Pre-Valentines Spanish Lunch Buffet at Alba Restorante Espanol

Lettuce Says,

It's February gals and guys! I know a lot of us are now searching for romantic and brilliant ideas on how to celebrate Valentines day with our lovey doves, family, or even with our single friends.  Here's a surefire hit and date-worthy restaurant for people who have cravings for some delectable spanish dishes and a tight budget, Alba Ristorante Espanol. They serve lunch and dinner buffets, and luckily I got vouchers to treat Sunrise and MIL (mother-in-law)!

First things first, when you hear "buffet" you may be expecting a large spread just like the bigwig hotels or Dad's or Yakimix. Here in Alba, expect a selected array of spanish creations that are big in flavor, taste, and quality.

We had lunch reservations at their Alabang branch located inside Westgate. Their interiors were dimly lit and the tables were simply decorated with red and white tablecloths. They occupied two cozy floors, with a wall laden with bottles of wine.

Shall we start emptyin Alba's plates?

They have 3 buffet stations which were composed of the appetizers, mains, and desserts. The attentive waiters served some soup which is the, Sopa de Cebollas, onion soup.

The Appetizers

Appetizers

Ensalada Murciana

Ensalada Murciana, tossed salad of fresh lettuce, tomato, shrimp, and corn kernel with light mayo dressing.

Sardinas Picantes

Sardinas Picantes
This spicy spanish sardines became one of my favorites! We  even took some of the imported cans for take away. This has the authentic taste of spanish sardines which was not overly salty.

A trio tray servings of Albondigas de Pollo (chicken meatballs in cream and gravy), just ordinary chicken balls, Champignon al Ajillo (button mushrooms in olive oil, garlic and chili) which was very tasty, and Croquetas de Pescado, a fried meat ball, totally forgettable.

Toasted Bread with Pates

Toasted breads served with Liver Pate, Espinacas (spinach with feta cheese), and Pimientos pate. I loved the liver pate.

Cold cuts

Cold cuts selection in Spanish were Tabla Embutidos, these were Pamplona (cured spanish chorizo), Mortadela (bologna), and Salchichon (spanish style salami). The spices on the cold cuts are distinct and went well on their own or with some of the pates and bread.

The Main Dishes

Callos a la Madrilena

Callos a la Madrilena, stewed ox-tripe in rich tomato sauce. They cooked their callos right.

Pollo al Ajillo

Pollo al Ajillo, grilled chicken with pobre sauce.

Pasta con Setas

Menestre Legumbres

Menestre Legumbres, sauteed vegetables in light sauce. In buffets, I always skip the veggies, but since the spread was limited, I was able to squeeze some tummy space for these vibrant and seasoned veggies.

Lengua Sevillana

Lengua Sevillana, stewed ox-tongue with mushroom and olives in rich sherry brown sauce. MIL loved this a lot, the lengua was really soft and tender and the sauce definitely need some rice lovin.

Care for some crispy pata?

Crispy Pata

Cochinillo Asado

Cochinillo Asado, oven roasted suckling pig, with the right crisp of that golden color.

Paella Valenciana

The star of our lunch, the real deal, Paella Valenciana, Valencian rice dish with chicken, pork, seafood and vegetables. After tasting this paella, we were hands down to their home style spanish cooking. The paella alone was worth every peso of the buffet price. We could wolf down one paellera all to ourselves. Their recipe was outstanding from the meaty toppings down to the burnt bottom goodness. For us, this is the best paella in the Metro!

Glorious plate of mine!

Room for Desserts

Desserts

Canonigo

Canonigo, soft meringue cake with vanilla custard sauce. Brazo de Mercedes sent Sunrise to a different level. Yummy and not too sweet.

Canonigo

Pwede na pang date? :)

Rule No.1 NO LEFTOVERS

I salute Alba for having a no left over policy to conserve food and water and to avoid unnecessary spoilage. Please note that Php500 per table will be charged for left overs.

Hashtag #myemptyplates for all your emptied plates!!!

Alba Restaurante Español

Westgate, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City 

771.2178-79

38 Polaris St. Bel Air Makati City

896.6950-51, 890.4372 

Tomas Morato cor. Scout Lozano, QC

925.1912, 411.7052, 928.7129

Spanish Lunch Buffet

P650+ per head

Kids 4 feet and below: P325+

3 years old and below: free

Schedule:

11:30 am to 2:30 pm

Available Monday to Sunday in all outlets

Spanish Dinner Buffet

P695+ per head

Kids 4 feet and below: P348+

3 years old and below: free

Schedule:

6:00 to 10:30 pm

Monday to Sunday in Tomas Morato, QC branch

Saturdays and Sundays in Westgate, Alabang branch

Sundays in Polaris, Bel Air Makati Branch

*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.

Our First Valentines Made Sweeter with Sunrise and Sugarhouse Chocolate Truffle Cake

Lettuce Says,

Eventhough Valentines is over, it is still the Love month so please bear with us for posting mushy, cheesy sweet stuff here. Hehe

As always we celebrated in advance, our favorite buffet for lunch the weekend before Vday. An Alba Spanish Buffet A Day before Chinese New Year 

And we celebrated the weekend after, with a breakfast at the Salcedo Saturday  Community Market, a post-Valentines city staycation at Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences (courtesy of The Peeps at work), and an intimate dinner at Rue Bourbon.

Watch out for these as we will give you a blow by blow account here in My Empty Plates and in TravelnStories in the coming days.

Given that Valentines day fell on a weekday, my day was like a typical fully loaded meal. The delivery of flowers in the building, greetings from colleagues, and the building traffic gave away that it is indeed Happy Hearts Day. I got off from work on the dot (means super early for us) for fear of having a tight Valentines dinner inside a UV Express.

For dinner, I redeemed and take home a Chicken Joy Bucket Meal from a BPI receipt (memoirs of ze wedding expenzes). Gotta love freebies! I also scored a limited edition Makati Starbucks Mug.

Then I picked up a Sugarhouse Chocolate Truffle Cake. Which is..heart-shaped! 

Sugarhouse's Chocolate Truffle Cake

Sunrise greeted me home with colorful bouquets of flowers (a digital and a real one!), which I LOOVVEE! 

Digital and Fresh Flowers

Hearts and Bono Artisanal Gelato

Lettuce Says,

One of my routes going home from work includes passing through Glorietta and SM Makati.

Almost everyday I pass by this newly opened gelato joint called Bono across Cafe France.

The thing is, I always found myself hurrying home to avoid the long lines at the Ayala van terminal and rush hour traffic. But yesterday, I have drained the battery of my mobile phone having forgotten to bring my charger. So I had no idea what time it is. It was still light outside so maybe I walked at a much slower pace, thus, seeing the 50% off a cup on Ube and Stracciatella flavors.

Whoa?! Was that Jin of jinlovestoeat.com ? Maybe not, it was possible that I was hallucinating since I have read a lot of her blog entries yesterday. Well, I was feeling really un-sociable (as always!) that day that I haven't confirmed if it is her. Soreee!

Sewing Machines and Barako Coffee at Cafeño

Lettuce Says,

While I was searching for some resort reviews for our Laiya beach getaway, I found Cafeño. I immediately noted it down on my mind as one of our pit stops.

When we arrived at San Juan town proper, Cafeño greeted us. You can't simply miss it when you are going to Laiya. Just look for Petron and Puregold who shared the same intersection. 

After a long jeepney and bus rides, a quick break was demanded by our bodies and bladders. Hence, the immediate discovery of this quaint coffee shop, Cafeño.

Cafeño is a part of an old heritage home which used to be a gas station, owned by former Cong. Marasigan. The gas station was later transferred across the street (now Petron). Cafeno opened in 2006 and has known for their Barako infused menu items like Barako ice cream which was made from scratch. They have a lot of offerings from rice meals to cakes. They use locally grown and organic produce. They also support sustainability by using manila papers as placemats. Cool!

 

Intrigued by the title?

See for yourselves.

Sofitel's Rainy Sunset Buffet

Snapshots of Last Year Series

Lettuce Says,

While I was checking my emails, I saw a promo voucher for the same Sunset Buffet deal I purchased last year from Cash Cash Pinoy.  And so, I rummaged through old piles of photos and thought of sharing it with you.

 Photo from Cash Cash Pinoy Website

Segway. Before that, I scored a separate deal from Philippe Tordjman Le Salon in Sofitel for a Haircut and Keratin Treatment for only PhP999 instead of PhP5500. 

Before

After

I was really expecting a VIP treatment (as also stated in the deal) thinking of a 5k worth of treatment! Sad thing was, I felt the treatment was really worth the promo price (or maybe lesser). It was a junior stylist who trimmed my hair, who didn't offer any drinks or magazines and just put some hot oil like every other salon will do but for a cheaper price of course. Nothing spectacular, really no VIP sign whatsoever. Philippe was there, I thought he'll be the one to cut my hair but no such luck, what can you expect it still was a promo rate. These things made me feel bad about buying from these online group buying sites, a lot of them (but not all of course), just made a lot of false advertising, just flowery words and all. Still, I'm a GV girl, so smile!

 

Sadly, this is also what I felt from the Sofitel's Sunset buffet. Based on the quality of ingredients used, I feel Marriot was more superior than this.

I bought two vouchers for Sunrise and I because I want to surprise him for our 4th year anniv as bf-gf and because I know that he is dying to try out Sofitel's buffet. Although it's not for Spiral Buffet, I said, what the heck they share the same kitchen and chef so they might just taste the same. The deal back then is PhP999 per person quite a great deal because Spiral's rate then is PhP2700++ net. Now, the Sunset BBQ Buffet is PhP1399 instead of PhP2078 (whew! much heavier now on the pockets).

Table Setup

 Yeah, you get it right, sunset buffet inside a tent. Well, it rained and its nobody's fault. But I'm kinda expecting a tent with maybe some actual view of the bay. The different folk dances were great, though.

 

Spinach Soup and Assorted Bread

The star of the night, need I say more?

Lechon

Prime Rib

Grilled Shrimp and Mussels

 The grilled shrimp and the rest of the entrees (around 6 variants),totally forgettable. See, I actually forgot to take some photos.

Green Salad

It's weird, seeing there are more dressing variants than the leafy greens.

Oysters

Pasta Spread

Assorted Pastries

DIY Halo Halo

With all that's been said and eaten, we're still looking forward to a more satisfying buffet, we certainly hope that it is, Spiral's.

Spiral, hope we'll empty your plates soon.

For those who has redeemed their vouchers, please share with us your firsthand dining experience.

 

Sept 2011 
Sunset BBQ Buffet

Hotel Sofitel Manila

*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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Solace in Mary Grace

April 2012

Lettuce Says,

Work and wedding preps made us excited and stressed at the same time. Good thing, Sunrise and I, found some solace fix in Greenbelt 2.

Meet my lovingly kaagaw sa iced tea, este, my fiance, Sunrise :)

Iced tea pa lang solved na lolo nyo.

Peach Ice Tea, Pitcher (PhP224)

We really love the iced tea no matter that a pitcher cost us an entree. 

Grilled Ensaymada (PhP 73)

Expensive, yes, but amazingly good! Bread is super soft and  you can taste the high quality of ingredients used.

Sunrise and Squash

Summer Squash Soup (PhP124)

If I'm sick, I'll get better by just looking and smelling this soup.

Pasta Americana with Italian Meatballs (PhP210)

Serving is really good for one with a small appetite. But Sunrise felt full because of the relaxing atmosphere and the good quality of the food served. I love its garlic bread with real garlic bits. The meatball is really meaty but could use some salt. Sunrise asked for extra parmeasan cheese to make it more salty.

Table Trinkets

This restaurant will remind you of your grannies' house. I can relate to this but a more sosyal version of my lolo and lola's former wooden house in Pinagbakahan, which is sadly, now physically demolished, but will forever stay in my memory. And instead of spaghetti and iced tea, arrozcaldo and Sarsi will greet you then. Once you enter, no matter how adult you are already, all your pain and troubles simply melt away, and you're instantly enveloped with the comforter-like love of your lola. Aww, I'm sure a lot of you can remember your grannies crib that evoke the same melancholic feeling.

Their servings are small and good for only one person. As always, Sunrise and I shared everything. Food prices are quite expensive here. A light meal can cost you around PhP500 per person. We normally don't order drinks since they are always the overpriced items on the menu. Unless, well, because I just can't resist the iced tea! Their drinking water tastes good too with all that lemon and orange slices.

Taking in the homey ambiance, good service, and quality food, it's definitely worth it, not everyday but at least once in a while. As often as you visit your grannies' farm.

Sunrise Says,

If you haven't tried Mary Grace yet, you are missing a lot. A homey experience because of the food they serve plus excellent service. And if you are budding entrepreneur like me, you should know how Mary Grace became to be. Their story is one exceptional entrepreneurial journey that can inspire many. 

Mary Grace

Greenbelt 2, Makati City

Updated 2012 Prices

*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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