Style and Relax

New Hazelnut Macchiato & Caramel Crunch Cake at Starbucks

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sat, 03 May 2014 13:39:00 +0000

I have been in and out of Tagaytay since Holy Week and now, Labor Day weekend. It is scorching hot in other parts of the Philippines this summer but Tagaytay manages to remain breezy in the afternoon and still Christmas-like cold in the evening.

Walking distance from our second home is Starbucks, Robinsons Summit Ridge. They have a nice alfresco area which begs a hot handcrafted beverage like this:

Hazelnut Machiatto (ma-ki-a-to)

The delicious, multi-layered Macchiato begins with milk steamed until it's stretched and smooth to bring out its natural sweetness and is topped by a dense, creamy foam. Then rich espresso is poured over and through the foam, where it mixes with the milk and creates a brown mark on top. Finally, the barista signs their work of art with a sweet drizzle made with a mix of brown sugar, butter, Madagascar Bourbon vanilla and a slight hint of salt.

It's not my usual drink (Green tea latte) but I wanted to try something new. Plus, instagram posts about it intrigued me, add the machiatto banners inside Starbucks.

For me, the machiatto is like a dessert and coffee in one. The "crosshatch" caramel on top of the foam is delightful. Especially when it gives you a foamy mustache!

Iced Hazelnut Macchiato

The drink below the foam is still serious in giving you a kick in the afternoon. It is challenging to find a dessert to match this already sweet & tasty beverage.

I also tried the Iced Hazelnut Macchiato and I prefer this over the hot version.

Suggestion to Starbucks: I hope they serve hot Machiatto in glass as seen on their posters. I asked for this from the barista but my machiatto ended in a mug.

This looks so much better! :)

For my Labor Day weekend Starbucks visit in Tagaytay, I discovered their new Salted Caramel Crunch Cake. Every hardworking person deserves a slice of this!

A sweet and crunchy meringue sandwiched between moist vanilla sponge cakes. Finished with salted almond butter cream and topped with a dollop of cream.

I happily asked for a slice to go, but my son ate most of it. All I can remember is it's similar to Sans Rival but so much better. So today, I returned for another serving which I'll happily enjoy after this blog post :)

Until the next long weekend!

Guide to Wine Pairing at Spiral Sunday Champagne Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 06:44:00 +0000

The famous Sofitel's Spiral Sunday Brunch is now aptly called Sunday Champagne Brunch. It costs around P3,623 for adults and P1,842 for kids. The welcome upgrade to a "Champagne Brunch" happened early last year following a refurbishment of the Spiral.

In this post, I'm not going to pretend I'm a wine expert. I enjoy wine but have no idea how to pronounce most of their names or what food they go with. I let my tastebuds decide and I'm not sure if this is acceptable to wine elitists. So, I enjoy wine in places I'm comfortable in. Last year, I stayed in a club room with access to Sofitel's Club Millesime where they have wine appreciation and cocktails from 5pm onwards every night. From then on, I knew that Sofitel and wine appreciation in its rawest (and unpretentious) form are synonymous.

To enjoy this wine experience during the Spiral Champagne Brunch, here are my humble tips to get the most out of your P3,623+

1. Select your approach - do you want to focus on food with wine, or wine with food? I suggest try the unbeaten path of pairing wine with food.

2. Choose the atelier or cuisine you want to focus on - Asian, Western, and the Desserts. The order is up to you. You will discover the each cuisine will also go with a different wine group. This leads us to number 3.

3. Look for an in-house sommelier - a sommelier is simply put, a wine steward who will know best about the wines being offered in Spiral and what food they go best with. Do not hesitate to call/summon them to your table. They won't expect you to pronounce Gewürztraminer flawlessly or know what it is. This is why Spiral engages sommeliers to assist diners with pleasure.

You can also look for the French wine experts Tanguy (tang-gee) and Mathieu (matthew, photo above). The friendliest and most passionate about wine I've met in Sofitel. I knew I was in the right place when Mathieu said it's not the ability to pronounce wine and memorize their classifications, but the ability to enjoy the taste and discovering which wine you enjoy best.

4. If you know the kind of wine you like or a variation you want to try, you can also take the route of asking for its availability and for pairing recommendations.

Here's a wine appreciation cheat sheet for Spiral's Sunday Champagne Brunch:

Asian Ateliers

Brand: Craggy Range
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Origin: New Zealand, 2012
Pairing: wanton soup, white fish, and seafood

Brand: AIX rosé
Type: Rosé
Origin; Coteaux d'Aix en Provence 2012
Pairing: garden vegetables. scallops, grilled meat

Brand: Madfish
Type: Shiraz
Origin: Australia, 2009
Pairing: Hokien Mee, grilled pork, any red meat

Western Ateliers

Brand: William Fevre
Type: Chablis
Origin: Burgundy, France, 2011
Pairing: seafood, pesto fusili, fishes, white meat, and foie gras

Brand: Bouchard Père & Fils
Type: Pinot Noir
Origin: France, 2011
Pairing: pizza, red meat, and light flavored cheeses

Brand: Dourthe No. 1
Type: Rouge
Origin: Bordeaux France, 2011
Pairing: any red meat, Spiral burger, full flavored cheeses, and cold cuts

Desert Ateliers

Brand: Hugel & Fils
Type: Gewürztraminer
Origin: France, 2011
Pairing: fruits based dessert, puto bumbong, bibingka

Brand: Henriot
Type: Champagne
Origin: France
Pairing: chocolate desserts

If you ask me, I like the wine that is typically liked by the ladies. These are mostly flat and white wines that don't have strong acidity or that "alcoholic" taste. My experience is that these wines relax and makes me happy the most :D

My Top 3 Picks from Spiral's Wine Selection

1. Champagne Henriot - perfect start to any meal, it is very refreshing and clean tasting.

2. Dragon Fruit wine - surprise! Spiral houses local wines too. If you are lucky, they have this variant (I heard they are thinking about making it a regular) but if not, ask for other local wines just for experience.

3. William Fevre, Chablis - I like to enjoy this after the champagne because it's a little more concentrated yet still light and fresh. Best also for my salmon sashimi and other sushi.

I hope this post offered you some insights that encourages you to comfortably experience wine appreciation at The Spiral in Sofitel Manila. I want to end this by emphasizing it's not about your knowledge of wine but discovering what taste you like and enjoy.

If you found this post helpful, please leave me a comment below or share it with your friends on Facebook or Twitter :)

merci beaucoup!

Why you should get a Starbucks Card

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 09:33:00 +0000

I finally got my Starbucks Card! And as an avid fan of TV shows like Extreme Couponing, I am thrilled that Starbucks is allowing their patrons to earn points, freebies, and rewards from purchases.

Here's what you need to know: The Starbucks Rewards card is free. The minimum load is Php 300 and is consumable. The card does not cost anything at all. In fact, when you register your card online (and you should), you automatically get a FREE Grande handcrafted beverage plus a free slice of cake every year during your birthday!

So save-a-holics and freebie-holics, step one is to get the card and register it at http://www.starbucks.ph/card

The card was just launched today and as an additional promo, when you load Php 1,500 you get Php 300 instantly. This promo is only valid until Friday, so load up when you can and earn Php 300.

How to earn points:

1 beverage star for every purchase of any handcrafted beverage
1 whole bean star for every purchase of 250g of whole bean coffee
1 VIA star for every purchase of 12 pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

How to redeem rewards:

12 beverage stars = any Grande handcrafted beverage
10 whole bean stars = any 250g whole bean coffee
10 VIA stars = any 12 pack Starbucks VIA Ready Brew

Don't forget that holiday season is coming up fast and having a Starbucks Card is the best way to get the most out of your visits, plus while collecting stamps for your Starbuck organizer! Makes perfect sense?

When you get your Starbucks Card, I suggest putting it in your wallet right away and bring it everywhere you go. You can't tell when you are visiting 1 of over 210 Starbucks Stores.

If you're a mom like me, you're probably guilty of escaping home and going to the nearby Starbucks to read your favorite magazines. Now you can turn your guilt into pleasurable rewards, ha! :D

Remember, your Starbucks Card is as good as cash. But with the online account, you are secured for when you leave your card somewhere or if somebody else takes it. All you have to do is to deactivate the card. You can load up to Php 10,000 and have as many cards as you want - they will all be synced into 1 account.

For more information and to rave about your Starbucks Card, visit https://www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines

Ultimate Food show: WOFEX Marketplace at SMX July 31 - August 3

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 06:47:00 +0000

The World Food Expo (WOFEX) is finally happening this week! It's a humongous expo that happens every year, and it only gets bigger this 2013.

Here is what you need to know: The event is happening in two venues. The World Trade Center and SMX Convention Center.Where to go? If you are looking for ingredients to buy, then head to the WOFEX Marketplace at SMX. This is what I intend to do.

However, if you are a serious trader i.e. kitchen equipment then head to the WOFEX trade at WTC.

Unlike its trade counterpart, the WOFEX Marketplace is open to the public from July 31- August 3. Ticket price is Php 150. This is a serious venue to explore food trends, source ingredients for personal or small business use, and learn from the free on-stage cooking demos.

Important reminder: You cannot bring children to the venue. The crowd is thick and is not condusive for children's comfort. As much as possible, attendees are requested to leave as soon as they are finished with shopping to make room for other visitors. Yes, this is how packed WOFEX can be!

However, it's still a must-visit especially for people like me who are the designated "marketer" and "chef" at home. Apart from food shopping, I am keeping my eyes peeled for new recipes and business ideas. The organizers and partners are very generous in teaching. In fact, here's the line up of free stage shows for the WOFEX Marketplace attendees:

DAY 1 July 31, 2013 (Wednesday)

12nn-1pm No Compromise Cooking with Borges

1pm – 2pm Savor The Long Life Happiness

2pm – 3pm Yummy Dishes Made Easy!

3pm – 4pm Food Creativity by World Class Concepts

4pm – 5pm Gourmet-to-Go, A ScanAsia Cooking Demo

5pm – 6pm Difficult is Easy: Hassle-free Food Preppin’ with Breville

DAY 2 August 1, 2013 (Thursday)

12nn – 1pm Taste the Difference with Divella

1pm - 2pm Menu: The Magic of Cooking featuring Chef Ric Loteria

2pm – 3pm Everyday Food Made Better With Eden

3pm – 4pm Classic Touch by Chef Heny Sison

4pm – 6pm HRCAP-CATFABS Chefs Culinary Showdown

Day 3, August 2, 2013 (Friday)

10am-11am Sarap Super Q

11am – 12nn Cooking with Marca Chef

12nn – 1pm Yummy Dishes Made Easy!

1pm – 2pm Idol sa Kusina

2pm – 3pm Barista Choi Coffee Demo

3pm – 4pm Good Food Deserves Lurpak

5pm – 6pm Chute & Squeeze: Healthy Juicing Made Easier with Breville

Day 4, August 3, 2013 (Saturday)

11am – 12nn Everyday Creations by Chef Nino Logarta

12nn – 1pm Crumbled Goodness that Crisp to the Taste

1pm – 2pm Paella Arroz Caldo Toppings

2pm – 3pm Menu: The Magic of Cooking featuring Chef Ric Loteria

3pm – 4pm McCormick Foodservice Brings Passion to Flavor

4pm – 6pm Quick and Easy Cooking with Oster and KitchenAid

This is a lot of free knowledge not just for small business owners but for homemakers as well. Make sure you come prepared, and make sure you attend this year's ultimate food show! :)

Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WOFEX

There's Taho in my Starbucks!

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 07:45:00 +0000

My latest Starbucks journey was at Wan Chai in Hong Kong, but nothing really beats home. I feel like our local Starbucks knows me (and you) like the back of their hands. The beverages, food, service, and overall coffee experience is a clear reflection of what we locals want. And what do you know, they've even added taho in their frapuccino!

Starting tomorrow, 16 July - you'll experience this new and innovative twist on your favorite Starbucks drinks. Ask your barista for a tall Dark Mocha White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino or, if you are a green tea lover like I am - ask for a Green Tea White Chocolate Pudding Frappuccino.

I had the pleasure of trying out these beverages before launch. They had the combined texture of chocolate chips, silky white pudding, and offered a very good mouth feel. Statistics are split, 50-50 between the two flavors.

I lean towards the Green Tea pudding frappe for it's Asian and healthy flavors. Most of all, it's cheaper by Php 10 compared to the Dark Mocha variant ;)

I wonder what Manong Taho would say! But I am guessing he'll give it a thumbs up. Our local vendor already invented chocolate taho that he sells in the afternoon. It's a fact, people can't get enough of it and how lucky are we that ther's a Starbucks version of our local favorite!

P.S. Starbucks doesn't call the secret ingredient taho, but pudding which is more understandable for most people.

By the way, don't be fooled at how the pudding appears as only 1/3 of your beverage. Once you slurp, everything mixes up in a perfect harmony, including the foamy whipped cream. For the benefit of serious pudding lovers, I hope our friendly braistas can soon allow us to customize the amount of pudding in our drinks : D

Remington Hotel – Affordable Enjoyment at Resorts World Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Mon, 27 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Resorts World is one of those places that leave you wishing you could’ve stayed longer. The place is always a good place to play, dine, and relax – with new stores, attractions and events, it’s almost impossible to fit them all in one day (and still look chic and fresh).

One of the things I’ve learned over all of my hotel stays is that to make the most of somewhere, you have to sleep there! You bet, otherwise the travel time and fun is capped by the urging idea of traffic, getting home, etc.

If you think this will cost an arm and leg, there are hotels like Remington who is targeted to the smart, budget-savvy traveler (and party-goer). Here is a genuine review and experience of my stay and how Remington allowed me to enjoy Resorts World to the fullest. I hope this also serves as your itinerary for your next visit.

Remington Hotel is just across Resorts World Manila, it has a McDonald’s chain on the ground floor as well as a convenient 7eleven. Both are plus points for budget conscious travelers like me, and then the eternally hungry folks looking for a quick grub 24/7.

Dining at Resorts World Manila

Before checking-in, we dined at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants – Mr. Kurosawa. I went with my husband and this was the most relaxed dining experience ever. It was a good start to our Resorts World adventure and that is already one item out of our to-do/to-eat list. Don't forget to use your Resorts World Membership card to get a 10% discount on your bill.

After our early lunch, we walked to Remington Hotel. There were plenty of couches in the check-in area which is good if there is a queue. During our stay, all check-in desks were attended by staff and check-in was fast and simple.

We were given a twin bedroom in the 10th floor with a winning view of the NAIA3 airport. I’ve never stayed put so near airplanes before and I hoped this would cure my fear of flying. With this view, you’d think a room like this is super expensive.

Standard Room costs Php 4,200+

Back to the room, the furniture and amenities are pretty straightforward. I appreciate the minimalist approach and how it is compensated by unique floor amenities like a vending machine. What you’ll find inside the room: your twin beds, an expansive counter beside the window where you can work, a wall mounted LCD TV, a small bathroom complete with towels, toiletries, and complimentary bottled water. There’s also a spacious place for your luggage if you’re not traveling light.

There is no electric kettle and refrigerator, but with what we are up to at Resorts World – this is barely our concern and are happy to give these amenities a pass.

I pegged the room as a place to rest in between activities, to freshen up and dress up. Perfect if you have an all-nighter date or gimmick with friends. In our case, we were reliving our single days before our son Ashton :)

So after a brief siesta and watching a movie called The Maiden Heist, we decided to move on our next agenda – TWG Tea Parlor.

Afternoon Tea at TWG, Resorts World

TWG in Resorts World is not as packed as it’s brother in Greenbelt 5. Again, stress-free. How many times can we just walk to TWG from our bed right? Nothing really compares! For the first time, I was able to enjoy a Chic Tea Set in peace and my husband, a to die for Wagyu Burger Meal.

In true Resorts World fashion, we met up with some friends to attend an event that was also happening in Remington Hotel. Nothing really compares when you can drink all the Cabernet Sauvignon you want, I was in wine heaven. Too bad I was too full from TWG to enjoy the food.

Remington Hotel has its own bar called R Bar which is my type of place as it is well stocked with drinks, there’s some sports playing on TV screens, and very comfortable sofas that you can enjoy alone or with your friends. The lighting is always generous but soft. I don’t really like dark drinking places! I actually spent some alone time here after all the walking and talking. Heaven.

All of the time, I enjoyed the feeling of timelessness and Resorts World is a place that just never sleeps! On normal days, I would watch my favorite soap then sleep. But this was no ordinary day, this is a day that nothing compares with! But… I didn’t miss my soap. After the cocktails, I went up to my room to freshen up, help my stomach digest by drinking my wheat grass (really, after all the tea and wine I consumed), put my feet up and watched my soap opera.

Bar 360 at Resorts World Manila

Next thing I knew I was getting ready to go to Bar 360 at the Resorts World casino! If you do this normally and in succession, and if you are in the quarter of your life like me – you would be exhausted. But not with Remington Hotel.

Bar 360 is something I just discovered during my stay with friends. I always pass it by but never knew how fun it is to hang out here and watch the live performances. We enjoyed lots of good food like the Adobo pizza, tuna kinilaw, cheese sticks, and lots of other grub in the menu.

I am surprised at how affordable yet enjoyable the food at Bar 360 is. The mojito is also very good and you can easily order more than 2 glasses.

You’d think the night is over but the cinema was beckoning us to watch Iron Man 3. Diners like Stackers, Pepper Lunch, etc. were all still open. It’s just so fun here in a place that never sleeps! If you have difficulty winding down, head to the Spa at Resorts World like we did:

Our room looked even more attractive when we came back, with the city lights visible and the bed looking so clean and comfortable to sleep in. I slept like a princess who has fulfilled all her duties :)

Breakfast Buffet at Remington Hotel

The morning after, we treated ourselves to a buffet breakfast at the ground floor. R Bar looks so different during the day but the food remains delicious. The choices were reasonable with meat, fish, and pork. I especially enjoyed a Filipino breakfast of Tapa, Fried Rice, and Eggs.

Unlike major hotels, Remington wasn’t as crowded and I even enjoyed making new friends over breakfast. The place is very conducive to have conversations while digesting hearty food.

Service

The service of Remington Hotel is worth more than you pay for. Everything was fast, it was very easy to make requests, and staff are all personable. One thing I would suggest is to revise their uniform hehe, but this is a very minor detail.

If you want some more amenities in your room, you can go for their newly launched premium rooms which has a min bar, a refrigerator, a small dining area, and a microwave upon request.

Overall, I really really enjoyed the Remington Hotel. It’s hard not to equate the hotel with all the activities and fun that can be had at Resorts World. They are all part of the luxury here and Remington Hotel makes it possible for more people to enjoy it.

Ocean's Harvest Seafood Buffet at The Marriott Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sat, 04 May 2013 07:39:00 +0000

You don't have to be a scuba diver to appreciate underwater creatures, at M Cafe all you need to have is a hearty appetite!

Reminiscent of dampa style dining where you can pick seafood and see it cooked, M Cafe offers the same experience but with fresher and wider selection of seafood that will put your favorite dampa diner to shame. Really.

Sweet chili crabs

The best thing is, it's a seafood buffet! Pick and enjoy all the seafood your heart desires. Be warned that it is challenging to select from a wide array of fish, shrimps, mussels, clams, scallops, and lobster. Lobster? Yes!

Baked scallops are the first order of the day

This is from my experience dining at M Cafe on a weekday. Weekday buffets tend to be drab and not as exciting as weekend offerings, but that's not the case here. Aside from seafood, the seafood buffet is inclusive of M Cafe favorites like the Teppanyaki station, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and International selections.

5 ways to make the most out of The Marriott Seafood Buffet

1. Make a reservation - it always pays to phone M Cafe and let their hospitable staff know your arrival time and number of companions. It's a must-practice if you want to feel "expected" and avoid the hassle of waiting for a table.

Nilasing na hipon, you can eat the shell too!

2. Grab friendly company - bring your friends, family, workmates, etc. This dampa style buffet is best enjoyed with a group. You might run out of ideas on the best way to cook your fish or lobster, your friends can suggest recipes like "nilasing na hipon" or "sinigang". All of which the chefs at M Cafe can concoct for your enjoyment.

I am not good at cooking seafood so I let my companions do the ordering. All you have to do is select the seafood, go to the designated stations and asked for it to be cooked your way. You will be given a number you can hang on your table. The food will automatically come to you - no hassle, no problems. Just eat! :)

3. Ask the chefs - M Cafe chefs are all helpful and can suggest their best recipes to treat your seafood with. I love how the cooked the lobsters in special sauce. They even shell it out for you.

4. Save space for more - you can cross to other stations and treat yourself to Japanese or Chinese food in between fishes and lobsters. It's good to keep your palette interested during this time. I recommend having rice cooked in the Teppanyaki station for a different and more flavorful twist to go with your meal.

5. Dessert, save the best for last - I love M Cafe because they simply do not scrimp when it comes to dessert. M Cafe favorites are gelato, cheesecakes, and fresh fruits that cleans your palette after a heavy meal. I love it!

All that's left for me to wish is a glass of wine to go with the seafood. I settled for sparkling water, San Pellegrino which costs just Php 300+ for one bottle that you can share.

Or you can also order the Drink of the Month and get Mr. Lobster for free! He is so cute :)

The Seafood Buffet at M Cafe is a one of a kind experience for me. It has every bit I love in dampa restaurants minus all the stuff I hate about it - the crowd, bugs, smell, and noise. M Cafe is my go-to place for a relaxed satisfying meal that comes with exemplary service.

The Ocean's Harvest buffet costs Php 2,300 and happens every Friday and Saturday nights only. Visit Marriott Hotel on Facebook for more updates.

Catch you there :)

Crosswinds Resort Suites Tagaytay - Luxury Weekend Getaway

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 09:59:00 +0000

The journey towards every weekend is 5 days long, and 2 days always leave us wanting more! At Crosswinds Resort Suites in Tagaytay, you enter a time warp where you can take it slow and make the most out of a short hiatus from your busy life.

Finding your way to the hotel suites is already an experience. We happily got lost in streets and gentle slopes that were generously lined by pine trees. I don't mean mediocre amount but really, hundreds of hundreds of pine trees - that instantly lighten your mood and transport you to an exclusive weekend getaway.

Peaceful and quiet. I've never seen Tagaytay like this, not after so many years before buildings and diners lined the highway.

Crosswinds Hotel Suites is rested high up on the hills. The hotel manages 25 rooms in Quadrilles 2 where an exclusively owned unit would normally cost Php 4-6 million. It is important to note that this is not a regular hotel. Do not expect a grand buzzing lobby full of staff and other guests. The suites are actually owned by home owners and they are being managed and serviced by the International Hotels Group.

Thanks to IHG, you can experience executive class living in the highlands for a very small fraction of the cost!

Check-in experience at the Crosswinds Hotel Suites

I have a habit of trying to check-in early to get the most of our stay. We arrived early at 12nn, queried by the village guards and was let in easily. They expressed our check-in was at 2pm but we can already explore Crosswinds.

We tried to find the suites first and settle our luggages. You need to follow the white lines on the road that will lead you to the Quadrilles. The desk officer whom I read plenty about in Tripadvisor was okay. She initially asked us to return again at 2PM but I insisted if she can try to do anything about having our room ready for check-in. I had some perishables which needed refrigeration badly. After a few minutes, our room was ready. If you don't ask, you don't get ;)

2 Twin Bed Studio Unit at the Crosswinds Hotel Suites

A spacious hallway, reasonable bathroom, convenient kitchenette, expansive beds, working area, and a balcony! It was so much more than I expected and it instantly felt like home with all the space and room amenities.

The first order of the day was to enjoy a private view of Crosswinds from our balcony. The houses here are Swiss inspired, there are still a few which adds to the country-style vibe.

Kitchenette

This was the winning feat for me and one of the biggest factor I want to return. The big refrigerator housed prepared and takeaway food, kept our water cold, and the freezer - we filled with Magnum from Finds during our stay. There's also a microwave which lets us enjoy hot food away from home and without the need to go out, or call for takeaway.

There is also a stove where you can cook your own food. No need to bring pots and pans. An electric kettle is also provided for tea and coffee (or instant noodles too).

The kitchenette made our stay convenient and pocket friendly. It pays to research the amenities before checking in. I was prepared with a reasonable amount of cooked food, grocery items like canned sausages, bread, sandwich spreads, and a big jug of drinking water.

Do not forget your dishwashing liquid and sponge to keep everything neat and tidy. The room already has at least 4 plates, 2 sets of spoon & fork, drinking glasses, mugs, and 2 teaspoons. All of this made me feel like I was at home away from home!

Things to do in Crosswinds

Unlike the reviews I read, there are plenty of things to do at Crosswinds.

1. Enjoy nature and burn calories as you walk around the village. My family and I enjoyed walking to Finds, the nearby convenience store to find more stuff to munch on. Did I also mention Magnum?

2. Drive to Santa's Store. This is near the Crosswinds village entrance and where you can breathe in the scent of pines and enjoy al fresco tea time.

A must try are their freshly baked, moist, and big fluffly muffins. We recommend the chocolate chip one!

A very nice touch they added was piped in music to set the relaxing and gentle mood to Crosswinds. In the morning, I could hear this sound from my balcony which was lovely.

3. Check out the helipad. You don't need a chopper to enjoy this! I played some outdoor games with my son here. We do not leave without a ball which entertains us easily and let us enjoy the surroundings. It is a flat field so you will enjoy rolling, jumping, and sight-seeing from down below. You need to be careful not to slide down from the edges though.

It is the best place to have a picnic too and where you can take photos against nature. You just don't get this amount of greenery anywhere else.

4. Enjoy the clubhouse. Yes there is a clubhouse which is like a mini resort for homeowners and guests. We met some families from Crosswinds enjoying some R&R as well. There is a playground for kids, but most of all two swimming pools for adults and toddlers.

I read about the pool not being heated, I haven't seen any heated pool in the Philippines anyway. Plus, who needs heating on a fine summer day? My son Ashton was very brave in the toddler pool and played ball with other kids in the water.

The clubhouse was surrounded by trees which is no surprise at Crosswinds. The gentle breeze made lounging in the clubhouse fantastic and the trees provided a comfortable shade for everyone.

Important: Don't forget to pack your proper swimming attire, sun block, goggles, and wet toys.

5. Stargazing in your own room. The sky is not polluted in this part of Tagaytay. Our balcony turned into a mini observatory during the night. We setup our cameras to try and get a good shot of the night sky. I've never seen this plenty of stars for a long time. I proudly showed this to my toddler who was very curious the entire time. Constellations can easily be seen by the naked eye and in the horizon, you can see a few city lights.

The Crosswinds experience is absolutely unique, one worth of your precious time and budget. I will miss how it led me closer to nature without having to ride a plane or go beyond my comfort zone. I only wish to expose ourselves more to this place and less of the busy city we are used to.

Important tip if you don't have a car

Makes sure to take advantage of the FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE. The desk officer may forget to mention it but Crosswinds Hotel Suites always offer this convenience to all their guests.

You can ask to be driven to and from parts of Crosswinds - the clubhouse, Santa's store, model homes, etc. Just be prepared with a schedule you can stick to. Note the driver's mobile number too.

I super recommend Crosswinds Hotel Suites for families like us, and I hope this review helps you get the most out of it. If I should suggest a minor thing for improvement, it is for the desk officer or welcome committee to be more friendly and informative of what the hotel and place offers.

See you at Crosswinds!

Summer at The Sofitel Hotel Manila - Club Room with a View

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 07:19:00 +0000

When you don't have the luxury to go outside Metro Manila but want to experience a five-star summer time, your best bet is The Sofitel.

It was my first time to stay in this luxury hotel so here I blog on how to make the most of it. Upon check-in, I was presented an offer to upgrade to a club room. The temptation was hard to resist after reading what's in store.

From my original booking of an Aqua View room, a standard room with a balcony and ocean view - I upgraded to a Sofitel Club Room at the 11th floor.

The club room gave us the privilege to check-in early at 12NN and a late check-out the next day at 4PM. From that alone, the upgrade as worth it. But there's more.

A club room comes with buffet breakfast for two at Spiral or Club Millesime (your choice), free refreshments whenever you please and how much you please at the club lounge including a magnificent spread of horderves for high tea and wine tasting from 5-7PM.

Waiting for his Apple Juice

Macs you can use at the Club Lounge (Millesime)

Club Millisime was always our fancy pitstop between meals and activities. You will love the feel of exclusivity and comfort here. Not to mention, the club staff were very welcoming and attends to all of your needs.

Next attraction for us was the famous Sofitel lagoon. This was active with tourists, kids, and people toasting under the sun. My son loved the kiddie pool which was very shallow and not intimidating for kids his age. We enjoyed splashing and playing with other kids here.

The pool felt never-ending and has enough spots for families, kids, couples, etc. Trees afford visitors to swim anytime with a friendly shade. Plus, the natural sea breeze was just wonderful and lent a natural feel even when swimming in an artificial body of water.

Our stay also coincided with the Pyro Olympics and we had the best view from our balcony for the night. It was truly magical and I love the al fresco spot that I just keep the sliding doors open most of the time.

We celebrated and capped the night at Club Millesime, which turns into a very cozy place in the evening. Great spot to go for parents who want couple time sans the kids.

Next day was breakfast at Spiral. Make sure you get up early as the place gets pretty crowded. The choices were plenty but I expected more. One thing I like is how they had Korean choices like Kimchi early in the morning. Just my kind of treat to go with the traditional Tapa and Tocino.

Here, every spot has WiFi including our room which has complimentary internet access. Very easy to entertain yourself while digesting food or waiting for the next activity. Since we were given a lte checkout, we were unhurried on our 2nd day and afforded a relaxing morning along the bay. Just before we jumped into the pool again.

Manila bay never looked so exclusive. It was nice to have my son see it minus the crowd at Mall of Asia. It felt like the bay view belonged to us while we sat, walk, ran, and play around healthy patches of green grass.

There's also a mini playground in case your kids get bored of the view which I doubt. Ashton loved the driving fixture and dancing the Harlem Shake around the garden.

Exclusive check-out was a breeze from the 10th floor. I can get used to this "exclusive" treatment easily!

Overall, Sofitel is one expensive five-star hotel (at least for me and compared to others I've stayed in) but the memories created during our stay was worth every penny.

Highly recommended for: mini families. The absence of a nearby mall forces you to bond and enjoy nature which is a rarity these days :)

SM Southmall 3 Day Sale's 3 Way Save

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:31:00 +0000

Fashion Walk at The SM Store

SM South Mall turned into a frugalista shoppers' playground today. Check out my previous post about their 3 Day Sale, 3 Way Save to find out why. As expected, the mall was packed with smart shoppers and I joined the club early today, armed with my mini calculator and inside my head, fashion inspirations for summer.

The SM Store - Soiree

Almost everyone's goal at The SM Store was to purcahse Php 2,000 worth of items. Not a surprise when you can get Php 100 worth of savings coupon for reaching the threshold. SO, with my 2,000 budget - my focus was super sharp on my favorite SM Store Brands - Soiree, Betty, Red Head, and Chill.

The SM Store - Betty

Sweet dresses are the top trend this summer. Actually, if you choose classic styles then you can wear them all year round. I have a soft spot for dresses as they are super versatile and create a flattering, soft look.

Printed pieces from some of these brands were up to 50% off! I couldn't believe my eyes as they are not even off-season. It must be every shopper's lucky 3 days!

To break the monotony of classic styles in my wardrobe, I purchased a Red Head printed short dress. Originally, it was around P799. Now it's just about P400 after the 50% discount. Mission accomplished!

At Chill, I purchased a classic golden mustard textured dress that look so simple and stunning. I've been looking around for this. The price was P1,199 and it came with a slim belt. But wait! There was a class discount of 10% so I only paid P1,000 :)

Now, all eyes on Betty please. I just love this brand so much even if I just discovered it a couple of months ago. If you peak into my closet I have at least 3 Betty dresses now. The style is classic, sweet, and simple. Don't be fooled with 'simple' though because I just love dazzling it up with statement necklaces from SM Accessories. (I'll blog about this more later. Hint: their summer collection just launched!)

I seldom have a pink dress so I took the 3 day sale opportunity to grab one. Betty's prices are always affordable so I didn't mind that they were not slashed at all. P599.75 for my little pink dress, sweet!

Grand total of my dress shopping spree was P2,709 and this earned me my P100 savings coupon! It was very easy to claim near cashier 15 where I also claimed my raffle stubs. This was a first for me, I never experienced cash backs in my entire shopping life. I used the P100 savings coupon right away to buy discounted diapers for my son. Good mommy!

Of course, you have to be prepared when you come to the 3 day sale. So heads up to all of you going to the last day tomorrow - choose items you want to fit first, grab possible sizes, and fall in line at the fitting room.

There are several fitting rooms but with discounts this big, expect to fall in line. Wear flats and clothes that you can easily remove for effective fitting. If you have a Prestige or silver/platinum BDO rewards card - you get the privilege of not lining up.

All the wait was worth it for me with all the savings I made, not to mention my fantastic fashion picks :) So off I joined my partner and son to dine at The Black Canyon Coffee, located at SM South Mall's food street.

SM South Mall Food Street - Black Canyon Coffee's winning Pad Thai
See, we saved a lot so we could happily splurge and eat our favorite Asian fare.

Black Canyon Coffee's deliciously Japanese Katsu

Toy Kingdom was also on sale so we got Ashton a flashy Hotwheels ATV, complete with Disney Cars safety gear.

This day was such a winner, thanks for the extraordinary experience SM and I heard this won't be the last certainly. Now I'm on the lookout for the next SM Supermall to hold their 3 day sale, 3 wave save!

SM Southmall 3 Day Sale on March 1-3

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:21:00 +0000

Is this the most exciting and generous 3-day sale ever? Look below for their 3 way save promo:

Lucky people who get to shop for the first 2 hours today! I will however, unleash my shopping monster tomorrow (weekend). Spend P2,000 and get P100 back from SM Southmall. Sounds like a plan!

Best thing to do before heading to a big sale really, is to learn the fine print and memorize all the good deals to be had. Talk about stretching your peso to the max. As you can see below, you can join this competition on Instagram and Twitter while you shop.

It won't hurt to join and win/save more right? Not sure what the prizes are but I can imagine SM Southmall giving away more shopping GCs or GCs from their partner establishments.

If you're in a hurry and social media is not your thing (which I doubt), then also join their onsite raffle to win 1 of their 3 Devant 50" Smart 3D TV. This is actually a very fun activity that you can share with other shoppers, find out where the draw will be held and join others in anticipation :)

Personally, it's time for me to grab some summer fashion essentials and there's no better time to do this than this weekend! See you all at SM Southmall and good luck in grabbing the best bargains plus many prizes!

Discovering Chinese New Year at Ramada Hotel - Chinatown, Binondo

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:31:00 +0000

Chinatown in Manila will always be a curious place. It's a good adventure to walk along Ongpin and find bargain food, bargain feng shui, bargain fruits, etc. You name it, they have it.

Amazing chaos and photobomb in Chinatown haha

One thing that holds me back from going is the hassle of traffic and the thought of not having a comfy pitstop to rest tired feet. One week before Chinese New Year, my partner announced that we're staying in Binondo - and beside Binondo Church.

The hotel is called Ramada, I googled it quickly and could not imagine something fancy like this can be had in Chinatown. Indeed it was a stone's throw away from the iconic Church, in fact- the Church's medieval dome was beside our window.

We stayed in the 9th floor, an executive room with a king sized bed. The room exceeded my expectations from all levels. Everything looked spick and span, the bed looked very fancy with the turtle-shaped towel arrangements and with little surprises for guests.

There were some tikoys and peanut bars for us to enjoy while we acquiant ourselves with the room.

A little work corner was available, and like many of the furniture - it was ergonomically placed in a quiet corner.

The TV looked shiny and new, flat screen and mounted on the wall. I don't like huge TV sets encased in old furniture. They take a lot of space in small hotel rooms. Ramada knows better.

The bathroom was immaculate, roomy and functional. My eyes feasted on the generous toiletries, and look - a bidet! Both a bath tub and a shower room were available separately. The most interesting things would definitely be the glass window between the bedroom and the bath room.

This made the room look even more spacious and provided some comic moments to me and my partner. Of course, there's a blind you can turn to conceal one side and to enjoy your privacy.

From our room, I can easily look down at Ongpin St. There were dragons, lions, and fire breathers. I feel like Wendy in Peter Pan.

But more important to me than Chinese New Year is the flea market. My target was 168 mall where wholesale stuff are available and retail are at a big fraction of a price from malls.This shopping mecca is just a 5 minute walk from the hotel. As with other places, be careful when walking the streets of Binondo. Best to have someone with you at all times.

If you want something more posh to match your Ramada stay, there's the newly opened Lucky China Town Mall. No flea market here, just luxurious brands and diners that can easily spoil your desires.

After all the walking and shopping, it always felt like heaven to retreat to our bed. It was five star quality and everytime, we hesitate to get up from it. I had a good night sleep and woke up at 9AM. Almost late for the breakfast buffet.

Breakfast was simple and straight forward. Choices are limited but maybe this is how it is in Chinatown. There's dumplings, pancit, and siopao for breakfast. If you want pancakes, bacon, and eggs - those are available too. If you want to have brunch, there's rice and some viands like adobo and century egg. It was an interesting buffet after all.

The dining area was cozy, it felt more like a private restaurant without the ruckus of breakfast buffets. TLC was on cable TV which was mounted strategically on a wall. I felt both at home but with the luxury busy people will appreciate.

Not to forget, the staff are warm, friendly and looked smart. As if they are waiting for you to ask something, and when you do - they immediately get it done. They also took us around to discover Binondo.

Ramada Hotel provides a welcome contrast to Chinatown. Outside it's all busy and can get chaotic but at Ramada, you can expect privacy, comfort, and reasonable luxury. Something I will recommend for everyone to experience and discover. There's no better way to explore Chinatown than with Ramada.

2013 at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:35:00 +0000

The tradition I've started carried on and we spent another auspicious New Year at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. Our stay here is always fantastic, hence we can't help but always return.

We checked in early on 31st December. I make it a point to be early and organized when checking-in. You can expect chaos at around 2pm when everyone is rushing to be settled in their bookings. Since I was early (and nice), our room was ready around 12.30pm so we had plenty of time to rest.

My family and relatives are celebrating with us so we booked a total of 3 rooms, two of them connecting. Perfect for a small in-room NY party.

After resting, we got to enjoy the resort right away. Again thanks for the early check-in. It was my first time to swim here and it was so much fun! The pool is well-kept, lots of lifeguards and guards to ensure everyone is safe and properly dressed.

Kids are given life vests which is a super plus. My niece enjoyed swimming without the fear of sinking! The pool was as still pristine the next day, even after the New Year celebration. My partner and I also dined at the pool side before checking out the next day.

We ordered some ravioli and char kway teow. Bar service took a while, food arrived like after 45 minutes but it was okay. It is the new year after all.

Back to day one, we just had dinner at Shangri-la mall. Hotels that are walking distance from malls are a major plus. We'd love to dine at HEAT but when you're with a toddler, it's hard to make the most out of your buffet.

Come midnight, we could see a fantastic view of fireworks from our room. Really enjoyed all of them minus the smoke. We actually saved a lot of money by having our mini-party here instead of the hotel's ballroom.

My sister Joni bought this New Year cake which was a perfect mood setter and my sister in law, Michelle brought some bubbly. Perfect!

We all had the best celebration but wait, there's more. And I'm talking about the buffet the morning after!

As usual, choices were impressive and almost paralyzing. We also got to dine in their private area because of our head count. I managed to eat Lechon for breakfast too :)

Lunch time was room service, a bit expensive for the taste and delayed arrival of the food. Although the malls are closed so we didn't have a choice.

We requested for a late checkout at 2pm which was granted and in time for the car service. All cars had wi-fi and a fancy looking driver.

All in all, it was another well-spent stay at The Shangri-la and we all can't wait to come back again. Maybe next time we'll remind ourselves to bring more food! :)

See you again next year!

Flip flops: Back for the Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:56:00 +0000

The cold spell is now dwindling and it only means one thing. Summer is here and a long one it's going to be! So as early as now, I'm writing about a summer must-have and I'm talking about flip flops :)

If you're like me who can't have enough comfy pairs, there's a brand of flip flop you might be overlooking. When it comes to flipflops, different brands not only mean different styles but different comfort levels too.

And don't forget that comfort should be on top of your list. These Caribbean flip flops almost makes me feel bare feet. As if my feet are sking on the rubber soles. I want to get the most out of this summer and these are perfect to keep my feet going whilst staying pretty!

Caribbean footwear says these soles are artistically formed to create proper foot formation and posture that will enhance endurance while walking or running.

I have two Caribbean flip flops whose designs are fairly simple (see above, those are actual photos of my own pair). I think that's what summer is all about. Letting your hair down, keeping it casual, light, and fun.

This season, we're seeing more shear long dresses and skirts that have dipping hems. I'm talking about these:

I officially declare these are equally good-looking with my Caribbean flip flops. Look for these styles when shopping trendy this summer. Don't forget to bring your flipflops to dry-run your outfits with.

Shopping for summertime is really exciting - tell me about it! Just writing this post makes me want to go to the department stores (where Carribean flip flops are also available). One of my goals is to be more organizes when packing for the resort. Hence, I think another must-have is a clear bag like this:

Also perfect for stuffing and showing off your cute flip flops! By the way, if you frequent The World Trade Bazaar, Caribbean was one of the top sellers. So expect to see more pretty feet wearing this brand. Don't be surprised, a pair only costs around Php 200 - so get as many as you want without breaking the bank.

So, where are you headed this summer and what are you wearing? Tell me via comments below!

Follow Caribbean on Facebook for more info.

Hello Yishion - The District

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 03:42:00 +0000

Yishion opened their second shop in the Philippines at Ayala's newest community mall in the south called The District. If you're not familiar with Yishion, here's a crash course: Yishion is a Chinese brand launched in 1997 to offer customers around the globe with good quality, on-trend clothing at affordable prices.

Affordable and quality are certainly effective baits. With Php 3,000 on hand, I dipped my toes in a new fashion experience that is Yishion.

Yishion has over 5,000 stores worldwide that spread their fashion culture - trendy, youthful, and free.

Youthful + edgy | Sleeveless casual heather grey dress by Yishion.

Quality plain garments give you the freedom to accessorize and transform your look without robbing the bank.

Sweet + fierce| Black studded dress by Yishion. Add to your LBD collection.

Invest on classic pieces that you can make several looks with! I'm really enjoying dressing up and sharing my Yishion :)

Nautical + softy | Blue and white striped blouse from Yishion

Amazing how many looks my Php 3,000 achieved with Yishion! I could come up with more and I sure you'll even do a better job at it. Which look do you like best?

I can't wait to return to the shop which is a really fashion habitat for humanity haha :)

Learn more about Yishion and like their Facebook Page.

Sparkle this holiday without overspending | New collections from SM Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Should you buy new clothes for your holiday parties? Yes, maybe. But, consider these updated pieces from SM accessories first. Play the video for some fashion inspiration:

Let's play detective here, notice how most of the celebrity models are wearing plain colored dresses? Close your eyes and imagine them without the blings. They look just like your wardrobe! Or maybe, close enough.

The point is, this holiday, you don't have to spend on new sparkly dresses. You can sparkle the same with your existing wardrobe with the help of some accessories. And this tip is true the whole year round. Holidays are special though because you have a great excuse to go OTT *over the top*.

When it comes to accessories, I play it safe and practical so I just head to the department store. Believe it or not, they've got it all and at the right price. Yesterday, SM was also having a Thanksgiving Sale and it meant 10% off on all items including SM accessories. It was the awaited signal for many shoppers just like me.

How to shop for accessories this holiday

1. When buying accessories, wear plain clothing. Here, I am wearing a beige polo shirt. Just one of the few plain pieces I have in my closet.

2. Make yourself up. If you don't, you'd be mistaken that the accessory does not suit you or your face. Wear the usual makeup you'd put on or if you are buying for a specific event, then consider wearing the same makeup you intend to wear.

3. Try them on. Don't be lazy! Necklaces look different on your neck and when they are simply hanging on the racks. Sometimes you'd think the piece is not for you but once you try it on, you'd realize it may just be your best accessory yet!

It also pays to be early, the collection just launche but I am finding it hard to find the gold necklace on Anne Curtis' neck:

I am lucky enough to haul some pieces from the collection though. Thanks to my SM Advantage Card, I got them all at 10% off. It was the Thanksgiving Sale.

This black and very versatile necklace

This cocktail ring

In advance and a few weeks ago, I got a blue bib necklace too. It really helps me look a lot 'fresher'.

Here are some more accessories that deserves a space in our closet

The massive gold and black set is wow. I'll give you an award if you can pull this out. I am thinking it should go well with a bare neck and chest. So low cut dresses or tube-style clothing.

By the way, each of this set has their own rack in the department store. Some really are hard to find now. Just like the blue bib necklace above :(

Really nice and sexy! I am going for this as soon as stock becomes available.

Fire and Ice collection, reds are so holiday-ish and anything with red is confidence boosting. Which of these items would you go for?

You can find more inspiration from SM Accessories on Facebook where they have daily doses of fashion tips and pegs from celebrities. It's almost the end of the year, you deserve a fashion upgrade and it's not a hard feat with SM accessories ;)

*Price check: from Php200-Php400

Enchanted Halloween at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:13:00 +0000

Moms like me need little helpers when it comes to celebrating special holidays, and that includes a spooktacular halloween! I am not alone when I tell you that many of us have discovered a more peaceful, comfortable, safe, enjoyable, and yes, practical way to let our kids enjoy trick or treating.

Here's a photo of me and Ashton in costume. I am supposed to be a soldier and he is a prince.

For this year's halloween, I fully depended on Edsa Shangri-la Hotel (my favorite hotel so far from all I've stayed in). We enjoyed New Year 2012 here and were not disappointed, so we thought we'd do the same for halloween.

Daddy is a minion from Despicable Me

Most of the time, parents bring their kids to malls. We've tried that but were exhausted by the end of all activities. It involved a lot of leg and guess work. Will my kid enjoy, will he bring home some candies, what activities are there?

Not at Enchanted Halloween, it was our most comfortable halloween yet! We arrived 30 minutes before the event. Lined up with other kids who are all cooperative in their costumes. You can really feel the halloween spirit here haha :)

There were lots of booths to keep kids busy. From face painting to photo booths which were all included in the ticket fee (We paid Php 1,080 for each of us). Our hands were already full from freebies even before the event started.

Isla Ballroom was transformed into an enormous enchanted forest. Everyone of course, had seats here and we all comfortably ate our set lunch. It isn't a buffet but you get your own food from the 'enchanted' spread.

Here's our lunch of spaghetti, nuggets, hotdog, and fried chicken Shangri-la style.

I believe desserts were unlimited and I fancy the halloween cupcakes. Some had witches on them! Sorry for the lack of good photos, my hands were full.

Ashton is just two years old so he didn't get to play any of the staged games. If your kid is 5 and up I am sure they'll have fun. After the games, there was a Mad Science Show. Ashton was not interested BUT there's an alternative 'Barney' room for the likes of him.

Ashton and I trooped to the Make your own halloween bag room aka 'Barney room' because there's a large TV playing Barney. It was a lifesaver for us! Ashton watched Barney and colored his bag away with my help. This while we waited for the official trick or treating to start. This is such a good idea to have an alternative in case toddlers want a quieter space.

Then, we were all ready to collect goodies from Shangri-la hotel's restaurants. The kids are all very cute lining up for candies.

We also went home with the official goodie bag which had even more candies and kiddie snacks inside. Ashton was satisfied.

If you ask me, I am definitely repeating this next year. We now have two family traditions inside Shangri-la Hotel and we are very pleased they always surpass our expectations :)

Staycation at Maxims Hotel, Resorts World

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 09:37:00 +0000

Having a sleepover inside Resorts World is a dream come true. It's hard to decide how to spend your time leisurely with all that's in store.

It becomes more challenging if you're staying at Maxims Hotel. Here's what our suite looked like:

I love that our suite came with a mini dining area. My son Ashton hates to eat in busy restaurants so we had our meals in room a number of times.

First time to enjoy my burger inside a 6 star suite!

The bathroom is any girl's dream, there is a makeup mirror, a chair for you to sit while doing your makeup, a bath tub, a shower, and an enclosed toilet.

Two sinks for him and her? The vanity mirror and seat inspired me to fix myself up:)

The bathroom also boasts of a spacious bath tub but I never got to use it. We prefer the infinity pool!

Space nowadays is a luxury and Maxims was able to provide that in many ways. Our room number is 803 and it had the BEST view of NAIA 3. Ashton is obsessed with airplanes, it was amazing for him to see planes actually take off from the runway.

Then, there's my partner's untouchable corner which is the work area. He loves how it is detached from other furniture, plus it had a hi-tech touch phone for calling the butler. If I may say, butler in Maxims is just another term for room service. You don't really get someone like Batman's Alfred.

However, I can vouch that their service can easily pass 6 stars. It's hard to find a hotel with excellent service and during our stay, it was made stress-free by staff. All my requests were granted without second thoughts.

Use this to call for room service, or there's always the traditional phone beside your bed.

Some things I asked for: for them to setup our dining table with plates, for them to pack leftovers, for early check in, and for late checkout. I was given a smoking room but we were not smokers, to compensate they gave us a huge ionizer in the room that cleans the air. Our room didn't smell bad at all.

It was tempting to cocoon inside our room all day, under heavy soft sheets, and watch cable TV. But, I wouldn't miss not enjoying their resort style pool area!

They had private gazebos with white couches, even this place had the luxury of space and privacy. The infinity pool was gorgeous and was just right for both kids and adults. The water was crystal clear and we were all very relaxed and comfy while enjoying the swim under the sun.

For me, this made our stay very worthwhile. I feel like I went to another resort to relax. We packed up to rest just before heading again to the mall area. There are lots of restaurants to choose from. Our favorite is Mr. Kurusawa and there's also Red Crab. We just ask for food to be taken away so we can enjoy them inside our room.

Thanks to room service staff for preparing our dining ware in advance. We got to enjoy our favorite Japanese food privately in our room.

If you have a Resorts World Member Card, you get 10% off on restaurants. Good thing I always have mine in my wallet, I got it 2 years ago when we had fun in the casino. I don't really play though but I like using it to get discounts :)

Maxims hotel's elevator is the same as the mall's, so getting around is a breeze. Being connected to Resorts World is probably the biggest selling point of this hotel. For one, cinemas in Resorts World are open 24 hours. When my toddler was asleep, my husband and I got to watch Taken 2 (we had childcare by the way).

Breakfast buffet is of course complimentary, this is the part where I would suggest Maxims to improve. Personally, I don't think it was a 6 star spread. It was modest but nothing fancy. We also ordered some in room breakfast for our little boy, this time it was fancy and we got to bring home small pots of jams. If I would book a suite again, I'd skip the complimentary breakfast buffet and just order a la carte.

This is Ashton's room service breakfast

Our next agenda was of course, Game Zoo! I played Ashton's and I's favorite fishing game. We won lots of tickets and got to swap it with a kiddie tumbler worth 200 points.

Ate M and Ashton are serious

But I am most serious of all, I won 200+ tickets in one day! :)

A stay in Maxims would cost aroun Php 15,000+ a night. I would say this is a really unique entertainment hotel fit for anyone who wants to get the most out of Resorts World. Recommended for balikbayans or for anyone who needs a serious downtime.

If you are budget conscious, you can also consider adjacent hotels like The Mariott or The Remington Hotel. They are all walking distance to Resorts World, I might try one of them soon and share the experience once again :)

The Off Price Show now in Manila - Shop famous brands at discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:58:00 +0000

While driving through EDSA, I thought I was dreaming when I saw a bus advertisement about The Off Price Show. I knew it was a regular event in the UK but in the Philippines? Wake up to a 3 day shopping bliss starting from 28-30 September!

I'm so excited to attend this shopping event franchise for the very first time. This is happening at my oddest shopping mecca, The World Trade Center. Would you believe I do most of my bulk shopping there every Christmas season?

Paying full price is a swear word in my thrifty dictionary. For sure smart shoppers will be there early so I'm planning my trip and start at exactly 10AM. This might be a good chance for me to own my first pair of Melissa shoes.

And how many of us daydream about IKEA furniture? I am not brand conscious but the ergonomics and space saving features of this brand is just awesome. IKEA is not all about furniture, they have baby and toddler stuff too. Plus points for my toddler Ashton!

According to my sources, this won't be a mediocre show. All retailers will be selling stock at 50-80% off. I hope this is true because I've got a lot on my shopping list:

- Clothes for Ashton
- Plain cotton shirts & shorts for me (just can't have enough)
- A flat pair of shoes
- Comfy shift dresses
- Polo shirts for my husband
- Quirky stuff from Ikea

Aside from shopping, visitors can also enjoy the food center, and a styling and fashion show.

Here's a tip: Make the most out of your shopping day by wearing flats, bring lots of eco bags, and don't forget that The World Trade Center has a nice restaurant on the second floor where you can dine in peace if you wish. It's also my secret pit stop when my legs are dead tired from all the walking.

Are you excited yet? I am! See you all at The Off Price Show :)

Weekend at Best Western Premier F1 Hotel at Global City

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:09:00 +0000

Ever wondered how it feels like to have a prime address in the Metro? To be living just beside your favorite hangout places and restaurants? We were thinking just the same and that's exactly why we endeavored a staycation at Best Premier F1 Hotel.

This curious hotel is just in front of BGC Central where the newest restaurants have sprouted. It's a playground for kids with the vast 'running space' and playful fountains and adults alike with shops and gastronomical adventures up ahead.

Location is probably the best spiel F1 hotel will ever play. But aside from proximity and deducting that factor - this fine hotel is as good on its own.

Interiors are seriously well-thought, not mediocre at all. We loved our Room 807 which was a Deluxe King Size Bed accommodation. It was big enough for the three of us to occupy without annoying each other.

I love this little corner just beside the bed. The sofa and table are perfect for reading, snacking, and 'Facebook-ing'

My son Ashton and I enjoyed the bed which feels like it were eating us alive, I like beds like this and I give it a 5 star for comfort, smell, and size. We could stay in it all day, oblivious of the attractions right outside.

It didn't take us long to settle in our room, we found ourselves enjoying the LG LCD television to watch Disney Junior and Lifestyle Network alternately. My husband was rather busy in his own little workspace.

I love the ergonomics in the room, Ashton and I can switch channels without ever bothering the hardworking dad. Did I mention all rooms are WiFi ready? We enjoyed sharing bits & pieces of our stay with our friends via Facebook and Instagram :)

The F1 Hotel Swimming Pool

Next up we tried their swimming pool at the roof deck. Make that swimming pools because F1 Hotel has three of them. 1 for kids fit for toddlers, another for regular swimmers, and a lap pool for the serious swimmers.

The setup at the roof deck is very convenient, lots of seating available, clean water, nice view, and a private feel. We were just let be by the staff which is amazing. It's hard to get privacy nowadays.

From the pool we could see the gym and that no one was there at the time being. I guess this is what's premier in F1 - really lots of privacy and uncrowded spots.

Food choices

After the swim we dressed up for dinner at BGC Central at Geisha Restaurant. It was drizzling and concierge lent us a big umbrella. Thank you very much.

We also just had to try and get delivery from City Delivery which was also awesome.

The front desk called us when delivery arrived and one of us just had to fetch our midnight snacks from Amici. Note that if you use the hotel phone you will be charged around P35 for a local call.

Time spent at Best Premier F1 Hotel really goes by fast. A little later it was already time for bed and with some more Disney Junior shows Ashton fell asleep.

We had the best view of BGC Central at night. It was as if we were looking at a real-life Restaurant City - a comforting view that we could all sleep in at the heart of this bustling little city.

Breakfast buffet at F1 Hotel

Our accommodation included a breakfast buffet for our mini family. I have to say there were decent and modest food choices. A few french bread, Filipino & American breakfast items, and porridge. There were also some desserts.

Ashton had pancakes and I had rice with eggs and beef.

It was good enough for the price but I hope F1 improves the choices and taste if possible. Overall, breakfast was nice. The cafe is just beside the pool so children are very excited to skip their meals and go for a dip. It's a nice plan to go back swimming again in the early morning.

If you ask me, I would stay again at Best Premier F1 Hotel for its location. The rooms are a real comfort. The facilities need some getting used to, like tapping your hotel card for you to press a button on the elevator. One time our card didn't work and we went up up up with our bathrobes on right after swimming.

It wasn't a biggie though because you can swap your card with a new one of the 5th floor. Service wise, it could get busy during meal times and you might have to fall in line at the cafe to wait your turn.

In a nutshell, this is a nice hotel to stay in. It's a real value for your money and a good place to spend a staycation with the family. I am looking forward for F1 Hotel's future improvements, they are fairly new in BGC but seem to be going to the right direction :)

How to Enjoy Authentic Teppanyaki at The Marriott

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:36:00 +0000

Let's start with some basic Japanese here, Teppanyaki literally means flat grill and this is where teppanyaki dishes are all cooked. Meals are usually served in small bowls that feature a variety of combinations including meat, vegetables, and sauces.

Your choice of vegetables to go with your meat

Small bowls are pure genius because it only means you get to eat and try more flavors. Since Marriott Café come to terms with the fact that Japan will be forever loved for its culinary offerings with a classic appeal, the restaurant added a teppanyaki station for buffet dinner still at P1750 net, grilling only the freshest and meaty choices of seafood, fish, beef, pork, and chicken.

Japanese sauces to excite your teppanyaki

I tried The Marriott's Teppanyaki station just a few days ago and self-learned the ways to enjoy teppanyaki like a master.

First, teppanyaki can be both main course and appetizer. I started with the usual greens in balsamic vinegar in tandem with Kaisen (seafood) and Gyuniko (beef) teppanyaki.

Kaisen teppanyaki. There are various versions depending on your taste.

You can ask the grill master right there to adjust the teppanyaki to your liking. Spicy, sweet, lots of veggies, etc.

Gyuniko teppanyaki is made of hiqh quality and super tender marbled beef

Now onto the main course, I had teppanyaki rice freshly cooked and requested a sweet and spicy blend.

The grilling station is conveniently beside the sushis and sashimis so I grabbed a few slices of fresh salmon to balance my meal.

I also just had to experience Gyuniko teppanyaki again, this time with rice. The grill master also concocted a Tori (chicken) teppanyaki with gotamari (sesame seeds) sauce.

Japanese food is great with it's foodie neighbours like this Thai-style seafood. We had this made fresh by the chef at the adjacent food station. Be nice and the chef will do this for you :)

It's hard to describe the enjoyment I had in relishing all these food. It was a great discovery and education for my tastebuds. Afterall, we kind of restricted ourselves with the usual Katsudons, makis, and sushis. It's high time we had a real encounter with the art of Japanese Teppanyaki.

To provide a sweet ending (and because you can still enjoy all the other buffet offerings of The Marriott Cafe), we tried new gelato flavors - samurai style.

Hazelnut nutella and tiramisu gelato with cone - it's included in the buffet

And just to keep things healthy, a dose of fresh fruits that this cafe never runs out of.

The Marriott Cafe remains our go-to buffet place when we want some more privacy and comfort. With the addition of another Japanese feat, I highly recommend you experience their dinner buffet. It won't be long until the cafe switches things around to offer more flavors. So my friends, enjoy all of these while it lasts :)

Halal Food Buffet at The Manila Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:11:00 +0000

ews flash: Halal food is not just for Islams or Jews, it is for everyone. This is what I learned at the launch of The Manila Hotel's Halal Kitchen. The first of it's kind in the Philippines for a 5 star hotel.

Halal involves food experts, food technicians, scientists, and more to reach the quality of food that is fit for the health conscious and discerning when it comes to food hygiene and sanitation. The Manila Hotel received their Halal Certification from the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board last August 1, 2012.

Beginning this September, Halal certified food will now be offered in the Ylang Ylang Cafe lunch and dinner buffets, and also to room service orders. Here's what to expect at the Halal food spread. Let's start at the Salad section:

This is called Taboulleh which is minced parsley mixed with spices. It's a good companion for Babaghanuj.

Babaghanuj is made from roasted eggplants mixed again with delicious spices. It was my first time to try this although I've heard about this so many times. I love Indian and Middle Eastern food but haven't had the chance to explore their salads and appetizers until Manila Hotel.

If you're looking for an alternative to your daily western salad, here's a killer salad spread that shouts Middle East.

I was clueless until one of the helpful chefs approached me. Chef Hanna Usman helped me create my salad plate. It was delicious and the variety was a feast to my tastebuds. Greens were smothered with garlic-lemon olive oil dressing.

That creamy white dip is actually hummus which is made of garbanzos aka chic peas. Hanna told me I should try it, especially if I saw the movie Zohan haha :) I am now in love with hummus, it's so creamy and it's true you can dip anything in it!

Let's cross over to the breads

A variety of Samosas, Papadums, and Nan. It's hard to decide whether these are appetizers or desserts. Especially when you dip them in chutneys. As you can see, I had papadums with my salad and hummus.

Main entrees

Chicken Biriyani is the foundation of your Halal feast. It's great for all the forthcoming dishes. This rice is great with some yogurt. You'll really learn a lot from this Halal buffet - don't be afraid to experiment and try new food.

Roganjosh Lamb is a famous Indian dish which you'll normally see in other restaurants. This one has five star quality though. There's generous lamb cutlets which are all very tender. The spiciness of all food items are friendly for everyone.

Beef Rendang is rubbed with sweet and chili spices. I lean towards dishes that are saucy so I skipped this one. My date says its incredible though.

Fried prawns are great to dip in hummus, or it could be just me. I'd dip anything in hummus now.

Here's my plate for the main entrees, in case you want to compare notes later :) I had to save a lot of room for my favorite curries and masala.

I loved all of these and wish I had more than one stomach. Here's my tip, don't pour all dishes together on your plate. Use the small bowls or saucers for different dishes.This way, the flavors don't mix and you can decide later on which your favorite Halal food is.

To end my Middle Eastern exploration, I had vegetable samosas and more papadums with chutney. I also thought our local dessert, guinataang halo-halo should join the coconut based curries in my tummy.

I asked for hot water afterwards so everything is digested well. We were very much satisfied with the Halal food selections at The Manila Hotel. They have over 11 food stations at Cafe Ylang Ylang but that day, my focus was on their Middle Eastern fare.

Can't wait to go back, I shall call this place curry heaven :) Enjoy the Halal Buffet and the rest of the 11 food stations at Cafe Ylang Ylang for P1,800++

P.S. This cake puts the Cake Boss to shame.

The Manila Hotel Centennial Cake.

Shopping day at SM Manila's 3 Day Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:50:00 +0000

Oh Manila, my SM Manila! Last Friday, my husband and I happened to be in the veins of Manila and decided to try our luck at SM Manila's 3 Day Sale. We've been watching too much TLC shows like Extreme Couponing that we are now self-pledged bargain hunters.

And Manila is the home of flea markets that it's not hard to imagine how the bargain culture can transverse into a shopping mall like SM. Especially when the sign is as big as this:

We were greeted by a flock of shopaholics, window shoppers, and the loud fiesta-like boom box SM has setup near their entrance.

It was the 31st of August, a day before the first day of the first 'ber' months. We heard our first 2012 Christmas song inside the Department Store.

Onto the Department Store where famous fashion bloggers have collaborated with SM to bring new collections like this to life. Fashion fit for it girls, we're so lucky this A-level fashion is accessible in a jiff.

I liked this Betty cardigan which was also on sale. 50% off from P649. What do you think? Excuse my hair, I rode the jeepney to SM :D

Almost all the shops were participating, including Solo. I read they released Pupung Comics shirts and just had to go in. I wish I were early because choices were already limited when I arrived.

They have loose shirts like this on sale though. From P645 to just P349. Plains and soft cotton blouses are great for anything.

You can wear them as they are or add accessories if you need to go somewhere important. I wear my plains with just shorts because I'm now fashion lazy like that.

I didn't forget to shop for the little boy. At SM Department Store, I look out for Disney apparel for my 2 year old. Lo and behold, I found rows and racks of discounted kiddie wear.

Lightning McQueen shirt for just P250 from P500 at 50% off.

And more shopping for the big boy (my husband). These polo shirts now retail from P300-P250. Perfect for his daily activities and I love how flexible collared polo shirts are.

It's not hard to imagine why we spent so much time in the Department Store. I found Maybelline was also having 20% off discounts. Just had to try new eyeliners :)

To cap off a successful shopping day, we tried a new and exciting joint in SM Manila called Kung Fu Kitchen. This restaurant deserves a blog post of its own.

Here we are finding comfort in Asian cuisine.

We loved the 3 Day Sale at SM City Manila and can't wait for our next SM adventure!

The Big Sale at SM Southmall starts tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:51:00 +0000

It's the end of August and start of the 'ber' months, I can't be more excited for the holidays! And we all know what this means, it's the start of the holiday shopping season. What better way to start than with a BIG sale.

SM Southmall has been our go-to mall nowadays, it's nearby for us who are in the south area and we don't even need to pass by Coastal road or EDSA to get to it. I have time off tomorrow so I will spy what's on sale.

The Department Store at SM Southmall is worth the mention. I don't know why but I always think they have the nicest racks of casual dresses. I always come home with a decent yet practical find for the closet.

Note to self: Don't forget my SM Advantage and Global Pinoy cards :)

Check out their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter to get updates on the BIG sale.

Weekend at the SM Megamall Food Sale - Pepper Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lace Llanora) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 05:06:00 +0000

I've never really heard of major shopping malls having a 'food sale'. Until last Saturday, we trooped to SM Megamall to satisfy our curiosity and bellies.

They've got posters and flyers about the 3-day Food Sale. A great way to help guide shoppers on participating restos - more establishments should copy this. The fun started when my date and I argued which restaurant to try.

Our top choices for lunch were Yabu, Masuki and Pepper Lunch. I won the debate with this deal:

Beef Garlic Pepper Rice for only P168 (original price P215).

It's been a while since we ate at Pepper Lunch but I remember we always had fun cooking our own food. Plus, I always have an inner battle on whether to use the special honey brown sauce (Amakuchi) or the garlic soy sauce (Karakuchi).

The discount was an encouraging invitation for us to try new menu items too, at a fraction of the bill. Plus, a good spacious table was available for us food monsters to occupy. It pays to be early!

On our table we enjoyed sharing:

Kani Shake! Shake! Salad

Simply the best Kani Salad I have ever tasted, ever! I know it's weird how the best kani salad will come from a fast food - but it does. It's far from mediocre Japanese salads I've had. It had authentic Japanese Mayo, Sesame Oil, and fresh Udon noodles at the bottom.

Although the salad came in a plastic cup, I was surprised how much greens could fit in a Shake! Shake! salad. Really the Udon noodles was a great surprise, it soaked up all the delish dressing like it read my mind.

Spicy Tuna Shake! Shake! Salad

My partner had this. We were both selfish with our own salads that we never shared. As far as I know, he loved it to bits and I just had to point out the Udon noodles at the bottom of the cup.

I wish Pepper Lunch could have Shake! Shake! Salads in XXL sizes.

Beef Garlic Pepper Rice

We love the addition of garlic flakes from the usual pepper rice. The wait staff was helpful in re-orienting us on how to prepare this. You should season the dish with Amakuchi or Karakuchi after the meat is cooked. Plus, mix mix mix to get the best pepper rice.

Combo Chicken and Angus Beef Pepper Rice

I am always bitin with meat at Pepper Lunch because they are so tasty. So I had a double whammy of meat chicken and beef. This dish has lots of veggies too, the rice comes as a side.

So again, cook the meet first by mixing well. I loved the Amakuchi on the chicken and the Karakuchi on the beef. Oh when will I see you again...

Vanilla Crepe Cake

If you don't like eating messy crepes, this is for you. A crepe cake is, you guessed it, made up of many layers of crepes. You can fork it once and you get a mouthful of crepes. Follow it soon after with a spoon of vanilla icecream with caramel sauce. Et voila! Delicious crepe fun with more poise. More than convenience, we love how sulit this dessert was (read: not filled with air). Perfect to share and to cap your Pepper Lunch experience with.

We wished our son was there to enjoy eating with us. But this was our couple 'date day' after all. We just got him this toy sizzling plate from Toy Kingdom (also on sale).

After Pepper Lunch, we enjoyed trying other restaurants who were participating at the Food Sale like Masuki.

Major thanks to the Pepper Lunch staff who were all attentive. I almost forgot my favorite Starbucks tumbler on the table until the staff run towards us with my tumbler in tow. Whew!

I was still hooked on a Japanese theme (but we agreed not to eat at our usual Japanese spots). So we had Royal Milk Tea, Ice Coffee, and Okonomiyaki at Jipan.

Le Coeur de France also had their breads outside. It only means one thing and that these were also on SALE and buy 1 take 1's. I hoarded lots of Rice Loaf, Egg Tarts, Vanilla Mamons, Chocolate Croissants, and Ensaymadas.

I can't say how much I love the SM Megamall Food Sale experience! When is the next one? And next time, I will make sure to bring the little food monster :)