Foodie Alert! The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang-Ilang opens doors to diners

 Are you excited to visit your favorite hotel restaurant again? Which food station will you be making a beeline for? Which favorite dish will you be asking for first? Well, I have good news for you fellow foodie!!

The Manila Hotel’s famed Café Ilang-Ilang has once again opened its doors to valued clients. The hotel has been responding to queries about the outlet’s reopening. After reviewing the guidelines, as well as heightening health and hygiene protocols, the decision to open Café Ilang-Ilang is an answer to persistent inquiries from its loyal guests and those who have yet to experience it.

The food stations will once again be teeming with exciting dishes, and the aroma of your favorites will surely call out to you as you approach them. As the world-class chefs are busy behind glass enclosures, diners can go around the restaurant in their face masks and face shields to check various food stations. Because of existing guidelines for dining establishments, Café Ilang-Ilang has implemented the Order & Eat-All-You-Can System, where guests can point to what they want from the spread, and it will be plated for them.Café Ilang-Ilang serves international selections from Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Korean to everything in between; even Halal. You can get your grilled meats at the popular Churrasco station, or the beloved lechon at the Filipino station. You will surely be spoiled in this gourmand’s haven. See if you can resist the selection of desserts, or the local fave and Halo-Halo—the perfect treat to beat the heat!

A gastronomic feast also awaits guests with an amazing gift voucher deal, giving you more reasons to come and visit us. For just P3,000 nett (lunch) and P3,500 nett (dinner), diners can indulge in our vast array of culinary creations. These non-expiring dining vouchers for two are available for purchase until June 20, 2021. They can be redeemed anytime at Café Ilang-Ilang but prior reservation is recommended.

Café Ilang-Ilang still implements physical distancing and reduced capacity measures that are compliantwith the IATF and DOT guidelines for restaurants, so you can be sure that #YouAreSafeHere when youcome and visit.

The outlet opens for lunch at 11:30am, and dinner at 5:30pm with last call for orders at 8pm. For moreinformation and reservations, please call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912 or email torestaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com. You may also book via https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/dining/cafe-ilang-ilang/.

Much Love 

xx Alice 

The Manila Hotel’s Lobby Lounge Reopens

As quarantine restrictions have been eased a bit in NCR+, The Manila Hotel is reopening its Lobby Lounge today, May 24, 2021 after the temporary suspension of dining services due to the ECQ.

The reopening of The Lobby Lounge gives valued guests a perfect opportunity to enjoy its perks again: great food, meeting and endless conversation with both friends and business partners, excellent service, and free Wi-Fi internet connection.

More than a typical café set up, the Lobby Lounge is quiet, comfortable, and spacious, which also means that guests are kept at a distance from each other and enjoy a bit of privacy with high-backed seats. Cleaned and sanitized daily, the health and hygiene protocols put in place by The Manila Hotel includes fresh air dampers that circulate fresh outdoor air into the lobby, which is also sanitized by air micro filters.

The Lobby Lounge is also a grand heritage setting for a relaxing afternoon, with its white Doric columns, Philippine mahogany furniture with elegant chandeliers made of brass, crystal, and capiz seashells. More than our stellar interior, it serves Filipino meals like Sinigang na Salmon, KareKare, Crispy Pata, and other local delights. You can also enjoy their lavish “Merienda Especial” or the Filipino Afternoon Tea that includes native delicacies like Bibingka and Puto Bumbong paired with  specialty grade coffee beans, hot chocolate, or tea. 

Or if that is not what you fancy, try the filling Manila Hotel club sandwich or assorted pastries. And escape the punishing weather outside when you relax in the cool interiors and enjoy fruit teas, or our Halo-Halo.

The Manila Hotel’s The Lobby Lounge is known for its exceptional facilities and warm service. It also gives its guests an assurance that “You are safe here” as we strictly adhere to stringent health and safety protocols.

The Lobby Lounge is open for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner from Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm. For more information, please call 85270011.

The Manila Hotel Café Ilang-Ilang offers halal-certified food for Takeout and Delivery

Eid Al-Fitr or the Festival of Breaking the Fast is a celebration by Muslims around the world for the end of the fasting period of Ramadan. It is celebrated through prayers, gifts, and a lavish feast, and this May 12th will be Eid Al-Fitr. While the Philippines is predominantly Catholic, Islam is the second largest religion in the country which means a lot of Filipinos are fond of Halal food. 

Halal Food is prepared following a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that determine what is permissible, lawful and clean. Any dish can be halal as long as the meat used is religiously slaughtered and no pork or alcohol in involved in the preparation. 

The Manila Hotel's Cafe Ilang Ilang is one of the establishments that has a Halal kitchen that is certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. Dedicated to Halal food, most dishes that they served are Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired dishes that is certainly delectable and also pays homage to its traditional roots. 

As Eid Al-Fitr is near, The Manila Hotel's Ramadan Special Halal Home Buffet set comes with Designed for proper breaking of the fast, The Manila Hotel’s Ramadan Specia Halal Home Buffet set comes with dried dates and juice, chickpeas hummus Fatoush mixed salad, roti and naan bread, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, vegetable samosa, and baklava. The set is just one of the three choices for the Halal Certified Home Buffet.

“Our Lamb Rogan Josh is a must-try. It’s imported from Australia and it has the spices and sharpness that will surely be enjoyed by everyone. We can also customize the food according to our customer’s request. Say you don’t like chili, we can make it milder. We can tweak a dish to please your palate while still being true to its authentic taste,” says Chef Kiran Singh, the hotel’s Halal trained chef. Celebrate Eid Al Fitr by ordering any of The Manila Hotel’s Halal Home Buffet sets or dishes, available for Takeout and delivery. Visit https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/takeout/ for the full menu; or call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912.

Much Love 

xx Alice 

Cheap Finds: Nips Dark Chocolate

 Honestly with everything going on chocolate has been one of my saving grace to keep me sane. And while I was browsing around the candies and chocolate aisle the past weekend I was able to see this nifty item - Nips Dark Chocolate! 

You know me, I love some dark chocolate and I can't pass this up so I grabbed a couple of bags and tried it out. 

For only 12PHP you get about 40 grams of dark chocolate nibbles which are great if you like to nibble while working or when you are binge watching some series. 

The taste wasn't really the kind of dark chocolate that I am used to. It is dark chocolate but its not the very bitter kind that I really like because I like my dark chocolate that way. Maybe because of the hard shell the taste was sort of altered but still its a great alternative to the usual milk chocolate Nips that I get when I do my grocery run. 

I know this might be triggering for some but nowadays chocolate and other snacks are sort of my safety blanket because of everything that is happening. I know I am in a place where I am privilege enough to be able to buy these small bags of chocolate as a means to escape the stress and anxiety I am experiencing. But please take in consideration that these are the only means of outlet I have right now to step out and decompress my situation. The pain of losing a beloved and also the stress of performing well at a task I am not sure I am doing right is not easy to juggle along with other personal things I will not talk about here. So please spare me the judgement for once because I am tired from it. 

So going back, Will I repurchase this? of course! I still loved the taste of this chocolate and I can't deny that the price is what made me jump at it and hoard because I tend to grab one and nibble on it. 

What do you nibble on when binging? Let me know in the comments section. 

Much Love 

xx Alice 

Konek with Friends and Family through food at Koneksiyon bean+beer

 

I am the type of person that loves to spend time with friends and family. I especially love eating great food with great people. So when my Hungry Daily Squad fam asked if there would be anyone that would like to join to check out this restaurant in Banawe, Quezon City I was immediately SOLD to it! 

Located at the newly built King's point building at N. Roxas Corner Banawe St. Q.C. This restaurant offers food and drinks fitted for everyone. 

Honestly if I go with each dish we tried, I will just bore you big time so I will focus on some of my favorites. 

1. Chicken Wings. 

Let me tell you how much I missed eating Chicken wings and it was definitely a perfect time I was able to eat some again! If you like  you can actually go with the unli wings option where you can try 8 different flavors which are: Tomato BBQ, Famous Classic, Sweet Smoked, Kapampangan Spicy Adobo, Honey Spicy, Garlic Teriyaki, Mango Pineapple, and Butter Garlic with Cheese. 

For only 239 pesos you can have chicken wings as much as you can. This does not come with drinks but you can just order that. Don't worry about the rice because it comes with unli rice too! 

2. Baked Whole Boneless Bangus (379PHP) 

I am typically not a fan of bangus because of the spines which can actually harm you. But the one we tried at Koneksiyon really did not have any spine! Also it tastes so good and a little on the sweet side but it doesn't overwhelm your tastebud and will keep you coming back for more bites. Its a bit steep in terms of price I know but believe me your 379 pesos is definitely worth every peso! 

3. Seafood Mix in Bagoong Rice 

This one is definitely the winner if you ask me! This is basically a version of fried rice that has fermented fish mixed in the rice and topped with seafood bits like squid, calamari and veggies. 

You can get a Squad bowl(219php) or a Solo Bowl (79php) but if you ask me the serving that they gave us is totally worth it. 

                                    

4. KonekMusal Meals 

Since this establishment is great for day and night foodie trips they offer KonekMusal meals which is basically the standard Filipino meal set which is a silog. They have it in Longganisa(179php), Daing na Bangus(179php), Tocino(189php), and Hungarian Sausage(199php).

 

Their servings are actually really big so its definitely worth your money. 

5. Their Specialty Drinks. 

This wouldn't be a review if I don't include the drinks. 

Honestly their drinks are not the general kind because it has a very distinct Filipino flavor to it. I do love that their juice drinks are homemade and there is a technique to be able to enjoy its taste and use it as a palate cleanser in between the flavors of all the dishes. 

Koneksiyon also offers coffee based drinks such as Frappuccino which is great if you are with a group of young teens that would just like their java fix without blowing the bank.  

The last drink we tried is actually Koneksiyon's signature drink which is Alak at Kape and yes it contains both of those! It actually looks quite harmless but if you consume quite a lot of those you might end up having a major hangover. 

Overall our experince at Koneksiyon Bean+Bear is amazing. Their food is delectable and bursting with flavor which balances out with their drinks as well. 

Ever tried this restaurant? Check them out on their latest location at Kings Point in Banawe Q.C.! 

Much Love 

xx Alice 

Dine Like Royalty (Without Breaking the Bank) at Samgyupking

I would just like to deeply apologize to my friends who will see this and call me out but I WENT HERE PRE-COVID OKAY DON'T GIVE ME BAD JUJUS~! 

Even during the time of Covid, samgyupsal is still very much a comfort staple for us. And if you want to have samgyupsal without breaking the bank and also have a one of a kind grilling experience - this is for you. 

SamgyupKing is located near the cinema hub of Fisher Mall in Quezon City which has a very spacious space and its well ventilated too. When we went there, there were actually quite a few people already dining along with other content creators and influencers that were invited. 

I mentioned earlier that they have a one of a kind grilling experience that is because you can also grill meat that are on skewers! There is also a vegetable variety and local delicacies that you can try. 

Each person can also enjoy a single serve of milk tea which can be taro or okinawa. 

I will just let the pictures tell you everything and let you know my thoughts below about SamgyupKing. 

 

Overall, I do think that samgyupking is a great concept for a one-of-a-king dining experience. The interior is simple but what I do love about this restaurant is there is variety in what you can eat here. I am not a fan of their kimchi so I would suggest you cook the kimchi a little on the grill to give it some depth. The meat selection is good and the grilling option is definitely something I would go back for. 

If you want to know more about SamgyupKing and their promos you can visit them here. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

Satisfying My Japanese Food Cravings at RameNatin

Let me just say that I miss eating out so much that when given the chance to dine out I WILL DO IT - within reason and safety of course. 

One of the things I have been craving a lot if Japanese food - Ramen to be exact and I found an affordable resto in Maginhawa that serves great ramen at a reasonable price - RameNatin. 

As you can see on the menu they have a very limited selection of ramen which are the staple ramen flavors like tantanmen, kara miso and aka miso. I got curious and got myself actually the black ramen because black colored food fascinate me. The cool thing about RameNatin is that their serving is quite large for 130pesos so you really get your money's worth here. 

The ramen that I got may not be pleasing to the eyes but the taste is the total opposite. Its broth is flavorful and bold but not something you would get tired of having. The toppings also are not one of a kind but I like it. Honestly this is one of those ramen places that I would go to just to get my ramen fix without breaking my wallet and setting it on fire.  

They have this Thai Tofu as an add on which is actually tasty! Its a great appetizer when you want your cravings to be met. I would just like to remind some that if you have a peanut allergy, this would trigger it because of the peanut content it has. Its more on the savory side but does not overwhelm the palette. Honestly I am impressed with this. I would say that their serving is quite big since this is only 80pesos which you can share with a friend or two but if you are like me I can finish this by myself haha! 

Overall, I really do love RameNatin and their other offerings. They are affordable and does not scrimp on the taste so make sure to give them a try. 

Affordable Tempura at Tokyo Tempura

As you may have noticed at this point - I have been eating so much Japanese food lately and I am not really stopping at this point because I love Japanese food. I do have one place I will recommend if you prefer Tempura you will absolutely love to share with your friends and family this Yuletide season - Tokyo Tempura!

Tokyo Tempura is the first ever Tempura food cart concept that gives Japan's Ebi Tempura at an affordable price available to everyone.

I wouldn't go in detail anymore about the flavors but I will link their social media page on the bottom part so you can check them out.

For the review, I really do appreciate that the shrimp that they use is not the very small variety so you really get your moneys worth here. There is a variety between sweet, tangy and also spicy flavors but if you ask me their spiciness level is quite mild for my standards but still good if you want a different kind of spiciness. 

Overall I do like Tokyo Tempura, its just that their branches are quite limited yet but if ever you are in Tutuban you can try them out there :D You can also check their social media page here and their website here

Much Love~!

xx Alice 

My Favorite Samgyupsal Place EVER! SEOULGYUPSAL!

AGAIN THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN BEFORE COVID LOCKDOWN SO DON'T COME AT ME! 

Before Covid 19 happened, me and hungry daily fam have eaten here several times and let me tell you why. 

Seoulgyupsal is a chain of Korean Samgyupsal plus Japanese food added to it but it won't hurt your budget. Like seriously the amount of food you will get here is more than what you paid for and the side dishes are also amazing! I won't do a very detailed description of their food but what I can tell you guys is a description of the meat you can get from Seoulgyupsal. 

They currently have 4 types of beef at Seoulgyupsal: Yangnum Beef, Spicy Beef, Woo Samgyup, and Herbed Woo Samgyup Beef.  

So what is the difference between these? besides the obvious (duh)

yangnum beef are a bit thicker in slices but has good marbling in the meat which is great to have when you first eat their samgyupsal. Its a bit heartier than the other cuts so if you want a bang for your buck this is the beef you want to request more. 

spicy beef are thinly sliced beef strips marinated in a spicy korean blend. This one is up there when it comes to the spice level so if you don't like spicy food I wouldn't recommend this. I usually request this at the start so my taste buds can be fired up :D 

woo samgyup are thinly sliced beef that has no other seasoning on it. It has a the fat is quite a lot on this one so the marbling is on point. I do like this on its own and usually this is the first meat I put on the grill since it cooks faster than the rest of the meat selection. And being the foodie that I am, I don't over cook this because it becomes too tough once its over cooked. 

 

herbed woo samgyup beef is similar to woo samgyup with an added flavor from the herbs. It is a level up version of the woo samgyup but be warned that if you over cook this the herbs also tend to taste bitter so don't over cook this!!

Now let's move over to the pork selections. Currently they have three variants which are: Yangnum Samgyupsal , Spicy Samgyupsal and Herbed Dae Pae. 

Yangnum samgyupsal is the basic among all the types of meat you can have at a samgyupsal place. This is basically the pork belly meat that is sliced a bit thicker. This is the type you can enjoy with or without any sauce since the marbling of the meat is also on point and the meat is guaranteed fresh.  

Just like the Spicy Beef, Spicy Samgyupsal is the same when it comes to the spice level. If you cook it a bit longer it actually has a smoky aroma and taste to it but not burnt. I do like this because the fat along with the spice does taste really good the more it is on the grill. 

Another thing I like about Seoulgyupsal is that they also offer chicken which is great if you prefer poultry than beef or pork to grill. Currently they have Yangnum Dak Galbi, Dak Galbi Korean Spicy Chicken and Chicken Buttoms. 

Yangnum dak galbi has a slight sweet flavor to it and when you grill it gives it a thicker consistency. The taste is not overwhelming with the sweetness. If you would like a bit of dimension with the taste and texture, make sure to cook the meat a bit longer. Dak galbi is  korean spicy chicken which is cooked using the stir fry method so I would suggest cooking this when the heat is a bit high so the meat can be cooked thoroughly.  Chicken bottoms is probably something most people won't opt for since its the behind of a chicken. It sounds weird but I can tell you that eating this is like eating chicken skin so don't be afraid and try it.

Overall, the reason why I love Seoulgyupsal is not just the meat but also the service. Their staff really do accommodate their customers and go beyond to serve all their customers. 

The best thing with dining at Seoulgyupsal is that the serving they give is bigger than other establishment and the treatment is just great. I would go back if I have the time for sure. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice