Sulyap Gallery Cafe and Restaurant, as its name suggests, gives its visitors a glimpse of the past.  The restaurant is a resurrected Spanish colonial ancestral house originally located in Quezon.

Deconstructed in Quezon and reconstructed again in Sulyap’s 2-hectare compound in Barangay Del Remedio in San Pablo City, the restaurant is situated inside an old school campus formerly known as Southern Luzon Colleges.  The school now houses the little museum of antiques and past trinkets for visitors to enjoy.

Pako Salad is the most raved about dish in Sulyap.  Thus I ordered one and was not disappointed.  Sweet/citrus flavor and others just blends in your mouth.  The pako is crunchy.

Rellenong Talong (Php165) – stuffed eggplant
humongous eggplant stuffed with ground pork and vegetables.

Tulingan (Skipjack Tuna) Pasta.  Instead of using anchovies, the chef used tulingan fish.  My favorite.  I don’t like anchovies in my pasta, this is the perfect alternative.

Kulawong Puso ng Saging (pPhp310) - An original recipe of San Pablo City, served with your choice of Egg plant or
Banana heart in smoked flavor coconut milk, Topped with grilled pork.

I tried it as it sounds new and plus it is a local dish of San Pablo City.  A friend once said that Filipino dish, when prepared carefully and correctly, is delicious.  This is an example of that statement.

Brgy. Del Remedio, Cocoland Compound, San Pablo City Laguna

If you want to eat Thai food Soms would be a good answer to your craving.  Soms Noodle House is this place in Makati near Rockwell that offers SukhoThai cuisines.  I love this place…although personally, I liked their food better when I tasted it the first time.  Now that they have expanded, something seems amiss.  But it’s just maybe the ambiance that’s changed.  The fluorescent lights glowering on the long tables and white walls seem unromantic compared to the outdoor umbrella-tables I’m used to.  Soms, upon its expansion, ended its hole-in-the-wall days became a legitimate restaurant.

Soms was once a 1-unit apartment hawker style venture.  A Filipina married a sukhothai chef.   

Hookay, my favorite and the only drink I order in Soms is the Thai Milk Tea

It’smy first time to try their pork siomai…

and of course, Pad Thai.  You have to tell the waiter not to sweeten it too much though…otherwise at Php65 a plate, this baby is almost perfect.

Som’s Noodle House
5921 A. Alger St. Poblacion, Makati
757-8079, 0917-9227648

Dedicated to the late artist/writer, E. Aguilar “Abe” Cruz, Abe restaurant serves traditional Filipino food (mostly Capampangan – Capampangan food have the least influence from our conquestadores) and gourmet dishes.  Abe Cruz is known to enjoy luxurious and excellent food and drinks that the restaurant’s menu is inspired by Abe’s refined taste and travels around the world.  Filipino food is more than the usual salty dishes we are served in mediocre restaurants…  

Dili Rice  is the best! iced topped with dilis is just superb.  A dish everyone must order when eating at Abe.

 Gising-Gising – a chili lovers’ delight!

Spicy Sisig Pampanga – minced pork and chicken liver sauteed in garlic spice chilies.

I dined with Dianne in Abe and was texting Val furiously to come over.  He finally did after his dinner with his officemates at a nearby restaurant in Boni High.

Binukadkad na Pla-pla is my new favorite.  Had doubts when Dianne suggested that we order it.  It fish is effin huge…or so I spied at the other table.  I also have trouble eating fish that looks like a taxidermist pet.  That’s why I avoid hito (catfish) as much as I can.  When I saw how the pla-pla was being served, I was not so enthused.  Eventually, with Dianne’s coaxing, I gave in…and yep, it was a decision I did not regret doing.

Great food and good service.  Abe is a must visit when in Serendra.  When seated, look around and you will see Abe’s photographs and other obras…  The restuarant is almost always full, we had to wait for a few minutes before being seated — but its worth it. Enjoy!

Named as one of the best red velvet cupcakes in spot.ph — of course, i’m gonna order it, just to see what the fuss is all about.  And so yes –it is worth every penny -which is not much actually (Php60).
What makes a perfect red velvet cupcake, you ask? Most baker would say it has to be moist with a little hint of cocoa for it not to take like the usual vanilla cupcake — but not to make it  chocolate flavored.  And the red…needs to be red– not a pale shade of pink.

This one is a winner — The Caramel Yema Chiffon Cake, moist chiffon with caramel buttercream.  A new favorite and definitely a must try.  Caramel Yema Cake is also Slice’s signature cake.  The cake is Php240 a slice, I am not sure if I like the price that much.  Being from davao, 240 means a whole cake, or maybe half –but a slice is kinda bit pricy for me. But the cakes bears everything a cake should bear that one is forgiven to overlook the figures… well, it was Dianne who paid for my deserts anyway (tee hee! ^^).  Will definitely want to come back to this dessert haven.

Barcino boasts to have the greatest collection of Spanish wine in Manila.  I have heard of this place and have always thought it as “Barcina”.  Don’t know why, but the “A” stuck more than the “O”.  Remember that small deli bar named Barcino Gourmet in Ortigas? It’s this wine bar’s not so humble beginning. In 2008, they expanded in Bonifacio High Street and in 2009 they launched the Club de Vino that gathered distinguished wine lovers turned loyal members who vouched for the wine resto bar’s excellent wine selections.

It was Dianne who dragged our butts to the bar to which Val and I followed like sacrificial lambs.  It was cool Dianne was able to find time out.  With the Bar exam looming, study reviews are becoming hectic.

It’s cool to be with philo friends again.  Their wit and sarcasm was kinda missing in my life.  I usually do not see anyone when in Manila.  One, I don’t have my truck to go around and traffic is bad anyway, and second, I barely have time to finish things there (ok so i stall a lot).  But my visa interview was smooth and I finished early (the waiting is killing me though).  So when Dianne commanded that we have dinner, I said yes, yes, and yes! yey!

We ordered the Shitake con Jamon.  Grilled shitake mushrooms with jamon serrano in pepper sauce.  The dish was delicious.  Had we not eaten dinner, I would have tried the tapas and ensaladas as well.  I heard that they have a new Chef from Barcelona and talk around town whispers that since his arrival, the food menu has improved.

I told them that in wine, I kinda lean towards the sweet side.  Val suggested we get the Altozano Shiraz.

Altozano Shiraz (100% Shiraz grapes, 14% Alcohol content).  Altozano Shiraz’s aging is 6 months in oak barrels giving it a smooth and spicy flavor of cherry and plum.  It will best go with red game meats.

Cheese is better with white wine but we got the cheese platter anyway.  We had Dinner at Abe and we were so stuffed that cheese was the only logical thing to order (otherwise our seams will burst!).  The cheese platter is a medley of cheeses; queso de cabra, machengo reserva, queso al vino, queso oveja, camanbert, and gorgonzola.    Vince Juan, another philo major, is on his way to Manila first week of September and we are planning to have dinner in Barcino with him.  So on our next visit, I will want to try the Chorizo platter.

Barcino is also available in Greenbelt 5 and Greenbelt 2.
They also opened in Rockwell last 2011.

Visited Hollywood Burger at The Peak, Gaisano Mall at my brother’s suggestion.  My brother has this love affairs with burgers.  It was him who introduced me to the different burgers in town.

My first taste of Hollywood burger was duirng social media day at iFlex when the owner served us hollywood burgers for “merienda”.  The burger station wasn’t open then.   Leo was not expecting anything special but was surprised to find that patties are grilled, making it juicy but not greasy.  He also cheerfully noted how the patty is thicker than the buns.  Needless to say he was happy.  He definitely found a new favorite and was muttering that he will visit the place again.

He ordered Kevin Bacon (Php169) – bacon, mushroom, onion

I ordered the regular burger (Php99).  What can I say 150grams of meat is enough for me I want to try their pancakes the next time I visit though. yum yum

We also ordered the Arnold’s Giant Burger (299) when we saw the waitress carry one to the other table.  In case you are wondering what’s so special about that burger why we ordered it on the spot, let me give you two clues– 480 grams and 8 inches… (Yep, my brother is a pig — Nora Aunor inflection).   We had it “to go” though, so I wasn’t able to take a photo of it because it was already packed.  Oh well, another reason to go back

Hollywood Burgers is located at The Peak
Gaisano Mall, Bajada Davao City.

During my visit to Tiaong, Quezon, near the rotunda, at the heart of San Pablo Plaza, is a cozy restaurant that offers great food at affordable prices.  Si Christina (yes christina) is owned by Maria Christina Capino de Roma, who, after 25 years of being a full-time mom, opened this cafe to rekindle her passion in pastries.  The cafe was unveiled October 2010 and has become a local favorite since then.

My favorite is the red velvet cheesecake and the red velvet cupcake

Brazos will always be loved. In Si Christina,
the brazos are aptly sweetened –and it really melts in your mouth.

Sans Rival (cashew nuts).
Si Christina offers it in pistachio as well.

 The classic burger is also a favorite amongst its patrons.
I love the way they put it on a board for presentation
Impressive also are the plates, colorful and mismatched but well thought.

I can’t wait to go home to Davao and eat ice cream again!!! Crepalato offers homemade gelato and crepes made from fresh ingredients.  My favorite flavor is “food for the gods” but they also offer Avocado Moringa, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanila Healthy Chuncks to name a few.

My first food trip in Gelato was during Davao Food Appreciation Tour 2011 along with 15 bloggers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.  I love the couch ^.^ and yes the whole store is painted in combo of pink, sky blue, and white.

Gelato can be served  in cones, in crepe, or with belgian waffles.  It can be served with pastries as well if you request it.  I had mine in crepe ^.^ The gelato costs only about Php75 (less than $2).

Many cones to choose from.  This is sweet almonds

White chocolate and macademia nuts

chocolate chips

chocolate sprinkle

Located in Jocar Complex, Mt. Mayon St.,Davao City, Davao City or in NCCC Matina.

Welcome to the land of milk tea and fresh noodles.  I arrived in Hong Kong first day of January and yes, it took me 20 days to post my first food chronicle and nope—it’s not solid chinese food.  I will have those when I find the best ones, I promise.

This restaurant looks promising, they serve good food…But for now lemme start with pork and rice.

I was so discombobulated that I spent two weeks feeding on bread, which is coincidentally branded as “Life Bread”, water, and milk tea.  I keep telling myself everytime I go to the grocery store to get something else…but I always end up buying the same things! ugh!

Then a classmate of mine in grad school took me to this restaurant called NEW WIN.  Do not ask me why it is called so –my chinese skills is only limited to numbers, specifically 1-10.  But in ordering, hand signals work just fine.  I ordered barbecue pork and egg first but I forgot my camera, so you are looking at my second food splurge in New Win.

This is, as you can see, Ham and pork chop.  It is lame and greasy, I know—but two weeks on bread and milk tea is enough to make me sing hallelujah when I had this served.  The pork was just cooked right and it smelled so nice.  The meat was tender and it had the right amount of fat.
And the ham was sooo good.  No burnt sides  and just plain delicious.  It was not dry and not too greasy at all.

*sigh  reminded me of home… Next time I have to order pig liver and kidney soup—I just learned this restaurant is famous for this ..*crossing fingers.  I think it is not as scary as it sounds.

And because I am a creature of habit, I ordered the one drink I am familiar with.  
Milk Tea! but this time in ice hehe!  Next time I will order lemon coke ^.^

 It’s also really interesting how they seated me.  I was alone so I signaled one forefinger up, indicating I am just one and they ushered me to this table, four seaters with one woman, sitting and eating her meal.  In the Philippines, I would be not be taking that table because it is occupied, regardless if she is alone and the table was a 4-seater.  But here in Hong Kong, It seems normal that strangers share tables.  There are other vacant tables but they are too big for one person that’s why they ushered me to share the table with this other customer.  Even when I was eating and the woman left, two girls sat down in front of me waiting to order as if it is the most normal thing to do.  Well, it is a normal thing to do…duh.  But I think you guys got my point.

New Win Restaurant
Shop C-E, G/F, Kin Sun Building,
157-162 Kweilin Street, Sham Shui Po