romarampa's travel and leisure stories: Food and Restaurants

Showing posts with label Food and Restaurants. Show all posts

Monday, February 25, 2019

Lazy Cats Cafe, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Surprise, it is VEGAN! And this place is very instagram-able!

I would describe it as eclectic having French, as well as Italian-inspired chairs and couches, native Asian bamboo curtains at the ceiling, and other European-inspired decors, but their website described the place as having "an industrial bohemian flair".

It is right across the street going to Nirwa Ubud Karma, Nirwa Ubud Homestay and Ubud Yoga House. And it has a good view of Ubud Street going down to Ubud Central.

There's a few but a good selection of food and drinks in the menu. The good part of that is what we ordered were good-looking, and quite tasty.

Lola Bites (Vegan Tacos)

BBQ Tofu Bowl

It rained really hard that day (February 20, 2019) so the store got packed before we left. Pro tip: It rained everyday for six days (02.20-02.24) in Ubud, in the afternoon. Bring your necessary gears if traveling on those dates.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Café Rizal, Pintô Art Museum, Antipolo City

Posted by roma on January 06, 2019 in Antipolo City, Café Rizal, Food, Food and Restaurants, Museums, Pintô Art Museum, RESTAURANTS, Vegetarian,

Pintô Art Museum is an affordable form of entertainment if you're into museums and nature. Sitting on a huge piece of land with diverse flora, and more than two hundred artworks, it is a steal at Php 200.00 entrance fee for adults and Php 100.00 for students.

See the story about Pintô Art Museum here.

After you have toured the complex, it's time to unwind and eat some delish food at Café Rizal. They have a wide selection of food from appetisers to desserts as well as smoothies and beers. Yay!

Here's what we had and I am telling you, they are yum yum yum! We also had iced tea and tamarind smoothie, which is definitely a must try!

Who doesn't want some good cheese sticks?!

We obviously like cheese. Here's a mango cheesecake

Entrance Fees: Php 200.00 Regular rate, Php 180.00 Senior Citizen, Php 100.00 Students

Website: http://www.pintoart.com/museum/

Contact Number: +63 2 697 1015

Address: 1 Sierra Madre St. Grand Heights Rd, Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 9am - 6pm

Saturday, January 5, 2019

The Vegan Dinosaur, Davao City

Posted by roma on January 05, 2019 in 100% plant-based, cruelty-free, Davao City, Food and Restaurants, RESTAURANTS, The Vegan Dinosaur, The Vegan Dinosaur Menu, Vegan, Vegetarian,

Yes, there is a 100% plant-based, cruelty-free restaurant in Davao City and this is awesome! They have an awesome name too.

Spot this signage

The Vegan Dinosaur is being true to the "eat consciously" mantra having no refined sugar, no oil and raw options, among others, on the menu.

In fact, my soup came in tasteless, only to find out that there's pink salt and ground pepper (and probably other condiments that I didn't check) on the table. But there is a wide and interesting selection on the menu. See full menu here.

Tofu Teriyaki

Small but worth it

Well what do we have here? Oh, herbivore dinosaurs!

The Vegan Dinosaur only has five tables that can sit eighteen people. All food is made-to-order so it's going to take a while before the food comes out. The menu has facts which you can read to know more about the store and veganism. So you can pass the time while you wait for your food. But it will be worth it because as you can see, everything comes in big serving.

Cheese Melt Tortilla Chips -- a must try!

Buddha Bowl

After dining at The Vegan Dinosaur, we were pleased to find that across by the side street is the Life is Here Park and Botanical Garden, a few steps across the front are two coffee shops Spark Coffee and Green Coffee. We went to the latter for a night cap.

A lot of other local shops are there on Ruby Street but they were unfortunately closed at the time.

The Vegan Dinosaur is operational from 9AM to 9PM daily. Visit them at Values School, Door A, Ruby St, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000 Davao del Sur

Well it does not end there. A few steps across the restaurant is another 100% plant-based, cruelty-free store in Davao City -- Croft Bulk Foods. See my write up here.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Ca Phe Phuc Long, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Posted by roma on September 04, 2014 in Ca Phe Phuc Long, Coffee, Coffee Shops, Food and Restaurants, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Vietnamese Coffee,

Aside from Highlands Coffee, Trung Nguyen Coffee, Starbucks, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Phuc Long is another major player in the Vietnamese coffee shop scene, the difference that I noticed -- most of the customers in Phuc Long are young people -- probably students or yuppies. Not much foreigners, unlike the other three coffee shops I mentioned.

Phuc Long offers several choices of hot and cold beverages such as coffee, frappes, and teas, and desserts.

Also, it was jam-packed when we came. And unlike the other coffee shops, there are only a few couches, and most seats are wooden stools (much like the street-side coffee places in Vietnam). Because of the people traffic, on the second floor of the shop, a staff is waiting for customers coming in, asking them about the number of seats they would be needing and preparing the seats -- he would go around looking for unused stools and gather them in one table. And that's efficient and a good customer service.

Pho 2000, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Posted by roma on September 04, 2014 in Asian Food, Food, Food and Restaurants, Ho Chi Minh City, Pho 2000, Vietnam, Vietnamese food, World Record,

Pho 2000 is a small chain of noodle restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The branch right next to Ben Thanh Market is well known for former US President Bill Clinton having stopped by for a bowl of soup in year 2000. He was the first US president to visit Vietnam since the American-Vietnamese war. Noodlesoup

Group picture. Because good food is best eaten with good company.
That paper beside me is the commemorative mark where
Former President Bill Clinton sat, and what he and daughter Chelsea ate.

Lunch Menu of Former US President Bill Clinton and First Daughter Chelsea
ate on November 19, 2000

Complimentary condiments with every order of any food item:
chopped chilli, seasoned vinegar, soup, chopped cucumber

Lime and mint leaves served with noodles.

Sauteed beef and tofu with rice

Shrimp Spring Rolls

The menu, for your reference.

Outside Pho 2000, the view

Contact Details:
1-3 Đ Phan Chu Trinh
District #1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (84.8) 822 2788

Another restaurant in Vietnam that was visited by a US President and a Philippines President is Nha Hang Vietnam House. Read about it here.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Cà phê sữa đá at Highlands Coffee, Nam Kỳ Khởi in District 1

Posted by roma on September 03, 2014 in Cà phê sữa đá, Coffee, Coffee Shops, Food and Restaurants, Highlands Coffee, Ho Chi Minh City, iNam Kỳ Khởi, Saigon, Vietnam, Vietnamese Coffee, Vietnamese food,

When I was at the Saigon Square at the corner of Nam Kỳ Khởi and Le Loi in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last year, this Highlands Coffee branch was not there yet. I remember it was a motorbike outlet or a parking lot. But it's a well-thought of idea to put a coffee shop here.

My favorite coffee, and the wi-fi password. I'll give you three guesses. Haha.

My roaming application for my mobile number did not take effect while I was in Vietnam, so my means of communication while I was in Saigon was Viber.

My sister, her friends in Vietnam and I have a Viber Group (naughtily) named "Ca Phe Sua Da in Mifuki". Ca Phe Sua Da means Vietnamese iced coffee with milk, and Mifuki is a hotel in Vietnam. Of course in the Philippines, Mifuki sounds like something else, something naughty and somewhat meaning "my private part".

So going back to this bright idea of opening a Highlands Coffee branch near Saigon Square. After shopping, one can relax at the coffee shop while having cold or hot beverage, and for me, sit in the al fresco area, people watch, and, connect to their wi-fi!

It is a common thing in Vietnam to sit fronting the street while you sip your coffee. Most coffee places in the sidewalks have the front tables with chairs facing the street.

Vietnamese coffee place along Truong Dinh Street

Thai coffee place along Truong Dinh Street

Ramen Dining Ramen and Hot Pot, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

Posted by roma on September 03, 2014 in Asian Food, Ben Thanh Ward, Food and Restaurants, Ho Chi Minh City, Ramen Dining Ramen and Hot Pot, Saigon, Vietnam,

Since I will be going to Saigon Square for some shopping, our first stop for lunch is Ramen Dining Ramen and Hot Pot.

I ordered something that I am familiar to - roast pork with rice, or what we call in the restaurants as Chashu -- a Cantonese cuisine of barbequed pork and Oolong tea -- a traditional Chinese tea (Camellia sinensis)produced through a unique process including withering the plant under the strong sun and oxidation before curling and twisting. Wikipedia.

Oolong tea for about a Dollar,
and Roasted Pork Rice for 70,000 VND (+3.50 USD)

This is me with my sister's friends inside the restaurant.
They came from office, hence the long sleeved polo. :)
(taken with GoPro Hero3+)

Food here is affordable, the location is very convenient, and the staff can speak good English (which is important if you're in a foreign country).

Photo from www.foody.vn

Ramen Dining Ramen and Hot Pot is located at 67 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Clarke Quay, Singapore

Posted by roma on June 11, 2014 in Clarke Quay, Food, Food and Restaurants, Night Out, Singapore,

After Sentosa, I met two other friends at Clarke Quay, it’s a place beside the bay. It’s near the Riverside Point and near the famous G-Max Reverse Bungee attraction, and a lot of chic bars to go to.

A bazaar was also happening in the middle of the place!

We went to the Highlander, and the waiter that served our table is Filipino! He gave us a free beer coaster, but only because we asked and insisted for it. Haha.

They serve all kinds of Pica-Pica and liquor too.

Inside Clarke Quay

View of the Riverside Point from Clarke Quay

View of the G-Max Reverse Bungee from Clarke Quay

Bazaars!

Highlander Bar Signage

Highlander Bar Restroom Signage

Clarke Quay Balloon

Don’t forget to look up when walking inside the Clark Quay area, the architecture of the canopy is nice, and the canopy lights change their colors! And buy a slice of King's Ice Cream on the way to Clark Quay.

Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area. The quay is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay.

Clarke Quay was named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong.

Clarke Quay is also the name of a road along the quay, part of which has since been converted into a pedestrian mall. Clarke Street, located next to Clarke Quay, was officially named in 1896, and was originally two streets known simply as East Street and West Street in north Kampong Malacca. Similar to Clarke Quay, Clarke Street has since been converted into a pedestrian mall. Wikipedia

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Hungry Surfer, Baler Aurora

Posted by roma on April 08, 2014 in Asian Food, Aurora, Baler, Baler Aurora, Beaches of the Philippines, Food, Food and Restaurants, Luzon, Philippines, RESTAURANTS, Surfing, The Hungry Surfer,

Pinoy Big Breakfast

Choice of tocino/longanissa, fried fish, scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions, fried rice, juice or coffee or tea or hot choco = P190.00

Find the The Hungry Surfer in Baler, Aurora

On Facebook

On Foursquare

Their Menu

It is located in front of Bay's Inn Resort in Baler, Aurora. Beach front.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The First Taste of Saigon

Posted by roma on August 08, 2013 in Asian Food, cà phê nâu đá, Food, Food and Restaurants, Nha Hang Vietnam House, Saigon, Vietnam, Vietnamese food,

For our first taste of Saigon, my sister's friends took us to Nha Hang Vietnam House. People said that former Philippine President Cory Aquino and Former US President George Bush Sr. dined here when they visited Vietnam. I don't know though if they came here on the same occasion.

The restaurant has a French Colonial theme, but is infused with Vietnamese culture and serves delicious Vietnamese cuisines.

Look at the French table setting with the Vietnamese elements on the foreground.

I think it is customary to taste the Vietnamese favorite Cha Gio or fried spring rolls, served with lettuce and vermicelli and is sold as street food in Vietnam.

Fried Spring Rolls with Shrimp and Pork, 115,000 VND

To get the full taste of Cha Gio, you must roll it inside a lettuce leaf with the vermicelli before taking a bite. It is surprisingly delicious.

Another must try is the lotus stems salad with shrimp and pork, served with rice crackers.

Lotus Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork, 125,000VND

I guess eating Vietnamese food is not only about getting it to your mouth, but going through the whole experience of preparing it to taste its full flavor. And the best way to eat the lotus salad is by using the rice cracker as a the base and topping it with all the other ingredients.

And one must never pass the chance to taste the Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, cà phê nâu đá. Sua means milk and da means ice.

You'll be surprised how strong the coffee is, and how long it takes before the ice melts. People in Vietnam said its because they take time drinking their coffee so they wait for the ice to melt, watering down the strong coffee taste.

Here are the other food that we ate.

Grilled pork chops with garlic -- not so Vietnamese

sauteed chicken with lemongrass 125,000 VND, kangkong
(sauteed morning glory as they call it) 85,000VND, and beef stew 145,000 VND.

Vietnam House Seafood Soup 179,000 VND

The whole gang - most of them are working for Vietnam's Manila Water

Nha Hang Vietnam House:
93 Đồng Khởi, Bến Nghé Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
+84 8 3829 1623

Related Post:
Good Morning Vietnam!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

King's Ice Cream, Singapore

Posted by roma on May 15, 2013 in Asian Food, Food, Food and Restaurants, King's Ice Cream, Singapore,

For 1 SGD a block, you can buy King's Ice Cream from vendors scattered in Singapore. You will find them usually near (and not inside) Singapore's famous attractions like Clarke Quay and The Merlion.

It has a lot of flavours, with real nuts and real fruits. I guess what makes it famous is its buttery taste!

romarampa's travel and leisure stories