Expecting During a Pandemic: Husbands Now Allowed Inside Delivery Room at St. Luke's

I missed out a lot while expecting during a pandemic. I didn't get to enjoy those fun baby fairs or experience a baby shower. I found myself extra paranoid every time I step out of the house. And getting the food I crave was, more often than not, a challenge. But the saddest thing this new normal changed for pregnant women is not having their husbands or partners beside them during labor and delivery. I wanted to share this precious moment with R. And luck was on our side when I found out that one companion during delivery is now allowed at St. Luke's! 

Two days to go before we meet Sam!

I was beyond thrilled when I accidentally found out that husbands or partners can now enter the delivery room. It was late at night when I was browsing through Glam-O-Mamas' Facebook community page when someone inquired about a swab test for her husband as he'll accompany her in the delivery room. She was asking fellow moms if paying PHP4,300 (walk-in) or PHP6,500 (drive-thru) is worth it given its short validity of five days for dads or dads-to-be (versus two weeks for moms). 

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!

Milk Tea Favorite: Yi Fang

The milk tea craze hit Manila hard and it's just about to get even wilder with the influx of foreign and local brands entering the market. Everyone's current obsession now is brown sugar milk tea. And though almost every milk tea joint has their own version, we all have our favorites. And I am loving Yi Fang's Brown Sugar Pearl Tea Latte. 

Hello, Yi Fang.

Yi Fang has been around since 2017 but it wasn't until a year after when it gained popularity. 

Fight of the Bulges: Stesso

Staying fit has been a challenging task for me ever since I've reached the stage when my metabolism started to slow down. What used to be a few days to lose a couple of pounds now take months paired with 100% dedication and effort. It is even harder now that I'm more active blogging about food and less active in being... well, active. I've considered availing of some slimming treatments and services but reading about how painful it could be and its adverse effects made me back out. It definitely took me a long time before going for it. 

Hello, Stesso.

Stesso has been in the market providing slimming and skin care services since 2012. Established by Lalaine Ambulo, M.D., the clinic gained popularity with its use of the latest non-invasive devices that do not just do the job but also make you feel good. 

Skin Lifestyle: Radiance Aesthetic Center

I usually look forward to my birthday as it means being extra loved for a day. But after hitting 25, I see it as a reminder that more wrinkles will appear. My unhealthy lifestyle where I run with barely any sleep doesn't help me too with my goal of getting stuck at a certain age, skin-wise. And despite religiously applying moisturizer day and night, it never addressed my dull and dry skin. But thanks to skin technological advancement, I might have found a solution. 

Hello, Radiance Aesthetic Center.  

Like most skin clinics, Radiance Aesthetic Center offers wide range of skin solutions. But one thing I noticed from having a quick chat with its owner and clinic dermatologist, Dr. Trix Castañeda, is that Radiance Aesthetic Center meticulously look for equipment and new skin solutions that are effective, pain-free and cost efficient.

Second Bite: Coconut House

It has been a while since I last visited Quezon Memorial Circle. But I still remember the two times I dropped by this place known to be a date spot by some locals. The park was crowded with Pokemon Go players running around trying to catch Charizard, Squirtle, Pikachu and pretty much every single one spawning here and there. And one of the hottest spots to get the rare Pokemons was Coconut House. The place was like a gold mine. Since it was really humid during my last visit, I decided to buy one ice drop to cool me down. And it was refreshing! I then promised myself that I'll swing by again to try its food.

Hello, Coconut House!

It was one rainy Monday when I visited but the servers bright smiles sure changed my gloomy mood.

The place was simple and very straightforward. There's a counter in front with a menu board on top, a few shelves with coconut-based products, and several tables and chairs.

First Bite: Lobby Café by B Hotel

I find it fascinating how small boutique hotels are starting to grow in Tomas Morato. I could see it slowly turning into Kalayaan of Makati, an area budget travelers frequent. And the best part of staying in this area is that you'll never run out of places to go to for food. But when your hotel already offers reasonably priced food, why head out?

Hello, B Hotel. 

B Hotel is one of the many reputable establishments under The Bellevue Group of Hotels. It opened two years ago and since then got a steady number of patrons and is even commissioned as the accommodation of some beauty pageants. I'd know since there were several gorgeous ladies when we visited for dinner at Lobby Café sashaying their way around the lobby with their sashes on. 

First Bite: Fat Fook

I've always been so curious about Fat Fook ever since I saw several posts of its famous chicken chops online. It made me wonder if it would be a lot better than the other brands that claim to offer the number 1 Taiwanese chicken chops. However, its location wasn't exactly a "couple of blocks away" from where I live so it took me several months before I got to visit it. And I finally did last December when I was out panicking on what gifts to buy. 

First Bite: Coffee Project

I love adorable cafés. I really appreciate it when owners invest time, money or both in designing their coffee shops. And when I saw a few reviews about Coffee Project, I knew that I have to visit this place! 

Hello, Coffee Project! 

The very feminine coffee shop is screaming beautiful in every corner. I just have to take snapshots of the overly yet tastefully decorated ceiling and hallway before placing my order. 

Since we were expecting to visit a lot of restaurants, I opted to share a breakfast rice meal with R. We ordered Garlic Beef Tapa (PHP295) and I ordered a glass of Caphe Sua Da (PHP155) for my drink as I badly needed coffee yesterday. (I only had 4 hours of sleep the night before.) 

After placing our orders (or was it before?), J and I had fun with our mini photoshoot by the corridor towards the quaint washroom of the establishment. This is the perfect spot if you want a new profile picture! 

First served was the Caphe Sua Da. It was served with the condensed milk at the bottom of the glass and the dripped coffee on top of it. There was also a separate glass of ice where you pour the sweetened coffee after. 

It was good though I find it too sweet. It would have been nicer if they put the condensed milk in a separate glass or container so that I could control my drink's sweetness. 

Our food arrived within the acceptable 15 minute mark and first served was Abe's and Jai's deconstructed 3 piece Garlic Longganisa (PHP295 each). It came with two sunny side up eggs, half of a tomato and garlic rice. Surprisingly, they didn't feel that there was not much longganisa for the rice. I guess serving it deconstructed is a nice way to portion your viand well. 

First Bite: Kozui

I have heard of Kozui before and it seems to be a go to place for matcha lovers. I just never braved the traffic to buy a soft serve ice cream especially since Family Mart is a lot closer. But with C in our group and with her love for matcha, we headed to the well-loved (and pioneer) matcha joint for some cold treats. 

Hello, Kozui Green Tea!

The place was a lot smaller and worn out than I pictured. The place actually looked… sad. 

Anyway, I decided to go with Green Tea Anmitsu with strawberries (PHP150/bowl) and shared it with C as we were trying to save space for other dishes.

Our bowl was served after a few minutes and the first thing I looked for was the strawberries. Apparently, it was just some sort of strawberry jam-slash-jello. 

First Bite: Estrel's Caramel Cakes

A classic. That is how foodies describe Estrel’s, a humble cake shop that was established in 1946. Known for its caramel cakes, it is a go to place when something is to be celebrated. I have tasted its caramel cake and true enough, it was delectable and a lot better than the other commercial cakes. But I have never tried its Food for the Gods till J introduced it to me a few weeks back.

Hello, Estrel’s Caramel Cakes!

I didn’t exactly get to visit the bakeshop but got to sample the famous shop’s Food for the Gods, one of J’s favorite sweets. 

A box (PHP300) has ten  individually packed Food for the Gods. One pack has about 2” x 3” of the sweet pastry. 

I opened a pack and it was quite oily. But its fragrant smell made me ignore my oily finger tips. 

I took a bite and it was love at first bite. It was moist and buttery. I loved the sweet flavor of the dates and the crunch of the walnuts. 

It is a perfect dessert to bring to potluck parties or to buy as a present. Since it’s not too sweet, it is also a good gift for dear grandparents.

I can’t wait to get my hands on more! I’ll also try the Sansrival next. 

Estrel's Caramel Cakes is located at 54 Scout Tobias corner Scout Limbaga Streets, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, 1103.

First Bite: Shutter Café

It was already past 1 p.m. when C and I decided to head elsewhere for lunch. We initially planned to wait for J to pick us up to escape the harsh rage of the sun but we were itching to find a new spot and so we booked a cab and headed to Tomas Morato area and visited… Shutter Café. 

Hello, Shutter Café. 

The place looks so adorable with its display of vintage cameras. The place is divided into the actual camera store and a nook for eating. As a person who is more than satisfied with just my phone’s camera feature, we headed straight to the eating area. 

It was quiet when we went. Only one table with a small group of women learning how to knit was occupied when we got there. 

C and I decided to share our orders and went with Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (PHP165) and White Sauce Pasta (PHP165). I also got a glass of Lime Basil Lemonade (PHP100). 

I was surprised when they served my drink. It was more of orange brown than greenish yellow. Apparently, it was iced tea which came with the dishes we ordered. The person manning the counter didn’t even bother to tell me that our orders come with drinks. I could have cancelled my Lime Basil Lemonade. (And it was too late of course so that they could use the classic excuse that it was already put in the system hence they couldn’t cancel my unnecessary order.) At least the iced tea was refreshing. 

The Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich was served next and it was not photogenic at all. C and I had a hard time taking photos of this dish and we even walked around looking for the perfect angle/light and failed. 

First Sip: Yellow Tree Coffee and Tea

With all my friends dieting or hibernating due to the crazy summer heat, I hardly go on food trips myself. *cries* But I knew I was destined to get fatter when the food gods paved the way for me to meet some fun looloo-ers. I heard them planning a Quezon City (Tomas Morato) food trip and I couldn’t help but ask if I could tag along. And since everyone in looloo is friendly, they said yes. Yay!

The first stop of the Quezon City food trip was the adorable The Bunny Baker. I was dying to visit this place as the place looks so pretty and I heard that the sweets are great! But I woke up a bit late and R insisted to drop me to the place. It took a bit long and I missed the first stop and just went straight to the second stop which was…

Yellow Tree Coffee and Tea. 

The coffee shop was quite small and could only comfortably fit around 15 guests. The menu is similar to most café/milk tea places. Since I couldn’t decide on what I want, I asked for the server’s suggestion. She recommended her personal blend of coffee, bananas and milk. Since I never had a coffee banana drink as the fruit is usually paired with chocolate or peanut butter, I gave it a go. A medium cup costs PHP115. 

After a short while, my drink arrived and it was actually a frappe which I was not really feeling to drink that day. Oh well.

But I was delighted at first sip. It had a nice light taste of coffee and banana. It was not exactly thirst quenching but it was refreshing enough. I tried to avoid the whipped cream as I was never fond of this foamy topping. 

Promo Alert: Start Your Day with Nutella

Great news, Nutella lovers! Your favorite chocolate spread has an early Christmas treat for us. If you passed by Landmark a few days ago, you may have spotted a Nutella pop up booth in the supermarket level. And yes, it is there to stay until October 18!

Here are the items you could get when you purchase your Nutella supply from the pop up booth:

Things get even yummier when you purchase at least PHP500 worth of Nutella. You could win one of the following: Nutella Tub Jar, Nutella Shopping bag or Nutella Portion Pack.

I guess it’s time to bring out those Nutella recipes!

See you there!

-Gluttonshopper

Love at First Gulp: Backyard Kitchen + Brew's Butterbeer

Harry Potter and beer lovers alike will love the drink concocted by Chef Ed Bugia of Pino, Pipino, The Burger Project and π Breakfast & Pies. His newest restaurant Backyard Kitchen + Brew serves butterbeer using real beer! And since H was craving for it one afternoon, we decided to head to UP Town Center.

Hello, Backyard Kitchen + Brew!

The place wasn’t packed at all when we arrived as it was around 3 p.m. on a Monday.

R and I decided to give butterbeer a try too and ordered one mug each.

The butterbeer smells lovely with its butterscotch scent. It would make beer haters love beer as it is not bitter at all. The whipped butter made it extra sinful which might turn away some health conscious foodies.

I also got a bite of the potato chips drowning in cheese powder and it was L-O-V-E. I can’t wait to visit Backyard Kitchen + Brew again to try its dishes.

Backyard Kitchen + Brew is located at 2^nd Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Contact them at 0999 3666921 for details and reservation.

First Bite: Basil

Food trips are the best. It’s the sole reason why I eat less on weekdays—to have more space for weekend feasts. When J mentioned that he’ll be visiting again, the first thing that came to my mind (or tummy) was that I have to plan a food trip. And J wanted that. So one Saturday, we explored White Plains.

Hello, Basil!

Our first stop was Basil, the first restaurant you’ll see once you turn to White Plains.

The place was quite dark and had a spa ambiance to it.

 

After a bit of thinking, we decided to go with the following dishes: Thai Money Bags (PHP325), Thai Sizzling Sisig (PHP350) and Thai Style Fried Noodles (PHP360). I also got a glass of Thai Milk Tea (which I forgot to take note of the price).

First served was my Thai Milk Tea and it was pretty good. It was more like a Thai Milk Tea Shake. It was not too sweet and it was a great way to battle the crazy summer heat. 

Next served was the Thai Money Bag.

Love at First Bite: π Breakfast and Pies

Breakfast food is love. Sunnyside up eggs, bacon, spam, tapa, hot dogs… I could eat it all day long. This is why I adore restaurants that serve breakfast from opening to closing. And that’s why I got excited when R suggested that we try π Breakfast and Pies for dinner one Sunday night.

Hello, π Breakfast and Pies!

The quaint restaurant is pretty small and parking could be difficult too if you visit around lunch or dinner time.

R’s memory of the Longsilog (PHP295) wasn’t that good as he recalled that he only got two small longganisa and felt that it looked sad with the mountain of rice. Anyway, we opted to go for the Wagyu Beef Sirloin Tapa (PHP265) and the Caramelized Spam (PHP265). We also ordered Lemon Basil Fritz (PHP75) and Cranberry Celery Cooler (PHP75) as our drinks.

First served were our drinks.

The lemon basil fritz didn’t have much citrus taste to it while the cranberry celery cooler had a strong celery taste. In short, both drinks tasted very healthy. (And sadly, R and I are not fond of it.)

The tapa and spam were served next.