Monday, September 30, 2019

Love Local: Crows Brewery

Beer may be one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the Philippines but craft beer is relatively new for many. Known to be brewed in small batches and in a more traditional way, it is often perceived to be better than the commercially produced beer given the brewer's closer attention to detail. I've had my first taste of craft beer in 2015 when I went to Baguio. But there's another brewery in the south that has been around a few years earlier. And yes, I'm referring to Crows Brewery.

Hello, Crows Brewery.
Crows Brewery was born in 2010 and started to commercially brew in 2013. With a very hop-centered influence, expect strong bitter notes in every sip.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

First Bite: Lugaw Manila

A trip to Poblacion is not complete without dropping by a bar or two for drinks. And though this bustling night scene is packed with the trendiest restaurants and bars, it runs a bit short of spots where one can recover from all the cocktails and beer consumed. Thankfully, there's a new shop in town that offers the crowd favorite lugaw

Hello, Lugaw Manila
Lugaw Manila may be a new kid in the block but it has been around longer than most of Poblacion's frequent guests. 

Established in 1989, Lugaw Manila started out as a small family restaurant in one of the streets of Malolos, Bulacan. For decades, this nameless store attracts locals for its bang for the buck goto and other comfort dishes. It took a bit of courage and perfect timing for it to find the opportunity to finally bring its delectable dishes to Manila.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

First Sip: Bang! Bang! Bar

Poblacion has transformed from a quiet neighborhood into a bustling community these past years. With innovative restaurants and some of the hippest bars found here, it's not surprising for this part of Makati to be very busy at night. And we discovered a new bar you definitely have to add to your next bar crawl to end your night with a bang!

Hello, Bang! Bang! Bar.
Bang! Bang! is the slightly hidden bar of VBQ Vietnamese Barbeque & Hotpot

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

First Bite: VBQ Vietnamese Barbeque & Hotpot

Korean barbecue is one of the hottest food trends these past few years. We’ve seen so many shops open here and there. I had no idea though that Vietnam also has something similar to this till I visited VBQ.

Hello, VBQ Vietnamese Barbeque & Hotpot.
VBQ is one of the newest spots to check out in Poblacion.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

First Bite: Sundays by Merry Moo

Summer may have been long over but the intense Manila heat is here to stay. And there's no better way to keep cool than with a scoop or two of ice cream. But why stop there when you can have three and a yummy waffle bowl to eat it with?

Hello, Sundays by Merry Moo.
Merry Moo is one of the homegrown ice cream brands I love. Its fun and innovative flavors keep it relevant especially with today's discerning market.

Monday, September 23, 2019

First Bite: Catch of the Day by Cold Storage

I could never say no to salmon. I love this seafood a lot that I'm willing to give up steak for it. And when I spotted it one at Catch of the Day, it attracted me like fly to light. 

Hello, Catch of the Day by Cold Storage.
Catch of the Day is Cold Storage's paluto-type stall at The Corner Market.  

Friday, September 20, 2019

Midsummer Manila is Back this September

The insane Manila traffic is just about to get even crazier as we move closer to Christmas. With a supposed 30 minute drive turning into a grueling 2 hour trip, we should start crossing out some of the items on our shopping list as early as now! And one of the best places to make that happen is at Midsummer Manila

Hello again, Midsummer Manila
Midsummer Manila is back this September with three pop up schedules!

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Choi Garden Feast at 50% Off

Choi Garden is one of the best Chinese restaurants in town. Known for its superb roast duck and pork, scrumptious abalone and fresh seafood, its Annapolis branch is often packed with hungry guests. And it gets even busier when it partners with banks for bang for the buck deals. For this September, your favorites are at 50% off!

Hello, Choi Garden
We dropped by Choi Garden last Thursday to grab a few dishes for dinner. But we were surprised to know that we can't order roast pork to go. 

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

When in El Nido: Huni Lio

El Nido Resorts never fail to deliver exceptional service and gift us with great memories to cherish. This is why we opted to book Huni Lio after finding out that it is also part of the same group. 

Hello, Huni Lio.
Huni is the newest addition to the Lio Estate Resorts group. Knowing that it opened just last June made it so easy for us to confirm our reservation. 

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

When in El Nido: The Red Crab Alimango House

After days of swimming, snorkeling and climbing in Apulit and Miniloc, R and I were looking forward to finally relax at Lio, El Nido. Just thinking about lounging on its long shore and enjoying the area's chill vibe made us excited. But another thing made us giddy to spend a few days in this newly developed area... and that was to feast on good seafood.

Hello, The Red Crab Alimango House.
The Red Crab Alimango House opened in Lio Estate just last April and it's one of the best places to dine in the area.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Now Open: The Empress Dining Palace

I used to dislike Chinese food. I had no appreciation for it till I was in middle school. But it turned out that it wasn't the cuisine that I did not like, I was just eating at the wrong places. And when I got to have a taste of the real deal, a space in my heart (and tummy) opened up for this cuisine with rich history. Now hooked with dumplings, bird's nest soup and so much more, I was excited to visit The Empress Dining Palace.

Hello, The Empress Dining Palace

Friday, September 13, 2019

When in Palawan: Miniloc Island Resort

Our eco adventure in Apulit Island Resort made us realize that it might have been a bad idea to head to Miniloc right after. With more complimentary activities to try, we had to delay our plan to recover from hours of snorkeling, swimming and climbing lime stones. 

Hello, Miniloc Island Resort.
Located just 50 minutes away from Lio Airport, Miniloc Island is one of the more popular islands of El Nido Resorts. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

When in Palawan: Apulit Island Resort

Palawan has always been a favorite destination of mine. Basking in the beauty of its wonderful limestone formations and pristine beaches is my idea of vacation. And our stay in Pangulasian Island Resort last February made it an easy decision for us to check out other El Nido Resorts' properties. Our first stop, Apulit Island Resort. 

Hello, Apulit Island Resort
Apulit is located at the opposite side of other El Nido Resorts properties and is about two and a half hours away from Lio Airport. We had to take an hour and half van ride to Taytay Pier and take a 50 minute boat ride to the resort. 

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Yellow Cab Launches XL Pizza Slices

Pizza has been one of the easiest meals to grab when in a rush. However, most solo diners find it too much to order a whole pizza just to satisfy their hankering for this savory oven baked pie. Thankfully, Yellow Cab came up with something to solve that problem. 

Hello, Yellow Cab XL Pizza Slices!
Your favorite New York flavors are now available by the slice! And to make things yummier, it comes in huge slices! 

Monday, September 9, 2019

When in Puerto Princesa: Costa Palawan

Puerto Princesa is one beautiful city filled with natural wonders. From the famous underground river to striking limestone, this city is a lovely break from the hustle and bustle of Manila. However, we ended up in a rather unpleasant hotel on my first visit which left a negative impression on Puerto Princesa's accommodations. Fast forward to 2019, the island experienced a boom in the hotel and resort industry giving visitors more value for money options. One of which is Costa Palawan

Hello, Costa Palawan
Costa Palawan is just 10 minutes away from Puerto Princesa International Airport but is on a quieter side of the city. It offers complimentary airport transfer which made us decide to book our last two nights here. 

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Celebrating Mooncake Festival the Traditional Way with Eng Bee Tin

Mooncake season is here! With beautifully designed Chinese baked treats in countless shelves in the market, the only other thing that excites me is the annual dice game. Known in Manila as Mooncake Festival and more aptly called Mid-Autumn Festival in China, this tradition can be traced all the way back during the Qing Dynasty in 1600. It has been said that this celebration is to give good luck to scholars for their exams hence the game being known as zhuang yuan bo bing. It eventually evolved throughout the years and we now veer away from mooncakes as prizes and give out snacks or money instead. But Eng Bee Tin had the wonderful idea to bring back tradition. 

Hello, Eng Bee Tin and The Great Buddha Cafe

Eng Bee Tin has been around for over a decade now having started in 1912. Its name has been closely related to hopia and tikoy that others actually use the brand name when referring to these Chinese favorites.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

First Bite: Cold Layers

Rainy days in Manila doesn't necessarily mean sweater weather. With the humid air we have in the city, it's not surprising to see people feast on ice cream, shaved ice or boba. And since a cold treat is always a good idea, I decided to swing by Cold Layers.

Hello, Cold Layers.
Cold Layers is known as a shaved ice shop. But it offers more than just those fluffy snow-like treats. Aside from it joining the boba craze, it also offers savory dishes perfect for breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner!

Monday, September 2, 2019

Filipino Restaurant Favorite: Ombu Kusina

I find it so fascinating how our own Filipino cuisine evolved throughout the years. We've seen and tasted several new and innovative interpretation on classic dishes. And though our grandparents' recipes have a special place in our hearts (and tummies), the modern take on adobo, lechon and so on deserve applause. And speaking of modern Filipino restaurants, one of my new favorites is Ombu Kusina. 

Hello, Ombu Kusina
Ombu Kusina has been known for serving modern Filipino dishes. It has been around for slightly over a year and it continues to be patronized by locals and tourists alike.