When in Manila and afflicted with a deep sense of wanderlust, the Apulit Island Resort in Palawan is the perfect place to cure your ailment!  I realized that it would be a shame for us Filipinos not to  enjoy and witness the paradise that lies in our very shores that is why we’ve decided to feature and suggest more local travel destinations which I’m sure you won’t wanna miss in this precious lifetime!

For a few minutes, we’d like for you to leave those worries behind and get away from it all……

It’s time to reward yourself my friend…..    we know you deserve it!

let’s take you to a place …. a place I’m sure you’d wanna go to

time for you to discover the beauty of the Pearl of the Orient and experience what you  have been missing all this time

come on my friend… time to indulge and spoil yourself

and rekindle that flame once again

time to give-in my friend….  nature  is calling  you….

it’s time

take what is rightfully yours!

relax…. cool down a bit… have this refreshing tropical drink

sit back, relax… everything  will be taken  care off

get ready for a tropical contact high!

Experience the grandeur of APULIT Island Resort, brought to us by El Nido Resorts!

experience the comfort and lavishness of their water cottages

firmly standing ashore to  keep you in touch with nature

feel the security and comfort

experience exceptional hospitality

be mesmerized with this picturesque view right from your cottage veranda

enjoy the peace and serenity as the gentle breeze enfolds you

and witness romantic sunsets like no other

Brace yourself for a gastronomical treat with only the freshest and best……

 starting your day has never been this grand

 feast as you please, drool as you can

 with treats that will surely tickle your palettes

choose from a vast array of healthy mouthwatering dishes

experience a special romantic dinner with this spectacular view

create lasting moments to be cherished forever

and as we call it a night, allow them to wish you the sweetest of dreams

This is just the start my friend…. only the start

 get ready for more!!

Let’s get in on!! Let the good times roll!

don’t forget to greet our ocean friends…. dip-into its cool waters teeming with marine life

get on with your gear and let’s sail away…

…. to a place so pristine and simply perfect!

allow mother earth pamper you.. soothe you

let nature comfort and give you shade… as the sun  gently kisses you with its rays

row carefree and blissfully on its breathtaking shores

let’s dream some more and build sandcastles in the shifting sands

peacefully, as we watch the world go by, may we always find goodness from where we stand

This calls for a celebration my friend! For the abundant now and what’s about to come!

take a sip and try their signature Apulit Breeze

the perfect concoction for moonlit nights and dreamy eyes such as this

Nature and Elegance intertwined….

only in  Apulit Island of El Nido Resorts you will find!

What are you waiting for my friend? It’s time! Time to live some more!

With Apulit Island‘s magnificence  and splendor, I’m sure you’ll be coming back for more!

So when in Manila, we would have to say, Apulit Island Resort is the ultimate place where you should stay!

Truly More Fun In The Philippines !!

Apulit Island Resort

Taytay, Palawan

Manila Sales Office
Mondays thru Fridays, 8:30AM to 5:30 PM (Manila Time)
Address: 18/F 8747 Paseo de Roxas Street, Salcedo Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines
Phone No: + 63 2 9025994
Fax No: +63 (2) 810 3620
General Inquiries  Hotline: +63 2 9025962
Travel Agents Hotline: +63 2 9025951

To view more photos plus a diary of our day to day adventures,click the following links

Apulit  Island Day 1

Apulit Island Day 2

Apulit Island Day 3

Discover the Magnificence and Splendor of Apulit Island Resort in Palawan!

The room, pitch black. The shy hint of fragrance floats in the air.

I grope for the thing my appetite yearns the most. Excitement mounting, you make contact with my wanting lips.

The texture is fantastic! I am amazed by the swirl of flavors you introduce. This is vaguely familiar, but each bite gives birth to a new form of appreciation.

It is both serious engagement and playful folly. No one can see us. I try my best to use every available sense. I try my best to experience this every imaginable way I can. 

No, this is not an excerpt from a film noir; nor is it taken from a leaf of a novela. But When In Manila and hungry for a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s with your special someone, craft up a zero-visibility dining experience without the need for night vision goggles!

The brainchild of Axel Rudolph, manager of Unsicht-Bar in Cologne, Germany, the Dining in the Dark concept has been adapted and reinterpreted by different restaurateurs around the world. In this article, we show you how to whip up such a feast for the senses to fit anyone’s budget and make your loved one feel extra special this Valentine’s.

All waiters at Unsicht-Bar are either completely blind or visually handicapped to rule out any unfair advantage. Well, pretty sure your partner will not object to you having one!

Step #1: Plan with a Budget

The first step is to consider your budget, then plan out when and where you will celebrate Valentine’s. You can do it at home, in a hotel room, or – if you’re gutsy enough – even a fancy restaurant! Just be sure everyone (except your special someone) is informed and amenable to your plans.

The setting usually predicts the gourmet, but you may also start with the choice of food and work your way to a compatible setup. If your partner has been insisting that you cook for her/him, then this might be a good opportunity to put your Michelin star-calibre skills to the test!

Need help? Call up the gang to do things faster, then allot extra portions to share with them.

Step #2: Shop for a Good Blindfold

You want a blindfold that offers zero visibility. To be sure, try it yourself. Look down and see if you can peek through the bottom part of the blinds. Usually that’s the un-blind side that defeats the purpose of the exercise. Try to find blindfolds with unique messages or cartoon characters that your partner likes. You can even ask her/him to choose from several blindfolds what she/he prefers to use.

Blindfolds are fun in more ways than one!

Step #3: News Flash! Guide Your Special Someone Through the Meal

So you’ve cooked up a feast. You’ve blindfolded your partner and have led her/him to a seat. You’ve even served the aperitif! The problem is your partner cannot see anything, and for someone who has been used to using their eyes for practically everything they do, leaving them to figure out how to consume their meal is not only close to impossible – it’s terribly unromantic. 

Self service is NOT the way to go!

Guiding your partner through the course is a great bonding activity for couples. It develops trust and a healthy dependence on the leading of the partner. (Trust me, I’m a psychologist.) Plus, there’s bound to be a lot of holding (and maybe even kissing) as you do this activity together. With that said, have a hearty meal yourself before everything goes down – and brush!

Additional Tips

There are tons of ways to make this experience exciting for the two of you. Off hand, you can ask your partner to guess the items that you’re about to serve. If she/he gets a certain number of items correct, tell her that she/he will receive a prize. (Even if your partner doesn’t win, I think it’s but just to reward her/his effort with the prize, no?)

If you’re preparing the course yourself, try adding something unexpected in your dishes. Think Fusion: add an ingredient to transform a fairly regular dish to something totally unique, or in your lineup of dishes insert an item that is not associated with the other items at all. Be creative, but make sure that you do not divert too much from your theme.

 Our hosts served dark chocolates with green mango bits and salt, ampalaya chips, and suman panna cotta. Plus, each of us had a personal masseuse!

The Little Bird – More Like a Gigantic Bee! – That Inspired This Article

I’ve been itching to write something for Valentine’s; didn’t expect Jollibee to hand me the light bulb! The proudly Filipino food corporation held their own Dining in the Dark event to introduce their new product to food bloggers. It’s the Chicken & Mushroom Pasta, made with portions of real ground chicken meat, sliced mushrooms, and a special blend of tomatoes, herbs, and spices that gives its unique flavor and taste.

Introducing the new Jollibee Chicken & Mushroom Pasta! 

Blindfolded and waiting, the sweet smell of the pasta reminded me of Jolly Spaghetti, but the tomatoes and herbs make the new offering more aromatic. The pasta’s texture is similar to their spaghetti also, with several bloggers remarking that they preferred it to be more al dente. The button mushrooms add crispness to the dish, but overall the pasta still owes its taste to the hint of basil and the other herbs and spices in the sauce.

The Chicken & Mushroom Pasta will be made available in all Jollibee stores nationwide beginning February 9, 2012.

When In Manila and planning on something special this Valentine’s, create your own Dining in the Dark event.

Turn the heat up with some food love.

Make your partner feel like royalty.

And turn off the lights…

First foot on the door and you’ll be welcomed with Bistecca’s projected class vibe. High ceiling, low lighting, cozy glass walls, upscale surroundings. The warm, rich glow atmosphere will wrap around you once you’re inside.

Though decors are not that opulent, the artistic chandelier made out of cola bottles is truly an eye catcher, add up the artistically painted walls.

One thing that they pride themselves with is their luscious, heavyweight steaks.

The Bistecca 122 (Php 295/100g) approx Php2,950. Serves 2-4

Bistecca’s house specialty…I’d say they are “Steaks to Share”. This is their most popular cut, an approximately 1 kilo of USDA Choice Bone in Rib Eye roast. The server will initially present the steak as a whole before having it sliced.  Whole slab of steak, how humongous!

The steak cuts are sublime. It was visibly thick enough, and a well-marbled cut—I can even cut it with a fork and the way it melts in my mouth was just divine. Bistecca serves only USDA certified beef and they highly recommend it to be cooked medium rare but of course they can still cook it in your preferred doneness. 

Three house sauces: horseradish, mustard and peppercorn sauce to give the beef a unique flavour. You can ignore the sauces as I feel they’re not that necessary since the beef has such a nice flavour to it already. It can accentuate your meat or if you just want some pizzazz, try the garlic salt as I think it jives well with the meat.

Next is they drizzled a bit of olive oil on my plate and served us a rack of 3 kinds of salt: truffle salt, spicy salt and garlic herbed salt. The taste of the meat was as massive as its size, tender and moist. I love that it’s not stringy.  It was nicely adorned with that charred crust on the outside and an averagely red colour on the inside. My carnivore pangs were extremely satisfied.

Indeed the price you pay for that slab is worth it. Mouthwatering goodness yet with Bistecca you won’t feel upset with how they treat their meats.

Duck Breast Salad (Php 550) Roasted duck breast on mixed greens with a raspberry dressing topped with dark Chocó.

The nicely fanned out duck breast slices sitting on that mixed greens will spearhead your appetite. The raspberry dressing gave a mild compliment to the duck meat’s flavour, not too sweet that it overpowers the meat. A decadent salad that is recommendable as a light entrée.

Parma Ham (Php 480) Parma Ham on Asparagus topped with Poached Egg.

Ahh, another light healthy starter. If you think that only bacon can make the perfect partner for asparagus, think again. It resembles a bouquet of flowers, artfully arranged!

The Parma hams were like comfortable blankets embracing the spears and that poached egg? It’s merely waiting for your mighty fork to attack it and then gush its sunshine goodness out. 

The ham is as soft and silky as the egg, it instantly disappears in your mouth, needs not much of effort in chewing. That yellow poached goodness is so tempting! I slowly sip the yolk, that’s my way of eating it. Try it rather than pricking it :) You’d know how the yolk will blast inside your mouth then!

Pan Seared Foie Gras (Php 850) Pan Seared Foie Gras with caramelized apples in a Port Wine reduction.

Considerably the highlight of the entrées served. The inside of the Foie Gras was really creamy and the outside was cooked with an ample crispiness. The caramelized apple refreshes ones palate. Though I prefer eating Foie Gras on its own, I think the addition of the caramelized apples gave a new approach to it.

Truffle French Fries (Php 220)

Medium sized truffle fries with a very strong smell, yet very appetizing too. Those with sensitive sense of smell might be a lil put off with this but the aroma was actually the reason you’d find yourself biting from one fries after the other.

Mr. Lito Caballero, Bistecca’s Gen. Manager was so nice to let us taste their desserts as well, as if the spread wasn’t enough to make us full! But as always, the tunnel to resistance was null and void. Thanks so much Lito! 

You can always ask the Bistecca Team for the featured desserts of the day! 

Even if you’re not a meat maven, Bistecca is too tough to pass up When In Manila. A glass or bottle of wine would be perfect for toasting and enjoying the night at Rockwell. Perhaps you’d find yourself frequenting this place more, for times that you just don’t care and wants that Steak Splurge!

Bistecca

122 Joya, Rockwell, Makati City

403-5231

bistecca@gmail.com

When in Manila and looking for a cool relaxing place to chill, I suggest you try lounging at CaliforniaBerry! For all you frozen yogurt addicts out there, I’m so sure  you’ve heard about CaliforniaBerry being one of the pioneers and front runners when it comes to frozen yogurt desserts. I’m sure you’d agree that a strong company like this is really tough to beat with their variety of fresh delectable toppings on that rich creamy yet guilt-free cup of yogurt goodness! They are the only yogurt chain in the Philippines to guarantee 100% nonfat frozen yogurt (others contain at least 2%)!

The good news is that, I recently discovered that they really have a lot more to offer!! Yeah! Aside from their classic frozen yogurt delights, they recently introduced more sweet and even savory pasta treats on their menu! Let’s check ‘em out!

as you enter their store (Tomas Morato) you’ll definitely be greeted by their friendly staff!

oh! My guests have arrived! As you can see, the place looks very cool and refreshing! It also has free wi-fi making it an ideal place to spend a cool relaxing day! They are also open up to 3am on weekends! great!

Meet Mike, Bing and Bea! My friends from the Manila Soul Scene

we tried their pastas and we find their  Cheesy Lasagna to be the tastiest!

Then it was time  to pick our toppings for our frozen yogurt!!

We were asked to pick 3 toppings as we please!

you can choose from their chocolatey choices and fresh fruits

Pick the cup you fancy! No worries ‘coz it’s 100% guilt-free!

now we go to the best part! woaaaaaahhhh!!

Meet my cup: regular yogurt with cheesecake chunks, walnuts and peaches! This is soooo me!

Kuya Bing had blueberry yogurt with rice crispies, choco chips and cherries! Neat!

nom nom nom!

we all enjoyed sharing our own unique creations!

Bea had regular yogurt, crushed grahams, banana chips and mangos!

We noticed that the banana chips were too thick. I hope they can change it to thinner slices to give it that light perfect crunch!

But wait! There’s more!!! In their intention to serve you with more exciting treats, CaliforniaBerry recently introduced  more cool additions to  their menu!

Introducing….. CaliforniaBerry‘s delicious sweet milk teas

left to right: Taro, Boba, Honey Milk Green Tea milk  teas

They also have fresh fruit yogurt blends……

Banana Rama

 Last but definitely not least, meet their Ice Ice Baby!

it’s basically shaved flavored ice topped with goodies!!

For this one, we had Taro shaved ice with mango, cereals, almond slivers and condensed milk!

This is really very interesting! It’s actually my 2nd time to have flavored shaved ice

I think this will become a hit soon!

Come on! Spoil yourself a bit! You deserve it! =)

don’t be shy!

So when in Manila, be sure to invite your best buds, spoil yourselves  and indulge with cups of deliriously delicious 100% nonfat  goodness which only CaliforniaBerry brings!

California Berry

1103-B East Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Center, Pasig City

telephone:  (+632)368.39.17 or (+632) 368.39.76

join their Facebook Page

CaliforniaBerry: Makers of 100% NonFat Yogurt Desserts Now Offer Milk Teas and Shaved Iced Treats!

When in Manila, don’t ever miss to eat  the famous Filipino dishes - Adobo, Kinilaw and Kilawin. And what makes these dishes more flavorful with every bite is the wonder ingredient, vinegar (suka’ in Tagalog). And when you think of vinegar, there is only one brand that comes to mind - Datu Puti!

If you grew up in Manila, you cannot miss those Datu Puti commercials with its talents and models doing the signature “muhkasim” (sour face) pose. It is funny to say that only Datu Puti can make Manny Pacquaio’s face distorted.

Now, here is the new offering from Datu Puti – Pinoy Kurant Spiced Tuba Vinegar.

The color looks like a cooking oil, but the minced chili (chili seeds included) swimming at the bottom makes all the difference. If you are like me who loves anything spicy, this is the vinegar for you and your Chicharon!

The instructions says to shake well before opening (or pouring). Now, that makes the bottle a little cloudy, that signals the start of fun food trip!

When I opened the bottle, the strong smell of fermented sap already filled my nostrils – that kind of aroma that only Datu Puti can give.  I never realized that in a matter of seconds, the aroma already fills the kitchen like an air freshener. It is that strong!

When I poured it in the soy dish, I see minced chili, seeds, chili flakes and fiber rolling down together. It was timely that we have Salted and Dried Milkfish (Daing na Bangus) to test and taste the new Spiced Tuba Vinegar. 

A pinch of a fish and a quick dunk on the soy dish, the food went straight to my mouth. The signature Datu Puti vinegar taste is there – with that sudden kick of spiciness, and it explodes with every bite. Even after I swallowed the food, it left a burning sensation in my mouth – a good feeling of hotness that calls for another bite. 

I love the idea that there is no need for us to buy Siling Labuyo (Bird’s Eye Chili) and soak them in vinegar to get that spicy flavor we wanted when enjoying Tokwa’t Baboy, Calamares and even Tocino! I should really try this with Chicharon!

When in Manila, get  Datu Puti – Pinoy Kurant Spiced Tuba Vinegar from supermarket or your suking tindahan, and make it your kitchen staple! 

Datu Puti – Pinoy Kurant Spiced Tuba Vinegar is available in leading grocery stores and supermarkets. SRP Php58 for 375 ml bottle. 

When in Manila, Enjoy Filipino Food with Datu Patu Spiced Tuba Vinegar (In Tagalog: Suka)

When in Manila, be sure to sample the gastronomic delights its bustling streets have to offer. More and more confectionery shops have been opening up their doors to all kinds of sweet teeth, with mouth-watering desserts ready to be devoured and enjoyed. Such a gem can be found along the corner of Santol Street in San Antonio Village, Makati.

Sophie’s Mom, a charming little bake shop nestled along a quiet neighborhood is managed by…who else? Sophie’s mom of course! Tonette Rosal is a very talented baker with three daughters (the eldest being Sophie), who has taken her sumptuous red velvet cupcakes out of the kitchen and into a place where more people can enjoy them.

Opened in the middle of 2011, Sophie’s Mom offers a wide range of breads and pastries for the very lucky homes near it, and has had a steadily growing number of followers ever since. The area is void of any tables and chairs, as it is mainly set up as a traditional take-out bakery with customer purchases meant to be enjoyed at home.

Among their bestsellers are their yummy cupcakes and Mochi ice cream balls. They also sell a variety of breads and cookies, and can be hired to make custom-designed cakes and cupcakes for parties and special occasions. All Sophie’s Mom products are made fresh every day, with the finest quality ingredients to make sure that each bite is a splendid treat! We got to have a little chat with the lovely Ms. Tonette to take us through their products as we sampled them.

My personal favorite, and incidentally their all-time bestseller, is their Red Velvet cupcake. This delightful cupcake is deliciously moist, filled with lots of chocolate chip bits and topped off with a very decadent cream cheese icing on top.

Coming at a close second is their delectable Dulce de Leche cupcake, a super rich chocolate cupcake with dark chocolate ganache frosting and a dulce de leche-filled center. Best enjoyed warm so you can bite into the cupcake with the filling oozing from the center; it’s crazy sweet!

Lighter cupcakes that are just as sweet and delicious are their Tres Leches cupcakes filled with (fresh!) mango or strawberry slices inside.

We also got to try their strawberry and frozen brazo Mochi ice cream balls and their very popular Mochi truffles. Staying true to their home-made vibe, Sophie’s Mom makes all their ice cream from scratch, making their Mochi balls incredibly creamier, richer and tastier than most Mochi balls around! A fresh batch of their fruit ice cream flavors are made every day, filled with chunky bits of fresh fruit and without any artificial sweeteners, food color, and flavors.

Another treat worth trying is their ingenious Stookies, which are soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies stuffed with a whole Oreo cookie inside – a cookie within a cookie; it’s twice the awesomeness!

What I love most about this quaint little bake shop is their absolutely cutesy interiors, which are every bit as sweet as the pastries they offer. What’s more is that much care and attention is put into every confection – creating desserts and pastries you’d love to bring home for friends, family, or yourself! So when in Manila, don’t forget to pay Sophie’s Mom a visit!

Sophie’s Mom Bakery and Confectionary

8760 Santol St., San Antonio Village, 1203 Makati, Philippines

Website: http://www.sophiesmom.com

Tel. No.: 856-4849 / 404-8165 / 0920 912 9952

For a list of items and prices, visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sophiesmomonline

Sophie’s Mom: The Sweetest Bakery and Confectionary This Side of Makati

I’m not ashamed to say that I love food. Hence the reason why I go around the metro looking for the best places that offer the best eats. The Marriott Hotel has only been operating for a few years so their buffet is pretty new in this side of town (at least to my knowledge), and I was eager to try what they had. My family and I visited just a few days after New Year’s. Not a bad way to start the year I’ll say. 

The first thing that greets you when you enter the cafe is their wide selection of desserts and can I just say? Wow. From cakes t to puddings to (stop me from drooling please), their home made ice-creams, i tell you, I was about ready to give up trying everything else if only to go straight to their mouth watering desserts. But of course, that had to wait.

The buffet boasts of their international culinary stations. Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, US, and much to my surprise, Indian.  They also had an extensive salad station,to the utter delight of my wannabe healthy self. So yes, the dessert station may have seduced my tummy, but the salad station helped me find my way back to my healthy self again (which didn’t last for long really). Top your greens with your choice of smoked salami, pepperoni, red beets, croutons, throw in perhaps some glass noodles (not your usual but I had to try it) and your good to go. Suffice to say I was happy with their salad station, I don’t doubt the healthy people will find themselves quite content here as well. 

And that was the best of my efforts to stay healthy. The rest of the glorious food called me by name (or so I imagined). After the salad, I had to try their Chinese food…dumplings, roast duck, fried rice, wanton. I did enjoy the chinese fried rice very much and wanted to eat more but I knew I had to leave space for the other stations that beckoned.

 If you know me well enough, you would know that I can’t stay away from steak. I sometimes have to order good ‘ol Prime ribs from the US but good to know that good US prime meat can be found here at the Marriott Cafe. You could aslo ask them to cook it just the way you want it. Medium well for me. Try it with their mashed potatoes and pepper corn gravy. Melts in your mouth. 

Their Japanese station offered the usual tuna sashimi, tempura, maki’s so I had to get just a little of everything. The sashimi’s were fresh so that alone made me happy with their Japanese station. 

The chef, I was also happy to find, was someone I knew from my high school days. The little sister of a batchmate of mine. She is no longer little though, and she was in her chef’s uniform looking all serious and grown up and all of a sudden I felt like a proud older sister, haha. Chef Marianne Reyes whipped up a delicious pasta dish for me which I’d have to say, was my favorite for the day (Thanks Chef!). So definitely try their pasta station and if you don’t know what to put in it, ask the chef to make something special for you too, I’m sure you won’t regret it. 

After all that I had, you would think that I’d have no space left for dessert, but no. The dessert station still called so who was I to say no to those delicious mini cakes? I tried so many! For the health conscious, try their sugar free cheesecake. The home made ice cream is not one to miss either. They had an array of flavors but the Palawan honey walnut was the obvious family favorite. 

As you’d have already guessed, we all enjoyed our visit at the Marriott Cafe. So whether you’re feeling health conscious or ready to feed your stomach crazy, Marriott Cafe should definitely be on your list of new places to try in the metro. So when in Manila, and ready for some good food, you’ll know where to visit next!

Special Thanks to Chef Marianne Reyes for being so gracious and hospitable :) This won’t be our last visit!

No 10 Newport Boulevard,Newport City Complex,

Pasay City · Manila, 1309 Philippines

I’m truly at awe and speechless for this surprise! This is really something unexpected!  I feel so thankful and blessed with all the great things which are unfolding. With all the food bloggers around, I never thought my entry would even top the 1st round! Actually, I rarely join competitions. I’m simply happy with the things I’m doing. Eating out, doing crazy things, capturing moments and putting them all in writing is second nature to me. =)

Thank You So Much Sooo Pinoy for finding my entry worthy enough! I feel very honored to be part of this glorious event! I’m so excited to meet my fellow bloggers who qualified as well. I’m sure interacting with them and hearing their stories will be such a delight! I’m certain that this experience will be sooo awesome!

I’d like to thank all my friends for their support especially my partner in crime Frank Ruaya for believing in me and for the fantastic photos we create together with each adventure we experience! Of course, I’d like to thank our ever supportive editor-in chief Vince!!!

There is more to be done… sooo many places to see,  sooo many flavors to taste,  sooo many people to meet,  sooo many memories to capture and  sooo many stories to tell! This is gonna be an experience of a lifetime!!!

To read my official entry kindly click this link: http://www.wheninmanila.com/flavors-of-life-sweet-memories-bitter-ends-sour-notes-and-salted-eggs/ 

To view our humble blog, visit EATS A DATE  

When In Manila’s Very Own Mae Ilagan Tops Round 1 of The Sooo Pinoy Search for the Ultimate Food Blogger!

When in Manila, you’d realize that there is no shortage of burger joints as they seem to be popping out one after the other. However, if you’re craving for burgers that are not only delicious, but are also made up of quality ingredients and are wallet- friendly, then head on over to Boulevard Diner along Xavierville, Quezon City. 

Although the establishment is relatively small, it can comfortably seat 20 people and exudes the “diner” vibe by means of the swiveling stools and the red and white checkered floor. There is also a community board wherein people can post announcements, leave their business cards, magazines and what-not. 

Alvin Ong, the brains behind Boulevard Diner‘s food was kind enough to accommodate my friends and I, and was such an awesome host. Alright, wait, before I continue on with the food, can I just say that I’ve been invited to several food establishments, but I’ve never encountered a host as passionate about food as Alvin is. I was so amused and overwhelmed as he was talking about anything and everything food-related at 100 words per minute! One can easily pick up that he is absolutely passionate about his food and does a great job passing the enthusiasm onto others. He had several containers of different chilis brought out so that I could see and smell the ingredients that he was talking about, a gesture that I greatly appreciated. Anyways, let’s move on with the food, shall we? 

The inspiration behind the menu was basically putting whatever Alvin and his co-owners liked (food wise) on a bun. So, if they wanted onion rings with their burger, they’d present it in such a way that was not only aesthetically amusing but also delicious. Basically, they’d play with their ingredients, if they liked how it tastes and thought it looked good, then onto the menu it’d go! 

Ice-cold Rootbeer Float. A&W rootbeer with a big scoop of Vanilla ice cream.

Chocnut Milkshake. Vanilla ice cream blended with chocnut. Incredibly smooth, filling and delicious!

El Pollo Negro (P185). Lettuce, tomato slices, chicken fillet seasoned with Mole Negro, and Cheese. Mole Negro, which hails from Mexico, is comparable to our local chocolate tablea. Personally, I found this absolutely delicious as the chicken fillet was flavorful and juicy, but according to Alvin, not everyone is a fan of the Mole Negro as it is definitely an acquired taste. 

Sha-zam (P195). Lettuce, tomato, beef, eggs, cheese, bacon, hickory sauce, and crispy potato strings. 

Gorgon-zola (P185). Lettuce, tomato, beef, sauteed oyster mushrooms, and gorgonzola dressing. Among all the burgers served, this was my favorite! 

Volcanic Viktor (P175). Lettuce, tomato, beef, cheese, bacon, fried onion rings topped with hickory/hell sauce.

Wingerangs (price varies). You may order 1/2 lb or 1 lb of wings in one of the ff flavors (arranged from the most mild to the spiciest): hickory, lust, fury, love, smoked, death, hell, and hotter than hell. We opted for the not so spicy flavors as Alvin was kind enough to let me taste a drop of their “hotter than hell” sauce, and I’m not kidding, I literally tasted one tiny drop of it and initially felt nothing, but then my mouth and throat started to burn up. Goodness, definitely not for the weak. 

Jalapeno Poppers (P220). 8 pcs. cream cheese stuffed jalapenos with tomato salsa. Among all the dishes served, this was my absolute favorite. As opposed to the salsa making use of lemon, Alvin opted to use lime which made it even tangier than usual and was such a delightful contrast to the cream cheese. The boys had more or less gobbled up the burgers, but I made sure that I had my fair share of this. Take note that this is best eaten as soon as it is served. 

Cross Trax (P110). Fried crisscut potato fries. 

All our food was served by the lovely, Scarlett.

I don’t know about you, but whether I’m in a fast food joint or in a fine dining restaurant, I’m very particular about the service. Although you can’t expect different establishments to be at par with one another, I’m the type of person who appreciates servers who are warm towards their patrons. Scarlett is no exception as she never fails to greet me and more or less knows what I want to order whenever I visit Boulevard.

 From left to right: Paulo, Anthony, Alvin, Me, Martin and Jonathan.

My friends and I definitely enjoyed the meal and look forward to coming back. So, when in Manila and craving for burgers that are not only delicious, but are also made up of quality ingredients and are wallet- friendly, head on over to Boulevard Diner along Xavierville, Quezon City. 

Boulevard Diner

91 Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, Philippines

Mon to Fri: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

Sat to Sun: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boulevard-Diner/151906051514496dhfg

Boulevard Diner: Wallet- friendly Artisan burgers and Milkshakes in Quezon City

WHEN IN MANILA and you’re looking for a cool Japanese restaurant, visit SUMOSAM GILMORE.

 

  

 SumoSam Gilmore: Japanese Restaurant adds Bento Boxes to their menu

Ever since I could remember, I’ve had a love affair with food. What started as bonding with the family has now turned into a full blown passion. I pride myself in being very adventurous with food, I’ve been known to say I will try anything once.

When In Manila, I’m sure it’s very obvious that most Filipinos, like me, are very open when it comes to food. The diverse population in the country has opened our palettes to different tastes and cuisines. This is one of the reasons why one very successful brand has decided to come to Manila.

World famous PF Chang’s has just brought their very first restaurant here in the Philippines. The first in a completely Asian setting, PF Chang’s is a contemporary fusion restaurant which serves Chinese dishes.

I got the chance to experience the food first hand last Tuesday when they invited us over for lunch. The first branch in Alabang Town Center’s newly renovated area is a two floor space which can seat 240 people. Outside, we saw these terra-cotta warriors and these majestic horses welcoming and ushering diners into the restaurant.

These Terra Cotta Warriors are replicas of those unearthed from the tomb of Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China.

Two 11-foot horses guard the entrance.

The inside is very simple, bright, and spacious. Chinese accents and decorations adorn the place. A hand-painted Chinese mural stands as the ground floor’s centerpiece.  

These Terra Cotta Warriors are everywhere!

The meal started with Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Dynamite Shrimp served as appetizers.

Dynamite Shrimp: Although a little spicy, this a favorite! Coming back for more of these!

This is half (?) an order of the Chicken Lettuce Wrap. Couldn’t stop myself from eating this.

 

Different dipping sauces for different tastes and needs.

Now on to the main menu! We had:

Chang’s Spicy Chicken, good and not as spicy as the Dynamite Shrimps.

Mongolian Beef made with U.S. Angus  beef!

Shrimp with Candied Walnuts; The shrimp, honeydew melons, and walnuts are great together. Another favorite.

Chengdu Spiced Lamb. Very nice.

Lo Mein, Chinese stir fried egg noodles.

Sichuan Style Asparagus. I love my vegetables!

At PF Chang’s, everything is delivered fresh and prepared daily. This assures the quality of everything that comes out of their kitchen. The dishes here, with an emphasis on simplicity and detail, consist of only 3-4 ingredients each.

Food here can also be customized and made to be gluten free. A vegetarian menu is also available.

Aside from the good food, they have a vast beverage and alcohol menu. From signature cocktails like their Organic Agave Margarita, to their handpicked wine selection, and simple Tamarind Iced Tea drinks, I’m sure they have whatever it is that will quench your thirst.

PF Chang’s ensure their customers of quality service. A special staff was even brought in from different countries to train the local staff who will be serving us here.

They were all smiles as they served us our cocktails. They catered to our every whim! 

During the lunch we also met the people behind this restaurant that was two years in the making. Plans of building more branches in the Philippines are still in the works.

Genaro Perez Diaz (Director of International Marketing, PF Chang’s), Michael Welborn (President of Global Brand Dev’t, PF Chang’s), Philip Chiang (co-founder, PF Chang’s restaurant chain), and Archie Rodriguez (President and CEO, Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc.)

Archie Rodriguez (Global Restaurant Concepts) is PF Chang’s Philippine partner.

With none other than Philip Chiang!

 Now that it has finally arrived, When In Manila, make sure you get to try PF Chang’s. The good food, the restaurant’s attention to detail, and the excellent service will definitely make this one of Manila’s favorite restaurants.

 PF Chang’s will finally be open to the public starting today, January 19, 2012. See you there!

PF Chang’s Philippines

Alabang Town Center

marketing@globalresto.com

687 5611

http://pfchangs.com.ph

When in Manila, and would like to  savor and experience authentic Taiwanese cuisine, I got really great news for you! You dont’ have to fly to Taiwan anymore because it has now landed on Philippine shores and I’m so eager to tell and show you great photos of this fabulous new find we recently discovered  along Tomas Morato in Quezon City called SHANG TSU (top kitchen)!

located at a very safe and decent place along Tomas Morato

I must admit that I really don’t know much about Taiwanese food ye,t but I’m eager to try everything and  boy was I impressed with the new dishes which was introduced to me!  This year, I’ve decided to feature more healthy and “feel good” articles for you to get a hold of that “good life” which we are all entitled to have! This, particular place I believe, is something which everyone should ought to try for the simple reason that the dishes are genuinely great and unbelievably affordable!

For this week, I also invited some of my girlfriends to share this dinner with me. I know they will appreciate this very much!  What I really like about this passion of mine is that I get to share my joys and blessings with others. If you’re one of my regular readers, you’d notice that I’m getting quite redundant with the “sharing our blessings” thingy but frankly speaking, it is really true that’s why I always mention about it. I believe that is the most rewarding part in being a food and travel writer. It’s really all about the relationships which you cherish and the new people you get to meet and co-create with along the way. I am very much happy with my day  job as a teacher but during these days, I’m at my happiest!

Ashyah, Badeth, Salve and Joane

Let me now show you the ones which you must try!!!

Black Tea with Ice Cream Float   冰淇淋紅茶     (70 php)

for only 70 pesos you get to enjoy this huge serving of authentic style Taiwanese milk tea!

Something which tea addicts must experience!

We all liked this a lot!

Sour Plum Juice  酸梅湯  (40 php) – Though I’m not really a big fan of sour drinks, we did appreciate this drink a lot because it was very refreshing and it makes you feel that you’re drinking something very healthy!

Black Tea 紅茶   (50 php) – I’m a certified tea addict so I must say this is my personal pick! It just had the right amount of sweetness in it and for only 50 pesos, you get a serving that is good for sharing! Great value for money!

they come in huge Taiwanese serving sizes!

they place it in  these decanters

Taiwanese Oyster Pancake 蚵仔煎   (100 php) – a popular Taiwanese street food of Chaozhou/Fujian origin often sold as  xiaochi in night markets. 

The dish consists of an omelet with a filling primarily composed of small oysters.

Chef Chang makes sure that the pancakes are made perfectly!

starchy thick batter with oysters, greens and fried egg

……then afterwards topped with a catchup based sauce. 

Best enjoyed while hot!

They offer an array of healthy Tofu Dishes!

These dishes are so perfect for people like me who are are trying to eat healthy! I love tofu a lot and what I find so special about these are that, though all of  them are basically tofu, they all have such unique characteristics which make each of them very interesting!

Crispy Fried Tofu  炸豆腐 70 php

Deep fried to perfection yet so soft on the inside!  An instant favorite!

Century Egg with Tofu 皮蛋豆腐 (60 php)

I’ve got all praises for this dish! Steamed firm Chinese tofu topped with dried fish flakes partnered with slices of century egg! Somebody stop me pleaaaaassseeee!!

I love the presentation! Bravo!

Combination (adobo style seaweed, eggs and tofu) 70php

- Another set of tofu and egg side dishes which will surely compliment your  meal! Super healthy! High in protein and minerals! I believe this will be great with their noodle dishes!

Combination (slices of  ultra tender boiled  beef tongue, stomach and intestines)

melts in your mouth…. waaaaaaaaahh

Homemade Fries   炸甘梅薯條 (60 php)

-At first, I kinda ignored this one because I thought it was just your typical sweet potato (kamote) fries but after tasting it, I couldn’t stop! I believe the spices which they used really kicked it up a notch!

a must try!

水餃/鍋貼 (高麗菜，韮菜，玉米，鮮蝦)

*Steamed or Fried dumplings (pechay, kutchay, corn, shrimp) 60php

I adore dumplings a lot especially the steamed ones!  I find them to be very guilt-free. The fried ones were also not greasy but more ala “gyoza” style!  I believe I can live with only eating dumplings and tofu!

Oyster Misua Soup 蚵仔麵線  (80 php)

-I would have to describe this as very light yet so filling! Perfect with dumplings I bet!!

Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup  台灣牛肉麵（冬粉）   (145 php)

 Boiling hot beef broth with fresh noodles and  thin tender beef slices!

I saw customers order this along with the oyster pancake 

The 145 peso Rice set meals 飯食類     

I highly recommend you try these super affordable set meals! They are all served in huge plates along with 3 flavorful side dishes which makes it a very interesting  meal!

Crispy Pork Chop Set Meal 香酥滷排骨

a huge piece of lean tender crispy deep fried pork chop

side dishes: sweet shredded bean curd, adobong tofu and stir fried cabbages

 WARNING: highly addictive! 

Stir Fried Beef w/ Black Pepper & Onion set meal

 spicy savory tender slices of beef with onions in peppery sauce

Fried Chicken Leg Set Meal 香酥雞腿飯 

The new addition to my list of best tasting fried chickens in the world!! 

Ultra crispy skin yet the meat remains to be very juicy! I can still remember the cracking crispy sound of the skin (music to my ears) while I slowly devour on its juicy meat. No need for any sauces etc! Perfect as it is!

Pork Humba set meal

As outstanding as the fried chicken! Pinoys will surely appreciate this because of its mouthwatering thick sweet and flavorful sauce plus tender meat chunks simmered til set I bet! This was the dish which made me break my no-rice diet! hahahaha For me though, I think I’d like the meat to be more tender but the rest of the gang said it was fine! I wanna try this again!

Voted as best dish of the night along with the fried chicken!

and so the feast began….

always thankful for the food and the people I share them with! I miss my partner Frank hat time though..I’m sure he would have enjoyed this a lot!

good thing Ashyah was there to tell us more about Chinese food

Joane loved the tofu very much as well as the century egg

Ashyah and Badeth fighting over the deliriously tasty fried chicken!

We got soooo full we had to take home the left overs.  They placed it in such cute boxes like these!

Meet the chef and the wonderful staff! Great job guys!

and last but not least, Taiwanese Master Chef Chang!

He truly deserves a standing ovation!

I woke up the next morning craving for everything! The hardest job I do perhaps is  controlling  my cravings whenever I post process my food photos the next day!  Will I come back? Surely I will soon! I’m really happy with this new find! Experiences like these make me feel so lucky to be a food writer!  Shang Tsu is for everyone who would like to enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine and basically for everyone who loves eating and trying out new flavors! According to my instincts, this restaurant will go a long way with its fantastic dishes and affordability! I highly recommend you bring the whole family and barkada with you! And for all you foodies who are reading this, well you ain’t a foodie if you haven’t tried Shang Tsu!

So when in Manila, discover Taiwanese cuisine and be sure to treat yourself and your loved ones to the authentically great dishes of  SHANG TSU!

Shang Tsu

Unit 5 No. 74 Creekside Square, Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City,

Mon-Sun 11am-10pm

contact # (02) 622 77 42

To view more photos and insider stuff, kindly visit EATS A DATE! 

Shang Tsu: Authentic & Affordable Taiwanese Cuisine Finally in Manila! Must Try Their Tofu Dishes and Fried Chicken!

When in Manila and looking to explore your senses, my favorite stop would be Nectar Restaurant.

A while back, I had the pleasure of coming to an exhibit in Nectar during their soft open stage (read more here). This was where I learned about Nectar’s concept: how the restaurant is centered around food and wine pairings, aiming to let everyone appreciate the wonders of vino.

Having enjoyed my last visit there, I grabbed the opportunity to go to another exhibit they were having.

“Synesthesia”, as Robert Joseph, Nectar’s owner and manager, explained to us, is a condition where the senses are intertwined. The very few people affected, for example, would be able to taste colors, or hear numbers.

That night, I walked into the same posh restaurant and I could hear the excited chatter of people who came to experience the exhibit.

In AB Paredes’ first solo exhibit entitled “Silent Swim”, she showcases a set of beautiful paintings on wood. The natural grain and texture of the wood, combined with her brushstrokes and vivid colors compose these pieces and form these most elegant paintings.

In a concept that’s fairly new, at least here in the Philippines, each piece is carefully paired with a wine that captures the whole look and feel of the painting. A gustatory interpretation through wine, a whole new way to experience art.

The exhibit has become not only a feast for the eyes, but also for the palette, in an experience that I could say is the closest I’ve ever been to synesthesia.

Silent Swim will be up for a few more weeks at Nectar Restaurant, which is now open to everyone.

With Nectar’s Robert Joseph

With none other than the artist herself, AB Paredes

When In Manila, be sure to experience how art is consumed in a way unlike ever before at “Silent Swim” by AB Paredes, hosted by Nectar Restaurant.

Silent Swim by AB Paredes

abparedes1@gmail.com

Nectar Restaurant

Ground Floor, Concorde Building, 200 Salcedo Street corner Benavidez Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

4782941

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nectar-Restaurant/240990812613301 

When in Manila, I’m sure you’d agree that  Filipinos are crazy about Italian food that we even adopted spaghetti as our own! Most restaurants, cafes and fast food chains always have pasta in their menus! Moreoever, the number or Italian bistros and restos have been popping out like mushrooms all over the metropolis that sometimes we have difficulty in choosing where to dine!

For this feature, I’d like to share to you a chic Italian bistro which I believe you’d appreciate especially when you’re around Bonifacio Global City! Right at the Fort Strip is a place called the Trio Italian Bistro! Also, it’s truly an honor to have my photography teacher Sir James Nicolay as our special guest for this evening! He’s a foodie as well! hihihii

The interiors were quite impressive with its cozy furniture and chic decor! I felt really excited to check out the menu!

Joining us this week are Sir James Nicolay, my photography teacher and his friend Nikki!

Their Manager Sir Edward was there to tell us more about the menu!

It was quite a very challenging shoot! Good thing Sir James was there to give us some tips!

We were served with a feast of their best sellers!

 Trio Salad: Mesclun and arugula with dried cranberries, gorgonzola, candied walnuts tossed in raspberry vinaigrette

 Capricciosa: Salami, smoked ham, tomatos, basil, mushrooms, mozzarella and egg

It’s my 1st ever time to experience boiled egg on my pizza… 

 Pescatore : Clams, Mussels, shirmp and squid in special pomodoro sauce

 it was great having them for dinner!

It was such a pleasure to have dinner with Sir James and Nikki! I really appreciate his teachings. He sure knows how to  effectively make people understand how things work. His  lectures are very clear and inspiring. I noticed that there are many photography instructors today who create stunning artistic shots but dunno how to effectively teach them to their students…. so in class, the students  end up watching their teacher’s works but leaves clueless on how to at least operate their cameras. I’m confident to say that with Sir James’ class, you’ll never go home clueless but rather very eager and inspired to apply everything you’ve learned! He offers the most affordable photography classes as well!

  Grilled Pork Chops topped with mushroom and peppercorn sauce

This dish was voted as the best that night! The meat was  tender and cooked nicely and the sauces tasted great!

 aprub!

Now let’s check out the desserts!

 Chocolate Cake: Rich and decadent flourless  chocolate cake

As you can see, the presentation is so impressive. I may say it was a pretty decent chocolate cake.

 Pannacotta: A silky rich Italian classic custard

I love the presentation but the custard wasn’t as thick as expected. I believe this can still be improved.

 Siena: Chocolate Ganache and caramel in an oreo cookie crust

 I believe this is their signature dessert! Though I’m not a big fan of overly sweet desserts, I loved the combination of the ganache and caramel. The Oreo crust and crushed walnuts gave the texture it needed.

 oooooooohhhhhh

I believe the overall experience was fine!  The interiors were very comfy and classy…. fit for the BGC crowd and for families who want to celebrate  special occasions etc. In terms of the food, there is so much more room for improvement! I noticed the wide variety of dishes in their menu and I really hope that people will check out the other hidden treasures which they offer! Personally, it was the desserts which impressed me the most! I’m thankful that their Manager Sir Edward was very open with the constructive criticisms and suggestions which we made! Thank You Sir Edward for being so professional.

So when in Manila, make it a point to experience the food and fine ambiance at  Trio Italian Bistro!

Trio 
2nd floor Fort Pointe Building, The Fort Strip, Fort Bonifacio, Global City, Taguig City
Tel: (63 2) 8841601

Special thanks to Frank Ruaya and Badeth Compuesto for these yummy shots!

Trio Italian Bistro at Binifacio Global City: Must Try Their Divine Desserts!!

When you hear of the word Pub, perhaps one image that will come to mind is a place where one hangs out to get drinks. However, Craft Pub & Grill is not just a place to get drinks despite the fact that they carry a huge listing of global craft beers, it is also a premiere place to fill an empty stomach. When in Manila and you’re in search of a place which serves fusion cuisine where you can wash it down with your favorite beer, then Craft Pub & Grill should be on your list.

The interiors of Craft veers away from the traditional pub looks but instead adapts modern elements that can be seen with its shiny chrome pendant lights and the red decorative accent panels from Marlboro. The ambience is not really for intimate dining but it does have a classy diner feel to it. The place is perfect for barkada hangouts.

The Food

Jalapeno Poppers Php395

This is one of my favorite dishes on the planet so I had high expectations for this one and Craft’s Jalapeno poppers didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t get enough of them.

Buffalo Wings

My preferred taste for chicken wings is always spicy so I had no qualms at trying out the Atomic flavor from the 3-level of spiciness that they offer. Don’t be scared though, this one’s tolerable.

Craft Burger Php 375

This burger has a good serving size and the onion rings were a good touch. The Angus beef patty was thick but a bit dry for my taste.

Oh, Margherita Pizza Php 295

This is also a good choice from the menu. It is not too filling so this is great to pair with the Jalapeno poppers and the buffalo wings.

Craft Pub & Grill

Unit E – The Fort Entertainment Complex, 1200 Taguig, Philippines

barcraftconcepts@ymail.com

846-1715

Craft Pub & Grill Facebook Page;

Craft Pub & Grill: Good Food with the Great College Bar Atmosphere

I got invited to this restaurant that really took my interest. Well, I’m from Paranaque so travelling to SM North Edsa would prove my point of curiosity. I visited their site (hapa-dog.com) and saw that viral video. You have to watch it, it really got my apetite going! 

  Hapadog merges the western American hotdog with authentic Japanese ingredients.  A combination of our very own Japanese style toppings infused over the finest quality wiener, nestled inside our freshest baked hotdog buns, makes for a delectable taste experience like no other.

The “Sky Garden” is such a cool place. For people who are foreign to this place, the Sky Garden is at the top of SM North Edsa and is a strip that have a lot of variety of food and beverage places like Gong Cha, the milk tea place. It’s a cool place to sit and chill with a couple of friends after a long day. You can easily pass this place if you’re an MRT commuter up to North Edsa.

This is their menu.Everything is very affordable! & not your typical hotdog from the convenient store. 

Our starter. These cool looking thingy-ma-bobs are Japanese sodas called “Ramune” (Ra-mu-neh) & well, it’s not just a refreshing carbonated drink. Opening it is half the fun! You’d have to pop the top and it will really explode up like champagne. They have it in strawberry and green apple. (Php 85.00)

Gomae
(Php 95.00)

Spinach with a special sauce and some sesame seeds.
I wish they serve this in a bigger bowl like a donburi bowl. I enjoyed it so much :(

Here comes the dogs!

They serve either as a whole (which can really make you full, depending on your appetite though) but for people with a small appetite you can order half a dog and they serve it like the photo above.

I love the hotdog meat itself, it doesn’t have to be dressed with sauce, etc but with ‘em it’s so much more flavorful.. & messy (which is the fun part!)

Temp-tation dog 
(Php 85.00 – Php 175.00)
Grated dikon, sauce & spring onions. 

Popeye’s dog
(Php 95.00- 185.00)
For all those healthy-shmelty people out there. Here’s an option for you.
Hotdog smothered in spinach. I was warned it may be bland. But it was actually very satisfying.

Califor-nipon
(Php 85.00- 175.00)
A choice of fruit, avocado or mango with cucumber, tamago (egg),
kani, ebiko, nori, japanese/wasabi mayo (for a kick) & topped with nori flakes.

If you’re a california maki fan, you’d definitely love this.
Plus the hotdog itself is a tempura-dog meaning it was dipped in batter and deep fried.
Over all the flavor combinations were a good balance of salty, sweet,
tangy with the crunchy texture from the tempura-dog and cucumber. A must try!

The dogs are really the highlight of this experience. But what’s more interesting for all you tambays is they’re open till nigh time. & you know what that means! *drum roll please*

ALCOHOL (yay) 

Check out these cool shots.
They’re lit on your table and as the flame dies, you drink them with straws
(since the glass will be hot) I was sprinkling some cinnamon on the flame and it made small sparks.
How cool! (Is it obvious I don’t go out often? I was told this was common? haha)
 It was really sweet and bitter (duh, alcohol) But hey, worth a try and fun with your friends.
Be careful though! (Php 105.00)

Sake Bomb!
 A shot glass with more alcohol is balanced with a pair of chopsticks above a pool of fresh Japanese sake. You hit the table down as hard as you can with your fists and the shot drops in the sake.
I love how sake tastes. I am not a beer drinker. Or maybe Im just incredibly picky with my brewed malt choices but sake is so refreshing! And that extra shot made it better. It became fruity and citrus-y. 

DESSERT!!!

Lollicake 
(Php 55.00) 

Cake pops! Oh-em! You know those little lollipop things they sell in starbucks? Well, those suck compare to these! They have red velvet flavor with white chocolate! It was so moist and chewy! Karen even said their apologies since they can’t give us more since they ate the stocks. Haha. Must try!

When In Manila here are 5 reasons to visit HAPADOG soon:

1. TEMPURA TUESDAY – Buy 1 Take 1 Temp-tation Dog every  Tuesday (whole day) or receive a 50% discount on each order of a Temp-tation Dog.

2. BEER SERVED ZERO – TIRED OF WATERY , LUKE WARM BEER? HAPADOG IS NOW SERVING BEER BELOW ZERO!!! ONLY FOR PHP50 EACH!!!

3. HAPA-HOUR – ALL DAY THURSDAY– 50% off HAPA Drinks such as : Bomb Series – HIROSHIMA,SAKE BOMB,GREEN LANTERN,DR. KOBAYASHI,BUKO BOMB,RISING SUN, and GREEN SAMURAI; for Flaming Series – HOT FUJI APPLE PIE, FLAMING LEMON DROP, RED SUSHI SHOT, GEISHA SHOT, and TOKYO WINTER.  

4. HHAPA Loyalty Card – Every purchase of any Signature Hotdogs and Rice Meals your are entitled to receive a “ LOYALTY CARD”. On your next visit present your Loyalty Card upon ordering and get an Iced Tea or Coffee for FREE! And let the counter person sign each circle of your card. After completing last circle you are entitled to a FREE Hapa Meal.   

5. HHAPA PARTY TREAT —  We are offering different PACKAGES for you guys that will suit your budget ranging from ONLY P150-250 per person (min. of  3 persons). This  includes Signature hotdog(s), Rice Bowl, 2 side dishes and drinks/shots.

When In Manila, have a glass of cold sake, some red velvet lolli-cakes and any of their delectable array of Japanese hotdogs from Hapadog. 

email:  info@hapa-dog.com

 www.hapa-dog.com

0917.597.8669

 Sky Garden, SM North Edsa, Quezon City 

When in Manila and you’re looking for a place to spend New Year’s Eve, there are a lot of options you can choose from. You’ll be sure to find your cup of tea from our selection of parties and events abound the Metro. Whether you’re looking for a crazy night out or just a simple dinner with friends, you’ll find the right destination waiting for you.

Here are some of our collected New Year’s Eve parties you can choose from:

Bonifacio Global City

Prive Luxury Clubbing

The First Annual New Year’s Eve Ball

Saturday, December 31, 2011 10PM Onwards

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres 10PM to Midnight

Champagne Toast at Midnight

https://www.facebook.com/PriveLuxuryClub

The Establishment

2wenty Twelve

Enjoy unlimited booze the whole night at only P500!

For reservations and Inquiries Contact RJ @ 09175398661

Event Starts after the Fireworks at January 1st at 1AM!

https://www.facebook.com/events/127833890663978/

Izumi Sake Bar and Restaurant

2012 New Year Celebration

Party starts 1am

For inquiries, call (02)856-4090 or 0928-9683199

https://www.facebook.com/IzumiSakeBar

Makati City

Dusit Thani Manila

Dinner Buffet

 The countdown party officially starts at 10pm. Join them as you get serenaded by the AMP Band, the pioneers of Pinoy Jazz.

 Tickets:

 P 4,000 net (inclusive of Crossover Dinner and Open Bar between 10pm and 1.30am)

 For reservations, call (02)238-8888

 http://dusitthanimanila.dusit.com/

Greenbelt Mall

Inspire: Fireworks Display

Witness bright lights and colorful fireworks

December 31, 12 Midnight

For inquiries, contact the Greenbelt Concierge at 757-4853

https://www.facebook.com/Greenbelt.AyalaMalls?sk=wall

Makati Avenue

The Magical, Musical Makati New Year Countdown 2012

After a couple of years, the popular street party is back with a BANG! This year, performances by the Antimano Band, Bloom Brothers, Grupong Pendong, The Dawn, The Company, and more will be serenading attendees. There will also be a magic show, 15-minute pyromusical display, fire dancers, and raffle prizes. Salcedo Market food vendors will also be around to serve Medya Noche favorites.

http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/news/view.jsp?id=2814&page=1

Mandarin Oriental

2011 Ultimate New Year’s Eve Countdown Party 

Dinner Buffet starts 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM 

The Tivoli – P3,900 net (Adult), P1,900 net (Child) 

Paseo Uno – P2,390 net (Adult), P1,190 net (Child) 

Tin Hau – Set menus available (P1,580 – P2,930 net) 

For reservations, call (02) 750-8888

Manila Peninsula Hotel

Sparkle Gala Ball (Dinner Buffet) 

This event has been ongoing for 17 years already. Because of this, it is no longer a surprise why it is dubbed as the most anticipated event of the year. Plans for this year include filling the entire lobby with confetti, balloons and champagne glasses. 

The dinner buffet is hosted by Executive Chef Patrick Boucher and will only be from 9pm until 12mn.

Tickets: 

P 6,700++ (including a glass of Champagne) 

P 6,200++ (adults) 

P 3,700++ (children below 12 years old) 

For ticket information and reservations, call (02)887-2888. 

http://www.peninsula.com/

Manila Peninsula Hotel

Salon de Ning After Party 

7:00 pm – 2:00 am 

P1,500 ++ (minimum consumption) 

Rockwell

31 to 1 100% Rockwell New Year Party 

The celebration starts at 7 p.m. and continues all the way till 1 a.m. At 10:30 p.m. and 12 midnight, marvel at the fireworks displays to welcome 2012. 

The Lopez Drive strip will be set up for an al fresco dining by none other than Powerplant Mall’s Barcino, Oyster Bar, Via Mare, Achiote and Kuretake. Catch the performances by Kush Kemistry and Brigada. The Rockwell Tent will also have a New Year’s Eve Party featuring DJ Cao Ocampo, Yoshi Uy, Amber Davis, David Ardiente, and DJ Buzz. 

For more information and inquiries, contact the Power Plant Mall at 898-1702 or log on to www.powerplantmall.com or https://www.facebook.com/PowerPlantMall.

Shangri-La Makati

New Year Countdown

Dinner buffet with performers

Tickets at P 5,000++

For reservations, call (02) 813-8888

Manila City

Diamond Hotel

New Year’s Eve Party

Corniche has a P2,011 New Year’s Eve Dinner special

27^th Floor Sky Lounge tickets at P750 net (inclusive of 2 drinks)

For reservations, call (02)528-3000

Hyatt Hotel and Casino

Dinner & Year End Party

Fireplace tickets at P4,500 (7-course dinner with Wagyu Beef)

Marketplace Buffet Dinner tickets at P1,888 net

Lili’s tickets at P1,688 net 8-course dinner (minimum of 2 persons)

33^rd Floor Roof Top New Year’s Eve Party

Tickets: P800 (walk-in)

For reservations, call (02) 245-1234 loc. 7818

Manila Ocean Park

Catch the Musical Fountain Show

December 31, 2011 6pm

http://www.manilaoceanpark.com/

Rizal Park

Catch the fireworks display starting 9pm. Music by Lady Valerie and Orchestra will be played during the wait. Families will get a thrill with the number of food booths situated around the vicinity.

The event is free and open to the public.

Pasay City

Republiq Club

2012 The Republiq New Year’s Eve Ball

December 31, 2011 Saturday

For guest list, contact Sha Supangan 0917-880-7827 or email pureatrepubliq@gmail.com

http://republiq-saturdays.tk/

https://www.facebook.com/REPUBLIQ.CLUB

Resorts World

Grand Fiesta Manila New Year Countdown

Live performances from groups Spirit of ’67, Ariba, Draybers, and Savorlatino await diners in Newport Mall and Bar 360.

Countdown starts at 10 pm.

For updates and more information, log on to www.facebook.com/rwmanila and www.rwmanila.com

http://www.rwmanila.com/entertainment-at-resorts-world-manila/gfm-2011/new-year-countdown

SM Mall of Asia

Countdown to 2012: The GMA New Year Special

The SM Mall of Asia New Year Countdown will start at 7 p.m. While the GMA-7 party starts at 11 p.m. Do check out the 15-minute fireworks display at midnight.

The event is free and open to the public.

https://www.facebook.com/smmallofasia 

Sofitel Manila

New Year’s Eve Party

Dinner buffet at Spirals starts at 6:30 PM

At 12 MN, there will be fireworks and a balloon drop

Tickets:

P7,231.94 net (Adult)

P3,615.97 net (Child)

For reservations, call (02)832-6988

Quezon City

Eastwood Mall

QC New Year Countdown to 2012

Grand Fireworks Display & Dazzling Star Drop at 12 Midnight featuring Gary V., Paolo and Gab Valenciano, Addlib Dancers, Billy Crawford, The Dawn, Amber Davis, Urbanation, Philippine AllStars

Eastwood Mall Open Carpark

December 31, 6PM Onwards

https://www.facebook.com/eastwoodcity

As always, stay safe and don’t drink and drive! Happy New Year from When in Manila team!

Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve: 2012 Manila NYE Parties

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Just had to share, When In Manila, you need to drop by Bar Dolci!

I LOVED the Thai Tea and Green Tea flavors (I see a trend here). But really, I loved how they have VERY generous servings and how they let you pick two flavors, even if you only ordered the small cup! Really cool service here.

Check out our full review of Bar Dolci here – http://www.wheninmanila.com/bar-dolci-makers-of-the-best-gelato-and-french-macarons-in-manila-must-try-their-salted-caramel-gelato/

Try Bar Dolci Thai Tea and Green Tea Gelato Flavors

When In Manila, you need to check out the new Japanese Grill / Skewered Chicken Restaurant over at the Fort BGC, right on Burgos Circle!

I’m a big fan of Japanese food so I had to try out this new place I happened to stumble upon. Fortunately for me, the owners were there and they shared some info about his new Japanese BBQ type place.

It’s called Yakitori, which translates to grill and chicken (very loosely). Of course, you can expect those to be their specialties!

Most everything here comes on a stick! It’s a big hit in Japan where people have this kind of food for dinner, snacks or with drinks (called pulutan in the Philippines).

Forgive me for not getting the names down as they were mostly in Japanese and I was really just there to eat, not expecting to have a cool story to blog about after. Anyway, in a nutshell, if you’ve been to one of those “manukan” type places, popular here in the Philippines, where chicken is grilled and cooked in every sort of way, from their gizzards to their hearts, and mostly cooked in the “inasal” way, then this is pretty much like that, but done the Japanese way.

Yakitori Grilled Crab Cakes

Yakitori Grilled Mushrooms

Yakitori Grilled Seafood Cakes Wrapped in Bacon

Yakitori Grilled Corn

Yakitori Grilled Chicken Tail

Yakitori Grilled Spring Onions

Yakitori Grilled Chicken Wings and Grilled Chicken Skin

How the night ended….

So for me, it was really like a “Japanese Chicken Inasal” type place where they’ll cook any part of the chicken and grill it into something yummy!

But yup, the food was scrumptious and not too heavy. One plate, with two sticks, ranged from P50 – P150.

In the end, we had about eight plates and two tummies filled with Japanese Grilled Chicken yumminess.

They just had their soft opening and can’t quite find a phone number or address for them online, but you can check out this Yakitori Grill Restaurant over at the Burgos Circle right next to Bugsy’s Bar.

When In Manila, do try this new place called Yakitori, for dinner or for some late night drinking and grilled snacks.

Yakitori Japanese Grill: Skewered Chicken Restaurant at the Burgos Circle Fort BGC

When in Manila and you find yourself wandering around The Fort Strip for a place to cure your Japanese food cravings, then I highly suggest that you try out Katsu Japanese Grill. You won’t miss it, It’s that cool looking Japanese restaurant with Japanese-styled exteriors and a minimalist Zen interior.

Here’s a view of what the Katsu Japanese restaurant looks like at night.

Inside, I’m pleased to see the minimalist theme carried through with the design of the interior with hints of Japanese graphics placed strategically on the walls. The furniture pieces also were Asian in form and most were stained a dark wenge hue, the traditional wood color for Japanese furniture pieces.

I also noticed this wonderful wave pattern on the ceiling made from bent wood. It somehow creates visual interest at the eating spaces situated at one corner of the restaurant. Again, this is a great interior detail.

First off the menu was the Rosu Katsu. This is probably one of the most common Japanese dishes that people order from restaurants but I gotta tell you that the Katsu here stands out from the rest. The meat wasn’t dry and the breading had that perfect amount of crisp that just makes you want more.

Their Tofu and Angus Beef is also a must try. The beef was cooked very tender and the strips just really melts in your mouth. I’m not really a fan of tofu but for this dish, I’m making an exception.

The Spicy Tuna Roll was also good. It is spicy but very tolerable. Glad that they didn’t skimp on the shrimp roes garnishing each piece. I hate it when some restaurants do that.

Lastly, we were given this Yakitori platter and this is the menu item you can’t miss. Since this is their specialty, I had high expectations for it and you know what? It didn’t disappoint. The different skewered meats and vegetables were just so fun to eat especially if you’re a group. You can either share this dish or be selfish and have it all to yourself. I know I would because it’s THAT good.

Oh and here’s a little trivia for the Yakitori off of Katsu’s Facebook page:

Yakitori is a popular Japanese dish, sort of a Japanese chicken kebab. Marinated chicken pieces, and sometimes chicken livers and vegetables are threaded on bamboo skewers and grilled. The word is from ‘yaki’ meaning grill, or cook, and ‘tori’ meaning bird or fowl.

Interesting huh?

I’m really glad to have eaten at Katsu Japanese Grill and enjoyed the service of the very welcoming staff and their manager, Ruben who was kind enough to assist us. I’m definitely coming back.

Katsu Japanese Grill

The Fort Entertainment Strip, 1634 Taguig, Philippines

8876838

Katsu Japanese Restaurant Facebook Page

Your Yakitori Stop in Manila: Katsu Japanese Grill