Food Tasting #6: Alba's

Alba's Catering is not really on the original list of my prospected caterers. I haven't read enough reviews about them and they are not really that sikat sa w@w and GT. But I tried contacting them anyways and their packages are almost the same with Queensland's. Our scheduled FT was moved for at least 3 times before we were given a slot. I think they give priority to events na malapit na. It is only when I vent out my frustration (in a nice way) that we already tried scheduling for 3 times did the AE obliged to us. After I said that she kept on rescheduling us, she texted non-stop about the schedule and make bawi naman to assist us.

When you come from Tropical Ave., nasa bukana lang sya ng El Grande Street (right side). Medyo nalito lang kami sa map na binigay ni Cherry coz it's indicated na Kristine's Garden. When all along, the sign says Alba's pala and then the garden is inside.

We were ushered into their office. Then later one transferred to the adjacent room. It is not the usual FT where you get to try the dishes with other couples on a dressed venue complete with waiter and table/buffet arrangements. The food is prepared on trays then you get to try their main dishes. No salads, appetizers, pasta & desserts.

From Top Left (Clockwise):
Chicken Cordon Bleu - the sauce is buttery and the breading is still a bit crunchy. The meat is not really moist, but not really dry. My companions liked it.
Pork Baby Back Ribs - they are very tender but I don't like my baby back ribs to be sweet. I want it to be salty and spicy.
Chicken in Char Sui Sauce - this is so yummy! The sauce doesn't look so appetizing because it is so sticky but nonetheless, it is good.
Fish Fillet with Tartar sauce - this is good. No malansa after-taste. In fact, you wouldn't think it is fish. And the tartar sauce is so yummy!
Fish Fillet in Sweet & Sour Sauce - this is good, too. Hindi malansa and the sauce is yummy. I would have preferred the breading to be crunchy though.

From Top Right (Clockwise):
Pork Asado - it is like eating the Siopao Asado filling. I'm biased coz I like Siopao Bola-Bola. I don't like sweet sauces.
Buttered Vegetables - this is sooo yummy! you can taste the butter in every piece of vegetable. It is so flavorful.
Beef Kaldereta - meat is tender but I would prefer my Kaldereta to be spicy
Beef Stew/Korean Stew - The meat is tender pero the sauce is nagsebo na. I like my Korean Beef Stew to be spicy, too.

Overall: We particularly love the fish, chicken and vegetable dishes. It is yummy and flavorful. But if we will choose them, we would pick different pork and beef dishes. I think their dishes are yummy naman based on the fish, chicken and vegetables. Matter of preference na lang since I don't want sweet sauces/dish.

We are seriously considering them for my sister's debut. Package starts at Php425++. For our wedding, we will have them on our list but have to try others pa then we will decide.

I appreciate din that their add-ons are really not expensive and they are not really strict with corkages for additional drinks or food.

Food Tasting #2: Hizon's

I received a couple of invites from Hizon's for their food tasting but it's either the venue is too far or my schedule wouldn't permit it. So good thing, their latest food tasting was held at Fernbrook Gardens in Alabang. So yesterday, me and J were able to attend their food tasting. My sister and my cousin accompanied us because my sister is also in search of her debut caterer. J coordinated with them while I was in Oz and he scheduled us for 10 am. A little early but I'm glad he pick the earliest slot as there's a few couples there yet and the food is still untouched.

Our AE is Maricar and I appreciate that she leaves us alone and just came back when we're done eating. That way, we were able to discuss the food presentation and taste without worrying that we might offend someone.

All the food during the food tasting are for the Php1190 package. We are actually considering the Php990 package but when we take a closer look with the inclusions, Php1190 is sulit na din.

J particularly like the Napoleon Chairs. J's only concern are the chairs, really. Remember what he really wants are tiffany chairs and not just the ordinary ones covered with white cloth. Kidding aside, he is more meticulous than me in terms of the taste and presentation.

Dessert Buffet Set-Up

Buffet Set-Up

Carving Station 

Chocolate Fountain

Salad Bar

Fruits and Choco Dippings

Pasta Bar

Quesadilla Bar (add-on Php80/head)

The dessert bar is for display only because they will be serving you pre-picked dessert selections. Now for the food tasting proper: For the scores/ranks, I based it on the number of votes it got from the 4 of us who taste it.

Top R (Clockwise): Tomato Mozzarella, Caramelized Onion with Cheese, Tempura Rolls (spoon), Bruschetta Al Fungi, Crispy Beef Spring Roll (spoon)

Tomato Mozzarella : 2/4

I actually can't remember its taste anymore

Caramelized Onion with Cheese: 4/4

Super Yummy! The onions are cooked so well and it complements the flavor of the cheese they've used

Tempura Rolls: 4/4

Everyone loved this. I would prefer it spicier but nonetheless its good

Bruschetta Al Fungi: 2/4

J loved this but I really can't get over the yumminess of the Caramelized Onions with Cheese so this is just so-so for me

Crispy Beef Spring Roll: 2/4

A little bit sweeter than I expected. Plus the roll's cold so medyo masebo yung after taste nya

L-R: Truffled Four Mushroom, Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Truffled Four Mushroom Soup: 2/4

Votes are divided for the soup because me and my sister loved the Mushroom one but J and my cousin liked the Pumpkin soup better. This tasted like butter with bits of mushroom and a hint of truffle taste.

Roasted Pumpkin Soup: 2/4

Again, the score is tie because the soups got 2 votes each from us. I don't like it that much because it has a sour after taste but the guys liked it.

*would have been better if the soups are served hot.

L-R: Peach Mango Salad, Grilled Vegetable Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Peach Mango Salad: 3/4

I love Mango and Peach and Peach Mango, too but sadly I don't like this salad this much. I find it too sweet for a salad.

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette: 4/4

Just the fact that my sister was able to eat them considering it's vegetables are good points already. :) I love the taste of the grilled veggies with its dressing.

Bottom (clockwise): Baked Fish Stuffed with Spinach, Chicken Sambal in Prawn Sauce, Thrice Cooked Pork Belly with Mango Cucumber Salsa, Roast US Beef with Mushroom Gravy, Pork Salpicao with Grilled Vegetables and Mashed Potatoes, Beef Teppanyaki

Same as above but with Crispy Beef Rice

Baked Fish Stuffed with Spinach: 4/4

This is the bomb. It was so good I have to ask for J's share. Haha

Chicken Sambal: 1/4

The chicken is tough and the breading is so thick. The sauce is not that good, too

Thrice Cooked Pork Belly: 3/4

I didn't like it because the part that I got was not crispy anymore but they said their part is crispy

Roast US Beef: 2/4

My cousin said he prefers the Hickory Barbeque Sauce better than the Mushroom Gravy. It's really not that tender and the taste is just so-so

Pork Salpicao: 4/4

We love the Salpicao because it's tasty and the vegetables are good and the mashed potato are so yummy

Beef Teppanyaki: 2/4

Just your ordinary Teppan imho

Crispy Beef Rice: 3/4

I would prefer it to be hot rather than cold. Good thing, it's tasty.

Beef & Chicken Quesadilla
Sauce: Salsa, Garlic Sauce and Cream Cheese

Beef Quesadilla: 1/4

The smell of the spices are too overpowering and overwhelming

Chicken Quesadilla: 3/4

We prefer this more because it is milder and it has veggies on it so hindi umay

Carbonara

Puttanesca

Carbonara: 4/4

We're biased coz we loved Carbonara. But actually it is really good. It has flavors and not just the typical bland carbonara in a buffet spread

Puttanesca: 2/4

I don't like it because as I've said I am a Carbonara fanatic. Also, the olives here are too overpowering.

Bottom L (clockwise): Mango Pavlova, Sunken Island with Vanilla Creme, Red Velvet Cheesecake (center), Flourless Chocolate Cake

Mango Pavlova: 2/4

It's foamy and not too sweet

Sunken Island: 4/4

a.k.a Merengue

Red Velvet Cheesecake: 2/4

I am biased coz I love cheesecakes

Flourless Chocolate Cake: 4/4

It is chocolate-y and rich in flavor

We are actually considering Hizon's already. But it's too early to tell. I don't want the "what if" feelings so we'll try a couple more caterers for comparison. 

Disclaimer: I am not a food critic. :) Just someone who loves food.

Food Tasting #1: Quido's

I bumped into Quido's sa Girltalk. Upon checking their packages, I must say they are one of the cheapest. I search reviews about them and all are good naman. Plus factor is that their chairs are already tiffany at no ADDITIONAL cost (maximum of 150 pax). Eh non-negotiable ni J ang tiffany chairs. So I emailed Ms. Gina and scheduled a food tasting.

It happened yesterday at the Madrigal Gallery beside ATC. When we arrived, they are still prepping the area and there's another group doing their food tasting too. Wendy assisted me and showed me around.

Presidential Table Set-up

Couple's Backdrop

Buffet Set-up

Table Set-up

Wendy said the couple availed the Standard Package. So the above photos are all included in their basic styling. She said they only have one color for the table cloth (for the round ones) which is cream but they have vast collection of colors for the table runners. Plus they don't limit the number of persons for the VIP table. Some caterers kase usually have maximum allowable number.

J's concern is that the tiffany chairs (of course!) looks worn out na. If you are not maselan, ok naman yung chairs nila. It's just that J really wanted tiffany chairs so I think yun talaga yung pinansin nya. My cousin who accompanied us said she thinks the set-up looks plain and basic. Well, basic/standard package naman kase 'to. Wendy said I can show them my peg and they can try to replicate it. And if premium package naman yung iaavail, there are pricier flowers to choose from din.

Now for the food tasting part, we were ushered to a table outside the venue. When we arrived, they asked kung ilan daw kami. There were 3 iced teas, 3 waters & 3 salad on the table but when the plated food was presented by the head chef, it was only for 2 persons. I thought they made a mistake but 2 lang talaga yung sinerve although the other group na nagfofood tasting din (4 pax) have plates each. Nahiya lang ako sa cousin ko kase I invited her for her opinion. But partly, it's my fault na din 'coz I didn't confirm kung ilan kami. She did not asked din naman kase kaya I thought they're not strict sa number of pax. We ended up sharing a plate.

Salad/Appetizer

Reminds me of Wendy's salad because of the jelly. Taste wise, OK naman. Typical garden salad with lettuce, corn, cheese, cucumber and thousand island dressing.

Clockwise starting from Pasta: Fettuccine Carbonara, Roast Beef, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Fish Fillet with Sweet n' Sour Sauce, Buttered Veggies 

Mixed reviews kami for the pasta. We all love carbonara so excited kaming tatlo to taste this. J and my cousin think its bland. For me naman, sakto lang sya. Not dry, not runny din naman. Pasta is not overcooked. Yun lang, sabi nila matabang daw.

Next is the Roast Beef. Malambot yung karne and malasa naman. OK din yung serving size nya. Pasado sya samin tatlo.

For the Chicken Cordon Bleu, favorite din namin ang Cordon Bleu but this one's different. The usual Cordon Bleu that we know and make is chicken with ham and cheese inside. But their version has ham and peppers that changed the flavors (in an interesting twist). I loved peppers so OK sakin that I can taste the peppers in every bite. OK din sya for J but my picky cousin (haha!) said so-so lang sya.

We would prefer our fish fillet to be served with tartar or ranch sauce so hindi namin masyado naappreciate yung dish. Although the chef said they have other sauces to choose from naman. Sauce aside, hindi malansa yung fillet and hindi oily although hindi nadin sya crunchy maybe because nababad na sya sa sauce.

Buttered Veggies. Medyo hindi sya masayang tingnan and hindi din crunchy yung veggies. Plus, meron syang kalabasa which is unusual. I did not finish it but J did. He said so-so lang yung dish. If we ever get Quido's, I would get a different veggie dish.

I did not eat the rice (diet lang,haha!) but it looks masarap naman. Hindi mukha yung mura bigas lang.

Mango Jelly

Standard package offer 1 dessert only. Good thing, 3 Mango Jelly naman yung binigay samin. We often make Mango Sago (almost same with Mango Jelly but with Sago) at home and it wouldn't last long so we're excited to try this. Unfortunately, its not that cold when they served it. But taste wise, ok naman sya. Not too matamis, not matabang naman. Meron nga lang mga mango na maasim pa (not their fault naman). Serving wise, medyo maliit yung shot glass nila. I forgot to ask if my guests can go back for more desserts.

Quido's is still on our list but we are not booking them yet. We'll schedule food tasting with other caterers muna before we decide.

Quido's Catering
Ms. Gina Napolis 0917-5747202
http://www.quidosgrill.com/index.html