First Bite: Bar Pintxos

I've been curious about Bar Pintxos ever since it opened its first store down south. Frequented by discerning locals, I couldn't help think that this place must be really good. I was thrilled when it opened branches in BGC and Makati as it made it more accessible to me. And after a few failed attempts, I finally got to visit its BGC branch a few weeks ago. 

Hello, Bar Pintxos Tapas Y Mas. 

Specializing in Spanish cuisine, Bar Pintxos serves limited but superb dishes perfect for lunch, dinner and after work drinks. 

Love Local: Crows Brewery

Beer may be one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the Philippines but craft beer is relatively new for many. Known to be brewed in small batches and in a more traditional way, it is often perceived to be better than the commercially produced beer given the brewer's closer attention to detail. I've had my first taste of craft beer in 2015 when I went to Baguio. But there's another brewery in the south that has been around a few years earlier. And yes, I'm referring to Crows Brewery.

Hello, Crows Brewery.

Crows Brewery was born in 2010 and started to commercially brew in 2013. With a very hop-centered influence, expect strong bitter notes in every sip.

Tipsy Pig Launches New Favorites

Tipsy Pig's Beer Can Chicken was one of the many dishes that turned this place as one of the hot spots for night out with friends. Fast forward to 2019, we've seen several restobars close down in less than a year but Tipsy Pig stayed relevant in the market by offering crowd favorites like wings, salmon steak and rib eye steak. Yes, Tipsy Pig offers superb bar chow and a lot more. 

Hello, Tipsy Pig.

Tipsy Pig started when Capitol Commons was still unheard of. It was challenging for a new player in the restobar industry to market itself when it's in a low traffic location. But its scrumptious dishes and bang for the buck drinks made it an easy favorite by the young ones and young at heart. And now, it is three branches strong!

When in Japan: Asahi Brewery Tour

Japan is definitely a breath of fresh air. With its clean roads, orderly towns, reliable transportation system, magnificent views and scrumptious food, it is impossible not to enjoy one's vacation in the land of the rising sun. And on my second time in Fukuoka, R and I decided to visit more places and experience more things at this trade hub. And one of our stops is the Asahi Brewery in Hakata. 

Hello, Asahi Brewery!

Asahi is one of the leading beverage brands in Japan and currently holds the biggest chunk of the beer market with 38% (followed by Kirin Beer with 35% and Suntory with 15%). It may not be common knowledge but Asahi also has several brands under its umbrella such as whisky, soft drinks and even food. 

First Bite: NoKal

The night was still young yet our bellies were about to pop when we got to our last stop for our Poblacion food crawl. But when we heard "Longganisa Mac and Cheese" we all felt our appetite strutting back and ready for something mouthwatering. And knowing that the talented Raul Fores of Made Nice Supper Club is involved made me even more excited. 

Hello, NoKal. 

Nokal or short of North of Kalayaan is a hot spot for night cap. Located along the busy street of Kalayaan, the three-storey resto bar caters to foodies, night owls, beer and cocktail enthusiasts and music lovers. 

First Sip: Joe's Brew

A Poblacion food crawl is never complete without dropping by a bar or pub. As one of the hottest spots for a night cap, you'd be surrounded by several establishments that offer superb food, beer, cocktails and everything you need to paint the town red. And we made sure to include the popular Joe's Brew in our Poblacion food crawl last month.

Hello, Joe's Brew.

Joe's Brew is tucked inside the quiet side of Poblacion. It may be a bit hard to find this place with its modest signage but Google Map or Waze's pin are pretty accurate and will lead you to this quirky pub. 

Prost! Celebrating Oktoberfest at Brotzeit

Wake me up when September ends... not! With Oktoberfest happening as early as mid September, several European restaurants are joining the celebration and have some interesting menu and events lined up! And when it comes to real German vibes, I could only think of one place... Brotzeit!

Hello, Brotzeit.

I've been to Brotzeit during the month-long festivities back in 2014 and all I could remember were people laughing and pint after pint of beer! Everything else was blurry and I blame the beer for it. Fast forward to this year's Oktoberfest, I made sure to take note of everything and not go crazy with Brotzeit's great selection of beer.

New Love: La Petite Fromagerie's Camem-Beer Spread

I am crazy in love with La Petite Fromagerie. It has brought out a whole different level of cheese craving after a taste of its Truffle Cream Cheese spread. It was the best cheese product I've had and I couldn't help myself spazz about it pretty much with everyone. And when this cheese dreamland announced its new product, I drooled for days.

Hello again, La Petite Fromagerie.

I badly wanted to try its Camem-Beer (PHP550/jar)  spread ever since it was released a few months back. However, with a fridge half full with spreads and jams, I'm sure that someone's not going to like the idea of me buying another one. 

First Bite: Finnians Irish Pub

St. Patrick's Day is a worldwide celebration of the Irish culture. It is also the day synonymous to October Fest. Known to be the day everyone dons a green garment, the night ends till  your face turns green as well with alcohol. It just comes once a year so it's fine. But what if I tell you that there's a place that makes one feel like you're in Ireland and gives the St. Patrick's Day vibe year round?

Hello, Finnians Irish Pub.

Tucked inside the foodie jungle San Juan, this quaint restaurant and bar is right beside the classic Calderon. 

Dark fixtures are the first thing you'll notice when you enter Finnians. Right beside the staircase is its bar filled with liquor, Irish beers and whiskeys that will make anyone fond of drinking giddy with joy. 

First Bite: Roadster Roasters

Several restaurants open every day making it impossible for me to visit them all. But when a new restaurant gets nothing but praises from foodies, I find myself rushing to the place hoping to have my taste buds delighted as well. Though there were several instances when I was more disappointed than impressed, there are also pleasant experiences where I could say "worth the drive/getting stuck in traffic for". And last weekend, I was happy to say that the new restaurant along Sheridan was worth the trip. 

Hello, Roadster Roasters.

It may be a bit challenging to find this restaurant on the ground floor of TV5 Launchpad as it's not that visible from the road. There's also a tree blocking its facade making it more hidden. Thankfully, I'm familiar with the area and I easily found the home of 12-hour brisket.

First Sip: Selu's Bar

What's a better way to cap the work week than to enjoy a cocktail or two? Though I usually head straight home after work on Fridays to avoid the nasty Manila traffic, spending Friday nights over some drinks ain't a bad idea. And a few Fridays ago, I capped the week at Selu's Bar. 
 
Hello, Selu's Bar.

This is the second stop of the Summer Soiree organized by Discover MNL and Valerie Montenegro which is located a floor below Unna's Corner.

First Bite: Sunrise Buckets

I’ve never been a chicken wings fan as I always feel that I get less for paying the same amount for a piece of chicken. I’d always go for breast or thigh as these parts have more meat. This is also the reason why I’ve never been interested to try Sunrise Buckets. But I guess I’m fated to dine here as this is one of the food stops of Food Hop 2017 by Zomato and The Grove by Rockwell.

Hello, Sunrise Buckets!

We were greeted by interiors in nautical theme and a retro looking open display chiller filled with various canned and bottled drinks.

First Bite: Providore Backyard

It was just a few months ago when Providore delighted my tummy with its superb Bone Marrow Burger. I had a quick chat with A, one of the owners of Raintree Restaurants and I got an insider info that they plan to open an al fresco dining area to serve early morning meals and after work drinks. And last February 8, Providore Backyard, finally opened.

Hello, Providore Backyard!

The chic white shed, faux grass and bar were the first things we saw as soon as we stepped out of the air-conditioned section of Providore. Not only does the set up recreate a “backyard look”, it also exudes a very homey and relaxed ambiance perfect for that well deserved nightcap.

First Sip: Chotto Matte

A trip to Izakaya Sensu is not complete without visiting its neighbor Chotto Matte which means "wait a minute" in Japanese. I failed to ask why they named it such but I think it has the same concept as Brotzeit (which means break). The idea is to slow down and have a drink or two. And this is why Chotto Matte is open from lunch till dinner. 

Hello, Chotto Matte! 

This speakeasy bar seemed to attract a slightly older crowd with its dim lounge-like setting. 

With a huge selection of Suntory beverages, Japanese liquor lovers would go crazy over the wide selections! They have beers, cocktails, mocktails, sake and whathaveyou concoctions like Sakuratini. 🍸

I went with Chu Hi Sours line of beverages which is marketed as great light afternoon drinks. I initially ordered Melon (PHP195) but Andrej (one of the owners of Izakaya Sensu and Chotto Matte) insisted that we also try Grapefruit (PHP175).

Melon was served first (as Grapefruit was requested after I ordered my drink). 

It was basically a melon-flavored shōchū. (Shōchū is a Japanese traditional hard liquor that typically contains 25% alcohol by volume. It is usually distilled from rice, barley, buckwheat, sweet potatoes or brown sugar.) 

It had a nice hint of melon and it was like drinking a refreshing glass of light beer. Personally, I think that it would have been better if the melon taste was a bit stronger so that I'd have a sweeter drink to pair my meal with. 

First Bite: FowlBread

I am a big fan of Le Petit Souffle and Scout's Honor hence I was so giddy when I found out that the brains behind these two establishments have a new baby on its way. It has been a few weeks ago since I first saw C's post about Fowl Bread. I counted the days and weeks till its grand opening. I even commented on Chef K's post on when it'll be open and she replied this afternoon. She said, "today." And off I go to FowlBread.  

Hello, FowlBread!

The place is at one of the corners along High Street (near Krispy Kreme) and its bright electric blue signage against its industrial interiors sure catches attention.

Despite the small size of the restaurant, there were a lot of servers on standby to assist. One friendly lady guided me to my table in the air conditioned area of the establishment and quickly handed the menu. 

There are only three dishes and two sides to choose from so it's not really hard to choose. I was told that the Chicken Sandwich (PHP215, ala carte | PHP265 with salted fries | PHP295 with garlic fries) is the best one out of the three so I went with that one. I also got garlic fries to go with my sandwich because it was recommended too. (And I was eating alone so I don't really care if my breath stinks after.) You can have your burger with a bit of spice, a lot of spice or none at all. I opted to get "normal" as I am never a fan of anything spicy. I didn't bother to order drink since there was only one drink that seemed promising but at PHP180, I felt that it was a bit steep. I do hope though that it's served on a huge glass. 

After 10 minutes or so, my sandwich finally arrived.

Since I was dining outside, I opted to use the utensils in front of me and sliced a bite size off my burger (I'll call it burger from this point onward since it looked more like a burger than a sandwich to me). And it was a challenge. The crispy chicken skin was tough to cut and it made everything else go off to all directions. I ended up putting the chicken skin aside and crack it to pieces and use it as topping.  

First Bite: Pablo’s

Working in Fort Bonifacio could sure dent your wallet if you’re not smart with your money. Temptation is very strong, especially on payday, as we are surrounded by restaurants and retail stores. There are even a few malls to choose from. And being stranded could also be costly. Believe me. As a person who brings homemade food to work, I make sure that I spend less than PHP100 a day, even less on most days. But when rain pours, sometimes, so does money.

Hey, Pablo’s!

Rain was crazy a few weeks ago. I was stranded for almost 3 hours for two days! And since I had no plans to brave the rain, I decided to join my officemates for dinner at Pablo’s.

It has Happy Hour until 8 p.m. but since I have some drinks at home, I focused on the real food. On my first night, I opted to get the Sirloin Beef Tapa with 2 Eggs (PHP245) and an order of Pablo’s Potato Chips (PHP170). On my second visit, I went for Basil Chicken (PHP245).

The potato chips confused me. Those were definitely not “paper thin” as what the menu claimed. It was fat potato cuts. At least it was crispy.

But it was smothered with spicy red powder making it difficult for me to enjoy.

My officemates kept saying that Pablo’s tapa is deeeelish so I had my palate ready for something awesome.

When it was served, first thing that came to mind was, “serving size is okay, it’s fragrant too, but is it better than my mom’s tapa?” Yes, I have never tasted better tapa than my mom’s. My mom’s tapa has this sweet and tangy taste that I love and so far, I have not tasted anything better.

It was okay. The tapa was tender and it was juicy. It was a nice mix of sweet and salty taste. I didn’t taste the tanginess that I want from tapa though. But it was pretty good for its price. And I loved that the rice was not your usual plain rice. It was mixed with tapa sauce and bits of marinated sirloin.

Love at First Gulp: Backyard Kitchen + Brew's Butterbeer

Harry Potter and beer lovers alike will love the drink concocted by Chef Ed Bugia of Pino, Pipino, The Burger Project and π Breakfast & Pies. His newest restaurant Backyard Kitchen + Brew serves butterbeer using real beer! And since H was craving for it one afternoon, we decided to head to UP Town Center.

Hello, Backyard Kitchen + Brew!

The place wasn’t packed at all when we arrived as it was around 3 p.m. on a Monday.

R and I decided to give butterbeer a try too and ordered one mug each.

The butterbeer smells lovely with its butterscotch scent. It would make beer haters love beer as it is not bitter at all. The whipped butter made it extra sinful which might turn away some health conscious foodies.

I also got a bite of the potato chips drowning in cheese powder and it was L-O-V-E. I can’t wait to visit Backyard Kitchen + Brew again to try its dishes.

Backyard Kitchen + Brew is located at 2^nd Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Contact them at 0999 3666921 for details and reservation.

First Bite: Draft Gastropub Manila

I always frequent Rockwell for food and I discovered another favorite few weeks back. It was quite unexpected. I was thinking of just relaxing at home that night as we just came from Coron. But R’s friends all wanted to have dinner at Draft and since we were hungry too, we decided to join them.

Hello, Draft Gastropub Manila!

I recall that I visited the Draft BGC branch a few years back with some colleagues but since we came from an event, we were stuffed and just had light snacks and a few drinks. This time, R and I ordered the Beef Pot Roast (PHP480) for sharing, Paulaner Dunkel (PHP200, 330ml) and Stella Artois (PHP150, 330ml).

I’m not really a beer person but the Paulaner Dunkel was pretty good! It didn’t have that bitter beer taste unlike the one I ordered at Brotzeit. It had a mildly sweet after taste and I like it.

Friday Night Destination: Tipple & Slaw

Ever since we moved to a busier part of Manila, things felt busier at work too. But since temptation to eat out is stronger in our new area, dragging people for dinner became easier. Hence Friday Night Out with officemates!

Hello, Tipple & Slaw!

It has been a while since I last visited Tipple & Slaw. I recall it was way back August when I first (and last) visited.

The place remained the same and I got the same table too as last time. But this time, instead of just ordering one dish, we ordered six. I ordered Oyster Chowder (PHP180) first as I was famished. D got the Sriracha Mac N Cheese (PHP200) while C1 ordered Chicken Nuggets (PHP250). C2 and A ordered Peruvian Roast Chicken (PHP350) for sharing while M and I (ßthat’s me, not an initial I) got the Roast Beef (PHP550). We also ordered Meat-zza (PHP650) for sharing.

First served was my oyster chowder and it was super salty. It tasted like I was drinking creamy seawater! But I was really hungry to the point of being hangry so I kept slurping and I also ate the crispy (and oily) oysters on the side.

Next served was D’s mac n cheese and everyone reacted that it was spicy. Well, it really was but people who love that kind of kick will adore this dish. (P.S. It wasn’t super spicy.)

C1’s chicken nuggets order seemed to be a value for money. Not bad for PHP250.

Second Bite: Burgers & Brewskies

Living near Kapitolyo and the developing foodie area Capitol Commons has its perks. I have quick access to the good restaurants near Ortigas. However, it can pretty much damage the wallet as well. (I seriously need to save more!) I blame my I-say-no-to-food mentality.

Hello again, Burgers & Brewskies!

Mr. Flaker J suddenly wanted to have dinner because he was too hungry to drive back home. And since he knows that I’m the resident foodie who’s pretty much easy to drag around as long as food’s involved, he messaged me. Soon, we were in front of Burgers & Brewskies.

The place was pretty packed on a Thursday night. There was also a guy singing to add some good vibes on a “thirstday” night. We were lucky to get a table near the bar.

J decided to go for Call the Nurse (PHP280) while I got Neat burger (PHP180) and Krispy Pinkies (PHP175). I also got a glass of Classic Mojito (PHP140) while J went for a bottle of beer.

First served was the Krispy Pinkies and it was great! It’s basically chicken tenders but instead of the usual bread crumbs, they used Rice Krispies. As a fan of the crunchy treat, I loved this dish! I chose honey mustard as my dip.