The craft beer scene is alive and kicking even in the tropical paradise of Hawaii! This is was such a pleasant surprise during this trip, as even in Manila, the craft beer scene is really taking off.   A stroll into this trendy district near the Ala Moana area where street art and food fairs abound reveals the location of Honolulu Beerworks, home of the fine craft beers this side…

It is recommended that you visit before everyone else finds out about this place. The Gilarmi Lounge is one of the establishments that the Discovery Primea has launched this year (First one was the fantastic Tapenade Mediterranean themed restaurant). Paying tribute to the landmark Gilarmi Apartment that used to tower the Ayala Avenue in the old days, the Gilarmi Lounge brings back the nostalgia of how it felt to have one of…

A few months ago, Tapenade, the first of many restaurants of Discovery Primea, opened to the public. Tapenade was to be a restaurant that features some inspirations of dishes that can be found in the Italian, Spanish, and Mediterranean regions. And with rave reviews from both blogs and printed media, who can’t not think of having Mother’s Day there? Tapenade had a set menu for that day (they called it…

Prepare to have your heart stopped… both figuratively and literally. So rare that a single dish deserves more than 500 words that usually is enough to describe a whole restaurant, but there are exceptions, both meals and desserts. Add this to that reveled list. Sizzling Kansi. What looks like just some usual bowl of chopped meat resembling sisig topped with a roasted bone marrow just hides in plain sight the…

Barcelona. Home of the great works of Antoni Gaudi. His distinct buildings showing very human anatomical like structures abound, the most famous of which is one that is not yet even completed, La Sagrada Familia. But there is also other interesting things about Barcelona outside this area and the tourist infested Las Ramblas. While all the excitement is in there, there is a more quiet and relaxing side. These were…

Forgive us if it is starting to sound like we are paid hacks of Gino’s pizza. After all, three articles is probably enough to make you think so: – The First Gino’s Pizza where we discovered its Neapolitan style goodness – The Second Gino’s Pizza in Makati… – …and if you love Italian food, and have not eaten a burrata yet in your life, you are so missing out. (For reference, this…

Step up your oral hygiene regimen with Listerine and enjoy more of what life’s flavors have to offer.

ALL THE STEAK YOU CARE TO EAT.       So few statements have that much impact to so many people. Not to isolate the people who don’t eat meat, but the carnivore craving in majority of the population speaks to an inner and very elemental essence in life: To be sustained to survive. Of course with modern living these are not as obvious given the varied selection especially of…

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…

The Peninsula Manila has been one of the more top-of mind hotels lately for family staycations. Can’t seem to pinpoint the reason for such. It might be because of the excellent location at the Makati business district (which, by the way, is soooooo lovely to stroll around and discover some bars and restaurants on Saturday nights when it is less busy than usual). Or it might be that all the…

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…

In the past years, Kettle has proven to be one of the more popular casual restaurants in the metro, thanks to its food having familiar flavors but given little twists and flairs to make the taste unique but not veering far from its essence. Case in point? Their buttermilk fried chicken is the gold standard for fried chicken. It has made a believer of critics. So when the team behind…

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…

      Bartending and the art of mixology have gained a massive foothold in the Philippine food scene the past two years, and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Proof of which are the opening of some of the places that puts more emphasis on the technique of the craft rather than the amount of alcohol needed to get your drunk and on your way. Previous years have…

Let’s do a quick statistic about China: 3,700,000 square miles, second in size only to Russia. 1.35 billion people population, second to none. 22 provinces, all with their slightly distinct cultures and practices. And with that, their version of Chinese cooking. Chinese cooking in the Philippines is mainly Cantonese style, the kind you will find in Hong Kong. But as mentioned, there are even more styles out there. So the…

This may sound like a biased opinion, given the fascination of ours for buffalo wings (we even made various recipes for it), but it really is high time that this makes a comeback. Enough with the milk tea and the ramens of the past two years (something that seemed really peculiar given how hot and humid the Philippines is). While yes they are still a staple, the Manila food scene…

Ever the fitness buffs, our friends Chuckie Dreyfus and wife Yen (The Tummy Traveler) sent a gift of this coconut based MCT (Medium Chain Triglyceride). It’s a food supplement based on coconut oils where the natural fats that it provides help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some people have actually taken this by the spoonful, like those who take in virgin coconut oil, so it was worth trying. MCT actually…

More great food joints opening up in the surf spots in San Juan, La Union! It’s been a long time since the last visit here, and so many things have sprouted thanks to the popularity of the place… and not just to the local tourism market. A Greek man decided to settle down here and shared the flavors of his home-land, and Gefseis Greek Grill was born. Like most house-converted…

Christmas is for family. That’s exactly how we, the KTG, wanted it celebrated.

This gin was quite unusual. While gin, most especially the London Dry variety, is characterized by the prominent taste of juniper berries, this craft, small batch of Hendrick’s Gin makes itself distinguishable among all the gins with its cucumber and rose petals scent and flavor. It’s really interesting, because this cucumber is starting to be recognized as a very versatile fruit for spirits and cocktails (Cognac with cucumber syrup and…

So much trends in the Manila food scene over the past few years that people have even rated that Manila is one of the best places to be a foodie. Yet, one thing seems to have been neglected in this deluge of gastronomic concepts. The simplest of comfort food, the grilled cheese, has been vastly overlooked. Some people will argue that there’s nothing to change with the classic cheddar on…