First Bite: Camping Date

It is always fun to go to Baguio. I love the cold and fresh wind, peaceful ambiance and the fact that I could disconnect from everything (due to the poor satellite signal). And since R and I were getting a bit too stressed with Manila, we decided to head to the land of ube jam and strawberries for a short getaway. Though we buy supplies to keep us from starving, we still try to visit at least one restaurant in the city and this time, we visited... Camping Date.

Hello, Camping Date!

We had a hard time finding this Korean place! We followed the location pin on several food apps and it led us to different places. But since our option #2 is a bit far from Legarda, we decided to spend a bit more time to look for this place. After two failed location pins, we finally made it to the right place—Lighthouse—which is right across Prince Hotel.

The place was packed when we arrived and all tents were occupied. We ended up with the uncomfortable camping chairs with tables which makes it your usual dining experience with back ache. R was giggling to see me so disappointed and pout like I’m about to kiss the ground.

Determined to have the Camping Date experience, I was like a hawk eying its prey when checking which tent will be done soon. When I spotted the middle tent’s “occupants” finishing up, I immediately asked the friendly server to move us and she obliged.

Yay! Tent! TENT! TEEEEENT!

I was super excited to be inside the tent for 5 minutes before the not so pleasant smell hit me. The drawback of dining inside the tent is that the smell of the different dishes remains. Also, since it’s harder to clean the floor of the tent, the servers do not get to thoroughly clean it before the next diners sit down. Oh well...

We got to order Garlic Chicken (PHP350), Combination Pizza (PHP250, small; PHP450, medium; PHP680, large; P950, family size), and a mug of Milk Tea (PHP60).  

Food was served after 15 minutes or so and first served was Garlic Chicken.

The nicely glazed chicken was served with tongs for us to use and I find it more environment friendly than handing us with plastic gloves. 

I loved every bite of the garlic chicken. It was well cooked and generously seasoned and glazed. It was flavorful without it being too overpowering or overwhelming. I also loved that each bite guarantees delightful crunch. The chicken parts were just a bit too small but it was okay and definitely delivered when it said it was good for two. 

It took a bit before the Combination Pizza was served but we didn't mind as we were too preoccupied eating chicken. 

The pizza was small but pleasant to the eyes with its vibrant colors. I liked how the sweet potato was placed on the pizza to make it stand out. (It's the yellow circle in the middle.) 

Love at First Bite: Alley

I think the Year of the Monkey is my foodie year. Just last weekend alone, I managed to visit 5 restaurants in my must visit list. Among the restaurants I have been eying and finally visited is Alley, one of the new players at The Grove.

Hello, Alley!

This adorably designed restaurant serves several light snacks. Or so I thought.

It opened its doors just a few days ago but I am already familiar with its offerings thanks to my stalking skills. (Okay fine, it was because of Chef Angelo Comsti’s mouthwatering photos of Alley’s dishes.)

I went here after finally visiting Asakusa since I wanted some sweets to cap the night. I was a bit disappointed though that they only have two desserts to choose from, Financier (PHP229) and Caramelized Banana Bread (PHP249). I went with the latter because “house-churned cashew ice cream” sounds so delectable. (I was warned by the server that the banana bread is huge. It made me wonder if it’s because I smelled like tempura or if the phrase YOU-MUST-DIET is plastered all over my face.) I also ordered a cup of Cappuccino (PHP139) to balance the sweetness of my dessert.

First served was my cup of cappuccino and it was lovely. I got regular instead of decaf and it was still not that strong making it “night-friendly” if there is such a term. I didn’t get to appreciate the aroma though as I was about to get sick that night. Also, serving size is a tad too small for the price.

My dessert was served right after and the server was right. It was HUGE and definitely good for at least 3 hungry fellows.

First Bite: Jack's Joint

R told me that we were heading to Tomas Morato one Saturday night to visit his friend's new restaurant business called Jack's Joint. It is not exactly a new brand as this is the second branch of the well-loved kebab place in Tondo. 

Hello, Jack's Joint. 

The place looks deceiving from the front as it would seem like a very small place but it actually has a deep space and could comfortably sit around 40 diners inside. 

Since we were not really hungry, R and I decided to share a Quarter Pounder with cheese (PHP85) and Special Kebab (PHP195). For drinks, we went with Mango Yogurt and Strawberry Shake (both are priced at PHP75 for small and PHP95 for large).

I was surprised with our large drinks as both glasses were filled to the brim! It was value for money in terms of quantity. As for quality... 

Well, of course, you wouldn't expect the strawberry shake to have real strawberries in it. But it was pretty good. I loved my mango yogurt more though because of the delightful tart of the yogurt. I can't stop sipping!

The special kebab was served next. Simply plated, it proved how this is a no-frills kind of place. It was very straightforward. 

Love at First Bite: Pound by Todd English

There's a new burger joint in town and it sure knows how to get attention. Presenting #paywhatyouwant.Yes, you read it right. The new burger place is offering most of its burgers (except for the Pound Burger priced at PHP999) at any price that you are willing to pay for a limited time. And if you're curious which burger place I'm talking about, it's Todd English's baby, Pound.

Hello, Pound!

I was not aware of Todd English's new restaurant till I saw a post on Instagram promoting it's Pay What You Want promo. I giddily told my officemates about it and asked if anyone would be interested to visit the place with me. (Two officemates said yes but they had to leave before I managed to get a table. But I'll get there in a while.)

The talked about promo of Pound has been on my mind since lunch and I was so excited to head to the place and pay for my meal at a really friendly price. But I was not the only one who saw the Instagram post as there were a lot of people waiting outside when we arrived at 6:25 PM.

I looked for the hostess right away and I was horrified by the long list of diners waiting to be served. One even had a party of 16 guests! But since I wanted to take advantage of the really attractive promo, I gave in and had my name listed. I was 28th. 

*tick tock tick tock* 

Eventually, I was left all alone come 7:15 PM as my officemates had other plans. And I was still at #23. To entertain myself, I went to the supermarket for some cold air and escape from the pesky mosquitoes. But alas, when I got back, I was at #19.

I was starting to get impatient as it was already an hour wait. I was debating with myself if I should wait more or not as I was turning hangry. But I opted to wait. And wait. And oh, Krispy Kreme. *munch* And wait some more.

After 2 hours and 15 minutes, I finally heard name and I got a table... for one. (Alone but not lonely. :D)

The place has a Your Local kind of vibe and Todd English darkness touch. It was really dark and I had a hard time reading the menu! I was also seated closest to the A/C and when the diners beside me complained on how cold it was, the server adjusted it and the cold breeze went straight towards me! Brrrr. Minus points! (It kind of made me want to sing Celine Dion's song Alone.)

To take advantage of the promo, I went for the most expensive burger included in the promo which is Amsterdam Burger (PHP280). I wanted to go for the bacon and egg sliders but figured that this might be bigger. I didn't go for any beverage anymore as they were only offering sodas and iced tea. 

Despite the crowd, service was fast and I got my burger in less than 15 minutes. 

First Bite: Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda

I have lost count on how many times I visited Tagaytay last year. R and I head there whenever we need a quick getaway from the busy Manila life. Though it is sometimes traffic in Tagaytay, at least we get to enjoy the slightly cooler and fresher breeze. And last Christmas, my family opted to head there too and we decided to stay in Tagaytay Highlands for a much needed family bonding.

Hello, Tagaytay Highlands Sports Center Veranda!

Whenever R and I visit Highlands, we would head to The Highlander Steakhouse for some of its delectable prime ribs. But this time around, my family opted to try the restaurant in the Sports Center Veranda for some casual comfort dishes.

The menu is extensive and a mix of different cuisines. I went with Breaded Pork (PHP280) while my sister ordered Mac and Cheese (PHP280) and cheese quesadillas for my mom. I also ordered a glass of buko shake and a bowl of mango caramel ice cream for dessert.

Service was quite fast as food was served in less than 10 minutes. I guess it also helps as we were the only diners that time.

I didn’t get to taste my mom’s quesadillas but it was a bestseller with the kids. I guess it was really cheesy for kids to love it.

First Bite: Fire Lake Grill

Celebrating new year's with R's family was fun. There were several kids running around and their reaction to fireworks was priceless. I also learned a bit of mahjong which is a more sophisticated and complicated version of well-loved Filipino card game Tong Its (rummy-type game). When the clock hit 12 midnight, we all cheered for 2016 and also greeted cutie pie P a happy birthday. It must be fun to have the whole world anticipate your birthday with you. And to celebrate P's birthday, we all headed to Cliffhouse Tagaytay for lunch.

Hello, Fire Lake Grill! 

It was drizzling when we arrived but that did not hinder us from enjoying the nice view Cliffhouse offers. 

When we got settled, I realized that the P's parents already had everything prepared. All we have to do is choose between steak or salmon for our main course. R opted to get the grilled pepper-rubbed Australian strip loin steak while I went with the baked Norwegian salmon fillet. 

First served was our Greek-style petite salad tossed with red wine-oregano vinaigrette. 

Presentation-wise, it was like I plated it myself. The dressing had that slightly bitter after taste which I dislike. The greens though were fresh and I loved the tangy flavor brought by the small cubes of cheese.

A small cup of leek and potato soup in demitasse sour cream and chives was served next and it was probably the best leek and potato soup I have ever tasted! It was creamy and rich in flavor! I went to soup heaven when I got a taste of the sour cream that balanced off the saltiness of the soup. The only thing I did not like about this dish is that I could easily finish it in one gulp!

First Bite: Qiwellness Living Teahouse + Bathhouse

They say that time flies so fast when you are having fun. I believe in that as I still cannot get over the fact that R and I have celebrated our first anniversary a few weeks back. I still clearly remember our first few dates and how we became more and more comfortable around each other. But enough of the mushiness as this entry is all about my degustation experience in Qiwellness Living Teahouse + Bathhouse.

Hello, Qiwellness Living Teahouse + Bathhouse.

I spotted a deal in Deal Grocer while looking for the perfect (and romantic) anniversary gift for R. Since it’s hard to buy him an actual gift, I figured he’d appreciate something we'd experience and enjoy together. And so why not a nice dinner with a beautiful view? 

I instantly purchased two coupons (priced at PHP1.950 each) of Qiwellness Living's Yin Yang degustation after reading good reviews about this place.Reservation was also a breeze as the customer relations person replied to my email in less than 24 hours. Qiwellness has already delighted me prior to my dinner. And on the night of our dinner, we were treated like VIPs. <3

The place does not have a screaming signage so it could be a challenge to find this place if you do not have Waze. (So download it now!)

We were asked to wait for a bit outside while the guard radioed the staff inside that we have arrived. In a few minutes, the big red door opened and we were welcomed with a gong. (And I meant that literally.) 

We were seated right next to the view of Taal. We would have loved it even more if we could see it. But it was too dark when we got there. Oh well.

It was so windy that night that I was literally shivering. I was barely saved by the complimentary lovely pink and floral tea. 

After 20 minutes or so, our first dish arrived and it was Pine Tree-Smoked Clams with Tofu Skin and Paprika. 

It was a delightful starter spoon. The flavors were not overwhelming yet you could definitely taste the freshness of the clams. It balanced well with the tofu and paprika.

Next served was a plate of complimentary signature bread and salted butter. And I loved it. The bread was glutinous and was lightly seasoned making you whet your appetite even more. 

First Bite: Genki Sushi

Ever since I heard about how fun it is to order food at Genki Sushi, the foodie in me wants to jump, giddily hop, and moonwalk to the popular Japanese restaurant in BGC Stopover. But every time I plan to visit, something happens. *pouts* This is why when R surprised me with a visit and asked me if I want to have dinner at Genki Sushi, I uttered a big YES with a big smile to match. 

Hello, Genki Sushi!!!

I have been waiting to dine here for months! And finally, I could press those buttons and a train or race car will come my way with some delectable Japanese dishes.

Despite being so sore from insanity workout (yes, I just have to say it to make me look less of a glutton), I happily micro hopped to Genki Sushi. Thankfully, the place was not packed and we managed to get a table with ease.

Before going crazy over the high tech way of ordering, the server gave us a short intro on how to order and that we could enjoy unlimited supply of matcha with our meals.

As soon as the server left, R and I began to stare at the menu plastered on the “food tunnel.” We drooled over Salmon Belly (PHP80), Lobster Salad (PHP120), Lobster Salad Roll (PHP150), Unadon (PHP350) and Chirashi Don (PHP420). 

*choo choo*

The train arrived first with Salmon Belly, Lobster Salad and Unadon.

Given the friendly prices for sushi, I was not really expecting great sushi from this place. But I was pleasantly surprised that the salmon sushi was decent. In fact, it was good. The color was nice and it was fresh. Yay! Great deal for PHP80!

The lobster salad which was topped with crunchy flakes and sweet sauce was pretty heavy. I didn't get a hint of lobster though due to its tiny serving per roll.