Bistro Manuel: Bringing back Lolo Dad's Signature Dishes

Lolo Dad's has been one of the most iconic fine dining restaurants in Manila. Tucked inside Malate, this place used to be packed, with most looking forward to the restaurant's signature dishes. And many tears were shed when this well-loved establishment closed its doors in 2014. You'd know too that it was truly missed when people still crave for its delectable foie gras and steak to this day. This is why many were thrilled when the brilliant chefs Ariel Manuel and Mia Ayuyao Manuel decided to make a comeback and opened Bistro Manuel. 

Hello, Bistro Manuel. 

Bistro Manuel is a contemporary take on Lolo Dad's. With its more modern yet still sophisticated interiors, it serves as a great place for dates or celebrating milestones. 

Pound is now open at SM North Edsa

Pound by Todd English is one of my favorite joints to grab burgers and fries. Not only does it offer thick, juicy and flavorful burgers, its set menu are definitely bang for the buck! Where else can you grab a gourmet level burger with fries and drink for under PHP300? 

Hello, Pound!

Pound opens another shop in the North and this time, it's just a few blocks away from its Ayala Malls Vertis North branch. Located at the busy SM North Main Building, Pound is definitely easy to spot. 

First Bite: ICHŌ Japanese Restaurant

I love how R's parents are always on the lookout for new restaurants to try. They're awesome foodies who would often discover gems in the city that are outside my radar. And one of the restaurants they stumbled upon was ICHŌ Japanese Restaurant. 

Hello, ICHŌ Japanese Restaurant. 

Located along the busy Annapolis near Greenhills Shopping Center, ICHŌ is a stand alone restaurant that took the place of a former Chinese restaurant. 

First Bite: Flatterie by Todd English

With the success of Pound and Hook comes another mouthwatering concept that started at the foodie haven Todd English Food Hall--Flatterie. This newest addition to the growing brands under Foodee Global Concepts specializes on flatbreads while keeping the signature posh ambiance the Todd English Group. I was expecting for the usual flatbreads but... let's just say my taste buds had a grand time!

Hello, Flatterie. 

Located on the ground floor of SM Mall of Asia's South Arcade, it would be hard to miss Flatterie as it is situated by the mall's side entrance. 

First Bite: Made Nice Supper Club

I have been an active looloo user for over a year now and it never seems to get old. I just love the looloo community and I truly enjoy listening to each and everyone’s food and adventure stories. Coming from different walks of life, each member are like spices and herbs that make the community a lot more interesting. And what’s a fun community without regular meet ups, or in our case, eat ups? Our resident PRO, J, arranged a looloo holiday dinner open to all active reviewers and it sure was a festive one! Our venue? The new restaurant across Your Local called Made Nice Supper Club.

Hello, Made Nice Supper Club!

It could be challenging to spot this place if you have no clue where it is along the foodie Esteban street. It is across Your Local and beside a bridal store. With its minimalist MN signage, you have to remember those two landmarks to avoid missing it, as some of us did. 

Restaurant Love: Highlanders Steakhouse

I still remember the first time R and I went to Tagaytay Highlands. It was a perfect weekend getaway and what made it so special was because R planned the whole trip himself. It was our first out of town trip together. And since then, I could no longer count how many times we went to Tagaytay Highlands or Tagaytay itself for a short escapade. And a couple of weekends ago, we went again, this time with his friends.

Hello, Tagaytay Highlands.

We got to the place a bit past noon and R was rushing for us to get to The Highlanders Steakhouse for lunch. And we made it!

R and I ordered our usuals, John Wayne’s Prime Rib (PHP2,998, 20oz.), Sautéed Scallop of Hudson Valley Foie Gras (PHP920) and Cream of Butternut Squash Soup (PHP158). S suggested that we also get Seared Chilean Sea Bass (PHP1,180) and Baby Back Ribs (PHP820). 

While waiting for our orders, we enjoyed the complimentary loaves of bread and butter. L almost finished one whole loaf by herself. I am amazed with this petite girl’s appetite!

My squash soup was served after a few minutes and it was as good as before. It was creamy and slightly sweet and salty. You could definitely taste the delectable taste of pumpkin and the subtle flavor of nuts. It is best with a dash of pepper.

Next served was our favorite foie gras and I still find it the best foie gras around. The generous cuts of foie gras was flavorful and succulent. It went so well with the Hibiscus Tea sauce and caramelized pineapples which balanced off the saltiness of the foie gras. 

The other three dishes soon followed.

Steak Night: Melo's Home of Certified Angus Beef

It has been months since I purchased my Deal Grocer vouchers for Melo’s Foie Gras and Steak Set and finally, R and I were able to use it one Friday.

Hello, Melo’s.

I don’t exactly remember the last time I dined in Melo’s but it must have been more than a decade ago. All I know is that this is one of the established steak places in Manila. So when I saw a good deal in Deal Grocer, I nabbed the chance to enjoy a foie gras and steak set for only PHP999.

I made a reservation for two at 7 p.m. and when I got there 10 minutes earlier, the place was empty. Well, there was a table occupied outside but there were no other diners around. To think that it was Friday and pay day, it made me realize why Melo’s was offering this irresistible deal.

I asked the server to prepare our steaks 15 minutes before R arrives. While waiting, I was given some soft buns and butter.

First Bite: Atelier Vivanda

I yearned to visit Atelier Vivanda ever since I saw an Instagram post about its grand opening and the fact that it is a two-star Michelin restaurant. I wanted to have dinner there for Valentine's but I was a bit too late to make a reservation. Luckily, R's dad decided to celebrate his birthday there (and it was just one day ahead of mine). Yay! 

Hello, Atelier Vivanda!

It is... not as fancy as I thought. I read a bit about the restaurant and it sounded so formal hence I was surprised that the place is pretty casual. I also had this impression that the place is huge and majestic. But the place is quite small. In fact, it is very cramped.

R and I headed straight to the second floor where R's sister reserved a table for everyone. The space upstairs seemed to be even more cramped. The waiters can't avoid bumping into the diners' chairs or backs and it is never pleasant to experience this.

Anyway, R and I opted to get the set menu for PHP1,900. It comes with an entree, mains, unlimited side dishes and dessert. I got Potato Soup for my appetizer, Vendee Yellow Chicken Breast for main, and Custard for dessert. R went with Whole Cooked Foie Gras, Black Angus Hampe, and Crème Brûlée. The server who assisted us offered to let us try all their potato side dishes.

Since the place was packed when we visited, it took them quite a long time to serve our dishes. It was almost 20 minutes in when the appetizers arrived. 

I was not impressed with R's foie gras. It was a bit dry and seemed like a solidified foie gras pate. 

I loved my soup though. It was thick and rich. Serving was also very generous. Actually, a bit too generous as it was too heavy as an appetizer. It was delightfully creamy with lovely tanginess from the Comté cheese and tinge of saltiness from the smoked haddock. 

In about 20 minutes, our mains were served.

R's black Angus steak seemed to be a bit small and rather thin but taste-wise, it did not disappoint. Cooked medium, the meat was succulent and nicely seasoned. 

It was flavorful enough for you to also appreciate the natural flavor of the meat. 

First Bite: Impressions

Unlimited foie gras. Those sweet words made me go "ooooh" longer than holding my breath to win the "happy birthdaaaaaaaay" contest. 

Hello, Impressions!

This classy buffet restaurant in Resorts World Manila is headed by celebrity chef Cyrille Soenen and its layout is meant to impress.

The slightly dim lit restaurant had a minimalist signage in front that also serves as the reception desk. 

As soon as you enter, you are greeted by several numbered tables with the first buffet bar on the right which serves the meats. 

We got table #18 reserved for us which was perfect as it was in front of the buffet table that prepares foie gras, scallops and lobsters. It was also near the sweet corner a.k.a. desserts and sashimi.

My first plate had a lot of salmon sashimi, a few maki and foie gras. 

The foie gras bits were bite size and it was... just okay. It wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad. It had the usual slightly grainy texture of foie gras and the delectable oiliness per bite. But it lacked richness in flavor.

Weekend Getaway: Highlands Prime Steakhouse

[Part 2 of White Day Weekend Getaway] After lunch, R and I decided to ride a cable car to explore Tagaytay Highlands and it turned out to be a not so good idea because it was a really hot afternoon. Good thing we were prepared to swim. (Okay, I was prepared to just dip and do nothing else.) After bringing out the mermaid and merman in us, we decided to have dinner.

Hello, Highlands Prime Steakhouse!

The place has a very cozy feeling. Despite being a steakhouse, it didn’t have a snobbish ambiance to it.

R wanted to eat outside for the view but it was rather chilly that night. Anyway, we still went for it.

We decided to go for the following: Westfalian Barley Soup (PHP158), Sautéed Scallop of Hudson Valley Foie Gras (PHP920), Norwegian Salmon Steak (PHP880) and John Wayne’s Prime Rib (PHP2,598, 20 oz. | PHP1,998, 14 oz. | PHP1,380, 10 oz. | PHP1,008, 7 oz.). We also got some fruit shakes.

The barley soup, which was a mix of ham, carrots, celery and potatoes and blended with cream and egg yolk, was a good appetizer. It sure warmed up the tummy and was pretty light too.

The foie gras was also delightful! I loved the contrast in flavors of the foie gras and the pineapple bits.

Love at First Bite: Pink Egg Episodes' Mayura Wagyu Burger

I love burgers! I eat it with my hands and not utensils. (Well, fine, except when the restaurant is too posh or when the burger is too darn fat that even my widest *aaaah* will not make half of it fit in.) And I got so giddy when I saw the post of J about this Mayura Wagyu burger. The photo alone made me drool and since they only have limited quantity of the patties, they have to pre-sell tickets. Limited burger patties? Too tempting to let it pass. So I bought the last two tickets! And I sure had a hard time finding another person to get the extra ticket from me given it cost PHP1,000. (Thank you, N!)

Mayura Wagyu is known to be a brand of full-blood Wagyu beef. These cows stay in a 5-star cow hotel and sleep on comfy sawdust-cushioned floor while listening to soothing music and are fed with Cadbury chocolates and gummy bears. By living the good life, these happy cows make our tummies happy too.

It was Pink Egg Episodes' turn to make foodies happy the second time around when they had a part two of their pop-up event that features this top grade burger at Yardstick in Makati.

I arrived a few minutes after 11 a.m. and the place was packed! There were no tables available so I was forced to get a bar seat instead after getting my ticket.

After 20 minutes or so, I finally got my burger and it sure was big hence the need to use the utensils. 

Restaurant Love: Black Sheep

I am not a picky eater but one thing I am allergic to would be "expensive" food. I guess I have the I-could-eat-this-much-which-is-a-lot-instead-of-spending-it-with-this-one-pricey-dish. Okay, I still blame my Bistecca experience. It really affected how I view restaurants serving expensive dishes. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind spending a few thousands for a nice lunch or dinner. But if I walk out with a sad or still hungry tummy, I turn into an angry foodie. Thus, it took a bit of convincing before I finally gave in to try...

Hello, Black Sheep!

Located at the Penthouse of W Building at the 32nd and 5th, it definitely doesn't sound like casual dining. I was surprised though that the place wasn't as uptight as I thought. (In fact, despite not knowing, I opted to wear a summer dress and flat sandals.) 

The host guided us to our table and handed our personalized menu. (As a sucker for anything personalized, they get 5 stars already!) I also like that despite getting a specific set, we still have a freedom to choose some appetizers, mains, etc. 

First served was the Chicken and Egg. Charmingly plated, it was a piece of deep-fried chicken, marinated in soy and topped with salmon roe and submerged in raw egg. I was iffy at first to try it as I have never tried gulping raw egg. But since it looked divine, I gave it a go and I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was flavorful and slightly crisp and the remaining liquid was warm and slightly sweet. 

This was followed by a bowl of warm Tocino Bread. It was light and sweet because of the tocino bits.

Served next was the Longganisa Ice Cream. What made me go crazy over this dish was the fact that they were able to capture all the tastes you get from eating a longsilog. Aside from the sweet and meaty taste of longganisa, there was also the crispy black rice, pork flakes, and even the tangy taste of vinegar. It was an amazing dish! The vinegar was turned into this jelly base that made me smile like a fool while finishing it. I also ate the flower!

Restaurant Favorite: Boqueria

If I love the food and the service, I'll be back. It's that simple. If one's missing, it'll take me forever to go back. But everything was pleasant with Boqueria when I had lunch there last month so I visited it again with my good friend of 21 years (yes, I'm proud of how long we have been friends). 

Hello again, Boqueria!

I gave A the decision on where to eat as long as it's not X1 or X2 restaurants.(Oooh, blind items!) But she was okay with any as well as long as it's not a Filipino restaurant so I recommended Boqueria. Plus we were too famished to explore further. 

When we got the menu, I noticed that there were price changes. Some of the dishes became more expensive. The staff, however, clarified that the serving got bigger to justify the price changes. (There was an average of PHP200 jump from last month's.

Since we will bowl and drop by Cafe Juanita after lunch, we decided to keep it "light" with the following dishes: Albondigas con Foie Gras (PHP288), Pollo con Salsa Mango (PHP298), Paella Marinera (PHP368), and two glasses of Mint Iced Tea.