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Whether you are simply dining out, catching up with friends or you are planning to have a lunch meeting, this elegant restaurant restaurant in Shangri-La Plaza Mall is a perfect place. The place is quite big and has many tables. It was way past lunch time when we went there, so there weren’t too many people and I was able to take a lot of photos. The staff is very courteous and attentive. We were seated right away and were given the menu.
To start, we had soup and as usual, I had my favorite French Onion soup. It was delicious and creamy because of the cheese.
French Onion Soup, Php 199
For pasta, we had Meatballs Spaghettini and Lasagna. Both were meaty and tasty!
Meatballs Spaghettini, Solo Php 368, Familia Php 568
Lasagna, Solo Php 388, Familia Php 588
For the pizza, I was so glad Pepperoni was not available at that time because we got to try a different topping. We tried their Steak and Gorgonzola and it didn’t disappoint. The sweet balsamic vinegar that was drizzled on top if it perfectly blended the steak and Gorgonzola.
Steak and Gorgonzola, 12″ Php 428, 16″ Php 628
For the sandwiches, we had the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Balboa Angus Burger. Both were tasty, juicy and messy. Lol.
Pulled Pork Sandwich, Php 328
Balboa Angus Burger, Php 328
There was more food on their menu, but what we had were already too much for the four of us. We’re definitely going back though to try their other entrees. If you happen to be in the area, Balboa is a must try. The food is great, though it might be a bit expensive, but I think it’s perfectly alright to splurge once in a while and spend your money on good food.
4Th Level, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Shaw Boulevard Corner Edsa, Mandaluyong, 1552 Metro Manila
Phone: (02) 942 2844
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Curry is such a popular dish that everywhere you go, you’ll surely find a curry dish in restaurants all over the world. My family loves this dish so much that I am often requested to cook it. This one is one of my kids’ favorite as it is light and they can eat this without rice. I love that this is very easy to prepare and it’s a healthy meal that’s packed with flavor. You can even add whatever vegetable you love. I like throwing in whatever veggies I find in my fridge.
So, without further ado, here is the recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh coconut milk or 1 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp. yellow curry powder
- 1 tbsp. minced fresh ginger
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ tsp ground cayenne
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 (14 oz) pkg frozen broccoli florets
- 2 cups frozen bell pepper strips
- 1 cup chick peas
- 1 cup young corn, sliced
- 1 cup button mushrooms
- 16 oz frozen shrimp (peeled and deveinened)
- Fresh cilantro, for serving
- Lime wedges, for serving
Directions
- In a bowl, whisk together coconut milk, curry powder, ginger, garlic and cayenne.
- Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
- Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes transluscent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the all the vegetables and shrimp, and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates and shrimps are cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Pour the sauce into the pan and stir to coat veggies and shrimp. Bring to a simmer and cook 5 minutes, stirring. Taste and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve over rice, topped with fresh cilantro and lime wedges.
It turned out really yummy and it’s such a great way to pack more veggies into your life. If you ever try the recipe, please let me know in your comments what you think.
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Just under the Pyramid, in the heart of the Louvre Museum, there is a posh restaurant called The Bistrot Benoit. The classy restaurant welcomes visitors all day long in a cool and cozy atmosphere that’s typical of Parisian bistros.
As soon as you enter, you will immediately notice the decors of zinc and brass. The wood trimmings and the red velvet designs are a delight to see. The waiters wear white aprons and bow ties and they are very knowledgeable with the food and wine that they serve.
It was a bit early for lunch when we went there which turned out to be a great idea because it takes a long time for them to prepare our orders. By the time that our food arrived, the place was already packed and there was a long line of people waiting to be seated. It’s fun that they serve traditional French dishes with a contemporary twist: snail cassolette, pâté en croûte seasoned with thyme, frog quenelles, veal blanquette, rum baba, etc. I think these are their signature dishes that locals and tourists alike come here for. Their wines are also carefully selected and served “à la ficelle” which means that you only pay for what you drink.
I can say that the food is really great. For lunch, most of us had the three course meal that includes a starter and dessert. The prices on their menu are a bit expensive though, but it’s expected since the bistro looks very classy. Service was good and efficient and the portion sizes are generous.
If you’re in the Louvre and you’re looking for a quite place to rest and eat, you might want to try this bistro.
Address: Hall Napoléon Pyramide du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France
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I am not really a fan of Ramen even during the time when we resided in Tokyo for a year. I admit that it was only recently that I’ve learned to love this hot noodle soup, so whenever I get the chance to try Ramen in Manila, I take it. The other day, we were in Edsa Shangri-la for my husband’s eye check-up at the American Eye Center. After his appointment, we decided to try the Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen branch there.
This quaint Ramen house is located on the 5th level of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. The place is a bit small and I was told that it gets crowded pretty easily as their food is really good. We were there in a not-so busy hour, so we were seated and attended to right away. The staff is very courteous and accommodating. Service is fast as well.
Their menu has many Ramen choices, but we opted for the Ikkoryu Signature which is the Ajitama Tonkotsu. Well, it didn’t disappoint. The soup base is very tasty, the noodles are chewy, the meat is soft and delicious and the egg tasted really good.
Ajitama Tonkotsu Php 380
I also love cold noodles, so we also tried their Hiyashi Chuka. Theirs doesn’t have so many ingredients like the usual Hiyashi Chukas that I order from other Japanese restaurants. Here in Ikkoryu, the cold noodle dish is served on a bed of lettuce and instead of the regular, sweet, red tomatoes, they used cherry tomatoes; it’s more like a salad. It was good, though it was a bit sweet for me.
Hiyashi Chuka Php 280
Ze husband orders for the Original Yakimeshi and Gyoza.
Original Yakimeshi Php 180, Gyoza Php 180
There are many kinds of Ramen including the spicy ones if you’re up to some kick. I have not been there during peak hours, but it might help to get a reservation if you’re planning to have lunch or dinner there..
5/F East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza | EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong
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UCC’s newest concept store featuring blends from a variety of local and international single origin coffee and a totally different menu from UCC Vienna is UCC Clockwork. They have a newly opened branch in Greenhills near Gloria Maris Restaurant and in front of Chili’s.
We frequent the one in Blue Wave and we loved their wide selection of food ranging from appetizer to dessert.. It was only last week that we got to try this branch. This is rather small, but like the other Clockwork branches, the place is really cozy. Parking might be a problem though, because they have very limited parking spaces in front of the café.
We didn’t get to try much of their food that time as we just had dinner when we passed by. Below are some of the food and beverages that we ordered.
Cappuccino Hot- Php 170.00, Iced Php -90.00
Seafood Salad, Mixed Greens, Ebi, Kani, Grapes, Ebiko and Goma Dressing Php 448.00
Mango Crepe Samurai, Bruleed Mango Crepe drenched in Creamy Custard Php 248.00
Skinny Vanilla Latte, Low-fat, sugar-free. Hot- Php 170.00, Iced- Php 190.00
UCC Sumiyaki (Syphon Method – Blend) Php 200
The Chlorophyll 240kcal, Celery, spinach, apple, orange and a hint of moringa. Php 230.00
Colombia Supremo, Intoxicating, with a sweet, nut-like aroma, medium-bodied, smooth pleasant and almond overtones Php 190.00
The wait staff is very attentive and they made sure they attended to our every need. The place was full as with most UCC branches that I’ve been to. Their food are a bit pricey, but I guess the Pinoys don’t really mind the prices so long as they get great quality coffee and delicious food.
If you happen to be in the area and you’re looking for a place to have coffee, I suggest you drop by this place.
Address: Ground Floor, The Viridian in Greenhills, Connecticut Corner Missouri Street, Greenhills, San Juan City
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One of the most popular snacks in Japan is O-nigiri or rice balls. Sometimes it is also called o-musubi or nigirimeshi. O-nigiri’s main ingredient is rice and it’s usually wrapped with nori seaweed and containing a meat or vegetable filling. If they have sandwiches in the West, in Japan, o-nigiri are readily available in all convenience stores across Japan. This is a yummy and nutritious snack for people on the go. These rice balls are not only cute, but they are very tasty and filling.
If you are looking for a healthy and delicious snack to serve your family or you’re looking for after school snack ideas, I suggest you try making some O-nigiri for your family.
Ingredients
- 65g cooked japanese rice
- 1/4 sheet nori seaweed
- pinch of salt
- shiso perilla leaf (optional)
- sesame seeds (optional)
- cooked chicken
- cooked salmon
- tuna mayo
- pickled plums
- tsukemono japanese pickles
Directions
- Begin by cooking the Japanese rice according to your favourite method.
- With a small amount of salt sprinkled on your hands, mould the rice into small balls or triangles approximately 8cm wide.
- Create a small well in the centre of the rice and put in your choice of ingredients. Then mould the rice with your hands around the well to cover your filling completely.
- Using a sheet of nori seaweed, wrap up your ball of rice.
- Sprinkle some sesame seeds or cut up shiso leaves to put on the rice for a little extra flavour (optional). Enjoy for a snack or during lunch.
O-nigiri is usually made or formed using your hands, but if you are not up to handling hot rice you can use a piece of cling film to mould the rice. Moulds are also available if you prefer that. And also, depending on your creativity, you can make these rice balls as fun and exciting for the people you love. Enjoy!
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So you’ve gone through your day, eating all of the schnitzel and wurst you could possibly get your hands on, and you decide that you’ve had your fill of savory dishes. What now? Dessert, of course! Germany makes meat and potatoes well, as we all know, but it also rocks the culinary world when it comes to sweet treats. Here are a few of the desserts, unique to Germany that you should try out before leaving the country.
Kaiserschmarrn
This is a popular German food that also has a number of fans in Austria. In it, you’ll find a shredded pancake-type batter that’s been caramelized and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s usually served alongside a fruit compote and whipped cream. Some have said that it’s similar to a less crispy version of funnel cakes. This is a specialty of southern Germany, though it can be found anywhere. You can take a look at the interactive foodie map linked here if you want to know more about specialized dishes in each area of Germany.
Schnecken
If you’re a fan of cinnamon rolls, this is one treat you don’t want to miss out on. They’re a spiral-shaped pastry made with cinnamon and doused in a sugary glaze. Often times, they come topped with raisins, though different bakeries will offer their own spin on the treat and may switch that up for toppings like candied nuts or seasonal fruit
Krapfen
In essence, this is Germany’s equivalent of a jelly-filled donut. The dough is often soft and airy, creating a wonderfully light mouthfeel. It’s sprinkled with powdered sugar. Often times, the fruit jam inside is made by the bakery the krapfen comes from. A number of places will offer seasonal fillings based on what fruits are available.
Baumkuchen
This is a delightfully unique dessert not only for its taste, but for the way that it’s made. Baumkuchen means “tree cake” in German, and it’s named after the shape it takes on as it bakes. Instead of rising in an oven like a normal cake, this one is created by layering thin dough on top of each other. The cake itself rests on a spit and is roasted over a fire. Once the entire thing is finished, it’s covered entirely in a rich and delicious chocolate. Talk about food and a show!
Lebkuchen
If you’re heading into Germany near Christmas time, you’re in for a treat. Plenty of specialized treats pop up around this time specifically for the Christmas season, and lebkuchen is one of them. Resembling gingerbread, this cake is a descendant of honey cake and includes honey, candied fruit, nuts, and spices.
Once you’ve decided which sweets you want to test out, you could start drafting up your plans for public transport or even rent yourself a car from CarRentals.com at an affordable price. That way, you can make the most of your time and hit up as many destinations as you can! Get out there and fill out your German desserts punch card and enjoy the best sweets the country has to offer.
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