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Showing posts from February, 2013

Lunch at a Teahouse

TWG Tea Salon and Boutique at Greenbelt 5 in Makati is a glass and glitz citadel with some of the finest collection of teas in the world. The Wellness Group (TWG) has its origins in Singapore and today has branches in many countries in Asia, The Middle East, UK, and the United States. I didn't come for afternoon tea. I was famished after a morning admiring the works of Carlos Botong Francisco at the Ayala Museum and TWG was in the neighborhood. I was torn between the salmon entreé and the chicken skewer with rice. I chose the latter. A meal would not be complete without tea, as my late grandfather used to say. While perusing the tea menu, I was overwhelmed by the number of tea selections. In fact, they have over 200 teas to choose from so I thought it best to ask my server for help. What I wanted to try was a combination of green tea and chamomile. It was siesta time after all and I needed a transition tea. My server didn't hesitate at all to recommend the Sweet France

Antonio's Restaurant, Tagaytay

Antonio's Restaurant is located in Tagaytay City which is a popular weekend destination and a short ride from Metro Manila. Taal Volcano rises from the waters of Taal Lake. It is one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines. The second Antonio's restaurant (called Breakfast at Antonio's) has a commanding view of the lake and also serves lunch and dinner from the breakfast menu. This foyer impresses from the outset. Red paint on the walls provide a warm setting for the personal photos and antique "santos". This room evokes old world charm. The lower dining room is a spacious and elegant room, perfect for large parties. The black and white tiles spell classic! I dined alfresco beside the carp pond. It was a delicious visual treat to be surrounded by overgrown ferns and tropical flora. While the ambiance was casual and relaxed, this restaurant is home to fine dining and guests behaved accordingly. Hence the conversations around me were hush hush

Sonya's Garden Getaway

This floral path leads to the dining room. One of three gardens, the scented garden is a joy to explore. So many special touches, it's a pleasure to linger and dream of my own garden. At Sonya's Garden, I've learned to expect beautiful things and attention to detail like this crisp, white tablecloth with minute embroidery and elegant dinnerware. Pickings from the vegetable garden. Iceberg lettuce, oregano, arugula, cherry tomato, Roma tomato, tarragon, and this butter scented flower called butterbush. There's always fresh ingredients from the gardens for all the meals served at Sonya's. And after a most fulfilling dinner, tarragon tea will gently ease your digestive tract. Romance comes into play when evening falls upon the gardens. You can always find a little nook to while the time away with a good book. Wish I could have stayed longer. Sonya's Garden Barangay Buck Estate Alfonso, Cavite info@sonyasgarden.com http://sonyasgarden.co