Love at First Bite: Krispy Kreme's Bacon Cheese Doughnut

Krispy Kreme has been known for teasing us with its mouthwatering limited offerings. Remember the adorable Christmas doughnuts or the velvety Chocolate Glazed Doughnut? This time though, it made my heart skip two beats instead of one when I saw its newest offering... Bacon Cheese Doughnuts!

Hello, Krispy Kreme!

I've been rather off social media these past few weeks and I just found out Krispy Kreme's Bacon and Cheese Ring-Filled Doughnut (PHP65/piece) today when I visited its newest branch in Paseo de Magallanes.

When in Bacolod: Pendy's

I grew up in Manila and never had the chance to experience the provincial life. I always thought that it would be nice to live somewhere where everyone knows (and usually related too) each other. The only downside of this is that when something happens to you, the word spreads out faster than light. And when Bacolod's favorite spot, Pendy's, experienced a nasty split with its staff, everyone knew about it. It was a matter of where you'd be loyal to, the original owners or the staff who decided to open Mimi's Cafe which offers an identical list of offerings. Mimi's already made me fall in love with its spectacular service and scrumptious bang for the buck food. So this time around, R and I tried the original Pendy's.

Hello, Pendy's.

Awesome Together: Kenny Rogers' Bacon Roast

Kenny Rogers has something new up its sleeves and it's bound to be awesome. 

Hello, Kenny Rogers Roasters.

Known for its bang for the buck meals, Kenny Rogers has been one of my favorite places to get my chicken fix. And when I got invited to the media preview of Kenny Rogers' short film featuring Solz and Bolz, I said yes in a heartbeat. I figured that it would be a funny film starring Solenn Heussaff and Nico Bolzico given that they are the current ambassadors of the famous roast chicken chain. 

Meet Shangri-La Hotel's Sister, Hotel Jen Manila

Staycations are what keep me sane these days. I would often find myself looking forward to these much needed short breaks from the harsh reality filled with traffic, weird weather and stress. And with hotels and hostels popping here and there, more and more are embracing the idea of staycation in Manila. One of the hotel chains I frequent is Shangri-La group. Known for its top notch service and scrumptious food, I'm a regular at Edsa Shangri-La and Shangri-La Fort. However, I had no idea that Shangri-La has Hotel Jen under its umbrella. And when I got a chance to stay at Hotel Jen, I expected nothing short of excellent.

Hello, Hotel Jen.

Formerly known as Traders Hotel Manila, Hotel Jen is conveniently located across the picturesque Manila Bay and near tourist attractions Manila Ocean Park and Intramuros. It is also just 20 minutes away from the international and domestic airports and half an hour away from the bustling business districts in Makati and Fort Bonifacio. 

I decided to book a quick staycation here prior to our cruise given that the port is just a couple of blocks away from the hotel. And after a short phone call to make our room reservation, we were set for our stay. 

First Bite: Cable Car

If you have been partying for the past two decades then Cable Car won't be a stranger to you. Considered as one of the pioneers in the restaurant and bar industry, Cable Car has been around since 1992 satisfying late cravings of night owls and party goers. And to celebrate its 25th year, it prepared a handful of surprises that will delight even the morning foodies and non-drinkers.

Hello, Cable Car.

I always see Cable Car whenever I pass by Fort Strip but for some reason, I found it to be a place for pre-game and post-game drinks and meals. Since I don't really go out late at night to party, I didn't find the place appealing. I had no idea though that Cable Car is more than just beer and small bites. In fact, it is known for its sisig rice. 

First Bite: Pastry Armoire x The Wander Space

Ensaymada has been a staple merienda dish in the Filipino food scene. The fluffy bread topped with generous serving of butter and sugar on top can be bought in local bakeries and chains like Goldilocks and Red Ribbon. The growth of the market with discerning taste gave room to premium ensaymada offering more than your usual buttered pastry. We have the famous ensaymada of Pampanga hitting food bazaars like Yummy Eats and Ultimate Taste Test and we also have the like of Pastry Armoire. And I was lucky to be one of the guests of the later to its food tasting at the Instagram heaven, The Wander Space.

Hello, Pastry Armoire x The Wander Space. 

I was carrying several shoot items with me to the event and I gulped with cold sweat dripping down my temples when I saw The Wander Space on the third floor of a building along Maginhawa. With the elevator out of order, I took three flights up to get to the beautiful shop + coffee shop. And I was warmly greeted by Raymond of Pastry Armoire and Kim of The Wander Space. 

First Bite: Ally's All-Day Breakfast

Moms say that breakfast is the important meal of the day. But for us busy bees, we'd be lucky to be munching on a cracker on our way out. I admit, I usually skip breakfast just to get from point A to point B on time. (I blame the intense traffic we have in Manila.) Don't get me wrong. I love breakfast. It's just that I love sleep more and couldn't find the energy to wake up an hour earlier just to cook my morning meal. Thankfully, there are days when my schedule's not as packed and I could enjoy a classic breakfast at a slow pace. And on lazy days, I'd head out for breakfast and one of the spots I've recently discovered is Ally's All-Day Breakfast. 

Life Hack 101: No More Thawing with Panasonic’s Prime Fresh

Gone are the days when I can't wait to head out and search for new places to visit and interesting food to indulge in. These days, I like staying in a lot. I get to avoid the insane traffic and get to spend time experimenting in the kitchen. However, when the lazy bug bites, I find myself eating the usual hotdog and bacon. There's one thing I hate though... thawing. 

I hate how my freezer turns my meats into popsicles! 

There are times when I have to remove my bacon or pork chop from the freezer at least two hours before dinner just to be able to thaw it properly. Though I could just pop it too in the oven, I prefer doing it the "natural" way. Thankfully, there's Panasonic to make cooking a lot easier (and quicker) for me. Its latest models are now equip with Prime Fresh. 

First Bite: Soru Izakaya

There's a new Japanese restaurant in Maginhawa that's making a lot of buzz since it opened last month with its beautiful plating and Instagram-worthy spread. I was a bit iffy to try it myself as I've been to several restaurants that focused more on design than taste. But curiosity hit me bad and soon I found myself in front of Soru Izakaya one Saturday afternoon. 

Hello, Soru Izakaya. 

We were welcomed by dark and warm interiors as well as Japanese inspired murals and wall designs. There were not a lot of diners too at 4:30 p.m. but the place was quite warm as not all A/C units were on. 

First Bite: Abacá Baking Company

Abaca is not a foreign name to those who frequent Cebu. As one of the popular restaurant groups in the city, a visit to any of Abaca Group’s restaurants is a must. I’ve been to Maya, Abaca’s Mexican joint last 2015 after my trip to Bantayan Island and I was impressed by its nachos and very flavorful Asada Fajitas. This time around, I made sure to drop by its cafe counterpart, Abacá Baking Company.

Hello, Abacá Baking Company.

Located a few steps away from Maya, this place has a very chill and New York bakery vibe. 

Since there are only high stools on the ground floor, we decided to head up to the second floor. I was hoping that some of the staff would help us carry our luggages (as we were on our way to the airport then) upstairs but we didn’t get any assistance from anyone even when some were just idle when we arrived. 

We were approached by a server with a very red nose and handed us menu. With hoarse voice, she mentioned their bestsellers and we decided to go for Tomato Soup (PHP195), Skillet Breakfast (PHP495) and Calamansi (PHP55). For dessert, we went with Fresh Fruit Tart (PHP225).

First Bite: The Glass Jar

I was thrilled to try crocodile meat a few years back and visited a couple of restaurants just to sample this not so usual piece of protein. I first had a bite of it from a  Japanese restaurant in Manila and followed by a small café kiosk in Wilcon. And I was underwhelmed both times. It was not as special as I thought. And it was very tough too. In short, crocodile meat didn’t leave a good first and second impression. But third time’s the charm!

Hello, The Glass Jar.

This adorable restaurant on the second floor of Wilcon Home Depot along Chino Roces Avenue is the newest baby of the kiosk inside Wilcon serving crocodile dishes. And this one is not just nicer and bigger. It also revamped its dishes and turned me into a fan of this healthier source of protein.

We started our meal with some Classic Cocktails and I chose Woo Woo (PHP140).

Restaurant Love: Single Origin

Breakfast is love. If breakfast is a guy, I’d definitely date him and who knows, marry him as well. There’s something so appealing with breakfast that I simply could not stop having it all day long. And a lot of foodies share the same addiction hence the number of all-day breakfast restaurants around the city. One of my favorites is Single Origin and it surely delighted my tastebuds when I dropped by its second branch a few months ago. 

Hello, Single Origin. 

This was my first time to visit its Rockwell branch which opened last September and I noticed that it is bigger than its BGC branch. 

I was greeted by warm hues of brown, suspended lights and charming flowers on each table. I also spotted a few communal tables which are perfect for large groups or those who do not like feeling alone. 

First Bite: Vitto's Wine Bar and Restaurant

As mentioned in my post on Sauceria, I am far from being called a wine connoisseur. I’m not exactly fond of wine except when I indulge in a succulent piece of meat. But I do not say no to an invite to a wine place as more often than not, it also serves good food. And such was true with Vitto’s Wine Bar and Restaurant.

Hello, Vitto’s Wine Bar and Restaurant!

This small restaurant is located at the quieter side of Tomas Morato and could be easily missed out by those who are not familiar with the area or hardly check any food app or social media. Thanks to T of Zomato, I finally got to visit this lovely place!

As we wait for the other foodies joining the Tomas Morato Food Crawl, we were given glasses of red Italian wine and white Californian wine. (I loved the white wine more as it was sweeter than red.)

Soon, mouthwatering dishes were served one after another. 

Second Bite: Dohtonbori

R’s parents have been so nice to me and they always invite me to join them dine at great (and fancy) restaurants. I have always wanted to return the favour and kept thinking where to bring them for lunch. And thanks to looloo and Dohtonbori, I managed to treat R’s parents for free! 

Hello, Dohtonbori!

I decided to treat R’s parents during Father’s Day and tried to make a reservation at Dohtonbori for lunch. However, Dohtonbori does not accept reservation on weekends. And so, this marked a Sunday morning Amazing Race. 

We got to the place at 11:30 a.m. and I rushed to the second floor of the building where Dohtonbori is located as I was scared we might ran out of table with chairs. R’s dad cannot dine at the tatami area as he might have difficulty standing up. I was lucky that I managed to score the last table with chairs! (Note: The okonomiyaki restaurant opens at 11 am.)

R’s dad was famished so we quickly ordered the following: Mixed Okonomiyaki (PHP290), Quattro Formaggi (PHP240), Dohtonbori Pizza (PHP340), Grilled Salmon Chanchan (PHP380), Sukiyaki (PHP190), Steak Yakimeshi (PHP390) and Kiwami (PHP390).

We were offered the Father’s Day promo where dads get a free mug of beer. But there’s a catch. This promo cannot be availed with any other discounts and that includes senior citizen discount. Since the discount we will get from being a senior is more than the cost of a mug of beer, we decided not to avail of it. (Oh, and you cannot use your gift certificates too if you avail of the promo which was weird since gift certificates should be considered as cash.)

Since Dohtonbori was so busy that day, speed of service was not at its peak. Though water was served while we were ordering, our request for hot and cold tea was forgotten and we had to follow up more than thrice for it. 

The ingredients for our first dishes also arrived after 20 minutes. Yes, ingredients. We had to wait for a few minutes for someone to prepare the okonomiyaki for us and it took around 8-10 minutes before the dishes were cooked. 

I felt so bad as R’s dad was so hungry already. He ate the salmon chanchan a few minutes short of the ideal cooking time. Nonetheless, it was still good and he liked it! He even asked to have the salmon skin placed back on the teppan plate to make the skin crispy. 

The Mixed Okonomiyaki and Kiwami were prepared next and both were well-loved! 

I loved the different textures in the mixed okonomiyaki. 

The crunch and chewiness of the squid, pork, shrimp, octopus, tempura bits, cabbage, spring onions and red pickles led me to okonomiyaki heaven.

First Bite: Chibo Okonomiyaki

I have been curious about S Maison ever since foodies bombarded Instagram with dishes from Uma Uma and Chibo Okonomiyaki. Since S Maison is not exactly walking distance from where I work, I decided to wait it out a bit. But food gods know better and organized it for me. 

Hello, S Maison!

The place is pretty posh with its high etched ceilings. Most of the retail stores and restaurants are still closed so it’s not fun to visit the new mall just yet. But if you can’t wait to get your hands (or tastebuds) on the talked about ramen and okonomiyaki, then do visit this place… soon. My first stop during my visit is Chibo Okonomiyaki. 

This okonomiyaki place is an upscale version of the well-loved Dohtonbori. The plush couch seats and shiny walls were elegant yet still exude a Japanese ambiance. 

Since this will not be my only stop and because I still had an event to attend to after (and I planned to visit Uma Uma! and Horse’s Mouth), I only ordered Butatama Okonomiyaki (PHP190) and Gyoza Teppan (PHP150). It was so hard to choose as they have a wide range of okonomiyaki and teppan dishes. 

I sat across the teppan area to see the chefs prepare my meal. Unfortunately, since there were only a few guests, they only used the teppan in front of the other diners near me. I had to move to another seat to see my orders get flipped and do all those delectable acrobatic moves. Knowing that it’ll be served a couple of steps away from me, I asked the server to signal me when my food was about to be prepared. After a few minutes, I got the signal from the server and I moved a few seats from mine.

The gyoza was already on the teppan plate and it sure looked flat and sad. This dish was ready in less than 5 minutes. 

It was on the dry side and despite its small size, it cannot be enjoyed in one bite. The thin crispy sides were a bit too wide for the mouth. Believe me, I tried and ended up hurting the sides of my lips. 

Now Open: Freezer Burn

So this happened:

I was planning to head to Locavore for dinner last Friday as I had this intense craving for congee and knowing that Locavore has one with foie gras, I just have to go for it! So I speed walked from work and headed straight to Forbes Town...when I saw my former Yummy magazine colleagues in front of Freezer Burn.

I was super excited to try Freezer Burn's sweets as this dessert shop is the newest baby of the talented duo Chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla (and their awesome partner Charlie Paw) who happen to be the brilliant minds behind hits like Le Petit Souffle, Fowl Bread and Bad Bird. I was counting the days till July 2, the store's opening date to the public. 

As I love being prepared, I asked the Yummy team for their favorite picks and they practically loved everything! I was trying to check the place out when Charlie saw me from the inside. He greeted me and I shared how giddy I am to visit the store tomorrow. And that was when he asked me if I want to sample one...now. OF COURSE!!! 

Hello, Freezer Burn!

Freezer Burn is like a portal to a cool 70's or 80's American ice cream diner. Everything was adorable! The cool color palate is very Instagram-friendly! Even the buzzing wait numbers have the same light and cool color!

Chef Miko and Charlie explained to me why they call the shop Freezer Burn. It is a play of words as each composed dessert (priced at PHP295 each) is a combination of cold treat which is ice cream (freezer) and hot dish (burn). 

After a long while of checking the menu and asking Chef Miko for recommendations, I was torn between Morning Glory (Maple Bacon Ice Cream with Brioche Toast and Popcorn) and Cream of the Crop (Corn and Cheese Ice Cream with Toasted Honey Cake and Cornicks). I was also very interested in Ketchup Mayo Fries (Ketchup and Mayo Ice Cream with Salt Pepper Fries) because I love weird flavors. But I eventually got Morning Glory because of the cotton candy. While waiting, I sampled the chocolate and ketchup mayo ice cream. 

The chocolate ice cream was the best chocolate ice cream I've had to date! It was so rich and as other guests describe it, deadly. It was inspired by the thick chocolate paired with churros. No wonder it was so good!

The ketchup and mayo ice cream was brilliant as well! You could definitely taste the two condiments and both went so well together with the vanilla ice cream base. I get it why they paired it with fries. It was made for those who love eating their sundaes with fries. It was so smart of this group to create such!

My dessert was served after 5 minutes or so and it was not a long wait at all considering that there were a handful of orders before mine.

And it was so pretty. *cries*

Restaurant Love: Schmidt's Hotdogs

Schmidt’s is one of the well-known hotdog brands in Manila. It serves various well-garnished hotdog sandwiches at relatively steep price but are worth every penny. It has been years since I last had a bite of Schmidt’s hotdogs and when I spotted it last weekend, I made sure that I do not miss my chance sinking my teeth into some juicy meaty treat. 

Hello, Schmidt’s! 

The place is pretty small and seemed to be designed to look like a kiosk with a few tables and benches for dining. Since Podium is hardly packed even during holidays, we easily got a table. 

My mom and sister were still stuffed from lunch so we decided to just go with one sandwich—The Julius (PHP190). I also added PHP60 to get one liter of Iced Tea which is normally priced at PHP90.

Service was quick and we got our meal and drink in less than 5 minutes.

The iced tea wasn’t very sweet making it a great thirst quencher.

I fell in love with the hotdog sandwich’s bread. It was very soft and fluffy. 

Restaurant Love: Chili's

It has been quite a while since my last Chili's visit. If I remember it right, it was way back February of last year. Yes, it has been a year! I usually visit for a few mugs of margarita till I realized how much sugar each glass contains. Oh how I hate getting old. Anyway... Since we were missing Chili's delectable dishes and because I had PHP1,000 worth of gift certificates (thank you, looloo!) waiting to be spent, R and I opted to have dinner here one night.

Long time no see, Chili's! 

The restaurant was packed the night we visited and we were on the waiting list. We opted to use this time to browse the menu and decide on what to order.

R went with his usual Chicken Crispers (PHP340) while I tried Monterey Chicken (PHP485). We also got a glass of Molten Chocoate Smoothie (PHP195).

Despite having a very busy night, service was quick. We got out beverage in less than 10 minutes.

It was love at first sip! It was chocolate ice cream in liquid form! It was so chocolatey and something kids would love. The only downside is that it doesn’t really quench your thirst and actually just makes you even thirstier.

R’s Chicken Crispers and my Monterey Chicken were served soon after.

R’s chicken tenders are delightful as always. The crisp hand battered chicken strip is L-O-V-E. I also loved Chili’s fatfries that are made from real potatoes.

I’ve never ordered the Monterey Chicken before and one bite made me regret why I didn’t bother to order this during my earlier visits. The dish was delightful!!! The succulent chicken breast was far from being called bland and I loved how the bacon strips added flavor to the dish. The mashed potato topped with white sauce that had a hint of garlic was divine and addicting! And the best thing was it still tasted great after a few days! (I had my leftover packed and I had it for lunch a couple of days later.)

First Bite: Fat Daddy's Smokehouse

Receiving a text message from P always mean good (and yummy) news and her message last Monday was no exception. It was a looloo invite to try Fat Daddy's Smokehouse. At first, I got it confused with the burger joint that has that three letter word that love to settle on unwanted areas. Thanks to P's email. I got the idea that it... could be even better! 

Hello, Fat Daddy's Smokehouse.

I WAS LATE. I underestimated the distance between my place and Burgos Circle. I even got lost due to my lack of night vision. So much for being an early bird.

The group was already enjoying the big tray of Jera’s Ultimate Pulled Pork and Bacon Nachos (PHP550) when I arrived. Even though it was already “touched”, I was still overwhelmed by the huge serving size. This one is definitely good for sharing! I think even 10 foodies cannot finish this dish (assuming there are other dishes).

Taste-wise, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed the harmony of textures and flavors among the crisp seasoned and slightly salty tortilla chips, sweet and tender pulled pork, delectable bacon strips (which was stripped off its salty flavor because of the Alabama barbecue sauce) and of course, cheese! This dish was far from being short of toppings or sauce!

I tried Chef Pat’s Ultimate Cheese Dip (PHP450) next and it was indeed very cheesy! I loved that it was oh so thick (thanks to the layers of mozzarella and cheddar cheese). Getting a spoonful was a challenge though as there were huge onion rings stuffed inside too! But it did not hinder me from smothering my fried tortilla chips with the scrumptious dip! (There were no toasted baguettes left when I got to try the dish.)

One of my favorites is the Crispy Fried Pickles (PHP120). I was quite surprised to say this as I am not a fan of pickles. But I had no idea that I would enjoy it a lot when deep fried covered with panko and corn crust and dipped in a delightful white sauce which reminded me of ranch. It was a lovely appetizer and made me salivate for more.

Next served was the Crisp Fish Tacos (PHP320) and it was one of my favorites that night. The beer battered Alaskan Pollock had a nice light taste which was a great break from the dishes with very heavy flavors. 

I loved the crisp of the batter and the taste of the garlic sauce. I skipped putting barbeque sauce on my portion as I really wanted to have a break from the sweet barbecue sauce.

Smoked Beef Brisket (PHP550) and North Carolina Pulled Pork (PHP220) were served right after and this marked the end of my break from barbeque sauce.

The 250 gram smoked beef brisket, which was smoked for 16 hours was divine! It was so tender! Though it was one of the dishes with relatively small serving size (because of its thin cut), I’d highly recommend this. It was packed with flavors without it being overpowering. Oh, and this is senior friendly. It was effortless to chew this dish!

The North Carolina Pulled Pork was similar with the ones on the nachos. I guess if you order the nachos, you may opt not to get this anymore.

BLAT, or Bacon, Lettuce, Apple and Tomatoes sandwich (PHP275) was a crowd favorite. Though just like most of the other dishes, this one also have the yummy homemade bacon. But for some reason, this sandwich is a notch higher in the taste department with its refreshing baked spiced apples. It went really well with bacon, veggies and remoulade sauce (a type of aioli) adding nice cinnamon spice that I simply love.