lisawenceslao

[lisawenceslao]

Wildflour

Whenever you think of croughnuts (or doissants or kroughnuts-- anything but cronuts) in the Philippines, you think of Wildflour. They were the first ones who brought it here in the country and in terms of how good it is compared to other imitators, this one's pretty close. I never understood why people lined up for it so I waited until the hype died down. And finally, I was able to taste it without waiting for an hour. Is it worth it? Not really.

Good thing my team went there not for croughnuts alone.

It's a typical weekday noon and we were trying to have some sort of inspiration with good lunch and even better desserts. We were served first with a crusty bread. Not bad, but I'm not exactly jumping hoops for this one.

I ordered Steak & Egg-- medium well slices of rib-eye steak topped with poached egg onto a heap of hot kimchi rice. I must say their steak reminded me well of Mamou's version, which is my ultimate favorite.

Meanwhile, my teammate ordered Rustichella Calamarata Pasta. She said this one's pretty good. I also noticed that the pasta dish is pretty generous when it comes to crumbled pork belly sausage.

My other teammate ordered California Burger. This guy's a burger connoisseur so he's pretty much merciless when it comes to burger verdicts.

He said he'll choose McDonald's Quarter Pounder over this one. Ouch! But hey, he said the tall glass of fries is a nice touch.

Now onto the desserts!

Since we were just in time for croughnuts, we bought one each. It wasn't good at all. I'd rather have Pain au Chocolat.

I have to give their other desserts a chance.

I might have been too early the next day-- I settled for Brioche French Toast with Bacon. It was so dry.

Good thing their cappuccino made up for it.

[lisawenceslao]

Love Shack

I now have a feel-good restaurant nearby office that I can add to my list! Love Shack-- an unassumingly small restaurant packed with great comfort food and an even better service.

They have cozy interiors, which has a Brooklyn-Kish vibe.

Now onto the menu!

I went with their freshly-brewed Iced Tea that's pretty much common in some restaurants, so I liked it.

Their burger is amazing! I went with Love Shack Burger Creation 2, which consists of a beef patty, parmesan crisps, bacon, fresh mushroom sauce, lettuce, onions and tomatoes. I liked the parmesan crisps-- it provides a distinct cheese flavor.

And for my dessert, I chose their Freshly-Baked Cookies, which took 15 minutes to bake. This looked so simple but it is really good. And the smell-- the smell reminded me of those days when some folks baked goodies during Christmas.

I am loving this place and I can't wait to go back with A to try out new dishes. I'm sure she'll love it here, too.

[lisawenceslao]

Brasserie Europa

Siam Kempinski guests can take their breakfast at Brasserie Europa, a European-inspired restaurant (as the name implies). While I am floored with the marvelous hospitality of the hotel itself, they went low-key on the breakfast choices.

When you enter the restaurant, you will be ushered at your table. You'll be asked to choose any/all of the specialties herein-- anyway, it's a buffet. They have their own egg station.

I ordered scrambled eggs with ham, mushroom and cheese, then topped it off with bacon and chicken sausage.

There's a lot of breads and pastries, but I only take a few favorites: doughnuts and croissants.

Their doughnut is good but their croissant isn't. Their Pain au Chocolat isn't that good. Maybe the chocolate is too bitter.

They also have their own honeycomb.

They have something for the healthy folks.

I love their salads.

Drinks. Not too many.

If you want to eat some cereals and other grains, here's your station.

Here's a sneak peek on their egg station. And the choices below consist of a small Asian fare.

Compared to other breakfast buffets I tried, this isn't really one of the best. But I feel blessed to have been able to enjoy it.

[lisawenceslao]

Siam Kempinski

Siam Kempinski is a five-star gem. I'm floored with marbled walls, plush leather futons and classic Thai hospitality. What's more, it's a stone's throw away from Central World and Siam Paragon.

It has its old world charm, reminiscent of the lavish side of Bangkok. But hey, I wouldn't trade our inexpensive accommodation choices in Bangkok (Lemontea Hotel and Siam Swana Hotel). They all have a fresh character. But it wouldn't hurt either to stay in one of these large hotels once in awhile.

The hotel's surrounded by pools...

And alfresco dining seats.

And their rooms are pretty complete.

It even has its Lavazza coffee, replenished daily.

And a kitchenette with microwave and induction cooker. Not that you'll be able to use it-- Bangkok has a lot of great restaurants and hawker food stands.

You also get to enjoy a good selection of drinks in their free mini bar.

Their bed is divine. You won't have to fight over who gets how many pillows. There's just lots!

You can also catch some reading in the sofa...

Overlooking this wonderful view.

Their bathroom is something Chuvaness might approve of.

It has Kohler and Hansgrohe fixtures.

And the restroom's divided by a mirror door.

All in all, I'm a happy camper.

---

Update: Due to heavy rains and lack of taxi, I was forced to take their airport transfer. I thought it's okay, since I didn't avail of the airport transfer from the airport to hotel.

Not bad, actually. Not bad at all.

This is one for the books!

[lisawenceslao]

I haven't finished blogging about my trip to Bangkok weeks before and now, I find myself going back to my favorite city again. Before anything else, I'd like to share my late discovery: Banana Pancakes (Roti), sans the Bananas. Oh, boy! This is ultimately my favorite dessert in Bangkok (next would be Mango with Sticky Rice). I like it plain, dusted with sugar and drizzled with condensed milk. Love.

[lisawenceslao]

Ayuthaya

We went to Ayuthaya, a two-hour drive from Bangkok, to visit the temples. I have horrible pictures, so you would have to wait for A's post on Ayuthaya. Truth be told, the temples are nowhere near as grand as the one in Siem Reap or Bangkok, but it's interesting to view one of the largest cities in the world.

You can tour different temples via a tuktuk converted into a mini cab. You only have to pay Thb200/hour. You can finish touring in 3 hours, tops. Don't forget to give a tip to your driver after (well, we didn't but maybe you will).

[lisawenceslao]

Lemontea Hotel

I can say I'm pretty skillful when it comes to picking hotels. Or maybe TripAdvisor is just my bestfriend. I'm not sure where to sit, when it comes to Lemontea Hotel. It's not that good, but it's not that bad either.

For the past two visits I did in Bangkok, I had two delightful hotels: Buddy Boutique Inn and Siam Swana Hotel. For the third one, I became complacent. Working under a P2,000/night budget, There isn't a lot of a choices around Pratunam. So I went with this fresh-looking hotel.

A lot of reviews describe the hotel interiors as somewhat reminiscent of Taiwan's tea culture. I wanted to go to Taiwan but after its government rift in the Philippines, maybe Lemontea Hotel's the nearest thing to Taiwan.

It's a cute hotel on the outside. It's fresh. It has a nice lobby lights.

It even has a bike outside.

But the room seems blah.

There are a lot of things that a guest wouldn't even bother using, just like this cabinet with mirror. Why not just install a full-length mirror?

The toiletries seem scarce as well.

Good thing their washroom has a bidet. Or A will throw a fit.

The window's okay. Here's the view. But the room feels cramped.

Honestly, I feel like lounging around the lobby more. It's a blessing this hotel is nearby Pratunam Market and Platinum Mall. Otherwise, I'd rather go for Boxpacker's Hostel.

[lisawenceslao]

Bangkok is Love

I've been to a handful of places. Each city has its charm. But Bangkok is dearest to my heart. Let me tell you why.

Their food is good everywhere. I love their Green Thai Chicken Curry. The chicken is tasty, the eggplant has the right juicy bite to it.

And their food is cheap, too. I remember paying Thb40 for a quarter chicken and it's damn good.

They have a good transport system. BTS is very efficient.

And some modes of transport (read: water taxis) can even allow you to enjoy Bangkok's sights and sounds.

Their clothes are diverse and inexpensive. You can buy a good shirt for only Thb100. If you love shopping for clothes, go to Pratunam or Chatuchak Market. But Pratunam is cheaper than Chatuchak.

Hotels abound everywhere. And it's inexpensive, too. I recently checked in at Lemontea Hotel, nearby Pratunam Market and Platinum Fashion Mall. Not bad at Php2,000 a night, good for 2 persons.

But I found a pretty hostel nearby, Boxpackers Hostel, which charges only Thb450 a night per person. It even has a free breakfast and a staple WiFi. We shall go back here and stay in their wonderful hostel. Reminds me of Bunc Hostel.

People are generally friendly. Okay, this grandma is smiling-laughing at me while I try my best not to fall in the flooded waters. They seem used to this.

They have big-ass malls. Just like this upscale CentralWorld, which has Din Tai Fung inside.

And supermarket. Herro, Big C!

They also preserved their culture and heritage through their temples. I know Ayutthaya isn't in Bangkok but it's just a 2-hour ride to go there.

You may ask me-- what's the best part in Bangkok? I got to hand it over to their pancakes! I've been to Bangkok twice already (not counting this trip) but I haven't tasted their sweet, chewy, crispy and simply delectable pancakes. I drool.

[lisawenceslao]

The Royal Palace 

Their palace strongly reminds me of the palaces in Thailand and that's pretty normal, considering that Cambodia has strong Thai influences (well, I think it's not as strong as Vietnam influences, but I'll see that for myself this November when I visit Ho Chi Minh).

You can also see the Royal Palace itself-- where the current King resides. If the flag is raised, then the king is there. If the flag is only half-raised, he's not in the palace but he's just roaming around Cambodia. But if the flag isn't raised at all, he's outside the country.

By the way, their handsome king (Norodom Sihamoni) is still single. A special shoutout to the single ladies who'd dig being a queen in Cambodia. Hee hee.

[lisawenceslao]

The Killing Fields

It doesn't get any better.

We went to the Killing Fields after lunch. When you buy the ticket, you may also opt to have a self-guided tour. They'll give you a set of earphones and whatnot, then you can go to the numbered stations to start your tour.

There are about 300++ killing fields all around Cambodia. This one's just popular because a lot of people were killed here.

Here's a big-ass stupa filled with skulls. It isn't even half of the people who were killed here.

If you happen to see patches of land that's a bit deep, that's where people used to die. Prisoners dig their own graves. They were killed by bamboos and palm branches.

And not all bones are excavated yet, but the Cambodian government after the Rouge decided that it's enough. Spot the protruding bone here (hint: it's in between the leaves situated in the middle).

Soldiers used to get bamboo from here.

And this is a palm branch with gritted lines. As you can see, they are big fans of slow, painful death. I hope they experience it a million times. Anyway, these palm branches are used to behead people who tried to escape. 

Here's where the soldiers keep their killing tools.

And here's an addendum museum, which you can't take photos inside. They usually house makeshift tools etc that were used to kill the prisoners.

I'm a sad burr. Everyone in Cambodia lost a relative in Khmer Rouge. And justice wasn't even served. Pol Pot died of natural means. And some of his guys weren't even persecuted. The worldwide justice system is such a drag.

[lisawenceslao]

S21

Oh boy, this is going to be a rough ride.

A lot of people might ask: Why did you start with the sad one? Why not visit The Royal Palace first? To be fair, that was the plan. But my delayed flight in Bangkok Airways (which is okay with me because they served us with a good breakfast) was the culprit. The Royal Palace was closed already as soon as I'm ready to hit the tour.

As soon as you're done paying up for the tour, you'll receive this guide. But in my case, I didn't need it. My tour guide was happy enough to sit down with me and talk about the unfortunate history that happened between 1975 to 1979.

Almost 30% of the population in Cambodia died during Khmer Rouge, due to hunger and killings, among other reasons. Some of them died here in Security Prison or S-21. It used to be a high school but was then converted into a prison. There are about 170++ security prisons in Cambodia at that time, but this one's popular since a lot of people died here. 

Now, you're seeing a room with a bed, where the prisoner lies. They have the chains, where the prisoner is all locked up. Then the small metal box for peeing and pooping. If they poop on the floor, the guards will ask them to lick their shit clean. And this bowl contains their food, a meager spoonful of porridge.

Here are the rules set by the soldiers. They have some pretty bad translation here. Bottomline, they imprisoned intellectuals here. After asking all the Cambodians to flee Phnom Penh due to an "American Bomb" and go to the provinces, they asked those who survived (some died along the way due to hunger and hello, they were walking the entire time) who the intellectuals are because they need to "rebuild" Phnom Penh. Well, that's when the intellectuals went with the psycho soldiers. And that was their demise.

This used to be some sort of a sporting equipment for high school students. During Khmer Rouge, this is where they hang prisoners upside down when they are bound to be tortured.

Prisoner heads were also dipped here while they're hanging upside down.

Here are the photos of the site and the soldiers. You'll know if it's a soldier if they're wearing a cap. If they're not wearing a cap, they're prisoners.

Rows and rows of classrooms filled with photos. Filled with emptiness. Filled with stories of death and desolation. Seriously, I'm halfway through my narration and I don't feel like typing anymore. So sad.

Here's Pol Pot, the guy who should be killed 3 million times. That's the number of people who got killed under his regime. And his fashion style? He got it from Mao Zedong, his mentor. His followers also don the Mao style. Remember the crazy mathematics teacher who became the chief of this prison? His name is Khang Kek Leu a.k.a Comrade Duch. He is NOT DEAD YET.

Here's a lady who was the wife of an intellectual. She had a baby. Before she was killed, she was raped. Afterwards, she and her baby was murdered. 

More dead people. As you can see, some of them are smiling. Their photo was taken before they went off to the killing fields, which they don't know about. The tour guide shared with me that the soldiers will ask all information from the prisoners, and then they will say, "You need to learn more." Being intellectuals that they are, they'll be happy to learn that they'll know more. So they'll be asked to pose before heading off-- to the killing fields.

Here are some cells. The soldiers ensured that there are no sharp objects whatsoever so that the prisoners won't commit suicide. Because again, these are psycho soldiers who killed their own race. 

Since they are not only psycho killers but also uneducated, the lines signify the number of people who are in this prison. Really? More than 20? Fucking sardines.

Torture.

Torture.

Torture.

This guy survived. He's the only one who knows how to fix typewriters and typewriters are very important in keeping record of all of the prisoners who were then transferred to the Killing Fields.

This one, too. He's a painter. He painted (I think) all of the artsy stuff inside S21.

I'm depressed.

[lisawenceslao]

Hotel Cambodiana

I'm a sucker for great hotel rooms and even better service. Hotel Cambodiana is all that.

This, I think, is Cambodia's answer to Manila Hotel or other homegrown 5-star hotels in Southeast Asia. Its facade is very iconic-- reminiscent of the postcard photos you see in an airport souvenir shop.

You might get the impression that the hotel is old. Truth is, I think it is. But it's well-maintained.

I was billeted in the Mekong Club River View Room. They have, as usual, prime beddings.

And a closet 4 people could fit in.

Their bathroom's clean, albeit a bit vintage. It's stocked with an expansive essentials.

This Superior Room has a bathtub as well.

A fresh fruit plate upon arrival. Sweet rambutan!

And this is the view of Mekong River.

When the clock hits 5pm, they offer guests in the Mekong Club some snacks and drinks.

Tell you what, there's no need for me to go out and get great food. It's all in here.

I also ate in Mekong Restaurant. Sadly, their buffet doesn't have much to offer.

They get their breads from Le Brioche restaurant, Hotel Cambodiana's in-house bakery.

Fresh fruit platter. Maybe you can do a salad tower.

Soups here.

More salads.

And noodle soups with different meats.

Their pastries and desserts are amazing! Perhaps due to French influences.

With every buffet, you get to pick a Chef special.

For breakfast, Mekong Club guests are offered with a free buffet.

They serve an array of breakfasts.

If you're a bread person, you'll love this spread.

I love their croissants!

They have limited choices on main entrees.

I usually go for their noodle dish.

And then a little bit of oatmeal afterwards.

All in all, I'm a happy bear. They brought me to the airport with their fleet.

[lisawenceslao]

Phnom Penh Sightings

I had a wonderful opportunity to visit another interesting side of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It was actually my first time to listen to the tour guide while talking about another country's history. Maybe because it's too dark, too sad and a little bit recent (Khmer Rouge happened during 1975 - 1979). I'll tell you more about it in a bit.

Phnom Penh isn't totally different from some uprising provinces in the Philippines. It has quaint stores, beautiful views, a rich history and friendly people. Most, if not all of the Cambodians, have a good multi-language command. I was surprised to see a German-speaking tour guide. But wasn't that surprised afterwards, since tourism is Cambodia's leading industry.

I also had the pleasure of being billeted in one of Cambodia's top tier hotels, Hotel Cambodiana. They rendered impeccable hospitality to the point of spoiling me.

And my room's view is breathtaking as well. This view right here greets me every morning-- it has an expansive sight of the Mekong River and the hotel's pool.

If you choose to visit Phnom Penh, check in at Hotel Cambodiana's Mekong Club River Room. Choose Room 511 if you're a smoker like me.

For the sights, I went to three historic sites:

S21

The Killing Fields

The Royal Palace

The first two sites depressed me and the last site wasn't able to do much to lift my spirits. But my stay in the hotel and people's warm hospitality made the best lasting impression on what Phnom Penh is today.

In this photo is my tour guide, who's also a part-time English teacher. She had her own story from her mother with regards to Khmer Rouge. Will tell you the whole story in another post.

You may ask: will I go back? Let's see. But I am more than happy to go back to Siem Reap and see how they've evolved (hopefully they're still partial to biking rather than other modes of transportation).

[lisawenceslao]

Cupcakes by Gremlin

Oh, dear. I have never been in-love with a cupcake flavor before but their Banana Oatmeal & Speculoos is the bomb! I can eat 6 of it in one sitting. the flavorful banana cupcake with a bit of curnch from oatmeal and the decadent Speculoos frosting is amazing.

Their chocolate base for cupcakes is a bit rich (Hershey's, Reese's, Chocolate Oatmeal, Caramel) so I suggest you only get one-- maybe Caramel? Their Cheesecake Cupcakes are okay too, but you wouldn't like it if you prefer your cheesecake a bit sweet. But if you had to choose a cupcake, choose the banana cupcake. It's really good.

They also sell cupcakes in a jar but they were sold out.

[lisawenceslao]

Katsu Cafe

There's no nearby Yabu or Saboten in UP area so we went to Katsu Cafe for some Katsu fix. It's not the best but for the price, the serving is sulit.

There's a Katsu Cafe situated in Katipunan but we decided to try out their new branch in Maginhawa.

I've seen the old menus from blog posts last year and well, looks like they've diversified their offerings, similar to that of Yabu's menu. They have salmon and oyster. If they had scallops, I'll definitely get one.

Out of all the local versions of Katsu restaurants, Katsu Cafe has the most impressive interiors. Look at the beautiful red bricks and lighting fixtures! Very industrial.

I'm a big fan of red bricks. Maybe it reminds me of the New York vibe I usually see on TV.

There are a lot of wood elements in the place, as well. Such a nice installation.

After ordering some Katsu sets, we've been served with sesame seeds to grind using a wooden pestle. 

Then there's the Katsu set: two rounded slices of pork that's a tad too dry with miso soup, which reminds me of the good miso soup in Yoshinoya. If their pork is tender with fat, it would've been better. I can't even recall Yabu's Hire (the one with less fat) to be this dry.

A ordered Chicken Katsu Curry Rice, which she finds okay. She said it's overfried and the sauce is not spicy enough.

And I ordered Jumbo Prawn Katsu as well. It's overfried too.

All in all, I can go back here to fill in my desperate Katsu fix if I'm stuck in UP area. But no, I will not choose this over Yabu or Saboten, regardless of the price disparity. Yabu and Saboten has the genuine Katsu experience-- and I'm willing to shell out more for that.

[lisawenceslao]

Burger Bar

I find it funny that I haven't eaten in Burger Bar, even if I've eaten in its sister restaurant, Namnam, countless of times now. I've heard about it, but I thought it's too expensive for a darn burger. And I can always get my meat fix from Snack Shack or Big Better Burgers.

But I am drawn with its New York vibe. So I suggested this place in celebrating my officemate's birthday.

I dare say they have a good-looking menu, and an interesting mix of burger concoctions. It's "comfort food" written all over".

I went with The 4Cheese Chuck, a Parmesan-crusted beef patty bomb blend of chuck and short rib, yellow cheddar, aged gruyere, mozzarella on a brioche bun. It has veggies but I'd rather not have any. It was good but is it better than Big Better Burgers' 3-Cheese Explosion? Sadly, this one felt bitin. But this is way better than any other burgers I've tasted (that costed more) so I'm a-okay with this one.

Mario & Troy, my teammates, had The Hangover. It's onion-griddles double-patty big game blend of hanger and brisket, yellow cheddar, crisp prosciutto, fried egg, arugula, caramelized onions, barbecue sauce and house aioli-- all on a sesame seed bun. I heard it's good, but not as good as The 4Cheese Chuck.

Ria, the birthday girl, had The Piggy. It's a beef patty bomb blend of chuck and short rib, mozzarella, fried bacon strips, house-made bacon jam, lollo fossa greens, garlic aioli all on a sesame seed bun. Boy, this is solid!

Louwie, my good friend, ordered The Bar Burger. It's a double patty big game blend of hanger and brisket, smoked scarmorza and gorgonzola cheeses, fresh prosciutto, watercress spkked with sriracha aioli, crowned with crispy onion rings all on a brioche bun. The beautifully-crisp onion rings did it for me. And I heard this signature dish is a killer.

We had a Blueberry Cheesecake on the house. It has cheesecake cubes, oatmeal cooke crust, blueberry topping and lots of vanilla ice cream. Blah.

I wasn't happy with the Blueberry Cheesecake, so I chose Caramel Vanilla Pudding. The manager said it was their second bestseller in desserts. I wonder why. It tasted just like your normal Selecta ice cream, with little bits of house burger buns (which, to be fair, is soaked in dark rhum caramel), blended with granola. It was 80% vanilla ice cream, I swear.

For me, the real winner is their Molten Chocolate Bottoms. It is their bestseller dessert and since I've tried the two other mediocre choices, I think this is better. The chocolate is decadent and well-accompanied by vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and topped with caramel drizzle. It is rich!

I've been posting a lot of photos in my Instagram account and the missus saw. With her burger lunch in McDo, I think it's proper to eat in Burger Bar again for dinner. She chose a Double Cheeseburger with Sauce #3. I don't know if the sauce is anything special, but she said she's had better burgers.

I, on the other hand, chose The Rising Shroom. It has a mustard-fried patty steak cut blend of sirloin and chuck, topped with fried oyster mushroom tempura, white truffle creamed cheese and sauteed mushrooms in a kaiser roll. It was good, but it lacks the cheesiness. The next time, I'll make my own. I'll make it The Rising Shroom + 4 Cheeses. That should do the trick.

[lisawenceslao]

Kimberly Hotel Tagaytay

When it comes to quick weekend getaways, Tagaytay is one of the top choices of those based in Manila. It's nearer and it never fails to give that countryside vibe. While the hotels here are well-known for romantic couples, there's one hotel that stood out as a kid-friendly vacation abode: Hotel Kimberly Tagaytay.

It blends the makings of a well-appointed hotel and the quaint countryside feel in a perfect manner. They have a strategic location to boot-- not too close to the noisy road and not to far for you to be able to visit typical Tagaytay landmarks.

Like I said earlier, the hotel is truly kid-friendly. They have farm, where you can feed birds and other cute animals.

Herro, bunnies!

They also have a big-ass playground.

Their amenities fit the teambuilding activities.

Reminds me of the military training grounds.

They have two pools. This big one doesn't go deeper than 6 feet, I think. Which is good. They also provide those long floaters for the kids, to ensure they swim safely. Reminded me of the one in Ramayana Resort.

But if you're swimming with babies, may I suggest you hang out here instead. I forgot to take a photo of their gym-slash-game room. It's amazing. They're complete with billiards table, table tennis table, foosball and air hockey. Their gym is non-functioning. You're better off jogging around the farm area.

I'm fortunate enough to have a room facing all these amenities (if you're interested, specifically tell them to reserve Room 318 for you).

The room isn't fancy, but it assures you of a good night's sleep.

Obligatory shower photo. They have a square rainshower head.

And the non-compulsory bidet! Very much a non-negotiable item when we're looking for hotels these days.

I found their breakfast spread enjoyable, contrary to what other bloggers have mentioned.

I think it's pretty decent and they offered a standard fare. Herro, Arroz Caldo!

Come on, you're only paying Php3,000 for a room and you expect a 5-star breakfast buffet? You have to be kidding me. 

I'm happy with the breakfast. They have salads, Filipino breakfast viands, breads, freshly-made pancakes and omelettes, Arroz Caldo and fruits for dessert.

The next time I go to Tagaytay, I'll stay here. And definitely not for one night only.