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In light of the 2014 Kadayawan Festival in Davao City, Vikings Luxury Buffet, the Philippines' largest buffet restaurant introduces their special Kadayawan menu. From August 11-17, 2014, favorite Filipino dishes with a twist of Davao flavor are added on top of their usual buffet selections. 

Here are the following dishes included in their special Kadayawan 2014 menu:

STARTERS

VIKING'S SPECIAL KINILAW
Not your usual Kinilaw as this one comes with tuna, salmon and lechon, seaweed and pomelo.

ENSALADANG TALONG WITH MALUNGGAY PESTO

BAGNET SALAD

BALUT A LA POBRE PATE

PINIRITONG LUMPIANG TINAPA AT MANGGA
Instead of having the usual pork meat in lumpia, this one has tinapa and a subtle taste on mango in it.

SOUPS

PANCIT MOLO SOUP

BALBACUA

SEAFOOD ENTREE

 BAKED IMBAO WITH SPINACH

GINATAANG ALIMANGO (CRABS IN COCONUT MILK)

POULTRY ENTREE

RELLENONG MANOK WITH MANGOSTEEN SAUCE
Surprisingly, the mangosteen sauce that comes with it gives off a well-complemented flavor to the tasty and tender rellenong chicken.

ADOBONG MANOK

CHICKEN TERIYAKI

INIHAW

BABY BACK RIBS IN DURIAN BARBECUE SAUCE
One's experience in Davao will not be considered complete without tasting the king of fruits and the city's most popular fruit, the Durian. Others may even cringe at the idea but what more if it's incorporated in a dish? Surprisingly, the durian in this barbecue sauce did not come off as offensive and overwhelming but rather, it gave off a very interesting and unique blend of flavor. Seriously, I was blown away with this dish! 

BEEF/MUTTON ENTREE

BEEF STEAK TAGALOG
 

SPICY BAKED CALDERETANG KAMBING

VEGETABLE ENTREE

LAING WITH TINAPA

GISING-GISING
A very spicy dish usually made up of beans, Vikings' version is made up of water spinach and the right amount of chili sauce that will literally wake your senses up.

NOODLES/RICE

SATEMI

BIHOD NA PASTA

FILIPINO PAELLA

DESSERTS

CHEESECAKE SAMPLER

LECHE FLAN

BRAZO DE DURIAN
I would not really mind all the calories I would get after indulging in this delectable dessert. It was my first time to try a durian variety of my favorite brazo de mercedes dessert which was also presented in a different look, and I totally fell in love!

MANGO SANSRIVAL

For tourists and guests visiting Davao City for the Kadayawan Festival, Vikings Luxury Buffet at SM Lanang Premier is launching its Traveler's Discount.

Traveler's Discount: Kadayawan Festival Edition

1) Tourist(s) will receive 10% discount off when paying in cash or 5% discount off when paying in card. This discount is applicable on a per pax basis.

2) Tourist(s) must present a valid boarding pass or travel ticket while supported by a passport or government issued I.D. to prove that he/she is a tourist visiting Davao City during the Kadayawan Festival.

3) Tourist(s) must be visiting Davao City, and their most recent inbound ticket or boarding pass should show that they arrived within the month of August 2014. They must show that they're traveling from a different city to Davao City.

4) This promo is only applicable in Vikings Lanang.

5) This promo can't be used in conjunction with other in house promotions or discounts.

6) Gift Checks will not be honored with this promo.

7) This promo is valid from August 11 - 17, 2014.

REGULAR RATES:
Weekdays
LUNCH | DINNER
Adults P588 | P788
Kids 4ft – 4ft 6’ P388 | P588
Kids 3ft – 4ft P188 | P288
Kids Below 3ft FREE
75 years old and above 50% discount

Weekends & Holidays
LUNCH | DINNER
Adults P788
Kids 4ft – 4ft 6′ P588
Kids 3ft – 4ft P288
Kids Below 3ft FREE
75 years old and above 50% discount
All prices are subject to 5% service charge.
All prices and promotions are subject to change without prior notice.


VIKINGS LUXURY BUFFET
Ground Floor, Fountain Court
SM Lanang Premier
Lanang, Davao City
https://www.facebook.com/VikingsLanang
http://www.vikings.ph
http://www.twitter.com/vikingsbuffet
http://www.instagram.com/vikingsluxurybuffet

A remarkable stay at the Microtel by Wyndham UP Technohub wouldn't be complete without a sumptuous breakfast at their in-house restaurant, Millie's Restaurant. Named after the company's matriarch Millie del Rosario who loves food and traveling, this restaurant features local and international cuisines, a fantastic delight to bring us to a gastronomic adventure around the world without having to go far.


Complimentary buffet breakfast for two is included for a night's stay at Microtel UP Technohub but I was privileged to try out the Chef's Specials by Executive Chef Gino Santayana. I was already enjoying my bacon breakfast until I was forewarned to reserve some space for these delectable dishes. 


POTATO GNOCCHI WITH GORGONZOLA AND PISTACHIOS (Php 245.00)
This serving of potato gnocchi was so good that I fell in love with it on the first bite. Light potato dumplings give a delicate texture to the palate and the creamy goodness of gorgonzola and pistachios was a surprising combination which didn't overwhelm. 



TROPICAL GRILLED BLUE MARLIN WITH MANGO SALSA (Php 370.00)
With just the right amount of thickness, this serving of grilled blue marlin is packed with flavor that it's already satisfying as it is. Pair it up with a scoop of mango salsa, and you'll surely be captivated with its delectable goodness.


BABY BACK RIBS  (Php 325.00)
I would never mind travelling back to Manila and coming to Millie's Restaurant for this slack of tender and smoky back ribs. The meat just falls off right from the bone and the secret marinade definitely makes this the best-selling dish of this restaurant. 


PANNA COTTA  (Php 185.00)
This classic Italian dessert of cooked cream in mango coulis is surely the best way to cap off a gratifying meal - smooth and very light, not too sweet with a melts-in-the-mouth texture. 


One doesn't have to be checked in at Microtel by Wyndham UP Technohub in order to get a taste of these impressive offerings. As you can see, these dishes come in generous servings and without scrimping on the ingredients, a guarantee that you'll get the most value for your money when you dine it at Millie's Restaurant.

Executive Chef Gino Santayana of Millie's Restaurant
  

All-day dining at Millie's Restaurant is available at Microtel by Wyndham at UP Technohub, the third branch in the country to house Millie's Restaurant. You can also find Millie's Restaurant at Microtel Batangas and Mall of Asia. 
MILLIE'S RESTAURANT
Ground Floor, Microtel UP Technohub
UP-AyalaLand Technohub, Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. (02) 804-6888 loc. 818


Eat like a Viking on your very special day! Vikings is giving away a free birthday feast whenever you celebrate your birthday not just during the day or the week of your birthday, but for the entire month!

Isn't that exciting? Read more below the mechanics for their new birthday promo.


Mechanics:

1) Birthday celebrant of all ages can avail the birthday promo on the day itself and on their birthday month.

2) Celebrants can eat for free ON THE DAY of their birthday on both lunch and dinner, as long as accompanied by ONE FULL PAYING ADULT.

3) Celebrants can eat for free for ONE MONTH on both lunch and dinner per day, as long as it is within the month of his/her birthday and accompanied by FOUR FULL PAYING ADULT.

4) One full paying adult are adult guests who will be paying full rate without any discounts.

5) Requirements for Celebrants: Celebrant must bring an ORIGINAL and VALID government issued picture I.D. with the birthdate imprinted on it, both local and foreign I.D.s are accepted, for proof (such as S.S.S., N.B.I., Driver’s License, Pag-Ibig, P.R.C., Barangay, Unified, Police Clearance I.D. and Passport) In the case that the celebrant doesn’t have a government issued picture I.D., he/she may bring his/her birth certificate supported by any picture I.D. (school I.D., parent’s I.D., company I.D.).

6) This promo can’t be used in conjunction with our current promotions or discounts.

7) Gift certificates to avail this promo is not honored.

8) This promo is available across all branches.

9) This promo is available until December 31, 2014.

For reservations and inquiries, kindly call their hotlines (located on the bottom of our website and the left tab on Facebook) or PM them on Facebook. For more information on other promotions and our current rates, please visit http://vikings.ph/

*Price and promotions are subject to change without prior notice.


I truly enjoyed having my birthday celebrated at Vikings and I'm giving away this piece of information so that you can also have a great time as well. 

Enjoy the feast and eat like a viking! 




Most people say that if you want to learn about the world, go out and travel more because what's written in the books is only an understatement. But, if you want to get the most out of your travel, there is no other better way but to immerse yourself and get lost in your destination's grassroots.

To some, planning a travel provides a sense of fulfillment but to others, it can be a daunting task. Guide books and travel blogs may seem to help a lot but a lot of hidden secrets are best discovered through the eyes of  a local. 

Good thing there's a new traveler's market place online, Withlocals, which offers a more convenient and strategic way of reaching out to locals and establish a connection between travelers and locals with unique and and personalized experiences.


Withlocals is a peer-to-peer marketplace wherein local people can offer their experiences, services and skills to travelers. These experiences fall into three categories:

  • EAT Withlocals - The best food that a certain destination offers can not be found in the most expensive restaurant but can be experience from a home of a local. Taste the country and savor its culture by dining in a home of a local family. 
  • TOURS Withlocals - Nobody knows a place better than a local. Be prepared to discover more a lot about a certain destination through the guidance of local hosts, that even guide books do not offer.
  • ACTIVITIES Withlocals - Take part in activities and learn new skills from local hosts by living a day in their usual lives.

Withlocals has already been established in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to name a few but in the near future, Filipinos will be given the chance to showcase their hospitality to the world because Withlocals will soon be launched in the Philippines. Register as a host or a traveler because now is the perfect opportunity to show the world what Filipinos are truly made of. 

To learn more about Withlocals, check out their website HERE.





It's a given fact that a person can't function properly on an empty stomach. But I guess this blog post may serve as an exception to that considering that I've been starving myself in preparation for the upcoming food coma I am going to experience this weekend.

No, I was just kidding. Starving isn't true but the food coma certainly will be.

Lo and behold, it's the time of the year again for the Davao Food Appreciation Tour (DFAT) 2014. This is an annual event geared towards recognition and promotion of the best local food and dining establishments here in Davao City. Seventeen bloggers are all set for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure and for this year, the following are the participating food and drink establishments:


Park Inn by Radisson Davao | Mam Bebs Bakeshop | 
Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant 
San Miguel Brewery | Balik Bukid  
Dulce Vida by Tiny Kitchen | Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp.
Claude's Cafe 
The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge 
Aling Foping's | Sea Green Cafe and Lifestyle Shop | 
Rophe's Restaurant | The Greene Dare


To have a better understanding of this event, you may refer to my first DFAT experience last June 2013. 

To get real-time updates from me and my co-participants, please follow these social media accounts and the following hashtags:

‪#‎DFAT‬ ‪#‎DavaoFood‬ ‪#‎DavaoDining‬ #DavaoDesserts #ShutterCravings #MissLitratista

Instagram / Twitter: @misslitratista

DFAT 2014 Social Media Accounts:

I wish I could take you all with me to this event but I don't have the powers to do so, therefore, just sit back and wait for my posts as I share to you my experiences.