A Tour of Lamanoc Island in Bohol

Aside from enjoying all that our resort had to offer, we were itching to go out and explore more of Bohol. Two years ago, we took a day trip around the island to the usual tourist destinations: the Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers, the churches, a river cruise, and even a butterfly farm. This time around, we wanted something new and different.

That left us with a tour of Lamanoc Island. An hour's drive further eastward, a short walk down stone steps and along a bamboo bridge, and a brief boat ride to the island.

Lamanoc Island is full of history (with the native inhabitants and early Spanish explorers) and mysticism (with stories of ghosts and witches). The island itself is full of limestone formations rich with the island’s history and colorful past. The guide is an elderly man who shares many mystical tales with fact and with humor.

If you’ve experienced the usual postcard activities of Bohol, a trip out to Lamanoc Island is definitely worth the trip, especially if you stop by and take a break at the Beach Bar after your tour.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Bohol Day Trip

Eating way too well on a beach vacation

Amun Ini Resort & Spa has it all. And by “has it all” I mean they have that pristine private beach, five star resort service, AND five star quality food!

The main focus of all my travels, and for this blog, is my food focused adventures.

Usually on beach vacations, I worry that I shouldn’t eat too much. I may love food, but I gotta take pictures in my bikini! Let me tell you, it’s an on-going battle every day and every trip to eat well while staying healthy and in shape (Check out my Healthy at Home recipes to see how I balance eating well and eating healthy).

After one meal of a mere soup and salad (a delicious soup and salad, no less), I indulged on the menus’ carbs, fatty proteins, and sweets. And, wow, was it worth it and memorable. I’m still salivating over the tempura sweetbreads, beef cheeks, uni risotto, and coconut griddle cakes!

If you can't see the slideshow here, check out my Flickr album: Bohol Food

A truly relaxing beach vacation at Amun Ini Resort & Spa in Bohol

There are so many advantages in living in Southeast Asia. One is definitely the plethora of beach vacation options. There are countless islands filled with resorts to take you away from the bustle and chaos of city life.

I have yet to explore the countries outside of my own because the Philippines is filled with beautiful, pristine destinations. From Manila, these getaways are a mere hour’s flight.

Originally my best friend and I had our minds set on Palawan. But, since it was peak season, flights were difficult to book and we had to make last minute plans if we wanted to proceed with our desire for a beach resort vacation. After hours of research, we found ourselves back in Bohol.

Two years ago, we took a day trip around Bohol from Cebu. We did the usual tourist highlights: the Chocolate Hills, pictures with tarsiers.. you know, all that’s on the Bohol postcards.

This time around, we found a resort away from the usual tourist destinations. Most Bohol resorts are located on Panglao Island, just off of Bohol. When my best friend and I travel, we look for places that peoples don’t usually go to. We want to really relax and we want that quiet time that not all beach resorts offer.

An hour and a half drive eastward from the Tagbilaran airport in Bohol is Anda. The quiet side for a few of Bohol’s beach resort. Perfect.

Amun Ini is a family run resort that mixes a rare combination of five star quality with a quaint, intimate, you’re-part-of-our-family feel. From the moment you enter, you are greeted as a welcomed guest. When you leave, you are saying goodbye to family and friends.

The whole resort is meticulously landscaped and decorated with local, Philippine material that makes you really feel like you are on a quality resort in the Philippines. The rooms are spacious and clean and give a vibe that you are at home, on the beach.

In our research for this resort, we chose it for two reasons. First, it has it’s own private beach. That’s exactly what we were looking for! The beach is pristine, blue, and serene. Plus, guests are give complimentary access to kayaks, paddle boards, and snorkeling.

And second, as with all our trips, the food! We read reviews that guests were more than satisfied with the food at the resort. We were beyond satisfied. It surpassed any expectations that we had. We were not expecting five star presentation and execution at a quiet, little resort like this. But more on the food in my next post..

For now, here are pictures of the beach resort.

If you can't see the slideshow here, check out my Flickr album: Bohol Resort

Ukkokei Ramen Ron in Makati

There are few foods that I constantly crave.  Artisan pizza, quality burgers, sushi/sashimi, Mexican, and ramen.  In Manila, I can easily get the quality sushi and sashimi - both imported from Japan and some great local catches.  As for the other foods, I've still been searching.

And the constant search has paid off!  I finally tried out the hyped Ukkokei Ramen Ron in Makati.  This is the tastiest bowl of ramen I've had in Manila.  I've already went for seconds, and I'm sure I'll be back there again when I come home (I'm currently eating my way around San Francisco.  SF updates start on Thursday.)

You have your menu choices and there are also the usual Japanese specialties written on the walls.  I have yet to try any of the ramens in the menu because I want to work my way through the wall specialties first.

The Hokkaido Miso Ramen is a rich, thick miso broth that has a great salty miso blend.  Anything "Hokkaido" attracts my attention.  The noodles have a good amount of chewy.  Overall, I was satisfied with this bowl.

My next ramen was the Tonkokei.  This might end up being my usual order.  It's a blend of tonkotsu, miso, and shio (salt) ramen broths.  It's lighter than the Hokkaido Miso Ramen, less salty, and still as flavorful.

The ideal ramen joint has the great gyoza and karaage as well.  The menu here offers both as well as many more choices.  The gyoza was small and pretty good, although I wasn't completely satisfied with the taste.  The filling could have been filled with tastier pork and seasonings.  The karaage was decent, too, with its coating and the taste of the chicken.  The winner at this place is definitely the ramen.

If you can't see the slide show, check out my Flickr album: Ukkokei

Revisiting Shang Palace

There was a time in my family's eating life when Chinese food was a weekly staple.  It was our usual Sunday family/friends gathering.

Then there was a time when I took a loong break from Chinese food.  All those weekly meals made me need that separation from the routine.

These days, I really only have Chinese food when I'm in Hong Kong, China, or Taipei - it's where it's best.

But, occasionally, you just can't fight the craving.  So one Sunday night, my family went to Shang Palace.  Since we were four people, we were given a selection of set menus (the a la carte menu is also always available).  One in particular stood out because of the variety of dishes, even a Hainanese chicken course thanks to the new Singaporean chef.

From the night's meal, I was really impressed with the new chef.  He has brightened up the dishes with some delicious classics and tasty additions.  The Hainanese plate was a standout - the best I've had in Manila so far.

(Unfortunately, I went back a couple weeks later, but the poor service made us want to stand up and leave.  The manager appeased us and promised to make up for it next time.  It's unfortunate that the new chef is bringing back deliciousness, but the service does not match.)

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow here, check out my Flickr album: Shang Palace

Afternoon Tea, Revisited

I'm alway going to have a soft spot for afternoon teas.  It's a nostalgic time for me as they used to be special girls' day outings for my mom and I when I was in grade school.  Hair cuts, afternoon tea, and shopping in Union Square.

These days when I find myself in a hotel lounge for an afternoon snack, I will almost always order the afternoon tea set - for old times sake, and because afternoon tea is so much fun with the variety of savory and sweet.

So I found myself back at the Lobby Lounge in Makati Shangri-la giving their Afternoon Tea Set another shot.  The menu always appeals to me and brightens up my stomach.  But when the set arrives and I'm eating the tea sandwiches and sweets, I was again disappointed.  It totally lacks freshness and tastes like it was made yesterday.

Now I'm craving for some quality afternoon tea - perhaps I'll look venture around Makati.  And I'll definitely explore the afternoon tea action when I'm next in Hong Kong.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Afternoon Tea - Makati Shangri-la

Quality Filipino Feasting

If you're looking for some Filipino food to make your stomach and palate happy while impressing your sense of sight, Chef Laudico's Bistro Filipino is the place to go.

The a la cart menu is always available if you're not looking to gain a pound.  But, if you don't mind throwing in an extra workout the next day, the A La Carte All You Can is best option for feasting.  It's a "clean plate" policy, so choose wisely.

My choices for this particular evening included 8 selections.  The appetizer bites start the evening with an excellent first impression.   Smartly plated bites of classic dishes revamped in such a fresh manner.  The subsequent dishes all followed suit.   My eyes were attracted to every dish which made my stomach open up and eager to taste it all.

The menu is quite extensive which encourages me to always go back for more and to try out all of these beautifully crafted dishes.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out m

Traditional Filipino Feasting at Mesa Filipino Moderne

"Filipino food" and "feasting" go hand-in-hand, especially when you're with family.  Without a doubt, your stomach will be filled for the night.

At Mesa Filipino Moderne, you get traditional plates of Filipino food in a pleasantly casual setting with affordable value pricing.  It's no wonder that I've never seen this place empty on any day of the week.

Some of the dishes are modernized with appealing plating.  Every dish has strong flavors, many with fun sauces like shrimp paste or tamarind sauce.

If you're looking for an affordably priced Filipino restaurant that serves good tasting selections, this is a great option.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Mesa Grill

Better Steaks at Mamou

I really do love a great steak. I've been disappointed with the restaurants with "best steaks" according to bloggers and steak fans in Manila. Despite the disappointment, I had to try it again. I followed the hype. This time it wouldn't be about the fancy atmosphere. Let's just have a great steak, please?

Mamou - reputedly emulates the Peter Luger steak experience with the charred Porterhouse or T-Bone topped with melted butter and on a hot, hot plate. I've eaten at Peter Luger and its significant other, Wolfgang, in New York. Wolfgang is my standard for a great steakhouse all about the steak.

Does Mamou resemble these legendary New York establishments? It does a decent job.

The sides could use some work, but if you just focus on the steaks, I was happy. Medium, nicely charred, pretty well-marbled. I'd recommend this place to steak fans looking to eat out in Manila. The place is casual and gets crowded. Bring a good bottle of Cab, and that's going to be a pretty good night of eating.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Mamou

Steaks at Cru

I love eating healthy. I love eating all my daily requirement of fruits and vegetables.

But every now and then, I NEED a good cut of grilled steak. High quality, marbled beef grilled to that perfect bright medium.

When it comes to steak, I'm a tough critic. My dad makes it every steak night memorable. So when I eat that well at home, I expect a high quality restaurant to make it just as good or even better. As a result, great steakhouses are hard to find.

But, it's always worth the effort trying to find out if and where these great steakhouses exist.

After disagreeing with fans of The Fireplace at the Hyatt Manila, I tried the next big craze, Cru at the Marriott Manila.

Disappointed again! For a place posing as a five-star steakhouse, the service does not match. The steaks are good, but not for what you pay for and for all that hype. However, if the service improved to the level of fine dining quality, I would have come out with a better experience and probably would recommend this place. Sadly, that is not the case now.

Fine dining, special occasion restaurants, or destination dining (however you choose to call it) is about that whole experience: food, atmosphere, AND service. If one lacks, it all falls apart.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Cru

Hainanese Chicken Rice in Manila

When I write, "Singaporean cuisine," what dish comes to mind? One common answer is sure to be Hainanese Chicken Rice. If the chicken is cooked right, it is the most succulent poultry you can ever savor.

Wee Nam Kee brings flocks of their succulent birds over to Manila. The selections range from deliciously repeatable to a bit disappointing in taste and execution.

The disappointing selections tend to be everything but the Hainanese Chickens. I found the foods to be a bit too overcooked, dull, and oily.

But it is the chicken that keeps bringing me back. The chicken comes with chicken soup, and make sure to order the chicken rice. A complete, satisfying meal. This may not be the highest quality, but it's far better than other Hainanese Chickens you can find around Manila.

The Roasted Hainanese Chicken holds a great roasted taste, while retaining the tenderness. And the star, the Hainanese Chicken, is consistently tender, succulent, and juicy. I could eat a chicken prepared like this everyday.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Wee Nam Kee

Breaking the hype at Yabu

Since the moment Yabu announced its opening, eaters and reviews have been raving about their authentic pork katsu.

Authentic pork katsu?! I'm there!

That flaky, crusty, crispy coating around melt-in-your-mouth pork has been a family obsession heightened during our trips to Tokyo Needless to say, I'm a tough critic when it comes to real authentic pork katsu.

So does Yabu live up to all the hype?... Unfortunately, it's all just overhyped. The positive is that the panko crusting is really flaky and crispy.

Overall, though, I felt sort of cheated. The price isn't at all extravagant, but if you claim to be authentic, you have to do it right all the way without masking or faking anything.

The kurobuta pork and the other pork loins are hammered to forge tenderness. What a sacrilege to kurobuta pork! If it's real kurobuta and cooked properly, the meat will be so tender and flavorful on its own.

The meat was so hammered and ground up that it was as if our meal was Japanese Chicken Fried Steak (or I guess chicken fried pork). That's such a false impression for first time katsu eaters and, especially, for first time kurobuta pork eaters.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Yabu

Starting a Ramen Search in Manila

There's nothing more comforting than noodle soups. Every cuisine has their own creation - American chicken noodle soup, Chinese wonton noodle soup, Vietnamese pho, Japanese ramen, and so on.

Miso ramen and tonkotsu ramen are my two favorite kinds of ramen. The broths are deeply pork flavored and rich with goodness. The noodles have a nice chew - with bonus points if its handmade.

When I was living in the Bay Area I searched for some of the best ramen joints. Ryowa for miso ramen and Santa Ramen for tonkotsu. And in Vegas, Monta serves some quality bowls of tonkotsu as well.

Here in Manila, I have just started my search. First up, Kenji-Tei Ramen House.

A perfect ramen house has amazing ramen AND gyoza. The gyoza here was just all right - nothing horrible, but nothing spectacular. It actually reminded me of those frozen potsticker packs from Trader Joe's, meaning a bit on the bland side.

The Spicy Negi Ramen is a miso ramen with chilis. The broth retains the ground pork chunks. It's mildly rich with a pretty good flavor. The noodles have that nice bite. Overall, this is a decent bowl of miso ramen. If I was really really craving for a bowl of ramen, I'd come here for the convenience.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Kenji Tei

Yakitori Eats in Bonifacio High Street Central

Growing up in the suburbs of the San Francisco Bay Area, a number of my favorite restaurants were up in the city, about 30 miles away. My family would drive up once or twice a week for brunches, lunches, afternoon teas, and dinners. If we really like a restaurant, we'd drive up more often.

Nanbantei of Tokyo was one of those restaurants that we more than frequented throughout the month. As soon as you enter the doors, you'd be greeted by a robust, "IRASSHAIMASE!" With the welcome, atmosphere, and servers, you'd be immediately transported to Tokyo.

The restaurant has long since been closed (and it's now called Hana Zen with new owners). And, I've missed it.

February 2012, Bonifacio High Street Central. A brand new Nanbantei of Tokyo in Manila!

The older branch in Greenbelt never appealed to me because it was tiny, old, and dingy. This new branch is much bigger and clean - the perfect place to celebrate my birthday with family. It was like a throwback celebration!

My favorite orders of the night were the shishito peppers, chicken meatballs, chicken wings and chicken skins. When the chicken skin is properly and thoroughly grilled, it's the best snack to pop in your mouth and crunch away.

While the servers and atmosphere does not compare to my memories of San Francisco, I love the space and open set up of this new branch. The grill is smartly placed behind a glass windown - to enjoy the cooking scene while not smelling like the kitchen when you leave.

The food...it's pretty darn close to what I remember. And that makes this restaurant good and repeatable.

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The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Nanbantei

Floating Resto-Fun Park!

There are some birthdays when you celebrate with family in a fine dining restaurant, complete with amuse bouches, wine pairings, and an indulgent feast.

Then, there are those birthdays when you dress down and get out of town.

Something new, something fun, and something random. Where does that take you? Isdaan in Laguna, about an hour and a half away from the city.

Isdaan is a "Floating Resto-Fun Park" brought to you by the owners of Barrio Fiesta. All that classic Filipino food in a truly unique setting. The setting completely takes you for a random ride.

Diners enjoy private floating huts while surrounded by statues and mega statues ranging from Buddhas to Planet of the Apes to Angry Birds.. and the Obamas.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Isdaan Laguna

The menu is extensive with all the classics. If you want something new and something really different while feasting on your favorite Filipino dishes, this is the place to go.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Isdaan - The Feast

Filipino Cuisine with the Tayag Touch

When I first moved to Manila it took me a few months to fully appreciate and endorse the food scene in the Philippines.

That full appreciation came with an epiphany moment...well, more like an epiphany meal at Bale Dutung. So, thank you, Claude Tayag.

A 1-2 hour drive away from Metro Manila into the province of Pampanga, Tayag and his wife, Mary Ann, open their home to locals and tourists to experience Filipino and Kapampangan cuisine.

Tayag offers a Lechon Five Ways menu (which we had twice already), a Kapampangan menu (which we enjoyed this time around - check out the pictures below), and an Anthony Bourdain menu (which will be our next visit). The food represents the Philippines, with Tayag's touch.

His food reflects tradition, talent, technique, and his travels.

Two years later, I can now properly host visitors to show them the great eats around Manila and beyond. I have a growing list of restaurants, markets, and food adventures (Bale Dutung is definitely on that list).

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Bale Dutung

Top 10s of 2011: Top 10 Favorite Restaurants in the World

Now this is a difficult list to rank. There were countless of amazing eats this year. These past two years of living in Asia have been phenomenal for my taste buds and stomach.

My Top 10 Favorite Restaurants in the World from 2011:
10. People's Palace, Manila
9. Ye Shanghai, Hong Kong
8. Jin Sha, Hangzhou
7. Wolfgang's Steakhouse, New York City
6. Bocadillos, San Francisco
5. Every restaurant in Eataly, New York City
4. Sen-ryo, Hong Kong
3. Sala Rim Naam, Bangkok
2. Every single Din Tai Fung in Taipei and Shanghai
1. Chef's Table at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chiang Mai


Next Weekend's Top 10s: My Top 10 Favorite Cities from 2011

Top 10s of 2011: Top 10 Favorite Restaurants in the Philippines

These Top 10s are getting harder. It's difficult to narrow down 10 and, mostly, to rank them. 1 and 2 came easy, but the rest became subjective to my favorites right now from the restaurants I dined in this year.

These are restaurants that are doing great things for the dining scene here in the Philippines. They bring us to world standards for being a culinary destination. From casual, traditional eats to modern, trendy dining.

My Top 10 Favorite Restaurants from 2011:
(The links vary from this year's entries, past years' entries, and restaurant's websites because my reviews will be posted after my travel entries.)
10. Grappa's Ristorante
9. 2nd's Restaurant
8. Chef's Table
7. Abe
6. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
5. Cerveseria
4. Mogu Shinsen Bar and Grill
3. Chef Laudico's Bistro Filipino
2. Bale Dutung
1. People's Palace

Next Top 10s of 2011: Top 10 Favorite Restaurants in the United States

2nd's makes you want to come back for more

As Fort Bonifacio continues to develop, new restaurants are constantly popping up. One of my favorite places in the Fort is High Street - lots of shops and eateries. A great place to walk around on those rain-free days and nights.

2nd's which is located on the second floor is a great new addition to High Street. It has the atmosphere, the food, and the service. The branding and concept are smart and well-executed. If you want a twist on Filipino food, American favorites, and basically modern International cuisine, this is definitely the place to go. Go once, and you'll definitely want to go back for seconds (again, great branding and concept!).


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: 2nd's

Classic Filipino Dishes at Fely J

There are some Filipino dishes that are best eaten in restaurants. For me, these are dishes that will make a mess in the kitchen, particularly fried dishes. So when I'm craving for these fried foods, it's so easy to find them in nearby Filipino restaurants that serve these classic dishes, like at Fely J.

Fely J in Greenbelt 5 is a place for locals and visitors to go to enjoy classic Filipino dishes. It's definitely a place to share and eat family style. That's the only way to go with Filipino food.


Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Fely J