All Things Manila

Good Deal for Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Address: Ortigas Avenue Corner Asian Development Bank Avenue, Quezon City 1100

Telephone: (632) 633.7222

Website: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/quezon-city/mnlcp/hoteldetail

This post is long overdue. We actually stayed here in Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila last July 2011. We normally do not stay in hotels which are in the same city of our residence but when we saw Deal Grocer's offer for a night's stay at Crowne Plaza with buffet breakfast for 2 for only PHP3500, my hubby grabbed it. And it was a really good deal!

Maxim's: One of My All Time Favorites for Hong Kong Cuisine

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:57:00 +0000

Maxim's Chinese Restaurant in Hong Kong International Airport

Departures Check-in Hall Mezzanine

Non-restricted Area

Operating Hours: 06:30 - 23:30

Telephone: 2186 6068

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/dining/all/chine/maxc.html

It was finally time to bid farewell to Hong Kong. We arrived at the airport way too early and decided to have lunch after checking in. We originally planned to just eat a sandwich but then my dad saw the Maxim's on the 2nd floor of the airport (Tip: Before entering immigration area) and it was perfect because we weren't able to eat at Maxim's in Hong Kong this time around. I was not even aware that the HK airport had a fine dining Maxim's Chinese Restaurant but I'm so glad we stumbled upon it because it's one of my all time favorites.

A Sushi and Sashimi Feast Thanks to Sogo Supermarket Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:46:00 +0000

After a whole day of shopping and walking, our legs started to buckle and so we caved in and decided to buy sushi and sashimi from Sogo Supermarket in Causeway Bay and go back to the hotel. Even if it was just takeout from the grocery, I must praise Sogo for their food presentation and the freshness of the fish. It's actually even better than some Japanese restaurants back in the Philippines. And after going overboard, we spent a little more than we bargained for (around HKD$600!). I guess not a little but more like majorly carried away! But it was still worth it because we gave our aching feet a break and we ate really good food in the comforts of our room. =)

MORTON'S The Steakhouse Hong Kong: A Wonderful Dining Experience BUT at a Hefty Price

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:57:00 +0000

Address:    Sheraton Hotel, Fourth Level, 20 Nathan Road, Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui Area)
                彌敦道20號
Telephone: 852 2732 2343

Website:    http://www.mortons.com/hongkong/

Morton's The Steakhouse is a very well known restaurant that specializes, of course, in steak and has opened branches worldwide. It originally started in Chicago and has found its way all across the seas. When my dad learned that there was a Morton's in Hong Kong, we immediately made a reservation online.

Fantastic view of the Hong Kong Harbor. According to our server, you will have an excellent view of Hong Kong's "A Symphony of Lights" and one of the best seats to witness Hong Kong's famed and spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks show.

Sweet Dynasty Hong Kong: A SWEET Treat for Foodies

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:54:00 +0000

The Sweet Dynasty 糖朝
Address: Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon 尖沙咀廣東道100號
Telephone: 21997788 / 21997799

Sweet Dynasty has come a looooooong way since my first visit there. It used to be extremely small but has grown into a very big restaurant (2 floors) and has even opened branches in other countries. And despite the expansion, it's still jam packed during the peak hours. It's centrally located in one of Hong Kong's busiest areas, Tsim Sha Tsui and just a few minutes away from the famous Harbor City. Many have come to know that Sweet Dynasty offers some of the best Chinese dessert, but it also serves a good variety of dim sum, congee, noodles, and other Cantonese dishes. I always make it a point to visit Sweet Dynasty when I travel to Hong Kong because of the total package: yummy dim sum, lots of Cantonese dishes, the sweet desserts, and the ambiance.

Front of the restaurant located along Hong Kong's famous Canton Rd.

Great Location at The Royal Pacific Hotel & Towers Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:46:00 +0000

We stayed at Royal Pacific Hotel and Towers this time around. It's located in the very bustling and vibrant Tsim Sha Tsui, which is in Kowloon side. We always choose this area because it's closer to everything. Harbor City, Silvercord, DFS, Nathan Road, and Canton Road are accessible by foot from the hotel. Mongkok is only 2 or 3 stops away on the MTR. It's also closer to the airport as opposed to Hong Kong side. And the free Airport Express shuttle-bus service stops at this hotel (Take K2, it's the last stop).

Entrance of hotel on Canton Road.

Next Stop: Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific Airlines

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:33:00 +0000

I'm always bubbling with excitement when I know that Hong Kong is my next destination. I look forward to the food, the shopping, and the city itself. To make things better, I knew that we would be taking Cathay Pacific. I always assumed that Cathay Pacific was one of the better airlines in terms of online entertainment, comfortable seats, and on board meals. I was right about the first two but wrong about the latter part.

Our on board meal (Economy class)

TIM HO WAN: Hong Kong's Very Cheap Michelin-Starred Dim Sum Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:04:00 +0000

Tim Ho Wan in Chinese: 添好運點心專門店

Address: 9-11 Fuk Wing St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong

深水埗福榮街9-11號地下

Telephone: 27881266

Whenever I set foot in Hong Kong, eating Dim Sum is always a MUST DO because Hong Kong is known to have the best dim sum in the whole world. The restaurant on the top of my "Places to Eat List" in HK is Tim Ho Wan. There are actually 2 branches. The first branch that opened is located in Mongkok. Because of it's popularity among locals and tourists, waiting time can take as long as 2 hours. Since we were already famished and pressed for time, we opted to try the other branch located in Sham Shui Po.We arrived at 11:30am and got the last free table.

Front of Tim Ho Wan in Sham Shui Po

Talabong Mangrove Park

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Another must see area in Bais, which is a 45 minute drive from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental is the Talabong Mangrove Park. It's accessible via a boat trip and the boat men suggested that we visit this place. It's definitely different from the usual white sandy beaches and turned out to be a very unique and educational trip for everyone. Apparently, the Talabong Mangove Park is a 400 hectare protected mangrove forest and home to many different kinds of species. Lots of picture opportunities here for those camera enthusiasts.

The Talabong Mangrove Park is accessible through this platform.

The Beautiful Manjuyod White Sandbar in Bais

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:47:00 +0000

The Manjuyod White Sandbar is a beautiful stretch of white sand that appears during low tide in Bais, Negros Oriental. There are cottages that you can rent if you would like to stay for a couple of hours or even for the night (according to the boatmen).

Since we got there during high tide, we were unable to see the stretch of white sand but nevertheless, we enjoyed it just the same and went swimming and grabbed the opportunity to take scenic pictures.

Try calling the Bais Tourism Office to inquire about renting the cottage for a couple hours or for the night. According to the locals, the cottage has a water tank that they fill up whenever someone stays there.

Bais City Tourism Office: 63 (35) 402-6629 and 63 (35) 541-5161

Dolphin Watching in Bais, Negros Oriental

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:28:00 +0000

Bais City is 45 minutes drive away from Dumaguete, the capital city of Negros Oriental province, and dolphin watching is one of the top tourist attractions, aside from whale watching. For the locals, they even say that Bais is the home of dolphin watching in the Philippines. Naturally, since I'm a sucker for animals and since we were in Bais during the dolphin watching season, it was the first thing on our to do list. Despite the 2 hour boat ride to get to the dolphins and waiting for them to appear, it was definitely worth the wait. They even swam right beside our beat! Nothing beats witnessing these wonderful and magnificent sea mammals in their natural habitat.

Read more »

Atmosphere Resort in Dauin, Dumaguete

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:29:00 +0000

My family and I stayed in Atmosphere Resort last May of this year. We were a group of 9 people, 6 adults and 3 kids. It was a much needed break for everyone and at the same time, we were celebrating since my sister was visiting from the States. We drove to the resort from Bacolod. Since we had grandparents and kids with us, it took us around 5 hours to drive to Dumaguete with short breaks in between. Looking for the resort can be quite tricky since the signage is so small but my father knew how to get there since he travels to Dumaguete frequently.

When we entered the vicinity of the resort, I heard alot of "ohhhs" and "ahhhs" from my family. The garden and landscape of Atmosphere is very nice and well maintained. Much to the delight of my kids and niece, they even discovered birds nests in the trees of the resort.

This is the view from the entrance of the resort. Rooms are to the right while the spa, souvenir shop, diving preparation area, reception area, and dining are to the left. This was the only picture taken from the entrance so please don't mind me and my sis =)

Chelsea Market & Cafe: Gourmet Comfort Food

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:38:00 +0000

One thing that I love about Chelsea is the ambiance. My husband said that it reminds him of Dean and Deluca in New York but I can't vouch for him since I have not been to New York in years. It's like a deli / restaurant with shelves of imported merchandise not found in our local supermarkets ranging from various herbs and spices to German beers. And beside these shelves are the tables for the guests. It is quite cramped but that did not stop me from going since I've heard good things about Chelsea.

Apartment 1B by Night

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Because of it's casual yet chic ambiance, excellent service, and of course, the delicious food, we keep coming back to Apartment 1B. This time around, however, we decided to have dinner there and try something rather than breakfast food.


Smoked Salmon and Leeks Quiche with Mixed Green Salads @ PHP 320.00 - I absolutely love egg. It's always been one of my comfort foods so when I saw this on the menu, I had to order it. Presentation was really nice and the egg was light and fluffy but it did not leave any impression on me. It was just alright.

Tao Yuan - Best Singaporean Cuisine in Manila

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:46:00 +0000

We had the opportunity to dine in Tao Yuan in Malate in January 2011. Since then, we have been to Tao Yuan more than 5 times in their Malate and Resorts World Branch. We just can't enough of it and I can truly and honestly say that they have the absolute, best Char Kway Teow and Laksa.

Char Kway Teow at its finest. It's even better than some of the char kway teows that I have tasted in Singapore.

Camp John Hay: A Home Away From Home

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:35:00 +0000

Last weekend, we decided to take a long drive to Baguio to have a breathe of fresh air and to basically just get away from it all. And with the SCLEX, it made Baguio all the more accessible. It only took us 4 and a half hours but left Q.C. area at 430am so that probably explains why there was not as much traffic. So after a long drive, we finally made it and we knew we made the right choice when we arrived at our destination.


The front of the forest cabin

Starting the Day Right at Apartment 1B

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 05:09:00 +0000

My husband and I had a sudden craving for a sumptuous and hearty breakfast and so we decided to head to Apartment 1B. I was especially looking for Eggs Benedict and I knew that Apartment 1B offered this on their menu. It was definitely a sure winner for me with the English muffins, Canadian ham, and the perfectly cooked egg topped with lemon-caper hollandaise.

Eggs Benedict PHP410.00 - Whole Wheat English muffins, lemon caper hollandaise, home fries with Canadian ham and spinach. You can also opt to have it with smoked salmon and spinach at PHP630.00.

Cyrstal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao is Here in Manila!

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:47:00 +0000

I love anything and everything that reminds me of Hong Kong so imagine my delight when I saw that Crystal Jade is finally here. We did not waste any time and dined there on the opening week (actually, this blog is way overdue...sorry about that). It was quite the wait though, an hour and a half to be exact. However, we didn't mind since it's located in Greenhills and we kept ourselves occupied by window shopping. Since Crystal Jade has been opened for several months now, the hype has died down and waiting is no longer an issue.

Steamed Soupy Pork Dumpling :Xiao Long Bao": PHP158.00 - This is one of their signature dishes. It's very juicy, succulent and full of flavorful meat inside. It's no wonder they named their restaurant after this.

The New Mien-San Noodle House

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:57:00 +0000

I pass by this restaurant almost every weekend but it wasn't until recently that we finally decided to give it a try. It was after they opened their newly renovated resto that it captured our attention. After dining here, I wish we discovered it sooner. The food is good and the prices are very reasonable.

Steamed Pork/Kutchay Dumpling: PHP68.00

Best Hainanese Chicken in Manila @ Wee Nam Kee!

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:35:00 +0000

Wee Nam Kee
Ayala Triangle
Makati Avenue, Makati City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 846-8924

Having lived in Singapore for 2 years, I'm pretty much familiar with the taste of Hainanese chicken and I can definitely and confidently say that the Hainanese chicken of Wee Nam Kee here in Manila is close to the original in Singapore. It's really THAT good. My dad, who lived in Singapore for 6 years, was totally ecstatic to have discovered this restaurant. He can now satisfy his cravings for Hainanese chicken and be 100% satisfied.

Word of caution: The wait is long, really long. Be prepared to wait or try to go early. Also, since it is still on it's soft opening, expect the service to be somewhat mediocre.

Spending a Friday Night @ T.G.I. Fridays!

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:23:00 +0000

There are days when I crave for good ol' American food and the first restaurant that always comes to mind is Fridays, also known as T.G.I. Fridays ("Thank God It's Friday!"). I like the ambiance of the place cuz it's always so upbeat and lively. It's just a really nice place to unwind and relax with friends and family after a long day. Plus, the service is great. Waiters are always so cheerful and checking on their tables.

They offer a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They have some really great shakes and cocktails but on this particular day, I ordered the Mojito. I like the extra kick this drink has to offer although it was a tad too sweet for me.

Mojito Php160.00

We also got the Triple Chicken Sampler. It comes with Sesame Jack Chicken Strips served with the Jack Daniel sauce (more on the sweet side), Buffalo Wings complete with marinara sauce, celery sticks, and blue cheese dressing, and the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Quesedilla served with marinara sauce. This dish is a great way to sample some of their famous dishes and big enough to share.

Triple Chicken Sampler Php785.00

We also ordered the Cajun Shrimp Chicken Pasta. It was so good! The spices and the creamy white sauce just blended so well together.

Cajun Shrimp Chicken Pasta Php475.00

T.G.I. Fridays' Branches:

1. Alabang Town Center
2nd Level, Alabang Town Center, Alabang Muntinlupa City
Contact No - 8429355 | Fax No - 8429372

2. Bonifacio High Street
Quadrant B3, Bonifacio High Street Taguig City
Contact No - 8562996 | Fax No - 8562997

3. Glorietta
3rd floor, Glorietta 3, Ayala Center Makati City
Contact No - 7527685 | Fax No - 8928910

4. Mall of Asia
North Wing Entertainment Mall, Mall of Asia
Contact No - 5564456 | Fax No - 5564390

5. Robinson's Galleria
Level 2 East Wing Robinsons Galleria, Quezon City
Contact No - 6379274 | Fax No - 6379274

6. Robinson's Place Manila
Ground Floor, Robinsons Place, Perdo Gil Street, Ermita, Manila
Contact No - 5265334 | Fax No - 5265369

7. Sta. Lucia Grand East Mall
The Brickroad Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall, Cainta, Rizal
Contact No - 6827047 | Fax No - 6827040

8. Tomas Morato
Ground floor, Hotel Rembrandt Tomas Morato Extension, Quezon City
Contact No - 3728539 | Fax No - 3728497

9. Trinoma
Level 4, Trinoma Park
Contact No - 9432163 | Fax No - 9015626

Jipan, a Japanese Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 04:04:00 +0000

I learned about Jipan through a friend last year. She kept raving about their Walnut bread and since I love bread, I decided to check it out. And true to her word, the walnut bread is really good and healthy too. It's made of whole wheat and has bits and pieces of walnut. Their bread is always freshly baked and very filling too. They also have a wide variety of breads, from sandwiches to pastries and loaves and they also have a dining area for those craving for Japanese food.

The walnut bread - Php100.00

Wide assorment of breads

Jipan, Japanese Bakery:

1. #220 Pilar St., Mandaluyong City
T: (632) 723-5517 / 718-3891

2. Upper Level, SM Megamall, Building A (near Toy Kingdom)
T: (632) 633-5990

3. 2nd Level, Glorietta 4
Ayala Center, Makati City
T: (632) 728-9442

Painted Red & Red Kimono: The Best of Two Worlds

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Out of all the restaurants in The Atrium, my kids and I decided to try Painted Red & Red Kimono. Why? Because it's actually 2 restaurants with 2 very different cuisines offering 2 separate menus. BUT just one dining area so we were able to satisfy our cravings. In my opinion, whoever thought of this is a genius. Painted Red serves modern American cuisine from salads, soups, oysters, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, ribs, steak, pork chops, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Red Kimono serves modern Japanese cuisine. My daughter wanted pizza and the other wanted tempura so we were all pleased and happy. Kudos to the owners of these 2 restaurants!

I love the concept of these two restos. Really modern, urban, and chic.

Classic Cheese Pizza Php195.00 from Painted Red

Check out the menu of Red Kimono...They have one whole page dedicated to all the veggie lovers out there.

Ebi Tempura Bento Php225.00 (includes 4 pcs of tempura)

If you order a bento set, add Php25.00 and you'll get Miso Soup.

If you order a bento set, add Php45.00 and you'll get 3 pieces of Gyoza.

If you order a bento set, add Php75.00 and you'll get Crunchy Tuna Maki.

Painted Red and Red Kimono:
2nd Level
SM Megamall Atrium
SM Megamall
EDSA cor. Julia Vargas Avenue
Mandaluyong
T: (632) 899-2753

New Restaurants @ The Atrium, Megamall

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:57:00 +0000

SM Megamall, already known for being one of the more expansive and huge malls in Manila, has just added a more upscale area called The Atrium. It houses some of the more upscale brands such as All Flip Flops, CMG, Aldo, and the like. I was even more ecstatic to discover a whole new range of restaurants that I have yet to try. Because of my delight, I took pictures of all the restos on all the floors. Hope you guys enjoy the pics taken with my cellphone =)

Restaurants on the 2nd Floor:

The Kebab Factory

Painted Red & Red Kimono (or as the signage says paintedred & redkimono) - We ate here today. It's actually one combined dining area but 2 restaurants that offer 2 totally different cuisines. I'll be featuring this on another blog when I have more time to write.

Restaurants on the 3rd Floor:

Restaurants on the 4th Floor:

Shang Palace @ Makati Shangri-La Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Dess) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:12:00 +0000

Shang Palace
Makati Shangri-La Hotel, 2nd Level
Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue
Makati City 1200
T: (63 2) 840 0884

Shangrila-La is well known around the world for their world class luxury hotels and impeccable service and when it comes to food, they also live up to their reputation. We ate at Shang Palace in Makati Shangri-La for lunch last Sunday. Everything about the Shangri-La made the dining experience very memorable. The intricate design on the walls and ceilings and the lighting of the restuarant made the ambiance really lovely. It was all very Chinese inspired yet modern and chic. Service, of course, was top notch. I wouldn't expect it any other way when it comes to Shang. The waiters were always on guard and changing our plates and refilling our tea cups.

And the food was absolutely heavenly!...Word of advice though, make sure you check the prices of the dishes that you plan to order. In our case, we just ordering the suggestions of the manager so when we got the bill, let's just say we were quite taken aback.

Lovely ambiance at Shang Palace

We started off with a couple of appetizers (from top to bottom): Fried Wanton, Fish Fillet, and Breaded Squid. These three cost Php450.00.

Sharksfin Crabmeat Soup Php1010.00/per bowl

Taro Puff Php195.00

Hakaw Php210.00 (It's 4 pieces, not 3 )

Deep-Fried Spareribs Php1315.00

Fresh Scallops with Vegetables Php2228.00 - The scallops were so tender and plump. One of the best that I've ever tried.

How Prawn Salad Php1470.00 - Crispy and oh so yummy!

Seafood with Crispy Noodles Php540.00 - Very generous servings of seafood

Steamed Red Lapu-Lapu Php4172.00 (for 700 grams) - LOVED this one! The fish was so soft, fresh, juicy, tender and sweet. It was soooo good...like literally out of this world but so was the price..hehehe...

Yang Chow Fried Rice Php505.00 (the waiter divided it into small bowls) - The chef could have used more seasonings since it was a little bland for me.

I love, love, LOVE dining in Shangri-La hotel. The service, ambiance, even the smell of the whole place, presentation of food, and most especially, the QUALITY of the dishes are excellent. It makes eating a truly delightful and memorable experience.