Food Tripping in Manila's Chinatown

Considered one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, Manila's Chinatown, or Ongpin to some, is a place full of history and gastronomic discoveries that every Lafangero can enjoy. From their round and colorful fruits that are often symbolizes good luck to sticky and oily Chinese dishes that are just so hard to resist, Chinatown is one place every good eater must experience.

Different Flavors of Tikoy

If you are going tomorrow to see and experience the celebration of Chinese New Year here in Ongpin, make sure that your feet and your tummy, as well as your pockets, are ready for a unique fusion of Chinese and Filipino cultures in a place where food and history go hand-in-hand.

For fresh fruits, the stretch of Ongpin Street is basically full of vendors selling different kinds, mostly rounded. There are some who gives good discount, while there are others that are quite okay. There are also some stores that sell fruits that you won't usually see in other stores or places except here in Ongpin Street. Do check out Carvajal Street for you to know what I am saying.

Everyday is Christmas Day with Alaska Créma!

When I was invited a few days before Christmas to be part of the "Tasting Committee" of the Alaska Créma Merry Créma in Eastwood Mall, one thing stuck to my mind - Christmas could really be an "everyday" thing by simply whipping up a good meal that comes with the tasty and creamy Alaska Créma!

Lechon Cake by Nothing But C

Adding for more and sweetness to the most wonderful time of the year, Alaska Créma invited the metro's most requested food kiosk to whip up a unique dish that includes Alaska Créma as one of the ingredients. And that day, not one, not two but 24 establishment took the challenge and offered their most appetizing dishes that are perfect all-year round.

Cake & Bakes

Tasting Australia at The Peninsula Manila

The Land from Down Under is about to steal the spotlight from our local foodie scene as the Australian Embassy in Manila together with The Peninsula Manila celebrate Australia's National Day with a month-long festivity starting with an exquisite gastronomic adventure to Australia's renowned gourmet produce and world-acclaimed wine through "Tasting Australia."

Roasted Tasmanian Ocean Trout 

with Wild Dill Pepper Sauce

A nine-day celebration filled with nothing but the goodness of Australian cuisine, which started last January 18 and will last until January 26, Tasting Australia is already captivating every local and international guest's palette with its indulgent buffets, exotic poolside barbecues, wine and beer tastings.

Headed by The Peninsula Manila's Australian-born Executive Chef Richard Green, who was named "Best Chef of the Year" in the Middle East for 2012, Tasting Australia is offering a wide range of Australian dishes from Cold Appetizer, Hot Appetizer, Soup, Beef Tenderloin down to their Dessert selections.

Figaro welcomes 2014 with All You Can Eat Promo!

Choose from Figaro's Arrabiatta, Carbonara, Al Tonno and Pesto for your pasta dish and then choose from Grilled Chicken, Tuna and Cheese, BLT and Grilled Eggplant for your sandwich, gulp it all with the unlimited Lemonade and then good luck about going on a diet! Hahahaha!

If you are not on a diet unlike your family and friends who are on their "annual" New Year's Resolution of loosing weight, I highly suggest that you head on to the participating Figaro branches this coming Monday, and maybe until Friday and enjoy these delectable pasta and sandwich offerings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. until February 25, 2014!

The participating Figaro branches where you can try this All You Can Eat promo are Figaro ATC, Figaro Banawe, Figaro Cattleya, Figaro DP, Figaro Glorietta, Figaro Greenbelt, Figaro Shangri-la, Figaro Festival Mall, Figaro Gateway, Figaro Liberty, Figaro Tomas Morato and Figaro BPI Medical Plaza.

Tastier and More Enjoyable Brownies! Unlimited this 2014

Just before Christmas and just before the whole world bid farewell to 2013, Brownies! Unlimited, one of the countries leading snacks and dessert brand, welcomes the Year 2014 with something that new flavors and sweetness set to make our new year tastier and enjoyable!

Adding more fun to the snack bar that we use to love, Brownies! Unlimited now offers tastier and more enjoyable flavors that are made to sweeten every Pinoys palette. And with more choices that are simply delectable, Brownies! Unlimited now offers cupcakes, cakes and even Silvanas that are all loaded with chocolate goodness.

The flavors that are made to bring smile to our faces (from top left to right bottom) are Rocky Road, Kriss Kross, Sunburst, Black & White, Choc 'O Chips, Walnut Swirl, Mississippi, S'mores, Red Velvet, Potato Strings, Coffee Crunch and the Choc 'O Malt.

Kogi Bulgogi Opens at Gateway Mall

Despite of being packed with wide array of restaurants offering world-renowned cuisines, Araneta Center's Gateway Mall can't just get enough of these wonderfully themed restaurants as it recently welcomes one of iFoods Inc.'s leading brands, Kogi Bulgogi.

A Korean-inspired restaurant designed to excite not just one's tummy but also the eyes, its latest branch opens at the 3rd level of Gateway Mall last month. Filled with modern furniture pieces that  blended so well, Kogi Bulgogi Gateway also opens with Cafe Soon, a Korean-themed coffee shop under that brand's title.

I was lucky to be there on its opening day, tasting the first steaming dishes of the day. With variations of Korean dishes ranging from Bulgogi, Ssambap, Ramyeon, Gui, Sushi, Bibimbap and more, Kogi Bulgogi Gateway offers a modern twist to the world's most loved Korean dishes with a splash of KPOP music and feel adding excitement to the place.

The Art of Japanese Cuisine in Wafu's Teppanyaki Omakase Buffet

Situated at the very heart of Greenhills, San Juan, opened almost a  year now, Wafu is a modern-style Japanese restaurant giving twist and modern approach to Japanese dishes that swept many Filipinos feet and palette off. And last week, together with some friends, I was able to try their latest sit-down offering that consist of 12 hot out-of-the-stove dishes collectively known as the Teppanyaki Omakase Buffet.

Yes, you read it right - BUFFET. So, if you think that the small servings of 12 different Japanese dishes won't be enough, you can keep them coming as long as you finish the first set of 12 dishes, according to out serving chef that night, Jonathan.

Anyway, upon getting our spot on the second level of this very exquisite restaurant - the most exquisite Japanese restaurant, I've been to, actually - our group was welcomed by our chef and two more servers who will be guiding us t our Japanese cuisine adventure.

Whipping Christmas with Clara Ole Products!

Last week, I received a sweet package from a brand that is now ready to fill our Christmas dining table with delicious and healthy meals that aren't just eye-candy but also easy to prepare. And to be honest, I didn't expect that Clara Ole's brand is now this big and composed of really exciting products that can help not only moms but also those who aspire to know how to cook.

Everyday, one of my mom's daily problems is what food to cook for me and my siblings. Her knowing us how "maarte" we are when it comes to home-cooked meals, especially me, because I rarely have a chance to eat at home due to my busy schedule outside, she always makes sure that her dishes are 100% perfect when we are all home to dine and to bond.

And if everyday isn't enough, well, holidays, like this coming Christmas, takes the challenge up for her to whip up with something more delicious and memorable that is enough for it to serve as our Christmas gift from her.

Burger King: The Battle of the Stacks King Eating Challenge

Dude, Boss, Chief and King - those were the four Burger King (BK) burgers that tested not just the men but also the women who vie for the Battle of the Stacks King in Burger King 2 E-Com Center,SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City last October 19.

Answering the big question "Are you man enough?", ten individuals from different parts of the Philippines "outburger" one another in this exciting and truly filling challenge made to crown the biggest eater of BK Stacks in the land.

By simply sending or posting their funny videos on BK Facebook page, the ten finalist stood out among all the hundreds of entry-senders and named as the finalists for this challenge. All finalists "outburger" each and everyone of them by munching as many as they could BK Stacks in just 15 minutes.

Wicked opens at Shangri-La Plaza East Wing

Evil, sinful, naughty, mischievous, playful and roguish - whatever and however you define the WICKED, I really don't mind now. Because by the opening of this new sweet shop in Shangri-La Plaza in Manadaluyong, nothing can change the definition of "Wicked" in my mind - which is sweet, delicious, sinfully good and playfully thought!

Led by Chef Christine Paredes of Cravings, and helped out by in-house chefs Ton Albasin, RJ Bernabe and Mac Reyes, Wicked is a place where one can have his/her sweets with a shot of their favorite alcohol. Exciting as it sounds, Wicked's menu is divided into three characteristics sure to tickle one's mind - the Wickedly Sinful, Wickedly Sexy, and Wickedly Intoxicating.

I had a wonderful time visiting the place on its opening day last October 15, and boy, the day that I thought I'll just be having some sweets turns out to be a wonderful time having a chat with Chef Christine, sharing some information about the place and how they've come up with such a "wicked" idea.