Showing posts with label lechon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lechon. Show all posts
Café Ilang-Ilang at Manila Hotel Buffet Dinner (Manila, Metro Manila)
1 Rizal Park, Ermita, Manila, 0913 Metro Manila, Philippines
After a decade since my last buffet dinner at Café Ilang-Ilang so it's was time for a long overdue revisit!
As expected, everything has changed from interiors to food selections.
Food
Bread Station
Café Ilang-Ilang's Bread Station has offers delicious baked breads selections which includes Black Sesame Rolls, Hard Rolls, White Sesame Rolls, Wallnut Rolls, Laugen, Rye Roll, Sour Rolls, Rye Bread, Original Six Grains, High Fiber Bread and French Bread.
Charcuterie Station
There's also a Charcuterie Station featuring a Cheeseboard (with Gruyère, Emmental, Manchego, Blue Cheese and Brie Wheel), olives, dried fruits, and honey.
Cold Salad Station
Cold Salads include Coleslaw, Shrimp Salad, Macaroni Salad, Kani Salad and Mangang Hilaw with Bagoong. There are also Cold Meats like Beef Pastrami, Chicken and Pork Terrine.
There are also some cocktail-style appetizers like the Melon Lassi, and Shrimp Mango Salad.
Fresh Salad Station
Admittedly, the Fresh Salad Station isn't my favorite in the past. Now, its my first stop in every buffet so having so much variety of fresh greens and sauces is much appreciated!
Seafood Station
The Seafood Station offers Butter Garlic Prawn, Butter Garlic Crab and ♥ Cheese Baked Mussels.
Churrasco Station
Café Ilang-Ilang has a different dinner theme per night. Since it was Surf and Turf Night, we were fortunate to have the ♥Blue Marlin available at the Churrasco Station. There's also heavy meats like Smoked Pork Loin, Churrasco Beef and Sausages.
Korean Station
The Korean Station ranged from main dishes like Spicy Mud Crab and Korean Grilled Lamb, a soup — Beef Radish Soup, and side dishes like Pajeon, Fried Zucchini, Fried Tofu, Kimcheon, Dried Squid, Fishcake, Kongnamul (soy bean sprout), Spinach and Kimchi.
Chinese Station
The Chinese Station highlights Chinese Dimsum of Pork and Shrimp Siomai, Choco Bun, Chicken Feet, and my favorite — ♥ Century Egg. There's also Chinese Corn Soup.
Japanese Station
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| Sushi Station |
The Japanese Station is the biggest food station. Check out the Sushi Station with Vegetarian Maki, Cheese Tamago, Spicy Kani Maki, Salmon Cream Cheese, California Maki and the must try ♥ Aburi.
There's also fresh Tuna Sashimi, Salmon Sashimi, Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, Kani Salad and Tamago.
For the mains, there's Vegetable Tempura, ♥ Shrimp Tempura, Yasai Itame, ♥ Miso Cream Chicken, Salmon Teriyaki. And, to complete your Japanese meal experience, pair them with the Miso Soup and Japanese Fried Rice.
Italian Station
Among the popular stations is the Italian Station because of the specialty pasta dishes such as ♥ Gnocchi with Truffle Sauce and ♥ Pasta Al Forno. There's also an inviting display of Mixed Cold Cuts, Bruschetta with Basil and Tomato, Panini, Sacciata Sandwich, Salad Caprese, Foccacia Bread, Parmesan Cheese Wheel. I also loved the ♥ Leeks Potato Soup.
The pizzas are freshly oven-baked. Highly recommend the ♥ Spinach Pizza and ♥ Mushroom Pizza!
European and Mediterranean Station
Like other stations, there's a soup — Swiss Barley Soup, mains — Honey Garlic Prawns, ♥ Shepherd Pie, side dishes —Butter Vegetables, Marble Potato, and staple — Brown Rice.
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| ♥ Lechon |
For every Filipino feast, there's the Lechon.
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| ♥ US Angus Beef |
With the longest line, the US Angus Beef with your choice of sauce mustard, horse radish or mint is what you can't miss!
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| ♥ Foie Gras on Brioche |
Best to save space for dessert because there's many to consider. The spread includes a Cathedral Gelatin, Pistachio Sanrival, Carrot Cake, Mochi Buttercream, Ube Cake and Red Velvet. Then, there's the Artisanal Ice Cream Station and Crepe Station. So happy that there are gourmet ice cream flavors like Pistachio, Matcha, ♥ Durian and ♥ Black Sesame.
On the side shelves, there's Fruit Tarts, Mixed Berries Pavlova and Kakanin. The Bibingka and Puto Bumbong are no longer part of the buffet though.
Instead, there's Assorted Chinese Cookies, Assorted Cookies, Assorted Fruits, Chocolate Truffle, Marshmallow and Chocolate Fountain.
Drink Station
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
The Drink Station can be found by the entrance and beside the Halo-halo Station. Drinks include Detox Water, Cranberry Juice, Orange Juice and Apple Juice.
The drinks above go well with your meal. To complement your dessert, enjoy a cup of coffee—choose from Brewed Coffee, Cafe Americano, Decaf Coffee, Cafe Latte, Cappucino and Espresso.
Café Ilang-Ilang has long been a distinguished destination for premium international buffet. With its comprehensive buffet selections, you're sure to leave feeling satisfied.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Cafe Ilang-Ilang Rate | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★ | Lunch Mon to Sat 3,295 php Sun 3,445 php Dinner Thurs to Sat 4,090 php Sun to Wed 3,445 php *Child Rate - 50% off |
| Taste | ★★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Cafe Ilang-Ilang | |
| Business Address | The Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila Metro Manila |
| Business Hours | 11:30 am - 2:30 pm 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm |
| Payment Options |  Cash |
| Service Charge | 10% |
| Budget/Person | 3,000-4,500 |
| Free WiFi | Yes |
| Contact | (02) 8527-0011 / 5301-5500 |
| Other | Website |
Mesa opens its 43rd branch in SM Mall of Asia and finally, I get to dine at Mesa for the very first time.
Yes, it's quite ironic that with 43 branches, I only have this chance to dine at Mesa.
So let me share what I've missed all this time.
Food
Appetizer
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| Tawilis with Mangga on a Spoon (155 php) |
I've always loved Tawilis. Although I love it cooked simply in fried form, I couldn't help but appreciate the Tawilis with Mangga on a Spoon.
Salad
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| ♥ Shrimp Tofu Salad (290 php) |
Meat and Poultry
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| Inihaw Sampler (890 php) |
Crispchon
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| ♥ One Whole (4,995 php) |
We Filipinos love Lechon, and more so for the Crispchon which is a counterpart of the conchinillo. We also appreciate showmanship and this is where Mesa excelled. Look at the extent of preparation they go through just to please their diners. It is served in three ways.
First, is in wraps just like the peking duck. The unique twist is that they use pandan crepes.
Second, tossed in garlic.
Third, tossed in garlic and chili. I liked this better than plain garlic because the spicy kick blended better with the fats and oil.
River Shrimp (Swahe)
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| ♥ On the Rocks (300 php) |
A must order at Mesa is the River Shrimps On the Rocks. Aside from the fun cooking experience, the fresh shrimps really tasted sweeter with this method.
Seasonal Products
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| Sauteed with Olive Oil and Garlic (180 php/100 grams) |
Aside from its many selections, Mesa also serves fresh seasonal seafood.
Apahap (Seabass)
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| ♥ Salt Crusted (110 php/100 grams) |
The Salt Crusted Apahap is another exquisite dish to try at Mesa. In fact, this is the only the second time I've had a salt crusted fish. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the appreciating the tedious baking process and the serving presentation of this dish.
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| ♥ Salt Crusted (110 php/100 grams) |
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| ♥ Salt Crusted (110 php/100 grams) |
After that, it is deboned so it's easy to eat like a fillet.
Rice
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| Tinapa Rice (180 php) |
Desserts
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| ♥ Crispy Leche Flan (75 php) |
Whenever at home and at the office, everyone would go crazy whenever there is a leche flan. But, I never was that big of a fan. Yet, when I tried the Crispy Leche Flan, I couldn't help myself to have more and more of it. We had to order another one of it because we all felt the same!
Beverages
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Mesa certainly offers a one of a kind Filipino dining experience. Its service and performance to impress diners is unlike any other. I am not surprised if it comes up with more branches in the future.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Mesa Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★ | N/A |
| Taste | ★★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Mesa SM Mall of Asia | |
| Business Address | Ground Floor, North Wing, SM Mall of Asia, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours | 10am-10pm (mall hours) |
| Payment Options | Cash |
| Service Charge | 10% |
| Budget/Person | 350-800 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Contact | (02) 759-2271 |
| Other | |
In the busy and congested city of Makati, there is a one of a kind hangout place called Buendia Food by the Court (BFBTC) that combines an extensive food park with 27 food merchants and a basketball court.
I heard the basket ball court is so popular that even at the rate of 1,100 php per hour, the booking is full 3 months ahead. The basketball is open everyday from 7 pm until 12 midnight. While the food merchants operate from 5 pm- 12 mn on Mondays to Sundays. Some merchants extend their time until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
All the food merchants have different dishes to offer which include international cuisines. And, the price per meal will cost you not more than 150 php.
What I love about BFBTC aside from having a roofed and spacious dining area is that the dishes are served hot.
Doss Pares even serves their dishes on sizzling plates.
The food merchants are very creative with their menu items. Some even allows customization.
Burgers Meet Wings (BMW) even allows you to choose the color of your buns.
Frit.oohhh! offers familar favorites.
But, they also have new offerings like the Wasabe Balls.
Because the BFBTC is a refuge from a hard days' work, heavy traffic or even the strong rains, the food served is mostly comfort food that is perfect as a beer pairing.
I've previously shared about Jack's Joint.
I'm so happy to see that they participate in food parks as well.
At Joe's you can enjoy your breakfast favorites all day long.
Too bad I forgot to try the Cheesy Longga Balls. I have to be back for this because I find it intriguing.
Keso Kumpadre offers addictively good fries! But, I liked their warm, hot and gooey Cheesy Bacon Marbled Potato more.
Growing up in the province, eating kambing has been a norm. Well Korvits Grill has a whole range of kambing dishes to try!
Buendia Food by the Court Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies
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| Bakmi Nonya Autthentic Indonesian Cuisine |
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| Doss Pares |
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| Doss Pares |
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| Grilled Squid |
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| Sizzling Balut |
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| Burgers Meet Wings (BMW) |
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| Burgers Meet Wings (BMW) Menu |
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| (by order) |
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| Frit.oohhh! |
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| Frit.oohhh! Menu |
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| Isha’s Little Thai Kitchen |
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| J&V Lechon Belly |
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| Cebu Lechon Belly Roll |
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| Jack's Joint |
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| Jack's Joint Menu |
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| Joe's |
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| Joe's Menu |
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| 2 pc. Longannisa with Rice and Egg (150 php) |
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| Cheesy Longga Balls 5 pcs (160 php) |
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| Keso Kumpadre |
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| Keso Kumpadre Menu |
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| Nacho Fries |
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| Buffalo Fries |
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| Lamexa's Street Taco |
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| Korvits Grill |
Buendia Food by the Court Map Like This Post? Subscribe here Follow @tsinoyfoodies
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