Verdict: EAT!

If you are into authentic Japanese cuisine, then you have to try Nobu Restaurant located at the Level 1 of Nobu South Tower, City of Dreams Manila, Aseana Boulevard corner Macapagal Avenue Brgy.Tambo, Paranaque City. They serve Nobu-unique modern Japanese dishes fused with Peruvian influences.

On February 21, 2018, I had the most wonderful opportunity to feast on a specially prepared seven-course meal comprised of both cold and hot dishes at the world’s most recognized Japanese restaurant Nobu Restaurant . Thanks to Blogapalooza for inviting me to dine and meet with fellow Travel and Lifestyle bloggers.

I arrived with fellow travel blogger Erica Poyauan of thegirlwiththemujihat.com. We met up in the SM Mall of Asia and grabbed a cab to get to the City Of Dreams.

At the reception area, we were welcomed with the usual Japanese greeting  “Irasshaimase!” or “welcome to the store” in English by the accommodating staff.

Nobu Restaurant’s classic and orderly ambiance coupled with the fine luxuries of a five-star hotel no less got me transported back in time when I last visited Japan in May 2016.

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I love #Japan. #nomad

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Erica and I were then escorted by the Restaurant Manager, Ms. Melanie Dimayuga, to the patio area to meet the rest.

In no time, we were asked to proceed inside where a private dining area was reserved for us. I found the chefs at the sushi bar busy preparing the meals for the guests. Despite that, they agreed to pause and pose for a photo opportunity.

Nobu Restaurant Manila has a total seating capacity of two hundred ninety one (291) people. They have two (2) private dining rooms and two (2) Teppanyaki tables.

They are open daily and below are their operating hours:

Breakfast
6:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Monday to Saturday
6:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Sunday

Sunday Brunch
11:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Sunday

Happy Hour
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Everyday

Dinner
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Monday to Thursday
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Friday to Sunday

To me, the seating arrangement was impeccable because we all got to sit next to someone whom we were meeting for the first time. It was a riot sitting between Me-An Clemente  and  Janelle Lazo Tee as we indulged our way to the very end of this seven-course meal. I might just post a vlog soon.

Each one of us got an Origami bird placed next to the menu of the seven-course meal. I must say that the meal selection consisted of seafood, vegetables and Wagyu meat to name a few got me and my taste buds excited! I am no food connoisseur and I will not pretend to be one. Hence, I will be sharing with you how I visualized my taste buds’ reactions to the food assuming that my taste buds had a mind of their own. So here it goes…

ZENSAI

We started with Zensai or  hors d’oeuvre in Nihon-go. Do not be deceived. This small and seemingly simple “taco” dish was explosive. The adage “size does not matter” seemed appropriate to describe it. It prepared my taste buds for what was to come. My taste buds were pretty much warmed-up for some jumping-for-joy moments! #smallbutyummy

FIRST COURSE: SASHIMI DUO

The first course consisted of two equally strong dishes, the Yellow Tail Jalapeno & the Oyster New Style. #notonebuttwo

Oyster New Style 

I had second thoughts of eating the oysters out of fear of getting an upset stomach. I first sniffed one oyster. The aroma that filled my nostrils was reminiscent of my growing up years in the province of Pangasinan.  And the next practical step for me was to open my mouth and succumb to it. Me-An told me that the best way to eat it is to suck and slurp. So I slurped the second one till I burped as  my taste buds swayed to some calming music. #maalaalamokaya

By the way, the Kumamoto Oysters originated from Japan. They were brought to and raised in Australia just to end up in my mouth. #yunlang

Yellow Tail Jalapeno

Next stop was the Yellow Tail Jalapeno. Oh, did I mention that this was just the first course? LOL.

The Yellow Tail or Dalagang Bukid in Filipino melted in my mouth. It was that good that my taste buds were in full synchronicity bowing their heads while chanting in complete unison “we are not worthy” as this world famous sashimi blanketed my palette. #grabesya

Further, the first course came with a pickled relish that cleansed and prepared my palette for the next course.

SECOND COURSE: CHEF’S CHOICE SUSHI

The second course was composed of assorted Nigiri and Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice placed on a rectangular plate that was almost two feet in length.

I asked the waiter where to begin. Do I start from the left to right or otherwise? No further instructions were given. I guess I just got to trust my gut on this one. My taste buds could not agree more as they prepared for this delightful marathon. My taste buds said, “STOP over thinking and just get one ASAP!” #nowna #walanaakongmasabi #bastamasarap

THIRD COURSE: SASHIMI SALAD

The last of the cold dishes, this salad was composed of a lightly sheared big-eyed tuna with mixed greens and Matsuhisa dressing. People close to me know that I am not fond of eating just raw fish. I have always preferred Sushi over Sashimi. But my taste buds told my eyes to close and leave the tasting to them and told my mouth to shut up and partake! And I did… happy I did. That Matsuhisa dressing complemented the tuna.

FOURTH COURSE: PAN ROASTED SNAPPER

The fourth course introduced us to the first hot dish. The perfectly pan-roasted Snapper or Maya-maya in Filipino resting on that golden stash of Miso butter and mixed vegetables such as bok choy, baby corn and shitake star drizzled with sweet chili cilantro sauce on top was a bomb!

“Aaaawww, poor little fish looks so unhappy”, I said. My taste buds did not care and by this time decided to do the Zumba with zest!

FIFTH COURSE: AKA MISO BRAISED WAGYU CHEEKS

The fifth course was Aka Miso Braised Wagyu Cheeks with Soba noodles, onsen egg and Kizami nori. After devouring the succulent pan-roasted Maya-maya, I was already full to the brim. But my taste buds were now out of control and mounting a mass picket.

“Wag you ako pigilan… wag ako… “, they clamored.

“Besides, wagyu is wagyu so why not?”, they added.

#Nagwawalanasila #paEDSAnasila

SIXTH COURSE: BLACK COD HOT POT

This clear soup looked all too simple but this sixth course cannot be undermined. I thought it was going to be bland and boring. Well, I thought wrong. As always, when it comes to food, the final verdict rests on the sense of taste and not of sight. The perfect blend of tofu, mixed mushrooms and negi was just right to settle down the joyous chaos experienced by my taste buds from the first course to the fifth. The sixth course also made sure that my taste buds had a good cool down, ready for dessert.

SEVENTH COURSE: MISO CAPPUCCINO

Delightfully satisfied with the six courses I just had, I thought that there was nothing better to cap the night than a cup of coffee to get me going on my way home.

And so I picked up the spoon intending to mix that cappuccino.

“This cup of coffee is too small for me”, I thought.

Lo and behold, it was not a coffee beverage. I guess I was not being attentive to John Christian Ochoa when he served the last course. Or was it Fidel Cebreros? I can not recall. I was too engrossed sipping my soup that I missed the detailed introduction and whoever delivered it. LOL.

Being a sweet-tooth myself, I must say that this Miso Cappuccino is probably one of the best desserts I have ever had. The candied pecan loaded at the bottom of that vanilla miso custard revved up my already calm taste buds. They stood at attention as they crazily waited for that spoonful to land in my mouth. I finished this last course in less than two minutes! We (my taste buds and I) wanted to ask for seconds. LOL.

Truth be told, this Miso Cappuccino got us all energized that we just kept on and on with our exchanges. We went around the restaurant to take more selfies and photos of the place, too.

Check out our Instagram and Facebook accounts for more. LOL.

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Good food and great company. ❤ Thanks to everyone who joined us at our first ever get together for the year 😘 @nobuhotelmanila, you were excellent as always! #BlogaXCityofDreams #influencermarketing #NOBU

A post shared by 𝔹𝕃𝕆𝔾𝔸ℙ𝔸𝕃𝕆𝕆ℤ𝔸 𝕀ℕℂ. (𝕖𝕤𝕥. 𝟚𝟘𝟙𝟝) (@blogapaloozaph) on Feb 22, 2018 at 2:10am PST

It was already past 10:30 in the evening when we decided to call it a night. We started dinner at seven. We had so much fun that I lost track of time. I did not expect that this was going to be a seven-to-eleven seven-course dinner affair.

Erica and I were among the last ones to leave the venue. We took the 11 PM City Of Dreams bus en route to the SM Mall of Asia and went our separate ways. I got home feeling great and not overfed. Tucking into bed, I messaged my brother in Dubai who is a big fan of Japanese cuisine to tell him that we visit Nobu Restaurant Manila the next time he comes home. He said yes and even commented on my Facebook post that featured the photos of the seven-course meal.

Oh, by the way, I did not get an upset stomach.

For reservations:

Call: +632 800 8080 (24 hours) +632 691 2882, +632 691 2885

Email: ​noburestaurant@cod-manila.com

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3862.3129903845274!2d120.99038096439548!3d14.524081039851225!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3397ceab79f5059f%3A0xeb58f271e27920f2!2sNobu+Restaurant!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sph!4v1519389695253&w=600&h=450]

Signing out for now. Peace!

The post EAT OR EEK? | NOBU MANILA’S SEVEN-COURSE MEAL appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Acuatico Beach Resort, a premiere resort south of Manila, is lighting up stars to share the hope for a bright future to deserving students of the Laiya National High School K-12 Plus Curriculum, San Juan, Batangas. Hotel guests may purchase stars to decorate the Christmas Tree in the Oceano Restaurant for only P50 (small), P100 (medium) or P200 (large). Proceeds of which will be used to provide the necessary materials and resources to support the the K-12 Plus Program.

During the launch dinner of the Light Up A Star Charity Program last November 28, 2017, Ms. Simonette Gusi, owner of  Acuatico Beach Resort, shared that the main objective of this program is to ensure the youth’s future job placement in the resort. Last year, Acuatico Beach Resort was able to provide workbooks for the Food and Beverage Service and linens for the Housekeeping Service curricula. There are plans to expand the program to include a Kitchen/Culinary curriculum.

According to Ms. Tess Samaniego, MarCom Manager, the Light Up A Star Charity Program is already on its third year. Currently, there are nine Grade-12 students and six Grade-11 Students who are undergoing training in the hotel.

Mr. Marcel Haessner of the German Development Program, who just flew in from Germany with his family, said that he is amazed at the Filipino hospitality, a trait that is sought after in the Hospitality Industry. Through this K-12 Plus Program, students in training would  have the opportunity to further develop skills that will be value-adding when they finally join the workforce. He was happy to see how the already deployed students in the resort have developed over time. They have become more confident and personable. He admitted though that there are challenges especially so that year on year the number of students is growing.  Currently, there are almost 300 students enrolled in the program.

Ms. Josephine Rosales, Principal of the Laiya National Highschool, said that all 256 students who underwent the assessment last school year for the Housekeeping Curriculum passed. For this school year 2017-2018, there are 120 Grade-11 students and 160 Grade 12 students who will undergo the assessment for Food and Beverage Curriculum. She is hopeful that all 280 students will pass and be placed across the 60 participating resorts in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.

Further,the Light Up A Star Program was instrumental in training teachers during the launch in 2013. Twenty of whom were supported by Acuatico Beach Resort. Aside from the Laiya National High School, three other Senior High Schools are included in the program: Palahanan National High School, Buhaynasapa National High School and San Juan Senior High School.

What a better way to usher in the Yuletide Season than sharing one’s blessings? Light up a star when you visit the Acuatico Beach Resort! Donate and decorate.

Merry Christmas from Acuatico Beach Resort and Hotel Inc. #acuatico #AcuaticoLightUpAStar

For more information, please visit the Acuatico Beach Resort Facebook Fan Page. 

For booking inquiries, visit http://www.acuaticoresort.com.ph/

Follow Acuatico on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/acuaticobeachresort/

Thank you for reading. Signing out for now. Peace!

The post DONATE & DECORATE |ACUATICO’S LIGHT UP A STAR CHARITY PROGRAM appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

VERDICT: HIT

Doublemint is all about making connections. Wrigley’s, the makers of this famous chewing gum, believes that the world would be a better place when people connect with each other. With Wrigley’s latest product innovations, people will now be more confident to establish more meaningful connections.

Here are Doublemint’s newest product offerings: Doublemint Slim Pack and Doublemint Chewy Mints.

Doublemint Slim Pack is so sleek and convenient that you can slip it easily in your pocket!

So what are you guys waiting for? Hit the nearest convenient stores and get your hands on these new offerings from Doublemint! #Freshnessnalagingswak

The post HIT OR MISS? |DOUBLEMINT SLIM PACK & CHEWY MINTS appeared first on JOEL JAWS ANDRADA.

Congratulations to the winner of this month’s RBG (Random Blog Giveaway)!

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The Random Blog Giveaway for September is Proactiv’s Integrated Acne Treatment System 30-day Kit composed of one 60 mL Renewing Cleanser, one 60 mL Revitalizing Toner, one 30 mL Repairing Treatment and a bonus tube of Refining Mask.

And the winner is … Mr. Gary Lumapas!

Here is his entry:

Thanks to all who joined my first RBG. Stay tuned because I will be announcing October’s Random Blog Giveaway soon.

Signing out for now. Peace!

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In recent news, the Philippine government under the Duterte administration is eyeing to implement a total log ban without exemptions nationwide to protect the country’s watershed. Apparently, it was reported that despite the total log ban, several companies still managed to get licenses to cut down trees under the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) and the Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) contracts.

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Personally, I think it is about time that Filipinos, not just the government, start taking care of the environment. Lately, places that never got flooded get flooded. It is sad.

Not totally related to this is the topic of my second vlog. I am slowly but surely getting the hang of it, vlogging I mean. Above is my second vlog contribution to humanity on proper personal hygiene and good grooming.

It is high time that men realize the need to trim those unsightly nose hair to be in tip-top shape. In this vlog, I will be sharing various options and will be featuring one of the essentials I have in my man-bag or merse. Merse is an urban term for men’s purse, Special thank you to Ryan, my brother’s colleague, and friend, for introducing this millennial term to me.

Hope you Pinoy guys (and girls) enjoy watching. Do let me know what you think by sending feedback. Let me know, too, if you have any topics in mind that you would want me to cover aside from the remaining items in my merse.

In my upcoming blogs and vlogs, I will be sharing my daily skin care regimen. I will be featuring four items. These are the facial cleanser, facial toner, facial moisturizer with SPF 15 and evening moisturizer.

Till next time. Thank you!

Signing out for now. Peace!

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