Highlights @Harold's Hotel

view deck area

Like always, indecisive where to eat out, our good friend Ethy suggested to try the newly opened Restuarant at the Harold's Hotel.


At Hightlights, Dinner is served in a welcoming atmosphere that is good for dining with your special someone or an afterwork relaxation with friends at the bar.  Instead of the air-conditioned dining area, we chose to be served at their view deck area since it has a great view of the city.

During our visit, we were served with their Valentines Degustation Dinner, a 6-course meal that starts with a Cajun seared medium Prawns over Avocado Relish and Tuna Tatake Square with Soy-Lime Vinaigrette and Jicama Salad.  I just loved how the ingredients complimented each taste.

two-lovers

The soup was then served. Butternut SquashSoup in Coco Cream and Red Beef Coulis served with Heart Shape Fleuron Biscuit.  It was creamy and a good way to warm us from the cool air outside.

Butternut Squash Soup

The Cold Entree was a Selection of Garden Lettuce with Pomelo and Mandarin Orange Segment Sprinkled with a Feta Cheese Crumble and Passion Fruit Vinaigrette paired with Watermelon Mojito Shooter.  It was citrusy for me however the cheese did cleanse my palate and ready for the Main course.

selection of Garden Lettuce

The Main Course was a choice of Oven Baked Honey-Miso Glazed Blue Marlin Fish Fillet with Mango Salsa & Bell Pepper Butter served with Balsamic Roasted Vegetable and Steamed Rice or a Chargrilled Beef Tenderloin Medallion with Shiraz Red Wine Sauce and Mushroom Compote served with Berny Potato and Balsamic Glazed Roasted Vegetables.  I picked the Beef Tenderloin Medallion, the meat was okey but i would refer it if it was a bit more tender.



Chargrilled Beef Tenderloin Medallion



Oven Baked Honey-Miso Glazed Blue Marlin Fish Fillet

I just love the part where  Desserts are served. A trio of Chocolate Decadence, Grilled Banana and Caramel Bavarios.  For me, the best part of it was the grilled Banana, its sweetness was just enough to tickle my taste buds.

desser trio

 And a cup of tea is a great way to finish a wonderful dinner.

Highlights is a good place to take those stress away over dinner or to feel the city breeze with a glass of wine.
Should you plan to dine at Highlights, it would be best to reserve a table first  by calling in to avoid the wait.  It seems that the place is gaining its popularity.
For Reservations Call (032) 232 - 8888 loc 7045 or (032) 505-7777
The Restaurant only serves Dinner from 5 pm until 12am (midnight)

with friends

pasto sontuoso!.

SHANGRI-LA'S MACTAN RESORT AND SPA, CEBU

WELCOMES NEW ITALIAN CHEF

A Sunny Day at Shangri-la Mactan Cebu as we dine to Welcome Chef Marco Ghezzi, the resort's new Italian Chef, A native of Milan, Chef Marco is backed by more than 16 years of professional culinary experience and a sous chef at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, Italy prior to joining Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa in the 4th quarter of 2010.

Chef Marco Ghezzi

"We are pleased to have Chef Marco join our team.  His skills and passion for authentic Italian cuisine will ensure a memorable dining experience for our guests.  With him on board, guests can expect new and exciting offerings at Acqua in the coming months,"  said Joris Rycken, Shangri-la's Mactan Resort and Spa's Excecutive Chef.



Battuta di salmone aromatizzato al limone



We started our meal with Battuta di salmone aromatizzato al limone, a thinly-sliced salmon fillet drizzled with citrus dressing and shaved fennel salad. I just love salmon and the combination of it all made me love it even better.




Zuppa di orzo perlato co pomodorini e speck

 

Then served with Zuppa di orzo perlato co pomodorini e speck, Barley soup with tomatoes and bacon.



Tagliolini al nero di seppia in crema di piselli

 



Tagliolini al nero di seppia in crema di piselli, Black tagliolini with prawns and calamari served on green pea sauce. This i love the most, i wouldn't have stopped eating it...hehehe! if not only for the the anticipation of the next dish , the Carre d' Agnello polenta grigliata e capponata di verdure e rosmarino, a Rack of lamb on grilled polenta and ratatouille of vegetables with rosemary.  It was the first time i tasted lamb and it was so good that i'm sure to include it as one of my fave dishes.

Carre d' Agnello polenta grigliata e capponata di verdure e rosmarino





For Dessert, Semifreddo al cioccolato bianco e canella, white chocolate and cinnamon parfait with prune compote.  Perfect to finish off a great meal, a sumptuous lunch indeed!

Semifreddo al cioccolato bianco e canella

The simplicity of all the ingridients and how it compliments each other makes your taste buds appreciate how refined it is. It's difficult not to love all the dishes. pasto sontuoso!

with Doyzkie, Chef Marco and Ms. Aiza

Thank you to Shangri-Las Rica Rellon for the invite and Chef Marco Ghezzi for a wonderful lunch and to Andrew "Doyzkie" Buenaviaje and Ms. Aiza for the lovely company.



Visit ACQUA  @ Shangri-la Resort and Spa, Poolside Ocean Wing 

Breakfast: 6am – 10am
Lunch:     noon – 2:30pm
Dinner:     6pm – 10pm

For inquiries and reservations , please call (032) 231.8224 or email mac@shangri-la.com

Dress Code : Smart casual

Smoking Policy : Acqua has separate smoking and non-smoking areas.



Trenta, Anyone?

Supersize your Starbucks cup, so is Venti not enough?




source : http://beyond-the-norms.org/2011/01/starbucks-trenta/



A New Year, New Logo and A New Drink Size for Starbucks Customers.

TRENTA. (31 ounce or 916 ml) a cup 11 ounces more than a Venti Drink will be introduced to 14 States in the US (Alabama, Arizona, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, Georgia,New Mexico, Hawaii and Nevada) on January 18, 2011 and will be followed by California on Febuary 1 and to all Consumers by May 3,2011.

Starbucks Trenta will cost 50 cents more than the Starbucks Venti and will only be available for Tazo Iced Tea, Iced Coffee and Iced Tea Lemonade Drinks. 

Starbucks Company pointed out that the unsweetened versions of their drinks will still have fewer than 90 calories, with sweetened versions under 230 calories.