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Category: Food Reviews

  • Review of Japanese Bread and Pastries from Kumori Japanese Bakery (Philippines)

    Review of Japanese Bread and Pastries from Kumori Japanese Bakery (Philippines)

    From the humble Anpan first made in 1875, Japanese baking techniques and product lines have grown by leaps and bounds since.  Although baking was mostly a Western concept, Japanese artisan bakers had to add indigenous ingredients for the breads to appeal to local Japanese tastes.  In the spirit of this same artisanal Japanese tradition of baking craftsmanship, comes Kumori Japanese Bakery.

    Big in Japan and now in the Philippines, Kumori Japanese Bakery commits to offer natural, handmade, fresh and quality breads, cakes, and pastries imbued with true Japanese quality, culture, and tradition. Kumori uses only the finest ingredients from Japan, giving its breads unique flavors and textures. Every ingredient is wholesome and natural, so the fresh tastes and goodness shine through. I received a gift box from Kumori last week, and I’m pleased to share the details of what’s inside. 🙂 お楽しみください！

    What is Kumori?

    Kumori means “cloudy” in Japanese. However, instead of gray and gloom, Kumori represents all the sunshine and positivity that comes after the rain. Likewise, what Kumori Japanese Bakery creates are “comfort treats” with no artificial additives and preservatives.

    Review of Japanese Bread and Pastries from Kumori Japanese Bakery (Philippines)

    If you have ever in your life said, “this bread is good,” this Croissant by Kumori will melt your mind. It’s a flaky layered Danish pastry enriched with pure, premium European butter. After seeing fluffy layers with a stretch within while pulling it apart, I’m positive that the croissant was a good lure and an absolute hit with me. It was on the soft side, but the rich buttery taste still remained intact. I loved it and certainly felt more excited to try the others in the box. 🙂

    Salmon Bonito was the one I took as an afternoon snack in the office. It’s a soft bun filled with savory salmon filling, drizzled with home-made Teriyaki sauce and sprinkled with bonito flakes. While there’s no ridiculously large portion of sushi-grade salmon present, the round buns were great. Like eating a giant version of takoyaki (but stuffed with flaky salmon instead of octopus), this treat is going to sneak up on you. To be honest, it wasn’t love at first bite for me, but as the balance of flavors and textures gradually insinuated, I’ve grown to appreciate it—a lot! The salmon bonito is one-of-a-kind.

    Filled with matcha cream filling, the Soft Matcha Bun was a pleasantly decent mouthful of goodness. The matcha inside wasn’t too sweet and the bun gave a good contrast to the smooth cream. I thought this would go down well with a nice cup of green tea. 🙂

    Another delicate hand-crafted soft bread was the Fuwa-fuwa Cream Bun, filled with creamy egg custard and dusted with snow sugar powder on top. It did not disappoint as it’s not too sweet as well. The bun was super soft and almost impossible to resist!

    We saved the best for last. Kumori’s Signature Hanjuku Cheese was velvety, creamy, light and absolutely moist. It’s a half-baked cheese masterpiece original of Kumori made from premium cream cheese that’s truly best for melt-in-your-mouth moments. This should be in everyone’s must-try list when visiting Kumori Japanese Bakery. It was pure happiness wrapped in a small package.

    An easy winner for those who love Japanese cheesecakes, each piece of the Hanjuku Cheese can be finished in two bites. Aside from cheese, there’s also a chocolate cheesecake variant available. Komuri Japanese Bakery sells these per piece (at PHP48) or in a pretty box of five.

    Kumori has just set foot in the Philippines, and its first stores are located at the lower ground floor of Landmark Makati (just beside Bread Talk) and at the lower ground floor of SM Makati. Soon it will also open at the ground floor of Glorietta 2. If you love Japanese goodies, visit  Kumori Philippines on Facebook and follow its Instagram account for updates. 🙂

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  • Review of Chopstix Restaurant 筷子荟餐厅 (Canton Tower 广州塔, Guangzhou)

    Review of Chopstix Restaurant 筷子荟餐厅 (Canton Tower 广州塔, Guangzhou)

    To go up the Canton Tower or not was a debate between my boyfriend and me, since ticket prices are by no means cheap. But ask us if it’s a good idea to have dinner before going up the tower and you’ll get an easy answer. It’s a resounding yes! 🙂 Problem was, there’s not a lot of restaurants in the area and the more decent-looking ones are really expensive. Left without much choice, we ended up reserving seats at CHOPSTIX Restaurant (筷子荟餐厅). Prices of a la carte items on the menu were high, so we just hoped that they would be justified by the food quality.

    CHOPSTIX, located at the basement of the Canton Tower, was the first restaurant we spotted from descending at the Canton Tower metro station. It is an Asian specialty restaurant that caters a unique and festive fusion of authentic Cantonese cuisine and Southeast Asian delicacies.

    Review of Chopstix Restaurant 筷子荟餐厅 (Canton Tower 广州塔, Guangzhou)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    The restaurant was spacious and well-decorated in earth-color tones. Dominating bright lights, wooden furniture, and brick-imitated walls made the interior ambiance feel cozy in contemporary style and nothing quite oriental. Through the open kitchen and bar counter, dining guests could see the skilled chefs showing their exquisite culinary skills.

    Although varying in shapes (round, square, and rectangular), tables and chairs were of the same finish, providing a visual line of repetitive elements that is both attractive and hypnotically fascinating to the eye.

    Service: ★★☆☆☆

    We were third on the waiting list and upon stepping inside, we found that the crowds were not as demanding and not as full. In fact, several tables were unoccupied at the back. Still, the receptionist did not allow people to come in. We guessed that the management was short in staff and more diners could not be accommodated at the peak of dinner hour. Beyond doubt, serving speed was too slow and wait time was long. The staffs were not welcoming, not attentive, and not so friendly.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    When far from home, there is always a familiar nostalgic feeling whenever I encounter places that serve authentic Chinese food in an elegant setting. The thing is, once I smell that beautiful intoxicating aroma of Chinese spices and familiar dishes, I’ll somehow feel like home. This happened while waiting for our orders at CHOPSTIX. 🙂

    Beef chow fun is a classic entree in the Cantonese cuisine repertoire, and it’s one of my favorites. Chopstix’s version of the Wok-fried Rice Noodle with Beef 乾炒牛河 (RMB 58) was done right, very much like Wan Chai’s beef horfun in Chinatown, Philippines. The rice noodles were springy and firm, sticky and tender. What I loved most about it was the charred flavor called wok hei (or in English, “the essence of the wok”).


    Another dish we shared was the Kung Pao Chicken 腰果宫包鸡丁 (RMB 58), complete with slightly gloppy sauce and mild heat. We ordered a bowl of steamed white rice separately to fully enjoy the diced chicken with Sichuan peppers and peanuts in sweet, sour, and zesty sauce.

    All we needed was one singular bite of this glorious, rich concoction to confirm our love for it. The kung pao chicken was juicy and with browning characteristics, it was easy to find that the marinade was designed to optimize its natural meatiness.

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    Price for value was so-so. Food tastes were good but without that big WOW factor expected from such restaurant associated with the Canton Tower. It’s best to come with an appetite here, since the portions of food are meant for sharing.

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.cantontower.com/en/Shopping.aspx?code=0404″ name=”CHOPSTIX Restaurant 广州塔云星筷子荟餐厅” description=”No. 222, Yue Jiang Xi Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, China (广州市海珠区阅江西路222号 广州塔)” rev_name=”For inquiries and reservations, call 预订电话 +86（20）8933 8090 or e-mail 预订邮箱 reservation@cantontower.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-05-11″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Bonbons Hello Kitty Café 海印都荟城店 (Mall of the World, Guangzhou)

    Review of Bonbons Hello Kitty Café 海印都荟城店 (Mall of the World, Guangzhou)

    Just about a block away from the Guangzhou Library, the Hello Kitty-themed café in Mall of the World 花城汇 (Guangzhou’s Largest Underground Mall) full of cutesy displays, furnishing, and desserts all with Hello Kitty logos greeted our eyes with satisfaction supreme. I have a soft spot for this feminine faline and have always envied those who have visited Hello Kitty Kitchen and Dining in Taipei, Taiwan and Hello Kitty Café in Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea as I see them in my Instagram feed.

    So you can imagine how happy and animated I was when we saw this “fairytale garden of oddities” in Guangzhou, China. It was a dream come true! Like a kid, I ran around shrieking quietly in wild abandon. Clearly, the appeal is in the presentation, and it’s easy to fall in love with the large models of the cuddly cat in the background. I wanted to take pictures of the Bonbons Hello Kitty Café in every spot and corner. To accomplish that, we had to stay longer and this meant we had to order some treats/desserts even before we had lunch. OK, fine! 🙂

    Review of Bonbons Hello Kitty Café 海印都荟城店 (Mall of the World, Guangzhou)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    In an instant, we were hooked with the fun ambiance. It’s Hello Kitty all the way! 🙂 The dining sets came in varied shapes, and the decors in bright pinks and clean whites were fanciful and chic. If “cute” can be personified, it would appear as Hello Kitty nonetheless. This chill café definitely continues to serve as a hotspot for fans and enthusiasts of Hello Kitty-inspired food and drinks. Both indoor and outdoor seating were comfortable.

    Service: ★★★★★

    Service was personable and fast. Bonus points go to the waitresses clad in maid costumes who treated us like masters in a private home. They were passionate in greeting everyone that entered.

    Food: ★★★★★

    The items on the menu looked mythically delicious, but thankfully we could have them in real life. 好多好靚既甜品丫!

    We had the Milk Chocolate Mousse 牛奶朱古力慕斯 (RMB 38), a guilty pleasure par excellence. Creamy and smooth with a dense chocolate base, it hit a chord with us also because it wasn’t too sweet. 不太甜，非常好! 🙂

    The proportion between the mousse the base was good, 造型可爱而且份量也不小，必须推荐. The mousse tasted light and airy in the mouth, while the base gave a sense of volume and substance without being overly powering. The strawberry on top gave a hint of acidity and tang, and Hello Kitty’s pink bow gave a nice crisp crust coupled with a soft and moist texture underneath when chewed.

    Strawberry Green Tea 草莓绿茶 (RMB 58)


    Raspberry Mousse 覆盆子慕斯 (RMB 38)

    Price for Value: ★★★☆☆

    价格不便宜。大部份食物價錢介乎30-40人民幣之內，算唔算貴呢？如果第一次为了新鲜和拍照还可以吧，只是食物太贵, for me。However, knowing that we’re paying for the grand ambiance, superb service, and lovely food and we had a great dining experience here, on the whole, price for value is fair. It’s hard to say no to Hello Kitty especially when this kind of cafe is a rare sight where I come from (the Philippines). Bonbons Hello Kitty Café in Guangzhou can be a good once-in-a-while spot when you’re in serious need of something to be happy about. 🙂 再見啦 Bonbons Hello Kitty Café!

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bonbons-Hello-Kitty-Cafe/552931504814910″ name=”Bonbons Hello Kitty Cafe 海印都荟城店” description=”Shop D01, No. 3001, B/F, Section 3, Mall of the World, 89 Huacheng Dadao, Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District (天河区珠江新城花城大道89号花城汇三区负一层3001号D01商铺)” rev_name=”For inquiries, call +86 20 3831 5151″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-05-08″ user_review=”0″ min_review=”18″ max_review=”20″ ]

  • Review of Dadding’s Kitchenette – Special Inihaw (Comembo, Makati City)

    Review of Dadding’s Kitchenette – Special Inihaw (Comembo, Makati City)

    Quality home-cooked style of food exists, and it’s here with Dadding’s Kitchenette. Opened last October 2014, this food establishment in Makati is the obvious move for your Filipino comfort food fix. Dadding’s cooks up delicious meals that pay homage to the owner’s culinary heritage in Pagsanjan province as well as his own craft. It has the formula down: food rich in flavor + authentic Pinoy taste + quick delivery + affordable prices. Via Zomato, Dadding’s Kitchenette sent two of their best-selling “Special Inihaw” dishes for me to try. In this post, we’re going to tackle them head on.

    Review of Dadding’s Kitchenette – Special Inihaw (Comembo, Makati City)

    Service: ★★★★★

    Dadding’s service is straightforward. You either dine in the restaurant or order food for delivery. For delivery requests, the food will be delivered for free on the same day or on a specified date and time with a minimum order of PhP 350. However, for now, deliveries are available only in the areas of Makati and BGC-Taguig business district. Operation schedule is from Mondays to Fridays at 6AM-10PM and Saturdays 8AM-8PM.

    Check out Dadding’s Kitchenette’s menu here:

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Dadding’s Special Inihaw:

    The tender and juicy Chicken BBQ (approx. 300g) (PhP 80) was grilled impeccably, maintaining an even balance of well-distributed barbeque sauce that makes for a clean and enjoyable eating experience. The flavor of the marinated seasoning was full of the BBQ taste. Each bite was neat and precise. Definitely get this specialty and go heavy on rice! 🙂 It’s the perfect food to bring during outings, get-togethers, and in-house events.

    The Inihaw na Tilapia sa Gata (approx. 250g) (PhP 90) is a good option for pescetarians and seafood lovers. The fish was moist and mild in taste, allowing bold flavors of the coconut sauce to shine. With a nice finish of real coconut milk, the coconut sauce was creamy and a little spicy. It was made from scratch (kakang gata)—and not from instant food packs. I just thought adding fresh herbs and mixed vegetables to the dish will form a nice contrast and present a more aromatic combination.

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    On top of great food, prices of Dadding’s Kitchenette are pretty cheap as far as Filipino viands throughout the city go. They’re enough for everyone to go overboard and indulge in a meal costing less than PhP 100. The portion of each entree can be good for one to two hungry dudes to share. If there must be only two descriptions to remember about Dadding’s food, they are: simple and tasty. With that, price for value gets full stars. 🙂

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/DaddingsOfficialPage” name=”Dadding’s Kitchenette” description=”Lot 217 Sampaguita Street, Pembo, Makati City” rev_name=”For inquiries/deliveries, call (02) 2469069 ext:124, 0998-9973117, or e-mail daddings@gmail.com” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-05-7″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

  • PUREFOODS Bacon Tasting at The Quirky Bacon (Little Baguio, San Juan City) #BaconfestMNL

    PUREFOODS Bacon Tasting at The Quirky Bacon (Little Baguio, San Juan City) #BaconfestMNL

    On one recent weekend evening, I food-crawled my way along Little Baguio in San Juan, Quezon City, pausing for rounds of bacon dishes by The Quirky Bacon. There we met Chef Sharwin Tee, Chef/Host of Lifestyle Network’s Curiosity Got the Chef, and the creative chef behind the restaurant that presented to us dishes with bacon incorporated as one of the key ingredients. The menu placed on the table read really quirky names of food which are enough to make us feel excited for Purefoods’ Bacon Fest Manila. 🙂

    PUREFOODS Bacon Tasting at The Quirky Bacon (Little Baguio, San Juan City)

    We started dinner with the Glazed Tempura Bacon—honey-cured bacon fried in tempura batter with a spicy soy miso glaze. The batter was crisp and not over-salted. I thought I could eat handfuls of the tempura bacon on its own as a snack and not feel disgusted. Dripping with sweet honey flavor, the shrimp tempura was plump. It was as delicious as it looked!

    I guess the best way to cleanse our palate and get ready with the rest of the meal was to bite into the Chef’s Salad. Served in appropriate timing, the salad was made with arugula and romaine, kesong puti, and warm bacon strawberry vinaigrette. Oh, the taste of the bacon mixed with strawberry was very evident in the vinaigrette. That spelled all the difference—a good difference. 😛

    Next, the result of combining sweet potato fries, mozzarella cheese, bacon gravy, and a medley of Purefoods bacon together was the Bacon Medley Poutine. The fries took notes from KFC’s crispy fries however this time, sweet potato fries were used. Dipped into the bacon gravy, this dish could be counted as one supremely elevated form of your regular fries with condiments.

    Practically rounding up the best of our meal was the Lacquered Slab Bacon, a must-order at The Quirky Chef. It consisted of the Applewood Smoked Bacon slab with brown sugar chili crust paired with bacon java rice. OMG. With glistening surface, the slab of bacon was succulent and pleasantly unassuming. The fragrance brought in an extra dimension that makes the entire dish more satisfying.

    Living up to its name, the Pork Panalo Roll was a true winner. It was made with pork tenderloin stuffed with calumpit longganisa wrapped in bacon, guava labuyo glaze, drop dead fried rice. Individually, the contents were not anything fancy but the dish was hearty indeed. Ah, this must be a godsend.

    For dessert, we enjoyed the Problem Child. What’s in a name? Apparently, whoever eats this will become a problem child because it’s so good! Lending a subtle sweetness to the flavor, the Problem Child is the best way to end a quality meal at The Quirky Bacon. It’s hard to believe that such simple ingredients as bacon chocnut champorado and chocolate milk powder will make a great dish that can remind you of childhood. 🙂

    #BaconFestMNL

    For its sincere love for bacon lovers, PUREFOODS has launched the first-ever Bacon Fest Manila as a way for everyone to enjoy and understand all the yummy goodness in bacon. It has partnered with various restaurants all over the metro to give the PUREFOODS Thick Cut Bacon and Maple Bacon a new twist. This campaign aims to send awareness that many fantastic-tasting dishes can be created with the many variants of bacon.

    The challenge? Restaurants/food establishments invited will create and serve their own bacon dishes in celebration of BaconFestMNL for customers. The Quirky Bacon is one of them. 🙂

    Others included are: Charlie’s Grill and Grill, Sebastian’s. Torch, Tiny Duchess, Carpe Diem, Wicked Dogs, Stoners SoulFood To Go, 2nd’s, Gram’s Diner and The Bistro Group (like TGI Fridays and Italliani’s).

    With Purefoods’ thick cut bacon, you can enjoy twice the thickness of regular bacon in every bite. The honey-cured bacon has the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors, while the barbecue-marinaded spicy barbecue bacon has the right hint of spiciness for the thrill-seeker in you.

    There’s also the honey roast bacon that’s sweet and savory with smoky goodness. All the PUREFOODS thick cut bacon variants are available in 500g packs, while the PUREFOODS maple bacon which is known for its sweet, crispy, and rich maple aroma comes in 200g, 400g, 1kg packs.

    Join the Bacon Fest Manila Contest (May 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015)

    You can join the Bacon Fest Manila Contest by visiting any or all of the partner restaurants/food establishments stated above, order the #BaconFestMNL special dish, and post the photo on your social media.

    Don’t forget to tag @baconfestmnl and their official hashtags #BaconFestMNL and #BiteTheLove to get a chance to win some awesome prizes, like a MacBook Air, iPhone6, and a GoPro. 🙂 Check the Baconfest MNL Facebook Page for more details.

  • Review of Four Seasons Hotpot City (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Review of Four Seasons Hotpot City (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    It was my dad’s 60th birthday last April 13, Monday, but we planned to celebrate it one day ahead at Maru Korean Restaurant across A. Venue Mall in Makati at dinnertime. Fortuitously, Ms. Raquel Bartolome, Marketing Manager of the Vikings Group, invited me and my family to come and have lunch together with her and other blogger friends on the same day at their newest restaurant: Four Seasons Hotpot City in SM By the Bay, Mall of Asia Complex, near and adjacent to the Vikings Luxury Buffet and Movie Stars Cafe in MOA. I accepted the invitation with much glee, and so we had like a double birthday celebration we will always remember. 🙂

    Review of Four Seasons Hotpot City (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    Four Seasons Hotpot City opened on February 19, 2015. This brand-new addition to the list of buffet restaurants in MOA has it all: suave atmosphere from the clean and artsy interior to the gorgeous food stations, whip-smart service attendants, and a contemporary way of hot pot, steamboat, or “shabu-shabu” dining.

    Four Seasons Hotpot City bursts onto the scene with vigor, pushing the envelope with its posh “supermarket-style” ambiance. Diners get to “shop” from the “marketplace” and enjoy casual dining in a large space that can accommodate over 350+ guests.

    For bigger groups and private events, there are five function rooms available and each can cater to 10-12 people. I was totally pleased to learn that the dining tables were designed in such a way where everyone has an electric stove top (personal cooker) for hotpot meals with safe buttons to press for cooking or keeping food warm. In effect, everyone has the chance to cook according to individual taste and preference without having to share. 😛

    On the other hand, if you are seated in a regular table (outside the function room), expect to find a yin-yang pot where you can have two kinds of soup for two to four people. All in all, the orderliness and coziness of this restaurant earned my vote.

    Service: ★★★★★

    The speed and efficiency with which the chefs make food and drinks behind the counters was mesmerizing. Like in other Vikings restaurants, the friendly service at Four Seasons Hotpot City is one of the many reasons why I can’t recommend it highly enough.

    The personable staff comes at the table and refills soup and water as needed. Knowledgeable service at this elegant special-occasion destination is also a huge plus.

    Those who are celebrating their birthdays are presented with a small birthday cake and a birthday candle. 🙂 ♫ Happy birthday, Daddy! ♫

    Food: ★★★★★

    Ah summer! It’s not the ideal season for gluttony, but here in Four Seasons Hotpot City, indulging in good food that’s clean, fresh, and healthy is quite acceptable without feeling guilty. 😛 While some restaurants do it à la carte, Four Seasons Hotpot City in MOA features an all-you-can-eat steamboat buffet experience where you can feel overwhelmingly thrilled to see and taste a wide spread of food to cook with tongs and eat to your heart’s content.

    Four Seasons Hotpot City Steamboat Experience

    What I loved most about the experience was having full control in taking exactly what I felt like eating and making it personal. First things first, we were asked to choose a soup base for our hotpot and the level of spiciness. Out of chicken, pork, vegetable, si-but (Chinese herbs), and sinigang, we chose the chicken broth for its subtle flavor and added a few condiments like sate, raw minced garlic, spring onions, chili, and black vinegar from the sauce bar to give it an extra zing.

    Not to leave the bowl of stock simmering empty, we visited the Noodles Station where we found different kinds of noodles (squid ink noodles, polonchay noodles, carrot noodles, mushroom noodles, chili noodles, Korean noodles, Hong Kong noodles, sotanghon, etc.) and later, the Balls and Dumplings section. Our eyes were filled with hearts and roses, as we placed almost everything from fish cakes, all sorts of dumplings, and wanton balls into our food tray. 😛

    It’s cooking time! We returned to our seats, fueled up our one-hotpot-wonder of ingredients, and let the flavors be infused into the soup. Using the mini stove’s controller to adjust the heat applied to the pot was a breeze.

    After a few minutes, the soup was ready to be devoured. I can vouch that everything we tried was great and many of them were interesting. On top of these, we also helped ourselves with food from other stations. 🙂

    Appetizers

    Big appetites would not mind having a portion of appetizers served here such as salads with dressings, Japanese sushi and sashimi, and cold cuts.

    Meat (From the Ranch to Your Table)

    The Meat station must be a meat eater’s paradise, as it offers a large variety of nonstop protein with extensive parts and organs of pork, beef, and lamb in an upscale setting. Pig’s kidney, pork tendon, pork lung, pork egg (isaw), and pork large intestine are some of the examples. The items are placed and artfully prepared, so diners can grab them easily. Also making up for a positive dining experience, the different cuts of meat can be asked to be delivered to your table. Hence, there’s no need to stand up a couple of times to get everything you want.

    Seafood (From the Sea to Your Table)

    Individually plated, a range of seafood was in heavy demand. This includes shrimps, squid, clams, mussels, fish, oyster meat, yellow eel, sharksfin skin, fresh alimasag, baby octopus, sea mantis, talakitok fillet, and more. OMG. The seafoods looked so fresh and we could still taste the seafood sweetness. Nothing beats that.

    Vegetables (From the Farm to Your Table)

    For those who love vegetables, the Vegetables station is where you’ll find the fun stuff. My dad who’s been a vegetarian since 1981 was hooked into adding different sorts of vegetables to his soup. It was an absolute delight for him to get heaping plates of his favorite vegetables: lettuce, broccoli, kailan, tauge, tomatoes, potatoes, radish, leeks, spinach, celery, Baguio pechay, fried taro, young corn, mushrooms, tangho, choisum, polonchay, Taiwan pechay, chili fingers, Chinese mustard, pumpkin, kangkong, cabbage, fresh sweet corn, watercress, and okra.

    Cooked

    Aside from shabu-shabu items, cooked dishes were also present in one counter inside Four Seasons Hotpot City. I highly recommend the following: Fried Hongkong Noodle w/ Seafood, Braised Beef Brisket, Steamed Crab w/ Egg White Sauce, Dong Po Pork, Salmon Fillet in Mango Sauce, Egg Foo Yung, and Shrimp Tempura.

    Desserts

    A good place to have some downtime after digging into the heavy courses, the Desserts Stations has always struck me as a friendly go-to hideout that has no need for elaborate explanation yet continues to strive with its regular stream of patrons. Ice cream, halo-halo, Filipino rice cakes (kakanin), chocolate fountain, panna cotta, and yogurt were worthy tries. It was however the crepe with cherry filling eaten with the avocado ice cream that won me over that time. While each component of the dessert tasted “okay” on their own, I insist that the combination was great when pieced together.

    The Bar

    The bar serves pretty much everything you can think of—diverse types of ready-made mixed juices, teas, beers, fruit shakes, sodas, and coffee. I ended up choosing Chang Beer to know how Thailand’s number-one selling beer tastes like and ordered wintermelon milk tea with strawberry jelly sinkers. Just for fun, I tried to mix the two together and the result was rather strange. Haha. :mrgreen:

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    Classic steamboat dining with sophistication and substance is how I would describe this newest concept of the Vikings Group. The phenomenal selection of dishes here round out a meal well spent. You get to create your own soup and cook anything you want with all ingredients and bases. So if you’re hankering for an unusual buffet restaurant that serves tasty proponents of food, Four Seasons Hotpot City is right up your alley. While prices are not entirely cheap, the experience is truly worth the splurge. 🙂

    Prices, subject to 5% service charge, are as follows: Weekday lunch Weekday dinner/ weekend and holiday lunch and dinner
    Kids below 3 ft Free Free
    Kids between 3ft and 4ft PhP 188+ PhP 288+
    Kids between 4ft and 6ft PhP 288+ PhP 388+
    Adults PhP 588+ PhP 788+

    [schema type=”review” url=”http://www.fourseasonshotpot.com.ph/” name=”Four Seasons Hotpot City” description=”SM Mall of Asia Bldg E., By the Bay, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City” rev_name=”For inquiries/reservations, call 831-7777 or 835-7777″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-04-16″ user_review=”19″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]

    Operating hours:
    Lunch: 11:00AM – 2:30PM
    Dinner: 5:30PM – 10:00PM

  • Review of NEW Hand Stretched Pizza by Pizza Hut Philippines #StretchPA

    Review of NEW Hand Stretched Pizza by Pizza Hut Philippines #StretchPA

    Food experts are always looking for the next big thing that will be the buzz of the industry and the top of culinary trends. That means food establishments are continuously pushing themselves onwards and upwards. And boy did Pizza Hut Philippines take it to the next level with their new hand stretched pizza, which is thinner and lighter than usual and easier to bite.

     

    We are certainly no stranger to Pizza Hut as it’s one of the most trusted food chains here in the Philippines and all over the world with its wide range of delicious pizza menu. This giant pizza store has been pushing the boundaries of pizza with its stuffed crust pies, literally and figuratively. Now, doing things a little differently, it has come up with the hand stretched pizza with a burst of flavors and an abundance of toppings plus a choice of the crust glaze. Does Pizza Hut’s hand stretched pizza justify the hype? Let’s find out. 🙂

    Review of NEW Hand Stretched Pizza by Pizza Hut Philippines #StretchPA

    Service: ★★★★★

    Pizza Hut’s “Hate Late” campaign guarantees on-time delivery service or the pizza ordered will be given for free. This advocacy toward punctuality was launched way back in 2006, and to date, Filipinos take note of the time as stated by the call handler and synchronize it to their watches. As avid customers of Pizza Hut, we are in full support of this campaign. We expected the hand stretched pizzas to be delivered at 7PM, and the delivery guy arrived at 6:52PM. Yay! 😀

    Food: ★★★★☆

    Thanks to Pizza Hut Philippines, we were among the first families to taste the new hand stretched pizzas. Flavors and glaze finishers can be mixed and matched, as follows:

    • Flavors: Supreme, Hawaiian Supreme, 3-Cheese, Cheesy Pepperoni, and Cheeseburger
    • Glaze Finishers: Toasted Cheddar, Honey Crunch, Toasted Parmesan, Garlic Parmesan Butter

    We got the Supreme Pizza with Toasted Cheddar Glaze and the Hawaiian Supreme Pizza with Honey Crunch Glaze.

    Upon opening the box, we were immediately captivated by the smell of pizza that uplifts the spirit even in the dullest of days. It’s that familiar Pizza Hut smell that brings back memories of childhood (since we have grown up with Pizza Hut), the kind that I want to keep in a smell box to be opened and inhaled when I need something to make me smile. 🙂 Oh, I just love that inherent fragrance and I’m sure many people know what I’m talking about.

    Pumped full of the standard gooey mozzarella, the Supreme Pizza was topped with the usual ingredients: pepperoni, mild sausage, beef, green pepper, mushrooms, and onion. The thin pizza crust that was moist enough to have a tad of a chewy texture, yet toasted to a slight crisp. The glaze on the crust had a sharp cheesy taste, definitely a must-try for cheese lovers.

    Even our mouse doll friends, Dodsy and Tabby, hurriedly came forward for the cheese! 😛

    On the other hand, the Hawaiian Pizza consisted of ham, pineapple, and extra mozzarella cheese as toppings. Since my dad does not eat ham, we took it out and still the pizza was flavorsome with pineapple dices that helped to round off the taste. These sweet juicy cubes never fail to make the pizza well complemented. The pizza’s crust was was toasted just right and I liked that it wasn’t too hard that will leave my jaws working too hard. Its honey crunch glaze reminded me of breakfast cereals done quite well.

    Price for Value: ★★★★★

    For only PhP 499, you get two family pizzas with flavors and glaze finishers of your choice. Delivery service is for free. I thought these pizza slices are the real deal. The new hand stretched pizzas are available from April 7, 2015 to May 9, 2015 only so eat up! Make it great by stretching your experience up to the last bite as we did. 😛

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.pizzahut.com.ph/” name=”Pizza Hut New Hand Stretched Pizza” description=”For Pizza Delivery, call 911-11-11 (Metro Manila) or order online via www.pizzahut.com.ph” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-04-14″ user_review=”14″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”15″ ]

    Pizza Hut social media accounts:
    Facebook: Pizza Hut Philippines
    Twitter: @pizzahutphils
    Instagram: @pizzahutphil

  • Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    “Pica-pica” pertains to a variety of small portions of food such as finger foods, whether in the form of snacks or appetizers. In comparative terms, it’s the Filipino’s version of Spanish tapas. Offering pica-pica at affordable prices, The Sunset Lounge of Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila is a worthy place to be discovered and visited. Located at the seventh floor of the hotel,  the al fresco venue gives you a chance to take a cozy and silent retreat while watching the famous Manila Bay Sunset. 😛

    The Sunset Lounge is open daily (weather permitting) from 5:30PM to 9:00PM. It is also available for private events and has a maximum capacity of 60 persons. Together with blogger friends, I was invited to experience dining here yesterday.

    Review of The Sunset Lounge (Pan Pacific Hotel, Malate, Manila)

    Ambiance: ★★★★★

    There’s an abundance of good restaurants in Manila where you can enjoy a meal, but only a limited few provide a spectacular view of Manila Bay’s sunset. Almost like a hidden treasure, The Sunset Lounge in Pan Pacific Hotel is one of them.

    With comfy couches and beds where guests can lie down, it’s an ideal place to unwind, relax, and lounge. Its romantic and laid-back atmosphere makes it perfect for a weeknight date, a quiet dinner with a friend, or an awesome deal on the weekends. The space may not look very large but it can accommodate 60 people for private events.

    The swimming pool area is only one floor down, while the gym just sits at the back of the dining area. Non-hotel guests can drop by and spend the day to use the pool and gym for only PhP 250 and dine in at The Sunset Lounge in between.

    At around 6:30PM, we witnessed the sunset and its blaze of colors. It wasn’t long when darkness enveloped the sky and the colorful lights were lit. It was an absolutely lovely sight!

    Service: ★★★★★

    One of the things I could rave most about in The Sunset Lounge is the great customer service. The staffs were super attentive to our needs and it was evident that they take pride in making the diners feel at home. There’s no rush and we lived in the moment, as they knew what we would need before we even asked.

    Food: ★★★★☆

    The Pacific Chicken Nachos (PhP 350) came as a mandatory appetizer to whet one’s appetite. Notable were the crunch of the tortilla chips with sliced chicken and the spiciness brought by the jalapenos. The salsa, cheese, and condiments harmoniously balanced out the heat and innocently packed a punch of flavors.

    Immersed with edam cheese, mozzarella, and corn kernels, the Baby Back Pianizza (PhP 480) was one of the most unique pizza flavors I’ve ever tried. It was topped with smoked baby back ribs that seemed to be marinated sufficiently, making the pizza true to the flavor of its name.

    If you want plain old comfort food, then Buffalo Wings and Chicken Drumlets (PhP 350) can serve you well. These are fond reminders of finger food we used to have in our childhood days. Though I would have preferred a boneless breaded chicken fillet, the deliciousness was easily justified and was enough to satisfy any craving.

    Filled with sauteed garden vegetables wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried to crispiness, the Crispy Spring Rolls (PhP 350) can be a safe bet for vegetarians. Forming a velvety sheen, the shell was good and tender. Eat the spring rolls right once they’re served or they won’t be as satisfyingly crispy. Sweet chili dipping sauce provided was okay, but I thought vinegar will yield a much better fit.

    The Reuben Quesadillas (PhP 350) for me were quite bland-tasting but the simplicity pleased the palate rather than overwhelm. The lightly toasted tortilla were made with green lettuce, sour cream, and melted cheese.

    A taco’s filling is infinitely variable. If you want to pick something hearty and interesting, you may want to go with The Sunset Lounge’s Pork Sisig Tacos (PhP 350). Fill the taco shells a fun play of pork mask, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cheese and red sauce. The result is not only rich but a spicy-sweet-tangy powerhouse combo.

    Note: The dishes we had were served buffet-style and the photos do not reflect the true portion per order. View The Sunset Lounge’s short but sweet menu. Each entree is good for sharing by two or three people.

    Price for Value: ★★★★☆

    I like it most when staffs of establishments make me feel special the moment I walk in. The first-class service and intimate environment in this hotel contribute to a high-quality experience. These plus their menu of classic pica-pica dishes with a twist of Filipino flavor make The Sunset Lounge’s prices worth the value. My positive thoughts on this restaurants won’t die down for days! I can’t wait to be back to Pan Pacific Manila, maybe for a staycation next time. 🙂

    bloggers with Mr. Ernie Bigay

    [schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/panpacificmanila” name=”The Sunset Lounge at Pan Pacific Manila” description=”Pan Pacific Hotel, Gen. Malvar Street, Malate, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries or reservations, call (02) 318-0788 or e-mail enquiry.ppmnl@panpacific.com ” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2015-04-10″ user_review=”18″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”20″ ]