Tsinoy Foodies

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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Hotel Buffet Review: Admiral Club Manila Bay and Admiral Hotel Manila Exploration (Malate Metro Manila)

2025-03-10T21:52:00.002+08:00

Admiral Club Manila Bay is one of the top hotel buffets in Manila right now since it features a diverse selection of international cuisine. It is located at the 9th floor of Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery. So, consistent with the hotel's theme of an Admiral's experience, the buffet highlights the diverse culinary discoveries from his seafaring adventures.

Admiral Club Interactive Catwalk Table

But, the food isn't the only reason Admiral Club Manila Bay steals the spotlight, it is also known for its interactive catwalk table. With its cutting-edge video mapping projection...

Admiral Club Manila Bay DJ

and superb sound system, it has become an iconic centerpiece for celebrations and events. If you're availing of the buffet just for the pleasure of dining like us, you can still count on the DJ's great music alone to elevate your dining experience.

Food Stations

There are numerous food stations to conquer.

The Great Grazing Table

The Great Grazing Table features a medley of artisanal breads, olives, sliced and marinated cheeses, cold cuts, dried fruits, nuts, pintxos — meats, pâté (smooth or chunky spreads) or rillettes (slow-cooked shredded meat spread) on top of a slice of bread that originated from Basque, Spain. The highlight of this section is Admiral Club's signature ♥Pâté en Croûte — a pâté that's baked inside a flaky pastry that is French in origin.

Salad Bar

Although we love salads, the limited variety of local greens, toppings and salad dressings at the Salad Bar failed to entice us to try this section. But, we had every appetizer: Tomato Caprese, Fresh Oysters, Prawn Cocktails, ♥Tatare in Salmon, Tuna and Beef.

Asian Atelier

The Asian Atelier is our favorite although it was mainly consists of only two cuisines: Chinese and Japanese Cuisine. From Japanese, we enjoyed the fresh Sashimi and Nigiri: Mahi-Mahi, Tuna, ♥Salmon and Sea Urchin, Special Rolls: California Maki, Kani Maki and Kani Tofu and other Japanese cold starters. The Udon and ♥Tempura are good enough to justify the premium for the weekend buffet.

Noodle Bar

Being Tsinoy Foodies, we usually find the Chinese Dishes offered in hotel buffets subpar compared to specialty Chinese restaurants. But, with the fun Noodle Bar twist where you can choose from four delicious of broth: Chicken, Beef, ♥Laksa and Miso, we found it difficult to resist customizing our own boodle bar topped with our choice of toppings and condiments.

Dimsum

There is an assortment of Dimsum: Siomai, Siopao and Mushroom Buns. Also, don't miss out on the authentic Chinese dishes and specialities such as the ♥Sliced Roasted Duck and Macao Lechon.

The Stove

The Stove presents European and Mediterranean specialties such as the Beef Bourguignon, Lamb Confit, The Perfect Egg and more. The meats here didn't have any distinct features worth mentioning.

From The Sea with Love

There's no reason to hold back in having as much Baked Oysters when its part of the spread right?

More Seafood

The same rules apply for the delicious Crab, Clam and Fish dishes at the From The Sea with Love station.

Josper Grill

The Josper Grill brought in Spanish-influenced specialties with its roasts and grills. All are a must-try! We had Striploin, ♥Seabass, Mahi-Mahi, Prime Rib, ♥Porchetta and Roast Beef.

L’atelier Des Desserts

The eye-catching Ice Cream Spinning Wheel effortlessly drew us all to the L’atelier Des Desserts station. Enjoy your Crêpes à la mode with a scoop of your favorite ice cream. With 16 flavors to choose from on the Ice Cream Spinning Wheel, you're sure to find one you love! The Chocolate Fountain seems to attract the young diners. There are also an assortment of Bite-sized Delights.

Admiral Hotel Manila -MGallery Exploration

Manila Bay Sunset View

Best to arrive early before dinner time so you can enjoy the scenic sunset view at the Coconut Grove Rooftop Pool Bar just outside Admiral Club Manila Bay.

Coconut Grove Rooftop Pool Bar

There aren't many places in Manila where you can truly step back into its Golden Age glamour. During the wartime era, the original Admiral Hotel Manila stood as a prestigious retreat for distinguished figures, including General Douglas MacArthur and Prince Louis Mountbatten, uncle of Prince Philip, while also serving as a harbor for seafarers.

Infinity Pool with Sunset View

As evident from the neglect of most cultural heritage structures in Manila, we're glad that this was rebuilt in a way that still preserves the essence of a fading cultural treasure.

Las Paginas de la Historia at the El Atrio Lounge

Another display that can't be missed at Admiral Hotel Manila is the Las Paginas de la Historia (which translates to pages of history) at the El Atrio Lounge. Isn't it amazing that they used actual pages from Fernando Marías' book for this art installation?

Noodle Alley at Admiral Hotel Manila

Go through the secret door to check out Noodle Alley.

Noodle Alley

This is linked to the more conspicous Godown by Ruby Wong bar which you have to check out for yourself as it was kind of awkward to take a photo while guests where enjoying their privacy in the dark.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

The buffet at Admiral Club Manila Bay is a must-try especially if you can avail of them being offered at discount price from credit card or membership discount. It's also a great opportunity to explore Admiral Hotel Manila, a truly one-of-a-kind luxury boutique hotel that captures the essence of Manila's rich heritage.

Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating		Admiral Club Buffet Rates
Ambiance	★★★★	Breakfast Buffet 1,888 php nett\| Lunch Buffet 2,788 php nett \| Sunday Brunch, Holiday, Friday to Saturday Dinner Buffet 3,788 php nett \| Sunday to Thursday Dinner Buffet 3,188 php nett\| Kid’s Rate 5-12 years old – 50% discount 0-4 years old – Free of Charge
Taste	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Price	★★★★
♥=Favorites or Recommended

Admiral Club Buffet
Business Address	9/F Admiral Hotel Manila 2138 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila
Business Hours	6:30 am-10:00 pm
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	1,888-3,788
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(0917) 829-8434
Other	Website

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Taipei Spa Pasay: Post- Massage Taiwanese Dinner (Pasay City Metro Manila)

2025-01-19T22:30:00.002+08:00

If you got half a day for food and relaxation, we highly recommend spending it in Taipei Spa Pasay (台北 SPA庭院店).

Although Taipei Spa has several branches, this is the grandest one.

It has a spacious dining and massage area. For special occassions, you can splurge and avail of their VIP rooms with jacuzzi. Alternatively, you can enjoy a foot massage while relaxing by the scenic fish pond.

Food

Xiao Long Bao

Best part of all is that they offer a wide selection of affordable Taiwanese food.

♥ Mushroom Skewers

It ranges from Taiwanese street foods to a full-blown meal.

Cold Tofu

Best to visit in groups because most dishes are great for sharing.

♥ Braised Beef Shanks

Everything we tried was satisfying.

♥ Oyster Omelette

Most of the dishes were actually quite new for us.

♥ Taiwanese Oyster Noodles

My favorite was the Taiwanese Oyster Noodles. It is served with rice vermicelli noodles.

Taiwanese Pig Intestine Noodles

The Taiwanese Pig Intestine Noodles were also good.

Seafood Noodles

You could also go for egg noodles like the Seafood Noodles.

Onion and Leeks Noodles

You definitely cannot go wrong with the noodle options.

♥ Taiwanese Halo-halo

An interesting experience for us too was the Taiwanese Halo-halo where you will get to pick the toppings.

Complimentary Fruits

If you get a massage, you also get to enjoy some Complimentary Fruits.

Complimentary Green Apple Slices

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

Taipei Spa is not only great for having a luxious spa experience. It is now also a great food stop for affordable Taiwanese food that's open 24 hours!

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

Taipei Spa Pasay
Business Address	Corner Cuneta Ave. Pasay City near Roxas Blvd and Heritage Hotel
Business Hours	24 hours
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	500-1,000
Free WiFi	Yes
Contact	(0966) 504-7076
Other

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Magic Lagoon Restobar: Refreshing Stopover in Subic (Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales)

2025-01-14T14:58:00.003+08:00

During our drive from Manila to Bataan, we felt hungry so we quickly googled for a place to eat in Subic Bay Freeport Zone so we can also do some shopping after lunch.

The Magic Lagoon Restobar stood out with an impressive amount of google reviews.

The photo preview online, it seemed scenic and spacious.

When we arrived, it was even more spacious than we expected because it had a lot of parking slots available.

We enjoyed taking our time to take group photos over this falls and

this long and winding dock.

The open air restobar was unexpectedly full. But, it felt cool even on a sunny day because of its ample fans and well-ventilation.

We found an empty long table by the corner where these ducks seemed to be stationed.

Food

Appetizers

♥ Baked Tahong (390 php)

For starters, we enjoyed these deliciously cheesy Baked Tahong.

Pork Sisig (260 php)

We also had a sizzling plateful of the Pork Sisig.

Gulay ATBP.

Ginataang Sitaw and Kalabasa (280 php)

My companions know how much I insist for a well-balance meal so they order this Ginataang Sitaw and Kalabasa and

Kangkong with Bagoong (110 php)

simple yet delightfully crunchy Kangkong with Bagoong, and

♥ Kare-Kareng Gulay (350 php)

the potful of flavorful Kare-Kareng Gulay.

Drinks

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict

The Magic Lagoon Restobar offered us a refreshing lunch stopover after a long drive. We were quite pleased that for such a great ambiance and food experience, the price is very reasonable. I'm also quite surprised that they are open 24/7 even on most holidays.

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

Magic Lagoon Restobar
Business Address	Bldg. 716, Bicentennial Park, Rizal Highway, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Luzon Philippines
Business Hours	24 Hours
Payment Options	Cash
Service Charge	10%
Budget/Person	350-1,000
Free WiFi	No
Contact	(047) 252-1475
Other

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Eat Pizza: Fun and Handy 10-inch Korean-style Pizzas are Now in Manila

2024-12-11T22:06:00.002+08:00

Fellow pizza lovers and Hallyu fans alike, check out this new food craze that has just crash landed in the Philippines. Eat Pizza offers bold Korean-inspired flavors served in fun and handy 10-inch rectangular pizza.

Following the grand opening of its first branch last October, Eat Pizza has stolen the food scene spot light and captured the hearts and taste buds of Filipinos.

Eat Pizza's single-portioned pizzas allows us to savor our favorite flavor without compromise. As they say it is “a slide of pizza for everyWant."

The menu features 10 exciting flavors, ranging from Korean-inspired creations to timeless classics:

Korean Sausage: Juicy Korean sausage paired with tangy honey mustard and relish for a burst of sweet and spicy flavors.
Beef Bulgogi: Marinated, tender slices of beef bulgogi add a savory and slightly sweet touch to every bite. This even has a hot & spicy option!
Samgyeopsal: Inspired by the longest trending Korean BBQ dish, this fusion flavor blends locally-sourced meat with premium Korean cheese.
Sweet Potato: Korea’s beloved winter snack transformed into a pizza slide of contrasts between sweet and savory.
Sweet Milk & Sweet Corn: These are also playful twist of Korean snacks to try.
Classic Cheese, Pepperoni, and Aloha: For those who crave tried-and-true favorites.

Complete your meal with Eat Pizza’s mouthwatering sides: Sweet Potato Corn Cheese and Tteokbokki with Cheese. They also have classic Italian pasta options like Spaghetti and Carbonara.

Whether for a movie-time snack or take-out at home, Eat Pizza’s handy and solo packaging makes it fun and convenient to enjoy anywhere anytime.

Discover more about Eat Pizza and their promos by following their official Facebook and Instagram pages.

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