Farm to Table at Green Pastures

It's rare that I enjoy eating vegetables more than my share of protein and carbs but that's what happened when I had dinner at Green Pastures.

Green Pastures has a farm to table concept, curating the best local ingredients that our farmers grow and raise here in the Philippines.

Pinoy Egg (125php)

Five minute free range duck eggs wrapped in housemade longanisa over fiddlehead fern salad

Duck You (185php)

Duck fat fries, duck skin chicharon, duck confit

Farmhouse Salad (550php)

Shredded kale, chopped romaine, konbu roast chicken, malagos goat cheese, hard-boiled eggs, dinelli bacon, corn, avocado, grape tomatoes, honey mustard dill vinaigrette

Crab Meat & Sea Urchin Pasta (525php)

Lemon, chives, spaghetti

Roast Organic Chicken (595php)

Konbu brine, lemon, grilled asparagus

What's good and exciting about Green Pastures is that the menu changes depending on the season, making every dining experience different.

Green Pastures is located at the 4/F, Shangri-la Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong. For more information, call 654-3219 / 0922 633-4687 or click here. 

Latin American food from Brasas

I'm glad that there now are more interesting restaurant options in Podium.

An example is Brasas which  introduces Latin America street food to Manila. Dining at Brasas is a casual affair. You order and pay for your food, fast food style. 

Carne Asada Fries (120php)

Large-cut fries topped with their special chili made with smoked chorizo chopped carne asada, grated Monterey Jack cheese, tomato salsa and sour cream

We requested for the beef toppings be served separately for our vegetarian friend:

Brasas Burger (220php)

Grilled Kaiser Bread, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sauteed onions, Monterey Jack Cheese and large-cut fries.

Beef Salad (190php)

Charcoal grilled meat, mixed fresh greens, seasonal vegetables, crunchy tortilla strips.

Puerco Asado-Cuba (240php)

Slow-roasted pork belly with crunchy skin, roasted seasonal vegetables, rice and beans

Given the unfamiliar flavors, Brasas is the perfect fit for those looking for something different.

Brasas is located at 5/F The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue Wack Wack, Mandaluyong. It has branches at SM North Edsa and SM Aura. For more information, call 570-5559 or click here.

Stag Dinner at 22 Prime

22 Prime was chosen as the venue for Trance's stag dinner since our groom to be is a certified steak lover.

With many accolades tucked under its belt, we all had high expectations for 22 Prime.

Dinner started with us being served different types of bread in this contraption

Bread Pairing

We always order bone marrow when it's on the menu and tonight was no exception.

Roasted Bone Marrow 395php

Too bad it wasn't any good as it was dried up and salty. No wonder they covered it with lots of garnish.

I ordered the Surf and Turf Special.  For 1,950++ I had:

Pea Soup

Caesar Salad 22 Prime

Grilled U.S. Angus Rib Eye Steak (200g) Jumbo Prawns, Potato Gratin, & Tagaytay Vegetables

Dessert Sampler

Everything was prepared properly but the steak was nothing to write home about. I felt that I could have eaten a jucier steak, in the comforts of home, grilling a slab of meat from Santis. 

I was not alone in my view as friends were also not impressed:

Australian Lamb Shank (895php)

Wagyu Beef  Back Ribs (795php)

Norwegian Salmon Fillet (950php)

When all was said and done, we surprised Trance who also happens to have a sweet tooth with a chocolate cake with this playful message:

To 22 Prime's credit, we all had a good time celebrating Trance's last few days as a bachelor because of the good service and intimacy the establishment offered. The food, however, was a different story altogether.

22 Prime is located at  22/F Discovery Suites 25 ADB Avenue Mandaluyong City. For more information, call 7198888 or click here. 

Lunch at Uncle Moe's

I miss the old me who could drop by any restaurant...

and eat whatever my stomach so desired:

Moutabal (55php)

Beef Kebab (140php)

All Beef Shawarma (75php)

Queso Ice Cream (22php)

Sigh....

Uncle Moe's Shawarma is located at City Golf Arcade, Julia  Vargas, Pasig. For more information, call 4684787.

Buzzkill at Terra Wellness Spa

After a long vacation, going to a spa is a must. 

Terra Wellness Spa at the Discovery Suites was almost perfect...

Modern Facilities

Peaceful Ambiance 

Clean Bathroom

Personalized Service

Room was also spacious and my Terra Touch Massage was heavenly. The masseuse had expert hands and it was exactly what my tired body needed. 

I forgot all the things going for Terra Wellness, however, when my thigh started cramping in the middle of the massage! Changing positions didn't help as the cramps lasted until the end of the session. 

I think I had cramps because Terra Wellness Spa is equipped with the most uncomfortable massage bed ever invented. The bed was hard as a board and it would better suit a chiropractor's office for patients who have back problems. 

Buzzkill

Sigh, it's really hard to have it all.

Terra Wellness Spa is located at the 4th floor, Discovery Suites, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig. For more information, call 6389145 or click here.

Memorable Nuat Thai

Nuat Thai is an affordable Thai massage parlor that has mushroomed all over Metro Manila. 

Pearl Drive branch

I visited its Pearl Drive branch where I had a dirt-cheap 125php one hour body massage thanks to an Ensogo deal. 

Receiving Area

List of Services

Space was limited but Nuat Thai did try to create a relaxing and peaceful environment for its clients.

Foot Massage Area

Hallway

The Massage Room

With my very low expectations given the cheap rate, Nuat Thai still failed to deliver a satisfying massage experience. Instead of being rejuvenated, I felt tired and harassed after the session because I was subjected to stretching positions that were acrobatic in nature haha. 

I honestly can't help but laugh whenever I remember the day Nuat Thai turned me into a pretzel. Looking at the bright side though, the trip to Nuat Thai was at least memorable, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Nuat Thai has branches all over the Philippines. For more information, click here.

The Singapore Aftermath: What I Ate at Terry's

When I got back from Singapore, I felt more bloated than ever (understatement of the century) and immediately went on a diet. 

A few days back in Manila though, I found myself visiting Terry Selection, a restaurant I have always loved for never failing to provide good comforting Spanish food.

Podium branch

Acoustic Night

The food was so tempting....

Don Pepito (300php)

Grilled U.S. Angus beef on a layer of Piquillo peppers, extra-virgin olive oil and Dijon mustard, tomato and lettuce

Lengua a la Sevillana (545php)

Ox tongue cooked in a subtle dry sherry wine sauce with mushrooms and Manzanilla olives from Andalusia

Sea Bass Medallion (375php)

Pan-seared sea bass served with a side of confit potatoes lightly tossed in a warm, fresh herb alioli

and this was what I had...

NOTHING

I'm so proud of myself!!!

Terry Selection has three branches in Manila. For more information, click here.

In Theme with Jalapeño

Not wanting to deal with dirty plates and trash, the undomesticated lot that we are, decided to eat out for Pristine's bridal shower. 

Many options came to mind, but in the end, what mattered was that we do not stray from the Some Like It Hot theme.

I had a "light bulb" moment and remembered  that I once had lunch at a good Mexican joint, Jalapeño.

Not only did the name of the restaurant fit the theme lol, but its Ortigas location made it just a stone's throw away from Astoria Plaza, the venue of the bridal shower.

A bridal shower isn't complete without a few drinks. Mojito was our alcohol of choice.

Thanks to the mojitos, I really wasn't able to concentrate so I'll just leave pictures of the food that we had at Jalapeño.

Jalapeño Cantina Mexicana is located at The Food Street, Ortigas Home Depot, Julia, Vargas Pasig.  For more information contact 470-3474 or visit its facebook page.