Perhaps, it's because we're from Manila so we've never heard of Xin Tian Di until they had a discount for BDO card holders (Thanks Achi Rowena of Animetric.Net for the tip!)

One random weekend, we reserved a table just to try it out.


It is a bit more modern the traditional Chinese restaurant.  It has tea displays.  


And, there's a cold cut station and a chiller of fruits.


I initially thought that the dining area was small...


that was before we were ushered to the function room which I'm guessing is allocated for those who will avail of the discount.

Being in the function room made it difficult to call the attention of the staffs.  Good thing Kate was kind enough to be attentive to us.  We are almost invisible to the other servers.

Food 

Complimentary Peanut

Barbecue Corner

BBQ 3 Combination (Pecking Duck, Jelly Fish and Drunken Chicken) Small (540 php)

 Clear Soup

♥ Double-Boiled Black Chicken Soup with Oriental Herbs (250 php)

Thick Soup

♥ Dried Scallop Soup with Sea Cucumber and Fish Lip (200 php)

Live Seafood

♥ Steamed Cod with Wild Mushrooms

The Steamed Cod with Wild Mushrooms is not on the menu.  It was suggested by Kate which we approved.  Indeed, it is a must try!  It's the highlight of our meal.


Southern and Northern Cuisine

Sauteed Diced Chicken with Dried Chili Szchuan Style Small (450 php)

Pork

♥ Pork Spareribs with Honey Small (480 php)

Beancurd and Vegetables 

♥ Beancurd and Scallop in Celery Sauce

The Beancurd and Scallop in Celery Sauce is also not on the menu but suggested.  This is the first time I've encountered such a dish and we loved it!


Rice

♥ Fried Rice with Fresh and Dried Scallops Small (480 php)

 Dessert

♥ Ampalaya Buchi (100 php)

Don't let the appearance of the Ampalaya Buchi fool you.  It actually contained melted dark chocolate inside.  We enjoyed it so much we ordered one for each!

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Xin Tian Di just needs to work on their marketing because the food here is really good.  The pricing is also reasonable yet I hardly encounter any Chinese occasion being celebrated here.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to try Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant, a newly opened restaurant in Robinson's Magnolia with fellow bloggers.  Believe it or not, this is my first time to be invited at a Chinese restaurant so I'm quite ecstatic.

Since I was in the area, I  took the chance to try their dishes as well as reconnect with other bloggers. 

Stepping in, gave me the familiar Chinese restaurant feel.


There's an open kitchen where you can see roasts hanged. 


There are also aquariums to showcase the live seafoods available.

As live seafoods are seasonal in price, they have a price list where you can see how much per 100 gram.

Food

Roast & Soy Specialties

Cold Cuts Combination: Seaweeds with Century Egg, Soy Tofu, Pork and Lechon Macau (370 php)

We occupied a large table where dishes were served lauriat style.  The Cold Cuts Combination had Seaweeds with Century Egg, Soy Tofu, Pork Cuts and Lechon Macau.  Aside from the
Seaweeds with Century Egg and Pork Cuts, the other items are not the typical ones I'd expect from a cold cut platter.  They were pretty good.  But, if I were in the company of my family and old relatives, I think its best to ask first what are available and maybe w can substitute some for healthier options.


Soup

♥ Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup (290 php)

The Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup is very good.  An order is already good for sharing.  

Prawns and Shrimps

♥ Pan Fried Prawns with Salted Egg (390 php)

The Pan Fried Prawns with Salted Egg is my favorite!  Actually most of the dishes with egg or salted egg yolk is my favorite!  This was perfectly crispy that no tinee-winee bit was spared from me.  I noticed all the bloggers I was with removed the prawn shells though.  I wonder why...

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Lapu-Lapu

♥ Fried Lapu-Lapu in Egg White

I've been accustomed to steamed fish.  I'm glad I got to try something new and delicious like the Fried Lapu-Lapu in Egg White. 


Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Crabs

Sauteed Crab in Hotpot with Extra Sotanghon (+50 php)

The Sauteed Crab in Hotpot with Extra Sotanghon brings out the delectable crab flavors that we love excellently.

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Elephant Shell

♥ Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO sauce

The Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO sauce is simple yet delightfully healthy.

Live Seafoods (Seasonal Price): Frog Legs

♥ Spicy Frog Legs

The Spicy Frog Legs is another favorite of mine.  I'm so lucky that my companions are not as much of a fan as I am so I took on this poor little creatures and finished them all.

Rice

Yang Chow Fried Rice (220 php)

Dimsum

♥ Buchi Cake

Buchi Cake

We always order buchi whenever available.  This is my first time to encounter a buchi cake.  I loved it!  It was a cake made of my favorite fried mantou and filled with bean paste.

Beverages

Fresh Fruit Shake Mango (95 php)

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I'm quite satisfied with our dinner at Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant.  I find their quality good for value considering their fresh ingredients, large serving size and reasonable pricing.  I can bring the family here when in the area.

One random Saturday night, the family went to Kapitolyo in search for a new restaurant to try.  The unique logo of Red Panda Bistro caught our attention.  It was very classy and creative at the same time.  It was a sleeping panda and a wine glass in one.

It had a few parking spaces.

We were so happy with the ambiance.  It was so casual but so chiq.

It has a big and clear glass window so you can see almost all parts of its kitchen.

There's a delicatessen by the far end before the stairs leading to the second floor  We loved the stylish lofts so we decided to seat here.

There's also a chiller and a freezer by the deli.

The menu offers two parts: European Cuisine and Chinese Cuisine.

Food

European Soups

♥ Pumpkin and Apple Soup Sharing (495 php)

The Pumpkin and Apple Soup gave us such a nice first impression.  The moment we sipped into this wonderful concoction, we all knew we chose the right establishment to dine that night. 

European Salads

♥ Crispy Chicken Mango Salad Sharing (400 php)

The Crispy Chicken Mango Salad is a refreshing salad with bread chicken strips, romaine lettuce, diced ripe mangoes, grape slices and mango dressing.

European Pastas

♥ Truffled Roasted Duck Stuffed Ravioli (280 php)

I love ravioli so I have encountered more than a handful.  Yet, I have never seen one so colorful and articulate as the Truffled Roasted Duck Stuffed Ravioli.

♥ Truffled Roasted Duck Stuffed Ravioli (280 php)

Inside is diced roasted duck well-complemented by truffle cream sauce.

Platters/A La Carte

♥ Sousvide Beef Short Ribs (380 php)

The Sousvide Beef Short Ribs is so tender that it almost falls of the bone.  This has a nice Chinese fusion twist to the usual American sweet barbecue sauce.  

Chinese Rice Dishes

Anchovies Fried Rice Sharing (460 php)

The Anchovies Fried Rice is not as spectacular as the rest but it goes well with the other viands we had.


Chinese Desserts

Tricolored Buchi (85 php)

The Tricolored Buchi is buchi filled with dark chocolate.  Had I been new to the concept, I would have been intrigued.  But, after trying the ones from Kabila, Wee Nam Kee and Chow Fun, I was not impressed as the flavored food coloring was a contrast to the chocolate fillings.

Pastries
I forgot what this Cinnamon bun was called.  It was from the deli and pre-heated before serving.  It was just okay.

Beverages

♥ Red Panda Iced Tea (160 php)

 We ordered the Red Panda Iced Tea just because we were enticed by the glass.  It was delicious.

Basil Ice Cream

The deli also serves Jack Frost Premium Ice Cream.  Finally, the family got to try their Basil Ice Cream and they loved it as much as I did.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I don't know why Red Panda Bistro didn't have a high rating from food reviewers (as I've checked around the net).  I'm very impressed with Red Panda Bistro and I'd surely be glad to try more of their dishes.