First Sip: Bang! Bang! Bar

Poblacion has transformed from a quiet neighborhood into a bustling community these past years. With innovative restaurants and some of the hippest bars found here, it's not surprising for this part of Makati to be very busy at night. And we discovered a new bar you definitely have to add to your next bar crawl to end your night with a bang!

Hello, Bang! Bang! Bar.

Bang! Bang! is the slightly hidden bar of VBQ Vietnamese Barbeque & Hotpot. 

Nono's Launches New Favorites

July was a stressful month for me. I had to learn new things for work and keep up with having new content for my blog. I'd often find myself sleeping so late just so I could have everything done. Now that I'm starting to get the hang of it, there's no better way to reward myself than with good food at Nono's. 

Hello, Nono's.

I used to think that Nono's is just a place for desserts knowing that the person behind this dainty shop is the wonderful Baba Ibazeta-Benedicto of Classic Confections. But I was totally wrong when I got a bite of Nono's Fried Truffle Cheese Wontons. Crunchy and packed with umami, this amazing starter made me smile from ear to ear! And I couldn't help myself from wanting more. My sister also had a Cooking Master Boy moment with Nono's when she had its cheesy Mac N Cheese.

First Bite: KFC's Chaco and Cracklings

We've seen Jollibee and McDonald's launching new products here and there for the past months and KFC joined the merriment by launching its Original Recipe Cracklings and Chaco. And I finally got to try these last Friday. 

Hello, KFC.

KFC's delectable spiced chicken has always been a reliable meal for me. I never had a moment when I disliked its flavorful chicken. I do like it better though when it is twice-fried. (Hello, leftover chicken from bucket meal!)

If you're always checking your social media accounts, you may have noticed an influx of Chaco posts a few weeks ago. Even the trusted foodie Masarap Ba? reviewed it but sadly got Chaka for its rating. 

A Berry Yummy Cake: Cara Mia's Strawberry Shortcake

Cakes symbolize celebrations and all kinds of occasions. But we don't need to wait for something to celebrate to grab a slice. In fact, I wouldn't mind having it every day especially if it's Cara Mia's latest limited flavor!

Hello, Cara Mia.

If its Ube Cake was not enough to impress us all, Cara Mia launched another easy favorite with its Strawberry Shortcake.

First Sip: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Pink Guava

Just when we thought we could finally enjoy some cool holiday breeze, the intense and unforgiving summer heat is back. Thankfully, we have all sorts of refreshments to keep us from getting a heat stroke. And one new favorite of mine tickled my taste buds pink!

Hello, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has been my go to place for chai and all sorts of tea. As a brand that continues to innovate and come up with new beverages (and dishes) for us to try, its newest offering is my favorite yet. 

New Look: McDonald's NXTGEN

I've always been so envious of how advanced other countries are. We have several Asian countries with awesome transit system and others have gone digital in pretty much everything. If you haven't heard of Apple Pay or WePay, then you must be living under the rock. I love it though that we are slowly embracing the digital age with the growth of several apps that make things a lot more convenient for us. And McDonald's has something new to enhance our dining experience!

Hello, McDonald's.

McDonald's played a big part in my childhood. I still remember how excited I was whenever my mom would surprise me with a Happy Meal. In fact, I still find myself collecting its toys and I'd drop by regularly for McNuggets and its world famous fries.

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. 

More than just Fried Chicken: BonChon's K-Fries

BonChon has been the top of mind brand when it comes to Korean fried chicken here in Manila. It came to our shores back in 2010 and it has continued to delight our taste buds with its perfectly fried chicken since then. And after the success of its favorite K-Style Chicken and Bibimbowl, BonChon expanded its menu that will make you come back for more. 

Hello, BonChon.

I usually drop by this popular Korean food chain whenever I crave for some Soy Garlic Chicken. Since I always have an order in mind, I never bothered to look at the menu. 

First Sip: Selfie Cafe

We all had our fair share of taking selfies. From that fun trip you had abroad to luckily bumping into your favorite celebrity, we have all mastered the art of taking photos of ourselves. But a cafe took selfies to a whole different level when it made it edible. 

Hello, Selfie Cafe. 

McDonald's Fish & Fries is back!

Something British is back in Manila and no, I'm not talking about One Direction. I'm talking about something yummy (or yummier if you think those guys are yummy too) and dear ol' Ronald McDonald is the man behind it.

McSpicy is Back and Now Available in Garlic Parmesan!

McSpicy is back! This is not a drill. I repeat, McSpicy is back! And it now comes in two flavors. 

Hello, McDonald's. 

I got a sweet message from M last week mentioning that they will be launching something spicy last Friday and they'd like to send some over for me to be one of the first foodies to taste it. And of course I said yes. But there was one problem... I was out of town last Thursday to Monday. Thankfully, McDonald's was very accommodating and without any hesitation, asked me where they could deliver it instead. Sweet! It was my first time to have something delivered to me while on a vacation (sort of). 

Love at First Bite: Kumori's Ube Hanjuku Cheese

I always look forward to a Kumori branch opening as it always mean that a new product will launched. I went crazy over the apple cheese tarts which was released during the opening of Kumori's Robinson's Manila. The lovely crunch of the apple bits, creamy cheese tart filling and cinnamon on top made this an addicting snack. And when Kumori launched its Ube Hanjuku Cheese in celebration of its SM Mall of Asia store, I promised myself that I will swing by and try it asap. But given that SM MOA is in a faraway land, it took me a long time before I managed to drop by.

Hello, Kumori!

Unfamiliar with SM Mall of Asia, I asked several guards its exact location. And I was pointed to different areas. One of the guards said that it's on the second floor while another said it's on the ground floor. One said to turn left while another told me to go straight. In short, I ended up circling the main mall for two hours. (And I ended up spending a few thousands at Forever 21.)

Love at First Bite: Kumori's Apple Cheese Tarts

Kumori and I didn’t have a smooth relationship. I still recall my first visit which was love at first bite. Those Hanjuku cheese cakes were delectable and definitely worth lining up for. My second visit was great too with the delectable (but messy) krones. But my third visit where I had the raved cheese tarts was not as great as my first and second Kumori visits. Its improved version and its scrumptious matcha variant won me over though and I was crazy about Kumori again. And just when I thought I’m already a fan of Kumori, something just made me even more head over heels in love with it.
 
Hello, Kumori.

I got a sweet message from Kumori asking if they could send me some of their newest (and limited edition) apple cheese tarts in celebration of the opening of its Robinsons Place Manila branch. Of course I said yes and I counted the days till I got my delectable package.

First Bite: Bliss Bowls

My Instagram feed was filled with beautiful bowls of mouthwatering bowled treats for weeks and I could not help get curious by it. Upon quick research, I found out that these Instagram worthy treats are from Bliss Bowls, a new player in SM Megamall that offers healthy smoothies in a bowl. 

Hello, Bliss Bowls!

Latest Pho Restaurant in Manila: Annam Noodle Bar

I have been dying to visit Annam since it opened last July 6. I was already planning to go but a terribly bruised leg and very uncooperative tummy made me stay at home. I tried to visit again countless times but each attempt was a failure. It would be either we were too full to enjoy another meal or Mother Nature suddenly wanted to create a scene. And after SEVEN failed attempts to visit, I finally got to visit Annam Noodle Bar on a Sunday for lunch.

Hello, Annam Noodle Bar! 

This is newest pho restaurants in Manila and it is a franchise under the Namnam group. 

 

We were charmed by the beautiful interiors of the restaurant with its beautiful bright red lights and eye catching pho and banh mi signs. The restaurant is huge and gave an illusion of an even bigger space with its wide mirrors at the side of the restaurant. Annam also has bar stools for those who like to be isolated from the crowd. 

There were not a lot of diners when we went so we were easily assisted to a nearby vacant table. 

Thrilled to finally be here, I giddily ordered Pho Australian Beef Combination (PHP350) and Sautéed Lemongrass, Pork and Cream Cheese (PHP250). R's parents went with Pho Australian Beef Steak Slices (PHP320), Caramelized 5-Spice Pork Belly (PHP230) and Vegetarian Southern Rolls (PHP170). For drinks, R went with Lychee Pandan Iced Tea (PHP150) while I ordered Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk (PHP120). 

Service was impressive. Our pho bowls were served in less than 5 minutes while the banh mi buns, rolls and drinks were served a few minutes after. 

I attacked the roll first as R was still busy slurping down our shared bowl. The spring roll had a faint herb taste and it could easily fall on the bland side if you are the type who loves bold and rich flavors. 

Love at First Bite: Providore

The huge Providore signage intrigued me for months. It really made me excited because it has been quite a while since a new restaurant graced SM Aura. And the foodie in me jumped for joy when Chef Kalel and Mela of Raintree Restaurant posted that Providore will open this week. And true to their post, it did open today at 6 pm! 

Hello, Providore! 

This casual dining restaurant is the newest concept of Raintree Restaurant, the same group behind spectacular restaurants such as Chelsea, Simple Lang, Kabila, Stella, Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte. And just like its sister restaurants, this one was designed to impress. 

The first thing that caught my eye was the lovely wall of products from local retailers such as Nipa Brew, Manila Eat Up, Traydor and Casa Carmela. I really like that Providore decided to partner with these shops and carry its products. It made it a lot easier for foodies who are not fond of shopping online or driving around for a bottle of hot sauce. With this, we get to save more time for eating! (I spotted a few customers considering some of the goods displayed as Christmas gifts. I might do that too.)

It was their first day when I dropped by and a handful of items were not available then. Thankfully, the kitchen had ingredients to whip a Decadent Bone Marrow Burger (PHP450). I decided to get that sinful bun of meat and pair it with a refreshing glass of Kombucha Lime Iced Tea (PHP120). I struggled choosing my dessert as I was alone when I visited. All of the desserts seem to be good for sharing so I settled with what sounded to be the smallest sweet treat they have and decided to end my meal with a plate of Housemade Leche Flan (PHP95). 

Service was quite fast as I was not even done taking photos of the merchandise when my ginormous burger arrived. 

I was greeted by a good 1.5" U.S. beef burger with bacon marmalade jam and wild arugula sandwiched by a soft buttered brioche with spiced fries and oven-roasted bone marrow on the side. 

First Bite: Yo! Panda

It frustrates me whenever there are new restaurants quite far from me. It frustrates me even more when I see its mouthwatering dishes. But thanks to some errands, I managed to swing by SM Megamall and finally got to try Yo! Panda.

Hello, Yo! Panda. 

I saw a handful of posts about this place last weekend and it gave me an impression that it only offers egg waffle sundaes. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that what I thought to be a dessert store offers other modern Hong Kong dishes such as baos, noodles and rice bowls. Without much thought, I decided to have lunch here instead of going to another restaurant that I have been eying for months.  

Yo! Panda’s area is small and quite cramped especially for those sitting by the walk way. It was also quite hot inside. I guess it was because it was a bit crowded and the location of the restaurant, being near the exit, makes it harder for the A/C to do its magic. There were some flies too that remind me of Uptown Mall where the fly to human ratio is 1:1. The place is charming though.

I quickly ordered the recommended Cantonese Style Beef Brisket (PHP280) and a glass of Premium Hong Kong Milk Tea (PHP130) while my sister went with Scallion Chicken Chop (PHP230). My mom arrived a couple of minutes after and ordered Burger Steak & Rice (PHP280) and a glass of Yo! Panda’s Signature Iced Tea(PHP100). My mom and sister also ordered Mango Cheesecake Vanilla Soft Serve Waffle (PHP180) for dessert.

My rice bowl arrived first and after a few snapshots here and there, I took a mouthful.

The beef brisket was undeniably soft. It was almost the melts-in-your-mouth type of meat. And simply typing those words make me salivate. 

Love at First Bite: Sunnies Cafe

A bright ray of sunshine dazzled everyone walking along High Street. With its pastel colored walls and light hued furniture, it's an instant magnet for youngsters and Instagram lovers. It's no surprise that it was packed with people on its first day of operation yesterday. And despite feeling ill, I headed to the lovely new restaurant slash café today for lunch. 

Hello, Sunnies Cafe.

I was greeted by a plain pink door with a signage that says that it is now open. I noticed that the celebrity owners are inside and looking posh as always. But they were there not to chitchat with the customers; rather to prepare for a TV shoot to feature their newest business venture. 

I felt that this is a mistake on their part as it made the whole dining experience not as good. It was quite chaotic when I was there. And I could not get a decent photo of the whole dining area. And it took me around 5 minutes before I waved the white flag. You won this time, TV crew. 

For lunch, I opted to go with Spaghetti Al Fungi (PHP260). The server recommended Sunnies Cafe’s Pumpkin Purée soup (PHP150) which I decided to order as well. I also got a free Sunnies Funtetti (PHP290) as part of Sunnies Cafe’s opening promo*. 

First Sip: Where's Marcel?

Pearl Drive was my place to be back in college because my alma mater is located there. I’d frequent a few establishments that offer pocket friendly dishes and I would occasionally splurge on a meal or two when I feel like I deserve it after a gruelling long exam. Fast forward to present, I would still find myself being a stingy foodie. But I wouldn’t scrimp on a cup of coffee especially if it receives a lot a good reviews. And that’s how I found myself in front of Where’s Marcel.

Hello, Where’s Marcel?

Why is everyone looking for Marcel? And more importantly, who is Marcel?

Well, for those curious, the coffee shop is named after Marcel Ruggieri, a coffee enthusiast who often wanders off to Costa Rica and Columbia, two popular coffee regions to look for the perfect beans. It takes pride in being a strong supporter of local businesses and engage in direct trading with farmers. The crop-to-cup concept has developed Where’s Marcel as an establishment that is more community-based. And this Melbourne born shop decided to have Manila as its first location offshore.

Aside from its expansive coffee menu, it also offers a bunch of savory dishes such as sandwiches and pasta. But since I planned to have dinner elsewhere, I settled with one Revel Bar (PHP55) and a cup of Marcel’s Dirty Chai (PHP170, 12 oz). 

The place was pretty empty on a Saturday night so it was a perfect place to hangout and catch up with friends. The place also offers WI-FI so this place could also be a nice spot to do those term papers. 

First served was the revel bar and it was delectable.

The oatmeal gave the snack a lovely chewy taste and the melted chocolate chips made the bar sweet yet not overwhelming. For PHP55, it was a pretty good find. 

First Dibs: llaollao Philippines

It has been quite a while since I first saw an Instagram post featuring this new yogurt place opening in Glorietta. Curious with this new and rather late yogurt player, I did a bit of research and discovered that this brand is quite popular and well-loved in Europe, particularly in Spain. It is also a craze in Singapore where it has its largest store. Several foodies were giddy about the opening and their excitement was as contagious as the worst virus. Without knowing its taste or what sets it apart from other brands like Red Mango and White Hat, I became ecstatic with the store’s grand opening. And finally, the day llaollao (pronounced as Yao Yao) opens its doors to the public has arrived!

Hello, llaollao! 

Located at the ground floor of Glorietta 2, across Landmark, it is a store that doesn’t even need to demand attention as you’ll easily spot it. The brightly lit and and predominantly white store makes it an ideal photo shoot location for its mouthwatering swirls. 

This Spanish frozen yogurt shop boasts of its stores using natural ingredients which provide healthy values such as 46% of calcium recommended daily allowance for a medium-sized tub. They also use skimmed milk making it perfect for the calorie counter foodies. Oh and llaollao’s frozen yogurt has zero trans fat and is gluten-free. Winner!!!

Sanum is llaollao's signature parfait and it was a hit during its media launch and I could see why. The three layers of fresh fruit, two crunches, syrup and frozen yogurt combination was presented ready to be Instagrammed. And we finally get to indulge in some thanks to the llaollao team! 

Just like most yogurt shops around, you could also customize your yogurt based on your preference. In llaollao, you could play around with three types of fruits, two crunches and one sauce. With several toppings to choose from, combination possibilities are endless! (Okay, fine, there are roughly 700 possible combinations.) I went with a safe mix of strawberry, kiwi, dragonfruit, Filipino White Chocolate Biscuit, muesli with chocoates and Lotus syrup. Only one size is available for Sanum and it's priced at PHP199.

The yogurt base was thick and had a creamy consistency. It was not icy at all! It was also slightly tangy so do not expect the usual vanilla ice cream tasting yogurt that'll make you question if you are indulging in a healthy treat.