Filipino Buffet @ Cafe Asiana

We came from a two hours swim in the club's pool and was really hungry when we came back at Cafe Asiana ( inside the Palms Country Club in Alabang.) for a late lunch buffet at around 2 pm. We made our reservation for a table near the buffet table when we had our breakfast of the day, see here.

I realized making a reservation was not necessary_ it was already hours past the height of lunch and the resto was already almost empty except for a table or two and us.



The buffet featured Filipino cuisine that day, I guess it was because the country was celebrating Independence Day in the month of June. The buffet spread was too many to mention each and neither my tummy was accommodating to try each.



Unlike my teen daughter whose habit is to taste each and every bit there is,haha.



I made sure thu' to taste those that were new to my buds. Like this sinigang na lechon ( suckling pig in tamarind broth). It was good. The soup complimented the crunchy lechon. It was like having your soup over your plain rice then biting a crunchy side dish. I think, the lechon is being added only when the dish is about to be served, cos it stayed crunchy and didn't appear to absorb the liquid. Luv it! I made a mental note to try it at home for my family.

This was one of my plates. I also loved their arroz de valenciana . Not so Filipino thu'. Yet it's a popular adapted rice dish from Spanish cuisine. I enjoyed their version cos they didn't use sticky rice which I'm actually not so fond of. Another dish in my plate was beef calderita. Another borrowed Filipinized beef dish which I always like however it 's being concocted. I make a tasty version too_ at home.

Another part of the buffet was a spread of raw dishes like salads and local kinilaw or ceviche ( veggies and meats cooked raw in vinegar or in citrus). I have had to try some of them. The best was the tuna kinilaw.

The dessert spread had also huge selection, with pastries, local delicacies but I went for fresh cuts of local fruits in season .



and ofcourse it was hard to say no to a local brand ice cream scooping station where we all indulge, see here.

I was happy to see that my friend was all smiling during the meal.. .



. . cos, after all I meant to make her happy cos it was her birthday and this was my treat to her. Happy bday Neth!!!

Arce Dairy Scooping Station

I was happy when I found out that part of the dessert table of  Cafe Asiana's buffet was a scooping station of our local  Arce Dairy ice cream. I made a pass on halo-halo bar and a big buffet of pastries and  local delicacies and jump off straight to the ice cream station.



Well the health conscious me would definitely be happier if they would serve Arce sherbets. Now this one confuses me_ does Arce Dairy have real ice cream at all or just sherbets? Cos, just now I realized, I had never bought ice cream from this local brand, only sherbets.

When I saw the brand I mindlessly associated it with  sherbets. So I asked the server to fill my bowl of each flavor I never had_ like blueberry chocolate which minty blue color caught my attention first.

This is my first serving. Toppings were also generously available.



My daughter whose sweet tooth is naturally inherited from her mother made the most out of the scooping station until the lunch buffet closed. haha.

Bfast @ Cafe Asiana

We arrived at the country club too early to take lunch but too late for breakfast_ 10:45am. We were supposedly to go right into the gym not straight to the resto but my two hungry buddies (a daughter and a girlfriend) insisted to eat!

Majority won. So there we went straight to Cafe Asiana (inside the Palms Country Club, Alabang).

The waiter said lunch buffet would be ready in an hour. But these two couldn't really wait and had to adjust our buffet reservation to afternoon. Buffet's last call was 3pm.

We sent our orders and while waiting _  picture.picture, whatelse? haha. Notice my friend's change of tops?    I nudged here to change from her prev white tees which I thought was too plain for the bright yellow resto.She obliged! haha!



The foods were served and we were all surprise for the big servings. We wanted to eat light cos we planned to go swimming after and lunch was soon to follow.



My plate. I opted to go for half  tuna sandwich. Yes you can do that, either whole or half portion So clever of me to do that cos this half was already hefty. Plus the country fries were so heavy too. I like the few fruits on the side.



My ravenous daughter went all the way. Must be really really hungry. She always is, actually. Take note of the rice. . .



. . which she nonchalantly bundled with double eggs, bacon and hash browns????

My friend who was obviously equally hungry went all the way too. .

. .  with a similar plate as my daughter only with sausages instead of bacon. . no rice. good. .



but order 4 pcs. of buns !!!! hahaha!

Well, you bet they finished their plate clean! _ only to comeback after two hours in the pool with more ravenous appetite for lunch buffet.
Come back later for lunch :)

*see our buffet lunch here