Restaurant Review: Niu by Vikings

Restaurant Review: Niu by Vikings

     For my birthday this year we opted to celebrate it by having dinner  at Niu by Vikings which can be found at SM Aura. I was a bit hesitant dining at a buffet again as our last experience was not that good. But let me tell you, Niu made me very happy. We got there at 6  PM and we were shown a booth near the end of the long room. I immediately asked for a high chair for my son which they promptly provided. The wait staff was amazing, courteous and attentive without being stiffling. They even managed to get a rubber band for my husband. The booth was spacious for all our stuff and the table was just the right height. Imagine my surprise when they had tableware for kids! Oh yes, they had plastic plates and cutlery for kids. That and the fact that they had about 10 high chairs just about made my day.

     Then I saw the food. I started at the end of the hall, which had American fare, and next would be Chinese, then Japanese, then the Drink Station in the middle, then the Salad Bar, and last would be the best Dessert Bar I've ever seen. I took a bit of everything and was properly stuffed by 10 PM. Another thing that I appreciated at Niu would be the birthday greeting. They didn't have this loud singing akin to a karaoke party but instead they had a production. There was a Parade of Cakes by the waitstaff and classy birthday tunes piped overhead. It was a really amazing experience dining at Niu and I'm excited to go back,

Address: LG, SM Aura Premier, McKinley Pkwy, Taguig, 1634 Metro Manila
Phone:(02) 478 3888
Hours: 

Wednesday	10AM–12AM
Thursday	10AM–12AM
Friday	10AM–12AM
Saturday	10AM–12AM
Sunday	10AM–12AM
Monday	10AM–12AM
Tuesday	10AM–12AM












Classy Buffet!






























The wings were good.
















The lechon was really good.











The lamb was very good too.
















The snow buns were yummy.




































Yes. Unlimited beer.











Great tempura. And they don't run out either.































I loved the desserts!
























Plate 1.






Plate 2.






Plate 3.






My son's plate.






Dessert 1.






Dessert 2.






Plate 4.






Happy at Niu!






Thanks Niu!

Carrier Review: Carering Sling Woven Wrap

Carrier Review: Carering Sling Woven Wrap

      I had the opportunity to try this woven wrap from Carering Sling called Pearly Blossom and it was quite a journey for us within the week it was with us. Carering Sling is the first babywearing Company in Singapore and is founded by Nur Afifah who is a certified babywearing consultant. Pearly Blossom is a 100% organic cotton wrap with a Jaquard weave, the width is 67 cm and the weight is 270gm/m2. All of the wraps and ring slings from Carering are machine woven in India.

    Out of the parcel, Pearly Blossom was very soft but stiff, slinky but maybe too slinky for my taste. It was gorgeous to look at, with it's peach base and the black and silver panel on it. But I had misgivings about its grip immediately. I did a quick uppy with my son and the wrap immediately starts to slip from my wrap job. My first impression was that it was not a forgiving wrap and wrap jobs must be immaculate for a wrapper to use it out of the bag. I knew it hadn't been broken in properly and had high hopes for it once it was broken in and usable already. I kept it braided for 2 days and stuffed in the bottom of my carrier box to help it along.

       The next time we used it, it was better already and I was able to do front and back carries easily. But the material was very thick and it was a bit hard and sweaty doing the passes for carries. As normal with wraps, it was easy to breastfeed in, probably even more with Pearly Blossom since it was so slippery. The tapered tails were also great for covering exposed cleavage. The sleepy dust settled more at night when it wasn't so hot and humid. And the longest carry I did with this wrap was around 3 hours before it begins to be diggy, especially on back carries. Due to its thickness, it's one of the most supportive and cushy wraps I've tried. So far the only con for me would be it's grip.

       Carering Sling is a great brand for woven wraps. Pearly Blossom would be a great wrap if only I had the time to fully break it in. I have high hopes for this brand and for the wraps and ring slings they produce. I would probably recommend them for intermediate wrappers and those who collect wraps with artsy but formal designs in mind. When buying a wrap like this, one needs to have ample time to prep it for it to be a go-to wrap instead of a special occasions wrap. Carering Sling's Pearly Blossom would set you back $130 or around 4500 PHP. Our local retailer for Carering Slings would be MommAmazing and King.