WhatsinMyBackyardBlog

Having issues posting pictures on here so I posted here…enjoy!

Choosing which restaurant to try in the plaza near where we stayed in Fort Bonifacio, was a difficult choice. Yes, we really enjoyed those Spanish hot chocolates at Cafe Mary Grace, but if you want to introduce friends to Filipino food in a more upscale scene, then Abe won’t disappoint.

Of course the Philippines is littered with tasty foods that don’t need to be eaten inside air-conditioned restaurants where the wait staff wear white, but sometimes, for those who have not shown any interest in trying Filipino food, going somewhere with a nice ambience can’t hurt.

It serves dishes from Pampanga and service is very attentive. Our appetizers were the Gambas Al Ajillo and Sinuteng Baby Squid. Oh my, thinking about those two starters makes my mouth water. I loved the gambas as it reminded me of the typical Spanish dish served all over Spain, and the small baby squid was so tender and flavorful. We ordered the pinaputok na pla pla (deep fried tilapia) which is served beautifully and crispy pork adobo. The deep fried tilapia was delicious. Crispy on the outside and the tender white flesh of the fish went so well with the ginger/garlic sauce served with it. I love fried fish! The crispy adobo was also great, and we really enjoyed the fried garlic chips because they taste so good when eaten with steamed white rice. Yes, love that fried goodness. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and we were a small party we didn’t get to try much else. Til next time Abe, til next time.

Tucked away in a small corner of Alameda, near the Park Street Bridge, is Dragon Rouge Vietnamese Bistro. This is a new space for this restaurant, which can now can serve almost three times the size of it’s old location (the original location was off of Encinal Ave.). Located at the Waterfront, the family-owned restaurant serves Vietnamese food in a more upscale fashion.

The waiting area is a small space but once you enter the main dining room, you’re greeted by a sizeable bar on your left and a nice view of the water that connects to the Oakland Estuary. They do plan on building out outdoor seating/dining as the restaurant grows into its new area, which if it proves to be successful, will be a great place for date nights and early family dining to keep kids entertained.

Joined by dear friends, we started out with two familiar appetizers of fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce and fried calamari. Both were good, nothing outstanding. I would have much rather gone for the garlic chicken wings and a salad. For our main courses, we opted to try two versions of their garlic noodles, one plain and the other with jalapenos, chili sauce, and fresh basil (both are accompanied with a side of parmesan cheese). I must admit that Thanh Long still has the best garlic noodles I’ve ever had served in a restaurant. But the ones served at Dragon Rouge are still very good. There’s a nice hint of spice (you can elect to have it hotter, which if you like spicy, I would order maximum spiciness) if you request medium heat. The plain ones are ok, but it’s still lacking that strong garlic flavor that I’ve come to enjoy from Thanh Long.

We also ordered the Bouncing Beef Tenderloin (Bo Luc Lac) or known in other Vietnamese restaurants as Shaking Beef. The beef cubes were cooked tenderly and perfectly. What I appreciated most about this dish is the peppered-lime dipping sauce. It added that nice tartness that balanced out the richness of the filet mignon cooked in butter.  A definite must. I was a bit disappointed in the Sizzling Sea Bass (Ca Trang Nuong) as the flavor of the lemongrass overpowered the delicacy of the fish. Though we didn’t get to try any salads, clay pot dishes, or bunh mi sandwiches, I would recommend this place for those seeking a more upscale version of Vietnamese food. The prices are expected for the “bistro”-type ambience it creates, and if you plan on having drinks, the bill can get up there.

The Boracay Regency, is wonderful hotel where I’d happily “crash” again. Located in Station 2, and about a 20-minute ride from where the boats drop you off, it’s a plush resort and spa.

One of the first things you’ll notice immediately upon entering, is the beautiful pond and pool located behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a distraction because you realize, I still have to check-in, before I can check that out. The front desk staff are quite attentive and check in is easy.

We had booked a junior suite and the accommodations were fantastic. The bathroom was large–large enough to host a small get together. It had a very open feel to it. No complaints, as girl that likes her space, this was heaven.

Our small living room area, which was right next to the bed, was perfect for crashing after a long day at the beach. The mounted TV in front could be swung to face the bed–love it! Our balcony was fairly long and had a small table with two chairs, but I truly liked that there was a drying rack out there too. Not enough beachfront hotels think of having those. I appreciate little details and amenities like that. Hanging my wet bathing suit to dry on a chair doesn’t quite do the trick (hey, if I want to sit back and relax, i don’t want to feel damp clothing and oftentimes, it ends up falling off due to wind). The view however, could use some help. Though we could see one of three pools to our left, our junior suite overlooked a rooftop garden that needed some major maintenance. I will say that once inside, the noise level from the outside is barely audible.

Boracay Regency has three separate pools located all over the property. One has a small water slide. Two out of the three pools offer rooms where you can access the pool directly just by sliding your patio door open. This hotel offers beachfront access and you are a stone’s throw from the ocean. A short jaunt down the path from where our room was, is the soft, powdery white sand of Boracay. Given that Pinoys love to eat, the hotel offers plenty in the way of food. There are 3 main restaurants and several bars/cafes located near the beach.

Our package deal included breakfast for both days at either Seabreeze Cafe (buffet) or at Christina’s. We ate at Seabreeze Cafe as the menu at Christina’s was pretty limited. Seabreeze Cafe offers typical Filipino breakfast foods and American food options as well. Come early as it’s hard to get seats with a view of the ocean. For the few that have access to the VIP lounge, they provide simple snacks and a limited drink selection from 5-7 p.m.

A small gym is located near the VIP lounge. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to thoroughly check out what the hotel has to offer. With the two days we had, we spent most of it at the beach or pool.  It’s about a 15-minute walk to the shopping center called, d’mall. At night there is live music to listen to on the beach in front of the hotel. For more reviews of the hotel, check here.

as in “Boracay.”

Amidst our way too-short Philippines trip, we managed to squeeze in a two-night getaway to “Bora,” as Metro Manilans  call it. Two days is much too short, a third day would’ve been great. Again, no time. Unfortunately, our trip within a trip, was during one of Bora’s busiest times, Chinese New Year. Aiya!! What normally would’ve been a fairly inexpensive trip, cost us quite a BIT MORE. My dutiful cousin and aunt did their best to find us a decent place to stay that included airfare and transfers. Everything was fully booked.

Luckily , they found two places with limited availability and we opted to splurge and get beachfront access. Boracay Regency is a beautiful property by managed by Hennan Resorts. Boracay is basically one long strip of white sand beaches on one side. One-hour flights from Manila to Caticlan Airport (the closer airport) are available. From Caticlan, a short shuttle ride (if transfers are included in your package) you take a short boat ride (where they hoist your luggage on top of the boat-yikes-pray it doesn’t teeter off!) to Boracay Island. I would definitely advise on having transfers included in your package (especially, if you’re a first time visitor), despite that things are of walkable distances (however, what could be a 30-minute walk can turn into something aggravating when dealing with the heat and luggage).

Boracay is a narrow stretch of the SOFTEST WHITE SAND EVER. I’m not joking when I compare the sand to “baby powder.” Because it really feels like it. Nothing of my travels to the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, and the beaches here, compare. It’s also flooded with lots of Koreans, Chinese, and Australians vacationing during any season. The hotel zones are broken up into Stations 1, 2, and 3. The Boracay Regency was located in Station 2, which in my opinion, is the best station to stay in. Station 1 is closest to the airport side and has less nightlife activities and shopping opportunities (there are plenty of storefronts throughout Boracay where you can bargain for clothes, shoes, and souvenirs). More budget hotels are located on that side, so it’s great for backpackers. Station 3 is towards the other end of the beach (like Station 1) and has access to “d’mall” (plenty of shops and vendors) and where most water-related activities take off from. Station 2 is in the middle and has a festive party atmosphere and plenty of food options.

As you stroll up and down the paved “boardwalk”, you’ll encounter plenty of locals offering activities (bargain! bargain! bargain!), henna tatoos, hair braiding, really, really, really cheap beachside massages (no privacy, as cots are next to each other, but it’s on the beach, nonetheless). I’m talking a full 60-minute massage for roughly $8 (that’s not including tip), at the time of this writing. My husband and I opted for a location further away from the hubbub below on the beach and went upstairs to a place called Palassa Spa. Located in Station 2 (bordering Station 3), above a Shakey’s Pizza.

It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but for $8, I wasn’t going to complain. They had roughly about 12 massage beds (unfortunately, there’s no face cutout) and you lie next to another person (there’s enough room for the masseuse to go in between. They do make you remove (though I’m sure if you’re a bit shy, you can opt not to remove your top ladies) clothing down to your underwear and do unclasp your bathing top or bra in order to properly massage you. Though it’s open-air (the balcony where they do the massaging opens to below), the noise can easily be drowned out when you finally relax and drift off to a nice nap.

Boracay is a fun tourist destination that can easily compete with other well-known beach destinations such as Phuket, Hawaii, etc. Beer is SUPER CHEAP. San Miguel beer (locally produced in Manila) is roughly about $1.50 a bottle. Most restaurants offer a good selection of cocktails. It’s a party atmosphere at night in Boracay. Beachfront restaurants morph into “club” like ambience and have plenty of chic white sofas and low tables right on the beach. For more in-depth review of our stay, check me here.

I’ll be posting separately about some places we ate, activities we did, and more about Boracay Regency separately.