Showing posts with label mushroom soup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mushroom soup. Show all posts
A pandemic event happens about three times in every century. As they say, there's no rainbow without rain. As we've witnessed the food and beverage industry struggle along with other industries, we are also inspired by strong brands like Cafe Mary Grace that stay consistent with their core values, enduring the test of the pandemic...
Before the pandemic, we frequented Cafe Mary Grace and even had the chance to visit in Cafe Mary Grace Rockwell and blogged about it just before lock down. A few days ago, we got to dine again at Cafe Mary Grace SM Manila and noticed what remained consistent and the changes adopted.
Before walking in, one has to undergo the health protocols installed by Cafe Mary Grace. There's a temperature scanner and QR code for contact tracing.
The Ensaymadas, Cheese Rolls and various cakes are already available as early as mall opening time and ready for take out and deliveries.
The
seats that prohibit seating are properly laced and blocked by ribbons
and each table has a signage that they are already sanitized and ready
to be occupied. We also noticed that they use different type of sanitation sprays. We're really impressed with their protocol. The staffs are well-trained and seems accustomed to the protocols already.
Food
Perfect Plates
 |
| Chorizo Plate (518 php) |
We were used to ordering the big plate of Starters, Sandwiches and Flavorful Pastas in the past and just set them at the center for group sharing. But, since pandemic whether at work or home, we are now used to preferring solo meals. This makes the Perfect Plates so ideal! The perfect plates includes a solo portion from its Fresh Salads, Flavorful Pastas and Handmade Cakes with optional add-on for a half-serving from its Hearty Soups menu.
We ordered the Chorizo Plate. For salad, it had the Local Greens with Chili Daing Dressing & Crunchy Garlic. This is a salad possessed powerful flavors that complimented the earthy greens: kale and lettuce. The chili daing dressing was strongly salty, raw onion rings was sharply pungent and the fried garlic slices were also fragrantly tasty. The Chorizo and Olives Pasta was a spicy oil-based pasta with a generous portion of mushrooms that complimented Mary Grace's house made chorizo bits well. As avid spicy pasta fans, this is now our new favorite. For add-on on Hearty Soups, we chose the Wild Mushroom (89 php/add-on) which served well as a creamy and comforting tummy warmer before engaging with the rest of the meal.
 |
| Mary Grace Cheesecake (212 php) |
For dessert of the day, we were given a choice between Brownie Bars and Mary Grace Cheesecake. We opted for the latter and it was a satisfactory choice! The denseness and sweetness is just right to make you want to take another forkful until you've devoured a plateful.
Sandwiches
 |
| Vegetables on Focacia Sandwich (314 php) |
Vegetables on Focacia Sandwich served with homemade potato chips and garlic dip. Mary Grace really knows how to please a mushroom lovers heart. Look at how it was overloaded with shitake mushrooms! The sweet potato chips had an addictive garlic dip too. As with all Sandwiches and Flavorful Pastas, there was an add on option for side salad or half-serving from its Hearty Soups menu. We opted for the Summer Squash (89 php/add-on) this time and it was also so good.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
No doubt Mary Grace Cafe is a brand that will continue to thrive through the test of times. Through its food quality, service and safety protocols, you can already see the love, care and respect it has for its customers. The cozy and clean ambiance along with its cautious and safety protocols is guaranteed to bring your the same and consistent comfort you've always loved at Mary Grace Cafe.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Cafe Mary Grace Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★★ | N/A |
| Taste | ★★★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Cafe Mary Grace SM Manila |
|
| Business Address | SM MANILA Upper Ground Floor, SM City Manila, Arroceros St., Cor., Natividad Almeda Lopez St., and San Marcelino St., Brgy. 659 Zone 071, Ermita Manila |
| Business Hours | 10am-8pm |
| Payment Options |  Cash |
| Service Charge | 10% |
| Budget/Person | 500-1,500 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Contact | Tel: (63) 2-8244-5300 Mobile: (63) 917-815-3663 |
| Other | |
Every time we visit Fully Booked, there is always something new to learn. This time however, it is not book-related. For such a long time, we've been visiting Press by Fully Booked solely for its beverages that we buy before or after we check out the book.
To our defense, look at Press by Fully Booked's logo? You see two things: a book and a beverage cup. We'd also like to add that it serves really good coffee and lemonade.
Food
One of the distinct characteristic for us with Fully Booked is that although it is a mass-scale of a bookstore, you can still feel that it is inviting and has a personal touch to it. It's the kind of a charm of "The Shop Around the Corner", a small boookstore that is depicted in the movie "You've Got Mail" that was casted by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
We had the same feeling with Press by Fully Booked and its menu. Aside from its regular menu, it also has seasonal offerings like the Christmas Holiday Meals.
We had the same feeling with Press by Fully Booked and its menu. Aside from its regular menu, it also has seasonal offerings like the Christmas Holiday Meals.
Soup
Since we love classics, we'll start of with items in the regular menu.
 |
| Mushroom (160 php) |
As far as cream-based soups, our favorite since childhood has always been cream of mushroom. Press' Mushroom soup is one of the best we've had in years.
Salads
 |
| Classic Caesar (250 php) |
All the dishes we're tried like the Classic Caesar made use of the freshest ingredients. Because of that, the price here is quite reasonable especially for this branch which is located in Rockwell Power plant.
Pasta
 | |
| Agli e Olio (200 php) |
The serving size is also quite generous.
 |
| Carbonara (250 php) |
Holiday Set Meals
For this Christmas, Press by Fully Booked has prepared a Holiday Group Meal Set inspired by our Filipino Nocha Buena tradition.
 |
| Arroz Valenciana |
 |
| Homestyle Fried Chicken |
 |
| Lechon Belly |
Cakes & Pastries
 |
| Chocolate Cake (1250 php/whole) |
Chocolate cakes are one of the most popular cake variant available in the Metro. Till the time we've encountered Press' Chocolate Cake, we thought we've tasted all the best ones. We've read all sorts of top lists or best chocolate cake in Manila list and none of them has mentioned Press by Fully Booked. What a wild card! What a hidden gem! This Chocolate Cake is rich, bitter sweet and oh so soft and moist. Although huge and thick, you won't hesitate to take each and every bite.
Holiday Pastries
Like the meals, Press also has holiday pastries.
 |
| Ube Custard (650 php) |
 |
| Four Seasons Cheesecake (Php1,350) |
Variety is always well-appreciated in every potluck. Can't decide on which cheesecake to bring? Take the Four Seasons Cheesecake with Original, Caramelized Banana, Queso De Bola and Hazelnut and let your guests decide for themselves. But for you, we highly suggest that your take from the Queso De Bola cheesecake part right away cause it is surely the first one to be wiped! The Caramelized Banana and Hazelnut is also an interesting pick. We were so surprised with the Hazelnut which delivered cute little crunchiness in every bite. We rarely encounter a hazelnut product that makes used of fresh tiny bits of the actual nut itself so we were really impressed.
 |
| Cookie Sampler (Php440) |
And, because variety is well-appreciate, there also a cookie and bar counterpart with the Cookie Sampler with Chocolate Chip, Cranberry & Raisins, Double Chocolate and Double Mint Chocolate Chip...
 |
| Bar Sampler (550 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Like every visit to Fully Booked, we found our visit to Press by Fully Booked to be a wonderful experience. We found all the dishes we tried to be affordable and in generous portions. We also found the bright yet solemn atmosphere which makes it conducive for reading, meetings and conversations to be a great consideration for dining here.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Press by Fully Booked Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★ | NA |
| Taste | ★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★ | |
| Price | ★★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
| Press by Fully Booked | |
| Business Address | The Powerplant Mall, 3/F, Rockwell Center, Lopez Drive, Makati, Metro Manila |
| Business Hours | 10am-9pm (mall hours) |
| Payment Options | Cash |
| Service Charge | NA |
| Budget/Person | 250-500 |
| Free WiFi | No |
| Contact | (02) 7901-4177 |
| Other | |
Healthy Day: Delicious and Nutritious Dinner (Banawe Quezon City) (Closed)
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Since we're from Manila, Banawe seemed like a distant dining area for the family. Thus, I was surprised when mom was insisted that we go all the way to Healthy Day because she saw it on TV.
It's quite convenient that they have their own parking space and their guard is very accommodating.
I really liked their coffee latte art table.
But, what intrigued the family is their mini green house.
The chiller also displayed tempting desserts.
We proceeded to the dining area at the back.
Food
While waiting, we were served a warm Complimentary Bread Basket.
Starters
The family liked the Cucumber Bruschetta. It's a sliced cucumber with a tomato and olive. For me it was ordinary.
Soup
Because we are huge mushroom fans, we ordered the Wild Mushroom Soup and this brought smile to our faces.
The Pumpkin Soup is delightfully warm, creamy and sweet.
Chicken/Turkey
We were very disappointed with the Chicken Salpicao w/ Garlic Brown Rice. It was very salty. We even asked the server if the blend is right and they checked and assured us that it was rightfully so. We didn't finish this dish...
The Dill Crusted Salmon with Carrot Potato Mash is simple but well-executed. I just felt that it was expensive for a single portion.
Pasta
The Spinach Pumpkin Carbonara with Salmon is probably the best dish among our orders.
Desserts
Our server promised to us that every customer loved the Chocolate Tofu Mousse and so we will too. Well, it was just okay for us. The chocolate mousses was too sweet.
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I really liked the concept of Heatlhy Day. But, the price is too steep for their not-so-outstanding dishes. It gives of an impression that healthy dishes are expensive which shouldn't be so.
Food
 |
| Complimentary Bread Basket |
Starters
 |
| Cucumber Bruschetta (180 php) |
Soup
 |
| ♥ Wild Mushroom Soup (140 php) |
 |
| Pumpkin Soup (140 php) |
Chicken/Turkey
 |
| Chicken Salpicao w/ Garlic Brown Rice (360 php) |
 |
| ♥ Dill Crusted Salmon with Carrot Potato Mash (560 php) |
Pasta
 |
| ♥ Spinach Pumpkin Carbonara with Salmon (220 php) |
Desserts
 |
| Chocolate Tofu Mousse (100 php) |
Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I really liked the concept of Heatlhy Day. But, the price is too steep for their not-so-outstanding dishes. It gives of an impression that healthy dishes are expensive which shouldn't be so.
| Tsinoy Foodies Review Rating | Heatlhy Day Menu | |
| Ambiance | ★★★★ | Starters | Main Course | Desserts | |
| Taste | ★★★ | |
| Service | ★★★ | |
| Price | ★★ | |
| ♥=Favorites or Recommended | ||
/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)