Globetrotters: A welcome stopover

MANILA, Philippines - The husband-and-wife tandem of Bob and Violy Topacio, together with daughter Justine, are behind the new Globetrotters restaurant located along Roxas Blvd. near Buendia Ave. in Pasay City.

“The resto’s name Globetrotters, has something to do with the property owner, Mina Gabor, who used to sit as secretary of the Dept. of Tourism. This place will simply appeal to travelers and tourists alike. We built this venture for those who want to get value for their hard-earned money,” said Bob.

“Globetrotters is a good place to eat. So come inside and take a seat. Eat all you want, everything is nice. Eat some more, have more rice,” invited the couple’s 10-year-old home-schooled daughter Justine, who is also a talented young singer and pianist.

Whet your appetite with the resto’s Fantastic Mozzarella Cheese Bombs, which boasts of a melt-in-your-mouth goodness that comes in different variants: Cheese-filled, pesto-filled or marinara-filled. Then follow it through with either the Banzai Tuna Wasabi Salad, a tangy dish of crisp greens and Romaine lettuce smothered with non-sashimi tuna and diced apples laced with Wasabi dressing. Or, you may opt for the sweeter L’Amour Salad, which is made delectable by a honey-mustard dressing. The crunchy lettuce is given the right blend of cherry tomatoes, parmesan cheese and sliced eggs even without the dressing.

Meat lovers will dig the Super Wild Burger. The signature special is a combination of three char-grilled patties and garnished with crispy bacon strips, eggs and cheese, with a special condiment dip for a flavorful punch. Another sandwich must-try is the Spectacular Burger Carnival, a slightly sweet and hot burger blast with mango chutney and bleu cheese.

Rice toppings lovers will relish the Vicious Shrimp Tempura Platter, with its succulent prawns batter-fried to perfection served pile-high atop Japanese fried rice.

Six refreshing smoothies will delight the health-conscious. Options include the Super Fuel (watermelon, apple, mango and banana), Cleanser (pineapple, papaya, oatmeal and mango), Pain Remover (watermelon, apple, cucumber and ginger), Cancer Buster (pineapple, apple, cucumber and carrots), Go-Green Stabilizer (watermelon, cucumber, oatmeal and spinach) and the OM Indian Peach Lassi, a “pre-massage drink” that is a creamy blend of yogurt, peaches and pistachio with a dash of cinnamon.

Original art pieces by Bob and daughter Justine, along with the assistance of creative friends, adorn the dining salon as well as the Fusion Spa on the second floor. Survival Room, where the spa resides, is a sanctuary for the weary soul that offers pampering services from a quick wash, body-glow scrubs to face treatments.

For the adventurous, there’s the Centipede massage that has four therapists doing a range of treatments on your entire body.

The Globetrotters Restaurant and Fusion Spa are both nicely tucked in the beautifully-preserved dwelling of former Tourism Sec. Gabor. The edifice serves as F.B. Harrison’s base in Manila during his tour of duty in the country and which became the first embassy office of the United States in the Philippines.

For details, call 533-9024 or 0920-7508854.