At Home With MrsC

Raising a family, making a home.

Travel

Legazpi weekend getaway

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Fact: I love to travel, and I especially love it when I get to visit a new place.

Family fun is far from over for us, as my mother-in-law is now in town. If you’ll remember, we had my FIL come home over the summer, and now it’s Mamabear’s turn. Their schedules weren’t quite in sync, hence the separate visits. But that’s all good because it only means extended happy days for us.

mrspcuyugan
Mama Ayee’s first weekend back in Manila

 

This past Independence Day weekend was the first long weekend of the school year. We decided to make the most out of it by heading out to see the Mayon Volcano. This trip was something to look forward to because I’ve never been to Albay, and also because visiting local provinces helps me tutor Little MrC in social studies. See? It pays to see the sights in your own country!

 

As luck would have it, the kiddo and I found ourselves sick with a nasty stomach bug a couple of days before the vacation. We nearly didn’t make it, but in the end the boys and I thought it would be such a shame to miss out. So we decided to go, and to just make sure to watch what we eat on the trip. Quite unfortunate, as Legazpi has great food! But still, better than not being there.

 

  Oh no, we are sick. 😣😣😣   A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

I’m excited to share the little details of our Legazpi weekend escape with you guys soon in a series of posts. Promise you’ll get to read about:

  • Our 7-hour trip to Albay by plane (I kid you not!) and how I really feel about The Orient Hotel
  • The Legazpi City Tour experience
  • Gata, gata and more gata, featuring Jasmine Restaurant, Small Talk Cafe and Rayben’s Resto Bar and Grill

But first, here are some highlights of our vacation, as seen on Instagram. These, incidentally, are also a few of my favorite things about Legazpi and our trip.

Apparently, wherever you go in Legazpi, you still get to see the beautiful Mayon Volcano. This view was the savior of day 1!

 

We did the Legazpi City Tour on the morning of day 2. Our guide, MJ, was really nice and had a lot of fun bits of trivia to share. I especially liked that he started us off at the Legazpi marker. It’s the perfect place for photo ops!

 

What a fun family weekend! 😃 #legazpicity #WhenInBicol #byahilo2015 #NoFilter #weekendescapade #travel #morefuninthephilippines A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

The little guy and I enjoyed our visit to the Cagsawa Ruins. It was really hot when we went though, as it was close to noon. One look at his face will tell you just how sunny it was out there. Lol!

 

I really don’t think it’s possible to beat the heat with a spicy drink, but MrC went ahead and tried the sili shake anyway. Yes, it was spicy, as you can see.

 

Sa palagay ko maanghang yung sili shake ni MrC. Feeling ko lang ha. #WhenInBicol #byahilo2015 #legazpicity A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

My idea of the perfect pasalubong from Albay is honey glazed pili. I particularly like this brand, which is what my brother’s girlfriend (who is from Naga) buys for us when she goes home.

 

Honey glazed pili is one of my favorite snacks. Sooooo yummy! #WhenInBicol #byahilo2015

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

So there’s our trip in a nutshell. Can’t wait to share the whole story with you guys. Now tell me,  have you been to Legazpi? What was your favorite thing to eat, see or do there?

A Weekend of Happy Experiences at F1 Hotel Manila

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My ABC Loves and I just cannot get enough of each other, as you will notice from my recent blog posts. We just love hanging out so much, that whenever we get the chance to we just go for it. Such was the case when Jane invited the boys and I to spend the weekend at F1 Hotel Manila in BGC together with her family, Joei and Timmy, and a bunch of other bloggers. This was a special invite from the Bossman of KTG, Spanky Enriquez, whom I was looking forward to meeting.

Family photo!
Family photo!

 

We drove to BGC after a football morning in Alabang, together with Joei who hitched a ride with us. Jane and Boss Spanky welcomed us when we arrived at F1, and we were given our itinerary for the weekend. I was excited to see that my mommy blogger friend, Jackie was spending the weekend at the hotel, too, with her beautiful family. 

 

Let the staycation begin! Thank you for having us this weekend, #F1HotelManila! I love the cutie detail you put into our itinerary 🙂

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

Our weekend started off with a short Halloween program with games and giveaways for the kids. There were snacks, refreshments and coffee, too, and the boys happily munched away. Football leaves us all hungry, so we were super looking forward to the yummy food we were going to indulge in during our staycation.

My boys 🙂
The kiddo really liked the Green Lantern and Hulk cookies!

 

Next on our itinerary was lunch at the hotel’s F All Day Dining, where we were given a sneak peek at their Christmas buffet. I’ll be writing about our breakfast, lunch and dinner at F1 in a separate post though, so suspense muna. 

 

Full and sleepy after lunch, we were ready to head to our room. When we walked in and I saw the sofa bed set up in the living room, I got so excited because I knew right away that MrC and I would have our own room for the night! After 8 years of the 3 of us sharing a room, it felt so nice to have a room to call our own, even just for a night.

MrC was happy about having our own room, too!

 

Truth be told, it felt a little weird, too, not being able to see what the kiddo was doing on his own bed and what he was watching on his own TV. We also stayed with him until he fell asleep, then we moved to our bed after. Hello, separation anxiety! I know for sure that the little boy had fun with our setup, too, though.

I also know that MrC really liked the Batcave-ish color scheme of our room and bathroom

 

Two beds, two airconditioners, two TV sets, wired and wireless internet connectivity, and a big writing desk. All these made me very happy with our room. I also noticed that there were a lot of power outlets, and that’s something I appreciate. We always seem to have so many gadgets that need to be charged all at the same time, and I’m happy we were able to plug everything in all at the same time. The whole suite was super spacious, and that was such a welcome change from our usual cramped and cluttered room. Plus, there was a Quezo de Bola Cheesecake waiting for us inside! Oh my gosh, way to make me happy!

Missing my usual photobomber in my requisite hotel mirror selfie

 

Our room was a Fort Suite (PHP 13,100 per night). This room can accommodate a maximum of 2 adults and 2 kids, and includes breakfast. Here’s a tip from our friendly hotel housekeeping guy – when booking, ask for a corner room because these are generally bigger than the middle rooms, with no added cost. Other room types available at F1 Hotel are the City Suite Room (PHP 10,700 per night) and the Deluxe Room (PHP 9,500 per night).

 

MrC and I signed up for massages, but unfortunately I fell asleep before my schedule so I missed out on what would have been the first massage of my life. The husbandry was able to get one, though, and judging by how soundly he slept, it looks like it was a relaxing massage. We actually spent most of our staycation in the room because it was a rainy weekend and the weather was perfect for snuggling and being lazy. And because we got to do just that, the boys and I were happy with our F1 Hotel experience. 

If you’re planning to visit F1 Hotel, you may want to avail of their Thrills and Treats promo which runs from October 27 til November 2, and already includes 2 tickets to their Marvel Madness Halloween Party happening on November 1. Sounds like something fun to do with the family!

Thrills & Treats

 

THANK YOU so very much, Mr. Tony Co and Pau of F1 Hotel for taking care of the boys and I during our visit. Thank you also, Spanky and Jane, for inviting us over for the weekend. We really appreciate it! 🙂

 

F1 Hotel Manila
32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City
+632 928.9888 / +632 908.7888
inquiry@f1hotelsandresorts.com
www.f1hotelmanila.com
facebook.com/f1hotelmanila
Instagram @F1Hotelmanila

Enjoying My Little Mommy Luxuries at Crimson Hotel Alabang

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I’ve been dealing with a lot of domestic drama lately because our helper has been very un-helpful. I won’t get into details because just thinking about her makes me angry. She did something unacceptable again today, and this really made me wish that I could escape to one more staycation this weekend. But alas, we are going to be mostly home over the next couple of days, and so I will write about a past staycation instead to make myself feel better. 

I love the look of Crimson Hotel’s reception desk

 

I love staying at hotels for one simple reason – I get to feel like a donya for 24 hours. I know that it sounds bratty, but it’s true. I have this list of mommy luxuries that I like to indulge in, and an overnight stay at a good hotel automatically gives me at least 5 of those things. Let me explain by showing you which of these indulgences I got to enjoy during our recent staycation at  Crimson Hotel in Filinvest, Alabang.

Welcome to Crimson!

 

A nice, clean, spacious space all to ourselves

Home for the weekend

 

As you know, we live in a really full house. As in, full of people and full of stuff. Our room is bursting at the seams with all of our things, and we even have stuff stored in the living room and outside the house. I get to leave all that clutter behind when we stay at a hotel. I know it doesn’t solve the clutter problem, but at least for a couple of days, we actually have our own space that is clean and quiet. 

I especially loved this makeup mirror, and that it was placed in front of the window. Natural light FTW!

 

Long, uninterrupted (well, mostly) showers 

Bidet = +1! Hot water = +1!

 

Because the boys and I share a bathroom, we have this unspoken rule that we should leave the door unlocked in case someone needs to do something in there while we’re using it. Fortunately, ours is a big enough bathroom that we can all use it at the same time. One can shower while another uses the toilet, and the third person uses the sink. It works for us, especially on rushed mornings, but oh man do I miss my bathroom privacy. At Crimson, I got to indulge in a couple of long showers and other quiet moments in the super spacious bathroom. Oh what a treat!

This is what the boys look like while I take photos around the room

 

Drinks. Including alcoholic ones.

Just lounging around and enjoying the sorta view

 

We were given access to the Executive Lounge at Crimson during our stay. There, the boys and I happily cooled off with glasses of juice and cans of soda. I was hoping to stay there all the way through happy hour, but we were told that they don’t allow children to stay once they start serving alcoholic drinks. We had to forego the beer and cocktail buffet because there was no one who could watch the kiddo for us, and also because MrC and I didn’t feel right about leaving him somewhere so that we could drink. Yes, it was the responsible thing to do. Lol. I had a mojito with dinner instead. And speaking of dinner…

 

A delicious dinner that I didn’t have to prepare myself, complete with dessert!

Yes, I had all of these (and more) for dinner
Yes, I had all of these (and more) for dinner

 

And it was a Mexican dinner, too! One of my favorite cuisines! I wrote about our Sabores de Mexico dinner experience a couple of weeks ago, and you can check it out here. 

 

The ultimate cold air conditioning + comfy bed + fluffy pillow + thick blanket combo

Zzzzzz

 

If I had my way, my bed would be as lush as a hotel bed. Maybe someday, we can invest in a fluffy bed. (Hint, hint, MrC!) 

Funny story, at Crimson the boys decided to have me sleep in the middle. Between the two of them and the blankets, I was sandwiched in warmth! I would wake up every once in a while when it got too hot and wiggle myself out of the blankets. Then when I’d get cold, I’d wake up again and squeeze back in. This went on a few times til morning. I still felt pretty rested, though, thank goodness.

 

Breakfast and coffee waiting for me when I woke up

Little MrC fixed his own plate, and made a happy face out of his pancakes and French toast

 

Happiness is waking up to a cup of good coffee and a yummy breakfast. On weekends, MrC sometimes takes care of this for me at home, and for that I am really grateful. That weekend at Crimson, though, was a super treat because their breakfast selections at the hotel are really, really good! I especially loved the cheeses and cold cuts that they served, and their breads too. The cheese ensaymada and the cream filled doughnut were super winners.
 

 

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My first (and favorite) plate at any breakfast buffet is filled with bread, cheese and fruit. This was the first of many plates from this morning’s breakfast at Cafe Eight. 7 hours later and I am still burping. The breakfast spread at @crimsonhotel_alabang is officially one of my faves in the south. #SouthEats #CrimsonHotel #FilinvestCityAlabang #BreakfastBuffet #InstaFood

View on Instagram

 

But wait, there’s more

The Gym and the Pastry Corner

 

Aside from my luxury list, there’s still so much more to do at Crimson. They have a really nice gym, which I probably should visit next time, especially after eating all that bread. They also have a really nice pool, which we were sadly unable to try out because it was so windy while we were there. That’s something to come back for next time. That, and happy hour at the Executive Lounge lol. Ah! And I also have to remember to take home some of that ensaymada from the pastry corner next time. So good, promise!

Crimson Hotel's gorgeous pool
Crimson Hotel’s gorgeous pool area

 

The best part about our Crimson staycation was that the boys and I were there with four of my favorite families – Michelle’s, Jane’s, Joei’s (yes, Joei and Timmy are counted as a family in my book) and Kaye’s. It’s always fun for all of us when they are around, and I love how we are starting to build such fun memories together as a group. Since Little Miss QC was with us that weekend, we were officially ABC+K! Cute, diba?

ABC+K!

 

THANK YOU so very much (again) to our lovely hosts, Twinkle Lacsamana, Karina, and the wonderful staff at Crimson Hotel. The boys and I had the best time and we can’t wait to come back! And super duper thank you, Jane, for arranging this for our little sisterhood. We love you!

 
CRIMSON HOTEL FILINVEST ALABANG
Entrata Urban Complex,
2609 Civic Drive, Filinvest City,
Alabang 1781 Muntinlupa City
Phone (02) 863 2222
Email info.alabang@crimsonhotel.com
Website http://www.crimsonhotel.com/manila/

Back-To-Back Tagaytay Weekend #FoodTrip Part2: Taal Vista Hotel

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Have I told you guys how much I love Taal Vista Hotel ?

A week after our dinner date at QiWellness Living, MrC and I escaped for a quick pre-anniversary lunch at Taal Vista. It was a great time to be there because Chef Fernando Aracama was in the house. He was Cafe Veranda’s guest chef on the first weekend of the hotel’s Culinary Gems: A Festival of Filipino Flavors event.

Chef Fernando Aracama with Taal Vista Hotel's Executive Chef Edwin Santos
Chef Fernando Aracama with Taal Vista Hotel’s Executive Chef, Edwin Santos
Photos courtesy of Taal Vista Hotel

 

We arrived just in time to catch the opening ceremonies. Instead of the usual ribbon cutting, Chef Aracama and Peggy Angeles of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (and my seatmate at lunch!) broke a clay pot over an arrangement of fruits and vegetables. I’m not sure if this is symbolic, but if it is, it probably means something nice. Lol.

Opening ceremony

 

The boys and I had lunch at Cafe Veranda during our weekend staycation at Taal Vista last year. I was excited to see what the hotel’s Executive Chef, Edwin Santos had prepared, and of course how Chef Aracama’s creations would accent the Filipino food buffet. 

Scenes from the buffet table

 

As always, Chef Edwin did not disappoint. Everything from the hotel’s signature Lumpiang Ubod to the Brazo de Mercedes were so delicious. Chef Aracama’s Ilonggo creations we also extremely good. I couldn’t get enough of how tasty all of his dishes were. I couldn’t get enough of the Beef Adobo sa Tuba and the Sigarilyas Gising Gising Style. 

Sigarilyas Gising Gising Style and Chicken Inasal by Chef Aracama
Photos courtesy of Taal Vista Hotel
Sinanglay na Isda en Papillote by Chef Aracama, and the good chef carving his amazing Porchetta Negrense
Photos courtesy of Taal Vista Hotel

 

I started my meal off with a plate of assorted appetizers. My favorites among everything I got was Chef Aracama’s Malunggay Dip and Pan Tostado, the Salted Egg Brulee, and the Ginataang Langka Triangle.

Assorted appetizers

 

Plate #2 was loaded with all of the Aracama dishes that I found interesting – Kalkag Fried Rice, Sinanglay na Isda en Papillote, Chicken Inasal, Beef Adobo sa Tuba and the Sigarilyas Gising Gising Style . I would seriously have gone back for a second helping of the exact same plate if I had the space for it in my stomach.

Plate #2 loaded with Chef Aracama’s specialties

 

Yes, I had a third plate, but it was a small one. I had forgotten to get Porchetta Negrense during my second round at the buffet, so I took a bite off of MrC’s. It was so good that I of course had to go get a few slices for myself. The husbandry had his with the uber delicious vinegar that they were serving that day, while I opted for the lechon sauce. I was expecting the usual lechon liver sauce, but this one had an extra hint of spice and a bite of sourness to it. Oh my golly, so good. I also had some Dinuguan and Puto, a Filipino meryenda favorite that I can never skip, no matter how full I already am.

Oh that porchetta…

 

I wish that I could have eaten some more but I was just about ready to burst. So, it was time to end things with a selection of sweet desserts. Chef Aracama’s Chocnut Ice Cream was the highlight of my sweet treats. I split a Buko Panna Cotta (also by Chef Aracama) with MrC because I just couldn’t finish one whole on my own. It was one of those non-jello-ish panna cottas, so I was happy. And, I couldn’t say no to Chef Edwin’s Frozen Brazo de Mercedes, because it really is superb.

Desserts shared with MrC

 

The promise of an amazing cultural show and excellent Pinoy food is a really great excuse to make the trip up to Tagaytay for a special lunch or dinner meal. Chef Aracama’s weekends at Taal Vista Hotel are over, but there are other celebrity guest chefs lined up who will bring their unique interpretations of Filipino cuisine to Cafe Veranda. Here’s the schedule so you can decide which weekend to visit:

  • Chef Sau del Rosario – September 27 & 28 (That’s this weekend!)
  • Chef Babes Austria  – October 4, 5, 11 & 12
  • Chef Edwin Santos – October 18, 19, 26 & 26
  • Chef Bruce Lim – November 1, 2, 8 & 9 (I am definitely planning a visit on one of his weekends)
  • Chefs Jackie and Rolando Laudico – November 15, 16, 22 & 23
An amazing cultural show and excellent Pinoy food. What more could you ask for?

 

THANK YOU so very much, Celine Arenillo and Treena Tecson for having me and MrC over at Taal Vista again. We love celebrating anniversaries and birthdays with you guys hehe! Thanks also to my fun to kwento with seatmate, Peggy Angeles for letting me know which dishes I really ought to try. See you guys (hopefully) this Halloween! 

Busog and happy!
Busog and happy!

 

The Culinary Gems Festival of Filipino Flavors continues on until November at Taal Vista Hotel’s Cafe Veranda. Saturday lunch and dinner buffet, and Sunday lunch buffet costs PHP1350 nett per person. For inquiries, you may call +632 917-8225.

 

TAAL VISTA HOTEL
Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City, Philippines
www.taalvistahotel.com

Back-To-Back Tagaytay Weekend #FoodTrip Part1: QiWellness Living

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When you are married with children, date night is always something to look forward to. Do you guys agree? I totally do. And so when I was asked to join a few blogger friends in an amazing date night at QiWellness Living Tea House + Bath House in Tagaytay, I was beside myself with excitement. 

QiWellness Living's Ken, Jeff and Rita with bloggers, Ging, Mish, Jane, Joei, MrsC, Kaity and Helene
QiWellness Living’s Ken, Jeff and Rita with bloggers, Ging, Mish, Jane, Joei, MrsC, Kaity and Helene

 

After weeks of planning, MrC and I almost didn’t make it to our Tagaytay dinner because the kiddo had a slight fever after football class that day! It’s a good thing that after a long nap, a couple of doses of Biogesic and a long bath, Little MrC was feeling better, and was okay to be left at home with my parents. Phew. It would have been really sad missing the QiWellness Living experience. I mean, you get there and you’re just completely blown away by how gorgeous the place is.

See what I mean?
See what I mean?
(These photos belong to QiWellness Living)

 

We were greeted by a loud gong right when MrC and I entered the red door. I have to admit, nagulat ako. I actually jumped a little coz I wasn’t expecting it. Waiting for us at the receiving area were the the wonderful owners of the place, Ken Tuason and Rita Sanson, who were both so gracious and accommodating the entire evening. Ken explained that QiWellness Living is made up of two main areas – the Bath House and the Tea House.

 

The Bath House

The bath house area is at the lowest floor of QiWellness Living

 

We took a short tour of the bath house while waiting for the other bloggers to arrive. This area is described as a sanctuary of relaxation, rejuvenation and renewal, bringing effective traditional and holistic healing practices in a modern setting through massages and hydrotherapy. If you are a massage-lover in search of a quick escape, I think you ought to try it here. You can check out the list and prices of their massage services and other treatments here.

To be honest, I have never had a massage in my life. I think, though, that this would be a great place for my first time. I would love to relax in the hot and cold yin yan pools afterwards! It seems like a great way to enjoy the beautiful the view of Taal Volcano.

The yin yang pool overlooking Taal Lake

 

The Tea House

Isn’t it so very Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? I super love the ambiance at this place!

 

In between the top floor receiving area and the bottom floor bath house, you will find QiWellness Living’s Tea House. Here they serve 6-course and 8-course yin yang menus, multi-course degustations that change seasonally over spring, summer, autumn and winter. They also have ala carte items for lunch and dinner, which are served with the soup of the day and a salad. You can also try their dimsum selections in the afternoons. If you wanna check out their menu offerings, click here.

Casual, romantic dinner setup at the Tea House area

 

I was (of course) really happy that the ABC girls were complete during our quick Tagaytay escape. I knew that MrC would enjoy himself even more with the other husbands around. I feel so lucky to have met these ladies that I click so well with. Our husbands click, and our kids click, too, so it’s always a great time when we’re together.

Alabang Bloggers Clique (level-up na, dati Club lang) – MrsC, Michelle, Jane and Joei

 

The 8-course Summer Yin Yang Set Menu

Our dinner menu written on a scroll

 

For our dinner date, we were served the 8-course Summer Yin Yang Menu (PHP2,380 + 10% Service Charge, inclusive of VAT) paired with white and red wines. What an absolute treat. Our meal started off with Toasted Mantou. We usually have this with condensed milk on the side for dipping. This time, it came with a pat of butter on the side. I don’t like butter, but I gave it a try anyway. I think that the bread is better off on its own, thankyouverymuch. Everyone else happily ate theirs with the butter, though, so maybe it’s just me.

Toasted Mantou with butter
(As you can see, I hadn’t quite gotten my camera settings right yet at this point)

 

Our first course was Money Bag of Foie Gras and Green Apple with Chestnut Purée. This was one of my favorites. There were big enough pieces of foie gras in the dumpling that you could actually taste them, but they weren’t too big to the point of being overwhelming. I liked that the dumpling pastry was thick and chewy.

Money Bag of Foie Gras and Green Apple with Chestnut Purée

 

For our second course, we were given Tuna Tartare with Pineapple and Pickled Shallots. I love raw tuna, so of course this was something I enjoyed, too. You get a little bit of sweet and sour when you pop the little ball of tuna into your mouth. And yes, I really popped the entire thing into my mouth. I did chew slowly and savor every flavor in it, though.

Tuna Tartare with Pineapple and Pickled Shallots

 

My absolute favorite was the third course, Lettuce Soup with Poached Egg and Shiitake Mushroom Dumpling. At first, I found that the soup was on the acidic side. And then I popped open the poached egg, and once the yolk mixed with the soup, everything became really creamy and velvety and rich. The mushroom dumpling was also really yummy, and went very well with the soup.

Lettuce Soup with Poached Egg and Shiitake Mushroom Dumpling

 

Next we had one of the prettiest salads I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. Too bad my photo doesn’t do justice to this Endive, Roquefort, Walnut, Roasted Pear Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette. The vinaigrette dressing was on the sweet side, and totally complemented the bitter greens mixed in with lettuce leaves and flower petals.

Endive, Roquefort, Walnut, Roasted Pear Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

 

After the salad, the first of the main dishes started arriving. The Pan-Seared Sake-Marinated Scallops with Avocado Purée, Radish and Ebiko was really good, to the point that I wanted more. Ging sat next to me at dinner, and her husband is allergic to shellfish so she got to eat his share. Lucky girl hehe!

Pan-Seared Sake-Marinated Scallops with Avocado Purée, Radish and Ebiko

 

Dish #6 (and yes, we were counting them down as they were being served) was Pacific Black Cod on Buckwheat Noodles with Orange-Teriyaki Glaze. I like fish, so I liked this. The cod was perfectly cooked, flaky not chewy. The noodles were nice, too. This was sort of like a very sophisticated Chinese pancit.

Pacific Black Cod on Buckwheat Noodles with Orange-Teriyaki Glaze

 

They obviously saved the best for last where the main dishes of this degustation were concerned. Our 7th course was a Striploin of Wagyu with Sichuan Pepper, Spatzle, Snow Peas and Truffle-Beef Jus. Spatzle isn’t at all something you would expect to find in a Chinese dish, so this was a pleasant surprise. 

Striploin of Wagyu with Sichuan Pepper, Spatzle, Snow Peas and Truffle-Beef Jus

 

And finally, my favorite part in any meal – dessert. We were served a bow of Cardamon Custard, Strawberry Sorbet, Crumble and Soil. I love how Chef Jeff Ramirez did his fusion of flavors and textures in every dish. Everything’s so exciting, and this dessert was no exception. The sorbet was a little tart, the custard a little sweet, and the crumble and soil added a bit of crunch in every bite. It was a great way to end an excellent meal.

Cardamon Custard, Strawberry Sorbet, Crumble and Soil

 

THANK YOU so very much, Ken, Rita and Jeff for inviting us over, and for treating us all to an amazing dinner. QiWellness Living is so beautiful! MrC and I really enjoyed dinner, and we look forward to coming back for our first-ever couples massage and a dimsum-filled afternoon. Thanks also to the amazing staff who took care of us, accommodated all of our requests, and answered of our questions while taking us around the bath house and tea house.

The owners and staff of QiWellness Living

 

Qiwellness Living
Aguinaldo Highway, Brgy. Maharlika East
Tagaytay City, Philippines
#/pages/Qiwellness-Living/306850776152706

For TEA HOUSE inquiries or reservations call +63917-5226969 or email teahouse@qiwellnessliving.ph. The Tea House is open from Wednesdays to Sundays 11:30AM to 2:30PM for lunch, 2:00PM to 6:00PM for dimsum selections, and 6:30PM to 10:00PM for dinner. Last order for the 6 and 8 course set menu is at 12:30PM for lunch and 8:00PM for dinner. Mondays and Tuesdays are available for group bookings and functions only.

For BATH HOUSE inquiries or reservations call +63917-5226969 or email bathhouse@qiwellnessliving.ph. The Bath House is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Operating hours are from 1:00PM to 10:00PM. Last call is at 8:30PM. Special bookings for Mondays and Tuesdays, and morning bookings from 10:00AM may be arranged upon special request.

Overnight accommodations may also be arranged at the GUEST HOUSE. The package includes welcome cocktails, use of bathhouse facilities, reflexology for 2, Silk signature massage for 2, and traditional Chinese congee and dimsum breakfast for 2. Check-in time is at 2:00PM, and check-out time is at 12:00NN. The overnight package is for 2 persons only, and costs PHP15,800.

Dinner By the Beach and a Pico de Loro Morning

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Before you start reading this post, please read my first Pico de Loro entry, just so you’re up to date. 🙂 Indulge me. Thank you.

Okay. After our property tour around the super big Pico de Loro Cove, Celine suggested that we grab some cold drinks at the Sun Coral Cafe, the Beach Club’s Filipino restaurant. Our dinner was to be served by the chef and servers of Sun Coral Cafe at a beautiful table set up right on the sand, so it was a good idea to hang around the area at cocktail hour. Plus, I was never one to say no to mojitos by the beach.

Mojitos and MIlo dinosaurs at cocktail hour

It was here that Tim and Little MrC really started chatting and bonding. After about ten minutes, they were BFFs already. Of course, no one was happier about their new-found friendship than their two mamas! While the boys were bonding, I took the time to chat with Tina and play with my favorite little girl, Baby Anne. I started talking to this little one when she was still in the tummy, and I was so happy that she instantly took to me, played with me, held my hand and let me carry her! I love this baby, I really do.

The kiddos and their drink of choice

 

Dinner on the Beach

After only a few minutes, we were invited to head out onto the beach and get settled in for dinner. The setup was so romantic, just like the al fresco garden dinner we had last September at Taal Vista Hotel. In fact, a few feet away from our long table was a table for two all set up with candles and tiki torches. Yep, they can do this for you at Pico de Loro, so if you are celebrating an anniversary or planning a romantic proposal, keep them in mind!

The beautiful dinner setup by the ocean

Because Sun Coral Cafe specializes in Filipino food, we had a Pinoy feast with a twist for dinner. It was a little dark, so you’re gonna have to forgive my blurry photos. We started off with a lightly-dressed salad with apples, arugula and walnuts. I absolutely loved this. We were also served soup, a Batangas-style tinola that had squash in it instead of papaya. The soup was actually orange from the squash. MrC loved this one, and so did the kids. They ate mostly soup and rice for dinner.

Salad and soup, and a really lovely lantern

My favorite part of the entire meal was the rice. It was as if the rice was cooked in nilagang baka broth and topped with bulalo! So bad, but so, so good. There was also pancit habhab topped with egg, lechon kawali, crispy binagoongan,  bistek-style fish and gising gising. I hope I didn’t forget anything! Dessert was a warm, gooey chocolate cake cooked on a skillet with vanilla ice cream, vanilla sauce and strawberry sauce that you could smother onto the chocolate. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water.

Fish bistek, pancit habhab with egg, our sinful dessert and the yummy gising-gising

The kids were served their own special dinner set. They had pizza, mac and cheese, mini burgers and huge scoops of ice cream for dessert. We were all so stuffed after this meal that we ordered pots of TWG tea to sip on as we chatted and digested.

Kiddie meal!

 

Time to Say Goodnight!

Before long, we all started to get sleepy and it was time to head home to Pico Sands Hotel. The boys and I were pleasantly surprised with the good night “notes” and sweet treats we found in the room when we entered. The turn down service at this hotel is superb. Shades now covered the big windows, the bed was ready for us, and the room was super cold. While the little boy cleaned up, MrC and I ate some of the cookies and pastillas. Yes, more eating!

Love, love, love these little details

I was more than excited to take a shower after being outdoors all afternoon. The fluffy bath robe and bedroom slippers were calling out to me!

Closet goodies

It’s important to note that the water at Pico Sands Hotel is not potable. They actually provide guests with bottled water in the bathrooms to use for tooth brushing. I was really happy about that. I usually make sure that we gargle with bottled water when we’re out of town just so I can be sure that we don’t end up with upset tummies. 

Good night, everyone!

We set an early alarm for May 1, so that we could be sure to make the most out of our one full day at Pico de Loro. The view outside our window was so beautiful that I literally had to take a photo from bed. We eventually managed to get ourselves off that cozy bed and out of room 627, so we could go grab breakfast at Pico Restaurant.

View from my pillow, and the boys from across the hall

 

Breakfast buffet, yay!

The breakfast buffet at Pico Restaurant was simple, hearty and filling. The usual pancake and egg stations were located in the garden, each within their own nipa huts. Super cute.

Pancakes and omelettes

They served both steamed and garlic fried rice, plus a mountain of bacon, fried fish, beef tapa, and sausages. There was a small bread selection with peanut butter and jam, a cereal station, soup and salad. The juices were nice and refreshing and the fresh fruits at the buffet were really juicy and sweet.

Scenes from the buffet table

We enjoyed breakfast. Yes we did. The only thing I didn’t like was the barako coffee, but that’s just because I really don’t like barako. I prefer arabica from the mountains, thankyouverymuch.

Busog, part 2

After breakfast, it was time to hit the pool! Unfortunately I was hormonal during our visit and so I had absolutely no pool action whatsoever. Argh. I really need to plan our return to Pico de Loro soon, just so I get to swim there. I’m still not over it.

Here you see the face of impatience as I slowly walked back to our room, slowly applied sunblock and then had him pose for a photo before swimming. I was stalling so that he could digest his breakfast!

Since I was stuck sunning by the pool, I took the opportunity to catch up on my reading. A few chapters in, and it started to get too hot for my rash-y skin, so I decided to order a watermelon shake to cool off.

Cooling off with a drink while they cooled off in the water

I like that the water depth in the pool of the Pico de Loro Country Cub is clearly marked, so the kiddo knows where he can and cannot go. The pool is also divided into sections, so kids can be confined in the shallower areas while adults and bigger kids are free to do their thing in the deeper areas. It makes for less paranoid parents, really. Plus, there are a lot of lifeguards around the area, and they are easy to spot in their red outfits. Safety first!

See me there by my lonesome?

The boys took a break from swimming so that Little MrC and Tim could play in the video game room. After sitting by the pool for a couple of hours, I was also really looking forward to staying in a cold place for a bit and so I said yes to the digital distraction. I thought that after the game the kids would agree to just go to our rooms, shower and then have lunch, but I was so wrong. Tim and this little boy asked for more pool time, and of course us mommies had to say yes. Tina, Anne and I hung around and bonded instead while the two big boys swam with little Rysse.

See? Anne and I BONDED!

We were all so tired after that second swim. We said our goodbyes to the Rodriguez family before we went to our rooms, because Tina and I were worried that the two little boys might ask to do more activities. Unfortunately, it was almost time to get ready to leave. We decided to order room service for lunch instead of going down to the restaurant because we were lazy (lol), and also so that we could have a little more time to pack and clean up.

Our trip to Pico de Loro was just what this little family needed this summer. We were really looking forward to a nice vacation, and I am so grateful that we were granted one. I overheard my mom telling my cousin, actually, that I have a good thing going on with this blog (her exact words were “Ang gand ng raket nya“). I may not earn much from it as far as money goes, but the things we get to see and do together as a family, all thanks to blogging, are simply irreplaceable.

This, my favorite smile, is the ultimate reward

 

Thank you so very much to the wonderful staff of Pico Sands Hotel, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, and to Celine and the team. It’s always a pleasure spending time with you guys. We are so excited to comeback to Pico and to Taal Vista real soon.

Pico de Loro Cove is located in Nasugbu, Batangas. For inquiries, please call Pico Sands Hotel at + 632 46478888. Visit their website at http://www.picodelorocove.com and stay connected at facebook.com/picosandshotel and instagram.com/picodeloroclub.