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. 

When in Kapitolyo: Epic Cafè

Kapitolyo used to be my neighborhood back when it was the hottest foodie spot in Manila. I'd go around the area on weekends and check out the newest shops. And more often than not, I'd be heading back home with a happy tummy and several new favorites. And one of which was Epic Cafè.

Hello, Epic Cafè. 

Epic Cafè has been around for years now and continue to serve good tasting beverages and comfort dishes. Its warm and inviting space also makes this coffee shop an ideal spot for catching up with friends or work. 

New Bites at Sunnies Café

Sunnies Café has been known to be one of the best places for Instagram-worthy snapshots. But more than those pastel colored pictures, its bang for the buck dishes will tickle you pink. And same is true for its new dishes.

Hello, Sunnies Café. 

I still remember the first time I visited Sunnies Café. It was during its opening day and the famous gals behind the successful brand Sunnies were there too for a shoot. Fast forward to two years later, Sunnies Café still remains as one of the favorite spots of millennials (and surprisingly titas of Manila as well). 

Love at First Bite: Hello Goodbites

I could never say no to cookies. I drool every time I get a whiff of freshly baked goodies and I hardly hesitate to click the like button whenever I see it in my feed. Lately, I'm in the hunt for cookies I could proudly give away for Christmas and I noticed a high school batch mate of mine offering her "rejects" for free. By rejects, I do not mean bad batch but more of it just came out the wrong size or cracked. Her strict quality control impressed me and piqued my interest. And a few days ago, I finally decided to comment on her post asking for the price list. 

Hi there, Hello Goodbites!

Hello Goodbites is a passion project by Loren Calo. What makes her cookie business a tough cookie to beat is that she ensures freshness in a different level. Your cookies are delivered as soon as it gets out of the oven! She bakes on weekdays and delivers it on the same day (or hour)! And if traffic cooperates, your order might reach your doorstep still warm. 

More Than Just Gelato: Morelli's Gelato Caffé,

Summer may be over but the intense Manila heat is here to stay, rain or shine. And with the scorching heat draining my energy and perhaps even my positive outlook in life, I need a cold treat on a daily basis. One of my favorites is gelato as its creamy texture never fail to make me smile from ear to ear. Hence, when I found out that Morelli's Gelato has something new in store for us, I had to know what's up. 

Hello, Morelli's Gelato Caffé.

Morelli's has been in Manila for about five years now with its first store at Shangri-La Plaza Mall's East Wing. A brand known for gelato, it actually has an interesting story behind each scoop sold and it could be traced all the way back to 1907. 

Adding Brrr this Ber Month: Dairy Queen's Cheesecake Blizzard Flavors

With Christmas just around the corner and the first BER month about to end in two weeks, I was expecting a cooler weather. But instead of sporting sweaters and jackets, I was still in my summer dress as I try to look for shelter, not from the rain, but from the scorching Manila heat. Yes, summer is still far from over and I sure am glad that we have Dairy Queen to save us from having a literal meltdown.

Hello, Dairy Queen. 

Dairy Queen has been one of my go to places for frozen treats. As the only brand I know that serves its ice cream upside down, it would be hard to forget DQ (as most of us fondly call it). 

First Bite: Cheesecake Stix

A meal is never complete without desserts. I've been used to having something sweet to cap my meal that despite being at the verge of bursting, I still find space for ice cream, cake or what-have-you. And last weekend, I had a mini food crawl with my sister which ended with feasting on cheesecake on a stick. Yes, on a stick!

Hello, Cheesecake Stix!

Cheesecake Stix became the talk of town when it launched its cheese cake on a stick.

First Bite: Hops & Brews

Hainanese Fried Chicken? Why, yes it exists. And it could just be a couple of blocks away from you! 

Hello, Hops & Brews. 

Located at the ground floor of the posh I'M Hotel, Hops & Brews has become a favorite hang out place of the hotel's guests and patrons as well as locals who frequent the area. 

Eastwood Mall Launches its First Ever Rainbow and Unicorns Fair this August

There's something about unicorns that make it so appealing to kids and kids at heart alike. I have to admit, I don't find unicorns that cute. But for some reason, I always find myself with goo-goo eyes whenever faced with some of these adorable fictional characters. And I drool whenever I see it in edible form. And if you happen to be fond of these colorful creatures or in denial to loving it, then you'd love what Megaworld has in store for you!

Eastwood Mall celebrates everything colorful this August with the first ever Rainbow and Unicorns Fair. It'll take place every weekend of the month at the mall's atrium. 

First Sip: Cattle Milkshake Bar

Milkshakes are like fashion. It has its classic and crazy years. We've seen and tasted clean, creamy milkshakes and we've also witnessed these drinks topped with burgers and what-have-you. As much as I love milkshakes, I often find myself avoiding it when I see it being ridiculously topped with everything in the candy store. I make a few exceptions though especially when I hear that the place is good.

Back for Seconds at 2nd's

I was so sad when I found out that 2nd's, the restaurant famous for its bacon chicharon closed down. I regretted not visiting it more often and I kept yearning for its leche flan turon. Thankfully, 2nd's decided to make a comeback and opened once again in BGC. 

Hello again, 2nd's! 

Now located at Forbestown, 2nd's now has brighter and slightly more feminine interiors. 

First Bite: Sobremesa

Sobremesa has been one of the most talked about restaurants when it opened. And how can it not make it to the social media world when it tries to address the society’s extreme addiction to gadgets. I’m sure that you remember this restaurant that had the witty idea of putting adorable small bird cages on every dining table where diners are encouraged to put their phones in. Yes, the idea behind it is to have a gadget-free meal and for people to actually talk to each other, in person. And to whoever cannot resist to check his or her phone, that person has to pay the bill of the whole group. Though I’m not exactly sure if diners actually locked their phones in, especially now with the need to document everything, it was and still is a great idea. I’ve been meaning to visit that restaurant for months now but traffic always gets in the way and I couldn’t drag anyone to go with me. But it was a different story a couple months back.

Hello, Sobremesa!

I was invited by The Menu Group to its blogger meet up a few months ago and I figured that this is finally my chance to visit the place as I have other foodies going with me.

Second Bite: Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar

It’s always fun having R’s sisters around as it means endless feasts! For last November’s visit, D was particularly excited with Raging Bull, Shangri-La at the Fort’s well-loved steak place, especially after finding out that this restaurant offers superb cocktails aside from its famous grilled meats. Soon, I found myself on my way to the posh hotel for one heavy lunch.

Hello again, Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar. 

The frustrated interior designer in me was tickled once more by Raging Bull’s sophisticated interiors. The combination of dark browns, blacks and whites never gets old. 

R’s family did the ordering and they chose Raging Bull Salad (PHP375), Maryland Crab Cakes (PHP475), Tomahawk Wagyu (PHP7,950) and Ribeye (PHP3,100). The kids asked for something to snack on while they wait for the meats and H ordered Josper Bone Marrow (PHP685) for them.

First served was the complementary Raging Bull bread and butter which we finished in just a few minutes as we were famished. 

I noticed that Raging Bull added mandarin oranges to its usual Mesclun mix, Gorgonzola, hazelnuts and Granny Smith apple slices topped with cider vinaigrette. I’m not complaining though as I love those small citrus goodness which went well with the delectable Gorgonzola cubes, nuts and greens. 

The Maryland Crab Cakes were good as always. I loved the contrast between the crunchy coating and the soft shredded crab meat filling. 

Josper Bone Marrow was served next which the kids fought over! It was just so funny how they argued on which bone marrow was bigger and who deserved it. They only kept quiet when they each got their portions. I wasn’t able to try this one as they literally licked the bone marrow! It must be that good.

A beautiful platter of ribeye was soon served and we feasted on it. 

Just like before, I paired my meat with various salts in order to fully appreciate the taste of the steak. Cooked medium in order not to dry up its juice, each bite was packed with flavors that made me sigh and my tastebuds sing hallelujah. 

The perfectly grilled meat was wonderfully complemented by grilled pumpkin slices, cream of spinach, buttered corn and mashed potatoes. I didn’t attempt to get rice as I’ve had too much carbs from the start of the meal. 

The Tomahawk Wagyu was served after and it was gigantic! The MS 5+ grain-fed meat had that divine beefy taste which you could get by simply getting a whiff of it. 

As my eyes sparkle at the sight of the huge piece of meat with a bone sticking out, R sliced me a portion and I began to indulge in the premium steak. 

It was succulent and barely required effort to chew. It was an instant crowd favorite though for some reason, I prefer ribeye more. 

As we continue to bring out a more sophisticated version of cavemen, I took a sip of my cocktail, Monkey Business (PHP400). 

The blend of Monkey Shoulder pure malt, homemade rosemary syrup, Griottes cherry juice and Whiskey barrel bitters was a bit too strong for a noontime drink. I got a bit woozy after reaching half of my glass. I guess I’m just not used to drinking anymore. 

But if you happen to fancy this drink, do watch the barista prepare it as it is very entertaining.

To cap our meal, we ordered Granny Smith Apple Cobbler (PHP340) which was absolutely perfect! I loved the crunchiness of the apple slices and how well it went with the puff. It was sweet yet not so sweet, making it great too for elders. 

And since it was R’s birthday weekend, we were given a complimentary cheesecake which was pretty good as well. It had great consistency and the berries were love. 

Overall, it was a pleasant lunch. I can’t wait to go back for more steaks! 

Raging Bull Chophouse & Bar is located at 3rd Floor, West Wing, Shangri-La at the Fort, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

When In Hong Kong: Hanjuku Kobo

I’m always on the lookout for lines whenever I travel. I always think that long queues mean good food or deals. And I spotted a relatively long line when I passed by Hanjuku Kobo.

Hello, Hanjuku Kobo!

Okay, perhaps the line isn’t long all the time. We passed by its Tsim Sha Tsui branch (near Nathan Road) thrice and there was barely a line around lunch time. Then again, it was because the store just opened and foodies must be busy having lunch that time. But after an hour or two, the place was packed with locals waiting for their turn to get hold of Hanjuku Kobo’s pastries. 

The long line made me curious and I told R that I want to buy some of the shop's cheese tarts and cheesecakes. But R is allergic to lines and we stayed inside our hotel and napped instead after lunch. 

There was still a line when we headed out for dinner. My curiosity got the best of me and with my best puppy eyes, I asked R if we could line up and buy a few. And he finally agreed. We were fourth in line outside. (The staff control the number of people inside their small shop and I was part of the next batch.)

Hanjuku Kobo has a very limited product range. It only has cheesecakes, cheese tarts and a few other cakes. I went with a box of cheesecakes and two cheese tarts just so we get to try it. Our total was around HK$119 if I’m not mistaken. I recall that the box of 5 costs around HK$75 and the tarts were HK$22 each. 

The wait wasn’t that long as the ones in line sure know what they want. We got our treats in less than 20 minutes. 

And because these goodies could melt, the shop placed some ice packs inside to keep our cheesecakes and tarts cool. There was a problem though… the thin paper bag melted instead. We had to transfer the boxes to another paper bag and eventually get rid of the ice packs. 

I immediately opened the boxes as soon as we got to our hotel. 

The cheesecake had a light taste. it would have been perfect with tea. I loved that it was so moist and fluffy. 

The cheese tarts though were way better! It had a stronger taste and I loved its slight tangy taste! The crust was crunchy and it complemented the soft and smooth filling. It was divine! I would fly to Hong Kong just to get my hands on these tarts! 

Make sure that you include Hanjuku Kobo in your Hong Kong itinerary. 

Tip: Hanjuku Kobo's Causeway Bay branch has less crowd.

A Cheesy Affair: Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory

2016 seems to be the year of Japanese food brands. Many anticipated the opening of Pablo and even lined up for it for hours! Now that Pablo is a thing of the past for some, others are now looking forward to Bake and LeTAO. But before that, there was another Japanese brand that turned foodies into cheese fanatics. Yes, I’m talking about Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory. This brand, despite making the wallet scream, received a warm welcome from the market. 

Hello, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory!

First Bite: Café Lidia

After 9 hours of eating, we have finally reached the last stop of our Marikina food crawl. And just when we thought we’ll just have a spoonful of each dish, we were spoiled with mouthwatering pasta dishes, pizzas, meats and cakes! And we simply could not say no to those!

Hello, Café Lidia.

Café Lidia is one of the pioneer restaurants in Marikina and has been well-loved by residents and foodies alike. Most have seen this establishment grow from a humble restaurant to a space that could cater to special occasions like weddings and birthday parties. And I was surprised that at almost 9 pm, the place was still packed with diners. 

The place has this Hispanic or Old Manila feel with its brick walls, wooden furniture and lovely pond. 

As we waited for the dishes we were about to sample, I browsed through the menu and was impressed with the number of dishes Café Lidia offers. They have several viands, pasta, pizza and cakes to choose from.

First Bite: 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining

I got this random SMS from Angelo one evening inviting me to this family owned restaurant along Ubay Street. I am quite familiar with the restaurant as I’ve seen a handful of posts a few days back by Splat Manila. It was perfect timing as I was also invited to Miriam College’s cooking simulation scheduled on the same day where I was assigned as a food critic. *Woohoo!* Anyway, since I was already in Quezon City, I figured that it was the food gods way of telling me to say yes. And I did. 

Hello, 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining!

I had no idea that Banawe is quite far from Katipunan. What was supposed to be a 25 minute trip turned into an hour and half drive thanks to the holiday road madness. But my annoyance with traffic was soon swept away when I saw the homey facade of 13 Ubay St. Comfort Dining.

We went straight to the second floor where the new menu launch was held. Almost everyone was already there when we arrived and the program already started.

We were given some welcome drinks and we could choose between Ginmansi (PHP200) and 13th Old Fashion (PHP200). I chose Ginmansi while K chose the latter. 

When in Pampanga: Amare by Chef Chris

I have been bugging my foodie friends to organize a Pampanga food crawl as this city is a foodie paradise. But every time we plan to visit, it never pushes through. Hence I was so happy when ForkSpoonManila invited me to his Pampanga food crawl with some of food and lifestyle influencers. It was a mix of restaurants, retail and recreational stops making it a trip to remember. Our first stop… Amare by Chef Chris. 

Hello Amare by Chef Chris!

Our first stop has a fancy feel to it given that it’s at the ground floor of Royce Hotel. 

We were warmly  greeted by the very hands-on Chef Chris and introduced himself in a way very familiar to us… that he used to be the chef of C’ Italian Dining famous for its rollizza. 

First Bite: Lemuria

R wanted to bring me to this fancy place that he finds really beautiful. Luckily, we scored a Deal Grocer promo for its six course degustation at PHP1,450 per head. Not bad. Not bad at all. 

Hello, Lemuria!

I made a reservation for two at 6 p.m. one Sunday and we got there a bit past 6 as traffic was a bit crazy in Quezon City. 

We were greeted by one of the staff in butler outfit and assisted R with parking. When we step foot inside Lemuria, I was awed by the restaurant’s well tended garden and picturesque interiors. 

We were the only diners when we arrived. It was like R reserved the whole place for us. <3

We were served some complimentary bread with butter and balsamic vinegar to start our meal. 

There were two kinds of bread, both warm and fragrant. I liked the darker one with nuts as it was moist and way softer. The pale coloured bread was rather tough.

After a few minutes, we were given our first course, the Amuse Bouche, which is basically cherry tomato with cheese. 

The serving size was too small for it to leave a lasting impression. I totally forgot about it when I slurped the next dish which was the Caramelized Cabbage Soup with Lardoons and Sour Cream. 

The soup reminded me of some Chinese cabbage soup, only creamier and a tinge of sourness. 

Next served was the Sautéed Kale and White Onions with Chorizo and Crumbled Goat Cheese.