Buddha-Bar was first established in Paris.  In 1996, Buddha-Bar Paris was envisioned by Raymond Visan, owner of the famous Barfly in Paris with his concept of true "Art of Living", with confluent influences from the Pacific Rim.  With new ideas he gathered during his frequent trips especially in California, Buddha-Bar Paris instantly became a mecca in the French Capital.

Buddha-Bar has gained more popularity as it opened in Dubai, Beirut, Cairo, Mexico, Monaco, Sao Paolo, London, Kiev, Prague, Washington DC and Jakarta.  Among its loyal clients who visit Buddha-Bar whenever there is one available are famous celebrities such as Heidi Klum, Jonas Brothers, Sarah Jessica Parker, Lady Gaga, Eva Mendes, Paris Hilton, Rod Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez.


Since its opening last year, I've been eager to visit Buddha-Bar Manila.  Its certainly a twin of its other counterparts around the world in terms of interior and music.

First Level

Like all other Buddha-Bars around the world, the lights go dimmer and the music goes faster starting from 6 pm. 

Second Level with Sushi Bar and Function Rooms

I'm completely enchanted at the size and elegance of the place.  Each section has its own style of comfort.  There were also several VIP rooms.  The eclectic sounds by George V Records as well as the artistic artifacts offers an experience of a lifetime. 

Basement Level with Restrooms

As I searched for the restroom, I was directed to the basement.  I was once again in awe as I passed by the Asian paintings along its red hallways.  It felt as I was touring a private art gallery.  The restroom was as dazzling as the rest of the place.  The walls glittered and even the sink is a beautiful artistic glass basin. 

I'm told there is an elevator leading to the terrace which is where another party experience takes place.  

Food

Ala Carte

Pink Lady

The Pink Lady  is a sushi with breaded shrimp and avocado within its rolls and surimi mix on top.  It had unagi sauce whcih is their default buddha bar sauce.  Since I love sushi, I found it quite enjoyable. 

♥ Crunchy Rice Shrimp Jalapeno

I prefer the Crunchy Rice Shrimp Jalapeno than the Pink Lady because of its fun play of textures.  I enjoyed the tenderness of the shrimp, crunchiness of the rice followed by its soft stickiness.   The added zing from the Jalapeno also made it a bit more interesting. 

Boneless Chicken Wings

The Boneless Chicken Wings were cooked deep fried in Chinese wine topped with shallots and red and green bell pepper.  It was an Asian version of fried chicken wings because it was more fragrant and served with Spicy Thai Ginger dip.  It failed to leave a distinctive impression upon me. 

Sea Bass Tamarind

The Sea Bass Tamarind is roasted sea bass marinated in ginger, lemon grass and cumin and served with sweet tamarind sauce.  The sea bass is cooked wonderfully that it melts in the mouth exploding with its fragrant spices and natural oils.  A hint of its sauce was enough for me.

♥ Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad

 The Buddha-Bar Chicken Salad is grilled chicken strips topped with Buddha-Bar chicken dressing, sesame seeds, shredded Chinese cabbage and crispy wanton bits.  This is a chunky salad.  The chicken strips were tender and succulent as well as the other crunchy components made it quite enjoyable to feast in.

Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil

The Black Pepper Beef with Thai Basil failed to meet my expectations.  The meat was tough and the black pepper sauce is tad too salty for me and my companions. 

Thai Curry Prawns

I loved the way the Thai Curry Prawns was served.   It came with curry sauce and Coconut and Lemon Grass rice.  The Thai curry sauce is mild but I liked it that way so I can appreciate the natural sweetness of the prawns.

♥ Chocolate Sesame Bars

My favorite part is the dessert.  The Chocolate Sesame Bars is a must try!  It a sophisticated crunchy base of wafer and sesame seeds topped with smooth and rich dark chocolate.  The vanilla ice cream is even an added bonus.  My mom sometimes teases me to go and visit Buddha-Bar Manila just so I could bring home some of these. 

Chocolat

The Chocolat is a moist dark chocolate cake topped with a rich Varlhona gnache.  It's a bit sweeter than the Chocolate Sesame Bar and is an excellent choice for chocolate and sweet tooth lovers. 

Drinks

♥ Buddha-Bar Iced Tea

I'm not a fan of ordering iced tea because I usually find them too sweet for my taste.  But, the Buddha-Bar Iced Tea is definitely a pleasure for me to drink despite being served in a large glass.  This brewed tea with a refreshing mix of kiwi and lychee syrup is amazingly smooth and quenching. 

Cakes

Cake Display Selection

The cake displays were the first thing I noticed when I entered.  I'll come back and try more of the rest on my next visit. 

UPDATE: Check out Buddha Bar Manila's Weekends at The Terrace Barbecue Buffet and Unlimited Drinks

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
We're fortunate to have Buddha-Bar Manila.  We don't need to ride a plane to get unique "Buddha-Bar" experience it .  I think that alone makes its luxurious pricing worth it.  But, I somehow felt that the improvisation of some dishes can even take it up by another notch.

During our trip to Puerto Princesa Palawan last December, we spotted the two branches of Ka Inato but never had the chance to drop by due to schedule restraints.  When I heard they have opened a branch here in Metro Manila, I was eager to try and check it out.

Ka Inato in Tandang Sora Quezon City is their first branch in Luzon and they're planning to open more soon.

It's located in RMR Building behind Caltex Station.  You can see their sign along Tandang Sora Avenue. 

This is what the typical fast food type Ka Inato  will look like.  It has beautiful paintings on its white walls.  It looks spacious and  clean with sturdy bench type and casual dining wooden tables. 

Food

Specials

Ka Inato Chicken (98 php)

Palawan's chicken inasal is grilled with sweet kind of barbecue sauce.   My friend Sumi, chose the Ka Inato Chicken.  I got to taste it too.  We both agreed that the skin was delicious, the taste is just right but the chicken meat was a bit dry.

Ka Inato Hot & Spicy Chicken (103 php)

I dared to try the famous Ka Inato Hot & Spicy Chicken to tease my spiciness tolerance.  It had a zing like chili itself that pierces and lingers.  Good thing Sumi came to my rescue and helped me with it. 
 

FREE Soup

 The meal also comes with FREE soup which was quite flavorful.  They also have an unlimited rice option for only 23 php.

♥ Kambak (Kambing at Baka) (115 php)

 Although it's chicken is their main specialty, it was the Kambak that impressed us.  It was our first time to try this.  The meat chunks are so tender.   The flavors are exquisite with a hint of spiciness nuttiness that makes it crave worthy.  The price is very reasonable too.  This Kambak makes me want to "come back" for it. =D

Panghimagas

Leche Flan (28 php)

The Leche Flan hit my sweetness preference right on the mark but I'd love it more if it was creamier.  


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
 It's great that Ka Inato, Palawan's Number One Chicken, has arrived in Luzon.  Now, we can have more affordable meal options.  Our meal was budget friendly so were even able to go shopping at the nearby mall.  

It's been ages since my last Mexican meal.  Its probably since there are only a few Mexican restaurants in the Metro and most of them are Tex-Mex.  Achiote Tacqueria  is a Mexican taco shop concept of Chef Robby Goco who runs the renowned  Charlie's Grind & Grill and Cyma. 


Achiote Tacqueria is named after the spice Achiote or Achuete in Filipino which is made from the red seeds of the annatto tree because its the only common spice between Mexico and the Philippines.  Achiote Tacqueria is located at the outdoor area of Powerplant Mall.  It has a casual cozy ambiance with well cushioned chairs that matched it wooden tables. 

Food


Starter

Chips N' Salsa (125 php)

The Chips N' Salsa are fresh-baked tortilla nachos with their salsa sauce.  They were addictively crunchy and the salsa sauce was delightful too.  You can tell that they made them from scratch and from the finest and freshest ingredients.  The salsa is more than enough for me but you can request for an additional bowl for free.

Achiote Nachos

Although the Chips N' Salsa is already good, I'd recommend the Achiote Nachos if you're dining with a group.  It's their interpretation of how a wholesome Mexican nacho is supposed to be.  I'd say its nacho chips with the works.  It's got green onions, refried beans, pico de gallo, jalapeno pepper, sour cream, guacamole and cheese sauce.    

Ceviche Full (400 php)

The Ceviche Full is another sure shot crowd pleaser.  You can select among these fresh seafood of your choice: shrimp, white snapper, mackerel, octopus and crab.  It is marinated in lime and topped with jicama (a kind of Mexican yam or turnip), extra-virgin olive oil, spicy sauce and avocado.  It's a Mexican or Coastal American way of doing our local kilawin.  It's a superb mixture of flavors.  The fresh seafood bits are delightfully chewy too. 

Achiote Sizzle!

Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga (215 php)

The Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga is a hefty appetizer.  It is served with soft flour tortilla, pica de gallo, sour cream, roasted native pepper and black beans topped with queso cotija.  I'm told that they only  use of free range chicken.

Achiote Sizzle Chicken Tinga (215 php)

It's been awhile since my last tried Manang's Chicken so I've come back to try their new offerings.

It was valentines day and my studious medical student sister and I were the only ones dateless for dinner so I invited her to eat dinner at Manang's Chicken Taft Ave which was nearby.  Then, she would treat me for drinks at Holly's or some milk tea shop in the area.

While waiting for our orders, we noticed a lot of students and most of them are attractive are group dating at Manang's Chicken too.  While, the Korean customers prefer take outs. 

Garlic Pork Rice Meal (109 php), Coleslaw (30 php), Macaroni Salad (30 php) and ♥ Manang's Chips & Dips Regular (39 php)

As soon as the Manang's Chips & Dips Regular is arrived, we just couldn't stop munching on them.  They were perfectly crispy.  Dipping them with their spicy ketchup, creamy cheese and garlic mayo makes it even better.

Garlic Pork Rice Meal (109 php)

Talk about a hefty meal at the cheapest possible price.  The Garlic Pork Rice Meal will definitely satisfy your deepest hunger with its large chunk of breaded pork chop and extra large cup of rice.  The tender and juicy pork is thinly coated with crispy breading which makes it pleasurable to chew.  However, I would have preferred if they only topped this with pure garlic bits instead of mixing in tasteless crumbs.  It just made me crave for the garlic bits as I shoved of the crumbs.  And, it felt like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Coleslaw (30 php) and Macaroni Salad (30 php)

I still had the same sentiments for the Coleslaw as before.  It could use a little more mayonaise and seasoning.  On the other hand, the Macaroni Salad now had carrot bits which made it better than before.

♥ The Red Velvet Sundae (49 php)

The Red Velvet Sundae is to die for!  The red velvet cake with hot molten chocolate funge and vanilla soft ice cream drizzled with candy bits is simply irresistible.  My little sister and I fell in love with this in an instant.  Haha we didn't want to share it so we each had our own.  We were so satisfied with this, we didn't bother to go out for coffee or tea after.  This is offered only until March 31, 2013 so I highly suggest for you to order this as often as you can. 

Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Manang's Chicken has simply gone far from where it first started.  I expect that it will continue to win the loyalty of its fans.  I do hope they keep The Red Velvet Sundae on their menu so I can buy one whenever I pass by a Manang's Chicken branch. 

Every one loves parties, gatherings and celebrations.  But, one of the greatest woes of a party host is the food which he/she has to serve for the guests.  Surely, one cannot deny that the food is really the highlight of the event.  You'll hear your guests rant and rave over them even after the party.   

You can either hold your event at a restaurant or if you want a cheaper option, choose a venue and hire a catering service provider.  Whether in choosing a restaurant or a catering service provider, be sure to check out their credentials.  Remember that the food is the life of your party.  

If your in Dallas Texas, one of the best catering services is , Corporate Chef Catering.  Its name is practically synonymous to catering dallas tx.  If you're not convinced, go and check their site and read the testimonial section.  Since 1993, Corporate Chef Catering  has offered its exceptional catering service around Dallas Texas.  It prides itself by assuring the freshest and highest quality ingredients.  Their menus are all made from scratch from their treasured home recipes past from generations.   Availing the services of Corporate Chef Catering can be made through a simple call.  You could also order online.  Aside from their monthly special menu, they have a wide range of regular menu to offer.  Whether its for a holiday, picnic, wedding or casual platter meals, you'll surely find one that will captivate you and your guests appetite.  You can check their website to see how glamorous and elegant their food service and presentation is.  You can also plan your menu from there.  Price are indicated so you can allocate your budget with ease.  Good luck!