Saturday, November 11, 2023

Eating Well, Feeling Good at Blake's Wings & Steaks in Trinoma QC

ABBEY: We’ve been anticipating our visit to Blake’s Wing & Steaks as our kuya recommended it. We gathered the family there for dinner. No reservations. Our host gave us a big table enough to sit us comfortably. 

Our order included nachos, chicken wings (honey chipotle, Korean Snowing Cheese, truffle parmesan), pesto and carbonara pasta, and their signature pork ribs. I like the honey chipotle as flavor didn’t overpower the taste of the chicken. The pesto pasta can improve if more basil is on it. The pork ribs are fall off the bone however don’t mistake the fat with juiciness. Also it is slathered with the sauce; like the char though. I admit we order too much and have them to go.

The servings are for sharing.


Eating Well, Feeling Good at Blake's Wings & Steaks in Trinoma QC
Eating Well, Feeling Good at Blake's Wings & Steaks in Trinoma QC


WILL: When chatting with my eldest brother, I asked him for a restaurant recommendation, a place he thought would be good for us to dine in. He suggested Blakes. Initially, we planned to go to the SM North branch, but its location under an escalator made it seem noisy and awkward. So, we opted for the Trinoma branch, which is more serene.

My brother was right; their servings are huge! Haha. Now, how's the taste? It appears that every dish is excessively sweet, especially their Blakes Signature Pork Ribs. I only took two bites and gave up on it. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the flavored chicken and pesto pasta.

Is it recommendable? Definitely worth a try.



***

Blake's Wings & Steaks 

(W) blakes.ph 

(H) 10AM – 9PM 

(A) Level 1, Garden Restaurants, TriNoma, EDSA, cor North Ave, Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City 

(T) (02) 7005 8917 / 0917 700 3840 

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Discover Metro Manila: Unforgettable and Affordable Hotels at Quezon City and Mandaluyong City Philippines

ABBEY: As our schedule was packed, we decided to stay in a couple of hotels in Manila to save time and be in close proximity to our destinations.

Privato Quezon City: This hotel is lovely and quiet. It's clean, and we had ample space in our room. They even reheated our 'takeaway' food from our loved ones and provided us with some medicine when we caught the flu. For sustainability, they offer a water refilling station in the lift lobbies. They could improve by ensuring that basic amenities and toiletries are readily available in the room without guests needing to call the front desk.

Privato Ortigas: I wouldn't recommend this one. Despite a warm reception at the front desk, the room did not meet our expectations. This was after we stayed for more than a week at their branch in Quezon City. The mattress and sheets had stains and holes, the air conditioning unit was leaking, the bidet hose was rusty, and there were cockroaches. We thought we would be given another room after providing feedback, but that didn't happen. We even had to call them twice because the refilling station's tank was empty. We stayed there for one night, canceled the rest of our stay, and relocated to another hotel.


Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua: Your name will be checked against the reservation list on the ground floor since the reception is located on the 21st. Our room was spacious and included an office desk, a couch, and even a microwave oven. The bathroom, toilet, and sink were separated in an open concept. Our bed was comfortable and soft, accompanied by fluffy pillows and a cozy blanket. From the viewing deck, you can enjoy a great view of the Pasig River, and the hotel is across from the Rockwell Power Plant Mall. The buffet breakfast had fewer options but came at a discounted price of Php 450 from Php 900. The hotel is also pet-friendly.


Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa: We had a hard time booking our reservation online, and even signing up as a member was difficult at the time. We ended up calling and booking a room. Similar to Novotel Suites, the reception was on an upper floor instead of the ground. The room had a light, clean, and chic ambiance. The hotel is connected to SM the Block, which is a plus for shopping and dining. I highly recommend Mandara Spa; they hit all the right spots, and the ginger tea tasted great.



Unforgettable and Affordable Hotels at Quezon City and Mandaluyong City Philippines
Unforgettable and Affordable Hotels in Metro Manila Philippines 




WILL: We decided to book hotels for our Philippine vacation in 2023 to save time and maximize our vacation. Here's the list of hotels where we stayed:

Privato Hotels:

I always make it a point that, at the end of the day, Abbey and I have a clean and relaxing place to sleep. I'm proud to say that I chose Privato QC. Their lobby is spacious, the rooms and sheets were clean, and the staff's hospitality is top-notch. I definitely recommend Privato QC, especially if you plan to stay longer than 3 days. They offer special discounts, making it a real value for money. On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend the Ortigas Branch. The lobby is not clean, the rooms have issues, and we even reported cockroaches and an air conditioning leak, but they didn't address our complaints.


Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua:

As members of different hotel chains, we decided to splurge a bit during our vacation and stayed at Novotel for 2 nights. The room was amazing, with a huge bed, two soft pillows, a separate water closet and shower, and aromatic toiletries. Novotel even surprised us with a congratulatory cake! However, I had higher expectations for the breakfast buffet they recommended we purchase at 50% off. The meager selection left me feeling a bit cheated. Nevertheless, we had an overall lovely stay.


Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa:

Radisson became our savior hotel after the discomfort of Privato Ortigas. We chose it for its accessibility to our family and the convenience of being near SM North. The room was decent, with a huge and comfortable bed, although they only provided one pillow per person, which felt a bit awkward for a hotel. I recommend it, but be prepared for the bustling business of Metro Manila life."

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Privato Quezon City

(W) https://privatohotels.com/privato-quezon-city/

(A) 82 Scout Castor, Tomas Morato, Quezon City


Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua

(W) https://novotelsuitesmanila.com/

(A) Novotel Tower, Coronado Street, Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong 1550 Metro Manila


Park Inn by Radisson North EDSA

(W) https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-inn-edsa-quezon

(A) SM City North EDSA Complex, EDSA Corner North Avenue, Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa, Metro Manila, Quezon City





Tuesday, November 7, 2023

DEAR JOE: VISTA MALL MALOLOS COFFEE, FRUIT SHAKES AND PASTRY PARADISE

ABBEY: Once you enter Dear Joe, it feels like you've been transported to a patio shaded by the surrounding plants, creating a very homey atmosphere.

I ordered their mango drink, and the sweetness of the fruit's aroma filled my nose as I approached the counter. It didn't disappoint; it was sweet, cold, and had just the right amount of sourness.

In addition to their drinks, Dear Joe also offers cakes, cronuts, brownies, and muffins. 


My curiosity was piqued by the wax-sealed envelope on the wall. Apparently, you can send snail mail right from Dear Joe. How nice! You can enjoy the cafe experience, write about it, and send your thoughts to your friends.


DEAR JOE: VISTA MALL MALOLOS COFFEE, FRUIT SHAKES AND PASTRY PARADISE
DEAR JOE: VISTA MALL MALOLOS COFFEE, FRUIT SHAKES AND PASTRY PARADISE



WILL: I am astounded by the cafΓ© scene in Manila today. There are many new players offering a variety of coffees and drinks to their diners. One of the cafΓ©s that caught my attention is Dear Joe.

The ambiance of the surroundings is quite homely. It feels as if you are visiting a friend's house. They also have a unique concept of writing and sending letters. They provide you with everything you need: cards, envelopes, and even free postage for your letters all around the Philippines.


Now, let's talk about their drinks. I went there to try their fruit smoothies, and it seems like they excel in selecting the finest fruits for their customers. I made sure to check if they had added sugar to my dragon fruit drink, and they confirmed that they didn't. It's all-natural.


Dear Joe is a truly unique cafΓ©. If you're looking for a place to relax, make sure to visit Dear Joe and support local businesses!




***

Dear Joe 

(W) https://www.facebook.com/dearjoephl

(H) 7am-10pm daily.

(A) Level 2, Vista Mall Malolos