One of the Classics: Tropical Hut

I have several fond memories with Tropical Hut. I used to frequent a few branches back when I was young. My grandmother would often bring me there after school for an afternoon snack. We'd share a clubhouse or chicken sandwich, and she'd let me play for a few minutes in its play area. But ever since she stopped picking me up from school, our Tropical Hut visits stopped too. And it took more than two decades for me to rekindle my love with this nostalgic fast food brand.

Long time no see Tropical Hut.

I had this crazy craving for macaroni salad last week. I couldn't stop yearning for it. I used to order from another fast food joint. But the brand recently pulled it out of the menu. And thanks to the Best of the Best Manila, I was reminded that Tropical Hut offers it too.

ECQ Favorite: Martin Markus' Frozen Apple Crumble and Classic Burnt Cheesecake

A meal is never complete without desserts. I'd always grab some sweets after a meal to end each one in a good note. And when Gina Young of Gold Leaf Tea told me that she revived her dessert business, Martin Markus, I was excited to try it out! After all, how can one resist cheesecake and apple crumble?

Hello, Martin Markus.

Martin Markus opened once again a few weeks ago. It has been steadily gaining patrons with its limited yet mouthwatering selection of desserts. 

Love at First Bite: Kitchen Corner by Zula Hostel

There's no denying that food delivery is now part of the new normal. As more and more restaurants now offer in-house or through food app deliveries, ordering food for lunch or dinner gets a bit harder each day. I'm not complaining though as this allows me to try new restaurants with just a few clicks and without getting stuck in traffic. And I'm so happy to discover a new favorite-- Kitchen Corner by Zula Hostel.

Hello, Kitchen Corner by Zula Hostel.

Kitchen Corner is a new player in the very busy street of Makati Avenue. It opened primarily to service Zula Hostel's guests. But the ECQ made it shift its attention to cater to a wider market. And I am glad that they did as I got to try its superb dishes!

ECQ Favorite: Soy Bueno

I love taho. It never fails to make me smile and do quick cardio in the morning whenever I hear "tahooooo". But the lockdown caused by COVID-19 made it hard for me to get hold of my favorite morning snack. Sure, there are a bunch of online shops selling taho but most offer chilled taho which I dislike. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Soy Bueno. 

Hello, Soy Bueno. 

Soy Bueno seems to be a relatively new brand based on its social media activities. But newbie or not, this brand sure knows how to make its customers happy in the morning!

Kitchen Hacks 101: Kreamy Island Pasta Sauce

Nothing beats homemade dishes. But there are times when our busy schedules keep us from having a scrumptious meal at home. I'd often go with either a sandwich or canned food when I'm in a rush. Thankfully, I discovered a new convenient way to have a great dish. Anyone up for creamy crab pasta?

Hello, Kreamy Island.

Kreamy Island is the brainchild of Brigitte Co. Launched just this January, this online shop carries two products-- Creamy Seafood Pasta Sauce and Kani Spread. 

My First Lash Extensions with Ayumi

I've always wanted to have long eyelashes. But my lack of patience to put on falsies or  learn how to properly apply mascara left me with sparse eyelashes for decades! Though I had those moments of being made up with long lashes to boot, I never really considered having lash extensions because of my fear of having my already few lashes fall off. And it took a lot of research for me to finally give in. And the best one that came out was Ayumi. 

Hello, Ayumi.

Ayumi is one of the pioneers in the lash extensions industry in Manila. It has been around for over 5 years and have been known as a reliable fairy godmother in making one extra glam. 

Singapore's One Michelin Star Putien Now in Manila

Manila's food scene is on fire with the influx of local and foreign brands opening left and right. And with Singapore's One-Michelin Star Putien entering the market, we could definitely say that Christmas came in early this year.

Hello, Putien.

Putien started as a humble coffee shop in Singapore back in 2000. Named after Putian, a suburb of Fujian, China, it was Putien's founder, Mr. Fong Chi Chung's way to pay tribute to his hometown. By serving food made with fresh ingredients and packed with flavors, Putien eventually grew into a full scale restaurant and earned its One-Star Michelin in 2016. Now with several branches worldwide, Putien found a new home in Manila, its 67th worldwide.

Tipsy Tales: Where Filipino Folklore meets Alice in Wonderland

I'm a sucker for interactive experiences. I remember being so hooked to mystery games that I'd go almost every week! And when I found out that there's a new place in town that offers similar thrill, I had to know more about it. 

Hello, Tipsy Tales. 

Tipsy Tales is an innovative entertainment house that promises its guests an experience to remember. And it delivers way beyond what one could expect. 

Its fairy tale adventures last for 75 minutes and you don't just get to watch it but actually live in it and decide on how it ends. So be ready to be transported to a whole different world as soon as you step inside Lambana-- a Filipino folklore beautifully crafted by Tipsy Tales.

Restaurant Love: Café Adriatico

Malate is known for its bustling night life. And with the craziness ending till wee hours in the morning, I'd imagine its breakfast scene to be close to a ghost town. But I was wrong when I dropped by the iconic Café Adriatico. 

Hello, Café Adriatico. 

Café Adriatico is undoubtedly one of the gems of Manila. Established in 1979, this small cafe was the start of the successful LJC Group of Restaurants. 

Promo Alert: Seascape Village's 1 Peso Flash Sale

Seascape Village is probably the fanciest paluto compound in the country. With its massive space housing some of the best restaurants in town, it's not surprising to know someone who'd brave the traffic just to get here. And this seaside foodie community has something up its sleeves to motivate you to join them make the holiday season merrier... with its 1 Peso Flash Sale!

Hello, Seascape Village. 

Seascape Village gets a head start with this year's holiday season with its 1 Peso Flash Sale. And getting this awesome deal is as easy as 1-2... actually, it stops at 2. 

China in Manila: Golden Fortune

Binondo is a haven for those who want to grab a bite of authentic Chinese dishes. With a bunch of old time favorites still busy as ever in the bustling Chinatown, many opened branches just a few miles away from where it all started. Such was the case for Golden Fortune which opened back in the 70's. And throughout the years, this place has not lost its touch as it continues to delight every guest's taste buds with its delectable dishes. 

Hello, Golden Fortune. 

Golden Fortune has been one of the household names when it comes to great Chinese restaurants. It being around for three decades is enough proof that it stood the test of time and remains relevant to the discerning market today. 

Choi Garden Feast at 50% Off

Choi Garden is one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. Known for its superb roast duck and pork, scrumptious abalone and fresh seafood, its Annapolis branch is often packed with hungry guests. And it gets even busier when it partners with banks for bang for the buck deals. For this September, your favorites are at 50% off!

Hello, Choi Garden. 

We dropped by Choi Garden last Thursday to grab a few dishes for dinner. But we were surprised to know that we can't order roast pork to go. 

First Bite: Cold Layers

Rainy days in Manila doesn't necessarily mean sweater weather. With the humid air we have in the city, it's not surprising to see people feast on ice cream, shaved ice or boba. And since a cold treat is always a good idea, I decided to swing by Cold Layers.

Hello, Cold Layers.

Cold Layers is known as a shaved ice shop. But it offers more than just those fluffy snow-like treats. Aside from it joining the boba craze, it also offers savory dishes perfect for breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner!

First Sip: Macao Imperial

Hype. I don't seem to ever learn from my past experiences. I always get excited to try the talked about food and drinks and I even go out of my way at times just to get hold of it. Though there are some worthy to be showered with praises, most are just average and nothing spectacular. One particular brand I've been wanting to visit for a while is Macao Imperial as this has been getting a lot of love from Masarap Ba? and its community. And I finally got to visit it last Friday. 

Hello, Macao Imperial. 

Macao Imperial is one of the many milk tea franchises from abroad and it gained popularity and strong following after Masarap Ba? vouched for its cream cheese drinks. It became so trending that Macao Imperial offered a "kakulto" (name of Masarap Ba's community members) discount in the form of free upgrade. 

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf launches Genmaicha Iced Tea

We're probably one of the few Asian countries that doesn't drink a lot of tea. Most would go for sugary drinks like soda, juice drinks or boba. I'm happy that despite the limited demand for this healthier option, there are a few establishments that offer wide selection of tea, and great ones at that. I also love how these brands make tea less foreign to many by presenting it as iced tea. And speaking of iced tea, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Genmaicha Iced Tea is really good!

Hello, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

CBTL's Genmaicha is one of my favorite hot tea variants for years. I love its earthy taste from the roasted popped brown rice. Its nutty note made it so addictive as it beautifully blends with the refreshing flavor of green tea. The perfect marriage of two classic Japanese flavors of this drink is just one of the handful of reasons why I love Genmaicha. Aside from its great taste, it is also packed with health benefits which includes increase function of catecholamine and encourages fat loss!

First Bite: Megawatt

I can't help be skeptical whenever a place seems to be too trendy or different. I'd always imagine Instagram-worthy food and it pretty much ends there. As more and more restaurants focus on feeding our social media accounts, most fail to realize that it is more important to satisfy the taste buds than garner a lot of likes. After all, those unforgettable first bites are what will make people go back for more. And I was glad that Megawatt did just that.

Hello, Megawatt. 

Megawatt has this industrial chic vibe all over. It was first located by a car wash garage and eventually moved to Build Plus where it shares space with a hardware shop. It may seem odd but it also felt right. 

A Not So Typical Day: The Medium MNL

Living in Manila sometimes make me sad with its limited choices on things to do. With barely any park to consider, we usually spend our days strolling around the mall or catching the latest movie. Hence, I always get excited when something new comes along. And when an acquaintance offered me some tickets to watch The Medium, an opera written by Gian Carlo  Menotti, I quickly said yes. 

I read a bit about The Medium before heading to the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall and was intrigued when it was described as an eerie tale of a woman who pretends to be a medium of the dead and eventually experienced something paranormal herself. As dark and rather horror themes are rarely used in plays, more so for opera, I was looking forward to the show.

Just in Time for Christmas: Midsummer Manila Christmas Creations Pop-Up Bazaar

Midsummer is back and just in time for the holiday! With over 50 merchants offering unique fashion pieces, scrumptious treats, striking statement pieces and about anything and everything for you and your loved ones, this is one bazaar you shouldn't miss.

Hello, Midsummer Manila.

I had the pleasure to attend its bazaar a few months ago held at Arya and my eyes feasted on the beautiful items brought by the wonderfully curated merchants of Midsummer Manila. Though it is not as big as bazaar giants, one of the things I love about Midsummer Manila is how it made shopping a lot easier by handpicking its merchants and just offering some of the best in town. 

Save November 20 and 21, 2018, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. as Midsummer Manila has more in store for you in this season of gift giving!

Staycation Chronicles: Crowne Plaza Galleria

Living in Manila could be very toxic. The insane city traffic, never ending heat and busy lifestyle could easily drive one nuts! I myself have been on the edge these past days due to tight deadlines, shoots and upcoming trip that needs a detailed itinerary. And a staycation at Crowne Plaza Galleria was just what I needed to de-stress. 

Hello, Crowne Plaza Galleria. 

Managed by the prestigious Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), Crowne Plaza Galleria is the hotel of choice of several business travelers. Its premiere location of being at the heart of Ortigas and right beside Robinsons Galleria gives it a strong advantage against its competitors in the area. 

New Look: McDonald's NXTGEN

I've always been so envious of how advanced other countries are. We have several Asian countries with awesome transit system and others have gone digital in pretty much everything. If you haven't heard of Apple Pay or WePay, then you must be living under the rock. I love it though that we are slowly embracing the digital age with the growth of several apps that make things a lot more convenient for us. And McDonald's has something new to enhance our dining experience!

Hello, McDonald's.

McDonald's played a big part in my childhood. I still remember how excited I was whenever my mom would surprise me with a Happy Meal. In fact, I still find myself collecting its toys and I'd drop by regularly for McNuggets and its world famous fries.