We wouldn’t peg Islas Pinas as just another food hall that seemed to be sprouting from your typical urban districts. This new venture by Margarita Fores is quite different. Imagine Nayong Pilipino and SM Kultura having a love child and that beautiful newborn is Islas Pinas. The result of the collaboration between DoubleDragon group and chef Margarita Forés, Islas Pinas is a project that aims to spark an unacquainted love for the Philippines and to cultivate patriotism through a diorama heritage display and Filipino cuisine.

Popular flavors of the Philippines and postcard-popular landmarks found the perfect space to be showcased inside a well arranged 2,500 sqm food hall. Staple dishes, familiar beverages, Pinoy street food carefully curated by Chef Fores.

As a Heritage Village (The Space)

Islas Pinas is divided into themed sections which represent Philippines’ famous roster of destinations like Vigan’s Calle Crisologo, Walls of Intramuros, The Rice Terraces, and even a lifesize Vinta from Mindanao.

The whole 2,500-square-meter space is designed by Lara Fernandez and she uses diverse Filipino icons to compel home as the theme. Artistic re-imaginings of Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Vigan’s Calle Crisologo, and a replica of the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

A Sarao jeepney stands proud and shiny as one of the staple fixtures inside Islas Pinas, a vegetable kariton, and a sari-sari store diorama that are all interactive displays!

The facilities are pretty wonderful you can spend hours just roaming around taking photographs (yes, that is mandatory), order your meal and eat slowly while sitting comfortably with a proper OPM playlist being played at the background pipe music from Dong Abay.

NOTE: They are introducing a cashless system as part of the innovations so guest can enjoy seamless trasnsactions.

The Food

Various regional dishes are prevalent with each assigned stations which covers everything areas between Batanes to Jolo. The menu changes daily to provide proper roulette of choices. These stations are themed along the Calle Crisologo strip.

Here, you can find a number of stations that serve homegrown hits in a comfortable air-conditioned space that brings together elements of our rich heritage. You start off with, the Tagalog statement for ‘ray of light’ offers all-day Filipino breakfast staples like the roster of SILOGs, various types of Longanisas, and Batchoy.

Just down the hall is ALAMAT or “a legend”, SINAG is the story of the different regions of the Philippines through its signature dishes.

Next door is BILAO, which is coined after the familiar woven basket where comfort snacks like pansit (stir-fried noodles) and puto (sticky rice cakes).

The PANADERYA (Bakery) carries freshly baked Pinoy bread and pastries like your comfort food pan de sal, pan de regal, among other staples. — Oh! by the way, Margarita Fores’ ADB Crinkles are available here.

The future pipeline of culture-centric activities are lined up that aims to highlight traditional regional dishes across the Philippines.

The TUSOK-TUSOK for our quick Pinoy snacks where can have our pork bbq fix, isaw lineups, and fishballs!

There’s also a dedicated station for Halo-Halo for the delightfully “mix-mix” of dessert after a good heavy meal.

Overall Food Taste and Experience

The food preparation and taste is pretty basic. Nothing too grand just the usual comfort and familiar taste that we all grew up with If we are to rank the overall dining experience using the Fat Girls Day Out CX Rating (you may read more on our FAQ)

• Ambiance: 4/5
• Customer Service: 4/5
• Food Quality (sourced ingredients): 4/5
• Food Flavor: 3/5
• Variety of available in the menu: 4/5
• Facilities, Ergonomics: 5/5
• Price; Does it give value to your money? Whether expensive or cheap: 4/5

A 5 point scale average of 4/5 Extra Rice Rating! from these 7 elements of our Customer Experience metrics.

Why we Need more business ventures like this

Islas Pinas promotes Filipino culture nonetheless not only to your typical balikabayan Titas & Titos, foreigners, but it is being geared towards the younger generations. The previous greater segment of older generations (we included, sad to say) lacks a sense of culture and ownership to love to our own cuisine and history. Business like this somehow helps create or even spark a curiosity to help us understand what really is to be a Filipino.

• Location: G/F DoubleDragon Plaza DD Meridian Park
  Pasay City, Philippines 1308
• Operating Hours: Hours 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Average Spend: 300php/pax
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Paula and I kicked off our WHERE to EAT series contents under Classic & Staple comfort foods. She created her top 5 list and now let me tell you about mine. When I was a kid, I would always remember going to Gloria Maris Restaurant, specifically the one in Greenhills. It was the first restaurant that offered my favorite dim sum “hakaw”(steamed shrimp dumplings). My family would always take us here for special occasions, Sunday lunches, and family reunions. We will drive all the way from Alabang to San Juan and it was always a special treat for my siblings and I. When Gloria Maris Alabang opened right beside St. Jerome Church, we skipped going to San Juan and became a loyal patron to this branch, it was just across our village that’s the time we would literally eat there on weekly basis!

What Gloria Maris Represents

This fine dining Cantonese style restaurant opened its first branch in Greenhills, San Juan back in 1995 and over the years, Gloria Maris triumphed in one aspect and that is consistency and that is probably the reason for all of their repeat customers. Gloria Maris represents celebration. It is an institution and it will continue to be one.  From its grandeur interior, how each meal is prepared and served. The sheer size of everything is just GRAND.

The Fat Girls Day Out in partnership in Zomato PH were able to sample their curated menu selections prepared by their chef from Hongkong. Here are our top picks.

Our Top Picks

PORK CUAPAO (55/piece)

Pork slice topped with greens and served in cuapao.

Kailan with Oyster Sauce (S 400php, M 620php, and  L 850php)

Cuapao with Salted Egg (150php/3 pcs)

For something a bit sweet and savory, tear off a piece of cuapao and dunk it in the salted egg sauce. It’s thick, rich, and satisfying.

Sibot soup (600php)

This Chinese herbal soup  that is very aromatic, nutritious, calming and comforting. This dish is perfect when you’re feeling under the weather or you just need a bowl of comfort. 

Hot Cuts  (S 688php, M 1,380php, and  L 2,068php)

In traditional Chinese restaurants, you always get a platter of cold cuts, here at Gloria Maris they beg to differ by offering you five different type of hot cuts.

These hot cuts consist of shrimp bacon wraps with cheese, chicken with cashew, Spring rolls, Salt and pepper fish fillet, and barbecued pork.

Shredded Duck with Fruits (S 700php, M 1,050php, and L 1,400php)

The fresh tropical fruits and Jellyfish creates deep, rich flavor that complements the succulent duck.

Steamed Eel with Black Bean Chili Sauce (seasonal price)

This tender, sweet and mild fish was perfectly paired with the classic traditional Chinese Black Bean Sauce. This dish is rich yet subtle, with many layers of texture.

Tong Fu Pork with Mantao (650php)

Thick slices of pork drenched in a sweet soy anise sauce. Pair it with  mantou.

Fish Fillet with Tausi Hot Pot (S 400php, M 630, and  L 800php)

Both the tofu and fish fillet were braised perfectly.

Fried Pigeon (600php/pc)

Deep-fried so that its skin becomes parchment-crisp and the flesh remains moist. Delicately tasty.

Rock Lobster with Superior Sauce (seasonal price)

Deep fried rock lobster covered with thick superior sauce on a bed of noodles. The rock lobster was so fresh and so filled with meat it perfectly complemented the sauce and chewy egg noodles.

Stuffed Chicken (1,300php)

The moment they served the chicken, you could smell the enticing aroma. When you slice it open, it’s full flavored glutinous rice with chicken pieces, Chinese chorizo, chestnuts, and mushrooms. Who needs machang? They use the deboned chicken, instead of banana leaves

Mango Sago (size dependent| 70php-900php)

Best way to end our good is by having this cold, refreshing, and creamy dessert.

Our Overall Take

Gloria Maris is consistent, impressive, and grand. Whether you go for dim sum or hot pot, or a graceful lauriat. I like their elegance but still has this approachable ambiance.  Solid facilities that are conducive to family celebrations, knowledgeable staff, and of course their wonderful dishes.

This restaurant is arguably one of the best classic & staple places to get your Chinese food fix. The quality of the ingredients is obvious; the passion and flair of the chefs likewise.

• Address: Second Floor, Alabang Town Center, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
• Operation Hours: 11 AM to 10 PM
• Contact Numbers: 02 2469069 ext: 285

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Phoenix Court at the Bellevue Hotel is a fine dining Chinese restaurant on the south side of Manila. It has been a southern foodie staple known for their unlimited dim sum promo, that comes with a wide array of various freshly made steamed and fried dumplings, soup, their rice and noodle dishes, as well as, dessert.

We originally wanted to have their Unlimited Dim Sum Promo but since it was the holiday on the day we visited they did not have it available.

When you arrive in Bellevue hotel, you need to go to the Tower Wing and go up the staircase, there you’ll find Phoenix court on your left.

Step inside and see the numerous family style tables and chairs with looming pillars and large paintings hanging on the walls. Phoenix Court is a great place for reunions and family dinners, as their dishes are for sharing. Everything about the place is organized, from the placement of the tables and all movements of the staff are well choreographed.

Upon seeing their menu, you can see their wide array of options ranging from noodle dishes, dim sum, and classic Chinese favorites.

For our appetizers, we opted to have some dim sum.

Another staple, whenever we eat in a Chinese restaurant, is the Chicken Feet(170 PHP). They use large pieces of chicken feet that they first boil and marinate before steaming it in a spicy sauce with star anise, soy sauce, and other ingredients. It’s quite addicting. The skin is easily removed from the bone and is tender.

For our soup selection, we had the Hot Sour Soup (380 PHP for 3-4 persons). It’s a thick soup with soft tofu and minced pieces mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and shredded pork. The taste was comforting.

When having Peking duck, they cook it several ways to be able to optimize and eat most of the meat and skin. Upon unveiling the duck, the server will skin the duck beside your table and prepare the first way. Watch them prepare it, and you can hear just how crispy the skin really is. Once they finish they bring the rest of it back to the kitchen and prepare the second way we’ve highlighted below.

1st Way(Crispy Skin): The first way of eating the duck is by wrapping the crispy skin with a Chinese pancake together with scallions and cucumber then topped with hoisin sauce. Once wrapped, eat it in two bites. This is usually prepared by the staff and served ready to eat.

The crispy skin together with the scallion, cucumber and hoisin sauce is a melody of different flavors enveloped into a delicious bite.

2nd Way (Duck Meat): The second way is the minced duck. This is served on a bed of crispy noodles with a side of fresh lettuce. You first get a lettuce and fill it with the duck meat then top it with hoisin sauce. This was a bit disappointing. They fried the duck too much that it began dripping oil when we placed it on the lettuce. Would have also wanted a bit more of the crispy noodle underneath to add texture.

For our fish dish, we had Steamed Lapu-Lapu fish fillet (1,650 PHP) steamed with soy sauce. The fish was a little overcooked but was compensated by the light sauce and scallions.

Another staple we had was the Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple ( 380 PHP). The pork was crispy and was complemented by the sweet pineapple chunks and sticky sauce that’s sure to make you want another cup of their rice.

Let’s get down to their rice, we ordered the Yang Chao Fried Rice (390 PHP). There were generous pieces of shrimp, pork, egg, and onion stir-fried to perfection.

Phoenix Court delivers in providing their diners with the full service of a fine dining restaurant while maintaining the key flavors that we look for in Traditional Chinese Cuisine. They might lack in consistency but it was still a worthwhile experience. Our CX Rating.

• Second Floor, Tower Wing, The Bellevue Manila, North Bridgeway, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City
• Contact No. : 02 2469069 ext:658

Engage with us; experience@fatgirlsdayout.com or fatgirlsdayoutph@gmail.com

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