Now Open: The Empress Dining Palace

I used to dislike Chinese food. I had no appreciation for it till I was in middle school. But it turned out that it wasn't the cuisine that I did not like, I was just eating at the wrong places. And when I got to have a taste of the real deal, a space in my heart (and tummy) opened up for this cuisine with rich history. Now hooked with dumplings, bird's nest soup and so much more, I was excited to visit The Empress Dining Palace.

Hello, The Empress Dining Palace. 

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas: Snake River Farms (SRF) Gift Box

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and many are stressing out on what to give their significant other. Thankfully, R and I are not too big on buying each other gifts and prefer to spend time with each other. And there is no better way to spend quality time than over a good home cooked meal. 

Hello again, Snake River Farms. 

My favorite steak brand came up with the perfect Valentine's Day gift idea. It bundled several favorites--Wagyu Strip Loin, Wagyu C. Cut Sirloin, Wagyu Flapmeat, Wagyu Ground Beef and Wagyu Frankfurter. Each pack weighs 330 grams with the exception of Wagyu Ground Beef which weighs 500 grams and Wagyu Frankfurter with 454 grams. 

Go Wagyu Crazy at Edsa Shangri-La's Mad for Wagyu at Heat

I always consider indulging in wagyu a treat. Aside from its unbelievably tender texture, it’s the sort of meat you can’t enjoy on a daily basis because of its not so affordable price tag. This is why my heart pounds so fast whenever I hear (or read) the three sweet words “unlimited wagyu promo.” And it definitely skipped a beat or two when I found out that Edsa Shangri-La’s well-loved buffet HEAT is celebrating foodies’ love for wagyu with Mad for Wagyu.

Hello, Heat!

 

It’d be hard to miss the Mad for Wagyu sign when you enter Heat as the first thing you’ll see is this roulette that diners could spin for a minimum single receipt worth PHP5,000. But let’s save the spinning story for later and focus more on the scrumptious spread.

First Bite: Lemuria

R wanted to bring me to this fancy place that he finds really beautiful. Luckily, we scored a Deal Grocer promo for its six course degustation at PHP1,450 per head. Not bad. Not bad at all. 

Hello, Lemuria!

I made a reservation for two at 6 p.m. one Sunday and we got there a bit past 6 as traffic was a bit crazy in Quezon City. 

We were greeted by one of the staff in butler outfit and assisted R with parking. When we step foot inside Lemuria, I was awed by the restaurant’s well tended garden and picturesque interiors. 

We were the only diners when we arrived. It was like R reserved the whole place for us. <3

We were served some complimentary bread with butter and balsamic vinegar to start our meal. 

There were two kinds of bread, both warm and fragrant. I liked the darker one with nuts as it was moist and way softer. The pale coloured bread was rather tough.

After a few minutes, we were given our first course, the Amuse Bouche, which is basically cherry tomato with cheese. 

The serving size was too small for it to leave a lasting impression. I totally forgot about it when I slurped the next dish which was the Caramelized Cabbage Soup with Lardoons and Sour Cream. 

The soup reminded me of some Chinese cabbage soup, only creamier and a tinge of sourness. 

Next served was the Sautéed Kale and White Onions with Chorizo and Crumbled Goat Cheese. 

First Bite: Wolfgang's Steakhouse

R never fails to make me fat. He suddenly messaged me that we could have a fancy dinner a few days ago and that I could pick any restaurant. I went with this steakhouse in Resorts World Manila. And so, we braved the weeknight traffic (which was intensified by the sudden heavy rainfall) and got to RW Manila a bit past 8.

Hello, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse!

I was surprised to see the steakhouse packed on a weeknight. There were only a few tables left when we got there.

I was ushered to the table near the washroom and after a few minutes, I felt uncomfortable with people walking past me. I also disliked the creaking sound and movement of the floor every time someone steps on the planks. They have to do something with the terrible flooring installation.

I was then moved to another table nearer the bar area and it addressed my first concern but not the second. It seems like the whole place had uneven flooring.

Anyway, back to steaks.

R and I ordered Porterhouse for Two (PHP4,988 | 1kg)  and Filet Mignon (PHP2,958 |450g). We also got Lobster Cocktail (PHP3,688) for appetizer and Jumbo Baked Potato (PHP158) as side dish. I also ordered a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon (PHP418) to pair my steak.

While waiting for our meals, we enjoyed the wait basket of warm bread and butter. I loved the soft dinner buns with ham bits.

The lobster cocktail was served next. (Side note: I was quite disappointed with how the server took this order. She was not sure on how much lobster we get per order. I just had to ask as PHP3,688 is pretty steep for an appetizer.) One order comes with one lobster cut in half.

The server assisted us with our first serving of lobster and gave us a dollop of sweet and tangy sauce that came with the cocktail.

Sadly, it wasn’t spectacular and quite forgettable. If only I knew, I would have just ordered another steak.

R’s Porterhouse was served next and it was HUGE! It’s good enough for three hungry individuals!

We had it prepared medium so the center was still a bit bloody when it was served. There were a few dry parts and some were a bit overcooked for medium. Some parts were succulent but not outstanding for me to crave for more.