SPIRAL AT SOFITEL MANILA: A TRIUMPHANT RETURN

        A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of being one of the guest speakers at the Belle Du Jour "Street Chic" event. After I told the lovely ladies about my favorite Pig Out Spots, I answered a few questions from the audience members. One of the questions I was asked, was "What's the best buffet in Metro Manila?". Without even thinking about it, my answer came naturally. I simply said, "If how they were before their renovation is any indication, my favorite buffet has got to be Spiral at Sofitel Manila." I heard a bunch of "oohs" and "aahhs" that made it clear that many of these ladies knew what I was talking about. I told the lady who asked, "But I haven't been back since it re-opened, but I hope to soon.".

       Someone up there must have been listening, because a few days later, I once again found myself standing before the most lavish buffet in the country.

       This is my triumphant return to Spiral. And an homage to Spiral's Triumphant Return. 

HOTEL HOTSPOTS: DIMSUM ALL YOU CAN AT LI LI IN HYATT HOTEL & CASINO MANILA

           In case the 24 entries weren't enough to clue you in, i'm going to go on the record now and say that I LOVE Chinese food. If you ask me one of my all time favorite restaurants, I'd easily tell you that it's Harbor City in Cebu.. A simple restaurant known for its Dimsum. 

           I'm always on the look out for amazing places to get some Siomai, Steamed Spareribs and Spring Rolls. So when I got the chanceto try the Dimsum Eat All You Can of Li Li at Hyatt Hotel and Casino, I knew that was one opportunity I couldn't miss. 

THE LOBSTER BUFFET OF CORNICHE AT DIAMOND HOTEL - RinaZ

           Flashback: It was a humid night, and Richie and I were walking by the beach of Boracay somewhere in station 3 looking for a fun place to have dinner. And I spotted some lobsters. Honestly I totally forgot the details but somehow I thought the lobster was not that expensive and I insisted on getting one. And before we knew it, we were staring at a bill that says "Lobster - P1,200" ha ha ha ha ha (sweat + nervous laughter).

       So when we were asked to join a dinner at Diamond Hotel for a Lobster Buffet, I was more than willing. Lobsters, it's payback time!

           This display will be the first thing that you will see when you enter the Corniche. Isn't it beautiful? As soon as I saw it, I think I heard angels singing. In this beautiful display, 2 elements are clearly the stars. 

QUICK PICK: ZARK'S BURGER'S JAWBREAKER!!!

         

      In case you guys needed any more motivation to go to Zark's Burger's Jawbreaker Day On March 17, 2013 at their Taft Avenue Branch, here's a  short video that will definitely convince you!

LOVE IS IN THE AIR WITH LOLO DAD'S VALENTINE'S DAY MENU!

               I was still getting over the fact that I had finally gone to Lolo Dad's, a restaurant that had long been in my Bucket List, when I got an opportunity to once again go back. When you get a chance to a restaurant such as Lolo Dad's, you drop everything you're doing. Ironing, Scuba Diving, or on the phone with the president, it matters not. You leave it all behind and run if needs be to Manila. 

         I managed to convince Rina at first that I had booked us a dinner at Lolo Dad's, and since it was so hard to get a reservation there, the only available day to go was two weeks earlier. The moment she saw fellow blogger Yedylicious at the same restaurant, she was on to my ruse.

        Nonetheless, It was a dinner she would never forget. 

THE HEIR TO THE RAMEN THRONE: KOKORO RAMENYA

        A few months ago, I got one of the nicest invitations I've ever received as a blogger. It was an invitation to dine at Kokoro Ramenya, a Japanese restaurant that had opened a few months ago along Roxas Boulevard. I say it was one of the nicest invitations to eat at because the invitation was basically, "Go with a friend with a friend at your convenience, and order whatever you want". Who can say no to that, right? In return, all they ask for is an objective blog post.. If I didn't like the food, it's ok to say it, because the management of Kokoro Ramenya would take it simply as "Constructive Criticism". 

       Here's the thing.. There wasn't really anything to criticize because the food is fantastic. 

BABY RAIN'S FIRST DAY OUT! MAKANMAKAN: ASIAN FOOD VILLAGE

In case you're new to my Blog, I just wanted to let you know that as of today (January 30, 2012), The first ever Pickiest Eater In The World Contest Giveaway is underway, and you can find out the details on how to join by clicking out the post HERE. Get a chance to win Gift Certificates for P5,000.00 worth of services from CATHY VALENCIA SKIN AND BODY CENTER! Guys, if you need pogi points with your girls, this could be your chance! (Unless you wanna use it yourself of course.. Umm.. We're not here to judge)

        So it was Chaikka's (Rina's sister) birthday last Saturday, so she and Rina had planned a family outing at Manila Ocean park, mainly because my Father In Law has a fascination for Marine life. Apart from it being Chaikka's birthday celebration, this day also marked the first time Baby Rain would be going on a Baby's day out, so Rina and I were doubly excited.

      Rina and I have agreed that we wouldn't be taking Rain out to public so much while she's an infant, however this was a special case because it was her Ninang's birthday, and since we would ALL be out, Rina wasn't too comfortable with the thought of leaving Rain at home knowing Chaikka wouldn't be nearby in case of any (god forbid) emergencies (Chaikka and my dad in law lives in the same village we do).

                 
       Naturally, they asked me where we could eat around that area, and I immediately suggested "Makanmakan: Asian Food Village", which I had been hearing some very good things about. Lucky for me, my in laws were up for it.

     In fact, this lunch was extra memorable for me, because It reaffirmed that choosing Rina as my wife, was the best decision I had ever made. Not just just because she's so amazing.. but because her family and I get along so well.. 

   How well? Well let's just put it this way.. I find it hard to believe that I would find another family that would order three types of Pork Spareribs for lunch. 

    See what I mean? Destiny. 

THE SUN WAH EXPEDITION

No idea where I am, and honestly, a little bit scared.

       I've always wanted to go on those Popular Binondo "Food Walks", but I really hate walking. Maybe if it was a "Food Ride", I might have gone on it a long time ago. Chinese is among my favorite cuisines, so the thought of hopping from restaurant to restaurant trying out new dimsum and other oriental dishes would be close to the equivalent of taking a child to Toy's R Us. My boss would take clients to a famous restaurant in Binondo and, it was pretty terrific. He would order weird stuff, like turtle soup, or frog legs, but as long as I had sweet and sour pork, I was good to go.

     Love Birds Chaikka and Don decided to treat us to a family dinner at one of their favorite Authentic Chinese hole-in-the-wall spots, "Sun Wah". I had never heard of this place, but again, once you put the words "free" and "food" into one sentence, it's quite likely I'm there (umm.. unless of course, it's free courtesy of the establishment looking for a good review.. hehe.. defensive, much?). 

     I'm lucky to have a wife who knows me so well, knew that I would have one concern about going to Binondo. You see, I don't go to that part of town very often, but every time I do, I always seem to encounter one of my biggest fears - rats. 

    Yes, I am deathly afraid of rats. I would easily go up against any other creature you put against me - Snakes, Spiders.. maybe even a Basilisk or a  Hungarian Horntail. Just do NOT show me anything related to rats. I haven't even watched Stuart Little, or Ratatouille. You can imagine my scream of fright inside the cinema when that big ugly rodent in "Prince Caspian" jumped out. It's safe to say that I missed half the movie. Oh, and the last scene of the movie "Wanted"? The rats with the bombs? I stayed in the restroom until Rina texted me that the scene was over. You get the picture.

     So she brought it up to Don. Don replied, "Ok lang, walang daga. Pero may dalawang baboy lang sa baba." (It's ok, there are no rats. But there are two pigs downstairs.") We're kinda used to Don saying crazy things like this, so he doesn't surprise us anymore. You can only imagine our surprise to find out that he was telling the truth.

        There were two pigs sleeping in front of the entrance of the restaurant. I don't think Chinese Restaurants gets any more authentic than this.