first XILAIMEN Seafood Restaurant opens in Robinsons Magnolia

It was a long busy day and it was just after my Baguio stint and I was thankful to be invited by one of my friends from the said tour. The newest restaurant resting at the center of the Robinsons Magnolia is Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant.

Ms. Andrea Joyce Ng-Wen

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant opened July 19 this year and is located fronting the ice cream house at the ground floor of Robinsons Magnolia and serves authentic Chinese seafood dishes that are rich and flavorful. The place is also very cozy for family gatherings, dates and reunions.

According to Ms. Andrea Joyce Ng-Wen, “Xilaimen means happiness in Chinese and this is what we want for the customers to experience whenever they dine in at our restaurant.” “An ambiance of joy as they enter the restaurant,” added by Ms. Wen. Not only with the restaurant but with the food that is served as well. By doing so, it makes the food experience more fun and enjoyable, more enticing for everyone to go back and have an exquisite dining experience.

The food are overwhelming with flavor and generous servings and are very affordable. We were served with these amazing dishes that made it a night full of flavor.

Mixed Seafood with Polonchay Soup

Lapu-Lapu in Egg White

Sauteed Fried Crabs with Sotanghon

Elephant Shell with Broccoli Flower in XO Sauce

Cold Cuts

There are defnitely more in store and I returned to Xilaimen for dinner and spent only around Php1000, which is already reasonable for these dishes. And they're good for 2-3 persons.

Clockwise from left (Fresh Shrimp in XO Sauce with Broccoli Sauce, Special Seafood Hotpot, Yang Chow Fried Rice)

I'm really sure that these dishes are prepared clean and added with love before it gets to the plate. The experience on the mouth and inside the restaurant is really worth-spending.

Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant is located at the Upper Ground Floor, Al Fresco, Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City with telephone number (02) 720-97-25.

Check out Kwento Ni Totoand Mommy’s MAG Life’s Xilaimen Seafood Restaurant Giveaway on Instagram just follow their account @yashirokuru and @satnomangie and read the details on how to join.

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Chef Bernard.com opens the Spring and Summer Collection

in honor of design and of good health, Chef Bernard.com now offers its Spring and Summer collection of entrees for all walks of life. the tasty home-made dishes done in a contemporary way will surely entice those who love food and those who like to relax.
awake your senses with their warm Pancit Molo. a well-seasoned lean ground pork wrapped in homemade wonton wrapper. simmered to perfection in stock from scratch. a single sip would make you go for more while its best served hot.
a very refreshing Vietnamese Spring Roll is a unique reinvention of the Filipino staple Adobo. where its flakes, rolled with rice vermicelli, basil, mint and lettuce wrapped in rice paper wrapper gives the palate a surprise when dipped in peanut hoi sin sauce. soft from the outside with a kick of crunch in the inside is a very entertaining treat. first to my taste is a grain-like Quinoa Salad. mini seed-like matter seasoned with sweetness of maybe honey and vinegar with a hint of chili would give you a curious smile.
stuffed chicken is not just for Christmas. you can enjoy it anytime with Chef Bernard.com. go all the way of tenderness of boneless chicken stuffed wit meat and vegetables baked to perfection, served with its own dripping made into gravy with pickled squash and kamote puree.
the Filipino table is not identified without the Kare-kare. in their seafood version, you won't need any of bagoong for siding because you'll love it better with the sweet peanut sauce on its own. more of healthy and light, Chef Bernard.com offers this as opening for the Lenten season where everyone is conscious about eating meat.
but if you love pork so much, the Pork Binagoongan is a must-try. this soft meat can be cut by a spoon, melting in your mouth and a sweet satisfaction is guaranteed. it is cooked with devoted time and deglazed with sate. best to eat with grilled eggplant and steamy rice.
please reserve a space for dessert with their Chocolate Raspberry Mousse. Hershey's chocolate cream at the bottom with the soft raspberry mousse on top is to adore.
Chef Bernard.com is another business venture with renowned fashion designer, Randy Ortiz. from a person who deals with fashion, he is a self-confessed food lover, not very picky and non-discriminating. graduating from De La Salle University of Hotel and Restaurant Management, food has been around him for quite sometime. his business partner, Chef Bernard Banares, a former professional model and studied culinary in various schools like Le Cordon Bleu, put out the stories of the food served above with his exceptional skills in cooking. with much knowledge Chef Bernard has gained from studying, he still devoted his cooking to Asian fusion that the restaurant serves.

Randy Ortiz and Bernard Banaresthe vision of the two has gave birth to Chef Bernard.com, a cozy place to relax and enjoy the food with your friends. a spacious area well-lit and very comfortable. displaying cleanliness in design with a see-through kitchen.

Chef Bernard.com is found at Unit A, Greenbelt Radissons 7, 106 Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. you can call 7519415 loc 222 for reservations or orders.

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the best selling dishes of LITTLE ASIA RESTAURANT

enjoy the Chinese New Year with the best seller dishes at Little Asia Tomas Morato where i and a bunch of friends had lunch with. this branch has this Asian-Portuguese ambiance in its white interior and red velvet-covered chairs and chandelier. a romantic fusion of architecture and romance in one spot.

as diving to their delicious dishes, you have to first try their soft Vietnamese Spring rolls as appetizer. eat it by hand or with a fork and knife. and the texture and cooked-just-right fillings in the crunchy wrap is best matched with the good sweet vinegar.

in Little Asia, the experience will not be complete without their Crispy Fried Chicken which is an inherited dish. as president and founder of Little Asia, Charlemagne Lim invites everyone to savor the crispy skin and soft and juicy meat of the chicken.

in this Asian restaurant, everything shall be served plenty. have a chitchat with your friends while enjoying Beef Tenderloin with Cheese in Teriyaki Sauce, and the spicy Sichuan Chicken. it's worth the wait for the Drunken Lengua in Brown Mushroom Sauce and Coconut Fish Fillet which goes best with rice on the side.

Beef Tenderloin with Cheese in Teriyaki Sauce and Sichuan Chicken

have some room for dessert. if you had much heat in these dishes, a cold vanilla ice cream served with mango tower drizzled with caramel and chocolate will satisfy your sweet tooth. if you're up for chips, and even more chocolate, their own sweet potato chips is also recommended.

if you think Little Asia is too pricey, these dishes are reasonable enough with that valued experience you'll have inside the restaurant. the place is not just a venue to eat, the people you'll bring in and the stories you'll discover behind those dishes will bring you a special memory in return.

branches of Little Asia are at Venice Piazza in McKinley, Tomas Morato in Quezon City, and at Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo.

more photos here.

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Dezato lunch

it will be my first time to a place which is very near to our workstation. unbelievable that we don't go here often that's why it's a delight to finally check out that intriguing "mochi ice cream."

the place is called Dezato Cafe. it is at the humble area of Quezon City by Hemady St. in New Manila. with its very cozy ambience, i immediately felt at-home.

with matching colorful paintings really compliment the yummy desserts they serve.
and finally after feasting with the eyes, my stomach craved for something warm with the cold weather happening outside. i tried a pumpkin soup and pasta for lunch.
and for dessert, you can have their specialty, the Mochi Ice Cream at different flavors.

you can visit Dezato Cafe at 100 Hemady Street, New Manila, Quezon City

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CHEFS' QUARTER dinner

it's good that i found my Chefs' Quarter gift certificate and use it on its last day of validity. so i went there with my mom and brother to avail it and enjoy a feast at the restaurant.

Chefs' Quarter, 3F Atrium, SM Megamall

we ordered Tessie Tomas Salad, named after a Filipino actress, Roasted Chicken and Special Fried rice. and finish it off with Ube Cheesecake for dessert.

Tessie Tomas Salad

this salad is made of greens, goat cheese, stir-fried shrimp, Shitake mushrooms and drizzled with dressing.

Roasted Chicken

chicken roasted to perfection with its juicy meat melts in your mouth. good for around 3-5 people, this bird reminds you of your mother's cooking in a very special occasion.

Special Fried Rice

indeed a very special fried rice, sauteed in bagoong for that smoked flavor and with a kick of long green peppers.

the Ube Cheesecake would be the star of our dinner. with the rich ube cheese custard filling, the crunch of burnt brown sugar and chocolate shavings on top neutralized our stomach and taste buds.

everything costs about Php 1500 in total, inclusive of VAT and 10% service charge.

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