Freezer Burn Halloween Special

I have been a big fan of Chefs Miko and Kristine ever since I visited Le Petit Soufflé. Every dish I tried in their beautiful restaurant impressed me and I always drool for more. And when they opened their dessert shop Freezer Burn, I had to make sure that I’d be among the first foodies to try the famous chefs' creative treats. And just when I thought I couldn’t be more impressed, the dynamic duo made my heart skip a beat with their witty combinations. And that was just the beginning as they had something special in store for Halloween. 

Hello again, Freezer Burn!

I know, it is quite to talk about Halloween as it has been a week already. But hey, one is never too late for desserts! 

Freezer Burn, a dessert shop known for its creative cold treats, is at it again with its special Halloween dessert which recreates a creepy but sweet tombstone.

Second Bite: Peperoni Pizzeria

An email from P marks the start of (crash) diet. With all the scheduled eat ups, I had to make more tummy space for… more food. I tried my best to have smaller meals but realized after a spoonful or two that such is an impossible task. And no shortcut could prepare me for last night’s rendezvoos. (Yes, looloo uses double o’s because 1) looloo has two double o’s and 2) why not?!) 

Hello again, Peperoni Pizzeria!

Firs off, thank you so much for waiting for us! I know we were a couple of hours late but we still felt the warm welcome. Thank you too for allowing three superb pizzas sit for 2 hours for us to take photos. I did my best to take nice photos of it. 

Our gracious host, Andrew, asked R and I what we want to try right after our brief greeting. Still awkward from our unacceptable tardiness, we asked for the pizzas to be heated. But Andrew refused and had us order one pasta and he also had a half-half of Prosciutto Crudo di Parma and Bacon Miele (PHP380, 9” | PHP565, 12” | PHP1,250, 21”) and Tortino al Cioccolato (PHP365). For our pasta, we chose Aglio Olio e Peperocino (PHP340). 

First served was the half and half pizza and it sure smelled so good. I got a whiff of the sweet aroma of honey and the sharp smell of cheese as soon as the plate was served. The pasta and dessert were served soon after and we didn’t even notice it as we were busy taking photos of the picturesque half and half pizza. After a few more snapshots, we started to dig in. 

First Visit: Merkanto Street International Street Food

Merkanto Street has been one of the most awaited stops during our Maginhawa food crawl. With J’s new found love for banh mi and R’s interest in Indian food, we had to make sure that we head here as soon as when the clock strikes 4 p.m..

Hello, Merkanto St International Street Food! (Whew, that’s a mouthful.)

The humble car wash and food park in one was empty when we got there around 4:30 p.m. and sadly, there was only one stall open at that time as most open at 5 p.m.. This made choosing easier as we’re stuck with Viet Nom, a stall that sells Vietnamese dishes. 

J went with Bahn Mi Ga (PHP165) while A got Mi Xiao Mem (PHP145) and R1 ordered Mi Xiao Toi Thit Ko Bo (PHP165). 

The Bahn Mi Ga (it was really spelled as Bahn Mi instead of Banh Mi) was sweet and had a bit of crunch thanks to the veggies. But it lacked that defining taste of banh mi that comes from a generous serving of cilantro and liver pate. The bread was wrong as well as they used a soft bun instead of a baguette. At PHP165, this was a bit steep as other banh mi places sell theirs at PHP130 and these establishments use the right bun. 

First Sip: Costa Coffee

I love coffee and anything with caffeine. I always smile whenever I get a sniff of the mouthwatering aroma of coffee. Combining good coffee with well thought of interiors make me go crazy. Subspace, Single Origin, CO/OP and Caravan Black are just a few cafés with notable interiors. Popular UK coffee chain Costa Coffee came in recently but I’ve always thought that it is just another Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I was wrong.

Hello, Costa Coffee!

The place is adorable! The first thing I spotted was the red phone booth which screams London. Apparently, English-theme seems to be the overall theme of this branch.  (Or is it the same for all branches?)

I waited outside for the people I was scheduled to meet that day. And surprisingly, despite the scorching late summer heat, it was pretty cool at the al fresco area. I guess Eastwood was able to design the place well and ensured proper air flow. 

After a couple of minutes, J and G arrived and we headed upstairs to discuss a campaign. J and I headed down again to order and I got Caramel Latte Cream Frostino (PHP150 | Primo). We got a wait number and headed back up for the meeting. 

A Rich Taste of India: Royal Indian Curry House

Indian cuisine is not very popular here in Manila. You’d seldom or barely see an Indian restaurant in the malls or foodie havens. But when you do, more often than not, it would give you a distinct gastronomical experience. And that was what I experienced when I went to Royal Indian Curry House.

Hello, Royal Indian Curry House.

Our foodie godfather, Foodgrammer.ph, invited R and I to join him in an Indian feast last week. As curious foodies, we quickly said yes and crawled (literally because of the traffic) our way to Makati and was greeted by an impressive five-storey restaurant across A.Venue Mall. 

The first and second floor have the same interiors while the third floor is more of a bar or pub with billiards. The fourth floor is dedicated for private functions and the fifth floor is yet another bar with a cute jeepney as the cocktail bar. 

Our generous host suggested most of the dishes we were about to feast on that night. I just chose Sweet Lassi (PHP179) for my drink and went with whatever everyone’s getting.

First served were the Vegetable and Non-Vegetable Samosa (PHP149 and PHP199) and Sharaabi Chana (PHP249). 

At first, we were confused with how the server got to know which samosa is which. She let us in the trick and told us that the puffed pastries with lines on the edge are the ones with chicken meat while the ones without are just with vegetables. I liked the non-vegetable ones more as the chicken meat gave the dish more flavor compared to the ones with just potatoes and peas. 

Everyone loved the Sharaabi Chana but the rough chick pea like texture made my throat itch so I stopped after munching on two balls.

When in Pampanga: Amare by Chef Chris

I have been bugging my foodie friends to organize a Pampanga food crawl as this city is a foodie paradise. But every time we plan to visit, it never pushes through. Hence I was so happy when ForkSpoonManila invited me to his Pampanga food crawl with some of food and lifestyle influencers. It was a mix of restaurants, retail and recreational stops making it a trip to remember. Our first stop… Amare by Chef Chris. 

Hello Amare by Chef Chris!

Our first stop has a fancy feel to it given that it’s at the ground floor of Royce Hotel. 

We were warmly  greeted by the very hands-on Chef Chris and introduced himself in a way very familiar to us… that he used to be the chef of C’ Italian Dining famous for its rollizza. 

First Bite: Kandle Cafe

I have been hearing a lot of good reviews about Kandle Café. I must admit, I was so curious and dying to visit the adorable café. But two words discourage me from going... Quezon City. As a self proclaimed resident of the South (self proclaimed because my friends refuse to believe that Fort Bonifacio is "south") I hardly visit that part of Quezon City. But a very tempting food crawl invite to Tomas Morato made me brave Manila traffic to join the well planned food trip. And of course, one of the stops was Kandle Café.

Hello, Kandle Café!

This is probably one of the few restaurants with ample parking space. We didn't have a hard time parking at all. 

We were greeted by a homey facade and an adorable porch with Kandle Café on it. 

As we moved closer to the dining area, I noticed the beautiful lush landscape beside the al fresco area. It was very charming and that sight made it clear to me why this place was named one of the best (affordable) date places in Quezon City.

First Bite: Acacia Hotel's Acaci, The Lobby and A Steakhouse

Alabang seems to be a very distant place if you reside somewhere in Quezon City or what we call “North”. This is why I hardly get to explore the serene and posh area of Metro Manila. I was lucky though to be invited by Acacia Hotel to celebrate with them the launch of celebrity chef Boy Logro’s dishes in its Acaci restaurant. 

Hello, Acacia Hotel.

It was my first time to step foot inside this Filipino restaurant and I was impressed by its high ceiling lobby. I was also mesmerized by the beautiful abstract art that adorns the spacious area. 

It was then when Acacia Hotel’s Senior Sales Manager, Jason Dinglasan, mentioned that the abstract art near the elevator is actually a dragon split into different canvasses and the metal art on the wall against the front desk is a bird’s eye view of an acacia tree. 

Acacia is one of the shortest, if not the lowest, hotel in Alabang. So do not expect a striking view from its roof top. 

But what Acacia could offer is its accessibility to the malls and other establishments. It is also located right across the road that gets closed every Sunday to cater to joggers and bikers. 

First Bite: Tower Restaurant

I always get so excited whenever I go to Quezon City for a food trip as I’d always discover a gem waiting to be found. One of which is this Filipino restaurant with a name far from being thought of as an establishment that offers Pinoy favorites. 

Hello, Tower Restaurant. 

This fancy looking restaurant that exudes a vibe of offering French dishes is actually named as such because it is located on the ground floor of UAP (United Architects of the Philippines) building which happens to have a radio tower on top. 

The first thing I noticed as soon as I stepped in was the predominant use of white and red for the interiors which confused me even more as it gave an impression of being a Chinese restaurant. But we were quickly corrected by the friendly owner, Architect Jojo, who also conceptualized some of the dishes offered to us during our visit. 

First Bite: Chiara's

I have seen a handful of posts and reviews about this gelato place in Venice Grand Canal Mall. I got very curious when I found out that one cup of three scoops only cost PHP120. Three scoops of gelato for less than two hundred bucks? I was sold! But it took me a while to visit this place as the famous and green Grand Canal could be very crowded with… selfie sticks. But after having lunch at Nihonkai Tsukiji, we decided to hunt for more Pokemon and ended up in the newest tourist destination in Manila. Since we were already there, I figured that I should swing by and try Chiara’s.

Hello, Chiara’s.

The place was packed when I visited on a Sunday afternoon. The gelato store’s area is quite small and gets too crowded once five or six customers are inside. They do have al fresco area though in front of the store. I really wouldn’t mind dining outside if only it wasn’t so humid that day. 

First Bite: Isla Una

I make sure that I visit at least two restaurants whenever I go to Ortigas. With the horrific traffic, I just have to maximize my trip. And when I was invited to a sponsored dinner at City Golf, I had to look for another restaurant to visit afterwards. I then remembered that there is this picturesque Filipino restaurant that was featured countless times in several blogs. 

Hello, Isla Una.

Isla Una’s interiors is like haven in a sea of pubs and bars within City Golf. Though technically also a bar, its interiors say otherwise. Or at least for the ground floor. I couldn’t really comment on the second floor dining area as C and I were already too comfortable with the couch by the leafy wall on the ground floor.

Since we just had dinner, C and I opted to just order some cocktails and desserts. We went with Yema Palitaw (PHP130) and Churros (PHP150) for our sweets and Alamat ng Pinya (PHP160) and Mayora (PHP200) for drinks. 

It seemed that everyone wanted to enjoy the live band on the second floor as we owned the whole ground floor to ourselves. It was perfect too as we could move from one table to the next in search for the best light to take photos without bothering anyone. 

And after table hopping for 10 or so minutes, we began to eat and sip.