Metro Vigan Cafe: A taste of Asian Ilocandia Cuisine

My Vigan experience will not be completed if I hadn't tasted Vigan's very own delicacies and cuisines. That's is why I'm really thankful to the management of Metro Vigan Inn and the people behind Powercom for inviting Geejay Travel Log to this wonderful visit, tour and food trip to Vigan. Well, this serves as my second entry of my Metro Vigan Inn blog series. After my feature blog post of their hotel, click here, now I'll be featuring their newly launched in-house restaurant which they called Metro Vigan Cafe.

To give you a short background, Metro Vigan Cafe is just right inside the vicinity of Metro Vigan Inn. It is an in-house restaurant specially made both to the guest of the inn and as well as to other people (non-guests) who are looking for cuisines having a twist or taste of Vigan. Have you tasted Kare Kareng Bagnet? How about Sinanglao and Poki Poki? Not yet? Well, these are just some of the cuisines awaiting for you when you pick Metro Vigan Cafe. Metro Vigan Cafe specialized in Asian Ilocandia Cuisine!

Welcome to Metro Vigan Cafe!

Are you ready for some virtual food trip? Just keep on scrolling that mouse ball and be enticed on the dishes Metro Vigan Inn prepared for us. By the way, I posted all the dishes we ate during our whole stay. So this will be a load of images!

Appetizer

SISIG CRISPY BAGNET (148 Pesos)
A heart and tasty appetizer with a twist of crisp and crunch here and there chopped crispy bagnet with secret spices top with egg, garnish with mayo for creamy and crispy texture every byte.

Sisig ala Bagnet. Anyone?

POKI POKI (128 Pesos)
Scrambled egg mixed with eggplant a cheap appetizer that will definitely condition your appetite.

ehem hahaha...

SPRING ROLL LONGANIZA (128 Pesos)
Instead of usual pork wrapped inside the spring roll. we use a house made longaniza to give new subtle taste.

Dipping it to Sukang Vigan makes it extra special

Soup

SINANGLAO (188 Pesos)
This hot and hearty soup upon serving taste just as delicious as the Sinanglao soup that you came to love.

It looks like Sinigang but it does taste like "Papaitan"

BULALO (288 Pesos)
Cooked with enough time, patience and with its original taste, one won't make bulalo a less favorite yours.

Served in big chunks. Worth to try!

Entree

STEAMED MALAGA (300 Pesos)
This classic Ilocano fish is steamed on top of fresh tomatoes, onions and ginger, to give a unique and taste flavor.

My fellow bloggers really like this dish

HITO AT TALONG (198 Pesos)
Pan fried cat fish and grilled eggplants. stewed in smoked coconut milk.

Since I love anything with Gata, this is one of my favorite dish!

METRO VIGAN CHICKEN (Whole 319 Pesos & Half 188 Pesos)
Simplicity is beauty. this original chicken of ours will already satisfy your starving stomach with its unique spices.

Tastes like Sincerity's fried chicken

CRISPY PATA (458 Pesos)
Deep fried pig trotters and knuckles that comes with a soy-vinegar dip.

Do I have to comment on this????

PINAPUTOK NA TILAPIA (158 Pesos)
Stuffed with fresh tomatoes, onions and ginger, this steamed tilapia will surely make your tummy burst and comeback for more.

I'm not a fan of tilapia so I didn't try it. Sorry.

CRISPY BAGNET (258 Pesos)
A classic Ilocano dish, deep fried pork belly crisp to perfection.

Crispy sken, juicy meat... just perfect!

KALDERETANG PATO (228 Pesos)
House specialty braised duck and tomato stew with secret herbs and spices. a must try

KARE KARE BAGNET (258 Pesos)
A Filipino favorite vegetable dish paired with crispy and freshly cooked bagnet.

My most favorite dish served by Metro Vigan Cafe. Very recommendable!

Vegetables

PINAKBET NA BAGNET (198 Pesos)
The Ilocanoes favorite vegetable garnished with crispy bagnet chunks will make this dish truly delightful.

CHOPSUEY (168 Pesos)
Believed to be Chinese origin and one of Filipinos favorites, this starch chicken dish with meaty meat and vegetables will surely leave you satisfied.

Rice & Noodles

METRO VIGAN FRIED RICE (Small 98 Pesos Med 168 Pesos Large 208 Pesos)
Vigan chorizo combined with Chinese chorizo are used as base to twist this Chinese classic to an original metro Vigan cafe dish.

METRO VIGAN PANCIT CANTON (Small 98 Pesos Med 168 Pesos Large 208 Pesos XL 298 Pesos)
A colorful noodle meal with ingredients of vegetable and/or chicken/squid balls that is not only delicious to the eyes, but the mouth and the stomach as well.

And that's the end of your Metro Vigan Cafe virtual food trip ala Geejay Travel Log. So, who's craving for some Ilocandia cuisines? If so, book a flight or grab a bus ticket now going to Ilocos (Vigan) and visit Metro Vigan Inn and Cafe to taste it yourself!

Contact Metro Vigan Inn & Cafe!

Reservations can be made through Metro Vigan Inn's online reservation service at www.metroviganinn.com or through their reservation office at (077) 674-0448 and (+63917) 824-3800. Check their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Metroviganinn

Metro Vigan Inn

Bayubay Norte, San Vicente, Ilocus Sur

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Sweet and Savory crepes of Crepes & Cream

My craving for crepes and ice cream started back when I was still in college. Melodica, a friend, was the one who introduced me to Crepes & Cream after our successful baby thesis defense in S.A.D (reminiscing those days makes me feel old. lol!). Ice cream in crepe has this balance of sweetness (the ice cream part) and blandness (every time I bite the crepe part) which makes it a great dessert and the main reason why I am fond of it. -- I'll be using again my smart phone for the photos of this entry... aw.

What I love about Crepes & Cream is that their goods are handy. I never worry whenever the store or the stand is full of customers because I can eat it even while walking around the mall. Let me share you my technique. Whenever Crepes & Cream is full, I always bring my ordered crepe in the food court. In the food court, there is a big chance that I can get a chair and enjoy my crepe ice cream while sitting and blogging (yes, I am drafting my blog now).

Aside from being handy, Crepes & Cream also offers a wide variety of flavors and choices. It is not only ice cream they put inside the crepe which is also called as Sweet Crepes. They also serve what they call Savory Crepes. Savory Crepes options are ham, hotdog, tuna, pork floss, shredded chicken, ground beef, etc... rolled inside the crepe . Yup, main course can also be serve in crepes. So if you are in a hurry and needed a quick meal, then you can also try Crepes & Cream (if there is a nearby branch).

Rocky Road with Chocnut toppings!

If you are still not satisfied on the wide range of goods that they offer in their menu, then why don't you try creating your own crepe recipe? Yes, that's right! Crepes & Cream allows us to create our own crepe recipe. For Sweet Crepes, just pick what flavor of ice cream you wanted to start off (where there are more than 10 flavors to choose from). Then add up your spreads (hazelnut, strawberry jelly, peanut butter, etc) and toppings (choco chips, almond flakes, fudge brownie, oreo crumble, chocnut chunks, cheesecake bites, etc... etc!). You can also add up an additional premium and/or sugar free ice cream to complete your crepe recipe. And as for the Savory Crepe, pick first from ham, hotdog, tuna, pork floss, shredded chicken, ground beef and more. Then decide your Veggies (mushroom, lettuce, onion, etc..) and Sauces (cheddar cheese, honey mustard sauce, taco sauce or mushroom sauce). Sound fun and delightful huh?

Choose and mix!

You can enjoy these crepes from 75 pesos up to 165 pesos. Price may exceed if you're an add-on and toppings maniac. Hehe. Fyi, milkshakes, sundaes, and beverages like sodas, teas and coffee are also being serve in Crepes & Cream.

MOA - in front of Bench Body store

So if you are urging for a crepe fix, whether it is a Sweet crepe or Savory crepe, then I suggest to give Crepes & Cream a shot!

Branches (this may change...):
SM City North EDSA | 2nd Flr
Robinsons Place - Manila | 1st Flr
Newport Mall
SM Mall of Asia | Main Mall and Entertainment Mall
Power Plant Mall | 1st Flr
The Podium
SM City Fairview
SM Megamall - Atrium | 3rd Flr
Trinoma | 4th Flr

Ready to go!

Ratings based on my experience [0-5, 5 is the highest] (MOA Branch) :

Taste: 3.9 - thumbs up! 

Environment: 3 - poor lighting and tables are not maintained clean

Service:  3 - this is because of my reason above

Price: 5 - I find it affordable

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Swensen's : where Happiness Never Melts

Are you looking for something refreshing this summer? I suggest to try out these frozen desserts of Swensen's in the Mall of Asia (MOA), Pasay City.

My girlfriend and I were just walking and looking for something to eat  under the scorching hot afternoon in MOA last weekend when we came across Swensen's. The moment I saw the ice cream display and photos from the outside, I immediately ask my girlfriend if we can try it out and thank God she said yes (Yikes, I forgot again to bring my camera... smartphone mode again).

As we went inside Swensen's, we were approached by smiling and friendly staffs and directed us to our seats (a good start). I also noticed that the place was almost full in which I can tell that this store really serves good stuff and a hit to us, Filipinos. Having that in mind makes me thrill to order and try it myself.

Cute cup of Swenven's

As the waitress hands us down their menu, my eyes went wild with all the good looking (and I mean by the ice cream presentations) frozen desserts that Swenven's offers to their customers. They all look great and I had a hard time picking on what to eat from the list on their menu. Words are not enough to describe what I mean so just simply look at the photos below:

I wanted to try Swensen's Chocolate Earthquake (just google it.) Unfortunately, my girlfriend was still full that time and I thought to myself that I might not finish the whole thing alone. So we ordered Oreo Brownie and Iced Choc-O-Latte (still no regret!).  It is simply the perfect treat this summer and really a must try.

Choc-O-Latte (125 pesos)

Oreo Brownie (265 pesos)

Aside from the frozen desserts and alike, Swensen's possess a relaxing and cozy ambiance. It is ideal for chatting with friends and loveones. I had fun sitting and enjoying my cold food with my girlfriend. We will definitely visit again this place for sure.

Happy customers =]

Swensen's MOA is located at the ground floor, South Wing of the mall and near SM department store. They also have a branch in Quezon City situated in Eastwood Mall. So come and visit them!

Ratings based on my experience [0-5, 5 is the highest] :

Taste: 5 -  Perfect for the summer heat!

Environment: 4 - clean and homey type ambiance

Service: 5 - smilling crew and very accomodating

Price: 3 - a bit pricey

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