My family and I are creatures of habit. When we find something we like, we usually stick to that. So it was a big deal that Mom and I decided to deviate from our usual lunch spot and check out Felix in Greenbelt. We were walking by, it was relatively empty (not peak hour) so we took a chance.
Here’s the exterior:
Here’s the interior, very modern. I liked. It was quiet but then again there was no one there. The vibe is nice.. upscale.
They give you fresh bread which is delicious, especially paired with this olive oil dip thing.
Heads up about Felix, their menu is extensive. They have tons of choices and have a little something for everyone. The one thing mom and I hated though was their fancy names for their dishes. The names told you nothing about the dish so it felt very much like reading a dictionary to determine your order. This made ordering so, so difficult because we had to read each item to make choices. You can’t just skim through the menu. You really have to read.
Here is a link to the Menu on MunchPunch.
Prices – Not for everyday. I’d say at least P1000/person is a good estimate for a full meal (appetizer, main, dessert).
We ordered Mushroom Soup. We split one order. Taste, okay.
My mom ordered the Truffle Cream Pasta with Crispy Parma Ham. I think this is called the “Ala Jay.” Go figure. Anyway, you could definitely taste the truffle. However, what it had in truffle it lacked in other flavors. It was a bit on the bland side. So this is a dish that is promising but needs improvement.
I had the Sea Bass with Stringy Potatoes and Spinach and Corn. In Felix terms, the “Mizube.” This dish is a STAR. I loved it. Fish perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. Vegetables tasty and complement the dish. The shoestring potatoes give the perfect texture. This dish is amazing. I love spring flavors so this is exactly that. Not too heavy. Sigh. I would go back just for this.
For Dessert we had Crepe Samurai. It was chilled and fluffy. The mangoes and cream filling was yummy. Yes, it’s sweet, for those who are watching their sugar…share this with someone. Or you could get one each like my mother and I did. The best thing about dining with family is you can eat like a pig and they won’t judge you. (I think.) Haha. Anyway, we were so busy enjoying it that I totally forgot to take a picture. But this is what it looked like after. Clean!
Overall, despite the soup and pasta falling short of expectations, I think Felix is worth another visit.
Felix
Level 1, Greenbelt 5
Ayala Avenue, Makati
(02) 729-9062 | (02) 710-1696
I only started to really care about my hair a few years ago. Only when I grew it out did I start to notice and appreciate it. For starters, mine is dark brown (as opposed to black like most Filipinos) and texture-wise, it’s soft and pin-straight. I love this. It’s really low maintenance, I don’t have to straighten or do much to it. The only thing I would like it to be is fuller and thicker. The strands are so fine that it’s always limp and has zero body. That’s my main frustration.
Before
Aaaanyway. While I love my natural hair color I’ve always toyed with the idea of getting highlights to bring out the brown even more. Last week, I spent an hour in Watson’s trying to decide what at-home color kit I should buy. I couldn’t commit so I figured I’d put that off for a different day. However, that same afternoon, I went on Facebook and saw an open call for models for a salon. The requirements would be color and a trim. After a lot of hesitation I responded. I figure it was a sign and I might as well leave the color choice in the hands of professionals. I was still really apprehensive though.
Long story short, yesterday, I spent about 6 hours in a Salon Chair getting my hair trimmed and colored. I was terrified and excited. I had no control since they chose the color that they thought would fit well with my skin tone and of course, their campaign. I could tell though that I was in the hands of professionals which made me feel at ease. They spotted my split ends right away. They spoke in numbers to refer to the color shades and percentages to refer to the ratio of hydrogen peroxide versus the color. They analyzed the way the light hits the top of the head and accordingly made my crown a darker shade. It was an amazing insight into a whole different world. I didn’t know that hair could be so technical.
So the outcome…. this golden reddish brown:
I think it’s really light and I still have to get used to seeing myself in the mirror. I feel kinda self conscious cuz I worry that it looks fake. But everyone seems to love it, I’ve gotten nothing but good feedback on it. They say I no longer look Asian and I look more American. Which I suppose is a good thing. I just really need to get used to it. But now I’m also scared that I’ll get addicted to color and that I’ll never go back to my natural shade. Yikes. Haha.
What do you think?
A friend of mine told me recently about this massage place that was cheaper than Tonton’s. I found this hard to believe so my cousin and I went to check it out. It’s true. There really is such a place that exists. P250 for a 1 hour massage at Nuat Thai in Libis. It looks suspicious from the outside but it’s legit. They have full body and foot massages.
Facilities were really nice. While I didn’t get to photograph the massage area (it was too dark), I captured the foot wash area where they take you prior to your massage.
I opted for a foot massage, it was decent. I actually still like the quality of Tonton’s better. But maybe it’s in the masseuse. Hard to tell these days, I feel like massage places are cheaper by the dozen.
Nuat gives you added services that make you feel extra special. Like what? Valet Parking! They have a parking attendant which may come useful during those crowded nights. Aaaand if that’s not enough, they offer free Wi-Fi!! I’m not sure how I feel about this though. I guess it’s a good thing but I spent most of my foot massage browsing Facebook. I didn’t get to relax. Whoops. Haha.
At Nuat, for what you pay for, I think that overall it’s a great experience. I would go back.
I think this place is a franchise so there are quite a few of them around. Don’t forget to pick up your loyalty stamp card. You get a free massage on your 11th visit.
Nuat Thai Libis
2nd Flr, 90 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Libis, across Shopwise
Above RCBC and Allied Bank
(02) 477-5004
Today was a loooong day. Don’t ask. I don’t wanna get into it. I came home around 7pm and found a letter from World Vision addressed to me sitting on the counter. I opened it and I have been smiling ear to ear ever since. It’s been the best part of my day.
This is Jolyne. He is 8 years old. For Php 600/month, I am able to help send him to school. In December 2010, I chose him out of dozens of little boys and girls to be the child I sponsor for World Vision. I knew Jolyne was the one when I saw him in the database. He was so cute! He and I have the same birthday month (March) and Jolyne kinda reminded me of Julienne. What makes our connection even more unique is that Jolyne is from a community development project somewhere in Antique, Iloilo. My dad was born in Antique. Imagine that! Coincidence? Fate.
This is his first letter to me. I’m incredibly happy to see and read that he’s doing well. There aren’t enough words to describe that feeling of knowing that I’m helping a child in need. I’m so so so happy and proud of him!! I’m already planning the letter I will write him. I’m worrying because I have to write in Tagalog (he most likely doesn’t speak English). My written Tagalog is not very good. Haha. It’s going to be a fun challenge. I think I will also send him a care package with some basic school supplies. 😀 I’m excited.
I would encourage everyone to sponsor a child with World Vision. It’s so fulfilling. It’s probably the best Php 600 I spend every single month.
Dimsum Buffets are my new favorite thing!!!! Thank you Deal Grocer. You have once again opened my eyes to a world of awesomeness. In April, they had this offer for P695 Unlimited Dimsum at Xin Tian Di also known as Crowne Plaza Galleria’s resident Chinese restaurant. I grabbed it the minute I saw it.
For those who are looking to embark on this All You Can Eat Dimsum experience, read on so you know what to expect. Also, do not eat prior to this meal. Very important to wear loose, comfortable clothing since you will be stuffed full. Ideally, go with family so you can eat as much as you want without judgment.
Today, my brother, my cousin Eric and I finally got the chance to redeem our vouchers. The place is real nice and fancy as one would expect from a hotel’s restaurant.
The minute you sit down, they hand you the menu. You will mark down on the order sheet the items you would like to have. Here is the catch: ONE PIECE OF EACH. Huh? It means, for the 3 of us, we had to coordinate the items we’d all like to have. It was quite a fun challenge to figure it all out.
We invented the Gluttonous Dimsum Game/Auction. It goes like this. One person should read menu items out loud (in this case it was me.) The rest of the group(brother & cousin) will then say how many pieces they want or can eat. Group discusses and then I consolidate. So we got like 13 Shrimp Dumplings (4 each + extra), 6 Xiao Long Bao, 4 taro puffs, 5 butchi, 3 abalone mushroom, 2 chili dumplings, 1 of each item here and there that we’d like to try, etc, etc, etc… You get the picture. We did two rounds of ordering plus a round of dessert. They also give you a cup of rice each, choice of plain or yangchow. I skipped the rice. I didn’t wanna be filled up.
*Note – I can’t imagine how this ordering game would go in a group larger than 4. Haha. The bigger the group, the harder it would be to consolidate all orders.
Everything comes pretty quickly. The service is terrific. We got a bunch of stuff and tasted random dumplings here and there so it’s hard to write about them individually.We purposely stayed away from the noodles and congee cuz we’d be too full as these are heartier dishes. In general, everything tasted delicious. We were extremely satisfied. Our favorites:
Hakao (unanimous favorite)
- Birds Eye Dumpling (tasted quite similar to hakao)
- Taro Puff (my favorite)
- Seafood Dumpling in Superior Stock (only my brother had this and he said it was delicious)
- Sesame Butchi (fresh and hot!)
- Coffee Pudding (loved this! perfect ending to the meal, order like 10 of them they are tiny)
We didn’t think we’d be full but we were insanely stuffed. We ate until we couldn’t breathe. It was ridiculous.
This is a Steamed Michael Roll with Radish. I like the inside better than the outside. It’s kinda chewy so for those that don’t like chewy textures, be forewarned. I don’t know why I took a picture of this specific order and not the others. I think I was too busy eating. This came during second round when we were slowing down and I had time to take a photo.
Spot my Cousin 🙂
We had Tea afterwards. It’s supposed to cleanse your system of the grease. I don’t know if that’s necessarily true though haha. Their house tea is P160 for a pot and is not included in the buffet price.
Is it worth it? If you’re coming here just to order endless siomai and wonton noodles, you might not find that it’s worth your buck. Full price is around P1,088++ However, consider this place as a tasting opportunity for different types of dimsum. It was a chance to try dumplings and dishes that we always see on menus but never order. As a bonus, we also generously ordered our favorites. In that alone, for us, it was worth it. We’d highly recommend it. We had such a great time 🙂
Xin Tian Di Chinese Restaurant
4th floor, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Next to Robinson’s Galleria,
Corner Ortigas and ADB Avenue
Tel# (02) 395-2635
