Whatever it's called, this bistro across Malacañan Palace (you get a good view from the 2nd floor function rooms) is worth another visit.

Being near the Presidential Palace can be both a blessing and a curse, but Casa Roces is certainly more than its location. You come here for the food and the ambience!

We chose good starters. The Choritos Balsamico may be your "ordinary sausages" but served with arugula and paired with Caesar's Salad with Crispy Lengua, they're the bomb! Yummmmmy.

I just love how the crispy lengua cubes adorned the salad like croutons. Such a great intro to the Entreé Lamb Caldereta and the 2 pasta dishes we ordered.

You can't go around "simple" pasta meals so much -- they're either good or mediocre. The Fettucini Blue Cheese with Roasted Mushrooms and the Prawns Thermidor Linguini were superbly done. Al dente with very subtle tastes.

But if you ask me the real "star" has got to be the Malacañan Soufflé. It should be good to savor this dessert in the corner room on the 2nd floor or by the window overlooking the Palace. Love its tangy lemon taste and the texture of the chopped pistachio nuts & merengue.

Have a look around the house. The Manila Times' Newspaper Boy bronze statue guards the entrance while Don Chino Roces seated bronze on a bench guards the driveway.

Lombardi's is an unpretentious Italian resto in Shangrila Plaza's East Wing that could do with better patronage. Maybe because it is still new, only 2 tables were served and we thus claimed the entire lunch hour for ourselves while there.

No lunch crowds. Nearby restos enjoyed a good dining crowd so we wondered if we made the right decision to try this place.

We tried the Insalatamista -- simple salad greens sprinkled with balsamic vinaigrette -- which was served with complimentary bread slices. An order of Parmigiana di Melanzane and we were off to a good start!

The Ossobuco, served with risotto and the Pizza Gamberetti -- both Chef's Recommendations -- did not disappoint. Nothing complicated here, as with the Ravioli and Aglio Olio Spaghetti we ordered.

The Aglio Olio lacked the garlicky taste we expected, but the Ravioli we truly liked. The Pannacotta was a good finish to our lunch date. We would have wanted to order gelato but no room. Or so we thought!

Staff gave us a sampling of the dark chocolate gelato... And we didn't refuse! So much for speaking (or writing) too soon. Who resists desserts, anyway?

Too many buffet choices for diners con gusto like moí. I'd rather go a la carte but there are buffet options I wouldn't mind. Like the one at the Peninsula Makati.

The Escolta buffet is a manageable size. Enough to tempt you, not too much to overwhelm you. I love seafood so I always find myself in this section.

I love that they have Sinigang (shrimp or pork?) instead of the usual thick chowders. With salmon, prawns, oysters, mussels and other sashimi/sushi items, I'm good :-)

Then of course there's the sinful pork bellies, Bbq's, curried meats, salads, cheese plus the crepe and ice cream desserts!

In Escolta, it's quiter and buffet dining seems more..... leisurely. So unlike many other buffet places. Lastly, they serve the best coffee.... so unlike the diluted brews in other places. So there....

I've been buying from Cuerva's since i don't know when. At the time, their homemade tortes and cakes were still available from their house in Hidalgo Street in San Lorenzo Village in Makati.

We never grew tired of it. My grandchildren look forward to it and shamelessly partake of this dessert which I'd regularly bring to parties and other affairs.

The only drawback is it's NOT cheap at P1,200. Comes up to P150 a slice but i'm telling ya...... every bite is memorably delicisioso. Buy it in Cuerva's : petron gas Stn at EDSA corner pasay Rd near Dasma Village gate.