First Bite: LAVA Cheese Tart's Lava Eruptions Premium Cheese Ice Cream

I've been a big fan of LAVA since it opened in SM Aura. Its delectable cheese tarts are amazing. And I feel great supporting a local brand using local products. I've heard news though that Lava launched a new line and I just have to try it myself!

Hello again, LAVA Cheese Tarts.

I've been busy with work lately that I hardly get to visit malls. But an opportunity to drop by Uptown Mall came one day and I decided to swing by LAVA before attending an event. Luckily, this LAVA branch offers its newest product, Lava Eruptions Premium Cheese Ice Cream (PHP85, cone | PHP135, cup with three toppings of your choice). 

Beat the Heat:Shakeaway

This year’s summer is insane! The scorching heat is just too much and it makes me crave for cold treats every hour (or two). Thankfully, one of the cold dessert shops I’ve been eying for months finally opened its doors in Uptown Mall making it a lot more accessible to me than its first branch in U.P. Town Center. Yes, those two are different locations and are quite far from each other. And yes, I am talking about Shakeaway.

Hello, Shakeaway!

I was welcomed by a bright and predominantly white store. The first thing I noticed was the bunch of white containers by the counter which reminds me of a pharmacy. Apparently, that’s where Shakeaway puts its sweet treats. If I were to count the number of containers on display, I’m sure it’d be over 100 as there are 180 flavors and toppings to choose from!

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. 

Second Bite: Peperoni Pizzeria

An email from P marks the start of (crash) diet. With all the scheduled eat ups, I had to make more tummy space for… more food. I tried my best to have smaller meals but realized after a spoonful or two that such is an impossible task. And no shortcut could prepare me for last night’s rendezvoos. (Yes, looloo uses double o’s because 1) looloo has two double o’s and 2) why not?!) 

Hello again, Peperoni Pizzeria!

Firs off, thank you so much for waiting for us! I know we were a couple of hours late but we still felt the warm welcome. Thank you too for allowing three superb pizzas sit for 2 hours for us to take photos. I did my best to take nice photos of it. 

Our gracious host, Andrew, asked R and I what we want to try right after our brief greeting. Still awkward from our unacceptable tardiness, we asked for the pizzas to be heated. But Andrew refused and had us order one pasta and he also had a half-half of Prosciutto Crudo di Parma and Bacon Miele (PHP380, 9” | PHP565, 12” | PHP1,250, 21”) and Tortino al Cioccolato (PHP365). For our pasta, we chose Aglio Olio e Peperocino (PHP340). 

First served was the half and half pizza and it sure smelled so good. I got a whiff of the sweet aroma of honey and the sharp smell of cheese as soon as the plate was served. The pasta and dessert were served soon after and we didn’t even notice it as we were busy taking photos of the picturesque half and half pizza. After a few more snapshots, we started to dig in. 

First Bite: Shaburi

After our fun dice game at R's place with his family, his siblings teased Uncle R, the chongwan winner, to treat the whole family (and I) to dinner at Buta+Wagyu. Unfortunately, the SM Aura Sale and traffic made us change plans. Eventually, we decided to try this new Japanese shabu-shabu place in Uptown Mall instead. 

Hello, Shaburi! 

Since we were a party of nine, R's sister H, took the initiative to place reservation so that we are guaranteed a table to fit everyone. The place though seems to be doing very well on its first two weeks as the earliest reservation slot was 8 pm. We just took the slot and had light snacks so that we won't turn hangry. 

We got to the place a few minutes before 8pm as R's family is strict with time. However, it seemed that Shaburi doesn't share the same value. There was no table available for us and we were told that it'll be available after half an hour. WHAT THE HECK?!? So what is the point of reserving a table if we have to wait outside the restaurant basking in humid Manila air and wait for half an hour for our table to be ready? 

We approached the front host and told her that we do not find waiting half an hour acceptable and that they should also respect the customers' time as we did with theirs by taking the effort to be there by 8 pm. Dazed, she told us that our table was being prepared. She told us that at 8:10 pm. 

As I grew even more impatient and hangry, I approached the front host again seven minutes later and found out that the table they were preparing for us was imaginary. The area supposedly reserved for us was still being occupied by other diners and it didn’t look like they will be done anytime soon. In short, she did a terrible blunder, lie to upset customers. 

Latest Korean Restaurant in BGC: Namoo House

I’m hooked to Korean food these past months. It all started with my addiction to kimchi rice. The mildly spiced bowl of carbs with some crunchy greens is just too irresistible. And so when I heard that Namoo House, a franchise of Maple Tree House in Seoul, Korea, is opening in Manila, I twirled with joy and giddily waited till it opened. And after a few reschedules, I finally found myself in front of the newest Korean restaurant in Manila.

Hello, Namoo House!

Located at the quieter side of Fort Bonifacio, you could easily miss this restaurant by car with its dim facade lights. But you’d easily spot this place if you’re strolling around the area as its friendly hostess will warmly greet you with a big smile on her face. And the glimmering green bottles will surely catch your attention.

I couldn’t help stare at the walls filled with Korea’s famous green soju bottles. 

It created a striking contrast against the golden exhaust tubes and levelled up the Korean grill restaurant's ambiance. 

During our visit, we were able to try Marinated Boneless Short Ribs (PHP750), Woo Samgyup (PHP495) and Stone Bowl Bibimbap (PHP395).

First served were the sides and true to Korean style of dining, they served a lot of side dishes. There were the staple kimchi, spiced dilis and some greens. 

No egg rolls were served but they gave us a small plate of sliced pickled mushrooms and it was better! 

First Bite: Birdhouse

I think I have a fairy (food) godfather in the form of Foodgrammer.ph. He got in touch with R and I again to cover yet another event—the media launch of Birdhouse in Uptown Mall. It sure is exciting to be among the first foodies to sample a new restaurant’s dishes. And I can’t help being in my fan mode being surrounded by several social media influencers. 

Hello, Birdhouse!

Before heading to Uptown Mall, I did a quick check of the restaurant and found out that Birdhouse is under Relish Group, the same team that brought Kumori, Wee Nam Kee and Osaka Ohsho to Manila. It sure made my expectation shoot up. 

The new fried chicken player is located at the food hall of Uptown Mall and it would be hard to miss Birdhouse with its very visible signage and adorable scarecrow.

After registering, we immediately took snapshots of the dishes Birdhouse offers while everyone was preoccupied indulging in their fried chicken and sandwiches. 

And it sure took us a while before heading back to our table and place our orders. 

We went with Barnyard D (two piece chicken, one side, one sauce and crispy chicken skin for PHP255) and Barnyard E (Salted Egg Lava Chicken Sandwich and one side for PHP290). We also got Waffle and Ice Cream with Crispy Chicken Skin (PHP150) and Peach Iced Tea (PHP60).

The iced tea was served prior to us ordering as it was an SOP of the staff to give everyone one. It was refreshing and a great drink to pair with Birdhouse’s offerings. 

It took a while before our orders were served but it was understandable given the crowd. Nonetheless, they still manage to serve ours in less than 15 minutes. 

First served was Barnyard D. We chose mac and cheese for the side and truffle ketchup for our sauce. 

Ramen Love: Ippudo

Ever since we brought Uncle H to Ippudo, he has been craving for more. He messaged R that he wanted it for dinner last Saturday but he had an event to attend to. He couldn’t help think about it and messaged R again the next day and said that he wanted it for lunch. But since R and I already had plans for lunch, Uncle H just ate at home. The urge though was strong and he went to BGC and picked us up to join him have dinner at… you know it.

Hello again, Ippudo!

I had no idea that the operation hours of this branch is not the same as SM Megamall’s. It has a break in between and resumes its dinner operations at 6 p.m. (until 3 a.m. for those craving for ramen at odd hours). 

The place wasn’t packed then as we arrived at 5:50 p.m.. We were asked to wait for a bit outside as they prepare our table. In less than 2 minutes, we were ushered to our table. 

R’s parents went with the usual ramen bowls and Uncle H’s favorite gyoza. I spotted a new product offering and went with Hakata-Style Classic Tsukemen (PHP485) with cold noodles. 

It took my bowl a bit over 20 minutes before it was served. R’s and his parents’ ramen bowls were already half empty when my bowl arrived. I guess it was because it is prepared differently. I just wished that the staff informed me about it so that I could have prepared myself and ordered another appetizer while waiting instead of just staring at my companions eating. 

It was worth the wait though as it was really good. I loved the contrast of the cold noodles and the hot dipping sauce. I’m so glad I listened to the server’s recommendation. I also liked that I have full control on how flavorful each bite will be. I could dip and soak my noodles in the broth for a while to make my noodles warmer and for a more flavorful mouthful or I could just lightly dip it to take a break and avoid being too overwhelmed by the richness of the broth. 

First Bite: El Corazon

It has been a long while since the last time I dined in Corazon. I remember that it was a family gathering and that we had a scallop fare for lunch. Named as El Corazon in the new Uptown Mall, the homey place still offers Corazon's staple favorites. 

Hello, El Corazon! 

The Hispanic vibe is very evident as soon as you step foot inside the restaurant. Arches, warm hues, adorable wall decors and bricks (washed white for an illusion of bigger space) are the first things you'll notice. 

We arrived around 4 pm for an early dinner and we managed to get a table right away. 

For this meal, we tried Málaga (PHP375), Chorizo Filipino with Egg (PHP345), Gaudi (PHP1,600, whole | PHP850, half | PHP450, quarter) and Paella Valenciana (PHP695). 

First served were the appetizers.

The Chorizo Filipino was served on a small clay pot and came with some warm pandesal. I liked the meatiness of each chorizo slice and how it complemented the potato cubes and fluffy pandesal. 

The egg made the dish thicker and richer.

Málaga was served next and it was my favorite dish from the set. The anchovies were delectably soft and undeniably fresh! I loved the tanginess of the lemon olive oil. It was not overwhelming and was just right to whet the appetite for the mains. (Tip: It is best enjoyed with the toasted crostini for crunch.)

The mains were up next and both were definitely filling! 

The paella was topped with fresh seafood such as prawns, squid and mussels. There were also chunks of chicken, pork and chorizo along with veggies, eggs and lemon wedges. It was served super hot making us very cautious to scoop one or two servings. 

Tim Ho Wan Supper Specials for Night Owls

I still remember the crazy long lines of Tim Ho Wan when it opened its first branch in Manila way back 2014.  Fast forward to 2016 with 5 branches, this pork bun heaven has not lost its charm. How could they if they keep on cooking up reasons to make us salivate for more?

Hello, Tim Ho Wan! 

This well-loved one-star Michelin restaurant opened its newest branch in Uptown Mall Bonifacio and it has some new offerings exclusive for its supper menu available from 10 pm to 3 am. Yes, you read that right, until 3 am. This place is an answered prayer for those with sudden odd hour cravings! 

Tim Ho Wan BGC is still exploring the possibility of doing 24/7 run; but for now, here are some dishes you could sample during your midnight run: Sliced Imported Abalone Congee with Chicken and Mushroom (PHP350, 1 pc abalone | PHP500, 2 pcs abalone), Beef Brisket and Tendon Noodles (PHP200), Pork and Vegetable Wonton Noodles (PHP220) and Garlic Fried Fish Skin (PHP190). We also ordered the staples Baked BBQ Pork Buns (PHP145, 3 pcs),  Prawn Dumplings (PHP160, 4 pcs), Dumpling with Spicy Sauce (PHP150, 4 pcs), Steamed Spinach Dumpling with Shrimp (PHP120) and Mango Pomelo Sago (PHP120). We also got Iced Tea and Cold Barley Tea (PHP50 each) as drinks. 

First served were the delectable baked BBQ pork buns. The flakey bun with the sweet and tender pork filling sure brought out those pearly whites as it tickled our taste buds. 

The dumplings were served right after. 

The piping hot spinach dumpling made me feel so healthy given the fact that I was munching on veggies. The slight bite of the spinach and shrimps created a nice contrast from the wonton wrapper. It was delicious. If healthy tastes like this, I wouldn't mind having my greens all day long!

Same was true with the prawn dumplings. It was also bang for the buck as Tim Ho Wan does not scrimp on prawns! Each dumpling was packed! Definitely no wonton-wrapper-with meager-filling dumplings here! 

I found a new favorite in dumpling with spicy sauce. (Side story: I usually lose interest when I read the word spicy but R insisted we order one. And I was so glad we did!)

Restaurant Love: Ippudo

One Sunday morning, R got a message from his dad saying that he’s craving for ramen. Knowing my intense love for food, R’s dad asked me for recommendation. I suggested Ippudo’s newest branch in Uptown Mall. And soon, I found myself rushing to dress up as we were being picked up for lunch.

Hello, Ippudo!

The newest Ippudo branch was busy when we went. All small table were occupied so we settled with the huge communal table. 

Everyone was hungry so we quickly ordered Shiromaru Motoaji Special (PHP495), Akamaru Shinaji Special (PHP495), Karaka-Men Special (PHP495), Beef Ishiyaki Rice(PHP495), Pork Bun (PHP125), Fried Chicken Bun (PHP125), Hakata Style Gyoza (PHP210) and Matcha Crème Brûlée (PHP160). We also got some shakes (PHP110) for drinks.

Service was quick and our gyoza and pork buns were served in less than 10 minutes. 

Uncle H loved the gyoza. It was meaty, succulent and packed with flavor! He liked it so much that he asked me to order another. 

The pork bun was a hit with J. She got half of the bun and ate it blissfully. We also ordered another bun after finishing our first order. 

Sadly, the fried chicken bun did not get the same love as it was hardly touched. It was good though. It was just a bit messy to eat as the fat fried chicken stuffing was a bit too thick for the bun. 

Both R and Uncle H loved their spicy ramen bowls and quietly finished it without sharing with anyone. 

First Bite: Flatiron

It was my mom's birthday a few Saturdays ago and we celebrated it at my aunt's place who prepared a seafood feast. Since the feast was for lunch, I invited my mom for a part two celebration at Flatiron. 

Hello, Flatiron! 

This was my second time visiting this restaurant. I went last week but no dish caught my interest. Also, their bestseller beef brisket was out of stock that time. Luckily, it was available last night. 

We sat at the table with the Uptown Mall fountain as our view. The small lights on top of our table seemed busted and kept on flickering making us dizzy and disoriented. We requested for it to be turned off before one of us pukes or something. They obliged but turned the lights on again after a few seconds. The on and off of lights happened thrice and it made me snap and told them with a very firm voice to turn it off. And they finally did and kept it off throughout our meal. 

We ordered Garlic and Rosemary French Fries (PHP180), Flatiron Beef Brisket (PHP850), Pizzaiola Pasta (PHP395) and Chicken Piccata (PHP450). Since the prices of the drinks are unreasonable, we didn't order any and just had filtered water. 

Our order of fries was served first and it was quite good. It was crisp and dashed with rosemary. 

It also went really well with the thick garlicky dip. Serving size seemed to be a bit stingy for its price. 

The mains arrived next.