Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory NAMAmazing Launch

Known for its luxurious treats made mostly from Hokkaido Milk and the best cheeses in the world, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory has launched their latest offering just right this Holiday season - Nama Doughnuts in their latest branch at Mitsukoshi mall in BGC last December 15. 

Bringing amazing desserts since 2019, you will surely love their Nama Doughnuts. A very unique kind of doughnut that is fluffy and chewy at the same time! It comes in three flavors: Classic, Rare Cheese, and Mascarpone and Custard. 

You have to try each flavor to see the difference but I will tell you now that if you ask me which one is my favorite it would probably be rare cheese. The sweet and salty taste just hits the right spot. I might need to head back to BGC just to buy a box again of it. 

The whole secret is that they make this doughnuts in store and its ingredients are exclusively imported from Japan. From the flour, Butter and even the frying oil is from Japan. I was able to see, and you can see it too when you visit their branch at Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC. 

Other than doughnuts, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory also has cookies, Cheesecakes and ice creams to offer. 

I will be posting an in-depth comparison between the three flavors of the Nama Doughnuts soon so make sure to check back! 

If you are interested to try these with your family you can head on over to Mitsukoshi Mall in BGC as its exclusively available there. Be warned - they are seriously #NAMAmazing good you might get addicted. 

Much Love! 

xx Alice 

 

Healthy Lent and Iftar Meals at The Manila Hotel For Everyone!

Stick to your fast with The Manila Hotel's special Lent and Iftar (feast after Ramadan) from The Manila Hotel’s M Takeout.

New to our rice and pasta bowl menu: the Vegan-friendly Halal Buddha Rice Bowl [Roasted Cauliflower, Potato with Indian Spices, Vegetable Pakora, Yellow Dhal]; the Svaadist Rice Bowl [Chicken Tikka Masala, and Vegetable Pakora]; the Fish Katsu Curry Rice Bowl [Breaded tilapia fillet, curry sauce, and sesame sauteed beans]; and Vincolo Pasta Bowl [Spaghetti Tuna Bolognese, Zucchini Parmesan Garlic Bread], all at P190 nett. There’s also the Healthy Tofu Rice Bowl [Tofu-mushroom-carrot salpicao, and ginataang kalabasa at sitaw] at only P175 nett.

The Lenten Specials also include new Solo Meals: Nabati (Vegan)[Okra Masala, Vegetable Pakora, Roasted Cauliflower and Potato with Indian Spices, Vegetable Biryani and Dhal at P330 nett]; Jamila [Aloo Tikki/Potato Cutlet, Chicken Tikka Masala, Garlic Mustard Fish Fillet at P430 nett]; Primavera [Tuna-Cannellini Bean Potato Salad, Parmesan-Garlic Baked Tilapia Fillet, Roasted Cherry Tomato-Basil Fusilli Pasta, Mini Calzone, Italian Orange Cake at P430 nett]; Tagsibol [Ensaladang Talong, Baked Pampano Steak, Adlai, Mushroom Salpicao, Pancit Bihon with Tofu and Vegetables, and Empanada with Heart of Palm and Shrimp at P430]; and Haru [Maki Sushi, Tamagoyaki, Green Bean Gomaae, Saba-O Teppanyaki and Furikake Rice at P340 nett].

The Manila Hotel's Lenten and Iftar Specials are available until May 31, 2022. Check out their Lenten Specials and place your order by visiting our website at https://www.themanila-hotel.com.ph/takeout/. You may also call our hotline at 85270011 or 0998-9501912.

A Bear-y Happy Easter

The popular Easter Egg Hunt is back this year. The Manila Hotel’s in-house guests and those having Easter lunch at Café Ilang-Ilang can register their kids 12 years old and below for the hotel’s Easter activity at the Fiesta Pavilion on April 17, 2022.

Let your kids complete the activities listed in our “A Bear-y Happy Easter” Kiddie Passport on this super fun Easter quest. Let them experience the thrill of finding Easter Eggs at our play area, and even win exciting prizes from the eggs find! Let them join activities like Arts & Crafts, Groovebeats Kiddie Dance workshop, and kiddie ballet; and watch a magic show. The whole family can also get one photo for free at our Family Easter Photo Booth. To join our Easter Kid Activities, every P5,000 worth of single receipt food bill in Café Ilang-Ilang on Easter Sunday lunch entitles a guest to one (1) complimentary pass (good for one kid with one adult). Additional kid walk-in rate is at P1,500 nett (for one kid with one adult). Discounts are not applicable to the walk-in rate.For a room bundled with 2 complimentary passes (1 child and 1 adult each pass) to the Easter event, rates start at only P6,000 nett for a deluxe room, which accommodates 2 adults and 2 children ages 12 and below. Overnight package is inclusive of buffet breakfast (for two adults), use of swimming pool and gym facilities.

The Manila Hotel’s A Bear-y Happy Easter event is co-presented by Little Georgia Academy with Kinder City.

Participating major sponsors are Make Believe Productions, Wonder Lab, Royal Artisans, Baby Fourth’s Couture, Star Baby Toy Store, Rhyme Lab Learning Center, S’mores Kit PH and Museo Pambata. Minor sponsors are Absolute Sales, DBE Fruits Trading (distributor of DOLE Fruits), ESV International Corporation, Globalinens Worldwide, Inc., RGL33 Fruits & Vegetable Dealer, SLC Agri Farm Ventures, Inc., Trisha’s Cakes and Pastries, and Werdenberg International. For more information and reservation, please call 85270011 or email resvn@themanilahotel.com for room bookings, and restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com for dining reservations.

Visita Iglesia 2022 at The Manila Hotel

The Manila Hotel revives pre-pandemic traditions in observance of Lent and to celebrate Easter. With an array of activities for its staycation, dining, and walk-in guests, and even those staying at home, the iconic hotel gives city folk and those who prefer to stay in Metro Manila options for the coming week.

Lenten tradition of Visita Iglesia is a time to commemorate and solemnly celebrate Christ’s passion in prayer and sacrifice. With a stay at the hotel on April 13 and 14, 2022 for a minimum deluxe room rate of only P7,000 nett and suite room rate of only P10,000 nett, guests can register 2 adults and 2 children 12 years old and below to join the Visita Iglesia tour. Walk-in rate for adults is P1,500 nett and 50% off on walk-in rate for children 5 to 12 years old.

Stopping at seven churches, namely Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Pope Pius XII Church, St. Pancratius Church, Malate Catholic Church and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guidance, the tour includes round-trip shuttle service, in-vehicle guides, bottled water, and a scheduled snack stop at Marcelino Street Café at The Manila Prince Hotel.

Registration for the Visita Iglesia guided tour is coursed through the hotel’s Front Desk/Reception upon room booking or for walk-in guests. For inquiries and reservation please call 85270011 or emailresvn@themanilahotel.com.

See you there Loves!

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