#RubyWongsGoDown

[thehungrykat1]

Seafood Nights at the Admiral Club Manila Bay in Admiral Hotel Manila - M Gallery

Thursday and Friday evenings just got more exciting as Admiral Hotel Manila proudly offers its Seafood Night dinners at the Admiral Club Manila Bay. Guests can catch an array of specialties such as grilled spiny lobsters, cajun prawns, Rockefeller oysters and so much more.

The Hungry Kat was invited back at the Admiral Hotel Manila - M Gallery two Fridays ago to enjoy this delightful weekend offer. Our family actually loves dining at the Admiral Club, usually during their Sunday Brunch Buffet and especially with our Accor Plus dining discounts. This time, we were here for something even more special with the buffet station overflowing with their signature seafood dishes and specialties.

Set along the sweeping Roxas Boulevard, the Admiral Hotel Manila is a gorgeous hotel offering a storied legacy, a prime location, and lavish indulgences in many forms. A gateway to the city’s vibrant past and present, this luxury boutique hotel is designed to evoke Manila’s Golden Age. We were hosted by Ms. Katrina Nocom, Assistant Director for Marketing Communications at Admiral Hotel Manila.

Before we started with the seafood night, we had some time to relax at the Coconut Grove which you can find on the roofdeck level just outside Admiral Club Manila Bay. The hotel is currently featuring their World Cocktail Month celebration so we had to try some of their signature destination cocktails that lets you sip your way around the world.

The Coconut Grove is a day-to-night alfresco rooftop destination where Miami party vibe meets Manila’s tropical flair. The panoramic Manila Bay view is best enjoyed with a drink in hand as you kick back to the funky soundtracks from the in-house DJs. Stunning sunsets are served with a fine selection of specialty crafted cocktails and a delicious menu of classic bar bites with a twist and elevated tapas.

After watching the sunset, we then went inside the Admiral Club Manila Bay. This is a unique rooftop dining destination located on the top floor of the Admiral Hotel which comes with a stunning view of the Manila Bay sunset and even a catwalk table that will spice up your dining experience.

The food philosophy is inspired by The Admiral’s travels around the world, perfectly executed by passionate Chefs crafting a-la-minute delights from East to West. Taking inspiration from his travels, he celebrates a sense of community with story-telling and curated dining experiences.

Seafood Night at The Admiral Club is available every Thursday and Friday from May 9, 2024 to July 26, 2024 for P4588 nett per person. If you have an Accor Plus membership card, you can even get a 10% discount on this price. Let's start with some appetizers from the Grazing Table where guests can enjoy various cold cuts, cheeses, pintos, and salads.

Next up is the Asian Atelier which features a collection of authentic noodles and flavorful broth. There's also a selection of steamed dimsum baskets, sliced roasted duck, and Lechon Macao.

Since it's seafood night, there's more seafood dishes on the buffet table including sweet and sour fish fillet, steamed fish, blue crabs, shrimp, and more.

Over at the Japanese Station, there's some pretty Takoyaki or Japanese Octopus Balls topped with mayonnaise and garnished with bonito flakes.

Of course, there will always be sushi and sashimi for everyone. Admiral Club offers a creative selection of nigiri, sushi, maki, and fresh sashimi together with an assortment of Japanese cold starters like udon.

There's also a pasta station with other international dishes like Sausage Alla Vodka, Mussel Marineire, Fajitas Pork, and Beef Stroganoff.

The highlight of Seafood Night is here at the seafood station which houses all our favorite fresh seafood items.

There's fresh Oysters on display which you can devour as is, or you can also have a few of them baked with cheese and turned into Rockefeller Oysters.

Choose the seafood items you like and have them grilled and delivered straight to your table. There's plenty of salmon, tuna, squid, prawns, blue crab, mussels, and other varieties of fish to choose from.

I had quite a few rounds of these delicious seafood which comes fresh and hot off the grill. I particularly liked the salmon and the prawns.

But the best items that you can have at Seafood Night are definitely these Spiny Lobsters! These are not on display at the seafood station but you can order them directly from the waiters. You can have the lobsters grilled or baked with different ingredients and sauces.

Seafood Night is not just about seafood, because there are also plenty of meats for the carnivores. The grill station also showcases various skewers with chicken, pork, and beef.

Then there's the carving station with this juicy US Angus Steak as the centerpiece. Ask for a slice or two of this premium beef then have it seared at their state-of-the-art Josper grill charcoal oven.

Make sure to save room for desserts because the Dessert Station at Admiral Club Manila Bay is one that you should not miss. Enjoy all these colorful sweets and treats such as the Chocolate Fountain, crepes, cakes, macarons, fruits and other bite-sized delights.

My favorite here is the Ice Cream Spinning Wheel which comes with 16 flavors, 16 colors, and 16 shades of sweetness for everyone. Some of the unique flavors you can find here include the Kinder Bueno, Coconut Milk, Leche Flan, Dalton, Mangga't Suman and many other interesting variants.

The night wasn't over yet, because after our spectacular seafood night dinner, we headed down the hotel's hidden entrance for a nightcap at the enchanting Ruby Wong's Godown.

Ruby Wong’s Godown is a hidden and exotic locale that will transport you to another place and time. Located on Admiral Hotel Manila's basement level, the very colorful bar calls out to its lost patrons who have seemingly stumbled into this hidden corner of the city.

I was introduced to Ruby Wong's Godown last year and I was really amazed by this charming speakeasy (Read: Ruby Wong’s Godown: A Hidden Speakeasy Inside Admiral Hotel Manila). We asked the bartender to prepare some of their signature concoctions to welcome the upcoming weekend.

The Fiery Dragon (P500) is a magical interpretation with its mixture of Mezcal Durango, bell pepper cordial, fire water tincture, plus lime and grapefruit juice. The dragon exhales a puff of smoke and presents this chalice to its chosen warrior. The one of the right is one of their new creations for World Cocktail Month which are also available here at Ruby Wong's Godown.

Another cool libation is the Green Opium Heaven (P800). This one packs quite a punch and comes with jasmine-infused Roku, Tanqueray No. 10 gin, sage-infused Mancino Blanco, Kaffir tincture pandan, and a herb cigarette to complete the incantation. We would like to thank Admiral Hotel Manila for letting us get a taste of their Seafood Night and their World Cocktail Month beverages. Make sure to catch these special promotins and enjoy the best that Manila has to offer.

Admiral Hotel Manila -MGallery

2138 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila

5318-9000 / (0917)-863-6614

www.admiralhotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/AdmiralHotelManila

[thehungrykat1]

Ruby Wong's Godown: A Hidden Speakeasy Inside Admiral Hotel Manila

When I saw pictures of a new speakeasy inside Admiral Hotel Manila - MGallery on social media, I immediately fell in love with its gorgeous designs and colorful interiors. I wanted to show it to some of my family when we had our reunion brunch at the Admiral Club a few months ago, but the problem was, I couldn't find it! I looked for it at the lobby and ground floor but there was no trace of it. Little did we know that we were actually standing right in front of its hidden entrance. So it was quite a treat when I was finally able to find and visit this hidden bar at the basement a few weeks ago.

This innocent-looking bookshelf at the lobby of Admiral Hotel Manila is the hidden gateway to a new speakeasy that will soon be Manila's guilty secret. We even took photos in front without realizing what it really was. So just find the handle somewhere on the bookshelf and open the door to the intriguing world of Ruby Wong’s Godown.

Head down to the basement where you will find not just a secret lounge, but also a very charming noodle house that will serve all your late-hour needs before or after your voyage to the bar.

Ruby Wong's Godown is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00pm to 1:00 am. Step inside this hidden and exotic locale that will transport you to another place and time.

Before you get to enter the speakeasy, you will pass through the Noodle Alley which looks likes you are somewhere in the streets of Old Shanghai. The restaurant offers a full Asian cuisine lineup for dinner or for late night snacks.

Lucky for us, the chef was more than ready to let us explore the various dishes and specialties they had, some of which are not even on the menu yet.

We started with the Honey Curry Lollipops, a sweet and savoury combination of crispy fried chicken that you can dip in the rich curry sauce.

Dimsum lovers should order the Golden Dimsum Basket (P880) with its colorful set of truffle hargao, shrimp and pork dumpling, scallop dumpling, and pumpkin dim sum served with soya and chili paste.

You can also just go for the simple Xiao Long Bao Basket if you want to enjoy more of this Shanghai specialty dumpling.

Noodle Alley is proud of its noodles so make sure to try the Chow Fun (P1580) with its crispy beef and flat rice noodles mixed with chili, garlic, and black pepper.

But if you really want to impress your guests, let them bring out the picture perfect Chow Mein. This crispy noodle dish literally stands on its own, chopsticks included. The sharing portion comes with an assortment of seafood and vegetables so it is actually an entire meal by itself.

Noodle Alley also offers main dishes on its menu so guests can enjoy a full dinner here. The Garlic Chili Tiger Prawns is so good, especially when you pair it with rice.

There's also the Canton Pork Connection (P1050) with its sweet and sour Kurobuta pork mixed with dragon fruit, peppers, and black vinegar. On the other hand, the Korean Fried Chicken with Honey Mustard Dip gives a different taste of Asia with its crispy double fried chicken.

All those main dishes will go well with the Yang Chow Fried Rice and the Kimchi Fried Rice, depending on your cuisine preference.

After that trip down the streets of Shanghai, it's now time to enter the side door and venture into the mysterious Ruby Wong's Godown. The very colorful bar calls out to its lost patrons who have seemingly stumbled into this hidden corner of the city.

I honestly believe that this is the most beautifully-designed bar and lounge in Metro Manila and it is getting more popular as more people get to discover it. Enjoy the wild ride with interactive and immersive entertainment, inventive bar bites and innovative mixology for the senses.

Aside from the bar area, the lounge comes with several semi private rooms that each offer a unique and distinct charm.

So who exactly is the mysterious Ruby Wong? The speakeasy comes with an elegant backstory for the illustrious Miss Ruby Wong who is known as a fixer of the sea, collecting stories, recipes, and friends from every culture.

I was surprised and happy to see Charles Lee, Chairman of Anchor Land Holdings which owns Admiral Hotel Manila. I first met Charles during his days managing Vikings Luxury Buffet which his family also owns and we have both come a long way.

So let's explore the many wonderful concoctions inside Ruby Wong's Godown. The Fiery Dragon (P500) is a magical interpretation with its mixture of Mezcal Durango, bell pepper cordial, fire water tincture, plus lime and grapefruit juice. The dragon exhales a puff of smoke and presents this chalice to its chosen warrior.

Another cool libation is the Green Opium Heaven (P800). This comes with jasmine-infused Roku, Tanqueray No. 10 gin, sage-infused Mancino Blanco, Kaffir tincture pandan, and a herb cigarette to complete the incantation.

The Queen's Fashion (P600) is a more laid-back and elegant cocktail. Ruby Wong's version of the Old Fashioned comes with butter corn washed Sazerac Rye, blossom syrup, vanilla tincture, and apricot.

As for me, I chose to partake of The Rising Sun (P1000) which has a combination of Yuzu Gin, Roku, Yume Hibiki, umashu, blossom bitters, lime, and annatto oil. These powerful cocktails together with the alluring setting makes this such a rich and memorable experience.

We would like to thank Ms. Katrina Nocom, Assistant Director for Marketing Communications at Admiral Hotel Manila for accompanying us on our journey here at Ruby Wong's Godown. I'm definitely planning a return trip here soon.

Ruby Wong's Godown

Basement, Admiral Hotel Manila, 2138 Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila

5318-9000 / (0917)-863-6614

www.admiralhotelmanila.com

www.facebook.com/rubywongsgodown