new restaurant Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Vom Fass Artisan Specialty Store

April 8, 2014 by Janey

Jars and canisters are some of the things I like purchasing, even the little versions of these as well. Lately, I’ve been into airtight glass food storage jars that keep food fresh and mason jars that I can use for display, serving, vase or arts and crafts. I love little jars particularly, especially when it stores artisanal products like aged balsamic vinegars or truffle oil. For a foodie and trying hard to be a home cook like me, it’s like giving me a Tiffany box.

Sometime last year, I received a small 40ml jar that contains truffle oil. I love anything truffle.

I asked where it came from and was told it was from Vom Fass. Vom Fass recently opened at Shangri-la Plaza mall and offers an extraordinary line-up of single malt whiskeys, artisanal oils, vinegars, spirits, liqueurs, and other non-alcoholic specialties, all of which may be sampled ‘from the cask’ (which is what ‘Vom Fass’ means in English).

[Read more…]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2013, 2014, Aceto Balsamico, affordable, aged balsamic fig vinegar, aged balsamic vinegars in the Philippines, artisan, balsamic vinegar, basement, Between Bites, betweenbites, Bonifacio Global City, bottles, cask, cheap, diet, dressing, east wing, Epicurious, European, Filipino, food blog, food review, foodie, from the cask, gourmands, grocery, how to, imported items, jars, list of branches, list of oils, list of stores, location, mall, Manila, menu, new restaurant, olive oil, Philippines, Pinay, pinoy, pumpkin seed oil, recipe, salad dressings, Santi’s, Shangrila Plaza, Shangrila Plaza Mall, shop, SM Aura Fort, specialty store, sweet balsamic vinegar, taste, tasting, try and taste, Vom Fass kinds of oils, Vom Fass oils, Vom Fass Philippines branches, Vom Fass SM Aura, Vom Fass Specialty Store, wellness oil, where, where to buy, where to get, Wines

Cantina Sicilianita

October 16, 2012 by Janey

Sometime early in September, Bubba and I popped in a new restaurant for dinner. We’ve been passing by their signage along Shaw Boulevard every morning but wonder where exactly it is in the Babyland compound. We parked and asked the parking guard where it was since we couldn’t see a door bearing the Cantina Sicilianita name.

It was in the same location as Rex Bookstore. Now for those taking up law or have been buying books at Rex Shaw Blvd. since 15 years ago (raises hand), it wouldn’t be hard to find. I pass by their restaurant and now it’s easier to spot since there’s a sticker on the door and I’ve given you the clue, just look for the Rex signage.

It’s a small restaurant, very much like a cantina –which spikes the interest since I love quaint little places that are not in an overly commercial area. I love wandering off the beaten path… finding a secret hideaway.

We picked our spot and started filling each other with our day as well as my plans for an interior design, showing Bubba pegs, while perusing the menu in between. Cantina Sicilianita’s menu is straightforward and carries just a handful of choices. They have selection for antipasti or appetizers, pasta, dessert and drinks, including a few select wines. I appreciate the fact that prices are quite reasonable, which leaves little room for disappointment and extra bounce if I leave very happy.

On the Table

Arancini Php 135

Saffron risotto balls stuffed with delectable pancetta ragu. Fried to crispy golden brown perfection.

I was excited about this and rightfully so. It’s a big golden yellow crusty dome when sliced open reveals Italian rice with meat sauce. It has varying texture with zesty savory flavors.

Polpette al Sugo Php 140

Lip-smacking traditional Sicilian meatballs topped with thick tomato sauce and special spices

Who can go wrong with meatballs? I guess one restaurant that served me lamb meatballs that had little bones in it. Thankfully, Cantina Sicilianita meatballs didn’t have a morsel of bones in it but just well-seasoned minced meat smoothened by tangy thick tomato sauce that is bursting with flavors.

[Read more…]

3 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 2012, address, affordable, best, best date places, Between Bites, Blog, blogger, Blvd., canteen, Cantina, Cantina Sicilanita, Cantina Sicilantina, Cantina Sicilata, Cantina Sicilianita, Cantina Sicilianita Italian restaurant, Cantina Sicilianita menu, Cantina Sicilianita prices, Cantina Siciliantina, Cantina Sicily, cheap, contact number, date, discount, Filipino, food, food blog, food blogger, food review, Fort, Greeka Couzina, how much, italian restaurant, italy, Kusina, lifestyle, list, list of restaurants, location, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Map, Metro Manila, Milan, new date places, new restaurant, new restaurants, Philippines, photos, Pilipinas, pinoy, prices, private dinners, promotion, review, Rome, Shaw, Shaw Boulevard, Taste Manila, Tips, travel, travelogue, up and coming, where, where to go, www.janedchua.com

Li Li and Market Cafe at Hyatt Hotel

May 21, 2012 by Janey

Hyatt Hotel, one of the long-standing deluxe hotels in the historical old city of Manila, houses at least two award-winning restaurants that are worth visiting. Two Saturdays ago, Bubba and I were invited to Hyatt Hotel to visit Li Li restaurant and Market Café. Other than their 376 guestrooms and specialty suites, Hyatt Hotel also takes pride in the culinary expertise their restaurants offer.

Let’s first take a look at Li Li Restaurant, awardee of Philippine’s best restaurants by the Philippine Tatler and part of top 20 best restaurants in Asia by Miele Guide. The Cantonese restaurant takes after a woman named Lili Ho who is very prominent in the upper class society. She is quite charmed by elegant China and inimitable art that is quite reflected in the interiors and features of each dining room available at Li Li for private functions.

Watch the VIDEO below! 🙂 This is a snippet of what Li Li and Market Cafe has to offer.

There is a library room, main dining room among others. The drawing room is one of the more intriguing rooms, it’s a replica room in Lili Ho’s actual house where the ladies usually hang out or “withdraw” and sometimes “exchange stories / gossip” while the gentlemen collect themselves at the library room.

After the roundabout, we retreated to one of the dining rooms. Before we started on our meals, a Gongfu Tea Ceremony opened the festive lunch to welcome us. This tea presentation originating in Guangdong is a usual practice at Li Li to welcome their guests.

[Read more…]

4 Comments Filed Under: Inside Dish: A BITE of Food Tagged With: 2010, 2011, 2012, address, best, best buffet in Manila, Between Bites, blogger, Cantonese, Cantonese cuisine, Chinese cuisine, contact number, crab, date, discount, event, Filipino, food, food blog, food blogger, food review, Fort, how much, hyatt hotel, Li Li Chinese, Li Li Restaurant best location, Li Li Restaurant menu, Li Li Review, list, location, Makati, Manila, Map, Market Cafe, Market Cafe buffet price, Market Cafe review, menu, Metro Manila, Miele Guide Philippine restaurants, new restaurant, Philippines, Photo, pinoy, price, Restaurants, shark fin soup, Taste Manila, where, www.janedchua.com

Sauceria Restaurant, Artisan Dishes and Sauces

March 7, 2012 by Janey

The night after the Sales Rally at Eton Centris, Bubba and I dined at Sauceria Restaurant. Whenever we come from Araneta or somewhere Quezon City or Libis, we pass by Sauceria on the way home. We’ve been meaning to drop by for months but only able to finally make a visit last February 9.

The main dining area has “art deco” interiors, retro-techno counter and function rooms.Sauceria’s concept believes in artisan cooking –cooking with the craft in mind. This is the type of cooking that utilizes freshly picked ingredients and making all the rest from scratch. They have upped the ante in artisan cooking by maximizing a comprehensive understanding of food at a molecular level, and modern improvements in kitchen equipment.

Photo Credit: Sauceria Facebook