A chilly morning @ Tagaytay

It was January and the cold breeze is just starting at its peak. We thought of going to Tagaytay to experience and feel the cold weather. We thought of hearing mass at Pink Sisters.

There were only two masses being held for the entire day at Pink Sisters (that’s what we know). We attended the 6am mass. Going to Tagaytay also means, roaming around, sightseeing, eat good food, and so I thought it will be a short lakwatsa. So for the usual, I chose to wear comfy clothes which are a pair of shorts and shirt and topped it with a sweater. I know it was not the proper outfit of going to mass, that’s why we opted to stay at the back of the church. OMG! It was freakin’ cold, really. However, I liked the feel of the cold breeze though it chills me to the bones. So, I have to bear the 1 hour, standing outside the church and feel the cold breeze.   

When inside the premises of Pink Sisters Monastery, observe silence at all times, and turn off your mobile phones and turn off the camera whenever mass is ongoing. 

After the mass, we went straight to the prayer area. At the prayer area, there were pens and piece of paper provided where you can write your petitions and prayer requests and may drop it on the available drop slots. You may also give donations for the Pink Sisters Convent and Monastery.

After hearing mass and praying our deepest petitions, we went to Sonya’s garden. Sonya's garden is situated at Alfonso, Cavite, just right after Tagaytay. It was our first time to go here. We do not have any idea how to go to the garden, is it free of charge and open to anyone else or do we need to dine first so we can access the garden. Since we have not taken our breakfast, and for dining experience, we tried their breakfast buffet. We prefer ala carte than buffet since we do not eat a lot, but they do not serve ala carte menus. They serve buffet breakfast from 6am to 10am at 560.00nett per head, for kids its half the price.

 

Upon entering the Sonya’s garden, you can see plants everywhere; it was surrounded by green luscious plants and flowers. You can feel that you are very close to the nature.

 

 

And at the restaurant, the lay-out was simple yet very comfy and relaxing. You can smell the aroma of the fresh plants surrounded by it and feel the cold breeze.

As soon as we are seated, a dining staff put this flower on our table, which name I cannot remember, the dining staff told us that it smells good, I smelled but I did not find it mabango.

 

A loaf of bread, paired with white cheese (with pesto) and a plate of bacon were served on our table.

 

 

Your choice of coffee or hot chocolate was also served. Their hot chocolate was super good, I really like it.  For their food choices on the buffet, they have vegetable salad for appetizer, for the main course, they serve fried/plain rice, daing na bangus with mango salsa, chicken and pork adobo, omellete and sunny side up egg. (Sori, I wasn't able to take nice photos)

 

The dining staffs were attentive and were ready to give you what you need. Ms. Sonya, the owner was there and hopping from table to another table to ask how was the food or how was their stay. It was evident that they have good customer service.

We ate a lot so we walked and roamed the garden. There were different flower bearing plants. Picking of flowers is strictly prohibited.

  

The surroundings are clear and have a nice smell, it seems that it is perfumed. The manong who is watering the plants that the smell came from the flowers, which I doubt. Hehe =)

 

 

 They have a bakeshop, “Panaderia”, it is where you can buy their freshly baked breads. They also have Country store where you can buy handmade wares and potions.

They also have store where you can buy scented oils, and they also sell herbs and other organic plants like, Basil, Tarragon, Ashibata. Citronella, Mint, Thyme, and a lot more.

 

 

They also hold events such as wedding and engagements.

 

Events venue 

 

We learned that you can roam around Sonya’s garden even if not dining with their restaurant.

 Overall, I find the place very relaxing it is a haven for us people who wanted relaxation even in a short period of time. Though I have a good dining experience, I may not eat here again coz I find their buffet breakfast expensive for the number of food choices that they offer. Unless someone will treat me.  

 
If you haven’t been here, take time to visit and enjoy the luscious surroundings.

For your reservations and contact details, you may check their website, http://www.sonyasgarden.com

Icings cakes - breads - cafe

It was the last day of year 2014 and after few hours we are saying hello to year 2015. 

My sister and I went to Market Market  to buy for a cake and do some errands for the preparation of foods to eat during media noche. We wanted to eat something light just enough to fill our hungry tummies while waiting for my husband to fetch us. We passed by Icings – cake, bread and café, and we found the place inviting.

From the outside, you can see their display of cakes and breads. The place looks comfy and relaxing and it was not crowded at the time. So we go in. 

 

As soon as we were seated, copy of menus were given to us. They have a vast of food choices from pasta, rice meals, breads and cakes and browsing it made me feel more hungry, from the idea of having a light meal, I ended up of having a Gamberi in Aglio Oglio and paired it up with Pandan Juice.

As for my sister, she ordered Chicken Waldrof sandwich and paired with a Cappuccino. I don’t know if it is a good match.

 

We waited roughly 15 minutes before our orders were served. The serving was big for us, both meals were already good for two persons or maybe we were not that hungry that’s why we found the serving big.

The Gamberi Aglio Oglio comes with toasted pita bread for the price of P225.00 

 

 

 

 

and the Chicken Waldrof sandwich comes with a yummy potato chips, for the price of P160.00. Since it is our first time here, we tasted each other’s order.

The pasta is good. I love the taste of a bit spicy and it’s not that oily.  The Chicken Waldrof Sandwich is yummy too. It has bits of apples that add sweet taste to the sandwich.

 

For the drinks,

 

 

The pandan juice is fine, nothing’s extra ordinary, same with the cappuccino. 

 

 

They also have Twinings Teas.

 

Overall, we enjoyed our meal. The food is good and the place is comfy and the value for money is worth it.

Go out and check it for yourselves, they have several branches within in the metro.

 

For the list of their branches, check out their Facebook account

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Icings-Cakes-Breads-and-Cafe

 

            

 

Eat like a Viking

It’s my second time to dine at Vikings, Megamall branch, and this time I am with my family. The first time I ate here, it was my office mate’s birthday. Since it is my second time, I made the reservations two weeks ago and I chose the dining area at the back of the beverage station.

When dining at Vikings, it is better to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks before your target date of dining. Many people eats at Vikings, Megamall branch even on weekdays.

I remembered, we tried dining at Vikings on a lunch time on Monday, I did not make any reservation for I thought it is a lean day, to my surprise, there are many people (walk-ins) on queue , so we decided to just eat to other restaurant. So better to call Vikings first and make your reservations.

 

We were already there before Vikings opened. There were already lots of people on queue both walk – ins and with reservations. A separate queuing   number were given to walk-in customers and to those who have reservations.

Yes, Vikings is fair enough to accommodate also those without reservations.

We availed the birthday promo treat of Vikings since it is the birthday of my hubby. If you will dine on the day of your birthday, the celebrant is free provided that he/she has at least one (1) accompanying adult. And if you will dine on any day of your birthday month, the celebrant is free of charge as long as is accompanied with four (4) full paying adults.

Vikings has a nice dining area especially at the back of the beverage station, so better choose that place when you are planning to make reservations. It is more spacious compared to those seats near the Japanese foods (on the left side when you are facing the entrance) and those seats near the grilling station.

Dining area at the back of the beverage station and near the grilling station

 

The dining area at the back of the beverage station.

Dining area near the Chinese foods station 

Vikings has a lot of foods to offer, from Asian, European and American.

Dimsums and other Chinese foods station

They have the salad station, the carving station. I like the roast beef, it is tender.

The carving station and the "make ur own" shabu shabu

 

For the Asian food, they have Chinese foods which dimsums that I like best. There are different dimsum that you can choose from. Tthere are pork and beef siomai, hakao, and beancurd. They also have yangchow rice, stir fried vegetables, and others.

For the Japanese food, they have also different types of maki, there are shrimp tempura, which I think is one of every person’s favorite. It ran out fast, you just have to wait for awhile to have it refilled.

Vikings is also known for its grilling station. You can choose from their seafoods selection and even meat. You just have to choose what to grill and the waiter will serve it to your table.

 

The grilling staion

They also have Italian food station, where you can even make your own pasta. It has also different bread types, mini pretzels, croissant, oat meal bread (which I like).

Vikings have a great selection of desserts and beverages. You can choose from cakes, pastries, panacotta, crème brulee, ice cream, and crepes.

They have also kiddie plates with matching kiddie spoon and fork.

For their beverage station,

You can choose from any brands of soft drinks, draft beer and even Tiger beer (in can), Milo, this is so yummy, it is not the usual Milo that we make at home, coffee which you can make your own cappuccino, sago and gulaman, fruit shakes, different flavors of Winnings Tea, (blueberry lemonade, iced tea, four seasons, lemon with mint, lemon with tanglad, and others that I forgot, And what I liked most? The Wintermelon!! It is super yummy. 

You can also make your own milk tea, an instruction guide is provided.



"make ur own" milk station

You can also ask for Twinings tea, which I preferred to take it at home very discreetly. =)

I super like their beverage station that I even stand there and taste a little of almost everything. ;-)

 

If you are celebrating your birthday, you will be greeted and sang with a vey lively and happy song and a cake will be given as complimentary.

Since this is my second time, I can say that I have tasted almost everything.

I enjoyed dining at Vikings. I may not have tried all the dishes, but I can say that that all foods that I ate were all good. The dining experience is exciting. The value of money spent was worth it.