More reasons to love Lido

 Lido Cocina Tsina is one of those restaurants I love going back to because of their yummy dishes and really good coffee (This is my third blog about Lido, by the way). You see, I'm a true blue coffee lover and I order a cup everywhere I eat that it's on the menu. Of all the restaurants I've visited since I started blogging last year, there are only two foodie places where I had brewed coffee so good it had gotten etched on my mind: French Baker and Lido. Last July 7, however, I was at Lido for the third time with a bunch of kids (my four children and the eldest's beau) and I ordered iced coffee instead of hot and I loved it as well. Hmm..another reason for loving this Chinese foodie place. 

Anyway, it was the UN Ave. branch that we went to for lunch right after church service at the Cathedral of Praise that Sunday. These were our orders:  

Pugon-Roasted Asado, P270. This is what Lido is known for. Really delicious!

Drunken Lechon Macau, P267.

Shrimp Balls, Mucho size, P280.

Buttered chicken Mucho size, P255.

Yangchow Fried Rice, Familia size, P380.

Hototay Soup, Mucho, P205.

Mango Jello Cooler, P65.

Halo-halo, Regular, P95.

Our varying drinks - iced tea (P35), iced coffee (P95) and mango juice (P65).

My iced coffee

Interiors

The menu

Lido on UN Avenue, Ermita, Manila

We liked everything we ordered but the stand-out dishes were the Pugon-Roasted Pork Asado (the default!), Shrimp Balls and Yangchow Fried Rice. If you've never been to Lido and want to try their specialties, you'll never go wrong with the Pugon-Roasted Asado. After all, it's a recipe that has withstood over 70 years! Anyway, the Hototay Soup was kinda weird to me because it had ginger. Sorry but we do not put ginger when we make hototay at home, that's why. But we do put in a lot of veggies - carrots and Baguio petchay - and these were scarce in Lido's version. It tasted good, however, so we still liked it. As for the others (Drunken Lechon Macau and Buttered Chicken) they were not unforgettable but okay nonetheless. 
Service was friendly, too and the ambiance was relaxing with the clean surroundings and simple interiors. All in all, it was an enjoyable lunch we had at Lido. Lido Cocina Tsina has branches at Shaw Blvd in Mandaluyong City, UN Ave. corner Jorge Bocobo St. in Manila, Commonwealth Ave., Visayas Ave. and E. Rodriguez in Quezon City, Ortigas Ext. in Cainta, BF Homes in Paranaque, and South Park High in Las Pinas, and Pasong Tamo in Makati City.
By the way, Lido Cocina Tsina is owned by the same people who own Panciteria Lido, in case you're confused as I was. Hehe.

The heart of France

I looked up over the weekend the meaning of le coeur de France and this was it (the title of this post), I found out. Why the sudden interest, you might ask. Well, I was so smitten by the ham and cheese croissant at Le Coeur de France, that is why. Hehe. It's just the way I like it - flaky and crusty. It was so delicious I'm still daydreaming about it. Haha!. By the way, my daughter and I were at this branch inside Times Plaza at the corner of UN and Taft Avenues just before church service last Saturday. We arrived in the area quite early and were buying time so I decided that we have coffee. We were both still feeling full from our late lunch and didn't want to eat anymore but since I saw a coffee-and-croissant pairing on the menu, I went for it while the daughter ordered a cappuccino frappe. Unfortunately, said the server, their whipped cream was unavailable so my daughter settled for iced cappuccino. 

When our orders came, not one but two croissants came when I asked for just one. The server explained that it was "buy 1, take 1" for their breads starting at 3 p.m. Was I delighted at my sudden good fortune! Haha! And it was happiness take 2 at first bite of the croissant. My brewed coffee, while being good as well, was too strong for me so I requested the server to dilute it with hot water and to give me more creamer, which she graciously accommodated. (Hmmm..good service - a plus point!). While I was leisurely sipping my coffee, I asked my daughter to buy me a notebook and a bottle of toasted garlic from separate stores inside Times Plaza. I took this opportunity to sip her iced cappuccino and I loved it too. Hehe.       

Ham and Cheese Croissant

The dream!

Love, love, love!

Brewed coffee is served with a cookie

Iced cappuccino

Last Saturday was actually our second time at Le Coeur de France, the first being last February but it's only now I'm blogging about it. Then, we ordered their Treat for 2 meal (P320) consisting of a serving of Pasta Salad, Double-Decker Sandwich and two glasses of iced tea. Well, I urge you to try the mentioned pasta for your own gastronomic pleasure because it's lip-smackingly delicious! To me, it tastes like cheese pimiento spread mixed with pasta and you might just agree. Also, it is served on a bed of fresh, crunchy lettuce. I think it's quite a unique pasta dish coz I haven't had anything like this elsewhere. As for the sandwich, it was yummy too. I think (if my memory serves me right) it had deviled egg with veggies at the bottom and tuna with cheese at the top layer. Le Coeur de France is now one of favorite places 

for coffee and more. I hope to be back there soon :-)

Pasta Salad

Triple-Decker Sandwich

Iced Tea