Archive for the ‘Drinks & Grub’ Category
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Xin Wang is Finally in Manila
We saw the “Soon To Open” sign at Mall of Asia a few months ago. My foodie beau Anton was delighted that one of his favorite Singaporean restaurants is finally coming to Manila. With over a dozen locations in Singapore …
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Seafood for the Shoestring Traveler
In the Philippines, dampa-style eating boils down to three main steps: 1.) strolling down the wet market to haggle and purchase fresh produce such as seafood, 2.) selecting a nearby restaurant or eatery where, for a service fee, they …
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Have Another Kuppa
As promised, I visited Kuppa’s Fort Bonifacio branch this week to see how it stacks up to its original Bacolod location.
I’m happy to report that it lives up to the hype! To reminisce our Bacolod trip, my boyfriend …
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Have a Kuppa
Not to be confused with Kuppa Tea & Coffee Traders Co. in Thailand, Kuppa Coffee & Tea is one of the best coffee shops in Bacolod, Philippines. There’s a small Kuppa branch in SM City Bacolod, but I highly suggest …
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Moooned Over
There’s a colorful Mexican restaurant/café in Bacolod that serves Mexican favorites and fusion Bacolod specialties at an affordable price—Mooon Café. Yes, it’s spelled with a triple “o,” which I take as an emphatic tribute to the Mexican Moon—either that or …
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Brewed Coffee on a Shoestring
For travelers who have been to Silay, Negros Occidental, two things come to mind—ancestral homes and sugar. You’ll find archaic heritage houses around the province, from open-house tourist spots such as The Ruins to private residences that may only be …
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Countdown to Nutella Day
Three days to go ‘til World Nutella Day!
For people like me who are hooked on it like crack, Nutella is more than just a chocolate-y hazelnut spread; it’s a way of life.
I remember my first Nutella experience. …
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The Real Taste of Hong Kong is in the Streets
I’ve trekked with two types of travelers: 1) the one who prefers to dine in clean and sanitized places, carefully avoiding grade C and below restaurants and 2) the cowboy who doesn’t mind braving underground spots and eating street food …
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Tai Hing’s 5-Star Roast Gets a 3.5
My travel buddies and I had one last stop to visit before heading to the airport and flying back to Manila—Tai Hing restaurant in Mongkok, Hong Kong.
Best known for its 5-star roasted pork and chilled original milk tea, …
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That Ball of Cheese
Ask any Filipino about what he loves most about Christmas, and I guarantee that the Noche Buena will make his top three list. In the late Doreen Fernandez’s book, Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture, published in 1994, …
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My Food Court Dish of the Year
My sister took me to Glorietta food court’s new food stall two months ago. Kalbi, a fusion of Korean and Mexican food, is an exotic feast for your taste buds. The menu: burritos for P159, two-piece tacos for P129, fajitas …
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Tootsie’s Family Recipes
Restaurants that remind me of eating in my Lola Belen (my late grandmother)’s house earn instant points in my book. Tootsie’s Home-Cooked Specialties in Tagaytay has that vibe—where you sit in a cozy wooden chair surrounded by country-style decorations as …
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Tapsi Math + Cavite’s Hidden Tapsihan
Like carinderias (cafeterias), barbeque joints and fishball carts, you’ll find a tapsihan everywhere in the Philippines. A tapsihan is a small-scale eatery, usually in a sidestreet location that sells the tapsi variety.
For foreign tourists, here’s a quick lesson in …
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Hawker in Makati
Patterned after Singapore’s Hawker Centers (their version of food courts), 101 Hawker Food House opened its doors to the Makati crowd last year. This hole-in-wall spot serves an affordable fusion of Singaporean, Thai, Chinese, Malay, and Filipino dishes. What a …
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Clark’s Contribution to the Chicken Wings Craze
Metro Manila loves trends. The crazes here spread like wildfire, thanks to mass consumerism and lax copyright laws. Years ago, it was the sago and flavored shake fad, which sort of died a natural death (Do people still drink Zagu?). …
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Singapore Food Trip
My diet went out the door as soon as I stepped into my first Food Republic. With only six days to spend in Singapore, I wanted to savor as many Asian dishes as I could—from markets, food courts, hawkers, and …
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Penniless Tour: Ann Siang Hill
There’s a place in Singapore where you can get away from the busy cosmopolitan streets. For shutterbugs such as myself, Ann Siang Hill stands out with its bohemian, chill vibe—a great escape from all things mainstream and loud.
Back in …
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Chicken Rice: Because Anthony Bourdain Said So
There’s that saying: You’ve never been to Singapore unless you’ve tried the chicken rice. My Singapore-based Filipino friend Chris told me that you’ll find chicken rice everywhere, from hawker food centers to regular restaurants along the street, giving me the …