Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts

October 14, 2026

Day 3: Batam to Singapore – City Tour, Shopping & Ferry Ride

Our third day was all about making the most of our remaining time in Batam before heading back to Singapore. After spending a night in Indonesia, we had one more day to explore a few local attractions, do some shopping, and enjoy our last moments in Batam.


We started our day with a buffet breakfast at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam, where we stayed overnight. It was a nice way to fuel up before our private Batam city tour. After breakfast, we prepared for a day of sightseeing and shopping around the city.

We arranged a private tour to visit some of Batam's popular attractions and shopping spots. Our itinerary included the following places:

1. Barelang Bridge
2. Welcome to Batam Sign
3. Rumah Kue Wiweka Shop
4. Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya
5. Nagoya Mall


We spent most of our time at Nagoya Mall. Since we had extra time before our ferry departure, we made the most of our visit without rushing too much.

Back to the Hotel Before Our Ferry to Singapore

After our city tour and shopping at Nagoya Mall, we headed back to Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam to collect our luggage.

Since our original ferry schedule was later in the day, we ended up spending some time at the hotel, basically just waiting for our departure time. We rested for a bit while killing time before heading to Batam Ferry Terminal.

Little did we know that we could actually request to transfer to an earlier ferry schedule!

Our Ferry Experience: Batam to Singapore

I booked our ferry tickets through Klook, and this time, we claimed our tickets at the Sindo Ferry counter at Batam Ferry Terminal.

To our surprise, the staff offered us the option to transfer to an earlier ferry schedule for an additional IDR 30,000 per person. We agreed to the change and also paid IDR 195,000 for the fuel surcharge.

Looking back, if we had known earlier that changing to an earlier schedule was possible, we would have simply collected our luggage from the hotel and gone straight to the ferry terminal instead of spending time waiting at the hotel!

Nevertheless, we were happy that we could take an earlier ferry. After completing the necessary arrangements, we rushed to the boarding gate. Thankfully, there were no long queues, and we made it in time.


Travel tip: If you're booking your ferry tickets through Klook, you can ask the ferry counter staff whether an earlier departure is available, especially if you arrive at the terminal ahead of your scheduled trip. Availability and additional charges may vary, so it's best to confirm with the staff before making any changes.

Back in Singapore: Dinner at HarbourFront Ferry Terminal

By the time we arrived in Singapore, it was already evening. After getting off the ferry, we had dinner at EAT Restaurant inside HarbourFront Ferry Terminal. We ordered Pork Belly Rice for SGD 6, Chicken Chop Rice for SGD 5.50, and Fishball Noodle for SGD 4.30. The total for our three dishes was SGD 15.80, making it a convenient meal before heading back to our hotel.




We also bought some drinking water before leaving the terminal. One thing we appreciated was the convenient location of the taxi stand, which was just outside the restaurant. We didn't have to walk far with our luggage, which was a relief after a long day of sightseeing and traveling. We took a taxi to Robertson Quay Hotel, and our taxi fare was SGD 13.80.


After a full day exploring Batam, shopping at Nagoya Mall, and traveling back to Singapore, we finally returned to our hotel, ready to rest after our little Indonesian getaway.
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October 12, 2026

Lunch at Mister Kabab: A Family Food Adventure

Whenever our family goes grocery shopping at Landers Alabang, our usual go-to restaurant is Ippon Yari. It's a familiar choice, but lately, we've been trying to step out of our routine and explore other restaurants in the area.

Last month, we tried Din Tai Fung, and this month, we decided to give Mister Kabab a chance.

I've always noticed this restaurant whenever we visit the area, but I never really considered trying it until now. My husband, on the other hand, was already familiar with Mister Kabab from his school days in Quezon City, where he had known about the restaurant long before I did.

What surprised me the most was learning that Mister Kabab dates back to 1987! Imagine, the restaurant has been around for decades, and I only got to try it now!



Maybe one reason it took me this long is that I'm not particularly adventurous when it comes to food. Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine isn't something I'm very familiar with, so I tend to stick to the dishes and restaurants I already know.

But I guess that's also part of the fun of discovering new restaurants. Sometimes, we just need to step out of our comfort zone and give something different a try.

Our Lunch at Mister Kabab

This month, after finishing our grocery errands, we finally headed to Mister Kabab for lunch. The restaurant has al fresco seating, which is something to keep in mind if you're planning to dine there.


We had already checked the menu online beforehand, so ordering was easy. Here's what we got:

· Hommus – ₱260: Mashed garbanzo beans with tahina, served with pita bread.
· Platter – ₱900: Two skewers each of chicken, beef, and lamb kebabs.
· Basmati rice – ₱200: An additional order meant for sharing.


For our family of three, the serving of rice was quite generous - actually, a little too much for us! My husband tried his best to finish everything so we wouldn't have any leftovers.




I'm not usually fond of lamb, so I wasn't expecting much from the lamb kebab. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it! It was a nice discovery, especially since lamb isn't something I would normally choose when eating out.

Was It Worth Trying?

Overall, my son and I thought the food was just okay. I think my husband was the one who enjoyed our lunch the most, perhaps because the restaurant brought back memories of his younger days in Quezon City.
 
While Mister Kabab may not have become our new go-to restaurant, I'm glad we finally gave it a try. It's always nice to step out of our usual dining routine and discover something different.
 
Would we come back? I think so! If we're craving Middle Eastern food, Mister Kabab is a place we can consider visiting again.
 
Sometimes, trying a new restaurant isn't just about finding a new favorite. It's also about sharing experiences, revisiting old memories, and discovering what everyone in the family enjoys.
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September 28, 2026

Food Trip at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam: Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast

During our overnight stay at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam, we also had the chance to try some of the food available at the hotel. From lunch at Bite Restaurant to room service dinner and the breakfast buffet, here’s a look at what we ordered and our experience.

Lunch at Bite Restaurant

We had our lunch at Bite Restaurant, where we ordered a few dishes to share. 



Here’s what we had:
Chicken Satay Delight – IDR 170,000
Crispy Fish with Sweet and Sour – IDR 230,000
Steamed Rice per Cup – IDR 50,000
Coke in a Can – IDR 145,000
Pisang Goreng (Banana Fritter) – IDR 105,000

While waiting, they served complimentary chips. We enjoyed our lunch, and the food was satisfying. One thing I noticed, though, is that they don't serve complimentary water. If you want water, you need to order bottled water separately.





The prices are also subject to an additional 10% service charge and 10% tax. If you are a hotel member, you can get a 10% discount.

Dinner via Room Service

For dinner, we ordered from room service since we were already back in our room. For room service orders, the 10% member discount doesn't apply, and there's an additional 10% service charge and 10% tax too.

We kept things simple and ordered pasta and pizza:

Margherita Pizza – IDR 145,000
Carbonara Penne – IDR 175,000

They asked which type of pasta I preferred, so I chose penne for the Carbonara. The main issue we experienced was the waiting time. It took quite a while for our food to arrive. After around 30 minutes, we were informed that our order would be delayed because they needed to remake the pizza after the first one was overcooked.



When the food finally arrived, the taste was just okay for us. For the Margherita Pizza, I was expecting fresh basil leaves, but they used dried basil instead. This was a little different from what I'm used to when ordering a Margherita pizza. 

Breakfast Buffet at Bite Restaurant

Our reservation included a buffet breakfast at Bite Restaurant.

I wasn't able to take many photos of the buffet spread because the restaurant was already quite crowded during breakfast. The buffet offered a mix of Western and Asian dishes, so there were plenty of options to choose from.








There were also some hearty breakfast choices, including steamed salmon and beef breakfast steak, which I thought were nice additions to the buffet.

One thing I particularly enjoyed was the variety of drinks available. There were different beverages to choose from, and you could even make your own fresh-squeezed juice, which was a nice touch and a refreshing way to start the morning.

We enjoyed our breakfast and found that there was enough variety to fill us up before heading out for our private Batam tour.

Overall Food Experience

Overall, we enjoyed being able to try different meals during our stay at Radisson Golf & Convention Center Batam. Lunch at Bite Restaurant was a pleasant experience, while the room service dinner took longer than expected and was more of a mixed experience for us.

The breakfast buffet was a convenient way to start the day, especially since we had a full day of exploring Batam ahead of us.

If you're staying at the hotel, Bite Restaurant is definitely convenient for meals, especially when you don't want to leave the property. Just keep in mind that complimentary service water is not provided.
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September 16, 2026

Lunch at Din Tai Fung Alabang: Xiaolongbao and More

Now that I’ve finally shared our first Din Tai Fung experience in Taipei, it’s time to share our recent lunch at Din Tai Fung Alabang Town Center.

I knew that Din Tai Fung had several branches in the Philippines, but I had no idea that they already had a branch here in the South. I only found out when I stumbled upon the FEATR YouTube video featuring “The World’s Most Famous Dumplings” with Erwan Heussaff.

That's when I searched for their branches and found out they opened their Alabang Town Center branch on October 15, 2024. Matagal na rin pala! It just so happened that we don’t usually go to Alabang Town Center. I can’t even remember our last visit there, so I was really surprised to see Din Tai Fung. California Pizza Kitchen pa kasi yun during my last visit!


Anyway, if you’ve been reading my blog, you probably know that we usually eat at Ippon Yari after grocery shopping. But this time, since I was craving xiaolongbao, I told my husband na sa Din Tai Fung naman kami.

I also wanted to try some of their other dishes since our last Din Tai Fung experience in Taipei was more focused on dumplings.

Ordering at Din Tai Fung

Upon arrival, the staff asked, “First time niyo po dito?” We said yes. She then asked if we had already tried Din Tai Fung at another branch, and we said yes. She ushered us to our table and gave us the order form.

Since it was my first time ordering from their menu, it took me a while to browse through the pages and decide what to get. In the end, I ordered:

10 pcs. Xiaolongbao — PHP 385
Pork Chop Fried Rice — PHP 395
Sweet and Sour Pork — PHP 335
3 pcs. Chocolate Lava Xiaolongbao — PHP 185

My husband has also tried Din Tai Fung branches in Singapore and the Philippines, so I let him order for himself. He added:

Salted Fish Rice — PHP 255
Golden Prawn Cake — PHP 285 + Service Charge

By the way, one thing I noticed when we sat down was the glasses of water already on the table. I got confused at first and thought, bakit may tubig na dito? May uminom na ba? 

I then checked the other tables and noticed that the empty tables also already had glasses of water. I’m not particularly fond of this setup because I don’t know how long the glasses of water have been sitting on the table.


In Taipei, they serve complimentary hot tea, while here in the Philippines, they provide complimentary service water instead.

Our Food

Our first order arrived after around 10 minutes.

And finally, the xiaolongbao! Namiss ko talaga yung xiaolongbao ng Taipei. Feeling ko nga kaya kong ubusin agad yung 10 pieces. Hehehe!


But of course, I need space for my rice meal. After trying the other dishes, I realized that the food was good, but they weren’t dishes that I would specifically go out of my way to have again, especially since this branch is quite far from us. 





But if we’re talking about xiaolongbao, that’s a different story. I would definitely come back for their xiaolongbao because I really like it. Both the regular Pork Xiaolongbao and the Chocolate Lava Xiaolongbao were enjoyable.



So far, our experience with the service was also good. The staff was attentive, and our orders arrived pretty quickly.

Final Thoughts

Overall, our Din Tai Fung Alabang experience was good, especially because I finally got to satisfy my xiaolongbao craving without having to fly back to Taipei.


For me, the xiaolongbao remains the highlight of the meal, particularly the pork and chocolate lava versions. And now that I know there’s a Din Tai Fung branch in Alabang, at least I have another option whenever that xiaolongbao craving hits.
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