Caba... Yan!!!

I've only been to Cabalen, about four times in my entire life. The first two times I ate there, it was awesome. There were a lot of foods to choose from. Every Filipino dish and desert you could think of, it was all on the buffet table. This was almost 20 years ago. 

Fast forward a decade or so, and here comes Vikings, Sambokojin, Four Seasons, City Buffet and all other buffet restaurants. Not to mention the influx of Asian-themed restaurants that offer unlimited items.

So my next two visits to Cabalen was after the arrival of the new buffet and unlimited item restaurants. Cabalen was not like it was before. Mind you, these two visits were to two different branches. Both visits were sad. The buffet table was down to 15 dishes at the most; and this includes the deserts. Not to mention the dishes are the ones you usually cook at home like Adobo, Dinuguan, Menudo, and Sinigang to name a few. It least there was Lechon.

My third visit was already a sign, as far as I was concerned. That said to me that Cabalen isn't what it used to be. I need not go on my fourth visit. But one day, I had the craving to eat at a buffet restaurant. Unfortunately, the newer ones were full. Only Cabalen had unoccupied tables. So I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, it was the same as my visit before.

Perhaps it's time to not visit Cabalen anymore. I could buy whatever they have at a Carideria with a much cheaper price. If I want to level it up a bit, I'll just go to Max's.

So, is it still worth it to go to Cabalen? In my opinion, no. Like I said, there are other options if what you want is what they serve.

Don't Drink Gatorade Before Going into a Buffet

Let's jumpstart this blog with a buffet after not being… in a foodie mood for over a year. This time I'm reviewing Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot.

Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot is brought to us by the ones who brought us Vikings. I haven't tried Vikings, yet. I heard it was a feast. I'd probably try Vikings next time.

Four Seasons mainly offers shabu shabu hotpot. You have a hotpot on your table with your choice of not one, but two soup types. You may cook whatever it is you like that is available on their "raw ingredients" area; meats, vegetables, dimsum…

As for my first wave, I went for the Maki and Sushi. I love Japanese food so that is a no-brainer. I even threw in some barbecued chicken and a slice of pizza.

For my second wave, I went for the raw dimsum for the hotpot. By this time, the soup on the hotpot would have been hot enough to cook that dimsum goodness.

For my third wave came desert. They had sweet cakes, marshmallows, chocolate, ice cream, and a lot more. I had some hot tea to melt all that fat that I was starting to feel inside of me.

Would you believe I had a fourth wave? I did but all I did was get back to the Maki and Sushi, and a little bit of spicy beef.

Ok. So overall, it was a good feast. I would have eaten more if I didn't down a bottle of Gatorade before heading inside the restaurant. And they have a packet of wet wipes to wipe your hands with; may it be before or after you eat. It's not even your hands that you have to wipe with those.

Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot, at least this one, is located at Manhattan Parkview Cubao. It's other branches are located at SM Southmall at Las Pinas, and SM Mall of Asia at Pasay.

When eating at a buffet, there are some things you have to remember. It doesn't have to be at buffet restaurant. It could be a party, or in the Philippines, a fiesta.

• The most important thing to not eat at one of these all-you-can-eat places is rice. Sure we're Filipinos but, rice will just fill you up really quick. With the exceptions of Maki and Sushi, of course. 
• Avoid soup, as they would fill you up real quick as well. For this, the hotpot is there just to cook. Don't drink the soup.
• Eat those that you rarely eat or haven't eaten, yet. Don't go for the Adobo, or Sinigang, or Nilaga that you have a high chance of eating at home.
• And don't drink Gatorade before going into a buffet!

As far as I'm concerned, buffet restaurants are just good for special occasions. Eating in one on a regular day will truly hurt your budget. Check out Four Season's website at http://www.fourseasonshotpot.com.ph for their rates, and reservations.