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.