Cafe Mobility

Mr. Miyagi: Eat-All-You-Can smokeless grill

2012-01-27T00:59:00.000-08:00

From the same entertainment conglomerate who brought to you Laffline, Punchline and MetroBar comes another whimsical take, this time in a form of gastronomic amusement.

Athough food industry isn't a stranger to the de Villa as they have been franchising Binalot Filipino flair for quite some time now, Mr. Miyagi is their first spin-off from the usual bar joint and chill-out travesty.

Located at the heart of Timog, Mr Miyagi isn't hard to find with their uberly vibrant lighting and clear glass window. The interiors were a straightforwardly unassuming and unceremoniously simple, soft couches neatly arranged all over a vastly spacious dining area, and a buffet spread at the middle, much like how the Yakimix did theirs. Also the chandeliers where somewhat derivative to the Yakimix(Trinoma), although I wish it wasn't intentional.

Their grillables include a whole gamut of thinly sliced cut pork, beef, fish, shrimp and chicken meats.

Yes broccoli, it's nice to have if you maintain a proper balance of things on a table.

They have a rice, noodles, and other varieties too. It's a good thing to have while waiting for your grillables to get perfectly done.

Crab but I didn't taste this because I don't want to go through the hassle of tediously unfolding the meat inside their hard shell.

Tempura. Their most-replenished pre-cooked entree.

Spicy hot pork. Best mate for a beer? :)

Bell Pepper and mushroom contrasting the ickyness of meat.

Sweet and sour, they have done it right, with just the right balance.

Calamares style squid. Bring on the dip.

Crunchy goodness shrimp. This is close to being a shrimp chicharon.

Another shrimp. Tasty as it already is.

Fillet. I let it pass because I can get this from just anywhere.

And another variant.

Best complemented with the appropriate sauce.

Fish.

They have different sauces as well. Make sure you get the right one for the right entree.

And Japanese section to include Maki, Sushi and Sashimi. I was disappointed with the Wasabi thigh because it lack a tanginess kick.

To conclude your meal, get some of these fresh fruits and desserts.

Or perhaps a salad will do.

You can also do your own garden fresh salad.

Let's see what I have on my plate. Squid, shrimp, sweet and sour goodness.

Sashimi on the far end and the grilled meats. Dip it with Ponzu or Korean Mizu sauces.

Dry noodles. And another round of sweet and sour delight.

I took the the large slice. Dessert time.

I just made this, Crepes topped with Chocolate and Strawberry ice cream with cherry on top.

Fruit salad. It was unplanned so I wasn't able to prep up a gastric stretching exercise, hence I spent it up to desserts for most of my time.

My finale was a quad-scope of ice cream, Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Mocha.

The damage? Monday to Friday Php499 on lunch and Php599 for dinner. Week ends will cost you at Php649. I think it's better to get it on a weekday lunch because their bottomless ice teas(Green and Red Tea) were free. But that wasn't so damaging at all. Although for this type of restaurant set up, SamboKojin still has the discernible hand, and it is perhaps because of their long experience in this industry.

At the end of the meal, the restaurant manager was nice enough to have a casual chat and handed me a 50% discount card for Laffline entrance. :)

Keeping life simple

2012-01-26T00:38:00.000-08:00

I have been a Batman in the Renaissance Era whose waist, pockets and backpacks are full of utility gears for my mobile lifestyle. My affinity with these arsenals started out too early, perhaps I can say that I used to be one of the early adapters of these technological marvels and whenever there's one, I easily jump into the bandwagon of go-getters and took the first dip.

During college for instance, there were only three of us in the entire campus who owned a cellphone. Mine was a Philips Fizz, my other classmate Motorola(I forgot the model) and schoolmate friend a Nokia 100(that ice crusher model).Then onto my work, my company issued me a Motorola pager.

Until during the PDA era, and I owned a whole gamut of them too, from the monochrome Palm M105 to color Palm M130, Palm M505 to Sony Clie SJ30, then my last PDA was the Sony Clie TJ37.

Now, I am bent on sticking to just two phones, an iPhone as my main phone and a Samsung as my auxiliary unit, one a Globe line and the other a Sun. I am planning to keep life simple by just owning a few gadgets now, few and really necessary.

They can also be used as a secondary camera as both of them really churned out good photos. But I noticed somehow their output difference.

iPhone has more vivid colors but a bit grainy. It has faster shutter speed though.

Samsung leaned towards a fluorescent mode in the white balance spectra but has a slower shutter speed.

If you look at them on the phone, Samsung has e better image quality since it uses SuperAMOLED screen and has good contrast output. But you need to look at them on a computer to see real score up close.

All in all, they're good during the times when dSLR failed to keep you a company, especially during emergency purposes where you didn't expect you need to capture something.

OLPC, only phone version

2012-01-25T23:58:00.001-08:00

Globe Family Combo has been around was launched since 2008, but a promo like this are hardly noticed since it doesn't have any value added on me as I hail from a relatively small family.

But what caught my attention is the Samsung Galaxy Y. Sure enough, touchscreen technology has been in the midst, but touchscreen technology with an Android OS, that reminds me of the OLPC concept way back 2006.

Technology determinism has indeed foisted in into the alleys of our society that every man can now have a decent OS that does not only do calling and texting but with all the mobile connectivity functionalities as well, a feat that was once thought can only be done on a regular computer.

Globe's Family Combo meant 3 lines, 3 phones, and 3 unlimited services. Just choose your plan(Globe or TouchMobile UnliCall and Text, UnliCall to mobile and landline, or UnliTxt to all networks), choose your phone(Samsung Galaxy Y, Huawei U8350 they call "CloudPhone Temptation," of Blackberry Curve 8520 that comes with Php4,800 cash out), and choose your booster with Globe's unlimited services.

Of course, the obvious decent choice would be to get the Samsung Galaxy Y.

Manity

2012-01-24T00:52:00.001-08:00

I know I am so heartless(and a sucker that is) when it comes to cosmetic products that even public toilets in our office are lambasted shamelessly by my uberly hygienic tendencies. Men in my fold are just as vain as I am though, so before you cast your doubts, let me tell you that these are the new breed alpha males in the urban landscape(although I am not an alpha male categorically, far from being it).

So how did I manage to do that? I lug around a backpack, almost everytime, that contains not only the tools for a road warrior(and mobile professional) like me, but also a compartment for my manity(short for 'men's vanity') kits.

And how did I manage to acquire them? I do my intensive research first(operating word here is "intensive"). And although men have usually different hygienic needs than women, and that there are only sparse information in cyberspace that you can find about men's grooming resources, you'd most likely find information that contains women's vanity board in a tropical country. That's just as nearly good as what you're looking for.

Then here goes grabbing them at the brick and mortar outlets, if shopping online isn't of a choice. Make sure that you are in your destination(Watson's, Rustan's, skin clinics, wellness boutiques, etc) right before they open. I am usually there 5min before they open so that it isn't much of incommodiously awkward to choose items amidst the thick crowd of opposite sex. I do just the same in a salon. 5min earlier. It's that important because the woman doing your hair or fingernails or toe nails have just had a refreshed energy from a night's sleep.

Besides, Sales Reps can serve you better when you're alone or there's only few people in the shop. Don't be silly by lying that it isn't for you, or it's for your partner. Come on, you'd have a better recommendation from her if you tell her with brutal honestly that you want your pores tightened, or you want skin lightening effect, or you want to remove some scars and all. Same technique applies as to how women choose their lipsticks or moisturizers, dab a small amount into the area nearly between thumb and forefinger.

And make sure you religiously and periodically apply them as recommended. The hardest part of it is during the times that you are so tired, you're having a long day and putting on a honey, mudpack, or a facial mask is laborious enough and simply a hassle.

Philippine Astronomy Convention 2012

2012-01-24T00:10:00.000-08:00

We're closing in towards February and the Philippine Astronomy Convention is already at the horizon. People in the scientific community are already extremely busy doing the logistics and legworks as to the event organization and activity line up. We are not a skilled events organizers and we hope event activities can be encapsulated in a 'field equations' we are working. But it's not, and it takes more than just an intellectual cranial muscle to do it, most of it takes an undeniable charm to have permits approved, contracts sealed and budgets signed.

As usual, I am slated to make a talk on some astronomy topics. Since the convention's theme revolves around 2012 and its correlative doomsday hullabaloo, I have chosen a topic that is more encompassing to the end of days scenario of all life forms.

My talk is entitled "Dark Matter, Dark Energy and the Fate of the Universe."

I know I am usually crunching several equations(e.g., Newtonian Dynamic and Keppler's Law, Einstein's General Theory of Relativity) in my talks but ironic as it may seem, in the hall of the Philippine's first university to offer astronomy course, I will try as much as I can to make my talk fairly comprehensible to the very human understanding in us. :)

See? I even accounted these stars as part of the cosmic inventory. But that is partly true, we are an integral part of the ordinary matter composition(Note: I specifically term it ordinary, because there are exotic matters as much as there is a Dark Matter).

We, as human beings, are a byproduct of the death of stars. The calcium in our bones, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our entire molecular composition, are the remnants of the death of stars. As one famous astronomer, Carl Sagan, quotes it "we are made of star stuff."

Old Vine Grille Buffet at Eastwood Mall Veranda

2012-01-22T02:56:00.001-08:00

Testing the gourmand waters, Old Vine Grille Eastwood launched its new doze of dining experience via buffet spread. This should serve as an unmistakable acid test to their skill in prepping up dishes in an epic proportion without the compromise of quality, just as other buffet restaurants had been.

Old VIne Grille is a cozy Italian and French restaurant seated at the veranda of Eastwood Mall which is generally a steak place, but also renowned for its Salmon Carpaccio with Champagne Vinaigrette or Pan-Fried Foie Gras. Apparently nothing much had been changed since the last time I was here.

It has obviously earned some culinary notoriety as some of its menu are named after its avid celebrity diners and guest chefs.

Since we were late, we were seated at the far end inside the claustrophobe-inducing conference room, hence my sign of disgruntlement.

Salad section.

Must-have for your salad. My college room mate didn't patronize me into this idea as he is not really a fanboy for raw meats.

Crunchy veggies, best to go with your meats. Not only do they get rid of the icky factor, they can also help in the digestion process.

What is Old Vine Grille without the grillables.

We were here late so the spread were already, poorly lambasted by fellow piranha like me. Poor beef.

Baby Potatoes. I love the saltiness, just right to ignite a voracious appetite.

Baby Back Ribs, loads of them. If you're after of these, then this buffet might just be right for you. You get to spend almost the same than buying these at your favorite steak houses.

Right beside this Carving Station is their Pasta Station.

A meal couldn't be complete without the dessert.

Bring them some more.

Sweet indulgences.

Sweet for my sweet… tooth.

Let's see what did I have on my table. I had the Chef whipped up a Pesto Pasta for me, my favorite pasta kind.

Then on to my main entrees.

I had the raw oysters baked in bathed in butter.

A serious take on the Baby Back Ribs. Awhile ago was just a warm up.

A soup alone is not a compromise of the quality, delicious with perfectly sliced tidbits of meats and veggies.

Am I about to conclude already with these desserts?

Oh, wait, the Baby Back Ribs are so heavenly. I can't wait for my second and third round.

And finally my salad.

For Php595, a Dad's Ultimate Buffet would be of another option if you're after of the variety. But I can't assure you of the taste though. I am not saying they're a gourmet buffet(I haven't heard of such actually), but at the very least, in Old Vine Grille, if you're spending regular meal on their a la carte menu, you'd spent just as much as you would in their buffet, so that alone is a deal-breaker for me.

So now that explains why I have to return more than three times for one variant, because they don't have that much to choose from.

Midas Cafe at Midas Hotel

2012-01-08T22:15:00.001-08:00

Genesis Hotels and Resorts, an all Filipino property management group who brought to you Astoria Boracay, One Tagaytay Place and Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa, laid down the foundation of coming up another hotel landmark in the Philippines. The site? That old Hyatt Hotel location. The name? Midas Hotel.

Now that the site is owned by another hospitality group, will it ever live up to its luxurious legacy of being a location of a "famed sunset boulevard of the Orient"?

Midas Hotel boasts of a fascinating deluxe interior designed by the country's renowned designer Samson-Almario. True enough, when I get inside, I was enthralled by the Almario signature designs, the touch of white and black in the walkway crisscrossed by a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and the verdant green and immaculate white inside their resident restaurant, Midas Cafe.

One can never ignore the Hermes-design neatly stacked on shelves where the grand piano is located at. The well-lit walls and the minimalist chandelier, a hanging crystal wires that looks like a fiber optic tip, speaks of utter elegance.

This is me in the pic unfurling my MacBook Air. :)

Pasta with mixed vegetables and mushrooms.

So what else do they have on buffet their spread.

Started off with these.

Steamed Lapu-Lapu.

Prioritize all tender meats first when in a buffet.

Citrus-Glazed Shrimp.

Lamb Patties with Tomato Basil.

Sweet variant. My sweet tooth can't help it.

Slice your own loaf. I got the wheat variant.

Assorted bread.

Salami and some bread-must-have's.

Different types of cheese, Cheddar, Gouda, Manchego, Cream Cheese, and a lot more. They even have that Filipino white cheese.

You can also put this in your bread. :)

Stir-fried vegetables. Be sure to take one in a buffet, veggies will aid in the speedy digestion process.

Oriental style fried chicken.

Duck confit. Best paired with wine.

Emince of Pork, swiss style.

Spicy Beef Caldereta but you can't see the beef because they're hidden underneath the piles of veggies.

Pork. What's this entree called again?

Other aquiatic variants are Shrimp.

And other seafoods.

For the grilling station, they have Salmon….

Chicken.

And pork belly.

And my other favorite section of the buffet, the Carving Station. The other being the Desserts Section. This is a US Beef Striploin Steak.

Garden-fresh salad with different types of dressing, Tomatao Vinaigrette, French Dressing, Ceasar Dressing, Thousand Island Dressing, Midas Dressing, etc.

Two-toned salad.

Soup. They also have other soups as well, Creamy Chowder and the Chinese Molo Soup.

Asian section including Japanese Maki, Sushi, sashimi, Chinese Molo Soup, Chinese Noodle Soup, Xia Long Bao, etc.

Let's see what do they have for desserts.

Fresh fruits, watermelon, pineapple, melon, etc.

Layers of panna cotta and a fruit salad on top.

Rice cakes and more.

Round of sweets.

Sweets again.

More sweets.

Cake-eoso delicioso.

Let's see what's on my table.

DIY-ing my own salad.

Mixed seafoods. You see, even in a buffet, I still observe proper plating. That is to heighten appetite, because the more delicious-looking the food in your plate is, the more you'd want them.

Shrimp and veggies.

Oriental style chicken and lamb patties.

Pork belly and chicken with bathed in a delicious barbecue sauce.

Lamb, Duck Confit, and crunchy steamed veggies.

A parade of Asian goodness, a Xiao Long Bao, Japanese Maki, Sushi, and Sashimi.

And my favorite part in a buffet, a juicy steak. This time, it's a US Beef striploin.

Hoarding lots of sweets, I did it right before my meal started.

Concluding my meal. I picked one mango at the buffet table and had the chef sliced it for me.

Some hotel buffets that I have tried don't have an extensive array, and perhaps lacks two components, lamb and a steak. They have both although their lamb is already in fillet form, but their desserts, as many as it could have been, lacks halo-halo station and ice cream station. But at Php899 care of a groupon voucher, it was ok.

And oh, how's it if I'm going to post my top ten buffet places for 2011. What do you think.

Tech Talk 2012: Ultrabook

2012-01-04T22:54:00.000-08:00

The beginning of the year is undoubtedly the best time to be a technology soothsayer, predicting the year's upcoming technology hitmakers and forecasting the Silicon Valley's buzz word.

Cutting-edge design gizmos started cropping up as early as the first quarter and vehemently topping one over the other the next month or so. A quintessential search for the best technology that could work wonders for us consumers culminates at the beginning of the year.

A lot has been said about TABLETS replacing NETBOOKS from the past year, but there are more exciting tech toys that didn't even lift off into a large consumer base. Take PURSEBOOKS(e.g., Lenovo Pocket Yoga and Sony Vaio P series) for example, having such a laptop at the palm of your hand is really a work of art, but the meager battery capacity defeated its mobile purpose.

This year, everybody's rooting for the ULTRABOOK. With the advent of MacBook Air, the market for ultrathin laptops broadens. And everybody's churning out their own iteration of razor- thin laptops, Acer has Aspire S3, Asus has ZenBook, Lenovo has the ThinkPad X1, and Toshiba the Portege Z830. But the ultrathin technology has been in the midst since 2004, remember Sony Vaio X505? So what's the fuzz now. Better battery? Faster proc? Better GPU?

There are considerations one has to think though when availing any of these ultrabooks:

1) SSD - Solid State Drives are damn too pricey. And having a 256GB of disk space is tantamount to getting two pieces of 1TB SATA.

2) Battery Life - one letdown of a mobile technology is having a battery that doesn't even last for a day. Imagine making an urgent proposal at Starbucks for an hour, and while having a dinner at a restaurant, your boss called up to produce Sales Performance Review report. That's already two hours all in all. But if your device can barely last for two hours, then it's a technology self-collapse in the making.

What about you. How mobile and compact your device is and how long will it last for a day's regular use(office productivity, email checking and browsing).

And oh, talking about ultraportability, I just shrunk my MacBook Air and it's now the smallest in the world, hahahaha.

Shakey's cravings after a hard day's work

2011-12-30T22:47:00.000-08:00

When I say I reeled by the apothegm that says "fast-food on week days, fine dining on week ends", I meant fast-foods to be Kenny Rogers, Bon Chon, or Shakeys.

Unless I am in a no man's land where the only chains that were able to penetrate are McDo and Jollibee and when my life hangs in the balance is perhaps the only time that I may take them. Not that I have anything against them, but I felt like spending a few hundred bucks more, I can get a decent meal at Bon Chon.

And after a grueling night from work, Shakey's is the only closer spot to have a dinner.

Started it off with courtesy Garic Bread - oven-baked bread with garlic butter sprinkled with bits of parsley.

And now here comes the order, Deal Number 2 consisting of Spaghetti Platter and.... I don't like the pasta though because it felt so diluted and lacks fullness. I like the formerly Fazoli's pasta better.

Buddy Pack Chick n Chips(consisting of 5 chicken and a Mojos) and…

A large thin-crust Manager's Choice Pizza, loaded with ham, Italian sausage, beef, green bell pepper, and onions, plus a pitcher of iced tea.

For a price of Php835 + 10% SC, I ended up so full that I was in almost at a comatose state screaming for my dear bed to lull me to sleep.

Buffet 101 at the San Miguel by the Bay

2011-12-26T20:04:00.000-08:00

Life's assiduous. And having been snowed under an avalanche of things these days with Christmas soirees and corporate events left and right, I have had a difficult time doing the other love of my life, eating at a buffet. Besides, all hotel buffet restaurants that I tried asking for reservation are fully booked.

Saturday finally came, and we(me and my college room mate) decided to meet up at SM MOA to try the newest buffet place in town, Buffet 101.

Buffet 101 is located at the San Miguel by the Bay, just right at the back of the SMX Convention Center. If you know Vikings, the other buffet restaurant in the area, Buffet 101 is located at the other side of the spectrum. The location is good for the bay area, because if you get lost finding either of them, you'd still end up finding one or the other.

Buffet 101 brims with pride for having a neat and spacious buffet place with lofty interiors, luxurious lighting fixtures, laudable crystal string curtains, and grand chandeliers exalted aboard the suspended fixation atop the long buffet table.

Help yourself on the food as I wasn't able to get the names of the entrees, I was already rabidly hungry.

Pesto pasta. Beside it is a Beef Lasgna.

Fish fillet with fresh vegetables.

Another bounty from the sea.

The Filipino's coffeemate to a beer, a marinated, boiled, grilled and fried pig face(ears, cheeks, and snout).

And another staple for a drinking session(by the way, this buffet serves beer too, aside from soda and juices), Roasted Pork Knuckles.

I haven't tried this, but this looks like Quesadilla. I think I have to ask Marga whom this entry is dedicated to.

Middle eastern delight with your choice of dip.

Best served hot.

This is a must for a buffet. If you get icky, intend of water, just get this hot soup.

Assorted breads.

Italian Pizza. Beside it, they have have french fries and sausages too.

Something for the diabetic few like me.

They're really fresh, the crabs were even alive and kicking as I lift it up and gave to the chef.

French fries fish fillet?

Shrimp tempura.

Japanese maki of different kinds, Tempura Maki, Tiger Prawn Maki, Kani Sushi, Tokyo Sandwhich, Tamago Sashimi, Crabstick Sashimi, Jurassic Maki, Las Vegas Maki, Spicy Salmon Maki, California Maki, Tuna Sushi, among many others.

Mussels, pork, and veggies triumvirate.

Octopussy.

Crispy fried chicken, spring chicken style.

Chicken Teppanyaki.

Shrimp and beef combo.

Lechon Macau.

Chicken swimming in a special sweet and sour sauce.

Chilli Crab, so crunchy you'd want more despite of its chilli hot flavor.

Chinese section. They have dumplings too and you can ask the chef to prep you a nice hot Chinese soup.

Traditional Chocolate cake, decadent style.

Caramel Cake. Almost left untouched except for a single slice.

Ube Cake. We were seated near the dessert station(where else is the nicest spot than the one near the desserts), and we witnessed how cakes come and go. This was replenished thrice. Talking about best seller, huh.

This is ran so delectable, I made a second round of it.

Desserts section.

Brulee and Panna Cotta.

Fruits. You can have them served in shake too.

Halo halo and ice cream station.

What did I have on my plate?

A little bit of everything.

Seafood diet, but wait…. there's more.

I made myself a Thai soup too.

I am not really a fan of a food that requires you to tediously go through a process of meat filtration before you can finally eat them.

I asked the chef at the chinese section to make me a noodle soup.

And my favorite, two slices of sirloin steak at the carving station, plus a roast pork rib.

Halo-halo and a Papaya shake

Watermelon shake

They have a crepe station where the chef assigned at the cold kitchen can whip up a crepe for you at your choices of fillings.

The prices….

Although Vikings still has the widest array of them all as far as buffet spread is concerned, I like Buffet 101 for being less crowded. Those who have been with me knew that I am not aloof, rather a bit demophobic that I don't want any strangers getting inside my personal circumference, hence my pertinent aversion to crowded places.

Samsonite Locus Bkpk: Low-cost laptop bag

2011-12-26T17:41:00.000-08:00

Because I am stuffing so much in my laptop bag including the cosmetics essentials like lip gloss, concealer, loose powder, perfume, and toothbrush/toothpaste, aside from the usual cargo like credit cards, chargers, USB drive, external hard drive, a digital camera, and some documents from what is supposed to be my paperless, fully digital universe, it tends to amass so much bulk from the previous slim type backpack. That previous laptop bag was screaming for a justice of space and mercy of rest.

So I gave it what it deserves, a rest in the cudgels.

That compelled me to go and hunt for its replacement killer. At the Samsonite Podium, a boutique chain run by Stores Specialist Inc of the Rustan Group of Companies, I found a bag astutely fitting to meet my mobile lifestyle.

The bag, Samsonite Locus Backpack. It has an adjustable laptop sleeve that can fit laptops with sizes 12.1" up to 15.4" which is made of a thick, fleece-like material - Tricot, a less harsh but sturdy alternative to Velcro straps. It has an EVA(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate)-padded handle and an ergonomic back panel to make lugging it around comfortable. Not only does it come with an expandable laptop sleeve, it is also actually an expandable bag that you can unzip to expand its main compartment.

And Locus it sounds, it is "low cost" at a price of Php4,450.

Mercado buffet at Resorts World Manila

2011-12-12T16:14:00.001-08:00

We(me and my college room mate) were about to head to BeyondTheBox RWM to buy some Mac accessories, but we're too hungry to start the day shopping. So for a cheapskate meal, we decided to hit on Mercado buffet's food with epic proportion, a buffet that is, something that can get us through the entire day.

Mercado as an en masse definition from its Spanish word stands for marketplace. And true to its meaning, it indeed is a marketplace of the amalgamation of Filipino dishes with a bit of continental fusion of Asian and European cuisines. Tucked inside where the Casino is at, evokes a certain charm and a myrrh of exclusivity to RWM members.

Because taking a picture is strictly prohibited, I took few stolen shots using my iPhone 4, at a discreet angle and dangerous disposition from the possibility of getting caught. So spare me if some photos didn't yield a better composition.

I was supposed to commence my meal with bread and soup but I surmise to go ahead with main entrees, a Roasted Pumpkin(not in the pic) and Carrot Cream Soup, Bulalo(not in the picture) Shrimp Gamba, and a steamed Potato.

Chicken Barbecue with a Macaroni Salad, an unorthodox combination.

Roasted Porklion in an Apple Sauce and Pene Pasta.

Japanese Maki(not in the picture) and Chinese dumplings.

Shanghai Roll and Vegetable Tempura.

Comfort foods, Taco and French Fries. They also have hobbit burgers(with a circumference as small as a Php10 coin but I forgot to snap a picture).

They also have a Mongolian station that you can ask a chef to prepare it for you with your choice of ingredients. Mine came out spicy hot and doesn't have a rice not to preserve my gastric space.

Fruits and fruit salad to conclude my main entrees.

I made my own salad to aid in my digestion.

They have a whole slew of desserts, from Chocolate Fountain to Chocolate Mousse, from Strawberry Lemon Bars to Chocolate Rolls, from Leche Flan to Coffee Panna Cotta, from Ice Cream to Ice Candy.

Although they only have a limited entrees, for a price of Php578 I got from a groupie site, I think it's worth a try. Sadly, they don't have a steak, lobster or a lamb.

And oh, they have refillable drinks too, Pepsi products in soda dispenser, Pineapple Punch, Orange Juice, Apple Juice, and a draft beer.

How to eat in a buffet

2011-12-09T00:51:00.000-08:00

Because I have been buffet-ing more frequently than anyone's definition of frequency, this has evolved to be a third profession, as MobilityReel puts it "mga propesyonal na mangangain." My first, profession being a technology journalist, second being an astrophysics lecturer. And third, being a professional "buffeteer." And yes, it's too frequent to the point that I have developed both an art and a science of doing it. Life in a buffet is not just about eating to death, there are so many buffet restaurants that you have to spare a life to eat at all of them. It's not about eating a lot, but eating a lot in the right order of things.

Let me share to you some tips on how to eat in a buffet, call this post a buffet booster.

1) Practice makes perfect. You heard it right, even eating in a buffet takes practice. Try going on a diet, and all of a sudden, eat in a buffet, you'd end up throwing it all up. So practice, and what I meant by practice is that try to eat a profuse amount a week or weeks before so as to expand your stomach space, but don't overdo it the day you are scheduled for a buffet meal.

2) Go with the most expensive first. Yes, it can be a little bit of everything but you try the pricier courses first in order to maximize your Php800 worth of buffet meal. The general rule of thumb is that, eat what you don't normally eat, or eat what is not found on your usual household table. Perhaps you go with steak first, then on to the Peking Duck, Roast Turkey, or Lamb, then on to Lobster, Crabs, and Prawns.

3) Try to observe plating. The mistake of most people is that they tend to over-utilize the plate space by piling in different courses of different tastes in one plate. This will produce ickyness(closest word for "umay" in Filipino) and will ultimately reduce your eating thrust(appetite). It doesn't matter how many plates you have used, they'll take it out of your table anyway.

4) Avoid reusing the same plate. The grease and other left-overs will mix into your new entrees. Plus, it's a bit of unkempt to use just one pate for the entire buffet period. You're not in a town fiesta, so why would you use single plate repititiously.

5) Minimize pork, but if you can't help it, make it to be the the last of your buffet entrees. Pork has a tough meat, and you can't waste a gastric space for it.

6) Avoid carbo-loading. I don't eat rice in a buffet. Instead, I eat a bit of bread but not too much. The thing with bread is that it is more digestible compared to rice. Have you noticed why you tend to be hungry faster after eating a bread than eating a rice?

7) Water is a no no in between meals. If you felt like the food is already about to expel out from you, take a hot soup. Aside from the fact that the hot liquid settles down the food components into your 'bottomest' pit, the saltiness of the hot soup also accelerates your appetite.

8) I already mentioned about eating a little bit of everything. It pays to survey the food little by little first, a la taste test. Round them up, then go full throttle with something you really like.

9) Fruits and vegetables are water-based, so make it your grand finale. Also, vegetable aids in the digestion process, which then might give you a chance to eat into the next meal, in case you're slated to eat two buffet meals in a day, or into another occasion.

10) While wine or any refillable beverage of that sort has been a buffet add-on, don't be fooled by it. It will only lessen your chances to maximize your buffet stint. Yes, a wine is so good to complement a juicy, delectable slab of steak, but you're in a buffet not just for a steak but for other courses as well. You can drink lots of water after eating in a buffet, as eating a lot will consume your body fluids, that you tend to hydrate a lot after a buffet.

Perhaps you have other tips as well but these are the things that I can share and has worked for me and my monster pack. Contrary to the myth that when unbridled stomachs could reach into the Moon, we have in fact a very limited gastronomic tubing, so eating in the right order of things helps, especially in a buffet restaurant where almost everything looks to sumptuous.

Space Shuttle and Space Station: New Toys

2011-12-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

I was born during the SkyLab generation. If you don't know what it was, it was the world's first largest space station that was used to study the sun(particularly coronal holes) and microgravity, including its effects on long-haul orbital or deep space flights.

It has been a media event, as it was launched into orbit at the height of a Cold War, where space program is an interferometer of military might and technological power, and a country that has one is touted to rule the world.

Because of the micrometeroid, its thermal protection was torn apart, exposing itself to the dangers of the intense solar heating. The SkyLab was then predicted to make a re-entry and fall back to the Earth, citing Pacific Ocean to be the crash zone.

It created massive fear as countries, including the Philippines, near the zone may be hit a rain of burning debris(metals coming from the Earth's atmosphere tend to be so hot, they're almost at a melting point).

My mom always told us to be good always, using the SkyLab crash-landing as an iota of fear, saying that it may burn our house. We lived with that fear until the SkyLab finally kissed the ground and hit the Esperance town of Australia.

Just recently, I got a gift from Dr. Armand Lee, my fellow Board of Director from the astronomical community I belong to. It's a US Space Shuttle and a Russian Mir Space Station. I laugh at it saying, ha, I got the Russian and US space agency in my hand.

I brought them in the office and they are now happily gracing my used-to-be-drab desk, in between my laptop and desktop. Someday they might render useful when I use them as props for my discussion on Einstein Theory of Relativity, time dilation, and probably time travel.

My thanks to Dr. Lee and Merry Christmas to him and his family. He sure knows how to tickle my geeky bones.

Corniche Restaurant at Manila Diamond Hotel

2011-12-02T20:34:00.001-08:00

Corniche, in French, stands for a road on a ledge, and ledge it indeed is, Corniche Restaurant is located at an esplanade where a breathtaking rock formation of cascading waterfalls is at. And perhaps, for this Diamond Hotel's resident restaurant, roads too here are always a lane to the ledge, and life to be lived on the edge.

The restaurant interior is so edgy that it has one of the glitziest designs of all the restaurants I have been into, utilizing polished metals and acrylics to boot. The centerpiece is a suspended flock of migrating birds made of a fusion of glass and metal, complementing the deluxe interior and communing the elaborate view of the waterscape.

This 650sq meter restaurant boasts of scrumptious cuisines from continental origins of French, Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian goodness.

A scenic view of their waterscape fronting the restaurant.

Roast wonders, Peking Duck, Chinese Soy Chicken, Charsu Pork, and Lechon Macao.

They also have a wide variety of fresh meats that you can ask the chef to grill them for you with your preferred choice of sauce.

And they have the noodle and paste section too.

Mandarin Style Chicken.

Sweet and Sour Pork.

Baked Pork Spare Ribs Vetnamese Style.

Sesame Ginger Roasted Cod Fillet.

Beef Pochero.

Cajun Roasted Potato. They're using some kind of herb, this tasted so awesome good.

Shrimp Crusted Mahi Mahi with Citrus Sauce and Cherry Tomato Confit.

Chicken Cooked with Red Chilli Sauce.

Carribean Jerk Pork Chops.

Beef Medallion with Pepper and Olives.

Variety of ingredients for the Salad Station.

Salmon Gravian, Salami, Chorizo Pamplona, Hummus, Salmon Rillete and Salmon Cheese Pate among others.

Margarita Pizza, Cold Cuts Pizza and assorted bread with different cheese kinds, Brie, Parmesan, Blue Cheese, Goat Cheese, etc.

Seafoods section, lobster, crabs, and what have you'd. They've got lots of them. Really.

Seafoods again, shells, shrimps.

Fresh greens on top of seafoods.

Japanese section has Gyoza and Tempura.

Sashimi and sushi welcomes you at the Japanese section.

Maki section, they've got lots of them too. And while people picked them like there's no tomorrow, you can see the chef on the background endlessly refill the display.

Sushi and Sashimi.

Even at Japanese section where raw meats unfolds, they still have cooked variants, Breaded Chicken with Egg and Sweet and Sour sauce. Although not in the pic, but they also have Fish Bacalao Teriyaki, Stir Fry Mix Vegetables, and Pork Curry.

Fresh fruits to conclude your meal.

Wait.. don't conclude your meal yet without the desserts.

Creme Brûlées.

Cakes.

Ice Cream(Coconut, Passion Fruit, Coconut and Vanilla, Almond, and Uba) and Halo Halo section.

Sugarless Raspberry Panacota for the diabetic me and Black Jelly for a non-diabetic me in another space and time.

More desserts.

Oh sweets, let it flow.. let it flow.. let it flow...

Dark Chocolate Ganahche Tart, Coffe Ganache Tart, and Cream Puff.

Chocolate fountain.

And my favorite, who could ever say no to a huge slab of juicy US beef steak. You know that my yardstick to a buffet is the presence of a steak, so let me say it again: a buffet is not a buffet without a steak. If you can't bring me a steak, at the least, bring me a nicely cooked lamb chop.

What's on my plate, ah Japanese delight, Sushi and Sashimi.

Japanese Maki.

Tempura.

Lamb Chops, a bit of Ham and a Peking Duck.

Asian section includes Chinese delights. They have noodle and Chinese Dumplings too.

Now, I'm on a full throttle with the main entrees.

Margarita Pizza and Vegetable.

I made myself a vetegable salad with red wine vinaigrette.

To get rid of ickyness, I had the chef make me a noodle soup.

Pork and Potato. Pork should be the last of my what-to-eat list in a buffet because pork has the toughest meat and besides I can eat them at just anywhere.

Desserts on my table.

Halo halo and ice cream combo

And concluding my meal is a crepe. I had it done by the chef at a crepe section.

The last time I was at the Diamond Hotel was way back 1999 when I took the podium and spoke to a 100 people regarding non-linear editing technology, a technology at its infancy phase from a consumer perspective. There was no Corniche at that time, as they have just opened November of last year.

In the celebration of Corniche anniversary, they have offered 50% discount of their lunch buffet from November 22-30, 2011. Per person, you only to get to pay Php710 nett Monday to Saturday and Php775 nett during Sunday.

Eastwood Cafe at Richmond Hotel

2011-11-27T02:57:00.001-08:00

Eastwood is bustling with energetic scene every week end, from cosplay competition to pet blessing, from concert events to Sunday organic market, from fashion bazaars to car exhibits. And the chances that I would be in Eastwood during week-ends is very slim, as you all know, I have a bit of a demophobia(unexplained fear of crowd), except that mine is not really a clinical phobia but a dislike of crowded places.

This is not one of those week-ends. With the first anniversary of Eastwood Richmond Hotel, they are offering a 1 + 1 buffet treat from November 24-30, 2011. That's essentially "buy-one, take-one" to a consuming demographics. And the place was as full as with Marriott Hotel Manila when they offer anniversary promo of similar vein at 50% off.

Eastwood Richmond Hotel is seated at the backdraft of an enviable location at the heart of posh residential and commercial centers within the Eastwood complex. The Eastwood Cafe offers a myriad of delectable choices, a gastronomic possibility of all forms and formulation, a continental cuisine from globally renowned culinary masters.

For their grilling station, they have Snapper, Squid, Beef Rib Eye, Pork Belly, and Chicken

Their main entrees include Beef with Spicy Garlic Black Bean Sauce and not in the pic were Pork Adobo, Thai Chicken Curry, and Chicken and Vetegable Shawarma.

They also have Baked Fish with Tofu and Coriander. Although not in the pic, on its side was a huge Baked LapuLapu with Ginger Hoisin and Ebi Tempura. There are Singaporean Seafood Vermicelli, and the untouched home-styled Pancit Canton.

Steamed vegetable goes well with meats.

They also have Mongolian and Pasta Station where you can ask the chef to prepare one for you with your choice of noodles, pasta, and ingredients.

Being a self-proclaimed steak slayer, my favorite among them is the Carving Station where a US Beef steak was done to perfection.

Since we started out too late, I wasn't able to grab a bread and a soup the way I usually do as a starter. They have Creamy Corn Soup, Mushroom Soup, assorted bread with the choices of Feta, Emmental, and Cheddar cheeses.

Cheesecakes. Definitely delectable. A must have for a concluding meal dessert.

Cappuccino Cake melts in the mouth. I can live without Tiramusu, for as long as there's Cappuccino Cake.

Chocolate Mousse. The sweetness is just right. I wish there'd be more of these. The Seasons, Marriot Cafe, Cafe Jeepney, and Basix have a wider option.

Chocolate Fountain for the youthful demeanor in me. I love sticking the marshmallow into the fountain, reliving what was once a Goya Fun Factory chocolate experience.

They also have an Ice Cream station but I only got an Ube Flavor. They ran out of chocolate.

Let's see what's on my plate.

I had Mongolian Noodlefest too. All ingredients.

And my grilled meats. They serve tea as well, which I found to be handy for the carnivorous' digestion process.

A combination of Braso de Mercedes, Linzer Tart, Apple Cinamon Crumble, and Cappuccino Cake.

A fresh green salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette.

Red and green apple in thin slices.

My first take on Richmond Hotel group was at their Ortigas area where I stated for a night and took the buffet a day after. But this is my first time in Eastwood Richmond Hotel.

We(me and my college room mate) were really late when we got here since we came from Alabang Town Center for a business appointment. So the foods that I snapped at are already mercilessly lambasted. :)

Since it's 1 + 1, we only paid Php1, 080 nett.

Ramen Bar: My third visit

2011-11-25T23:09:00.001-08:00

This is not my first time at Ramen Bar. In fact, I made two entries about this already. And in all my life being there, I never veer way from the usual RBS madness I have.

Ramen Bar took the bustling ramen scene by storm as Charles Paw(the maker of Digital Hub) and Chef Masa Ishikawa(Japanese chef with several ramen chain across Nagoya, Japan) did a blood compact to invade the already rising ramen revolution in the metro.

Ramen Bar has always been consistently topping my list as far as best ramen is concerned, apart from the usual Ukokkei Ramen Ron(Pasay Road), Tamagoya(Antipolo), and Shinjuku(Little Tokyo Makati).

My first time here was during the soft launch itself. Sometimes it pays to have restauranteur friends who shared lots of common friends too because you get dragged to free meals on their opening nights. It was a good experience as we were given the opportunity to take a peep through their kitchen, where Charles ushered us around, telling us some kitchen dynamics behind it, although he didn't allow us to take picture inside. Hahaha. (I'm seated at the far end)

The second time was with friends I have known for a very long time, friends who despite the years and the busy schedules still manage to forge, meet, and laugh around.

The third was with colleague Rachel, fellow foodie, whose love for food is as tremendous as her love for fashion. After fiddling with her new Panasonic Lumix P&S, she became too busy deciding which food to devour.

She ordered Chicken Namban Rice Bowl(Php185 + 10% SC). It smelled good, so it must have tasted good.

Then goes the never-fail, deliciously served RBS(Php380 + 10%SC), soy-infused Tonkotsu Ramen topped with tamago, naruto, nori, negi, chasyu, and kakuni.

What's wrong with her taste bud, even with profuse amount of chilli powder and oil, she still stood unscathed, as if spicy hot soup is her ice cream, while I have to keep my glass of water filled up consistently to just to extinguish the fire in my mouth.

Last is the Tempura Ice Cream(Php120 + 10%), which is essentially just the only sweets they have. I am wishing Charles can add up some entrees on their menu, even a Kakigori is a heralding welcome. At the very least, for people who can't live without desserts, this is an option.

I'm suggesting Rachel can also try the Ukokkei Ramen Ron in Pasay Road Makati so she can have a comparison. She can bring her boyfriend around to have another taste bud to judge the food, for fairness sake.

Le Cuisine Francaise: French buffet, bon appétit

2011-11-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

When the "Le Vie En Rose" was played on the background, it makes me think that I am in Paris. Le Cuisine Francaise, a French restaurant located at Sedeno corner San Agustin Makati surely knows how to complete the romanticism brand of Paris by fusing French delicieux and the ambiance only a Le Brasserie can provide. Not only do they serve impeccably tasteful cuisines but as well as nightly entertainment by Filipino and French plus other ex-pat musicians playing different musical genre from jazz to blues to broadway.

Behind the kitchen, whipping up to aggrandize your appetite is the d'Orival couple, French Jean and Filipina Michele. Their combination naturally brings a resilient element that can only be measured by the way at how they work on their menu, and seen at how remarkable their receptions are from the dining populace.

Le Cuisine Francaise serves lunch buffet during weekdays, for only Php499. Luckily I got it for only Php299.

Kick it off with Creamy Corn Soup.

Bread to start off your meal.

They have home-made pates and terrines.

Derivative of Southern France, they have the provencal type of chicken too.

Grits and Grillades - typical of a French dining table.

Vegetarian corner. A green is a must when eating meats as it helps in the digestion process of fats and tough meats, aside from thorough chewing.

Oil-based pasta. I'm wishing that they have a separate pasta section where diners can have the option of what pasta they like to have prepped at.

Garden fresh salad mesclun. I just came form the gym so this is just astutely fitting for my appetite.

Fruits - something that contained active laxative ingredients.

Desserts, butterscotch with butter on top.

The table is adorned with a Sauvignon wine and a beautiful lighting fixture.

Since they only have a few entrees for buffet, here are what I have been frequenting at.

And the garden fresh salad with balsamic vinaigrette.

Reservation says 11AM but their shop already opened at 11:55AM. I was wishing time is something they have to be wary of since it's a week day and it's at the heart of Makati's business district where businessmen's time is of an essence.

Bon appétit.

Archipelago 7107: Regional culinary treasure

2011-11-12T05:01:00.000-08:00

Archipelago 7107 is a restaurant affiliate of the Barrio Fiesta group, a dining chain known to offer buffet style homegrown cuisines. The Archipelago 7107's concept lies on the encompassing 7107's islands best culinary treasure, hitting two birds at one stone by promoting the tourism flow and the delicacies that each island took a brimming pride with.

Located at Il Terrazo along Tomas Morato, Archipelago 7107 has a cozy ambiance for a restaurant, with vibrant lighting, minimalist and austere dining interior and stylish tables and chairs, some of which are a wicker-made to represent one of the most viable Philippine export industries.

Yet, despite the upscale atmosphere of a restaurant lies the reasonable price ranges of their entrees. I was lucky enough to have gotten a deal from a group buying site. For only Php465, you can get a KBL Pork with a pot of Kare Kare, 4 cups of rice, and 1.5L of Pepsi soda.

Kare-Kare(retailed at Php350), Tender Oxtail and tripe stewed in a creamy peanut sauce, a true Pinoy fiesta that is completed with a Shrimp Paste.

KBL(retaked at Ph275) - stands for Kadios, Baboy, and Langka. Kadios beans are a popular ingredient in Ilonggo cuisine of Iloilo. Throw in grilled pork belly with langka, and you have an unforgettable treat.

Given 4 cups of rice, this is advertised to be good for 4 persons, however, if only these advertisers know that ravenous species like me exist in this world, they may change their statements of estimations. Besides, the KBL only consists of one strip of pork.

Zark's Burger: Home of the Herculean burgers

2011-11-12T04:13:00.000-08:00

The place is probably Taft's best kept secret, having served mammoth burgers while most are stuck with the commercialized overly priced variants. We(me and MobilityReel) once again hit the road at the Archer's Nook to try Zark's Burgers' enormously huge and engagingly delicious burgers, a delirious vice we both share-- to hunt for a culinary discovery that isn't detrimental to the pocket.

Zark's Burgers is not new particularly to the La Salle community as this is seated right in front of La Salle Taft. Obviously enough, when we dined there, the place is teeming with La Salle students that we think we were the only unresembling variables among the dining populace.

It has been a home to the metropolitan's tempting yet towering Tombstone burger, a two pound, four patty-layered cheeseburger covered with cheese sauce and served with 200grams of fries. Either they are truthfully brutal to what they advertise, or they are just exaggeratingly whimsical by their disclaimer saying: "This might kill you on the spot".

The place is a true blue(ahemmm, true green?) Archer's haven as the walls are slapped with the framed pictures of La Salle's Green Archer basketball team all over.

We started it off with Nachos(Php65) - tortilla chips topped with cheese sauce and home-made tomato salsa on the side.

Wings 'N Chips(Php120) - buffalo wings(choice of classic buffalo or barbecue buffalo) in chips served with fries.

His order, Zark's Ultimate Burger(Php130) - 1/4 pound burger with cheese sauce in a bed of fresh veggies and topped with sautéed mushroom and bacon

I was thinking if I go for the Jawbreaker, but I really want to have bacon on my burger so I ended up ordering Stone Cold Stunner(Php185) - double bacon cheeseburger in a bed of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, mushroom and caramelized onion.

Speaking go Jawbreaker(Php250), they have a promo that if you can finish it within 5min, it's your for free. But hold your horses yet, Jawbreaker is literally a jawbreaker as it is a triple layer cheeseburger with span, bacon and overflowing cheese.

It doesn't end there, you can also try their Tombstone(Php500), devour it in 10min and you'll get a free Zark's T-shirt and your picture gets posted in the garrison of gluttons, este Wall of Fame. :)

Don-Day Restaurant: All-day Korean buffet

2011-11-12T03:05:00.001-08:00

There is a hidden goldmine of good restaurants along the Malingap and Maginhawa Street, an arcane treasure trove esoterically hidden from the glimmer of the metro, and a spot just right at my backyard. My friends from the publication industry have been raving about it, raging the place, and ravenously eating like predators. Some of them even put up a restaurant in the area, and while I am forcibly invited in numerous occasions, I just don't have the time yet.

The place is new to me as I am not frequenting the area the way I am with the Timog and Morato stretch. But this day is different as I tried to scour to look for a sumptuous culinary goodness that I can devour, quite literally.

And I found Don-Day Korean Restaurant, an open air Korean buffet nestled at the heart of Malingap Street, just in front of Pino Restaurant. And while Korean entertainment culture has becoming mainstream as influenced by the Koreanovelas, Korean pop sensation and Korean films, the only Korean word that I know of is Jjamppong, so spare me if I am posting some entrees without a name.

Their buffet is classified into two variants: Samgyeopsal(Php299) which I think has the similarity of Yakiniku, and the Don-Day Buffet(Php199) which is the same as your average buffet where everything is served on a spread table and you just have to pick up the food of your preference.

Fresh meats in thin slices are served and the lady server will show you how to cook it, then put some Ssamjang(chili paste, soybean paste, and sesame oil) or Gireumjang(salt, pepper, and sesame oil), then roll it up with lettuce as how Koreans did it.

True to what my MobilityReel told me that Koreans have one of the healthiest diets around, vegetables are served fresh and crunchy. And you can tell if it's an authentic Korean restaurant if there are a lot of Korean dining in.

I don't know how they call it, but this is a tofu-based entree.

Another no name entree, I think this is similar as to how Zucchini Fritters are cooked.

The Korean dry noodles, Chap Chae.

And their version of Lechon Macau? Roasted pork dish.

This is not your typical meat balls as this is not fried, but steamed, which I think is healthier.

Tangsuyuk, a sweet and sour pork.

I really wish they put names on what they serve on the buffet table so I can identify them.

Beef Bolgogi, which obviously look like Japanese Beef Teriyaki.

Pineapple and Papaya to conclude your meal.

Add Php50 and you'll get bottomless iced tea.

You might think that they serve too chintzy for a buffet but trust me, they're enough to make you swell. I only was able to consume three rounds of the grillables, perhaps it's because rolling them up with lettuce which is a water-based vegetable is a factor for the full house.

Sicilian Express: No frill pizza

2011-11-12T01:36:00.000-08:00

What I like about pizza is that it serves a vivid illustration to the properties of the fabric of space and time, something that I am, in numerous occasion, picking as an animated example by bending the pizza pan, descriptive to the folding of the visible universe, or curving it up to account the curvature of space as perturbed by gravity, or turning it monodirectionally to indicate an accretion process as to how celestial objects are formed, for example the stages from planetesimal to planetoid to planets.

Just recently, the opportunistic black hole that I am went to meet up my college room mate to use the voucher I got from eBay. It's two 14inch pizza and a 2liter Pepsi Max from Sicilian Express worth Php555. Note that each pizza costs Php515 if you're going to buy it without the voucher, making this deal a one in a gazillion.

Sicilian Pizza(14inches) is a cheese-based pizza loaded with meaty slices of Sicilian sausages, chunky beef sausage, crunchy green bell pepper strips, and onions.

Pizza Bianca(14inches) seemed to be my favorite of the two, a healthy combo of prawns, garlic cloves, mozzarella, parmesan cheese with home made pesto.

That explains it, you know that I am a rabid fan for pesto or vegetable-based pizza.

I wish it would have been better if they also have a thin crust variant. It's such a gastric heavy weight wrestle mania to consume them, a kind of dining annihilation reminiscent to a man vs pizza arena.

Sicilian Express has lots of branches but the one we conquered is the one located at Soho Central, Shaw Boulevard, almost in front of St. Francis of Assissi Church.

Tempura Japanese Grill: Casual Japanese dining

2011-11-06T02:56:00.000-08:00

Rainy days and Saturdays always get me down… What was supposed to be a bedroom weather ended up to be an outdoor culinary adventure. And our(me and my college room mate's) plan was initially at H&E Glorietta to try out their steak-all-you-can but their seemingly cramped space happened to be a deal-breaker. You know how I hate crowded and un-roomy places that whenever I go to restaurants, ambiance is as formidable as the food.

So we went to the United Nations branch to try Tempura Japanese Grill's order-all-you-can, which is not new to me since I have eaten at both Red Kimono and Matsuri already. Tempura Japanese Grill is a casual dining restaurant that infuses traditional Japanese flare with post-modern fusion cuisine.

You can't order everything found on their a la carte menu, instead, they will hand you over an order slip that contains limited entrees that you can check and just give to the waiter after choosing your preference.

We started it off with Kani Salad, shredded crabstick with garden fresh vegetables in Japanese salad dressing.

Then we got mixed Sashimi - maguro, ika, ebi, tamago and kana.

Gyu Asupara Maki - asparagus in thinly sliced beef tenderloin grilled with special sauce.

Tofu Teppanyaki - deep fried Japanese bean curd with shitake mushroom and diced chicken in Teppanyaki sauce.

Sukiyaki - sliced beef tenderloin with mushroom, tofu, vetegables and vermicelli in Sukiyaki soup.

Gyuniku Teriyaki - thinly sliced beef tenderloin with teriyaki sauce

Gyuniku Teppanyaki - diced beef tenderloin with vetegables in teppanyaki sauce

Mixed maki - Japanese maki in different variants

Tonkatsu - deep fried breaded pork cutlet

Hotate Asparagus Teppenyaki - scallops with asparagus in teppanyaki sauce

Spareribs Sansho Yaki - grilled spareribs cooked in house specialty sauce served with vetegables and sprinkled with Japanese pepper

And who would want to go to a Tempura Japanese Grill without the Ebi Tempura - deep fried tiger prawns in crispy yumminess.

There are some Teppenyaki that we ordered that are not in the pic. As usual, the suckers that we are, we ordered 90% of what we can see in the order slip.

Eating in a buffet takes a week of practice and because of the absence of that, my stomach went into a gastric somersault that I ended up throwing up what I have eaten.

The price tag of Php499 is already an all-in price point. They don't charge you with service charge.

F Restaurant at Best Western Premier F1 Hotel

2011-10-31T01:48:00.000-07:00

World renowned hotel operator Best Western International Hotel opened up the country's first luxury hotel, Best Western Premier F1 Hotel, located that is located at the Bonifacio Global City. I know there'd be more hotels to come in the area in the coming years as Shangrila and Hyatt Hotel groups are tenaciously laying groundworks for their spots in the area.

Last Sunday, I took my lunch at the Best Western Premier F1 Hotel, a franchise of the Best Western International(BWI) hotel group based in Arizona. The name of the restaurant is F(seemed like they didn't put up much effort in naming the place). And being a franchise, I'm guessing this is where the F stands for as a coded nomenclature, not the F1 Ferrari, and more assertively, not the F calisthenics that you have been thinking on low-grade motel-types.

Or perhaps it stands for Food, and there are the Fine ensemble:

Some main entrees include Tequila Prawn, Sweet and Sour Pork, Orange Lemon Chicken, Jamon Serrano, and Braised Ox Tripe with Chorizo Bilbao.

Mixed Seafood Au Gratin, Roasted Capsicums Cannelini Beans with Crisp Panchetta, Herbed Fried Potatoes, Buttered Broccoli, Salt and Pepper Squid, Beef with Mushroom and Red Wine, and Spicy Salmon with caramelized onion, and Tanguige Brochette.

Their salad section includes mixed greens, Japanese sushi, sashimi and maki, different salami types, salad dressings, and a mixture of fresh fruits.

Aside form the pasta section where you can ask the chef to whip up pasta for you, they have noodles section too, where noodles are prepared according to your liking, and to complement it, they have dimsums too.

When I was a kid, I am only aware of a cheddar cheese and ball of Edam(we fondly call balls of Adam, a classmate of mine told me that Adam grew balls that big after eating the primordial apple), which we consume even without bread. Now as I started to broaden my culinary experiences, I noticed that there were far more than that. There's Camembert, Gouda, Bleu Cheese, Emmental, Brie mong other. You can complement these variant of cheese types with a different variety of breads, Whole Wheat, Multigrain, Broiche Twist, French Baguette, and Sourdough.

Their dessert section includes a Mud Cake Caramel, Blueberry Cheesecake, Creme Caramel, Tres Leches, Black Forrest, Choco Indulgence and a Chocolate fountain. They have a crepe section too where you can ask the chef to prep one for you. Or conclude it with an ice cream, Bitter Sweet, Double Dutch, Vanilla, Pistachio.

And my favorite, Roast Suckling Pig, so tasty, it has the right amount of saltiness to propel my appetite.

And my nirvana favorite, my favorite amongst all favorites, a US Beef Angus Steak.

They surely pass my buffet definition for having a lamb(although a Lamb Chop is what I have been expecting, a Lamb Patty with Rosemary Au Jus is just fine) and an Angus steak.

So let's see what I have been eating, I had a Roast Suckling Pig, a salad of my version that contains hard boiled egg, balsamic vinaigrette, bacon strips, and orange fruit. I picked up raw oyster and shrimp at the salad section, and have the chef baked them for me.

And after devouring lots of Tequila Prawns, I concluded my meal with crepe, fruits, and ice cream.

You can stay at the pool area while cooling down your gastric accelerometer or...

Just stay at the outdoor canopy where you can take your tea while trying to establish a pace of another round.

The restaurant lobby is graced by monolithic circular designed seats in red and black napped finish, reminiscent to roller coaster tracks. To me it looks like "8" of some sort, perhaps either a hotel brand insignia or an indicator of their buffet price range, Php888. :)

Johnny Rockets: American 70's bistro

2011-10-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

It's an American sprit of 69 in the orient coast. It's Johnny Rockets, a Melrose Avenue-based restaurant chain that offers more than just feel-good comfort food but a one of a kind dining experience where Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis music still lives.

Had this been year 1960's, we could have been dining along with the Sicilian mobsters and American wise guys in Thomson automatic submachine guns. Glad that it's not, so the crew can freely dance to their hearts delight.

And since I mentioned it, I actually thought that Filipinos dancing in public would have aggravated our image as Asia's agogo dancing republic, be it Olongapo's strip club to Cebu Pacific's dancing FAs, to the street's dancing traffic enforcers. I just don't think it's a talent we should flaunt without proper stage set up.

After running some errands at the Bonifacio Global City, I went to Johnny Rockets Tomas Morato to have dinner with a college room mate. He just moved to a new company(good for him) with high hopes and a promising career(good for him), so it's our way to enjoy and celebrate.

He ordered Rocket Double(Php495 + 12% SC), comprising of two fresh patties, cheddar cheese, fresh lettuce, ripe tomato, onion slice, and their brand of special sauce. His order comes along with unlimited fries, something that was easily depleted as we shared it.

Upon seeing the word "bacon", my eyes twinkled and I immediately ordered Bacon Cheddar Double(Php595 + 12% SC). It has a two fresh potatoes, tick bacon, cheddar cheese, fresh lettuce, ripe tomato, onion slice and a special sauce. I added Php30 + 12% SC for a side salad.

I actually thought that the Bacons are spread on the topmost patty only but I was wrong. It's a double patty, double layers of bacon too.

Along with the number of bites we have to make, a bottomless soda(Php110 + 12% SC) should be sufficient to complement our taste buds and rid away the icky factor.

They are a bit pricey though but for burger to burger comparison, I think I love the Mr. Jones better.

Bistro Casanova: Dining a charmed life

2011-10-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

I am no charmer(as my kumpare Cliff calls it "Estrogen Agitator"), instead I am the antithesis of being one. I soar miles ahead as a man of science but I definitely suck six feet as a knight in shining armor, incapable of even asking a woman's name in a bar while the conversation already extends to the far reaches of the universe. Sorry Cliff, I really am a true blue "Testosterone Blue."

Wishing that I can have at least a bit of Howard Wolowitz's guts, I went to Forbes Town to have my lunch.

Tucked inside the Burgos Circle at the Bonifacio Global City lies an Italian restaurant named Bistro Casanova which serves authentic Italian cuisine, and just like who it is named after, Giacomo Casanova, world's known women's man, I too am hoping that this Italian Job that will change a bit of my scruple.

I started off my lunch with a soup, a Minestrone alla Genovese(vegetable soup with cannellini beans).

Another kick off entree is the Casanova Insalate(a combination of lettuce, cucumber, ham, pineapple, chicken breast and croutons in mustard dressing).

For the pasta, I got Aglio Olio Peperoncino(oil-base pasta with garlic, olive oil, and chill).

Then on to the launching of my full lunch throttle comes a 12" Quatro Stagioni(a pizza combo comprising of four different tastes: Boscaiola, Napoli, Fruittii de Mare, and Casanova).

And there for the main meal, Risoto di Mare that comes with seafood and tomato sauce.

To complement my Risoto, I got Petti di Pollo Spadellati Salvia(chicken breast with pesto cream sauce).

You know me as someone who can't live without dessert, so I ordered two: Panna Cota and...

Concluding my meal is a Mango Tango.

What did I get out of that Quixotic quest? None but a gastronomic satisfaction and a guilty pleasure. It was well worth it for only Php549.

Now I will have my iPhone snooze me for a gym session tomorrow. I must.

Marriott Cafe at Marriott Hotel Manila

2011-10-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Marriott Cafe is a Marriott Hotel Manila's all-day, resident restaurant that serves a myriad of cuisines, from Italian, Japanese, Filipino, and Chinese dishes. It lodges in an internationally known 5-star hotel centered on designing a complete comfort for both business and leisure travelers.

I had myself reserved a week before, and i got into the place at around 12:30PM, buffet starts at 12:00PM. So a 30min latency was I thought to be forgivable since it's Monday, plus it's a lunch time. I was dead wrong. Marriott Cafe was literally full today, which only means that it's not only Filipinos who love buffet but other racial diversities as well. I guess staying guests also dined in as there were so many Caucasians around.

Last October 10th, in line with the anniversary celebration of Marriott Cafe Manila, they are slashing their lunch buffet price to 50% from a regular price of Php1,750, Mondays to Saturday until October 31st.

Sections stratified according to different spectrums of gastronome: Live Cooking station, Salad station, Seafood station, Pastries station, Desserts station, and main entrees station which includes pasta, chicken wings, braised pork, vegetables, and seafood skewer.

Other continental cuisines includes Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino among many others, like Beef stew, Kappa maki, Chicken Consommé, Miso Soup, Tuna hoso, Tuna Shahsimi, Sinigang, Chicken Inasal, Fish Curry, Guisadiong sitaw, Sweet and Sour Fish with Chilli Sauce, Peking Duck. Paneer Burji, Beef Triangle Samosa, White Chicken, Soyed Chicken, Chicken Shawarma, Pork Asado, Hodfan Dried Noodles, Fresh Egg Noodles, Vermicelli Noodles, and Siomai.

My graduated scale on a good buffet does not only lie on the wide array of food feast but on this statement: "a buffet without a steak or a lamb is not a buffet." So the star of the day(drumroll please)…. a US Topblade Steak prepared according to your doneness.

A dessert person that I am is always enamored by the plethora of the sweet varieties: Sugarfree Cheesecake, Bread & Butter Pudding, Chocolate Eclairs, Chocolate Desire, Fruit Tartlets, Opera Slice, Mango Cheesecake, Desire Cake, Brownies, Cream Puff, Kiwi Mousse, Triple Chocolate Mousse, Banana Cake, Raspberry Mousse, Carrot Cake, Blueberry Cheesecake, and Coconut Panacotta.

They also have a variety of fresh fruits and ice cream to feed your gluttonous tendencies.

Let's see what I have eaten. Oh, it's just a tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more I didn't bother taking a picture because I am so hungry.

It's an impressive array of gastronomic goodness. And if you're don't want to overindulge yourself, you can also try CRU Steakhouse.

Smart Netphone 701: Unboxing

2011-10-17T08:04:00.000-07:00

Remember that Smart commercial with Martin Nievera? Yes, that Smart Amazing phone commercial. We maybe are not far from reliving the prodigious phone in its generation. Smart once again launched that "branding a Smart logo on phone" concept form their lines of phones.

This time, they maybe barking not on the phones outstanding rafts of features but on the aspect of a lifestyle-on-the-fly. I believe it is a good marketing standpoint as banking on the phone's hardware is short-lived as new features pop up every quarter or so. However, taking stride on the online services is provider-centric.

With SmartNet.Ph, from the defunct MySandbox, allows you to connect with your SmartNet-registered buddies. It is fully integrated with Twitter and Facebook so you can shout out what's in your (in)sanity to all three(twitter, FB, and SNPh).

It also syncs with your Google contacts wit your Smart Global Directory. And the instant messaging system which is akin to the Blackberry BBM is a breeze. Just ask your friends to register to the SmartNet and you're on it.

Other services include ability to check your bill/balance instantaneously, track your current subscribed services, purchase new sets of packages on top of your current packages, reload your prepaid phone without ever going to a Smart loading center, pay your bill without going to the neighborhood payment center.

Other features are a de facto standard on Android 2.2 Froyo firmware version. But the hardware specs are as follows: 600Mhz ARM 11 Qualcomm MSM7227 chipset CPU, 3.5" LCD with 480x800 resolution, 512MB of RAM, Wifi 802.11b/g/n, Wifi hotspot, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP, FM Radio tuner, GPS with aGPS support, and Li-Ion 1250mAh battery.

The camera slapped at the back is just 3MP autofocus. So don't expect that it yield very good resolution especially under a low light condition.

I came from a Samsung Captivate i897 Galaxy S so an experienced with a 600Mhz clock speed phone is a bit like a degraded experience. I know as the Captivate is way ahead of its generation, having sported a 1Ghz processor which is blazing fast. I can see little jitters when scrolling. And the Lattitude app which is a standard Android app wouldn't even run.

At a Php9,900 for a prepaid handset from a Smart's retail centers, I honestly think it is a bit of a rip off. It could have been appropriately priced had the price point ranges from Php6-7k. Oh well, TipidCP brand new units had that range, so you can also take that as an option.

Ibayo by Barrio Fiesta: A bistro in the metro

2011-10-17T07:57:00.001-07:00

From the tradition of the family buffet specialist, Barrio Fiesta, comes another welcoming addition to their restaurant chain, Ibayo by Barrio Fiesta.

Ibayo either meant "next to" or "opposite of" or "double". Either way, Ibayo is NEXT TO Barrio Fiesta concept which is an a la carte, bistro type dining haven, or an OPPOSITE of being a plain restaurant where people just dine and depart, Ibayo offers a one of a kind watering hole where you can chill it out while having a good conversation. Or it's a best of both world, it's DOUBLE the fun, double the excitement.

Me and my college room mate started it off with one bucket(6bottles) of Coors Light. Since he doesn't really drink, I ended up consuming almost the entire bucket.

Then comes a Bangus Sisig. It taste ok but not stellar class. Pork Sisig, I think, I think is still the best sisig because you can get the optimum crunchiness level.

And of course, the star of the beer smirching session, Crispy Pata, deep-fried pork knuckles cooked Barrio Fiesta way.

For a voucher worth Php470, I guess it was ok. The voucher says it's good for four. Not us. So before buying any voucher from group buying sites, consider your stacking capacity of your pack.

iOS 5 update: Jumping into the bandwagon

2011-10-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

Last week was a daunting as it was delighting week for the Apple as a corporate organization. For one, the demise of one of the greatest CEO of all time, Steve Jobs. Secondly, the launch of the iPhone 4S and consequently the new mobile operating system, iOS 5.

I am no Steve Jobs fanboy, but I admire him for being a marketing genius and a technology trailblazer. There might be technology-enabled services that he didn't pioneer, but at least he was the one to do it right. As of current counting, almost all my mobile concierge is built by Jobs, so does my brother's, and so does my Mom's.

And speaking of the mobile concierge, I upgraded my iPhone into iOS 5 to as a readiness platform for the Siri. Yes, mine is just an iPhone 4 and Apple blatantly trumpeted that Siri only supports A5 chips which is absurd because some of my friends are already using Siri(back in the time when it wasn't yet bought by Apple) on their iPhone 3GS phones. It may come out that announcing that would make an iPhone 4S less-than-stellar product because hardware-wise, there isn't much of the improvement.

So fearing that people will not patronize the iPhone 4S might have compelled them to discard the A4 chip as a processing bed for the Siri. It doesn't even require stringent computing muscles as most of the Siri-integrated services computation is done online, on the server side.

Although I doubt that Siri will not be optimized for non-US-based countries as it uses US based location services like Places, Yelp, WolframAlpha, etc. I am afraid it will not tell me accurately if I ask which is the nearest mall, 7-11, French restaurant, or a Mercury Drug.

Nonetheless, the upgrade brought some rafts of outstanding features:

**Real-time notifications(lock screen and pulldown) is such a lovely sight. Although the lock screen one has been adapted by WinMo 6.0 days and the pulldown by the Android, implementing it in an iOS 5 is "better-late-than-never." However I am hoping that it keeps a cache of the notification displays much like the Android does.

**iMessage is a service akin to the BBM(Blackberry Messanging) but once again, better-late-than-never.

**iCloud services is a computing phenomenon of an on-demand services that stock a repository of data in the storage cloud. It comes along with 5GB of free storage but if that isn't enough for you, you can subscribe a 10GB additional for $20, 20GB for $40, and 50GB for $100 per year. This service can also be done(back and restore) through OTA(Over The Air) method.

**The new weekly view on a Calendar is also implemented.

**Fantastic Mail app features that includes Bold, Italic, Underline, Quote options, and extended Search, mass Marking as Read/Unread, Flag setting, and addition/deletion of mailbox folders.

**Enahnced camera app to include viewfinder grid and a hardware-based button for pressing the shutter. You may use UP button of the volume rocker actually.

**Wifi synchronization with iTunes and the OTA(Over The Air) method of updating the software, which is also a longtime Android technology.

**Twitter is also fully integrated, but I was hoping Facebook as well. The only reason I think why Apple didn't include Facebook is that they may offer same snippet of service as Google's G+.

**Newsstand app which serves as a hub of all your magazine subscriptions.

**Videoplayer is not seated in an all-in-one player(iPod button on previous iOS) but a separate icon already from the music files.

I might ran out of real-estate space if I enumerate the 200 features of the iOS 5 and the what's missing/not-included, so I guess for those who are using iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch 3G and 4G, you may want to try this out. Back up your files and applications first because this upgrade will wipe them all out.

Park Avenue Desserts: A sweet utopia

2011-10-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

Chef Buddy Trinidad has a Midas touch on the sweet anatomy that whatever he touches turned out into a heavenly dessert. And his pastry shop slash chocolate bar slash cake coinage, Park Avenue Desserts, has been a treasure trove of anything blissfully sumptuous.

I have been ordering cakes from Park Avenue Desserts since 2005, when their patisserie is still located in Pasay. It was just recently that I discovered that they relocated at Paseo Magallanes while I traverse the Skyway going to Alabang. I have waited that long for them to open up a retail front.

I thought that having a sandwich is a demure way of having a lunch. I was dead wrong. Their Tomato, Basil, and Mozarella Panini(Php180) is not a faux meal and definitely not for the weak gastronome. It's delicious and similarly filling, astutely fitting for the gourmand and the gourmet alike.

Since my all-time favorite cake, Quadruple Chocolate Climax Mousse Cake, isn't serve in retail outlets, Roca Cake(Php150), I thought, would do. I was never wrong. The Roca Cake is a combination of Caramel Cream and Creme Brûlée with chocolate ganache with roasted almonds is another testament to Chef Buddy's skill on effortlessly creating cakes equivalent to divine experiences.

And his choice of plating as shown in my 100% organically brewed coffee(Php80) is also a display of artistry. Even a glass of water comes with an embroidered lace motif. Who else could think about just a mere glass with exorbitant creativity.

The coffee by the way is brewed in small batches so you can be assured of its freshness.

His winning formula? While I study the tabular display of known elements in their atomic structures and quantum composition, Chef Buddy, on the other hand, has a Periodic Table of Desserts. How else can he be wrong in his concoction.

Park Avenue Desserts probably serves metropolitan's finest ensemble of desserts which I can highly recommend to everyone. It's a sweet utopia.

Crocodile-meat burger at Nueve Cafe

2011-10-10T03:02:00.000-07:00

I love food. It is the only terrestrial object that gravitates me into wielding something extraordinary, like trying out unspeakable methods of culinary wonder, or traveling far and wide just to taste outlandishly exotic cuisines.

And lately it did. Nueve Cafe, the metro's home for crocodile meat burgers, coaxed me to taste their Indiana Jones-inspired comfort foods. Distance and the monsoon rain couldn't even stop me from traveling from Quezon City all the way to Alabang Zapote to try it out.

Nueve Cafe is located in Wilcon Home Builder's Depot, Alabang Zapote branch, right beside Goodyear Tires Alabang. No worry about parking, they have a spate of parking spaces.

Although I couldn't grasp as to why they put up a cafe inside a Wilcon building, I settled on a thought that this is perhaps a test market. But there's not even a right amount of market demographic to test in the area. Or perhaps they don't want to sensationalize themselves as crocodiles belonged to critically endangered species.

Apart form the Dundee Cheeseburger Burger(Php100), a burger made of 100% pure crocodile meat which naturally lean and low in fat, they also have the crocodile meat in sausage form, like Dundee Sausage in a bun(Php110) that comes in a plain or with cheese variant.

Romi, one of our Project Executives from Germany, said that crocodile meats have a very neutral taste, I don't know if he meant bland. I have known him to be brutally honest and impeccably precise. He has been right all along. I didn't find the burger to be spectacularly delicious. Had there been lamb burgers, I may like it over the crocs.

They also have other comfort foods like Pasta Bolognese, Pasta Carbonara, Pork Steak, Classic Caldereta, Bistek Tagalog, Fillet O Crisp, Chicken Pork Adobo, Classic Beef Burfer, Creamy Chicken Burger, Classic Crab Sandwhich, and Tuna-based clubhouse sandwiches too.

Their all-time favorites include Croc Sisig(Php195), a Pinoy delicacy made of crocodile meat. They also sell raw crocodile meat for Php250 per serving. I don't know how large is that though.

Matsuri: Order-all-you-can Japanese cuisine

2011-10-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

From the same buffet innovators who brought to you Dad's Saisaki and Kamayan Restaurants once again displayed their entrepreneurial flare by coming out a Japanese restaurant with the concept "think of the the food you like, then sit and back and relax, we'll bring it on your table."

The restaurant is a cosmopolitan Japanese, Matsuri, located at Tomas Morato near ABS-CBN compound.

The ordering style is similar to the Red Kimono. You pick any food you like on their menu and they'll cook it up for you. You can even pick as often as you want.

We(me and my college room mate) started off our meal with Saisaki, Yaki Soba(ramen noodle with assorted vegetables and oyster sauce), Manhattan Panko Roll, and Califormnia Maki.

Then we REPEATEDLY got ourselves an Ushe Ebi Tempura, Kani Tempura, Chicken Teriyaki, and Aspara Bacon Maki Teriyaki. Our second order was obviously another round of Tempura.

Then followed by Kani Sashimi(crab stick), Tamago(Japanese version of egg omelette), Mixed Kamameshi Rice Pot, and Tempura Crunchy Roll.

We're almost done. Our stomach is not a bottomless pit, so hang on. These are the Matsuri Beef, Creamy Chicken Mushroom Ragout(grilled boneless chicken topped with assorted Japanese mushrooms and asparagus in a creamy Champignon sauce, drizzled with Teriyaki sauce, dusted with Togarashi and freshly-cracked black pepper), Matsuri Salad(a combination of strawberry, blueberry, sliced apples, orange, slivered almonds with Hachimitzu Balsamic Vinaigrette), and Kani Salad(classic Japanese salad with cucumber crab stick, Mango, and Ebiko).

Lastly, for the desserts, we got Chocolate Ice Cream, Muscovado and Vanilla Bean Cream Brûlée, Fresh Fruits in Season, and Gyoza(steamed/fried classic Japanese dumpling).

Never underestimate us when it comes to buffet as there are some orders we devoured but forgot to take note of and are not in the pic. So think about how long our intestines are that when unbridled could even reach up to the moon. For Php595 per head, it was well worth it.

Happy FaMEALy Day design

2011-10-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

Although, as a family, we are divided by our entrepreneurial paths, we are united by our individual respect for each other. There are just five of us in the family, my parents and my two brothers, and at a small number that we have, we took different paths of careers and endeavors of choice. But whenever half of the family members converge, we always make sure that we get to catch with each other up, talks about career, business, latest find, latest technology, latest software, latest dibidi and TV series.

Correct me if I am wrong but I think that is the same concept of promulgating the Happy Family Day Act.

And since it is impossible for all of us to huddle, here I am celebrating it by my colleague's mandate. I have to make a Happy FaMEALy Day design for her son to be submitted at school. Yes, I have been doing digital designs and artwork pieces for my friends as an added portfolio of my graphic design endeavor.

And artwork pieces I meant to be painting but sadly I didn't get to have more time to paint now and because of the squeaky room space that I have, I vowed to keep my room neat and orderly, consequently limiting my creative horizon to limit my painting job orders to just twice a year.

Unlike digital artworks, the need for paint brushes, easels, palettes, palette knives, cleaning kits, and what-have-you's is crunched into the algorithms of a computer. And I can do it whenever, wherever for as long as I have my MacBookPro with me. Coffee shops and smoothie cafe have always been my common creative juice squeezers.

Caesar's Coffee Shop at Makati Palace Hotel

2011-10-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

Makati Palace Hotel is seated at the premiere location close to the Makati Business District, particularly at the P. Burgos, the street ostensibly known as the melting pot of Makati because of the sheer number of races converging at the spread of pubs, hubs, and hubbubs. I'm speaking in metaphor but a politically correct term for that are geodetic points meant for leisure, dining, and entertainment purposes.

One of Makati Palace Hotel's dining places is Caesar's Coffee Shop, a place where I stormed at to try out their Italian Pasta Buffet ℅ a groupon voucher I bought worth Php225.

The cafe offers a whole gamut of modern day pasta concocted from the different continental origin. The conflation of this culinary concept surely satisfies ones discerning palates. They have different variations of pasta so even if it's only a pasta buffet, you don't even need to eat the same food twice.

What I have ordered are Pesto in Penne, Capellini Carbonara, and Seafood Marinara. Oil-based pasta, especially the Pesto, has always been my favorite of all pasta type, but my palate was surprised to taste the awesome goodness of the Seafood Marinara. It has the typical Italian sourness and tanginess brand of pasta sauce.

The half of the customers at the time were the lumads(Filipinians) and the other half were Black Americans. Yes, I told you the place is teeming with different racial strata, so a comfort food buffet like pasta astutely fits the dining crowd.

The place is well-lit wit iconic statue at the middle of the indoor waterscape and has an ambiance fitted for a lazy afternoon talk.

Kudos to the outstanding service provided by the staff and the chef(I forgot his name) who made sure that the pasta were served efficiently and sumptuously from their live cooking station.

El Prado Restaurant at Hotel Berjaya Manila

2011-09-25T06:12:00.000-07:00

Tucked inside the heart of Makati's urban hub is Hotel Berjaya-- a hotel astutely fitting to brandish a hospitality culture of east-meets-west. The name itself sounds like middle eastern, but it is essentially Malaysian-based, under the auspices of Berjaya Group of Companies.

And the restaurant name seated at the second level of the hotel is El Prado Restaurant, incidentally sounding like Mexican. Inside the restaurant you can see huge paintings, vessel-derived, rose-window designs, and wooden furniture pieces. It was cozy enough to enjoy a leisurely meal.

The menu is a bit unsatisfactorily skewed in terms of variety but for a price of Php398 and a free use of swimming pool(from a groupon site), I said, "oh well, I would maximize the pool use anyway."

Main entrees include traditional Filipino stew, Stuffed Milk Fish, Grilled Pork, Sweet & Sour Meatballs, and Chapseuy. However, they serve soup and two salad variants to kick off your meal.

A wide selection of pasta awaits you from Carbonara to Pesto, from Fettuccine to Fussilli, they have it most of them. And since I am a pesto lover, I had the chef made mine. Shown are what I have on my table. Well, some of it. The rest are devoured ruthlessly.

Although they only have few assortment for the antipasto, like halo-halo, fresh fruits(Papaya and Watermelon only) and Filipino desserts(ube jalaya, kuchinta, puto, and other Filipino rice cakes), they are good enough to conclude my meal. Although deep inside my already diabetes-wary body, it is asking for an ice cream, panacota, and blueberry cheese cake.

Just as I thought that I have to maximize the pool service, I withdrew from doing it upon seeing that their pool has stagnant water, and that would make it a breeding paradise for algae and other anaerobic bacteria. Pool picture is grabbed from the Berjaya Hotel website. I didn't bother getting inside the glass door to the pool to snap it.

And I would like to commend the staff for the warm and efficient service. After all, there were only three tables(including mine) they were serving that time.

Snackaroo Steak: No frill steakhouse

2011-09-23T22:25:00.001-07:00

I don't get it. Nowhere can you see snack foods being served, so it's probably because you only get to shell out a snack-worth of money to pay for a humongous steak that literally fill the entire plate at Snackaroo, hence they call this quaint little, hole-in-the-wall find as Snackaroo.

The line between my gourmet and gourmand tendencies hangs in the balance as I have tasted the Snackaroo steak. I mean, it may not bear the same quality meats certified by USDA or CAB standards and served in upscale steakhouses like Elbert Steak Room, Gulliver's Steak (Eastern Hotel), Melo's Steakhouse, Mamou Serendra, The Fireplace(Hyatt Hotel), CRU Steakhouse(Marriott Hotel), and Prince Albert Rotisserie, but if you're leaning towards the gourmand side, you wouldn't mind dining at Snackaroo.

My colleague at work kidded that for all I know it might be horse meat. LoL. I hope not. But just as I thought Everything at Steak serve the cheapest steak in huge slab, I was wrong. Snackaroo serve even bigger at a lesser price.

But unlike Everything at Steak which serves a whole gamut of meat products from steaks to back ribs, Snackaroo only serve beef, chicken, and pork variants, like steaks and liempo. Although, they have other beef and pork-based offerings like Papaitan na Baka, Beef Caldereta, Sisig, and Bopis.

Snackaroo steak are char-broiled and not pan-seared, unlike other commercial steak houses. You can basically taste the difference between a food cooked in a natural fire than the ones which are not. But the steak doesn't come with free side dishes, only a gravy and soup.

It's a no frill, no bells-and-whitles place, the ambiance of Snackaroo is simply a carinderia serving steak.

If you want to drink water and not soda, better bring your own bottle of Absolute or Perrier Mineral Water. The water they serve is a faucet water. :)

But for a Php130 price point, you get what you'd paid for. For the steak and two cups of rice, I only paid Php160.

CCA Kitchen(Cravings): Week-End Roast Buffet

2011-09-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

You know how my appetite had grown so inevitably monstrous and into an epic proportion. Why wouldn't it be when almost all restaurants are going gaga over buffet set ups. Even fine dining took a dip into the smorgasbord waters, like Lolo Dad's Brasserie Antipasto Buffet.

And just as I finished up beastly buffet-ing at the Bar360 at Resorts World Manila, that evening I travelled all the way to Eastwood to try out CCA Kitchen's(by Cravings) Week-End Roast Buffet.

This isn't my first time at CCA Kitchen, in fact I have been dining here regularly, just how regular I am dining at Causeway Seafood Restaurant, Timog or King Chef Banawe. And I have blogged about this here and here.

Their buffet spread includes eat-all-you-can salad and soup, unlimited pasta specials, and two featured roast favorites. That week-end, I was darn lucky to have gotten Roast Turkey and Roast Pork. It's available only on Saturdays and Sundays from August 27 to October 16 on 11am-2pm and 6pm-9pm window.

It was good enough for its price of Php625 but if you think you can't optimize it on your unsparing tummy space, you may want to try their Unlimited Cake and Coffee for just Php150. That's close to spending one cup of coffee at known coffee shops.

Resorts World Manila: Asia's newest playground

2011-09-19T06:46:00.000-07:00

Asia's newest playground, Resorts World Manila(RWM), opened its door to a leisure-seeking public a year(or two) back. And being a harbinger of an urban lifestyle, I won't be left behind by the happenings in the metro.

Dubbed as the the country's rising glitzy destination and an exciting tourist hub, RWM has the amenities one would look for in an entertainment colony, with the exclusivity feel out of their membership privilege.

Snapping a picture is STRICTLY PROHIBITED inside the Casino so forgive me if some pictures don't yield favorable angles. And that's why my narcissistic moment is taken outside, where The Sound of Music(showing starting 15th of October) standees are located at.

The groupon voucher that I got, worth Php588, includes Breakfast or Lunch Buffet, Php300 worth of Match&Play Certificate, and 5+1 beer. I was a bit disappointed with the buffet since it only has a Pork Sisig, Pasta, and a Chapsuey as their main entrees. But when I get there, the there were only three tables piranha-ing the buffet, so that may have given them a reason not to profusely serve a wider buffet spread as some might just go to waste. Oh well, they could have invited me everyday. Apart from the main entrees, they have Coffee Jelly, a Soup, and bottomless Iced Tea, Apple Juice, Coffee, or Tea.

Scouring the entire expanse of the Casino and not finding any Dance Revo or Daytona Racing to play with, instead just a plethora of slot machines on all forms and sizes, I decided not to use my Php1,000 Match & Play Certificate(the lady at the Tour Counter gave me a Php1,000 worth in exchange of some wink, kidding). I mean, why can't they put arcade and stuff inside casino for those video game-immersed adults.

So I just sauntered at the Bar360 seated at the center of the Casino, and have my entire afternoon spiced up by a smooth jazz band. You know know how I love easy listening and smooth jazz that it's probably the only music genre in my iPhone. And because I love the music so much, I finished all 6cans of San Miguel Premium.

Sennheiser MM50 IP with Mic: The 'Coffee-mate' of your iPhone

2011-09-16T23:13:00.000-07:00

I'm a big-headed mammal, blame it on my genetic composition. I sprung from an ancestral root of the Nephilims. Just kidding, but yes, my family lineage has tall offsprings, and that's us.

I have big head and so does my ear that the default earphone package of iPhone just fell down from my ears. It's cumbersome because whenever I watch documentaries that I downloaded into my iPhone, one or both earphones just fell.

So I scoured the entire mall to look for a decent earphone. And look what I have found, Sennheiser MM50 IP with Mic (IP probably stands for iPhone). Just what I wanted for my iPhone, I can answer my callers in just a press of a button.

Having had worked from a audio-video industry for 5years, and having met fellow audiophiles, both from work and at an enthusiasts circle, I know what a good acoustic engineering is composed of.

The MM50 IP has a balanced audio. Without having to turn on the iPhone 4's equalizer setting, it's able to churn out strong bass response but also a good lower bass settings. Able to pic the crisp details of any quality audio track, it's able to deliver the midrange frequencies quite impeccably. They have excellent leakage control as well as absurdly low distortion level.

It comes with two other pairs of buds, small and large. My gripes though are that it doesn't have a cord guard except for the plug, and unlike Monster Turbine, it has no purse or protective case to boot, but for its price of Php2,650, I may rest the cudgel for its superb audio quality. Truly a Sennheiser spirit!!!

Sofitel Luxury Hotel and Spiral Buffet

2011-09-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

First, the room with a view. This one's facing the Marina area of the Manila Bay. Spectacular sight. You can bring a chair and table at a veranda, sip a glass of wine, and just get bedazzled with the glistening sea.

The Spiral Buffet -- the country's biggest buffet with a widest heap of selections to choose from, Mediterranean, Korean, Chinese, japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, American, Italian, French, and Indian food.

The table, the food -- Dimsum, Siopao, Fruit Salad, Veggies, Bacons, Croissants, Maki/Sushi, and a glass of champagne.

Typical breakfast assortments -- pastries(they've got all varieties you can think of), cereals(they got everything), breakfast delights(from Filipino meat products to French breads to just anything), and fruits(you can even have them in shake or smoothie preparation.

Topping off your meal -- whether fruits or wines, it's like they've know how to read minds, so they put in everything what a human brain can think of for a breakfast conclusion.

iPhone Photography

2011-09-13T22:27:00.000-07:00

Because at times, lugging around a dSLR has become a liability especially if you're a shutterbug like me who always like to snap and capture priceless moments, wherever, whenever.

However, malls nowadays are restricting dSLR users to just shot pictures on their field without necessary permits. Malls, like Greenbelt for example, have guards trying to wane you whenever you pass by the garden(or any "shutterbuggable") area thinking that you'd take picture of the composite elements of the scenic surroundings. Weird is that these guards wouldn't mind you snapping a piece using your phone cam or your P&S.

So I either ended up bringing my iPhone 4 since it's the one I can just easily draw out from my pants. My P&S camera is neatly tucked inside my bag so I'm sure to miss a second whenever I need to shot something.

This is one of my iPhone photography takes. See how critical the moment is? A missed second would mean that the subject would have flown somewhere, or already beyond the reaches of my lens.

Sunset Bay Buffet at Sofitel Luxury Hotel

2011-09-13T22:21:00.001-07:00

A grand Manila bay sundown, sliced through the glistening sea, and the breeze switch as it spurn. Oh well, not that day. It was raining so what could have been a deluxe Sunset bay buffet was moved indoor, at a huge tent they call Sunset Pavilion, just right beside the pool area where the buffet was ought to be held at.

If stare outside fro the glass, you can still see the Manila Bay, albeit on its sullen state. So while I can't control the weather, I just control my mood to it. After all, it's the buffet and the cultural performance that matters.

The epic culinary saga continues.

There were two sets of performers that night, the cultural performers dancing a melange of Filipino dances from all over the archipelago, and a band performing classical, bossa nova, and smooth jazz fusion.

I was thinking that the cultural show with the extravagant flare of costume would make my night, it ends up that I like the band more, perhaps because I love the music genre(evidently, my iPhone is filled with those type of music).

I noticed that the foreign nationals right beside my table were so immersed with the cultural show, especially when they started dancing Maglalatik, Pandango sa Ilaw, and Tinikling. One of them gladly joined the Tinikling dance.

As far as my rustic memory can recall, the buffet includes, Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Mussels, Grilled Lamb Chop, Hungarian Sausage, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Salmon, Potato Au Gratin, Grilled Squid, Corn Kernel, Carbonara, Ratatouille.

And if a US steak and lechon alone wouldn't make you crave for more, I don't know what else does.

On the other side of the table were the Kilawins varieties, fresh salad that you can DIY, and some fruits to boot like Watermelon, Pineapple, Mango, Melon, and Papaya.

The far side includes desserts section with plethora of cheesecakes, black forest, and a lot more that I forgot their names. They also have Filipino desserts in fact like Ube Halaya and more. Of course, the sweet tongue in me picked cheesecakes, and a DIY halo halo with two scoops of ice cream on top.

To top off your meal, they also serve overflowing soda of your choice, iced tea, San Mig Light, and Red Horse Beer. But since I brought a bottle of wine in my room, I opted for an iced tea

It was a feast that had me drink a lot of wine to speed up my digestion because I will have to take the hotel's breakfast buffet upon waking up.

Grill Republic: Bigfood encounter

2011-09-11T00:26:00.001-07:00

It was a bright and cloudy day at The Fort but surprisingly gloomy along Quezon City-C5 area last Sunday when we headed at Metrowalk. Inauspiciously gloomy that was, but nothing can stop our gastronome from anchoring our(me and my college room mate wayback engineering school) gargantuan appetite.

And it's that same alpha appetite that was to be blamed for the disappearance of the two sets of humongous 10inch Monster Burger, Potato Chips, and a pitcher of cocktail for just Php399 care of a groupon voucher.

Grill Republic provides a breezy feel to kick-back and unwind with its resort type setting, centering on a leaf floor design and aquamarine tapestry. The bar is located at the ground floor, serving the usual flares of alcoholic beverages. Such a comfortable ambiance that is, including its al fresco dining. Upstairs you have stereotype high chairs, but they also have a Kotatsu-styled tables and low chairs and a Cabana-like setting.

They have been known in the metro for providing big food encounters with their Monster Burger as their flagship entree that they claim should be able to serve roughly 4 people. Well, these restauranteurs haven't really known our kind. LoL.

The burger is just just ok, but the 2.2lbs patty easily easily gets crumbled. I wasn't expecting a gourmet experience in this side of the metro, instead a gourmand. The drinks is either a choice of a pitcher of iced tea or a cocktail drink. Since we have overflowing iced tea and lemon juice in the office, we opted for a cocktail. His was Aklan Sling which is their version of Mudslide and tasted a lot like Baileys and mine was Grill Rep Sling which tasted like an Illusion. I love Grill Rep Sling than the Aklan Sling because latter tastes like an Ovaltine dropped with few mixes of gin.

If you're within Ortigas area, and a huge group, their gourmand serving will surely satisfy your gluttonous tendencies.

Blackwood Bistro at Venice Piazza

2011-09-07T22:33:00.001-07:00

New York slash Paris slash Tokyo-inspired bistro, Blackwood Bistro, at Venice Piazza, is where I headed at to have my lunch last Sunday.

I have always been drawn by the eclectic blue-lit tree like fixture in their counter but never had a chance to try their menu. My friends had been trying to drag me because of their famous Buffalo Crab Claws to which they claim to be their brimming pride as the only restaurant in the metro that has it.

Now is finally the time, or so I thought.

Blackwood Bistro's design elements were leaning towards a slope of virility, with the presence of dark-colored woods, maverick paintings. and anything masculine. Even wine racks slapped on their walls were a telltale sign of brave and bold market demography that they are serving. But it's a design motley of New York and Paris urban chill-out bar. I shouldn't be surprised since the chefs were schooled in that side of the continent.

I had myself a 4course menu that includes: Bowl of French Onion Soup, Ceasar Salad, 350g US Angus Ribeye, Tiramisu, and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon wine. All of them for just Php1,500, yebaaahh, ℅ a groupon voucher I bought.

This is a place where their comfort food is as superb as their excellent service. I started it off with French Onion soup, so broth topped with cheesy baguette, then followed by Ceasar Salad, sprinkled with bacon bits, French bread strip, a semi-cooked egg, with a creamy lemon basil dressing. It's simply delectable. And their 350g US Angus steak, cooked under medium well is just right and I can taste the juicy meat extract(in other words cholesterol?). The Tiramusi is not too sweet but not bland, just right for a sumptuous dessert to conclude your meal.

I was thinking I can still try their Buffalo Crab Claws but I don't have stomach space anymore, so I listed it down as my next-episode encounter.

Riviera Cafe at Heritage Hotel

2011-09-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

After a weeklong of grueling nights that had me render overtime for at least 3hours on a daily basis, since Monday, or since I was moved into another department for a different project, I thought of rewarding myself. Not for a job well done(I felt like I am far from having tangible achievements and sterling success, so don't pop up that champagne yet), but for a seemingly endless struggles I wither from my bosses of global and local business residency.

So my pick was Riviera Cafe seated at Heritage Hotel along Pasay City. Never mind the fact that it's a few meters away from Baclaran, or that it is situated along the main thoroughfare, call it a contemporary chic cafe.

The cafe boasts of a bountiful feast from the rich textures of different cuisines, Malay, Singaporean, Filipino, Japanese, French, Italian, European, among others.

They have got almost what you can think of in a buffet and for an Php878(50% off from the group buying site), the price itself a deal buster.

To start off your meal, they have salad station with Asian Chicken Noodle Salad with Sweet Soy Sesame Vinaigrette, or make a DIY one with different dressing to choose from. And you can match it up with an assortment of pastries and cheese and ham that includes Beef Pastrami, Florentiner, Beef Salami, Gottinger, Chicken Ham, etc.

If you'd like to move into the main courses, you can hit Baked Tangigue, Kare Kare, Spicy Pork, Paksiw na Pata for the Filipino fares. You can also have a Sauted Beef with Bittergourd,

If you'd like to pair it up with soup, they have Salted Vegetable Duck Soup or Black Beans, Peanut, and Chicken Feet Soup.

If you're into Chinese and Japanese, they have sushi bar and Japanese maki, or let the chefs concoct you with Asian noodles of different noodle varieties. You can also get a Fried Pork Spring Roll, Fried Wanton, and Fried Vegetable Samosa. Or better yet, go for Kung Poh Chicken, Harkaw and Machang.

You can also hit the live cooking stations that contains oysters, shrimp, Burong Sili, Vegetarian Curry, Atchara, and Burong Mangga.

Other continental choices were Hokkien Mee, Stir Fried Hofan, Steamed Fish with Light Soya Sauce, Lamp Chop with Mint Gravy Sauce, Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, Fish Batter with tartar Sauce, Avocado with Crabstick Terrine, Roast Beef Platter in Hot Bean sauce, Baked Fish Fillet with Mango Tandori Sauce, and Hainanese and Roast Chicken.

At the live cooking station, they also serve flambé sizzling plates, grilled fresh strips of Tuna, Salmon Belly, Chikuwa, Fish Balls, Cream Dory, Blue Marlin, Chicken Satay, Beef Strips, Fish Dumpling, Crab Balls, Lamb and Chicken.

If having those would be enough o satisfy you, conclude it in the dessert section with Creme Brûlée, New York Cheese Cake, Flourless Cake, White Forest, Fruit Tartlette, Profitero Roll, Banana Cake, Kueh Lapis Sponge cake, Oatmeal Cookies, Choco Crinkles, Fresh fruits, or make your own Halo Halo topped with ice cream on top.

With bottomless iced tea to compliment it, it was a feast!!!

Philippine Airlines vs Cebu Pacific Air

2011-08-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

I love flying, there is nothing in the nature's stockpile of wonder than the gushing wind I feel(in my senses) when I'm airborne. Just lately, I paid Php1,7++ for my flight from Mania to Cebu and back, from August 25 to Sept 3 through Philippine Airlines(PAL). That cheap huh.

And I've flown on the Philippine's two formidable rival airlines so let me tell you how an account went.

That night when I just arrived in my hometown, my immediate supervisor called up, saying I am badly needed in the office on the next day. I said "what!?!?!? I just got off from a plane for crying out loud!!!" But we haggled and ultimately came up to agree that I will be back by Monday August 29.

Sadly PAL tickets are already sold out(it was a holiday and a long week end) so I have no choice but to fly through Cebu Pacific Air(Cebu Pac). I paid around Php3,3++.

August 29th, Monday, my dad took me to the airport. When I got into the check in counter, the Cebu Pac lady told me that the gate was closed, so I have to have my ticket rebooked and wait for my next flight. So I said like "what? my flight schedule was supposed to be 8:20AM, it is still 7:55AM!!!" She said it was closed 45min before scheduled flight. Damn!!!

I went back to the Cebu Pac ticketing outlet to have it adjusted, and I paid around Php1,9++ for that. Essentially, I paid a total that is tantamount to getting one-way ticket through PAL's regular tariff rates.

But the most disheartening of all is an uproariously aggravating experience flying with Cebu Pac. I have flown with them before, so I know and sworn in all goodness not to do it anymore. I just didn't have a choice this time.

First, the lady at the gate didn't even ask which part of the seating arrangement I want to be seated at. I always seat at the aisle because I have diabetes and diabetics like us suffered from excessive urination. I don't want to go through the hassle of inconveniently clearing off my path whenever I want to go to the lavatory.

Second, they don't even have that tube/bridge(I don't know what the right term is) that connects the boarding platform into the plane. What if if will rain, would they refund you on all your wet electronic devices? They can't even let you eat at the plane, much less refund your iPod Touch or iPhones. Even if I don't bring all my virtual concierge devices, I still have my MacBookPro inside my bag. It was raining when I landed but luckily the rain stopped when the doors opened.

And if ever they have one, it's just half-lane, only for the seat numbers 1-15. How heartless this airline company to have thought about that, what if a passenger is a sickly senior citizen. Do they have to go down the tarmac by stairs, walk at the scorching heat of the sun, and climb again at the stairs going to the plane?

Third, I don't mind PAL's Happy peanuts and Bravo biscuits. At least they serve tea and coffee which is all that matters to me. But with Cebu Pac? They don't have courtesy snacks on the plane, instead, they have games. That will only make things worse and cheap. They're the only airlines who mastered the art of cheap tactics, from dancing FAs (which only magnified the Philippines' agogo dancing republic notoriety to foreigners) to something that is akin to noon-time game shows. WTF!!!

Fourth, Cebu Pac has smaller planes. And smaller planes mean smaller engines, and smaller engines means slower speed. For a traveling businessman, this wouldn't be an option.

Fifth, I don't like the old airport. I like the Centennial better but that isn't something Cebu Pac has a control over with, so I will just let it slide. I don't like it because it's so unkempt and screaming for renovation. And there are no regular cabs in it, just airport taxis. So what I did is that I took the Resorts World service shuttle to take me to Resorts World and then took my cab there. The RW service shuttle operates 24x7 at a 30min interval. Of course, you have to be a Resorts World member to avail one. The only thing that I don't like at Centennial Airport is that all their wifi access points are not working.

I never learned from my first mistake, but this is a case where once is a lesson, but twice is never a choice.

Legend of India: Cosmopolitan Indian cuisine

2011-08-23T22:40:00.000-07:00

Tucked in the heart of Metro Manila's premiere business district, Legend of India is where I challenged my complacently-laden palate by trying out an Indian buffet.

You see, India has a culinary fare that somehow represents a diversity of some sort, from spicy hot to the conspicuous curry based dishes. And while some people are not really at it because of its non-mainstream taste, I took the road less travelled and trotted my way to Jupiter Street to have my lunch. They are convenienty located in between Makati Avenue and Reposo Street(now known as N. Garcia Street).

It was again a buffet, and while they have a limited spread, they have enough Northern Indian entrees for its price of Php290(from one of the groupon sites I subscribed at).

Legend of India is a cosmopolitan Indian restaurant replete with modern design of leather backed chairs and linen clad tables on contrasting black and white. The flat LCD slapped on its wall and the Taj Mahal mural behind a waterfall is a stark display of the uniquely appealing mix of Indian tradition and posh trend.

The menu for that day includes Navrattan Korma, Chicken Tikka Masala, Tomato Fish Sauce, Palak Paneer, Hakka Noodles, Chix Samosa, Hara Bara Kebbab, Aloo Boonda, Manchow Soup, Jelebi Dessert, Saffron Rice, and Garlic Naan.

Their noodles taste like a Filipino brand of pancit which I find just appropriate to acclimatize myself first before immersing into a purely authentic cuisine. The Chicken Tikka Masala is typically Indian, I can say that because I usually have a Chicken Masala on one cafe at our building every two weeks or so. Some things that makes my heart go fonder is the Chix Samosa, another stereotype but a necessary element to neutralize the spice. The Caramelized Jelebi is too sweet, so make sure you take it after devouring them all.

You can also order some cocktail and liquors at the bar to conclude your meal.

If having Indian cooks to prep your food is not enough to bolster its authenticity, I don't know what will.