If you live in or have an early meeting in the Mandaluyong area, stop by Bake House at Level 1, North Wing.  Yes, the in-house  bakery that you see in Shangri-la Hotel The Fort is now part of the Shang Mall dining selection. Whipping up freshly baked sweet and savory bites, every indulgence here is made with natural and trans-fat free ingredients. Choose from sweet treats like the conscious cookie and various delectable croissants and pair it with a hot or cold drink of your choice. (I like the dark chocolate drink. I was given hot milk in a cup and a dark chocolate lolly that I need to dip in the steaming liquid — FUN!) If savory dishes is more to your liking then try the pancetta quiche or the beef pie. They serve whole cakes, too, like Strawberry Lychee, Quark Cheesecake and Ohaina.

Filipinos are in a Korean daze right now what with all the Kpop, Kdrama, and Kreality shows. Complete the fascination with palette pleasing dishes at Bulgogi Brothers, Level 6 East wing. For delicious Korean food that family and friends will surely enjoy, this restaurant is definitely a great choice. Enjoy mouthwatering  sweet-savory bulgogi or barbecue as you dine in front of a round grill. The cooking is as much fun as the dining itself!

All-time favorite TGI Fridays is right across and offers salads, mains and desserts. Try their whiskey-glazed baby back ribs, spicy Cajun shrimps, pasta dishes. They also serve Filipino food like pork liempo and rice.

Coffee lovers will be happy to discover  yet another coffee place in the mall. Department of Coffee may sound a bit stiff — it’s anything but. Pair their brews with buttery croissants and pastries. Chocolat au pain is a winner! The stand alone kiosk is perfect for short stops in between your shopping spree. It also serves Cafelat Robots if you feel like making your own cup at home.

For big snacks and dinner, try the choice cuts of steak-quality grass-fed Australian and American beef only from Raging Bull Burgers at Level 1, North Wing.  Menu favorites include the Angus Beef Patty, Kickass and Raging Wagyu burgers. Not wanting for sides, you can order fries with different toppings. Milkshakes for kids and  beer for bigger kids are likewise served. Vegan selection is also available.

Jay R. Polloso, Shang Properties EVP for Retail and Commercial says, ” Our diverse selection of dining destinations reflect our commitment to providing our mall guests a memorable Shang experience. We understand the needs of our customers that is why Shang Mall continues to evolve to better cater to the demands.”

With a pocketful of glitter,

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After a delicious meal shared with the family, dessert is a must. Try the Bibingka Cheesecake made f(P289) from layers of soft and fluffy vanilla chiffon, smooth cheesecake and topped with slices of salted egg. How about trying a Filipino classic thats been baked with a twist? The Putobumbong Cheesecake (P289) is made with glutinous rice flour with ube flavor, smooth and silky cheesecake and topped with ube crumbs, coconut and muscovado sugar. My mouth is watering already!

Christmas is a time for gatherings with loved ones. Share the spirit of togetherness and love by ordering in or dining in while practicing social distancing. Make sure to have these Max’s favorites as part of your feast to make it all the more speciall!

Happy eating everybody!

With a pocketful of glitter,

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For PHP 899, the Classic Pan Chicken Holiday Bucket is matched with a generous serving of Pancake House’s spaghetti with bread plus a big bottle of Coke. Your family’s regular meal will surely be instantly transformed into a feel-good feast! The chicken parts are big and pasta serving is hefty so it’s really worth your money.

‘Tis the season to feel good again! The holidays are upon us and that means family and food. Order your Pan Chicken Holiday Bucket bundle now! Call 888-79000!

With a pocketful of glitter,

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Maple’s Porchetta and Other Delights

Here’s my latest gastronomic discovery. MAPLE Restaurant, our favorite chef-driven neighborhood dining place, now delivers premium ready-to-eat family-style trays. Two weeks ago, we tried their All Meat Lasagna and Full order of Grilled Salmon with Orzo Pasta. The servings are quite hefty so both trays are good for two to three meals depending on how big your appetite is. We’re a household of six people and we enjoyed it for lunch and dinner. The grilled salmon was an instant hit especially with my teenage son who devoured 3 big slices of salmon on first sitting! Fresh and succulent, the wild-caught fish was a real palette-pleaser.

The best was yet to come as we had MAPLE’s perfect porchetta and re-ordered a half size tray of the grilled salmon. I appreciate that both family trays came neatly packaged with reheating instructions. But guess what the porchetta was hot and crispy when it arrived so there was really no need to reheat. We did eat it half an hour later so just ten minutes in the oven and it was ready to serve.

I was wondering how best to carve it so I used kitchen scissors to cut along the grooves of the skin. OMG! I can literally hear the CRRRRRUUUNCHY skin breaking. Half a slab is good for eight to ten people. The true test, of course, is in the eating. Crispy, crunchy, oh-so-delicious skin and super flavourful, tender pork meat —- PURRRRFECT!  You can dip the porchetta in two kinds of sauces — one sour and the other is MAPLE’s signature lechon sauce. Our stomachs were really full and we had big smiles on our faces!

THE BUSY QUEEN P HIGHLY RECOMMENDS MAPLE’S PREMIUM FAMILY TRAYS

Even if we can’t go out just yet to celebrate special occasions, the good news is that MAPLE makes it possible for us to enjoy gustatory delights right in the comfort of our own homes. I love that the food is delivered hot and fresh. I really do get good value for my money.

For heartwarming, hefty meals that are sure to satisfy the whole family, here’s how you can order: Call+63949 889 2798 0r +632 8621 6211. Soon, you can have it delivered via FoodPanda, too at 888 79000.

With a pocketful of glitter,

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We cannot just sit in the comforts of our own home and expect everything to be ok. Here’s something we CAN do to help the frontliners who are risking life and limb every single day to battle the deadly disease. For just P90, one frontliner can eat a decent hot meal delivered straight to the hospital. Pledge a plate or donate as many meals as you like and Max’s Group Inc will take care of preparing  the following rice meals:

Chicken Barbecue, Chicken Burger, Chicken Fillet, Chicken Lumpiang Shanghai, Chicken Inasal, Beef Caldereta, Beef Tapa, Roast Beef, Arroz ala Cubana, Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, Fish Rolls, Lechon Sisig and more.

The packed hot meals will be distributed to the following hospitals:

Cardinal Santos Medical Center, San Juan Medical Center, UERM Memorial Hospital, Manila Doctors, Philippine Orthopedic Center, St. Luke’s BGC and QC, East Avenue Medical Center and Asian Hospital.

Visit Pledge A Plate https://maxsgroupdelivers.com and make your pledges now.

May God give our doctors, nurses, guards, cleaners, and all hospital workers the strength to beat this disease. God have mercy on us all.

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Diners now have even more reasons to keep coming back for the timeless and enduring homey classics that all of us have grown to love. Think of Panchicken, Golden Waffles, Best Tacos in Town …. need I say more?  My family eats at Pancake House once a week (sometimes, even more!) so the news of the all-day reward is music to our ears (and tummies). Starting February 17, customers who run a tab of at least Php1000 can avail of the card. Cardholders are entitled to exclusive deals such as a free House Special Set A (my favorite!) when they register online, free pancakes on their birthday month, and an outright 10% discount for dine-in or take-out transactions worth at least P600.

Pancake  House Senior Marketing Manager Cherry Hernandez shared, ” The Rewards Card is a way for us to show appreciation to our regular diners. We hope that this initiative gives Filipinos more reasons to Choose to Feel Goos every day of the year and also encourage them to come home to familiar comfort at our store.”

See you all at Pancake House!

With a pocketful of glitter,

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The hotel’s amiable Sales and Marketing Director Jann Capistrano Delgado (who, by the way, has been with the hotel for 24 of its 25 years) looked gorgeous in a light pink cocktail dress and white coat. She recalled the many changes that the hotel has undergone over the years and how its guests have shown continued patronage. General Manager Marcel Van Mierlo looked dashing in his suit and gave a short season’s greetings.

My family and I have celebrated many birthdays, holidays and New Years at New World Makati Hotel. Staying here is like coming home.

Shortly after, the attention was shifted to the center of the lobby. Makati Mayor Abby Binay, the hotel’s top executives, and Pia Guanio with husband Steve and daughters Scarlett and Brooklyn gathered in front of the white Christmas tree. The countdown began and the 25 foot Christmas tree was lit! Everybody clapped and cheered! What a beautiful moment indeed. Laser lights merrily danced on the ceiling on top of the sparkling tree.  Then the all-male singing group Opus One took to the looby staircase and sang “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

To raise money for the hotel’s beneficiary SOLV Foundation and in celebration of its silver year, New World Makati Hotel is holding a Holly Jolly Raffle. There are 25 exciting prizes up for grabs including luxurious stays at New World Hotels in Asia, Apple devices (IPods, IPhone 11 and Apple Watch Series 5) and BELO skin treatments. All you have to do is spend a minimum of Ph5000 to get a raffle ticket.
So come one, come all! Dine and Stay at New World Makati Hotel this holiday season and experience quality service, excellent food and cozy accommodations at reasonable rates.

HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARY NEW WORLD MAKATI HOTEL! Here’s to 25 more!
With a pocketful of glitter,

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How do you get the most of your dining experience?

Make your reservation before going to The Alley or risk waiting for a long time for the next available table. Weekends are almost always full.  Dinner service starts at 5:30 pm and they will only hold your table until 6:30. Write down your reservation code so you won’t have a hard time entering. Once inside, DO take your time to walk around the place. It’s quite big and you might be tempted to stop at my favorite stall Frituen Batsoy  (think bagnet served in all sorts of ways– but more on that later) or the Yatai where tempura is served aplenty. Don’t give in. You don’t want to miss out on the rest of the dishes that this food mecca has to offer. Take a mental note of the food you want to try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that some food carts freely roam the place and serve local delights like dirty ice cream , taho (soya) and BALUT! DO NOT miss out on the fishballs,  bibibingka and puto pumbong at Ferino’s. Believe me, it’s worth the extra calories.

I had pure, unadulterated bagnet, chicharon bulaklak and paired it with adobo rice. That I had two platefuls is a sin that I happily paid for in the pool the very next day.

If you are with young children, please make sure that you get their food first and have them sit down with a guardian. It’s easy to get all excited and have your guard down. Do not let the kids run around as it can get pretty crowded.

Pluses and Pluses
There are so many instagrammable spots at The Alley. I’m particularly fascinated with the old Japanese bikes that hang from the ceiling. For some reason, the ambiance made me remember the alleys in Via Condotti in Rome.

Kudos to the staff who are all very friendly and encourage you to try the food in the booth they are manning. There is also no “agawan” among customers because the selection is plenty.
The rate is very reasonable,too. (See below)
My favorites!
Because I’ve been such a good girl these past months, I gave in to my crispy pork cravings at Frituen Batsoy. I had pure, unadulterated bagnet, chicharon bulaklak and paired it with adobo rice. That I had two platefuls is a sin I’m ready to pay for in the pool (the very next day, in fact!) Then I had three ebi tempura, some dimsum, and chocolate dirty ice cream.
To cap the evening, I had margarita with a popsicle from the bar.
Cheers to one fun, full-bellied and food galore night at The Alley by Vikings!!!
Rates:
**Adult Weekday Lunch 788 (+5% service charge), Adult Weekend Dinner 988 (+5% service charge)
**Kids below 3 feet EAT FOR FREE, Kids 3-4ft 238 for weekend Lunch, Kids 3-4ft 338 Weekend Dinner (+5% service charge)
With a pocketful of glitter,

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PUTIEN began as a coffee shop in Singapore. Now it has 65 outlets in Asia. Its cuisine is characteristically light, down-to-earth and flavourful, with an emphasis on using only the freshest ingredients.

With select guests from media in attendance, Putien showcased some of its dishes at the recently held launch last November 15. We were handed menus and given a free hand to choose whatever we liked to try. Our party of seven chose the following: Chili Crabs with buns, Black Pepper Crabs, Cereal Prawns, Steamed Prawns in Minced Garlic, Fried Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork with Lychee, Abalone and bowls of the “number one must-try” -the Putien Bian Rou soup. The soup dish with 500 years of history in each bowl contains wonton that is made from pork hind leg meat pounded for 12,000 times and kneaded for one and a half hours.

It was love at first crack, taste, and dip for me. The Chili Crabs top my list of favorites. Served in generous portions with six pieces of buns for dipping in the sauce, I fell in love. Lychees used in the Sweet and Sour pork are air-flown from Putian. Its sweet and succulent taste is a perfect complement to the dish. The Steamed Prawns were gone too soon! Fresh and flavorful, it was easily a crowd favorite. Even the unassuming Fried Chicken was prepared to please. With its crispy skin and delicious meat, it’s sure to become one of the restaurant’s top dishes.

**Putien is located at Level 5 of The Podium Mall. From now until November 24, diners will be treated to a free dish of Shredded Pork with Sesame Bun. Vikings reward cardmembers will be given a complimentary dessert from November 25 to December 2. 
With a pocketful of glitter,

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The best part is the big loaded bowls of ramen are so affordable! For an average price of P250, a ramen bowl can satisfy a big belly. Otherwise, it’s good for sharing which is what my daughter and I did.

Ramen Nagi is happy to announce the birth of its new baby. The restaurant hails from Fukuoka, Japan and was founded by Ikuta Satoshi in 2006. It offers authentic premium ramen with branches in Japan, Taiwan, Hongkong, China, Singapore, the USA, and the Philippines.
What I like about Ramen Nagi is that customers are allowed to customize their ramen bowl. Even the level of heat that one prefers is readily accommodated. In our family, only my son likes spicy food. So when we asked for our Original King not to be spicy, “No worries, Ma’am,” was the quick reply of our server. The cooking is also done in an open kitchen (at least for the Greenhills branch) so guests can see the actual preparation of the dishes. The Japanese chefs and sous chefs are friendly and take the time to answer questions about the food they are cooking. The best part is the big loaded bowls of ramen are so affordable! For an average price of P250, a ramen bowl can satisfy a big belly. Otherwise, it’s good for sharing which is what my daughter and I did.

Ramen Nagi offers new flavors every 2 weeks.  These are limited edition ramen flavors so diners can be treated to something original every time they visit. There are also side orders to choose from. My kids devoured the chicken kara-age and the gyoza. I love the salad with the crispy noodles on top – a definite winner in my book.
I’m sure all of you are hungry by now. So what are you waiting for? Come on over to the nearest Ramen Nagi restaurant and have a steaming hot ramen bowl of your choice. DELICIOUS!

With a pocketful of glitter,

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