QT Hotel

Starting off my Sydney posts with where we stayed for one whole week:  QT Hotel.  Before we flew to Australia, my brother and I asked our Dad which hotel he booked for our vacation.  Dad's answer was "QT".  Whaaa...?  Cutie?   Is this a joke?  We both wondered.  "No.  QT.  Letter Q and letter T.  Google it."  was his reply.  So google we did, and boy oh boy, the place looked nothing like your standard traditional hotel.  Reviews online described it as quirky.  Well, quirky is good for me.  I'm too tired from seeing countless cookie-cutter hotel rooms anyway so this one is one refreshing change.  The pictures online were so nice that I actually looked forward to getting to the hotel more than seeing what Sydney has to offer! 

After a few more weeks of waiting, vacation time finally came.  Our flight arrived early in the morning and the first thing we did when we got to Sydney was to check into the hotel.  Let me tell you, nothing prepared me for what we saw.  It was way better than I expected.  A visual feast for the eyes.  Mind-blowingly perfect.  Don't believe me?  Scroll down for your treat:

Part of the hotel lobby

Hotel Lobby and Check-In Counters

What greeted us when the elevator opened to our floor

Our room number

Key card

Our room with two queen beds

Wide shot of the bar/bathroom/working area

Closer shot of the minibar

Not your ordinary minibar.  They had these for sale!  Emergency bowtie, anyone?

Closet

Bottoms Up!

The Throne.  This is an entire section separate from  the bath area.

Wash area

Bath!

And Bath Tub!

Mismatched seats and wall art

Soooo... What do you think?  Did you guys love it as much as I did?  They really paid great attention to detail.  Everything was well thought of, from the staff uniforms down to the elevator.  Just a bit of tidbit:  the elevators in QT Hotel plays a different song every time the door closes.  And when it opens to let a guest off on one of the floors, sometimes it even says "Hasta La Vista, Baby!"  LOL.  I was literally speechless.  

 

So how would I rate QT Hotel?  Is that even a question?  I'm so in love with this hotel!  In fact, I've never loved a hotel more in my life!  Quirky became an understatement.  Everything was perfect in their own mismatched ways - from the rooms, to the lobby, and the service... All I can say is, WOW!  5 out of 5 stars!

QT Hotel is at 49 Market Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia

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Back from a Vacation!

...and I'm back!  Most of you don't know this, but I went on a one week trip with the family!  Can you guess where?  Below is a clue:

Quite gloomy huh?  It was raining cats and dogs the day we had our tour.  Boo!  Anyways, if you guessed Australia, then yes, you're right!  Well, Sydney is the more specific answer since we were only able to visit one place in Australia on this trip.  Cross fingers that we'll be able to go back and see more of this fabulous country in the coming years.  Let me take a breather to put my posts together, but do watch out for upcoming Sydney entries.  Can't wait to share our trip with you guys!

On a side note, my blog anniversary contest is coming to an end!  But it's not too late to join, click here for more details!

Spatzle

If you guys remember my previous posts about Shangri-La Plaza's new east wing, I vowed to try out most, if not all, of their new restaurants.  Although slow on fulfilling my promise, I am doing my best in trying out a different restaurant every time I visit the said mall.  One random weeknight, my best friend DQ and I agreed to meet up in Shangri-La Plaza to eat and just basically hang out.  We actually had a hard time figuring out where to eat, since there was so much restaurants to choose from.  But later on, after going around for a bit, we finally chose Spatzle.  

Here's what we had:

New Potato and Mushroom Chowder Soup

Weirdest tasting soup ever.  The texture of the soup reminded me a bit like eating congee.  The whole thing didn't taste like potato OR mushroom either.  

Spatz Poutine Fries

Roesti Haus Burger

Mont Blanc Tarte Flambe

Uhm... truthfully speaking, we were both disappointed.  Everything tasted so... mediocre.  The only thing I liked was the potato chips on top of their tarte flambe, but even that can't save the whole dinner and its blah-ness.  2 out of 5 stars.

Spatzle is at 5/F East Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, EDSA cor. Shaw Blvd. Wack Wack, Mandaluyong

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Ginza Bairin

Late post!  Ever since Ginza Bairin opened in Glorietta, I've actually eaten there about 3 times to date.  And I seriously thought I've already written my review about it.  That is, until I saw my Ginza Bairin post on the drafts folder today!  Eeeks!  Bad, bad blogger!  Sorry!  But better late than never, right? 

I've actually tried Ginza Bairin both in Singapore and Hong Kong, and have been impressed by it on both countries.  So let's see if the local version is comparable to the other Asian branches.

Korokke

Nicely crunchy with creamy insides.  

Special Katsudon Set

My go-to order when in Ginza Bairin.  This is their "star" dish; the very one that made Ginza Bairin famous.  So it goes without saying that I order their Special Katsudon Set every single time I dine there.  It's my favorite!  So how was it compared to its Asian counterparts?  Well... I have my reservations.  The first and second time I dined in our local Ginza Bairin, it was good!  As good as the ones in Hong Kong and Singapore.  But I had my share of disappointment on the third time.  The pork was not as tender as before.  Could it be that on the first two times, it was fairly new, and I observed a foreign chef (Japanese, most likely) working on the kitchen, and on the third time, the foreign chef was nowhere to be found?  Hmmm...

Unagi Katsu

I've been a huge fan of the unagi ever since I can remember.  Seeing the unagi katsu on the menu, I can't resist not trying it.  First few bites will be heaven on your mouth.  But a few bites more, and I slowly notice that it's getting a bit too oily for my taste.  So in conclusion, this dish is better when shared!  No gluttons allowed or you stand to face the consequences! 

So how would I rate Ginza Bairin?  It would've gotten a 4 out of 5, but since the last experience was a downer, I'll give it a 3 out of 5 stars.  Not closing my doors on it though, maybe it was just an off day.  Will be trying it out again before giving my final conclusion :)

Ginza Bairin is at G/F Glorietta 2, Palm Drive, Ayala Center, Makati

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Outfit of the Week: Print on Print

Finally, I was able to come up with a print-on-print look!  The colors of the top and the shorts complement each other nicely (at least, in my opinion!) so it wasn't too much.  Wore this on a day trip to Tagaytay with the family.  It's such a fun, casual outfit so it's perfect for Tagaytay.  Or so I thought.  I nearly froze to death!  Haha!  No worries, I lived to tell the tale.  Ah, the things we do for fashion.  Plan to do another print-on-print look on my future outfit post, and this time, more shocking non-complementing colors!  Do watch out for it! :)

Top:  Regatta
Shorts:  Uniqlo
Bag:  Kate Spade
Shoes:  Pretty Fit
Bracelet:  Forever 21

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Sunshine Kitchen

Last month, my good friend KO celebrated her birthday.  When asked about where she plans to have her birthday dinner, her reply was "Sunshine Kitchen, Fort".  Where?!  This restaurant seemed so under the radar; and I don't recall coming across a Sunshine Kitchen on my countless trips to the Fort.  A quick google after, I figured it out.  It's located at the second floor of the Fort Strip.  Aha!  That's why.  Because I rarely go to the Fort Strip except to park there when I visit the bazaar at the NBC Tent.  LOL.  Mental note:  must visit Fort Strip more.

Fast forward to the day itself, it was raining cats and dogs.  Everyone was running late.  Hubby and I were a bit earlier so we had the chance to browse the menu before everyone came.  I had so much dishes I wanted to try, but since we're not the celebrant (meaning, the one paying, haha), we left the ordering to KO when she arrived.

Here's what we had:

Creamy Crab and Shrimp Dip with Artichokes

We all loved this.  Couldn't resist mopping up the sauce even after all the bread was gone!

Sunshine Pizza

Sunshine Kitchen provided an interesting twist to their pizza:  quail eggs! 

Pasta Al Nero

The noodles were cooked al dente, and I personally liked the combination of squid ink pasta with white sauce.

Truffled 4 Cheese Pasta with Smoked Bacon

There was a faint truffle smell, but a bit lacking for me.

6 Hour Slow Roast Porchetta

We had two orders of these, and one came out burnt, but the other, perfect.  Negative points for the burnt ones, but the perfect one provided a nice crunch and tender meat.

Cabanatuan Longganisa Paella with 2 Fried Eggs

Paella was so-so.  It's your usual paella with an additional bonus:  2 fried eggs.  I guess Sunshine Kitchen really does live up to their name.  (Sun=Eggs.  Get it?  LOL!)

Come dessert time, the group of gluttons decided to get all three desserts offered by the restaurant!  See?  Birds of the same feather, flock together!  Just kidding!  We were 7 in all, so having all three desserts sounds just about right.  At least we'll get to try everything, right?

Salted Caramel Cheesecake

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Mangoes Foster

All the desserts were yummy.  Plus points for the key lime pie ice cream, it really does taste like key lime pie!  Never had this flavor before, so it was a refreshing change.

Overall I'll give Sunshine Kitchen a 4 out of 5 stars.  There's a few more items that I'd like to try, so yes, I will be back.  Happy Birthday KO!  XOXO

Sunshine Kitchen is at 2/F The Fort Strip, Fort Pointe Bldg., 5th Ave. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

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Hatch 22

Last Friday, I dragged Hubby to the Power Plant Mall's "The Neighborhood", a pop up flea market that features retailers, performers, food and food trucks at the Rockwell Tent.  We initially wanted to grab a bite from the food trucks, but because of the rain and the wind, we opted to find someplace to eat within the mall.  I was actually excited because there's a new kid in town:  Hatch 22.  Been wanting to try out the place since it opened, but the last time I was in Rockwell with friends, the line was too long and we were too hungry to wait.  Well, the line was still long that day, but we had a bit of time to kill, so we just waited for our table.  

First disappointment:  From the moment I first scanned the menu, I knew what I wanted.  The Lobster Bayounnaise.  And it wasn't available.  Boo.  So I scanned what else was available in the menu but was distracted by the neighboring table's plate.  It was a breakfast dish, but it looked so intricate that I soon found myself ordering one.  

Second disappointment:  our server was in such a hurry.  She kept cutting us off and didn't even let us pause and take a second look at the menu, or order more dishes.  After we gave her an order of one soup and one main course each, she repeated our order and ran off.  Looks like she didn't want any additional income for the restaurant.

I was hoping that after those few disappointments, things would look up from there.  So was the food better than the service?  Read on:

Newer England Clam Chowder

Err... nope.  Here comes disappointment number three:  our clam chowder arrived, and it tastes watered down.  It's basically tasteless.

French Onion Soup

The French onion soup didn't do much either.  But it sure was better than the clam chowder water soup.

Trio of Longaniza

Disappointment number four:  Hubby's Trio of Longaniza.  Remember what I said about the neighboring table's plate?  Yup, this was it.  If you're curious as to what that brown thing in the middle is, it's actually egg.  Props to the chef for coming up with an unusual presentation for something as simple as an egg.  But that's about it because it doesn't taste as good as it looks.  One bite and about a teaspoon of oil will ooze out from the egg itself.  It's literally like drinking oil.  If I wanted to kill myself, then this is surely the way to go.  Puny pieces of longaniza too.  Even Jollibee's version would've been better.

Crispy Corned Beef

And the fifth disappointment:  my order of crispy corned beef.  Same oily wreck.  And the corned beef?  Canned.  And dry.  I could have done a better job at home compared to this.  Actually, I could have opened my own restaurant if the food is as bad as the ones we got.  I'd serve better food too.

Finally, one last disappointment:  we initially wanted to order something for dessert.  But after the colossal letdown from everything we ordered, we had to think twice.  Plus, we overheard the other table complaining about their dessert, which the server promised to serve within 10 minutes, but still didn't arrive after 30 minutes.  So, to save ourselves, we chose to skip dessert.

I had such high expectations from Hatch 22, but in the end, I now realize that it is nothing but pure hype.  Long lines does not always equate to good food, or good service for that matter.  0 out of 5 stars.

Hatch 22 is at Level 1, Powerplant Mall, Estrella St. Poblacion, Makati City.

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It's Me Miss M's 1st Blog Anniversary Giveaway! (CLOSED)

Can you believe it?  It's Me Miss M has turned one year old!  And I totally forgot about it!!!  LOL.  Looking back, my first blog entry was posted November 6, 2012.  But with the recent typhoon Yolanda battering our country, I haven't been paying attention much to dates, but rather, on the news on how our fellow countrymen has been coping.  To those who are lucky enough, please please please share your blessings to those in need.  This is the time where us Filipinos should come together and do our best in helping out even in the smallest way possible.  

On a lighter note, yes, it has been one year.  One year of blogging about food, shopping, and my life in general.  To tell the truth, I didn't think I'd last in this blogging thing.  I used to think of it as a passing fancy, something I'll tire of after a few months.  But look where we are now!  Proud moment!  LOL.  Cheers to more yearsssss of It's Me Miss M!

So here's the thing:  about a month ago, I entered the Starbucks Philippines' Facebook Page contest.  It was simple enough, just answer their essay and get the chance to win Starbucks Cards plus a leather card carrier.  And who wouldn't love that, right?  I quickly typed up my entry and pressed send.  Didn't expect to win, but it was a pleasant surprise that among the 1000 winners they picked, I was one of them!  *happy dance*  And a few days later, this is what came in the mail:

Cool huh?  And because I love you, my dear readers so much, I'm sharing my winnings!  One of you will get a chance to win one Starbucks card preloaded with Php300!  Just answer the question "Which post from It's Me Miss M do you like the most and why?"

Comment your answer, name and email address in the comments section below.  Winner will be announced on November 30, 2013.  One comment per person, please.  Double entries will be disqualified :)  Contest is open to everyone with a valid Philippine address.  Good luck!

CONTEST CLOSED

Outfit of the Week: Supersize Me

Oh hello!  My apologies, haven't posted an outfit shot for quite some time now.  Been feeling uninspired, so lately all my outfits have been blah and not post-worthy.  LOL.  Well this week I've managed to pick myself up fashion-wise and finally came up with something decent (at least to me, haha).  I present to you... my supersize me outfit!  Why?  No it's not because I got morbidly fat over the course of the month, but rather, the title has something to do with my actual outfit.  See the necklace?  It has oversized pearls.  The skirt?  Maxi.  And the bag?  Oversized too.  The person on the photo?  Well, er... let's not go there.  LOL!  Was actually a bit conscious to wear a cropped top outside (people might start screaming and running away, haha) but Hubby said it looks fine so with a bit of self-confidence, I wore this out to a family lunch.  Well, the good news is, no one started screaming or running away, and the security guards at the mall actually let me in!  Haha!  But seriously speaking, my parents, who almost always has something to say when it comes to my fashion choices, did not say anything!  Yay!

So how about you, my dear readers?  How do you find my outfit?  Did I pull it off?  Sound off at the comments section please!  Would love to hear what you think! :) 

Top:  Forever 21
Skirt:  Ever New
Necklace:  Ever New
Bracelet:  Ever New
Bag:  Balenciaga
Shoes:  Tkees

Singapore Eats: PS. Cafe

Ahh, PS. Cafe.  I've had my eye on them ever since I first laid eyes on how the PS. Cafe Dempsey Hill branch looked like.  Yes, I'm a sucker for good interiors/exteriors, and this one just blew me away.  Never mind some reviews of the place being overrated; I just HAD to see it and try it out for myself.  So on our last day in Singapore, Hubby and I set off on an adventure to PS. Cafe in Harding Road.  Why an adventure, you ask?  Because that place is basically unreachable by subway, bus or any form of public transportation.  The only way to go there is by taxi, and even the taxi driver had a bit of a hard time figuring out where exactly PS. Cafe was.  Thank goodness for GPS, or else we would have found ourselves lost in the middle of nowhere.  Mr. Taxi Driver actually dropped us off in the middle of the road, and we had to figure out ourselves how to get to the restaurant.  Luckily, it was just a bit of a walk away and soon, we found ourselves standing in front of a quaint house surrounded by lush greenery.  PS. Cafe, we have arrived.

The entrance

The facade

I was at a loss for words.  It's literally impossible not to fall in love with how it looks from the outside.  It kind of reminded me of Sonya's Garden here in Tagaytay.

First look inside the restaurant

The view

The view from inside out is also quite stunning.  I love how modern the restaurant looks.  I also love how sunny it can get inside.  Can't help but feel giddy.

And now, the food:

Portobello Mushroom Soup with Watercress & Truffle Oil

The mushroom soup had a bit of a bitter aftertaste which I didn't like.  Hubby, on the other hand, was impressed.  Being a chef himself, he knows if a certain dish has had any "shortcuts" or substitutes.  The soup, he says, is purely made out of blended mushrooms, which means, you get bang for your buck.

Truffle Shoestring Fries

We were shocked when the fries arrived at our table.  The serving size is HUGE!  For comparison, I think the amount of fries is equivalent to 3 large Mcdonald's fries.  No scrimping on truffle oil either, I could smell it before it even arrived.

Miso Cod

This was a bit on the expensive side, but it was worth every single cent.  The fish was cooked just right; it felt like I was eating Chilean sea bass.  I also loved the roasted pumpkin.  It perfectly complemented the fish.  

PS, Burger

Grilled Wagyu and US Chuck patty topped with Gruyere cheese, wilted spinach, bacon, tomato and crispy onions on a toasted sesame bun with PS. fries.  Yum.

Sticky Date Steamed Pudding with Toffee Sauce

The sticky date and toffee pudding is one of our favorites when dining in Cafe Juanita or Draft here in Manila.  So naturally, we had to order it to see how it PS. Cafe's version compares to our local ones.  Well, it was good alright, but I'm happy to say that the local ones are even better!

Overall PS. Cafe's food gets a 3 out of 5 stars for me.  But the ambiance?  5 out of 5 stars!  While the food may be so-so, the ambiance more than makes up for it.  I would personally go back for the Miso Cod and just sit there the whole afternoon, basking in the glorious surroundings and just enjoy the moment.      

PS. Cafe is at 28b Harding Rd. Singapore