Entries Tagged 'places' ↓
February 11th, 2010 — Cravings, Dessert, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, The Fort, Where To Eat
Chinese New Year Fireworks
Yes, they did it. Aside from the fear of fully-reserved restaurants come the big day of Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day combined, they also made heart-shaped tikoy (glutinous rice pudding ).
Tikoy‘s literal translation in English is “sweet-cake.”
Going back, the maker of this heart-shaped ‘tikoy‘ in the picture is Polland bakery. They’re known to be innovative and creative with their products. The packaging alone (of all its product line), uses loud color to attract more buyers.
With the upcoming Chinese New Year this Sunday, Feb 14, 2010, expect the traditional ‘Tikoy‘ gifts to overflow once again from our friends in the Chinese-Filipino community. This symbolizes prosperity and is said to make the blessings ‘stick‘. 🙂
Chinese Ang-Pao / Ampao (Red Envelope)
February 9th, 2010 — Appetizer, Casual, Cravings, Dessert, Fine Dining, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, The Fort, Where To Eat
With the Valentine season just around the corner, Valentine’s Day promo are everywhere. And this article will serve to confuse you all the more – haha! (just kidding).
Valetine's Day Food Spots
I actually posted a little survey a few weeks ago through a NomNom Club social networking thread and one of the resulting recommendation was Chateau 1771.
The Chateau 1771’s Lunch Box is available even on weekdays for lunch. The price is about 500+ according to the suggestion. This is actually a good deal given that it’s Chateau 1771 and it already includes appetizer and dessert.
Jozu Kin, Burgis Circle in Fort Bonifacio
Melo’s along Jupiter street in Makati and Florabel in The Podium were also mentioned. The Podium is a small upscale mall located at the back of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong.
Jozu Kin along Burgos Circle at Fort Bonifacio is another. They serve Japanese dishes with a contemporary twist. The tranquil ambiance is also suitable for a private Valentine’s date. 🙂
Lolo Dad's Brasserie Valentine Music
Another alternative for those in Makati would be the Lolo Dad’s Brasserie at 6750 Ayala Ave. near Shangri-La Makati Hotel.
Although the price range is above average, food quality and ambiance matches it. Lolo Dad’s will also host live string music on the 12th, 13th, and 14th entitled “Strings Attached on Valentines.”
Check out Lolo Dad’s Australian Lamb dish as well where upon ordering two, you get a limited edition “All You Need is Lamb Planner“.
Lolo Dad's Australian Lamb
Reserve now in your favorite romantic restaurants! With the Valentine’s colliding with the Chinese New Year, I hope there are still slots/spaces for your dates. 🙂
February 8th, 2010 — Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Dessert, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, The Fort, Where To Eat
A Slice of Chocolate Heaven
Just in time for the valentine season, Red Ribbon releases its newest, richest, and chocolatiest chocolate cake ever – the Chocolate Heaven.
Promising a taste of heaven with its creaminess and combination layer of chocolate brownie at the bottom and chocolate mousse over it. It is then covered by rich dark chocolate icing and topped with chocolate shaven curls.
That’s four times a chocolate!
Red Ribbon Chocolate Heaven Cake
The verdict: Yes! It’s the chocolatiest ever! Stop reading this and taste one for yourself. 🙂
The junior size is priced at P335 while the regular size is P560. It has been available in select stores since early February but will be is available nationwide in all Red Ribbon branches today since yesterday.
Wait, there’s more! Join the Chocolate Heaven Photo Contest today! See mechanics here!
February 6th, 2010 — Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Dessert, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, The Fort, Where To Eat
It’s the season of commercial love. Yes, a market-driven one characterized by candies, chocolates, flowers, gifts, and occasional greeting cards, to materialistically symbolise one’s love and affection for another.
But whatever the Valentine’s Day critics say, it always feels good to receive a chocolate, a bouquet of flowers, and a cake from your loved one, be it your relative, parents, kids, or special partner.
Roses & Kisses Cake
So Red Ribbon made sure this becomes easy for the gift giver with their seasonal Roses and Kisses Cake which is now available for pre-order until February 9, 2009
It’s a chocolate pound cake shaped as a lovey-dovey heart and decorated with edible sugar roses and Hershey’s milk chocolate Kisses on top. Made beautiful inside-out, it is made with layers of chocolate fudge filling sprinkled with chocolate chips.
Looks and sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
So what about the taste? I like how it tastes different from the usual sweet cakes we usually have. It isn’t tiring to the taste buds, so I believe a couple can finish a whole cake in one sitting. 🙂
Truly a seasonal cake just for this valentine season, the 6 diameter white heart is priced at P330 and is customizable with a total of 14-character text before and after the “Happy Valentine’s Day” box for your special message for him/her.
Red Ribbon's Valentine's Day Cake - Roses And Kisses Cake
Read this blog post too late? And it’s Valentine’s Day in a day or two? Red Ribbon’s Valentine’s Cake – Roses and Kisses is available off the shelf in all Red Ribbon branches nationwide from Febraury 12-14, 2010.
February 4th, 2010 — Appetizer, Beverage, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Dessert, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, Sweet Shops, Where To Eat
As promised, we’re bringing back Food Foto Fiesta.
I had a recent surprising discovery of a Filipino restaurant called Serye. It’s related to the classic Aristocrat restaurant that anyone above 20, and residing in the Philippines, would be familiar with.
Actually, Serye have been around for sometime but is currently re-branding from Serye Restaurant and Cafe, to Serye Cafe Filipino; but that story deserves a separate article altogether. Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks.
For now, feast on the 10 photos I recently took from their Eastwood Libis branch.
Gambas
Pork Spareribs
Kesong Puti Puttanesca
Pork Binagoongan
Arroz Ala Cubana Pandesal
Tuna Sisig
Kesong Puti Salad
Dinuguan and Puto
Boneless Crispy Pata
* Food photos taken at Serye Cafe Filipino Eastwood Libis Branch.
January 24th, 2010 — Beverage, Casual, Coffee Shops, Cravings, Dessert, Makati, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, The Fort, Where To Eat
A month after the holidays, Starbucks‘ Dark Cherry Mocha still stayed on the menu board way after the other two holiday featured beverages Toffee Nut Latte and Peppermint Mocha was taken off the shelf – which is a good thing! 🙂
Give in to your chocolate craving with its combination of espresso, steamed milk, and bittersweet chocolate with dark cherry flavor; topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder.
And although the Starbucks Planner fever is over, it tastes like Christmas all over. 🙂
January 17th, 2010 — Casual, Cravings, Dessert, places, Restaurants, Where To Eat
Via Mare Restaurant
When I refer to something as ‘expensive‘, it does not necessarily pertain to the high price alone.
When it comes to food, I consider the value through the balance of quantity, quality, and preparation involved. Simply said, ‘is it worth your buck‘?
As a supposed branch specialty, I decided to try out Via Mare‘s Bulalo from their SM Mall of Asia branch.
Via Mare Interiors, SM Mall of Asia
Bulalo is one of my favorite stew dish so I was anticipating to try Via Mare’s version. The menu says P400 ($9). It’s not cheap, but I assumed it’s a big bowl enough for at least two.
Come serving time, it was indeed a big bowl with some vegetables and 2 corn cub slices. I excitedly got the meat part first but it wasn’t as soft as a bulalo should. The soup is just so-so and almost half of the meat serving is ‘litid‘ (ligament).
Bulalo @ P400
I’d just like to clarify though that the bulalo was not that bad, it was average. It juat wasn’t at par with my expectations – which was the problem because I expected more from Via Mare who prepares good Bibingka Galapong and is one of the established restaurant brands in the Philippines.
I guess it was just a bad night for the bulalo. 🙂
January 16th, 2010 — Bar/Grills, Casual, Cravings, Ortigas, places, Restaurants, Where To Eat
Bigby’s Cafe restaurant in Manila is always in my shortlist when dining at the Atrium of SM Megamall. And I’m just glad to be back for dinner the other day before watching a movie premiere care of Viva Films.
Two friends in company choose to be conservative with their tried and tested orders Rack-A-Bye-baby ribs (~P400; $8) and Mojo Chicken Q (P299; $6.5) while the adventurous me choose to try something new (something I haven’t ordered before).
Bigby's Cafe 7 Restaurant Rack-A-Bye Baby Ribs (Photo by Azrael Coladilla)
Mojo Chicken Q (Copyright NomNomClub.com)
Tuscan Fish Melt
I decided to go fishing and got the Tuscan Fish Melt. It’s a fried Dory fish topped with pesto paste laid over pasta in tomato sauce. Although I wished the Dory was bigger, the dark pesto paste was a new experience.
The farthest I got with pesto is with pesto pasta and nothing else. In this case, the pesto paste was fuller in taste (since it’s in paste). The pasta in tomato sauce was good too.
By the way, my two companions enjoyed the Rack-A-Bye-baby ribs and the chicken barbecue-like Mojo Chicken Q. I should point out the large serving of Bigby’s Mojo Chicken Q, by the way.