THE BUFFET International Cuisine, Quezon City

I have to admit, I am one of those who is in constant search for the best and affordable buffets in Manila. So, when the chance to try The Buffet International Cuisine along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City presented itself, it became a persistent call that I couldn't bend my conscience quite enough to ignore. A handful of Manila food bloggers have shared their experience about The Buffet so, I figured it was high time to try it myself.

The Buffet specializes in international dishes with emphasis in interactive approach to dining experience brought about by several buffet sections. This interactive spin on the buffet encourages diners to create their own food based on their liking and have the friendly chefs prepared it for them. There is also a buffet section wherein diners can cook their own food on their respective tables.

The location of The Buffet is hard to miss. Standing along the busy street of Commonwealth Avenue, right beside Nissan Commonwealth. It's facade holds big signage of its name visible even if you are situated right across the location or even in a moving vehicle. 

Jet 7 Bistro in Timog Ave. Quezon City, An Ode to Good Times

Night out with friends, good food and drinks, live bands, these are just some of the things I thought I would outgrow in no time after graduating college to explore the so-called-dreaded “real adult life”, the very thing we were warned about. I thought wrong. Our visit to the press/bloggers night of Jet 7 Bistro located along Timog Ave. in Quezon City made me realized that these things that made my college days all the more exciting and well worth remembering are still the same things that could well, make me happy.

I love places like that. Those places that reminds me of the happy past and still makes me giddy  this present times. After all, don’t we all love good food and good times? That night, Jet 7 Bistro got me covered.

The media launch of Jet 7 Bistro, a new restaurant that just opened March of this year to join the ever growing number of restaurants in Timog Ave. area prompted me with the fact that although I have sometimes exhausted myself in trying out different restaurants all for the love of writing and my work, there are still so much to explore and reconsider (i.e. live bands, especially those you adore makes dining experience downright pleasantly unforgettable.)

Cheese Festival at Sofitel Philippine Plaza

Sofitel Philippine Plaza, the only French luxury hotel here in the country, and the home of what most of us tagged as the best hotel buffet in Manila (Spiral Buffet), is celebrating its French heritage culminating during Bastille Day through a Cheese Festival. This festival which started on July 9 and will last only until the 13th of this month features never before tasted artisan cheese from France. Over 100 kinds of cheeses are set to make any cheese aficionados heart beat faster than they can say J’Adore Le Fromage!

In line with Sofitel’s Cheese Festival, Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard joins the Sofitel team to present variety of artisan cheeses cultivated from different regions of France for their guests to enjoy. Aside from the glorious cheeses to feast on, wines are also thrown in the mix for an ultimate French experience.

Vikings Buffet SM Marikina: Feast of American Dishes Special Menu

Vikings Luxury Buffet, tagged by many foodies as one of the Best Buffets in Manila celebrates the Fourth of July by adding and highlighting special menu boasting of special American dishes every weekend of this month.  This month long celebration holds a promise that in all branches of Vikings Luxury Buffet, new dishes will be added to the buffet spread. To make it more exciting, new menu additions will vary in each and every Vikings Buffet branches.

This week, I got a preview of the new menu which will be rolled out at Vikings Buffet in SM Marikina. Headed by Vikings Buffet Markina Executive Chef Jenny Gumboc with the aid of Sous Chef Gerard Torre and Pastry Chef Michael Ecogo (not in photo), a special American menu set was developed and will soon hit the already enticing selections of the buffet for the diners to enjoy.

Snow Ice at Tokyo Tokyo Philippines #MakeItSnow @tokyotokyoPHL

Rain or shine, cold icy treats is something I could not get enough of. Ice cream, shakes, frappuccinos, etc. are something I would not mind having even during rainy season. That is why ever since Tokyo Tokyo, a well-loved Japanese restaurant here in the Philippines released their Snow Ice, I m still enjoying it even if rainy season has been declared now here in our country.

Snow Ice is Tokyo Tokyo’s take on traditional Japanese iced dessert called Kakigori. It is essentially made up of creamy layers of vanilla shaved ice topped with all things delicious. There are three flavors available; Choco Sensation, Mango Peach Medley, and Halo-Halo. 

Early today, I paid a visit to Tokyo Tokyo to get my Snow Ice fix for the day. I was dead set on getting all three flavor but unfortunately, the Mango Peach Medley was not available. Good thing though that I equally loved the other two flavors which my family also loves.

Koko Buri Restaurant at BGC, The Fort

After being one of the most successful restaurants in Pampanga, Koko Buri has finally opened its door for their followers in Manila by opening a Koko Buri Restaurant branch at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City. Famous for their Korean style fried chicken, Koko Buri is also known for serving variety of asian and Western Cuisine.

I remember having a taste of their famous fried chicken during one of our family trips to Subic and I sincerely hoped that they also branch out in Manila. It was the first Korean-style fried chicken I have tried and I instantly fell in love with the crisp skin and flavorful chicken meat. Now that they are already here in Manila, we need not to wait for another trip to Subic just to have a taste of Koko Buri. 

Koko Buri's branch at The Fort exudes a well designed ambiance compared to their flagship store at Clark. The area is spacious and well lit coupled with impressive interior design which spring forth from the fact that the owner is an architect and interior designer as well. Aside from the main dining space there are al fresco dining area and a private area which can be reserved for functions.

Mad For Pizza in Tomas Morato: Create Your Own Pizza with Toppings-All-You-Want!

Mad For Pizza is a new pizza restaurant located at Il Terrazzo Center in Tomas Morato, Quezon City that specializes in Create-Your-Own-Pizza concept with Toppings-All-You-Want up its sleeves to boot. Several Manila food bloggers have raved about Mad For Pizza PH in the past week that caused an excitement for pizza lovers like myself. Do-It-Yourself Pizza with unlimited toppings at an affordable price? Why not?

Restaurants along Tomas Morato area are aplenty, but with the kind of food that Mad For Pizza offers, it is indeed a welcome addition.

I got to visit Mad For Pizza at Il Terrazzo one afternoon to try their Create-Your-Own-Pizza and have fun with the Toppings-All-You-Want concept of it. I was not expecting too much prior to the visit because all I really wanted was to check out their pizza offerings. Little did I know, that afternoon at Mad For Pizza, I am in for one of the best dining experiences I have had by far, all things considered.

Dishanel's Heavenly Homebaked Cakes and Pastries

First time I have tried a product of Dishanel's Heavenly Homebaked Cakes and Pastries was way back my high school days. Dishanel was not yet a business that time, rather, homebaker Dianne Ronelle Reyes-Bona was just celebrating her love for creating magic in her kitchen. It was a homemade baked rice cake, the first creation of Dianne which I have tried. To say that it was indeed heavenly would be an understatement. I remember ditching the dinuguan that came with it, and savor the goodness of the puto as it is.

Certainly, I was not into food blogging yet at that time. However, right at that moment, aside from the pleasure-induced explicit that may have came out of my mouth (at high school, yes, sorry!) I wished that I could put into words the goodness of that immaculate homemade rice cake with the eloquence of a food writer to give it justice.

Needless to say, Dianne's creations made repeat performances in most of our family gatherings. Her arsenal of baked goodies ranges from that rice cake that made me a believer, to cookies, to cupcakes, and to cakes with impressive art decorations to boot. Fast forward to 2013, Dianne took the leap of faith and transformed her love for baking into a home business.

Weekend Dimsum Buffet Feast at Crystal Jade Dining IN, BGC The Fort

Crystal Jade Dining IN Weekend Dim Sum Buffet Feast is another delightful addition to the growing number of eat-all-you-can dim sum promos available here in Manila. With our deep-rooted love for this known Chinese cuisine, Dim Sum All-You-Can-Eat is the kind of feast we want to indulge in.  Who cannot say no to unlimited dim sum? Definitely not I. Especially when it is a good quality dim sum that Crystal Jade Dining IN at Bonifacio High Street Central BGC The Fort, local franchise of Crystal Jade Singapore serves.

“Little morsels of love” is said to be the literal meaning of dim sum. At Crystal Jade Dining IN, they make it a point that by not compromising their quality ingredients and the impeccable way they prepare their food. This ensures them that they are making their diners feel that indeed, what they are feasting on are little morsels of love.  With a band of skilled culinary team spearheaded by experienced master dim sum chef, diners can be confident that what they are feasting on are of unparalleled high quality. After all, Crystal Jade wouldn’t have CNNGo Culinary Award for Best Dim Sum Category under its helm for nothing.

Sariwon Korean Barbecue at Greenhills Promenade

When conversation about the Best Korean Restaurants in Manila occurs, I always notice that Sariwon Korean Barbecue Restaurant which now has branches at BGC and Greenhills is almost always part of the discussion. Some of my favorite Manila food bloggers and other food enthusiasts have raved about Sariwon being one of the best when it comes to well executed Korean dishes. I cannot blame them, I myself is a fan.

Sariwon which originates in North Korea pride itself for being named as the Best Korean Restaurant by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. This success was brought outside Korea for the first time when they opened their first branch in the Philippines, specifically at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig couple of years ago. Its presence at our local restaurant scene soon picked up and this year they have opened another branch located at Greenhills.

Online food sites and other media outfit have talked about the legendary bulgogi recipe of Sariwon’s Mrs. Boon-Im Koo which uses 12 kinds of fruit for marinade in lieu of the usual sweeteners. Most of us are also well acquainted with Sariwon’s history from way back 1938 by now. Hence, this time, let me just show you my recent visit to Sariwon Korean Barbecue’s newest branch at Greenhills Promenade.