#specialty hot chocolate is unfortunately a seasonal item

[pierswife]

Hey Amanda, really sorry to hear that this season is rough for you. Sending you good vibes and a warm drink of your choice your way 🙏

Thank you Miriiiii <3 /p Speaking of warm drinks, I had this amazing peppermint mocha hot chocolate two days ago since it was like fucking horrendously cold and I deserved a treat after a long work week. Lemme tell you, new favorite hot chocolate hands down.

[gameofdrarry]

Wizards Hearts: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Wizards Hearts Game/Fest has been running for a full month! We started things off September 1, and now have over 70 players dealing out some serious love to our fandom creators in the form of thoughtful comments and recs. If you haven’t signed up, it’s not too late. 

❤️ Signups are open until November 15. ❤️ Rules & Faq can be found here.

Players are sorted and assigned at random to four different teams. All team activities and discussions are completely optional but can yield extra points to help win the game! There are weekly team activities and longer, creative team activities where players can imagine new, fun headcanons in the Harry Potter universe and perhaps a few stories of their own!

Team Activity 3: Spooky Season Celebrations and Menu Items

It's that time of year... one that is special to all ancient and magical communities. It's Halloween! The Wizarding Gambling Commission is trying to take an inventory of all of the events that will be happening this month so that we can promote accordingly. We know that you all have very unique and interesting traditions this time of year that make your establishments stand out among the others.  We asked an intern to help collect this data for advertising, but unfortunately Mr. Creevey came back with almost nothing useful besides photos of famous patrons and lots of autographs. We are trying to make a deadline here and we apologize for any inconvenience. Could you please provide us with the following for the travel brochure?

What does your casino do to celebrate this time of year? Tell us about the festivities and what makes it unique to your establishment.

Also, our food and culture writer is doing a piece on the most unique food and drink specialties in the Wizarding World.  We know you each have very unique menus. Would you kindly provide us with what draws patrons to your restaurant?

View the first Team Activity post here

View the second Team Activity post here

View the third Team Activity post under the cut!

Team 1: Loch Lomond’s Treasure

Team 2: Golden Scales

The Dragon Scales Casino is organising a Masquerade and Bonfire night to welcome the season. This event will take place on All Hallows' Eve, so bring your best mask and your whimsy and prepare for a magical evening. Enjoy the warmth of a bonfire lit by our dragons followed by a spectacular light show performed by them. The decor for this event has carved pumpkins with little dragons sitting inside them and a lot of warm, autumn colors. For your entertainment, we have a treasure hunt for the dragon's hoard. Each vendor has a different clue, and you must piece them all together to find the hidden prize. We also have a spellcaster who specializes in fire spells, so come one, come all to learn a new fire spell. You can learn spells that change the color of the fire or create fantastical shapes, among many others! 

At the bonfire, you can order some of our special foods and beverages. Dragon fries - Spicy fries that make you breathe fire (not literally though) Fire logs - Spicy meats and veg or something on the grill like a korean bbq... Boozy S'mores - A blended concoction of chocolate ice-cream, marshmallows, generous splashes of Ogdens finest and other goodies... For that sweet, warm high. Flaming Dragon’s Blood Cocktail - A mint and dragonfruit daiquiri cocktail with a thin layer of dragonberry rum on top lit by our miniature dragons for that flaming effect! Dragon Bite - A shot of our secret Fireball Tequila with salt and lemon. Dragon's hoard - chocolate pudding topped with chocolate rocks and some dragon (Cadbury) eggs in a dragon scale textured cup And of course Queen of the night, our signature drink that makes you breathe fire, is always available.

Team 3: Vanaheim

For 364 days of the year, Vanaheim is located in a secret location on the ocean floor. But once a year, on All Hallows’ Eve, the ancient Viking ship rises to the surface for a grand celebration. Extension and Buoyancy Charms are added for additional occupancy, but our Halloween celebration is still very exclusive (please be sure to book a year in advance). On this night, the gods walk among us. Expect to brush shoulders with Thor, Loki, Baldur, Heimdall, Freya or, if you are very lucky, Odin himself. At midnight, our guests will be treated to an exceptional display of fireworks - custom made from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes - to the rousing sounds of Old Norse battle music.

For dinner you are in for a treat. Our specially bred goats (descended from the goat eaten by Thor and Loki, from which our dice were carved) are rubbed with our secret blend of herbs and spices and slow-roasted over an open fire-pit located at the stern of the ship. Thinly sliced and served with a side of roasted carrots and caramelised baby potatoes, the tender meat will melt in your mouth and bring you luck for the year to come. For dessert you will enjoy a selection of lightly spiced honey cakes. Vanaheim brews its own mead in the Old World style.  Fermented with raw honey, juniper, hibiscus and infused with special herbs, our mead is stirred with a birch totem stick, gifted from Kvasir, and chanted over throughout the brewing process to invoke the good will of the gods. When you drink our mead, you may experience some of its illuminating properties. You may find yourself noticing things about your companions that you may have overlooked - perhaps they are especially thoughtful, or have a knack for remembering birthdays - and they may notice your unique gifts in return.  No matter what, our endless barrels of mead will have you feeling joyous and festive into the wee hours of the morning

Team 4: Arc en Ciel

Although Arc en Ciel Crêperie & Wizarding Casino is established in France and therefore the country does not traditionally celebrate Hallowe'en, the new manager spent some time in the United States and fell in love with the holiday, and pulls out all the stops for the Casino's guests. For the entire month of October, they hire real ghosts from around the country to haunt the casino and spook the guests (although there was one year where a ghost was caught helping a guest to cheat at cards and needed to be kicked out...it wasn't a pretty sight.) The night of All Hallow's Eve, a vampire band famous for their guitar solos performs on the main stage, and the bar serves specialty "spooky" cocktails.

For the holiday season, Arc en Ciel Crêperie & Wizarding Casino has several seasonal crêpes including a pumpkin crêpe and an apple cinnamon spice crêpe, which can be paired with specialty cocktails such as the Howling Mary Sunset or the Hot Buttered Devil Tonic.

[anachef]

Review and Food Photos: Restaurant Marrakesh with Garden Rocks Package at Epcot!

Restaurant Marrakesh is located at the back of the Morocco Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase at Walt Disney World.

Learn About: San Angel Inn Restaurante

Epcot Restaurants Disney World Restaurants

This table service spot is oft forgotten in part because of its location, in part because Morocco’s quick service spot Tangierine Cafe is so good, and in part because Restaurant Marrakesh just doesn’t have the reputation for wowing guests like many of the other World Showcase table service options have.

I like to revisit restaurants whether they’ve got a decent rep or not, and Restaurant Marrakesh is one that we needed to check out again. But it’s one of the options for this year’s Flower & Garden Garden Rocks Dining Package (click here for more info on Garden Rocks and the dining package!), so I was excited to return (and get a coveted ticket to the show!).

Restaurant Marrakesh is a dichotomy. On the one hand, the atmosphere features lovely design details in keeping with the overall styling of the pavilion itself, the building of which was overseen by the government of Morocco. On the other hand, the food at Restaurant Marrakesh is largely uninspired and lackluster.

Restaurant Marrakesh

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Restaurant Marrakesh celebrates some of the classic Moroccan design seen elsewhere in the pavilion (and in the, you know, country of Morocco).A sign outside the restaurant promises “the exotic world of richness and splendor that is Marrakesh.”

Restaurant Marrakesh

The menu is posted outside the restaurant if you’re ever looking for a walk-in reservation and want to browse the options before you commit. One good thing about Restaurant Marrakesh is that it’s often available for walk-ins as it’s just not that busy. (Maybe that’s not a good thing, depending on how you think about it.)

Restaurant Marrakesh

The dining room makes a bold first impression, with towering pillars and beautiful tile work, lights, and carved wood.

Restaurant Marrakesh Dining Room

There are two raised seating areas on either side of a sunken seating area. The raised dining spaces afford slightly better views of the restaurant as a whole, while the lower area puts you closer to the entertainment. (More on that in a moment!)

Restaurant Marrakesh Dining Room

Metal is used in a variety of ways, with brass railings, silver decorative items, and pewter light fixtures filling most of the space.

Restaurant Marrakesh Dining Room

The centerpiece of the dining room is an empty tiled space with raised ceilings, massive light fixtures, and a small stage. It’s here diners find a musician and belly dancer at various times throughout the meal.

Restaurant Marrakesh Centerpiece: Music and Dance

The belly dancer is especially fun for kids, as she often invites them to participate! This is accompanied by classic Moroccan music.

Belly Dancer

Belly Dancer

If you’re interested in some of the craftwork at Restaurant Marrakesh, take time to look at the wood carvings and light fixtures. All are beautiful and show an impressive attention to detail and craft.

Intricate wood carvings

Moroccan-style lights

Whether we can say the same for the menu… that’s a little unclear.

Eats

Restaurant Marrakesh offers an array of traditional Moroccan dishes. The menu cover design is dramatic.

Restaurant Marrakesh Menu

There are plenty of drinks, including Specialty Drinks, Coffees, Specialty Coffees, tea and water, and Beers.

Drink Menu

I ordered the Sahara Splash, a combination of Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Midori, and a Splash of Soda. It was… awful. Something in the combination reminded me of cough syrup, so if that’s your jam, you’ll enjoy this. I did not.

Sahara Splash

The Moroccan Mint Tea is a much safer (albeit not comparable) option. It’s poured traditionally from a lovely silver tea kettle from an impressive height.

Pouring Mint Tea in Epcot’s Morocco

This hot tea is warm and comforting — and not cough syrup-y, so yea!

Moroccan Mint Tea

The Garden Rocks Dining Package includes an appetizer, an entree, a dessert, and a drink (alcoholic included for 21+ diners).

Restaurant Marrakesh Menu

There is also, if not purchasing the Dining Package, a three-course Taste of Morocco that begins with Moroccan Salads, includes a Couscous dish, and finishes with Baklava.

Restaurant Marrakesh Menu

The meal begins with a piece of white bread that was actually pretty good.

Bread and Butter

Moroccan Merguez Sausage is an interesting lamb appetizer. The sausage is flavorful, carrying many spices; and the tomatoes are a simple combination of tomato, red onion, and cilantro. If you love lamb, this will be fine for you. Otherwise, it wasn’t very impressive.

Moroccan Merguez Sausage appetizer

The Chicken Bastilla is a baked pocket consisting of layers of flaky pastry that are packed with minced chicken, almonds, and seasoning. The whole thing is dusted with cinnamon sugar.

Chicken Bastilla

The powdered sugar/savory chicken combo definitely takes some getting used to, but the filling is decent and does have some good seasoning. My main problem with this dish was that it seemed a bit stale. It was hard to bite into and just tasted a bit…old. This COULD be a great dish if it were softer and fresher.

Chicken Bastilla

For entrees we went with the Grilled Beef Tenderloin Shish Kebab. This is probably one of the most diner-friendly dishes on the menu, which is to say it’s just some beef on a stick. The flavors are straight forward: salt, pepper, garlic, parsley. But it’s uninspired — which works if you’re dining with a picky eater who needs something they’ve seen before.

Grilled Beef Tenderloin Shish Kebab

The Braised Short Ribs Meshoui Style was the best dish of the day (definitely aided by those cheesy mashed potatoes!). Meshoui refers to the marinading and cooking process, which is traditionally super slow (marinate for a day, cook on low for as long as possible). The meat was very tender, whether the kitchen follows this cooking process or not, and the seasoning of ras el hanout, chermoula, and more was delicious. This is absolutely the dish to get if you’re at Marrakesh.

Braised Beef Short Ribs Meshoui Style

Desserts at Restaurant Marrakesh are a mix of familiar and unfamiliar. Baklava is a natural choice here and includes layers of flaky pastry and simple ingredients like almond, cinnamon, and honey. This dessert is called a Moroccan Symphony, which seems a little dramatic for this dish, but this is a fun way to get a taste of tradition.

Baklava

Beignets and Cream are pretty much always a good idea, and they’re EXCELLENT here! Whether they’re particularly authentic or not, I can’t say. But the dessert consists of four nicely deep fried dough balls filled with sweet cream and served with chocolate and caramel sauces.

Beignets and Sweet Cream

The cream was similar to a custard or a pudding, and it offered creaminess in both texture and flavor. I really enjoyed the cinnamon/sugar on the outside and the dessert seemed soft and fresh. These were satisfying.

Beignets and Sweet Cream

Garden Rocks

Since I reserved the Restaurant Marrakesh Garden Rocks Dining Package, I was given my ticket at the end of my meal. The ticket is good for a specified showing — 6:45 for us.

Garden Rocks Ticket

I arrived around 6PM (45 minutes early) and was able to sit in the third row. The seats were great, but note that the popularity of the act will determine how early you’ll want to line up.

Garden Rocks Ticket and View

I attended one of the first shows of the Flower and Garden Festival.

It’s time for Garden Rocks!

Steve Augeri, former (post-Steve Perry) frontman for Journey! Plus some great musicians!

Steve Augeri Kicks off Garden Rocks!

Steve Augeri Kicks off Garden Rocks!

Steve Augeri Kicks off Garden Rocks!

Steve Augeri Kicks off Garden Rocks!

The show was a blast, and I was happy with the proximity of the Garden Rocks seating. If there’s an act performing that you love and want to see up close, the Dining Package will give you a little leeway with how early you need to line up, and having a guaranteed seat is a nice perk.

Nosh or Not?

Belly up to Restaurant Marrakesh if: 

You are a student of Moroccan architecture and design and absolutely must see the inside of the restaurant.

Something about the traditional tea service and belly dancing summons you.

You’re okay with some basic Moroccan food that isn’t very exciting.

Go elsewhere if: 

You want to try inspired table service cuisine in World Showcase.

You’re satisfied with your taste of Moroccan cuisine from Tangierine Cafe (which we wholly recommend).

Any of the other 15 Garden Rocks Dining Package restaurants sounds good to you.

Overall

Restaurant Marrakesh is not an Epcot must-do. While the details in the decor are beautiful and something worth appreciating up close, the food is a downer…at least it was on this visit. And that’s disappointing because we know the Morocco Pavilion was designed and built with care. The pavilion draws guests in to explore its winding paths and stores packed with beautiful collectibles. Unfortunately Restaurant Marrakesh fails to engage the diner with the vibrancy that the pavilion otherwise celebrates. We’d love to see a menu overhaul that is inspired by the energy of a country rich in culinary history and nuance.

At $52, Restaurant Marrakesh is one of the least expensive Garden Rocks Dining Package restaurants. Its price is matched by Spice Road Table (also located in the Morocco Pavilion), and I recommend going to Spice Road Table if choosing between the two.

See our most recent review of Spice Road Table here.

Ready to Plan for Your 2019 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Trip?

Order the DFB Guide to the 2019 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever.

Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!

Order your 2019 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun!

Use code SPRING at check-out for a $2 off the cover price!

Have you taken a meal at Restaurant Marrakesh? Share your dining experience in the comments below! 

Related posts:

Review: Unique Eats at Epcot’s Spice Road Table in Walt Disney World!

Review: Is Epcot’s Nine Dragons Worth a Visit? You May Be Surprised!

Review: Rose & Crown at Walt Disney World’s Epcot

from the disney food blog https://ift.tt/2F4e1av via https://ift.tt/LNvO3e

[thehungrykat1]

Ruben Bar: An Exciting New Dining Destination in Pampanga

During our Pampanga Food Trip with friends a few weeks ago, we chose the relaxing Best Western Bendix Hotel in San Fernando as our home base while exploring the various culinary adventures that Pampanga has to offer (Read: Best Western Bendix - My Cozy Home in Pampanga). While we really enjoyed trying out some of the popular local eateries, it was quite surprising to find out that one of Pampanga’s new best-kept secrets was just waiting for us right below our rooms. After a tiring afternoon riding around Pampanga, we headed back to our hotel and got ready for an invigorating dinner at Ruben.

Ruben is a cafe, restaurant, and bar all rolled into one stylish and upbeat location. You can find it at the ground floor lobby of Best Western Bendix Hotel right along MacArthur Highway in San Fernando. The newly opened restaurant serves authentic Latin American-inspired dishes combined with modern interpretations of Pampanga’s own specialties. It also serves some very good refreshments and cocktails which we all needed after our road trip from Manila.

Ruben was named after its namesake and owner of the Best Western Bendix, Ruben Patawaran, and his endless love for travel, good food and good company. He unfortunately passed away a few months before the groundbreaking of the hotel in 2012, but his legacy lives on as his wife and children have continued operating the hotel and opened this new restaurant for him.

A signature highlight at Ruben is their wall filled with fun adventurous hats, similar to what the family patriarch would wear during his many travels abroad. This promises a different kind of adventure at Ruben each time you visit as the restaurant offers a wide selection of local and international favorites.

Drop by anytime during the day as they offer some of the best specialty coffee and signature cocktails in the city. The restaurant takes pride in using only the freshest, high quality ingredients for its beverages and dishes but makes sure that these remain affordable. In fact, the prices on its menu, which come up to just around P300-P400 per head, make it one of the best value for money deals in Pampanga.

The bar serves up some refreshing craft beers like Tropical Stout and Blond Ale from Sunset Craft Beer (P135-P170 per glass) which is also based in Pampanga. This local microbrewery can give those more popular Laguna-based craft beers a run for their money.

Ruben features some very unique and creative cocktails. Choose from their Classic and Signature Cocktails menu which are all priced at just P199 each. This one is called For Mikko’s Girl and it comes with bourbon whiskey, ginger, basil, lemon, honey and red wine beautifully layered inside the glass.

A few of their other colorful concoctions include the Dixie Dust with its white rum, coconut rum, lime, pineapple syrup, and pandan. Joe Malone is a cocktail that smells and tastes like perfume with its combination of gin, lemon, violette syrup, egg white, and soda water. Or you can just get the classic Whiskey Sour made with bourbon whiskey, lemon, sugar, and egg white. These beverages were a good way to lighten the atmosphere before we started on our festive dinner.

Ruben Head Chef Lorenzo Vallado, who used to be trained under Kapampangan celebrity Chef Sau del Rosario, has whipped up a delectable array of local and international dishes that would let diners travel around the world and back. Start with The Best Nachos in Town (P260) which has nachos topped with melted mozzarella cheese, beef chunks, salsa, jalapeños and garlic cream sauce.

Other appetizers to try are the (clockwise from bottom left) Calamares (P240) dipped in garlic cream and marinara; Creamy Spanish-Style Garlic Soup (P150); Arugula and French Cheese Salad (P260) with cherry tomatoes and a rich pesto sauce; and the Mojito-style Ceviche (P320) made with fresh tuna chunks, lime and cilantro which are all mixed in a shaker tableside. This is a fun and festive interactive item that may even come with a dance performance from the server if you are lucky. 

Ruben offers some very interesting pasta dishes like the Aligue Pasta (P260) which has 100% aligue cooked in coconut milk, cilantro and lime topped with a half serving of river prawn. The rich aligue flavors were very evident and this is one sinful but very satisfying item.

Cheese lovers should go for the Mac and 6-Cheese (P260) which is an upgraded version of the traditional mac and cheese. It comes with a combination of mozzarella, cheddar, gouda, edam, parmersan, and white cheese topped with forest ham and served with garlic bread.

The Seafood Paella (P490) is an entire meal in itself especially with its flavorful paella topped with shrimps, mussels, squid and clams. This is probably good for 2-3 persons and is best shared with the table.

I was pretty impressed with their Sizzling Corned Beef Sinigang (P420), a twist on the Filipino classic which is deconstructed into a sinigang dish with corned beef brisket and gravy garlic confit. The salty strips of beef combine with the sour flavors of sinigang which is truly a unique creation.

Another signature masterpiece is the Ruben 6-Hour Beef Caldereta (P390). This special caldereta comes with very tender beef ribs braised for six hours and cooked with red wine and tomatoes. It comes with a plate of rice which is perfect to soak in all the sauces.

We also had the Sizzling Crispy Pork Belly Adobo (P390), another signature item with its slow roasted pork belly cooked with Ruben’s adobo sauce and salted egg. It also comes with deep fried potatoes plus a garlic and tomato confit. The crispy pork skin is absolutely fantastic so we were really stuffed with all of these mouthwatering dishes.

I really enjoyed the hotel’s comfy bed so the next morning, I decided to skip the hotel’s buffet breakfast and grab a few more hours of sleep. That’s okay because I ended up back at Ruben for an early brunch with the group. Li’l Miss Rainbow from The Pickiest Eater in the World was there to welcome me a pleasant and cheerful morning.

Ruben offers some gorgeous coffee selections to start the morning like the Latte (P125). Those few who don’t really drink coffee like me can go for their Hot Chocolate (P145) or Lado ice blended beverages like the Cookies and Cream (P155).

The Doña Dita Salad (P270) is a healthy way to start our brunch. This is the family matriarch, Doña Dita’s favorite salad which comes with Prosciutto, French cream cheese and grilled chicken tossed with seasonal greens and cherry tomatoes plus a citrus vinaigrette dressing. 

I didn’t know what this was at first but I was surprised to find out that it was the Fried Spanish Sardines (P190). These Spanish sardines are breaded and deep fried until crispy to create this unique and crunchy appetizer.

The Potato and Chorizo Hash (P240) is also a great breakfast item with its sliced potatoes, chorizo, eggs and mozzarella cheese served in a hot skillet.

Then there is the popular Cuban Sandwich (P290). This fresh-pressed baguette is stuffed with roasted pork, forest ham, mustard, pickles, and oozing cheese. then served with tostones. It’s a filling breakfast item that you can grab while on the go. All their breads are made in-house from scratch so you get the freshest and best quality.

I tried a few more of their amazing pasta dishes like the Mushrooms and Truffle Cream Pasta (P260) which simply fills the room with that appetizing truffle aroma. 

We all loved the Ruben Signature 6-hour Beef Caldereta so much that we had to have it again, but this time in pasta form. The Signature Caldereta Pasta (P260) is another way of enjoying their caldereta dish but in a lighter way.

Those with heavier appetites can go for the Ruben Cheeseburger (P370) for lunch. This is an all-beef burger with lettuce, tomato, cheddar and crisp shoestring potatoes on a buttery brioche bun. It is also served with fries on the side.

The Salmon Fillet with Beurre Blanc (P490) is my kind of main course. This is a pan seared salmon fillet with creamy butter sauce and served with mashed potatoes, spinach and French beans to balance the flavors.

Last but definitely not the least, the Roasted Pork Belly with Truffle Lechon Sauce (P320) is a superb way to end our savory and satisfying brunch at Ruben. Just look at the crackling skin!

Ruben at Best Western Bendix Hotel is truly a new gem that Pampanga will be very proud of. The very flavorful dishes are complemented by a creative lineup of cocktails and beverages that makes it a destination hangout any time of the day. I’m sure that this new restaurant will soon be on everyone’s foodie maps whenever they travel to Pampanga. Thank you to Rion and Joanna Patawaran for showing us your new culinary playground.

Ruben

G/F Best Western Bendix Hotel, McArthur Highway, San Fernando, Pampanga 

(0998) 584-4558

www.facebook.com/ruben.barph

Instagram: @ruben.barph

[feedblogspot]

Type of Venue: Restaurant Cuisine: Italian food Highly Recommended: Mare Nostrum, Wagyu Bresaola Carpaccio, any of their gnocchi, Di Parma pizza, Tiramisu

A pizza e gnocchi bar worth bringing your Nonna to. Following in the footsteps of their popular South Yarra venue, 48H Pizza e Gnocchi Bar have now opened a second location in Elsternwick. With more of a family-friendly ambience and community feel, this second location exudes relaxed vibes, complemented by the fun and cheerful staff.

48H is co-owned by Fabio Biscaldi and Michele Circhirillo, both of whom previously worked with the D.O.C. group… thus, Italian food and hospitality are their specialties. The Elsternwick location boasts a delicatessen within their intimately-designed restaurant, perfectly supplementing its reputation as a pizza, gnocchi and wine bar.

Their speciality in pizza and gnocchi is obvious not only in the name, but also in the focused selection of items on their menu, where pizza and gnocchi are the only items available, apart from some antipasti, salads and desserts. The reason behind the name “48H” also has significance, referring to the minimum length of time that the co-owners believe pizza dough should sit and rise for, in order to produce a light and perfectly crusty dough.

Fresh, high quality ingredients are used in everything they make, with the authenticity of their concept supported by the array of Italian-imported products displayed around the venue (as well as by the Italian origins of all of their staff and chefs). Their dedication to their craft is further indicated by a commercial kitchen meat slicer sitting on the counter. Their weekly specials are written on a chalkboard above the kitchen area, and can include a gnocchi, pizza and pasta dish. Each of these specials features a single, consistent ingredient, which then changes as the weekly specials change.

Starting with an antipasti, the Mare Nostrum is a showstopper for all the cheese-lovers out there. The Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea, Mare Nostrum at 48H is a claypot of hot, gooey, melting Mediterranean cheeses, mixed with wild herbs, and topped with their famous wood-fired dough. Break through the puffed focaccia-like bread, and use this (or the accompanying focaccia breads) to dip into the melting cheese, but not before thoroughly mixing the cheeses to create the perfect consistency.

Mare Nostrum ($22.00)

New to the Elsternwick menu, Wagyu Bresaola Carpaccio easily serves 3-4 people as a starter, with generously-sized and thinly-sliced cured beef surrounding the plate. Topped with fresh rocket, shaved Parmigiano and iced celery, the earthy flavours are very well seasoned, and ready the palate for their intensely flavoured pizzas and gnocchi.

Wagyu Bresaola Carpaccio ($25.00)

All of their gnocchi are made using gluten-free flour, thus producing a lighter texture that is easy to digest. Offering vegetarian, seafood and simply-sauced gnocchi options, they try to cater to a variety of dietary requirements. The most intriguing gnocchi is their activated charcoal gnocchi, made of three types of flour (potato, activated charcoal and gluten-free). A mysteriously black-coloured gnocchi goes well with vegetarian options, as it is quite a light yet rich-tasting product.

If you have a minimum of 4 people, I’d recommend going for the Parmigiano, which is served with the activated charcoal gnocchi. The gnocchi is cooked in a sauce of peeled Sicilian cherry tomatoes, then tossed in half a wheel of Parmigiano. The steaming hot gnocchi helps to melt the sides of the Parmigiano wheel, making the scraping of the Parmigiano cheese much easier. Described on the menu as ‘Parmesan rashiatura peeled datterini‘, this translates to scraped Parmesan with peeled tomatoes, which adds a bit of theatrical excitement to the table.

Parmigiano Gnocchi ($24.50 per person)

If you didn’t believe me when I mentioned earlier how authentic their concept it, then how about the fact that we couldn’t order the Sudtirolo pizza because they were still waiting on the speck to arrive from Italy. Instead, we went with the Di Parma pizza, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella fior di latte, prosciutto di Parma, air-freighted buffalo mozzarella, rocket and 36-month aged Parmigiano. Exhibiting an exceptionally delicious base that is nicely crisp after being wood-fired in the oven, whilst remaining light, airy and perfectly chewy at the same time, there is a reason why their pizza is one of the best in Melbourne.

Di Parma ($24.00)

The most popular Italian pick-me-up dessert, traditionally given to sick children to make them feel better, the Tiramisu at 48H is a must-order. If you appreciate an equal sponge-to-cream ration, sufficient coffee flavour soaked into the sponge, and a well balanced sweetness from the cocoa chocolate and mascarpone cream, then you will enjoy this dessert as much as I did.

Tiramisu ($12.00)

As a parting gift from the Elsternwick 48H, each customer is provided with a complimentary Nutella and vodka shot, thus showcasing their reputation for offering a fun and casual atmosphere. Due to the excitement of receiving Nutella in liquid form, taking photographic evidence of this unfortunately slipped my mind! You’ll just have to go in and try for yourself.

Successfully integrating traditional Italian food, wine and hospitality into Melbourne’s multicultural restaurant scene, 48H Pizza e Gnocchi Bar is a must-visit. Potentially one of my favourite Italian restaurants due to their high quality food and wine, paired with exceptionally friendly service, the intimate and slightly rustic ambience of their Elsternwick location enables the customer to revel in the joy of eating, drinking and interacting with others.

Note: I dined as a guest of 48H Pizza e Gnocchi Bar. Thank you to the management and staff for their generous hospitality throughout our experience.

48H Pizza e Gnocchi Bar 15 Gordon Street Elsternwick, VIC Ph: (03) 9089 0422 Email: elsternwick@48h.com.au Hours: Mon-Thurs 12-3pm, 5-10pm, Fri-Sat 12-3pm, 5-11pm, Sun 12-10pm.

Best pizza and gnocchi in Melbourne: 48H Pizza e Gnocchi Bar, Elsternwick. Type of Venue: Restaurant Cuisine: Italian food Highly Recommended: Mare Nostrum, Wagyu Bresaola Carpaccio, any of their gnocchi, Di Parma pizza, Tiramisu

[thenourishedtraveler-blog]

Of all the Italian cities I have been to in Italy (and I’ve visited quite a few), I would say that Milan is the “trendiest” when it comes to groceries. Not only does the city have a wealth of small independent organic grocery stores, but vendors in Milan also sell products that I haven’t been able to find in other cities, such as sprouted foods. The organic grocery stores are large and have excellent selection. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing of Italy’s city’s, but you will definitely eat well while here!

ORGANIC GROCERY STORES

Bio c’ Bon is a chain of grocery stores with three locations in Milan. Some of the more interesting products that they carry include sprouted pancake flour, spirulina powder, maca powder, acai powder, popcorn made with coconut oil, organic mascarpone, honeycomb, carob powder, raw sprouted crackers, and oat cakes without dairy or wheat. It is a good place to buy butter and cheese. They also have bulk dry foods and a medium-sized produce section.

Address: Corso di Porta Nuova, 52, 20121 Milano

Hours: 9am – 8pm Monday through Saturday; 10am – 7pm Sunday

Centro Botanico has three locations in Milan. In addition to being a grocery store they are also a cafe and have a mini bookstore that carries health-related books in Italian. They carry a large variety of products including wild fish in extra virgin olive oil in glass jars (I saw branzino, salmon, sardines, orata, tuna, and octopus), tuna burgers, pestos, tomato sauces, mustards, olive pastes, macrobiotic products, apple cider vinegar, lots of different olive oils, bruschetta, flours (such as chickpea, teff, millet, oatmeal, rye, and buckwheat), hummus, ghee, eggs, creme fraiche, kefir, water kefir, smoked fish, canned crab, and many flavors of jam (e.g. goji, pineapple and lemon, pomegranate, orange and ginger, fig, and rose hip).

Address: Via Cesare Correnti, 10, 20123 Milano

Hours: 9am – 7:45pm Monday through Saturday; 3pm – 7:30pm Sunday

NaturaSì is what I like to call the Whole Foods of Italy. This chain of organic grocery stores carries a wide selection of produce, dairy, meat, grains, legumes, house cleaning and personal care products, baking ingredients, and many other items.

Address: Corso Indipendenza, 7, 20129 Milano (there are other locations in the city as well)

Hours: 9am – 7:30pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Superpolo is one of my favorite markets in Milan. It’s a well-sized organic market that also has an amusing imports section stocked with minced meat, marmite, canned pumpkin, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, and crappy American peanut butter. Besides selling products I have never seen before anywhere, such as powdered banana and powdered cranberries, they also sell some very taste goose and duck foie gras and wild salmon eggs. Superpolo has biodynamic rice, orzo, and farro; a wide variety of whole grains (e.g. couscous, millet, teff, amaranth, bulgar, quinoa, oatmeal, etc.) and seeds (e.g. chia, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, hemp, poppy, and sesame); frozen seafood; pickled quail eggs; Asian products (e.g. umeboshi, mirin, teriyaki sauce, tamari, miso, and umeboshi vinegar); maple syrup; and dairy (including organic buttermilk, biodynamic Greek yogurt, goat milk yogurt, ghee, emmental cheese, and organic grilling cheese). They also sell produce, supplements, natural cosmetics, essential oils, and personal care products.

Address: Viale Coni Zugna, 65, 20144 Milano

Hours: 9am – 8pm Monday through Saturday; 10am – 1pm, 4pm – 7:30pm Sunday

SempreBio is a smallish organic market and cafe combo. They carry all of the basics that one could need to stock a pantry, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Some interesting finds include raw cocoa beans, kamut flour, black quinoa, brown millet, several biodynamic cheeses (e.g. ricotta, robiolina fresca, primosalino, and crescenza), kuzu, and ghee. They also sell Pacari chocolate, which is a single-origin, raw, organic, and biodynamic brand of chocolate (and very tasty, might I add).

Address: Via Giuseppe Broggi, 13, 20129 Milano

Hours: 9am – 8pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Piacere Terra is an organic food store chain like Naturasi. It is located rather far from the city center to the northwest. I personally didn’t make it out there, but I include it here for completeness.

Address: Viale Brenta, 35A, 20139 Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 8pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Almaverde Bio Market is located on the northwestern side of the city, a bit of a ways from the center (i.e., you wouldn’t want to take a stroll here from downtown). It’s a combo market and cafe with your average bio offerings.

Address: Corso Sempione, 43, 20145 Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 8pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Biomì is a supermarket like Naturasi. If you are staying on the northern side of the city then it may be convenient for you. It is located quite a ways away from the city center but is accessible by public transport.

Address: Via Emilio de Marchi, 59, 20125 Milano

Hours: 10am – 2:30pm, 3:30pm – 8pm Monday through Friday; 10am – 8pm Saturday; closed Sunday

NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIC MARKETS

Il Casolino is rather small and probably out of the way for most people. In addition to the store it also has a cafe inside. The only unique items I saw at this store compared to other organic shops were the wild pecans and organic pine nuts. They of course carry all the standard fare of Italian bio stores, but do not have fresh produce. Pop in if its location is convenient for you, but otherwise I’d skip it.

Address: Via Paracelso, 10, 20129 Milano

Hours: 10:30am – 7:30pm Monday; 9:30am – 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Il Mercato Verde is the only shop in Italy where I have seen Dr. Bronner’s soap for sale, although unfortunately it is rather expensive. Also, if you’re looking for a Himalayan salt lamp you can pick it up here!

Address: Via Edoardo Bassini, 43, 20133 Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 7:30pm Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Mamma Natura is located far from the city center on the northeastern side of town. They sell bulk dry goods (e.g. grains, spices, teas, seeds, legumes, etc.), cosmetics, and have a cheese counter.

Address: Via Carnia, 7, 20132 Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 2pm, 4pm – 7:30pm Monday through Friday; 10am – 1pm, 4pm – 7:30pm Saturday/Sunday

Armonie nei Gusti is rather far to the northeast of the city center. They carry products for Celiacs, macrobiotic products, cosmetics, and organic packaged items (e.g. seeds, legumes, pastas, chocolate, tea, etc.).

Address: Viale don Luigi Orione, 14, 20132 Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 12:30pm, 3:30pm – 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday

SPECIALTY SHOPS

La Baita del Formaggio has an understated appearance from the street and would be easily passed by any pedestrian unless you knew what treasures lay in wait inside. This cheese shop and was one of the highlights for me while staying in Milan and I would recommend a visit to anyone who is passionate about cheese.

The cheeses will change depending on when you visit as some of them are seasonal, but during my visit La Baita had in stock taleggio la baita, pagnottella di capra, blue stilton, gouda, gorgonzola allo champagne, truffle cheese, and pecorino from Sardegna, to name a few. The gouda came in three different flavors: basil, tomato, and pepperoncino. I cannot rave enough about how amazing the flavor of the basil gouda was. In addition to their fantastic cheeses, they also have great customer service and the shop also has a small coffee bar. What else could one ask for in life?

  Address: Via Vincenzo Foppa 5, Milano

Hours: 8:30am – 10pm daily

Peck will cost you a pretty penny, but the food is top-notch and the location can’t be beat as it’s right in the heart of Milan. It’s a hybrid store with cold and hot foods bars, a cheese bar, wine cellar, deli, a fresh pasta bar, greengrocer, and patisserie. While it is probably not affordable for most to shop here for a full meal, the cheese bar is worth a visit. Some of the cheeses for sale include Roquefort, Coulommiers, sheep’s milk ricotta, Gorgonzola, Camembert, Brie, Crescenza, Stilton, Emmentaler, Sbrinz, Gruyere, Holzhofer, Fontina, Toma di Gressoney, and Gran Cru di Grotta. While I was there I picked up some slices of very tasty eggplant parmesan and potato gratin that was, quite literally, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Peck is a world of gastronomic wonders and a feast for the eyes filled with pâtés, Russian salad, endless spreads of seafood dishes, jellied meats for days, and numerous other hard to find treats for the taste buds.

Address: Via Spadari, 9, Milano

Hours: 3pm – 8pm Monday; 9am – 8pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday

  Gruppo Apicoltori Riuniti is a honey store dedicated to selling products from the art of apiculture (aka beekeeping). They sell a wide variety of Italian honeys and honey derivatives, such as propolis, propolis tinctures and sprays, pollen, etc.

Address: Piazzale Lagosta, 2, 20124 Milan

Hours: 3:30pm – 7:30pm Monday; 9:30am – 12:30pm, 3:30pm – 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Effecorta is a sustainable, zero-waste shop located in northern Milan. They stock products from local producers and use no packaging. Effecorta sells bulk pastas, cereals, legumes, rice, detergents etc.

Address: Via Franco Faccio, 11, 20161 Milan

Hours: 3:30pm – 7:30pm Monday; 9am – 1pm, 3:30pm – 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday

Il Supermarket del Celiaco is exactly what the name proclaims it to be: a supermarket for Celiacs. The store is a bit of a distance to the northwest from the city center, and you have plenty of good options for buying food stuffs for Celiacs in other organic stores in the city, but if you want an even bigger selection of Celiac-safe foods then go here.

Address: Largo Domodossola, 17, 20145 Milano

Hours: closed Monday and Sunday; 9am – 7:30pm Tuesday through Saturday

RAW MILK VENDORS

Unfortunately there are no raw milk vending machines in the city center or within walking distance of Milan. Some of the non-organic vending machines are reachable by public transport within around 45 minutes from the city center. You can look at a map of where all the vendors are by clicking here.

CONVENTIONAL GROCERY STORES

The most common grocery store chains you will see in Milan include Simply, Pam, Carrefour, and Esselunga. At Simply you can pick up items like DOP pecorino, Scaldasole certified biodynamic yogurt, and organic Sterzing-Vipiteno yogurt. And, of course, these supermarket chains are always good for picking up things like feminine care products and plastic bags.

Grocery Guide: Milan Of all the Italian cities I have been to in Italy (and I've visited quite a few), I would say that Milan is the "trendiest" when it comes to groceries.

[thehungrykat1]

Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival at Novotel Manila

Novotel Manila Araneta Center is celebrating this month’s Philippine Independence Day with its KANYAMAN Filipino Food Festival at Food Exchange Manila, their all day dining restaurant. This two-week long fiesta is available from June 8 to June 22, 2017 and diners can savour a breathtaking buffet of Filipino and Kapampangan specialties courtesy of Celebrity Chef Sau del Rosario.

The Hungry Kat was invited to the opening program for the Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival last June 8, 2017 at Novotel Manila. Food Exchange Manila is becoming one of my favorite hotel buffet restaurants, especially with its central location in Quezon City and its relatively affordable rates. I had a wonderful summer staycation at Novotel Manila a few months ago (read about it here) so it’s great to be back at my new hideaway. Chef Sau del Rosario received his Culinary Arts training in France and has had numerous international exposure and accolades, so I was really excited to once again see what classic and creative Kapampangan dishes he has prepared for us that afternoon.

Kanyaman actually means delicious in the Pampanga dialect and Chef Sau del Rosario will be highlighting Filipino gustatory delights from his hometown and the culinary capital of the Philippines, Pampanga. Chef Sau operates two restaurants in Pampanga, namely, Cafe Fleur and 25 Seeds where he brings out his best creations and heirloom recipes from his mother’s kitchen. The Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival is a way to bring those Kapampangan dishes right here in Manila so that we do not have to drive all the way north to appreciate these delicacies.

Chef Sau’s Filipino dishes are spread all throughout the buffet area at Food Exchange Manila. While the other stations are still available (See previous blog here) like the Indian Station, Seafood Station and Japanese Station, I was really amazed with all the colorful dishes that were presented for the guests.

Starting at the appetizer station, I was immediately drawn to the Tamales Pampanguena which I encountered only for the first time. This is made of rice flour, anato seeds, and chicken powder with salted eggs and coconut cream. I like its soft texture similar to a creamy custard but oozing with Filipino flavors.

The Chicken Galentina was also a delight to the taste buds with its combination of chicken, sausage, chorizo, and spam with peas, eggs, and cheese. This is a dish that is popular at family gatherings during Christmas and holidays but any day is a good time to have it.

Other appetizers on the table included the (clockwise from top left) Ensaladang Talong, Pako Salad with prawns, watermelon and kesong puti, Kinilaw na Tanigue, and the Gambas with Shiitake.

This work of art is the Maya Maya Mayonesa with its steamed maya maya fish fillet, mayonnaise, eggs, pickles, and olives. I think I will feel guilty if I was the one to break up this dish.

Another interesting item is the Tinapa Mousse. This is made with tinapa, white wine, butter, and fresh dill and it really does taste like a tinapa fish. You can eat this with bread or just by itself.

The Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival also serves some very appetizing noodles at the Noodle Station including Pancit Malabon, Pancit Gisado, and Sotanghon which you can combine with different sauces like luglug, aligue and squid ink.

Food Exchange Manila’s huge brick oven is also hard at work during the food festival because it is offering a Sisig Pizza and even a Longganisa Pizza. These fusion pizza recipes will definitely stand out and are really quite a treat.

Pampanga is best known for its outstanding sisig so there is no question that the highlight of the Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival will be the Sisig with Foie Gras. Filipinos just love sisig, which Anthony Bourdain recently suggested would be the dish that will put the Philippines on the global foodie map. These savory pork cheeks are cooked with onions, chicken liver, and siling labuyo, but Chef Sau upgrades it further by topping it with a delectable seared foie gras. This is absolute indulgence.

Even the paella has been made into a Kapampangan delicacy as Chef Sau unveiled his Truffled Sisig Paella. This is a complete meal by itself with steaming hot paella rice topped with chunky bits of delicious sisig with hints of truffle oil. 

For the main dishes, guests can start with the familiar Kare Kare Macadamia which has pork belly in peanut butter and coconut cream sauces combined with truffle oil and macadamia nuts.

Other notable dishes include the (clockwise from top left) Beef Salpicao, Rellenong Bangus, Lamb Shank Kaldereta, and Seafood Pinakbet with loads of mussels, prawns, squid, and vegetables in bagoong.

One of my other favorites at the food festival was the Duck Adobo. Instead of the usual pork or chicken adobo, this one comes with duck cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, whole black peppers, bay leaves, garlic, onion and eggs. The duck intensifies the flavors of the adobo dish even further and I think I’m craving for this dish again right now.

In-between our rounds going through the buffet stations, Novotel Manila also showcased the creations of renowned fashion designer Philip Torres, who also hails from Angeles Pampanga, featuring his latest collection entitled “PIDAYIT” – a synthesis of homespun art and modern styles. These were presented by Binibining Pilipinas 2017 beauty titlists including 1st runner up Ms. Charmaine Elima, pictured below with Novotel Manila General Manager, Mr. Bernd Schneider and Philip Torres.

Now it’s time to head to the carving station where the roasted pork belly was just waiting to be conquered. Chef Sau gives us not just one, but Three Kinds of Roasted Pork Belly infused with Bringhe, Mangoes, and Chocolate with Cheese.

Each of the pork belly dishes had their own amazing qualities. I liked the pork belly with bringhe, a native Kapampangan paella dish infused inside the pork belly. But what really stood out was the pork belly with chocolate because I had never seen pork belly prepared like this. It might not be for everyone, but it is definitely unique.

They also offered the big Salted Crusted White Salmon with calamansi and coconut cream at the carving station.

Finally, another masterpiece would be the Prime Rib Bistek seasoned with soy sauce, calamansi and pepper. This Filipino version of the steak comes with even more salty flavors that we love. You can have it cooked at the grilling station according to your preferred doneness.

Aside from the highlighted Filipino dishes, Food Exchange Manila's buffet also features live cooking stations like the Chinese section with its piping hot noodles and soups plus the Grill Station where you can have your fresh seafood and meat grilled. Drinks are also included in the buffet and you can choose from among the different iced tea variants at the Beverage Station.

What’s a Filipino fiesta without dessert? Aside from the roving Sorbetes ice cream vendor with his taho cart, there are several other local desserts at the Dessert Station like hot-off-the-grill Bibingka, Puto Bumbong, Polvoron, Halo Halo, kakanin and others.

Perhaps the best dessert item you can find would be the Leche Flan Turon with Langka. The sweet and crispy turon wrapper gives way to an absolutely fantastic leche flan filling that will make you want to go back for another. Unfortunately, this was the last piece because everybody was raving about this dessert, so you better get yours quickly.

Novotel Manila has more good news because for a limited time only, Food Exchange Manila buffet rates for the Kanyaman Filipino Food Festival is only at P1,200 nett on weekdays (Monday to Thursday lunch and dinner / Friday lunch) and P1,600 nett during weekends (Friday dinner / Saturday and Sunday) from its original prices of P1,488 and P1,888, respectively. How many more reasons do you need? Make sure to call for reservations because I’m sure everybody will be heading to Novotel Manila in the next two weeks. See you there!

Food Exchange Manila at Novotel Manila

General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City

990-7888

www.novotel.com

www.facebook.com/NovotelManilaAranetaCenter