Food News: Celebrating the Life of Chef Ed Quimson at Naci Comfort Food

In an interview from one of the leading dailies, the late Chef Ed Quimson said it all in one simple line, "food is my life."  And in one special evening, Naci Comfort Food celebrates the life of Chef Ed Quimson with the menu he helped create in a formal media launch. 

The cuisine at Naci Comfort Food reflects Chef Ed Quimson's inventive culinary style, combining traditional favorites with surprising twists, simple yet comforting food with bold flavors. At Naci, you'll find classic dishes reinvented, like Nadine's Adobo Cannelloni, Longganisa with Green Grapes Linguine, and Beef Kaldereta Lasagna. And the Cuchifrito, double-fried pork belly over tinapa fried rice with salted egg salsa. Real comfort food that brings back so many childhood memories.

Atelier 317: "Backwell's" Hidden Secret

A fusion of rich flavors, a creative, inventive and non-traditional approach to classic cuisine, in the most unexpected of places. Sometimes straying off the beaten path can be so much more rewarding. And once you find Atelier 317, things really start paying off. Big time. 

Atelier 317 showcases chef and owner Stephanie Zubiri's passion for food. The full range of flavors, the best of global cuisine provides the inspiration, including experiences drawn from her extensive travels abroad are brought to life in each and every dish.  There is a playful inventiveness, and one can sense this creative spirit in traditional dishes with a unique twist that make it new and refreshingly different. True to its name, Atelier 317 is a working studio constantly churning out new ideas, new flavors, and unique dishes.

Food News: New Steak Dishes at Outback Steakhouse

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better...

Outback Steakhouse introduces two new steak dishes to complement its current line-up of bestsellers with its Grilled Peppercorn NY Strip and Herb Crusted Prime Rib. Two excellent dishes guaranteed to satisfy your steak fix. 

A Steak and Chicken Lunch at Outback Steakhouse

Steak and wings. Two cravings that won't easily go away. Thankfully, there's one place to go for a steak and wings fix.

For over ten years, Outback Steakhouse remains the go-to place for great steaks and other flame-grilled dishes. Outback's premium steaks take center stage, but Outback also offers an extensive range of chicken, seafood and pasta dishes too. And some pretty awesome wings.

Salud! Spanish Wine Nights at Cova

Monday nights will never be the same...

Cova Tapas y Sangria launches Salud! Spanish Wine Nights with VAL wines exclusively distributed by Bodegas Hidalgo. Paired with authentic and innovative tapas from chef and owner Patrick Hesse, Monday nights just got better. Way better...

A Weekend Lunch at Gloria Maris Shark's Fin Restaurant in Greenhills

There is an old Chinese saying that goes "preserve the old, but know the new", and this seems to describe the extensive Cantonese cuisine of Gloria Maris Greenhills, authentic dishes that are familiar, and reinvented new classics with a contemporary twist. 

One look at the fish tanks lining one entire side of the wall tells you seafood takes center stage at Gloria Maris, with the widest variety of the freshest crabs, shellfish, shrimps and fish. Steamed, fried, or in a soup, the fresh flavors come through with a subtle sweetness.

Diplahan Lechon: The Best of Mindanao Lechon, Now in Manila

There's just something so cool about discovering new things, like experiencing and tasting the subtle regional nuances in something so familiar and ubiquitous as the lechon. And just when you thought you've tasted every lechon variation, here comes yet another regional specialty from way down south that offers yet another new flavor, and another perspective on the native lechon. 

No real feast can be considered truly Filipino without lechon, and our regional diversity adds a culinary richness to this all-time favorite. And in the municipality of Diplahan in Zamboanga, comes a unique version of lechon perfected by generations of the best local lechoneros. And true to its name, Diplahan Lechon offers  a taste of the region's best kept secret.

Diplaham Lechon's secret lies in the meticulous preparation, draining, and roasting of the pig resulting in tender, moist meat with a layer of perfectly crisp skin. The pig is stuffed with lemon grass and secret herbs and spices that give it a distinct richness in flavor, so rich you don't really need any sauce or condiment like the more common and familiar lechon of Luzon. To preserve the culinary heritage and its link with Diplahan, part of the proceeds are given back to the community in Zamboanga.

Quick Bites: Afternoon Tapas at Casa Armas

Sometimes you just need to slow down. The world won't stop if you suddenly shift to a lower gear, and sometimes it's all you need to face another challenging day ahead. And some tapas wouldn't hurt too...

Casa Armas first opened in 1995, situated in the narrow alleys of Malate. Word then quickly spread about the authentic Spanish dishes of Casa Armas, including the near legendary Cochinillo. Now with three locations, Casa Armas continues to serve authentic Spanish cuisine to a new generation. And the vibe, and the food, remains exactly as I remember it. Chorizo Frito (P 285), Spanish chorizo fried in olive oil. Rich, concentrated flavors, simple yet comforting. Great with a cold beer.

Chillin' at the Car Wash and Moonleaf Tea Shop

Despite the rains these past few days, the afternoon heat continues to bear down without any let-up. A trip down to the car wash one weekend afternoon meant being exposed to even more heat. But right across the car wash is a cool spot to beat the heat... 

From a single store in UP Teachers Village, Moonleaf Tea Shop now has close to forty branches in the metro, including stores in Pampanga, Baguio, Iloilo and Cebu offering a variety of tea-based drinks including milk and fruit teas, plus add-ons.

Food News: Know Before You Go with Zodio

A simple tap on your mobile device lets you know before you go...directions, photos, ratings, rants and raves, all in one cool app. Zodio is the latest mobile app that provides everything you need to know about dining in the metro. And more...

With a growing database of over 600,000 locations, you're absolutely covered. And not just Manila, but Cebu, Davao, Tagaytay, Baguio and Iloilo too.

After signing up and downloading the app, you can then check-in, add photos, read reviews, or write your own reviews. One cool feature is seeing your friends' rating of places, and not just the overall rating. And Zodio's database isn't limited to restaurants. Listings include hotels, shopping malls, gas stations, ATM's, pets and vets, outdoor recreation, transport services, spas and even medical facilities. Just one tap and you'll never feel lost again. 

You can download the Zodio App for free, visit www.zodio.com/app and check out Zodio's cool features and promotions.

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Food News: Ganso-Shabuway's Cool New Dishes

Ganso-Shabuway rolls out a selection of new dishes to go with their signature shabu-shabu, from appetizers, side dishes and rice bowls. More reasons to drop by Ganso-Shabuway, with its fourth branch now open at the new Shangri-La East Wing. 

Ganso-Shabuway, known for its Japanese style hot pot cuisine using authentic and premium ingredients, introduces a whole new line of dishes. Now you can enjoy your favorite shabu-shabu with Ganso- Shabuway's new appetizers and side dishes.

Quick Bites: Spatzle Euro Market Cafe's Trio

Blueberry Cheesecake Bar. Sticky Toffee Pudding. Nutella Cheesecake. Can't decide? Then go for all three. Life is complicated as it is, and it doesn't hurt to simplify things every now and then. Besides, this is one fun short cut that you deserve. Just go for the Trio...

...and you'll be glad you did. Spatzle Euro Market Cafe is one of the newer restaurants in Shangri-La's East Wing, currently still on soft opening mode. Offering modern European classic comfort food, Spatzle Euro Market Cafe is another reason to drop by the new Shangri-La East Wing. It was way past 10 in the evening, just a few minutes before closing, and just enough time to squeeze in a last order. Times like these, you can't go wrong with Spatzle Euro Market Cafe's Trio...

Yaku Japanese Grill: Authentic Yakitori at The Podium

Authentic Japanese dishes at affordable prices. And for the past thirteen years, Yaku Japanese Grill has been doing just that. 

One of the pioneer outlets since the opening of The Podium back in 2000, Yaku Japanese Grill continues to serve authentic charcoal-grilled yakitori specialties, remaining true to its name ("Yaku" literally means "grill") along with other popular Japanese dishes including sushi and sashimi, donburi, teppanyaki, tempura, udon and soba. Plus a selection of sake and Japanese and local beers to go with your favorite yakitori. Recently, we sampled some of Yaku Japanese Grill's specialties, starting with some sushi...

A Chicken and Steak Lunch at Bugsy's Bar & Bistro

I've always been fascinated with mobster movies.  Inside Bugsy's Bar & Bistro, one finds a wall with framed black & white prints of notorious underworld figures, from Lucky Luciano, Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel, a real rogues' gallery. Even a print from the classic Godfather film, nicely complementing the dark wooden chairs and tables like the speakeasies of the prohibition-era. Lunch was definitely going to be interesting...

It all started in 2007 when a group of friends thought of opening their very own bar. Inspired by prohibition-era speakeasies, they called it Bugsy's, named after Benjamin Siegel, a prominent underworld crime boss, and the man behind Las Vegas. What started as a fun idea among friends has now blossomed into three branches. Great food at reasonable prices works all the time, even Benjamin Siegel would have to agree.

Black on Black: Brothers Burger's Black Angus Burger on a Black Bun

Black Angus on a black bun...definitely different. 

In celebration of Brothers Burger's 14th Anniversary, selected stores will be offering the all-time favorite, the Angus Burger (P 280), on a special toasted oatmeal topped black bun. The black bun adds a distinct premium look, and doesn't anything in black just look a lot sexier? 

A Late Afternoon Food Crawl at W Global Center

Three restaurants. One afternoon. One simple game plan. It's a late afternoon food crawl at W Global Center...

With five distinct restaurants conveniently located right beside each other at the ground floor of W Global Center (all managed by Global Restaurant Concepts), an afternoon food crawl is not only convenient and easy, it's fun too. The game plan was simple. Sample a few signature dishes from one resto in an unhurried and relaxed pace, before heading to the next one just a few steps away.

Food News: Zest-O Launches Slice Fruit Juice Drinks

Zest-O introduces its newest line of fruit juice drinks, Zest-O Slice, in four exciting and refreshing flavors.

Flavors include Orange and Dalandan, as well as mixed fruit flavors like Grapple, a refreshing blend of grapes and apple; and Mango Burst, a cool combo of mango and strawberry.

Food News: Wine Depot Launches High Tea Wednesdays with La Maison Du The

Ready for High Tea? But ditch the fancy hats. No silver trays or porcelain cups too. It's a cool and casual afternoon tea at Wine Depot Cafe's High Tea Wednesdays with La Maison Du The. 

Known for its signature Vittorio coffee, made from 100% Arabica beans, Wine Depot Cafe adds another signature blend to its repertoire of premium brews with La Maison Du The. And at Wine Depot Cafe's High Tea Wednesdays, you can enjoy the luxurious tea blends from La Maison Du The with an assortment of meat and seafood rolls, fresh fruit tarts, homemade cakes and comforting pies.

A Burger Lunch at Wine Depot Cafe

After getting your favorite red, why not have a burger? 

At the far end inside Wine Depot, after the wine racks and past the chiller is Wine Depot Cafe, offering some of the best burgers in the metro, and one of the little known secrets this side of Makati.

Singapore's Yummy Soy, Now at The Fort

Chilled Bean Curd or Soy Milk? Why not have both...

Yummy Soy is the latest brand to enter the local market, offering a full line of Chilled Bean Curd and Soy Milk products, in a variety of flavors and add-ons. A Singapore-based brand, Yummy Soy is a welcome addition to the local food scene, with its fresh and quality soy products.

A Steak, Pork Belly and One More Mojito at Agave Mexican Cantina

One more mojito. You just have to go for one more mojito to make it a proper Mexican lunch. And at Agave Mexican Cantina, you can have your mojito, and more...

Now with three branches, Agave Mexican Cantina offers classic Mexican dishes including signature Mexican cocktails to go with your meal, including local and imported beers. And there's nothing like a cool mojito or margarita for a late lunch on a hot sunny afternoon.

Food News: Krispy Kreme's New Speculoos Cookie Butter Doughnuts

Just when you thought the Speculoos Cookie Butter craze was over...it's now in your favorite doughnut. 

The newest additions to Krispy Kreme's Delectable Desserts line, Krispy Kreme's Speculoos Cookie Butter Doughnuts are a perfect match, worthy additions to the indulgent Salted Caramel and Creme Brulee doughnuts. Now you can have your Speculoos fix with your favorite doughnut.