Home of Quirky Flavors: Black Scoop

Black Scoop is known as the home for quirky and one of a kind milk tea and ice cream flavors. Starting off with the well-loved Yakult, this milk tea shop became extra experimental when it launched Pei Pa Koa flavored tea! Though I may not be as adventurous as those who would like to have Chinese herbal cough syrup in their drinks, I discovered new favorites. 

Hello, Black Scoop.

Black Scoop started out as a humble milk tea shop along the foodie Maginhawa and grew into several branches in just months! With stores in big malls such as SM North Edsa and Eastwood and prime spots like Tomas Morato, it wasn't surprising that this relatively new player quickly took a big chunk of the boba market. 

Christmas in May: The Plaza Pop Up Store at Rustan's Makati

Christmas came in early this year as The Plaza opens a pop up store in Rustan's Makati. Aside from its scrumptious ham, it also offers other favorites such as Krispy Kangkong, Lasagne al Forno and Chicken ala Kiev among others. And I got to try a bunch over the short midweek break. 

Hello, The Plaza.

Established in 1965, The Plaza has been a strong brand not just for its delectable ham but also in the catering industry. Its mouthwatering spread and strong clientele made it a trustworthy name and reliable supplier for event needs. And now you don't have to wait for the next gathering to sink your teeth into The Plaza's superb dishes.

New Love: La Petite Fromagerie's Camem-Beer Spread

I am crazy in love with La Petite Fromagerie. It has brought out a whole different level of cheese craving after a taste of its Truffle Cream Cheese spread. It was the best cheese product I've had and I couldn't help myself spazz about it pretty much with everyone. And when this cheese dreamland announced its new product, I drooled for days.

Hello again, La Petite Fromagerie.

I badly wanted to try its Camem-Beer (PHP550/jar)  spread ever since it was released a few months back. However, with a fridge half full with spreads and jams, I'm sure that someone's not going to like the idea of me buying another one. 

Now Open: Locavore BGC

Locavore has been one of the hottest restaurants since 2014. With its crazy wait list and social media buzz, foodies and not-so-foodies flocked to the humble industrial looking restaurant along Brixton, Pasig to taste its delectable (and photogenic) sizzling sinigang and equally delicious but not so photogenic lechon oyster sisig. Two years passed and people still line up just to dine here. And it turned crazier when it opened its newest branch in Forbes Town, BGC. 

Hello, Locavore BGC! 

I have been planning to visit this place for weeks now. I already had my fair share of its famous sinigang and sisig but I was so curious with its new dishes exclusive to its brunch menu which is only available from 9 am to 2:30 pm daily. 

Since having brunch here is near impossible given that I'm a corporate slave with a one hour lunch break, I figured visiting here on a weekend would be my only option. And since my weekends have been already planned out for the rest of July, I thought that I'll have to delay my duck congee calling for a few more weeks till... today. 

I was supposed to be feasting in Aguirre with some of my favorite foodies but due to transportation challenges, we made last minute changes and ended up in BGC with Locavore as our first stop. 

I hurriedly walked (because Uber was not cooperating and kept on insisting that there should be surge at 10:30 am) to Forbes Town thinking it will be packed with diners by lunch time. I got to the place glowing with sweat with a few tables still vacant. 

I was quickly ushered to the nearest vacant table and I ordered Duck Lugaw (PHP320) and Champorado ni Speedy (PHP280) thinking it'll take them quite a while to prepare it especially since the place was quite busy that time. 

Love at First Bite: K & L Café

I get flattered every time I get an invite from an establishment to try their food. It shows that they trust my blog and that they see me as an influencer. A few weeks ago, I got an email from Karen and Loren, sisters behind Blushing Cupcakes, inviting me to visit their newest venture, a restaurant named  K & L Café along White Plains, a few steps away from Pan de Amerikana. After two weeks, I finally got to visit the quaint café.

Hello, K & L Café!

The place is extremely adorable! It had a rustic and homey feel that I simply love. My eyes had a feast! J, the architect, noticed the super sweet sign Karen and Loren prepared for me. It sure made me feel so special! <3

While chatting with Karen and Loren, I found out that they both studied in St. Paul College, Pasig and University of Asia and the Pacific. They were my school mates in high school and college! Small world!

They recommended the following: Maple Caramel Latte (PHP105, hot | PHP125, cold), Famous Strawberry Calamansi (PHP95), Ultimate Red Velvet Pancake (PHP295), Daddy’s Bourbon American Ribs (PHP295), Ilocos Bagnet with Tomato Salsa (PHP265), and Apple, Brie and Baguio Honey sandwich (PHP227).

First served were our drinks. I didn’t get to try J’s drink as he didn’t offer. (Insert sad music here.) 

Food Find: Chatime's Kronuts

The Cronut mania is still very alive as I still see long lines in Wildflour, empty racks in Chatime and posts on social media. I got to try the ones from Dunkin Donut (which you have to eat warm if you want to enjoy it), the cute version of Le Coeur (cute because it was the smallest so far), and Chatime’s Kronuts (which at first was sold out 30 minutes after opening). There’s still a lot more to try but my pants are suffering!

My mom called me one night and said that she was buying a few stuff from Pioneer Center and the first thing that came to my head was Chatime’s Kronuts. (They spell it like that since they can’t use the word Cronut as it was trademarked.) My mom asked which flavors and I tried to think for a moment but then decided to say, “ALL!” So much for trying to live healthier. >.<

When I got home, I was greeted by 6 Kronuts and all looked so yummy and saying, “Eat me! No me first! MEEE!” Okay, that was weird but you get my point.

The first one I tried was the sugar raised Kronut and I was surprised that it has hazelnut filling! I really enjoyed this one!

Feel Good Muffins

One Monday evening, I received a random SMS from a friend asking me if I love sweets… and the rest was… well, pretty much narrated below.

The question “Do you like sweets?” never fails to make me curious and reply and a giddy smile on my face “Why? :)” hoping that I’d get a “I have some sweets to share with you” or a “I discovered this new restaurant and I want to visit it. Let’s go?” reply. 

To make things short, I didn’t exactly received any of those “dream” replies but instead a request to help a friend out. The one who sent the SMS was helping a group of friends doing charity work. To support their cause, they sell muffins and the money they get from selling these sweets will straight to the institutions they plan to support (I will disclose the names of the institutions as soon as everything has been finalized on the end of the charitable youngsters). As a sucker for fund raising activities, I replied without hesitation, “Sure!”

The prices of the muffins were reasonable. They sell it by boxes of 6, 12, and 24 making it ideal as gifts. There were also 4 flavors available: Double Cheese, Double Choco Cream Cheese, Butter Nutella Cream Cheese and Blueberry Oat Walnut Cream Cheese. They must love cream cheese.