Creative Innovation and Inspired Indulgence at The Workshop Bespoke Bakery

The culinary benchmark is raised once again, combining the rustic and traditional with the modern and progressive in a seamless and indulgent blend elevating the bakery experience...at The Workshop Bespoke Bakery.

The young and creative duo behind Le Petit Souffle, Scout's Honor, Garde Manger, and Freezer Burn, chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla are back with another innovative dining concept with The Workshop Bespoke Bakery. Going beyond the usual cupcakes, brownies, and cakes, chefs Miko Aspiras and Kristine Lotilla are on a mission to showcase more than just the usual desserts created by local homegrown talent. And the market is ready for something other than the usual run-of-the-mill desserts...

Doing it Right: Tea Etiquette at The Writers Bar's Queen Victoria Royal Afternoon Tea

Bring me a cup of tea and the Times...

And so ordered Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India at the height of the British Empire. And to this day, tea remains a daily habit and an integral part of their social fabric, a legacy recreated at the elegant Writers Bar of Raffles Makati. Inspired by the Victorian era, Writers Bar presents the second edition of their Royal Afternoon Tea Series featuring Queen Victoria. I've enjoyed afternoon tea quite a number of times at Writers Bar, but this time I'm doing it right with a little help, make that a lot of help, with a special tea etiquette class at Writers Bar...

Caveman Beef Ribs, Not Mapo Tofu, and Surf & Turf Noodles at Ping Pong Diplomacy

You definitely won't find these dishes with their descriptive names in the usual mainstream Chinese joint. Then again, Ping Pong Diplomacy isn't your usual Chinese restaurant. Not by a long shot...

Drawing inspiration from the seventies with the historic re-opening of Sino-American relations sparked by the exchange of table tennis players, the cleverly-named Ping Pong Diplomacy offers a uniquely fresh and inventive take on Chinese cuisine infused with good ol' American flair. Chefs Him Uy de Baron and Noel Mauricio call it "progressive Chinese." You can simply call it Ping Pong Diplomacy's power-smashing #killerserve...

Burgers and Sliders with the T. E. Touch at Pound by Todd English

Craving for burgers with that signature T. E. touch?  Just give in and go with the flow...

...at Pound by Todd English. Maybe it's the premium beef, house ground and delicately cooked sous-vide before grilling. Or the house-cured slabs of bacon. The fresh-baked buns prepared in-house. And the wide variety of inventive sauces and add-ons that just elevates the burger experience. Todd English is spot-on down to the last detail with his unique T. E. touch...at Pound by Todd English.

Bringing The Vibrant Flavors of Asian Street Food to Novotel Manila's Food Exchange

Fish balls, tokneneng, kwek kwek, balut, gado-gado, tteokbokki, laksa, Hainanese chicken, dim sum and rojak, iconic street food favorites from all over Asia converge at Novotel Manila's Food Exchange. It's Asia on a plate. One very big plate... 

Novotel Manila celebrates the rich and diverse flavors of Asia with the Asian Street Food Festival at the Food Exchange from August 17 to September 3, 2017. Savor and rediscover classic and comforting flavors from Japan, India, China, Singapore, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines all in one place with a wide selection of dishes prepared by eight Asian chefs led by noted celebrity chef Sau del Rosario. Experience the rich flavors of Asia, one plate at a time...at Novotel Manila's Food Exchange.

Skillets and Filipino Breakfasts at Chelsea Grand Cafe

What's for breakfast?

French toast, pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs on bread bowls, Filipino breakfasts, toasts and skillets, take your pick. At Chelsea Grand Cafe, you can choose from a wide variety of breakfast options for that perfect start...

Northern Exposure: A Taste of Authentic Northern Chinese Flavors at City of Dreams Manila's New Jing Ting Restaurant

The rustic and hearty flavors of China's famed northern region comes to City of Dreams Manila at Jing Ting Restaurant with its signature selections of authentic hand-pulled noodles, buns and dumplings.  

Rich, bold, and savory, authentic Northern Chinese cuisine comprises mostly of meat dishes with wheat-based dumplings, soft buns and hand-pulled noodles spiced and seasoned with garlic, coriander, leeks, salt, and vinegar for upfront flavors. Braised, steamed, boiled, stewed, steamed, roasted, glazed, deep-fried, and stir-fried, Jing Ting Restaurant offers diners another taste of China, comfortingly familiar yet refreshingly different. The rugged terrain of the north is reflected in its hearty cuisine, recreated at the new Jing Ting Restaurant of City of Dreams Manila.

Weekend Eats: The Sunday Lunch Delights at The Nostalgia Dining Lounge

A relaxing Sunday weekend just got a whole lot better...at The Nostalgia Dining Lounge.

The Nostalgia Dining Lounge at Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila now offers a sumptuous Sunday Lunch Buffet to end the weekend on a high note, serving a wide array of dishes for a Sunday family treat. Read on and have a virtual taste of the Sunday Lunch Buffet at The Nostalgia Dining Lounge...

Back at IHOP...

Four years later, the long lines may have faded, but the comforting flavors remain favorites. After all, IHOP has been "spreading happiness" since 1958...

Breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snacks, dinner or any other time of day when you're craving for classic IHOP flavors, you know you can have your fill at your nearest IHOP branch (for more on IHOP, see my earlier posts on the opening of the very first IHOP branch in the country at Food News: IHOP, Now Spreading Happiness at The Fort and Breakfast at IHOP from four years back, A Late Afternoon Breakfast with IHOP's Fried Chicken Dinner and A Steak Lunch at IHOP on their savory mains, Go Ahead and Stack 'Em High: IHOP's New P 25 Pancake Promotion on their previous promotion, and new menu items at New Flavors: IHOP Introduces All-New Lunch and Dinner Menu). Long after the buzz and hype of the first ever IHOP launch in the country from four years ago, I still find myself coming back for that taste of iconic IHOP classics...

Go North: One Night at La Maja Rica

Any road trip up north is made even more special with the tasty stops along the way. And if you need to spend a night on the route, here's one spot that makes the long drive north a memorable one...

La Maja Rica is a boutique hotel and restaurant conveniently situated along MacArthur Highway in Ligtasan, Tarlac City. Think of La Maja Rica as your oasis on the never-ending roads of the north. It's a welcome stopover on a road trip, and a flavorful one too...