#thektg

[thelastdonph]

chahan + Kirin @kessakualabang #kessakualabang #thektg #thelastdonPH #ourawesomeplanet #zomatoPH #globemybusiness

[thelastdonph]

can't wait to hit @ombukusina #ombukusina #thelastdonPH #thektg #spotph #esquireph ##globemybusiness (at Ombu Kusina)

[thehungrykat1]

Vote For Your Favorite Restaurants at The Choice 2019

Our Awesome Planet and The KTG presents The Choice Year V! We’re now in a Golden Age of Philippine Restaurants and Hotels that we’ve never experienced before. In the first six months of this year alone, over 500 new restaurants opened … and that’s only all over Metro Manila! The construction boom in hotels and resorts all over the country is likewise accelerating at a rapid pace. Every month, every week, and almost every day it seems, there's a new restaurant opening its doors. There are a lot of great new dining choices, side by side with the perennials, the classics that we grew up with. As food bloggers, writers, and members of the F&B industry, we're always very curious about the crowd favorites. The popular vote, if you will. What are the beloved favorites? Let the voice of the people be heard!

Our Awesome Planet, the country’s #1 food blog and one of the Top 50 travel blogs in the world;  and the Food Writer and Blogger Collective known as the The KTG (Kain Tulog Gang); together with the prestigious World Food Expo (WOFEX), The Ultimate Food Show Experience, have partnered to conduct the People's Choice for the Favorite Food, Restaurants, Hotels, and Chefs …. Or simply, “The Choice.”  Since our first ceremony in 2015, The Choice Awards have become more influential every year, and are now considered to be the most prestigious People’s Choice Honors in the F&B Industry. Through the first four years, we have celebrated the Best of the Best, and have elevated the most beloved restaurants to the Hall of Fame after winning their category three times. This year, we celebrate our landmark Year V!

(Click this link to cast your votes: https://awesm.pl/TheChoiceV)

We conducted an intense first round of voting among ourselves, and our resulting Finalist Lists have made us very pleased:  we feel it's a very diverse and fair representation of all our favorites from many diverse categories. Last year’s awards saw several new winners as many previous winners were already elevated to the Hall of Fame. So how will you let your voices be heard? Simply click on this link to cast your votes: https://awesm.pl/TheChoiceV

The Survey Parameters

1. For the Favorite New Restaurant category, our coverage period includes restaurants that opened between July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. 

2. There are 45 questions in this survey, and answering this survey should take only around 10-15 minutes. It is best to give a definitive answer to each question, but feel free to skip if you can't decide.

3. All answers are considered final once you click on the submit button.

4. Strictly one completed survey will be counted for each person voting.

5. Please provide us your name and email address for our random validation of the survey responses; rest assure that all information submitted will be kept confidential.

Make sure to cast your votes before July 31, 2019. The grand winners will be announced on August 31, 2019 at the SMX in SM Aura Premier. Keep following The Hungry Kat, The KTG, and Our Awesome Planet for more exciting news.

[thehungrykat1]

The KTG Celebrates New Year’s Party at OZ Bar in Holiday Inn Makati

Our fun and exciting group of bloggers and media personalities called the Kain Tulog Gang (KTG) celebrated its annual New Year’s Party last January 16, 2019 at the OZ Bar in Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. December is usually too busy and hectic so we always have our get-together after all the Christmas parties and activities are finished. This year, we had our party at a more vibrant and energetic venue filled with savoury treats and overflowing beverages.

Oz Bar is the trendy roof deck pool bar of Holiday Inn & Suites Makati located on the 24th floor where you can indulge in your favorite drinks and their specially crafted cocktail selection. These can be paired with their sumptuous bar snacks while enjoying the magnificent view and listening to chill out music. Holiday Inn Makati is just adjacent to the Glorietta 1 shopping mall so you don’t even have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy this cool hangout spot.

Aside from being a great place for a nightcap, OZ Bar can also function as an events and party venue since it also has an indoor area where the buffet or cocktails can be set up just beside the bar.

I was so happy to see the girls of The KTG once again, the first time we all met this year. It had been quite a long Christmas break so it’s nice to be with my friends once again who have been like family over the past few years.

The bar was open the entire evening so we all got our favorite drinks and cocktails like the Singapore Sling (left) and the Tequila Sunrise (right). One of my favorites that night was the Amaretto Sour and I do remember ordering a number of glasses for myself. Other standout cocktails include the Piña Colada, Mojito, Old Fashioned, and a lot more.

Beers and Sparkling Wines were also laid out at the bar so we can just indulge in our favorite bubblies while catching up with our friends. Oz Bar comes with its own sound system so you can play music or set up a small stage for hosting programs and activities.

They also have a Happy Hour Gin Promotion which offers Buy 1 Take 1 deals on their gin cocktails from 5:00pm to 8:00pm daily for only P450 nett. Choose from their featured gins of the month like the Bombay Sapphire, Martin Millers, Four Pillars, and Hendricks Gin.

Those who want friendlier drinks can also choose from their wide selection of juices, teas, sodas, and fruit shakes like the Chocolate Banana Milkshake topeed with chocolate syrup and lots of whipped cream. 

Hosting our party was the lovely and always gracious Lady Bess Howe, Director of Public Relations at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati. Ms. Bess is one of my favorite PR persons and I am grateful to count her as one of my personal friends, so this was truly a special night.

Our buffet dinner was set up with a selection of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts courtesy of Holiday Inn & Suites culinary team.

We started with some canapes like the Smoked Farmer’s Ham and pickled pomery mustard on bread. I particularly liked the Smoked Salmon on Rye Bread which came with fresh and sweet slices of salmon.

Bar chows and some finger food were also on the table including the Quiche Lorraine, Spice Chili con Carne Empanaditas, and the Breaded Chicken Wings with Honey Wasabi Mayo. The chicken lollipops were a nice addition to the lineup since I usually only see this at children’s parties.

The Baked Creamy Chicken and Spinach Cannelloni with Parmesan Cheese was a creamy and cheesy pasta dish to go along with the Seafood Paella as part of the main dishes. The paella was filled with delectable seafood.

The highlight of the buffet table was definitely the Cooked U.S. Beef Chuck Roll marinated with herb and mustard gravy sauce. These were sliced and served to the guests at the carving station and I just had to go back for seconds, and thirds.

There were more items waiting for us outside as the grill was fired up for the Tuna and Vegetable Kebabs marinated in lemon garlic herbs olive oil. These delicious skewers were also joined by the juicy Hawaiian Pork Baby Ribs marinated in barbecue pineapple sauce and a couple of Assorted German Sausages as well.

We still had room for desserts so Holiday Inn & Suites specially made this giant Cake Pop Tree filled with gold and silver cake pops for The KTG. We really love the personalized effort the hotel gives every time we visit and that is what guests of the hotel can also expect when they stay here. 

The dessert section was filled with delightful treats from their pastry chefs like the signature Ube Cheesecake which I always enjoy from Flavors Restaurant. The Crepe Samurai is another familiar dessert item here, and they also introduced their new Mini Crockies.

To complete our evening, a raffle contest was also held offering great prizes for lucky guests which included food items, buffet certificates at Flavors Restaurant, and an overnight stay for two at Holiday Inn & Suites Makati! Richie Zamora from The Pickiest Eater in the World, who was celebrating his birthday that week, ended up with the grand staycation prize!

Congratulations to the raffle winners and thank you so much to Ms. Bess Howe and Holiday Inn & Suites Makati for hosting our KTG New Year’s Party (photos from Jane Chua). There were a lot of other KTG members missing that night, but I really enjoyed the great company and the fabulous party venue, especially with all the cocktails we ended up drinking. Cheers and Happy New Year!

OZ Bar at Holiday Inn Makati

24/F Roof Deck, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati

909-0888 ext 72001

www.holidayinn.com/makati

www.facebook.com/HolidayInnMakati

[sandundermyfeet16]

Don't go bacon my heart... 😜🙊🤭⁣ ⁣ Create Your Own Platter - this is the all-day breakfast series of Stories wherein you can choose amongst the wide selection of breads, spreads, mains and eggs depending on your mood or cravings.⁣ ⁣ Our Create Your Own Platter combination included: crispy bacon, frankfurter sausage & veggies omelette, plain pancake and Nutella Pancake⁣ ⁣ #stories #storiesbylilypad #yummy #thektg#wimyummy #tasty #blogger #bloggersph#certifiedfoodie #foodiesofIG #instafoodie#foodporn #instafood #BuzzFeast#iheartfood #buzzfeedfood#certifiedfoodie #foodblog #foodblogger#foodbloggerph #foodgasm#foodgrammer #foodie#foodiesofinstagram #zomato #zomatoph#spotmyfood (at Stories by LilyPad)

[thehungrykat1]

New Year’s Party & Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila

The holidays are always the best times to spend with family and friends. F1 Hotel Manila, the Home of Happy Experiences, has always been a popular destination whenever holidays or long weekends come along (see related links below). I have had relaxing Christmas staycations at F1 Hotel for the past three years, but this time, we had something a little different as The KTG (Kain Tulog Gang) held its New Year’s Party at the hotel last January 6, 2018. That gave us an opportunity to experience a New Year’s staycation this time around and it still came with the warm hospitality this 100% Filipino-owned hotel always provides for its guests.

I arrived at the Premier Lounge of F1 Hotel Manila for my private seated check-in. This is located on the fifth floor and is a benefit for guests staying at the Fort Suite or City Suite. Guests can also book restaurant reservations or spa treatments through the friendly lounge associates. I got my room cards quite easily and got ready for a fun and relaxing post-Christmas staycation at our favorite hotel in Bonifacio Global City.

The Premier Lounge also offers snacks and beverages throughout the day. It serves as an extension of the hotel rooms and guests can stay here and enjoy reading newspapers and magazines or even entertain other guests.

My room at F1 Hotel Manila is the elegant and spacious Fort Suite. This fabulous corner suite has 43 square meters of comfort and comes with high-speed internet, an ipod dock, electronic safe, mini-bar, plus coffee and tea-making facilities. It has a separate living room area complete with a sofa bed and its own 32-inch LCD television. 

I am always delighted with the admirable Filipino hospitality and service guests receive at F1 Hotel Manila. This cheese platter was already waiting for me when I arrived and these are the small things that truly make a stay extra special. Room service is also available 24 hours a day so anyone can place an order in the comforts of their room.

My king-sized bed inside the Fort Suite is just so comfortable. The plush mattress and soft pillows makes it so easy to fall asleep whatever time of the day. The bedroom also has another flat screen TV so this is perfect for families whose kids want to watch their own programs. No need to fight over the remote control!

I wanted to just stay inside my room and take a nap, but it was time for our buffet lunch at F All Day Dining, the hotel’s restaurant on the third floor. The spacious cafe offers international cuisine for its lunch and dinner buffets at only P1,399 nett per person.

I also wanted to meet F1 Hotel Manila’s new executive chef Angelo Chubby Timban who was busy preparing the lovely buffet spread at F All Day Dining. Chef Angleo is an award-winning chef who used to work at other five-star establishments such as Resorts World Manila, Shangri-La Boracay, and Discovery Suites. He takes over from Chef Decker Gokioco and is now in charge of all the hotel’s kitchen operations including the buffet plus banquet and social events such as our New Year’s Party this evening.

Lunch at F1 Hotel Manila is always special and diners can start with some appetizers from the cheese board. Other choices include salads, breads, cured meats, soups, noodles, sushi and sashimi.

Now this is my kind of appetizer, the crunchy Prawn Tempura. I always looks for these first whenever I am at a buffet and F All Day Dining never disappoints with their huge bowl full of tempura.

The cold seafood section is also a great place to grab some mussels and fresh prawns. You can eat these as they are, but it is much better to have them grilled or cooked in garlic butter at the grilling station.

The highlight of our buffet lunch that afternoon was the Lechon Cebu, a savoury slab of roasted pork belly that comes with very crispy skin. I got a plateful of lechon and poured some liver sauce for a really delectable treat.

There were many other dishes featured on the buffet table including the Beef Tenderloin in Red Wine Sauce and the tasty Pork Pastrami. Other interesting items included the Beef Ribs Adobo and the Gochujang Chicken with red chili paste.

Desserts are also plenty at F1 Hotel Manila with a selection of cakes, parfaits, cookies, breads, fruits, halo halo, and even all the ice cream that you want. I was really so full from my lunch buffet at F All Day Dining so I had a short walk around the hotel afterwards to visit some of its facilities.

F1 Hotel has three separate swimming pools located on the fifth level including a family pool, a kiddie pool, and a lap pool. It is open daily from 7:00am to 11:00pm. A fully-equipped Fitness Center is also just nearby which is open 24/7 for those early morning or late night workouts.

Beside the pool is the Canary Lounge where drinks and snacks are served all day. Set with a magnificent view of the bustling cityscape below, the Canary Lounge is also a great place for evening cocktails especially with the cool city breeze. F1 Hotel is also close to many popular retail establishments such as S&R Membership and Bonifacio High Street so everything is just a few minutes away.

Our dinner party that evening was held at the Infinity Ballroom which is a great venue for birthday parties, debuts or corporate events. The ballroom can accommodate around 200 guests and with our growing family and friends, the KTG had plenty of room to dine and mingle. The KTG’s founder, media personality and blogging pioneer Spanky Enriquez, hosted the affair which even included raffles and special gifts for the guests.

Of course, everybody was waiting for the buffet tables to open and we all started lining up for The Plaza Premium Baked Ham from The Plaza Catering. This is one of the best hams you can find in Metro Manila and it goes really well inside warm pandesal. 

Also on deck were excellent cuts of cheese from La Petite Fromagerie. I especially like their Truffle Cream Cheese Spread which is unlike any other spread you can put on your bread.

But the star of the evening was definitely the Raclette which was melted into a gooey and cheesy delight. You can have the cheese with bread, nuts or fruits, but you can also be creative and combine it with the ham pandesal. Thank you Ms. Karla Reyes for bringing these lovely treats to the party.

F1 Hotel Manila also presented their own culinary creations for the guests like the Tinapa and Aligue Pasta with its distinct Filipino taste.

Everyone was also impressed with the Stuffed Beef Belly with Black Forest Sauce from Chef Chubby. This roasted beef is stuffed with even more beef and then served with a chocolate sauce that is truly amazing. With these kinds of mouthwatering dishes, I’m sure F1 Hotel Manila is in good hands.

Most of The KTG members are now so busy that this is the only time everyone is present in one event. It’s nice to get together and see all the KTG babies growing up so fast. All the guests were happy with their glasses of yummy milk tea and beverages courtesy of Serenitea. I tried the Wintermelon Milk Tea and the Milo Dino drinks which were both really good.

There was also free-flowing cocktails and other alcoholic beverages care of Swizzle Mobile Bar. I like their Frozen Mojito which you can also book for your parties and celebrations. It was a fun and filling night which even ended with a one-hour spa treatment inside my room. How can you beat that?

The next morning, I woke up to a buffet breakfast at F All Day Dining which is served from 6:00am to 10:00am. You can find the usual breakfast staples here such as bacon, sausages, cereals, eggs, and noodles. Pancakes, waffles, ensaymada and French toasts are also available with fresh juices to start the morning right. 

F1 Hotel Manila is truly the Home of The KTG and every visit here reminds me of how important it is to spend time with family and friends. We each have our own busy schedules but it is always a pleasure to see everyone during these special holidays and events. Thank you so much F1 Hotel Manila for always taking care of The KTG and I’m sure I will be back again really soon.

F1 Hotel Manila

32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

928-9888 / 908-7888

www.f1hotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/f1hotelmanila

Related articles:

Easter Summer Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila

A Very Merry Christmas at F1 Hotel Manila

Luzviminda 4 Highlights Filipino Heirloom Recipes

A Splendid Yuletide Staycation at F1 Hotel Manila (with a Birthday Surprise)

[thelastdonph]

baguio + @ilpadrinocoffeeph #ilpadrinocoffeeph #thelastdonPH #zomatoph #thektg #globemybusiness

[thelastdonph]

this one @backyard_ph #backyardphBGC #backyarding #thektg #thelastdonPH #ourawesomeplanet #zomatoPH #globemybusiness