WHAT TO ORDER AT THE LOGGIA AT PALACIO DE MEMORIA

WHAT TO ORDER AT THE LOGGIA AT PALACIO DE MEMORIA

Although the Loggia is conceptualised by Margarita Fores, the food has not yet achieved the level of Cibo. I'm a fan of Margarita Fores ever since Trattoria Uno days and I love Cibo. Most of the food that we ordered at the Loggia was just OK, except for 2 which were really good. And that's what I'm recommending. 

We ordered an antipasti, pasta, mains, pizza, dessert, wine and coffee. What was exceptionally good was the pasta and the main.

We ordered the Papardelle, Asparagus, Prosciutto, Truffle Cream Pasta. As always, the pasta of Margarita Fores is exceptionally good. Must order that one. 

Papardelle, Asparagus, Prosciutto, Truffle Cream Pasta
(600 php)

We also ordered the Australian Beef Tenderloin alla Scamorza. It was very tender and juicy. We ordered medium rare but it came out medium well. But it was still good. So that's worth ordering.

Australian Beef Tenderloin alla Scamorza
(810 php)

How many hours before an international flight should you be at Manila International Airport Terminal 3?

How many hours before an international flight should you be at Manila International Airport Terminal 3?

Updated June 16, 2023, after all airlines from other terminals have completed transfer to NAIA3. 

At least 3 hours. 4 hours

Check-in time takes 35 minutes. Lines are longer at web check-in counters than at the regular check-in counters. But its still better to check in online already before arriving at the airport because it gives you both the option of checking in at the web check-in counters or at the regular counter.

Going through immigration takes 40 min.1-1.5 hours

That's 75 min 2 hours lost already. You can use the other 75 min 1 hour to take a leisurely walk to the gate and take a quick snack before boarding happens 30 min before the flight. You need to be at the 

NOTE: You might need more time if you're leaving your car for several days at NAIA overnight parking slot or if you're paying travel tax at the airport. 

MANILA: Transit Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3

MANILA: Transit Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3

For those transiting through NAIA Terminal 3, you have 3 options on where to stay, all located at Level 4:

PAID:

1. Wings Transit Lounge

+632 8869464

+632 8337299

thewings@jipang-group.com

Where you can book: https://twtl.as.me/schedule.php

2. SM Kenko Spa

Website: https://jipang-group.com/sm-kenko/naia

Where you can book: https://twtl.as.me/schedule.php

FREE:

Sitting area near Ministop, Jollibee and Pancake House

Shake Shack Manila (Megamall branch): My Review

 

Shake Shack Manila (Megamall branch): My Review

The first time I tried Shake Shack was at Shake Shack in Herald Square in New York. That was 3 years ago. At this weekend's movie mania, we decided to try Shake Shack in Manila (Megamall branch). We all agreed that the Shack Burger in New York tasted so much better. Or is it the ambience of being in New York that added to the flavor. 🤔

After tasting the much hyped Shack Burger, I remain a Burger King fan. Just like when tasting wine or whiskey, the first taste is always definitive of the impression it makes. When I tasted Burger King again after the lockdown ended, the first bite was so wonderful I couldn't help but exclaim at how good it was. My first bite of Shack Burger was just ok.

We ordered Shack burger, Double Shack burger, Dark meat hot chicken and plain fries at Shake Shack Megamall. The wonderful Whopper Jr I mentioned above came from Burger King Marcos Highway near Vermont subdivision.

Shake Shack New York

Shake Shack Manila 

(Megamall branch)

HOTEL 101 MANILA: A REVIEW

HOTEL 101 MANILA: A REVIEW

I booked Hotel 101 as a place where I can stay overnight before running the half-marathon at the 2017 National Geographic Earth Day Run. The venue of the run is the SM Mall of Asia grounds. The start line is at Seaside Boulevard, which is around 1 1/2 km. walk from Hotel 101. The half-marathon gun start is at 3:30 AM. So I decided to stay at Hotel 101 so I can rest more and avoid having to compete for parking space at the SM Mall of Asia, especially since thousands join the Earth Day Run. Apparently, it was a good decision. A lot of vehicles are stuck in traffic on the road leading to the start line.

My Reasons for Liking Hotel 101

1. The price

The price of the room is only 2,755.68 pesos per night for two persons. We didn't get the room with breakfast included because there's a Jollibee store beside the hotel and a lot of restaurants within short walking distance of the hotel.

I BOOKED HERE FOR THE BEST RATES FOR THIS HOTEL.

2. The hotel room and its basic amenities

The room has a minimalist design but very clean. And basic amenities are complete.

Water is strong and the shower has heater.

It's very good that the toilet has bidet unlike other hotel rooms.

They provide complimentary 2 bottles of water, a snack (Pillows) and coffee.

As you can see, bottled water and Oishi pillow snack is complimentary.

There's a microwave.

There's a small ref.

You can see the storage space of the ref.
The items you see inside the ref is not free.

They provide a bathrobe, in-room safe and slippers.

They provide a flashlight inside the cabinet in case of emergency. 

They provide a hair dryer.

There's a dental kit, shaving kit, cotton and earbuds. 

They provide shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap
Of course, there's also toilet paper, facial tissue and towels provided.

3. The shops and services near the hotel

There's a 711 store at the ground floor of the hotel building

There's a Jollibee store beside the hotel

There's a Baan Khun Thai spa and a Phoenix gas station beside the hotel.

4. Ube express shuttle stop

The hotel is one of the stops of the Ube Express shuttle that goes to the airport, the NAIA Terminal 1, 2, and 3.

From 5:00 AM until 12:00 mn.
The buses pass through this stop every 30 minutes.

The Ube Express shuttle bus stop is in front of the hotel entrance

5. Ample hotel basement parking space

Hotel 101 is a value-for-money hotel choice if you wish to have a place to stay when:

1. You're running a marathon very early in the morning in the area of Mall of Asia/Roxas Boulevard and wish to stay overnight at a hotel nearby to avoid the traffic and having to look for parking space.

2. You're attending a concert at the nearby SM Arena.

3. You wish to go shopping before going abroad and leaving for the airport.

The hotel is near the airport and the shopping mecca, which is the SM Mall of Asia.

4. You leave far from the airport and wish to stay at a nearby hotel to ensure you make it to the airport on time.

In case you have difficulty finding a taxi, the hotel is one of the stops of Ube Express as shown above.

I BOOKED HERE FOR THE BEST RATES FOR THIS HOTEL.

Disclosure: I paid for my accommodations while staying at this hotel. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights.

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