Mayordoma Chronicles: Yummy Mix!

Yakimix

Trivia: Despite my love for food, I Mayordoma, confess that I am quite a picky eater and kind of, dislike seeing tables heavily laden with all sorts of food. The look and the mixture of smell make me dizzy. If you've been with me in fiestas and gatherings, you will definitely agree with me. People usually tell me, "kuha ka pa" since I really don't put much stuff on my plate. Unbelievable but true!

I am actually not a fan of eat-all-you-can buffets because of this. Sure, I do love the selection (Bellevue and Makati Shang) but it is not practical for a picky eater like me because they are a bit pricey and yet I only eat small portions.

But, I've made one exception - Yakimix! You've probably heard people talk and post about it. So what's the hype all about? If you have already tried the buffets in fancy restaurants/ hotels, you might say that the selection at Yakimix really don't compare that much. True but there is something about Yakimix that would make you choose it over other buffets of its kind, just like me. And let me tell you why.

Early in 2013, Boss Of All Seasons (BOS) hosted a dinner for us, her staff - Ms Lopez Ave, Boslet, Barbie, Anchor Girl, Miki Mouse and Sir (in some of our blogs we refer to him as "Boy"). This was our opening meeting and bonding. This was also our group's despedida and despedida de soltero for Anchor Girl and Sir, respectively. And because it was a pre-wedding dinner for Sir, we also snatched, his then-gf, Senyora Buigotti from her office.

BOS took us to Yakimix, Alabang Town Center. Because of the place's popularity, we had to wait before we could be seated.

When you enter Yakimix, you get the vibe of fancy hotel buffets but without the stiffness. The interiors of Yakimix is "pang-hotel" but the friendly atmosphere is "pang-mall". Combine both and you'll get comfort.

While going to our designated table, we passed by a sea of food selection for grilling. That's the signature of Yakimix, grilling. Each table is equipped with a smokeless grill where guests can cook their choices from the selection. To make grilling fun, don't just add condiments, try having a demo like Anchor Girl!

Grilled food is just one of the stations. They also have appetizers, soups, salads, hot food and desserts. But it was their Japanese selection that I fell in love with ('told you I am a light eater!). I enjoyed making my own Sukiyaki but I enjoyed eating it more! Hahaha! Then there were endless kinds of sushi and tempura to the point that I've disregarded that I am allergic to prawns. Nah, I have Allerta with me that night! But my one great love IS the Salmon Sashimi which they serve with a whole salmon in the background. I am proud to claim that I was the one who introduced Senyora Buigotti to eating raw food way back in time. The Salmon Sahimi was also her choice to which her fiancé reacted, "kakainin mo nang hilaw?" We kept coming back for it and at one point had to wait for the buffet to be refilled. Melts in your mouth!

There are also cooked food like dimsums, lechon, sisig, chicken, rice, etc. which the rest of the group also enjoyed. But if you really want to enjoy all the food, I suggest that you start light and gradually move on.

But wait, there's more! Adults and kids alike will definitely enjoy their dessert selection. They have an area for all sorts of cakes, pastries, jellies and what have you. You can also make your own halo-halo. But if you plan to put ice cream in your halo-halo, good luck! There's always a queue for ice cream. Or you can have "deconstructed" halo-halo like Anchor Girl who ate the ingredients individually. I chose to have the small pastries and rose wine jelly. Tip, don't eat desserts which are the same scent as your perfume! To cap my meal, i got a good old popsicle stick which brought back memories of younger days. We had a short chat on how these popsicle sticks where like way back when and how we used to halve the twin popsies so we could share them.

Of course we needed drinks! The Php600+++ was already inclusive of drink-all-you-can drinks. This is a plus for Yakimix. Most buffets would charge separately and soooo much for drinks. They charge lower for kids. But as most buffets, they have a no left over rule or else you'll get charged Php799! Right, Boslet?!

For one who claims not to enjoy buffets, how do I love thee, err, how come I love Yakimix? Well, let me count the ways.

- the interiors are fabulous and yet there's the friendly vibe that lets you "put your hair down" and just be yourself in the company of friends

- the wait staff are friendly and accommodating to think that they have loads of guests to tire them

- they have well maintained restrooms (remember, it's my favorite room)

- the lay out of their stations won't drown you

- surprisingly, despite the selections, no dizzying smell

- the price! the price! the price! It's just right for what you consume

It was indeed a night of Yummy Mix - mix of good food, good friends and good memories. Congratulations and best wishes to Sir and Senyora Buigotti and and the best of luck to Anchor Girl. And of course, super biggest thanks to our host and forever benefactor, Boss Of All Seasons!