1. Deal Grocer – What I really like about this site is the clean, uncluttered interface. Their exclusive deals are also relatively good and are updated every week. You can easily take the information on their deals at face value and if you choose not to, they have good customer service, replying promptly to your queries in their discussion board for each deal. Deal Grocer is pretty straightforward and as a result, I quickly developed a preference for this site. They also have a points system working up to higher membership levels. I can’t say what perks await those in the higher levels though as I’m still in the lower stratum.

2. Ensogo – They just got a recent facelift and a couple of improvements which, quite frankly, they needed. They’ve got lots to offer, but you’ll have to weed out the better deals yourself because some are just plain unappealing. Most of their restaurant offers used to require reservations days before, but they seem to have gone in a different direction now. Merchants may honor walk-in customers, subject to available seats. Ensogo has a cash rebate system for every purchase which is a sure plus considering that others only credit cash into your account for referrals. This is something I wish other sites would do. It sure would increase customer loyalty. They also have individual deal discussions which is generally helpful.

3. Groupon – Skeptical coupon newbies might feel safer buying their first coupons with a site bearing a familiar name. It’s not a guarantee, but it’ll be less stressful clicking that PAY button. They’re now frequently offering vacation packages with destinations outside the Philippines (but within Asia) and these don’t look so bad. New deals are updated daily and are available only for a few days which means you can’t dilly-dally while you mull over the colossal question on whether to buy or not. Validity is always set for 3 months. Groupon also offers regular deals in places outside Metro Manila such as Cebu and, recently, Davao. I’ve experienced no hitches here so far.

4. CashCashPinoy – I usually use this site for restaurant deals because they have a lot of decent ones, most of which don’t require reservations. I’m impulsive, so this is great for me. They have a reasonably diverse collection and you can count on them to have fresh deals everyday which stay for quite a while. On the flip side, some deals are lacking on the information (outdated contact numbers, no delivery details) and their customer service aren’t much help, either. If you have questions about a deal, it’s better to hold off buying and ask the merchant directly to clarify the terms. I’ve encountered a problem with a purchase here and since then I’ve stayed away from deals with ambiguous terms. Despite their shortcomings, I find myself coming back for more because of their various deals, most of which are just what I’m looking for.

5. Deal Dozen – They’ve been known to offer big ticket items (that people actually buy, woah). So it follows that some deals are going to be pricey, but if that’s no obstacle, nobody’s stopping you. Semi-forcing you to post their deal on your Facebook wall, though, is seriously off-putting and non-Facebook users will be at a disadvantage. (But who doesn’t have Facebook these days?) You could just opt out of it but you buy the deal at a slightly higher price. Aggressive marketing tactics aside, they have great exclusive deals from time to time. They also maintain a blog about their previous deals and like Deal Grocer, have membership levels.

6. Kuponan – If you already have an eBay account, then there’s no reason to give this a miss. Although their offers aren’t as numerous as the others, you’ll occasionally come across deals beyond the usual massage and restaurants and such. Kuponan cuts down the price you have to pay first for a voucher in half and you pay the rest to the merchant, so in case you accidentally forget to use your voucher, you only lose half of your money rather than all of it.

7. Salamat – This site is of a different variety altogether. Unlike other sites that require prepayment, you actually don’t have to pay anything for a voucher. You pay everything directly to the merchant when you avail of the deal, so there’s never a chance of losing money because of a forfeited voucher. Every deal is free. But what’s the catch? I have no idea. I’m seriously wondering how this site makes money, but why complain? Just make sure you ARE getting a deal by checking the supposed regular prices quoted in the site with the actual prices the products or services are being offered at.

You might want to check these out, too, to see if you find anything you like.

MetroDeal – I skip all the ‘wellness’ deals and browse their travel packages, instead, which are usually offered with a 1 year voucher validity. I’ve never actually bought any of their packaged vacations. I’m pretty apprehensive about shelling out a not so minimal amount of cash, with the looming probability of not being able to use the voucher I paid for.

Pakyaw – I’ve seen occasional good deals, but they don’t have a PayPal option, so I’ve never found the time to buy from them.

LocalRoam -  They were down for a while to work on some improvements on their site, but they’re back in the game and better.

For payment options, I would suggest using PayPal to avoid having to give your credit card information to all these websites. That is, if you don’t mind the additional charge of .8% of the amount for every transaction. Personally, I prefer convenience. Besides, this has worked so far.

A word of caution: Coupon-buying can be addicting. If you’re not careful, before you know it, you’ll be eating out for every meal, getting a spa every day and staying in resort after resort. That actually doesn’t sound bad, but let’s be realistic. That’s only great if it doesn’t burn a huge hole in your pocket. Otherwise, limit your purchases to those you actually already wanted before you saw the deal. As much as I hate to admit it, there IS a reason why merchants are willing to offer their products or services at a discounted price and it’s probably not because their business is booming. So think twice. Or thrice. (Or as much as you can.)

So, with that out of the way, happy couponing! Don’t forget to subscribe to your chosen site’s mailing lists or Twitter accounts so you never miss a deal.

P.S. Some links are invites. Couldn’t help it.

The restaurant staff greeted us with all the warmth and friendliness they could muster. We gained all their attention. Well, we were the only people in the restaurant at that time (which was just dandy). It was 6 PM, still a little early for the typical dinner. No matter. The service was nevertheless impeccable. The waiters stand at the ready to serve and attend to their patrons’ every need. They entertain requests without neglecting to flash the requisite smile.

A table

The small restaurant has quaint but tasteful interiors inspired by châteaus in the French countryside. Beautifully painted murals adorn walls depicting Chateau Margaux and dancing girls. French wines are put on display for wine connoisseurs to gawk at. If you are a wine aficionado (especially of the French variety), you will certainly find your own little piece of heaven on earth here. The theme creates a homey atmosphere especially when you go up the stairs to the upper level. The modest space enhances its cozy charm. Looking up, you see rows of empty wine bottles decorating the ceiling. A unique but appropriate choice.

Wine bottle ceiling

We chose two main courses off the menu and a glass of refillable Bordeaux iced tea (P85) which was so sweet I could hardly taste the tea anymore. While waiting, lounge music filled up the otherwise awkward silence. It would have been relaxing were it not for the rumbling bass. Though, the rumbling disappeared afterwards when our orders arrived which took about 15 minutes. Maybe it was just more noticeable when we didn’t have food before us. Bordeaux also has Wi-Fi. And it is fast (hihi).

All their dishes were presented wonderfully. I had a Cream Dory stuffed with Bleu Cheese (P450) which was actually two little balls of cream dory and shrimp swathed in creamy goodness and garnished with a few vegetables and some hollandaise sauce just enough for a satisfying meal. The fish fillet was tender and the velvety texture and subtle taste of the stuffing complemented it nicely. Although during the course of eating this dish I would suddenly have a taste of something distinctive I found I did not have a particular liking to, it probably wouldn’t hurt if I ordered this again.

Cream Dory

The Stuffed Chicken Breast with Ham, Bleu Cheese with Aurore and Bleu Cheese Sauce (P385), on the other hand, was not as tender as the cream dory. The stuffing was a burst of strong flavour, overpowering, in fact, that the chicken lost its way to my palate. Or maybe it was because I scooped up more stuffing than chicken. The chicken itself would have been bland but for the spices and stuffing. Then again, maybe that’s French? I am not an expert on French cuisine. I don’t even know if I like the sophisticated French’s idea of food. Regardless, that’s how I found the dish to be.

Stuffed Chicken Breast

For dessert, we had Mango Zabaglione (P200). This warm and cool combination of guilty delights tasted very sweet and reminded me of a molten Sans Rival. It was verging on too sweet, but though I’m not a big fan of the cloyingly sweet type, I still think indulging in this treat was a great way to end the meal.

Mango Zabaglione

It was a lovely experience dining here, if not for the food, for the service and the place. It was raining when we went outside and they asked us if we wanted them to flag down a taxi. I was not in haste to leave the restaurant so we waited for the rain to subside a bit and had the time to look around for a while. Outside, you can enjoy dining al fresco against the elegant Bordeaux façade along a row of restaurants and shops with people strolling and cars whizzing by, not unlike the ambiance of Parisian cafés. It would be a nice place to be at night time.

People dining in adjacent restaurants

As a last pleasant surprise, we were given coupons for free orders of Chorizo in Olive Oil and Garlic and Calamares Frito during our next visit when dining with at least 2 people and Red Wine by the glass when ordering beef or pork dishes. Way to entice the customers to come back. I just might do exactly that.

Bon Appétit!

Bordeaux Bar
Unit F, Bellagio II, Forbes Town Center
Rizal Drive corner Burgos Circle,
Fort Global City, Taguig, Philippines
Phone:
(02) 403-6554
Mobile:
09157431594
09209059329
Call for reservations or e-mail at bordeauxwinebar@gmail.com.

Fried Mac and Cheese

I almost forgot the Caesar Salad (regular serving for P285) was made mostly of leafy greens (romaine lettuce, to be exact). It was particularly flavorful thanks to the strong (almost too strong), tangy dressing and the Parmesan cheese that blended nicely with it. I liked the crunchy, bite-sized croutons the most.

Regular Caesar Salad (Single Serving)

I usually pick the tomatoes out of the burgers I eat, but the ones in Friday’s® Burger Slider (P355) stayed because they actually tasted good. The patties are thick – proportionally too thick – for the mini-burgers, but who’s complaining? Are these sliders really intended for just one person, though? I tasted good beef with a hint of sweetness in the first two, but the third one made me want to lay off burgers for a while.

Friday's® Burger Slider

The restaurant has Wi-Fi, but it was my unlimited surfing day (Globe’s way of saying sorry), so I didn’t have much need for it. It’s amusing dining at TGI Friday’s. The waiters dress in silly costumes or at the least, wear ridiculous headgear. What I really loved about the place, though, were the walls adorned with various curiosities from a surfboard to a rotary dial phone, from an electric guitar to a bicycle.

The Walls

The waiter kept bugging us with questions – if we were enjoying our meal, if we had any complaints, if we wanted to bag the leftovers – so I guess their service can’t be faulted even if they weren’t that quick with fulfilling our requests.

Here, one dish is enough for me. Sometimes even more than enough because of the generous servings. Eating at TGI Friday’s, it would make more sense to share. And that goes even if your orders are not intended for that. That is, if you want to avoid getting fed up (excuse the pun) with anything American. You won’t be thinking of food for hours after leaving your table here.

Dinnertime

The Grill

Don’t be discouraged by the lackluster mint green walls and the gloomy dining area. After all, you can always order take-out. It’s a place where you come for the food and nothing else. Prices range from P60 – P150. The giant ones are between P220 – P315. You must be pretty hungry for that. They also serve drinks and side orders like fries and buffalo wings to go with your burger.

The Restaurant

I had an Inferno Burger for P75 and yes it will satisfy all you chili devils out there. Minor downside, though. The taste of chili considerably masked the authentic char-grilled goodness of the beef patties so I couldn’t really tell if it deserved its best burger status or not. Still, I think I detected a hint of yummy somewhere along the way of gobbling up the burger. The patties tasted a bit like Big Better Burgers only thicker. But better check it out for yourself.

Tio Sids Burger
Tindalo St., Bacolod City
Mobile:
0949-4898931
0923-2150869
0948-4319507

Food Park, 21st St., Lacson, Bacolod City
Mobile:
0908-3582021

Catering services are also accepted.

Topping off our Boracay trip was our 4 PM dinner. We ordered an assortment of seafood goodness plus the rogue porkchop.

Our Last Munch Before Parting Ways

Here are the dishes I hungrily devoured. Just looking at these makes me hungry again. Yum.

Gambas

Squid

And lest we forget the porkchop. For those who can’t eat a single meal without meat.

Porkchop

Of course, no meal is complete without oysters or talaba as it is locally called. Just down a glass of Coke and ta-dah! No funny abdominal surprises. I can personally attest to that.

Talaba

You can contact Michaela’s at (034) 495-0572. If you eat there often enough, you can call them up to get your orders ready like we did. Give this seafood haven a try. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.

A welcome sight for the hungry

The food was passable, but at this point, we didn’t really care about that. It was good enough and we had a pleasant lunch. We had liempo, pork chops, blue marlin, and chicken, each for about P100 with rice. For drinks, we shared liters of Mountain Dew and 7-Up (no Coke products). They have unlimited rice (which is a huge plus), but the waiters take too much time serving it. Or maybe it was just because there were so many of us asking for more, the waiter’s rice bucket was empty before our round of refills was completed. The entire meal cost P1,840 for all 17 of us.

Villa de Oro Beach Resort, Inc.
Station 2, Sitio Manggayad, Brgy. Balabag,
Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
Phone:
(036) 288-5456
Telefax:
(036) 288-5518
Email:
villadeororesorts@yahoo.com
Contact Loralie at 0949-8345144.
Visit their website for more information.

Manila Sales and Reservations Office
045 SFACS Bldg. Admiral Village
Talon 3, Las Pinas City, Philippines
Telefax:
(02) 806-7090
Phone:
(02) 556-5285