Grab a Copy of Gala Magazine's September Issue

Hi friends,

Please grab a copy of the September Issue of Gala Magazine.  I am one of their contributors for this month.

My article about food and arts at Balaw-Balaw Specialty Restaurant and Folk Art Museum is on page 92, the food section of the magazine. 

Located at the art capital of the Philippines, Balaw-Balaw is known for serving delectable Filipino cuisine with exotic dishes to boot.  It showcases work of arts created by the patriarch who established the restaurant in the eighties, the late Perdigon Vocalan alongside the works of other local artists in town.  In my article, I talked a little about the history, arts, and some of the dishes which the restaurant is known for.

Eat, Drink, and Be Italian again with Italianni's Improved Menu at its Newly Renovated Gateway Branch

I have mentioned in my previous post about Italianni’s Restaurant that way before I fell in love with Bellin’s and Amoroma or other impressive Italian Restaurants for that matter, there is always Italianni’s that serves as my default choice whenever I am craving for good Italian cuisine.

Late last year, I had a chance to try one of their holiday offerings, Tre Combinazioni with some friends which got us raving about how still good Italianni’s food quality after all these years.  I can say that it is one of the reasons why Italianni’s has always been one of the best Italian restaurants in Manila for me.  I love the fact that consistency is one of their strong points in terms of good quality food, great ambiance, and superb service.

When I was invited recently to the re-opening of their newly renovated Gateway branch, I was already equipped with great expectations from the get go. After all, Italianni’s has always been tried and tested in my book. Truth be told, my expectations were not just met, Italianni’s delightfully exceeded it.

Mooncake Treat and more at Edsa Shangri-La, Manila

Mooncake is a pastry originated from China which is considered as an indispensable pastry during Mid-Autumn festival.  It is made of crust with rich thick filling and yolk from salted duck eggs in the center.  Tradition dictates that moon cakes are best shared and eaten during this festival.

Ongoing until the 30th of September 2012, Edsa Shangri-La Manila offers majestic mooncakes, stays, and dining specials in line with their celebration for Mid-Autumn Festival of the Chinese calendar.

The hotel’s Chinese restaurant, Summer Palace is offering special mooncake packages available daily from 7:30am to 9:30pm at the Moon Cake Counter in the hotel’s main lobby.

Makanan Lazat: A Malaysian Food Festival at Corniche Restaurant, Diamond Hotel Philippines

Diamond Hotel Philippines celebrates culinary diversity of Malaysia as they present Makanan Lazat, a Malaysian Food Festival at Corniche. Malaysian cuisine is known for its variety of flavors and cooking style influenced by Malay, Indian, and Chinese together with other ethnic group hailing from its region. With this delightful combination of palate pleasers prepared by guest Malaysian Chef Cheong Yan See of Enderun Colleges, lunch and dinner buffet at Corniche Restaurant is made all the more special.

Ongoing until the 16th of September 2012, Makanan Lazat features gastronomic feast of Malaysian cuisine to add to the already festive buffet spread at Corniche Restaurant. 

Homemade Treasures Ensaymada, How Do I Love Thee?

Despite countless recommendation for best ensaymada in Metro Manila, there are only two ensaymada I normally enjoy; one is Diamond Hotel’s Ube Ensaymada for its luxurious decadence, the other one is Hizon’s Ensaymada for its pleasantly rich panache.  I have tried several other ensaymadas but still, these two are by far are the best, at least in my book. I guess I am loyal that way.

Then recently, I was introduced to Homemade Treasures Ensaymada.  I had a strong grip to the notion that this can be just another ensaymada which will try to lure me into including it to my top three best ensaymada but will fail miserably in the end.  Yet, after tasting a forkful of this impressively delicious treasure, dare I say, life is never the same again.

Love at first bite can be such a cliché for foodies like us. But cliché is a cliché because it holds certain truth in it.  I was bitten by this cliché as I bit into Homemade Treasure Ensaymada’s cheesy and buttery glory. 

So, how do I love thee, you might ask.  With all respect to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, read on and let me count the ways.