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

How to use the FITNESS FIRST INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

How to use the FITNESS FIRST INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

The Fitness First International Passport is a membership benefit of Fitness First members who are enrolled in a Full Access Multiclub Plan. It allows the member to use Fitness First Clubs worldwide when they visit a country for a short time.

Since my hotel in Singapore does not have a gym. I decided to use my international passport in Singapore. This is how to use it.

1. Get an international passport card from your home gym before you leave the country.

This the international passport issued by your home club.
Passport and Platinum members can use
clubs of the SAME category for FREE

At the back of the international passport, your details are shown.

2. Check at the local Fitness First website to find out which are the regular Fitness First Clubs and which are Platinum Clubs so you'll know which ones you can use for free.

The screenshot of the website shows that Fitness First Cathay is a regular Fitness First club.
I encircled in black the area where you can find the category of that particular club.

The screenshot of the website shows that Fitness First Paragon is a regular Fitness First club.
I encircled in black the area where you can find the category of that particular club.

3. Bring both your Fitness First membership card and the international passport issued to you by your home club and present both to the Fitness First counter of the gym you're using abroad.

Fitness First Cathay (Singapore)

Unlike other Fitness First Clubs,
this club provides a small and large towel when you register at the counter.

I DIDN'T PAY ANY FEE WHEN I USED FITNESS FIRST CATHAY IN SINGAPORE.

Manila International Airport Lounge: The Sky View Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3

Manila International Airport Lounge:

The Sky View Lounge 

at NAIA Terminal 3

Updated February 2023: Skyview Lounge is now Marhaba Lounge. 

Check out my new post here:Everything you need to know about Marhaba Lounge, NAIA 3 

The new Skyview Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 is a pay lounge, which means you can enter this lounge for a fee. However if you are a holder of certain credit cards (like the American Express Platinum Card, the Citibank Premier Miles/Platinum, Security Bank Platinum/World or Diners Club, BDO Diamond Rewards), the  (AND 1 GUEST) are allowed to enter for FREE.

Fee for Entry (if you are not a holder of the cards mentioned above):

800 pesos: fee for adult and children 2 years old and above.

20% discount is applied to senior citizens.

Children below 2 years old are free.

Where it is located: 

At the International Departure area.

NOTE: There is no access to this lounge if you are in the Domestic Departure area. So if you are departing from this airport on a domestic flight, you will not be able to use this lounge.

Departure area is at Level 3. Skyview Lounge is at Level 4, seen above.

This photo is taken immediately after passing the final security check after immigration.

Look above and you see the Sky View Lounge.

You will find the stairs or elevator that goes to Level 4 to your right. Look for the signs. There are plenty of signs to lead you to where the lounges are

Hours of Operation:

24 hours, 7 days a week

Procedure for Entry:

1. Present your qualified credit card and your boarding pass to the counter in front. Or pay the fee if you don't have a qualified credit card.

• They get your boarding pass to get your flight information. Part of their service is to notify their guests if their plane is ready for boarding.

2. Sign the logbook.

3. You are given the WiFi password.

4. Then you are allowed to enter the lounge.

What You Will Find in the Lounge

FREE FOOD 

Hot dishes area

Chicken congee,
with condiments such as:
onion leaves, fried garlic, calamansi, soy sauce

Vegetable Yakisoba

Sweet and sour steamed fish
Stir fry beef

Steamed rice

Assorted mini sandwiches:

Cheese pimiento sandwich
Beef pastrami pan de sal
Open faced pesto chicken
Tuna salad square
Grilled eggplant sandwich
Open faced tomato and sliced cheese

(I love their sandwiches!!!)

Cereal

Assorted plain bread
with jam, marmalade, butter and cheese

Assorted pastries

(These pastries are really good.)

FREE DRINKS

Espresso coffee
(Don't miss the coffee. The coffee is really good!!!)

Tea

Liquor and Wine

Softdrink, Beer, Juice

Hot and cold water

SPACIOUS LOUNGE

You can choose to sit on these chairs...

Or take the seat with the view of the runway.

FREE WIFI 

WiFi speed at the lounge

FREE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

MALE AND FEMALE RESTROOMS WITH SHOWER

PRAYER ROOM

The door to the prayer room is the one at the left

MY TIP: 

Make sure to arrive at the airport AT LEAST THREE (3) hours before your flight to be able to use this lounge. One (1) hour is spent checking-in and going through immigration, an hour and a half (1 1/2) to eat at the lounge and the remaining 30 minutes is for boarding.

Comfort Food at the new House of Minis@ Liberty Center

Comfort Food at the new House of Minis
@ Liberty Center

My mom and dad often brought us to House of Minis when we were young. Our ritual would be to buy groceries at Unimart in Greenhills in the morning and then have lunch at House of Minis in Shoppesville.

My dad passed away in 1997. My mom continued going to House of Minis even after he passed away. She loved the food so much that she even brought my children to the restaurant to share her enjoyment of their food. My children now associate House of Minis with their memories of their Lola, and reminisce about what she usually ordered and how happy she was during those times.

My mom passed away last year. In honor of her memory, we decided to celebrate the passing of the year, by attending Mass, then dining at her favorite place and ordering her favorite food. We miss her so much. It was a bittersweet feeling. But somehow, tasting the same food that we enjoyed when we were young, while in the delightful company of our parents, comforted and warmed our hearts. It somehow filled the longing we have for the presence of our mom and dad. Now, we're creating new memories to share with our kids by dining at this place.

Mama would have loved this new branch of House of Minis. Why?

It's spacious and well lighted.

It serves the same food we enjoyed 40 years ago.

Our favorite, the Specialties of the House:
Complete meals with Soup of the Day, Dinner Rolls
and Coffee or Dessert (Ice Cream)

This soup did not disappoint.
It tastes the same as the ones we enjoyed when we were young.  

It's the same simple lettuce salad with thousand island dressing.

My mom and I usually order the mini Porterhouse cooked medium well.
It's still tender and yummy!!!

Finally, the chocolate ice cream for dessert.

It has the same ambience.

We all smiled when we heard the organist play.
It's reminiscent of the House of Minis in Shoppesville.
There's always someone playing when we dined at their Shoppesville branch 

It's the same linen and set-up we used to see,

There's plenty of parking space.

Location:

Contact Information
House of Minis
Liberty Center, Shaw Boulevard
Tel. No. 672 34 48
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM (All day dining)