Chinese New Year at Manila Pavilion Hotel

We may be in the Philippines, and some of us may hate the Chinese for taking some of our precious islands, but when Chinese New Year hits the world, there's definitely one big and colorful celebration in every little Chinatown in the world to usher this new beginning.

And last Chinese New Year, February 19, since the government finally declared it as a special non-working holiday in the whole country, I went out to somehow celebrate this festive day with some friends. Guess where our feet took us? Yep, to the newly renovated Manila Pavilion Hotel!

This Chinese New Year, Manila Pavilion Hotel highlighted the sounding and colorful festivity of our fellow Filipino-Chinese through an Oriental buffet that features the most amazing and filling dishes of our Chinese friends.

#MOAsweetEATS: Shrimp-y Goodness this Valentine's at Shrimp Shack

They say, "It's the thought that counts", but here at Shrimp Shack at SM Mall of Asia, lovely couples don't have to sacrifice their love and/or their money to get good-tasting yet affordable Valentine treats because here, Love Month mean Surf and Turf!

As the prime destination and biggest mall in Asia brings MOA Sweet Eats in preparation for Valentine's Day, participating food establishments have prepared delectable and lovely Valentine offerings that couples who are on a budget could enjoy. From a la carte to set menus, love birds this month can indulge on Shrimp Shack's mouth-watering dishes that will bind two loving hearts more.

Garlic Shrimp Scampi - Php245.00

For those people who are on to rice (just like me), Shrimp Shack is sharing their Surf & Turf and Surf & Surf meals that are truly filling and affordable. These set meals comes with two – yep, not one but TWO – cups of rice!

A Dozen of Goodness at Twelve Cupcakes, SM Mall of Asia

Simple, fluffy and fresh - nothing too fancy, nor too sweet and these are the things that I love about Twelve Cupcakes. And if you think you only have twelve flavors to choose from, well, be happy because there are more!

Originally from Singapore, and founded by Singapore celebrity couple Daniel and Jaime Teo, Twelve Cupcakes opened its door in July of 2011 at United Square, Singapore. Since then, the handmade goodies of the power couple of Singapore has established 12 outlets in shopping malls across their country, and over 3 million Twelve Cupcakes' cupcakes have been sold.

Here in the Philippines, Twelve Cupcakes' cupcakes are now available in four malls namely SM City BF in Paranaque, Century City Mall in Makati, Lucky Chinatown Mall in Manila and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.

Afternoon Indulgence at The Shrimp Shack

Shrimp lovers, here's a place where you can indulge and forget how expensive it is to try and enjoy shrimp dishes. No frills, no gimmick, just pure shrimp-y goodness that will sure fill you up while keeping you pocket safe and sound - The Shrimp Shack!

Garlic Shrimp Scampi - Php245.00

With stores at Market! Market!, Taguig, SM Mall of Asia and Robinson's Place Manila, Shrimp Shack is another concept from the team that brought us The Old Spaghetti House. Boasting with bright, summer-y and beach-like ambiance, Shrimp Shack is contrary to the conservative and rusty ambiance of The Old Spaghetti House.

On my first ever visit at their store in Market! Market!, Taguig, despite of the limited space, this new restaurant is oozing with goodness starting off with their appetizers that are just perfect for sharing. The Tomato-Cheese Fondue with Nachos spells comfort food for me. The inviting aroma and the balance sweet and salty flavor of the fondue makes this dish as good starter.

Melting with the La Piadina's Heart & Soul

When speaking of delicious and affordable "Food Court" food, I bet mall rats would have La Piadina on top of their lists. With its heartwarming and almost authentic Italian look and flavor, Filipino's love for Italian food was hyped up even more when Chef Giorgio Matera, La Piadina's heart and soul - opened its first store at the food court of Glorietta in Ayala Center, Makati City.

T'was 12 years ago when our favorite Italian dishes were launched in a hole-in-a-wall concept at Glorietta's food court, Food Choices. Featuring new and exciting menu from four select regions in Italy - Puglia, Emilia Romagna, Piemonte and Toscana - La Piadina's Chef Giorgio shares his greatness in cooking Italian dishes together with his wife, who by the way love our country so much.

Fueled by his passion for Italian food, he took the challenge of venturing into the fast food business, believing that food whether expensive or inexpensive, fine, casual or fast food must always be fresh and of the best quality.

Pan de Manila: From Pan de Sal to Donut

The evolution of Filipino food has indeed gone along way. From our favorite tasty dishes that are now turning into exquisitely prepared gourmets, which are being raved about abroad, to our ordinary breakfast meals that has turned into an all-day kind of thing. And guess what, our all-time favorite pan de sal is also paving its way as it takes a notch up through Pan de Manila's newest creation - the Pan de Donut.

A Pan de Sal and a Doughnut in one, Pan de Donut is attracting a lot of attention from regular and extra extraordinaire Pinoy foodies as it shares baked-to-yummy-perfection dough that kids and adults could enjoy. Offering a healthy alternative to our ordinary pan de sal, Pan de Donut is said to be bromate-and trans-fat free, thus expect a mouthful of soft, filling bread that is guaranteed healthy in every bite. 

I had a wonderful, colorful and truly Pinoy experience with these treats last time at Pan de Manila, Market! Market!, where these sweet treats are currently sold at, and I'm telling you now - once, you get a hold and a bite of it, it's very hard to stop.

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.

Speculoosly Delicious Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Speculoos Cookie Butter is definitely the latest food craze in town, and if you haven't tasted it yet, well, don't be sad, because Krispy Kreme just leveled up the wonderful Speculoos experience by putting them in to their well-baked doughnuts for you, your family and your friends to enjoy anytime and anywhere!

Made available since Father's Day, these Speculoos Krispy Kreme doughnuts come in three variants that are suit to delight everyone's sweet tooth - the Speculoos Cookie Butter Dougnut, the Speculoos Cookie Butter Vanilla and the Speculoos Cookie Butter Dark Chocolate.

All of these three flavors are really wonderful, but if you are that kind of foodie that prefers matching your doughnuts to your drinks, well, hear what I'm about to say here.

The Electrolux Discover-E Food Festival

What a food festival it is! With decadents representing different regions of our country, from native to neo-Filipino delicacies, Electrolux Philippines' Discover-E proved that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines!

Last Saturday and Sunday, as the Discover-E Campaign of Electrolux Philippines culminates for its final showcase of amazing and filling Filipino delicacies, the NBC Tent in Bonifacio Global City was filled with hundred of foodies from the different parts of the country to gather and enjoy this 2-day of food festivity through the Discover-E Food Festival.

Of course, your dear Lafanggero didn't miss the chance to discover more delicious Filipino food that truly speak of our being and worth to make our discriminating palette happier and fulfilled.

Fish Be With You: Fishman's Lenten Offerings

While Lenten Season means fasting to most of us, to others it means "Hunger Games"! That's why Fishman, one of the budding themed fast food store in the metropolis that offers the goodness of the sea in so many different and delectable ways is happy to share their Lenten offerings that are sure to bring peace and delight to the repenting Catholics of this busy city - Fish Be With You!

Blessed be this place for making Lenten truly a meaningful season, and with their fish offerings, I bet it's gonna be a fulfilling too!

Four mouthwatering and truly Pinoy dishes, Fishman is proud to present their share for Lenten fasting through these four fish-base dishes that shares a pocket-friendly price and healthy treats. I was able to try some of them last week, and I tell you, despite of me being not a huge fish lover, I wouldn't mind fasting this Lenten Season if I have these kind of dishes on my table... EXTRA RICE PLEASE! *just kidding* :-)

Wai Ying FastfFood in Manila's Chinatown

Greasy, Unhealthy and sometimes untidy - that's what most of you have in mind when you hear Chinese food, but where you like it or not, you cannot deny the fact that they are the most loved dishes in the whole wide world. And here in the metro, there's one place that is greasy but delicious and FAST Chinese food that you can have ti late at night - Wai Ying Fastfood!

One of the oldest Chinatown in the world, Manila's Chinatown has been known for the center of Chinese delicacies that never fails to serves those greasy food craving in the metropolis. And a few days ago, together with very dear friends, we indulged in to an amazing food trip in Chinatown that just didn't fill us, but made us love Chinese cuisine even more.

Wai Ying Fastfood or simply Wai Ying is located at the very heart of Manila's Chinatown. Specifically situated along the street of Benavidez in Binondo, Manila, Wai Ying offers a wide array of Chinese goodies that come in a very good serving size and pocket-friendly price.

I've been to Chinatown many times before, but I really haven't done such food tripping, so this is kinda my first time to really sit inside a shanty-looking Chinese food store and hoping that I'll just have their very best offering.

Marciano's - More than just a Pizza Parlor

I guess once you experienced this place, you will agree to me when I say that this the most sophisticated pizza place here in the metro. With an ambiance fit for sophisticated style and palette, Marciano's Pizza Pasta Steak in Greenbelt 3 offers not just a wide array of Italian and American dishes suit for the ever-demanding taste of Filipinos, but it also shares a one wonderful "New Yorker" experience that is hard to forget.

A few days before Christmas, just before we indulge to a sumptuous feast prepared by our family, I was invited to join two of the metro's best writers to dine in this blooming name in the food industry. With a name that depicts nothing but Italian, Marciano's is one of the many restaurants owned by the 2012 MVP Bossing awardee, 2012 Young Entrepreneur of the Year and 2012 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Mr. Marvin Agustin.

Creating a new concept out from his greatly Asian-inspired restaurants like John and Yoko, Marciano's on the other hand offers a Western experience that is just hard to resist. And that day, we indulge to a luncheon of pizza and pasta with matching some chicken and shrimp with fries that fill our tummy and let it feel the festivity brought by the Holidays.

Starting the Day with Sentro 1771 Breakfast

Nothing beats a morning with great breakfast and a cup of hot chocolate for me. It made me feel like its Christmas every day, really. May it be at home or at some fast food restaurant or, in my this case, in a fine dining place like Sentro 1771, breakfast is for me the unbeatable meal of the day!

Last week I was invited to try the power meal of one of the country's modernized Filipino restaurants - Sentro 1771. Located at the heart of Serendra in Bonifacio Global City, this high-ceiling place, which is devoted in offering a traditional Filipino cuisine with a twist is happy to let everyone know that they are offering delectable and all-Filipino breakfast meals that are set to give that amazing morning.

Sentro 1771 has an array of delectable Filipino breakfast set meals that are sure to keep you on the mood, and that day without any hesitation, I tried their Bonuan Boneless Daing na Bangus.

Independence Day Sweet Treats at Two Serendra

What's the sweetest way to celebrate one's freedom? Well, if you ask me, of course, there's nothing more liberated than indulging with the sweetest and truly outstanding Filipino delicacies prepared to you by the country's best chefs.

And, yes, that's how I welcomed the 113th Philippines Independence Day!

Present at The Meranti at Two Serendra, Alveo Land's latest innovative community at the very heart of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), were Chef Jackie Laudico of Bistro Filipino and Chef Sau del Rosario of Le Bistro Vert for the Flavors of the Filipino Passion.

Chef Jackie took the center-stage first, sharing her ideas and thoughts on Independence Day and Filipino Cuisine.  A proud Ilongga, Chef Jackie talked about how diverse the Filipino culture is and how it affects even the food that we eat and how we call it.

One example that she said was how we Tagalogs call a food "biko", while them Ilonggos call it "bibingka".

Indulge with Sweet Surrender

One thing about holidays is that there are a lot of exhibits or trade fair about food. There are exhibits or trade fairs for local dishes, international cuisines, up and coming food establishments and some are exhibits that showcased dishes that are perfect for this coming holiday - may it be for groups, families, friends, may it be for lunch, for dinner, for merienda and my most favourite part, for dessert.

That's why I'm sharing to all the food lover/dessert lovers in the metropolis this great news! This coming Saturday, November 13, at Sitio Elena at Origas Avenue Extension, a grand fair of mouth-watering, eye-catching and captivating aroma dessert that you can find in and out of the metro - the Sweet Surrender.