Boracay Favorites: Dos Mestizos 2

Breakfast starts at 10am, lunch at 3pm then dinner around 9pm -- that's how it usually is when CS and I go on vacation. The past few years have been mostly relaxed and no itinerary trips especially when we're traveling to familiar destinations like Boracay. The only time we go online and do research is when we're looking for new restaurants to try like that particular afternoon which brought us to Dos Mestizos 2, a restaurant in Boracay known for its Spanish-Filipino cuisine.

The restaurant is open from 11am to 11pm daily, no breaks in between. Service was quite slow but totally understandable as we dined during off peak hours.

On the table

Complimentary bread and dips

Hot bread with tomato and olive oil vinaigrette kept us company while we wait for the main course.

Paella Negra - Php820.00 (small)

Dos Mestizos' Paella Negra comes in 4 sizes - small (good for 2 to 3), medium and large (good for 3 to 5), and extra large (good for 5 to 8). Made with squid ink to provide its black color and flavor, our carbolicious order is served in a frying pan topped with squid rings, egg and lemon.

Tip: Forget your diet for a bit and head to Dos Mestizos from 11am to 3pm to try their unlimited Seafood Paella for an all inclusive price of Php275 only!

~o~o~o~

Dos Mestizos 2
Remedios Street, Sitio Manggayad
Boracay Island, Malay
Aklan, Philippines
Tel.: (6336) 288-5786

Casa Marcos

Because good food is always worth the effort.

When it comes to trying out a newly opened restaurant or validating what a lot of people say is the best of this and that, I rarely have a hard time convincing CS for us to go and check it out. He is always open to suggestions and wouldn't take it against me if, well, we didn't liked the food or if the service sucks. Since he knows the North area better than I do, he was the one who suggested Casa Marcos for lunch before we drove for another hour to Antipolo.

From what I've read, Casa Marcos has been in operation since the 1940's until early 2000. But because of the popular Bread Bag Pandesal Bar owned by the family, patrons began convincing them to bring back one of the best Spanish restaurants to grace Manila.

On the table

Complimentary Pandesal

Lunch started off with a basket of freshly-baked and soft pandesal with butter on the side.

Caesar Salad - Php190.00

The greens were fresh and crunchy but a little overpriced for its size. I liked that the bacon was neither too salty nor too oily, I had to restrain myself from ordering extra to munch on.

Adobong Baboy Damo - Php395.00

CS decided to be a bit daring and went for Adobong Baboy Damo while I sticked to a long-time favorite of mine -- Kalderetang Baka. The adobo was quite a disappointment as the meat was hard to chew and the taste was nowhere near the adobo we are familiar with.

Contrastingly, my kaldereta was very delicious with its tender meat and rich sauce that made me ask for more pandesal to wipe off the bowl after finishing a cupful of rice. I really wont mind going back to Casa Marcos just for this!

Kalderetang Baka - Php375.00

~o~o~o~

Casa Marcos
Unit 20A and 20B, Ortigas Home Depot
J. Vargas St., Pasig City
Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel.: (632) 470-3637

The World on my Plate at Dad's World Buffet

Dad's Ultimate Buffet including Saisaki and Kamayan, has been a household name even before Vikings, Yakimix or Buffet 101 came into the picture. With the vision of bringing different cuisines, unique menu and diverse cooking styles from all seven continents in one place, the first of its kind culinary dream called Dad's World Buffet was born.

Now, let me take you to a succulent tour around the world.

Appetizer - Salad, Cold Cuts, Pesto Tuna Bites, Beef Carpaccio, and Mussel Kirkpatrick

Japan (Saisaki) - Sushi, Sashimi, Makimono, Temaki, Tempura, Saisaki Steak, Robatayaki, Sukiyaki, Katsu and Furat, and other authentic Japanese specialties

China - Assorted Dim Sum, Salt and Chili Squid, Beef Broccoli with Oyster Sauce, Sweet and Sour Pork, Pata Tim, Chicken Hot Salad, Steamed Fish Fillet with Oyster Sauce or Garlic and Onion, Fried Noodles with Seafood and Vegetable Toppings, and Yang Chow Fried Rice

Thailand - Poh Pia Tod (Shrimp Egg Wrap - Fried with Sweet and Sour Sauce), Yam Pla Duk Foo (Catfish Salad), Chicken Pandan (Fried Marinated Chicken Fillet Wrapped in Pandan Leaves), Fish Tod Lad Prik (Spicy Sweet Sour Fish Fillet), Seafood Massaman (Seafood Green Curry), Fish Cake (Thai Prawn Cake), Kaeng Karee Ki Haeng (Yellow Chicken Curry), Kang Keaw Wan Thalay (Assorted Seafood with Spicy Green Curry and Coconut Milk), Tom Yam Goong (Spicy and Sour Seafood Soup), and Kao Crook Kapi (Rice Stir-Fried with Shrimp Paste)

Singapore - Hainanese Chicken, Spicy Beef, and Cereal Shrimp

India - Vegetable Samosas, Lamb Kebab, Chicken Tikka Masala, and Masala Machchi 

Malaysia - Lamb Curry, Seekh Kebab, and Sambal Goreng Sotong

America (USA) - Beef Ribs in Honey, Beef with Mushroom Sauce, Salisbury Steak, Buffalo Wings, Cajun Fried Chicken, Texan Pork BBQ Ribs, Clam Chowder, Chicken Fingers, Turkey Tetrazinni, Oysters Rockefeller, Mixed Green Vegetables, and Clam Bake

Mexico - Beef Fajitas, Chicken Fajitas, Nachos, Tacos, Chicken Quesadillas, and Beef Burritos

Spain - Paella, Lengua, Callos, Chicken Pastel, Chicken Relleno, Gambas Al Ajello, Mushroom Ala Plancha, Chorizo Croquettas, Turkey Croquettas, Menudo Sulepeña, Calamares, Onion Rings, Calamare con Potato Gratin, and Garlic Chicken in Olive oil

Carving Station - US Roast Beef, US Roast Turkey, New Zealand Roast Leg of Lamb, and Dad's Ham

Greece - Beef Souvlaki, Pork Souvlaki, Chicken Souvlaki, and Muossaka

Italy - Pasta, Fish Fillet in Salsa Verde, Lasagna, Mushroom Lasagna, and Baked Scallop Potato

Philippines (Kamayan) - Lechon de Leche, Crispy Pata, Kamayan Pritson, Kare Kare, Kamayan Soup, and other Kamayan regional specialities

Dessert - Fresh Fruits, Rice Cakes, Leche Flan, Halo-Halo, Cakes, Pastries, and Chocolates

Some of the dishes we tried

Oyster Rockefeller

Assortment of Sashimi

Saba (Mackarel)

Yakitori

I must admit that I was overwhelmed with the variety of dishes at Dad's World Buffet that I didn't know where to start! After making two rounds at the buffet spread, I finally picked up a plate and grabbed a few slices of Saba, Tuna, and Salmon Sashimi as my appetizer. Since Japanese is my favorite cuisine, I spent most of my time talking to the chef for his recommendations because I knew that I won't be able to taste everything in one night. His top picks include Sukiyaki and Yakitori, which I gladly devoured and finished to the last bite.

Sukiyaki

I love that the restaurant has lived up to its name with the wide selection of dishes that will satisfy whatever cuisine you fancy. The staff are also very attentive to their customers, checking if we needed refill with our drinks or if we wanted to try something else from the buffet.

My only, and probably the biggest concern is that the dishes on display were not kept warm during the duration of our dinner either because the air-conditioning was too cold or the food warmers are not efficient enough to keep the dishes at its best form and taste. Such was the case of Kamayan's Cebu Lechon which supposedly, has the crispiest skin there is available.

Lechon

Dad's World Buffet (including Saisaki and Kamayan)
Special promo price - Valid until further notice

• Monday-Friday Lunch Php688
• Monday-Friday Dinner price Php788 (reg. price Php888)
• Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays Lunch & Dinner price Php838 (reg. price Php888)

~o~o~o~

Dad's World Buffet
523 Merchant Bldg., Faura corner Adriatico Sts.
Ermita, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines 

Tel.: (632) 528-1723

Dipolog Food Trip: Hawaiian-Themed Night at Dakak

Theme night buffets in resorts are becoming more popular nowadays. To name a few, I've been to Mindanao Night at Pearl Farm Resort, Davao and Brazilian Night at Plantation Bay Resort in Cebu. On our first night, we decided to check out Dakak's Hawaiian Night at Port Orient Restaurant.

Dinner buffet is priced at Php500 per person. Since we have Php3000 deposit at the resort, trying it out was an easy decision to make. We arrived around 630pm and we were able to choose a table near the buffet but close enough to the stage where the performance will be held later that night.

Bread

The buffet had a lot of different salad variations -- I love their Mango and Prawn Salad a lot. I had 3 servings of each that night as it was so good!

Salad

More Salad

Appetizer

Whenever I travel to the province, I always look forward to having more seafood on my plate thinking its cheaper there than in Manila. My boss said to look out for Curacha (very popular in Zamboanga) which belongs to the crab family but I saw none during my entire stay in Dakak.

Seafood Paella

Linguini Pasta with Bolognese

Steamed Whole Fish with Superior Soya

Mixed Seafood Newburg Jardiniere

Buttered Chicken with Honey and Lemon

Braised Short Beef Ribs Hunter Style

Dakjim Gui

Desserts were so-so, I just went back to the Salad section and got another plate of their yummy Mango Salad instead.

Fresh Fruits

Maja Blanca

Macapuno Pie

Assorted Pastries

On my side of the table

Deviled Egg was ordinary.

A kind of shellfish abundant in the province.
Baked with melted cheese and it instantly became the star of the table!

Paella was bland.

Macapuno Pie was surprisingly good!

Halfway through our dinner, the music started playing and the dancers came out one by one. The whole program was about an hour long.

As with most performances I've been to here and abroad, the dancers would invite guests to dance with them towards the end of the program. I was volunteered (again!) and so for fun sake, I joined some other guests on stage and we danced to the tune of Hawaii Five-O.

Buti nalang hindi na nila ako makikita ulit!

Good thing I traveled with my friends and still had a wonderful first night in Dakak in spite of not having the best meal.

Where's our next destination guys?!

~o~o~o~

Port Orient Restaurant
Dakak Park & Beach Resort

Taguilon, Dapitan City
Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
Tel.: (6365) 213-6813
Website: http://www.dakakresort.com