Hotel Review: Ascott BGC (Why It’s Tripadvisor’s No. 1 Hotel in Taguig City)

At the lobby

By now, you probably know how much I love staycations, mostly to celebrate a special occasion. I recently booked a stay at Ascott BGC for no particular reason other than to explore new places in BGC. Since one of my nieces, Julia, was celebrating her 12th birthday that weekend, I also invited her to join us.

The living room. My camera couldn't capture the entire living area.

I always consult Tripadvisor prior to making a booking. I pore over all the reviews good and bad before making a decision. It was a no-brainer to opt for Ascott because it was ranked number one on the review site.

I wanted a serviced apartment as opposed to a hotel because I needed enough space for Jia and her entourage (her day nurse and her evening nurse), my husband and I, and my niece. I got us a two-bedroom executive suite.

When I came in to the apartment, I was floored by the amount space! It looked even bigger than I expected, maybe because the ceiling was high. My daughter seemed to approve because she started walking all over the place.

The master's bedroom

The master's bathroom

L'Occitane toiletries are always a good idea

The guest's bedroom

The guest's bathroom

I wished we were staying longer so we could use all the room appliances including the electric stove, oven, washer, and dryer.

First order of business after setting up Jia’s crib (it’s a playpen that we also use as a crib because she has outgrown her previous one) was food. Since I follow Gaita Fores on IG, I knew that Ascott BGC’s restaurant and room service were run by her. In short, there was no need to go out to eat well. Besides, it was pouring outside and I had a cold and a bad cough.

We ate apples oranges from the welcome basket while waiting

I ordered the mushroom and spinach pappardelle while my husband had the pulled pork sandwich. Even Jia gave the pasta her approval. A basket of apples and oranges were waiting for us when we went in so I also gave my daughter some. She loved the orange even if it was on the sour side.

Like Ascott Makati where we stayed a few months ago, Ascott BGC has a kids activity room. It was at the 7th floor where the gym and pool also are located. It was small but with enough entertainment for a 14-month old, mostly books and rocking toys.

It was pouring the whole day but when the rain let up for an hour or two, my husband stepped out to buy a cake for Julia from Slice. We welcomed her birthday with cake blowing and nursery rhymes from Jia who woke up before midnight in high spirits.

Breakfast was at Alta on the 2nd floor of the building.

The breakfast spread was uninspired and rather limited. I think next time a better option would be to book without the breakfast option then either order room service or go to the Wildflour branch at the corner (Wildflour never fails to satisfy me). What caught my attention at the breakfast buffet is this.

The Ascott BGC is great for a family staycation because you're getting more value than if you booked two hotel rooms of the same class. The apartments are comfortable, even luxurious, spacious, and are fully equipped. The location is perfect for exploring the shops and restaurants in the BGC area. And Gaita Fores's food for room service? It's hard to beat that.

Happy birthday, Julia!

Hotel Review: Raffles Makati (Why It's My New Favorite Hotel)

I didn’t get to treat my husband for Father’s Day last year because we were still reeling from all the changes that having a little one brings (for me, breastfeeding was particularly challenging). Since our daughter is bigger, I decided that for his second Father’s Day, we should celebrate in style.

I booked us a Junior Suite at Raffles Hotel. I got this at a 50% discount using my Citibank Premier Miles card. I love the promos in Citibank’s Love To Dine and Love To Travel. Yes, I have a weakness for discounts. Not a paid post, by the way.

The minute I set foot on the hotel, I felt welcome. How can I not when the doorman greeted me, “Mrs. Gallares, welcome to the Raffles Hotel.” Very personalized.

The lobby, though not as elaborate nor grand as Shangrila’s or The Peninsula’s, was tastefully done and so much to my liking. It had all the charm and elegance of a quintessentially British drawing room, separated from the Writer’s Bar with floor to ceiling bookcases. Seeing books instantly made me feel comfortable. The Writer’s Bar is just the perfect venue for an afternoon tea and a date with the girl friends.

When my husband and I saw our suite, we reconsidered the look of our new house, which we are renovating. The room was exquisite, with hardwood flooring, luxurious linens, an intimate parlor, a bath with double sink, and the dreamiest soaking tub.

Each room is assigned a butler. Ours was Carl, who showed us the features of the room and was promptly at our doorstep whenever we needed anything.

Of all the Philippine hotels I have stayed in, Raffles Makati hits the highest mark in terms of service, which is at once attentive yet unobtrusive. All throughout our stay, I received warm smiles and all my requests were promptly attended to.

My husband and I slipped away from our daughter for about two hours to dine at Mireio, which serves our favorite Provençal cuisine. My husband loved his steak while I relished every bit of my clams marinières. The clams came with frites but I opted for the crusty bread to sop up the juices with. We had a fine meal.

The complimentary petit fours

Breakfast was at Spectrum, which the hotel shares with Fairmont Hotel guests. The selection was not extensive but well-curated.

The regular rate includes breakfast, and all-day refreshments, classic afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and canapés at Writer's Bar. Worth every penny.

Raffles Makati is an all-suite hotel that is small and intimate so you receive a proper amount of attention. Upon checkout, I was presented by My, the front office manager, with a box of chocolates from Café Macaron as a parting gift.

This is the kind of hotel I would go back to, again and again. And the great news is, it is now part of the Accor group (together with Sofitel, Novotel, etc.) so I can use my stay to continue racking up Accor loyalty points soon (integration is within 18 months).

Easter Break 2016 (Part II): Dean & Deluca

I’ve always liked the pizzas and pastries at Dean & Deluca so that’s where I took the pamangkins for dinner.

Dean & Deluca is a popular chain of upscale grocery stores that started in New York in the ‘70s. The lone store in Manila, however, is more a restaurant than a culinary emporium.

I was curious about these flavored sugar

The first time I visited the restaurant, I ordered its honey-glazed pork ribs and all-American grilled cheese sandwich, both of which were good, but not as memorable as its banana quinoa bread and carrot cake. I’ve also had the occasion of trying the Parma pizza, which earned my approval.

This time around, we got to try a wider selection because I knew my foodie troupe were up to the task of polishing off everything that was served on the table.

The girls, Joanna, Jenna and Julia, started with the slow-roasted pumpkin soup, which earned three thumbs up but with the qualification (by Joanna) that it’s still not as good as Cibo’s.

The crispy calamari was exactly that, and the squid was tender, not at all chewy.

This was Joaki’s choice, the herb-roasted chicken au jus. The slow roasting was evident in the tenderness of the chicken, which was deliciously seasoned. However, I found an off-putting alcohol-like taste in the barley chorizo risotto.

The skillet meatballs stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t expect to find the meatballs of my dreams at Dean & Deluca. The Angus beef ball falls apart in your mouth and it goes exceptionally well with the rich flavor of the arrabiata and peppery arugula. An exceptional bite. We loved it so much we ordered another plate.

The butifarra con salsa funghi e tratufo

Of the pastas, the butifarra con salsa funghi e tartufo was highly recommended but I’d say go for the good ol’ carbonara. Granted, it is not traditional because the noodles are slicked with cream, not egg (although there’s a poached egg on top). On the merit of taste alone, this is a winner. And, mind you, it’s hard to find good carbonara (our favorite is the one of Manila Peninsula, which we ordered by room service during a stay).

The carbonara topped with poached egg

We ordered two pizzas, my favorite Parma and one we haven't tried, Sausage duo. I am no snob when it comes to pizzas and I enjoy the occasional Shakey's thin crust and Pizza Hut pan pizza as much as the next person, but seeing a well-made crust like this, all puffy with raised blisters, buoys my spirit. 

The Parma

The Sausage Duo, Joanna's preference

We capped off our meal with Joanna’s choice, the Hokkaido cheesecake. What a heavenly pick it turned out to be. I enjoy the occasional cheesecake but I usually gravitate more towards sponge cakes and meringue-based cakes like sans rival. This though, I totally dig. It’s lighter and less sweet than the NY variety, and its texture more akin to a soufflé or chiffon cake. Pillowy, velvety, ethereal--everything a cheesecake should be.

Happy diners

On more than one occasion, I have complained about the slow service at Dean & Deluca, especially at the takeout counter. I think this has been addressed somewhat. We did experience a snag when one of our additional orders wasn't placed but this was attended to immediately.

Dean & Deluca
Edades Tower
Amorsolo Drive,
Rockwell, Makati

I discovered CO/OP by chance one evening while Waze led me through the innards of Mandaluyong and San Juan in order to sidestep a gridlock in EDSA. It was the impossibly cool aesthetic that drew me in, something I had come to expect in well-scrubbed BGC or Makati but not in a secluded residential area in San Juan. Inside, it’s all warehouse-style industrial chic with exposed beams, studio track lights and brick walls. The space is shared by a cafe and a gift shop selling gnome sculptures, mushroom lamps, animal head wall decors and other curios that my hipster friends will surely love. And the food? In the next post. #cntraveler #itsmorefuninthephilippines #manila #igers #foodandwine #food52