Friday, June 28, 2019

First Sip: Sakura Hanami

One of the things I look forward to when visiting Japan is to bask in the beauty of cherry blossoms. Those beautiful and delicate flowers never fail to be the highlight of my Spring vacation. I was slightly disappointed though that I was too early this year for the sakura festival but I managed to get a glimpse of it before heading back to Manila. But a newly opened tea shop turned Spring into a year-round season with its hanami inspired drinks!

Hello, Sakura Hanami
Pink, white and everything floral, Sakura Hanami is the very definition of dainty and sweet. 

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Singapore in Manila: Nanyang

I have been a fan of Nanyang's delicious Kaya Toast ever since I got hold of it last December. It has been one of my favorite afternoon spots in BGC. But ever since I started working in Quezon City, I hardly get to visit its High Street branch. Thankfully, it opened a branch at SM Megamall which is closer to work. 

Hello again, Nanyang!
Its SM Megamall branch is quite smaller than its BGC counterparts. But its prime location at the ground floor of building A (beside Breadtalk) makes it hard to miss. 

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Skin Care 101: The Body Shop's June Product Highlights

Skin care is one of the things I used to put on the back seat until I saw some dreaded lines on my forehead and eyes whenever I smile. But finding the right brands could be tricky. I usually play it safe and stick with the ones my skin's used to. And one of the brands I often buy from is The Body Shop. 

Hello, The Body Shop.
The Body Shop has been my go to shop back when I was in high school. It was also the first make up brand I bought as it has this tea tree line that saved me from all those nasty blemishes. And fast forward to 2019, I'm still a loyal fan of The Body Shop but now focuses more on its skin care line (and the perfect perfumes especially for Manila's humid weather).

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

All About Serenitea's Cookie Brûlée Series

I have been drinking too much milk tea these past weeks to the point of planning to do some serious boba detox. But just when I thought I could finally start, Serenitea launched its crème brûlée line.  

Hello, Serenitea
Serenitea has been one of my favorite milk tea brands ever since my first sip of its Hokkaido Milk tea back in 2011. And despite the influx of so many boba shops opening in Manila, Serenitea remains to be one of my top 3! 

Monday, June 24, 2019

Quality over Quantity: Sariwon Philippines

Manila has turned into one big Koreatown (한인마을) with several Korean barbecue joints opening left and right. There are a lot offering unlimited meat which I find quite tempting. But if I were to decide based on quality, I have a few places I go to and top of my list is Sariwon. 

Hello, Sariwon
Sariwon has been around even before the boom of Korean barbecue in Manila. Located at the prime Bonifacio High Street Central, Sariwon became a favorite by professionals in the area and a family destination on weekends. 

Friday, June 21, 2019

First Sip: One Zo

Milk tea is everywhere and it is so close to turning me into the same shape as tapioca! But it's just too hard to resist especially when new brands keep opening here and there. And just a few weeks back, a boba shop also from Taiwan opened in Promenade Greenhills. But unlike all the other milk tea joints, this one makes its pearls from scratch and cook fresh batches every day. And did I mention that it comes in different flavors?

Hello, One Zo
Named after the Mandarin translation for playing with balls of dough, One Zo is known for its freshly made flavored pearls. 

Thursday, June 20, 2019

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! 

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

First Bite: Pepeng Hapon

I'm a purist when it comes to Japanese food and I usually automatically dislike Japanese fusion dishes as soon as I see it or get a whiff of its strong aroma. But all that changed when I got to savor Ooma's crazy good dishes. And when a Filipino-Japanese restaurant reached out to me, I quickly said yes.

Hello, Pepeng Hapon
Pepeng Hapon is a Filipino-Japanese restaurant in Malate offering pocket friendly maki, takoyaki, and more. With some of its dishes at under PHP200, it isn't surprising for this place to become a popular spot for students and workers in the area. 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Restaurant Love: Sentro 1771

Filipino food always have a special place in my heart and tummy. I'd often find myself craving for bulalo, sinigang or adobo. And one of the best places I know that offers good sinigang is Sentro 1771. But this Filipino restaurant offers more than just Sinigang na Corned Beef.

Hello, Sentro 1771.
It has been a while since I last visited Sentro 1771 and I was glad that the dishes I love are still available and there are a few new items worth checking out. 

Monday, June 17, 2019

First Bite: Wok with Mom

I feel absolutely bad for not being able to properly celebrate my mom's birthday. I was swamped with work on her birthday that we only got to briefly meet on her special day. To make up for it, I decided to host a small lunch party for her with my sister. And Wok with Mom definitely came in at the most perfect time.

Hello, Wok with Mom.
Wok with Mom is a humble home-based party tray business that was started in 2018 by Oi's 77 year old mom. Specializing in authentic Filipino-Chinese dishes like Eight Treasure Chicken, Citrus Baked Pork Spareribs and Potato Shrimp Chinese Salad, Wok with Mom became a popular choice for celebrations and all kinds of festivities. 

Friday, June 14, 2019

Love at First Sip: Alishan at The Alley

Milk tea has been part of Filipinos diet for a few years now and it seems to be taking a bigger chunk of the food pyramid. We even ranked as one of the top countries in terms of milk tea consumption. And it's getting harder and harder to avoid this addictive drink when you see a shop or two in almost every corner. But I might have to sign up for Milk Tea Anonymous for I found myself braving the traffic one Saturday just to get hold of Alishan at The Alley's talked about milk tea.

Hello, Alishan.
Alishan at The Alley should not be confused with The Alley which first opened in Mall of Asia. The former is managed by Dean & Deluca and has nothing to do with the milk tea shop with reindeer in its logo aside from sharing "The Alley". 

Thursday, June 13, 2019

First Bite: Maricar's Chocolate Cakes

Chocolate cakes served in tin cans became a crazy trend last year. We've seen the growth of several home bakers offering these sinfully rich cakes in different flavors with chocolate as its usual bestseller. But celebrity Maricar Reyes-Poon was way ahead when she launched her own line of chocolate liquor cakes back in 2015. And with it winning over so many hearts (and taste buds), it was not surprising that it got an award for one of the top desserts by Inquirer. 

Hello, Maricar's Chocolate Cakes!
I got a sweet message from Pat of Maricar's Chocolate Cakes one night asking if I'd be interested to try one of their cakes. I replied YES in a heartbeat as I couldn't say no to good dessert. 

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Cookie for a Cause: The GoOD Cookie Project by Overdoughs

Overdoughs has been known not just for its beignets, loukoumades and cookie doughs but also for its strong support for the non-hearing community. Along with its sister dessert concept Elait, Overdoughs promotes inclusivity of its deaf employees. And just when we thought these two brands under Carvan Food Group, Inc. could not impress us any further, it took another step in making us utter 'wow'.

Hello, Overdoughs.
Overdoughs launched its newest product, OD Cookies last April and I got to sample all four flavors, The OD Chocolate Chip, Corn flake, Ube White and Choco Nutella. My favorite was The OD Chocolate Chip which they made more delicious with OD Choco Chunk! But this was not the only thing Overdoughs made better. 

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

First Bite: Hong Kong Little Kitchen

We've witnessed a growth spurt in the international food scene with more foreign brands coming in the metro these past few years. On top of that, there are also local shops that offer our favorite sushi, pizza, noodles and burgers. And with more restaurants to choose from, it can be challenging to discover the ones worth your money (and limited tummy space). Thankfully, I got to know this under the radar shop in New Manila that offers great Hong Kong cuisine. 

Hello, Hong Kong Little Kitchen
Hong Kong Little Kitchen is one dainty shop tucked inside New Manila serving roast meats, noodle soup and other popular dishes you'd find in Hong Kong. I was in for a treat last Saturday when this restaurant spoiled me with some of its bestsellers. 

Monday, June 10, 2019

First Bite: Mihimihi

I hardly go out these days as I find Manila's traffic unbearable. But when I do, I see to it that I get to visit at least one new restaurant. And I was so thrilled when I accidentally discovered Mihimihi on my way home.

Hello, Mihimihi.
Mihimihi is a popular bakeshop from Guangzhou, China known for its eclair-shaped French puff pastries that come in different flavors and fillings. I've seen its shop a few times but our jam-packed Canton Fair schedule doesn't really allow me to explore the city that much. Luckily, these raved about baked goodies found its way to Manila. It opened its first store in SM Fairview last March and its second one opened in SM Megamall just a few weekends ago.

Friday, June 7, 2019

More than just Milkshakes: The Lost Bread

The Lost Bread has been one of the Instagrammable brands in town and probably one of the messiest too. I fell for its milkshake topped with cotton candy that I braved the humid and crowded food park of Maginhawa to try one. And it was an unpleasant experience. I never visited The Lost Bread for years and avoided it even when it opened in malls. But a post on Let's Eat Pare showing ChocNut Ice Cream made me think that it's time to give this shop a second chance.

Hello, The Lost Bread
I was surprised that The Lost Bread in SM Megamall offers more than just drinks. Aside from its picture perfect drinks, The Lost Bread also offers pasta, burgers and rice bowls to complement its sweet beverages. 

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Restaurant Favorite: Serenitea

Serenitea has been one of the pioneer brands in the milk tea category and it has remained strong foothold on the market with its continuous releases of new drinks and its highly anticipated jumbo cups! And it partnering with money saving food app Booky made it even more enticing for milk tea fanatics.

Hello, Serenitea.
It's rare for me to see an empty Serenitea store as most are usually filled by fellow boba fans or Grab Food guys. And I've been visiting Serenitea more often the past few months as I get this extra push from Booky's tempting BOGO deal.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

A Festive Meal at Shangri-La at the Fort's High Street Cafe

Shangri-La at the Fort is one of my favorite places in BGC. I'd often stay at its lounge cafe to have some work done while sipping my favorite tea. The hotel's other restaurants--Samba, Raging Bull and Canton Road--all serve excellent food as well! And a couple of months back, I was invited to try High Street Cafe.

Hello, High Street Cafe.
High Street Cafe is Shangri-La at the Fort's buffet restaurant and it has been known for its fresh seafood spread! If you're lucky, you might be able to see a huge whole tuna on display.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Revisited: Pepi Cubano

I heard of Pepi Cubano back in 2016 when a handful of friends couldn't stop raving about its pressed no frills Cuban sandwiches. I got to try my very first was when it joined  the Gourmand Market and understood the hype after finishing one of its filling sandwiches. It's not surprising for many to favor this as quick bite. And it also serves as a great afternoon snack for a catch up session. 

Hello, Pepi Cubano.

Pepi Cubano grew from a hole in the wall shop in Makati into a multi-branch brand in just a few years and it now has stores conveniently located in malls. 
J and I decided to meet at Pepi Cubano Trinoma branch one time and had a long overdue chat over some sandwiches. I went with Pepi Cubano (PHP190) while J got Torrejas (PHP170). I also got Guava Lemonade (PHP95). 

Monday, June 3, 2019

First Sip: Presotea

I'm starting to believe that milk tea runs through my veins with the amount of naicha I drink each week! And I'm so happy that one of the new names in the boba market opened a branch more accessible to me! 

Hello, Presotea
Presotea is one of the popular milk tea joints in Taiwan with a shop in almost every corner. Its innovative way of preparing tea based drinks set it apart from its competitors and it wasn't long for other countries like China, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Canada and the Philippines to take notice of its fragrant and flavorful drinks. Fast forward to present, Presotea now has four branches in Manila with its newest store in SM North Edsa.