Contisfaction Experience: Conti's Bakeshop and Restaurant

Oct. 2012
Sunrise Says,

I saw a picture posted on facebook.com by my pretty cousin, Ate Rem Josue who celebrated her birthday yesterday (Happy birthday!!!) with her birthday cake, a Conti’s Mango Bravo cake. Where's my slice?

Look at the stare on the first photo. That is what I call indulgence after counting birthday after birthday. Don't worry ate, I won't say how old you are, but you're definitely older than me, lol.

Hahaha. The fourth picture is the reason why I asked her if I can use her photo. It's like declaring war to someone who touches the cake before her blowing the candle.

Ok, back to work Ate Rem, and you need to do some running after that celebration. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN AND MORE BLESSINGS FOR YOU. Don't forget my slice of cake. Lavyah!

I remembered having a conversation with Lettuce about having a picture of this cake. I started digging on my food load picture folder on our lappy. Tic toc tic toc… time past and Alaska won against TNT with JV Casio’s heroics  and no picture found. Good thing I got permission from Ate Rem to use her photo, Surprise!

The following are some photos of our many visits to Conti’s, may it be Trinoma Mall or Greenbelt. Next branches to visit, Nuvali and Alabang. Wow, imagine that, we’re currently residing in Laguna but we opted to go for far out Conti’s branches.

The latest set we had from Conti’s Greenbelt.

 Soup: Cream of Corn and Crab (Php80). 

I was looking at every strand of crab on the soup and could imagine fresh crabs and they don’t snap.

Bread: Triple Cheese Tuna (Php185). 

The new salty tuna bread in town. The good thing out of this bread is that I really saw the quality of service from their crew. I’d like to mention one of their waiters, Herald, who always replenishes our glasses with water and did not wait for us to complain about the saltiness of the tuna in the bread. He initiated getting our feedback since it was he who recommended the sandwhich to me. I was glad to hear that he was from Laguna too who used to serve for Conti’s Nuvali, one proud Lagunense he was. Hopefully this lad gets promoted soon since he has been with Conti’s for more than a year now.

Pasta: Angel Hair Puttanesca (Php 190.00)

Fresh tomato sauce, black olives, capers and a hint of anchovies in olive oil. Lettuce asked me to request for parmesan cheese and cracked pepper. She really did not like it, good thing is that I love pasta. 

Again, rule number one, no leftovers (but you can take it home).

Healthy Salads:  Mango Royale Salad (To Share Php 160.00 / Solo Php 90.00) 

Iceberg lettuce with fresh mango cubes tossed with special house dressing. One of the best salads I ever had because of its balanced mango sweetness and green crunch matching with perfect dressing.

Set from previous visit to Conti’s Trinoma

I got a fine evidence of what it means to be really hungry. 

  The first empty plate of a Russian Potato Salad (Php 130.00) 

Sugar beets, potatoes, carrots and chicken chunks. We were laughing out loud when we saw this picture. We found no photo of the actual salad so If you need to see the actual, you can go to the Conti’s website (http://www.contis.ph) or go and order it for yourself.

Pasta: Lasagna (Kiddie: Php 110.00) (Regular: Php 210.00)

Wide lasagna noodles layered with bechamel sauce and oregano inspired meat sauce, topped and baked with mixed cheeses. I never miss ordering a lasagna when I see it on the menu. I call it the Garfield syndrome, because the fat feline loves this pasta. I love lasagna, the bad side of the Garfield syndrome is either you get too active or too lazy after eating, I prefer to take the nap. Oh, I need to say, I ordered this kiddie version since the first time I had the regular one at Conti’s and it was really overwhelming, this was just enough to satisfy my palate.

Seafood Entrées: Baked Prawns (Php 315.00) 

Black tiger prawns baked with special topping, served with crab salad and Japanese fried rice. I only had a quick taste of this since Lettuce had already eaten most of it.

We also had Conti's Baked Salmon (Php 355.00). 

We’ll be coming back for this again.

  Pork Entrées: Barbequed Spareribs (Php 210.00)

Tender and juicy slab of marinated pork spareribs coated in sweet barbeque sauce pan grilled to perfection. Served with Atchara and choice of java rice, plain rice, or garlic rice.

Molten Chocolate Cake ala mode (Php 185.00)      

A deliciously soft textured cake, with a smooth choco lava hidden inside. Topped with vanilla ice cream for your indulgence. Well, someone most likely finger licked after that doodle.    

What can I say? I need to put Conti’s on our best seller and I bet we would have another article for Conti’s.

Have you ever dined in Conti’s? Share your experience with everyone.

Source Credit: www.contis.ph 

Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant

Greenbelt. Trinoma. Alabang. Nuvali.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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Wendy's Macaroni Side Salad

My Hero Salad

Sunrise says,

Would you consider having this for lunch? Yes, LUNCH, that is my lunch for the day. Besides the fact that I need to really trim down my waist and weight before our wedding day, I am currently experiencing pain. Severe pain from my toothache which would not permit me to get a burger at least. Good thing I have my hero salad of the day to rescue me.

This salad has always been my favorite. I miss the days when you can get to load everything you want in one take on a plate through the Wendy's Salad bar. I called it the salad tower, and my brother was an expert on it, building it from core to each side making sure it would not fall on side. It was an art by itself, making it inch by inch, ingredients by ingredients making sure everything fits well and stick well so that it would not collapse.

I wish Wendy's would bring that back. For now, I'm still happy they still have their salad. Oh, did I mention they made a good move by making it available on disposable rectangular packaging, a big improvement from the then round one. The new packaging would give you enough of everything to your satisfaction. Believe me, I'm satisfied with it, please... I want more. I wish I can bring some for Lettuce, but that would be another serving for her, or if I would say, half serving for her and more for me.

note: sorry pictures take from webcam, Lettuce has the camera.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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My Empty Plates is Back!

Lettuce Says,

Finally, an update! We terribly miss this blog of ours. So Sunrise and I have decided to somewhat revive this from sleeping for almost 3 years now!

In the past years, we've been rather busy with our handmade crochet business Lettuce and Sunrise which was featured in Kabuhayang Swak na Swak. We are still planning on how to move the business forward. But for now, we tapped one of our previous customer and loyal reseller, Ely of For Little Feet, to manage our Facebook account.

Then, I changed careers from being a Land Surveyor to Planning Associate for a premier real estate company. I'm currently enjoying the corporate benefits while still using my geodetic engineering skills at work. Sunrise widened our networks by attending conferences related to business and online marketing.

We also decided to GET MARRIED! by the end of this year. :)

So, that's it, we'll post snapshots of where we have been for the last year. Where we have traveled, eaten, and the emptied and refilled plates along the way, courtesy of our God Above.

Glad to be back!

Sunrise Says,

Oh yes, we are back... After a very long rest... My Empty Plates is officially back.

We promise a new range of food reviews for all foodies, and we will also expand our topics to everything and anything under the sun. It will still be a food blog but we will include our journeys, discoveries and testaments of more blessings for us... to share with all of you.

and YES we're Getting Married.

October 2012  

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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Pancit sa Bilao SM Merienda Meals @ SM Sta. Rosa Laguna

Dec2009
Lettuce Says,

Sunrise is really hungry after his mandatory OT at work that he impulsively bought a merienda meal from SM Foodcourt (a lineup of merienda dishes starting at 2pm until supplies last, I think). For P55.00, he bought this baked macaroni with macaroni salad and iced tea. He bought it from the selections of Pancit sa Bilao. I took a bite and tasted it.

Baked Mac: looks good tastes even worst, it's sweet and slippery; I can't even taste the ketchup
Macaroni Salad: tastes ok, I hardly can taste the mayo
Iced tea: more like iced water; the girl put 5 big cubes of ice! is this an SOP for them?

Sunrise still emptied the plate, but wished he ate at Jollibee instead. (We always say this when we’re not satisfied with what we ate)

A lot of people ate their merienda meals everyday because it's relatively cheaper than eating at fastfood restos but can we request something much more edible to eat?

Sunrise Says,

At the price of P55 pesos and good presentation of the food on the counter could really fool us, especially if we are starving and saw these snacks handy.

I would prefer eating at Jollibee or even goto (rice porridge) than what I ate here. The baked mac. Was it really a baked mac, or are they misinterpreting people to like their baked mac, sweet and indeed very far from the Filipino-style sweet sauce? The macaroni salad, was a mix of macaroni shells, commercialized mayo and too much carrots to maybe put a lot of color in the dish. The "Iced" tea. All I can say was, it was really iced!

But still, I emptied my plate, said thanks for the food, and wished again that I ate at Jollibee instead.

Lettuce said it’s "relatively cheaper" than eating at fastfood restos? I don't know if it was worth it at all. The next chow is much better for that price - wait till you hear about the bananas.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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Frozen Dipped Banana on Stick @ SM Sta. Rosa Laguna

Lettuce Says,

While waiting for Sunrise, I found a new food stand near the food court. I was intrigued with the Frozen Dipped Banana on Stick and tried one.

I bought the chocolate dipped with mini mallows sprinkles for only P25.00 The cruchiness of the chocolate coating and chewiness of the mini mallows blend well with the soft and cold banana. They have a variety of dips like strawberry, ube, white chocolate, peanut butter and buko pandan. You can choose among choco sprinkles, peanuts, stick-o and rice crispies.
 
Chocolate Dipped with Mini-Mallows

When Sunrise arrived, I told him to try out a banana.
It is refreshing yet you feel full after you ate it (because of the banana). It should have been a sure hit to mall goers but their signage is not eye-appetizing and eye-catching.

Sunrise Says,
One of my favorite food, the Banana was brought to the new level of food cart eating. This food cart owner is really creative, from the way the simple banana was presented. The Cart was simple but could be improved.
I'm excited to describe and share the food with you.  At, the price of P25 with loads of chocolate  sprinkles, it was really worth the price.

Peanut Butter Dipped with Chocolate Sprinkles

I've chosen the choco dip and mallows first, showing that Lettuce and I have the almost the same taste, I did not know that she already tried that combination until she told me. So, I opted for the all time favorite peanut butter dip with chocolate sprinkles. The chocolate sprinkles complement so well with the peanut butter dip (but I really hoped it was real peanut butter which I really like with banana). The banana was chilled so it was really refreshing from my first bite.

I was thinking that the dip may overwhelm the banana (which was small for my size hehe), but it did not, because it was the taste of the banana that would still prevail with a small burp from my tummy.

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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Marriott Café @ Marriott Hotel Manila

Nov. 2009

Lettuce Says,

I saw an ad from a newspaper about a 50% off on lunch and dinner buffet during weekdays in a newly opened 5-star restaurant (Marriott Hotel Manila). I excitedly told Sunrise that I want to dine there since I haven't experienced eating a buffet in a hotel, well except on weddings. I got the craving for a buffet when I watched an episode of Survivor Palau Philippines where Mika and Amanda ate heartily in a hotel. Sunrise then invited his friends to join us one Friday night. But only Jules confirmed and his date didn't manage to come. He called the Hotel for a reservation like 2 weeks before our trio date. But, when he called again to check (a day before), he was told that our reservation was cancelled because of a VIP thing and we landed on the waiting list. Not wanting to ruin our buffet date, we patiently wait for our turn. The stressed out lady with the very-important-reservation list with her didn't give me a number or even get our names. I thought she has this high memory mind to know the order of people like us who are on the waiting list. But after an hour of waiting, I noticed that foreigners who didn't have the very-important reservation had managed to get way past us. I can't help being awed (I'm sarcastic, okay?) by the hospitality shown to us in our own country. I then asked her if how soon can we be seated, she answered that we were absolutely next in line.

A little past 9, we were (at last) ushered to our seat while a woman who is actually a hotel guest (can't help but overhear) gave her complaints to the manager (that's why we didn't talk to the manager anymore)

I know this is supposed to be a blog about food but of course the pre-dining experience counts (very much).

The buffet boosts of Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, and Western dishes. The table closes at 10 so we really had only 1 hour to eat. I loaded my plate with everything that I think I would like.

My First Plate
Shrimp - cold and tasteless, I couldn’t find a vinegar dip (my personal liking)
Steak - tasteless as it is but yummy with their gravy
Sashimi - almost can't swallow it, the slices were too thick
Kani and Maki - loved it
Cordon Bleu - yummy
Veggie Pizza - yummy
Pasta - yummy
Beef something - ok
Salad - made my own with deli ham and Thousand Island dressing (loved it)

I tasted a bit of everything and ended up liking only the chocolate mousse. Sunrise willingly polished my dessert plate.

I came back for more of their potato fries and fresh fruits which I loved dearly.

Our check arrived with a little over PhP2000 for the three of us. It should have been really worth it if we were seated sooner than expected. I’m hoping for a better Marriott Café next time we drop by.

We Are

Empty Plates Mean Full Stomach

Lettuce (that's me!) and Sunrise (my other half) are certified active food enthusiasts. From the time we first met, we have this nagging urge to satisfy not only our hunger but our palate as well. A "cowboy" and a "cowgirl", we eat from the messy sidewalk mamihan to buffets of five-star hotels. Also, we are two of the many people who are already brainwashed by all the cooking shows aired on TV.



Empty plates mean full stomachs for us. We make sure everything we put in our plates are fully consumed (sometimes Sunrise does it for me). Why? Didn't our moms always tell us to finish everything in our plates because there are people who are starving but have nothing to eat? (Madaming nagugutom sa mundo!) I know this line sometimes get an answer like, "Why, will they get full if I ate all that?" (Mabubusog ba sila kung kakainin ko lahat yan?) While eating at Jolibee and Mcdo near the U-belt, I heard this topic being talked about by some rich kids. A girl said, "If I don't have tira, anong kakainin ng mga basurero? Baka madisappoint sila?" Then, cries of laughter were received by the "concerned" girl. Good thing, Sunrise was not with me that day, or else those kids will get a most needed sermon. Well I guess this is enough to tell you how we get the name "Empty Plates"

We primarily created this blog to share to the world our own and firsthand experiences in dining in various places that offers food. There are fabulous reviews and some comments for improvement. Well, there's always some room for it, right? While we are indulging in our privilege of "e-freedom of speech" this blog does not have any intent in bad mouthing anyone, okay? (My informal way of placing a disclaimer)

Establishments that get remarkable reviews will automatically be included in our HALL OF FAME. 

Sunrise and I have separate entries so as to give you two different perspectives about our dining escapades. That’s the Lettuce Says and Sunrise Says part. Just like this:

Sunrise Says,

Weeks before this blog were conceptualized by my ever loving Lettuce, I saw the 2009 Digital Filipino Awardees for food blog, it was named, PATAY GUTOM. I told lettuce about this, but never in my mind that we would start blogging about food.

I was before incredulous about people eating in places where the food is too extravagant and expensive. I would think of Gluttony, Envy, Boastfulness and every negative word a skeptic person could think of. I would say, "Why would I buy a venti cup of frappucino worth more than a hundred pesos, when that money would mean a day's meal for a less fortunate family?" Is this, the STARBUCKS EXPERIENCE the Book - is saying? But, everything has changed when I met Lettuce. I was introduced to the world where - "what you earn is what you get, but with a plus."

To explain, it is never bad for you to enjoy life to its fullest. God created the world for us, eat everything that was meant for you to eat but not the forbidden fruit - not the sin. Avoid being greedy, glutton and boastful. But share the experience, joy and love which God gave us in everything He gives us. Given all that, we did start with an Empty Plate, and we need to make sure we emptied it again, that He would bless us with more, to fill not only our plates, but others' as well.

SHARE and DON'T TASTE to WASTE.

Lettuce Says,

I'd like to hear some comments from you. I know you have similar or perhaps exciting and interesting dining experience to share.

I also hope those establishments that we had their Plates Emptied will take time to read our reviews and have an open mind. We are also open to food tasting events if you want to hear what our palate and stomach says about your food and place. We could also be your online or buddy blog friends.

That’s all. Happy reading and puhleez, empty your plates!

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*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

CONTACT US.

LETTUCE & SUNRISE

John and Letz Abelgas

Mobile No.: +63.922.885.9222
Email Address: lettuceandsunrise@gmail.com

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