Category Archives: Foodie

A Special Dinner by Mykie

By | Foodie | 3 Comments

My friend Mykie really knows how to enjoy food and eating out!  He is our restaurant adviser for Japan and Hong Kong as he has lived there before. Thanks Mykie and Keiko for inviting us for dinner. It was nice to be with Kirk and Joanne!  

We really really enjoyed the meal you prepared for us in Maurizio that evening. Mykie is part owner of Maurizio and he served us a superb meal. We are definitely coming back to eat the same dishes we had!  

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 Burrata – Creamy Mozzarella Buffala

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Insalata Mista 

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Pizze del Re ( Pizza of Kings ) – Porcini Mushrooms and Mozzarella Buffala 

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Assorted cold cuts – my favorite is the lardo ( the all white one )!  I am sure it is also the unhealthiest of all! 

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 Bistecca Fiorentina -Prime Angus Rib Eye

You have to go to Maurizio and try their Fiorentina- we had the porterhouse cut and the rib eye 

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 Bistecca Fiorentina – Wagyu Porterhouse 

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 Penne ala Nordica – Olive Oil, Garlic, Anchovies, Vodka, Chili and Cream

Joanne’s favorite pasta – I like it too!!!  

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Rum Raisin Gelato 

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website:  Maurizio Ristorante index_13.jpg

Previous Entries:  

Maurizio Risotorante September 22, 2007 

Anniversary Celebration of Maurizio Ristorante June 9, 2008

La Régalade French Bistro

By | Foodie | One Comment

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La Régalade, a world-class French bistro established by renowned chef Alain Rayé in Vancouver in 2001.  A proposal was made to start another La Régalade, in Manila. Alain cheerily welcomed the opportunity, having long nurtured the desire to spread his wings to Asia.

 Over the past year, Alain has visited Manila a number of times and helped decide on the site for La Régalade. He has sniffed his way through the metropolis’ wet markets, and delighted in the availability, quality and freshness of seafood. 

He promises a whole new experience in the country bistro food he will initiate and institutionalize in Makati. No doubt the passion that has ruled his culinary genius over three decades will manifest itself in this new endeavor.

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Alain Rayé’s word in his latest book come to mind, and heart: 

“Cooking is the happiness of my life. This is my art, my way of communicating, and my true passion. As any artist knows, the joy of creating is surpassed only by the joy of sharing your creations. Sharing my cuisine with people who appreciate food is my ultimate satisfaction.”  

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After supervising its opening and first few weeks, Alain will hand over the reins to his fellow Frenchman Pierre Cornelis. The Executive Chef will stay full time for at least a year to train local sous chefs.

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Bubut Quicho, Manager and owner together with Tonyboy Cojuangco

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Salad Régalade 

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Gratinated Onion Soup  

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Escargots En Croutons 

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Filet of Fish, Mashed Potatoes, Olive Oil 

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Beouf Bourginon 

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Grilled Jumbo Tiger Prawns with Lime and Ginger

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Summer Palace

By | Foodie | 3 Comments

I have been hearing many good things about Summer Palace, so as soon as my good friend, Rina, invited me for lunch, of course I moved all my appointments and had lunch with her and Suharto!  🙂  Thanks guys for always inviting us!  

Apparently Rina was craving for the prawn salad with cornflakes, which became my favorite too.  Mom and John always order the prawn salad for me when we eat in Shang Palace ( Shangri-la Hotel Makati ) but this one had cornflakes!!  YUMMY!  

Benny and Soraya joined us and they took care of ordering as they are regulars in the restaurant.  EVERYTHING was very good!!!  Make sure you look for Nancy and ask her for the specials not found in the menu!   

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Xiao Long Bao – I was surprised to see this as it is very hard to find in the Philippines.  It was quite small, taste it okay.  Still not the real real thing but it is close

 

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Prawn Salad with Cornflakes! Our favorite!  

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Steamed cod fish in soy sauce – VERY GOOD!!! 

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After all that, we still had Peking duck!  Wow!!! 

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I was already full by the time the Peking Duck came – but the 2nd way was also very very good!!!  Deep Fried with Spicy Salt!  Make sure you eat it with the sauce.   

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Edsa Shangri-la Hotel Manila   1 Garden WayOrtigas Centre Mandaluyong City 1650, Philippines

T: (63 2) 633 8888  F: (63 2) 631 1067

Summer Palace 

Phone  (63 2) 633 8888 ext. 2738/2739

Hours  Open daily for both lunch and dinner. Open at 9am on Sundays for a dim sum breakfast.

Location Mezzanine Level, Tower Wing  

 

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Carlson

By | Arts and Culture, Foodie | 3 Comments

Dad and Mom hosted a dinner in honor of Carlson who was a very good host to us when we vsited Shanghai three years ago.  Carlson took us together with Suharto and Rina to many good restaurants and gave us a cultural tour of the city.  What a great tour guide.  Carlson is so soft spoken, so kind, so humble, so low profile yet he runs one of the most successful snack food companies in China!  I have this sort of liking for people who produce snack foods 🙂 We are so fortunate to have a met a new great friend!

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Mom and I were deciding what kind of food to serve for Carlson so I told Mom Filipino food since he must be tired of Chinese food.  Only to find out that Carlson is very picky about his food.  He said he will eat anything as long as if you put it in your hands, you do not have to wash your hands after.   What an interesting way to put it!  I guess that means nothing oily or fatty.  Now we know how Carlson keeps his trim and healthy figure.  After having said that, we are glad he still ate the cuchinillo! as he is a kind and proper guest.  🙂

Mom of course prepared a very good home cooked meal…Thanks Mom for preparing and hosting!

Soup Triolet – Tinola, Sinigang and Corn 

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Kare Kare and Bagoong by Ado Escudero 

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Buko Lychee Sherbet – Wow!  We were all so amazed at this presentation.  Round for the ladies and the tall one for the gents 

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Cuchinillo 

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Cheese Platter 

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Lemon Bars 

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Fruit Platter 

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Fresh Tarragon Tea from Mom’s garden 

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Thanks also to Carlson for these two beautiful limited edition prints entitled Siopao Siomai.  He told me that for sure I would like his gift and of course I do, it is FOOD!:-)

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by Pepper Roxas or Isabel ” Pepper” Roxas

Her Mom is Kit Roxas, owner of Tawilis Antiques at La’O Center, near San Lorenzo gate.  Pepper’s works, and those of Sheer Joy, are inside her mom’s shop 

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Carlson does not know it yet, but I have officialy appointed him to be one of Heart2Heart’s ART teachers 🙂  He is designated to acquaint Heart2Heart with anything that has to do with Arts and Culture.  So we look forward to more art and cultural adventures with Carlson and share it here at Heart2Heart!

Previous entry:  River Songs July 11, 2008 

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Antonio’s

By | Celebrations, Foodie | 6 Comments

Dad and Mom celebrated their anniversary and Mom wanted to of course have a meal with the family.  She chose one of their favorites, Antonio’s.  Many of the times that we have dined at Antonio’s, it is a special occassion.  But I will drive two hours any time, any day just to have a meal at Antonio’s!  It is worth it! 

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This is Tito Robbie’s round dining table in Antonio’s. He sent it there so that when he dines there he has his round dining table.  It is the only round dining table in the restaurant.  Dad and Mom borrow it when he is not there, but that night, he was there too 🙂   so we used a rectangular table.

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All the oysters were very good but this of course was my favorite

Gratinated Oysters with Foie Gras – YUMMY!!!antonios33.jpg

Grilled Oysters Balsamic, Garlic portobello 

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Portabello Mushrooms with Balsamic and Garlic and Gratinated Escargot with Garlic Creamantonios37.jpg

  

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House salad with Foie Gras Potato Truffle Tempura 

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All entrees come with house salad and soup but of course our family ordered so many other appetizers that most of us did not eat anymore the house salad and passed on the soup.   

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Grilled Certified Angus Prime Rib Eye Steak! YUMMY! YUMMY!  ( double YUMMY!)

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Rock Salt garlic potato fries- make sure to order this as a siding 

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Grilled Beef Fillet Gratinated with Wild Mushroom on Mashed potato

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Sole Meuniere with Fried Gnocchi 

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 Dessert comes with the entrees

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Bizhan Kazemi

By | Foodie | 3 Comments

Many of you have probably seen or met Mr. Kazemi in bazaars whenever he sells his yummy shawarmas.  He also continues to sell his shawarmas in Rustan’s Expresslane Ayala Alabang Village Park.  img_8294.JPG

He is such a nice guy and a friend of the family.  Once in awhile we ask him to cook for us during our family meals.   We tell him how many people and he comes with the food already cooked.We just place them in our containers.  

 He makes other things aside from Shawarmas – he has hummus, chicken kebab, lamb, chicken curry and the famous hash brown potatoes. All very good!  Mom makes sure to over order so we can all bring back home some after we have stuffed ourselves.  

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Mr. Bizhan Kazemi:  0919-863-3133 / 0928-256-0406

Rustan’s Ayala Alabang Village:  807-1997 

 

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The Round Dining Table

By | Foodie | 4 Comments

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This is my parent’s dining table.  It is here that we have many family meals, celebrate many special occassions and where my parents host their friends.  I have been part of many of those meals and up to this day, I look forward to every meal we have here – aside from the great food that Mom serves and prepares,  it is the overall experience that is most memorable and most important is dining with many personalities and friends of my parents.

They particularly chose a round dining table as a very good friend of theirs, Tito Robbie Delgado, influenced them in choosing round as the shape of their table.  A round table is the best shape because you get to see and talk to everyone in the table.  Our dining table at home is also round and it is perfect.

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Another wonderful evening with another of Dad and Mom’s barkada….

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Tito Danny is so easy to get along with… such a nice guy!  I noticed that he keeps watching me taking photos.  Tita Ising was James’ seatmate and he told me later on that he enjoyed taking care of her that evening.  She strikes me as a quiet person, soft spoken and I admire her for her simplicity and for being very low profile.  Andy pointed out to me that she is the only person who drinks her red wine with ice.  

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and of course I documented it 🙂

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The ever so pretty and lovely Tita Baby. Ever since I met her, she has never aged and she is as beautiful as ever.  Tito Cesar on the other hand has always been a good family friend and by the way, if you are looking to buy a Mercedez Benz… do contact him 🙂 

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My seatmate, Andy, is the “BIG BOSS” of Shangri-la.  I enjoyed chatting with him.  He is a super smart lawyer, a funny guy and is “taken”! 🙂  Tisha is the lucky wife and is the daughter of Tita Baby.   Now we know where she gets her charm and good looks.  I see Tisha in Mother’s Club and she helps her Mom run Franck Provost and CAS.  ( previous Entry:  Beauty 101 April 29, 2008 ) 

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And my other seatmate, Patrick, friend of Tito Cesar and a Swiss banker based in Hong Kong. Also a nice guy…but “spoken for” as well 🙂  

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I enjoy eating kobe beef with this group- they fry their beef fat and eat it.  Everyone in the table did it. They really know how to enjoy eating!!  

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Lally

By | Foodie | No Comments

It was nice to see Derek and Lally during their short visit to the Philippines.  Lally was a batchmate in Assumption highschool and Ateneo for college.  She migrated to Canada and is now married to Derek with two daughters. Lally was one of the people who believed in me and suggested that I put up Heart2Heart.  Thanks Lals for the encouragement and for all your advice.   

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I am also so happy to meet Derek.  He is a Radiologist and is the second guy I know, next to Tito Serge, that likes Gardening.  Derek does boxed gardening since he said in Toronto, they do not have much space in their homes for big gardens, so they put their gardens by their windows. We get along because he also likes desserts!!  One of his favorites is also my favorite, brazo de mercedez.    

I gave Lally a short list of restos to choose from where we could meet up and I am glad she chose Le Gourmet at Rustan’s. Good answer!  Good answer! 🙂

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I chose a basic french dish – Croque Monsieur which I truly enjoyed! 

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Lally’s order-  Pasta Marinara

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Dereks’ order – Legumes Farcis ( Stuffed Vegetable Plate ) 

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And of course Derek and I split two desserts! 

 Mousse Au Chocolat

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Tiramisu 

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 It was a nice lunch to catch up a bit on Lally.  Hope to see you guys again soon…hopefully in Toronto! 

Previous Entry:  Le Gourmet at Rustan’s March 10, 2008 

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The Gustavian

By | Foodie, Travel | One Comment

Thanks to  Sammy and Emily for bringing us to this place!  This is Heart2Heart’s favorite restaurant this trip. I particularly like businesses with personal touches, where the owners are the ones hands on and running the place, businesses with stories behind them, those that start from scratch and take the risk to bring their concept and ideas to life….. It is really admirable! 

They will be opening also in the Ayala Mall as their second location.   I can’t wait till they come to Manila.  According to Chef Robert, they are looking for locations in Makati and are open to franchising.  PLEASE HURRY!  

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The Gustavian celebrates the decadence and glamour brought to Sweden in the 1750’s by Crown Prince Gustav III. Gustav, who studied in France, was crowned King of Sweden and proceeded to rapidly change the whole country in to a Cultural movement that included fine cuisine.gustavianlogo.jpg

Sweden has since become one of the most delightful aspects of the French cuisine family tree.

Scandinavian cuisine is a melting pot of the Haute Cuisine of the Baltic, Russian, Polish, Finish and of course Swedish/French fine dining heritage over the past 300 years.

We hope you will enjoy our own version of preparing dishes created by great chefs from the past, and with our own updated twist in presentation!

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‘The Gustavian’ Country Farmer’s Delicatessen

….is fresh from the Old World era, serving homemade European sausages and artisan breads in the heart of Cebu City in the Philippines. The Gustavian is the inspiration of Chef Robert Lilja a renowned master Chef and Saucier who was previously named as the No 1 in customer satisfaction for the Marriott Hotel chain and was one of their star chefs. Chef Robert has risen through the ranks at some of the finest restaurants in Europe. In addition, master chef Dietmar Dietrich has recently joined the Gustavian. He comes with a wealth of experience and has tended to the stoves of many of the finest establishments in Europe. This great combination ensures that the Gustavian is truly world class and the best continental restaurant in the Philippines.

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The warm roasting smell of freshly baked bread greets customers as they enter into the broad veranda.

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The Gustavian makes sausages, pickles, smoked meats and sea foods along with its artisan breads. Authentic rustic breads, pugliese, potato walnut bread, pumpernickel rye, and Tuscane are offered daily from the Gustavian’s state of the art ovens. Crusty baguettes emerge steaming from the oven, inviting a spread of shrimp paste and dill cream cheese, fresh from the Deli’s creamery.

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Chef’s Robert & Dietmar excel at the character and quality of the Old World, but slyly surprises one with their delicate and delicious touches such as sweet Visayan mango slice in the tart prawn’s Caesar salad; crunchy-salty caviar sprinkled on uni (sea urchin sushi) on fresh-cracked oysters; walnut and potato in soft yeasty whole wheat bread with herbed butter spreads.

The Gustavian offers restaurant service for breakfast, lunch and dinner to showcase its home-made offerings from the Deli. In addition, an ever changing menu offers delicacies such as the kitchen specialty, fillet of beef with the trademark pepper, morel and gorgonzola sauce, arguably the best in the Philippines. Omaha Angus seared to perfection, presented with asparagus and green salad, crusted potato rissole that melts in the mouth, and the smoked salmon Caesar dressing combine perfectly for an unforgettable meal.

 

Chef’s Robert & Dietmar combine the traditional herbs and spices of European sausages into their home-made products. The fresh sun dried tomato sausage features basil and pine nuts for a Mediterranean flair, another has fennel seed and coriander, while thyme & rosemary flavors one of the best fresh sausages one has ever tasted. These are but a few examples of the starters in a line that will feature many standards as well as a changing palette of flavors and affinities, with no doubt occasional zestful surprises from the chef’s broad repertoire.

Healthful, organic, and robustly gourmet are the complementary themes of the Gustavian Country Farmers Market Delicatessen. During the morning you may breakfast on eggs and home-cured bacon with walnut bread and sausage. Sautéed oyster mushrooms, Italian tomato slices, and a sprig of thyme enhance the delicate flavors of the Da Vinci sausage and raise the meal from mere breakfast to memorable. 

You may satisfy your appetite and your palate by dining in the restaurant, or shop for take-out meals, sausages, breads and bagels, spices and herbs, European and home-made cheeses and spreads, or packaged hard-to-find items like polenta, couscous, risotto, olives, or Parma ham and Genoa salami. 

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The décor and the settings resonate with Old World flair. Fleur-de-lis and artichoke motif chandeliers accent the high ceiling with its boxed Swedish Cross that forms the core of the dining area.  The rustic Tuscany tile floor, pine-top tables, and elegant rattan chairs complement the hearty gourmet offerings from the kitchen. 

Restrooms on both ends of the resto 

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Country cooking from the Old World makes its home in Cebu in the hearty, rustic gourmet kitchens of the Gustavian. Add to that a dash of Chef Robert’s and Chef Dietmar’s flair from their endless repertory of culinary knowledge, and the ingredients are transformed into a world class dining experience.

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Paradise Baked Artichokes/Raclette/House Cream cheese dip with French bread- of course this was my order- YUMMY!  Everything they had with cheese was DELICIOUS!  gustavian27.jpg

Macaroni Cheese and Prawns – YUMMY!!! 

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Pan Fried Salmon Steak 

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Ostrich Madagascar 

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US Angus Rib Eye steak 

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 Another unique feature of the place is the BREAD BUFFET.  I love dips and spreads!!  And here you can choose whatever bread and whatever dips you want to go with your bread.  It is part of the meal if you are eating there.  

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James chose one dessert from the pastry showcase- CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE- YUMMY!!!!!!

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Chocolate souffle with Raspberry Sorbet 

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