MANILA: My Review of Seda Hotel, Bonifacio Global City

MANILA:

My Review of Seda Hotel, 

Bonifacio Global City

LOCATION: Very good. It's very near good restaurants, shopping malls and offices. Everything you need is walkable from Seda Bonifacio Global City.

SERVICE::Check in was smooth and fast. We requested wine glasses and it arrived immediately. 

ROOM: The standard room was great in terms of cleanliness, spaciousness and amenities. 

However, I suggest that at least 2 bottles of water per person should  be given per day instead of just one. It's inconvenient asking for more everytime. 

The pillows are not that great and needs to be changed. 

There are no hand towels in the toilet. 

But the basic amenities that go with the standard room is sufficient for a comfortable stay. See photos below. 

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE STRAIGHT UP ROOFTOP BAR AT SEDA HOTEL, BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

MY EXPERIENCE AT THE STRAIGHT UP ROOFTOP BAR AT SEDA HOTEL, 

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY

If you want a romantic date or a place to hang out with friends, check out the rooftop bar at Seda BGC. The view is fabulous. There are lounge seats for two where you can view the sunset. There are tables and chairs for 4 if you're hanging out with friends. There's sofa seating for bigger groups. There's also a smoking area if you wish to smoke. Food and drinks are available to order.

We ordered a Cosmopolitan, a Manhattan and a Weng Weng together with some nachos. The drinks cost 400 php.

Manhattan 

Cosmopolitan 

Weng Weng

Nachos

The food and drinks are ok but nothing spectacular. People go there for the ambiance, the view and the conversation with their companions. The food and drinks are just a necessary accompaniment to it. The waiters were friendly and gave good service. But I would say this is more a before dinner or after dinner place to go

We stayed there for an hour then moved to another restaurant for dinner.

For cheapest rates, book your stay at Seda Bonifacio Global City HERE

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY: Complimentary Degustation to usher the New Aubergine Restaurant

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY:

Complimentary Degustation

to usher the New L'Aubergine Restaurant

Last June, my husband and I were invited to sample the latest 9-course Degustation Menu before the new Aubergine opens to the public.

As stated in the invitation, Aubergine was closed for the past 6 months to develop the new menu and to expand their service to include breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. Before opening it to the public, they decided to have some of their patrons sample the new Degustation menu.

We were lucky to be among those invited to sample the new Degustation Menu. And it didn't disappoint.

AMUSE BOUCHE

We decided to order a glass of wine each of
2013 BERINGER PINOT GRIGIO
to pair with the following meals

(320 pesos per glass)
(not included in the complimentary meal)

TOMATO JELLY
with
Fresh goat cheese (the white dot)
Basil (the green dot)

TOMATO-CRAB MILLE FEUILLE
Arugula, avocado, mango

(It means thin layers of tomato-crab, arugula, avocado, mango)

CURED SALMON
cucumber tea, pickled gherkins, horseradish granite

(The horseradish granite is the snow-like  topping.)

FOIE GRAS SYMPHONY
foie gras, veal aspic, chocolate, beetroot, brioche

(The foie gras is the cream sauce.)
(Veal aspic is veal stock set in gelatin.)

CHICKEN RAVIOLO
Chicken wing confit, mushroom nage, savoy cabbage

(Chicken wing confit is slowly cooked chicken wing.)
(Mushroom nage means mushroom flavored liquid.)

BUTTER POACHED GIANT PRAWN
Black pepper corn sauce, coconut foam

APPLE SORBET
Cilantro coulis, apple caviar

(Cilantro coulis is a thick sauce made from pureed and strained cilantro.)
(Apple caviar is an apple solution made into shapes of caviar,
which is an example of molecular gastronomy.)

We decided to order a glass of wine each of
2012 LAYER CAKE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
to pair with the Iberian Pork.

(650 pesos per glass)
(not included in the complimentary meal)

This wine was recommended by the waiter and perfectly pairs with the pork.

IBERIAN PORK
Cheek, Belly, Secreto, braised vegetables, pommes maxin, truffle jus

(This menu is composed of different parts of the Iberian pork.
It allows you to taste the different textures and tenderness of the different parts of the pork.

The best part is the SECRETO.
It is so tender because it's marbled with fat on the surface.)

PINEAPPLE CONFIT
Dehydrated banana milkshake, orange soup

CHOCOLATE REBEL
Chocolate trilogy, stracciatella ice cream, salted caramel, roasted almond flakes

It's called Chocolate trilogy because of the 3 layers of chocolate.
The stracciatella ice cream is a gelato made of milk ice cream with chocolate chips.

Coffee
Petit fours, chocolates

What You Can Expect from the Aubergine Degustation Menu

What You Can Expect from the Aubergine Degustation Menu

It is always a delight to dine at Aubergine. It's an expensive fine dining restaurant but the superb quality of food is something that is worth the price and is worth saving for in case you don't have enough money to splurge on one meal as expensive the degustation menu of Aubergine. I'ts hard to explain how delightful the food is until you've tasted it, especially since I'm not a gourmand or even a good cook. One thing I know is that my pleasurable lunch date with my husband was enhanced by the delightful food served by Aubergine. 

My tips to enhance your enjoyment Aubergine's degustation menu:

1. Go with someone who will not distract you from savoring your meal.

You need some peace and quiet to focus on savoring the many distinct flavors of each course. If you're on a business lunch, you will focus on closing your deal. If you dine with kids, you will be concentrate on dealing with their needs. If you're with a friend who chatters endlessly, you will focus on conversation. 

2. Have enough time to slowly savor the meal.

I noticed that the food gets better on my subsequent bites. This means the second bite is better than the first bite. The third bite is better than the second bite and so on and so forth. My husband and I spent 2 hours dining at this restaurant, savoring each bite and as we savor each other's company.

3. Go during lunchtime on a holiday or a Sunday.

At lunchtime on the Day of Valor holiday, we arrived with only another couple in the restaurant. Halfway through our meal, the other couple left. We had the whole restaurant all to ourselves. I presume there are more diners who prefer dinnertime and more diners during weekdays.

4. If you're not a large eater, don't order the meal with wine or juice.

In my case, I was already full half-way through my meal. I almost treated the mango-sorbet as my dessert. Imagine how it will be if I ordered the degustation menu with wine.  Each course has a wine to accompany it. I would not have been able to finish the meal. To be able to finish this meal, you need to accompany it with just 1 glass of water.

5. If you plan to dine here again and order the degustation menu, make sure to do it after a week or when they change the degustation menu.

I was informed by our server that they change the degustation menu weekly, on a Thursday or a Friday.

This is the degustation menu we tried today:

Amuse Bouche

Garden greens tossed in raspberry dressing (left side)
French duck foie gras cake with Calvados (middle)
Beetroot marinated salmon with creme fraiche and salmon roe (right)

Pumpkin cream soup with orange and champagne froth

Braised beef shortrib on potato mousseline

Mandarin Lemon Sorbet

My main course:
Grilled Chilean Sea bass
on Prawn Risotto and Mushroom and Zucchini, with Green Asparagus and Bouillabaisse nage

My husband's main course
Grilled US Black Angus Striploin Steak
served with Port Wine sauce and Bernaise,
Glazed Vegetables and Rosemary Potato Gratin
(Note: My husband ordered it medium rare but they overcooked the steak and it turned out medium well)

The optional cheese course (You add 200 pesos for this)
Brie de Meaux (left)
Chevre with sliced grapes and almonds (middle)
Roquefort
This is served with your choice of bread.

Tropic Grenadine Bar (top)
Mango Ice Cream with candied strawberries underneath (left)
Marinated berries (right)

Unlimited bread with butter and pimiento

Inside Aubergine restaurant

Location:
Aubergine Restaurant
5th ave, Bonifacio Global City
Website