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Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

Dinner in a decent yet affordable Thai restaurant serving Thailand’s culinary treasures, plus an instant discount upon booking? Sign me up. Inspired by the lively and intoxicating ambiance of Jatujak Market in Thailand, Jatujak in SM Mall of Asia presents delicious Thai food, a needed breather among the tastes of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino dishes we usually have in most times of the week. With a great menu, unpretentious vibes, and a truly beautiful space, this restaurant in SM MOA is the definition of impressive. Check it out.

We visited Jatujak last Saturday after booking a time slot via the BigDish mobile application. BigDish is a restaurant reservation app that lets users enjoy up to 50% off their bill. Registration is quick and easy. There’s no need for credit card, reservation fee, and coupons to print. Just choose the restaurant and the date and time you’d be visiting where the discount is incorporated. Once reservation is done, confirmation will be sent through e-mail and sms. Show the message to the restaurant staff and voilà, you’ll get your meal at a discount hassle-free. 🙂

Review of Jatujak Thai Restaurant (SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City)

Ambiance:

Jatujak in SM Mall of Asia has its wooden and bricked walls artfully decorated with Thai scripts and memorabilia. The muted and subtle colors create a restful, leisurely family atmosphere. Housed in a cozy and modern setting, it captures the street-side appeal of Thai food and brings it home to the Philippines. Lighting is good and seats are comfortable enough for an afternoon’s worth of chilling. Jatujak is well-spaced and not stuffy. It’s your kind of spot to go for a casual lunch, dinner, or a last-minute date night with friends.

Food:

Jatujak’s Sampler Appetizer (PhP 215) is hard to turn down. It’s made up of shrimp cakes, fresh vegetarian spring rolls and pork spring rolls. Light yet full of flavor, this sampling dish is the perfect kick-off before the heavy flavors make their entrances.

Tom Yum Mixed Seafood (Tom Yum Talay) (PhP 290) delivered all of the yes for us. It is the exact combination of sweet, spicy, and creamy we want after a long day of playing adult. The spiciness is bold, brash, and not always for the faint of heart. It’s one of the dishes you can describe as an authentic and fully-realized flavor of Thailand. And that’s exciting. I especially like the natural sweetness of the shrimps as it really did shine through.

Vegetarian Pad Thai (PhP 200), made up of firm pan-fried flat rice noodles, tofu and carrots is the holy trinity of curing a hangover. It struck a balance between sweet and sour, with a hint of tamarind flavor leading the way. This is a good dish to order during the Lent season.

Call it Whole Fish Pla Pla with Garlic Chili Sauce or pla kao sam rod or god’s gift of eternal happiness (if you love eating fried fish), it doesn’t matter. The fish is perfectly fried and the sweet, sour and hot sauce on top made it more appetizing. Get this, or you’re going home having missed out on something exceptional.

I was surprised to see bagoong fried rice on the menu because I thought it’s a Filipino-style recipe. Thai Bagoong Rice though tastes a little different because of the herbs and spices used. Jatujak’s Bagoong Rice (Kao Kluk gapi) (PhP 185) has multiple sweet, salt and sour components which make up the spectrum of Thai flavors altogether on a single plate.

Crispy Pata in Red Curry Sauce (kaeng ped ka moo) (PhP 580) is an interesting coconut-based curry dish with a milder taste and aroma, a delightful twist to the curry we know. Interestingly, it’s not spicy and the creamy coconut milk masks the pungent smell of the curry paste. If you love crispy pata and a Thai cuisine devotee yourself, consider this a must-try. 🙂

Lemongrass Tea (Nam takray) (PhP 80) is so refreshing and delightfully healthy. It’s good for digestion, full of antioxidants, regulates high blood pressure, boosts metabolism and burns fat. We had it bottomless and totally loved the citrusy flavor of lemongrass, which is milder and sweeter in taste than lemon.

We had Sticky Rice with Mango (koo niew mamuang) (PhP 135) for dessert. It’s palatable, comforting, and just enjoyable as it’s something closer to home. The glutinous rice with sweet and sour mangoes can be described as a tasty antidote to calm your still spice-singed mouth.

Price for Value:

Thanks to the BigDish app, our pleasant dining experience at Jatujak Thai Restaurant in MOA came with a bonus (10% discount). Yay! Thai dishes here are a good steal for the prices and will not break your wallet. Serving sizes are good for sharing and food portions are generous. We will try another restaurant that’s featured by BigDish Philippines next time. With BigDish Philippines, getting a discount through the app is only a few button presses away.

To know more about BigDish, check out its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BigDishPH/ or visit its website at https://bigdish.ph/. Click this button to book a table now:

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April 4, 2017
6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Planet Grapes in Shangri-La at the Fort

Planet Grapes opened at the ground floor of High Street Park, Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig on March 21, 2017. Once again, we were enthralled with their classy street food paired with wine. Like their branch in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong, Planet Grapes (PG) at the Fort (located between Toby’s Estate and Pink’s Hot Dogs) is a paradise and a great hangout spot that’s worth checking out. In this post, I’m sharing six compelling reasons why you should visit it soon. 😉 #PlanetGrapesShangFort #PlanetGrapesPH

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Planet Grapes in Shangri-La at the Fort

1. Knowledgeable and Confident Service

With such a wealth of knowledge overflowing from this city, you’d think that a wine bar that so thoroughly holds your hand through the ordering process would feel a bit condescending. The staff at Planet Grapes proves otherwise. These guys take their wine seriously, and that flows into their service. Have questions regarding best food and wine pairings? They got the answers. Orders are served in a hygienic, professional, timely, and efficient manner.

2. Mouthwatering Appetizers

We visited Planet Grapes Shangri-La at the Fort both at lunch and dinner times. (Click here to see their menus.) Mouthwatering appetizers are presented as “small plates” on the menu, but the portions are actually good enough for sharing.

Baboy, Bagoong, Singkamas, at Mangga or “BBSM” (PhP 290) for short is one of the best classic Filipino street food with a blend of sweet and sour that can easily whet your appetite. The combination is skillful and I imagine the dish tasting even better with smaller shrimps for a more concentrated flavor.

Planet Grapes Street Food Platter (PhP 395) deserves more attention. It’s composed of Chorizo de Cebu, Vigan longganisa, garlic bangus longganisa, squid balls, kwek-kwek, and chicken skin. Everything is good on its own. This is the best entree to share with a bunch of friends. You go from zero to feeling-more-like-a-real-person in just a few bites.

Planet Grapes Sisig (PhP 245) is always a good choice. It can stand as an appetizer or a hearty meal served with extra rice. PG Sisig is crispy pork mask served sizzling with a fresh organic egg and a refreshing tomato salsa. Tastes and textures are spot on. There’s a great hit of salt and crunch from the pork parts.

Their famous Chicharon with Tinapa Dip (PhP 215) is also a must-order. It’s crispy pork rind served with a tart cream cheese and smoked milkfish dip. It’s the perfect starter to get while everyone warms up with a glass of wine.

3. Tasty and Decadent Mains

The mains aren’t too groundbreaking, but it’s impossible to fault well-cooked dishes. Beautifully prepared, all these entrees have harmonious tastes that fascinate the palate.

For seafood lovers: Grilled Norwegian Salmon (PhP 665) – Grilled Norwegian Salmon seasoned simply with salt and pepper then finished off with fresh salsa verde, served with a light kamut salsa

For pasta lovers: Spaghettini and Meatballs (PhP 315) – all beef meatballs braised in a rich tomato sauce served on a bed of al dente spaghettini and topped off with Parmesan cheese

For spareribs lovers: BBQ Spareribs (PhP 690) – fork-off-the-bone pork ribs doused with a sweet and tangy BBQ sauce

4. Yummy Desserts

At Planet Grapes, you’d want to end your meal with a bang. I’ll say YES to any of these yummy desserts any day: Planet Grapes Leche Flan (PhP 150) – silky and dense leche flan made from carabao’s milk, Sapin-sapin with Salted Egg Sauce (PhP 215) – glutinous rice cakes combined with sweetened jackfruit and ube halaya, all topped with a rich salted egg sauce, Chilled Taho Sampler (PhP 175) – soy milk taho topped with strawberry, matcha, and caramelized sugar syrup, served with sago pearls, and Turon Trilogy (PhP 165) – filo pastry wrapped sweet plantains and ube halaya resting on a bed of preserved jackfruit coulis.

The difficult part is when you’re pressured to choose only one of the desserts here. When that happens, I recommend to go with the Sapin-sapin with Salted Egg Sauce. It’s unique, somewhat addictive, and has a very appealing quality to it. Their version of sapin-sapin is unorthodox and unabashedly bold. It works together ingeniously with the salted egg sauce, truly one of a kind. 🙂

5. Chill and Cozy Ambiance

Planet Grapes at Shangri-La Fort is not a big place that can accommodate hundreds of guests, but with the chill and cozy ambiance that complements your satisfying meal, what’s there to complain about? This restaurant/wine bar feels modern, chic, and sleek. The chandelier with wine bottle details make up for Planet Grapes’ excellent signature interior design. Comfy couches on the side contribute to the relaxed atmosphere as well.

6. Excellent Wine Selection

If you love wine or want to try tasting wines, don’t let Planet Grapes Shangri-La Fort slip under your radar! Come here after work and drink some fine wine with your date, friend or co-worker, and leave the drama out. Customers can have wine by the glass in sip, half, or full serving or take it by the bottle for a more exquisite experience. Make reservations because word spreads fast, and this will be every foodie and wine lover’s new spot in BGC in no time. 🙂

My current favorite? It’s the white wine Clos Des Verdots Bergerac Rouge 2014 Rouge. I love its crisp, fruity, light, and refreshing characteristics. We also sampled other red wines which have taste notes along a fresh bouquet of black and red berry fruits, black pepper, and raspberries.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlanetGrapes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planet_grapes/

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Business Hours: Sun-Thurs 11:00am-12:00pm, Fri-Sat 11:00am-2:00am

March 22, 2017
Review of Crisostomo Restaurant (UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City)

Crisostomo is one of the best known protagonists in Jose Rizal’s novels. A restaurant serving authentic Filipino cuisine with a sophisticated twist is just aptly named Crisostomo by no less than the accomplished Chef Florabel Co-Yatco who has a vision of providing an excellent fine dining experience that is non-intimidating and affordable, closer to the reach of many. I’ve been passing by Crisostomo Restaurant in Eastwood Mall on multiple occasions since my office is nearby, but this was my first time to finally have the chance to try it out. We had dinner at its UP Town Center branch after finishing a fun painting session at Sip & Gogh Ayala Heights. 🙂

Review of Crisostomo Restaurant (UP Town Center, Katipunan Ave, Diliman, Quezon City)

Food:

Crisostomo Restaurant features a fusion of lola’s secret recipes sprinkled with style and flavor. It’s not the regular Filipino restaurant that you can stumble upon in almost every corner in the metro. Crisostomo offers turn-of-the-century dining. Bringing some next-level moments of radiance, it’s one of the better places to eat in UP Town Center where the entire family can enjoy food. Most of its menu items are coined with character names from Rizal’s novels, and rightfully so, because every nibble is a mouthful that hits home.

For appetizers, we had Bolas de Fuego (PhP 255) and Bagumbayan Lechon (PhP 295). Bolas de Fuego was presented as a friendly entree for both adults and kids alike. It came with deep fried crispy fish and squid balls and sweet chili and fish ball sauce on the side. If you miss eating clean Filipino street food, you’d want this on your table.

Bagumbayan Lechon was another amazing entree that’s reliably good for scratching your itch for familiar Pinoy food. Deviating from tradition slightly bit, it’s not the usual chicharon you can expect but lechon kawali chips paired with liver sauce and garlic vinegar. It’s almost sinful so I’m sure some people may be torn between the balance of eating for pleasure and eating for health.

Moving on, we had Sinuglaw Tarsilo (PhP 310) which was composed of grilled pork belly and tuna cooked by soaking in vinegar. It’s downtown culinary play and uptown elegant class. We loved it with rice. Altogether, the taste was tart, bright, complex, refreshing and a little sharp with acid. The fish stood out as it was firm on the exterior but with a tender, translucent center.

Kangkong Con Selo (PhP 150) could bring joy even to non-vegetarians not only because garlic kangkong (water convolvulus or water spinach) tastes absolutely delicious but also because there’s lechon kawali chips in the mix. Kangkong is also one of my favorite greens to eat. They’re long and almost noodle-like, fun to twirl up with chopsticks, even if they get messy sometimes. 😉

Stuffed with laing (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk) and served with crab fat sauce, tempura-style prawns Legazpi (PhP 525) were so filling and modernly mouthwatering. Packed with so much flavor, this dish is what you can consider funky enough to be distinctive. One week later, I was still dreaming about eating it…again and again!

Pinoy Paella (PhP 450) was especially enticing because of its vibrant color and aromatic ingredients. It was carefully assembled with prawns, chicken, inihaw na liempo, and chorizo and yielded tender grains of Spanish rice. This paella can be described as homely in the best sense. It’s about marrying lots of different elements rather than elevating one big thing. The precise combination of these give it is characteristic flavor.

Price for Value:

Prices of food at Crisostomo Restaurant aren’t exactly cheap, but price range considering value is good. The dishes are top notch and you certainly get what you pay for. If you’re craving for great Filipino food, this is a good place to go. Everything seemed to be so palatable you’ll hope there’s unli rice! 😛

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March 1, 2017
Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

Whether you’re trying to supply sweets for your family and friends, or just need to wind down with some coffee after a rough day, Sweet Avenue Cafe along Leon Guinto Street can be your new go-to. It’s an extremely warm and friendly environment in a rather more quiet neighborhood in Malate, Manila. Their cupcakes are excellent, as are the cookies and cakes. Made-to-order cakes with cute designs for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings are available as well.

Review of Sweet Avenue Cafe (Malate, Manila)

Ambiance:

Sweet Avenue Cafe is what you might call “homey” or “lived in,” a charming place to grab a drink, have a casual low-stakes dinner, get your sugar rush fix, and host some other situations—reunion with old friends, party with a group of about 30 people, or your next first date. A large glass pastry display counter stands at the center, immediately welcoming guests from the entrance. Paintings on the wall show nature and places the owners have visited. Wooden furniture further add warmth, sophistication and character in the room.

Food:

Any of the sweets and pastries here are a safe bet.

Love matcha? The Matcha Chocolate Cake (whole cake-PhP 1200, slice-PhP 125) is quite good. Featuring four layers of dense and rich chocolate cake, the matcha in it wasn’t too overpowering. Instead, it brought both rounded sweetness and a pleasant bitterness, providing a depth that’s light and refreshing. With the top layer outfitted with whipped cream, this cake is a delicious hit.

The Raspberry Cupcake (PhP 55) almost got me in the mood for Valentine’s Day. 😛 This pretty in pink, berry-luscious, moist cupcake had a tart and tangy flavor in a thick melt-in-your-mouth cloud of buttercream. I enjoyed it a lot!

Sweet Avenue Cafe’s Assorted Squares (PhP 120 for 9 pieces, PhP 220 for 18 pieces) and Cookies (Chocolate Chip-PhP 20, White Choco Macadamia-PhP 25, Matcha Almond-PhP 28) are presentable gifts to bring home this holiday season. Light in consistency, they are tasty in bite-size pieces and the flavors are interesting.

As far as pairing goes, you can go with ice blended drinks, enjoy a few with hot coffee, or go bold with fresh guyabano shake or halo-halo. Other recommended drinks are as follows: Cafe Americano, Cafe Latte, Cappucino, Cafe Mocha, Caramel Machiato, White Mocha, Irish Mocha (PhP 80-120).

Price for Value:

Sweet Avenue Cafe is a cafe/coffee shop shoot off with reliable cakes and pastries. Average price per head at PhP 100-200 is considerably affordable. If you work or live in the area, consider yourself lucky to be in the vicinity. (Note: Closed on Sundays) Gotta try their rice meals on my next visit! 🙂

Operating Hours: Monday-Saturday 7:30AM-9:00PM

[schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/sweetavenuecafe/” name=”Sweet Avenue Cafe” description=”1970 Leon Guinto Street, Malate, Manila 1004″ rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 2469069 ext:944 or (02) 668 2340 Ext 5238547″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-28″ ]

December 28, 2016
Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)
My sister surprised us when she booked seats for four (via Deal Grocer) at Café Ilang-Ilang, Manila Hotel in celebration of her 24th birthday last November 26, 2016. We only learned about it when she dropped us at the hotel entrance on the day itself. 😛 Happily, we went around the lobby and corridors to have a glimpse of the grandeur of “The Grand Dame” (for the first time) and then experienced a scrumptious lunch in the spacious buffet restaurant. 🙂 My heart raced with excitement. Everything looked sooo beautiful! Christmas adornments and sparkly decorations were all over the venue.

Review of Café Ilang-Ilang (The Manila Hotel, Manila)

Ambiance:

Café Ilang-Ilang is one of the most famous and highly raved restaurants housed in a hotel in Manila. The interior exudes a casual elegance that fits in with the decor in the rest of the theme. The color palette is mostly brown shades, ranging from delicate beige to rich chocolate brown hues. What made it interesting to look at is the wonderful play of textures and patterns in different types of fabrics. It’s these architectural and design touches that create such a sense of old world sophistication with a twist of modernity. Lovely!

Food:

Serving an array of cuisines from across all continents in well-positioned buffet counters, Café Ilang-Ilang for the most part looks like a renaissance of chic casual dining. Designed artfully to satisfy the distinguishing palate, it features an extensive selection of food delights with a fresh spin on various open kitchens and a delectable desserts space that highlights its tradition of unique and excellent dining.

We started our culinary adventure at the Italian section, where we picked up some deli and made our own fresh pasta and pizza. The spinach ravioli was captivating! We savored every bite. Italian food induced so much pleasure that we had to remind ourselves to save space in our tummy as we had to visit over 10 more food stations next.

We headed to the appetizers section which displayed wows and rows of tables with tantalizing cheese, bread, salads, and cold meat—all nice for the eyes and savory for the taste buds.

Café Ilang-Ilang’s central stations serve a mix of Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Korean, and Mediterranean specialties. The range covers from Thai Tom Yang and flavorful Kare Kare, Patatim, Peking Duck, Tandoori Lamb Chops, Steak Rendang, and a plethora of Korean side dishes such as kimchi to even a dedicated spread of Halal food. There’s also a meat corner where we each had a slice of smoking Churrasco with Prime Rib, Wagyu Beef, and finger-lickin’ Baby Back Ribs.

Just when we were so full and about to leave, we visited all corners of the restaurant once more and were struck to find out that there’s also a Japanese food section situated in another dining hall. The sushi and sashimi were presented neatly and colorfully. This was one of those times when we wished we could take some food home ’cause our stomachs can’t take it anymore. 😛

For desserts, we especially enjoyed ALL the flavors of gelato, which were not too sweet but really, really good. The cakes, chocolate fountain, and other pastries were also excellent.

Price for Value:

The variety and the number of food selections at Café Ilang-Ilang may not surpass Sofitel’s Spiral or EDSA Shangri-La Hotel’s HEAT, but these are soulful food that takes a journey through the brain yet doesn’t for a second forget its purpose: to delight and dazzle, sure, but also to comfort and please on a deeper level. With the classy atmosphere and friendly customer service to boot, price for value is fair. Rate per person was discounted at PhP 1,195.5 from a total of PhP 4790 in Deal Grocer’s awesome deal: Lunch Buffet for 4 at Café Ilang-Ilang (Monday-Saturday). Thanks, again, to my sister for her treat!
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If you’re interested to try and take advantage of the deal, please note that the Deal Grocer offer is redeemable Monday to Saturday for Lunch (11AM to 2:30PM) only from October 31, 2016 to March 25, 2017 EXCLUDING declared holidays and NOT valid on Sundays.

[schema type=”review” url=”http://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/” name=”The Manila Hotel” description=”One Rizal Park, 0913, Manila, Philippines” rev_name=”For inquiries, call (02) 527 0011″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-12-27″ ]

Opening hours
Breakfast: Daily 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Lunch: Daily 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Dinner: Daily 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM

Café Ilang-Ilang Rates:
Breakfast Buffet (Mondays to Sundays): PhP 1,450.00 NET per person
Brunch (Sundays only): PhP 2,400.00 NET per person with bottomless chilled juices
Lunch (Mondays to Saturdays): PhP 2,150.00 NET per person
Dinner (Themed Nights):
Mondays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Tuesdays – Mediterranean Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Wednesdays – Asian Night: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
Thursdays – Surf And Turf Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Fridays – Seafood Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Saturdays – American Night: PhP 2,995.00 NET per person
Sundays – International Buffet: PhP 2,450.00 NET per person
December 27, 2016
Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

At this time of the year, most of us take “dieting” to a pause and reward ourselves with decadent food. Christmas celebrations are everywhere! I’ve been to at least five events with different groups in two weeks, and the parties don’t stop until the first week of the New Year. Last Friday, we held our company Christmas get-together at Planet Grapes – Shangri-La. Food served buffet-style from a special menu were palatable, toothsome, and even more enticing with wine. We enjoyed merry-making and eating until we waved a white flag. Full and satisfied tummy = blissful surrender. 🙂

Company Christmas Party: A Sumptuous Feast at Planet Grapes (Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong)

When it comes to ambiance, Planet Grapes definitely knows how to push all the right buttons. With glamorous interior design, dim lighting, enomatic machines, and wine bottles displayed on the walls, this restaurant makes for the perfect balance of convenience and space for a party of 70-80 people.

Planet Grapes is a great go-to place for a la carte meals, but it can also be dressed up and host private special occasions. So whether heading in with a group of dining companions in search of a decent function room or just coupling up for a quiet, intimate lunch or dinner, you won’t need to look further. Street food meets wine at Planet Grapes, where wine lovers young and old can enjoy international wine with Filipino comfort food.

Food Rundown: Street Food Meets Wine

In my book, Paella is a party dish, the kind of endeavor you’d only undertake if you plan on feeding at least 10, if not 20 people. Planet Grapes’ Seafood Paella worked as a great comfort food, elegant and down-to-earth all at once. With the top layer of rice nice and crisp like those of big Spanish paella pans, the result was a hot and hearty meal, full of shrimps, slices of green and red peppers, and eggs. The best part? The rice soaked up all the flavor of the saffron, so even without the feisty ingredients, taste was spot on.

Porchetta was as delicious as it looked, and we’re glad it’s available in Planet Grapes’ Christmas Package. How can you go wrong with succulent pork with tender, juicy, well-seasoned meat and crunchy skin? The impressiveness of this monster roast makes it a “can’t-miss dish” for the holiday table, but it’s so good that’ll you’ll want to eat it all year. Yum!

Beautifully moist and evenly cooked, the Chicken Barbecue hit the right sweet, tangy, fruity, and spicy notes a barbecue sauce should. With an intoxicating smoky-sweet aroma, it was meaty, flavorful, and not too saucy. Love it!

Steamed meatloaf prepared the Filipino way, the Pork Embutido had a slight pâté-liver-like smokiness from the ground meat combined with the sweetness of the raisins and the bits of veggies stuffed in it. It’s another Pinoy celebration staple that’s simple and homey.

Buttered garlic shrimps were cooked with garlic and butter—two of the greatest pleasures in life, also the two ingredients I could probably live off of for the rest of my life. 😛 Every last juicy bite of the shrimp was completely worth devouring and cheating your diet for. Some of us kept returning to the buffet table to get more of these!

A bowl of Tinolang Manok was particularly warm, wholesome, and soothing. It’s chicken soup made with bone-chicken, wedges of green papaya, and ginger-flavored broth. If you’re wondering how’s tinolang Manok with wine? I thought it’s fantastic. At Planet Grapes, you can be adventurous and try to mix and match the pairing of food and wine or ask the staff for the best recommendation. A sip of white wine provided a welcome note of freshness and contrast, almost like a squeeze of lemon or an extra layer of flavor. Usually, the saltier the broth, the better high-acid wines tend to taste.

Hugel 2013 Alsatian Riesling came with a bouquet of green apple, peach, lime, almond, and a plush mouthfeel with the usual lashings of acidity.

For desserts, we had Suman with Latik (Coconut Caramel Sauce) and Chocolate Balls and Leche Flan (Sweet Egg Custard). Both were heavenly luscious! It’s really hard to choose one over the other. These are the kinds of treats that make me close my eyes for a moment while solely appreciating the taste and texture of food with a smile on my face. Thank you, Planet Grapes. #foodporn #foodcoma 🙂 Happy holidays, everyone!

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December 27, 2016
Review of Green Pastures (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

After careful thought and consideration, I decided to move in to a condo unit near our office in Eastwood at the start of November. My parents visited me on my second week of stay to see “my home during weekdays” and get around Eastwood Mall at the same time. To give them a warm welcome, I treated them to dinner at Green Pastures in Eastwood Mall, a farm-to-table concept by Robby Goco of Cyma. We enjoyed all the organic, local, and original dishes we were served with.

Review of Green Pastures (Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City)

Ambiance:

Green Pastures is one of the most charming environments you can find in Eastwood Mall. Tables and chairs are well-spaced and are matched with the same wooden finish. The ceiling introduces further layers of texture and draping greens. Interior design is minimal but large windows make the space look posh. The dim surroundings and the clear view of Eastwood Mall grounds and the side of 1800 Building outside make this restaurant somewhat achieve an all-round air of calm professionalism.

Service:

Service was gracious. We were well taken care of. The assigned waiter asked us about the food and promptly attended to other requests. My only gripe was that it took a while for orders to arrive. In any case, waiting time is a good time to start a conversation and catch up on updates with friends or family on the table.

Food:

As an appetizer, the Pinoy Egg (PhP 150) tasted far superior to the typical chicken egg we cook at home not only because it’s actually duck egg (just like balut but no weird and slimy inside) but also since it was wrapped in Green Pastures’ house-made longanisa. It had a rich and smooth consistency. We cut it into four and mixed together with the greens to form a salad. If you feel like trying a modern-day Filipino delicacy, this is a must-order. 😉

Vegetarian Burger that Doesn’t Suck (PhP 430) looked interesting on the menu. Fun food names like this make you think. We have tried a number of vegetarian burgers from different restaurants before, and this one was a standout. It truly delivered its promise! Taste wasn’t “fake” because the patty was not made with fake meat but with a custom blend of organic chickpea, mushrooms, leeks, celery, and eggplant. The vegetarian burger was served on a brioche bun and with sweet potato fries on the side.

The Octopus and Bone Marrow Specialty Pasta (PhP 425) is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a unique-tasting pasta. The first bite was unexpectedly complex for such a simple-looking dish. The marrow, completely emulsified in the sauce, added a velvety smoothness balanced by the sweetness of the octopus and brightened by garlic passato. Beautifully complemented by the crunch of the crumbs, the fusilli were tender yet retained some firmness. Overall, I found the dish sensational.

Hot and hearty, the Arroz Con Pollo (PhP 390) can be described as an after-work comfort food. Closely related to paella, it’s known as a traditional dish of Spain and Latin America. The white polished tinawon rice was flavored with konbu broth and mixed with the elegance of organic roasted chicken and crispy chicken skin.

Price for Value:

Organic and decent meals await at Green Pastures in Eastwood Mall. At a glance, diners may grumble about the steep costs, but portions that sized for sharing and thoughtfully cooked fare help offset any negatives. It’s worth a try. 🙂

[schema type=”review” url=”https://www.facebook.com/pages/Green-Pastures-Eastwood/780087915410287″ name=”Green Pastures” description=”Third Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City ” rev_name=”For inquiries, call 02 6613612″ author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2016-11-23″ ]

November 23, 2016
The Royal Caterer by Chef “Boy” Logro: Brand Relaunch at Manila Culinary and Hospitality Academy

The Royal Caterer by Chef Boy Logro aims to be recognized as the superior provider of exquisite food, high quality and innovative catering services throughout the Philippines. It delivers not only great food but also the best possible function arrangements for everyone to cater to needs and wants in one complete package. Every event is meticulously prepared by a team of experienced chef and staff.

Last August, we were invited to experience the finest of some of The Royal Caterer’s dishes at Manila Culinary and Hospitality Academy for their relaunch and at the same time celebrate the third anniversary of Team Aldous.

Food on the buffet table included chicken liver pate in Melba Toast, canapes, pork kebab with Hollandaise sauce, penne with shrimp tomato vodka cream sauce, linguini with creamy pesto, mango tapioca, blueberry truffle, maja blanca and more.

Each selection was paired with various cocktails courtesy of Wild Cocktails Mobile Bar. Desserts such as the chocolate cake and creamy cupcakes were served by Bethany Cakes. Fantasy Kiosk’s photo booth, DJ Tony Tubero, and Am2 and Chichay Balagtas were also present to uplift the cool and hip vibe of the night. These are all great elements to a fine celebration that would bring people together.

For more information, please visit The Royal Caterer’s Facebook Page or follow them on Instagram. Contact numbers: 0922 8489889, 0917 6700289, (02) 7234926, and (02) 7242756.

Other Event Sponsors
Fantasy Kiosk Photo Booth
Berk’s Studio Photography and Videography
Orange Lights and Sounds: Contact No. 09178060980
Wild Cocktails: Contact No. 09988541585
Maraschino Bakeshop
Bethany Dream Cakes: Contact No. (02) 986-06-74

October 8, 2016