1.
Coffee bean collection for your taste buds
Coffee Afficionados are always looking for great coffee beans. Antonio Sevilla,
owner of Philippine Mountain Coffee Collection, created his own coffee shop to
source coffee beans from Malaybalay, Kalinga, Batangas, Cavite, etc.
This quaint coffee shop is unassuming and
very simple. It’s nestled in one of the
stalls in Tiendesitas. Sevilla wants his
customers to really savor their coffee (the beans are charcoal-roasted). For him, it is really about showcasing
Philippine coffee. Customers can inquire
on their best recommendations. From cold
coffee to hot coffee below P100, they have it.
Tiendesitas,
Frontera Verde, Ortigas Ave. corner C-5, Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City.
Photo courtesy of Tiendesitas website
2. Filipino: Proud and loud
Yabang
Pinoy—that’s what it is all about.
Being proud of one’s heritage is going back to one’s culture, letting
other nations know who we are as Filipinos, and doing things that we are proud
of. Sigaw Sambit creates this
nationalistic atmosphere through creative ways.
Their T-shirts, Camisa de Chino, bracelets, lanyars—whatever you name it—all
emphasizing on being Filipino.
Yabang Pinoy bracelets made from
abaca, on the other hand, has been in major bookstores nationwide. Like Sigaw Sambit, they’ve been promoting
being a Filipino for years. They have a
website where their clients who purchased their bracelets can put up sayings
on why it is great to be a Filipino.
Sigaw
Sambit and Yabang Pinoy products are sold at Serendra, Powerbooks outlets and
websites
http://sigawsambit.multiply.com/
www.yabangpinoy.com.ph
3. Hole in the wall Galileo Enoteca restaurant
al
Photo courtesy of Market Manila website
Only few Italian
restaurants can offer authentic cooking.
Galileo Enotica, on the other hand, meets the scrumptious Italian
cooking. A small deli and restaurant in
Mandaluyong, it’s comparable to a wine cellar of a monastery. Wine bottles decorate the walls and wooden
benches complete the ambiance. For P450 (VAT
inclusive), couples can try their set meals which include antipasto of cheese
and bread, pasta (tomato-based or white sauce-based), a glass of house wine,
and a cup of coffee or tea. Their meals
are scrumptious and filling. It’s a
great date place for couples or for friends who need a quite time to unwind and
savor good food.
Galileo Enoteca: 80 Calbayog corner Malinao St., Mandaluyong, 5344633 or 5320482
In-yo Fushion Cuisine for your taste buds
When one utters the word
Katipunan, either Philippine history or Ateneo de Manila comes to mind. A few know about a house converted into a
beautiful restaurant in Loyola Heights called In-Yo.
Locally, the Filipino word inyo means yours in English. But for the restaurant, it was derived from
the chef’s name, Ninyo Laus.
Upon entering the gate
of In-Yo, a small pocket garden with a swing, several iron-wrought chairs and
tables will greet you. There’s a small
pond and wooden bridge when you enter the interior of the restaurant. It’s quaint but it has a romantic, homey
ambiance. Upstairs is where artists
convene for poetry sessions, open mic nights or musical gigs. But it is
really the food that Chef Ninyo creates that has kept this restaurant going and
people raving. Their fusion cuisine is better than hotels. Although the prices are quite similar. Degustacion is P1,000. Their set meal will give you several
different courses to choose from. Their entrée
cost P400 each. The Pumpkin soup is
creamy and comforting. Their Halibut
pasta is divine, the pasta al dente. For
the Lamb Shanks, the meat is moist and tender.
It’s definitely worth every penny.
In-yo Fusion
Cuisine: Estaban Abada St., Loyola
Heights, QC, 9286459, closed on Mondays.
5. Happy happy eating at Nomnomnom Happy Food
Happiness and good comfort food—it’s what
Nomnomnom Happy Food is all about. It’s
the sound that people make when they are eating. You see it in Café World, Archie Comics ,and
any other cartoons or comic strip. A creative name in their “no red meat
vegetarian food” is Malinomnom which is whole wheat dough with tinapa bits
(P195). Their Fried Ravioli (P80) is
golden with rich mozzarella and tomato sauce. You can also go happy with their Hemp Pesto
(P140). Nomnomnom Happy Food is a vegetarian
restaurant with a twist. There are quite
a few good vegetarian restaurants in Manila that offers great dishes that are affordable. Nomnomnom is one of them. I'll try this one. Although until now not one has toppled Greens Vegetarian Restaurant in my list.
GYY Building 1 Tomas Morato cor.
E Rodriguez, Quezon City
6. http://nomhappyfood.multiply.com/
CUILLERE dairy milkshakes and ice creams
It’s summer and Manila is really hot—imagine
hitting 38 degrees! Yummy and cramy
milkshakes are the way to go to cool down.
Cuillere, a French restaurant owned by the owner of Arce Dairy Ice
Creams, is located in Bonifacio High Street, The Fort. I'm always hearing this great restaurant at work and I have no idea why. No wonder people are raving on this restaurant
because Arce Dairy Ice Creams were already in Manila back in the 80s. Arce Dairy was always part of my mom's vocabulary. Now, the curiosity is beginning to kick in. Before Selecta and Magnolia, it is one of the
leading ice cream brands because of the creamy and tasty ice creams they
created.
Bonifacio
High Street The Fort, Taguig City
7. Trunkshow hidden finds of fashion treasure
I love to shop but not just purchase anything that my eyes land on. I check the construction, the cut, the design, and the materials of clothes. I check the uniqueness, the sturdiness, and practicality of shoes or bags. Trunkshow is on my list of best boutique shops in Manila. It has always given me great finds with shoes and clothes. Although the price is definitely not like bazaars or department stores, still the quality and the uniqueness of their products keep on luring me back.
8.
VIDEO 48: Where cinephiles convene
Gael Garcia Bernal, indie film and mainstream actor
Cinephiles from around the world
will look forward to stepping inside Video 48.
It is where rare indie and mainstream films are sold. It has still has Betamax, VHS, laser disc,
VCDs and now DVDs. Apart from films, they also sell
memorabilias such as movie posters, magazines, film-related action figures or
toys. It’s a treasure hunt for those who
love movies from an era beyond 2010.
West Avenue, Quezon City
9. ART 2B gallery for the artists at heart
Budding artists hold their art or
photography exhibits here. It’s an old
shop converted to a simple 2-storey art gallery. It cost less compared to big museums or art
galleries such as Metropolitan Museum or Silverlens Gallery.
The crowd in Cubao Expo is artsy
and low key. Most people who visit this
gallery are really into art, talent, and crafts. It’s a great place for tourists to visit
since it will enable them to indulge in rich Filipino culture—both young and old. Surrounding quaint shops,
restaurants, and hangout places are alive at night time.
Cubao Expo Cubao, Quezon City
Cafe at the corner
This is a paradise for vegans and
vegetarians. Apart from their good food,
the soothing music, and nice ambiance will really provide you a great time. It is a dining haven. Their Corner Tree Starter Plate (P180) is a combination
of Dukka and White Bean Hummus for sharing.
If you are really hungry then order their Crisp Polenta Parmesan
Triangles (P150) that has creamy mushroom rosemary sauce. For the ones craving for a good burger, they
have their own version of Baked Tofu Walnut Burger (p280). It is huge served with salad, yogurt and
sweet potato fries. Talk about mouth watering.
Bel Air, Makati City
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