...and i rambled

Cinemalaya X

2014-08-04T23:09:00.001+08:00

The first Cinemalaya weekend just passed and I was able to watch 7 films in total. Dyown and I were extremely happy with our picks because every movie we saw was well worth our time.

We were also able to catch the gala of Nora Aunor's Hustisya and the theater was filled to capacity. I was told that there were a lot of fans that had tickets but still weren't able to get in.

It is really a great experience to be at the CCP this time of the year. I was able to catch up with my first boss, Ricky Lee.

I was also able to get my photo taken with Francis Xavier Pasion who directed Bwaya.

And since I'm not over Purok 7 yet, I had to have my photo taken with Julian Trono before he was mobbed by all the high school girls.

Hogi also dropped by that night to catch up with us.

As I said, I immensely enjoyed every film that I watched but if I were to rank them, it would look like this:

1. The Janitor - thoroughly enjoyable movie, could very well be a commercial film.
2. Bwaya - beautiful shots, Angeli was superb. I also couldn't get my mind off the scene where the real Divina was hugging the actress playing her daughter.
3. 1st Ko Si 3rd - funny and sad, I left the theater thinking if I would end up living with regret.
4. Ronda - Carlos Morales must be ad-libbing but it sure is funny. I felt depressed when I saw Ai-ai's character finally smile knowing that her happiness is short-lived.
5. Kasal - Arnold's portrayal is very believable and we are drawn to him.
6. Hustisya - Nora Aunor and Rosanna Roces are both a joy to watch. Beautiful script.
7. Hari ng Tondo - A fun movie but this is Tondo beneath pink colored candy clouds.

I'm not a cinephile but I do enjoy a good movie. Thank you to Cinemalaya for great movies year after year.

Ghost the Musical, Manila

2014-05-07T01:44:00.001+08:00

Ghost the Musical is currently on its last weekend at the RCBC Plaza and I urge you not to miss this theatrical adaptation.

The musical may not be as popular as the recent behemoth, "Wicked" but what it lacks in spectacle, it more than makes up for its heart.

I wasn't familiar with any of the songs and was surprised to find out they have been written by Glen Ballard of Jagged Little Pill and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics. The songs cut across different genres but my favorite would have to be Three Little Words. Listen.

I have seen the movie a few times but I wasn't too sure if it would translate well on stage so my expectations were low but I was blown away. I loved it and it appears that I wasn't the only one. Thanks to social media, you can vouch for whatever it is that I'm saying by the reactions of the netizens, celebrities and ordinary folks, like me, alike.

Reviews from major broadsheets have also been mostly positive.

Plus, aside from the very heartfelt performances of Cris Villonco (you can feel her pain) and Christian Bautista, Ima Castro brings the house down. Aren't you curious as to how this scene is translated on stage?

Last 5 performances this weekend!

Tickets are available at Ticketworld.

L’Entrecôte, Singapore

2014-04-21T08:49:00.001+08:00

Phoebe recommended L’Entrecôte at Duxton Hill for steaks and fries. The restaurant is unique because it serves only steaks and fries as their main dish. From a short background on their menu, the restaurant believes in serving one great dish than a selection of anything less.

The place is beautiful and cozy that I just had to take pictures.

We were initially turned off by their service when the waiter, presumably eager to go home because we never saw him again after taking our orders, snapped at us for no reason at all. This shocked me and pissed Phoebe off. Good thing he was relieved by another person who seemed happy to see us there.

The main dish is priced at S$29.90 (Php 1046) and comes with a serving of walnut salad, steak with their signature mushroom sauce and unlimited fries. Very reasonable.

They don't immediately serve all the steak, so the portion shown on the picture is about more than half the actual serving.

Since Em-J and I are not wine drinkers, we ordered fruit juices to complement our meal. Cranberry juice tasted generic.

We loved the food so much that we decided to eat there again and this time our meal came with a glass of wine. Apparently, this is included in the price. If that's not enough for you, which is the case for Em-J, you can go big at S$39.90 (Php 1397). He didn't notice that much of a difference, though.

There were a lot of selections for desserts. I immediately decided on the lemon tart (S$12, Php 420) which was good.

Em-J and Phoebe decided against their initial choices and went for the recommendations of the staff or was she the owner? They ordered the Profiteroles de L’Entrecôte and the Half-Baked Chocolate Cake (S$14, Php 490 each). Desserts, though good, were not as spectacular as the main dish so we skipped them the next time.

We also loved how beautiful the quiet area of Duxton Hill looks.

L’Entrecôte
36 Duxton Hill
Singapore, 089614

Nearest MRT: Outram Park
Take the Cantonment Road Exit
Head on straight and turn left before reaching Pinnacle
Turn right at Craig Rd
Turn left and go up the flight of steps to Duxton Hill

Quick Bite: Hatter Street, Singapore

2014-04-18T00:40:00.004+08:00

Hatter Street is one of Singapore's newest dessert places and is quickly making a name for itself because of their famed waffles, in particular, their waffle with pandan ice cream and gula melaka syrup. Since I love waffles, pandan and gula melaka, I was excited to try this unique waffle combination.

Hatter Street is located in Hougang, right below an HDB block. The cafe is inspired by Alice in Wonderland and is whimsical much like the little cafes sprouting all over Bangkok.

The menu is right on the wall and the place is littered with stuffed toys and cute little things. The place is small and got packed really quickly.

The star of the cafe, the waffle or whoa'ffle (S$8.90, Php 310) as they call it lived up to the hype. It was warm, crispy, simple and delicious. The pandan ice cream is exceptional and the gula melaka syrup has just the right amount of sweetness.

Head on out there and spend a lazy afternoon with whoa'ffles and a cup of coffee. Nearest MRT is Kovan, take the Heartland Mall exit.

Hatter Street

Blk 212, Hougang Street 21

#01-333 Singapore, 530212

Circles Breakfast Buffet

2014-03-24T23:31:00.001+08:00

Because of our different schedules, we ended up deciding on a breakfast buffet to celebrate the recent movements at work and largely because of its proximity to where we work, we all agreed on Makati Shangri-La's Circles Event Cafe.

I was immediately drawn to the Chinese station, I was feeling dimsum and congee for breakfast at that time.

I got all the more excited when I saw the spareribs, sadly, it was bland. Analyn was right when she said that I should skip it because it doesn't have any tausi (black beans).

Here are a few of the selections that I liked:

Fresh sushi and sashimi

Smoked fish

Eggs cooked just the way you like it. It might not be obvious but there's a tray of bacon just beside the eggs. Perfect combination.

Doughnuts

Turon and croissants - another perfect combination?

Native desserts with a lonely tray of red velvet cupcakes

Fresh fruit smoothies

And waffles!

Having tried Heat's breakfast buffet several times, I find it hard not to compare the two. I prefer the ambiance of Circles, but I'd go for Heat in terms of variety.

Circles Event Cafe

Makati Shangri-La

Ayala Ave corner Makati Ave

Makati City

Quick Bite: Slappy Cakes

2014-03-13T14:18:00.004+08:00

It's a bit unfair to write about Slappy Cakes without trying the pancakes that they are known for but while I love pancakes, I don't find the idea of making my own pancake very appealing so we skipped those.

The restaurant looks like a classy cafe.

Em-J's vanilla milkshake (P180) was sickeningly sweet. I took one sip and put it down.

The Pork Belly Benedict (P350) could be livened up a bit, the colors were dull. Thankfully, they made up for it in terms of flavor. I loved it and the pork belly in place of the ham works.

The Topsy Tapa (P250) was just okay. I honestly don't remember my impression of the dish anymore.

We ordered a side of Crispy Bacon (P100) which I found to be a bit too pricey for two sad looking bacon.

Slappy Cakes

Unit 105A

SM Jazz Residences

Jupiter St. cor. N. Garcia

Bel-Air, Makati

Early Bird Breakfast Club

2014-03-10T11:52:00.001+08:00

Thanks to Century City Mall, we didn't have to go all the way to the Fort to try out the Early Bird Breakfast Club. Thanks also to their early opening hours, we can head there as early as 7am to have our fill. There's something about waking up early and enjoying the cool morning breeze complemented with great food that just energizes you.

The interiors are beautiful, relaxing and fun.

Ask about the serving size, there are dishes that are good enough for sharing such as the Early Bird Full English (P495).

The Tiramisu Pancakes (P325), on the other hand, is a bit small. It's delicious but it's not as filling.

I tried their newest item, the Sweet Glazed Katcino (P375) being a fan of katsudon and tocino. Serving size is also huge. Order an extra cup of rice and this would be good enough for two. This dish is certainly unique and tasty.

I enjoyed the french toast fondue (P210), the french toast is sticky, crunchy and sweet. The melted chocolate, cinnamon sugar and the maple syrup are heaven. It's a sinful breakfast indulgence.

The Bacon and Cheddar Frittata (P275) is comforting.

Analyn and May ordered the Sunny Salpicao (P325) and the Viva Longganisa (P345). I liked how perfect the egg looks.

There have a lot more items that I'm excited to try, you can check their menu here.

Early Bird Breakfast Club

G/F Century City Mall

Kalayaan Ave., Makati

Quick Bite: CaliBurger

2014-03-02T10:54:00.003+08:00

I was excited to try out CaliBurger which recently opened at Century City Mall. I love burgers and because of all the hype, my expectations were a bit high.

I loved the overall vibe of the place. Located at the fourth floor, the entire restaurant is spacious, airy and even with lots of diners, it doesn't feel cramped. There's just something fun with their interiors and this is one food joint that would fit perfectly in Boracay where they're planning to open another branch.

The menu is simple, they have two main offerings, hamburger and chicken burger both at P195. Add P30 if you want cheese. Add P100 for a double patty, add another P100 for a complete meal.

The burger is quite small and at the price, it is not worth it. I was expecting something more filling. If you're hungry, you have to order a couple of burgers. The buns were soft and delicious but the patty was nothing special. It was overpowered by the taste of the cheese and the dressing. It doesn't help that it's almost non-existent. You're better off getting the frozen White Castle burgers from S & R.

Overall, I loved the place. It's a great place to hang out in but I'll probably just have a milkshake next time.

CaliBurger

4/F Century City Mall

Kalayaan Ave, Makati

open till 10PM

Quick Bite: Small Talk Cafe

2014-02-28T23:15:00.000+08:00

Small Talk Cafe is popular because of their laing pasta but the beef salpicao on the menu was calling out to me. It was meh at first bite.

Analyn's crispy tilapia was good, it comes with a side dish of bicol express which we really loved.

Our appetizer of shrimp croquettes was also just okay. I don't remember tasting any shrimp so maybe they served us potato croquettes.

The biggest disappointment is their laing. I love laing and this is one dish that we expected to love because we're in Bicol but we've all had way better laing than this. :(

Small Talk Cafe

51 Dona Aurora St,

4500 Legazpi City, Albay Philippines

Legazpi, Albay

2014-02-23T00:15:00.003+08:00

Analyn, Mark and I flew to Legazpi one weekend with the intention of visiting their famed hot springs. Their airport has the majestic Mayon Volcano as a backdrop. Analyn said we were lucky because there were no clouds covering the top of the natural wonder.

There are several hotel shuttles waiting right by the airport exit and we quickly located ours. This is great because tourists won't have to worry about transportation. We would later find out that transportation is not a problem in Legazpi. There are not a lot of cabs but the malls, restaurants, airport and the terminal are accessible by tricycle.

After settling in, we headed to the terminal which is a 5-minute ride away from the hotel. We located the shuttle heading to Tiwi and paid P60 per person. The driver was kind enough to drop us off at the resort which is about an hour out.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting a resort. I was thinking the hot springs would be in the middle of the forest or the woods that's why I brought my own towel.

The bad news is we were told that the hot springs have been dried out and all that's left to enjoy in the resort would be their pool.

Sadly, we headed back and went to Small Talk Cafe which is one of the recommended restaurants by netizens. We then spent the rest of the day sleeping in as we were all tired coming from our shifts.

We were informed that most places close by 8PM but we saw that Embarcadero is open till midnight so we headed there when we woke up. Another sad news, there's nothing to see there except for two restaurants as every place is also already closed.

We went back to the hotel and was glad to find out that there's a cool restaurant right outside our hotel.

The next day, before heading to the airport, we passed by the mall to try the town's famous cheese halo-halo. It was also a let-down, the leche flan which was supposed to sweeten the treat was not sweet at all.

Despite our misadventures, I still had fun. I marveled at the sight of Mayon and it's sure a different way to spend one's weekend.

Quick Bite: H Cuisine

2014-02-16T01:45:00.002+08:00

A quick Google search would tell you that H Cuisine is one of the must try restaurants along the Tomas-Timog area.

I tried their best seller, Most Awesome Angus Beef Belly and I loved it. It's comfort food. I would order this again in a heartbeat. (P308 / single serve with rice)

Dyown and Billy tried the Oven Braised Herb Chicken (P198 with rice) and the Fish Trafalgar Pasta (P228).

We also enjoyed their fresh dalandan juice served in a reallly big glass (P98)!

Budget would be around P350-450 per person with drinks.

H Cuisine

64 Scout Rallos St

cor Tomas Morato

Quezon City

Wild Honey

2014-02-10T23:59:00.001+08:00

Wild Honey's food is simple and delicious. It is wildly popular that we had to wait more than an hour when we visited their branch at Mandarin Gallery. We eventually gave up and transferred to another cafe.

We're not one to easily give up so one weekend, we headed to Scotts Square where they opened their second branch.

Their version of Eggs Benedict is really good.

Em-J ordrered the English breakfast which is one mean breakfast plate with bacon, eggs, baked beans, tomatoes, sausages, toast, mushrooms and potatoes.

Wilson opted for the Tunisian breakfast, I didn't get to try but it's said to be one of their more popular dishes.

I don't remember what our drink's called but it was refreshing.

An average meal would be around $35 with drinks, not exactly cheap but it's not bad to indulge once in a while.

Wild Honey

6 Scotts Road

Level 3 Scotts Square

Singapore

Wee Nam Kee

2014-02-06T01:50:00.001+08:00

I had a craving for Salted Egg Prawns and Wee Nam Kee immediately popped into mind. I've also been wanting to try the much praised Chicken Rice. I loved the hanging lanterns.

We were off to a good start when we were served the free chicken broth as it was very flavorful.

The roast chicken, while good, wasn't really exceptional. I was actually thinking that I would've enjoyed the chicken in Savory more. On a side note, I find it weird that they call their chicken dishes, chicken rice but the chicken dish doesn't come with rice. You have to order it separately.

The ginger sauce which looked like just pounded ginger was good. The dark soya sauce which I most look forward to when eating chicken rice was a bit too sweet for my liking.

The Wee Nam Kee rice was a disappointment, if I wasn't so hungry, I wouldn't have touched it. It was sticky and wet.

On to the reason why we headed to Wee Nam Kee, the salted egg prawns. This dish tasted strongly of Star margarine and there were cracked pink egg shells all over. I say, skip it.

Our drinks were okay.

So much for all the buzz.

Wee Nam Kee

G/F Glorietta 1

Palm Drive, Ayala Center

Makati

Wicked Manila

2014-01-27T02:20:00.000+08:00

When Wicked opened in Singapore almost 2 years ago, I couldn't contain my excitement and I know my excitement will only be paralleled by my sister's. I wanted her to fly to Singapore so we can watch the show together but circumstances didn't allow her to do so.

So when they announced that the mega-musical will finally open in Manila, I immediately bought tickets for the two of us and we finally got to watch the show last Saturday.

We arrived at CCP 30 minutes before the show, the lobby was already chaotic. It was a good kind of chaos, you can feel the excitement in the air. People were talking animatedly, posing against the Wicked wall and getting hold of souvenirs and programs.

The show started 10-minutes late, which I found unusual, but I really didn't mind. There were minor issues with the sound system but it didn't take away the magical experience of watching Wicked on stage right here in Manila.

We spent the next three hours totally enthralled and wishing for the show to never end.

Too bad we didn't run into Tin who flew to Singapore to watch Wicked and is now working for the company that's responsible in bringing Wicked to our shores.

Mr. Jones' Orphanage

2013-10-14T22:35:00.000+08:00

Mr. Jones' Orphanage is probably Bangkok's most whimsical café‎. You step into the café‎ and you immediately feel like a child again. It's a good feeling and just for that, I would have to say that this is my most favorite café‎ in the city.

The interiors leave you feeling warm.

Here's my dining companion for the day.

The best part for me would be their open dessert bar. Their full dessert menu is available on display, walk over to it and just point at whatever looks the most delicious.

I took my sweet time looking at each cake on display before finally settling on the coconut cake. It was perfect! It wasn't too sweet to make you feel sick after a few bites.

I also ordered a serving of the sweet and sour pancake which I also loved and a serving of iced coffee just because it was extra hot outside.

Their fresh ingredients are also available on display and you'd see the staff walk over to the carousel where they're at.

Your bill comes in this little box that has a little milk chocolate surprise.

Mr. Jones Orphanage is right at the ground level of the very cool Seen Space.

Mr. Jones' Orphanage

Ground Floor, Seen Space

Thong Lor Soi 13

www.mrjonesbangkok.com

Alight at Thong Lo BTS, take exit 3

Why I Love Bangkok

2013-10-13T09:38:00.001+08:00

When I didn't get my Korean visa (thanks largely to our very efficient HR team), we had to change all our plans at the last minute. Rhommel and Em-J were unanimous in wanting to go to Bangkok and I really needed no convincing because I love Bangkok. Why?

1. Cool cafés are everywhere. Perfect if you just want to relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and people-watch; even this Starbucks looks very inviting.

2. It's dessert country! There's a dessert in every corner and it feels like heaven. Okay, I'm exaggerating but you get the drift.

"Cakepops that are too cute to eat"

"Cakes that are too beautiful to eat"

"Mandarin Oriental's very affordable cronut - they call it differently, I can't remember"

"Strawberry Waffle at After You Desserts"

3. If you want to breathe their culture and heritage, there are tons of places to go to.

The Jim Thompson museum is very near the city center where you can see how silk is made.

Ancient City of Ayutthaya

4. They have lots of good food, heck, you can even get a great tasting pizza by the roadside.

"Enjoying authentic Thai dishes outdoors"

A La Monita truck, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Bangkok - which I wrote about here - opened right at Siam Paragon's basement.

5. They have the best movie theatres! We were lucky cause we got to experience Gravity in 4D.

"Nokia theatre's lounge"

6. Speaking of another kind of theatre, they have a huge, 1500-seater theatre inside a mall. I happened to watch their local production of Miss Saigon and they spared no expense, the spectacle came complete with the iconic helicopter.

7. They have beautiful malls, perfect for a mall rat like me (okay, I guess that description doesn't suit me anymore).

8. They have lots of clean, beautiful toilets and best of all, they're free! (Hello Ayala and Shangri-La!) It actually pisses me off to have to pay to use the toilet in a mall.

"Airport toilet"

"Fun themed toilets at Terminal 21"

"Cineplex toilet"

9. Lastly, you will run into lots of fun and quirky stuff there.

"Shark Attack in the middle of Siam Paragon"

"Cool digital billboard"

"Fancy sticking your face in the elephant's hole? @ Lub'd Silom"

Siam Paragon

Alight at Siam BTS

Jim Thompson's House

Alight at National Stadium BTS

Take the exit as if you're heading to Holiday Inn Express

Turn Right at Soi Kasemsan 2 before reaching the hotel

Ayutthaya

Get in touch with a local tour operator

Mama Dolores Pizza

Alight at Saladaeng BTS, take exit 5

Follow the direction to Crowne Plaza Lumpini

La Monita, After You Desserts, Mandarin Oriental Cafe

Siam Paragon basement

Muangthai Ratchadalai Theatre

inside Esplanade Shopping Centre

Thailand Cultural Centre MRT

Terminal 21

Asok BTS

Lub'd Silom

BTS Chong Nonsi

Take a tuktuk right after alighting as it is a bit difficult to find

Good Food

2013-08-22T00:00:00.002+08:00

I've been dreaming of Chinese food the past few days. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that we have food during this really difficult time, I'm grateful that we have free food at work. It's just that this kind of weather makes me think of warm soup and warm dishes.

Apart from Tim Ho Wan, we ate at two other popular Chinese restaurants. Din Tai Fung is one of my favorites so a quick stop there is always in order and we've always been lucky cause we've never had to wait long to be seated.

Xiao Long Bao, Crispy Prawn Pancakes, Beef Soup, Steamed Pork Buns and a perfectly cooked cup of white rice and we're good.

Em-J's absolute favorite restaurant would have to be Soup Restaurant. I, on the other hand, prefer other restaurants. I hate that there's always a long queue at any branch at any time of the day and I'm particularly not a fan of their overpriced meals. It's not to say that it's not good, I actually love their soups, I'm just not a fan.

Anyway, we had their special National Day Celebration Set (S$69++ which roughly amounted to S$100 because of the moist towelettes that we didn't get to use, boiled peanuts and tea)

Ginger Chicken

Double boiled Cordyceps Flower with Chicken Soup

Poached Baby Spinach with Conpoy in Century and Salted Eggs Stock

Salted Fish Fried Rice

All photos from my phone so forgive the portrait style photos, I, obviously, didn't know better. :)

Din Tai Fung

435 Orchard Road
Level 4 Wisma Atria
other branches, click here

Soup Restaurant

1 Sengkang Square

03-16/17 Compass Point Shopping Centre

other branches, click here

Tim Ho Wan, Singapore

2013-08-18T17:46:00.003+08:00

After reading Mon's post about Tim Ho Wan and missing it in Hong Kong, I made sure that visiting the restaurant would be on top of my list when I return to Singapore.

We arrived just after lunch and found the queue to be a bit manageable. It was a good half an hour wait but we kept ourselves busy fiddling with our phones which was what majority of the people were doing.

We were actually lucky as when we came back the next day, the queue started right outside the mall!

To make you salivate more, the menu is handed out as you're nearing the podium.

As only one set of char siew buns is allowed per diner, we decided to maximize it and order a set each. This turned out to be a good decision as they were delicious. Seriously, the best char siew buns I've had.

While I was extremely happy and satisfied with the buns, the rest of our orders were just okay. They were good but nothing that you can't have better elsewhere.

Pork Dumpling with Shrimp (S$5)

Glutinous Rice Dumpling (S$5)

Steamed Beancurd Skin Roll (S$4)

Steamed Egg Cake ($3.8)

Fried Beancurd Skin (S$5.5)

Shrimp Vermicelli Roll (S$5.5)

Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake (S$3.5)

I would definitely queue again for their buns the next time I fly back but I doubt my friends would.

Tim Ho Wan

Plaza Singapura Atrium Space, 68 Orchard Road, #01-29A

BONO Artisanal Gelato

2013-08-04T23:38:00.001+08:00

On our way to Glorietta from SM Makati, we saw BONO's bright lights and its cool decor.

At that time, I've never read a single review about the place but I immediately fell in love with it when I saw their flavors. S'mores, Doughnut, Cereal and Milk, Taho, Speculoos, Movie Night (chocolate covered potato crisps) are my kind of flavors; unique and reads delicious to me.

I had my first taste and it was pure love. It reminded me of Maggie Moo's. I shouldn't really compare because one is ice cream, one is gelato but both are really good. Smooth and flavorful.

"Speculoos"

"Red Velvet"

What makes it stand out from other Gelaterias are explained on their cute wall. I want one at home!

Everything is freshly made right at their store.

The end result is just divine. You can tell from the photos below that you get the real deal. Chunks of real ingredients. If you ask for pistachios then it's pistachios that you get instead of artificial flavorings.

BONO Artisanal Gelato

2/F SM Makati

G/F Podium

LG/F SM Aura Premier

Like their FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/BonoGelato

7 Corners, Crowne Plaza Galleria

2013-06-16T16:16:00.000+08:00

Crowne Plaza Galleria's 7 Corners remains to be one of our favorite buffet places.

When we first ate there, we were blown away by the star of the buffet spread, the prime rib steak. It is so good that Em-J, not a steak lover, went back for seconds. He would also start his meal with the steak every time we visit.

Right by the entrance would be their dessert spread and directly in front of it, the bread, cheese and pizza station. I like that they designed it that way so I can pick up something sweet to start off my meal.

There would also be little changes to the menu depending on which month you visit, Micah and I lucked out one time when we saw a cheese fondue which we both loved!

There are wonderfully prepared appetizers and a salad bar.

They also have cold seafood.

A chinese noodle station which you shouldn't skip. I ordered this one time and absolutely loved the fresh prawns that were dunked in hot broth as they was juicy and delicious.

There's also an Italian, Japanese and Indian stations along with a few hot dishes.

Their spread is not as overwhelming as other hotel buffets, just enough to keep us satisfied and keep us coming back for more.

They also often tie up with with Deal Grocer so keep checking the site to get good deals.

7 Corners

Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila

Ortigas Ave corner ADB Ave

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Grace Park

2013-05-12T00:29:00.000+08:00

I'm quite settled in but the first few months back home have been hectic. I'm glad that I've finally found the time to write an entry and check out blogs. Anyway, last Sunday, we decided to see what all the hype is with Grace Park.

Many have praised the restaurant's interiors which surprised me. I really don't know much about design but I feel that the industrial look have been around for quite some time. Don't get me wrong, it is interesting, but from some of the write ups I've read, it would seem as if it's the first of its kind.

We went there at around lunch time and the place was packed, cramped and noisy. Our tables actually don't have plates. I desperately wanted to like Grace Park as I normally don't go against what's popular but so far, it's been a let down.

I had the chicken scaloppine (525 PHP), I enjoyed the salad but the chicken was tasteless. I had to scrape my sister's leftover pasta sauce for flavor.

My sister ordered the Truffle Cream Fettuccine (550 PHP) which had a generous serving of truffles which excited me but the pasta was very soggy. I don't mind a slightly undercooked pasta, but an overcooked one, I hate.

Their bestseller, the Muscovado Beef Belly (510 PHP) was quite good but the flavors were too subtle.

We decided to pass on their desserts and get them somewhere else with our disappointing experience.

Grace Park

Ground Level, One Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center Makati

Bangkok Jam

2013-02-18T01:02:00.000+08:00

Phoebe, Noreen, Em-J and I decided to meet up for our final dinner before I head back home. Instead of our usual sinigang date at Lucky Plaza, we decided on Bangkok Jam at Wheelock Place.

The place gives off a very cool vibe with their modern design and Bangkok inspired wall decos.

We really weren't that hungry but we were pleased with food that we ordered that we couldn't stop eating.

Seafood Pad Thai (11.90 SGD, 391 PHP)

Shrimp Paste Rice (11 SGD, 362 PHP) - serving is good for just one person

Bangkok Mixed Grill (23 SGD, 756 PHP)

Soft Shell Crab in Mellow Yellow Curry (15.50 SGD, 510 PHP)

Tom Kha Gai - Thai Coconut Chicken Soup (7.90 SGD, 260 PHP) - Being my favorite Thai dish of all time, my expectations were a big high. This was, while good, just okay; I've had better.

Avocado Milk Shake and Green Mango Shake with Mint (7 SGD, 230 PHP) - You can skip the drinks as they were a bit underwhelming.

The restaurant was busy and I'm not sure if they were understaffed but service was bad. It took almost forever for our orders to arrive and it was difficult to get assistance from any of the waitstaff.

Thanks to Phoebe, Noreen and Em-J for their very special treat.

Bangkok Jam

Wheelock Place

501 Orchard Road

#02-04/05

Singapore, 238880

www.bangkokjam.com.sg

Paris Baguette Café

2013-02-11T00:09:00.000+08:00

The attention grabbing lights of the relatively new Paris Baguette Café caught our attention while we were at Wisma Atria.

Grab a newspaper-like menu and decide on what you want before approaching the counter to place your orders...

...or just grab one of the ready-made sandwiches on display.

The sandwiches that we tried were just okay, not really worth the 8-11 SGD (240-330 PHP) price tag.

The mango tart is also a bit disappointing. I normally love pie crusts but this one I didn't eat.

The drinks also priced at an average of 8-11 SGD (240-330 PHP) were nothing to sing praises about.

Service was bad. The guy at the counter taking our orders seemed irritable and the waitstaff all seemed very busy and couldn't be bothered by our request of a glass of water. The orders when they arrived were plopped on our table. It's really sad how most restaurants here invest so much on everything else but service.

Our experience is not all bad, though. Puddings are slowly gaining popularity and they serve the best ones that I've tried. (4.50 SGD, 135 PHP)

Their cheesecake is a slice of pure baked cream cheese heaven.

Their coffee is also decent.

Another dessert that they are known for would have to be the fresh fruit shaved ice. The ice is of similar quality as that of Razon's so it is a delight to have.

They have a few more desserts that all look very inviting which I would still like to try, if only they improve on their service. Otherwise, it would be best to just take away the pudding and enjoy it at the comfort of your own home.

Paris Baguette Café

435 Orchard Road

02-48 Wisma Atria

Todai International Buffet

2013-02-05T01:41:00.000+08:00

It seems to me that we are not fated to enjoy the award winning buffet spread at Carousel, just like New Year's day, the restaurant was already fully booked when I tried to make a reservation to celebrate Abby, Eco and JLo's birthday.

On a whim, I decided to try to call Todai at the Marina Bay Sands and it was with luck that they are still able to accommodate our big group.

I became curious when I saw a sign that says they have been in operation since 1985 since I only heard of Todai quite recently. It turns out that they started in California and this is their first venture into the Southeast Asian market and where better to open that in buffet-crazy Singapore.

Buffet lunch is priced at 75 SGD net (2500 PHP), it is a bit pricey as the average would be around 30-50 SGD for restaurants and 50-80 SGD for hotel restaurants but I tell you, it is worth it.

With a sitting capacity of almost 400, the place is sprawling. Tables are spaced apart at comfortable distances unlike most buffets.

The spreads are also massive and you don't see the exact same dish being served at different areas. See how endless the dishes seem and they have several stations just like the ones below.

The presentation and the quality of food are also superior than most. See the california maki below looking so beautiful.

As it claims to be the "Mother of All Seafood Buffets, I have to say that it is a claim well substantiated. I couldn't believe how fresh and big the prawns and scallops were.

They also serve freshly shucked oysters but I am not a fan of oysters so I skipped those. I focused on the snow crab legs which were deliciously sweet.

The only area that left me a little wanting would be the dessert station. There were not a lot of choices and while I got quite excited about the macaron pyramid, it was just okay and was a little too chewy for me.

But overall, it was one enjoyable birthday lunch, one that won't be forgotten anytime soon. Thanks again, Abby, Eco and JLo!

Todai International Buffet

B2-01 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

2 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore 018972

www.todai.com.sg

The Cake Club, Bonifacio High Street

2013-01-31T09:14:00.000+08:00

I was craving ensaymadas, the special ones that can be bought either at The Bakeshop, Coffee.com or at Diamond Hotel. Micah and I actually went hotel hopping late at night as I was on the look out for them special kind. Sadly, Coffee.com ran out while Diamond Hotel's lobby restaurant was closed.

This led me to head to The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel in Bonifacio High Street a week after.

It was pretty quiet when we got there.

I initially planned on ordering just desserts so I can try a lot but Em-J wanted to have his meal first which also led me to order a meal for myself.

Em-J decided on the Baked Salmon on Risotto (455 PHP, 14 SGD) while I had the Grilled Reuben (310 PHP, 9.5 SGD). I loved both our orders, the flavors were very subtle and I couldn't stop eating.

We also got ourselves an order of truffle fries (180 PHP, 6 SGD) which we can't do without anytime we see one on the menu.

By the time we got to our desserts, we were already full.

I had the cheesecake while Em-J had the chocolate cake. I, maybe, had my hopes too high but the desserts were just so so. I did like the intricate detail on the chocolate cake. (Desserts at 250 PHP, 7.5 SGD each)

I guess, I'll have to come back to try the other non-traditional desserts. And what about my ensaymada? I ended up not getting one because I was too full, I couldn't bear to think of ordering anything extra.

The Cake Club

UG Level, East Superblock

7th Avenue cor 29th Street

Bonifacio Global City

Taguig City