DyceNDyne Board Game Bar and Café

DyceNDyne Board Game Bar and Café

Jeff and I went to Pasig recently to try out DyceNDyne Board Game Bar and Café which was still on soft opening. I saw their photo from wheninmanila and was intrigued by the milktea in Erlenmeyer flasks.

                We found the DyceNDyne at  Rosemarie Building right across Seaoil. Don’t worry if the parking spaces in front is full, because there’s plenty more at the back. I was surprised to find a lot of people there already. The empty tables we saw have already been reserved so we had to stay in one of the tables outside.

                The place had two floors where you can play all the available board games on their shelves. There are people walking around who are more than happy to assist you if you have questions about a game or if you have no idea what exactly you want to play with. They’re even willing to play with you! We decided to play Tapple since there were only two of us. (I’m not familiar with the games, but I did see Cards Against Humanity there).

the area

games on the first floor shelf

more on the second floor

                When I try a milk tea place, I tend to go for the basic first. I got the winter milk tea with pearls while Jeff had the NaiCha with coffee jelly which the person who assisted us recommended. Each can cost between Php100-Php130 depending on your sinkers. I was excited when it came to our table. It looked so yummy and pretty being in an Erlenmeyer flask and all. Definitely Instagram-worthy.

winter on the left, naicha on the right

                The taste, however, was extremely disappointing. For one, it was just tooooo sweet.  We were not asked what sugar level we wanted. The pearls were barely there too. And I also found it a little weird that they use shaved ice instead of just serving it cold or with whole ice. I think it might have affected the texture a bit. Jeff even felt a little sick after because his NaiCha was just tooooo sweet.

                I’m not saying the drinks there are bad or anything. Maybe we should have just ordered the more peculiar ones like the Milo Dinosaur Mix.

Syrups Available

You can Make-Your-Own-Tea at Chemist.Tea

                I wasn't able to take a photo of their menu but they have a lot to offer. They have nachos, grilled cheese, rice, sandwiches and more. It can easily cost 300 per person at least.

                Jeff and I weren't hungry so we ordered the fish skin and chips which was described to us as VERY SINFUL. Indeed it was. The fish skin was smothered in Buffalo sauce and the chips were really oily.

Fish Skin and Chips

              I can’t make a judgement on this place yet because I haven’t tried the rest of the menu. I seem to have ordered the wrong stuff. Their service was so-so too. The staff seems eager to please but theyre not sure how. (The one who welcomed us got us seated immediately and told us she’ll get the menu, not once, not twice, but thrice before she actually got it.) They were very jolly though and seem to know their menu well.

                What I can say though is that it seems to be a nice place to bond with friends and colleagues. They have a lot of available games in store, although Ludo seems to have just a bit more. They seem to have put a lot of thought in the interiors too. *Tip if you plan to go there in a big group, GET A RESERVATION. The place can easily fill up and most of the people who go there come in big groups.

Guy in yellow looks like the game master

Bottled Lights on the Ceiling

                DyceNDyne is located at Unit3 Elements@Rosemarie Building, Pasig Blvd. It is open on Wednesdays to Sundays from 12nn to 12mn.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/dycendyne

Contact no: 0906 307 8465

                Have you tried DyceNDyne already? How was your experience? Tell me about it by commenting down below.

                

Dine with Spiderman at Movie Stars Café

Dine with Spiderman at Movie Stars Café

Have you ever seen Tinkerbell use a cashier? Do you want to chat and play around with your favorite superhero?. It’s possible only at Movie Stars Cafe and Restaurant!

   This place has been around for a while. It's located right beside Vikings at SM MOA By the Bay.

               In the facade is an installation which I assume is inspired by Kingkong.

aaaah! help!

whataaaa!

                They have movie-inspired performances every 30 minutes. When Jeff and I got there, they were performing Twilight. 

Bella and Edward

                The place was really big. I’m guessing it can accommodate a couple of hundred.

           

It's really vast

           On to the food.Their menu is quite extensive. It has American, Japanese and Chinese cuisine available and all of them are named after hollywood movies.
          To be honest though, the food was very disappointing.

          The French Onion Soup/Oscars it looked nothing like its photo in the menu. For the price of Php295, I almost felt cheated. It tasted like instant beef noodle soup with lots of onion rings. The photo in the menu was soup topped with loads of cheese. Instead, we got this sad.. sad.. bread topped with a square cheddar.

Oscars

               

                We got the Supremo Pizza(Php490) which was their best selling pizza according to the waitress. It had a little bit of everything, including crab stick, sausage, bell peppers and a little beef. The toppings are not so bad. What got to me was the pizza dough. It tasted like the instant one’s you can buy in super markets.

Supremo Pizza

                The Gold Rush(Steak!). It was the second most expensive dish in the menu at Php945. The most expensive one is almost the same, only a little bigger. This one was not so bad except that it was still really bloody, even when the boyfriend requested it to be cooked medium-well.  It came with a teriyaki chicken that didn’t taste teriyaki at all.

The Gold Rush

Chicken Teriyaki

                Not even the service can make up for the food.They were very nice and jolly but seem to get confused when asked about their dishes.

                What we did find enjoyable was watching the performances. It wasn't anywhere near Universal Studios. Truth be told, the characters looked nothing like the real ones! But somehow, it made the place much feel more alive and it took our attention off the food.

Batman getting funky

I'm a barbie girl,in a barbie woooorld..

                Spiderman mingled with the audience after his show. We even got to dine with him.

Jeff and Spiderman

spidey and meeeeee

                They have various installations of our favorite characters.

Check out BATMAN!

Catwoman

Terminator

Dinoo

                They have signed photos of Hollywood stars and 3D movie posters all over their walls.

Signed photos. (OMG ITS LIV TYLER!)

                We saw this car outside. Not sure if its part of the establishment or not but I took a photo anyway. hehe.).

                OVERALL. I felt cheated because of the food. But I see how this place can be enjoyable for kids because of the performances and fictional characters roaming around the place.              
                 I believe they accept reservations so if food quality isn't such a big factor for you and hosting your party here isn't so bad. can be an interesting experience.

Movie Star Café is located at Seaside Blvd., SM Mall of Asia. They are open from 12pm to 2am on Mondays to Saturdays, and 12pm-12am on Sundays and Holidays.

Contact nos:  5501234/0905 277 9999/0908 200 9999

Website: http://www.moviestarscafe.com/

Kissako Uji Matcha Café: A Matcha Lover’s Heaven

Kissako Uji Matcha Café: A Matcha Lover’s Heaven

              If you love matcha aka green tea then you will probably freak when you visit Kissako Uji Matcha Café.  This green tea heaven serves drinks, cakes and croissants based on Matcha and other interesting ingredients made especially for Japanese-culture enthusiasts. It is definitely a must-try for those who want to taste something different among today’s coffee shops and milk tea places in the metro.

              Kissako Uji has a very simple lay out. It’s really small (probably has a capacity of 20 people only). It does not feel cramped though, and I haven’t seen it actually get full. It’s a perfect place to study or read a book. They do play soft music, but nothing too distracting. Wi-Fi is fast AND FREE too. (plus 10 pogi points!)

          NOW FOR THE FOOD.

              Let’s start with the drinks.

              Their specialty is the Horiguchi Blend (Php130 - medium) which is roasted coffee imported from Japan. They also have their coffee of the month for (Php160) which are usually variants of their Horiguchi Blend.

              I initially asked for the Hot Matcha Latte (Php130 - medium), but I realized I wanted something colder (It was scorching hot too). They didn’t make a fuss out of it and ‘iced’ my latte. It tasted every bit of Matcha. It was a lot less sweet compared to the Green Tea Latte in Starbucks.  They do coffee art (latte art) too.

They have magazines to too

                Choco-Hojicha(Php180 - large). It was a blend of coffee and tea. I wasn’t sure how it was going to taste like but I ordered it anyway. I found this weird but yummy. The chocolate was definitely there but for some reason, I tasted a bit of seaweed too.  I would recommend this if you want to try something different.

                Cakes.

                I tried the Matcha Cheesecake (Php170/slice) first. I didn't find this particularly special. I think the matcha made the cheesecake a little more crumby and the neither the cheese nor green tea stood out.

Matcha Cheesecake

                St. Marc’s (Php180). According to the staff, this was the owner’s favourite. I could see why. The chocolate and vanilla mousse topped with caramel was heavenly. It’s a little expensive at Php160 for something so small thought.

St. Marc's Cake

                Straberry Shortcakes(Php170/slice) is a best seller too.

Strawberry Shortcake

more sweets

japanese cookies!

                They sell parfait too with green tea ice cream but I was too full to eat any. I’ll definitely try it the next time I visit. 

A Green Tea grinder on Display

           Their menu a a little more expensive than normal cafe's but its a great alternative to the coffee shops we have been accustomed to. Its a great place to hang out at as well if you need to study, work or write a blog (like what I'm doing now, hehe)

           Also, I can’t help but commend on how friendly and accommodating the staff is! 

           Some of the names are in Japanese but don’t fret. They would gladly explain to you in detail what the drinks actually are(another plus 10 pogi points!)

           Kissako Uji Matcha Café is located at Pioneer Centre, Pioneer St. at Kapitolyo Pasig City near the Ace Water Spa Building.

How's your Kissako Uji experience? Tell me about it on the comment box below!

Spreading Good Vibes at LOCAL EDITION Coffee and Tea

Coffee break at LOCAL EDITION

                I met up with a college friend this morning at LOCAL EDITION Coffee and Tea, one of the new coffee shops available for the rising number of coffee lovers in the metro today. 

                The shop is quite small but it has a big signage in front so it won’t be hard to find it. The place could contain at most 30 people inside. There’s an open area in front of the store for those who want a bit of air. 

                The place collaborates with artists every now and then to make installations around the place. The installations usually convey positive messages - to awaken the soul, like coffee would to the body. (what)

This one was made in collaboration with the UP College of Fine Arts

                I had the Latte Azucarado(meaning sweetened) in Large (Php165) which was quite expensive for a cup of coffee. Almost all their coffee is at this price range. Their teas cost about Php95 up to Php145. You can opt to have your coffee hot or cold. I got the hot one, together with the Tablea Brownie(Php85). I must say that the coffee had a nice, bold bittersweet taste to it. It almost tasted like strong Macchiato.

They even put an iced biscuit on top.

Inside the cup

                 They also sell items like magazines and tumblers.

                 

                 I didn't get to taste any of their food today but I'll definitely go back soon. They serve sandwiches, pasta and salads and cost up to Php300. Click here to see their menu (courtesy of munchpunch). 

                The store is open from 8:30am to 6:00pm. It is located at Perea Street, Legazpi Village Makati. Contact number is 09178310056.
   
               Check them out on their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/localeditionph.

Have you tried Local Edition? What's your favorite drink? Share with me your thoughts by commenting down below. <3 Til next time!

VALENTINE’S AT TOP OF THE CITI by CHEF JESSIE

This is totally overdue. I wasn’t sure whether to keep Valentine’s private or not but I I’ve decided to just share with you where we celebrated V-Day, in case, you too would like to celebrate it there next year. I’ll try to keep the mushy parts to a minimum. Promise ;)

VALENTINE’S AT TOP OF THE CITI by CHEF JESSIE

                
                 For our first Valentine’s together, the boyfriend made reservations at Top of the CITI, one of Chef Jessie’s three restaurants in the metro and the only one we haven’t had a date in yet at the time. It is a fine dining restaurant at the 34^th floor of Citibank Tower (you can guess where it got its name now).

                When we got there, the place was dimly lit and felt absolutely romantic with soft music playing low. We arrived a little earlier than our schedule but the staff was welcoming and immediately led us to our seats. We wanted to be seated in the al fresco area where the view of the city lights can be seen, but thank goodness they were all occupied because just an hour later, it began to rain and everybody went back inside.

                Right after we ordered their Valentine’s set, I was given a rose by one of the waiters (so did every other lady there that night).  I thought it was pretty cute of them to do that. We were also invited have our photos taken at the photo booth that was available on the other side of the restaurant.  We, of course, obliged. Hehe.

                Now for the Valentine’s Set.

                The menu was a 7-course meal served with sparkling wine and coffee or tea. The sparkling wine was served before the first meal.

                First up was the Fruity Micro Green Salad with Chia Seeds in Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing.  I wasn’t able to take a photo of this, but let me just say, it was really small. I finished the whole thing in two bites.  It’s quantity may not be much, but there’s no denying that the greens were of good quality. It looked really pretty too.

                Next was the Baked Fish Horn-a-plenty with Spinach Sauce. Do not be misled. It was definitely not a-plenty. It was basically spinach wrapped in fish fillet. Just one piece.

                Cream of Vine Ripe Tomato with Cheesy Heart Crouton came in next. It was a so-so tomato soup. Nothing much to say about it.

                Farfalle Al Pesto with Grilled Tiger Prawn was basically half a tiger-prawn with pesto and a few ribbon-shaped pasta. It was quite delicious and meaty. If only there was more meat.

                Pink Pomelo Sorbet enhanced with Prosecco was then served to clear our taste buds of the pervious dishes. It was short and sweet, just enough to forget the saltiness in the other dishes. (I ate if before i could take a picture but it looked really pretty and pink :P)

                Now for the main course. The Grilled US Angus Beef Tenderloin Rossini in Madeira Sauce and Pan Seared Cape Cod Jumbo Scallop with Sea Urchin Butter Sauce served with a Timbale of Beetroot Risotto and sautéed French Beans.(Wasn’t that a mouthful). This was what we have been waiting for! The main course was absolutely delicious and satisfying. The Tenderloin was soft and bursting with meaty flavor. They weren’t kidding when they said Jumbo Scallop. It was so big we mistook it for foei gras. This too was flavorful and chewy. On top of the steak was a surprise foei gras, which the boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed. The risotto cannot be forgotten too. Its texture was perfectly creamy but grainy (if you can explain it better, please help me do so).

                By this time, I was very happy with the servings already. But of course, my tummy will always have room for dessert. They served us what they call “Perfect Combination” or Macapuno heart with Homemade Avocado Gelato and Strawberry Shortbread with Homemade Dark Chocolate Gelato. I found the arrow shaped chocolate shave very amusing.  Because the strawberry shortbread was shaped like a heart, we pretended that it was our heart and placed the direction of the arrow to where each other was. <3 lololololololololololololol.

OVERALL             

Once again, Chef Jessie wins our hearts and our tummies with quality food that don’t only look pretty but taste really, really good as well. Their staff is very attentive although I did notice that they struggle with this when the house is full. They could use more people there. Some of the dishes were so-so, but the main course was heavenly. I didn’t feel guilty devouring everything. It was served in small portions but they are quite satisfying.

On another note:

                Valentine’s for me couldn’t be more perfect. Even without all the frivolities of the day, I’m happy I spent it with Jeff who has been nothing but wonderful to me. I hope to spend all my next Valentine's with him, and all the other days in between.