New Dishes You Should Try at Mango Tree Bistro BGC

Mango Tree Bistro in BGC

Mango Tree is an international restaurant chain from Thailand that serves authentic Thai dishes along with fusion meals that will surely satiate your palate. Security Blanket was among the privileged ones who got invited to taste and try the new dishes at Mango Tree Bistro in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

Among the Mango Tree Bistro outlets, their flagship store at BGC is the one I frequently visit not only because of its authentic Thai dishes but also because it gives off that Thai-inspired ambiance. Plus, they have a very extensive menu and it's so easy to get lost in it too because the names are in Thai, it's best to ask what dish is made of. Another thing I love about Mango Tree is that you can order the good, tried-and-tested Thai dishes that Filipinos love alongside new Thai specialties you haven't tried before. 

Without much further ado, allow me to share with you my latest food discoveries, the new dishes you guys should try at the Mango Tree Bistro in BGC. 

Mango Tree Bistro Thai Crispy Rice Crackers with dipping sauce

Deep fried Thai crispy crackers (Php280)--Served with a creamy and savoury dip made with coconut milk, shrimp and chicken strips. It tasted like rice puffs with peanut buttery and coconut after taste. A good way to start your meal if you will ask me. 

Thai pork skewers

Thai Chicken and Thai Pork Skewers (Php420)--Grilled marinated chunks of chicken and pork skewers with cherry tomato, bell peppers, white onions and pineapple served with sweet vinegar sauce. If you're a carnivore, both skewers will surely delight your taste buds. 

Thai Chicken Skeweres

Prawns in pandan

Prawns in Pandan (Php580)--Marinated prawns in aromatic pandan leaves. It was cooked very well with no burnt taste and served with a yummy tamarind sauce. 

Deep fried prawns in tamarind sauce

Deep Fried Prawns in Tamarind Sauce (Php580)--Deep fried prawns topped with garlic, chilies, spring onions and tamarind sauce. I feel sorry for those who are allergic to prawns (as well as other seafoods) because they won't be able to taste this dish and the prawns in pandan. They both taste fantastic! 

Tom Yum Chicken Wings

Tom Yum Chicken Wings (Php290)--Deep fried chicken wings in Tom Yum Powder. Delicious and finger licking chicken wings with some kick and tangy taste. Truly, a feast for your palate. 

Phad thai with soft shell crab

Phad Thai with Soft Shell Crab (P550)--Thai stir-fried rice noodles with soft shell crab. Who would have thought that mixing pha thai along with soft shell crab would be a terrific way to serve our all-time fave noodle dish? With the Mango Tree Bistro's resident Thai chef working his magic on each dish, you will never go wrong.

BKK Express: Serving Affordable and Authentic Thai Food at Uptown Mall

BKK Express at Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City

Last weekend, I was invited to try BKK Express (Bangkok Express) at the Food Hall of the posh Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). It was my first time at the said mall and I couldn’t help but rave about the place because it’s a great place to go food trippin’. People within the BGC are so lucky because they’ve got so many restaurants to explore and enjoy. Looks like I need to come here more often should I find myself in the said area. I guess I was fortunate to be invited by BKK Express, from the same company that brought us the well-loved Filipino buffet restaurant, Cabalen, to try their latest business baby which was more casual dining than its sister company, Soi. This is really timely because I’ve been having Thai food cravings lately since it’s been ages since I had eaten a really good Thai food.

The spacious Food Hall at Uptown Mall

BKK Express' Lemongrass Juice

BKK recently opened its doors to cater to foodies craving for authentic Thai foods without the need to travel to Bangkok. Located at the 4^th level of Food Hall at Uptown Mall, it’s the newest concept store serving quality yet affordable Thai fare. 

Chef Thea and Mr. Roy Fontabla welcomes you to BKK Express

I’ve always been a huge fan of Asian cuisines particularly of Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai foods. So you guys can imagine my excitement when I came in early that Saturday morning to try the foods served at BKK Express.

FLAVORS OF ASIA AT MARRIOTT HOTEL MANILA: ONE TRULY AMAZING ASIAN FOOD TRIP

The lobby of the Marriott Cafe

 They say that the best ways to experience Asia is through food—notable, mind-blowing, and immeasurable. Especially for the Southeast Asian region that boasts a multi-cultural and hard-hitting influence with the way we enjoy cooking and eating, it’s no wonder why dishes that hail from these regions are considered a feast for the senses.

Marriott Manila pays tribute to the most revered cuisines of the world as it brings home four of the Asia’s finest chefs and most famous cuisines. From Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam—Marriott Café entices everyone with a masterpiece through a month-long celebration of Oriental flavors that’s uniquely Marriott.

Chef introduces his dish.

What else could be more exciting that flying four of the finest chefs in Asia with Renaissance Kuala Lumpur’s Ruhizad Muri, Renaissance Riverside Saigon Phan Tien Hoa, Indonesian chef Dadang Wahyudi, and JW Marriott Bangkok Thantorn Krobsuay? Boasting with culinary career track that is dynamically diverse, expect only authentic and a palate tickling adventure anyone could get.

Chef enjoys the media.

 Back by popular demand, Thai food deserves all the hype for its fundamental tastes: sweet, sour, salty and bitter. Chef Thantorn Krobsuay, who led the first two consecutive most-talked about Thai Food Fest at Marriott Café, will still dish out appetizing Thai specialties foodies regularly crave for. Discover his new line up of mouthwatering dishes such as deep fried sea bass with chili sauce, sautéed squid with pineapple and cucumber, beef balls cooked with Malaysian sauce, braised beef spiced with turmeric and coconut.

Chef tells the crowd what his dish was all about. 

 For only P2, 300 net from Sunday to Thursday and P2, 500 net for Friday and Saturday, enjoy a charming Asian dinner that assures an enjoyable age-old tradition of bonding through delicious mix of aromatics, spices, rich, sweet and hot Flavors of Asia.

Beef Rendang melts in your mouth.

More than its legendary nasi lemak, chef Ruhizad gives foodies a taste of Malaysia’s noteworthy nyonya cuisine. A signature Penang-type of cooking that uses roots (blends and spices of galangal, turmeric, and ginger), leaves (pandan, lime and laksa), fruit (lemon, tamarind and green mangoes) along with other ingredients like shrimp paste and chilis.

Yummy Vietnamese Spring Rolls.

Chef Ruhizad also puts an interesting twist to time-honored dishes in Malaysia. This buffet section invites diners to get creative with blue crab, tiger prawn shrimps, steamed fish, beef tenderloin, chicken, fresh clams, barbecue chicken, and assorted veggies peppered and spiced the Malaysian way 

Fresh catch: Curacha crabs galore!

 For the more adventurous, Indonesian cuisine are also made available. Carnivores will surely enjoy chef Dadang Wahyudi’s take on grilled meats in skewers—with a wide selection of beef, lamb chops, chicken, shrimps, calamari, pork and fish! Another must-try is the bebek betutu klung klung—an all-spiced up Balinese dish enhanced by a host of pungent ingredients. Locals and visitors will also love the heavenly roasted duck recipe that’s considered a dish specialty for big banquets and special ceremonies.

Chef's specialty with galangal, lime and ginger.

Chinese station with dimsums and dumplings.

Sweet Asian delicacies

Seafood and meat skewers with sauce.

Fruits abound.

The giant chocolate fountain for the sweet tooth.

The Japanese Station boasts of sushi and sashimi.

Tiger Prawns

 For Vietnamese cuisine lovers like me, chef Phan Thien Hoa presents a variety of specialty and oh-so-delectable Vietnamese specialties that’s known for being one of the healthiest foods. Try the heavenly steaming bowl of Pho (chicken or beef). It bursts of flavors, herbs and spices. I instantly fell in love with it the very first time I had a spoonful of it. This one’s a whole lot better than Pho Hoa. Topped with lemon citrus, this pho soup is probably the best I have ever tasted. It’s very refreshing! Made from the finest broth, rice noodles, meat, herbs such as fresh basil leaves (unlike others that uses mint leaves). It promises to leave you wanting for more.

The Vietnamese Noodle Station..

The perfect rainy day companion--Vietnamese Pho.

 A Vietnamese food trip will never be complete without Vietnamese spring rolls—soft rice wrappers filled with meats like shrimps, chicken, beef and veggies with tofu, served on a sweet peanut buttery sauce. It feels like transporting you to the streets of Saigon. For seafood fans, there are curacha crabs, (big crabs) tiger prawns, and lobsters.

Chef with Vietnamese spring rolls.

Those with sweet-tooth need not frown, a wide range of choices are in store for you all. Glutinous rice or fruits, pandan crepes rolled in caramelized coconut, stewed green bean with palm sugar, banana in sweet coconut, pandan jelly plus other Asian sweet delicacies.

As if these yummy treats aren’t enough, Marriott has partnered with other Marriott Asian properties in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia and they’re giving away three days and two nights gift certificates to four lucky diners of Flavors of Asia! That’s all you need to fully experience Asia!

The author with the International Chefs

Experience this once-in-a-lifetime amazing culinary treat as Marriott also brings in four distinguished chef guests to conduct special cooking classes for only P1, 500 net inclusive of a hearty lunch.

The schedules are as follows:

Thai—July 9 and 16

Malaysian and Vietnamese—July 23

Indonesian—July 30

For inquiries or reservations, please call Marriott café at 988-9999.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100 % my own.

BLACK CANYON COFFEE: GREAT COFFEE EXPERIENCE + THE FINEST THAI CUISINE UNDER ONE ROOF

Black Canyon Coffee opens its first branch in SM Southmall.

Black Canyon Coffee, one of the most successful names in coffee and dining in Thailand recently opened its first branch in the Philippines. With over 220 branches in Thailand alone, not to mention their other branches across Asia, it’s good to know that they have opened a store in our country. Located at the Food Strip wing of SM Southmall in Las Pinas City, Black Canyon Coffee has a cozy interior with blends of browns and colorful pastels. Their interiors alone will tell you right away that the foods and specialty drinks they serve aren’t boring—because they’re not your usual coffee shop.

A comfy and friendly ambiance with cool green and yellow pastel colors amidst browns.

Just like any coffee shop, they do offer pastries, sandwiches and other sweets.

What makes them different from other casual coffee dining place is that they do not serve only coffee and pastries. Black Canyon Coffee helps relive the rainy season with a wide menu of delicious comfort drinks and International and Thai food delights sure to leave anyone wanting for more.

An appetizing fill of Grilled Pepper Salmon Salad will surely help brighten your day. Generous slices of peppered salmon on a bed of green lettuce with julienned carrots on top with dressing on the side.

Appetizingly healthy Grilled Peppered Salmon Salad

Everyone will surely enjoy Fried Prawns with Tamarind Sauce served in an appetizing new way. It’s hard to resist that deep-fried crispiness served with sweet and tangy tamarind sauce.

Fried Prawns in Tamarind Sauce

Their award-winning Pad Thai

For variety, try their award-winning Pad Thai and spicy Tom Yum soup. It’s comfort times two. Eat both meals with gusto and your stomach will thank you for it. If you’re in for something really spicy, order their Green Seafood Curry, it’ll definitely wake you up on a sleepy afternoon. I should know for in my case, it just did! And I had to tell you this, I’ve instantly fell for their Pad Thai—it’s generously filled with shrimps with a sliced green lemon for that sweet and nutty taste you’d surely love.

This Green Curry adds a bomb to your palate!

Speaking of love, I super love Black Canyon Coffee’s Cranberry Frappe—they’re just right, not too sweet with generous cranberries on it. You could also try their Mexican Iced Coffee served on a really cute shoe glass. It had Kahlua (a coffee-flavored liqueur) on it, so it must be really good. I vow to order it the next time though. For non-coffee drinkers, there are iced teas, green teas, milk shakes, and fruit smoothies for you to choose from. There are actually 24 specialty coffee drinks and 40 special beverages available, so you’ve got plenty of options. You see there’s really more to look forward to each time you visit.

My Cranberry Frappe: two thumbs up!

Next on my list to try: Mexican Iced Coffee

Mocha Glacier

New Orleans Chicken

Finally, find more comfort in a variety of choice for a sweet ending to cap off your delicious meal: Premium Chocolate—chocolate ice cream with a bar of chocolate topped with whipped cream, Tin Roof—vanilla ice cream topped with a pretzel with whipped cream and chocolate syrup or Fruit Salad—strawberry ice cream with different fruits and syrup with whipped cream.

Chocolate Overload: Premium Chocolote perfectly ends a meal.

Tin Roof

Fruit Salad

I was able to ask its owner, Mrs. Wilma Dy (President of Royal Thai Food Philippines) if there were certain foods that had to be tweak in order to suit the Filipino palate. She said there was none for customers can be assured that Black Canyon Coffee prides itself on its very strict and consistent standards, so what we have in the Philippines are as the same taste as it is in Thailand. And best of all, the prices are very affordable and the serving are really generous. 

Black Canyon Coffee Philippines owner Mrs. Wilma Dy.

So, forget the usual coffee shop, here’s Black Canyon Coffee giving you reasons to enjoy good life with a belly full of happy comfort food and yummy drinks.  I can assure you, it’s worth all the travel to the South. But in a few years time, I could already foresee this business thriving more and perhaps expanding to a place near me, perhaps somewhere North. True to its promise, Black Canyon Coffee is a drink from paradise…available on Earth.J

Black Canyon Coffee is now open at the Food Strip of SM Southmall, Las Pinas City.

For further information, please email blackcanyonph@gmail.com

The author, all smiles after having one of the finest Thai meal she has encountered. 

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Security Blanket thanks Mr. Azrael Colladilla, Mr. Rob Yatco and Black Canyon Coffee for the invite.