First Bite: St. Louis House of Fine Ice Cream & Dessert

Always save room for desserts. I've been using that line as an excuse to get my hands on some sweets even after indulging in a heavy meal. After all, there's a separate tummy space or compartment for cakes, ice cream and everything sweet right? 

Hello, St. Louis. 

This Australian cafe and ice cream parlor has been a favorite of many. I was told that this place offers not just great treats but superb service as well. 

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). 

La Lola Flies to Singapore!

La Lola has been spoiling us with its freshly made churros and its rich chocolate dip since December 2014. Now with 16 strong stores nationwide and offering a mix of sweet and savory bites and drinks, La Lola is ready to fly and spread happiness outside the Philippines.

La Lola Churreria flies to Singapore!

Yes, the brand that was conceptualize and grew in Manila is now on its way to Clarke Quay, Singapore. 

One Stop Shop For All Things Scrumptious: Alternatives Food Corporation

As much as I love to travel, I also enjoy being at home and making a mess in the kitchen. Though cleaning up afterwards is not as fun, seeing the pleased faces of the people I cook for is very rewarding. And a couple weeks back, I tried some of Alternatives Food Corporation's (AFC) products which made our weekend extra special.

One of the dishes R and I love to indulge in on a lazy weekend is freshly made potato crisps. 

First Bite: La Maripili

Churro has been one of my go-to afternoon snacks ever since my mom spoiled me to trips to the classic Dulcinea. I've been an avid fan of this deep-fried treat dipped in thick hot chocolate and I couldn't help myself from ordering it every time I see it on the menu or at the amusement park. 

Hello, La Maripili.

La Maripili is no stranger to southern folks. After all, this is where its all started. It has been talked about and hyped that it made me want to brave the traffic just for a serving of churros. But my schedule was uncooperative and I ended up just drooling over the photos. Thankfully, it opened another branch at Ayala Malls the 30th. 

First Bite: Nomi Matcha and Açaí

I'm a big fan of matcha. Perhaps it's because of my intense love for anything Japanese. But there is something about matcha that I find very endearing. It's my go-to treat whenever I indulged in something (too) sinful  as a cup or two of this green wonder would make me feel less guilty. But what I love most about matcha is how it evolved from a drink made from a very precised tea ceremonies into a modern and casual treat which ranges from drinks to desserts. I've also tried some savory dishes infused with green tea! Though there are hits and misses here and there, I'm always open to trying out new matcha places. And a few weeks back, a new matcha player opened in BGC so...

Hello, Nomi Matcha and Açaí!

Nomi, or drink in Japanese, is the first food venture of three Japanese friends who thought of giving the well-loved matcha a modern take. 

Situated at the ground floor of W City Center along 5th Avenue, the first thing I noticed was its brightly lit space and its light-colored interiors with touches of green and pink. 

First Bite: Taco Bell

Would you believe me if I tell you that I've never been to Taco Bell before? Well, aside from it having few branches in Manila, I'm always more inclined to visit a non-fast food Mexican joint for my taco fix. I'd find myself just walk past its purple and yellow facade without any second thought. But last week was different. 

Hello, Taco Bell. 

I was at Trinoma last week for the opening of my favorite yogurt, llaollao. I came in a bit too early for the VIP party so I decided to look for a place to have late lunch instead. I was leaning towards getting Turks Shawarma but I bumped into a friend who wanted to go for Taco Bell. Since I've never been to Taco Bell, I figured that it's not a bad idea.

We saw this meal for two that includes nachos, fries with sour cream, tacos, churros and drinks priced at less than PHP400. Sweet deal right?

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 Bite: Vanderlust Bistro + Patisserie

Missing the dishes you've had during your European tour? Or curious what Germany, Italy and Spain have to offer aside from the usual fare you get from other restaurants here in Manila? Look no further as Vanderlust is here to satisfy your tummy's wanderlust desires. 

Hello, Vanderlust Bistro + Patisserie!

Tucked inside one of the small streets of Tomas Morato is this quaint restaurant that became popular for its Schneeball, a traditional German pastry that you smash with a mallet.

First Sip: La Lola Churreria

I had to visit a few showrooms a few months back and booked an Uber before things become chaotic. I got a call after getting in my Uber car and was informed that I could use the company car and have one of the guys drive me around. Sweet was the first word that came to mind. But it turned really bitter, salty, umami… anything but sweet, when things became crazy. And let me explain why.

Since the company car was finally available, I decided to be dropped off at Uptown Mall and wait for the car to pick me up. I was told that the driver was on his way but it will take him at least 15 minutes to reach me. It’s such a waste to just sit inside the mall and count the number of flies that pass by so I went up to La Lola Churreria and bought Iced Mocha (PHP130, large) to go. 

There was a bit of order back log so I had to wait for a while before my drink was served. 

But the servers do not seem to be proactive as they did not trigger my number to activate (or vibrate and light up) when my drink was ready to be served. I noticed my drink, alone on the counter, yearning to be loved. I asked the server if the drink was mine and true enough, it was my iced mocha. The server apologized though after I told her that I wasn’t sure if it was mine as my number did not light up. 

Not sure if it was because this La Lola branch was new but these servers needed to be trained. They also kept on chatting with each other making the preparation time longer. 

Anyway, my iced mocha drink was lovely. It wasn’t that sweet and it had a nice chocolatey and tinge of caffeine taste. The texture was slightly rough so try not to order this if you have an itchy throat.

*Continuation of bitter, salty, umami story: The driver eventually managed to pick me up after half an hour and we had to go back to the office to change cars as the car he brought was coding that day. We quickly switched cars and went out again. But the driver got a call from an irate colleague and demanded the car to be returned as his bike was in the trunk of the car. In short, I ended commuting again and wasted almost an hour and half from this mishap. :(

La Lola is located at 3rd Floor, Uptown Mall, 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. It is just a few steps away from the Uptown Cinemas. 

First Bite: Isla Una

I make sure that I visit at least two restaurants whenever I go to Ortigas. With the horrific traffic, I just have to maximize my trip. And when I was invited to a sponsored dinner at City Golf, I had to look for another restaurant to visit afterwards. I then remembered that there is this picturesque Filipino restaurant that was featured countless times in several blogs. 

Hello, Isla Una.

Isla Una’s interiors is like haven in a sea of pubs and bars within City Golf. Though technically also a bar, its interiors say otherwise. Or at least for the ground floor. I couldn’t really comment on the second floor dining area as C and I were already too comfortable with the couch by the leafy wall on the ground floor.

Since we just had dinner, C and I opted to just order some cocktails and desserts. We went with Yema Palitaw (PHP130) and Churros (PHP150) for our sweets and Alamat ng Pinya (PHP160) and Mayora (PHP200) for drinks. 

It seemed that everyone wanted to enjoy the live band on the second floor as we owned the whole ground floor to ourselves. It was perfect too as we could move from one table to the next in search for the best light to take photos without bothering anyone. 

And after table hopping for 10 or so minutes, we began to eat and sip. 

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*

La Lola Churreria Matcha Churros

I have dreamt of Matcha Churros ever since R messaged the Matcha Cult Group of looloo about it. But I heard the sad news that all La Lola branches do not have it. Apparently, they were sold out. (I was not convinced though as I didn't see a single post about it.) 

Anyway, since La Lola ignored C's IG message, I looked for SM Aura branch's number and messaged them. That was when I found out that they ran out but will be serving more soon. I asked them to message me when they have it again and waited...

Then I got a sweet message this morning from La Lola saying that Matcha Churros is once again available! Weeee! (I have to admit, I wasn't expecting them to message me based from previous experiences where I requested to be updated.) 

I went to the SM Aura branch during lunch and there I saw... Matcha Churros! It was love at first sight, smell and touch. 

I got the smallest pack (6s, PHP245) and had it to go.

It was your usual churros covered with matcha and drizzled with white chocolate. It was sooooo good! 

It was crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside. It wasn't very sweet and the matcha taste was strong enough to please matcha lovers.

I just hope that they offer this per stick. An order of 6 is too much for me. 

Aside from SM Aura, La Lola Matcha Churros are also available in UP Town Center, Estancia, SM North Edsa, Serendra, Eastwood, SM Megamall and Robinson Manila.

Love at First Bite: Café Enye

I have heard of Café Enye since last year. It sure captured my interest after reading positive reviews about it in looloo. I was so intrigued that I even begged my family to eat there instead of the ribs place a few blocks away a few months ago. But since it was my uncle’s birthday and he chose Big D’s Smokehouse, I had to give up my intense desire to visit this place. (Yes, I’m that passionate with food.) Then again, food gods love me and I finally got a chance to visit this place last week.

Hello, Café Enye!

I visited the place around 12 noon on a Monday and I was the only diner that time.

The place has a warm ambiance with its predominantly brown interiors. The server who assisted me was very friendly and pleasant too. 

Since I have been stalking this restaurant for quite some time, I already knew what to order. The only problem is, since I was alone that time, I had to trim down my long must-try list. I ended up ordering Chicken Mojo Skewers (PHP330), Chouxros with Dulce de Leche Cream (PHP170) and Calamansi-Cucumber (PHP90).

Service was quite prompt as I was just about to start blogging when my drink arrived. 

It was the perfect thirst-quenching drink. It was refreshing with a bit of zest. I loved it! <3 

My main dish was served next and it was a very pretty dish. I instantly fell in love with the citrus marinated chicken skewers. I may be a bit biased as I love anything tangy. But this dish is a  definite winner. It had a delightful balance of saltiness and tanginess. Also, the chicken cubes were cooked to perfection. Each bite was juicy and packed with flavor. 

Love at First Bite: La Lola Churreria

A few weeks ago, I saw a Nokia Snake Level 10 line while buying taho at Powerplant Mall. Apparently, there’s a new craze in town and it’s the churros of La Lola Churreria. New? Yes. Yummy? I heard. Game? Definitely!!! Long queues never fail to make me curious.

Hello, La Lola Churreria!

We got to the place around 1 PM and the line was more manageable that time so we decided to join the craze.

I wanted to try all but K and E were hesitant with the idea as we were still going to visit Salt for lunch and it could kill our appetite. (And I was thinking… right! As if that could kill my appetite! I even had sorbetes before heading to the churros place.)

Anyway, we all compromised and just ordered Classic Churros (PHP110, medium 6 pcs | PHP195, large 12 pcs | PHP275 Xlarge 18 pcs) and Xuxos or stuffed churros—Nutella, Strawberry and Peanut Butter (PHP120 each). We also got a large Hot Chocolate Dip (PHP100).

 

The Classic Churros with Hot Chocolate Dip were served on a paper cone and you may eat it while walking or stick the cone on the table (the tables have holes for the pointy part of the cone) and eat it while people watching.

Restaurant Discovery: Brown's Gourmet Chicken

Christmas season means lunch and dinner out with different groups of people. For my department’s Christmas dinner/party, we decided to try Brown’s Gourmet Chicken, a roasted chicken restaurant in Greenfield District. I saw it early December and it sure made me curious. Luckily, when I suggested that place, I got the department’s sweet yes.

Hello, Brown’s Gourmet Chicken!

The place is simply adorable. The wall décor is so warm and homey.

The second floor is equally charming. It’s also a great place for an intimate gathering for a group less than 20.

After appreciating the cute décor and kidding on stealing the wooden reindeer, we started to place our orders. I went with the 1/4 Roasted Chicken with 1 Rice and 1 Side (PHP170, but I changed my rice to eggs and leek which costs PHP45), Mushroom and Spinach Croquette (PHP120), Ginger and Basil Shake (PHP110), and Churros + Blonde Mocha (PHP120).

Service was quick as my appetizer arrived in less than 10 minutes.

The Mushroom and Spinach Croquette has a crispy batter. Unfortunately, they used too much of it that I could hardly taste the mushroom and spinach. It was an okay dish though for an appetizer.

It is also available in whole that comes with 4 side dishes and rice (PHP620)

Restaurant Discovery: Calderon Spanish Cocina Tapas y Bebidas

Since most of us had to leave by 4 p.m., we opted to have our last Kapitolyo food stop at Calderon. Yes, I have never been to this well-loved paella place. I guess I'm not really much of a foodie (or I am just stuck in Kapitolyo-Ortigas area... which I am changing now). 

Hello, Calderon!

The place looks so homey and the Real Living girl in me went crazy with the warm hues of the interiors. I love it!

Since we were already full from our last three stops (including Kool Kids which I have yet to blog), we decided to go for one paella for sharing. We went with the usual Paella Valenciana (PHP780 for Pequeno). We were supposed to order churros too but they ran out. :(

While waiting, we were given a wait basket of bread which J enjoyed. We didn't mind waiting too as we were busy playing Cards Against Humanity. 

After 20 minutes (which the server mentioned beforehand), our paella was served. It was so photogenic! I had fun taking photos of it. It doesn't have a bad angle at all.

Restaurant Discovery: Boqueria

When you get older, it's so hard to schedule a regular lunch date with your friends. There will always be someone who would be busy, someone who has to cancel last minute, and someone who's too in love to meet the friends. But when we do meet, we talk like there's no tomorrow with a few breaks to chew our food. I'm usually the resident PRO so I schedule the meet ups and this time, we decided to block March 8 and explore the Fashion Hall of SM Megamall.

Since we didn't decide on where to eat, I took the liberty to decide for us. I've been targeting Boqueria for quite some time but my mom wanted burger (thus a trip to 8 Cuts) during my first trip to the new hall and I saw a new Japanese place (Osaka Ohsho) the second time I went. So, third time's the charm I guess. ;)

The place wasn't packed when I arrived and managed to get a table right away. They seem to have a shortage with menus though as the server asked if he could borrow my menu for a while. He returned it in less than 5 minutes though. 

I browsed the menu long enough to make me look less of a loner and decided to get the following: Pulpo a la Gallega (PHP280), Salpicon de Mariscon (PHP198), Cocido de Madrilena (I forgot to take note of the price), and a glass of Apple Iced Tea.

Since I was already hungry, I started getting a few bites off the appetizers but I try to spread the food to make it less obvious. The baby octopus was delicious! It wasn't as chewy as squid and I just love munching it. One order is good for two but I can finish it myself. (It's the glutton me talking here.)

My First Bite: Sancho Churreria Manila

Ever since I saw a post claiming that a quaint restaurant along Maginhawa serves the best churros in town, I’ve been itching to go back to Maginhawa to try it myself. I’ve always been in love with Dulcinea’s churros and I wondered if I’ll have an affair with a new one.

 

We were still in our “Invade Maginhawa” mode but it was almost 5PM then. We didn’t care if our tummies were about to explode. We just have to check this place out.