First job. A promotion. Saved up for those new sneaks. Finally took over that Pokemon Gym. Even the most mundane of accomplishments can be enough reason to celebrate. It’s all about the attitude of accomplishment and the elation it gives. Applebee’s understands that, and that’s why they make sure you relish these fleeting moments with food and drinks. But most of all, with the memorable company that tags along with…

Dare we say: The best Chinese style fast-food restaurant in the Philippines. What makes us so confident of saying this? First, a bit of a background: Yumchee is not an international franchise brought to the Philippines. The concept is homegrown, and so are the people behind it. What they just did was examine the scene and bring the vision of serving international quality Hong Kong, Cantonese, and Taiwanese style fast-food in…

Foodies have probably heard of what a burrata is. And if you haven’t, and you are a lover of cheese, then you need to have one as soon as possible. It all looks quite simple: It’s like a giant ball of buffalo mozzarella.  But the treat lies the moment you pierce that gummy “skin”, and out oozes combination of molten buffalo mozzarella and delicious cream. Normally in most countries with…

It’s a nice, sunny day to get married! That’s how Tagaytay in the Philippines felt during this June weekend, where it was off to a wedding of two very good friends who elected to have their venue for vows in this crisp retreat so close to Manila. And since the wedding will be finishing late and it would be too tiresome to head back, might as well get an overnight…

As of June 18, 2015, it was discovered that this restaurant has CLOSED. Something new is taking root in Bonifacio High Street. What used to be the old Stock Market, is this new, homey looking restaurant called Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar. People have taken into calling it OTKB, much to the proponents delight as it is their initiative to give it that moniker. Oh, and one of the proponents…

What’s hot about Huat Pot? How about an eat-all-you-can, high-grade hot pot session that has never before been seen in Manila?

The first visit to Dillingers 1903 in Makati City were due to a tip that it has some great value-for-money ribeye steaks, more authentic tasting buffalo wings, and a single-malt whisky selection that boasts more than the usual Johnnie Walker (Laprhoaig, anyone?). It did satisfy, and gave some new ideas about the less traveled path of whisky pairing for food. Now, Dillingers seems to have made a revamp of the…

Planning a European getaway?  Here are just some practical tips from us to either watch the budget or manage expectations. 1. Plan Ahead Nothing beats researching about where you are going to, what to do, what to bring, especially what the weather is like.  Busy at work? Spend the evenings, maybe 5 nights worth, pouring over travel guides, blogs, and travel-related websites. It pays to have as much stored knowledge…

Power Lunch is often defined as a somewhat high-level business networking / meeting / congregation over an extended lunch period. This lunch period can last somewhere to the tune of three hours, as you build your case or continue your networking engagements in the hopes of achieving results. Some even go all the way until Happy Hour starts (which is really a GREAT excuse for that power lunch session). The…

Back in the lunch at Mesclun branch in Linden Suites, a couple of friends got to talking that there doesn’t really seem to be a great Japanese restaurant in the Ortigas Business District area here in the Philippines. If Japanese food was to be talked about, it would always be one of the favorites coming from the Little Tokyo Area in Makati. There is, however, one great find that a…

Hutong – “One of the Top 5 Chinese Restaurants in the World.” That is a tall order given how many restaurants there are around the globe. And what more, to say it in the place that iconifies the best of Asian cuisine: Hong Kong. Surely, there has to be something about the cuisine, location, and restaurant experience in Hutong. What can be in Hutong of Hong Kong that makes it…

No visit to Barcelona will ever be complete without a visit to any of the tapas bars that are scattered along this vibrant region of Spain. It is practically dinner to a lot of the locals, best enjoyed with beers, some refreshing sangria, or a bottle of Cava, the bubbly white wine that proudly comes from this country. Tapas basically started out as a means for customers to cover sherry…

You can rarely go wrong with any of the established Japanese Restaurants in Little Tokyo in Makati City. There will always be a natural tendency to weed out those that serve the same type of food that is inferior to its neighboring restaurant. And so it has come to pass that the frequent diners in the area will have their favorite. Some may go for the well balanced and clean…

This might be one of the best desserts to come out this 2012. Home-made wares actually are one of the best ways to find hidden gems. Just look at these: Baby Yulo’s Strawberry Shortcake Mr. Delicious’ Philippine Wagyu Corned beef Over the past few months of this writing, Facebook feeds from friends were raving about this cheesecake from Indulgence by Irene. And lo and behold, it was actually a crafted…

For those who watch the History Channel (The more subdued yet still highly engaging version of Discovery Channel and National Geographic), one of their main flagship family business/ reality TV/ documentary is Pawn Stars. Here is a quick plot outline based on the Pawn Stars Facebook Page: The Pawn Stars have seen 3-cent nickels, clocks that kill, a historic Revolutionary War bond printed by Paul Revere, sunken treasure from the…

Back in the launch of Trufflefinder, it was a treat to find out that there is more than one speakeasy in Manila. But before that, there was one place that has been in our hearts, and in the hearts of the CNNGo people that featured this place. Blind Pig in Makati is probably one of the more known speakeasy-style bars around. With an entrance in some nondescript building and the…

    There have been a lot of foodie raves over Shi Lin’s Taiwanese style cuisine, with its delicious dumplings matched with relatively value-for-money prices. It helps a lot also that they are situated in the Podium in Ortigas, Powerplant Mall in Makati, and Commercenter building in Fort Bonifacio (It’s actually same building where Relik Tapas Bar and Lounge is situated). There is quite a confusion in whether this is…

AS OF OCTOBER 25, 2013, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS PLACE HAS CLOSED Let’s be real. Not all of us would think a place holds some exciting flavors from non-familiar lands if the logo design looked like this: The cartoonish letters mixed with basic colors shined in light box style makes it look more like the other more non-descript places that may have lackluster food. But never judge a restaurant…

Who knew that somewhere just within the outskirts of the red light district of Makati City stands a good replica of an Enligsh Pub filled with all things sports complemented by some of the best beers in the world? Howzat (A play on the Cricket term “How’s That?”) Sports Bar is situated somewhere in Kalayaan Avenue where most people rarely visit due to its sketchy neighborhood establishments. But probably English…

Once a year, we share a collection of something. Last year was about new experiences. This year is all about life lessons, whether trivial or seemingly profound. Here’s to hoping it helps at least one person somehow.

The melting pot that is San Francisco captured in dishes with a Pinoy twist by Chef Bruce Lim.

Normally, an afternoon of succulent and smoky baby back ribs from Johanna’s Grille would be enough for most people. This day proved to be strange as the ribs craving came again for dinner. Being in the Glorietta area for errands, The red hot sign of Tony Roma’s beckoned.     Tony Roma’s has been known for their baby back ribs. It is proudly lighted up in a badge that greets…