I first got a taste of Royce chocolate a few years back from a friend of HB. It was love at first bite.

A few months back I was craving for it. So, to satiate my sweet tooth, I requested HB to buy some at Greenbelt 5.

Here are some of the Royce chocolates I tried.

My personal favorite is the Royce Nama Bitter (Php 580.00). The flavor is best quality semi-sweet and not very bitter. It's a fine, delicate combination of selected chocolate and fresh cream with a hint of prestige liqueurs. Plus it literally melts in your mouth. Uh-mm... savoring each bite. :)



They have five kinds of Nama chocolate - Au Lait, White, Champagne, Bitter and Mild Cacao.

On a very important note, Dark or Bittersweet chocolate has a great source of antioxidants. Just consume it in moderation of course. ;)

I feel in love with Orange Petit Truffle chocolate (Php 450.00) as well. It's a chocolate with orange liqueur and bitter orange peel delicately intertwined and powdered with cocoa. It tastes really good!


Macadamia Chocolate (Php 690.00): It's an aromatic macadamia nuts wrapped in chocolate and topped with cocoa powder.


Chocolate Wafers (Php 540.00): Crunchy chocolate wafers with hazelnut cream and premium chocolate coating.

This best selling chocolate has been around since 1983 founded in Sapporo, Japan.

Royce Chocolate has been a favorite treat or as "pasalubong" (present) of most Filipino travelers for years. However, there's no need for a trip to Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan to get a fix of this chocolate. Royce' is already available in Manila.


Royce' Branches:
Royce Power Plant
Level 3, Power Plant Mall
Rockwell Center

Royce Greenbelt 5
Level, Greenbelt 5
Greenbelt Complex

Royce Trinoma
Level 3, Trinoma

Getting an advance reservation at Latitude on a Sunday lunch for a party of four was effortless. I did inform the Food and Beverage Manager that this would be for a friend's birthday and I requested for a semi private area. I also asked if we could stay after 2:30 pm (lunch buffet is between 12:00 noon and 2:30pm). Got a quick response from the manager confirming my request and that we could stay longer. Cool!

A week ago, HB and I finally went in for a lunch date with our two good friends, NdL and NM (whom we haven't seen in over a year). It was a good time catching up again with them.


Latitude ambiance is quiet and upscale casual. It can seat around 150 guests in a cozy and contemporary furnishing. We came on a slow day (I think) as there were only a few tables taken. But I like that kind of atmosphere, not crowded or loud.

By the way, we spotted Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda with his family dined at the restaurant. It appears someone was also celebrating a birthday.



As for the food, they have Asian and international cuisine served in an informal and relaxed ambiance. They had a decent spread but offer quite a FEW CHOICES. For those who are on a diet just like me (not because I like it but the doctor said so) most of the food offerings do not fit into this category. Admittedly, I wasn't too impressed with their dishes. However, this impression has probably been undermined due to my condition.



HB has a good appetite. Here are some samples of his schizo-pack rat style. :)



The watermelon juice which cost around Php 250+, tasted like it had lost its flavor. Plus it wasn't even cold. In all honesty, we were not so pleased at all.

Here's my half untouched watermelon juice. :(



I didn't sample everything so I saved room for desserts. Everyone likes the delicious chocolate symphony.




We were surprised when the entire staff and the three-piece acoustic band started serenading us with a rousing "Happy Birthday" song.



And the best part, they gave us a FREE BIRTHDAY CHOCOLATE CAKE! Thank you! ♥♥♥



As soon as they left, the three of us started giggling and passing the poor little birthday cake around, trying to take a few snaps. We did it on the spur of the moment. HB wasn't paying so much attention to our little merriment but we managed (by force, hehehe) to have a photo of him holding the birthday cake as well. We must have looked absolutely ridiculous. :D Ah, it's fun to be crazy every once in a while. :)


Despite of everything, I thought the overall experience was still great. The nice ambiance, pleasant service (like dirty plates were promptly removed without us having to ask), the birthday freebie and serenading made up for any minor shortcomings.

Not to mention, I like also the lobby restroom of Traders Hotel. It's not a super elegant restroom but I like the fully enclosed cubicle having floor to ceiling walls and a door extending to the floor for complete privacy. ♥♥♥

Latitude is located on the lobby level of Traders Hotel Manila. It is conveniently located along Roxas Boulevard, adjacent to the city's premier institution for culture and the arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines.


The buffet promo cost around Php 760.00 per head. Drinks are not yet included, but coffee is on the house. For inquiries, you can call them at (632)5237011 local 2402 or mobile (0916)591-0001.

And on a completely different birthday related note - here's our birthday gift to NdL.


What's inside? Well, it's an expander wristwatch we bought from Asos, the largest online-only fashion and beauty store located in London.


Oh, and I also got a late birthday gift from the birthday celebrant - a body cream and Marcs & Spencer waterlily cream bath from the Middle East. Thanks to my bestie NdL and also for the treat. :) ♥

Another better way to do in Hong Kong is to shop. So, HB and I decided to hit on the road and see what kind of stuffs we could find. Shopping at Nathan Road may seem a daunting task since it is a very long boulevard cluttered with so many shops and teemed with people.

We popped into the Giordano store but somewhat doubtful whether I could get something. I spent some time rummaging piles of folded and hanging shirts until I found what I really liked. I actually got a Cotton Wide Collar Bunched Sleeves Tee in gray (HK$90) and Camis in three different colors black, white and blue (3 pcs. for HK$90).

I also scored a Giordano Polyester Puff cobalt tote bag (HK$150).♥♥♥ There were a total of 4 bold hues on display, consisting of yellow, cobalt blue, turf and classic black. The bag's design is really simple yet soft, roomy and extremely LIGHTWEIGHT. (It is light as spongy marshmallows, I tell you).It's been a decade since I've done shopping at Giordano in Manila. And I never expected I would buy something in Hong Kong. It's probably because Giordano HK offers better style and better choices of popular casual wear compared to stores in Manila. Hopefully, Giordano Philippines would come up with new marketing ideas to capture shoppers like HK does.

Then we decided to walk the nearest Bossini store. HB got some casual polo shirts.


Then we shopped at Baleno. HB also particularly liked the Giordano rolling duffel in black. Anyway, here are our loots for that day! :)


We just wandered the street all morning, looking at the shop windows until I saw this cute black tote bag on display at AGNES B shop. Agnes B is a French fashion brand, very popular in Hong Kong and Tokyo.
We went into the store to check it out. The size wasn't exactly what I expected. It was a bit small for my liking. And it appears that the tag price says HK$1,980. HB was asking me if I liked it. But I decided to put the bag where it belongs - in the display shelf rack.

After lunch, HB took a trip to K11 Mall at TsimSha Tsui. He had a last minute shopping. He bought a pair of Y-3 Sprint sneakers (HK$1,890) at D-MOP, and a Y-3 messenger bag at Y-3 store. It cost around HK$2,000 but he bought it 50% off. I was green with envy. *boohoo*



Although I do regret not going with HB but my luck seemed to be pretty powerful! On our way to airport departure hall of terminal 2, we stumbled upon a nice Lacoste shop.



I wasn't even looking the immaculately white Lacoste bag until HB pointed it out. I've seen it through online store but it was out of stock. Whoa! I'm even more smitten seeing the actual bag. :)


We finally purchased it on the spot (HK$1,010). I felt every ounce of me screaming in sheer delight. Yayness!!! ♥♥♥ :))

For a last minute souvenir, we had a quick look around at Relay Shop. Bought these cute Hong Kong refrigerator magnets for HK$35 each. ♥♥♥


Relay store features a range of English and Chinese Books, English magazines, gifts and unique assortment of souvenirs.

And soon it was time to catch our flight back to Manila.