EAST MEETS WEST AT PING PONG DIPLOMACY

         The moment I heard that the restaurant "Ping Pong Diplomacy" would be opening up in SM Aura Premier, I was ecstatic for two simple reasons:

                            #1 I'm a huge fan of Chinese food

                                                       &

                            #2 I'm a huge fan of Chef Him Uy De Baron. 

         I've tried Chef Him's take on Japanese Ramen and Korean Bibimbaps, and both times he blew me away. I had an eerie feeling that his take on Chinese-American fusion food would be no different.. And BOY was I right. 

ARLA POP UP AT SM AURA PREMIER: LET THE GOODNESS IN!

             It was only 2016 that I first heard the name "Arla", not realizing that its products, including that of it's sister companies, have been a part of my life for quite some time. My cousin posted on his facebook page, a picture of a delicious piece of toast, smeared in cream cheese with a jar of "Arla" in the background, and raved about how delicious it was. After that I was rather intrigued. During my next trip to the Supermarket, I chanced about a small Jar of Arla, and was pleasantly surprised with how affordable it was, and decided to try it for myself. 

         The following day, I had the Arla toast I had seen in my cousin's picture, and was not disappointed, making a Jar of Arla Cheesy Spread a staple in our grocery list. 

        Which is why I excited when I found out that Arla had set up a Pop Up Station at SM Aura Premier, showcasing some of their delicious products, prepared as delicious combo meals that imbibe the clean type of eating Arla adheres to, within a budget friendly range! 

YABU'S MENCHI KATSU WITH BABE FOR FOOD!

          Friends, meet the lovely Justinne, also known as the Blogger from Cebu, "Babe For Food". I "Cyber-met" Justinne in 2012 when I was searching the net for restaurants to visit in Cebu, and came across her blog. I really felt it was a great read, because it was insightful and fun at the same time. I sent her a comment on her blog page, asking for recommendations on restaurants to visit, and her reply would have put Looloo to shame.

        Since then, our friendship consisted of Facebook messages, Instagram comments, and Tweets. We would often tag one another in facebook posts, particularly when it comes to food that we feel that other would enjoy. 

        It wasn't until December of 2013 that we finally got to meet each other face to face for the very first time, when some of my blogger friends and I visited Movenpick Cebu. Since she was such an amazing hostess when we were there in Cebu, I told her that when she goes to Manila, I would take her to some of my favorite dining spots. 

        On top of that list? 

         Yabu: The House of Katsu.

RAMEN NAGI OPENS AT SM AURA!

           I'm not gonna lie to you, I got into the Ramen game rather late. I'm really more of a meat and potatoes kind of guy, so as my foodie friends were talking about the richness of a ramen's broth, the firmness of their noodles and the like, I was wondering why people were going nuts over something that you can buy at the grocery by the pack. 

        Naturally, as my food blogging career went on, so did my education in the art of Ramen, courtesy of my other foodie friends.  A few months ago, I was invited to visit a taste test of the newest Ramen place that would be arriving in our shores. I had the pleasure of tasting some Ramen dishes that were completely out of the ordinary, and anxiously awaited the day that their doors would finally open. 

       As December came, I got the call I had be waiting for. 

       Rejoice, Ramen Lovers! Ramen Nagi has opened its doors in SM Aura. 

VISITING YABU AT SM AURA

          Be honest.. Before Yabu existed, was there anyone that ever stopped for a second and said, "Hey, I'm craving for some Katsu!". Back in the day, it was always just usually, "Dude, let's go for some sushi", or "I want some tempura!", or even the generic, "Let's get some Japanese food!". 

         Let's face it.. Yabu: The House Of Katsu elevated Japanese Katsu to a new level of dining, to the point where different franchises from all around the globe scrambled to set up shop in the Philippines, just to get a piece of the action. I haven't tasted all the other Katsu places that have opened just yet, but in my opinion, Yabu's place in the market that it created in this country is safely perched at the very top. 

         Whenever they have a new addition to their menu, I always feel compelled to stop whatever it is I'm doing just to give it a try (I've gotten in trouble at work cuz of that mentality... My boss was waiting on the other line.. Long story..). Which is why I was surprised even myself that I waited longer than usual to give their newest dishes a try. 

       Now I'm kicking myself for not having gone to Yabu's Aura Branch sooner.

THE RAMEN CRAZE CONTINUES AT IKKORYU FUKUOKA RAMEN! - RINAZ

              I’m sorry but I can never memorize the name of this place hehehe. But as hard it is for me to remember the name (sorry all my memory brain cells was sucked out of me during labor hehe), the interior is quite unforgettable with it’s tall wood fences with black Japanese characters written all over them. I believe they were poems. Or was it a story? Anyway it was quite a unique ambiance. 

COCA RESTAURANT NOW IN THE PHILIPPINES! - RINAZ

With Mr. Trevor McKenzie, Managing Director of COCA Group of Restaurants

           I’m really fascinated with restaurants that serve family dishes that have been passed along for generations, but with their own special twist! And this is COCA restaurant’s legacy. Mr. Pitaya Phanphensophon, the CEO of COCA international Co. Ltd. Told us a simple yet powerful statement that night. “I would not serve you anything that I would not serve my children”. And this is precisely how it should be.

            Just a little history:  This restaurant started back in 1957 when Mr. Pitaya’s parents Mr. Srichai Phanphensophon with his wife Mrs. Patama opened a 20-seater restaurant that immediately became a huge hit, until they moved to a different location (Soi Tantawan) and eventually expanded to a 150-seater restaurant.  From there, everything was history! Suki style cooking was introduced. And this, my friends, was the birth of COCA Restaurant. (COCA derived from “Kekou” which means appetizing. 

       And I gotta tell you, “appetizing” is an understatement!