste was bland. Upon forking it, bits and crumbs begin to fall out before it even reaches my mouth.
Although my mom initially wanted to try the Create-A-Face Pancake under the Just For Kids section, we settled for the Whole Wheat Pancakes with Blueberries. The Whole Wheat Pancakes is a more heavy and dry version of the ordinary pancakes. It's served with lemon and bluberries which were apparently frozen since they seemed dry. It is also topped with powdered sugar. I liked the lemon concept because it adds a wonderful citrus flavor that counters the sweetness and dryness well. But still, chewing this was not fun at all. Thus, my little sisters left all this for me after trying out only a small slice.
Pancake Syrups:Strawberry,♥ Butter Pecan,Blueberry and♥ Old Fashioned
Among their pancake syrups which are found in each table, I loved the Old Fashioned and Butter Pecan the most. The other two were too sweet for my taste so I'd recommend them for kids.
Cherrie recommended that we try the Chicken Florentine Crepes because its a popular order by their customers. We took her advise. It took a long time and some follow ups before our order arrived. Is it just me or does thislack in terms of presentation?
The Chicken Florentine Crepes are soggy crepes filled with chicken breast cubes, fresh spinach, mushroom bits, onions and swiss cheese. It was topped with Hollandaise sauce. The chicken cubes were tough and dry. The fillings were tad too salty for our taste. According to the menu, this was supposed to be "lightly" seasoned. My mom wanted to request it back to the kitchen but all of us were worried that it would take to long to come back so we left this unfinished.
Seasonal Fresh Fruit Shakes (145 php) and ♥ Splashberry(175 php)
IHOP Splashers (Free Refills) The Splashberry is similar to an Italian soda with lemon-lime flavor mixed with premium orange juice and then topped with frozen strawberries. This is delicious and refreshing. I even enjoyed spooning and eating the strawberries. Did I mention this comes with free refills too? And, when they refill, they replace the entire glass. Wish our server was more easy to spot though.
The Seasonal Fresh Fruit Shakeavailable is watermelon so my little sister ordered that. It was nothing special and too sweet of a blend too.
They serve their coffee in a large cup that are almost soup size. My siblings found it lacking in aroma and flavor. Perhaps, for coffee lovers, the Never Empty Coffee Pot would be a wiser option.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict IHOP Restaurant offers all-day breakfast and refillable drink selections which would have been great if they had FREE WiFi which they don't offer yet. Other than the omelette, I found the experience not worth the hype. Is it just a bad batch? Should I give it another shot? Would certainly love to hear from you cause I don't get it.
We were shopping at SM Manila when my little sister had a sudden craving for milk tea. We spotted Koco Tea Shop which as we've been informed is from Mainland China.
Silky Milk Tea Large (95 php) and Original Milk Tea (95 php)
Though their tea is priced as much as the more popular milk tea chains, they lacked in terms of quality. Noticeably, they serve the milk tea with Lipton Tea Bags in it. But, the tea taste is too light for our preference.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Koco Tea Shop is a fairly new milk tea chain. I 'd personally skip this and go for the tried and tested ones because of the first impression it made upon us. However, you've free to convince me otherwise to give it another shot.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating
Koco Tea Shop Menu
Ambiance
★★★
Regular - 85 php Large - 95 php Sinkers - 10 php
Taste
★★
Service
★★★
Price
★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended
Koco Tea Shop SM Manila
Business Address
4/F SM Manila, Concepcion cor Arroceros Ermita, Manila
It's been awhile since I last went out with foodie friends so I decided to join in on a quick dinner at the Oriangin Fiesta Market, Market Market. Oriangis the latest restaurant by Cafe de Bonifacio. Although I've not tried the latter yet, I've heard lots of raves about it.
Oriang is named after the exceptional, modern and revolutionary wife of Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan and Father of the Philippine Revolution.
The place offers a bright, spacious, causal and cozy ambiance with wooden tables and cushioned seats. The color-stripe walls accentuates the tempting food photos well.
Food The food at both Oriang and Cafe de Bonifacio are Filipino Food with a twist. I'm rarely excited about Filipino cuisine, but I'm always intrigued when they spice it up with something more.
I loved the presentation and the crunchy delight that the Lumpiang Hubad in Pastry Cups brings. I found these to be extraordinarily addictive. I bet even veggie haters would love these!
The Nilagang Bulalo is served in generous proportions. And, more importantly, the beef shanks are tender. The broth is tasty and the seasoning is just right.
I'm impressed at how perfectly crunchy the Binagoongang Bagnet is even after a long time interval upon serving. It's saltiness is on a delicately appealing level that will leave you wanting for more. Specialty Rice & Noodles
I'm quite partial to everything with taba ng talangka so I instantly fell in love with the Oriang Super Fried Rice. It was exploding in flavors with the taba ng talangka, garlic bits, grilled liempo strips and Vigan longganisa shreds. Seriously, this is the kind of rice you can eat on its own.
Desserts The best part of dining at Oriangis definitely the dessert so don't ever skip this!
This has got to be the best Ginumis I have ever tried! The sweetness is just right so it brings out the refreshing taste of the coconut cream. I love how the creaminess complimented by the play of textures by the gulaman, sago and rice crisps. This alone is enough to make me come back.
I've never seen a turon served in a plating as beautiful as the Turon de Gregoria. Top some vanilla ice cram in every turon piece and you're good to go. It's a cool, crunchy and sweet treat.
The Coffee Leche Flan is another revoluntionary meal-ender. Its my first time to try something like this and I loved it! I never knew that bitter-sweet coffee and egg could blend so well together. Although this is heavier than the usual leche flan, its still as creamy.
The Cucumber and Lemon Juice is a refreshing drink thatwill never overpower you meal choice. I highly suggest this especially on a hot summer day.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Oriangis not your ordinary Filipino restaurant but a revolutionary one. Serving size is great for sharing so bring in your family and friends. Their price is affordable too.
When I was young, I used to spend most of my summers at my mom's home town in Ilocos Sur. I don't have much recollections about the food places we've been to back then so last year, we Tsinoy Foodies, headed to Ilocos Sur after passing by La Union.
Lilong and Lilang Restaurant and Coffee Shop After roaming around the Hidden Garden under the intense heat of the sunand after seeing all the tempting food advertisemnts hanged along the way, no doubt you'd be headed for Lilong and Lilang Restaurant and Coffee Shop. It is found within the Hidden Garden.
The place has a native feel as you seat on the picnic style wooden tables with the plants and trees surrounding you. The dining area is quite spacious with a capacity for more than a hundred diners. As expected, they are also lots of insects so be sure to settle near a fan.
The Bagnet is one of Ilocos' famous deep-fried pork belly (kasim) dishes.But, this is the saddest Bagnet I have ever encountered.The meat is to tough to eat as it is dark and over cooked. The skin of the pork chunks is notvery crunchy too.
Trivia: According to my family and other locals of Ilocos,contrary to the popular belief of tourists, the best Bagnet is not really from Vigan.
Sinanglao is another Vigan specialtywhich is a soup flavored in tamarind and filled with beef innards and skin. The soup is not as flavorful as I hoped but I found the beef innards and skin quite pleasurable to eat.
The Igado is an Ilocano dish with sliced pork, meat, liver and heart and cooked in their local adobo style. It is sauteed in garlic and onion then stewed in soy sauce with vinegar, pepper, bayleaf and chickpeas.This is dried and tasty, just like a local Ilocano would love it.But, I found its components a bit too tough to chew.
The Vigan Empanada is coated in think dark brown coating and filled with vegetables. The vegetables were crunchy.But, the batter is a bit disappointing. I loved those sold in the streets and markets better. This is more expensive too.
The Hidden Garden Native Halo-Halo has a nice presentation since it is very colorful and served in a wooden bowl. It is delicious and refreshing to eat. It has a scoop of mango ice cream, jelly, sago, sweetened banana, cereal and coconut shreds.
The Buko Juice is also a great option. The coconut they use are young so the juice is sweet and flavorful.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Lilong and Lilang Restaurant and Coffee Shop offers a nice and unique ambiance for tourists. It's a must stop for the place but not for the food. The food is not rave worthy especially in terms of pricing. I'd personally dine there only for the sake of convenience.
Among the suggested dining placesof our Vigan City Tourism Pamplet is the Uno Grille. However, it was too crowded so we were pointed by the staff toCafe Unowhich is on the opposite side.
Cafe Uno, Uno Grille and Kusina Felicistas have the same owner.As we entered Cafe Uno, we were ushered to a small wooden round table for two.The place was also packed so were so we felt lucky that we were accomodated.We were given two sets of menu: one for Cafe Uno and one for Kusina Felicitas.
The Okilas Dinardaraan is fried crispy pork cracking (chicharon) served with dinardaraan dip.Their version of dinardaraan or pork blood stew is a bit wet so it's already similar to the Tagalog style of dinuguan. The pork crackling were perfectly crunchy and the dinardaraan was quite tasty with a bit of a zing.Although this is a sinful dish, both of us were delighted to munch on this.
Kurt isn't a fan of vegetables so we had to compromise with the Poqui-poqui instead of the leafy ones. Its quite controversial because it names sounds quite vulgar in the Filipino language. But, thePoqui-poqui is actually just the Ilocano's version of eggplant omelet (tortang talongin Tagalog). This is delicious especially with its silky texture that Kurt devoured thisas if it was his favorite meat dish.
The Sinanglao has tender beef chunks with skin intact. We enjoyed the rich flavor of the beef innards which gives a slightly bitterish taste that is countered by the sourness.
I'm a sucker for cute sweet treats like this so I was practically had this big smile on my face when the Frozen Rocha Mocha was served. I was expecting this to be a bit sweet but surprisingly the blend is just right. The cold coffee is thick, aromatic and delightful. I loved it!
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Kusina Felicitasdishes are delicious and affordable. The serving size are great for sharing. It was beyond our expectation so our orders could hardly fit at our table. Kusina Felicitas is a nice place to get acquainted with Ilocano dishes.
The ambiance of Cafe Unois warm and cozy. It's the perfect place to relax and chill after a exploring the town of Vigan. Availing yourself of their cool drinks is the perfect way to re-energize yourself against the hot weather outside. Being a sentimental fool , I'll always remember our lunch here as one of the warmest and happiest among the meals I've spent in a foreign place.And, although it may be simple but it's these rare moments that I look forward to in my life.
My relatives invited us to go sand surfing at Paoay Sand Dunes and then we headed to Laoag CityIlocos Norte to search for a place to eat our dinner. La Preciosa is just by the roadside so it's easy to spot along with other popular restaurants.But, parking by the roadside is a bit of a challenge especially during peak hours.
We were intrigued by the long lines at La Presciosa and decided to join in. We had to wait around 30 minutes before we were called in.It's a good thing that they have a seated waiting area outside so we were able to order in advance comfortably. Moreover, the owner was there too and she shared the history of La Preciosa to my aunt.
According to proprietress Pam Aragoza, the restaurant was named in honor of her mother Preciosa Palma who first started Peppermint Café back in 1994. Back then, they catered mostly to local residents because tourism was not so prominent. When her mother passed away, they decided to move to a bigger location andLa Preciosawas born.
La Preciousais actually a old-style residential home turned restaurant.It's a two story house with a terrace which they use as an al fresco buffet area.
For those who are not willing to wait, they suggest to them their buffet selections for only 250 php. I went up and took a peek at their selections. I saw theeggplant omelette (poqui-poqui) and the chicken pepian among them but somehow buffet didn't appeal much to us since we want to have full control of our options.
As I passed by the kitchen area going to the rest room, I noticed that a lot of customers order the cakes by whole for take out. Food My dear aunt, who hosted our dinner, was in-charge of ordering. Showing utmost hospitality to fellow Tsinoy Foodie Kurt who she came to know is a first timer in Ilocos, she selected the recommendable Ilocano dishes for him to try out. P.S. Pardon our crappy photos, we were really hungry and eager to eat after the tiring activity and the wait.
The Eggplant Omeletteor locally known in Ilocano as poqui-poqui is eggplant cooked with egg and tomatoes. This is fairly good butwe both agree that the one we had at Kusina Felicitas is better in terms of texture and taste.
The Insarabasabis grilled pork and liver in papaitan sauce. Although I've been to Ilocos countless of times, this dish is a first time for me too. We all loved this! The mild chewiness of the grilled pork and liver countered by the crunchiness of the onions makes this pleasurable to eat. The sourness is also in an appetizing level.
The Chicken Pepian is chicken kare-kare cooked in Ilocano style. This was suggested by the server as their specialty dish so we took her advise. I'm glad we did. In fact, we ordered two of this because we loved it so much.
Their version of Sinanglao is not too sour and has a bit ginger and peppery taste.The meat is tender enough. Somehow, it was pale in comparison to Kusina Felicitas version.
We asked the server if the Bottomless Iced Teais house blend. He told us yes but it turned out to be Nestea. We didn't mind though since all of us were so thirsty after our day activity under the sun. We just wished calling for refill could have been easier.
When we asked for their signature cake, the waiter suggested the Carrot Cake. However, he soon came back and informed us that no more slices for the Carrot Cake were available so we had no choice but to order the whole mini cake.It's a good thing we did because it was delicious! It was served warm, soft and moist. The texture and sweetness of the buttercream icing is just right too.
Another best-seller is theirTiramisu so we also had to try it. The Tiramisu was a bit sweet with light coffee taste and a crunchy broas at the side. It didn't stand out as much as the Carrot Cake for us.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict La Preciosa offers delicious Ilocano dishes withfine dining yet local and homey feel. This is definitely an excellent choice when you're opting for authentic Ilocano food in Laoag. Despite it being fine dining, the food is quite affordable.Although Kurt is not usually adventurous in terms of food, I could safely declare that he enjoyed this one. However, our experience would have been better if the service is a bit faster. Although the servers are friendly, we could see them scrambling to accommodate the high demands of diners as well as those ordering for take out. Oh, and don't worry about the attire because we managed to get in wearing shorts and sandy flip flops during our visit.
Once you go inside, you'll be mesmerized by its cozy, casual fine dining ambiance. It has majestic curtains, elegant black leatherette lofts and beautiful table settings.
It has a modernistic atmosphere with high ceiling. It has a mezzanine area too. It's walls are filled with Thai ornaments which give it a nice Thai flair.
Project Brave Kids My main reason for dining at Mango Tree is to celebrate the birthday of the kid beneficiaries of Project Brave Kids. For the second anniversary of Mango Tree, they decided to donate a portion of their sales for their anniversary months March, April and May to Project Brave Kids, a non-profit organization who seeks to aid the family of children from age 0-12 who are inflicted with cancer.
I've always had a soft spot for Corporate Social Responsibility activities so I just had to attend this small gathering. After losing a 15-year old friend to leukemia a decade ago, I could understand the struggles of these kids and their families so I really appreciate Mango Tree's initiative in choosing to do this.
These kids are quite sensitive so Mango Tree did their best to prepare a little gathering serving them spaghetti and preparing cakes so they could be comfortable. It was a success because I could see smiles on the kids faces as they blew their birthday candles while the entire Mango Tree crew sang them their birthday song.
The Yum Mamuang is a green mango salad with peanuts and grated coconut. This dish was executed perfectly. The peanuts, grated coconut as well as the onion bits were able to complement the nicely thin green mango strips well. If you love our local tangy green mangos then this is a must try for you.
The Tod Mun Goong are deep fried shrimp cakes served with sweet chili sauce. The Tod Mun Goong has a wonderful golden brown crispy coating and a tender yet compact shrimp cake within. I like that it wasn't oily at all. Both kids and adult will enjoy this.
The Tom Yum Goong is a spicy hot and sour prawn soup with lemongrass, kaffir lime, galangal, mushroom and red chillies. This had generous amounts of shrimp and the taste of the Thai spices and coconut milk were prevalent.The one served to us was toned down so the spiciness was hardly determinable for me and instead I found it a bit salty for my taste. Although my companions who don't like spicy dishes loved this, I personally prefer this being authentically Thai spicy so I'll probably request the chef to cook it that way on my next visit.
The Talay Ruam Mit is an excellent option for the lenten season. It's a hot seafood platter of grilled prawns, squid, crab and a trio of sauces. This platter is a bit expensive but the seafood served are as fresh as it can be. The crabs are deliciously sweet and flavorful. While, the squid are soft and chewy which makes it quite addictive with the sauces. However, the prawns were not cooked evenly as some parts were still raw.
It was my first time to try the Pla Krapong Neung Ma Now. It's a steamed sea bass with fresh garlic, chili and lime sauce. It's served hot with a candle at the bottom so its recommend to eat this upon serving. The flavors of the ingredients are fragrant yet subtle so you can enjoy the nice clean taste of the sea bass. This is a must try!
The Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung is another new discovery for me. It's probably because we often opt for the usual Pandan Chicken when ordering. The Gai Phad Med Ma-Maung is stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts, capsicum and onion. It's reminds me of my favorite Chinese dish. I guess this is the Thai counterpart of it. The taste is good but again I'd prefer if this was spiced up a bit with some more capsicum. Also, I'd imagine the play of textures would have been better if the chicken bits were not dried and tough to eat.
The Pad Thai Jay is our favorite stir-fried rice noodles with mixed vegetables and tofu. This is one of the best versions of pad thai I've encountered yet. The noodles were moist and bouncy. It has generous amounts of crunchy bean sprouts that makes it a chewing pleasure to eat with the rice noodles. And more importantly, the taste was well-balanced. It was neither too strong nor too light.I highly recommend this and I'll definitely order this again on my subsequent visits.
The Khao Ob Supparod is pineapple fried rice with chicken bits, corn kernels, green peas, onions, mushroom and raisins. I expected this to be dominantly sweet and sour similar to the Chinese version but its actually different. All the ingredients especially the bold flavor of the chicken makes this a flavorful fried rice which can be eaten on its own. This is quite interesting to try! Desserts Finally, my favorite part in every Thai meal...
The Tub Tim Grob is red ruby water chestnuts with homemade coconut ice cream. Unlike those served in Simply Thai or Makan Makan which I loved because of the textures of the red rubies, I fell in love with the Tub Tim Grob because of its delicious mildly salted ice creammade from coconut cream. The red rubies, the ice cream plus the jackfruit delivers a heavenly sensation.
The Tako Khao Phod is a coconut custard with sweet corn. Don't let its appearance fool you. Although this may look plain, inside it has a genrous layer of corn kernels and coconut bits. Unlike the usual gelatinous texture, this one is pleasantly soft, smooth and creamy. In terms of flavor, it was not plain coconut cream but instead slightly salty. Although its not the usual for me, I'm quite surprised that it actually works well especially with the other components.
Special Drink of the Day (fresh orange and carrot juice)
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Mango Tree is a world class Thai restaurant with superb casual fine dining ambiance. They're Thai chefs can offer you an authentic Thai experience. But at the same time, they can also cater to adjustments to soothe the Filipino taste. I suggest you advise the kitchen about your preference upon ordering. Mango Tree is a great place to start your exploration for Thai cuisine. The back portion of their menu even has Thai names with the photos of the dishes to aid you in ordering. The servers are quite knowledgeable with the menu too so don't hesitate to ask them. The price is a bit steep but given the food quality, service and location, its quite reasonable. I like that they have a wide range of Thai offerings so I'm really tempted to go back and explore some more.
Disclosure The food was provided for as part of the party. My utmost respect for Mango Tree's cause did not in any way obscure my objectivity in making this review.
For an upscale experience, the buffet price of just 398 php NET is a great deal.
Food Glancing on their offerings, I'm so glad that this is not just another Filipino buffet. Their dishes are served with twist and unique presentation.
The Stuffed Pan De Sal are baked fresh from their kitchen. The stuffing is random but we're lucky enough to try the Creamy Shitake Mushroom stuffing cause it was delicious! But, I'd imagine this would have been better if served warm or slightly toasted.
I tried every item on the appetizer selection:Tomato Pizza, Baked Aubergine Topped with Garlic Confit, Mustasa Wrap, Steamed Tofu Cake, Fried Lumpiang Shanghai, Baked Oyster in Bechamel Sauce, Sisig Shooter, Egg Salad and Hawaiian Coleslaw.
TheTomato Pizza lacked flavor and chewiness for me. The Baked Aubergine Topped with Garlic Confit, Steamed Tofu Cake and Fried Lumpiang Shanghai were good but its something I'd skip on a second visit. I really enjoyed the Baked Oyster in Bechamel Sauce and the Sisig Shooter because it was really creative. The Baked Oyster in Bechamel Saucehad its rich cheese saucethat doesn't overpower the natural taste of the half-baked oysters. And, the Sisig Shooteris in a crispy pastry cup where you'll pour the sauce in before you devour it. But, it was the Egg Salad and Hawaiian Coleslaw that I found irresistible. I was always tempted to grab some more every time I pass by. The Egg Salad had this initial crunch followed by the smooth, rich and creamy yolk. The Hawaiian Coleslaw has a nice sweet and citrus taste from the pineapple bits.
They had two soup options: Seafood Chowder and Nilagang Baka. I got to try the Seafood Chowder which was a milky version of our local clam soup (halaan). I love that it was generous with all the clams and mussels but I would have appreciated it more if it was more creamy.
The Bicol Express Pasta is my favorite among all the selections. It was pure genius! I never knew that Bicol Express could be eaten in a unconventional way like this. It was cooked perfectly with the right blend too. I definitely enjoyed the appetizing hotness it delivers.
The Seafood Kare-Kare is another must try! It has generous servings of clams and mussels. Add some bagoong and I'm sure this dish will kick start you appetite for more.
I never miss my vegetables for a complete and healthy meal. I'm glad the Pritata Vegetables made eating vegetables such a pleasurable sensation. The mixed vegetable were naturally sweet and the texture of egg was nice and fluffy.
The Zubuchon is lechon cooked from their own kitchen. It was soft and juicy too. Although the skin may be quite sinful, its the crackling skin and the fatty layer than melts on your mouth makes this a guaranteed guilty pleasure.
Since I've always been a dessert lover, I just had to try every item available. I was able to try the Chocolate-Ohh, Cappucino, Native Palitaw, Rhum Balls, Brownies, Cherry Cake and Suman Panacotta.
The Chocolate-Ohh was ohh so thick and sweet like chocolate syrup so a teaspoon of it is enough to satisfy any chocolate craving. The Cappucino had a nice aromatic coffee flavor and the texture is just right too. The Brownies, Native Palitaw and Cherry Cake didn't stand out as much.
My top picks for the dessert choices would be the Suman Panacotta and the Rhum Balls. I'm generally not a fan of suman or any kakanin because I find it too stick and heavy but I guess that issue is resolved by the Suman Panacotta because it made it light and delightful to eat especially with the mango on top. On the otherhand, theRhum Balls has this exquisite bitter sweet taste that lingers on your mouth.
We also enjoyed the cool and refreshing Halo-halo Shooters. Although it didn't have an extravagant variety of toppings, I loved the texture of the jelly bits.
They also have their own soft-serve ice cream machine. I'm always a sucker for ice cream so I was all giddy over my cup of Mixed Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Primero Casa Filipino is a one of a kind fine dining Filipino buffet with its classy yet homey atmosphere. If you're looking for an intimate and cozy place that affords a bit of a privacy, then this is it. While food selections may not be extensive, surely the price you pay for can't get you the food quality, service and ambiance it offers anywhere else. I noticed that they regularly monitor and refill the dishes to assure that they are served in the best state which is another plus.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating
Primero Casa Filipino Buffet Price
Ambiance
★★★★★
Lunch and Dinner 398 NET
Taste
★★★
Service
★★★
Price
★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended
Primero Casa Filipino
Business Address
26 Sct. Torillo cor. Sct. Fernandez, Brgy. Sacred Heart, Quezon City, Metro Manila
I've long been hearing raves from fellow foodies about Brazil! Brazil! Churrascaria that I just had to succumb to my curiosity. When we've spotted on Metrodeal our ticket to enjoy a Churrasco Feast Platter for 2 for 799 php, we bought three of those.
They offered two salad dressing so we tried both. I personally prefer the Caesar Salad because the Thousand Island tasted like a the usual blend of ketchup and mayonnaise. Nevertheless, w enjoyed this because the vegetables were fresh and crunchy.
Before our Churrasco Feast Platter came, the servers advised that the platter was only good for two. We were 10 in the group so they advised we order two more and so we did. Our additional Churrasco Feast Platters were charged at the normal price of 799 php each which is the same as the deal price. The staffs explained that the only difference is that it didn't include the salad, 2 scoops of ice cream and 4 glasses of iced tea. Is it just me or are those inclusions not equivalent to 799 php?
We were surprised at the loadsome BBQ platter when it arrived. It had Sweet Corn Cob, Hanging Beef Tenders, Pork Belly, Pork Shoulder, Chicken Thighs, Frankfurter Sausage, Banana, Beef Brisket and Java Rice. Each of them where equally good. It just depends on your preferrence. Like if you want lean meat and less oil, go for the Chicken Thighs. If you want it lean and beefy, get the Hanging Beef Tenders and the Beef Brisket. If you want it fatty, then the Pork Belly is for you.If you're feeling guilty, you can opt for the Pork Shoulder. The Frankfurter Sausage is always a tasty option.
The Churrasco Feast Platter was served with two kinds of sauces. I personally found the meat already tasty on their own. They were tender, juicy and savory. But, when you got a big platter of them,a little variation in terms of taste is well-appreciated.
If you're not a hefty eater, the Churrasco Feast Platter is already good for 3-4 persons. It took forever but we managed to finish everything. My tummy felt so heavy with all the meat! I don't think I've eaten so much of those in my entire life and I'm the only carnivore in the family.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Brazil! Brazil! Churrascaria is a great place to satisfy your meat cravings. Deal price or regular price, you get savory and delectable loadsome of meat at an affordable price.
Who would have thought that twin hotels Rafflesand Fairmont Makati would emerge in the middle of the busy business district of Makati? Located in these twin hotels is Spectrum, one of the newest hotel buffets in town.
Spectrumhas a modern, classy and clean interior with its alluring drop lights and cozy dining fixtures. The area is quite spacious affording its diners utmost comfort and privacy.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Spectrum is technically located in the Fairmont side but sinceRafflesand Fairmont are inter-connected, you'd hardly notice it.
Food While we were taking photos, we met Chef Gregory Georges who explained to us that Spectrum does not have any specialty dishes but instead they focus on offering freshness and quality.
Fresh Scallop, ♥ Smoked Salmon, Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce.
For starters, I got the some Fresh Scallop, Smoked Salmon, Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce from the Assorted Seafood Station. Although they don't have oysters, what I got were really delightful. I could taste the freshness of the sea in every bite.
When we ordered a few slices of Salmon Sashimi from theSushi Bar, we had no idea that they offered them in huge thick slices. Look at the size of those! But, the Salmon Sashimi and Tako Sashimi (octopus), tastes so fresh and sweet that we ate them with glee.
They had a lot of variety when it comes to maki. They had the all time favorites like the Spicy Tuna Maki, Spicy Salmon Maki, Crunchy Salmon Skin Maki, Salmon Belly Maki and Salmon California Roll Maki. They also have special ones like the Maki Special of the Day which had avocado, fig, cheese and salmon. We loved all the maki really! The spicy taste of the Spicy Tuna Maki and Spicy Salmon Maki is at par with the top-notch authentic Japanese restaurants I've been to. Moreover, you could tell upon first bite that the Crunchy Salmon Skin Maki and Salmon Belly Maki were freshly made. But, we were most impressed by the Maki Special of the Day whichwas something new and interesting to our palate especially the chewy fig.
They have a whole chiller full of cheese and cold cuts and their Prosciutto is freshly made. So I got to try the Salami, Air Dried Beef and Prosciutto for the Cold Cuts. As a cheese lover, I was satisfied to my hearts content with my Brie, Blue Cheese, Blue Pepato, Truffle Gouda and Port Salut. There are also nuts and dried fruits available to eat with your cheese. Again, they serve in generous portions as you can see by the huge slices of cheese.
♥ Braised Suckling Pig and ♥ Peking Duck with Hoisin Sauce
The Braised Suckling Pig and the Peking Duck were cooked perfectly. Every bite of the suckling pig resulted in a delicious crackle. On the other hand, the Peking Duck was moist and tender. You can also request the chef to make these into sushi for a whole new experience.
Unfortunately, we had to ditch the Mongolian Station to try their other extensive offerings. They had more than the usual fare of sauces though which includes: Sweet Chili Sauce, Fish Garlic Sauce, Sesame Oil, Asian Black Bean Sauce and Soy Chili Sauce.
Next to this is the Noodle Station, Dimsum Station and Soup Station which we also were not able to try.
The servings of their main course are limited because they want to guarantee that its freshly cooked. I think it makes sense since Fairmont has less than 300 rooms while Raffles has only a few suites. While dining, we can't help but notice though that for a fairly new establishment, they have already gained loyal customers who are already well acquainted with their staffs and offerings.
For staple, I had the Kimchi Bokumbap accompanied by my viands of Gambas Al Ajillo, Asparagus Gratin, Orange Maple Glazed Pork, Mixed Vegetable, Cous-Cous and Buttered Vegetables. Among these, my top picks would be the Kimchi Bokumbap,Gambas Al Ajillo, and Orange Maple Glazed Pork.
On the Carving Station, they had Roast Beef and Salmon Quiche. The Roast Beef beef was cooked medium rare so we had it cooked further and topped it with mushroom sauce. This was tender and scrumptious! The Salmon Quiche had moist chunks of salmon and mushrooms which I enjoyed very much.
I like that they toasted the Pita before serving so its hot, soft and fresh. But, the Babaganushand Hummus failed to meet my expectations.
They also have a Tandoori Station which we overlooked and it was too late when realized it.
Brick Oven Pizza They cooked your pizza fresh upon request on their brick oven. They offered a lot of variety and we wanted to try them all. Good thing they had a mini size with four slices. And, you can have different flavors per slice. That's really awesome right?
♥ Margharita, ♥ Four Cheese, Pepperoni and ♥ Seafood Carbonara Pizza (Counter clockwise)
The Seafood Carbonara Pizza was their Pizza of the Day. The rest were their regular Classic Pizza variants. All of them were really good. Even for a mini, they don't scrimp on the ingredients. You can taste the bold flavors especially with the Four Cheese Pizza. I like their tangy red sauce base and the soft chewiness of the pizza dough too.
For their regular Special Pizzas, I'd say they were all delicious and bursting with flavors too. It's been quite some time since I've had an authentic ItalianAnchovies & Olives pizza too.
I rarely go for pasta when dining buffet style because heavy on the tummy. But, their display of freshly made pasta in interesting variants sparked my foodie enthusiasm. They had two pasta of the day offerings: Spaghetti with Brocolli, Tomatoes and Almonds andPenne with Salmon Teriyaki Sauce. Though oil-based which I'm not a fan of, I loved theSpaghetti with Brocolli, Tomatoes and Almondsbecause it was light, fragrant, zesty and nutty. Honey Station
This is my first time to see a Honey Stationwith real live busy buzzing bees. Unfortunately, I was already stuffed upon reaching this section and its my policy to always save room for dessert so I had to content myself with a cup of Mascarpone topped with Pistachio and the Honey. You can also use the honey to sweeten any dessert, drink or use it as a bread spread.
TheMascarpone topped with Pistachio and the Honeyis something delightful and new to my palate. I love how the silky sweet honey and the crunchy nutty pistachio complements the mellow taste of soft mascarpone.
Honestly, at first glance, Spectrum didn't appeal to me to be as extensive as other buffets I've been to. But, it felt like we've come from a long gastronomic journey before we reached the dessert station.
♥ Coffee Taho, Black Sesame Pudding, Mango Cheesecake and ♥ Chocolate Cheesecake
I've tried a lot of flavored taho before. They were good. But, in the end of the day, I'd still pick the plain one. But, the Coffee Taho is certainly a game changer with its smooth aromatic blend. The Black Sesame Pudding is an unconventional dessert because it tasted dominantly of unsweetened roasted sesame with raspberry syrup on top. The Mango Cheesecake which I got from the Mango Dessert Station was delicious! It had a light and silky texture and it was both sweet and tangy. TheChocolate Cheesecake topped with fresh strawberry is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It was rich in taste but light and cocoa powdery in texture. It's a one of a kind and a must try!
The Strawberry Mouse Cake is definitely the best one I've tried! It was not too sweet so it was able to highlight the natural fresh flavors of strawberries. Even the texture is excellent! It was soft, silky yet with a slight roughness and crunchiness from the strawberry seeds. On the other hand, the Tiramisu is served at the right chilled and slightly soaked state with pleasing richness that would delight any coffee lover such as myself.
The staffs insisted that I try their specialtyChocolate Calamansi Mousseand Mango Crumble so I did. The Chocolate Calamansi Mousse is a rave-worthy multi-layered cake! It it topped with dark chocolate ganache followed by rich dark chocolate mouse, calamansi chiffon, dark chocolate mouse, calamansi jelly, calamansi mousse then rich dark chocolate mouse. This is a must try! On the other hand, the Mango Crumbleis a baked crumble with fresh mango bits topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup. I enjoyed the crunch but found it a bit sweet for my taste. Perhaps, more mangoes and less caramel syrup would bring it to a balance. New Zealand Ice Cream
Their ice cream section is filled with imported ice cream from New Zealand. This was actually the first that captivated me when I went in. Ice cream has always been my comfort and pleasure food. Crepe Station
♥ Banana, Mangoes and Mixed Berries Crepe topped with White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream and Pistachio and Almonds
They have a crepe station where you can choose your desired fillings between Banana, Mangoes and Mixed Berries. The crepe expert suggested that a good combination would be Banana and Mangoes but I just wanted to try them all so I persuaded her to produced one with all three toppings. The Crepe Station is just beside the Ice Cream Station so you can choose whatever flavor you like to be added on your crepe. We had the White Chocolate raspberry Ice Cream as recommended. They had all sorts of nuts and dried fruits for toppings too. Although I've tried a lot of crepes, I've never been to a buffet that has met my preference which was similar to the ones offered by Cafe Breton. Finally, I've found it here in Spectrum! Their french crepes are light, soft and velvety. Their toppings are not too sweet too. I highly recommend this and I'll definitely have more of this on my next visits. Drinks
Complimentary Green Apple Flavored Water, ♥ Mango Ginger No' jito (300 php), Grapefruit Lemonade (300 php) and♥Mango with Pandan Ice (from the Mango Station)
Spectrumoffers a Complimentary Flavored Waterthat varies per day. It is only available during lunch buffet. We got to try the Green Apple Flavored Water which was refreshing. You can also grab someMango with Pandan Icefrom theMango Stationwhich has milk, mango bits and topped with their special pandan ice.
But, if you want to order something special, they have an extensive but a bit pricey drink menu. I really liked theMango Ginger No' jito because it was a cool, refreshing and yet neutral drink. And, they also have an exclusive selection of fine wines from their sommelier’s cellar.
The buffet is also inclusive of coffee and tea.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Spectrum offers one of the finest buffet in terms of freshness and quality. You're sure to leave this place stuffed and satisfied. And, it will leave you wanting for more. During our visit, we're informed that they will be having a weekend brunch with champagne offerings. I'm really tempted to go back and try that. It's great ambiance and location is one of its good selling points too.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating
Spectrum Buffet Rates and Menu
Ambiance
★★★★★
Ala Carte Menu Buffet Rates: Breakfast - P 1450 NET* Lunch - P 1675 NET* Dinner - P 1995 NET* * inclusive of service charge and applicable taxes
Taste
★★★★★
Service
★★★★
Price
★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended
Spectrum at Fairmont and Raffles
Business Address
Lobby Level Fairmont Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue Makati City, Metro Manila
Business Hours
Breakfast Monday to Friday: 6:00 am - 10:00 am Weekends and Holidays: 6:00 am - 11:00 am Lunch Daily: 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Dinner Daily: 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
The Terrace has the essential long bar, cozy benches and tent-like lofts. It also has a huge coin bank which you could mistake for a pool.
Weekends at The Terrace Every Friday and Saturdays from 8 pm to 11 pm, you can enjoy a wide array of barbecue items, salads, maki, pastry sweets and unlimited rum and vodka cocktails for only 1,500 ++ per head.
I noticed that some of their offerings belong to their regular menu like the Creme Brulee Trio, Chocolat, Verte andMacaroons. I loved the Cream Puffs and Black Sesame Macaroons.
Unlimited Rum and Vodka Cocktails Of course, the highlight of the event is the drinks. Imagine yourself, wallowing and chatting under the clear night sky enjoying the city lights and cool breeze while sipping your choice of cocktails.
The Heart of Darkness is perfect for the ladies. It is composed of fresh grapes, cinnamon syrup, lemon juice, vodka, and port wine topped with soda. It's smooth, sweet and mild. But, has a hidden strike of alcohol too.
The Majestic is made of fresh pineapple, fresh basil, pineapple juice, sugar cane syrup, and vodka. This one is warm on the throat and hits harder than the Heart of Darkness.
I've only tried two but since you can get as much as you want. I encourage you to try the other drinks such as these which my friends have tried:
Raspberry Saketini which has sake, raspberry puree, pineapple syrup, pineapple juice and creme de casis
D'Ultimate which has fresh pineapple, almond milk, Cointreau, Maraschino Syrup and special rum mix
For only 300 php, you can also enjoy some Shisha. They had 16 flavors to choose from. My companions had the bubble gum flavor which I think they enjoyed a lot.
Buddha-Bar Manila Weekends at The Terrace is definitely a whole new experience here in Metro Manila. It's no secret that food and drinks when ordered ala carte is quite pricey so why not avail this so you can eat and drink to your hearts content right?
A couple of months ago, I've share our discovery of Dakasi. Now, it has opened its 18th branch at Dela Rosa Carpark 1, Makati and I was fortunate enough to celebrate its opening party with them along with fellow bloggers.
The Dela Rosa Carpark 1 Makati Branch has more indoor and alfresco seating than our favorite UN Branch. Look at how comfortable people are as they chill with their milk tea drinks.
On the other hand, having tried ever variant of Dakasi, I ordered my favorite Matcha Brown Rice Milk Tea. I also ordered the New Limited Taro Milk Tea which comes with coconut jelly and pearls but it didn't soothe a tea addict like me because I simply yearn for the bitterish armonatic taste.
They also showed a demo on how they make their Milk Tea in 30 seconds. That was an awesome performance. I just have to note that their Robinson's Place Branch which is our nearby mall doesn't serve that fast. Moreover, I'm quite disappointed that the brewed blend of the Charcoal Roasted Milk Tea is a bit bland so it dominantly tastes of the creamer. It's different from those served at the Dela Rosa Carpark 1 Makati Branch and UN Branch.
Even on a tight budget, there's no need to put your Katsu cravings on hold because I've discovered Katsu Cafe along Maria Clara Street near the corner of Banawe.
The Kani Salad is served in a huge bowl which is compacts so I really appreciated the generous portions. I like that they didn't scrimp on the ingredients especially the roe. It is neatly presented with the vegetable shreds at the bottom, then the kani (crabmeat) strips, Japanese mayonnaise and the roe. This is one of the best Kani Salad I have ever tried and I highly recommend this!
The Pork Katsu Curry Rice comes with a bowl of miso soup which I found too strong for my taste. The curry flavor is appetizing and they use quality Japanese rice with fragrant sesame seeds too.
It is actually composed of two hamburger patty sides katsu. The breading is nice and crunchy while the pork meat is tender. I'd say this is one satisfying pork katsu and it comes surprisingly cheap too.
I've always been a fan of Gyudon. The Gyudon is served with a bowl of miso soup too. I was glad that this had huge shitake mushrooms and beautiful raw egg yolk on it. But, I'd prefer if the beefs were in thin strips rather than rough shreds. Moreover, I also think this would have been better with more sauce and onions. I'm sure with its price, it deserves to be more than its current state. Iced Tea
The food is great so I ordered for take home to share the experience with the family. I really appreciate their eco-friendly packaging. But, their soup container which is a coffee cup is not spill proof because it had a sip hole on top.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict With Katsu Cafe, you can go for Katsu anytime you want. The price is really reasonable. I look forward to try their other Katsu sets. And, I'll definitely order the Kani Salad again! The service is great too.
I've shared SSC Shawarma Snack Center's shawarma before (check my previous post). Just in front of that canteen-type store is the two-storey SSC Shawarma Snack Center Cafe Grilled Seafood Restaurant which serves a wider variety of Middle Eastern dishes.
This tops as one of our favorites when craving for Middle Eastern cuisine. I've been wanting to share this with you for quite some time now, but I am so into the food that I've been forgetting to take a photo. I'm like that whenever I eat at my favorite places.
They have indoor dining areas for the first and second floors and an al fresco area for the second floor terrace. They have typical round tables, lowered tables and couches which are ideal for shisha sessions.
Food Cooked Dishes (Salona or Curry Good for 2 Persons)
The Bamya Lahem is my all time SSC favorite dish. I could never get over this a mutton and okra stew. Hands down no other restaurant serves mutton or mature sheep meat like SSC. The mutton has a clean taste and the meat is so tender. And, the taste is so appetizing that I could finish this on my own even though it was supposed to be for two. Rice and Bread
I've seen a lot of foreign diners finish this. But, look at that size of the Chicken Beryani! That's a whole chicken in one meal. If you're not a hefty eater, this can be shared by two. The Chicken Beryani is an interestingly tasty meal. Even the flavored beryani rice is delightful.
I really like the tangy taste of yogurt so I always order their Yoghurt drink. You can chooseeither salty or sweet. But either way, expect the rich full taste of plain yogurt.
If you're not into yogurts, I suggest you try their 4 Season which is a popular drink there.
The Mouhalabieh is a milk custard topped with crushed pistachio.This had a smooth and creamy texture like pana cottas. But, I'd prefer if this had rose or orange extract to make this more interesting like the one I tried at Circles.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict SSC Shawarma Snack Center Cafe Grilled Seafood Restaurant is a must stop for any one who wants to try Middle-EasternCuisine. I've tried almost all their dishes and not one of them has ever turned out to be a disappointment. I've even brought friends and relatives here who are unfamiliar or not fond of Middle-Eastern dishes and they've enjoyed their dining experience. More importantly, the price is very reasonable for the quality and large portions (yet normal for foreigners).
When we were toddlers, our family used to frequent Magnolia Ice Cream house. We were quite saddened when it closed down. A few years ago, it opened again in San Miguel By The Bay in SM Mall of Asia. We were able to eat there twice and then it also closed down. We're been waiting for the come back of Magnolia Flavor House which has finally opened at its original location which is now Robsinson's Magnolia. We eagerly waited in line just to try it out once more.
Magnolia Flavor House has a round structure of its own located in the outdoor area of Robinson's Magnolia. With the scorching heat of the sun during the afternoons in our tropical country, Magnolia Flavor House has been a refuge for cold comfort and frozen sweet treats. They also serve cooked dishes too in case you don't want to skip to dessert at once.
The place is brightly with large lamps. There are also chillers of the usual flavors and the limited edition President's Tub which can only be purchased there.
Food
Ice Cream Specialties
We noticed that their menu has more variety than the previous stores. We're glad the our old classic favorites are still there too.
The Peach Melba is my mom's old time favorite. She never orders anything else except for this. I do agree with her preference on this though. It does have an appealing taste with the peaches, nuts and light glaze of caramel syrup together with the mellow mango, strawberry and vanilla ice cream flavors. And, it also has the classic whipped cream with cherry on top to enhance the experience.
The Amazing Batman's Brownie Overload has two scoops of chocolate ice cream and one scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup. It has three brownies that lay on whipped cream dividing them and then showered with small marshmallows on the side. I'm quite surprised that the brownies where plain unlike the image on the menu which looked like fudge brownies glazed with caramel. But, this dessert with whipped cream and cherry on top was still a delicious sweet treat.
The Crepe Parfait has three scoops of ice cream: mango, strawberry and chocolate. If you don't like the flavor, you can always request them to change it. It has a frozen crispy crepe, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, chocolate wafer, chocolate coated candies and lastly, whipped cream with strawberry on top. This is a pleasurable treat but I found it a challenge to eat with the crepe.
Flavor House Concoctions (Cold Stone Ice Creams)
The Flavor House Concoctions is actually something new to us so we decided to try one.
The Citrus Vanilla Mango is mango ice cream mixed with white chocolate chips with mandarin orange bits on the bottom and drizzled with caramel syrup. I found it refreshing and enjoyable to eat. But for the price, I'd rather order the specialties with three scoops than this.My ice cream cravings can't be satisfied by this serving size. On the bright side, this is a great choice for those who love waffle cones. It also has whipped cream with cherry on top and a chocolate coated stick biscuit.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Magnolia Flavorhouse serves frozen sweet treats that's perfect for the summer! Old classics die hard and this one will last for generations. As a ice cream lover, this is one of my favorite places to go to when at Robinson's Magnolia. I'm certain that I'll be bound to drop by here again especially this summer season. I'll purchase and try their President's Tub on my next visit too.
Located in the center of the busy business district of Eastwood, Eastwood Richmonde Hotel's Cafe Eastwood offers a great lunch experience for the businessmen who find it difficult to travel far from their work area. It doesn't come as a surprise that during weekdays, the hotel's signature restaurant is packed with business clientele.
Cafe Eastwood has a spacious buffet area which is separated from the dining area. The centerpiece is the dessert station which is definitely eye-catching.
The dining area is brightly lit with soft yellow lighting. It has a classy interior, with contemporary abstract art pieces on its walls and the large well-cushioned seats provide comfort while the spacing between tables give the diners privacy.
With the introduction of its Weekend Brunch Buffet that is available from April to June 2013, Cafe Eastwood seeks to widen its customers by catering to the whole family which includes the kids. The Weekend Brunch Buffet is the same as their weekday buffet but with an addition of the Kid's Station, Candy Buffet and Kid's Playroom. What makes this a great deal is that its priced at a lower rate than the weekday buffet.
The Pastry Section is limited to three options: soft rolls, toasts and bread stick. It's oddly placed together with the desserts. I decided to skip this section to pursue the more enticing offerings ahead.
The Salad Station offers the usual ingredients needed for a garden salad with an addition of three kinds of dressing: Thousand Island, Balsamic and French. It also houses local ingredients such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, salted egg, bell peppers, onions and other garnishes, perfect for preparing a Pinoy Salad.
At the Hot Pot Station, you can choose between beef, chicken, fish and pork as the meat component of your soup, but it doesn't discourage you from getting one of each.Other hot pot ingredients like fish balls and kikiam can also be added to mix. To add flavor to its plain broth, there are five sauces you can add: Chili Garlic, Ginger Oil, Peanut Sauce, Soy Sauce and Hoisin Sauce.
While one of our table companions requested the station chef to prepare his Hot Pot Masterpiece, I decided to go for a more simplified version of the Hot Pot soup, only consisting of pho noodles, tons of shitake mushrooms, a few leeks and sprouts and some slices of all types of meat.
The Beef Siomai was served hot and it was tender. I had fun making my own Cua Pao but by the time I was done with it the steamed buns were no longer hot and moist so the paper was hard to remove.
And so, to avoid experiencing the same scenario, the first thing you should do upon receiving the bun is to remove the paper beneath.
The popular dish that's a must-have for any buffet is the shrimp tempura. The Tempura Station is regularly replenished so you can get as much as you want.
The Vegetable Kare-Kare is my favorite among the viands. The greens were crunchy and the eggplant was soft. The healthy twist to the usual kare-kare dish accompanied by the delicious bagoong got me hooked.
The Crispy Lechon was the highlight of the buffet so I had great expectations only to find out that the skin was not crunchy at all. But the meat was so tender, it could have melted in your mouth. Mongolian Station
I wasn't able to try the Maja Mais so I guess that was the best item at the Filipino Dessert Station. I enjoyed the lightly sweetened Moist Chocolate Cake and Strawberry Cheesecake. The Leche Flan was smooth and creamy. The Puto with Cheese in red and the Yema in blue is not only visually appealing, but were delicious too. I'm not much of a fan of rice delicacies but the Biko was pretty good. I got some fresh fruits too for good health.
Spaghetti with Pinoy Style Sauce or White Sauce, Hotdog on Skewers and Southern Fried Chicken
The Kid's Station has the classic kid's favorites like the Spaghetti with Pinoy Style Sauce or White Sauce, Hotdog on Skewers and Southern Fried Chicken.
More than the Kid's Station, I'm sure the kids eye's will widen with excitement upon seeing the bountiful and colorful Candy Buffet. It's got my favorite Wonka Pixie Sticks! And it's not all sweets and chocolates, it's got Mini Donuts with sauces and toppings, Cookies and Cake Pops.
There is also a colorful and not to mention cute Kid's Playroom with balloons, mini tables and chairs, a television playing kiddie shoes, books and toys.
Kids will have tons of fun playing after they've enjoyed their meal.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Eastwood Cafe's Weekend Brunch Buffet is one of the most affordable hotel buffets I've tried. And I have to say for the price, it's worth it! The selections are extensive and mostly customizable. The food quality is good. I'm also impressed with the arrangements they made for the kids. I highly recommend that families especially those with kids to consider visiting the Cafe as one of their fun family activities.
Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating
Eastwood Cafe Weekend Buffet Rate
Ambiance
★★★★
Adult: 880 php NET Kids (6 to 12 yrs old): 440 php NEt Kids (below 6 yrs old): FREE
Taste
★★★
Service
★★★
Price
★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended
Eastwood Cafe at Richmode Hotel
Business Address
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel 17 Orchard Road, Eastwood City Bagumbayan, Quezon City, Metro Manila
On summer days, I just can't keep myself away from cold treats. While we Tsinoy Foodies were roaming around SM Megamall, I spotted Mochi Creme which was a really cute cart in pink and green.
On some days, I'd inhibit myself a bit knowing my companion is not fond of frozen sweet treats. But, there are also times when my curiosity got the best of me. I did offer to treat him but he refused so I went on to order trying to hide my enthusiasm and excitement of course since I feel guilty that he's missing out on something awesome.
Black Sesame, Purple Yam, Green Tea, Azuki Red Bean and Mango
I'm so lucky that a lot of flavors were available. I noticed that the Azuki Red Bean has the least stocks so it must be the best-seller. On the other hand, the Black Sesame is almost untouched.
I couldn't help but smile with glee at the sight of its cute wrapper! I tried the Black Sesamebecause I've tried other versions of it and has always enjoyed it. Since its frozen, you have to allow a few minutes for the coating to soften and become chewy. I'd say the coating was pretty good in terms of consistency.
The mochi ice cream is bite-size so I decided to take small bites to make it last longer. It was delicious! The Black Sesame is filled with vanilla ice cream with black sesame bits. The sweetness is just right which is expected from Japaneseice cream. It kind of looked like cookies and cream but definitely tasted of roasted black sesame with some crunch too. My only concern is that it could have been more creamy.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict Mochi Creme is a great treat for the summer. It has ample amount of variety to choose from. I'm looking forward to try the Azuki Red Bean next. For the size and availability, the price is reasonable.
Although its facade looks like other authentic Japanese restaurant, you'd be awed by its grandeur once you step inside.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. On the left side are its private function rooms. While, the right side were casual sturdy tables and chairs. By the end of the walk way, you can find their sushi and sake bar. The place had an solemn atmosphere with bright yet soft lighting.
Each private function room had a long table. It is also equipped with its own air conditioner and sockets perfect for business meetings. I'm amazed at how visually appealing and spacious the place is. In fact, even the rest room is worth mentioning.
The staffs are very friendly and accommodating. We greeted and served as if we were very important guests in a fine dining restaurant. We were told that the owner is a Filipino engineer but their chef is Japanese so you can expect their dishes to be authentic Japanese.
The Gyoza is plump and juicy. It was savory even without the sauce. This is cooked in perfect timing since the bottom is slightly crisp, the other parts of the shell is soft and the meat is succulent.
The Iwashi Shioyaki is an imported fish from Japan. To assure quality, all their fishes are imported. This is the best dish for that evening. It was exploding in terms of flavor but not too salty.
The Yakitori Momo and Yakitori Negima is almost the same except that the latter had leeks mixed in. You have the option of having thiseither salty or sweet. The lighter color is salted. In terms of flavor, it's plainly salty. It's my first time to try it like that and I did not appreciate it. On the other hand, the sweet version is the typical yakitori we know. I liked that bettersince it is more flavorful but the sweetness is controlled at the precise level.
I really enjoyed the Curry Rice! I didn't even bother sharing it and finish it all by myself. The Curry is appetizing especially with the thin beef strips but what made this meal even better is their quality Japanese rice.According to a program I recently watch at the NHK World channel, there are over 24 varieties of rice grains in Japan. I may not know which type this is, but I'm pretty sure its the best one I've tried here in the country.
I found the Gomoku Chahan a bit pricey despite the generous amounts of seafood and vegetable toppings because of its serving size. But, it is one of the best one I've tried. It probably has 5 main ingredients as indicated by its name. This is served with a bowl of Miso Soup.
I was never a fan of soba because the texture usually turns me off. But, this Ebi Tempura Soba was definitely rave-worthy! The soba noodles will surely make you slurp with glee and chew with delight. The brought is light but appealing to the taste buds. The Ebi Tempura is also cooked wonderfully!
This has to be the best Kakikage Tempura Udon I have ever tried. The broth is a bowlful of umami flavors. The kakikage is composed of not only crunchy vegetables but with shrimp bits too. This is a must try!
For drinks, we enjoyed their complimentary Cold Brown Rice Tea and Hot Jasmine Green Tea.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict If you're looking for an authentic Japanese dining experience to remember,Izakaya Kentais certainly a place to try! The food, ambiance and service is superb! Their price is a bit steep but since their still in the soft opening phase, prices will be adjusted to seem more reasonable. Their menu will also be revised to be more comprehensible for non-Japanese. I looked forward to coming back here and try their Nimono (stew) selections next.