A Wine Launch of a Different Kind: Making the World a Kinder Place, One Step at a Time with Barefoot Wines

A kind word here and a good deed there, it all goes a long way. One wine brand takes it a few steps further...

Barefoot Wines recently launched The Barefoot ARK Kick-Off at Gourmet Gypsy Art Cafe last August 29, 2019 advocating massive positive change through little acts of kindness. The unique Acts of Random Kindness (ARK) campaign is a timely social media movement aimed at promoting, encouraging and motivating people to perform small acts of kindness through the Barefoot ARK social media pages. The novel campaign built around positivity is consistent with the brand character of Barefoot Wines, a specialty wine brand from California known for its distinctly fun and casual personality as well as pioneering worthy-cause marketing. These values have helped Barefoot Wines earn the distinction as America's Most Beloved No. 1 Wine Brand. Time to stop whining, and start wining for good vibes with Barefoot Wines...

Italian Flair: A Pizza Acrobat and Classic Italian Cuisine at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's La Vita Italia

Fresh and savory toppings masterfully laid on a rustic crust fresh from the oven. Nothing quite celebrates the Italian flair of fresh and vibrant flavors as a traditional pizza showcasing the pizzaiolo's craft. Now you can see it up close and rediscover authentic Italian cuisine...at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's La Vita Italia.

After the successful Ilonggo food festival featuring local regional cuisine (more on my earlier post at Kaon 'Ta sa Cucina! Savor Ilonggo Flavors at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina), Marco Polo Ortigas Manila crosses the continent to the rich and hearty flavors of Italy with La Vita Italia. And world renowned pizza acrobat, Pasqualino Barbasso, comes along for an exciting ride...

Mazesoba on a Cloudy Day at Menya Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba

The past weekend was marked by grey skies and pouring rain, and this kind of weather triggers cravings for comfort food...

Images of a hot and freshly prepared bowl of mazesoba scrolls through your mind, intensifying your craving for noodles. As the skies grow darker, the craving gets real. And there's only one way to satisfy that craving. It's time for a bowl of mazesoba...at Menya Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba (for more on Menya Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba, see my earlier post, #TokyosNumber1Mazesoba: Prepare For A New Ramen Experience by Menya Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba).

Take-Home Treats: Tasty Take-Out with Braised Beef, Mushroom and Chicken and Braised Pork Claypot Rice from Fantaste

A comforting claypot rice meal would be perfect on another cloudy day like today. The guys at Fantaste hear you, and your claypot rice is on the way. The savory richness of authentic Chinese claypot rice can now be enjoyed at home or at work, conveniently packed for take-out or delivery. And the best part is opening up your claypot rice with its fragrant aroma...

Fantaste now offers free food delivery to Makati, Bonifacio Global City and Pasay for a minimum spend so you can enjoy a sumptuous claypot rice meal at home or at work. Or you can opt to pick up your order for take-out. With these options, you're never too far away from all your favorite claypot rice bowls from Fantaste (for more on Fantaste, see my earlier post, Want More Claypot Rice? Fantaste Celebrates Its 1st Year Anniversary with the Launch of New Claypot Rice Variants).

#EatingHereIsAPlus: Meat Plus Cafe Opens at SM Mall of Asia

Road trips to Subic and Clark up north always includes a stop at an all-time favorite where dining is always a plus...

Meat Plus Cafe, the north's enduring steak and burger place for over thirty years, finally comes to Manila with its first and much-awaited branch at SM Mall of Asia. Meat Plus Cafe is a proudly homegrown concept that now includes popular restaurant brands like Kettle and their modern take on comfort food with a curated menu of classics executed with a contemporary spin (more on Kettle on my post, The Great Eatscape at SM Aura Premier: Back at Kettle and Lovin' It and Taking Comfort Food to the Next Level at Kettle), Fireside by Kettle with their roasts and grills and Tender Bob's with their signature value steaks, ribs, burgers and other savory entrees for a variety of palates (more on Tender Bob's on my post, The Fully Loaded Burger at Tender Bob's).

And it all started with Meat Plus Cafe. From Subic and Clark, Meat Plus Cafe brings their famous steaks and burgers to Manila. Read on and step inside this enduring name in both quality and value with its very first location in Manila and rediscover why eating here is always a plus...

Back for the Le Rose at PizzaExpress...

A rose is a rose is a rose. The alliteration holds true most of the time, except when you're at PizzaExpress and their signature Le Rose pizza takes it to a whole new level of meaning...

Loaded with savory Pancetta, tender chunks of chicken, Calabrese sausages, Prosciutto and fresh basil, the Le Rose by PizzaExpress is in a class of its own. A classic Romana style pizza with a thin and crisp crust, the rich and indulgent notes of the Pancetta and Prosciutto clearly sets this pizza apart from the rest. And I'm back for another round with the Le Rose (for more on Pizza Express, see my earlier post, Express from the UK: Pizza Express Philippines Opens Flagship Store at SM Megamall). A rose is a rose is a rose may be the case, but not the Le Rose of PizzaExpress.

Happiness in a Box: The New Lechon-In-A-Box by Lydia's Lechon

It's finally here. Unbox some pure lechon happiness with the new Lechon-In-A-Box by Lydia's Lechon...

Now on its 55th year, Lydia's Lechon celebrates the corporate milestone with an exciting array of new product offerings for #EverydayLechonHappiness (for more on Lydia's Lechon, see my earlier post, #EverydayLechonHappiness: Lydia's Lechon Turns 55). From being the star of the table in every Filipino celebration, Lydia's Lechon has become the true Pinoy staple and go-to dish for everyday meals. And now, you can enjoy happiness in a box with the new Lechon-In-A-Box by Lydia's Lechon starting September 1, 2019...

Walang Kupas Ang Klasik: 65 Years of Memorable Stories with Ligo Sardines

Open up a can and its familiar flavors trigger fond and nostalgic memories of good times. For over 65 years, one brand of canned sardines has been synonymous with uncompromising quality, remaining relevant with changing consumer preferences and evolving palates. It has endured the test of time since 1954. Walang kupas ang klasik... 

Ligo Sardines Philippines celebrates 65 years of being part of countless memorable stories, and the iconic brand continues to shine with a vibrant new look with the same comforting flavors everyone loves. It's an inspiring success story hinged on a steadfast commitment to quality. And it's well on the way to being the Filipinos' choice for canned products.  

After Five: Wine, Tapas and Desserts at The Grid Food Market In Power Plant Mall

When you're way too early for dinner, The Grid Food Market is exactly where you want to be. Here's what ending the day is like with a pre-dinner tipple and tasty bites at The Grid Food Market...

Wine and tapas. And awesome desserts. With so many tempting options, The Grid Food Market at Power Plant Mall in Rockwell is the perfect spot for a late afternoon or early evening casual dining experience with glasses of wine, tasty tapas and some indulgent desserts (for more on The Grid Food Market, see my earlier posts, Gochu-Gang, Beefier and Babu: By The Numbers with Stalls 5, 6 and 7 at The Grid Food Market in Power Plant Mall featuring the Korean-inspired cuisine of Chef Patrick Go at Gochu-Gang, the rich and authentic Malaysian flavors of Chef Him Uy de Baron at Babu and the signature burgers of Beefier and Rainy Days and Laksa. And Nasi Lemak. And Chicken Kalbi. And Beef Japchae. At The Grid Food Market. on my second visit). End the day, or start the evening right...at The Grid Food Market.

The Game Plan at the Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki of Diamond Hotel Manila's Yurakuen

The Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki at Diamond Hotel's Yurakuen is a feast like no other, but it can be overwhelming. You need the right strategy and game plan to fully enjoy your teppanyaki experience at Yurakuen...

The plan is simple. Start with the seafood before the grilled meats, and add in the vegetables and Japanese-style fried rice and you'll get to experience the full range of Diamond Hotel Manila's savory offerings with Yurakuen's Eat-All-You-Can Teppanyaki. Ready? Here we go...

Let's Talk Irish Beef...at the Bord Bia Dinner in Discovery Primea's Flame.

The pristine and lush natural beauty of the famed Emerald Isles with its temperate climate, fertile soil, fine air quality and endless verdant fields of green grass have long been the source of some of the world's finest produce. And you can include Irish beef in a long list of fine Irish products... 

The Irish Food Board, Bord Bia, recently hosted a lavish dinner at Discovery Primea's Flame Restaurant featuring Ireland's famous beef.  It's been said that to bring out the finesse in meat requires a fine natural environment. Ireland, and the rest of the EU member states, offers diverse and unique environments reflected in both the taste and quality of their beef. Managed with the most stringent European Union food safety legislation, the EU Pork And Beef, Excellence in Quality & Production Standards is a pork and beef joint initiative between the European Commission and Ireland, the largest net beef exporter in the EU. Let's talk Irish beef...

My Personal Picks at the The Peninsula Manila's MaArte oPEN House Preview

The country's finest gourmet selections converge at The Peninsula Manila once more for the much-awaited yearly art and shopping event...the MaArte Fair.

Now on its 11th year, the MaArte Fair showcases Filipino creativity and artistry from August 16 to 18, 2019 at The Peninsula Manila with a festive mix of local products. From single-origin chocolates to gourmet home-cooked meals, organic produce and herbal teas, fashion apparel, jewelry and accessories to bags, shoes, pottery and home furnishings, this year's MaArte Fair promises both fun and nostalgia with over 65 hand-picked merchants. At the exclusive preview last August 6 at The Peninsula Manila's Escolta, guests sampled some of the tasty offerings for this year's edition at the MaArte oPEN House. Here are my personal picks... 

Persian Flavors Soar High at Kite Kebab Bar

Authentic Persian flavors fly high over Poblacion...

Kian Kazemi's latest dining concept, Kite Kebab Bar, offers authentic Persian cuisine adding another colorful layer to the culinary scene of Makati's Poblacion. The name is inspired by his own family's experience, rising above challenges and adversity. It's an apt name, as Kian draws from his own family's Persian roots with sumptuous Persian and Mediterranean style dishes. Kian shared his new restaurant's signature specialties, and some new dishes, in a sumptuous dinner. Turn to the wind and let your appetites soar for some authentic Persian flavors...at Kite Kebab Bar.

Kaon 'Ta sa Cucina! Savor Ilonggo Flavors at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina

La Paz Batchoy, K.B.L., Kansi and more, classic Ilonggo flavors representing our diverse and rich culinary heritage takes the spotlight this August at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila's Cucina. Kaon 'Ta sa Cucina!

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila showcases the culinary flavors of Iloilo with a sumptuous buffet spread at Cucina, from starters to savory mains and desserts along with their regular offerings starting August 1 to 18, 2019. Ready for round one with the comforting Ilonggo flavors at Cucina? Then, read on...

Rainy Days and Laksa. And Nasi Lemak. And Chicken Kalbi. And Beef Japchae. At The Grid Food Market.

You'd think the rainy days, even a tropical depression, would put a damper on your appetite. Well, think again.

Never mind the rains and give in to your appetite with a comforting bowl of soothing Laksa, a hearty Nasi Lemak, savory Chicken Kalbi and Beef Japchae...and you'll find all these and more at The Grid Food Market. So just let it rain...

Doing Danish at St. Marc Cafe

That buttery and multi-layered sweet pastry always saves the day. Whenever you need that sugar fix to get through the rest of the day, you just can't go wrong with the Danish...

...and you can find some of the finest examples of this indulgent bakery treat at St. Marc Cafe, also known for their signature Chococro (for more on St. Marc Cafe, see my previous posts, Grab Your Chococro at St. Marc Cafe, Now Open at Mega Fashion Hall on their opening five years ago, #LocoForChococro: St. Marc Cafe's New Banana Walnut Chococro and Food News: #LocoForChococro with St. Marc Cafe's New Black Sesame Chococro on their seasonal variants). Let's do Danish...at St. Marc Cafe.