First Sip: Brown Café

The milk tea bug got me real bad as I always find myself craving for this sweet drink. My eyes never fail to sparkle every time I see an ad promoting a new joint worth checking out. And I was so excited when I found out that Brown Café, a popular Thailand brand, opened in Manila. 

Hello, Brown Café. 

I've never been to Brown Café Thailand but its collagen infused boba drinks got me curious. And it's hard to say no to its cute, clean and dainty Instagram posts.

Is FRNK Milk Bar More Than Just A Pretty Shop?

Instagrammable. That word has been the focus of most food and drink establishments and sadly, fail to deliver what's really important... taste. This is the reason why I often avoid pretty food and colorful drinks. I'm always scared of getting duped by its beautiful appearance and leave my taste buds miserable. But when most of my friends say that this new hipster drink brand offers nothing but goodness, I just have to give in to try FRNK Milk Bar. 

Hello, FRNK Milk Bar. 

FRNK Milk Bar is one of celebrity Isabelle Daza's business ventures. And just like all the other brands she's involved with, FRNK is a beauty in all aspects of marketing. All of FRNK's drinks are worthy to be part of anyone's Instagram with its sleek presentation. 

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.

Taiwan in Manila: 50 Lan (50嵐)

Taiwan is the place to be to indulge in milk tea but Manila is becoming a close second. With more and more brands coming in, it gets a bit tough to decide on which one to grab for my daily milk tea run. Sometimes, it boils down on which one doesn't have a queue. And thankfully, one of Taiwan's top boba joints is still yet to make buzz. 

Hello, 50 Lan (50嵐).

I was craving for milk tea while waiting for the screening of Avengers: Endgame and spotted 50 Lan (50嵐) at Rustan's Marketplace. I decided to go for its bestseller Boba Jasmine Milk Tea (PHP80, regular | PHP110 large). Note that the price for large is not published in the menu board so I'm not certain if this is its actual price or I got ripped off. It's still pretty affordable though. 

First Sip: Hui Lau Shan

Summer's here and it seems to be way hotter than before. Thankfully, there are several refreshments to choose from to keep us sane. One new addition to the list is Hui Lau Shan.

Hello, Hui Lau Shan. 

Frequent Hong Kong visitors would be familiar with Hui Lau Shan's inviting yellow signage. Though its cutesy mango illustration may seem like this is brand is just a few years old, it actually has a long history under its belt.

Beat the Heat: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's Fruity Treats

The scorching heat of the sun and our intense desire for anything cold only means one thing... that summer is finally here! Thankfully, there are a lot of refreshing treats out there in the market to keep us stay sane. And one of my favorite coffee shops The Coffee & Tea Leaf has something to help us beat the heat.

Hello, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

R and I decided to pay its picturesque Crosswinds Tagaytay branch a visit two weeks ago and figured it would be a great idea to try its newest drinks since the cool breeze disappeared on our third day down south.

Beat the Heat 101: Honey Lemon

Living in the city could take a toll on the body. With traffic seemingly getting worse each day, I often find myself going for the short route when it comes to grabbing meals. Fast food, canned goods, you name it. As long as it's just a call or few clicks away, you got my attention. But I end up compromising health with convenience. However, not everything off the shelf is bad. In fact, a new product found its way to our shores and would make summer extra fun and healthy.

Hello, Honey Lemon.

R and I are big fans of honey. We'd often drink honey water to start up our day and to help boost our immune system. Though we'd enjoy honey with a wide variety of beverages (even food), we hardly have it with lemon. But who knew it is a winning combination and a very healthy one at that? 

First Sip: Nord's Bread Hub

Walking around any SM mall could be a dizzying experience. With each SM branch never seem to be running out of shoppers, I always find myself searching for a coffee shop to take a break. And one Wednesday, I found a great spot.

Hello, Nord's Bread Hub. 

This bread shop has been around for quite some time in SM North Edsa. I've always been curious with its offerings and how it compares with other establishments like Bread Talk and Kumori. However, I'm always full whenever I pass by and don't find motivation to buy a bread or two just to try it out. One afternoon though, I was looking for a place to grab a quick drink and figured to check out Nord's Bread Hub's Iced Green Tea Latte (PHP165).

First Sip: Milk Tea Taho

The craze for brown sugar milk tea has been around for months and it seems that it is about to get even wilder with new players coming in town. While some are dismissing how great these drinks are given that it's just "arnibal", sweets loving Filipinos are sure to continue to line up and patronize these establishments offering an alternative to our classic taho. But for those who can't decide if they want milk tea or taho, I found the perfect solution for you.

Hello, Soy Yummy!

Soy Yummy has been my go to kiosk for my taho needs when I couldn't get hold of Mr. Taho. I'd always get a large cup of hot taho whenever I spot one except one Friday afternoon when something else caught my attention. 

First Sip: M&S Café

Marks & Spencer has been known as one of the major British multinational retailers offering quality garments, body care and snacks. But it was during my random hunt for a cold drink when I discovered that Marks & Spencer also has a café.

Hello, M&S Café.

I got excited when I found out that Marks & Spencer is no longer just a bakery but a café with a wide selection of beverages.

First Sip: Cocoa Boulevard

With Mother Nature in its moodiest state, I prefer to stay in and enjoy watching the rain as I sip a hot cup of coffee or chocolate. And speaking of chocolate, I discovered a new alternative to my instant mix. 

Hello, Cocoa Boulevard.

I got a random message from Cocoa Boulevard a few months back asking if I would be interested to try its hot chocolate stirrers. Intrigued by the concept, I quickly said yes. I was then asked to wait for a few weeks as they make their hot chocolate stirrers from scratch. 

First Sip: CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice

My love for milk tea started when I was in my early years in the corporate world. An office mate would always shoot an email asking for our orders, if any. And of course, I'd reply with my favorite complete with sugar and ice level as well as my go to sinkers. Eventually, we all had that health is wealth phase where we all decided to lessen our milk tea runs and stick with healthier beverages. But there are still days when I find myself sipping a sweet drink just because I feel that I deserve one. And a few weeks back, I found a new favorite in CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice. 

Hello, CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice. 

I didn't really had plans to drop by this place after my burger run as I already had iced tea and sundae to cap my lunch. But I'm weak when it comes to peer pressure and soon, I found myself in front of CoCo. 

BGC Just Got Darker: BLK 513 is now in Bonifacio High Street

Something dark and black has entered BGC and I love it! In case you haven't heard, BLK 513 is now in Bonifacio High Street!

Hello, BLK 513!

It has been a very long time since I visited BLK 513. If I'm not mistaken, the last time I've been to a BLK 513 branch was two years back. 

First Sip: Dark Specialty Coffee

I found myself getting lost in SM North one afternoon. As I try to look for a camera store that sells the lens I plan to buy for myself as Christmas gift, I spotted Dark Specialty Coffee. And since I love anything with caffeine, chocolate or tea, I decided to take a break from getting lost and have a drink. 

Hello, Dark Specialty Coffee. 

First Sip: Mozafrió

It may be a couple of months to go before Christmas but the intense summer heat is here to stay. I always find myself wanting and craving for cold treats like ice cream and milkshakes. And last week, I discovered Mozafrió.

Hello, Mozafrió. 

This milkshake store is located on the second floor of the hip and very millennial The Food Hive in Quezon City. 

Love at First Sip: Toby's Estate Chai Chocolate

Toby’s Estate is one of my favorite coffee shops in the metro. I love that its coffee is not overly bitter and that its hot mocha is a taste of heaven. With a bunch of drinks to choose from, I usually stick with my usuals—flat white and mocha. That was till I had chai addiction. I always end up ordering anything with chai. And when I spotted it on Toby’s Estate’s menu board, I had to order it. 

Hello, Toby’s Estate!

It was my first time to visit its branch at Shangri-La, Fort and just like its other cafés, it has really nice interiors. It was also quiet there making it a nice place to catch up with friends.

I spotted Chai Chocolate (PHP160) and was convinced to get that despite possibly ruining my appetite for dinner. 

First Sip: La Lola Churreria

I had to visit a few showrooms a few months back and booked an Uber before things become chaotic. I got a call after getting in my Uber car and was informed that I could use the company car and have one of the guys drive me around. Sweet was the first word that came to mind. But it turned really bitter, salty, umami… anything but sweet, when things became crazy. And let me explain why.

Since the company car was finally available, I decided to be dropped off at Uptown Mall and wait for the car to pick me up. I was told that the driver was on his way but it will take him at least 15 minutes to reach me. It’s such a waste to just sit inside the mall and count the number of flies that pass by so I went up to La Lola Churreria and bought Iced Mocha (PHP130, large) to go. 

There was a bit of order back log so I had to wait for a while before my drink was served. 

But the servers do not seem to be proactive as they did not trigger my number to activate (or vibrate and light up) when my drink was ready to be served. I noticed my drink, alone on the counter, yearning to be loved. I asked the server if the drink was mine and true enough, it was my iced mocha. The server apologized though after I told her that I wasn’t sure if it was mine as my number did not light up. 

Not sure if it was because this La Lola branch was new but these servers needed to be trained. They also kept on chatting with each other making the preparation time longer. 

Anyway, my iced mocha drink was lovely. It wasn’t that sweet and it had a nice chocolatey and tinge of caffeine taste. The texture was slightly rough so try not to order this if you have an itchy throat.

*Continuation of bitter, salty, umami story: The driver eventually managed to pick me up after half an hour and we had to go back to the office to change cars as the car he brought was coding that day. We quickly switched cars and went out again. But the driver got a call from an irate colleague and demanded the car to be returned as his bike was in the trunk of the car. In short, I ended commuting again and wasted almost an hour and half from this mishap. :(

La Lola is located at 3rd Floor, Uptown Mall, 9th Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. It is just a few steps away from the Uptown Cinemas. 

A Milkshake Comeback: Once Upon A Milkshake

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard... What does that even mean?! Well, I know one thing, milkshake is L-O-V-E. 

Some of the best milkshakes I have tried before were the ones from In-N-Out and Shake Shack. Creamy, rich, and just so heavenly!

 

In Manila, the one I can recall is Peanut Butter Company's Dark Chocolate PB Banana Milkshake. Yummy and great for sharing (calories included).

But I'm sensing the craze will be back again with Once Upon A Milkshake. 

Foodie Alert: Butterbeer Frappuccino?!?

Harry Potter has been known as a  series of books and movies people of all ages enjoyed. My sister for one got instantly hooked to the movie adaptation when we were in a Harry Potter crash course appreciation program just so we could truly enjoy Universal Studios. Unfortunately, I wasn't converted into a muggle. But I do remember enjoying the 4D ride and the drink they call... Butterbeer.

Oh butterbeer! The last time I got to taste you was way back in 2011 and I miss you so much! I dream of the sweet taste, the little foam, the delectable aroma.

But great news! Starbucks is finally offering butterbeer. Well, sort of.

Image from Hypable.com

Thanks to Starbucks Holiday drinks, we can now request butterbeer from our friendly baristas. Just tell them these:

After Dinner Stop: Meow Meow Cafe

Milk tea is such a craze here in Manila and every time I think that it’s slowing down, I see a packed milk tea place. But things are a bit different in the US. Perhaps the boba craze has been long over in the US so there were no long lines or waits in the shops. At first I was a bit skeptical with the taste given there was no line. But I was wrong.

Hello, Meow Meow Café!

The first thing I noticed was that the surrounding area is filled with high school students. I felt young for a moment there. :)

The place had a few customers so when we arrived, we were next in line. N and I got a Brown Sugar Milk Tea each ($3.50) and it sure was sweet. The pearls (or boba as they call it) were chewy and not the yucky gooey type. It sure was love.

I love the added texture given by the brown sugar sprinkled on top. It gave a bit of roughness and crunch. It was a tad too sweet though but since we were having it for dessert, it made my sweet tooth smile.