Delifrance introduces Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

Check out www.delifrance.com.ph for the Café Directory.

Click here to view the new cinnamon offerings. You’re Valentine date will never be the same again with Delifrance’s frosted cinnamon!

For inquiries, please contact any store, or call the Délifrance Main Office at 643-8401.

Delifrance Delivers!

If you’re craving for pasta, pastries, salads, sandwiches and drinks that only Delifrance can satisfy, then you’re in for a big treat.

Delifrance now delivers!

Jollibee in Saigon!

On the streets of Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Wizheart found Jollibee! Who would have thought that our happy, bubbly bee has invaded the city.

What a long distance to fly!

Tapella Opens in Greenbelt 5

In a land where Spanish influence is seen in manners, in clothing, and in cuisine, it’s still good to discover a place where you can have that innovative Spanish flavor in every bite.

You will experience this at the newly opened Tapella Restaurant at Greenbelt 5, Makati.

When I went there, I was warmly welcomed by its amiable Executive Chef Alexandra Cacho. Muy bonita!

She gamely gave us a chitchat before the food tasting began. She told us that every year she would go home to Spain and be updated on the latest in Spanish cuisine. She would bring what she learned to the Philippines and innovate. She also added that Tapella has new dishes every six months, retaining of course the popular dishes.

Tapella interiors are cosy. The chairs are comfy and even if it’s a bit small indoors, there’s still some room to move around. The outdoor part is also perfect for al serenidad dining. The outdoor bar is perfect for dining and wining at nigthtime and enjoying the greenery of Greenbelt.

After a few minutes, the serving of different Spanish dishes began. We started with white garlic and almond soup shooters. It was my first time to taste some cold soup shooter. The taste was distinctly garlicky and you chew on bits of almonds. When you toss it up, you end up munching on slices of a grapefruit. It warms up the palate for the next dishes.

More appetizers came, whic are equally a delight to the palate.

the camembert with caramelized onions

chorizo stewed in red wine ~ yum!

cocido meat on fluted bread

garlic sauteed shrimp the modern way

el Bulli - calamari with black ink - this was topped with aioli dip

and my fave among the appetizers served was the octopus with paprika salt & virgin olive oil ~ twas my first time to taste octopus, and never thought I’d love it.

After the appetizers were the paella in different flavors. I must admit it was also the first time I tasted paella that I liked. I even texted Wizheart to tell him about it. The rice was perfectly cooked, and the flavors of salmon (the salmon paella was for the non-meat eaters), meat blended well together.

picadillo paella

creamy seafood paella

Alaska king crab paella

manchego cheese, chicken, asparagus, and shrimp paella

They have about five varieties of paella. You should check each one out!

The paella was served with the yummy steak! Burners were set up on the table, and beef strips were served. It was up to us if we wanted the meat to rare, medium rare, or well done.

Too bad, I had a meeting at 2:30pm so I didn’t stay for the desserts. But I know Tapella desserts are to die for. If their appetizers and main dishes tickled my palate, how much more the sweets.

Friday “Wine Nights” from 6 to 9, wine lovers can enjoy overflowing wine served with tapas for only Php600.

Indeed, at Tapella, there is a new way of dining. It’s fine dining on yummy innovative Spanish cuisine at popular prices.

As Tapella’s dining principle says:

“Start with a traditional base, pour an infusion of unique contrasting flavors and a spoonful of intense passion, a dash of talent and a sprig of innovation. Finish off with disconcerting textures and illusion.”

Getting there

Tapella Restaurant is at the ground level, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center Makati. For the uninitiated, the resto is nearer Greenbelt 1.  You take the Greenbelt 1 exit going to Greenbelt 2. Right at the exit doors, you turn left right away, and you won’t miss Tapella.

Call for reservations: 757-2710 OR email at inquiry@tapella-restaurant.com.

Vamos a comer! =P~

Wendy’s Wrap & Roll

I haven’t been to Wendy’s for a long while now. So when I passed by Greenbelt 1 yesterday, I thought of dropping by for Frosty.

Then I saw their new offering, the Wrap & Roll. It’s chicken breast fillet and lettuce wrapped in pita bread. You have a choice of ranch or honey mustard for the dressing, and you can have it in regular or spicy.

I chose the spicy honey mustard dressing. I didn’t regret it. The chicken breast fillet was tender, juicy, and crunchy on its sides. The veggies are crunchy, the pita bread prepared just right, and the dressing, good! Overall, the wrap was yummy and filling, considering it was a bit small compared to other wraps I’ve sampled. =P~

The wrap & roll costs Php59.00. Frosty regular is Php35.00.

Check out Wendy’s new Wrap & Roll!

Revisiting Tokyo Tokyo Metro on Valero Street, Makati

Finally got to sample Tokyo Tokyo Metro’s food last week with Wizheart. One word about our experience: YUMMY!!!

Related post:
Tokyo Tokyo Metro on Valero Street, Makati

Yummy, Healthy Quaker Oats Cookies

My officemates and I first saw this in 7-11. Curious, we picked all the three flavors, bought them, and yum! The cookies are just right: not too sweet, not too chewy, and of course ‘oatmeally.’

I’m glad that there are more and more health food (and drink) out there now.

One pack contains three cookies, and costs only php10.oo. Isn’t it cool?

Tokyo Tokyo Metro on Valero Street, Makati

Yesterday, my officemates and I decided to have a lunch out. Normally, we would pack lunch or buy lunch from Manang (the lady who brings lunch to the office every day).

One of the reasons for the lunch out was that we wanted to try out the new Tokyo Tokyo Metro nearby. So off we went.

Unfortunately, the place was full and we had to wait to be seated. Seeing the seated customers still waiting for their food, we thought it would be a long time after we would have our turn. So, we went out and headed for the next best thing next door, World Topps. 

Just a few initial impressions about Tokyo Tokyo Metro.

The place is cool, but the space was not maximized well. They could have seat more people had they had smaller tables that can be joined together for bigger groups. We saw about three couples sitting on a table good for five or six. I think this is a new business line of Tokyo Tokyo, and it is more of the fine dining kind.

It seems like more and more fast food restos are venturing into a bistro or fine dining.

Getting there
Shorter route: From Ayala Avenue, head to H.B. De la Costa, that is at the corner of RCBC Tower and Ayala Avenue. Turn right to De la Costa, and at the first corner, turn right again to Valero Street. Go straight, crossing Rufino (formerly Herrera) Street. A block away from that corner of Rufino and Valero Streets is Tokyo Tokyo Metro (TTM). It’s on the side of Starbucks (at the corner), Claudette’s, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Shakey’s, ChinaBank, then TTM.

Alternate route: From Ayala, take Paseo de Roxas, turn left at the corner of Citibank Tower, go straight (crossing Valero St and Agustin St) to Adamson Building on Leviste Street. Turn left, go straight to Rufino Street, turn left and then left to Valero Street. A block away from that corner of Rufino and Valero Streets is Tokyo Tokyo Metro (TTM). It’s on the side of Starbucks (at the corner), Claudette’s, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Shakey’s, ChinaBank, then TTM.

Food Festival Spotlight: Flavors of Macau

The three metro cities of the country hold a food festival from the last week of this month till the second week of April. The featured cuisine is that of Macau.

Flavors of Macau is delectably Portuguese, Chinese, and more!

Food Festival  Schedules:

Metro Manila February 23 - March 21, 2009

Cebu March 1 - 15, 2009

Davao March 11 - April 12, 2009

Dine in any of the participating restaurants below and get a chance to win a travel package for two to Macau.

Cafe Bola, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City
Cafe Bola, Coliseum Circle, Araneta Center, Quezon City

Chateau 1771, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City

Le Souffle, Amorsolo Square, Rockwell Center, Makati City
Le Souffle, Citibank Square, Paseo de Roxas, Makati City
Le Souffle, The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Pepato, Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati City

Sala Bistro, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati City

Portico 1771, Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Restaurant 9501, 14/F ELJ Center, Eugenio Lopez Drive, Quezon City

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City
Marco Polo Plaza Davao, CM Recto St., Davao City

Airline Partner: Air Macau

Media Partners: Food, foodie, LifeStyle Network, Crossover 105.1

For more information, contact Macau Government Tourist Office - Philippines
Tel: (632) 812-2959; 813-0947
Fax: (632) 892-5232
Email: mgtophil@info.com.ph

Related stories:
‘Flavors of Macau’ food fest to start Feb. 23
The Philippines experience “Flavors of Macau”

Photo credit

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sunday Edition, March 1, 2009

Pepper Lunch Opens at Shangri-la Plaza Mall

The first time I was made aware of this Japanese Resto, Pepper Lunch was in Powerplant Mall, Rockwell.

We were doing grocery at Rustan’s Supermart there when Wizheart and I saw long lines going to the Resto.

Now this popular DIY (do-it-yourself) Japanese franchise resto opens its second branch at the Garden Court (the mall’s posh food court) Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

Pepper Lunch popular fare includes beef pepper rice, Shimofuri pepper steak, chicken teriyaki, “shake shake” salads, molten milk chocolate cake. Its secret to the yummy meals is its patented electromagnetic hot plate  created by its owner-Japanese chef and inventor Kunio Ichinose. Kunio owns over 200 Pepper Lunch restos in Japan. The hot plate is heated up to 260 degrees celsius in one minute and stays hot for about 20 minutes. On this plate, the customers’ food preference (may compose of choice cuts of imported beef, chicken, pork, salmon, ang unagi, with vegetables and rice, and seasoned accordingly) are placed and cooked.

Check out the resto!