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Archive for the ‘Drinks & Grub’ Category
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My Neighborhood Café
Most of my life, the idea of putting up a Starbucks branch or any coffee shop in Cavite City seemed impossible, given the thrifty and conventional culture of my sleepy town. But two brothers changed up Cavite City’s vibe when …
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New Year Discovery: Tequila in a Tetra Pak
I was at a post-Christmas party on a Makati roof deck when the host, my photographer friend, Dix, asked me if I wanted liquor in a tetra pak. Curious, I got the strawberry margarita flavor from the cooler. The label …
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Puzzle Café: Serving Coffee and Love
“Good afternoon. Welcome to Puzzle Café!” said 20-year-old Jose Canoy when I entered the door.
“Table for one, please,” I said.
Jose’s older sister, Ciab, beamed next to him. When he missed his cue, the 22-year-old preschool teacher assisted her …
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Is Tapeo My New “The One?”
My regular night spot changes every two to three years as I get older. In the ’90s, it was Glorietta Makati’s Street Life and Hard Rock Café, where I once convinced the bouncer I was 19 years old, only to …
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Kitsch of the Month: Fort Greene Flea Finds
One of the several flea markets of Brooklyn, Fort Greene runs every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from spring to fall in Lafeyette Avenue.
Part vintage bazaar, part town square, and part food market, Fort Greene is a hipster’s …
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I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan!
It looks like empanada. It smells like empanada. It sure tastes like the meaty beef and chicken empanadas I would eat as a child in the Philippines.
“But it’s vegan,” said Sandy Famy, a full-time cook and food specialist at …
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Corner Mexican Bakery
Whenever I visit a town or city for a week or more, I always end up finding my “usual” coffee shop near my temporary home. It becomes the spot where I spend long brunches or afternoon coffee breaks while glued …
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Rolo Pretzels for the Culinary Challenged
There are chefs and kitchen whizes like my sister Karen. Then there are people like me who prefer to whip up 30-minute meals and the ever reliable pasta dish.
I experienced my first real all-American Thanksgiving feast in Michigan …
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Kitsch of the Month: Charlie Brown Café
When the first Charlie Brown Café opened in 2009, it had a lot of promise. As the first Peanuts-themed café in the world, it piqued the interest of the older generation who grew up loving Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock and …
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Mama Lee’s Home
Some snarky travelers may dampen your summer spirit by telling you that Boracay “ain’t what it used to be.” When I saw the likes of Starbucks and Shakey’s Pizza at White Beach last month, I couldn’t help but nod in …
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The Happy Meal is Happy Again
I remember a conversation I had with my sister Karen a few years ago in Mcdonald’s Cavite City.
“That’s it?” I said after seeing my little cousin Theo get his happy meal—fried chicken with rice and a small Coke laid …
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The Wonders of Used Coffee Grounds
I have two new reasons to love Starbucks aside from their classic café mocha: 1.) the new Starbucks card, which I can use as a debit card and rewards card whenever I purchase drinks, and 2.) the free used …
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Sweet Empanada Crust
I’ve been spending weekly family nights at Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati, since it first opened in 2000. I thought I’ve mastered every nook and cranny of this mall—from the top restaurants to the newest shops and stalls. But …
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Kitsch of the Month: Vanilla Cupcake Bakery
“Wow, this is fun. I feel like a kid,” said my artist friend Paolo, who, in his vintage rockstar ensemble, looked completely out of place on the colorful quilted couch surrounded by country-style teacups, saucers and pots. It was …
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Nutella Cupcakes
Allow me to do some shameless plugging. For my birthday, my sister Karen baked these sinful Nutella cupcakes to indulge my sweet-toothed soul.…
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Breakfast for Dinner
“When you ordered waffles and coffee instead of beer, I knew you were weird,” Anton joked when we talked about our first official date at a Makati bar in 2010.
Weird as I was, he loved me nonetheless. He wholeheartedly …
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Old World Dining
In the 19th century, a wealthy couple living in the San Miguel District of Manila was known for throwing unforgettable dinners. Dr. Alejandro Legarda (a.k.a. Don Alejandro) and Doña Ramona Legarda (a.k.a. Tita Moning)’s sumptuous cooking and luxurious dining rooms …
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A La Peanut Butter Sandwiches!
I have a philosophical question that’s been bothering me for years:
Why do sandwiches taste better when someone else makes it for you?
When my mother makes me a basic tuna sandwich, it tastes yummy. When I try to replicate …