Breakfast at Angels' Kitchen

Angels' Kitchen is one of Greenhills' dining gems. Having been around before all the quirky food trends and social media hypes, this place is known to serve straightforward, no-frills, homey dishes. And we decided to try its breakfast dishes one Wednesday morning.

Hello, Angels' Kitchen.

Bright and clean was my first impression of Angels' Kitchen as soon as I stepped inside the restaurant with its minimalist interiors, paper table covers, and simple silverware.

First Sip: Cup Point

Sunnies Studios seamlessly grew its brand from fashion to food as if the two go hand in hand. By tickling everyone's love for aesthetics, Sunnies even attracted the non-lipstick user me to check out its famous Fluffmatte lipsticks. And I actually liked it that I bought two! And to celebrate my new beauty finds, I dropped by Sunnies' cutesy coffee shop, Cup Point. 

Hello, Cup Point!

Cup Point is the slightly hidden cafe behind Sunnies Specs SM Megamall. 

First Bite: Bake House Manila

I love hanging out at Shangri-La at the Fort. Aside from its amazing restaurants, I find its lounge the perfect place to have some work done. And I was beyond thrilled when I got word that it opened a new shop to showcase its pastries and desserts. 

Hello, Bake House Manila. 

Bake House is Shangri-La at the Fort's newest food concept. It is hard to miss as it's located at the main lobby of the hotel, just at the opposite side of High Street Cafe. 

Promo Alert: Scoop All You Can at Papa Diddi's this July 15

National Ice Cream Day is coming right up and there's no better way to celebrate this yummy day than to indulge in several scoops of ice cream. And Papa Diddi's is bound to make you look forward to Monday with its mouthwatering Scoop All You Can this July 15!

Hello, Papa Diddi's.

Papa Diddi's started with small store along the foodie district Maginhawa focused on creating unique handcrafted ice cream flavors. Such gave this ice cream joint an edge in the ever competitive food scene and eventually gained a strong following and patrons who would visit this shop despite having other more convenient options. Fast forward to 2019, it grew to have two other branches-- one in Libis and another in Poblacion. 

First Bite: Elephant Grounds Opens in Manila

Bonifacio Global City is staying true to the word global with the number of international brands and concepts filling all those empty spaces in the growing business district. Shake Shack just opened a few months ago and it was not too long before foodies shifted their attention towards another brand-- Elephant Grounds.

Hello, Elephant Grounds.

Elephant Grounds is finally open after almost a month long delay and its jam-packed shop is enough to prove that many were waiting to get a sip of its famous coffee and a taste of its ice cream and food curated and developed by Chef Nicco Santos. I actually haven't visited its main store in Hong Kong but I've heard from a few foodies that this place serves great food and drinks. And that was enough to keep me excited. 

Singapore in Manila: Nanyang

I have been a fan of Nanyang's delicious Kaya Toast ever since I got hold of it last December. It has been one of my favorite afternoon spots in BGC. But ever since I started working in Quezon City, I hardly get to visit its High Street branch. Thankfully, it opened a branch at SM Megamall which is closer to work. 

Hello again, Nanyang!

Its SM Megamall branch is quite smaller than its BGC counterparts. But its prime location at the ground floor of building A (beside Breadtalk) makes it hard to miss. 

Skin Care 101: The Body Shop's June Product Highlights

Skin care is one of the things I used to put on the back seat until I saw some dreaded lines on my forehead and eyes whenever I smile. But finding the right brands could be tricky. I usually play it safe and stick with the ones my skin's used to. And one of the brands I often buy from is The Body Shop. 

Hello, The Body Shop.

The Body Shop has been my go to shop back when I was in high school. It was also the first make up brand I bought as it has this tea tree line that saved me from all those nasty blemishes. And fast forward to 2019, I'm still a loyal fan of The Body Shop but now focuses more on its skin care line (and the perfect perfumes especially for Manila's humid weather).

Harlan+Holden Coffee now open in BGC

We've all heard the saying "Time is Gold" when we were younger. But it was only a few years back when I got a better understanding of what it truly meant. With the feeling that 24 hours a day not enough to have things done, I tried so many hacks to make myself more efficient. But I still end up rushing doing this and that, especially getting from point A to point B. Thankfully, there are a bunch of online services and apps to help me multitask and I sure am glad that there's a coffee shop that thought of a way to save us coffee lovers precious minutes.

Hello, Harlan+Holden Coffee!

The posh retail shop Harlan+Holden finally opens another branch of its coffee shop concept and this time, it's at One Bonifacio High Street!

EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG) in Makati

EDSA Beverage Design Group has made a name in the local community as one of the prominent players in the third wave coffee industry. With its first branch aptly located along EDSA, it has received a lot of love from caffeine aficionados. Focusing more on quality and its coffee studio, it took this cafe 4 years before it decided to open another branch. And this time, it was at the posh The Grid food hall in Powerplant Mall. 

Hello, EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG). 

EDSA BDG is the first stall you'll see when you enter The Grid. Serving as the beverage counter for the food hall's concessionaires, this cafe offers more than a good cup of joe. 

Late Bites: Coffee Project

There are times when I get bitten by the lazy bug and couldn't drag myself to cook something to eat. Thankfully, there are a bunch of places to grab food within my area. And last weekend, I visited our neighborhood's Coffee Project. 

Hello, Coffee Project.

Coffee Project has been a popular Instagram spot since it opened a few years back. I was actually lured to visit its first store in Quezon City because of its picturesque interiors. However, its food and drinks did not exactly match its wonderful look. 

First Bite: Katherine's Café

Homey restaurants never fail to get my attention. I'd often find myself approaching it and checking its menu. Such was the case with Katherine's Café when I passed by it on my way to Mama Lou's. 

Hello, Katherine's Café. 

Brightly lit with a bit of Julia Child vibe, Katherine's Café was bustling with hungry guests when I dropped by for lunch last Thursday. 

First Sip: Malongo Atelier Barista Café

Manila has come a long way--from being a city with limited options to a melting pot of local and global brands. With several new concepts and international brands opening here and there, it is not surprising to see your travel favorites opening a store just around the corner. And for those who went to France, this brand must be a familiar one. 

Hello, Malongo Atelier Barista Café.

With its 85 years of expertise, it is not surprising for Malongo to be one of the sought after coffee brands by taste makers. The family firm grew from a small coffee roastery in Nice, France and into a global leader in fair trade coffees and bio-coffees. And last year, its Malongo Atelier Barista Café has finally reached Asia and opened its first in Manila. But it wasn't until it opened its BGC branch when I got a sip of Malongo's famous coffee. 

First Bite: 205

New restaurants never fail to make my eyes sparkle. I feel like a crow lured by anything shiny and that I just have to go nearer. And when I spotted 205, I just have to check it out.

Hello, 205.

Shimmering with its gold and marble interiors, 205 is one eye catching restaurant along Bonifacio High Street Central. 

First Bite: The Community Kitchen

Nothing makes me happier more than finding an off the radar restaurant. And Christmas sure came in early when I got to try The Community Kitchen.

Hello, The Community Kitchen. 

The insane Manila traffic usually force me to pick just one place where I could do all the things I have to do--bank errands, grocery shopping and have a good meal. It's getting rarer and rarer for me to drive out of the way just for a meal. But I usually discover a gem worth finding whenever I do. And such was the case with The Community Kitchen. 

Northern Chronicles: Kiss the Tiramisu opens its second branch in Trinoma

I always look forward to December as it means cooler breeze and sweater weather. But I don't think it's happening this year as it's still scorching hot despite being only a few weeks away from Christmas. Thankfully, there are cold treats to keep me sane. And I was thrilled to find out that the famous Korean dessert shop Kiss the Tiramisu finally opened its second branch. This time, in Trinoma!

Hello, Kiss the Tiramisu.

Kiss the Tiramisu is a popular Korean dessert shop that was born from a simple idea of combining two sweet favorites-- ice cream and tiramisu. Served a bit more "extra" by having it on a plastic gold-rimmed goblet which you can bring home, it became an instant hit, not just in Korea but in several countries as well, including Canada and the Philippines!

First Sip: M&S Café

Marks & Spencer has been known as one of the major British multinational retailers offering quality garments, body care and snacks. But it was during my random hunt for a cold drink when I discovered that Marks & Spencer also has a café.

Hello, M&S Café.

I got excited when I found out that Marks & Spencer is no longer just a bakery but a café with a wide selection of beverages.

First Sip: Black Scoop Cafe

Manila has turned into a milk tea crazy city. Most, if not all, milk tea stores in malls are packed with customers. Coco, Gong Cha, Dakasi, Serenitea, Happy Lemon, YiFang, ChaTime, Macao Imperial, Dakasi, you name it, each one has a strong following. But one brand that was quite off the radar is Black Scoop. 

Hello, Black Scoop Cafe.

Black Scoop opened its first store along the foodie strip Maginhawa last July. It didn't really make much buzz when it opened and I wouldn't have heard about this place if Let's Eat Pare's founder, M didn't mention it during an event we both attended. 

First Bite: Manna & Golde

The crazy influx of new restaurants could be overwhelming for most of us. We'd often find it difficult to decide on which restaurant to try. And with most establishments heavily focusing on online marketing, those with more humble budgets are left to be discovered offline. One restaurant/café I've recently found was Manna & Golde. 

Hello, Manna & Golde.

Located along Kamuning Road, this café is rather away from the bustling streets packed with restaurants. However, one thing I loved right away here is that it has parking for guests.

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. 

Now in BGC: Soru Izakaya

Known for its arty plating of maki rolls, Soru Izakaya has been flocked by millennials who want content for their social media pages. But unlike restaurants and concepts that focused on just aesthetics, Soru Izakaya was able to balance both by offering eye pleasing dishes that also satisfy the taste buds. 

Hello, Soru Izakaya.

I have to admit, I was a bit pessimistic with this concept surviving the ever so competitive Manila food scene. As one of the few restaurants that offer relatively expensive dishes in Maginhawa, a neighborhood known for affordable grub, Soru Izakaya has a lot on its plate. But fast forward to 2018, it now has two branches with its newest one in Burgos Circle, Fort Bonifacio.