Parmigiano Pizzeria Ristorante

We still had an hour left before Jurassic World Pre screening starts. So my cousin and I decided to eat first, and we both were craving for pizza. I wanted to have RW's Adobo pizza but I forgot where it was located so we ended up at Parmigiano. 

The interior was classy and the lightning was just too perfect. The design of the tables and mats accentuate the silver high tone of the fork and knife.

We all know how good Italian dishes are. It's healthy and sort of medicinal. Even Italian chefs before, rub olive oil onto their scrotum to prevent the risk of sterility due to the exposure to high heat of cooking. I was excited to eat, but my cousin's friend texted her that the film was about to start already. 

Since we were seated already and I took so much picture already we decided to order a to go pizza.

My pizza didn't look appetizing, and this is their best seller according to the server. My bad I forgot its name. It tasted okay though. 

King Chef Seafood Restaurant

Chopsticks Please!

Next to Filipino food, the next most common type of food you would find in the Philippines is Chinese food.

But with the numerous Chinese restaurants out there, how could one tell the difference between excellent Chinese and so-so Chinese (food)? Unless you are a trained Chinese chef or you have an educated palate, it's hard to tell the difference. Particularly because Chinese food has spices and herbs in hundreds, the distinctions are almost undecipherable.  

At King Chef, the distinction is straightforward. Each serving of food aims to satisfy the most discerning food critics but any average hungry guy would still notice that this resto serves impeccable dishes. 

The restaurant has a big kitchen with a glass wall so the diners could see what's inside. There were peking ducks hanging vertically on a rod near the kitchen. A typical display of a Chinese restaurant. Every time I see such, I remember  my experience one time a few years ago when me and my friend tried to eat peking duck for breakfast in one of the busy corners of Bangkok and we almost vomited since we were not accustomed to the authentic taste of the dish.

Here at King Chef, the aftertaste, the flavors are also distinguishable and surprisingly delicious. I usually  get headache after eating in a Chinese Restaurant serving oily dishes, but never did I get the headache with King Chef's food. It's like the difference between cheap perfume and authentic perfume: the difference can be subtle at first but as you inhale the scents are comparably quite contrasting. The same can be said about King Chef dishes, the flavors posses a very powerful yet subtle and spiritual taste and aroma. 

A taste of King Chef will change the way you know Chinese cuisine. This is definitely the kind of place that you can’t help but want to keep a bit of a secret. 

I last had a steamed egg when I was in Melaka, and I was delighted to have it again this time.

Our spread like we're celebrating a feast in HK

They have a promo every afternoon where you can have dimsums for half the price. We became queens of gluttony in an instant, couldn't help it... the dishes were really good.

I love this dish, it was so juicy on the inside

Earth-shattering delis, excellent ambiance, and infallible service! The server even showed us how to properly cut the noodles using chopsticks.

Who wouldn't love siomai in a bamboo steam?

There goes that sexy duck

If you're not too serious about your food and would just like to try something different and enjoyable, this would still be one of your best options for Chinese Cuisine.

Celebrity Eats: Cucina ni Bunso

To be welcomed into the home of a Filipino family is one of the most unforgettable experience you may have in your life. You will feel like a king! Filipinos will offer you the best seat in the house, bring out the porcelain dinnerware, Sterling silver cutlery, and serve you, in one of the rare occasions Pinoy families are openly proud, a really expansive spread of the family's best home-cooked meals. Filipinos would brag about how our great-great-great-grandmother has passed-on these recipes from one generation to the next. We would talk about which provinces and tribes or clans we have descended from and how each dish has its own distinct influence from this and that region using these and those ingredients. We Filipinos love to eat, but what we love more than eating, is sharing our cuisine with all of you.

This is how exactly what I experienced when I had the chance to be invited by the Celebrity Chef Mel who owns Cucina ni Bunso in Quezon City. I felt like coming home again to a great food and special cookin' by my parents who now live far from me due to my work.

Cucina ni Bunso opened last June 24, 2013, the person behind this extension of a home is Chef Mel known as Mel in GMA's teleserye The Half Sisters. Chef Mel is the youngest out of seven (7) children, and his mother according to him is his inspiration on catapulting a restaurant.

Testimonials of celebrities and diners who experienced the best of Cucina ni Bunso

Artsy-fartsy decor of the interior

The homey feeling 

Cheesy Krissy turon named after my favorite Kris Aquino, Meliton's Spring Roll and Bomba (dynamite)

Iced tea with basil

American Adobo of pork and chicken meat over a mashed potato. Now that's something new and delectable.

All-time favorite roasted chicken with caramelized apple and special gravy

The best I've had for the night, 'Chicken ni Mel'. This is something I've been trying to cook but my attempts had been futile. The chicken has that right kind of tenderness and the apple and the mix of herbs made the chicken smell and taste exquisite.

Tahong in Noodles Soup cooked French way

Beef Bone Nilaga

The soup was so thick and heavenly full of flavors!

Our Spread

Pakbet with Lechong Kawali

A Filipino dish of Ilocano origin cooked with a twist on the sauce

Home made Icecream 

Halo Halo Turon, Yes the halo-halo could be wrapped and eaten like how we eat turon

Chef Mel relaying the stories of his food inspirations.

I'm certainly not the right person to anoint the best restos. But the food here is really good, tasted like something you've never tried...and loving it!

117b scout lozano st. cor. Tomas Morato QC

414 3151 

Classic and Fresh like Hotel 878, Libis

All over the Philippines you will find many small-sized hotels sprouting at just about every corner. Many travelers have a tough time getting around the city that they end-up in dingy hotels closest to the airport or suggested to them by cab drivers who make hefty commissions from these hotels whenever they book guests. Not a very good place to start for first-time travelers to Manila, ei? 

At the tip of booming Libis is Hotel 878 that is hard to ignore.

There is a variety of safe, clean, and accessible budget hotels in Manila. Many of these budget hotels are small to mid-sized like the ones you find in the side streets of Hong Kong, and although you cannot expect luxury, most of these choice hotels are run by hoteliers which means that you are in good hands.

Hotel 878 is one of the city's best kept secrets. It's a cozy, no-frills, no-nonsense, straightforward hotel providing you with the essentials of a comfortable stay. 

The building and the interior is a Reminiscent of Mediterranean architecture mixed with Contemporary Asian accents, the hotel's fresh and modern vibe is a mix of the east and west. It's a good mix of classic and new. Basic necessities and amenities required by the regular traveler are available for their convenience at very sensible, economical rates. 

The hallways of this three (3) floor hotel are full of mirrors and paintings like you are walking in a gallery. The rooms are designed like those of old opulent hotels, full of sconces and filigree with a twist of modern comfort and rather pleasant.

One of the many things that makes Hotel 878 stands out is its chic, boutique lodging with loft-style.

We are living in credit-conscious times where most travelers are looking to find the best hotel deals. The demands of modern budget travelers have changed over time. Before, budget used to mean the bare essentials: a bed, shower, towels, a telephone, and a tv. Today, budget hotels not only look and smell better, but also offer more in terms of amenities, facilities, food & dining, and other services that were only available in 4 and 5 Star hotels. 

Because of this trend, travelers that have patronized upscale hotels are now willing to save on travel money spent on expensive hotel rooms in exchange for lower room rates.

Hotel 878 Libis is conveniently located on the C5 highway, with fast access to the north through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Uponarrival in Manila, travelers heading up north can stay a night or two with us first before moving on to La Union, Baler, Ilocos Norte, Vigan, Baguio and Sagada. 

Truly, HOTEL 878 aims to be top-of-mind for discerning but practical travelers. Guests will affirm best value from the warm and sincere connection they get from the unique level of service provided by HOTEL 878's staff.

Hotel 878 Libis
Contact Numbers :+63 (02) 5066508
09175255170 www.hotel878libis.com

Royce

I love Royce' chocolates and it pains me that it's so expensive here in Philippines. There's a Royce chocolate kiosk in Greenbelt and my best friend and I used to buy a box that we share together. 

Royce Choclates in Philippines cost triple its original price! 

My personal favorite is the white chocolate coated potato chip! It literally melts in the mouth, every bite is heavenly 

Royce is a japanese chocolate, no wonder it comes in a classy packaging.

Eduvigis and its Popculture Themed Interior

Eduvigis has prettied it up! I first ate here with my dad and got dismayed with unsmiling staff. I thought I'd never go back, but just recently my friend and I decided to try the new Eduvigis.

I was delighted to see the popculture painting of the icon Marilyn Monroe. The restaurant was newly designed with a snazzy substantial style. It was fun to eat there again.

I don't like it though that their nachos lacks substance. Why can't restos make nachos cheesy considering the high price they charge customers?

The food at Eduvigis was heavy and costly compared to other restos around where youngsters eat at. 

Awesome Dinner at Nodasho Little Tokyo

I am just so lucky I am surrounded by a coterie of awesome friends who love to eat! And just recently my bestie requested an informal tête-à-tête with me while devouring and feasting on Japanese dishes. And where can one find the best and the most authentic Japanese food in town better than Little Tokyo?

We chose to dine at Nodasho, located in the court yard of Little Tokyo across Hana and Kagura.

You'll have the instant Japanese feel once you enter the courtyard. A lot of Japanese expats and tourists come here to dine. Nodasho is owned by the father of Executive Chef Masahiro Mizumoto.

The chef that I saw looks ancient and skilled, it would be better if they can show how they prepare the sushi with mastery live in view of the diners.

We both love Japanese food, it's full of artistry and preparing it requires certain skill. Some Japanese dishes even could only be prepared by licensed chefs trained for years.

My Japanese friends swear by the authenticity of the food in Nodasho!

I love the feeling of eating on fine plates with fancy oriental designs, quite remarkable!

We wanted to try their sake but they only offer it in bottles. Even if the dinner was on her since she demanded for my precious time (hahaha) I didn't want her to spend too much so we decided we'll try it some other time.

House water for free

The best spicy tuna maki I've ever had in my entire life! That sweet smelling japanese rice with tuna, nori and a crunchy something inside...it was the taste of heaven on earth.

I had Shoyu Ramen, soy based noodle which is my favorite while my friend had Soba with bigger and thicker noddles.

Busy server giving the kids some Japanese candy treats.

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked".

My bestie calls it Japanese pizza and she almost had all of it! BTW there are Japanese mini groceries around the area and inside the courtyard, I bought Japanese mayo which totally can be paired with every fried dishes and salad.

Authentic Takuyaki which I failed to have. I must be back here the soonest.