When the chilly breeze of Baguio begins to nip you as you stroll along the city or the adjacent tourist attractions like strawberry picking in La Trinidad, Benguet, options to warm yourself up abound in the Camp John Hay area. You can get a cup of hot coffee or chocolate, some swigs of wine or liquor (if that’s your thing), or a nice sizzling skillet of meat drowned in thick…
The melting pot that is San Francisco captured in dishes with a Pinoy twist by Chef Bruce Lim.
When the Greenbelt complex was built, it set the standards for aspirations of the Metro Manila folk when it comes to having a good night out in town. Bars, restaurants and movie theaters here are always a pleasure to visit and patronize. And it continues to do so until this day. So one night when a popular movie was out, there was time to have a comfortable but quick…
Hearing the name Good Burgers is reminiscent of the Kenan and Kel fastfood sketch in Nickelodeon’s “All That” where Kel always gets everything in the fastfood joint totally wrong. This Manila knockoff, however, gets everything right. The unique value they bring is they use either chicken patty, or – if you are feeling like eating healthier – , vegetarian patties. This is a guiltless offer to the non-meat but comfort…
We have shown our fascination for mojitos. Case in point: 1. If a restaurant has mojitos in their drinks list, we give it a try 2. We have a tutorial on how to make a mojito 3. We have a mint plant named Pep, almost ready for summer mojito making There is something deceivingly addicting about this Cuban concoction. It may be the sourness of the lime,…
There is no better comfort food for me than pizza. While I have not gone out on a formal quest for the best pizza in town, I think I have come across what is the best pizza for me, by far. The brand’s slogan is “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.” We ordered a thin crust of the Super Papa which, has an assortment of meats, mushrooms, onions, green peppers and olives….
NOTE: AS DISCOVERED AROUND APRIL 27, 2012, THIS BRANCH HAS ALREADY CLOSED My favorite food for all time is pizza. And it’s always an option when I look for comfort food (along with coffee, burgers, and ice cream). Now, the only innovations I know if pizza are the pizza pandesal and those pizza cones I have yet to try. And then they introduced the rolled up pizza. One of the…
This is pretty new and I really like being able to share new finds. 2nd’s was on soft opening since December 2010 and they offer revisited comfort food. By revisited, they add their own touch to make it more sumptuous. Think of things like truffle oil. Some of us will remember the location as that of the old Mag:net. The days of Rockeoke there have now been replaced by a…
I have a word I always use: interesting. Because that’s how life is and that’s why I love it. I consider myself very lucky and very blessed to be where I am right now. But I also give myself a pat on the back because I feel the year has been more fruitful because I was more open to so many things. Here, I share with you some of the…
This is a condensed version of the lyrics of Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”. And maybe today is not one of my best ones. Give me any extreme emotion and I burst into tears, good or bad. Too bad. I wanted to make it happen. But maybe for this special case, apathy is the best thing for me. It just made me remember my hierarchy of comfort food. 1st level –…
It’s that time once a year when we ask all of you to take part in naming your favorites when it comes to the country’s food scene: The Choice 2017 Awards. From classics to newcomers, we take every vote into account. Take part in it now through this link. The Choice 2017 Survey This is the third year in a row that we will be conducting this. The Choice is an…
It’s that time of the year again! Our Awesome Planet, together with The KTG (Kain Tulog Gang. Seriously, that’s what our group’s name is called) is once again getting your opinions on what are the best restaurants in the country. THE CHOICE AWARDS 2016! The Choice awards is heralded as the Golden Globe to Manila’s Best Kept Secrets’ Oscars. In here, we get the voice of the people and know…
“When in doubt, go to Spices.” That’s what people say when they are presented with the conflicting options on where to dine in The Peninsula Manila. Sure there’s the variety that Escolta brings, the grandness of the lobby lounge, and the contemporary classics of Old Manila. But when it is in-your-face deliciousness of Southeast Asian cuisine, it has got to be Spices. And while the cool January and February weather…
Hotel Rembrandt has been an icon in the Quezon City landscape for as long as its contemporaries can remember. It was the first and premier hotel in the area, and it continues to evolve, with rooms that get newly appointed and its signature bar, Malt Room, being one of the more distinguished night spots this side of the metro. Now, a breath of fresh air is brought into its…
In a population that can never imagine itself without WiFi, you will think this poster is a sacrilege. But such a place that posts it exists, and after a few hours of good food, drinks and fun with friends, you will thank them for it. Come to think of it, Dyce N’ Dyne is quite ahead of the curve. A recent study suggested that people have slowly taken a digital…
To people living in Metro Manila, the familiar places will always be somewhere in the central and a little bit to the north. Going down south of the Metro sometimes feels like already going to a provincial area. That’s how big a psychological barrier a toll-road gives to the brains of this bustling megacity. South of the metro is practically Paranaque, Las Pinas, and Muntinlupa, and the more affluent portion…
The Marriott Manila team has thought ahead and provided all of us with three new dining options, all found on the ground level of the Marriott Grand Ballroom: Allegro, Mian, and Crema.
Last night in London back in 2013 (with a planned lazy summer day at Hyde Park while waiting for the flight tomorrow), and it was time to meet some old friends who have been stationed in the city for quite some time. They suggested meeting somewhere in Covent Garden. Quite the interesting place. This one had a more youthful vibe compared to the other areas of town. Wonder if this…
“See you at the top.” To those who follow the Manila club scene, this statement is all too familiar. 71 Gramercy is the premiere club on the top floor of the highest building in the Philippines: Gramercy Residences. Named after the floor where it is situated, it has played host to the clubbing elite, with trendy beats and fantastic cocktails. As a matter of fact, one of their…
Il Ponticello has successfully reinvented itself recently, with a more grown up vibe coupled now with culinary reiterations of classic Italian inspired dishes fit for a more distinguished palate. It’s like the place grew up along with its old patrons, who are now looking for the finer things in life than the old buy-one-take-one shots of the infamous blue cocktail called Azzuri. And part of this growing up is a…
A few weeks ago gave an opportunity to stay at the Le Monet Hotel in Baguio. This is one of the more known upscale hotels in the area, what more having it situated inside the Camp John Hay grounds. Returning back to Manila and missing the cool weather and scent of pine, it gave time to reflect on what made the 3-day stay comfortable and memorable (aside from the cool…
Things really are picking up for the craft beer industry after that big Drink Up! Philippines event. People have a greater appreciation now of the bubbly brew and are now willing to explore the various crafts made by small breweries. Perfect Pint in Fort Bonifacio Global City is one of them, but this one focuses more on the local craft beer scene in the Philippines. Yep. Craft beer makers are…
