Bangkok's Best: Mazzaro Restaurant

When I asked Shangri-La Bangkok's concierge of the best Thai restaurant in the city, the lady said Mazzaro without hesitation. Located a mere 5-minute walk from the hotel, we passed by Mazzaro several times before finally trying it out a few hours before our departure back to Manila. The nondescript exterior surely left us in awe the minute we were ushered to the table near the pocket garden. Before today, little did we know that Mazzaro is one of the most famous restaurants in Bangkok with several Asian and Hollywood celebrities like Bradley Cooper, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Zack Galifianakis and Renee Zellweger among its roster of clients.

Established in 2008 as an extension to an already existing boutique hotel owned and operated by Chef Pin's mother, Mazzaro restaurant features homemade cuisine and secret family recipes from his grandmother. The restaurant's Italian influence features the finest ingredients sourced from around the world to constantly refresh the menu choices. Chef Pins's ingenious passion for cooking honed by his education from Le Cordon Bleu Institute paved the way for the delicious offerings at Mazzaro where the bold taste of the East meets the aesthetic presentation of the West.

What we ordered

Pad Thai Ghoong - Thb220 (Php315.00)

Whenever I think of Thai food, there are 2 items that instantly come to mind - Mango Sticky Rice and Pad Thai! CS always orders this stir-fried rice noodle in any Thai restaurant and Mazzaro does not differ. This common street food that's a little sweet and a little spicy was invented around 1940's and has since became a cult favorite. We loved that it was bursting with delicious flavors that only made possible with using the freshest ingredients available.

Shrimp Tom Yum - ThB200 (Php280.00)

Mazzaro's Tom Yum is out of this world! By far the best version I have ever tasted, not to mention that it came cheap for the quality of the ingredients used to make this heaven of a soup in a bowl. Everything was perfection from the firmness of the shrimp, the hotness of the soup and the marriage of all elements that played a pivotal role to make the best Tom Yum soup.

Soft Shell Crab Salad - ThB240 (Php340.00)

The soft shell crab was a bit salty for my taste when eaten alone but once topped with Mazzaro's signature vinaigrette dressing, it surely tamed its strong flavors. As expected, the greens were as crisp and as raw as you can possibly imagine.

Service was spot on, ambiance is homey and relaxing, food were superb and the prices are surprisingly cheap -- my favorite Thai restaurant in the entire universe that absolutely raised my standards on how Thai food must taste like and nothing less. A must-try when in Bangkok!

~o~o~o~

Mazzaro Boutique & Restaurant

Charoenkrung Road, Bangrak

Bangkok, Thailand

Tel.: (662) 101-6488

Website: www.mazzarobkk.com 

Awesome Weekend at Hotel Jen's Club Room

Traders Hotel Manila has been our company's choice of accommodation for employees and guests mainly due to its convenient location and affordable room rates. When the Shangri-La group acquired the property some few years ago, it was relaunched as Hotel Jen to become a more modern, less formal and definitely more stylish hotel located along Roxas Boulevard.

When the front lobby officer saw that our reservation was for a Club Room, she accompanied us to the club lounge which is located at the 19th floor of the hotel for check in since the elevator needed a key card to go up the floors. Goes to show that Hotel Jen's staff are well trained and very professional, they know their services like the back of their hands. We were offered drinks right after being seated to sign the forms to complete our check-in. The staff also offered snacks at the buffet but we insisted on settling down first in our room before coming back for the afternoon tea. After all, staycations are meant for relaxation and lazying around all day long.

Club room amenities and features include:

• Spacious 36sqm fully carpeted room
• Ultra soft and comfortable king-size bed (or twin bed if you prefer separate beds)
• Free club lounge access and its perks
• Complimentary WiFi access and data port
• LED television with satellite cable channels
• Executive writing desk
• Coffee and tea facilities
• Mini bar and refrigerator
• Complimentary bottled water
• En suite room with bath tub

Pros: Convenient location along Roxas Blvd., free parking, excellent customer service, well-maintained room and complimentary in-room snacks for all club room guests

Cons: Aside from the basic bathroom with generic toiletries, we loved everything in Hotel Jen! Definitely one of the best hotels in Manila without the hefty price tag

~o~o~o~

Hotel Jen

3001 Roxas Boulevard

Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Tel.: (632) 795-8888

Website: www.hoteljen.com 

My Weekend in Photos: Hongkong

Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, TH

Among other great things about staying in Shangri-La Bangkok is the complimentary shuttle service from and to Asiatique The Riverfront. A night bazaar and a shopping mall combined, it is becoming a popular tourist destination in Bangkok since it opened in 2012. Asiatique, a former international trade port, now houses about 40 restaurants to cater to all tastes and 1,500 boutiques selling just about anything you can buy from fashion, souvenirs, artworks, home decors and handicrafts in a massive warehouse setting. The complex is open daily from 1700H to midnight only.

Street food has always been one of the top things that I look for when traveling abroad and when in Bangkok, you would never run out of things to do and food to try! In fact, a Lonely Planet survey validates that it is the best city to visit if you're a food lover.

Durian Pancake

Thai Iced Milk Tea

In 2010, France expressed concerns over the growing number of love locks attached on the Pont des Arts in Paris that even reached a staggering 45 tons at one point. City officials then began removing the locks off the railings in order to preserve the bridge that was built in the early 1800s. Last year, a new anti-love lock mechanism was installed to the bridge to prevent tourists from hanging their locks while professing their love in the City of Light.

Paris is one of the cities that I wish to visit since I was a kid and while I'm still working on my budget for a grand vacation, there are a number of places that you can go to attach a lock and proclaim your love in a safer and secured setting. One of those places in Asia is located in Asiatique where you can buy your lock, write your dedication, profess your love in front of Juliet Capulet then attach your padlock in the metal railing while a staff take your photos for memory's sake. It may not be as romantic as doing it in Paris but hey, it's the thought that matters right?

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

A must visit when in Bangkok!