Love Every Morning with Italianni's New Breakfast Menu

The start of a new day, and it's time for breakfast. And at Italianni's, you can start your day right with one of 40 breakfast specials. Everyday. Nothing like starting your day with a little love... 

After sampling and enjoying Italianni's breakfast dishes (see my previous post on Italianni's comforting breakfast dishes here at   http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/10/start-your-day-with-new-breakfast.html), Chef Josh Boutwood is back with new and exciting breakfast additions to complement the current menu. And I just love breakfast...

Snap Away with OpenSnap

OpenRice, Asia's premier dining guide recently launched its brand new mobile app called OpenSnap, a revolutionary new food app for iOS and Android smartphone and tablet users. With OpenSnap, you can find popular restaurants through photos uploaded by friends and family, a cool new way to your usual resto search. OpenSnap is the first food photo app in the Philippines and Asia that allows users to create personalized food photo albums and share their dining experience at the touch of the screen.

Connected to the OpenRice database, OpenSnap allows users to locate over 1 million restaurants in the Philippines and in Asia, share dining experiences and identify OpenRice members, as well as Facebook friends. Simply scroll and enjoy the best local and worldwide cuisine right at your fingertips, supported by advanced i-cloud technology.

Mesclun's Samalamig Dessert Trio

Smooth and creamy Arce ice cream. Rich and fresh carabao's milk. Sweet and chewy yema. Everything you need for the perfect Halo-Halo. And it's right here at Mesclun Restaurant and Cafe.  

Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara does it again with a trio of refreshing treats to help you cool down and beat the relentless summer heat. A truly special Halo-Halo made with Arce Ice Cream, fresh water buffalo milk, and a unique shaved ice made from fresh milk combine for rich and creamy flavors unlike the usual halo-halo. For more on Chef Katrina and Mesclun Restaurant and Cafe, see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-mix-of-flavors-at-mesclun-restaurant.html and another post on her new location in Serendra here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/06/mesclun-bistro-at-serendra.html.

#sageMNL: Good Food. Cool Cocktails. Good Times. At Sage Restaurant and Bar.

A few cocktails, some signature tapas, and great company. And there's no better place to end the week than at Sage Restaurant and Bar...

Since it opened in February this year (see my previous post on the cool launch here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/02/makati-shangri-la-opens-sage-restaurant.html), Sage Restaurant and Bar has been the place for cool cocktails and elegant tapas. And on Friday nights, the cool vibe at Sage goes a notch higher. Here's just some of the reasons why I keep coming back to Sage Restaurant and Bar any day of the week...

Dulcelin Gourmet's Dessert Hit List

After trying some of Dulcelin Gourmet's signature starters and mains (see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-complete-dining-experience-at.html), it was time to enjoy Dulcelin's bestselling desserts. No visit to Dulcelin Gourmet would be complete without dessert...

Dulcelin Gourmet's signature Mango Torte (P 140/slice), the cake that made Dulcelin a household favorite, with sweet golden mangoes and cream on crispy and chewy nougatine crust. The sweet, tart mangoes with rich cream on a chewy nougatine crust is just one of those perfect combinations that keep you going back for more. Here's the rest of my hit list of Dulcelin Gourmet's desserts...

A Complete Dining Experience at Dulcelin Gourmet

Lengua, Callos...and desserts, signature all-time favorites that have defined Dulcelin Gourmet for so many years. But there's really more to Dulcelin Gourmet than Lengua, Callos and desserts. A whole lot more...

With the opening of Dulcelin's first ever restaurant, Dulcelin Gourmet pulls all the stops with an equally impressive line of signature mains and dishes created with the same passion and love as their famous desserts. And what a feast...

Meeting Speck, Angus and Johnnie at Madison's Bistro Moderne

It's always great to meet friends, both old and new. Like Speck, Angus and Johnnie. And there's no better place than Madison's Bistro Moderne to celebrate both old and new friendships. 

Fine dining and a well-stocked bar comes together at Madison's Bistro Moderne, in elegant yet casual interiors to enjoy that plate of Speck and a glass of Johnnie. And Angus too.

Experience Chef's Noodle's Unique Korean Flavors, Now Open at Robinsons Magnolia

The creative fusion of authentic Korean flavors and classic Asian cuisine combine for a unique experience one can only find at Chef's Noodle. And now, you can experience the signature dishes of celebrated Korean master chef Choi In Sun at Chef's Noodle's newest branch in Robinsons Magnolia.  

Playful, adventurous and a fine balance of traditional flavors with a contemporary and modern twist, Chef's Noodle showcases chef Choi In Sun's innovative dishes in a celebration of fresh and unique flavors.

Maple's Classic Favorites

Classic, comforting dishes, and I just can't seem to get enough of it at Maple. 

From starters to mains and dessert, Maple offers a full range of classic and comforting dishes. Here's a quick rundown on some of Maple's popular dishes...

Lunch at Casa Roces

A leisurely lunch, good food and service, in a beautifully preserved ancestral home...

...and Casa Roces is the place to enjoy familiar and comforting flavors without the usual rush. For more on Casa Roces, check out my previous posts here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-casa-roces-experience.html and its wide range of classic Filipino and Spanish dishes here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/10/classic-filipino-spanish-cuisine-at.html.

Malagos 65% Dark Chocolate and 100% Pure Chocolate Bliss

Premium artisan chocolate, proudly made in Davao. And just in time for the Easter weekend...

Made from single-origin, quality Trinitario cacao beans grown at Malagos Farms near Mount Talomo in Davao, Malagos Farms follows a "tree-to-bar" philosophy for their artisan chocolates. Just like their premium cheeses, Malagos Farms applies the same passion and dedication to their chocolates.

Food News: Sample the Signature Pizza by Todd English at Fairmont Makati's Spectrum

Stop by Fairmont Makati's Spectrum for lunch or dinner, and have a real cool treat. International celebrity chef Todd English shares his signature pizza in Spectrum's daily lunch and dinner buffet for a limited time, starting April 20 to May 20.

The Todd English Pizza is made with Spanish chorizo, Manchego cheese, caramelized onions and scallions, topping his signature flatbread pizza dough. 

Experience "Sakura Season" at Tokyo Bubble Tea

Experience and taste the flavors of the famed Sakura Season at Tokyo Bubble Tea, with their new Sakura Milk Shake and Sakura Milk Tea, along with unique dishes to make your dining experience special. 

The two new variants add to the impressive range of milk teas at Tokyo Bubble Tea Restaurant, complemented by an equally impressive range of comforting Japanese and Asian-inspired dishes.

Anime, A Lemon Sour, And Buta Kakuni at T7 Music Lounge and Restaurant

It's always great to discover good food in the most unusual places.  And being served a cold beer by a blue-haired server just keeps the surprises coming at T7 Music Lounge and Restaurant.

A music lounge is probably the last place to go to for some comforting dishes, like who really eats in a music lounge? Unless you drop by T7 Music Lounge and Restaurant, and get ready for some good eats served by a blue-haired server...

Beat The Summer Heat With A Cool Discount From Lazada PH via WeChat

Stay cool and refreshed this summer with your very own Shake 'n Go Smoothie Maker, and avail of the 61% discount from Lazada PH via WeChat. Now that's cool.

WeChat and Lazada PH partners for more exclusive deals for WeChat users, with a cool 61% discount on the Shake 'n Go Smoothie Maker. With a special price of only P 539 versus the regular price of P 1,399, that's a pretty good deal.

Pinkberry, Now Swirling at SM Megamall

Pinkberry opens its fifth and newest store at SM Megamall offering its famous line of premium handcrafted frozen yogurt to communities surrounding the mall. And just in time for summer too.

Conveniently located beside the ice skating rink at SM Megamall's new Fashion Hall, one can go for a swirl on the ice followed by a refreshing swirl at Pinkberry. Or just skip the ice and go straight to Pinkberry for a whole new yogurt experience...

Fresh. Savory. Sweet. At Circles Events Cafe.

Fresh. Savory. Sweet. One can go the full circle of flavors, and go back for even more at Circles Events Cafe...

With its engaging "open-theater" style kitchen set-up, you can explore each station, at your own leisurely pace, and have the chefs on station whip up your very own signature dish.

Quick Bites: Magdalena's 70% Cacao Bean Chocolates

It's always great to see good products succeed in a competitive market. And Magdalena's 70% Cacao Bean Chocolates is one of those little gems...

Local organic cacao beans, lovingly harvested and made with absolutely no preservatives or artificial additives, just pure 100% artisan chocolate. For more on Magdalena's 70% Cacao Bean Chocolates, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2013/02/magdalenas-cacao-bean-bean-to-bar-dark.html.

A Sudden Craving for Bacalao...

The coming of Lent and the rising summer heat conspires for a sudden craving of bacalao. And that can be a problem at ten in the morning...

The sudden craving leads to a short drive to Capitol Commons, with the parking lot all to myself as Black Olive Cerveceria preps to open for the day's service. These mid-morning cravings, and the summer heat, can be a deadly combination.

Quick Bites: Magnum Chocolate Brownie

Meet my new friend...

Thick and smooth brownie-flavored ice cream covered in rich Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with cashew nuts...yup, I'll have one more, please.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Arabian Delights at Diamond Hotel's Corniche

Diamond Hotel's Corniche launches its Themed Dinner Buffet Nights to satisfy any food lover's diverse taste buds for an exciting and new dining experience. 

And if it's Tuesday, it's Arabian Delights at Diamond Hotel's Corniche with a wide range of sumptuous dishes from the fabled and exotic Middle East.  

Two Must-Have Dishes at Boon Tong Kee

In case you find yourself at Boon Tong Kee for a late lunch or early dinner, there's two dishes that should be on your list. 

Boon Tong Kee's Signature Boiled Chicken and Crispy Cereal Prawns. It would be a a crime not to have these two dishes on your table at Boon Tong Kee. Seriously.

Lucia's Rustic Italian Flavors

Memories of simple, comforting yet hearty dishes are brought back by Chef Davide Lombardi with traditional flavors at Lucia Ristorante. Named after Chef Lombardi's mom, Lucia Ristorante serves the family's favorites and more, giving diners a unique glimpse and a taste of authentic, homestyle Italian cuisine.  

Located at Hotel Celeste, Lucia Ristorante is just as impressive by day as it is at night, with elegant interiors and a cool modern vibe. But there is a noticeable warmth that greets you as you enter Lucia Ristorante, the same feeling you get when you enter a friend's home and you just know that a meal at Lucia Ristorante will be special.

Southern Comfort at Racks

Can there be anything more comforting than fried chicken? Call it comfort food, call it soul food, sometimes all you need is some good old fried chicken. 

And Racks clearly has another winner here with their Southern Fried Chicken.

Huat Pot Redux: A Few Tips to Enjoy Your Huat Pot Experience

Another round at Huat Pot. And a new strategy.

After an enjoyable and satisfying visit at Huat Pot (see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/01/hot-pot-make-that-huat-pot.html), I knew I had to come back. The extensive selection at Huat Pot promises infinite combinations and flavors. Armed with a plan, here's a few tips to enjoy your Huat Pot experience...

Dessert All-You-Want at Vikings Megamall

And after an epic feast at Vikings, prepare for another...this time, with an impressive dessert selection from Vikings SM Magemall...

The sheer scale and wide range of dishes at Vikings is impressive (see more on my Vikings experience at SM Megamall here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/04/prepare-to-feast-at-vikings-megamall.html), and the same is true with dessert.  Consistent with the "luxury buffet" concept of  Vikings, prepare for an awesome dessert feast...

Prepare to Feast at Vikings Megamall

Go on a gastronomical feast around the world with a variety of dishes created by a handpicked team of skilled chefs at the newest Vikings Megamall branch. With over 200+ dishes in an impressive buffet spread, prepare to feast...

Vikings Luxury Buffet Restaurant opens its fifth and newest branch at SM Megamall, adding to its growing network of branches (other branches are located at SM MOA, SM Marikina, SM North Edsa, SM Lanang Premier).

Snap Up More Cool Deals from WeChat and Lazada

With over hundreds of Android tablets sold in just a few hours with the first offering from the WeChat and Lazada partnership, more cool deals are in store for WeChat users just in time for Lazada's 2nd Anniversary sale...

...like substantial discounts on Lazada's best-selling items. Just can't get cooler than that.

Leaving Pico de Loro

All too soon, my escape to Pico de Loro comes to an end. But not before another comforting lunch by Chef Jayme at Pico Restaurant and Bar...

One last time to savor the ocean breeze and the wide range of comforting flavors at Pico de Loro before the drive home.

Exploring Pico de Loro's Coves

When we arrived at Pico de Loro the day before, grey skies and a lingering afternoon drizzle almost placed a scheduled tour of the coastline in jeopardy. But not today. The morning greeted us with a magnificent blue sky, and it was time to explore the private coves along Hamilo Coast. 

A calm breeze and the sun at its peak, it's just another perfect day at Pico de Loro...

Breakfast at Pico de Loro

There's just something about early mornings, and the sound of birds and the view of a tranquil lagoon just completes the picture. 

Time for breakfast at Pico Restaurant and Bar...

A Cold Beer by the Beach and Dinner at Pico de Loro's Sun Coral Cafe

With the fading afternoon light and the rhythmic sound of the cove's gentle surf, ending your day at the beach is the way to go at Pico de Loro. 

After touring the facilities at Pico de Loro, it was time to sample the local cuisine offered by the resort's Sun Coral Cafe at the Pico de Loro Beach Club.