Phoenix Court in The Bellevue Manila: The rise of the Phoenix

When arriving at the Phoenix Court at The Bellevue Manila for an Oriental gastronomic journey, one is greeted by the mural of a golden phoenix by artist Gina Bocar at the center of the main dining area.

Upon entering Phoenix Court, guests will be greeted by a mural of a golden phoenix.
Photo courtesy of the hotel

In feng shui, the phoenix is a mythical bird that flies far ahead to the front. In the south of Metro Manila, the Phoenix is at the forefront of great Chinese culinary celebrations.

Recently, Bellevue Hotel GM Patrick Chan and head of marketing Ryan Chan feted some media friends to experience Phoenix Court’s delicious offerings amidst its modern Asian interiors. Designed by Architects Illustre, the restaurant features walls mostly painted in muted creams and decorated with intricately carved wooden accents. It can accommodate as much as 250 diners in its high-ceilinged and sophisticated Oriental space. “The design guidelines were for the restaurant to be bright and roomy,” explains Ryan Chan.

Phoenix Court also boasts of private rooms that could seat up to 25 persons. The Chin, named after the first dynasty of China, houses the biggest Lazy Susan in the metropolis. The larger-than-life rotating tray at the Chin gives a unique round table experience for diners.

Chin Room.
Photo courtesy of the hotel

The real highlight, however, of one’s visit to Phoenix Court is the exciting menu that reflects its chef’s stark and serious attitude towards his craft. Chef Cheong Kwan Loong has a solid track record that has spanned years of diverse experience in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and China. His brand of food is stamped by his delicate yet knowing touch, which appeals to sophisticated palates. Through the years, he has mastered the intricacies of Chinese cuisine and the secrets in serving fine Cantonese and Szechuan dishes.

Proof of his Chinese culinary expertise was tastefully presented to the guests at a press luncheon recently. A great way to start a culinary expedition includes the must-try steamed scallops dumpling and steamed polonchay (baby spinach) dumpling. The Peking duck from Beijing, which was roasted the traditional way, boasts of beautifully crisp skin and lean meat. The hot prawn salad features deep-fried tiger prawns served with mango, apple, pineapple and lettuce. The wintermelon with crabmeat soup, an authentic Cantonese fare, is originally served in China during the summer season but is definitely a palate pleaser whatever the season is. Hot items on the menu include steamed lapu-lapu with tauso sauce, homemade beancurd with garlic oyster sauce (the flakes on top are incredibly yummy), beef with pepper sauce (the sauce consists of a happy reunion of red, green and yellow pepper), deep-fried chicken marinated in Chinese bagoong, seafood hotpot (seafoods are mixed together and served like shabu-shabu), braised crabmeat with tofu and vegetables and chicken and sausage rice in hotpot. The dessert selections of hot taro sago with coconut milk and buchi culminate the restaurant’s Oriental culinary delights.

Dimsum delights.
Photo courtesy of the hotel

Peking Duck.
Photo courtesy of the hotel

Assorted Cold Cuts Combination.

Braised Fish Lip Soup with Assorted Meat.

Hainanese Hong Kong Chicken.

Steamed Pork with Mochoi Vegetable.

Deep-fried Tiger Prawns with Salt and Pepper.

Braised Bean Curd with Chinese Mushroom and Abalone Clam.

Steamed Dory Fish with Soy Sauce.

Chilled Almond Bean Curd with Fruit Cocktail.

Phoenix Court opened its doors last year to gourmands searching for a memorable Chinese dining experience in the Alabang area. “We were surprised to discover that people from other parts of Manila and suburbs do not mind the drive to Alabang just to sample what other people are raving about Phoenix Court,” quips Patrick.

And we're ready to indulge on these sumptuous Chinese dishes!

With only a little more than a year, the restaurant’s presence is already felt (and relished) by the most discriminating of palates. Phoenix Court is indeed quick to take flight and soar above the culinary world.

Are you ready to experience the rise of the Phoenix?

(Call 771-8181 local 2211 or visit www.thebellevue.com)

(Published August 2, 2011, The Philippine Star)

Bela Padilla

I got to interview this sweet young actress back in 2010 when we featured her in Face of Allure. Bela was just new in the business but she was already turning heads because of her gorgeous features. A deadringer for Bea Alonzo (and Kristine Hermosa I must say after seeing her last night on TV), Bela was starting to get big roles from her mother network GMA 7 during the time of the photo shoot and interview. Of course, this was prior to the "bathroom incident" with a bigger star of the network.

What's admiring about Bela is the fact that she is beautiful inside and out (hey, the girl's cultured and well-mannered). The creative team did not hear any complaint from her and she was polite, nice and "ma-PR" to everyone. Two months after my first encounter with her, we saw each other again in Enchanted Kingdom. I was surprised that she recognized me and even thanked me for the feature I wrote about her (although she already sent me a thank you message the day the feature came out).

Today, her movie with fellow members of the Padilla clan is showing in cinemas nationwide. With all that she's achieved so far, I just hope that she remains humble and nice.

Face of Allure: Bela Padilla

Most girls dream of becoming an actress because of the glitz and glamour of show business. That is partly the reason why half-British, half-Filipino Bela Padilla joined the industry. But when asked what is the one thing she loves about her job, the 19-year-old actress gives a rather unusual answer. “I love the people I work with. Some of them eventually become my friends,” she declares. While insiders say that there are no permanent friendships in the highly competitive world of TV and movies, Bela considers meeting people from different walks of life as a perk of the job.

Face of Allure: Bela Padilla
Photos courtesy of www,philstar.com

It is not surprising at all because the 5’6” Bela loves to be around people. The youngest daughter of banker Cornelius Gary Sullivan and wife Margarette shares: “As a family, we have traveled a lot around Europe and Asia. I think the best part is that I got exposed early on to different cultures.” Back in school at Colegio San Agustin in Makati City, she was very active and would win one contest after another. “I joined writing and speech-related contests in both English and Filipino,” says Bela, who was also a cheerleader and a member of the school’s dance troupe.

School was a big part of her life. “I started school at three and a half years old. I first went to Casa Montessori International School in Forbes Park. Then I went to the Foreigners Class of CSA. Being around different cultures and strong opinions made me very versatile. I learned how to appreciate everyone’s beliefs, respect their needs and, of course, love their food,” she smiles.

When Bela bagged the role of one of the main characters in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean hit Endless Love, the budding actress couldn’t have been more thankful. The GMA-7 talent says, “My role is very complex so I make sure to prepare days before taping. Memorizing lines is a bit tiring. It’s a very competitive field and you always have to know your game,” she muses. “But I enjoy this. I enjoy entertaining people and relieving them of their everyday pressures.” The girl also proves her hosting skills as one of the party jocks in the station’s Sunday variety show Party Pilipinas.

As Bela takes on more and more roles in the future, she promises to always remain grounded. “My mom taught me to always maintain high moral values. She never allows me to use the expression ‘I don’t care.’ She said that in whatever I do, I have to care for people and the situation,” Bela concludes.

(Published September 12, 2010, The Philippine Star)

YouTube hotties Island Media Asia’s 8 must-try experiences in downtown Manila

Island Media Asia (IMA) is composed of seven half-Filipino models—Michael McDonnell, Daniel Marsh, Charlie Sutcliffe, Keys Cosido, Brian Wilson, Henry Edwards, and Matthew Edwards—who each has his own unique charisma and charming personality. They wow online viewers with their wacky and crazy antics; their video features on foreigners selling buko juice and foreigners selling balut generated more than 80,000 and over 60,000 views, respectively (as of June 27, 2013 when this post was published). Foreigners can also get some tips on how to shower in public in their video that had almost 30,000 views.

Island Media Asia hotties: Henry Edwards, Michael McDonnell, Brian Wilson, Keys Cosido, and Matthew Edwards.

The seven cuties hail from Canada, Ireland, and England, but all have been living in the Philippines for at least two years. Despite their foreign blood, members of Island Media Asia prove to all that they are very Pinoy at heart. Their YouTube videos show how much they enjoy the Filipino way of life and even highlight Pinoy values that tourists from the world over have come to love.

During a recent visit to downtown Manila, the Island Media Asia boys had this in mind: When in the Philippines, do as the Filipinos do. And so here are eight things foreigners should try when they visit Manila. (And even if you're Pinoy, why don't you try them, too?)

1. Ride a pedicab.

After the IMA boys drove the pedicab, they found new respect for the drivers. “After we tried it, we realized how hard these pedicab drivers must have been working. It’s not just about constantly pedalling, but looking out for traffic, the safest route, and the passenger’s safety and convenience. As simple as pedicabs may seem, we shouldn't take them for granted,” Brian says.

The pedicab is a type of transportation in the Philippines, where the driver manually pedals the vehicle (there are also kuligligs, which are motorized pedicabs). Don’t be fooled by its size; it's small but it's bad-ass.

2. Eat street food.

Say hello to a gastronomic feast...by the side of the road. A sumptuous buffet awaits you: pork barbecue and grilled hotdog, isaw (chicken intestines), adidas (chicken feet), betamax (blood), and tokneneng(quail eggs dipped in orange batter).

“No leftovers or throwaways in the Filipino food culture, so there is no reason to be hungry!” exclaims Matthew, the only one among them who can identify all items on the street food menu.

Not only did these guys try these delights (taho, balut, and fishballs), they also sold them as well, as shown in their YouTube videos.

3. Haggle until the price is right.

Bargain hunters and shopaholics are in for a treat when they visit Divisoria Market. A shopping mecca at the heart of Manila, locals and tourists alike flock to the busy streets of Divisoria, where they can buy virtually everything they can think of.

The secret to scoring a wonderful buy is to haggle. Use your bargaining skills and you might end up with bags and bags of shopping finds. “Just because you’re a foreigner doesn’t mean you have to give in to vendors’ pricey offers. There’s wisdom in learning the art of haggling or tawad,” Michael says after haggling with a fruit vendor.

4. Drink buko juice.

Manila’s humid weather can be very draining and exhausting, especially if you decide to discover Manila on foot. A refreshing drink popular in the Philippines is buko (coconut) juice. Fresh from the coconut and served cold, buko juice is even cheaper than bottled water (at P5 for a cup) and is peddled on every busy street. One of the IMA boys tried it one time.

“It definitely takes off the heat and quenches your thirst,” says Keys. “It’s a hit any time of the day.”

5. Visit a Buddhist temple in Tondo.

IMA boys visited the Seng Guan Temple, one of the most beautiful and most visited Buddhist temples in Manila. The boys learned how the Buddhists worship inside the temple. They discovered that the number of incense sticks that you light should be an odd number if you're praying to heavenly deities or honoring the deceased.

“Manila’s not just a place for shopping and dining Filipino-style, but a home to other cultures as well. It makes everyone feel welcome,” says Henry after lighting incense sticks at Seng Guan Temple for the first time.

6. Say a prayer in Quiapo Church.

The Quiapo Church (or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) is one of the most visited and prominent Catholic churches in the Philippines. It is home to the Black Nazarene, which many Filipinos are a devotee of.

“You can’t end your trip without a visit to Quiapo Church to thank Him for the wonderful opportunity to experience Manila,” Michael says.

7. Have your fortune told by the local manghuhula.

In front of Quiapo Church is Plaza Miranda, where local fortune tellers (or manghuhula) are lined up, ready to predict your future. They may or may not be credible, but they sure make your visit to Quiapo more interesting.

“It’s exciting to hear what a total stranger has to say about your personality and future just from your birth date and a deck of cards. I started counting how many statements rang true. And then I lost count,” says Brian with a smile.

8. Enjoy a calesa ride.

If you’re looking to experience a unique ride, try hopping on a calesa, a horse-drawn carriage. You can enjoy this ride as you explore the old but still picturesque spots in Manila, such as Intramuros.

“It’s like I’m back in the 18th century!” says Matthew. “Can I just take this ride on my way home?”

(Published June 27, 2013, Kristn.com)

5 reasons to spend your weekend in The Bellevue Manila

A sweet welcome treat for Mama from The Bellevue team.

Want to escape the rat race even for a few days without having to go too far away from home (especially in this bipolar weather)? The concept of “staycation” is fast gaining popularity such that hotels and resorts have come up with more things to offer local guests. Everyone's practically gotten used to this idea, since it's far cheaper and more convenient than, say, jetting off to some far-flung destination.

Looking for a leisurely break from work and wanting to reward yourself for a job well done? The Bellevue Manila offers an amazing staycation experience that will inspire and invigorate you. Located in Alabang, The Bellevue Manila provides a luxurious stay south of bustling Manila. As a guest, you'll get a feel of the unhurried lifestyle of the Alabang community while enjoying five-star accommodation, dining, and recreational facilities.

Check out 5 reasons to spend a staycation in The Bellevue Manila:

Their rooms spell R&R.

You will just love the deluxe rooms and suites at The Bellevue Manila! Each of the guestrooms in Bellevue is comfortable, cozy, and spacious, and the interiors are designed in a way that guests will experience the ultimate in rest and relaxation. Each features modern-day amenities, like a custom-designed bed, bathroom with tub and separate shower, 32-inch television, iPod dock clock radio, and minibar, among others.

Deluxe Room.
Photos of hotel facilities courtesy of The Bellevue Manila

My excited brothers and cousin immediately dove into the beds. 

There's all-day buffet at Cafe d’Asie.

What better way to bond as a barkada than by sharing stories over great food? The whole gang will surely enjoy Cafe d’Asie’s all-day buffet. Choose from a wide array of culinary selections, including fresh salmon sashimi, high-grade steaks, bread and butter pudding, and delectable cakes and pastries. A magnificent slab of US Prime Rib cooked to your preference takes centerstage in this delicious buffet.

A sumptuous spread at Cafe d'Asie.

Enjoying a hearty breakfast with Dad, Mom and bunso.

You can relax by the poolside.

If you dream of hanging out in an island paradise but do not have the time to go out of town, settle for a relaxing experience at Bellevue's poolside. Have refreshments and snacks from the poolside bar.

Pool at the Main Tower.

Pool at the Tower Wing. Photo taken on a cold, breezy December night.

You can enjoy yummy Chinese food at Phoenix Court.

Satisfy your craving for Chinese food at Phoenix Court, the only fine dining Chinese restaurant in the city. Have your fill of mouthwatering Chinese dishes, like Peking Duck, Mango Lapu-Lapu, and Beef Tenderloin in Pepper Sauce. If you prefer dimsum and dumplings, Phoenix Court also has a Dimsum and Noodle Bar. Located at the second floor of the Tower Wing, the restaurant offers a la carte and dimsum-all-you-can packages.

A family dinner in Phoenix Court in December 2011. 

Enjoy the Peking Duck at Phoenix Court.

You can get pampered at Mandarine Spa.

Soothe your tired muscles with a relaxing and rejuvenating massage from the hotel’s Mandarine Spa. Treatment rooms are available, with some even featuring a steam shower and Whirlpool tub. Guests can choose from a range of spa-mpering services that include Mandarine Signature Foot Reflex, Mandarine Signature Hand Reflex, Relaxing Body Oil or Dry Massage, Fusion Massage, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, Silk Facial Massage, Jin Luo Chinese Massage Therapy, Ayurveda Massage, Body Reflex, Ventosa Therapy, and Infrared Deep Heat Therapy, plus combos of these treatments.

Spa-mpering time at Mandarine Spa.

Family fun in The Bellevue Manila: Indeed, a happy birthday for Mama!

(Published June 19, 2013, Kristn.com)