Meet me at the Promenade - By Joy Angelica Subido
Been there?
Bought that?
Don’t be tempted to buy items that will surely end up being stored in your overflowing closets again. If your friends and relatives with their insatiable appetites for shopping insist on repeated forays to the Greenhills shopping centers for great bargains, if you are constrained to take them there and have resolved to cut down on impulse buying, you may opt to tell them, “Meet me at the Promenade” instead.
You can spend a pleasant time at the Greenhills Promenade. There are many interesting pastimes to choose from and different flavors to try. “This is a ‘dine-tertainment alternative’ where the pace is more relaxed,” says the young, affable and hardworking Paolo F. Mendoza, general manager of the Music Museum Group Inc. that operates Promenade. With him, we were able to sample some of the mall’s alternative amusements.
Catch the Latest Flick at the Cinema
Certain that the nitpicking shoppers in your group will spend forever shopping? Don’t fret. You can while the time away by catching the newest movies in any of the four theaters in Promenade. The movie houses are clean, well maintained and have comfortable seats. Unlike other huge, impersonal cinemas, Promenade’s theaters are sized just right.
Cinema and camera buffs may be piqued by the display of movie cameras in the cinema foyer and the gadgets make you appreciate the talent and fortitude of moviemakers of yesteryear. Indeed, the art of cinema has come a long way.
Be Beautiful and Stay Relaxed at Salon and Café by Jesi Mendez
Topnotch and well-respected beauty professional Jesi Mendez has 10 salons to his name, but the outlet at Promenade is special because it is the first of its kind. Occupying the entire third level of the building, it consists of a salon where one can be pampered in air-conditioned comfort, and an outdoor verandah where the café that serves refreshing drinks and tasty morsels of food is located.
The Salon and Café has been operational a mere five months, with no formal opening yet. Hence, the menu for the cafe is still continuously evolving to include Mendez’s personal favorites.
“This is my baby and I am here every afternoon,” Jesi says.
The salon and café is a hangout place, where he and his friends can catch up and relax over glasses of red wine. The atmosphere is easygoing and the clientele is friendly.
“I find that my clients eventually become my friends. You attract people of similar persuasions,” Jesi adds.
Chocolate Comfort At Café Xocolat
My favorite at Café Xocolat is taza de xocolat. The yummy chocolate drink that is so thick that it is almost like a soup or a chocolate fondue. Churros or deep fried pastries go well with the drink, and I enjoy dunking these into the smooth, rich mixture. The thought crossed my mind that dunking slices of fruit into the creamy chocolate would be a healthier, less fattening alternative, but I lose my resolve on each visit and succumb to the churros con chocolate pairing each time.
The Best Fried Shrimp Puffs at Won Ton
I finally discovered why Won Ton has one of the best shrimp puffs and dumplings in town after speaking with owner Darwin Roxas. Aside from the fact that the shrimp puffs and shrimp dumplings (P80 each) are made solely of shrimp,
The Chinese restaurant has been a favorite mainstay in the Greenhills area, and its longevity is due to the fact that the authenticity of flavors is maintained. “My gauge that the product is good is when I see that my Chinese customers who know the authentic flavors of Chinese cuisine come back,” says Darwin who is also of Chinese descent. Other favorites in the restaurant are the fried chicken wings in sweet vinegar (P150), shrimp wonton (P140), and spicy prawns
Asian Favorites at Penang Hill
Singaporean and Malaysian cuisines are close to Filipinos’ hearts and taste buds because they are somehow familiar, yet distinct. We tried the mee goreng (P250), beef rendang (P230) and bagoong fried rice (P220) and these did not disappoint. However, the dish that I enjoyed best at Penang Hill was still the Hainanese chicken (P250). The dish allows you some exercise in creativity because it lets you play with flavors as you alter your dipping sauce.
Dining at Penang Hill is best when done in groups, as the portions are too substantial for one. Delicious desserts and cold drinks include mango sago (P85), almond lychee (P85), and a refreshing apple shake (P75).
Symphony of Traditional and New Flavors at Little
After being educated abroad, Charlemagne Lim, owner and general manager of Little Asia, came home to open the restaurant. “The restaurant started with a chicken recipe handed down by my grandfather,” he reveals. With friends and family, he developed the current and extensive menu.
Western influence and traditional flavors go hand in hand in the restaurant’s menu. Velvet prawns with caramelized nuts and boneless tilapia with honey-mayo sauce show Western combinations and food styling, while salt and pepper frog’s legs and Vietnamese spring rolls stay true to Asian taste. At Little Asia, there is something to please every diner.
Food for the Mind at Fully Booked
One should not stay focused on feeding the physical body alone. At the multi-level Fully Booked bookstore in Promenade, one can spend hours perusing the huge inventory of books. On the day of our visit, a young mother brought her children to the store and while each went to his favorite section, she browsed through a selection of art books. The kids seemed content and indeed, the habit of reading can be encouraged and nurtured when you start your children early.
Indulge Your Musical Inclinations At KTV World Music Room
They say that we are a musical people and singing is an enjoyable activity. For the musically inclined, Promenade has the World Music Room. Personally, however, I would much rather listen to the considerable talent that is out there than inflict my discordant tunes.
Catch the Evening Show at Teatrino
The evening does not have to end just because the shops at Greenhills have closed. When the shoppers are content and willing to stay still and spend time off their feet, a nightcap topped by a show at Teatrino does much to get them relaxed and ready to shop another day.
Really, there is much to do at the Promenade Dine, watch and win at Promenade.
Earn one raffle coupon for every P500 single receipt purchase (includes cash and credit card transactions) for food and restaurant establishments, and one raffle coupon for every four movie tickets (from the same screen time/movie) and get a chance to win exciting Samsung appliances.
