First Bite: Café Viola

R and I always see this quaint looking restaurant whenever we visit Crosswinds for a short weekend getaway. We never bother to stop and check though as the place is always packed with diners. We did try though during Valentine’s and failed as all tables were occupied and the ones that will clear soon were reserved. But we finally got to successfully visit it a few weekends ago.

Hello, Café Vio La! (Yes, there really is a space in between Vio and La.)

The place was quite full at 8 p.m. on a Sunday but we managed to get a table for five.

Famished from swimming, we ordered Pork Crackling (PHP595), Grilled Norwegian Salmon (PHP595), Homemade Chicken Pork Adobo (PHP425), Garlic Longganisa (PHP295) and Garlic Beef Tapa (PHP375). L also ordered a pot of hot Camomile tea (PHP85). 

First served was the pot of tea which tasted like hot lemon water. The tea taste was so mild. 

The Homemade Chicken and Pork Adobo was served next and B who is not a local was looking for the adobo sauce. This one was the type of adobo where the chicken thighs and pork spare ribs are slow-cooked and simmered till dry in its natural juices, vinegar, palm sugar and lots of garlic and spices. I wasn’t able to take a photo of it as B was hungry. 

First Bite: Kozui

I have heard of Kozui before and it seems to be a go to place for matcha lovers. I just never braved the traffic to buy a soft serve ice cream especially since Family Mart is a lot closer. But with C in our group and with her love for matcha, we headed to the well-loved (and pioneer) matcha joint for some cold treats. 

Hello, Kozui Green Tea!

The place was a lot smaller and worn out than I pictured. The place actually looked… sad. 

Anyway, I decided to go with Green Tea Anmitsu with strawberries (PHP150/bowl) and shared it with C as we were trying to save space for other dishes.

Our bowl was served after a few minutes and the first thing I looked for was the strawberries. Apparently, it was just some sort of strawberry jam-slash-jello. 

First Bite: Estrel's Caramel Cakes

A classic. That is how foodies describe Estrel’s, a humble cake shop that was established in 1946. Known for its caramel cakes, it is a go to place when something is to be celebrated. I have tasted its caramel cake and true enough, it was delectable and a lot better than the other commercial cakes. But I have never tried its Food for the Gods till J introduced it to me a few weeks back.

Hello, Estrel’s Caramel Cakes!

I didn’t exactly get to visit the bakeshop but got to sample the famous shop’s Food for the Gods, one of J’s favorite sweets. 

A box (PHP300) has ten  individually packed Food for the Gods. One pack has about 2” x 3” of the sweet pastry. 

I opened a pack and it was quite oily. But its fragrant smell made me ignore my oily finger tips. 

I took a bite and it was love at first bite. It was moist and buttery. I loved the sweet flavor of the dates and the crunch of the walnuts. 

It is a perfect dessert to bring to potluck parties or to buy as a present. Since it’s not too sweet, it is also a good gift for dear grandparents.

I can’t wait to get my hands on more! I’ll also try the Sansrival next. 

Estrel's Caramel Cakes is located at 54 Scout Tobias corner Scout Limbaga Streets, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City, 1103.

Restaurant Love: Highlanders Steakhouse

I still remember the first time R and I went to Tagaytay Highlands. It was a perfect weekend getaway and what made it so special was because R planned the whole trip himself. It was our first out of town trip together. And since then, I could no longer count how many times we went to Tagaytay Highlands or Tagaytay itself for a short escapade. And a couple of weekends ago, we went again, this time with his friends.

Hello, Tagaytay Highlands.

We got to the place a bit past noon and R was rushing for us to get to The Highlanders Steakhouse for lunch. And we made it!

R and I ordered our usuals, John Wayne’s Prime Rib (PHP2,998, 20oz.), Sautéed Scallop of Hudson Valley Foie Gras (PHP920) and Cream of Butternut Squash Soup (PHP158). S suggested that we also get Seared Chilean Sea Bass (PHP1,180) and Baby Back Ribs (PHP820). 

While waiting for our orders, we enjoyed the complimentary loaves of bread and butter. L almost finished one whole loaf by herself. I am amazed with this petite girl’s appetite!

My squash soup was served after a few minutes and it was as good as before. It was creamy and slightly sweet and salty. You could definitely taste the delectable taste of pumpkin and the subtle flavor of nuts. It is best with a dash of pepper.

Next served was our favorite foie gras and I still find it the best foie gras around. The generous cuts of foie gras was flavorful and succulent. It went so well with the Hibiscus Tea sauce and caramelized pineapples which balanced off the saltiness of the foie gras. 

The other three dishes soon followed.

Get Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts from SM Supermalls

Want some sweet news?

SM Supermalls is bringing back its “Download & Win” in-app mobile game and is making the sweetest noise by giving away 3 Original Glazed® Krispy Kreme doughnuts to each 100 unique SM Supermalls mobile app registered users every day from April 30 to June 30, 2016! So what are you waiting for? Download it now!!!

Also, make it a habit to check the app regularly as the “Download & Win” feature in the SM Supermalls app. It was marked with the giving away of exciting prizes such as free mobile data, free Spotify, Facebook, Games, Unli-Call and Unli Text every day for the entire month of March in celebration of its 30th year. 

The celebration resumes this month with a shower of doughnuts! And joining can’t be simpler – just download the mobile app and  scratch!

Upon signing up in the SM Supermalls mobile app, you will receive a digital scratch card on the app. Scratch off the gray area to find out if you won. Get another shot of winning the next day until the end of the promo period. With some good luck and the daily habit of checking the app, you’ll be closer to sinking your teeth into those craveable doughnut treats for free. 

Yay!

The SM Supermalls Mobile App is free on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It is loaded with other features that let you plan your shopping even before you get to the mall. A unique feature of the app is the Feed section that highlights the latest store offerings, discounts and promos, services, as well as movies and events in SM malls nationwide. It also has the Mall Directory that provides a complete list of establishments in the malls while the Mall Map shows the exact location of all stores and mall facilities. To keep up to date on what’s new, visit SM Supermalls website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Viber Public Chat, and Snapchat.

La Lola Churreria Matcha Churros

I have dreamt of Matcha Churros ever since R messaged the Matcha Cult Group of looloo about it. But I heard the sad news that all La Lola branches do not have it. Apparently, they were sold out. (I was not convinced though as I didn't see a single post about it.) 

Anyway, since La Lola ignored C's IG message, I looked for SM Aura branch's number and messaged them. That was when I found out that they ran out but will be serving more soon. I asked them to message me when they have it again and waited...

Then I got a sweet message this morning from La Lola saying that Matcha Churros is once again available! Weeee! (I have to admit, I wasn't expecting them to message me based from previous experiences where I requested to be updated.) 

I went to the SM Aura branch during lunch and there I saw... Matcha Churros! It was love at first sight, smell and touch. 

I got the smallest pack (6s, PHP245) and had it to go.

It was your usual churros covered with matcha and drizzled with white chocolate. It was sooooo good! 

It was crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside. It wasn't very sweet and the matcha taste was strong enough to please matcha lovers.

I just hope that they offer this per stick. An order of 6 is too much for me. 

Aside from SM Aura, La Lola Matcha Churros are also available in UP Town Center, Estancia, SM North Edsa, Serendra, Eastwood, SM Megamall and Robinson Manila.

Restaurant Favorite: California Pizza Kitchen

As a tradition, my team and I went out for dinner to celebrate getting our bonuses. (Yay, more money to buy food!) But unlike last year, we are celebrating (sort of) two events, our bonuses and my despedida. *cries*

I was pushing for Peperoni that time but all my teammates were craving for California Pizza Kitchen's delectable The Original BBQ Chicken Chopped (PHP625, full | PHP395, half). Fine. 

I got to the place late as I had to go to St. Luke’s Global City first to get my X-Ray results. And I got lost on my way to the W Building. I always get disoriented at night and this is the reason why I always hurry back home when the sun’s about to disappear. Anyway...

All the dishes were already served when I arrived. On the table were: Quattro Formaggi (PHP450), Pepperoni (PHP365, regular | PHP225, personal), Pesto Cream Penne with Shrimps (PHP525, sharing | PHP295, personal + PHP295/PHP160 for shrimps) and Bangkok Calamari (PHP465). 

The Calamari were just so-so for me. It was your usual deep-fried battered squid rings. 

The BBQ chicken salad was divine as always. It had a nice harmony of flavors and textures. It was sweet because of the barbecue sauce but also refreshing because of the cilantro and other herbs. The soft chicken bits were also well complemented but the crunchy greens. The dish was quite heavy but great for sharing. 

Girls Night Out: Unit 27 Apartment Bar + Café

It has been almost a month since I last saw my former colleagues. I missed the rowdiness of the group and the endless chatter every lunch break. And since C also left FGI and our beloved boss M will be celebrating her birthday that weekend, we decided to have a small gathering. We were supposed to go to Pablo’s as part of our “tradition” but since C wanted something different, we headed to Unit 27 Apartment Bar + Café. 

Hello, Unit 27 Apartment Bar + Café. 

It has been a while since I last visited this place. I think my last visit was way back December, a day before Taguig day. 

I was the first one to arrive and made myself comfortable. They didn’t change their Wi-Fi password so I had a bit over half an hour to browse through food posts and make myself suffer even more as I was already starving at 6:30 p.m.. 

The others came a bit past 7 p.m. and that was when we started to order our individual dishes. I got Truffled Mushroom (PHP395) while the ones near me ordered Adobo Salpicao (PHP320), Pinoy Steak and Egg (PHP380) and Spicy Spanish Sardines (PHP320).

I asked the server to inform me if there will be delays with my Truffled Mushroom pasta as the last time I went, R’s friend had to wait for more than an hour for her order! I will definitely be HANGRY if I had to wait that long. 

While waiting and chitchatting, we were given a complimentary bowl of truffled popcorn. I don’t recall them giving complimentary wait bowls before. Anyway, it was perfect since it made my tummy less wild for a while.

After half an hour, my food was finally served and it looked really heavy and creamy. It wasn’t as fragrant as the one from Karen’s Kitchen (which I think is the best truffle mushroom pasta I have ever had) but it was good.

Love at First Bite: Kiwa Korean Grill Dining

It was a crazy week full of eating with R's family. We went to several fancy restaurants and one of which is this Korean restaurant in Solaire Resort & Casino. I have never been to Solaire but I recall making a pitch for the high end establishment when I was still with the publishing business so I know that this pale is pretty grand.

Hello, Kiwa Korean Grill Dining!

This posh Korean restaurant is located in what seems to be a new section of Solaire as R could not remember this area before.

It opened just a few months ago and it has gained quite a following for those who are very particular with food. The place is beautiful and those who sit near the windows could enjoy the wonderful sunset view. (We reserved a private room though so we just took snapshots of the sunset before placing our orders.)

The menu of Kiwa is very limited. There are only five courses to choose from which comes with sashimi and appetizer assortment, Korean pancakes, Stir-fried Glass Noodles (Chapchae), Spicy Tofu Soup and Dessert. You also have to order in pairs if you plan to get this.

We decided to go with Saenggalbi but Rib Eye version (PHP3,200), Bulgogi (PHP2,800), Grilled Samgyupsal (PHP2,000) and Yangnyumgalbi (PHP3,000).

While waiting for the meats, the side dishes were served.

The sashimi assortment looked amazing and mouthwatering.

I first had a taste of the salmon cut and it was not as soft as I wanted. R told me that the reason why the texture was like that was because it was not sashimi but smoked salmon. No wonder.

The other seafood cuts were great! Tuna was lovely and the squid cuts had a nice chewy texture. I loved it!

Chapchae was pretty good too as it was not overly oily yet flavorful.

The Korean pancakes are your typical pancakes. If you are trying to watch your weight or save tummy space, you might want to skip this one.

First Bite: El Cabrito by Mexicali

Simply because I did not want to head home, yet, I pulled E to join me visit one more restaurant before we end our San Juan food trip. I wanted to try the Japanese vegetarian cafe in the same compound as Dohtonbori and Carousel Creamery but E hesitated as we just had Japanese food for lunch. We then decided to roam around Promenade and we spotted this Mexican restaurant by Mexicali named El Cabrito.

Hello, El Cabrito. 

I could still taste the delectable IHOP tacos from yesterday's looloo rendezvoos in my mouth (I did brush my teeth in case you're wondering) but I couldn't say no to restaurants I haven't been to. 

The place was a bit dark inside and only one long table was occupied when we got there. 

We opted to go light this time as our outfits were turning a bit too fit. I went with the bestseller Carne Asada street taco (PHP105) while E went with Lengua street taco (PHP135). We also tried one Grilled Boneless Chicken Skewer (PHP60) and had one beer each at PHP50 per bottle. 

Service was quick and our street tacos were served in less than 10 minutes. 

Presentation-wise, it was like the tacos were just dumped on the plate. But hey, that's why they call it street tacos. 

Kumori Favorite: Krone

I fell in love with Kumori’s soft buns ever since I got a bite of it. It was the best part of the milk shake I ordered as it somehow offset the sweetness of the hazelnut chocolate. Though I had the whole thing for myself, I felt that it was not enough. I wanted to buy a pack of three (PHP25) then but R stopped me as we have a lot of food to finish or else it’ll spoil. Hence, I stopped myself from buying and heard my heart break a bit. But it wasn’t that long till I get to buy some of that lovely soft buns. 

Hello, Kumori in Makati!

After enjoying my banhmi from Bon Banhmi, I roamed around for some dessert and figured that I’ll try Kumori’s Krone (PHP49 per roll) and buy a pack of soft buns for breakfast. 

Wait. What?

A krone is a hallow, flaky, Danish pastry tube that is freshly piped with a creamy egg custard filling and sprinkled with a snow sugar powder (confectionary sugar).

My krone was given to me as soon as I paid and I just could not resist licking the custard filling overflow. I quickly took a few shots and tasted the filling. 

It had a nice light and smooth taste. It was sweet but not overly sweet. Its smooth texture was well complemented by the crispiness and flakiness of the Danish pastry. Just think of it as crispy cream puff. Actually, that’s exactly what it was… a crispy cream puff.

It was good and one order was enough to satisfy my craving for dessert. 

See you again, Kumori!

Kumori is located at Basement, Landmark Food Court, Makati Avenue, Makati City.