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Tuesday, 9 February 2021

The Balik sa Bohol Online Sale Media Launch

 

Balik sa Bohol Online Sale

In an effort to jumpstart the economy of Bohol via the re-start of the tourism industry (one of the leading economic drivers of the province), the province was opened to leisure tourists on December 15, 2020.  In this regard, the ‘Balik sa Bohol’ program, to be held from February 21 to March 14, 2021, was initiated to jumpstart tourist arrivals and, consequently, help tourism workers get back on their feet. 

This tourism program, which aims to boost interest among free and independent travelers (FIT) to visit Bohol, features an online sale on tourism accommodation and packages up to 70%. The ‘Balik sa Bohol’ program was launched by inviting the media in a virtual meeting held on February 10, 2021, Wednesday, 2 PM. 

The Media Launch started with welcome remarks by Ms. Margie Munsayac (VP-Sales and Marketing of Bluewater Resorts) and messages from Ms. Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones (COO - Tourism Promotions Board), Mr. Shalimar Hofer Tamano (DOT Region VII Director), Mayor Leonila Montero (Panglao mayor) and Gov. Arthur Yap (Bohol governor).  

A Balik sa Bohol Online Sales video, Cebu Pacific Air video and TBP's Safe Trip Pinas video was also presented.

The keynote speaker was Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary of the Department of Tourism.  This was followed by a question and answer segment and a raffle, for media participants, of two 3-day/2-night stays for two at select Bohol resort and a grand raffle of another 3-day/2-night stay for two with airfare and PCR tests included. Atty. Lucas "Doy" Nunag (Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Council) delivered the closing remarks.

Balik sa Bohol Media Launch


The province has already loosened the arrival protocols for FIT wishing to enter Bohol. FITs may enter Bohol and stay within the travel bubble if they are able to secure a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken 72 hours prior to arrival here in the province.  

Participating companies


Participating companies include Chocolate Hills Adventure Park, The Acacia Glamping Park plus a number of resorts and travel agencies. For reservations and bookings visit: http://www.traveloco.ph/balikbohol. 

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Monday, 1 February 2021

Restaurant Review: Katherine's Cafe (Ayala Center, Makati City, Metro Manila)

 

Katherine's Cafe

Another favorite watering hole of ours in Glorietta is Katherines Café, located at the Landmark end of Glorietta 3. Opened in 2019, it is the second outlet to be opened (the first was in Ayala Malls, Vertis North in Quezon City) and it was still open for dine-in during this pandemic times.  

Pre-pandemic, it used to have a larger area, with a function room at the end, but this was closed off due to quarantine guidelines. 

 

The terrace-like dining area

Still the remaining part of the restaurant’s cheery interior was still brightly decorated, really homey and comfortable with wooden furniture and flooring, floral designs and patterns on couches and benches, plus a number of aesthetic paintings and lighting fixtures. 

Just outside the café is an inviting terrace that gives you a feel of al fresco dining (though still inside the mall) where you can watch shoppers walking by. The café was said to have been named after Katherine, an imaginary little eight-year-old girl who’s delighted by the dishes her grandmother or nana prepares at home.

 

The main dining area

As for the food, we’re happy to see that Katherine’s Cafe  still served up some of our old, good tasting favorite comfort food, both Italian (pasta, flat bread pizza) and Filipino. Do not expect fine dining as it’s as good as a cafe gets. The food portions are just right and the staff is friendly and professional. 

We started our meal with the Classic Caesar Salad with romaine, bacon, croutons, caesar dressing, and parmesan shavings.  Add on includes Grilled Chicken (Php80) and Grilled Prawns (Php125). 

Among all the longganisa flavors in the country, I particularly like the Vigan longganisa and the  crispy Vigan Longganisa I ordered was served with fried egg, garlic fried rice, tomato salsa and pickled vegetables.

 

At the end of the main dining area is the closed off portion of the restaurant

Jandy’s favorite is still the delicious, beautifully golden brown, succulent and crunchy Cereal Fried Chicken (Php368), a cereal-crusted buttermilk fried chicken (either classic or spicy) served with rice or French fries, and a pleasantly sweet and tangy milk gravy. 

When eating at Katherine’s Café, it’s imperative to leave room for dessert so I tried out a slice (Php175) of their Old Fashioned Sansrival.

A favorite dessert of mine, it is composed of baked meringue, toasted cashew nuts and vanilla butter cream.  A whole cake costs Php1,250. The all-day, 40-page dining menu, one of the most comprehensive of any restaurant in the city, covers practically everything - from delicious Filipino breakfasts, amply portioned entrees, a collection of delectable family recipes and yummy desserts, cakes and pastries.  Other items on the menu include:

 

The comprehensive, all-day dining menu

Starters

  • Gambas & Chorizo Huevos - crispy string potatoes, sauteed chorizo, sauteed shrimp, and sunny side egg (Php355)
  • Pulled Adobo - twice cooked chicken and pork adobo, kesong puti, basil pesto, tomato, and crostini (Php268)
  • Shrimp Popcorn - battered shrimp popcorns, honey butter sauce, crispy garlic, and spicy buffalo aioli (Php318)
  • Spinach Cream Cheese Dip - baked creamy spinach and garlic, mozzarella, and toasted baguette chips (Php248)

Hearty Soups

  • Mushroom Cappuccino - trio of mushroom soup served with milk foam (Php188)
  • Clam Chowder - creamy soup with fresh clams, potatoes, celery, and carrots
  • (Php198)
  • Grilled Chicken & Corn Soup - grilled chicken, roasted garlic, chicken broth, ham & sweet corn kernels (Php168)

Classic Caesar (Php298)


Salads

  • Bleu Cheese & Shrimp - mixed greens, bleu cheese dressing, shrimp popcorn with honey glazed walnuts and grapes (Php408)
  • Sesame Tuna Nicoise - sesame crusted seared tuna, mixed greens, cherry tomato, beans, potato, cashew, and Asian dressing (Php378)

Pot Pies

  • Spinach & White Cheese - sauteed spinach, white cheese, roasted garlic, and bechamel
  • (Php328)
  • Steak & Cheese - US beef sirloin, mozzarella, cheddar, mashed potato, and mushroom (Php395)
  • Chicken & Mushroom - creamy chicken stew with chorizo, mushroom, potatoes, and carrots (Php268)
  • Seafood Pot Pie – made with shrimp, mussels, white fish, squid, herbed cream, white wine and vegetables (Php318)

All Day Breakfast

  • My Favorite Pancakes - stacks of red velvet pancakes with whipped cream, cheese frosting, and walnut crumble or chocolate chip pancake tower with peanut butter, banana, dark chocolate, and whipped cream (Php328)
  • Savory Pancakes - buttermilk pancakes with egg, maple syrup, and whipped butter served with your choice of side (Php328)
  • Buttermilk Pancakes - with maple syrup, whipped butter topped with mango banana walnut (Php288)
  • Nana's Eggs Benedict - brioche bun, American ham, sunny side egg, cream cheese spinach, hollandaise, served with petit salad (Php325)
  • Corned Beef Hash  - traditional corned beef with country fried potatoes, fried egg, and garlic fried rice (Php345)
  • Waffle & Chicken - golden brown waffle with cereal crusted fried chicken, maple syrup, whipped butter and gravy (Php398)
  • Golden Waffle - golden brown waffle, whipped butter, honey, or maple syrup (Php278)
  • Omelette - fluffy egg omelette served with toasted bread slices, with your choice of filling (country ham and cheese, sausage and peppers, Php248)
  • Stuffed French Toast  - butter fried thick cut milk bread, blueberry cream cheese filling, maple syrup, and whipped butter (Php248)

Vigan Longganisa (Php328)


Filipino Favorites

  • Chicken Pork Adobo - Nana's original recipe of traditional chicken and pork adobo, soft boiled egg served with homemade garlic fried rice (Php288)
  • Bistek na Bangus Belly - fried bangus belly, soy calamansi, caramelized onion, garlic rice, egg, and mango tomato salsa (Php318)
  • Smoked Bangus - smoked boneless bangus, egg, garlic fried rice, and mango tomato salsa
  • (Php38)
  • Pork Tocino - pork tocino, egg, garlic fried rice, tomato salsa and pickled vegetables
  • (Php58)
  • Nana's Beef Tapa – U.S. sirloin beef tapa, egg, garlic fried rice, tomato salsa and pickled vegetables (Php398)

Pork & Beef

  • Barbequed Thick Cut Ribs – slow-cooked hickory barbecue glazed grilled thick cut pork ribs, mashed potato, and buttered vegetables (Php448)
  • Stuffed Pork Chop - juicy grilled pork chop stuffed with bacon, spinach and white cheese, served with buttered vegetables and herbed rice (Php368)
  • 8 Hrs Beef Casserole - Nana's red wine braised beef short ribs served with mashed potato
  • (Php468)
  • 12 oz. U.S. Prime Ribeye - served with mashed potato, buttered vegetables, and rosemary pepper jus (Php1,888)

Cereal Fried Chicken (Php368)


Chicken

  • Chicken Fried Steak - battered US beef striploin, milk gravy, mashed potato, and sauteed vegetables (Php578)
  • Chicken Pallard - fillet of chicken that has been pounded thin and grilled, served with brown rice, tomato and pepper salad and balsamic glaze (Php298)
  • Roasted Lemongrass Chicken - slow-cooked roasted boneless chicken leg, herbed rice, sauteed vegetables, and white pepper (Php298)

Seafood

  • Baked Salmon Rice - flaky gratinated salmon fillet served on top of a bed of herbed rice, topped with a cheddar cream cheese sauce, potato strings and and a side of asparagus cooked in butter (Php498)
  • Seafood Paella ((Php528)
  • Pan Fried White Fish (Php318)

Sandwiches

  • Grilled Fish Sandwich - grilled white fish fillet, slaw, tomato, corn, cilantro, cucumber, and aioli (Php288)
  • Philly Cheese Steak - US beef sirloin, onions and peppers, cheddar cheese sauce, and mozzarella (Php358)
  • Crispy Chicken Sandwich - breaded boneless chicken leg, original or buffalo glaze, green apple, and coleslaw (Php348)
  • USDA Steak Cheese Burger - grilled 1/3 pounder USDA beef, mozzarella and cheddar, mushroom, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, and pickles (Php468)

Pasta

  • Vongole - olive oil based, angel hair pasta cooked with clams, white wine, butter, and pepper (Php328)
  • Sun Dried Tomato and Seafood - olive oil based, Linguini, sundried tomato, basil, shrimp, clams and squid (Php398)
  • Lasagna - tomato based, meaty bolognese, bechamel, cheddar sauce, and mozzarella (Php348)
  • Puttanesca -fettucine tossed with tomato, olives, capers, anchovy and garlic chips, (Php298)
  • Herbed Tomato & Chicken - tomato based, linguini, tomato and basil pesto, and grilled chicken (Php278)
  • Classic Carbonara - cream based, linguini, bacon, cream, egg yolk, and parmesan (Php328)
  • Smoked Salmon - cream based, linguini, smoked salmon, herbs, garlic, and peppers (Php428)
  • Mushroom & Truffle -cream based, linguini, trio of mushroom, truffle cream, and parmesa(Php398)
  • Vigan Longganisa and Salted Egg - olive oil based, Linguini, Vigan longganisa, salted egg, tomato, bell pepper and olives (Php318)
  • Chicken and Pesto Ravioli - chicken ravioli, basil pesto, and parmesan shavings (Php328)

Sweet Endings

  • Banana & Chocolate Pudding - banana and chocolate chip bread pudding, banana chips, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream (Php238)
  • Banoffee - Graham crust, caramelized banana, toffee, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce (Php28)
  • Birthday Apple Pie - baked caramel apples, oatmeal confetti crust, caramel sauce, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Php98)
  • Molten Chocolate Cookie Skillet - freshly baked molten dark and white chocolate cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Php248)

Flat Breads

  • Margherita - basil, tomato, and mozzarella (Php398)
  • Pepperoni - Pepperoni, tomato sauce, mozzarella, and rosemary oil (Php428)
  • Four Cheese - mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, bleu cheese, roasted garlic, and anchovies (Php478)
  • Sardines and Kesong Puti - sardines, kesong puti, tomato sauce, olives, and onion (Php468)
  • Vegetarian - 100% vegetarian; pesto, grilled zuchinni, tomato, eggplant, mushroom, caramelized onion, olives, cashew, grilled zucchini (Php358)

Old Fashioned Sans Rival (Php175)


Cakes

  • Triple Chocolate Mousse – classic white chocolate mousse on moist, dark chocolate cake (Php165/slice, Php1,200/whole)
  • White Chocolate Cake (Php175/slice, Php1,250/whole)
  • Belgian Milk Chocolate Cake – a light and moist chocolate cake with layers of whipped chocolate ganache (Php158/slice, Php1,100/whole)
  • Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate Cake – a rich, dark chocolate cake combined with hazelnut feuiletine (Php1218/slice, Php1,550/whole)
  • Strawberry Shortcake – a combination of fresh strawberries cream folded in fluffy vanilla chiffon (Php198/slice, Php1,450/whole)
  • Mango Bang-O Crunch Cake - layers of white chocolate wafer, mango mousseline (Php220/slice, Php1650/whole)
  • Pistachio Lemon Butter Cake - moist, fluffy and addictive lemon butter cake with vanilla buttercream, lemon glaze, and roasted pistachios (Php215/slice, Php1,550/whole)
  • Nana's Carrot Cake with Cheesecake Frosting - carrots, walnuts, cheesecake frosting and graham crumbs (Php190/slice, Php1,450/whole)
  • Classic / Mango Caramel Cake - vanilla sponge cake, egg custard and caramel glaze.  Classic (Php125/slice, Php850/whole), Mango (Php135/slice, Php950/whole)
  • Ube White Chocolate Cake - white chocolate crunch, white chocolate mousse, ube jam, ube chiffon, and ube glaze (Php175/slice, Php1,250/whole)
  • New York Cheesecake – a classic with a hint of lemon and buttery graham crust.  Plain (Php150/slice, Php1,100/whole), Flavored (Strawberry, Blueberry or Fresh Mangoes, Php175/slice, Php1,200/whole)

An array of cakes


Kid's Favorite

  • Bacon & Cheese Macaroni with Cereal Chicken - American cheddar cheese sauce, mozzarella, and bacon crisps served with strips of cereal chicken (Php365)
  • Spam & Egg - caramelized spam, egg, and rice (Php238)
  • Spaghetti Meatballs - spaghetti, monster meatballs, Filipino style tomato sauce, and shaved parmesan (Php288)

Rolls

  • Adobo Rolls (Php45)
  • Corned Beef Rolls (Php45)
  • Tuna Rolls (Php45)

Brioche/Ensaymadas

  • Queso de Bola (Php85/Php485)
  • Cheddar (Php65/Php370)
  • Cheese Rolls (Php45/Php260)

Croissants

  • Almond (Php85/Php490)
  • Butter (Php75/Php380)
  • Chocolate (Php85/Php540)

Danish 

  • Apple/Strawberry/Blueberry/Peach (Php85)

 Turnovers         

  • Chicken & Mushroom (Php85)        
  • Italian Beef (Php85)         
  • Tuna Melt (Php95)

Banana Mini Loaf

  • Plain (Php25/Php143)
  • Choco Chip (Php35/Php200)
  • Dulce de Leche (Php35/Php200)
  • Peanut Butter (Php35/Php200)
  • Walnut (Php35/Php200)

Bars

  • Brownies (Php35/Php400)
  • Butterscotch (Php30/Php340)
  • Food for the Gods (Php45/Php520)
  • Revel Bars (Php30/Php340)

Cookies        

  • Dark Chocolate Chip (Php45/Php260)         
  • Breakfast Oatmeal  (Php45/Php260)

My Favorite Milkshakes         

  • Strawberry (Php198)         
  • Vanilla (Php198)         
  • Chocolate (Php198)         
  • Oreos & Cream (Php198)

Fruit Shakes/Smoothies

  • Guyabano Banana: Fruit Shake (Php158), Smoothie (Php198)
  • Strawberry Mango: Fruit Shake (Php148), Smoothie (Php188)
  • Mango: Fruit Shake (Php148), Smoothie (Php188)
  • Grapes: Fruit Shake  (Php148)
  • Watermelon: Fruit Shake (Php148)

Premium Hot Teas         

  • Dilmah Exceptional Tea (Php110)

Iced Teas

  • House Iced Tea (Php130)
  • Peach Iced Tea (Php145)
  • Mango Calamansi Iced Tea (Php145)
  • Nana's Green Tea Lemonade (Php160)

Black Tea Flavored Spritzers         

  • Strawberry and Orange (Php145)         
  • Peach Mango (Php145)         
  • Four Season (Php145)

Beverages         

  • Sodas (Php70)         
  • Bottled Water (Php45)

Coffee & Chocolate

  • Espresso: Hot (Php95)
  • Americano: Hot (Php95), Iced ((Php120)
  • Cappuccino: Hot (Php120)
  • Latte: Hot (Php120), Iced (Php140)
  • White Mocha: Hot (Php160), Iced (Php180)
  • Caramel Macchiato: Hot (Php130), Iced (Php150)
  • Malagos Hot Chocolate: Hot (Php160)
  • Mocha: Hot (Php160), Iced (Php180)

Katherine’s Café: Second Floor, Glorietta 3, Makati City, Metro Manila. Tel: 0926 470 8090 and 0927 961 8365. Tel: 02-8240-5115.  Open daily, 10 AM- 8 PM. Facebook: facebook.com/KatherinesCafePH.  Instagram: instagram.com/katherines_cafe/


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