best chocolates in Manila Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Best Valentine’s Day 2011 Guide to Hearty Celebration

February 8, 2011 by Janey

Last year, this site posted a Between Bites TOP 10 Best Date Places of 2010, which will have its counterpart for 2011. You can check the post for suggestions on where to go for dates, romantic or otherwise. My gut feel though tells me that these places are already fully booked at this time. It wouldn’t hurt to check if a reservation got canceled.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and for busy people like me, who juggles time between managing family responsibilities, work, side projects and friends and does not have time to plan ahead for Heart’s Day this year, below is a list of places you might want to check out.

Between Bites TOP 10 Valentine’s Day Places 2011

1. La Cocina de Tita Moning

I haven’t blogged about La Cocina de Tita Moning because it sits atop mounds of blog backlogs (I think my count is nearly 30). Anyway, suffice to say that it is truly an experience dining at this ancestral house that shares a lot of history about the Legarda-Prieto-Valdes clan. Ancestral houses would sometimes give off the eerie vibe but there’s something quite romantic about the dining area of La Cocina de Tita Moning.

And the dishes in their set menus are outstanding. Must haves include Paella Valenciana, Lengua, Slowly Roasted Pork and my favorite is La Cocina’s Gazpacho with fresh crab salad! More on that when I get my post up!

La Cocina de Tita Moning

315 San Rafael St. San Miguel,

Manila, Philippines

(632) 734 2141/ (632) 734 2146

www.lacocinadetitamoning.com

2. Lola Maria’s Restaurant at Legend of Villas

If you don’t want to travel far and wants something accessible within the Metro, Lola Maria’s is a gem waiting to be discovered. Amidst the urban landscape stands The Legend Villas, almost hidden behind high-rise corporate buildings in Pioneer Street. Walk through the gates of Legend of Villas and get allured by an old world setting.

Cocido!! 🙂

–

This 2011, Lola Maria Restaurant welcomes eight new delectable dishes created by Chef Michael Martinez in consultation with some celebrated personalities. I suggest you don’t miss out ordering the Cocido, the Garlic Rosemary Rib-eye and the Ensaymada Soufflé.

Lola Maria’s at Legend of Villas

60 Pioneer corner Madison Streets,

Mandaluyong City 1550, Philippines

(632) 702 2793 / (632) 632 0845

www.legendvillas.com.ph

3. Hot-Air Balloon Festival

If you want to spend Valentines outside Metro Manila, then take a short drive to Clarkfield, Pampanga on February 12 or 13 where the Hot-Air Balloon Festival is happening. Bubba and I have been going to the Hot-Air Balloon Fest since 2007 for 3 straight years and only missed last year’s.

There’s nothing like a short drive countryside that can keep the bond alive. Sound tripping, singing out loud, talking, green scenery and a breath of fresh air might just refresh the bond between couples.

Spending Valentines weekend with friends on a road trip is the best!

–

While you’re in Pampanga, have a hearty lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant called Zapata’s.

Reminiscent- Hot Air Balloon Fest

The Bridge Shots

Love is in the Air

Hot Air Balloon Festival 2007

Zapata’s

4. Speed-dating

February is not only for those who are “in-love” but it is also for those who are “in-love” with the idea of “LOVE.” It’s considered also as the Singles Awareness month.

A lot of speed-dating events are set-up this month. If you’re out on a hunt for “the one” (even just for fun), there’s a speed-dating event on February 11 and 12, 2011 at Focaccia Fort Strip. It’s an event organized by Perfect Events dubbed as “It’s a Date.”

What: “It’s a Date” Speed-Dating

Where: Focaccia, Fort Strip

When: February 11/12, 8pm-11pm

Ticket Price: PHP 900 (inclusive of dinner)

Other than enlarging your network, or the chance of meeting someone special, you can also win these awesome prizes: an overnight stay in Boracay, Attivo dinner date for two, or free make-over from Azta Salon!

For inquiries:

Email: weareperfectevents@yahoo.com

Call: (63 917) 557 5312

5. My Mother’s Garden

My Mother’s Garden is located in a discreet residential place somewhere in Pasay City. My Mother’s Garden accepts private dining amidst a beautiful patch of garden. If you want to stay out of the commercial places that jack up their prices every Valentine’s Day, then Mother’s Garden is the place for you.

Simple, with a much quieter ambience than regular date places, Mother’s Garden serves gourmet home-cooked meals.

READ MORE:

My Mother’s Garden

My Mother’s Garden

2650 Zamora St.

Pasay City

(632) 831 8407 / Malu Antonio Veloso (63 917) 600 8886

6. Las Filipinas de Acuzar Resort

If you want to skip town and go somewhere farther, minus the beach or heavy traffic in the south area, take the 2-hour drive to Bagac, Bataan. Go up Mount Samat and check the huge White Cross that gives you a view of the whole of Bataan.

Check-in at Las Filipinas de Acuzar Resort and get enthralled in this little town of reconstructed ancestral houses that made me feel like I was taking a walk during the Spanish era.

–

Get a traditional hilot/massage at the Marahai Spa, located at the Indio House or Wooden Stilt Houses near the beach area.

7. Marcia Adam’s Tuscany

Tagaytay has always been almost a fool-proof place to go to when looking for a quiet date place. With the cool breeze and close-to-nature atmosphere, driving to Tagaytay remains to be an option for couples seeking out solitude from the Metro. One place worthwhile to visit is Marcia Adam’s Tuscany.

–

The Girl by the Window

–

This particular garden restaurant displays a lot of Tuscan character, light and airy like a sunflower –it’s probably one of the brighter spots which the sun favors in Tagaytay.

Order the Shish Kebabs with couscous and Amafi Prawns for your starter.

READ MORE:

Marcia Adam’s Tuscany in Tagaytay

8. L’Opera

Bubba has been harping about L’Opera’s Tagliata di Manzo con Fegato D’oca in Salsa Tartufata con Spinaci e Asparagus since December and hinted that he wants to have dinner there. I guess that’s where I’m taking him for a Valentines dinner.

US Beef with Foie Gras

–

Medium or Medium-Rare is the way to go!

–

L’Opera’s Interior

READ MORE:

Feed Your Passion at BGC

L’Opera Ristorante

26^th Street Corner 5^th Avenue,

Fort Bonifacio Global City Taguig

(632) 889 3963/ (632) 889 2784/ (632) 899 0943

9. Yacht Cruise

I’m not a big Valentine’s person because I find it a bit cheesy and too commercialized already. But as mentioned before, it doesn’t stop me from showing Bubba that I can look beyond the cheesiness and celebrate it with him. This dinner on a yacht cruise was my surprise to him in 2008.

–

Since then a lot of people have been doing the yacht cruise dinner but if you haven’t experienced it, it’s worth a look. Just make sure you bring Bonamin if you or your partner is prone to seasickness.

READ MORE:

Yacht Cruise

10. Abbondanza Pizza

Simple, Cheap, Heart-y, and Yummy. I can simply be happy with a heart-shaped Abbondanza Pizza, chili olive oil and parmesan cheese. Simple evening with no worries. A good DVD to watch… and a lot of cuddling. Bow.

Where are you taking your Valentine? 😉

XO,

Janey

—

Benoit Nicolay, A Touch of Classic Sweetness

February 1, 2011 by Janey

You got mail. Okay, it’s not exactly mail but when somebody knocks on your door and announces that somebody delivered something for you… it’s quite exciting.

And you anticipate what it is. I did.

Arriving in an elegantly looking box-type bag, I peered inside hoping it was something I like. It was a Box Je t’adore Belgian Chocolates by Benoit Nicolay. Being a chocoholic before, open to a lot of chocolate invading my mouth, to toning it down to a few favorites, I have become quite picky when it comes to the chocolate I consume. I was skeptical at first looking at the Benoit Nicolay chocolates.

Benoit Nicolay created Circus Baked Delights in 2006. Hailing from Belgian before deciding to have a life in the Philippines, he has tasted many of the best chocolates in the world. And that’s exactly what Benoit wanted to share with the Philippines. He aims to provide world-class chocolates in the Philippine market.

This Belgian chocolatier is committed to deliver hand-made chocolates that use the freshest and highest quality imported ingredients.

I opened the white box with the single label on its cover, Je t’adore sexily marked on the front. Inside were petite heart-shaped premium chocolates in brown, dark brown and red colors. I zeroed in the red ones because they immediately stole my attention. A soft waft drifted under my nose enticing me for a bite.

I grabbed a red one and took a gentle bite. Still uncertain, I popped the rest inside my mouth and allowed the chocolate to delicately melt in my slavering tongue. I closed my eyes and took pleasure in the moment.

It’s been a while since a chocolate surprised me and Benoit Nicolay Belgian chocolates did that. The chocolate bring a character of its own. The shell of the truffle softly breaks open and reveals a ganache center that has a contradicting light and deep premium chocolate taste.

Je t’adore Box of Chocolates (12pcs) PHP 600

http://www.chocolatesbybenoit.com/products/Box-of-chocolate-Je-t-adore-12pcs.html

Special box of 12pcs of heart-shaped chocolate to say, ” I adore you. “

Dark: DARK PASSION, VALENCIA

White: STRAWBERRY PASSION

Milk: MILK PASSION, EXTRA PRALINE

Awesome.ph has a good deal on the Benoit’s Je t’adore 12pcs. I think the price is slashed at 55% off that includes delivery. CHECK OUT www.Awesome.ph

There was a smoothness and elegant chocolate flavor that escaped as the chocolate melted in my mouth.

Friends Andrew, Eric and Made tried it too and liked it.

People say chocolate brings passion (happy enzymes in another language) but in this particular chocolate I definitely tasted the passion in the creation.

The authentic, handmade, gourmet Belgian chocolates were a delight to eat. I can be left alone with these chocolates and any romantic thought. It’s Valentine in a box.

If you don’t have a date for the upcoming Valentines Day, then this is the perfect companion for any bubbly as you sit back, relax and enjoy the ease of singleness and a promising vision of a sweet significant other.