Love at First Bite: Alchemy Bistro Bar

I got an email from Janine last week inviting me to Alchemy Bistro Bar. I’ve heard of this place before where the drinks are fondly called concoctions. And since we cancelled our La Union trip for the long weekend, I decided to accept Janine’s lunch invitation (yes, they are also open for lunch!) and know more about the bar which offers more than just great drinks.

Hello, Alchemy Bistro Bar!

We were greeted by shades of purple and nicely decorated walls with flasks containing colorful liquids and a bicycle. I’m not exactly sure what look they were trying to pull here but it was quirky and cute.

The restaurant’s owner, Tina Currie (who studied in Le Cordon Bleu and worked in the US and Thailand), welcomed us and gave us an overview of what’s lined up for lunch—Baked Oysters (PHP350), Croquettas (PHP260), Burrata Cheese Salad (price not on the menu), Alchemy Pizza (PHP450), Gnocchi (PHP390), Pan Seared Salmon (PHP465), Roasted Organic Chicken (PHP450), Slow-braised Lamb Shank (PHP775), Crème Brulee (PHP210) and Cheesecake with passion fruit coulis. We also had Alchemy Smoothie and Four Fruit Smoothie (PHP180 each).

First served was the baked oysters and R and I were impressed with the Aklan sourced shells. It was very fresh and it was so delightful with the spinach, hollandaise sauce and gruyere cheese. [Note: Be careful though and check your oyster. R ate his fast and didn’t notice a little shell piece was on the oyster and it hurt his tooth.]

Next served was the Burrata Cheese Salad and it was delicious. The giant red tomato slices made the tomato lover in me jump for joy! The prosciutto ham added flavor and the mozzarella on the outside and cream cheese in the inside combo made me go crazy! I also love the play of textures of the ingredients.

The croquettas were piping hot when it was served and I just found out when I took a big bite. I love the smooth potato with cheese stuffing. It was a great contrast with the crunchy breading. And the paprika dip wasn’t bad at all.

But if I were to choose between croquettas and gnocchi, I would choose the latter. Made with Gorgonzola cheese sauce, it was a cheesy affair with my taste buds. I love the crispy pancetta too for added bite. To fight off the “umay” factor, I munched on the herb garlic bread. This dish is a bit heavy on the tummy though so it’s best to share it with a fellow cheese lover.

R and I were slowly getting full when the Alchemy pizza arrived and it was pretty big. The wood fired pizza was amazing too. The speck ham, which was slightly different from prosciutto, added flavor to the pizza. I also enjoyed the slight tanginess from the Balsamic sauce drizzled on the arugula. And yes, the arugula made us feel that we were eating something healthy.

Table for Two: Ninyo Fusion Cuisine & Wine Lounge

As much as I love eating good food, I hesitate dining in super fancy places especially when I have to splurge… a lot. But I get to score great deals from sites like Deal Grocer and Cash Cash Pinoy at times. A few months back, I did with a 47% off deal for a romantic dinner for two in Ninyo. I bought it in an instant as I wanted to go somewhere romantic with R.

Hello, Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge!

It was a rainy day when we decided to visit Ninyo. I had a private gazebo reserved (for an extra romantic vibe) and I got worried that the rain will ruin our dinner but I was surprised with the fantastic service of the staff. The servers approached us with umbrellas and made sure that we are dry and comfortable.

The set-up was perfect. There were rose petals everywhere.

First served were a few slices of warm bread and butter and it sure hit the spot. The bread was soft and delicious! Too bad I was too hungry to take a photo of it.

Next served were the Wasabi Fried Oyster Tempura and it was good. Wait, scratch that. It was awesome! R loved it too. The starter sure did set the bar high. I loved the contrast of the soft oysters and the crunchy tempura batter. The balsamic citrus mayo dressing with red lumpfish caviar made it even more interesting.

The Nori Pumpkin Soup was pretty good too. I loved the creamy texture and the sweet yet salty taste.

It was difficult to eat the Yuzu Sorbet. R and I decided to eat it straight from the ceramic spoon/plate. It was very refreshing though. 

Sweet Ending: Florabel

I love people who love sweets. Ice cream, chocolates, cake, cookies, brownies, and more ice cream!!! I love chocolates so much that I once tried the “chocolate diet.” Well, I don’t think it exists but I tried to eat nothing but chocolates for a few days. (Yes, it was a bad idea but I had no regrets.) And a few weeks ago, I met a group who share the same love for sweets. <3

Hello, Florabel.

I recall that the only time I went inside Florabel was for a meeting with the people handling Magnum. And since the meeting was held after lunch, I just had a glass of… water. (And Magnum of course!)

This time though, we had some sweet meal enders. And we ordered quite a lot! S1, S2, S3 and D were the ones who chose the desserts and they picked Frozen Brazo de Mercedes (PHP225), Chocolate Mud Pie (PHP320), Crème Brûlée Torte with Fruits in Season (PHP245), Moist Yema Chocolate Cake (PHP275), Valrhona Chocolate Tartlet with Mango Chutney (PHP335), and Chocnut Torte (PHP245).

The Frozen Brazo de Mercedes tasted a bit too egg-y. (Sorry, I couldn’t think of a better term for this.) Perhaps I also compare it with the one I had from Spätzle. I liked the custard though and the contrast of the frozen meringue with the crunchy graham crust.

The Crème Brûlée Torte was so-so for me. It was probably my least favorite that night. It had a slight burnt taste but the fruits were fresh.