Beat the Heat: Shari Shari Kakigori House Philippines Opens this June 2019

With summer coming to an end, the heat still lingers and there's no stopping us from wanting cold treats. Thankfully, a new shaved ice dessert shop reached our shores and is up for the challenge to keep us cool. And it has legit matcha to boot!

Hello, Shari Shari Kakigori House!

Shari Shari Kakigori House from Hong Kong is finally opening in Manila this June and will be serving its bestsellers Japanese Tofu Kakigori, Matcha Cream Special, Earl Grey Milk Tea and Strawberry Special among others. As a Manila exclusive flavor, Shari Shari Philippines will also serve Cantaloupe Melon. 

Harlan+Holden Coffee now open in BGC

We've all heard the saying "Time is Gold" when we were younger. But it was only a few years back when I got a better understanding of what it truly meant. With the feeling that 24 hours a day not enough to have things done, I tried so many hacks to make myself more efficient. But I still end up rushing doing this and that, especially getting from point A to point B. Thankfully, there are a bunch of online services and apps to help me multitask and I sure am glad that there's a coffee shop that thought of a way to save us coffee lovers precious minutes.

Hello, Harlan+Holden Coffee!

The posh retail shop Harlan+Holden finally opens another branch of its coffee shop concept and this time, it's at One Bonifacio High Street!

First Bite: Franks Craft Beers Manila

We've seen the growth of gourmet burgers in Manila. There would be some that would charge as much as a grand for a thick and juicy patty and there would still be a market for it. But one category that seems to be not as saturated is gourmet hot dogs. Sure, we have the likes of Pink's which was well received when it opened in BGC but there are not a lot of establishments that offer fancy franks. And I was pleasantly surprised to discover a hidden gem tucked inside the casino of Resorts World Manila.

Hello, Franks!

Franks is one of the many signature restaurants of Resorts World Manila. Originally designed to cater to casino guests, it offers quick bites such as fries, nachos and hot dogs. But its delectable offerings were just too good to be bound inside the casino. Soon, patrons would drop by for some of their favorites to go and enjoy it with the whole family as they watch movies on the 4th floor or feast on it at home. 

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. 

Worth it or not: McDonald's Milk Tea McFloat

The milk tea craze is just getting crazier with more and more brands entering the market. And just when I thought it was already wild enough, McDonald's joined the hype and now offers Classic and Wintermelon McFloat drinks. 

Hello, McDonald's.

I was pretty excited to try McDonald's newest drinks but it took me a while before I got hold of some as I was busy moving from one city to another for work. Luckily, we spotted one on our way back home.

Tipsy Pig Launches New Favorites

Tipsy Pig's Beer Can Chicken was one of the many dishes that turned this place as one of the hot spots for night out with friends. Fast forward to 2019, we've seen several restobars close down in less than a year but Tipsy Pig stayed relevant in the market by offering crowd favorites like wings, salmon steak and rib eye steak. Yes, Tipsy Pig offers superb bar chow and a lot more. 

Hello, Tipsy Pig.

Tipsy Pig started when Capitol Commons was still unheard of. It was challenging for a new player in the restobar industry to market itself when it's in a low traffic location. But its scrumptious dishes and bang for the buck drinks made it an easy favorite by the young ones and young at heart. And now, it is three branches strong!

EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG) in Makati

EDSA Beverage Design Group has made a name in the local community as one of the prominent players in the third wave coffee industry. With its first branch aptly located along EDSA, it has received a lot of love from caffeine aficionados. Focusing more on quality and its coffee studio, it took this cafe 4 years before it decided to open another branch. And this time, it was at the posh The Grid food hall in Powerplant Mall. 

Hello, EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG). 

EDSA BDG is the first stall you'll see when you enter The Grid. Serving as the beverage counter for the food hall's concessionaires, this cafe offers more than a good cup of joe. 

Flower Boy: Colors of Thailand in Manila

One of the stalls that opened early at The Grid is Tankchop XL which is now named as Flower Boy. Offering ginormous pork chop rice and picturesque Pad Thai, this stall experienced a lot of hiccups on its first few months of operations. Thankfully, it managed to get the groove of moving plates fast after some time. 

Hello, Flower Boy. 

Flower Boy is one of the first stalls you'll see if you circle The Grid clockwise. Located at stall #2, this kiosk specializes in Thai local fare and one of its signature dishes is its Pad Thai. 

Tsuke-Men: Dipping Ramen at The Grid

The Grid is one of the best food markets in Manila right now with its lovely selection of concessionaires. We have the likes of Bun Appetit, Risa's Chocolates and La Chinesca to satisfy our growling tummies. But there are also stalls that may have been unheard of before and made its debut at The Grid and one of which is Tsuke-Men.

Hello, Tsuke-Men.

Tsuke-Men is managed by the people behind The Grid and I managed to get first dibs (or should I say dips?) on its tsukemen or dipping ramen concept when The Grid opened last year.

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. 

First Bite: Mo' Cookies

Call me a cookie monster but I can never say no to cookies. And when I get a whiff of the scent of freshly baked goodies, my eyes turn into hearts like a crazy in love lady. Such was the case when I spotted Mo Cookies by The Moment Group.

Hello, Mo' Cookies.

I've read countless happy comments on The Moment Group's popular cookies sold at Mess Hall and I was dying to grab hold of one or two. However, the insane Makati traffic kept getting in the way between me and these ginormous cookies. I guess I haven't reached the level of braving carmageddon just to satisfy my cookie craving.