My Weekend in Photos: Seoul, South Korea

Sunday Treats No. 68

Calamansi Pie - Php195.00

~o~o~o~

Burrow Cafe at Antipolo Beehouse

Beverly Hills Drive, Antipolo

Taytay, Rizal, Philippines

Tel.: (63917) 622-9795

Nau Ubud Villa: Resort Living at its Finest

Famous for its ancient temples, rice terraces, and a treasure trove of cultural landmarks, Ubud have been on the top of my list ever since I started planning for our romantic getaway. We stayed in a private villa in Seminyak during our first trip to Bali but we wanted a more local feel, away from the busy streets of Seminyak, so we chose Ubud this time. Besides, we were on our first leg of our honeymoon so privacy + luxury were the main factors we took into consideration.

Open-air lobby for guests to better appreciate the beauty of nature.

The BEST welcome drink ever! This refreshing cucumber-based drink is my staple order in every meal. We even asked for its recipe but shame that we forgot it in our villa when we left Ubud.

Nau Fresh

The entire place is truly beautiful and every corner is as picture perfect as it is shown on their website. As plants and trees are abundant, applying mosquito-repellent lotion is a must. Appreciate that the resort thought of placing complimentary bottles per villa so guests can protect themselves especially that booking a candlelit dinner is a must-try here in Nau.

 

There are only 2 types of villa available for booking - one bedroom and one bedroom luxury, both with private pools but with the latter having an infinity pool and outdoor bath tub overlooking the rice terraces. So if you have the budget, booking the luxury villa is no-brainer decision to make.

Other room amenities and services are as follow: 

 

• 160sqm floor area with king size bed
• Welcome fruit basket and snacks
• Butler and tour services
  
• Complimentary high speed WiFi
• LCD television with international cable channels
• In-room coffee and tea making facility

To be frank, I actually had a love/hate relationship with this outdoor toilet and bath set mostly in natural stone sourced locally. While it was the perfect setting for a romantic tub experience with the husband, night time frightened me whenever I had to use the toilet with only a few potted plants and a bamboo wall setting me apart from the darkness outside the property.

 The best part of the villa.

 

 

Breakfast in the pool is always a great idea. Unlike in other resorts, Nau does not charge extra if you prefer to have your breakfast in the comfort of your villa, or in this case, in your private pool.

 

 

 

 

Afternoon tea is complimentary for all guests and we always look forward to the local snacks and desserts that they serve. Our top favorites were Pisang Goreng (fried banana with coconut flakes and honey) and Klepon (chewy glutinous rice balls filled with molten palm sugar).

 

 

 

 

Pros: Gorgeous place, comfortable stay, warm service, cheap and delicious food, private pool in each villa, and complimentary shuttle service to downtown area.

Cons: Nothing as we were treated like royalties from the moment we step foot in the resort.

 

~o~o~o~

Nau Ubud Villa

Banjar, Sebatu Village, Ubud

Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Tel.: (62) 361-908-3852

Website: https://nauvillaubud.com

The Family: Bangkok's Best Affordable Restaurant

I've always wanted to go and try one of Tripadvisor's highly recommended local restaurant in Bangkok named The Family. I remember planning to dine there thrice (on separate trips) but ended up cancelling mainly due to its limited operating hours. Last November 2019, I made sure to allot a particular day when we can finally visit and see what the rave is all about. We took a Grab car from Anantara Siam Hotel and travelled about 20 minutes just in time before they close for the day. In fact, we were the last customers that they accepted for dine in so lucky us!

What we ordered

Thai Iced Tea - THB40.00 (Php60.00)

Too sweet for our liking but it was a welcome treat on a humid day. 

Green Curry (Chicken) - THB90.00 (Php140.00)

We've always been fans of green chicken curry so whenever there's one on the menu, we just can't resist not trying it out. This particular version had the most ingredients we've ever seen thus making it appetizingly beautiful and with amazing marriage of flavors to boot. A must-try!

Tom Yum Soup (Seafood) - THB140.00 (Php262.00)

Not the best idea to order a hot and spicy soup on a sunny day but hey, it's the home of the best tasting Tom Yum in the city so we'll just have to endure the heat for the sake of a great meal. Their Tom Yum Seafood was another good-looking and generously-served dish to inspire tourists to head down to The Family because everything we ordered were excellent and pretty cheap too!

Mango Sticky Rice - THB

How can you go wrong with mango sticky rice, right? I thought all versions will taste the same anywhere you buy/order one but then again, The Family took this famous dessert a notch higher with its pandan-based sticky rice where you can control how much coconut milk you want in it. Order one per person because this one's too good to share with anyone!

A variety of local ice creams are also available for sale as protected with their in-house guard cat.

~o~o~o~

The Family

1/6 Prachathipatai Road

Khwaeng Ban Phan Thom

Bangkok, Thailand

Tel.: (6697) 173-3954

Foodventures: Beansbins Coffee, Seoul SK

No, I still don't drink coffee but I'd take a piping hot cup of chocolate drink anytime of the day. Back in March when the weather in Seoul can go as low as a single digit, wearing thick jackets and thermals is not enough especially come night time. Long walks along the famous Ehwa University Shopping Street brought us to Beansbins Coffee, a great place to chill out and in our case, to warm ourselves with their bestselling hot chocolate drink and snack on their dreamy strawberry waffle.

What we ordered

Hot Chocolate - KRW6,000 (Php300.00)

Beansbins' hot chocolate was bittersweet - just the way I like it! As great as it tastes though, I can't imagine spending this much on a cup everyday as I'd probably go broke in a week or two.

Fresh Strawberry Waffle - KRW16,500 (Php720.00)

Another enticing yet expensive item off the menu is the seasonal strawberry waffle. Served warm and crispy, their version is perfectly cooked with just the right of softness on the inside.

Work. Save. Travel. Repeat.

~o~o~o~

Beansbins Coffee
43 Ewhayeodae-gil
Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Tel.: (822) 393-1444

More Than Just Desserts at Half Saints

I've been reading about the Half Saints' 64% dark chocolate tart from the popular Instagram handle @masarapba, a no-nonsense and straightforward food/restaurant review all done anonymously. Since her first post of the restaurant's most coveted cake, people have been sending their affirmation that it was indeed, one of the best desserts available in Manila. So on a rare occasion that I was in the area, CS knew that it was all I looked forward to trying out. 

Best to reserve a table in advance since the place can only accommodate a few diners at a time.

What we ordered

Braised Tomato & Mozzarella Cream Penne - Php320.00

At first glance, this pasta dish looks nakakaumay. Too much cream and no protein to balance the flavors, I thought we would be passing on this and just go straight to dessert. After all, it was their chocolate tart I was really excited about. But CS convinced me to try it and he proved me wrong! It was actually every inch a pasta lover's dream in one plate - al dente penne with creamy and flavorful sauce. No heavy feeling even after we devoured the dish down to the last piece.

Shiitake. Goat Cheese. Balsamic Vinegar. - Php495.00

I am not much of a pizza eater but Half Saints' puff pizza is something new and interesting so why not. Compared to the normal crust, puff pizza is flaky and more buttery - more like croissant-type in taste and texture. And of course, how can you go wrong with goat cheese and shiitake mushrooms? A definite must-try especially if you're undecided which ones to try first.

64% Dark Chocolate Tart - Php220/slice

It was the BOMB! You really have to try it to believe that it was and still is the best chocolate dessert that money can buy. It was a simple yet sophisticated dessert of unsweetened crust topped with the smoothest dark chocolate tart directly sourced from cacao farmers in Davao. 

Trivia: Did you know that adding salt in chocolate further enhances its flavor and intensifies the body's ability to taste the sweetness of sugar?

~o~o~o~

Half Saints
G/F The Ignacia Place
62 Sgt. Esguerra Ave., Quezon City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (63935) 933-0512

Executive Hotel Lounge Review: Sofitel Manila

How would like to enjoy your afternoon tea or a glass of wine with the iconic Manila Bay sunset as your view? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, look no further as Sofitel's Club Millesime lets you savor that and more when you book a room in one of their well-appointed luxury club rooms or suites. To read more on our Sofitel Luxury Club room experience, please click here.

Ambiance and Amenities.

I've been to Club Millesime several times and the excitement never gets old everytime I hear the ding sound in the elevator signaling that we've arrived in the club floor. As soon as we step inside the lounge, a staff immediately attends to each guest regardless if you're a regular or a first timer as the treatment is one and the same - warm, courteous, professional, and accommodating.

Variety and Abundance of Snack Choices.

What I love about Club Millesime is the assortment of your non-regular food items that we usually see in club lounges in Manila during evening cocktails. While most hotels tend to offer the basics, Club Millesime takes it a notch higher by offering a wide array of Western appetizers, a selection of cheese and cold cuts, at least 4 hot dishes, and jaw-dropping dessert spread.

 

Unlimited alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages.

Free-flowing cocktails, wine, champagne, fruit juices, and soda await guests during evening cocktails. Kids are strictly prohibited at the lounge at this time, as most Manila hotels impose nowadays. Coffee and tea, on the other hand, are available anytime of the day.

Operating Hours.

• Afternoon tea - 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
• Evening cocktails - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Breakfast - 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  

Full Breakfast Buffet.

An interactive buffet breakfast with 21 ateliers? There's no better way to start your morning but to dine in the most extensive offering any hotel in Manila can offer - welcome to Sofitel's Spiral Buffet! Go wild and enjoy food hopping from one cuisine to another to savor its HUGE selection because I guarantee that whatever morning cravings you might have, you can definitely find it in Spiral along with ten other breakfast staples you will surely love.

But if you like your privacy and some quiet, you are always welcome to enjoy your breakfast at Club Millesime with fewer but well-thought of options, of course.

Dining in Spiral is an incredible experience in itself so if you haven't tried it at least once in your life, you're definitely missing out on the best buffet in the whole country!

Other Perks & Services Offered. 

Overall Service.

It would be a shame to expect less than perfection from one the country's premier five-star hotels who have hosted several dignitaries and VIPs in the past. Except from the slow service we've encountered during cocktail hour, Sofitel Philippine Plaza's service embodies what true Filipino hospitality is all about from the moment we hear the parking attendant say, "Magandang hapon po!"

~o~o~o~

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd.
Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 573-5555