Now Open: Hey Brew

There's a new kid in town and it serves some of the most beautiful food and drinks I've seen to date. And unlike its hashtag "hey stranger" the people behind this bar and eatery sure are no strangers to the foodie community. 

Hello, Hey Brew Eatery + Bar!

Hey Brew is the newest restaurant and bar headed by the talented Chef Niño Laus and Kalel Demetrio. If you've been out and about, you must have heard of these two shaking up the food and beverage industry with their innovative and refreshing concepts.

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. 

SBS Inkigayo Sandwich is in Manila

KPOP fans would be familiar with the SBS music show Inkigayo which is a similar concept to KBS's Music Bank. But one thing Inkigayo has that Music Bank doesn't is a famous idol sandwich. Inkigayo sandwich became a popular snack thanks to the KPOP stars who seem to be fond of it. And though the coleslaw, egg salad and strawberry jam combination sounds as weird as the English translation to some of our favorite songs, it surprisingly works!

Hello, Inkigayo (인기가요) Sandwich. 

The hottest Korean Idol sandwich Inkigayo is finally here in Manila! 

First Bite: Caffe Freddo

The insane heat and Manila traffic turned me into an anti-social hibernating bear for months. I hardly go out unless needed or when curiosity hits me bad. The latter was the case when I dropped by Caffe Freddo, the newest brunch spot in Bonifacio Global City. 

Hello, Caffe Freddo. 

Located along the busy strip of 9th Avenue and Bonifacio High Street, Caffe Freddo is a shiny gem waiting to be discovered by many. 

Foodie Alert: National Breakfast Day at McDonald's

I absolutely hate waking up early in the morning. I stopped being a morning person after quitting my job that required me to report to the office so early in the morning. It was as if my body rebelled and could no longer function before 8 A.M. But I think I'll wake up extra early on Monday because it's National Breakfast Day!

Mark your calendars as March 19 is National Breakfast Day and you know what that means... FREE EGG MCMUFFIN. Oh wait. It's even better now. It's Longgadesal!

First Bite: Harlan + Holden

Harlan + Holden instantly charmed me when I saw photos of its picturesque cafe in Rockwell. Call me sucker for Instagram-worthy places but I did my research and read great reviews of this place prompting me to ask R and his parents to a trip here one afternoon.

Hello, Harlan + Holden. 

First Bite: Banh Mi Kitchen

The Vietnamese sandwich banh mi has been around for years. However, it was just recent when foodies took notice of this. We have the likes of Bon Banhmi, Banh Nam and a few others but none created more buzz than what was known as #CrunchTest. And it continues to be talked about by foodies with its innovative take on the classic Asian sandwich. 

Hello, Banh Mi Kitchen.

Now with seven branches under its belt, there's no stopping Banh Mi Kitchen from turning Manila food enthusiasts into banh mi lovers. It has established itself as a go to place for crunchy and filling sandwiches. And last week, it released a new mouthwatering variant. 

Now Open: Banh Mi Kitchen in SM Hypermart Pasig

If you love banh mi and work or live near Tiendesitas, then this blog post is for you. Banh Mi Kitchen, known for its crunchy baguettes and delectable fillings, is now open in SM Hypermart Pasig! 

Hello, Banh Mi Kitchen.

First Bite: Bánh Nǎm

I love how Manila is turning into a melting pot of various cuisines. The city that used to be dominated by American fast food joints and Filipino eateries is now a thing of the past. Fast forward to present, we have all kinds of dishes from different countries with some we still could not even pronounce correctly. One of my favorites lately is this delightful sandwich popular in Vietnam. Yes, I’m talking about banh mi. And recently, I discovered this shop that sells really good ones. 

Hello, Bánh Nǎm.

This Vietnamese shop offers two of the yummiest things Vietnam has to offer and it is serious in providing the best kind.  

First Bite: Bistro United

I miss living close to Kapitolyo, one of the best food havens in the metro. Though it’s technically just 20 minutes away from where I live now, the traffic makes it seem a far away land. But good food conquers all and I found myself in front of this new restaurant in Kapitolyo one Tuesday afternoon. 

Hello, Bistro United.

This new restaurant by Chef Mia of The Round Table is one of the handful delectable additions in Kapitolyo. 

First Bite: Bread and Botany

Ever since I heard from my cousins how much Aguirre has evolved from a quiet residential strip to a blooming foodie destination, I always find myself drooling over food pictures captured from that area. Yes, I did a bit of stalking and it sure makes me sad how far it is from my place. But after months of planning and a bit of coordination, my college friends and I finally made it happen and our first stop was Bread and Botany as it is one of the stores that open before lunch. 

Hello, Bread and Botany!

Located at the second floor of Prime Building along Aguirre, the quaint shop seems a bit bare with only a few wall decors, shelves and seats. 

We approached the counter and was greeted by the young lady manning it. She gave us some suggestions on what to get and we eventually went with Tori Sando (PHP230) as we were told that it is one of their photogenic dishes. I also ordered Kyuchimi Fries (PHP100) as side dish. E on the other hand went with McEgg (PHP220), the store’s lightest sandwich option. 

Service was quick as our fries were served in less than 10 minutes. 

Drizzled with several spices and paired with bull gravy, this dish was pretty good though steep for its price. The spices gave the fries an interesting and unique taste, similar to KFC’s fries but not quite. It was served hot and fresh from the deep fryer but the gravy was cold. Well, I guess they wanted to create some sort of contrast. Nonetheless, dipping the fries in the chilled gravy made it more delectable. I just wish that they put the spices evenly as it didn’t seem proportioned. Some were a bit too spiced and salty while other fries were on the bland side.

Soon, our sandwiches were served.

First served was the Tori Sando and I was hoping it would look nicer than this given its price. It was a small sandwich cut in two. I was disappointed with the bread used as it was just a typical slice of bread that you could get from the supermarket. The chicken though was good. It was crispy and flavorful. 

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. 

First Bite: Banh Mi Kitchen

I have been eying Banh Mi Kitchen for a while now but it being in SM Megamall discourages me from trying it out. Just thinking about the horrific parking mayhem and the insane crowd make me cringe. So when I found out that they opened a kiosk in BGC Stopover, I jumped and twirled with glee!

Hello, Banh Mi Kitchen! 

It is hard to miss this wooden kiosk located at BGC Stopover ground floor near Jollibee and Bono Gelato. The warm hues and friendly staff sure lured us just like those Poke Stops. 

R and I got some gift certificates (for one regular banh mi and drink) from Foodgrammer.ph and I decided to use mine right away. I went with Wagyu Tapa banh mi (PHP189 | PHP129) and Iced Milk Tea (PHP60).

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*. 

Second Bite: Melt Grilled Cheesery

I still remember how giddy I was when I first visited Melt Grilled Cheesery. With its menu filled with cheesy dishes, it was like I found (cheese) heaven in Uptown Mall. Everything we ordered were great too! It was love at first bite and I was so happy to share my discovery with my family and friends. But some of those who tried the place were not as ecstatic. *insert sad face here*

Hello, Melt Grilled Cheesery!

I managed to convince J and his girlfriend M to visit Melt with me after our pizza dinner. (Yes, I was a happy third wheel on their Friday night date.)

We easily managed to get a table as the place was not as full as its pizzeria neighbor.

We focused on the desserts as we just had dinner and went with Dulce de Lecheese (PHP285), Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (PHP215) and Dulce de Leche Cheesecake (PHP235 which was changed to PHP255 if I remember it correctly).

Service was prompt and house water was served in less than 5 minutes. We were also given a complimentary sandwich from the owners. They also spent time to chat with us and that was when I found out that their bread supplier is Artisan Emporium. 

First Bite: Pepi Cubano

I have been hearing a lot about Pepi Cubano and how good its Cuban sandwiches are. But its location discourages me from trying it out. Then again, the food gods love me and made Pepi Cubano as one of the concessionaires of the Gourmand Market last May 2016. 

Hello, Pepi Cubano! I have read a lot of good reviews about you!

I was giddy to try it out on my second Gourmand Market visit and shared a Pepi Cubano (PHP250) with R. 

The Pepi Cubano was served after a couple of minutes and we were given a few dollops of Traydor Chili Sauce which they were also selling that weekend. 

First Bite: Mr. Graham's Sandwich Shop

After several Monopoly Deal Millionaires’ Edition games with 4:0 in favor of moi and digesting the macarons, cookie shot and milkshake we ordered from Mrs. Graham’s, R and I move to Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop. With several foodies raving about this shop, we just have to know why. 

Hello, Mr. Graham’s Sandwich Shop!

The place is small… very small. I didn’t get to check the second floor but the first floor could accommodate a maximum of four guests. The place was also (literally) hot. I’m not sure if the store’s air-conditioning was busted when we visited but I noticed that there was a stand fan trying its best to work its magic to keep the place cool.  

I decided to go with the shop’s bestseller The Cebuano (PHP210, small | PHP380, medium) and had it to go as the place really wasn’t that pleasant and inviting for us to stay. (And R wanted to head back so that we could work out and swim.) 

While waiting, I noticed that some customers just order sandwiches to go as well. Perhaps that’s the market of this shop. This explains why the place isn’t that comfortable. I have to admit though, the wall decals are adorable.

I asked the server to plate the sandwich first so that I could take photos of it. He gladly obliged and served The Cebuano on a wooden plate. I took some shots and had it wrapped.

My Favorite Food Finds: The Gourmand Market

Ever since I saw an announcement that The Gourmand Market will be in BGC again, I made sure that I pass by the well-known weekend market for me to try some of its mouthwatering dishes. And I was lucky to visit last Friday and Saturday! 

Hello, The Gourmand Market!

I have never been to this lovely weekend market before as I was always away when they stage it. But since R and I had no plans last weekend, I was able to pass by on its first day and R joined me the following day.

I was greeted by a beautiful signage and a set up that seems to have been lifted from a wonderful rustic wedding.

On my first visit, I made a quick tour of the place and checked which ones look interesting. I spotted stalls that sell hummus, tacos, shawarma, paella, ginger ale, churros, sandwiches and pork belly. I think there are about four or five stalls selling the sinful yet oh so good meat. 

Since it was really humid that night, I opted to buy a cup of ice cream from Manila Creamery (PHP120 per cup). I was torn between the two bestsellers Mangga at Suman and Tinutong Rice. I liked both flavors and the burnt rice flavor was surprisingly delicious! But I went with the safer option and got Mangga at Suman. Each cup of it is topped with some sort of coconut jam syrup. 

What I loved about this flavor is that it was not that sweet and the taste was not overwhelming. I also liked that there were some chewy parts that reminded me of sticky rice. 

I then bought  a cup of pressed Sugar Cane Juice with Ginger (PHP70) from Healthy Cane after finishing my cup of ice cream. 

First Bite: Bon Banhmi

I've been planning to visit Landmark for quite some time ever since I saw some posts about this banhmi kiosk and Kumori (which I have already tried thanks to the long weekend). But given the horrible traffic, my plan never materialized until when I had to source for showroom merchandise.

Hello, Bon Banhmi! 

It's hard to miss this as several directional pull up banners are placed everywhere. There are banners near the escalator, right before the entrance door of the mall and even the passageway to Glorietta. But... I missed it and ended up circling around and checking |ooloo for clues. 

After a few minutes, I found it! Yay!

But my enthusiasm was not reciprocated by the server who seemed to be having a serious dilemma or struggling with her monthly visitor. Anyhoo, I ordered a Traditional Banhmi (PHP119, medium | PHP134, large). 

Café Love: Wildflour Café + Bakery

It has been a long while since I last visited Wildflour but I still remember its delectable desserts and scrumptious pasta. And since I had an appointment right across the lovely restaurant, I decided to have a nice afternoon snack here before heading to my meeting.

Hello again, Wildflour Café + Bakery.

I was assisted as soon as I stepped in but the table where I was being directed to had a LOT of mosquitoes flying around. I quickly told the server that I’d rather sit elsewhere and she ushered me to the seat at the far end of the café.

After reading through the menu and not feeling very hungry, I opted to get Wildflour Reuben (PHP420).

While waiting, I was given a loaf of bread and Wildflour’s delicious salted butter. I managed to eat half of the loaf before my order arrived.

I was greeted by huge multi grain bread sandwiching homemade corned beef coleslaw and crisp potato chips.