Long Bar at Raffles Hotel in Makati

When you have an alcohol tolerance of an infant and were invited to have a pre-dinner cocktail at the first ever famed Long Bar outside Singapore, you should not have any other option but to say yes and man up. Yes, life is short. So, even if you are headed to an expectedly wonderful buffet at Spectrum in Fairmont, you should suck the morrow out of life and dig in.

You see, the world famous Long Bar originated at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The opening of this luxury hotel here in the Philippines opened a door for us to enjoy their famous Singapore Sling and other drinks without the need to stamp our passports. Great, right? It’s almost a sin to pass up.

While gone are the days when I could easily drown on alcoholic drinks like it’s nobody’s business ( I can only tolerate wines and nothing else these days, I know I am weird that way), the time spent at Long Bar was well worth it.  I was able to sample their iconic Singapore Sling alongside other drinks that instantly became one of the reasons why I would want to go back at Raffles.

Exciting New Drinks at Serenitea

During the time when milk tea craze was just starting to hit our country by storm, there's only one brand that I would always go to when milk tea craving hits me, Serenitea.  I am not sure about the history but I would like to believe that it was Serenitea that started such craze that people heed to up to this day.  After all, it was Serenitea that started MY addiction to milk teas.

Recently, I was invited ( shout out to my foodie friend frannywanny!) to try exciting new drinks which will be launched by Serenitea come the end of February 2013.  Although they are known to dish out impressive lines of milk tea variants, Serenitea still keeps on coming up with new flavors to satisfy their customers. No wonder that they are still on top of their game up to this day!

The night of what I deemed as a taste test at Serenitea San Juan Branch turned out to be a milk tea party, much to my heart's delight.  We were served with six variants of new drinks to try and some delicious Serenitea snacks to much on while we're at it.

Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant at Diamond Hotel Philippines

The first time I dined at Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant of Diamond Hotel Philippines was during the time when we tried the Teppanyaki Eat-All-You-Can with fellow foodies.  The experience was legendary and from then on, I have been meaning to revisit Yurakuen and try their ala carte dishes. If I was floored with my teppanyaki experience, there isn't a snowball chance in the desert that I wouldn't like Yurakuen's other dishes.

When I finally got the chance to revisit Yurakuen, it steeled my resolve that they are one of the best Japanese restaurants in Manila, at least in my book, but I am confident a lot will agree. 

Located inside Diamond Hotel Philippines in Manila, dining at Yurakuen Japanese Restaurant feels like dining in a small paradise.  Their signature cherry blossom glass tree sits pontifically in the middle of the dining area that gives the restaurant an elegant feel to it.  The roof to floor glass walls serves as a thin line that separate the dining area to the beautiful garden surrounding the restaurant.  

Mochiko Potato Chip Chocolate Mochi

One of the reasons why I love going to weekend markets is the endless possibilities of discovering great food finds.  In the past years that I have been going to Mercato Centrale, one of the food finds that really love and patronize up to this day is Mochiko.  Despite being introduced to different Mochi stores sprouting all over Manila, truth be told, I still keep coming back to the tried and tested Mochiko.

There are a lot of things about Mochiko to be loved, but one that illuminate is their creativity in coming up with different flavors.  I've been crazy with their azuki, caramel, and black sesame variants and I was floored when they released their chocnut and cookie dough flavors.  And during the holiday season, I was introduced to their new flavor, Potato Chip Chocolate Mochi. 

Who would have thought, right?  Sheer genius.

This new flavor by Mochiko is a beautiful collaboration with Risa Chocolate which is also known in every food fairs and weekend markets in Manila.  Risa Chocolate provides the chocolate covered potato chips while FIC Ice cream provides the delectable ice cream.

California Pizza Kitchen at Bonifacio High Street

To mark its 10th store in the Philippines, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK Phlippines) celebrate it with newly revamped interiors and new additions to the menu.  Handled by Global Restaurants Concept Inc., California Pizza Kitchen opened its door to cater to its patrons located at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City.

Since it's first branch that opened in 1998 at Glorietta, California Pizza Kitchen still is among the pizza restaurant chains that dishes out great tasting pizza that Filipino love.  During the opening of it's 10th store, we were able to try some of the new additions to the menu and experience great ambiance at CPK.

Suggestive of California ambiance, CPK's interior boasts of laid back and comfortable feat where diners could enjoy their meals and relax.  I wasn't able to capture photos of their The Fort branch because the place was so jam packed during my visit so I'll just reserved that on my future posts when I get to visit them again sometime soon. Menawhile, here are the dishes we enjoyed during the launching.

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant Philippines

One of the many reasons why I love Bistro Group is their awesomeness in bringing in impressive concepts in Philippines' restaurant scene. Late last year, Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant opened its first branch here in the country as a new addition to the Bistro Group's line of concepts such as Italianni's, T.G.I.Friday's, Bulgogi Brothers, Ma Maison, Village Tavern, and more.

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant is an international concept that has over 700 branches worldwide.  The number itself will clearly speak how this concept is well perceived by people all over the world.  Watami has 2 branches now in the Philippines located at SM Mall of Asia and at the New Glorietta in Makati.

Japanese food lovers like me could only rejoice in the fact that Watami offers affordable and great tasting Japanese food in an ambiance that rivals high end restaurants in the country.  Weeks after opening its first branch in SM Mall of Asia, we were able to try some of their dishes that will surely earn the raves of foodies here in Manila.

Book For Foodies: Eat Out Now! 115 Manila Restaurants We Love

I have to say that for someone like me who has a thing for restaurant book guides, launching of such books late last year was quite exciting.  Northern Eats and Southern Eats by Anton Diaz of the famous blog Our Awesome Planet was released last year by Hinge Inquirer Publishing.  Also last year, Alicia Sy, lifestyle editor of Town & Country Philippines and food columnist of Spot.ph released 'Eat Out Now! 115 Manila Restaurants We Love' through Summit Media Publishing.

Some of our country's respected food enthusiasts tagged as panelists joined Sy in dishing out 115 restaurants in Manila featured in the book.  They are Cyrene dela Rosa (Interaksyon.com's Chowbuzz), Erwann Heussaff (The Fat Kid Inside), JJ Yulo (Pinoy Eats World), Sanjeeb Gopaldas (Table for Three, Please), Joel Binamira (Market Manila), and Noel Ermitano (Eyeonwine).

ChocNut Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene

I admit ChocNut Cheesecake of Indulgence by Irene didn’t rock my world at first bite the way Queso de Bola Cheesecake did.

No, it didn’t turn my world inside out, nor made my knees weak.  No dramatic knee shaking and tight gripping onto my camera happened. Nothing like that transpired. 

Clearly it wasn’t love at first bite.

But let me ask you, have you ever tasted nostalgia?

Have you every experienced having slice of yesteryears play on your palate?  Have you ever experienced memories flirt with your taste buds?

Have you ever tasted something as beautiful as that?  I have.

Cafe Ysabel Through Quick Delivery (twoanyone.com)

One of the many reasons why I love food delivery services is the convenient it provides especially for busy bees like me.  When every task at hand seems too impossible to leave and you got no one in your house to cook hearty meals for your growling stomach, food delivery can be the answer.  This scenario happens to me often. That is why I am thankful for food delivery services like twoanyone.com, formerly known as Quick Delivery.  Not only is the service efficient, but they also handle most of my favorite restaurants in Manila under their umbrella.

Recently, I decided to have something from Café Ysabel delivered at the comfort of my home through twoanyone.com.  I was dead set on beating some writing deadlines that is why although Café Ysabel is a short drive from home, I decided to go for delivery instead.

Books For Foodies: Northern Eats and Southern Eats by Anton Diaz

As a food blogger who is in constant search for restaurants in Manila to try, discover, and re-discover, I would have to say that I am a sucker for restaurant guides.  It's just too bad that such guides are rather limited here in our country.  While food blogs, websites, and social networking sites plays a big role in dishing out recommendations on where and what to eat, it is comforting to know that we still have books to turn to when technology fails.

That is why when friends at Hinge Inquirer informed me late last year that famous blogger Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet will be having book launching I couldn't help but to get excited about it.  Knowing the man behind series of foodie fairs called The Ultimate Taste Test and food markets such as Mercato Centrale, Soderno Molito, Manda Centrale, and Cucina Andare, I know the book is going to be a restaurant guide. I was right. The bonus is, it's not just one book, but two.

Presented by Northern Living and Southern Living, and co-presented by Avida, Mr. Our Awesome Planet Anton Diaz dished out his restaurant recommendations in a form of books published by Hinge Inquirer.  Aptly titled Northern Eats and Southern Eats. These two books boasts of 50 restaurants to discover in the north and 50 restaurants to discover in the south recommended by Anton.

Chef Tatung Restaurant in Acacia Estates, Taguig City

During the first time I visited Chef Tatung Restaurant when it was still located in Quezon City, I immediately fell in love with it.  Despite the long drive and the unfamiliar place, I consider it one of the restaurants that made me feel at home from the get go.  

Then last year, owner chef Myke "Tatung" Sarthou relocated his famed gastronomical abode from Quezon City to Taguig City. Location-wise, it became farther from my place than ever. Yet, having experienced the wonders of Chef Tatung's place and the impeccably satisfying treats that it offer, I realized that indeed, home is where the heart is.

Located at the Acacia Estates in Taguig City, Chef Tatung is a foodie destination meant to satisfy even the most discerning of palates.  Its innate charm that captured the hearts of many foodies is still ever present even after the move. Only, it's all the more lovelier as it boast of spacious area where more diners can be accommodated. 

Gala Magazine December-January Issue

Hi foodies,

Please grab a copy of Gala Magazine's December - January issue. My article entitled 'Door to a New Taste' is on the food section page 146-147 of this issue. The article is all about usual food given with a new twist that made it uniquely satisfying, familiar yet new.

Bigger, bolder, and better, Gala Magazine's December-January Issue is by far the most impressive and downright fiercer issue to date.  Needless to say, when it comes to "everything events", they are the authority.  

Breakfast Magazine's December-January Issue

Late last year, our friends at the newest food magazine, Breakfast Magazine invited us together with some of our favorite Manila food bloggers to be part of their magazine's blogger section for December-January Issue.  The assignment was to feature a restaurant that reminds us of holiday season, a restaurant close to our hearts.

Without a second thought I chose to feature Bahay Ligaya Filipino Restaurant and Antique Shop located in Katipunan Ave.  Based on the editorial write up by Breakfast Magazine's Editor-In-Chief, Alexis Cuizon, this issue is by far one in which they poured every ounce of feeling and gratitude they have for food. Hence,. most of the article are really personal and close to the hearts of those who have collaborated to complete the issue, including us bloggers. 

Most of the articles according to Alexis, they have to cut down. But this does not mean that the issue lacks something. Still, it is full of heart and passion. Just like its previous issues, the December-January issue of Breakfast Magazine hold its known charm to foodies, this time only better.

Desserts Overload with the Desserts Specialists in Quezon City

When I was invited to visit Desserts Specialist located in Quezon City I have nothing but big expectations.  Owing to the fact that for one to be a specialist, there should be mastery of a certain craft involved.  For a business which just started its operation last July of 2012 and call themselves a specialists, I know it must be something. Since it's desserts that we are talking about, despite the fact that I have to move mountains to fit the visit to my schedule, my friend Glenn of The Strolling Spoon Blog and I happily took the long ride to their location.

While I've been going on frequent trips to some restaurants in Quezon City particularly the Tomas Morato area for some food scouting, Desserts Specialists' location at Scout Gandia is still considered off the beaten track.  A tad far from the stretch that houses numbers of restaurants, it's the kind of dessert nook that you would need to make a conscious effort to locate to have your fair share of delectable desserts made by the specialists. 

Fresh Flavours with Celebrity Chef Anna Olson in Manila

December last year, YedyLicious was invited by our friends at The Asian Food Channel to take part at Media Lunch with Canadian Celebrity Chef Anna Olson held at Heat, Edsa Shangri-La.  This event is the served as the second installment of Asian Food Channel’s Culinary Masterpieces. The first one happened when they brought Chef Martin Yan in Manila in which my article about the visit was published at Gala Magazine's October Issue.

With two programmes to boot namely ‘Fresh with Anna Olson’ and ‘Sugar’, both air at The Asian Food Channel,  Fresh Flavours with Anna Olson is inline with promoting her new programme also shown at AFC, 'Bake with Anna Olson'.   

Prior to the media lunch, a 2-day cooking demonstration was held at The Gallery, Level 3 of Greenbelt 5, Makati City where Chef Anna Olson impressed the guest with her flair for preparing delectable dishes such as Tourtiere (French Canadian Beef Pie), Calamansi Cheesecake and Pumpkin Crème Brulee Tarts. While I wasn’t able to witness the cooking demos at Greenbelt 5, the media lunch gave us a chance to witness Chef Anna Olson whip up 2 dishes she lovingly demonstrated while media indulged to a meal prepared by Chef Anna Olson herself with the help of some folks at Heat.