Sunday Brunch at The Marriott - Reinvented with Cru and a Chocolate Room!

How do you feel about a glass of Martini for brunch? Shocking! But that's how the new Sunday Brunch at The Marriott Hotel Manila becomes an interesting buffet brunch. M Cafe has piled up the selection with steaks and foie gras from CRU - The Marriott's signature steakhouse opens it's elusive doors to brunch diners every Sunday.



At Php 2,000 you can enjoy 14 food stations managed by over 30 chefs on the dining stage. That includes dear pastry chef responsible for the "secret" chocolate room which makes this brunch buffet a must this Valentine month.



You guessed it, I've tried and "tasted" this special buffet that happens every Sunday. Executive Chef Meik Brammer personally toured us around - I've been to The Marriott several times and have grown very familiar with this guy.

Let me present these photos from the chocolate room.



A chocolate tree bearing macarons as fruits.



A human chocolate chef - as in, she is alive.



A centrale chocolate fountain to dip fresh fruits in. Dragon fruit, papaya, kiwi, grapes, etc.



Oh sweet valentine cakes





Cakes, cookies, and more chocolates.



Hansel & Gretel will be jealous - Chocolate blocks & pieces on a chocolate table



Ahh the amount of chocolates is at the risk of being more intoxicating than the Bloody Mary! Their buffet includes drinks so I ordered for a cup of Green Tea to go with my sweets.



US ribeye begging for some gravy action

Get ready now carnivores as I present photos of steak, foie gras, fish, and more meat than you can imagine.



Lamb leg fit for a king



Say foie gras all you can



Two chefs searing my duck livers

I delighted in sinful foie gras which easily makes the Php 2,000 buffet fee worth it. Then some strip loin steak, and grilled fish. If you're becoming guilty of the cholesterol, worry not as they have equally generous options of grilled vegetables. I enjoyed beats, carrots, artichokes, asparagus, and more.



And this... my super protein plate - Ive eaten up the roasted pumpkins long before the shot




I've featured The Marriott's Japanese station before but it's worth another mention for the unlimited number of salmon sashimi I can have. Again, this makes 2,000 bucks super worth it - by now I should have eaten worth 5,000 pesos of dishes.



Before I forget, a majestic roasted pork or lechon made it's presence known. If I were not trying to eat healthier, I would have poured sauce on hot steaming rice topped with this lechon's crispy skin. I ate a block of meat and a strip of its crispy sinful skin. Delicious!



This brunch is highly recommended in celebration of V-day! We'll definitely return as a couple and enjoy brunch here at The Marriott.

It's not everyday all these food choices get together in one luxurious spot. Anyone MUST visit The Marriott on a Sunday - perhaps this is the best Valentine's gift you can give your partner and give each other a faux pass on dieting.

Other food stations include the pasta, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Yakitori, ice cream, salad, bread, and Martini bar among many many others.

Be informed that food choices are rotated so items may vary but nonetheless, your Sunday and your budget is worth spending here! Brunch is from 11.30AM-3PM.

Fitness: Wholegrain & Healthy Choices

At The Marriott today where I was having brunch with a few bloggers, my leaner face received welcome compliments. After a week of reducing rice and pumping up on fruits - I am surprised the difference is quick to be noticed. I am not new to healthy eating, I was a fitness nazi just a few years ago, ate healthy whole grains, went to the gym, and practiced yoga.



All thanks to this show I watched called "10 days to a new you", I remembered how a few healthy choices can make you look and feel better in 10 days or less - in my case, it was just 5 days.



So thanks to the nice words I received, I am more than ever committed to reclaiming the fitness nazi title. I went to Rustan's today and bought a few more items to keep me on track:

• Wholegrain bread

• Wholegrain pasta - in case I crave spaghetti

• Tuna in water - to make wholegrain tuna sandwiches with

• Jacob's Hi-Calcium Vegetable Cracker - a lot of celebs raving about it on Twitter, so I thought I'll give it a try

• 2 kilos of Papaya fruit - Me and my son love eating fruits now, especially after meals and for snacks.

• Salmon sashimi - for my Omega 3 needs, the good fat!

My partner says he'll run with me if I run every morning, the problem is I haven't gotten to buying a new pair of running shoes. Plus, I hate waking up too early - 6AM?! Although I was running way back in college, I dearly hope I get the drive to run again.

Aria Cucina Italia at Bonifacio High Street Central

Newly opened High Street Central is drawing curious crowds not only with their floor fountains but with the different architecture of the entire area. I particularly like the nice view you get when dining in the elevated restaurants like Aria.



Aria is, as it turns out, famous in Boracay. I had no knowledge of it until my husband told me, we were invited to dine on the night of its soft opening. Dining is always more than food for me so the first thing I noticed is the layout of this Italian restaurant.



Very spacious, comfy, and the options of round tables with lights hanging above it makes me feel at home. After all, I was with a family of my own.



Caesar Salad P355 Lovely greens with feta cheese. It was good enough for 3 persons to share and kick off your meal with a healthy bite.

Since Aria was in soft opening that night, choices were limited. We ordered Pizza Margherita and understandably (or we were given a different pizza, Quattro Formagi?) the basil was missing. In line with eating healthier, I asked for Caesar's Salad and Azrael ordered Costicine di agnello which were lamb cutlets in short.



Pizza Margherita Php 390 or Quattro Formaggi? Despite the confusion, I like the chewy pizza crust which the staff told us is handmade. She also warned their pizza is not a perfect circle as a result haha. My kid loved it, I did too but next time I'll ask if the greens have made their way to the resto.



Costicine di agnello Php 900+ We waited for almost an hour for this meat, but as I said they were in soft opening. The potatoes roasted in rosemary were delicious, it comes with the lamb and the lamb cutlets were so tender - it almost made the wait worthwhile.

I'll definitely return and give Aria Cucina Italia another bite, I am excited with the menu choices especially the ravioli and spinach dips. It is my first time to dine in a restaurant on soft opening day so I want to return soon as they are now fully opened and ready to serve :)



Their location makes Aria more attractive and I hope it remains as spacious and uncrowded. Beside them is a chocolate shop by Diamond Hotel, I am very curious and might try them out for dessert next time. On the other side of Aria is Nanbantei of Tokyo (I want!).

Saint Alp's Tea House

Weekends can get boring and what better way to relieve boredom than with snacks. I am trying eat healthier so I tried a new tea house instead of fast food. Hidden somewhere in Burgos Circle, Global City is St. Alp's Tea House. It's actually at the ground floor of Forbeswood Parklane so the place is quiet secluded (thumbs up for me) and a bit separated from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Burgos Circle's joints.



The place is absolutely refreshing in and out. St. Alp's has so many hot and cold drinks to choose from, most are tea based so great for tea lovers and like me, who wants to lose some weight. I ordered their White Moustachhe Matcha Tea, a refreshing cold drink made with green tea powder.



My drink was delightful and I note their Matcha drinks taste different than the usual stuff I get - like the Starbucks Green Tea Frappe I am addicted to. St. Alp's has a bit of minty leafy flavor which goes well with healthy snacks on their menu.



The best fried tofu in the world

Being in diet mode, I ordered their fried tofu with hoisin sauce. It was THE BEST fried tofu I've ever had in my entire life! Simply peppered and lightly salted, their fried tofu was crispy on the outside and silky inside. Really, you won't think this is healthy boring stuff.

We stayed longer than usual so we ended up ordering more.



Beef Tapsilog. This is so sinful but every bite was worth the calories. The beef, atchara, and egg were perfectly done. The garlic rice didn't look fried but had the garlicky flavor the Pinoy sinangag has.



Taiwanese Breaded Porkchop. You'll be surprised with the spices they used to flavor the pork. I could taste some curry in it making this dish really more interesting. My date didn't share the egg so I guess that one tastes just as awesome.



Matcha Butter Toast. I was so full to have a bite of this, maybe I'll try it next time. This toast looks big yet is covered with matcha or green tea powder. Good for burning some fat.

I won't say much other than all of the food from St. Alp's are GREAT. Most of the items I tasted are all light but flavorful - I am guessing they use simple, fresh, and natural ingredients to achieve this.

Dear Saint Alp's, you have great food and excellent ambiance . It won't be a surprise if soon, this new tea house in the metro gets very busy with diners lining up. Ahhh I can't wait to come back before that happens!

Saint Alp's Tea House
G/F Forbeswood Parklane, Rizal Drive, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
http://www.saintsalp.com.hk/

Hotels with a different Tune

I'm springing back from an extended stay in the hospital, I wish it were a hotel but the presence of needles and nurses prevent me from thinking so. But here's vibrant news for hotel-a-holics, a new brand of hotels are opening up in the country. Say hello to Tune Hotels. They're opening hotels in Manila, Cebu, and Angeles City among others.

I spied their hotel in Ermita, Manila which they say is 15 minutes walking distance away from Roxas Blvd.



This is their Twin Room, they have 48 of which and 119 Double Rooms.



Nice flat screen TV, I read from the website you can add-on WiFi and even air conditioning. What? You read it right, I am guessing their name is Tune for a reason, as in you can fine tune your booking and pay for only the amenities you choose.

It's a new concept, at least for me and one that makes me a bit uncomfortable but definitely worth a try if you're feeling adventurous. I can imagine myself (perhaps) taking a walking tour of Binondo and shopping in Divisoria, and have this hotel as my pit stop to drop bags and catch some zzz's.

You can imagine the same for their hotels in Cebu and Pampanga, it's a great way to save some pocket money where you can give up air conditioning and WiFi.

Have you been here? Share your experience because I am curious!

Tune Hotel - Ermita, Manila
1740 A. Mabini St., Malate
Manila, Philippines

Manila Hotel: Mabuhay Palace Lunch

I thought of dropping by Manila Hotel to check out their Chinese New Year preparations (frustrated hotel operations manager?) and had lunch at Mabuhay Palace with my husband. We purchased a group deal at Dealsmania previously and this was a good time to redeem our "fine dining" coupon.



Enter the dragon. Actually the dragon is on its way out of the hotel. Is that good feng shui?

Here's what our deal looked in real life, not bad for Php 955 but not a wow deal either.

We thought the deal was designed for a date for two, although it was good enough for me and my date - the plating was obviously for a single serve. If you dated someone new, it could mean awkward times but to be fair, the deal didn't say it was for two either. Servings were okay but taste was excellent. We walked away satisfied :)






I particularly enjoyed the 3 kinds of dimsum, too bad the magic number is 3 - only 3 pieces hehe. More than the food, we enjoyed the privacy offered by Mabuhay Palace, not a surprise for Manila Hotel. It was my kind of dating place, quiet, ambient music, and attentive wait staff.



I wish I had a more decent camera to capture Mabuhay Palace's interiors but they are already known for their oriental inspired theme. If you haven't been here, give them a visit but make reservations - Manila Hotel.



With all these elements combined, I'd say we had a fantastic lunch date after all. We wish we purchased two deals but promised we'll come back on a future date to try Cafe Ilang-Ilang next, also in Manila Hotel.

Chinese New Year 2012 - Events, Shows, Eats and More

I was looking for a place to celebrate Chinese New Year and thought of sharing all of these to you :) I was big on feng-shui in 2011 and it was a lucky and blessed year indeed. Celebrating Chinese New Year is always fun especially dragon dancing and fireworks!

Take your pick below so you can celebrate Kung Hei Fat Choi in style. Don't forget your red dress!

Welcome the Year of the Water Dragon at the Manila Hotel:



Watch the Spring Festival Movies at Shangri-la Plaza



Shop at the Lucky Dragon Bazaar



Grab the 2012 Water Dragon Lunar Calendar from Master Joseph Chau



Kung Hei Fat Choi Buffet at Diamond Hotel



Have a prosperous and FUN Chinese New Year everyone! :)

The Dragon Enters 2012 | Edsa Shangri-la's Festive Inspirations

I made sure to start the year right and how can I go wrong with my most expensive New Year celebration yet, inside the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel.


Dress from NY Square, available at SM Department Store. PS that little munchkin is my son, Ashton.

So while people were burning money (fireworks), we enjoyed a smoke-free, quiet, and super relaxing stay.



We had time to reflect on 2011 as a mini family at the gardens.

And when we finished, a special New Year's Eve buffet dinner at Heat awaits. Check out the dragon and 2012 ice sculptures. Any diner will feel special and prosperous!



We made sure our tummy were stuffed with glorious lechon, peking ducks, lamb chops, and steak (among many others). Just so that we will never go hungry in 2012, ha!



Then enjoyed sweet 2012 desserts to celebrate our "togetherness" and continue to be a "sweet" family. Details like this make me feel that every penny spent in Shangri-la is always worth it.



There was a 50's theme New Year Countdown but I was with my son and not in party-mode. We just continued our celebration in our room. Party hat and torotot with compliments of Shangri-la.


A red hat and horn are the fashion must-haves of the night


Party boy without shorts

I was knocked out and just half-awake when the clock stroke 12. Partner took a shot of our room's New Year's eve view. Fireworks everywhere and smog the morning after.


View from the top

In the morning, a breakfast banquet welcomed us and I worshiped the croissants until 10.30AM. Funny I thought my son will be the only kid in pyjamas, but luckily - all moms thought the same as me and skipped dressing the children up.



As always, I wished I can live inside a five star hotel but had to go back to reality haha :) I hope this post will help you prep up for your next New Year, or any celebration at all. I'm one of those who are lazy to prepare for traditional parties and entertain family/friends, so having a small private yet super nice setup fits me very well and I discovered hotels in the metro are the answer to my stress.



Stress-free and relaxed 2012 everyone!

What’s your 2012 beauty resolution?

Aside from the threat of an apocalypse we have other things to worry about in 2012. That’s right! If we’re going to die then might as well die pretty - right? The quest for beauty is a never-ending journey and it makes for an exciting year full of discoveries, beauty hauls, remedies, and friends along the way.

I hope my blog has indeed, helped a few with their beauty dilemmas. I still get massive feedback from previous posts I did about skin treatments and I believe some readers have found great remedies as a result. This year I was quiet busy with motherhood and enjoyed too much, the comfort of old house clothing and staying at home.

Nevertheless, it meant late nights, breakouts, weight gain and some things I wouldn’t dare talk about :p So just to share and hopefully, inspire you to create your own list, here are some of my beauty resolutions for 2012:

1. Drink more water – do as the stars and drink up gallons of H20. Hard when you’re working 24/7 but easy if you setup a pitcher on your desk.

2. Eat more vegetables – because vegetarians look hot and we wonder why. Should also cover for not having a critical illness insurance yet ;)

3. Eat more fruits – instead of cakes (this one’s a real bummer!)

4. Catch more sleep – some of my friends have turned to sleeping aids like Avipaxin supplement and they wake up gorgeous. Most of the time we’d rather FB and tweet than catch some zzz’s but the skin needs to rest and fight oxidation.

5. Restart my skin care regimen – I’m sure by this time you found yours but could be you are skipping steps or skipping an entire beauty routine for being too busy. Look at the mirror, I think you and I need to dedicate time for beauty!

6. Learn new makeup tricks

7. Try a new slimming/tightening procedure or treatment for my big chubby cheeks – I hope it’s non-invasive!

So what’s your 2012 beauty resolution? I hope you had a beautiful 2011 : )

What's a Roxy Girl?

When I hear the brand Roxy, images of surfer chicks come to mind, add to that the movie Blue Crush starring Kate Bosworth. One weekend I was at Nuvali and checked out their newest branch, lo and behold - real surfer girls!



This is Roxy, who conveniently has the same name as the brand she manages. With her is Sprint Asia's Denisse.



Another au naturale beauty from the Roxy staff. I started to think, is fitness and beauty one of the credentials? Take note, all of them are either into surfing or wake boarding. Really cool.

Any lady who sees them will quickly consider to become active in sports if it will yield the same wonderful skin and physique like what these Roxy girls have. The store is complete with merchandise both functional and stylish.



The essentials of any Roxy girl will definitely include a rash guard and as I've added surfing to my long bucket list, I ended up getting a pink Roxy rash guard (and some other Roxy girl stuff). I mentioned this before, but rash guards are great swimming attire if you want to swim in peace and without worrying of nip/butt-slips what have you.

Roxy is not just about having an active lifestyle, according to Roxy (the cute brand manager). Roxy is all things fun, chic, and stylish too!



Here's a cropped tee I got from Roxy, as it was light and comfy it was perfect for a sunny day out with my one and only descendant. We DID have our own adventure :)

Aside from sports gear, Roxy houses a lot of comfy dresses in print, cropped shirts, bags, flipflops, and so much more. The items easily let you celebrate summer anytime at all - even if it rains cats and dogs.

Are you a Roxy girl? Check out their Facebook Page to know more about the brand and where to locate their stores.