Sunday, March 9, 2014

Why I think Kamuning Bakery is one of the Philippines' best bakeries. 

My favorite bakery is the traditional "pugon" or wood-fire brick oven bakery called Kamuning Bakery. It is iconic, historic and traditional. It was founded in 1939 as the first bakery in the then also newly-established Quezon City.

Some say it is the oldest pugon bakery in Metro Manila, even in the Philippines, but more than its durability, Kamuning Bakery upholds excellence, old-fashioned no-preservatives and no-additives baking, highest quality and good taste.

Kamuning Bakery has been in the same address for 75 years at Number 43 Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Kamuning, Quezon City. If you're coming from Tomas Morato Avenue and you're in Kamuning Road, make a right turn after the Caltex gas station, that's Judge Jimenez Street already going to the bakery. If you're coming from EDSA highway and already at Kamuning Road, turn left at the first traffic light and that's already Judge Jimenez Street.



For orders of cakes and other inquiries, their telephone numbers  are 7945045, 9292216 (look for manager Libi or bakery staff) or text/call Rose 09228901892, Grace 09255877878, Office tels: 4126685, 4151692, 4112311, 3326066.  

penmanila.ph is the source of the image below




ABS CBN Publishing's "Food" magazine in its February-March 2014 issue ranked Kamuning Bakery as No. 3 among the 8 "most-loved Pinoy breads". That recognition even specifically cited Kamuning Bakery's pugon-baked pandesal for being delicious.

Also last year, ABS CBN Publishing's "Food" magazine conducted a blind taste test and chose the "5 Best Pandesal" which included Kamuning Bakery's pugon-baked pandesal.

I love Kamuning Bakery's blueberry cheesecake, pan de suelo and pandesal breads, biscocho, ensaymada, cinnamon rolls, Brazo de Mercedes, chocolate cake, otap, kababayan, pan de coco, and many other delicious pugon-baked pastries.




Disclosure: I had invested in Kamuning Bakery just before Christmas of December 2013, that's really how much I admire this old-fashioned and excellent bakery. However, the original owners---the Bonifacio-Javier family members---are still shareholders and helping maintain the old tastes & good family traditions there.

I highly recommend this Kamuning Bakery and hope you tell others also? :)



The image above of Kamuning Bakery's logo and popular traditional eggpie, this picture sourced from richric2003.blogspot.com


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Banana Leaf Restaurant in Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City, the Philippines is delicious and affordable

Yesterday on July 2, 2013,  I brought two USA-based guests---my cousin Joy Yang and his wife Beth---plus my younger sister Marilou Flores So to eat a late lunch at the Banana Leaf Asian Cafe at Promenade, Greenhills, San Juan City, Metro Manila, the Philippines.

The Southeast Asian foods were delicious, affordable and colorful. The restaurant staff and the officer-in-charge Clyde Yvan A. Mariano were quite friendly and efficient. The ambience is relaxing, comfortable, a bit casual and also elegant.

Congratulations to its owner and franchisee, the hardworking and dynamic San Juan City Vice-Mayor Francis Zamora for this good business you have there. Keep up the great work!

Vice-Mayor Zamora told me that his businesses like this resto is a franchise, so he could leave management behind and still earn recurring incomes, giving him the economic independence and time to focus on public service.

I first met Vice-Mayor Francis Zamora when I was a few years ago invited guest speaker at his Jaycees organization, where he was then the president. He used to be star player of De La Salle University's champion basketball team.

Note: I think the firs time I had eaten at a Banana Leaf resto was years ago at the newly-opened Podium Mall in Otigas Center, Mandaluyong City on a Tuesdy night and upon the invitation of SM Group and Podium Mall founder Henry Sy, Sr. We had a long five-hour conversation first at Figaro Cafe of Podium  and also later the jampacked Banana Leaf resto for dinner.

Banan Leaf Asian Cafe
Address: Greenhills Promenade G/L Greenhills Promenade Greenhills Shopping Center, Greenhills, San Juan ity, Metro Manila, the Philippines
Tel: (02) 706-3888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (02) 706-3888 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting


I forgot to take my own pictures. The photos below sourced from bananaleaf.com










One of two desserts we ate, sweet and delicious!




The entrepreneurial owner and franchisee of the Promenade, Greenhills branch of Banana Leaf Asian Cafe, the dynamic San Juan City Vice-Mayor Francis Zamora.

The Tivoli at Mandarin Oriental, Manila in the Philippines has excellent foods!

I just had a splendid and satisfying dinner with five friends at the ever-reliable The Tivoli at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City, Metro Manila, the Philippines last night on July 2, 2013.

Review: This fine dining restaurant strategially-located right in the center of the Makati financial district is consistently excellent in high-quality Western-style foods, richly elegant and quiet ambience, the staff were attentive and very well-trained.

My advice, if ordering starters or appetizers, two persons can share one order. I ordered Sauteed duck foie gras, asparagus, mango and green papaya chutney, and the delightful plate was quite large and ideal for two people! It was delicious, but too much if only one person eating it. Delicious! P1,110 pesos per order.

I ordered Asparagus cream, salmon wanton and chives for hot soup; very good! P540 pesos.

The main course I ordered was the US beef tendeloin Rossini, potatoes salardaise, I requested medium rare cooking.  Delicious. P 2,230 pesos.

Along with main course of beef, I ordered red wine.

I and my friends ordered two more steaks which we all equally shared---the Australian Wagyu Blue Label Rib Eye grade 9+, it was very soft, tender and super delicious! Price is P6,000 pesos and not always available according to the resto staff. The other steak we shared was only one-third the price, but also delicious---Wisconsin beef.

Congratulations to the management of Mandarin Oriental Mamila, especially the Australian Director of Food and Beverage Peter Pysk (who is here at this hotel for only four months now), Director of Communications Charisse G. Chuidian and the French national Chef Remi Vercelli.



The Tivoli, Mandarin Oriental Manila
Address: Makati Avenue, Makati City, Metro Manila, The Philippines
Telephone: (632) 7508888
Facsimile (632) 8172472
Direct Facsimile (632) 8172330