Christmas Squares Cookies by Kumori Japanese Bakery Philippines

One of the many food that I associate with Christmas season is cookies. Is that weird? Not really, right? Come the first of Christmas month, piles of cookies would slowly gather in my pantry. None of which are baked by me because while I am confident that I can cook a feast that could feed a Village, baking is not really one of my strongest suits since I hate following instruction to a T. So really, I am not complaining.

Some of these are given by baker friends who banks on the idea that I could honestly give criticism without battling an eyelash which they appreciate, some are gifts, while some are lined up for a blog or magazine feature. This year, I got this Christmas Squares Cookies by Kumori Philippines.

It was actually a gift from the kindly people at Relish Group tucked in a cute Christmas-themed paper bag alongside an equally cute personalized key chain. Relish Group as you may have known is the people behind Osaka Osho, Wee Nam Kee, Kumori, and other food businesses in Manila. But this gift, I find good and fit for a blog feature, so here we are.

Snow Crab Tendon at Tenya Philippines

As if many are not yet in love with Tenya Philippines' delicious tendon and tempura, they have recently added a new dish on the menu, the Snow Crab Tendon that makes many hearts flutter. And as if the snow crab wasn't enough, they throw in a premium grade scallop into the mix to make it all the more - how do I put it without sounding I am so into this fangirling? - heartthrob-like of a dish! I failed, I know, I am such a fan!

So yes, Snow Crab Tendon is the new dish at Tenya, albeit it will only be available for a limited time. And don't be misled by the name which highlighted only the snow crab because there's also the scallop as a supporting lead.

I have always been a fan of Tenya and I honestly cannot count how many of the people I know have I forcefully encouraged to try it. Forcefully may not be a nice word to use but that's according to those people who have placed their trust on my judgement and ended up thanking me afterwards since they all love Tenya since then. 

Holiday Ham Premium Boneless Hind Leg and Danes Cheese Ball

Christmas is just around the corner and you still have not decided on what ham and queso de bola you are going to serve to your loved ones this season, may I suggest Holiday Ham and Danes Cheese Ball? Ham and queso de bola during Noche Buena and even Media Noche are just some of the traditions most Filipino Families adhere to. 

Since these things are something that we will share to our loved ones good quality and reasonable pricing must be our top priority. In this regard, Holiday Ham and Danes Cheese Ball fit the bill.

Our family is one of those who religiously follows this delicious tradition. But remember how we also practice our family tradition of having not less than 12 dishes every Noche Buena and Media Noche to represent all 12 months of the previous and the incoming year? It can be pretty heavy on the pocket so yeah, we really appreciate those brands we trust which we can get at reasonable price. 

Fire In The Hole at Hole In The Wall in Century City Mall Makati: A Pop-up Spicy Noodle Shop #FireInTheHolePH

Fire In The Hole is a pop-up spicy noodle food stall located at Hole In The Wall in Century City Mall Makati put up by the same minds behind Wrong Ramen. "Pop-up and spicy" being its operative words since it will only run up until the end of this year and everything on the menu is spicy save for the dessert which can be a welcome respite from all the fiery stuff one could muster to devour.

Its limited run spring forth from the desire to just fill the void of the now defunct Kwong's Provision. Next year, Fire In The Hole will cease to exist as it gives way to a new concept expected to sprout at Hole In The Wall.  With that said, I suggest you better visit Fire In The Hole before its too late.

So what exactly can diners expect at Fire In The Hole, you ask. Well, there are only five dishes comprising the menu. But I tell you, it does not make it less desirable because Fire In The Hole is meant to flirt with your senses. 

Snapshots and Good Eats at City Savor PH Food Fair

I feel like I have been spending way too much time working on some of my freelance projects that I am literally dreaming about my blog screaming at me out of neglect. I know it's weird, but you get the point. So last weekend I decided to get out and do something I could blog about just to kick start my drive to blog again and face my backlogs, hence the visit to City Savor Food Fair. 

City Savor is a Manila food fair happening in three consecutive weekends that features concessionaires that offer food perfect for the holidays. The guys behind City Savor is the same people behind Valero Eat St.

The first leg, which I was able to attend to happened at the Sapphire Bloc in Ortigas. The next will be held at The Signa Designer Residences, Makati and The Trion Tower BGC on December 12 and 19 respectively.

Balai Pandesal

While I believe in the scripture that says man cannot live on bread alone, I also believe that there are people who cannot last a day without bread. I am guilty as charged. Despite being born and raised in a culture with great appreciation for rice, I am a bread believer – and a firm one at that.

And if we are going to play with this context without disregarding the fact that I am a Filipino after all, I supposed we must focus the highlight on pandesal and the store that sells that awesome bread I was introduced to recently, Balai Pandesal.

Delicious, dense, and downright delightful – these are the things that for me comprise an awesome pandesal. And Balai Pandesal is doing such a great job in delivering that kind of pandesal which I love.

Organic SiLog Meals and More Healthy Eats at Be Well All Natural & Organics Grocery

Organic SiLog Meals, Healthy Snacks, and Natural Drinks - these are some of the new offerings at Be Well All Natural and Organics Grocery Store in Antipolo City. Recent visit led me to this wonderful discovery that this ever reliable organic store has added a mini snack bar in its premise.

I have already blogged about Be Well way back and to this day, they are still the only grocery store that sells organic and all natural food which I can truly vouch for.

Now that they have included some ready-to-eat meals, and an organic and healthy one at that - it gives more reason to visit the place more frequently.

California Pizza Kitchen PH New Menu

California Pizza Kitchen Philippines recently launched its new menu with the theme "California is a State of Mind: For 18 strong years, CPK is still on top of its game by creating innovative dishes that bring the California spirit wherever they are. Menu reinvention is one of CPK's strongest suits which makes them an exciting young, fresh, and vibrant casual dining restaurant to visit despite the number of years they have been in the business.

If you are a California Pizza Kitchen fanatic, these new offerings are the things you wouldn't want to miss.

Selected media and bloggers were invited to sample what is tagged as the new taste of California at CPK Edsa Shangri-La Mall branch. Everyone had dibs on new salad, pasta, pizza, dessert, and drinks offerings at CPK.

A Royal Christmas Parade at SM City Masinag

In line with SM City Masinag's Fairy Tale Christmas theme, a Royal Christmas Parade was held the afternoon of November 30, 2015. SM City Masinag, just like all the other SM Supermalls, aims to give the best holiday shopping experience treats to the shoppers, hence the exciting parade presentation that brought joy to a lot of shoppers both kids and adults alike.

This marked as the first ever Christmas Parade of SM City Masinag.

The afternoon parade which was presented in two time slot, 3pm and 5pm stayed true to the "Royal Gathering" vibe of SM Masinag's Christmas theme. And just like the previous Royal event, this one also dazzled the shoppers with the familiar characters everybody loves.

Celebrate with Danes Cheese Ball, the Creamy Cheese Ball

Christmas season is upon us and I am pretty sure that most of us are already thinking and searching for new dishes for Noche Buena celebration. I have already prepared my list of dishes to cook. It has been a tradition in our family to cook 12 different dishes every Christmas to represent the prosperity we all hope to have on the next 12 months of the coming year.

Rule of thumb is, everyone in the family who is knowledgeable enough in the kitchen must have a dish of their own to prepare and it should be something new or with added twist.  So our family is pretty much enthusiastic when it comes to coming up with exciting dishes.

Last year, I went crazy over chestnut that I created a 3-course menu with chestnut as the main ingredient of the dishes. Now for Christmas 2015, I am putting my trust to our traditional Cheese Ball. And my secret is the ever reliable Danes Cheese Ball!

Serenitea Yuletide Offerings: Planner, Chocolate Drinks, and Jumbo Cups #ILoveSerenitea

Good things come in three, and this season, Serenitea offers three exciting treats for all of us; Serenitea Planner, Toblerone Chocolate-infused Drinks, and Jumbo Cups promo. Surely these things are great reason to make this Yuletide Season with Serenitea extra special.

These treats you can have for yourself, or you can have as a gift for your loved ones who also loves their Christmas be filled with Serenitea moments.

If like me, you are also I fan of Serenitea, I am guessing you would love to know more about these treats, so, read on.

A Love Letter to Chocolate Chip Army Cookies

Oh Chocolate Chip Army Cookies, how can I even begin to tell you how much your impeccable awesomeness blew me away? Perhaps by a salute? How about declaring you as one of the best cookies I have ever eaten in my years of food blogging?  I couldn’t think of any other ways right now but I am well aware that you deserve more than that.

A bite into your handcrafted cookies made me feel like I can battle the craziness of this world. It made me feel like I can soldier things out because at the end of the day, I can count on your downright deliciousness which can calm my nerves. You made me a cookie soldier.

It is so mighty courageous of you to join the food delivery landscape in Manila with only your cookies as your weapon in the midst of food delivery infested battle field. What is more courageous is the fact that you have even built a camp of your own where cookie soldiers like us may visit you and dine in. 

Beeffalo by Hotrocks

Beeffalo by Hotrocks is my newest favorite restaurant in Antipolo City. Yes, I am saying that matter-of-factly. No beating around the bush, no flowery metaphors - just straight up declaration. And if you are curious about Beeffalo by Hotrocks but don't have the time, will, energy, nor means to travel in this mountainous part of the East, fret not, for they also have a branch in Marikina City.

So Yedy, what is good about Beeffalo by Hotrocks that suddenly made it to your favorite lists? Glad you asked. Let's get on with it, shall we?

I wouldn't bore you with my very limited knowledge about the now defunct Hotrocks restaurant which I was told where the awesomeness of Beeffalo started. Let's just find comfort in the fact that the great minds behind this restaurant have the right skills and knowledge in running a restaurant worthy enough to be included on my (and your) favorite list. In short, we are in good hands here.

Angono Food Crawl at Pop Talk GMA News TV

It's all about good food with a little bit of art at tonight's Angono Food Crawl episode of Poptalk, GMA News TV Channel 11 at 8pm. Our favorite host Kuya Tonipet will be joined by actress Coleen Perez, vlogger/model Wil Dasovich, and myself as the guest food blogger.

I'm just going to keep this short and sweet as I am currently nursing a mean flu coupled with some ill bouts of asthma attacks. Yep, chills and incessant coughing while I am typing this, the struggle is real I tell you. But in due course, I will be sharing with you some behind-the-scene snapshots and stories of our shoot.

It's my second time to have a guesting at Pop Talk but compared to our LRT 1 Food Trip before, this Angono Food Crawl is close to my heart since I spent most of my growing years in this humble town tagged as the Artist Paradise before moving elsewhere to study and work. So this is pretty special to me.

Stella Wood Fired Bistro, BGC

It took me a long while to finally visit Stella Wood Fired Bistro at BGC, and when I finally did, it was such a nice experience. There are plenty of restaurants within Bonifacio High Street area of BGC but I deem Stella, which specializes in wood fired dishes is one of those well worth checking out. 

Yeah, you must not follow my foot steps. I waited for too long. Had it not been for a writing assignment I am working on, I probably missed another round of  awful lot of bliss that only food at Stella could yield.

A lot has been said about Stella Wood Fired Bistro. A little Google search and you'll be presented with some factoids about this bistro and its sister bar lounge located just right beside it, the Rocketroom.

Hizon's Catering Grand Food Tasting #HizonsFoodTasting #HizonsCatering

"What are the best and affordable catering services in Manila?" I tell you guys, this is one of the most frequently asked questions I am getting in my inbox. So when Hizon's Catering invited me to one of their Grand Food Tasting, to check out not just their food offerings but what exactly this event is all about, I figured, why not.

I've been writing about restaurants and food recommendations since 2008 but I rarely touched on Manila catering services. So despite the invite for the grand food tasting being scheduled on a Sunday, which is a family day for me, I decided to go and document the experience here on the blog for readers' reference.

Apparently, despite being known in catering industry, Hizons Catering is very active in holding free food tasting for prospected clients. I was told they have it up to three times a week sometimes. Each event is held at Hizon's Catering affiliated event venues. This way, they are able to showcase and offer their services, not to mention let the guests try their food.

Chowking Chunky Asado Siopao #BuksanParaMalaman

Have you tried Chowking's Chunky Asado Siopao yet? I have. It was very timely as I have been craving for really good siopao these past few weeks. I have my own recipe for Asado siopao but I am always pressed for time hence, a visit in my kitchen remains rarity these days. And I have not found any good place in our area that sells good siopao as of yet.

Little did I know, Chowking has this Chunky Asado Siopao which would somehow satisfy the mean cravings.

So how chunky is Chowking's Chunky Asado Siopao? Their official hashtag says it all, #BuksanParaMalaman. And that's what I did.

Premium Wagyu Burger Selections and Discounted Beer: World of Burgers at Village Tavern, BGC

So this is the story about how I single-handedly down some manly Wagyu burgers and the much needed Weihenstephan Bavarian Lager on a Friday while I watched the wold pass me by.

Okay, I'm kidding.

This blog post is about the new Premium Wagyu Burger Selections by Chef Josh Boutwood at Village Tavern in BGC. World of Burgers as they are tagged since each was inspired by flavors around the world.

I was meaning to join some friends so that I could try all four new Wagyu burgers but my schedule is so screwed I ended up facing the mission by my lonesome.  So yes, somehow, this is the story about how I single-handedly down some manly Wagyu burgers and the much needed Weihenstephan Bavarian Lager on a Friday while I watched the wold pass me by.

Or something to that effect.

Mario's Kitchen, Katipunan

Along Katipunan Avenue, there is this quaint restaurant called Mario's Kitchen. It has several no nonsense Spanish dishes on the menu and an impressive line of liquors including Portuguese wines as its arsenal. Daytime could mean a quiet but nonetheless satisfying dining experience at Mario's Kitchen. Come night time, the place easily transforms into a full on festive mode with acoustic band playing on the background.

I have very little knowledge about Mario's Kitchen prior to my visit, to be honest. Its limited online presence does not help either. So as per usual, I had to go with my gut feel which thankfully rarely disappoints me.

It turns out, Mario's Kitchen is a sort of offshoot from one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Mario's Restaurant in Tomas Morato and Baguio of the Benitez's. "Sort of", being the operative words since Mario's Kitchen is an entirely separate concept.

Chelsea Kitchen, Eastwood Mall Libis

I was at Eastwood City Libis last week working on my writing assignment and part of the itinerary of my day was to check out Chelsea Kitchen in Eastwood Mall. It is the newest branch of Chelsea Kitchen, and just like its branch in SM Megamall, it allows an easy access for busy shoppers to a much needed respite.

It was technically a brunch, my dining experience at Chelsea Kitchen Eastwood. I was dead set on just getting my job done as I have four restaurants to visit that day.

But I am not really the type who could refuse a palatable feast that beckons. So with the strategy in mind relying on the proverbial food pacing, I allowed my self to indulge at Chelsea Kitchen. 

Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot by Vikings in Cubao, Quezon City

Upon learning that Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot opened at Cubao in Quezon City, I thought it's mighty high time. The place is always bustling with crowd so it could use some Vikings Buffet operated restaurant. Since their flagship store at the Mall of Asia favors those who lives in the South, people from the Northern part warrants an easy access to as well.

As general rule in life, good things come to those who wait. People from that side of the Metro waited patiently. Hence, Vikings Group of Restaurants rewarded them with not just the best Hotpot restaurant in Manila but thrown in the luxurious buffet of Vikings in the mix as well. Ergo, Four Seasons Buffet AND Hotpot.

Yes, it is a combination of Vikings Buffet and Four Seasons Hotpot - Best of both worlds. So there isn't any good reason to delay your curiosity, you got to visit them the soonest just like what I did.

Giligan's Restaurant, Mille Luce The Village Center Antipolo: Unlimited Rice Meals, Cold Beer, and The Best Sisig

Giligan's Restaurant located at the new complex of Mille Luce's The Village Center in Antipolo City is one of the newest restaurants that popped in this year in town. Giligan's which has several branches in Manila is best known for their Sisig which makes them the best place for after work beer session aside from being just a dine-in restaurant.

I have been to Giligan's other branches in Manila before as most of my friends including myself are fan of their Sisig paired with ice cold beer. Since I am doing my Antipolo Food Trip Blog Series, I didn't mind a visit for a decent meal instead of just popping bottles of beer.

The visit happened this evening when my father suddenly made a right turn to The Village Center on our way home. We were expecting a nice dinner at home but no one complained when the suggestion to check out Giligan's first popped in.

Salad in a Jar by Healthy Monsters PH

Healthy Monsters PH is a healthy meal delivery service in Manila that specializes in salad in a jar and cold-pressed healthy juices. I was thought this technique of putting your salad veggies in a jar if you want it to last longer than usual by some vegan friends way back and little did I know, there is already a business that offers it. 

Healthy Monsters PH uses locally sourced organic ingredients for their salads and the thing that I find most noteworthy is the fact that they made they own salad dressings.

Despite my undying love for meat, dealing with veggies has never been a problem for me. I grew up in the mountain, we plant our own veggies back home, I grew up loving salads. So this one, I am happy to share with you since it's right up my alley.

Five Things I Love About ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL @AsusPH #ZenfoneLaser #SeeWhatOthersCantSee

There are a lot of things which I love about ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL but for this blog post, I am going to narrow things down to five to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. After all, ASUS Zenfone 2 Laser ZE500KL is like that - uncomplicated yet efficient. Very user friendly which made me love it all the more. 

And don't we all love uncomplicated gadgets for our daily use?

I myself is guilty for having penchant for uncomplicated gadgets because as a blogger and photographer, I tend to deal with techie stuff on a daily basis. And the least thing I want to come across with is something which requires creating havoc in my brain just to get things done. 

SM City Masinag Welcomes Holiday Season with Fairytale Christmas Theme and Disney Princesses @SMCityMasinag @SMSupermalls

Today, SM City Masinag welcomes the holiday season with a Royal Holiday gathering. I am currently doing my Antipolo Food Trip Blog Series and SM City Masinag, being on of the few malls in Antipolo which houses several restaurants and food businesses is one of those which I have been wanting to explore. Being part of this event made me all the more excited with that endeavor. 

SM Supermalls nationwide is all set to give the best holiday shopping experience treats to their shoppers. One of them is SM City Masinag, hence this exciting event.

One of the highlights of this event was the revealing of the fairytale-themed centerpiece sitting amidst the Atrium. Now, shoppers can take their photos with the castle tower as their background. This will make for a good remembrance for Holiday 2015.

San Marino Tuna Laing: A New Healthy and Delicious Treat from San Marino

Tuna Laing is the new product of San Marino, a brand known for creating healthy and great tasting products. I have always loved San Marino products especially their Corned Tuna and the Blue Mackerel Steak in Tomato Sauce. These two are mainstays in my pantry. When I do not have time to cook and prepare viands, I could always count on San Marino.
 

Now that they have introduced San Marino Tuna Laing, I am super stoked to try it out.

Laing is one of my favorite viands.  It is healthy and delicious so, regardless if it is devoid of the usual meat which I love, I am still all for it. The thing is, Laing is not really easy to cook because of the preparation it entails. So when craving for Laing hit me, I still have to wait when I finally have time to cook or when I have time to visit a restaurant that serves the dish. 

TESCO Affordable British Favorites at SM Markets: Top 10 Must-Try TESCO Products #TESCOatSMMarkets @SMMarkets

This year, TESCO, a long-established UK brand considered as "Affordable British Favorites" is finally made available here in the Philippines all thanks to SM Markets. This partnership between Tesco and SM provides a great chance for Filipinos to experience British products at an affordable price. 

Relatives and friends from the UK send me some food and lifestyle products carried by Tesco but I am thankful that today, I can even buy it myself since they are now available in SM Supermarkets, SM Hypermarkets, and Savemore.

Considered as the largest retailer and purveyor of Britain’s favorite food and lifestyle brand, Tesco carries a whole lot of products to choose from. I have tried several of these items and I cannot count how many have satisfied me. I'll be dishing out more about Tesco products in future blog posts, but for now, let's narrow it down to Top 10.

Nutcracker Peanut Butter

A group of young entrepreneur sent bottles of Nutcracker Peanut Butter for me to try. I am all for supporting local entrepreneur especially those who have just started so I gladly accepted the proposal to try these homemade flavored peanut butters and give my opinion about it.

These young business owners behind Nutcracker Manila hails from University of Santo Tomas and I can feel their excitement in having people try their product. Their enthusiasm is contagious and I salute their brave move to go into business.

I may have mentioned before here on the blog that I am very picky when it comes to peanut butter. I am pretty loyal to my favorite brand if pressed to make a decision. But I am not closing my door to trying out new brands and sharing my thoughts on it here at YedyLicious.

Max's Restaurant 70th Anniversary #HBDMaxs #ChickenLove #MaxsFriedChicken @maxsrestaurant

Max's Restaurant, “The House That Fried Chicken Built” and the home of Sarap-to-the-Bones Fried Chicken celebrates its 70th Anniversary this year. 70 long years, they have been in the business, making history and creating memories with Filipino families. 

With staying power such as that, and the ability to cross boarders to share their well-loved fried chicken alongside other dishes which are very Filipino to the core, Max's Restaurant made us proud to be Filipino. Indeed, they are already part of our history.

I am glad to be part of this event so despite the schedule I made it a point to set some time for this celebration. After all, I grew up loving this restaurant. I myself have some awesome memories with max's Restaurant hence, I am more than happy to share this milestone with them.

J.CO Donuts and Coffee Philippines: Halloween Donuts #HalloweenWithJco

This Halloween, J.CO Philippines is giving us reasons to celebrate by introducing their Halloween Donuts. With two flavors namely Trapped in a Web Donut and Nutty Dracula Donut, it's going to be a frightful Halloween this year - as J.CO Philippines aptly put it.

J.Co is known to dish out delightfully interesting flavors in their arsenal of donuts. These two new flavors are just some of them.

So what exactly these two flavors are all about, you ask. 

Charlie's Grind and Grill, Makati

I cannot remember when was the last time I have dined at Charlie's Grind and Grill prior to my visit recently. Perhaps it has something to do with the numbers of different burger joints sprouting all over Manila that I must be visited for the blog. Or perhaps maybe because since I moved here in the East, Charlie's Grind and Grill branches are tad too far to me now.

Despite that, I know at the back of my mind that when asked for best place to get a good burger, Charlie's Grind and Grill is still one of the best recommendation I could give alongside some of my favorite burger joints.

Last time I wrote about Charlie's Grind and Grill here on the blog was year 2011 and it was all about my admiration for their Philly Cheese Steak. So when a chance presented itself one day, I dropped by at their Makati branch to once again enjoy the goodness of the grubs they offer at Charlie's.

Salted Caramel Cupcake by Dishanel

I have already written about Dishanel's cookies and cupcakes before but after having a taste of her Salted Caramel Cupcake, I knew a repeat appearance here on the blog was called for. A box of these babies was delivered to our house one day as a gift because someone in the family was celebrating a birthday. 

I was not asked to blog about this. Yet, I don't think I could quiet my conscience knowing that I have found a little gem of a cupcake and did not even bother to share it here at YedyLicious. So I am giving this one a go.

And I am giving several other blog posts a go in due course because past celebrations were made all the more special with Dishanel's creations (think customized cake which is actually the specialty of Dishanel). We will get there, you'll see. In the meantime, this Salted Caramel Cupcake.

Going Back to Outback Steakhouse Makati for a Satisfying Lunch

I recently had lunch at Outback Steakhouse in Makati and as expected, the experience was delightful. There are several branches of Outback Steakhouse here in Manila but the ones I frequent to is their branch in Glorietta. It was a simple and quick lunch but it brought so many good memories.

I have mentioned in my last Outback Steakhouse blog post that this restaurant has always been one of my favorite even way back those days when I wasn't blogging yet. 

To this day, that still holds true. Had I not moved to Antipolo, I will still probably frequent to this branch. But then again, a trip to Outback whenever I am in Makati isn't a bad idea, right? 

Food Trip at Robinsons Place Las Piñas

Last weekend I was invited to a Food Tour at Robinsons Place Las Piñas. There are numbers of local restaurants at the Southern part of Manila that opened a branch at Robinsons Place Las Piñas so going there can be a good chance to explore these food places all in one roof.

So aside from the impressive line of stores that are housed within the mall, we could say that Robinsons Place Las Piñas is also a good dining destination when visiting the South.

That was what our tour was all about - to visit these restaurants and familiarize ourselves with the food that they do offer. Equipped with passion in finding good food and an enthusiasm to explore new place, I joined several Manila bloggers together with the Marketing staff of Robinsons Place Las Piñas in this food tour.

Marufuku Japanese Restaurant in Ortigas

I have always wanted to try Marufuku Japanese Restaurant in Ortigas which is said to be one of the Best Japanese Restaurants in Manila by some food enthusiasts I know. Despite the itch to take the road less traveled - at least by me - I was not able to do so until a friend invited me for a quick lunch and a little catching up. 

Aptly tagged as a "hidden gem" or a "secret" Japanese restaurant, Marufuku is tucked in a nondescript place that can be easily missed if you are not familiar with the area. Yet if you know that it is located at The Crescent Building facing San Miguel Ave. and the entrance is located in Amethyst St. at the back side of the building, it shouldn't be hard to locate. It's near UA&P.

Parking area is decent enough to hold several cars but during busy days, finding a spot can be quite a challenge. Nonetheless, the challenge will be worth it if you get to try the amazing Japanese that Marufuku serve.

Deal Grocer Experience

Let me say this from the get-go, before trying out Deal Grocer, I am skeptical when it comes to group buying sites. Case in point, during the time when majority of the food bloggers I know were writing about their dining experiences made possible through the vouchers they bought at some group buying site sprouting those days, I got nothing to contribute. Simply because I do not patronize such.

Those horrifying group buying sites experiences documented on blog posts you can find all over the internet also didn't help. So, call me a less than smart consumer if you must, but I will still stand firm on my belief that if I want good quality food and service, I must pay it with fair price.

I have been blogging about restaurants for nearly eight years now, that cliche that says "You get what you pay for" holds truth in it. So, I would rather work hard and save money for those experiences which will guarantee a good quality food and service instead of pushing my luck that my vouchers will not disappoint me. It's food that nourishes the body we are talking about, I hate being disappointed when it comes to that, so I don't mind spending.

Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe

Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe is a new coffee shop / restaurant in Antipolo that specializes in cakes, coffee, and home cooked meals. Located at the lower part of Antipolo, specifically in Marcos Highway / Masinag area, Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe used to be just an online store that caters to those who needs downright impressive customized cakes.

It's success led into a full blown coffee shop that serves all sort of delicious things including one of their specialties, cupcakes. But trust me, there is more to Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe than cupcakes.

I am still on a roll for my Antipolo Food Trip Blog Series and while I went down further Antipolo area than my usual route which is near the city town proper, Alyanna's Cakes and Cafe is a welcome addition to my series.