Food

Iketeru at Hilton Kuala Lumpur – Sumptuous Japanese Cuisine

July 25, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

As with any major Asian capital, Japanese restaurants have somewhat become an ubiquity in Kuala Lumpur. Practically every mall has one with competition fierce for premium sushi and quality ramen. It is thus quite remarkable that Iketeru, which is housed inside Hilton Kuala Lumpur in KL Sentral remains jampacked with people even up to this day, around 11 years since it first opened its doors. I was there on a Wednesday night, traditionally quite slow as it’s midweek yet still found all tables occupied – practically unheard of for an upmarket Japanese restaurant housed inside a hotel.

A quick glance at its menu reveals just why Iketeru remains highly popular – the food offerings are subject to constant reinvention in line with the season and to diners’ preferences. The food items also read like a walkthrough to nature. For dinner, I chose to have Fubuki or “Snow Storm,” a special teppanyaki set menu. With dishes such as sushi, wagyu beef and foie gras within the set; it also served as a rundown of the house specialties all in one meal.

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Buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang, Manila Hotel

July 9, 2015 by Bino 2 Comments

A contender for the most underrated hotel buffet in Manila has got to be the Cafe Ilang Ilang, the all-day dining restaurant inside Manila Hotel along Roxas Boulevard. Though a deserving 5-star hotel buffet in its own right, it doesn’t get as much buzz as Makati or Ortigas hotels. During my staycation at Manila Hotel, I finally got to try out the dinner buffet at Cafe Ilang Ilang. Here is what to expect.

Entering the restaurant for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to see modern and almost hipster-looking decor. It’s certainly not what I had in mind for a traditional sounding name like Cafe Ilang Ilang.

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Kitsho at Hotel Jen Manila – A Must-Try Japanese Restaurant

June 24, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

If I based my choices on what my family or friends recommend, I probably wouldn’t have come across Kitsho, the unassuming Japanese restaurant located inside the recently rebranded Hotel Jen Manila (former Traders Hotel Manila) along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. The Ermita and Malate area is of course, quite famous for standalone Japanese restaurants which on paper sounds like a good location for another Japanese eatery.

I managed to try Kitsho during a recent stay at Hotel Jen Manila and I must say, this is one undervalued place for Japanese food! Entering Kitsho for the first time, I noticed the interiors were pretty humble – just the standard that one would expect for a Japanese restaurant sans the fancy lighting or artwork. The main thing to focus here is the food, without the other distractions.

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New Italian Flavors at EDSA Shangri-la’s Paparazzi

June 17, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

For a populace that that enjoys homey Italian dishes such as spaghetti and pizza, it is no surprise that those living in Metro Manila have a wide array to choose from when it comes to Italian cuisine. The degree of sophistication is quite impressive considering the number of expats (including expat chefs) here trails in comparison to other Southeast Asian capitals. One doesn’t have to look far for a decent plate of Risotto or a hearty serving of my favorite Italian dish, Osso Buco.

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Tapella by Gaudi – The Quintessential Spanish Meal at Greenbelt 5

April 2, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

For a culture that’s already ingrained in local society, Manila has perhaps one of the best selection of Spanish cuisine among all the major cities of Asia. Several chains have made their mark in the Philippine capital, including Gaudi which prides itself with an interpretation that is as close as possible to the delights of the Iberian peninsula.

I remember first eating in Gaudi at Serendra some seven years back and being wow-ed by their angus prime ribs which were cooked on our dinner table. Gaudi eventually diversified their Castillan offerings through Tapella in Greenbelt 5. Last weekend, I managed to try this cozy restaurant at the end of the mall, close to Greenbelt 1.

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CRU Steakhouse at Marriott Manila – An Instant Favorite

March 18, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

In an extremely competitive foodie scene such as Manila’s, it’s quite rare for non-buffet hotel restaurants to be critically acclaimed. While most luxury hotels place heavy emphasis in creating well-curated menus with high quality items, all too often these restaurant still get overshadowed by the brand name of the hotel.

CRU Steakhouse, a restaurant at Marriott Manila, has a strong potential to make it on its own despite being a staple steakhouse name across multiple Marriott hotels. I tried it just last week and it instantly became a personal favorite. I was really quite impressed and after researching a bit on this gem of a place, I realized that I’m not alone in the praising. Best Hotel Fine Dining Restaurant 2014, Best Dessert, Philippines’ Best Restaurant of the Year – the list of the awards its received just goes on.

Entering CRU for dinner, I was again reminded of the wonderful staycation I had at Marriott Manila just a month back, when I also entered Cru as it was part of Marriott Cafe’s Sunday Brunch.

I was served by Cyndee, who definitely knew her way around Cru. We basically took in everything she recommended which turned out to be a great decision. Everything, as in 100% of the things she recommended, was fantastic!

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Sunday Brunch Buffet at Marriott Manila’s Marriott Cafe

March 3, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

During my short but fantastic staycation at Marriott Manila, I had the opportunity to try their well-known Sunday Brunch. Since I live in the northern part of the metropolis whenever I’m in town, this was my first time to sample the delights of the Marriott Cafe in Manila – though I’d always been curious to try it since I’m a semi-regular at the Marriott Cafe in the Singapore hotel.

trendy interiors of marriott cafe

The popularity of the Sunday Brunch concept at Marriott Manila was evident from the moment I stepped in. The restaurant was filled to the brim with families enjoying a slow and leisurely meal at one of the best-value upmarket buffets in town.

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What’s New at Edsa Shangrila’s HEAT

February 3, 2015 by Bino Leave a Comment

Heat at Edsa Shangri-la is fast becoming my go-to place when it comes to hotel buffets in Manila. I ate there 5 times in the past year alone even as I was living in Singapore for the most part of 2014.

I had my first meal at Heat in 2015 just last week and realized the restaurant was spruced up to start the year. For the entire first quarter, Heat is being touted as a Farmers’ Market, with fresh and healthy produce in tow and juxtaposing against chic but casual interiors. This became evident the moment I stepped into the well-known all-day-dining restaurant, with a fruit and vegetable cart greeting me as I entered and light bulbs encapsulated in birdcages. Aesthetically, this is the biggest change to the restaurant aside from the Christmas decor in December.

Food-wise, all the favorites are still there. I was again treated to Heat’s Filipino selection which has always been my favorite. I especially loved the lechon kawali or roast pork. The Japanese selection has become more extensive and now features more complicated sushi rolls alongside succulent sashimi.

In line with the theme, the seafood portion has taken on a market-y vibe, with crabs deliberately hanging on weighing scales and lobsters and mussels placed on large pails.

A buffet spread at Heat won’t be complete without their iconic pastries and these meticulously designed creations are laid out extensively for guests to enjoy. Make sure to reserve some room for these treats.

Verdict

More than a decade on and Heat remains as one of Manila’s most well-loved hotel buffets. It may not have the longest buffet line in the metropolis but food quality is definitely noteworthy and the price competitive when compared against other 5 star hotels. This quarter’s Farmers Market is more than an aesthetic change, there’s also a greater selection of seafood this time around to delight crustacean lovers out there and old favorites to keep regulars coming back.

Rating:

Taste: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Heat
Edsa Shangri-la Hotel
1 Garden Way
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Philippines

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