Shoot First Eat Later

Shaved Ice at Cold Layers

After lunch at Yumemiya Japanese Cafe we tried out the new dessert place at Northeast Square called Cold Layers.

Not really dessert but these dried mushroom cookies were sold in the store.

dried mushroom cookies

The shaved ice was similar to Lugang Cafe’s version but pushed another notch higher. For one Cold Layers had more flavors and toppings and sauces were added to create several shaved ice concoctions. Out of the 4 kinds we tried my favorite was the seemingly strange creation called Something Cheezy made with the unlikely combination of cheese snow ice, matcha powder and chocolate syrup.

There was something comforting about eating slightly salty, slightly sweet cheese flavored super smooth snowy ice (say that fast 5x). And yes cheese, chocolate and matcha tasted good together.

Something Cheezy P220

Tease Me was made of lychee flavored snow ice, canned lychee and almond pudding. It was just ok for me. Not as yummy as Something Cheezy.

Tease Me P210

I don’t even remember what this tasted like.

Nuts About You P240

Chocolate Lovers was simply chocolate flavored snow ice with chocolate syrup. I liked this the least. The chocolate taste was very mild and watery.

Chocolate Lover P105

The flavored ice was shaved very finely and layer upon layer was piled into a bowl. It took a long time for the compact ice to melt. That’s probably why Cold Layers has delivery service too.

I enjoyed dessert at Cold Layers. Snow ice is light, fat free and quite a satisfying change from ice cream.

Cold Layers’ menu

Cold Layers47 Northeast Square Building, Connecticut Street,
Greenhills, San Juan City, 1503 Manila, Philippines

Delivery – Call 87878

Lunch at Yumemiya Japanese Cafe

I pass by Northeast Square along Connecticut St. in Greenhills everyday on my way to work. It’s been open for several months already but I’ve never eaten at any of the numerous restaurants in the building.

That’s why when my friend Tisay came to Manila for one of her quick trips I suggested Yumemiya Japanese Cafe for our lunch venue. It was also convenient for my other friends who had to pick up their kids from ICA and Xavier after.

Northeast Square

These are just some of the tenants of Northeast Square.

Yumemiya Japanese Cafe is the coffee shop of the Japanese coffee brand Key Coffee. They used to be named Café Key West and I ate at one of their branches in Hong Kong. Now that branch has also been changed to Yumemiya.

We weren’t able to try any of the yummy looking cakes.

They had a very limited menu with mostly Japanese style pizza, pasta, a couple of meat dishes and a few appetizers.

I really liked the simple but very flavorful sautéed mushrooms. It was light with a nice spicy kick.

sauté mushrooms with garlic & red pepper P148

The chikuwa made with fish surimi, starch and spices was quite interesting. Soft yet chewy and tasty.

broccoli & chikuwa in miso taste P148

Fried squid. How can you go wrong with that?

deep fried squid P178

I can’t believe my self control. I love pizza and pasta and could eat it everyday. It’s used to be my favorite food to order in a restaurant. Since I was in a no bad carbs diet I managed to curb all my white flour desires and didn’t try any of the delicious looking pizza and pasta my friends ordered.

My friends liked the pizzas for the thin and crispy crust.

chef pizza w/ mixed sausage, mushroom & tomato P248

The mushroom pizza looked really interesting with bonito flakes on top.

mushroom pizza Japanese style P268

I noticed that none of the pasta had heavy cream sauces and that’s a good thing. My friends said the spaghetti was perfectly al dente. The server told me the pasta was a Japanese brand.

spaghetti with mushroom Japanese style P248

Elisa raved about the strong umami taste of the cod’s roe mixed with Japanese pickles and a dash of wasabi. Out of all the pastas this was her favorite.

spaghetti with cod’s roe & Japanese pickles in cream sauce P278

spaghetti with salmon & clams peperoncino style P308

Initially I wanted to order the diced sirloin steak but it was served with french fries and broccoli. I asked if the I could have salad instead of the fries and broccoli. They said NO! Out of all the restaurants in Manila I’ve eaten at while on a diet this was the only restaurant that didn’t allow any substitutions.

I ordered the shabu shabu set instead. It came with thin slices of really lean beef, shiitake & golden mushrooms, tofu, cabbage and carrots. I gave my bowl of udon noodles away.

shabu shabu set P398

I dumped all the veggies in the stock pot and waited for the soup to boil again before dropping in a slice of beef. The beef wasn’t very tender because it had no marbling of fat but I didn’t mind that. The stock wasn’t very flavorful so I had to dip my beef and veggies in a lot of sesame sauce that was provided. Overall I thought it was ok but my other friends didn’t like it at all. They said I’ve gotten used to bland food. They were right.

Debbie came very late and almost all the food was gone so she ordered a bowl of udon.

udon

I really liked the siphon coffee made with Key coffee.

Yumemiya original coffee P109

green tea P119

We really don’t need any reason to get together. Just any simple reason and we quickly gather for another meal. That’s what friends are for.

Yumemiya Japanese Cafe (now closed)
47 Northeast Square Building, Connecticut Street,
Greenhills, San Juan City, 1503 Manila, Philippines
telephone: 722-4838

Hours:
Mon – Thu: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm
Fri – Sat: 7:00 am – 12:00 am
Sun: 7:00 am – 11:00 pm

Facebook

Lunch at Cibo

It was a week day and Rochelle and I played hooky. Instead of working we went shopping at Rockwell Power Plant.

After a couple of hours of trying on clothes it was time for lunch. We walked around and looked for a restaurant where I can find my ‘diet’ food. We ended up at Cibo which is one of my favorite restaurants although I haven’t eaten there in years.

The interiors haven’t changed since this branch at Rockwell Power Plant opened. It looked quite dated already.

I really, really wanted to order their famous spinach and gorgonzola dip which is my all time favorite in Cibo but to avoid temptation and cheating Rochelle ordered the chicken liver pate. The paté was refrigerator cold but it was still good. The liver was smooth and very tasty. It was topped with an apple & pear sauce. It was a unique blend of sweet and salty. I ate some without bread which was ok with me.

paté di fegato (chicken liver paté) P248

Rochelle really had a hard time deciding what to order. She wanted to order our favorite Agnello Stuffato Panini (stewed lamb sandwich), pasta and pizza. I can feel her agony since I wanted to eat all those too. In the end she ordered the lamb chops.

She was initially worried that the lamb chops would be the small, skinny chops found in several restaurants in Manila. She was so happy that the lamb chops were fat and juicy. She said they were one of the best lamb chops she has ever eaten in Manila. Instead of rice pilaf she requested rosemary potatoes which were so delicious. I forgot to take a picture of her really white empty plate.

costollete d’ agnello (grilled lamb chops) P420

There were quite a few options that were Cohen friendly but I ordered the healthiest and simplest meal which was a green salad topped with beef tenderloin. I asked the waiter the weight of the lettuce and beef and the large or family sized salad fit my requirements. For the dressing I asked for balsamic vinegar.

This salad looked just like what I eat at home but that’s where the similarity ends. The beef tenderloin was unbelievably yummy with a strong scent and flavor of rosemary. I truly enjoyed this simple and very satisfying meal.

insalata di manzo (salad w/ beef tenderloin) P473

I was very happy to have rediscovered an old favorite. They have definitely kept up their superior food quality. In a town where new restaurants pop up daily and close equally fast there is a reason that Cibo remains open and strong for all these years.

Lavazza coffee P58

Cibo’s branches (click to enlarge)

Cibo’s menu

Cibo
G/F Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Dr. cor. Estrella St.
Makati City, Metro Manila Philippines
telephone: +632-898-0366

Dinner at Mamou Too

Last month our high school classmate, Raquel wanted to treat us for no reason at all. Well she said she wanted to thank some of us for convincing her to buy an iMac and helping her buy it and getting it delivered to her house. We would have happily done it without a reward. But since she insisted….

Raquel chose to treat us at Mamou Too! in Rockwell Power Pant. The first time I ate at Mamou was in Serendra when they just opened. That time I wasn’t into steak so I ordered a pasta dish which disappointed me so I never went back. I’ve always wondered why Mamou got so many accolades from bloggers and the press.

Even the outside seating was full. I love the red chandeliers.

We sat in the lone function room. It’s good we were in there or else our noise volume would have bothered the other guests.

Quite a few restaurants in Manila now have built in bag hooks under the tables but what I like about this was the location of the hooks. The hooks were placed in the middle of the table so that your legs won’t hit your bag. Very smart.

The wine chiller was in our room.

bread basket

We ate family style and shared all the dishes. I will only comment on the dishes I ate and tried since I was still on a restricted diet. I did try my best to be a good girl but I cheated with a few bites of unallowed food and ‘gasp’ dessert.

soft shell crab salad P400

alugbati kamote talbos salad P325

While my other 10 friends shared the two salads above I had this harvest salad all to myself. This was my veggie requirement for dinner. I really enjoyed the glazed pecans, dried cranberries, cranberry stilton cheese and berry vinaigrette. All the things I haven’t eaten in months. (cheat #1)

Healdsburg’s harvest salad P325

The owner, Mamou, came by to check on how everything was. She also gave us some tips which I will share later on.

Mamou, Malou Fores

It’s funny I never liked steak even when my family used to own a steak house several years ago. But being in the Cohen diet forced me to eat more protein rather than my favorite carbs. And now I love steak. And let me tell you I loved Mamou’s steak. Now I understand why both branches of Mamou are always full.

Angus Ribeye USDA Prime Grade Steak, 800g or 28 oz P2,800

For our group of 11 Raquel ordered 3 huge steaks. I thought it would be too much but we finished it all. I loved the charred exterior of the steak which was very flavorful while the interior was super tender and juicy. It didn’t taste oily at all.

The steak didn’t need any gravy but it was fabulous with a touch of sea salt or tuyo flakes. Really!

The steak came with two side dishes and my friends ordered the creamed spinach and the cinnamon saba (plantain) which wasn’t really part of the choices but you can request it.

creamed spinach

Hmm steak with a side of sweet fried cinnamon bananas? Different but my friends swore it was good together. At least it was healthier than mashed potatoes or steak rice right?

cinnamon saba

Another house specialty was the citrus rubbed roast pork and chicken with Cuban red rice and cinnamon saba. It also came with black beans which we requested be served separately.

roast pork & chicken P595

black beans

My friends always order this simple but delicious spaghetti with tuna roe and garlic olive oil sauce.

Mario Bottara al Olio P425

The next 3 dishes are what I call Pinoy comfort food, dishes that you can eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. These dishes were served with the garlic red rice and the creamiest, yummiest scrambled eggs. Mamou told us we can also request duck eggs be used for an even more indulgent version. (cheat #2)

The spicy sweet tuyo (dried herring) wasn’t on the menu but those who know about it swear by it. Mamou told us that you can buy the same bottle spicy sweet tuyo from her other store The Blue Kitchen. I put a small piece of tuyo on my steak and it was delish!!

spicy sweet tuyo P295

I tried a small piece of the lamb tapa. It was really tender but I found it too sweet. I expected tapa to be salty. Funny but I lost my taste for sweet food (not dessert ;p)

lamb tapa P395

On the other hand the duck adobo flakes was extremely good. Soft but a little crunchy, salty yet a little sour. It made it to the top of my list of “food I will eat once I finish my diet”. This is my idea of the perfect breakfast, Pinoy style.

duck adobo flakes P295

Lavazza coffee P70

I took little bites of each dessert (cheat #3). The key lime pie was tart but not too tart. I googled schlagsahne and found out it was German for whipped cream. That’s all.

key lime pie with “schlagsahne” P145

The cheesecake was authentic dense NY style cheesecake.

New York cheesecake P285

The chocolate sans rival didn’t pass my crunch standard. The meringue layer was soft and chewy but still I loved it because of the dark chocolate buttercream and topping which wasn’t sweet but very chocolatey. I ate more than a bite. My biggest cheat of the night. But I didn’t regret it one bit. Yummmmm!!!

dark chocolate sans rival P285

Thank you for the spectacular dinner Raquel (in orange)!! I’m so happy I tried Mamou again. Now I know where to find good steak in Manila.

my high school friends

A few weeks later I brought Rochelle to Mamou since I wanted her to try the duck adobo flakes since I knew she would like it. And she did!

I ordered the 8 oz. prime rib. It wasn’t as good as the charred steak but it was tender anyway. I was planning to eat half only but I finished the entire prime rib sans all the fat. Next time I’ll ask them to grill the prime rib briefly and serve the gravy on the side.

Wawa’s prime rib 250g or 8 oz P980

I was really eager to try the yorkshire pudding even though it was bad carbs. Unfortunately it wasn’t anywhere as good as the one I had at Lawry’s in Los Angeles. Probably because it was cold and it became hard. Maybe if it was hot and fresh from the oven it would have been light, airy and soft as it should be. Nevertheless I ate the whole thing. My first ‘bread’ in 6 months!

yorkshire pudding

My prime rib came with two side dishes but I requested for the Healdsburg’s harvest salad instead potatoes or rice. They were so nice to give in to my request. The salad tasted even better the second time around.

Healdsburg’s harvest salad

Mamou Menu (click to enlarge)

Mamou
Unit 1C – 15 G/F Serendra, Fort Bonifacio Heights, Fort Bonifacio, Philippines
telephone: +632-856-3569 or +632-909-5741
mobile: +63917-8162668

Mamou Too!
L R1 148A, Rockwell Power Plant Mall, Makati City
telephone: +632-822-6218
mobile: +63917-8062668
email: mamou@info.com.ph

Hours
Mon – Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm; 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Mamou on Facebook

Lunch at Champêtre

I accompanied my dad to St. Lukes Global City for his check up. After that we went to lunch at the new Champêtre. We were both eager to try it since we used to go to Je Suis Gourmand a lot before.

I used to love Je Suis Gourmand in the early days when they had the best burger and Caesar salad. I was so sad when they revamped their menu and got rid of the sandwiches. After that the only thing I really loved was their pan seared foie gras salad. It was really the best I’ve ever eaten in Manila. I didn’t like the rest of their food as much. I was quite sad when I passed by one time and found it closed. I really wanted to eat there foie gras salad again.

Thankfully Je Suis Gourmand has reincarnated into Champêtre. The chef is still Marc Aubry just with different owners.

The interiors look the same with a few changes.

bread basket

My dad just wanted soup and bread for lunch. For lack of a healthier choice the best option was the fish and prawn soup. It came out less than warm so we had it reheated. The waiter said the temperature of the soup was affected by the rouille sauce. The flavor of the soup was very rich and fishy in a good way. There were plenty of fish chunks and prawns. It was a meal in itself.

fish and prawn soup with rouille sauce & croutons P320

Our friend and interior designer, Nicky Magcase joined us for lunch and he ordered the prawns. I guess he had the smoked bacon removed for a healthier meal. He said the prawns were hard but the flavor was good. It was definitely the butter sauce that did the trick. The vegetables were overcooked and mushy too.

roasted prawns wrapped in smoked bacon with beurre blanc sauce &
goat cheese enhanced ratatouille P740

I ordered the beef onglet because my friend Jin raved about it. Onglet or hanger steak is a prized cut that comes from the diaphragm of the cow. I’ve never tried this cut before. The original dish came with salad and fries. I requested for more salad and no fries and they gave it to me. I just love restaurants that are flexible with their food preparation. I also requested that butter not be used since I was on a diet.

butter seared U.S. black angus beef onglet P690

My first taste of the beef was wonderful. The beef was so tender and flavorful and the fried shallots on top really added a nice touch.

I was quite happy until I cut a piece from the other end. It was overcooked and quite tough. I immediately texted Jin and told her about it. She said when she ate it she split it with her cousin who got the tough part. No wonder she was happy and her cousin wasn’t. If only they could maintain the doneness of the whole steak I would highly recommend this dish. Right now I would say order this at your own risk.

I wish I could have ordered the foie gras salad instead. Obviously foie gras isn’t in any diet’s list of allowable food. But please do try it.

coffee P85

I really, really, really dislike the font they used for the menu. This font in my opinion should be used for headings or in limited quantity only. The menu was hard to read. Instead of perusing all the items at leisure I quickly ordered the first thing that caught my eye. If I read each and every item I would have ended up crossed eyed and with a headache.

Champetre’s menu

Do you want to know how to pronounce Champêtre? Click here.

Champêtre

G/F Net One Center Building,
Fort Bonifacio Global City,

Taguig, Philippines

telephone: 815-8801 to 02

Allies Wonder Peanuts

Let me introduce you to the bane of my diet. My biggest mistake was ordering these peanuts. Warning if you are on a diet do not continue reading this.

I don’t know what insanity possessed me to start eating peanuts when I very well know they are not allowed on the Cohen diet. Somehow the naughty part of my brain rationalized that peanuts are healthy and good for you and it wouldn’t hurt to eat a few. Well these peanuts were so good I didn’t stop at a few.

Allies Wonder Peanuts 800g can – P270

I ordered this 800 gram can of peanuts from my friend and co-blogger Franny who together with her hubby Paul are the Manila distributor of these wonder peanuts from Pamapanga. I was amazed at how cheap the peanuts cost. In markets and bazaars other brands of garlic peanuts also from Pampanga cost P200-300 for a 450g plastic jar.

I tried a handful that led to another handful and pretty soon I couldn’t stop. I actually finished the contents of this half gallon can in 5 days! And that’s one of the reasons I didn’t lose a single pound last month. The peanuts were absolutely delicious! Crunchy, salty, garlicky and not greasy at all.

Do you see all the lovely slices of toasted garlic? There were really lots and lots of garlic. They were mild enough to eat yet provided an extra garlic punch to the peanuts.

So if I were you I would order a can or two right away. Since demolishing a can of peanuts I’ve stopped eating peanuts and have ordered a few to give to recent balikbayan guests.

Allies Wonder Peanuts
to order call Paul at +63917-538-8125
800 g can – P270
450g jar – P170

Rosemary Roasted Cashews

Last August I hosted a simple dinner for a few friends. I don’t even remember why I did it. I didn’t cook anything except for these rosemary roasted cashews. I’m lucky I have a good cook who did all the cooking for dinner.

I got this recipe from Ina Garten aka The Barefoot Contessa. The original recipe came from the Union Square Cafe’s famous bar nuts which they serve warm at the bar. Nigella Lawson’s recipe for that can be found here.

I used Ina’s recipe which called for all cashews instead of mixed nuts since it’s easier to find in the supermarket. I bought this 500 gram bag of Heritage raw cashew nut from Unimart for P419.50. The whole bag was just perfect for one recipe.

It’s very easy to prepare. Bake the nuts for 10 minutes or until they turn golden brown. The second time I made this I toasted it more golden than the ones in this picture.

Combine the fresh rosemary, sea salt, muscovado sugar and cayenne pepper in a bowl.

Add the melted butter.

Mix well to combine.

Add the warm nuts, toss until well coated. Serve warm. The smell is just wonderful.

My friends all loved the savory, sweet, fragrant cashews. We all couldn’t stop munching the nuts before, during and after dinner.

Rosemary Roasted Cashews
(c/o Ina Garten)
1 1/4 pounds cashew nuts (500 grams)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar (I used muscovado sugar)
2 teaspoons kosher salt (I used sea salt)
1 tablespoon melted butter

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through. Meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl. Toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated. Serve warm.

These are the dishes my cook prepared. My cook used to work in a Chinese restaurant and he’s also the one who cooks all the delicious meals I sell in my store, Small Office Solutions. So I can’t take credit for all the good food. In case you’re wondering what I ate? I ate my regular Cohen meal. Sad huh? I did try a little of this and that.

pickled vegetables

I love this tofu that’s a little sweet and a little spicy. It can be served hot or cold.

marinated tofu

We also had pinakbet and monggo but they’re not photogenic. The biggest hit as expected was my cook’s ultra yummy and crispy lechon kawali.

lechon kawali

Rochelle brought 2 boxes of Cassava Creme Royale and it was all our first time to try it and we loved it!

Cassava Creme Royale

The base was a typical gooey cassava cake topped with a creamy, cheesy topping. It wasn’t too sweet so you can eat a lot. The topping reminded me of leche flan.

Look at all that creamy goodness!!! You can eat this chilled straight from the refrigerator or warm it in the microwave. I prefer eating it cold since I don’t want to waste time nuking it. I cheat with just 1 or 2 spoonfuls.

cheese cassava P170

The other variant was macapuno or coconut sport. Even though macapuno is typically super sweet this wasn’t.

Still good but not as creamy as the cheese.

macapuno cassava P170

The next two pictures came from Cassava Creme Royale’s Facebook page.

Hmm coffee or chocolate cassava? I wonder what that tastes like.

Cassava Creme Royale
277 P. Guevarra St. San Juan
telephone: 545-8742

83 Katipunan Rd., White Plains, QC

telephone: 560-8421

8 Examiner St., West Triangle, QC

telephone: 560-8420

Lunch at Nahm Restaurant

Last August I went back to Hong Kong alone to submit more requirements to the Hong Kong immigration. I had to go back to their offices three times and finally the kind immigration officer gave in to my request of for an extension of stay for another two years.( I’m a Hong Kong resident.)

I was so happy that I went to Elements Mall to celebrate with a meal. A non-diet meal! I chose to eat at Nahm a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant.

Even on a weekday the restaurant was full and I had to wait in line for a few minutes.

Even though I knew I was going to break my diet I still chose food that was allowed in my diet and that meant no carbs. I had the set lunch that was very affordable at HK$88 and included a salad and a main course.

For my salad I chose the Vietnamese chicken salad made with cucumber, cabbage, peanuts, mint leaves and a light vinaigrette. It was absolutely delicious! And to think I used to hate cucumber and raw cabbage. This dish has totally changed my mind. I ended up taking this home since the main course was more than enough to fill me up. I had this for dinner. It wasn’t as crunchy but still very good.

Vietnamese chicken salad

If I weren’t on a diet I would have finished all the rice. The sauce was heavenly. It was rich with coconut milk and just the right amount of curry and it wasn’t spicy at all. The sole fish was thick, meaty and tender. It could have passed for chicken. I was very, very happy with this cheat meal.

pan fried fillet of sole in yellow curry sauce

The remains of my meal. I was so, so, so full.

set lunch HK$88

I already paid my bill when I saw Vietnamese coffee on the other table. I immediately ordered one for myself.

Vietnamese coffee HK$38

I loved the strong coffee laced with sweet condensed milk. It was the perfect end to my meal. It was a good celebration.

set lunch menu (click to enlarge)

Nahm’s menu

Nahm, Vietnamese & Thai
Shop 1045, 1/F, Elements,
1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong
telephone: +852-2810-7575

On a side note:
My first Apple device was the 1st gen Nano. Before that I tried all kinds of mp3 players not wanting to give in to the iPod. I just couldn’t ignore the fantastic form factor of the first Nano. My next Apple product was the iMac. My friend Deb finally convinced me to try the iMac. Since I was fed up with viruses and spyware I gave in.

After that I was an Apple fanatic all the way. An iPhone 3gs followed, then a Macbook Pro, then an iPad. Sold the Macbook pro and now I’m a happy owner of the ultra light Macbook Air. My iPhone is nearing the end of its life so I can’t wait to buy the iPhone 4s. Thank you Steve Jobs for all the wonderful devices you and your team have dreamed up. I can’t imagine my daily life without an Apple device. I’m sure your legacy will live on.

Philippine Airlines Meals Mnl-Hkg-Mnl August 2011

I’m saddened with the chaos that’s going on now with Philippine Airlines. I’m quite loyal with PAL since I’ve never had any bad experiences with the airline. Sure there are some delays but which airline doesn’t have it.

And yes I’ve experienced a long haul flight without any lights or video service and that’s on business class. Even with these boo-boos I still take PAL and I’m happy with them specially their food.

Last August I had to go to Hong Kong twice for immigration stuff. The first time I took business class and the second time I took economy. I was very satisfied and pleased with the meals on both classes.

business class breakfast menu

mushroom & asparagus omelet w/ steak fillet & rosemary potatoes

The omelet was soft and fluffy but I really don’t like eggs so I just ate the mushroom and asparagus filling. The steak was more done than I like it but it was more than edible. I also appreciated how lean and tasty it was.

I just ate the Cohen approved parts of the meal.

Another thing with taking PAL is the good service although sometimes I get annoyed with flight attendants talking too loudly in the galley. On my flight from Hong Kong to Manila, I encountered extraordinary great service from one flight attendant. I regret not getting her name. She was ultra friendly and took time to open the blankets of the passengers instead of just handing it over.

She even strapped in my bag to keep it from falling down. She was simply unforgettable.

On the menu there is always a small treat that comes with coffee or tea but I almost never get offered it. I asked the friendly attendant why this time I was given the mango chocolate. She explained that if you take your tea or coffee with your meal you don’t get the extra sweets. But if you ask for coffee or tea after your tray is taken away then it is served to you automatically. Now I know the secret!

Cebu Best Mango Chocolate

By the way the dried mango covered in dark chocolate was yummy! I never knew such a product existed. This would make a good gift to visitors to the Philippines.

chicken tapa with garlic rice & Red Ribbon mamon

The chicken tapa wasn’t what I expected. I was imagining something dry like beef tapa instead it had sauce and tasted a lot like adobo. I was so happy chicken breast was used and it was still tender. I found it a bit salty because I didn’t eat it with rice. It was quite good and appetizing. The chicken was mixed with lots of whole canned button mushroom.

Dinner on my flight back to Manila I chose the chicken with oyster sauce. It looked similar to the chicken tapa but the flavor was very different. The chicken breast was slightly overcooked but it wasn’t bad at all. Very satisfactory indeed.

chicken with oyster sauce

It’s a good thing both meals came with packaged dessert which I was able to take with me and I gave it away.

Red Ribbon’s taisan

Philippine Airlines Lounge in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong Philippine Airlines shares the CNAC VIP Lounge with several airlines. I took an economy flight to Hong Kong last August and I was surprised to get an invitation to use the lounge in Hong Kong thanks to my new Mabuhay Miles Elite card which I got for free from Allied Bank’s World MasterCard.

I thought that I could use the lounge in Manila only. I love my new Mabuhay Miles Elite card. I even got an extra 10 kg. baggage allowance which I put to good use.

The CNAC VIP lounge is very modern and quite big.

You can actually see if the Philippine Airlines’ plane has arrived because the gate they usually use (gate 16-18) is just across this lounge.

You can use their PCs or plug in your own laptop and access the airport’s free wifi.

Relax or snooze in style with these lounge chairs.

Don’t bother with this machine. The coffee and hot chocolate it dispensed was crap.

What’s new in this lounge is the kakaaliw automatic pancake maker.

Just push a button and a fresh mini pancake will come out in 60 seconds.

I tried a small piece and was amazed at how good it was.

I didn’t try any of the other food.

penne in vegetable tomato sauce

chicken sausage and siomai

vol-au-vent

sardines

bread and pastries

fish ball soup

strawberry Haagen-Dazs ice cream

salad bar

drinks and jello, fruit cups

alcohol anyone?

junk food

It’s a joy to wait in this lounge just reading newspapers and magazines and when your flight is ready to board you just walk leisurely to the gate. Plus the bathrooms are clean and they also have shower facilities.