50% off at Cafe Ilang Ilang with BDO Mastercard

December 15, 2012

Cafe Ilang Ilang
Manila Hotel
5270011 local 1261

Breakfast (6:00am-10:30am) PhP 1,317.86 net
Lunch  (11:30am-2:30pm) PhP 1,950 net
Dinner (6:00pm-10:30pm) PhP 2,250 net

Sunday Brunch PhP 2,150 net

Thursday Steak Night PhP 2,650 net
Friday Seafood Night PhP 2,650 net

Kids 4 years old and below Free Of Charge

Open Daily 6:00am -10:30pm

You know you are getting old when you celebrate your Christmas party with friends in a hotel hahaha That's exactly what my friends (20 years and counting) and I did. Last Saturday, we dined Manila Hotel style.

 our elegantly set-up table and chairs

If you have been following me on Instagram, you would have seen this photo of a very loooong table ; p We have now multiplied hahaha Of course, husbands and kids are included in our annual gift-giving party!

We are a practical bunch, we were able to dine in style only because two of my friends have BDO MasterCard credit cards. The 50% off on buffet prices are offered to all those privileged enough to own a BDO Gold, Platinum or Titanium Mastercard credit card holders.

To know more about the promo and the photos I took, read after the break...

WooRiJib Korean Restaurant Buffet starts at PhP 299!

October 27, 2012

Woo Ri Jib Restaurant
10 Kalayaan Ave.,
Quezon City
9267685

Remember my Bulgogi Garden post? Well, a week later, we went back to Kalayaan Ave. and visited the restaurant next to it named Woo Ri Jib. It means "Our Home" in Korean. I can't believe that DH and I just discovered it because the restaurant has been in the business since 1999.

samgyupsal and galbisal buffet PhP 499

Woo Ri Jib offers buffet for as low as PhP 299 (Samgyupsal). These are bacon-like strips only thicker. Anyway, we went for PhP 499 dinner buffet. It includes galbisal, bulgogi and of course, samgyupsal.

Birthday Celebration at Tajimaya Charcoal Grill in SM Mall of Asia (MOA)

October 19, 2012

Tajimaya Charcoal Grill

2137 - 2139 EM 2nd Floor

SM Mall of Asia
Pasay City

556-8929

Two years ago, I posted about Tajimaya Charcoal Grill here. In my previous entry, the waitress kept on insisting that we order their house specialty - Wagyu Beef. So, when we went back to celebrate DH's birthday last October 19, finally, we were able to try Wagyu Karubi. We ordered the cheapest among the Wagyu selection. When the order came out, I noticed that there were only less than 10 thinly sliced beef. For the price we paid, it better be good.

 Wagyu Karubi (Boneless Short Ribs) PhP 780

Well, not really! Although the beef looks marbled, it was not exactly "melt-in-your-mouth" that Wagyu is known for. It was a bit chewy. Ho hum...

Read after the break for the rest of our orders...

Bulgogi Garden in Kalayaan Quezon City

October 13, 2012

Bulgogi Garden
125 Kalayaan Ave.,
Diliman, Quezon City
3823915

Since Bulgogi Brothers failed to impress us the night before, DH and I went to Kalayaan Ave. in search for another Korean restaurant the very next night. We saw rows and rows of Korean restaurants when we passed by the area a few weeks ago. We were determined to find and check out a new place to satisfy our Korean Barbecue cravings! We parked inside the first Korean restaurant we saw - Bulgogi Garden. The place was huge, you will not miss the well-lit sign hanging on the wall as you passed by Kalayaan Ave. in Quezon City.

 Bulgogi Garden in Kalayaan. Ave.

The word Bulgogi literally means "Fire Meat" in Korean. It refers to cooked marinated meat on dome griddles that sits on braziers.

Griddle is a heavy flat iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food.
Brazier is a portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coal.

Read after the break for our Korean BBQ experience...

Bulgogi Brothers in SM MOA

October 12, 2012

Bulgogi Borthers
2nd Level Entertainment Mall
SM Mall of Asia
Bay Blvd., Pasay City

Last Friday, DH and I were in SMX Convention Center for the 8th Printing & Label Philippines 2012. After spending four hours roaming around the venue, naturally, we were very hungry. I told DH that I want to eat in a Korean restaurant. We seldom go to SM Mall Of Asia so we needed to consult the Information Board first ; p Good thing we found one - Bulgogi Brothers. I have been meaning to eat in this restaurant for so long. Finally, I get to try it!

Bulgogi Bibimbap PhP 395

"BUL-GO-GI" literally means "fire meat" in Korean.
"Bul" is fire while "gogi" is meat
It is commonly translated as Koren barbecue. The thin slices of beef, pork or chicken are specially marinated in combination of sauce and seasonings to enhance their flavor and tenderness, before being placed on a grill, usually right at the table.

It has been a while since we last ate in a Korean restaurant. The last one I visited was Yoogane with my family. Yoogane's selection was limited and it was not exactly the authentic restaurant that I was looking for.

DH and I were expecting Bulgogi Brothers to be at least at par with Sariwon. However, we were disappointed. Since Bulgogi Brothers only serve rice together with every order of Bulgogi BBQ, we opted not to order one. I was so looking forward pa naman to eating sangchu-ssam.

DH and I shared an order of Bulgogi Bibimbap. It was served on a hot stone pot. The warm white rice was topped with vegetables like cucumber, carrots, radish, bean sprouts and mushrooms. A raw egg was at the center of the bowl. Gochujang was served on the side. It was a visual delight!

Bibimbap literally means "mixed rice" in Korea. All ingredients must be stirred together just before eating.

For tips on where to find authentic Korean Restaurants, read after the break...

Home Improvement: Komodo Teak Wood Garden Set

Remember my Cafe Juanita entry? We ate there that night because we just came from Komodo Artscrafts Inc. in Pioneer St., Mandaluyong where we placed a 50% down payment for a round garden table and four traditional stackable armchair. We have been eyeing their outdoor garden set for quite some time - by that I mean from the moment we acquired our home which was more than 5 years ago ; p 

 Komodo teak wood

It was finally delivered last June 15. I was so excited. If you are a follower on twitter and facebook, you should have already seen a few of the photos that I took of the garden set. 

By the way, I specially requested for the cast-iron like logo to be placed on all the items that we bought. I was told that all the new furniture do not carry them anymore. I gave my best doe-eyed look to Irene who was very accommodating despite the fact that we were there 15 minutes before closing time, she said she will request it from their head office. I am very happy that the logo found its way to my garden set. 

How to eat Sangchu-ssam

When in Korea, learn how to eat the Korean way. On our first day, our tour guide, Mike taught us how to eat Sangchu-ssam.

DH holding sangchu-ssam

Cooked rice and other food wrapped in Korean lettuce is called Sangchu- ssam- Wikipedia

sangchu- lettuce

ssam means wrap

We ate at Korean Restaurant- what a creative name, huh?- when we went to check out in advance our ride for our trip back to the airport using KORAIL Seoul Station.