Searching for authentic Swiss cuisine? Need to stock up on those yummy deli? Lusting for raclette or cheese fondue? Fret not, they're here!

My grandnephew readily took to my fav raclette --- cooked the traditional way, right before your eyes on DIY mode. Not like the way it's served "DONE" on a plate in even posh restaurants advertising "authentic" Swiss food.

Started off with Swiss Deli's Mediterranean Salad before twirling those bread cubes in a ceramic bowl of the cheesiest Cheese Fondue. Oh, heaven!

The röschti could be better but still good. The sausage and cheese platter does justice to the raclette contraption which everyone went agog taking turns to melt their cheese, ready to smother their boiled potatoes and bread .

Then there's the choice between boiled pig knuckles and fried pig knuckles (like crispy pata). I went for my preferred boiled version with the perfect condiments of sauerkraut, horse radish and mustard. Happiness!

The place looks small from outside but is actually lengthy-spacious, and quite festive too! There was a dinner crowd on that Saturday night along Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes, Phase 3 in Parañaque so be early. What a truly authentic Swiss dinner!

P.S. Don't forget to take home deli items. They make their own -- bratwurst, schublig, corned beef, frankfurters, hungarian etc. -- in Davao. We met the Pinoy owner who certainly knows his Swiss deli, presumably from his Swiss wife. What a pair! (He's the guy with my friend and apo in this pic)

Can't decide between dining in Abe's or Cafe Adriatico? No worries. These 2 -- both belonging to LJC Group -- sit back to back on the 2nd floor of Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Larry (of LJC fame) can't cook but he sure knows what's good to put on the table. This bon vivant from Pampanga has a string of Filipino restos each worth visiting.

Naturally, I didn't forget to order my fav Sinigang na Tyan ng Bangus (Milkfish Bellies in Sour Broth). This sinigang used sour broth from guavas -- a dish we hardly if not never do at home. Abe's has perfected it!

Of course the Pako Salad and the Sisig from the sisig capital of the country! Then there's the Binukadkad na PlaPla, another fish dish.

Can't go wrong with Abe's if you fancy Kapampangan cuisine. Consistent quality. No wonder they've been around for years!

We just had lunch at The Promenade in Greenhills (where the Cinema is) and thought we'd have desserts or coffee in this cafe.

We immediately warmed to the place. The decor is chic-lovely with the charm of a typical Italian bar. The gelatos look tempting and the many coffee offerings make for a pleasant confusion!

I enjoyed my Nutella Coffee. So did my friends with their Hazelnut Coffee and Hot Cocoa. Served in big mugs -- more American now, than Italian -- I had quite a fill.

As we sipped our brew, we enjoyed the ambience. The blue door, the tiles, the tiny fountain, the ceiling lights inside bird cages where superhero toys hang, the wall plastered with many photos, the framed paintings, the murals, the tables with chess and scrabble boards.

It's not a bad idea to bring kids here. There are full meals like pasta and I'm sure they'd enjoy the gelatos and other iced drinks. The wait staff are very friendly and even showed us the puzzles and other games that can grab kids' interests while waiting for lunch or dinner to be served.

And so we made a mental note to be back here for a 'proper meal & drink". Maybe even try out that scrabble board!

We've tried Krazy Garlik in Newport City and Greenbelt 5 and tried it a 3rd time here at The Promenade in Greenhills. Not really that garlic-crazy but judging by how we ordered nearly the same stuff, I guess we're in denial.

Whatever they put in the salad, we like! There were 3 of us sharing a meal. And we had more than enough of the slightly dressed salad which went well with the sinful dish we ordered.

It's so pinoy to order the crispy, fried pig knuckles. Not as garlicky as I expected from this restaurant, but crispy, yes. Delicious, yes. Sinful, very!

We had 2 pieces each of the stuffed pechay. It looks interesting, but I'm not crazy over it. Maybe we should have ordered a fish dish instead.

Overall, it's a good lunch. The service was good and the food is worth a few repeat orders 😄 We also like the garlic lamps in the restaurant.

Hiding inside Cyrano Bar is this chic coffee bar ranked among the best this side of the city. Direction says "corner of Legazpi and C. Palanca Streets". Didn't expect I had to pass through Cyrano's for a good cup of Panama.

Quite frankly, I wasn't sure what to order here. But I came just after the breakfast crowd and a full hour snd a half before the lunch crowd. Had the most interesting conversation with the lady barista.

Told her I wanted something strong and just a tad chocolatey. No milk. No foam. She convinced me to try Panama coffee, black, from a glass.

I was also longing for some brunch to go with the black liquid and she suggested I pair it with smoked gouda with some mayo in a croissant.

It was a light but satisfying meal. Enjoyed the croissant, the coffee and the solitude. I am not sure how crowded --- and noisy --- it gets during peak hours. But a couple and another lady came and I thought we all had the same thing in mind: a quiet breakfast.

Well, we got it. I left knowing I'd be back soon.

A friend brought us here one Lenten Friday and we had a wonderful dining experience. I say that despite staying away from the much-coveted Iberico and skipping on desserts!

This 2nd time around, we weren't deprived of the charcuterie board of Spanish delights. Jamon Iberico de Cebo, lomo, salchichon, chorizo --- cold cuts that paired well with our mixed leaf salad with beetroot.

I miss the pan-seared tuna and black ink risotto we enjoyed last time, but Chef Carlos never runs out of surprises. Prawn and Mushroom Risotto were good, though leaning on the salty side.

Two of us ordered the board menu set of baby back ribs which was served with mashed potato, beetroot salad, pumpkin soup and chocolate dessert. Value-for-money, it's a steal.

Oh, and don't forget those yummy appetizers of fried onions, olives and scallops. Bring a bottle of wine too, if you like. A P500 corkage ain't bad at all.

Check out my earlier blog (No Black Pig This Lenten Friday ) for directions on how to get here.

http://jollybelly.com/blog/noblackpigthislentenfriday

I'm a sucker for mango tortes. I do have a favorite bakeshop but we were away in the Katipunan boondocks so we decided on Dulcelin in UP Town Center.

Besides, we were preparing for some 5-6 hour wait while our teen sweats out an entrance exam in a nearby university. Lunch was in order. Good thing Dulcelin didn't disappoint.

The Kitayama Wagyu Beef Ribs was very tender and smacking good! Paired with kimchi rice, the level of spiciness may not suit everyone's taste. So be ready to order regular rice 😄

Nothing fancy. But the Dulcelin BBQ Rice was surprisingly good. Char-grilled, Karubi cut beef slices over steaming white rice. This carbo overload is very Korean-inspired.

Then there's the standard cheesesteak and fries for our teen. Not bad. Each dish was prepared simply, but value-for-money, Dulcelin Gourmet is a pleasant lunch experience that won't burn a hole in your pocket.