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Showing posts with label Japanese Food in manila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Food in manila. Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2016
YURAKUEN: Diamond Hotel's Japanese Delight


One can never have enough Japanese food. At YURAKUEN, they entice you to a spread of delicious mouth watery goodness all in an attempt to transport you to a place magical place far far away.

Huge doors greet one after walking through a long walkway. An escape from the concrete jungle, the main dining hall of YURAKUEN  is an excellent place for a relaxing getaway.

If one would wish to do teppanyaki, small private rooms are prepared with excellent exhaust and equipped with proper equipment to give you a show.
To start a proper Japanese meal, appetizers must be served to whet the appetite.
The Yaki Hampen is a fish dish that is mixed with Japanese Yam and egg white and is turned into a paste. This is a bit addictive and is actually viewed as a medical food. Something healthy to start.

Fresh Salmon is mixed with onion and lemon sauce to give it a zesty flavor. A perfect precursor to salad.
Guests are given a plethora of choices. For salads, a couple from the list would be the Mango and the Kani. The Mango salad is mixed with a vinaigrette that is on the sweet side. On the other hand, the Kani has a Japanese Mayo dressing giving it a bit of familiarity.
For a person that tries to stay away from salad, you might want to get the BEEF SHABU-SHABU salad.
 

Looking like ordinary croquettes, these balls have squid inside the salmon meat. As such, each bite has something to look forward to.
Vegetarians would rejoice as YURAKUEN thinks about them too. They have the VEGETABLE ROLL that is packed with healthy ingredients like mangoes and other green parts. Not for a carnivore but definitely is worth a try.

A special kind of roll, the YURAKUEN is a must order. Similar to a California Maki, this one has twice the meat and a layer of cream cheese.

FRESHNESS is an important aspect of JAPANESE FOOD. At YURAKUEN, they take this very seriously.
Freshly sliced selection and chef's choices would compose the 9 KINDS OF SASHIMI. Served with a little bit of flair, you can never go wrong with this plate. Filled with the fresh catch of the day, you should go ahead and take the plunge. The uni is sweet and buttery. Each bite from the different sashimi would illicit a bit of ooh and ahhs. If this is any indication of what they have in store for their guests, YURAKUEN no doubt knows how to deliver.  Rice lovers, on the other hand, would go well with choosing the TOKUJO NIGIRI. Hand pressed and combined with high quality rice, the flavor from the meat pops out with each bite.

Diners that aren't quite into raw dishes, would also appreciate that there are a lot of grilled and cooked items that would make their stomachs happy.

For something on the sweet side, you could go for the BEEF NEGI ROLL TERIYAKI.
The BUTA KAKUNI is a pork dish that one might mistaken for beef. The tenderness is on point and is unmistakenly delicious.

Something from the grill, the BEEF KALBIE YAKI NIKU is definitely worth the waiting for.

But if there was one beef dish you shouldn't miss, it should be the WAGYU. Served on a sizzling plate, get a piece after a few seconds as it cooks instantly. The marbling shows the high quality. After one bite, experience and understand the price tag that came with it. There's a certain flavor and texture that brings out the goodness.

Solo diners need not worry as there are also sets that are available for lunch or dinner.

For someone that might be indecisive, they could go for a BENTO. It might have some tempura, grilled meat, an assortment of sashimi. If soups the bet, YURAKUEN has the CHIRINABE BENTO SET that has excellent soup option that is filled with seafood and has different sides as well.
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"For an afternoon tea experience, your might enjoy this AFTERNOON TEA TAKEAWAY by Diamond Hotel. Priced at Php 1,280 nett, this spread is good for 3-5 persons."


RELATED LINKS:
Diamond Hotel: Culinaria Filipina
Diamond Hotel: Spanish Culinary Experience
Diamond Hotel: Mexican Food Festival



YURAKUEN
DIAMOND HOTEL
Roxas Blvd cor. J Quintos St.
Manila City, Metro Manila

(632) 528-3000 or (632) 305-3000
Facebook

P.S. This is an amazing Dinner Date place. Perfect for that occasion.

Disclaimer: Was invited to try the spread. Wrote this based on my experience.

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Tuesday, May 31, 2016
NOBU MANILA'S Luxurious Japanese Sunday Brunch


The first time I visited Tokyo, I went straight for the TSUKIJI MARKET as I knew that it was the place to go to for the freshest Japanese fare. Everything was delicious and simple. The way I like it. Little did I know that we have something similar right here in MANILA. Mixing traditional with modern techniques, NOBU MANILA is the place to visit for an amazing Japanese experience. More so, their INDULGENT SUNDAY BRUNCH.

Located in the City of Dreams, The NOBU HOTEL has a very distinct and modern Japanese feel. Their NOBU RESTAURANT, found in Tower 3 Level 1, exudes a nice relaxing luxurious vibe. As you enter, there is a bar area on the right side that could serve as a lounge while you wait for your party.

 Priced at Php 2,880++ the Sunday Brunch is already inclusive of sodas, juices, mocktails, coffee, and tea. Diners are also able to upgrade their experience to include free flow Moet & Chandon, a selection of Champagne Cocktails, Bloody Marys, Mojitos, Wines and Beer at Php 4580++. The fun starts at 11:30am to 3pm.  

 I believe that it is proper to pace one's self. As with any buffet, you need to master the different stations that offers the delicious dishes. Better walk and check out all the offerings before lining up and getting too much of the same thing.
The most well loved and visited station for me would have to be the one that offers fresh seafood, rolls, and other traditional Japanese cold dishes.

Right from the get go, they offer serve sushi but on an artisan level. The quality and the taste is well appreciated that it seems the fishes were just cut open a few minutes ago. Apparently, this is the case in NOBU MANILA. They love satisfying their guests that they import and get fresh live huge fishes and seafood to serve. One bite in and you will know the difference.
 Aside from fresh sushi, handmade rolls ranging from soft shell crabs to whatever your stomach may desire, everything is available upon request. They make those rolls as you wait and you could customize them.
They also have uni served on top of nori and rice, making it an instant favorite. The creamy texture and the buttery taste is just perfect that one serving is not enough.
Since NOBU is not just any other Japanese restaurant, they wanted to create different flavor profiles with fresh ingredients. If you must only taste a couple of dishes, go for the SALMON KARASHI SU MISO. Don't worry, they have it on deck and replenishes it constantly. This one looks entirely normal. Just like any salmon. The difference lies in its taste. It delivers a sweet note that works well with the japanese mustard and miso mixed in it. Believe me this is a must try dish.
 Speaking of fresh, they have an oyster bar that has a plethora of sauces to choose from. Everything was good but I like mine bare. Another must try is the Cha Soba. Perfectly done, the noodles are not soggy but instead they have a bite. I enjoyed each slurp.
Another favorite station is the one with yakitori or skewered meat section.
From pork to chicken to beef to my favorite CHICKEN SKIN, you would get your fill here. The meats aren't marinated except for the usual salt and pepper but rather, they are cooked in their own flavor and you are given choices for their sauces.

Cooked dishes are also abundant that staff go around and serve these to your table. My favorite that day would be their version of tempura. These rock shrimp tempura is a little spicy but creamy. There is a crunchy texture to it so it is pretty good.
The Sunday Brunch also offers a line of cooked hot dishes. I would have to say that the OKONOMI YAKI or Japanese pizza was very authentic that it reminded me of the one I had in Japan. I enjoyed the flavor and the texture. If there is one dish that you need to get, it would be the sea bass. It was flaky and soft and cooked to a whole different level. I was floored with how delicious and simple it was that being full didn't stop me from getting more.
Seemingly out of place, NOBU surprisingly served LECHON. This roasted pig is a norm when it comes to Filipino food celebrations. For NOBU MANILA they wanted to give the brunch buffet a little Filipino flair as such, they serve lechon. Believe it or not, there was a separate plate for the crunchy skin and the meat. Let me tell you this, they have a lot for everybody so it would be best to take it slow and don't rush.

The dessert spread would have to be one of my favorites in the whole wide world. Not because it has everything. Rather, the MATCHA FOUNTAIN did it. As a green tea lover, I drooled at the sight of this amazing dessert. I wanted to get a cup and fill it with this matcha liquid. It was so good that adding strawberries did me in. The dessert station was more than just this art instillation. They offered cakes, pastries and even home made ice cream. The black sesame and the green tea were crowd favorites. They were partnered with lava cakes that were freshly baked for anyone that wanted them. Genius.
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City of Dreams Manila’s Mina Gervacio, Director for Public Relations; Michael de Jesus, Head Chef, Nobu; Charisse Chuidian, Vice President for Public Relations; Akihisa Kawai, Head Sushi Chef, Nobu; Kenny Hernandez, Restaurant Manager, Nobu; and Francine Dayrit, Asst. Manager, Public Relations
Now that I think about it, all of the dishes in NOBU MANILA are delicious. They may not offer a lot but the quality and the taste of each one makes it a success. The fact that this buffet is priced as such, I believe that it is a steal already. Granted that it may look a little bit pricey at first glance, the food, the service and the ambiance makes up for it. Definitely a must revisit.


NOBU MANILA RESTAURANT
Tower 3 Level 1, NOBU HOTEL,
City of Dreams Manila,
(632) 800 8080.
Nobu is open for breakfast and dinner daily.

Sunday Brunch is at 11:30am to 3pm. Php 2,880++ / Php 4,580++

Disclaimer: was invited to this event. wrote down my opinions based on my experience.
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