Silkenhut’s Birthday Giveaway–The Bistro Group GC

Hey guys, let me tell you a secret about today… around a quarter of a century ago, a mother gave birth to a son who’s currently writing this blog post.

Today is my birthday! and I’m like to share it with you via a giveaway. That’s right! Another giveaway!

The winner will receive PHP 1000 worth of The Bistro Group Gift Certificate. The Bistro Group was the people who brought us the following restaurants.

TGI Friday’s!

(Shrimp Mango Quesadilla)

Italiannis

(Pepper Fish)

Fish and Co

(The Best Fish and Chips in Town)

Krazy Garlik

(Garlicky Crispy Pata)

Watami

(Crispy Chicken Wings)

Bulgogi Brothers

Unyang Style Bulgogi

Village Tavern

Black Pizza

Ma Maison

Beef Stroganoff Butter Rice

Also included (but without pictures as I haven’t been there yet) are Modern Shanghai, Flapjacks, Smokin Hot Bar BQ and Pig Out. Btw, I removed Stock Market Cafe as I just knew that they were already closed.

So what do you think? Would you like to join it? or would you like to join it? It can’t get easier than this… presenting the all time favorite, Rafflecopter!

Good luck and my apologies for the numerous Facebook pages that you will like! You have been warned! (evil smirk)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Till next time,

Allen

Empire Macaroons

I have to say that I’m beginning to like macaroons and the latest addition to my collection would be the mini macaroons from Empire Macaroons. We found their booth at Rockwell and we were taken by the flavors that they were offering that we wanted to try it out.

We opted to get the mini macaroons so that we could taste all the flavors without having to spend a lot. It was a good decision because they were not as mini as we thought. In fact, some were as big as their normal servings.

Pardon the cracked surfaces as they got squished in my bag. They were so fragile!

Their macaroons had the following fillings:

Pistachio, Hazelnutella, Strawberry, Lemon Curd, Earl Gray & Milk Chocolate, 52% Belgian Dark Chocolate, Snicker’s, Reese’s, Mango Cream, Espresso, Caramel Marshmallow and Bacon Jam, Belgian White Chocolate

I was amazed at their unique and not so ordinary flavors. We had fun trying each macaroon and guessing what was the flavor of that macaroon. You can identify them either via their smell or the taste of the filling which was really distinct (although there were some that we got confused). The macaroons break easily and once you get past the cookie-like crust, you would be greeted by the tasty filling.

Here’s a picture of my favorite among the twelve (12) ! The Reese’s Macaroon! It had the texture and chewiness of a macaroon but the flavor is all Reese’s! I’m sure you will not mistake it for any other flavor.

Here’s their prizes for your reference:

I hope to catch them again at Rockwell on my next visit.

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

Empire Macaroons

0917 8861190 or 02 5142546
georgia@empiremacaron.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Empire-Macaron/126545410751604

Villa Cafe Dinner

Thanks to Beeconomic; we were able to try out this deal.

Kapampangan Cuisine by Chef Sau Del Rosario for P499, P899, or P1199 from Villa Café in Makati City (Up to P3000 value)

It’s been a while since my last discounted meal courtesy of group buying websites so upon browsing some deals, I got curious on this deal offered at Beeconomic and bought it. It was a voucher for Villa Café where they serve Kapangpangan cuisine (something new for me as I have no background on this yet).

The place is rather small and gives out a simple home ambiance with pictures of children (maybe the chef’s children or himself) on the wall.

Villa Café Bulanglang Pork Ribs – PHP 255

Guava, Kang Kong, Gandus

We started out meal with soup that has a similar sourness to sinigang but of course, there’s a difference due to the guava added. The ribs were tender and had generous amounts of meat.

Villa Café Fried Tilapia – PHP 355

Mango, Tomato, Salted Egg Salad

Their fried tilapia would be my least favorite as I’m not a fan of the salted egg salad I just ate the tomatoes and fish. It didn’t have the wow factor unlike the other dishes.

Villa Café Rellenung Bangus – PHP 450

Creamy Relleno Jus

This was the first time I had relleno (stuffed fish) with sauce (or Jus) and it was really good! It was very creamy; the fish was juicy and very yummy! This dish alone is enough to make me visit Villa Café again. Be extra careful of fish bones though.

Villa Café Soft Lamb Shank Kaldereta – PHP 755

Parmesan, Olives, Capsicum

The main reason why I bought the deal from Beeconomic. Very tender and meaty lamb in a rich tomato sauce with cheese on the top. Despite the price, this was really good and something that you should try. This can probably serve 2-3 persons.

Although a bit pricey, it still beats travelling to Pampanga just to taste Kapangpangan food. I was really happy with the food that I’ve tried that a second visit (especially since they are so near our home) is in the works.

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

Villa Cafe
San Antonio Village
7427 Glory Bldg., Yakal St
San Antonio, Makati
(02) 478-2659

Vanessa from the Cake Club

Today, let us talk about macaroons because lately, I became a convert of eating macaroons. I used to think that these were just mini bite-size burgers that shouldn’t be enough for my dessert fix… not until I have tasted some really tasty macaroons that my eyes and tongue were opened to appreciate these tiny works of art.

As defined by Wikipedia,

A macaron  is a sweet meringue-based confection made with eggs, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food colouring. The macaron is commonly filled with ganache, buttercream or jam filling sandwiched between two cookies. The name is derived from the Italian word maccarone or maccherone.

So how about I show you the biggest macaroon I have ever seen and eaten? It is from the Cake Club. We were just strolling in hunt for a dinner place (where we ate at Sutra) when we saw these HUGE macaroons on display! Usually, the size of a macaroon is a big as an ok sign…

… but this…

It’s called the Vanessa (same name as Jessa – no wonder they seem to be attracted together). Vanessa is just one of the huge macaroons the Cake Club offers and it costs PHP 250.

Our GM’s favorite! Made of pistachio macaroons and fresh strawberries

Look at how many layers it has! The green layer would be the pistachio shell (chewy and gladly, it doesn’t break apart easily else it would be hard to split in half). Inside, you can see real strawberries slices with strawberry cream (pink), pistachio cream (see that dark colored cream?) and unidentified cream (the white one).

With all these ingredients, you would be happy to know that they go well with each other and it gives this feel-good feeling knowing that you are treating yourself to a wonderful work of culinary art. Pricey at PHP 250 but definitely worth every bite (I even picked up the crumbs that fell on the plate)!

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

The Cake Club
Bonifacio High Street Central
UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 621-3176

Sutra Restaurant and Bar Dinner

It was a challenge for us to find a good place to eat at Bonifacio High Street Central without spending a lot. After going through the different menus, we decided to dine at Sutra Restaurant and Bar to try out their combination platters. At that time, we thought that if we were going to spend around PHP 400 to PHP 500 per person, why not spend that amount and get a combination of dishes instead.

Before we go with the food, I just want to say that I liked the ambiance of Sutra. The layout and the colors of the restaurant were really nice and you would feel like you are dining at a hotel. It comes with the price I guess.

Sutra Restaurant and Bar – Pirate Bay – PHP 990

bbq tuna belly, grilled dory, calamares, black mussel marinier, jasmine rice, tomato-mango salsa, garlic sauce

We had the pirate bay which was their platter that features different seafood dishes. They also have the meat lover platter for those who want it. Before we start, I just want to mention that it seems the tuna belly and the grilled dory had their sauces swapped or was it simply how it was?

Cream dory with BBQ sauce

The sauce which was similar to the sauce used in baby back ribs (hickory was it?) was very noticeable in this dish. It was a welcome change to the usual fried cream dory and steamed cream dory.

Mussels with a creamy pasta like sauce. The mussels were fresh and you can taste that freshness in the sauce (which I loved adding to my rice). My favorite among the four!

The calamares was just normal. Among the four, this was the most common for me.

Tuna belly topped with tomato-mango salsa.

Another welcome addition to the usual tuna belly. The salsa added sweetness and a hint of spiciness to the tuna belly. Really good!

So there you have it, Sutra Restaurant and Bar’s Pirate Bay. Given the ambience and the taste of the dishes, I wouldn’t mind the price tag of PHP 990. Another plus would be the fact that we were the only ones dining it there so it felt like an exclusive dinner.

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

Sutra Restaurant and Bar
Bonifacio High Street Central
UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central, West Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
(02) 925-3565

Related

Li Li’s Dimsum Buffet at Hyatt Hotel and Casino

What comes into mind when you hear the word Dimsum? For me, it was limited only to siomai, xiao long bao and hakao. I consider myself a newbie in the world of dimsum and this dining experience at Li Li’s Dimsum buffet is going to change all that.

Li Li is a Chinese restaurant at Hyatt Hotel and Casino. This was inspired by a real life person bearing the same name. The restaurant is modeled after a residential apartment where you can dine in their living room, library, and wine cellar to name a few. Aside from offering ala carte dishes, Li Li also offers buffet lunch.

Here are the prices for Lili’s Dimsum Buffet.

You might be thinking that it’s expensive to pay PHP 888 for eat all you can siomai, that you can buy outside for PHP 25 / 4pcs, but allow me to show you what we had and I’ll let you decide if the dimsums at Lili are worth PHP 25 only.

At the buffet, you don’t need to stand as you will be given a menu. Just tick the dimsum you want to order and they will deliver it to you.

Lili’s Steamed Fish Shape dumplings with cod fish, Chinese parsley

How can you eat something like this?

Lili’s Steamed pork dumplings with crab meat “Shanghai” Style

In short, the Xiao Long Bao.

Lili’s Baked Barbecued Pastry Puff

Crunchy on the outside while flavorful bbq on the inside.

Lili’s Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Bamboo pith “Har Gao”

Hakao! 

Lili’s Steamed Fresh Scallops Dumpling

I love scallops!

Lili’s Steamed Crabmeat Dumpling, Black Mushroom

The toppings look like floss.

Lili’s Deep-fried Mashed Taro Puff with Chicken

I imagine it as fried lumpia as it comes with sweet chili sauce

Lili’s Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling with Flying Fish Roe

None other than our all time favorite, the siomai!

Lili’s Pan-fried Spinach Dumplings with Shrimp

It comes with a guardian duck

Lili’s Steamed Glutinous Rice with Assorted Meat wrapped in Lotus Leaf

This is ma chang right?

Lili’s Deep-fried Becho-Becho stuffed mince Shrimp Wasabi Mayonnaise Sauce

Not your usual becho-becho

Lili’s Steamed Shrimp, Dried Seaweed roll, Asparagus, Fish Roe

The last to be served but this was my favorite!

Aside from the dimsum, we were also served with soup and dessert.

Lili’s Hot and sour soup with assorted seafood

I don’t like Hot and Sour soup in general but their version was ok for me thanks to it not being too sour.

Lili Sesame Balls with White Chocolate

Buchi with chocolate inside. Pure genius!

Lili Chilled Mango Sago with Almond Jelly

A favorite dessert of mine. Would have wanted more sago to go with it though.

So what do you think? Is it worth PHP 888?

I would say YES!!! without any hesitation.

But wait… there’s more!

Did you know that you can avail of a complimentary Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila’s signature Guava iced tea (a drink worth PHP 300 for free!) …

…by simply mentioning my blog’s name, “Stop! Look! and Capture”?

Just call (02) 247 8666 to make reservations and tell them that you read about the buffet from this blog.

There are still other items in the menu that I haven’t tried such as pork buns, spare ribs, and chicken feet. They also have non dimsum dishes such as congee, stir fried vegies, chicken and roasted BBQ pork… Note that this is still part of the PHP 888 net from Mon to Sat.

I really enjoyed eating at Lili’s that I’m already planning my next visit here.

Disclaimer: Li Li Chinese Restaurant paid for our meal

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

Li Li Chinese Restaurant

5F, Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila
1588 Pedro Gil cor. M.H. Del Pilar,
Manila

Related

Nestle Introduces Temptations: Flavors of the World

I’d like to introduce to you to a temptation you should have no problem saying yes from; the Nestle Temptations – Flavors of the World Ice Cream. Launched last April 27 at Bonifacio High Street, we were treated with a musical show featuring the actor and actress of their commercial and of course, free ice samples!

This was their stage where the background switches from Italy and France as the two lovers from different countries travel long distances just to meet (and eat ice cream).

Just to give you a bit of a background, the Nestle Temptations Ice Cream range already exists with flavors such as Double Dutch Desire, Cookies & Cream Crave and Rocky Road Extreme. They added three new flavors to this range and called it Flavors of the World. The three flavors represent three European countries where the flavor was based upon.

From Belgium, we have the Belgian Chocolate Praline.

Rich Swirls of white chocolate and milk chocolate ice cream, blended with Belgian chocolate chips and praline pieces made from chocolate-coated toffee bits.

From Italy, we have the Italian Coffee Affogato.

Let your heart race with the rich and creamy swirls of espresso-flavored and vanilla-flavored ice cream blended with cashew nuts and chocolate chips.

From France, we have the French Salted Caramel

Swoon over the irresistibly rich and velvety salted caramel ice cream which thick ribbons of caramel ripple.

Among the three, my favorite would be the French Salted Caramel. The salty taste effectively counters the very sweet taste of caramel so you would simply get a balance of creamy goodness. The other two flavors were just ok for me. Since I’m not a fan of coffee so I really can’t appreciate it fully. However, don’t let my own taste stop you from giving in to the temptation. For only PHP 199, it is not that expensive to experience Europe!

Lastly, here’s the Flavors of the World commercial to end this post.

Disclaimer: Nestle paid for our ice cream

Till next time,

Allen

Related

Jamba Juice Starts Blending at Shangri La Mall

Jamba Juice recently opened its door at Shangri-La Mall’s New East Wing. It would be a double first time for me as it was my first time to try Jamba Juice and my first time to step into Shangri-La’s East Wing (and of course, I got lost along the way).

Jamba Juice serves smoothies and we were given a walk through on how it is created. We had the experience of being a Jambassador as we created our own smoothies. It was a fun experience and I was amazed on how fast the actual procedure gets done by them. I was taking my time and trying to learn about it along the way.

The two main ingredients of the smoothies would be the yogurt and the fruits. They do not add sweeteners or syrups, and the amount of ice added to the shake is minimal. Btw, they have this fun way to add ice to the mix because they would throw it in the air and catch it. When I tried it, most of it landed on my apron.

See how she catches the ice?

That night, I had two servings of juices which were the following:

Jamba Juice Peanut Butter Moo’d with Energy Boost

What you would expect from a peanut butter with banana and chocolate drink. It was very heavy on the stomach but flavorful. I could simply keep on sipping on it. You cannot feel the ice at all but simply a viscous smoothie drink.

Jamba Juice Mango A-Go-Go

This one I created! The mangoes (imported from Mexico) were not as sweet as I expected. In fact, they would fall under the sour type but it was refreshing in a way. Soon, they will start sourcing their mangoes from Guimaras and that would definitely be a big change in taste.

Jamba Juice Fruit and Yogurt Parfait

Jamba Juice Steel Cut Oatmeal

These were what my fellow bloggers ordered and I also got to try their bread,

Jamba Juice Spinach and Cheese Wrap

(Had to take a few bites so that I can show you what’s inside)

So there you have it… my first experience with Jamba Juice at Shangri-La East Wing. I enjoyed and learned a lot from my visit and I’ll be sure to be back.

Disclaimer: Jamba Juice paid for our meal

Till next time,

Allen

PS: Watch out for this space soon as I’ll be hosting something exciting!

Location:

Jamba Juice

Lower Ground Floor, East Wing,
Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City

Jamba Juice GC Giveaway

Duration: May 17 to May 31, 2013

You know the drill. Just join and keep on sharing/tweeting for more chances of winning. The GCs will be sent to the winner via courier.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Related

Yomenya Goemon Lunch

Yomenya Goemon is a Japanese themed restaurant that doesn’t offer the usual Japanese dishes such as katsu, sushi/sashimi, donburi etc… Instead, it offers pasta and pizza so it is more of a fusion between Japanese and Italian cuisines. (Yah, I just contradicted myself)

It was a new concept for me so I had my reservations upon coming in the restaurant. Their menu only had two main items, pasta and pizza, and there were around 30 different pastas you can try out. In fact, they do want you to try it all out because they have a loyalty card where you will gain a stamp for every pasta you try out (only once though).

To start our meal, we were given complimentary Wafu Soup.

Yomenya Goemon Mixed Pizza – PHP 450

For pizza, we had the mixed pizza. It was loaded with shrimp, ham, thick slices of bacon, and mushrooms. We were not given utensils as we were told to eat the Japanese way where you have to fold it; making it look like a sandwich. The pizza dough was soft and chewy while the toppings were flavorful! Messy to eat but really good!

Now for the pasta… another challenge because you will not be using a fork and spoon but instead, chopsticks! Also, note how elastic their pasta noodles are when you try it out.

Yomenya Goemon Carbonara Meat Sauce with Onsen Egg – 325

A twist to your favorite carbonara since it has meat sauce and one whole egg on top. It was still carbonara-like creamy and more flavor is added when you pop the egg!

Trivia I learned from our Japan trip: Onsen Eggs were believed by Japanese to increase your life by 7 years.

Yomenya Goemon Yakitori Broiled Chicken with Wafu Sauce – PHP 350

It was under the “Japanese style” section so I ordered this one. It had generous toppings of chicken, bacon, vegies and shredded nori on an oil based pasta. I’m glad our server informed me that it was a spicy pasta so I asked if they can tone down the spiciness for me. This was easier to eat because of the lack of sauce on it. 

Yomenya Goemon Chicken & Mushroom with Porcini – PHP 360

Another cream based pasta this time with chicken and mushroom. The flavor is a bit bland especially if you have tried the carbonara with meat sauce. The taste would be a more familiar one to those who like carbonara.

We had a fulfilling lunch at Yomenya Goemon. The mixed pizza was delicious! Although challenging and messy to eat due to the usage of chopsticks and the dish having a lot of sauce, their pasta was surprisingly good too! All my reservations were gone after our lunch.

Till next time,

Allen

Location:

Yomenya Goemon
Greenbelt 3
2/F Greenbelt 3, Esperanza St
Legazpi Village, Makati
(02) 729-0586

Related