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Review of Nails in Style Salon (SM San Lazaro, Manila)
Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro has opened last October 8, 2014 and word about it is now spreading fast. This nail salon offers services such as hand care and foot care and specializes in gel color art. Prior to coming, I visited their Facebook page and found many style inspirations done on customers. Thrilled, I decided to get my first manicure using gel polish with Nails in Style’s Glamorous design last Sunday with my mom. ♥

Gel nail polish is believed to be delightfully long-lasting, making the nails completely chip-free for up to three weeks. On how different the effect will be as compared to regular nail polish? I’ll see about that later.

Aside from manicure, I also got the Regular Polish Care package for the feet. Mommy, on the other hand, was convinced to have her nails done as well. In this post, let me share with you what I think about this nail center.

Review of Nails in Style Salon (SM San Lazaro, Manila)

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Interior design is very minimal but tasteful with a good splash of colors on the background. The salon appeared very clean and neat. Upon entrance, you’ll see a collection of imported and quality nail polishes organized behind the counter. There’s a lot of spa chairs and nail stations across the room.

What’s missing here are rooms supposedly for waxing services. Since the space is relatively small to cater that, I wonder how the management intends to expand the area to build those rooms. That said, in the mean time, I think waxing services written on their flyer should be ignored.

Service: ★★★★★

For nail care services, Nails in Style sets a differentiation between Signature Gel Nail Art and Nail Care Packages. To avoid confusion, here’s a rundown for your reference:

Signature Nail Art:
- Fashionista (PhP 600) – manicure/pedicure, gel nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
- Glamorous (PhP 900) – manicure/pedicure, gel nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and nail art with MORE rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
Nail Care Packages:
- Classic Polish Care – manicure (PhP 230)/pedicure (PhP 250), regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
- Regular Polish Care – manicure (PhP 320)/pedicure (PhP 450), spa, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
- Special Polish Care – manicure (PhP 400)/pedicure (PhP 600), spa masque, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
- Superior Polish Care – manicure (PhP 600)/pedicure (PhP 800), spa, paraffin, regular nail polish with color of customer’s choice, and optional nail art with LIMITED rhinestones, gems, pearls, stickers, etc.
Note: The nail polishes available here are the best brands: Zoya, OPI, Misa and Orly, at no additional cost.

With all these offerings, I wasn’t sure which one to get. Uh, can I call a friend? 😛 Thanks to my mom and the staff’s recommendation, I ended up choosing Glamorous (hand) and Regular Polish Care (feet), as mentioned in the intro.

I browsed through an album of designs available for Glamorous and again had a hard time. Wahaha! Upfront, there were too many good ones vying for attention.

Applying the elimination method, I finally was able to select a decent and not too bold nail art with rhinestones but still girly and creative. This was in consideration of the fact that I face many vendors and clients for work every day and I didn’t want my nails to look incredibly inappropriate in a corporate setting.

After the selection, the nail technician started to achieve the Glamorous nail art. In two words, service was friendly and professional.

I appreciated the staff taking her time to clean my nails and apply nail prep, gel bonder, base coat, and “EzFlow TruGel 100% Gel Polish Pretty Pink” nail polish (three coats) gently and carefully. She made me feel comfortable throughout the entire time. I felt genuine hospitality from my manicurist. She answered my questions regarding gel nail polish but also wasn’t overbearing with small talk while she worked.

To speed up the drying process, my hands were put into a UV nail lamp after each application. The built-in timer on the UV lamp was really cool. The device automatically turns off after 90 seconds of curing.

The next step was to stick the studs/rhinestones on each nail following my chosen design. Jopay picked up the studs and placed them on the nail with the use of a dotting tool dipped in nail glue. She was very thorough, precise, and detail-oriented. Some studs didn’t land perfectly on the right position the first time they were applied, so she had to work in lightning speed to adjust them before the glue dries up. Once done, my nails were secured with a top coat to keep the studs/rhinestones from falling off.

TA-DAH! 😆

Simultaneously, the foot spa and pedicure were being done. First, my feet were soaked in warm water for about 5-10 minutes. It was time for me to just sit back and relax. 🙂 Then, she exfoliated my skin with a foot file scrubbing down the entire feet. The foot scrub blasted away dead skin easily. She also did a short, nice massage before applying lotion to moisturize my legs, ankles and feet.

For my toe nails, I chose Zoya Professional Lacquer in the shade of matte pink (see item on the left) and I absolutely loved how the color turned out. It’s not basic pink but a deep, striking magenta/fuchsia pink that’s sassy with a subtle frost. 100% girly, it quite resembled a luxurious velvet fabric.

Aside from the wonderful color, the reason why I chose Zoya was that this brand of nail polish has natural formulation and is free from toluene, formaldehyde, DBP (phthalates) and camphor. It has a non-yellowing formula that’s good for those who have sensitive skin. Zoya is a company committed to bringing pretty and fun vegan nail polish to the world. I thought it’s a perfect blend of pretty and ethical beauty.

On the other side of the nail salon, I saw how Mom enjoyed her experience as well. 😛

Here’s how her nails turned out:

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

It has been five days ever since the gel nail polish was applied on my nails, and my nails are still glorious and chip-free. Over 10 people had asked me where I had them done, and of course Nails in Style in SM San Lazaro has to take credit for the job well done.

I also had been getting compliments on them from a lot of other people. Thank you very much! 😀 For all that, price for value considering the quality of work and counting my good experience at this nail salon is rated as 4/5 stars.

The only thing I would advise is to call ahead of time and make an appointment. Operating hours start from 10AM and end at 9PM. The Glamorous design was done in two hours, and you can have that as point of estimation. Plan your visit accordingly, if you want to have the same experience as I did.

Nails in Style has more services than I’ve mentioned in this post. Don’t be shy to contact them via phone/email to inquire. 😉

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November 7, 2014
Review of Carlo’s Pizza and Italian Food Restaurant (Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

Staying at The Forest Lodge in Baguio City did not require us dining only at The Twist or side-tracking to its neighbor hotel-restaurant, Le Chef at The Manor. Of course, we were also free to eat at other places inside John Hay and even outside the camp. With a wide selection of outlet stores, charming cafes and specialty restaurants on sight, the Mile Hi Center fronting The Manor caught our attention. For late lunch, we decided to try Carlo’s Pizza.

Carlo’s Pizza is an Italian, casual dining restaurant with 13 outlets in different parts of Metro Manila. It’s interesting to learn that this branch in Camp John Hay is the first of Carlo’s Pizza which was established way back in March 2002.

Review of Carlo’s Pizza and Italian Food Restaurant (Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Hosting a cozy ambiance for some relaxing meal, Carlo’s Pizza has kept its interior design simple. Bright yellow wall paint and hanged pictures of food and relevant pictures can drive customers’ senses to a creative frenzy. The vibe was laid-back. My only gripe was that the space was quite cramped with tables and chairs put side-by-side, making everyone hard to move around.

Service: ★★☆☆☆

The server for our table was familiar with Carlo’s Pizza’s menu and was good at recommending the best dishes. The thing that broke their five-star score for “service” was the staffs’ lack of attention. There seemed enough manpower with three to four of them working for about five active tables in a dining room whose size was pretty manageable for everyone to handle.

I kept raising my hand, hoping for them to take notice. Without luck, I had to stand up a few times to make them aware of my presence. There was even a time when the guy at the counter already met my gaze and saw my arm up high, and he still failed to reach out to us or conveyed to a coworker about it. I was asking for the bill. Ugh, I hate the feeling of being ignored as a paying customer. Who doesn’t?

Food: ★★★★☆

The Nachos Supreme (PhP 235) consisted of crunchy and colorful feast of nachos topped with seasoned ground beef, mushrooms, black olives, jalapeno chilies, tomato salsa and creamy cheese sauce. It was an easy favorite since the distinctive flavors and components were all intact. Nachos with these ingredients left our lips greasy but that’s okay. The varied texture was creative.

Appropriate amount of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese made the Lasagna alla Carlo (PhP 190) a winner. It was composed of layers of homemade lasagna pasta, meat sauce, Italian sausage, creamy cheese, bechamel, and pepperoni. Overall, a good balance of proportions of ingredients made this lasagna a gratifying treat.

The Pizza Capriccioso (Regular 9″: PhP 285, Large 12″: PhP 395, Family 15″: PhP 560) with pepperoni, ham, bacon, Italian sausage, mushrooms, black olives, onion and green pepper was triumphant. While ingredients were plenty, they all worked. The pizza was made with freshly made dough, punctuated and drizzled with olive oil, and stone-baked with imported pizza sauce made from Roma and tomatoes blended with herbs and spices. It was most unique on the menu with rich flavor worth trying.

Note: All the pizzas are handmade to order hence there’s an expected waiting time of about 20 to 30 minutes.

The one thing that didn’t beat my expectation was Carlo’s Pizza’s Creamy Pesto Pasta (PhP 175)—pasta tossed on creamy basil pesto. It lacked on the pesto flavor and the looks department. That said, I was also right when I thought that it would not be delicious as I would have liked.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

Our dining experience at this pizza joint in Camp John Hay had been satisfactory. Having tried both the pasta and pizza here, I would most certainly recommend the latter. Carlo’s Pizza is definitely a good place for pizza lovers. Prices are very affordable given the portion and tastes of their food.

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November 6, 2014
Review of Le Chef Restaurant (The Manor, Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

As we were staying at The Forest Lodge for 3D2N on a weekend, we grabbed the opportunity to dine in at what’s regarded as the best fine dining restaurant in Baguio City: Le Chef at The Manor, Camp John Hay. This all-day dining hotel-restaurant offers both Filipino and international cuisines by Chef Billy King. It’s open daily from 6AM to 11PM, and serves breakfast (buffet style), lunch and dinner.

Going to fastfood restaurants and those you frequent when in Baguio City may be tempting, but absolutely if you only have a few days to visit and tour the City of Pines and want to eat well, it would be a mistake to miss dining here. Le Chef at The Manor has landed features in travel magazines and online sites many times over, and after experiencing it for the first time, we say the hype is well-deserved. Make a reservation as this restaurant books up well in advance.

Review of Le Chef Restaurant (The Manor, Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

We walked from the parking lot of The Forest Lodge and were led to The Manor’s garden, restaurant and bake shop. Elegant and classically beautiful. That’s how I’d shortly describe the atmosphere and design at Le Chef inside and outside. There’s little lighting in the garden area but it was enough to set a romantic mood right while enjoying the cool air of Baguio.

As we stepped inside, we found that the ambiance is one that spots a rather relaxed setting. It’s an ideal venue to host an executive lunch, an intimate family gathering or a memorable date. The restaurant is partitioned into sections with wall dividers, giving diners a sense of exclusivity while all being in the same room. The nice presentation on the dining table highlights the exquisiteness to expect from the meal to come. This is really my kind of place. 🙂

Service: ★★★★★

Service was great from reception to the end. We received warm greetings from the staffs and the manager upon arrival, and they presented only friendly and attentive stewardship.

For those celebrating their birthdays, an acoustic band serenades them a song and this shows how Le Chef wants to please customers and make them happy on their special day with dedication. I also noticed that the staffs take effort in speaking to diners between service unobtrusively to make sure that the food was cooked well and requests are attended to promptly without fail. Now that’s commendable.

Food: ★★★★★

Warming us up for dinner was this basket of bread with Le Chef’s specialty dip. Boring, right? Wrong. These breads were perfectly soft and light, and the dip was flavorful. This complimentary starter kicked off the meal just right, while we were waiting for the actual courses to be served.

Topped with toasted almonds, Le Chef’s bowl of Broccoli Cream Soup (PhP 160) was as delicious as a simple plate of broccoli gets. It had this pure and eye-popping green color with chicken broth that’s nice and aromatic. The contrast of the rich texture and flavors of the cream soup and the crispy almonds helped make it remarkable.

Dressed impeccably, the Caesar Salad “The Classic Way” (PhP 220) came with Romaine lettuce in anchovy dressing, with croutons, bacon bits and Parmesan cheese carvings. We loved every minute eating this salad. The greens were so crunchy and so fresh that your lips will water and your eyes will pucker. If green stuff isn’t your thing though, then maybe pass.

Well seasoned and beautifully presented, the Pan-fried Halibut Steak in Pommery Mustard Sauce and Penne Pomodoro (PhP 720) was straight-up amazing! One of my go-to’s has always been fish, and this is one you definitely don’t want to miss. The pasta was also excellent, a heartier content of the dish than you might think. You could use some carbs anyway.

We carried on, with more wisdom than sense of adventure. My mom had the star dish, the Malaysian Goat Curry with Biryani Rice (PhP 495), which looked interesting on Le Chef’s menu. The classic aroma of curry was present. The meat had a staggering tenderness so our teeth could gently bite it down. To goat meat lovers, I bet this will be your heaven. In my case, I thought it was better to cash in my digestive bandwidth elsewhere.

Served with pickled green papaya and steamed rice, these Char-grilled Baby Back Ribs in Fennel Barbecue Sauce (PhP 540) were not what we came to Le Chef for, but they were the best of the bunch out of our orders. Smoky with just the right spice, the baby back ribs were not tricky to eat as they’re fall-of-the-bone good. The sauce was less sweet than I expected; it was alright. We really liked this a lot, though not quite as much as the steak….

I’m not even gonna hesitate. The MANOR Steak (PhP 880) is one of the best steaks we’ve tried. My boyfriend had sampled a lot of versions of steak in many restaurants and he told us this one has his seal of approval. It was an incredible cut of medium rare meat, which arrived at the table perfectly cooked and juicy. Home-fried potatoes and grilled tomatoes were sitting on a side. Yes, they were nice as well, but we’ve hardly noticed them as we were too busy shoving slices of steak into our mouth. 😉 Even if my taste buds don’t often agree with meat, they did this time. The MANOR steak was delicious with a capital D.

Since Le Chef lacked selections for vegetarians, the most they could offer my dad who’s a strict vegetarian was the Brown Rice Selection – Vegetable and Mushroom (PhP 320). The minimal description didn’t need to take some decoding. With an elegant display, all ingredients were as you know they would taste like, and nothing was deceptive.

For desserts, we shared the Banana Split “Le Chef” (PhP 220)—three flavors of ice cream, sliced bananas, cream, nuts and cherries on top. As a punchy, sweet combination with a spectrum of textures, it won our hearts and minds.

Also a hit, the Cherry Cheesecake was a very pretty and fairly tasty CHEESY bite. It was smooth, creamy and everything I’d look for in a cheesecake. I loved the thin graham-cracker crust at the bottom. Yum!

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

We’ve traveled six hours from Manila, and we just wanted to maximize our vacation stay in Baguio with great-tasting food. Pleased and satisfied, we didn’t go back to the Forest Lodge hungry with these heavy and impressive entrees. Le Chef’s menu is by no means exorbitant especially for a special occasion, and by the standard of the variety of food matched with good quality, is actually good value.

If you are going to stay or just arrange a visit at Camp John Hay, I recommend that you make a reservation at Le Chef Restaurant and do so for dinner. It’s better to go with a larger group and order as much as you can realistically handle, and then have some desserts. 🙂

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November 5, 2014
Review of The Twist Café (Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

When it comes to modern Asian cuisine, I always have a lingering question mark on top of my head as I wonder how the chef can transform conventional comfort food into yet another palatable creation. So when we learned from the menu that The Twist by Chef Billy King, the only in-house restaurant and café in the Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay, serves a variety of Asian food, I was psyched. 🙂

The name “Chef Billy King” sounded familiar. Apparently, he’s the famed as “the Anthony Bourdain of the Philippines,” and also the same person who brought Le Soufflé Resto to Manila. With those impressions in mind, I became more interested on how much the dishes at The TWIST would manage to successfully draw approval from our taste buds. Let’s find out! 😀

Review of The Twist Café by Chef Billy King (Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Offering a comfortable casual dining ambiance, The Twist sits almost adjacent to the front desk area of The Forest Lodge. No doors separate the restaurant and the hotel’s airy and spacious lobby, but still the interior was quiet. The Twist had a consistent rustic theme and bold color contrasts, an intelligent balance between traditional and contemporary.

The handmade and sturdy wooden furniture, tribal decors and Filipino modern paintings illustrating a forest on the side made me feel like being transported to a restaurant in a forest. The chandeliers looking fab and artistically installed on high ceilings made the vibe even cozy and chic. Tables and chairs were neatly arranged and it’s worth mentioning that they can be requested to be moved to fit a certain group of people.

Service: ★★★☆☆

Servers were friendly and informative without being overbearing. Securing their attention was easy and their hospitality was good. My only complaint is that waiting time took too long but not longer than promised: 20-30 minutes.

To be fair, we considered that the restaurant was super packed in the morning, with tables getting filled immediately after customers leave. Many might have availed of The Forest Lodge’s ongoing promotion (reserve for room online from October 8, 2014 to December 19, 2014 and get free breakfast from 6AM to 10AM), thus explaining the overflowing diners.

In the case of lunch, I’m not sure what went on. There were two active tables and it took them about half an hour to deliver our orders on the table. Maybe the kitchen staff were normally busy with operations and maintenance at that time or the dishes were prepared too intricately to win us over. Luckily, there’s free wi-fi and many good views in the hotel to keep us entertained.

Food: ★★★★☆

Lunch – Asian Combinations

We started lunch with Calamari and Prawn Oriental Pasta (PhP 260). To be honest, it wasn’t the best pasta dish I openly recommend. I thought the sauce needed more spices. Just a wee bit of salt and pepper plus a subtle hint of garlic would have made it better. Overall, it can be counted as a nice and light demonstration of simple goodness, with seafood toppings that seemed compatible.

Coming with a generous helping of succulent prawns, the Thai Green Prawn Curry (PhP 380) with vegetable brown rice risotto was delicious. The Thai curry taste may be a bit rare for some people’s liking, but for me it was great! I expected the Thai flavor to be more pronounced though, because of the bright yellow color.

The beautiful sear on the surface of the slice of the Grilled Salmon Fillet (PhP 380) made the fish melt-in-your-mouth, almost. The freshness of the protein shone through, and the lightly sweetened tahini yogurt provided a rich, creamy element together with the vegetable fried rice. Yummy!

The Honey Glazed Crispy Pork Belly (PhP 340) with steamed rice was cooked perfectly, leaving a nice crisp on the skin while the inside remained tender and juicy, locking in all the juices without leaving a greasy aftertaste. The mixture of honey and sauces appealed to us most. No doubt, this is comfort food that you cannot go wrong with. For those who are in the health-conscious zone, this might make you cringe as there’s a rather thick layer of fat in the belly cut. My boyfriend said it’s the fat which made it tasty. 😛

After enjoying four courses, it was then time to let the sweet tooth sink in! We had this Cheesecake (PhP 100) which did not come across as the most photogenic but surely compensated with its strong taste of cheese. This treat is a must-try for all cheesecake fans, and one should stay prepared for the smooth and overwhelming cheese in each bite. 😛

Next, we had the Moist Dark Chocolate Cake (PhP 100) that was so rich that one slice was plenty for five of us to share. Without drinking water or any beverage in between, you’ll feel your mouth hurting in the most pleasurable way imaginable. I bet chocoholics will agree that this chocolate cake is an ultimate indulgence. One-fifth of it was enough for me, and it was the perfect sweet end to our meal.

Stealing the limelight with glistening surface, the Crème Caramel with Fresh Mango (PhP 120) appeared like the classic leche flan. Delicately shaped and sculpted, the caramel custard had a smooth and silky texture, with consistency that was slightly set and very creamy.

Less tantalizing on the eyes, Banana Bread (PhP 150) wasn’t too sweet and not quite decadent as well. As I was looking for a more “banana” taste and more moisture for the bread, it didn’t pass as a big of a hit as compared to the other desserts we had for lunch. Maybe I’m just so used to Red Ribbon’s Banana Crunch Slice that I found The Twist’s version to be lacking in flavor. No ground nuts and cereals but basic banana bread as it is? Meh. 🙁

Breakfast

We were advised that The Forest Lodge does not offer breakfast buffet for its guests but only a la carte meals. That’s fine for us, as long as the food to be served would be equally decent. At least for myself, I thought it’s a positive way of getting the “hidden bonus”: it won’t lead to a significant increase in food intake. 😛 So yeah, we were presented with a menu of Filipino breakfast sets all served with fried egg, grilled tomatoes and garlic fried rice. Hooray for a carbohydrates-loading breakfast!

Well marinated, the Fried Daing na Bangus (PhP 245) was fried to perfection and it’s obvious from the color. It tasted like it was cooked from home. I particularly liked that the milkfish fish was boneless, otherwise I would have a hard time eating it.

Not lacking in terms of fragrance, the Pancakes with Syrup and Butter Cream (PhP 195) were really good. While the edges of the pancake was crisp and brittle (in a good sense), the middle portion remained warm, moist and soft.

I didn’t know that there are numerous versions of longganisa in the Philippines until last two years ago. A friend had me try longganisa from Vigan, Ilocos which is very different from the only longganisa taste and texture from Pampangga that I used to know. The one from Ilocos is tangy with a hint of slightly smokey pungent flavor of “sukang iloco” or sugarcane vinegar. I’d say it’s more favorable.

This time ’round, we had the chance to try Baguio Longganisa (4 pieces) (PhP 245) for the first time. Compared to Vigan’s, it was less juicy, less on the sweet side and more savory.

Another breakfast favorite among the Filipinos, The Twist’s Beef Tapa (PhP 285) had the right combination of sweet and salty. The cured beef was not too chewy but tender enough.

The Tocino (PhP 245) was okay. It’s the tocino (Filipino bacon) you’d usually get, nicely pan-fried to the right texture and relatively without fat. It tasted a tad like “bak kwa” (肉干) but the softer kind.

Each breakfast set is served with a choice of pineapple juice, coffee or hot chocolate. We preferred coffee and hot choco.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

The Twist at Forest Lodge, Camp John Hay is an attraction on its own—that is, if you’re going to CJH just to dine in as you’re staying in a different hotel overnight. Albeit there were some misses, we enjoyed the food on the whole. If you’re planning to eat here, it will be good to check with the serving staffs for recommendations based on your appetite.

For the price conscious, you would be most delighted to learn that the prices on the menu are affordable considering that you’re dining in a hotel, and the food is value for money.

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November 4, 2014
Top 5 Activities We Did in Forest Lodge (Hotel in Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

Since it’s already the last quarter of the year and the mid of -ber months, my family, boyfriend and I were excited to feel the natural cool breeze of Baguio, escape Manila for three days/two nights on a weekend, and experience a simply luxurious way of a perfect staycation in the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.” It has been almost a decade since our last visit, and my mom had terribly missed this travel destination located in the province of Benguet in northern Luzon island of the country.

To recall, we’ve had four trips to Baguio before and we’ve stayed in a different hotel every time (but always near Session Road) to experience something new. So when the question “Where is a good hotel to stay at the quiet side of Baguio City?” is placed, consensuses gather around two choice areas: either The Manor or The Forest Lodge—both situated at Camp John Hay, away from the busy streets downtown.

Note: We intended to book a stay at The Manor, but unfortunately it was fully booked on our chosen dates. While searching for an alternative, we chanced upon Forest Lodge’s website and decided to reserve for two rooms in advance. So, Forest Lodge it was! 😉

Touchdown Baguio!

We traveled on a Thursday night via Genesis Transport – Philippine Rabbit and reached Baguio City in about six hours. From the bus terminal, we took a ten-minute taxicab ride to the hotel. Temperature was very nice, a lot colder than Manila! Everywhere was like air-conditioned.

From Manila, I called the hotel front desk prior going to reconfirm our reservation. It was a good move for us to feel rest assured that we would not end up not having a place to stay upon arrival. And thank goodness, we didn’t experience any problem in checking in.

The Forest Lodge’s lobby has a rustic and elegant feel. Several sets of sofas, handsome furniture and tribal décor provided dashes of color bringing a warm and cozy environment. The space was also decorated with Christmas-themed accents, Filipino paintings, arts and crafts.

We were welcomed by the front desk hotel staff who asked for my name and identification card. It didn’t take more than 20 minutes for us to get to our room. Our luggage and carry-on bags were delivered to our room quickly.

Here are the top five activities we covered, plus a review of The Forest Lodge:

Top 5 Activities We Did in Forest Lodge (Hotel in Camp John Hay, Baguio City)

1. Sleep and Relax

We got two Superior Rooms—each fitted with two double-sized beds with clean sheets, comforters and comfy pillows good for four people, cable television, furnishings, bar area complete with a mini fridge, water heater, mugs and bottled water, dressing area, large cabinets, and a decent bathroom.

Weather in Baguio is normally cold, so hotel rooms don’t have an air-conditioner unit. Compared to the previous hotels we’ve stayed in, The Forest Lodge has a ceiling fan to make sure that guests can be pretty much satisfied with coolness and ventilation, if air from the outside isn’t sufficient.

Superior Room 1

Our sleep quality was great, with the consideration that this hotel is inside Camp John Hay and our rooms were facing the parking lot side (thus less traffic noise from the front side of the hotel). The Superior Room didn’t have a veranda but view outside the window can be seen vividly. It was of beautiful and tall trees and lush greens.

Superior Room 2

In the bathroom, the rain-head shower with easily controllable water temperature was also a treat. Of course, the last thing we wanted was to bathe in cold water when in Baguio. 😛 Amenities included were The Forest Lodge shampoo, lotion, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. Clean bath towels, hangers and a hair dryer were also provided for convenience.

I should also mention that there’s free and fast Wi-Fi connection everywhere in the hotel. It was definitely a plus for me so I could regularly update my followers/friends on Twitter and Instagram. #SocialMediaAddict

2. Dine and Indulge with Food

We had breakfast and lunch at the only restaurant inside The Forest Lodge: The Twist Café by Chef Billy King. If you’re interested to learn about their Asian fusion dishes and breakfast offerings (available 6:30am to 10am) we’ve tried, click here. We also dined in Le Chef at The Manor. You can read about the food and restaurant review here. 🙂

3. Stay in Music Room

My dad has a wide collection of records, as he’s a large enthusiast of bands and songwriters of his era. We used to have a turntable at home, but then the needle is really hard to find and replace in this modern day. Being in charge of disposing stuff that are not usable, my mom sold the old music player out but still kept the records at my grandfather’s house.

So… you can just imagine how a large smile was plastered on my dad’s face the entire time we were in The Forest Lodge’s music room. 😛 He was completely astounded upon learning that records of classic artists mostly from the ’60s to the ’80s can be played through a turntable. We just had to ask permission from the hotel manager and staff to play and sound-test some of the records.

The sound that came out from the Polk Audio surround speakers was very clear, and there was absolutely no detectable vibration noise. The more records played, the more you’ll find yourself appreciating it. 😉

The music room was also filled with books, so I guess book lovers may spend a lot of time here.

4. Unwind with Live Music

At the Forest Lodge, entertainment does not end at the music room. Guests may also unwind by listening to live music at night in the lounge area. I’m not sure of the nightly schedule but just to share, when we were there on a Friday night, entertainment started at around 6PM when a pianist sat down and did a virtuoso performance.

At 8PM on a Saturday night, conversely, we were serenaded by the jazz music presented by a band composed of doctors. They were really great singers! No wonder there were some audiences who rose to their feet and felt compelled to even dance at the back. The crowd here had a way of showing their appreciation. 🙂

5. Explore Camp John Hay via Shuttle Service

Camp John Hay hotels offer shuttle service operated by Camp John Hay Leisure, Inc. for guests to go around the camp and explore its facilities and tour the city. As I was not at all familiar with developments inside CJH, I humbly asked the front desk personnel for recommendations. She made the arrangement for us and the shuttle driver took us to five stops:

Choco-Late de Batirol

Known as “The King of Chocolate,” Choco-late de Batirol is the most awarded and recognized garden-restaurant in Igorot Park, Camp John Hay, Baguio City serving home-cooked meals and specialty drinks. The ambiance was very lovely as it looked like a paradise for nature lovers. The furnishings, including the roofing material, tables and chairs, were made from recycled materials.

We tried a short order of their hot chocolate that everyone was raving about. It was thick and rich with the perfect amount of sweetness, worthy of being famous for.

For reservations and bookings, contact 0916-375-6510 (Socorro) or 0915-933-3474 (Michelle) or email chocolatedebatirol@yahoo.com

Camp John Hay Golf Club

We’re nowhere close to being experienced golfers but just the sight of a par-69 golf course following the Nicklaus design of Golden Bear International impressed us. The Camp John Hay Golf Club is said to be one of the best in the Philippines.

It’s located 5,000 feet above sea level, and is surrounded by rolling hills, crystal clear lakes and tall pine trees. Because we’re non-members, we could not get any further than the space near the veranda restaurant. Anyway, we enjoyed picture-taking and wandering around the scenic area.

To book a golfing holiday, contact +(63-74) 444-2131

Tree Top Adventure (Beside Bell House Museum)

The Tree Top Adventure in Camp John Hay, Baguio features unspoiled nature and a breathtaking view 100 feet above the ground. This is an ideal tripping experience with jungle trails comprised of platforms nestled on branches, suspension bridges and the world’s first motorized canopy tour.

In Tree Top Adventure, you may choose up to five adventures to embark on: Canopy Ride and Funicular (PhP 350/person), Superman (PhP 300/person), Tree Drop (PhP 150/person), Silver Surfer (PhP 200/person) and Trekking and Skywalk Adventure (PhP 100/person). We just went there to know what the place offers (almost same as those in Subic) and didn’t continue taking any of the packages since we’re all afraid of heights! 😯 Haha.

For inquiries, contact Mr. Donald Estrada at 0932 7449594 or Mr. Jim Bocanog at 0932783 2137

Shalan ti Kabadjo

Translated to “Way of the Horse,” Shalan ti Kabadjo has a bridle path and riding circle for pony rides amidst the lush Kabadjo Pine Forest. We all rode the pony and posed for the camera. Only Mom was brave enough to ride the pony, feeling like a true cowboy up in the saddle. With some guidance, she learned how to handle the pony well by her own. She had so much fun in half an hour.

Butterfly Sanctuary

Offering a rare close encounter with the forest’s winged creature, the Butterfly Sanctuary in Camp John Hay a lush garden home to different butterfly species. Staffs here are known to be friendly and accommodating. They allow guests to hold the colorful butterflies with their bare hands.

We would have wanted to take a look at the colorful butterflies in the Butterfly Sanctuary, but the weather battled against the plan. It was already drizzling! 🙁

Wrap Up

True to the word of Heinrich L. Maulbecker, its managing director, the Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay gave us the best of both worlds last weekend: comfortable living spaces at reasonable rates (see below) and an outdoor environment with plenty of views and grounds for the wanderlust.

I believe there will be more improvements in the coming years, and these can be made further possible when amicable settlements between the developer of Camp John Hay in Baguio City, CJHDevCo, and BCDA will be reached. In any case, I recommend this hotel as it’s huge, inviting and overall great. Also worth to mention is that staffs were gracious and hospitable all throughout our stay. Kudos to the team! 😀

The Forest Lodge: “The Best Deal in Baguio!”

Room availability can be checked through their website. Room rates are as follows:

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November 3, 2014
Review of Mabuhay Restop and Manila Vanilla! (Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila)

This post is a synergy between a food review of Mabuhay Restop in Rizal Park, Ermita (near Manila Ocean Park) and a write-up on a unique musical-comedy travel show called “Manila Vanilla!” . Actually, it took me a much longer time to publish this, since it’s my first time to write on both the food/restaurant plus a live performance. In the end, I decided to go with my normal format for food review and just share with you the highlights of the show. So here it goes… 😉

A little intro: My mom invited us to Mabuhay Restop as she purchased vouchers from MetroDeal two weeks ago. She wanted to experience what was said to be “the best of Philippine pop culture” while enjoying the dinner buffet served by the restaurant. She deserved to laugh, smile some more and just have fun as she’s going through a lot lately. Well, so did the rest of us.

Review of Mabuhay Restop and Manila Vanilla! (Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Everything here is screaming hello, Filipino pride! Mabuhay Restop positions itself as both a museum and a travel café. The business is devoted to promote Filipino culture and heritage in creative ways while making a difference. This is seen clearly as there are several displays and merchandise on the first floor from various regions of the country. The products are truly Filipino-made. Pieces of dining furniture looked sturdy and familiar like those in typical Filipino homes.

The counter serves as a one-stop place for guests to inquire and know more about trips and tours being arranged and community services where they can help. As a Gawad-Kalinga advocate, the owner of this restaurant/social enterprise is inclined to offer volunteerism tours and other avenues to provide visitors with an opportunity to create better lives for communities who need it most. I’m a fan of the idea. *clap clap*

The second floor was really where we got busy. One side put forth more impressions of Filipino arts and crafts with paintings and decorations positioned everywhere, while the other side didn’t fail to attract hungry folks for food and entertainment.

The dining area was spacious, with lots of seats for maybe a hundred people, fronting the stage show. The buffet table was strategically arranged at the far end, so diners can get food with convenience without obstructing the view of the other audiences. I thought this place can be an ideal venue for conducting seminars and gatherings for large groups.

Service: ★★★★★

Reservation was made and confirmed through email with ease. We were given our table number when we arrived and we were treated well throughout our stay. The staffs were pleasant and always had a smile on their faces. They were accommodating to all requests and came to assistance immediately when we needed them.

Food: ★★★☆☆

The buffet spread looked pretty neat and delectable with favorite authentic Filipino dishes available. There were the likes of Sotanghon Guisado, Shrimp with Alavar Sauce, Beef Caldereta, Bangus Tamarind, Adobong Kangkong and more.

Sadly for me, the food tasted decent but overall mediocre. It wasn’t very memorable but fair enough to satisfy hunger or some craving for home-style Filipino food in a warm and casual setting while in Manila.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

Considering the price of food only, I would have to give 3/5 stars. However, there’s more to food in Mabuhay Restop, as we knew and expected. I was super amazed by Manila Vanilla! and I had zero negative things to say about it. 🙂

Manila Vanilla! — A MUST-SEE CULTURAL SHOW WITH A MODERN TWIST

Learning that Manila Vanilla! was written and directed by one of the most prominent directors in the Philippines, Nestor U. Torre, plus the fact that its music was selected by the very accomplished Filipino composer Ryan Cayabyab, we were much in delight.

Packed with humor and song-and-dance numbers, the musical tells the story of a Filipino family who’s venturing into a bed-and-breakfast business while showcasing the beauty of the country. While they’re at it, both foreigners and locals can get to know more about quirks and idiosyncrasies of Filipinos in a creative and entertaining way.

Many of the audiences that night were game to sing along familiar tunes such as “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit” by Leah Navarro, “Mamang Sorbetero” by Celeste Legaspi, “Magellan” by Yoyoy Villame, “Da Coconut Nut” by Smokey Mountain, “Sana’y Wala nang Wakas” by Sharon Cuneta, “Balut” popularized by Katy de la Cruz, etc.

Filipino folk dances like tinikling, maglalatik, and pandanggo sa ilaw were also brought to light, as the GK Tanghal Performing Arts group performed these in between scenes.

I enjoyed the show so much that I want to see it again! 😀 Yes, for real, haha! Time seemed to fly and it didn’t feel like we were there for over two hours. When we were back home, I searched for YouTube videos uploaded featuring Manila Vanilla! but I can’t find a good copy. I’d be happy to run across one next time.

Not to forget, before the show ended, the performers asked for those celebrating their birthday in the month of October. We all sang the Happy Birthday song for them. Later, Sales and Marketing Director at Mabuhay Restop Billy De Jesus, called one representative of each table to come up on stage. It was me for ours.

The Filipino folk dancers taught us steps which seemed easy to follow and we danced without music.

I realized and recognized that the steps were of tinikling when one of the male dancers reached out to my hands. Then, the other performers behind us held the bamboo poles which they tapped against the ground in rhythm gracefully. OMG, I was even the first to try it!

My feet hurt every time they got caught by the bamboo poles. Obviously, this dance isn’t my expertise, but it was A+ for experience. 🙂

Dining at Mabuhay Restop and getting entertained by all Manilla Vanilla! performers had really gotten our money’s worth!

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October 29, 2014
Review of Il Ponticello (Salcedo Village, Makati City)

Upon entrance, I was welcomed by Steve Magdaraog, the managing partner of Il Ponticello. He offered me drinks and introduced me to his wife, Imy, and the executive chef, Panky Lopez whom I’m very pleased to meet. Then he told me a quick background about the restaurant. Since 1998, Il Ponticello (known to the locals here as “Ponti” for short) has been popularized as a dining and night out spot in Salcedo Village, Makati serving authentic Italian cuisine. Late last year, the restaurant business has been revived with Steve’s group taking over.

Well, it’s good to know that Ponti has kept its venue at the heart of the Makati business district where employees, yuppies, expats, students and travelers all come along after a busy and tiring day to take their load off and stuff themselves with great food and beverages.

I’m privileged to be invited here to taste the best of its revamped “modernized Italian” menu and experience its cool ambiance with the country’s most awesome bloggers I know, thanks to Boss Spanky. 🙂

Review of Il Ponticello (Salcedo Village, Makati City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

The design of the room was done pretty neatly, with modern touches everywhere. Purple is my favorite color so the theme of the place got me fired up easily. Oh, the vibe can be contagious.

There’s a long comfy couch with pillows at one side, while the rest of the dining floor is filled with sturdy dining furniture.

Behind thick curtains, a private dining area (maybe a function hall for special events) is still ongoing construction, but we had a sneak peek and found that it also looked sleek and glamorous. In that regard, Il Ponticello gave the impression of a classy bar and restaurant, a good interpretation of a modern Italian joint.

Food: ★★★★★

We had a superb meal which took about four hours, starting from the antipasti, followed by wonderful selections and variations of pasta, pizza, mains and desserts. So yes, it was a blast. 😀

Antipasti

We first feasted on the Portobello Alla Griglia (PhP 490) which essentially was a dish that screamed CHEESE and MUSHROOMS. There are appetizers and there are great appetizers. Obviously this one lands as the latter. Seeing how good it is (with grilled portobello, mozzarella di bufala, smoked ricotta, poached cherry tomatoes, and evoo) won’t make you dare skip.

A plate of mozarella bites pan fried in butter and balsamic reduction, the Mozzarella in Carrozza (PhP 290) (in English, “mozzarella in carriage”) was loaded with gooey cheese delight inside. Lightly fried, it tasted buttery and not too starchy.

Pasta

The Lasagna Carbonara (PhP 420) is a combination of two favorites in one. A staple on Il Ponticello’s pasta menu, this creamy delight was made with homemade lasagna, mozzarella cream, pancetta tesa strips and grana padano. For a rather wild and creative change, this pasta was topped with egg yolk that can be popped and mixed. Result was a more flavorful lasagna carbonara that’s almost out-of-the-world delicious.

Another legendary pasta dish from Il Ponticello was the Crema di Tartufo (PhP 450), which featured a serious love affair of truffle and mushrooms, pappardelle, cream, truffle paste, truffle oil and porcini mushrooms. The powerful aroma of truffle and mushrooms had me licking my lips and the sight of the rich pasta had me drooling. 😯 I’d remember Crema de Tartufo as one of my favorites! It was perfect.

The tomato-based Gnocchi Amatriciana (PhP 390) tasted simple and straightforward. It consisted of homemade potato and semolina gnocchi, thick cut panceta and grana padano cheese. The cute bite-sized pillows of gnocchi were soft and each had a delicate kick of spice. You also can’t go wrong with this on your table.

Pizza

Can you believe that Rotolo (PhP 480) falls under the category of “pizza”? I couldn’t. I’ve always known pizza as an oven-baked flat bread that usually goes into the shape of a circle, rectangle or even square and oval in some pizzerias or pizza restaurants. So I was struck upon learning that there exists a rolled pizza stuffed with mortadella, ricotta cheese, tomato cream sauce topped with dollops of pesto and it’s called Rotolo. 😛 Yeah, you may call me ignorant for that matter! But hey, it’s great to learn something new—and sharing it, right? I’m in love with the pesto on top. ♥

If you are a fan of ham and cheese, the Pizza Valdostana (PhP 520) is the pizza that must be kept at the table for the entirety of your meal. It’s composed of parma ham, gorgonzola cream, mozarella and baby aragula. This pizza was lovely, with the ham so thick and the cheese not stingy. High fives all around.

Deliciously delicate misto of tartufo and fresh mushrooms, mushroom cream sauce, mozzarella cheese and truffle oil—mix everything and you get the Pizza Tartufo (PhP 520). The truffle oil in Tartufo smelled divine and played a major role in whetting my appetite. Oh, if I could, I would have unhinged my jaw like a snake to take more slices of this pizza all at once (but we know I can’t do that, haha).

Main

The Chilean Seabass in Bottiglia (PhP 1400) was served with pan roasted Chilean seabass, prawn broth, mussels, clams, Napoletana Piccante sausage, finished and served in a mason jar. With crispy skin, the seabass had a little fishy taste but I appreciated that the texture was firm, silky and overall pleasant. The fish’s flesh was moist and as it was swimming in the sauce, the flavor bursts through in each bite.

in the jar…

Ponti’s Presto was for me one of the most visually stimulating dish probably because of my love for prawns (with shells already cracked open ready for eating). 😛 Together in one plate, the grilled prawns, cherry tomatoes, fried basil, garlic confit and trofie pesto worked nicely. The grilled prawns were plump, butterflied and cooked to perfection.

The porchetta appeared to me as “bread” from afar. Funny I only realized it’s not the moment it’s chopped before our eyes. The Signature Porchetta alla Romana (PhP 390 for solo – 2 Thick Slices Porchetta Carving, Pilaf Rice, Pommery Mustard Sauce; PhP 1200 for whole – 1 Kg Whole Roast Carving and Pommery Mustard Sauce) is slow-roasted pork belly seasoned with fennel and garlic served with pommery mustard sauce.

If you’re planning to dine in at Il Ponticello, it’s absolutely mandatory that you try this traditional Italian dish. The porchetta was so tender and moist, with skin beautifully crispy. It was so yummy that I didn’t mind eating pork this time. 🙂

Last (but not the least) we sampled on the mains category was the Flat Iron Steak (PhP 590)—USDA choice flat iron steak with garlic mashed potatoes and summer salad. Everyone tried this, and everyone approved! The beef was super tender and packed with flavor. I found myself nodding and smiling. I’m sure my mom would like this at lot, too.

Desserts

No matter how full we were, we still we gotta have some room for desserts. First on the lineup was what dreams are made of: Tiramisu (PhP 290)—savoiardi, zabaglione, amaretto, ristretto and cocoa powder. Decadent, fluffy, creamy and chocolate-y, this tiramisu was the best I had in this lifetime. It had just the right amount of sweet, so it’s easy to be tempted to stab a fork and eat the cake down to the last bite. The cake was accompanied by a Nutellino, which basically consisted of nutella and vodka. Talk about power shots. Wow! 😀

The Caramello di Semolina (PhP 290), made with white bread, semolina, cream, butter, eggs, caramel and ice cream, was also good but it wasn’t to my particular liking.

One thing that can’t be missed at Il Ponticello is their Cannoli (PhP 290). This mini taco-looking pastry was made with crispy cinnamon pastry shell stuffed with ricotta cream, dark chocolate morsels, nuts, powdered sugar. I liked that it produced a good crunch sound effect and the filling had a gentle flavor.

Wiggling sexy, the Cheesecake Panna Cotta (PhP 290) offered an elegant tang with cheesecake crumble and caramel sauce. Its crumbly smoothness can’t be beaten. The taste was just clean and simple, one that won’t push you deliriously over the edge of a food coma.

More jiggly and creamier than the cheesecake panna cotta, the Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta with Salted Caramel served with chocolate soil, caramel cream and sea salt was melt-in-your-mouth heaven. It contained 72% dark chocolate and with the salty sweet combo, this had a life span of not more than a minute on our table. So good!

We’re already zombies (death by the chocolate goodness) but the Budino Al Cioccolato (PhP 390) was calling out and begging to be eaten, so it was devoured in silence. We’ve just run out for words. A touch warm, the chocolate lava pudding was moist and the richness was intensified. It’s presented with vanilla cream, amarena cherries and caramel sauce and it’s hardly possible to resist.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

Sure, Il Ponticello is generally expensive, but food prices are reasonable for the quality and ingenuity. Spending a little more for food that you can thoroughly enjoy is okay once in a while. If you can’t handle paying out alone, having a complete and satisfying meal here will be manageable if you go with a bigger group and order plenty of food to share so you can also share the bill. 🙂

Note: The grand opening will be on this Friday, October 24, 2014, so watch out!

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Operating hours:
Lunch: Monday – Friday 11:30AM – 2:00PM
Dinner: Monday – Thursday 6:00pm-12:00AM and Friday and Saturday 6:00pm-2:00AM

Dress Code:
Smart Casual (No slippers and shorts)

October 22, 2014
Review of Saboten Japanese Cutlet (Glorietta 5, Makati City)

Saboten by Raintree Restaurants is a Japanese restaurant which started in Shinjuku, Tokyo in 1966, specializing in KATSU—a breaded, deep-fried meat patty. A number of friends had been telling me how incredibly good their katsu is. Last Saturday, I have finally made my way to Saboten Philippines in Glorietta 5 for a meal, with only the best recommendations on its menu. So, do they have the most amazing katsu cut ever? I’ll just say that Yabu and Kimukatsu (two katsu restaurants I’ve tried) have some serious competition over here. 😛

Review of Saboten Japanese Cutlet (Glorietta 5, Makati City)

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Saboten Japanese Cutlet offered a comfortable and tranquil environment. The ambiance was cozy with bright lighting portrayed in the pictures below. As there are separators in between tables, you can be rest assured with some privacy. That said, this is a good restaurant that’s probably suitable for business meals even. The decorations were decent, neither exaggerated nor luxurious. I recommend booking a table in advance to avoid long queues during peak dining hours.

Service: ★★★★★

Service was generally competent and friendly. The staffs bowed the Japanese way to show respect every time they left our table to go after our requests. Calling for their attention was easy as they were scattered around the L-shaped dining room. They served food quickly (even for the refills of miso soup, rice, etc.) and acted professionally. I certainly have nothing to complain about. 😀

Food: ★★★★☆

When presented with several hot items on the menu, the best way to decide what to order is to ask the manager himself. As obedient customers, we gladly followed his recommendations. 😀

We had the Mille-Feuille Katsu with grated radish and ponzu sauce (PhP 1130), served on a tray with multiple dishes arranged in a highly delectable and aesthetic manner. As typical katsu sets tend to be, it came with unlimited refills of miso soup, rice and shredded cabbage. The “stars” of the plate must be the Mille-Feuille (130g), two Deep-fried Shrimps, Loin Cutlet (65g) and two Rolled Cutlets (Choice of Asparagus, Cheese and Plum).

The fun challenge was keeping everything balanced. In lieu of the refreshing shredded cabbage as a side bite, the heaviness of the meat could be cut through. Outside, crumbs of the cutlets were golden brown in color, crispy with enough saltiness.

Looking ZOMG-awesome, the Mille-Feuille (translated to “a thousand leaves” in English) was twice more delicious than the standard loin cutlet variety. It’s Saboten Japanese Cutlet’s original recipe of tender juicy and very thinly sliced layers of pork.

For the rolled cutlets, we chose the cheese and asparagus flavors and appreciated them more as we dipped the pieces into the DIY sauce (ponzu sauce with toasted sesame seeds mashed via a pestle). The sauce did a neat job in complementing the taste of the cutlets.

The deep-fried shrimps (or shall I say, tempura) were nothing extraordinary, but it was worth mentioning that the shrimps used were really fresh. Served with an overly rich tartar sauce, it was one Japanese comfort food done well!

My favorite non-pork item had to be the Tuna Katsu Set (PhP 425)—Saboten’s original cutlet with Sashimi Grade Maguro. It was truly wonderful with a crispy coating and moist center. Deep-frying time has been adjusted to emphasize the taste of maguro. It’s best enjoyed with Saboten’s special wasabi soy sauce.

As a thickly structured drink, the Ripe Mango and Passion Fruit (PhP 195) was quite energy-boosting. I liked that the flavor wasn’t at all artificial and the sweetness did not go overboard. Rather, it was like exploding with natural tropical flavors of ripe mango plus a hint of passion fruit.

With a very delicate and subdued flavor, the Matcha Lychee Almond Cake (PhP 210) has been a good way for me to soothe my tongue after a flavorful, heavy meal. This cake was a creamy one but I’m sad to report that I could barely taste the almond and lychee out of it. Good points? It was moist, airy and not overly sweet.

On the other hand, the Sesame Sansrival (PhP 210) was a bit disappointing. Until my last bite, the sesame taste didn’t come out prominent against the sansrival (buttercream, meringue and chopped cashews). The consistency was okay but I just preferred that it turn down a bit on the nuttiness and bring the sesame aroma more to the next level.

Price for Value: ★★★★☆

It takes a great restaurant and a talented team in the kitchen to stay relevant and popular over four decades to date, and that’s exactly what Saboten Japanese Cutlet has done. This is an ideal spot for quenching katsu and comfort Japanese food cravings, for either solo dining or small groups. You won’t realize what you’re missing until you stumble upon it.

Given that food quality is high and portion of set meals is good to share with 2-3 people, I guess eating in this restaurant is not such a bad deal for the price. I give a different/separate rating for the desserts though. At least based on the cakes we tried, 2/5 stars is justified by the small slice and my unmet expectations.

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October 20, 2014