Quarantine Favorite: Hungry Apron PH's Hainanese Chicken

Time flies by so fast. I can't believe that I'll be giving birth in a few weeks. And as much as I dread it, I am considering to do ge lai as it is said to help post-partum. But I discovered a dish that I think would make me look forward to eating gingery food!

Hello, Hungry Apron PH. 

I love Hainanese chicken. Sadly, I seldom find good ones here in Manila. More often than not, I'd end up having dry or bland ones that are highly dependent on the ginger spring onion sauce. Thankfully, the brilliant people behind Matt's Waffles decided to share their amazing Hainanese chicken with us.

Guilt-Free Snack: K-Radish Pickled Radish

I used to think that all kimchis are made and taste the same. My first ever bite of kimchi was beyond appalling that I refused to eat kimchi for almost a decade! Talk about the saying 'first impression lasts'. But after discovering how great ssambaps are, I became open to the idea of having kimchi with my Korean BBQ. I even fell in love with kimchi fried rice to the point of having it for breakfast at least once a week. And one of my favorite snacks now is Kimchi Radish by K-Radish.

Hello, K-Radish.

K-Radish is the brainchild of two doctors who know their way in the kitchen. Drs. Harris and Marie Co came up with the idea of offering pickled radish during the nationwide quarantine and thought that it would be a perfect snack to have while watching our favorite K-Dramas. 

Quarantine Favorite: The Ordinary Sip's White Fungus Dessert

One of the best things we can do for ourselves during this global pandemic is to strengthen our immune system. We could do so by exercising or eating the right food. The first option is becoming too difficult for me when I enter my 9th month of pregnancy, so I try my best to eat nutritious food for me and my baby, Sam. And I'm so happy to discover a delectable treat that not only tastes so good but packed with health benefits perfect for expectant moms like me. 

Hello, The Ordinary Sip.

The Ordinary Sip is the newest brainchild of the talented girls behind Nacho Macho MNL. This time around, they came up with a not so usual dessert that R and I love. 

First Sip: Koomi

Yogurt isn't everyone's top pick when it comes to dessert. Filipinos prefer sweets over something tangy for a sweet ending. But we've noticed a shift in consumer behavior these past few years. With more consumers becoming health-conscious, yogurt brands started to become a great alternative to ice cream and even milk tea. And it was timely for Koomi to enter the Manila food scene. 

Hello, Koomi.

Koomi is a well-known Aussie yogurt-based drink brand with a wide array of equally healthy flavors. And to cater to the local market, Koomi offers two yogurt bases, Aussie, a blend with sharper and sourer flavor, and Filipino, which has a sweeter taste.

Food Delivery: Go! Salads Smoothie Kits

Eating healthy has been a challenge for me for years. I grew up spoiled with chips, soda, chocolates, and everything one would consider far from nutritious. But the availability of fresh produce made me want to have a healthier lifestyle. And being pregnant made me more motivated to stick to it. Thankfully, Go! Salads got my back when it comes to power smoothies!

Hello, Go! Salads.

Go! Salads is known for their fresh and convenient salad bowls. With several mixes to choose from, it's hard to get bored with eating healthy. For an extra dose of fiber and vitamins, many indulge in its delicious smoothies. And you can now have these guilt-free drinks at home!

Food Delivery Favorite: Candishhh Bakes' Focaccia

I have a weak spot for bread. I find freshly baked bread so irresistible that I could never say no to it. And when I was asked by D if she could send me some of her focaccia bread, I quickly said yes! 

Hello, Candishhh Bakes!

You may have heard of Candishhh if you are actively reading food blogs. She has been blogging since 2005! Yes, she started more than a decade before the word influencer became a widely used term. She has always been one of the bloggers I trust.

Food Delivery: Otter Breads' Sourdough Bread and Sourdough Pancakes

Manila's three-month lockdown has turned many into bakers. My social media feeds have been full of cookie, buns, and cake photos that I thought I was browsing through a bakeshop catalog. But one particular post caught my interest. And that was Otter Breads' sourdough pancakes. 

Hello, Otter Breads.

The power duo behind Fat Girls Day Out has been busy baking sourdough loaves for months before it officially launched Otter Breads last April. 

First Bite: Big Ben's Gourmet Imus Longganisa

Big Ben's is one of Imus, Cavite's gems when it comes to longganisa. It has been known for its delectable Original Garlic Adobo Longganisa which is packed with bold flavors along with crowd favorites Garlic Hamunado and Gourmet Bottled Longganisa. But this charmer down south has a lot more to offer.

Hello, Big Ben's Gourmet Imus Longganisa.

Big Ben's has been around for a couple of years now but I haven't had the chance to drop by its Cavite restaurant. And I wouldn't have guessed that my first time to try it was during Manila's lockdown. 

My First Pabili Experience

The Enhanced Community Quarantine made me into an online shopaholic! I get easily influenced to buy whatever I see posted on social media. And when I spotted the seasonal (and rather evasive) star apple on Instagram, I had a sudden strong desire to have some too. After all, summer is never complete without indulging in a few of this delicious fruit. But with our helpers having no access to the market, I had to ask for help online. And here's my kaimito story.

Star Apple or what most Filipinos know as Kaimito is a summer staple. It's so seasonal that it is often out of the market in less than a month. 

I wanted some during the first few weeks of the Manila lockdown and messaged several online fruit stores. Unfortunately, none carry star apple. I got desperate and posted on Let's Eat Pare hoping to get a lead on where to buy. One suggested that I add myself to those pabili Facebook groups. 

ECQ Favorite: Orell's by Pempeyo

Being stuck at home surely made resisting junk food an everyday challenge during the lockdown. I grew up snacking on chips and sweet stuff while lounging on the sofa as I  watched my favorite shows. Thankfully, I discovered a healthier alternative to satisfy my desire to snack.  

Hello, Orell's!

Orell's is a local brand known for its superb crunchy snacks. It carries crowd favorites banana thins (in original and cinnamon flavors), potato thins, cassava thins, taro thins, and sweet potato thins. 

ECQ Favorite: Soy Bueno

I love taho. It never fails to make me smile and do quick cardio in the morning whenever I hear "tahooooo". But the lockdown caused by COVID-19 made it hard for me to get hold of my favorite morning snack. Sure, there are a bunch of online shops selling taho but most offer chilled taho which I dislike. Thankfully, I stumbled upon Soy Bueno. 

Hello, Soy Bueno. 

Soy Bueno seems to be a relatively new brand based on its social media activities. But newbie or not, this brand sure knows how to make its customers happy in the morning!

Go! Salad Celebrates Anniversary with P99 Fresh Farm Salads

Salad was never a staple in a typical Filipino meal. It was often associated with diet and seen to be not as good as other savory dishes like fried chicken, bulalo, crispy pata and so on. But that was all in the past. Filipinos today are smarter consumers and understand the importance of greens in one's diet. And thanks to Go! Salads, it's so much easier to have a healthier lifestyle. Its promo this month makes it even more pocket-friendly too!

Hello, Go! Salads.

Go! Salads celebrates its 7th Year with a great treat for everyone! Grab your favorite Farm Fresh Salads for just PHP99 from March 13 to 17, 2020.

Avocadoria: One of the Biggest Food Trends of 2019

From mango float to avocado ice cream, fruity desserts was undeniably one of the biggest food trends last 2019. I had a terrible experience with the mango float craze though that it took me a long while before trying its avocado counterpart. And I'm glad to share that my Avocadoria experience was a lot better. 

Hello, Avocadoria. 

Avocadoria grew to be one of the hottest brands in 2019 when several media outlets and influencers took notice of this dessert kiosk. And it was not long after for the brand to expand to multiple branches with several copycats in tow. 

When in Bacolod: Mambukal Hot Springs

A trip to Bacolod is never complete without a stick or two of inasal from Chicken House and Kansi from Sharyn's. Throw in some Napoleones, Piaya and Half Moon and I'll be one happy kid. But one thing I was not aware of that would make one's trip to Bacolod more memorable is Mambukal Hot Spring.

Hello, Mambukal Hot Spring. 

Located 45 minutes away from Bacolod's city center, Mambukal Hot Spring has been a destination for locals and tourists alike. 

A Taste of Home: Limbaga 77

Being away from home for a month made me miss our local cuisine tenfold. Just thinking about how a single whiff of sinigang would make me drool drives me crazy. And it was an easy decision for us to pick Limbaga 77 for dinner after a long trip abroad. 

Hello, Limbaga 77.

Limbaga 77 is a homey Filipino restaurant tucked inside the semi-residential area of Tomas Morato. It has been one of the highly rated restaurants in the area by Zomato users and it definitely made me excited to try some of its bestsellers. 

First Bite: Meet Fresh

My heart always skip a beat whenever I hear the manly "tahoooooo" echo in the morning. I'd hurriedly look for small bills, get out of my PJs and run as fast as I could to the gate and eagerly wait for my favorite morning treat. But more often than not, I miss the manong magtataho or he skips our street. Thankfully, a new store opened that sells something better than taho. 

Hello, Meet Fresh!

Meet Fresh is the newest dessert shop in town and it opened its first store in Podium Mall. 

SeaKing Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

I rarely do my groceries but my fondness for marinated milkfish made SeaKing a familiar brand. I'd often grab a bunch of its smoked variant which I find so easy to prepare. And last Friday's festivities made me appreciate this brand beyond its products. 

Happy 20th Year, SeaKing!

Just like most businesses, Seaking started as a small business in 1999, spearheaded by the Uy siblings. It was a dream that the three sisters and brother never thought would grow this big. 

Is FRNK Milk Bar More Than Just A Pretty Shop?

Instagrammable. That word has been the focus of most food and drink establishments and sadly, fail to deliver what's really important... taste. This is the reason why I often avoid pretty food and colorful drinks. I'm always scared of getting duped by its beautiful appearance and leave my taste buds miserable. But when most of my friends say that this new hipster drink brand offers nothing but goodness, I just have to give in to try FRNK Milk Bar. 

Hello, FRNK Milk Bar. 

FRNK Milk Bar is one of celebrity Isabelle Daza's business ventures. And just like all the other brands she's involved with, FRNK is a beauty in all aspects of marketing. All of FRNK's drinks are worthy to be part of anyone's Instagram with its sleek presentation. 

First Bite: Hummus Elijah

I love to munch on junk food and indulge in soda and milk tea for days. It can get even crazier when I'm stressed or down. Thankfully, my body can recognize when it needs something healthier as I get intense craving for salad or anything fresh. And it was timely that Hummus Elijah opened a branch just a few blocks away from home. 

Hello, Hummus Elijah. 

Hummus is often treated as a side dish to complement one's meal here in Manila. We'd usually have it with a plate of kebab or shawarma. But this healthy treat is enjoyed as one's breakfast, lunch or dinner in Israel. In fact, there are several restaurants in Israel that sell only hummus and pita. And Eli Lapid, owner of Hummus Elijah, wants to promote that this is a great alternative to one's usual meal. 

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.