Tsinoy Foodies

Vue Restaurant at Stonehill Suites: Our Chill Culinary Escape in Bacolod City

2026-09-07T19:50:40.887+08:00

Aside from being delighted with the aesthetic modern contemporary with Art Deco charm of Stonehill Suites in Bacolod City, we also enjoyed our chill dinners at Vue Restaurant.

Food

Stonehill Suites executes everything, including Vue Restaurant's food presentation, with a flair for perfection.

All dishes are served with premium ingredients and in large portions so it is highly recommended to order for sharing.

Salad

♥ Caesar Salad (320 php)

Ever since I began integrating health consciousness and spirituality into my once mentally and materially driven life, I've adopted the habit of beginning meals with a salad.

I've ordered the Caesar Salad several times during our stay. Served in its classic rendition, it features fresh, crisp lettuce generously sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and topped with crunchy croutons, bacon bits, and runny poached egg.

Soup

Truffle Mushroom (280 php)

To provide our bellies a comforting and warming preclude to the bountiful feast ahead, we each ordered our choice of soup. I had the Truffle Mushroom, a rich cream-based soup with bits of earthy fresh mushrooms dappled with the precise amount of aromatic truffle oil. It was initially a bit salty upon first serving so I had to have it adjusted.

Appetizer

♥ Gambas Al Ajillo (320 php)

Vue showcases a wide-array of global cuisine. We enjoyed the Spanish tapas Gambas Al Ajillo, succulent shrimp sautéed in garlic-infused olive oil and spices served in a traditional cazuelita de barro (a small shallow, round and glazed earthenware made of terracotta).

♥ Mozzarella Nuggets (270 php)

Finding the Mozzarella Nuggets in the menu felt like hitting a golden-breaded treasure box that reveals molten, stretchy mozzarella riches for us cheese lovers. Make sure to pop them in the mouth as soon as they are served to enjoy them to the fullest.

Crispy Calamari (230 php)

The Crispy Calamari or deep-fried tender calamari rings that's made even more irresistable when enjoyed with the zesty dip.

Pasta

♥ Sardines with Sun-dried Tomatoes (340 php)

If you are craving for oil-based pasta like we did, the Sardines with Sun-dried Tomatoes with savory sardines bits and zesty slices of sun-dried tomatoes is a great choice!

Pizza

♥ Signature Stonehill Pizza (290 php)

Definitely don’t miss out on ordering their thin-crust pizza — it’s affordable, delicious, and perfect for sharing! Most of the pizza selections are similarly priced so we choice the best-selling Signature Stonehill Pizza with the most toppings.

Chicken

Southern Fried Chicken (650 php)

Although the Southern Fried Chicken was served with crispy coating and creamy gravy, it wasn't as satisying as the other dishes. If the chicken parts had bigger portions with more tender meat, the price would have been more jusitifiable.

Honey Balsamic Roasted Chicken (450 php)

The better chicken dish to order is the Honey Balsamic Roasted Chicken — roasted chicken marinated in a sweet and tangy honey balsamic glaze.

Pork

♥ Pork Barbecue Ribs (530 php)

The Pork Barbecue Ribs is their best-selling pork dish. My companions loved the tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs glazed in a lip-smacking barbecue sauce so much they ordered them in every visit.

Fish

Grilled Blue Marlin with Tangy Mango Salsa (460 php)

The Grilled Blue Marlin with Tangy Mango Salsa is a huge portion of grilled blue marlin topped with a refreshing mango salsa. While the mango salsa was delicious, blue marlin was slightly dry for our preference.

Tanigue Steak in Creamy Beurre Blanc Sauce (320 php)

The Tanigue Steak in Creamy Beurre Blanc Sauce was a better choice. The velvety beurre blanc sauce complemented the succulent tanique steak.

Beef

♥ Beef Salpicao (350 php)

A must order is the Beef Salpicao. The garlicky soy sauce-marinated beef cubes has the perfect savoriness and tenderness to keep you wanting for more together with an extra service of rice!

Desserts

♥ Fría Scoops Cookie Monster (200 php)

Kids at heart like us will definitely have an unforgettable indulgence with Fría Scoops Cookie Monster. Not only did we laugh our hearts out seeing each and every one of us with our mouths covered in blue vanilla ice cream, but we also loved the harmonious blend of creamy and crunchy toppings.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Consider Vue Restaurant if you've looking for a laid-back and cozy kind of dining experience in Bacolod City. Everything is on point from food presentation to service hospitality.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Vue Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	N/A
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Vue Restaurant Restaurant
Business Address	18th Street, corner San Agustin Dr, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Business Hours	7am-10pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	350-1,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(63917) 635-9237
Other	Website

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Gallery by Chelle: Six Course Heirloom Rice Tasting Menu (One Michellin Star Restaraunt in BGC)

2026-09-03T23:19:58.327+08:00

I've been urging my family to try Gallery By Chelle for years — way before it earned its One Michellin Star recognition! So, this was one dining affair I've been lookign forward to have.

As we were being ushered to our table, we couldn't help but be impressed by the artistic warm wood architecture by Carlo Calma and furnitures designed by the world renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

Quick Tour

While we leisurely perused the menu cards laid at our table, the server informed us that we will soon be taken on a tour around the restaurant. After few batches of guests passing by our table as they made their rounds, it was finally our turn.

Welcome

Dalandan Mochi

Our first stop was at the show kitchen just a few steps from our table. There we were offered a welcome glass of Sampaguita Pet Nat — a sparkling sampaguita-based wine that is fragrantly floral and lightly sweet with refreshing touch of acidicity. The term Pet Nat is short for pétillant naturel which means 'natural sparkling' in French.

It was paired with the welcome bite of Dalandan Mochi made of Tinawon Violet glutinous mountain rice. We enjoyed the burst of tanginess from its dalandan jelly filling followed by a minty basil finish.

Garden

Scallop Tart

Gallery by Chelle is the first restaurant in the Philippines to be awarded the Michellin Green Star recgonition for its outstanding commitment to sustainable gastronomy, local sourcing, and zero-waste culinary practices. One of the contributing factors to this achievement is its urban herb garden where its signature bite of Scallop Tart was served. The Scallop Tart was made from crispy lumpia wrapper and filled with scallops and fresh mango. It was laid on a fresreshing foam of home-grown herbs and mustard leaves. The Scallop Tart's complexity and depth of flavor left a profound and lasting impression, affirming its place as a signature bite that stood the test of several tasting menu iterations.

Stvdio Lab

Fermented Mango

The final tour stop is at the Stvdio Lab where all Gallery by Chelle's Research and Development (R&D) takes place. We couldn't help but awed by Gallery by Chelle's commitment for food innovation. They really invested a lot of time into The Heirloom Rice Project in order to showcase the extraordinary identity of different Cordillera rice varieties and tell the stories behind them.

Fermenting is one of their favorite techniques for culinary experimentation and the Fermented Mango is the perfect example of its fullest potential. The slice of mango is inoculated with bubod — the traditional rice-based fermentation starter used to produce tapuey (a type of rice wine) for 24 hours until the mango becomes sweeter and softer and then 3 days after it develops a white furry outer layer of penicillium similar that of camembert cheese.

Coastal Reef

Cold Clam Soup

After the walking tour, we were served the coastal reef specialties of Cold Clam Soup and Chili Lobster Puff.

How fun it was to drink the Cold Clam Soup — a refreshingly light clam broth with lemon grass and ginger notes from the shell spout!

Chili Lobster Puff

The Chili Lobster Puff is a taro puff filled with umami-rich lobster and homemade chili sauce.

Rice Cake Innovation

Sapin-Sapin, Puto and Tupig (left to right)

As a teaser of the Heirloom Rice Journey, we were served a trio of traditional Filipino rice cakes with their creative twist.

The Sapin-sapin has layers of latik foam, ube, langka, and coconut nestled within a queso de bola tuile.

We've become accustomed to the puto being a plain steamed cake.

Gallery by Chelle proves that the puto can be dressed up just like any other cake. And, their rendition of the Puto made with a dikit violet rice cake and fermented coconut milk mix and topped with goat cheese mousse, tinapa powder, calamansi gel and edible flowers tops any posh cake out there.

The Tupig is a charcoal-cooked rice cake topped with peanut sauce and complemented by toasted rice crumble. It was eaten by sliding it off the banana leaf which I enjoyed as it reminded me of another popular Philippine sweet snack, the polvoron.

Signatures

Kare-Kare Bonbon and Tomato Sinigang

Our favorites from the bites where the two signatures.

The Kare-Kare Bonbon is the most savory bonbon we've come across. We instantly felt fulfilled once we popped this concentrated piece unto our mouth.

When you're expecting to bite into a cherry tomato for the splash of of tomato juice and you get flooded with the wholesome Tomato Sinigang flavor of sour kamias, succulent pork and sweet vegetables.

The Journey

Mirin Kinilaw

The Mirin Kinilaw successfully made us all smile with its pristine-tasting and naturally sweet slices of fresh yellowfin tuna complemented by mango leche de tigre (Peruvian influence), coconut cream granita (Italian influence), and dayap zest.

Buro Crab

The Buro Crab is hands down the best crab dish I have ever had! The harmonious symphony of rich and creamy buro ice cream, topped with ikura, blue crab brot and crab fat emulsion is simply amazing!

Grouper Tapuey

Before serving the Grouper Tapuey, we were shown a bottle of their homemade tapuey (local sweet rice wine) and were given a spoonful to try.

As expected from Chelle, the Grouper Tapuey is not your usual steamed fish dish. The steamed grouper, with mashed snow peas, pods of snow peas and two kinds of Chinese brocolli and tapuey sauce and beurre blanc (French butter sauce), is definitely one of the best steamed fish dish we've had.

Abalone Arroz Caldo

Because most Chinese dishes frequently use abalone as a main ingredient, we taught that we already knew all sides and flavor profiles of the abalone. This meal has surprised us with the rich and bold flavor of abalone when laid over Chelle's unique take on arroz caldo — rice porridge which made use of the firmer Unoy red heirloom rice variety from Pasil, Kalinga) inflected with Kiniing (salt-cured porked hanged over traditional Cordinalleran firewood stove pork for days) .

Wagyu A5 Tartare

Before the main wagyu dish, we were served a starter of Wagyu A5 Tartare served on crisp rice cracker made from Minaanggaan heirloom red whole grain rice from the ancient mountain rice terraces of the Cordillera region.

Wagyu A5 Steak

Before we were given the go signal to dig into our Wagyu A5 Steak,

our server grated some Asin Tultul — heritage sea salt block infused with coconut milk from Guimaras. The Wagyu A5 Steak is complemented with three choices of condiments: Wagyu fat emulsion, black garlic puree, and confit shallots. While, it is fine on its own. It was also fun to take bites of it with different condiments. The level of satisfaction for each pairing depends on the preference of the taster.

Cacao Mucilage

We had to google the term Mucilage which actually refers to the sticky pulp of a plant. In this case, the dessert is named Cacao Mucilage because the sandwich filling between the crisp chocolate meringue is a semi-sweet sorbet made entire from raw cacao juice pulp layered with a rich chocolate ganache.

Rice Textures

You can actually order any of the dish from the tasting menu ala carte if you want to have more of it. We never felt the urge to order an extra dish until we tried the Rice Textures that was complemented by the sweet essence of lakatan bananas. As hinted from its name, it delivers a symphony of textures from three lowland heirloom rice varieties: 1) deremen (young glutinous rice cake from Pangasinan), for the arroz con leche with citrus zest, 2) tapol (dark purple glutinous rice from the Visayas) for the suman ice cream, and 3) pinipig (flattened rice from Nueva Ecija); and three mountain varieties: white rice cracker from the Mayoyao ethnic group, mountain violet tuile and red rice tuile from Minaanggaan rice. The suman ice cream was so good!

Petit Four

While dining, we've been sniffing a smoky fragrance from the passing servers. It was only until this last part of the course meal when we figured out that it came from the burner used for the bibingka-inspired cheesecake topped with cured egg yolk, pili nuts, and dayap zest. We were already filled and fulfilled at this point and yet we were still as delighted to finish our Petit Four.

Drinks

The drinks were not part of the tasting menu package. But, there were drinks there were suggested drinks to pair with each tasting menu dish.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Gallery by Chelle has an inimitable style of preparing and presenting dishes that make use of locally-sourced ingredients in a fun, creative and impectably memorable way. Thus, we have to agree that the wholesome fine dining experience deserves atleast a One Michellin Star recognition. We look forward to dining here again once a new tasting menu is launched.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Gallery by Chelle Menu
Ambiance	★★★★★	Six Course Heirloom Rice Menu
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Gallery by Chelle
Business Address	5/F Clipp Center, 11th Avenue, corner 39th St, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Lunch: 12–3:30 PM Dinner: 6–11 PM Closed on Mondays
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	5,500-8,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0917) 546-1673
Other	Website

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Ramen Ron x Pilya’s Kitchen: Limited Period Spicy Collaboration and More (Rockwell Makati City)

2026-08-29T16:00:16.583+08:00

Aside from the rainy day mood, another reason for us to go all the way to Ramen Ron is its limited period spicy collaboration with Pilya's Kitchen.

Food

A Spicy Collab Ramen Ron x Pilya's Kitchen (Aug 5-31, 2026)

As a spicy lover, how can we ever missed this? This is probably the very first spicy collaboration between two Michellin-recognized establishments in the Philippines.

♥ Mapo Tofu Ramen (690 php)

The Mapo Tofu Ramen features Ramen Ron's silky fowl shoyu (soy sauce based) broth and ramen noodles combined with Pilya's Kitchen's Mapo Biang less the signature hand-pulled biang biang noodles.

♥ Mapo Tofu Ramen (690 php)

We actually enjoyed this contemporary fusion dish of the Japanese ramen and Chinese mapo tofu noodles. Because Pilya's Kitchen's mapo tofu sauce clings wonderfully to Ramen Ron's ramen noodles, each slurp unfolds with a full-bodied flavor profile, accompanied by a lingering numbing mala sensation.

♥ Mapo Tofu Ramen (690 php)

It was difficult to draw the line between the silky fowl shoyu broth and the mapo tofu sauce because they seemlessly blend together. The silky fowl shoyu broth brought out the richness of the mapo tofu sauce with minced pork, soft tofu cubes, fermented black beans and sichuan peppercorns.

♥ Mala Gyoza (370 php)

We've always had an inkling that the Japanese gyoza would go well with the Chinese chili oil. But, we never dared to experiment.

♥ Mala Gyoza (370 php)

Even if we did, we're pretty sure we couldn't have executed it as well as this Mala Gyoza. There no better way to compliment the Ramen Ron's plump and juicy pan-fried dumplings than to tantalize the palate with the distinct tongue-numbing spicy mala tingle.

Chef's Recommended Ramen Toppings

♥ Ukkokei Beef Shoyu Ramen (840 php)

At Ramen Ron, you can order the original version of the ramen and add some Extras as your preferred topping or go with the Chef's Recommended Ramen Toppings. As an example, the original Ukkokei Beef Shoyu Ramen (at 690 php) is the silky fowl ramen topped with thinly sliced ribeye, steak fat bits, bamboo shoots and onion leeks. If you go with the Ukkokei Beef Shoyu Ramen (at 840 php) under the Chef's Recommended Ramen Toppings, you can get the same ramen with Aji Tamago (85 php) and Nori (65 php).

P.S. The CPA did the math and has verified that there's no premium when you avail of the chef's recommendation. The Extras are charged the same way. 😆

Sweets

Matcha Chilled Mochi (140 php)

The Chilled Mochi comes in 3 variants: Matcha, Milk and Mango.

Matcha Chilled Mochi (140 php)

We were happy with our choice — Matcha Chilled Mochi.

Drinks

Grape Fruit Shake (250 php)

The drinks are pleasant enough but are only recommended if you have a little extra budget to spare.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Ramen Ron has consistently a comforting contemporary take on ramen. The limited period spicy collaboration was executed just as well.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ramen Ron Rockwell Map
Ambiance	★★★★
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ramen Ron
Business Address	Rockwell (Flagship) Ground Floor, Edades Tower, Rockwell Center, Amorsolo Drive, Makati City Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Ground Floor, Central Square, 5th Avenue corner 30th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Business Hours	Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,200
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0917) 628-7245
Menu	N/A

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Ebi10: Rating our Japanese Dinner with a Perfect 10 (One Ayala Mall Makati)

2026-07-03T00:06:21.631+08:00

Since my little sister completed all her fellowship trainings as a endocrinologist and I has to carry the duties of a legal division chief, we could hardly find the time to chill and eat out like we used to.

Perhaps, it was destiny or a happy coincidence that we were both craving Japanese food and Ebi10 at One Ayala Mall turned out to be the perfect choice.

Although it had an unpretentious storefront adorned with softly glowing Japanese lanterns, inside lies a cozy and vibrant dining atmosphere. The sushi bar doubles as a cocktail bar and with DJ-station at the center, we can see how this relaxed dining space can transform into an elevated social lounge as the night unfolds.

Food

Sashimi

♥ Salmon Aburi Nigiri (385 php/2 pcs.)

We are so glad we had the Salmon Aburi Nigiri for our starter. It is handsdown one of the best rendition of the Salmon Aburi Nigiri we've ever had!

♥ Salmon Aburi Nigiri (385 php/2 pcs.)

I swear I almost cried in happy tears as the buttery norweigan salmon melted into my mouth and a burst of umami flavors from the salmon, while the uni delivered a pristine burst of sweet umami uni and finished with a harmonious blend of fragrant truffle, creamy Kewpie mayo, and savory teriyaki. Just from our teaser with the Salmon Aburi Nigiri, we knew we chose Ebi10 as the right choice.

Rolls

Crazy Maki (420 php)

We had such an elevated satisfaction from the Salmon Aburi Nigiri, it was simply impossible for the humble and classic Crazy Maki surpass. To be fair, it had everything you can expect from a Crazy Maki — kani, cucumber, mango kwepie, agedama, and ebiko.

Salads

♥ Spicy Tuna Salad (585 php)

The Spicy Tuna Salad is another dish that brought delight our tongues. The soft tuna cubes was complemented by the explosive kick of the dinamite mayo and the pleasurable crisp of agedama (crunchy tempura batter) and fresh romaine lettuce.

Mains

♥ Truffle Ponzu Steak (825 php)

If you're looking for a steak dish that won't make you break your diet and your budget, then go for the Truffle Ponzu Steak.

♥ Truffle Ponzu Steak (825 php)

Despite its modestly thin slice, the Truffle Ponzu Steak delivers an intense fragrant flavor from the premium quality Australian tenderloin, crispy onion, kamote chips and truffle mushroom ponzu sauce.

Tempura

♥ Jumbo Shrimp (600 php/3 pcs)

At such a good price point, the Jumbo Shrimp is a must order!

♥ Jumbo Shrimp (600 php/3 pcs)

The fresh, sweet and jumbo-size shrimp perfectly coated in golden batter is worth every peso.

Chahan

Vegetable Chahan (190 php)

The Vegetable Chahan is a surprise hit for us. We could never have imagined that a healthy bowl of rice, egg and mixed vegetables could be so good!

Sweets

Banana Nutella (250 php/3 pcs)

The Banana Nutella is another validation of the chef's precise frying skills. Just look at how the golden-coated banana slices could be beautifully laid atop a smear of nutella and accented by dulce de leche and sesame seeds.

Fruity & Fizzy

♥ Yuzu Fizz (220 php) and♥ Blueberry Fizz (220 php)

Ebi10 is not just for good food, they serve amazing drinks too. We loved the refreshing palate-cleansing Yuzu Fizz and the cool and minty Blueberry Fizz we had.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Ebi10's creatively-crafted Japanese dishes and drinks combined with its cozy atmosphere is sure to make any newcomer come back for more. We can't wait to try more from their extensive menu!

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Ebi10 Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	N/A
Taste	★★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Ebi10
Branches	One Ayala Makati Level 2 Alfresco, One Ayala Mall, Makati City (0962) 960-0895 \| (0915) 920-6512 \| (02) 7002-0366 Capitol Commons Meralco Avenue, Oranbo, Pasig City (0969) 610-8331 \| (0936) 958-2522 \| (02) 7000-02-88 Greenhills L136 G/F Greenhills Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, Barangay Greenhills, Ortigas Ave., San Juan City (0967) 182-6425 \| (0999) 804-4585 Eastwood G/F Tower 1, One Eastwood Ave., Eastwood City, Bagumbayan, Quezon City (0921) 924-3240 \| (0956) 948-6317 \| (02) 7001-9636 Ayala Malls Vermosa G/F Building E, Ayala Malls Vermosa, Daang Hari Road, Pasong Buaya 1, Imus, Cavite (0916) 466-3269 \| (0921) 853-0796
Business Hours	Mall Hours
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,500
Free WiFi	No
Contact
Other

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Find Your Perfect Pasta Pairing with Doña Elena

2025-11-04T09:10:00.005+08:00

Cooking at home brings joy, but it’s the shared meals with family and friends that make the experience truly incomparable. Pasta is a family favorite for a reason—it’s comforting, versatile, and easy to prepare for both daily meals and special celebrations. Because there's a Doña Elena product for every cooking need, even anyone can effortless create their own inspired dishes with an authentic Italian flare.

As a leading and well-loved brand of olive oil and other Mediterranean cooking ingredients, Doña Elena continues to make gourmet cooking at home fun and accessible. The brand’s newest stars are the Doña Elena 100% Italian Premium Pasta Sauces — crafted from fresh, high-quality ingredients and made with no preservatives. Whether you’re cooking pasta, pizza, or creating dips and marinades, these sauces can transform everyday food into gourmet experiences.

The New Doña Elena 100% Italian Premium Sauces

Bring the taste of Italy home with these four versatile, flavorful sauces — perfect for home cooks and aspiring chefs alike. Pair them with your favorite dishes or experiment with new pasta creations that delight every palate.

Doña Elena Marinara – With 100% Italian Tomatoes

Made with 100% Italian sun-ripened tomatoes slow-cooked to produce a hearty tomato sauce with fragrant herbs for a smooth, tangy, and savory taste.

Best paired with: Spaghetti or Linguine, lasagna, chicken Parmesan, or roasted vegetables.

Doña Elena Arrabbiata – With Italian Peppers

Nothing beats a classic Italian ingredient with a rich and tangy sauce. A fiery blend of sun-ripened tomatoes, bold chili peppers, and aromatic herbs, this sauce delivers a spicy kick and authentic Italian zest.

Best paired with: Penne Rigate, fish, shrimp, or roasted vegetables.

Doña Elena Artichokes & Walnuts Sauce

The ideal mix of creamy and nutty sauce that blends earthy artichokes with crunchy walnuts, and aromatic herbs for a gourmet twist.

Best paired with: Fettuccine or Fusilli, pizza, bruschetta, or as a dip with crackers and veggies.

Doña Elena Pesto Sauce – With Pecorino Cheese

A vibrant basil-based sauce enhanced with sunflower oil, parsley, and sharp Pecorino cheese for a creamy, robust finish.

Best paired with: Linguine or Fusilli, grilled meats, roasted potatoes, or as a spread on sandwiches.

Bringing Italy to Your Table

Every jar of Doña Elena Pasta Sauce captures the essence of Italian cuisine — vibrant, comforting, and timeless. Pair them with Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta, made from 100% durum wheat semolina and traditionally crafted with bronze dies. The unique texture lets the sauce cling beautifully for richer, more satisfying dishes.

Available in Fettuccine, Linguine, Lasagna, Penne Rigate, and Fusilli, Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta makes you a masterchef while enjoying the comfort of your kitchen.

This Pasta Month, celebrate the art of good food and discover your perfect pairing with Doña Elena Pasta Sauces and Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta — bringing endless ways to enjoy authentic Italian flavors at home.

Doña Elena Pasta Sauces and Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta are exclusively distributed by Fly Ace Corporation in the Philippines.

For more recipes, inspiration, and promos, follow @donaelenacuisineraclub on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Camiña Balay Nga Bato: Artisan Tsokolate Batirol Served in a Heritage Home Built in 1865 (Arevalo District Iloilo City)

2025-09-14T16:21:00.001+08:00

Our visit to Camiña Balay Nga Bato is one of the most memorable Heritage Tours I've had.

We're so happy to support Camiña Balay Nga Bato as a National Museum-recognized important cultural property in 2015.

Curio Heritage Shop

So before proceeding to our intended agenda, we checked out the assortment of local products sold at the Curio Heritage Shop.

And, of course, I bought some Chocolate Tablea.

We were greeted by the staff who oriented us about their offerings.

Upon choosing a guided tour, we were escorted to a simple living room or sala to watch a 10-minute video tour about the place.

We were then given some time to explore and take photos.

For our group photos, like the one we had on this creaky staircase, we asked the staff for asssitance.

The second floor served as the dining area so there were a lot of wooden tables with rustic chairs.

The vintage furniture, electronics, and dinnerwares, whispered a homey tale yearning to be heard.

And, for me that made the simple offering of Camiña Balay Nga Bato an authentic experience for cultural immersion.

For only 200 php, you can enjoy a two (2) rounds of their premium tsokolate de batirol served with a bowl of local biscuits. Just ring the bell for a refill! If you're lucky, they will even offer a complimentary third round.

♥ Tsokolate de Batirol and Local Biscuits

As we sipped on our Tsokolate de Batirol, nibbled on Local Biscuits, I felt a deep gratitude for the rare gift of slowness and presence as we were embraced by the cool breeze and homey ease. We could never enjoy such privilege in the bustle of Manila.

The Tsokolate de Batirol is so thick and rich that you can already feel the caffeine kick from a small cupfull. Thus, the two rounds is just enough! We even had to ask for a glass of water to help us finish it.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Camiña Balay Nga Bato is a must visit in Iloilo City. Yes, this is an encouraging invite to all of you to support one of the few heritage homes left in the Philippines! The experience is truly one of a kind and reasonably priced.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Camiña Balay Nga Bato Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Camiña Balay Nga Bato
Business Address	20 Osmeña Street, brgy Sta. Felomina Arevalo, Iloilo City, Philippines
Business Hours	8am-6pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	200-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0947) 891-1467
Other	Facebook Fan Page

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Breakthrough Restaurant: Seafood Galore and More Since 1986 (Iloilo City, Iloilo)

2025-09-06T19:53:00.003+08:00

While I've had food trips on some Philippines regions before, this meal shared with our academic and intellectual work partners offered a distinct and unforgettable pleasure.

It may have been a fitting conincidence that they suggested to dine at "Breakthrough Restaurant" because it was here that I experience a breakthrough discovery about myself.

Listening to our senior partners — emeritus professors — share insights and experiences from their past development projects over good local dishes left me deeply inspired about our generation’s potential to make a difference.

Set by the coast in Iloilo City, Breakthrough Restaurant charms both local and tourist alike by serving fresh seafood specialties enhanced by the cool sea breeze dining experience.

Although we ordered from the frozen fish counter, we surmised that they were freshly caught because we saw live fishes swimming in the pools nearby.

After deciding on our fish soup, we proceeded to the next counter where food choices are displayed. I found this set-up quite peculiar because this turo-turo (point-point) style is usually adopted in small road-style eateries around the Philippines and not by large-scale restaurants. Upon pointing on our choices, the staff lists them down the orders to be delivered at our table.

If you're like our boss who prefers to just order by sitting down, you can also do so.

Food

Starters and Specials

Lato Salad

But, I suggest that you stand up because some items that are displayed like the Lato Salad (grape seaweed) are not in the regular menu.

♥ Baked Talaba (220 php)

As you can see, the Baked Talaba is fresh and succulent.

♥ Sizzling Crabmeat (300 php)

The Sizzling Crabmeat is pure juicy crab meat with tomato, chili and corn served in a hot sizzling plate.

Vegetables

Chopsuey (285 php)

The Chopsuey is served with a generous variety of vegetables.

Pork

Litson Baboy (300 php)

The Litson Baboy was reasonably priced but nothing extraordinary.

Beef | Mutton

♥ Caldereta (380 php)

The Caldereta is a spicy tomato-based stew filled with tender beef, potato and carrot slices.

Native Chicken

♥ Litson Manok (390 php)

We loved the Litson Manok. It's savory and tender.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Breakthrough's dining experience is definitely one of a kind. No wonder it been loved by locals and tourists alike since 1986. With so much choices, you will surely have a new seafood to try on your next visit.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Breakthrough Restaurant Menu
Ambiance	★★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Breakthrough Restaurant
Business Address	Molo-Arevalo Boulevard Sto. Nino, Villa Arevalo, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province
Business Hours	10am-9pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	400-1,500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(033) 337 3027
Other	Website

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Alicia's Special Batchoy and Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant: Game-Changing Spicy Batchoy (Jaro Iloilo)

2025-08-02T15:26:00.003+08:00

Iloilo city is the home for La Paz Batchoy — the most popular variant of Batchoy in the Philippines. La Paz Batchoy is now world-reknowed as it has recently been hailed as the world's best offal (internal organs) soup by TasteAtlas - an online food travel guide.

To date, the three claimants of being the originator of this popular dish has maintained its iconic stores in the La Paz Market, namely Deco's Original La Paz Batchoy (Since 1938), Ted's Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy (Since 1945) and Netong's Original Special La Paz Batchoy. It is a noodle with strips of pork meat and organs, chicharones (crushed pork cracklings), egg, garlic bits, onions, chives and guinamos (local shrrimp paste) in savory and well-seasoned pork caldo (broth). Each of them has stood the test of time and have garnered a lot of followings for their distinct dish renditions.

For practicality, we spared ourselves from going all the way to La Paz Market and just took a short grab-ride from our hotel to Alicia's Special Batchoy in Jaro, Iloilo.

We were expecting a humble carideria-style place so we were a bit surprised when we arrived at a full-scale airconditioned restaurant.

It was easy to spot because it is a big complex that houses Alicia's Car Wash, Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant and Alicia's Special Batchoy.

Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant has an outdoor turo-turo style kitchen.

It also has an indoor area where most of the guests go-to.

We had the entire Alicia's Special Batchoy all to ourselves during our mid-afternoon visit.

Later on, we discovered that you can cross-order from both. So, if you are ordering from the two food establishments, you can choose where to dine.

Food

Super Batchoy Pancit (130 php)

So for the Special Batchoys, you can them in two sizes: 1) super served in a white shallow bowl, or 2) extra served in a green deeper bowl. The price disparity between the two is only 10 php. As you can observe, the difference in serving portion is also hardly noticeable.

Extra Batchoy Misua (140 php)

You also have four options for noodles: 1) pancit (a.k.a as egg noodles), 2) bihon (a.k.a as rice noodles), 3) miswa (a.k.a as wheat vermicelli), and 4) sotanghon (a.k.a. as glass noodles).

Special Chili Sauce

Those types of options are commonly shared across all batchoyans in Iloilo.

What sets Alicia's Special Batchoy apart is its really spicy Special Chili Sauce.

♥ Extra Batchoy Pancit (140 php)

And, adding some of its Special Chili Sauce on its rightly seasoned Special Batchoy works for me! It was served piping-hot with a smooth and well-balanced taste — from the subtle hints of flavorful marrow without the artificial sharp kick of you can from too much MSG.

Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant

Puto Manapla (30 php)

The Special Batchoy is best paired with the Puto Manapla. We spotted a bulk of the Puto Manapla displayed just outside Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant so we ordered it and it was delivered to our table.

Baked Talaba (250 php)

We also ordered a plateful of Baked Talaba. As you can see, the oysters are plump and juicy underneath the rich layers of garlic bits and creamy cheese that complements its natural briny sweetness.

♥ Special Lumpia (200 php)

The unexpected standout among our orders is the Special Lumpia. The Special Lumpia is a common household dish so we honeslty did not expect much from it. Yet, Alicia's Special Lumpia is oh so good! The lumpia wrapper is so light, crispy and flaky effectivenly locking in the grounded pork meat’s succulent juices.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

We were so glad to have had our chance food stop at Alicia's Special Batchoy and Pueblo de Alicia's Restaurant. As it gains more success we hope the next time we could come back for a revisit, it still carries with it the same charm for serving quality, home-style dishes.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Alicias Batchoy Iloilo Menu
Ambiance	★★★	Menu
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Alicia's Special Batchoy
Business Address	Alicia's Batchoy Jaro Branch Washington St, Brgy Democracia, Jaro Iloilo City (Left side before crossing Tabuc Suba Bridge coming from Jaro Plaza)
Business Hours	7:00 am - 8:30 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	N/A
Budget/Person	150-500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0999) 880-5529
Other	Facebook

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Café Ilang-Ilang at Manila Hotel Buffet Dinner (Manila, Metro Manila)

2025-03-22T22:29:00.001+08:00

After a decade since my last buffet dinner at Café Ilang-Ilang so it's was time for a long overdue revisit!

As expected, everything has changed from interiors to food selections.

Food

Bread Station

Café Ilang-Ilang's Bread Station has offers delicious baked breads selections which includes Black Sesame Rolls, Hard Rolls, White Sesame Rolls, Wallnut Rolls, Laugen, Rye Roll, Sour Rolls, Rye Bread, Original Six Grains, High Fiber Bread and French Bread.

Charcuterie Station

There's also a Charcuterie Station featuring a Cheeseboard (with Gruyère, Emmental, Manchego, Blue Cheese and Brie Wheel), olives, dried fruits, and honey.

Cold Salad Station

Cold Salads include Coleslaw, Shrimp Salad, Macaroni Salad, Kani Salad and Mangang Hilaw with Bagoong. There are also Cold Meats like Beef Pastrami, Chicken and Pork Terrine.

There are also some cocktail-style appetizers like the Melon Lassi, and Shrimp Mango Salad.

Fresh Salad Station

Admittedly, the Fresh Salad Station isn't my favorite in the past. Now, its my first stop in every buffet so having so much variety of fresh greens and sauces is much appreciated!

Seafood Station

The Seafood Station offers Butter Garlic Prawn, Butter Garlic Crab and ♥ Cheese Baked Mussels.

Churrasco Station

Café Ilang-Ilang has a different dinner theme per night. Since it was Surf and Turf Night, we were fortunate to have the ♥Blue Marlin available at the Churrasco Station. There's also heavy meats like Smoked Pork Loin, Churrasco Beef and Sausages.

Korean Station

The Korean Station ranged from main dishes like Spicy Mud Crab and Korean Grilled Lamb, a soup — Beef Radish Soup, and side dishes like Pajeon, Fried Zucchini, Fried Tofu, Kimcheon, Dried Squid, Fishcake, Kongnamul (soy bean sprout), Spinach and Kimchi.

Chinese Station

The Chinese Station highlights Chinese Dimsum of Pork and Shrimp Siomai, Choco Bun, Chicken Feet, and my favorite — ♥ Century Egg. There's also Chinese Corn Soup.

Japanese Station

Sushi Station

The Japanese Station is the biggest food station. Check out the Sushi Station with Vegetarian Maki, Cheese Tamago, Spicy Kani Maki, Salmon Cream Cheese, California Maki and the must try ♥ Aburi.

There's also fresh Tuna Sashimi, Salmon Sashimi, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, Kani Salad and Tamago.

For the mains, there's Vegetable Tempura, ♥ Shrimp Tempura, Yasai Itame, ♥ Miso Cream Chicken, Salmon Teriyaki. And, to complete your Japanese meal experience, pair them with the Miso Soup and Japanese Fried Rice.

Italian Station

Among the popular stations is the Italian Station because of the specialty pasta dishes such as ♥ Gnocchi with Truffle Sauce and ♥ Pasta Al Forno. There's also an inviting display of Mixed Cold Cuts, Bruschetta with Basil and Tomato, Panini, Sacciata Sandwich, Salad Caprese, Foccacia Bread, Parmesan Cheese Wheel. I also loved the ♥ Leeks Potato Soup.

The pizzas are freshly oven-baked. Highly recommend the ♥ Spinach Pizza and ♥ Mushroom Pizza!

European and Mediterranean Station

Like other stations, there's a soup — Swiss Barley Soup, mains — Honey Garlic Prawns, ♥ Shepherd Pie, side dishes —Butter Vegetables, Marble Potato, and staple — Brown Rice.

♥ Lechon

For every Filipino feast, there's the Lechon.

♥ US Angus Beef

With the longest line, the US Angus Beef with your choice of sauce mustard, horse radish or mint is what you can't miss!

♥ Foie Gras on Brioche

Another dish that's worth the wait is the Foie Gras on Brioche.

Best to save space for dessert because there's many to consider. The spread includes a Cathedral Gelatin, Pistachio Sanrival, Carrot Cake, Mochi Buttercream, Ube Cake and Red Velvet. Then, there's the Artisanal Ice Cream Station and Crepe Station. So happy that there are gourmet ice cream flavors like Pistachio, Matcha, ♥ Durian and ♥ Black Sesame.

On the side shelves, there's Fruit Tarts, Mixed Berries Pavlova and Kakanin. The Bibingka and Puto Bumbong are no longer part of the buffet though.

Instead, there's Assorted Chinese Cookies, Assorted Cookies, Assorted Fruits, Chocolate Truffle, Marshmallow and Chocolate Fountain.

Drinks

Drink Station

The Drink Station can be found by the entrance and beside the Halo-halo Station. Drinks include Detox Water, Cranberry Juice, Orange Juice and Apple Juice.

The drinks above go well with your meal. To complement your dessert, enjoy a cup of coffee—choose from Brewed Coffee, Cafe Americano, Decaf Coffee, Cafe Latte, Cappucino and Espresso.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Café Ilang-Ilang has long been a distinguished destination for premium international buffet. With its comprehensive buffet selections, you're sure to leave feeling satisfied.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Cafe Ilang-Ilang Rate
Ambiance	★★★★	Lunch Mon to Sat 3,295 php Sun 3,445 php Dinner Thurs to Sat 4,090 php Sun to Wed 3,445 php *Child Rate - 50% off
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Cafe Ilang-Ilang
Business Address	The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila Metro Manila
Business Hours	11:30 am - 2:30 pm 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	3,000-4,500
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(02) 8527-0011 / 5301-5500
Other	Website

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Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅 Pasay: A Cultural Chinese Hotpot Feast To Remember

2025-03-18T21:44:00.000+08:00

There is no other place in the Philippines that offers this kind Chinese culture immersion like Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅.

Meat Volcano with Tuna Sashimi and Salmon Sashimi

Stepping into Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅 Pasay, felt like being transported to an ancient opera house in China.

Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅 Pasay Dining Setup

The elevated wooden stage exudes elegance with its intricately painted beams that's under a majestic golden roof adorned with upturned eaves and ornate carvings.

Chinese Folk Art Performance

Naturally, it fades into the background as the folk performances take center stage at 7:00 PM, 9:30 PM, and 12 MN, bringing the entire venue to life with joyous laughter and rhythmic applause.

Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅 is trully a symphony of traditional Chinese aesthetics — crimson pillars, glowing lanterns, golden-tiled ceiling, beautiful lattice doors, and exquisitely-crafted wooden balconies.

Food

特色火锅汤 / Specialty Hot Pot Soup

Each person can order a personal hotpot with their choice of broth. We enjoyed the ♥ 红运牛油锅 Goodluck Spicy Butter Soup, ♥ 番茄养颜锅 Healthy Tomato Soup, ♥ 松茸菌王锅 Mushroom Soup and 依云水海鲜锅 Evian Water Seafood Soup.

Sashimi/Cold Dish

刺身 Sashimi

三文鱼刺身 Salmon Sashimi, 北极贝刺身 Atlantic Scallop Sashimi and 金枪鱼刺身 Fresh Tuna Sashimi

As you can see, every sashimi selection we ordered was vibrantly fresh and meticulously presented on a bed of ice accented by florals and greens.

鲜贝组合 Fresh Shell combination

海鲜姿造 Seafood

♥ 小头龙虾 Small Flower Lobster

A feast isn't complete without an order of the 小头龙虾 Small Flower Lobster!

Mixed Cooked Seafood

And, to add a natural sweetness to your soup, order the 宿务大虎虾 Manila Big Tiger Shrimp, ♥ 大青蟹 Big Blue Crab, and some 明虾Fresh Shrimp.

牛羊姿造 Meats

♥ 美国安格斯雪花肥牛 U.S.A Angus Snowflake Beef

They serve the 美国安格斯雪花肥牛 U.S.A Angus Snowflake Beef in iced volcano-style to make it an even more memorable experience.

In addition to the presentation, they taste so good too!

Especially when you dip them in your customized sauce.

Assorted 臻选菌菇 Mushroom / 素菜 Veggies Platter

♥ 菌菇双拼 Mushroom Selection

Our favorite is the 菌菇双拼 Mushroom Selection which includes 杏鲍菇 Pleurotus Eryngii, 金针菇Needle Mushroom, 香菇 Shiitake Mushrooms, 新疆天山羊肚菌 Tianshan Wild Ganodema Mushroom and Golden Thread Mushroom.

甜品小吃 Dessert

♥ 黑芝麻糯米饼 Black Sesame Sticky Rice Cake

For dessert, there are a lot of choices to chose from. We tried the 黑芝麻糯米饼 Black Sesame Sticky Rice Cake...

Fresh Fruit Platter, 酥脆打糕 Crispy Cake and 木瓜奶冻Papaya Milk Jelly

酥脆打糕 Crispy Cake and 木瓜奶冻Papaya Milk Jelly which were not the usual Chinese Desserts for us. We also got the Fresh Fruit Platter for our elders.

Costumes

Don't forget to try out the free costumes when you're done with the feasting.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

If you want to check our the ultimate hotpot experience, you cannot miss out on Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅. It's delivers a whole package of a cultural Chinese immersion where the premium-quality hotpot is just one of its component.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅 Pasay Set Meal Rate
Ambiance	★★★★★	For 2 2,880 php \| 4 PHP5,880 php / 9,880 php
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Good Luck Hotpot 红运火锅
Business Address	Pasay Branch Nexgen Tower Edsa extension C4 Pasay City, Metro Manila Greenhills Branch Greenhills Mall, Missouri Builiding Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila
Business Hours	Monday to Sunday 11am to 4am
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	3,000 - 4,500
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(0950) 461-8888
Other

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