I Wander

Travel, Itineraries & Guides, Hotel Reviews

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What’s New at Edsa Shangrila’s HEAT

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Heat at Edsa Shangri-la is fast becoming my go-to place when it comes to hotel buffets in Manila. I ate there 5 times in the past year alone even as I was living in Singapore for the most part of 2014.

I had my first meal at Heat in 2015 just last week and realized the restaurant was spruced up to start the year. For the entire first quarter, Heat is being touted as a Farmers’ Market, with fresh and healthy produce in tow and juxtaposing against chic but casual interiors. This became evident the moment I stepped into the well-known all-day-dining restaurant, with a fruit and vegetable cart greeting me as I entered and light bulbs encapsulated in birdcages. Aesthetically, this is the biggest change to the restaurant aside from the Christmas decor in December.

Food-wise, all the favorites are still there. I was again treated to Heat’s Filipino selection which has always been my favorite. I especially loved the lechon kawali or roast pork. The Japanese selection has become more extensive and now features more complicated sushi rolls alongside succulent sashimi.

In line with the theme, the seafood portion has taken on a market-y vibe, with crabs deliberately hanging on weighing scales and lobsters and mussels placed on large pails.

A buffet spread at Heat won’t be complete without their iconic pastries and these meticulously designed creations are laid out extensively for guests to enjoy. Make sure to reserve some room for these treats.

Verdict

More than a decade on and Heat remains as one of Manila’s most well-loved hotel buffets. It may not have the longest buffet line in the metropolis but food quality is definitely noteworthy and the price competitive when compared against other 5 star hotels. This quarter’s Farmers Market is more than an aesthetic change, there’s also a greater selection of seafood this time around to delight crustacean lovers out there and old favorites to keep regulars coming back.

Rating:

Taste: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Heat
Edsa Shangri-la Hotel
1 Garden Way
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Philippines

Fireside by Kettle – Good Old American Food With a Twist

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One noteworthy casual dining concept that has opened recently at the 3rd floor of SM Megamall’s spanking new Fashion Hall is Fireside by Kettle, a new take to comfort food opened by the same guys behind Kettle located just next door at Shangri-la Plaza Mall. Compared to Kettle, Fireside offers heavier and meatier comfort food. Scroll down and you’ll see just what I mean.

I tried Fireside by Kettle for lunch during a weekday. I was surprised to find a sizable crowd even though the mall itself was quite empty.

Normally, I skip appetizers in favor of the mains but I was able to sample some of Fireside’s starters. Do note that portions are huge so pace accordingly!

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Why Pangasinan May Just Be One of the Philippines’ Most Underrated Provinces

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Within the last decade, many of Luzon’s central provinces have garnered quite a bit of attention among travelers who enjoy the balance between majestic natural attractions and proximity to the Philippine capital. Zambales has its many coves such as Anawangin and Nagsasa while Pampanga had in the early 2000’s successfully repositioned itself from a lahar-filled disaster zone to an eco-tourism destination.

There is however, one very worthy province that seems to be constantly overlooked despite having a plethora of things to see and do. Lying midway between Manila and Ilocos and serving as a transit point for travelers going to Baguio, the large but mostly underrated province of Pangasinan seems to be out of most people’s consideration as a holiday destination. This is despite having places such as Manaoag and Hundred Islands well within most Filipinos’ sphere of awareness.

It was actually by chance that I stumbled upon Pangasinan’s many attractions. I was looking for an interesting destination not too far from Manila during the Christmas holidays but found Baguio and Ilocos overcrowded, Tagaytay booked out and Mt Pinatubo too rough for the family escapade that I was planning. I eventually settled for 3 day trip covering the provinces of Pangasinan.

Here are some of the places I discovered:

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Countries Which Will Be a Whole Lot Cheaper to Visit in 2015

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Last year, I listed among others, Iran and Japan as must-visit destinations for 2014. The same destinations were later also cited by other publications such as the Financial Times in their 2014 travel recommendations. For 2015, I foresee another exciting year for travel. The predominant theme will be cheaper air tickets brought about by cheaper oil. In this regard, more people are likely to venture to destinations that are > 5 hours in air travel time. A couple of noteworthy destinations are also emerging as bargains due to plummeting currencies, an unintended effect of localized economic turmoil.

Without further ado, here’s a rundown of key bargain destinations to visit in 2015. Just to clarify – this list aims to show places that are expected to give relative value in 2015 where traveling is concerned, i.e. destinations that are becoming a whole lot cheaper to visit. It does not aim to show the absolute cheapest places to visit. If that was the case, there would hardly be any change from year to year with usual suspects like Southeast Asia, India and parts of Latin America as perpetual shoo-ins.

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What I Discovered at Duck & Buvette in Shangri-la Plaza Mall (D&B)

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The space where Duck & Buvette now stands is hard to miss. Located at the main atrium of the original building of Shangri-la Plaza Mall, I remember eating there when it used to be Cafe Provencal, an establishment that existed in that space for well over a decade. Taking the restaurant business into context, that’s almost like an eternity!

20141221_220832_1Earlier this year, the owners of this restaurant revised the concept, retaining the French fare but shedding its Mediterranean touches. A more extensive pastry offering was also added and Duck & Buvette was born. In the 5 or 6 months since it opened, I’ve heard some good things about D&B. My family ate there (without me) some time back and had good things to say as well so last weekend, I was determined to try it out!

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Best Autumn Viewing Spots in Tokyo

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In my previous entry about autumn viewing spots in Tokyo, I highlighted the expansive Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa as the best place to see fall foliage in the Japanese capital. Tachikawa is located in Western Tokyo and is about a 45 minute train ride away from the city center plus a 15 minute or so walk. If you’re pressed for time, you can consider these other worthy autumn spots which are definitely must-sees if ever you find yourself in the city between late November and early December.

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What to Expect From the New Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons Pasig

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Manila’s newest upscale mall, Estancia at Capitol Commons, finally opened its doors just last week. This particular area of Pasig has generated a lot of buzz in recent years due to the many independent restaurants that have opened in the area. Now, it has its own mall. Several stores have yet to open in this 30,000 sqm complex but I managed to see signs from the likes of Aeropostale, Cortefiel which I remember seeing in Spain, as well as an array of stores from SSI.

My visit coincided with an event called Urban Flavors Weekend which aimed to showcase not just the F&B offerings of the mall but also the exciting food concepts in the burgeoning Capitol Commons district. Through a pass (Php 500), I managed to have a sampling from the likes of Tipsy Pig, Ba Noi, Black Olive, XO46 Bistro Filipino, Craft Coffee and Larcy’s Cupcakery Cafe.

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