Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant: New and Old Favorites

We recently had lunch at Watami Japanese Restaurant’s Shangri-La branch to check out some of their new menu offerings and to enjoy some old favorites. I have a lot of favorite Japanese restaurants in Manila and one of them is Watami. Not only the food selections are always good at Watami, the price tags are also affordable – a feat so rare in Japanese restaurants that serves good quality food.

Currently, there are four Watami Japanese Restaurant branches here in the Philippines; SM Mall of Asia, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Uptown Mall BGC, and Greenbelt 2. 

It is not very often that I get to join my fellow food bloggers from our little group we fondly call The KTG, so this trip to Watami was a bit special. We all love Watami. Personally, you wouldn’t believe what mountains I had to move for this lunch, and it was worth it. 

California Pizza Kitchen PH New Menu

California Pizza Kitchen Philippines recently launched its new menu with the theme "California is a State of Mind: For 18 strong years, CPK is still on top of its game by creating innovative dishes that bring the California spirit wherever they are. Menu reinvention is one of CPK's strongest suits which makes them an exciting young, fresh, and vibrant casual dining restaurant to visit despite the number of years they have been in the business.

If you are a California Pizza Kitchen fanatic, these new offerings are the things you wouldn't want to miss.

Selected media and bloggers were invited to sample what is tagged as the new taste of California at CPK Edsa Shangri-La Mall branch. Everyone had dibs on new salad, pasta, pizza, dessert, and drinks offerings at CPK.

Shang's Gourmet Strip at Shangri-La Plaza #ShangGourmetStrip

Shang's Gourmet Strip is a food fair that highlights delicious food finds from best restaurants at Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Happening at the East Atrium of Shangri-La Plaza Mall in EDSA, the Shang's Gourmet Strip will run for two consecutive weekends - May 15 to 17 and May 22 to 24. This food sampling and selling fair features more than 30 food establishments that will showcase their mouth-watering offerings.

Related Post: Some of Best Restaurants at Shangri-La Mall

Ms. Lala Fojas, Shangri-La Plaza Executive Vice President and General Mnager says that the Gourmet Strip is a culinary revelry that will delight food lovers as they explore and experience the various selections of eats at Shangri-La. I myself is one of those whose list of ultimate dining destination includes Shangri-La Plaza, so I am super stoked that an event like this came into fruition.

New Dishes at Wee Nam Kee Philippines: New Culinary Treasures of Singapore

Recently, I was tagged along to visit Wee Nam Kee at Edsa Shangri-La Mall and try the new dishes added to Wee Nam Kee's menu called New Culinary Treasures of Singapore. Wee Nam Kee is a Singaporean restaurant that has been serving the best Hainanese Chicken for more than 25 years now. Their branching out here in our country proved to be successful as they now have eight branches that includes Ayala Triangle Gardens, Serendra, Glorietta 2, Alabang Town Center, Promenade Greenhills, Trinoma Mall, Shangrila East Wing, and the new Fairview Terraces Mall.

I remember the first time I dined at Wee Nam Kee Serendra Branch, I was deeply impressed with their rendition of Hainanese Chicken including the Hainanese Rice but was saddened by their Lechon Macau. Despite the little disappointment, I resolved to go back at Wee Nam Kee to try some of the items on their menu. So, when my friend Richard invited me to join them on their visit, I gladly said yes.

Come the scheduled lunch, I almost begged off. Our visit happened right after the Typhoon Glenda. Our area in Antipolo City was still out of electricity that time and since I was too smart, I was not able to charge batteries for my cameras. Yes, all three of them. I already sent my regrets to Richard that I wouldn't be able to join them because of my situation but he was kind enough to offer me his other camera so that I may join them still. I grabbed the opportunity and braved the traffic jam and the roads littered with the aftermath of the typhoon from Antipolo to Ortigas. It was worth it.

Kettle Restaurant at Shangri-La Mall East Wing

I have heard a lot of good things about Kettle Restaurant at Shangri-La East Wing prior to my visit. Most of the food bloggers in Manila which blogs I constantly read echoes the same sentiment that Kettle is indeed one the best restaurants in Manila we have these days. While I trust the judgement of these food enthusiasts, I know for a fact that I must pay a visit. 

Despite the impossibly erratic schedule I been dealing with for the past couple of months, I took some time out to join some friends to check out Kettle Restaurant. There are things worth moving mountains for, and during that time I can sense that Kettle is one of them.

My friend Richard of Tales From The Tummy whose palate I trust was the one who arranged the luncheon at Kettle. He was also the one whose definitive description about the food that Kettle dishes out almost drove me to my wits end. And you know the thing about people you trust? They are most of the time right.