MOUTH-WATERING COOKIES FROM COOKIES UNLIMITED ~RinaZ

        Have you ever heard of lace cookies? A few years back, (this was back in Cebu during one of my first leisure trips there with Richie) when I first heard of that term, I literally thought of a lace. How will it look like?  Apparently they made the cookie per se so incredibly thin, so thin that it looked like the cookie batter was just brushed on the baking tin. That thin. And for it to hold longer, there's a slather of some spread (usually chocolate) in the middle just to hold 2 thin lace crisp cookies together. 

        It's really a different take on cookies. And I'm glad that there's already a maker of lace cookies here in Manila! (That I know of...)

Meet Cookies Unlimited!!!

SEBASTIAN'S ALA MODE BARS AND FRUITCICLES!

     Over the course of the past few years, I've noticed that purveyors in the country have become more and more daring when it comes to their ice cream flavors. 

       One in particular, gets a gold star from me when it comes to- not just coming up with unorthodox flavors, but out of the box concepts with ice cream as well. Sebastian's has taught me that there's so much more you could do with ice cream, apart from just scooping it into your mouth (Which I do quite masterfully, might I add). 

     And for the summer, they're going to unleash some new treats that you will most definitely go crazy for.. Sebastian's Fruitcicles and Ala Mode Bars!

    So this is the day that I ate 16 bars of Ice Cream.

OUT AND ABOUT AT U.P. TOWN CENTER: CAFE SHIBUYA

             I'll be honest with you. When I first found out that a restaurant that specializes in "Toast" opened at U.P. Town Center, I was a little wary. What were these people thinking? A restaurant that revolves around different types of toast? Are you serious? 

         I thought to myself, in order for this to work, their toast has got to be pretty good.

      So during for our second stop at U.P. Town Center (Check out our first stop here), me and my food blogger friends went straight to Cafe Shibuya, and discovered that their Toast... Was nothing short of spectacular.  

LACHI'S SANS RIVAL ATBP: A TRUE DAVAO LANDMARK

       You ever notice how, when you think of a trip you want to take to a place that you'd like to visit, names of restaurants from that area seem to pop up into your head instantaneously?  

        I've mentioned in the past that I used to live in the beautiful city of Cebu. Mind you, not when it was the modern city that it is today. I'm talking about the time that, when you watch "Lunch Date" on GMA 7 (There was no cable TV yet, so don't judge) you did so on a one week delayed telecast. But during my nearly one decade stay there, I found so many small, local dining gems, that till this very day, my taste buds crave for. 

        In Davao, there is one restaurant that I think anyone from Davao would easily tell you, is one of the city's dining treasures: Lachi's Sansrival, atbp.

THE 2013 DAVAO ADVENTURE: CAFE MARCO AT MARCO POLO DAVAO

              If you're like me, then one of the things that excites you most when thinking about checking into a hotel is the food.. Especially a buffet. Call me weird, but the thought of a breakfast buffet is more appealing to me than a lunch or dinner one. I'm probably one of the few people that feel Bacon trumps Roast Beef, any day.

           This case is true for Cafe Marco at Marco Polo Hotel Davao. Their lunch and dinner entrees, are actually quite spectacular. But it can't quite compare to their breakfast food... particularly their Bacon, which I have to say, easily ranks among the best I've ever tried. 

LE COUER DE FRANCE CROUGHNUTS! - RINAZ

         I was delighted to find out that there are now more than one establishment that makes the famous croughnuts. Now, I’m not a pastry expert. Considering it's a new product, I don't have much basis to tell if a croughnut is made correctly. But as long as my tummy gets full and my taste buds craving for sweets have been solved, I’m happy!

       And so far, I quite liked Le Coeur’s version. 

Explore BGC with BGC Eats!

The first time I went to BGC some years ago, I was fascinated with the place most especially Serendra and Bonifacio High Street. When you look around, you feel like you’re in a movie (sort of). You see happy kids so carefree, playing on the grass, playing with pets, teenagers skateboarding, musicians singing without a care, and even photographers practicing their shots on anything and anyone. It made an impression on me that this was a safe place, where people can do what they want in peace. Sit on the grass, under a tree, and not worry that a guard might tell you off. Nothing but good vibes!

Slowly I saw BGC grow to be more than just a family place, but a place too where adults can unwind (The Fort Strip), where kids can learn (The Mind Museum), there’s even a soccer field for sports-minded people. Basically everything you need is in Bonifacio Global City. Hotels (F1 hotel, Seda, etc.), big malls (Market! Market!), and an awesome supermarket where you can purchase imported stuff (SNR), world-class hospital (St. Lukes), and more! In fact, my husband and I were talking about it a few days ago... that if we ever purchased another home (a condo), BGC would be our first location choice. It truly is a perfect location. Oh, and it’s a perfect place too for foodies who want to go restaurant hopping!

THE LUZVIMINDA FOOD FESTIVAL AT THE F1 HOTEL MANILA

    

       You don't have to be a comic geek to know that the success of the movie "The Avengers", which earned a staggering US$1.5 Billion in its worldwide box office, can be attributed to the public's anticipation of seeing Earth's Mightiest Heroes assembled on the big screen for the first time. Even a year after its release, I still sometimes find myself going on to Youtube just to watch the scene where Dr. Banner casually strolls toward the Huge alien transporter/creature that is chasing Iron Man, and nonchalantly tells Captain America, "That's my secret Cap.. I'm always angry", then transforms into the Hulk, and punches the creature square on the nose, causing it to flip over, just in time for Iron Man to blast it to smithereens. 

       To this very day, the scene that followed, where they are all gathered around in a circle, with the camera panning around them still gives me the chills. 

        Though they're aren't superheroes, seeing the collection of talented Filipino Chefs from across the country that F1 Hotel Manila assembled for their groundbreaking "LUZVIMINDA: Filipino Festival of Flavors" stand before me, gave a food lover such as myself tingles down my spine. 

         I knew that this moment, was something very special, and I was excited for what was to come.

TORCH LIGHTS UP THEIR NEW MENU! - RINAZ

A few weeks ago we were supposed to try out a restaurant in Greenhills named Torch with other blogger friends. But unfortunately no one could look after Rain at that time so we had to decline last minute. We heard nothing but raves from our friends who were able to go. And that made us more curious about this Torch place.

        Then the universe worked its magic! A few weeks after we luckily got an invitation to a Media Lunch Menu at Torch! What can I say? It’s destiny! *tear*. So off I went one weekday to Greenhills. According to the map, it was along Connecticut Street. I was driving slowly from the side of Greenhills Shopping Mall, looking for Home Studio Building. I was almost near EDSA but still didn’t see it so I turned back. It was only then that I saw the facade of Torch. It was quite big so I’m not sure how I missed it. Maybe because of the tree branch blocking it.

DELICIOUS ICE CREAM, IS JUST A COLD STONE AWAY! - RINAZ

          What could be more perfect this summer than an awesome ice cream place opening at the heart of The Fort? Nothing!!!

          Cold Stone Creamery is a premium ice cream brand that serves fresh, smooth, and creamy ice cream with an outstanding and wide variety of flavors you wouldn't believe. Their ice creams have a special formulation of premium milk, cream, and buttermilk fat. (Sounds good already!) It originated in Scottsdale, Arizona and is now here in Manila!

          What's special about Cold Stone is the customer's ability to customize their own ice cream. To give you an idea on how many possible concoctions you can create with Cold Stone Creamery, They have:

22 fresh flavors of ice cream and sorbet made fresh every day.

10 kinds of candy toppings

2 types of Nuts

8 types of fruits

9 other sinfully good toppings

To be more specific, here is a list of their Ice cream Flavors and list of Mix-Ins they currently have:

I can imagine your heads exploding with delight hehehe! The possibilities are really endless!

          You can choose from different cup sizes. I like how they named their sizes.

Waffle Cone

Waffle Bowl

          You can also have it on a waffle. From plain waffle cone / bowl (P35) , to coated waffle cone / bowl (P45).

          The customer chooses their ice cream / sorbet and mix ins. And then the crew mashes them together on a granite stone chilled to 16 degrees Fahrenheit and places it in the cup or waffle. Then presents it to you with a smile!

Two thumbs up!

          So anyway, I fell in line to order and thought of what flavor and mixes I can create. But once I saw the list of their signature creations, I was baffled! It made me want to try it all first before I attempted to create my own. It's like Sophie's Choice! So hard to choose!

          Get what I mean? They serve a variety of Signature Creations. And the ones mentioned in the two photos above is not the complete list. I'll show you later the complete menu.

I got an All Lovin', No Oven!

          I had the All Lovin' No Oven in a Like It size (P180). Forgive my melted photo. It was really a hot day and we were seated outside so it was perfect for me (not for my pictures hehe). It's made of cake batter ice cream, with cookie dough, fudge, and whipped cream. It really screams comfort ice cream! If you have a sweet tooth you will really love this.  But personally the cookie dough chunks were too sweet for me. But that's just me. But the Cake Batter ice cream was perfect!

My friend Gerry's Dark Chocolate with brownies!

          I was also able to try their Dark Chocolate with brownies. Actually it was my friend Gerry who tried it and I just took a bite hehe. I was so full from my All Lovin' No Oven. It was really good! I love dark chocolate and I looove brownies!

And of course where there is ice cream, there are shakes and smoothies!

          And signature ice cream cakes! Oh my! Any birthday with a Cold Stone Cake is a happy Birthday indeed! The launching of the store was jam-packed that I totally forgot to take photos of the interiors. There was a lot going on!

          Video interview of the President of Cold Stone Creamery, Mr. Michael McGill. (Bless you kind sir for bringing your product here in Manila!)

Cold Stone Philippine Crew doing a little cheer outside

          The staff can also do some barista moves where in they throw a scoop of ice cream in the air and another staff catches it with a cup. I had a hard time taking a video of it because every I saw it, it's already in mid air hahaha!

          Unfortunately, me and my friend had to leave for a dinner event. But I would definitely love to go back with Richie and Rain for a refreshing family day at Cold Stone! :-)

COLD STONE Menu, prices, and other amazing flavors!:

Grab a cup today!!! ;-)

Cold Stone Creamery is located at Serendra, Bonifacio Global city, Taguig City, 1634.

Follow them!

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest : coldstoneph
Official Website: www.coldstonephilippines.com
Tel. No. : 846-0460

SMOKING HOT BarBQ: GLOBAL FILIPINO CUISINE AT GREENBELT 3!

             I'll admit that i'm not the biggest fan of Filipino Food. Whenever we go to a Pinoy resto, my default order is Inihaw na Liempo (Grilled Pork Belly) and i'm good to go! But I had an eerie feeling that Smokin' Hot BBQ, the new Filipino restaurant by The Bistro Group, would be definitely something worth checking out.

       Going to Smoking Hot BBQ was a little bit bittersweet for me because it meant having to finally come to terms with the closing of fish and co.'s Greenbelt Branch.. A personal favorite of mine. Imagine how I felt.. The restaurant that serves the best fish and chips in town is being replaced by another whose cuisine i'm not too fond of. Hurts, right? 

         Nevertheless I decided to put my faith in Chef Josh Boutwood, and trust that he would do amazing things with Filipino Food.

       And boy, was I right.

CUPCAKES BY SONJA AT GLORIETTA!

      "A red velvet cupcake?".

      Those were exactly my thoughts when a friend of mine, Zee, mentioned about this tiny wonderful cupcake shop in Serendra sometime in 2006. Until now, due to my lack of knowledge in anything culinary, I still don't know what flavor / ingredient red velvet really is. Aaaanyway, I'm getting off track. This shop was probably the daintiest shop I have ever seen at that time. It was just so pretty that I felt so ugly in it! And it wasn't just the shop that was pretty. It was their cupcakes too! I know I took photos during my first visit but I can't remember where I put them. I'm sure it's long gone :( Sniff...

This was the first shop I have ever been in that exclusively sold cupcakes, and the Red Velvet Vixen was the first ever Red Velvet treat I devoured. So just like the rest of Manila, I was hooked! Cupcakes by Sonja was amazing! The taste you get from each bite is truly a pleasure in the mouth! (Confession: I thought this whole time it was pronounced "Sonya" hehehehe *blush*) As for the price, at first I found it a bit steep but after tasting the cupcakes, it all started to make sense.

A G'DAY FOR OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE'S LUNCH SPECIALS!

                It's been years since I had been to Outback Steakhouse. As in, I can't remember the last time I was there. I think it could have been during my college days, when my then-girlfriend and we would sneak out of class, and take an LRT Ride to Robinson's Place Ermita to watch a movie. I would then try to impress my ex by taking her to Outback. Unfortunately, since I was still on student allowance, she and I had to split a "Jackaroo Chop" (And when I say "split", I was fine with giving her all the meat as long as she gave me all the fat hehe)  

           I've always loved the food, but for some reason, I had never gotten around to making a return (Which is weird because, although i'm not exactly Mr. Megabucks either, I'm fairly certain that I can afford more than just half a Pork Chop by now hehe). 

          When an opportunity came along to try Outback's New Lunch Specials, I felt like a giddy college kid once again! 

THE UNFORGETTABLE KULINARYA KITCHEN - RINAZ

     "Where am I going again?" I probably asked Richie for the Nth time over the weekend. With my Momnesia fully intact and active, I have a hard time keeping up with our calendar. I was to have lunch with some of our friends at a restaurant in Powerplant Mall, Rockwell. Honestly I have never heard of the place we were going to dine in. Not because it's not a good place but plainly because of my lack of knowledge in the restaurant world. That's Richie's forte. I was just expecting it to be a posh place since the restaurants in Rockwell more or less cater to the A class. (Usually, That's my impression hehe)

THERE'S GELATO, AND THERE'S BONO ARTISANAL GELATO

             I'm an ice cream guy, through and through. There's nothing like a refreshing scoop of Ice Cream to help beat the Philippine heat. Whether it's a simple Pinipig Crunch or a bar of Magnum, papatulan ko yan. 

        I've been quite pleased with the Gelato places that have been popping up around the metro. I do have a few favorites that I would go to whenever I get the chance. I honestly felt that these Gelato makers were easily among the best I've ever tried. Whenever someone would ask me where to get some good ice cream, I would rattle off names of Gelato places and the flavors that they should get without batting an eyelash. 

        That was until I visited Bono Artisanal Gelato and realized everything I thought I knew about Gelato was wrong. 

MORE FROM MOMO CAFE - BY RINAZ

This marks the first time someone apart from me (Richie)

 shall be writing for one of our food posts!

I wouldn't exactly call her a "Guest Blogger" because this is technically her blog too, but this is the very first time my wife, Rina is taking the reins not just as photograher, but as writer as well! 

I hope you enjoy her first food adventure!

            We have been to Momo two times last year. I remember I was still pregnant at that time. I vividly remembered that night because Richie was late, because he had just came straight from work. This was in Eastwood branch and I was with my cousins. I ordered for him the Roasted Beef Fingers, which I was sure he would enjoy. Unfortunately, it only was only when he arrived that we saw that they had bacon slabs in the menu. 

       It would be safe to say that he was not pleased. 

        The second time we went, was to finally try the bacon dish that had eluded him, which we both enjoyed.  

        Recently, we were fortunate enough to taste their other dishes this time at their branch in Ayala Triangle. Unfortunately, Richie had work so of course, Mrs. Not So Pickiest Eater (me) was the one to represent.

MOCHIKO POTATO CHOCOLATE CHIP: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE MADE EVEN MORE UNIQUE!

        The first time I tried Mochiko Ice Cream was at Mercato Centrale a few years ago. It instantly became a favorite for Rina and I, and for as long as we pass by a stall, its very likely that one would be purchased. 

        During the holiday season, I received a gift that I just had to share with you all. This was a Mochiko, but unlike any other I had tried before (and I've tried a lot, believe me). This was a box of their newest flavor, the Potato Chip Chocolate Mochi.

QUICK PICK: BANAPPLE'S MAPLE PECAN & CANDIED BACON HOLIDAY CHEESECAKE!

       

      Another nice thing about being a blogger is being asked by businesses to try some of their products. just the mere thought that these esteemed members of the food industry think my opinion matters is quite overwhelming. Some products I'm more than happy to try, but sometimes I get an offer to try a product that has nothing to do with food or even remotely close to any of my interests so I politely decline. 

     But let me tell you this.. When the owner of Banapple asks if you would like to try their All New Maple Pecan & Candied Bacon Holiday Cheesecake even before it's released in their restaurants, the only acceptable answer is either "YES" (All Caps mandatory) or "HELL YES". 

FRENCH BAKER'S HOKKAIDO CAKE!

         As a lover of all things dessert, I was elated to receive an invitation to witness the launch of French Baker’s Hokkaido Cake, which is part of their new “Cakes of The World” Line. I’ve always had a fondness for French Baker, with their Croissants and Turnovers never failing to catch my attention whenever I pass by one of their stalls. Going to the event, I had no clue what a Hokkaido Cake was, but all I knew was that it was a collaboration between French Baker and Anchor Butter, and that was good enough for me. 

WHERE IS UMAMI HAMBAAGU HOUSE?

            For the past couple of weeks, food lovers around the web has on the lookout for the mythical Umami Hambaagu House.. A restaurant that specializes in Japanese Burger Steaks, but takes it to the next level, and then you multiply that next level to infinity. Something that added to the mystique of the restaurant, is that the location of Umami Hambaagu House has been kept from the public. 

        In a world where restaurant owners are screaming at the top of their lungs "VISIT US AT OUR LOCATION, LOCATED AT BLAH BLAH BLAH STREET, ETC", Umami decided to play it a different way. They said to hell with tradition and issued a challenge to its customers. They basically said, "We are awesome. If you want some kick ass burger steaks, come and find us."

     The result? A whole bunch of food lovers typing into Google..

                       "Where is Umami Hambaagu House?"