Negros Trade Fair Goes "Beyond Limits"

The country's longest running annual trade fair, Negros Trade Fair, organized by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) will be held in Rockwell Tent, Makati City from September 26-30.

Chelsea Market Cafe - Serendra Branch, Taguig

I never thought I could have a quiet dinner at Chelsea Market Cafe in Serendra. Most days, it is impossible to get a table there. I guess our timing was good as it was a slow Tuesday night when we went there.

Mother's Crepe & Cafe - SM Mall of Asia

Tucked in a small space at the second floor of SM Mall of Asia is a delightful dessert place called  Mother's Crepe & Cafe serving crepes, milk tea and soft serve ice cream.


Mother's Crepe & Cafe or Mazazu Crepe is originally from Japan and is found in different countries in Asia.  They serve sweet and savory crepes that are not only delicious but healthy too.

M3 Invades Manila

Everyone is excited about this innovative product that is set to change the way you cook your meals!

Just check out the people lining up for it!

These people have been here for quite some time...

McCormick Launches its New Line of Bread Spreads

Want to add flavor to your meals? Looking for alternative dips for your crackers and breads?

Check out my article on McCormick's Bread Spreads at WheninManila.com:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/mccormick-adds-flavor-to-your-meals-with-its-new-line-of-innovative-bread-spreads/

7107 Eats by Asian Food Channel

If you love food fairs, check out this article on Asian Food Channel's 7107 Eats at Eastwood Mall:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/afcs-7107-eats-at-eastwood-mall/

Happy Reading!

Emergency Hotlines

Sharing this list I got from the internet on the numbers to call during an emergency:

According to the news, rains will persist tonight. Keep safe everyone and be vigilant.

Marche - Plaza Senayan, Jakarta

This is my last post about Jakarta and I would like to share our unique dining experience at Marche, Plaza Senayan Mall.

Marche is a European themed restaurant popular in Jakarta as well as Singapore and other parts of Asia and Europe.

Marche is the originator of front cooking. This dining concept aims to serve its customers with the freshest ingredients cooked, baked or juiced when you order. Upon entry, you get a passport and that is where your orders are written.  Simply present the passport when you exit and the cashier computes your bill for you.

The Premier Cinema at Plaza Senayan Mall, Jakarta

What are the odds that Jakarta has its own first class cinema at Plaza Senayan Mall?

We were going around the mall after our satisfying dinner at Chandara Fine Thai Cuisine.

One floor above Chandara was Plaza Senayan Mall's cinema.

Chandara Fine Thai Cuisine - Plaza Senayan, Jakarta

Given our love for Thai food we managed to find Chandara Fine Thai Cuisine at Plaza Senayan Mall. According to the web, this dining outlet is supposedly famous for its Thai cuisine.

Kafe Betawi - Pacific Place Mall, Jakarta

Check out my article on Indonesian street food for When in Manila:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/kafe-betawi-indonesian-street-food-served-in-style-at-pacific-place-jakarta/

Happy Reading!

Happy Lemon - Eastwood Branch

We stopped by Happy Lemon last Sunday after attending the 7107 Eats Food Fair at Eastwood Mall Open Park.

Monolog Quality Coffee Co. - Plaza Senayan, Jakarta

I was in Jakarta for a few days to visit family. It was my first time to be there and was excited at the prospect of dining out first thing in the morning. Good thing we were right across a mall so we looked around for a good place to have breakfast and found this cool place named Monolog Quality Coffee Co..

The interiors of Monolog are quite stark. Its ceiling had exposed beams and pipes but it was well-lit. As a whole, I loved the minimalist look of the cafe.

Geisha - Bonifacio High Street Central

Japanese food is known to be synonymous to healthy eating.  Their dishes are always cooked with the freshest of ingredients, lightly fried, grilled or served raw. Geisha is the new addition to the growing number of Japanese restaurants here in the metro and it is located in Bonifacio High Street.

The restaurant interiors adhere to a contemporary style but still maintained a cozy atmosphere conducive to dining and talking among family and friends.

Dessert Time at Mango Tree Bistro

Whenever my foodie friend and I would get together, we always manage to save room for dessert or coffee, at the very least. After our healthy lunch at Geisha (I will be blogging about this soon!), we headed over to Mango Tree Bistro to have some authentic Thai desserts.

The interiors presented itself as modern Asian. The dining space was huge and the decor is a mixture of wood elements softened by the use of upholstered seats.  

Jamie's Italian - Westfield Mall, London

We celebrated Mother's Day last year at Westfield Mall.  Since it was my special day, I chose which restaurant to dine in.

I am a huge fan of Jamie Oliver from his Naked Chef cooking days so it was a no brainer for me to choose Jamie's Italian, his dining outlet in Westfield Mall.

The Italian Bread Selection makes for a good starter especially if you're dining with a group.  It is composed of homemade breads like rosemary focaccia, sourdough, their special crispy "music bread", ciabatta and tortano.  This is served with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  What sets this bread selection apart is the fact that Jamie's Italian prides itself of baking its own bread.

Italian bread selection

The Beauty of Lourdes, France

Planning our trip to Lourdes, France was a bit of a challenge. Normally, people arranged tours to visit here. In our case, we were doing all the planning by ourselves.  I was joined by my parents and was at a loss on where to start.

First off since I was traveling with my parents, I decided it was best to take the plane to Lourdes from Paris. Air France flies daily to Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees Airport and booking our tickets online was easy. I advise getting tickets months before a trip to avail of reasonably priced fares.

Next was arranging the hotel accommodations.  It is best to book thru http://www.booking.com/.  In my experience, they offer good rates and have a wide selection of hotels. You can even book in advance then cancel if your travel plans change later on. I booked 2 hotels in Lourdes six months before and cancelled our booking with one of the hotels two weeks before our scheduled trip.

On June 4, 2012, we set foot in Lourdes, France and landed at Tarbes Lourdes Pyrenees Airport.

Village Tavern - Bonifacio High Street

Dining in Bonifacio High Street has become a major feat.  Choosing from a variety of restaurants offering quality food in this area will make your head spin.  For this food review, we decided to eat at Village Tavern based on "word of mouth".

Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Greenwich

We lived in London for a year and a half and Gourmet Burger Kitchen is one of the cafes we went to.  It has branches all over London but we tried their dining outlet after we took the Thames River Cruise to Greenwich.

Thames River Cruise & Greenwich

Springtime in London is a sight to behold.  Flowers are abloom and the bright sunny days leading to summer gives you more time to explore the city.

I remember taking the Thames River Cruise one weekend to Greenwich.  We stayed at the upper deck.  It is the best place to appreciate the sights of London.

Restaurant Verbena, Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay

Check out When in Manila for a review on Restaurant Verbena, Tagaytay:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/restaurant-verbena-treat-yourself-to-tagaytays-finest-breakfast-offerings/

Happy reading!

Cafe Mediterranean - Alabang Town Center

A few weeks ago, we had lunch at Cafe Mediterranean in Alabang Town Center.  On Sundays, most of the restaurants in ATC were full.  Luckily, we got one of the last few tables available.

I remember eating in their Greenbelt branch when I used to work in Makati.  At that time, the "in" thing was shawarma or gyro and they would have a huge slab of beef and chicken near the entrance just waiting to be sliced and made into that very famous wrap.

Chez Karine Bakery

Hi Readers!

I have an article on the recently opened Chez Karine Bakery in Serendra.

Please click on the link below:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/chez-karine-bakery-the-latest-dessert-haven-in-serendra/

Healthy Breakfast at Bizu

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I totally agree.  Bizu is one perfect place to have a hearty breakfast.

I met up with my former office mate to have breakfast at Bizu in Greenbelt.  While waiting, I took photos of their French inspired decor and their wide selection of breads, jams and pastries. 

I liked how the pendant lamps were grouped together in varying heights.  It had an industrial look yet managed to be cozy too.

I ordered the Fruity Energizer Kefir.  It is a blend of different fruits, kefir and organic agave nectar which is the sugar replacement.  Kefir is a superfood.  It is similar to yoghurt and is good for digestion.

My friend and I both ordered mushroom omelettes with different types of bread.

It was indeed a hearty breakfast on a rainy Monday morning!

Chili's Alabang Town Center

Please check out my article on Chili's ATC at When In Manila:

http://www.wheninmanila.com/chilis-philippines-now-open-at-alabang-town-center/

Happy reading!

Travel Articles: Spotlight on Paris

Please check out these travel articles at When In Manila:

1.  When in Paris:  Top 5 Things To Do In The City Of Love

 http://www.wheninmanila.com/when-in-paris-top-5-things-to-do-in-the-city-of-love/

2.  When in Paris:  Watch the French Open 2012

http://www.wheninmanila.com/when-in-paris-watch-the-french-open-2012-at-roland-garros/

The Cake Club

I ventured to try The Cake Club on a quiet Monday lunch break.  Lucky for me and my friend it was raining buckets earlier that day so people opted to stay in.

The interiors are simple yet elegant.

A wide array of mouthwatering cakes are on display by the entrance.

On either side of the cake display, you will find Hediard teas from Paris. 

They also sell Royce chocolates.

They have a chiller containing ice cream version of their desserts.

The Cake Club also offers a selection of soups, salads, pastas and sandwiches.

For starters we ordered the Truffle Fries.  The truffle oil makes their fries special.

Then came the Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tart Salad.  The sweetness from the caramelized onions goes well with the creamy taste of goat cheese.

We had Roast Chicken for the main course.  If you love chicken then this dish is for you.  The meat was juicy and seasoned well.  

We only had an hour and a half for lunch so this time, we did not order dessert which is Cake Club's specialty.  This is something to look forward to on our return.  

Prepare to spend PhP500+ for a good meal here.

----------------------------------------

The Cake Club

UG/F, East Superblock,
Bonifacio High Street Central,
7th Ave. corner 29th Street,
Taguig City
Tel. No. 621-3176

----------------------------------------

A Day Visit to Anvaya Cove

One sunny day in May, my friend and I brought our kids to Anvaya Cove in Morong Bataan.  We left Manila before rush hour.  Since school was out, it only took us about two hours to get there.

This was the sight that greeted us when we arrived.

The kids enjoyed the swimming pools....

While we stayed at the Tower Bar for food and drinks.

This is their BBQ Chicken Nachos.  We ate most of the nachos and the yummy seasoned fries but left the chicken strips which was heavy for a mid morning snack.

The Potato Boat is slightly similar to a baked potato.  However, the potato skin was cheese crusted then topped with bacon bits, sour cream and chives.  Again, another very filling mid morning snack which left me with little to no appetite for lunch.

After their swim, the kids played at the Activity Area which was spacious.

There were a lot of educational toys....

A theater show corner with cartoon characters as puppets...

 There was even a wall which displayed the art works of visiting children....

Overall, we enjoyed our trip to Anvaya and hope to come back real soon.

Tokyo Cafe - South Mall

I've been seeing Tokyo Cafe in Mall of Asia but have yet to sample their dishes.  Now that it has a branch in SM South Mall, I was finally able to give it a try.

The high ceiling, pendant lamps, recessed lighting and huge photos make for a modern cafe.   

Being a milk tea fan, I ordered the Royal Milk Tea.

If you're expecting a milk tea the likes of Gong Cha, Serenitea and Cha Time then you will be disappointed.  Their version is quite different.  It is well suited for those who enjoy strong tea with milk.  Unfortunately, I do not enjoy this type of milk tea.

My friend had the Kani Crab Sandwich.

I had the Chicken Burger.

I would say that both sandwiches tasted fine but nothing stood out.

Tokyo Cafe seems to be surviving the past few years even opening a branch here in the South as proof of its longevity.  

For those willing to try it, a meal in this place would cost around PhP 250+ per person.  

---------------------------------------------

Tokyo Cafe

Ground Level,

SM South Mall, Las Pinas City

---------------------------------------------

Amici - Alabang Town Center

I recently went to Amici in Alabang Town Center with a college friend who was visiting from abroad.

Amici is known for their pizza, pasta and gelato.  It was originally located in Don Bosco Makati and founded by an Italian priest. People would flock to their small canteen just to have a taste of their authentic Italian dishes.  It was eventually bought by a major food conglomerate and now operates in different parts of the metro.

While waiting for our dishes to be served, Andrew was busy playing with his new toys from Tita Moe.

First dish served was the Spaghetti alla Carbonara.  This cream based pasta with mushrooms and bacon is my  son's favorite. I guess, cream-based pasta lovers would agree that this carbonara is good.

Then came the Linguine Fantastico.  The saltiness from the prosciutto complemented the stewed tomatoes.  This pasta dish is one of the best I've tasted.  

For the pizza, we chose the Pesto di Aglio.  This specialty pizza of Amici consists of pesto sauce, Italian sausage, mushrooms and roasted garlic cloves.  For me, it's a bit indulgent (from the Italian sausage and cheese) but at the same time, the pesto sauce makes it a healthier choice.

For dessert, my friend and my son each had a scoop of Cara Mia gelato.  I must say it is as creamy as the ones in the streets of Rome and my son definitely agrees!

A decent meal at Amici would set you back at least 300+ pesos per person but you will definitely leave the place with full stomachs.

------------------------------------------------

Amici

2nd Level, Alabang Town Center

Alabang Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City

Tel. No. 87878

-------------------------------------------------