Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Chef Jay's Kitchen Christmas Giveaway: Win a Movie Date for Two at Eastwood Cinemas


Another food-filled year is about to end. I'd like to thank all of you, my readers, for supporting the blog all these years (drama!). It's been a little over 2 years since I decided to write my first blog post and it brings me so much pleasure that hundreds of readers continue visit the blog every day. Thank you so much for your precious time.

With the rate our community is growing, I'm very excited to share a lot more awesome content with all of you this coming 2017. Starting January 1, 2017, you can expect new articles to be published on the blog every Monday and Wednesday of the week at 7:00pm Philippine Time- which means you can expect at least 8 articles per month. I'm still going to publish new articles on other days of the week but only at irregular intervals. 

To cap off another year of sharing my food journey with everyone, we're giving away an Eastwood Cinema Movie Date for two to one lucky reader. 

For the full mechanics, please check below:

Monday, December 19, 2016

Spice Cafe: A Hotel Feast To Start Your Day


They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast can be as affordable as the silog meals that you can get almost anywhere in the Philippines, from popular silog spots like Rodic's diner to your favorite neighborhood carinderia, to very expensive breakfasts (at over Php 2,000) at Metro Manila's top hotels. I'd like to think Spice Cafe sits as somewhat of a middle option.

I'll get straight to the point, Breakfast buffet at Spice Cafe is not cheap. At Php 800 per head most people wouldn't even consider spending that much for breakfast. For those of you considering a hotel that gives you a breakfast feast every morning, then continue reading.

I guess what you'd like to know is if Spice Cafe is worth it. Well, read on to find out...

Monday, December 12, 2016

The Island Cove's Fishing Village Is the Perfect Spot for Your One-Stop Cavite Food Trip


One of the best things about traveling to different parts of the world is that you have the opportunity not only to take in majestic sights and sounds but to also taste some fantastic and unique dishes that every place has to offer. Think about it, nothing beats having steaming hot batchoy inside an Iloilo batchoyan, digging into a freshly-roasted lechon in Cebu, or sipping hot bulalo in the cold weather of Tagaytay. The list goes on and on...

Cavite is one province whose food hasn't gotten that much attention. The Island Cove's Fishing Village would like to change all that by introducing the best of Cavite cuisine with their new Taste Cavite Menu - a wide selection of dishes coming that showcase Cavite's indigenous ingredients, history, and tradition. It's a Cavite food tour that's only a few minutes from SM Mall of Asia all gathered in a single spot.

The dishes that are featured in the Taste Cavite Menu come from various Cavite towns and is carefully conceptualized and prepared by Chef Vill Purificacion and his team. The dishes is available at the Fishing Village every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting November 18 but the Fishing Village will be serving these delicious dishes every day beginning December 22.

Now let's look at the some of the dishes that Cavite has to offer...

Thursday, December 8, 2016

The Northern Taste Coffee Company: Affordable, Freshly-Roasted Philippine Coffee


Freshness is one of the most important characteristics to watch out for when shopping for your next bag of coffee beans. I can't stress just how important freshly-roasted, whole coffee beans are especially because coffee tends to lose much of its flavor after a month from roasting and a few seconds after grinding. As coffee lovers around the Philippines get better coffee education, a number of roasters have been moving online in an effort to get freshly-roasted coffee in homes around the country. The Northern Taste Coffee Company, by far, sells the most affordable coffee beans of the bunch!

All the coffee that the company sells comes from North Luzon in Cordillera Administrative Region. So that's coffee from Benguet, Sagada, and Kalinga. All the single origin coffee beans are hand-picked to ensure the quality of each coffee bag delivered.

You can check out their website for their selection of coffee beans, but if you'd like to know my two cents then continue reading on...

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar: Amazingly Good Steaks That's Nothing Short of Shangri-La


When one hears of Shangri-La, images of luxury, sophistication, and grandeur often come to mind. Dishes served by Shangri-La restaurants are no different. Indeed, the finest dining experiences in the country will likely be in the handful of Shangri-La hotels across the country given the hotel's knack for excellence.

This was one reason why I had high expectations of Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar as soon as I found out that they had already opened their doors inside the beautiful Shangri-La at the Fort. I expected nothing less than the Shangri-La experience that the hotel is known for. True enough, Raging Bull exceeded my every expectation by providing spectacular service and delicious food.

Here's what you can expect when dining at the Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar...

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Krispy Kreme Philippines Turns 10! They're Offering a Special Box of Doughnuts for Only Php 299

Krispy Kreme Philippines Turns 10! They're Offering a Special Box of Doughnuts for Only Php 299

How time flies, Krispy Kreme Philippines already turns 10 this November 30, 2016. In a spirit of celebration, they're offering a limited edition pre-assorted dozen for just Php 299. This pre-assorted dozen would cost Php 510 if you bought these doughnuts piece per piece. Seeing that a dozen Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnuts cost Php 330, I still consider this a steal!

The promotion runs from November 25, 2016 to December 11, 2016 and is available in almost all Krispy Kreme stores nationwide (with the exception of NAIA and MOA Arena stores).

Monday, November 21, 2016

Thank God Yellow Cab's Two Pizza Friday Promo is Back This November 2016

Yellow Cab Pizza Co Two Pizza Friday For Php 650 this 2016

I'm very excited to let all of you know that Yellow Cab Philippines is bringing back their Two Pizza Friday Promotion this month. You can now get two 10" Signature Yellow Cab Pizzas for just Php 560 at any Yellow Cab store. The promo is valid for dine-in, take-out, and delivery every Friday!

They changed up the signature pizzas that you can order from the promo from last time (too bad they took out Roasted Garlic and Shrimp!) by limiting the signature pizzas that you can choose from.

I know it's not as upscale as Peperoni Pizzeria's specials this November, but it's a nice cheap way to get your hands on some delicious Yellow Cab pizza. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Jollibee Brings You a Sweet Holiday Treat With The New Rocky Road Overload Sundae

Jollibee Brings You a Sweet Holiday Treat With The New Rocky Road Overload Sundae

Jollibee is one of the country's top fast-food chains and the brand's rise to the top is because of a deep understanding of the Filipino palate. They understand what Filipinos crave for and offer it in a way that's not to heavy on the pocket. I think every Filipino kid, for some time, begged their parents for a Jollibee chicken joy meal all the time!

This time around, Jollibee is introducing a delicious new twist to it's classic Jollibee Sundae. Think vanilla ice cream that's topped with sweet marshmallows, crushed peanuts and drizzled with loads of chocolate fudge. The Rocky Road Overload Sundae is Jollibee's latest dessert that's perfect for sweet tooths out there.

Monday, November 14, 2016

The Starbucks 2017 Planner: Coffee Stains and Blue Siren Inspires Best Starbucks Planner Yet

Starbucks Philippines 2017 Christmas Traditions Planner - Coffee Stains and Blue Siren

Last year, I said Starbucks probably has the most sought after planner in the Philippines with thousands of die-hard fans trying to hoard enough stickers just to get their hands on it after year. This holiday season, Starbucks Philippines took it up a notch to craft the most beautiful Starbucks planner yet! I make it a point to grab a planner every year and I can't wait to own one with the elegantly crafted Coffee Stains design. Of course, the ladies would probably prefer the Blue siren instead.

It's the same drill as last year, collect 18 stickers (9 Christmas Beverages and 9 Regular Beverages) from November 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017 and once completed you can redeem a Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2017 planner with a combination of up to 2 promo cards with the complete set of stickers. You can also puchase food and other retail items worth Php7000 to get your hands on one right away.

This year, each design comes in two sizes, a regular sized planner and a slightly smaller one. Personally, I prefer the regular-sized planner because I can write more on it (since my handwriting is huge! haha!) but I do get the utility of the smaller one especially if you love bringing a planner around. The 2017 Starbucks planner also comes with an erasable pen, a bookmark, coffee stickers, discount coupons, and a beautiful pouch. 


Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's 2017 Giving Journal: It's Time to Begin Your Giving Journey

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's 2017 Giving Journal: It's Time to Begin Your Giving Journey

It's about time to start spending a little extra on coffee. This year, you can begin collecting The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's 2017 Giving Journal from October 22, 2016 until January 8, 2017. Another year, another blank slate that you can once again look forward to as the year draws to an end but I hope you filled up last year's giving journal with beautiful memories that you'll treasure from here on. 

This year's planner season features the Giving Journal in four simple, yet elegant designs. Browsing through the pages, I was found myself craving for a journal of my own right away because this is probably the most beautiful CBTL planner yet. It's also the cheapest way to getting yourself a planner for next year because you only need 12 stampsThis year, they also have four colors to choose from, with a color for him (charcoal) and three colors for her (pink, blue, and violet). 

The Giving Journal also features 12 coupons that you can use to satisfy your coffee obsession in 2017, with notable ones being:
- Buy 1 Take 1 on any Ice Blended Beverage (January)
- Free 2 Add ons for Any Beverage (February)
- Buy any Pasta, get free brewed coffee or tea (July)
- Buy a slice of cake and get any hot tea for free (September)
- Buy any Beverage and get an extra stamp for the 2018 Giving Journal. (December)

They retained the same mechanics from last year so check out my previous article to also see the summarized mechanics and some of my personal tips
Remember, only Regular and Large drinks count for a stamp (I ordered a small because forgot...) and only 1 stamp card is allowed for redemption, you can't combine! For an enjoyable CBTL experience, check out my menu guide for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Pepperoni Pizzeria: Have a Taste of Their Delicious November Treats at the Newly Opened UP Town Center Store


It hasn't been a year since Peperoni Pizzeria opened their maiden Philippine store, bringing along their huge 21" thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas for our dining pleasure, and yet the Singapore-based pizza franchise is quickly opening up new stores all across Metro Manila. They recently opened a new store at the UP Town Center along Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City so that more pizza lovers can get their hands on the delicious, high-quality, thin-crust pizza that Peperoni Pizzeria is known for.

I previously wrote about how delicious Peperoni Pizzeria's pizzas are because of how much care they put in preparing their signature homemade dough and only topping it off with the best quality ingredients - with each pizza carefully balanced to let the flavors shine through. This time, we had a taste of their limited edition dishes that will only be available this November. Trust me, THESE ARE SO YUM! Highly recommended!

Here's a sneak peak of these delicious new dishes...

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Vittorio's Steakhouse: A Tomas Morato Gem That Serves Delicious, Affordable Steak


It's very tough to find a restaurant that has beautifully cooked, quality steak that isn't too heavy on the pocket. On one hand, there are a few budget steak options where you can spend less than 500 pesos for a nice meal, but if you're looking for quality more often than not it's highway robbery as you part from a few thousands of pesos in some of Manila's top steakhouses. Good thing restaurants like Vittorio's Steakhouse is around to serve some quality steak that's pretty affordable.

Vittorio's Steakhouse is located at Scout Borromeo Street in Tomas Morato and is quite close to ABS-CBN. From the outside, the place looks more like a house than a restaurant. Little do people know that amazing food can be found as you walk through those doors. Don't get me wrong, the steaks are not cheap but for the quality that you're getting it's definitely worth every peso.

Here's what you can expect from Vittorio's Steakhouse...

Monday, October 10, 2016

Blackbird: An Intimate Sunday Brunch at the Beautiful Nielson Tower


The Nielson Tower, unknown to many Filipinos who pass by this beautiful white-walled masterpiece, was once a busy air traffic control tower helping planes land safely in the country's very first airport. Today, the heritage building houses one of Metro Manila's best restaurants - Blackbird by renowned Scottish chef and restaurateur Colin Mackay.

When Blackbird first opened its doors in 2014, it was extremely difficult to get a table. You would have to book a table weeks in advance just to get a taste of what all the hype was about. Indeed Blackbird quickly became a huge success with many of its first customers leaving well fed and satisfied, eager to come back and try many everything else Blackbird has to offer.

It's definitely easier to get a table now (reservations are still highly recommended) and the food, I hear, is just as good as when it first opened. Is it worth it? Well, here's what you can expect when dining at Blackbird.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

7 Flavors Buffet: A Nice, Affordable Feast By Celebrity Chef Boy Logro


If you were ever curious as to what Celebrity Chef Boy Logro's cooking tastes like after watching him cook so many times in his GMA 7 show, Idol sa Kusina, then you only have to drop by 7 Flavors Buffet and Restaurant (Addition Hills, San Juan City) to feast on a his kitchen creations. 7 Flavors features a restaurant and cafe in the first floor where you can order a variety of dishes a la carte. If you're looking for a value-for-money buffet, you can head upstairs and a variety of carefully crafted dishes, by Chef Boy Logro and his team, will be waiting for as low as Php 400 during weekdays.

It may not have the same variety of dishes or exuberance when compared with the more popular Vikings or Buffet 101, but as a value-for-money option I would say it's pretty good.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Wingstop Wing It Tuesdays: Get 20 Batter-Fried Wings for Only Php 499


Wingstop Philippines recently released a promo that's just too good to be true! For only Php 499, you can feast on the best chicken wings in America - 20 Batter-fried wings equally divided across 4 of your favorite Wingstop flavors. That's around 40% off with 300 pesos saved!

The promo is only for the Batter-fried wings and runs from September 20, 2016 until November 29 2016 every Tuesday. It''s valid for both dine-in and take-out, so you can also take these delicious wings home!

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Karabella Ice Cream: All Local, All Natural Ice Cream Made From Carabao Milk


The Philippines is rich with beautiful local ingredients and produce, however it's unfortunate that we don't take full advantage of these wonderful ingredients so that it reaches its full potential. Carabao milk, for instance, is said to be an underrated superdrink that a lot of Filipinos don't get enough of despite being a creamier, healthier alternative to fresh cow's milk (most of which we ship from overseas). Karabella, a Filipino social enterprise, wants to put fresh carabao's milk back in the spotlight by creating delicious dairy products that's made with this amazing ingredient.

Karabella began by selling fresh, flavored carabao's milk but soon after started to make ice cream made from 100% natural fresh carabao's milk as well. The only other company I know that makes ice cream from carabao's milk is ArceDairy, but I like how Karabella starts putting a local, artisan twist to this well-loved dessert!

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Lugang Cafe: Feast on Mouthwatering Contemporary Taiwanese Cuisine


Lugang Cafe is the Philippine franchise of Beijing-based Bellagio Cafe, a very popular Taiwanese restaurant in Beijing and Shanghai. True enough, the restaurant has been awarded for its delicious, world-class contemporary Taiwanese dishes and stylish interiors by none other than the prestigious Philippine Tatler's 100 Best Restaurant awards from 2011 to 2014. All the handiwork of their team of world-class Chinese chefs that are passionate to serve the very best dishes that Taiwan has to offer. 

We were able to enjoy a number of their excellent dishes through their Feast All You Can Promotion, which ends this July 30, 2016, where you can enjoy unlimited dimsum and more for only Php 588+! Although they do seem to regularly offer this promo, it's not a certainty so I do recommend you take the opportunity now.

Here's more on our Lugang Cafe experience...

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Regine Velasquez Launches Her Very Own Cookbook, Bongga sa Kusina: Recipes From Sarap Diva


Regine Velasquez may be known for her amazing voice, but little do people know that she's also passionate about entertaining her family and friends in the kitchen. This passion led Regine to start hosting Sarap Diva in 2012, where she shares with viewers personal recipes and heirloom concoctions by Regine, Chef Jonah, and a number of her celebrity guests. - all while having entertaining exchanges between Regine and her guests. 

The show inspired Regine to release her very own cookbook Bongga Sa Kusina: Recipes from Sarap Diva. The book features 48 delicious and practical recipes ranging from soups, seafood, poultry, meat, vegetables, pasta, and desserts that have been featured in Sarap Diva.

"Regine has always said in interviews that the reason she wanted to learn how to cook was to impress me," says her loving husbard Ogie Alcasid. "She has always been blessed with an amazing palate, but I didn't realize it would result in her venturing into culinary arts."

I got my hands on a copy of the book and the pages are just beautiful. I can't wait to start cooking!

Krispy Kreme's Celebrating its 79th Birthday With These Yummy Treats For You

Krispy Kreme's Celebrating its 79th Birthday With These Yummy Treats For You

It's Krispy Kreme's Birthday month once more! Last year, they offered half-dozen doughnuts for only Php 78 so a lot of people were excited about what's in store when they finally turn 79 this year. This year, Krispy Kreme has a number of promotions to celebrate their birthday month. They also rolled out some delicious birthday doughnuts to sweeten up the celebration!

Here's are the treats that you can enjoy as Krispy Kreme turns 79...

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Wabi-Sabi Noodle House: Affordable Vegetarian Dishes That Will Leave You Wanting More


Wabi-Sabi Noodle House first opened their doors inside The Collective in 2010 to begin serving delicious vegetarian dishes that's a bit easy on the pocket. Since then, they've amassed sort of a cult following of foodies who love their unique twist to vegetarian food, that they even had to open a new store in Quezon City to serve their fans from around the area. In fact, I found out about Wabi-Sabi from a spot.ph feature article when their new store opened. Since then, I found myself a regular customer of their Makati store, always enjoying that delicious bowl of Chahan or a plate of their delicious Okonomigyoza. But more on those later.

One look at the menu shows that the dishes are mainly Asian-inspired, with a strong Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai influence. Most of their customers, like myself, probably aren't vegetarian. They just serve food that's just that good. Who said vegetarian food doesn't have to taste amazing?

Here's what you can expect from Wabi-Sabi Noodle House...

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Share a Mocha Moment with Starbucks Philippines This July 18-20: Buy 1 Get 1 Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha Promo!

Share a Mocha Moment with Starbucks Philippines This July 18-20: Buy 1 Take 1 Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha Promo!

This coming July 18 to 20, enjoy Starbucks' new Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha and get another one for free! It's available for both hot and iced variants for the entire day, you don't have to come to the store at any specific time.

Hoegaarden Rosée: A Sophisticated, Fruity Beer the Ladies Will Enjoy


Hoegaarden is undoubtedly one of the world's favorite beers - 500 years of hard work crafting Belgian-style wheat beer does just that. This classic light yellow, murky beer is known for the subtle citrus and coriander notes that makes it quite the refreshing drink. In fact, we reviewed it a while back and it came out as one of the top beers that casual drinkers are bound to enjoy. 

Now, Hoegaarden Rosée arrives in Manila to spice up the city's local bar scene. We were lucky enough to be part of their launch at Draft Gastropub to welcome the drink and have as much of it as we can. It's a welcome addition as it gives the ladies a bit more variety to choose from when it comes to beer. 

Here are our thoughts on the Hoegaarden Rosée...

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Burgers & Brewskies: Awesome Burgers and Imported Brews


Burgers & Brewskies is one Metro Manila restaurant that brings to the forefront two of the best things you can devour- burgers and beer. They have a wide variety of specialty burgers to choose from that you can pair up with their selection of some of the best beers imported from around the world. If you want to know more about Burgers & Brewskies, I strongly recommend you check out this vlog by The Pickiest Eater to get a glimpse of the inspiration behind it.


I have eaten at Burgers & Brewskies a few times, for lunch or inuman with friends, and I always leave feeling happy and stuffed. Here's what you can expect from Burgers & Brewskies...

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Lao Beijing: Delicious, Affordable Dimsum at the Heart of Makati


Lao Beijing, quite frankly, won't win awards for the best Chinese restaurant in Metro Manila. I wouldn't even rank it in the same league as most of Binondo's time-tested favorites. Lao Beijing, however, is conveniently located in Makati City and is very accessible for delicious, affordable dimsum - most especially their tasty Xiao Long Bao. 

It's not often that I blog about a restaurant that scores 3.0 or lower on my rating system, but Makati should know that they can get affordable dumplings just a ride away. Here's what you should order to maximize your Lao Beijing experience...

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Watering Hole: All Day Breakfast and Seriously Good Chicken


I remember trying out the dishes at Watering Hole during their soft opening, and I have been back a number of times ever since. They serve all-day Filipino breakfast staples but it's their seriously good fried chicken that keeps me coming back - more on that later. The place is a small cozy spot in Bonifacio Global City that's a perfectly good brunch spot. 

Here's what you should expect from Watering Hole...

Monday, June 27, 2016

Chimara: Eat Right And Feel Great With Chimara's New Dishes


Most of you probably know Chimara from their flagship branch in Greenbelt 3, a place where you can grab a healthy snack just before you go heading over to watch the next blockbuster film. Well, this year Chimara has reinvented itself as a full blown 'feel good kitchen' beginning with their new store at the UP Town Center in Diliman, Quezon City. They officially opened their last June 17 and they're ready to serve you a wide selection of feel good food that you can easily customize just the way you like it.

To kick things off, they're even offering 20% off on all their dishes until July 31, 2016!

Here's what you can expect from the whole new Chimara....

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Feast All You Can on Dimsum at Lugang Cafe


UPDATE: Lugang Cafe's Feast All You Can 2017 Is Here: Enjoy Unlimited Dimsum And More for Only Php 647!

Lugang Cafe brought back their feast-all-you-can promo last May and it's still running until July 30, 2016. The rules are simple, you get to choose one main dish from a number of their house specialties and enjoy unlimited dimsum, appetizer, soup, and rice from a special Lugang Cafe Menu for only Php 588++. That's a damn good bargain considering it would regularly cost Php 500 per head to dine here. 

Be warned though, strictly no leftovers are allowed so make sure you come with an empty stomach!

For a review of Lugang Cafe, check out this blog post of our Feast All You Can experience

Refinery: Serving Brunch and Specialty Coffee You're Sure to Love


Refinery is one restaurant and cafe that my friends have been raving about, so I made it a point to drop by and try the place out myself. It's been on my radar for a while because I am always on the lookout for great specialty coffee spots around Metro Manila. The very moment I walked in, the place had a stark similarity with Single Origin in Bonifacio Global City. I wonder what happened there. 

Well, here's more on my Refinery experience...

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Circles Event Cafe: A Luxurious Feast at Makati Shangri-La


Circles Event Cafe is known for their amazing selection of Eastern and Western cuisine that is just gastronomic heaven for anybody who loves quality food. The selection of dishes to choose from are just amazing and as much as you'd wanna have a taste of everything you probably won't have enough stomach room to try everything with just one visit. All the dishes are prepared by their team of international chefs, so you're sure to get your money's worth.

I've included indicative prices for their buffet below, but to be safe double check by calling them at (02) 814 2580.

Fri-Sat | Dinner 6 PM to 10 PM | Php 2350
Sun | Lunch 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM |  Php 2150
Mon - Thu, Sun | Dinner 6 PM to 10 PM | Php 2100
Mon - Sat | Lunch 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM | Php 1800

*Drinks not included in the buffet price

Every foodie I've ever talked to loved their Circles Even Cafe experience, here's why (in mostly photos!):

Monday, June 13, 2016

Fat Daddy's Smokehouse: Smoked Barbecue Goodness in BGC


Fat Daddy's Smokehouse's popularity began as soon as they opened their doors in Marikina last year offering affordable smoked goodness that was obviously worth more (because they tasted amazing) than what the restaurant charged. You can get a half rack of barbecued ribs for just... Php 280. Now that's what I call a good deal!

People became excited once they heard that Fat Daddy's Smokehouse was opening a store in BGC, but when they finally did open in Burgos Circle, Bonifacio Global City earlier this year a lot of people were disappointed to know they couldn't enjoy the same affordable prices they can get in Marikina. In fact, they doubled the prices of almost all dishes! Don't get me wrong they still serve really good meat that's smoked for hours, but Fat Daddy's is not  the value-for-money option that people were expecting.

Here are my thoughts on Fat Daddy's Smokehouse in BGC...

Sunday, June 12, 2016

House of Wagyu: Premium Steaks That Melt in Your Mouth


If you're looking for steak that can stand on its own, you can't go wrong with House of Wagyu. Wagyu is premium beef known for its intense marbling that, when cooked, creates that melt-in-your-mouth feeling that's normally used to describe with chocolates.  If you're wondering what A5, grade 12 wagyu tastes like, then head over to House of Wagyu and choose from a variety of cuts. There's a good chance that what you order will be some of the best steak you'll ever have in your life.

The steaks are so good that you only need to season it with a bit of salt and pepper. The prices are a bit steep, but that's what you need to pay for a quality steak. For more information on wagyu and the grading system used, check out this article.

We tried the House of Wagyu experience for ourselves and here's what you can expect.

Ice Cream 101: Learn to Make Delicious Ice Cream at Home

Ice Cream 101: Learn to Make Delicious Ice Cream at Home

Ice cream is one of the best inventions in the world. It's right up there with the wheel or electricity and it's hard to argue otherwise. I mean, who doesn't love a cold, creamy scoop of ice cream?

The problem is that most of the ice cream we buy from the supermarket has overrun (the amount of air in ice cream to increase its volume) of around 100%, which is a lot when compared with the 25% overrun that we typically get from high-end brands that sometimes can cost an arm and a leg. But that shouldn't stop you from enjoying great ice cream at home! 

It's a good thing chef and blogger Nicole Gaffney put up a class to teach us how to make ice cream at home in Skillshare. This way, we can make great, affordable ice cream at home.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Shangri-La's High Street Lounge: Elegance, Sophistication, and Delectable Bites

Photo from Dining at Shangri-La at the Fort Facebook page
For months, excitement has been building as BGC residents and employees were basking at the spectacle that is Shangri-La at the Fort finally taking form. Bonifacio Global City is already home to some of the most esteemed restaurants in Metro Manila and, with the completion of Shangri-La at the Fort, foodies are in for a treat with more exquisite dining options to choose from as the hotel will be adding over 15 new restaurants and bars, seven of which are run by the hotel, to Bonifacio Global City's food scene.

The first restaurants to open are High Street Cafe, a modern food hall that offers a colorful diversity of cuisines, and High Street Lounge, a place where guests can dine in a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere and have intimate conversations. Restaurants opening soon include: 1) Canton Road, a Chinese restaurant serving modern Cantonese cuisine, 2) Raging Bull, a steakhouse emphasizing premium quality meat, 3) Ranging Bull Burgers, a quick, premium burger joint, and 4) Samba, offering vibrant flavors from Spain, South America, and the Philippines.

I was lucky enough to try the small plates and cocktails offered at High Street Lounge, a place where guests can relax and enjoy small plates, high tea, amazing coffee, and exquisite cocktails. Here's what you can expect...

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Peperoni Pizzeria: The Home of 21" Thin-Crust, Wood-Fired Pizzas


Peperoni Pizzeria is a Singaporean pizza franchise known for their thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas. All the pizzas that come out of their oven are prepared with their signature homemade dough, which took years to perfect, and is one of the reasons why Peperoni Pizzeria became a local pizza darling in Singapore. 

The restaurant currently offers 16 pizza flavors that come in 3 sizes, from a 9" pizza to their signature 21" pizzas, and 14 pasta flavors. A number of pizzas in their menu are classic Italian flavors that Peperoni Pizzeria that's perfectly done.

Here's what you can expect from Peperoni Pizzeria...

I Am Kim: Satisfy Your Bibimbap Cravings With Some Pretty Creative Bibimbap Bowls


I Am Kim is a Korean restaurant in Estancia Mall that focuses one of Korea's signature dishes - the bibimbap. For those not privy to Korean cuisine (which is difficult in Korea-crazy Philippines), the bibimbap is really just a flavored rice bowl topped with a variety of meat and vegetables. It's well-loved because of the beautiful assortment of colors and loads of flavor all in one bowl. 

A number of fellow food bloggers have been raving about the creativity and passion that Chef Him Uy de Baron put into this restaurant, so I was excited to finally being able to try it out! 

Here's more on our I am Kim experience...

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Maximus Athlete's Shop Cafe: Metro Manila's First Cycling Cafe


Maximus Athlete's Shop Cafe is a specialty cafe and a specialty retail shop for cycling, swimming, and running all rolled into one. They just recently opened on February 2016 along Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City in hopes of breaking away from traditional sports retail stores and typical neighborhood cafes. Located inside the Sparta Complex, the Maximus Athlete's Shop Cafe hopes to be a hub where athletes and fitness buffs can enjoy outstanding great, good food, and top-quality coffee. 

Putting up a specialty cafe wasn't initially part of the plan, but after going on a coffee crawl across Los Angeles, shop owner and cycling coach Andy Leuterio said that if he were to serve coffee then they might as well serve only the best - similar to the rest of the cycling, swimming, and equipment that he sells at the specialty retail shop. With that, they took up coffee classes at EDSA Beverage Design Group so that they can start serving their patrons specialty coffee.

If you're looking for a list of the brands they offer, check out their Facebook page. Here's a bit more about what makes Maximus Athlete's Shop Cafe stand out. 

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Revel in a Night of Booze, Grub, and Beats at Valero Eat Street 2 on March 11, 2016


Still looking for the perfect spot to enjoy good booze, grub, and beats with the barkada this Friday? Head on over to Valero Eat Street at the Signa Designer Residences, Makati City this coming March 11, 2016 from 11AM to 10PM for a day of good quality booze and equally delicious food! 

Loads of fun activities are in store for you including Cocktail Mixing with Erwan Heussaff, Beer Pong Competition by Takao, Flip Cup Tourney by Zomato, and raffle prizes. Live music from Aeon Mapa, Shirebound and Busking, DJ Pasta Groove, and Keiko Necessario will also be playing throughout the evening. 

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Serye Restaurant & Cafe: Filipino Cuisine as It Should Be


Serye Restaurant & Cafe is a Filipino restaurant that serves fantastic Filipino food from age-old recipes dating back 1930s developed by Aristocrat's Engracia Cruz Reyes. The name Serye is actually a play on the letters of REYES as the restaurant hopes to carry the family heritage of making diners happy by serving only the best Filipino dishes. 

They don't take short-cuts, preparing each dish from scratch with only the best ingredients. Recently, they even won the title for Manila's Best Kare-Kare by Food Wars Asia, a title I believe was well-deserved (more on the Kare-Kare later).  

Serye serves more than just Kare-Kare so read on to know more about our Serye experience...

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2016: Gaggan Claims the Top Spot, Gallery Vask Named Philippine's Best Restaurant at No. 39th


Gaggan claims the top spot once more in the 2016 edition of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. The Bangkok-based Indian restaurant ranked first place for the second consecutive year, edging out world-renowned restaurants like Narisawa (No. 2) from Japan, Andre (No. 3) from Singapore, and Amber (No.4) from Hong Kong.

Gallery Vask (No. 39), the innovative Spanish restaurant in Bonifacio Global City, was named as the best restaurant in the Philippines. For a full review of Vask, check out this blog post. Tagaytay-darling Antonio's, which ranked No. 48th in the 2015 edition, sadly did not make the cut to be included in Asia's top 50 restaurants this year.

The 2016 edition also named Chef Margarita Fores of Cibo, Grace Park, and Lusso as Asia's Best Female Chef for 2016. Overall, this was a great year for the Philippine food industry and I'm hoping that more Philippine restaurants will make the list in the years to come!

Click here for a full list of Asia's top 50 restaurants in 2016.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Krispy Kreme Philippines Launches Emoji Magic with a Fun-Filled Emoji Park


In today's digital age, the most popular form of communication is either through text or online messages. We often communicate with the people dear with us using our phones, sending messages that has loads of 'smileys' so that the person we are messaging to can gauge our mood. I remember, growing up, that if you send a text message without a smiley the other person will start to wonder if you're mad. Funny, isn't it?

We live in a world where Emojis are an important part of every day and they are an important way to show others how we feel. It's time to take this a notch further, by sending the people we love sweet treats full of cute Emojis with the new Krispy Kreme Emoji doughnuts! These make-your-own emoji doughnuts will be made available all year round. 

I was lucky enough to be a part of Krispy Kreme's Emoji Magic Launch at the Emoji Park in Bonifacio Global City, thanks to my good friend Phylicia. Check out all the fun we had below...

Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant: The Best Fried Chicken and Mouthwatering Chinese Dishes


Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant is known to serve the best fried chicken you'll ever find in Metro Manila, even better than the likes of global brands such as KFC, McDonald's, and Jollibee and many more. While it's true that Sincerity's fried chicken is the most popular item on their menu, it's not the only dish they're good at making. Sincerity actually has a number of other noteworthy Chinese dishes that any foodie will enjoy. The restaurant has been around since 1956, so they've had decades of experience to come up with the perfect menu to cater to their loyal customers.

We went to Sincerity to have a taste of their popular fried chicken and we also tried a number of items on their menu that were just as good. While we only sampled the bestsellers in other Binondo restaurants in our Binondo food crawl, Sincerity's food is just so good that we decided to have a full meal here. 

Read on to know about the other delicious Chinese dishes that Sincerity has to offer...

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Now You Can Have Awesome Foursome with Project Pie!


First they brought us their Eat's a Date promo just in time for Valentines, but now Project Pie Philippines has released a new promotion that the entire squad can enjoy with their Awesome Foursome. The promotion is available in all Project Pie Philippines branches starting February 19, 2016.

Project Pie is popular for their make-your-own pizza concept and this promotion is a great opportunity to create your own squad pizza and to try Project Pie's new appetizers. For my full Project Pie review, check here.

Read on below for the full promotion details...