F1 HOTEL MANILA'S LUZVIMINDA 2017!

        Whenever June comes around, an event that i'm always looking forward to is F1 Hotel Manila's LuzViMinda Food Festival. The ingenuious concept is, the hotel invites three renowned chefs to represent the different regions of the country, through their gastronomic creations. Now, LuzViMinda is on its fifth year, and they've got a perfect track record in my book. 

       The 2016 incarnation featured some of the top female chefs of the country, but in 2017, the boys are back in town! Chefs Mikel Zaguirre, Dennis Uy and Kalel Chan all took up the challenge of featuring the best dishes from around the country, all into one amazing buffet spread. 

      This ranks up there with the very best LuzViMinda festivals ever! 

THE PICKIEST EATER VLOG: A WEEKEND AT ASCOTT BGC

      Though I've been to Ascott Serviced Residences in Makati before, I had yet to set foot in their property at Bonifacio Global City. Fortunately, my family and I were invited for a relaxing staycation, and much like the Makati branch, I was left in awe by how stunning the place looked. From the Hotel lobby, to the rooms, to the function areas and restaurants, intricate detail was put into making Ascott BGC Manila a world class serviced residences establishment. 

ENJOY F1 HOTEL'S LUZVIMINDA 3: PISTANG PINOY!

      I don't know about you, but one of my most awaited food festivals has happened at F1 Hotel Manila for the past 3 years.. The LuzViMinda 3 Pistang Pinoy! For the past three years, F1 Hotel has gathered the biggest names of the culinary world, representing their respective regions, to come up with amazing gastronomic concoctions that exemplifies the beauty of their hometown's food and culture. These world-class, but proudly Pinoy Chefs, take you on a mouthwatering trip around the country, one dish at a time, letting you experience the wonderful flavors that the Philippines has to offer, one dish at a time!

    This year, the triumvirate included Celebrity Chef Bruce Lim from Luzon, Chef Tatung Sarthou of the Visayas, and Chef Sider Tadtad of Mindanao! 

STAYCATION SERIES: F1 HOTEL MANILA AT BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

          I believe it was in the year 2005 or so when I first discovered the beauty of a "Staycation". Even though I was already working then, I was still living at home, so I didn't have rent or mortgage to think about. Meaning I had money. I purchased a "Club Membership" from an exclusive Hotel in Makati, that offered room vouchers that gave me huge discounts, and just to seal the deal, they even included an overnight stay, absolutely free. 

      At first, I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical. I wondered to myself, "Why pay money for an overnight stay in a hotel that's just around 30 minutes away from my house?". Nonetheless, the membership also gave me a 50% discount at their famous buffet, so that was enough for me. 

      Within minutes of checking in, I saw exactly what the whole point of a staycation was. The point was to get yourself absorbed in all of the relaxation, without the hassle of long airport lines and bumpy plane rides. You drove a few minutes away, yet you're taken to completely new world.. One free of stress, where your every whim is catered to. 

       As a blogger, I was fortunate to have been invited to a staycation late last year, and made some wonderful friends from the blogging world along the way. That experience inspired me to expand my horizons in 2013, and try to write more travel posts, including some amazing places in the metro where you and your family could enjoy a relaxing staycation.

      Early June, I was elated to be able to add another hotel to the list of places I've had a staycation in. Considering it was a Hotel that I pass by every day on my way to work, nothing could further epitomize the concept of "Staycation" than F1 Hotel Manila.