MarQuee, Ayala Malls Top Food Picks & Final Results

Posted by me on August 22nd, 2010 in , , and · 1 Comment

What does this mean to you, eternal seeker of great things to eat?
Next time you visit MarQuee and other Ayala Malls, you know what to look for, or try for the first time.

marquee mall top picks pancake house bale sisigan red kimono

Last month, I, together with Chris Locher, chef-owner of Pampanga’s famous C’ Italian Dining, and Rex Soriano, former sous chef of Nobu New York and Hotel & Restaurant Management  consultant for Holy Angel University, was invited to be part of the food council that would help determine the best of MarQuee Mall’s food and beverage offerings.

marquee mall top picks adobong itik seafood platter guamas choice

Dubbed AM Top - Ayala Malls Top Food Picks, this signature campaign establishes  Ayala Mall not just as a premier shopping destination but also as home to a wide-ranging selection of quality dining options from fast food, specialty food & family restaurants, to bars and fine dining concepts.

marquee mall top picks food council

In seeking to recognize and celebrate the best that each Ayala Mall has to offer,  the food councils were tasked to  judge 7 categories — appetizer, soup, salad, seafood, main course, dessert, coffee/cocktail — by combining their industry experience with the following criteria: taste, presentation & plating and originality/x-factor.  In our case at MarQuee,  grading nearly a hundred entries from 16 of MarQuee Mall’s merchant restaurants  was accomplished in a hectic 4.5 hours! The judges’ picks were then combined with online votes cast by Ayala Card members and non-member customers.

yellow cab dear darla

Healthy competition: Read on…

Calling for Entries to the Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (DGF) Food Writing Award 2010

Posted by me on August 17th, 2010 in , , , , and · 3 Comments

Passionate about your favorite breakfast food? Join the only food writing award in the country! Invite your family and friends, share this link with your class students. Have a delicious morning! :D

The Doreen Gamboa Fernandez (DGF) Food Writing Award announces the theme of this year’s competition—breakfast or almusal. Now on its eight year, the Award is also accepting emailed entries for the first time.

Fernandez wrote about how Filipinos take breakfast in one of her essays. Some take home-made tablea tsokolate to dip in suman, “sticky rice cooked with coconut milk (flavored with ginger, in Tagbilaran) or budbod kabog in Dumaguete (made of millet) or budbod Tanjay a few towns away.” Others eat “pancit, lomi, mami, goto, arroz caldo (all of Chinese origin, the latter with a Spanish name), all available in market stalls.”

Competition mechanics: Read on…

How To Enjoy Macau For Free

Posted by me on July 25th, 2010 in , and · 0 Comments

After exploring ways to experience luxe Macau and on a shoestring in the first two series, here’s something that you, your kids, or grandparents can enjoy at absolutely no cost. From the usual heritage sights to the latest attractions and places that amplify your luck factor, here are:

10 WAYS TO ENJOY MACAU — FOR FREE!

macau cookie free taste

 1. Grab a Chinese cookie, or beef jerky.

meat jerky

Vendors offering samples from almond cookies to barbecued meat in thin sheets (of pork, beef and gourmet variety such as wild boar and ostrich) to passersby is a typical sight in Macau food streets.

st paul’s ruins macau

They won’t force you to buy if you don’t feel like it, esp if you are walking on Rua do Cunha on your way up to the St. Paul’s Ruins and don’t want to carry too much stuff. You decide whether to hoard or not on your way back down ;)

the bubble dragons treasure city of dreams1

2. Get a big shower of luck at The Bubble attraction in the City of Dreams. Word is that (some) new attractions in Macau are offered to the public for free until further notice. So catch the lucky dragons while you can! Immerse yourself inside the Dragon’s Treasure, from the creative force behind the world famous Cirque du Soleil. This mindblowing 360 degree, 10-minute multi-sensory extravaganza takes you on a fantastical undersea journey to the world of dragons, kings and aquatic kingdoms of ice, tropics, volcanic and solar entities. Find out more about the world’s largest special effects projection dome and show schedules here.

More mesmerizing free sights at the City of Dreams? Click mermaids.

the house of dancing water macau

3. Win tickets and hundreds of prizes to The House of Dancing Water, the “world’s largest, most spectacular water-based show” which opens on September 17, 2010. How? Click here.

Read on…

How To Enjoy Macau On A Budget

Posted by me on July 12th, 2010 in , , and · 6 Comments

In truth, Macau is one budget destination if you compare it to its more popular Hong Kong neighbor. It gives tourists so much spending options from high end to low. Most things Macau are on the worldwide web, thus giving you the chance to organize your itinerary in advance – what to see, what to buy, what to eat and what to share – and plan your budget to maximize your trip. These are just a few recommendations:

Exchange rate: MOP$1 = approx PHP6

 6 WAYS TO ENJOY MACAU ON A BUDGET

restorante litoral

1. Discover Macanese cuisine at Restaurante Litoral. The beauty in experiencing authentic Macau food is in recognizing parallel experiences that connect us as a race and in learning to appreciate the influences that shaped our history. 400 years ago, Macau was a major Portuguese trading post. Described in the book Flavors of Macau as “one of the earliest fusion cuisines,” Macanese flavors are comprised of “capsicum, curry, shrimp paste, pickled cod and other spices brought by Portuguese traders from Africa, India and Malaysia,” combined with “Portuguese non-perishables such as olive oil, olives and bacalhau” and the essence of Southeast Asia in the form of “cinnamon, coconut milk, tamarind , garlic and red chili.”

litoral african chicken

Litoral is enjoyed by celebrities and VIPs not just for its privacy and friendly, professional staff but for its signature dishes. A must-try, Galinha Africana (African Chicken, half MOP$180) is juicy roast chicken in piri piri sauce. For a glimpse of Indian inspiration, one dish that is reminiscent of a popular Filipino dish, and typical Macanese desserts, click on my snapshots here. Prices are reasonable at portions that are great for sharing. Although lunch in Macau officially starts at 1PM, Restaurante Litoral and its café of the same name open at noon. Visit restaurant-litoral.com for details.

macao science center

2. Explore the new Macao Science Center.* Read on…

How To Enjoy Macau In Style

Posted by me on June 22nd, 2010 in , , and · 1 Comment

My second visit to Macau in 2006 and this year’s third never failed to astound. From what looked like a quick, quiet weekend escape from bustling Hong Kong in the early 90’s, with every trip, the place was bigger, bolder, and so much brighter from a million lights that change color with every blink. But amidst Macau’s staggering transformation, one thing remained — I still like it better than Hong Kong. Perhaps because of their Portuguese roots, the people seemed more open, nicer. Modern Macau is a world of contrasts, where the economic cultures and spiritual values of east and west co-exist, and its citizens live in a spirit of peaceful tolerance.

Take your flight from Manila or Clark, Pampanga and you’re in this Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in less than two hours. So many things to do packed in such a tiny place. And you can enjoy them in so many ways — as a lone traveler, a couple, family, or group of friends.  This 3-part series will show you how to enjoy Macau — in style, on a budget, even for free ;)

Exchange rate: MOP$1 = approx PHP6

8 WAYS TO ENJOY MACAU IN STYLE 

sofitel macau at ponte 16

1. Check in at the Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16. Indulge in this small luxury hotel’s  French contemporary flair and classic Portuguese ambiance. The room itself pampers — generous space, fine amenities, heavenly bedding (!), stylish décor with views of the historic Pearl River Delta at dawn and city glitz at dusk. It’s a walking distance to Macau’s heritage sites including St. Paul’s Ruins, Leal Senado Square and a multi-cultural neighborhood.  Sofitel’s central location is a 20-minute drive from the Macau International Airport and 10 minutes from the Macau Ferry terminal. Room rates start at MOP$1000 (my press visit included a privileged peek at the Sofitel-exclusive Michael Jackson Legend Gallery). The itinerary I shared with 5 travel bloggers from the Philippines was hectic, but with such a home for four days, business felt like pleasure and life truly “magnifique!” For a list of Macau’s high end hotels, click here.

city of dreams horizons appetizer

2. Indulge on a meal like no other at Horizons, Macau’s latest premier dining destination known for its succulent grilled steak and seafood. Located at the new luxurious Crown Towers at the City of Dreams, Macau’s newest entertainment-shopping-restaurant-casino-hotel-and-resort concept, Horizons offers its guests fine international dining with sweeping views of the city’s waterscape and COTAI strip, Asia’s Las Vegas. Here, you’ll be lucky to experience Malaysian sous chef Ryan Dang Beh Keong’s exquisite execution of subtle yet fantastic flavor combinations.

(Above) Cold smoked salmon glazed with champagne offered a delicate surprise with every bite — sprinkled with a light and salty cucumber and capers salsa, slurped with crème fraiche, slivers of caramelized orange zest and specks of ikura (salmon roe), or swept along a rich beet puree produced by slow oven roasting for 3 hours until soft and velvety.

 city of dreams horizons soup

My first taste of the sweet kabocha (Japanese squash) Read on…

Website Goes Through Changes

Posted by me on June 22nd, 2010 in · 0 Comments

… among other things.

Sorry for the absence. New posts coming in a bit. Sneak preview here.




Bohol Bee Farm: More Than Just Honey

Posted by me on May 21st, 2010 in , , and · 5 Comments

If I were to return to Bohol for a day, I’d have this inasal for lunch, coffee and a walk around here, and maybe spend the rest of the day at Bohol Bee Farm. There’s more to this place than just bees and honey.

bohol bee farm

A short but animated farm tour by staff Ronel ends with someone’s brave fingertip squeezing precious honey straight through the bee colony. Although I’m not too crazy about this stuff, such rare opportunity gives you a high from tasting nature’s golden syrup directly from the live producers themselves.

fresh honey at bohol bee farm

Run by Vicky Wallace, a Boholana and former New York-based nurse, Bohol Bee Farm is more than just a resort with food and beverage facilities. It is an organic farm that serves as a center for livelihood and sustainable development. Expect polite, country-style service where knowledgeable staff wears slippers, no uniform nor makeup.

bohol bee farm poolside restaurant

Lush with indigenous trees and plants, the 26-room resort has more than ample space that lets you choose from several relaxing spots, such as the poolside restaurant above, in which to enjoy what the place has to offer. Read on…

From Macau to Malaysia

Posted by me on May 12th, 2010 in · 0 Comments

Be back soon!




Bohol Culinary Art At Amarela

Posted by me on May 1st, 2010 in , , , , , and · 2 Comments

still life painting by nene lungay

Nothing thrills me more than a surprise in the midst of what I had presumed to be a predictable trip. Our second stop on our first-day itinerary was Amarela, a 26-room boutique resort painted in a warm squash-yellow. The name, according to owner Lucas “Doy” Nunag, pertains to Linha Amarela or “yellow line,” a subway sign seen during a family visit to Portugal. After practicing the legal profession in Manila for over 30 years, the former corporate lawyer returned to his birthplace with retirement in mind. But thanks to Amarela’s prime tourist location (with the “longest stretch of white beach in Panglao”), the retired attorney and his wife swiftly developed the place into one of the prettiest holiday destinations I’ve seen.

With Atty. Nunag as the current chairman for the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, Amarela sets high standards in tourist facilities with green solutions in place to help protect the community and the environment. Since its opening in 2006, Amarela has adopted the use of solar power, waste water treatment (using reed beds (tambo) to cleanse the water before it goes out to the sea), and dispensers for drinking water in lieu of plastic bottles, among others. While the resort plants its own herbs and vegetables like basil and okra, its sprawling garden is thick with edible flowers such as the purple ternate and pink honeysuckle variety.

amarela resort from facebook

On a clear day, you can see Camiguin off the northern coast of Mindanao and Bohol’s Pamilacan and Balicasag islands from the resort balconies. But beyond the resort’s natural beauty and tasteful architecture, what really impressed me about this place was the staggering display of creativity which stemmed from the owners’ sense of honor and pride to share Boholano art and culture with their guests.

E.g. The portuding seahorse head in the picture is part of a downspout that catches and carries rainwater from the roof to the ground. The owner had it carved out of a fat pillar taken from an old house. It is made of the indigenous molave, a hard, weather-resistant wood.

wood carving at amarela

This wood carving of rice, grains and suman filled up a sizeable part of the resort’s restaurant wall.

nene lungay painting at amarela

Art pieces collected through the years include commissioned works by 80-year-old Boholano painter Nene Lungay, a graduate of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines. Here she painted memories from her youth in traditional Filipina clothing and used colorful native fruits as accent.

Feast on more intriguing Amarela art:

Read on…

Bohol Lose Control: Eskaya Cuisine

Posted by me on April 17th, 2010 in , , , , , and · 5 Comments

I predicted my second visit to Bohol in 2003 to be my last, having seen a bit more of what I missed as a traveling college student in the 90’s.  I found myself returning with my magazine colleagues in time for this year’s summer issue,* albeit with no expectations.  Arriving in the capital city of Tagbilaran after the hour-15-minute flight, I soon saw the changes. The runway was getting a major extension, apparently to accommodate the larger aircrafts that serve the direct route to and from Manila. Improvement work was being done on road networks. I learned that in the nearby Panglao Island, what is intended as Bohol’s international airport was also under way. Investors and tourists are increasingly showing interest in Bohol beyond its Chocolate Hills — from the island province’s white beaches, range of dive spots, caves, falls, fauna, to its  ancient churches, historical landmarks and its people’s innate hospitality. And where tourism goes, the eating scene grows.

eskaya panglao bohol

7am view from Eskaya’s presidential suite
where the summer cover shoot took place

As usual, I was here for the food. With longer out-of-town assignments, two lunches in a day is not uncommon. (On this visit with several stops in just 3 days, one restaurant served at least 20 things, enough to feed a pack of grown men). To save my life (and my vanishing waistline), I’ve learned to stick to a control plan — pacing the intakes, taking sample bites, just enough to understand what the dish is all about. I’ve been a good girl and proud of it. Blame Chef Booj Supe for ruining all that.

eskaya chicken inasal

Read on…

« Previous Entries