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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

Review of Hotel Pudu Plaza (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Seeking both style and comfort in all my travels, I applaud Hotel Pudu Plaza for overall good facility maintenance, accommodating staff and good food. This three-star hotel located at the heart of Kuala Lumpur has kept its décor very simple yet quite elegant and pleasing to guests, paralleled with a cool sensibility of the country’s tropical climate. Let me go through the details of my ratings for Hotel Pudu Plaza’s ambiance and breakfast offerings below.

Review of Hotel Pudu Plaza (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

The hotel reception area was wide and bright. Floors can only be accessed via tapping over the hotel access card with RFID chip on the controller. The same key card is used to open the room door. This is good for security considerations, making guests feel better. For some unknown reason though, the chip failed to work two times and we had to report the key card back to the receptionist for his to reactivate it. Sien one lah. 😯

Moving on to the room — Hotel Pudu Plaza is house to 348 rooms of various categories. We stayed at one Standard King Room with window (overseeing the car parking lot). The room’s interior design was passionately low-key but exquisite with well-thought-out details from the carpeted flooring, framed pictures on the wall and nice cabinetry to fine in-room amenities: split-type air conditioner (very quiet and effective in cooling), wall-mounted LCD TV airing local channels, vault (digital safe), study table (or a dresser), basic snack nook composed of a small fridge, hot pot, and lots of power outlets.

The hotel bed mattress was not so firm but good enough for us to rest after a long and tiring day of traveling.

I also liked the ambiance of the bathroom because it’s spacious. It’s stuffed with daily refillable toiletries like shampoo, toothbrush, soap, hand towels, bath towels, body wash, two rolls of tissue paper and cotton buds, so guests don’t have to worry about having to bring them. The sink counter was made of granite. The shower area was enclosed with glass, and a heater could be used for a warm shower. Nice. 🙂

Service: ★★★★★

Once we arrived, the Hotel Pudu Plaza receptionist named Tommy gave us free Wi-Fi access (username and password) and our complimentary breakfast vouchers for our five days of stay. Staffs were helpful all throughout. Even though some only spoke in Malay and little English, we were directed to English speakers and communicated without a problem. Our room was made every day without fail.

Hotel Pudu Plaza also helped in guarding our travel bags after we checked out on the last day, before our tour guide picked us up to the airport. They have a stock room near the elevators on the ground floor, and we’ve seen how bags were properly labelled so they could be handed back to the owners when claimed.

Food: ★★★★☆

We had complimentary breakfast four days during the KL trip. It’s worthy to note that Hotel Pudu Plaza served different varieties of food on the buffet table every day. Welcome to the dining hall at the third floor! 🙂

Some of the staple food presented were the white and wheat bread, watermelon, drinks (water, coffee, fresh milk, tea, mango juice and orange juice), breakfast cereals, porridge and the beans. Beyond those, we took delight in eating local cuisine and common comfort food.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Wrap Up

Thanks to Transpipol Travel and Tours, we had a hassle-free reservation at Hotel Pudu Plaza for our entire Kuala Lumpur trip last July 5-9, 2014. The hotel is attached to the newly renovated Pudu Mall which has a grocery store, food stalls, restaurants, tea shop, shoe store, clothing store, tech gadgets store, etc. It’s not a fancy mall but is considered okay for hotel guests who don’t want to travel far to get essentials.

Another good thing about Hotel Pudu Plaza is that it’s just a stone’s throw away from KL’s finest shopping malls. Walking to the shopping arena hence didn’t take much of our time. We were also happy to learn shortcut directions to get to Berjaya Times Square, Sungei Wang Plaza and the Low Yat Plaza on our second day. Weeeee! 😛 This is a recommended hotel. Good and satisfying!

Read on the 12 Tourist Spots We Have Visited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia here.

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July 15, 2014
12 Tourist Spots We Have Visited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Last week, Louie and I traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for five days, four nights. We have booked for this trip one year ahead, when we availed of Cebu Pacific Air’s Piso Air Fare Promo. For our daily itinerary and hotel accommodation, I have trusted Transpipol Travel and Tours to seek the most convenient and decent options available for our tour (dated July 5-9, 2014). Truly, this travel agency had delivered its promise; in the same vein, E World Choice Travel and Tours KL, its counterpart company in Malaysia, had taken good care of us.

Our Kuala Lumpur itinerary was arranged months before our departure, but it was only about a week prior our travel when I started to really examine every stop, see pictures online and read the background stories behind to get a quick glimpse. #SoBusyAtWork

After packing my carry-on bag with the help of my mom, I waited for the day with the same excitement of a six-year-old waiting for Christmas. 🙂 In this post, let me share with you about the places we have visited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

12 Tourist Spots We Have Visited in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Day 1 was nothing so special. We arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) at 6:30PM and met our tour guide from E World Choice Travel and Tours KL named Lukman. We introduced ourselves, shook hands and rode the private bus as he transferred us to the hotel. Travel time to Hotel Pudu Plaza was about an hour. (Read my review of the hotel here.) Let’s fast forward to Day 2: tour in Genting Highlands and Berjaya Times Square.

Early at 9AM, Lukman drove us to Genting Highlands together with two Filipino tourists who stayed at a hotel nearby. In the car, I broke the ice and asked for their names, using the Filipino language to converse. They were surprised as they thought we’re Chinese who spoke only in Chinese. That was a funny moment there. Admittedly, I may have a tad weird accent when speaking in Filipino, but arguably, I’m still fluent at it than most native Chinese living in the Philippines. 😛

1. Genting Highlands

It was unfortunate that we did not get to try riding the Genting Skyway Cable Car because it was ongoing maintenance. The indoor theme park in Genting Highlands was also closed and only two rides were open for adults. To make up for the unexpected halted adventures, we went inside Snow World where we experienced -6 degrees freezing cold. 😀

I’ve never witnessed real snow and have never been to anywhere that cold. So for the rate of RM 30 per person, Snow World was relatively a good attraction to visit. Coats, gloves and shoes were lent to us. We put our things including cameras into the lockers. No picture-taking was allowed. Only Snow World photographers took our photos and we bought the CD with all 21 pictures afterwards at RM 150.

Until 2:30PM, we enjoyed strolling around Genting Highlands (Resorts World, Bowling Center, restaurants and stores), going up and down the escalators, exploring the different hotels: First World, Awana Hotel, Genting Grand Hotel and Maxims. The outdoor theme park was also under construction and is expected to be done in three years.

2. Berjaya Times Square

At 5PM, the tour guide brought us to Berjaya Times Square per our request. This shopping complex has eight levels with a diverse range of stores from middle-priced to economic/bargain-priced items. We were amazed that a theme park was built inside with an operational roller coaster! 😯

Berjaya Times Square is a rather cheap mall to shop—the higher you go, the more inexpensive things you will find. We walked end to end from the first to the seventh floor in two hours. Our tiredness had definitely kicked in. Before heading back to the hotel, we moved to the mall across called Low Yat Plaza (KL’s version of Sim Lim Square in Singapore). Mobile phones, tablets, cameras, laptops, computers, and accessories—name it and they have it! This place will be a paradise if you’re into tech gadgets.

Our third day in Malaysia consisted of the arranged half-day city tour and the long drive to i-City in Shah Alam, Selangor, as follows:

3. Istana Negara (King’s Palace)

At 9AM, we were off to another busy day. Lukman took us first to the Istana Negara (the new palace of Malaysia’s king). This is the official residence of the Supreme Head or Paramount Ruler of Malaysia.

We could not vividly see the palace from the closed gates because it’s way far, but the surroundings were fine. We took pictures beside the steady standing security guards and “knights” on horses. Guards change post when the clock strikes 12. Amazing!

4. Tugu Negara (National Monument)

According to Lukman, Malaysia was conquered by the British colony and communists. Fallen heroes/soldiers who died defending the country’s freedom during the second World War were honored by the national monument. The giant bronze statue was sculpted and designed by the same person who did the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington DC.

5. Kuala Lumpur City Gallery

We passed by some other tourists spots such as the National Mosque, Islamic Art Museum, Police Museum and KL Railway Station en route to our next destination: the KL City Gallery. This is an information center for tourists with a gallery of artistic works, a cafe and a room showcasing the entire Kuala Lumpur in miniature form. Armed briefly with the city’s history, we were more ready to move to the next attraction.

6. Beryl’s Chocolate Kingdom (Chocolate Gallery)

Chocolate lovers must stop by at Beryl’s Chocolate Kingdom. Also known as the Chocolate Gallery, this place offers several flavors of chocolate. To name a few, there’s durian, chili, curry, almond, raisin, coffee, tiramisu, green tea, coconut and ginger (in assorted nature: dark, milk and white). Staffs accommodated us by giving us free samples of each one. We bought almost every sort except for the chili, curry and ginger.

7. Batik Canting and Coloring

Very near the Chocolate Gallery, the Batik Canting and Coloring must be in for your liking if you appreciate Malaysia’s national costume. Full of colorful flowers, these clothing are made manually by local artisans. We watched the demonstration and were awed.

8. Petronas Twin Towers/Suria KLCC Mall

A trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia without at least one “obligatory” shot with the Petronas Twin Towers on the background is just sad. Momentarily, before driving to Suria KLCC Mall which is situated underneath the twin towers, Lukman took a picture of Louie and me. Yup, the Petronas Twin Towers are indeed a sight to see!

Moving on, despite that almost everything in the Suria KLCC are at a premium price, I felt happy in it. Window shopping is really a relaxing way to spend time without having to fork out big bucks. 😉 We also went to Avenue K Shopping Mall which doesn’t compare to the sophistication of Suria KLCC but is worth the trip as well as it’s filled with Japanese stuffs and oh, a huge H&M store. 🙂

At 5PM, Lukman picked us up and sent us outside KL to i-City, currently Malaysia’ coolest hot spot (no.1 technology city). We entered i-City’s Trick Art Museum (RM 15 entrance fee pax) and the City of Lights, where trees and plants were decorated with LED lights. At night, it was like stepping into a wonderland. 😀 We would have also visited The Red Carpet (wax museum with popular celebrities and figures) and the Horror House if we just had more time.

9. Menara Tower (KL Tower)

Our fourth day was a free day. This meant that Lukman would not be around to guide us tour the city. We managed to get help from TripAdvisor reviews and listings for recommendations. First thing in the morning, we walked to Imbi Station and rode the monorail to Bukit Nanas Station. It was disappointing that the monorail took a very long time to arrive. Louie noticed that the gap is every 15 minutes.

People in KL were friendly in giving out directions, so we did not find it hard to locate the Menara Tower, the world’s seventh tallest communication tower. Also thanks to the height of the tower, it was easily visible even when we were still far away.

10. Lake Gardens

We have researched online and sought suggestions from our hotel receptionist on how to go to Lake Gardens. All were saying that there’s no accessible train or bus straight to Lake Gardens, so getting a metered taxi or hopping on the HOHO (Hop-On-Hop-Off) bus would be most ideal. From KL Tower thus, we took a blue taxicab to go to Lake Gardens.

We enjoyed the orchids, hibiscus, herb and lake gardens. There wasn’t much to do rather than take pictures of flowers, greenery and nice views. It’s a tropical paradise to a busy city. Entrance fee was for free during weekdays and RM 1 for weekends and holidays.

If you’re planning to go there and tour the entire park, good luck. It’s better to save your feet. Unless you’re keen to walk long distances for more than four hours, it’s next to impossible finishing the trail here.

11. Bird Park

Opposite Lake Gardens is the Bird Park, “the world’s largest free-flight, walk-in aviary,” which I thought was not more wonderful than Magaul Bird Park in Subic, Philippines and the Malagos Bird Park we visited in Davao City, Philippines. We paid RM 48 pax and the price was just not worth the visit. We didn’t see a lot of bird species. I remembered eagles, love birds, owls, parrots, chickens, toucans, peacocks, ostriches and flamingos. There was no interaction, no tour guide explaining about the birds and the whole place was ordinary. It didn’t live up to my expectation. Sigh. 🙁

12. Chinatown (Petaling Street)

We took our final cab ride to Chinatown (Petaling Street), where fake goods are aplenty. This is where you haggle to the best of your ability. Cheap counterfeit designer bags, wallets, sunglasses, belts, watches, DVDs and perfumes were all over the place. Lined with shops, Chinatown in KL is very colorful and noisy. We didn’t bother to further explore Chinatown except for the Petaling Street because most were just selling the same type of items anyway. Plus, it’s too crowded and I heard that it’s like a heaven for pick pockets.

Wrap Up

This was not my first time to visit Malaysia as I’ve been to Melaka and Johor Bahu three years ago. In our recent trip, our impression on Kuala Lumpur is that it’s a fast advancing city that’s safe and friendly as a tourist destination. There are many establishments, roads and trail railways on the work so we can expect to see an improved KL three to four years from now.

Engaging with the locals in Malaysia was easy because most of them know how to speak English and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin). Don’t be shy about asking them for advice. They all know the area and can often point you toward activities and places not found in guidebooks. Just be specific about what you want to see in KL and the level of activity you’re up for. You’re guaranteed more options than you’ll even have time for, but each one will make it well worth the trip. 😉

I’ll post about the review of restaurants we’ve tried soon.

July 15, 2014
Review of Pino Resto Bar (Bel-Air, Makati City)

Nowadays, grabbing a healthy lunch is not always easy. That’s unless of course you live in an area where all the freshest ingredients and colorful vegetables can be found. One afternoon, as I was searching the web for “healthy eating restaurants,” I found Pino Resto Bar in Jupiter Street, Makati. I heartily bookmarked it on Zomato and decided to treat my family to lunch on a Sunday. Their menu turned out to be a riot of plates whose ingredients tumbled across vegetarian and non-vegetarian modern Filipino dishes. These are food which I describe as those that aren’t ashamed of their nutritional stats. 🙂

For those of you who don’t frequent the North and are not familiar with Pino Resto Bar + Pipino Vegetarian, Pino serves creative comfort Filipino food, while Pipino presents vegetables in more playful light. The person behind both is Chef Ed Bugia who wanted to redefine the concept of Filipino comfort food and serve something special.

Review of Pino Resto Bar (Bel-Air, Makati City)

Service: ★★★★★

The entire place was reserved to a christening of a baby that day. I didn’t call ahead and make a reservation, so that was my bad. Pino Resto Bar was nicely setup with pink balloons and white curtain-like table cloths. I’m sure the place is not designed like that normally, so I won’t anymore give a rating for the ambiance.

Leaving Pino without tasting its food would be a letdown. On that note, I asked the staff if they could allow us to be seated at The Burger Project instead, since it’s operated by the same management as Pino Resto Bar anyway. Fortunately, he agreed and assisted us to the adjacent restaurant. We ordered food from there, and the dishes quickly arrived from a shared kitchen of BRGR and Pino.

Food: ★★★★☆

Sufficiently buttery, Pino’s version of the Vegetable Kare-kare (PhP 185) was not the best I have tasted so far but it could be unfailingly pleasing for most vegetarians and vegans alike. I found the nuttiness a little bland if not eaten with the Bagoong Rice (below) made of black beans. To improve, I think the taste will be enhanced if there’s some level of heat we can live with.

The Calamares Negra (PhP 275) was comforting and slightly elevated. Because they’re black, you might have the impression that the pieces were dipped in squid ink. I don’t know if that’s right, but I’m sure that these hit the spot as they’re quite exotic and yummy. It’s a new spin from a simply fried calamari with a golden crust we often are served in most restaurants.

The quality of layered pasta in Pino Resto Bar’s Vegan Lasagna (PhP 175) was great. Balanced in flavor, this lasagna had a great mix of sweet and tart elements—the kind of bright, popping flavors that Southeast Asian cuisine is known for. The tomato sauce dominated the top part and it was assertive but not so much as to overwhelm the vegetarian fillings.

As the name Watermelon Steak (PhP 245) appeared on the menu, it got me curious on how it would look and taste like. It sounded suspicious and ended up nothing particularly good. Watermelon juice oozing out in every forkbite was just weird. The mushrooms, asparagus and mashed potatoes were memorably delicious.

We destroyed the mystery of kale and malunggay in one when we had two orders of the Kale Malunggay Pesto Pasta (PhP 195). Hearty and heavy went hand-in-hand. With a substantial amount of pesto flavor, this pasta dish could be better with toasted pine nuts scattered on top and a bit of grated Parmesan.

Having started our day at Pino with kare-kare, it was perfectly acceptable to end it with one, too. This time though, we had the Seafood Kare-kare (PhP 625) which featured various seafood such as shrimps, mussels and squids. It was totally likable. The peanut gravy and the coconut milk blended well together. Adding an extra luscious dimension was the richness of the texture of the sauce. This can be your Achilles heel!

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

The meal was certainly not cheap considering the small serving size of the dishes, but overall it was not preposterously expensive either. Most of the dishes are around the PhP 200 mark, and the mains similarly push you to spend from about PhP 250 to PhP300. To get lucky with good choices, the trick is to realize before you place your order what you are going to get. Vegetarian or non-vegetarian, or probably a mix of both.

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July 12, 2014
Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM City North EDSA, Quezon City)

Ah, Vikings, we met again! Last week, I received an invite to sample the new dishes of Vikings Luxury Buffet at SM North EDSA, Quezon City for July. Yes! I may have responded too quickly. Heck, who wouldn’t? 😛 I filed a vacation leave from work and got my tummy prepared to be filled by a sumptuous meal on the first day of the month.

The event brought an array of “4th of July”-inspired food for a massive celebration. We were led to a three-course meal, presented by Vikings chefs, in complete confidence. These featured dishes will be available to everyone in every weekend in July 2014. #LikeTheFourthOfJuly

This is yet another testament to how competitive and innovative Vikings is when it comes to satisfying customers—including the picky eaters who are often bored at being offered just the same thing every time they come through Vikings’ doors.

Review of Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM City North EDSA, Quezon City)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Call it feng shui, good architectural measurement or whatever, some rooms just feel right, and this vast dining area is one of those. The interior design might be best described as gorgeous, as the room was elegantly designed with “bonggacious” draping lights, sturdy tables and chairs. The ambiance at this branch is always busy. Tables are more packed together as compared to other Vikings branches, making the place also tad buzzier. Despite this, customers are kept in check by personable staff to have a good time.

Food: ★★★★★

Craving light food as the weather warms? Put this Chicago Summer Corn Salad on your list of must-eats. I usually don’t fancy eating salads as an appetizer at buffet meals because they’re downright simple and easy to do. I think that most of us would rather get those that are more extravagant and sophisticated ones. Anyway, this salad was refreshing with an appealing wholesome bent.

The Tortilla Club Sandwich offered variety that’s larger than its name would indicate. It had the right mix of temperatures and textures brought by the combination of cheese, chicken and ham, cream cheese sauce and black olives. Crammed with both veggies and some protein, this wrap could be a great antidote to more common sandwiches.

The three types of sushi presented were defined by respect for the integrity of each flavor. See that sushi with white noodles and black caviar on top? That’s called Niagara Falls. Inside were mango, avocado, and sashimi with vinegar mayonnaise and citrus Japanese soy sauce.

Maguro Haru Maki was the name given to spring rolls with seaweed wrap fitted with tuna, mango and vegetables. The ingredients in this set were not devised to mask or liven up anything else; each was perfect and related to one another as mere equals.

The Maryland Maki (on the left) was made with crab sticks, carrots, asparagus and chicken teriyaki with strawberry sauce, all purpose cream and mango purée. Crispy kangkong leaf added a more interesting crunch.

Last to arrive on the pile of starters was the Boston Clam Chowder Soup. The taste of the clam was so strong and evidently, it was the star among the celery onions, carrots and potatoes in the soup. Taking the soup with a piece of garlic toasted bread was a delight. ♡

The California Grilled Fish was brilliantly cooked, on top of Agli Olio with Roasted Bell Pepper. Marinated in 24 hours in orange marmalade, red cooking wine, salt and pepper, the fish (gindara / silver cod) tasted fresh, nothing overpowering and great to go with the pasta. The pasta noodles looked dry (because of the Parmesan cheese with garlic), but we were surprised that they’re just right.

Having a good balance of sweetness, savoriness and acidity, this first main course as a whole was full of tropical notes. Zesty orange = yummy!

The Lemon Sorbet was suitably sour, as expected from the freshly squeezed lemon, and a wee bit sharp and icy for my taste. This was a nice treat that was served in time to clean our palates from the previous entrees.

Next, for the second main course, we were served with the Jambalaya Louisiana Rice, Indiana’s Pork Loin with Cranberry Sauce, Mississippi’s Turkey Sweet Potato and Shepherd’s Pie. The tomato-based rice was cooked with eight kinds of spices. I expected it to be really spicy but it wasn’t. The creole rice was not too fluffy and not too sticky. Since its flavor did not come out as outstanding, it can take a back seat as the pork loin shines through the plate.

The Indiana’s Pork Loin had a soft texture and a small hint of smoky flavor. It was great to be paired with the “caramelized” sauce. On other other hand, Missippi’s Turkey Sweet Potato and Shepherd’s Pie proved Vikings chefs at their most inventive. These two were put together as one and the taste of the duo complemented that of the pork loin’s magnificence. I admire the challenging creativity here!

Third main course: Accompanied by the Corn on a Cob and the deliciously made Yorkshire Pudding and Marble Potatoes, the Tenderloin (with Red Wine Sauce / Horse Radish Sauce) was served as a pinkish, medium-rare piece of meat. This refined classic could be worth the visit on its own. The roasted beef tasted unique, as thyme and black pepper were added to the recipe. It was not cooked medium-well or well because it would have been chewy and not exultingly tender. Guests may have the option to make it so, as their preference dictate.

The pastries for desserts were rich, velvety, decadent and sensational. The Boston Cream Pie was gloriously creamy, with layers of white chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, whipped cream, Knox gelatin, sugar, sponge and almond powder. The ring on top made the cake more pleasing to my eyes. Like OMG! It was beautiful like an art piece.

The New York Cheese Cake was more restrained and tasted somehow just traditional. It was clearly firm and slightly tart. For cheesecakes though, I prefer mine just a fraction less firm as I adore those with mousse-like texture and delicate creaminess.

Quite light without being gelatinous, the Cherry Cashew Parfait with strawberry was good, smooth and totally enjoyable. If I only could, I would have finished it to the very last creamy spoonful. That sounds dreamy, given the space allocated for food in my stomach. 😆

Drinking coffee was a nice way to end a heavy lunch! 😀

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

As with my other reviews of Vikings Luxury Buffet (Megamall and Mall of Asia), price for value is rated with four stars since I could not take in all the food as I want because I easily get full. But for others, I think the quality and variety of food at this restaurant is surely worth the price to pay. 🙂

Having a new set of dishes every month on top of the existing delicious food offerings in Vikings is another reason to go now. Still, if you need more, then check this out: Starting July 1, 2014, Vikings will be having a new birthday promo. If your birthday is coming up, you may feast for FREE for ONE WHOLE MONTH!

Here are the following mechanics:

1) Birthday celebrant of all ages can avail the birthday promo on the day itself and on their birthday month.
2) Celebrants can eat for free ON THE DAY of their birthday on both lunch and dinner, as long as accompanied by ONE FULL PAYING ADULT.
3) Celebrants can eat for free for ONE MONTH on both lunch and dinner per day, as long as it is within the month of his/her birthday and accompanied by FOUR FULL PAYING ADULT.
4) One full paying adult are adult guests who will be paying full rate without any discounts.
5) Requirements for Celebrants: Celebrant must bring an ORIGINAL and VALID government issued picture I.D. with the birthdate imprinted on it, both local and foreign I.D.s are accepted, for proof (such as S.S.S., N.B.I., Driver’s License, Pag-Ibig, P.R.C., Barangay, Unified, Police Clearance I.D. and Passport) In the case that the celebrant doesn’t have a government issued picture I.D., he/she may bring his/her birth certificate supported by any picture I.D. (school I.D., parent’s I.D., company I.D.).
6) This promo can’t be used in conjunction with our current promotions or discounts.
7) Gift certificates to avail this promo is not honored.
8) This promo is available across all branches.
9) This promo is available until December 31, 2014.

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July 2, 2014
Review of Buddha-Bar Manila (Poblacion, Makati City)

A week before my birthday, I was looking for cool restaurants to try where I’d treat my family and boyfriend. After seeing pictures and snippets of reviews online, it was not long when I have decided to go for Buddha-Bar Manila. I booked for a reservation immediately and mentally prepared to be transported in a world of luxury and sophistication even for a day. 😀 Obviously, excitement filled me in!

I have first heard about Buddha-Bar Manila when it opened in 2012. And perhaps like me, you would ask, “Why is this bar called Buddha-Bar?” Whoa. I mean there are so many names you can attach to a bar, so why use Buddha? In any case, I think the owner has done a great job with the branding since it foremost captures quick attention and piques the curiosity of people.

For the record, Buddha-Bar is not a house of prayers or a place for spiritual congregation like a church but a bar-restaurant located at Picar Place on Kalayaan Avenue in Makati (just beside Century City Mall). Buddha-Bar is now found in 25 countries and key cities around world, including London, Moscow, Budapest, Paris, Kiev, Prague, St. Peterburg and Cairo. Offering a fully original dining experience, Buddha-Bar Manila’s food courses are made with an artful blend of unique taste and choicest ingredients.

Review of Buddha-Bar Manila (Poblacion, Makati City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Wearing sandos, slippers and shorts is prohibited, and Buddha-Bar reserves its right to refuse customers going in when they are not in proper attire. This place deserves the credit to have well-dressed and presentable guests because the interior design screams elegance and sophistication.

Upon entering, you will be welcomed with the sight of a giant Buddha monument sitting on a throne. Right beside is the bar mezzanine, fitted with 18th century style wrought-iron balustrades, and this I guess is where you’ll have the chance to rub elbows with college students, cops, and perhaps a local celebrity over strong drinks.

Flights of stairs and an elevator are available and accessible for customers to move about on the four floors of the building. The dining areas are set with rich mahogany furniture, sofa sets with luxurious fabrics, amber-colored lighting, Chinese and Japanese art objects, Khmer statues, decorated wood panels, and Portuguese mosaics all come together to create an opulent and refined décor. There’s funk, improvisation, and lush colors of red and gold on every corner.

Generally, the venue takes on a party atmosphere. However, since we visited Buddha-Bar Manila during lunch time on a Saturday, there were lots of empty tables. Music was out and the atmosphere was pretty quiet. For a moment, I felt like we were stepping into another time and place for a relaxing get…away. Air-conditioning was a bit off, but I’m sure it would be different once the sun is out.

Service: ★★★★★

The staffs were eloquent and friendly without obstructing privacy. The food we ordered came fast considering that they were prepared intricately. Customer service here was great in a way that it made me feel like we were treated with care, like we were invited to visit the home of a very rich friend.

Food: ★★★★★

For Buddha-Bar’s food, I have set my expectations up high. Since food prices here are known to be expensive, the quality and taste of food must match the rate. I knew I chose this restaurant not only for its lovely ambiance but also (mostly) for its food. Its website indicates that “The Buddha-Bar menu offers a selection of Pacific Rim cuisine dishes, a masterful blend of fine ingredients and spices where Chinese, Japanese, Thai and other East Asian flavors combine subtly with a zest of the West.”

Tuna shone in Crazy Spicy Tuna Maki (PhP 190, 4 pieces) and it was shamelessly delicious! My taste buds were happy to meet a flavor bomb of piping hot tuna tucked in Japanese sushi rice. From the top down, the soy sauce with wasabi soaked in.

Another maki we tried was the gentle-tasting Pink Lady Maki (PhP 230, 4 pieces), which became our instant favorite. This monster roll was made with crispy tempura inside, seaweed salad and fresh salmon on top. If it were present at a tailgating bash or cocktail party, I will gladly devour it at either one.

Delivering a substantial mouthful of cajun spice and oils, the Cajun Style Tuna Sashimi (PhP 470, 6 pieces) was the priciest among the bunch of Japanese food we had that day. It is one of the new dishes on the Buddha-Bar Manila’s menu, and it appeared as a healthy but no less yummy invention designed to showcase the restaurant’s fusion fare.

Crisp and fragrant spring rolls may be considered as one of the best appetizers to an Asian meal. Comparing the tastes of the makis and sashimi, we thought these fried rolls were more muted but in a good way. The freshness of the vegetable fillings in the Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet and Sour Sauce (PhP 320) was delightful.

We could not have only one vegetarian dish so we added Steamed Tofu with Mapo Shiitake Sauce (PhP 380) to our list of orders. It seemed simple but I just love how the slabs of tofu were soft and silky. Spooned alongside Steamed Jasmine Rice (PhP 60), this vegan-friendly entree will disappear rapidly from the dining table to your stomach.

The next four dishes were served almost simultaneously, crowding for space and competing for attention. Determining which to get first posed to be hard, yet we figured it out. The Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil (PhP 720) had a juicy and beefy oomph to every bite. The pieces of meat were so tender and the sauce’s flavor danced on the palette. The beef tasted absolutely rich with the Thai basil and was beyond-belief good.

If you’re a fan of spicy food, then you must order the Spicy Angry Chicken (PhP 590). Staying true to its label, the spicy chicken ended up how it was supposed to taste: fiery. You may tear up and start to sweat, but pleasure should always win out over pain.

To move on, we paired it with Chahan Fried Rice (PhP 320) to strike a balance of intense heat and somehow bland. Eating this fried rice alone will make you think that you’re eating just plain rice because of the lack of flavor. There are a few tiny bits of meat and scrambled eggs that can be seen but they were not enough to stand out. Chinese restaurants’ Yang Chow Fried Rice is still a winner.

Finally, we were not crazy to punish our tongue by having another spicy dish. The Chef’s Special: Duo of Salmon and Prawns (PhP 860) tamed it down. It consisted of black vinegar shallot compote, green beans, lime cream, edamame. I adore salmon for its versatility and robust flavor. It’s one type of fish I can consider eating one whole year round. 😛

Who wouldn’t agree that this Liquid Center Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream (PhP 290) is so fantastariffic?! Once you break into the cake, there’s molten chocolate inside complimented perfectly by the ice cream. I love the chocolate oozing out. Oh dear God, forgive me for I have sinned. 😛

Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

One of my real joys is spending time with my loved ones eating. Thankfully, I made the right choice in celebrating my 25th birthday at Buddha-Bar Manila. There’s no doubt that prices are steep. But altogether, we enjoyed the food and had a wonderful time, indeed. I confidently recommend this place for those who look out for a perfect setting to celebrate anything. 😀

Buddha-Bar Manila has a promotion ongoing: spend at least PhP 3000 and get a raffle ticket to win a brand new Maserati (luxury sports car). I’m glad that our bill made me qualify for an entry and I hope to have the best of luck come September 6, 2014, the draw. Please pray for me! 😛

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June 25, 2014
Review of Pan De Amerikana (Concepcion Dos, Marikina City)

Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant is one of the target restaurants foodies wandering in Marikina would want to dine in. This place has a truly incredible, one-of-a-kind setting where you can find and enjoy pan de sal, ensaymada and other breakfast items all day. If you are a sucker for great bread or one who’s fond of incorporating it into meals any chance you get, this fine restaurant in Marikina must be in for your liking. 🙂

Review of Pan De Amerikana (Concepcion Dos, Marikina City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

The layout and design is absolutely gorgeous. No doubt, Pan De Amerikana is built as a charming place. The luxury of is interior is breath-taking as it almost looked like Wonderland. There’s a lot of quirky stuff that should pique your interest, so keep your eyes open and don’t forget to bring a camera. 🙂

The décors are effortlessly classy, bringing a sense of nostalgia without the tackiness. I was especially fascinated by the giant chessboard with 3.5-feet high plastic chess pieces imported all the way from New York City, life-sized wind-driven Netherland windmill, rope bridge (on the second floor, sorry it’s not in the pictures), koi pond, traviesa benches, calesa, Italian colonnade European ruins, frames on a wall and the indoor tropical rainforest plants that serve a purpose—to give a nice feel-good factor as they lift your spirits while blending well in the background.

Service: ★★★★★

The wait staff took good care of us. The kind management makes customers feel at home and grant them their own privacy. Everyone is allowed to pose and take pictures. For photography enthusiasts and bloggers, I know that this alone would make visiting Pan De Amerikana in Marikina be worth a shot!

Food: ★★★☆☆

Our wholesome meal started with Mega-sized Wheat Pan De Sal (PhP 6 per piece) which tasted better than the regular pan de sal you find in most bakery shops. It was soft and the dough of the bread was very well done.

Next, we had the Mega-sized Wheat Ensaymada (PhP 12 per piece), which appeared to be the regular ensaymada with sugar and butter we know. There was no additional oomph of creaminess or softness I was looking for to describe the item as exceptional. Nevertheless, this should not be missed!

Filled with bean sprouts (toge), the vegetable spring rolls or Lumpiang Gulay (PhP 55) was standard. I’m happy to report anyway that these rolls had a perfect crisp without being greasy. Slather them to the vinegar-based sauce or ask for chili to make the flavor intense.

The Bangus Sisig (PhP 140) was salty, fishy (not very fresh) and quite dry. It lacked onions and probably to improve this dish, mango salsa should be added to the concoction because a squeeze of calamansi was not successful in giving enough tartness and dimension to the sizzling course.

I ordered a variant of everyone’s favorite egg dish: the omelet. Pan De Amerikana’s Mushroom and Cheese Omelet (PhP 70) came stuffed with mushrooms, which were not the most visually inspiring element on the plate. It was sad that I had neither seen nor tasted the cheese at all when I initially had hoped that the cheese would be an equalizer. Their runny, half-moon omelet can be said as your average solid brunch comfort food, but I think I prefer sticking to more unique offerings for now.

Lastly, the Beef Tapa (PhP 70) was a hearty treat served with a mound of rice and egg. Though dried, the beef jerky was still somehow tender, with only minimal tug-back. I feel it could also go nicely when eaten together with the wheat pan de sal. Unfortunately, I have yet to test this idea.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

If you’re in the quest to try dining at a restaurant in Marikina with unique ambiance, your adventure should bring you to Pan De Amerikana Bakery and Restaurant. However, don’t expect the food to be exemplary. These are comfort food that will make your mood neutral and just satisfy your hunger while enjoying the relaxing vibe.

Apart from this main branch in Marikina, Pan De Amerikana has other branches that are also guaranteed to give every customer the best experience of their lives with every visit. Worth to mention is the branch in Katipunan Ave., Quezon City which is actually the first and only upside down restaurant in Southeast Asia. Just wow, right! 😆 It is open from 6am to 9pm every day except Sundays (6am to 3pm).

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Marikina Branch Operating Hours:
Monday to Saturday 6:00AM to 7:00PM
Sunday 7:00AM to 3:00PM

Other Branches:
Pandesal Since 1950’s – 118 Katipunan Avenue, White Plains, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 421-1966, +63 917 881-1884

Unit 4, Madison Building, Wilson Street, Greenhills, San Juan
Telephone: +632 384-6741, +63 917-5664424

Constellation Drive corner Makati Avenue, Belair, Makati Avenue
Telephone: +632 387-9413, +63917 571-2224

June 24, 2014
Review of Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)

We love trying different cuisines and socializing with friends. Dining out is hence an indulgence and an essential part of our weekend getaway. In Marikina, I’ve observed that there’s no shortage of good restaurants that promise both great ambiance and food. Café Lidia is noted as one of the spotlights for impressive style whether the occasion calls for casual or fine dining.

In this feature, we handpicked Café Lidia in Calumpang for dinner last June 7, 2014. Read through this post to decide if this restaurant is one that you would want to add to your wish list. 🙂

Review of Café Lidia (Calumpang, Marikina City)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

A steward in the local dining scene in Marikina, Café Lidia is like a spacious house affixed with calming vibes of old and wooden furniture. The interior is mixed with modern and traditional touches. Its walls are accented with bricks and horizontal lines, and the color gave a good complement to the patterned floor tiles. There are separate dining areas for those who want to have a family-style or big-group meals and also for those who come in smaller groups or a couple date.

Service: ★★★★☆

Service was prompt and we didn’t have to wait long for our dishes to arrive. The waiter was knowledgeable about food offerings and was friendly to talk with. Food was nicely presented and landed on the table. The staff here didn’t disappoint.

Food: ★★★☆☆

We had gone for almost all Café Lidia’s signatures. As an appetizer, the Buffalo Wings (PhP 180/six pieces) were a classic done well. We enjoyed the savoriness of this simple comfort food. I’d recommend it with some reservations. It’s a nice palatable appetizer that could be better with some spice.

Sufficiently warmed up, we proceeded to the Pasta ala Lidia (PhP 160) with anchovies, salty and distinct olives, capers, tuna and tomatoes in olive oil. I don’t always applaud pasta, but this platter was pretty solid and tasty. The pasta noodles were light and springy and the ingredients delivered brightness

The House Special Pizza (PhP 230/8 slices) made with pepperoni, ham, bacon, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions and pineapples was not something I’d try again. The cheese didn’t taste high quality. 🙁 I consider a pizza really good if it exceeds the sum of its parts, but this one was wee bit tired. Nothing fresh and new about it.

The Seafood Rice (PhP 205) was quite like a typical bowl of paella rice. The green peas and bell peppers brought a tasty, balancing sweetness to the equation, and the egg exhibited a pleasant change to the overwhelming flavor of mixed seafood (shells, shrimps and squid rings).

The Beef Salpicao (PhP 225), served with garlic rice and salad, was not too tender and easy to chew. It’s not to die for, but I can bet that this version of beef salpicao is a dish that will always hit home for Filipinos.

With crackling skin, the Porchetta (PhP 230) is pork covered and wrapped in fatty pork. How awesome is that? 🙂 My friends say you can’t go wrong with this treat. The fatty belly had a portion rich in juices and its connective tissues ostensibly helped to keep the meat moist. It looked good but not enough to tempt me successfully.

The pounded chicken breast pan-fried and then smothered in a rich marsala mushroom pan sauce was wonderful. The dish is called Chicken Marsala (PhP 265), featured with mushroom sun-dried tomato and marsala wine served with mixed vegetables that you would be oohing and ahhing over.

Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

Prices are friendly on the wallet and overall food tastes are fair, so I see clearly why dining at this restaurant often requires a wait for a table. Still, I hope Café Lidia’s food entrees (at least these ones we’ve tried) would improve more. Having good ambiance and customer service, it has the potential to grow into another great foodie/culinary destination in Marikina.

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June 21, 2014
Review of Apag Marangle Kapampangan Restaurant (MarQuee Mall, Pampanga)

Last Sunday was Father’s Day. Since we planned to celebrate the occasion on the following Friday, I was free to traverse MarQuee Mall in the city of Pampanga with blogger friends. 🙂 Our venture kicked off with an adventuresome foray into the world of exotic dining at Apag Marangle Kapampangan Restaurant.

Serving authentic Kapampangan cuisine, Apag Marangle would be the most ideal restaurant to dine in when you’re in MarQuee Mall. Especially when you have not tried Pampanga’s local food, it’s a good time to taste great farm food and at the same time get a glimpse of the rich Filipino culture. If you think you’re brave enough to try something new, eating here must be included in your bucket list! 😉

Review of Apag Marangle Kapampangan Restaurant (MarQuee Mall, Pampanga)

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Apag Marangle in Filipino means “hain sa bukid” or in English “farm dining.” And true enough to its name, with cool pieces of native furniture and handicrafts, it was like eating in a farm—but indoors! The design features a bahay-kubo-like dining area as shown on the wallpaper. Tables are merged together and arranged for groups, making the restaurant ambiance appeal more to families and big barkadas.

One side is air-conditioned, while the other side allows natural air to flow by. This, I think, is the reason why there were several flies buzzing in the restaurants and around the food—certainly not good for business. The management should really do something about the flies because they were seriously disturbing. Perhaps installing lamps or a special device to get rid of flies, mixing a natural fly repellent in a spray bottle, or setting a trap with dish soap can do the trick.

As some of the food were being grilled and cooked in the air-conditioned room, a lot of smoke was generated. The exhaust hood on top of the grilling station did not have enough power to get rid of the smoke, so the smoke tend to get in our eyes and nose. I suggest them to install a new range hood vented outside or transfer the grilling station to the non air-conditioned area.

Service: ★★★★☆

Apag Marangle was packed with so many customers at the peak of lunch hour. We were seated outside and were handed the banana-leaf-shaped menu, and the friendly staff took charge in helping us find a table indoors. While waiting, the staff served plates of Nilagang Mani and Kamote (Boiled Peanuts and Sweet Potato), a kind gesture indeed.

Items on the menu were mostly in Kapampangan but there are Filipino translations below or beside each. Despite that, we could not easily decide which to order.

The waiter also gave us set of menu which listed their house specialties. He enumerated some of the best options first-time diners usually get, and we gladly approved his suggestions.

Expected waiting time for the food, he said, was 20-30 minutes. I thought it’s long. If you plan to eat here, do so when you’re not extremely hungry.

Food: ★★★☆☆

We were greeted by the appetizers: Camaru Pritu (PhP 185) and Betute (PhP 80, small; PhP 90, medium). These looked thrilling for the adventurous eater, no doubt, but I was not so excited to eat such exotic foods. Nevertheless, we had to sample them to know how they taste like.

With a deep inhale, I took the Mole Cricket into my mouth and chewed the crunchy bits of its tiny body parts. 😳 The Camaru was like chips for pulutan. It had a lightly fried crust that balanced the soft, briny texture. I dipped one into the sweet vinegar sauce for something sweet and pungent. I also tried eating the mole cricket without the sauce and I regretted it badly. This delicacy may be a soul-satisfying winner for some, but I’m sure that it’s not for me. 😐

Next in line for the “Fear Factor” taste test was the Betute, deep-fried frog farm/tadpole stuffed with buttery sauce and chili. The thought of the amphibians hopping and jumping makes me feel queasy. Stir-frying or deep-frying them will solve the case. I was told that frogs’ meat tastes like chicken.

Maybe the texture of the meat is quite similar, but the taste of the frog legs were stronger. These frog parts didn’t have much to chew. Because it’s unfortunately tough, it seemed like they had an extended stay in the deep fryer. Or maybe, it’s cooked just right. 😯 I’m only guessing as this was my first encounter with the dish. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that in general and at least from what I know, fried foods are very temperamental; crossing the delicate line from toothsome buoyancy to dense rubber is critical.

Our eyes were next set on the Ninghang Hito (Catfish) (PhP 50/100g). It was fresh and not muddy. Grilling was well executed, and the accompanying shrimp paste (bagoong) further improved the taste.

Neither too starchy nor sticky, the Aligue (Crab Roe) was melt-in-your-mouth good and perfect to be paired with rice. It was creamy, bittersweet and rather strong. Scoop one spoonful of it and you’d feel like in seafood heaven. 😛

We also had Suam Mais (PhP 195) or corn soup in clay pot, which was really nice once you get past the viscosity. Amplifying the flavor and aroma was the chicharon cooked with the warm soup. A couple of corn tortilla chips could have added more interesting texture to the frothy soup.

The Rice in Kaldero (PhP 95) can’t be ignored in the dining table. Equivalent to four cups of rice, the nasi (rice) came with a nice presentation. We enjoyed the moment since getting white rice using the wooden ladle from the cauldron is something we don’t experience every day.

Another specialty of Apag Marangle is their Crispy Pata (Pork Trotter). Pretty much every table had one—and with good reason. The pork was roasted and then deep fried until really crisp. The staff was proud to claim that it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Sorry, I can’t attest to that because I didn’t try. If you like pork, crispy pata in the Philippines is hard to beat.

When it comes to saving the best for last, Apag Marangle met my expectation with a dessert that’s suave and rich: Leche Flan (PhP 60, small; PhP 160, big). It was smooth and silky, not too eggy or too sweet. Leche flan remains as one of my favorite Pinoy treats. Lots of love! ♥

The Coconut or Buko Juice (PhP 150, 1 pitcher) turned out to be a refreshing juice with strips of soft coconut meat. This is a recommended drink to order when in a Kapampangan Restaurant instead of flushing down your meal with plain water, synthetic juices or soft drinks.

Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

If you’re a Filipino, nothing might beat your mom’s home-cooking for Pinoy food, but when you’re away from home and need a quick fix for some traditional Filipino (specifically, Kapampangan) favorites, Apag Marangle in MarQuee Mall is right up your alley. Their unique food entrees will fill you up without costing an arm and a leg. Average price range of dishes is PhP 150-PhP 350. For an ultimate authentic Filipino dining experience, you can’t go wrong with this place.

Thanks, Aldous, for the invite! 😀

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June 18, 2014