The family has long been wanting to try Terry's Selection. We've read nothing but good remarks for this establishment.
So one day, we finally booked our reservation.

While waiting for our table to be prepared, we bought some items from their deli.  There's a lot of cool food stuff to buy like ready-to-cook paellas and pastas. 

The space is quite limited so we're so glad we made a reservation.  Every table is filled with happy diners.  Most of them are westerners. 

Food

Pica-Picas (Appetizers)

Three-Cheese Croquetas (290 php)

Since it's our first time, we didn't know what to order so we trusted our server's recommendations starting with the Three-Cheese Croquetas. 

Three-Cheese Croquetas (290 php)

The Three-Cheese Croquetas is perfect for our family of cheese lovers. 

Chorizo on Piggy Back (310 php)

The Chorizo on Piggy Back is choriza flamed on their cute piggy-shaped dish ware.  A lot of people were ordering this so we just chimed in.  I initially thought that the pig was to be served on our table but it wasn't.  It was just lit on the kitchen counter-top so while it was there I grabbed the chance to snap a shot.

Chorizo on Piggy Back (310 php)

The Chorizo on Piggy Back did not disappoint.  It had the right blend of savory flavors.

Nuestras Tortillas (Spanish Omelets)

Tortila Española (230 php)

I don't recall having tried Spanish Omelets before so  I was excited to have one.

Tortila Española  (230 php)

The Tortila Española was simply described in the menu as potato omelette so we all didn't expect it to be so beautiful and delicious! 


Nuestras Ensalata (Our Salads)

Terry's Caesar Salad Large (325 php)

The Terry's Caesar Salad is a mix of healthy and guilty pleasures - both of which we enjoyed!

Sopas y Cremas (Creams & Soups)

Pumpkin Soup (180 php)

We decided to split the soups into half so we can try more dishes.  The Pumpkin Soup is a classic choice.  This one lived up to our expectation.

♥ Duck and Vegetable Soup (290 php)

The Duck and Vegetable Soup is light with a nice savory taste from the duck meat.

♥ Castellano Al Ajo (230 php)

Since we all love garlic.  The Castellano Al Ajo won over us.

♥ Onion Soup (290 php)

And, the Onion Soup was as good as the rest which made choosing difficult.  So, I suggest that you should follow your preference.

Arros y Pasta (Rice and Pasta)

♥ Super Paella Parellada (740 php)

The Super Paella Parellada is the highlight of our dinner.  Definitely worth it!

Shrimp Risotto (690 php)

The Shrimp Risotto is one of the best risotto dishes I've ever encountered.


Postres (Desserts)

Tocino de Cielo (110 php)

My family who liked leche flan swiped the Tocino de Cielo plate clean.

♥ Picatostes con Chocolate (180 php)

The Picatostes con Chocolate piqued our interest.  It is our first time to try some picatostes.  It is a Spanish pastry that is dipped in milk and sweet sherry, then golden-fried and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

Cappuccino (75 php)

To pair it with our dessert, we ordered some coffee.  I had the Cappuccino.  Lovely cup right?  Loveable taste too.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Terry's Selection has lived up to our high hopes and expectation.  It is definitely one of the best Spanish restaurants int the Metro.

Ever since my friend Sumi and I passed by Cafe Shibuya on our first visit to UP Town Center, we vowed to visit the place.  But, we never seem to fit it right on our schedule.  So after our family dinner at Dulcelin Gourmet, I suggested that we move have our desserts here. 


It was swarming with dining guests so we had to wait for a table to be emptied. 


Soon enough, customers began to leave one after another as it was past peak hours and we were able to appreciate its bright and cozy atmosphere.

Food
*Photos courtesy of my lil sis and her camera.

Other Savories

♥ Croquettes (175 php)

When the Croquettes arrived, we thought it was a wrong order because we were there for dessert.  Then, my mom said it was hers as she was smiling sneakily!  So that's why she was silent when we were ordering and insisting, "No you guys do the ordering... I'm fine with anything..."  Only to find out she already ordered this while we were waiting outside. =/ 

♥ Croquettes (175 php)

My mom was like a gleeful little kid savoring every bite of these Croquettes.  It had a nice crunchy golden brown coating filled with creamy potato mash and ground beef. 

Dessert Toast

♥ Strawberry Matcha Toast (195 php/Baby)

The Strawberry Matcha Toast is honey toast dusted with matcha powder, topped with slices of cinnamon stawberry and a scoop of green tea ice cream.  It is also served with whipped cream with nuts on the side.  Since these had two of our favorites: matcha and strawberry, we loved this to the very last bit.

 

♥ Tiramisu (185 php/Baby)

The Tiramisu is honey toast topped with Kahlua syrup, cream cheese, a scoop of coffee ice cream dusted with Ghirardelli chocolate powder.  It is likewise served with whipped cream with nuts on the side. 
 

♥ Tiramisu (185 php/Baby)

I saw shots from other blogs where the toasts where so soft and chewy that they could stretch them out like melted cheese.  So I was excited to take a cube out of my toast as soon as it was served but it just looked as plain, ordinary and messy as this. =(  Nevertheless, we it was still pleasantly warm, soft, chewy and buttery.  We liked this better than the Korean-style honey toast at Caffe Bene.  For the quality, I don't mind paying the significantly higher difference too.

Drinks

Hot

Matcha Green Tea Latte (135 php)

The Matcha Green Tea Latte is foamy, rich and creamy.  It's a bit pricey for a small cup though.


Ghirardelli Chocolate

Premium Dark Chocolate Latte (145 php)

The Premium Dark Chocolate Latte is rich and dark as expected from a Ghirardelli chocolate drink.


Other Reviews at UP Town Center
Casa Verde
Dulcelin Gourmet
Ginza Bairin
Lucca Bakery
Tokyo Tonteki

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Cafe Shibuya is a must try for their Japanese honey toasts.  I'd love to come back and try their Savory Toasts next time.  Do you suggest I try their pasta too?  I like the cute and bright ambiance. But, I don't advise chilling at the place for long hours as it does not offer FREE WiFi and the seating is not cushioned.  Price is at par with food and beverages of popular coffee shop and cafe chains though.

As long years of Spanish colonization, I guess its no surprise that we have a special place for Spanish influence in our hearts.  From time to time, my family craves for Spanish cuisine and this time that brought us to Barcino Wine Resto Bar at Rizal Drive Fort Bonifacio Global City. 

Barcino Wine Resto Bar has already established its name and has six branches all in the country.

Yet, it's our first time to try it out.   It has a chiller for cheese and deli items.  There is also a gourmet corner for wines, dips and more. 

They also have a bar area on the first floor. 

 But, the dining area is located on the second floor.  


This wine display functions as a divider as well.


I love the wood furnished fixtures and the Catalan inspired interior. 

Food

Complimentary Bread with tomato dip, olive oil and salt

Upon being seated, we were served some Complimentary Bread with tomato dip, olive oil and salt.  the bread was warm and the zesty tomato dip is very welcome to our growling stomachs. 

Tapas

♥ Croquetas Setas (295 php)

Croquetas are our Spanish favorite.  How could I ever resist the Croquetas Setas which are creamy croquetas mushrooms when its got two of my favorites: croquetas + mushroom!

Tradiciones

Callos A La Madrilena (605 php)

The Callos A La Madrilena is a tripe stew with chickpeas, chorizo, tripe and beef served with bread.  This was bursting with zesty tomato and meaty tripe and beef flavors!  I love how tender the tripe and beef are. 

♥ Sopa de Ajo (275 php)

The Sopa de Ajo is my mom's favorite Spanish soup.  It is a garlic bread soup with jamon serrano, egg white and paprika.  This one has a strong roasted garlic taste which we all enjoyed.


Arroces Y Pescano

♥ Paella De Marisco (620 php)

I'll be honest!  Every time we dine for Spanish cuisine, we're really eager for the paella.   The Paella De Marisco is a scrumptious seafood paella.  Check out the generous portions of mussels and clams, the size of the prawns and the toothsome and soft squid rings.

♥ Paella Negra (480 php)

The Paella Negra  is a simply squid ink paella with squid rings and mayonnaise.  Although not extravagant in terms of ingredients, in terms of looks and taste, it was impressive.

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Barcino Wine Resto Bar offers quality Spanish cuisine for a reasonable price.  With its many branches, its cool that you can now enjoy their dishes as often as you wish.  I heard they have excellent wine and beer too.

Spanish Cuisine has always been a family favorite.  The family is a purist when it comes to things.  we always opted for authentic and traditional rather than modern and fusion.  And when searching for authentic and traditional Spanish cooking, you can start your list with "A" for Alba Restaurante Español.  


Although Alba is one of the first Spanish restaurants we've tried and frequented as a kid, we haven't tried it since the branch near us closed down.  So when we had dinner at House of Wagyu Stone Grill, we planned to dine there at the Prism Plaza branch for a lunch buffet which was fortunately materialized a few months ago.

I noticed that it has maintained its classy baroque-styled ambiance.   Red is the predominant color that of the place.  Staffs are also matching that color motif.  At night, it offers a romantic setting with its dim lighting and candle lighting.

It has a chiller where they display chilled wine, cold cuts and sausage similar to that of a typical deli.

They also sell whole cakes too.

The buffet table is found at the end of the room which makes it visible from the entrance still.  The dishes are organized from appetizer to main course and there is separate section for desserts. 

Food

Tabla de Embutidos

They offered an assortment of their home-made cold cuts: Pamplona, Mortadela, Salchichon. 

Quesadilla

I'm really impressed with their organized system and monitoring of the dishes.  Plates are rarely empty and the dishes are freshly cooked.  The Quesadilla was crunchy in every bite.

Spread

They offered a variety of spread to match their pastries.  I enjoyed the prawn spead the most.

Escalivada

The Escalivada is roasted vegetables with anchovies.  Perhaps this is the one of the rare circstumances where I'd say skip the veggies for the more sinful ones.

Croquetas de Pollo, Almejas al Horno and Albondigas de Vaca

I enjoyed these three especially the Croquetas de Pollo.  Too bad, I had to save some space for the rest.  Otherwise, I would've loaded up with these.
 

Lenguado Meuniere and Pollo Frito

The Lenguado Meuniere is dowry fish.  Though the blend is right, I'm just not really a fan.  I found nothing special with the Pollo Frito which is their version of fried chicken. 

Steamed Vegetables and Lenguini Carbonara

I got some veggies and tried the Lenguini Carbonara.  But, I think the right move should be skip the pasta for the paella. 

Lengua Sevillana and Callos a la Madrileña

These two are my all-time favorite Spanish viands!  You can imagine my excitement upon seeing these. 

Cochinillo Asado

According to my family, the ones they got had crunchy skin and tender meat.  But, mine wasn't. =( 

Paellas

Paella Valenciana

I'm a huge fan of the flavorful paellas.  The Paella Valenciana is a carb dish, I would never regret having.  Every spoonful of it is a blissful moment for me.


Postres

Flan al Caramelo

What I Had

Upon being seated, we were served prawn bisque which was delicious!

My Appetizer Plate

My Main Course

My Dessert Plate

I usually stay away from meringue cakes because I find them too sweet.  But, Alba's Canonigo is now my favorite!  Ooh... it's soft and mellow fluffiness is simply delightful.  The Tarta de Chocolate Al Cointreau is dark and rich with a pleasant hint of orange liquor.  The Maja Blanca and Lemon Square, does not disappoint too.

My Fruit Plate

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We really enjoyed our lunch buffet at Alba Restaurante Español.  The offerings may not boast of quality, but quality is assured.  Considering that Spanish cuisine is usually at a higher range than others, the ambiance and service, I'd say the price is worth every peso.  Their service is top-notch.  Upon being seated, we were quickly served our soup, our glasses were filled with water, and we were assisted with our napkins.  The empty plates were cleared as soon as we leave the table for another helping too.