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Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

  • Review of Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation (Santa Cruz, Antipolo City)

    Review of Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation (Santa Cruz, Antipolo City)

    Last Sunday, we leaned forward to a venture “beneath the skies” at Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation in Santa Cruz, Antipolo City, where we were welcomed with a romantic and exciting scene overlooking the countryside.

    Le Mirand is a vantage point to enjoy a panoramic view of the dynamic and vibrant city down below in the midst of refreshing breeze. It has changed owners recently, so it’s also a good time to catch up on their food offerings and services.

    Review of Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation (Santa Cruz, Antipolo City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    The ambiance and the feel of the restaurant are two of the reasons why dining at Le Mirand Restaurant in Antipolo is such a positive experience. The entire restaurant looks like an old house as it’s designed with plenty of rooms on separate floors.

    The lower ground floor is where billiard tables are located. As this is a recreation spot as much as it’s a restaurant, Le Mirand offers billiards as a recreational activity to guests at PHp 150 per hour. The ground floor is where the reception area is and where the stairs leading up to the dining areas at the upper floors is built.

    Moving on with the tour, we went up to the second to fourth floors. Le Mirand has jamming concept rooms, conference room, and a lover’s deck which are all nicely decorated with simple and practical pieces.

    Guests can have fun singing karaoke songs, watching short videos on TV, playing Xbox or PS4 for PHp 1500 per hour. This price is inclusive of freebies such as a bucket of beer that usually costs PHp 300 and pulutan.

    If you’re not fond of doing any of the activities and your sole purpose is to eat, the wide dining areas are warm and inviting enough for your stay.

    These spaces evoke inspiration that lend a casual air to gastronomic proceedings. Expect the mood to be just relaxed and the atmosphere, quiet.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Service was nearly impeccable. We were treated like friends of a Filipino family. Le Mirand is house to hospitable staff who display neat and sincere smiles. Kids are offered cotton candies for free. Electric fans are turned on for extra air circulation. One thing I noticed is that orders are a bit slow to arrive. If you’re not in a hurry, then this is not a problem.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Stuffed Eggplant (PHp 200) had a combination of ground meat and eggplant, a variation I had never tried before. I was not able to distinctively taste the eggplant though but probably this is mostly because the ingredients came together as a coherent whole. I enjoyed the fluffy concoction, but adding a small portion of condiments on the side would have made this dish bursting more with flavor.

    If you’re craving for wagyu in Antipolo, then this may be the right place to cut that crave. Le Mirand’s Wagyu Beef Porter House (approximately 440 grams) (PHp 1550) is cooked perfectly. With plenty of sweet interest, this wagyu beef had the standard beef flavor and an unbelievably tender texture. It’s accompanied with fries that weren’t soggy and oily at all. This entree is probably the one thing you must order when you’re planning to eat at Le Mirand.

    Most pork parts find their way in the Pork Sisig (PHp 220), made with a traditional Filipino classic recipe. Served on a hot platter, the pork sisig was pretty multi-dimensional as it’s full of chopped pig parts coupled with onions and raw egg at the center. The sauce was creamy which I liked, but still I thought that it lacked murmurs of spice.

    Another meaty specialty was the Baby Back Ribs with House Salad (PHp 790 for full slab and PHp 390 for half slab). Apparently, I felt that I already had ingested too much meat (three spoonfuls) so I didn’t want to grab even a small slice of the back ribs. 😛 I understand that this is also one of Le Mirand’s signature dishes.

    The Bulalo Special (PHp 490) must be the perfect cold-weather soup. Nonetheless, it’s okay to be eaten in summer! It’s one of the Filipino soups that I find super rich in taste. Made from beef shanks and marrow bones, this light-colored soup is filled with fats melted into the broth. Le Mirand’s Bulalo Special has banana (saba), corn on the cob, and bokchoy.

    The Tuna Pasta with Toasted Bread was a triumph as it was the only seafood dish presented. Silky strands of the pasta were uniformly exquisite. However, I found that the pasta sauce’s composition was short of creaminess, spice and taste of the tuna, as only a few tuna chunks littered the dish.

    We could not eat all these tasty viands without rice. The Wagyu Fried Rice (PHp 220) came for rescue. An order could be a meal itself. The apportioned bits of wagyu beef are all that you could hope for. They’re the most compelling thing on the plate.

    For dessert, we had Carmen’s Best Ice Cream Malted Milk (PHp 80 for two scoops). It wasn’t much of a looker but the taste proved otherwise. Carmen’s Best Ice Cream is recommended to be shared with friends, heal a broken heart or scarved up all by yourself (only if you can’t help it). Fair warning: take note of the calories! 😀

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Make no mistake about it. Driving hours to get to Antipolo can be worth it if you’re up for some sing-along while eating and having fun with friends. Your time at Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation can also be best spent by enjoying sceneries and watching sunset and sunrise with your date.

    As a foodie though, I’m more concentrated on food. Given the limited choices on the menu and the price range, I give three stars for price for value.

    Le Mirand is open from 7AM to 12MN. Large groups with over 100 people can be accommodated.

    Thanks, Aldous, for the invite!

    Bloggers with Le Mirand Operations Manager, Ruby

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/Le.Mirand.RR” name=”Le Mirand Restaurant and Recreation (Santa Cruz, Antipolo City)” description=”Lot 8, Block 1, Palos Verdes Garden Heights, Sumulong Highway, Santa Cruz, Antipolo City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact +63 9173488547 or 02 2340891″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-04-28″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Post Selfies and Become WeChat’s Next Star!

    Post Selfies and Become WeChat’s Next Star!

    Three years and over 355 registered accounts across the globe since its first release, WeChat continues to evolve to entice its users through constant upgrades, features, and exclusive promos. Now, here’s something great for those who want to be a star. 🙂 All you have to do is post seflies and share them via WeChat’s Moments. Interested? Continue reading below for more details!

    In the Philippines, WeChat was launched last 2013 with brand ambassadors Drew Arellano and Iya Villania, who also taught Filipinos how seamless the social mobile app can fit into our local lifestyles by way of three television commercials (TVCs). The real-life partners showed us how they are able to stay connected despite their busy schedules via WeChat’s “Video Call”, “Hold To Talk”, and “Moments.”

    This time around, WeChat is set to launch another TVC this May 2014 with the country’s top fashion influencer and the possibility of, surprise—YOU!

    How to Become WeChat’s Next Star

    To get a chance to be a part of this shoot, here’s all you have to do:

    1. Take four selfies beginning today until early May, portraying the expressions: happy, angry, sad, and surprised and share those through “Moments.”

    2. Take screenshots of your posts and send those to Facebook tagging @WeChat Philippines.

    To get more tips on your posts, be sure to follow the WeChat Fans Official Account ID: wechatfansph.

    About WeChat

    WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.

    WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

    WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to add friends with several innovative features. These include highly convenient and reliable QR code scanning, phonebook and location-based connection services such as “Hold Together”, “People Nearby” and “Shake.”

    The platform facilitates social interaction with real-time “Walkie Talkie,” “Voice Call,” and “Video Call.” Supported on data networks and Wi-Fi, WeChat makes it easy to stay connected with friends anywhere, anytime. Users can choose to communicate and share photos one-on-one, or within their closed social network through “Moments”. The popular WeChat Sticker Shop has a variety of fun animated emoticons to express any emotion. Also, with a host of addictive WeChat Games, users can play and challenge their friends on the move, share scores and even find competitors nearby.

    WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.

    Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com
    WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

  • Review of Tempura Japanese Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Review of Tempura Japanese Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    It was Holy Week last week and He is risen. Given the plenty of vacation time in the long weekend, we did not pursue another outing (just got back from Caliraya Resort Club) but stayed at home instead. Malls were closed last Thursday to Friday, so we quickly decided to go to the nearby mall—Robinsons Place, Manila—on Black Saturday, to fend off the “going-out-of-the-house” craving. After hours of window-shopping, we took delight and had dinner at Tempura Japanese Grill.

    Tempura Japanese Grill serves up traditional and exotic Japanese fare in substantial portions. It’s a casual dining restaurant that’s one of the best spots for food aficionados trying out Japanese dishes. Out of all the foodie places in the mall, I chose this as I’ve always wanted to try the ramen burger ever since the craze began last year. Also, I was missing the taste of my favorite bite-size yummies: sushi!

    Review of Tempura Japanese Grill (Robinsons Place, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★☆

    Mirrors on the wall permit diners to sample the sight of fellow diners’ faces. A plethora of Japanese hanging lanterns brought a certain feel that suggested some class and traditional elegance in this modern-themed restaurant. The area was quite cramped; the aisle was so narrow that no two average-sized people could pass through at the same time. So this place can get pretty noisy when it’s full of guests. A section at the back offers more privacy for conservative folks.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    You know how it goes—when you’re asked to be seated on the sofa chair or on the regular chair, I bet that most would choose the sofa type for comfort. As part of the majority, we occupied a dining booth with the sofa and the grill at the center of the table. Later, we smelled something strong and awful like poo. Apparently, we were near the toilet. I guess there was something wrong with the flush system. The staffs were kind to move us to a clean table near the entrance. They were fast in taking our orders, serving food and taking the bill.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    My dad had the Agedashi Tofu (PHp 105). I’ve tried this three times before and during all those times, I have always been satisfied with the lovely texture of the deep-fried Japanese bean curd. It melts in your mouth like milk chocolate would! The five agedashi tofu pieces were topped with special sauce and bonito flakes.

    I didn’t know what bonito flakes are. Upon checking for the description now, my mind just exclaimed OMG. “Bonito flakes are a staple in Japanese Cuisine made from dried, fermented, shaved fish.” My dad is a vegetarian for 26 years now and cannot take any bit of non-vegetable food in. Otherwise, he’d feel ill. Maybe he ate just a few serving of these flakes, so nothing bad happened.

    We experienced difficulty in choosing which sushi to order, torn between Uncle Sam’s Maki (PHp 210) and Hawaiian Maki (PHp 190). Finally, we went with the latter, following the restaurant’s best recommendation. Hawaiian Maki is made with pineapple chunks and spicy crunchy salmon bits. These inside-out cooked rice rolls were so delicious that we could not help but fetch a piece right after swallowing another.

    Grease. Whether you love it, hate it, or feel only a mild ambivalence towards it, it’s a key feature on the katsu landscape. And whether it be tonkatsu, chicken katsu, fish katsu or vegetable katsu, with properly balanced and flavorful oil, it can be absolutely magnificent. This time, we had Tempura Japanese Grill’s newest item on the menu: Salmon Katsu (PHp 435). Thanks to its inherent flavor, the deep fried salmon katsu came out tender and tasty. I totally love salmon sashimi, but this cooked salmon is equally fine. Dip it into the special sauce and eat the lettuce on the side to experience a mouthful of harmony.

    The salmon katsu arrived with a bowl of Japanese rice called gohan ideally good for one person. Since it was too filling, my mom, sister and I managed to share without short supply. The sesame seeds on top added a pleasing crunch and kept the rice’s usual bland taste at bay.

    The Ramen Burger (PHp 245) turned out to be not twice as unique-tasting as the standard burger variety, but man, was it good. The beef patty was perfectly fried; you’re able to get a bit of crunchy coating and meat in every bite. In between, the honey-cured bacon stripped to thin slices was juicy and packed with flavor together with roasted onions with sesame seeds and garden fresh lettuce. The sweet-sour signature Japanese barbecue sauce did a good job in cutting through the rich fat, too.

    The most awesome highlight in this burger must be the pan-fried ramen buns, which we originally thought to be hard but were actually soft with great texture. On the side, potato chips were provided as necessary accompaniment. If you haven’t tried the ramen burger yet, then the next time you see it on the menu, you would know that it basically translates to, “The rest of the menu means nothing; I must order that.” 😛 Trust that it would be great!

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    By the time the meal ended, so had my sushi and ramen burger envy. These dishes we ordered at Tempura Japanese Grill were good enough as our attention was not diverted to other tables. Prices are expensive yet dining here in the midst of Holy Week is still cheaper than a vacation.

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/tempurajapanesegrill” name=”Tempura Japanese Grill” description=”Ground Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 5672447″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-04-22″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Sunshine Blogger Award – Knowing You and Me

    Sunshine Blogger Award – Knowing You and Me

    Getting swept up photographing food and scenes from travels (without mentioning things that are pretty personal about myself) is easy. It has been a very long time since I used to share about what I’ve been up to at work or even dreams in this blog. About a month ago, I have been nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Mindy.

    What is Sunshine Blogger Award?

    The Sunshine Blogger Award is a way for bloggers to get to know each other and also get other bloggers link to their site. This award creates the opportunity for bloggers to share about themselves given the following rules:

    1. Post a picture of the Sunshine Award


    2. Link back to the blogger who nominated you
    3. Share 11 random facts about yourself
    4. Answer questions posted by the blogger who nominated you
    5. Nominate 11 bloggers (no tag backs) and let them know about your post
    6. Write 11 questions for your nominated bloggers

    11 Random Facts About Myself

    1. I am always frugal but not a downright cheapskate. I live a slightly less lascivious ultra-consumer lifestyle and spend money only when most necessary. For me, frugality is a noble and virtuous attribute and I wear it with a badge of honor.
    2. I don’t want to be fat because I’ve been there and I hate being bullied (mostly by relatives and family acquaintances in get-together parties) because of that. After high school, I lost 20 pounds through college and reduced five inches off my waist line. After two more years, I gave excess body fats another send-off by converting them to muscles around my arms and legs. As a result, I was able to take another two inches off my waist and just maintain my body weight.
    3. On rest days (no work, no events to attend to), I like spending an entire day going into every interesting stall in a mall, but often I end up with nothing. I like to think that I lost calories walking for hours, so that sounds good news!
    4. Even if I have now gotten rid of my Singlish English accent, I still think in Singlish accent (with the language mix of English and Chinese), especially when I’m pissed.
    5. I’m still using my 7-year-old laptop powered by Windows XP OS. It’s a Toshiba Satellite U205-S5034 my parents bought for me intended for school work. I don’t plan of switching or upgrading anytime soon since this laptop is workable for surfing the net, creating documents and spreadsheets and viewing photos—things I do when I face the computer at home. And also, refer to # 1.
    6. I’ve been an iPhone user for five years now. As an avid fan of smartphone technologies, I read reviews on other handsets regularly and find so many advancements equipped with smartphones. Despite that, I don’t want any other phone than the iPhone. I guess this is what people call “blind loyalty.” And also, refer to # 1.
    7. I feel uncomfortable hearing my long name. Just call me Roch for short, please. 🙂
    8. I am undecided about whether or not to have children. Refer to #2. But maybe time will come when I become more matured into thinking that children are lovable.
    9. I rarely laugh. Probable reasons? I lack sense of humor. I’m a serious analytical person. I don’t encounter funny things every day. But don’t get me wrong; I smile a lot and I am happy.
    10. I started wearing clear retainers last month. I wear it all the time except when eating or conducting long presentations/meetings, as advised by my dentist.
    11. My favorite swimming stroke is the dolphin kick. (I dislike doing other swimming strokes.)

    Answers to Questions from Mindy

    1. What do you prefer to do on Christmas, open gifts or give gifts? – Both
    2. Party invitation, do you prefer to wear a dress or pants? – Depends on the occasion, theme, venue and my role in the party
    3. What designer would you like to model for? – I am not familiar with designers’ designs.
    4. A model you wish you were? – I don’t know any model I want to become. I just like to be myself. 😛
    5. When you go on a date do you prefer Movies or Bowling? – Movies
    6. Which will you have to like, a mountain or the beach? – Neither
    7. Favorite Lip Balm? – The Body Shop
    8. Restaurant or home made food? – Both
    9. Eggnog or Champagne? – Both
    10. From all of the blogger followers, who would you want to meet? – Yamito Calamba, for being enthusiastic as always

    11 Bloggers I Nominate and Tag for the Sunshine Blogger Award

    1. Mary Jane Tauyan Fitzsimmons (tauyanm.com)
    2. Teresa Martinez (teresay.com)
    3. Franc Ramon (francramon.com)
    4. Janine Daquio (ladylagalag.com)
    5. Yamito Calamba (themanilaurbanite.com)
    6. Pehpot Pineda (pehpot.com)
    7. Stacy Liong (tsinoyfoodies.com)
    8. Hana Abello (dollhana.com)
    9. Justin Buenagua (twatome.com)
    10. Aldous Calubad (aldousatetheworld.blogspot.com)
    11. Helen Blas (luckycitrine.blogspot.com)

    11 Questions for My Nominated Bloggers

    1. Where do you want to travel next?
    2. What are your top three most favorite restaurants?
    3. Are you afraid of ghosts?
    4. If you have a billion dollars, what would you do with it?
    5. What are you most grateful for?
    6. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
    7. What are some of your hobbies?
    8. What is one habit you want to break?
    9. Would you rather yourself be less attractive and extremely intelligent or extremely attractive and less intelligent?
    10. What is the best gift you’ve ever given?
    11. What’s your favorite household chore?

    Game! 😀

  • Top 10 Activities We Did in Caliraya Resort Club (Lumban, Laguna)

    Top 10 Activities We Did in Caliraya Resort Club (Lumban, Laguna)

    The summer season brings with it many lists: what to wear, what to eat, where to eat and what to do. If you’re plagued with a constant case of wanderlust, you’re probably wondering where to travel. Now picture this: With over 30 recreational activities, Caliraya Resort Club features only the most thrilling and fun-filled indoor and outdoor amenities plus a breathtaking view of nature’s gifts in Lumban, Laguna, Philippines.

    Last weekend, I just had an amazing getaway with maternal relatives in Caliraya Resort Club. This resort in Laguna is supposed to be just two and a half hours away from Manila. However, because we somehow got lost on the way, travel time was thrice the ideal. We took off at 7AM and arrived at 1PM on the venue, late for lunch. No worries though, as official check-in time is 2PM and there were still food for us to satisfy our growling stomachs.

    For stay-in guests, Caliraya Resort Club offers 72 rooms contained in villas, duplexes and the hotel. Different rate per person applies according to the type of accommodation. All rooms are equipped with double-deck beds, cable televisions, air-conditioning, and rest rooms with hot/cold showers. We stayed at Duplex 1 which was nearest to the shore of the pristine man-made Lake Caliraya.

    The room ambiance was okay; it was nothing high-class but the simple, “all-you-see-is-all-you-get” kind. See the rates here.

    Top 10 Activities We Did in Caliraya Resort Club (Lumban, Laguna)

    1. Eating

    As a foodie, I hunt for food foremost in any traveling destination. Here at Caliraya Resort Club, breakfast, lunch and dinner comes in buffet “eat-all-you-can” meals. Both quality and variety of food were not bad. Everyone dines in at the same time, given the allocated time slot for feeding. Food and drinks are clustered into sections and are dedicated in incarnations. Across the huge dining area, tables are reserved for every group of guests resulting to good organization and management.

    Lunch

    Dinner

    Breakfast

    2. Swimming

    Caliraya Resort Club has three swimming pools built side by side each other: two children’s swimming pools (1-4 feet) with basketball court and the wave pool with artificial wave generator (5-6 feet). We enjoyed flow-riding at the artificial waves which made us feel like kids all over again!

    3. Slide Pinoy

    Slide Pinoy is like a mini zip line where you have to sit on a small wheel or chair tied to a cable and just wait until you reaching the other point. With no gears attached to the rider, the key is to hold on tightly to the rope and pray that pulley system minimizes friction well to help you accelerate. It’s interesting how it can support both kids and adults’ weight.

    4. Hanging Bridge

    This was my second time to pass through a hanging bridge and thank goodness, I had managed to cross it safely (slowly but surely). It was setting my teeth once again on the edge. My pulse was racing really fast as I focused on skipping the gaps in between steps and kept my balance on the swaying bridge.

    5. Slip n ‘Slide

    “No, thanks,” I said, seeing how dirty people looked when they were splashed with mud after they’ve slipped and slid. I just volunteered to take pictures of my family as they experienced the ride. Basically, one would have to climb all the way up and prepare to slide in a seating position while the activity facilitator splashes water with soap for a smooth slip. Riders may be in a group for increased acceleration.

    If you’re thinking to give it a go, be very careful because you might get injured upon landing on rocks and mass of mud formed from loose dirt and water.

    6. Volleyball

    Volleyball is a good cardiovascular workout, but it’s not my thing. The volleyball court is one of the outdoor facilities in Caliraya Resort Club that has additional charge. The resort management does not care about who among the players participate, as the charge is counter per hour (PHp 200) and not per head. Anyone in the group may join in and if you feel that you don’t have enough players, welcome other guests to have fun and make friends in this sports.

    7. Basketball

    Just like the volleyball court, the basketball court in Caliraya Resort Club can be rented. Daytime rate is PHp 250 per hour, while nighttime rate is PHp 450 per hour. A friendly group of strangers offered us to play with them so we used the court for a short while at night for free.

    8. Sky Bicycle

    Caliraya Resort Club is not a circus yet we saw people riding bicycles on ropes up high. The Sky Bicycle is one of the resort’s newest attraction. “Cycling on the sky” is advised not to be done in breakneck speed.

    Each rider is reminded to continue pedaling despite the fear, angst and the strength of the wind. For a two-way sky-cycling lasting in no longer than 10 minutes, the sky-rider is charged PHp 200.

    9. Earthball

    To display and practice teamwork, compared to playing the regular volleyball, playing the Earthball is so much more fun! The game starts with the large inflated ball positioned on the center line. Teams line up along their own end line and must be behind the end lines. Players can only retrieve balls on their side of the field. If a team is successful in knocking the earthball over the opposing tea’s orbit line, they score a point. As the earthball is quite heavy, there should be at least four people carrying it—each taking a side of the ball (north, east, south, west) to attain balance.

    10. Canoe

    Before leaving, we maximized our time in Caliraya Resort Club by paddling in the canoe. For an hour, we rented the canoe for PHp 300. A group of four people can take turns. We divided ourselves into three batches so we could all experience gaining control over steering the canoe and keeping the boat steady. Two people took the role of the paddler, while the other two seated as passengers, in each batch. Navigating the tricky waters of the Lake Caliraya was another unique encounter in our stay.

    Wrap Up

    Caliraya Resort Club Inc. is a good venue for team-building, soul-searching and arranging events with a large group. This place can accommodate up to 800 people.

    The list of activities I posted above reflects only a snapshot of what you can do in Caliraya Resort Club Inc. Other exciting activities are as follows: Billiard (PHp 200/hour), Table Tennis (PHp 120/hour), KTV (PHp 250/hour), Fishing Catfish (PHo 180/kilogram), Bonfire (PHp 750/set), Horseback Riding (PHp 300/hour), Wall Climbing (PHp 250/hour/person), Rappelling (PHp 120/person/2 jumps), Bungee Fun (PHp 100/3 minutes/person), Regular Zipline (PHp 120/ride/person), Superman Single (PHp 200/ride/person), Speed Boating (PHp 3500-PHp 6000/hour), Ski Boarding (PHp 200/hour), Wakeboarding (PHp 250/hour), Windsurfing (PHp 450), Knee Boarding (PHp 200/hour), Jet Skiing (PHp 2500/30 minutes), Kayaking (PHp 250/hour) and Riding the Banana Boat (PHp 350/person/15 minutes). With all these, you will not get bored especially when in the company of friends and loved ones.

    If you love sight-seeing and traveling to the countryside or just looking for a place to spend a weekend vacation, Caliraya Resort Club may be a good choice. Dissect and uncover its wild and crazy side this summer! 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/CalirayaResortClub” name=”Caliraya Resort Club Inc. – Laguna’s Best Resort” description=”Brgy. Lewin, Lumban, Laguna, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries and reservations, contact (02) 632-10-10 or email reservations.crc@stfrancissquare.com.ph” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-04-17″ user_review=”3″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]

  • Review of Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant (Santo Domingo, Quezon City)

    Review of Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant (Santo Domingo, Quezon City)

    Where to eat in Santo Domingo, Quezon City? There are a lot of restaurants in QC but not in this specific area. The only Chinese restaurant that’s big enough to cover your craving for noodles, dimsum and lauriat must be Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant, which looks like a great lunch and dinner spot, especially for foodies and Chinese food fans. My uncle took us here on a Sunday before visiting their new condo unit nearby.

    Review of Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant (Santo Domingo, Quezon City)

    Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

    The space Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant occupies is brightly lit, economically packed with group-sized tables and seats. The ambiance generally feels like a typical Chinese restaurant that is sparse in decor but relatively clean. In short, it’s not exactly the kind of place you want to linger around, even if they do offer a big screen LCD TV. Yet “legit” may be the best word to describe it, if you’re looking for a restaurant with the standard Chinese flair in QC.

    Service: ★★★★☆

    Staffs were fast and attentive, not overly friendly, but not necessarily rude. Expect to receive the no-smile, get-in/get-our service. Our orders came almost simultaneously and we were not left unnoticed. Certain requests needed to be flagged down but it was fine.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    We deserved something hot for starters: a medium-sized bowl of Nido with Quail Egg Soup (PHp 420) made the cut. Known to promote youthfulness and long life, this soup is typically eaten during Chinese New Year. With crab meat and corn, the bird’s nest soup was not at all disgusting. Judging by the price, I think it’s not the real bird’s nest that was used as ingredient here. Nonetheless, the slightly sweet taste and the gelatinous texture were okay.

    I liked that the vegetables in Lohan Vegetables (PHp 198) were crisp and colorful. This is a great dish to order this Lenten season as well as when you feel the need to detox. 😛 Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant’s version is a showstopper, packed with earthy mushrooms, bamboo shoots and hearty peas and carrots. The layers of flavor are well-developed, starting from the sticky and yummy sauce that’s good to be paired with rice.

    The Sweet and Sour Pork (PHp 210) is a simple dish with a lot of tangy flavor thanks to the pineapples and caramelized onions. Entrees with this kind of zesty sauce are good to be eaten as leftover the next day when the fish has sopped the juices more intensively; that is, if you have any.

    The Beef Tenderloin Chinese Style (PHp 250) was lean and supple. It’s not too chewy, so it’s not hard to swallow but a mouthful to get through. The moisture and juiciness of the meat as well as the well-spiced sauce definitely played the wow factor. This beef dish bucks the crowd-pleasing trend of sweet and sticky in favor of distinct and creative flavors.

    Next, we had the Seafood Misua (PHp 208) composed of finely textured salted Chinese noodles made of wheat flour stirred with an ample portion of mixed seafood. Some people say that you can tell a lot about the quality of food a Chinese restaurant serves just by judging their fried rice and noodles as these two are most basic. If I were to judge Luck Garden based on this, then I give them a thumbs up.

    The Fish Fillet with Beancurd Hotpot (PHp 260) was simple enough but the quality of both the fish fillet and beancurd was top-notch. With all other dishes served at the same time, we took our time and let the fish fillet slowly soak more in the broth. The fish became more tender and luscious while the beancurd joining the party only made the entire dish more acceptable to my palate. (Beancurd is one of my favorite food!) 🙂

    The skin and batter of the Buttered Chicken (PHp 210) was crunchy with a light exterior. The crust did not overwhelm everything else. The white meat was tender and had the discernible chicken flavor despite that the chicken pieces were overdressed in butter which dominated its delicacy. Ah, sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    We’ve eaten our fair share and thought that Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant is a Chinese eater’s paradise, with a good array of affordable dishes to choose from. If you know which food to order, it’s possible to taste your way across most of Chinese cuisine.

    [schema type=”review” name=”Luck Garden Seafood Restaurant” description=”3 Kanlaon St Sta. Teresita, Santo Domingo, Quezon City” rev_name=”For inquiries, contact (02) 415-5825, (02) 416-5825″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2014-04-15″ user_review=”15″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Amazing Discount on Shake ‘n Go from Lazada PH Via WeChat

    Amazing Discount on Shake ‘n Go from Lazada PH Via WeChat

    On a hot summer day, why not stay cool and refreshed by drinking your well-liked smoothie? This can be best done if you have your own Shake ‘n Go / Shake ‘n Take Smoothie Maker at home, so you can just easily and quickly whip up some yummy beverages that can be filled with your desired ingredients. I already have one myself, thanks to the Christmas gift of my dentist. 😛

    How the Shake ‘n Go / Shake ‘n Take Smoothie Maker Works

    The Shake ‘n Go / Shake ‘n Take Smoothie Maker is an all-in-one container, perfect for travel and workout routine. It’s a 16-oz. sport-bottle style with compact base (guaranteed no spills) that suits to cup holders of most vehicles. This handy appliance is a great must-have for health-conscious people, fitness buffs, joggers, or just about anyone.

    The Shake ‘n Go / Shake ‘n Take Smoothie Maker has a strong motor that powers the stainless steel blades attached at the bottom of the bottle. The built-in blades crush the ice, blend fruit and mix powders, as they whip up a tasty fruit smoothie or protein shake.

    The portable container of the smoothie maker has a built-in spout so you can drink directly from the container as well only by lifting it from the motor base. Within a few seconds, you get to drink a cool, smooth, delicious, and nutritious drink without the hassle of transferring from blender to bottle.

    Amazing Discount on Shake ‘n Go from Lazada PH Via WeChat

    Now, through WeChat, you can avail the Shake ‘n Go for only PHp539 instead of PHp 1399! Hurry and download the WeChat app, follow @Lazada_PH and order this exclusive deal today! (Refer to this link for the steps.)

    About Lazada

    Lazada (http://www.lazada.com.ph/) is Philippines’ largest online shopping mall and is pioneering e-commerce by providing a fast, convenient and secure online shopping experience combined with an extensive product offering in categories ranging from mobiles & tablets and consumer electronics to household goods, toys, fashion and sports equipment. Lazada is continuously striving to offer its customers the best possible shopping experience with multiple payment methods including cash on delivery, extensive warranty commitments and free returns.

    Learn more about Lazada and download the app on iTunes and Google PlayStore.
    Lazada Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LazadaPhilippines

    About WeChat

    WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the world’s fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally. WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.

    WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems. Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com

    You can also follow WeChat Philippines on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH

  • Uratex Philippines in the 10th Manila Automobile International Show (MIAS, World Trade Center)

    Uratex Philippines in the 10th Manila Automobile International Show (MIAS, World Trade Center)

    April 5, 2014—Just before heading to Intramuros, Manila for the Outbreak Mission: Operation Stronghold event, I went to the 10th Manila Automobile International Show (MIAS) in World Trade Center. Car enthusiasts all flocked to check out the latest automobiles manufactured by the biggest brands in terms of development and innovation. Overall, the exhibition was a pretty solid representation of vehicular awesomeness!

    Aside from modern and retro cars, motorbikes, e-bikes and car accessories, the 10th Manila Automobile International Show also featured technical gadgets and hot products newly released in the market. Some of those I liked were: Garmin watches which can track distance, speed, pace and calories and also record the paths traveled with its GPS navigation (I really want one!); Dyson’s blade-less ring fan (super cool); carNAVi (Philippines GPS car navigation); and the URATEX Mobile Sleep Solution.

    Uratex: Present in MIAS 2014

    Those of us who are familiar with Mercato Centrale have had front row seats to the mobile truck phenomenon. Nowadays, it’s not only the food establishments that “push their carts” to wherever their wheels take them. URATEX Foam Philippines, the leading and largest manufacturer of commercial and automotive polyurethane foam in the country, has joined the bandwagon.

    Mobile Trucks Take URATEX Showroom on the Road

    With trucks paroling the streets starting from Metro Manila, Uratex takes a proactive approach in marketing and introducing their newest line of products, with Atoy Custom’s creation. The mobile sleep solution combines the concept of convenience of accessibility into one. It won’t be long when this becomes popular, as the Uratex truck travels around Luzon (first seen in Pasig and Quezon City Memorial Circle) and soon in Visayas and Mindanao as well. The objective is to educate people for good night sleep.

    Inside the Uratex truck, primarily displayed were the Memory Foam Mattress and the Premium Touch Viscoluxe Memory Mattress. Uratex Philippines promises that both these mattresses can bring about an all-over feeling of relaxation and a comfortable sleep with less tossing and turning.

    The Memory Foam Mattress is eight inches thick. It conforms to your body’s specific shape and contours and senses your body’s weight and temperature. Made of high-quality memory foam, the Uratex Memory Foam Mattress is trusted by the Philippine Orthopaedic Association.

    On the other hand, the Premium Touch Viscoluxe Memory Mattress has an advanced pocket spring system and body-molding memory form for soothing indulgence. This boasts of an exclusive firm feel that balances the softness of memory foam for optimum support and comfort. The pressure-free sensation allows the joints and spine to be in natural alignment.

    I’m loving these two mattress! We also use Uratex foam mattress at home. Investing on a comfortable bed is best for our essential shut-eye. Agree? 🙂

    Uratex as an Automotive Foam Supplier

    After visiting the “URATEX Mobile Sleep Solution” booth, I found myself in a maze inside the World Trade Center. My feet then led me to another Uratex booth where I found out that Uratex also offers multi-color and multi-shape-designed upholstery for car seats, seat covers, and motorcycle saddles. Wow! Really, it feels great to learn something new every day.

    Depending on preference and budget, Uratex seat covers can be selected as either ready-made or custom-made for the vehicle. The more expensive option is the customized covers since it’s designed to the car’s exact fit (including year and make). There’s also the semi-custom covers that fit general vehicles but not necessarily match the specific year, make and model of the car. However, these are still unlike the universal seat covers which have a universal fit regardless of the vehicle’s type, year, make and model.

    For more information about Uratex products, please visit their website and check out their Facebook and Twitter profiles.