ECQ Food Delivery: Bowl'd

While many sharpen their culinary skills during the lockdown, I heavily relied on food deliveries. And I was so happy that the list of restaurants offering food deliveries grow each day. A new addition to my list is Bowl'd. 

Hello, Bowl'd.

Bowl'd has been around since 2018 and was a favorite by budget-conscious foodies. With its rice bowls priced under PHP200, it's hard for anyone to go wrong. 

First Bite: Eatogether Food Hall's Hawker Lane

Eatogether is the newest food hall in the metro. Its innovative cashless system makes ordering and paying hassle-free. It is not surprising that this hip place is getting a lot of attention, not just from millennials but foodies of all ages. And one of the busiest stalls here is the one that offers Asian favorites.

Hello, Hawker Lane.

Hawker Lane is tucked inside Eatogether and you have to go past all the tempting stalls by the entrance to get here. But you'll surely see it if you plan to grab some drinks as this right beside the bar.

Love at First Bite: Ya Chou

I love manthou. I often order some when I see it on the menu or grab a plateful at Chinese buffet. Just thin‌king about these freshly steamed buns smothered with butter makes me drool for hours. And I'm so thankful to discover a shop that allows me to have my favorite snack anytime I want. 

Hello, Ya Chou. 

Ya Chou is a small shop in Quezon City that specializes in Taiwanese delicacies like dumplings, peanut balls, radish cake, sausages and machang. Being in the food business for over two decades, Ya Chou has gained loyal patrons who would drop by its store to grab hold of its sweet and savory products. 

The Common Good Launches Lunch Sets

Enjoying a meal or two at a hotel always sound fancy and rather expensive. But more and more of these lavish establishments come up with options that appeal to yuppies and to those who want good value food with great ambiance to match. And this is exactly what I'm Hotel's The Common Good did with its lunch packages. 

Hello, The Common Good.

The Common Good is I'm Hotel's food playground which showcases different cuisines to satisfy everyone's palate. It has been one of the bang for the buck dinner buffet options in Makati and it has further pushed the envelope by offering lunch sets to cater to the Makati professionals. 

Makati Chronicles: Katsu Sora

I could never say no to tonkatsu and dinner at Katsu Sora is always a good idea. After all, where else can you grab more than shredded cabbage and more than one option for rice while indulging in crunchy yet succulent pork cutlets? 

Hello, Katsu Sora. 

Katsu Sora is one of the best spots to get quality pork cutlets and I was glad that the Tefal team treated us there for dinner after the launch of its spherical pot rice cooker. 

First Sip: T Bun

I was craving for milk tea for weeks but the crazy line for all the milk tea brands in town made me think otherwise. But when I couldn't take it anymore, I went for T Bun for it has the shortest queue. 

Hello, T Bun. 

This relatively new milk tea place in Bonifacio Global City seems to be the least favorite among all the  奶茶 ( naicha / năichá ) joints. But  it claims to offer the best bun and milk tea in town so it piqued my interest. 

New Bites: Ramen Bar's Longganisa Ramen

Watching Asian dramas never fail to make me crave for ramen. Is it just me or more often than not, there will be at least one scene where the lead character will joyfully slurp down a massive mouthful of piping hot noodles straight from the copper pot in a squat position? The low EQ foodie in me always make me want to grab a pack of noodles myself. But there are times when I want something better than instant noodles and that's when I brave Manila traffic for some good ol' made with love ramen. And this time, I went with Ramen Bar. 

Hello, Ramen Bar. 

This wasn't my first time in Ramen Bar. I remember I visited its first branch in Eastwood about a eight years ago with some friends. Ramen Bar is one of the first players in the ramen category 10 years ago. Sadly, it didn't stay relevant and was left in the shadows of ramen giants such as Ramen Nagi and Ippudo. But that does not mean that Ramen Bar offers mediocre food. In fact, its ramen are just as good as each and everyone's favorite! And there's one Ramen Bar variant that caught my eye-- Longganisa Ramen (PHP320). 

Midsummer Manila Trunk Show Finds

I used to be so addicted to bazaars that I mark each and every one in my calendar. And yes, it definitely drains the budget. I still remember how excited I was whenever the Rockwell or Noel bazaars will announce its dates and I make sure to block at least 2 of the three dates for shopping. But as I grew older, my priorities changed. I started to save more and smarter on where I spend my hard earned cash. Needless to say, I've grown more mature and learned when to splurge and save. But when I got invited to Midsummer Manila's trunk show a few weeks back, the shopaholic in me was back.

Hello, Midsummer Manila. 

Midsummer Manila is a bazaar and trunk show organizer that has been roaming around Manila specifically Makati and BGC with its curated concessionaires offering unique finds. 

I was invited to (I think) its second trunk show which took place in one of Arya Residences' function rooms and I was impressed with the selection. Hardly any can be considered mainstream. Most are beautifully hand crafted and worth every penny. 

Here's a rundown of my favorite finds:

First Bite: Muang Thai

I love Thai cuisine but it was my recent trip to Thailand that made me appreciate it in a whole new level. With its scrumptious and colorful food everywhere, I was tempted to go on a food crawl every day during my 2 week visit. Thankfully, we have a handful of reliable Thai restaurants in Manila to satisfy our Pad Thai, Tom Yum and Satay cravings. One establishment stood the test of time and has been delighting foodies for over two decades. 

Hello, Muang Thai. 

Tucked inside Teachers Village, Muang Thai has been serving scrumptious Thai dishes since 1996. Fast forward to 2018, it now has a new look but continues to offer classics that would tickle anyone's taste buds. 

Restaurant Love: Paradise Dynasty and its 4 New Dishes

Paradise Dynasty has been one of my favorite places to dine in ever since I had my first bite of its delectable xiao long bao in 2017. The picturesque restaurant paired with scrumptious and pocket friendly feast is so easy to love that I continue to brave the distance just to get hold of more. Needless to say, my heart skipped a beat (and a flip too) when it opened its second store at Podium Mall. And its newest dishes sure kept me wanting more!

Hello, Paradise Dynasty. 

Known for its Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao, Paradise Dynasty launched four new dishes that would tickle your taste buds with glee.

Best of Boracay in Manila: Fat Rice

I still remember how challenging it was to find Street Market Boracay last year. As the newest (and only) food park in the island back in March 2017, hardly anyone knew Street Market Boracay, Station X or even Hue Hotel. But I was determined to try it out as the people behind the food park are the power couple Nowie and Odette Potenciano. I managed to find Street Market Boracay after almost an hour of asking around and it was worth it! The place was beautiful and filled with interesting tenants. One of the stalls that caught my eye was Fat Rice and I feasted on its divine wings. 

Hello, Fat Rice. 

Fat Rice has been one of my favorites during my last Boracay visit. R and I were actually considering to head to summer destination a few months back to relax and indulge in good food but it was put on hold when the island was forced to close. Thankfully, my favorites found its way to Manila serving its bestselling dishes for a limited time at Hole in the Wall. 

First Bite: Cucina by Marco Polo Ortigas Manila

I usually avoid buffets as I always end up overeating and leaving the place with so much remorse for having too much of everything. But Cucina's paella has been making me drool for weeks now and I've decided to finally give in.

Hello, Cucina.

First Bite: 24 Chicken Delivery Manila

Most of us try to be better versions of ourselves come the start of the new year. I've had several new year's resolutions but most if not all end up in the bin. And after several years of making new goals, I decided to make this year's resolutions more realistic and attainable. And one of my goals this 2018 is to be more exposed to new flavors, primarily spicy food. Now is the time to try that spicy chicken! 

Hello, 24 Chicken Delivery Manila.

First Bite: Kenshin Japanese Restaurant

I love pretending to be a master chef like Gordon Ramsey. Though I may lack the skills to do all those French culinary terms, I appreciate that there are several restaurants now that let us experience cooking our own meals. We have grill your own Korean barbecue, create your own pancake, mix your own hotpot and make your own takoyaki. Yes, I'm talking about those famous Japanese street food treats. 

Hello, Kenshin Japanese Restaurant.

This Japanese restaurant along Yakal Street is a gem in the city. 

Love at First Bite: The Oriental Spice Gourmet

Cebu has become a foodie destination with awesome local restaurants and cheap finds. One of the restaurants that seem to be off the social media radar is this Asian restaurant that is known by, surprisingly, expats, as one of Cebu's finest gems.

Hello, The Oriental Spice Gourmet.

It is easy to miss this restaurant located along Maximo V. Patalinghug Jr. Avenue as it's huge signage simply says TOSG, the initials of the restaurant. But thanks to Waze, we didn't miss our stop.

Love at First Bite: Toast Asian Kitchen and Tasting Room

I really love how our food scene evolved throughout the years. These days, we don't have to board a plane just to get a taste of other cuisines. And with restaurants and malls popping here and there, sometimes we don't even have to drive around. The residents near Meralco Avenue have it good as they are near the newest Ayala mall and one of my new restaurant favorites, Toast.

Hello, Toast Asian Kitchen and Tasting Room.

Love at First Bite: Ninak

I used to always pass by Ninak whenever I explore Kapitolyo. However, I never had a chance to drop by because of the restaurant's lack of ample parking space for customers. I've actually heard and read good reviews about the place but I always end up dining somewhere where we could park. Thankfully, this Asian restaurant joint transferred to the lower ground of the newly opened Ayala Malls the 30th and I now do not have any reason of not visiting it. 

Hello, Ninak!

I was invited by everyone's "beshie" (bestfriend) Yourfoodtographer to have lunch here one Saturday. Despite being sick and still recovering from my first Canton Fair, I decided to go as I've been eying this place for years! Following the only direction I got, I looked for "Bon Chon" and easily spotted Ninak near it. 

Restaurant Love: Bawai's Vietnamese Kitchen

I've been in love with Vietnamese cuisine ever since my first sip of pho. The delectable clean taste of the broth never fails to make me feel that I'm indulging in something healthy. And I was beyond ecstatic when I visited one of the famous Vietnamese restaurants around, Bawai's. However, it being in Laguna (and the super traffic White Plains) made Bawai's spread a rare treat. Thankfully, I don't have to drive (or be stuck for) hours to this superb restaurant as it finally opened its doors in Uptown Parade. 

Hello, Bawai's.

I was so giddy on my way to this Vietnamese restaurant and my eyes sparkled with joy when I spotted its facade across the Uptown Bonifacio fountain.

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: Wee Nam Kee

Wee Nam Kee has been around for several years now, but for some reason, it never succeeded in attracting me to any of its branches. And the weird part is that I love Hainanese chicken. But it was in my fate to eventually step inside Wee Nam Kee and that day finally came two months ago. 

Hello, Wee Nam Kee!

We visited its Serendra branch one Friday night and we were instantly greeted by warm yellow lights and a crowd feasting on some Singaporean signature dishes. 

Plate after plate of scrumptious looking dishes were served on our table while another server was busy serving everyone glasses of Iced Lemon Tea (PHP70 | PHP95, bottomless). 

As a Wee Nam Kee first-timer, I didn’t know that the dishes served to us were the Singaporean restaurant’s new offerings.