All You Can 101

For this selfish urge to finally set foot in Robinson’s Magnolia, I wantonly booked a table at Buffet 101—not the other way around which is quite contrary to my hungry nature.

Since I was beginning to lag behind the social sphere of geographical knowledge, this necessitated a visit to that much talked about mall. It was time to finally get a view of the high ceiling, the al fresco lounge and the once retro Magnolia ice cream parlor. And of course, finally dine at Buffet 101.

They say Buffet 101 could be a doppelganger for Vikings, with its massive spread of internationally based cuisine. But let me quip that it fares more as a lesser sibling that focuses on select continents, with nothing exotic such as caviar, Indian or Mediterranean delights. Instead, Buffet 101’s prime selections hail from the Asian district, with Chinese cuisine topping the must-eat list while Japanese having the second most popular aisle.

[caption id="attachment_2468" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Balsamic-Olive Salad with Kani on the side[/caption]

The salad bar boasts of about 5 or 6 dressings (the common kind so I refuse to spend time here) that did not warrant a second take. A keen eye brought into sight a balsamic vinegar bottle at the side—and with its partner olive oil—finally a decent salad came into a reality. No cheese platters or parmesan to liven up my plate, so it was on to the sushi-sashimi boat.

[caption id="attachment_2477" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Nori all you can![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2470" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Itadakimasu![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2472" align="aligncenter" width="491"] East meets more East[/caption]

The sashimi was all right, the lemon a bit on the hard size. Excited with the soba noodles I packed my bowl with nori strips and soup, which sadly, was a tad too sweet for my diabetic sense of taste.

[caption id="attachment_2461" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Next destination: China![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2458" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Nihao mantao![/caption]

While Chinatown was supposed to be the hotspot for dimsum, fried rice, crabs and Hainanese chicken, I let the boys take over this town. The fried noodles looked awesome, but the taste inspired no awe. The usual vegetables were of the standard variety and the sweet and sour pork boasted of more fat than meat (unless that’s how it is for carnivores).

[caption id="attachment_2460" align="aligncenter" width="491"] In Crustaceans we Trust[/caption]

The crabs and butter-oat shrimps were a splendid tag team, I broke my rule of not eating with my fingers. Of course a cracker was available but still, getting down, orange and dirty was the only way to claw into those crabs. They have a bathroom and liquid soap, in case you’re wondering about hygiene and grease.

I barely visited the Japanese and Filipino cuisine, but I did see local favorites bangus and crispy pata. The tempura was okay but I enjoyed the chicken teppanyaki, which I scooped by accident. Soft and sweet, it fares much better than the usual Saisaki flavor.

[caption id="attachment_2457" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Got Steak? Yes they do.[/caption]

A platter of steak found itself on our table—the necessary sustenance for the carnivores. Without it we cannot go home!

[caption id="attachment_2459" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Eating the American Dream[/caption]

The American – Italian section was a junk food fest with fries, onion rings and other fried wonders. The American fish fillet was 10x saltier than its Thai counterpart—yes, I had to compare—and so the point goes to the Asian catch! Here, I found my serving of vegetables with the mozzarella topped broccoli and cauliflower—not the healthiest portion but all that yellow was just alluring.

[caption id="attachment_2464" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Don't mind if I pass up the Pasta[/caption]

The stuffed tomatoes were oddly addictive, while the herb cream pasta could be described as “not a penne more.”

[caption id="attachment_2474" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Make Pizza, not War[/caption]

The pizzas had their own corner—Italian (meat) and Thai Seafood. I must have gorged on 6 slices of that seafood pizza. Mediocre on a very thick crust (read: carbs) it wasn’t the flavor that got me hooked, logistically speaking, sitting beside the pizza made proximity the pretext for this sudden gluttony.

[caption id="attachment_2471" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Where Kids and ADD-ults Come to Play[/caption]

The dessert zone was rather diverse with a crepe station, ice cream corner, frozen yogurt, chiller for cakes, candies, fruits and more little pastries and cakes.

[caption id="attachment_2465" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Not all good things come in small packages[/caption]

Many may skip the cheesecakes, mini cakes, mousse and pastries sacredly kept in the chiller—detached from the public and require the waitress’ sanitation procedures before proper serving. By the supreme authority of the chiller lady, permission is required before proper serving.  These cakes must be made of gold; on the contrary, the cookies are exposed, so dig away.

Unfortunately the chocolate chip cookie I dug was a hunky chunk that was neither inspiring nor chewy so I don’t suppose anyone will be stealing from that cookie jar.

[caption id="attachment_2473" align="aligncenter" width="491"] I've told you time and agan, don't crepe me out![/caption]

The cheesecakes were fancy sounding but were more of cakes than an actual cheesecake, with sponge cake making up a faux graham crust.

[caption id="attachment_2475" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Beats the tooth fairy anytime[/caption]

The candy corner was a hub for children with ADHD and with impatient hands abound, picking on gummy candies and that gummy egg, we wonder when candy cholera will strike next.

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Raising the brown flag for the Anti-dentist Crusade[/caption]

The brownie was moist at the very least which made that chocolate lava cake pale in comparison in terms of sweet succulence. I spotted “revel bar” amongst the labels but just found what seemed to be a pale looking slice of cake—no oats, no revelry at all.

Strategically placed above sea level, the yogurt machine was like divine intervention to ward off those crazy hyper children. They already have the candies and chocolate fountain as their ADD playground, so they ought to leave the frozen yogurt to the ADD-ults. The frozen yogurt was fine—on the light side—which made me rejoice for foregoing the crepe and ice cream.

[caption id="attachment_2476" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Fruits for the Gods[/caption]

Fruits are not really worth reviewing but credits to Buffet 101 for serving grapes. My dad must have gotten giddy after enjoying loads of this fruit, he thought he was Zeus in his past life. Unfortunately, the cheese went AWOL. Now where did I leave my lightning bolt?

[caption id="attachment_2478" align="aligncenter" width="491"] More fruits for the gods[/caption]

Drinks are unlimited as well, and since I’m more of a water girl there isn’t much to say. Juice. Soda. Iced tea. Beer. Shakes. I tried the espresso machine since being the daughter of Zeus, this mechanism does not exist in our household. I expected bitter, but this was bland. Still, cool. I mean, hot!

Buffet 101 is perhaps a jack-of-all trades in the world of buffet and you can probably see where I’m going—the master of none. Save for the espresso machine—which wasn’t even a dish—there was nothing too memorable or much of a sterling catch that would make me dream about it in the days to come. It’s just okay, all right, the average joe.

However I give it points for trying to outdo Vikings. In this attempt, it surely beat Sambokojin and Dad’s. So you’re almost there, just bring out the curry and cheese!

 

[caption id="attachment_2466" align="aligncenter" width="614"] Grazie Mille. Arigatou. Burp.[/caption]

 

Starving at Sambokojin

Sambo Kojin (Eastwood), the smokeless grill, provides quite an appeal to those who want to grill their own meal, eat, eat some more, and leave the place smelling all fresh and dainty. Even those who have the aversion to cooking will find an interest at this proposition, this lazy cat included.

Why, my menu even included grilling the salmon, searing the tuna sashimi and bathing them with teriyaki sauce - sweet seafood fantasy!

All those plans flew out of the window when, upon being seated, the waiter dropped this chunk of butter on the grill.  Closer scrutiny revealed that it was not butter but something more horrid, as if butter was not bad enough: beef fat! Being part vegetarian and a firm believer that Japanese cooking favored less animalistic elements, this new information astounded me to the point where it can't be helped.

Sayonara, grill!

I had to forego the grilling element and enjoy my sashimi raw. It was time to hang out at the cooked food station and deem the raw foods nothing but the beefy offshoot of that sinful grill.

This abstinence rather paid off, having enjoyed the cooked bounties of the seafood offerings. Tuna teppanyaki and the seafood with creamy egg sauce topped my list, while the fried salmon was a bit of a disappointment.

I spied tofu steak as well and had the audacity to pick out the tofu from the meaty mayhem. No one ought to complain since I got the part that people never really like. Poor tofu.

The chap chae glistened and beckoned my plate, but beef strips heralded themselves and I had to move elsewhere.

Other fishy viands were scattered around the place, breaded, steamed - you name it - but since they yielded the similar flavor, best to stay loyal to my tuna teppanyaki.

Wondering about the tempura? Well it's got its own fried battered station with kani, ebi and the whole lot of vegetables. As always it was hailed the most populous spot in the buffet, which is why I had to steer clear of it for fear of getting my new open toed sandals sprinkled with tempura sauce. That, and I enjoyed my kani raw.

Sushi and maki rolls are also provided for in abundance, alongside the volume of human traffic concentrated in that dangerous region. Once again, I steered clear of the "rice" path and concentrated the tongs on the protein bearers, the the sashimi.

The dessert station was nothing exorbitant or ravishing - the usual fares you'd expect from Saisaki. There's the ubiquitous ice cream and the line that stretches to the kitchen, the mini pastries with skyrocketing icing and fruits in season. No cheesecake, mousse or anything with green tea. In short, no dessert for me - but I had to make do with the fruit cup, as necessitated by my "complete meal" mantra.

This beef bias may be dissuading and most likely, discouraging for most, since 99% of the people I know wouldn't care about beef fat, butter or whatever animal they are ingesting. If you are part of the 99% then good for you, grill to your heart's content and savor your "moo-tiful" meal.

As for the minority, the cooked foods are quite a bountiful lot and yes, if you are as lazy as me, no need to don that invisible chef's hat!

No more cooking - now that's a catch!

Conquest of the Vikings Buffet

[caption id="attachment_1542" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Welcome to Vikings"][/caption]

 

If you are under the impression that when one is at Vikings Luxury Buffet (SM Mall of Asia), a barbaric appetite is necessitated—to be consistent with the overall restaurant theme—then go ahead. Liberate your Nordic roots and partake on the feast of the sea.

[caption id="attachment_1531" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="They say fight, I say EAT!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1530" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The early bird gets the good table."][/caption]

If you are not of Nordic origin though, which I’m guessing might be the case, then I suggest savoring the Celtic-inspired décor and interiors, and dining with the level of standards that you are most comfortable with. I do not care if you eat your hands or dump shellfish on your plate so high, you could cause scallop extinction—do as you wish—so long as you don’t vehemently stare at my salad.

That salad, my masterpiece, has elicited a number of stares that I can only expect from pickpockets and crooks, which I don’t suppose make up the patrons of Vikings.

Which brings me to the unspoken rule of the buffet: No sharing; no staring. I’m pretty sure everyone would agree to this.

After all, the buffet line, being the powerhouse of gastronomic fabrication and independent design, is best left alone to fuel our creative juices. The result may not be the most pleasing composition, but effort rewards the diner who is aesthetically blessed and intensely starved.

[caption id="attachment_1532" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Meet my Griller"][/caption]

Having said that—you probably know what’s coming—I showcase my Vikings Weeknight Dinner, platters abound and forks in perpetual motion.

 I warn you in advance not to expect barbecues piled high or a makeshift cheesesteak sandwich (which is easily feasible given the abundance of the raw materials present) since 1) I’m part vegetarian, and 2) I had a sandwich less than 2 hours before Vikings, hence a partial lack of appetite that is no one’s fault.  Other than that, I managed to preserve what seems to be my monstrous appetite.

[caption id="attachment_1534" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Appetizer Showdown"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1543" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Athena's Appetizer Sampler"][/caption]

This is my Athena appetizer sampler: cheese, almonds and olives.  You can also refer to it as your pet rabbit’s supper, but I prefer the reference to Athena who is the Goddess of Wisdom, and would likely be tempted by this gorgeous, mental platter.

[caption id="attachment_1536" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Salad Bar, all mine!"][/caption]

Back to the salad. It has always been my dream to create my own Greek salad, but with a fridge devoid of food, this was far from becoming a kitchen reality. With salad and toppings spread luxuriously in Vikings, in an area barely visited by the hungry, I found my spot and finally embarked on my lifelong dream. 

[caption id="attachment_1554" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Salad a la Lazy Black Cat"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1549" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Salad a la Lazy Black Cat II"][/caption]

I present to you Salad a la Lazy Black Cat: Greek Salad for the ravaged and hungry topped with broccoli, anchovies, boiled egg white, mozzarella and parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes and olives. Drizzled with balsamic vinegar with a scoop of pesto. Perfect for the forlorn, sinful and stubborn vegetarians.

Here are other servings that I deemed crucial to my existence:  Ares Goes Pescatorian and Mediterranean Mash-up.

[caption id="attachment_1555" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Mediterranean Mash-up"][/caption]

I will never get tired of Hummus, as I believe that I will never have the opportunity to make this on my own. Ever. Unless I move to Greece, which is a long shot.

[caption id="attachment_1523" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Rich Man's Island aka Caviar Territory"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1550" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Feast on Fish"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1556" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Ares Goes Pescatorian"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1552" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Ares Goes Pescatorian II"][/caption]

Ares, being the God of War ought to bring “spice” to this dish as I inadvertently splashed chili and wasabi on all sauces. This inadvertent catastrophe was rather well taken by my taste buds and so Ares Goes Pescatorian was born. If I could live on one shrimp dish, it would be Hakaw. These steamed shrimp dumplings carry that soft, chewy comfort food goodness that can bask in the glory of chili.

[caption id="attachment_1538" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="All Aboard the Sushi Boat"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1539" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="This is one boat that ain't gonna sink."][/caption]

While other buffets bombard us with sashimi and sushi, this one met the challenge with matching boats and formation. I enjoyed my minimal serving as the tuna and kani sashimi I got seem to be on the plump and fresh side. While I spied an assortment of innovatively named sushi—squid ink rice a part of the roster—I had to shy away from this array to make space for the highlight of my meal. You got that right: Dessert!

[caption id="attachment_1535" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Don't ever ditch Dessert."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1553" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Sweets on Repeat"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1529" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Everyone deserves a second chance."][/caption]

Lastly, Sweets on Repeat holds my dearest and darkest dessert. “Repeat” because I ate those I enjoyed twice (like that moist and decadent chocolate square topped with a cherry). The mango pudding was a second favorite, but apparently someone liked it too and hoarded the hidden bowls for the rest of the evening, leaving me with pandan tapioca, which was repelling enough with its mint green hue. Fruits are likewise abound, from the common watermelon and oranges to mangoes and that illustrious dragonfruit.

[caption id="attachment_1528" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Dragonfruit Cup"][/caption]

Cookie jars are scattered in the dessert area too, but make no mistake of being the thief who sole the crinkles from the cookie jar. Not only will you be committing a crime, you’ll be sentencing your tooth to early retirement as well. You’ll thank me for this warning.

Missing in action were the feta cheese (for my salad) and fish curry which I gloriously splattered on my plate during an earlier (lunch) visit. However with the abundance of shellfish and seafood, which would please not only the fisherfolk, the Vikings Dinner All-You-Can-Eat is one masterpiece of a buffet that Poseidon would not mind leaving the sea for.

[caption id="attachment_1533" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="The Grill Pill"][/caption]

Food items I sadly missed but intend to sample and savor for future visits: Crabs, Grilled Tuna Belly, Scallops, Frozen Yogurt and Pizza. Yes, they have a Vikings Pizza but as grievous as it may sound (for me), it has bacon.

Here are stolen shots from my neighbors’ plates, which I managed to take while I distracted them with the old “Hey, is that tempura flying on your head?" trick. Strangely effective.

 

[caption id="attachment_1548" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Fresh Catch"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1541" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Squid and Chips"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1545" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Perfect Combination: Broccoli Soup and Sago't Gulaman"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1526" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Side trip to China"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1522" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Not for the PETA-hearted: Lamb in the house"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1537" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Drink Up"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1540" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="Hmph, that's just Caviar"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1544" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Sake!"][/caption]