Above, under & beyond the rainbow: SM MOA Viking's Adds New Southeast Treats this August

Eat like a king? Nah! When it comes to this restaurant, eating like a king is pale in comparison. You need to have the guts of a northern isle conqueror. You definitely eat like a viking here at Viking's MOA, and that's a fact!

Starting this August, Viking's MOA is now adding some new SE food selections to their offerings. From soups to dessert, you can now enjoy this added food treasure to the list of your food favorites coming from this restaurant.

Viking's is your top buffet restaurants right now here in the Philippines. It offers various cuisines, ranging from local dishes to international cuisines. To join their spread this August is a list of South East Asia dishes that will delight all food lovers, adventurers and even foreigners who are looking for this type of dishes.

Last July 29, some social-media practitioners were given the chance to try and enjoy the latest delicacies that are to be part of Viking's MOA food repertoire. Here is an image list of new food entries.

FOOD:

Laksa Shrimps, Vermicelli and Bean Sprouts

It is quite a challenge for a food blogger to taste food that you are allergic to and such is my situation with this dish. I am allergic to crustaceans - shrimps, crabs and lobsters. I may not be able to taste it but I do have other means to try it out.

The smell is wonderful. I get to smell the spice used, giving me the idea that it has a mild heat - enough to stimulate you to try other dishes. The bean sprouts still has the right crunch, which means you get to enjoy different textures as you consume this soup. The vermicelli is smooth and has the right softness, making it al dente. The shrimp is well cooked. Red-orange in color, soft and juicy. Blends well with the broth and other components of this dish. It is a perfect starter.

Indian Appetizers

Is basically pieces of pita bread and flat breads with various dips to select from. You have the classic cucumber-yogurt combination which is refreshing. The red dip which is sun dried tomatoes has light heat which is good - for me. The other one is I think is made out of eggplant- a classic dip.

Trio of Indian Samosa, Falafel in Pita and Tandoori Chicken Terrine with a Jicama, Mango and Coriander Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

The trio of Indian Samosa was a delight! Right crunch, flavored filling and with the spreads - tangy, fruity and creamy (the 3 streaks that you see on the plate) it is a delight indeed. The falafel in pita is good but a little more cream or sauce will make it better. Adding a little more cream will help break the starchiness of the pita. The flavors are very Indian, which makes curry a prime spice in this dish. The mango and coriander salad is my favorite in this plate! It is refreshing and a good palate cleanser. The sweet-tart flavor from the mangoes + the crunch of the coriander and that light lemon vinaigrette is a wonderful combination! You can have this all through out your stay in Viking's as you dine. It is definitely be a good transition dish; preparing your palate for the next flavor.

Lamb Shank Rendang / Hainanese Chicken Rice and Potato Bhajis with Cucumber, Pepper and Pomelo Relish

This plate is indeed a ballroom of flavors! The Hainanese Chicken Rice and Potato Bhajis is not your usual plate in terms of flavor and texture. The chicken is juicy and typical of hainanese but combine it with the rice and potato bhajis it turns into one interesting dish. That flavored potato and the rice with the chicken - divine! The lamb shank rendang is another matter. It is rich in flavor, the meat is done right - still see the red inside and it is tender and soft. Easy to cut and to chew on. It is to be served normally by the cutting station so that it is something that you can easily enjoy minus the bone. This is one meat that takes gentle handling that is prepared well. It is not over powered with the flavor placed. The way it was prepared made the meat absorb all the flavors but at the same time retain its natural juice making it deliciously soft and juicy. The cucumber, pepper pomelo relish is a good palate cleanser for all the grease from the lamb; my concern is on the quality of the pomelo. Mine had that bitter taste that kills the purpose of this salad. If it was sweeter, then the purpose of it being a palate cleanser would have been perfect.

Indonesian Mee Goreng

It has shrimp but I survived eating it. My secret, I simply eat the noodles and offered my shrimp to the next person (hehehe!). I love the flavor! The noodles are cooked right! This is your pancit - Indonesian style!
I could eat a bowl full of this dish! No kidding.

Sate Udang & Kampot Squid

The sate udang is well cooked - visually speaking (its shrimp - enough said). Based on feed backs, its juicy and flavored well. The kampot squid is a wonder. Its firm because of the flame but still soft and juicy. The stuffing is flavored right and not overpowering. The grill marks is a wonder to look at. My only concern with this dish is how they clean the squid for I got a piece of the main membrane while eating it. Not a biggie but something that they can look into. The 3 sauces/dips that goes with this offers different aspects of the squid when combined. It is up to you to find your favorite dip/sauce. What works for me is the red one and the black with sesame seeds. One dish, multiple taste - depending to your liking.

South East Asian Sweets Platter

(Please note that this is simply a sample platter. It is served individually or you can simply create your own dessert platter.)

The nutty dessert (the one in small white cups) is a wonder! The crunch and sweetness, not too sticky making it a delightful finisher or meal ender. The one in small glasses are your classic cream-sago (tapioca pearls) combination. Its light and sweet. Something for those who are not into the too sweet types but wishes to clean their palates. They are also offering the SE fruit version; something for the healthy group.

Ice Kachang

This is your halo-halo! Ice, cream, corn, gelatins and coco meat. A glass full of treats! So you better make sure that you have enough space in your tummy to fully enjoy this meal closer. It is naturally sweet that is why you don't need to ask for any sweetener. No need for any additional ingredients. The ice is shaved finely making it smooth. The gelatin is firm but still soft. The coco meat is sweet and soft at the same time. A perfect meal ender.

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The present spread of Viking's MOA is now enhanced with this new SE food offerings. Something to look forward to every weekend. Since they offer international cuisine, the new South East Asian spread is a perfect compliment and companion to what they already have.

Happy eating!

Photos:
(All photos used are personally taken by me during the food review event)